by Robe
“It was long ago,” Veese continued. “They died doing their duty, and their deaths were not in vain. The temple was protected.”
“If it’s any consolation, my parents also died when I was young,” Joan said. “It was an illness that took them both together. That’s why I decided to train as an apothecary.”
“My parents are no longer living, either,” Reon said and looked at the others suspiciously. “Another coincidence?”
“Well,” Auric spoke, “I grew up in an orphanage. What about you, Ziem?”
Ziem looked reluctant to talk, but he finally said, “My mother and father aren’t dead.”
“Still,” Reon said, “four out of five. And what if Dalk is also without parents? Can’t be chance, can it?”
The group quietly pondered Reon’s thought, and the silence was interrupted only by Dalk and Iris returning.
“Who’s next?” she asked, and Ziem rose to follow her, almost running to the next room.
“How did it go?” Auric asked as Dalk sat in one of the waiting chairs. He was putting his shirt back on, covering the fresh and expertly-applied bandage on his shoulder.
“She says with a little rest, I’ll be fine. I have nothing to worry about, except scars,” Dalk said.
“How is that possible? The wound looked so deep to me,” Auric said.
“She said the large loss of blood was the most significant complication. It probably made the wound look much worse than it was,” Dalk responded.
“That’s good news. I’m happy for you,” Auric said, and the others chimed in.
“Yes, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to help our friend here track down this killer,” Dalk said. “But since I’m in good condition, I’ll help you in any way I can, Veese.”
Veese looked surprised. “I did not expect any company. Dalk, there is something I need to say to you.”
“Sunbloom?” Dalk asked. “Don’t worry about it. You couldn’t have done anything. And in any case, it’s better she’s alive somewhere than dead to the Raugen.” Veese nodded quietly to this resolution.
“Dalk, may I ask you a personal question?” Auric asked.
“Have at it,” he replied.
“Are your parents dead?” Auric inquired.
“My mother died giving birth to me,” Dalk said. “Nobody ever told me who my father was. I doubt even he knows.” The group exchanged suspicious looks with one another before Dalk spoke up, “What? Have I said something to offend?”
“None of us have parents, with the exception of Ziem,” Auric filled the other man in, “but he didn’t sound eager to give us any details.”
“Odd,” Dalk said with a frown. “Especially when you consider how we met.”
“Do you know anything about this, Veese? Any clue or idea as to what’s happening to us?” Auric asked.
Veese thought for a moment before saying, “I do not think it is a coincidence. The Evil God is free. Our companions are performing magic. I find it unlikely that this could be chance.”
“Speaking of commanding magic,” Joan spoke up, “have you tried to freeze anything else, Dalk?”
Dalk hesitated to respond, and he shifted uneasily in his seat. “I am not comfortable with what happened last night. I hope it does not happen again.”
“I think that is unwise,” Veese said. “You should learn to control it. You would not want to accidentally hurt someone.”
“I’ll take that into consideration,” Dalk replied, “but I am hesitant as of yet.”
Ziem emerged from the examination room and sat down. Iris reappeared behind him and gestured for Veese to join her. The group was quiet as Veese rose to follow, and they didn’t speak until Iris closed the door behind her.
“Should we be keeping all of this secret?” Reon asked, vocalizing the thought that was with all of them.
“I think that would be best,” Auric said, “at least for now. We need to get a handle on it ourselves.”
After a while, Dalk stood. “Do you know where I can find a page?” he queried. “I need one that will travel to Lanair. Weston’s parents deserve to know that their son is likely gone.”
“There’s a young man just down the street, on the corner,” Joan said. “I saw him, wearing a brown cap, before we got here. He’ll deliver your message for you.”
“Thank you,” Dalk said, and he left the healer’s home.
The silence grew uncomfortable after Dalk had gone. Veese had been in the examination room with Iris for a quite some time, and there was little to do other than look around the establishment. Iris had impressive canvas paintings hanging on every wall, each of them created by a master artist. Fancy candlestick holders were affixed on either side of the paintings as well, crafted out of what could have been the finest metal. Iris certainly seemed to be well-off with her chosen profession.
As Joan was examining a particular picture on the wall opposite her, she realized Auric was looking in her direction, and as she looked at him, he smiled. She smiled back but looked away fast.
Dalk returned and was surprised to find Veese was still with the healer.
“Do you suppose everything is alright?” he asked.
“He seemed okay this morning,” Auric said.
“He’s a tough guy,” Reon said. “Maybe he was hiding his pain.”
A few moments later, the door opened and Veese emerged, an uncharacteristically irritated look on his face. There was a wrap around his ankle, and as he walked, Iris spoke.
“Stop trying to conceal your limp, it will not help you,” she scorned, but Veese merely turned and looked at her blandly. She shook her head. “If you have any power over him at all, ensure that he stays off that foot. It is the only way to avoid worsening the affliction, and the damage will be permanent.” As she said will, the healer turned back to give Veese a wide-eyed and threatening look.
“I see,” Auric said, frowning. “Will he make a full recovery?”
“He’ll be fine if he takes it easy for a couple of weeks,” Iris replied.
“Thank you for everything, Iris,” Joan said, rising. “What do we owe you?”
“The wounds your friends received were like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and I’ve treated plenty of hunters who’ve ended up being the prey. Whatever you got yourselves into, I’m sure it was not asked for. Your mentor will give me a lashing of the tongue if he hears I’ve overcharged you.”
Dalk rose and opened his coin purse.
“I’ll handle it, Dalk,” Joan said.
“What?” Dalk protested. “Nonsense.”
“I said I’ll handle it,” Joan said, looking at him meaningfully.
The group left the healer’s quarters, and Joan guided them to an inn and tavern. Partway there, Reon stopped them and said he needed to see his uncle to show him he was still alive and to receive a scolding, but he reassured them that, if his uncle did not slaughter him, he would return. They bid him farewell, and Joan led them the rest of the way to the inn.
“I also need to visit home,” Joan said. “My mentor is like a father to me. I’ll grab some supplies and meet you back here.” With that, she was gone.
The group entered the tavern and Auric ordered them all drinks. They sat around a table and talked quietly while listening to the rhythmweaver playing soothingly on his instrument. Several people eyed them as they conversed quietly, no doubt wondering what such a party of strangers would be doing in Rode. Many faces came and went, and Veese scanned each one as it passed. After several hours had gone by, most of which were filled with awkward silence and mild talk about the food they had bought, the sun subsided and Auric went to talk with the innkeeper.
“I’ve gotten us rooms,” he said when he returned. “We should get a good night’s rest.”
As he said this, a person entered the tavern, gazed around the room and then left. Veese nearly fell trying to get out of his chair. He hurriedly stumbled around tables and seats and dashed out the door. Auric, Dalk and Ziem were at his heels,
and when they exited the tavern, they found Veese standing as tall as he could, craning his neck to see through the darkening streets.
“What was it, Veese?” Dalk asked.
“I thought I saw the man,” he mumbled.
“What man?” Auric asked.
“The man who freed the Evil God.”
6
Auric had insisted that Veese come back to the tavern to rest his ankle, but Veese ignored the request, demanding that he search the streets. Dalk said he, too, wanted to search to recover any traces left of Weston Revidious, but Auric refused to let two wounded men wander the streets of Rode at night in search of danger. He instead volunteered to accompany Veese to stalk up and down the streets of Rode. Dalk and Ziem would wait at the tavern for Joan and Reon to return.
Auric and Veese strode quietly between the buildings of Rode. Twilight had finally passed, and people were lighting lamps outside of their homes. The streets were nearly empty, save the people having one last puff on their pipes before turning in, or the stragglers heading home after a late day working. Even considering the small number of faces to search, the darkness made it nearly impossible to differentiate between the average-looking citizens.
“What will we do even if we happen to find him again?” Auric asked Veese. “That is assuming you saw him.”
“I intend to drive my sword through his heart,” Veese said. “He will not expect it.”
“And if you slay an innocent man?” Auric pressed.
“Then it will be nothing in comparison to what will happen if the Evil God begins to act,” Veese replied. “It seems strange to me that he has not yet struck. Imprisoned for so long, his fury must be immense.”
“Tell me again what happened that day,” Auric said.
“I was keeping watch over the area as I usually do,” Veese began. “A man appeared who looked like he had met the Raugen, and he ran to seek refuge in the temple. I was cut off from following him, but when I finally managed to catch up, I was too late. He had unsealed the prison of the Evil God and was consumed by him, and I believe the Evil God walked out of the temple in that man’s body. You know what happened after that.”
“And now Ziem, Reon and Dalk are doing the impossible,” Auric said. “Do you think their gifts lucky blessings or unfortunate curses, a doing of the Evil God?”
“I believe Ziem, Reon and Dalk are the judges of that,” Veese replied. “How they decide to use their power could change what will eventually happen.”
“What if nothing happens?” Auric asked.
Veese was quiet for a moment. “If you doubt me, Auric, then do not follow me blindly over a meaningless life debt.”
“I didn’t mean to insult you. I only meant to ask what would happen if the Evil God has decided to change his ways and leave us be.”
“I do not think that is possible.”
-
Having abandoned their search for the time being, Auric and Veese returned to the tavern and found Joan and Reon were present. Joan carried a full satchel and Reon had a bag slung over his shoulder. They all gathered in one of the rooms Auric had rented to discuss what they would do next. Almost no light came in through the glass window, so the group had to use candles. Overjoyed, Reon lit each candle by igniting a small flame at the end of his finger.
“Showoff,” Joan teased, and Reon grinned.
“Before we draw up a plan,” Auric began, “I think it’s important to ask who’s willing to travel with us if our hunt takes us outside of Rode.”
Reon looked back and forth at the people sitting around him. “I thought we were all sticking this out ‘til the end.” Joan, Dalk and Ziem all nodded, exchanging glances with one another.
“Oh,” Auric said, somewhat surprised. “I didn’t expect everyone to be so ready to leave his or her comforts behind.”
“Veese saved us,” Joan said. “If he needs our help, then we owe him a life’s worth of it.”
“I do not want you to chase this entity with me if a debt is the only thing binding you,” Veese said. “There is no passion in that.”
“Unless you are passionate about life debts!” Reon jeered.
“So it’s settled,” Auric said. “We’ll stick with Veese. Let’s move on to the plan. We couldn’t find any traces of the Evil God where we looked. If he’s out there, he doesn’t want to stand out.”
“He must be fearful,” Veese said. “His last encounter with humans who were trying to stop him did not end well for him.”
“But you think he’s masquerading as the man who released him?” Auric asked.
“He is,” Veese affirmed.
“As Weston?” Dalk said. “He looks like Weston?”
“When the Evil God left the ruins, he left in the body of Weston, yes,” Veese said, “and I am certain I saw that man again briefly in the tavern.”
“So all we have to do is find Weston,” Dalk said. “And there’s a chance Weston is still alive?”
“I do not think so,” Veese replied.
“If there’s even a chance, I have to try to save him,” Dalk said.
“That sounds dangerous,” Veese responded. “Please refrain.”
“I can’t just kill a man knowing he might be my friend,” Dalk said.
“Then you will have to learn discipline,” Veese said.
Dalk quickly rose, knocking his chair back as he did. “Don’t tell me about discipline!”
“Settle down, Dalk!” Auric said, standing and putting a hand on Dalk’s uninjured shoulder. Veese continued sitting calmly, looking at Dalk as if he were a fine piece of art to be critiqued. Dalk glared back, his teeth gritted. “Veese didn’t mean to insult you.”
Composing himself, Dalk pulled his chair back in place before sitting again, but he continued leering at Veese.
“We have to work together if we’re going to get anything done,” Auric said. “We can’t be at each other’s throats.”
Reaching into his pocket, Dalk produced a piece of paper and laid it on the table. It was a drawing of man, a young one. His hair was dark and shaggy, and his nose was on the large side. He looked unhappy; he was frowning, and his eyes were filled with boredom.
“That’s him,” Veese asserted.
“The Revidiouses gave me this drawing so I could ask strangers if they’d seen him. I didn’t think I would have to use it in this way.” Dalk didn’t appear thrilled about revealing the paper, but he gestured for them to look upon it nonetheless. When his companions memorized the young face, Dalk withdrew the paper and stored it in his pocket once more.
“On a different note,” Reon spoke, “won’t this ‘Evil God’ be expecting us? He gave us these abilities, right? Doesn’t he know what’s going on?”
“I do not think he meant to leave behind whatever magic you and the others claimed,” Veese said. “He would not knowingly grant his enemies strength.”
“How are we going to find him?” Joan asked. “There are hundreds, if not thousands of people walking around Rode every day.”
“We’ll split up into groups,” Auric said. “Tomorrow morning, we’ll walk around Rode in pairs. If he’s here, then he must be so intentionally. Maybe he’s looking for something.”
“And what happens if we manage to catch him? Do we kill him?” Reon asked.
“Plunge your sword into his heart,” Veese said, either not noticing or ignoring the way Dalk quietly stared at him.
“What then? The Evil God is immortal, isn’t he? Otherwise, he would have died last time he was captured,” Reon pressed.
“It’s the best we’ve got for now,” Auric said. “I think we’ve talked enough. We had a long day and we’re expecting another long one tomorrow. Let’s get some rest. Joan, Reon, I didn’t expect you to stay with us or I would have purchased more rooms.”
“Don’t worry,” Joan said. “There are three beds a room and I don’t mind sleeping in cramped quarters, unless you do.”
None of the men objected. Auric, despite his male desires,
claimed the other room for Veese, Ziem and himself. With the mattresses only inches apart from each other and no more than a foot and a half between their feet and the opposite wall, quarters were indeed cramped, but after sleeping on dirt and rock, any bed was comfortable to the tired members of the party.
7
“This is pointless,” Joan huffed. “We’ve been out here the entire day with no sign of this Weston. How long will it be before the others decide he’s not here?”
The group had agreed to patrol Rode in a systematic fashion, with Veese and Reon taking the northern district, Auric and Dalk walking a route in the market, and Joan and Ziem searching the southern side of Rode where most of the service businesses were located. Eventless hour after eventless hour, the three pairs searched, watched and waited, checking in with each other every quarter sun. More than once during the day, one of Joan’s friends had approached her and asked for her company. She refused each, telling him or her she was very busy, but that another time would be nice.
“So, are you ever going to tell us where you came from?” Joan asked Ziem as they leaned against a fence, looking casual as they scrutinized each passerby.
“Maybe,” Ziem replied.
“Why don’t you tell me now?” Joan pressed.
“It’s… complicated,” Ziem murmured.
“Well, we’ve got the time,” Joan said, looking at him expectantly. Ziem made a painful face. “Alright, alright. I won’t bother you about it anymore.”
“Thank you,” Ziem said with a little sigh of relief.
A while passed in silence. The sun was beginning to dip down below the buildings of Rode, making Joan and Ziem squint against the orange-red glare. Faces became invisible as the sun sat directly in their line of sight.
“We had better move,” Joan said. “No point in sitting here if we can’t see anything.”
The two walked along the street a ways until they found shade under a large building that engulfed them completely in its shadow. Almost immediately, Joan grabbed Ziem’s arm and pointed; a young man with dark hair, almost black in the light, walked purposefully before them. He had bags under his eyes, and he walked very importantly, but he wore a cheap cloak that made him look like a street urchin.