Shadows of Home

by James R. Vernon

"You mean any more attention," Bavian replied with a flip of his hand. "Esmerelda has already brought some attention to herself by getting involved with the drama going on in this village."

  "I thought the mayor was going to help me take Ean into custody. How was I supposed to know the man was was slimier than the underside of a slug?"

  "It doesn't matter," Nolan cut back in. "What we need to decide now is if we let ourselves get further wrapped up in whatever the mayor has planed or if we leave before things get worse."

  "Leave?" Ezzy emphatically shook her head. "But Ean is here."

  "Yes," Shay cut in. "And you yourself have admitted your belief in his guilt has started to waver."

  "That's true," Ezzy replied, "but even if he is telling the truth and it was this Sadiek fellow who ended up causing the massacre that destroyed my family's business and got my father killed, its Ean who knows the most about him. I say we wait to see if he is found guilty here. At the least, it will be a good indication if he was capable of causing my father's death as well."

  "I agree with Esmerelda." Bavian’s mouth spread into a toothy grin as he looked at each person in turn.

  Shay gave him a withering look before returning her attention to Ezzy. "You know we will support your decision--"

  Nolan let out a loud cough and shook his head. Shay ignored him.

  "--but it is foolish to think that whatever judgement is placed upon him here has any connection to what happened with your father. And if he is found guilty, then he will be forever out of your reach. He will either be taken back to Lurthalan and imprisoned, or more likely , sentenced to death. Whatever he knows, including what actually happened in Ulundkin, will be lost to you."

  "If he is found guilty, we can just--"

  "Don't you dare even think about doing something that involves breaking the law. It took a lot of effort, and quite a bit of luck, to get rid of the last bounty that was put on your head. I will not have you openly defying any legal judgement and sentence that is placed on Ean Sangrave for your own selfish purposes." Shay shook her head slowly. "Especially while you are apprenticed to me."

  "But..."

  "Girl," Shay practically growled. "You know my loyalties require me to protect the reputation of Avien'zia's temple. If your actions, as my apprentice, were to openly harm that reputation..."

  She let the words she didn't say paint the picture for Ezzy. Shay did not want to openly threaten the woman, but she hoped that Ezzy remembered the talk they had outside of Lurthalan. At first, Shay feared that Ezzy had forgotten. The woman's face scrunched up in defiance at first and Shay could practically see the arguments Ezzy was about to make. A few moments later, thankfully, that defiance faded and her face went a sickly white. When she replied, Ezzy's voice sounded strained.

  "I...I understand how serious this is to you. I won't interfere with whatever judgement is passed. What should we--"

  "Mind if I join you?"

  The man who approached wore a smile as broad as his shoulders. The mayor's son? Shay thought. Her question was immediately answered as she watched some of the tension drain out of Ezzy's face.

  "Of course," Ezzy replied. "Let me introduce you to my friends."

  Names and handshakes were given. Shay watched the man as introductions were made. He wore a smile the entire time, his eyes locked on whomever he was shaking hands. Despite his friendly demeanor, there was a stiffness in his shoulders as he shook Shay's hand and his wooden grip hinted at a man under a lot of pressure. Bran reminded her of a man with a bounty on his head, always prepared for when he might have to fight or flee. Not that surprising, considering everything that was going on in the man's village, but she still found something off-putting by all the work he put into seeming fine.

  After introductions had concluded, there was a moment of awkward silence Nolan quickly filled.

  "On behalf of Shay, Bavian, and myself, I want to thank you for taking care of Ezzy while we were delayed--"

  "Abandoned," Bavian cut in.

  "Yes..." Nolan shot him a disappointed look. "And we wanted to thank you for continuing to allow all of us to stay in Ezzy's room for free. That is a very generous gesture."

  "Not at all." Bran raised his hands in admission. "I just feel bad we couldn't split you all into two separate rooms. With most of our rooms being used by immigrants to our village from Rensen, any remaining rooms need to stay open for potential visitors."

  Ezzy let out a laugh. "We're used to rooms half the size. And thats on the rare occasion we aren’t sleeping out under the stars. A warm room holding off the cold of the season more than makes up for cramped quarters."

  "Especially," Bavian joined in, "when it's free. It's nice not to have to foot the bill for a change."

  "Well," Bran continued, "I find that having four capable people such as yourself around while my village faces the challenges it does more than covers the price of the room." A small frown touched the corners of his lips. "Even if my father might not."

  Ezzy placed a hand on the man's muscular arm. "Well, we appreciate what you are doing for all of us."

  Bran seemed about to reply when a man burst through the front door. He glanced around the common room until his eyes fell on Bran. The stranger rushed through the crowd until he reached Bran's side. Before he could say a word, Bran extended a hand in greeting.

  "Hello, Kyle."

  "Bran," the man said while taking his hand and giving it a firm shake.

  "What's going on?"

  "The Hero's arrived," Kyle said in between breaths. "I came as soon as I saw him coming out of the mountain path. I ran all the way here but I'm sure he isn't that far behind me."

  "Excellent. Thank you for letting me know. My father's down at the general store. If you could go let him know, I would appreciate it."

  "Of course," the man said and immediately left the way he had come.

  Bran turned back towards the table. "Well, would you all like to join me in welcoming our new arrival? It would be helpful if Ezzy was there to tell him everything she knows about Ean Sangrave, and the rest of you I'm sure could provide some support."

  "Absolutely." Ezzy was out of her seat before the words had finished clearing her mouth.

  It made Shay worry. Not because Ezzy seemed quick to follow the man's lead. She knew better. From her time traveling with Ezzy, and from what little she had gotten out of Ezzy and Nolan about their pasts, Shay knew Ezzy wasn't one to abandon reason because of a handsome chin and broad shoulders.

  What made Shay worry was that she had no idea whether Ezzy wanted Ean to be found guilty by the newly arrived hero. What was worse, Shay wasn't sure if even Ezzy knew what she believed anymore. And the Hero's arrival made Ezzy's time to decide limited. If she was still struggling with what she believed, it was completely possible the impulsive woman might do something that both she, and Shay, would deeply regret. If she could figure out what Ezzy had bouncing around her mind, she could at least try and talk her out of making any foolish decisions.

  Shay left the thought in the back of her mind as she followed the rest of her group out of the inn. After all, nothing she could do right this moment. Instead, she jostled her way through the patrons of the inn as they also got up to see the arrival of the hero. By the time Shay's group made it out of the inn, a small group of villagers had already gathered outside. People were standing along the road with a large mass of people milling about at the bottom of the inn's porch stairs. There was a low buzz of conversation with everyone talking at once with low voices and the steam of their breath filling the cold air. The people at the base of the stairs parted for Bran and he lead them out into the street. Almost immediately, Shay caught sight of the approaching Hero.

  It was hard to tell the gender of the Hero as he wore a brown robe and cowl that hung loosely from his body. Shay couldn't tell anything about whoever it was besides the persons's average height. Each step was precise but with a certain swagger that exuded confidence. His clothing might hide his appearance, b
ut his demeanor told the story of a man confident in his abilities. Someone used to those around him looking on in awe or cowering in fear. Shay hoped it was awe. The last thing they needed in this already volatile situation was someone else to stir the pot.

  Whoever it was seemed to enjoy the show, as they slowed down once they reached the edge of the crowd. They bowed to the left and right, took a dozen or so steps, then bowed again. The person continued this process, not uttering a single word the entire time, until he came to a stop a few paces away from where Shay and the others were waiting. He stood there silently, which Shay thought was just to add to the show, before throwing back his hood and opening up his robe.

  A thin face was framed by short brown hair that hung in front of his eyes, making it hard to see their color. A pointed nose poked out above a mouth twisted into something between a smirk and a humorless grin. He was clothed in faded white leather armor from head to toe, which was covered in the blemishes and double-stitched scars of battle. A variety of different tools hung at his belt: wicked-looking knives, bolas, and snares—tools Shay would expect to see on a trapper rather than on a Hero. The red blemishes on some of the knives were a sharp contrast to the white of his armor. The only other color was the golden insignia of a setting sun on his chest, a set of scales resting inside the half-circle sun.

  Avien'zia help us, Shay thought. The Seeker, EliZane.

  The servant of Alistar took a long look at the group gathered in front of him, his smirk twitching slightly as his gaze passed over Shay before his eyes came to rest on Bran. "You must be the mayor's son." Bran extended his hand but the Seeker ignored it. "The gods must favor your little village, as word reached me first about the little issue you have requiring a Hero's judgement. Rottwealth has gone too long without Alistar's servants gracing the people here."

  "And we welcome Alistar's presence here," Bran replied without missing a beat. "When my father sent word we needed a Hero, I had no idea someone from one of the temples would come. This is truly an honor."

  EliZane shrugged. "We shall see how much of an honor you think my visit is after I've concluded my business here."

  "I know the people of Rottwealth will be content with whatever judgement is made over the recent murders here--"

  "Oh, the trial is only part of what I want to accomplish here—a small part actually that I won't waste too much time on. What I'm really looking forward to," he rubbed his palms together in excitement, "is routing out any dark influence the Abyss has had over the citizens here while Alistar's justice has been unable to visit this dank excuse for a village."

  Bran's expression finally broke under the weight of the man's words. "I assure you that all the citizens here--"

  EliZane reached over and grasped the young man's shoulder. Shay gave Bran credit for not flinching away.

  "You can assure all you wish. I'm going to do my duty regardless of how many of your people I have to cut down to clear the Abyss from this place. Now, stop wasting my time and take me to your father before I put a nice little scar on that handsome face of yours."

  Chapter 34

  Ean had forgotten how uncomfortable his throne felt on his backside. The stone seat was on a small dias in the Heart, behind and slightly to the side of the still silent Auz. The sharp edges scraped his skin and unyielding stone could have used a cushion for his backside. For something built to raise him above anyone visiting their home, it certainly did little to make him want to sit in it.

  The reason he suffered in the chair at the moment, as he waited for Qo to shuffle in, was because he had caught the Tataren'bala in that very seat this morning. The frustrating creature had been lounging in it, legs over the armrest, its boney head propped up on the other side. Ean had almost marched up to drag it out of the seat himself. Instead, he had dismissed the creature from the room, finally allowing him to move about the mine and get something to eat. Apparently, the mass of vines and skull head ate somehow.

  He made a show of it being a choice caused by his generosity, but in reality, he just wanted some time alone. After all, if Qo wanted to take control of another one of his people, there wasn't much he could do about it. Might as well give him enough rope to hang himself, as the saying went. When Ean was ready to listen to what the creature had figured out, he had Jaan go fetch him while he positioned himself on his throne. It was important the creature be constantly reminded who was in charge.

  Even if the chair did chafe at his legs and back.

  After waiting the same amount of time it would have taken Ean to walk around his entire lair, twice, Qo finally returned. The way the creature strolled into the room somehow made his arrival look like it was a gift.

  "You summoned me?" His voice still had a strange echo to its high pitch.

  "Yes. You told Jaan you had found something this morning." And if you just got me to come so I would purposely find you in my throne, you've made a grave mistake.

  Qo walked up to Auz, his limp barely noticeable now that his leg was mostly healed. When he reached the sphere, he placed his hand on its surface and ran his thick fingers over it. "What made your sphere go silent is very subtle." Qo sucked in a breath and let out a sigh. "Subtle and almost impossible to see. You're lucky you brought me out of the Abyss to help. I doubt anyone else would have been able to figure it out."

  "Stop stroking your own ego and get on with it." Ean shifted about on the throne again. He was starting to regret choosing this particular moment to make a point.

  "You humans, always in a rush." Qo shook his head, the skull seeming to bounce around on his shoulders before he continued. "It's magical, the power that's keeping your rock in a slumbering state. And not the weak magic the humans wield in this world or a twisting of the energies from the Abyss. No, no..." his hand patted Auz's surface, "this is something new. Something dark..."

  The creature was speaking in the same husky tones Zin used whenever he was looking at a well-cooked and seasoned steak. To hear Qo speak of some dark magic that was influencing Auz in the same way made the hairs on the back of Ean's neck stand on edge. Best to steer things in a different direction.

  "How do you know it’s slumbering?"

  The laugh that echoed out of Qo's skull was full of scorn. "So powerful and yet so oblivious to how to read the subtle signs of the power around you. You re so lucky I'm here to actually teach you a few things." It raised a thick finger and waved a claw in Ean's direction as he opened his mouth. "Hold your anger and listen for a moment.

  "The magic you know firsthand; there is an energy behind magic, each different based on where it comes from. Your energy comes from the Abyss. Pure and raw. Barely containable. The magic most other humans wield come from the gods—a random gift as far as I can tell. Much less potent and much easier to manage. Either your gods don't trust humans with much power or they don't have the ability to pass along that much to begin with."

  "How could they not have that much to pass along? They're gods!"

  Qo waved him off. "The lesson today is about magic. I can point out how little you understand about your own gods some other time."

  Ean crossed his arms and held back the scathing reply that had leapt to his mind.

  "Back to the magic." Qo resumed his lecturing tone. "Each form of magic has its own feel. Taste might be a better word. Or not. I don't know how other creatures such as yourself feel it. But for me, its more of a taste." It clacked its jaw together a few times. "Ironic, since I don't have a tongue."

  "I think I know what you mean. Whenever I'm holding the energy from the Abyss, I certainly feel different."

  "No, no. Just because you can pick up a cup and feel from its weight that it’s full of some liquid, doesn't mean you can actually tell what’s in it. You have to put the cup to your lips to taste it. That's the difference. You've grown accustomed to feeling the energy fill you here." Qo poked Ean in the chest. Hard. "But you don't actually feel it when you release any of that energy." Another jab to Ean's chest. "I'll show you. Do somet
hing with your magic. Something that we can both see and that won't disappear right a way."

  "Alright," Ean replied slowly. He made a show of thinking what he could do, but in his mind, he was trying to figure out if this was some kind of trick. When he couldn't think of a single thing Qo might do, Ean gathered just enough power and created a wall of pure energy. It was smaller than any he had created before. It was as wide as he was and knee-high, a glimmering purple sheet of energy. It took the barest effort on Ean's part to hold it in place.

  Qo's glowing red eyes stared down at the wall for a moment before turning back on Ean. "Maybe I didn't make myself clear. You need something that you don't have to keep a connection to in order for this to work."

  "How did you--" Ean cut off as Qo tilted his head and let out an exasperated sigh. "Alright, hold on."

  It took him quite a bit more time to figure out how to get the wall to stay without keeping a constant connection to it. His first three attempts had the miniature wall disappearing as soon as he removed his connection to it. After that, he figured out how to manipulate the energy so it stayed in place without constantly feeding his own energy into it. Except it flickered and faded after a few moments. It took a few more tries until he finally got it to stay on its own. It still flickered and didn't seem very stable, but it held.

  "Well," Qo said as the small wall wavered in front of him, "that took longer than expected. Are you sure its going to finally stay there?"

  Ean struggled to make sure his response didn't sound like a question. "Yes."

  "Alright, now get rid of whatever energy you're holding onto. I don't want there to be any distractions."

  As Ean let the energy drain out of him, his shoulders sagged. It had been so long since he had let himself drain completely, that he had forgotten how much extra energy it gave him. And how it numbed him to the every day aches and pains that daily training with the Crux put in his muscles and bones. He felt weak. It was disturbing, and not just because Qo's creepy skull was staring at him. It was entirely possible he was becoming too dependent on the energy of the Abyss to get through each day.