The Secret of Azuron (The Sword Empire Book 1)

by J. R. Kearney

  "Alright Clancey and I will be back in a few moments," Jema said, before the two men disappeared into the crowd.

  Landau sat at the bar with Samson as the crowd cheered upon the bard’s final word, standing to applaud before they continued with their drinks. The performer wasn't shy of the applause either, and bowed modestly at his patrons.

  "Do you get many of those down where you're from, bards I mean?" Sam asked.

  "I've heard of minstrels and musicians, but never a bard."

  "Similar to musicians, though some believe they have a magic about them. Bards are said to channel the elements, they believe knowledge from around Heldorn travels through river currents and carries across the wind, they simply translate it to tell the people. It's a magic I don't get myself, then again it’s probably just stories to favor them more coin. Such is the world. They're quite instrumental in treasure hunting too, pardon the pun."

  "I wouldn't think there's much use for music in those ruins Clancey used to speak of," said Landau.

  "Bards supposedly can reveal secrets once lost to history, the echoes of men reside in many tombs, if you believe them that is. Your friend no doubt would’ve benefited from a bard in his company."

  Landau heard Clancey utter names of many companions, none specifically a bard.

  This time he picked up his drum to belt a rhythm the patrons could clap along with, and only now did Landau pause to wonder of his purpose in this place.

  In a narrow stairwell that barely gave breadth to the pair, Jema and Clancey arrived at a door, guarded by the closest impression of a troll a man could take, his oily shirt tucked beneath many crevices of fat, and his smell attracted flies. He favored Clancey's familiarity, yet Jema left him silent, and dormant to offer any trouble. They walked through the door with no concern, into a room of prestige and wealth that favored lords, but inside was a man who resembled a beggar, bar his regal clothes. His hair was oily like it had never seen water, his nose arched horribly upon his septum, and his teeth totalled no more than three. In the pair's company he showed much discomfort when Clancey bid him greetings.

  "Hello Hawkins, haven't fallen to the whim of a prison yet I see?"

  "What's this then, you bring a knight ta do me in? What I eva do ta you, ya mongrel?" he skulked around his desk, yet it offered no hiding.

  "Quiet," Jema ordered, "let's get on with this shall we."

  "You can't prove I did nothin’."

  "Hawkins I would not betray you, nor will I give you favor," said Clancey. "I need your help to tell me what this is," pulling the gemstone free from his pocket. Any fear of guilt was soon forgotten, for his bulging eyes could not believe what they saw.

  "Ain't seen one of them so far south before, where'd ya get this?"

  "It’s not important, I just want to know what it is. What causes this stone to glow like it does?" Clancey asked all the questions.

  "That's for the elves ta know," Jema and Clancey stared at each other.

  "What business is it of the elves?"

  "These stones are theirs, rather they be the ones that make 'em. These ain't mined from any cave mind you, I ‘eard say they’re trapped moonlight, that gets crystallized somehow, but how they does it is past me knowin’. Not seen this in an age."

  "Do they possess any power, something that would attract unwanted attention?" Hawkins was hesitant to answer, for he still questioned the presence of the knight, and he hadn't ruled out treachery.

  "They be wealthy to be sure, but what their purpose is I dunno. You'd have ta ask 'em yourself. But uppity them elves are, don't often wander these southern parts, plus I don't think they'd be none impressed you stole that from them."

  "Why would you think we stole it?"

  "When I was wanderin' with those travellin' minstrels back in me day, we toured the elvish lands, played our songs, spread our tidings, the lord's daughter had fancy for me mate, that's another tale, only it led us ta this throne room you'd call it, that's where me eyes first set sight on this 'ere. Hangin' 'bove his throne like a crown it was, but its light shone even in daylight, and it was guarded somethin' fierce. I doubt somethin' like this would be lyin' round to find is what I'm tellin’ ya. It's a jewel men like we were never meant to see, them's honest words."

  Jema stood to retrieve the stone from Hawkins' twitching hands, while Clancey risked more detail.

  "This was found in a cave Hawkins, and this stone was one of plenty, what do you make of that?"

  Hawkins’ stare was as stagnant as his tongue, for the prospect of such a claim bewildered him entirely.

  "I dunno much of elves Clancey, but they be no cave dwellers, they hates the darkness ya see. If ya speak the truth mate then ya best keep that cave a secret, if elves be messin' 'bout in them, must be somethin' big for them to go diggin' for it."

  Clancey bit his lip, for it wasn't an answer to their problem, but only intensified the mystery. So they sat and probed Hawkins with any information he could offer, but he knew little more, and it was evident that only the elves could reveal any clarity

  "Why are we here anyhow?" said Landau.

  "I don't know to be honest. I do know that one more might be joining us on the journey to the capital, if plans haven't changed that is. I'm daft to understand why he would be in the tavern if that's our purpose for being here."

  "Why, who is it?"

  "He's an assassin," Sam replied. "We found him on the road from Ravenwood, he's the reason we were in Merchant's Wall in the first place, before we ran into that Alduainian scout. He's being held in the prison here for the moment, our plan was to take him to Arwendel for interrogation."

  "He's a criminal?" Landau worried, his blood chilled at the thought of his company. "Did he kill someone?"

  "I’m sure he's killed many victims unknown to us, any one of them is reason enough to arrest him, assassins are not favored in Ruun. They see themselves as a guild like any other, but it's murder for coin, to profit from it makes it no more legal."

  Landau wanted to trust Jema's judgement, though felt less at ease with a prisoner to accompany them. He felt vulnerable, and suddenly anxious, his eyes scoured the tavern as though a threat lingered, and his attention turned to a man who gazed intently towards him from across the room. He ignored him at first, uneasy to justify such a diligent stare, but every chance he managed to sneak a glimpse of him the stranger stared back. The man's eyes raised in ire at the sight of him, his face was hidden in a cloud of smoke, though Landau could discern his dark black hair, thick and wavy, suspended over his shoulders; prominent was a thick moustache which draped from his upper lip to his neck, like a bristled horseshoe. A familiarity of this stranger beleaguered him, and his stare would not waver.

  Jema returned and notified Sam of their concluded business, peering at Landau who was poised with distraction.

  "Landau did you hear me?" Jema disrupted him, inspecting what caught his gaze, for it appeared startled. He turned to answer, though when he whirled his head to scrutinize the stranger once more he had vanished, the man's moustache vivid in his mind.

  "Sorry, just thought I saw…" he trailed off. Jema surveyed the tavern, who would startle Landau far from his home unsettled him, and quickly he escorted him outside with Clancey close behind.

  With haste Jema led them back to the town square, but unclear in his mind was where his focus should be.

  "What rattles you?" Sam asked, it was evident in his guise.

  "Nothing but riddles in my mind. Landau has stepped into a deep puddle indeed with these stones. There is no danger to him that I can see, still we are left without resolve."

  "And what of the prisoner?"

  "I will gather the guards to begin his export, and we will travel with them, but no further than Ravenwood, for as long as Landau is absent from the safety of Arwendel I will find no repose. Instead we will take the road through the Yalthume." The very word cast a doubt in Sam's mind.

  "You're not serious are you?"

  "Is something wro
ng squire?" Jema stared down at him.

  "The Yalthume generally isn't a place to take children is all," Samson advised with much sarcasm.

  "The road to Arwendel is long, and not entirely free from bandits, even in the light of day. We can cut our journey short by several days if we travel this road. A squire would do best not to question my thinking."

  Samson glowered at him, such an advantage addled him, for there was no presence of a threat. Clancey and Landau joined them while Jema brought forth a pouch of gold to give to his squire.

  "Here, purchase the roughest horse you can find from the stable, rope if you can find some too. I will return shortly, give you two a chance to bid each other goodbye," he gestured to Clancey, for which Landau stood confused.

  "Goodbye?" he repeated.

  While Jema and Sam wandered off he turned to Clancey with a regretful expression across his face. "Are you leaving us?"

  "We have a small change of plans," Clancey stated. "I'm going to detour east. There's a character of great importance that may help us understand what's going on here. I will meet up with you in Arwendel, as quick as I can manage."

  "But why? What's so important that you would leave now?"

  Clancey smiled to downplay Landau's distress.

  "I will tell you when it is done Landau. My tales aren't as good before the adventure begins. I wouldn't vacate your side if it wasn't necessary. Trust in Jema and Sam, they are reputable people. The sooner you arrive in the capital, the safer you will be, and that is what matters."

  Landau was hesitant to find comfort, but Clancey was resolute in his decision.

  "If you think it's a good idea," he said, but his heart carried no such assurance.

  They travelled back through the torrent of people toward the stables, where Clancey paused at the market to buy produce, and Sam had already prepared his gelding, though beside him and Bruiser stood a rough horse of the mountains, its coat was grey and sickly, and its head hung forever downward.

  "Keep close to me at all times," warned Samson, his temperament had changed and his eyes were now suddenly cautious.

  From the west edge of town, the murmurs grew louder and the crowd dispersed, heavily armored guards forged a path toward him, with Jema close behind them. In his wake appeared a figure clothed in dark apparel, a bandolier peppered with pockets strapped across his chest, all threaded and woven in shades of black. But his cloak was darkest of them all, forged from the very shadows themselves, it swirled with every stride, a shadow cloak with a hood that concealed all but his smile, and not one of charm or cheer, but of malice and mischief.

  The guards jerked him forward to the stables, and Landau cowered behind Sam, though he didn't know why, for the assassin's hands were heavily bound, and the guards surrounded him with swords unsheathed. With Jema was a man, his name Landau never heard for Jema referred to him as officer only, though he bore a similar breast-plate, and they discussed their plan for the prisoner's transfer, for Jema had altered his sworn duty to see him to the capital himself.

  "It should not be a problem," the officer assured him. "We have a further group of soldiers stationed in Toebank that can see him the rest of the way. There should be no concern I would think."

  The officer's words brought a sinister snicker from the assassin.

  "Consider yourself fortunate to be upgrading your cell to an even darker one," Jema said with spite.

  “Well…it’s true what they say about the chivalry of knights,” he replied sarcastically.

  "The less of your kind to poison these lands the better, forgive me if I smile, knowing these people can be free from your taint."

  Again he exuded amusement as the guards approached to tie him to the horse.

  His name was Raminus, and his voice carried an accent unfamiliar to him, certainly not a man of Ruun, for every word was eloquently uttered, and almost lyrical. Sam guided the mountain horse towards him, and with a gauntlet grip the guards lifted Raminus to his saddle, but before they could settle him Raminus jerked, and his bindings found the guard's blade, in one furious blur he broke his yarn shackles and thrust the guard’s sword into the other's hip. The officer and his men converged upon him, but Raminus stripped Sam of his ivory dagger and moved it to Landau's throat. With a strong hand Raminus clutched his shirt from behind, and Landau struggled to distance himself from the blade's edge.

  Jema raced his hand to his hilt, but Raminus only prod the dagger closer to Landau's skin, it was a warning that Jema reluctantly acceded.

  "Careful knight," said Raminus, a wealth of arrows was aimed toward him, the assassin crouched and offered no target, for Landau was his shield. Raminus spoke in his ear as he writhed in discomfort. “Shh, shh, shh, it’s alright boy, men are talking,”

  "Poor move Raminus," said Jema. "If you kill him you are vulnerable and with him you are slow. You have no advantage here. Don’t be a fool to think you can escape."

  "Whether I release him or I kill him knight my fate still lies in prison, do not speak of my options as if they would sway me," Landau tried hard to compose his dread.

  "You're surrounded, don't let your arrogance think otherwise."

  Jema moved slow, as though any sudden movement would panic Raminus to react. Samson stood helplessly aside him, for all around now took watch, vendors and townsfolk were quick to acknowledge the scene before them.

  "A knight speaks to me of arrogance!” Raminus yelled to the crowd. "This is kind of humiliating for you isn’t it? The strength of your security for all to see," he taunted. "Where do we go from here then? I am sorry to sink your pride, it must be hard for someone as highborn as yourself to swallow, but I have better things to do than be your captive."

  "Even you would not hurt a child," said Jema.

  "We’re all somebody’s child. If that is your argument then you best try again."

  "You have no say here Raminus, we do not need you alive."

  "Just a simple kid stands in your way knight, could you see this boy’s death if it means my own? No I think it would pain you to have his death in your blame. How about we find out!"

  Jema remained poised, but every word was spoken carefully, for beneath his demeanor his heart pounded, it was under Jema's whim that Landau now found himself in peril.

  Landau was frightful, for the arrows of many were poised upon him, and the assassin constantly jerked him to dissuade their aim.

  "Okay assassin, you win. Let the boy be, and I will order these men to withdraw their bow."

  Raminus laughed with childlike glee, as though it were a game to excite him.

  "I’m not entertained in your honor knight, I will tell you my terms. I want my weapons, I want them now, forgive my greed."

  Jema scowled as much as his brow would allow, throwing a bag before Landau's feet in a clash of metal.

  "Pick them up!" he shoved Landau forward in an effort to retrieve his gear.

  "I cannot hold you to your word, for there is none fouler," Jema scorned, the assassin had no such honor.

  "Now, I will ride south with my prisoner, until I am clear of your presence. You will find this runt on the road where I leave him, a far distance from here. If you choose to follow me, you will find him in a field, looking rather red," and his words evoked untamed panic in Landau's eyes. Raminus knelt with his mouth to his ear. "Look at these people that fail you," the very breath of the assassin’s words caused him to stir. "No, no, no, look at them!" he yelled, the prick of Sam’s dagger stung against his throat. "Behind their armor and their toys they are just moppets, weak and witless servants, under the command of a pretentious herald. You choose your allies poorly child, for they would desert you now to see a killer free," pointing Sam's dagger toward Jema's disgruntled figure.

  With the blade free from his neck a mighty plank of wood crashed from above, for Clancey had crept behind to knock him to the ground. Landau fell away, and before Raminus could recover, the weight of many armored men descended upon him. Landau cried, and in Clancey's em
brace he could not withhold it.

  "What is the meaning of this Jema? You cannot have Landau in the presence of that criminal!" Clancey shouted.

  Jema ran to Landau's side, his guilt overwhelmed him, thankful to Clancey who with one arm prevented a potential trauma he would not forgive himself for. While the wounded guards were tended to, Landau gathered himself, and acted bravely, yet even now beneath the weight of the guards a sinister laugh cackled from beneath, the assassin entertained in the misgivings he had spread.

  Chapter 9

  THE ASSASSIN

  Jema lifted Landau atop of Samson’s horse, and beside him Clancey stripped Bruiser of his belongings to strap on to Kilian. The guards had settled the assassin, and with shackles of iron he was restrained to his sickly horse, and around him five guards incessantly circled. Not even one night of rest within the city did Jema consider, even in the late afternoon, for every moment Raminus remained in their custody would be too long, so it was here at the city gates that Landau bid Clancey his farewell.

  "Don’t worry lad, in the assassin’s company your time shall be swift."

  "Please hurry Clancey," said Landau with a pout, yet Clancey smiled, and promised his companion he would not be gone for long. Yonder by the guards was Jema, a stern stare tinted his face as he ensured the assassin was properly secured, before he mounted his horse in haste of their departure, and gestured thanks to Clancey.

  "Take caution in your travel’s friend, but be swift if you can."

  "I am still uneasy about this cretin’s purpose to travel with you," Clancey motioned to Raminus who gave no retort. "Are you certain he warrants such attention?"

  "Right now I don’t know where the greater worry lies, but I won’t sacrifice one for the other. We will not have his company for long."

  Clancey did not approve, be it from the discomfort that soured Landau’s expression, but the knight was decided.

  "I know it’s improper to ask a knight a favor, but I ask you to acknowledge Landau not as a child. Treat him with respect and you will soon see his quality, I assure you." Jema nodded, but it was hardly a promise.