“Gods kiddo, I never thought I'd say this, but I like your style. What's with all the rocks?”
Toma shot a look at Garm, who shrugged. Toma drew a deep breath before speaking.
“Well sir, Garm here was saying that the Underking sometimes travels with a mage as a bodyguard. These, uh, rocks, should be able to help us find out for sure.”
Johan raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And how will they help us?”
“The two crystals on my bracers vibrate whenever someone uses magic near them. The stronger the magic, the stronger the vibration. The two up here on my collar should, ah, should help stop magic from getting too close.”
“Where the piking hells did you get this stuff?” Ryker demanded.
“Bought it all, sir. Took almost all my pay these last six months of pay. Got the stones from that merchant who passed by two months ago, and the chemical compounds I had to treat them with I made from ingredients I had to buy from alchemists or harvest myself. Took a lot of work, but Vegard helped a bit with some of the technical stuff.”
“Yeah, but where did you learn this all from, Toma?” Johan asked, intrigued.
“Leonid, sir. He and I have been exchanging letters on it for a few months now. I think he's been getting a kick out of helping me do this. Said I had some crazy ideas, but between his ideas, my scavenging, and Vegard's knowhow I was able to make them.”
A memory clicked in Johan's mind. Toma had been the first one of them to feel the effects of the fear-inducing magic used by the Order of the Fang on their first assignment. He had also been the only one resist it on his own. Leonid had taken quite a shine to the lad after that, and Toma had made no secret about how he wanted to learn how to fight mages. At the time, Johan had chalked it up to youthful determination, but it appeared he had underestimated the young man.
“Well, I'm impressed,” he told Toma. “But, I'm hearing a lot of 'shoulds'.”
“Uh, yes sir, you did. Haven't been able to test them. Well not really. The bracer stones work okay enough. They hum quite nicely whenever Garm fires up his gauntlets. And they can pick them up from almost fifty yards away. But I haven't been able to try more than one source at a time. Or the absorbing stones yet. Or the dust. It's why I didn't bring it to you sooner, sir. Once I got them working, I was going to have told you. And now I figure since there's a good chance we'll be taking on a wizard or mage or whatever again, I want any weapon or advantage at my disposal. I refuse to let a some magic-using bastard get the drop on me, on us, again. Uh, sir.”
“Oh yeah, I had meant to ask you about those arrows,” Ryker said.
“Well-” Toma began.
“That's enough exposition for now,” Johan said. “We've got a job to do. Toma, if your new gear works, it works, and you'll be making some more. If it doesn't, well, hey good on you for trying something new. As it stands, there's a slight change in plans. We are going to meet up with Vegard and Alek and assault the house now. I'm sick of this waiting around nonsense.”
Toma nodded solemnly, while Garm grunted in silent approval. Johan looked at Ryker, who nodded agreement.
“Okay ladies,” Ryker said quietly, “let’s get a move on.”
The small train of horses stopped just outside the Crossroads Hearth, an enormous inn near the western edges of the Dominion. It stood, as its name suggested, on a major crossroads. A trade caravan or large traveling group heading to Bellkeep, Sumnell, or any of the other major western city-states would pass that way. Over the years, the inn’s ideal placement helped it flourish. It grew in size, at first adding more wings, then a second floor, then a third, until it resembled a large interconnected village itself. Kinnese could think of no better place to put his feet up for the night.
As the miniature convoy came to a halt, Kinnese dismounted his horse and stretched. He was glad for the stop, and not just because of his sore feet. Since leaving Undis’s wretched home, the hostility brewing between Undis and Naria grew to an almost tangible, palpable sensation. Naria glared at the pseudo-lich with an intensity that made even Kinnese back away, and for the past two days of slow travel, she hadn’t once tried to engage him in conversation. And when he approached her, either her silent attendants would block his path, or she would pretend to ignore him. Undis was, to Kinnese’s dismay, his only real company during their travels. And that had been almost punishment enough for recruiting him, Kinnese thought.
It had taken only two days of travel, but it was time enough for Kinnese to conclude that he could not stand the lich. Undis was far too polite, far too proper to be an undead alchemist.. At first, Kinnese had thought it had to be an act, a show Undis put on to impress his new partners. But over time, Kinnese had to wonder if it was a veneer he simply wore no matter what, to hide whatever it was that lurked beneath. But something was definitely off in Undis’s mind, Kinnese knew. And that made him quite unnerving to be around.
“What are we stopping here for?” Naria asked as she dismounted. After two days hearing nothing but Undis’s rough voice, Kinnese couldn’t help but smile at the witch’s rich, husky voice. But when he turned to address her, he saw that same scowl on her face as before. Too bad.
“Business,” he said. “Picking up a new employee here, and arranging a meeting with a...partner, you could say. It also doesn’t hurt that this place has some of the best food and drink between Tethis and Bellkeep. After two happy days on the road together, I figure we are entitled to something other than water and bedrolls.”
“So we are staying here the night?” Naria’s eyes narrowed slightly in almost-suspicion.
“Yes. Lodging has already been prepared for us.” He took a few steps towards the witch, his voice lowered. “Not to worry, your rooms are on the opposite end of the inn than mine or his. I’m sure the sooner you are rid of us, the better.”
Naria was silent for a moment, as if considering her words. “It isn’t you,” she said, almost reluctantly. “Well, not you precisely. That...thing for starters,” she gestured towards Undis, who had dismounted and was smiling at people as they passed by, “needs to be destroyed. Somehow. He is a threat to everyone. Any organization who utilizes a monster such as that in their plans, no matter how polite he seems, no matter how noble their goals, seems dubious to me. And it worries me, thinking what other depths you and your co-conspirators will go to to succeed.”
Kinnese nodded. “I understand. I do, really. In fact,” he said, “I voiced those same concerns to my boss before I set out to find you all. I told him that it does us no good to try and help others if we’re going to stoop to deplorable means to save people from themselves.”
“What did he say when you questioned him?”
Kinnese shrugged. “Only that I had to trust him like he trusted me. Which, I know isn’t a very comforting idea for you, since we don’t really know each other. But I don’t really have anything more encouraging or profound to add. Except, maybe, that I do trust you to keep me honest. You are a two-for-the-price-of-one woman. It’s why I sought you out first, and you’ve already proven me right.”
“Oh?” Naria raised an eyebrow.
“Sure. I doubt that there are many witches who can double as a moral compass. Especially not one that glares better than any Legion drill sergeant I’ve ever met. I’ve been dreading the moment for you to rip into me at some point these past two days. And I bet living above a whorehouse has given you some creative insults that I wouldn’t have comebacks for.”
Naria snorted and walked towards the inn doors, her attendants waiting there for her. She may be questioning his judgment, Kinnese thought as she walked away, but at least she didn’t curse at him. Or, more importantly, at least she didn’t talk about quitting their little enterprise. She could have her suspicions and misgivings, sure. But Kinnese knew that he’d have to mollify her at every turn to keep her onboard. He had to. Kinnese wasn’t sure that he’d be able to find a more perfect person to have around for their little operation. He just hoped that his master didn't drive her away
with some morally reprehensible action later down the line. He sighed and turned towards Undis.
“And you,” he said, getting the lich’s attention. “You are to behave yourself here, do you understand? You can eat, you can get drunk, I don't care. Just please leave the patrons and staff be.”
“I'm not some monster planning on murdering everyone in sight, despite my previous appearance,” Undis stated, his face showing hurt emotion as he finished tying his horse to a post. “To be fair to myself, I have been working in a dank, dingy basement for years, and now that I'm out in society proper again, I can't help but be a little overwhelmed at my good fortune. Oh, I do so hope they have a thorough selection of teas. You can guess at how difficult it was to cultivate proper leaves at my previous dwelling.” Undis gave him a polite nod before turning and walking towards the inn. Kinnese just stared at the lich as he walked into the inn. Sadly, that wretched man (Or beast? Monster?) was almost more integral to his master's plans than Naria was. Kinnese sighed. Wrangling different people and their goals and personalities was about as simple as wrangling a pack of sabrecats.
Kinnese took three steps into the Crossroads Hearth and found himself standing face-to-face with a cute red-haired woman, wearing a low-cut apron over a too-short leather skirt. The woman’s face was smudged with crude, yet appealing make-up, and she held a tray over her shoulder, piled with empty plates. Kinnese did a double take, and felt his mouth go slack. But it wasn't at her farm girl beauty or her suggestive clothing that caught his attention. There was a sense of knowing that blossomed in his mind as he looked at the girl. Though she was a bubbly young woman working in a bar, Kinnese knew that, at that moment, she also happened to be the vessel for his master.
“Right on time, as always!” his master exclaimed in a cheerful voice. “No wonder I keep you around. What’s wrong? Serpent got your tongue?”
“This is...uh, different,” Kinnese said, caught off-guard.
The young woman, or rather, his master temporarily dwelling within her, smiled mischievously. “I like to change things up a bit from time to time. Go have a seat, I’ll be over in a second. The innkeeper’s wife here is a gods damned demon in every sense of the word.” With that, she pushed past him and opened a swinging door into the kitchen with her hip. As the door swung open, Kinnese could hear an older woman’s voice upbraiding his master. Looking back into the inn’s dining room, he saw that it was much larger than he anticipated. With room to seat over fifty people with ease, the Crossroads Hearth was well equipped to handle the traffic of the highway. And indeed, that night there were few unfilled tables. Kinnese threaded his way through the din, dodging serving girls and patrons until he found one of the few empty tables and dropped into a chair. He took his riding gloves off and set them on the table. Gods, he thought, he wanted to take off his boots, but that probably wouldn't go over too well with the other people there. Surveying the room, he saw Naria and her four girls huddled around one table. He made eye contact with her and nodded in acknowledgment before looking for, and finding, Undis. The lich was seated on a stool with his back against the bar, a small teacup already in his hand. His face seemed content, and he raised his cup in greeting to people as they passed. A small band of travelers sat down next to the lich, who turned to engage them in some conversation, and a warning bell went off in Kinnese's mind. He was about to grab his gloves and go over to him when his view was obstructed by the alluringly curvy figure of a woman. His eyes moved up and saw his master, her tray now piled with food. Before Kinnese could stand she began setting down plates with her free hand.
“So, uh, what spurred this change on?” Kinnese asked.
“Just going for a ride, is all.” She shrugged. “I can’t always be a brooding noble or a mysterious merchant. Depends on the talent pool available, if you get my meaning. Plus even I like trying new things every once and awhile. When I get the chance, that is.”
“Really? I’d think that kind of thing was, well, beneath you I guess.”
“Oh no,” she said. “You’d be surprised how valuable it is to take different points of view from time to time. Both figuratively and literally.” She held the now empty tray behind her back with both arms and stuck her chest out in an obvious manner. She surveyed the room, not acknowledging the suggestive looks and catcalls going her way. “I really like the hair this one has. And she smells quite wonderful. It's also astonishing how easily I am able to get my way around men without having to use telepathy or summoning a firestorm.” She bounced lightly on her toes a few times, looked down at her heaving cleavage and frowned. “Not sure how I feel about all this ballast up front though. Makes it tricky to maneuver with a tray. Poor girl is going to have back problems, I fear. I may fix that for her before I leave.” She looked at Kinnese and grinned. “Jurgund you’re staring.”
“Sorry, it’s, uh, a lot to take in.”
“Yes, it is,” she smiled. “So, report.”
“Ah, so far so good. Naria, the witch, took some convincing, but for the resources we can offer her, she couldn’t really say no.”
His master nodded, the grin still on her face as she picked up a carafe she had set down and filled a strong smelling ale into his cup. “I take it that rather nice gentleman at the bar is Undis? He seems far more...put together than I expected. I figured he'd have been half-insane by this point.”
“You may not be wrong. He may be immortal, but his mind may be a little...damaged from his experiences.”
“And?”
“And I was able to entice him to join up using the new bloodstone you gave me. He knows we want the Aetherbloom, he just doesn’t know why. Neither does Naria.”
She stopped pouring and stood up straight. A long red curl of hair spilled into her face, and she slid it back with a look of pleasure.
“That’s all it took?” she asked. “He knows he can’t use his Power when he’s using that body, right?”
Kinnese nodded and took a drink. It was rich, malty, and strong. He felt refreshed just sipping it. “Yeah, well, I ah, kind of said you had another bloodstone as a reward if he exceeds your expectations. One that lets him channel the Power and keep a normal looking body.”
“But there isn’t another bloodstone,” she said, a frown on her face. “I don’t even know how I would go about finding something like that. The blue one took far more time, money, and resources than I would care to admit.”
“Yeah, I know,” Kinnese grimaced. “I kind of lied about that. We can find another healer if Naria bails on us. But what he can bring is a little harder to find. I figured as long as I can get him to Nilbin, you'll divine some way to entice him to stay.”
Kinnese’s master laughed, a rolling, melodious laugh that was infectious to neighboring tables. She put a hand to her mouth when she was finished, hiding a smile. “Oh pardon me, this one has such a beautiful voice. But gods Jurgund, you’re learning how to recruit people fast. Now, your new hire, Pela, is upstairs in your room waiting. She’s an...odd duck, I think you would say. But considering who you've picked up already, she'll seem pretty tame. While her overall contract has been sorted out with her Order, I’ll leave it to you to discuss the particulars and such with her.”
“I think I’ll keep the bulk of her job to myself for now. I’d rather that didn’t spread until we have her back at the workshop.”
His master nodded, again a curl of hair spilling onto her face.
“What of the Underking’s men?” he asked. “Are they here yet?”
“I haven’t seen anyone who would be them yet, no. But I’m sure they will be here soon. He's known to be far more punctual than you or I. Now, if that is all, the sooner I’m out of here, the better. Even though I may try and recruit this one. Watch your back, Jurgund,” she said, and then she stood there for an instant, motionless. Kinnese watched intently as the serving girl blinked once, then twice, and suddenly looked around the room disoriented for a heartbeat. She looked down at Kinnese’s table, saw that it was already set, sm
iled at him, and left to walk back into the kitchen. Kinnese shook his head before ripping a hunk of bread to eat. His master had some serious Power at his command to be able to do what he did. Made him wonder why he was needed at all, when...but…
His thoughts drifted away from him as he ate, like a cloud pushed by a breeze. The food was good enough so it didn’t bother him much. He was learning to simply keep on going when his mind became fuzzy. It didn’t achieve anything but give him headaches when he forced his mind to recall some things. Instead, he became so focused on ensuring not one drop of gravy escaped him that he didn’t notice someone sitting across from him. Looking up as he ate, he saw Naria staring at him, a strange look on her face.
“So,” she asked. “Who was that?”
“Who was who?” Kinnese asked mid-bite, puzzled.
“The girl. Red hair, nice voice, no subtlety.”
What was she talking about? Did she mistake him for someone else? He thought, forcing his memory to go backwards. Now that Naria mentioned it, he did vaguely recall talking to someone at some point after walking into the inn. It was someone rather pretty, he remembered, but the particulars seemed to escape him. Must not have been too important.
“Oh,” he said, trying to sound nonchalant, “that was nothing. Just, uh, ordering some food.” He became uncomfortable under her blue eyes, and he shifted in his seat. A sudden flash of recollection hit him. “Anyways, I’m going to finish eating here, then I’m going to head upstairs to my room. Our new hire should be up there waiting. If you’d like, you can meet her with me.”
Chasing Down Glory: The Outrider Legion: Book Two Page 18
