Reginald grumbled under his breath as he helped Triss with the horses. "Stupid backwards villagers. Half inbred."

  "That's not nice." Triss admonished quietly as she tightened Buttercup's saddle.

  "I am not nice." Reginald replied bitterly.

  Triss didn't respond, knowing now wasn't the time to argue with him. She finished with the saddle and went to fetch Nightfang. The big black horse snorted at her when she put the lead on, but let her lead him to the town building. Naiela waited out front, leaning against the wall for support. Mother Altruna had tied her bad arm up in a large white sling for her, and she cradled the injured arm with her good one. Triss got Nightfang's saddle ready and helped Naiela up, the council wizard complaining nonstop that she could do it herself. She still accepted the assistance though. "Finally. Let's get out of this damn backwards town." She said once Triss handed her the reins.

  "On that, we agree." Reginald said bitterly as he set off down the road. Triss had to get Buttercup moving at a fast trot to catch up to her two grumpy companions.

  They traveled in relative silence for most of the day. Triss tried to start conversations with each of her companions in turn, but both returned only grunts or silence in response. "It's a nice day for a ride, isn't it, Triss? Oh yes, wonderful. The wind is a bit chilly but the sun is out and that certainly helps." She said to herself.

  By the seven gods. You've lost it. You're talking to yourself. I'm trapped inside a madwoman! Grounth complained.

  You're just realizing this? Triss shot back before muting the voice.

  They traveled in silence along the endless winding road. They passed no villages, the only break in the wooded monotony the occasional abandoned field or glittering lake. They hit a fork in the road in early afternoon, and Reginald headed down one side without hesitation. At least he knows where he's going. Triss thought bitterly. Do you know where we're going? She thought at Grounth.

  Obviously.

  Triss rolled her eyes. Care to share?

  He told you already. We're going to Holintis.

  And where exactly is that?

  Do you have a map? Grounth answered her question with another.

  No.

  Then there's no point in telling you, is there. I could tell you it's near Gastonia, but unless you had a map that would be meaningless.

  You're a pain in the ass, you know that?

  It's not my fault you're too stupid to buy a map.

  Triss sighed. Can you at least tell me how long it will take to get there?

  At your current pace?

  No. At half my pace. Of course at my current pace!

  It's a fairly short journey. Shouldn't be more than a month.

  That's a short journey? Triss asked in disbelief. On my world a long trip is like, twelve hours max. And that's if you're going to the other side of the world!

  Yes, but you're not in your world now, are you. The faintest hint of smug glee colored Grounth's reply.

  I hate you.

  The feeling is mutual, I assure you.

  Triss muted the dead wizard again. Better silence than dealing with that jerk. Another hour of riding though, and she was beginning to wonder if that was really the case. The featureless road and complete lack of conversation were starting to drive her crazy, to the point she nearly jumped at shadows in the trees before realizing they were squirrels. Well, not squirrels, of course. But something similar, for sure.

  Naiela was riding in the center with Reginald leading and Triss bringing up the rear. She spurred Buttercup into a trot and caught up with Naiela, riding along beside her. “How are you feeling?” She asked. Naiela didn’t answer, staring straight ahead and ignoring Triss’s presence. “Not going to work.” She told Naiela in a sing-song voice. “I’ll annoy you until you talk. How are you feeling?”

  “Like a foolish peasant shot me with an arrow.” Naiela replied while still staring straight ahead. She shook Nightfang’s reins, pushing the horse just a little faster. Triss immediately matched pace.

  “So. What were you investigating? You said you were told that giant guy back at the castle you were investigating something.” Triss asked. “Something about the murder of wizards?”

  “That is official wizard council business. Meaning it’s none of yours.” Naiele replied haughtily.

  “Well then. Let’s see if I can figure it out. You came to our castle looking for Percival. Meaning either he’s a suspect, or a potential victim. Right?” Triss said conversationally. Naiela gave her a quick side eye glare, but then studiously ignored her.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “I know that Percival left the castle for the first time in forever only a day before you showed up, so it’s unlikely he’s a suspect. Meaning he’s probably a target.” Triss, of course, knew all this already. But it was fun to annoy Naiela. “And the giant guy must be the bad guy. Only thing I can’t figure out is why you were surprised by him.”

  Naiela finally turned to look at Triss, an expression on her face that said Triss had asked the dumbest question she’d ever heard. “Are you kidding? He was a giant. And a wizard. Are you telling me you’ve seen that before?”

  Triss shook her head. “Nope, never. And neither have you. You haven’t even heard of something like that.”

  “Obviously not.”

  “Meaning he’s not the person you’re looking for.” Triss finished with a smile.

  “What? That makes no sense!” Nailea protested, turning in her saddle to face Triss. “He was there to kill a wizard. I’m looking for a wizard killer. Are you stupid?”

  “Maybe you are, but that’s not the one you’re looking for. Otherwise you wouldn’t have been surprised. The other murders must have been different.”

  Naiela sat with her mouth open for a minute. Then she closed it and glared at Triss. “Fine. Then I’m looking for two murderers.”

  “No you’re not.” Reginald said without looking back.

  “Listening to our conversation?” Triss asked with a smirk.

  “It’s impossible not to. I hope to all the lords of heaven we don’t need to sneak anywhere on this trip. We’ll all die a loud and tragic death.”

  “What do you mean, no I’m not?” Naiela cut in.

  “Just what I said, you’re not looking for two killers. They’re the same person.” Reginald replied. Naiela shot Triss a self satisfied smile. “Of course, Triss makes a good point as well. It’s obvious things were different this time around. Why do you think that is, Triss?”

  Triss groaned and leaned back in her saddle. “A lesson? Now?” She complained.

  “You started it.” Reginald said in that infuriating tone he always used when teaching.

  Triss thought for a minute. “I would need some information about the previous murders to figure it out.” She looked at Naiela, who snorted a short laugh and then ignored her. “Ok, fine. I’ll figure it out on my own.” She snapped at the council wizard.

  “Good luck.” Naiela said sarcastically.

  “Oh, and no outside or inside sources.” Reginald added. “Figure it out on your own.”

  He means Grounth. Triss realized. Well it wasn’t like he’d know if she asked the old dead wizard. “And I’ll know.” Reginald added. Damn it.

  “You’ll know what?” Naiela asked.

  Triss began to try talking through the problem. “So there is only one killer. Obviously he didn’t look like that at the other killings. Unless no one saw him.” She snapped her fingers. “He killed the rest without witnesses. Or maybe he eliminated the witnesses? No, if he’d done that there would have been bodies. Enough that the council wouldn’t send a tertiary wizard to deal with it alone.”

  “An apprentice, technically. Like you.” Reginald added.

  “Excuse me?” Naiela snapped. “I am a wizard of the tertiary order! I am no apprentice.”

  “Shh. We’re busy.” Reginald said to her. He had yet to look back this entire time. Naiela slumped in her saddle and tried to cross her arms, the move making her wince.

  “Either way. They didn’t know the level of danger they were dealing with. So the killings must not have been witnessed. But why would the killer do things quietly everywhere else and smash the door in for Percival?” Triss asked.

  “That’s a good question.” Reginald said. “What’s the answer.”

  Triss thought about it for a while. “The castle has defences.” She said at last. “He couldn’t sneak in. So he tried to get Percival outside where there were no defences.”

  Reginald turned and gave her a warm smile. “Excellent. Excellent work. Yes, the killer couldn’t sneak into the castle. Percival has it too well defended. Playing on his ego like that was a clever move.”

  “But how would the killer get around without leaving damage behind?” Naiela asked. “He was at least a dozen feet tall. He would have had to crawl through the monastery hallways to get to the ritual chamber, and then he still wouldn’t fit through the doors.” She seemed to suddenly realized what she’d said, and her mouth snapped shut. She fixed Reginald and Triss each with a glare in turn.

  “It was a spell. A rare and powerful ritual.” Reginald said. “It doesn’t take long to cast, but the materials needed are extremely hard to get for a normal wizard.”

  “Meaning this person isn’t a normal wizard.” Triss said.

  “No, he most certainly is not.” Reginald said quietly. He took a quick look around at their surroundings. "We'll reach a good stopping point in an hour or so. Let's pick up the pace just a little. It'll take a little extra time to get set up tonight." He glanced at Naiela before quickening his pace. Triss wasn't fooled. She'd known the devious lizard too long by this point. He didn't want to share any more information in front of Naiela.

  They camped for the night in a small clearing beside the road. The sun was just reaching the horizon when they finished setting up the camp. Triss had to help Naiela set her tent up, and the council wizard muttered the entire time about not needing the help. “You want to take over?” Triss asked in frustration after the tenth complaint.

  “I just want to make sure you do it right.” Naiela replied coldly. “That peg isn’t deep enough. The tent till collapse on my head while I’m sleeping.”

  “Wouldn’t that be a shame.” Triss muttered sarcastically. But she gave the peg in question a few more blows with the mallet anyways.

  Reginald disappeared into the woods for a few minutes after starting a small fire, and returned with some dirt covered roots. They looked sort of like white carrots, though with two ends instead of one. He washed them in a bucket of water and chopped them into the pot he’d set over the fire. Some dried meat and spices went in next, and soon a mouthwatering scent was drifting out of the pot. “This smells amazing.” Triss said as he handed her a bowl.

  “Fortinroot.” He replied. “Common around here, but they don’t keep well. It’s quite a treat.”

  Triss took a bite of the stew. It had a strange sort of earthy heat to it, different from the peppers she knew back home. She ate two full bowls of it. Naiela complained that it was too spicy, but Triss and Reginald both ignored her. After supper Reginald checked Naiela’s shoulder. He changed the bandage, throwing the old one into the flames. “It’s beginning to heal.” He told the wizard. “No signs of infection. It’ll be a few weeks before you’re back to normal, but you shouldn’t have many lasting effects.”

  “Good.” She said. “I’m going to bed now. The company here is rather lacking.” She stood and made her way to her tent. It took her a couple of minutes to figure out how to get inside with her arm in a sling. Eventually she just put her head in and fell onto her good side, worming her way inside the tent.

  “I think I’ll retire as well.” Reginald said. “It’s a little early, but that just means we can get an early start.”

  “Ok.” Triss said. “I’m going to sit by the fire a bit longer.” Her body was tired from the long ride, but her mind was still wide awake.

  “Don’t stay up too late.” Reginald warned.

  “Yes dad.” Triss replied sarcastically. Reginald laughed and headed into his tent.

  Triss sat and watched the hot coals in the fire pit for a while, going over the conversation from earlier in her mind. Reginald obviously knew something more about this killer. He’d said as much before. Would he tell her what he knew if Naiela wasn’t around?

  The coals began to dim as the last of the wood was consumed, and she decided to try and get some sleep. She stood, stretching out muscles that were sore and tired from the long ride. Then she turned too head towards her tent.

  That’s when she noticed a pair of red eyes in the woods, staring right at her.