Between the Shadows

When Fallon got back to the tent, he realized that he still held the energy in his hand. He stored it safely in his pouch. He ducked inside the tent and roused Alpen from a deep slumber. After a moment, Alpen signaled that he was awake. After checking on Fallon's boy, they stood outside the tent in tree shadow.

Drindl told him about the gathered warriors and the energy. Alpen silenced him with a gesture of his hand, then looked up at the tree canopy and listened. He heard the quiet rustle of the warrior's hooves as they prepared for battle. "When did they take the energy?" Alpen asked with an insistent voice. When Drindl told him, Alpen paused to calculate, then said, "We don't have much time."
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Fallon was so tired when Alpen shook him awake. "It's time already?" he mumbled. Something in Alpen's tone of voice jerked him awake and he sat up in his bedroll.

"Sarten's planning something," Alpen whispered. Fallon wanted to ask what and how he knew but Alpen gave him the battle sign. No explanations.

Fallon turned toward Drindl's bedroll. "My son," he said with concern. Alpen whispered that he was OK, then gave the battle sign again for silence. The three gathered their bedrolls and pouches. Drindl carried Erthen who slept peacefully.

They walked with the gait of warrior ghosts, making little sound. They circled at the edge of the clearing and the trees and made their way to the river. Now that they were out of their bedrolls, they had to turn their eggs frequently to ward off the cool night air.

"Bebe and Alithea? Do you know where they are in the tent?"Alpen asked. Fallon nodded and held up his hand to signal a few moments. Alpen and Drindl crouched in the tall reeds as Fallon retraced his steps to the tent and listened for the sound of any guard patrol. He jerked the rawhide string several times before he got a response from Alithea. He tapped out the most urgent code before his message, "Now. Leave. You. Bebe. Now. Leave. You. Bebe." With a stick, he propped up the tent wall to make a small opening above the ground. Bebe rolled out first, then Alithea. Fallon signaled silence and they followed him to the river. They saw Alpen and Drindl crouched in a circle.