I just flopped back in the chair when he came back inside.
“Thank you for the warmth of your fire and Kofrab. I’ve never tasted better,” I lied.
Gave him back the empty cup and adjusted my pack on my shoulder before leaving.
Outside the sun blared overhead, and I sighed not feeling its heat in this winter wind.
People bristled through the streets and gave me a wide berth.
Some, at seeing me, crossed to the other side of the street. Instinctively, I reached a hand up to my cap.
No, my ears were covered. What then about me ailed them?
I heard hammers pounding away. Looked like they were building something, maybe a home or another inn.
Around the corner, I found children playing with stones.
Two girls and nine boys. One of the girls crawled on the ground. She had one arm which she used to stuff stones in her mouth. Didn’t need to ask to know she was too young to be the witch I sought.
“I’ve another game.” I kept my voice light so as not to scare them.
“Bother another,” a boy with rags for clothes said.
“All right.” I clinked the silver coins in my hand. “Guess others will want to win my money.”
As I spun on my heel to leave, the boy grasped my sleeve. “How much?”
“Two silver coins to the winner.”
He let out a whistle.
“What do we do?” another asked.
“First, we need all the children here.” I glanced at their soiled faces. “Old enough to walk, and no one who’s married or has children of their own.” Since mankind aged faster than Elves, I didn’t know when they approached the legal age to reproduce. Nivel had said they approached the breeding age sooner. But surely, they did not marry children?
“Everyone is here.”
“This is all?” I recounted the group. “Eleven? Sure you didn’t forget someone?”
“Not with the plague last year and the dra — ”
“Enough,” a male voice shouted behind me. “State your business.”
I turned and saw a man with a club in his hand, behind him a row of men.
Chapter Eight
Guess I drowned out the sound of their approach because of my concern to find the witch. And now the pounding of the hammers had stopped.
“Just a traveler.” Doubt I could handle all of them with my power, for I couldn’t touch everyone at the same time. Perhaps I should fight my way through them, and then disappear into the woods. “Hoped to donate two coins to one of the children who win a game.”
“What game?” His stomach hung over his trousers, but I didn’t doubt he’d smack me with the club if he wanted. He looked as strong as an ogre.
I slipped the flask out of my pack and placed it on the ground. Then I eased out the dagger. Some of the men whistled, the one with the club stepped forward.
Holding the blade with two fingers, I handed the dagger over to the single girl within the age range of this village.
She must be the witch with these people crowding around me. For nothing was easy.
But when her dirt caked hand grasped the handle, the garnet did not glow.
“Now,” I must follow through, even though I knew my time was wasted here. “Try to throw the dagger into the flask. After two turns, then someone else may toss the blade.”
“We’ve no time for silly games.” The man set the club down and leaned forward. “Are you a dragon slayer?”
I gasped at his question. Dragons? Why would they think I killed dragons? For that matter, why did they care? Dragons were myth, someone’s nightmare fantasy. Even my kind dismissed any youngsters with such foolishness. Rather than voice my superiority on the subject, I decided to play along.
Bide my time until I could leave this place as there was nothing for me here. No witch to find.
“Nay. There are not dragons about to slay?”
He spit upon the ground between us and I saw his two front teeth were split along the bottom. Left a gap when he smiled, but then, he didn’t smile much.
“Ruth.” His smile made me place my hand on my sword hilt. “Give the man back his dagger.”
The girl grumbled, but gave me the blade. Then one of the boys handed me the flask. I replaced the dagger in my boot and stuffed the flask in my pack.
“What about the money?” a freckled boy asked.
“Come with me.” The man tucked his club underneath his arm.
With a sigh, I followed him down the dirt path. For the moment I would humor them. But if they wanted a fight and thought they could best me, it would be my pleasure to prove them wrong. I walked with the men while the children scampered behind us.
Two streets over, the gap-toothed man paused. Before us was a pile of blackened timbers. To the right, a mixture of wood and rocks created a large oval shaped building.
“See the burnt wood?” he asked.
“Aye. Did you have a fire?”
“This is where the dragon struck.”
“And why would a dragon strike here?” I played along with him. He must let me leave once he finished his ridiculous tale. After all, there was no such thing as dragons. If so, then I would know. My kind knew more than humans. It was probably lightning that did this damage and they were being ridiculous, believing in dragons.
“Don’t have much.” He spat again. “A few people at the time carried swords. We saw a blue dragon flying overhead, but he didn’t pay us any mind.
“So we held a banquet. Had to be a good sign if a dragon comes into sight, and doesn’t eat anyone. Everyone was having a good time here at our town’s mill. Only place big enough for all of us.” His hand trembled as he patted a blackened log sticking in an angle from the ground. “Then some of us heard a roar. But with the music, not many knew what was happening. I stumbled outside and saw blue dragon fighting with a red one.
“Then, before we gave warning, the red dragon shot flames straight at us. Don’t think he meant for the mill to catch fire.” He shrugged. “Just think we were in the way. Many died that night.”
This was unbelievable. After all, dragons were myths … weren’t they?
“Left this, everything the same as a reminder of those who died.”
Through the burnt wood, thought I saw pieces of bone.
“But justice must be met.” He stared at me and I nodded. “Our men took their swords and headed out to find and slay this dragon.”
“Sorry, my sword is for my own protection. I have my own business to attend to.”
The crowd around me murmured.
“They’ve been gone now for two turns of the moon.” He tucked his hands under his stomach. “Not all of us could go with them. Some escaped the fire, but their flesh paid the price.”
I glanced around and noticed a few of the men hanging back from the others stepped forward. One had no hair, but scars across his face and head. Another with scars that bubbled down his arms.
“What would you want me to do?” Wished I never had traveled to this town.
“Just if you see our men, tell them to forget their quest. Come back home.” His voice choked on the words. He rummaged through the debris, and then pulled out a blackened medallion. “This was my wife’s. Couldn’t bear to look at it.”
When he handed over the medallion to me, I shook my head.
“Take it. My son wears the same around his neck. Use it to tell my son to return.”
I swallowed against the tightness in my throat and accepted the metal piece. Engraved in the copper was the image of a woman with the lower half of her body curved into a fish tail.
“My wife’s goddess.” He answered my unspoken question. “Been in her family for generations. But no one even knows her goddess’ name or how they came about it.”
Glanced back down at the tarnished medallion. The ocean waved behind the woman.
“I’ll do my best to find your son and the others.” What harm could it do? Just look for them while I looked for the wi
tch. And if I didn’t find his son, no matter, as I wouldn’t be coming back to this village anyway.
“What about the game?” the girl whined.
“We should pay him.” The man smiled exposing his missing teeth.
“No payment is necessary.” Before they asked me to stay any longer, I tucked the engraved metal into my pack. “I’ll find them.” Though how, I didn’t know. I couldn’t even find a witch.
While I accepted their cheers, I headed out of this village and into the woods to the next one.
Chapter Nine
Eleven weeks I traveled from town to town. Fifty towns I entered, but the dagger failed to glimmer in any girl’s hand. Nor did I find anyone with a medallion like the one the man gave me.
No longer did I stay at an inn. Just paid for cleaning of my clothes, while I searched for the witch, and the man with the medallion. Often, I visited several towns within a day. Cautious to run through thick woods so none saw my speed.
Before the apples in my pack rotted, I gave them to children with sunken cheeks. Still, my stomach quivered at the thought of eating. But the dull ache now blinded me for hours on end.
My coins almost gone, I trudged through the snow to the next village.
Wind whipped my hair around me. One hand held down my cap. Even with my hair longer, now down to my hips and covering my ears, I refused to take a chance. Raised my hood, and I gripped my cloak tighter around me.
In a cluster, blackened stakes rose from the ground. Scent of decayed, burnt flesh filled each labored breath I took.
Stumbling, my hand groped forward for something to hold onto. I collapsed into the snow. Damn, what was wrong with me? Heard whispers ring. Stakes danced around me like shadows. Sleet dusted my nose.
Murmurs echoed. Words filtered as if someone spoke through a barrel. “Demon. Warloc.”
A sharp pain knocked the breath from me as someone kicked my side. Flaying my arms to ward off another attack, I realized my cap had fallen off. Spots danced before me as humans crowded around.
Gasps sounded in my ears like a waterfall. Gloved hands dragged me to my feet. If my stomach had food, I would’ve retched.
Arms dragged me forward, as though not caring that my feet did not keep pace with them.
My knee struck a rock and I let out a moan. Blood trickled down my leg. Prickling heat against the cold. As if to hurry me to death, they increased their speed.
Snow shivered me to the bone.
We crossed passed a shadow, through a stone wall. The wind whistled through the corridors. Endlessly they lugged me up sharp stairs. Torches seemed to hiss in laughter.
Winding, we climbed. Where was my strength? I felt as if my muscles were as useless as cut harp strings.
Before an oak door, we stopped. The stench of metallic copper tickled the back of my tongue.
One of the men holding me rapped on the door. In answer, the door swung open.
Metal contraptions rusted red with blood rose from the ground before me. From the ceiling, ropes strung from metal spikes swung in the breeze. Windows allowed a view of the snow, but metal bars crammed in stone prevented any escape.
A man dressed in uncolored wool robes stood before me. Grasping my hair he turned my head back and forth. His gaze darkened as he stared at me.
“Is he a demon?” a voice asked behind me.
“Witch’s slave?” another asked.
My tongue thick in my mouth. I could not voice what I was. Anyway, they’d never believe me.
“Hold him up,” the man snapped.
My legs buckled under my weight. I felt as though I’d join Liana soon. Perhaps I should have forced myself to eat something. By months of not eating anything, I had become weak. Uncaring, they held me with bruising hands.
My cloak stripped from me. The robed man snatched off my sword and bow.
Then my quiver of arrows was removed. Dumping my arrows upon the stone floor, his boots smashed them.
Within seconds, my quiver refilled with new arrows.
“Magic.” Apparently startled, the leader cried out and dropped the quiver. “Demon’s magic. Take him to the cell.”
“Father Morgan,” I heard one of the men speak, “he also had this pack with him. Just clothes, a flask, and some coins.”
“Don’t question me, my son. These are the demon’s disguises. This demon uses these arrows to inflict sicknesses. Even his spit is poisonous. If he spits on you while asleep, have nightmares the rest of your days.
“Now, go and bow five times to our Father, and pay tribute at the altar.”
So, the monk lied. He knew the rumors of Elvin from his kind. Often I heard similar sayings myself during my travels of human villages. Even then I wanted to correct those who spouted off insane things they believed my kind did to theirs. Even tangles were blamed on Elf Locks.
But if I corrected the monks here, no doubt they’d believe I was more demon than an Elf. After all, Elves were myths in their minds. Demons, on the other hand were real to them.
My boots scraped across the stone floor. I was grateful they hadn’t removed them yet. But in my present state the garnet blade was no use to me.
A metal cage bolted into the stone wall swung open. Hands shoved me forward and I collapsed inside.
“Don’t worry.” Father Morgan’s words rang through the room and into my soul. “God guides my hand with this one. Before the moon sets full again, he will be destroyed.”
Chapter Ten
Within my cell my vision darkened. Death craved me. Even the stone floor felt warm beneath me. I heard the slap of leather shoes upon the floor.
“How do you like our new company, Celeste?” Father Morgan flung my weapons in a corner, just out of my reach.
A woman’s voice made me strain to see her answered. “Someone must play a prank on you. Let him go, he’s nothing.” Her tone gripped me in melodic rhythms. “Perhaps he’s cursed, bringing disease to you. Either way, he looks to die before the night ends.”
“Don’t try your wiles with me.” His tone curled my toes. “Within six months, your time will come. I’ve just not tired of playing with you, yet.” Laughing, he crossed the room to leave. The door bounced shut. And I heard the bolt click into place as he left.
Fearing her answer, I listened to her breathe for a while. Hesitant, I licked my lips. My throat tightened in thirst. But thought of water made my stomach lurch. “W-Where am I?”
“Within the church tower.”
“But the — ” My memory of the devises flooded before my mind.
“Torture devices? Used to bring confession.”
Blinking, I noticed she was chained by her right ankle to the far wall. The slack of the chain showed she could come near my cage, but my weapons and the door were out of her reach.
Her chain shrieked over the stone floor as she approached. She sat down next to the back wall of my cage. I felt her brush back my hair.
“Elvin, right?”
Her finger tips grazed my skin. I gasped, feeling her essence seep through me. Frozen, I could do nothing as power surged like lightning through my body.
I struggled to move away from her touch, but my body convulsed. Felt my injured knee clot with blood and the skin come together, melted closed.
My vision cleared and I gazed up at a beauty bent over me. Burnished gold hair, shorn two inches stuck out from her head. Full lips pouted as her brow furrowed.
Nay, I would not kill her with my power as I had Liana. With my strength returned, I jerked my head from her.
“You do not wish to be healed?” she asked.
Pushing back, I rose and gazed at her. Liquid grey eyes like stone stared back at me.
“Healed?” Did she not realize I drained her?
Glancing over her, she seemed unharmed. Tattered brown robe hung on her frame. Her cheeks hollow, made me yearn to give her food and see her well.
“My gift’s healing.” She tilted her head examining me. “But only others. Know a spell for trans
ferring souls, but I like my body.”
“You’re a witch?” Perhaps she was the one. I remembered the dagger in my boot. Even if she wasn’t, I could force the lock with the blade.
“Does it surprise you?” She dusted her hands off on her robe. “But alas, nay, I’m no witch or I’d bring this place down with my power and escape. I’m Celeste.”
“Brock.” I could not explain, but I wanted to keep her talking. Wanted to know all about her. Was it her touch or my curse that made me long to know her thoughts? “Why are you here?”
“My mother was tortured. Burned as a witch. They even dug up Grandmother’s body from the churchyard. Our property was seized when Father Morgan declared her a witch too.” As though seeing my question she continued. “Two months before my twelfth birthday. Been in this prison ever since. Law here says a witch cannot be killed until she turns eighteen. For me, my death will come this year with the May flowers.”
Reaching into my boot, I removed the dagger. She was older than the prophecy, but she was unmarried, with any luck pure, and I had little chance that she was the one. For a moment, I paused with my fingers touching the edge of the handle. Would I be able to kill her now if she was the one? I hardened my heart. If she was, then I’d complete my duty. I’d make her death quick so she would not suffer. I removed the dagger. Better get this over with.
“Think you can use this to unlock us?” I asked holding out the blade.
Her eyes widened. She held out her hand and I placed the handle in her palm. The gem flickered, but then faded.
My heart crushed against my chest in a mixture of relief and disappointment. Her gift perhaps had triggered the gem, but she was not the witch I sought.
“Give me back the dagger.” With a sigh, I dusted off my tunic. Time I unlocked this cage and was on my way. I could not afford to get too involved with these humans. Especially not to a beautiful one who needed more flesh on her bones.
“You gave it to me of your own free will. Now, it’s mine.”
Grumbling, I strode the step between us and she jumped back. Taking advantage of my height, I stared down at her. “I must leave, I’m on a mission.”
The Garnet Dagger Page 4
