Barvil looked at him with a puzzled expression. "How did you manage that?"
"I think I just learned something new about my armor, Sir. It protects me from magic. I got dizzy and wanted to sleep for a moment, but I was able to shake it off. Kar and the others were knocked out. When the magi said they were going to kill us all, I attacked."
"You attacked four magi all by yourself?" Barvil asked in a stunned whisper.
"Yes, Sir," Stavin replied proudly and gave a quick blow-by-blow account of the action. "Then I went and found Kar and he vomited on me. I was more cautious when I woke Vardik and Rolas."
"And the face-full of water?" Barvil asked as he used his blanket to dry his face.
Stavin half shrugged. "It seems to be the only thing that will wake anyone up, Sir."
Barvil thought for a moment, then nodded. "Running water blocks evil. Wake the rest of our men, and send them to me."
"Yes, Sir!" Stavin said and did as he was told. Never in all his years had he been the recipient of more curses and death threats than he was that night.
When everyone was assembled, Barvil gave his orders. "Two-man teams go to each wagon and wake the traders. Be ready, because they are going to wake up mad and armed with knives. Vardik, Rolas, Kar, Stavin, back on watch."
Stavin returned to his watch and saw Barvil nearly jump out of Sahren's wagon, chased by shouts and curses like he'd never heard before. Barvil was still chuckling when Stavin passed him.
When everyone was awake, Barvil and Sahren called Stavin over to the bodies. "Which one was the master?" Sahren asked.
"That one. The tall, skinny one," Stavin answered, using his Dragon's Tongue to point.
Sahren rolled one of the other heads over and grunted. "I should have expected the mayor to be here," she said as she looked down into his dead eyes.
The sun was just peeking over the horizon when there was movement from the farmers who had camped around them. All of them appeared normal and cheerful as they hitched their wagons and drove away to their homes. It wasn't long afterward that men and women from the town started appearing singly and in groups.
"Your pardon, Trader," a man in a blacksmith's leather apron said as he approached Sahren, "but how long have you been here?"
"This is our second morning, good Sir," she replied.
"Really?" he asked, clearly puzzled. "I didn't know. Something happened at night--I don't understand. No one told me," he said and his shoulders sagged.
"Mayor Fel'Comes sent--"
"Who!?" the blacksmith shouted.
"Mayor Fel'Comes," Sahren started again but the blacksmith cut her off.
"I'm the Mayor of Ormund, not that lay-about. When I get my hands on him--"
"He's dead," Barvil said, stopping the real mayor in mid-rant. "He and three others. They were black magi and had taken over your town."
"How did you defeat them?" the mayor asked in a breathless tone, and Barvil looked over at his warriors.
"Friend of Evandia Stavin's armor is proof against human magic," he said and the mayor focused on Stavin's golden armor.
"Friend Stavin," the mayor said softly. "I must thank him properly for the service he has done us." He walked over to where the warriors were standing and bowed deeply. "Friend Stavin, I am Ahldar Fel'Barlan, the true Mayor of Ormund. I wish to express my gratitude for freeing my people from the spell that we have been under."
Stavin bowed deeply. "I was only doing what I had to, Sir," he replied.
"Perhaps that is true, Friend Stavin, but you deserve our thanks nonetheless. At the very least, you deserve a warrior's reward of his slain foe's property." Stavin was afraid that he had just acquired a bakery and butcher shop, but the mayor quickly disabused him of that notion. "Ohral Fel'Comes didn't own much property, but he did have a tenth-part interest in a grist mill on the river," the mayor finally said. "He and his siblings inherited it from their father."
Stavin was relieved and shook his head. "Let the other owners have it. I want with no reminders of this incident."
The mayor looked like he was about to argue, but shook his head instead and bowed. "If that is your wish, we will honor it," he said with a bow. "What about the bodies?"
Stavin shrugged. "They can be thrown in a cesspit as far as I'm concerned. Their souls are already in the deepest hell." The mayor bowed deeply and quickly left.
Barvil looked at Stavin and said, "Don't want anything as a reminder of this incident, do you? What about their purses?"
"Purses?" Stavin asked, then his head whipped around toward the bodies. "I didn't--"
"We did," Barvil and Trader Sahren said together. "Here," Barvil said as he held out four purses. "We didn't count them, but there're heavy."
"There were also these amulets," Trader Sahren said, unfolding a piece of leather to reveal four heavy gold and diamond amulets on long braided-gold chains.
Stavin hissed in anger when he saw the amulets. "Drop those!" he shouted and Sahren did. "You didn't let them touch your skin, did you?" he asked as he stared at the pile of evil at his feet.
"I have been around for a long time, Stavin," Trader Sahren said with a laugh. "I know better than to risk that."
"It will take an Adept to cleanse those of evil, Stavin, and we don't dare leave them as they are," Barvil said. "Anyone who picks them up will be snared."
Stavin was thinking furiously and said, "Salt. A leather bag full of salt. It's the only way to carry them safely."
Barvil looked at Marvat and received a set of saddlebags. "Full of salt," Barvil said as he opened the left bag. "Really, Stavin, we have been around for a while."
Stavin was about to answer when he got a good look at the saddlebags and said, "Hey! Those are mine!"
"So are the cursed amulets, and you owe me a silver crown for the salt," Marvat replied sourly.
Stavin opened and closed his mouth without saying anything, and then knelt by the amulets. Using his knife, he picked up each amulet by the chain and then stuffed it down into the salt. When he was done he looked at the purses. "These will wait. I'm hungry."
Everyone laughed and Trader Sahren led them to the where the cook and Rahlina were serving the traders. They had retrieved their morning meals and were beginning to eat when Kethlan approached Stavin.
"I understand that we have you to thank for getting a face full of water this morning, Stavin," he said as he looked Stavin in the eye.
"It could have been much worse," Trader Sahren pointed out.
"So I hear. Was it really servants of--?"
"Don't say that name!" Trader Sahren and Barvil shouted together. "The amulets are right there in those saddlebags," Barvil continued as he pointed to the ground beside Stavin, and everyone edged away from him.
"Oh, thank you so very much!" Stavin snapped and took the last bite of his morning meal.
Chapter 9
THE CARAVAN MOVED ON IMMEDIATELY, LEAVING Ormund behind as fast as the mules would go. That night Stavin counted his purses. "They weren't just evil," he said, "they were thieves. Thirty-two gold and three hundred silver crowns," he concluded. He handed Marvat two silver crowns, then went to bed.
Stavin had put the saddlebags full of salt behind his saddle as a last resort. No one wanted to be near those amulets no matter how they were packed, so none of the traders would let him put them in a wagon.
The caravan spent two days traveling to the next town, and as soon as they arrived Stavin went to Barvil. "Sir, I'd like to ask around about an adept."
Barvil nodded. "Take Mar and the rest with you. I'll be happier when those amulets are neutralized."
"Yes, Sir," Stavin snapped and went to find the others. At the edge of town, Stavin began asking for directions. "Excuse me, Sir," he asked of one of the locals, "could you tell me if an adept lives in this area?"
"Not in these parts, young warrior," the man replied, "but I've heard tales of one in Pahlovad.”
Stavin bowed and said, "Thank you," then turned away to face to Marvat
. "I guess we're not going anywhere."
Marvat looked at Stavin closely and shook his head. "You don't look very good, Stave. Are you feeling all right?"
Stavin looked at the ground and shook his head. "I'm not getting much sleep. Bad dreams."
Marvat gave his shoulder an encouraging slap. "We'll get set up and let you rest until it's time to take the watch."
Stavin nodded and led them back to the caravan. In answer to Barvil's questioning look, he just shook his head. He busied himself setting up the tent he shared with Karvik and laid out their bedrolls, but he couldn't rest. It was as if something was pulling at him, making him feel like he needed to go somewhere or do something. His restlessness had him up and pacing long before the watch changed hands.
It was well past mid night when the sound of screaming came from within the caravan. The screams gave way to shouts as people awoke and reacted to what they thought was an attack. As the voices quieted, Tavan came out and caught up with Stavin. "Barvil wants you," was all he said, then gave Stavin a push toward the wagons.
Stavin found Barvil and half the traders near his tent and snapped to attention. "You sent for me, Sir?"
"I did," Karvik said from the ground. "Stave, you have to do something with those amulets. I dreamed I was being flayed alive and look!" Karvik held out his arms to show straight red lines on his skin. "It's like this everywhere!"
"There isn't an adept here, Kar, or I would have!" Stavin snapped.
"Stavin!" Barvil snarled, drawing his gaze. "That's enough."
Stavin took a deep breath to argue, then let it out slowly. "Sorry, Kar. I haven't been sleeping much. I have terrible dreams."
"Are you sleeping with your armor on, Stavin?" Barvil asked.
Stavin nodded. "Everything but my helmet, Sir."
Sahren interrupted their discussion then. "Those amulets must be ancient to be so powerful that they can reach out through the salt."
"But Stavin's armor protects him from magic," Farval pointed out.
Sahren shook her head. "It protected him from a human's magic, but Esho--the Evilest One is not human. He's one of the Old Gods, one of the five Old Gods that we call the Gods Below. I've heard that they are older than the mountains and that even dragons fear them. It is only the opposing power of the Gods Above that prevents them from turning this world into a living hell for all of us."
Barvil said, "Stavin, look at me." Stavin immediately turned to face him and Barvil raised his right hand. "Remove your helmet." When Stavin had complied with the order, Barvil looked into his eyes. "Stavin, how much sleep have you been getting?" he asked after seeing how bloodshot Stavin's eyes were.
Stavin looked at the ground and shook his head. "Only about three or four spans. Then the dreams come."
"What are you dreaming of?" Trader Sahren asked, looking into Stavin's eyes.
"Conquest. I keep dreaming about conquering the world and reestablishing the empire. But it's all wrong. It's all dark and full of pain and fear and--" Stavin stopped speaking and bit his lower lip.
"And?" Barvil prompted gently.
"And I'm the Emperor, and the Gods Below demand that I sacrifice to them," Stavin finally whispered.
Trader Sahren turned to Barvil. "We have to get rid of those amulets."
"It's too dangerous," Barvil replied.
"Yes, too dangerous to keep them," Sahren snapped.
"What would you have us do?" Barvil demanded hotly. "Throw them away for some unwary soul to be ensnared?"
"Better someone else than Stavin or one of my family!" Sahren shouted in him.
"Stavin is not your concern!" Barvil nearly shouted.
"Enough!" Stavin shouted, silencing every one. "Listen to yourselves! They are affecting you as well." He paused as everyone stepped away from him. "I'll buy a pack horse in the morning and a cask of salt. Maybe that will help. Sir," he said, turning to face Barvil, "I request to be moved to the last slot. I'll put the pack horse on a long lead and let it trail behind us. Maybe it will help to have them farther away."
Barvil exchanged a glance with Sahren, then nodded. "That may work. If it doesn't--we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Put your saddle bags by the fire and get back on guard." He looked around as Stavin moved to obey his order. "Everyone else get back to bed and sleep if you can."
No one slept any more that night and Sahren went with Stavin to the livestock merchants at first light. She bargained hard and Stavin only had to lay out two gold crowns for a sturdy pack mule and an X-frame for its back. The cask of salt cost him another gold crown, but only because he interrupted Sahren in mid-haggle.
When they got back to the caravan, Stavin dumped half the salt out of the cask and stuffed the amulets into the center after wrapping each of them in ox hide, then packed the salt firmly down on top of them. As soon as he pounded the end of the cask in place, he felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He turned to the mule and attached the cask to the X-frame on its back, then hurried to take his place by the last wagon.
Stavin rode behind the last wagon rather than beside it to keep the amulets as far away from the caravan as possible. The mule didn't seem to mind being last in line or even notice the cask on its back. Stavin's mind wandered as he rode. The Gods were foremost in his thoughts, and he considered what he knew.
There were ten Old Gods that the people of Dracana acknowledged, though few actively worshiped them anymore. Younger Gods like Lady Sahren and Lord Lebawan were worshiped, but the Old Gods were still remembered. Five Gods Above and Five Gods Below, maintaining the balance of the world. They ranged from Arandar as the most powerful of the Gods Above to the one whose name Stavin wouldn't even think as the most powerful of the Gods Below. The least powerful and most alike were Order and Chaos, those Gods who were closest to humans. Their influence could be found existing simultaneously in most people.
At each of the next three towns Stavin asked if there was an adept nearby, and each time he received the same answer: Pahlovad. After the third time he was told that, he resigned himself to guarding the amulets for as long as it took to get to them cleansed.
On the eighth day, Barvil came to stand behind him as he was feeding his horse and the mule. "Stavin," Barvil said, making him jump, "are you feeding that mule?"
"Yes, Sir," Stavin answered. "Why?"
"Look at it," Barvil said as he gestured toward the animal. "Its ribs are showing."
Stavin looked at the mule and shook his head. "I hadn't noticed, Sir."
Barvil turned Stavin to face him and looked at him closely. "You're losing flesh as well. Those amulets may not be affecting you as much, but they are still affecting you. They are feeding off you and the animals."
Stavin nodded and sagged a little. "At least I can sleep. The dreams aren't as bad."
Barvil shook Stavin sharply. "You're still having dreams? Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I have to see this through to the end, Sir," Stavin whispered.
"It's only two more days to Pahlovad, Stavin. Just hold on that much longer," Barvil said encouragingly, and then walked away.
Chapter 10
THE CARAVAN FINALLY REACHED THE CITY of Pahlovad. It was an ancient city, even if it wasn't as large as Aravad or the lowland cities that Stavin had visited the year before. The city had originally been beside an Imperial Army fortress, but had expanded around it until the fortress was near the center of the city.
There was a garrison of troops in residence and Stavin approached the first officer he saw. "Lieutenant, I wish to see your commanding officer immediately."
The officer looked at him and raised an eyebrow as he asked, "Who are you that the general would want to see you?"
Stavin bowed and said, "I am Friend of Evandia Stavin."
The lieutenant nodded and replied, "I will send word to the fort that you are here, Friend Stavin. If the general wishes to see you, he will send for you this evening."
Stavin was having a hard time keeping his
temper under control and finally drew out his writ. "I am Friend of Evandia Stavin Kel'Aniston, and there is no time to waste on excuses and temporizing. I must see your commander immediately, not some time this evening."
The officer clenched his jaws in anger and said, "I'll do what I can," and Stavin turned away while the man went to the fortress.
While he was waiting, Stavin took the amulets out of the cask and packed them back in his saddlebags. He paused to pat the mule on the nose and shook his head at its condition. It was thin and shaggy, and looked like Stavin hadn't fed it in a moon.
Karvik escorted a soldier to Stavin's side and said, "Friend Stavin, this soldier is here to escort you to the fortress."
Stavin stood and put the saddlebags over his shoulder. "Thank you, Kar. Would you find a privy and dump that salt for me? I don't think it would be healthy to eat."
Karvik nodded. "And I'll burn that cask. What about the mule?"
"Give it away," Stavin said as he stepped over to the soldier's side. "Find some farmer at the market who looks poor and give it to him. A poor man might treasure what a rich man won't."
The soldier escorted Stavin through the city to the old fortress and he was shown to an office where he was told to wait. After a few moments the door opened again and a major stepped through and bowed to Stavin. "The general will see you now, Friend Stavin."
Stavin followed the major into another office and stood at attention as he was announced. "Lord General Zelkav Zel'Rantal, I am pleased to present Friend of Evandia Stavin Kel'Aniston."
"Thank you, Major, that will be all," the general said and the major left, closing the door firmly behind him. The general looked at Stavin and said, "Friend Stavin, I realize that you are somewhat new to these lands, but using your status as a Friend of Evandia to bully your way in here was exceptionally rude. If you had just left word that you were in the city I would have invited you to the evening meal tonight."
Stavin bowed deeply. "I beg your forgiveness, Lord General Zel'Rantal, but this matter will not wait," he replied, then went on to detail the events at Ormund. "The amulets of the Evilest One are in these saddle bags, Sir."
Traders and Traitors (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 2) Page 7