by Tiger Hebert
“My uncle. I know you didn’t care for him, but he is a good man,” replied Vacinne.
“No,” was Renlar’s terse reply.
“He’s a good man,” she insisted.
“I don’t doubt that,” countered Renlar, “But he’s been a Warden for far, far too long. He’s completely institutionalized and he’s not going to be someone we can go to until we have evidence, and even then, he still may not be willing to see the truth.”
“What do you mean?” asked Vacinne.
Renlar said, “The human mind is a fascinating thing. It’s been studied for hundreds of years. People, especially ones who are part of groups or organizations, can easily become so entrenched in their views and opinions that they readily discard the truth, even when evidence is readily available. Vichont LeDroux has served the Wardens for over thirty years. It may be hard to get him to take anything you say against the order seriously.”
“We at least have to try,” said Vacinne.
“Perhaps, but we need to find out how in the Nine Hells to get the evidence first.”
“Right. Again, I can get us up to the twenty-first floor. We can wait in the service passage until after daybreak. Most Wardens will be out of their rooms shortly after that. We can slip into one of the rooms that has a balcony. Then we can figure out how to scale the tower.”
Renlar shook his head, “No, that won’t work.”
“Why?”
“We can’t scale the side of the tower in daylight. There’s no way we won’t be spotted,” he replied.
“Okay, well what other ideas do you have?” she asked.
“What is the highest public balcony in this tower?”
Vacinne thought for a moment. “Oh, it’s got to be the library up on the twenty-first floor, but that is a long way from the twenty fourth floor.”
Renlar took a deep breath and leaned back against the wooden beams of the barrel racks. He tipped his head back as if he were about to find the answers on the ceiling above his head and he gently bumped the back of his head upon the beam behind him. His eyes traveled along the rugged wooden beams overhead that held the ceiling up. Then his eyes went wide and his gaze shot toward her.
“Where’s your shield?” he asked.
“Right here,” she said, pulling it from her back.
Renlar grabbed the large kite shield from her. The construction was impressive, though the design was fairly simple. It had the traditional shape of a kite shield where the bottom angled to a point, while the two corners at the top also came to two smaller points. Renlar was surprised at how light the shield was, but then again it was made of a Drenamine based alloy.
“I swear this stuff is magic all on its own,” muttered Renlar.
“What?”
“Drenamine. The stuff is just so strong when used in an alloy, yet depending on how it’s made, it can sometimes be lighter than steel. It’s unbelievable stuff,” said Renlar as he squatted down and laid the shield face down on the floor.
Vacinne watched him but said nothing.
He looked up at her and gestured toward the shield. “Stand on it.”
“What?”
Renlar sarcastically replied slower, “Stand—on—the—shield.”
“Don’t be a jerk,” she snapped, before reluctantly stepping onto her shield.
Renlar said, “I know you don’t have much room, but you’ll need to widen your feet a little if you are to maintain your balance.”
Vacinne’s face contorted with confusion. “My balance, I’m just standing—”
Renlar’s hands moved like the wind. A rushing sound filled the cellar and Vacinne’s shield rose from the floor with her on top of it. Vacinne swayed and her arms flailed as she tried to catch her balance. She started to fall forward, but jerked herself backward. She overcompensated and stumbled backward right off the shield.
Without her weight to hold the shield in place, the shield shot upward in a blink. Renlar was quicker though, and he halted the shield dead in its tracks just a foot from the overhead wooden beams. He slowly lowered the floating shield back down till it was hovering just a few inches from the floor.
“Try again.”
Vacinne was unsure, but she nodded in agreement. She came forward and stepped upon the hovering shield. The shield sunk ever so slightly under her weight. Renlar allowed for her to get her footing before compensating for the weight and lifting her back up. Vacinne swayed slightly, but held her balance much more this time.
“How does it feel?” he asked.
Vacinne was careful when she turned to him and smiled. “Like I’m floating.”
“This could be the answer to our riddle.”
“Wait... you want me to ride my shield to the top of the tower?”
“Do you have a better idea?”
“Yeah, you ride the shield.”
Renlar allowed the winds to die down and he eased her back down to the floor. “I think it would be quite impossible to control it were I busy trying to keep my balance. I feel you riding and me steering is the safest option.”
“Yeah, safer for you,” she said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
“You don’t trust me?”
“I trust you, but we’re talking hundreds of feet in the air on what, a tiny little shield?”
Renlar asked, “Do you have a better idea?”
Vacinne laughed, “I’d rather fight my way through a hundred and fifty Wardens than fly on this little thing.”
“Well you might get your wish, because I don’t see any other alternatives. It’s not like Ausaliia is hanging out outside to give us a lift,” Renlar said.
Vacinne’s face lit up at the mention of the dragon’s name. “That’s it, Renlar you’re brilliant!”
“No, you clearly misunderstood me. I said it’s not like she’s waiting outside.”
Vacinne said, “She could help us though. She would, we just need to let her know we need her.”
“Oh, and how do you suggest we do that. Just buzz in on her sound stone? Oh, that’s right, she doesn’t have one of those... because, you know... she’s a dragon and all.”
The smile faded from her face and was replaced with a cutting glare. “You know, you can be a real ass sometimes.”
“Why? Because I’m pointing out the absurdity of what you said?” said Renlar defensively.
“God, I was almost starting to like you, then you go and start acting like yourself again.”
“Calm down, Vacinne. And lower your voice, before the whole temple hears us,” said Renlar.
“Don’t tell me what to do. You work for me, remember?”
“Oh, so we are back to that are we?” said Renlar as he crossed his arms across his chest. “It’s good to know you are so receptive to criticism. One little comment and you get all emotional and fly off the handle!”
Vacinne glowered, “It’s not what you said, it’s how you said it!”
Renlar’s gaze was hard and unwavering. “I warned you, sarcasm was one of my many talents.”
Vacinne growled, “Renlar Demass, you are talented, and compassionate, and the greatest fighter I’ve ever seen, but you truly are an ass.”
Renlar shot back, “Just in case the whole castle hasn’t heard you yet, why don’t you say that one more time, and I’ll carry your words on the wind. You know, just to make sure even the dead hear it!”
Vacinne’s eyes went wide and her mouth fell open, before turning into a smile. “That’s it! You are brilliant.”
“Huh?” said Renlar, the confusion clearly registering on his face.
“Say it on the wind. That’s our solution,” said Vacinne.
Renlar’s face twisted, “Ugh, it’s an expression, Vacinne.”
“It isn’t though. At least not for you. You communicated to people in Drenamere that way,” pointed out Vacinne.
“Yes, but who’s going to help us here? We’ve got no one!”
Vacinne’s expression softened. Gone was her anger and gone wa
s her excitement. She simply smiled at him.
“We’ve got each other,” she said in gentle correction.
“I thought I was an ass,” he grumbled.
Vacinne nodded, “You most definitely are. But I’m not going anywhere.”
Renlar’s rigid defenses melted away. “So, what was my brilliant idea?”
“Ausaliia, you can call her.”
“We don’t know if she’s even anywhere near us anymore. Now that she has her baby back, she could be anywhere. Besides, even if I could reach her—I don’t speak dragon?”
Vacinne’s smile widened. “What if we could?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Just humor me, what if we could communicate in a way that she understands?” asked Vacinne.
Renlar nodded, “Yeah, I could definitely try to get a message out to her, but it is an incredible risk. We would be putting her in direct danger bringing her anywhere near a fortress like this.”
Vacinne countered, “Rift Wardens are many things, but this isn’t exactly a lair of dragon hunters. Demon hunters yes, but dragons, no. Besides, while the tower is full of many dangerous warriors, none of the defenses are built for dragons. There are no catapults of bolt throwers or any of that. And you won’t find many skilled bowmen among the Wardens. They’re more of a punch you in the face type of crew.”
“Vacinne, it’s not just about placing her in danger. It’s also about drawing attention. How do you propose we get a giant white dragon to swoop down and pick us up without anyone being the wiser?”
Vacinne couldn’t argue with that. “Damn it.”
“Listen, Ausaliia flying us up there would make this whole thing a lot easier, I just don’t see any way we can make that work,” replied Renlar.
Vacinne nodded then stepped back on top of the shield.
“What are you doing?” asked Renlar.
“Practicing not dying.”
7
The Library
Hours passed and Vacinne’s confidence and balance upon the shield had only improved marginally. She tried to push out the fear with raw courage and determination, but it had a foothold and refused to budge.
“Isn’t there another way?” she asked as her frustration spilled over.
“As absurd as it may seem, this seems to be the safest course of action.”
“For a man that can throw metal objects with his mind, I find that hard to believe.”
“If you’ve got some suggestions, by all means...”
Vacinne said, “Can’t you just fly us up there without the shield?”
Renlar shook his head. “It’s just too dangerous any other way. The shield is easy for me to lock onto and maintain control over long enough to get you where you need to go.”
“Ugh,” grumbled Vacinne as she stepped back onto the shield for yet another attempt at maintaining her balance upon the shield.
Renlar set his focus upon the shield once more. His magic locked upon the drenamine steel. He drew upon his command of the wind and air. A breeze began to stir within the confines of the room. The shield began to rise.
Vacinne used care in shifting her weight slightly, and the shield rose higher. A dozen heartbeats later and Renlar had hoisted Vacinne and her shield three feet off the ground. Vacinne worked silently to maintain her balance. The shield hovered steadily. Then Vacinne jumped from the shield.
“What are you doing?” he demanded.
“Time’s running out. This is going to have to be good enough, because we’ve got to move.”
STRONG WIND GUSTS LED the way up the servants’ passage, extinguishing every lit torch along the way. Vacinne and Renlar moved quickly under the cover of dark. The precaution was necessary, but the trip proved uneventful, for which Vacinne was thankful. She didn’t want any other innocent Wardens to be harmed. She realized it was a fool’s hope, but she held fast to it anyways.
The shed blood of every innocent Warden is a stain upon your soul, Jherenon, Vacinne silently cursed.
She kept her thoughts to herself, though, and said little as they ascended the stairs, flight after flight. It went quick, and soon they found themselves on the landing of the twenty-first floor. Renlar was doubled over with his hands on his knees. He was breathing heavily. She was too, but instead fell back against the wall where she would rest for a moment.
Vacinne lifted her arm and wiped the sweat from her brow. “You okay?”
“Just need a moment,” said Renlar without looking up.
Vacinne nodded, but remained quiet as the two caught their breath in the unlit stairwell. A few minutes passed before Renlar stood back up right. He wiped the sweat from his face and he nodded.
Vacinne moved toward the large wooden door with a metal plate that was marked with the number twenty-one. She slowly cracked the door open. Faint light from the hallway beyond spilled into the dark corridor where they waited. She held the door there, allowing their eyes to adjust before pushing it open any further.
In her mind she whispered, you ready?
Renlar replied, yes.
With slow movement Vacinne swung the door open enough for them to slip through. They both stepped into the well-lit hallway. It was a narrow off-shoot from the main corridor that was up ahead about fifteen feet. If Vacinne remembered correctly, the four doors that lined this corridor were all lodging and the hour was late. With that in mind, she turned and eased the door closed behind her so as to not make a sound.
Vacinne exchanged glances with Renlar, then said, “If anyone stops us and questions us, just let me handle it. You are my sell-sword and we are performing an investigation under the direct orders of Grand Master Jherenon.”
“Understood.”
Vacinne turned and walked down the hall. Renlar made sure to stay close to her left side but always one pace behind her, as was the proper protocol for servants of the Wardens. Renlar despised such ridiculous notions, but this wasn’t the time to protest such customs.
Vacinne reached the end of the short hallway and then looked both directions, and turned right down the wide hallway. Renlar made sure to keep himself in the appropriate position as they made their way down the main thoroughfare.
The hallway was wide and lined with several large wooden doors as well as a few open passages into adjacent rooms that had no doors. The hallway also had people. Several Wardens, one female and three males, congregated in the middle of the hallway, just outside the library.
Damn it, she thought.
They were right where she needed to go. They were not going to pass by unnoticed. Then as if on cue, the four stopped mid conversation and turned toward them. All eight eyes were on Vacinne and Renlar, and she could feel their scrutiny. Vacinne did her best to remain calm and more importantly, act as if she didn’t even notice the other Wardens.
Half looking over her shoulder, Vacinne said, “Hopefully the library will give us the information we need to track them down.”
She made sure her words were loud enough to carry throughout the corridor.
“Hopefully, Warden,” replied Renlar respectfully.
“We are looking for vorthors, demon-bears, and...”
Renlar replied, “and avwrests, Warden.”
Vacinne nodded, “Ah, yes. Let’s make sure we cover all three before we leave. I don’t care if it takes us all night.”
Renlar nodded, “Yes, Warden.”
A man’s voice interrupted their faux conversation. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Warden Vacinne.”
Vacinne turned toward the man who stood to the right of the group. He was tall and boasted a full face of well-groomed reddish blond beard and a short-cropped cut on his head. The cocky man stood with his arms crossed and an over-confident smirk on his face.
She feigned surprised, “Oh, hi Envar. I didn’t see you there.”
His face showed a hint of surprise that anyone wouldn’t notice him. “Well, you look like you’ve got your hands full. I wouldn’t take my eyes off a mercenary either.
You never know what they might try to pull.”
Vacinne waved a hand dismissively. “This one is well compensated, and well trained. He’ll be no problem.”
Envar stared at Renlar with disgust. “One trigger, and all that training goes out the window. They will respond on instinct alone, like wild beasts.”
“That’s not always a bad thing,” said the female Warden after giving Renlar an appraising glance from head to toe.
Vacinne’s face flushed with anger. She stepped forward, “We have work to attend to.”
“Oh, somebody struck a nerve,” said the third Warden.
Vacinne snapped, “Envar, Myshal, Kiar, and Dedric, the four of you struck my nerves a long, long time ago.”
Envar and Myshal laughed.
Kiar protested, “I didn’t say anything.”
Myshal and Envar and Dedric looked at each other. Then Envar returned to Vacinne and Renlar.
“Vacinne, you really ought to learn how to take the edge off. I know something that will help you out with that. All you gotta do is add one little service to his contract, and let your hired hand take care of it. I’m sure he won’t mind. That is, if you don’t want a fellow Warden to help you.”
Vacinne glared at them, “We’ve got people dying, and you’d rather sit here and joke around. I’ve got more important things to do.”
The female Warden, with her short brown hair nearly shaved on one side, and brushed over to the other side where it fell down to her cheek and her ear, stepped in front of Vacinne, blocking their path toward the library.
Myshal crossed her arms and demanded, “What mission are you on that is so damned important?”
“Yeah, Vacinne,” said Envar as he closed the distance between them.
Vacinne replied, “We’ve got demons loose in and around Drenamere and we’ve still got a missing Warden.”
Dedric actually looked concerned. “Who’s missing?”
“Masoc,” barked Vacinne. “He and his entire company have been missing for weeks, and now demons are running loose in the region. So, if you could move your asses, I can get back to following the Grand Master’s directives.”
Myshal stood there defiantly.