“I did not pick you! You stole the gem and now I am stuck with you. Do you really think I would pick a lowly thief as my protector during these troubled times?” The wizard looked away to collect himself, and when he spoke again it was a mild-mannered statement of fact and not an angry threat. “I cannot break out of the gem if I keep saving you from yourself. I have done all I can for you for quite some time. The next time your life is threatened, I am afraid you are on your own.” With this, the wizard got up from the table and walked into the shadows without looking back.
Xander yelled angrily into the darkness. “Fine, just don’t forget my reward for protecting you from the Guild. Otherwise, I can turn you back over to them and you can spend a lifetime inside this damned gem.” It was too late, and Xander didn’t hear any reply as he woke up from his dream.
___________________________________
The next morning the guards eventually came and brought the companions before William Shetley in his great hall. The new lord sat in his seat of power and looked at the companions as they proudly entered the hall with Tristan and Evisar in the lead, surrounded by forty armed guards.
When William Shetley spoke, it was with an even voice that betrayed none of his true feelings or what justice he had decided to dispense. “It has been an interesting few days. Who knew elves could bring such excitement with them? First, you appear out of nowhere and offer your services. Next, you find the giant’s lair in a single day, which our best soldiers were unable to do during a moon’s turn of searching. Finally, after gaining the favor of a dragon, you rallied the entire town of Wessex and killed the giants.
“All of this served to make you heroes in everyone’s eyes and elevate Tristan to a living legend. My father then invited you here in order to have you killed, yet somehow you managed to turn the tables and kill him instead. Yes, an interesting few days.”
William looked down and shook his head. When his head came back up it was clear from his expression that he was acting as Lord of the Land. “There seems little doubt my father sent me to the library so there would be no witnesses to his massacre and he could make up whatever story he wanted. The men you fought appear to have been mercenaries, all of them unmarked save one.” William Shetley held up a dagger. Its crest had a dragon with its wings spread wide and its mouth held open in a roar. “Do any of you know what this symbol represents?”
Evisar felt the subtle glance of each companion on his back. They waited for him to answer, but what could he say? If he told the truth then they would likely be executed. If he told a lie then he would dishonor himself and those that followed him. Evisar looked to his left and then to his right with a questioning look on his face. He decided to play dumb, remain silent, and let the new Lord Shetley think him ignorant of what had happened. In the back of his mind, Evisar knew this was the coward’s way out, but he made his choice and didn’t deviate from it. Life was a series of compromises, not a canvas of black and white. Evisar looked forward again and waited to see what William would do.
William stared at Evisar until long after the moment had become awkward. He looked at the rest of the group and said, “I don’t know what this symbol means, nor do I know why my father had an alliance with this filth. It is obvious he planned this ambush well, and while I grieve for his loss, I can’t blame you for defending yourselves and having to take his life. We all know my father was not a well man, and it’s not hard to believe he saw Tristan as a threat.”
Evisar knew William was coming to some wrong conclusions and that he should say something, but he dared not risk it. They were in enough trouble as it was, and they were at Lord Shetley’s mercy. If William knew of Xander’s connection to the Talon Guild and Jefon’s dishonorable act it could only lead to more questions.
In a moment William continued, “Would Tristan, captain of the guard, please come forward?” Tristan seemed lost, but he moved forward three steps and went down on one knee. “Tristan, I know you are innocent and that you would never have betrayed my father, but unfortunately, by carrying out his orders and saving Wessex you have sealed your fate. I would be blind if I didn’t see that every aide and guard in this room looks upon you with awe. Unfortunately, there can only be one Lord of the Land, and having you around would always bring doubt to my rule as Lord Shetley. In addition, regardless of the circumstances, you participated in my father’s death and cannot be left in a position of power. Therefore, it is with reluctance that I must ask you to leave my service and my lands forever.”
Tristan seemed visibly ill as he rose to his feet. “As you wish my lord, but where shall I go?”
Lord Shetley looked on Tristan with pity. “That is not for me to say. You may go where you wish; I release you from my service.”
Evisar watched a single tear run down Tristan’s cheek. “Yes, my lord. I will trouble you no further.” Tristan turned on his heels and moved to join the other companions.
William Shetley was visibly wounded, but managed to move on to the next matter. “There is one other matter before you leave my Keep. Jefon, please step forward.”
Evisar looked over at Jefon with great concern. When the guards had pulled them from their cell, Jefon had been out of his mind, but he seemed to have made a quick recovery and now there was no sign he had ever been in distress. He did not seem surprised by Lord Shetley’s call. He walked forward and stopped before the new Lord of the Land. Unlike Tristan, Jefon did not go to one knee. “Yes, my lord.”
“Jefon the elf. I must know how you knew my father would attack your companions?”
Jefon may have been expecting the question, but it was clear he did not know how to answer it. He shifted about and spoke in a timid voice. “I – I don’t really know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? Come, tell me now.”
“S – Sometimes I receive visions. They seem to give me glimpses into the future, the future that will occur if I don’t act.”
“And you received a vision that my father was going to attack your companions?”
Jefon nodded his head in agreement. “I received a vision showing my brother dying at the hands of your father, yes.”
“And this vision came to you while Valihorn and I were talking to you in the library?”
“Yes.”
William surprised the entire room when he raised his voice as he came to his main point. “Then why did you attack me in my library!?”
“Your father’s attack seemed imminent, and I needed to act quickly. How was I to know whether you took us to the library in order to divide our group?”
Now Lord Shetley was angry. “You seemed to know everything else. Why didn’t your vision tell you that I had nothing to do with my father’s ambitions?”
“The vision was like a dream, and dreams are difficult to interpret. I couldn’t take the chance. Your interference would have slowed me down, and I didn’t have time to answer questions. Valihorn and I barely arrived in time as it was.”
Lord Shetley was still angry. “That’s your explanation. You are receiving visions, and this is what brought about the death of my father?”
“Yes, my lord.”
William Shetley sat in silence for several moments as he searched Jefon’s face for the truth. “Very well. Having seen you receive this vision with my own person, I accept your explanation. Truly you have a great gift; I hope you use it well, but you will no longer use it in my keep or in my lands. Fall in with your companions.” Jefon bowed his head and rejoined the others. William stood up from his seat and spoke loudly for all to hear. “I have heard their tale and seen the evidence. I find them innocent.
“We will return your weapons and wish you well, hoping that you will never return. You are heroes and killers, and for that you shall receive neither reward nor punishment. I wish you well on your travels, and I hope you find what you are looking for.” With the sentence pronounced, William said no more. He simply headed out the side door with several of his aides in tow. The guards escorted the c
ompanions to the gate, gave them their weapons and horses, and sent them on their way.
With nothing left to say or do, Evisar mounted his horse and rode away from the Keep with the rest of the companions. After the Keep was out of sight, Tristan rode up beside him and said, “I’m sorry about what happened, and I know that I am partly to blame. You wouldn’t have come to the Keep if I hadn’t asked you to, and you wouldn’t have trusted Lord Shetley if I hadn’t given you my word it was safe.”
Evisar had to admit it was a breath of fresh air having someone of Tristan’s character around. “I know you blame yourself, Tristan, but there’s no need. I knew the risks and came of my own free will.”
“To be honest, I have nowhere to go, and your group is the closest thing to family I have left. If you’ll have me, I would like to pledge myself to your mission and continue traveling with you.”
Evisar smiled and looked at Tristan. “I was hoping you might feel that way. I would be honored to have a human of your skill and integrity travel with us.” Evisar reached out his hand and the two warriors shook, sealing the bond.
Jefon could not help but pipe up as well. “Welcome back, Tristan.”
Xander added, “I could use another warrior covering my back.”
Evisar turned to the entire group with a smile on his face and humor in his voice. “I hope you all had a good feast and are well rested because we have some hard work in front of us.”
Chapter 43: Deal with the Demon
Jon stood by the open gate with the captain of the Locus garrison at his side. Jon’s four hundred refugees and two hundred soldiers marched into the city as best they could. He urged them on with words of encouragement until they were all through the main gate. The portly captain of Locus ordered the gates closed and turned to face Jon with only a bit of irritation. “I wish your group luck, Captain, though I don’t know how they will possibly survive.”
Jon smiled back in a way that he knew was perceived as cocky. “That’s because you’re too used to the rigid thinking of a soldier. Perhaps that is why Locus is in such difficulty. This is not your average city, and it can’t be handled in an average way.”
“If I catch any of your group stealing or fighting I’m going to hold you personally responsible.”
Jon held out his hand and said loud enough for all to hear, “I understand. My thanks in advance for your compassion, Captain Marc. It isn’t anyone who would have let our group into your fine city.”
The portly captain shook Jon’s hand and the beginnings of a smile actually touched his lips. “Good luck to you, Captain.”
With that, the confrontation was over. Jon walked to the head of the column and led his group of six hundred down the cobblestone street toward the city’s center. There were many lesser roads that intersected the main fairway and diverged off of it once again, but Jon continued walking confidently down the main road. The city was crowded on this brisk day. The main road was just wide enough for two good-sized wagons to pass one another. The roads that intersected it were considerably smaller and were only wide enough for one wagon to travel down. The houses and shops pressed in oppressively against the streets. It almost seemed as though the streets were having to fight them off in order to keep their passageways open. All in all, the city seemed rather unfriendly as people brushed past each other on their way someplace else. Locus seemed like an overcrowded business-like place where people kept to themselves and wouldn’t walk across the street to help a beaten neighbor.
This was Jon’s impression of Locus until he saw the open forum that lead up to the Basilica of Fortuna. Seeing it from half a mile away at the city gates, Jon had not been prepared for the sheer size of the church. The primary steeple soared high above any other building in the area. The main street went right past the church grounds on the left and continued on, but the street in front of the church’s main gate opened up into a bazaar, an open air theatre, a grassy park, and a raised platform where political speeches were probably given. The entire forum except for the park was covered in slate and marble. As Jon approached the main gate to the church he could see that the church grounds rested on a rectangular piece of land that stretched for more than a quarter mile in both directions. The church grounds appeared to be entirely surrounded by an iron bar fence that stood eight feet tall. Inside the grounds, Jon could see the spires and steeples of the main basilica that reached more than one hundred fifty feet in the air and were made entirely out of white marble. There were two other smaller temples made out of gray marble and several smaller structures made out of wood.
Jon walked through the forum with his refugees behind him and stopped in front of the only gate that led into the church grounds. The gates were open, but two heavily armed knights were on duty. Jon walked over to one of the knights and said, “Would you mind summoning a priest of Fortuna for me? I would like to have a word with him.”
The knight took one look at Jon’s rank insignia and another look at the group of refugees behind him and said, “I will go and get a priest for you. Please wait here.” The knight turned on his heel in crisp military fashion and walked quickly into the main basilica.
Jon had been praying every night for more than a moon’s turn that he would be able to deliver his refugees to safety, and now the moment was almost here. It had taken every ounce of strength and intelligence he could muster to get his untrained group of refugees to relative safety. In some sense, it was the most important work Jon had ever performed and he would be sad to see it end. Even so, he was dreadfully tired. Jon stared at the Basilica to Fortuna and gathered his thoughts before he turned to the refugees.
Most of them were close enough to hear if he spoke loudly. “I’m afraid this is where we are going to have to begin to go our separate ways. My soldiers and I have tried to look after you as best we could, but now that we have finally made it to Locus, you must begin to rely on yourselves once again. Those of you who have kin in this city or coin for a room, I suggest that you leave us and see to your own affairs. My soldiers and I will keep a presence here at this forum, in front of the Basilica to Fortuna, for the next several days. If you need assistance, come here and my soldiers will be happy to assist you if they can. I, myself, will be leaving in the next day or two in order to travel to Jewlian. I have a duty to report to the King exactly what happened to Endwood.
“For those of you who don’t have any place else to go, my hope is that the Church of Fortuna will take you in and see that you get back on your feet.” A murmuring of voices rose up from the crowd of refugees as the truth of what Jon was saying started to sink in. Some stared at him with empty eyes, while many more looked scared and confused as to what would happen next. “I’m sorry I can’t do more, but I pray it has been enough.” With the speech given, Jon turned back to the Church of Fortuna.
The great door to the basilica opened almost as though on cue. The knight Jon had sent off began slowly escorting an old man with a long white beard down the marble steps of the church. Some of the refugees began to talk among themselves and slowly depart as Jon waited patiently for the old priest to walk in broken steps down the marble pathway to the gate. The old priest traveled about halfway down the path and finally waved for Jon to come up and talk with him. The remaining knight at the gate ushered Jon forward with a gesture of his hand. Jon walked quickly up to the old priest and bowed his head respectfully.
The priest said, “What is your name, my son?”
“I am called Jon Campbell, your holiness.”
“Hmm. My name is Fortiac. I am the High Priest for this Basilica to Fortuna. How may my goddess and savior be of service to you, Captain?”
Jon took a deep breath to compose his thoughts. When he spoke, it was with reverence and humility to the head of an order that held his fate in his hands. “I was the captain of a garrison of soldiers sent to safeguard a logging camp key to the future of Kentar. The logging camp was destroyed, and we were forced to flee for our lives. We have walked from Glenmyr Forest
to Locus and have nowhere else to turn. We need temporary food and lodging until these people can get back on their feet. Can the Church of Fortuna help us in our time of need?”
Fortiac nodded his head in understanding. To Jon’s surprise, Fortiac pulled a platinum coin the size of a horseshoe out from underneath his robes. He showed Jon the picture of a full rainbow on one side, which he knew to be the symbol of Fortuna, and the Basilica of Fortuna on the other. Fortiac flipped the disc into the air. The old priest made no attempt to catch the large coin, but rather let it fall to the ground. The coin landed with the image of Fortuna’s Basilica in Locus facing upward toward the sky.
Fortiac turned his head to the knight supporting him and said, “Samual, could you pick up the coin for me?” Without a word, the knight let go of the High Priest’s arm and bent down reverently to pick up the coin. He held it in both hands with wonder in his eyes as he stood back up with his head bowed low and held the coin out for Fortiac. The old priest picked up the coin with practiced ease and said, “Thank you, Samual.” He turned to Jon and said, “Captain, I believe we can be of some assistance to your group. As to how much assistance we will be …” Jon took a step back as the old priest flipped the sacred coin high into the air once again. The knight, the priest, and the soldier all watched as the coin flipped end over end and landed rainbow side up on the ground. Fortiac looked up from the coin and said to Jon, “We can care for one-hundred and fifty men, women, and children, Captain.”
Jon nodded his head soberly. “But no more?”
Fortiac shook his head. “I am afraid not, my son. That will stretch our resources to the breaking point as it is.”
“We are grateful for Fortuna’s assistance in this matter, Fortiac. Do you have any thoughts as to what I could do with the rest of my group?”
Do the Gods Despise Us? Page 8