Bran waved back behind them although the marsh itself was far enough away that it was lost in the darkness—the marsh, its foul-smelling Rottwealth plants, and the water elemental that Ean had placed in its waters. The young man had lost his parents and still trusted the same type of creature that took them from him to fix the marsh. Either Ean was more complicated than she had thought or he had ulterior motives other than helping the village. A year ago, she would have thought the latter. Would have believed the worst in him without giving it another thought. On this night, however, she gave it more than a few. She couldn't think of a single reason why he would lie about healing the marsh that would benefit him in any way. Maybe the man walking in front of her had an idea.
"Why do you think he's making this show of cleaning up the marsh?"
"I don't know." Bran let out a huff that seemed to release some of the anger he had been holding. He stopped walking to face her, and when he spoke again, his voice held more regret than anger. "Take away his monsters, the strange tattoos covering his body, and this new-found sense of superiority, and he is still the same young man apprenticed under our healer. The same one who scowled at most of the people who live here one moment, but the instant one of them grew ill or were injured, he was rushing around doing whatever he could to aid Old Cleff in healing them. I still see that young man peak out from behind the walls Ean has erected this past year. As much as I hate him, I can't see what other motives he could have for cleaning up the marsh. And I certainly can't imagine that same person murdering or having his creatures murder my people."
Bran took on a pensive look and grew silent. He turned back and began walking, seeming lost in thought again as Ezzy followed along. It didn't take long before they were back on the main road that ran through the heart of the town. The homes were built closer together, and the few lanterns that cast their faint glow to light the way cast shadows dancing about, adding an eeriness to the night. With a murderer about, it made every dark corner a place of possible danger. The sound of the inn ahead of them was a beacon of safety in the night. It was only slightly comforting knowing that Paz was resting out of town near the mountains.
When Bran broke the silence, Ezzy barely kept from jumping at the sound. "You seem to have a change of heart about him as well. After all, you didn't attack him as soon as he walked in."
"Just showing some restraint. I want the person responsible for my father's death brought to justice, just as you want the same for the one murdering your people."
"Except now you're not sure if Ean is the one you really want."
"He denies his involvement in my father's death just as strongly as he denies his involvement in the deaths here. There could be truth in what he says. Or it could all be lies. I just don't know why someone who would have no problem killing so many would feel the need to hide it. It doesn't make sense."
"None of this makes sense." Some of the anger had crept back into his voice. "This village has known peace for generations. Minor squabbles, the occasional drunken fight, but nothing that couldn't be handled with a few words, a warm meal, and a hand shake at the end. We open ourselves up to the rest of the world and things fall apart." Bran waved a hand to take in the village. "Sure, at first, everything was better. New traders, new sources of income for our people. New residents that seemed to embrace our simpler lifestyle." He shook his head. "And now murder keeps families locked away. Mistrust makes men and women cast looks at their neighbors as though they haven’t known them for decades." His hands balled into fists. "And my father uses it all to secure his position."
More silence as Ezzy struggled to find something to say. It was clear Bran was conflicted, but so was she. She had no idea what to say to him, just as she had no idea what to think herself. By the time they reached the inn, she still was struggling with what to say.
"Bran, it’s--"
"If you don't mind, Ezzy, I need a little time alone. Today has been...tiring." He gave her with a weak smile. "Can we speak more in the morning?"
"Of course, in the morning."
They stood there, both looking at each other, both standing awkwardly. It was horrible.
"Good night, then." Ezzy walked up the steps and hurried inside, not stopping until she reached the top of the stairs and was in her room.
***
"What in the Abyss am I doing?" Ezzy tossed her belt and the knives in their sheaths onto the dresser in her room. She shrugged her cloak off onto the floor. "Capture or kill Ean, that was the plan. Left my friends behind so that I could get a head start. Now look at me."
She kicked off her boots and sat down on her bed. The mayor had given her one of his best rooms at first, which he then took away once he no longer needed her to speak out against Ean. Bran had been nice enough to provide her with one of the smaller rooms they hadn't given to the people from Rensen. The single bed on which she sat, the dresser that held her meager possessions, and a simple wash basin were the only pieces of furniture in the room. A single candle holder hung near the door, the small lit wick casting its meager light on the room. Despite the three moons in the sky outside, not a ray of their light passed through the thick glass of the partially-opened window in the middle of the wall. Despite its lack of luxury, it was much better than sleeping outside, especially as the temperature continued to drop in this cold season.
"I should have just gone straight to the mine with Paz," Ezzy continued. "Fought my way in and took Ean before he could put any more of these doubts in my mind."
Except most of the doubts have come from watching how he acts, she thought. He's barely said more than a few words to me.
She lay down on her back, head in her hands. The candle light made the shadows dance around the ceiling above her, but they didn't instill the fear the shadows outside had elicited. Here, in the relative safety of a building with dozens of people in the common room below, she didn't fear whatever man or monster was murdering people in this small village.
At least not as much. Having Nolan badgering her, Bavian's outlandish behavior, or even the harsh words of Shay would have made things better. Hopefully, the intimidating woman hadn't taken too great an offensive at her sudden departure.
They would all be surprised by the fact she hadn't stormed the mine. Not that the option was off the table. Ezzy thought about it sometimes, whenever she was alone in her room, questioning everything she had spent the past year believing. Though she wanted to act regardless of her doubts, each night she had just blown out her candle and gone to bed.
On this night, with the addition of what had happened this evening, sleep seemed a long way off.
"I just wish there was someone who could tell me the truth of it all," she said to the ceiling above. "Should I seek my vengeance on Ean, make sure he sees the justice he deserves, or is there someone else at fault for my father's death?"
"Your father's death wasn't Ean's fault."
Ezzy rolled out of bed. She was on her feet and across the room in a flash, two knives unsheathed from her belt on the dresser and in her hands.
"Who said that?" Her eyes searched the room and came up empty. "I'm not playing around."
Silence. Ezzy refused to let herself relax. Muscles tensed as she strained her senses to find the source of the voice.
"I am your deity--"
Ezzy threw the knife in her right hand. She still couldn't see anything, but the voice was coming from somewhere underneath the window.
"Hey!"
The knife made a thunk sound as it stuck into the floorboard. An instant later, something else made a thud somewhere else in the room.
"What are you--"
The other knife left her hand. There was a knock as her second knife’s hilt hit the floor. Again, she heard the scrap of something moving along the ground. Ezzy reached back for another knife.
"Ok, ok!" There was a shimmering effect next to her bed, like light reflecting off a calm body of water. It only lasted a moment and when it was gone, the imp stood in its place.
"No need to be hostile. I was just joking around."
"With a murderer slicing people up and taking their organs, sneaking into someone's room isn't the best idea for a joke."
The imp shrugged. "Ean would probably agree with you, but those of us from the Abyss have a darker sense of humor." Zin gave a slight bow before continuing. "Sorry if I scared you."
"You didn't," Ezzy replied, taking long breaths to try and calm her racing heart. "You're just lucky I didn't put either of those knives in your little, brown stomach."
"You think it little?" The imp patted his belly. "I was starting to worry I was getting a little fat."
"Maybe you should stop wasting my time before you find the proper end of the next knife sticking out of that same stomach."
"Fair enough. You, like the majority of people Ean runs across, are wrong about him. And I'm here to clear some things up."
The imp held up a clawed hand and began ticking off his fingers. "Ean wasn't the reason your father's caravan was attacked by the people in Ulundkin, so you can stop blaming him for that. He certainly isn't behind the murders here, which by your expression at the last murder house, I think you might have already concluded. And lastly, his connection to the Abyss doesn't make him evil, despite what the temples and different deities might have you believe."
Ezzy shot him an incredulous look. "And I'm supposed to believe all this from the man's servant?"
"I'm his friend. And advisor." Zin grimaced. "Which probably doesn't make what I say any more believable. But I am willing to talk. Answer questions to the best of my ability. At the very least, I’ll try to find some middle ground so you don't send that giant metal monster Ean told me about after him again."
"A nice gesture but you still haven't told me why I'm supposed to believe a single word out of your mouth."
Zin shrugged and took a seat on the floor by the bed. " I have nothing I can say that will suddenly convince you to believe me. But you seem like a smart enough woman. You can either consider what I have to say or, if I'm lying, take everything as a lie. You basically have nothing to lose but a little bit of time and plenty to gain if you do believe the answers I give." A small smile touched his lips as hers dipped into a frown. "Listening to me might even alleviate any doubts you've been feeling and put you back on the path to wanting Ean dead. Isn't that what you were asking for just now anyway?"
The little creature made a point. If she was going to go along with it, though, the best thing she could do was try to catch it off guard.
"Fine. First question. Did Ean send you?"
"No," Zin replied without hesitation. "He thinks you are a dangerous combination of stubborn and crazy. With everything else going on, he's placed you low on the list of things to worry about."
"Oh?" Ezzy tried not to let her pride take offence. "And what other things, besides the murders of course, are bothering your friend?"
"Internal affairs," Zin replied just as quick, but the imp’s expression grew guarded. "Can't really say more."
"I thought you were going to be honest."
"About things that concern you, yes. About things that concern us, no. I'm not going to sit here and ask for your life story leading up to when your vendetta started. Being honest and being open are two different things."
"That's true."
Ezzy moved over to her wash basin. She went through the motions of splashing some water on her face and then used the towel to dry herself. The cold water helped her focus and the action gave her some time to think. When she turned back around, the imp hadn't moved. His beady, black eyes were watching her.
Strange, she thought. I'm not worried about this creature at all. Is that a good or bad thing?
The imp interrupted her thoughts with a question. "If I can ask, who told you Ean was behind what happened in Ulundkin?"
"One of my father's workers. Didn't know him personally but I had seen him enough throughout my life to know he always went with the caravan north. I have no reason to question what he said."
"Which was?"
"Short version, Ean was caught sneaking around areas he shouldn't have, my father stepped up to defend him for some reason, and Ean started a fight that ended up getting everyone killed."
The imp nodded as she spoke and was silent a few moments when she finished before speaking. "Partial truths. The person exploring where he shouldn't have been was a man named Sadiek Nidot. While Ulundkin guards were looking for Sadiek, they found and attacked Ean by mistake. Azalea, being the impulsive sort, took both of them out. While that was happening, the town's guards caught a young map maker named Fredren Prown also sneaking around. That's the young man your father was trying to save. Ean got pulled into that disagreement as well and ended up curing one of the guards of the Plague." Zin grimaced. "Which also cured the guard of his eternal life. In a very messy way. That's when things fell apart and the majority of the killing occurred. Ean was knocked out and Azalea got him out of there."
"And interesting story--"
"Except you don't believe me."
Ezzy moved to retrieve her knives. Zin watched her but didn't move as she spoke. "Let's ignore the fact that the most obvious explanation is your covering for your...friend. I'll even overlook that I'm speaking to a creature from the Abyss, which most of the people in our lands would want to destroy without a second thought. What possible reason would this Sadiek have for causing all that chaos?"
The imp scratched behind one of his ears. "I don't know if Sadiek meant for all of that to happen. He had some other agenda. When we saw him next, he had just cut the wings from Azalea's back. An epic battle ensued and Ean came out the winner. In a way. Sadiek got away, though we thought he would eventually die of his wounds. Unfortunately, he proved us wrong when he showed up in Lurthalan to taunt Ean." Zin let out a chuckle. "Which you interrupted."
"Not a very strong argument on Ean's innocence. And you seem to want to put the blame on the man named Sadiek." Ezzy returned the two knives to their sheaths and moved closer to the bed. "You can't even say for certain he was the sole reason my father's caravan was wiped out."
"I'm just telling you what I saw and what I know." Zin shrugged. "That's all I claimed I was going to do."
"Well, I still have more questions--"
"Someone's coming," Zin hissed.
Before Ezzy could reply, the imp was out the window. She moved to watch him go but a commotion in the hallway made her pause. Stomping boots approached her door. All she had time to do was glance over to the dresser where her weapons lay when the door to her room burst open.
"Esmerelda Ciantar." The words came out of Shay's mouth like a curse. "Pray to Avien'zia for mercy, for I am about to show you none."
Chapter 30
The Heart somehow seemed darker with Qo shuffling around the room. Ean watched the newest addition to their home hobble about as he leaned against the entryway into the room. The creature's leg had regrown from the night before, although it looked thinner than the other one and Qo didn't seemed to favor it with each step. The skull-headed creature had been asleep, or at least pretending to be, when Ean had walked into the room to relieve the Crux, Yagani, from making sure Qo didn't leave. He told Azalea to get some rest, as she had stayed up all night watching Yagani just in case Qo tried to control the Crux's mind. As Ean watched Qo move about the room, occasionally putting his vine-like hands on Auz, he questioned for what must have been the dozenth time whether he should send the creature back to the Abyss.
After three laps around the silent sphere, Qo glanced in Ean's direction with the glowing light of his hollow eyes.
"I don't need a chaperone." Qo's echo of a voice sounded even stranger as it echoed around the room. "It was distracting enough with one of those piss-colored thugs watching my every move. With you here, I feel like the slightest misstep on my part will end with another part of my body in that Hound's mouth."
"You're not wrong," Ean replied, not bothering to hold back his harsh tone. "Believe me, if I think
your even about to step out of line, I'll send you back to the Abyss in a heartbeat."
"That threat might work on some of your weaker creatures, but I've carved out a nice little niche of power down in the great city of Quo'Li'Grun. Just enough to live comfortably while not enough to annoy the Nar'Grim and other nasty things much more powerful than I. If I went back now, I doubt anyone would have scooped up my little section of the city for themselves yet. Just because I'm aiding you now doesn't mean I have some strong desire to actually stay in this world."
"Then why help in the first place if you had it so well down there?"
"That's my business, not yours."
Ean almost sent him back to the Abyss then and there. After a few deep, calming breaths, he chose to ignore the comment. "How about instead, you tell me what you've learned with all your skulking around the Heart."
"What I've found?" Qo turned towards Ean completely now. "I'm not sure what your imp has told you, but I'm not some miracle worker.
"The first thing I'm doing," he patted Auz's rough surface, "is searching every inch of your rock's surface, looking for some chip or minuscule hole where something could have been inserted to cause your sphere's sudden silence. You know it's a perfect sphere, correct?"
"No. What does that have to do with anything?"
A long sigh escaped the creature’s skull, the sound similar to when a windy day filled the mine with its sounds. "Nothing more annoying than an ignorant creature with a great deal of power." Qo paused long enough to give a pointed look in Ean's direction and continued before Ean could respond. "A sphere, perfectly proportioned is impossible to make by human or creature hands. Almost as difficult to make even with the use of magic. If something with as much power as your sphere put the effort to make itself perfect, that perfection could very well tie into its own well-being. A simple flaw in its perfection could be enough to make it lose itself."
"It seems a little far-fetched that the shape of a thing could be such a big deal."
Shadows of Home (Bound to the Abyss Book 4) Page 22