by F. P. Spirit
Ves’s eyes filled with sympathy. “That must have been difficult.”
An image of his mother resurfacing in Glo’s mind. He could still see the sorrow on her face as the two of them bid goodbye at the edge of Cairthrellon. It had nearly made him change his mind about leaving home. A small sigh escaped his lips. “It was. However, now that I know your story, I think we may be able to help you.”
“Really?” Maya squealed stopping in mid-twirl. “You can help us find Daddy?”
Glo knelt down and looked her in the eye. “Perhaps, little one.”
She ran over and threw her arms around him. “I knew I liked you!”
Glo smiled at the young girl, then gently extracted himself from Maya’s embrace. “First I must talk this over with the others. They have a right to know what is going on, too.”
Ves nodded. “That is most understandable. We will wait here for your decision.”
“I’ll be back soon,” Glo promised.
As he walked away, he could hear the three sisters talking softly amongst themselves. He could make out none of it, but Ruka sounded angry. Glo rejoined the others on the main deck. He swiftly recounted Ves’s story. When he was done, they were all silent. Aksel was the first to speak.
“You know, I find it strange that this is happening at the same time the Serpent Cult has surfaced.”
“You think the Serpent Cult has something to do with the disappearing council members?” Lloyd asked.
Aksel’s expression was pensive as he gingerly stroked his chin. “Maybe, then again, maybe not. I just think the timing is interesting.”
“Either way, I still don’t completely trust these sisters,” Seth stated flatly.
Glo glared at the halfling. “Is there anyone you do trust?”
“No. Not really,” Seth admitted.
“Well, I think we should help them find their father,” Lloyd declared.
“As do I,” Glo agreed, thankful that someone else was willing to do the right thing.
Aksel turned toward Martan. “What do you think?”
Martan stared back at the cleric, his expression incredulous. “Me? You want my opinion?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” Aksel told him.
Martan’s expression turning thoughtful. “Well then, the sisters are different... there’s no denying that... but I believe they mean well.” A wry smile abruptly crossed the archer’s face. “Heck, I owe Ves my life... twice now in the last two days. In all honesty, I think we should help them.”
Aksel spun to face Seth. “Well?”
Seth eyed him for a moment, then threw up his hands. “Oh, why the heck not. It might even be interesting.”
Aksel’s eyes swept around the group. “Then it’s unanimous. We will help them. The question, then, is what do we do first?”
“Maltar might know more about this,” Glo offered. “We could take the girls to see him.”
Aksel cocked his head to one side as he thought it over. “Maybe—at the very least he might know more about the disappearing council members.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll go tell the girls,” Glo said. He strode back to the rear deck, but when he reached the top of the stairs, he saw Ves standing alone by the ship’s railing. Ruka was still by the stack of crates, sitting with her arms folded in front of her. Maya danced around her middle sister, oblivious to the tension in the air.
Glo joined Ves by the rail. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, just fine.” Her smile was forced though, her eyes contradicting her words.
Glo decided it best not to pry further. “Everyone is in agreement that we should help you in your search. When we arrive back in Ravenford, we can talk to Maltar. He most likely has connections with the council. He might even have more current news.”
A thin smile spread across Ves’s lips. “Thank you, that is very kind of you.”
Glo smiled in turn. “It is the least we can do—after all, what are friends for?”
She glanced up at him, and a real smile crossed her face, her features softening markedly. “Friends,” she repeated. “Yes, indeed. Let’s go tell my sisters, then.” She took his arm in hers and led him over to Maya and Ruka. Ves repeated what Glo had told her.
Ruka unfolded her arms and nodded. “Fine with me.” Glo was surprised. He had expected her to object. “After all, we still need to collect our reward for finding the cargo.” That was more like it, Glo thought wryly. “Though we still need to be careful, especially with Cal floating around. We don’t want him finding us and spoiling all the fun.”
Maya, still dancing around, glanced up at her older sister. “Ves, he couldn’t make you come back even if he tried.”
Glo’s eyes flickered from Maya to Ves. The dragon couldn’t make her come back?
Ves turned a bright shade of red. She wagged a finger at Maya. “Hush, dear. That’s no way to talk.” Her eyes shifted toward Glo, her face still a bright shade of scarlet. “Kids. They say the darndest things.”
Glo merely smiled back at her, but his mind raced. Ves was super strong, a shape-shifter, and an expert cleric. Further, that Barghest demon had been afraid of her. Perhaps it was not so odd to believe she could stand up to a copper dragon.
Ves was still speaking. “However, I think it best if we do not arrive in town together. We would like to keep our comings and goings a secret.”
Glo arched an eyebrow. If the sisters wanted to keep a low profile, it did make sense. Still he found himself strangely disappointed. “Very well then, where shall we meet?”
“Outside this Wizard Maltar’s home. We will be in the forms of a peregrine falcon, a cat, and a flying squirrel.”
Well, that answered one of his questions. They were indeed all shape-shifters. “Agreed, then.”
Ves reached up and kissed him once more on the cheek. Maya gave him a brief hug, and then the three sisters marched over to the railing. All three spun back toward him. Ves and Maya smiled and waved. Ruka nodded. Then the three sisters dove overboard and were gone.
Half an hour later, the Endurance entered the mouth of the Raven River. The little town spread out around them on either bank. Folks stopped and stared as they headed up stream toward the docks. Rochino expertly guided the tall ship to the main Ravenford docks on the western bank. They pulled in next to the longest pier, and lines were thrown to waiting folks below. The large vessel was moored in place and the anchors were dropped. A gangplank was run from the main deck down to the dock below. A small crowd had already gathered there, composed of town merchants, including the insufferable Haltan.
Glo and Aksel decided to go ahead to Maltar’s house and meet with the sisters. Seth would stay behind to oversee the unloading of the cargo and collect their fee from the merchants. Martan would stay as well, and keep an eye on Lloyd. Before they disembarked, Aksel gave Seth the golem ring. It would take a while for The Boulder to reach shore, and they would need bring the golem with them when they finally finished here. With all this decided, Glo, Aksel and Seth climbed down the gangplank together. Seth went first and headed off the eager merchants, allowing the others to make their “escape.” As the duo hurried away, Glo could hear Haltan’s voice ring out behind them.
“Well, I hope you found my cargo. And I hope it is undamaged...”
Glo shook his head. The man was insufferable.
The duo quickly reached the end of the dock. There they turned northwest and headed up the west bank of the wide river. As they strode along, Glo’s mind raced. He wondered about the Serpent Cult and its plot against Ravenford. He thought about the disappearance of the Wizard Council members, including Rodric Greymantle. He was also bothered by Captain Rochino’s reaction to Maltar. He recalled what Aksel had said earlier in the day, and decided to confide in him. “Do you really think the Serpent Cult has som
ething to do with the disappearing wizards?”
Aksel had also been lost in thought. He appeared caught off-guard by the sudden question. “I was merely speculating out loud.”
“I realize that, but I can’t help shaking this feeling that they are somehow connected.”
Aksel pursed his lips together. “That’s all well and fine, but we really have no proof. Let’s wait and see what Maltar can tell us.”
Their conversation came to a halt as they reached a small square. Five roadways came together here. One continued northwest along the river bank. Another led up the tall hill to the town temple. A third headed south out of town. The fourth was the way they had come. The fifth led northeast over the main bridge that spanned the Raven River. The duo turned and headed that way. As they strode across the bridge, Glo’s mind traveled back to Rochino’s strange reaction to Maltar. “I just hope we are doing the right thing.”
Aksel eyed him curiously. “What do you mean?”
“Did you notice the way Captain Rochino reacted when we mentioned Maltar’s name?”
Aksel paused a moment as if trying to recall that moment. He slowly nodded. “Yes. Now that you mention it, he did seem to show a rather strong dislike for him.”
“I thought so, too, at first, but did you catch that comment about ‘Maltar being involved’ and ‘understanding these dark goings on’”?
Aksel’s brow furrowed, then he nodded again. “He did say that, didn’t he?” The duo reached the other end of the bridge. The road veered east at that point, past the Charging Minotaur and on toward Maltar’s house. “I don’t think we have much choice though. Maltar is really the only one around here who might have knowledge of the council members’ disappearances.”
Glo let out a sigh. “I suppose you’re right. Still, I can’t shake this funny feeling. Maybe we should listen to Seth and Elladan. Maybe we shouldn’t tell Maltar everything we know.”
Aksel’s hand went to his chin as he mulled it over. Finally he nodded. “Agreed.”
The duo continued in silence as they headed toward their meeting with the Greymantle sisters and the questionable Wizard Maltar.
Assassins
The whirlwind whipped the elf around like a rag doll, spinning him mercilessly
Maltar lived in a large cottage, two stories high, with a dark wood exterior and paned windows, framed with green shutters. A partial third floor with a pair of dormers jutted out from the angled roof. The lot the cottage stood on was surrounded by a white picket fence. On either side of the house stood a tall thicket of trees, the opposite side of the street lined with woodlands. The nearest neighbors were the Charging Minotaur one street over to the west, and Haltan’s shop a good hundred yards to the east around a bend in the road. There was no other house in sight. Aksel and Glo waited patiently out in front of Maltar’s home. Nearly an hour had passed and there was still no sign of the Greymantle sisters.
Aksel finally spoke. “I don’t think they’re coming.”
Glo let out a long sigh. “So it would appear.”
It was a shame. Glo really believed they could have helped the sisters find their father. He thought they believed so as well. A familiar voice interrupted his musings.
“Hey, Aksel! Glo!”
Glo glanced up the road and saw Seth striding toward them. Martan and Lloyd followed close behind, the former leading the latter. Trailing the threesome lumbered The Boulder, the stone golem towering over even the tall Lloyd.
As they neared, Martan’s eyes swept the area. “Is Ves here yet?”
Glo shook his head. “No. They never showed up.”
“Oh,” the archer said, his face dropping despondently.
Seth’s mouth twisted into a half smirk. “Can’t say I’m surprised. Ruka stopped by the docks for their share of the finder’s fee. She wasn’t exactly friendly—just took her money and left without a word.”
Glo raised an eyebrow. That didn’t sound friendly at all. He thought the sisters had come to trust them. Apparently, something had changed their minds.
“Well, at least we know they’re in town.” Martan sounded hopeful.
“Anyway, the rest of us are all here. We might as well go in and give Maltar his amulet,” Aksel said.
They left The Boulder standing in front of the house. Glo opened the gate and led the way up the short stone path to the brown stone cottage. Seth and Aksel followed. Martan led Lloyd by the arm. Glo stepped up to the front door and knocked gingerly. He waited, but heard neither voices nor sounds of movement from inside the house. A full minute went by with no response.
“That’s strange,” Glo muttered. He stepped forward and knocked again. Another minute or so passed, but still no one came to the door. Glo began to worry. By now, at least one of the apprentices should have answered the door. There was always one in the house at all times. That begged the question, where was everyone? Abruptly he realized Seth stood next to him.
“May I?” the halfling said, looking up at him expectantly.
“By all means,” Glo replied, ushering him forward.
Seth stooped in front of the door and closely examined the lock. A few seconds later, he stood up, grabbed the handle, and pushed on the door. It slowly swung inwards. Seth smirked and shrugged his shoulders. “The door was open.”
Glo was about to retort, but the comment died on his lips. The entryway beyond was now visible. There on the floor lay a man in grey robes, blood pooling all around him. Seth and Martan immediately drew their weapons. Lloyd, hearing the sound of steel, crouched down, his hands going to his sword hilts. “What’s going on?”
“Shhh,” Seth hissed from the doorway as he scanned the room beyond.
Martan leaned over and whispered to Lloyd. “There’s a dead body in the hallway.”
A look of surprise registered on Lloyd’s face. Nonetheless, he remained silent. Seth gingerly stepped through the door and into the house. Glo and Aksel followed close behind. The foyer of the cottage turned out to be empty, other than the body on the floor. On the other side of the room stood a set of double doors. They were cracked open a hair. Seth skirted the body and peeked carefully through the crack. He signaled the others to wait, then slipped through the doors. Meanwhile, Aksel knelt beside the body. Glo knelt down beside him. Aksel examined the figure, running his hands over the top of the corpse. There was no sign of any wounds.
“Help me roll him over,” Aksel whispered. They turned the body and a trail of blood became visible down the back of the grey robe. Aksel examined the body further, then spoke softly to Glo. “Stab wound. Looks like he’s been dead for a couple of hours. Did you know him?”
Glo nodded. “Abracus, one of Maltar’s other apprentices.”
“How many are there altogether?” Aksel asked.
“There are two more besides me, Flibin and Gristla.”
At that moment, Seth slipped back into the room. “I checked the main hall and the rooms immediately off of it. The house is quiet, and there’s no one in sight.” The halfling went over to the front door, this time examining it from the inside. “The lock is undamaged. Whoever did this was either already in the house or someone let them in.”
Glo arched an eyebrow. He had a brief vision of the first time he came to Maltar’s house unannounced. Flibin had told him to “go away” and slammed the door on him. That started a battle. Glo had not known at the time that an invisible Seth had followed him. The halfling joined the fray and Flibin ended up dead. Strangely, Maltar found the whole incident funny and had even recruited Glo as one of his apprentices, on the condition that he pay for Flibin’s revival. “As we both know too well, Maltar’s apprentices don’t just let anyone into this house.”
Seth glared at him. The halfling had not intended to kill Flibin. The apprentice’s death had struck a nerve with the normally cynical Seth.
Aksel interrupted their staring contest. “Looks like Abracus here was stabbed in the back.”
Seth shifted his eyes to the body. “Let me see.” He strode over and carefully examined the stab wound. After a few moments, he sat back, his expression grim. “This was done by a professional.” Seth traced the wound with his finger. “One clean stroke with the angle of entry directly between two ribs and up into the heart.”
Glo felt a chill go up his spine. “We’re dealing with another assassin?”
Seth nodded glancing around the foyer. “Probably more than one, I would think, to hit a house this size.”
Martan still stood in the doorway next to Lloyd. “If this is going to get ugly, I’m not going to be much use with just a sword.”
Aksel stood up and reached behind his belt. He pulled out a small purse, stuck his hand in, and withdrew some coins. He held out the money to the archer. “Here, this should cover the cost of a new bow.”
Martan’s eyes widened as he gazed at the proffered coins. “That’s way too much!”
“Well, it should be more than enough for a new bow and a spell to cure blindness from the temple,” Aksel told him.
“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.” Martan took the coins from Aksel’s hand, then grabbed Lloyd by the arm. “Come on, Lloyd. Let’s get you healed up.”
An eager smile crossed Lloyd’s face. “Right.” The smile quickly faded, he unseeing eyes glancing around the room. “You all be careful while we’re gone.”
“I’m always careful,” Seth retorted.
Glo nearly choked.
Seth glared at the wizard. “When it counts.”
“Okay then,” Aksel interjected before anything else was said. He motioned with his hand toward Martan and Lloyd. “Hurry back, you two.” The duo nodded, then exited the house. Aksel spun back toward Seth. “Can I have the golem ring?”