Oddly, his decision to continue the quest made him think of the image of himself on the hilt of his sword. Drawing it forth, he ignored that peculiar tingling that occurred every time he touched the weapon as he concentrated on the hilt carving. The cars and planes of his world mixed with the hills and warriors of this one, and over it all he saw himself. At this moment, thinking as he did, he saw himself not only as just another figure on the sword, but also as a guardian of the objects around him. It was up to him to brave the dangers of his quest and to seek to destroy the wizard who worked his vile magic. As a self-professed warrior, he had no other choice.
He liked the idea of being a hero if he succeeded but also saw the great amount of danger he faced. He realized he’d have to kill again, probably many more times. He didn’t like it, but the adventurous, danger-seeking part of himself that burned in his blood told him what must be done. He must complete this quest, even if it meant dying. He mustn’t let Elak succeed, or surely all things would perish.
Vaun also didn’t want his friendship with Drath to end so abruptly. He liked the tall man and appreciated his efforts to help him accept himself. Thorne, too, in his own gruff way lent support from time to time, and Vaun treasured those efforts. He couldn’t let them down, just as he couldn’t let all the people of both worlds die because of a magic they knew nothing about. That thought made him determined. The abomination Elak planned must not come to pass, and if he could aid these five men in their quest, he would. No matter what they had done to him, he would not allow his world to be subjugated by an evil so great.
This dual thinking reminded him of the separateness that had occurred within him earlier, and it disturbed him. It seemed he was two different people sometimes, but also that those two people were him. Shaking his head to push away such troubling thoughts, Vaun Tarsus sheathed his sword and marched back to where his friends waited.
* * *
The five adventurers had ceased their conversation long before Vaun returned. Merdel sat with his head down, as if he’d been yelled at the entire time. Squirrels chittered in the trees overhead, sounding as if they, too, disapproved of what the mage had done.
Drath turned at Vaun’s approach and exhaled heavily when he saw the fire and determination in the young man’s eyes. He thought surely they’d angered the youth enough for him to demand they return him home. He would, but he wouldn’t like it. He’d really begun to see Vaun as a trusted companion and wished the youth could see him the same way.
Vaun didn’t slow when he reached the stumps on which his friends sat. “Let’s move. We’ve wasted enough time talking and sitting on our fire-burned butts. We’ve got worlds to save.” He stalked through his companions’ startled midst and kept going, not looking back.
Drath was flabbergasted. “You’re coming with us?”
Vaun Tarsus stopped and pivoted, a fiery gleam in his pale eyes. “You couldn’t hold me back.” He swiveled and resumed his pace.
His five companions had to run to catch up.
6
AFTER TWO MORE DAYS OF TRAVELING, the six adventurers reached a town that upon first glance appeared small. The low wall surrounding it and the vastness of the grasslands diminished its apparent size. The wall looked to be only five feet tall, and the buildings within its confines rose easily twice that height. It appeared to be made of stone and mud bricks, and Vaun wondered how its small size could possibly protect the town. An odd noise sounded in his head, and he had a sudden strong feeling of reassurance. He heard himself chuckle.
The town lay situated in a valley between several small hills, which had turned into little more than bumps in the ground as the land receded to flatter, more rocky terrain and joined the river running behind the town. The river was not particularly wide where the town ran almost directly onto its banks, and Vaun saw what looked to be a large corral across the river. They were still a good mile away, with the sun slowly setting to the west, but Vaun saw people moving actively about, unconcerned with the encroaching night.
Vaun grew excited as they approached the city gates. This would be the first habitation he visited since entering this world, and he hoped it would be as interesting as he’d dreamed it would be. As they trudged closer, they joined many other people walking down the hard-packed dirt road that led into the town and disappeared beyond the hills to both sides.
A guard with a pike stood on either side of the open gates and casually watched the six companions approach. When their group, the largest of any other that hurried to enter the city, had come within ten feet, the guards crossed their pikes over the entrance and demanded the reason for their late arrival. Drath stepped forward and explained that he and his companions had made a long journey and only wanted food and shelter for a few nights.
The guards debated silently to themselves about the truth of the tall man’s answer, then accepted it and allowed the six to enter, warning them that they permitted no trouble in Landsby. Drath thanked the guards kindly, assuring them that he and his friends would cause no problems whatsoever.
Rush scowled as they walked through the town. “I hate guards who take their jobs too seriously.”
Merdel grinned at the elf. “He’s only doing his job, Rush. Landsby does breed the world’s finest horses.”
“Aye, I know, but they don’t have to accost every stranger who comes into town.”
“I understand your point, but I think anyone would question someone as suspicious-looking as yourself entering their town.”
The blond elf made a nasty face while everyone else laughed.
They strode through the streets in search of an available inn, with the sun casting orange light over the town. Vaun glanced around the now uncrowded main street, noticing that the natives regarded them only briefly and without suspicion. A few of them, though, did turn their heads and follow the six with their eyes, and Vaun swore they studied him, or, more accurately, the Vaulka on his back.
Most of the buildings, made the same as the walls, had covered stalls in front of them, now empty of the items sold during the day. Shopkeepers and last-minute buyers hurried through the town, the sellers reluctantly staying open long enough to haggle over one more item.
Just as the sun disappeared behind the hills the party reached the town’s largest inn, its worn sign proclaiming it to be The Sleeping Horse. A picture of a horse lying on its side with an overturned and empty keg of beer next to its head was painted under the words. A tavern called The Prancing Horse stood adjacent to it and was even connected at one wall. Its picture showed the same horse at a time just prior to the other picture. It danced wildly about on its hind legs, a mug of beer in one hoof, with the not yet empty keg off to one side. Vaun liked the simple names and clever signs of the buildings and grinned as he followed the two elves and the dwarf into the tavern. Somehow, the humorous advertisements made this world seem all the more real.
The interior of the tavern reminded Vaun of the ones in his books. A little crowded, dusty, smoke hovering at the ceiling, the smell of stale beer and cooking food in the air. This one was different, though, because he actually stood here. He wasn’t just reading words on a page.
His skin tingled as the door scraped shut behind him, and he almost laughed in pleasure as he passed the bar to his right and wound his way through the tables and benches to an empty table in the back near the fireplace. Thorne called for a serving girl to take their orders and didn’t sit until she’d caught his eye and nodded to him.
Vaun sat excitedly, his eyes roving from one table to the next and observing every face in the room. These were the first people he had seen in this world other than his five companions, excluding the men who’d tried to kill them. Their presence, coupled with the very real atmosphere of the tavern itself, made this whole adventure less like a dream. They seemed like the same kind of people who lived in his world, only their existence was totally separate from his experiences. He loved it.
Most of the occupants were people of the town, sitting
at tables or booths or the bar, talking loudly of their work day. The tavern was not quite full, though more patrons came in with each passing moment. Vaun noticed other groups of travelers as well, but no one seemed hostile to them, as many sat with those who lived and worked in Landsby.
He saw several large men keeping a close watch on both Landsbyans and outsiders alike, and they appeared capable of solving any problems. A couple of them had cudgels hanging from their belts that looked hard enough to crack the most stubborn of heads. Unstrapping his sword, the youth removed it and leaned it against the table, glad to get the weight, however slight, off his back. He listened carefully as Thorne placed their orders, wanting to learn as much about this world’s culture as he could, and noticed the warm expression the serving girl shot him as she nodded to the dwarf and left.
She was an attractive girl, with long, curly dark hair. He couldn’t tell what color her eyes were, but they had sparkled invitingly when she’d looked at Vaun. He liked the way her hips moved when she walked away and found himself wondering if he could interest her in a conversation. Then he remembered they weren’t going to be in Landsby very long, and he probably wouldn’t be able to think of anything to say anyway, so decided against it.
Astonished at himself for even entertaining the notion, for he’d always been terribly shy around girls, Vaun tried to think of a possible cause for this radical notion. Figuring it had something to do with the way this world made him feel, as if he were a completely different person, he turned his attention back to the tavern.
Vaun shifted in his seat, trying to find a spot that didn’t gouge his backside. The people who’d sat in the chair before him had apparently been very heavy, or at least had larger rumps, for the grooves worn into the wood were too large to accommodate his smaller size. This made the ridges bite into his flesh, causing him to squirm in irritation.
When he placed his hand on the tabletop to aid in adjusting himself, he was rewarded with a splinter in his palm. As soon as he plucked out the offending shard of wood, another pierced his other hand when he again tried to maneuver into a more comfortable position. He muttered some very unpleasant comments about the maker of the table and directed a few barbs at the tavern owner who allowed his tables and chairs to degenerate so badly. And from the way everyone around him smelled, Vaun figured Landsbyans cared as much about the maintenance of themselves as their property.
After about ten minutes, Drath and Merdel entered the tavern and crossed to where the rest of the group sat. As they took their seats, Drath explained that they had reserved three rooms for them, and that they’d safely put away their equipment. Thorne and the elves nodded their approval, and they all sat quietly while they waited for their server to return. She arrived a few minutes later with their drinks, telling them the stew would be ready shortly. After thanking her, they turned to their tankards when she departed.
Vaun coughed and spluttered when the bitter ale stung his throat, and Drath and Thorne patted him on the back to ease his choking. “What is this?” Talking sent him into another fit of coughing.
“Ale,” Thorne told him. Like the rest, he shook with mirth, though Vaun saw no humor in the situation.
“Too strong for you?” Drath, despite his grin, sounded concerned.
“No. It just took me by surprise.”
“Aye.” Merdel nodded. “Ale does that the first time it’s tasted.”
When he could talk without coughing, Vaun asked why they had stopped in Landsby. Merdel explained that they planned to buy horses for the journey, which would save much time and energy. Vaun nodded, commenting on how glad he would be to stop having to walk all day.
The stew the serving girl placed before them was hearty and rich and soaked nicely into the thick bread. Vaun found the taste wonderful in place of the rabbit and dried meat he had been eating for the last week and a half. No one said much as they ate. When the meal was almost over, Vaun asked Thorne about the in-born resistance he’d mentioned in his story of the forging of the Vaulka.
The dwarf answered while chewing his last piece of bread. “’Tis very simple. I, as all dwarves, can no be harmed by flame, and heat does no bother me. I do feel it, but it causes me no pain. Let me demonstrate.”
Downing the rest of his ale, the dwarf belched as he rose and walked over to the fire burning in the stone hearth a few yards from their table. He reached inside as if to stoke the flames or place another log on the fire, but instead Vaun clearly saw him place his left hand directly into the flames and clutch a burning log. After several seconds, he took his hand out and placed another log on the fire, using the iron poker to adjust the logs and set the new one alight. Replacing the poker, he rose and walked calmly back to the table and Vaun’s wide-eyed stare.
“You see.” The dwarf proudly displayed his hand. “I’m no hurt. I did start to sweat from being so close to the fire, but the flames did no burn me.” The dwarf smiled, pleased with his ability.
Vaun stared disbelieving at the dwarf’s uninjured hand. “That’s amazing.”
Thorne shook his head. “Not really. ’Tis only natural.”
Vaun still found his ability quite astonishing, but kept any further comment to himself. “You also mentioned something about elves having special abilities.”
Thorne nodded, then gestured toward Rush as the little elf sat up and waited until Vaun turned his attention to him.
“All elves are born,” he glared sidelong at Thorne, “with a special gift of their own. A boon from the Great God Who made all things. As Thorne said before, one such gift has been resistance to fire and heat. Not all are the same, and they rarely repeat. My own ability is…well, a demonstration would explain better.” So saying, the elf rose and stepped back against the wall, checking to see if anyone else watched. Satisfied that Vaun and his companions were the only ones, Rush smiled and winked at the youth watching expectantly.
After a few seconds, nothing happened. Vaun almost began to think nothing would until the blond elf’s form wavered slightly, as if waves of heat passed in front of him. Rush began to fade and all but disappeared from view. Vaun could vaguely see the elf’s shape where he stood against the wall, but figured that, had he not known where Rush was to begin with, he wouldn’t be able to see the elf now.
Rush shimmered back into view and bowed grandly, then stepped forward and stood next to Vaun, a crooked smile plastered on his narrow face.
Vaun stared open-mouthed at the elf, and Rush seemed amused at his friend’s astonishment. “Did you like it?” Vaun nodded dumbly, and Rush giggled. “You look like I just died and came back to life. But don’t worry, I did nothing like that. I have a kind of chameleon ability. I can make my skin and clothing blend into my surroundings, and whatever is behind me shows through. Watch.” Making sure Vaun did as he was told, Rush placed a copper coin on the table and put his hand over it. Vaun stared in amazement as the elf’s hand faded and the coin appeared under it.
The image of the coin blurred, and it shifted as Rush moved his hand back and forth over it. The elven thief brought his hand back to normal, picked up his coin, and rolled it across his knuckles as he sat back down.
Vaun could think of nothing to say, and in confused desperation turned to Dart for a possible explanation. The brown-haired elf sitting next to his cousin took this as a cue to demonstrate his ability and smiled pleasantly. “My gifts aren’t so flamboyant. I have heightened senses. I can understand a conversation whispered from over one hundred paces away, and I can see well at night and for great distances. From four hundred paces I can identify an object, from two hundred I can describe it accurately, and from this close,” he leaned forward so his nose was only inches from Vaun’s, “I can see into the pores of your skin and watch the blood pump through your veins. These gifts aid in tracking, because I can identify signs that are very small and almost invisible at night. Also, such sight helps my archery very much. My sense of smell is strong enough to tell me that everyone in this tavern, particularly T
horne, needs a bath very badly.
“I know my gifts aren’t so wonderful as being able to blend into things, and despite how clever my cousin thinks he is, I can still see him while he uses his talent. I find my abilities quite useful.” The elf sat back in his chair and crossed his arms as if daring anyone to dispute his satisfaction with life.
Vaun sat still, unsure how to react. He understood now how Rush could be such an exceptional thief, and why Dart was touted as one of the best trackers and archers. With these two elves and Thorne, Vaun understood why they’d been chosen for this quest. He hoped that his sword skills could aid the party as well, though he doubted it would be to the same degree.
Drath nudged Vaun good-naturedly. “Don’t worry, Vaun, our three talented companions are not as bizarre as they seem. You’ll get used to them in time. Just remember that they’re here to help you as much as the rest of us.” He took a long drink of ale. “Right now, do you have any more questions about our journey? I assure you we will be as open as we possibly can.” He glared sidelong at Merdel. “Right, Merdel?”
The bearded wizard nodded. “Aye. No more trickery, Vaun.”
Vaun sorted through his list of questions. “How is it Rush and Dart can claim to be adherents to this completely good Great God, yet maintain lives as thieves?”
Rush and Dart both gasped in offended shock. “Thieves?” Rush’s voice was even more high-pitched than usual. “How can you insult us by using such a wretched label?”
When Vaun merely shrugged, as if to say it should be obvious, Dart jumped into the conversation. “We may from time to time relieve others of things that do not belong to us, but we are hardly thieves. We simply do what the Great God gifted us to do. His prohibitions against thievery are for those who do not put their acquired goods to His purposes. We make sure all our acquisitions are made in service to His will, and very often will return them. It’s sort of like a long-term loan. Besides, we confess our actions to Him each night, and through His mercy and grace we are forgiven.” Dart nodded, obviously thinking he’d answered the question.
The Bonding (The Song and the Rhythm) Page 9
