Overland Quest

by D C Ware

  Father Wilmont had told him how a skilled Cleric could detect the presence of evil. Not just harm or trouble, the Father emphasized, but evil. To practice once they had made a trek to the small copse of trees just south of Fire Castle. In a clearing with a large standing stone the Father had made him sit and concentrate. For what seemed like hours Midas detected nothing more than his own hunger and agitation at such a silly exercise. Then the Father sat down as well and put his back to Midas’ back and started concentrating as well. Almost immediately Midas felt his pulse begin to race, his palms and forehead started to sweat and his body began to heat up. Then it came, the evil. Midas felt it as surely as if a stranger had a knife poised above his head. He wanted to jump and run as the feeling of warning became a feeling of terror. He had been scared before, even frightened but he had never actually ‘felt’ evil and it was horror. Horror and madness.

  But just as he was about to bolt, Father Wilmont laid his hand on his forehead; mumbled the most serene prayer Midas had ever heard, and it was gone. Midas was so gripped by his fear and the feeling of evil that he had not even noticed the Father get up and stand in front of him.

  Now, sitting here in the clearing, Midas was sure he was getting that same feeling again. His pulse had increased, his hands were palmy, there was moisture along his scalp line and he was getting hot.

  Midas remained seated but opened his eyes slowly and started taking in his environment, trying to observe the source of this evil. The Wooddam Forest itself had its own legends of danger and horror but there was nothing specifically ‘evil’ associated with the forest. He kept looking. There were no signs of large animals nearby such as a bear or wild cat. Even then, while dangerous, animals were not specifically evil.

  Finally, he looked up. Scanning to his left and then right he caught his first sight of it. Perched in a large sequoia Midas could make out what was surely a Gargoyle. He had seen those winged creatures many times in his travels in and around Fire Castle. This one was about the size of a man with large mature wings.

  It had not spotted Midas and was not looking in his direction. Midas reached into his pocket and took out a small sapphire encrusted medallion about the size of a coin. Midas gripped it in his right hand and rose and started to slowly back away toward the camp site where Boris was at.

  But suddenly the Gargoyle shot up into the air above the top of the ancient tree and broke into a headlong plummet toward another clearing of trees in the forest. “It has spotted its prey” Midas thought, as he loosened the grip on the medallion. Then he saw something that amazed him. Gradually, slowly, as it descended the Gargoyle took on the form of a man!

  “Wizardry..” Midas whispered. The young healer broke into a sprint heading in the direction where the Gargoyle was coming down. Dark creatures were one thing but wizardry such as that was something altogether. Something Midas could not ignore.

  Judging from the height and the direction of the Gargoyle’s descent he would reach the area where it came down in moments. He heard voices ahead and slowed to listen..

  “Beg my pardon good knight. I am a simple man. I did not mean to accost your person.”

  “A simple man? You are no man beast!” He resumed his sprint.

  By time Midas broke through the clearing the Gargoyle, now appearing to be a naked old man, and a young knight were heading away from him.

  Midas yelled, “Good knight beware! Danger is afoot! Wizardry! Dark wizardry!”

  The young knight turned to see where the warning had come from. Even as he did so the Gargoyle struck him a terrible blow with a backhand that was already transfiguring back into the furry sinews of a Gargoyle’s talon.

  The knight rolled and landed against the base of a large tree but amazingly did not drop his sword. Pushing himself up the knight clutched his double handed sword with both hands, raised it high above his right shoulder and broke into a sprint toward the Gargoyle.

  But it was too late. The beast had completed its transformation and shot into the air away from the two of them.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Next Moves

  Maverick saw Gilbo approaching the mooring from about one hundred feet away. He appeared to be walking with a stick and had a bag slung across his back. Children, some alone, some with their mothers, were following him. Every now and then he would stop and hand them something from the bag. Sometimes they would hand him something in exchange. Sometimes they would simply hug him.

  “Maverick, that’s the old guy!” Oxley said pointing, now finally able to make Gilbo’s face.

  “Come on Ox, let’s get back by The Adamante.”

  Maverick and Oxley arrived at the mooring just as Gilbo was giving away his last trinket. Finally, he took the few items he had gotten in exchange and placed them in a small pouch on his waste. He tossed the larger bag into a corner.

  Looking up he saw Maverick and then recognized Oxley.

  “You are the young man with the compass, are you not?”

  Oxley looked at Maverick and then spoke.

  “Un, hun!”

  “Is that a yes” Gilbo asked.

  “Yeah, it’s a yes said Maverick” finally cutting in.

  “And where is the young lady. I trust she is still well.” Gilbo asked mostly looking at Maverick.

  “She is well and she sent me to close the deal. Where is the buyer?”

  “Do you have the compass. Show it to me at least or I will not disturb Milan.”

  “Maverick reached into his vest pocket and showed Gilbo the compass but did not hand it to him.”

  “Ah good,” said Gilbo. “Come this way.”

  “Gilbo led Maverick and Oxley up the planking leading to the deck of The Adamante.”

  Three grizzled sailors blocked their path onto the ship and just looked at them. One chewing on a length of straw.

  “I am Gilbo. I have business with Captain Milan.”

  The three moved aside and one of them started leading them to the quarterdeck. Captain Milan was on the deck ordering some crew members to make some adjustments to the cargo in the hold.

  Gilbo, Maverick and Oxley waited patiently. Milan was a lean man. He was dressed in some kind of officer’s uniform with a black bicorne hat. When the last hand on deck left him, he turned toward Gilbo.

  “Master innkeeper, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit. Have something interesting for me?”

  “Indeed I do Captain? A weather compass!” Gilbo gestured to Maverick to hand him the compass.

  “A weather compass Gilbo? I have not seen one of those in many a moon. Does it work?”

  Maverick handed the compass to the Captain. Milan looked the compass up and down and then took several steps left and right and then forward and back. Finally, he signaled to his bosun to bring over the ship’s weather maps.

  The large, bald, black skinned bosun was built like a rhinoceros. He had a gold earring hanging from his right ear and curved sword swinging from his right hip. He looked Gilbo, Maverick and finally Oxley up and down. He smirked at Oxley and then handed Captain Milan the maps without saying a word.

  Captain Milan took the maps and laid them across the ship’s wheel. He then took the compass and laid it on the weather map turning it northeast before raising it in the air above his head. Gilbo, Maverick and Oxley just looked at each other and then looked at the Captain.

  “Well its a weather compass and it works,” he said at last handing the compass back to Maverick. “And I will pay you 200 gold pieces for it.”

  Gilbo looked at Maverick. Maverick looked at Oxley but Oxley just shrugged.

  “300 gold pieces and that is my final offer Gilbo. You know I don’t like to haggle.” Milan said at last.

  “We’ll take it!” Maverick said before Gilbo could answer, tossing the compass back to Captain Milan.

  Captain Milan nodded to his bosun who gestured for the trio to follow him to the forecastle deck. As the trio were led off Captain Milan called out to Gilbo one last time.

/>   “And Gilbo, when you have concluded your dealings with those two swabbies I would speak to you about some trinkets I wish to acquire and a room for the evening!”

  Gilbo smiled and waved, patted Maverick on his back, and continued walking.

  Heymann went directly into Morcai. It was apparent there had been some commotion at the castle since was last there but that did not concern him. Probably just another fool trying to steal from his master.

  Morcai was not at his usual desk. Instead he was in the small hall seated by the fire. He appeared to be looking at a map with small figures placed on it. He was not handling the figures or the map just sitting in a leather chair, with a glass of red wine in one hand and the map and figures on a small table in front of him. The fireplace had a small fire burning that appeared to have been newly fueled.

  Heymann stood at the entrance to the hall and waited to be acknowledged. Morcai did not look at up he just continued to stare at the map for a moment, finished the last of his wine and then spoke.

  “Captain. I am glad that you are well. To survive two encounters with two different Bane Knights is a rare feat.” Morcai gestured for the Captain to sit down.

  “Did you get my last missive?” Morcai asked.

  “I did not sire. After setting The Ferret loose and intercepting The Lady, she begged me to dispatch The Second Knight’s host that was trailing her.”

  “That much I know. And I assume by your presence that you were victorious.”

  “Eve so, my lord.”

  “And dare I inquire if The Second Knight, Horatio, is dead?”

  “Not dead my lord. It was only his lieutenant that still pursued The Lady by time we encountered him.”

  “And is his lieutenant dead? I believe that he is called Sir DavenPo. Correct?”

  “True my lord and no he is not dead. We were outnumbered and ready to sell our lives dearly when he took flight.”

  “Took flight! A Bane Knight?”

  “True my lord. As soon as he caught sight of Friar Damian and The Sons of Cain he took flight.”

  “Friar Damian? The traitor monk has accompanied The Lady into these lands? And he leads The Sons of Cain?”

  “Yes sire. Even now, the Friar and The Lady await your presence in the forest just beyond your castle.”

  “So The Lady has agreed to come to me.”

  “She has come my lord, but she has stated she will come no further. If you wish her counsel you must meet her in the woods.”

  “Even so, she is wise. Even she fears the wards of a wizard’ castle. But I will come to her Captain Heymann. But not in the forest.”

  “My lord?”

  “Tell The Lady that I would consult with her in her dreams. Tell her to expect me within a fortnight. If I have not appeared by then she is free to leave and continue her journey without me taking offense.”

  Heymann rose, placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and headed for the door.

  “Anything else, my lord.” He asked before walking out.

  “Yes Captain. I expect to hear word of The Ferret soon. After you have conveyed my message to The Lady. Reinforce your host and proceed to The Lost Men’s Camp. Things may happen very quickly after we hear of The Ferret’s work and I may need you to secure The Camp for me with all haste.”

  “Ah yes. As you command my lord.”

  Morcai refilled his wine glass and sat back in his leather chair. He took a drink and savored it for a second on his tongue and then swallowed. Then he leaned back over to the map with the figures and picked up a piece resembling a black knight and moved it to an area on the map with a icon resembling that of a tent.

  The fair was busy. People were laughing and singing and watching entertainment all throughout the castle grounds. Unlike most weekends every stall’s shutter was open and the owner’s wares were out on their open counters.

  People were talking and socializing all about the castle grounds from the courtyard out beyond the barbicon and over the moat on the open fields. But the most congested areas by far were the narrow corridors between the inner bailey and outer bailey were the market plaza was set up.

  The Ferret had arrived early and was pretending to help direct villagers and others visiting from the towns to the entertainment and food. His real purpose was to remain situated by the postern gate without attracting any unnecessary attention.

  To either side of him some nobles and scholars were playing games of chess, draughts or Nine Men’s Morris on wooden tables.

  Everything was the way he was instructed Morcai wanted it to be. Now was his time to strike. One glance around him revealed that no one had taken any special note of his person nor did anyone notice as he took the yellowish white clay out of his pocket. He had used this before. An alchemist has sold it to him for the cost of a small castle. The properties of it however were such that when exposed to air it was self igniting and very difficult to put out with water. Moreover, if the flames did not kill you then the vapors they created were just as toxic and led to life shortening illnesses that either destroyed ones liver or caused one to suffer toothaches and swelling of the gums. Over time, the jaw bone itself would begin to rot and the bones would glow a greenish-white color in the dark. It was caused ‘ghost jaw’ by those in the East. Eventually the condition damaged the brain itself and its victims were struck with madness or lunacy. Ghost jaw was extremely painful and disfiguring to its victims whose bones literally rotted away accompanied by a foul-smelling odor of garlic.

  Morcai wanted a slaughter and he would get one that these people’s grandchildren would still be talking about when they got old.

  Morcai crushed the clay packing on top of the pitch and tar he had prepared along the base of the inner and outer bailey walls three days prior before the young Hugo discovered him.

  The Ferret watched the white substance briefly to insure it had not been contaminated. Then he saw it ignite and burst into a flame. For less than twenty seconds more he watched as the flame raced along the length of the outer bailey wall almost unnoticed as it was obscured by the stalls and carts of the merchants.

  Finally, there was a scream as a glass maker’s wares exploded sending glass over dozens in the plaza. Then another scream as a dress maker was consumed in flames as all her merchandise ignited around her. More screams and The Ferret could not keep track of where they were coming from.

  Satisfied he took a small torch he had prepared and hidden under the table of the men playing board games. He lit it with flames from the fire now engulfing the table, walked to the other side of the plaza and lit the pitch and tar lining the inner bailey as well.

  With that he dropped one silver coin with a cursive ‘F’carved into it and left through the postern gate. He didn’t have to bother and try to close it as the crush of people in the plaza made it impossible for any but those right at the gate to reach it. All of the others trampled each other spreading the fire from one person to the next with their own clothing.

  ‘F’

  Lyla was still weak and tired by time Granger and Maddox finally found out where she was resting.

  Granger came into the room while Maddox stood at the door.

  “My lady, I am told you are not well?” Granger knelt beside her bed.

  “Hi Granger,” she said weakly.

  “Take this. It is a cinder leaf. I believe it will remedy your ailments. Boil it or immerse it in hot water and then drink the water.” He laid the leaf by her cot.

  “Thank you Granger.”

  “Lyla, where is Maverick.”

  “At the pier. He went to sell something we picked up the last time we were here.”

  “You mean the compass?”

  “Yes. The innkeeper in the center of the city said he had a buyer.”

  “This innkeeper, what was his name?”

  “Gilbo.”

  “Gilbo ‘The Traveler’.” Granger raised an eyebrow and looked at Maddox. Maddox simply said, “Last time I heard he was in Kings Harbor. Makes sen
se though this would be the best place to sell anything he picked up there.”

  Lyla sat up putting her back against the wall. “Is something wrong Granger? Is Maverick in danger?”

  Granger smiled. “No my lady, on the contrary. If he is dealing with Gilbo he could not effect a safer and fairer transaction in the kingdom. But Maddox and I must take our leave. Urgent news has come to us. Tell Maverick when he returns that the Third Knight sought us and we will get word to him of his desire when we know it. Now lie back down. I will have the innkeeper bring you hot water on my way out.”

  “Oh, ok…” Lyla said as she slumped back down and onto her side.

  Granger rose to leave but as he made it to the door, Lyla spoke “Granger?”

  “Yes my lady!”

  “Why do you call me ‘lady’?”

  “Why? Because Maverick loves you child. He always has.”

  With that Granger donned his hood and strode out the room. Maddox took one last glance at Lyla and followed closely behind closing the door.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Climaxes

  Kane was pleased with the information the Gargoyle had returned with. Apparently in its discussions with the knight, the knight had revealed that he was a knight of the land and on a quest for the Third Knight, Swift to locate The Ferret.

  The knight had asked the Gargoyle for the description of its attackers and whether there was anything unusual about them. The creature was just about to answer ‘No’ and inquire what Sir Ebros already knew about the assassin when the healer alerted the knight to the ruse and it had to make its escape.

  But Kane had ascertained enough to fulfill his contract with The Ferret. It would seem the Bane Knight had abandoned the pursuit for a more important quest and delegated it to the young knight. “In doing so”, thought Kane “he has also delegated his fate to that young knight.” Had the Bane Knight himself still been in pursuit Kane was prepared, even looked forward to, personally dealing with the knight himself. But this young Sir Ebros had neither the experience or skill of the Third Knight to be any threat to The Ferret’s plans. Indeed, in all likelihood The Ferret had already carried out his plans. But that was not the point. Kane knew The Ferret was more worried about getting caught afterward than being stopped.