Soldiers of Avarice

by Stephen L. Nowland

“It was enough,” Aiden assured her. “Tell me — when you touched this piece of glass around my neck, something strange happened. What made you reach out like that?”

  “Understand, the power I work with, the control I have over it, is instinctive. I need to be in tune with my feelings, because each emotion is a different state of energy that affects my abilities. I must be disciplined.

  “I don’t know where my powers come from, but when I touched that thing around your neck, it reminded me of something from when I was very young, and somehow, that’s connected to what I am.”

  Aiden lifted the glass shard from around his neck and held it out to her. She held it up to her eyes, looking closely at the remains of the glass sphere. Seeing nothing of interest, she hung it around her neck.

  Her eyes went wide and she gasped, staring off into the distance as her tattoos started to glow with a white light, dimly at first, but brighter as the seconds passed. The shard itself was glowing in the same manner. She was quite a sight at that moment, lit up like an angel.

  “What the hell is going on over there?” Colt asked from the other side of the camp. Upon hearing his voice, the glow from Sayana’s body disappeared. “I was just talking,” she stammered, quickly handing the shard back to Aiden.

  “You don’t need my permission to do anything,” Colt grunted, “but what was that light all about?”

  “She was testing a possession of mine to see if it had some intrinsic power,” Aiden volunteered. “I wasn’t expecting the light show. I assume that means something significant?”

  “You are correct; that glass shard is what I am sensing,” Sayana confirmed. “But I don’t know why. Is there anything else you can tell me about it? Perhaps where you found it?”

  “Not a great deal, I’m afraid,” Aiden sighed. “It was a glass sphere about as large as your head, and it was glowing softly. I picked it up and I saw – I mean, I felt very strange for a few moments. Then I received a mild shock, which prompted me to drop the sphere, which shattered on the ground.”

  He no longer told people the whole truth about what had happened. After being ridiculed too many times in the months afterward, he decided to keep the details to himself. Only Pacian had an inkling of what was going on, and Aiden wasn’t sure how much of it he believed.

  “I’ve spent the years since trying to find out more about its origins. This shard was taken out of my hand afterward, and I wear it as a reminder.”

  “Nothing else?” Sayana pressed.

  “Only that the sphere had some odd symbols around it, similar to writing,” Aiden added. “I figured they have some relevance, so I’ve spent much of the last few years trying to learn more about these sorts of things. Just before we left for Culdeny yesterday, I finally obtained a book that has more information. Not much to go on, but I plan on pursuing it when I have the time.”

  “I would very much like to know more about this,” Sayana said, her voice reflecting the kind of eagerness that Aiden himself felt, pushing him to learn what had happened to him on that day in the cave, years ago.

  “You’re welcome to travel with us,” he offered. “I’d like to hear more about your insights on this matter.”

  “About that,” Nellise said, after clearing her throat. “Could I have a word in private with you, Aiden?”

  The pair left Sayana to rest and drew away to another area of the camp. “You have concerns about her?” he asked quietly.

  “Well, yes; but this is another issue. I’m pleased to have had a hand opening the roads to Bracksford, despite all of the fighting and death, but I don’t want to associate with a criminal.”

  “Pacian,” Aiden grumbled, realizing what she was referring to.

  “I might have accepted his actions were simply self-defense at the beginning, but to murder a man in cold blood, without any sign of pity or remorse … no, I don’t think I can tolerate that. When we reach Culdeny, I’m going to turn him in to the authorities.”

  Chapter Six

  In the time it took Aiden to respond to Nellise’s statement, several possible reasons flashed through his mind, none of them good.

  “I can’t say you’d be wrong to have Pacian arrested,” he began slowly, “but it’s not like he killed an innocent person, you know? He’d never do that.”

  “I thought you were nice young men looking to help out the town, but I didn’t realize he was capable of such a brutal act. What he did to that man ... I don’t associate with cold-blooded murderers, Aiden.”

  “Pacian wasn’t always like this,” Aiden told her patiently. “I’m not saying what he did wasn’t wrong. It was, but he has his reasons.”

  Nellise shook her head steadfastly. “The reasons are irrelevant. Nothing can justify that sort of behavior.”

  “Would you like to hear them before you pass judgement?” Aiden pressed. She looked at him curiously for a moment, seeming to consider what he was saying. “Indulge me,” he added a moment later.

  “Desperate times can drive people to extremes, yet I can’t imagine what might have driven Pacian to these violent ends. Please help me make sense of this.”

  “I’ve known Pacian since I was seven years old. He and his parents moved to Coldstream from the east coast after their fortunes took a turn for the worse. They had a bakery, but it burned down in an accident, and they lost just about everything. Coldstream is a cheap place to live, although one can’t really make a fortune there either, so their new bakery barely made enough to keep them fed and clothed. Still, they survived.

  “One day, around three years ago, some people came into town looking for Bryce Savidge, Pacian’s father. It turned out that he owed them a substantial amount of money from gambling debts.

  “He’d burned down the bakery to fake the family’s demise, thus freeing him of obligation. It seemed Bryce underestimated his debtors, as they’d managed to track him down in Coldstream.”

  “I can guess this isn’t going to end well,” Nellise observed.

  Aiden nodded. “When Pacian went home that evening, he stumbled into the middle of a bad situation. Four thugs were there, destroying what few possessions they owned, looking for money. When Pace walked in, one of the men grabbed his mother and held a knife to her throat, demanding his money on the spot.

  “Pace wasn’t always sure of himself, like he is today, but he was quite skilled at throwing knives. He gambled he could kill the thug before his mother’s throat was cut. He was wrong.

  “As soon as Pacian threw, the man cut her throat wide open. By the time it was over, all four men were dead, and Bryce was severely injured. Pacian managed to make it through with only a few bruises, but his mother was dead.”

  Nellise covered her open mouth with a hand, gasping in astonishment. “Pace had to live with the guilt of causing his mother’s death, for which his father never forgave him,” Aiden finished.

  “Even though it was his gambling problems that brought those men to town in the first place,” Nellise finished. “The poor young man; he must be carrying around the burden of guilt for that act.”

  “I’m sure he is,” Aiden agreed. “Not to mention having to live with his father, and deal with the constant loathing the man had for him after that terrible day. Bryce was always a bit rough on Pace, but after that he used to get drunk in the evenings and beat Pace until he ran off, only to return after his father had passed out.

  “Things only got harder from there. When I decided to leave town and head off on my own, Pacian came along.”

  Nellise was silent for a while as she considered all she had heard. “I see now why he killed that bandit,” she eventually said. “He sees in his enemies the men who killed his mother.”

  “You should have seen the remains of the men from that fight. He’d stabbed them a dozen or more times each after they’d fallen. He used to be lighthearted and easy going, but after it happened he was never the same.

  “So there you have it; a reason for his actions, but not an excuse. What you do with the inf
ormation is up to you. If you want to have him locked up, I’ll understand perfectly. He’s not a bad person, just very, very angry.”

  “Anger can lead to some very bad decisions, Aiden, so that isn’t reassuring. I want to speak with Pacian a little more before I make any decision,” Nellise answered. “Throwing him in prison is not going to heal his soul. He might be open to some help — my help, that is.”

  “I don’t think he wants to be reminded of it,” Aiden replied doubtfully. “When you talk to him, be tactful.”

  “Fear not, I won’t scare him away,” she assured him. “And thank you for providing some perspective.” Aiden bowed his head slightly as Nellise walked over to where Pacian was stirring at last.

  “Are your lives always this exciting?” Sayana asked, when Aiden came over to sit next to her again.

  “Lately, yes,” Aiden sighed. “Up until a few months ago, I was up to my eyeballs in books. Had been for years. It’s all a bit of a shock to me, too.”

  “If it’s all the same to you people,” Colt called, “I’d like to get to Culdeny sometime this year. Get your gear and move out.”

  “Tell me more about your necklace,” Sayana requested, as Aiden moved to gather up his equipment.

  For the rest of the day, she stuck with Aiden like glue. At first, her questions were very straightforward, such as where the cave he had fallen into was, how he’d managed to get out again, and the like. It was only when she began inquiring further about the device itself that he had to become evasive.

  They made camp that night further along the highway, with another day of travel before they reached the safety of Culdeny. Colt was concerned the other bandits might try to attack again, so they took turns keeping watch through the night, including Sayana, who revealed she could see quite well in the darkness.

  Aiden awoke the next day with a start, having experienced his old nightmare vision once more. To his astonishment, he saw Sayana sitting next to him, curiously watching as he struggled for breath.

  “You were having a bad dream,” she remarked quietly.

  “That’s an understatement,” Aiden muttered as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “How long have you been watching me?”

  “An hour or so. You made strange noises in your sleep. What were you dreaming?”

  “It’s nothing; don’t worry about it,” Aiden said, to try and dissuade her interest.

  “I’m not worried, just curious. But I will respect your wishes,” she responded, heading to the campfire to prepare their morning meal.

  Perhaps when the time was right, Aiden would tell her of the vision he had experienced, although he didn’t have much hope of her providing him with any further answers.

  They set out on the last leg of their journey and before long, the road began sloping noticeably down as they neared the coast. Ahead, Nellise strolled alongside Pacian as they talked quietly. Occasionally he shouted a few words in protest, but she remained calm, in spite of what was clearly a difficult discussion.

  Before sunset, they broke free of the forest canopy and walked alongside clear fields as they approached of the town of Culdeny. An ancient stone wall five feet high ran along the entire edge of the town, with a solid-looking gate providing entrance to travelers. They had encountered nobody on the road during the journey, but that was about to change — their arrival would show that the way was safe for travel once again.

  There were five guardsmen stationed at the gate, clad in breastplates and carrying pikes and short swords. Their polished and rust-free armor gleamed in the cloudy conditions, in stark contrast to the armored farmhands of Bracksford.

  The guards were surprised to hear the group had come through the bandit blockade on the highway, and impressed that Aiden and his friends had dealt with it. When asked if they could send reinforcements to the south, their answer was predictable.

  “Every settlement and town in the area has had their garrisons depleted by His Majesty, and they’re all screaming for help,” the corporal explained. “Apparently, there’s been trouble brewing all over the place, with your less-reputable types taking advantage of the situation.

  “We’re stretched too thin — the mayor had to choose between the highway to the capital, and the southern road to Bracksford. What do you think we can do against an army of savages?”

  “Great, another dead end,” Pacian muttered.

  “I’ll pass the word on that the road is open again, but you should stop by and speak to the mayor yourselves when you get the chance,” the corporal advised, signaling to one of his men to open the gate. “I’ll make sure the merchants know they can travel south again once we’ve done a little scouting to confirm. Welcome to Culdeny, ladies and gents.”

  The cobblestone streets were bustling with heavily-clothed men and women conducting their daily business. Although it never really snowed here, Culdeny was still a cold place. Quaint, thatched cottages lined the broad streets, and the sounds of the sea could be heard echoing off the stone pier. The air had a tinge of saltiness and seaweed to it that was refreshing and bitter at the same time. Aiden had been here once before, many years ago when he was a child, but he had never forgotten that smell.

  “So, this is Culdeny,” he told Sayana, his breath misting in the chilly air. “Have you been here before?” Aiden could see she was uncomfortable.

  “I have never been out of the forests and hills,” she whispered. “People react badly to me sometimes.”

  “I can’t imagine why,” Aiden remarked with a straight face. “I doubt anyone would give you any trouble around here if you’re with us. Just to be clear, if you want to return to the wilds, feel free to do so.”

  “There is nothing left to eat back there,” she said with a shrug after a moment of thought.

  “You don’t want to go back to your homelands?” he inquired.

  “I ... no,” she hedged. Though he didn’t let on, Aiden could tell that she hadn’t been entirely honest in her response. “If it’s all right, I’d like to stay with you for a while. I know nothing about cities, and it’s too hard to survive on my own.”

  “Of course, you can stay with us,” Aiden responded with a welcoming smile. “As long as you like. You saved our lives back there; it’s the least we can do.” Sayana returned a shy smile and turned to take in the streets of civilization.

  “Ah, it’s nice to be home,” said Nellise wistfully, as she took in a breath of the salty sea air. “And it’s also nice to be walking along streets that aren’t up to my calves in water. I don’t know about the rest of you, but my boots are completely ruined.”

  “Buy more, then,” Colt advised absently. “Speaking of something to drink, I think I’ll catch up with the rest of you at the inn.”

  “Which inn?” Aiden called out as Colt hurried away.

  “The Seaspray Inn, down the road towards the docks. Can’t miss it.”

  “We should probably stop by the mayor’s office before we head there and finish up for the day,” Aiden said thoughtfully.

  Nellise looked at him in astonishment. “Looking like that, you wouldn’t even be allowed past the front door. The guards will be passing along the information, so our presence isn’t urgent. You and Pacian both need to clean yourselves up if you want anyone of high station to pay attention to you.”

  Aiden took a quick glance at his filthy attire and couldn’t argue the point. “He’ll probably want confirmation of the clear road from his own people, anyway. Can you take us to that inn?”

  “Yes, it isn’t far.” Nellise led them along the cobblestone path. “I should warn you, though, it can be a little rough. The guard hinted at it back at the gate, but it’s not as bad as he suggested. It all depends on how many ships are docked, really.”

  “Sailors, I’m guessing,” Pacian said. “Probably rowdy after spending months at sea; perfectly understandable.”

  “What is a sailor?” Sayana asked. Aiden hadn’t really been paying attention to her, but now that he was, he could see she was
very nervous. She walked in close step with Aiden, glancing around at all the people walking about.

  “A man who works aboard a ship. You know what one of those is, right?”

  “No. Aiden, I do not like it here,” Sayana advised cautiously. “There are too many people to fight.”

  “You don’t have to fight these people, Sayana,” Aiden replied reassuringly, ignoring Pacian’s smirk. “Once you get cleaned up, you’ll fit in with everyone just fine. They’re going about their lives for the most part; they’re not hunting you, and you don’t have to steal for food.”

  “But stay sharp and yell out if there’s any trouble,” Pacian added. “Not everyone’s a saint.”

  “Don’t set anyone on fire and I’m sure we’ll be fine,” Aiden finished, drawing a tense nod of understanding from Sayana.

  They continued on a little way down the road until they arrived at the Seaspray Inn, a huge wooden building that had clearly been expanded over the years. The crashing of waves against the shore was now quite loud, yet another thing that spooked Sayana, and she stared at the surging gray waters in fascination.

  Inside the inn, the smell of pipe smoke and rum permeated the air. Dozens of patrons milled around in the common room. Some were seated at tables with large tankards grasped in both hands, while others sat at the bar, laughing and chatting with each other.

  Through the din, Aiden paid for two rooms to stay in, one for the ladies and one for the gentlemen, if Colt or Pacian could be called such. On the way upstairs, Aiden took the opportunity to speak with Nellise for a moment.

  “How did your talk with Pacian go?” he began. “He hasn’t been arrested yet, so I take it things went well?”

  “He took some convincing,” Nellise answered, “but I believe with time and perseverance, he can be redeemed. He’s my new personal project.”

  “Well, I’m sure he’ll appreciate your attention,” Aiden replied with cautious optimism. “Just don’t go giving him the wrong idea — he might mistake your interest for something else.”

  “Let me worry about that,” she replied with a knowing smile. “Mine is a subtle art, Aiden. He won’t even know what’s happening.”