When he described it later, Jon was tempted to call it an ambush.
The path he and Bullseye rode ran close to the base of a cliff. At a few spots it passed between the cliff and some high rocks; it was in one of those little passes that they suddenly saw movement above them on both sides..
First it was just boulders and brush. A second later ten, twenty figures popped up with bows drawn at them.
No, they didn't "pop" up like ordinary people. And Indians would have exposed themselves suddenly, for effect. This was like a cloud had moved off the sun and exposed the men aiming bows at Jon and Bullseye.
Even "men" might be wrong. They were all slim and fair, golden- or silver-haired, and graceful; even though most were bare-chested, it was often hard to tell elven men from women. Also, many of their best archers were female.
Jon and Bullseye drew their horses up short, as three more of the elves came from around the bend into the path. They had bows slung across their backs, but were wielding spears with blades of what looked like beaten copper. They wore little more than loincloths and belt-pouches.
"What's going on here?" said Bullseye.
"Who are you?" said the leader of the elves. "Where are you going?"
"Ain't none of your --"
"Shut up, Bullseye," said Jon.
The lead elf said something in Elvish to one of the others behind him. Jon recognized the word for "sack" or "pouch". That elf went to Ebony's side and started to open Jon's saddlebag.
"Hey!" said Bullseye. "Git away from -- " His eyes nearly bugged out when he realized this bare-chested elf was female.
The girl pawed through the saddlebag; Jon's shaving kit and other mundane items. Jon watched her open the burlap sack and handle the brilliant gold coins inside, and pass them off as unimportant. He had been there when Bullseye had cast the glamour over them, so he saw them as they really were. If he let his mind wander, he would see the coins the same way the girl did: as tin or wood tokens worth about nine dollars at various saloons and brothels back in _______.
"You think we got money?" said Bullseye. "You ain't never met a cowboy before, have ya?"
"Shut up, Bullseye," said Jon. "Holdup men don't ask your names. This is a posse."
"I still don't gotta --"
"Shut up, Bullseye," said the leader.
Jon smiled. "I'm Jon Lonehawk. You know his name. We're with a cattle drive about two hours back. We're headed towards ______."
"Why?"
"We have business for our boss."
The girl went to Scarlet's side and opened Bullseye's saddlebag. She scooped aside the pebbles, seeds, and feathers, and the bag of priceless gold, and picked up a dime novel; she glanced at the lurid illustrations and moved on to the next object: a small hardbound book illustrated with symbols and sigils. This seemed to get her attention, and she started to handle the spell components with more interest.
"____", she said to the leader. Spellcaster.
"You must come with us," said the lead elf. "Our ____ will speak with you."
Bullseye did not inch a hand towards his gun. He could draw fast enough that he didn't have to. Plus he was sure he could dodge the two dozen arrow that would come right after. Pretty sure.
"Meaning no disrespect," said Jon, "But may I ask why?"
"No. "
The elven man whistled loudly, and called out a few words. Inside of a minute, half a dozen of the others had climbed down the rocks and surrounded Jon and Bullseye's horses. Half were female. Bullseye was trying to decide how they could gallop away out of arrow range in the best time, but, surrounded by more half-naked women than he'd ever seen at one time, found concentration impossible.
"Follow us," said the leader. "Do not try to go elsewhere." He and one other started to run in the directing Jon and Bullseye had been traveling. The spuured their horses and started to follow. The remaining elves ran along side, surrounding them at all times.
The riders had never seen anyone who could pace a trotting horse, at least for very long. These elves were natural marathoners, taking long, easy strides over the dry terrain with no sign of fatigue. Bullseye realized that if they did broke into a gallop, they'd never really be out of the range of those damned elven longbows and legendary eyesight.
