“I want to see your goods,” the Menegar said. Resa translated that as well.
Bevy led him below decks and showed them the thirty or so barrels of spices.
“Open this barrel,” the Menegar said, pointing to a barrel in the middle of the hold.
The barrel was labeled tarragon. Resa told Bevy he wanted the barrel opened. Bevy motioned to a crewman who followed them down in the hold and he opened the top of the barrel. Minced green leaves filled the barrel. Suddenly the Menegar threw the barrel on its side and the tarragon spilled out. When the barrel was empty the Menegar grunted.
“I need a barrel of saffron for closer inspection,” he said.
Resa told Bevy and she had her crewman pull out a barrel of saffron. The Menegar motioned to his guard and the guard picked up the barrel and they began walking out of the hold.
“Where are you going with my saffron?” Bevy yelled.
“Are you sure you want me to translate that? I think that is their bribe for not killing us all.”
“Damn Menegar filth. I hate them. Fine, let the thieving bastards go. Good riddance.”
The Menegar went back on his ship with the barrel of saffron, and the sailors aboard Lydia cast off the grappling hooks. The Menegar ship sailed away. They didn’t run into any other trouble and they docked at Jabari City later that day.
Bevy met with the search party before they disembarked.
“We have enough spices to trade for a couple of weeks. After that we won’t have an excuse to dock and we will have to wait out at sea for you. If it comes to that, there is a point east of the city called Shark Lookout. There is a natural harbor there and we will anchor there during the afternoons. We will look there daily for you. If you don’t come in four weeks, we will sail for Xi En and wait there another month. After that we will be short on supplies and will have to sail back without you. I am not sure if they will send another ship or have a Xi En ship take you home. Either way, I wish you all luck. We will keep our ears open for word of Winn. Check with us and we will put up a red flag as a signal if we have word of him. The Almighty bless you and your search. Good luck.”
The search party departed from the ship and headed for a tavern called The Goose. That was where their spy was supposed to meet them. As they walked down the streets filled with Menegar, they noticed they weren’t the only humans there. There weren’t many others, but they were scattered here and there. It was enough that it made their presence acceptable.
They found The Goose and entered. They sat at a table and a Menegar barmaid came to ask them what they wanted to drink. Resa asked if they had any LaVoran wine and the barmaid said they had tons of it. Resa ordered some for the table and asked what they had to eat. The barmaid said they had some caribou and shark. Resa ordered the caribou. The wine and food came, and they ate and drank. The caribou wasn’t good, but by Menegar standards, it was great. They waited for an hour after they finished, and Svae was about to give the order to leave when a Xi En came in and sat down with them.
“I can’t be here long,” the man said in Xi En. “I have information about the man you are interested in. Really everyone does. They have announced to the populace that your man is to be exhibited in the coliseum tomorrow night. He is supposed to bow to the King and fight other humans to show his loyalty to Menegar.”
Resa shook her head. Xi En too? They are lucky I am a language expert. She relayed what the spy said to Svae, and Svae thanked the spy and he left.
“I can’t believe it was that easy to find him,” said Ferris.
“Just because we know where he is going to be doesn’t mean we will be able to get to him,” Svae said. “A coliseum full of people and the guard contingent for the King means it will be almost impossible to get to him. We will go as spectators and at least see him and if an opportunity arises, we will take advantage.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Vant said.
Resa frowned. Not a good one.
They left The Goose and went to look for a hotel that catered to tourists, if there was such a thing in Jabari City. They stopped and had Resa ask for directions several times. A few times all she got were insults, but a few Menegar were nice enough to tell them where to go. Or at least Resa thought that for a while, but they were headed toward a seedier side of town. They conferred and decided to head back toward the harbor, but they got turned around and eventually ended up down a one-way road. When they turned to retrace their steps, four tough looking Menegar stepped out onto the street and barred their way.
“Money or die,” the one in front said.
“They are trying to rob us, what do you want me to tell them?” Resa asked.
“We can’t give up our money, and this spot is secluded, so we kill them!” Svae yelled as she pulled her sword.
The party, except for Resa, attacked the Menegar. It was a tough fight. The element of surprise worked in their favor and the Menegar were killed. The only injury was to Peders, who had a nasty cut on his arm.
“Let’s get out of here fast,” Svae said.
They finally reached the harbor and asked the harbor master where to go. He pointed them to the city center where most of the hotels were. The harbor master actually pointed them in the right direction, and they reached the district where the hotels were located. They enquired about rooms in over half of them before they found one that would rent them some. The price was outrageous but Svae paid it. They got four rooms. Two for the men, one for Resa, and one for Svae and Alana. Resa was glad for the privacy and as soon as she got in the room, she looked in the mirror and breathed a sigh of relief. She took a wrapper out of her bag and took out a leaf and rubbed it on her face. She put the leaf back and examined her scar and decided not to touch it. She crawled into the bed and tried to fall asleep. Tomorrow was a big day and she fretted about it all night.
The next day they met in the hotel’s restaurant for breakfast. Pig heart and oxen brain were on the menu. They all passed. They went out into the city and explored some more. They found the spice market, but Bevy had not raised the red flag, so they kept on going. They walked over to the coliseum and purchased admission for the night’s events in advance. There was a line they had to wait in to make the purchase. They walked around some more that afternoon and checked out the Midnight Palace and a parade of armed soldiers marching through the streets.
The evening came, and they found something edible to eat at a restaurant close to the hotel. They headed over to the coliseum before the event started and found seats close to the exit with a good view. They waited anxiously for Winn to appear.
Chapter 12: Identity Revealed
August 10, 850 A.A.
The horde of Menegar had left Farheim a shattered remnant of a berg and had headed into the mountains in search of Aggenburg. King Arkyn was of several minds about that. He thought it was the most foolish move an invading force had ever made. It was late summer now but in two months the trails would be impassable in the mountains. Aggenburg was almost impossible to find. Some of his own people had gone in search of it, with maps that pinpointed its location, and had not found it. How could this invading horde ever hope to find it?
What haunted Arkyn was the possibility of the invaders having a spy. Someone that could lead them to Aggenburg. Would Aggenburg hold with 5,000 soldiers defending her against 38,000? Aggenburg had never fallen but she had never endured such a test before. Should he chase after the horde? Assuming he could find them what would he do when he caught them? If he could talk the Avish to go traipsing off into the mountains with him, he would have 22,000 troops. He couldn’t battle them force on force, he would have to harass them and slow them down, if he found them. If he didn’t get stuck up there in the winter. No, he had reached the same conclusion a thousand times. He had to wait here for the horde. He had to trust that they wouldn’t find Aggenburg. He had to be prepared for the possibility that they would come down out of the mountains before they got stuck in them.
He addressed his troops, in
forming them what the Menegar were doing, and what his reaction was going to be.
“Men,” he yelled in his loudest voice out of the fourth story balcony of Elisia Palace before his assembled army. “The Menegar horde has bypassed us for the moment and moved north. It looks like they are trying to find Aggenburg since they are headed into the Skag Mountains. I faced a pained decision, should we follow them into the mountains and defend Aggenburg, or should we stay here, and hope that their search for Aggenburg is in vain. After much deliberation I have concluded that Aggenburg, if found by the Menegar, must stand on her own. The survival of the nation depends on the successful defense of Trellheim. However, if anyone disagrees with me, and wants to rush headlong into the mountains to Aggenburg, risking that the Menegar will follow them to that secret last reserve for our people, then you may go, but I will not send guard or guide with you. You must go on your own.”
None of the men made a move.
“Thank you for standing by me and my decision,” Arkyn said after a moment. “It is a hard decision, but the right one for Skal. A cheer for victory!”
The men erupted in a loud cheer. Arkyn breathed a sigh of relief. He felt like he had to offer the men a choice to go defend their loved ones, but he sorely needed every last one of them to defend Trellheim.
A few weeks later Arkyn was at breakfast going over a dozen different scenarios in his head when Torvee came in the breakfast room.
“Uncle Arkyn I am going to go into town today if it is Ok. Of course, I will bring Arvil with me.”
“OK,” Arkyn said absentmindedly.
Torvee picked up on his distance.
“Are you alright uncle?”
“Yes Torvee, I am fine. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Like the Menegar? Don’t worry, they won’t find Aggenburg.”
“I hope you are right, Torvee.”
“Uncle, do you miss Aunt Astrid?”
“Very much, and I worry for her safety, and your mother’s.”
“I hope the Menegar freeze to death in the mountains.”
“I hope so too. I hope desperately to avoid a fight, though I know one is coming. It is better that it is delayed. The longer they take to engage us, the more supplies they use, and the weaker they become. Delay can be the best option, Torvee.”
“It’s just that we are in limbo uncle. I want things to go back to the way they were.”
“Torvee things will never be the same. Your hall is most likely destroyed. Every major city in this country except this one is wiped out. It will take two lifetimes to rebuild what we have lost. No, things will never be the same.”
“I have you, Aunt Astrid, Aunt Thora, Tiga, and I hope beyond all things I still have Winn. That is all I need. My family.”
“Let us pray we are all kept safe through this ordeal. I think of your cousin daily and ask the Almighty for his safe return.”
“What about our supplies? How long can we last?”
“As you know we will always have water. We have pigs, cows, chickens, and grain enough to last nine months. We will last until mid-spring.”
Torvee asked no more questions and she and Arkyn ate the remainder of their breakfast in silence. Arkyn excused himself after he was finished eating and left Torvee to finish by herself. As Torvee was leaving, Tiga ran by her in the hall.
“Excuse me I am late,” Tiga said.
“Late for what at this early hour,” Torvee called after her, but to no reply.
Torvee shook her head wondering what mischief Tiga was up to. She supposed she would find out at dinner that evening. She was already dressed for town, in an understated gown and carrying a parasol against the warm August sun. She went out to the guard house and asked for Arvil. He appeared in an instant wearing his full military kit.
“Arvil, we are just going into town, I don’t think the Menegar will attack us inside the city walls,” Torvee said.
“My lady, you can’t be too prepared,” Arvil said.
“Arvil, you would kill a fly with a hammer.”
“My lady if it offended you and a hammer was the only implement I had, I would kill a fly with a hammer.”
“That was sort of a mixture of sweet and overkill Arvil, but I appreciate that it was your best effort.”
Arvil didn’t reply.
“I desire to go to the merchant district in town Arvil. I would like to walk because it isn’t too hot yet. Don’t walk in front of me like a lug either, you will block my view. Walk beside me or behind me.”
“Yes, my lady. I shall walk beside you.”
“A joy, I am sure.”
Torvee and Arvil walked out of the palace gates into the city proper. They walked along a park until they entered the financial district. The few remaining city dwellers gave them a wide berth as they passed through the financial district and into the food merchant area. The smells there were a mix of appealing and horrid. Torvee started coughing and from somewhere in his armor Arvil came up with a handkerchief and offered it to her. She thanked him and used it to shield her nose until they passed through the food merchants and the front gates to the inner wall and turned west toward the merchant district. Torvee breathed a sigh of relief once the smell was gone and gave the handkerchief back to Arvil and thanked him. He took it, nodded to her, and put it back to where he had hidden it before. Torvee went into a shop to look around. Arvil made like he was going to follow her.
“Arvil, you don’t have to follow me in the shops. I am sure I will be safe. Stay at the entrance and keep any ruffians from following me in.”
“My lady, I don’t like it, but I will do as you ask. Just promise me you won’t slip out the back.”
“I promise,” Torvee said, crossing her fingers behind her.
She went in the first shop, a perfumery, and delighted in smelling all the different fragrances. After a moment, when Arvil wasn’t looking, she slipped out the back. She ran straight passed the front gates and back to the food merchant area. She was faking her discomfort at the smells of the food district before. She thought the smells were delightful. She circled around the financial district and headed for the wharf, where they had goods that had just sailed in from the river. Once she got to the wharf, she looked at bolts of rich fabrics, jewels of great beauty and value, and smelled the wonderful spices. There were carvings of great historical figures and the gods, one of Vanya caught her eye because it looked exactly like Princess Sarah, the bitch that stole Winn from her. She kept herself from destroying the carving of Vanya and moved on to the paintings that were on display. One was a depiction of Winn. She couldn’t believe her cousin was so famous. It was supposed to be of him at the battle of Tolevo Rise. He sat on a horse with a female officer beside him, holding a spyglass in one hand, with his arm extended toward the battlefield, and he had the other hand on his forehead blocking out the sun. She looked at the artist’s signature and it said, ‘Jaunty Chen’. That can’t be the same Jaunty that lived back in Barristan with Winn!
Suddenly she was brought out of her musings by screams coming from the financial district. She turned and looked, and to her horror there were twenty monsters running down the street toward the wharf. She froze in place and started screaming. She knew one of the monsters, who must be Menegar, was about to kill her. They were bearing down on Torvee and one looked her in the eyes and pulled a sword. The monster reared back to launch a deadly swing when Arvil ran in from the side and swung a mighty blow, cutting the monster’s head off.
“Get behind me,” Arvil yelled at Torvee. She complied as two Menegar attacked Arvil. He fought bravely, swinging his sword to block every attack and launch powerful counter attacks. He killed the two with blows to the chest and neck. Another came upon him and struck a mighty blow on Arvil’s chest. Arvil withstood it and brought his two-handed claymore down upon the Menegar’s head and killed his third enemy.
Three Menegar came against him and he valiantly fought them, but with no help. As he blocked a blow to the neck the other two s
truck him in the head at the same time, denting his helm so severely that Torvee feared that he was dead. Just as Arvil fell and the Menegar were advancing on Torvee, a company from the Avish army came. Torvee was flooded with relief as at least fifty men, and one that looked very feminine, cut down the Menegar. Sexton Reed reached Torvee and they leaned down to Arvil and took his helm off.
“Siggy!” Torvee gasped as she glanced down upon Arvil with his helm off for the first time. Torvee recognized him from his red hair and the freckles on his forehead. “Is he OK?”
“He has a bloody head wound but it looks like it is not bleeding profusely. He needs a healer to look him over.” Reed looked around. “Sergeant Jensen come here!” Jensen approached. “Take one of your squadrons and take Jarl Bonde and Lady Tiga to the palace.”
“Yes Sir,” Jensen replied.
Siggy is a Jarl? I knew his father was Jarl when I was little, but he had an older brother and sister. He was a sweet boy but was fat and so insecure, not like the hale and hardy man that just saved my life. I wonder when he took the name Arvil. When he wakes up, I shall ask him.
Some of the squadron members picked up Arvil and the rest surrounded Torvee and Arvil and they started toward the palace. Screams and cries for help surrounded them as they went. Torvee noticed, despite still being incredibly frightened, that the feminine looking soldier was right beside her. She tried not to stare but rather looked around for more Menegar. She screamed because she saw five coming right toward their group. The men holding Arvil set him down gently and the fourteen-man squadron braced for an attack. The Menegar fell upon them and though the squadron had the numbers it turned out to be a close fight. Each of the Menegar managed to kill one of the squad members and it took two or three of the Avish to match a Menegar and take one down, except for the feminine soldier. Her swordsmanship was amazing to watch. Tiga watched as she killed two of the Menegar she faced with her sword a blur in the fighting. Finally, only one Menegar was left standing, and the feminine soldier struck him in the heart, and he dropped instantly.
Trials of a Champion Page 14
