Treachery in Tarnstead

by Robyn Wideman

  Kiana looked around. What had they stumbled upon that was so valuable? All she could see were reeds along the edge of dozens of small ponds of swamp water that spread out in front of them. “You’ll have to be more specific, Rose, I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  Bending over at one of the small ponds, Rose picked a small plant that was floating on top of the edge of the water. “Sweet swamp lily, it has very powerful healing properties. It heals but also gives the patient energy and recharges their mana.

  Mana, as some mages called it, was simply magical energy. The magical energy that all creatures and objects had in them to varying degrees. A salve that cured wounds and replaced magical energy was very valuable indeed. Especially to a mage. Kiana looked again at the plethora of small ponds, now the swamp lilies stood out in her mind. There were dozens and dozens of the plants. “Well, we better grab all of them. I’m sure Mage Browne will be pleased.”

  Kiana nodded, she knew about sweet swamp lily, but had never seen it before, or rather she’d never seen the plant. She’d used powdered lily that she’d purchased from an apothecary. Rowan and I will take some extra for ourselves.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Rose said.

  “Why?” Aspen asked.

  “Because they might end up in battle. They should be carrying salves that heal mana,” Rose said.

  “Hey, what about me?” Aspen asked. “I’m like Kiana, I went to the Thieves’ Guild school. I know a thing or two about fighting.”

  “Then you should have some too,” said Rose.

  Kiana started picking as many of the swamp lilies as she could see. “What else are we going to want to go with the swamp lilies?”

  “We get the rest of the supplies that Mage Browne requested, mostly she wants bilbub and any white willow bark we find, and the elderberries. However, since we have the sweet swamp lilies we will also want to find a cardom tree.”

  “And where do we find a cardom tree?” Kiana asked, although she had a sneaking suspicion she really didn’t want to know the answer.

  “Further into the swamp,” Rose said, confirming Kiana’s suspicions. “We’ll have to be extra careful, but we should be able to get other ingredients while we are there.”

  “Are you sure that is a good idea?” Aspen asked.

  Kiana grinned at her nervous looking friend. “Weren’t you the one who just claimed to have been a Thieves’ Guild mage and a fierce warrior?”

  “That’s different. I’d rather fight in a war, than die in a swamp from being eaten alive by an oversized rat.”

  “That is silly,” Rose said. “A war is far more dangerous than the swamp when you have a guide. And besides, you wouldn’t get eaten by an oversized rat. I mean if that happens it would be at least a couple eating you. Juxxer travel in packs.”

  “Not helping, Rose,” Aspen said, shaking her head. “Let’s just get this over with. I need to get home and have a hot bath and reevaluate my thoughts about taking an apprenticeship with Mage Browne. Being a healing mage isn’t nearly as safe or easy as I thought it might be.”

  Rowan laughed. “Come on ladies, let’s get moving. We certainly don’t want to be stuck trying to navigate the swamp in the dark.”

  “It might be safer,” said Rose. “Juxxers eyes are a bright glowing red, we’ll be able to see them coming.”

  11

  Nathan woke in an agitated state. He’d been dreaming, but he couldn’t remember what he’d been dreaming of. He knew Ava and Camille had both been in his dream, but the images had been blurry and disjointed, and did nothing to focus his thoughts. It had been a restless sleep.

  “Morning,” Camille said as Nathan rose out of his bedding. “You get any sleep?”

  Nathan frowned. “A little. Why do you ask?”

  “You were tossing and turning in your sleep, and you may have been talking as well.”

  Talking in his sleep? Nathan hoped he hadn’t said anything too embarrassing. “Nothing too bad I hope.”

  “No. But it is obvious Ava’s death still bothers you a lot. You mentioned her often. It was like she was trying to talk to you, but you couldn’t hear her. You just kept getting more frustrated and angry. You seemed to blame yourself for not being able to hear her.”

  Nathan sighed. He didn’t remember any of that, but it sounded familiar, like it was something that happened before. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. I hope I didn’t keep you up.”

  “Don’t be sorry. I know what it is like to lose someone. It isn’t a pain that goes away soon,” Camille said.

  “You lost someone?” Nathan said.

  “My childhood sweetheart. Sort of like yourself, except mine was my fiancé and his death wasn’t nearly as complicated as what happened with Ava. Bjorn and I were best friends from the time we could walk. Our mothers were best friends, so we were together every day from before we could walk. We were inseparable. We knew we’d be getting married years before we were old enough. Our mothers often joked about it. But it was true. He was the only boy I was interested in, and we had a connection that went beyond friendship. And then one day he and another young warrior went out troll hunting and didn’t return. I found the bodies a week later. Bjorn had been sliced open and his leg broken. He would’ve lived if he’d taken healing salves with him, but he was an arrogant fool when it came to hunting. We would warn him to take salves, and he would just laugh and say no troll was smart enough to get close to him. The day he needed salves was the day he stopped hunting. I think he thought he was impressing me with his bravado, but I could never get him to listen.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” Nathan said. He was surprised Camille had been engaged but it made sense. If Ava hadn’t died, he probably would’ve proposed to her at some time.

  “Thank you. It’s been over a year now, so I’ve done most of my crying and healing. I still have bad days, but I have learned to let go.”

  Nathan nodded. “Maybe one day I will be able to too. It is hard not having her around. Keeping myself busy helps, but there are times when it just hits me.”

  “I know exactly what you mean.”

  “I’m sorry for being such a terrible guest, but I should get going. I have to travel to Raumont for a festival. They want to meet the mighty Prince Stoneblood.”

  Camille laughed. “You need to get over the prince thing. You sound like an ass when you complain about being royalty.”

  A sharp reply came to mind, but Nathan bit his tongue. Camille was right, being royalty wasn’t something he had a choice in and it gave him options that weren’t available to the common man or woman. He might not have grown up royalty, but the fact remained he was now, and to complain about it like it was some great burden would seem childish to a commoner who didn’t understand the responsibilities and burdens that accompanied the benefits of being royal blood. Heck, even he hadn’t a clue what it meant to be royalty until he’d had the opportunity to watch and observe his Aunt Avera. Now he was drawing those same types of responsibilities he needed to start acting a little more like his aunt. She would never have made that type of comment to someone she barely knew. “You are correct Camille. I do sound like an ass when I say that. I shall endeavor to improve and with luck you will notice a difference the next time we meet”

  “So formal. Is that your way of saying goodbye?”

  “I’m afraid so.” A part of Nathan wanted to stay. To talk to Camille and get to know her better. But he needed to go.

  “Very well. You mentioned last night you wanted to take some gwuala flour back home with you, so I added a small bag to your things. When you leave the village take the eastern path. It forks about a mile out. Take the left fork and you will go through the badlands towards Birchone. Once through the badlands just head further north. You’ll find your way.”

  “Perfect. But I still want to pick some rum blossoms. Do you know where I can find some on my way back?” Rum blossoms were tiny flowers that were one of the first plants to grow in areas that had b
een covered in lava. The flowers had strong magical properties. Nathan didn’t want to waste an opportunity to gather some when so near the rare and valuable herb.

  “Rum blossoms? Oh, do you mean grelan flowers? They smell a little like rum.”

  “White with black spider web pattern in the middle? Rum blossoms are what my mother called them.”

  “Yes. We call them grelan flowers. You’d best be careful while looking for them. But you will find some along the northern side of the trail. Just don’t venture too far into the lava fields.”

  “Thank you. Yes, I’ve learned you can find all sorts of dangerous things in the lava fields. Angry trolls, dangerous sirens, and monster-sized wolves.”

  “Beautiful sirens? Why I do believe that is a compliment.”

  “You think being called a siren is a compliment? And I do believe I said dangerous”

  “I’m choosing to emphasize the beautiful part and ignore the rest. You best get going before I change my mind.”

  Nathan laughed. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Camille. I hope our paths cross again soon.”

  …

  The path through the badlands was narrow and windy but compared to the ground Nathan had covered on his way west, it was easy traveling. However, he’d now left the path as he found a patch of rum blossoms and was following it further into the lava fields. The flowers were in little clusters and Nathan was excited by how many he was finding. In the times he’d gone into the badlands with his mother they’d never found so many.

  As Nathan reached down to collect another patch of the rum blossoms he heard a cracking and crumpling sound and the ground started to shake.

  “What in the seven hells?” Nathan swore as the ground started to fall away under him. He fell with the ground as it disappeared. When the ground finally stopped collapsing, Nathan hit the bottom hard. His ankle gave out and he crumpled down.

  Ignoring the pain. Nathan assessed the situation. It seemed there had been a large air bubble just beneath the surface and his weight collapsed it. He was now in a deep hole that was easily ten feet deep. With a sigh, Nathan removed his backpack and pulled out his remaining packet of salve. Removing his boot, Nathan applied the salve to the ankle then quickly put his boot back on so it wouldn’t start swelling. Standing again, Nathan tested the ankle. It hurt, but not bad enough to be a concern. Nothing was broken.

  The problem was trying to get out of the large hole would be difficult. The walls of the hole were somewhat rounded, like sitting in the bottom of a bowl and trying to grab the rim. And with a sore ankle making pushing off more difficult he needed to find the easiest section of wall to climb.

  As Nathan scoured the sides of the cave in, a pair of eyes looked down at him from over the edge of the hole.

  Looking up at his new company, Nathan couldn’t help but grin. “Hello again, boy. You keep finding me when I need assistance.”

  The wolf tilted his head to the right ever so slightly. Nathan wasn’t sure if this meant the wolf agreed with him or was mocking him. Either would be understandable.

  “How about you help me out of this situation.” Nathan grabbed his backpack and threw it up over the edge of the hole, next he carefully threw his sword up, away from the wolf. Then holding one end of his bow, he reached up, so the other end of the bow was in front of the wolf’s nose. “Give that a tug and pull me out.”

  The wolf looked at the bow for a moment as if he were deciding if he wanted to grab it or not, but then he gently put the bow in his mouth. His large and powerful jaw clamped down on the bow then the wolf started to back up.

  As he felt the bow being pulled, Nathan put his feet on the side of the cave and started walking up. The wolf kept pulling and within a few seconds Nathan was able to grab the edge of the rock wall and climb out of the hole. The wolf let go of the bow and sat. Watching Nathan.

  Picking up his gear, Nathan smiled at his new friend. Feeling the magical connection between himself and the wolf, Nathan concentrated on the connection and mindlinked to the wolf, “thank you.”

  The link between them wasn’t strong but Nathan could feel his message had been received and understood. It reminded him greatly of when he’d first met Thorn, the wild stallion his grandfather’s men had caught and not been able to ride. Nathan had connected with Thorn and had ridden him with no problems. In time, Nathan and Thorn were so in sync that Nathan didn’t even have to give Thorn directions when they rode together. Thorn could read Nathan’s thoughts and take him where he needed to go.

  The wolf stood and walked to Nathan. It brushed by him once, then turned so he was heading the same direction as Nathan. He looked up at Nathan.

  Carefully reaching down, Nathan petted the ridgeback’s head. He sensed pleasure and acceptance, so he kept doing it. The wolf lifted his head, turning it so Nathan could scratch his jaw bone below the ear. Nathan was impressed by the size of the wolf’s head. It was easily half again the size of a large dog. But so was the wolf’s entire body. From a distance it looked big, but it’s proportions were so good you really couldn’t appreciate how large it was until close up. Considering how easily the wolf had pulled him out of the hole, Nathan could only imagine how powerful it really was. It had to weigh at least two hundred and fifty pounds, if not more. Its shoulders were above his hips. In many ways the ridgeback was closer in size to a small pony than a wolf. “We are going to need a name for you. How about Fred?”

  The wolf’s growl told Nathan all he needed to know about that name.

  “How about Sally?”

  The wolf bared his teeth.

  Nathan raised his hands in a submissive posture. “Okay, no boring regular names. How about Lord Ridgeback?”

  The wolf wagged its tail.

  “You like that one? OK. Well Lord Ridgeback it is. But I can’t call you that around visiting royalty. You never know who will be offended. Can I give you a nickname? Call you Lori for short?”

  Lord Ridgeback just looked at Nathan without growling or baring his teeth. It seemed he was grudgingly accepting his new name and accompanying nickname.

  Nathan started walking. With his sore ankle it would take longer to get home, and while he didn’t mind spending more time with his new companion, he did still have to get home to prepare for his journey to Raumont. Also, there would be plenty of logistics issues with bringing a ridgeback wolf into Elderwood that needed to be sorted out. Where would Lord Ridgeback sleep? It wouldn’t be safe for him outside of Elderwood until every hunter and ranger knew the wolf was a companion of his. And it wouldn’t be safe for any hunter or ranger who made the mistake of trying to kill Lord Ridgeback.

  12

  Walking up to the wall that blocked entrance to the canyon, Nathan greeted the soldiers at the gates.

  “Welcome back, Prince Stoneblood,” the sergeant said with a smile.

  Nathan laughed. The sergeant was one of Verin’s rangers, and for him to be on guard duty meant he either lost a bet with another sergeant or was being punished by Verin for something. “Gate duty? What happened this time, Bravlin?”

  Bravlin shook his head. “That damn Sergeant Meeks. We get to playing cards and drinking and somehow I end up losing and taking his shifts.”

  Nathan chuckled. “You need to pay less attention to your drinks and more to his left hand.” Nathan had spent enough time with the rangers to know their habits. Gambling and playing cards was common and Nathan had learned more than a few tricks by watching and observing the games.

  “His left hand? Why that cheating bastard. Thank you, Milord. Any news from the west we need to know about on the wall?”

  “Yes. How many men have you here now?” Nathan asked.

  “Standard watch crew, sir. Six on the wall, two in the mountain lookouts, two men manning the gates, and two dispatch riders lounging around pretending to care for their horses.”

  “Good. Have them all at attention and weapons down. I don’t want anyone panicking when they see my new companion.” Nathan could see the
curiosity in Bravlin’s eyes, but the man gave a crisp nod and turned toward the wall.

  “Weapons down and stand at attention. Anyone who breaks rank will be on latrine duty for a month.”

  Nathan watched as the men from inside the gatehouse crisply marched outside of the gates and stood at attention and the men on the wall all lowered their weapons and stood erect waiting for their next order. Either Sergeant Bravlin’s voice carried exceptionally well, or the archers on duty in the mountain lookouts were just mimicking what they saw happening below, but both lowered their weapons and stood tall. When all the men were stopped. Nathan whistled loudly, then mindlinked to Lord Ridgeback to come to the gates.

  The great wolf had been waiting in the woods along the western edge of the mountain on Nathan’s request but was now loping towards the gates.

  “What in the seven hells?” Sergeant Bravlin said as he watched Lord Ridgeback approach.

  “That is my new companion, Lord Ridgeback. I want it made crystal clear to all of Elderwood’s soldiers and rangers that he’s my personal companion and not to be harmed.”

  “Yes, Milord. I will personally explain it to them. Might even make a coin or two betting against the men who don’t believe you’ve made a pet of a giant wolf. How in the gods names did you manage that?”

  Nathan admired Lord Ridgeback as he approached. He shook his head. “I wouldn’t call Lord Ridgeback a pet, especially if he is within hearing range. I have a magical bond with him, but I don’t control him. I’m very careful what I say to him, as should you all be. Understood?”

  Sergeant Bravlin nodded. “Oh, I will give Lord Ridgeback all the respect I would a visiting king. Only difference is I never met a king who made me consider soiling my pants. I’m grateful you gave us warning and made us go weapons down. I’d hate to lose a man who panicked after seeing that beast.” The sergeant then turned his eyes to the walls making sure the men were following his orders. “Private Benson. I see your hands twitching. If they even move in the direction of your weapon I will beat some sense into you and double the latrine duty.”