“So knowing all that, you’re going to go after them alone?”
“I could not accept your brothers’ help. Not after all this family has been through. Besides, they’d most likely just get in my way. You too.”
Tarra walked past him on the path and stopped, with her back to him. After a slight pause, she turned around to face him. “So why don’t you go back to Ostar and get help? Why must you insist on doing this alone?”
“By all that is holy! I’m an outlaw!” He paused to calm down. “The last thing they saw was me dive through the portal with the killer. For all they know, I’m a part of it.”
“So you won’t go to Ostar for help and you won’t take help from my brothers. That’s why you need me. I know how to get to Baron Malik’s cross-country. You’d have to travel south to Point Blank and then head northwest from there. It would take you a day and a half to get there if you were quick about it and you’d run a much greater risk of being caught by patrols. My path will take us six hours of walking. At most. We could get some sleep, so we won’t be stumbling in the dark, and still get there by noon today and you could investigate the place the same day. Otherwise you lose all of today and most likely tomorrow as well. Who knows if Renamir will still be around in two days?”
Esselles looked down, shaking his head. As convincing as she was, he still couldn’t bring himself to take her into danger. “You’ll be needed here,” he protested.
“No, I won’t. With the extra help I brought today, they won’t need me for the harvest.”
Esselles stared into here defiant eyes. Finally, he relented. “Okay, but on…”
He had to pause as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
“Wait,” he said. “There’s a condition. You must not enter the keep.”
It was her turn to stare before relenting. “Fine. I lead you there but wait outside the keep.”
Esselles looked at her, suspicious that she should acquiesce so easily.
“Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
She ran into the house and returned a moment later with a pack, a sword, and a crossbow.
“Here,” she said, handing him the sword. “This was father’s sword. If you are going in, you’d best be prepared. You can take this in too,” she said, indicating the crossbow. “But I’ll carry it for you while we travel.”
“You packed that quickly?” he asked suspiciously.
“I packed earlier today,” she said with a sheepish grin.
“I should have known,” he said, buckling the sword to his belt. Then he lifted the crossbow testing its weight before handing it back to her. “I assume you know how to use this?”
“I do. I’m not a great shot, but have scared off a predator or two with one.”
“Good. I already have a ranged weapon,” he said, gesturing to the club on his back. “But again, you aren’t going in with me. I just want you to have a weapon. Just in case.”
As they walked down the path, the wolf pup began to follow them.
“No, you have to stay,” he said to the pup. He pushed on her haunches to get her to sit down. “Now, stay,” he repeated, waving a finger at her. He walked away, looking back over his shoulder, and saw the pup follow as soon as he was six feet or so away.
“I said stay,” he told her as he backed away. She simply looked up at him with her big, puppy eyes and proceeded to follow him.
“No,” he said with more vehemence than he intended. The pup dropped down to her forepaws and gave him a sad look. He could feel the sadness.
“Did you feel that?” he asked Tarra.
“Feel what?” she asked, amused by his attempts to keep the wolf from following him.
“Never mind,” he said, rather than try to explain. He reached out to the pup’s mind and realized there was no way it was going to be left behind.
“Okay,” he said, slapping his thigh. He felt the pup’s emotions change to elation. “I’m zero for two tonight,” he said with a smile. He turned to Tarra. “She’s as stubborn as you.”
She cocked her fist back in mock anger.
“And almost as cute,” he added with a grin.
“Let’s just get moving,” she said with a smile.
The road to Malicar’s keep was barely that. It was more a triple set of shallow ruts and Esselles could see why Tarra advised against walking too far on it in the dark of night. They went far enough to where they thought Harrell would not find them if he realized they’d left and then moved a little off the road into a copse of trees. They found an area of soft undergrowth and Tarra spread her cloak for them to lie on. The pup made itself at home on the cloak before either of them could lie down. Esselles scooped her up and then lay down. Tara lay down next to him and snuggled close to him.
“It’s cold,” she said and grabbed his free arm and pulled it over herself.
He became very aware of her presence, the feel of her body against his, the scents of cooking spices and kitchen fires in her auburn hair as it pressed against his face, the sounds of her breathing. But at the same time, his mind immediately thought of Rashel. He fantasized that it was her he was holding under his arm.
She’s the emperor’s daughter, you idiot, he chided himself when he became consciously aware of his desire. You’ve got a beautiful woman under your arm and your thinking about the emperor’s daughter.
But Rashel is beauty, he argued with himself.
Tarra’s quite pretty as well, he shot back.
It was some time before he finally managed to fall asleep.
In a few hours, sunlight woke them up as it filtered through the trees. It was a few seconds before Tarra was willing to release his arm and allow him to get up. He set the wolf pup down and she immediately went to the nearest tree and relieved her bladder.
“Not a bad idea,” Esselles said with a smile, heading further into the trees. When he finished, he called out to make sure Tarra was finished as well.
“I’m finished,” she eventually told him. She was shaking the ground moisture out of her cloak when he returned to where they had slept. Then she laughed. “We’ve got a stream to ford, so the dampness really doesn’t matter, does it?”
Not far beyond the copse of trees they came to a wide ford. The streambed widened out here and was filled with small stones and pebbles worn down from the rocks upstream. The water was cold and fast moving, but only about a foot deep at the middle of the ford.
“It’s worst when the snows are melting. Much deeper and colder then,” Tarra told him.
Beyond the ford, the road climbed up a hill. The rising sun was casting long shadows across their path from left to right. They continued heading south for another half hour before the road curved to the southeast and led down into a glen with a wide stream running through it. Where the road met the stream was a small villa. It consisted of nothing more than a small mill, a furrier, a smithy, and a trader’s store. A few residences could be seen along its outskirts. Three other roads left from the villa. One followed the stream to the east, one followed the stream to the west, and one continued southeast up and out of the glen.
“This is our town,” Tarra said when they reached it. “The healer who helped us after we escaped lives down that road,” she said, pointing to the southeast road. “Just over crest and off to the left. Her cottage is just inside the woods there.” She pointed to the east. “About an hour east is Toliver’s keep. He is…was our baron. If you continue past, you’ll reach the Imperial Road just north of Point Blank. We passed that road on our way to Ostar.”
Esselles recalled the bloodied and horribly dismembered form of Baron Toliver and he had to shake it off. “And Malik’s?” he asked.
She then turned to the west and pointed. “That’s the road we’ll be taking. It follows upstream to the end of the glen before turning southwest towards Logesh, which is the main town for Malik’s barony. His keep is a few miles outside of town, kind of carved out of the mountains that separate the upper plateau from the l
ower plains.”
“To the west it is,” he said.
“Do you want to stop and eat?”
“Not in a town, no.”
“Well let me stop in to Nesus’ store. I have some credits there and can pick us up something to eat as we go.”
Esselles looked to the west. “Okay, I’ll meet you at that big oak tree,” he said pointing.
“Okay. But here, hold the crossbow.”
A few minutes later she rejoined him and handed him a small, hearty biscuit and a hunk of cheese. “There are some wild apple trees not too far west of here. Let’s eat when we reach them.”
“I’m not sure I want to wait until the biscuits get cold,” he said, taking a long sniff of the fresh baked bread aroma.
“Fine. We’ll have the apples after,” she said. She took the crossbow back from him and slung it over her shoulder. Then she broke off a piece of warm biscuit and popped it in her mouth.
Esselles did as well. “These are delicious,” he said around the mouthful of bread.
“Nesus knows how to bake. And we were here at the right time to get them warm out of the oven.”
She continued to tell him about Nesus and his store, about the smith and furrier, and the mill as well as the other farmers in the area. She was still talking about the town when they reached the apple trees. After she had said about all she could about her town and her farm, she asked Esselles about Arator and he began to tell her about the town he grew up in and life in the west. They took turns carrying the pup when it was clearly tired from the long walk.
By now they had reached the upper end of the glen, which opened onto a wide flat plain that extended west to the mountainous ridge beyond. Wheat, alfalfa, and other grains grew in long straight rows on either side of the road, which had turned to the south, as promised. Occasionally they would pass a farm house off the side of the road and once or twice they saw people out working the fields. While it had been sunny in the morning, clouds were beginning to move in from the east. As they continued south, the road climbed out of the plains and up onto a hill line that reached east from the mountains. As they crested the hill, Tarra stopped them.
“You see that storm cloud way off in the distance?” she asked, pointing to the south. “Malik’s keep is right below it.”
Esselles peered in the direction she indicated and saw the broiling clouds, thicker and darker than the surrounding overcast skies. “How do you know those are over his keep?”
“Every time I’ve ever been this far south, that storm cloud has been there.” Tarra said. “Some days it is thicker than others and then you can even see it from our villa. Everyone know that it is Baron Malik’s keep. It’s a pretty old and gloomy place, from what I’ve been told.”
“How long until we get there?” he asked, reaching out to take the pup from her arms.
“I’d say we’re about an hour outside of Logesh,” she said.
By the time they reached Logesh, the clouds had thickened and a light rain had begun to fall. They crested another hill line and beyond lay Logesh, nestled on a river at the bottom of a valley. To the west, where the river tumbled down out of the mountain ridge, was the baron’s keep, just barely visible against the rocky wall that formed the upper plateau. High above the keep was the ominous storm clouds, now a bit harder to see among the rain clouds.
Logesh was considerably larger than Tarra’s villa. There were a couple mill houses along the river, a handful of stores, and even an inn.
Esselles stopped and looked about. “I’m thinking we may want to skirt the town and go scope out the keep.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the skies opened up.
“In this?” Tarra asked as the rain pounded them. “Can’t we stop into the inn until this blows over?”
Esselles was reluctant to head into town but he saw the misery on Tarra’s face and relented. “Okay, but as soon as it relents, we head to the keep.”
“Here, you take her,” she said, handing him the pup. “I’m going to run to the inn.”
He took the pup, made sure she was secure, and then jogged after Tarra, heading straight to the inn, the Old Mill, according to the shingle hanging over the door.
Once inside, Esselles could see where the name came from. The place had clearly once been a mill house. A few of the tables were even old, worn out millwheels. Esselles found a table in the corner and led Tarra to it.
He looked up in alarm. “I just realized. I don’t have any money.”
“It’s okay. I have a few coppers,” she said.
“I’ll repay you when I get back to Ostar.” He looked down and in a quieter voice added, “If I get back to Ostar.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s my treat.”
A serving maid came over. “What will you be having?” she asked.
“As much stew as four coppers can buy us,” Tarra said, placing them on the table.
The server scooped up the coins and headed towards the kitchens. She returned shortly with two small bowls full of a steaming hot stew.
“That’s a lot more than it would buy in Ostar,” Esselles said after she left.
Tarra just smiled.
Esselles finished his stew quickly and sat back to watch Tarra eat. After a few minutes, the door opened and three legionnaires entered the inn, one of which he recognized, Kyell. Esselles’ eyes went wide with fear and he slid back against the wall. Tarra opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, but Esselles quickly put a finger to his mouth to quiet her. He then discretely pointed out the legionnaires. He said a silent prayer of thanks for the bright light that filled the portion of the inn where the legionnaires were sitting, leaving his portion of the room much more shadowy. He leaned forward to whisper to Tarra.
“I know one of them and he knows me. I’m hoping he won’t recognize me in Harrel’s clothes. I’d love to slip out, but naturally, he took the chair facing the door.”
“Maybe we can wait them out,” she whispered back.
His mind raced, trying to figure out what Kyell might be doing here, other than searching for him. He could not come up with anything. He turned an ear towards their table to try to overhear what they were saying.
While he could not catch everything, he could hear some snippets of the conversation and it appeared to be a debate about the affections of a particular female and whether she was interested in Kyell or not. He heard them mention Toliver and he again recalled the grim visage of his mutilated body.
The soldiers ate considerably more food than Esselles and Tara and that seemed to keep their attention. A few other patrons came and went, and Kyell looked up whenever anyone came into or left the inn, confirming Esselles’ belief that he could not slip out undetected. It also convinced him that Kyell must be here searching for him. Why else would he be so vigilant? He put his head on the table and wrapped his arms around his face to hide it.
“Are you tired?” Tarra asked.
“No,” he whispered back. “Kyell is watching the door like a hawk. I’m afraid he might see me.”
The serving girl came by to collect the empty bowls. “You need anything else?” she asked.
“No,” Tarra answered.
“What’s with him?” she asked, nodding towards Esselles.
“Nothing. Just tired.”
“Okay, but if the room fills up, you’ll have to either buy something more or give your table up to payin’ customers.”
“We will,” Tarra promised.
Time stretched, and Esselles was sure Kyell would spot him, but eventually, the three soldiers rose up from their table, left some coins on the table, and left the inn. Over his arm and through the hair hanging in front of his eyes, Esselles could see Kyell look in their direction and his heart froze in his chest. But after Kyell continued on, Esselles realized he’d been looking at Tarra more than himself.
“Thank the gods for the shadows,” Esselles said, sitting up. “Let’s give them time to be on the road before we leave.”
They w
aited at least ten minutes before getting up and leaving. They were nearly to the door when it swung open.
“Let me just grab…by the blood of Uran’s grandchildren!” Kyell swore. His sword was in his hand so fast, Esselles swore it materialized there. “Come on, you foul creature,” he said circling to the side and signaling his two fellow soldiers to stay outside.
“Kyell,” Esselles pleaded, “you must listen to me. It wasn’t me.”
“If you come outside peacefully, I will give you a chance to speak,” Kyell said. He moved further to the side, allowing Esselles egress.
Esselles stepped forward to walk outside, giving Tarra a slight push to indicate she should stay put. She did not do so.
“No, they’ll kill you,” she said, grabbing his arm and trying to keep him in the inn.
“I have to,” Esselles said, turning towards her. “I can’t run. My only hope is to convince him.”
“He’s innocent,” Tarra called to Kyell. “It wasn’t him.”
Kyell showed no emotion. He simply indicated the open door with his sword.
Esselles moved cautiously to the door. He maintained a defensive posture, unsure whether the soldiers outside would attack or not. They were standing a few feet back from the door, with swords drawn and looks of fear plainly evident on their faces.
They’re afraid of me, Esselles thought. I would have expected hatred, not fear.
Kyell indicated they should back up further as he followed Esselles out the door. He turned to Tarra and told her to stay back, but she ignored him as well and followed them out into the street. He shook his head then turned his full attention back to Esselles. He lowered his longsword slightly, but it was clear he could strike in a heartbeat. The intense concentration of impending combat was written across all his features. “You may speak,” he said.
“I was not the one who attacked the emperor. It was a demon transformed to look like me,” Esselles explained.
“You were seen leaving the scene of the attack. It has been established magically that it was you, and not the demon, and that you fled to the demon’s home world. Do you deny this?” Kyell asked.
Demonified (Hawkblood Chronicles Book 1) Page 27
