by Riker Kane
“Even she can sense it… Belenoth must be close…”
Clayton’s thoughts were interrupted when he heard more giggling on the other side of the wall. “Hmm… I wonder… They’ll probably kill me if I get caught…” More giggling and splashing made him jump out of the pool. “That’s it.”
He walked naked back into the log cabin, searching for the door to the other rejuvenation pool when he noticed Banyer was nowhere to be found.
“Strange… Hey, Banyer!” His voice echoed through the cabin. “Hey, Banyer! You still here?” He headed into the living room and noticed the unattended cauldron over the fire.
“Hmm…” He tip-toed toward the cauldron as the smoke continued to rise from it. As he got closer, the pungent aroma from it burned his nostrils. “Ew… Gross… What is that?”
Clayton moved right up to the cauldron until he could look inside. The liquids within were black and noxious, bubbling like crude oil. He narrowed his eyes as he stirred the mixture with the ladle. “What is—” He hit something hard and scooped it up. The oil-like stew dripped down from it and revealed the upper-half of a cracked skull.
“What are you doing?” The voice boomed from behind him as he jerked his head around, expecting to see Banyer standing there. But the old man was gone, replaced by a figured in a hooded black cloak. The voice matched Banyer but the man was significantly taller, even if Clayton couldn’t see his face. “I said what are you doing?”
As the man got closer, Clayton still couldn’t see his face. “What the hell?” There was no face to look at all. Just two glowing white eyes sitting in darkness.
“I’m getting the hell outta here—”
“You’re not going anywhere.” The hooded figure raised his hands up and fired a spell at Clayton that knocked him onto his back. He gasped as he tried to catch his breath.
“Listen, Banyer… Thanks for your hospitality, but I think I’ve had enough.”
Banyer yelled as he fired another spell at Clayton. Clayton just managed to move out of the way, the energy instead slamming into the wall behind him.
“Gotta get to Zeal…” Clayton stumbled on his feet back to the pool. He unsheathed his sword and turned around just in time to deflect another spell Banyer fired at him. More giggling from the other side of the wall almost distracted him from the man moving forward.
Banyer raised his hands up to cast another spell. Clayton seized the opportunity to dash forward and slam his sword into his chest. There was no resistance. Banyer groaned in pain before suddenly vanishing completely like a spirit fading into mist. Nothing but his black cloak remained as it fell to the floor.
“Thanks for the hospitality…”
Clayton quickly ran through the cabin and kicked open the door to the other pool. The women yelled in surprise as they sat in the pool, shielding their bodies from Clayton’s stare.
“Oh, real impressive, BB. Standing there naked with just your sword.”
“I do not think that is appropriate,” Mirella said.
“You really should use the other pool, Clayton—”
Clayton grumbled in frustration. “Okay, first of all, I’ve already seen all of you naked, so you’re not hiding anything new from me. Second of all, we’re getting the hell outta here.”
“Banyer would think we’re ungrateful,” Jalise said.
“Banyer isn’t thinking anything right now. Trust me. We’ll find another place to recover.”
Chapter 31
“Warlocks. They’re always causing mischief. When they’re not taking advantage of innocent villagers, they’re taking advantage of unsuspecting travelers.”
“I should’ve known something was up, Jalise.” Clayton sighed and shook his head. “I should’ve warned you.”
“We are all to blame. When someone opens their doors, you want to assume the best in them. Now we know for sure he won’t cause any more trouble.”
Clayton looked back. Even though the group had traveled a few miles, the smoke from the smoldering ash Jalise turned Banyer’s cabin into was still visible.
“Next time, I’ll check his pots before we decide to get naked and hop in his pool,” he said.
The party kept their guard up as they wandered through the forest. Even though he didn’t know what was lurking out there, Clayton felt some peace as he wandered through the brush. The air was fresh. The grass was soft. The shade cooled the sweat dripping from his brow. He laughed knowing he’d never do anything close to this living at home. Just simple moments traveling the terrain reminded him of how wondrous his journey was.
The sun was at its apex when Clayton heard a noise in the distance. “Hold on… There’s something up ahead.” He took the lead and moved forward. More of the light through the darkness appeared. Clayton kept his hand on his pommel as he walked into the clearing. Relief came over him as he saw a family sitting in the grass and having a picnic. He looked around and saw more buildings.
“Hmm… Looks like a town,” he said.
“Looks like a town,” Kailani said. “A town in the middle of the forest? Kinda suspicious.”
“I’m with you. But we’ll be ready if something is up. These people seem ordinary enough.”
The party walked into the town. The buildings were old, wooden structures. From what Clayton could tell, there were several shops selling food, small weapons and other provisions. Children ran through the streets, chasing after one another without a care in the world. The adults were hard at work at their trade. Woodworkers. Blacksmiths. Seamstresses. There were all sorts of craftsmen, their clothes as ordinary as their appearance.
“Hmm… Who would’ve thought there’d be a bustling village in the middle of the forest?” Clayton said.
“The forest provides a lot of resources,” Mirella said. “It is no wonder how they are able to thrive.”
“The trees are a natural defense from invaders,” Jalise said. “It’s a good way to stay out of the conflict. These people look like they want to mind their own business.”
“I think this is a safe place to relax for a bit.” Clayton noticed an inn off to the side. “I don’t know how much farther we are from the mountains. We should think about staying the night.”
Clayton stepped into the inn where the manager at the front desk was sleeping in his seat.
“Ahem.” A loud clear of this throat was enough to get the mustached man to wake up.
He blinked his eyes open wide, looking at the party one by one. “Ah! Travelers! Welcome to Lancaster! You’re here to collect the bounty?”
“The bounty?” Clayton raised an eyebrow.
“Wait… You mean you’re not here for the bounty?” The manager hopped up from his seat and moved over to the side. He pointed at the parchment hanging from the wall.
WANTED: The Assassin of Lancaster. Wanted for robbery, murder, and abduction. See Mayor Morrison for Reward.
Underneath the writing was the image of a hooded figure. “Can’t tell much from that drawing. Just a shaded face with two eyes. I just killed a warlock who looked like that.”
“Maybe you killed the Lancaster Assassin already,” the manager said. “People around here aren’t crossing their fingers though. Nobody’s got a clean look at the bastard but they’ve seen him. He’s been through here. Breaking windows. Taking kids. Killing people. The whole town’s on edge but you wouldn’t know it. You really aren’t hunters?”
“We’re traveling to the mountains. We just happened to stop by.”
“Damn shame. You look like you people know how to handle yourself. People from all over Green Terra have come to see if they can take care of the ‘Lancaster Assassin.’ Mayor Morrison isn’t saying what he’s offering but it’s something big.” The manager moved back behind the counter.
Clayton looked around the inn lobby and noticed a bunch of men who didn’t look like the other townsfolk. Knights in full suits of armor. Archers with lethal crossbows. Sorcerers who looked capable of casting dangerous spells.
�
�I’ve only got one room left. Fully-booked, otherwise. Then again, three ladies and one man in a single room… You’re a lucky devil.”
“Thanks…” Clayton was too distracted by the hunters. The hunters themselves took notice of Clayton and eyeballed him right back. “The Lancaster Assassin… It’s a serious problem, is it?”
“Sure is. Everybody’s got a smile on their face. Things seem normal but I know they’re worried. Mayor enacted a curfew because of the abductions. Old man is as desperate as anybody to catch ‘em. But if you’re just passing through, that ain’t any of your business. So… You want the room or not?”
“We’ll take the room. But I’d like to talk to the mayor first. Where’s he at?”
“Just head north a bit, around the tavern. Big mansion on the hill. You shouldn’t have too much trouble finding it.”
Clayton stepped out of the inn and looked around. The town appeared as calm as when he first saw it. But ‘WANTED’ parchments posted on all of the buildings were easy to spot now that he was aware of them.
“What are you thinking, Clayton?” Jalise walked up and put a hand on his shoulder. “Something is troubling you…”
“I don’t know… I’ve just a bad feeling about this. I’m thinking… Do you think the Maledict have something to do with this?”
“That’s a possibility. Perhaps Belenoth himself has come to this town knowing you’d be heading toward it. Maybe he’s prepared a trap for you.”
“If it is Belenoth or not, we must do what we can for these people,” Mirella said. “We cannot simply ignore their request for aid.”
“You’re right,” Clayton sighed. “Let’s go talk to the mayor. Maybe he’ll be able to give us more information.”
~ ~ ~
“That’s the mayor’s mansion?” Kailani shook her head in disbelief. “How come his house is so much bigger than everybody else’s?”
“Because he’s the mayor,” Clayton said. “That’s how it works. Doesn’t Okari get a bigger place now that he’s Chief Elder?”
“No. He’s stuck in the same ol’ hut he’s always lived in. Maybe he should take a hint from this guy…”
“Now that you mention it, it is pretty big.” Clayton and his party walked up to the sprawling mansion. It was twice the size of every building in Lancaster. The two-storied structure appeared to be made out of finely crafted stone like a piece of art. Even the windows shined with a glean like it was polished constantly.
The door opened up as soon as Clayton stepped to it, a thin man in perfectly-tailored linens answering. “Welcome,” the man said. “Can I be of assistance?”
“I’m Clayton Brooks. I’m here to speak to the mayor.”
“And what is this in regards to?”
“I have questions about the Lancaster Assassin. We’re here for the bounty. Just trying to get some details.”
“Of course… Right this way.” Clayton followed the man into the mansion. It was as luxurious as any building he’d seen in even Nalore and Shara. The walls were decorated with fine art. The candelabra on the walls were crafted out of pure gold. The dark polished stone floor squeaked with every step of Clayton’s armor.
“Fancy…”
They headed into a small den where a man sat comfortably in his seat, his head buried inside of a book.
“Mayor Morrison… Travelers have arrived… They have questions about the assassin.”
The man slowly raised his head up. Clayton was too distracted by the men standing next to him to notice him.
His guards didn’t look like any knights he’d ever seen. Their armor was gold. Their swords were gold. If Clayton didn’t know better, he swore even the linens underneath their plate mail was gold.
“Don’t mind them,” the man said. “You only have to worry if you try something. You’re not gonna try anything, are you?”
“I just had some questions,” Clayton said.
“All right. I’m Mayor Morrison. Probably asking about how much I’m gonna pay you. If you bring me the assassin’s head, I’ll give you a big reward. If you bring him to me alive, I’ll give you a bigger reward.”
“You plan on torturing them?”
“The assassin has been torturing this entire town! Lancaster demands justice. I’m responsible for giving the people what they want.”
Mayor Morrison was noticeably chubby. His white shirt stretched out from his belly despite the amount of textiles put into it. His entire body wobbled as he paced back and forth, scratching his thick, dark mustache. Just a simple movement made a few beads of sweat drip down from his bald head.
But what made Clayton curious was how upset Morrison seemed to be. He couldn’t blame him, considering the situation he was in. There was something else though. He could see it in Morrison’s eyes. An obvious frustration from the way he grumbled to himself.
“This assassin… How long has he been a problem for you?’
“Up until recently, Lancaster’s been just fine. We’ve had a few kids missing before then but that’s what happens in Fortune Forest. Parents let their kids go roaming around and the beasts take them. If not them, it’s the bandits. With that damn war going on between those snooty snobs, who knows what else is out there.”
“Right… The drawing doesn’t seem to tell me much. Just a hooded figure and some eyes. How am I supposed to know what the assassin looks like? He could just be wandering through the streets during broad daylight and nobody would know.”
“The people would know. We’re a small town. Everybody knows each other. Some stranger shows up and makes themselves at home, they’re bound to get found out. But he’s here. I know he is. I seen ‘em with my own two eyes. Bastard killed one of my own guards.”
“Wait a second. The assassin killed one of your guards? These men in this fancy armor?”
“That’s right!” Morrison raised his voice loud enough to make him sweat even more. “He butchered a few hunters who came to stop him, too. That’s why we call him the Lancaster Assassin.”
“Any reason why someone would come to your town and start doing all of this?”
“How the hell am I supposed to know? I’ll tell you one thing though. This man is evil. You’d have to be to pick on an innocent town like this in the middle of the forest. Just honest townsfolk trying to make an honest living.” He walked up to Clayton and pointed his index finger at him. “I don’t care what you do or how you do it. If you save this town, I’ll give you enough gold to build a house just like this.”
“Hmm… Tempting.”
“Anything else? Because I think you should get out there and do something about my problem. My town needs you.”
Clayton looked to his companions but they all stayed silent. “Thanks, Mayor Morrison.”
“Yes, yes,” he grumbled as he returned to the book he was reading.
The group stepped outside of the mansion and headed back toward town.
“Charming fella,” Kailani said. “Wonder how he got elected.”
“I wouldn’t hold it against him,” Jalise replied. “If the allegations are true, he has every reason to be agitated.”
Clayton stopped and put his hands on his hips. He looked out into the peaceful town. “Look,” he said. “All these kids running around. Everybody going about their business. The town seems… normal.”
“I admire their courage,” Mirella said. “We must deal with this assassin.”
Clayton didn’t know how much time he had until Belenoth came through the mist and attacked again.
“If Belenoth comes to Lancaster, there’s no telling how much destruction he can cause.” Clayton pulled out Zeal and looked down at it. “We’ll talk to the rest of the townsfolk. Somebody has to know something.”
Chapter 32
The Lancaster tavern was filled that night. The conversation wasn’t raucous, which surprised Clayton, considering the amount of mead filling his nostrils. The waitresses served ale to all of the citizens inside of the small but comfortable setting.
Clayton sat at his table and watched as an entire mug of ale disappeared inside of Kailani’s mouth. Her cheeks bulged for a moment before she swallowed everything down with a gulp.
“Doesn’t have the same kick as lavawater… But it’s giving me a nice little buzz.”
“Try not to get wasted tonight, eh?”
“I’m not planning on getting wasted. We had a long walk from Shara though. Even when we were relaxing, some warlock ended up attacking us. Besides, somebody has to have a good time.” Kailani looked around and shook her head. “It’s depressing in here.”
There was a dour mood in the tavern despite the conversation. Nobody was smiling. The minstrels played half-hearted music. Half-empty glasses looked like they weren’t going to be finished.
“You can’t blame these people,” Clayton said. “There’s a killer stealing kids out there. Can’t really celebrate when they might be next.”
“I’m here to help, BB. It seems like we’re chasing a ghost though.”
Mirella and Jalise arrived at the table.
“I’ve spoken to some of the townsfolk,” Jalise said. “They said what we already know. Some hooded figure running through the streets when the moon is out. None of them got a clear look but it was obviously a man who had something to hide.”
“I have learned the same,” Mirella said. “They say they have had some of their belongings taken. Clothes and weapons. Others have said they witnessed someone breaking into this tavern itself. But they cannot add any further details.”
“Hmm…” Clayton sighed and got up from his seat. “We’ll keep talking to everybody. Maybe Kailani has the right idea. I’ll get you three a round to relax for a bit.”
Clayton walked by himself to the bar and waited for the barmaid to address him. “What are ya having, traveler?”
“Three mugs of ale. And one fuzz.”
“Fuzz? Ya know only children drink that.”
“Hey! I like it.” The barmaid shrugged with a smirk as she poured the drinks. “I heard the Lancaster Assassin paid you a visit.”