"Yes, Keeper. Your face is clean. Your hair is tame. Your clothing looks as if you've been walking for five days in the Wastes, but if you don't stand too close to anyone, you'll be fine."
She made a face at him and took off.
Guards met Moria as soon as she drew close. She stopped running then and walked with all the dignity she could muster, one hand resting on the handle of a sheathed dagger, the other on Daigo's head.
"I am Moria of Edgewood," she called as the guards walked out. "Keeper of the Forest of the Dead."
Like her, they had their hands on their sheathed weapons. Caution devoid of disrespect. Now they dipped their heads.
"Welcome, Keeper."
Gavril walked up beside her.
"I am the Keeper's guard," he said. "From the Edgewood garrison."
He'd pulled on his spare tunic, with sleeves that covered his forearms. As he'd pointed out last night, he could never be certain just how welcome Gavril Kitsune would be.
Three guards had come out at first--two from the towers, and one from inside. Now, the gates opened and four more approached. And when they did, Moria knew something was wrong. A town without a garrison would likely not have seven warriors in the entire community. Also, these new men were not warriors. Yes, they dressed in plain tunics and breeches, and they were clean-shaven, as required of warriors in service. They also wore the traditional blades hanging together on their left side, the dagger above the sword. But there was a food stain on the collar of the smallest man. The large one--a bald, copper-skinned desert dweller--had a tiny tattoo on the side of his neck. A third had shaving-blade nicks along his chin, as if he'd recently cut away more than mere stubble. Small things, which would go unnoticed by anyone who hadn't grown up scampering through a garrison.
Daigo began to growl. Not loudly, but she could feel the vibration. Gavril started to step in front of her before stopping himself. He moved behind her instead, so close she could feel his sword hand on his hilt, brushing her back.
The big bald guard waved at the gates. "Come, Keeper. Fairview welcomes you."
"No," Gavril said. "We'll not be stopping. The Keeper wished merely to greet Fairview and bless it. We're pressing on to Riverside."
The smallest man stepped forward. "Fairview wishes to welcome the Keeper. This is a rare honor, and we would like to celebrate."
"I fear that is not possible," Moria said. "I beg the forgiveness of Fairview's spirits, but we have urgent business in Riverside." She dipped her head. "I'll take my leave."
She turned, Gavril and Daigo moving with her. The small man lunged into their path, sword drawn. Gavril swung around her so fast she didn't realize he'd even moved until she heard the clang of steel. Gavril's sword knocked the small man's hard enough that Moria swore she heard the man's wrist crack. He held his blade, though, smacking it back against Gavril's, both stepping forward, swords crossed.
"Lower your weapon, Kitsune," the biggest man rumbled. "I know who you are. My scout spotted you before you hid your ink."
The others surrounded them, blades drawn, all pointed at Gavril. Moria's hands flexed on her sheathed daggers, and she felt Daigo tense. Seven armed men against one young warrior, one even younger Keeper, and a wildcat. In a fight for their lives, the odds would be worth taking, but until then . . .
Her hands relaxed on her blades and she whispered, "Gavril . . ."
"Sheathe your sword, Kitsune," the big man said. "Do you wish to begin a sword fight with the girl in the middle?"
"The girl is a Keeper." Gavril took a deep breath and lowered his blade. "Remind your men who she is and the disrespect of pulling steel on her."
"My men are not good with respect," the big man said. "But they will not harm your Keeper. Our lord wishes her safe, so she will be safe, as her sister is."
"Ashyn?" Moria said in spite of herself. "You have Ashyn."
The big man smiled and she caught a flash of silver teeth. "She is a guest of Fairview. Now come along inside."
"No." Moria lifted her chin. "Bring her to the gates. I will see her before I enter."
The small man stepped past Gavril, who rotated, gaze locked on him.
"Is that how it works, girl?" he said. "You give us orders?"
"I will not enter until I see--"
The small man's blade shot up. Gavril leaped forward, and she saw his sword arm swing out, and was about to shout a warning, tell him not to provoke them with his blade, but there was no blade in his grasp. He'd caught the man's sword with his bare hand.
"You do not raise your weapon against the Keeper."