He didn't look pleased with the answer. As though he had a hope for something, and she had dashed it.
"Do you know who it belongs to?" she asked.
"Yes. I gave it to Alyssa on our wedding day. I don't know how it could have come to be in the forest near your home. I can't even remember when Alyssa lost it."
She could see the pain in his eyes. How much was from the fact that his wife no longer held the ring, and how much was from the fact that he couldn't capture the memory, she didn't know. She reined the horse to a stop and slid off, then reached for the saddlebag. She flipped it open, found the coin purse, and dug out the ring.
"This belongs to you," she said, reaching up to hand it to him.
He smiled and wrapped her hand in his, and then closed her palm over it. "Keep it," he said. "Alyssa is gone to the unknown lands, and the rest of my family is lost. I know we've only been traveling together for a short time, but you're the closest thing to family I've had in years."
Eryn was touched by the gesture. "Thank you, Silas. That means more to me that you'll ever know."
"As for teaching you," he said. "If we're both going to be in Elling, I see no good reason why we should part ways. We'll be much more convincing as father and daughter."
"Grandfather," she said with a laugh. "You're too old to be my father."
He started laughing too, a deep rumble that belied his slight frame. The sound made Eryn laugh harder. She was happy to laugh again, if only for a moment.
When she got back onto her horse, she looked up at the sky. "Thank you, Amman," she said. "I will survive, and I will succeed."
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Silas
They had reached the Elling Road, crossing the Baden to the north, closer to the city, before they ran into their first group of soldiers.
Six days had passed since they had left the Rushes. Six days of riding, walking, talking, teaching, and resting. The time had allowed their muscles to heal and the soreness to dissipate. Silas had hoped the time would also begin to restore his memories, but he found them as elusive as ever.
Once they had returned to a more populated area of Elling, Silas had insisted that Eryn shackle him with chains he had found at the soldiers' camp. He held the key tucked under his tongue, and could unlock himself at any time if need be, but playing the part of the prisoner was essential to their act, and he played it well.
So well in fact that the merchants, farmers, and artisans they passed on the road to Elling tended to either look away, or steer a wide path around the young Mediator leading the fugitive to the capital for an audience with the Overlord. So well that even his messengers rode past without slowing, no doubt taking notice in their minds, but not even questioning the authenticity of the scene.
His soldiers had been headed south out of the city. They were only a half days' ride out, and Silas had been expecting they would come in contact with them soon. He had done his best to prepare Eryn on how to speak and how to carry herself. He only hoped she could keep her nerves at bay and capture the role.
"Well met, sister," the leader of the squad said, riding ahead of the six men under his command.
She had her cloak on and the hood up, covering her head. The baldness had been replaced with a light fuzz of her brown hair, but it would still have been out of place on someone of her position. She turned her face just slightly, so she could peer at the commander from the corner of her eye.
"Well met, Captain...?"
"Orozo," he said. "Captain Netan Orozo."
"Well met, Captain Orozo," she said.
The Captain looked over at Silas, following the chain from his wrists to the back of Eryn's saddle.
"So this is Silas Morningstar?" he asked.
"It is," she replied. She had practiced lowering her voice, to make herself sound older. She was holding it well.
"He looks like a used up whore," Orozo said.
"Captain," Eryn said, her voice sharp. "Is that how you speak in front of your superior? And a lady at that?"
He looked embarrassed. "Pardon me, Mediator," he said. "I've been too long in the barracks."
"I'm bringing the prisoner to the Overlord," she said. "He's proven to be very resourceful, so I would like two of your best men to escort me to the city gates."
Orozo didn't look pleased. "Mediator? You seem-"
"Are you questioning me?" she asked, interrupting him.
"No, Mediator. My apologies. Sirs Herik and Pane will ride back to Elling with you."
He spun his horse, and picked the two soldiers out of the line. "You are expected to catch up to us," he said to them. He turned back to Eryn. "We're ordered to meet with Mediator Brune outside Root. They've reported a Cursed in Killeny."
Eryn turned and looked back at Silas, her eyes betraying her character for just an instant. Silas kept his eyes down and shook his head, just enough that she would see. He understood her desire to stop them, he felt it too; but they needed to stay focused on the bigger picture.
"Mediator, are you well?" Orozo asked, noticing her movement.
She caught herself, and snapped her head back at him. "I'm fine, Captain," she said. "You are free to continue on your journey."
"Thank you, Mediator," he said. He put his fingers in his mouth and whistled, and then motioned his squad forward. All except Herik and Pane.
"Stay behind us," she told them. "Alert me immediately if he makes any sudden moves."
"Yes, Mediator," they said as one, slipping in behind them.
Silas fought against his smile. He hadn't coached her on this, but she had played them perfectly. She was believable enough as a Mediator who had captured the infamous Silas Morningstar. She was unquestionable with a pair of soldiers helping to escort her.
***
They reached Elling as the sun began to set on their left, and a large patch of heavy clouds began to move in. Silas kept a close eye on Eryn as they crested the horizon and the city came into view. He was curious to see her reaction, knowing she had never laid eyes on anything of its like before.
He wasn't disappointed. As soon as they had gotten close enough that the twenty foot wall surrounding the main city was visible behind the overgrowth of smaller shops and apartments that ringed it, and the twin two hundred foot tall towers of the Overlord's palace could be seen rising into the darkening sky, Eryn's whole body stiffened in the saddle. He caught a glimpse of her wide eyes when she had started to turn her head back to him, to exclaim her amazement at the very suggestion of so many people living in such a small area, until she had remembered their escort, and put her head back forward.
Moving closer, they could see the varying heights of the many stone and wood buildings, tightly packed together inside the walls, rising and falling with the uneven lay of the land. Moving closer still, they began to be able to make out people going up and down the roads that criss-crossed the hills, moving this way and that as they went about their business.
They rode into the outer city, where the roads were still dirt and the buildings more haphazard. Silas knew this to be the poorest area of Elling, home mostly to displaced villagers, the disabled, and the infirm. There was a Temple of Amman abutting the city walls, a simple square wooden structure with a wide open archway and a menagerie of prayer rugs arranged along the floors. A priest of Amman stood outside, blessing people as they passed, and handing out small loaves of bread.
The sound of a blacksmith hammer rang out to their right, and Silas wondered what Eryn was feeling at hearing a sound he knew would be familiar to her. During their journey to Elling they had spoken at length on her childhood, and her family. She had confided to him how much she missed them, and how she prayed to Amman for them every day before she went to sleep. He promised himself he would bring her to the Temple to offer her prayers in the home of Amman, and help her feel closer to those she had lost. He didn't share her belief in the god, but he accepted her need for it.
"Sir Herik, Sir Pane," Eryn said, spinning her hor
se around and addressing both of them. "You have done me a great service. I will be sure the Overlord hears of it."
The two soldiers bowed their heads, turned and began the long ride back to the rest of their squad. Eryn caught Silas' eye and winked at him. He winked back.
"Good evening, Mediator," the guard standing before the city gates said when she approached. Like Root, there were numerous guards stationed at the entrance, along with tax collectors. The city was too large to take the names of all who entered, but they did extract a small fee from the merchants who desired access.
Eryn was about to respond, when he noticed Silas behind her.
"You captured him?" he asked, clearly surprised.
"Why so shocked, soldier?" Eryn replied. "He is an old man."
The guard walked back to where Silas was. "Good riddance, murderer," he said.
He got too close, and Silas' feet weren't bound. He kicked out, catching the guard in the face and knocking him to the ground.
Eryn grabbed the chain and yanked on it, pulling him off-balance. He caught himself with his legs.
The guard picked himself up, his nose bloodied. "You son of a wh-"
"Soldier," Eryn snapped. "You should learn from your mistake. You were a fool to get so close to him."
He swallowed his anger and bowed. "Yes, Mediator."
Eryn urged her horse forward through the city gates, trailing Silas behind. He spit on the guard for good measure, enjoying his part in the act.
They rode through the main thoroughfare, a wide, crowded street that wound its way around and up the hill directly to the Overlord's palace. The populace around them moved aside without looking, keeping their attention on their own tasks and ignoring the presence of the Mediator and her prisoner. Silas was sure they had seen a similar scene play out enough times that the novelty had worn off.
In fact, he had been counting on it. He kept a close eye on the people around them as they walked up and around. When he thought nobody was looking, he bent over and spit the key to the shackles down into his hand, and then maneuvered himself to unlock it. He gave the chain one more tug to alert Eryn that he had freed himself, and then he slid off and ran.
"Mediator!" someone cried out on the street, almost as soon as Silas' feet hit the ground. He turned his head back and saw Eryn was already wheeling her horse to follow after him.
It had all been part of their plan, but it was still a bit of a risk, because he had no idea how the people of Elling would respond to his escape. He pushed past a young man in a fancy blue tunic, and made his way down one of the many narrow alleys between buildings. He could hear Eryn's horse clomping behind him.
He burst out of that alley onto a smaller street where the smell of fresh cooked meats caught the attention of his senses. He saw it had also attracted two of his soldiers, and they noticed the commotion he caused as he passed through to the next alley.
"Go around," he heard Eryn shout from behind him. The order wasn't very specific, so he hoped it would be enough to keep them from participating in the show.
He burst out of that alley, and found himself on a downward slope. He could see the buildings ahead, older and more worn, and cast in deeper shadows. Eryn had told him about Magret and Tanner, and how they had suggested the Tenders. He was headed in the right direction.
A soldier popped out in front of him. Silas caught him from the corner of his eye just in time to duck under the man's sword. He brought his elbow up into the soldier's face, knocking him away, leaped to the side to avoid hitting a woman with a baby, and reached yet another narrow passage. He could still hear Eryn chasing after him.
The whole city had changed by the time he reached the bottom of the hill. The buildings here were darker, and older, but the streets were less crowded. Those that were outside had none of the finery he had bypassed on the hill, their clothes a more simple brown, grey, and black cloth. They were a step above those that lived outside the walls, but only a step.
He had crossed three more streets, and was nearly ready to end the chase, when the door of one of the apartment buildings swung open, and a thick arm and body grabbed him and pulled him inside.
"What in He-"
The force made him tumble to the ground. He found himself on his rear, resting on a worn wooden floor.
"Shhh." The man who had pulled him in was holding a finger to his lips. On the other side of the door was a second man, smaller and thinner, watching from a crack.
"What are you doing?" Silas whispered. This definitely hadn't been part of the plan.
"We see you coming," the big man replied in a low voice. "We're ready for that Mediator."
Silas felt his breath catch. "What? No!"
He heard the horse coming, more slowly now because he had disappeared. It sounded like it was right outside the door.
"Now!" the small man shouted, swinging open the door. They both ran out at Eryn, and from the noise Silas could tell they weren't alone.
He jumped to his feet and ran after them, hearing her scream at their attack. When he reached the door, he saw the big man trying to pull her off the horse.
"Stop," Silas shouted. "Stop." He grabbed the man's shoulder, trying to pull him away, but he wrapped his hand around Eryn's leg.
"Silas," Eryn cried.
There were at least six of them, all trying to get her down to their level.
"Leave her alone," Silas yelled. He stopped trying to be diplomatic, and punched the big man in the head.
"What you do that for?" he asked, turning to face Silas, reacting as though he barely felt the blow.
"Let her go," Silas said. "She's with me. She isn't a Mediator."
"Huh?"
Silas reached out and grabbed her, pulling her from the saddle and away from her attackers. There were seven all told, five men and two women. They held knives and clubs, and they looked angry.
"She isn't a Mediator," he repeated, loud enough for the others to hear. He pulled back the hood of her cloak, revealing her almost bald head. The action gave the rest of the crowd pause.
"Well, I'll be," the small man said. "Who are you?"
Silas held up his hand. "Not yet," he said. "We need to get out of here. The real soldiers probably aren't that far behind."
He let Eryn go and grabbed his sword and the saddlebags from the horse, and then led it back the other direction and sent it on its way.
"Do you have somewhere safe we can go?"
The big man waved. "This way."
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Eryn
Eryn and Silas followed them down a dark alley and around a corner to a pair of large red doors. The big man knocked on it twice, paused, and knocked twice more. Eryn could hear the sound of someone shifting a huge crossbar out of the way, and then the door swung open.
"Bryant," the doorman said on seeing the big man. He scanned the group, his eyes stopping on Eryn and going wide with fear. "What are you doing?"
"Is okay, Alain," Bryant said. "She's in disguise."
Alain moved out of the way, and ushered them in. He was an ordinary looking man, with short brown hair, a large nose, and crooked teeth. He bowed to Eryn when she walked by.
"Save it for later, Alain," the small man said.
"Shove off, Edgar," Alain replied.
Beyond the red door was a large, dark room, lit by candles placed into a row of dusty old chandeliers that hung from a wood-paneled ceiling. The floor was marble, but had seen better days, and the mural painted walls were pitted and cracked. To the rear of the room was a fireplace, and scattered around in no particular order were straw beds, next to which lay assortments of personal items. Eryn saw a staircase on either side of the fireplace, each going in opposite directions.
"Where is this?" Silas asked, joining her in scanning their surroundings.
"Is home," Bryant said. "Not much, but is better than being out in rain."
A sudden rumble shook the building, the dark clouds they had seen earlier finally unleashing the
ir payload.
"It used to be a theatre," Edgar said. "The stairs up led to the seating and the stage. The stairs down to the wardrobe and prop rooms. This room was for banquets and dancing."
"There was a fire one night," Alain said. "The Overlord refused to let us rebuild. He claimed our shows were spreading discord among the citizenry. That we were anti-empire. He shut us down. We've been living here, destitute, since."
"You're performers?" Eryn asked.
Edgar chuckled. "Yes, my dear. The Tilling Theatre Troupe, once the pride of the Tenders, now just a leaky roof to hide under." He turned to Silas. "You must be Silas Morningstar?"
Silas nodded.
Edgar gave him a theatrical bow. "A pleasure," he said. "We were told to keep an eye out for you here."
"You were?" Silas asked.
Edgar reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled up piece of paper. He handed it to Silas. Eryn positioned herself over his should so she could read it with him.
Edgar,
His soldiers are searching for a man with white hair and blue eyes named Silas Morningstar. He is headed to Elling, and may be traveling with a young girl. The Overlord is afraid of him, and he helped Sena and me, so please keep a look out, and help him when he arrives. For all our sakes.
- Robar Quall
"You entertainers are a sly bunch," Silas said.
Edgar turned to her. "My apologies to you, miss. When we saw Silas being chased by a Mediator, and didn't see a young girl..."
"You don't need to apologize," Eryn said. "It was a little scary, but I've been through worse."
"I'm glad you weren't harmed in the confusion," Edgar said. "Although, we did think it was odd that a Mediator would be trying to catch someone like Silas on their own. Mediators aren't soldiers."
Eryn wasn't sure what he meant, until she remembered that most people outside of his army didn't know their secret. She considered telling him, but there was a time and a place, and she wasn't sure this was it. "No, but it was an important part of the plan."
His Dark Empire (Tears of Blood) Page 18
