Alynon's Tear

by Rick Brown

  “You were together a long time?” I asked.

  Faluth nodded. “We had served together in the King’s army. Been together ever since.”

  “Do you have any family?”

  “Yes,” he said with a smile. “There’s a lady Faluth. She doesn’t have time for a cranky old man like myself. She lives with the social class in Vennean. She and my son.”

  I nodded my understanding, “So, it’s just you and the big game hunts.”

  “Yes. Well, it helps fill the hours.” There was a knock at the door. “Jacob! Come in.”

  In stepped Lord Faluth’s hunter. He was a middle-aged man, with blond curly hair and a beard streaked with gray. His face had the leathery look of a man that spent his life outdoors. “My Lord?”

  “Jacob, this is his Majesty, King Eberon, I’ll need you to take him up to the mountains.”

  Jacob turned to look at me. “It’s suicide to go up there now.”

  “I apologize for his bluntness, Your Majesty,” Faluth said. “He might as well have been raised by ogres, this one. Not a lick of obsequious in him. To be honest, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “Neither would I,” I replied with a smile. “Jacob, we plan to take an alternative route. You don’t have to take me into the mountains, just to a gold mining town at its base. Are you familiar with it?”

  “Haw! Calling that rat hole a town? Yes, I’m familiar with it. Place should be burned from the earth. Why in the hells would a King want to goes there?”

  “I’m looking for a dwarf, I understand he lives there.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t know about that, but you wouldn’t want to be caught in that place after dark, if ya can avoid it. Nothing but the worst kinds there.”

  “How far is it to the place?” I asked.

  “Three days, I recon,” Jacob quickly responded. “Depending at how well your party travels.”

  “Then we will leave this morning, once my friends return from the town. Can you be ready that soon?”

  Jacob winked at me, “I’m always ready.”

  “Also, we won’t be able to take our horses where we are going. Will you be able to bring them back here?”

  “Sure. Good idea, if your dead set on suicide in those mountains, there be no reason to kill the horses with you,” He said with a smile.

  Chapter 16

  (Lenux)

  The streets of the town had been hidden from view by an overnight snow. The gray winter skies blurred with the smoke from chimneys to create a colorless day. We had walked down as a group from the manor to shop for supplies, splitting up in the town to search the various shops. Barad and I made our way to what looked like a general store.

  “So,” Barad said, breaking the calm of the icy morning. “What does one buy for spending a fortnight in a cave?”

  “As impressive as Lee’s glowing crystal sounds, I’m thinking some oil for backup,” I answered with a smile.

  “Sounds wise to me, let’s get enough for two. I could also use a fresh flint.”

  Inside the store we found the oil and flint we were looking for, as well as a number supplies for digging. I was looking over a small pick as the stocky storeowner approached.

  “Morning to you, good Master. Is there anything I can help you find?”

  Barad walked up to join us. “Good morning. You seem to have a lot of digging supplies here. Do a lot of business with the gold miners?”

  The shopkeeper lit up. “Ah, a pair of miners, I should have guessed. Yes, All the miners come here to get their supplies. Name’s Gunther, I’m pleased to do business with ya.”

  “We’re going up there looking for a friend. A Dwarf named Orlik. Are you familiar with him?”

  “Oh, that one,” Gunther nodded. “Yeah, I’ve seen him. Not often, mind you. Them dwarves are more self-sufficient that us humans. Especially where diggin’s concerned. Still, you don’t forget seeing a dwarf, do you?” He said with a laugh.

  Barad put on his best smile. “Do you happen to know where he might be found?”

  The shopkeeper shook his head. “Nah, I don’t go up to that place. If I tried to make a delivery up there I’d be robbed for sure. You boys best go armed up there to protect any gold you may find.

  “To be honest,” Gunther continued, “it’ll be hard to get a stake started in winter. Ground is hard. If you’re thinking of panning for gold, good luck. Every creek with a drop of water in it’s been claimed already. Not to discourage you boys, but maybe you should wait until spring.”

  “Don’t worry about us,” I stated as I joined their conversation. “We are going with a large party.”

  “Ah, well that’s good. Watch each other’s backs.”

  We purchased the oil and flint and stepped back outside into the cold. Even with the extra clothes I was wearing, the air still had a bite to it. Brianna and Abigail were exiting a clothes shop from across the street.

  “Hey boys,” Bri called as they approached. “Abi and I just bought some extra pants. They need a little hemming, but we can deal with that. Oh good, you found oil. That’s next on my list as well.”

  “Not that we don’t trust Lee,” Barad said with grin.

  “No, nothing like that,” Bri replied with her own smile. I liked seeing Brianna and Barad together. I noticed her opening up more than she used to. Really, any opening up was an improvement.

  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a man that I had spotted earlier as we entered to town. There were very few people out in this cold. Odd he would still be here. I shifted a little until I could see his reflection in the store window. He casually walked behind me and into Gunther’s store. Maybe it was just my nervous nature, but I decided to keep an eye open.

  Ryan walked up carrying a small pick similar to the one sold at Gunther’s. “Hey guys, anyone find oil?”

  “It’s sold over there,” Barad replied as he pointed towards the shop.

  “We also bought some pants for the caves,” Brianna said as she and Abigail held out their new clothes.

  “Actually,” Ryan corrected. “The caves will likely be much warmer than out here. They generally stay at a steady cool temperature, unaffected by our weather.”

  “But they are nice pants,” Abi stated, frowning.

  “Oh, yes,” Ryan said, catching his mistake. “They are nice.”

  “There. Was that so hard?” Brianna asked, giving Ryan her stern expression. I’d been hit by that one many times myself.

  “Um... No,” Ryan answered nervously.

  “Ryan,” Barad stepped in, shaking his head. “If a lady shows you clothing, the correct answer is ‘That’s cute’, even if you don’t like it.”

  I looked to the reflection again and watched the man walk out of the store empty-handed and then he left down the street.

  “I have another question for Gunther,” I spoke to the group. “Let’s go back inside the shop.”

  I turned around and led them back into the store.

  “Ah. Back again,” Gunther said as he walked up to us. Something about him seemed off this time.

  “Gunther, what did that gentlemen want?” I asked as I stepped right up to him. It was obvious something happened, because Gunther became very nervous.

  “Oh, him. He was just looking for something. We was sold out though. He’s probably going to another store.”

  “What was sold out?” I pressed.

  “Oh. Ahh…” Gunther replied as he started to sweat.

  “You took too long to answer,” Bri said as she stepped up next to me. All sneaks were trained in spotting a liar, and it was written all over Gunther.

  He stepped back, putting his hands up between us. Suddenly Barad was behind him with a knife pressed against the shopkeeper’s throat.

  “Well?” I asked.

  “He just had some questions!” Gunther stammered out. “Please don’t hurt me.”

  “What did he ask?” I continued to question.

  “He wanted to know where you were from
and where you were going. All I told him was you arrived in town with those broken wagons of Master Randolf’s, but everyone knows that. It’s a small town.”

  “And?”

  Barad gave him a push while keeping the knife tight to his skin.

  “Alright!” He cried. “I told him you were friends with the dwarf. I’m sorry. He gave me a gold coin!”

  “We need to get back to the castle, now,” Bri said worriedly.

  I nodded to Barad who dropped the now weeping shopkeeper to the floor unharmed.

  As I stepped outside the man was no longer on the street. I tried to track him in the snow, but too many people had been out already and the road was a slushy mess. I ran down the street looking in each store window as I passed, but there was no sign of him.

  I returned to the others who had found Father Yagen and Father Pild.

  “Well, I’d like to think that it’s all innocent, but it feels very ominous after hearing Alynon’s warning from Lee,” Father Yagen said after Bri explained what happened. “Let’s hurry back to the manor and inform his majesty.”

  We quickly hurried back up the road to the manor and found Lee and another man saddling our horses. Lee’s expression darkened as I explained what happened in the village.

  “Alright. Everyone go collect your things from inside. We leave within the hour,” He ordered to us all.

  As we were all rushing through the door I could hear Abigail talking to Bri, “He really does sound like a King, doesn’t he?” I could see Bri smile in response.

  I made my way into my room and started throwing my clothes into my travel bag. Carefully, I wrapped what was left of my hard candies in a shirt. I also grabbed the new oil I had purchased and threw that in there. Looking around, I realized how little I own. Especially with the two gold Lee was paying us each week. Still, if I did own more, where would I keep it? I wondered. I haven’t called anyplace home for more than a year since leaving the guild.

  Lee had promised us each a role in his government, so hopefully I would someday have a place of my own. I had often dreamed of that when lying in my bed at night. What the future might hold. Still, that was likely years away, if at all.

  I slung my bag over my shoulder and made my way out of my room, nearly running into Ryan.

  “All packed?” I asked him.

  He nodded. “Yes, I was even able to trade some books with Lord Faluth. I’ll have something fresh to read!”

  “Little good that will do you in the caverns,” I pointed out. I could see his excitement fall as he realized it would be too dark. “Still,” I continued as I grabbed his shoulder, “you can read them in the elf city.”

  He cheered up some as we started down the hall, gathering Father Pild as we went. He stepped out of his room while buckling on his sword.

  “Well, here we go again,” he said as a greeting. “Looks like you two are set to go.”

  I nodded back. “We are getting very good at packing.”

  The priest nodded back. “I just wish I had time to wash my clothes. It took a lot of courage and no small part nose holding to put these back on.”

  I had to agree with him, we were all in desperate need of new clothes. Though it was too late for that now. I was sniffing my own shirt when Bri and Abigail came out wearing their new outfits.

  “Are you all still wearing those dirty clothes?” Abigail asked as she wrinkled her nose.

  Bri shook her head. “I made Barad wash his last night. They are only half dry now, so he may freeze to death, but at least he doesn’t stink.”

  “And we will all appreciate that as we bear his body back for burial,” Father Pild joked.

  “Enough gabbing,” Father Yagen yelled as he walked down the hall. “We are in a race to find a dwarf.”

  He pushed us all ahead of him back down the stairs and to the stable yard. Lord Faluth’s cook followed us out and handed us each a package of food, which I was very grateful to receive. Travel rations were the worst.

  “Everyone, this is Jacob, Lord Faluth’s head tracker. He is going to take us to the gold mining camp.” The tracker gave us a nod as he mounted his horse.

  “Are we all ready?” Lee asked. Everyone was quiet so he nodded. “Let’s go.”

  The tracker led us out the manor’s rear gate and onto an overgrown path, really no more than a game trail. The woods around us were evergreen, so I wasn’t able to see far in front of us. Really, the only thing I could see clearly was Father Yagen’s back, since he was the one riding before me. I was guarding the rear. Normally, I would be using my sneak skills to keep watch without appearing to do so. In this thick growth I was forced to just crane my neck back. Between the pine needles, I thought I saw the man from the town. I reached out and pulled a branch away that was blocking my view. Looking again, I saw nothing. It was going to be a nervous three days to camp.

  Chapter 17

  (Brianna)

  The day of travel progressed slowly along the trail we followed. At some points, we were forced to dismount and lead the horses through the thickest areas. We were also traveling consistently uphill as we drew closer to the mountains that could be seen looming in the distance. When we reached a clearing, you could easily see the snow that was blocking our paths up the mountainside.

  Abigail struggled up the path ahead of me. Unlike the rest of us that were guild trained, she had led a pampered life. As we shopped in the town this morning I helped switch her from a dress to a pair of traveling pants and a pair of boots. The dress she had been wearing was completely inappropriate for this kind of hard travel. Of course it had not even occurred to the boys to switch her to a better travel outfit.

  Over the last week Abigail and I had bonded as the only girls in the group. I wasn’t sure about her when she first joined our group, but she had shown grit at both Lord Waith’s estate and in not complaining about the crazy changes her life had taken since we arrived at the manor. She kept her chin up and marched on.

  I think what hit her hardest was Lee. She had grown close to him as they worked on accessing her magic. To suddenly hear that he was someone so high in station had been a shock. She hadn’t admitted yet that she was considering him for something more than a teacher, but it was obvious to the rest of us. I had tried to explain that his status really wasn’t that relevant right now. After all, the people of Alsselya didn’t even know he existed. They just toiled under the foot of Dommeran, but she had grown up in a world of status. Hopefully, she would relax with time.

  I could hear Barad grumbling behind me, as he had to duck under another branch. I definitely had the advantage in size as we traveled through this tight path. I smiled to myself as I thought of the times I released a branch only to hear it smack him while he wasn’t paying attention.

  It was evening when Lee finally called a halt to our travel. We had found a small clearing, just big enough for us to make camp. I kicked away the snow and laid down my oiled canvas on the ground before throwing my blanket on top of it and sitting. It felt good to relax after going so hard today.

  Ryan was just setting up his bed when Barad approached him, “Not so fast there. We still have plenty of light for some sword practice.”

  Ryan groaned as he got back up. I smiled and hopped up from my spot. One of the few pleasures of this trip was practicing with Ryan. Though he couldn’t see it, he had made remarkable progress in the evenings we worked together. That fantastic mind of his allowed us to feed him verbal techniques during the day that he would turn around and effectively use in practice. I walked up and took my standard position behind Ryan in order to correct any positioning mistakes.

  “Alright,” Barad began, “take your starting position.”

  Ryan sighed as he took his position. With that Barad started swinging, forcing Ryan to protect himself. That’s how all training began. If you only learned offense, you would quickly end up dead.

  Barad put Ryan through his paces until steam rose from them in the chilly air. “Ok,” Barad announced. “B
reak time.”

  “Hold up there,” Lee approached smiling. “My turn to practice with Ryan.”

  ‘Wait,” Ryan complained. “It’s break time.”

  Lee shook his head. “No breaks in battle,” Without any more warning Lee made a fast strike at Ryan that he barely parried. He continued his onslaught until sweat was dripping down Ryan’s back. “Excellent. Your training is going very well. You should be proud.” Ryan dropped to his knees, panting. Just giving a slight wave of recognition of the compliment. Lee gave him a pat on the shoulder as he walked past him to a pile of firewood Jacob had collected.

  “All right, Abi,” Lee stated. “Time for a little magic practice. “Can you start our fire?”

  Abigail blew out a breath as she prepared herself. “Do I start with a branch like I did with the twig?”

  “You could,” Lee said, smiling. “But we’d be here all night. Try looking at it as a unit instead of a bunch of individual pieces.”

  She nodded and stared deeply into the wood. Soon a couple of the large pieces started to melt off their snow. “You’re getting there,” Lee praised. “Just try to add all the wood to the thought. It’s all one piece.” After a moment the whole thing suddenly burst into flames, making Lee jump back.

  “Was that wrong?” Abigail asked worriedly, making Lee laugh.

  “Wrong, no. I just forget how strong you are. I’ll have to help Jacob collect more wood.”

  “Don’t worry Lee,” Jacob called out. “That girl making you jump out of your pants was worth another collecting trip.”

  Father Yagen frowned, but Lee waved him down. “Don’t worry about the familiarity Jacob uses. I agreed before we left that it would be ok.”

  “Why?” Abigail asked.

  Lee looked confused. “Why what?”

  “If you are a King, why don’t you act as one?” She said almost angrily.

  Lee sighed. “There may come a time when I have to ‘act as one’, as you say. But these people around us don’t require that behavior to do what’s right. Maybe, if I build this kingdom correctly, I won’t have to demand people to be obsequious in order for them to do their jobs. To be honest, it makes me uncomfortable when they do.”