Fury Lingers: Book One of The Foreseen Trilogy

by Ethan Spears

  Aoden and Mergau exchanged looks. “I’ve only met two halflings,” said Mergau, “but I have to ask: is it impossible to hide anything from you?”

  Cofus laughed and flicked his nose with a thumb. “When it comes to reasoning, I have to admit halflings are more or less on par with the elves, so you must have either had some fine or ill luck if that’s the impression you’ve gotten.”

  Aoden sighed and leaned back in his chair. “I thought my story was put together better than that.”

  Cofus shrugged. “You picked the wrong halfling to tell it to. You should have told me your companion was the diplomat instead of you receiving a promotion. That would’ve been more believable.”

  Aoden frowned. “Promotion? Why would I need a promotion? I’m already a diplomat.”

  Cofus laughed lightly. “Is that what you think, my boy? You’re an excellent translator, I’ll give you that, but taking liberties with word choice does not a diplomat make. You’re too stiff, too formal, and you don’t have the right temperament. You couldn’t even keep your patience around your superiors.”

  Their cover story blown, Mergau took the liberty of giving Aoden a disbelieving look. “You’re not even a diplomat? So you were lying to me?”

  “Not lying, no,” he said defensively. “I mean, if you want to get technical, then I’m not a diplomat, but—”

  “There is no ‘but’ that will make you a diplomat.”

  “Fine. I’m a good communicator and I have no doubt I helped in negotiations, but I’m not actually a diplomat, okay?”

  “Naturally,” said Cofus. “Why else would they bother sending me on to an Archon if they could have it handled lower down the ladder? That aside,” he added, pulling his pipe from his mouth and pointing it toward Mergau, “I’m curious how the orcs factor in.”

  Their argument stopped abruptly as Aoden and Mergau exchanged looks. “What do you mean?”

  Cofus looked relieved. “Good, you already knew she was an orc. That puts me at ease.” He turned his attention to the wide-eyed Mergau. “I assume there’s a good reason why you’re here?”

  Mergau looked baffled and slightly scared. “How did you know?”

  “Relax,” said Cofus, making a calming gesture with his hands. “You’ve both been nothing but civil and shall receive the same in return, but did you honestly think we wouldn’t closely examine two foreign diplomats who suddenly appear with no advance notice, no diplomatic papers, and no luggage? We have a seer on staff as well as a handful of magical devices. We saw through your illusion lickety-split. You’re here in my office because we detected no ill-intent and, frankly, we were curious. The fact that you’re with Aoden and he’s neither charmed nor under duress suggests, at the worst, neutral intentions.”

  Aoden and Mergau were glued to their seats, eyes darting between the halfling and each other. “What happens now?” Aoden asked.

  “Now you cut the crap,” said Cofus. His tone and demeanor were still friendly and relaxed as if this were all quite amusing to him. “I’m still willing to hear you out, but I request honesty in return.”

  Aoden sighed. “Right. Well, I suppose there’s no need to feign innocence, then. I apologize for the deception, Cofus, but it really is important that we get into Verka, and the reason for doing so was no lie. We have no support from the elves or orcs or anyone else. I’m hoping at least the halflings would give our mission a chance.”

  “‘Our’ mission? A half-elf and orc on a mission together? I assume it’s a long story.”

  “Quite long,” Mergau said.

  “Of course. Another time, then. As to your request, unfortunately, I’ve little to say. While I would love to give you aid on behalf of the halfling people, I’m afraid our relationship with Verka is no better than the elves’. Any attempts to get you within their borders through the usual political channels will likely be met with inflexible opposition, if we get a response at all, so I can offer no help there.” As their expressions fell, he gave them an evil grin. “Perhaps… But no, it’s a ridiculous idea.” He got up from his chair and strode across the room.

  “What?” Aoden said right away, knowing he was being toyed with but feeling too much hope to care.

  “I tell you, it’s far too outrageous to be done.” He opened the door a crack to peer outside.

  “Whatever it is,” said Mergau, “it must be better than nothing. We’re willing to listen.”

  “You say this mission of yours is of utmost importance?” he asked, closing the door with a satisfied grunt.

  “Absolutely.”

  “And you say it may thwart Kenta’s invasion? Mind explaining how?”

  “I can’t tell you any more than that,” he hedged, knowing full well that ‘I don’t know’ wasn’t a strong answer.

  Cofus walked back to his desk wearing a mischievous smile. “I probably shouldn’t show you this,” he said, puffing at his pipe excitedly. “But you say your mission is important and I can’t rightly not lend aid where I’m able. It’s a bit of a security issue, surely, but I can lend you a hand, provided you keep your mouth shut about it.”

  He chuckled as the two faces before him brightened. “Anything you have would be greatly appreciated,” said Aoden.

  “Oh, well, I suppose I have no choice. It would be unneighborly to refuse. Give me a moment.” His head dipped under his desk and they heard a rapid ticking sound. It sounded like the combination dial on a safe. Sure enough, there was a loud click and a rasping of hinges. He tossed a few pages of papers onto his desk, closed the safe, and spun the dial. He popped his head back up and indicated Aoden should read them, then folded his hands and waited.

  Aoden complied, pulling the papers towards him and sharing them with Mergau. There were three pages, each a list of names written in a small hand.

  “What is this?” Aoden asked.

  “Before you, you see years of painstaking research going back to the beginning of the Restraint when halflings first began populating the abandoned cities of men. You see, halflings weren’t the only ones interested in these cities; so were the lizardfolk of Verka. So interested, in fact, that they’ve been paying spies to send reports on our military strength, provision movements, citizen morale, etcetera. This is a recent compilation by one of our top security agents: a full list of those suspected of involvement with the lizardfolk.”

  Aoden’s eyes widened as they went down the list. “This is incredible. I thought you were a diplomat. Why do you have this?”

  Cofus found some way to make his broad smile even wider. “My boy, a diplomat sometimes needs to take part in a little espionage and counter-espionage from time to time. The elves are too pompous to feel the need as I’m sure you’ll agree, but for halflings, lizardfolk, et alia, it’s practically assumed.”

  “Was that true even when you were in the elvish camps?”

  “Here and there, a bit, but there isn’t much need for it with the elves. They see the halflings as below consideration, and if it were any other way, I wouldn’t be telling you all this. Even if you inform your superiors of the truth, I doubt they would much care. Just know that even elven soldiers and guardsman can be plied with the right incentives.”

  “Like the goods you brought in your wagon,” said Aoden.

  “Precisely, my boy. Getting information from the elves isn’t easy, but gathering information is my specialty.”

  “Is how old I am one of those pieces of information? Because you keep calling me ‘boy’ and I’m thrice your age.”

  Cofus waved his pipe dismissively. “I’ve probably seen more in my thirty-one years than you have in your hundred or however many. Also, calling everyone ‘boy’ is one of the great privileges of getting old: you can just call everyone ‘boy’ and forget their names.”

  But Aoden didn’t hear the jest because Mergau had grabbed his sleeve. “Aoden, look,” she said, jabbing a finger at one of the sheets. Aoden leaned over and read the line. He frowned at the name.

  “Is that Reggy?
”

  “What?” said Cofus, sitting up sharply, his smile melting away. “What are you pointing at?”

  “I know this halfling,” said Aoden, turning the sheet and indicating the name. “Reginald Bluecorn. He’s an old friend of mine.”

  Cofus snatched the paper back from Aoden. He puffed his pipe furiously as he scanned the list himself. “The Bluecorns are a large family, thousands of members, and Reginald is a common name. I doubt this one is your friend.”

  “Really?” said Aoden skeptically. “Then this one isn’t the mage that lives in Oakwillow Pines?”

  Cofus’s mouth drooped open, the pipe bouncing off his desk and clattering to the floor. He looked at the list and back to Aoden, his hand moving to cover his mouth.

  “I shouldn’t have shown you this.” He snatched the other two pages from Mergau’s hand and stuffed them under a pile of papers. “I should not have shown you this. Oh, I shouldn’t have done that. I should not have done that, no sir.”

  “Reggy is a spy?” Mergau blurted.

  Cofus stared at them. “I need to ask you to leave. I’m very sorry.”

  “What? No!” Aoden stood. “You were going to help us!”

  “Aoden, I’m sorry,” he said, speaking quickly and quietly. “I said I’d do you a favor, but the only favor I can do for you now is to let you and your orc friend leave unmolested and tell no one that I showed you that list. It was a foolish thing to show it to you and I apologize. For a moment, I forgot when I was and who you were, but I’m not a child anymore, and you’re not Jorgin.”

  “Jorgin? Your old half-elf friend?”

  “Yes, but he’s dead and gone, and here I am still trying to impress him, or at least anyone who looks like him. I’m not a child anymore, but a silly old man who has forgotten the position he’s in. Leave, and speak of this to no one.” He stood and made for the door.

  Aoden reached out and grabbed Cofus as he passed and turned him around. He must have pulled harder than he intended, for Cofus yelped. He was ashen-faced and shaking.

  “Cofus, please,” said Aoden, trying hard to keep his own voice level. “We asked for help and you gave us this list. These spies, can one of them get us into Verka?”

  Cofus bit his lip. “I-I c-c-can’t,” he stammered. “It was foolish t-to—”

  Aoden tightened his grip, making Cofus yelp again. “Cofus, remember that this is to stop Kenta from assaulting Nilriel. You say you acted poorly out of the memory of your friend; I say that’s exactly what you need to do. You told me that he was killed during the Fury. Well, another one is coming, Cofus, and you know it. I know a group of seers has been guiding the halfling nation, and that same group guides us too.”

  Cofus sputtered. “You what? You know them?”

  “Yes, Cofus. We know them. Not the elven military or the king, just me and Mergau here. But we all want the same thing: to make sure no one suffers through anything like the Fury again. We’ve sacrificed much to be here, more than you can ever know, so we are not going to simply back down. Now please, come to your senses and tell us what your plan is. It might make all the difference.”

  Cofus’s mouth opened and closed as if making some silent argument. Aoden stared him hard in the eyes, trying to will some cooperation into the halfling. Finally, Cofus nodded, shoulders slumping under Aoden’s grip. “Alright,” he said. “I promised to lend aid, and I’ll never let it be said that I renege on my promises.”

  Aoden breathed a sigh of relief, releasing his grip on Cofus. “Good. Thank you, Cofus, I won’t let your efforts be wasted. Now please, tell us how this list was supposed to help.”

  Cofus glanced between their faces, looking miserable. “It’s as you asked before,” he said, returning to his desk and regaining his seat. “I was thinking one of the spies could get you into Verka. I never expected that you would know any of them, or I would’ve never—”

  “I understand, Cofus,” interrupted Aoden, “but what’s done is done. These spies are all going to be arrested soon anyway, right?”

  “Executed, more like,” said Cofus, averting his gaze as he added, “Reginald Bluecorn included.”

  “Executed?” Aoden repeated, shocked. “I didn’t think halflings executed criminals. Don’t you partake in citizen justice? Like, volunteer guards, judges, prosecution, defense, the whole lot?”

  “Normally yes, but this is a special case: remember, these spies know that the Restraint is coming to an end and they’re still working with the lizardmen to feel out our strength. The relationship between the orcs and the lizardmen has always been unclear at best, unless you’ve some insight into that?”

  Mergau shook her head. “We despise Kenta and his followers. My clan would never be party to the Fury, but I cannot speak for others.”

  Cofus looked frustrated at that. “If these lizardmen have some connection to those preparing for the second Fury and plan to attack from the rear once the Fury begins, then this espionage is an act of most heinous treason.”

  “He has a point,” said Mergau. “I like Reggy too, but if the lizardmen are allied with those Kenta-worshipping monsters, or worse, are Kenta worshippers themselves, that treachery would be inexcusable.”

  “And,” Cofus added, “I doubt they would acknowledge that a spy caught carrying out this sort of scheme was theirs. There would be no demand for release, no ransom, no extradition. What other choice would we have?”

  Aoden couldn’t bear to imagine Reggy being executed, but he couldn’t make a proper argument against it. If the information his friend passed along was indeed used to cripple the halflings’ defense against the orcs, it would cause the deaths of hundreds of thousands, if not millions. Even being a friend, Aoden could make no excuses for him.

  But there was one thing he could do.

  “Could Reggy get us into Verka?” Aoden asked.

  “It’s possible,” said Cofus. “Out of all the names on the list, he’s one of only a handful whose communiqués were written in Sishi. If he can speak the native language of the lizardfolk, he might be able to bluff his way through their border. But to do so with you two in tow? That would be a demand of a higher order. Even if he could, to let a traitor reach sanctuary under his leash-holders leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

  “You don’t sound confident in your own plan,” Mergau observed.

  “When you get down to brass tacks, there are a lot of holes to be found and a lot of luck to be had. More of a whim than a plan, really.”

  “Cofus, listen,” said Aoden. “Fury comes, everyone dies; one traitor serves as a guide and escapes, maybe everyone lives. In my opinion, that’s more than a fair trade.”

  “Is anyone a better choice than Reggy?” Mergau asked.

  “Any that speak Sishi are equally good choices, but none are immediately apparent to be better. Perhaps if I did a bit more research into the specifics—”

  “I appreciate the offer,” said Aoden, “but we don’t have that sort of time. We should have been in Verka weeks ago. The sooner we can get there, the better.”

  Cofus picked his pipe off the floor and fixed Aoden with a steely eye. “And you’re thinking this can stop the Fury? Are you certain?”

  “Not certain, no,” he admitted. “But if there’s the slightest possibility it might, we need to give it a chance.”

  Cofus sighed and puffed on his pipe, but the embers inside had gone out. Irritated, he put it back down. “Alright, but,” he said, putting a hand up before the other two could react, “I have a condition that you must adhere to: you must do everything in your power, whether lies, threats, or coercion, to find out why he’s gathering this information. The spies we’ve already interrogated have been kept completely in the dark on the purpose of the intelligence they’ve been transmitting; even our best agents can’t get information out of someone if they know nothing. But this Reginald seems well-placed. Maybe as his friend—and savior, don’t forget to play up that angle—he’ll be willing to divulge a bit more to you. If we can r
est easy in regard to these lizards at our rear, we can focus more time and energy on the orcs when they come. Otherwise, we arm our rearguard and hope we don’t have to draw too much manpower from the eastern front.”

  “I’ll find everything I can,” said Aoden. “I’ve known Reggy for near sixty years and wouldn’t think him capable of hurting a fly, but I’ll get the truth from him if that’s what it takes.”

  Cofus nodded. “Good lad. See that you do.” He smiled abruptly. “All this serious talk has got me troubled. Perhaps we can talk of lighter topics now that the business at hand is settled?”

  Aoden smiled back but shook his head. “Normally, I’d love to, but we’re already well overdue for Verka.”

  “Now, now,” said Cofus, patting Aoden’s hand across the desk. “You need to eat before you set out on the road again, haven’t you? Why spend a coin at the inn when you can dine here and now with more pleasant and initially-less-drunk-but-inevitably-more-drunken company? You can set out after. I can even order a wagon prepared for you.”

  Aoden looked to Mergau. “A wagon would make things faster,” she said. “And I’ve never eaten at such a place before. Just make sure to tell the cooks to make me a vegetarian meal.” It seemed like Mergau was already decided.

  “Of course, my Lady. And if you’ve never eaten at a place this nice, I highly recommend further travel. If you’ll stay, I’ll have a servant bring you to our guest rooms so you can prepare for the meal. I’ll inform the cooks to begin immediately so you can get on your way.”

  “We’ll take you up on that offer. Our mission may wind up being futile, but if it works, you’ll have helped us save countless lives.”

  “I can only hope it does.”

  “Thank you for everything, Cofus,” said Aoden, standing up and shaking his hand.

  “Yes,” said Mergau, standing as well, “and thank you for being understanding. I don’t know what would have happened if a less generous man discovered what I really am.”