“Yes ma’am?”
“Do you notice anything about the text?”
“The text?”
“Yes. Anything odd.”
They all looked at the dripping letters. “No. Fuck the Emperor, that’s what it says.”
Typical, the Sergeant thought, they don’t even know it’s misspelled. But that might be a good clue, if these misspellings match up or if they’re different. We might have a whole group of wannabe rebels here.
Admittedly, rebels who did nothing beyond paint on walls and moan in private, but that was the kind of rebel she preferred. No need to go and get yourself executed over your hopeless little rebel fantasy.
*****
They had walked briskly along before they entered another inn and moved to a dark corner.
Zedek had noticed something. “You don’t believe me,” he said to Alia.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You don’t have to, I can see it in your face.”
“You and he weren’t on good terms.”
“That doesn’t mean I wanted him to die.”
“Doesn’t it?”
Zedek opened his mouth and paused, surprised. It really didn’t mean he wanted him to die. That was … odd. “No.”
“Why are you sure then?”
“I have seen the before and after of burning. That body is blackened and broken, human charcoal…”
“Human eh…?”
“But it isn’t Jonas. I’m certain.”
“Then who is it?”
Daeholf raised a finger. “None of us saw the rod. So either Jonas left it behind to fool people, or there’s another dead bounty hunter.”
“There is no mistaking Jonas’ rod of office. The process is that it will be taken straight to the nearest magistrate and the death reported. That magistrate will see it, as he saw it when mine was issued. We can go and see the announcement.”
“Okay.”
They marched through the city, feeling oddly between sleep and awareness, none of them hungry even though their stomachs protested, and they came to the government buildings, some of the most ornate stone in the town. They entered, and didn’t have to wait long before a piece of parchment was pinned to the notice wall.
Hearts falling, they saw that Jonas’ rod had been identified.
“Well that’s it,” Alia concluded.
“It just means he left the rod,” Zedek protested.
“That rod was everything to him.”
“Excuse me.” They all looked down to a child stood there. “I have a message for you.”
“Me?” Alia asked.
“Head out the west gate.”
“And do what?”
“They just said head out the west gate.”
“Could be a trap,” Trimas concluded.
“When?”
“Now.”
They looked at the bags in their hands, and their current lack of horses.
“We go,” Alia decided.
“I think we’re all tired and hungry,” Zedek protested.
“We go and solve this.”
Go they did, passing vendors trying to sell them food they would have gulped down otherwise, until they passed through the west gate and looked around.
Someone was waiting on a small rise. Someone on a horse, wrapped in robes, holding the reins of four other horses.
Hands on their weapons, they walked along, unable to discern any features thanks to the grey robes, leaving their eyes to assess the horses. They weren’t the ones they’d ridden in on…
“We’re in a clearing,” Daeholf checked, “no way someone can rush us. Tricky for an archer to pop up. We are clear on that person.”
Alia nodded, and marched straight up to the figure, a knife in her hand.
“We got your message. Who the fuck are you?”
A wrapped hand pulled the robe away from what was revealed beneath.
“You fuck. You scared the shit out of me.”
“I’m sorry,” Jonas replied. “But I see you brought our friends.” He looked at Zedek, who had a smile which he interpreted as ‘I’m pleased to be right you bastard’.
“What the fuck is going on?”
“Alia, I’m sorry, but there were people after us. Other hunters, in numbers. They would have kept coming, and we have to stop Marlen. We can’t get into a war with our fellows, no matter how much they want one. I had to be seen to die, and it had to happen quickly. No time to tell you, because you were … where were you?”
“I know where Marlen is,” she said, puffing up.
“Good, I’ll explain more as we ride. You three, take your horses.”
“No, no, if you faked all this, why leave your rod behind?”
“Oh, I stole that back a little while ago. Once they’d used it to link me, they stored it away. No one will realise for weeks. Let’s go Alia, before we’re seen.”
“Wait.” It was Zedek who had his hand up.
“Yes?” Jonas asked.
“We will come with you. To stop Marlen. Only to stop Marlen.”
“I’m not forgiven.”
“You and I have a common enemy. We can sort the rest out after.”
“And your friends agree?”
“Oh yes.”
“Of course.”
“Then we all ride. To wherever Alia has identified.”
“Would you three mind leading? You know where we’re going. Alia and I will follow whilst she catches me up.”
Daeholf nodded and he, Trimas and Zedek saddled up and set off along the road. Alia mounted and moved her horse next to Jonas’s and they set off behind.
“You’ve been busy,” Jonas said.
“We have some information,” Alia stated simply.
“Broke a people-smuggling ring I hear.”
“How did you know that?”
“The tidy up was noisy. Would have been even more remarkable if I hadn’t heard about it.”
“So how did you know that was me?”
“I knew all about how many hunters were in town after my incident. And it wasn’t any of them.”
“Ah. But I got some information.”
“Yes, you were telling me about the risks you’ve been taking.”
“Fully fledged now, remember. And perhaps leave off the criticising others for a bit?”
Jonas made as if to retort but stopped himself. “You were saying,” he said quietly after a moment.
Alia looked at him, surprised. She hadn’t meant to be that sharp with him. That he’d just taken it was almost shocking. They were all still raw after this morning but even so.
“Sorry, that was uncalled for,” she said.
Jonas shook his head. “You have some information about Marlen?”
“Sadly from a similar source to one of our other leads. People trafficking.”
“Sick and injured again?”
“Mostly.”
“Sounds like our man then. Where is he?”
“He’s near Varna, and has been for a while.”
“Are we sure?”
“The traffickers kept records. Good records.”
“Varna’s the regional capital though. There’s lots of settlements near it. Do we know where specifically?”
“The people were taken to one of a small number of villages. It varied but apparently his agents are easy enough to find if you know what you’re looking for.”
“And you plan to follow them to him?”
“You got anything better?”
“No. It’s the best plan we’ve had for a while. You’ve done well. Let’s hope the information pays out.”
“Um, thanks.”
“Just try not to take so many risks. A risk-taking hunter is one likely to have a short career.”
“Noted.”
“How are they?” Jonas said after a moment’s silence, indicating the three just ahead.
“’Bout how you’d expect.”
“Hmm,” Jonas mumbled.
“
You going to talk to him?”
“Eventually. Don’t think now is a good time.”
“Despite or because of that stunt you pulled?”
“Stunt? Necessary diversion to give us some space.”
“From what you say it got some dangerous men off our backs. It also got your name out there though. Marlen will hear.”
“If he’s local.”
“I’m sure he is.”
“Then maybe he will. But I’m dead as far as anyone but the four of you know.”
“I suppose. And please don’t do that again.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you? I don’t understand.”
“After a long and violent life, and especially recent events, it’s nice to know that someone cares.”
“Don’t get sentimental on me old man. It doesn’t suit you.”
Jonas smiled at her. “How far to these villages then?”
“We’ll need to make camp more than once before we get there.”
Jonas looked ahead at the backs of the three men in front of him. “That’s not going to be fun,” he said quietly.
*****
They had been riding for a few hours in uncomfortable silence. Daeholf looked back at Jonas and then at Zedek who was riding slightly ahead. This wasn't going to work. He quietly caught Trimas's attention. Trimas raised an eyebrow at him. Daeholf looked back at Jonas then nodded in Zedek's direction. Trimas frowned. Daeholf pointed at Trimas, then at Zedek, raising his eyebrows as he did. Trimas looked at Zedek, pointed at himself and shook his head. Daeholf pointed at himself, inclining his head in Zedek's direction but gave Trimas a questioning look. Trimas sighed, shook his head and moved his horse up to Zedek's.
"I doubt you knew him," Trimas said.
"What? Oh, what has that got to do with it?"
"Might have been a murderer himself. Or a rapist."
Zedek looked at him, shocked. "Elves..." he started, before pausing. "Yes, we have criminals but not murderers. But what are the chances? And that's not really the point."
"It sort of is. A man you know killed a man you don't, yet you're hurting like it was family."
"My people, death, you really don't understand."
"Not fully, no. Don't get me wrong, I'm on your side."
Zedek looked at him suspiciously.
"And if you want us to go on without him I'll back you," Trimas added as if he hadn't noticed.
"Thank you. Though we've got a job to do, so it's not coming to that," Zedek said.
"I'm just asking you to think about it a little."
"It would have been a horrible way to go."
"I don't doubt that and I'm not happy about it either. But I can move past it. I don't fully understand your culture but I hope you can move past it too, in time."
"Perhaps. Maybe it would help if I knew where he'd been taken."
"Maybe," Trimas said.
Zedek looked back at Daeholf, who was not far away, and waved him up. Daeholf joined them.
"You in on this?" Zedek said.
"Yes," Daeholf said simply. "But I've seen a lot of terrible stuff so perhaps I've become a bit hardened to horror and can't really see it through your eyes."
"Haven't we all seen a lot," Zedek said, musing.
"I'm not sure that finding where the elf came from would help you though," Daeholf said.
"Oh?" Zedek said. Trimas looked at him, curious to see where this was going.
"Please don't take this the wrong way, but there are rumours. If for some reason I wanted to find an elf, I know where I'd start looking."
"What rumours? Where?"
"I served with some soldiers who had been based in the far northeast. They told stories as all soldiers do, but perhaps there may have been something behind them."
"What stories?" Zedek said, slightly grimly.
Daeholf looked at him, but he was committed now. "There's always bandit activity on the fringes of the empire, that's to be expected, but occasionally an attack stands out. It's unlike a normal group of bandits to totally wipe out a village — else who do they rob next year? But the soldiers told tales of a number of villages just disappearing over the years."
"So? Even you imperials are guilty of that and worse. It's hardly surprising that bandits might do it," Zedek said. "I don't see the connection."
"There's been one or two sightings of the supposed bandits."
"And?"
"I'm not sure I believe the details, but as I said, it's where I'd go to look."
"Give me the details," Zedek said.
"Tall figures on horseback, wearing stylised and heavily lacquered armour."
"Stylised how?" Zedek said, looking slightly troubled.
"Scales and dragon helms."
Zedek was silent.
"Like I said though, rumours. But if I've heard them, it's possible that Jonas and Marlen might have too and maybe that's where they looked."
"I think I liked it better when we were all riding quietly," Zedek said eventually.
They made camp a couple of hours later, each going about their duties automatically; practised at working with each other, each fell easily into their role. But as he hobbled the horses, Jonas noticed Zedek watching him. Uncomfortable with eyes on him, he finished what he was doing a little clumsily.
When he was done, he looked at Zedek for a moment and came to a decision. He reached under his shirt and pulled out the talisman, worn carefully around his neck, and lifted it gently over his head. He coiled the thread up carefully around it and then held his hand out as he approached, offering it back to Zedek.
“I think you’d better have this back. And thank you for loaning it to me,” Jonas said quietly.
Zedek reached out to take it and then stopped, his hand hovering just above Jonas’s. He looked the big man in his eyes, noting the years of pain and sadness. He slowly moved his hand back.
“Keep it,” he said. “Your dreams are dark, if self-inflicted, and still cause you much pain. You need it more than I do.”
“Thank you,” Jonas said, carefully putting it back on. “Perhaps…”
“I doubt we’ll ever be friends,” Zedek said, interrupting him, “but I’m starting to get past the point where I think we have to be enemies.”
“I understand. And thank you.”
Zedek nodded and moved away. Daeholf, who had been watching the exchange, sat back and relaxed a little. One less thing to worry about for the time being anyway.
*****
The next morning they were riding quietly along a forest road.
“Company,” Daeholf said from out front.
“Many?” Trimas said.
“Single cart coming towards us, from the look of it one driver.”
“Road’s narrow, perhaps we should move off it to let him pass?” Zedek said.
“Anything on the cart?” Alia said.
“You’re getting suspicious,” Jonas said.
“Can’t really tell from here,” Daeholf said. “Cart’s riding high though so not much if there is anything.”
They guided their horses off the road into a gap in the trees and waited for the cart to approach. They saw an old man guiding a tired horse along the road. He didn’t speak but raised his hand to them as he passed, acknowledging them moving out of the way. The cart was empty barring a couple of old tarps in the back.
Daeholf frowned as the cart passed but said nothing.
“What’s up?” Trimas said to him after the cart had gone a short distance down the road.
“Smelled blood.”
“Really? Over the lovely aroma we’re all putting out? And the sweaty horses?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe we should go after him, stop and question him,” Alia said.
“It’s probably nothing, pigs or something like that. If it is something it might be better if we didn’t tip our hands. It should be easy enough to track where he came from.”
Jonas looked at him and shrugged. “It’s no
t like it’d be difficult to catch up to him later anyway, cart wasn’t going fast.”
“I guess we keep going then,” Zedek said.
“How far to the village?” Trimas said.
Alia looked at her map. “Some way yet.”
“Let’s get on with it then,” Trimas said.
They rode for another hour, watching the road carefully for signs of recent use.
“Old smugglers’ track ahead on the left,” Jonas said.
“How do you know?” Daeholf asked curiously.
“Sign on the tree.”
“I don’t see it.”
“You don’t know what to look for.”
“Can I ask how you do?”
“Wasn’t always a bounty hunter.”
“Do tell,” Alia said.
“Some other time.”
“Could be important, maybe even what we’re looking for. I’ll go look,” Daeholf said.
“Just past the oak with the root that sticks out at a funny angle.”
“I see it,” Daeholf said, dismounting. He walked over to the tree. “Interesting,” he said, inspecting the bushes to one side. “Nicely hidden, doubt I’d have seen this myself if you hadn’t pointed it out.”
Alia looked at Jonas. Jonas shrugged.
“Bushes move to reveal a small cart track,” Daeholf said. “People who knew what they were doing set this up.”
“Successful smugglers usually do,” Trimas said.
“You know what I mean,” Daeholf replied. “I’ll check it out.” He moved through the bushes and was quickly out of view. He emerged a few minutes later.
“Narrow cart track that runs for some distance. Looks like it has been used recently though some effort has been made to cover up traces. I think it’s worth us all checking it out,” he said.
“On foot?” Trimas said, looking downcast.
“On horse,” Jonas said firmly. They all looked at him. “If there are smugglers about I don’t want to lose our rides whilst we’re not looking.”
“Or after last time where we left them too far away and you hurt your knee running…” Alia noted.
“Don’t want that,” Trimas said. “Can’t say I fancy walking all the rest of the way either.”
“I’ll hold the bushes then as you go through,” Daeholf said, standing in front of them. “Can you lead my horse, Zedek?”
“Why me?”
“He likes you?”
Dark Healer (An Empire Falls Book 1) Page 36