Faith and Fury

by Tiger Hebert

  An old drunkard pissed on a nearby lamp post. The concentrated smell filled the air. Just across the street a dirty woman toked on something that looked like a cigar, but it had a very different smell—one Vacinne hadn’t come across before. Her eyes were all over the place, witnessing all sorts of filth and hard living. Renlar’s hand grabbed her right arm and pulled her his way.

  “What the—” barked Vacinne, before realizing she’d only just missed stepping in a heaping pile of refuse, man’s or beast’s, one couldn’t be too sure.

  “Ugh, this place is disgusting. Braegen’s Hold was just a few miles back, yet it seems like a world away.”

  “Aye,” said Renlar with a nod. “You think this is bad, you’re really going to hate where I’m taking you next, but it’s the surest place to find Draece.”

  “Who is Draece?”

  “An old friend.”

  With that Renlar said nothing else as he led the Rift Warden through the slum town of Trader’s Haven. Past smoke shops and ale houses they traveled. Filthy children played and drunkards fought and courtesans returned home after a long night’s work. All of them went about their business as normal on this bright and sunny morning, as if there were no other way to live. Then, at the heart of it all, Renlar led Vacinne to the Frisky Whistle. Vacinne didn’t know it, but this house of ill repute was quite infamous among certain circles.

  The ragged and rickety wooden building was one of the largest in all of Trader’s Haven. It stood three stories, and the first floor stood a good four feet up from street level. Wide stone steps led up to the massive double doors at the front of the establishment. The towering building had lots of windows, most of which were open, and would no doubt provide quite a chorus of human activity were it even just a bit later in the day.

  “Renlar, you can’t be serious,” said Vacinne.

  “If I know Draece, this is where he’ll be, and he is the only person here that I’d take information from.”

  “Who is this friend of yours?” she asked.

  “Draece is a Nathrene, not common in these parts. They’re unlike anything you’ve ever seen. He’s a bounty hunter that I’ve known for a long, long time.”

  “So you trust him,” she added.

  “Eh, no, I didn’t say that. I’ve known him too long to trust him, but he’s known me long enough that he won’t try anything stupid,” said Renlar, before sweeping his arm forward, gesturing for her to go up the steps before him.

  She took the lead and made her way up the steps with him right behind her. She pulled the large door open and stepped inside in the dimly lit interior of the brothel. The smell sucker punched her. The scent of piss, ale, and sex filled the air. She coughed and fought the urge to gag.

  After her reflex calmed and her eyes adjusted to the scene before her, she realized she really wanted to gag now. To their left was a large wooden bar. The barkeep cleaned the surface. Two patrons sat perfectly balanced atop their respective stools, despite being completely passed out face down on the bar top. The barkeep casually cleaned around them, entirely unconcerned at their state. A third fellow with scant little clothing apart from some brightly colored undergarments and an over-sized captain’s hat sat near them. He was quite awake and chatting the poor barkeep’s ear off.

  Her eyes scanned the rest of the establishment. To the left side of the room, directly opposite the bar, were the restrooms. She wasn’t sure what purpose they served though, as it smelled like the whole place was one big bed pan. Then the room opened up into a large space in a rectangular room beyond the bar. The raised stage was a horseshoe shape coming to two separate points. Scattered across the oddly shaped stage was a number of women, five to be precise, of various ages and levels of decency. One of them wore some type of costume full of brightly colored feathers, another looked like she might be only wearing an overcoat, two others wore what Vacinne would hesitate to even call under garments, and the fifth one—a full figured blond with a tangled rat’s nest of hair, lay there passed out, snoring loudly, with her rump in the air and not a stitch of clothing covering any of it.

  “Renlar, I realize that we come from two different worlds, but I can’t help but think that you’ve dragged me in here for other reasons. With the bounty I’m set to pay you, I’m certain you will be able to afford all the female entertainment that you should desire, but please, spare me the indecency,” Vacinne groaned as she averted her eyes.

  When he didn’t respond, Vacinne looked up and saw that he’d left her side. Renlar strode confidently to the darkened right corner of the large room. She began to follow him. She could see Renlar making his way toward a dark figure seated at a table in the back corner of the room.

  “He really was coming here to meet someone,” she admitted.

  Vacinne made her way over. As she drew closer, she realized that Renlar was right. This fellow, who she assumed was Draece, was indeed unlike anyone she’d ever seen before. She’d heard of Nathrenes, but this was a first for her. As she got within a few paces of the stranger, his details came into full view.

  The quite possibly naked man wore naught but a white towel around his waist. His indigo skin was stunning. The candlelight seemed to vanish into its darkness. His hairless body was very lean from top to bottom. Apart from his wildly different skin tone, she realized he looked very human to her virgin eyes.

  “My eyes are up here darlin’, unless you fancy a game of you show me yours an’ I show you mine,” said the man.

  His words broke her from her gaze, and her eyes shot upward to meet the uneasy gaze of the Nathrene’s silver eyes and his mischievous smirk. His face was very human, save for the raised ridges of skin, Koluii they were called, that raced back from his cheeks to his ears. He bore four Koluii on either side of his face, and one large raised ridge upon his otherwise smooth pate. That ridge was no Koluii though. The ridge that ran from his forehead all the way to the back of his skull was actually a natural extension of the male Nathrene’s skull, and it protruded from their scalp.

  Following her gaze, the blue-skinned man licked his right index and middle fingers and ran them across the ridge at the center of his scalp in a suggestive and mocking manner. Vacinne’s face flushed with embarrassment before she turned her eyes away.

  The Nathrene laughed heartily at her awkwardness and discomfort.

  “Draece, this is my employer Ms. LeDroux. Vacinne, this is... the insufferable Draece, scourge and pox to ladies civilized and otherwise across Durghast,” said Renlar.

  “Jealousy never looked good on you, Black Blade,” said Draece with a frown.

  Renlar quipped, “I’ve been many things in this life, but jealous of you has never been one of them, Skully.”

  Draece turned his almost predatory gaze back upon Vacinne. “How do you put up with this boring old man? You are far too young, and full of... potential.”

  As the words slipped from his mouth, Draece was already rising from his seated position toward Vacinne. He stood only to find the dangerous touch of Renlar’s sword against the blue skin of his abdomen.

  Vacinne hadn’t even seen Renlar draw the blade.

  Renlar warned, “Not this one, Skully.”

  Vacinne tried to hide her surprise, but she found her right hand had already made its way to her left hip, her fingers clutching at the leather wrapped grip of her sword.

  Draece’s hands were up and he took a step backward. “Eh! You really need to lighten up, my friend, but I can see that you are not in the best of humors. So why in the Nine Hells have you come to bother me.”

  Vacinne glowered at Draece. “A vorthor demon came through the Esboralis tunnel, and it came this way.”

  Draece’s silver eyes grew wide. “You let a damned proliferator demon escape? You’re losing your touch, Blackie.”

  Renlar’s voice cut sharply, “Draece, have you seen the demon or Sutara pass through here this week?”

  Draece’s eyes shifted from Renlar to Vacinne, then back.

  Renlar pres
sed, “Draece, this is no time for games.”

  The indigo man spat into the tin on his table. Then he turned toward Renlar and scowled. “Why should I help you? You don’t work with us anymore. You haven’t in a long time. What’s in it for me?”

  Renlar’s blade inched up and down, caressing the flesh near Draece’s navel. “There was a time when you wouldn’t have hesitated. You’d have given me the information because it was the right thing to do, so we could kill the demon and keep people safe, but now you’re asking how it can profit you?”

  Draece sneered, “Everyone’s got to make a living. Not everyone’s got it as easy as you, Blackie.”

  Renlar snapped, “Stop acting like you’ve been cheated in this life. No one has forced you into this miserable life of yours, where you are pissing away everything you’ve ever earned on whores, gambling, and red thorn. You’ve got enough skills and abilities to provide for a small village, but you’re lazy and you don’t give a damn about anyone but yourself.”

  Renlar sheathed his sword in anger and turned away. “This was a waste of time.”

  Draece’s eyes narrowed and his words carried venom, “At least I didn’t get anyone I loved killed.”

  Renlar spun on him. The right cross should have been expected, but it happened in a blink. The punch hit Draece right in the mouth. Draece staggered backward into his table and chair, before falling backward over them. The Nathrene crashed to the floor. The table toppled over. The spit tin slid off the table and plopped right onto his chest, spilling all its black contents on his indigo skin.

  Vacinne just stood and stared as the Nathrene’s silver eyes flared with rage. She watched as his anger surged and he thought to get up, then in perhaps a life-saving change-of-heart, he thought better of it. Renlar turned and strode past her with haste. Vacinne kept her eyes on Draece as she slowly backed away several paces. Then, when she was sure that he was no threat, she turned and made for Renlar and the exit.

  Draece screamed, “She’ll burn you alive before you even get to Drenamere, you bastard!”

  Renlar threw the brothel door open, and the bright light of day streamed into the wretched place, nearly blinding Vacinne. The door swung wide, then bounced back and slammed closed, and Renlar was gone from her sight. Vacinne blinked as she tried to rid her vision of the white spots, while she hurried after her hired hand. She pushed the heavy door open and made her way down the stone steps and looked about before she saw Renlar pacing back and forth in the alley to her left.

  Before she could speak, he said, “I’m sorry to have dragged you in there. It’s no place for a lady.”

  Vacinne walked to Renlar and placed a hand on his shoulder. He stopped pacing and looked over his shoulder at her. His eyes burned with a fire she hadn’t seen before.

  “Renny, so he wasn’t able to help us. We’re going to find that damned demon, and we will return its blackened soul to the Nine Hells one way or another,” said Vacinne.

  He looked at her and he nodded, but the fire burned in his eyes.

  “Do you want to t—”

  “Nope,” he snapped. “She’s here. Let’s find her.”

  Vacinne’s face showed her confusion. “What? How do you know that?”

  “Draece told us,” said Renlar as he scanned his surroundings, then waved for Vacinne to hurry up and follow.

  Vacinne said, “Ugh, I remember you pulling a sword on him—no let me correct myself—I never actually saw you draw your sword, but I distinctly remember you putting the blade against his skin. I also remember you nearly knocking his head off, but I definitely do not recall him ever helping us or telling us where Sutara is.”

  Renlar was already making his way down the alley. He turned back toward her till he was walking backward, away from her.

  He smiled. “He said she’d burn me alive before Drenamere. This is all that’s before Drenamere. Sutara might be misguided and even crazy, but she’s not stupid enough to be hiding on the open road. If she’s not in Drenamere already, then she’s right here.”

  Vacinne hurried to catch up. “But where is she?”

  Renlar wagged his finger in the air. “She spent years underground in caves and sewers. It was her way of staying off the streets. It kept her as safe as one could hope given the circumstances, but she hated it. If I know her, she will be camping out in one of these tall buildings. One with the least distractions.”

  Words flew from his mouth as his excitement grew. “There are four other buildings of this size, two on the east side, this one here, and two more on the western side.”

  “Well, how would we know where to start?” asked Vacinne.

  “Being on the streets for much of her life, Sutara picked up some nasty habits. I tried to help her get off the drugs, but that is one old friend that refuses to be forgotten. The western side of the town is where most of the dealers are because that side is the furthest from the mountain and it gets the most hours of sunlight each day. It’s better for their crops.”

  “Then you’re going the wrong way,” said Vacinne as she pointed west and gestured with her head.

  “Oh, right you are. She’s not known for her patience though. We must make haste,” and before the words left his lips, Renlar was charging down the west facing alley.

  “God, can she please be dead before we get there?” asked Vacinne before running after him.

  15

  Burning Rage

  RENLAR AND VACINNE flew through the narrow alleyways as they covered the short distance from the town’s center to the twin towers on the western side. One was a bell tower while the other looked like a decrepit tenement building.

  “It’s gotta be that one,” said Renlar as he slowed long enough for them to catch their breath. He pointed to the rundown tenement building.

  “What, you don’t think she’s lounging in the top of a bell tower?” remarked Vacinne snidely.

  Renlar grunted his response, before pointing for Vacinne to duck down a side alley.

  “Sutara will be on high alert. We have to make sure that she doesn’t get the drop on us. She’ll bolt, or worse, cook us alive,” warned Renlar.

  “What do you suggest?”

  Renlar pointed, as if Vacinne could see through walls and said, “If I remember correctly, on the other side of this building there are some high-walled alleys that should get us really close. If we make a mad dash from the alleyways, we could make it to the building before she notices.”

  “Okay, the whole time we’ve been focusing on her though, what about the vorthor?”

  Renlar’s green eyes met hers. “I don’t think Sutara was on this mission just to slow us down. I think that she was hand-picked to help deliver the demon in optimal condition.”

  Vacinne’s face twisted. She clearly didn’t understand.

  Renlar took the cue. “All demons are different. As you know, vorthor demons are proliferators, they can spawn hundreds of eggs in a single night. However, it takes a lot out of them.”

  “What’s that got to do with her?” asked Vacinne.

  “Fire helps them recharge.”

  His words carried incredible weight. Vacinne’s comprehension of their dilemma had shifted. They were in trouble.

  “And that demon has been with her for the last two days,” said Vacinne.

  Renlar grabbed her hand and squeezed. “We will find your missing Warden, but we must stop Sutara and the vorthor, and we must stop them now.”

  Vacinne nodded. “I’ve got your back.”

  Renlar nodded, then he began to run. Vacinne was hot on his heels. They went around that building and found the narrow alley that he’d mentioned. It indeed had high walls. Sutara would never see them coming. The alleyway bent off to the right, then sharply turned back to the left. Then the walls stopped. Suddenly Renlar and Vacinne were in the open street a good two blocks from the tower. They were completely exposed.

  Vacinne snapped, “You remembered wrong!”

  “No s—”

  His
words were drowned out by the roar of the fireball that flew toward them. Before they could blink, the fiery orb smashed into the stone cobbles where they were just seconds before. Fire covered the ground in a large area several feet wide.

  Whoosh!

  Another fireball was flung from the now wide-open window on the tower’s third floor. Vacinne didn’t see Sutara. She was focused on dodging certain death. She veered right. The fireball slammed into the ground with a thunderous jolt. Flames licked at her back, but just barely missed the trailing edge of her blue cape.

  Whoosh!

  The third fireball that was hurled down upon them plummeted at a sharper angle. One that would surely cut off their path. Vacinne heard Renlar’s voice rise above the roar and his hands flew into action. The wind around them roared like an approaching storm. The accompanying gusts of wind nearly knocked her off her feet as they surged forward. The gale winds buffeted the assault and threw the fireball back at the tower where Sutara launched her assault from.

  The ball of flame slammed into the second floor of the mostly wooden structure. It wouldn’t be long before those rickety old timbers were aflame. If they intended to capture her, they would have to move with lightning speed. Even as they drew within a dozen paces of the structure, flames devoured the wood with unnatural hunger.

  Renlar shouted, “Next one is yours.”

  Vacinne already knew, though. She drew upon her power. Golden yellow light began to coalesce around them. The wicked cackle of a mad woman echoed out from the tower above. Sutara unleashed another fireball. The massive orb shot straight down and slammed into the protective shield of energy that Vacinne summoned. The yellow barrier held strong. Fire engulfed the outside of the magical shield that surrounded the two of them. Renlar and Vacinne were closing in on the front door of the tower as the front of the building exploded.

  Shards of shattered wood and busted stone rained outward as the vorthor demon burst through the entry way. The shattered door was thrown toward them. It slammed into their shield, falling away into broken pieces. The vorthor demon roared as it charged into the street on its powerful arms. The fire faded and the debris fell away all around them. The demon stopped dead in its tracks when its eyes saw Renlar. The demon yelped, turned north, and bolted away. Renlar and Vacinne went to give chase as the fifth fireball slammed down right between them and the demon. Vacinne’s protective barrier still held for the moment. They were shielded from the impact, but the roaring flames upon the street cut off their pursuit.