“Nothing!” Bastien seemed surprised by the question. “I mean I am just thinking about the Guards in the village. Adda told me this morning that a group of Guards and an Inquisitor showed up in town late last evening.”
“What do they want?” Shuran was concerned.
“I do not know,” Bastien lied but Shuran did not see his friend’s face when he answered.
Shuran stood and turned to Bastien. “We need to go see what is going on!”
“NO!” Bastien stood to grab Shuran. “It is dangerous and Moona would strap us both but good!”
“Well, we will not tell anyone then. Meet back here an hour after Utu has set.” Shuran ran off toward home leaving Bastien with knots in his stomach and worry upon his face.
***
“The boy will be in the village this evening.” The older man told a guard wearing black leather, head to boot.
The guard handed the man a leather purse and sent him on his way. “The boy will come to us. He travels with a mundane youth so you will be able to tell which is the one we want from his shi glowing. I assured the old man his son would be left unharmed.”
So now the Drakk Elite only needed to wait for their quarry to come to them. As the men moved off into the nearby Inn, an Inquisitor stepped out of the shadows and watched them leave.
“We shall find the boy first.” Telalsu said as he stepped up behind the Inquisitor.
Bastien and Shuran skirted the edge of town looking for signs of the guards.
“This is not working. We have to go further into town perhaps the Inn or the town magistrate building.” Shuran was on edge and Bastien just seemed nervous.
“We will be seen and we still do not know what they want here.” Bastien was more than nervous he was frightened.
“We can go in unseen but we must be quiet.” Shuran pulled a green gemstone from his pocket and disappeared.
“Shuran!” Bastien whispered loudly.
Suddenly Shuran was visible again and holding Bastien by the hand.
“DAMKIANNA! How did you do that? And why are you holding my hand?”
“If I left go then you will not be invisible with me any longer,” Shuran said showing Bastien the stone in his other hand. “This keeps us unseen but not unheard. It was a gift from Andra a long time ago.”
Bastien just stared in wonder and let Shuran lead him into town.
The boys still kept to the side streets and went around large groups of town folk to limit the chances of being discovered. As they approached the Inn Shuran pulled himself and Bastien off to the side of the building where they could look into the common room from an open window. Soldiers dressed in black leathers sat throughout the room mixed with a few townsmen and other soldiers wearing the sigil of the Land’s Guard.
“I do not see an inquisitor,” Bastien whispered to Shuran as they scanned the room.
“I cannot hear what they are saying. We have to get in there, but we also have not checked the magistrates office.”
With a nod shared between them they moved off together down the alley toward the town center where they would find the magistrate’s building. When they arrived they found an Inquisitor standing outside the building talking to another man who had his back turned to them. The boys stepped off to the shadows and Shuran put his gem away.
“We need to split up. I will head back to the Inn and see what I can find out. I will meet you back here shortly. Just watch them and we can figure out our next actions when I get back.” Shuran started to get up from his crouched position and fumbled, as Bastien was still crouched and tangled in his robes. He soon recovered from the stumble and he headed off toward the Inn. Bastien stayed behind to watch the Inquisitor and his companion.
Shuran worked his way back to the Inn. He first thought of entering using his gem but thought better of it. The Inn common room was far too crowded to enter invisible without being bumped into. He did decide however, to shield his shi.
Shuran took a deep breath and as he had been practicing, imagined a thick impenetrable wall around himself. He relaxed as the shield took hold and he headed into the Inn. Shuran was not known around the village so he drew a few stares from the local people but their eyes did not linger. Shuran figured they thought he came in with the guards serving as a cook, wagon driver, or other worker in their caravan. He moved over to a spot at a table and sat down where he could hear the conversation of a nearby group of soldiers.
“The two boys should be arriving any time now. We should be headed out to start watching for them. Remember the old man said that the one boy is not involved and we already know he is mundane, so look at the shi to confirm which is the one we want.” The soldier got up from their table and exited.
Shuran was about to get up and follow when he noticed several Land’s Guard get up to follow the black dressed soldiers out of the Inn. Shuran was horrified to find that they were here for him. He was also visibly upset to find out that Bastien’s adda let them know about the boys coming to town tonight.
“How did Bastien’s adda know we were coming?” Bastien questioned over in his head until he flashed back to what happened when he left Bastien at the Magistrate building. He reached into his pockets to find his shield gem missing. “Oh DAMKIANNA! Bastien what have you done?” Shuran ran for the door and as he exited ran right into Andra.
***
Bastien took the green gemstone in his hand and stood up. He figured now that he would be invisible; he could walk up to within steps of the Inquisitor and his dark companion in order to hear what they were discussing. When he got about halfway to where the men were standing the Inquisitor stopped talking and turned to look directly at where Bastien stood.
Bastien stopped in his tracks thinking that the deathly pale man had heard something. The man said something to his companion and the second man turned toward Bastien revealing a skeletal looking man with soul-less black eyes.
“They can see me!” Bastien said to himself.
“Oh yes we can see you boy, though not as brightly as I would have expected.” Telalsu said with an evil grin spreading across his face. “Did you think to shield yourself from us this close to you. You seem hardly the threat the Order has made you out to be.”
Telalsu began making his way over to where Bastien stood shaking in his britches. Without thinking to run Bastien created a ball of fire in his palm and hurled it toward the demon warrior stalking toward his position.
***
“Shuran why have you placed yourself in such danger by coming to the village?”
“We came to investigate and I just found out that they are looking for me!” Shuran was struggling to get past Andra.
“I am aware of this and was heading to the cabin to hasten an escape. That is until I sensed your shielding gem nearby.”
“Bastien has my stone, he took it from me when I left him watching the Inquisitor. Andra, his adda told these soldiers we would be coming here.” Shuran suddenly knew what would be happening.
His friend would try to use the shielding gem to go unnoticed and spy on the men. And the soldiers would be looking only for the boy who had a glow from his Shi. “Andra we have to go, NOW!” Shuran grabbed Andra by the arm and they made their way back to where Shuran left Bastien.
They were too late. When they arrived Andra had to pull Shuran back from running to his friend who was now lying on the ground writhing in pain, Telalsu standing over him.
“Stay here until I draw the demon away from your friend.”
“Did you think to over power a Warrior Demon, BOY!” Telalsu sneered down at Bastien lying prone at his feet and send a shock of electric charge into his chest. “The Telal are far too powerful for the likes of some back woods untrained weaver.” Telalsu was preparing to wield another bout of energy at Bastien when he was hit with a stream of fire.
Knocked back several feet, Telalsu recovered to find another young man standing off to the side of the road holding glowing red flame in his hands ready for a fight.
As Telalsu stood, the young man headed off into the village and out toward the river. Telalsu followed after him.
Shuran looked to see that the Inquisitor must have left as well. He quickly ran to his friend’s side. He reached to turn him over only to get his hands soaked in the blood of his best friend. “Bastien, what have you done?”
“Shuran I tried to spy on them but they saw me. Your stone did not work.” Bastien handed the stone up to Shuran who took it into his bloody palm.
“The stone only works for me and those I am in contact with. It is my fault I should have explained that! Why did you not run away?” Shuran was shaking.
“My adda told me not to come here tonight I should have listened. I am sorry Shuran I thought I could scare them away.” Bastien looked into the eyes of his friend that he felt he had betrayed then shuddered before collapsing in Shuran’s arms.
Shuran began to burn with anger for the betrayal, not from Bastien but from that of his adda. Shuran would find Bastien’s father and find out what the life of his son was worth to him. He laid his friend’s head down and before he could pick his body up to take it away, Land’s Guard began running toward him. They could see him though he held his shield gem.
“I am sorry Bastien but I have to leave.” Shuran left the lifeless form of his friend behind and ran.
After the Drakk Guard soldiers ran to follow Shuran, the Inquisitor stepped out from the side of a nearby building and headed toward the body left on the dirt road. He knelt down to the body and looked out toward where Shuran had run. With a gesture and a few whispered words of a spell, the Inquisitor and the body of Bastien disappeared in a shimmer of smoke.
Telalsu soon returned having lost the young man who attacked earlier. When he arrived to find the body gone along with the Inquisitor, he ordered the remaining Land’s Guard to search the area for unsanctioned weavers and find the old woman who looked after the boy. After his final order was accepted Telalsu placed his hand to the ground where the body had been and smiled.
“What are you up to?” Telalsu closed his eyes and abruptly disappeared as well, following the Essence trail left by the fleeing Inquisitor.
***
Shuran ran with all his fading strength back toward home. He would have to stop and rest and he did not want to lead any guards directly back home. He decided to go back to the cave that had become Bastien and he’s secret hideout. As Shuran approached the cave he saw a figure sitting by a small fire near the mouth of the small cave.
“Who is there? Bastien is that you son?”
Shuran recognized the voice of Bastien’s adda. As he approached the fire, Shuran forced his hands outward, palms up, to show the blood of his now dead friend. “How much was the life of your own son worth to you?”
Bastien’s father stood there, still as stone, as the realization set in.
“You told them we were coming and your boy lost his life because of it you old fool!” Shuran spat at the man who had betrayed not only him but his own blood as well.
“They only wanted you.” The man stammered. “They were going to leave my Bastien alone and take you away. Things have not been the same since you showed up. It should be you dead now, not my Bastien.” The old man was sobbing as he sunk to his knees.
“I should kill you where you are for what you have done. A man who would place his son’s life in harms way for a few gold suns…”
Shuran raised his hands before him; his rage bubbled through him. The surge of power that moved through his body set all his hair on end. Through rage he was forming balls of electrical force in the palms of his hands. He felt the energy screaming to let loose. Shuran raised his hands above his head to let forth bolts of electricity.
“Shuran! You must stop. This is not the way.” Andra grabbed Shuran’s arms and brought them down before he could loose the energy he built up. The sparks and bolts immediately left his hands and he collapsed into Andra’s arms weeping for the life of his best friend.
***
Moona and Codger were already moving to gather all they could into the wagons when Andra and Mallick arrived, leading Shuran from his confrontation with Bastien’s father. Mallick had shown Andra where the cave was after he suddenly appeared in the cabin an hour earlier. Andra had explained to them what was happening and told them to get things prepared to make their escape.
Shuran made his way to his room to grab what he needed. He was visibly upset but he knew they had to leave. They managed to get some goats and a few cattle into a large wagon built for carrying animals. The other wagon was full of foodstuffs, warm clothing and any other necessary items. They would have to get anything else they needed as they traveled but they did not yet know to where. Shuran exited the cabin carrying just a sack filled with his clothes and another satchel filled with crystals and a few books.
Mallick rode with Codger and Moona with the animals while Andra wanted to ride alone with Shuran for a while.
“This is not your fault Shuran and you must let go of the anger before it poisons you.”
Shuran just looked ahead as they rode. He was racked with emotion over what transpired earlier in the village. To find out that his best friend had died out of fear and greed at the hands of his own adda was more than Shuran could handle at the moment.
“If I had not sparked Bastien’s shi, he would still be alive,” Shuran mumbled.
“Shuran, whether you hastened his ability to the surface or not is but only a portion of what transpired. The blame truly lies with the Order of Chaos. It is they and their leader whom blame should be placed upon.” Andra was not certain that Shuran was grasping what was said.
Before any further conversation could be held, Moona and Codger pulled their wagon to an abrupt halt in front of them.
“We need to pull off, onto less traveled paths. There are men camped out ahead that look to be Land’s Guard,” Codger said as he approached the trailing wagon.
“You can bet your arse that they are looking for us!” Moona chimed in as she waddled up.
Andra thought for a moment and before he could say anything the group turned to a sound of movement off of the road to their right. The ground and vegetation was spreading apart to form a narrow path off to the North. They all turned to look at Shuran.
“I will clear a path and close it behind us. We should travel around north of the Mellamu Nanna and come back down the coast.”
Moona and Codger just stood there, mouths wide and questioning looks upon their faces.
Shuran just lifted a quartz crystal he was holding and smirked.
Mallick backed up the first wagon and once Codger and Moona climbed back on, he headed down the path Shuran was creating. As the wagons made their way down the path that parted before them, Shuran split his attention to return things back to their natural state behind.
The group went on through the woods as Shuran located and manipulated the ground into the best path they could use. At points the path was narrow and difficult but they pressed on until they finally reached a clearing near the coast north of the Mellamu Nanna.
“So much for a clear escape in spite of Shuran’s efforts,” Moona complained looking out at the large Aurderia vessel anchored not far from their destination.
“Perhaps we can use Shuran’s shielding stone to mask our approach until they hear us?” Mallick asked looking to Shuran.
“The stone no longer works after I got it back from Bastien.”
“We will worry about that later. I have an idea, Shuran may I have the use of one of your crystals; I assume you have more?” Andra looked at Shuran knowing the answer.
Shuran reached in his bag and produced a few shards. “I have found certain shards are better for different things. What have you got in mind?”
Shuran and Andra discussed options in private for a moment before turning to the group. After the five travelers conferred on the plan, they set it into action.
***
The guards were huddled around a small fire drinking
from a jug of wine and sharing stories of what they have been doing since the breaking of the balance. As the jug was passed from one guard to the next, it was dropped as a man stood and pointed north of their position.
A wagon came barreling toward them covered in flames. It took more than a few moments of panic before the guards even noticed that there were no horses leading the wagon. As the men scattered to avoid the flaming wagon, they did not see the group of travelers sneaking up to the odd vessel they had been camped near. It was not until one of the men saw the wagon pass through the area they just abandoned that suspicion grew. The blazing wagon passed without disturbing the camp; he called the alarm.
“It is an illusion! There are people boarding that vessel. Stop them!”
And the guards quickly caught their wits and ran toward the Mellamu Nanna swords drawn and spells ready to cast. As the first guard threw his ball of fire an opposite force of water immediately met it.
Shuran stood at the foot of the gangplank ready to hold off attack as the others boarded the Mellamu Nanna.
“Keep them off as long as you can Shuran!” Mallick yelled as he and Andra worked hard to load all they could on the ship.
Moona and Codger were already on the vessel taking what they could secure, readying to leave quickly. Codger left Moona to continue stowing things as he headed to the pilot deck to fire the boiler.
Shuran was holding his own with the attacks from the guards to the South when he heard a call of alarm from Mallick.
“More guards approach from the North where we came from. They must have followed us somehow!”
Shuran turned to look at the closing threat and missed an approaching fireball from the southern attack. The flames took immediately on the ground near the first wagon and spread quickly, spooking the horses and cattle still waiting to be led aboard the ship.
Chronicles of Aurderia: The Balance Page 10