by David Ekrut
Jax grabbed his sack of gold and trailed after Jesnia, letting some distance form between them. He knew the brooding look on Daren’s face well enough to know a lengthy discussion would take place over this decision.
After several miles of silence, Daren asked, “Are you certain about this?”
“We need gold. That’s the whole point. Why take an unnecessary risk if we do not have to?”
“It feels like abandoning our honor.”
“Despite the dangers? You like the kid, don’t you?” Jax tried to keep his tone soft. After all, he liked the kid, too.
Daren nodded. “His cause is noble.”
“More noble than ours? We are stopping two tyrants.”
“They are tyrants, aye. No one can dispute that, but he is trying to save us all from the dragons. I heard him talking with Daki about their plans.”
“That right there,” Jax said, “is precisely why you need me. You see the best in people. But you are wrong. He is saving the world for himself. All he wants is to tame again.”
“Does the why of it matter? If he can succeed, we should be helping him.”
“Yes. It matters. He’s dangerous. I saw it on his face, back there with Tessaryn. In the moment those powers filled him, he no longer cared that dragons would come. I’ve seen the same look on the faces of those poor wretches dependent on dragon’s tail or wyvern juice. You can’t trust people who can forget about consequences to get their momentary fix.”
Daren took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “He saved us both, and you know it. Besides, we promised our aid.”
“And he promised not to tame. But he did.”
“Aye,” Daren admitted. “He did.”
“And he won’t stop,” Jax pressed. “What if his little foreign words don’t work next time dragons come? He failed that one time.”
“Are you trying to convince me, or yourself? We still abandoned him.”
“What would you have me do?” Jax asked, forcing his voice to be calm. “Die in his fight, just to keep our word? And what about Jesnia and those kids? You heard Tessaryn.”
“The old Jax would have kept his word, and you know better than most, Jesnia can take care of her own.”
“Old Jax? Not you, too. I’m the same person who rescued you from the pits. Nothing has changed.”
“Look around, Jax. Dragons and undead are ripping through this country. Your country is in civil war with the guardians. The whole world has changed. At the end of this life, when you face Virasti in his light, would you rather tell him you fought for the good of all and lost or that you sought vengeance and won?”
“The slavas,” Jax said. “We are fighting for them! They are still victims in all this.”
Daren opened his mouth as if to respond, but no words came. He sighed and turned from Jax, walking as if Jax was no longer there. His expression became pensive, but Jax could see the determination in the large warrior’s eyes. He couldn’t be swayed. Not yet, at least, but he would see the truth in time. When they fell into the familiar rhythm of travel, Jax considered the matter settled. As the distance from Elwin grew, the big warrior would come around. He always had.
Jesnia pushed them well into the evening hours, finally stopping when the trees gave way to a large clearing. Jax grabbed firewood and set a camp for him and Daren off from Jesnia’s.
Once the fires were lit, the bounty huntress pulled several of the children off to the side and gave them instructions on dagger throwing and fighting.
Even the smallest girl listened and practiced with quiet determination. The oldest boy, Landryn was his name, gave orders to the others, who followed without question.
How in the abyss had Jesnia found these kids? He’d never known the bounty huntress to suffer fools or children. He’d wager this bag of gold, the tale would be a good one. When they retired to their fires for the night, maybe he would ask to hear it.
After glancing over his shoulder to be sure Daren was still gone hunting, Jax pulled out the rolled up leafs in his pack and skimmed through the five pages. The text gave detailed accounts of how to reach the most valuable artifacts in Abadaria. When they’d stopped to rest, he’d taken the opportunity to skim through the tome and filch these few leaflets. Originally, he’d taken them out of the main volume as a precaution, in case Tessaryn had come back and taken the tome. Then Elwin had left. Maybe, he should have given them over, but it was too late for that now.
“What is that?” Daren asked.
He turned to see the man holding three dead rabbits.
“It’s just a few pages.” Jax tried to shove the parchments back into his pack, but Daren snatched them away.
“It looks like schematics for the aeries.”
“Yes. It is. So what?”
“We do not need them, and the kid does. Why take them?”
“It was a precaution. Tessaryn might have come back.”
Daren threw the rabbit carcasses at Jax’s feet. “We need to go after them. Without the instructions to evade the traps, Elwin and Daki will die in those ruins. You have sentenced them both to death.”
“I’m not forcing them at sword point. The kid can turn away of his own accord at any time. Besides, the tome is still filled with several minor artifacts. He can use those.”
Daren crossed his massive arms over his bulging chest. “This page discusses the heartblades. He needed a blade.”
“Curse it all. He’s gone. What would you have me do?”
“Go after him.”
“And give up a quarter of a million gold coins? Not a chance.”
“All your talks of trust, and look what you do. I do not even know you anymore, Jaxton Fliste.”
“Why do you keep saying that? I’m the same person who saved you from the axe and called you my champion.”
Daren stared at him for several moments as if weighing Jax from head to toe. Finally, Daren dropped the pages at Jax’s feet, then he turned and stalked away.
“Where are you going? Dragons take me, Daren. Come back.” When the large warrior disappeared into the forest, Jax waved a hand at him. “He’ll be back.”
The words sounded hollow.
Chapter 54
For the Cause
Lendantis,
Did you honestly believe the assassins you had waiting in Delcoa would be enough to stop me? I may not be the fiercest incanter in the Keepers, but my skills have grown far beyond that of a few would-be cut throats from the Makers.
I considered killing you outright, but you freed Anetia as I asked. So I will spare you for now, but my mercy is not without limits. Consider this letter a desire for truce. Our war is not with one another. Do you not see? I am paving the way to the magi’s freedom. You do not need to stand against me.
~Ricaria Beratum, High Magus of the Keepers of the Dragonkin, 2998 A.S.
~
Bain stepped onto the docks of Delcoa with Lana and Ferious trailing after him.
The moats were drained and surrounded with razor fencing. Caltrops lined the bottom. Soldiers in guardian’s uniforms marched across the tops of the walls and stood at every corner. The wharf and market were all but empty, the few citizens still in the streets hurrying along with their heads down.
As he reached the wharf, Bain stopped before a score of guardians blocking the way into the city.
“You are either a spy or insane to put in port here. Which is it?”
“Neither,” Bain said. “We are mercenaries. We wish to pledge our swords to the cause.”
The guardian spat. “We have no need of those whose loyalty can be bought. Turn back the way you came.”
“Can’t.” Bain shrugged, nodding toward the ship that was pulling away as quickly as the sailors could shove off. “Captain said he wouldn’t wait for us for any amount of coin.”
An older man
marched toward them from the outpost, but the man in front of him did not seem to notice. He sucked deeply from his nose and made a hacking sound. Once he was satisfied with the volume of snot in his mouth, the guardian spat.
Bain let the spittle hit his chest. He smiled. “There is an old Alcoan law allowing me to challenge you to a duel. If I win, I claim your title and property.”
The man snorted. “I would lov—”
“Stop gawking like simpletons,” an older man said, pushing through their midst, “and get back to your posts.”
“But Captain, these people are—”
“Not your problem. I gave you an order. Now move.”
The guardian stared daggers as he stalked away. Bain marked the man’s face well. Once the Father was finished with him, he would return here and slit that man’s throat.
“Who are you?” The captain demanded. “And why did you port here when there’s an army at our gates?”
“I am Mardic,” Bain said, “and these are my companions. We wish to lend aid against the Kalicodian aggressors. Who is leading them?”
The man shrugged, but his companion answered, “A man by the name of Fliste came first. Brought a barbarian witch with him.”
“Ironclad?”
“Aye. That’s the one. They claimed they had come to herald the return of ‘the great one’. We only parlayed because they had an army in route. Just said he who was bathed in the light would come soon. My commander let them go. I thought it was the wrong call, but they’d made no demands. I think he hoped they’d grow weary and wander back out to the deserts. I mean, they are savages, right?”
“But they remain,” Bain observed. “Do they show no signs of attack?”
“I didn’t say that. Some half-dragon, half-man creature appeared a few days ago and demanded we kneel to his rule. Time’s almost up. I reckon they’ll move on us tonight.”
“It is a dracon, the first of the magi,” Bain said. “You will need all the swords you can get.”
“We might can use you. They won’t pay merc rates though. You’ll get the regular commission. If you are still interested, report to the barracks at the center of the city. It’s the long, narrow building beside the castle. Can’t miss it.”
“Thank you for the information,” Bain said and moved away from the man.
Curious that two of his own agents moved against Delcoa. Neither Brinnon nor Eriden had reported to him since the return of the dragons. In truth, he had thought them both dead. Now, here they were, marching on a city controlled by guardians at the command of a dracon. What was their game here?
Once the guardians were at a safe distance, Lana asked, “What do you intend to do?”
“Nothing,” Bain said. “May the Father favor Brinnon’s and Eriden’s swords. If need be, once we restore our powers, I will remind my lost children who their master is. For now, His quest is more pressing. We will move on at once. I do not intend to stay the night here. Abadaria is only a couple days’ ride.”
“Can we use them?” Ferious asked. “We could take Abadaria more easily with an army.”
“No,” Bain said. “From these notes, the city of Abadaria is a stronghold for the magi. An army of untrained soldiers will only tell them where we are. Better for us to go in stealth, as I planned.”
“How do we get horses?” he asked.
“And past the city gates?” Lana added.
“Then we will need to find a ferry,” Ferious said. “If there are any left.”
“We cannot linger here,” she said.
“Let me worry over the details,” Bain told them. “We will not be here long. I assure you.”
Both showed subtle signs of relief. Bain understood. The shorter their stay in this city, the less chance Bain would have to find and rescue anymore elementalists or make war with the guardians. He had missed the last opportunity to free one of his kind in Iremine. The one Lana and Ferious had seen with great power had slipped away somehow. Long before Bain had ever reached the guardhouse, the man had been freed. And he had disappeared without a trace, not that Bain had searched very hard with Daren and Jaxton running about. As to the war, he had promised the Father to remain out of it for now. He would not fail him again.
“Shall I procure horses?” Ferious asked.
“We will all go. With armies just outside their gates, I cannot imagine they will let their horses go cheaply.”
Bain followed the main road until he found an inn with a large stable. A young boy appeared at the door and eyed Bain with heavy suspicion.
“What d’ya want?”
He gave the boy a kind smile. “Hello, young master. We wish to purchase three horses.”
“Ain’t for sale.”
Bain reached into his pack and pulled out his heaviest purse, filled with mostly gems. He opened it and let some of the contents spill onto his palm. “Are you certain? I am not concerned with the cost.”
The boy opened his mouth as if to refuse, but his eyes widened when they fell upon the diamonds worth ten thousand roses each.
“Uh,” he said, licking his lips. “The inquisitor gave orders not to sell even the most wretched gelding.”
Bain made a show of looking over his shoulders. “But the inquisitor is not here. Or is he hiding in that empty stall over there?” He gave a wry smile.
The boy returned the smile. “No one here but me, sir.”
“Is that so?” Bain slowly pulled out several diamonds, making a point to show the value marks. He counted the last few aloud, dropping them into his palm. “Nine and ten. What do you say? A hundred thousand roses worth of gems for three horses and gear? I will not tell if you won’t. After all, there is a battle coming. They will not miss three or four horses in the chaos.”
Bain held the diamonds out to the boy, who looked at the sum with the deepest of greed, followed quickly by doubt. “How’d I know if these are even real?”
“Real diamonds can cut glass.”
“I’ve heard that,” the boy said.
“Go on. Take them. Try for yourself.”
He took the gems and went to the stable’s window. As the diamond cut into the glass, a smile appeared on the boy’s face.
“Take whatever you want,” the boy said and shoved the gems into a saddlebag next to a black stallion. “This one is mine.”
Bain turned to Lana and Ferious. “Grab what we need. Be quick.”
As his two savants shoved their gear into the saddlebags, Bain watched the people passing in the streets. It would be a shame if the guardians came by and forced him to kill them.
The stableboy tipped his broad-rimmed hat to Bain as he led the horse out of the stable. He handed three writs of sale to him. “Won’t get through the gates without that, and the guards’ll try and talk you into selling them. I’ve dated them to last month.”
“Happy trails,” Bain said.
The boy gave a wide grin, betraying his youthful age. “Aye. I will!” He leapt into his saddle and kicked the stallion into the street.
“My king,” Lana said, handing him the reigns of a white mare. “Why did you give that boy so much? He would have likely given us the horses for a hundred gold per.”
Bain admired the horse for a few seconds before responding. He’d always preferred mares to stallions, and this one had the right amount of spirit. He patted her mane and said, “I also purchased discretion. By the time the guardians realize they are missing a few horses, we will be miles to the south, and there will be no one to question in regards to the missing animals and gear. My generosity purchased these writs as well with an authentic stamp of sale. These will get us past the guards. Besides, it is a trivial sum to me. I have millions, and I will soon have a wealth in artifacts. Come.”
He climbed atop the horse and urged his mount to a trot, turning the animal toward the southern gate. Ferious and La
na rode to either side of him, keeping the foot traffic from coming near.
“Will we go around the mountains?” Ferious asked. “Or through?”
“Around will be faster on horseback,” Lana said.
“Aye,” Bain agreed.
“Do you know how to bypass the traps?” Lana asked.
“I have deciphered many of these notes and conferred with the Father.” Abaddon had come to him every night on the vessel, giving advice and suggestions on how to obtain the orb. He was so close to his goal.
“So it is almost over then,” Ferious said, a mixture of relief and disbelief to his voice.
“It is,” Bain promised. “Soon, Abaddon will return to us and put Arinth to rights once more.”
And, at last, Bain would have the immortality that had been promised to him. When he held the Father’s power in truth, he would return here and crush whatever remained of his enemies.
Chapter 55
Taking Liberties
Dear Anetia,
It has been months, and you still have not arrived. Are you well? I cannot scry you at all. If this does find you, please do not come here. I cannot know why the sudden change in my treatment, but Abadaria is no longer safe. If this finds you, turn back.
Galivant held me against my will and searched my home. As you know, I do not scribe any of the incantia describing my discoveries. I now hold all of the secrets to severing the link between the dragons and the Seeker, which is the only reason I still live. I am still allowed to work under guard, but I have an “assistant” who attempts to write down my every movement. The only reprieve I have is in my temporal stasis. I am making plans to escape. I will perform an experiment tomorrow. If it is successful, I will never fear incarceration again. Please let me know if my seal is broken. I was forced to smuggle this post using a less-than-reputable courier.
~Ricaria Beratum, 2998 A.S.
~
Jax woke next to embers. It was still dark, but light flickered from Jesnia’s fire, twenty paces away. It was Daren’s turn to keep the fires going through the night, but he had not returned, his usual place on the other side of the ashen logs undisturbed. And the Kalicodian’s gear was gone.
