Beyond the High Road - Book 2 by Troy Denning

Author:Troy Denning [Unknown]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast

"Yes, if it means we'll never see each other again."

"Aren't you exaggerating? I should be capable of finding my way to Arabel-and Suzail too, for that matter."

"When? Between scouting patrols into the Anauroch and spying missions in the Dun Plain? My father and Vangerdahast will keep you so busy you won't see a Cormyrean city until I am wed and fat with some other man's child."

Though Rowen remained unmoved, at least he showed the courtesy of wincing. "And if I disobeyed Alusair I'd spend the next ten years in Castle Crag's dungeon instead-with no hope at all of redeeming my family name."

The company began to fan out across the flat scrub-land, each man leading a horse more or less westward, laying a network of false trails before they turned south. Tanalasta remained silent for a time, knowing Rowen was right. She had no authority to countermand Alusair's order, and Vangerdahast was certainly ruthless enough to have the scout locked away under the pretext of disobedience.

"You're right, of course. I can't ask you to defy Alusair." Tanalasta kept her eyes on the ground as she spoke, watching the brush for snakes and other hazards. "So I will come with you."

"What?" Rowen nearly shouted the question, drawing a curious-and rather condemning-glance from Seaburt. The ranger lowered his voice, then continued, "I'd like nothing better, but Alusair would never permit it."

"Alusair can command you to leave, but she cannot command me to stay," said Tanalasta. "She is not my master."

"Please, Tanalasta-I can't. Doing as you ask would make me the same as Gaspar and Xanthon."

"You could never be the same as those two."

"I would be, if I put my own desire above my oath as a Purple Dragon." Rowen guided Tanalasta away from a red catclaw bush, pulling her safely beyond the striking range of a half-hidden pixie-viper. "We all have our duties. I am a scout, and my duty is to move swiftly and find Vangerdahast. You are the learned one, and your duty is to return to Arabel and inform the king of what you have discovered."

"And I will," said Tanalasta. "In your company."

Rowen shook his head. "You will be safer with Alusair."

"Really?" Tanalasta cast a doubtful glance at her sister's sickly men. "I should think it would be easier for the ghazneths to find a large company of sick men than two people moving swiftly and stealthily?'

"Perhaps." Rowen paused to think, then said, "That would be so if you were healthy, but with the fever, you are too weak."

"The fever will improve. Seaburt said..."

Tanalasta let the sentence trail off as the significance of Rowen's pause struck her. He had been there when Seaburt cured her, and he certainly should have heard what the priest had told her. She stumbled along two more steps, then stopped and whirled on the scout.

"You don't want me to go with you."

Rowen's expression fell, and Tanalasta saw she had guessed correctly. She pulled her arm free and stumbled back.

Rowen stepped after her. "Please, Tanalasta, it's not what you think.

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