Weaponforger (Guardian's Prophecy Book 3)

by D A Godwin

  He circled the market in an aimless fashion and approached the halfling from behind. “You look like you’ve lost something.”

  Weeby jerked his head around sharply in surprise. He grinned when he recognized Tormjere, but it came just slowly enough to seem forced. “And you turn up in the most interesting places. Nothing so dramatic for me this time, I am afraid. I’m just watching the people stroll by.”

  “There’s enough of them alright, though I’m not sure if the rain or the army camped outside the walls is making them more miserable.”

  Weeby made a sour face as a squad of soldiers marched by. “They do tend to be an uptight lot, and they’ve taken the best food and the best women and all the money. But the rains this year are surely the vengeance of some unhappy god. I’m waiting for everything to move out so I can depart in peace.”

  “Why wait? The gates are open.”

  “It’s rumored the elves might attack first,” Weeby said. “I would hate to be caught along the road in front of a bunch of angry elves.”

  “Nothing a bit of magic couldn’t save you from.”

  “If only I had a wizard to help me with that, as I’ve little talent for such things.”

  “You ever find your girl?”

  Weeby shook his head. “Sadly, no, though I heard that she made her way to safety.”

  “Safety seems in short supply these days.”

  “That it does. And you’ve made a good point about waiting for the army. I’ve a few things to round up, but I think I’ll chance the road north and trust the fates to keep me safe. Until next time.”

  The halfling sauntered off with a tip of his head.

  “Weeby?” Tormjere called out.

  The halfling paused and looked over his shoulder.

  “You’re a terrible liar.”

  Weeby laughed in genuine merriment. “And you’re getting better. Next time I’ll buy you that drink and we’ll see who has the best story to tell.”

  Tormjere kept his eyes glued to the halfling until he had disappeared down a side street a few blocks away. He waited another moment before returning.

  “I am not certain what that accomplished,” Shalindra said as Tormjere rejoined them.

  “He was waiting for someone, but not us. Or at least not here.”

  “You think it coincidence then?”

  “The funny thing about coincidence is how often it reveals a hidden truth. But we should be gone before he can cause us any trouble.”

  Enna glanced about nervously. “I have no idea what either of you are talking about, but we should get moving before we bring trouble down on ourselves.” Even tucked against the building with her hood up, she was still drawing unwelcome looks.

  They set off again, heading away from the direction Weeby had chosen.

  “Should we look for one of Eluria’s temples?” Tormjere asked.

  “There are several, if memory serves,” Shalindra answered, “but I do not know where they might be, nor do I wish to wander longer than we must.”

  “Let’s find an inn and get off the streets, then,” Tormjere said. Though they could not see the sun through the clouds, the gloom of the afternoon was beginning to deepen.

  Tormjere had never been to the city, but he kept them moving generally south. The streets they followed took them past statued common squares, markets, and mansions. There were areas where the streets grew narrow and the inhabitants less reputable, but the manor houses and markets that dominated the inland side of the city seemed to be doing their best to crowd them out.

  It was not long before they located an inn of reasonable status that was situated near a series of modest houses. Tormjere spoke to the innkeep, and after handing over the required coins was directed up the stairs.

  He latched the door once the trio was alone in the room.

  “How much money do we have?” Shalindra asked.

  Tormjere felt the weight of his coin pouch. “Enough to get to Merallin comfortably but not enough to do so quickly, or at least not by land. I’ll check the docks and see if I can find us anything faster.”

  “I’ll remain here,” Enna said. “The more I am seen, the more likely it is to cause us problems. I witnessed only a handful of elves on the streets and none would even look at me, much less speak.”

  “I will wait as well,” Shalindra said. “I doubt that there is anything I could accomplish save calling more attention to you.”

  Tormjere unhooked Shining Moon from his belt. Shalindra noticed the barest of tremors in his hand as he returned the weapon to her.

  Are you…?

  I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.

  Tormjere departed without another word, but the look Enna gave her said that she had seen it as well.

  They set the latch on the door behind him and tried to make themselves comfortable.

  Enna was the first to break the silence.

  “If we are unable to stop this war, you must remain on the winning side and prevent the armor from being taken.”

  “You would wish me to raise arms against the elves?”

  “I do not wish you to fight for either side, but Elurithlia is greater than any one people. That She has called you to service can only mean that there is a reason, and you must take your place as Her Guardian, no matter which side achieves victory.”

  She covered Enna’s hands with her own. “I will do everything in my power to see that both sides may claim victory.”

  Enna smiled bravely, but her eyes were filled with worry.

  As they waited away the evening, Shalindra occupied the time by trying to think of who she could speak to, anyone who might have any ability to stop the war. Logian was the only member of the family who could influence her father, and she had no idea who his advisors were now or if any would even care to speak to her after so long an absence. It would have to be her father, and the only person she might trust to get her there would be her mother or Kentrick.

  It was well after dark when Tormjere returned, but neither woman had gone to sleep. He handed them small sacks filled with bread and fresh meats.

  “What did you find?” Enna asked, accepting the food eagerly.

  “The docks were as flooded with soldiers as everywhere else. Every available boat has either been bought or commandeered.”

  Shalindra winced, but not from the grittiness of the bread. She had known the answer as soon as he had, and had already come to the conclusion they all did. “Then tomorrow we walk.”

  * * *

  Wake up, but remain silent.

  Shalindra jolted awake, her eyes going to where Tormjere stood beside the door.

  What is it?

  Someone’s coming through the door.

  Should I wake Enna?

  There’s no time. Get ready.

  The latch opened with the barest of clicks, and the door swung open soundlessly.

  A shadowy figure rushed into the room, headed straight towards the bed where Enna still slept. Shalindra could see nothing about him save the glint of moonlight off a long dagger. Tormjere tackled the man, bending his arm painfully behind his back until the knife clattered to the floor.

  Enna bolted upright in confusion. “What…”

  Tormjere yanked the man to his feet by his hair. “Explain yourself.”

  The would-be assassin twisted away, leaving Tormjere holding only a handful of ripped out hair. Another blade appeared in the man’s hand as he lunged.

  Tormjere was faster, striking him hard enough to crack his skull. The assassin flopped dead to the floor.

  Tormjere checked the hallway and found it empty, then returned and searched the body.

  “Nothing,” he said. “This wasn’t a random robbery. He was going for Enna.”

  “Could someone know why I am here?”

  “It’s unlikely, but I don’t want to hang around long enough to find out.”

  “I agree,” Shalindra said, already gathering her things. “What of the body?”

  Tormjere d
ragged it to the window, then poked his head outside and looked up and down the street. Seeing no one he heaved the body out the window.

  “What?” he said in response to Enna’s accusatory look. “We can’t leave it to be found in our room.”

  It was a feeble effort at misdirection, but as they grabbed their belongings and hurried from the inn Shalindra could only pray that it would not somehow come back to haunt them.

  Homecoming

  Tormjere had always wanted to visit the capital of Merallin, but the childhood dreams he had shared with his brother Eljorn had involved much more celebratory circumstances.

  It was an odd thought for Shalindra to have, but she was aware that it was not hers. The mental images that accompanied their strongest emotions tended to bleed into one another’s consciousness, and was doing so with increasing frequency.

  Enna walked beside her, lost in their own thoughts. She could not blame her for her silence. The suspicious looks she had drawn in the north had turned into hostile glares and muttered unpleasantries the farther south they travelled and Enna had to be terrified that she would be seized at any moment. Such hostility did not bode well for any meeting with the king, but Shalindra would have to find a way.

  She turned her attentions back to the scene before them, taking note of what had changed and what remained the same. The river that flowed past the city was wide and swift, and higher than she could ever remember seeing it. Single-masted ships crewed by armed men in the King’s colors patrolled the waters in greater numbers, while merchant vessels large and small moved in and out of the harbors. Colorful pennants fluttered from atop the many graceful spires of the quicklimed castle, which stood perched on a rocky slab of bedrock that rose some fifty feet above the water. Waves crashed on the rocks below, and sea birds called in the air. Beyond the walls of the city, the grass turned to sand along the shore, and the closest trees were miles away. It was on a gentle rise beneath one such tree that they paused to escape the heat.

  “I never knew what so much water would look like,” Tormjere said.

  Shalindra’s gaze shifted to ocean. “It is in constant motion, and always captivating. When we were children, we would play on the shore and draw shapes in the sand.”

  “That seems fun. Is the water cool?” he asked, wiping sweat from his forehead.

  Shalindra smiled. “Not as cold as our mountain creeks but cool enough to feel good on your toes.”

  “At least you’d never go thirsty.”

  She laughed. “The ocean is salty—it tastes horrible.”

  “Wait,” Enna interjected. “I know something you do not?”

  Tormjere ignored the gibe and returned them to the task at hand. “How do you intend to find your mother?”

  “Finding her will be less difficult than arranging an opportunity to speak with her. She dislikes being trapped inside the castle all day and makes regular trips through the city, or at least she used to, and we would often visit the docks. She always said it was so that she could learn more about the goods coming in, but I think she just wanted to look at the horizon.”

  “So we are to wait for her to come out of the castle and hope to follow her?”

  “That would take too long. Agnes is Sister Superior of our temple here, and she often enters the castle to aid with injuries and see to the health of those inside. She was the one who first kindled my desire to join with Eluria. If anyone in the city can speak to my mother, it is her.”

  As a princess, she had been able to speak to anyone at any time. Now that luxury was denied to her, and after such a long absence she could think of no one else that might help them.

  “Good morning!”

  They all turned in surprise to see a young monk in the brown and yellow robes of Toush pulling a small handcart off the road and towards them. He huffed his way up the hill and stopped before them.

  “It is wise to stand in the shade today. Are you going into the city?”

  “That was our intent,” Shalindra answered.

  “Delightful! I thought I might never find you. I am Shiran.” He bowed, sending his thick mop of tousled hair bouncing about.

  “We are pleased to meet you,” Shalindra said, “but I fear you have mistaken us for someone else.”

  Shiran glanced at Enna. “I will presume that neither of you have been here recently, if at all. Yes. You will definitely need my assistance.” He clapped his hands eagerly and began rummaging in his cart.

  “How do you know we need your help?” Shalindra asked.

  “My path was shown to me. I was most pleased by this, as it means that I may soon continue to the next stage of my journey.” Shiran reappeared with a pair of nondescript gowns of common material and held them out to Shalindra and Enna. “These should do.”

  “Are you close to the red robes?” Tormjere asked. Shalindra understood it as an attempt at verifying the monk’s intentions, but Shiran beamed at the question.

  “You are familiar with our way! But not quite yet. There are six paths that must be walked to achieve true enlightenment, and multiple stages within each. How long each path takes varies with every journey.”

  “I always thought there should be another one once you’ve achieved the rest.”

  “Another path would be wonderful,” Shiran agreed, “but six is challenge enough to fill a lifetime. Or several.” He looked at the clothes still held in his hands. “The entrances into the city are heavily watched, and elves and clerics alike are often denied entry or detained, particularly those of your order.”

  Shalindra glanced at Tormjere, who simply shrugged. It would not be the first time the monks of Toush had helped them, and if what Shiran said was correct then they might indeed be forced to disguise who they were.

  “How long have you been waiting?” Shalindra asked, accepting the clothing but not liking it one bit.

  Shiran counted silently on his fingers before answering. “Two and a half years.”

  Enna looked at him incredulously. “You’ve been waiting here for that long?”

  “Oh, not here the whole time. One’s path can never be found by sitting still.”

  Shalindra wished that everyone would stop reminding her of how much time she had wasted in the valley, even if they did not mean to. “It may be that we need to hide who we are to enter the city, but simple robes will not conceal her race.”

  Shiran ran his fingers through Enna’s hair, and the straight white strands darkened and curled into a thickness that easily hid her pointed ears.

  “The effect will wear off in a few hours,” Shiran said, noting her distressed look. “Now, I have something else for you.”

  He produced a woven basket filled with a variety of plants and foliage that looked to have been plucked from the forest floor, and handed it to Shalindra.

  He next regarded Tormjere. “I was only shown the way for two people, but you can pass for any sell-sword easily enough. Might I suggest that you remain a few steps behind so it appears that we do not travel together? The guards will likely pay more attention to you than to us.”

  “You sound like you have done this before,” Enna observed as she pulled the greyish dress over herself. It was much too long and bunched on the ground around her feet.

  “In truth, I have simply been thinking about it for a long time. With the proper devotion of effort, one may become wise at anything.” Shiran looked at her and tapped his chin. “Perhaps you should simply ride in the cart. If you slouch a bit, you could easily be mistaken for an older child.”

  Enna climbed into the cart and tucked her legs beneath her, attempting to look as small as possible. Shalindra was already sweating under the additional layer of clothing, and though she was willing to take a monk of Toush at his word she did not wish to waste time. “Let us be on our way, so that we can cease this mummery.”

  Shiran took hold of the cart and returned to the road as Tormjere drifted a few paces back. The walk was long and hot, but the monk refused every offer of help. The ga
te into the city was flanked by a pair of rounded stone towers, both taller than her castle in Newlmir. The green and gold banner of Actondel still waved above them. Shalindra could barely remember the days of riding a carriage through those gates, oblivious to the effort of covering the distance on foot. It was a different life that belonged to someone else.

  She doubted they would be able to bluff their way in a second time, but as Shiran had predicted, the guards passed over them and devoted their attention to evaluating the weapons Tormjere carried. He did his best to avoid their gaze and look like someone amazed by the size and grandeur of the city, which was not difficult, given that he was.

  They continued for several blocks before finding a shaded alley in which to regroup. Shalindra and Enna shed their commoners’ robes, eager to be free of the extra layers in the heat of the day.

  “Are you certain you do not need them?” Shiran asked.

  “We should be fine from here,” Shalindra said, enjoying the coolness provided by the sleeveless elvish robes once more.

  “I hope that your path is now free of troubles, but should you ever find yourself in need, visit our monastery. It can be found back through that same gate, on the western edge of the King’s forest.”

  “Is there anything we can do to repay you?” Shalindra asked.

  “My path has already provided luxury.” Shiran indicated the hand cart. “I can trade this for more food than I could carry, and I am certain there are others who need your attention more.”

  “Then know that you have our thanks.”

  Shiran smiled. “It is I who must thank you, as you have placed my feet once more upon my path. May you find success in yours as well.”

  Shiran took up his cart and pulled it away, whistling a merry tune as he went.

  Enna shook her head. “There are few elves who follow Toush and so I have nothing to compare to, but was that normal?”

  “The brotherhood is known for helping others in many ways,” Shalindra responded, “and it is not the first time they have given us aid.”

  “And is their path of progression common knowledge as well?” Enna asked with a sideways glance at Tormjere.

  “My brother’s a monk,” he answered.