by A. C. Cobble
Ben nodded. It was a pirate town. Safe compared to the dark mage wasn’t saying much.
“I agree we need to get supplies,” said Amelie. “We have a month of hard travel to reach the City. We’ve heard there are people in the forest, but I don’t think we can count on them to provision us. We should be prepared to live on what we can bring or what we can forage for.”
Towaal nodded. “There are tribes in the forest, but little is known of them even in the Sanctuary. They’re said to be a people devoid of magic, but I find that hard to believe. I think that is more of an excuse for the mages to ignore them. Some have claimed they’re all bandits, but there’s not enough commerce through the region to support that. They trade in Akew Woods, according to the sailors on Martin’s vessel, so perhaps we can learn more about them there.”
“Tomorrow then,” said Ben. “We’ll venture into Akew Woods, gather supplies, and learn what we can about the forests. Maybe we can even pick up a skin of ale or two for Rhys. That’d be okay to give to him, wouldn’t it?”
“He’s right. If ale hasn’t killed him yet, it never will.”
The next morning, Ben and Amelie stood at the edge of the trees and looked down at Akew Woods. The town sparkled in the morning sun. The harbor was full of ships, and it was bustling with activity. Some vessels were rushing to make it out on the morning tide, and some were headed to the docks to load or unload. All along the wharf, workers bustled about between the ships and the warehouses. The heart of commerce beat strongly.
In other parts of the town, they could see small figures moving through the streets, likely doing the same kinds of errands they did in Farview or Issen. Housewives getting fresh baked bread, children running loose before they were sent off to school or to an apprenticeship, husbands working their trades. The routines of the morning were much the same in any town, Ben had found. Everything they could see was so normal, the people so ignorant of the conflict that had happened just a league away.
“These people are happy,” remarked Ben.
“Blissfully unaware, I think they call it,” responded Amelie.
“To think, this time two days ago, Eldred woke up under one of those roofs. Utter evil slept beside them and sat in their taverns, and they probably didn’t know it. How could they not? How could they not sense it and want to fight it? Even if they simply ran, I would understand that.”
“People don’t see things until they are right in front of them, until they can’t look away,” answered Amelie. “Also, I think for some, it’s easier to ignore what is happening. Surely, even here, some of them must suspect the demon threat is growing. Someone must have noticed all of Eldred’s soldiers in town. It didn’t affect them, though, not that day, so they ignored it.”
Ben grunted.
“It’s the nature of man,” continued Amelie. “Ignore what you can. Only face what you have to.”
“Are you suggesting we should ignore what’s happening?” inquired Ben.
Amelie shook her head. “These people are ignorant, innocent. Even if they weren’t, they don’t have the skills to face what we did yesterday. Even if they wanted to, they would have caused more harm than good by getting themselves killed and feeding that awful thing. With guidance and leadership, people like this can stand up to a few demons and maybe even make a difference in a conflict like the Alliance and the Coalition, but they need people like us to protect them from the rest.”
“Someone has to fight the monsters?”
“Someone has to fight the monsters,” agreed Amelie, “and it might as well be us.”
Ben hitched his belt, feeling his longsword bump against his leg. “Eldred’s dead. That’s one monster down.”
“Don’t forget the Purple,” reminded Amelie. “No one knew the true threat they represented, but we stopped them as well.”
“Monster fighters,” smirked Ben. “Do you think that’s what they’ll call us? It’s not very catchy.”
Amelie smiled at him. “I think they’ll call us heroes.”
Ben stood beside Amelie, looking down the hill at Akew Woods. They stayed there for several long moments, basking in the normalcy of it.
“I hope they don’t call us anything,” said Ben, finally. “I hope they never know what happened in that quarry, and that they never have to worry about the darkness that exists in this world.”
“I understand,” responded Amelie quietly.
They watched as a group of children raced out of the town gates and scampered over the rocks and moss that lined the road. They were playing a game of tag or running for the simple joy of it.
“Those children are innocent,” said Amelie, gesturing to them. “I wish we could keep them all that way.”
“We’d better get to it then,” replied Ben with a grin. “The Veil, the Alliance and the Coalition, and the demons. We have a lot to do.”
“We do,” agreed Amelie, “but first, breakfast.”
They made their way down the hill and to the town of Akew Woods, watching the children play in the sun-drenched field.
1
Akew Woods
Bright sunlight sparkled on the water, surrounding the town of Akew Woods with a shimmering backdrop like a thousand candles burning through an azure curtain. A salty breath of air blew away the verdurous scent of moss and forest. Below them, an inviting, hard-packed dirt road led between the forest and the town. The gates were open, and already groups of travelers were departing, heading into the forest.
Before they entered the town, Ben and Amelie wanted to scout out the surrounding terrain. From near the quarry where they’d camped, it was impossible to see more than fifty paces through the forest in any direction. Their first journey over the road had been in the dark of night, and they’d been rushing to avoid the Sanctuary’s men. Now, on the rock- and moss-covered peninsula that cradled Akew Woods, in the light of day, they could get a better view.
Ben followed Amelie to the top of a bluff that rose above the protective horn of the harbor. From their perch, they looked down on the town and the empty, endless expanse of water beyond it. The Empty Sea, Ben had heard the sailors call it. The description seemed apt. On the horizon, he thought he spied a sail, but it could have been the crest of a rogue wave. The rest of the vista was only rich, royal blue, the water barely discernable from the sky.
The other way, over the bluff to the east, the coastline stretched into the distance. The bluffs continued for leagues, unbroken, until they faded into the early morning mist. Sheer cliffs dropped straight down to ragged surf. Atop the cliffs were verdant green forests.
Amelie scrambled up a moss-covered rock and peered at the town below them.
“It looks peaceful in the morning sun,” she remarked.
Ben nodded, eyeing the dozen children in the distance that scampered amongst the rocks outside of the gates, playing an unruly version of tag.
Ben and Amelie’s shadows stretched out in front of them, elongated by the sun rising at their backs. Ben waved his hand and smiled as his shadow mimicked him. Glancing at Amelie out of the corner of his eye, his shadow made a playful but rude motion in her direction.
She sighed dramatically. “You are a child.”
Ben grinned and turned back to the east, stepping close to the edge of the bluff. He felt a trill in his heart as he looked down the sheer rock face. Two or three hundred paces straight down and then a narrow, sandy beach studded by giant hunks of rock that had fallen from the cliff over the years. The waves, unimpeded for hundreds of leagues across the South Sea, pounded relentlessly against the rocks. The air was heavy with humidity and salt.
Far below, a huge culvert extended out of the cliff. Been leaned over, looking closer to examine it. It was the size of a wagon and jutted just four paces out from the rock.
As Ben was looking down, the winds shifted, and a blast of sea air whipped up into his face, followed by a foul wave of utter filth. He stumbled back, gagging. His eyes watered and he felt his stomach churning.
He leaned over, hands on his knees, spitting on the mossy rocks of the bluff, trying to stop himself from retching. Amelie couldn’t contain her laughter and plopped down next to him.
“You should have seen your face,” she crowed, tears leaking down her cheeks. “It was like someone told Rhys that ale doesn’t exist anymore.”
“Why would they do that?” complained Ben, reaching for his water skin, hoping to rinse the taste of the filth of Akew Woods from his mouth.
“Better on the far side of the bluff than in the harbor,” responded Amelie. “Remember? We swam through that.”
Swishing water in his mouth and spitting it back out, Ben shook his head. Away from the cliff, the sea air flowed over him without the taint of sewage. Hesitantly, he breathed in deeply, letting the scent of the salt and moss fill his lungs.
“When you’re ready, I’m starving,” remarked Amelie. “It’s about time for breakfast.”
Ben groaned and then scrambled to his feet. He’d be hearing about this for weeks. He knew it.
In the early morning, the town of Akew Woods showed few signs of the frantic revelry that had come to an end just bells before. The wildest taverns were empty except for a few patrons who hadn’t made it out the doors before collapsing in drunken slumber. The gambling dens were quiet, and the only activity at the bawdy houses were heavily made up girls and boys drinking kaf in small groups starting the day, or more likely, finishing up for the night.
Instead of the boisterous crowd like the night they’d snuck through town, the streets were now filled with people going about their day, running the same errands they did anywhere in the world. Akew Woods was a wild town but a wealthy one. The pirates brought in loot, spent it, and made the merchants rich. The merchants and their families put the money to use buying from local craftsmen and continued the cycle of prosperity. The veins of commerce pumped with the blood of coin in Akew Woods.
Feeling better and enjoying the early bustle in the streets, Ben followed Amelie’s lead. They poked their heads into several open taverns, but they were either littered with drunks or serving unfamiliar dishes. After their time in the South Continent, Amelie said she wanted something that reminded her of home.
Finally, halfway down to the harbor, they smelled sizzling bacon and baking bread coming from a clean-looking inn. Ben peeked in the window and saw it was mostly empty, just half a dozen locals filling one table.
Amelie frowned. “My father always said to never patronize a tavern that is empty because it might be empty for good reason.”
Ben scratched at a mouth-shaped scar on his arm and stared through the open window. He eyed a plate a serving woman was setting on the table. Fluffy eggs, thick-sliced bacon, and fragrant bread. One of the locals picked up a small pot and poured a steaming mug of kaf.
“Let’s risk it,” Ben suggested, his mouth watering.
Amelie grinned, and they stepped inside. In addition to the half-dozen locals at one table, the place was filled with bustling serving women. To Ben’s eye, it appeared they were working harder at appearing busy than actually being busy. One of the women directed them to an open bench and took their order.
After she left, Ben turned to Amelie. “So, a hearty breakfast then to the market to gather supplies?”
Amelie nodded. “We could be done by midday and then hike back to camp. I think we could make it back before dusk. Or, we could take our time, spend the night in town, and leave early tomorrow.”
“A night in town might be nice,” murmured Ben.
“I know what you’re thinking,” responded Amelie.
“And?” inquired Ben, scooting closer to her on the bench. “You’re the one who mentioned staying the night. What are you thinking about?”
Amelie played coy for a few moments and then relented. “A few drinks then we share a comfortable bed. We may not get a chance to enjoy civilization for a bit, so it’d be a shame not to take advantage.”
Ben grinned, but before he could reply, the serving woman was back with a pot of kaf, two mugs, and two heaping plates of food. She expertly unloaded the items from her tray, and Ben inhaled deeply, soaking up the smell of the bacon and bread.
“That was quick,” complimented Amelie.
The woman nodded and then gestured around the room. “Full staff in the kitchen, but no one is here to cook for.”
“Why is that?” inquired Amelie. “If you don’t mind me asking. Your prices seem fair, and the food smells good.”
The woman grinned. “The prices are fair, and the food is good. Reason no one is here is because all the rooms upstairs are booked. Most of our breakfast custom is folks who stay overnight. A week ago, sixty foreigners rented out the entire inn. Paid in advance, believe it or not. Haven’t seen ‘em for two days though. That’s why no one is here for breakfast. I guess Ole Meece is making his money on the rooms being booked and thinks he’s savin’ coin by not having to feed ‘em. These people are not even using all the rooms! Paid for every bed in the house and told Meece to keep them empty. Stupid waste of coin if you ask me, paying for those rooms and not staying in ‘em. Fool and his money, though, right?”
“Yeah, right,” agreed Ben, shooting a look at Amelie. “You said sixty foreigners, and they’ve all been gone for two days? That sounds mighty strange.”
“Aye, they’ve been gone,” asserted the woman. “The cute shaggy-haired one left three days ago. Then, two days ago, all of a sudden, the whole bunch started pouring outta here. They were geared up like they was dressed for war, but no one knows who they were going to fight. Nothing happened in town, and no travelers have seen ‘em on the roads.”
“Shaggy-haired one?” asked Amelie quietly.
“He was a delicious little morsel, let me tell you,” proclaimed the woman, leaning toward Amelie. “He was young for me, but I wouldn’ta minded bedding him anyway if I’d had the chance. He may have been some highborn, though. All those soldiers snapped to attention every time he walked in. Probably best not to mess with that type, but a girl can dream. It woulda been a fun night, right?”
Amelie nodded wordlessly.
“Where did he go?” asked Ben, drawing the serving woman’s attention back.
The woman shrugged. “The forest road, I reckon. Never heard any discussion of getting passage on a ship, and there’s nowhere else to go.”
“Thanks,” murmured Ben.
The woman scurried off when an elderly bald man poked his head out of the kitchen. She busied herself pretending to wipe down a table. Three other serving women were swishing brooms or filling up the basins below the oil lamps. The women were hoping to not be sent home and miss an easy day of pay, guessed Ben.
“She said they still have the rooms,” whispered Amelie. “Sounds like no one has been up there for two days.”
Ben nodded and bent to his meal.
“Ben,” prodded Amelie. “She mentioned a shaggy-haired young man. Said he left three days ago.”
“I know, I know,” he responded around a mouthful of bread. “You’re thinking the young man she mentioned has to be Milo. I agree, but let’s deal with what’s upstairs first.”
They ate quickly, trying to enjoy their first decent meal since they left Shamiil. When they finished the food, Ben refilled his kaf mug and sat back. His gaze bounced around the room, watching the serving women scurry about. He observed the bald man, who must be Old Meece, constantly poke his head out and study the customers.
At the far end of the room, near the kitchens, an open stairwell led upstairs to where the boarding rooms would be. With the common room devoid of patrons and filled with serving staff who had nothing to do, there would be no way to make it up those stairs without being spotted.
“Maybe we can just walk up and they won’t say anything?” suggested Amelie.
Ben shook his head. “She said the foreigners rented every room in this place. If they
see strangers walking up those stairs, they’re going to want to know why.”
She grunted and fell silent for several moments before offering, “Late at night, no one may be watching.”
Again, Ben shook his head. “This is Akew Woods. Night is when the town comes alive. There’ll be more people here after sunset than there are now. Remember, it was after midnight when we first came through, and the streets were packed.”
Amelie frowned.
“You think we can just leave it alone then?” she asked.
Ben sighed and set down his mug. “We can’t. What if the wyvern fire staff is in her room?”
“You’re right,” admitted Amelie. “It could be there. Even if it’s not, this is too good of an opportunity to pass up. There’s no telling what she could have in her room and what we could learn from it. If not the stairs, how do we get in, though?”
“Let’s walk outside and see what we can see,” suggested Ben.
They finished quickly, sprinkled some copper coins on the table, and then meandered outside. Ben ducked behind a vegetable seller’s stall and pulled Amelie close. He peered around the edge of the stall, furtively studying the inn.
“No one is watching us, and there’s no one we need to hide from in this town,” said Amelie. “If anything, skulking about is likely to draw someone’s attention.”
Ben flushed and took Amelie’s hand, strolling down the street and then turning the corner to walk into the empty wagon yard behind the inn. The yard was dominated by a hulking, burnt-out stone stable. The structure was intact, but it was clear that days before, a fire had blazed inside.
“Rhys was telling the truth,” observed Amelie, sounding surprised.
Ben grunted in agreement and studied the rest of the area.
The wagon yard was a flat, muddy space bordered by the back of the inn on two sides, the burnt-out stable on another, and a head-high fence on the fourth side. Barrels were stacked against the inn, and other supplies which must have been salvaged from the burning stable were stacked against the fence. By the empty hulk of the stable was a massive pile of hay. A delivery to replace what was consumed in the fire, guessed Ben. A wheelbarrow sat beside it, but apparently no one had gotten the energy the move the wagon load inside.
