by Jo Fontana
“This is more like it!” Deverick exclaimed.
"Oh, I did ask if there were any other guests here recently and I was told that no one has come through here in about a week," Glynn said.
"It wouldn't be a bad thing if we beat him to Nonju," Emory replied.
"As long as that’s still where he is headed," Reyden mentioned darkly.
"That would be where he would get the highest price for your egg, Reyden. So that’s where he’s headed," Glynn stated with certainty.
Reyden leaned in to Glynn and stared him down. "The fates mercy on you if he doesn't."
Glynn grimaced. "If you think you know of a better place he would’ve headed I will gladly follow you there."
"How would I know where things sell on the black market? That’s supposed to be your specialty.”
"Then don't threaten me when I'm trying to help you."
Reyden took a deep breath before standing up. “I’m going to take a walk before Glynn becomes an egg.”
Once outside, Reyden started to untether his horse then paused before letting out a string of colorful words. His old prejudice had reared its ugly head. Master Levik had warned him about that and about his temper. Maybe he would take his Master’s advice and pause before speaking in anger; maybe it would get him better results.
Reyden was heading back to the boarding house when he heard a noise outside the barn. He took an egg out of his pocket and slowly went to the door. He looked out of the crack in the door and saw nothing. He slowly stuck his head out before he felt a blow to the top of his head and darkness consumed him once more.
Reyden awoke to see that he was in the boarding house surrounded by the others. He swore colorfully again. Morgan was kneeling next to him, poking and prodding him. "It’s just a bump on the head; you’ll be fine in the morning."
“Good, now stop touching me. Does anyone know who hit me?”
“I found tracks but then they disappeared into thin air. We aren’t sure, but some of us think it may have been Rafe,” Emory said.
Reyden sneered. “Of course it was, and he got me again! We’re going to have to catch up,” he said, trying to force himself up.
Morgan put a hand on Reyden’s shoulder and stilled him. “You need to rest. You’ve got quite the goose egg on the back of your head. We’re not going anywhere tonight.”
Reyden touched the back of his head, and then winced. Morgan smacked Reyden’s hand away, and then handed him a powdered medicine. “Take this when you wake up in the morning, it’ll relieve the worst of the headache you’ll have."
“Sure.”
"Good, now get some rest,” Morgan ordered.
The next morning, Reyden woke up cranky because his head was throbbing. He snuck out of the room so Omaric didn't take the brunt of his anger. He stomped downstairs and sat in a corner, eating a light meal. Morgan arrived a little later and sat down next to him.
"How are you feeling?"
Reyden gave Morgan a look that could have flayed him alive.
"You forgot to take the powder,” Morgan observed.
"What powder?" Reyden mumbled.
"The one to help your headache. I bet you left it in your room. Here, take this,” Morgan handed Reyden a small pea-sized pellet.
Reyden took the pellet and muttered thanks to Morgan.
Morgan waited until a few minutes after Reyden downed the pellet. "Can I say something?"
"You'll say it anyway, so go ahead," Reyden replied with resignation.
"You need to be more careful," Morgan began.
“And?”
"And you need to work with us, not against us."
"Maybe I should do this on my own."
“Why? So you don't have to try to play nice? Well we're all invested in this now so we want to see it through as much as you do."
Reyden looked surprised at the sentiment.
"Why do you find it so hard to believe that others might care about something because you care about it?"
“I figured none of you really cared, except for maybe the kid. I still don’t understand why you and the others are sticking around.”
Morgan chuckled. “Well, I can't speak for Glynn, you two have some issues, but I know the rest of us really want to see this egg."
“Glynn will leave as soon as he gets the chance. Maybe I should release him from his obligation.”
"Stop baiting him." Morgan suggested mildly
"That won’t be easy, he has a smart mouth. Besides, how else should I approach him? He’s not going to respond if I just ask and threatening him doesn’t work either.”
Glynn suddenly appeared at the table. "Why do you think I won’t do something if you ask me to? I’m a little confused here."
Reyden looked at Glynn warily for a moment before he spoke.
"You have the power to destroy me," he whispered. “All you have to do is walk away and it’s over.”
“You exaggerate my importance here,” Glynn looked at Reyden a moment and sadly shook his head. "You truly believe me to be some sort of monster?”
"You're not a monster, I am," Reyden whispered.
Morgan looked up sharply at Reyden.
"Stop looking for the double cross because it won’t be coming from me. I made a deal with you to help you get your egg back from Rafe. Did I benefit because it got me out of jail? Sure, but I always honor my promises. Oh, and monsters don’t take care of kids or rescue animals.”
“I release you from your debt.”
“No you don’t! You’re not getting off that easy. Who do you think I am? Rafe?”
Reyden was stunned speechless by Glynn’s candor.
“I won’t let you release me. When you find Rafe, I'm going to have to get in and snatch the egg for you, and then my obligation ends.”
“Then you’ll leave.”
“Then if you want to get rid of me, you can,” Glynn assured him until what Reyden just said registered. “Wait...You don't want me to go? I thought you couldn't wait until the day you got me out of your hair."
Reyden shook his head no in response to Glynn's question. “We’ll need someone like you for other predicaments, I’m sure of it.”
Glynn sat down hard in a chair. "Well isn't that something? But you hate me."
"No, I don't.”
“I was sure you did.”
"You used to bring up painful memories, but you don't anymore."
"Good,” Glynn grinned, then clapped Reyden on the shoulder.
"I think you’re both finally coming to your senses,” Morgan smiled.
"Oh shut up!” Reyden and Glynn said in unison.
Morgan laughed.
"Yay!" Omaric yelled as he rushed to the table.
He stopped in front of Reyden and frowned a moment. Then he thumped Reyden on the chest. "Don't you ever do something so stupid again. Peeking out of the barn. What were you thinking? You should have used magic on him!”
“I’ll have no mercy next time.” Reyden tried to ruffle Omaric’s hair, but Omaric hugged him. The others smiled to themselves as Reyden attempted to brush off the contact.
"No seven course meals Deverick. I believe I’ve delayed everyone enough and we have to get going or we won't reach Acridona by nightfall," Reyden joked when Deverick sat down at the table.
"Breakfast is usually only three courses. Seven courses are reserved for the last meal of the day after I've done a full day’s work.”
Reyden actually chuckled to himself as the others shoveled in their food so they could leave quickly.
Later during their journey towards Acridona, Reyden rode up next to Gil. "What happens if we don't reach Acridona by nightfall?"
"We should make it by nightfall, but if we don't, I suggest a night under the stars and dried meat for meals. No fire. The grass is very tall so that will provide some cover. We should be able to avoid any unwanted visitors that way.”
"At least there aren't any plains people to worry about," Deverick said.
"Thank the
fates!" Reyden exclaimed.
They traveled until dusk but did not make it to Acridona. Illithor appeared very disappointed that they would spend another night under the stars.
The night was quiet, as Reyden expected, and the next morning, they headed out early. The open fields gradually transitioned from meadows to sparse woods. Small homes appeared shortly after and a well-traveled dusty road soon led them to the gates of Acridona.
CHAPTER NINE
Acridona was almost as grand as Nava Asari, but it lacked the charm of the valley. There were fewer trees and only small tributaries ran along the outskirts of the city. What Acridona lacked in charm, it made up for in efficiency. An established turtle depot was bustling with business giving the travelers that could afford it a quicker way to reach their destination. Reyden passed several wells and he noted with interest that the town channeled water from the tributaries by aqueducts directly into the city. He made a mental note to learn more about them. Reyden wondered why there were an unusually large number of inns to choose from until Gil mentioned the fact that Acridona was the last large city before reaching Nonju.
Emory took lead of the group and headed towards the jail. When he dismounted, he turned to Reyden. “You have to change them back.”
“Why? It’s easier to keep tabs on an egg than it is a criminal.”
Emory looked torn, but put his foot down. “Unless you can’t. Then we’ll have to think of something else.”
Reyden opened his basket to see if he had enough eggs. “I’ll only have two eggs left after changing them all back, so if they resist, I’m going to have to use them for spells. I think that would be a fitting punishment.”
Emory just glared at Reyden.
Reyden casted on the first egg. It surprised him that two of the eggs hatched and the men regained their original forms. He repeated this process successfully five more times. When he got to the eighth egg, he casted and smirked when he saw it hatch into another egg. He picked up the egg and handed it to Emory. “Hold this for me. I‘ll have to try again after I finish with the others.”
After Reyden successfully restored the last two men, he took the last egg from Emory.
He held it up, inspected it, then told it, “If you resist you’ll stay an egg and I’ll use you for a spell.”
He then placed the egg on the ground and casted once more. The man reverted to his prior form, but ran and hid behind the others who had already hidden behind Emory. The last man clung to Emory’s arm and pleaded, practically dragging him through the jail entrance.
“Please, I don’t care what I have to do. Keep him away! He’s crazy!”
The others, also fearful of Reyden, followed willingly.
Now that the criminals were in jail, the group discussed which inn to choose. Near the turtle depot was a quaint little place called the Night Inn and across the street was a larger establishment called The False Fiddle.
"I wonder what would make a fiddle false?" mused Omaric.
"A decorative one," Reyden answered.
“Oh, right,” Omaric said sheepishly.
“There are too many inns; it’s hard to know which one to choose,” Reyden said with frustration.
"I've only been here once before, but I stayed at The Hidden Treasure Inn and I had no trouble. I suggest we go there,” Gil advised them.
The Hidden Treasure Inn looked a tad worn on the outside, so Reyden was pleasantly surprised to find the interior of the building very tastefully decorated and inviting. The lobby contained a desk and two comfortable looking chairs. The busy dining room was through a doorway to their right. While the others looked around the place, Gil approached the clerk and requested rooms.
Reyden noticed Glynn look around nervously, then head towards a wealthy-looking man standing by the stairway that led upstairs to the rooms. Glynn walked towards the man and accidentally bumped into him. Reyden felt grim pleasure when he realized Glynn was unsuccessful in picking the man’s pocket, but then became concerned that Glynn was all talk and no ability. He was almost relieved however, when Glynn was able to score something from another patron who passed by him. Glynn’s face fell and Reyden instinctively knew the elf didn’t get enough to cover his lodging. Reyden glared at Glynn when he made his way back towards them. He also knew he had to discourage this behavior otherwise the Postulate would throw the thief in jail again.
“Apparently, old habits die hard,” Reyden sneered as he dragged Glynn into a deserted hallway.
"You saw that?" Glynn whispered in dismay. “I’m losing my touch!”
"I was watching you after you made the horrified expression of 'I have no dumars.’ It’s an expression I’ve seen before," Reyden replied after a cursory glance at Illithor.
"I should’ve been aware that someone was watching me. That was such a beginner’s mistake.”
Reyden smirked and handed Glynn a few dumars. "Don’t push your luck with the Postulate. Now you can't leave because you owe me."
"Remember you were the one that said that.”
Reyden shrugged. “I’m a true believer in that we get the friends we honestly deserve.”
"Are we both that bad?"
Reyden cackled as he led Glynn back to the lobby. When Reyden approached, Deverick began complaining of hunger.
Reyden rolled his eyes. "The Fates forbid that you’d have to wait for a meal."
He walked to the dining room, paused in the doorway, and turned to look at them.
“Well? Are you coming or not?” then he continued walking into the dining room without waiting for a reply.
The others followed and soon a very content-looking Deverick was enjoying his meal along with the rest of his friends. Reyden also ordered a dozen boiled eggs to go to replenish his supply. He turned in as soon as Glynn announced his intentions to poke around and see what he could learn of Rafe’s whereabouts.
The next morning, when the friends came downstairs for breakfast, Glynn mentioned that he had had no luck in determining Rafe’s present location. Reyden thought Glynn was full of crap and decided that he was going to follow him this time to see what he really did when he was out of earshot. He mentally kicked himself for not thinking of it sooner. Reyden watched Glynn as he left the inn. As he did, he took out an egg and touched it to his forehead. The egg crumbled, and then Reyden exited the inn slowly following the elf.
Reyden was surprised at how boring following Glynn actually was. He thought that Glynn had an inkling he was tagging along. The thought frustrated him but he had no spells that could actually monitor the thief. The elf talked to many people, but it appeared to be only idle gossip. Reyden reluctantly began following him back to the inn until someone called to Glynn from across the street. Glynn stopped and turned around. Reyden ducked around a corner when he heard the call.
"Ralid! I haven't see you in a while. How’ve you been?"
“Let's get some lunch and I'll fill you in,” the other man said.
Reyden was pleased to see that Glynn seemed genuinely concerned about his associate. He followed them to a hole in the wall restaurant and took a seat at the end of the bar. He watched as the newcomer and Glynn sat at a table in the back. He was grateful for the dim lighting as he eavesdropped. Ralid had dark hair, skin, and eyes. He looked like the type of man that could melt into the darkness if the need arose. Ralid was whispering but Reyden could hear him clearly.
He watched Ralid lean in closer to Glynn. “I think we have company.”
Glynn grinned. “Oh, yes I know. He needs to work on that.”
Ralid’s eyebrows almost arched into his hairline.
“It’s okay, I’m traveling with him.”
Glynn’s response took Reyden completely off guard. He decided in favor of keeping calm because he was too interested in hearing what Ralid had to tell Glynn. He figured he could always throttle the thief later.
“I overheard this smooth elven guy speaking to someone that he just bailed out of jail. He mentioned a group of people who were trave
ling to Nonju in search of something that was stolen a little while back.”
“Did you hear anything else that would be helpful?” Glynn asked expectantly.
Ralid smiled. "I also heard that man say that the person they were chasing was Rafe, of all people—who by the way, has been traveling through the night and will be halfway to Nonju already.”
Glynn let out a string of colorful words and jumped up. "Sorry Ralid, I have to go. Thanks for the info—I owe you!"
“Any time,” Ralid called after him with a look akin to amusement on his face.
Reyden bolted up, raced back with Glynn to the inn, and rushed through the door. He noticed his friends relaxing as they listened to Omaric play his flute for other guests of the inn.
"We have to go—NOW!" Reyden announced without preamble then hurried upstairs.
“What is it?” Deverick asked Glynn.
"Rafe isn't on his way here. He's been traveling through the night and is almost to Nonju. We have to leave!" Glynn cried as he too ran upstairs.
Everyone haphazardly secured their belongings, jumped on their horses, and Gil led the way out of town. Omaric began singing a song as they rode, attempting to boost everyone’s morale. Reyden growled intermittently at the others to keep up even though no one was straggling. They rode through the night and into the next morning. Deverick made them stop just before they reached the outskirts of Nonju.
“Hey guys! I think I see a casualty over there," he called to the others as he jumped off his horse and headed over to inspect the body more closely.
The rest of the group stopped as Morgan joined Deverick. Morgan nudged Deverick out of the way to assess the man's injuries.
“They can keep going, I’ll stay with you,” Deverick offered.
“Thanks, that will help, as he’s still alive, but gravely injured.”
“Just follow this road and it will lead you directly to Nonju,” Gil told them. “I’m going to try to get us rooms at the Nonju boarding house.”
“We should be able to meet you there by nightfall,” Morgan replied.
