The messenger muttered, “I suppose these will do. You two are dismissed. I expect to see you armed and ready to travel at breakfast.”
Alden suppressed his disgust for the man’s attitude and followed the maid through the halls at a rushed pace. The rooms Alden and Warren were given were simpler then Damien’s but still much finer then anything they had at the Wall. Separate bedrooms and a conjoined sitting room. They had three couches and a window in one wall. They didn’t have a balcony or fireplace but they had a fourth room which had weapon and armor racks. This was a room made for visiting Knights.
The maid curtsied to them, “Is there anything else you need?”
Warren shook his head and Alden answered, “No, thank you.”
She disappeared back down the hall and after a long moment Warren said, “I’ve never seen a servant so excited to serve a Lord before.”
Alden shrugged his shield free, “Maybe Joanna is nice to them.”
The big man snorted as he dropped his mace and tower shield into the racks, “Yeah, I bet she loves them.”
The smaller warrior un-belted his sword and slung it over a chair, “Why does that sound sarcastic?”
Warren turned and stared at his friend, “By the gods you think she is actually going to take care of Lady Joanna.”
Alden thought about what his friend was saying, “Oh. I get it now. That is odd she’s so excited.”
The big man slapped Alden on the back with a chuckle, “I knew you weren’t that slow.”
The pair pulled their armor free and as Alden sat back on the couch he asked, “So what had Lord Washington so terrified about sendin’ his daughter to the Republic and what’s the deal with the Arch-Mage?”
Warren rolled his shoulders as he looked at his friend and answered, “Well, Aclosa is hard to get to. The dwarves tend to be selective in who they let cross the Cliff Ranges. So once someone is sent off to the Republic it is unlikely you’ll see them again. As for the Arch-Mage, well, I have heard he turns people into monsters.”
Alden snorted, “Yeah, sure. Now, what did you actually hear?”
The big man shook his head, “I wish I were making this up. Rumors reached us along the trade caravans. They say he turned one man into living stone. Another said he turned a woman into a creature which can paralyze you with her stare and then she drains the blood out of you.”
The smaller man snorted, “I think we both know all of that’s been exaggerated and twisted.”
Warren shrugged, “You asked what I had heard so what I told you. I agree with you though.”
The green eyed man nodded, “You mentioned Cliff Roads?”
The large man sighed, “The mountains don’t taper off like they do on this side. On the eastern side they end in a sheer cliff. That cliff wraps around us on three sides, north of the Lake City, east of the Mountains and it makes our southern border with the Confederacy. Old maps have it bordering us with the Badlands to the west as well but that cliff collapsed a long time ago. The land on top of the cliffs was once known as the Seat of the Fourth Master and a forbidden area. Until humans emerged from them. After that the dwarves came up and took over the mountains. The elves never had much interest and the orcs just roam.”
Alden frowned, “Fourth? Now, I was always raised to believe in the Maker, but aren’t there only Three Masters and their 9 Lords and Ladies in your religion?”
Warren made a so so gesture with his hand, “Yes and no. There are Three now but when the world was made there was a Fourth who lost his name because of a betrayal. Some fanatics consider even mentioning Fourth to be heresy and worthy of damnation.”
Alden nodded and popped his neck, “I see. I hate to say it but we should get some sleep. I get the feelin’ this is gonna be our last chance to sleep in a real bed for a good while.”
The giant teen nodded, “I think you are right. See you in the morning.”
The smaller boy stood and turned for his room, “Night, big guy.”
Chapter 47 Tail
Breakfast was a quiet affair with Abe ushering the group out of the door almost as fast as he could. Warren looked around as they left the city and noticed the thing that made Alden so angry. The people were worn here. They wore haggard expressions and eyed them darkly as they passed. The citizens walked with their heads down and muttered under their breath.
The big man sent a pair of soldiers out ahead again as soon as they left the walls of the city behind. They were heading west, to the edge of the Badlands. Damien had been sent to check on the condition of the Western Citadel and its surrounding strongholds. It was those locations which housed the warriors who defended the people from the orcs marauding the countryside. It would take 6 days of travel to reach the Citadel. Almost 120 miles of ground to cover. The big man looked up at the sun and noted happily that it wasn’t midsummer. If it had been he would probably be drowned in his own sweat by the time this trip was over.
The first three days went by without incident. The soldiers, Warren and Alden kept a rotation through the night. Damien was allowed to sleep through the night. They had salted meats and travel cake, so dinner was warm if not the most wonderful thing Warren had tasted. Alden seemed uneasy being out in the flatland and the big teen was beginning to wonder if it was getting to him.
That night at camp was the night things went south. Alden tapped Warren on the shoulder, “We’ve had a tail for most of the day.”
Warren bit down on another piece of meat, “Any idea who?”
Alden shook his head, “No, I’ve just seen one person. I’m gonna go take a look, see if I can’t do something about it. If I’m not back in an hour come lookin’.”
The big man nodded once as Alden stood and drifted off into the tall grasses surrounding the road. They were taller then the big man by at least two feet. The flat lands on the western end of the Kingdom were covered in them.
Warren finished his meal as Damien started to grumble, “Where did Flint go? He’s been gone for half an hour now. Probably ran off like a coward.”
Warren growled back, “We saw someone following us earlier. He went to see who it was.”
One of the soldiers went wide-eyed, “What if he walks into an ambush!?”
The big man shrugged, “I feel bad for the people ambushing him.”
The soldiers glanced around at each other and McCready moved to sit by Warren, “What do you know about our follower?”
Warren shook his head, “Not much other then the fact that they have been there for most of the day. Alden said for us to go after him after him if he is gone for more then an hour.”
The Captain nodded, “Alright. We can do that.”
Fifteen minutes ticked by slowly and Warren heard something in the tall grass. He rose to his feet as his hand drifted toward his mace. A second later a figure was tossed out of the high grass and onto the road. Alden stepped out of the vegetation a moment later.
The figure was a woman, clad in leather armor with two knife scabbards on her hip and two across her lower back. All four were empty. The woman smiled as Alden lazily pocketed a small stiletto.
The young man cracked his neck, “Almost got me with that one. You mind settlin’ down and talkin’ to us peaceful like now. If not I’m gonna take to using a blade myself.”
The woman seemed to take her surroundings in for the first time and she smirked, “I think I’ll take the peaceful option for now.”
Alden smiled, “Good choice. Now, let’s get you a seat and we can have us a nice long chat about why you’re followin’ us.”
Five minutes later the woman, who’s name was Lorelei, was sitting on the ground being towered over by Alden and Warren. They had taken her knife scabbards and anything else she could use as a weapon.
Alden spoke first, “So, Lorelei, wanna tell me why you been followin’ us?�
�
She shrugged and flicked her black hair over her shoulder, “Not really, you see, that takes all the fun out of you guessing.”
Warren cleared his throat, “I would avoid playing too many games with him. He has a rather short temper.”
Lorelei smiled and winked at the big man, “Oh, I know. You should ask him how his leg is although he hides it so well.”
The big man glanced over at his partner who shrugged, “It’s nothin’. Just a scratch. I’m startin’ to think I should’ve just knocked you out and left you out there in the grass. I hear there are some rather strange….things…..out there.”
The woman smirked, “Mmmmm, I think that conscious of yours wouldn’t let you do it. I can see it in those pretty emeralds of yours. You’re way too nice to just leave someone to die.”
Alden growled, “I’m getting’ awful tired of you, lady. I might not be one to leave someone to die. But piss me off and I will run a sword through you.”
The smirk grew wider, “Why don’t you do it then tough guy? Show everyone here how big and bad that temper of yours is. I can see it in you to kill, that boiling fury just under the surface. You’ve never done it before though and you’re afraid. Afraid of what it’ll do to you. Afraid of what your friends will think once you’ve drawn blood. You’re afraid of what you’re family will say once you’ve tainted your soul. Go on and kill me then run home and tell mommy about the bad thing you did.”
Alden snarled, “Don’t talk about my mother or my family.”
Lorelei giggled and looked at Warren, “I thought he would be protective of her. Probably because she’s the village whore.”
The young man roared as his sword came free but Warren slammed his gauntleted fist across Alden’s face before he could take a step. The green eyed teen sprawled across the ground and lay there for a long moment before he groaned, “Thanks for wakin’ me up.”
Warren chuckled, “Don’t mention it.”
Alden didn’t bother getting up right away and Warren started to talk, “You really should avoid speaking about his mother like that. If you do it again I will not waste energy stopping him. Also, I am surprised he drew his sword. Normally, he just uses his fists at that point. So, unless you want beaten to death I suggest you start cooperating.”
She smiled at Warren and winked again, “Of course, handsome. All you needed to do was ask.”
Alden grumbled something as he rose to his feet, “Then why have you been bein’ such a pain in the ass?”
Lorelei didn’t take her eyes off Warren, “Because you aren’t as tall. You’re friend here though, well, he could get me to do a lot of things just by asking.”
The smaller teen rolled his eyes and made a gesture that said “she’s your problem” as he walked back towards camp, rubbing his jaw. Warren looked back toward him and then back at Lorelei as she bit her lip and then asked, “Well, big guy, what’s it gonna be?”
Warren swallowed, suddenly nervous and wishing it was Alden in this predicament. He swallowed again and asked, “Why are you following us, Lorelei?”
She leaned back and crossed her legs, “Well, that’s a secret I’m really not supposed to tell. I will though but you have to do something for me first.”
The big man leaned back and crossed his arms, standing on familiar territory now, “And what would that be?”
Lorelei uncrossed her legs and then recrossed them the other way, “Well, you and your angry friend are Knights right? That means you have to keep your word once you give it.”
Warren nodded, “Get to the point.”
The woman uncrossed her legs again and fidgeted, “I’ll tell you everything I know but you have to swear you’ll escort me all the way back to the capital.”
The big man’s brow furrowed, “Why do you want to go to Cinnati?”
Lorelei shrugged, “Personal reasons.”
Warren sighed, “You do realize you’re going to have to ride with us until we go back. Which means going to the Badlands with us.”
The woman’s eyes widened and she took a deep breath, “That’s okay. I can manage that.”
The big man rubbed his forehead, “If you make me regret this I will make you pay for it but I will see to it you make it to Cinnati.”
Lorelei closed her eyes, took a deep breath and smiled, “Thank you. Here’s my story. Near here, my brother has a farm and a family. I do, other things to make a living. I’m not going to tell you what because it’s irrelevant. A group of thugs found me and told me I had to work for them or they would burn my brother’s farm and kill his family. That was two months ago. I’ve been baiting travelers into ambushes for Ripper, creative I know, and his men the whole time with a damsel in distress act and I’m sick of it. I hated it from the beginning. I never went after the common people, only those with too much for their own good. What I want from you handsome, is for Ripper to disappear.”
Warren sighed, “Let me talk to the others.”
Chapter 48 Potential Break
Solace pulled his cloak tighter around himself as he strode through Low Town. Watching Sergeant Hunter had yielded nothing to date which is what the Inquisitor had expected but it was worth checking all the possibilities. At this point he was following an elven smuggler operating in the city. Crime ran through the bosses that operated out of the darkest parts of Low Town and his armor would not win him any friends here. That’s why the Inquisitor was dressed in leather pants with a heavy shirt and a cloak wrapped around himself. He had left his typical sword and shield behind him and had knives hidden a dozen different places on his body.
The elf he was following had flowing black hair and pale skin. He wasn’t a member of the Netherfire clan, their skin was normally a gray ashen color. This elf was probably an outcast. He bore Netherfire blood but his features were softer, more human. A half breed. Even a halfbreed could be useful to the elves though. They could do the dirty work and if they were caught the clan could deny any involvement.
The elf rounded another corner and Solace followed a moment later. His target was standing there, leaning against the wall of a dead end alley smiling at him. Solace yanked a pair of knives free as he lurched forward. A big man landed where the Inquisitor had been standing a moment ago. Solace sent a knife spinning through the air and it buried itself deep in the attacker’s chest.
The Inquisitor froze as a dark blade pressed itself against his neck and the half-elf asked, “Why are you following me?”
Solace noted the tattoo on the man’s hand and said, “No real reason. I just heard you were a guy I could do business with.”
The half-elf hesitated, “What kind of business?”
The Inquisitor thought quickly, “My employer wants to frame a competitor and put him out of business. I was hoping you might be able to supply something to assisst in the matter.”
The smuggler snorted as he released Solace, “I know the story. You’re gonna have to pay for killing my man.”
Solace nodded, “We should be able to come to an arrangement.”
The half elf studied Solace for a moment, “I’m sure we can. First off, you’re gonna pay my friend’s weight in silver. Then we can negotiate other matters.”
The Inquisitor turned and looked at the big man he had put down, “I’ll need to make arrangements for that much silver. Or maybe I can provide something else that might interest you.”
The smuggler cocked his head, “And what would that be?”
Solace smiled tightly, “Information.”
The half elf rubbed his face, “Let me here it and then I’ll let you know if it’s worth anything.”
The Inquisitor shook his head, “No, you’ll say its worth nothing no matter what. So, I’ll give you a hint and then you can decide if you want to know more or not.”
The smuggler held up his blade, “Or I ca
n cut it out of you.”
Solace slid back out of reach easily, a knife in each hand, “That might be harder then you think.”
The half-elf scowled, “Well, let’s hear a piece of the puzzle then, bastard.”
The Knight smiled, “Well, it involves someone with an elven knife set with dwarven runes.”
The smuggler frowned, “Go on.”
Solace raised his eyebrows, “Does that mean you’ll accept this information as payment for your friend?”
The other man scowled again and nodded. The Inquisitor smiled easily and continued, “I have sources in the Wall stating that a young man was attacked and managed to disarm his assailant. The knife was dark and set with runes by the dwarves. They also mentioned something about it being related to Netherfire, whatever that is.”
The smuggler flicked his knife through the air but Solace drew on the Magic he had. The knife veered off course and slammed into his arm instead of his chest. The Inquisitor grunted and staggered back as the smuggler rushed him. Solace ducked the first wild swing and threw an elbow up into the man’s face. The smuggler staggered backwards as Solace snapped his arm out straight, slamming the pommel of his dagger into the smuggler’s head knocking him out.
The Inquisitor grit his teeth and yanked the knife free of his arm with a silent scream. Stars danced in front of his eyes for what felt like an eternity. In reality it was about twenty seconds. Solace sniffed the blade of the smuggler’s knife and then discarded it. He couldn’t smell any poison but that didn’t mean anything.
The Inquisitor pulled a gold ring from his pocket and slipped it on. A tendril of magic and the ring flared with warmth and then cooled again. Solace slipped the ring back into his pocket as he studied the half elf more closely. The hand tattoo marked him as an outcast of the Netherfire but he had never been exiled from the Elven Confederacy itself. The ring on his other hand was silver, with dwarven runes. Solace extended another wisp of his magic toward it, muttering the words of the spell under his breath. The ring was not lethal in anyway but Solace wasn’t sure what the use of it was.
A Knight's Path (The Path of Cinder Book 1) Page 19