Dark Healer (An Empire Falls Book 1)

by Harry Leighton

  “Does that mean you won’t kill me?”

  “Word of advice,” Jonas said, “don’t give people ideas. Now you can get back on my good side by helping me with something.”

  "Person or property?" Felix said, visibly relaxing.

  "I want you to set me up a meet. In exchange, maybe I'll forget I found you here."

  "Who?" Felix said, still looking worried.

  "Merchant. By the name of Braxis..."

  "Don't know…” Felix said quickly before stopping. “There’s no point, is there? You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t know about the deal.”

  “Smart man,” Jonas said.

  "He's not in town," Felix said calmly.

  "If he's not, someone is living in his house."

  "If you've already been there, you know going after him is a bad idea. You won't get close."

  "That's why we're here."

  "What are you expecting me to do exactly? I'm not going to try and storm his place with you."

  Alia laughed. Jonas waved her down behind his back.

  "Not what I had in mind," he said. "I want you to get him out of his house, and without most of his guards."

  "Hah," Felix said. "If I had magic powers like that, I wouldn't be here, talking to you."

  "Pass a message that you've got a deal for him. One that needs his personal attention.”

  “Why would he be interested in a proposition from me?"

  “You’re going to tell him that you’re very sorry but that the assassins you hired were unreliable and have robbed him and run off instead of doing their job.”

  “That puts me in a terrible position. Why woudn’t he just come down here in force and kill me?”

  “You pass the message that you’ve recovered most of what was stolen and you want to give it back to him, along with all the money you have, in person but somewhere quiet given what was taken.”

  “What am I supposed to claim was stolen?”

  “Paperwork mostly, he’ll know what it means,” Jonas said, patting a bag. Felix looked confused. “Oh, we’ve been in the house. He wasn't in at the time though."

  Felix’s eyes went wide.

  “We killed your assassins by the way. Bodies are in the sewer nearby if you want to look.”

  “I don’t think that is necessary,” Felix said. “I’m going to die,” he added after a moment.

  “Don’t be so dramatic. You’re our friend again now,” Alia said sternly, and looked at Jonas.

  “That’s not what I meant,” Felix said. “Braxis will kill me when he’s done with you two.”

  “You underestimate us,” Alia said.

  “Maybe. Maybe you underestimate Braxis.”

  “We have a plan,” Jonas said.

  *****

  “I think we can conclude they’re not in the city,” Zedek said, sitting down heavily on a stool beside the tavern table.

  “Or they’re very good at hiding,” Trimas said, sitting and pouring himself a flagon of ale from the jug he’d just purchased. “Can we not tramp through any more sewers looking for bodies?”

  “They’re not here,” Daeholf said, sitting on the other side of the table and looking at the ale.

  “Not as far as we can tell, no,” Trimas said, pouring him a drink. Daeholf took it quickly but paused and looked into the tankard reluctantly.

  “I wonder if they have any decent wine here,” Zedek said.

  “Probably,” Trimas said. “You not joining us then?”

  “It sometimes gives me a headache,” Zedek said.

  “It’s supposed to if you drink enough of it,” Trimas said.

  “I’ve never really seen the point in that,” Zedek said.

  “Better that you don’t,” Daeholf said, still looking at the drink.

  “Yes, well,” Zedek said. “I guess we’ll be leaving the city in pursuit then,” he added after a moment.

  “I think so,” Daeholf said, putting the flagon back on the table.

  “Fair enough,” Trimas said simply before taking a big swig. “Not bad,” he added, nodding to himself.

  “So which way do we go then?” Zedek said.

  “We’re probably better off looking for the healer,” Trimas said. “No offense to your cousin, but if he’s dead, people are unlikely to have seen him travelling.”

  “Let’s hope for now that he’s still alive. Though I suppose I can’t argue with your conclusion,” Daeholf said before finally taking an exploratory sip.

  “Well from what we’ve managed to learn so far, this healer either has some sort of compulsion to heal or something of an ego. It might be possible to track him from competent healer sightings,” Zedek said.

  “I doubt it’s going to be that easy,” Trimas said. He looked at Daeholf who was frowning. “But it certainly won’t hurt to try.” He took another drink.

  “Kelwich is on a confluence of major roads,” Zedek said. “Assuming we’re leaving the city then, which way do we go?”

  “Southwest is unlikely,” Daeholf said. “The capital is that way which would be a bad idea for us, and that’s the way we came with Magath. We weren’t looking for Brig at the time but talk of a healer that good would probably have reached us.”

  “Which leaves north or southeast then,” Trimas said. “Up to Bastion or out to what is basically the arse of the empire.”

  “Bastion is sort of back in the direction we’ve come from the village,” Daeholf said. “I can’t help thinking we might have heard something that way too.”

  “We weren’t exactly looking,” Trimas said gently.

  “No. I know that. But two of the main directions we’ve been recently so we’ve sort of covered them. A bit,” Daeholf said.

  “Sort of covered them a bit?” Trimas said.

  “You know what I mean,” Daeholf said, taking another sip.

  “Yes. The only way we’ve not been recently is southeast. Basically you’re saying we travel along that road a ways, look for signs of the healer. I suppose if we find nothing, we can come back and head in a different direction,” Trimas said.

  “That’s what I had in mind,” Daeholf said.

  “Do you know how many travellers there are through this city every year?” Zedek said after a moment.

  “Not really, no. Do you?” Trimas replied.

  “No,” Zedek admitted. “But it must be a lot.”

  “What’s your point?” Daeholf said.

  “I don’t want us to get our hopes up too far. I’m starting to think the chances of us tracking him are small. I for one don’t really know that region and after all, we’ve already spoken to the gate guards. None of them remembers seeing him leaving,” Zedek said. “Them leaving,” he corrected quickly.

  “We’re basically on the run,” Daeholf said. “We’ve not got a lot else to do and it’s probably in our interests to keep moving around.”

  “Can’t argue with that,” Trimas said, finishing his flagon.

  “Oh, I’m not saying we shouldn’t look,” Zedek said. “I know this is important to you and I’m all for tracking this man down. It’s just that this is a big empire and we’re looking for a man we don’t have a very good description of. I just want us to understand the difficulties of the task before we start.”

  “Duly noted,” Daeholf said.

  *****

  “Did he say anything to accompany the letter?” Braxis asked the courier, inspecting the letter carefully for signs that it had been opened.

  He was standing in the hallway of his house, guards on hand. It was rare for him to come and meet a courier in person but given who the message purported to be from, it required his attention and no other.

  The courier bowed his head. “Nothing, my lord, just to bring you this message as fast as possible and that he would meet you at the appointed place.”

  “You’ve not looked at the message?”

  “Wouldn’t dare, sir.”

  “Be on your way then.”

  “Thank you, sir.”
/>
  Braxis waved to a guard to see the man out and retired to his study. Angrily, he looked again at the mess of papers strewn across his desk. He was desperate to find out what had happened the previous night but no one seemed to know anything and he had no idea if the plan had worked. That a bounty hunter had bothered to track him this far and after this time was worrying. He had hoped to put a swift and quiet end to the matter which was why he’d dealt with the scum he had. None of this could come back on him at the moment. But then, for all he knew it had gone wrong.

  He opened the letter and read the contents carefully.

  “Sincerest apologies,” it began. “The gentlemen hired proved unreliable and didn’t accomplish the task they were contracted for. Instead they made off with certain items from their host and have tried to sell them. They have been intercepted and dealt with and the items retrieved. Given the nature of said items I feel it imperative to meet quietly and in person. I will of course make any restitution I possibly can and am currently collecting together what little monies I have available to me from my various sources.

  There is a rundown cottage in the woods a couple of hours to the north of the city in a small clearing off the main trail which is an occasional smugglers’ haunt and where I meet with clients. I’m sure you know of someone who can point you in the right direction. I will be there mid-afternoon. Please find enclosed a page from the documents indicated.

  Sincerest Apologies,

  F Vanora.”

  Braxis looked at the page. Vanora had clearly chosen it carefully as the least incriminating, but the message was clear that he had the goods he suggested.

  Damn! Though it was clearly a trap to lure him out of the city, he couldn’t risk the papers falling into the wrong hands. Given how his partner was likely to react, this needed fixing before Marlen ever became aware of it. He’d have to take a risk as the consequences didn’t bear thinking about. The noon bell had rung only a few minutes ago so he didn’t have a lot of time to prepare; he was going to have to go in force to be on the safe side. He rang a bell and after a moment a servant entered.

  “Find a wagon quickly and load it with a few barrels of wine. Gather the guards, I have an urgent trip to make.”

  “Of course sir,” the servant said and ducked out quickly.

  Braxis thought to himself. The wagon should provide cover for him moving that many men around and the barrels would prove useful for transporting any prisoners back. He didn’t intend for Felix and any associates to get away with what they knew.

  *****

  “He took the bait then,” Alia said to Jonas from their vantage point lying on a hill a little way outside the city gates.

  “It was going to go one of two ways,” Jonas said. “Either he was going to send some of his men to the meet leaving him weaker at home, or he was going to come in person, exposing him. I’m glad it was the latter.”

  “He’s not that exposed,” Alia said.

  “How many?”

  “Wagon with barrels on the back carrying six men. Three on horses out front and our man riding in a group of four behind.”

  “Tooled up?”

  “Very much so.”

  “Hmm. We’ll have to change plan A around a bit.”

  “Wouldn’t that make it plan B?”

  “No, we agreed plan B was fire.”

  “Bit late for that now.”

  “Which is why we’re going with plan A. Ish.”

  Alia sighed. “How’s our man?” she said, indicating the bound and gagged Felix laying across the back of one of their horses below.

  “A bit miffed with me I think.”

  “You think?”

  “Well, I’m reasonably sure.”

  “You think he’ll hold his end up?”

  “Depends who he’s scared of more. You better keep an eye on him anyway,” Jonas said. “And when it comes time, if necessary put an arrow in him.”

  “I’d rather not.”

  “Why?”

  “He has nice hair.”

  “What?” Jonas’ sudden surprise gave way to realising he’d been had. Again. “This is serious. No time for leg pulling now.”

  “Sorry boss. So we on our way to the cottage then?”

  “Not quite. Plan A-ish remember. I’ll explain on the way.”

  Alia sighed and slithered back down the hill with him to the horses. Her first job was to untie Felix, who didn’t seem happy at being bound in the first place but had decided not to complain. Her second job was to leave Felix with Jonas and vanish into the woods.

  “I hope you’re not going to use that thing on me,” Felix said as he watched Jonas load a small and intricate looking crossbow.

  “Only if you try and run,” Jonas said, fitting the bolt and tugging the string into place with a grunt before setting a catch. Satisfied, he tucked it behind his back and looked along the road. “Time to go,” he said.

  “It’s okay, I know what to do,” Felix said, sighing as he walked along the forest road, Jonas just behind him. He still thought he was going to die but he had to give Jonas credit, events were largely proceeding as expected. Braxis had reacted to the message and come to retrieve the papers, whatever was on them — Jonas hadn’t bothered to show him. Braxis had also anticipated a trap, but this was also expected and even part of the plan. He had sent the majority of his men on ahead to the cottage, himself waiting a very safe distance back with just two guards for protection, expecting his main force to deal with any trouble. Jonas was good at this he admitted, and Alia also seemed very able, wherever she was, having gone on ahead somewhere.

  “Run the last bit of the distance then stop thirty yards away from Braxis,” Jonas said. “I want you slightly out of breath so it looks like you’ve been rushing.”

  “I know what I’m supposed to do,” Felix repeated.

  “And say?”

  “And say.”

  “Don’t get any ideas about trying anything funny. Alia is out there with a bow and orders to take you down if things go sideways.”

  Felix looked momentarily hurt. “And of course you have that crossbow. I know. I’ll do my bit. You might have kidnapped me and tied me to a horse but as you said earlier, I do owe you. And I always pay my debts.”

  “It’s been a while and people change.”

  “I haven’t. You have though.”

  “No time for that now,” Jonas said. “Time to run.”

  The two of them started jogging along the path and Felix called out, “There you are. Sorry, running late.”

  Braxis turned, surprised, and looked back down the road, seeing Felix and a big old man jogging slowly towards him. He frowned and said, “Stop.”

  Jonas and Felix stopped at the agreed distance.

  “I expected you at the cottage,” Braxis said, looking around suspiciously.

  “Took me longer to get my money together than I thought,” Felix said.

  Braxis looked at Jonas. The big man was concealing something behind his back.

  “Who is that?” Braxis said, indicating Jonas.

  “Just some hired help. Needed someone to carry the money.”

  “I don’t think so. He looks a lot like the description of the bounty hunter to me.”

  Felix looked at Jonas. Jonas nodded. Felix ducked down into the bushes at the side of the road.

  “Are you going to come quietly?” Jonas said.

  Braxis looked around, saw no one else and sneered. “I don’t think so.” He turned his horse towards Jonas and the guards followed suit. “Ride him down,” he said.

  “Hard way it is then,” Jonas said before lifting his left index finger and thumb and letting out a whistle. With his right he pulled out the small crossbow from behind his back.

  An arrow whistled out of the trees from the side and one of the guards doubled over and fell from his horse.

  Braxis panicked. “Charge!” he shouted, rushing at Jonas, guard at his side.

  Jonas raised the crossbow calmly, flipped
off the custom catch that allowed it to be carried loaded, sighted and shot the guard out of his saddle. With no time to reload and Braxis closing fast he spun a full turn and launched the crossbow at Braxis, just over the head of the horse. Braxis was caught completely by surprise by a glancing blow to the shoulder which knocked him from the saddle and landed heavily on the forest floor. The pair of horses, both with freshly dismounted riders, charged on and Jonas had to jump out of the way as they careered down the road.

  He got back to his feet quickly, drew his sword and ran over to where Braxis had fallen.

  Braxis had been quick. Though stunned a little by the fall, he’d got to his feet and drawn a sword, setting himself for combat and shaking his head to clear it.

  Jonas stopped and assumed the guard position. “Last chance,” he said.

  “You obviously don’t know that much about me if you’re thinking about fighting,” Braxis said.

  “I have someone with a bow in the woods in case you didn’t notice. I don’t think I’m in danger.”

  “My men have heard the commotion and are on their way,” Braxis said. “You don’t stand a chance. Surrender now and I’ll kill you quickly. Otherwise I’m going to make this hurt.”

  “Oh we’ll be gone before they know anything is wrong. You made sure it was a Very Safe Distance.”

  Jonas could see that ticking over in his mind from Braxis’ face. He set himself.

  Braxis lunged with his sword. Jonas leaned away slightly and parried to the side, careful not to move his sword too far away from the centre line before a riposte that forced Braxis to lean hard with a last second parry. Braxis stumbled slightly before righting himself. Face worried, he assumed the guard position, sword tip weaving, weight shifting slightly, looking for an opening, left hand out for balance. Braxis’ sword tip feinted high and to the left as if for a slash before coming in as a disguised thrust to the face. Jonas ducked and lunged back low, aiming for a disabling leg wound but Braxis suddenly collapsed and the thrust went through his abdomen instead. Braxis dropped his blade and slid from Jonas’ sword to the ground. Jonas looked at the arrow sticking out the back of Braxis’ leg and then up at Alia, emerging from behind a tree.