by C S Vass
Godwin nodded. As he started to answer, his reply turned to a shout of horror as he saw the other partner hack his friend’s head off with a sweeping blow, sending a rainbow of blood flying through the sunny vale.
“Sin! Sin! Sin!” Sin was slapping and clapping in the mud, laughing with jubilance.
“None of that now,” the murderer said. “Where I’m from, it’s customary to finish a dance.”
“Fine,” Godwin snorted. “Robert’s disarmed,” he called out. “And so am I.” He took the Darksword off of his hip still sheathed and threw it on the ground. “Both of you come at me at once. Those other two clearly aren’t giving you any trouble, just me.”
The leader grinned. “Quite a deal,” he said. “So be it. But I’m going to kill you slow. Before you’re gone, I’ll make sure you watch me cut that one’s head off.”
Godwin smirked. “I’m shaking in my boots.”
The attacks came swiftly. They flew at Godwin from each side like a pincer. Godwin fell backwards, allowing them to pursue him as he moved himself up a hill towards higher ground. They had gotten far enough away from where they started that they could no longer hear Sin’s cackling, but Godwin could still see his arms flailing in the distance as he splattered about in the mud.
“So what’s your sign, bastard?” the man who killed his friend shouted. “What do those silver eyes let you do?”
“Right now they’re letting me see two dead men,” Godwin grunted as he slid past a sword thrust and smashed the fool right in his face. There wasn’t the satisfying crunch of a broken nose this time, but he still managed to send the man careening down the hill. His efforts earned him another attack from the leader who was suddenly too close to dodge. Godwin lifted his forearm and praying that Banfrey wasn’t exaggerating about the strength of his bracers let the blade crash into one of them. He felt the shock-wave reverberate throughout his body, but Godwin’s hand was noticeably still attached to his arm.
“What the?” the bandit stuttered, shocked.
Smiling, Godwin used the opportunity to strike the man in the stomach with his left fist while twisting the bandit’s sword arm with his right hand. He drove the air out of the bandit as the sword dropped to the ground. While he was wheezing on his knees, Godwin spotted a smooth rock the size of an apple and used to to bash the bandit in the side of the head. He tumbled down the hill a ball of blood and bruises.
“Alright, alright,” the other bandit said as he raised his hands. He glanced at his unconscious leader and spat. “We’re bested. One dead. One that might well be. You’ve beaten us.”
“Aye. I’ve beaten you. What do you reckon happens now?”
The bandit grinned. “Am I to fall on my knees and suck your cock? You’ve won. It’s like fishing. Either throw us back to the wild or have your kill. I’ll not spend all day begging.”
“What can you tell me about the village over there?” Godwin asked, gesturing in the direction of the houses he had seen.
“Not much,” the man replied. “We don’t go there. Looks wealthy, I suppose. Figure there must be good security. Maybe some rich folk from Iryllium not scared to set out from the city walls. Now don’t keep me in suspense. Are we dead or not?”
Godwin granted him a hideous smile. “Come on. Let’s get back to the horses.”
It took a great deal of arguing, but after much grumbling and finally a threat to leave, the group headed towards the village. Robert led them on horseback. Tied to the saddle by rope and trailing behind with bound hands were the two bandits Godwin had bested. The Shigata stood a few paces behind them, ready to pounce should they try anything. By his side was the man he could give no better name than Sin, humming and clapping.
“You made the coward’s choice,” the bandit leader jeered at Godwin. “Go ahead. Bring us to those folk in the big houses. But they’ll have to make the same choice as you. Either kill us or let us go. You’re just shoving the hard part off on some other dolts.”
“They could simply jail you,” Robert pointed out from horseback. He quickly looked away after seeing the expression on the captives’ faces.
“I made the Shigata choice,” Godwin said. “For all I know you two have bounties, skulking around this close to the village the way you were. Even if you don’t, who’s to say the people here won’t want to grant us a kindness in turn for bringing them trouble before it finds them?”
“So, you’re a Shigata are you,” the leader spat. “From what I hear, you belong in Valencia. Sounds like you really are a coward.”
Godwin said nothing in response. If the sheep wanted to bleat, what concern was it to him?
“You judge us, Shigata,” the bandit continued. “Just as you would judge a demon. But ask yourself, what kind of world lets men like us come to be? You think anyone wants to sleep in the brush, empty bellies more often than not, covered in blood and shit and counting the holes where their teeth used to be?”
“You mistake me for a philosopher,” Godwin grumbled. “But I don’t care why you are what you are. And you should be grateful to this village. If it wasn’t here, then I wouldn’t have had any hopes of collecting a bounty on you and would have left you dead with your friend. So don’t try to moralize your way out of this.”
“Ha! A true killer. Or so you’d have the world think. In my experience, men who look like you are usually just the opposite of what they appear.”
Godwin snorted. He pulled a wineskin out, took a swig, and said, “Funny, in my experience men who look like you are usually exactly what they appear.”
They entered the village by way of a dirt road that sloped down into a valley. Godwin didn’t fail to notice that Sin had become rather quiet since drawing nearer to the village. Nestled happily among the hills were about a dozen tall, thin houses. They all had tidy gardens with leeks, onions, potatoes, and still more flowers scattered about. Godwin was certain he saw a figure in a window quickly dart away when he looked, but that was no concern. He had enough experience with these isolated places to know that if he went out into the middle and stood for long enough, someone would come see what he was about.
It took no more than a few moments for that to happen. A barrel-chested dwarf quickly approached him, woodcutting axe in hand and frowning deeply. “What can I do for you, outlander?” he asked in a thick voice.
“I found trouble in the countryside,” Godwin said as he gestured towards the bound men. “Wasn’t sure if they might be trouble for you as well. I also found him.” Godwin pointed at Sin, who was grinning happily.
“I see,” laughed the dwarf, his face lightening considerably. “Well that’s all fine and good then. The simpleton is Harold. He lost his wits some time ago, years back, kicked in the head by a horse, but wouldn’t hurt a fly. I don’t know the rogues by face. Are they killers?”
“That one decapitated his friend with a sword,” Godwin said, pointing. “His body is a few miles back that way.”
“I see,” the dwarf said. “I’ll deal with them on the morrow. Hanging would be best, I suppose. The day is getting late, and I’d rather not delay supper. I reckon I can find some coin for your trouble. We’ve been blessed, at least insofar as money is concerned.”
“All the more blessing that these ones are no longer prowling the countryside,” Godwin said. “Though as I said, there were three… their last man is back there. Hopefully the reward can reflect that work as well.”
“Should it now?” the dwarf smiled. “I might agree with you, but it seems silly to pay a dead man. After all, you admitted yourself ’twas the bandit that killed his own friend.” On seeing Godwin’s frown he added, “Don’t you worry now. I’ll be sure to take care of you. What are you, some kind of bounty hunter?”
“I’m a Shigata. My name is Godwin.”
On hearing that, the dwarf’s eyes lit up, and he licked his lips while quickly clapping his hands together. “Ah, very good,” he said while just as quickly recomposing himself. “My name is Rolph. I’m the mayor of this
little village.”
“A pleasure,” Godwin said, shaking his hand. “That’s my companion, Robert.”
“Sin, sin!” Sin yelped.
“Yes, yes, Harold, we know, you bloody preacher. Why don’t you go back to Sara and she’ll fix you up something to eat?”
“Sin!” Harold said much more happily as he bolted off.
“You know,” Robert said, piping up. “The day does indeed grow late. Is there anywhere in the village we could stay? An inn? A barn?”
Robert wasn’t wrong, Godwin noticed. The sun had fallen low, and although they were close now to Iryllium, it was probably unwise to go so near the city after dark with so many bandits around. If they left early in the morning, they would be able to reach Iryllium before sunset the next day.
“A barn!” Rolph roared. “Heavens no. Not after the service you’ve pulled. Come, there’s an inn with a fine room for the two of you. All paid for, of course, outside of your reward. I’ll have that for you on the morrow as well. Please stay a while. Drink to our health, and we’ll drink to yours.”
“Splendid!” Robert shouted, excited himself now. “If there’s a nice warm bath and a nice cold ale, we’ll be forever in your debt.”
Godwin glanced angrily at Robert. Turning to Rolph, he said, “The hospitality is of course appreciated. Please don’t feel the need to pamper us. All we require is a room.”
An hour later Robert and Godwin were sitting in the corner of an empty inn, bathed despite not being dirty and drinking fine wine from some Iryllium merchant.
“Why do you scowl?” Robert asked. “After all the muck and the shit that we’ve been through, what’s wrong with enjoying a little hospitality? Do you feel guilty about the men? They were cutthroat bastards.”
Godwin scoffed. He was about to say something insulting and then remembered his conviction not to abuse his traveling companion quite so much anymore. “No, Robert. I don’t feel guilty. But we’ll have to get up early tomorrow. We must leave before first light.”
“What?” Robert asked. “Why? Let’s enjoy at least a decent night’s sleep in a real bed. Lyra is with your old master, after all. It’s not like she’s wandering helpless.”
“It’s not that. You need to start learning how to read faces. If we don’t get out of here before the village awakens, we won’t be leaving tomorrow. The mayor is going to ask me to do something for him. Or did you think this was customary treatment for armed men who wander through a wealthy village.”
“Oh,” Robert said, frowning deeply and staring at his drink. “You mean they’ll have some sort of assignment? A demon for you to kill?”
“Of course,” Godwin replied. “Look at this inn. These people are clearly wealthy from something or other, but on one of the first beautiful nights of the new season their village inn is empty?”
“Ah, yes, I thought that was a bit odd now that you mention it.”
“I have no intention of getting caught up in a contact while we’re here,” Godwin said. “We need to rest up and be on our way.”
“Very well,” Robert agreed. “You’re the expert in such matters, I suppose. But Godwin, can I ask you something first? Before we get to bed?”
“What is it?”
“When you were fighting those men before… why didn’t you draw your weapon? I was starting to get a little worried. You seemed almost eager to relinquish it. Surely you could have handled them much more safely if you had drawn your sword.”
Godwin let out a grim chuckle, then he took a long sip of his wine. “Robert, would you use a sledgehammer to knock in a nail to hang a portrait in your living room?”
The Tarsurian puckered his lips and nodded. “Ah. Point taken. Very well, let’s get on to bed before I find myself tempted to get drunk. We’ll have an early morning.”
“Not too early, I hope!” A merry voice said from behind them. Turning, Godwin saw Rolph sauntering towards them with another decanter filled with pink wine. “Sit awhile. Drink. I insist, after all, I have a serious request to make of you master Shigata.”
Godwin was practically growling with discontent. Robert gave him a sorry sort of look, and pushing his cup forward said, “Fill me up Mr. Mayor! I never let a drop of good wine go to waste.”
Chapter 12
“Now, I understand that you’re not exactly surprised to learn that I have a request to make,” Rolph said, his eyes sparkling in the light of the fire. “But hear me out first, Godwin. It’s an interesting one, and a mission that would pay you quite handsomely as well.”
“Even if that were of interest to me,” Godwin said, “I still haven’t been compensated for the two thugs I brought you.”
“Never say a dwarf doesn’t pay,” Rolph replied. He reached into his vest pocket and threw a coin pouch on the table. Godwin slowly opened the drawstring and saw a small fortune in thick silver and gold coins. But that wasn’t what took his breath away. There was also a fat ruby shimmering on top of the pile, winking seductively at him like a red eye.
Godwin was not pleased.
“I haven’t accepted the contract yet,” the Shigata said.
Robert looked into the bag and gasped. “But of course you will. There’s a king’s ransom in there!”
Rolph grinned. “Haha! Not quite my friend. But there could be if you accept. That’s not early payment. Never let it be said that a dwarf pays early. No, that’s for bringing those rogues in.”
“All of this for two men?” Godwin asked, maintaining his grim expression. “Whose wife did they fuck?”
Rolph’s face hardened somewhat. “We have money, Shigata. I believe in spreading that around. Or do you believe every ugly stereotype you hear about us dwarves? Now that’s yours, earned and accepted. Should you take the contract, there will be much more.”
“How did you come by such wealth in a place like this?” Godwin asked.
“We’re a mining town. You’d never guess to look at us, I know. We do things properly, take safety seriously, and don’t send good men to die in a gods-forsaken hole.”
“So you find gemstones frequently?” Godwin asked.
“Frequent enough,” Rolph grinned, showing off a fine gold tooth. “The real treasure is the silver, which of course King Boldfrost is happy to pay us handsomely for.”
“I see,” Godwin said. He poured himself another goblet of wine. “Fine then, if we’re going to talk, let’s talk. What’s this contract?”
“Now we’re getting somewhere,” the dwarf replied. “It’s a man-hunt I aim to send you on. Someone has been killing my people.”
“Call in for help from Iryllium,” Godwin said at once. “I doubt they’ll want such a valuable asset plagued by trouble.”
“It’s not those kinds of killings,” Rolph responded. “Something foul is afoot. We’ve had four dead so far. As far as I can tell, it’s totally random. Two teenage girls, a dwarf about my own age, and a man named Braxden who I greatly valued. There’s no rhyme or reason to it. Each victim has been found come the dawn totally brutalized in their own homes. Faces slashed to ribbons, but with knives or claws I couldn’t say. They’re all missing their livers. They’re all marked with a strange brand, some foreign geometry burned right into the flesh above their hearts.”
“Disgusting,” Robert said, wrinkling his brow.
“Indeed. That’s why I don’t want to go call in some pissheads from Iryllium to stumble about. This is a town of smart, secure people. Whoever is doing the killing is skilled at it. I need an expert to put a swift end to this madness.”
“The Shigata traditionally hunt demons,” Godwin said. “But there can be no question that whoever is doing this is a beast in man’s flesh. Tell me, Rolph, does any of it mean anything to you? The missing livers? The symbol burned on their hearts?”
“Not a bloody thing,” the dwarf said. “I’d think it some kind of elven sorcery, but there’s not an elf in the village.”
“Are the villagers aware of the full extent of these attacks?”
>
“How could they not be?” Rolph snorted. “The murders have been so random, striking different families. I asked folks to maintain their silence, but people talk. That’s why there’s nobody here tonight. Truth be told, I wanted to speak with you so soon not because I feared you sneaking off in the morning, but because I feared you getting your throats slashed in the night.”
Godwin nodded. “And the killer’s methods? Do the burns or the missing livers mean anything?”
“How could they?” Rolph roared, slamming his fist on the table. “What the hell do you take me for, some kind of monster scholar?”
“Easy,” Godwin said. “You should have enough wits about you to know that it’s a standard question, and if you take offense at every little thing I won’t be able to help.”
“Of course, I apologize,” Rolph said, drumming his fingers on the table. “It’s just, please you’ve got to understand. I’ve been mayor here for nearly thirty years. Nothing of the sort has ever happened. This place has been such a good thing for me and my family. Now my community. I can’t allow some psychopath to jeopardize my life’s work.”
“Of course not,” Godwin said calmly. “I understand. And I happen to be willing to help. Is there anything else you can tell me? Any suspicions? Anyone I should talk to?”
“Oh thank the gods,” Rolph said, slumping down all at once. It was only then that Godwin realized how close to tears the dwarf was. He took a few breaths and hardened up again. “Between the two of us,” he said in a low voice, “I do have a suspicion. There’s a lad by the name of Rickon. He’s always had a heart full of fire and a head full of shit. He’s the son of a real she-wolf. His mother Teagan is the devil incarnate. I swear it on my own mother’s grave, rest her soul. I would look closely at that boy if I were you.”
Godwin nodded. “Very well. I’ll have a word with him and see what I can discover.”
“I wouldn’t approach him directly,” Rolph said at once. “He’ll clam up like a dry twat.”