“Then let me go so you can get it!” Tair shouted.
The creature seemed to suddenly noticed Tair for the first time and he shook his large head. Tair suddenly felt its claws retract as it took a step back. “I am going to release you,” it told her slowly.
Tair nodded emphatically and the creature let her go. She was amazed at how well the beast could speak and even more amazed at the amount of jewelry this thing wore. Even in the face of untold danger, Tair could not help but price the jewel the beast wore around its neck. A perfect opal-cut amethyst framed in a thin sheet of silver. She even felt herself reaching to touch it as the beast turned away toward the square. He (was it a he?) was sniffing the air once more, ignoring Tair as she crouched to retrieve her daggers.
“What do you know what it is I seek, human?” it asked.
Tair nodded silently, sheathing one blade, but keeping the other ready in her shaking hand.
“What do you know of the Purestone?”
“I know that you and your kind are murdering and burning everything along the river to find it,” she answered.
“And it is here?” he asked, stepping toward her.
Tair found she was still blocked by the winch wheel as she tried to step away from the Zyn Beast. “Not that I know of,” she answered him. “What does it look like? How big is it? Are the facets cut? Are they clear?”
A small snarl escaped the creature’s mouth, revealing its long teeth. “This diamond does not have facets, it is devoid of sparkle, nor does it bring any fortune…it brings only death.”
Tair rolled her eyes. “Setting aside the dramatic description, what does it look like?”
“It is an uncut diamond. Its surface is jagged, unpolished. It is the size of my fist and glows with a godly radiance,” it finished, clenching its thick paw before her.
Tair shook her head, the image of the Purestone becoming clearer in her mind. She whistled softly and said unthinkingly, “No wonder they stole it…it must be worth a fortune.”
She was up against the wheel once again, this time the Zyn Beasts claws were out, clasped around her dark cloak, partially cutting off her air supply. “Understand that the leaders of my kind believe the Purestone to be worth all of the lives of your village and the lives of the village before this one, and the one before that. If the Purestone is here, they will kill everyone here in retribution. If the Purestone is not here, they will destroy your village by association, but will spare many. So, if you know its location…”
Tair heaved the beast away from her with all her strength, which wasn’t very far. “I don’t know where it is!” she managed to shout.
The creature released her and watched as she composed herself. “The gemstone has been near recently. I can smell it.”
“You can smell a diamond?” Tair jerked her cloak back over her shoulders.
The beast only growled; its eyes scanning the town square again. The glow from the field fires began to light the eastern horizon and Tair could now smell the smoke. A sudden and brilliant idea came to her.
“If you find this Purestone, can you get your people to stop the attacks?”
The beast nodded. “I can lead them away.”
Tair sighed. “All right, if it has been here, I know where to look,” Tair told the creature. “But you can’t go into the center of town without scaring the…”
Tair stopped as the Zyn beast lifted its paws and began chanting. The amethyst pendant on its necklace started to glow as the beast’s form began to melt and change into a dark-skinned human with long black hair. The hybrid creature smiled a white toothy grin as the amethyst glow faded away. “Lead on,” it said with the same voice.
Tair shook her head, not fully surprised by the revelation that the beast was a shadow Magi. “Do you have a name or should I just call you Kitty?”
The man-cat’s smile abruptly disappeared as it cast Tair with a scornful gaze. “Lynth,” he answered. “Now, lead on, funny human, before your entire town is erased by fire.”
***
The wolf Zyn Beasts stood four abreast in five rows, each creature staring eagerly at the gate. Some sniffed the air, their differing muzzles catching the scent of human, smoke, fear, and something else. It was this something that allowed them to track the Purestone on its trek down river. The wolves of Zynnasha stood, eyeing the gate, eagerly awaiting the order to attack from the two wolf beasts that stood before them – their squad leaders – who, in turn, awaited their own orders from the black ship on the river below.
One of these leaders had a thick bandage on one leg making Myst’s eyes widen in recognition. She stood on the parapet with her uncle and the two Malachi boys, wondering if the Zynnashan remembered her, as well.
“What are they waiting for?” asked one of the brothers.
“The command,” Teeg answered, his arms crossed before him in a pose Myst had always noted when he was worried. “They’re waitin’ t’see if we have their prize.”
“The Purestone,” Myst said aloud. “Laridiya said they can track it somehow.”
“Who?” Teeg said, suddenly very interested.
“Laridiya,” Myst answered him. “The Ethaean druid we arrived here with. She brought the survivors of Tabaan here, uncle.”
“She fought them?” he asked with an intensity that frightened her.
“I think so,” she replied uneasily. “But, I wasn’t there to…”
“I need to buy us some time,” he said to himself and before anyone could stop him, Teeg shouted out to the two wolves standing before them. “I wish to speak to yer’ commander!! I invoke the right of Lajee with yer’ people!!”
The un-wounded wolf stepped forward, brandishing a curved blade of steel. “What do you know of Lajee, human?” it snarled back.
“I know more than ye’ would think!” Teeg shouted back. “And I know ye’ cannot back down from the demand!”
The creature nodded once and returned to its counterpart to confer. Myst yanked on her uncle’s shoulder, turning him to face her.
“By the light, what are you doing?”
“Buying ye’ time,” he said firmly. “Now don’t be askin’ more questions! Ye’ need to listen. I need ye’ to run back to town and get that damn militia down here. I also need ye’ to send yer’ druid friend here.”
“But, what was that thing you invoked?”
“We need to stall ‘em, Myst,” he said gently. “This gate will not hold those wolves back for long. If they get past the main gate above, it’ll be a bloodbath. Now, go and find Vettis and tell ‘im to get those men down here!”
Myst nodded and began running up the road. Her uncle was counting on her and Teeg was the one man she would not let down.
***
Tair knew that Joram’s Bend was not a welcoming place to strangers. The five families were either blood relatives, wedded relatives, or people that swore fealty to that particular household. To not have a family was to be an outcast unless you held a station that placed you in high regard – such as Myst’s Uncle Teeg. The town simply did not like newcomers.
The town would trade quite willingly during the planting and harvest seasons. That was when the Bend saw the biggest influx of visitors. Most of the strangers were tradesmen or merchants from small towns like Valdine to bigger cities like Kaalé. Occasionally, an adventurer would find their way in and out of the Bend, and sometimes, if Tair was lucky, there would be those that wanted nothing more than to cause trouble. Of course, Sheriff Teeg put a stop to those people rather quickly, tossing them in his cell and escorting them out of town the next day.
There was only one place the town allowed strangers to stay – the Windtopp Inn. And it was this ramshackle stone and wood building that she led Lynth to. If the panther beast was right, and he actually did smell the diamond, then the only place it could be would be the Windtopp because no farmer from the Bend was going to mount up and ride to another realm to steal a gemstone from crazed fur-beasts. Tair knew that if she could find
the ones who had the diamond, if the town knew she was the one who was able to repel the Zynnashans, then they would have to see her as a hero.
Tair’Lianne – Savior of Joram’s Bend…it was too ironic not to try.
The Windtopp was located on the southeast corner of the town square, right next to Baem’s Tavern and quite close to the main gate. Lynth was still dressed as a dark-skinned human Magi – which was reason enough for many townsfolk to move quickly out of their path. Most of the populace was out on the streets, staring down at their family’s fields savagely burning away by curtains of fire. Tair could smell the smoke and feel the rising tide of panic. She was immediately reminded of Valdine.
The pair stopped at the narrow, two-story building. Bright candlelight chased away the darkness that tried to slip through the windows. Shadowy figures passed by, the fear on their owners’ faces hidden.
“The smell is stronger here,” Lynth purred behind her.
“If your thieves came through Joram’s Bend – they were here.”
Neither said a word as they stepped into the inn. The lower level was one large open room with a walled off kitchen in the back. A wide staircase rose from the center of the dining room up to the second floor and its six rooms. The place was rustic. Mesa stone for the floor, chairs and tables made of sanded birch, gas lanterns with smoke-stained glass covers and unpolished brass candelabras dotted the dining hall here and there.
Mira Polchik ran the establishment from a small apartment next to the kitchen. Rumors say she became an outcast when her husband passed away at a younger age and said husband’s family had no desire to keep her. She was a skinny creature, not unattractive, but far from stunning. She was in her middle years and was spending them cooped up within the walls of this place. Still, Tair thought, at least she is able to meet new people without the fear of leaving the Bend. She approached Tair and Lynth with a twinge of disgust on her face. Tair wasn’t sure if that was for the Magi or for her.
“If your companion wants a room for the night, it will cost him double,” she said with a sharp, reproachful tongue.
“We’re looking for anyone that’s been here within the past few days,” Tair said quickly. “They would not have been tradesmen or farmers. They might have looked as though they were trying to go unnoticed, like they were hiding something.”
“Aye,” she answered. “We had one of them just the other day, but he was with two friends who were loud and brutish. They were always keen on a card game. I had to chase them off to Baem’s and let him deal with them.”
“Are they still here?” Lynth asked her.
Mira shrank away from the Magi – afraid of him, but not knowing quite why. “No, they lit out of here this morning. The two gamblers weren’t very happy ‘bout it neither.”
Tair’s heart sank. So much for the Savior of Joram’s Bend. She’d be lucky to be a Survivor of Joram’s Bend. “Do you at least know where they went?” She sighed.
“No,” Mira answered simply. “But you might want to ask Vettis. He likened to play Bard’s Bluff with them and, if rumor serves; he owes them quite a bit.”
Tair’s stomach rolled. Was this the reason why Vettis was so keen to marry Myst? Had the idiot finally squandered his family’s fortune and hoped to get the Almdor holdings to pay his debts? It would make sense that Vettis would do almost anything to make sure his wedding to Myst was still on – including murder. The only way she was going to find out was to find him and get him to talk. Glancing over at Lynth, she knew it would not be an issue.
“Follow me”, she told the Zynnashan.
Without so much as a thank you and ignoring Mira’s incessant questions about what was happening in the fields, Tair led Lynth out of the Windtopp Inn and next door to Baem’s Tavern. Tair knew that Vettis was in the militia, but she had a sneaking suspicion that the coward would be drinking his courage for the upcoming massacre.
No one was in the little tavern, however. Even Baem was missing. The lanterns were lit, pomyl smoke still hung in the air, and half-emptied mugs of ale and wine still sat upon the large bar.
“The militia,” Tair said with understanding. “They were called to defend the town.” She leapt nimbly across the bar, grabbing a ceramic mug. She began filling it from one of the three large casks before her.
Lynth placed his fake human hands upon the rough surface of the bar and inhaled deeply, his head arching backward. “It has been here,” he said with a mixture of reverence and excitement.
“Then Vettis knows who had it,” Tair said and then took a long draught. Who knew how long it would be before she could have a drink again? She downed the contents and turned to fill it once more. “He’s part of the militia, so he’ll be down near the front gate. If we hurry, we can…”
A wet crack sounded behind her. Tair whirled around in time to see Lynth crumple to the floor. Behind the disguised Zyn Beast was Vettis, his sword drawn, the pommel of which was now smeared with blood.
“You want me? You found me,” he said dully, his eyes glazed from either drink or madness. “Making friends with Magi now?”
“Oh, Vettis, you stupid, stupid man,” Tair said, shaking her head and turning the mug in her hand for a better throwing position.
“Stupid?” he said slyly. “I think not. Once I get rid of you and dump your body down the side of the mesa, I will be able to handle Myst and any thoughts of her leaving will be quashed.”
Tair smiled. “You’re going to dump me off the mesa? And how will you explain how I died?”
“This attack is perfect,” Vettis said, taking a step toward the open side of the bar. “Everyone will think you tried to run away…again…and you were caught in the flames below.”
“You wouldn’t be doing this if you truly loved Myst,” she said, still grinning.
“Love?” Vettis spat. “Love is a trivial thing next to the wealth the Almdor family will provide me.”
Tair covered her mouth, trying to keep in the laugh that started to escape.
Vettis reached the side of the bar, his sword pointed at the giggling woman. “By the river’s ebb and flow, what do you find so funny?”
“Two things,” Tair replied, casually taking a sip of ale and then setting the mug down. “The first is that you’ve just told me that you don’t love Myst and the only reason why you’re marrying her and killing me is for her money.
“The funny part is that you did this without looking behind you.”
Vettis turned to see Myst, her sword drawn, her face tight with rage.
“The second funny thing is that you not only attacked a Magi, you attacked a Zynnashan Magi.”
Vettis half-turned to where the purple robed Magi should have been lying on the floor. Instead, he saw only a feline creature standing next to him, its snout curled in anger, one of its paws cradling the back of its head. The other paw pointed a slender claw at Vettis’ sword and spoke a word of magic. A pulse of violet energy struck the weapon, shattering its blade. Vettis threw the useless thing down, his eyes darting toward the exit.
Myst held her own blade toward Lynth. “What are you?”
“Easy, Myst,” Tair said soothingly. “He’s on our side. His name is Lynth and he says he’s looking for the Purestone to try and make the army stop attacking us.”
“And why is he looking here for the stone?” she asked.
“I have tracked it here,” he said. “The Purestone and its thieves have been in this building quite recently.”
Myst blinked, her mind having trouble matching the creature’s perfect speech with its animal face.
“And Vettis has seen it,” Tair added. “Haven’t you? It’s why you owe so much to those three strangers that were here recently. They used it as collateral in a game of Bard’s Bluff.”
“The thieves used the sacred Purestone as a tool for gambling?” Lynth nearly shouted. “Havaas will eat their hearts.”
“Is this true?” Myst asked her former fiancé.
Vettis removed his ey
es from the enraged cat beast into the shockingly calm visage of Myst. She now held her sword at him, dispelling any hope for his escape. “They showed me the diamond. It was huge, big enough to buy every plot of farmland in Joram’s Bend. I could have paid off my debts, brought my family some new respect.”
“And yet, you lost,” Myst guessed correctly. “What did you wager, Vettis?”
“Everything,” he sobbed.
“Where did they go?” She asked; her voice cold.
“One of them said something about Fhaalvak.”
“Fhaalvak,” Lynth snarled, turning his head to the west. He then gave Tair a nod. “May Ja’Naali hide you, human. I thank you for your assistance.” The feline creature then left the room, his figure merging with the night shadows outside.
“Wait,” Tair called out, but then she saw Vettis take a step toward Myst. In one fluid movement, Tair had jumped over the bar and laid a dagger against Vettis’ throat.
“You framed me. You murdered Jes to keep it quiet. And then you tried to murder me,” Tair whispered with a decisiveness that set Vettis trembling. “You took my life away, such as it was. I think I should only give you the same respect.”
“Tair, no!” Myst commanded.
The dagger held, but Tair’s eyes flicked to her companion.
“He may be the scum of a blackened toadstool, but we’ll need him to help fight these Zyn Beasts off,” she told her. “Besides, keeping him alive will prove your innocence!”
Tair squeezed the dagger’s hilt a bit tighter, feeling the blade ever-so-slightly part the skin on Vettis’ neck. Oh, how she wanted to tug on the knife, to let this horse’s ass choke on his own life’s blood. She could care less about her innocence or how the town looked upon her. No matter what happened this night, she was not coming back. But Myst’s eyes begged her not to take that path. In the end, it was Myst’s friendship she wished to keep and it would be difficult to do so with the knowledge that she had slit the throat of her ex-lover.
Tair conceded, and began to remove the dagger, but Myst was there faster than she thought possible, her hand over hers, holding the cold blade against Vettis. She leaned close, her green eyes boring into Vettis like ravenous jade vipers.
Rage of the Diamond's Eye (The Guildsmen Series Book 1) Page 19