Hannock nodded at Emnor and headed toward the back of the barn, studying the ground as he went. Drake followed, seizing the opportunity to discuss the situation with Hannock in private, “Whoever did this was bloody mustard, Hannock. I’d struggle to produce a spell with such accuracy, and I use a wand!”
Hannock’s eyes stayed focused on the ground, “And what if you were older? Could you do it if you used, oh I don’t know… a staff, perhaps?”
Drake tilted his head, a questioning look on his face, “What makes you ask that?”
“Because, whoever it was either had a staff, or a walking cane. And I doubt very much that it was the latter.”
“So, you do think it was Jared!” exclaimed Drake.
“I never said that,” replied Hannock. “All I said was that they were using a staff.”
“How do you know, anyway? You don’t even use magic.”
“See these tracks on the ground, Drake? Two footprints and with every second print, a print from the right foot I’ll add, a slight dent beside it, obviously made by a stick of some kind,”
“So, you don’t think it was Jared?”
“No, it wasn’t Jared, I can guarantee that.”
“How can you guarantee that? It’s just footprints.”
“I can guarantee it, Drake, because I know who it was.”
Drake stood agog, “Who?” he asked, nervously.
“Never you mind. Don’t say a word of this to anyone, understand?”
Drake shook his head, “I don’t understand. Why not?”
“Because I asked nicely. Now shut your face, let’s re-join the others before they start wondering what’s taking so long.”
“Ah, there you are, Captain. Anything interesting?” asked Emnor.
“Well there are plenty of tracks, but nothing out of the ordinary. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were all his,” replied Hannock, gesturing toward the smith.
“What? You think I staged all this? You think I’m lying, don’t you?” protested the smith.
“No, I don’t think you’re lying, idiot. You said that you had to fix up the place when you first found it, didn’t you? They’re old prints from when you were obviously repairing the barn. Stop being so bloody paranoid!”
They spent a few minutes inspecting the doors to see if they had been forced open, but they were perfectly intact. There were no holes or damage to any of the walls either, so, without anything conclusive to go on, they abandoned their investigation and decided to return to the village.
Emnor approached the smith, “Come on then, we’ll get you back home,” he smiled. “You can sod off!” exclaimed the smith. “I’ll walk, you’re not doing that to me again. I’m lucky I wasn’t turned inside out the first time!”
“But as you rightly said, it will be dark soon,” advised Emnor. “Surely you don’t want to be alone in the woodlands at night. There are wolves and bears out here, you know.”
“I know that, but at least I can hide from them. It’s you lot I’m fearful of, bunch o’ loonies performing magic on people without their consent. You should all be locked away or dropped in a pit you can’t get out of. And I still haven’t been paid!”
Hannock approached the smith. Drawing his sword, he slowed his pace.
“Don’t kill me!” shrieked the smith, “I have a family, murder me and they’ll starve!”
Hannock shook his head and sighed, “I have no intention of killing anyone,” he said, turning his sword and offering it, hilt first to the smith. “If you insist on being out here alone you should at least be able to defend yourself. Give it back to me when you get back,” he paused, “of course, if you don’t get back, at least I’ll know where to come and look for it tomorrow.”
Moments later, they were crossing the village square. Entering the tavern that had become their temporary home for far too long, Emnor leaned against a table and lowered himself wearily into a chair nearby, “Well that was a glorious waste of time,” he grumbled.
“I suppose it’s one of the great mysteries we’ll simply have to chalk up to experience,” chuckled Yello.
“Very rarely do we wizards not find the answers we seek. It’s frustrating to say the least,” smiled Emnor.
“Well, we searched the entire area and found nothing. What more could we do?” asked Yello. “It seems that our culprit must remain anonymous.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” said Hannock, slowly.
“Really?” said Yello, sounding surprised. “Is there something you’re not telling us, Captain? It seems you have a suspect in mind?”
“Well it’s obvious really, isn’t it?” sighed Hannock, rubbing his hand across his face as he smiled at Yello, “It was you.”
Emnor sat upright and stared at Hannock in disbelief, “Now see here, my dear Captain,” he began, “you can’t start throwing accusations around without any proof.”
“Oh, don’t sound so surprised, Emnor! I understand he’s a friend, but he’s a crafty old sod and you know it!”
“Thank you, I think,” said Yello. “At least you still class me amongst friends whilst accusing me of… what is it you’re accusing me of, by the way?”
“I’m not accusing you of anything,” replied Hannock. “I have no idea why you visited the smith’s barn. All I know is that you were there before today, and you were alone.”
“Yello, what is he talking about?” asked Emnor.
“Forgive my interruption, Emnor,” said Faylore, quietly. “But if Charles says Yello has been there before, then he has.”
“Charles!” laughed Emnor, “I love it when people call you that. It reminds me of you as a boy, Tamor always called you that when you were in trouble!”
“I’m so glad my name is such a source of amusement for you, Emnor!” said Hannock indignantly.
“I meant no offence, Hannock, but…”
“Enough! It doesn’t matter!” exclaimed Hannock. “Maybe you should be talking to your old pal about why he visited the barn!”
“Yello, surely you could explain?” pleaded Emnor.
“I’d love to,” replied Yello, “but I have no idea what the captain is talking about.”
Hannock banged his fist on the bar, “Listen!” he growled, “I may not know anything about magic or wands, or why our lives have been destroyed by a maniac who wants to rule the world, but do not question my ability as a soldier. I can track any man! Every footprint is different to the next, yours moreso than most,” he said, pointing at Yello. “How’s the leg? Still giving you grief? You try your best, but it still doesn’t work properly, does it? Drags a little when you put weight on it? There was one set of footprints around that barn, and they were yours. Although you try to hide it, your right leg drags a little as you take each step, leaves a little scuff mark as you raise it. However hard you try, it just won’t cooperate, will it? No, Yello, I’m not accusing you of anything, but you were there.”
Yello smiled, “Very good, Captain. Very good indeed.”
“This has gone far enough…”
“Hold on, Emnor,” said Yello, holding up his hand to stop his friend’s protestations. “Leave Hannock alone,” he smiled. “After all, he is quite correct.”
Hannock folded his arms and leaned against the bar, “I know I am,” he agreed. “Now, would you care to tell us why you went out there alone? What were you up to?”
“I’m more interested in why you kept it a secret,” sighed Emnor.
“The reason for the secrecy is obvious,” chuckled Yello. “To save you from fretting. You’re like a mother hen. You would have tried to talk me out of it.”
“Talk you out of what?” asked Emnor.
“Destroying that blasted armour to prevent Karrak from getting his hands on it!”
“So that’s what this is all about,” gasped Drake. “I thought you’d become one of Karrak’s loonies!”
“No, Drake. A loony I may be, but I’m all my own.”
“How did you know where to find it, the locat
ion of the armour, I mean?” asked Hannock.
“The blacksmith told me where he had it stored,” replied Yello.
“As easily as that?” asked Emnor, suspiciously. “We know he has a high regard for coin. Yet, although still unpaid, he told you where it was hidden?”
“Yes, surprising isn’t it!” replied Yello, avoiding Emnor’s inquisitive gaze.
“Yello, what did you do?”
“Well, I asked nicely, but he wouldn’t tell me. So, I may have… drifted him a little.”
“What!” exclaimed Harley, “You’re not supposed to do that! Not without the express permission of the elders.”
“In my defence, I did consider that. But I thought it may be a little time consuming, what with us being so far from Reiggan. Oh, and of course the fact that they’re all dead.”
“Then you should have at least spoken to Master Emnor. He is still the head of Reiggan!” shouted Harley.
“Nothing but a ruin,” roared Yello. “Destroyed by a tyrannical maniac, who snuffed out the lives of everyone who resided there. Do not think to question me, boy! Do you think I care about manipulating the mind of a money-grabbing half-witted blacksmith who values coin more than life? A man who, as long as his pockets are lined with gold, would sell arms to our enemy without a moment’s hesitation.”
“He does have a point,” Hannock said calmly. “It doesn’t seem as if the smith has suffered any ill effects from whatever he did, so what’s the harm?”
“What did you do with the armour?” asked Drake, returning to their original conversation.
“I took it a few miles out into the wilds and destroyed it,” sighed Yello.
“Destroyed it, how?” asked Emnor.
“Green flame,” replied Yello.
“Why not destroy it whilst it was still in the barn?” asked Hannock.
“As much as I would have liked to, the blacksmith would have had proof that it had been destroyed by magical means, and we don’t want to upset the villagers unnecessarily. Then there was the chance that, if I had lingered for too long, I may have met up with some of Karrak’s followers. As Hannock has already observed, I am not at my best at the moment and may not have fared too well if overwhelmed.”
“You should have told me, old friend. I would have sided with you… eventually,” said Emnor, patting his friend’s arm.
“We do not have time for eventually, Emnor. Time moves on and Karrak becomes more powerful with each passing day!”
“It’s about time we moved on,” said Drake. “Let’s find Karrak and finish this.”
“We aren’t strong enough,” said Emnor. “We need Jared. Until he is ready, we must stay where we are, without him we would have as much effect on Karrak as children would have facing a zingaard.”
“I wonder where he’s gone? Surely he knows we don’t have the time to waste.”
“He’s not wasting time, Harley. Just the opposite in fact, he’s preparing himself for the final confrontation.” All eyes turned to Drake. “Well, it’s the truth,” he said, sounding very mature.
***
Lodren and Grubb had joined the Gerrowliens. The four were now perched on the edge of the tavern roof, staring down into the village square as the sun set behind them.
“Why are we never included in anything any more? Don’t they want us with them?”
“They need all of us, Lodren,” replied Lawton. “But there are things we do not need to know. Yello has been up to something, but I feel that his escapades have been discovered.”
“Best to keep our noses out,” muttered Grubb. “If there’s somethin’ we need to know, they’ll tell us.”
“We could be a scout group. Head out before them and clear the way of enemies to ensure their safety. I could bring down countless enemies with my spear, tear them to shreds with my claws and…”
“POOM! We’re having a peaceful afternoon, so let’s not spoil it with your one Gerrowlien army battle scenarios, shall we?”
Poom snorted, “I’m not used to sitting around doing nothing!”
“You’ll get all the fighting you need soon. When we go up against Jared’s brother, he’s bound to have others with him. Then you can gouge, bite and stab…”
“Shhh, what’s that?” whispered Lodren, pointing into the treeline to their left.
“Where?” asked Grubb.
“Something moved in the trees,” replied Lodren. “I didn’t get a clear look, but I think it was a man.”
“It could be Jared,” noted Poom. “We’ve seen him milling about a few times over the last couple of days.”
“Go and have a look, Poom. But be quiet,” suggested Lawton.
“No, Poom. You stay here, I’ll investigate this one.” Grubb began to shiver, his transformation into a hawk almost instantaneous. With one surge, he was airborne.
“There’s not a lot in this world that impresses me, but I love it when he does that,” Poom growled with admiration, “If I could fly, no army would be safe.”
Lawton sighed and shook his head, “When you get like this, no army’s safe anyway.”
“If you think that’s impressive, you should see his new one,” Lodren clamped his hand over his mouth. He had not meant to say it, it just… slipped out.
The Gerrowliens looked at him, “What new one?” Lawton asked.
“Yeah, what else can he do?” added Poom.
“Forget I said anything!” Lodren exclaimed hurriedly, “I promised I wouldn’t say anything! As a matter of fact, I didn’t, you’re hearing things.”
Poom frowned, “What, both of us?”
“Promise you won’t say anything,” pleaded Lodren, “I told Grubb I’d keep it a secret.”
“So why are you panicking? You haven’t told us, you daft Nibby,” said Lawton.
“Hasn’t told us what?” Poom was getting confused.
“That Grubb can transform into a dragon… oh dear, now I’ve done it!” Lodren was agitated and nervous, he hadn’t meant to let slip the secret with which he had been entrusted. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open.
“Well, well,” grinned Poom, “isn’t he the dark horse? Or should I say, dark dragon?”
“Best not to say either, Poom. Look at Lodren’s face. He obviously wasn’t supposed to tell anyone.”
“Oh. What, a bit wobbly is it? Not the right shape?” sniggered Poom.
“No, it is not a bit wobbly!” exclaimed Lodren. “I’ll have you know, it’s perfect. Even the feel of his scales is identical to the real thing!”
“So why keep it a secret?”
“Because of people like you, Poom!” snapped Lodren. “Always mocking him and laughing behind his back.”
“Lodren, we mock everyone. Why should he be excused?” asked Lawton, smiling.
“He’s a lot more sensitive than he lets on, you know. He takes it all to heart.”
The Gerrowliens glanced at one other momentarily. “Well he won’t be taking it to heart this time,” Lawton assured him. “We won’t even mention it, you have our word as Gerrowliens. Agreed, Poom?”
“Word of honour,” replied Poom, nodding his head vigorously.
Lodren peered at them, “Not one word, not even as a joke. If you say anything, I’ll never trust you again, understand?”
“Solemn promise,” Lawton whispered.
A few minutes later, Grubb returned. He transformed and his friends could immediately see the look of concern on his face.
“Anyone we know?” asked Poom.
Grubb frowned and shook his head, “Not sure who it was,” he said quietly. “Not even sure what it was.”
“So, it wasn’t a man then?” asked Lodren.
“I’m not really sure,” replied Grubb. “At first I thought it was, ‘cause it was walking on two legs. But when I looked closer it seemed old, very old. Almost draggin’ its feet it was. And then there was the sound of its breath, rasping and dry, as if it hadn’t taken water for weeks.”
“Did you get a look at it
s face?” asked Poom.
“No, the sun’s too low and it was hidden amongst the shadows in the forest.”
“I should’ve gone,” said Poom, “I would have had a better view of it at ground level.”
“Trust me, Poom, you wouldn’t want to get any closer than I did. I could smell it from above the treetops, it was rancid. Musty and dank… decayed almost.”
They all came to the same conclusion simultaneously.
“Come on,” said Lawton, “we should inform the others.”
***
All eyes were on Drake as Lodren, ahead of his friends, gently opened the tavern door. “Well, it’s the truth,” he was heard to say as they entered.
“Ah, here they are,” smiled Emnor, “I thought you had all grown tired of our company.”
Lodren managed a feeble smile, “Don’t be silly, we’re not like that,” he said quietly.
“What’s wrong?” Faylore asked, a genuine concern in her voice.
“I think our situation is worse than we feared, Your Majesty,” Lodren replied.
Hannock marched forward and steered the Nibby to a chair, “Sit down,” he urged, “I’ll get you a drink. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Funny ye should say that,” said Grubb, gruffly.
“They’ve come at last,” Darooq sighed. “It was only a matter of time.”
Yello scowled at him, “Be quiet you, we don’t need any of your nonsense.”
Emnor leaned forward, “Lawton, do you know what Lodren is talking about?”
“We are only guessing, I’ll admit,” Lawton began. “But it seems the enemy has reached our doorstep.”
Hannock grabbed his crossbow, “Karrak? You’ve seen him? Where is he, I’ll end this now!” he growled.
“No, Hannock, we have not seen Karrak,” said Grubb, speaking quickly to stop Hannock bolting for the door, “I might have seen one of his victims, out in the woods, stumbling about as if it were lost.”
“What do you mean, you might have. You did or you didn’t, which is it?” Hannock snapped angrily.
“It could have been a man, I mean originally it could have been a man. But I’ll thank ye to keep a civil tongue, Captain. I’m not one of your soldiers to be ordered around and shouted at.”
The Cessation of Karrak: Ascension III (The Karrak Trilogy Part Three Book 3) Page 16