The Broken Key (02) - Hunter of the Horde

by Brian S. Pratt

  A people’s love, a King of hope,

  Prosperity reigned the people did thrive,

  His kingdom was one of colossal scope.

  What manner of kingdom was his?

  What manner of kingdom was his?

  Coins. Coins in the earth.

  Buried and cherished they bided their time.

  Coins. Coins in the earth.

  Though they’re buried again they will shine.

  One fell day their beloved king did die,

  Deep in the earth they piled it high,

  Riches and treasure to dazzle the eye.

  What manner of treasure was this?

  What manner of treasure was this?

  Coins. Coins in the earth.

  Buried and cherished they bided their time.

  Coins. Coins in the earth.

  Though they’re buried again they will shine.

  In a tomb of earth, deep, deep below,

  Treasure untold his people did sow,

  For what purpose but his spirit to show.

  The magnitude of their love to him.

  The magnitude of their love to him.

  With the last strum of the last chord, the audience which had been spell bound throughout the ballad erupted in a thunderous applause.

  Riyan clapped and shouted with the rest and when the applause finally settled down, he turned to Chad and Kevik. “Didn’t learn much, but it was a good song.”

  “I especially liked the chorus, ‘Coins. Coins in the earth’,” he said. They spent the rest of the evening listening to the bard, drinking ale, and having a good time.

  Sometime around midnight was when the trouble started. It had absolutely nothing to do with them. They were simply minding their own business when two men at the table next to them started arguing over some woman. Before they even knew what was happening, the two men had come to their feet shouting. One struck the other across the face and knocked him onto the table before Riyan.

  Riyan scooted backwards quickly to avoid becoming entangled with the man.

  Unfortunately, when he scooted backwards, the contents of his mug went flying and soaked the man behind him. One thing led to another and before he knew what was happening, the whole place erupted into a free-for-all.

  Fists were flying and he would no sooner get away from one man only to be pummeled by another. He tried to give as good as he received, and managed to land a few good blows before the town watch arrived and broke up the fight.

  They waded into the combatants with their clubs and knocked senseless anyone who wouldn’t stop fighting. They rounded everyone up and marched them off to the city jail.

  Chad and Riyan were among them, where Kevik was they didn’t know. He sure wasn’t with them marching off to jail.

  “Wonder what’s going to happen to us now?” asked Chad. He had an eye practically swollen shut and a lower lip that was almost half again its normal size.

  Riyan shrugged and turned eyes full of worry to him. “I don’t know.” Then he saw how Chad’s face looked and added, “You don’t look too good.” Chad grinned but then grimaced when his swollen lip flared with pain. “You don’t either.”

  Riyan had an eye beginning to swell as well. Also, the side of his jaw felt like it was going to fall off. He was afraid to look in a mirror.

  Down at the jail, the sergeant of the watch took one look at the white cloths tied to the hilts of their swords and immediately sent one of his men down to the Guild for someone to come take them. When they realized that someone at the Guild was going to be woken up in the middle of the night to come drag their sorry butts out of jail because they had taken part in a brawl, they groaned.

  Chapter Three

  _______________________

  “What in the world is going on?”

  Riyan and Chad sat on a table in the infirmary as the Guild’s healer worked to heal their wounds. Tad, one of the swordsmen that helped with the instructions had been the one to pick them up from the jail. When Riyan and Chad had seen that it was him, they were relieved. Of all their instructors, he was the one they got along with the best.

  He didn’t harangue them about their stupidity or anything like that. All he did was take charge of them and walk them back to the Guild. At first Chad and Riyan thought they had managed to avoid serious punishment. But, once Tad dropped them off at the infirmary and the healer began working on them, he told them he was on his way to inform the Drillmaster.

  “Now?” asked Chad.

  “Couldn’t it wait until morning?” Riyan said hopefully.

  “Sorry boys,” Tad said. “But those are the rules.”

  Fifteen minutes later, the Drillmaster had showed up and he was in a foul mood.

  “What is the meaning of this Recruits?” he asked as he stalked toward them.

  “It wasn’t our fault,” Chad blurted out.

  “It really wasn’t,” added Riyan.

  “I was hoping to have one batch of Recruits where I wouldn’t have to be dragged from my bed in the middle of the night because of some stupid, pigheadedness!” He glared at the two of them. “Brawling! Two of my Recruits were arrested for brawling like a couple of common street thugs.”

  “Actually, most of the others…”

  “Quiet!” their drillmaster shouted, cutting Riyan off in the middle of his sentence.

  “There is no excuse for this. You were told to avoid getting into trouble were you not?” They both had to nod that they had, for that was one of the first things they were told after joining the Guild.

  “But there was no way for us to avoid it,” asserted Riyan. Chad nodded.

  “Hold your head still,” the healer said. He was applying some kind of ointment to Chad’s swollen eyelid and needed him to keep still.

  “Don’t use any magic to heal these two,” the Drillmaster told the healer. “I want them to feel it for awhile as a reminder.”

  The healer turned to glance at the Drillmaster and grinned. “Not to worry,” he said.

  “Tad already so instructed me.”

  “Good,” he said. Then he glared at the two of them. “Extra drill for the both of you until your next ten-day,” he said. “And if I should discover that you had some part in starting this brawl, you two may find yourselves out of this Guild for good. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes sir,” they both said.

  Turning around, the Drillmaster left the infirmary.

  “You two got off lucky,” the healer informed them while he continued to work on Chad’s eye.

  “What do you mean?” they asked.

  “The normal punishment Recruits face if they’re caught brawling is five lashes,” the healer explained. “It would seem he believed you when you said you didn’t start it.”

  “But then why the extra drills?” asked Riyan.

  “Because he had to get out of bed in the middle of the night,” the healer replied with a chuckle. When he finished with Chad, he began working on Riyan. They were soon out of the infirmary and on their way back to their barrack.

  The following morning when they entered the mess for their breakfast before their drills, the others who were there turned and stared at them. Apparently the rumor mill had already begun churning out a version of the previous evening’s events.

  “You two look like death warmed over,” commented Seth when they took their seats.

  “Yeah man,” added Soth, “I hope the other guy looks worse.”

  “He does,” Chad said. “Riyan and I went up against half a dozen and were doing petty well before the watch showed up.”

  From behind Chad, Torin said, “I heard you two were crying like babies when the watch dragged you away.” Torin was one of the Recruits that didn’t care much for Riyan and Chad.

  Chad stood up and turned to face him. “That’s a lie!” he yelled.

  “Sit down Chad,” Riyan said to his friend. “Don’t let him goad you into getting yourself into more trouble.” Conversations throughout the mess qu
ieted down following Chad’s outburst. Riyan noticed that many an eye was directed their way.

  Chad stared at Torin for a second then retook his seat.

  “If you guys ever need to learn to fight,” Torin said, “I’m sure we could dig up some old ladies to show you.” He laughed and turned away.

  Seth had a hand on Chad’s arm to keep him from getting back up and attacking Torin.

  “Actually,” Seth said, “the rumor I heard said that you two were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  The level of conversation gradually rose once more as it looked as if nothing of interest was going to develop.

  Riyan nodded. “That’s pretty much what it was,” he admitted. Then he and Chad related to Seth and Soth the events as actually transpired there in the inn. After that it was time to report for drills.

  The day passed slowly and when it came to the end of the day and the Recruits were dismissed, Riyan and Chad had to remain behind. For another hour they practiced with the fat-uglies before they were allowed to leave.

  Their arms ached badly and all they wanted to do was crash on their beds and go to sleep. But first they had to get dinner. So after returning to their barrack and putting their swords on, they made their way to the mess.

  While they were there, one of the runners who worked at the Guild appeared and made his way to their table. “Excuse me,” he said once he reached them.

  “Yes?” Chad asked.

  “You two have a visitor waiting out in the foyer,” the runner explained. There were always one or two runners out in the foyer. Their job was to deliver messages that those visiting the Guild wished passed on. More often than not, it was to inform someone that a guest waited for them.

  “A visitor?” asked Riyan. “Who could be visiting us? I doubt if it would be Kevik though I wonder what happened to him last night.”

  “Is it a man or woman?” asked Chad hopefully. One of the girls whom he’s been seeing had shown up once to pay him a visit.

  “It’s a young gentleman,” the runner replied.

  “Could you ask him to wait a few minutes?” Riyan said. “Tell him we’re almost done eating then we’ll be there.”

  “As you wish,” the runner said then turned around and walked from the mess hall.

  “Who do you think it could be?” Chad asked Riyan after the servant left.

  Riyan began shoveling food in his mouth quickly. “I don’t know,” he said through a mouthful of food.

  They finished their meal quickly and hurried out to the foyer. When they saw Bart sitting in one of the chairs on the side of the room they were surprised. After having been gone for so long he was the last person they expected.

  “Bart!” Riyan exclaimed as they came forward.

  “Good to see you,” Chad said. He reached out and gave him a hearty handshake.

  Bart eyed them up and down, then he grinned. “You two sure have changed a lot,” he said.

  “What do you mean?” asked Chad.

  “We got into a brawl last night,” explained Riyan figuring the statement must have something to do with the state their faces were in.

  “Not that,” Bart said. Then he reached out and touched his bicep. “Been working out have you?”

  “Not by choice I assure you,” Chad said with a grin.

  Bart laughed. “I can imagine.” Then he gestured for them to take seats near him as he sat down.

  “How did things go in Wardean?” Riyan asked.

  “I’m here aren’t I,” Bart said. “No longer need I fear a dagger in the back.”

  “That’s great news,” Riyan replied.

  “How about what you’re here for?” he asked. Lowering his voice he said, “Anything about the coats of arms?”

  The grin Riyan bore disappeared as he shook his head. “No. When I asked about it they told us that unless you were born into a family that already had one, you couldn’t get one until you were knighted by the king.”

  “Sorry you had to join to find out,” Bart said.

  “I’m not,” replied Chad. “I enjoy being a member of the Guild, it sure beats grinding flour all day.”

  “And herding sheep,” added Riyan. “But I’m not without hope that this could still lead to the information we need.”

  “Oh?” asked Bart.

  Riyan moved closer and lowered his voice still further. “The Guild has an archive on the third floor with dozens of old tomes which most likely hold the information. I tried to gain admittance but was turned away.”

  “There’s an old fighter who runs it by name of Stryntner,” Chad explained.

  “Maybe there’s a way to get on his good side?” suggested Bart.

  “If there is I haven’t heard of it,” replied Riyan.

  “Hmm,” Bart said as he grew quiet and introspective. “Maybe I’ll see what I can come up with.” Turning his eyes back to the other two he added, “Ask around, that sort of thing.”

  “If you want to,” Riyan said. “But he didn’t seem like he was all that sociable.” Bart shrugged. “Who knows? Can’t hurt to try.”

  Chad kept his voice low as he asked, “If we are unable to gain access to the Archives, what’s our next course of action?”

  “I’ve been thinking on that for some time,” Bart said. “I paid a visit to Thyrr while I was in Wardean and managed to find out the name and location of the man to whom he sold most of those silver coins he fenced for you two.”

  “Oh?” asked Riyan.

  “The guy’s a collector of all things associated with the King’s Horde,” explained Bart. “In fact, he took part in the hunt thirty years ago when that last large batch of coins was found.”

  “You think he might know something?” asked Chad.

  “From what Thyrr said, the man’s been pursuing the Horde ever since he caught the fever thirty years ago. I don’t know who else would know more about it.” Bart sat back in his chair and gazed at his two companions. Then he glanced around the foyer to make sure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation. When it didn’t appear anyone had he turned back to the others. “I’m going to drop in on Kevik, then see what I can learn about this Stryntner. See if he has a weak spot we can take advantage of.”

  “Take your time,” Riyan told him. “It’ll be nine more days before we’ll be able to leave the Guild’s grounds.”

  “I’ll be back in a day or so and let you know what I found out,” he said then stood up.

  “Okay, good luck,” offered Riyan. After standing up as well, he patted Bart on the back. He and Chad then escorted him over to the door and said their final goodbyes.

  Once Bart was out the door, Chad and Riyan returned to their barrack and promptly fell asleep. The added exertion of another hour with the fat-uglies had really wiped them out.

  Bart left the Guild behind and headed out to Kevik’s. After Riyan and Chad had told him what transpired at the inn, he wanted to make sure he was alright. To be sure that was not his primary reason for seeing Kevik, he needed his help with something.

  It didn’t take him long to reach the road leading out to Kevik’s place. By this time, the sun had begun its descent to the horizon and the shadows were growing long. When Kevik’s tower came into sight, he saw light coming from the third floor window. As he had expected, the rest of the estate was dark.

  “Kevik!” he hollered as he approached the tower’s door.

  From the third floor window Kevik stuck his head out and grinned when he saw Bart approaching. “Didn’t know you had returned,” he hollered.

  “Let me in,” Bart shouted up to him, “and I’ll tell you about it.”

  “Be right down,” Kevik told him just before his head disappeared back into the tower.

  A minute later the tower door opened and he waved Bart in. “Good to see you again.”

  “You too Kevik,” he replied. Passing through the doorway, he paused a second as he waited for Kevik to shut and lock the door. “Heard there was some excitement last night?”r />
  Kevik threw the lock and turned back to him. His face was split in a grin and he nodded. “I take it you just came from seeing Riyan and Chad?” he asked.

  “That’s right,” Bart replied. “They said when the fight was over, you were nowhere to be found.”

  Kevik shrugged. “When the fight first broke out, I scurried on my hands and knees straight to the door,” he admitted.

  “That wasn’t very courageous,” Bart accused.

  “No, I suppose it wasn’t,” he replied. Kevik then began moving to the stairs leading up into the tower. “But the last thing I wanted to do was to become embroiled in a fight.

  I’m not what you would call skilled in such things.” As they reached the second floor landing, he paused and turned back to Bart. “I suppose I could have started throwing spells around, but was afraid that might have changed the temper of the fight.” Bart nodded, “I see your point.”

  Kevik turned and continued up the stairs. “Shortly after I made it to safety, members of the town watch showed up and hauled everyone off to jail,” he explained. “Didn’t know what else to do so came back here.”

  “You could have gone to the jail and tried to get them out,” said Bart.

  “An apprentice magic user without a master?” he asked. “In what way could I have swayed them?”

  Bart followed Kevik the rest of the way to the third floor. He could see the logic behind what Kevik had said, and of all the professions out there, magic users tended to follow logic’s doctrine more than any other. Once on the third floor he saw the staff lying on the table in the middle of the room.

  “Still haven’t finished with that yet?” he asked.

  “Getting closer,” replied Kevik. “There’s one more binding spell that I have to master then I’ll have it.”

  “Will you make your attempt to become a Practitioner once you’re done?” inquired Bart.

  “It won’t be too long after that,” he said.

  “I’m glad for you,” replied Bart.

  “Everything in Wardean turn out well?” Kevik asked. He crossed the room to a table set against the wall and sat down. He motioned for Bart to take one of the other seats across from him.