Jarax has found a sarion woman willing to let us use her son
as a decoy. The plan is for my friend to wear my clothes, for this stand-in boy
to wear Dashyl’s clothes, and for the two of them to leave for Agrigane shortly
after dusk. As our pursuer follows the decoys, Dashyl and I will leave some
hours before dawn, when only the purple moon is in the sky. Under this cover of darkness, we will head due south of Histra and try to reach the Tanglefern
Thicket by the eve of the following day. Maps show the country between Histra
and the thicket to be gentle, rolling hills of grass and scrub forests. We
should be able to travel quickly and be lost to anyone following us.
Jarax laughs off the risk. He claims since we do not know
the intentions of the one on our trail, he could be taking no risk at all. He
asked me who would harm a masquer. I did not speak my answer to him, but there
are plenty of minions loyal to the Catalyst Foundation that would not hesitate
to harm anyone in the way of achieving their goal. I can only hope this is a
farce dreamt up by Jarax as some sort of performance preparing him for a place in the masquer troupe in Agrigane. If this pursuer is connected to those who called
for my exile, Jarax could be taking a lethal risk.
I realize, in a few hours, I will say farewell to my friend and it
could be the last time we see each other. Spending so much time with him planning
our journey and traveling together has lifted my spirits greatly. His wisdom
and whimsy are the perfect counterpoints to my calculating and logical mind.
His stories are often of a humorous bent, but when he performs them while
dancing and tumbling, they take on an added meaning, added importance. Jarax’s
art gives life a heightened meaning, a greater sense of purpose that what we
are doing is grand. Yet, he also reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously
and let laughter and mirth bring balance into our existence. I have a feeling
we will see each other again. If not in person, then in the lore shared by
future masquers across Veratar.
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