by Jeff Inlo
She scanned her immediate surroundings and then looked down to the streets below.
"Now where?" Ryson asked.
"We wait right here."
"What are we waiting for?"
"Him," Holli noted, as she pointed to a man in a red cloak entering the guard station with three guards following behind.
Chapter 7
"Captain of the guard?" Ryson asked.
Holli nodded, as she pointed out the obvious signs.
"Arriving late at night with escorts. Wearing an officer's cloak despite the warm temperatures. It is the best explanation."
Holli and Ryson remained in the shadows of the neighboring rooftop and their angle of perspective gave them only a limited view of the door to the guard station. They both watched as the man in the red cloak entered the building and all three guards followed him inside like obedient dogs following their master. Holli waited a few moments, watching for activity at the front of the guard house, before explaining further.
"He was coming to see us," the elf guard continued. "He is the only one who walks with any semblance of authority. Let us see if he is any smarter than the others."
Long moments passed. Holli continued to gaze at the door intently. It remained shut. Eventually, she heaved a sigh.
"Even he is inept."
"I know," Ryson agreed. "No one has come outside to search the grounds. I wonder what they'll do when they finally get into the jail and see we're gone. Do you think they'll notice the vent shaft is missing the cap?"
"In all honesty, no. Based on what I have seen thus far, they will most likely assume we simply vanished into thin air."
From within the building, they heard a large crash and the echoing clang of metal against rock.
"Sounds like they knocked the door over," Ryson whispered. "Maybe the hinges were rusted in place."
"Maybe they are bungling imbeciles," Holli offered with more than a hint of disgust.
Ryson wouldn't argue. He marveled at how poorly the guards had handled each situation. He wondered if the soldiers of Huntston had any training, or if they were even truly soldiers at all. He began to believe that they were nothing more than local hooligans dressed in uniform.
"I'm guessing they take a long time in searching the cells," the delver added. "They'll think we're hiding under a mattress."
"I would not be surprised."
They waited patiently in the night. Holli scanned the surrounding streets of the town and gauged the passage of time. It was getting late, perhaps even well past midnight. The roads were silent, the number of townspeople outside dwindled to nothing. Many of the street lamps burned out, leaving much of the town bathed in gloom.
Finally, the front door of the guard station swung open as if shoved angrily. The man in the red cloak walked with clear agitation through the doorway and down the brick path. Again, he was followed by three guards.
"What do you think?" Ryson asked.
Holli watched the man move and believed she knew exactly where he was going.
"He is returning home."
"Are you sure?"
"Reasonably. They could not find us. It is late. What would he do? Issue orders to continue the search and alert him when they find us. He would not stand around with his guards. Look at how he walks with the soldiers following behind him, how he wears that cloak like the cape of a superior. He thinks he is above them. He will go home because he is too important to wait around."
"Should we hit him there?"
"I would prefer to question him on the streets where he would feel much more vulnerable. I just do not wish to do it in front of three guards."
"How about one?"
Holli looked to the delver as she deduced his meaning.
"That would be acceptable, if you were there to keep the remaining soldier under your guard. You will remove the other two?"
"Done. Just keep following them. When you see me take out the second guard, you can make your move."
Ryson waited only for a heartbeat to note Holli's acceptance of his plan before sprinting silently to the back side of the rooftop. He swung down a drainage pipe to the ground and then raced around to the street. Hiding behind a corner, he watched the four men continue to walk hurriedly down the well lit avenue. Once they made their first turn onto a darker side road, he headed back down the alley and made several twists and turns through side streets and narrow paths.
Ryson didn't know how far the captain lived from the jail, so he wasted little time. He had memorized the layout of the nearby streets and alleys from his previous position on the rooftops. He used them to his full advantage. Gauging the position of the guards, he rushed down alleys in a flash. He created just enough noise to be heard as distant footsteps and raced through just enough light to be seen as a darting shadow, nothing more.
The guards stopped when they heard the first disturbance. They looked to the source but saw nothing other than a flash of movement. Before they could investigate further, another burst of motion caught their attention down a different alley.
As they stepped cautiously forward, they heard footsteps above them on the rooftops and then a clamor behind them. Bursts of movement seemed to come from everywhere at once. None of the soldiers could get a clear glimpse of the subtle commotion. It was all shadows, rustles, and flashes, like an eerie wind blowing from all directions or a phantom in the distance never quite taking full shape.
The man in the red cloak stepped hurriedly away from the center of the street and placed his back to the brick wall of a nearby building. Visibly shaken, he issued two quick orders.
"You!" the captain ordered as he nodded to one of the guards. He attempted to convey strength and authority, but his voice trembled. "Go back to the station and get help."
The guard captain then pointed to a second guard. "I want you to scout ahead and see what's up there."
The guard frowned, but did not hesitate. He moved cautiously down the street and then turned out of sight.
"You and I will hold this position," the captain stated to the remaining guard.
The soldier, at first, seemed thankful for that task. The furtive disturbances had stopped. There were no more dashing shadows down alleyways, no more mysterious footsteps overhead or behind. There was only silence, but just for a moment.
They heard what sounded like a stifled grunt behind them and then some indiscernible shuffling-nothing like a conflict or great struggle-but certainly a commotion of some sort. The sound died away, leaving the captain and soldier more wary than ever. That concern doubled when a loud thud echoed out from streets ahead of them.
The soldier looked to the captain for direction, but the man in the red cloak simply stared out into the darkness. The guard wanted to abandon the officer, but he couldn't take the risk. He didn't even draw his weapon as he waited for an order that never came.
The captain proved even less decisive. He wanted to yell for help, but he couldn't find the nerve to call out. He would never be sure if it was pride or fear that held his tongue, but he would delude himself into believing it was courage. That courage ended up being tested severely, and it was found lacking of any depth.
Another flash of movement brought the encounter to a head. Two nimble figures darted out of an alley and took strategic positions next to the captain and his last guard. Ryson's hand streaked forward and grabbed the accompanying soldier's sword, disarming him without a struggle. Holding the blade menacingly to the guard's throat, Ryson bid him to remain quiet.
Holli glared at the captain. She did not disarm him or draw her own weapon. She simply bore down on him in a dramatic display of will. A spark of emerald magic lit up each eye and they glowed like those of a prowling cat.
"Your men have been neutralized. No help is coming," Holli stated coldly. She wanted the guard captain to fully understand the bleakness of his position. "You know who we are and what we can do, but you seem to underestimate the power of magic. I cannot have you make that mistake with me."
She held her hands out in front of her and turned her palms to the night sky. The emerald magic at her command danced back and forth from one hand to the other. It did not glow bright. Instead, she muted the light of the energy so it would burn much dimmer than any of the lamps on distant poles. Still, the presence of magic could not be denied as the green energy suddenly flowed off both palms and formed a rotating sphere in front of the captain's face.
Holli did not explain the purpose of the spell. She let the glowing orb mesmerize both the captain and the soldier and allowed their imaginations to conjure their own worst fears. She watched with satisfaction as the guard captain grew pale, obvious even in the emerald light.
"You will answer my questions and you will do so truthfully." She didn't wait for a response. "Why were we placed in jail?"
"I wanted to question you," the captain stammered, but he did not delay in answering. He clearly feared the magic, as well as the two figures before him.
"Regarding what?"
"Why you were here."
"How did you know we were here at all?"
"I got a dispatch two days ago. It said to be on the lookout for you two. It gave your descriptions. I gave it to my men, and you were spotted on the streets walking through town."
"A dispatch from who?"
"Regional Steward Wes Prilgrat."
Holli understood enough of politics in the Great Valleys to realize that a regional steward held significant influence. One of such power could certainly issue an order for a town commander and expect it to be followed. She was surprised, however, by how quickly the guard captain revealed the name of the person responsible.
"Where is this Wes Prilgrat now?" she demanded.
"He lives in Ashlan, the regional seat to the north. That's all I know."
"What were you to do with us?
"We were to hold you and alert Prilgrat. I don't know why he wanted you captured. We just do as we're told."
"But you wanted to question us," Holli reminded the captain. "Why?"
"I told you. I wanted to know why you were in Huntston. Prilgrat may not care about that, but I do."
That made perfect sense to the elf. The captain had an obligation to his town that might have been disregarded by a regional steward.
"Why do you think we're here?"
"I have no idea, but I think you're dangerous." The captain nodded to Ryson. "His sword…"
He didn't complete the sentence, but Holli wouldn't allow him to escape the issue.
"What do you know of my friend's sword?"
"The dispatch stated it was enchanted and dangerous and that we should not handle it unless it was covered."
"Have you sent any messages back to Prilgrat involving our appearance here?"
"Not yet. I wanted to make sure I had the right ones."
Holli believed the man was telling the truth, and yet, the situation lacked clarity. A regional steward knew about her and Ryson's presence in the Great Valleys-even ordered them to be held-and she had no idea why. More questions arose; who was Wes Prilgrat, why did he order her and Ryson captured, and what did any of this have to do with the growing chaos throughout the valleys?
"Where are the goblins?" Holli asked, quickly addressing concerns of another matter.
The sudden turn in questioning caught the captain off guard. For a moment, it almost appeared as if he swallowed a large, nasty insect.
"Wh… What are you talking about?"
"Goblins come in to town. Your men let them enter. You know about it. Where do they go?"
"Why do you care?"
"You seem to forget who is asking the questions and who is answering them. One last time. Where are the goblins?"
The captain gritted his teeth, didn't wish to discuss the matter, but feared the elf too much to withhold information.
"There's an old warehouse, western side of town, not far from the bridge that empties directly on to the town's main avenue. It's the first large building after the guard shack. They go in there."
"What do they do in there?"
"I don't know… you think I go in there?"
Holli ignored the question and quickly asked another one of her own.
"Why do you even let them in town?"
"Prilgrat's orders."
Prilgrat again. The regional steward was becoming a central figure to the mystery. Holli accepted that the guard captain would follow certain orders from a politician with power, but no self-respecting soldier would follow reckless orders without some explanation.
"Why does Prilgrat want goblins to enter towns or to own farms?"
"I don't know and I don't want to know."
"Then why do you listen to him?"
The captain did not wish to answer. He looked away from the elf's glowing emerald eyes. He looked down from the green orb of magic. His body went rigid, but he sunk into himself as if he could withdraw from the encounter by slightly crouching, hunching his shoulders, and trying to turn away.
"Answer me," Holli growled, not allowing the captain to slink away. Her eyes penetrated the man before him as if the green energy was flowing out of them and into the captain's face.
"Prilgrat!" the captain gasped. "He said the goblins would enter the town one way or the other. If we didn't let them in, they'd overrun us."
It didn't make sense, not to Holli. She understood goblins far better than the captain realized and she made the point clear.
"And you would not even put up a fight? You have a defensible position! You are situated between two rivers. Your only weak spot is the forest to the south, but you have a sufficient clearing to build several bulwarks. You could erect walls and towers, even dig a moat to connect the two rivers and allow the flowing waters to form yet another barrier."
As Holli watched the captain, she saw something more than fear or incompetence in his reaction to her outburst. He kept looking to the guard next to him, worrying much more about his presence than Holli's rebuke.
"You thought of this," Holli confirmed while reading the man's expression. "You knew you had a choice, but there is more to it. You could have defended the town against the goblins that entered, but you decided not to. He is paying you! Isn't he? This Prilgrat has purchased you and you sold out the town you were supposed to protect!"
She almost slapped him. She wanted to, with all her heart. Her fury burned with deep personal emotion. She had been an elf guard. She accepted that duty as if it was a covenant with a divine being. The responsibility of protecting her camp became her purpose and her identity. She devoted her being to that responsibility and never looked upon it as a sacrifice.
In fact, sacrifice became a foreign concept because there was nothing in the land that meant more to her than the honor of her position. She achieved all she could possibly desire, and thus, there was nothing left to forgo. The only thing that forced her from that duty was the knowledge that it was the only way for her camp to survive. In an act of pure sacrifice, she gave up everything for her duty. She ceased being an elf guard to her camp. It hurt her more than she could ever reveal, but she accepted it as would any true elf guard, and here was a man who could be bought with a few handfuls of shiny metal, nothing more.
Being in his presence disgusted her.
"We are leaving your town," Holli growled. "Be satisfied with that. Do not attempt to follow us and send no message to Prilgrat. Inform your men to disregard this event… that our capture was a mistake. Do you understand?"
The officer nodded, but said nothing. The response was insufficient and Holli made her meaning clear.
"Then understand this, just because I have left does not remove me as a potential threat. Magic can strike from a great distance. If you know anything about me, you know I have power beyond your imagination at my disposal."
Before they released the captain and his escort, Ryson made one last demand of his own.
"The man you sent forward is unconscious in an alley. The guard you sent for help is tied up around
the corner. See to them."
Drawing the magical energy back within her essence, Holli ended the spell that was only a light show, a harmless incantation to impress children, nothing more. As the green orb disappeared, she turned from the captain, quickly chose a side alley, and motioned Ryson to follow her. She leapt away with the grace of an elf.
Ryson followed. Once out of earshot of the captain, he pressed Holli for their true objectives.
"Are we really leaving? Or should we check out that warehouse first?"
"No, the goblins are pawns-always have been and always will be. I am more concerned with the one who is influencing the events of this region. We will go see Prilgrat before he can be warned we know about him."
"You think the captain will talk?"
"No, but I do not have the same faith in the soldiers that were with him or the ones in the station. They saw you move. They saw my ears. They know you are a delver and I am an elf. One of them will talk. Word will spread that we were here and escaped. This Prilgrat will discover it. I want to find him first."
Chapter 8
Pressing his own perception into the thoughts of a sorceress who once begged for his aid, Enin probed Heteera as if he had taken a physical presence in her mind. The bizarre complexity of the labyrinth always amazed the wizard. As opposed to layers of thought and consciousness that blended together like the petals of an intricate flower, Enin wandered through distinct segregations defined by absolute borders and harsh obstacles. He understood it didn't matter how deep he penetrated the sorceress' thoughts, depth was inconsequential. The ability to maneuver and navigate through the confusion proved to be much more important.
The portion that made up Heteera's open awareness appeared to the wizard as a flat, near lifeless, wasteland. Enough responsiveness existed to allow Heteera to remain alive, even to walk and complete simple tasks, but this level of thought produced a minimum of active consciousness. To the wizard's perception, the stunted level of clear decision-making amounted to nothing more than mere tumbleweeds rolling over scorched and empty plains.