“I remember,” Barog said between clenched teeth, an eyebrow raised in skeptical anticipation. “What exactly do you want from me?”
And here came the truth. He needed a sailor and he needed one willing to smuggle not just himself, but Trista and Isa as well, to Sharmir. It was dangerous. It was stupid. It was likely to get the captain of the ship and his entire crew hung from their own sails, but one way or another, he was getting to Sharmir. “I need a sailor.”
“Oh no. Oh no, no, no. I see where this is going! I see where this leads and I will have no part in it. You need a sailor? Go take yourself east and find someone desperate enough to do it. My days of smuggling are done. Done, you hear! To think Brogen would think me so mad. Get out of my sight. Slip out this door and go back to wherever you came from. Even for an old friend this is too much.”
Garild felt his argument slipping away. The bag of coin against his hip weighed heavy. “Barog, you smuggled his son across the sea and afterwards, he didn’t hear from him ever again. All these years that have passed and Brogen hasn’t had a relationship with his son. He’s sent letters and all he’s ever gotten back is silence. He knows he’s alive but, beyond that, his own flesh and blood has been a ghost. He wants us to make one last attempt to contact him.”
Barog was angry. Pushing himself away from the table, he rose to his feet, shoulders squared. “Burn the damned letter and forget the wish of an old, ignorant fool. I helped in my youth, you’re right. He was a friend of my fathers, but I owe that man nothing. He exiled his own son and he wonders why he doesn’t have a relationship with him? The idiot. Leave this place, boy. Leave before my temper follows you. I’m not a kind man when the mood strikes, and you’ve certainly stoked the flames.”
His hand moved to the blade tucked in his belt, his fingers curling around the hilt in silent warning. It was time to make his final gamble, he just hoped for his own sake that it worked.
“Brogen said you might say that.” He reached for the weight pressing against his hip and quickly thrust forth the bag of coins. Barog, uneasy, reacted in kind, his blade slicing through the air and cutting through the canvas bag. Gold coins fell like rain, scattering and rolling to all corners of the alcove. Garild watched, satisfied, as Barog opened his mouth, his eyes glittering from the reflected light of the gold. “That’ll be three passengers to Sharmir, please.”
Barog didn’t look away from the cascade of gold coins. He was trapped, enthralled by the sparkling mountain that had formed on the table. “All aboard,” he sighed happily. “All aboard.”
CHAPTER 12
From the outcropping of rock on which they perched, Kirheen could see the town of Aspen far below. Morning light crept over the town, giving the wooden houses a tinge of a golden glow. Smoke curled from chimneys as townsfolk went about their morning routines.
Since their time in the swamp, they’d been on the road. Food was in short supply and they hadn’t dared to stop anywhere. After the attack, neither of them had worked up the courage to trade with any passing merchants and so they’d cut down on eating, drinking, and stopping altogether.
Aspen would be their chance to refresh, to restock supplies and tend to Tomias’ wounds. Just a winding path down the mountainside and they’d be in the comfort of an inn. They could bathe, buy new clothes, and eat a decent meal. The mere thought of food set her mouth to salivating and her stomach to rumbling.
“Shall we?” Tomias asked. “I think I can smell food from here.”
“I can too and it’s killing me. Let’s go.”
Tomias mounted their one remaining horse and Kirheen led the way on foot, relishing in the feel of moving her legs. It had taken hours of arguing with Tomias, but he’d relented and rode on the horse, resting his legs for the first time in days. The trail down the mountain was rocky but gradual, providing an easy path to travel by. They made good progress and by mid-morning, they were at the gates of Aspen.
Two guards stood watch, their demeanor relaxed. They didn’t look to be expecting any trouble, and they waved Kirheen and Tomias through the gate, barely giving them a second glance as they passed by.
The main strip through town was a wide dirt road and a few people milled about, drifting in and out of the buildings that rose on either side of the street. The town was a conglomeration of wood and rock and it gave the whole place an earthy feel. The smell of cooked meat and yeasty bread wafted through the wide corridor and Kirheen had to suppress a whimper.
Despite their hunger, they moved on. It was an inn they were after. Safety and rest. Food would come soon enough. Further down the road, a young woman spotted them and approached, step by bouncing step. Her face was streaked with dirt, her blonde hair pulled back away from her messy face in a high tail. She smiled at them with crooked teeth. “You look like you’ve been traveling,” the girl exclaimed, walking alongside Kirheen.
“We have,” Kirheen said, giving the girl a hesitant smile. Whatever she wanted, she didn’t want to encourage her. She didn’t trust the girl. She wasn’t sure she trusted anyone, not after the swamp.
“I won’t bother you for long, I promise. If you’ve been on the road, you must need an inn. My old gran has got a place, not too far from here either. We’ve got lots of rooms, and hot water for baths. You both smell like the swamps, no offense. We’ve got food and drinks and I’m also the best at tending horses in all of Aspen. Your beast here would be taken good care of.” She smiled brightly, reaching out to pat Benny.
Her enthusiasm made Kirheen laugh and she looked over her shoulder at Tomias. He gave an indiscreet shrug and then returned the girls smile. “Sounds like a fine place. How much for a room? Meal and bath included.”
“Just shy of eighty coppers, sir. Most of the inns around here are a whole silver piece, if not more. With all the troubles on the roads, most don’t want just anyone staying. Fay is a good lady though. She understands, it ain’t about the coin in your hand. Nope. Anybody with coin can be bad. I can take you to the inn, if you’d like. You could have a look around,” the girl said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She was nervous. It was clear she was paid to find weary travelers. Her livelihood probably depended on her finding patrons for the inn and horses to tend to. It was likely a shoddy hole in the wall, but it was worth a shot.
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to look,” Kirheen said, directing her words to Tomias.
“Suppose not. Lead the way. We’ll follow you.”
She beamed, her cheeks turning red as she rushed forward. “I promise you won’t be disappointed,” she said over her shoulder. She stepped through the crowds, shouting for people to get out of the way with all the authority of a queen. Kirheen had to stifle a laugh. Despite her size, people listened. Shoulders back, head held high, she led them down several winding streets. The eastern wall loomed closer and at its edge, the girl stopped.
“Well, here it is,” she exclaimed, flinging her arms out. “Aspenwood Inn.”
Kirheen wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting, but it wasn’t what she saw before her. The two story inn was a thing of beauty, dark wood surrounded by green gardens. Fruit trees rose tall and lush, forming a pathway to the front door of the inn. It was a labor of love, a thing carefully tended to. It showed in every blade of grass, in every plump fruit hanging from the trees, in the flowers blooming in pots near the front door. To the right stood a quaint barn, as lovingly crafted as the inn itself.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? Well, go on. I’ll tend to your horse while you take a look around. Let Fay know that Carri sent you, alright?”
“Thank you, Carri,” Tomias said and slid off Benny with a groan. He handed her the reins. “This is a beautiful place. We’ll go have a look.”
“I’m sure you’ll love it. Just come find me in the barn when you make your decision. I’ll get your horse brushed down and watered. And don’t rush either. I’ve little work today and I’d welcome the chance to actually do something.”
Carri led the horse away, talking t
o it all the while. “She’s a character,” Kirheen smiled.
Tomias chuckled. “That she is. Well, shall we have a look?”
Even the inside of the inn was beautiful. The common area was large and comfortable. Windows lined the left hand side of the room, letting in natural light and a view of the well-tended gardens. There was a fireplace in the center of the common room, surrounded by a beautiful seating area made of wood and colorful rock. Chairs and tables filled the rest of the space, candles and flowers decorating each and every table. Off to the right was a bar made of deep mahogany that shone in the light. A set of stairs directly ahead of them led up to the second floor. The whole place was tranquil, and the feeling washed over her, making her feel every ounce of her fatigue.
Several patrons lingered near the windows, their demeanor relaxed. They cast a curious glance in their direction but turned back to their conversation soon enough. A young boy with blonde hair wove through the common area, wiping tables and rearranging the center pieces. He stopped to greet them with a brief wave before going back to work.
“My, it looks like you’ve seen some travel.” A tall, spindly woman stepped out from a room behind the bar. She wore a simple blue dress and her brown hair, streaked with gray, was pinned back away from her face. Her blue eyes regarded them with a mixture of pity and curiosity, but she smiled kindly. Her face was long and lean, her nose slightly bent, a sign of some past injury. “You both could use a bath. I can smell you from here,” she chided, not mincing words.
“Ah, yes. I’m afraid so. Sorry for the smell,” Tomias said, grinning sheepishly.
“Let me grab you robes. Leave your clothes in the baskets in the bathhouse so I can wash and mend them.”
Kirheen glanced to Tomias. He raised his brows in startled silence. Clearing her throat, she spoke. “We’re not quite sure we’ll be staying tonight. We just came in to check-”
The woman shot her a look that stopped her mid-sentence. Pleased, she continued. “I’ll not have you stinking up my inn, or any other for that matter. You’ll be free to leave after you look presentable. Now let me grab you those robes.” She disappeared back into the room behind her, humming a tune as she went.
Kirheen could only blink.
“I take it that’s Fay,” Tomias said, scratching his head. “Do we really look that bad?” He surveyed himself in the mirror above the bar, his eyes widening a bit as he did. “Well, look at that. We look awful.”
Kirheen sighed. Fay came bustling back out from around the corner a moment later. She carried a basket filled with robes and towels and shoved it towards Tomias. “Out the back with you both. Just follow the path back through the gardens. The room has a divider, so don’t you go sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong or I’ll snip it off. I’ve beaten men out of this inn twice your size so don’t cause any trouble. If the water gets cold, just ring the bell. One of my helpers will come feed the fire. I’ll have food ready for you when you’re done.”
“You’re too kind,” Tomias said.
“Out,” Fay said sternly, but her eyes twinkled with good humor. Tomias didn’t argue. Spinning on his heels, he hurried for the back door. Kirheen followed, shuffling to keep up.
Outside, Tomias grimaced. “Kir, she threatened to cut off my nose.”
“Only if you peek.”
Tomias looked insulted. “I’d never!”
Kirheen rolled her eyes, snatching a robe and a towel from the basket. “You dare and I’ll help her.”
They split paths, Kirheen entering the bathhouse on the left and Tomias entering on the right. The bathhouse was dimly lit with candles and devoid of people, much to her relief. It was unlike anything she’d ever seen. A large hole had been dug into the ground and lined with stone. At its center was a great metal contraption. She could see pieces of wood jutting out of it, flames licking the top. Steam curled on the top of the water, inviting her in.
Next to the bath was a basket of soaps and a chunk of rough pumice stone to scrub with. Setting her towel and robe close by, she stripped out of her soiled clothes. She hadn’t realized just how soiled until she held them in her hands. The dirt and grime of travel had stained her simple gray tunic a foreign color. With a grimace, she tossed it in an empty basket near the door, along with her breeches, undergarments and worn boots.
Giving a nervous glance around the room, particularly at the thick wooden panels dividing one half of the room from the next, she tiptoed into the hot water. At first it felt too hot, her toes burning from the heat of the water. She coaxed herself further into the churning pool, letting it wash over her. Her muscles, sore from the endless hours of travel, eased and relaxed, the tension fleeing her body along with the dirt from travel.
She heard a loud sigh from the other side of the divider. “Just so we’re clear, I’m never leaving this place.”
Kirheen smirked. “Never? Won’t you starve?”
“Hush. You know what I meant. This… this is just nice. Peaceful.” His voice trailed off. He sounded almost sad. “I wish it could last.”
Kirheen stared at the flames licking the top of the metal contraption while a thousand thoughts swirled through her head. In a place like this, it was easy to forget that the world outside was not peaceful. It was easy to forget that her kind were being murdered, tortured, and slaughtered like sheep. Men, women, children. It didn’t matter. Those with powers were feared and hated and for what reason? You know why. She was filled with a vision of the swamp, of men walking, shambling steps not of their own free will. The water had taken them, consumed them whole, leaving nothing but bubbles on the surface to note they’d ever existed at all.
That was why people feared them. It was the same reason she’d feared their powers back in Sanctuary. It was a violation, an intrusion, a person entering your mind against your will. And while one could choose not to act in such a manner, there were always going to be people that would abuse it. There were always going to be mad men wanting to bend others to their will. Men just like Nyson.
It still didn’t make it right. Her kind were being persecuted for the actions of a few. It hurt and she wanted to know the truth. Val’shar would have the answers. She’d need only open her eyes and look.
“Kirheen?”
“Tomias, I don’t want to talk right now. I just… I need some time. I just want to forget about things for right now. While we can.”
“Of course,” he said softly. He didn’t speak anymore. The only sign of his presence was the sound his body made moving through the water.
Kirheen grabbed the soap and started scrubbing away the signs of travel. She hadn’t realized how stifled all the dirt had made her feel. She scrubbed until her skin was pink and then washed her hair, gently picking through the knots with her fingers. Relaxed and cleansed, she pulled herself from the bath. She dried quickly and wrapped herself in the soft, fluffy robe Fay had provided. It felt nice to be wearing something clean and comfortable for a change.
Tomias was waiting for her, standing in the light of the sun as he surveyed the gardens. He looked serene, truly at peace for the first time in months. His skin was still pink from the bath, his white hair hanging to his shoulders in stringy tendrils. He turned his eyes towards her as she stepped from the bathhouse and smiled.
She walked through the lush green grass, feeling it tickle her toes as she walked. The day was warm but not unpleasant and the sun on her damp skin felt wonderful. She tilted her head back, letting it warm her face.
“You look nice,” Tomias complimented, reaching out a hand and brushing a strand of wet hair out of her face. “I forgot how pale you are.”
“What a waste of a perfectly good compliment,” she chided. “You want to talk about pale, go find a mirror.”
“I am quite aware of the reflective nature of my skin, thank you. If we stand out here much longer, we won’t have to worry about it though. We’ll be a nice shade of pink and then what will we argue about?”
Kirheen shook her head and sh
uffled towards the back door. Fay stood in the common area talking to two unfamiliar children. They held baskets laden with supplies and at the sight of Kirheen and Tomias, they went darting out the back door, racing towards the bathhouse.
Fay waved them over. “Ah, there are my weary travelers. You look far more presentable, though you could both do with some additional grooming, but that’s none of my business. Come here and sit. You must be terribly hungry.”
“You’ve no idea,” Tomias said. They sat at a table near the bar and Fay brought them bowls of a hearty chicken soup and several thick slabs of buttered bread. They tore into the meal, neither of them minding their manners as they satiated a hunger that had gone ignored for too long.
“You both know how to compliment a woman’s cooking,” Fay smiled, clearing the table. She returned a moment later. “Carri tells me you’ll be needing a room for the night. I take it these accommodations would suffice?”
“You’ve been so generous already,” Kirheen said. “We’d love to stay.” She looked to Tomias for approval and he nodded happily, reaching for his water.
“For the two of you, room and board and access to the bathhouse, it’ll be three silver.”
Tomias nearly choked, sending a spray of water droplets into the air. He coughed, slamming his water down and beating his chest while he tried to gather himself into a more agreeable state of shock. “Excuse me?”
Fay smiled. “I take it that won’t be a problem?”
“That might be a slight problem. That wasn’t what we were told.”
The old woman stood quiet, hands clasped in front of her. Her lips were curled, her eyes twinkling. Tomias met her gaze and his brow furrowed. “You’re toying with me.”
“Of course I am, boy. If you’d paid more attention, you would have noticed it sooner. The cost will be under a silver piece, I assure you. I’ll fetch you a key shortly. You really should see the barber down the road. You look old enough to be my husband with all that white hair on your face.” Without another word, Fay turned away from them and wandered back over to the bar. Tomias frowned, stroking his beard. He raised his eyes to Kirheen, all but begging for reassurance.
The Allseer Trilogy Page 40