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Fates Choice

Page 23

by Tristan Fairfield


  Again, Bernhart helped fill in the blanks that were still dogging the two young men. “I had indeed learnt of the captains arrival on our shores through my own contacts and mentioned our little bandit problem and the goods found in the palisade. They are some of the goods that have gone missing from Sha Haram. This is no coincidence gentleman and, unfortunately, does confirm my suspicion that, not only do the bandits have, or had, another base from which the goods were smuggled out, but that they were acting on instructions from an as yet unknown third party. All the goods found in the palisade were high value cargos. It could not be by chance that they happened across all the most valuable caravans. This has also meant maximum disruption to the balance of power in Sha Haram. Many of the merchants targeted could not afford these losses and have now been bankrupted”.

  “Holy God, you mean there is another base we have to attack. What good will the four of us plus eleven men be”.

  Bernhart held up his silencing finger at Carodin’s latest exclamation. “As I said after the battle, I believe the twenty or so gaestnips who attacked us first had come from their other base so, I am hoping, that will now be empty. We just have to find it. Hopefully, there may be some clues therein which will allow Guild Captain Sala to return home with evidence of a culprit. If we had not dealt with all the bandits, I believe we would have known about it by now. The safety of the caravans now on the turnpikes re affirms this.”

  “So where do the two of us fit in to this then?” Torr waved his hand between Carodin and himself. “I mean, we’re just two young officers from Sommerswake. What can we help with?”

  “Ahh...what indeed Captain Skarsdale. Officers you maybe, but you are also from merchant families and have some understanding of how bargains are struck”.

  “Well I do, his family just hammer bits of wood together”. Carodin grinned at Torr as he took more food for his plate. Torr noticed that the pile of entrees had gone down considerably. He had not been watching as he paid due focus to Bernharts and Perezia briefing, but presumed Carodin had been eating everything he could.

  “Yes, well, be that as it may, it was still felt he, and yourself Captain Culos, would be suitable companions for the ruse we have planned”. Torr had gained the impression that Bernharts wit would be sharp as well, but considered the master wizard felt the need to stand on ceremony in the presence of Perezia.

  “What information we had gathered in the port pointed to somewhere called Buxtor, north of Columb”.

  “It is a mining town. The surrounding area is given over to stone mines as the quality of the limestone there is world renowned, so I am told. However, it is also a haven for smugglers. We know the first gaestnips had come from the south. Whilst it is many days travel from the palisade, it would not actually be too difficult for them to move the goods, perhaps with the aid of some local villains, that far, for onward shipment. Through Columb and then back into Sha Haram”.

  “What, you think that the gaestnips may have had human accomplices?” Each new revelation was still causing Carodin to exclaim with obvious surprise.

  “I do indeed. In fact, that would also tie in with our suspicions that their base of operations will be somewhere in the hills around Buxtor as the people there are not renowned for their civility, compassion or scruples”.

  “So”, continued, Perezia, “the Master Wizard and myself have come up with a plan”. She looked to Bernhart who willingly jumped in.

  “A few days ago a note was sent to the stonemasons guild of Buxtor from a merchants coster in Moorsmeet. The enquiry related to the areas ability to supply stone for the commission of a new public building in the city of Moorsmeet. A small delegation from said merchant’s guild is to arrive several days afterwards to assess the ability of the local mines to supply the stone for this wonderful new construction. The commission is quite false but it provides us with a suitable subterfuge to spend a few days in the wonderfully cosmopolitan town of Buxtor, looking for likely suspects and empty bandit lairs. The representatives of the coster will comprise myself and you two gentleman and we shall be escorted by a mercenary company” he nodded at Perezia “which is not unusual for three merchants on such a long journey. With your background’s it was hoped that you would make suitable and convincing accomplices as well as, obviously, being capable young men in your own right”.

  There was a slight pause as Bernhart expected either questions or objections from the two young men but, instead, Carodin and Torr just exchanged glances and a qualified nod to each other. As with the wizards plan for the attack on the bandit’s palisade, it sounded like a reasonable strategy. At least in theory.

  “Very well gentleman, we shall leave first thing tomorrow as it is several days ride to Buxtor at least, provided the rains do not get any worse”. As Bernhart had done a lot of the talking, he had not really taken any of the offerings that had been laid before them. Torr had not seen the wizard look surprised before, but his expression was obvious when he saw how little had been left. Although he quickly composed himself, Carodin grinned sheepishly before the two young men adjourned themselves from the meeting hall.

  “Where do you put it all?” Enquired Torr as he and Carodin made their way back to their room. With focus, Torr could now find his way there without assistance, although he needed to concentrate so his conversation on the way back meant more than one wrong turn still.

  “What can I say, I’m a growing lad. Besides, women like to see a healthy appetite in a man don’t you think?”.

  “I think you’ve done all the growing you need to. Plus, I don’t think they like to see where it goes”. Torr patted Carodin heavily on the stomach. “I presume you’re referring to our new female captain friend?”

  “Yeah, wait, don’t tell me you didn’t?”

  Torr hadn’t really thought about it. She was attractive but, and this came as a bit of a shock to him, he really liked Elswyth anyway.

  He felt the best response was just to shrug at Carodin’s question as they made their way back to their quarters.

  ****************************************

  The two men took the opportunity to catch up since they saw each other last at the Abbey ceremony.

  “I came back to where you were stood, when the coast was clear for me to come out of hiding but you had gone”.

  “I went to find a dark corner with the cider”, Torr half lied.

  “So how long you been here then?”

  “A ten-day”.

  What, how come so long. Oh...wait, does this have something to do with all the rumours I’ve been hearing about you and your mace?”

  Torr just nodded. Whilst he was getting used to his magic himself, he was still not sure how anyone, particularly friends or acquaintances, would react.

  Torr undertook his obligatory candle lighting trick. Carodin looked like a young boy at a puppet show. However, he was now able to pour conjured water over the flame to douse it now, as a new, but rather messy, end to his parlour piece.

  “How excellent is that, what else can you do then?”

  He was pleased with Carodin’s positive response. His own family had been far more reserved, perhaps understandably when Torr had the, rather awkward, conversation with his father about what Aelboric had heard from the surviving men regarding his youngest son’s new found ability.

  Carodin fired just as many questions at him as he did at Bernhart but, unlike the master wizard, there was little Torr could tell his friend. Carodin even went as far as trying to light the candle himself but Torr suggested he looked like he was about to soil himself if he concentrated any harder. Importantly though, Carodin seemed completely unfazed by his friends new parlour trick.

  “That’s nothing, I got a little bonus off the battlefield, look”. Torr opened his long chest at the bottom of the bunk he had chosen and pulled out Victory’s Pain, handing it to Carodin, who tilted it in the small space of the room, checking it’s balance.

  “Yeah, nice, not really my thing though. I didn’t thin
k it was yours either. Not much use for that on horseback is there?”

  Torr couldn’t resist showing off the staff’s party piece. He took his new weapon back from Carodin and watched the Tantes man fall back over his bunk and swear in amazement as Victory’s Pain burst into life. Torr had, at least, been able to master getting the flames to die out, but not abruptly. Just like the last burning embers of a dying fire, the licking flames took time to go out. Unfortunately, Torr had not seen that he had set fire to the bed clothes on the bunk behind him. He thought Carodin’s lack of speech and vigorous pointing was still in amazement of the staff. He stood there grinning, until he felt some heat behind him.

  Carodin found his voice just as Torr started to turn. “No look, you fool, you’ve set the fucking room on fire!”

  “Oh shit”. Torr froze with indecision. Carodin composed himself first, picked up the large wooden tub of washing water, instantly emptying it over the bunk. There was a sizzling noise as the water hit, but the flame did not abate.

  “Oh that’s right, normal water won’t work, only magical”

  “Oh, that’s marvellous then. Well, I tell you what, master mage, you set fire to it, you sodding well put it out”.

  Torr turned to try and conjure some more cold water but panic was starting to affect his focus, so was Carodin’s repeated exclamations. All he could manage was little more than he conjured to put out the candle, which just doused a corner of the blanket.

  “Quick, throw it out the window!”

  “What!”

  “Throw it out...oh for God’s sake, out the way”. Carodin barged past Torr, picked up the soggy bit of cloth that Torr had managed to extinguish and tried to throw it out the window. Torr tried to help, but Carodin had the only part of the bedclothes that were not alight. As the Tantes man frantically waved the blanket around though, Torr noticed that the fire did not seem hot. On a hunch, and in a panic, Torr grabbed at the piece of cloth that was still well alight. It did not burn.

  “Sod’s, it’s just like the staff!” he exclaimed, to a bemused looking Carodin. “Look, give it here, it’s alright”. Torr took all the cloth from Carodin, rolled it up, told Carodin to move back before he set himself on fire and chucked the burning blanket out the window.

  “What’s below us?” enquired Carodin. His voice had no tone by this point.

  “Oh no. You didn’t check? Now who’s the idiot?”

  Torr leant over the window parapet as much as he dared. They seemed a lot further from the ground then he thought their bunkroom was situated. Torr had time to see the blanket, flapping, unravelling slightly in the breeze as it slowly parachuted its way to the ground, some distance from the tower, landing on a patch of grass close to the boundary wall of Oaks Keep. By fortune or God’s grace it had missed the smithy and the stables, landing in between these two flammable landmarks. The bed-clothing smouldered to itself as it blackened the grass around it.

  It was not yet late enough that there was no foot traffic around. A shout from the smithy was soon followed by a rush of several guards from different directions and two apprentices, who quickly ran from the scene. They came back a minute later with another, more confident looking colleague, who motioned with his hands, producing a jet of water that immediately extinguished the, by now, crispy linen.

  The guards started to look around but the senior apprentice almost immediately looked up. Had he done so a moment sooner, he would have seen Torr and Carodin leaning out their window like proverbial naughty children.

  As Torr slumped down, he turned to grin at Carodin , who had done the same, only to see Carodin’s deadpan expression. “You’re on fire now!”

  “What, oh shit!” Torr looked down to see his jerkin was smouldering with embers at the waist.

  He rolled to one side, still not wanting to stand up, even just with his back showing out of the window. He took his jerkin off and threw it in the empty wash bucket.

  “Don’t do that, the bucket will catch fire!”

  “Hang on, shush, let me concentrate, watch”. The adrenalin was flowing now, allowing Torr to concentrate enough to conjure sufficient water into the bucket to douse the last of the flame, before he slumped onto his bunk.

  Carodin mirrored his actions on his own bed, the two young men looking levelly at each other before relieved smiles crossed their faces together.

  “You are a lunatic” Carodin started to laugh. “I love it. What else can we set fire to then?”

  “I think we’ve done enough damage for one night”. Torr looked down and, at the same time, noticed his feet were wet. The floor was swimming in water now from his earlier Aquamancy displays plus Carodin’s decision to tip their entire water supply out of the bucket as well.

  “I hope the floors are well tarred otherwise anyone below us will be enjoying a good shower about now!”

  Carodin got up and took the sheets off the remaining spare bunk and started to mop the floor. Between them, the two young men managed to soak up most of the water, depositing their impromptu sponge into the bucket where Torr’s jacket now lay. They also found an old rug in one of the cupboards which, they dragged around the floor for good measure as well.

  “So, what, anything your staff sets fire to doesn’t harm you then?” Carodin enquired after the two had caught their breath.

  “I guess, I don’t know”.

  “What d’ya mean, you don’t know?”

  Torr became lightly defensive. “I don’t know. I’ve only just worked out how to turn the damn staff itself off”.

  He paused before his brain replayed events. “But, yeah, maybe. I guess that would make sense. Gods’, that means I could set fire to a barn full of hay and walk through it”.

  “Wow, can we try that tomorrow?”

  Torr gave Carodin an amused glare. He was starting to feel tired again now and both men knew they had a long journey ahead of them tomorrow morning.

  They simply agreed that, if anyone came asking, they knew nothing about what had just happened!

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  T he journey to Buxtor started in a slightly frosty atmosphere as Torr, Bernhart and Carodin waited for Captain Sala’s men to fall in.

  There had been sufficient room to billet them in the settlement’s barracks and also for each of the eleven men’s horses in the stables as well. Their mounts were, more or less, the same size as Scout, breed for speed not for heavy charge or plough work. All eleven men wearing leather riding gear, as was Perezia. Trying to ride through the wealds wearing her short armour would have been cold and unflattering, although it was much to Carodin’s disappointment. Most of the men sported crossbows and a variety of short swords, some with shields, some without. All their armour was without marking. Their ruse would have been short lived had they announced themselves with the crest of Sha Haram emblazoned on their chest armour, a lighthouse, specifically, the Halabi Lighthouse, said to be the oldest in the world.

  Bernhart seemed quieter than Torr had experienced before. As the master wizard had asked the young men if they knew anything about flammable and flying laundry, however, the source of the master wizard’s discomfiture was soon apparent to them. Both gained the impression that Bernhart was less then convinced with their denial.

  The journey to Buxtor took six days, the party stopping each night at the wayside taverns and hamlets that, naturally, sprung up along the road. There was evidence of repairs and refurbishment to the hostelries as the expected level of trade returned to normal volumes. Another indicator how serious the bandit menace had become. Buildings were being repainted and re tarred later into the season than would be expected. Fences and stables being mended and fully stocked and, of course, full rooms each night they stopped as well.

  On all but one of the overnight stops they were all camped together in large common rooms, albeit with less proportion taken up by mercenary companies. Merchants were taking the opportunity to test the new found safety of the roads through this part of the wealds again. The Sha Haram gua
rd therefore drew their fair share of attention, as was Perezia from Carodin. On more than one occasion Torr had to dig Carodin in the ribs and point out that he was staring. However, Torr was starting to notice Perezia smiling back at the young Tantes man as well.

  On the night before they reached Buxtor, they had been fortunate enough to find a tavern in the small town of Ashbaern. They had now ridden right through Coombe and had entered the Weald of Delsk that morning. The road had started to cut through shallow limestone gorges as the going became hillier. It was the richness of the limestone that gave many parts of Delsk its prosperity in the form of some of the largest scale stone mines known. Torr could feel that the winds were that little bit warmer as they approached the far southern coastline of the wealds as well.

  Many of the public buildings in Ashbaern were of course sourced from local stone, giving the place a light and airy feel, which was complimented by the approach of the locals. They only soured when the party mentioned they were looking for Buxtor.

  On this evening’s final rest, there had been sufficient room to place Perezia’s guard in their own room with separate, albeit rather snug, quarters for the remaining four of them. Largely, the Simirinthine had been doing its job and Torr had managed to return to a, relatively, normal sleeping pattern. However, the gem made its presence felt every now and again in his dreams still, albeit not so violently. This night, Torr felt a general sense and fear of imprisonment, as if he had been chained. The clasps on his ankles seemed to be getting tighter though to the point that he woke. He was startled to see, through the gloom of the unlit sleeping quarters, what appeared to be Perezia, kneeling down facing him. She had hold of his ankles. She looked breathless and a contorted expression on her face. Torr started to feel panic rise as something clearly wasn’t right, only then to focus on the broad shouldered shape of Carodin behind her, hands clasping her hips. He looked to his right. Bernhart was asleep or, at least, had the decency to pretend he was still asleep. Torr, however, felt trapped in a limbo of awkwardness, until Perezia’s hands started to slide up from his ankles.

 

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