Kethril

by Carroll, John H.

  They all nodded sympathetically. Vevin realized they weren’t enchanted anymore. “You can’t tell anyone that. I put a geas on you before to make you keep your promises because I have to.” Everyone turned to stare at Anilyia. She put her arms out. “What? I said I promised! I don’t break my promises even if I want to.” Vevin nodded and smiled. His teeth were still intimidating, but she didn’t feel like he wanted to eat her anymore.

  “My father chased me through the sky, trying to kill me. I wasn’t good at flying, but I think that helped because he couldn’t predict where I was going. He cast magic at me and breathed white flames. I can’t tell you how scared I was. Finally, I crashed in the Willden a short distance from Aaltdiin where I went to hide and sleep. Tathan and Liselle showed up a few weeks later and that was the really, really, really, really, really, really best thing that ever happened to me.” He smiled and hugged Liselle.

  “Where was that cave, and where were you flying when your father was attacking you?” Tathan asked thoughtfully.

  Vevin shook his head. “A dragon never tells where their cave is or any other dragon’s cave. I don’t mind that you know where my new one is, but I can’t tell you where my father’s is, plus I don’t think it’s his only one even though dragons aren’t allowed to have more than one cave.

  “Can you tell me if it was to the south of Aaltdiin, if you were over a valley and if it was late at night with Siahray three quarters full and Piohray half full?”

  Vevin thought for a moment and then nodded with a puzzled look on his face.

  Tathan smiled. “I saw a burst of white flames in the sky and thought it was dragons playing. I’m sorry I didn’t know at the time.”

  Vevin let go of Liselle for a moment and came over to give Tathan a big hug. “Thank you for being my friend.” They patted each other on the back. Vevin went back to holding Liselle, while Tathan took Anilyia in his arms.

  She buried her face in his shoulder for a minute then looked at Vevin. “So you’re really not evil and you’re not going to eat me?”

  “I promise,” Vevin said holding up his right hand. Anilyia nodded and went back to hugging Tathan.

  She felt Tathan’s voice in his chest as he spoke. “Let’s get our things together. Liselle, for the next couple of days you’ll lie on a stretcher we have that Sir Danth and Vevin will carry. We’ll take it easy to start with. There’s a decent size city called Neveel a week’s journey from here. That’s our next stop. From there we’ll rest for a good while as we decide where to go next.

  Chapter 7

  The journey to Neveel took nine days. There were occasional houses in the distance to either side of the road. Each one excited Liselle, as she wondered aloud what the people who lived in them might be like. After the first couple of days, Liselle was well enough to walk on her own, though they kept an easy pace so as not to fatigue her.

  One rough house near the road had children playing outside. When Liselle started walking toward them, Tathan warned her it was a bad idea. She waved him off, eager to meet new people. It stunned her when the children screamed and ran inside. Their mother came to the door with panic spread across her face. “We aint got no valuables!” the plain woman yelled at them before slamming it.

  “Adventurers tend to treat peasants poorly. We look dangerous to them,” Tathan told her.

  Sorrow filled Liselle’s expression as she glanced back over her shoulder. Frightened faces looked from behind a leather flap covering a window opening.

  Four days into the journey, they rested at a small inn on the corner of a muddy intersection. A light drizzle had washed the bright day away by noon and didn’t appear to want to let go. Liselle spent hours talking to the friendly innkeeper and some of the local peasants. They were wary of her and the others at first, but Liselle’s charm got to them and they became enamored of her. Tathan and Sir Danth restrained Vevin from killing a few that flirted with her in vain. In her innocence, Liselle didn’t notice the flirting or her lover’s angst.

  The rain cleared the next morning, but clouds on the horizon hinted that more could come at any time. Three days later, they made good on their threat and began to drizzle again. Liselle looked around at the cold grey skies and droopy plants.

  She felt bad for the bent flowers with sad drops of rain falling off like little tears. Autumn was present in full force and they knew they were going to go into hiding until spring. Liselle would be able to sense them under the ground in the winter, but she missed their colorful petals.

  The thought crossed her mind that it might be possible to part the clouds and stop the rain. Liselle considered how to do it. Looking up, she could see the moisture in the clouds and even came to realize how they worked. She could part them by reorganizing all the water and changing of some temperatures.

  “What are you doing, dearest?” Vevin asked apprehensively. “I know you’re feeling better, but there’s no need to be gathering magic like that.”

  She jumped in surprise. He was walking right next to her while holding her hand. Liselle blushed and shook off the energy tickling her skin. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

  “It’s alright, but you should always know what you’re doing before gathering magic. Make sure you have a specific purpose and that you’re focusing it properly.” Vevin smiled as he gently chastised her. “Do you know what you were going to do? It didn’t look focused.”

  “I . . .” Liselle felt like she was in trouble. “It’s not important. I’ll be more careful and always focus in the future.” She gave him a winning smile and hugged his arm, hoping it would keep him from pressing.

  “. . . Alright.” Vevin didn’t look at all certain about it, but he let it go.

  Farms were more numerous the closer they got to Neveel. Peasants began to appear, heading to and from the city, many with carts. Their clothes were simple, some well made, others shoddy and all dirty from the road to a greater or lesser degree. Many stood to the side of the road to let the companions pass. A few even ran and hid. It was alarming to Liselle to see such a reaction and she wondered how anyone could treat them so bad as to make them run at the very sight of adventurers. Occasionally, children hid behind their parents while looking at the adventurers in awe.

  The party arrived at Neveel late in the night. It was an unwalled city with buildings made mostly of wood. Many of the businesses and inns had stone or brick for the first floor and wood if there was a second floor. Lights shone through heavy rain as the companions walked along the road leading up to the city. Most of the children and working peasants were inside, leaving only revelers and people out for a last drink to dash from cover to cover in order to reach their destinations.

  Muffled shouts and noises Liselle didn’t recognize mixed with the steady trickle of rain hitting buildings and puddles. A few wet dogs dodged people, lending their smell to mud and soaked wood. Liselle and Anilyia worked hard not to get their feet stuck, jealous of how each of the boys seemed to have a technique to avoid sinking with each step.

  A stone guardhouse was to the right of the road with a small squad of four soldiers wearing blue-dyed leather armor standing underneath curved wooden canopies. Upon seeing the party approach, they put their hands on sword hilts. The leader of the squad stepped forward into the rain with his hand up. He had brown hair that was beginning to turn grey and he walked with a mild limp. Liselle figured he was probably a sergeant.

  Tathan had told her the basics of city guards and armies. Privates were the guys who did all the work and dying. Sergeants and corporals yelled at the privates to get them to work and die, low-level officers like majors and captains told the troops how wonderful it was to work and die, high ranking officers like generals and colonels came up with plans that got everyone killed, and nobody liked lieutenants because they were useless. It seemed ridiculous to Liselle, although she suspected Tathan was probably biased considering he liked to steal things.

  “Hello there, adventurers. I’m Sergeant Hyvan. What’s your busines
s in Neveel?” The sergeant addressed Sir Danth, assuming he was the leader of the group.

  The knight went with it instead of waiting for Tathan who had taken to walking in the back with Anilyia. “Greetings to you, Sergeant Hyvan. I am Sir Danth Wazmordin of the Black Order of the Knights of Morhain.” His voice boomed through the rain. The soldiers stood a little straighter in surprise and a few nearby revelers stopped in their tracks to see who was talking. “It is our intention to stay at one of your inns for the next few nights. After that, we will merrily be about our way.” He leaned forward conspiratorially. “It is best to do things merrily you know.”

  “Uh-huh.” The sergeant stared at him, not knowing what else to say. The rest of the guards looked nervous while the revelers decided it would be best to get about reveling before things got out of hand. Sergeant Hyvan cleared his throat and restored his composure. “I’ve never heard of you, but let me make it clear that there is to be no trouble. The Kethril army guards Neveel well. We don’t fool around when it comes to adventurers causing trouble. Military wizards support the troops and can handle anything. Is that clear?”

  “That is very clear, my good sergeant,” Sir Danth said. “We will cause no trouble . . . probably.”

  The sergeant set his jaw in irritation and ran fingers through his hair. Sir Danth didn’t say anything else. Liselle thought adding the ‘probably’ at the end was wise. It was so hard to tell what could to happen. Sergeant Hyvan waved them on their way before going back to stand under the canopy.

  “Well handled, Sir Danth,” Tathan said from behind Liselle. “Couldn’t have done it better myself.”

  “Thank you. They were going to be suspicious of us no matter how I responded,” the knight responded with a shrug. “I don’t believe there will be any trouble, but guards have to suspect everyone I suppose.”

  “They suspect whether they have to or not,” Tathan replied, shaking his head in disgust. “Let’s find an inn. I want to get out of this miserable wetness. I can handle most rain, but this stuff is dreary.”

  “Dreary?” Sir Danth looked back with a raised eyebrow. “What a very proper word for you to use.”

  “Yeah, yeah. It looks like there’s an inn ahead.” He pointed to a two level building with lanterns along the front a few streets up. It was much bigger than the one they had stayed at a few nights before, but not as large as the White Tree Inn. There was a large sign in front with a blue pig that was noticeable even from a distance.

  “The Blue Pig Inn?” Derision was clear in Anilyia’s voice. “How lovely.”

  “It will be a bit rough for the ladies, Master Tathan,” Sir Danth said. Men burst out of the front doors, punching and kicking each other in a valiant effort to prove the knight’s point.

  “Fine. Ask someone for directions to someplace better.” Tathan didn’t like spending any more money than he had to, but was wise enough to avoid upsetting the women.

  Sir Danth looked around, his gaze settling on a nearby alley to their left. He held up a copper piece between his thumb and forefinger, drawing out a dirty boy wearing a tattered cloak. The boy was about ten and had a mature look in his eyes. Liselle gasped when he turned to gaze at her. It seemed wrong for someone so young to be so hard.

  After assessing the group, he turned to the knight. “Yeah? Whatcha want?”

  “I want you to lead us to the best inn Neveel has to offer.”

  “Do it for a silver, but I aint goin’ in this rain for nothin’ less.” The manner of his words grated on Liselle’s ears. She had heard different accents while traveling through Rojuun territory where there were people from every culture, but this was different, not so much an accent as shoddy speech.

  “Very well. I will give you a silver when we reach the inn.” Sir Danth made a silver piece appear where the copper had been.

  “Nah, I want it now or no go.” The boy looked at the coin greedily.

  “I assure you that I am much more likely to keep a deal than you, lad.” The knight made the silver disappear. “But, if you do not wish to make the deal, I understand.” Sir Danth began walking up the street.

  “I’ll do it! Come on,” the boy said, jogging in front of the knight. He set a brisk pace and the companions lengthened their stride to keep up. Some of the buildings had covered wooden walkways, but not all. Those that did had crowds of people who also wanted to stay out of the rain. The boy didn’t waste time with those areas, instead taking them down the middle of the road. In better weather, there might be wagons traveling about, but they would just get stuck in the mud now.

  Lanterns on building fronts were the primary source of light. Most of the windows had leather coverings preventing interior light from escaping with the heat. The end result was darkness nearly as bad as the caverns she had tried escaping after being kidnapped by Krraa. It made her uncomfortable.

  Liselle wondered why they didn’t cobble their streets and add gutters like in Puujan. It would make things so much easier for people. Her travel boots squished and squelched their way along the muck. She understood that Vevin and Sir Danth had magic to keep from getting messy, but it wasn’t fair that Tathan was managing not to get stuck.

  They turned up a street going north. After fifteen minutes of slogging along, the boy pointed at another inn with lanterns all around it. He held out his hand and Sir Danth dropped the silver in it. The boy ran off in the direction he had come.

  The inn was three levels, the bottom two were stone and the top was wood. There was a wooden walkway for its guests and a large wooden sign out front with a picture of a golden horse. Two guards wearing white tabards with gold embroidered horses glanced at them and decided they were potential customers. It bothered Liselle that regular people would be turned away while those of means were allowed in.

  “This is going to cost a fortune,” Tathan mumbled when they walked in. He glanced at Anilyia, who had a pleading look in her eyes. It was obvious she wanted something resembling luxury even if it wasn’t a royal palace.

  Liselle was weary from traveling in the rain, but the inn excited her. Two lit fireplaces kept it warm while people ate and chatted. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling on chains and had polished brass brackets holding the candles.

  Sir Danth led them to a counter next to some stairs. The bar was on the other side of the common room so the counter appeared to be where people went to rent a room. A gentleman in fine clothing looked at the knight expectantly.

  “My man will handle the arrangements,” Sir Danth said with an arrogant air to his voice. He waved in the direction of Tathan and then looked around the common room as though disinterested in details.

  Tathan lifted his chin and stepped past Liselle to the counter. He took his gloves off with a flourish and tucked them in his belt. Anilyia remained on his arm, but looked supremely disinterested in the proceedings. No one noticed Liselle, a fact that bothered her until Vevin whispered into her ear. “They’re not paying attention to either of us. Feel free to stare at people.”

  “I have been informed that this is the best Neveel has to offer,” Tathan said with a deep sigh. “I suppose it will have to do. My lord cannot be expected to go back into that miserable rain to rust.”

  “I never rust, you fool,” Sir Danth replied crossly, not turning around.

  “Of course, Milord,” Tathan replied with a bow and a flourish of his arm. He turned back to the innmaster and rolled his eyes.

  “Your eyes make a terrible racket when you roll them around in your empty skull, you fool.” Sir Danth’s voice lowered an octave, showing how unimpressed he was.

  Tathan looked at him in surprise. “Of course, Milord.”

  The innmaster didn’t react to any of it, or perhaps he was just too stiff to have a real expression, for when he spoke, it was deliberate and stilted. “What sort of accommodations will his lordship require this evening?”

  “His lordship will require a suite for two nights with three rooms, meals, baths, and wine,” Tathan answered. “I’m
certain that’s all the time he will be able to tolerate in this inbred backwoods village.” Liselle gasped, though Vevin’s influence prevented anyone from noticing. Anilyia nodded her head, truly feeling that way. The innmaster’s only reaction to the words was to raise an eyebrow. That single gesture said plenty about his feelings. The jaw of a nearby bellhop briefly fell open before he remembered he wasn’t supposed to react.

  The innmaster looked in a ledger. “Of course. There is a suite on the top floor facing the back court. It will cost four gold pieces for the two nights.” Liselle was surprised. The same size suite cost ten gold pieces for a night in Alluu. Tathan had mentioned that things cost much more in Rojuun territory than in human cities, but Liselle was sure Tathan would have a fit about the cost anyway.

  To her surprise, Tathan had the coins ready and spread the four gold pieces out on the counter without blinking an eye. They were uun, the coin made in great numbers by Rojuun. He had mentioned wanting to use them in a city to see how people reacted.

  The bellhop forgot his place and leaned forward. The innmaster put his hand forward to pick them up, but stopped and looked closer. He touched one, running his hand over the engraving, then picked it up and studied it for a moment. Sir Danth turned around and raised an eyebrow. “Is there a problem, Innmaster?”

  “What country is this from?” He raised the coin.

  “It is from a people called ‘Rojuun’. They are odd, but the gold is good,” Sir Danth said, waving off any concern.

  The innmaster examined each one closely. He took a different gold piece out of a container underneath the counter and compared the weights in his hand. He rubbed the surface of each coin and even bit into them to see if they were soft. “I’ve seen a few of these coins in silver and copper. The gold is good quality. In fact it’s better than Kethril’s coins.” He pushed one back. “Three of these is sufficient to pay for the room. Keep the other and speak of the honesty you receive at the Golden Steed Inn during your travels.”