Apparition

by Tom Liberman

  Marianna frowned, “We can’t let him win,” she said in a low voice. “Whatever else, we can’t let him win. I won’t go back, I’ll kill myself before that.”

  Mike turned her gaze from Rhia to Marianna and shook her head, “It won’t come to that. The Gray Lord won’t let that happen. He’s got to do something. Or Jon Gray will do something. Or Jane Gray or Valary Gray or someone else. Someone will see what’s happening and do something. My father will do something. He’s got influence and my paw-paw also. No, there’s no way that could happen.”

  “Just because you say it won’t happen doesn’t mean it won’t,” said Marianna in a quiet little voice. “I used to tell myself that my father wasn’t really dead. That he’d come and save me. That my mother loved me. That they wouldn’t put me back down in that cellar but none of it was true. It’s better to look at a bad reality than a good fantasy. Then, at least, you’ll try to change things rather than simply hide in your dream world.”

  Mike said nothing to this and girls continued to walk although the little mixed-race girl sidled over to Marianna and took her hand as they moved together. They walked all day without encountering so much as a farmhouse and that night camped out under the stars eating nearly the last of their rations.

  “We’ll have to spend time gathering and hunting tomorrow or go hungry,” said Mike looking at the little pile of food that remained.

  “I don’t want to waste any time. We can’t be more than a few days from the Gray City,” said Rhia. “We need to tell Lofo what we found and show him those papers. Hopefully there is something about Pillswar in there so they can kick him out of Tanelorn or put him in prison or something.”

  “I agree,” said Mike her face pinched up at the thought of so little food. “But it means we’ll be going hungry for a bit. We’ve got plenty of water so no one is going to die but being hungry isn’t fun.”

  “We push on,” said Marianna. “I’m not going to let Pillswar win. We need to tell Lofo what is happening as soon as possible.”

  “Agreed,” said Rhia looking to the little girl. “You do understand us, don’t you? You just didn’t want us to know. It’s ok. You don’t have to say anything. Just nod if you think we should push on. You’re one of us now.”

  The girl looked at Rhia and then over at Marianna who nodded her head. Then she nodded her head as well and started crying.

  Marianna went over and hugged her.

  “If we’re in a big hurry and we’re not going to be eating why don’t we travel part of the night as well. We can get a few hours of sleep and then head out before the sun rises. We’ll get to the Gray City faster that way. We’ll come across a road or a villa soon enough and then it’s just a matter of time,” said Mike looking up at the stars. “I doubt any gnoll warriors could get this far south without alerting someone. The Gray Druids have magic and can spread messages very quickly. I don’t think we’re in any danger, from the gnolls at least.”

  “Pillswar likely knows about what we did by now,” said Rhia pursing her lips and twisting her long dark hair in one hand. “They have magical ways of talking to each other as well. So we’re in danger from him and anyone who works for him. That includes Adusko. I don’t know if he’s a tracker or not but I don’t want to underestimate him. I think we get our rest, keep watches, and head out at first light.”

  Mike scratched her head and then smiled, “I don’t know. Speed is of the essence. I say we travel at night as best we can. Marianna, you’re the deciding vote here. Our new friend doesn’t fully understand the situation well enough I’d say.”

  Marianna looked up her red hair matching the embers of the fire, “You’re the leader, Mike. You decide.”

  Mike smiled, “Good. We’ll get a few hours of sleep and head out before dawn. I’ll take first watch while Rhia and you take second watch.”

  Rhia nodded her head, “If that’s the decision then I’ll go along with it. We’re together in this. We have to stop Pillswar from conquering Tanelorn, whatever it takes.”

  They slept fitfully that night and headed out before the morning sun. Only an hour into the day they came across a dirt road heading southwest. They followed this for a few hours and came across a small village of farmers that Mike instantly recognized.

  “This is Ravenhome,” she said with a smile. “It’s only half a day from my family villa. I know exactly where we are. We’ve got about three days of travel to the south and we’ll get to the Gray City. If we keep on our schedule of traveling at night we can get there in two days; we’ll be awfully tired but not hungry. I know a very nice place to buy supplies in town.”

  “Tired it is,” said Rhia with a grin and started walking down the road. The others followed.

  Chapter 14

  They arrived in the Gray City two days later, exactly as Mike predicted, and found the place buzzing with excitement. They decided to circle the city and approach from the south on the off chance that Pillswar had arranged for someone to greet them.

  For the first time Rhia had ever seen, there were armed soldiers at the gates to the city although what purpose they could serve seemed a mystery as the low walls were easily scaled.

  It was only when they got closer that they realized the guards were not wearing the gray cloaks with mistletoe insignia that signified Gray Knights. It was simply a couple of rough-looking types, one a human and the other a mixed-race human and orc who stood guard.

  One of them looked at the girls and nodded his head as they passed through the gates but seemed otherwise disinclined to stop and question them.

  “Who are you?” said Mike boldly walking up to the men.

  “Guards,” said the mixed breed and stood up tall. He had a broad chest, wore a thick sword at his side, and his curly brown hair was sloppily parted on the left.

  “What are you guarding?” said Mike with a little snort.

  The half-breed looked down at the girl and frowned, “The city of course. What else would we be guarding?”

  “You were about to let us in without so much as a question,” said Mike her green eyes seemingly mocking the man. “Furthermore you’re clearly not Gray Knights. Who do you work for?”

  “We work for Tanelorn. Freedom isn’t free you know. Someone has to pay for your freedom. The reason I let you pass is because you are obviously not a gnoll army set upon raiding the city.”

  “If I was a gnoll army do you think the two of you could stop me?” said Mike shaking her head.

  “We would alert other concerned citizens and together such an army would be repelled!” said the man standing up taller. “While we are on guard the city is safe.”

  “What makes you think an army of gnolls would bother to come through the gate?” said Mike shaking her head again and laughing aloud. “They could hop over the wall anywhere with ease. I do not see concerned citizens standing guard at every possible attack avenue. This is merely the illusion of security when there is none at all.”

  “Where the Gray Lord fails to provide security it is up to the citizens to do it themselves. I agree that this is less than ideal but would you rather we sit around doing nothing except growing fatter while the nation is danger?”

  Mike shook her head yet again and started to say something but Rhia reached forward and put her hand on the girl’s shoulder, “Come on, Mike. We’ve got better things to be doing than arguing with these fine guards. I’m sure they’re doing the best they can and Tanelorn is lucky to have them.”

  Mike turned to look at Rhia and opened her mouth to say something but then nodded her head and smiled, “Of course you’re right, Rhia,” she said. “There is nothing to be gained by talking to these fine guards. She then turned back to the guards, “Thank you for guarding Tanelorn in these times of trouble.”

  Both men stood up taller and grinned, “You’re welcome.”

  The half-breed turned to Rhia and grinned, “Maybe you can show me your appreciation later?”

  Rhia smiled, “If you can find time off from
your strenuous guard duties something might be arranged. I know where to find you.”

  The other guard looked at Marianna and winked.

  Marianna said nothing and looked at the ground.

  “Come on,” said Mike pulling the red-haired girl along. “Let’s go. Nothing to be gained here.”

  They entered the city and turned the corner out of earshot of the guards before Mike said anything. “How ludicrous. What in the world do they think they’re doing? Anything useful? Hardly.”

  Rhia nodded her head, “I’ve seen such before. Soldiers and guards pretending to protect citizens but in reality doing nothing. Then they expect everyone to thank them for all the good they do. You noticed there were no Gray Knights guarding the city. There is no purpose in it and therefore the Gray Lord does not order it done.”

  “Come on,” said Mike unable to stop shaking her head at the stupidity of the guards. “There’s no sense talking about it. We’ve got to get to Lofo and pass along these papers. It’s possible those guards were on the lookout for us and will report it to Pillswar.”

  “They didn’t look like they could find their own hat if it was on their head,” said Rhia with a laugh. “If they had been told to look for us they would have said something. Although it’s probably a good idea we came in from the south gates and not the north. Maybe we should have just jumped the wall.”

  “I’m beginning to become fond of your paranoia,” said Mike laughing. “Keep it up and you just might save all our lives.”

  The four girls walked deep into the city and it was impossible not to note the martial feeling. There were armed soldiers at many large street crossings although none of them wearing the gray cloaks of the official city military. Men, women, and children spoke with the soldiers in jovial terms.

  It took them twenty minutes to get to the headquarters where Lofo was stationed and only then did they spot soldiers of Tanelorn with their distinctive but rather plain gray cloaks.

  Mike walked up to one who happened to be leaving the building as they were going inside, “Is Lofo in today?” she asked.

  The man shrugged, “I would think not. Most of the captains are away for training exercises today. But it’s possible. Do you know where he sets up?”

  “Training exercises?” asked Rhia stepping up to the soldier.

  The man laughed, “Yes, with all this gnoll business it seems an odd time but Jane Gray made the order. Rumor has it Jon needed an excuse to get out of the city for a while.”

  “Why would he need an excuse?” asked Mike looking up at the tall man.

  The man laughed again, “Well, don’t hold me to this, but I’ve heard that Jon made a bit of mistake when setting up meetings for some of his girlfriends. Apparently three of them showed up in the same place at the same time!” he guffawed. “That Jon likes those girls.”

  “Ha, ha,” said Mike but not laughing.

  The soldier frowned, “Well, I can understand that some people might not find it funny but that’s up to you. Any other questions?”

  “Where are these training exercises taking place?” asked Rhia.

  The man motioned with his head to the west, “West, in the plains. Not more than an hour outside of town.

  Just then a group of five men with swords walked by the building, gave the soldier a dirty look, and one of them made a crude gesture with his hand.

  The soldier made a little upward jerk with his head and stared them down but they kept walking, “I think it was bad timing for an exercise myself,” he went on. “What with all the trouble up in Grelm.”

  Rhia watched the roughs departing and pursed her lips, “So all the captains are gone?”

  “Not all of them,” said the man. “Just a lot. A bunch of soldiers as well. The city is mostly just run by those types,” he said with a jerk of his head toward the men who had just walked past. “They’re no good. They couldn’t stop an invasion of halflings armed with wooden spoons.”

  Rhia laughed, “True enough. West?”

  The man nodded, “Yep.”

  “An encampment of soldiers, eh?” said Mike to the man and she bit her lips and gave off a long sigh. “You three go inside and see if Lofo is there. I’m heading into the city to get something done but I’ll meet you by the western gates in about an hour.”

  “I don’t know if you should be off by yourself,” said Rhia putting her hand on Mike’s shoulder. “It could be very dangerous in the city if Pillswar and his men are in charge.”

  Mike nodded her head, “That’s true but if we’re going to an encampment of soldiers there is something I have to do first.” She reached into her pack and pulled out the waterproof sack. “Take this in case Lofo is there. Go along, I’ll be careful.”

  Rhia looked at Mike and saw that there was no convincing her to change her mind. “Ok,” she finally said with a frown. “West gate in an hour!”

  “Why did you let her go?” asked Marianna as they entered the building.

  “There is no stopping her when she’s like that. She just won’t listen. She always thinks she’s right.”

  “Should we follow her to make sure nothing happens?” asked Marianna looking over her shoulder toward the fast disappearing girl.

  “No, she’s better at that sneaking stuff than us. She’d spot us and then she’d be even angrier. Come on, we’ve got to drop off our little charge here with someone also. I’m not taking her to a camp full of soldiers after what she’s been through.”

  “I don’t want to leave here with just anyone,” said Marianna and put her arm around the girl.

  “We’ll figure it out. Come on.”

  The two walked down the hallways and soon found themselves standing outside Lofo’s door which was open and a light came from within.

  “Lofo?” said Rhia and peered around the corner.

  There the warrior sat at his desk and apparently working away on some project or another. He looked up smiling, and beckoned the girls inside, “Come in, come in. I was hoping you would be by soon. It’s been a rather odd couple of days since we first started to hear the news from Grelm.”

  Rhia opened her mouth and paused for a moment but then gathered her thoughts, “They said outside you’d be with the other captains out training.”

  Lofo shook his head, “I suspected you three …,” he looked at the little girl and smiled. “You’ve switched Mike out for someone else I gather?”

  Rhia laughed, “No. We found her up in Grelm.” She remembered the container in her hand and held it out to Lofo. “We found her and these papers at a horrible place where Sunbringer was staying. They have children, lots of children, and they are using them the same way as they were doing to Marianna, maybe worse. I don’t know. We killed most of them but this girl was there and we brought her back.”

  Lofo nodded and took the proffered package, “You’ve done very well indeed. Far better than I had hoped. You’ve done Tanelorn a great service.”

  Rhia found her face getting red for some reason, “Thank you,” she mumbled and looked at the floor.

  Lofo carefully opened the skin and took at the sheaf of papers within. He studied it for a few seconds and then shook his head, “I have no idea. It’s not written in the language of the gnolls, it’s something else. We’ll have to get one of the Gray Druids in here to read it I suppose. That means dealing with Valary. The man is intelligent and powerful, that much is undeniable, but I’m not sure he actually lives in the same world as the rest of us. He can’t answer a simple question without pondering the very nature of life.”

  Rhia laughed and said, “I’ve yet to meet him but that’s pretty much what I’ve heard. We hoped maybe you could take our little friend here. We’re not really ready to handle her by ourselves.”

  Lofo looked over at the girl who was arm and arm with Marianna, “It looks as if she pretty attached to Marianna there,” he said with a grin.

  Rhia looked over, “That’s true but she’s been through some awful things and I don’t think it
would be wise to keep her with us. I’m worried about Pillswar. He likely knows it was us who freed the girl and I think he’s involved in what is happening with Sunbringer. He wants people to be afraid, to distrust the Gray Lord so they’ll put him in charge.”

  “If that’s what the people want then that is what they shall get,” said Lofo sitting back in his chair and closing his eyes. “We are a free people here in Tanelorn, free to make our own decisions.”

  “No!” shouted Marianna breaking her silence. “We cannot let that happen, ever!” she clutched the little girl close.

  Lofo bowed his head slightly, “Such passion is good. It is the passion of a free woman who knows the horrors that life all too often inflicts upon us. It is that sort of passion that will ensure men like Pillswar never rule our lives. But it is not up to the Gray Lord to stop Pillswar. It is up to you and to the people of Tanelorn.”

  “If the Gray Lord sits around doing nothing he encourages Pillswar,” said Rhia putting her fist down on the desk with a bang. “It’s nothing more than inviting disaster. He needs to organize the army to repel the coming invasion from Grelm. He needs to think about abandoning his attitude about never striking first.”

  Lofo laughed, “You do not know the Gray Lord at all. I know him but a bit and I can tell you that will never happen. These are important papers I’m certain and they might contain enough evidence to move against Pillswar. In that case the Gray Lord might be convinced to banish him although that is perhaps not the best thing.”

  “How could it not be the best thing?” asked Marianna her voice still raised but not quite yelling anymore.

  “It is a complex situation,” said Lofo shaking his head. “You wish me to translate these documents and present them to the Gray Lord?”