In Search of Auria

by Alexis Rojas

  “Did you come out before? I don’t remember seeing you…”

  The man and the kid froze as I did. I didn’t know what to say, and if things got ugly, my sword and shield were hidden out of reach. My mind drew blank as the soldiers nailed their gazes at me. But to my relief, a distraction arose. A man clutching a square box came rushing out of the gates. He was being pursued by a couple of inner guards. They stopped at the gate and panted, “Stop the thief… stole a chest of lorins…”

  The soldier that had questioned me walked out of the threshold and shouted to the archers on the top, “Archers, stop that man!”

  The three archers were joined by two more that came out of adjacent sentry boxes. They all readied their bows and took aim. The thief was about to turn a corner behind a cottage, but he never got the chance. He fell into the mud with three arrows on his back and one on the nape. Only one missed. The archers returned to their posts and the two guards went out to secure the chest and body. The soldier looked at me to continue the conversation, but I opened my mouth first.

  “What an idiot!” I chuckled. “Didn’t he know the balorian soldiers are not to be trifled with?”

  The soldier stared, but one of his colleagues gave into the praise, “Right? Who would be so dumb to defy us?”

  Then the third soldier replied, “Only those miaflorians dogs, haha!”

  Everyone laughed at the Miaflore jokes, even the man and kid. I laughed too for I did not wished to get caught; but inside me each little joke was like a needle poking my heart. In the end, the guards were greatly amused and let us pass. Inside the walls, the city buildings were tall with stained glass windows; some were constructed of strong wood and others made of rock. There were people of different social status walking around, ranging from men with tights and fancy coats, to beggars with dirty rags, pleading for alms.

  The man stopped the wagon and said to me, “We need to go about our business, but I advise you not to walk around with your sword and shield here. The soldiers shall stop you. They might’ve ignored you on the towns away from the capital, but not here. Do your search and when you need your weapons, come to my house and collect them. I live beside the lake wall. The house that has the wagon outside shall be it.”

  “I appreciate the risk you took by helping me enter the city. Thank you very much. I do need to know one more thing before we part. Can you tell me where the royal mews is?”

  “The what?”

  “The mews, where the carriages are kept and stored.”

  “Oh, yes. Well, I know there’s a couple in the city, but not exactly where they are. Only the high and fancy have carriages, so you’re asking the wrong person. But wait, are you telling me nobles kidnapped your lady?”

  “I wouldn’t call them noble, but they are from the higher ups.”

  I thanked him again, patted the kid on the head and went our ways. I walked here and there trying to find the mews, but I was a bit distracted by the shops and the food markets around. They were bigger and livelier than the smaller villages. I noticed people were avoiding me, and I remembered that I still had mud spattered across my face. I later found a city square with a fountain and used its waters to clean the mud off me. There, I saw a white round carriage dropping some fancy people at an establishment. I drew closer and listened to the conversation between the passenger and coachman.

  “Return at sunset to take us to our home. Don’t be late!” said the passenger.

  “I won’t disappoint. I will go to the mews to feed the horse and return at sunset,” the coachman replied.

  The carriage was going to one of the mews, I only needed to follow. I walked slowly at a distance as the carriage made its leisurely trip on the streets. I always kept my eye on it, and when soldiers came marching through, I acted like and average guy taking a pointless walk around the city. Finally, the carriage made a left turn towards an iron gate made of curvy and twisted bars. Soldiers opened it and let the carriage pass through into a large courtyard. They immediately closed when the carriage was inside. I continued my stroll on the street and glimpsed between the twisted bars. There I saw it, to the far right, the black carriage hauling the cage! I continued walking without making eye contact and got out of the soldiers’ sight.

  From what I had seen, the mews had three floors, the first one being an open garage where they kept the carriages. In front of the building was the courtyard, on the sides where other tall structures and protecting the entrance was a wall with sharp barbs lining the top. I was not getting inside any time soon. I walked to an alley opposite to the iron gate and sat on the floor, thinking on what to do. My best bet was to wait for the black carriage to come out of the mews and follow it out of the city. Only then would I make my move. I would have to wait, but for how long? Would they go now, later in the day, or tomorrow?

  I stayed in the alley for hours, measuring the length of the shadows as the sun passed. Carriages came in and out, but not the one that held my precious Auria. My stomach started to bother me and I couldn’t ignore its hunger anymore. I decided to go to the house of the man who helped me, eat, and then return with my equipment. But, what if the carriage left while I was gone? I would lose track of it.

  I exited the alley and right around the corner I bumped into a beggar. He lifted his hands and cried for money, but I walked around him. Suddenly, I had an idea. I grabbed the beggar by his filthy coat and led him into the alley. I released him inside and he fell in cowardice, “Oh, please don’t harm me, I have nothing!”

  I squatted in front of him and hushed him, “Be quiet and listen. You desire money that I can provide. I only ask of you one thing, and that is to stay here and keep watch on those gates until I return. I am waiting for a black carriage hauling a covered cage to come out. If it does, you will tell me when I return, got it?”

  The beggar nodded fearfully, but asked, “H-how will I know you will pay instead of beating me up for an answer.” To this I took out a silver coin out of my bag and gave it to him.

  “I shall give you another one when I return, but you must be here, understand?”

  He clenched the coin with both hands and nodded to me like if he had become my faithful servant. He immediately sat behind a pile of rubbish and set his sights to the gates. I left and made my way to the lake wall, looking for a house with a wagon. Getting there, I noticed it wasn’t the best kept part of the city. The houses were small, not that well built, and the roofs were made of twigs and hay. I quickly paced along the lengthy wall until finally finding the house. When I got there, the man was outside fixing one of the wagon’s wheels. He greeted me as I arrived.

  “Hey there, friend. Have you found the mews?”

  “Yes, I have,” I confirmed militantly. “Do you have my sword and shield?”

  “Of course. Please, come inside. My wife is readying supper.”

  I heard the word supper and almost forgot everything else. Inside his humble home, he let me sit on a crooked seat at an oddly round dinner table. The room was lit by the hearth on the back. A thin redhead lady stirred food in a pot. After handing me my weapons and my gambeson, the man sat across me, right beside the kid. He waved at me and I smiled.

  “Well then, now that you have found the mews, what will you do now?” asked the man.

  “I have someone posted there in case the carriage I’m looking for leaves. If you could provide me some food to satisfy my hunger, I will be on my way and won’t bother you anymore.”

  “Bother? What bother? Not at all!”

  The lady carried four bowls of oatmeal and placed them on the table. She went back to the hearth and returned with a small loaf of bread. It was simple food, but it was what folks like these could afford. The lady sat beside the man. She looked at him impatiently until finally saying, “Well, aren’t you going to introduce him?”

  “Oh, right,” the man said in laughter, but abruptly stopped, “Wait, we never really exchanged names, did we?”

  The man was right! With the rush of passing
through the gates, hiding my equipment and setting out to the mews, we never even thought to formally present ourselves.

  “Well, I’ll start. My name is Francis.” He then put his hands on his lady and son’s shoulders, “This is my wife Rachel, and my son Gabriel. We all welcome you to our humble abode.” They all smiled at me. They were poor, but so modest.

  “My name is Erik, and I appreciate your courtesy.”

  They took their time eating their oatmeal and bread, but I wolfed it down eagerly. After finishing, I quickly put on my gambeson. I took out the blanket from my bag and wrapped the sword and shield so that they didn’t look so obvious.

  “You’re leaving so soon?” Francis exclaimed.

  “I must,” I replied, “Time is not on my side. If I lose track of the carriage, all could be for nothing.” Francis understood and nodded. He went to open the door for me as I said goodbye to his wife and kid.

  “I wish you good luck, Erik,” Francis said after he let me out of his home. I gave a faint grin as I reached inside my bag. I rested the wrapped equipment on the side of the house and took his hand. On it I dropped five gold coins. Francis inhaled in amazement until he could inhale no more.

  “But, this--”

  “This is yours,” I interrupted. “You deserve it. Throughout my journey I have been the one doing the helping, and for it I got my rewards. Now, it is you who has helped me. You deserve this. It is the only thing I can give, so please, accept it.”

  Francis just didn’t know what to say. As I picked up my equipment, his wife Rachel called concerned, “Francis, what’s happening?”

  He looked back, but then quickly to me.

  “Thank you, Erik,” he finally said.

  I nodded and left for the mews. I didn’t look back, but I heard the door close and a sudden scream of joy. Five pieces of gold were nothing to me, but for him and his family it would be life changing.

  My life already changed drastically since the moment I met Auria. And now, I was finally going to reach her and confront her kidnappers.

  “I will save you, and I shall crush them! Auria, wait for me. I am almost there!”

  21- Accepting Fate

  After retrieving my weapons from Francis and his family, I dashed through the streets to return to the mews. The evening sky was overrun with dark clouds, marking the streets opaque. Wind blew strongly, picking up dust into my eyes. Every time I spotted a squad of soldiers, I changed direction or entered an adjacent alley. I was so close to her now, I could not risk a quarrel!

  When I reached the beggar in the alley, the idiot was fast asleep on the floor! I got topped with so much anger I stretched my hand and slapped him awake.

  “Ahh, no, no!” he whined. I grabbed him by his torn clothes and violently rose him up.

  “How dare you fall asleep?” I shouted. I was so enraged; it was only a simple task! When he realized it was me, he quickly replied me.

  “No, I did as I promised. I only rested because the carriage left already. Please, release me. I was only waiting for you.”

  “Tell me when it left!” I commanded, pushing him to the wall.

  “It was just a few minutes ago. I followed it to the main street that leads to Castle Gate, the gate that leads to Vidana. I had just returned and closed my eyes when you got here.”

  I tossed him a gold coin and left right away. I passed the mews and turned left unto the main street. The street divided two lanes with a long rose garden in between. And the floor was flagged with star shaped tiles, instead of the usual square ones. It was a very formal design, but I wasn’t there for the ambrosian attractions. I continued running until I made it to Castle Gate. This gate was more elaborate in design than the one I had passed through to enter the city. The stones that formed the arch were painted purple with royal seals encrusted on them. The great doors were held together with gilded bolts, and the flags beneath were smoothly polished.

  The doors were open. Outside, on the far end of the road, I saw the black carriage hauling the cage. It took a right turn and disappeared behind the foliage. I rushed forward, carrying my wrapped equipment, but six guards beneath the gate stopped me.

  “Where are you going?” one of the guards stepped forward.

  “I am to take some equipment to Vidana,” I improvised.

  “Where is your permit?”

  Crap! I needed a permit here, too? What was I to do? The carriage was getting farther by the second. And to top it off, it started to drizzle. It was going to rain soon. I needed to convince them.

  “I was told I could go with the black carriage that left, but I missed it.”

  “Well, then, you missed it,” the guard laughed in my face.

  “But, I need to go,” I replied anxiously, looking repeatedly over his shoulder.

  “You will not pass, period!” He pushed me, and I fell back to the floor. They all laughed as they returned to their post. I sat frustrated on the ground, with people passing me by. I suddenly felt crushed, impotent, defeated. I could not believe the circumstances. It was the same thing that had happened at the draw bridge; Auria was within my grasp, and she had gone yonder. Was this how it was supposed to be? Always close, but never together? Was this the fate of our lives!

  “No!” I shouted in my mind. A spark of anger ignited and boiled my blood. I stood and clenched my fists, glaring at the guards. This was not how it was going to end. I was passing through that gate even if I had to fight every soldier in the city. No one was keeping me away from her!

  I gave a great stomp forward and pointed at the guard, “I will pass!”

  I looked around and behind me was a knight mounting a black horse. He was talking to a beautiful maid, trying to make an impression. As I walked towards the horse, I tossed the blanket away, fixed the sword on my hip and slung the shield on my back. I then sprinted and hopped onto the steed, placing my hands on its rump and sitting behind the knight. He turned at me bewildered, never expecting such a thing. I pushed him down and grabbed the reins. The guard that had pushed me saw what I did and knew what I was about to do.

  “Quick, close the gate! Close it!” he yelled to the others. They positioned themselves behind the doors and began to push them close. The iron hinges squealed as the doors turned slowly. The citizens got air of what was happening and started running away, clearing the area. I sank my heels on the horse, making it dash with a neigh. The guard ran forward with his sword, but skipped to side when the horse almost trampled him.

  “Hya!” I yelled as the steed rushed on. The soldiers groaned with effort as the gap shrank. If the poor horse got stuck between the doors, it would crush its bones and launch me forward like a catapult. As we drew closer, the soldiers gave one final shove and slammed the doors shut.

  They closed inches behind the horse’s tail.

  “Yes!” I screamed. But, the city guards were not done yet. At the top of the wall, five archers released their arrows. I hunched and scuttled the horse with the reins. I heard the arrows miss right beside us, until I felt a pluck on my back. I’d been hit! I checked my back and saw an arrow stuck on the shield. I smiled at my fortune. It was a good thing I had it on.

  I continued down the road and turned right, where I had seen the carriage turn. At that moment, the rain came. The downpour instantly made the dirt muddy. Then, without warning, the horse fell and threw me to a crummy puddle in the middle of the road. It had stepped into a pothole and lost its balance. The mud softened the fall and we didn’t get hurt, but as soon as it got up, the horse turned and dashed away. Now, I was on foot under the tempest. I resumed as rain and gale slapped my body. It was as if the wind was coming from all angles.

  The road went deeper into the forest and curved endlessly inside it, until I finally saw the carriage ahead. It had stopped. The wheels were stuck in the mud. Soldiers were out trying to heave it out. I stood beside the road, watching. Auria was inside that covered cage, alone and in the dark. I hardened my fists until they cracked. This was the stage; this rainy
day and battered road. Auria’s suffering would end here.

  I placed the shield on my arm, unsheathed my sword, and walked. I would not hide and surprise them; I would not “improvise”. I would only end it.

  One of the soldiers stopped pushing and leaned on the platform to rest. Covering his eyes from the rain, he noticed me walking towards them. Seeing a man with a sword and shield, geared up to fight, he instinctively yelled, “Bandits!”

  The soldiers picked up their weapons and circled the caravan. I kept walking patiently, letting them absorb the rush of the moment. The one that saw me took his pike and marched on the muddy path to confront me. He pointed the pike and jabbed at me. Every time I deflected with the shield, keeping a distance. He then swung the pike to my left, and I dodged back with a hop. But when he swung back, I stopped the pike with my blade and pushed it out with the shield. I rapidly spun around and hacked the man under the ribs. This was all in one swift move. He gave a harsh gasp and fell. With one less enemy to worry about, I continued my walk.

  The soldiers saw their comrade fall, but still remained surrounding the caravan. They wondered if I was alone or not. One of them left the group and came at me. He too had a sword and shield, but showed me his weak fighting style. He came running at me with his shield raised, attempting to bash me down. I raised my own shield and waited for him. What I was about to do needed perfect timing. And the moment he crashed against me, I forced my sword down over the rim of his shield. I don’t know where I stabbed him; the face, the neck, or the chest. But, he instantly dropped dead. With the second one on the ground, the soldiers cursed. This time, three of them came at me. One had a halberd, the other a simple sword; but the third one wielded a greatsword. He was a tall man with a bushy beard flowing out his helmet. The greatsword was so long he had to hold it with both his hands. The three formed a line before me as a flash of lightning lit us from the side. I raised my shield and prepared my sword.