“Four days! They were here only four days ago!” Ydari fumed. He had taken the attempt on the Queen’s life as a personal affront and this latest discovery had sent him over the edge. “We could have caught up to them if I hadn’t been an invalid for a week.”
“And you could have been dead if you had gone after them,” Raelynne countered. “At least this way we still have a chance to catch up.”
“Of that I have no doubt,” Kael added confidently. “It is highly likely that they stuck to the main thoroughfares. I know this forest intimately and I can lead you through the hunting trails that will cut off a good portion of the journey you’d have to take if you travelled by the main road. I suggest we leave before daybreak. So, make yourselves comfortable for the night because you’re in for a long slog tomorrow.”
“You both make good points,” the Captain admitted grudgingly. “Fine, we will take you up on your offer Kael.”
“What if I don’t want to?” Lothram whined from behind them.
“Tough. You’re coming too.”
“What if I point out that...” the Sergeant began.
“If I wanted your opinion I’d beat it into you,” Ydari interrupted sarcastically.
“Fine, just show me where I’m sleeping.”
This interaction distracted the angered Watch Captain as he considered this. He shrugged his shoulders as he mentally conceded the validity of their argument and he took a few deep breaths to calm himself. Suddenly tiredness overcame his aching limbs and the press of drowsiness made him slip into a stupor where moments before anger and adrenaline had kept the effects of exhaustion at bay. Around the pavilion everyone had drooping eyelids and they were all of one mind. One by one Kael showed his guests to their accommodation for the night and they each fell into a fitful sleep.
The morning came all too quickly. Ydari and his companions were roused from their slumber by a surprisingly fresh-faced Kael and they slithered unwillingly from the warmth of their beds. Lothram once again proved to be the most difficult to wake and he only came to after a bucket of icy cold water was dumped onto his snoozing form. He awoke with a tirade of profanities, much to the amusement of the bandit leader. Raelynne and the watchmen spent the next few minutes preparing themselves for the next leg of their journey.
It was still dark outside and the dawn was a long way off. Kael passed out rations of cold meat and the members of the group chewed on their meagre fare cheerlessly as they all assembled by the horses. The bandit leader was meticulous in his preparations as he checked the horses’ coats and hooves and the work of securing their packs was over in a moment. After this ritual had been completed Kael disappeared for a few minutes before returning with a mount of his own from the group the brigands kept for their use and he nodded to each of them in turn. Black rings underscored the eyes of Ydari and his fellows but each of them, with the notable exception of Teobrin, mentally shrugged off the encroaching exhaustion. Kael signalled to them and turned on the spot, leading his horse by the reins. Teobrin yawned noisily and the infectious impulse was soon shared by each of the band of adventurers. Ydari slapped himself to clear the entangling webs of drowsiness from his mind as they set off.
The trek that Kael led them on proved to be hard going. What the vagabond had charitably called hunting trails turned out to be a barely visible path through the dense trees and bracken that clawed at the legs of the watchmen as they clomped their way forwards. The Watch Captain had fared better thanks to his greaves but nettles did find a way to sting his upper thighs and he winced with each lash from their wicked leaves. The mood in the group quickly turned sour as the terrain became more uneven. They were weary by daybreak and the ground rose sharply with each step. Every so often, Kael strayed from the path they followed and took another. Each new route was less defined until every last one of his wayward followers were convinced that he was making it up and was just choosing any arbitrary direction in which to proceed.
Halfway through the day the weather took a turn for the worse. Storm clouds built up steadily and the sky blackened until there was an ominous rumble. It didn’t take long for the rain to begin falling in a thick drizzle and the chill that it brought did little to improve the mood of Ydari and the others as they slogged their way through the forest. At points the ground mercifully levelled out and they no longer had to battle their way up steep inclines. Instead they got to enjoy a relatively easy walk but these moments became fewer and fewer. Steadily, the collective mood of the group except for Kael worsened to the point that a wrong word here or an errant comment there led to a verbal outburst that put everyone on edge.
After hours of tiresome lumbering through the boughs of the Melethynne, Kael called a halt for the day and everyone sighed happily. The meal that night was a cheerless affair and even the warmth of a campfire provided little comfort until one by one they fell into their cots to sleep away their troubles. It was short-lived however and it seemed to Ydari that he had only been drowsing for minutes before his brother was shaking him awake and urging him to get moving. The dawn was hours away once more and the skies overhead had blackened considerably. The rain returned and buckets of water drenched them, sapping them of warmth and comfort. At times their horses had to be dragged around a particularly dense patch of forest and they churned up muck in their wake.
The cycle continued for two more days and the laughter and idle chatter of the beginning of their quest quickly became a distant memory. The rain had continued to pound and batter away at their resolve and the ground underfoot became slick with mud, making the task of merely putting one foot in front of the other an arduous one. All the while, Kael led them on and as the sun was setting on the fourth day of their toil up the northern slopes of the Melethynne Forest, their hopes of escaping the confines of the dank woods were dashed once more. Lothram was particularly grumpy as he slid into his cot alongside an increasingly embittered Ydari, his thoughts entirely consumed with catching up to his quarry and what he would do to them once they had.
The weather broke the next morning and the terrain gradually flattened. The treeline too was less oppressive as more light streamed in through the leaves and warmed their aching limbs, the travelling conditions making their muscles knot and spasm painfully the longer they had to endure. Eventually the trees broke altogether and Kael stopped as they crested a hill and the landscape of open country mercifully stretched out ahead of them. The sight of it instantly cheered the party and collective whoops of triumph and the patting of shoulders ensued while Ydari and Kael hunkered down thoughtfully and surveyed the vista. The main highway they had left in the depths of the Melethynne was visible, the sight of it greatly improving Ydari’s demeanour and already he felt reinvigorated.
“I can’t believe we finally made it out of that damn forest,” Lothram whined. “If I never have to look at another tree again it’ll be too soon. Give me the stone of a city any day and a soft bed to lie in and I’ll never complain again.”
“If only I could believe that,” Ydari countered sardonically. “You possess a rare skill to find fault in anything so why change the habit of a lifetime?”
“Have I ever told you…”
“That you don’t find me funny,” interrupted the Captain. “You need to get some new material; you’ve been repeating yourself for some time.”
“Can we continue our journey or am I interrupting your witty banter?” Kael asked bemusedly.
“Where are we exactly?” Idrahil enquired.
“We’ve travelled north through the Melethynne Forest and cut off a big sweep of the main road from Maleardhus. I estimate that we have shaved off two days and we should reach the town of Ilvastus this evening,” answered the vagabond.
“Ilvastus? That’s close to the border with Tirgaal,” Lothram remarked.
“Precisely. That is the route your cultists likely took too. We may be able to find out if they’ve been seen or, at the very least, get a bath and a good night’s sleep in a tavern,” said Kael.
<
br /> “Sounds like paradise.”
The Sergeant plunged his mount headlong down the gentlest part of the slope as if the tantalising prospect of civilisation was calling to him. Ydari shrugged and followed Lothram’s lead and soon the party were precariously walking their steeds towards the main road once more. The incline steepened to the point that the Watch Captain took the precaution of dismounting and leading his roan on foot on a different course. The Sergeant however doggedly tackled the slope until he too had to concede defeat and join his fellows in seeking a safer path. The route was rocky and their progress slowed to a crawl until at long last they wound their way through the many obstacles and were once again in flat open country, the road just a few hundred yards ahead.
Their pace quickened dramatically as they adopted a canter that whittled away the miles. The scenery changed every hour until modest townhouses on the outskirts of Ilvastus loomed on the horizon. The day had waned late into the afternoon when Ydari and his companions passed a small farmstead. Here four roads that wound to different corners of Ythelia all intersected as it became the main highway by which people journeyed to the kingdom of Tirgaal and all of it passed through Ilvastus. As such, it had become a haven to those who had survived the wilds.
Ydari turned and glanced about him and he spied the Sergeant beaming an uncharacteristic grin as they passed laden wagons and townsfolk walking to and from their homes on the edge of town. A particularly shabby group of them strolled down the middle of the road and only moved to the side after Raelynne called out to them hoarsely. One of their number glanced up and did a double-take as he saw Kael. Suddenly they scampered away until they caught the attention of one of the guards that were on patrol and, after much discussion and pointing, the pikemen lumbered over and halted in front of the Watch Captain’s band.
“Stop right there,” the guard commanded, throwing his arms out to the side. “What’s your business in Ilvastus?”
“Just passing through,” Ydari replied conversationally. “We’ll be spending the night and heading out at dawn.”
“Is that really all you’ll be doing?”
“Why are you asking? Do you think I’m lying to you?”
“I was told something different. I’ll ask again, what brings you to Ilvastus?”
“For Azreus’ sake.”
“Let me handle this,” Kael butted in as he trotted his horse to the head of the party. “Hello there, good fellow,” he said pleasantly. “By any chance, were you told that we were common criminals?”
“Oh, it’s you,” the guard said in a withering tone. “Are you reporting to the commander?”
“Something like that.”
“I’m guessing that is a standard reaction you get from people you know?” Lothram asked.
“What?”
“Eternal disappointment,” the Sergeant replied sarcastically.
“Lothram, shut up.”
Lothram shot Kael a grin before the vagabond dismounted his horse and walked some way with the guard on duty. They spoke at length for a few minutes whilst a bored Ydari looked around at the surroundings. As the minutes dragged by, the streets gradually filled with the residents of Ilvastus as they headed out into the evening air and off to the various taverns and inns. Eventually Kael returned to the group whilst the guard returned to his patrols. The townsfolk who had reported their presence to the guard had hovered close by the entire time to keep a close watch on proceedings. As Kael re-joined his brother’s side, they scurried off quickly and were soon lost in the growing crowds.
Ydari nodded to his friends and they cantered forwards. They rode into the midst of Ilvastus and the Watch Captain couldn’t help noticing that it looked like a smaller version of Maleardhus. It was as if the architect had copied the White City, building by building, and had miniaturised it. The effect made Ydari nostalgic for its bleached walls and life of mundanity on patrol or taking on the criminal element that thrived in such large settlements. The rhythmic pounding of their horses’ hooves was replaced with a clatter as the road underfoot was morphed into worn cobblestones. More and more signs lined the streets outside various shops and businesses and it was clear that trade was booming within the town.
The buildings grew in density as they headed towards the main square where five roads converged. They trotted into it and directly ahead of the party a large church had been erected, smaller than the Cathedral in Maleardhus but no less resplendent. Off to the left stood a large tavern and it was heaving with patrons, judging by the din that echoed from within its walls. On the right there were the watch barracks that also held the offices of the commander and it was to this that Kael made a beeline. Ydari stopped within the main square and watched his brother for a moment.
“Where are you headed?” the Captain shouted.
“I’m going to check in with the Watch Commander. He might know something about the cultists,” Kael responded. “You should head over to the tavern and get yourselves a room for the night.”
Ydari nodded in acknowledgement as he turned and led the way towards the Inn. Outside of the main building there was a stable and a few men pottered about its confines whilst half a dozen horses stood in the stalls. Half of them were empty and Ydari was hopeful that they could pay for accommodation for the night as he approached, dismounting his roan as a stable hand walked over. The Captain asked a few questions of the earnest faced young man and deposited a coin into his hand. Raelynne and the watchmen dismounted their own steeds before three more men appeared and led the horses into the stables.
Lothram clapped his hands eagerly as he eyed the Tavern door and he set off for it instantly. The rest of them trooped silently behind him. Ydari looked up and saw a sign swinging in the breeze bearing the name the Silver Bell, underneath a crude carving that depicted its namesake. The smell was overpowering as they entered the establishment as the stench of unwashed bodies, vomit and strong beer assaulted their senses. The hubbub was louder than they had expected and they had to shout to one another for even a chance to be heard. As the mage and Watchmen entered two burly looking men were hefting four drunken revellers to the front door. They were booted from the building roughly and, after much cursing and empty threats, they drunkenly stumbled away.
Ydari felt a tapping on his shoulder and he looked around to see Idrahil motioning to a round table by the fireplace that was free. He nodded and all of them except for Lothram and Ydari made their way over to it and made themselves comfortable. The Captain and his Sergeant meanwhile fought for a place at the counter, fighting the press of rowdy townspeople as they fought to get the overburdened bartender’s attention. Minutes later they were finally noticed in the crush and after much yelling Ydari had managed to pay for four rooms for the night whilst Lothram had been uncharacteristically generous and purchased a round of drinks. Between the two men they managed to cart the beverages back over to the table where their companions waited.
The door to the Silver Bell swung inwards and Kael stepped into view. Idrahil stood up and by some miracle managed to make herself overheard in the din. Kael waved to her in response and walked over. He took a seat, his face flush with self-congratulation and he took a hearty swig from a tankard that was slid over to him, He raised it dramatically by way of thanks and drained the rest of its contents in loud gulps. Ydari copied his brother’s gesture before he too downed his drink.
“I paid for four rooms. That means some of us will have to double up,” Ydari announced.
“That’s fine with me,” shrilled the Sergeant. “Just as long as I’m out of the mud, I’m happy.”
“Me too. I’ll happily share a room with Raelynne if she is fine with that,” Idrahil added. She looked over to the mage who nodded her assent to the idea.
“It’s like a sleepover. This is going to be amazing,” Teobrin chirped happily.
“What did you find out?” asked Ydari, ignoring the young man.
“The Watch Commander is an arse,” Kael spat in contempt. “He didn’t wan
t to say anything at first so I had to loosen his lips with a bribe but I did get something useful out of him in the end. Turns out your cultists did come this way and what’s more they’re only a day ahead of us. I told you we’d catch up.”
“Excellent,” Ydari replied. “We’ll head out before dawn again tomorrow and when we intercept them, we’re going to have a little chat.”
***
Trelech stretched as he walked over to the window and looked out across the city of Mal Ithir. The buildings were as bleak and oppressive as he remembered and the sights and sounds made him smile in satisfaction; things were going according to plan. In the main square of the Plateau District a large scaffold had been set up and a line of drab and miserable-looking men and women were lined up in front of it with their hands bound. The city guards worked with brutal efficiency as line upon line of prisoners were stood upon the scaffold and hanged. There was no ceremony to the process and corpses of dozens of victims were heaped upon overladen carts that were sat to one side and were waiting for the order to heave these poor souls away for burial.
Trelech grinned evilly as he saw his orders being turned into action and silently hoped that terror now gripped the populace and would spread far and wide. He was quietly confident that soon nobody would question his authority and, if they did, they would not live long enough to become a serious threat. The new king of Akanthir turned his back on the unending executions and gazed about the room. The furnishings were magnificent and, he thought, finally befitting of him. It had once been the private bedroom of King Zoirech and now Trelech lorded his dominance over the capital, mostly from this very room.
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