The Unworthy and The Damned

by Billy Wong

  "I do feel bad for the pretty little girl. Maybe Lina or her master could save him with help from that stone?" Edge suggested.

  Lina waved the idea down. "With all the resources available to the royal family, you don't think they would have gotten someone to heal him already if that would work? If the king really is on his deathbed, whatever sickness he has must be beyond our arts. Not to make light of her father dying, though, but I think Eleanor will be fine. A person like that doesn't just lose all of her backbone, so I expect she'll step up to the challenge admirably."

  "You know Elly?" Celia asked.

  "No, but I know the type. A former inspirational figure who captured the awe of a nation? Even if she appears to have softened on the outside, someone that impressive probably still has an iron core just waiting for the right moment to surface."

  "You must've known some big heroes in the day," Edge mused. Lina dropped her gaze, and Celia realized she was probably referring to Sergio in a time he had seemed to grow soft only for the violent fire to be ignited again. "Sorry, but you have a point. She did have more than enough of her old self to dispatch the Necromancer's creature effortlessly."

  Celia pointed out, "Fighting isn't the same as ruling, though. Even at the peak of her fame she never ruled, and she is quite young. But I hope she can make a good queen if her father doesn't pull through. With the trouble on the borders and nobles getting restless, the last thing we need is a weak monarch."

  They also learned that a fearsome group of warriors led by a giant named Gunther was trying to rile up support among the people for war against the neighboring lands from which raids came. A bit concerning especially because if it was the Gunther they knew, which seemed very likely, he might still be lost in madness in the Valley of Shadow and Steel if not for them. Not that she and Lina had much of a choice, but she hoped their actions wouldn't end up having disastrous consequences.

  Eventually they made it back to Throwal, thankfully not needing to fend off any more assassins on the way. Celia went straight to her family's farmhouse hideout only to find them gone. She felt a pang of fright at their absence, and her face must have shown it as Lina said, "Don't worry, they probably just left because they thought this location might be compromised, right? Wouldn't your dad have hidden a note for you telling where they've gone like last time?"

  "If they had to move on from here, he would expect the enemies to be searching more meticulously and thus not leave anything that could give away where they've gone. But I know where the next closest safehouse is—I just pray they are safe, and that we'll find them there."

  She led Edge and Lina away from the city to a riverside cave, where behind a false wall a living chamber rested. Not wanting to be on the receiving end of any precautionary measures if she opened it herself, she wrote their code word on a piece of paper, folded it up into a triangle and pushed it through the tiny gap between door and floor. After tense seconds of waiting, fearing there would be no answer, the wall slid open. Celia exhaled in relief to see her dad and then mom, alive and well if looking somewhat under the weather. Her father made to embrace her, and she eagerly threw herself into his arms. She closed her eyes and hugged him tight, so grateful they had made it. She thought to ask if there was any progress on finding out who sent the assassins, but that could wait until she finished showing them the love they so needed in these harrowing times...

  "Where's your brother?" Edge asked.

  Celia opened her eyes and realized that indeed, he was nowhere to be seen. Now the shaken look in her mother's eyes made more sense. She released her father and asked, "Where is Ted?"

  He put his hands on her shoulders as to brace her for bad news. "An assassin found his way to the farmhouse while I wasn't there. Your mom was able to hurt him enough to drive him off after he killed the man I asked to protect them... but he managed to kidnap Ted in the process. No doubt he'll try to use him to lure me out and into his hands."

  She gulped. This was bad, really bad. Maybe she shouldn't have gone off investigating after all...

  Chapter 9

  "Well, what are we still doing here?" Celia asked, words coming out fast and frantic. "We need to go out there and rescue him."

  Dad shook his head. "How? We have no idea where they've gone. For now, it's probably better for me to wait for him to contact us with demands."

  "But he doesn't know where you are, so how will he contact you?"

  "You have a point. Still, I'm sure he'll find a way." He glanced towards his wife who sat on the bed of straw laid over a wide flat rock, face set in a worried frown. "Besides, I do not wish to leave your mom alone, and it will be harder to find men willing to look after her now that one of my associates has been killed."

  "That's fine, you can stay with her. I'll go find him and my friends will help too, right guys?"

  Edge fingered the axes at his belt. "More assassin fighting? I'm in."

  "I suspect one or more of you may be in need of healing again after this," Lina said. "Since I don't want to see you die, I'll lend a hand."

  "It's one assassin," Celia replied, "no need to view us so lowly. But thanks for continuing to help."

  "Where will you look for them?" Dad asked.

  She bit her lip. It might be hard to decide where to start. "He took Ted from the farmhouse and was injured in the process. Can you think of any unoccupied structures near there that would make a good hideout in a pinch?"

  "The most obvious that comes to mind is the abandoned tower overlooking the General's Meadow. It seems conspicuous though, so I don't know if he would use it."

  "It's worth a try, anyway. If we don't find him there, we'll think of something else."

  They set out for the General's Meadow, a colorful field of flowers where a general had once been married to his true love shortly before dying from wounds suffered in a victorious battle. The faded old tower that leaned over it seemed like it might be trying to bow in honor of his heroics. They pushed past the remains of the door and ascended, watching carefully for any movement. Lina struggled to climb the crumbling stairs, once almost falling before she caught herself with her staff. For all her courage, she didn't have the athleticism of the others, and Celia wondered if they should keep bringing her into danger. They saw spots of dried blood on the steps, which increased their wariness as their quarry might well be waiting to ambush them up top. But when they made it onto the roof, there was no assassin or Ted to be found.

  "He isn't here," Lina said, "but somebody wounded came this way not long ago." She looked around. "Hey, what's this?" Walking over to a pile of broken off stones by the parapet, she bent and pulled something out. A folded scrap of paper, the top edges still slightly wet from a recent rain, but the rest of it tucked away well enough to remain dry. She handed it to Celia. "I believe this might be addressed to you, or your dad more precisely."

  She opened the note and read it aloud. "If you want to see your son again, meet me above Devon's Butcher Shop in Throwal. Signed, The Assassin."

  "That's a simple message," Edge remarked. "I guess he couldn't think of much to say, that or he's trying to keep us from figuring out too much about him."

  Celia thought she might have gotten a clue anyway, though. "I know where Devon's Butcher Shop is. Don't most of those stores have residential space above them? It seems a bit weird to ask us to meet in an apartment... unless maybe that's his apartment, and he's a local man?"

  "Or he could have killed someone and took over their place," Lina said. "I suppose we won't know until we get there."

  They returned to Throwal and made their way to the butcher shop. Taking the stairs behind the side entrance to the second floor, they saw the doors to two apartments. Which would lead to Ted? Celia took a guess and knocked on the back one, which lacked a mess of children's scribbles on the front. A young pregnant woman opened the door, a small boy and girl chasing each other around behind her. She stared at their weapons. "H-how can I help you?"

  "You can't—sorry, wrong d
oor. But in order to keep your family safe, you might want to stay inside until after we leave." Or leave themselves, but Celia didn't want her deciding to call the authorities on them.

  "O-okay." With a bewildered look, the woman shut the door.

  "Good public relations skills," Edge said.

  Celia grunted. "I'm kind of busy thinking about my kidnapped brother to be diplomatic, eh?" She stepped to the opposite door. "Here goes..." She knocked.

  "Who is it?" a gruff-sounding man asked.

  "It's the constables!" Edge replied in a deeper than typical voice. "We've heard reports of a possible child nabbing, open up!" Celia gave him a thumbs up. If the assassin knew who they were he would probably threaten Ted to coerce them right away, but facing law enforcement he might try to hide the fact he had a captive instead.

  "Child nabbing? I know of no such thing. But I'm coming." They waited, and after almost half a minute heard the lock open. "Come on in."

  Lina tapped her shoulder. "It's suspicious he doesn't open the door himself. Be careful."

  "I know." She eased the portal ajar, prepared to jump aside in case any projectiles came flying. But there was no sound which hinted at imminent attack. When she had opened the door enough, she saw a potbellied man leaning against the far wall, holding Ted against his chest with one arm and a short spear in the other hand. Her brother was bound and gagged, and his terrified eyes made hot anger rise in Celia's chest towards his kidnapper. A dark-stained bandage was wound around the man's thigh, and a jug of alcohol rested on a small table nearby. After a moment, she realized she recognized the bastard. "Haven't I seen you working with Dad before?" No wonder he had been able to find the hideout...

  "Yeah, and what of it? Don't think I'll spare this kid out of sentimentality. You don't do as I say and I'll kill your son—er, brother—with no mercy, just like that!" His nervous tone didn't quite match the bold words. He tried to make a dramatic gesture with his spear, but then his features contorted with pain and he touched his injured leg instead.

  Edge rolled his eyes. "The Assassin, huh? Are you even an assassin?"

  "So what if I'm not? When I heard there was a bounty on your dad's head, I figured I could cash in on it just as well as anyone else. And since there's one on his daughter too, I'll just kill you first and profit off you both."

  "You betray my father's trust and murder a man who probably thought you a friend," Celia asked acidly, "kidnap my brother and still think you'll come out ahead? You'll die today. I've killed fools for less."

  He waved his spear around haphazardly in front of Ted, making her heart skip a beat. Mad as she was, agitating him might not have been the best idea. "Me die? That's not going to happen! You stay back or your sibling dies, you hear? You fucking hear?" He seemed on the verge of panicking, but she didn't want that to happen.

  "All right, I'll offer you a deal. Back down now, let Ted go and I won't eviscerate you." Of course, she wouldn't stop the law from exacting its punishment after turning him in.

  "You think you have the upper hand? No, I won't take that pauper's deal. What will happen is, you will lay down your weapons and do as I tell you."

  "There are three of us and one of you. What do you expect to happen the moment you kill me, if you manage to? You're not even a real assassin. Edge would tear you apart, hell Lina probably could."

  Lina mumbled, "Ah, I'm not sure..."

  "Shut up, you entitled brats! Why do you deserve to be in your father's favor and get to close deals for him, while I'm ever stuck doing menial work? I've worked hard for years, and just because you turned fifteen you got put ahead of me in the business."

  Surprisingly, Celia felt a touch of sympathy. "I see why you might be dissatisfied. But you know how Dad was, always wanting to handle the important things himself. Of course it would be hard for him to trust someone enough to promote them to a full partner, even I haven't really been yet. There's nobody forcing you to work for him, if you wanted better opportunities for advancement you should have quit and found a different job."

  He took a while to respond. "But I... but I wasn't sure I could find a better employer who would take me on."

  "Then you can hardly blame her father for your own choices," Edge said.

  "Shut up! What do you know about what adult life is like, you... you... whatever you are, stupid boy! Enough, drop your weapons and walk closer or the kid dies."

  There was a long pause as they stood studying each other's faces, neither side ready to give in. Then Lina spoke slowly in a flat voice. "Your wound is infected. If nothing is done, you'll die a slow, agonizing death. I could heal you with this magic amplifying stone and you'd be saved. But otherwise, will anyone bother to give you the care you need, if any at all?"

  "I'll pay for my treatment," he snapped, "with the price for your friend's head!"

  "Will you even make it that far? You can already barely stand. Without my mercy, you're doomed."

  His hand shook around the spearshaft. "Fine, I give up!" He threw it down with despondent eyes and released Ted, who ran forward into Celia's arms. She hurried to untie him, whispering reassurances to him while he sobbed. "I thought I'd only have to deal with one dad, not three sadistic teenagers with bloodthirsty weapons..."

  "Hey, don't include me in that category," Lina said.

  Celia pointed her sword at the kidnapper's throat. "Now tell me who hired you, and I won't kill you."

  "T-that wasn't the deal!"

  "I offered you your life for less? Well, circumstances have changed. Too bad."

  "I don't know!" he whimpered, pressing himself tighter against the wall while she pricked his skin with her point. "I just heard you and your dad were being hunted from an acquaintance, and thought I could cash in on the opportunities. Please, please don't kill me..."

  She pulled her blade back. "I won't kill you personally. But you'll still have to face justice for your crimes, so you had better hope the judge is very sympathetic."

  "Hope the judge really hates bosses and kids," Edge put in.

  Celia turned to Lina. "Are you really going to use the stone to heal him?"

  "Of course not," she replied without hesitation, making him blanch. "It would be a waste when he'll likely be condemned to death, and it could be used to help a person with better long term prospects. I'm sure the constables will make a token effort at treating him, so he could possibly live if he's lucky."

  The kidnapper looked close to tears. "B-but you said..."

  "You are scum, murdering your unsuspecting colleague and using the lives of children to threaten others. I wouldn't bat an eye if Celia or Edge chose to put you out of your misery right now."

  Hearing her like this, Celia didn't even feel like killing anyone right now, and in fact was a tad unnerved. "You have a harsher edge than I knew."

  "That's just because you made another unwarranted assumption. Wild assumptions are for the immature, so you have some growing up to do if you want to impress your father."

  "Wow." Edge blinked. "I guess Lina doesn't like kidnappers."

  Lina declined to respond, and Celia said, "Nobody likes kidnappers." More quietly, "But yeah, maybe she's been kidnapped before."

  Seeming to have recovered his composure for the most part, Ted smiled. "You guys are really strong! You got that assassin to surrender without even fighting!"

  "Didn't he admit to not being an assassin?" Edge asked.

  Lina replied, "That was one line in a conversation, which a kid just might overlook while being terrified. I'll allow it."

  "Hmm, looks like she's back to being her haughty self."

  Ted gazed at Celia with pleading eyes. "Can you protect me from now on? I was scared when you weren't there, and the bad man took me."

  His scared voice made her heart flutter in guilt. "Yes, I'll definitely protect you."

  They dragged the criminal to the constables' office and dropped him off. Celia took Ted back to the cave, where their parents hugged them and Mom showered them with kiss
es while Edge and Lina looked on. After, Edge asked, "What now? Are we continuing our investigation?"

  "Thanks for offering your help again," Celia said softly, "but no. After our fruitless search, and what happened to Ted in the meantime, I think I'd better leave the investigating to my dad and his people. I'll stay here and watch over my mom and brother—guarding my family is surely a worthwhile task."

  "That sounds right. But what should we do?"

  She realized that not only did she trust him, she would miss him when he wasn't around. While they would probably have to part someday, she grasped at a chance to not let him go yet. "While I'm not an unskilled fighter, we could still use another helping hand. Would you mind staying my bodyguard for a while?"

  He seemed to weigh in it in his head, then met her eyes. "Sure."

  "Do you mind, Dad?" While he had allowed her to choose her own companions before, she wondered if he might not be comfortable having a former assassin near his wife and son.

  He looked at Edge with furrowed brow, but before he could respond Ted said, "Let him stay! He helped save me, and he makes a good boyfriend for Celia with his strong axes."

  Celia began, "Wait, he's not..."

  Her father shook his head. "Reservations I have aside, if he has helped us that much it would be a little harsh to forever begrudge him his past. As you are good partners, I will not insist on separating you."

  Edge happily slapped her back. "Nice. Though it'll put off me getting practice guarding folks who are less self sufficient, but I don't exactly mind easier work."

  "Well, I'm not staying here," Lina said. "It was fine adventuring with you, but hiding out waiting to heal you in case you're attacked and get hurt seems too much of a potential time waster for me."

  Celia nodded. "That's more than understandable. I'm grateful for all you've done already."

  "Don't worry, I'll still be nearby for a while. I'm sure I can find something to do in Throwal, so just look for me there if you need me again."