Regulators Revealed

by Toby Neighbors

  Dex was armed and in his Marshyl armor, but he still felt nervous surrounded by the horsemen. They stared at him, not saying a word for several seconds. Dex was just about to ask what the problem was, when their leader pulled off her helmet and smiled at him.

  Chapter 5

  Princess Lauralyn’s face was sweaty and red from the helmet she wore, but her smile was wide and beautiful. Dex felt his heart skip a beat when he saw her. They hadn’t parted on the best of terms, after Dex had refused to give up his life as a Marshyl and marry the princess, but she didn’t seem to hold his decision against him.

  “Lalyn,” Dex said. “What are you doing here?”

  “This is my kingdom, where else would I be? I think all that Marshyl training has made your brain soft.”

  Dex laughed as he dropped out of his saddle and walked to meet his old friend.

  “I thought you were taking on more responsibilities at the palace,” he said. “You weren’t going to keep riding patrols.”

  “I tried it, but it wasn’t a good fit for me. Besides, my mother is young and healthy. She’ll be queen for a hundred years. By the time I need to take over I’ll be too old to ride, so until then I’ll ride as often as I want to.”

  “Same old Lalyn,” Dex said with a smile.

  The horse soldiers sat still in their saddles, silent as statues as Dex hugged their princess. She threw an arm over his shoulder and smiled.

  “I knew it was only a matter of time before you came crawling back to me,” she said.

  “I’m on a quest,” Dex said.

  “How exciting. Can you share the details?”

  “I’m pursuing a man. He’s fleeing through Northia.”

  “How far ahead of you is he?”

  “A day, maybe a day and half, I’m not sure.”

  “You look official. They gave you some stout armor.”

  “My best friend made this,” Dex said. “It’s dragon armor.”

  “Am I supposed to be impressed? You get new armor, and a big red chicken, and I’m supposed to swoon?”

  Bliss squawked at the princess.

  “That’s a phoenix. She was born from the ashes of the feathers we liberated from that sorcerer last summer outside Praymore.”

  “You, sir, lie more than a traveling minstrel. But for some reason I like you.”

  Dex laughed and didn’t bother trying to convince Lalyn that Bliss had risen from the plume of feathers they had stolen from a fat wizard near the coast of Northia. They remounted and rode side by side up the northern road through the heart of Lalyn’s kingdom. Dex told her about the attacks on the Marshyl compound, and Lauralyn shared her knowledge of two Marshyl Knights killed in her kingdom.

  “When I heard that a Marshyl was riding north I came to see if it might be you,” she said. “I haven’t heard from you in a while, and the reports we hear aren’t good.”

  “What are you hearing?”

  “That the Marshyls are growing weak. We’ve been without an Ambassador for almost a year now. My mother says your Guild will prevail, but most of what I hear is pretty bleak.”

  “That’s why I have to catch this man,” Dex said. “We have to know who he is, who trained him, and if there might possibly be more like him.”

  “But why are you riding alone? If he’s such a threat, why not send more Marshyls?”

  “Because, in this case, more isn’t better. My friend Kyp developed this armor and it’s the only thing strong enough to resist his magic. I have to face him alone.”

  “There’s safety in numbers,” she responded.

  “I’m sure we could capture him,” Dex said, but it would put all the Marshyls at risk. Better that just one well-equipped man should track him down and confront him.”

  “And if you fail?”

  “Thanks for that vote of confidence,” Dex replied.

  “I only ask because I don’t want a madman with unstoppable magical powers running loose in my kingdom.”

  “Not because you’re worried about me?”

  She shrugged but didn’t really answer the question.

  “I admit, I hoped it was you,” she finally said. “I’ve been hoping you’d come back.”

  “I can’t stay. As soon as I catch the Executioner I have to return him to the Marshyl compound.”

  “Is there any chance you’ll be assigned to Northia?”

  “I don’t think so,” Dex said, knowing he couldn’t trust himself to do the right thing if he saw Lalyn every day.

  She was pretty, even when her face was red and her hair was plastered to her head with sweat. Dex had developed strong feelings for the princess, despite her bossy nature, and while he was glad to see her, he was also afraid that he wouldn’t be able to refuse her.

  “Well, I don’t want to hinder your mission, but I didn’t ride all this way just to see your pretty face,” Lauralyn said.

  “I have a pretty face?”

  “Don’t tease me,” she said. “I need a Marshyl and I guess you’ll have to do.”

  “Your confidence is inspiring.”

  “Forgive me for not being giddy to hear that you’re just passing through,” she said, her voice taking on an edge. “It seems my kingdom is merely a stepping stone to furthering your career.”

  “I’m tracking a man who has killed several Marshyl Knights,” Dex said. “It has nothing to do with me.”

  “Fine, I hope you catch him, but first I need you to deal with a ring mage in Quelltown.”

  “That’s not my mission.”

  “But it is part of your precious mandate, is it not? Aren’t all Marshyls sworn to protect the helpless regular folk from outlaw wizards? We have one, you are here, I want it dealt with.”

  “Just because you want something doesn’t mean you can get it,” Dex said.

  “Actually, it does. I am the princess of Northia. Whatever I want, I get, sooner or later.”

  Dex couldn’t help but feel like she was talking about him. What he couldn’t understand was why she wanted him at all. They had connected during his first apprenticeship, and she had tried to convince him to leave the Marshyl Guild and help her rule Northia. For an orphan living on the streets of Rycaster, it seemed like an impossible dream to marry a princess and live a life of luxury, but his dream was to be a Marshyl Knight. It took total commitment to serve the Guild. He had made his choice, refusing Lauralyn and returning to the Marshyl compound as ordered, but the princess hadn’t yet given up on him.

  “Is it far?” Dex asked.

  “No, just a few hours’ ride,” Lalyn said. “And right off the North Road. I doubt it will slow a great warrior like you.”

  “I can do without the sarcasm,” Dex said.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I hurt your feelings? I didn’t know Marshyls had feelings.”

  “Why do you resent me so much? I’ve never done anything but help you and I’ve always treated you with respect.”

  “Spurning my offer was not respectful,” she said in a haughty tone.

  “We both have our own lives to live. I made the right choice for me.”

  “How wonderful it must be to simply do whatever you want with no thought of others. I have a kingdom to look after.”

  “You don’t think serving the entire realm as a Marshyl Knight is a noble endeavor?”

  “I sometimes wonder if the Marshyls serve anyone but themselves.”

  The words were painful to hear even though Dex knew they weren’t true. Half of him believed that Lalyn just wanted to wound him. She was still hurt, still angry that he had refused her. What she couldn’t see was that his feelings for her were deep, despite his choice. Leaving her had been the hardest thing he’d ever done, more difficult than running the gauntlet, or fighting the Lords of Ascension, or even facing his father on the battlefield outside the Marshyl compound.

  He also had to admit that perhaps she really saw the Marshyl Guild as a self-serving order. It wasn’t rare to find people who thought the Marshyls were too powerful, too
secretive, and overbearing. Most of those were not upstanding citizens, but their point of view regarding the Marshyl Guild was widespread.

  They rode in silence for nearly an hour, the only sounds were the creaking of their saddles, the clipping and clopping of their horses’ hooves, and Bliss’ cooing. The big bird hopped from the back of the saddle, to Dex’s shoulder, and onto the pommel in front of him. She was almost too large to ride with him anymore, and he had noticed that she was testing her wings more often of late.

  “You want to tell me about this mage?” Dex finally asked, as the wind began to pick up, blowing snow across the wide open plains.

  “He has taken control of the town,” Lalyn said. “They are all afraid of him. When the horse soldiers tried to deal with the situation we were warned that the mage had filled the inn with women from the village and that he would harm them if we moved against him. Word reached us that a Marshyl had come down out of the mountains and so I decided to ask for assistance.”

  “You think he’ll let me stroll into town?” Dex asked.

  “He will if he doesn’t know you’re a Marshyl.”

  “The armor kind of gives it away,” Dex said.

  “So wear a cloak. Better yet, take off the armor. A powerful warrior like yourself won’t need it.”

  “I don’t take anyone for granted,” Dex said.

  “The boy I knew was fearless. He would never let a town be destroyed just because he didn’t want to face an outlaw without armor.”

  Dex ignored the barb. He knew that was Lalyn’s way of dealing with most of the difficulties she faced. She would never back down from a challenge, never show even the slightest hint of a weakness. The weight of an entire kingdom rested on her shoulders and she pushed herself hard to ensure that she was up to the task.

  “I’ll do it, but why don’t you come with me?” Dex said. “We’ll be less conspicuous posing as a couple.”

  “Fine, but don’t get any bright ideas, Marshyl. This is about saving the town, nothing else.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Dex said, trying not to smile.

  Chapter 6

  Dex removed his body armor. The scalloped shoulder plates were too big and obviously armor, even under a thick winter cloak. He slung his dragon shield across his back, then wrapped himself in a fur-lined cloak, making sure that the handle of his sword didn’t bulge.

  Lalyn carried her rapier under a green cloak and they led their horses into the city rather than riding them. Quelltown was little more than a row of shops along the road. There were homes a short ride from the town center, and most of the shops catered to travelers. There was a small market, a tavern, a cafe, a livery barn, a few carpenter workshops, a cobbler, a tailor, and a healer’s tiny shop. The largest building in town was the inn, a two story building with a sign over the door in the shape of a great spreading oak tree.

  Most of the shops were closed, and the market was empty. Dex saw a few people staring out at them from dark windows, but none ventured out to greet the travelers. Walking with Lalyn felt strangely natural, the easiest thing in the world as if no time had passed, and at the same time oddly taboo. His attachment to the princess was something that made Dex vulnerable. If word got out that he cared for Lalyn his enemies could use her to hurt Dex or control him. He didn’t want to put her in danger, but he couldn’t change the way he felt about her. Lalyn was the most fascinating and frustrating person Dex had ever met, and he couldn’t imagine his life without her in it.

  The snow was picking up, blending together to make the world look white. Unlike the mountains, Northia was a land of vast plains. Dex could look in every direction, usually seeing for miles, but with the snow the entire world seemed to be white. There was snow on the ground, in the air, and overhead, so that the horizon disappeared and it was impossible to tell what he was seeing. They stopped at the livery, seeing to their horses and lingering in the warmth of the big barn. The wind was beginning to howl outside and Dex was thankful they would have shelter through the storm.

  “Stay here,” Dex told Bliss. “Stay quiet.”

  The phoenix squawked softly, and looked up at Dex with big, sad eyes.

  “I’ll be back for you soon,” he said, stroking the bird’s head. “Don’t worry.”

  When Dex turned away from the stall where he was leaving Titan and Bliss, Lalyn was staring at him with smirk.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You’re awfully fond of that chicken,” she said.

  “She’s not a chicken, I told you that. Phoenixes are powerful birds and very loyal, you’ll see.”

  “I doubt you’ll be around long enough for me to see much of anything.”

  “Don’t start that again,” Dex argued. “We have a mage to confront, remember.”

  “I’m ready,” Lalyn said.

  “What are the odds that someone will recognize you?”

  “Better than half I’d say, but the outlaw won’t.”

  “Good enough,” Dex said, leading the way back out into the cold.

  He flipped his hood up and stayed close to the buildings. One arm was thrown around Lalyn and they hurried toward the inn, bursting through the door and slamming it shut as soon as they were inside. The common room was quiet, and Dex shook the snow from his cloak as he turned to look around. They were in a long rectangular room, with simple tables and long benches set next to the walls. The middle of the room was empty, but Dex could tell there used to be tables there as well. A man sat near the fire that burned in a huge, stone hearth at the far end of the room. Three women sat nearby, and none looked happy. They were young, the man was much older, with gray stubble on his sagging cheeks, and a round belly that hung in a lump over his belt.

  “It’s getting rough out there,” Dex said. “Thank heaven for this place.”

  “I hate to break it to you, friend, but the inn’s all full up,” the man at the far end of the room said. “Plenty of food and wine, why don’t you and your woman join us?”

  “Are you the innkeeper?” Dex said, walking toward the fireplace with Lalyn right behind him.

  “It’s my place, but I don’t work it,” the man said with a grin. “Homer sees to that. He’s in the kitchen roasting a succulent lamb. Gwen will fetch us some more wine, won’t you lass? There’s a good girl. And more goblets for our guests.”

  Dex stood close to the fire, warming himself and trying not to stare at the man’s hands. He had seen the ring from across the room, but hadn’t been able to identify it yet.

  “Where are you two from,” the man asked. “You look a bit young to be out all alone.”

  “We’re from Rycaster,” Dex said. “Envoys come to buy horses. We weren’t expecting this weather though.”

  “I’m Enid, welcome to the Shady Rest Inn. Does your friend talk?”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Enid,” Lalyn said. “I’m Nora.”

  “And I’m Dex. It’s too bad the inn is full. Perhaps we can sleep down here, by the fire.”

  “I’m sure we can come to an arrangement,” the mage said, shifting forward a little to get a better look at Lalyn. It was obvious that he was staring at her. The arrogant outlaw didn’t even try to conceal his lust.

  Dex finally caught sight of the ring and recognized it as a bronze ring with a ruby stone. The last thing they needed was to get into a duel with the mage and burn the inn to the ground. Dex looked around the room, trying to find a way in which he might subdue the mage without the women being held on either side of the outlaw getting harmed.

  “I have blankets and some pipe tobacco in our belongings back at the livery,” Dex said. “If you wouldn’t mind helping me bring them inside I’ll be happy to share with you, Enid.”

  “Sorry lad, I can’t do it. Bad back and whatnot. But you run along, I’ll keep an eye on your partner.”

  “And who’ll keep an eye on you,” Lalyn said angrily as she pulled her rapier. “Let those women go and take that ring off, right now! I swear I’ll skewer y
ou to the wall, outlaw.”

  “She’s a feisty one, I’ll give you that,” Enid said with a chuckle.

  Dex threw back his cloak and shrugged his shield off his back. He grabbed hold of the round edge with his right hand while his left arm slid through the loop and took hold of the leather-wrapped handle just in time. The ring mage thrust his hand toward Lalyn and muttered a curse that sent fire spewing from the ruby straight at the princess.

  Dex stepped beside Lalyn and lifted the shield up. The fire rebounded from the metal and billowed up toward the thick rafters supporting the second floor of the inn. He snatched his sword free of its scabbard and cast a quick spell.

  “Gravish!” he shouted.

  The summoning spell wasn’t strong enough to contain the fiery blast, but it pulled it down from the dry timber just long enough for the flames to go out. The outlaw pulled the women on either side of him close, shielding himself with their bodies.

  “Make another move,” he screamed, his voice taking on a maniacal tone, “just one move, and I’ll kill them both. I’ve got over twenty women in this inn, and I won’t hesitate to bring the whole building down.”

  “Coward!” Lalyn said.

  “Let’s just calm down a little,” Dex said. “No one needs to get hurt.”

  “Get the hell out of here!” Enid snarled.

  Dex felt the spell, not supernaturally but he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up, and he whirled around just in time to see a wooden stool come hurtling toward them. He raised the shield again, but the physical force of the impact knocked him backward a step.

  Enid jumped to his feet, casting a spell that swept Lalyn’s legs out from under her. As Dex turned, the outlaw was thrusting his ring out and casting red light from the ruby straight toward Dex. He dove out of the way and the killing spell flew past him. As Dex raised his sword, he could sense the magic inside the deadly weapon. He cast the elvish ending spell with a mental command, and the elf tears forged inside the elegant blade responded to his will instantly.