by R C Gray
“And how do you think you’re going to get them out by yourself...from outside the wall?” Ferhani said, a curious look on her face.
“I have some magic that’ll do the trick.”
“You’re a mage?” Braig said, looking over at Aenwyn. “You don’t look it.”
“And what do mages look like? They’re not short, bearded, and stocky like dwarves. We don’t all have a certain look or wear flowing robes with golden runes embroidered on them all the time...we only do that on special occasions.” Aenwyn said, flashing a smile at Renna.
“And do you think you can pull this off?” Ferhani said, crossing her arms. “If you start this and don’t finish it...”
“I know,” Aenwyn said, setting down the charcoal. “It’ll work. When you hear the loud crash, fire the arrows and send in the fire-bombs. Let it cause some confusion so we can get across the clearing to the wagon. We’ll only need a couple minutes to make it to the alley. Then we’ll meet and take the wagon to the ship. And if it doesn’t work, you’ll be safely hidden in the trees.”
“Then we’ll wait for the crash. I trust it’ll be something we can’t miss. But speaking of the ship,” Ferhani said, glancing between the three others sitting at the table, “we have the other side of the offer to discuss. I can have my people in position if we all agree on the payment. If not, you’re on your own. But seeing that you don’t have much of a choice, I think you’ll find my offer more than fair.”
“And what’s your offer?” Braig said, crossing his arms across his chest.
“It’s simple, actually. The wagon takes you to a ship as planned. But instead of taking the Wind Cutter straight to the Grey Wastes, you’ll board my other ship—the Banshee.”
"What makes you think we’re going to the wastes?” Renna said, glancing over at Braig.
Ferhani sighed and glanced out the window before turning her eyes back to Renna. “I have ships, and I sail them. I was told you needed passage to Aerith, just north of Yonkai. And there’s nothing north of Yonkai but the Grey Wastes. Now whatever you have planned there is your business, but it’s my business to get you there. And to do that, you’ll take the Banshee.”
“And in return?” Braig said, leaning back in his chair.
“In return, you accompany my crew on a supply run.”
“Why do you need us to go with your crew on a supply run? What it is you’re picking up?”
Picking up the sheet of paper, Ferhani crumbled it, walked across the room, and tossed it into the fire. “My clients have certain wants and needs. Some items can be found around here, others can’t. So, you’ll be traveling with my crew south to Solis to pick up a load of herbs and other goods that need to get to a city outside of Yorkus. The wastes are on the way.”
“You’re a smuggler,” Aenwyn said, nodding her head. “I hear there’s good money in that.”
“There’s enough,” Ferhani said as she leaned over the table. “And as such, it can sometimes be a bit dangerous. So, you’ll be going along as extra protection. But the Banshee is fast, so she can usually outrun most ships. You also have the added security of a good place to hide should the ship get searched by any guards before we leave port. You should really consider taking the offer because you won’t find anyone else willing to help you in such a short amount of time. And the longer you wait, the harder it will be to get your friends.”
Renna pulled the flower out of her hair and tugged at the leather cord holding it in place. Shaking her head, she let it fall around her shoulders, tossing the flower onto the table as she looked over at Braig. “What choice do we have? Solis isn’t too far from here, and whoever’s coming for us won’t know where we’re heading anyway. I say we go.”
Braig closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the frustration welling up inside him. “Aye, we don’t have much of a choice. But if I know that we need to head to the wastes, there’s no telling if another prisoner they’ve been torturing could’ve cracked under the pressure and told them where to go. But it’s been nothing but trouble here, and I suppose it’s a risk I’m willing to take. The sooner we leave this shit-hole of a town, the better.”
“Excellent,” Ferhani said, standing up straight. “I’ll have your gear loaded on the ship and ready for you. The ship is small, so you’ll be sharing some tight spaces, but the trip should be quick. The wind favors the Banshee. Now, I suggest we get some rest. We have a long night ahead of us.”
Moving to the window, Ferhani unrolled a dark piece of cloth, blotting out the bright morning light before strolling over to one of the beds. Falling wearily onto the mattress, she looked over at the three still seated at the table. “There’s tea left in the kettle, and some dried food in a crate at the bottom of the stairs. I suggest you stay inside since there’s a bounty for you. And if you go out or come back in, keep it quiet. I need my sleep.”
“After the night we’ve had, sleep sounds like a good idea. I feel like I can barely think. You should get some rest too, Renna. They’ll be out tonight, but there’s nothing we can do right now,” Braig said as he stood and walked over to the bed, not bothering to take off his boots before climbing in.
“I need some air,” Renna said as she stood and padded across the room, heading towards the stairs.
“I’ll go with you,” Aenwyn said, following Renna down and out a side door onto the street.
Leaning against the wall, Renna took a deep breath and turned her head towards the rays of light shining between the building. The morning air was fresh, and the sun felt warm on her skin. It had been some time since she’d been to the ocean, and she wished that this visit was under better circumstances. What would happen they couldn’t get Faine out of Stonekeep? Where would she go if something terrible were to happen? She had been traveling so long with Faine that leaving without him made her stomach turn. Of course, she would manage, she always did — but it would be harder without him.
“I don’t know how you plan to do it, but I need you to know that it has to work. I can’t leave them there,” Renna said, turning to face Aenwyn.
“I’ll get it done. I just need you there to watch my back. Maybe take out an archer or two if it comes to that. But I’ll get ‘em out of the cell.”
Letting her shoulders relax, Renna moved closer to Aenwyn and ran her fingers down her arm. “I just want to thank you again for what you did back at the pub. And also for what you’re about to do. I want you to know that you don’t have to help if you don’t want to. You’ll be risking your life for people you don’t even know.”
Shrugging slightly, Aenwyn moved closer and put her hand on Renna’s hip, picking at a small fray on the bottom of her bodice. “I risk my life all the time, so this is nothin’ new. But look, I don’t want to tell you your business, but I can be honest with you here?”
Pulling her hand away from Aenwyn’s arm, Renna looked down at her fingers, bracing for what she thought would be an insult or a comment on her being part orcish. “Of course.”
“Now, I don’t know your reasons, but going to the Grey Wastes is a bad idea. The ruins there have some kind of curse on ‘em. The place is abandoned and crawling with undead.”
Letting out a small sigh, Renna looked back up at Aenwyn, her eyes catching the orange light of the morning sun. “We don’t really have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice. About the only things around there are death and the old ruins of Q’bath. And that’s been used for centuries by the worshippers of Ashkosh.”
“I’ve read something about them before, but I don’t remember much.”
Aenwyn shook her head. “That’s probably a good thing. I had to read up on history when I was studying in the tower.”
“So, you really are a mage then? Not aberrant, as some like to call it?”
“Fully trained at a mage tower. But just because someone learned magic elsewhere doesn’t make it mean any less than the spells learned in a tower.”
Pulling her hair behind her pointe
d ears, Renna leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “So, what does it all mean? Why does the old cult still matter?”
“Because they’re still functioning. Undead are drawn to the area, and I’ve heard that the followers of Ashkosh go there to die to better serve their master in death.”
Renna tapped her finger against her tusk as she considered how to word her next question. “And have you heard anything about some kind of spell on the town? Or maybe read anything about something magical being left there?”
Aenwyn slid her thumbs under her belt and leaned against the wall. “And why would you ask something like that?”
“It’s just a question. Usually, there’s something more going on if a place is said to be cursed.”
“Maybe,” Aenwyn said. “But in this case, there’s a story about something like that. It’s just a story, though. It says that after the body of the daemon Quarb was found, the cult of Ashkosh tried to find out how to use his magic or blood for their own gain. They were hoping to make themselves pretty close to being immortal by siphoning the necromantic energy off him. The body was eventually taken back to Q’bath and resurrected.
“That’s what caused the second undead war in Aerith. But before that, rumor had it that they were actually able to siphon enough energy to create a powerful stone. The legend says that it could turn anyone that died near it into a Denmol—an undead. It’s still supposed to be out there somewhere, showing up from time to time. Story has it that it moves from place to place on its own—like it knows where it needs to be for the right person to find it. But people have searched, and no one’s been able to find it because it probably doesn’t exist. It’s a story, just like the others.”
Leaning away from the wall, Renna glanced past Aenwyn and out onto the street. The shops were beginning to open, and the dockhands were making their way down to the boats to start work for the day. Seeing several people glance in her direction, Renna moved back closer to the wall, letting Aenwyn nearly block her from sight. “But do you think the stone may be there somewhere, waiting to be found?”
Aenwyn stood up straighter, her mouth slightly open. “So that’s why you’re goin’ there. You’re tryin’ to find it.”
“Keep your voice down,” Renna said, motioning downward with her hands. “But, yes. I think that’s why we have a bounty out. Whoever’s following us knows we’re looking for it and wants it for themselves. That’s what started this whole mess. We just have to find it first.”
“Did you not hear anything I said about the cult or how dangerous it is with all the undead roaming around?”
“I heard you,” Renna said.
“You heard me but didn’t listen. It’s just a story. People have looked, and no one’s found it.”
“You said it moves on its own — and stories have roots in reality. Why else would someone be going through the trouble of trying to find us, and then sail here to take us back? They want what we know, which isn’t much.”
Aenwyn stood and shook her head. “We should think about this for a while. But for now, we need to concentrate on the task at hand. We have to get your friends out before you go anywhere. For now, let’s head back upstairs and get some sleep, yeah?”
Nodding her head, Renna walked towards the door, letter her fingers lightly graze Aenwyn’s hand as she walked past. “You’re right. We should get some rest. It’s been a long night.”
FAINE PACED ACROSS the room, mumbling to himself as he turned his gaze from the window to the locked door leading to the yard across from their cell. His tunic was wrinkled and covered in dirt and blood, and his usually smooth hair had formed several small tangles and hung loosely over his shoulders. Scratching his slight beard, he moved over and sat next to Skara.
“You feel that?” Faine said, leaning in closer.
“Feel what?”
“The reckoning. We’ll be getting out of here soon.”
Skara laughed to himself and pulled his knees closer to his chest. His dark brown pants had several small tears at the knees, and his forest green tunic was spattered with dark stains that could either be blood, or something worse from sleeping on the mattress in the cell. Turning his head to look over at Faine, he let his head fall back against the wall. “I don’t feel a damn thing. Are you alright? You don’t seem like you’re holding it together. I thought you’ve been in worse.”
Faine sighed as he glanced over at the guard sitting at the desk a short distance away, his fingers rubbing his lips as he eyed a clay pitcher and several cups sitting on the tabletop. “I’m fine. I could use a strong drink right about now, though. But I’ll get that soon enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“Like I just said, we’ll be getting out of here...tonight. We just have to hold it together until then and be ready to move.”
Skara scowled as he turned his eyes towards Faine. “How do you know that? Unless you have a lockpick shoved up your ass, we’re stuck here.”
Faine rubbed his chin as he briefly turned his eyes up towards the ceiling. “Hmm. That’s not a bad idea. But no, I can feel it. I don’t know how, but I know. It’s going to be fast and hard, but it’s coming. I’ve known Renna for a long time, and I know she’s already got a plan. Besides, Braig is with her, and he always seems to be looking for a fight.”
“You don’t know that. For all we know, they’re locked up somewhere, too.”
“Doubtful. Either way, whether they come or not, we’ll be getting out. I have an idea if no one comes for us tonight. It involves the rancid broth, and it won’t be pretty or smell very good, but it would work,” Faine said, glancing over at Skara.” But for both our sakes, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Skara stared out over the nearly empty cell, hoping that Faine was right. He couldn’t stay locked in here for very much longer. He had tried to squeeze through the bars and loosen stones, but nothing worked. This place was a prison, after all; and he didn’t see how anyone could escape. The walls were thick stone, and the gates were solid iron. If one guard left, another would take their place. If no one came, he would do whatever it takes to escape or die trying. He wouldn’t let himself be taken to Ethilios to be tortured for taking revenge on the brothers. There were too many things he wanted to see, and too many people that deserved a knife in the dark. “Let’s hope you’re right.”
“Oh, I’m right. Sometimes you just have to have a little faith.” Faine chuckled as he rested his arms on his knees. “A little faith,” he said again, laughing a bit harder.
The Burning Man
Aenwyn kept her eyes on the patrolling guards, waiting for the right moment to make her move closer to the wall of the prison.
“What can you see? You think everyone’s in position yet?” Renna squinted her eyes and glanced up at the towers, watching for any guards that might be looking in their direction.
“They’ve had enough time. Let’s go.”
Keeping low to the ground, Aenwyn darted from behind a bush near the road and ran towards the stone wall, pushing hard against it to stay out of sight. Torches burned on the walkway above them, dropping down sparks and embers as they flickered in the dark night. Creeping along the wall, they listened for any footsteps as they rounded the corner and made their way closer to the holding cell near the back wall.
“Why didn’t we just come from the other direction?” Renna said, holding her bow and arrows on her back, trying to keep low to the ground.
“Too far to run across the gap without being seen. Now be quiet. We’re almost there.”
Nearing the back corner, Renna could see a small window covered with several bars. “This is it. But it’s too high to reach.”
Grabbing a few small stones from the ground, Aenwyn handed them to Renna and got on her hands and knees. “Step on and look in the window. If they’re asleep, toss the stones to get their attention. But be quiet. Ferhani said there’s a guard posted nearby.”
Nodding, she stepped up onto Aenwyn’s back and slowly peered
into the window. The cell was dark, but she could see several lanterns burning down the corridor, and one on the desk to the left of the cell. She pushed her face closer to the bars but couldn’t see if there was a guard nearby. Scanning the room, she saw two dark lumps huddled in the corner, one larger than the other. A slight smell of urine and vomit wafted between the bars, and she had to lean back to get a breath of fresh air before pushing herself forward to peer back in.
Tossing one of the small stones, it bounced off the floor, making a slight tapping noise before skittering into the wall. Holding her breath, she looked over towards the desk, waiting to see any movement, but everything was quiet. Breathing a small sigh of relief, she glanced back down at the mattress, but it was empty.
Hearing a grunt from Aenwyn as she stood on her toes, she leaned closer to the bars. Suddenly, a set of yellow eyes popped up in front of the window, the brief scare nearly knocking her backwards.
“What are you doing?” Skara said, peering around in the darkness. “We thought you’d come from the other way.”
Still slightly frightened by the sudden jolt, Renna pulled herself closer to the bars, keeping her voice to a whisper. “Are you and Faine alright?”
“We’re fine. But we have to get out of here. There’s a ship coming to take us to Ethilios.”
“I know. We’re getting you out. Where’s the guard?”
Adjusting his feet on Faine’s shoulder, Skara glanced over to the commander sleeping at the desk. “He’s asleep. But he won’t be for long if we keep talking.”