Quest's End: The Broken Key #3

by Brian S. Pratt

  “So we’ve been told,” Soth replied with a grin.

  They waited for a minute. Then when they figured Bart should have reached Kevik, Seth asked his brother. “You ready?”

  Soth nodded. Then with a grin asked, “Are you?”

  Seth matched his grin then nodded in turn. “Let’s go.” Kicking his horse in the sides, he bolted from the stable. Behind him, Soth and the Raider followed close.

  They didn’t get far before one of the archers stationed on the rooftops noticed their flight. “The Raider is escaping!”

  The three of them laid low along their horses’ necks and pushed them for even greater speed. Before they were able to reach the gate leading from the courtyard, the twang of a bow could be heard.

  “Here they come,” Bart said to Kevik just as the initial cry went up.

  Kevik held his staff in hand, and as the riders raced past, cast his wind spell. A split second later, the archer atop the inn fired his arrow. It flew true until it hit the cross draft that Kevik’s spell had created. At that point it was blown off trajectory.

  The three riders left the inn’s courtyard and raced out of town. Those who had been set to watch for a Raider rescue party were caught unawares and reacted too late. Before any sort of response could be initiated, the riders were gone.

  As people began racing about, Bart said, “Get back to the inn.”

  Kevik nodded.

  Chad stood at the window and watched the riders race from the courtyard. The courtyard began to fill with people, two of which were Riyan and Chyfe. Swords in hand, they joined with others who had gathered to repel an attack force which never materialized.

  Picking up the rope that was lying on the table nearby, he moved from the window and opened the door. The hallway was dark and quiet. Crossing to the doorway opposite his quickly, he entered the room Seth and his brother shared. Shutting and locking the door behind him, he went to the window and waited.

  He didn’t have long to wait before two shadows appeared crossing the street. Recognizing their silhouettes, he lowered the rope down as they came closer.

  “He’s gone,” the old soldier told the onlookers as he exited the stable. Riyan and Chyfe stood with the others who had come when the alarm had sounded. “They tied up Rall, and took the prisoner.”

  Just then Rall emerged from the stable and came to the old soldier. Rubbing the side of his head, he said, “They came out of nowhere!”

  Another man who walked with Rall saw Riyan standing with the onlookers. “They stole three of your horses,” he told him.

  “What?” exclaimed Riyan in dramatic surprise. Rushing to the stable, he and Chyfe saw the empty stalls.

  “Damn horse thieves!” Chyfe cursed, playing the part to the hilt.

  As the two of them exited the stable, the old soldier was staring at them peculiarly. Riyan noticed the look and came to a quick stop.

  “You have two men with you who looked like Tribesmen don’t you?” the old soldier asked.

  “Well, yes we do,” Riyan replied, “But they come from up north near Gilbeth.” He paused a moment as he took in the growing negative stance the locals were taking toward him and Chyfe.

  “Where are they?” a local asked. The man and others glanced around to see if they could be located.

  “Yes,” the old soldier said as he stared at Riyan. “Where are they?”

  “I…I don’t know,” replied Riyan. “Surely you can’t think they had anything to do with this?”

  “Two men appear out of nowhere,” the old soldier stated. “None of the men posted to watch for the approach of Raiders saw them. Perhaps they were already here?”

  From behind the old soldier, Bart appeared for which Riyan was grateful. Bart was much better at this sort of thing than he was. “What is it exactly that you are accusing us of?” Bart demanded. “After all, we were the ones who affected his capture if you’ll remember.”

  “Then where are they?” asked the old soldier.

  “Back in the inn,” Bart explained, “watching our equipment.”

  “We’ll just see about that,” he said. Motioning to the two archers who were in the crowd he indicated Riyan, Bart and Chyfe. “Don’t let them get away.”

  “Yes sir,” one of the archers replied.

  “Instead of wasting time with this nonsense,” Bart said then pointed in the direction the three riders had fled, “maybe you should be getting after them.”

  “Too late now,” he replied. “Besides, it would be foolish to leave the protection of Marl Crest. Who knows how many Raiders lie in wait out there in the darkness?” Turning toward the inn, the old soldier and a good portion of the onlookers began heading quickly for the rear door.

  Kevik, who had by this time returned to the inn, stood at the window overlooking the courtyard. When he saw the group of locals heading their way, he left the window and raced across the hall.

  “Hurry up,” he said to Chad, “they’re on their way.”

  Chad nodded. Beside him stood Seth who had just finished making his way up the rope and through the window. The rope tightened in his hand as Soth began his ascent. From below, they heard the door open and the footsteps of many people crossing the common room toward the stairway leading to the second floor.

  Soth moved up the rope with great agility. When he was but a few feet from the window ledge, they heard the footsteps reach the landing on their floor. “Time’s running out,” Seth said as he leaned out to see how his brother was doing.

  Soth pulled himself up to just below the window ledge and then said, “Give me a hand.” His brother reached down, took his hand, and pulled him quickly through the window.

  As soon as Soth’s weight was off the rope, Chad quickly pulled it into the room and stuffed it beneath one of the beds. No sooner had the rope been stashed and they took their seats than the old soldier appeared in the doorway.

  “Yes?” Kevik asked as the old soldier came to a stop just within the room.

  Not saying a word, the old soldier took in the fact that Seth and Soth were in the inn just as Riyan had said. From behind him one of the locals said to others further down the hallway, “They’re here.”

  “Were we supposed to be somewhere else?” asked Chad.

  Turning about, the old soldier left the room and proceeded down the hall to the stairs. The local who had come with him followed, after each had looked into the room to see for themselves that the twins were there.

  After the last one had left, the four companions broke into smiles. Seth got up and hurried to close the door. “That was close,” he said to the others.

  “Too close,” agreed Kevik.

  Then from out in the hallway, more steps could be heard approaching their room. Worry that the locals had returned quickly disappeared when the door opened and Bart, Chyfe, and Riyan entered the room. Everyone remained quiet until the door had been shut.

  “We did it!” exclaimed Riyan in a hushed voice.

  “So it would seem,” agreed Bart. “I suggest we take the rest of our horses and get out of here now.” Turning to Seth, he asked, “How did it go?”

  “Haran said we’d find the horses in an abandoned farm three miles south of town,” he replied.

  “Haran?” asked Kevik.

  “That was the Raider’s name,” he explained. “The horses will be stashed inside a farmhouse with a broken chimney.”

  “Alright then,” Bart said. “Get your stuff and let’s get out of here.” Outside, the eastern sky was brightening with the coming of dawn. A short time later, each had their packs and was headed down the stairs. At the bottom, they found the girl happily getting the common room back in order.

  Riyan paused a moment as he watched her pick up one of the pallets from off the floor. She was humming a merry tune. Though she didn’t leave with Haran, she was pleased by the fact that he wasn’t being sent off to Yerith Keep for questioning. Hope was still alive that she and her man could be together. It just wouldn’t be this day.r />
  She turned and started to carry the pallet to the door leading in the back of the inn then came to a stop when she saw him standing there. A smile was on her face as she met his gaze.

  Chad grabbed Riyan by the arm. “Come on,” he said. Riyan nodded to her and then allowed Chad to lead him to the doorway. Before they passed through the doorway, the girl’s merry tune had resumed.

  Outside, the mood of the locals was upbeat. Though the captured Raider had escaped, Marl Crest had survived the encounter. Too often in the past, the aftermath of a Raider attack had been a cause for grief and rebuilding.

  “Sorry about the loss of your horses,” one man said as they crossed the courtyard to the stable. He was a farmer by the looks of him, despite the bow and quiver of arrows slung across his back.

  “We’ll manage,” Bart said.

  “Might get them back if we have the fortune to run into the thieving swine,” Chyfe said. “That and a little of their hide for our trouble.”

  “Good luck,” the farmer said.

  Chyfe nodded and then they were in the stable. Two other locals were there and they too offered their condolences on the ‘loss’ of their horses.

  With three horses gone, they were forced to ride double. Chad rode behind Riyan, Chyfe and Bart rode another, as did the twins. Kevik was more than happy to not have to share his horse with anyone.

  Once they were mounted, they left the stable. The old soldier was off to the side talking with several of the other locals. When they emerged, the talking ceased and the group watched them silently as they made their way from the inn’s courtyard.

  Riyan was quite glad when they returned to the road and left the stares of the locals behind. Most he was sure didn’t believe they had a hand in the escape. But some like the old soldier, had their doubts.

  They rode south out of Marl Crest for three miles before finding the farmhouse with the broken chimney where Haran had said he would stash their horses. Bart had been reluctant about this part of the plan, he hadn’t wanted to trust the Raider with their horses.

  When they originally came up with this plan, he had argued against leaving the horses with someone they didn’t know. But Chyfe had insisted that it was the only way for them to avoid suspicion. So, they had left it to Seth and Soth’s judgment. If they felt they could trust him, so be it. And they had.

  “They’ll be there,” Seth assured them. “He seemed an honorable sort.”

  Bart just glared at him as they turned off the road toward the farmhouse. He fully expected for the horses not to be there.

  As they moved toward the farmhouse, the unmistakable sound of a horse’s snort was heard coming from within. When they entered through the front door, they found the farmhouse was just a shell of its former self. The back wall was gone as was most of the roof. Tied to a fallen support beam were their three horses.

  “I told you he would leave them,” Seth said as he dismounted.

  “So they are,” replied Bart.

  “Thought he would be here,” commented Soth as he dismounted to claim one of the horses.

  “This was where he must have stashed his horse last night before coming to Marl Crest,” stated Chyfe.

  “You think so?” asked Chad.

  Chyfe nodded and pointed over to the other side of the farmhouse where a pile of semi fresh horse dung lay. It was in a place where their three horses could not have left it.

  The rest who were riding double dismounted and reclaimed their horses. Once they were all in the saddle again, they left the farmhouse and resumed their trek south to Hylith.

  Chapter Eleven

  __________________________

  The plains south of Marl Crest were barren for the most part. In the summer, this area would have tall grass blowing in the wind. But now there were only stunted remains.

  Seth and Soth rode in the fore now that the likelihood of encountering Raiders was greater. It was their hope that since they looked like Tribesmen, it may give them an edge should they be encountered. For their part, the twins were quite glad to be leading for a change.

  Throughout the morning, the road remained deserted. They continuously kept vigilant for signs of riders in the distance, but so far their luck held good. Above them, the sky was crystal blue. Far to the south was another matter as dark clouds filled the sky.

  “Not much to this area,” commented Riyan from where he and Bart rode behind the twins.

  “Wouldn’t expect there to be,” replied Bart. “If this area is truly disputed by both sides, then life here could be hazardous.”

  “I suppose,” agreed Riyan.

  Shortly before noon, the outline of a small cluster of buildings appeared out of the horizon before them. Several buildings stood on the west side of the road, none of which were of any size. Looked more like a cluster of huts than anything else.

  As they drew closer, it quickly became apparent that the buildings had long been deserted. Doors were off their hinges, one of the buildings had long ago been gutted by a fire.

  “Think they were killed in a Raider attack?” asked Chad.

  Riyan glanced over his shoulder at his friend and shrugged. “Maybe,” he said.

  Coming abreast of the buildings, a small animal akin to a kidog bolted from one of the buildings and raced off into the plains.

  “Should we stop?” asked Seth.

  Bart shook his head. “No reason to,” he replied.

  Seth nodded and continued on. They soon left the deserted buildings behind.

  Those weren’t the last of such buildings lining the road they encountered as they traveled. A couple miles further on they passed by a farmstead set off the road. It too had the look of being abandoned. Then there was nothing for an hour. Now with the sun halfway through its descent to the horizon, more buildings appeared ahead of them. This time however, they could see smoke rising from one of the chimneys.

  “Someone’s home,” Soth stated.

  “So it would seem,” agreed Riyan.

  Shortly after the buildings had come into view, the smoke coming from the chimney stopped. The building from which the smoke had risen was a single story dwelling, set among half a score of similar structures. It and the other buildings had the look of being abandoned. There was no sign of life.

  “That’s odd,” commented Bart as they approached the cluster of buildings.

  “What’s odd?” asked Riyan.

  “Smoke from a chimney usually means people,” he explained. “Yet this place looks just as abandoned as the one we passed through earlier.” He continued gazing at the building from which the smoke had come as they rode past the buildings. Then, just as they came abreast of the one smoke had risen from, he saw an eye peering out from the corner of a window.

  “Hello!” he cried as he came to a stop. Immediately, the eye vanished. “Someone’s in there,” he said.

  Riyan turned to look. A moment later, the eye reappeared. “Suspicious sort,” he stated.

  “I would be too if I lived here,” said Chyfe. Chad nodded in agreement.

  “None of our business,” Bart told the others. Then with the eye staring at them, they continued on their way.

  When the cluster of buildings had disappeared behind them, Riyan said, “You know, maybe that first place we went through hadn’t of been as deserted as we thought.”

  Bart nodded. “I was thinking the same thing,” he said. “In a place prone to raids, and possibly even banditry, such caution could well mean the difference between life and death.”

  “But why would anyone stay in such a place?” asked Soth.

  “It’s hard to leave your home,” Bart explained. “Even in such a forlorn place as this.”

  “True,” agreed Chyfe. “The unknown is always more terrifying than whatever you are currently dealing with.”

  “I’d agree with you for the most part,” Riyan relied. “But I would think there would come a time when even the unknown would be preferable to some things.”

  “
You got that right,” agreed Bart. He himself had embarked on the unknown when he originally came to Quillim. Of course, he had done so because his life would have been forfeit had he remained in Wardean.

  They rode until the sun was low in the sky before moving off the road to make camp. There they made a fire to keep the cold at bay until morning. It took most of the remaining daylight for them to find sufficient fuel to last throughout the night as the surrounding countryside had little in the way of trees. What they did find were roots and grass which they bundled tightly together to form logs.

  A watch was posted and the night passed uneventfully. As the sun emerged with the dawn, they had a bite to eat before retuning to the road. The clouds which were present to the south throughout the previous day were no closer, much to everyone’s relief.

  The road continued to be deserted as they put miles behind them. Late in the morning a forest appeared ahead of them. By late afternoon they came to a village situated within the northern fringe of the tree line. Unlike the previous collections of huts they’d run across, this place was clearly inhabited.

  They were pretty sure they had passed out of the disputed area and were now completely within lands unequivocally that of the Moran Tribes. And in all probability those of the Orack Tribe.

  Any doubt about where they were was quickly quelled when they saw that the villagers had the darker skin of Tribesmen. As if that wasn’t enough the tell-tale pattern of the Orack Tribe was worked into many of their clothing.

  “Now to see what kind of reception we’re likely to receive,” Riyan said. He was glad beyond measure that their first encounter was to be with a village rather than a Raider raiding party.

  As they continued to approach, villagers began taking notice of their arrival. They didn’t seem overly concerned about the imminent arrival of strangers. Curious would be the term Bart would have given them. But when a group of a dozen armed men emerged from within the village, things grew tenser.

  “Just take it easy,” Bart said to the others. “They’re being cautious is all.” Then to the twins he added, “Remember, we’re agents of a trader up north interested in securing trading contracts for the coming summer caravans.”