Seer of Shadows

by Cleave Bourbon

  “Ouch, I’m only half elfish. I’m not as old as you might think.”

  “Oh, in that case, I will go and get my grandma; she has been lonely lately.”

  “Are all women in Brookhaven as sharp-tongued?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know all the women in Brookhaven. I’ll be right back with your stew.” She walked away.

  Gondrial leaned back in his chair. “Stew, why is it always stew? Can’t these inns grill a nice steak or something?” He said to himself. “A potato is easy to bake in those stone ovens; one would think a nice roast chicken could be on the menu occasionally.”

  “You said it, friend.” A burly man nearby said.

  “Did I say anything to you...friend?” Gondrial asked.

  “Forgive me. I was just being friendly. Why do you have such a chip on your shoulder?”

  “I found out recently that I don’t like burly men sitting around in inns.”

  The burly man made a derisive noise and turned back to his meal.

  Just breathe, Gondrial. You don’t want to fight or get kicked out of another inn. He thought.

  A few moments later the pretty maiden brought his ale and food to him. He noticed that her shift was hiked up over her backside. “Ah miss,” He began, “Your dress is hiked up. Here let me help you. He reached for the young woman’s backside, fully intending to help her innocently.

  THE CLOTH COVERED WAGON Rodraq had borrowed in Soldier’s Bluff slowed and then jolted to a halt. Shey was perplexed. She leaned out the front opening and inquired, “Why did we stop?”

  “My lady, there are highwaymen up ahead,” Shey heard him say.

  “Well, have they spotted us?” Shey asked.

  “We’re a bit difficult to miss, my lady.” He said.

  “Right,” Shey said feeling a bit foolish. She looked at Sylvalora who was staring at her with a blank expression, “What?” Shey asked. The elvish woman said nothing so Shey continued, “We can’t outrun them. I have to get them off our trail, and it’s the only way.”

  “I was afraid of that,” Sylvalora said. “You plan to use your essence magic. Essence cannot solve everything, dear, sometimes it just makes things worse.”

  Shey was blunt, “I suppose you have a better idea, then?”

  “No, but I can’t say I approve. What would you do if you had no magic to use? Shey said nothing. “You might use your head and live more by your wits. I have had magic in my soul for hundreds of years and how many times have you seen me rely on it when things got tricky?”

  “Actually, a lot!”

  “Really!” Sylvalora huffed.

  “At least more than you believe you have.” Shey reached for the clean linen wrap and opened the folds of fabric to view the sword. “We can’t risk this being stolen.”

  “We aren’t even sure it’s Malinfel, Shey. I don’t know why you insisted on removing it from the mantle after you saw the entire blade. That thing is beat up.”

  “It was attached to the mantle with a pretty powerful magic enchantment. Why would someone go to that much trouble if it wasn’t significant? Besides, wasn’t it you who insisted the sword was Malinfel in the first place?”

  “I don’t recall.”

  “Of course not, that’s because it was your idea!” She re-wrapped the sword. It might not be Malinfel, or it might be, but I know it’s significant either way. Once we get to Brookhaven, I will show it to Sanmir. He will know which sword it is, or if it’s significant.”

  “My lady, the highwaymen are leaving.”

  “What?” Shey replied. “They are?”

  “Aye, they are giving us a wide berth.”

  “Is this your doing?” Shey looked at Sylvalora.

  Sylvalora shook her head, “I have done nothing.”

  Shey put the sword away and stepped to the driver’s end of the wagon. Rodraq snapped the reins, and the wagon jolted forward once more. Shey stuck her head out the front flap again. The highwaymen were leaving the road and disappearing into the brush. “What the...I have never seen such a thing. One would think this wagon would be a prime target. It looks like a family traveling with all their belongings. One would think there might be something of value inside.”

  “Reputation,” Sylvalora said. “This wagon must have already gained a reputation.”

  “I’m not sure there’s been time for that. How would anyone know this was my wagon?” Shey asked.

  The wagon rattled to a halt again. “Now what is it?” Shey said.

  “My Lady, you might want to come out. I will put the steps down for you.”

  Shey looked at Sylvalora inquisitively and then stepped to the rear of the wagon where Rodraq was busy placing the steps for her. She stepped down on the wooden blocks and calmly crossed Rodraq and moved to the front of the wagon to get a better look. Rodraq waited with hand on sword. She noticed he had stopped and was staring at something directly ahead. When she moved to look at what held Rodraq’s attention, she felt a lump form in her throat, something she was not accustomed of her throat doing. Partially camouflaged by its black and green scales and lying like a great cat across the whole of the road was a good-sized dragon. She had her head resting on her front claws, and she was staring intently at Shey.

  “Rodraq, stay with the coach,” Shey said. He tried to protest, but she waved him off. She approached the Dragon cautiously. It was obvious the dragon wished to speak with her, or she would not be laid out across the road blocking her path. “Hello?” Shey said sheepishly. Most of the dragons Shey had met were friendly to her due to her dragon affinity.

  The dragon raised her massive head and let her tongue flicker out her mouth like a great reddish-brown ribbon, “Greetings Lady Shey of Symboria.”

  The two stared at each other awkwardly for a long moment before Shey spoke once again, breaking the silence, “Well, did you need to speak with me?”

  “Such impetuousness why must you humans forever be in such a hurry?” She narrowed her eyes, “Forgive me, you are not quite human, are you?”

  Shey chuckled, “So much for your perceptions. I am the very picture of humanity.”

  “Yes, well, if you insist dear. Who am I to judge?”

  “Indeed.” Shey couldn’t help herself.

  “I did want to speak with you, Shey of Symboria.”

  “Lady Shey” Shey corrected.

  The dragon looked on with an amused expression but did not correct herself. “As I was saying, I do wish to speak with you.” The scales around her mouth softened as she spoke and shimmered in the light changing from black to green and back again, “Why must our meeting be cold, distant, and hostile?”

  “Changing the subject, are we?” Shey reacted.

  “No, merely trying to lighten the mood. What I have to say is dark enough without all of the posturings.”

  Shey considered the dragon’s words for a moment, “If you are looking for an amiable conversation that might be a bit difficult given that you may crush me or kill my friends with your size alone.”

  “Ahh, I see,” said the dragon, “you speak to me so in order to prove your bravery in the face of overwhelming odds as a child may stand in defiance of his mother.”

  “More like a mouse might stand in defiance of a cat,” Shey said just above a whisper.

  “Very well. I am one of the Duil brood. I will even the odds for you.”

  “A shape changer?”

  The Dragon shimmered and contorted until she was roughly the same size as Shey. She was human in appearance clothed in a dark green robe with golden accents. Her reddish-brown hair fell about her shoulders and complimented her sumptuous brown eyes. “Is this less threatening to you?”

  “Amazing!” Shey said. “I never get used to seeing dragon shift no matter how many times I see it happen.”

  “You have seen it before?”

  “Oh, yes, many times. It’s impressive every time.”

  The dragon nodded, “I have come to you because you are one who can facilitate chang
e. There is an abomination happening to my kith and kin that has not happened for some time. Some of my dragonkin have had their precious eggs stolen. You remember what happened some years ago?”

  Shey hung her head low, “Aye, I remember. Toborne and Morgoran experimented with them, creating both Dramyd and Drasmyd Duil. I must confess, we have been made aware of possible Drasmyd Duil in the area, but I have heard nothing of Dramyds.”

  “Make no mistake; they are flying the skies once again. As you travel to Brookhaven, you will come across them at some point on the Southern Road. They were last seen just this side of Cedar Falls. They attacked someone.”

  “That’s dire news. I’m sorry...I didn’t catch your name?”

  “My name is Chloranthe.”

  “Green Flower. Nice name.”

  “You know Dragon speech?”

  “A small amount. I am sorry Chloranthe, but Toborne was destroyed by the Silver Drake, and Morgoran was cursed by her to see only possible futures forever. Neither could be manipulating dragon eggs anymore. I don’t know who else would have the knowledge to create them.”

  “I am aware of both Morgoran and Toborne’s fates. Morgoran’s punishment is of particular interest since the curse is to force him to look at the possible consequences of his actions. However, there are followers of those two who could have resurrected the old ways.”

  “You know I’m an apprentice of Morgoran, and I assure you none of us followers are doing anything with dragon eggs. We find the secret experiments of our master just as barbaric as you. I’ll say it again; I don’t know of anyone who would venture back into those old experiments.”

  “What about Toborne’s followers?”

  “I can’t speak for them or confirm if they even exist.”

  “They do, I’m afraid. It is good for me to hear how you feel. It leads me to believe I have come to the right person. I am asking you to find out who is creating the Dramyds and Drasmyd Duil and stop them once and for all. I want you to destroy any notes or remnants of the old ways and anything else that can be used to create the abominations.”

  “I would like to oblige you, but I am in the middle of another quest.”

  “I am aware of that quest as well. I believe my request and your quest will go hand in hand.”

  “Are you certain I am the right one to do this for you?”

  “Aye, I am. You and yours can do this. There might be others as well, but I will leave that up to you to decide.”

  “Others?”

  “As I said, your current quest and the one I give you go hand in hand.”

  Shey thought about what the dragon said, and she must have mistaken her pause for hesitation.

  “If you do not wish to stop the abominations from being made in this world, we dragons will be forced to step in, and we will bring a war never before seen by human, elf, or dwarf kind before.”

  “Oh, no need for that. I will do as you ask. I will find out who is creating Drasmyd Duil and Dramyds. It isn’t as if they are difficult to detect. The smell alone will alert me. You know, follow my nose to the culprits.”

  The dragon changed back into her dragon form, “Don’t be so sure, lady of the Vale.” She bellowed, “There have been changes.” The dragon moved her massive wings, and the resulting wind shift nearly put Shey on her backside. The dragon lifted off and flew away toward the mountains.

  “Changes? What changes?” Shey said to herself.

  Chapter 16: Encounter at Brookhaven

  Gondrial picked himself up off the street in front of the Tiger’s Head Inn and dusted off the front of his tunic and pants. He was really beginning to loathe burly men in inns! He wasn’t grabbing the girl’s backside as everyone had misinterpreted. After a few moments contemplating whether or not to go back in and talk to the owners, he decided instead to go to the Grinning Goose Inn. It wasn’t as nice as the Tiger’s Head, but it was still a clean place to get a good meal and a soft bed. Besides, he would pass the Temple of Loracia on the way, and he could stop in and check in on Deylia.

  Tarle was just coming out of the healing room when Gondrial entered the temple. “How is she?” Gondrial asked.

  “We just got finished with our regimen. She reacted to it very well. We are hopeful for a full recovery. Although, you might have taken her to the Vale of Morgoran instead. She said you came from Cedar Falls.”

  “Brookhaven wasn’t that far out of the way, and I have important business here.”

  “Business worth a girl’s life?”

  “Of course not. I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I wouldn’t have let her get that far gone.”

  “I should hope not.”

  “Could I see her?”

  “I don’t see why not,” Tarle said. “For a few moments only. Her body will need rest to heal properly.”

  Gondrial nodded and went to the healing room. When he entered, Deylia beamed. “Well, that’s what I like to see. A big smile!”

  “Thank you for getting me here, Gondrial.”

  “It was my pleasure. I’m just glad you are going to be okay.”

  Deylia looked at one of the women priests and then back at Gondrial, “I don’t suppose you are free for the next few weeks after I am fully healed.”

  “I have business here, but it should conclude rather quickly. What did you have in mind?”

  “Oh, what business? Nothing too pressing I hope.”

  “I’m meeting a friend who should be here at any time now. What did you need?”

  “I need to get back to Trigothia. Since my father didn’t make it and I am alone, I wondered if you might escort me home? I know it’s asking a lot, but I don’t think I could get back on my own.”

  Gondrial rubbed his chin. “You know, I get the feeling I will be heading back that way after I talk to my friend. I suppose I could get you at least as far as Seabrey where you could take the ferryboat across to Trigothia. That is, as long as you don’t mind making a few stops along the way. I am kind of on a quest for my friend.”

  Deylia’s face lit up. “I don’t mind!”

  “Good, I will see my friend, and you will heal up, and we will see where everything takes us from there.” He glanced around, “I am starving. Are they feeding you here?”

  “We will bring her food and drink.” The priest nearby assured him.

  “Good, I will be staying at the Grinning Goose if you need me.”

  “Oh, the Tiger’s Head is nicer.” The priest told him.

  “So, I hear,” Gondrial said with a smile. He put a comforting hand on Deylia’s leg, “You hang in there. I will visit you again tomorrow.”

  Deylia nodded.

  Gondrial left the room to see Tarle at the altar. He reached into his purse and removed two gold pieces. He placed them in the donation tin. “Take good care of her.”

  “Very generous of you. We will look after her with the utmost care. Of course, there is no need to donate. We will take care of her regardless.”

  “I know, but I don’t expect you to burden yourself when I can pay.”

  Tarle nodded. “Perhaps I was too harsh – ”

  “Let me stop you right there. You were fine. I needed to hear what you had to say. I will be taking the girl home to Trigothia when she is healed. It is the least I can do for putting her in danger.”

  “Very decent of you.”

  Gondrial nodded. A few moments later he was rushing toward the Grinning Goose to get rid of his growling stomach.

  DISGUISED AS COMMON travelers, Shey and Geron rode down from Watch Hill to the outskirts of the mountain village of Brookhaven. The midday sun was hot on their backs, but the crisp mountain air still kept them cool enough.

  “Remember, Geron, while we are here you are pretending to be called Alwin, and I am your mother, Minda.”

  “I will remember.”

  “I mean it. Don’t forget to call me Mother or Minda.”

  “I won’t forget.”

  “That’s a good boy. We don’t want to draw too muc
h attention to ourselves.”

  Sylvalora rode up behind them. “Don’t forget me.”

  “Sylvalora will be called Aurelie,” Shey told Geron.

  “What of the wizard?” Geron asked.

  Shey looked behind her as if she would see him riding up from behind. “He said he had an errand to run in Soldier’s Bluff and he would be riding in behind us. I am not sure anyone knows him here in Brookhaven. As far I know, he will still be called Lyrrath.”

  At the gate, they were stopped by Thaq, the guard. Shey convinced him they were just weary travelers looking for a place to stay, and the guard let them pass.

  Able to travel the streets of Brookhaven unmolested, Lady Shey rode directly for the apothecary shop to see Sanmir. She was hoping he could report on Marella’s descendants.

  When she arrived at the door, after tying up the horse and letting Geron down, she was met briefly by a boy with long brown hair and fierce, serious eyes. He took one look at Geron, blinked, and recoiled from him. Lady Shey was surprised to hear a horrified gasp from him.

  “Excuse me, lad, is there something the matter?”

  The boy regained his composure and stood up straight. “No, ma’am. I thought I saw something . . . I am not myself.” He opened the door to the apothecary shop. “Are you going into the shop?”

  “Aye, thank you.” She took Geron’s hand and walked through the door as the young man held it for her. He gave Geron considerable room to enter.

  “Rennon, I thought you were in the storeroom. I have been calling for you. I need you to bring me some of the salve we made this morning,” the man behind the counter instructed.

  “How much?”

  “About half a dram should do.”

  Lady Shey took the sword, still wrapped in cloth, to the counter and stood in line behind a plainly dressed woman with brown hair tied up in a bun. She eyed Sanmir cautiously to see if he would recognize her. He caught her gaze and gave her a friendly smile as she imagined he would like any other new customer. Sanmir’s appearance didn’t bother the inhabitants of Brookhaven. His dark skin, dark features, and slightly pointed ears pegged him as a sand elf from the kingdom of Darovan. Folks saw him as an exotic wiseman and trusted his legendary apothecary skills implicitly. His people were known for their potent cures and wonderous potions.