Quest's End: The Broken Key #3

by Brian S. Pratt

  Riyan went over to the window and looked out. All that he saw was darkness, except for the wisps of snow that blew against the window pane. Worry for his friend gnawed at him, but he knew that to go in search of him would be futile in such weather.

  When Chad made to leave earlier that evening, Alicia had suggested for him to stay the night due to the severity of the storm. “We wouldn’t want him getting lost and dying out there,” she argued.

  Her father didn’t care for the idea but couldn’t come up with a good reason to object that wouldn’t besmirch Chad’s honor. “Alright,” he agreed. “You can sleep in the front room.”

  “Thank you sir,” Chad replied. He glanced to Alicia who gave him a smile. Their exchange was not lost to her father.

  Blankets were piled on the long couch for Chad as the family made ready for bed. Her father remained in the front room after his wife and daughters had gone upstairs to their rooms. Relaxing in a chair by the fireplace, he pulled out his pipe and proceeded to light it.

  Chad sat on the couch, not comfortable with the idea of crawling under the covers with him sitting nearby. They sat there quietly for several minutes while her father stared into the fire as he puffed on his pipe. “You needn’t feel the need to remain here to guard the honor of your daughter,” Chad finally said.

  Her father smiled at that. “If I thought you were the type to take advantage of her under my own roof, I would have sent you on your way tonight,” he replied. Outside the wind howled as it beat snow against the sides of the house. The shutters had been closed to protect the windows, and at times the wind would moan eerily as it blew across them.

  “Sometimes my boy, it is simply nice to enjoy a moment of quiet,” he explained. “As a young man, you probably can’t understand that. But once you get older and have children, you’ll better know what I mean.” He nodded to the covers on the couch. “Go ahead and sleep, I’ll be here for a bit longer.” Putting the pipe to his mouth, he returned his gaze to the fire crackling in the fireplace.

  Chad was still uncomfortable with the thought of sleeping with him but feet away. But doing as the man advised, he laid down and pulled the covers over him. Her father stayed there for another quarter hour doing nothing but puffing on his pipe and watching the fire crackle and snap. Chad hadn’t been able to fall asleep while her father remained in the room. Rather, his mind had turned time and again to the bottle of wine, and the crest that it bore.

  The wind had died down the following morning. Blue sky and sunshine made the blanket of snow dazzle. True, it was frigid outside, but the morning air was filled with the delightful squeals of children at play. At an estate outside of town, work began as the occupants began digging out.

  A path was made through the snow connecting the manor house, stable, and Kevik’s tower. They were all but complete with the job when a figure appeared coming down the lane from the main road. Riyan was relieved to see Chad making his way through the snowdrifts. Planting his shovel in a pile of snow, he set off toward his lifelong friend. “I was worried about you,” he said as the two came together.

  “They insisted I stay the night,” Chad said.

  Bart came up behind Riyan and said, “Just in time to help dig out.”

  Chad glanced to the paths already dug. “Looks like it’s already done,” he observed.

  “Not all the way to the road it isn’t,” Bart explained.

  “What?” Chad exclaimed. Then he saw the glint in Bart’s eye he always had when joking. Bart chuckled at his expense and patted him on the back as the three friends began walking back to the estate.

  “Kevik’s in his tower I take it?” Chad asked as he looked up to the tower’s third floor window.

  “Where else would he be?” replied Riyan.

  “I’ve got something to show you when we get inside,” Chad told them.

  “Oh?” asked Riyan with a sly look on his face.

  When Chad noticed it he shook his head. “Nothing like that,” he explained. “I may have a lead on where to look for the last segment of the key.” When Riyan glanced at him questioningly, he nodded in all sincerity.

  “Where?” asked Bart.

  “Let’s go inside first,” he said. Once they were inside the warmth of the manor house, he set his pack on the table and removed the wine bottle.

  “Alicia’s father got this from a trader,” he explained. Moving over to the window where the light would better reveal the crest, he showed it to them. “See here,” Chad said as he pointed to it. “If you take away most of the design, all you have left is the coat of arms.”

  Bart and Riyan examined it closely as he held it for them to see. “It could be,” agreed Riyan.

  “What do you mean it could be?” argued Chad. “It is the coat of arms.” Then he traced it with his finger. “See here, the outline and the stripe.”

  Bart took the bottle and held it closer to better examine it. “You may be right,” he said.

  “The River Man is to the south,” Chyfe stated.

  Riyan and Bart both turned to look at him.

  “Durik had to be interested in him for some reason,” he explained. “There could be a connection.”

  “That’s a long way to go and be wrong,” Soth cautioned. “Especially this time of year.”

  To Chad, Riyan asked, “Did he say where he bought it?”

  “He didn’t exactly buy it,” replied Chad. “A trader had given it to him in the hopes of exploring trading possibilities for the wine. The trader was located in Kendruck down by the border with the Moran Tribes.”

  “The word around town is that Tribesmen raiders haven’t been sighted on Byrdlon’s side of the border since Winter’s Solstice,” Chyfe said.

  “Could be they’re waiting until spring to resume their raids,” Seth said. “If that’s the case, now would be the best time to make an attempt to enter their territory.”

  They were quiet while Seth and Soth took turns examining the bottle. Each was debating in their own minds whether to follow this lead or not. “It’s all we have to go on,” Riyan said, breaking the silence.

  “True,” agreed Bart.

  “And it does look like the coat of arms we saw hanging in the hall on that island,” Seth said.

  Soth nodded his agreement as he handed the bottle to Chyfe. “If the coat of arms dates as you say from the time of the King,” began Soth, “then it’s entirely possible that changes could have been made to it over the years. It isn’t unheard of for something to be added to a coat of arms after a particularly momentous event.”

  “I’ve heard of that too,” agreed Chyfe.

  Bart glanced to Riyan. “We could go down to Kendruck and investigate,” he said. “We don’t have anything else to go on.”

  Chyfe turned from examining the bottle and cast a grin at Bart. “Good!” he exclaimed. “I’m tired of hanging around here all the time.”

  “Well, if we’re heading south,” Riyan said, “we’re going to need supplies.” Then he glanced out the window to the tower and added, “Someone better go and tell Kevik what we’re doing.”

  Kevik was more agreeable to the planned trip than Riyan had anticipated. He had thought for sure he would have wanted to remain locked in his tower working on spells.

  “This may afford me the opportunity to practice a few of the spells I have been working on,” he said.

  “Such as?” asked Riyan.

  “Oh, nothing earth shattering to be sure,” he replied. “Watch.” He stepped back, made a hand gesture then spoke the words of a spell.

  Riyan was surprised to see a shimmering form in the air between them. “What’s it supposed to do?” he asked.

  “It should prevent arrows and other such projectiles from reaching me,” replied Kevik. He moved his hand and the shimmering moved with it. “I can move it in whatever direction I need.”

  “Can you do that for everyone?” Riyan asked.

  Kevik shook his head. “No,” he replied. “Just me I’m afraid.”


  Riyan gave him nod. “That could still prove quite useful.”

  The shimmering field disappeared as Kevik canceled the spell. Grinning at his accomplishment he asked, “When are we leaving?”

  “Tomorrow morning if the weather holds,” Riyan replied.

  “Excellent,” said Kevik. “That may be just enough time for me to finish working out another one we may need.”

  “Another one?” Riyan asked.

  Kevik nodded. “There’s always another one,” he said. “This one produces a cloud which will put to sleep anyone caught within it.”

  “Alright,” Riyan said, as he started for the stairs. “You keep working on them.” Before he even reached them, Kevik had already forgotten he was there as he returned to his work.

  Later that evening when the sun was all but to the horizon, they gathered in the front room of the manor house. A fire roared in the fireplace keeping the cold at bay. Even Kevik had emerged from his workroom to be there.

  “While the rest of you were in town today buying supplies for our trip,” Riyan announced, “I found out a few things of interest.” In his hand was the book Stryntner had given him just before their earlier trip to Catha. The book was a history of the Moran Tribes.

  “Like what?” questioned Chad.

  “Like the Tribe that controls the northern territory just south of Kendruck is known for its wines” he explained. “Called the Orack Tribe, it holds a prominent position in the country’s ruling body. A city by the name of Hylith is mentioned as being where those who rule the Orack Tribe live.”

  “Did it say where to find Hylith?” Bart asked.

  Shaking his head, Riyan said, “No. But I’m sure we can find that out once we get to Kendruck.”

  Chad had the bottle of wine out and poured each of them a mugful. He had met Alicia in town earlier at the market and told her he would call on her later this evening. Which was why he gave everyone a mugful now, her father wished to know if there was a market. But more importantly, was whether Kevik felt magic users would find favor with it. He brought Kevik a mug full of the fruity wine and awaited his reaction.

  Kevik sniffed it first and then nodded at the fruity aroma. He and the others knew the reasoning behind Alicia’s father giving Chad the bottle. Glancing to Chad he asked, “Is there much alcohol in it?”

  “I don’t think so,” replied Chad. He watched expectantly as Kevik raised the cup to his lips and took a sip.

  “Very flavorful,” he said.

  “Do you think other magic users would care for it?” asked Chad.

  Kevik nodded. “I know I would like more of it,” he stated. “Whether others would or not would be determined on the alcohol content. A trace wouldn’t bother them, but anything more than that would turn off many.” Taking another sip of the wine, Kevik delighted in its flavor.

  Chad glanced questioningly over to the twins for their reaction.

  Seth had a thoughtful look. “I might buy this for a lady friend,” he said. “But I prefer ale. This is a bit too sweet for my tastes.”

  Soth nodded. “Mine too,” he said. “But don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad. It’s simply wouldn’t be my first choice if I was out drinking.” The others nodded their agreement.

  “Thanks for trying it,” he told them. “I’m sure Alicia’s father will be interested in what you say.”

  Soth drained his mug and handed it forward for more. “No sense in seeing it wasted,” he said with a grin.

  For the next half hour they discussed the trip south. The prevalent worry was whether the weather would remain sunny and clear, or if another system would move in. Should they be caught out in the open during a storm as had just passed, it could prove bad. But with clear skies and many small villages in which they could hole up should the worst happen, they decided the risks were worth it.

  Later on that evening, Chad left to meet with Alicia and inform her father of his friend’s reaction to the wine. Taking his horse and a lantern, he made his way under a night’s sky so brilliant, it seemed as if every star held added luminosity. Only a slight breeze blew across the landscape, nothing like the night before.

  It was a very cold Chad that rode through the streets of Gilbeth. The lack of cloud cover allowed the small amount of warmth the sun had provided during the day to escape. He grinned when he saw Erin’s face staring out from the window again. Waving to her as he rode past, he brought his horse around to the rear of the townhouse. There he put it into one of the four stalls of the small stable. Two of the other three stalls were already occupied.

  Leaving the saddle and tack on his horse as he didn’t figure to be there long, Chad was soon heading to the door at the back of the townhouse. It opened as he was leaving the stable and Alicia appeared, silhouetted by the light coming from inside the house. When she saw him, she hurried from the doorway and met him.

  “I’m so glad you came,” she said as she wrapped him in her arms.

  Chad returned the hug. “It’s hard to stay away from you,” he replied. She turned her head to press her lips to his. Chad was about to complete the maneuver when he saw a shadow obscure the light coming through the doorway. He stopped short of meeting her lips when he saw her little sister Erin standing there watching them. The last thing he wanted was for Alicia to get into trouble on his account.

  “What?” she asked when he failed to meet her lips.

  “Erin’s watching,” he said.

  Alicia glanced back and saw her in the doorway. Then she turned back, grabbed his head and pressed her lips to his.

  “Mama!” they heard Erin cry as she turned and raced back into the house. “Alicia and Chad are….”

  After almost a full minute, Chad broke off the kiss. Chuckling in spite of himself, he snaked an arm around her waist and they headed for the doorway.

  “My employer is leaving in the morning,” he said to her as they entered the house. He saw a tightening around her eyes as she closed the door.

  “Are you leaving too?” she asked.

  “We all are,” he explained.

  “For how long?” she asked.

  “I don’t know,” he replied. “May not be back until spring.”

  “Spring?” she exclaimed unhappily.

  He nodded. “At least I was able to come tonight to say goodbye,” he stated.

  She turned back to him and wrapped him in her arms. Laying her head on his chest just below the chin, she stood there silently and held him.

  “Ahem.”

  They turned to see her father standing there at the entrance to the front room. “Nice to see you again Chad,” he said.

  “You too sir,” he replied. Disengaging himself from Alicia’s embrace, he was a little red faced due to the embarrassment of being caught.

  “Chad’s leaving in the morning,” Alicia said to her father. The tone of her voice indicated she wasn’t too thrilled by the news.

  Chad nodded. “That’s right sir,” he said. “I was able to come by tonight to tell Alicia goodbye, and to tell you what my employer thought about the wine.”

  Her father’s eyes lit up as he brought them into the front room and took his seat by the fire. Erin was standing off to the side watching Chad and Alicia as little sisters do. “And?” he asked.

  “Well sir, he thought that if alcohol didn’t have too great a presence, other magic users may find it acceptable,” he replied.

  He spent over an hour visiting with Alicia and her family, most of it being spent on the couch with Alicia sitting next to him. When it came time for him to go, Alicia broke into tears as she accompanied him to the stable.

  She handed him a lavender scarf bearing an embroidered rose. “Don’t forget me.” she said.

  He tucked the scarf into one of the breast pockets of his jacket. “You needn’t worry about that,” he replied. “There’s no way I could forget you.” Then with her on his arm, he led his horse from the stable.

  Her parents were standing at the back door with Erin b
etween them. Despite the onlookers, he wrapped Alicia in a warm embrace and kissed her goodbye. From the doorway he heard her sister say “Oooooh…” before her mother shushed her. When the embrace ended, Alicia’s eyes were moist with unshed tears. “Hey, I’ll be back,” he assured her.

  She nodded as the first tear began to fall.

  He gave her another quick kiss then climbed into the saddle. “I’ll see you when I return.”

  “Goodbye,” Alicia said as he started to ride away. He could see the tears beginning to form in her eyes. From the doorway her parents waved goodbye to him. He returned their salutation then quickly rode away.

  His eyes were a bit misty as he made his way through the cold, darkened streets of Gilbeth. Thoughts of her filled his mind on his way back to the estate. Several times he brought his hand to the pocket which contained Alicia’s scarf and held it there. She was different than any of the other girls he’d known. There was something about her that drew him. He couldn’t consciously bring himself to admit it as yet, but Chad was beginning to realize that he may be in love.

  Chapter Three

  __________________________

  Morning dawned another crystal blue day. The sun breaking over the horizon did little to dispel the chill in the air. Their breath continued to fog as they made ready for travel. Along with their horses, they also had acquired two pack mules to carry additional supplies such as feed for their mounts. With snow covering the ground, there wasn’t likely to be much in the way of foraging opportunities along the way.

  Kevik mixed together another three flasks of his far seeing mixture which were in one of the packs on the mules along with a bowl in which to pour it. He had his staff in hand, and was fully dressed beneath his robe in order to stay warm.

  “Beautiful day,” Chad said. The others noticed a bounce in his step, and that he was more ‘up’ than usual. Bringing his horse from the stable, he had a grin on his face. None could help but notice Alicia’s favor poking out from the glove on his right hand. The small portion of the lavender scarf sticking out was a stark contrast to the browns he was wearing.