by I. B. George
As he turned a street corner, he bumped into some noisy revellers, frightening himself to death. As his violently pounding heart and his shaking hands recovered, he finally started on his way again.
***
Once in the room, Azar jumped on his bed fully clothed and put his arms under his head. After leaving Quilar’s store he kept feeling as though some danger was hovering over his and his friends’ heads.
He remembered catching a noise behind the door of the room when they had been discussing the next stage of their journey. He didn’t think much of it when he had stepped outside the threshold and checked inside the room next door, but that didn’t mean that there hadn’t been someone in there.
When they left, Azar’s sharp eye had discovered someone standing in the shadows behind some sacks of merchandise, hidden by the eaves of the house. The way in which the figure had avoided being seen has risen Azar’s suspicions and he immediately realised something was not quite right.
As he got to his room, he decided to stay awake until everyone else had gone to sleep. His instinct told him that he had to keep an eye on Quilar’s shop.
He assumed that a huge reward had been placed on Robert’s head by King Tyreas, which could have easily corrupted any man. Azar couldn’t see the face behind the outline hidden by the shadow of the house, but he could remember his tall, broad shouldered figure. He was hoping that his instinct wouldn’t fail him and he would be able to recognise the mysterious individual.
At the same time, it could just as well be only a hunch brought on by his lack of trust in people and his desire to protect the prince at any cost. He was convinced however that to get rid of these suspicions he had to see with his own eyes that everything was all right.
Half an hour had passed since Azar had gone to his room and the sun was beginning to set. He stood up, gathered his sword and cape and left the room moving as quietly as a cat.
Sneaking out of the house he headed towards the stables, where he harnessed and mounted his horse, then trotted through the gate of Quilar’s estate.
Azar entered the town trying not to attract too much attention to himself. He headed towards Quilar’s store thinking ahead about what he had to do.
He went past the Great Market of Bakar and soon started onto the street where the merchant’s building was. He stopped inside the courtyard of a pub and, in exchange for a few coins tethered his horse in their stables.
He then positioned himself across the road from the store, hiding behind the corner of a house from where he could watch easily the entrance into the courtyard as he waited for the evening twilight to descend.
He could see the merchant’s employees leaving one by one and he noticed that none of them looked like the one he’d seen a few hours before.
One of Azar’s qualities was patience, which he had acquired when he used to accompany his father hunting as a child. He had developed an ability to lie in wait for hours at a time without moving while waiting for the prey to come into the shooting range.
Eventually, as the darkness had almost encompassed Bakar, Azar caught a glimpse of the one he had been waiting for. He followed him with his eyes from the shelter of his hiding place as he was shutting the store for the night. He then saw him creeping out of the place and started following him.
He had already crossed many of the paths through the web of streets along Bakar when he realised that the person he was watching wanted to make sure he wasn’t being followed.
A few times he came close to being caught but he always managed at the last moment to hide in the shadow of a house. As all the other Fire Chosen, he was able to see very well in the dark, which helped him not to lose sight of the figure he was following.
Now he was convinced that the individual he was tracking was the same one he was looking for, considering all the precautions he had taken along the way.
As he entered a new street, Azar noticed the soldiers posted at the far end and he realised that that was where the town’s garrison was. He decided he couldn’t afford to waste any more time and he resolved to take action.
***
Grodor was heading cautiously along the streets of Bakar. He crossed many of the town’s paths, trying to reassure himself that nobody was following. After all, he was sure that nobody knew what he had planned in his head because he hadn’t shared his intentions with anyone, but being extra cautious never hurt anyone.
He decided eventually to head straight to the garrison without any more wandering about. His mind was whirling with thoughts of the life he was going to live from now on and his body felt overwhelmed by a pleasant sensation of warmth and happiness.
Without looking behind, he hurried along towards the destination of his journey. He recognised the places he was going through and realised that the garrison had to be on the next street.
When he reached the crossroad he turned down the street to the right as he glimpsed the soldiers laughing noisily at the end of the street and making jokes at each other’s expense.
He went towards one of them and he could almost hear the clinking of the gold coins he was about to receive. A dumb smile stretched across his face as he saw the soldiers and all he could think of was all the respect he was going to gain within the merchants’ guild when he had taken over Quilar’s huge fortune.
He was about half way down the street, ready to call out to the guards outside the garrison when he felt a heavy blow to the back of his head, then everything turned black.
***
There was plenty of light radiating inside Quilar’s mansion, due to the tens of candles that had been lit throughout the house. The festive feel of the place was slightly overshadowed by the disappearance of Azar who had not yet made an appearance even though several hours have passed since sundown.
They were nearing the end of their meal and all this time they had tried to guess where Azar might have gone to. Akura was convinced that he couldn’t be very far as he trusted the loyalty Azar had always shown towards the Eremons.
Outside the darkness had fallen for some considerable time and the night silence was suddenly interrupted by the clatter of hooves coming into Quilar’s property. They all stood up from their chairs, hoping that Azar had come back.
The front door swung open and all those inside the room could see Azar carrying a huge bundle over his right shoulder. He threw the curious looking parcel across onto the carpet and proceeded to cut the strings he had used to tie it up, uncovering the body of a man.
“Grodor!” cried Quilar in surprise, walking towards his trusted help.
Azar stopped him, using his body as a shield and giving him a cutting glance.
“Hold on, Sir, this man is a traitor! I advise you to keep calm until we agree whether he acted on his own or followed someone else’s orders, or else you shall meet the wrath of my sword.”
Quilar gulped and thought about the options Azar had given him as he slumped into a nearby chair.
“Grodor… a traitor?! I find it hard to believe, he’s like a son to me. I picked him off the streets ten years ago and he has never disobeyed me.”
“It looks like today he has… or maybe he hasn’t”, answered Azar looking at him suspiciously.
“What are you implying?” said Quilar frightened.
“I’m not implying anything, merchant, but if we are to find an answer to the question on everyone’s lips, we have to wake Grodor up.”
“Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”
“I’m certain he’s hiding something”, replied Azar. “He had me walking around for almost an hour through the streets of Bakar as he was trying to get rid of any potential followers. I caught him a few hundred feet away from the town garrison.”
Wringing his hands in despair, Quilar threw a disapproving look towards Grodor.
“I can’t understand why he’d do something like that”, he wailed. “He had everything he needed…”
Voras stepped in:
“We could be talking about so
me reward, who knows?”
“Or maybe it was the ‘honourable’ Quilar who wanted the reward, or, why not, some position as a governor.”
“I have no connection with the reckless actions of this man!” cried Quilar as he raised himself from his chair.
“We shall find that out soon enough”, replied Radius. “Azar, wake this traitor up!”
Azar opened the little satchel he always carried at his waist and took out a little vial, removed the lid and placed it under Grodor’s nose.
Grodor’s eyelids started to quiver and he turned his head away as he tried to avoid the sharp smell that brought him back to his senses. He moaned, keeping his eyes closed.
“Water”, he mumbled.
Robert half filled a glass of water from a jug on the table and handed it to Azar who lifted Grodor’s head and moistened his lips.
Grodor grabbed the glass greedily, drinking all the water in one go, then opened his eyes. He started to realise where he was and who had got hold of him. He remembered his trip, the garrison and the heavy blow that had made him loose consciousness.
“What’s happening? Why am I here?’ he asked, pretending to look surprised.
“Grodor”, interfered Quilar, “my friends are accusing you of treason.”
“What?!” cried Grodor, looking amazed. “I don’t understand what it is exactly that you’re accusing me of. I was on my way home after shutting the store when somebody hit me from behind. I think you must be mistaken…”
“It was I who hit you, my friend”, said Azar looking straight into his eyes. “And I never act without making sure first that I have good reasons to do so. I saw you today outside in the courtyard. You were watching us from behind a stack of sacks while hiding in the shadow of the house.”
“I was just keeping out of the sun. It was very hot”, Grodor defended himself.
“Let’s just say that’s true. That doesn’t explain your little walk tonight, when you dragged me along all the roads in Bakar to make sure you weren’t being followed, after which you went towards the garrison.”
“I was on my way home”, lied Grodor.
“But you live on the other side of town”, intervened Quilar.
“Or I might have been on my way to my fiancée, I can’t really remember… maybe it’s because of the blow”, said Grodor, rubbing the back of his neck where Azar had hit him.
“You’re a liar, my friend”, answered Azar with anger in his voice. “It was obvious you were on your way to the soldiers of the garrison. In fact, you were about to draw their attention to your presence because I hit you just as you lifted your hand to wave at them. I’m also certain that today you were eavesdropping at the shop, only you were faster than me and disappeared before I could see you”.
“That’s not true!”
“Isn’t it? Well then, please explain how I came about this piece of fabric stuck in a nail on the doorframe of the main entrance and why do you have a hole in your coat next to your right shoulder, which I’m sure, matches this”, said Azar pulling out a piece of fabric in the same colour as Grodor’s clothes, which he had kept hidden until then.
There was silence and Grodor lowered his head to the ground.
“Grodor, why did you do it?” asked Quilar with tears in his eyes.
Grodor shot him a look:
“Because I could never be more than a mere servant while working for you. I would have been no more than the right hand man of the great merchant Quilar”, he answered bitterly. “I wanted to get the reward so I could start my own business… or maybe get hold of your own fortune after it was confiscated by the king.”
“But all you had to do was to ask me for the money for your own shop, if that’s what you wanted. I had planned anyway, to retire in a few years’ time and leave everything to you, as you know well enough I don’t have any children”.
The merchant’s words took Grodor by surprise and left him confused.
“My friends”, spoke Quilar”, there’s only one solution. I will lock Grodor up in the basement of my house for the next two days. Tomorrow morning you can set off and I am hopeful that in two days you will pass through the Misty Passage.”
“Sounds like a good plan”, said Akura. “We thank you, esteemed Quilar and forgive us for doubting you. I believe, however, that our current situation requires us to be cautious.”
Quilar agreed and then he turned towards Grodor.
“As for you, after two days you will be free to leave and go wherever you please. I will give you a horse, food and enough money to last you for a month. On one condition though: that you leave the Night Kingdom. I don’t think I need to tell you in two days’ time it would be useless to go to the garrison. Nobody will believe your stories once my friends are long gone. Your word can’t stand against Quilar’s word because I’ll tell them you stole from me. Understood?”
Grodor nodded, subdued, head bent low to the ground.
“Then, my friends, we have a deal”, continued the merchant looking at the others who agreed wholeheartedly.
***
The new dawn signalled a hot day. The seven friends reached the courtyard of Quilar’s store and were finalising the last details of the plan of their journey.
“Voras”, called Radius, “how long do you think it will take us to reach the Misty Passage?”
“I should think by tomorrow morning, Professor.”
“That’s good, we might be able to make the meeting. Azar!”
“Yes, Professor”, answered promptly the master of arms as he worked on his horse’s harness.
“How long will it take us to cross the Misty Passage?”
“About two days… if everything goes to plan.”
“Plan?” wondered Radius. “You said you know the route to Akros really well. What else do you think could go wrong?”
“I’d rather not talk about it, Professor. If we’re lucky, nothing will happen.”
“Lucky? Azar, my friend, what are you hiding from me?” smiled the Professor.
“I’d rather not mention anything about that”, repeated Azar intriguingly. “I’m afraid that if I talk, I shall stir the gods’ wrath and we might have the misfortune of some unpleasant encounter.”
The Professor frowned with worry. He didn’t like the secret Azar was keeping to himself, but he didn’t enquire any further as to what mystery the master was hiding.
Akura approached Radius.
“Professor, we need to agree on the story we should tell when we get to the checkpoint. As far as I know, the soldiers there can be very strict about those crossing the Misty Passage.”
“We will pose as merchants from the Clouds Kingdom. This should raise least suspicion considering that they have been Tyreas’s allies from the start. We’re on our way to sell some wine in Akros because as we had a rich harvest this year, the price is low in Elementis and we’re hoping to make a better profit in the Upper Realm.”
“What about Robert?”
“He shall pass for a shop boy. We will have to make sure he doesn’t stand out.”
“Let’s hope the soldiers haven’t been warned in advance about us.”
“I don’t think King Tyreas expects us to be at the Misty Passage, just a few days away from the Border. I should think rather that we need to worry about that on our way back from Akros, not now.”
“Maybe you’re right, Professor”, said Akura with some relief.
Inside the courtyard there was an indescribable bustle. Quilar’s employees were rolling large barrels filled with wine to a vehicle to which two strong horses were harnessed. They then hauled the barrels up into the cart, taking great care not to break them and make Quilar angry.
Eventually, the merchandise was loaded and secured by means of thick ropes to stop the barrels from rolling off the vehicle along the bumpy road to the Passage.
Quilar went up to them and wished them good luck, apologising for the trouble he’d caused them.
“It wasn’t your fault, m
y friend”, said Voras and gave him a hug. “You couldn’t have known what was going through Grodor’s mind. Money makes lots of people go mad. You, as a businessman ought to know this better than anyone”, he concluded laughing.
“Indeed, Voras. That’s going to make me more wary of those around me.”
He then turned towards the others, hugging them one by one.
“Safe journey, my friends. May the gods watch over you.”
“May the gods be with us”, answered Radius.
The Professor climbed up onto the cart seat then helped Robert up next to him whilst one of the merchant’s men tied up their horses to the back of the vehicle.
Captain Vidar gave the signal for departure, coming first out of the shop courtyard, followed by Akura, Rolan and Voras. Then followed the cart where Radius and Robert sat, while Azar took the back of their little convoy.
They went along in silence, trying to avoid the traffic in Bakar and headed towards the exit of the town. They went through the gates that guarded the walls of the small settlement and started onto the road that led to the left of the citadel, winding gently along a valley.
***
It was midday and the sun was blazing down relentlessly on the road leading to the Misty Passage. The wheels of the cart were bouncing, rattling the barrels that kept knocking against each other.
The budding trees were swaying their thick canopies in the wind. The fields were dotted with an array of flowers that grew amongst the wheat.
They passed a river with its water that whirling around the big rocks laying quietly on the riverbed and which produced a constant murmur that invited you to rest.
Sitting in the front of the cart, Robert and Radius admired the beauty of the landscape stretching around them, enjoying their little intermission.
Towards evening, they were going to have a break near the Misty Passage, but for now, they kept a steady pace without the rush of previous days.
They had hidden their weapons under a blanket in the cart in order not to raise suspicions among any vendors they might come across on their way. In this part of Elementis, closer to the Akros border, people looked more relaxed. There were only a few soldiers in the area and they were mainly present in the areas around the Water Kingdom.