by Garry Spoor
“That’s the plan.”
-Is this a solo adventure, or are we going to be saddled with a bunch of vir.-
“The others have agreed to come as well,” she said, leaning on the gate.
-Wonderful, a herd of vir walking across the wastelands. That shouldn’t go unnoticed.-
“Do you want us to go alone then?”
-Personally, I wanted to go to the mountain. What did that little vir ever do for me.-
“He’s my friend.”
-That’s right. He’s your friend, not mine.-
“Please, Grim, you’re not going to give me a hard time, are you?”
-I didn’t say I wasn’t going to go. I’ll go. As I said before, someone has to keep you out of trouble.-
“Come on then,” she said, pulling the stall door open. “We have to be at the gatehouse in an hour.”
She was leading him out of the barn when she smelled him. It was the scent of old books mixed with soap and roses, or at least a rose smelling soap. Stopping, she quickly scanned the shadows of the stables.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Trying not to be noticed,” he replied. “It would seem I failed. What gave me away?”
“Your scent.”
“I see, hard to hide that,” Roland said, stepping out from behind the office wall. He was wearing an old cloak with the hood pulled up over his head. He looked suspicious even without trying. “I wasn’t trying to spy on you or anything. I just didn’t want to disturb you while you were talking. At first I thought it might have been one of the stable hands you were conversing with. It wouldn’t do for me to be seen walking around in public.”
“Then why are you here?” she asked.
“To see you,” he replied. “I was present when Colonel Barshed proposed the operation into the wastelands to command. I could have spared you the time. They never would have accepted it. To the military, Hunters are expendable, or haven’t you realized that yet.”
“I learned that lesson a long time ago,” she replied. “I suppose if it was a soldier lost in the wastelands, they would send in a whole platoon to find him? It doesn’t matter,” she said. “They made their decision, and we have to live with it. Too bad I can’t say the same for Carter.”
“You knew him?”
“He was a friend of mind, from my days at the Academy. He was a good Hunter… is a good Hunter.”
“I’m sorry.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you snuck out of the castle to come here. Won’t Jerald be worried?”
“He’d have a conniption if he knew where I was, but I knew you were going on this mission, regardless of what Command decided.”
“And you’re here to stop me.”
“Like I could,” Roland replied. “No, actually, I wanted to help you.”
“Don’t even say you want to come along, I have enough to deal with.”
He laughed. “I’m afraid I’m not the adventuring type.” He said as he removed one of his rings. Reaching down, he took her hand in his. “Take this,” he told her and slipped the ring onto her finger. “This is a symbol of my house. If you need to, use my name. I doubt if it will help you in the wastelands, but it could help you reach it, if anyone tries to stop you, that is.”
“Thank you, but… why?” she asked.
He brought his hand gently under her chin and lifted her head slightly. Bakara took the hint and flew up to the rafters. Roland slowly leaned in and kissed her.
“Don’t you know?” he asked.
She was caught completely off guard, this was way out of her confront zone. Before she could react, or say anything, he was gone. She just stood there, dumbfounded, while he disappeared into the streets of Forthbar. The only sound she heard was Grim laughing.
-That shut you up.-
He said.
Kile quickly turned on him. “Not another word.”
They rode through the streets of Forthbar with Grim humming some simple child’s tune about love and marriage. Kile tried to ignore him, but it was difficult. There was nothing about this in her Hunter’s code book.
“Kile.”
“Nothing, nothing happened,” she shouted.
“Hey, I was just going to say you rode right past us,” Daniel replied, riding up to her on Miliea.
Kile quickly looked around. She hadn’t realized Grim brought her directly to the gatehouse.
“You all right? You look a bit preoccupied,” Daniel asked.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Nothing happened,” she replied, a bit too quickly.
“All right, I’d say you were acting strange, but I don’t really know what’s normal for you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked.
“Seriously, have you seen yourself lately? You’re riding through the streets of Forthbar on a mountain pony with a bird sitting on your head.”
“Where are the others?” she asked.
“We thought it might be suspicious if we rode together, so Perha Squad went one way and Veller Squad went the other.”
“Nobody is actually looking for us-- Veller Squad?”
Daniel laughed. “Well, the soldiers had their squad, so we decided to form our own.” He explained.
“So you called it Veller Squad.”
“It was Alex’s idea.”
“Of course it was,” she said, heading toward the new Veller Squad, who were tucked into one of the alleys. “Look guys,” she said when she reached them. “You can back out now if you want. Nobody has to come along.”
“Nobody is backing out.” Lark told her. “We’re in this together.”
“It’s just that, this could get really bad,” she explained.
“Look, we all agreed to go when we thought Command was going to give us the okay, what makes it any different now?” Daniel asked.
“Because, once was pass through those gates, we’ll be AWOL, and I think the military frowns on that,” she replied.
“Yeah, but the Guild won’t,” Lark added. “The Guild has a long list of Hunters who have bent the rules to get an assignment completed. So, if we get booted out of the military, who cares?”
He had a point, she thought. Rules to a Hunter are more like suggestions.
“There they are.” Alex said, pointing up the street were four soldiers were riding in formation.
Kile lead Veller Squad alongside Perha Squad.
“Commander,” Tullner said, eyeing the bird on her head. “I think our first obstacle will be getting out of Forthbar.”
“What do you mean?”
“They close the gates at night. Nobody is allowed in or out, without authorization.” he explained.
“Seriously, and nobody thought about bringing this up until now?” she asked.
“We were supposed to be leaving in the morning, so it was a nonissue,” he told her.
“Not to mention the fact, we were also supposed to have authorization.” Sandson added.
“You aren’t helping,” she told him.
They rode the rest of the way to the gate where a guard in the Callor colors approached them. He was a middle-aged man with a short scruffy beard and a mess of black hair. He stood in front of them, blocking their way.
“The gates are closed, until the morn. What business do you have here?” he asked.
Tullner dismounted and stepped forward.
“We are on an errand for Lord Bollen and we need to pass,” he said in his most authoritative voice. Kile was a bit surprised. He had definitely grown since she first rode with him. Confronting authority, and lying to them, was not something the old Tullner would have done.
“I have not received any message about an errand,” the guard replied.
He didn’t seem very impressed with Tullner’s authoritative voice.
“Does Lord Bollen often share his affairs with the gate keeper?” Tullner asked.
“When they pass through my gate, he does,” the guard retorted.
This wasn�
��t going too well. Kile turned the King’s ring on her finger. She could use Roland’s name, surely the guard wouldn’t stop them if their errand was for the King, but it seemed such a waste to use it now. Then again, if they couldn’t get past the gate, there was no mission. Kile was about to dismount when she heard a rider coming up one of the side streets.
From out of the darkness he came upon his light bay mare, his white hair flowing behind him. He always knew how to make an entrance. Marcus skidded to a halt, kicking up rocks and dust between Tullner and the guard.
“What’s the problem here?” He demanded, turning Rose around. “Why have we stopped?”
“And who might you be, sir?” the guard asked.
“Me?” Marcus laughed. “Surely you’ve heard of the great white haired Hunter.”
The guard looked over his shoulder to his two companions who were sitting at a small table behind him. They were in the middle of a game of cards before they were interrupted. The two men laughed at Marcus’s arrogance.
“We have heard of such a man, and even he would not be allowed through the gates after nightfall,” the guard said, standing his ground.
Marcus looked at the dark haired man carefully. “But you’ll make an exception for us,” he said in his softest, most persuasive, voice.
“But we’ll make an exception for you,” the guard replied.
Marcus grinned. “Open the gates and let us through,” he told him.
Turning around the guard waved to his companions. “Open the gates and let them through,”
The two men looked at one another in disbelief before one approached. He was a tall, lanky man with sandy blonde hair.
“Thompson, no one is allowed through the gates at night without proper authorization, you know that,” he reminded the guard.
“But we have authorization,” Marcus explained.
“They have authorization,” Thompson, replied.
Kile watched the exchange in awe. Marcus used his Edge so effortlessly, the guard really didn’t stand a chance. He was no more than a marionette, with the Hunter pulling the strings. The sandy haired man knew something wasn’t quite right, he just couldn’t place his finger on it. He looked at his companion and then at Marcus. He didn’t trust this white haired Hunter. “I have not seen any authorization,” he finally said.
“But you have seen it,” Marcus told Thompson.
“I have seen it,” Thompson replied.
When a confused and troubled look came over Thompson’s face, Kile was sure Marcus pushed it too far. She was about to intervene when Thompson turned to the other two guards and shouted. “He has authorization, open the gates now. That is an order.”
The young man, still seated at the table, quickly jumped to his feet. Clearly this was out of character for the guard named Thompson, but he had no intention of questioning his superior, instead, he ran into the gatehouse. There was a bit of commotion and a bit more shouting, but the gates were finally opened.
“You may pass,” Thomson told them and waved them through.
Kile couldn’t help but notice, Thomson seemed a little dazed, as if he knew what he was saying, wasn’t something he should be saying.
“Thank you, sir,” Marcus replied. He turned and gave Tullner a wink. “And that’s how it’s done.” He said, before riding Rose through the gates of Forthbar.
“I warned you Tullner,” Sandson said, riding past him, “Never get mixed up with Hunters.”
Once they were out of the city and put some distance between them and Forthbar, they felt a little more at ease, even though now, they were officially AWOL. They had successfully passed the first obstacle, which was getting out of the city. Now, all they had to do was, reach the rendezvous point in five days to meet up with Carter. It was still a good four day ride to the edge of the wastelands, and there may be more checkpoints to get through. They rode through the night and well into the morning, putting all thoughts of breakfast and sleep from their minds.
With routine updates from Bakara of the surrounding area, mostly pertaining to where the King’s troops were located, they were able to avoid notice and make themselves as inconspicuous as possible, but with Marcus leading the column, it wasn’t easy. When they rode through one of the smaller towns, on the very edge of Callor, he felt the need to greet everyone, even if they didn’t know him. The way the citizens clamored over each other just to shake his hand or touch his boot, Kile was sure it had more to do with his Edge, than with his fame. His Edge was more powerful than she originally thought. If he hadn’t been so instrumental in getting them out of the city, she would have ditched him in the first bar they came to.
“Must you?” she asked, riding alongside him.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Marcus laughed.
“The way you use your Edge, it borders on abuse.”
“Oh come on,” he replied with a grin. “I’m just having a little fun. Lighten up.”
“Fun? Do you ever wonder what your Edge does to these people? Did you even think there might be some lasting effects messing with someone’s mind like that?” she asked.
If his Edge was anything like her use of the Maligar, there were serious consequences.
“I assure you, there is no harm done,” he told her. “Most of the people don’t even know when it happens, and when it’s over, they think it was their idea all along. It’s just a simple persuasion.”
“It seems… unnatural.”
“Actually, it’s quite natural,” He explained. “You can’t persuade someone to do something they didn’t want to do in the first place. All I’m doing is just giving them a little nudge in the right directions. You’d be surprised what people secretly want to do. Why, I can tell you stories about the time I was in this little tavern down south and this barmaid…”
“I don’t want to hear it,” Kile shouted. “Just, keep it on the down low, will you.”
“Hey, whatever you say, you’re the boss.” Marcus laughed. “But if you ever want to hear some stories…”
“I’d like to hear them, if that’s okay?” Alex said, riding up beside him.
“Sure thing, son, pull up a horse and have a listen.” Marcus replied. “It was about six years ago and I had just defeated the Troll of Blackmore. You heard that story, didn’t you, well, this one’s better. You see, there were these two barmaids in a little tavern down along the southern border…”
Kile decided it was time to leave, and fell back to the end of the column.
“What’s happening up there?” Daniel asked.
“I fear we will have to cleanse Alex after this mission if he hangs around Marcus for much longer,” she told him.
“You can’t blame him. Marcus is kind of larger than life.”
“Oh please, not you too, Danny.”
“Hey, Marcus is becoming a legend and Alex is a first rate story teller. It was bound to happen.”
“Still, Marcus could be a bad influence on someone like Alex.”
“Alex knows what’s what. He’s told his fair share of questionable stories.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard a few of them,” Kile replied.
The morning melted into the afternoon, which eventually became evening. A meal of hardtack and water was the only food they ate since yesterday, if hard-tack could be called food. Kile still thought it tasted like spiced potting soil, but she managed to choke down a few mouthfuls. It was Larks, who was the first to ask the questions everyone was thinking.
“Where are we stopping for the night? Or are we stopping?” he asked.
The thought never crossed Kile’s mind. Riding on a mountain pony, one doesn’t necessarily stop, one just plods along.
“I don’t know, I’ve never been around here before,” she said, surveying the area. “These are your stomping grounds, Danny, what do you say?”
“Not mine,” he replied. “I’m from Callor, the east part of the province, this is Fennel.”
“I’ve lived in Fennel all my life.” Tullner adde
d, “Just a lot further south.”
-There’s a lovely place we stopped at, not too long ago, and it’s not too far from here-
Tullner’s horse said.
-Oh, I remember the place,-
Sandson’s horse added.
-It was just on the other side of the river.-
-Yeah, that’s it.-
“Can you take us there?” Kile asked him.
-I don’t see why not.-
“Take you where?” Tullner asked.
“What?” Kile looked at the soldier and shook her head. “I was talking to…, I’m sorry, I don’t even know your name.”
“Know whose name?”
“Don’t even bother, Tullner, she’s not even talking to you,” Daniel assured him.
-They call me twenty six-
Tullner’s horse replied, although, he didn’t seem to care too much for the title.
-They call me forty seven-
Sandson’s horse said from behind them.
“What? That’s horrible,” Kile replied. “What are your real names?”
-Those are the only names we know-
Twenty six replied.
Kile slowly looked up as Tullner and Daniel laughed.
“I know that look,” he said. “I don’t know what your horse just told her, but you’re in trouble,” he warned the soldier.
“Hey, he’s not mine.” Tullner shouted, defensively. “I signed him out of the military stables. Anything he said is not my fault.”
“Did they tell you what his name was, before you signed him out?” she asked.
“Well, no, they just told me to take number twenty six.”
“And that’s what he says his name is,” she shouted. “How can you give him a name that’s not even a name?”
“I didn’t name him, they just told me to take number twenty six,” Tullner tried to explain, but he already knew he lost the battle.
-I don’t mind the name,-
Twenty six replied.
“But it’s not a name, it’s a number,” Kile explained. “I can’t really call you twenty six.”
“How about Twen?” Daniel suggested.
“It’s a bit better. What do you think, Twen?”
-Twen, Twen, yeah, I like Twen.-
“Then Twen it is, which would make you Fort,” she said, turning to Sandson’s horse.
