Quest's End: The Broken Key #3

by Brian S. Pratt

  There he found the tables and chairs were being pushed aside to clear an area for sleeping pallets. Kiera, the elderly lady who ran the inn, was directing the men moving her tables where to place them. Riyan looked around for the girl but didn’t see her.

  “Are you and your friends staying in Marl Crest long?” asked a lady’s voice behind him.

  Turning about, he found a young woman in her mid twenties. “No,” he replied. “We’re leaving in the morning.”

  “Oh,” she said, disappointed. “I was hoping you could stay longer.” Her hand moved forward and lightly touched his forearm.

  “We have business to the south and can’t afford to linger,” he explained. Gesturing to the pallets being laid upon the floor, he asked, “What’s going on here?”

  “Since a Raider has been captured,” she said, “they want everyone to remain within the inn until dawn. They fear his friends might make a rescue attempt.”

  “Sharon!” a male’s voice exclaimed.

  The woman snatched her hand back from Riyan’s arm as a gasp escaped her. Riyan saw an older gentleman with a grimace upon his face crossing the room toward them. The man rounded on the woman and asked, “What do you think you’re doing?”

  She blushed slightly. “I…I was simply thanking this gentleman for the help he and his friends gave in capturing the Raider,” she replied nervously.

  The man turned his expression to Riyan. Then without saying a word to him, he took the woman by the elbow and practically dragged her to the other side of the room. There, he began talking heatedly with her.

  Riyan wasn’t sure what that was all about and quickly dismissed it. He soon spied the old soldier talking with several older men near the door leading to the rear courtyard and stable. Riyan walked over and asked how things were going.

  “There hasn’t been a sighting yet of any other Raiders,” the old soldier replied.

  “It’s only a matter of time though,” another of the men added. “They’re not about to let one of their own remain our prisoner without some attempt to free him.”

  “It’s odd though for Raiders to fare this far north in winter,” yet another man stated. “They’re usually most active during the warmer months when caravans are back on the road.”

  “You can’t tell with these devils,” the old soldier said.

  “That’s for sure,” agreed the first man.

  “Well,” Riyan said, “if anything develops, let us know and we’ll help.”

  “Glad to hear it,” the first man said. “It’s good to know we have you boys should the need arise.”

  Riyan nodded then turned to head for the stairs. As he crossed the room, Riyan started thinking about how the situation here might affect them as they traveled south in the morning. Could it increase their danger? Would Raiders retaliate against northerners because of it? About the time he reached the bottom of the stairs, he heard the all but inaudible sound of sobbing. Coming to a stop, he looked around for the source. It sounded as if it was coming from beyond the door that led further into the inn.

  No one else seemed aware of the sound as they were busy transforming the common room into a bunkhouse. Curious, he went over to the door and slowly opened it an inch. The crying was definitely coming from this direction and it sounded like the girl who was crying in the stable earlier.

  In the back of his mind, he heard Bart tell him it was none of his concern. But after casting a quick glance around to be sure no one was watching, he slipped through the doorway. The sobbing was coming from the second doorway on the right. When he came to the doorway, he slowed and looked around the door jamb.

  He discovered the girl was sitting in the dark with her nose pressed to the glass of her bedroom window. Riyan stood there staring at her for a moment before clearing his throat to announce his presence.

  The girl immediately jumped to her feet and turned toward him. “What do you want?” she asked with a slight tremor.

  Riyan put on the most disarming expression he could. “I heard you crying and was worried about you,” he replied. She didn’t say anything as tears began bubbling up once again.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked. In the back of his mind he could feel Bart’s displeasure like a palpable presence.

  She turned and glanced out the window. “There’s nothing anyone can do,” she said sadly.

  Though the room was dark, Riyan was still able to see well enough from the light coming in through the window. Out in the courtyard they had placed many torches to keep it well lit in the event more Raiders returned. His eyes were drawn to a mass sitting on her bed that he was quick to realize were two bags filled to bursting.

  He then gazed back to the girl. She still continued to gaze out the window, and it wasn’t hard to figure out where she was looking. It was the stable. Things started to click together in his mind: the conversation he and Bart had overheard when they first arrived, the fact that her sobbing had stopped when it had been announced that Raiders were sighted in the area, and now a disconsolate girl staring at the place where a Raider was being kept. If that wasn’t enough for him to figure it out, the bags sitting on her bed was the nail in the coffin.

  “You love him,” he said. It wasn’t a question, rather a statement of fact.

  The girl sighed and turned her head back toward him. “Yes,” she replied. “He was coming for me tonight.”

  Riyan nodded. “He wasn’t here to raid Marl Crest.”

  “No,” she said, shaking her head. “He has never been one of those Raiders!”

  The conviction and certainty with which she said it took him by surprise.

  “Now they’re going to send him to Yerith Keep to be questioned,” she said. Yerith Keep was the large fortification that the forces of Duke Knor used in this area as a base of operations.

  “Yerith Keep?” he asked. “I thought they were taking him to Kendruck.”

  Again she shook her head. “They wouldn’t take him there,” she explained. “All captured Raiders are taken to Yerith Keep.”

  “But surely they’ll discover his innocence,” he asserted.

  “No Raider has ever emerged alive from Yerith Keep once he passes through its gate,” she said. “At least so I hear.”

  “We’re not at war,” Riyan said encouragingly. “He might be let go.”

  She didn’t reply, only turned her face back to the window. “I’ll never see my love again.”

  Riyan didn’t know what to say as she bowed her head forward and was once again wracked with sobs. He backed out of the room and left her to her sorrow. His heart went out to her. A sorrow akin to hers has been with him since first learning of the impending marriage between Freya and Rupert.

  As he made his way back to the common room and then up the stairs, the last moments of her love’s last dash for freedom played across his mind. If it wasn’t for Kevik’s spell that had stopped him, he may have managed to get away. It was their fault that he had been captured. His death would be on their hands.

  By the time he had climbed the steps and was in the hallway outside their rooms, he had made his decision. This was their fault and they needed to set it right. Making his way to Bart’s door, he gently knocked on the door. A moment later it opened.

  “Is there an attack?” Bart asked.

  Riyan shook his head. “No, nothing like that,” he said. “But there is something we need to do.”

  Bart backed up as Riyan moved to enter the room.

  Chapter Ten

  __________________________

  After hearing what Riyan had in mind, Bart’s first inclination was to ask, “Are you crazy?”

  “I know,” Riyan replied. “But if it’s as she says, then an innocent man is being sent to torture and death. We’re the ones who made it happen. He never would have been caught if Kevik hadn’t hit him with his goo spell.”

  Bart paced the floor before the chair wherein Riyan sat. “She could be wrong about him,” he argued. “Love can blin
d you to all unpleasant truths about the object of your affection.”

  Riyan let him pace a few more seconds before saying, “But the facts seem to support her story.” Bart ceased in his pacing and turned to look at Riyan. “Listen,” Riyan continued, “if he had come to raid Marl Crest, why would he come alone? Stands to reason a raid would succeed with more Raiders.”

  “It’s none of our business,” Bart countered. “What difference is to us if another Raider is killed or not? These people seem to believe in his guilt.”

  “A presumed guilt,” objected Riyan. “Hate and fear can blind a person every bit as much as love can.” A moment of silence fell between them before Riyan said, “I mean to help him.”

  Bart was all set to continue the argument but stopped when he saw the determination in Riyan’s eyes. “How?” he asked.

  “I was hoping together we could figure something out before dawn,” Riyan said.

  Bart sighed. “I suppose telling you that it’s foolish and will likely result in someone getting killed isn’t about to sway you is it?” he asked.

  Riyan shook his head and gave Bart a grin. “You know it won’t.”

  “Let’s get the others in here and we’ll figure something out,” Bart said. He then turned toward the door on his way to wake the others. As he opened the door to pass into the hall, Riyan said, “Thanks.” Bart just nodded then left the room.

  One by one the others began arriving until Bart returned with Chyfe who was the last. Once they were in the room and the door closed, Bart nodded to Riyan who filled them in on what he proposed to do.

  Seth and Chyfe were all for the rescue of the Raider while the others were less than enthusiastic at the prospect. But those who were against it were finally won over by the others and they got down to planning the rescue. By the time dawn was only an hour away, they were ready.

  Riyan cast a quick glance out the window to the stable illuminated in the torchlight and then scanned the courtyard. None of the sentries were stationed between the stable and the inn. Instead, they were positioned to keep an eye on threats coming from outside of Marl Crest. “It’s clear,” he said.

  “Alright,” nodded Bart. “Let’s get this over with.” He blew out the candle and then crossed the room to the door. Opening it quietly, he peered out and found the dark hallway deserted. With a nod back to the others, he passed through the door and headed for the stairs. One by one, the others left the room and followed. Everyone that was but Chad, who went the other direction at the stairwell. Taking the steps quickly, he made his way to the roof. There he opened the door and stepped through.

  The three archers stationed as lookouts turned as one to see him pass through. Chad nodded to them. “Anything?” he asked.

  “Not yet,” one archer said.

  The archer stationed on the courtyard side of the roof added, “I don’t think they’re going to do anything.”

  “Let’s hope not,” Chad said. Stretching, he began walking casually toward the archer stationed overlooking the courtyard. “Too early to pull guard duty,” he said with a grin.

  The archer returned the grin. “At least you got some sleep,” he said. “We’ve been up here all night.”

  As Chad came closer to the edge of the roof, he saw two shadows move across the courtyard below. The archer, who had turned his head to speak to him as he approached, began turning to look back toward the courtyard.

  “Say,” Chad quickly said, drawing the archer’s attention back to him, “don’t Raiders usually come in greater numbers?” Chad positioned himself in such a way that the archer’s attention was turned even further from the courtyard. Riyan and the others didn’t need long to get into position, all he had to do was keep the archer distracted for another minute or so.

  “It does seem odd that he came by himself,” the archer said.

  “He could have been a spy,” another archer said from his position.

  “True,” agreed Chad. “I suppose they’ll learn all they need to know once they get him to Yerith Keep.”

  The archer laughed. “That they will,” he said.

  Chad glanced once again over the wall to the courtyard and saw the shadows were no longer in motion. They must be in position. “Well, my friends and I are heading out shortly after dawn,” he announced. “I just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

  “It is,” the archer replied. “Can’t tell you how much we appreciated the help you and your friends gave us earlier.”

  “Think nothing of it,” said Chad. “We were glad we could help.” He then turned back to the stairwell and was soon through the door and heading back down the stairs. Now, if what the others were doing goes off without a hitch, they may be able to pull this off. Back on the second floor, he headed to his room to wait for it to begin.

  Bart entered the stable. Wrapped in the Cloak of Concealment, he moved unseen toward the guard sitting in a chair propped against the door where the Raider was being kept. His head was tilted forward onto his chest and looked to be asleep.

  He knew the room in which the Raider was being kept held another door that led outside. Beyond which were another three guards and two archers. They expected any rescue attempt would come from that avenue. After all, the way Bart had come had led through a well lit courtyard where any Raider rescue party would assuredly be seen and dealt with.

  He paused and glanced back to the doorway where two other shadows waited. Bart pulled back the Cloak’s hood and reappeared. He motioned for Seth and Soth to come forward. He gestured to the dozing guard and whispered, “You two take him out and I’ll see to the door.”

  Seth nodded as he and his brother entered the stable. As they made their way along the rows of stalls, Seth’s horse recognized him and snorted in greeting. The snort was just loud enough to disturb the guard. His head came up and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. Then he gasped as he saw the two figures moving toward him.

  “Get him!” whispered Seth when he noticed the guard had awakened. Leaping forward, he and his brother crossed the remaining distance and reached the guard just as he was about to shout the alarm. A strong blow to the stomach paralyzed the man’s diaphragm and stilled the cry before any sound was uttered. Another strike to the side of the man’s head dropped him to the floor.

  “Nice going,” Bart said as he moved forward to the door. “Bind and gag him,” he told the brothers. As they dragged the guard and his chair away from in front of the door, Bart moved forward with his picks. To his surprise, the door wasn’t even locked.

  He waited until Seth and Soth had the guard secured before opening the door. On the other side, he saw the Raider lying face down on the cot. His hands were tied as were his feet. As the door opened even further, the Raider turned his head toward Bart.

  On the other side of the door leading to the courtyard, Bart could hear the muffled voices of the guards stationed there as they talked to one another. Putting his finger to his lips, he indicated for the Raider to remain quiet. The Raider didn’t make any response until Seth and Soth appeared in the doorway. When he saw the dark skin of the twins revealed by the light coming through a window, he nodded. Seth nodded back at the Raider, then he and his brother returned to the stable where they began getting their horses saddled along with a third.

  Coming to the Raider’s side, Bart knelt down next to him. “We’re going to get you out of here,” he explained. Then he removed his knife and was about to cut the bonds binding the Raider’s hands. Pausing, he again met the Raider’s gaze and asked, “If I cut your bonds, can I trust you not to do anything stupid?”

  “Yes,” replied the Raider.

  Bart used the knife and in no time, the Raider was free.

  Soth appeared in the doorway. “We’re ready,” he said to Bart.

  “Come on,” Bart told the Raider. “We don’t have a whole lot of time.”

  “Who are you?” the Raider asked. He seemed somewhat hesitant in trusting his fate to unknown strangers.

 
“A friend of someone who fears for you,” Bart replied. Then he nodded in the direction of the inn.

  The Raider looked confused for a moment then understanding came. “Shaelyn,” he said.

  “Who?” asked Bart. “Do you mean the serving girl at the inn?”

  The Raider nodded. “Didn’t you know her name?” he asked.

  “Can’t say as I’ve ever heard it spoken, no,” he replied.

  “Then why help me?” the Raider asked.

  “Long story and we don’t have the time,” Bart explained. He glanced to the Raider again and was glad when the man got up from the cot and followed.

  He and the Raider went back into the stable where Seth and Soth were already mounted. The reins of a third saddled horse were held in Seth’s hand. Bart indicated for the Raider to mount.

  Coming to the horse, the Raider easily swung into the saddle. He then glanced from Seth to Soth. “You’re not of the Orack Tribe,” he said.

  “No,” replied Seth.

  “Actually, were not from any Tribe,” clarified Soth. “We’re from Byrdlon.” That brought a surprised look to the Raider’s face. But whatever questions he may have had, he kept them to himself.

  Bart went to the stable door and glanced out at the quiet courtyard. Off to the east, the sky was just beginning to lighten with the coming of dawn. Turning back to the three on horseback, he said, “Give me a chance to reach Kevik. Then ride for all you’re worth.”

  “We understand,” said Seth.

  The Raider looked confused, but for the moment would trust his would be rescuers. Then he gasped in shock as Bart pulled the hood of the Cloak back over his head and disappeared.

  “We need to wait for a few minutes for him to get into position,” Seth told the Raider.

  “My name is Haran Eckbar,” he told them.

  “I’m Seth,” Seth told him, “and this is my brother Soth.”

  “Twins,” Haran stated.