Free Quest for the King by John White

had fallen out of the
bank over the river, and beyond that point the road emerged to rise
above the level of the river once again.
    Alleophaz reined his horse and dismounted, handing the reins to
Wesley.
    "Oh, boy, that tears it!" Kurt said.
    Alleophaz walked toward the point where the road was washed out Belak and Gerachti hurried to join him. Lisa, weary and aching after
sitting side-saddle, released her left foot from the stirrup, slid down
and stood beside her horse, still holding the reins. Kurt longed to join
the men, but restrained himself. They watched the three men discussing the situation. Sometimes one or the other would point ahead and
they would look at the rock face on the left, or back in the direction
from which they had come. Gerachti seemed to point frequently to
the river itself, and to the far side of it.

    Wesley turned to his brother and sister. "I hope he isn't trying to
talk him into crossing it," Wesley said. "That would be absolutely
insane. That current would sweep us away in no time-and the
horses . . . I"
    think I he is suggesting we use ropes."
    "Insanity!"
    They were relieved to hear Alleophaz saying as the men returned,
"No. Absolutely not. It would be far too dangerous. In any case it is
time we stopped to eat. We will all feel better when our stomachs are
full."
    They opened the leather panniers on the pack animals and, seating
themselves in the roadway, began a meal of oat cakes, fruit and sweet
wine. They positioned the horses on the side nearest the break. The
men began to discuss the situation again. Alleophaz and Gerachti did
most of the talking, but after half an hour nothing was resolved.
    "Where's Kurt?" Lisa asked Wesley in a low voice.
    "Goodness knows. He's not here. Did he eat?"
    "I don't know. I think so."
    "Where would he go?
    'Just before we got here he thought he saw a column of smoke like
the one Alleophaz saw in his vision. I couldn't see anything-an' I
think I must have hurt his feelings. Perhaps he's gone for another
look."
    Alleophaz was still talking. "I think we should go back slowly, looking for some point where we can enter the wood, and circumvent the
washed-out area. We may have to dismount and lead the horses."

    At that moment Kurt rounded the corner. "You won't need to look,"
he said. "There's a trail that starts fifteen yards back. I followed it a
little way. It's easy enough for the horses."
    Kurt seemed elated and very sure of himself. Alleophaz looked at
him with interest. "I wonder ..." he said.
    "You wonder what, my lord?" Gerachti responded.
    "Well, in Risgah, before we set out for Bamah, they told us our
choice for the first twenty leagues lay between the high road and the
low. The low, they said, mainly followed the river and was easier and
broader. The high road was narrow in places and could be waterlogged at this time of the year. They also said there were trails connecting the two, but that you had to know what you were doing to
follow them. The forest was full of dangers, they said, and it is very
easy to lose yourself in it."
    He turned to Kurt "It puzzles me that I did not see this column you
saw as we were passing."
    Kurt colored. "I didn't mention the column, because I didn't want
you to think I was crazy."
    "It is not given to humans to see into the spiritual realms every
moment," Alleophaz replied. "But do you know what you are doing?"
    "Yes, my lord, I do."
    Wesley looked at his brother, amazed. He could see that Kurt was
not being brash or cocky. He was both excited and very sure about
something. Evidently Alleophaz was satisfied. "Very well, lead us
along the trail you found."
    In no time they repacked the panniers, mounted, and turned back
on their way.
    Then, fifteen yards beyond the turn in the road, Kurt directed his
horse between a tree and bush, doubling back in the direction of the
cliff. For several yards they ascended steeply, and in the end were
forced to dismount. The narrow path followed