by Jesse Teller
Smear patted his back and squeezed his shoulder.
“Maybe I am.” Rayph laughed. “I need a message delivered. Give it by arrow to the jailhouse.”
“A message to Toc-a-roc?” Smear asked.
“Yeah.”
Toc-a-roc,
I will be at the bazaar in two hours. I will have all my men and be ready to surrender myself to you if you decide to take me in. All I ask in return is the time to say what I need to say before I am clasped in chains.
Rayph Tellamore
Trysliana read it aloud, and no one spoke for a long time. They looked at him, and he nodded.
Dissonance grinned, and Drelis scowled. Trysliana delivered the message.
They stood in the marketplace with papers from the warrant wall blowing through the breeze around them. Dust and litter fluttered about as if the filth of the city had pulled in close to watch. Rayph heard the approach of horses and braced himself.
“Help him see,” Rayph prayed.
Toc-a-roc rode to the center of the marketplace and leapt from his horse. He stomped before Rayph and pulled his dagger and club. He let out a slight war cry from his far distant home of the Forest of the First Tree, and he snarled.
“The level of destruction you left behind you when you broke them out will cripple our nation’s defenses for a decade,” Toc-a-roc said. “How and why did you do it?”
“I didn’t. I asked for a group to break them out because I couldn’t do this without them.”
“Is that why the Hoodsmen were in town?”
“Yes.”
“You sent the Hoodsmen against our capitol. Have you lost your mind?”
“How many were killed?” Rayph asked. Toc-a-roc purpled. “How many of the castle guard were killed in the assault?”
“Does that matter?”
“It is the only thing that matters, yes.”
“None,” Toc-a-roc said. “They didn’t kill anyone. Many were wounded, and more than a few were traumatized so badly they won’t be any good to anyone for a long time, but they are not dead.”
“As I suspected. The king?”
“Unharmed but furious. He knows this was you.”
“The queen and the prince?”
“All fine! Damn you, you destroyed the castle!”
“How many times have we talked about the need for a redesign of the castle’s defenses?” Rayph asked.
“So, you shatter the side of the castle?!” Toc-a-roc shouted.
“In a word, yes.”
“You are under arrest for—”
“You will listen to me or you will find me slipping out of my bonds. I will free every one of my allies, and you will never take us in. We are faster and better than your crew.” Rayph felt no pride at the statement and was not gloating or bragging. He knew he was simply stating the facts. “I have a peace offering for you.”
“How can there be peace between us?”
“I have your man.” Rayph opened the air around him and gently guided Tellus out of the pocket he had been stowed in. He took off the bag pulled over his head and removed the wax that stoppered his ears. “I have seen to his wounds and done him no lasting harm. I have fed him and given him shelter. I have harmed him in no way.”
“Tellus, you okay?” Toc-a-roc asked.
“Well rested and ready to take it to them,” the man said. Toc-a-roc nodded.
“Thank you for taking care of my man. Why are we here, Rayph? What do you want to say to me so badly you would give up yourself and your crew?”
“How is the city?” Rayph asked.
Toc-a-roc paled. “Hemlock is a strange place. It always has been.”
“When was the last time you were here, Toc?”
“Maybe a decade ago?”
“What was her population then?”
“Well, a lot of people are hiding in the Bilious Quarter,” he said. “The population is not as bad as it looks.”
“What are they hiding from, Toc?”
“It doesn’t matter. I am charged with taking you in. I cannot turn my eye from that goal.”
“How about the town guard? How many do you have left?”
“A few.”
“What about the pirates?”
“They were attacked and assaulted by you, I know that for sure. No one can get past the reef wall you put up. They are stuck here until you free them, which you will be doing once you are in custody.”
“What are they doing?”
“They are waiting to get back out to the sea.”
“They are hiding in their ships, hoping they will be safe but unwilling to bet on it.”
Toc-a-roc huffed.
“Where are we, Toc?”
“In the marketplace, Rayph.”
“Who else is here, Toc?”
“Your men, my men.”
“Who else?”
“Okay, this place is in trouble. It is obvious there are vampires here, and they have taken many of its citizens—”
“Most.”
“Yes, most of the citizens, into their numbers. What can I do for them while I hunt you?”
“You’re not hunting me, you have me,” Rayph said. “Now what are you going to do?”
“Take you in.”
“Then what?”
“Come back here with a group of heroes and fight to aid this place and stopper the blood flowing down these streets.”
“What heroes?”
“Anyone who will come.”
“We are here now, Toc. Utilize us. Take us into your crew and use us to fight this evil. Then take us in. Together we are more powerful than we are apart,” Rayph said. “Let’s save Hemlock before it is too late. Then I will go home to your king and let him have his druthers.”
“You give me your word?” Rattlesnake asked.
“Take this as a token of my sincerity.” Rayph tossed Delaman’s aura. Toc-a-roc caught it, and the wizard grabbed it greedily. He shattered it on the ground and pulled an immense power into his aura. He looked as if he would strive to smite Rayph but held his power in check.
“You and I are enemies until the day I kill you or you kill me,” Delaman spat.
“That is unfortunate, and I do apologize. As I saw it, I had no other play but to kill you. That was more than I was willing to do,” Rayph said.
“You will wish you had.”
“What do you say,” Rayph said. “Toc-a-roc Rattlesnake Dancer, will you use us?”
“Do I have a choice? Will you come quietly if I don’t?”
Rayph laughed and shook his head. “It would be harder to surrender under those circumstances.”
A black billowing cloud of noxious air slammed the marketplace a hundred feet from where they stood. The cloud was ripped away by the air and the terror of the Hoodsmen appeared. Saykobar stomped forward with a look of disgust. He walked right up to Rayph and stopped before him. “How goes the vampire hunting, Ivoryfist?”
“Poorly, Saykobar. Their numbers swell every night, and we have done little to stem the tide.”
“My mistress has asked me—” He doubled over in terrible agony and loosed a low growl. “She has told me—” He screamed out, and Rayph wondered at the life this man lived, filled with darkness and pain. He seemed to be struggling a little. The wizard slowly lifted his head and, with trembling words, said, “She told me to beg you to let us join your campaign and for you to use us if you can.” He gasped for breath, and his face blazed with shame.
“I could use the help, Saykobar. Will you obey the orders I give you?”
Saykobar gritted his teeth and nodded as if in great agony.
“Then you are most welcome. Thank your mistress for me.”
Saykobar’s face broke out in a look of sheer, unadulterated hate, and he sneered.
Mother’s Dark Milk
Dran Demar walked from the group of Hoodsmen, dressed in rags, with a crudely shaved head and a battered face. She stopped before Rayph and shook her head.
“What
am I doing here, Ivoryfist?”
“I had them grab you and bring you here.”
“Why? I’m a criminal, guilty of plotting against the king. I should be dead. You have stayed my execution. Have you forgotten all you taught me about justice?”
“Well, how about we put off your execution a bit until I don’t need you quite so bad?”
“What trouble have you gotten yourself into?” She saw Toc-a-roc standing beside Rayph, and her face registered shock and confusion.
“Well, technically, I have gotten all of us in trouble,” Rayph said. She scoffed, and Rayph saw her annoyance growing. He curbed his next joke and looked her in the eye. “There are vampires in this city. They have turned nearly half of the city to their breed and now stand poised to take the rest if we are not successful.”
“Successful in what?”
“Destroying all of them.”
Dran looked at her feet, then up at Rayph with a sour face. “How can I help?”
“Go to the town guard station and get outfitted. Take over the guards and evacuate the people in the city.” Rayph turned to Dreark and Grelow. “You two go with her. Seeing you work together again will inspire the men. Arm them with their stakes and have them help guide the citizens out of town.”
“He’s giving orders to us now?” Grelow asked.
“He is,” Toc-a-roc said. Grelow hissed but said nothing. He pulled himself onto his horse, and Dreark and Dran followed.
“Dran is in charge!” Rayph yelled. Grelow made an obscene gesture with his hand, and Rayph laughed.
Drelis touched Rayph on the shoulder and whispered in his ear. “It is ready.”
Rayph toyed with the words before he realized their meaning and smiled.
“What do we do?” Saykobar asked. Rayph could see it hurt him just to say, and Rayph stifled as much enjoyment from it as he could.
“Hunt vampires. It is but a few hours past dawn. We have a while before nightfall. Take your men and sniff them out while they sleep. Start with merchant quarter and the warehouses. Sever heads and throw them into the sun.”
There were heavy storm clouds in the distance, and Saykobar hissed. “What about that coming storm? It will blot out every ray of sun and the heads will not burn.” He seemed satisfied by the turn of events, and Rayph cursed. He looked about the courtyard, searching every face.
“Do any of your men possess the power to scare away the clouds?” Rayph asked.
“No, that is not a power we possess. It is juvenile and wasteful. Weather is not a thing you can control,” Saykobar said.
Rayph laughed as his mind unraveled the problem. “No, don’t worry about it. I will handle it. I have just the source. Trysliana, take me to our friends, I have a favor to ask them.”
“What can I do?” Smear said.
“Show the Hoodsmen the warehouses we have found and help them work. We need as many dead vampires by nightfall as we can get. Drelis, stall for me.” She snarled but said nothing. Rayph grabbed Trysliana, and they flew for the docks.
They landed on the Venture and a bell sounded. Slowly, the crew stepped out to meet Rayph. “Hey, boys and girls—” Trysliana began.
“No, harlot, we didn’t miss you,” Helm spat.
“Fair enough. We have a favor to ask.”
Oak shoved his way forward and pointed a thick finger at Rayph. “No, no more favors for you. You promised us we would be able to leave before all of it broke out in mayhem, and still here we stand.”
“That was a promise unfulfilled, but for good reason. You promised you would help us. You said vampires are bad for everyone and you pronounced us allies.”
“I did no such thing. I will never ally myself with you. What happened at the Crow’s Nest last night?”
“I lost my honor. It is a thing I regret, and something I will answer for, but now is not the time.”
“Isn’t it? Why are you the one to judge when justice is to be doled out?”
“Because I understand the problems. And right now, you do not want me chained up.”
“Why not?”
“Because, Oak, I’m holding it all back,” Rayph said. “I have more allies now, and I might be able to do this impossible job, but right now what I need is a little help from you. If I don’t get it, we are ruined.”
Oak laughed and crossed his arms before Horsehair stepped out of the crowd and looked at Trysliana. “What do you need, Analine?”
“A storm is coming. It will blot out the sun, which is our only true weapon,” Rayph said.
Avent laughed and stepped forward. “You want my weather spells?”
“Only sailor mages dabble in such temperamental magic. Any fool who doesn’t know it well is doomed to destroy himself and his allies. But you’re a sailor. Wind and weather is your specialty. You fill your sails and curb the worst storms all year. Help me now. Peel back these clouds and let me kill these monsters.”
Avent turned to look at Aaron.
Aaron nodded.
Rayph walked through clear skies to the Bilious Quarter to the same failing bar where he had first met the Mothers Smite. He stepped in with Drelis and found them all waiting for him. On a fading fraying couch sat the lady of Hemlock with Corry beside her. He nodded at Rayph, and Rayph nodded back.
“I need to talk to you,” Rayph said.
Revenge stepped out of the back room of the burned-out bar and smiled a seductive smile. She might have been the sexiest woman he had ever seen, fur and all.
Rayph turned to the Pristine. “Mistress, why have you called me here today?”
“You have made us all wait. This vexes us. We have more important things to do than wait on a man.” Nods and hisses of agreement rattled through the bar, and Rayph held his hands up.
“I apologize for my tardiness and beg your forgiveness. Why was I summoned?”
“We are leaving,” the Pristine said. “This town is dying around us, and we are too important to fall with her.”
“Where will you go?”
The air shuddered, and she nearly screamed in rage. “Do not meddle in our affairs, fool. We do not answer to you or anyone else.”
Rayph put his hands up and showed his palms. “You’re right. I retract my question. I wish you well and will keep the enemy busy while you make your escape.”
They seemed satisfied by that, and finally, the Pristine continued. “We have done as promised,” she stated. “We have concocted your poison, though in all of our order’s history we have never made a poison for a man. For you, we have made this exception.”
“I thank you,” he said.
They brought out a gilded box, which seemed too small for what Rayph wanted, and set it at his feet on the floor. Rayph opened it and found six tiny vials inside. “What is this?” Rayph asked.
“It is your poison,” she said.
“Where is the rest of it?”
The entire assembly began talking in their own language again, and Drelis shot him a look of rage.
“How dare you—” the Pristine began.
“How dare me what? I asked you for a solution to the vampire problem. How much poison is this? How many doses?”
“We made you six doses.”
“How will that serve me? There are thousands of citizens to inoculate. How are six vials going to serve that need?”
“Citizens? You wish to use our poisons on the general public?” They looked outraged, and Rayph shook his head. He grabbed the box and made for the door. They spoke in a swirl of whispers and nonsense, and Rayph didn’t care.
He walked outside, and Corry followed him. “What is it that you need, Ivoryfist?”
“I need you to join me when we fight tonight. Walk with me and mine and fight beside us. We need your fists.”
“I cannot. I am needed to defend my gang.”
“Nonsense, they are already gone. You know as well as I do that when you’re done here, you will run to join them in some other town. Don’t lie to me. I know the criminal mind.�
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“I cannot help you,” Corry said.
“Why?”
“You are the law of Lorinth, helping you goes against my vow.”
“The law? I’m a wanted man, you may have heard. I am the most wanted man in all the nation. I have groups of men hunting me. Toss this nonsense aside and join me.”
“I won’t,” Corry said.
“Fine. Here, take this.” Rayph opened the box and handed Corry a vial. “Take it, you might need it. Carry her to safety if you want to. But she will be fine. The city is evacuating. Get her out of here, then do as you will.”
Corry stared at the vial of poison in his hand. “Why would you give this to me?”
“Call me a believer.”
“In what?”
“In a man who would stay and protect a woman even after the money is gone and his crew has abandoned him.”
“My crew did not—”
“Okay, whatever you say. I am needed elsewhere. We are getting together in the courtyard outside the castle at dusk. Get her out of town.”
Rayph turned when Drelis joined him. They opened a portal and disappeared through it.
Back at Ironfall, Rayph gathered all of Dreark’s men together and marched them through the portal. He told them where their leader was and sent them on their way.
He went to Dissonance’s temple and waited for the woman. She stepped out of the building a few minutes later with a stony, determined face and a slight stomp.
“Will The Pale help us?” Rayph asked.
“I talked to Mort about this. The Pale has a daughter named Rott. She is the goddess of decay and all things rotting. She loves all undead and counts them as her children. Should The Pale join in the fight we are about to embark on, it would stir up animosity between the two goddesses. She will not do that. As much as The Pale loves us and has aided us, I would not depend on support from her in our battle. But Mort also told me she would be at the fight today no matter.”
“Why would Mort do that?” Rayph asked.
“She has decided to go against her goddess’s wishes this one time,” Dissonance said. “I warned her against it, but she would not leave Aaron to die, and she knows he will be there.”
