Garinor sprang out of bed. The man had a panicked look on his face and waved at him, trying to usher him onward faster. He kept one finger pressed to his lips to stress silence. The sheer urgency of the alarm and the recent pursuits against him brought Garinor to his feet, ready to follow.
They skulked down the stairwell, tiptoeing into the common room, where Garinor spied Song slouched over a table, a tankard not far from his grasp. He wanted to wake his friend, but his new protector insisted they leave immediately.
The night was dark and they dashed off quietly into the northern trees. The man kept a wary eye on the others, ensuring their safety, but he dared not break the silence until they were out of earshot.
He blew out a sigh. “I’m so glad I got you out of there. There wasn’t any time to lose.”
“Everyone looked like they were asleep,” Garinor commented.
“Sure, they looked like it, but they all weren’t, I assure you.”
“So now what?”
“Shh. Keep your voice down. We’re still not all that far away.”
Garinor lowered his voice. “So now what?”
“I have to think. You’re safe from them now, but I have to figure out where to take you. Further north, I think. There’s a group that can protect you properly.”
“What about Song?”
“Don’t worry. He’ll understand and he’ll join up later. Hurry, we have to be off.” He gently urged Garinor to move ahead rapidly. The boy was afraid for his life, but he also feared for Song.
He stopped to look back toward the outpost, which was now obscured by the trees, but the man insisted Garinor keep moving. “It won’t be long before we’re far enough away.”
“Who are you, anyway?”
“Urleon,” he responded automatically.
Garinor stopped. “Urleon?”
“Yes, you’ve got it. Now keep going.”
“No.”
“What? But why?”
“You’re not one of the protectors,” he answered, having noticed his name was not disguised like the other Daggerfists. Urleon realized this too late.
“I was entrusting you with my real name. The others know me as Midnight.”
“I think it’s too late for that,” Garinor said, looking in the darkness for a way out of this predicament.
Urleon’s demeanor changed drastically. “You’re right. It’s too late for that.” He brandished a dagger with one hand while grabbing Garinor with the other.
A new voice entered the area and it was a welcome one to the boy. “Garinor, no!” called Song.
But Urleon responded to the new player by thrusting the dagger deep into Garinor’s heart and dropping the boy’s body.
The sound that emanated from Song’s melodic voice was anything but beautiful as he watched Garinor crumple in the dirt. Song reacted instantly and dispatched the spy without hesitation, then he dove to Garinor’s side, lifting the boy’s head up as tears streamed from his eyes.
“Garinor… No… I’m so sorry…”
But Garinor could no longer hear him.