“No one saw us, and we won’t be seen leaving. The local gangs are currently preoccupied with trying to find out who can cut up whom into the smallest pieces. However, if you know who these are, then you know why we’re here.”
Lachlan snorted and shrugged. “Again, I ask you in plainer language, Nilesh. Why would I bother or want to help you? There’s a considerable amount of gold in it for me if I just wait for you to leave and then let one of the Count’s or General’s soldiers know I saw you. Maybe both.”
Ellian growled and then half got up from her cushion. “You’ll be dead before that happens, leper!”
Lachlan cringed back and away from the angry woman, her scarred visage nothing compared to the fire in her eyes as she pulled a dagger. However, Nilesh was quicker and put his arm on the woman’s, holding her back. “Wait! Stop! If you do anything to him, one of his servants will be away and back with a pack of soldiers before you even know it.”
Ellian stared at Nilesh’s hand on her arm, then back up into his eyes. Something in them made him retract his hand quickly, but he didn’t drop his gaze. Finally, Ellian blew out a breath and sat back down, laying her dagger on the table top within easy reach as she watched the merchant carefully.
Nilesh waited for Ellian to sit back down before turning back to Lachlan. “Because I know you’ve wanted to have something delivered to a particular place in the deep desert for quite a while and we can deliver it for you.”
Lachlan’s eyes narrowed, and he sucked in a wet breath. “How do you know I need something delivered?”
Nilesh winked and grinned, “Come now, Lachlan, you know I’m in the business of information. I know, and I also know you’ve not been able to find anyone trustworthy, or strong enough to take it there.”
“And why should I trust you with it?” Lachlan asked, staring intently at Nilesh. He had gone perfectly still, which was even more striking since the man had been shaking and shivering just moments before.
“Because we need your help to fix the Dukedom,” Ashrak answered before Nilesh could speak. Lachlan pivoted his eyes to the young lord and met his intense gaze and studied him. After a long, frozen tableau, he picked up a bell and rang it. It wasn’t loud, but the sound carried in the silence.
Shortly, they heard someone walking down one of the darkened hallways, and a young woman in servant's garb emerged, carrying a large platter with cups and two ornate teapots. She quietly set one cup and one teapot next to Lachlan and then placed other cups next to each of the rest of them before pouring from the second teapot.
“Guests are uncomfortable drinking from the same objects as myself, even if I never touch it,” Lachlan explained before picking his teapot up and pouring from it. He paused, picking up the cup and blowing on it. He waited for the rest of them to have theirs poured. Then raised the glass. “To my guests,” he said before taking a sip.
The rest of them did as well, and when they had all taken a drink, Ashrak spoke. “Does that mean you’re willing to help us?”
“No, it means I’m willing to strike a deal with you, one that will benefit us both and be of equal value,” Lachlan said, then cleared his throat noisily. “Nilesh is correct that I do need something delivered somewhere. It is very important, and you must agree to the delivery before I reveal what it is and where it must go.”
“That’s preposterous,” snapped Chari. “What kind of deal is that? You could tell us to deliver an egg to one of the moons, and we’d be honor bound to deliver it.”
The wrapped man nodded slowly and gestured for the servant to come over to him. He leaned forward and whispered into her ear before sending her back into the darkened hallway. “Yes, that is true though that would also be foolish of me to ask you to do something impossible. You will just have to take my word for it that it is possible to accomplish. However, before you answer, let me show you what I offer in return.
Shortly, the servant came walking back down the hallway carrying a small package. It was wrapped in loose burlap and tied with twine. The package itself was large and shaped like a book. When she placed it down carefully in front of their host, she backed away and stood a meter behind Lachlan. He reached forward and caressed the package, admiring it for a moment before looking back up to his guests. “This is why you are here,” he said with an air of mystery about him. “You would never be able to find this book anywhere else in Brun. It is one of the lost artifacts of Teglareck the Mad.”
“Teglareck the Mad?” Ashrak asked. “I’ve never heard of him before. Who is he in a why should we care if you wrote a book?”
Lachlan squinted at the young lord and shook his head softly. “It’s amazing how much information has been lost to the ages, or at least to the young. Perhaps I should not expect everyone to become a historian.”
The leper gestured for the servant to pick it up and take it to Ashrak. Strangely, the book had more weight to it then Ashrak would have expected. His curiosity piqued, he slowly began to unwrap the burlap, revealing what was inside. The leather was an odd reddish color cracked by age, and the weight of it became clear when he saw many large pieces of metal inset into the bindings. Most of them were decorative, but there was a large band wrapped around the book itself to keep it closed from prying eyes. There were no words on the tome to say what its title was, but its age spoke of dark, deep secrets.
Ashrak looked up after running his hands across the aged metal and leather. “What is it?” He whispered, feeling the weight of the book in his hands. “I’ve never seen a book like this in the library of either the Citadel or the city.
“Yes, because there are only three known copies of that book in existence,” Lachlan said slowly, his eyes locked on Ashrak’s. “It contains the story of one of the companions of Citra Brun who was one of the first to seek and find the Golden bands. Over two thousand years ago, Citra’s story was long forgotten though he had a scholar and historian as one of his companions who kept amazing records of their journey. The reason you do not hear about this book is that within its pages are things that frighten the lords of this land and they’ve gone to extraordinary lengths to destroy Teglareck’s work.”
“I have heard of this book,” Nilesh said as he reached over and touched the lock, “Only as a rumor and shadow. I didn’t think it existed though this is worth a great task. I don’t normally recommend accepting a deal without knowing all the details, but if anything is worth it, this book is that thing.”
“Why?” Ellian said, looking at the book as if it were a viper about to strike. “What could be in this book that could help us enough to take a fool’s errand?”
“First of all, maps of many of the ruins where the Golden bands might be found,” Lachlan said, leaning back in his chair and watching the group. “Also, there are poems and stories written in there that some say are prophecy. It’s where Teglareck got the title of the mad. It was an attempt to discredit him and his book. The name stuck and while most people don’t recognize it, those that do agree it is a fitting title.” Lachlan leaned forward casting his eyes in shadow and light. “There are even supposedly authentic conversations that he dictated between Citra and the ancestors. It is those words that are perhaps the most disturbing as they speak of other worlds and places.”
Ellian snorted and looked away obviously not believing anything about what Lachlan was describing, but the other three were exchanging glances that seem to indicate they thought this was promising. “Is there any way to look inside?” Nilesh said. “How can we even be sure this is an authentic copy?”
Lachlan gestured toward the servant, and the woman walked around the table and placed an old, iron key in front of Ashrak. It had strange designs on it and did not have a single spot of rust. When Ashrak picked it up, it also felt far lighter then he expected. He placed the key into the lock and slowly turned it, listening as the mechanism turned over smoothly. As it released its catch, he gently opened the ancient book.
The first few pages revealed a spidery, scrawling hand t
hat was packed tightly with words. Ashrak gingerly flipped through several pages before coming to the first illustration. Completed by an artist, one who clearly valued their work, it detailed a large map of Brun itself. Ashrak recognized several cities and towns while others he did not. Some were missing which would make sense with the passage of time, there were also numerous ancient ruins and abandoned places also indicated throughout the map. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nilesh’s eyes widen as he gasped.
“This is remarkable,” Nilesh said, putting his hand on the page to stop Ashrak from turning it. “There are places here that I’ve never seen on any other map. Some may be lost to the desert, but this is a treasure trove of information.” He looked up at Lachlan with a question on his face. “Does it talk about how they begin their search for the Golden bands?”
Lachlan nodded. “Yes, in great detail, in fact. With this book, you will have a great advantage over any other seeker.”
“Which means what you need to be delivered must be precious,” Chari said. “If we agree to deliver this item, what is the danger that you can’t trust this to anyone else?”
Lachlan shrugged and then winced from some pain deep in his shoulder. He bent to pick his teacup, and they all watched his hands shake as he did so, giving himself time to recover before he spoke again. “It’s not so much the item itself, as to where it needs to be delivered. Very few could gain entrance and leave again, alive, but I believe you four can succeed where others would fail.”
“Why would you say that?” Ashrak asked, uncertainty clear in his voice. His question was mirrored by his sister and Chari as they looked at each other, though Ellian seemed guarded.
“I have my reasons,” Lachlan answered. “I can say no more unless you agree to the trade.”
Ashrak looked at Nilesh who nodded back. “I believe it is worth it,” Nilesh said. “If it has even half of what he says, we’ll need it.”
Ashrak turned back the leper and placed his hand upon the book. “We agree to the trade,” he said. “But you’d best not be playing us for fools. I have had quite enough of that in my life.”
“Very well,” Lachlan said. “Then here is what you must do for me. When you find the Golden Bands, then you must take this second book to a hermit called Vilamox.” The old leper slid another tightly bound book across the table toward the companions. “You will find him near Mount Eluberus, otherwise known as the Black Spire.”
Ashrak gasped, a look of anger crossing his face. “Are you mad? We’ll be killed before we get within kilometers of that mountain.”
“What’s wrong?” Chari asked, alarmed at the look on Ashrak’s face. “What is this Black Spire?”
“It’s where the Brotherhood of Assassins has their base,” Nilesh answered. “It’s just on the borders of the deep desert though too far out for soldiers to get to without half of them dying from thirst. The man who rules there is Dumak Rathgal; No one has seen his face, but he’s ruled there for almost thirty years; an almost unheard of amount of time for any assassin’s guild.”
“Assassins!?” Chari exclaimed. “Why does this hermit live so close to a den of assassins?”
“Did you know about this?” Ashrak said, turning angrily to Nilesh. The small man did not answer as he looked over at Ellian.
Ashrak followed his gaze and realized Ellian did not look shocked. Instead, she met his gaze for only a moment before looking down. “I can get us there. I have contacts that can get us in safely without rousing the attention of the guild.”
Ashrak frowned but after a few moments, begin to wrap the book back up. “Well then, it looks like we have a delivery to make.”
“Ashrak,” Said the muffled voice of Duke Valeran from Ashrak’s belt pouch. “Ashrak, you all need to get back to camp immediately.”
Ashrak held his hand up to the rest of them, asking for silence while he pulled out the communicator that Aiden had made. He loved the thing, but sometimes it was difficult to explain why voices were coming from unexpected places. Lachlan was looking around, alarmed at the odd turn of events until Ashrak pulled out the small, white device and waved it at him. “It’s okay; the voice is coming from this. It lets us talk over long distances. It’s nothing to be worried about.” He waited until Lachlan calmed down and nodded before pushing the button and speaking to Valeran. “Valeran? What’s going on? Is something the matter?”
“You could say that,” Valeran said. “It seems that the general is over anxious to try to take out some of the competition. He’s begun moving a lot more troops into that camp of his, and none of those soldiers look like they’re going to be sitting around for long. We’ve brought some ships up the river and are breaking the camp out now. Can you all get back here as soon as possible?”
Ashrak looked over at Nilesh who leaned forward to speak. “Yes, Your Grace, we can be back within the hour. Do you think they’re going to move before then?”
“No,” Valeran said speculatively. “It doesn’t look like they’ll be able to do anything for a day or so. Will be gone well before then, so an hour is just fine but be careful. There are spies out everywhere.”
Nilesh nodded despite Valeran being unable to see him, so Ashrak answered for him. “Aren’t there always? Will be careful and see you soon.”
After Valeran had signed off, they looked over at Lachlan who was staring at Ashrak with wide eyes. “What is that thing? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“It’s an ancient artifact,” Chari explained. “It’s not as grand as the Skywitch, but it’s helpful in times like these.”
Ashrak stood, putting his communicator away and picking up both books. He began to turn back to the door they’d entered though Lachlan held a hand up for him to stop. “Don’t go out that way. I don’t need soldiers stomping through my home,” Lachlan said. “I will have my servant show you the back way. It will come out in an alley not far from here and close to the Westgate. That should let you avoid any problems.”
Ashrak nodded and the small party followed the servant. As they left the city, they could still hear the occasional sounds of fighting. They didn’t know it was soldiers or some of the gangs and didn’t care just as long as it covered their escape.
Chapter 11
Valeran sat back in his chair on the Skywitch and watched Nilesh read through the ancient book. “Do you think that book is going to give you any answers?”
Nilesh looked up from the book and grimaced. “I’m not sure at this point. I’ve just started to dig into this thing, and it is slow going,” Nilesh said. “I have to say, though, that if this Teglareck the mad is a historian, students must’ve hated him. His handwriting might be better than a man who’s currently being stabbed to death, but not by much. I can make out some of it the main paragraphs though he’s got all sorts of comments and scribbles added into so many of the pages. Sometimes they overlap, or worse, are all smeared together.”
“How about the maps?” Chari asked. “It looks like those were fairly clear, at least the few that I had a chance to see.”
Nilesh nodded to the pretty, silver eyed girl. “They are, but they are also two thousand years old, and a lot of the place names have either changed, or I’ve never heard of them.”
“Nor have I,” said Lord Mendor who was sitting next to Nilesh. “Many of the geographical landmarks are still the same, however. That should allow us to cross-reference and identify many of the places. I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few of the landmarks have simply disappeared into the sands of the desert.”
Ashrak and Ellian came walking into the room carrying several plates of food which they distributed to their comrades before sitting down. “Any news on where we might go?” Ashrak asked before digging into his meat pie.
“Not yet,” Chari said, giving Ashrak a quick kiss before starting to eat. “Nilesh and Lord Mendor are still working their way through the book. There’s literally hundreds of places to search, and only a few of them are even on modern maps anymore.”
/> “Don’t forget that Count Stavix and General Rhendu will have their soldiers out trying to kill anyone else looking for the bands,” Nilesh interjected. “Personally, that’s my main worry right now is being able to get anywhere at all without a sword through the gut.”
“I wish we could fly you wherever you need to go,” Valeran said.
Ashrak grunted in agreement, nodding to the large man. “Don’t I know it,” Ashrak said wistfully. “Wouldn’t it be great to have this skimmer whisking us around all over the desert and blowing up anyone in our way? I’d love to see Count Stavix’s face right before we melted him. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it, either.”
Lord Mendor signed but didn’t look up from where he was reading over Nilesh’s shoulder. “As nice as it is to think about, we cannot leave the coast, Your Grace. We need to stay near the city to keep an eye on the political climate. There’s also the annoying news of raids on the northern coast by the Duchy of Chreen. General Rhendu is either keeping all of the troops close to the capital or sending them into the desert. If we wish to stop a full-blown invasion by Chreen, you will need to direct our Navy to fight them, and for that, we will need the Skywitch.”
The Glimmer Steel Saga, Boxed Set, Books 1 - 4 Page 96
