Free Lines of Fire (The Guild House - Defenders Hall) by Janet Lane Walters

detached duty, I need to head out for a few days.”
    “What about the bonding? Now that you’re healed, you must exchange bracelets with Kalia.”
    Alric looked away. “I need to find her first. She’s vanished and I believe she left by the Artisan’s gate. Unless you know of someone who was sent that way.”
    Sando scowled. “Did the Swordmaster send her away?”
    “He thinks she’s in the Women’s Quarters.”
    “And you don’t believe him?”
    “Already checked with him. He thinks she’s sulking, but even before the duel she wanted to flee.”
    Sando nodded. “Then detached duty it is. Will you go alone?”
    “Robec wants to come.”
    “Do you trust him?”
    “No, but he loves his sister.”
    The patrol leader walked with Alric to the supplier. “What do you need?”
    “Robec said he would come for the food supplies but I could use a new fire starter, some snares and fishing gear. Also maps of the roads north starting at the Artisan’s gate.”
    Sando called the order to the man at the counter. Alric hoisted the small pack and the rolled map. “See you as soon as I can.”
    “I’ll send Ganor and Rila after you. If you take one of the side roads, leave them a sign. Can’t afford to take the chance this is a trap.”
    “Thanks.” Alric strode toward the stable. He found Robec seated on a bench at the side of the door.
    “Have you any news?” Robec asked.
    Alric nodded. “An Artisan saw her leave by their gate heading north. Sando knows where I’m headed. I’ll leave now.”
    “I have the supplies,” Robec said. “I want to go. You really shouldn’t be alone with Kalia until you exchange bracelets.”
    “You’re welcome to come.” Alric grabbed the two packs from the ground beside the bench. “Are you sure you can ride fast and far? What will your father say?”
    “I don’t care. Help me saddle my steed.”
    Alric quickly saddled both bihorns. He helped Robec mount and handed up the crutches. “You’ll need these.” He led both bihorns into the tunnel and walked to the Artisan’s gate.
    “Why here?” Robec asked.
    “This is the road your sister took. We’ll need to check to see if she remained on the main road or took a side trail.”
    “I guess that makes sense.”
    Alric walked as fast as possible. When would the Swordmaster realize they were gone? He had never allowed Robec to join a patrol. There was bound to be a pursuit. If he and Robec had to leave the main road he would have to leave a sign. Would anyone sent out know the signals?
    Once they reached the Artisan’s gate Alric mounted and set his bihorn on the road to the north.
    When they reached the first crossroad, he dismounted and studied the ground. He saw ruts that meant carts had followed the trail but he also found signs of a racing bihorn. Since there’d been no recent rain to erase the trail, the tracks seemed to have been made several days before.
    “We’ll go this way.” He thought of Kalia and watched his lines of fire move along his hands to point along the trail. Though he wasn’t sure what this meant, he had to hope they traveled in the right direction.
    “Why take this narrow overgrown trail?” Robec asked.
    Alric looked up. “The bihorn tracks appear to be made at the right time and overlay those made by some carts.” He stooped and bent a branch of a shrub in a way he knew his patrol members would notice.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Letting the ones Sando sends after me know which way we went.”
    “Why would he do that?”
    “For safety.”
    Robec shook his head. “What about my father’s men? Will they know the signs?”
    “They might. But it’s best to leave our direction. We were both injured and might fall into trouble, especially if Kalia met up with the peddler.”
    “What if the peddler had a bihorn?”
    “The tracks would be beneath those of the carts.” Alric wondered if he should tell Robec about the reaction of the lines of fire when he thought about Kalia.
    “But