Blood Of The Righteous

by J. E. Sandoval

  “How did you get out of there?”

  “I did some quick talking that would have made Eddington look like a no-sport ass.”

  For the first time since the banquet announcement, El smiled. “Thank you for watching out for him. Oh David, I can’t tell you how good it is to have you back!”

  “It is good to be back. So, tonight, I’m going to drive the point home to Gabriel by sneaking into his room and leave him a message. I don’t want him taking any foolish chances by thinking he is your last line of defense.”

  Eleenia thought for a while. “That could be dangerous, but it is a good idea. There are a few judicial battles tomorrow. I suggest you study Sir Marcus’ fighting style and see if he has any weaknesses. I’ll go down by the stables before and after. If he does any practice jousts, I want to watch.”

  David nodded. “Do you think it is safe for you to go there alone? Why can’t Gabriel go?”

  “Gabriel needs to mentally and spiritually prepare himself. Judging by what you said happened, he’s probably going to be in prayer for the rest of the night and most of tomorrow. Make sure he eats, though. No alcohol, and plenty of meat, tubers, and bread.”

  “Father always said you were the smartest,” David said with a smile. “Listen, I’m going to go get us something to eat. Afterwards, I need to go acquire a few things and to ask around about Sir Butt-kiss. We’ll meet tomorrow evening and discuss what we’ve learned.”

  El rubbed her stomach. “Thank you, David. I almost forgot. I didn’t realize how hungry I was. Do you want some silvers?”

  David laughed. “Please, El. I’ve got us covered. And on the way home, none of this sleeping outside manure. We are staying at an inn or way station every night.”

  “Mmm. Music to my ears. Thank you, David.”

  David bowed with over exaggerated flourish and departed.

  * * * * * *

  David browsed around the trader’s shop, pretending to be interested in what he viewed.

  The plump owner came up to him. “I am Master Charles, proprietor of this shop. Do you see anything you like?”

  David addressed him without looking at him. “Oh, I like plenty of what you have. There are some fine curiosities, Master Charles. However, I am not finding what I am looking for.”

  The merchant looked around to make sure no one could hear, came in closer to David, and lowered his voice. “I see. And what makes you think I have any of those items?”

  David looked at him with an ‘isn’t it obvious’ expression. “I’ve traveled to seven different kingdoms and probably 20 ports. Your shop is located in a less than reputable location, and wouldn’t be frequented by people looking to buy this frilly merchandise. I’ve seen a dozen shops like yours. Now, what I need are a good set of lock picks.”

  Master Charles smiled. “Come with me in the back, young sir. I even have some of the various styles of practice locks for you to try them out on.”

  “Sounds good!” David followed him into the rear of the shop. The room was lit only by lanterns. Once Master Charles closed the door, the lanterns were the only source of light. David let his eyes adjust. Tables lined the walls of the small room, filled with every type of thieving tool imaginable. Grapples, lock picks, daggers, leverage bars, glass cutters, medicines, acids, even a table with special arrows. David picked up an arrow with an odd-looking head. “What’s this do?”

  “That, young man, is a noise maker arrow. Good for diverting attention of guards while you make your way to safety. Here, watch this.” Master Charles picked up a small black pouch, no bigger than an egg and threw it on the ground.

  David was temporarily blinded by a flash of light brighter than the sun. “Argh!” he yelled. He stood blinking as splotches of color fought their way through the blackness that used to be his vision. “Impressive. When will it wear off?”

  “Give it a few more seconds.”

  Slowly David’s sight returned to him. “I have to admit that I’ve never seen such a collection. No wonder the hired guards in New Portsmouth have such a poor reputation.”

  Master Charles beamed with pride. “Now, the lock picks.” He took David over to a table in the back of the room. “These are some of the finest tools created from the ingots of Lystra, which as you know produces some of the finest metals in the known world.”

  “Yes, I am aware.” David’s attention was draw to a set that was the most extensive collection of picks and keys that he had ever seen. It was even better than his mentor, Dunkirk, owned. “How much for these?”

  “You know quality, that’s for sure. I put that collection together myself. Seven gold and it’s yours.”

  David scoffed. “I see I’ve paid you far too many compliments. I mistook you for a man of honest business dealings. Honor among thieves and such.”

  Master Charles raised his eyebrows. “You, sir, are more than a petty thief. Normally I would talk about how they were an investment and you could make up the money in a single night of burglary. So, what do you propose?”

  “It looks like you’ve made this set from two smaller sets. I figure they were a gold and five silvers each. So, give me your five best practice locks. If I can crack all five in under fifteen minutes, I pay you four gold. If I can’t, I’ll pay you eight.”

  The merchant grinned. “Make it ten minutes and you have a wager.”

  David thought for a minute and nodded. “I’ll probably lose my shirt over it, but provided there is no interference, deal.”

  Charles reached into a bag under one of the tables, sorted through the locks, and chose five. He locked them and laid them out, and pulled out an sandglass. “Whenever you are ready. There is enough sand in this glass to run five minutes.”

  “Turn it!”

  The merchant flipped the sandglass. David picked up each of the locks and studied them. He carefully selected the appropriate tools for each of them. Before half of the sand ran through on the second turn, the final lock popped open.

  “That, my boy, was most impressive! Whoever taught you must have been a master.”

  David counted out four gold. “Pleasure doing business with you, Master Charles. I will most definitely have to come back when I have more time.”

  “It was a pleasure. I’d ask your name, but in my line of work, it’s best I don’t know.”

  * * * * * *

  After a quick stop at a tavern to pick up a bottle of sweet wine and a few orders of beer-battered fish and onion rings, David headed back to the inn. He stopped by Gabriel’s room and knocked on the door.

  “Gabriel, I brought some dinner.”

  Gabriel opened the door, looking very somber. “Thank you, brother. If you don’t mind, I’d prefer to eat alone. My apologies.”

  “Think nothing of it. I have to talk to El, anyway, and you have to prepare yourself.”

  Gabriel nodded. “I have to win this, or die trying. If I lose, promise me you will take El and get her back to Avonshire.”

  David smiled. “No need. If you fall, Sir Marcus won’t live through the night. I’ll even make it look like an accident.”

  Gabriel gave him a blank look. “David, I’m serious.”

  David put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “So am I.”

  “Very well,” Gabriel said.

  David could tell he didn’t believe him. Gabriel said his goodbye, thanked David once again for dinner, closed and locked his door.

  He walked across the hall to Eleenia’s room and knocked. El opened the door.

  “Oh, that smells delicious!” she said, picking out the largest piece of fish and stuffing it in her mouth. After the first bite was down, she slowed in her eating. “So what did you get while you were out?”

  David moved the small pile of books on her desk off to the side and laid out his new set of lock
picks. “Beautiful, aren’t they?”

  “The question is, will they work?”

  David nodded. “I tried them out. These are nicer than Dunkirk’s.”

  They ate and drank wine chatting into the night. El told David of Janelle, Holle, and their friendship, and how she and Gabriel didn’t get along, while David talked guild politics and life at sea, stories that Eleenia couldn’t seem to get enough of.

  * * * * * *

  After leaving El, David went down to the Salt Spray Inn. Sure enough, Karinga and the crew were there. They all cheered as he came in and called him over to their table.

  “So my lord, I hear that your brother caused quite a stir at Eddington’s reception for your sister!” Corwyn said.

  “Indeed he did,” David replied. “He is jousting him the day after tomorrow.”

  “Think he’ll win?” Karinga asked.

  “I’m going to place a sizable wager on him. What does that tell you?”

  “Oh, excellent idea!” Edge said.

  Jenna brought a cup of cold creamed whiskey to the table. “Lord Ki Kalendeen! I still can’t believe it!”

  “How’s old Edward?” David asked, referring to the owner, bartender, and cook of the inn.

  “Doing better. We wrapped him up good. Thankfully Captain Karinga gave us a bit of a discount on the aloe.”

  “David, we are making insane money on the aloe and grain alcohol that the Intrepid was carrying. By the time we’re done selling it, it will more than cover repairs to both ships.” Kiringa drained his tankard. “Jenna, love, would you mind?”

  “Not at all, Captain.”

  “What’s in that rolled leather you have there, David?” Dunkirk asked, recognizing the set of thieves’ tools.

  “Picked these up today.” David set the leather on the one end of the table and unrolled it.

  Dunkirk’s jaw dropped. “Dear God, these are beautiful!” He began to pick through them. “In my thieving days, I might never have gone to sea had I owned a set like these! Where did you get them?”

  “Master Charles’ Curiosity Shop,” David replied. “It’s up near the entrance to poor town. These set me back only four gold. I won a wager. He wanted seven gold for them, but you should be able to get a similar set for five.”

  “I just might,” Dunkirk replied. He gingerly rolled up the leather and handed it back to David.

  David leaned in and gestured to the rest of them to do so also. “Listen, lads, I have a little favor to ask of you. Tomorrow, I want you to ask around town about Sir Marcus. Find out if he has any weaknesses, or if he has a tendency to cheat.”

  “Last year he threw salt in a challenger’s eyes,” Jenna said, plunking down Karinga’s tankard of ale. “Blinded the poor fellow before he ran him through.”

  “Thank you, Jenna. That is exactly the type of information I am looking for. Tomorrow, I’m going to watch him in the judicial pits to get an idea of his overall fighting style. Ask around, place some wagers, and tomorrow night, we’ll meet back here.”

  Corwyn slapped him on the back. “Don’t worry, Lord Ki Kalendeen. Your ‘friends in low places’ won’t let you down.”

  “Thanks, my friends. The next two rounds are on me.”

  * * * * * *

  It was around midnight. David hoped that Gabriel still kept regular sleeping hours, as he always had, as he silently moved through the slumbering inn. He moved past his own and Eleenia’s room and was standing outside Gabriel’s.

  He listened at the door. Inside, he could hear Gabriel snoring softly. Unrolling the leather container of his new lock picks, he first attempted a skeleton key. He worked the lock as quietly as he could, trying to get the tumblers to rise. Unfortunately, it wasn’t happening.

  Replacing the skeleton key, he selected a pick and a small device that was essentially one long wire bent in half with the ends twisted together. He slowly inserted it in the lock and felt the pins pop up one by one. He rotated the picks and the lock softly clicked open.

  He softly opened the door and peeked in. Gabriel was lying on his back fast asleep. He crept low into the room, doing his best to make no sound. He reached Gabriel and placed a small sealed envelope on his chest. David’s “victim” didn’t even stir.

  Satisfied, David left the room, closed the door softly, inserted the picks into the lock, and turned it closed. After putting the two picks back in their place, he rolled up the leather container and buckled it closed.

  “That should take some of the stress off of him,” he said quietly. He headed back to his room for a restful night’s sleep.

  * * * * * *

  Gabriel awoke to the sun streaming into his window. He yawned, sat up, and saw the small envelope that had fallen into his lap. Puzzled, he picked it up and examined it. There were no markings on it, just a wax seal. He broke the seal and drew out the small piece of parchment.

  It read “You have been poisoned and died in your sleep. Other than this letter, I’ve left no trace. I even relocked the door on my way out. Don’t take any unnecessary chances tomorrow, brother. Defeat him if you can, but know that if you fall, Eleenia will be safe.”

  “You clever blonde monkey,” Gabriel said smiling. It was so good to have David back. Tomorrow, he would defeat Sir Marcus, then the day after they would head back to Avonshire. Getting out of bed, he relieved himself in the room’s small chamber pot, then went into his morning routine of prayer, exercise, and stretching. It would be a few more hours before David and El were up, so he meditated and did slow-breathing exercises.

  * * * * * *

  David sat at a table by the open window. Even though it was morning, it was already hot. For some reason, Lystra never seemed to get as hot as New Portsmouth did.

  Now that he was David Ki Kalendeen again, he started thinking a lot about his childhood. How he missed his family, roughhousing with Alexander, his adventures with Liam, the talks he used to have with his mother, and the games of strategy he would play with his father. He was glad to hear that Jake was still alive. He would ask Jolina if they wanted to keep him or if he could come to Avonshire. He also wanted to tell Drake and Jolina that if they wanted to retire, or sell the inn, they could come live with him. Drake was one of the few people he knew he could trust with his wealth, and Jolina was like a grandmother to him. He loved them both so.

  He drank deeply from the mug of apple cider. As he set it down, he saw Eleenia coming down the stairs. Her eyes were a bit redder than usual, and her hair was a bit disheveled. “A bit too much to drink last night?” David asked.

  “Shut up. Water, please,” El said to the waitress. “Did you get into Gabriel’s room last night?”

  “Of course. Let a note on his chest, and locked the door on the way out.”

  Eleenia gave a half smile. “Just think, if you don’t regain your position as Lord of Lystra, you could most certainly have an excellent career as a petty thief.”

  David laughed. “Oh, please. I see myself as more of a puller of grand heists.”

  Eleenia nodded in agreement.

  Gabriel, dressed in his Holy Defender uniform, came down the stairs and joined them. He tossed the note on the table. “It would seem I was mistaken! Don’t worry, brother, I won’t take any unnecessary chances.”

  David put his arm on Gabriel’s shoulder. “Good, then I won’t have to thump you myself. Listen, I don’t want you to worry about anything. El and I are going to get as much information about him and his fighting style as we can today. I’ve also set the Waverunner crew on the task. By tomorrow, we will have a winning strategy for you.”

  “Thank you,” Gabriel replied. “David, will you squire for me in the joust?”

  “I had planned on it!”
<
br />   The waitress arrived, set down El’s water, and asked if they were ready to order. David ordered various breakfast meats, fruit, eggs, and pastries, plus three empty plates. “I figured we could just pick at whatever we wanted.”

  “Thank you, David. I really need to eat up today so I have the stamina tomorrow.”

  Eleenia took a long drink of the freshly drawn water. “Gabriel, David, I really want to thank you again.”

  “El, not helping you wasn’t even an option,” David said. “After Gabriel thumps that drunkard monkey, we’ll be on our way to Avonshire.”

  * * * * * *

  The cheers of the crowd were almost deafening as David intently watched Sir Marcus deal out his judicial ‘justice’. Lambs to the slaughter more like it. In Aragil, if you were accused of a crime and couldn’t buy off an official, it was either prison, death at the hands of the judicial champion, or worse.

  David winced as Sir Marcus took the head off of a quivering 14 year old boy caught pickpocketing. He figured this was probably the first time he had ever held a sword.

  After the crowd’s cheers had died down, the judicial herald announced the final case. “Accused of piracy, murder, rape, and plundering, I give you the infamous pirate Captain Jonathan ‘Black Jack’ Mulligan!”

  David’s attention perked up. He knew of Mulligan’s reputation and fighting prowess. This should be entertaining and informative. If Marcus won at all, it would be a hard-earned victory.

  The crowd booed as a large man with an unruly long black beard entered the arena carrying a wooden shield and a curved saber. “I’ll be feeding yer guts to the sharks, knight!” he yelled. He took a few practice swings with his sword, looked at it, then nodded with approval.

  Sir Marcus showed only a hint of sweat, most likely brought on by the heat rather than exerting himself. “Many opponents have made a similar boast, Captain. I live, they do not.” The two cautiously came together, sizing one another up.