Dwarven Ruby by Richard S. Tuttle Read Free Book Online Page A

tracks,” replied Alex. “I suspect that the group before us is Sarac’s Ravens. Arik and Tanya will be responsible for covering the tracks in each group. Do not dally because the battle may not last long. It looks like the Black Devils have learned some of our tricks.”
    “You aren’t going to cover our previous tracks for any great length of time, are you?” quizzed Tanya. “Is there some place we should wait for you?”
    “Do not worry about me,” smiled Alex. “I have played this game for a long time. Just keep going east and do not engage the enemy. Do what you must to avoid them. Prince Midge is scouting out the battle now. He will find one of you when he is done. Move out.”
    Without further comment, Alex started backtracking and covering the tracks as best he could. When he reached the center of the next valley, he stopped covering the tracks. He dismounted to pay extra attention to the last set of tracks.
    Kaz, I need your help here. I need a set of tracks angling westward and leading up the hill. Circle around to the next hill and do it again. Do it as many times as you can quickly.
    I understand, Alex. You want it to look like our party turned in this valley and headed westward, but up the slope to a point where it would be hard to track.
    Precisely, my old friend.
    Where will you be when I am done, Alex?
    I will walk eastward, Kaz. Do not take too long, but make the tracks obvious. If you hear anyone coming, abort the mission and meet me. I don’t think it will fool them for too long anyway.
    Kaz snorted and galloped westward. Alex finished covering the northward tracks as best he could and then walked eastward. He did not feel comfortable without Kaz under him, but he knew that Kaz could cover ground much faster without him.
    Alex walked about a league before Kaz suddenly appeared racing across the valley. Alex leaped onto to Kaz’s back and they rode further eastward before ascending the hill.
    That was invigorating. I need to run more often.
    Hopefully it will not be because we need to, Shamta.
    When they reached the top of the hill, Alex called a halt and brought out his telescope. He saw the column of riders crossing the valley to his west. They did not appear to be in any hurry. Alex turned his scope eastward and searched for the other Rangers. He could not see them.
    Alex rode part-way down the hill and then turned Kaz eastward along a game trail. The long shadows indicated that nighttime was not far off when he decided to enter the valley. He kept his eyes scanning the valley floor looking for tracks. Both Tanya and Arik were well versed in covering tracks, but Alex knew that tracks are never completely obliterated. It took him a fair amount of time, but he eventually found the tracks he was looking for. Within an hour, the Rangers had reassembled and were heading northward.
    “It was Sarac’s Ravens,” reported Arik. “They massacred a large Lanoirian patrol. Midge said that hundreds died in the gorge.”
    “That will alert Lanoirians everywhere,” frowned Alex. “This trip just got decidedly more dangerous. The Lanoirian army will be alerted to find anyone and everyone traveling in this area. I don’t think our passes are going to do us any good if we are stopped.”
    “What can we do?” asked Arik.
    “Nothing,” frowned Alex. “We will ride late into the night to put as much ground between us and the massacre as we can, but that won’t help us much. If the Lanoirians do not find the party responsible, the circle they search will get ever wider.”
    “Won’t they find Sarac’s Ravens?” questioned Arik.
    “If they do find Sarac’s Ravens,” answered Alex, “there will be more Lanoirian bodies found. Black Devils will not think twice about massacring another group of Lanoirians. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is meant to turn up the heat on us. We are on the run now, from both Sarac’s Ravens and the Lanoirian army.”

Chapter 4
Imperial Palace
    Tedi heard a noise