Empire's Edge (Path of Light Book 2)

by N. A. Oberheide

  A massive cylindrical vehicle attached to several huge rectangular cabs loomed in front of them. The black steel beast huffed steam out of its impressive smoke stack near the front.

  “What in the hell is this thing?” Morra asked.

  Gundir beamed with the radiance of the sun. “That there is what we like to call a steam-powered locomotive! Isn’t she just beautiful?”

  The iron monster looming before them could be described as beautiful only by someone who had a part in building such a machine. The engine and cab at the front were hitched to a set of large, wooden box cars that had wide sliding doors that revealed nothing was inside of them.

  “Well, this ‘ere ladies and gents is your ride!” Gundir boasted.

  “What, this thing is taking us into Wedgewood?”

  “Yes! I was lying about the mules. This ‘ere is a little surprise I thought ye might like!”

  “Well, I am genuinely surprised. You outdid yourself!” Morra laughed. “How long will it take us to get there?”

  “Oh maybe half a day or so. This beast will take you straight into the railyard on the outskirts. Just hop off there and try not attracting too much attention. These carts are for ores and metals, not people after all.”

  “Duly noted. So, which one has the luxury accommodations?” Morra sneered.

  “Pick one! They all have a floor you can sit on and these nice oversize windows to look out of.” Gundir played along.

  He walked them over to the nearest boxcar and threw the door all the way open. He hardly made it a step inside before he nearly jumped out of his boots.

  “What in the hell are ye little shits doing in ‘ere? Out! Out now!” He yelled at what soon became apparent was a group of kids who had hidden away in the back corner. It wasn’t just any kids though. Once Gundir had finished hurling them out of the car by the fistful they looked up and immediately twisted their grimy faces.

  “It’s the witch! The monster! My mommy’s gonna-OW!”

  The rascal couldn’t finish the sentence before the thick boot of the dwarf found his rear with a resounding thump. Gundir chased the kids down the platform, cursing up a vile tirade of ear withering insults while kicking any who were too slow until they were all deep into a tunnel leading back inside.

  “Stupid boxcar kids tryna’ stow away on me pride and joy! Not today!” Gundir seemed satisfied with himself.

  Morra wiped a tear from her eye, a tear of joyful laughter at the spectacle that just ensued.

  “Well, now ye get all the luxuries to yourselves! Step on it and make yourselves at home!” Gundir gestured them inside.

  The large wooden boxcar was barren as could be save for the faint smell of coal and hay. They set their packs down and figured they would just get comfortable in the corner like the kids had almost gotten away with.

  “Well, this is it, huh?” Morra asked with some melancholy.

  “Don’t ye dare get a sad on me! Promise you’ll come back soon?”

  “Yes, I promise I will, you old bearded bastard.”

  With that another signature spine-cracking hug commenced and filled the boxcar with horrible crunching noises. After she was broken in half, Gundir extended his meaty hand out to Naurus. They shook and soon the dwarf had him firmly wrapped up in a half hug, pulling down and forcing him to bend over awkwardly.

  “I’m starting to like ye lad, you seem to be all put together. Now take care o’ my lassie, ya hear?” Gundir whispered into his ear.

  “Mm-hmm!” Naurus mumbled while nodding

  “She’s a rare beauty in a world full of shit! She chose you for a reason, make sure she isn’t disappointed.”

  With that, Gundir let go and Naurus started getting some blood circulation back into his hand.

  Gundir stepped back out on the platform and bowed such that his beard brushed the floor. He signaled something to someone who was out of sight.

  “Alrighty the engineer is good to go! Farewell and safe travels!”

  With that, Gundir waved and walked off down the platform. A huffing and chuffing came from the front of the train and they slowly but surely started moving. The duo sat back against the walls and looked out the doors as the train departed the station and steadily gained speed. A gentle back and forth sway became apparent as the wind gently blew through the box car. Cha-chunk! Cla-Clunk! The sounds of the wheels clattered against the track filled the silence that filled the boxcar.

  “This is nice, why don’t we have these at home?” Naurus suddenly asked.

  Morra at first didn’t seem to hear, but then she glanced over with a blank look. “I really don’t know. I’m sorry, I just don’t.”

  That wasn’t exactly the answer he was looking for, but it was all he was going to get so he dropped it and looked out the open door. The valley they were in didn’t offer much to look at yet it was still far better than walking or riding all the way through.

  “Naurus?”

  “Yes?”

  “You trust me, right?”

  He suddenly felt flustered and defensive. “Of course I do! Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Just making sure. I know you’ve been pulled into a different side of me lately and I just don’t want you to think I’m somehow…different than before.” She sounded unsure of herself.

  “I don’t think anything different of you, I swear. We just have to stick together, right?” Now he was unsure of himself.

  “Right…right you are. Stupid me, I guess I’m rambling now. I could really use a stiff drink right about now.”

  He laughed, not sure how to respond and not sure what awaited them in Wedgewood. The boxcar creaked and cracked, swaying gently as the wilderness outside passed them by in a steady march. A stiff drink sounded good, but not as good as getting back home in one piece. The mission was becoming increasingly ambivalent to him and he began to wonder if there was a hidden agenda deep down inside that she had tucked away from him. He really wanted a drink too.

  Familiar Feelings

  “Wake up! I think we’re here.” She said after nudging him with her boot.

  He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He didn’t expect to be jostled from his catnap like so. It was getting into the evening but still broad daylight and felt groggy despite it. He focused his tired eyes outside the door and realized the scenery had changed much indeed. Instead of untamed wilderness the land was now clear-cut and crisscrossed with numerous rail tracks all seeming to merge into this one area. He stuck his head out the door and looked forward, noticing multiple other train cars on the adjacent tracks and quickly ducked back in for fear of being spotted.

  “So, when do we stop?” Naurus looked over and asked with some confusion.

  “I don’t really want to find out who’s there when we stop. We’ve slowed down, lets jump.”

  She wasted no time in throwing her pack into the grassy tract that the train was passing, then she leaped off and rolled parallel to the track. Naurus followed suit, and soon they were both picking around in the grass for various accoutrements that fell out their packs. He looked around in confusion, seeing clearly how all the rails led into the central hub a furlong down the track but the immediate area was fenced off around them.

  “Where do we go now?” He asked, looking over to see her already staring at her compass with a scowl on her face.

  “Well let’s see, if I had to guess we are on the outskirts but I’m not familiar with this area. Shit let’s get over this fence before someone sees us anyway.” She glanced around nervously, as the puffing of smokestacks and screeching of wheels sounded out from down the track.

  She ran over to the nearest fence, threw her pack over and started clambering up it like a cat. The flat wooden slats wobbled and creaked but held out. She perched on top and reached a hand down.

  “Hand me your man purse!”

  “It’s a satchel, damnit!” He pouted as he handed it to her.

  She set it down on the other side and reached back down to give him a boost up. He grabb
ed her hand and took a leap up to grab the top of the fence with the other. This proved to be the point where they realized fences aren’t made to hold that much weight as the timber planks snapped with a bang and sent them tumbling down. They quickly sprung up, shared a sheepish laugh and clambered through the newly formed gap in the fencing. They found themselves adjacent to a rocky gulch which they cross over and to the top of the ridge on the other side. Here they found a well-trodden dirt road that wound through some woods.

  “Well…shit. I could really use a map right now.” Morra stood and scratched her head.

  “Well we might as well play the guessing game, let’s go to get somewhere before night falls.” He started walking up the road, forcing her to follow the lead.

  “You know exactly where you’re going, eh?”

  “Not at all, but I hate standing around like a statue.”

  So they went off on the road through the woods in a roughly parallel path to the railyard. A few over travelers and traders passed them by, hardly paying more than cursory glances to them which was a welcome departure from the dwarven denizens. Once they made it out of the woods, they found themselves in a wide, flat plain with some buildings visible in the distance. They soon realized it was little more than a village, but they were hungry and thirsty so decided to stop by the creatively named Village Inn. It seemed to be little more than a large house converted into an inn, and the inside felt more like a family’s den than a bar. Only a handful of patrons were inside, and they looked more like passers-by than residents of the land anyway.

  “Howdy! Y’all look a little bit weary, come sit a spell!” A thin, mustached man greeted them from behind the small bar.

  They sat up on the straight back wooden chairs where bar stools should have been.

  “What brings you folks in on this fine day?” The innkeeper leaned on the bar.

  “Oh, just passing through. Say, we are trying to visit some friends and seems we got lost. Are we close to Wedgewood?” Morra asked in the slyest way she could muster.

  “Well y’all sure are! I’d say yer just about a few hours walk down the road, but dusk is on us and these damn roads are full of bears and bandits at night. Y’all don’t look like locals, that’s for sure! Is he your son?” The man smiled at Morra.

  She coughed and shifted uncomfortably. “Why uh…yes! Yes, he is! So…what do I gotta do around here to get some drinks?”

  “All ya gotta do is ask! Oh how rude of me, my name’s Alven. My damn beer is skunked, but I got some wine!”

  He pulled out a glass jug and popped the cork off before filling up a pair of pewter mugs for them. It was somewhat watered down and fruity, but sure beat nothing. The innkeeper went to make a round through the room and check on other patrons.

  “So, I’m your kid now?” Naurus could hardly contain himself.

  “Shut up! I had a brain fart, it doesn’t matter. Looks like we get to shack up here for the night. At least these people are nice enough. Slow down, enjoy it while you can!”

  “Yes mom, I’m sorry.”

  Morra bristled and looked around the room as if mulling over the fact everyone was in earshot.

  “Listen here you little shit, I’m not your mommy and I would never touch your daddy with a harpoon! Now shush, he’s coming back!” Morra hissed under her breath.

  The innkeeper smiled at them, leaning over the bar again.

  “Y’all enjoy that wine?”

  Agreement was nodded while finishing off the last gulp.

  “It’s homemade right in back! I even stomp the grapes with me own two feet!”

  The combination of fortitude and constitution necessary to not spit their wine all over the innkeeper and his fine establishment culminated in a fit of raw, pained coughing.

  “It’s not that strong…is it?” The innkeeper suddenly looked concerned.

  “No…no it’s fine. Just down the wrong hatch it all!” Naurus squeaked out, wiping a tear from his cheek.

  Morra was blushing with effort to not cough up again.

  “Is your dinner uh…homemade as well?” He ventured to Alven who noticeably perked up.

  “Why yes! Just about done with a batch o’ shepherd’s pie, secret family recipe it is! Our mashed taters are to die for they are!”

  “They aren’t mashed with your feet, are they?”

  Alven cackled and braced himself in the stitch of laughter.

  “Upon my word, no! Who ever would do such a barbarous thing?”

  Morra covered her mouth to hide a sneering laugh.

  “Oh of course, how savage.” Naurus started nonchalantly. “Well that does sound damn good right about now. How much do we owe you for the drink already?”

  Alven waved his hand as if somewhat offended. “Nothing! My treat to you. It was about to be skunked anyway, please have some more!”

  “Oh uh…maybe in a bit. How much for that delicious pie and a room though?”

  “I’d say about ten should do it!”

  Morra produced a handful of bills and slid them over.

  “Hmm, you really must be new to here. I could gyp ya, but I ain’t like that. This is all I need.” Alven slid back over one of the bills and Morra sheepishly put it back.

  They waited patiently while the innkeeper slid into the back and plates could be heard banging around. He came back out with two tin plates loaded up with a tasty smelling pie. It was indeed delicious, and free of the taint of feet as promised.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Per usual, he woke up by himself. It was very dark, almost pitch black in fact. The basement room they were to spend the night in was rather cozy and well lit, until the lantern was snuffed that is. Naurus couldn’t seem to find it on the table next to his bed where it had been just last night. He cursed under his breath and realized it had to be time to get up anyway as the creaking of the floorboards above him under footfalls was quite telling.

  He felt his way through the darkness, barely managing to find some clothes. Using the dim light coming from the top of the stairs as his guide he made it out alive and onto the main floor where Morra was already quite comfortable at the one table in the center of the room. Her bemused gaze fell upon him.

  “Well look who’s up! I thought I was going to have to come down there and throw you out of bed.”

  “Yeah well I lost track of time.” He sat down with her.

  “Eat up, we got a big day ahead of us.”

  She pushed over some bread, butter, and eggs that were old enough to be room temperature. He ate it without complaint as she went back downstairs to retrieve the rest of their packs and tackle. After he was finished they couldn’t find the innkeeper to bid farewell but waiting around wasn’t on the agenda either. They set out into the pale, foggy morning and quickly made it out of the sleepy village.

  “Where are we going once we get there?”

  “I’m not exactly sure…don’t make that stupid face! My memory is hazy and I’m sure this place has changed quite a bit.”

  “My face isn’t stupid! I’m just trying to figure out what the end goal of all this is.”

  “Well I’ve got some news for you.” Morra looked at him with a solemn demeanor. “There isn’t always a goal to the things we do. Some things we have to do because they are necessary, not because they are enjoyable. There isn’t a pot of gold at the end of rainbows, and this is no different. We are doing it because our Kingdom needs us and sending two ‘friends’ over is far less intrusive than gunboat diplomacy, isn’t it?”

  “I guess you’re right. I just hate not knowing where this all takes us, you know?”

  Morra furled her brow. “There is nothing more difficult to manage, more doubtful of success, or more dangerous to handle than to take the lead when it comes to introducing a new order of things. Yet that is exactly what we are doing.”

  “I’m starting to realize that now.”

  “Good. Fortune is the ultimate arbiter of all things that we do, and in the here and now all we can do is try t
o get on her good side. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.”

  Naurus wanted to ask what the best and worst meant in this case but figured keeping his mouth shut would be better than potentially pushing the wrong buttons here. He looked over his shoulders, thinking he might catch a glimpse of his dad skulking around in the distance. Well that’s dumb of me…he would never make it so obvious. I wonder if he went back home. I hope mom is taking care of my cat, I miss them both. I hope I’m not stuck over here too long or else Mokhey won’t forgive me! He thought while mindlessly watching a hawk lazily circle off in the distance.

  The day seemed to be passing more quickly than usual, which was a relief as they came to a tunnel carved into a rocky hill. Morra smiled suddenly and for no obvious reason.

  “I know where we are! I remember this damn tunnel! Looks much larger than I remember it being though. Come on, we’re so damn close now!”

  The tunnel was surprisingly well lit and clean, with a gentle downward slope curving off to the left. They soon saw the glow of daylight streaming in from the end of the tunnel. It took a few moments for their eyes to adjust from the soft torchlight of the tunnel to the blazing sunlight, but before them lay a city that was impossible to overlook.

  Down the hill, situated in a yawning valley expanse was a sprawling assortment of buildings, some much taller than others. It went on as far as they eye could see with roofs of thatch, pitch, tin, clay, and even wood shingles abound.

  “Well…this place has grown a bit.” Morra said with a touch of disdain.

  Naurus was about to reply before he was bumped from behind by a horse with a cart that soon followed. The teamster driving it grumbled something incoherently at the two gawkers.