“Us?” Came Jake’s inquiry, hand extended, eyebrows arching suggestively.
Darius grasped his friend’s hand. “Glad to see you too.”
“Well I was just thinking it was about time you got back. I’m a little tired of picking up your slack.”
“I don’t know what you’re grousing about. You barely pulled your own weight around here when I was here. You must have been staggering under my workload.”
“Oh I managed to do your work on my lunch hour and still had time enough to eat and take a nap before break was over.”
“If you two braggarts are done spreading the bull I suggest you get yourself home in a timely fashion or no amount of weaponry is going to help you with your mother’s wrath.”
Darius looked at him and nodded. “I’ll not argue with you there. See you later.”
And with that he headed for the door. Master Peter accompanied him. Master Peter grabbed his arm before Darius could step out the doorway.
“How badly were you hurt?”
Darius was about to make light of it, but one look at Peter’s face told him not to.
“A spear grazed my shoulder. Brian had to stitch me up. I don’t think I can swing a hammer with my left arm for a couple of days.” Here Darius’ face became serious. “I wasn’t doing anything stupid, Brian can tell you that.”
“I didn’t think you were. I’ll see you later.”
“Yes Sir!” And Darius left.
Peter turned back to the others. “Alright let’s get this…” He didn’t finish as the other two were already ahead of him and cleaning up.
Darius didn’t waste much time getting home as the prospect of his mother’s cooking gave his feet wings.
When he entered by the kitchen door he saw fresh bandages on the counter. He shot Vitaria a look.
“She asked, I answered.” Her voice as firm as her look before she turned her attention back to her plate.
“Clean up before you sit please.” Collena said as she pointed towards the bathroom. Darius grumbled, but headed as directed before returning quickly, changed and freshly washed.
Darius sat down opposite her as Collena set a plate in front of him. She planted a quick kiss on the top of his head before sitting down. Simon was already sitting with a cup of coffee. The other boys came in and leaned against anything available. Darius noticed that Vitaria was wearing some of Kaleen’s clothes. She saw the look and spoke.
“They just fit.”
“Kaleen hates tight clothes.” Was all he said as he put his full attention to the plate of food in front of him. He made short work of it, pointedly ignoring the look he got for his comment.
“I missed this the most.” He said, patting his stomach. “Almost as much as home.”
“All the noise and hubbub?” Simon asked.
Darius looked around. “Yeah. Can ya believe it?”
Collena was about to get up when Darius spoke to her. “Later Mom. When we get back please.”
Collena just studied his face for a moment. She looked at Simon as she spoke, “The way he just ate, I’m not worried. Go and get back. Collena began to clear the table, Vitaria got up to help. Collena took the plate from her hands. “They’ll need to speak with you as well. I have…” Here she looked at her other four boys. “I have plenty of willing help.” Vitaria, Darius and Simon left amid a chorus of grumbles and threats.
By the time the three of them got there, Brian had already spoken to several of the town elders. Vitaria whispered in Darius’ ear.
“Which one is Master Peter?”
Darius pointed and before he could say I, yes or no she made a beeline for him, he was about to follow her when Jake’s voice stopped him
“Soooo…what happened?” Darius was about to speak when Jake held up a hand interrupting him. “And don’t embellish too much, I can ask Brian you know.”
A lopsided grin planted itself on his face as he began to tell Jake what had happened. He left out the part where Vitaria caressed his shoulders. A gentleman never reveals something, or so he had been taught. He kept his eyes on Vitaria and Master Peter and a couple of times saw Peter glance in his direction. When it appeared she had finished, Peter escorted her over to the elders to join Brian and Gregan.
Jake and Darius tried to ease their way forward as nonchalantly as possible without attracting too much attention. Both remained as quiet as possible without appearing to eavesdrop.
“We now know that Nalas has scouts out and not just for protection anymore. He obviously is trying to find out what kind of defense we are mounting against him. The group Telasar ran into were seasoned soldiers on a mission to kill.” Jeb looked at Peter.
“Master Peter? How are we on weaponry? Do we have sufficient to send the first legion of men out to meet up with Lord Belasar?”
“Yes. Good sturdy steel, but I need a couple more weeks for mail.”
“With Young Master Darius back we shall be able to step up the production of that.” Master Finian said. “I have also sent word to have a few more Master smithies and helpers come so we can get more accomplished.” Finian pointed at Darius as he spoke.
“Darius here has shown me an easier way to piece the mail rings together that is much sturdier and more reliable. I have no doubt he will be able to teach them as well. They will be able to return to their own forges and make what is needed for all.”
Several heads turned in Darius’ direction and he found himself getting more attention than he really wanted. He heard a couple of murmured “He taught a master?” He reddened. Vitaria gave him a quick smile of encouragement at Finian’s praise.
“We’ll be ready to assemble in a fortnight Tom?”
“We have no choice, we will be ready. Tom continued as he looked around. “Provisions have been stockpiled and are ready to go. Many of our young men and women are ready to go at a moment’s notice. They have proven quite capable.”
Jeb looked over at Brian. “They have been training very hard in your absence.”
“I think the older ones are trying to prove something to us old fogies.” He said poking Brian in the ribs.
“Youth will have its head, I just hope we’ve taught them enough to keep it on their shoulders.”
“Them? I hope I can remember enough to keep my own.”
This evoked a rumble of laughter from all present. The decision was made that they would be leaving in two weeks. Vitaria and Gregan would carry the message along with the news from Telasar so the elves could prepare as well. Messengers would be sent to nearby towns to spread the word for plans to move forward. A gathering of forces was about to begin for all to unite in a cause.
As villager messengers prepared, Nalas made sure that Lorkian messengers were sent from tribe to tribe as well. All were preparing to amass forces towards Hecidia to await Nalas’ arrival. Ventina had plans of her own simmering like a witch’s caldron.
Chapter Eight
TOBIAS and Mattea spent the better part of the morning’s journey barely speaking until she finally broke the silence by asking the burning question that had been plaguing her since they first met.
“You haven’t always been Nalas’ flunky, have you?
Tobias looked straight ahead, a knowing expression fashioned itself on his face as he answered. “You were never easily fooled as