You have a job to do. Your former life is on hold.
He gave wide berth to a few of his favourite places, knowing that the smiths there were loyal and friendly. He needed the opposite.
There we go.
Vincent stepped inside The Jewelled Marvel. The owner, and skilled goldsmith and silversmith, Benton, was still inside. He was tall and thin and wore his work apron, with small glasses hanging off the top. Rather than working on anything new though, he was swanning through the shopfront observing customers and offering advice. Although he unashamedly was scrutinising all his wares to make sure nobody was thinking of stealing. His eyes widened when he saw Vincent and he hurried over.
“Vincent! Why it’s been a while. And you left under such strained circumstances.”
“Benton! Great to see you. Yes, being chased out of the city by the guard is thankfully a rare occurrence. I see business is good.”
“Always, I work hard to keep this running. What brings you back here?” Benton ran a hand through his curly, greying hair and quickly ran his eyes over the customers and his goods.
“Just passing through, don’t have time to sort out that whole misunderstanding with the guard. My wife has some unfinished business, so I thought I would attend to my own business.” Benton quickly turned back and gave Vincent his full attention.
“Which is?”
“Well, I wanted to get her something as a memento. Since we probably won’t be back for a while. Women love jewellery, and I know we’ve had our disagreements, but you’re the best. I can’t argue with that.” Vincent gave a forced smile and Benton broke out with a wide grin.
“My friend, you are right there. You have come to the right place. What did you need? I have rings, amulets, bracelets, pendants, you name it. All at a special price for you.” Benton started off, beckoning for Vincent to follow. The goldsmith pointed out different pieces, clearly highlighting the expensive ones.
He wants to make a lot of money off me today. I better oblige him.
“I want something that she can wear on her neck,” Vincent said. Benton paused and scratched his forehead.
“Yes, I have the perfect thing.” He performed yet another look around the cramped room and didn’t seem satisfied. Ducking behind a door he yelled something and a timid apprentice in an apron shuffled out into the store.
“Go on, make yourself useful.” Benton gave the apprentice a light shove and the apprentice started walking the aisles.
“So hard to get good help. Ah, here we are.” Benton held up a thin gold necklace with a stunning stone set in the bottom. It was pure white with veins of blue throughout.
“A beautiful and rare piece, and a perfect companion to the Pure Diamond, don’t you think?” Benton gave Vincent a knowing look. Vincent laughed and winked at Benton.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. But I do like the look of it.” Vincent retrieved a pouch of gold coins and opened it to look inside.
“How much am I in for?” Benton snatched the pouch and looked inside. He then closed the pouch and tucked it into his clothes behind the apron.
“The whole lot, and that’s a discount. I expect you’ll want a pouch for this?”
“Please.” Benton huffed about and found a purple velvet pouch, carefully dropping the pendant inside.
“Give my regards to your wife. Will I have the pleasure of seeing her wear the piece?”
“I doubt it, I think we will need to leave shortly. But I promise I’ll come visit next time we are here.”
“I look forward to it. Have a pleasant evening.” Benton didn’t even wait for a reply and strode off to talk to a customer. He waved the apprentice away, who seemed all too glad to be escaping to the back of the store.
I could see his mind ticking over. I’m sure he thinks that he can get paid tipping off Wilhelm, and maybe even recover what he just sold me. What a piece of work. At least, though, I’ve set things in motion. Now to find Celes and make sure she’s ready for this. It’s not going to be easy.
Vincent rushed out of the store and walked with purpose.
14
The Messenger
Alyx kept her hand on the sword hilt as they entered the town.
“Welcome to Twingley,” Branthor said with a grandiose gesture. The town was relatively busy but quite small. It was overshadowed by a large structure behind.
“Looks like a fortress back there,” Alyx said.
“That seems to be where the Shade Wizards are too. Not surprising when you think about it. There’s nowhere to hide in this town otherwise.” Branthor sighed and curled his lip in disgust. He kicked at some small rocks on the dusty path.
“Let’s enquire at the local inn.” Lara pointed out the largest building in their vicinity and took the lead. Alrion nodded and followed along. Alyx waited for them all and surveyed the area before bringing up the rear.
I’m not sure who to trust.
“The Sprained Spear,” Lara announced. She shared a laugh with Alrion, but Branthor wasn’t paying attention.
“You two sit and be quiet, I’ll go ask for information. Care to join me, Alyx?”
“Sure.” Alyx looked over the room and joined Lara. There didn’t seem to be anyone dangerous, so it seemed fine to leave Alrion alone. Lara didn’t need as much protection, she had good instincts.
“I’m not sure you need my help,” Alyx said as they approached the bar.
“Probably not but having a sword around sure does keep people polite.” Lara glanced back at Alrion. Alyx followed her gaze and saw the two wizards sitting as far from each other as possible and facing different directions.
“I also want them to get used to each other. For now, at least.” Lara turned back to the bar.
“I would not be so understanding. But perhaps my way was not the best.”
“It must be quite a burden, holding onto that feeling of revenge for so long.”
“After a while, it becomes part of you.” Alyx shuddered. She inadvertently started to remember her time as the Skull Queen. It seemed that any such feeling easily brought on that experience. She needed to be careful. As crazy as it sounded, it felt like she could be drawn back at any time.
“Four ales, and a moment of your time,” Lara said to the innkeeper. This time it was a middle-aged woman with curly black hair. She had it tied back with a scarf and was in constant motion. She nodded and poured the ales expertly, bringing them over immediately.
“I’m not the chit-chat type.” The innkeeper held out her hand. Lara dropped in five coins.
“Then I won’t keep you. I just want to know what the deal is with that giant fort back there.” Lara looked over the innkeeper’s shoulder. The woman pocketed all the coins.
“Not much to say really. Back in the day, this town was a staging area for the Valrytir army. They used to camp out in that fort and do manoeuvres. Run small campaigns. Said this was a strategic location due to its proximity to certain routes. I was quite young at the time, so I don’t know the whole history.” The innkeeper walked away a few paces and started cleaning some glasses.
“What about now? Doesn’t look deserted.”
“Some rich recluse moved in. Has a lot of visitors but there doesn’t seem to be a large staff there. We get more customers here, more traffic through the town.” The innkeeper hesitated but stopped talking and returned to her work.
“Sounds like there’s more to the story.” Lara tossed over another coin. The innkeeper pocketed it without any acknowledgement and kept working.
“Just rumours. Some say they’re practising dark magic up there. There’s often strange lights and sounds. There are folk that stop by here that don’t seem right. They don’t talk, just keep their faces covered and pay well. So, we don’t ask questions.” The innkeeper strode away to the far end of the bar and busied herself with something else.
“That’s about it. Help me back.” Lara picked up two mugs and Alyx grabbed the others. They returned to the table, and it was s
till quiet.
“I thought you hated this stuff,” Alrion said.
“It was easier to buy more. We learned a bit about that fortress.”
“The information checks out. As soon as she started talking, I remembered there being something out here. But I never came here myself.” Alyx took a sip of the ale.
“Good to know. Essentially, it used to be a Valrytir outpost but now there’s an eccentric recluse living there and rumours of dark magic.” Lara looked over at Branthor.
“Yes, well we already knew that. You could have asked about access routes.” Branthor sighed.
“And take the fun out of it? Alyx and I can scout. In fact, why don’t we do it now. You two wizards can sit here and talk wizardly stuff.” Alyx gulped down half her ale and stood quickly.
“But don’t you need help?” Alrion said. He looked quite uncomfortable. Branthor leaned back and started drinking his ale.
“Do you think there’s anything Alyx and I can’t handle out in the open?” Lara gave Alrion a pointed look and Alyx started to draw the Runesteel sword.
“Let them go, rest and recover while you have the time,” Branthor said. Alrion nodded and leaned back.
“Have fun, let me know what you find.”
“Of course. Don’t go anywhere,” Lara teased. She took the lead and Alyx followed her out.
“More bonding time?” Alyx said.
“Doesn’t hurt. Also, I trust them to watch each other. I’d rather we determine what options there are, without having to worry about either of them jumping in head first.”
“I agree with that.” Alyx liked Lara’s caution. It was something she had lived by for so long. Even with her considerable abilities, she had also acted alone. You needed to maximise your chances and tip the scales in your favour. Otherwise, you were dead. Or worse. Alyx shuddered again.
The one time you let loose and gave in, you were infected. You can’t do that again.
“Not the talkative type, are you?”
“I have a lot on my mind.”
“Since we’re alone, maybe you can talk freely. One comment of yours has been bugging me for a while.” Lara stopped walking and looked straight at Alyx.
“Yes?”
“You said I looked familiar, but you would discuss it with me later.”
“Yes, of course. I recognise you, and I know your father. Alrion doesn’t know, does he?”
“No, I haven’t said anything. It’s not relevant anyway.” Lara turned away.
“I’m no expert in these matters, but surely he needs to know if you two are to continue to be together.”
“In time.”
“I think it is inevitable that the truth will come out on this journey, sooner or later.”
Lara turned back and faced Alyx. “I know.” Lara bit her lip. “It’s fine, I’ll deal with that later. Please don’t say anything.”
“As you wish.” Alyx pointed to the road ahead and Lara started walking once more.
There was only one path out of the town that headed towards the fortress, and they followed it without discussion. Alyx let Lara lead, interested to see the thief’s approach. There wasn’t much to look at on the path, only the odd tree and plant. Mostly it was just slightly yellowing grass. Halfway to the fortress Lara suddenly stopped.
“Look over here.” She paced towards something on the edge of the path and Alyx hurried over. There was some sort of black residue on the ground, flaking away. Something about it seemed familiar to Alyx, but the more she grasped at it, the more it escaped her.
“Looks important. Do you know what it is?” Alyx said.
“Yes, I’ve seen this before. Recently. It’s a trail that’s left by Fermur, the Messenger.”
“Oh. That explains why it looks familiar. I must have interacted with him… before.”
“You must have. We met him recently.” Lara saw Alyx’s expression. “Wait, we don’t necessarily need to kill him. He was interesting and seemed more neutral than you would expect. Like he’s forced to do their bidding.”
“Isn’t that just something he’s put on to confuse you? They don’t exactly play fair.”
“I’m just saying to not be too hasty about how we deal with him. But we must hurry, this trail won’t remain for long. He must be close by.” Lara pointed to the area she had first flagged, and the black flakes were almost gone.
I could get my revenge right now. Darvin was so angered by the loss of the Skull King, I could make him hurt by destroying his messenger.
“I’ll do my best, let’s follow the trail.” Alyx started to jog and matched Lara’s pace. The trail was getting more defined the more they followed it.
“We must be getting a lot closer. He’s super-fast if he wants to be, I suspect he’s leading us somewhere intentionally.” Lara didn’t slow, however.
“Do you think it’s a trap?”
“Possibly. Just be prepared.” Lara removed a dagger from her jacket and maintained her pace. Alyx let her hand hover above the sword pommel.
Surely Runesteel can end these things.
She caught Lara glancing at her, but Alyx didn’t try to hide her emotion.
She should know what I am capable of.
The trail veered off the path, taking them away from the fortress. They pushed through bushes, crossed rocks, and ended up amongst a dense copse of trees flanked by rock and hill.
“There’s no escape here,” Alyx said.
“For him too? Let’s slow down.” Lara dropped down to a walking pace and Alyx did the same. They emerged into a clearing, and Fermur was sitting on a giant rock, waiting. Alyx was instantly repulsed and drew her sword. She felt Lara’s hand on her arm and allowed herself to be temporarily restrained.
“You took your time. I had to write you an entire invitation and drop breadcrumbs. I felt like I was in a fairy tale.” Fermur laughed and grinned at them both.
“Why are you here? Why bring us here?”
“Why, I have news, of course. Updates. So nice to see you again, Skull Queen. Although something dreadful seems to have happened. You look mighty pale. And what’s with all that colour in your face?” Fermur laughed even harder, and almost toppled backwards.
“Monster, just tell us what you want and be gone before I permanently house this sword within your chest,” Alyx growled. The fact that he was so fast was probably the only reason she had remained still. If she made a move he would be gone, and their chance would be lost.
“Oh, I’d love to converse with you two, it’d be quite enlightening. But, sadly, I invited your friends to join us and I really can’t disappoint them.”
“Alrion and Branthor are on their way here?” Lara said.
“Of course, it would be very rude otherwise. Oh, and here they are.” Fermur pointed behind them. Alyx turned and saw Alrion and Branthor rush into the clearing.
“There it is. Oh, and Lara and Alyx too,” Alrion said. Branthor looked ready to start fighting.
“Good, good, you’re all here and now I can deliver my message.”
“Just die,” Branthor said. He made a move but Alrion stepped in front and the two glared at each other.
“Eventually, of course. But if I did so before telling you of the secret entrance to Rindale’s fortress wouldn’t that be a terrible waste?” Fermur batted his eyelashes, or at least what seemed to approximate them. Branthor appeared to stand down, and Alrion relaxed a little.
“Why? Are you betraying your own?”
“Hardly, I do as I am told. But I am here to tell you there are two ways into that fortress. And Rindale is within.”
“Go on.” Branthor gestured for Fermur to get on with it.
“As always, I am here to give you choices. Do you charge in through the front door, appeal to Rindale’s ego and topple him when he thinks he has the upper hand? Or do you take the secret passage behind me, and appear when he least expects it?”
“That sounds obvious,” Lara said.
“Oh, you think so? You mu
st be smarter than me. So glad that you’re so confident.”
“Why are you like this? Like a person?” Alyx said. She didn’t bother to hide the distaste from her tone.
“Oh, that’s so nice of you. Darvin fought for us, to keep our personalities. Of course, a lot changed. But we evolved, rather than become something else. It keeps things interesting, doesn’t it?”
“Why is your master giving us this information? We’ll just make good use of it and continue to defeat him and his supporters. It doesn’t make any sense.” Alrion stepped in front of the rest, addressing Fermur directly. He didn’t seem to be that wary of the strange creature. Alyx stepped forward to within reach of Alrion.
“Now, I can hardly speak for my master, but perhaps I’ll offer some words of wisdom to one who speaks so plainly. Do you think that your Soul, the special power within you, is omnipotent and infallible?” Fermur peered into Alrion as if appraising it himself. Alrion thought for a few moments before replying.
“No, it’s just a tool.”
“So is the Blight. Now, considering that you can use your tool to overwhelm and remove the Blight, don’t you think that the opposite is also possible?”
“Perhaps.”
“Don’t you think it interesting that we’ve never really tried to kill you outright, instead we,” Fermur looked at Branthor,” and our agents have been trying to bring you to our side?”
“That’s because I was vulnerable before.”
“True, true. But do you think you won’t be vulnerable when you arrive at the source of the Blight, where its true power is gathered all in one place?” Fermur cocked his head and looked at Alrion. The wizard gasped and stepped back.
“You don’t think we know what you are up to? Grow up, young wizard.”
“You can’t scare me away,” Alrion said, regaining his composure.
“Not trying to, not my job. Alas, it seems I have said too much. I do take this messenger thing far too seriously. Or maybe not seriously enough, since I invariably say more than the message. Well, for now, one more thing.” Fermur paused as if to speak, and suddenly he became a black blur and disappeared into the large hill behind.
Soul of Light (The Hidden Wizard Book 4) Page 10
