Dragonvein

by Brian D. Anderson

  “Well, at least I won’t turn them in to the Empire,” she retorted.

  Markus’ face turned red. He took a menacing pace toward the girl.

  “Leave off,” ordered Jonas. “Both of you.”

  Markus growled, but after simmering for a few seconds, strode rapidly away.

  Moving close, Ethan leaned down to whisper in Kat’s ear. “Try to get along…please. Or at least try not to start a fight.”

  She held up her hands, eyes wide in feigned innocence. “What did I do?”

  He shook his head and sighed. “Just try.”

  By now, Markus was already thirty yards ahead of them. They hurried to catch him up.

  The trees in this part of the forest were widely spaced and thin, giving them little protection from the rain once it began to fall an hour later. Jonas wrapped himself in his blanket looking highly displeased. Soon the wind rose and the rain came down in earnest.

  After a time Ethan began to notice that the older man’s steps were becoming increasingly unsure. He spoke to him several times, but Jonas insisted that he was fine, even though his pale complexion and trembling hands said otherwise.

  The rain persisted until the next morning. They slept – or at least, attempted to sleep – beneath what little cover the trees provided and with their blankets pulled over their heads. Ethan could hear Jonas coughing and wheezing throughout the night. When morning arrived, the combination of chill air and wet clothing was clearly making matters worse for him.

  Markus pulled Ethan away from earshot of the others. “I don’t think your friend is going to last long out here,” he said. “And we can’t afford to stop.”

  Ethan frowned. “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying that if he falls behind, we can’t wait.”

  The sound of Jonas coughing hammered the point home.

  Ethan looked at the old man. Kat was sitting nearby, a concerned look on her face. “I can’t leave him,” he said finally. “If he can’t travel, we’ll have to find somewhere to rest until he recovers.”

  Markus scowled and let out an exasperated breath. “I almost forgot what a bloody boy scout you are.”

  The remark brought a smile to Ethan’s face. For a moment he caught a glimpse of the Markus he had once known. But it quickly vanished again with his friend’s next words.

  “I’m not about to get killed over an old man’s weakness,” he warned. “And if it comes to it, you can stay and die with him.” Having made his point, he returned to the others.

  To Ethan’s relief, by mid-morning the rain stopped and the temperature began rising. Not that this appeared to help Jonas very much, who was still struggling badly to keep with the pace. Kat disappeared for a short time, returning with some herbs that she forced the old man to mix with water and drink. The concoction seemed to do him some good for a short time, but by the afternoon his coughing was worse than ever. His balance was deteriorating too, and he nearly fell over completely on several occasions.

  As the sun began to set, it became painfully clear that he would not be able to continue for very much longer.

  “I’m sure Markus has said that you should leave me if I can’t go on,” he whispered to Ethan after another long series of throat rattling coughs.

  “Don’t worry,” Ethan assured him. “I won’t leave you behind.”

  “You will if you must,” he countered.

  Before Ethan could protest, Markus came to an abrupt halt and gestured for everyone to remain quiet. After a moment, the sound of voices drifting through the trees could be heard just east of their position. A few seconds later a soft breeze carried the scent of a camp fire to them.

  “Who do you think it is?” whispered Ethan.

  “Probably thieves,” he replied. “If we’re lucky.”

  Ethan glanced anxiously over to Jonas. The man had both hands clamped firmly over his mouth and his face was turning a vivid crimson. Markus saw it too and shook his head just as Jonas lost his battle for control. A loud, rasping cough escaped.

  The sound of voices stopped instantly, replaced by the singing of steel being drawn.

  “Perfect,” grumbled Markus. “Whatever happens next, do exactly as I say.” He drew his sword. “And let me do the talking.”

  Less than a minute later three men appeared. All were dressed similarly in simple tan shirts and pants, with travel worn boots on their feet. Two were of medium build: one with a shock of red hair, the other by contrast, totally bald. The third man was much taller and broader in the shoulders, with dark wavy hair and deep set eyes. All three carried long swords and wore daggers on their belt. They halted the moment they spotted Markus.

  “What business do you have here?” called the larger man.

  “Just passing through,” Markus replied.

  The man whispered something to his companions, then asked: “Is that Kat with you?”

  She stepped forward. “Yes, it’s me, Jeb.”

  “These fellows…are they friends of Jared?”

  Kat shook her head. “No. They’re friends of mine. I don’t work for Jared anymore.”

  Jeb smiled and sheathed his blade. Those with him did the same. “That’s good to hear. Now you can become a proper thief. Come. Join us by the fire.”

  Without giving Markus or the others time to object, Kat quickly set off to follow him.

  They were led a hundred yards east to a small clearing. Here, a fire burned cheerfully and three bedrolls were cast carelessly beside it.

  Everyone took a seat by the fire. Jonas shivered and stifled his coughs as he rubbed his hands together vigorously.

  “Your friend is ill,” Jeb remarked.

  “We were caught in the rain,” Kat told him.

  Jeb nodded. “The wilderness is no place for an old man.”

  “I’ll be fine,” snapped Jonas. “I just need some rest.”

  His sharp reaction drew a chuckle from Jeb. “Old and stubborn.”

  He turned his attention back to Kat. “So what brings you so far from Miltino? You finally get caught? Or did that dog Jared run you off?”

  “Neither,” she replied. “I just wanted to move on.”

  He eyed Ethan and Markus. “And what of your friends? They don’t look very much like thieves to me.”

  “That’s because we’re not,” Markus told him.

  Jeb looked at Kat, then back to Markus. “You know, I heard of a man who fits your description. People call him Specter. That wouldn’t be you, would it?”

  “Never heard of him,” Markus said.

  Jeb leaned in, still holding his gaze. “I only mention it because people say he’s a bounty hunter for the Empire. Folks like us wouldn’t care for him to know where we are…or what we do.”

  “Understandable,” said Markus. “A man like that would be dangerous company indeed. But, like I told you…I never heard of him.”

  The two men stared at each other for a long and tense moment. Finally, Jeb smiled.

  “That’s good to hear,” he said. “So, Kat. Now that you’re not with Jared, I assume you’ll join the Corvali. I’ll stand for you, if you’d like.”

  “I’m not going back to Miltino,” she replied. “Ever.”

  “That’s too bad,” he said. “We could have used someone as good as you.”

  “What’s the Corvali?” asked Ethan.

  Jeb looked suddenly suspicious. “You’ve never heard of us?”

  “He’s from the coast,” Kat said quickly. “The Corvali are a thieves’ guild. The largest and richest in all Lumnia.”

  Her explanation and the flattery appeared to satisfy Jeb. He leaned back on his elbows, grinning. “Can’t abide the sea myself. Pirates and smugglers – a sorry lot. Not to be trusted. And if that’s where you’re headed, young lady, you’d do well to remember that.”

  Kat nodded and smiled.

  “As for us, we’re on our way to San Salisio,” Jeb continued. “If you like, you can stay at our lodge until your man is well enough to trave
l. We should be able to reach it by tomorrow afternoon.”

  Ethan glanced at Markus, who only shrugged and stared into the fire. Jonas hesitated, then nodded his consent.

  Jeb leaned back up and clapped his hands together. “It’s settled then.”

  At last able to rest properly, Jonas was asleep well before anyone else. Ethan could not help but notice the worried expression on Kat’s face as she sat beside him. Something had changed between the two of them, though he couldn’t imagine what had brought this about.

  The three thieves huddled together and talked quietly for a time, occasionally eyeing Markus with suspicion. After a while they bedded down, though with their weapons drawn and ready at their sides.

  Ethan was just about to settle down as well when he noticed Markus get up and walk quietly into the forest. After a moment, he decided to follow.

  He did his best to keep up while at the same time trying to stay hidden, but in moments he was lost and Markus had disappeared from sight. He tried to move faster, but only succeeded in tripping over a root and falling face first onto the forest turf.

  He was still muttering a curse when he felt a pair of strong hands pull him to his feet.

  It was Markus.

  “Why are you following me?” he demanded.

  “I wanted a chance to talk to you away from the others,” Ethan replied.

  “There’s nothing left to talk about.” His tone was level and unemotional. “I’m still angry with you. It’s been too long for me to change that. But if it makes you feel any better, I do understand that what happened wasn’t your fault.”

  “I’m sorry,” said Ethan. “If I could change it, I would.”

  “But you can’t. What happened, happened. My life is my life.”

  Ethan strained his eyes, attempting to pierce the darkness and read his expression, but could see only a dim silhouette. “Would you have really turned me in?” he asked.

  Markus regarded him for several seconds. “Just go back to the camp,” he said, pointing into the night. “I need to be alone.”

  With that, he turned away and vanished into the darkness.

  Following the direction Markus had indicated, Ethan returned to the others. Jeb was lying on his side, a troubled look on his face.

  “You keep dangerous company, lad,” he said. “Your companion can deny it all he wants; I know he’s Specter. What I don’t know is why he’s traveling with the three of you.”

  Ethan sat down on his blanket. “He’s my friend.”

  Jeb chuckled. “Specter? Your friend? Specter has no friends. Not even other Hareesh want his company. And if half the stories I’ve heard about him are true, I understand why.”

  “I don’t care about that. He’s still my friend.”

  Jeb studied him for a moment. “I’m a pretty good judge of character, and you seem like a nice enough lad. You don’t look like the type to keep company with Imperial assassins.”

  His words sent a chill down Ethan’s back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You don’t? He’s your friend, isn’t he? If that’s true, surely you would know that Specter is an Imperial assassin and bounty hunter.”

  “He doesn’t work for the Empire,” Ethan insisted.

  “Not directly, no. But he’s the only member of the Hareesh who will take the jobs they offer. Nasty stuff, too. I don’t imagine that makes him too many…friends. Dark rumors surround that man…very dark.”

  Ethan wasn’t sure what to say. Markus was his friend no matter what had become of him. And regardless of whether he refused to admit it, Ethan was convinced that he would have never turned him over for the bounty. Somewhere deep inside - somewhere beyond all the pain and anger - the Markus of old still existed.

  “You shouldn’t listen to rumors,” he said. “And if you have a problem with him, we can go our own way right now.”

  Jeb held out his hand. “No problem here, lad. Long as he minds his manners, he can tag along with us. I just hate to see Kat mixed up with his kind. She’s a good girl. And an excellent thief.”

  “I suppose you’d rather her stay a thief?” Ethan said disapprovingly.

  The man puffed his chest and held his head high. “And why not? Thieving is a good way to get by. Especially if you’re as talented as she is. It’s better than starving in the streets. And now that she’s away from that Jared scum, she can make a place for herself in this world.”

  “There are other ways to get by,” Ethan countered. “She’s only a thief because she had no other choice.”

  Jeb sniffed “And you’re going to give her one? I doubt that very much.”

  “She has a family somewhere,” insisted Ethan.

  “So what if she does? You think she’d be better off with them? She left them for a reason, boy. And whatever it is, I bet it’s a good one. You shouldn’t go mixing up her head with notions of family. Good friends and stout comrades is the best folk like us can hope for.” He sighed. “But I’m wasting my breath, aren’t I? You’re going to get that poor girl killed. But here’s a warning. If you do, you’d better not let me find out about it.”

  Reaching down, he jerked his blanket over his shoulders and closed his eyes.

  Ethan stared at Jeb, but the man was obviously done talking.

  A short time later Markus returned. He glanced at the sleeping thief, fingering the dagger in his belt, with a knowing look in his eyes before laying down beside the fire.

  Had he been listening to their conversation, Ethan wondered? Probably. He pushed it from his mind and allowed himself to drift.

  Just as sleep took him he thought he heard the flapping of wings accompanied by a catlike growl coming from high above. Real or imagined, the sounds soon faded into the blackness of another weary driven slumber.

  Chapter Ten

  Ethan woke just as dawn was breaking; both his blanket and hair were soaked from the heavy morning dew. With the fire completely burned out and a soft westerly breeze blowing, he shivered while hurrying to pack his gear.

  To his relief, Jonas looked somewhat healthier, though still quite pale. He was coughing less frequently and his hands had stopped their constant trembling.

  “My two companions won’t be joining us at the lodge,” announced Jeb.

  “Why not?” asked Markus.

  “The job we’ve been hired for will take a few days of scouting first,” he explained. “They want to go on ahead and get it done. I’ll meet them there after I’ve shown you the way.”

  He moved to join his comrades who were standing just out of earshot. They spoke to Jeb for a few minutes before departing.

  “I don’t like it,” said Markus. “They could bring soldiers.”

  “Jeb’s a good man,” objected Kat. “He wouldn’t do that.”

  Markus regarded her and shook his head. “You’re too trusting.”

  “I’d trust him before I’d trust you,” she snapped back.

  Jonas hobbled up and rested his arm on Kat’s shoulder. “This time I agree with Markus. It would be far too easy for them to betray us. They already suspect that we’re on the run. What’s to stop them from trying to collect a bounty?”

  Kat stamped her foot. “I’m telling you that Jeb wouldn’t do that.”

  “I don’t think we have any choice but to trust him,” Ethan chipped in. He ran a concerned gaze over Jonas. “If you don’t get a few days’ rest you’re only going to get sicker.”

  “Are you ready?” Jeb called over.

  Ethan waved. “We’re ready.”

  “No one wants to listen to me, but this is a bad idea,” complained Markus.

  Jeb shot him a sharp glance - a sure sign that he had heard this remark - but made no response before setting off in an easterly direction.

  By midday the forest had become much thicker, slowing their pace considerably. Markus kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, his hand never far from the hilt of his sword. Kat stayed close to Jonas, catching his arm on numerous oc
casions to save him from losing his footing. The exertion was clearly taking a heavy toll on the old man. By the time they halted for a quick meal of fruit and jerky, the frequency of his coughing had dramatically increased once again and his face was virtually devoid of any color whatsoever.

  When they finally arrived at their destination, Jonas was on the verge of collapse. In spite of the heat of the day, his entire body was shivering violently, and regular coughing fits had him doubling over and gasping for air. It was only with both Ethan and Kat supporting him that he was able to keep moving over the final few yards.

  The lodge turned out to be little more than a dilapidated wood shack with a stone chimney and a narrow covered porch spanning the front. But at least the chimney gave the promise of a warm fire and a hot meal.

  Jeb gestured for everyone to wait before approaching the door alone. After listening for a few moments he gave a satisfied nod and called the others over.

  “We’ll be on our own for a while,” he said. “I don’t think any of my clansmen will be coming this way soon.”

  The inside was considerably more accommodating than the exterior suggested. Light poured in from the front windows, revealing a sturdy dining table in front of an unlit hearth. An iron stove was at the far end next to an open door that led through to a dark hallway. On the right was an open area with several comfortable looking chairs around four small, round tables. The walls were bare aside from a few bows and full quivers hanging between the two front windows.

  Jeb quickly set to lighting lanterns, one of which he gave to Ethan. While checking the cupboards, he pointed to the darkened hallway. “There are beds in the back.”

  Ethan helped Jonas through to the first room along. It was furnished with a small dresser and two beds set on opposite walls. Ethan took Jonas’ pack and placed it on the floor beside him while he struggled out of his clothing.

  “I’ll be fine,” Jonas said as he dropped onto the bed. “Just tired…just…just need to lay here for a while.” His eyes grew heavy and within moments he slipped into unconsciousness.

  Ethan pulled the blanket over the old man’s chest before returning to the others. Jeb was already getting the fire started, while Kat and Markus waited patiently at the table.