“Why? Why is he here?” Alek said through gritted teeth.
“For a number of reasons,” Jonvar continued. “Most of them are unimportant. However, he has also commanded that he be allowed to speak to you, Joh, as soon as possible.”
Johan was so shocked he took a step back from his brother, as if Jonvar had suddenly turned into the Akvan himself.
“Me? But why? How does he know who I am?”
“He is…extremely interested in the mission you were sent on. And he knows quite a bit about it. Far more than he should. For instance, he informed me that there had been attempts on your life. Is this true?”
The Outriders collectively took in a sharp breath.
“Yes, it’s true,” Johan said. “There was an attack on our way to Oberon, then while we were in the town itself, someone laid a trap for us.”
“They also attacked this place,” Aleksander said quickly.
Every eye in the room now turned towards him and Edda, who looked extremely self-conscious.
“Two days ago, three people tried to break in and poison the well and your food. I killed them before they got into the pantry, but one of them was able to get the poison into the water. They used this.” He held up one of the glass vials filled with brown fluid. Leonid reached out for it, and Alek handed it over to him. “It’s the ink used by the Crimson Fang. It took me awhile, but I found an antidote. I put some in the well, so that should be safe. But I was also told to have each person targeted by the Fang to take a dose. It will stay in your system and make you immune to their poisons in the future.” He gestured to a table where the large flask lay.
The Outriders looked at their friend with a new sense of admiration.
“Gods,” Toma said, “if you didn’t wait here for us, we’d all have been poisoned.”
Alek shrugged, quickly trying to lighten the mood.
“Think of it as my payment to all of you.”
“For what?” Ryker asked.
“I drank every single drop of alcohol in your house waiting for you. And I ate most of your food. I’ll say this, the Citadel provisionary know their beer.”
“Well, that’s good that the plan was thwarted,” said Nerthus, “but it is still a bad situation we find ourselves in. The Crimson Fang is not a group to be trifled with. And they know specifically who their targets are, if they attempted to hit you here. They will undoubtedly try again.”
“The message,” Johan said suddenly. “That’s how they figured out who we were.”
“What message?” Jonvar asked.
“The one I sent to you while we were in Oberon. The one I know you never got. They must have intercepted it somehow, and figured out from that who we are.”
“We need to get our cargo to the Citadel now,” Garm said. “The box and the prisoner make us vulnerable. They may be attracting our assassins somehow.”
“Agreed,” Johan said.
“Prisoner?” asked Jonvar.
“Ryker and Nerthus were able to subdue Commander Kinnese. He attempted to steal the cargo and kill us all. Leonid magic’ed him into a coma so we could bring him back. The Judicators are going to have a lot of questions for him.”
“By the Planes,” Jonvar exclaimed. “Assassins and traitors? I’m surprised you all made it back. Although, I suppose I shouldn’t be at all,” he said confidently, giving everyone an approving nod.
“Okay, if that’s everything, we need to move. Jonvar, arrange for the Judicators to meet us at the Citadel so we can turn Kinnese over to them. I’m hesitant to split us up right now, so we are all going. Alek and Edda, you too. They may hit this place in force while we are gone. But I doubt they’d be foolish enough to take us all on, in broad daylight, in the middle of The City. Once we’ve handed over the goods, we should be safe. Or safer, at least. Let’s get going.”
Aleksander administered a dose of the antidote to everyone there, including Jonvar, Leonid, and Nerthus. He gave the remainder of it to Leonid, who wanted to take both the poison and the antidote back with him. Jonvar galloped away towards the Judicator’s Tower. As he left, the Outriders mounted up. Vegard hopped back in the wagon next to Kinnese. Alek rode next to Garm on the wagon seat, and Edda hopped up behind Nerthus.
Not wanting to take any chances through the city itself, Johan took them to the nearest ramp to get on the Skyway. At first the guards challenged them, as only Alek and Edda looked presentable. But Johan’s signet ring and his passwords gained them access to the Skyway.
Less than an hour later they made it to the Citadel. Jonvar was there waiting for them at the gate to the grounds. Next to him stood six armored figures, standing around a large metal box on a sturdy wagon, drawn by two horses. As the Outriders approached, Jonvar gestured to the wagon, and the soldiers moved forward to meet them. They retrieved Kinnese’s sleeping body, still bound by Leonid’s ornate manacles, and placed him within their large metal carriage. Without another word, they departed with the renegade within the grounds.
“My men,” Jonvar said, “will hold your prisoner here until the Praetorian Judicary dispatches his jailors. They will take custody of him and perform his debriefing.
Toma shuddered at the mention of the Judicators.
“Those guys always give me the shivers.”
“Oh yeah?” asked Ryker.
“Yeah,” Toma replied. “They are sanctioned torturers. And they know their trade. I’ve heard that they must be accomplished medicos, chemists, and soldiers before they are given their yellow robes. A nasty combination for inflicting pain and punishment.”
“You saw a lot of them in Upper West?”
“More than you’d think,” Toma said, sill watching the departing Judicators. “Squabbles between noble families often escalate. Sometimes alarmingly so. When there’s bloodletting, the Judicators are the ones summoned, not the Watch.”
“Why them? That seems like overkill.”
“They keep quiet,” Toma replied, turning to Ryker. “One of the biggest threats to a noble house is a bad reputation. If three members of your house get dragged off to a cell for drunken brawling, it looks bad. And if they went to a Watch cell, it would be public knowledge within hours. The Judicators handle the less serious issues without making a fuss. And in return, the nobles donate to them, generously and often.”
Johan, who had been speaking to Jonvar for a moment, turned back to the Outriders.
“Okay gentlemen, thank you for the escort. Ryker, the Captain and I will go deliver the cargo to the Praetorian and High Commander. Leonid and Nerthus will join us. The rest of you head back home. Bathe. Relax.” He wrinkled his nose. “And then bathe again. Alek, Edda, stick around the barracks if you’d like. Our mission isn’t yet over, but we could use your help.”
“Are you sure, sir?” Garm looked concerned. “We have no problem waiting for you here.” Toma and Vegard voiced their agreement, but Johan shook his head.
“We will be fine. In a few minutes, we will have no cargo to make us targets. Head back, that’s an order. Once Ryker and I return, we are returning to the Gladiatrix, the scene of the original crime. I plan on buying so many drinks for you all you’d think the sky was raining down booze. Dismissed.”
Perking up slightly, the Outriders saluted Johan, smiles appearing on their grimy faces. Alek gave an awkward mock bow from his seat. They turned their horses around, giving Garm a wide berth as he steered the wagon, and headed back to the barracks.
Johan looked at his remaining companions, and he shouldered the pack containing the lockbox.
“Alright then, let’s get this over with.”
With Jonvar at the head, none of the Citadel guards stopped the ragged group from reaching the Praetorian’s chamber, although there were quite a few lingering stares. How could anyone blame them, Johan thought. His brother, garbed in resplendent armor leading two soiled and battered riders with no visible sigils, a man in tattered robes, and a woman caked in mud with an arm seemingly made of brass. Quite the ragtag group.
Reaching the Praetorian’s antechamber Jonvar, after saluting the pair of honor guards, opened the doors and marched in with the Outriders in two behind him, not bothering to do an announcement.
Johan saw that Hauge and Atrarch were in standing in the same positions as when he first met them a week prior. They were wearing their armor and weaponry, their helmets on the Praetorian’s desk as before. One thing that stood out to Johan, however, was the presence of three armed guards within the large chamber itself, one at each wall facing the door.
Both men looked up abruptly at the intrusion. Seeing the Praetorian’s captain leading in these people unannounced made them start. It took a second before looks of recognition flashed across their faces as they saw Johan’s face through the grime.
“Praetorian, High Commander,” Jonvar began, “Presenting Commander Else and Subcommander Draygos of the Outriders, Sir Leonid of the Weavers, and Nerthus, agent in service of the Praetorian Umbra.”
As they were introduced, Johan and Ryker saluted, Leonid nodded, and Nerthus merely smiled a weary smile. Hauge and Atrarch returned the salute.
“Commander,” Atrarch began, “good to see you. I have to say, it’s something of a surprise. We haven’t received any word or update since you left us.”
“My apologies, sirs. I had attempted to contact Captain Else, however unknown to us our messenger bird was intercepted by unknown agents. After a number of covert attempts on our lives, we decided to keep a low profile when we returned to The City until we were able to meet with you again.”
“And the mission itself?” asked Hague. “What happened out there?”
“I am prepared to go into that, sir. However, it has been a long journey home, and we haven’t sat down on anything other than a saddle for days.”
“But of course,” Hauge said quickly, and gestured towards his desk. He snapped his fingers at one of the guards, who went outside and swiftly emerged with more chairs. Once they were all seated, Atrarch began pouring cider into glasses and handing them out.
Johan took a moment to gather his thoughts and then told his superiors everything that took place from the moment he and his Outriders had left The City. He told them everything, pausing only to drink or have his drink refilled. Every now and then, Ryker, Leonid, or Nerthus would add a detail, or expand more upon something Johan glossed over. The only things Johan omitted were Aleksander and Edda’s identities, calling them hired “squires”. As he spoke of Samnusen and Kinnese, Atrarch’s face grew ashen, and Hauge’s face grew stern. When Johan finished his report, there was a heavy silence in the room. Hauge made a hand gesture, and the three guards departed the room. Once they had closed the door behind them, Hauge spoke.
“By the Hells, we really threw you and your men into it.” He ran a hand through his thinning hair. “I knew of the possibility that one of the other Outrider groups had gone rogue, but I never dreamed that both of them were.” He knocked back his own drink and refilled it.
“Sir Leonid,” Atrarch said, “what are your thoughts on the lockbox? Is there anything you can tell us just by you observations?”
The Weaver crossed his arms, choosing his words.
“Well, Commander, there’s nothing overtly wrong with it, from just my own probing. However, the box itself is covered with highly intricate runes, some of which I have never seen before. But from what I can decipher, they are put there to keep whatever is in the box sealed within it. Both the object itself and any sort of residual…magic from seeping out of it.”
“I think Leonid is right,” Ryker added suddenly. “After we had unhorsed him, Kinnese attempted to open it. The lockbox. He managed to get it open a crack, and as soon as that happened, my gut reaction was one of horror. Opening the box may have broken the seals temporarily, and I felt something terrible stirring. Like when you’re hunting and you can just vaguely sense an animal lurking in the brush. As soon as I closed the box, the feeling disappeared.”
“And you didn’t see anything inside the box?” asked Atrarch intently.
“No sir. Some liquid spilled out before I could close it, like oil, but that was it.”
Hauge looked at his glass, and then looked at Nerthus.
“My counterpart, your master, has not been exactly forthcoming with intelligence in this matter, simply referring us to you. What is your take on this, as an experienced field agent?”
Nerthus traded a quick look with Johan before answering.
“All I can really add to the commander’s report is that, in my opinion, there were more than one party involved with this. I doubt Kinnese’s group was the one supposed to meet the bandits, as they had to capture and torture one to get the location of the camp. And Kinnese and Samnusen were certainly not working together. Kinnese all but fled upon hearing that Samnusen was en route. So there are two competing factions involved. Possibly more, as the Crimson Fang may have been hired out by someone else. Regardless of how many there are, they are highly well informed. While they did not know who I was personally, they knew my name. They also knew where and when that Commander Else’s unit had been dispatched. And now they’ve struck at the Outriders directly.”
“For all of their sources and methods,” Ryker said, “the fact that they are not united in cause is our biggest advantage. Part of me wishes that Samnusen showed up sooner. He and Kinnese could have finished each other off for us.”
“That shouldn’t really make us feel much better,” Nerthus countered. “It means that there are at least two factions able to subvert our forces instead of just one.”
Ryker opened his mouth, but no comeback was forthcoming, and he remained quiet. Nerthus felt that in itself was a small victory and smiled to herself.
“If it’s all the same to you gentlemen, I think I am going to check in with Varvara. I should report in myself.”
Hauge nodded.
“Of course. The Weavers have withdrawn most of their retinue from the Citadel at this time. And all other Weavers attached to units within the city are to stand down return to the Spire until further notice from the Praetorian Magus.”
“What? Why?” Leonid asked.
“Basically because the Akvan is here. The Praetorian Magus is gathering all of her people within The City. She claims that she is doing it in case the Akvan makes a hostile move, but who knows with her.”
“The timing of all of this is extremely poor,” added Atrarch. “Melcara is beginning to fortify their borders, possibly in preparation for renewed hostilities. We need the Weavers now more than ever. I was hoping to bring a few of them with me when I departed for the Outrider headquarters tomorrow, but I doubt that the Magus will release any with the Akvan so near.” He suddenly turned to the Weaver. “You carry a lot of weight, Leonid. Do you think you could speak to the Magus?”
Leonid stood up immediately.
“Of course I will.” Leonid made for the door but stopped suddenly, and turned back towards the others.
“The lockbox. Shall I bring it with me?”
Hauge shook his head.
“No, not yet. We will keep it here and examine it for now. I have scholars from the University ready to go over it. Once this contention with the Magus is smoothed over though, yes, I’ll send it over.”
Leonid frowned slightly, but hid it quickly. He then smiled at the Outriders.
“Boys, it has been a pleasure. We will speak again soon. Lady Nerthus,” he added with a bow, and then turned and passed through the doors.
Now it was Nerthus’s turn to rise.
“I need to report in with my people as well,” she said. “If I learn anything more about who turned Kinnese and Samnusen, I will notify you immediately. Commander Else, you certainly know how to have fun in the field,” she said, that impish smile briefly returning. She quickly squeezed Johan’s shoulder and walked out.
Atrarch rubbed his eyes and stood up himself.
“I think that is going to do it for this debriefing. Commander Else, you two are to be commen
ded. You and your men went above and beyond what was asked of you. Routed two traitorous units, accomplished your mission, and brought back a high-value prisoner.” He shook his head, a weary smile on his face. “Don’t set the bar too high too early, or I’ll expect these sorts of results all the time. Go home, rest up. I will be departing in the morning for headquarters. In a week or so, I’ll have a posting for you. If I have need of you I will send word in the night.”
Johan and Ryker rose, as did Hauge and Jonvar. They exchanged salutes, and then Jonvar led them out of the chambers, but not before Johan set the pack containing the Melcaran lockbox on the Praetorian’s desk.
Once they were back in the antechamber, the three waiting guards returned to their posts. Jonvar looked at his brother.
“Well, now what?”
Jonvar glanced at Ryker, who shrugged.
“I have a summons to answer, remember?” Johan said, and there was iron in his voice. “Take me to the Halls of Law. I want to know what the Akvan has to say.”
The sun was setting over the city as Jonvar led them from the Citadel to the Halls of Law. If anyone traveling on the Skyway thought it was odd to see the adjunct of the Praetorian Militant leading two filthy, smelly men along the path of the elite, they kept it to themselves. Making their way through the Halls themselves, the Outriders noticed heavily armed guards at every juncture. The Akvan was a guest, but one his hosts were wary of.
Jonvar halted in front of the doors to the Akvan’s main chamber. He turned to Johan and Ryker, looking somewhat apologetic.
“This is as far as I’ll take you two. No one is allowed inside unless he has asked for you personally.”
“What’s he like?” Ryker asked, the nervously excited tinge to his voice betraying his stoic demeanor.
“You’ll have to see for yourselves. Just a warning though: for you specifically, Ryker. He does not have a sense of humor. My advice is to simply be silent until he asks you a question.”
The Outrider Legion: Book One Page 20
