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DDDDD ZZZZZZ //
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D D AAAA RRR GGGG OOOO NN N Z I NN N EEEE ||
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D D A A R R G O O N N N Z I N N N E || Volume 5
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-=========================================================+<OOOOOOOOO>|)
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D D AAAA RRR G GG O O N N N Z I N N N E || Issue 4
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DDDDD A A R R GGGG OOOO N NN ZZZZZZ I N NN EEEE ||
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\\
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\
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-- DargonZine Volume 5, Issue 4 10/15/92 Cir 1130 --
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-- Archives at FTP.EFF.ORG (192.88.144.4) in pub/journals/DargonZine --
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-- Contents --
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Pact VI Max Khaytsus Yuli 17-19, 1014
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Beginnings Max Khaytsus and
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Michelle Brothers Mertz - Sy 5, 1015
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1 Pact
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part 6
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by Max Khaytsus
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(b.c.k.a. <khaytsus@ALUMNI.CS.COLORADO.EDU>)
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"Sergeant, sergeant!" a female voice echoed down the corridors of
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the catacombs beneath Dargon Keep.
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Aimee, looking around the maze she was in, turned and bolted. Did
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someone see her? What happened? She ran into the first dark doorway
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she saw and hid in the corner of the room.
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"Sergeant!" The female guard ran past Aimee's room without
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slowing down.
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Aimee made herself as small as she could, hoping the woman would
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not come back and find her. Long moments passed with Aimee not moving
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from her hiding place, not even daring to breathe, then she heard more
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footsteps as people ran back down the corridor.
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"Are you sure?" she heard the Sergeant's voice.
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"Sure seemed like he was. And just like Elizabeth said, too,"
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Altura answered. "I didn't wait around to see. Arellano is still there
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in case something happens."
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"You best go get the physician, then," the sergeant answered.
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Through the doorway to the room she was hiding in, Aimee saw the
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female guard hurry towards the stairs leading out of the dungeon. The
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sergeant's heavy footsteps could be heard heading in the other
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direction. As soon as all was quiet, Aimee snuck up to the open
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doorway and looked into the corridor. She desperately wanted to leave
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the dungeon, thinking Altura would leave open the door into the castle
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hallways, but instead, impulsively, turned the other way, heading in
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the wrong direction, wanting to see what had happened that Elizabeth
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had to be called.
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Keeping as quiet as she could, Aimee carefully snuck down the
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corridor after Sergeant Guralnik, towards the room where Captain
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Koren's body lay resting.
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Dyann Taishent angrily slung a handful of mud into a clay jar on
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the table before him. The vessel shifted away from him, making the
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cooks in the kitchen turn and look.
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"Careful, careful," Corambis tutted. "You know what will happen
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if Madam Sepagary sees you treat her dishes that way."
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"I'll seal her mouth shut with clay if she so much as thinks of
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opening it!" Dyann snapped.
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Thuna, watching the two men work and helping them when they
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needed something, let out a laugh.
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"What is it, girl?" Corambis asked. His assistant had been
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unusually quiet all morning, after the failure the night before.
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"I'm sorry, sir, but I can just imagine Madam Sepagary serving
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the Duke with her mouth full of clay."
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Corambis and Dyann both chuckled at that, but the mage's laugh
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quickly disappeared, replaced by a grim expression.
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"Don't worry, we'll find her," Corambis assured him. "This has
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never failed before."
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"Last time we did this, it blew the top off old Sweeny's tower!"
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"That was his own fault," Corambis said. "Anyone who keeps so
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much dung around and plays with fire is asking for it to happen."
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A laugh escaped Dyann's lips. "Oh, that expression on his face!"
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Corambis also laughed. "But then the other spell never failed
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either," he added thoughtfully.
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"I've been thinking about that," the mage admitted.
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"And are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Corambis asked.
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Dyann nodded. "That would explain the mutt's new habits...let's
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take a look before we start blowing doors off hinges."
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"Well, at least one door," Corambis said. "Thuna, repack the ash
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and the spirits of hart's horn. We'll be back soon."
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Long before Aimee could get her courage up to enter the room
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where the guards were, she heard hurried footsteps in the corridor
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behind her and darted into the room across from the one she was
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looking in. From across the corridor, she could still hear the guards
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talking quietly in the second room, now overshadowed by the
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approaching footsteps and female voices.
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"...Lieutenant Taishent both know, but I want to be sure first,"
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the physician said.
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"He didn't say anything," Altura answered, "but we really didn't
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wait. Sergeant Guralnik bid me to find you immediately."
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Aimee watched the two women enter the room and disappear inside.
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She waited for a while, then not seeing anyone exit, snuck into the
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room to see what was happening.
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"...healed over pretty well," the physician commented, "but I
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don't want you going anywhere. A few more days of rest will have you
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solidly on your feet."
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Aimee carefully snuck up to the doorway and peeked in. The guards
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were once again gathered around the Captain's bed.
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"There will be a scar," the physician went on, "but I can give
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you some salve to clear that up. It won't disappear, though. That was
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a pretty big gash."
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"A soldier isn't a soldier without scars, doctor," Sergeant
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Guralnik said.
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"Well, I don't know about you or the Captain here," Elizabeth
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said, "but I know most women prefer men whole." She looked down again.
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"It's really up to you. I'm just offering you what I think to be a
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good solution."
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Who was she talking to? Aimee edged forward a little more, her
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curiosity getting the better of her.
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"Why am I in the catacombs?" a weak, but deep voice sounded. It
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was the voice of Captain Adrunian Koren!
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Aimee gasped, realizing as she did so that she had given her
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presence away. The four guards and the physician turned towards her
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and between them she spotted Captain Koren's face, eyes open, looking
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at her.
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Aimee took a step back, tripping over something at her feet and
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falling over backwards. A loud yip sounded as she fell to the floor.
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"I tell you that door has been closed for over a year!" the keep
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castellan declared, hands on his hips. "The Duke ordered it locked
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ever since that thief broke into the vault!"
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"Open that door now, you tub of lard, or I'll give you a hex free
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of charge!" Dyann demanded of the large man.
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"`Tub o' lard'? You old windbag! I'll show you a tub of lard!"
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The castellan stepped forward, pushing the old mage back with his huge
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stomach.
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"Castellan," Corambis pushed the two arguing men apart.
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"Castellan, if you don't open this door for us, we'll take it by force
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and then instead of replacing the key on your belt, you'll be
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replacing the door on its hinges. Do what will be right for all of
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us."
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The castellan grumbled.
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"Please," Corambis insisted. "We just need to look around. We'll
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be quick."
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Karl darted out of the way with a yelp as Aimee fell over him and
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quickly scrambled up to her feet.
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The six people in the other room stared at the girl with
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astonishment. None of them expected her to be here and for a moment,
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no one knew what to do. The girl quickly scrambled up and disappeared
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from site.
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"After her!" Guralnik was the first to recover and the three
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younger guards charged out of the room, after the girl they knew to be
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lost. Her seeing Captain Koren mattered in that no one was to know he
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was alive and she could ruin the entire plan of eliminating crime from
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Dargon.
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"What is going on?" Koren groaned, trying to sit up.
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"Don't exert yourself, Captain," Elizabeth forced him to lay back
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down.
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"Sir, there's been a lot that happened in the last month..."
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"The war? How's the war?"
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"Dargon is safe, Sir. We ran them all off! The Duke even chased
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them."
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For a moment Koren smiled. "And the Southern Marches? The eastern
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boarder?"
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"Captain, you need to rest!" Elizabeth cut in, stopping Guralnik
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from revealing the bad news.
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"Perhaps it would be better if one of your own men briefed you,
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or perhaps Lieutenant Taishent," the sergeant caught on.
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Koren nodded. "Did Darklen make it?"
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"Yes, Sir."
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"And Azin? Shevlin? Milnor?"
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"Lieutenant Milnor is all right, Sir," Guralnik said, "Lieutenant
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Azin is with the Duke's forces...Lieutenant Shevlin..." He glanced at
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the physician, but went on. "Lieutenant Shevlin held the West Gate to
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the last man. I'm sorry, Sir. He didn't live to see us drive the enemy
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away."
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Koren nodded with a sigh, his expression grim. "And Lansing
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Bartol?"
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"He's well."
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"Have Kalen come see me if you refuse to let me get up," Koren
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told Elizabeth.
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"I'll pass on the message," the physician said, not having the
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intention of saying anything to the lieutenant for at least a few
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days. "Send for me if you need anything."
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"Before you go," Koren added, preventing Elizabeth from leaving,
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"tell me why that girl was being chased."
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The castellan fumbled with his keys until finding the right one
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and inserted it in the lock. "Just to show you no one ever goes here,"
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he complained, twisting the key in the door. "Why, even I haven't set
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foot in here since winter and the only other key's in the Duke's
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study. Look!"
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The door swung open to reveal a corridor lit with torches,
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alternating on the opposing walls. The dust was disturbed with a well
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defined trail.
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"No one, eh?" Dyann snapped. "I knew that mutt kept coming here
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for a reason!"
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The castellan angrily removed a torch from its sconce and hurried
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down the corridor. "We'll just see who's been here!"
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Aimee ran down the lit corridor as quickly as she could manage,
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with Karl right on her heels, jumping and barking loudly. Behind them
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Aimee could hear the running feet of the guards. She did not even
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think to run into one of the dark rooms or side tunnels. Not only
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could she get lost there, but Karl's insistent barking would only help
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the guards find her faster. She did not know what she would do upon
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reaching the heavy oak door, or if it would even be open, but she
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could always kick and scream and maybe someone on the other side would
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hear her and tell her father.
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Aimee breathlessly scrambled up the stairs, almost tripping over
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Karl. She could hear the guards not far behind her. She darted out of
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the corridor, now running after the puppy, looking for a place to
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hide. As she turned the corner, she spotted three men, her
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grandfather, one of his friends and the castle castellan. All three
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stood astonished, looking at her.
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"Grandfather!" she wheezed, breathless from her run and dashed to
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hide behind him. Right on her heels the three guards turned the
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corner.
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The old mage held his granddaughter behind him and took a
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confident step forward. "What do you want from my granddaughter?" His
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words boomed in the corridor.
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"You know," Ilona said to Captain Koren, "you and Kalen are
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equally pig headed! Like you came from the same mold!" Their wait for
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the others to arrive was taking longer than either of the two expected
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and Ilona decided to use this as an opportunity to take care of some
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unfinished business.
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The guard captain laughed. "How so, Lieutenant?"
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"Kalen was injured in the war," she told him, "and now he doesn't
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want to take the time to let that damn wound heal!"
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Koren laughed. "I remember just over ten years ago bandits set up
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camp four or five leagues south of town and were exerting a road toll
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from caravans and travellers. Kalen was just a rookie then. Captain
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Tamar Armstrong was the head of the guard -- it was a few years before
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he went to serve as a general in the King's army -- and he sent me and
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some men, including Kalen, to break that band up..."
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The Captain fell silent as Elizabeth walked into the room,
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followed by Kalen and Jerid. "Didn't I tell you to stay in bed?" she
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demanded.
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"I've stayed in that bed for a month!" Koren snapped. "Wounds
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heal better when they know they need to heal."
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"I'll have a sleeping potion mixed in with your food next time
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you eat," the physician threatened.
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"Kalen," Koren ignored the physician, "have you ever told Ilona
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of your first great adventure?"
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"When I was two?" Kalen looked a bit shocked that the Captain
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would remember a story told at a party where everyone had a little too
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much to drink. He fought back a slight flush that covered his face.
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"No, in the guard!"
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"I haven't, Sir," he wiped his brow with his sleeve.
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"Well, do and get those wounds tended to."
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"Wounds?" Elizabeth turned to Kalen.
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"Don't you touch me," he warned her.
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"Did you two get everything straightened out?" Koren asked Jerid.
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"We did, Sir," he said. "Aimee found the door open, wandered in
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and got locked in here. I should have thought to check the catacombs.
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That is just like her."
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Koren chuckled. "I can understand her fright when she saw me not
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moving. I'd have run, too, if I were her age."
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"All's well that ends well," Jerid said. "Next time, I hope,
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she'll be smarter than going where she shouldn't be. That scare was so
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bad for her, I won't even punish her for being irresponsible...even
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though I should."
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"Good," Koren approved. "Now, about Liriss."
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Everyone pulled up a chair and sat down around the Captain, ready
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to plan.
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"Jerid, I want you to extend your patrols to the docks. I don't
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want a single ship to leave before we're finished."
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"You can be sure of that, Sir," the castle Lieutenant answered.
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"You, Ilona," Koren went on, "I want you to secure the market
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place when Kalen takes Liriss' hold. That way we'll cut off the best
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way out of town."
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"Sir, if I may, I'd rather be there as it happens. With your
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permission, I'd like to have Caisy do that job."
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Koren thoughtfully twisted his mustache. "Let's get back to that
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in a moment. Kalen, I want that building surrounded and broken into.
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Use all the force you can. This is an excuse to kill criminals without
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having to answer for it. Anyone who doesn't yield when told doesn't
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get a second chance, clear?"
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"Yes, Sir."
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"And since Kesrin is willing to turn evidence, try to take him
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alive, but if that doesn't happen, I won't be too concerned.
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"Elizabeth, I'll need to rely on you to doctor my people. We
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simply don't have the manpower to do everything. I'll need my medics
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in the raid itself. I want you and what physicians and healers you can
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scrounge up to be ready and close by. Stay with the patrols and
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they'll bring you in when it's time."
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Kalen looked at Elizabeth, expecting her to protest the plan, but
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she did not say a word. In a way, Kalen hoped that he could avoid a
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mass slaughter and he knew that in an ideal situation, his captain
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would have wanted the same, but he also realized how understaffed they
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were and how important it was to end the criminal reign over the city.
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Perhaps Elizabeth knew it as well and held her tongue for that reason
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alone.
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"Now," Koren turned back to Ilona, who waited for his decision.
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He had no doubts that she was among the best officers he ever had, but
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he needed to hear her reasons and push her a little, to see if she was
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willing to push back. "Ilona, any reasons?"
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Ilona did not answer for a few moments, putting her thoughts
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together. "Captain, I'm a Dargon town guard," she said. "I want to be
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there because that's my job. That's what I signed on to do. I'm here
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to protect, not be protected. Isn't it enough you barred me from
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fighting in the war?"
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"Your efforts were important where they were applied," he said.
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"Elizabeth tells me you were invaluable."
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"But you put me in the keep so that I wouldn't be hurt in the
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fighting!"
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Koren smiled. "Yes, I did. It was both for you and Kalen. One of
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you worried was enough. I couldn't afford to have both of your
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performances affected."
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"Then overlook that I'm a woman this time," Ilona asked.
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Koren shifted in his bed. "I understand you're on the take with
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Liriss?"
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"Of course," the Lieutenant smiled back. "He's been sending me
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jewelry." A few of the gathered laughed.
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"Kalen, how injured are you?" the Captain asked his second in
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command, ignoring the laughter.
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"I'm fine, Sir."
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"Fine like me?"
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Kalen did not answer.
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"I want you to take charge of the market square," Koren decided.
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"Ilona will lead the raid. And after you're done, I want you to see
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Elizabeth. I may be as stubborn as a mule when it comes to my own
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health, but I'm smart enough not to risk my best people needlessly."
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Ilona waited patiently until all of the twenty people in the
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raiding party gathered in the alley. They had surprised two brigands
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here and took them prisoner with minimal resistance. Now they lay on
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the ground, tied, waiting until the raid was completed, to be
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transported to the guard house. It would be a great success if the
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rest of the raid went as smoothly.
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Looking around in the darkening alley, Ilona wondered if she
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should wait until it was completely dark, but not wanting to waste too
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much time. Each minute she and the guards were here was a risk that
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they would be noticed from inside the building. The sergeants slowly
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gathered around her, waiting for instructions.
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"Caisy," Ilona turned to the man next to her, "first floor,
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straight through. Hold the rear stairs and the exits. Tess," she
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turned to the tall red-headed sergeant that could put fear into most
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men she fought. "Second floor. No risks. As soon as you're done, back
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Caisy."
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"Yes, Ma'am."
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"Garay, Streed and DaVrice, you're with me. Go easy on Kesrin,
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but bring everyone in. The third floor is the only place I prefer
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prisoners to bodies. Everyone clear?"
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All the guards nodded.
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Ilona signaled for Caisy to begin and two of the Sergeant's men
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quickly broke down the door. Caisy led his small group in, followed by
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Tess' larger unit.
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"Go," Ilona nodded to the three guards remaining with her. They
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went in and, drawing her sword, Ilona followed.
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The building was dark inside, not yet lit to accommodate the the
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setting of the sun. The first floor corridor was mostly empty,
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although sounds of a fight could be heard from further down, where it
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took a turn. Caisy and his men secured a good half of the building's
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first floor and were now working at the other end of the corridor.
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Ahead of Ilona, her team's heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs.
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Not wanting to let opportunity slip by, Ilona quickly followed them up
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the stairs. As she passed the murky second floor, she heard someone
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yell "archer", but there were already plenty of people on this floor
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to take care of the problem and she had a job to do one floor up.
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Hoping that the alarm would be taken care of by the men assigned
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to the floor, Ilona continued up the stairs.
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The instant the outside door cracked and swung open, Caisy
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followed his men into the building. They both paused to fight the two
|
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brigand guards at the door and he ran past them, towards the stairs.
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The flood of men that followed through the doorway carried the fight
|
|
after him and the two brigands were quickly overpowered and thrown
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behind the stairs.
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Caisy himself ran deeper into the building, looking for other
|
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inhabitants. At the stairs he found another man, wearing studded
|
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leather decorated with metal, a sailor's cap and a wild glean in his
|
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eyes. "Yield!" Caisy ordered. Wearing the dark blue tunic of the town
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guard he did not feel the need to declare himself.
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|
Instead of surrendering, the brigand drew his sword and leapt
|
|
over the banister. Caisy backed up, blocking the first strike with his
|
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sword. The man's attack was so determined that he quickly found
|
|
himself on the defensive. Two more blocks and a parry later had him
|
|
five yards further down the hallway.
|
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"Damn you!" he swung his blade across the corridor, making the
|
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man pause his advance to avoid getting hit. Behind him Caisy could
|
|
hear a battle cry and someone's rushing feet. He decided to risk
|
|
facing the new opponent, hoping that his own men, now moving up the
|
|
corridor, would take care of the crazed brigand from the stairs.
|
|
He turned, bending down, swinging his sword at knee level. It
|
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impacted with the new opponent, changing the war cry to a yell of
|
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pain. Instead of attacking, the brigand simply collapsed over Caisy.
|
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"The door!" Caisy indicated to the other alley doorway to the two
|
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guards that caught up to him.
|
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Another armed man rushed at them from the back stairs. The
|
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corridor was not wide enough for the three men to fight together.
|
|
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Tess followed her men up the stairs, knowing full well that at
|
|
least three or four of her people were still in the entry corridor,
|
|
helping Caisy's men. This was a large reduction in strength, but it
|
|
was a necessary loss. No part of the building they had been in could
|
|
be left unsecured.
|
|
She made it to the top of the stairs to find her men already
|
|
engaged in combat. With a quick and precise thrust of her sword, Tess
|
|
cut deep in the side of one of Liriss' henchmen and proceeded on
|
|
without stopping. The second floor corridor was clear, but there were
|
|
plenty of rooms to worry about.
|
|
Tess opened the first door she came to and stepped inside. She
|
|
ducked under the fist of the man who met her and quickly pulled the
|
|
door shut, catching the thug in between it and the frame. As he
|
|
screamed, she hit him with the flat of her blade and shoved him back
|
|
in to the room.
|
|
Two other men rushed at her, but only one at a time could fight
|
|
successfully through the doorway. Tess met the first one with her
|
|
sword as her own men rushed down the corridor behind her. She blocked
|
|
the first swing of the sword with hers, then followed through and cut
|
|
deep into his shoulder.
|
|
"Yield!"
|
|
He did. His companion also tossed his sword down, having seen
|
|
what had happened to his friends.
|
|
"Get out here," Tess ordered, stepping back.
|
|
The three men came out into the corridor.
|
|
"Face down, on the floor!"
|
|
A yell made everyone look up as a half dozen men charged down the
|
|
corridor, holding a bench sideways, knocking everyone over, sweeping
|
|
them backwards off their feet. The bench slammed into the three men
|
|
Tess challenged, then into her. She lost her sword as she slammed into
|
|
the wall and the next thing she knew, she had a set of hands around
|
|
her throat and a heavy body on top of hers.
|
|
"You son of a bitch!" she yelled at the man and grabbing hold of
|
|
his shoulders, slammed him sideways into the wall. The man's head
|
|
impacted the fine grain wall with a crack. It took three full thrusts
|
|
to get him to let go of her neck and by that time she was covered with
|
|
his blood, dripping down on her from the injuries to his skull. Tess
|
|
shoved the unconscious body off her and got up, only to see the man
|
|
she wounded earlier holding her sword.
|
|
"Poetic, isn't it?" he turned the blade, wet with blood.
|
|
"Not for you," Tess drew her long dagger, preparing for an
|
|
unbalanced fight.
|
|
"Archer!" someone further down the corridor yelled and as if on
|
|
cue, the brigand with her sword fell over, an arrow shaft in his back.
|
|
Tess also dropped down, hoping it was only one archer and that he
|
|
did not have many arrows. She could see pretty far down the corridor,
|
|
but not far enough to distinguish what was going on at the other end.
|
|
As she looked, she again heard a rush of running feet and rolled out
|
|
of the way, towards the wall, as the men with the bench charged in the
|
|
other direction. There were only four of them now and with her dagger,
|
|
Tess managed to put a deep cut in the leg of the man on her side. He
|
|
stumbled, ham strung, and fell forward, pulling the bench down with
|
|
him. The bench end ground against the wall and the whole column of men
|
|
went tumbling down.
|
|
Tess quickly grabbed her sword off the floor and got up, only to
|
|
have another arrow whiz by her ear. That made her back up, carefully
|
|
looking down the corridor where her men were fighting in small groups.
|
|
Three of the men that carried the bench got up off the floor, two of
|
|
them drawing their swords and the third bent down to get his off the
|
|
floor. As she prepared for fighting two men, one of them staggered
|
|
forward and fell, with an arrow in his back. His companion spun around
|
|
to see what was happening, giving Tess a perfect opportunity for a
|
|
strike. She did not let it go to waste.
|
|
|
|
Having heard someone yell "archer", Caisy rushed up the back
|
|
stairs, leaving his men to secure the first floor. Two of them were
|
|
wounded, one unable to continue to fight, but the battle there was
|
|
almost over.
|
|
On the landing, Caisy stopped just short of being hit by a sword.
|
|
He was at a great disadvantage, having to fight a man towering half
|
|
his height over him, but that was the luck of the draw and the
|
|
disadvantage of being lower down on the stairs.
|
|
Yells of combat could be heard both above and below as he blocked
|
|
the vicious swings of the blade of the man on the landing. One hard
|
|
blow forced Caisy to fall back three steps, but as his attacker
|
|
followed him down, Caisy lunged at his feet, making the man lose his
|
|
balance and tumble down over him.
|
|
The way was clear and deciding to let the five guards downstairs
|
|
deal with the swordsman, Caisy rushed up to the landing and up the
|
|
second flight of stairs. In the growing darkness of the second floor,
|
|
Caisy could see men fighting down the corridor and an archer in the
|
|
foreground, letting an arrow lose from his long bow.
|
|
The man was dressed in a light tunic reaching down to his knees
|
|
and had no sword.
|
|
"Put it down!" Caisy ordered as the archer drew another arrow,
|
|
but instead of complying, the man tried to catch the arrow's notch on
|
|
the string of the bow.
|
|
Caisy swung his sword, not wanting to become the archer's new
|
|
target, but the man was barely at the tip of the sword's reach. The
|
|
weapon hit the bow, shearing through the narrowest part of the weapon
|
|
and breaking the string, making the shattered bow snap out with a loud
|
|
crack. The archer screamed in pain as the broken string cut through
|
|
the flesh of his unprotected forearm and the bow twisted in his hand
|
|
like a writhing snake. The arrow, barely caught on the torn string,
|
|
jumped off the bow and stuck in the wall not far away from Caisy.
|
|
|
|
Ilona made her way up the stairs on the heels of Sergeant Streed.
|
|
An unconscious guard already lay at the top of the landing. The first
|
|
set of doors on each side of the corridor was open. Sounds of crashing
|
|
furniture could be heard from the door on the left side.
|
|
"Help him," Ilona pointed Streed to the room, not sure if Garay
|
|
or DaVrice was in there.
|
|
As Streed disappeared in the room, Ilona made her way down the
|
|
corridor to the end of the building overlooking the market place. The
|
|
central room on the far wall was suspected of being Liriss'
|
|
headquarters and pausing only long enough to ready her sword, Ilona
|
|
burst in through the door. The first room was empty. It was richly
|
|
decorated with rugs and pieces of art. On one wall stood a luxurious
|
|
sofa with soft pillows scattered at its base. Across from it stood a
|
|
large cabinet displaying bottles of liquor and spirits.
|
|
Not wanting to waste the time exploring the room, Ilona rushed to
|
|
the next door and burst through into an office with a large window
|
|
showing the last of the setting sun's light over the town wall a half
|
|
league away. At the desk in the center of the room sat Liriss, facing
|
|
Ilona, full of surprise. It took Ilona a moment to notice the young
|
|
woman who had brought her Liriss' message a few days prior, standing
|
|
in the shadows at the wall to her left.
|
|
"What is this?" Liriss asked, surprise evident in his voice.
|
|
"It's a raid, rat."
|
|
"You can't do this!" he got up, then calming himself, added, "you
|
|
have to believe what I told you three days ago. I'm not responsible
|
|
for Koren's death!"
|
|
"What about two kidnappings?"
|
|
"What kidnappings?!"
|
|
"Do you know what the sad thing is?" Ilona asked. "I actually
|
|
believe that for the first time in your miserable life you're telling
|
|
the truth. You usually gloat over your victories, but ever since the
|
|
war started, you've been running like a scared rat. You're free to go,
|
|
assuming you can get out of this building. If not, that's your luck."
|
|
Ilona paused, thinking about the young woman. Should she be
|
|
arrested or let go? "You..." It would make more sense to let her go.
|
|
That way there would be no witnesses to her releasing Liriss, to make
|
|
a bargain to be set free.
|
|
"You have to let her go!" Liriss hurried to say. "I'll turn
|
|
myself in if I must, but you have to let her go!"
|
|
"Who is she?" Ilona asked.
|
|
"Please!"
|
|
Ilona knew that she had little time herself. "Go, both of you,
|
|
but next time you won't get off this easily!"
|
|
Without waiting for Liriss to respond, Ilona rushed out of the
|
|
room, knowing full well that her people would be looking for her. In
|
|
the long hallway she found Garay guarding two men and a woman.
|
|
"Lieutenant, are you all right?" he hurried to ask.
|
|
"Fine. What's happening?"
|
|
"The first floor is secured and the second is being cleaned up.
|
|
Sergeant Caisy sent three men to give us a hand here."
|
|
One of the doors slammed open and one of the guardsmen shoved a
|
|
beat up man out. Ilona hurried to finish the sweep of the floor.
|
|
|
|
Captain Adrunian Koren sat in bed in his second floor castle
|
|
room, twisting his mustache, watching Kalen pace before him. The news
|
|
from yesterday's raid was both good and bad. Four guards dead, a dozen
|
|
wounded, three of them badly enough that they would be off duty for as
|
|
long as a month, but that was nothing to compare to what had happened
|
|
to Liriss' men.
|
|
"The whole corridor," Kalen repeated himself. "It wasn't like
|
|
this even in the invasion... Wall to wall blood. The men said that
|
|
before I got there, you couldn't put a foot down without being ankle
|
|
deep in blood..."
|
|
"How many?" Koren asked, his voice a mere whisper.
|
|
"It's hard to say. You had to see it... We took thirty-three
|
|
alive, about half were whores who refused to fight. Half a dozen were
|
|
barely children.
|
|
"The men pretty much fought with all they had. I understand some
|
|
went after our people with furniture or whatever they could lift. One
|
|
man attacked Caisy swinging part of a dead body..."
|
|
Koren shook his head. "How sad we've come to this..."
|
|
"I'd guess there were two or three dozen dead total," Kalen went
|
|
on. "We took them by complete surprise. There was no way they could
|
|
mass an organized defense."
|
|
"I wish I could give everyone some time off to get over this,"
|
|
Koren said, "but getting over our own losses will be hard enough. I
|
|
can't afford to let anyone take time off now."
|
|
Kalen nodded.
|
|
"And Liriss?"
|
|
"I'm sorry, Sir. It was my fault. We could have arrested him for
|
|
trying to bribe me."
|
|
"Kesrin, not Liriss," Koren reminded the Lieutenant. "He
|
|
protected himself well."
|
|
"Either way," Kalen answered. "I should have arrested him for
|
|
what has been happening."
|
|
"You told me you didn't think he was responsible," Koren said
|
|
thoughtfully.
|
|
"Not after his meetings with Ilona, but he's still guilty of a
|
|
lot that happened before this."
|
|
"But that's the..." there was a knock on the door "...thing. Come
|
|
in," Koren shifted in bed. "If we could prove it without overstepping
|
|
our bounds, this wouldn't be a problem."
|
|
The door opened and Ilona Milnor came in.
|
|
"I just feel guilty that he would charge on that horse right past
|
|
me and I couldn't lift a finger. Wouldn't." Kalen glanced at Ilona. "I
|
|
should've been smart enough to have a few men with horses."
|
|
Ilona looked down, avoiding his eyes.
|
|
"What's done is done," Koren said. "He's not our only problem.
|
|
Kesrin's with him because we made a deal and one's as good as the
|
|
other. Hopefully this will put them out of business for a few months
|
|
at least."
|
|
"Do you really believe that?" Kalen asked.
|
|
"No," the Captain sighed. "If not them, someone else will come.
|
|
It never stops."
|
|
"Kesrin gave us a statement before we let him go at noon," Ilona
|
|
injected. "What he claims happened was Ovink found out about Liriss'
|
|
attempts to bribe Kalen and ordered your death, Sir. He wanted to
|
|
start a war between us and Liriss and lay low until we won. Then he
|
|
would set up his own shop..."
|
|
"His one error was that he underestimated Kesrin," Koren said,
|
|
"but that's the way things go in a nest of wasps. I don't suppose it
|
|
will take Liriss and Kesrin too long to rebuild."
|
|
"Especially considering the number of men that escaped," Ilona
|
|
added. "Tess said they were jumping out of windows, afraid they'd get
|
|
killed whether they surrendered or not."
|
|
"They'll need time to get over the scare," Koren said
|
|
confidently, "and to lick their wounds. And we need time to take care
|
|
of ours. But we'll be ready next time and you'll have horses, right
|
|
Kalen?"
|
|
Lieutenant Kalen Darklen smiled. "Yes, Sir, I will."
|
|
"Well, then," Koren turned to Ilona. "What did you come here
|
|
for?"
|
|
"To ask you how you were and if you needed anything."
|
|
"I feel like a tired old bull that needs to get back on his
|
|
feet!" Koren's voice boomed. "Keep that guard house in shape! I'll be
|
|
coming home soon."
|
|
"And Tara, Sir?"
|
|
"Better than I understand she was. I saw her this morning. She's
|
|
been through quite a scare."
|
|
"If you don't mind, Sir, I'll ask her to stay with me until
|
|
Elizabeth lets you go."
|
|
"That will be fine, Lieutenant. And thank you."
|
|
"My pleasure, Sir. One more thing..?"
|
|
"What is it?"
|
|
"About replacements for Lieutenants Shevlin and Azin. I was
|
|
wondering if I could give you a recommendation." Ilona glanced
|
|
cautiously at Kalen as she said that and he nodded his approval.
|
|
"Who did you have in mind?" the Captain asked.
|
|
"Sergeant Caisy. He did a fine job handling the extra shift over
|
|
the last month. And Tess, if Azin decides to stay with the Duke. If
|
|
anyone, it was she who made last night a success."
|
|
"Tess? The Lederian? She studied with Lord Morion, didn't she?"
|
|
"Yes, Sir. The whole town knows that by now."
|
|
"Get me their service records and we'll take a look," Koren
|
|
agreed.
|
|
"I best go, Sir," Kalen said. "My shift starts soon."
|
|
"Go, nothing. You need to see Elizabeth," Koren ordered. "Don't
|
|
think I've forgotten. Have Tess do your job today. We'll see how she
|
|
does."
|
|
"Yes, Sir," Kalen sighed.
|
|
"And you make sure he gets there," Koren told Ilona. "Dismissed."
|
|
"You let him escape, didn't you?" Kalen asked Ilona once they
|
|
left the Captain's room.
|
|
"You mean Liriss?" she asked.
|
|
"Yes, Liriss."
|
|
"Yes. Are you angry?"
|
|
Kalen put his arm around Ilona. "No. I don't think he was guilty
|
|
either, but he still needs to be punished for his past."
|
|
"We'll get him," Ilona said confidently.
|
|
"We will," Kalen agreed.
|
|
"You know that woman I told you about, the one who delivered the
|
|
message to me in the guard house?"
|
|
"Uh-huh."
|
|
"I saw her again in Liriss' office when I let him go," Ilona
|
|
said. "While I contemplated whether or not to let her go, he offered
|
|
himself for her!"
|
|
"Liriss?" Kalen asked in disbelief.
|
|
"Liriss."
|
|
"I wonder who she is..."
|
|
"So do I," Ilona said. "You didn't see her in the market square,
|
|
did you? She wore a light colored skirt and a green tunic."
|
|
"I may have...I wasn't really watching for unarmed women at the
|
|
time."
|
|
Ilona sighed. "I hope we find out some day. It struck me that she
|
|
was very important to him."
|
|
They soon reached the physician's quarters and Kalen hesitantly
|
|
knocked on the door.
|
|
"Don't look so intense," Ilona mocked him. "It won't hurt a bit."
|
|
|
|
The market square was once again busy, oblivious to the raid that
|
|
took place there the night before. Shoppers rushed about from booth to
|
|
booth, haggling for the best deals. Shop keepers waved their arms and
|
|
yelled, expressing the quality of the products and the unbeatable
|
|
price they had to offer.
|
|
"And you can let this lay around for months," the merchant
|
|
explained to Dyann as he paid out the money. "It will be good at least
|
|
through Deber."
|
|
"I'm not buying it to let it lie around," the mage said. "When I
|
|
buy food, it's to eat it."
|
|
"After you buy it, do with it what you will," the merchant
|
|
snapped and turned to the next customer, no longer having to worry
|
|
about making the sale. The mage sighed and walked across the crowded
|
|
street to Corambis' booth where Madam Labin was still telling him how
|
|
appreciative she was of his services.
|
|
"And thank you again, Sage," she said yet again. Dyann heard that
|
|
exact phrase before he left to buy the pickled sweet meats he was not
|
|
supposed to eat.
|
|
"My pleasure," Cormabis answered with what appeared to be an
|
|
exasperated smile and a forced pleasant voice.
|
|
"And don't forget that I need to see you again in a few days. No
|
|
later than the end of the month, so you be sure to have your assistant
|
|
stop by my house and remind me."
|
|
"Of course, Madam," Corambis' smile did not fade as he spoke.
|
|
"Well, actually you'd better have her drop by tomorrow," the
|
|
woman went on. "My maid made this wonderful new cake that I'd like you
|
|
to see. It tastes just heavenly, but it's..." she looked around "...a
|
|
Beinison recipe and I'm just not sure if that's good or bad." She
|
|
crossed herself. "I'm sorry Cephas. So you must tell me before I try
|
|
it again, with the war on and everything."
|
|
"I'll have Thuna stop by tomorrow," Corambis promised.
|
|
"Thank you again, Sage," Madam Labin repeated.
|
|
"I'm always glad to help out," he released a deep breath.
|
|
"And I also want you do a reading for my sister. She will be
|
|
going to Asbridge early next month and you must help her plan for the
|
|
weather. I hear the rains are due to be stronger this year than last
|
|
and I want her to be ready. She just doesn't believe me when I tell
|
|
her!"
|
|
"Of course. Just have her stop by and I'll be more than happy to
|
|
help."
|
|
"That's just so kind of you," Madam Labin went on. "You know, I
|
|
was told that..."
|
|
"Excuse me," Dyann rushed up to them. "We need to talk. Would you
|
|
please excuse us, Madam?"
|
|
"Well, if you need..." Madam Labin began, but Dyann had already
|
|
pulled Corambis aside. "Well, how rude!" she exclaimed.
|
|
"I'll kill that woman," Corambis confined in his friend. "I
|
|
swear, she'll not last long if she continues to visit me."
|
|
Dyann laughed. "That's why I don't sell my advice."
|
|
"Did you hear about the raid?" Corambis asked.
|
|
"Every word of it, from Jerid. Just look at that empty building
|
|
now. I hope they tear it down!"
|
|
Corambis looked north to the old three story structure. "If they
|
|
don't, we can. Get Sweeny and Arbogast and some others..."
|
|
"We're all in our sixties," Dyann reminded Corambis.
|
|
"Well, yes, but..."
|
|
"I wanted to talk to you about Adrunian Koren," Dyann said.
|
|
"Yes," Corambis' eyes lit up. "I told you that casting didn't
|
|
lie!"
|
|
"Which still leaves us with a problem," Dyann pointed out. "If
|
|
the casting was right, what's going to happen to Lord Dargon?"
|
|
Corambis scratched his head. "I wish I knew what that damn
|
|
casting meant..."
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
1 Beginnings
|
|
by Michelle Brothers
|
|
and Max Khaytsus
|
|
(b.c.k.a. <khaytsus@ALUMNI.CS.COLORADO.EDU>)
|
|
|
|
Mertz, 1015
|
|
|
|
Pristine sails rose stark and white against the sullen sky,
|
|
flapping slightly in a salt encrusted breeze. Dull sunlight raised
|
|
bright patches on the ship's worn wooden railing. Nicks and cuts
|
|
caused by sword strokes and grappling hooks caught and pooled shadows
|
|
like the blood that had so recently washed the vessel's deck.
|
|
Tarilane sat on a barrel filled with fresh water and sadly noted
|
|
the still present marks of war; a pale stain on the deck that salt
|
|
water could not scour away, carefully mended rents in the otherwise
|
|
perfect sails, and the swords that the sailors still wore. She touched
|
|
the hilt of her own blade reflectively. The war was over, but the
|
|
peace was tenuous at best.
|
|
Shakin had not been directly involved in the Beinison/Baranurian
|
|
conflict. Located to the southeast of Beinison, the huge country had
|
|
simply never felt the need to conquer the intervening territories to
|
|
gain control of the independent state. That Shakin also produced the
|
|
best alchemists and physicians on the continent and could deny their
|
|
services to anyone, made the decision to let them alone easier.
|
|
Leaving them autonomous was easier than being denied medical aid
|
|
sometime in the uncertain future. The Shakinian crown, held jointly by
|
|
the Royal Consorts, having no interest in land acquisition, had
|
|
remained neutral, as they had throughout the war torn centuries.
|
|
This was not to say that they did not take part in the latest
|
|
squabble between the two powers. Healers and alchemists were in high
|
|
demand by both sides, and since past attempts to limit enemy access to
|
|
Shakinian healing resulted in the complete withdrawal of all support,
|
|
both sides were allowed to bargain for these services. If it had no
|
|
other exportable resources, Shakin's highly skilled physicians and
|
|
herb mixers more than made up for the lack.
|
|
The country itself had remained physically apart from the war,
|
|
being on the wrong side of Beinison to experience the devastation
|
|
directly, until their neighbor, Kimerron, a tribal country Beinison
|
|
did not consider worth their time to subdue, decided that it needed
|
|
more land. Thinking their large neighbor was busy with other games,
|
|
Kimerron attacked from behind, making deep incursions into Beinosian
|
|
territory. After recovering from the shock of the unexpected bite, the
|
|
tip of one of Beinison's many fingered army crushed the raiders.
|
|
Tarilane had spent most of her life in Sahni, Shakin's capitol,
|
|
learning the alchemist's trade. The skirmish right on her country's
|
|
border provided her with plenty of opportunities to practice her
|
|
lessons--both healing and sword. Because her master, Derimiahn, was
|
|
one of the most skilled alchemists of his time, he was in great demand
|
|
by the crown to assist the physicians in easing the pain of the
|
|
refugees and in providing components to the royal mages. He was a
|
|
gentle man, who refused to use even one of the many titles the
|
|
Consorts had conferred upon him during his life, but at the command of
|
|
his royal cousins, travelled to the front to represent them with his
|
|
art. Tarilane, his second eldest apprentice, had the honor of
|
|
accompanying him, while the eldest apprentice attended the shop and
|
|
the youngsters. Together, master and student labored beside healers,
|
|
trying to save the lives and limbs of the young victims and beside the
|
|
mages to provide ingredients to fuel protective spells. Tarilane
|
|
learned more in the months spent building potions for the healers and
|
|
mages than she ever could have during the normal course of her
|
|
studies.
|
|
They had returned to Sahni a bare two weeks ago and five days
|
|
after the homecoming, Tarilane found herself on her way to the nearest
|
|
port, Derimiahn's last words echoing emptily in her ears.
|
|
"You have learned all that I can teach you, Tari. I release you
|
|
from the rest of your apprenticeship before you watch the walls of
|
|
this shop grow too small around your spirit." He placed a hand on her
|
|
head in almost fatherly benediction. "Know that you have pleased me
|
|
and show great promise. You will do well."
|
|
And he left her.
|
|
Tarilane found herself standing alone in her cramped cubicle,
|
|
watching the dividing curtain-wall rippling in her master's wake. She
|
|
did not follow; could not have thought of anything to do or say if she
|
|
had.
|
|
She took her leave of the other apprentices at the night meal,
|
|
which Derimiahn was conspicuously absent from, and spent hours talking
|
|
with Shauvandier, the senior apprentice, plotting a destination. The
|
|
youngesters helped out by packing her few belongings while Tarilane
|
|
and Shaw pored over a worn map. The single, barely full bag waited by
|
|
the front door with the tiny, hastily gathered pile of
|
|
parting-gifts--Sonshallan, the next oldest apprentice gave her his
|
|
first blown potion bottle, a lopsided affair that would barely stand
|
|
upright. Castellei, next in line, gave her a writing pen, with soft
|
|
apologies that he could not afford ink or a case yet, and Shaem, the
|
|
youngest, gave her her favorite string of blue beads. Later she would
|
|
find the green scarf Shaw had stashed in his herb storage chest for
|
|
the last few months in the top of her pack; his final gift to her.
|
|
Much later, after the children were tucked away in bed, Tarilane
|
|
shared a glass of mead with Shauvandier before the dying fire.
|
|
"Is there anything else you need?" he asked softly, watching the
|
|
firelight play across Tarilane's features, catching in her pale brown
|
|
hair.
|
|
"Courage," she quipped back with a faint smile that faded
|
|
immediately. "Seriously, Shaw, it's like leaving home for the first
|
|
time. Except this _is_ the first time. I don't remember living any
|
|
place but here. I'm really scared."
|
|
"You'll do fine, little sister." Shauvandier pulled her into a
|
|
gentle embrace. "Master's right to send you off...I've watched you
|
|
prowl the house and watch the road like you wonder what's at the end.
|
|
You'll do fine. You're good, practical, everything that it takes.
|
|
Don't worry so much. And don't forget to keep a sense of humor," he
|
|
added, taking her by the shoulders and shaking her a little. "You get
|
|
too serious sometimes."
|
|
Tarilane chuckled softly, unable to deny the accusation. She
|
|
could be very intense when working, to the exclusion of the gentler
|
|
emotions. "You always know the right things to say, Shaw. You're like
|
|
the brother I never had."
|
|
They sat in companionable silence after that, until Shauvandier
|
|
shooed Tarilane off to bed. As she drifted into sleep, Tarilane
|
|
remembered their ill-fated attempt to deepen their friendship into
|
|
something more personal. They had just gotten themselves comfortable
|
|
on the bed when Derimiahn pulled the dividing curtain aside.
|
|
He said nothing for what seemed like the longest time, then
|
|
pulled it shut again. They had parted as soon as his footsteps
|
|
disappeared down the stairs, the ardor of the moment chilled. After
|
|
that, they never felt quite right about the quick kisses and stolen
|
|
caresses, even though the Master never said a word about the incident.
|
|
The decision to keep the relationship platonic was made not long
|
|
after, and neither one could say they regretted the decision.
|
|
Tarilane recalled all of this with a faint flush, and chided
|
|
herself for getting lost in memories. The present was what she had to
|
|
worry about now, not the elusive past. Salt breeze cooled the burning
|
|
in her cheeks, catching the scarf that had been Shauvandier's final
|
|
gift to her and causing it to dance. The loneliness she had been able
|
|
to hold at bay during the journey to the coast rolled over her with
|
|
the slap of the water against the hull.
|
|
"Lady?" The sea roughened voice shattered her mood like waves
|
|
breaking on rocks.
|
|
Tarilane was glad for the interruption; she had had enough of
|
|
remembering. She slipped off the keg and turned to face the First
|
|
Mate, noting the cutlass belted to his side. Pirates and warships
|
|
still roamed the sea, not realizing that the war was over. Or perhaps
|
|
not caring.
|
|
"Yes? What did the captain say about the job?"
|
|
"Cap'n says, if'n y' kin cook, y' kin have passin'," the Mate
|
|
said. "With th' clear understand'n that y' pull y'r own weight. We
|
|
won' coddle y'. This ain't no easy job. Fact `tis, we lost our last
|
|
cook t' pirates." He folded his arms, waiting for her to politely
|
|
decline. He either did not see or did not believe the sword attached
|
|
to her waist.
|
|
Tarilane laughed. "Sir, I spent six months near to the war border
|
|
and I don't wear this--" she patted the hilt of the broad sword
|
|
"--because it's pretty. Sometimes it was the only thing that stood
|
|
between my Master and those who would have stolen what we would have
|
|
given freely. I'll be fine. And I'm a darned good cook."
|
|
"Hope so, f'r y'r sake," said the Mate doubtfully. "'Cause we'll
|
|
put y' over th' side if'n y' can't cook. I'll show y' where y'r t'
|
|
sleep."
|
|
Tarilane grinned and followed him towards the galley.
|
|
|
|
* * * * *
|
|
|
|
Sy 5, 1015
|
|
|
|
"I really hate this," muttered Darion, just loud enough to be
|
|
heard by the youth he rode beside. The clop of the horses hooves on
|
|
the cobblestones effectively prevented the whisper from traveling much
|
|
farther. He hunched a little in his dark tunic and studied the houses
|
|
and businesses.
|
|
"What?" replied his companion with a mocking grin. "Coming out in
|
|
daylight or riding?"
|
|
"Bodyguarding," Darion snapped, careful that his voice did not
|
|
carry over the steady beat of the horse's hooves. "I don't like doing
|
|
this. You do. I'm not a fighter."
|
|
Ranth chucked, remembering their last bar fight, a few nights
|
|
ago. They had gotten into a brawl with a pair of burly sailors out of
|
|
Lediria over a dice game and Darion had taken quite a beating, serving
|
|
more as a distraction than an actual participant.
|
|
"Gotta step out of the shadows sometime, my friend," Ranth
|
|
advised. "You can't spend the rest of your life creeping down alleys.
|
|
Come to mention, you have been doing a lot of midnight prowling
|
|
lately. What's been up?"
|
|
Darion opened his mouth to respond, but the man they were
|
|
following interrupted harshly.
|
|
"Pipe down, you two," he ordered, without looking back.
|
|
"Yes, my lord," Darion and Ranth said in chorus. The man did
|
|
glance back at this, and glared, one hand on the heavy, peace-bound
|
|
dagger at his hip. He hated when his proteges did this, and they knew
|
|
it. The knife promised what would happen to them if they did it again.
|
|
Darion and Ranth traded glances as he turned back to study the
|
|
heavily trafficed avenue. Lord Silvas was in a poor mood today, and
|
|
they did not know what had caused it. Deciding that being silent on
|
|
the matter would greatly increase their life span, they made no
|
|
further comments.
|
|
Lord Silvas was not a man to be trifled with. A high ranking
|
|
member of Comarr's booming Thieves Guild, he had taken the pair in
|
|
when they were just runny nosed urchins on the streets. To Ranth, the
|
|
larger of the two boys, he gave an education in combat and arms. For
|
|
someone of his age, just over eighteen years, he was quite handy with
|
|
any weapon that came into reach. He would make a fine guard or
|
|
mercenary in the not so distant future.
|
|
Darion was taught the art of spying. Tall, slender and agile he
|
|
could sneak into and out of places with ease, and, unlike his partner,
|
|
Darion was literate, so that he would know exactly what parchments to
|
|
acquire on his regular trips into Ciara's merchant quarter.
|
|
Since the day Silvas picked them up, Ranth and Darion were a
|
|
team. They did everything together, from their first drink, to their
|
|
first theft. Though not exactly a kind master, Silvas did teach them
|
|
the necessary skills to survive on Comarr's seedier side, as well as
|
|
other cities.
|
|
Buildings grew up around the little group as they rode deeper
|
|
into the Ciara's business district. The air filled with the sounds of
|
|
hurrying people and street haukers; mingled scents of new bread and
|
|
garbage drifted out from taverns and inns. Above it all, a faded blue
|
|
sky reflected the smoke from the many chimnies, confusing the true
|
|
white clouds.
|
|
Lord Silvas pulled to a halt before a dry-goods shop and
|
|
dismounted. His bodyguards followed suit. Darion's gaze scuttled
|
|
restlessly along the avenue, marking the people who passed, the dusty
|
|
goods in the store's display window, an odd mark burnt into the shop's
|
|
door jamb, and the bar across the street.
|
|
He nudged Ranth, who was keeping an eye out for obvious threats,
|
|
and motioned quickly at the building across the street. Ranth wiped
|
|
his answering smile off his face as Lord Silvas turned to them.
|
|
"Keep an eye on the horses," he ordered. "I have some business to
|
|
attend to. I will return shortly."
|
|
"Yes, my lord," Ranth and Darion acknowledged, careful to not do
|
|
it in chorus this time. Silvas disappeared into the shop in a swirl of
|
|
cloak.
|
|
"Hot out, isn't it," Ranth said, after a pause, eyeing the bar.
|
|
When Silvas said `shortly' that usually meant long enough for a drink.
|
|
"Sure is," agreed Darion, as he watched a gaily painted carriage
|
|
rumble past.
|
|
"Could stand for a drink to cut the dust."
|
|
"Same here. So long as you're buying. It's your turn."
|
|
"Since when?" Ranth glared at his friend. "I bought the rounds
|
|
last night!"
|
|
"Yeah, you did," confirmed Darion. "But I paid Olivia for you
|
|
last night, because you'd drunk all your silver. You owe me at least a
|
|
drink for that, if not more."
|
|
"You did?" Ranth looked confused.
|
|
"Sure did."
|
|
"Did I have a good time?"
|
|
"I assume so. I had to carry you home."
|
|
"Oh." Ranth studied the stitching on his horse's tack. "In that
|
|
case, I'll buy you a drink."
|
|
"Or three," laughed Darion. "Let's go."
|
|
Leaving the horses tethered in front of the shop, the pair
|
|
trotted across the cobbled street and into the Silver Platter. The
|
|
interior was well lit for a tavern, and much cleaner than the ones
|
|
Darion and Ranth were used to frequentinging. The smell of alcohol was
|
|
strong in the air, but the floor and tables were clean and the patrons
|
|
fairly well dressed. Ranth looked a little out of place in his
|
|
battered corslet, but, as usual, that did not bother him in the least.
|
|
They walked up to the bar, noting that the place was doing steady
|
|
business despite the earliness of the hour.
|
|
Finding a space was easily done; Ranth squeezed his bulk between
|
|
a half drunk merchant and a tipsy youth. He pounded his palm on the
|
|
counter a little.
|
|
"Two glasses of ale," he called over the high pitched babble of
|
|
the common room when the woman behind the bar turned in his general
|
|
direction. Two battered mugs appeared a second later and passed into
|
|
Ranth's possessions after an exchange of coin.
|
|
"You know," commented Darion as they sipped at the frothy glasses
|
|
in a corner. "I'm broke. I spent my last copper on that spice cake
|
|
this morning."
|
|
"Then I guess it's time to earn another stipend," said Ranth,
|
|
swallowing a great mouthful of ale. "Picked out a bird yet?"
|
|
"The scarlet jay you stood next to at the bar," Darion replied,
|
|
nodding in that direction. "He's paid in silver twice and doesn't show
|
|
any sign of leaving."
|
|
"All right. I'll distract him, you pluck him."
|
|
Darion disappeared into the crowd, while Ranth shouldered his way
|
|
through the bodies to the bar. In the process he tipped the remainder
|
|
of his drink all over the front of the red clad man's fancy tunic.
|
|
"`Ey! Wash it, y' clunsy oav!" The man rounded on his attacker,
|
|
slopping rich purple wine out of his glass as he turned.
|
|
"So sorry, my lord!" apologized Ranth, brushing futilely at the
|
|
spreading brown stain, causing more wine to spill. He glanced quickly
|
|
down and saw that the purse was gone and Darion was no where in sight.
|
|
Ranth set out to extricate himself from the situation. "Terribly
|
|
sorry. Let me buy you a drink to make up for the trouble."
|
|
"I don' wan' a drinth," slurred the merchant, weaving around,
|
|
trying to orient himself on the youth. "`Y damned bashterd!" And he
|
|
cut loose with a wide roundhouse swing that missed Ranth entirely, but
|
|
ploughed satisfyingly into the next nearest person.
|
|
Ranth ducked away into the crowd as the merchant swung again and
|
|
the cry of `fight' rocked the rafters.
|
|
|
|
Darion sauntered back across the street, casually tucking the
|
|
stitched leather pouch into his pocket. He leaned against the flank of
|
|
his horse and watched the entry to the Silver Platter. The sound of a
|
|
soft crash drifted across the bustling street and he winced a little.
|
|
A soft rustle behind him caused him to turn quickly.
|
|
"Ready to go, my lord?" he asked, seeing Silvas stepping out of
|
|
the shop. Darion's sharp eyes noted the dagger at his side was no
|
|
longer peace bound and he filed the scrap of information away to
|
|
contemplate later.
|
|
"Where's Ranth?" Silvas asked sharply, straightening the sleeves
|
|
of his dark tunic, baleful gaze pinned on Darion.
|
|
"He--had to go to the alley," lied Darion quickly. Not original,
|
|
but better than telling the lord that they had left his horse
|
|
unattended so they could both get drinks. A loud crash sounded from
|
|
across the street and the youth forced himself not to turn to look.
|
|
The stool flew out the splintered shutters of the Silver Platter
|
|
and skidded to a halt in the middle of the street, nearly tripping a
|
|
horse.
|
|
"Then he can catch up," Silvas decided, mounting. "Let's go."
|
|
Darion did look back to the bar at that statement and Silvas
|
|
turned his glare onto him. "Are you worried that Ranth can't handle
|
|
his business on his own?" he asked bitingly. "Or did he go somewhere
|
|
else."
|
|
"Uh, no, my lord." Darion mounted quickly and fell into position
|
|
behind his master without another backwards glance. Ranth was
|
|
perfectly able to take care of himself, Darion reminded himself. He
|
|
was a natural with most weapons and could hold his own in either a
|
|
formal fight or a brawl. Better than Darion could, in fact.
|
|
Hard on the heels of this thought came the clatter of hooves and
|
|
Ranth pounded up to his place beside his partner.
|
|
"Have fun?" asked Darion in undertone.
|
|
"Yeah. Took a right cross for you."
|
|
"Everything come out all right?" asked Silvas caustically,
|
|
without looking back at the pair.
|
|
"Yes, my lord!" Ranth responded quickly. "What did you tell him?"
|
|
he demanded quietly of his friend.
|
|
"Nothing terrible," grinned Darion. "Stick close, though. He's in
|
|
a mood again."
|
|
"Figures."
|
|
"I'll give you your cut when we get back," Darion added after a
|
|
second.
|
|
"Good."
|
|
"Any other stops, my lord?" asked Darion when his master turned
|
|
to glare at the pair of them. The innocent look on his face fooled no
|
|
one.
|
|
"No. Now shut up."
|
|
|
|
* * * * *
|
|
|
|
Tarilane clutched the straps of her bag and surveyed the streets
|
|
and buildings past the bustling pier. Like the port city Karine of
|
|
Shakin, Ciara was busy, filled with people ignoring one another,
|
|
hurrying about their business. Salt air mingled with the smell of tar
|
|
and fish, smell she had gotten used to during her time aboard ship.
|
|
Dappled afternoon sunlight speckled the sky and a stiff breeze caused
|
|
her cloak to flap sharply. Reflexively her fingers reached up to make
|
|
sure the dark green scarf around her neck had not blown away.
|
|
The scents from Shauvandier's herb chest still clung to the silky
|
|
fabric and Tarilane felt the now familiar tug of loneliness and
|
|
homesickness. She sighed and made her way off the pier. Letting
|
|
herself sink into depression was hardly the way to achieve anything
|
|
constructive. She set her mind to working out her upcoming problems.
|
|
She needed to find a place to stay first, so that she could start
|
|
to make serious plans. Tarilane wanted to open a shop of her own--an
|
|
apothecary. She had grown up in Master Derimiahn's shop--could not
|
|
remember living any place else, in fact. He claimed that he found her
|
|
sitting on his doorstep one day, a precocious two year old, with no
|
|
way of telling where she had come from. He had kept her because it was
|
|
more trouble to try and take her into town, than to simply raise her.
|
|
At least, so he said. Tarilane always suspected there was more to it
|
|
than that, but had never been able to find anything else out, and
|
|
eventually, it did not much matter any more. After sixteen years
|
|
surrounded by the work, she realized that she did not want to live or
|
|
labor anywhere else.
|
|
Watching Derimiahn mix potions was one of the earliest childhood
|
|
memories she had. As she grew older, Tarilane was allowed to join the
|
|
Master and his apprentices, never less than five, usually seven or
|
|
eight in all, on their forays to gather wood and herbs. At the age of
|
|
nine, she was officially apprenticed and started learning to identify
|
|
plants in all seasons, learned how to blow the little glass bottles
|
|
that would eventually contain the concoctions they made; learned to
|
|
prepare the condiments that mages would eventually use to produce
|
|
miracles--the liquid and powder magic that was the trademark of the
|
|
alchemist, that mages could not work wonders without. She spent
|
|
tedious hours learning to read, write, and figure, keeping the shop's
|
|
tally-books current and accurate. Long hours spent learning, before
|
|
she was ever allowed to create anything.
|
|
Since the day she had made her first simple potion, Tarilane
|
|
realized that she wanted nothing more than to have an apothecary of
|
|
her own, and her Master, seeing the drive and the talent, taught her
|
|
everything he could. Now, freed from the onerous duties of an
|
|
apprentice and ready to pass through journeyman to master, she did not
|
|
know how to proceed.
|
|
`Inheriting a shop would have been easier,' Tarilane sighed to
|
|
herself. `But no use in wishing for what I haven't got, so I'd better
|
|
make the best of what I have. Enough silver and coppers to put a roof
|
|
over my head for a few days, at least, and the food the Captain gave
|
|
to me should last about as long.' One clean set of clothes, the heavy
|
|
cloak around her shoulders, the pack, and her parting gifts were the
|
|
sum total of her possessions. Hardly enough to open a shop with, not
|
|
that she would even consider selling them. `I'll start looking for a
|
|
job tomorrow...'
|
|
The scuffle of Tarilane's salt encrusted boots was lost in the
|
|
general bustle of the street traffic.
|
|
|
|
* * * * *
|
|
|
|
Lord Silvas' residence was well suited to his high rank in the
|
|
underground and to his front as a wealthy merchant. A six foot stone
|
|
wall surrounded the house and the small, tree filled garden secluded
|
|
him from the outside world. Traps were hidden in the green expanses,
|
|
just in case a guild member got greedy. The house itself was only two
|
|
stories tall and constructed of grey stones a little darker than the
|
|
wall. Gates kept out any curious passers-by.
|
|
Inside, the house was subdued rather than ostentatious. Nothing
|
|
spoke of overt wealth, but everything had the stamp of quality. There
|
|
were a few extravagances. Glass window panes replaced dull common
|
|
shutters and heavy velvet drapes concealed the interior from all
|
|
outside viewers. Rugs, in the few places Silvas was willing to have
|
|
them, were plush and colorful.
|
|
Ranth and Darion sat in the fanciest room in the house, the front
|
|
room, usually used for receiving guests. Pictures and tapestries
|
|
covered the walls and the furniture was deep and comfortable. Sprawled
|
|
in velvet covered chairs they played cards with their latest pickings
|
|
as stakes.
|
|
Ranth flipped a well worn card at his partner and waited. Darion
|
|
studied it, then compared it to the others in his hand.
|
|
"Well?" Ranth said impatiently.
|
|
"Well what?"
|
|
"What's your bet?"
|
|
"I'm thinking about it."
|
|
Ranth waited, tapping his toes against the heavy rugs on the
|
|
floor.
|
|
"Young masters." The quiet voice caused both youths to jump.
|
|
"Lord Silvas requests your presence in his study immediately." A
|
|
slender woman stood in the doorway, in the black gown Silvas had all
|
|
his house staff wear. Ranth and Darion were positive the woman worked
|
|
for the Guild, but so far had not been able to prove it. Her manner
|
|
was ever that of a well trained servant, and they always seemed to be
|
|
too busy to follow her when she had her day off.
|
|
She waited patiently by the door while the pair redivided the pot
|
|
and made a show of reshuffling their hands back into the deck. Ranth
|
|
pocketed the deck as they followed her into the hall.
|
|
Lord Silvas was seated in a comfortable chair, taking advantage
|
|
of the late afternoon sunlight to read a letter that had arrived while
|
|
he was out. He looked up as Ranth and Darion entered the room and
|
|
arranged themselves before him.
|
|
"You've learned quite a bit in the last few years," he said,
|
|
closing the letter with a low rustle. He studied the pair for a minute
|
|
before continuing. "Now it is time for you to practice what you've
|
|
learned on your own. I want both of you out of the house by sunset
|
|
tonight."
|
|
Darion and Ranth stared at him in shocked silence.
|
|
"You're kicking us out?" asked Ranth.
|
|
"Isn't this a little sudden?" said Darion at the same instant.
|
|
Silvas looked amused, the faint smile smoothing the worry lines
|
|
around his eyes for just an instant.
|
|
"Yes, I'm kicking you out." He directed his first comment to
|
|
Ranth. "And no, it isn't sudden. You're both capable of taking care of
|
|
yourselves and I don't want to deal with you any more."
|
|
"We'll do fine," said Ranth confidently.
|
|
"I don't doubt it. And I'll be checking to make sure that you
|
|
only take what's yours, so..." Silvas let the sentence trail off
|
|
threatingly, dark eyes piercing the two youths. After a moment he
|
|
found his place in his letter again and started reading.
|
|
Ranth and Darion recognized a dismissal when they saw one and
|
|
headed for the door, trading uneasy glances.
|
|
"Don't forget to watch your backs out there." Lord Silvas' voice
|
|
followed them out into the hallway. "The Guild will contact you when
|
|
you have proven yourselves." When Darion glanced back, the man was
|
|
still busy with his letter.
|
|
The pair climbed the stairs to their room in silence, with the
|
|
black clad servant trailing after them.
|
|
Packing was a five minute affair; Lord Silvas had not encouraged
|
|
having many possessions. Darion had leather armor that he had
|
|
purchased just a month ago, a short sword, and some daggers, plus an
|
|
extra set of clothing and his lockpicks. Ranth carried a full broad
|
|
sword and a battered metal corslet that provided better than adequate
|
|
protection. Both weapon and mail were highly polished, for if Ranth
|
|
had any loves, it was that of weapons and combat. He too had a spare
|
|
set of clothes, and each carried a pack, where they were able to stash
|
|
several days worth of food when they thought the servant was not
|
|
looking.
|
|
They found themselves staring at each other as the front gate was
|
|
shut firmly behind them.
|
|
"We never did find out if she works for the Guild," commented
|
|
Darion irrelevantly, watching the woman make her way back inside. He
|
|
turned back to his partner. "So what do we do now? I feel like I've
|
|
just been stabbed in the back."
|
|
"We always knew this would happen," countered Ranth. "Just not
|
|
this soon..." He sounded less confident than he looked.
|
|
"Why did he say `The Guild will contact you when you've proven
|
|
yourselves'?" Darion wondered aloud. "The Guild's always eager to make
|
|
up the money they spent on training people as soon as possible."
|
|
"He probably just forgot," Ranth said, looking up and down the
|
|
street.
|
|
Darion turned to look back at the house through the heavy gates.
|
|
"He didn't forget. He _doesn't_ forget. You know that."
|
|
"Ah, forget it," Ranth pulled his friend away from the gate.
|
|
"We've got things to do. Tomorrow's the first day of the rest of our
|
|
lives."
|
|
"So what do we do today?" asked Darion.
|
|
"We go get drunk. Then we find a place to stay."
|
|
"Sounds good to me."
|
|
|
|
* * * * *
|
|
|
|
The Sailor's Rest Inn was not exactly on the wharf. It was well
|
|
over five blocks away from the port, in fact, the scent of the sea and
|
|
fish barely tainting the air. The worn sign had a sailor in classic
|
|
pirate costume laying in a hammock painted on it and was nailed just
|
|
above the front door. Inside, the common room was large, lit by ship's
|
|
lanterns giving the place a ship-like atmosphere.
|
|
Tarilane found the place after wandering around the city streets
|
|
for several hours. It was the cleanest places she had run across all
|
|
day, and with night falling, the young woman decided that it would do
|
|
for the night. Bargaining with the innkeeper brought the price down to
|
|
something reasonable and Tarilane had gotten dinner in the bargain.
|
|
She sat beside one of the greasy windows overlooking the street,
|
|
picking at the fish stew she had been served. At least the bread was
|
|
almost fresh and the ale was not bad, and was cheaper than the mead
|
|
she wanted to buy.
|
|
Tarilane watched the people coming and going from the inn as she
|
|
slowly finished her meal. Lower ranking ship's officers, rather than
|
|
rough sailors made up a good part of the crowd, along with lesser
|
|
merchants and people who could not afford a better place, but would
|
|
not go to a cheaper one. People like herself.
|
|
Ordinarily she had no interest in watching people, but in a
|
|
strange city keeping track of the patrons gave her an odd sense of
|
|
security. And it beat thinking about what she was going to do
|
|
tomorrow.
|
|
As she watched, an armed man entered the inn, followed by a
|
|
heavily painted woman, and a second later by two youths about
|
|
Tarilane's own age. All four stopped briefly at the bar to get drinks,
|
|
then the woman wandered off into the crowd. The man stayed at the bar
|
|
and the youths commandeered a table as close to a corner as they could
|
|
get.
|
|
Tarilane's attention wandered to the next arriving people and to
|
|
the last few bites of fish stew still left in her bowl.
|
|
|
|
Out of the corner of his eye Darion kept a close watch on the
|
|
shifting humanity that surged past the edge of their table. The
|
|
location was not far enough out of the press of bodies as he would
|
|
have liked, but it afforded a reasonable view of the room, and Ranth
|
|
could always watch his back. His eyes skipped over the people, and
|
|
settled on a young woman seated near the front window of the inn. She
|
|
was reasonably good looking, so when she stood and made her way past
|
|
the table, he smiled up at her, hoping to gain company for the night.
|
|
She did not seem to notice.
|
|
Ranth laughed at him when he swore.
|
|
"That's twice," he grinned, taking a large swallow of beer.
|
|
"You're going to bed lonely tonight."
|
|
"Not a chance," retorted Darion. He took a long pull from his mug
|
|
and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. This was the pairs second tavern
|
|
for the evening, and both were more than a little tipsy. Darion poured
|
|
himself another mugful of beer and set the jug down in the middle of
|
|
the table.
|
|
"Hey, leave me some!" Ranth snatched the pitcher back. He
|
|
refilled his own mug, managing not to spill to much of the dark brown
|
|
liquid.
|
|
"We'll need to get a job tomorrow," Darion advised as they slowly
|
|
went about emptying their glasses again. "Want to check with the
|
|
Guild?"
|
|
"Nah. Let's try something different for a change," said Ranth.
|
|
"Like what?"
|
|
"Caravan guarding?"
|
|
"You trying to get me killed?"
|
|
Ranth chuckled, then hiccuped. "Let's talk about it in the
|
|
morning, when you're sober enough to listen to reason. We should find
|
|
a place to stay for the night. And before you ask, no, we can't afford
|
|
to stay here."
|
|
"Think one of your so called friends'll put us up for the night?"
|
|
Darion's eyes gleamed in the flickering lantern light and his red
|
|
cheeks took on a burnished orange glow.
|
|
"We can always ask. Let's go."
|
|
Ranth lumbered to his feet, followed by Darion. While not quite
|
|
drunk, both were sufficiently inebriated that they did not walk quite
|
|
straight. As they passed one of the barmaids, Darion tripped over a
|
|
crack in the floor boards and stumbled into her.
|
|
"Hey, beautiful," Darion smiled at her, helping her to steady
|
|
herself. "Want to get off your feet for an hour or two?"
|
|
Ranth had to help Darion steady himself after the maid's slap
|
|
knocked him sideways.
|
|
"What'd I say?"
|
|
"I'd say you're going home lonely," snickered Ranth.
|
|
"Thanks a lot," muttered Darion. "I don't feel so bad though. You
|
|
don't have anyone either."
|
|
"I've got you and I haven't even been trying."
|
|
They stepped out into the warm summer night. The air was still
|
|
and almost as hot as the interior of the inn itself. The street was
|
|
quiet and empty, with street lanterns shedding pale light over the
|
|
cobblestones. Out of habit each checked a direction for potentially
|
|
dangerous oncoming traffic.
|
|
"Let's stop at the alley," said Darion abruptly.
|
|
"You should have gone before we left." Ranth veered to the left
|
|
and into the dark alley-way. "Bet I can hit higher on the wall than
|
|
you can."
|
|
"No way!" retorted Darion, following him in. "Not a chance. And
|
|
no hands this time," he added, unfastening his breeches.
|
|
"You've got to be joking!"
|
|
"Don't think you can do it? Silver says you can't. There. Just
|
|
try and beat that!"
|
|
"No problem. Hah! You owe me a silver."
|
|
"No way! That is not--" Darion cut himself off abruptly and held
|
|
up a hand so that Ranth would not jump in.
|
|
"What?" hissed his friend.
|
|
"Listen!"
|
|
"To what?"
|
|
"Shhh!" Darion cocked a hand to his ear, exaggerating the order
|
|
for his friend to keep his ears open.
|
|
Ranth cocked his head to one side and concentrated. He heard the
|
|
soft chatter of children's voices just seconds before the pack burst
|
|
out of the shadows to mob them.
|
|
Shouts bounced off the walls as the group divided and attacked
|
|
each of the young men with sticks, rocks, daggers, and their little
|
|
bare hands. Surrounded on all sides by raggedly dressed urchins,
|
|
neither was able to get an arm free enough to successfully defend
|
|
himself.
|
|
Someone yelled in triumph as Darion stumbled.
|
|
|
|
Tarilane opened her eyes to the dark beamed ceiling, the voices
|
|
from her uneasy dreams solidifying into reality and drifting through
|
|
her window. Annoyed, she pulled open the shutters to give the little
|
|
brats a piece of her mind, just in time to see one of the youths from
|
|
the tavern bowled over by a pile of children.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
1 **
|
|
****** ****
|
|
** ** **
|
|
**** ** ** **
|
|
**** **** ** ** ** *****
|
|
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
|
|
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
|
|
** ** ** ** *****
|
|
** ** ***
|
|
****
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
Quanta is the electronically distributed journal of Science Fiction
|
|
and Fantasy. As such, each issue contains fiction by amateur authors
|
|
as well as articles, reviews etc... Quanta is published in two
|
|
formats, Ascii and PostScript* (for PostScript compatible
|
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laser-printers). Submissions should be sent to quanta@andrew.cmu.edu.
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Requests to be added to the distribution list should be sent to one of
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the following depending on which version of the magazine you'd like to
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receive.
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quanta+requests-postscript@andrew.cmu.edu
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quanta+requests-ascii@andrew.cmu.edu
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or
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quanta+requests-postscript@andrew.BITNET
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quanta+requests-ascii@andrew.BITNET
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Send mail only- no interactive messages or files please. Note that if
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you subscribe with a letter sent over BITNET, you will have the
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magazine sent to you as a file over BITNET, whereas if you subscribe
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with a letter sent over the Internet, the magazine will be sent to you
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by mail. Note that all issues are available from the anonymous FTP
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server fed.expres.cs.cmu.edu (128.2.209.58). If you can access this
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server and would therefore only want to be notified when a new issues
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has been released, please specify this in your request.
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Quanta now reaches an international audience of over 1000 subscribers.
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It is produced bi-monthly by Daniel Appelquist (da1n+@andrew.cmu.edu).
|
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* PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
|
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
(C) Copyright October, 1992, DargonZine, Editor Dafydd
|
|
<White@DUVM.BitNet>. All rights revert to the authors. These stories
|
|
may not be reproduced or redistributed (save in the case of
|
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reproducing the whole 'zine for further distribution) without the
|
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express permission of the author involved.
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