by F. P. Spirit
“That’s quite all right.” Brundon responded smoothly. “Delara and I are merely happy that we could aid in protecting the town.”
Gelpas eyed the tracker a moment. “Yes, that is one topic on which we all can agree.”
His eyes fell on his daughter once again. Titan returned his stare, her arms folded across her chest. After a rather uncomfortable silence, Gelpas sighed. “Rest assured that the baron appreciates all you have done. To that end, please tell Telpin at the Charging Minotaur that your next meal is on the barony.”
Titan’s shoulders grew rigid. “That’s rather generous of you, Father.”
Lloyd couldn’t help but wince at the ferocity behind those words. Even Gelpas seemed affected. His expression visibly softened, his eyes dropping to the floor. “It’s—the least I can do.”
“We’ll just be going now.” Brundon was obviously anxious to end this tense encounter.
Gelpas glanced back up at his daughter. “Very good.” A brief smile crossed his lips then he turned around to leave the hall.
Before he could take a step, Titan spoke up again. “Father, one last thing.”
Gelpas stopped in his tracks. He turned back around, his expression one of surprise. “Yes, Daughter?”
Titan hesitated for the briefest of moments, mixed emotions playing across her face. Her expression quickly hardened. “I have made my decision. I am going to apply for entry into the Knights of the Rose.”
“Delara!” Gelpas and Brundon burst out simultaneously.
Lloyd was equally surprised. The Knights of the Rose? He knew of the order. They were a group of holy knights, dedicated to the protection of Thac. They had been around for centuries, even as far back as the Thrall Wars. He had little doubt that Titan would fit in that order, but he could not help wondering why now.
“Are you daft?” Brundon exclaimed.
“I have to agree!” Gelpas scowled. “Have you thought this through?”
“I have,” Titan responded, her voice rising and her face reddening with anger, “and I’ll thank you both not to question my decisions.” She glared from her father to Brundon then took a deep breath. “All I am asking for is a good word from the baron.”
The hall had grown so silent you could hear the creak of the guards’ armor. Gelpas regarded his daughter quietly for a few moments, his face a mask of conflicting emotions.
“Very well, if that is what you wish, I will talk to the baron.”
Titan nodded. “It is.”
Gelpas appeared as if he was going to say more but abruptly stopped himself. He motioned to the others. “Gentlemen, shall we?” He then turned and left the chamber.
“Go ahead,” Lloyd told his companions. “I’ll be right with you.”
As the others marched off, Lloyd spun back to Brundon and Titan. The duo had begun a heated conversation.
“What were you thinking?” Brundon was saying.
“It’s my business. What do you care?”
“Your business is my business.” Brundon scowled. “We’re supposed to be a team, remember?”
“Maybe you’ll remember that next time and not side with my father.”
Brundon started to object, then stopped himself. He hung his head. “You’re right. I should have had your back.”
Titan glared down at him for a moment longer before her expression softened. She placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice soft. “You usually do.”
Lloyd felt uncomfortable interrupting the two, but he was not sure when he would see them again. “Titan?”
She turned to face him. “Oh, Lloyd. I didn’t realize you were still there.”
“Yeah.” Lloyd’s hand went to the back of his neck. “Well, I just wanted to say I will miss fighting by your side, but I know you will make an excellent knight.”
A smile spread across Titan’s face. “Thank you, Lloyd. I will miss fighting by your side as well.”
Lloyd grinned back, but then his expression grew serious. “If you don’t mind me asking, what made you decide this now?”
Instead of answering, Titan strode up to him. She stood there for a moment staring directly into his eyes. Abruptly she leaned forward, brushed by his mouth and kissed him on the cheek. As she pulled away she said in a soft tone, “You did. I need to step up my game if I’m going to keep up with you.”
Lloyd’s cheeks began to turn pink until he was bright red. His eyes swept from her to Brundon. A brief pang of jealousy crossed the tracker’s face, but it was gone in an instant.
“Yes, yes. This is touching and all,” Brundon said, “but for now, how about we take your father up on that free meal?”
“Might as well.” Titan took one last wistful look around the great hall.
Lloyd bid the pair farewell. He watched in silence as they crossed the large chamber until they reached the door to the foyer. The acoustics in the vaulted room were excellent, and he could easily hear their conversation.
“But afterwards I’m packing. I’m heading out the west road first thing in the morning,” Titan declared.
“So you’re planning on just going away without me?” Brundon asked sounding hurt.
“What am I supposed to do? It’s not like you’ll follow me.”
“What would make you think that? I’m sure there’s work out there for an enterprising man like myself.”
“You could always join the knights.”
Brundon laughed. “Me? A knight?”
Their voices faded as they disappeared into the foyer.
Lloyd grinned. He was quite sure Brundon would follow Titan just about anywhere. Suddenly it dawned on him that he was supposed to meet the others. His smile faded as he ran through the doorway to the back of the keep.
Black Adders
Dark magic users are not exactly a trusting lot
The Black Adders, you say?” Captain Gelpas sat behind his desk, with his fingers pressed together in front of his lips. Martan sat in the seat opposite him while the companions leaned against the back wall and watched the interrogation. The archer shifted uncomfortably in his chair as he retold his story to the captain. Gelpas’s burning gaze was not doing very much to put him at ease.
Martan let out a deep sigh. “Yes, as I said before, they are a sect of the Serpent Cult.”
“And this Serpent Cult you speak of is what again, exactly?”
Gelpas stared intently at the archer as he repeated the question for the third time. It was a standard interrogation technique to ask the same questions repeatedly. If the person was telling the truth, the details would match each time. If they were lying, they would inevitably slip up—unless they were very skilled at it.
Martan took a deep breath and repeated his answer as if he had recited it a thousand times. “It’s a group of mages who worship serpents. They are based out of Serpent’s Hollow. They practice a dark magic that enables them to control serpents. Some of them can even change into snake form.”
Gelpas’s expression remained neutral. “And you were accompanying this dark wizard, Voltark, did you say?”
Martan merely nodded.
Gelpas eyed him for a moment. “Voltark, then. You were accompanying this Voltark to Ravenford. And what was his business here?”
Martan’s tone grew weary. “I was never told. They weren’t exactly the trusting types. They kept their business to themselves.”
“And the whole time you were with them, you never overheard anything?” The captain’s tone was laced with skepticism.
Martan shook his head. “Only the one thing I already told you. I was just hired to lead them to Ravenford. They were pretty closed-mouthed around me, so I don’t know much about what they were planning.”
“And what was that one thing you overheard?”
Martan let o
ut another deep sigh. “Things are going as planned. We have them cut off on all sides.”
When Martan finished, he sat back and folded his arms in front of his chest. Gelpas continued to stare at him, drumming his fingers on the desk all the while. Abruptly, the door to the room burst open.
“Sorry I’m late!” Lloyd exclaimed.
“No, no, your timing is good.” Gelpas rose from his desk. He motioned for all those standing to join him outside in the hallway. As they exited, he closed the door behind them.
A single guard stood outside in the hallway. Gelpas turned to him. “Keep an eye on our guest. We’ll be right back.”
The captain led them down the hall a short ways to another door. They entered a plain room which had been furnished with a long table and a bench on either side. A pitcher and some empty bowls were strewn across it.
“Guard room,” the captain explained abruptly before anyone could ask. “Please sit down, gentlemen.” The five companions all sat and turned their attention to Gelpas.
“What do you think of his story?” The captain asked.
Elladan was the first to respond. “What Martan told you about the elves of Kai-Arborous is true—they don’t really trust humans. If they found Martan hunting near the city, he would have been thrown in jail.”
Glo could definitely see that. His people were the same way. With all the spell wards and charms around Cairthrellon, it was highly unlikely that anyone could find their way into the city. If someone did manage to, though, especially a human, he would have been treated as a criminal.
Gelpas nodded in understanding, then turned to Glo. “What about these Black Adders and this Serpent Cult?”
Glo gazed around the group. “There are many dark magic practitioners in the world. Control of serpents and shape shifting into serpent form is indeed a real branch of the dark arts.”
Elladan and Aksel both nodded their agreement. Lloyd listened intently. Seth, on the other hand, looked bored. He produced a knife and polished the blade. A thin smile spread across Glo’s lips before he wrenched his eyes away from the disinterested halfling.
“However, these practitioners aren’t the kind of folk to band together. Dark magic users are not exactly a trusting lot, even of each other. If there is a group of serpent-worshipping dark magicians out there, there is most likely a darker power leading them all.”
The room fell silent. Gelpas appeared lost in thought. “That is even more disturbing.”
Elladan spoke up once more. “Captain Gelpas, Serpent Cult or not, those Black Adders were definitely real. We brought back the body of the dark wizard that headed the group—and he had quite a crew with him. If we hadn’t had the golem, we might not be sitting here right now.”
“You’re welcome,” a familiar voice chimed in. Glo turned to see Seth still polishing his blade, a satisfied smirk on his face.
Aksel turned to the others and cleared his throat. “Ahem. I think what the captain is trying to get at is whether Martan was a willing participant or not. What I can tell you is that his motives are not evil. Whatever he may have gotten himself involved in, I do not believe he meant to harm anyone. However, if you can detain him until tomorrow, I can cast a spell which will detect whether he is telling the truth.”
Gelpas had been pacing back and forth. He stopped as he considered Aksel’s words. “I am inclined to agree with you, Cleric Aksel. I do not detect any ill intent in his story or behavior, but it would be nice to be certain.” He gave a brief nod. “Very well, we will hold onto him until tomorrow, as you suggest. The baron will want to hear his story first-hand anyway.” Gelpas paused once again, his expression clearly troubled. “What really worries me is that this dark wizard and his troop were headed to this town for the gods only know what reason. Not to mention that reference to having us cut off on all sides.”
Aksel’s expression was sympathetic. “Yes, that was rather disconcerting, but that is why we brought his body back with us, Captain. If you can hold on to it until tomorrow as well, then I can use a spell to talk to Voltark’s spirit. We’ll see if we can find out what his purpose was in coming to Ravenford.”
Gelpas’s expression turned a bit more hopeful. “Very well, Cleric Aksel, we shall do as you suggest. We will keep the archer here at the keep overnight, as well as the dark wizard’s body.” The captain gazed around at the group in general. “Well then, gentlemen, I need to inform the baron regarding all that has transpired here. We will expect your return tomorrow morning, when we continue the investigation into this matter.”
They all stood up and followed Gelpas back out into the hall. He gave them a curt nod, then quickly marched off down the corridor in the direction of the throne room.
The next morning, the companions gathered in front of the Charging Minotaur to say goodbye to Titan and Brundon. Titan packed the saddlebags on her quarter horse while Brundon tightened the cinch on his roan.
Elladan came up behind them and clasped them both on the shoulders. “So it’s off to the Wind Tower for you two?”
Titan patted her saddlebags and grinned. “Got my letter from the baron right here.”
“Glad to hear that worked out for you.”
Seth spoke up next, a half smirk on his lips. “So, Brundon, what will you be doing out there while Titan learns to slay dragons?”
Brundon spun around, a smug look on his face. “Oh there’s always work for a good tracker. I was thinking of hiring myself out as a guide through the mountains. I know the Korlokesels almost as well as I know the Bendenwoods.”
“With all that’s happened in those woods recently, that would be a good idea,” Aksel agreed.
“Either way, good luck to you both,” Glo added.
Lloyd wore a wide grin. “Titan won’t need luck—not once those knights see what she can do.”
Titan’s face turned a slight shade of red. “Thank you, Lloyd. I’m sure you could teach them a thing or two as well.”
The tall warrior stepped forward and hugged him and then each of the companions in turn. Even Seth allowed himself an embrace with her. Brundon shook hands with them all, until Lloyd got a hold of him and locked him in a bear hug. “Easy there big fellow—I’d like all my ribs intact.”
Lloyd let go and grinned self-consciously. “Sorry.”
The two riders then mounted and bid the companions farewell.
“Good luck on your next venture,” Brundon said.
“Till we meet again,” Titan told them.
“Till we meet again,” they responded in unison.
Titan and Brundon spurred their horses and took off down the road. The companions watched until they were out of sight. Aksel was the first to break the silence. “Well then, best we head back up to the keep.”
A short while later, the companions trudged up the hill to Ravenford Keep. A short way off the roadside, Glo noticed a number of wagons parked together. There were so many, in fact, it looked like a small village had cropped up just outside the castle overnight. There were tents interspersed in between the wagons, and a number of colorful characters milled around. “I wonder what’s going on over there.”
“Those are performers,” Elladan declared.
“Are you certain?” Aksel asked.
A half-smile crossed Elladan’s lips. “Uh huh. I recognize some of those wagons. Still, it’s strange to see so many here in this little town. Something big must be going on.”
“Maybe we’ll find out up at the keep,” Glo suggested.
Elladan shrugged. “Wouldn’t hurt to ask.”
When they reached the gate, the affable guard, Francis, was on duty. Francis had befriended the companions, helping them gain access to the town meeting where they first met the baron. Now the friendly guard appeared tired. He covered his mouth, trying to stifle a yawn as they approached.
; Elladan gave him an understanding smile. “Guard duty again?”
“Yeah,” Francis replied, his eyes drooping. “We are all pulling double shifts, with the party coming up and all.”
“What party?” Aksel asked.
Francis’s eyes snapped open. He suddenly appeared wide-awake. “You don’t know? I thought everyone knew.”
Seth snorted. “Yeah, about that. New to the area. Been out fighting monsters, dark wizards...”
Francis smiled sheepishly. “Oh, right. I should have realized. The Lady Andrella’s eighteenth birthday is coming up in a few days, and the guests and entertainment are starting to arrive already.” He nudged his head toward the gathering of wagons down the hillside. “It’s a really big event. The Duke of Dunwynn himself is going to attend.”
“The Duke of Dunwynn?” Glo repeated. “Isn’t he the Lady Gracelynn’s brother?”
“As a matter of fact, he is.” Francis nodded. He stepped closer and spoke in a whisper, “Rumor has it, since his only niece is coming of age, he wants to bring her back to Dunwynn with him.” The guard glanced briefly to his left and right. “The baron will never stand for it, though.”
Glo remembered when they first arrived in Ravenford. Lloyd had told them all about the baron and his family, including their relationship to the duke. Further, since the duke had no children of his own, his niece, Andrella, was his one and only heir. “It would seem that the duke wants to start grooming her.”
The guard gave a vigorous nod. “After all, if anything were to happen to him, she would become the next Duchess of Dunwynn.”
Something about what Francis just said made Glo uneasy. “Is Dunwynn a large place?”
Francis seemed pleased to explain further. “It’s the only Duchy in north eastern Thac. The city itself has over nine thousand subjects, but its influence extends over almost all of northeast Thac.”
“You mean its control,” Lloyd corrected him. There was a trace of anger in the young man’s tone.
Francis glanced over his shoulder again then whispered, “Yes. Control is more accurate.”