“I said no.” He answered flatly, and went back to drinking.
****
Konafar and Strom spoke while walking toward the guard house.
“Sorry about that I’m just nervous about strangers, and I don’t want any trouble.” Strom said.
“I understand. Enough about that. That girl was beautiful. I assume you’re still cheating on Roga?”
“Roga passed away a year ago.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
Strom reflected and waited for several awkward seconds to pass before continuing. “She died one night of an unexplained sickness. No one could do anything to save her.”
“How are the kids?”
“Getting big.” He sounded down. “Sarae starts school soon. She fancies the healing arts. My boys are a chip off the block. Do you have time? I’d like to show you something.”
Konafar nodded.
They arrived at the junior school of the blade a short time later. Outside of the building, students were sitting in a large circle watching two other students fight in the center with wooden wasters. The fight ended shortly after Konafar and Strom arrived, when one student whacked the other in the head, knocking him out cold.
The teacher tended to the fallen student until he woke and was helped out of the circle to the sound of applause from everyone watching. Two more students stood up, a young boy about the age of twelve and a bigger, slightly older one.
“There they are. Keller is my younger boy, and Kam is the elder.” Strom announced proudly.
“They look just like you.” Konafar said, bringing a big smile to his friend’s face.
The kids marched over to the weapons rack, grabbed two staves, and then back to the center where they nodded to each other and began their fight. Slowly, they circled other until the older Strom went on the offensive by rushing his younger brother.
Keller quickly took one step back, lowered the staff so that it was level with his stomach, and rammed it into Kam’s midsection, knocking the wind from his lungs and sending him to his knees gasping for air.
A few seconds later, Kam was on his feet, holding his stomach and eying his brother, looking for an opening. He repositioned the staff and attacked. This time he baited his brother into blocking two obvious attacks in order to move in closer. He then used his staff to manipulate Keller’s out of the way, while placing his own behind his left leg and shoving him.
Keller lost his balance and fell to the ground. The younger boy got up and charged. Kam parried three times and then did the same move again and sent him back to the ground. Frustrated, Keller got up and attacked harder this time. Four blocks later by Kam and his brother was lying on his back.
The teacher, realizing the younger boy didn’t know how to counter the move, stopped the fight and told the other students to start practicing their forms again.
“I taught Kam that one.” Strom proudly said and called his boys over. “Keller, Kam, this is Konafar.” Both boys nodded.
“That was very good.” Konafar said.
“But I lost.” Keller looked defeated.
“Keller you lost, but what did you learn?” His father asked him.
“That I need more training.”
“You do, but you’ve also been shown that move before.”
“Did you show him how to counter the attack?” Konafar asked.
“I did.”
“I guess not well enough. Can I borrow your staff?” Konafar asked Keller.
The younger boy handed him his weapon. Konafar instructed Kam to do the same move and when he did, Konafar stepped back, whipped the backend of the staff up and stopped the weapon a few inches from his face.
“That’s how you counter the move when someone wants to knock. You step out of the way.” Konafar said.
“Can you show me more?” Keller asked.
“Rasin, do you care to assist?”
Captain Strom took Kam’s staff and walked to the center of the ring. The other students stopped what they were doing to watch.
“I’ll try not to embarrass you in front of your boys.” Konafar taunted his friend and handed Carnage to Keller. “Hold this.”
“That will be the day.” Strom fired back jokingly.
When they were ready, the fight started with the sound of ash slamming against hickory, drawing the attention of many of the townsfolk walking by.
They fought back and forth with neither one gaining the advantage. Once they crossed weapons they began grappling.
Konafar was the first to drop his weapon and Strom shortly thereafter. They fell to the ground rolling around. Eventually, Strom mounted Konafar from behind, wrapped his arms around his neck and began choking him. Konafar struggled, but wouldn’t give up and fought his way out of the hold. He turned Strom’s strength against him by pushing his arm out of the way and then locking his arm under his own.
Just when everyone thought the captain was going to give up, he twisted his arm in an unusual fashion and escaped the hold, while rolling Konafar over, wrapping his legs around his stomach and his arms around his neck. Konafar knew what was coming and was helpless to do anything further as Strom pushed his arms and legs in separate directions while squeezing. It took a couple of minutes, but eventually Konafar grew tired and gave up. Both men stood up to the cheers and claps of everyone who was watching.
“Did you learn anything?” Konafar asked Keller.
“Not to mess with my dad.”
Konafar and Strom chuckled.
“Dad, that was awesome.” Kam said.
Rasin grinned from ear-to-ear.
“I have to get going. Remember one thing boys, never stop training and don’t take your opponent lightly, or they might actually beat you.” Konafar said. Keller handed him Carnage. “Strom I’ll see you later.”
Breen took a final swig of ale and stood up. “There’s a potion store called Valor’s, so that’s where I’ll be.”
Jacko and Sun got up too. “We’re going as well. We need to visit Mui Shin.”
Tonles took the large drumstick away from his mouth. “Let’s meet back here around dusk. I am going to the armory as soon as Konafar returns.” He proceeded to take a big bite of meat.
Breen walked eastward through the busy streets until she arrived at Valor’s Potions and entered. She was immediately greeted by smells of incense and scented oils that pleased to her senses. People milled about the dimly lit store looking for items, while others stood around engaged in conversation about daily events and the weather. She walked down the closest aisle and approached two men who were engaged in conversation. One looked like a merchant, and the other looked like a farmer.
“And I tell you, the only thing they found was the priest’s skin.” The merchant said.
“How can that be?” The other asked.
“That’s what I heard.”
“Nonsense.”
“If you don’t believe me, then go ask old lady Tronal.”
“She’s a hundred and two years old. What does she know?” The farmer scoffed.
“More than you.”
“Excuse me.” Breen said interrupting them.
“What is it?” The farmer responded while looking at her.
“You said they only found his skin? What happened to his body?”
“That’s what I heard. There was nothing left of the body or the organs.”
“When did the guards arrive?” Breen asked.
“About an hour later.” The merchant answered.
“That’s impossible. The killer would never have enough time to skin someone and get rid of the body.”
“And I’m telling you that’s all they found.” He paused as if sizing her up. “And why are you talking to us? We don’t even know you.” The farmer said in disgust, walking away with the other following closely behind him.
Breen shook her head in annoyance and continued walking around the store picking up herbs and ointments. With her basket semi-full, she walked to the front of the
store to pay for her items. When it was her turn, she unloaded the basket onto the counter.
“Will that be all?” The woman behind the counter asked.
“Do you have any recipes for sale?”
The lady reached under the counter and pulled out a box. She was about to open it when she noticed Breen’s armband and paused looking at her suspiciously. “Are you an official?”
“What?”
“Your armband. Only officials wear them.”
Breen didn’t know how to respond, so she acted like she was one. “I am. What do you know about the murders?”
“Not much, just what I hear. Some say Priest Abiathar was sleeping in the temple, and two strangers broke in and murdered him and his acolytes. Others say an evil priest wanted to kill him. But the strangest story I’ve heard was that he was a demon, and a stranger conjured up another one to kill him.”
“That last story does sound farfetched.”
“You know how rumors start.” The woman said, opened the box and began looking through the tiny parchments. “Now what recipes are you looking for?”
“Do you have any for advanced healing, removing nasty scars, or curing diseases?”
She thumbed through the papers for a few more seconds and said. “I have advanced healing and scar removal, but nothing for diseases. Hopefully, I have their components.” She turned around and began looking at the shelves.
“Valor is a unique name for a woman.” Breen commented.
“That was my father’s name. My name is Ditora.”
Ditora’s eyes rested upon a small metal box.. She grabbed it from the shelf and opened it. “Here they are.” She took out several items.
“How much are they?”
“The recipe and components for healing are one hundred gold pieces, and scar removal will cost fifteen, but seeing you’re an official; I'll give you both for seventy five.”
“Thanks.” Breen purchased them along with their components and left the store.
“Why did you lie to Tonles about Torhan?” Sun asked him as soon as they were away from the inn.
“Because we really don’t know him and besides, if I did, and he told Konafar, then they might tell Captain Strom.”
“You know they might figure it out.”
“I want to try to prove his innocence.”
“Okay, we’ll investigate after we visit Mui and the Order. What are you going to do if you can’t prove his innocence?”
“Try to convince Konafar not to pursue him.” Jacko said knowing that was easier said than done.
“And if he won’t?”
“We’ll leave town without them and try to find Torhan first and worry about Konafar later.”
Sun didn’t like the sound of the latter and didn’t know how they would ever stop Konafar, let alone Tonles.
Along the way, they noticed wanted posters placed randomly on the building walls. Underneath the picture in large letters was the reward. “Ten Thousand Gold Pieces DEAD and Twenty Thousand ALIVE.”
“Did you see that?” Sun asked.
“It’s the same picture Captain Strom has.”
“Not that, the amount of money on their heads. That’s going to bring every tracker and hunter within this region.”
“Let’s hope we find him first.” Jacko said and then stopped a passerby and asked for directions to Mui Shin’s house.
After arriving at Mui Shin’s cottage, they found the house locked tight.
“I don’t think there’s anyone inside.” Jacko said after peering through the front window. “Where to now?”
“Do you want to go to the armory or should we go to the Order?”
“It’s getting late, so let’s go to the Order tomorrow.”
“Armory it is. We’ll stop back here later." Sun said.
Konafar arrived shortly after Sun, Jacko, and Breen left the inn and sat down with his friend to have another drink.
“What happened to you?” Tonles asked after seeing Konafar’s dirty clothes and redness around his throat.
“I was putting on a demonstration.”
“With whom?”
“The good captain, he’s a worthy opponent.”
“He didn’t look like one.”
“Maybe not against Carnage, but with a staff, he’s very good, plus he can grapple.”
“I guess we’ll need to work on that when we have time.”
“You got that right.” Konafar laughed loudly and picked up his goblet, swallowing its contents in one gulp. “Where’s everyone?”
“Sun and Jacko went to visit that guy, Shin and Breen went shopping. I told them to meet us back here tonight. When we’re finished, let’s go to Wakefield Armory.”
Five tankards later, they left the bar and stumbled their way over to the store.
Wakefield Armory was brightly lit and crowded with patrons who were walking about gazing at the armor stacked on tables. To the left of the room were racks of wooden and steel practice swords.
“This is ridiculous.” Konafar exclaimed after picking up a single-handed short sword and running his finger over the edge. “This piece of crap couldn’t cut anything.”
“They’re practice swords.” Tonles said.
Konafar ignored him and walked to the front of the store, and pushed his way to the front of the line. “Where are the good weapons?” He slurred, annoying everyone in line, as well as the man behind the counter, who was in the middle of a transaction.
“Sir, I’ll be right with you.” The clerk replied.
Konafar was about to say something further when Tonles was by his side and guided him to the other side of the room.
“What does he mean I’ll be right with you? Doesn’t he know who I am?”
“Be calm my friend. Let’s go look at the armor.”
Tonles walked him around the store until he found something that he thought Konafar might like.
“Look at this?” Tonles showed him brigandine armor. “I like this better than plate. Do you?”
Konafar nodded and took the armor off of the table and put it on over his chainmail. It was thick, studded from top to bottom and his favorite color of deep purple. More importantly, it was the right size and allowed him to move his arms freely. Tonles was so impressed with the craftsmanship that he grabbed one for himself, but in black.
After Tonles found a suitable replacement for his shield, they proceed over to the counter and waited patiently for their turn.
The clerk looked at Konafar. “Oh it’s you again!”
Konafar let his snide comment go. “Where are your battle ready weapons?” Konafar asked in a calm voice.
The skinny man looked at the sword strapped across his back and then at the armbands. “We’re not allowed to sell sharp weapons until the mayor says so. The ones on display are for practice, and can only be purchased if you have a writ from Captain Strom himself.”
“You do know you could still kill someone with those?” Tonles added.
“And you can kill someone with a fork.” The clerk snapped.
Tonles felt like smacking the man.
“Now what can I get you. You’re holding up the line.”
“For one, we need our weapons sharpened.” Konafar and Tonles placed their weapons on the counter. “We’re also buying the armor, shield, and four sharpening stones.”
The clerk started looking over the wares. “That will be five hundred gold pieces.”
“Five hundred!” Tonles exclaimed.
“Yes, five hundred! Did I stutter?”
Tonles grabbed him by the tunic. “I have a good mind to slug you.” He released him and grabbed their weapons. “Let’s go, before I do something I might regret.”
“Captain Strom is going to love this story.” Konafar added chuckling.
They were about to walk away when the merchant said. “How about four hundred and fifty?”
Tonles grinned. “Because of your attitude, I think four hundred gold pieces is more appropriate.”
>
The man agreed because he knew Captain Strom would pay him a visit and he didn’t need the aggravation.
“How long will it take for our weapons?” Tonles asked.
“Give me two days. I’m a bit backed up.”
After the coins were exchanged, Tonles and Konafar went back to the inn.
****
Jacko and Sun were approaching Killington’s Armory just as a big guy dressed in an apron, was about to lock the door.
They stopped a few feet from him.
“Can we come in and see your wares?” Sun asked causing the big fellow to look over.
“Wait here, I need to ask my father.” He said and walked back inside. A few minutes later he returned and allowed them to enter. “Welcome, my name is Mekel.”
“Pleased to meet you, my name is Sun and this is Jacko.”
A short, stocky, balding fellow walked over. “Glad to meet you, my name is Killington. Have a look around and please be quick. I need to close early because I have a date with Ms. Walfer.” Killington smiled at the sound of her name.
“We will and thank you.” Jacko said.
They walked around the store until Sun saw a suite of chainmail, colored black and gold, and stopped to examine it. He reached out and touched the links and thought they felt differently than any other he’d ever touched before. “The links are somewhat unusual.”
“That it is.” Killington said walking over. “It’s made from a very rare material called Titanium, which is much stronger than typical chainmail links. A blacksmith named Yarn crafted this one for me. Look at how tightly the links are woven together. A spear can’t even go through it.”
“How much does it cost?” Jacko asked.
“It’s not for sale. I'm holding it for someone, but I’m not sure if he’ll return.”
“Why is that?”
“He was the one accused of killing the priest, but I don’t believe he did. He didn’t seem the type and neither did the woman he was with.” He paused and looked down. “She’s a good person. A healer.”
“Did you tell anyone what you thought of them?”
“No. I didn’t even tell them he was here.”
“Was his name Torhan?” Jacko asked.
“How did you know his name?”
A Demon's Quest the Beginning of the End the Trilogy Box Set Page 51