“I will keep an eye out for him. Here is your key. Go up the stairs and all the way back. Your room will be the last left door.”
Lady Shey and Shila followed the inn keeper’s directions and entered their room. A foul odor immediately offended Lady Shey’s nostrils.
“Ugh, what is that smell?” Shila commented.
“It looks as if you and I have a bit of cleaning to do before bed.”
“I will unpack the soap. You see if you can find some water.”
Lady Shey nodded and took a sizable decanter from a large bowl sitting on a nearby chest of drawers. “I will be back shortly.”
“Hold on, I will go with you. No one should venture out to the water cistern alone so close to dark.”
“Inn Keep, an ale here.” Gondrial pointed to the rough wooden table before him. A few moments later, a portly young girl with a nice smile and blonde ponytails put a tankard before him. He took a long pull of the dark ale before he realized the girl had not moved away, her gaze questioning.
“What? Run a tab,” Gondrial commanded.
“No sir, no tabs for strangers. Coin or the street.” Her nice smile was curiously absent now.
He produced a coin. “All right, all right, here you are. There is no need to get testy.”
The portly girl took the coin without as much as a thank you.
“You’re welcome! And yes, I will have another, thank you,” Gondrial called after her.
Asterial entered the common room and made his way to Gondrial’s table. “What have you found out?” he said as he pulled up a chair and sat down.
“That the locals have little to no manners.”
Asterial was not amused.
“I just got here; I haven’t gotten around to asking yet.”
“But you managed an ale, I see.”
“Oh, I see what you’re getting at.” He raised his hand up. “Young miss, ale for my thirsty friend here.” He pointed to Asterial. “Don’t worry, he has plenty of coin.”
“Well, not exactly what I had in mind, but I suppose one mug of ale couldn’t hurt.”
“Where did Enowene go?”
The barmaid put an ale in front of Asterial, and he flicked her a coin. “She went down toward the Eagle Eye to see if Shey might have arrived.”
“I just checked there about midday,” Gondrial said before taking another pull of ale.
“That was several hours ago.”
“So it was.” He took another drink. “It’s a long shot that Shey will be at the inn, but it’s worth trying. As resourceful as she is, we may still need to rescue her from somewhere. How long are we planning on waiting?”
“I would think if she was captured and held, she would have escaped by now. It has been a while now since we discovered the imposter. We will not wait more than a couple of days before we enlist the help of the dragons to find her. They will take some convincing to help us, so it is preferable that Lady Shey turns up on her own.” Asterial chuckled. “In the centuries I have known her, I have never seen anyone keep her captive longer than a few days. I remember when she was a little girl, crafty little thing, always slipping away.”
“When we do find her, we will have to pick this inn as the new meeting place for Basillain. It is much nicer than that other rat’s nest.”
Lady Shey filled the decanter with water from the cistern and glanced in Shila’s direction when her eyes came upon a familiar blue dress with white trim. “Enowene!” she called out. “Enowene, over here.” Enowene beamed as Lady Shey bolted across the street to embrace her. Shila was left holding the abandoned decanter.
“Shey, I am so glad you are all right. You will have to tell me everything that happened.” Enowene grabbed ahold of Lady Shey hard by the arms; a rush of cool air blew over Lady Shey’s shoulders.
“It is I, Enowene. What are you doing?”
Enowene’s lips curled into a grin. “I had to be sure.” Lady Shey’s expression became blank. “I will explain it all to you as soon as I am able. For now, we must alert Asterial and Gondrial that I have found you.”
Lady Shey gestured to the waiting Shila. “This is Shila of the dwarven mountain realms.”
Enowene’s face tightened. “So I see. I thought dwarves did not care to leave their mountain homes.”
“Enowene, Shila has been very kind to me.”
“I meant no offense. It was only a simple observation.”
Shila managed a smile. “Don’t fret, my lady, I will answer the elf’s question. As a rule, dwarves do not leave the Jagged Mountains. I am an exception since remaining home would mean I would be expected to marry soon.”
“You do not wish to marry?”
“Enowene!”
“A simple question, Shey, where is the harm in that?”
“No, Shey, I will answer. I would think it would be obvious that I do not wish to marry, lady elf since I stand here before you. In a manner of speaking, dwarven women are expected to be hidden away, tending to their husband’s every need. I have always been an independent sort, defiant of convention. I hope that satisfies your curiosity, for I do not need to explain myself to you. Be aware, I answer you out of courtesy.”
Enowene’s eyebrow shot up, and Lady Shey took the opportunity to change the subject. “Where is Gondrial?”
“I left him and Asterial near the inn and tavern just around the corner.”
“You left them where?” Lady Shey said with alarm.
Enowene put her hand over her mouth. “What was I thinking? We had better hurry.” She pulled up her skirts to enable her to move freely and quickly.
Shila looked confused. “What is the matter?”
”Enowene left our friends by a tavern.”
Shila shrugged, still confused.
“By themselves! Men!”
“Oh.” Shila pushed Lady Shey ahead of her and after Enowene. “Go now.”
“How long ago did you leave them, Enowene?” Lady Shey asked.
“Just long enough, I am afraid.” Enowene rounded the corner and made a dash for the inn. She swung the common room door open with Lady Shey and Shila on her heels. Alone in the middle of the room, Asterial was downing a tankard with liquid spilling down the sides of his mouth. Gondrial wandered up to the door, completely missing Enowene and running directly into Lady Shey. Wild comprehension appeared on his face as he recognized her.
“Look, Asterial, I found her,” he proclaimed.
“Good work, Gondrial. I knew I could count on you.”
“Hem hem.” Enowene cleared her throat.
“Oh, look. I found Enowene too.”
“Oh, you are good, my boy. I didn’t even know she was lost.”
“I am not lost, you great oaf.”
“Uh oh, Gondrial, you started a fire. Better come over here and have some more drink.”
Enowene marched up to Asterial. “I think you have had quite enough. Since when does an elf get drunk on ale so quickly?”
“We abandoned the ale a while ago. Denit, the innkeeper over there, keeps a stock of elvish brandywine behind the counter.”
“Well, that explains it,” Lady Shey said, giving Denit a stern glance. He slowly backed his way out of the common room through a door by the counter, cutting his eyes left and right.
“Both of you go up to your rooms. I will deal with Denit while I set up lodging for Shey. Go on.” Enowene pushed Asterial along and took the bottle out of Gondrial’s hand, which he had just picked up off the table.
“We procured a room at the Eagle Eye, Enowene.”
“No,” she said with disgust, “that place is only fit for vermin. This inn is far newer and nicer.”
“I will need to at least go back for our things.”
“I will send someone for your things. I am not letting you out of my sight,” Enowene said while pulling Shey into a sideways hug.
“All these seasons and you are still taking care of me.”
Enowene hugged her tighter. “You will always be a blue-ey
ed, dirty-faced little girl to me.”
“By the gods, I hope not!” Lady Shey proclaimed.
Enowene chuckled. “Here we are.” At the entryway to the inn rooms and at the rear of the common room stood a rounded counter with keys hanging on a panel, just out of reach, on the wall behind. A fair-haired young maiden stood in anticipation behind the counter.
“I need accommodations for two more if you please.”
“Certainly,” the maiden replied. “We have two rooms left.” She took down two keys and handed them to Enowene, who gave them to Lady Shey and Shila. Enowene paid the maiden.
“I will reimburse you as soon as I can get to my money at the Vale.”
Enowene just glowered and crooked her head at her. Lady Shey knew what that look meant. “Thank you, old friend.”
Enowene nodded. “Of course.” She turned her attention back to the counter. “Mistress, I also need a servant to retrieve some things from the Eagle Eye.”
“At once,” the girl replied.
A commotion at the front double doors drew their attention. A tall, dark, cloaked figure entered the common room, and someone knocked over a chair, evidently startled at the person’s sudden appearance. The cloaked man walked slowly toward Lady Shey while pulling off leather gloves. After he removed his gloves, he flung off his cloak and folded it neatly on his arm. The man was very well dressed in fine, mostly dark-colored, leather. His shirt appeared to be made of blue silk, and his skin was a warm brown.
“Sanmir!” Lady Shey exclaimed, immediately embracing him in a hug.
“My lady. You told me to be ready when the time came, and here I am.”
“I am so glad to see you, old friend.” She motioned at Enowene. “You remember Enowene.”
“I certainly do.” His voice became silky and smooth. He reached for her hand and kissed the top of it. “My lady.”
“Sanmir of Darovan.” Enowene returned the greeting.
“And this is Shila of the mountain realms.” Lady Shey motioned to her short friend.
Sanmir reached for her hand too. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Shila made an awkward curtsy, not knowing exactly what to do.
Sanmir gave her an odd glance and then addressed Lady Shey. “I bring news from Asterial. He asked me to tell you to stay put here in Basillain until he arrives. Where is Gondrial? Asterial said he sent him ahead while he made his way to Brookhaven to talk to the townsfolk.”
“Asterial? He is here at the inn. He and Gondrial are upstairs sleeping off too many ales,” Enowene stated.
“That’s not possible. I left him behind in Brookhaven. He wanted to tell the village that their young ones were safe in his care.”
“Gondrial!” Lady Shey yelped.
One by one, they sprinted up the stairs. When they topped the stairs, they could hear furniture moving around in the room ahead. Sanmir moved like a cat ahead of the women and tried to open the door. It was locked. With lightning skill, Sanmir produced a set of lock picks from seemingly nowhere and opened the lock as if it was not there. Gondrial was on his back on the floor, holding off a Krullen Thul as it tried to drip its acidic goo onto his face. Sanmir moved in a blur. Three daggers sailed through the air and pierced the black skin of the creature, almost in unison. The creature convulsed once and then collapsed. Gondrial threw it off him and leaped to his feet.
“I had it! I only needed a few more seconds.”
“Looked to me like it had you,” Sanmir said.
Lady Shey ran to Gondrial and threw her arms around him.
“I’m okay, Shey.”
Anger welled up on Enowene’s face. “We have to do something about this! These Krullen Thul have none of the tells of the old days. No stench, no character flaws, and no physical flaws. It is as if they are true copies. We need to be able to make them out.”
“It seems to me they have perfected their craft,” Shila observed.
“What’s all this fuss about?” Asterial said from the doorway. He still appeared to be inebriated and slurred his words. He carried a washcloth in his hands. He looked at the creature on the floor. “Heh, look Gondrial, a dead Shadow Lurker.”
Sanmir drew his remaining daggers, and Asterial looked startled. “Wait a moment, old friend, tell me what’s happening.”
“I left you in Brookhaven. You couldn’t have beaten me here.” He held the daggers in a position to stab.
Asterial reached into his pocket. Sanmir lunged slightly, and Asterial quickly produced a stone. “It’s a gift from Bren. It’s his personal Lora Daine. It can only take one person along and only for a short distance, but it can span Brookhaven to Basillain.” He turned the stone over with his fingers, dropped it, and then picked it up again. “Why do you think I was able to send Gondrial ahead?” He looked at the creature again. “Oh, you thought I was the Shadow Lurker.”
Lady Shey looked Gondrial over for wounds. “Are you all right?”
“I think so,” he replied. “I woke up to that thing in my face.” He pointed to the creature. “I didn’t think it took Asterial’s form. I vaguely remember Asterial stumbling out the door beforehand.”
“Whose form did it take then?” Enowene inquired.
Sanmir bent down for a closer look. “I don’t think it took the form of anyone we know.” He looked at Gondrial. “I believe it was here to assume the visage of Gondrial. It would have succeeded if we hadn’t become suspicious. We were wrong, but as it turns out, it was a lucky coincidence.”
“That is quite enough!” Enowene huffed. “I am sick and tired of being fooled by these foul creatures. Shey, you and I have some work to do. It’s time to find out how we can detect these things and keep our people safe.”
Lady Shey nodded. “I need to find us a place to work.”
Shila stepped up. “I am familiar with Basillain. I know of a place. I have a friend with a large, empty storeroom not far from here. She will let us take the creature there.”
“Excellent. Let’s get this thing out of here. Boys, can you lend us a hand?”
Gondrial, Sanmir, and Asterial wrapped the creature in a sheet and prepared to carry it out.
“We will slip out the back,” Enowene said.
The party carefully exited down the back stairs and slipped out the back door. They had not taken more than three steps away from the inn when they stopped cold. Ahead, coming out of the darkness in numbers, were Dramyds, followed here and there by Krullen Thul.
Enowene grimaced. “Oh, for the love of hearth and home!”
Chapter 8
Trendan knelt close to the ground, surveying the broken twigs and crushed prairie grass. “They have been this way, and fairly recently.”
“They?” Fayne asked.
“Two of them, one female and one male.”
“Are you certain it is her trail and not someone else’s?”
“Positive. I recognize her step. These are definitely the footsteps of Kimala. She is trying to hide them. See that tuft of grass?” He pointed to a small tuft of grass hastily thrown over one of the footprints. Fayne tried her best to look appreciative. She nodded her head, all the while trying to stifle a smile.
Trendan looked up at her face and took a breath. “But, I see you already know.” He straightened, and his face became rigid as stone.
“Oh, don’t get angry.”
“I’m not angry. I just wish you didn’t get such amusement from watching me track. I should just let you do it from now on.”
“Why not? I can track just as well.”
Trendan did not reply.
Fayne sniffed the air. “There is a peculiar smell in the air. Do you smell it?”
Trendan sniffed. “Aye, it is reminiscent of burnt cedar.”
“Do you think someone has a campfire nearby?”
“Perhaps, but it isn’t heavy in the air like a campfire would be, unless it is far upwind. We should get moving.” Trendan began surveying the land and trees for signs of smoke.
&nbs
p; “That smell, I can’t quite place it,” Fayne repeated.
Trendan cut through some dense bushes. “Don’t worry yourself with it, Fayne, you will drive yourself mad. It could be a campfire or a chimney of a nearby homestead or farm.” He stopped and looked back when he realized Fayne was not following him. “Fayne?” He pushed back through the bushes.
When Trendan found Fayne, she appeared shocked. “We had better find a place to hide, preferably underground,” she said in a calm, even tone. “I remember that smell. A drake is near.”
“Underground? How do you suppose we do that? Are you sure it’s a drake?”
“No, I’m not sure, but do you want to take the chance? I know what I smell.”
“Good point.”
“I thought you might see it my way. We should hide at least until we can scout around the area.”
“There isn’t much cover out here. These trees are not dense enough. We might be able to get under a bush.” Trendan sniffed the air. “The scent is old—at least two days. I think we are safe.”
Fayne wrinkled her nose and sniffed gently. “You can tell how fresh the scent is?”
“Of course I can. You can’t?” He grinned.
Fayne shouldered her backpack with a grunt. “There are more dense trees to the south.”
“Aye, I see. I think it would be a good idea, as you suggested, to scout out the area around here first though,” Trendan said. “There is also a fresh stream nearby, making this a good spot to stop for the night. I am confident we are safe enough.”
“I will go scout the area before the daylight hours fade completely. I agree we should set up camp once I’m sure it’s safe.”
“Oh, I’m sure it is, but if it makes you feel more secure, go ahead and check. That drake, if it was a drake, is long gone now.” Trendan looked around nervously but was careful not to let it show to Fayne.
Fayne deposited her backpack on a nearby boulder and headed out into the woods.
After he had finished setting up camp, Trendan debated whether or not he should start a fire. He decided it would not be a particularly good idea before he realized that it had been quite a while since Fayne had gone out scouting. He took up his bow and quiver and headed out after her, tracking her footprints. After about an hour, he momentarily lost her trail as the underbrush got thicker. He also noticed that someone was trying to cover up her tracks. Did Fayne really think he would be fooled? Surely it was not she who was trying to throw him off her trail. Concern crept up in his consciousness, and he quickened his pace. The darkness of night had fallen as he came upon a solitary camp nestled deep in the woods to the south. He could hear voices ahead, and he approached cautiously. Fayne surely wouldn’t have scouted this far south, he thought. As he slowly crawled up to the camp, he thought he heard Fayne talking to someone. He moved closer until he could see clearly that it was Fayne talking to Kimala. An unsettling feeling pervaded his senses as he moved closer. He hid in the underbrush flat on his belly. Although uncomfortable, he could move his head just enough to train his hearing on their conversation.
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