At last, on the fifth day after Dawyn and his companions left Selma, as they topped a rise, the city of Henry’s Crossing could be made out in the distance. The midday sun was shining, as if unconcerned about the rumors of the darkness that had come to shadow the town in underworld activity. The city had a short wooden palisade around it, while a small line of people waited to enter the town. Along the river, boats could be seen moving up and down, ferrying goods or people to destinations unknown.
“So that’s the city?” Anwyn said. “It’s not much to look at if you ask me.”
“That is the city,” Dawyn said. “It’s a crossroad, so it’s not the largest of cities. Merchants and travelers pass through on their way to somewhere else – few choose to remain in the city. It is, or was anyway, a town of merchants, innkeepers, brewers and blacksmiths with a few farmers around. Now, though, who knows what we’ll find.”
“I think it’s time that we parted ways,” Favio announced. “The plan calls for me to infiltrate Lord Garik’s ranks. It wouldn’t do for me to be seen walking into the city with the three of you, especially if I know you like I think I do. You’re going to go in there and, at some point, make a scene. I don’t want to be implicated in any way in whatever you plan on doing, Dawyn. I will go in, masquerade as a thief and find the location of Garik. Then, I meet back up with the three of you, assuming you’re all not dead or imprisoned, and we go after the bastard. Does that sound like a good plan?”
Dawyn hesitated before nodding. “Yes, you’re right, Favio. Go on ahead or follow behind us. Better yet, come in from the east or south while we come in from the north, in order to further distance our relationship for the time being. What signal will you give when it’s time to meet and where shall we meet?”
“There’s an inn named the Angry Bull. The innkeeper, Horace, owes me several favors. When the time comes, and you’ll know it when it’s time, go to the inn, speak to Horace and he’ll help you find me. But don’t go to him until you’re sure I’ve found Garik, understood?”
Alivia nodded. “Understood. But how do we know that this Horace friend of yours is even still alive? For all we know he could have been driven out with the rest of the townsfolk.”
“Trust me, Horace is a hard man. Unless he’s dead, he’ll still be there. He’s also a survivor. He knows how to recognize strength. If he saw Garik and his men moving into town, he wouldn’t make waves and give them a reason to hurt him or his family.”
“If he’s so adaptable,” said Anwyn, “how do we know we can trust him?”
“Horace is like a brother to me. We traveled for years together and we had each other's backs.” Favio’s eyes took on a distant look, remembering the past. “When I thought I was all alone in the world, Horace was there to help give me a reason to live. I owe Horace many things, including my life, but he owes me twice as much. I will swear on every limb of my body that he won’t betray me or any person I call friend.”
Dawyn looked Favio in the eyes, gauging his sincerity. At last he nodded. “That’s good enough for me. If he’s a friend of yours and you trust him, we will, as well. We’re wasting daylight, so let’s move.” With a small kick he urged Shadow into motion and the others followed. They stopped in a copse of trees about two miles from the city, where Favio took his leave. Eastward he went, staying out of sight of the city, where he would then swing around to the east gates and enter there as planned. The others continued on toward the north gates.
At the gates, they found several city watch guards lounging around, checking visitors. There was a sense of apprehension in the air. All visitors were being told to dismount from their horses and lead them through the gates. Dawyn and his two companions did so before joining the line. It was a small relief from the saddle sores. Dawyn was accustomed to riding, but hadn't ridden for this long in a while and they still stung. He couldn’t imagine the discomfort Alivia and Anwyn were experiencing, though the faces they made as they dismounted gave him a good idea.
All of a sudden, one of the guards grabbed an apple out of a nearby cart and began munching on it. The farmer said something and stepped up to the guard, as if telling him to stop. The guard shoved the farmer back with an outstretched mailed glove. The farmer stumbled back and the guard proceeded to kick the man in the knee with an armored boot so that he fell to the ground. The guard leaned low and must have said something to the man as he clutched his sword, for the man had the fear of death in his eyes. Dawyn was tempted to draw his own blades and come to the defense of the farmer, but he had to play his part long enough to get into the city. It wouldn’t do to announce his presence this early. The guard just laughed before snatching yet another apple from the cart and walking away, tossing the apple into the air and catching it a few times. The farmer rose slowly to his feet and, head down, entered the city with his cart.
After several minutes of waiting in line, they came to the gates, where the guard asked them a series of questions regarding where they were going, who they were going to see and what they were bringing into the city. Dawyn and the two women answered with as much truth as possible. They did not mention the fact they were here to kill or capture Lord Garik. The story they told, which they had rehearsed several times since the city came into sight, was that they were here to take a boat to Valnos. They said they were from Selma and wouldn’t be staying long in the town. They explained their weapons by complaining about how dangerous the times were.
The guard eyed Anwyn and Alivia, his hungry eyes drinking in their beauty. For a moment, Dawyn thought the guard was going to try and snatch one of the women as his fellow guard had snatched the apple earlier. The guard settled for just a leer and shameless grin before waving them through. As Alivia passed, the guard slapped her buttocks, which caused her to spin around in indignation. She stared at the man, obviously trying to imagine doing awful things to him, but stopped when Anwyn put a hand on her arm. She looked toward Anwyn and saw her shaking her head, as if saying “it’s not worth it”. Alivia took one last look at the guard, sniffed and continued leading her horse through the gates of the city.
Chapter 15: A Plan
Blood and Shadows Page 15