Lost Souls

by John Van Stry

  Lost Souls

  Published by John Van Stry

  Copyright 2015 John Van Stry

  Copyright John Van Stry 2015

  Cover Credits: eBook Launch (http://ebooklaunch.com/)

  No part of this eBook may be reproduced in any form without expressed, written consent from the author.

  Any resemblance between characters in this story and people living or dead is purely coincidental. This is a work of fiction created by the author and the author retains all rights to the material in this story.

  License Notes

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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  The Plains East of Northridge

  "Okay, you can come out now. They’re asleep,” I said softly from the edge of camp. I saw no reason to ruin anyone else’s sleep over this, especially after volunteering for first watch and then waiting for the others to fall asleep, just so I could keep this little meeting private.

  I watched as a single figure quickly detached itself from the shadows and literally flowed into the clearing, moving silently over the grass and rocks. As it drew nearer I could see it was Jenna, as I had thought.

  “You’re getting soft, Jareth,” she growled softly in the Shrean tongue; cat’s muzzles did not allow for more elegant languages. “We could have had you any time during the day.”

  I snorted, "Oh please, I heard you when you picked up our trail this morning. You still need to watch where you put your feet, I heard that rock you knocked off that ledge.”

  She swore under her breath, softer this time than she had this afternoon I'll grant her, but stalking had never been Jenna's strong suit.

  "And I heard that little curse too as well.” I teased. “That's a bad habit you know, humans might not pick it up, but it was a dead give away to me."

  "So why didn't you do anything?" she growled, tail slowly lashing behind her in annoyance.

  I shrugged holding my hands out to the side, "Why? Like I have something to fear from my own people? Besides, the leader of this little group tends towards paranoia, and he isn't the most knowledgeable about certain things. I didn't want there to be trouble.

  "So, who are your two friends out there?"

  "Why don't you tell me?" she said sitting down on her haunches and curling her long tail around her paws, "Oh great and wonderful...."

  "Enough!" I smiled and held up a hand trying not to laugh, "I suspect Tam is one of them. I caught a whiff of marigolds and I still remember her love of rolling in them."

  Jenna nodded, so I knew I had gotten that one right.

  "But I honestly don't know who the other one is. Whoever they are, give them my compliments. They're very good."

  "But not so good that you didn't spot them, hmmm?" she smiled exposing the tips of her fangs.

  It had been a very long time since I had seen one of those feline smiles and for the first time I realized why some folks were afraid of them.

  "Well, at first I kind of inferred they were there from the way you two moved. Took me most of the day to be sure, but then I was handicapped by the people I'm guiding."

  Her ears perked and she looked pleased at that. "Yes, he's someone you haven't met."

  "New boyfriend?"

  She ducked her head, ears splayed, and the tip of her tail started to twitch, the feline equivalent of a human blush.

  "Well, at least it looks like you've chosen someone worthy of your charms," I chuckled at her discomfort. "Put them on guard, and then come tell me what has you coming all this distance after so many years to see me."

  She nodded and disappeared for a few moments.

  While she was gone I set my bedroll up on the far side of the camp, further away from the rest of the group than I usually did. This left the bulk of the party situated close to the two large wagons that carried our gear and the treasure that had been the whole reason for this little expedition. I usually preferred not to sleep too close to the others anyway, some of them snored something fierce, but a little extra privacy tonight would be a good idea. I wouldn't want someone coming half-awake and seeing Jenna. It would definitely set off a panic.

  "Can we talk here?" she asked looking at the twelve other people sleeping by the wagons.

  "Yeah, they're all asleep except for Hansen over there," I noticed the Dwarf give a slight start as I said that, I had switched back to common mainly for his benefit. "But he's smart enough to keep his mouth shut if it's none of his business."

  "Okay, the council sent me out here. They want you to come back immediately. They need you for something, they wouldn't tell me what."

  I stared at her dumbfounded, it took a moment to settle in. "What?"

  "You heard me."

  I turned and looked out into the night, at the shadows of the brush and rocks that littered the valley. "What about my exile?"

  "They said it's over."

  "As long as I do this job for them I bet!" I said grumbling softly as I turned back to look at her.

  She gave a feline shrug, "Under council law, once they've invited you back they can't renew the expulsion. You'd have to do something."

  "Like I did something the last time?"

  The venom in my voice must have been pretty transparent she looked at me shocked, then sighed and looked away.

  "Jareth, it's been eight years. Can't you just let it drop?"

  "Maybe I could have, years ago," I sighed, looking absently into the fire then quickly back out towards the brush on the edge of the clearing lest I ruin my night vision any further. "But like you said, it's been eight years. Living as an outcast. In all that time I’ve seen none of my friends, and none of my family."

  "But if you go back, it will be over." She ducked her head and lightly butted my shoulder.

  "Will it?" I looked out across the darkness, the emptiness that had been a good deal of my life the last few years. That emptiness reached further inside than I would admit to her, or anyone else. It was a part of me now that I doubted could ever go away.

  "Things have changed, Jareth, the council isn't the same. Elantisfey is no longer a member."

  I looked back at her, my interest suddenly piqued, "Really?"

  "Yes, he's been off it for several years now."

  "Well, that's something to think about then....."

  "Why don't we sleep on it, you can tell me your mind in the morning."

  "We?" I smiled.

  "I haven't seen you in years; last time I snuggled up with you I was what, ten? We've all missed you."

  "What about 'what’s-his-name'?" I asked nodding to the trees.

  "He'll survive," she chuckled.

  "Fine, let me go change the watch."

  I went over to Hanson and nudged him, "As long as you're awake anyway, you can take the next shift. I've got some friends out in the forest, so pass the word down not to go out of the camp and start anything. We're well-guarded tonight."

  He grunted and got up, looking over at Jenna on the other side of the camp curling up in my bedroll.

  "Gonna' be trouble in th' morning." He grinned.

  I had a feeling there was going to be trouble for a lot longer than that....

  Morning came and I found myself decided. Even without Jenna's warm furry body curled up against mine I don't think I could have refused to go back. I missed my home, I missed my own kind, and I missed not having to live a lie.

  But most of all, I missed my family.

 
; I lay in my bedroll, Jenna tucked under my chin. Sometime during the night she had changed to human form; that would cut down on some of the questions at least. Yawning I got up and stretched, then started to gather my gear together and got dressed.

  Jenna got up next and stretched as well while I was gathering the last of my things. I noticed how all the men suddenly stopped and stared appreciatively, as most men tended to do.

  Especially as she wasn't wearing very much. Jenna loved to flaunt her looks in both forms, and was gifted with rare beauty in each. I wondered if any of the men even had started to wonder just who she was and just what she was doing here. Town was still a good day's travel away.

  "What in the name of the seven hells is going on here?" I heard our leader suddenly swear and he started to stomp over looking terribly upset.

  I stood and placed my hand on Jenna's arm, she'd reached for her dirk. "Ease off, I'll deal with it."

  "Where did this ... woman come from?” he demanded, as the other members of the group started forming up around and behind him, all obviously rather curious. Clark was the only one really upset, but then he always was. "And just what were you doing last night?"

  "Nothing, nothing at all, beyond sleeping that is."

  His face reddened some more, and he looked really angry. I wasn't sure if he was more upset over the idea of a strange woman suddenly showing up in the camp, or the idea that maybe someone else got something that he didn’t. He was often greedy like that, but then it was his money that had paid for this whole expedition, so I guess he felt entitled.

  I shook my head and smiled ruefully, "Clark, this is my Sister, Jenna. Jenna, this is Clark, sponsor of this little expedition and my current employer."

  Jenna nodded curtly, but kept her wary eyes on him. "He always this bad?" she asked quietly in Elvish.

  "Usually" I whispered back.

  "Okay, fine." He said backing down a little, "But that still doesn't answer my previous question: What's she doing here?"

  "It would seem I have been summoned back home by the Council." I could see no reason for lying to him, he was annoying at times, but he had always played it straight with me. One of the few reasons I could tolerate working for him, which apparently not many could. I usually just ignored his crassness, and as he often had need of my skill at arms, he put up with my own lack of respect for him.

  "You?" he looked surprised, "What could they possibly want with you? You're not of the Nobility!"

  I looked over at the others; they were mostly Humans, like Clark, though there were two other Dwarves besides Hanson, cousins of his. "I'm not from Northridge, Clark. I'm from the Elshavel Havens."

  He blinked. They all did, well except for Hanson, he just kind of nodded. Of course he had seen Jenna in her natural form last night. He'd probably figured it out then. I'd known Hanson since I started working for Clark two years ago; Dwarves didn't come much shrewder than him. Considering how shrewd Dwarves were to start with, that was saying quite a lot.

  "But you're not elven, what could they want with you there?"

  "It's not just yer Elves that be living there Clark. There be all manner of others that be living there as well." Hanson said stepping up next to Clark. He turned towards me, "Always had me suspicions boy, you fought way too well to be one of them,” he said and glanced over at the Humans gathered behind Clark.

  I nodded to him, "Thanks."

  "Don't be afraid to make the claims of friendship should you run into any of me kin or clan up there." He said and smiled.

  "I won't," I said smiling back in return. Dwarves are always quick on the uptake, especially when there may be money or fighting to be had. Most Humans of course didn't realize just what such an offer of friendship meant, but then Dwarves rarely made such offers to Humans, which might be why he finally offered it now. Dwarves didn't trust Humans much, and after living among them for the last eight years, I could certainly understand why.

  Clark's mind had finally caught up with the situation once again, or at least the financial parts of it.

  "If you don't make it to Northridge, then I won't be able to give you your share of the takings." He said, looking a little worried. I could see he liked the idea of holding onto my share, but worried about it as well. Probably he was worried about the others demanding more. Such a study in contradictions. People always wondered why I worked for him; I suspect he did too at times. Mainly I did it because it was always an education to see what he’d do next. Through it all he did teach me more about Humans than anyone else ever had, if unwittingly. All of their baser desires were always clearly on exhibit in Clark.

  "I'll be heading back to Northridge," I said. "It's on the way, and I have a few matters to clear up. We can settle my share then."

  "But it will take days for me to come up with that much gold." He protested, his greed trying to make a play for control.

  "Yes, so you can give my share to my friend Hanson here, who will take care of it for me." I said and smiled.

  Hanson beamed, Clark swore.

  "You can't do that!" He protested weakly.

  "Oh aye, he can!" Hanson chortled, "And he just did. Now if you want to take it up with me clan in town...."

  I tried not to smile as Clark backed off that one rather quickly and I went and finished gathering my gear together. I sent Jenna off to lead the other two into camp, warning her to tell them both to change before coming into the clearing. None of the Humans here had ever seen a Shrean to my knowledge, and I preferred to keep it that way. The last eight years had taught me to guard secrets, as well as advantages, closely.

  When they joined the group I looked them over. Tam looked pretty much as I had remembered her, only definitely a woman now instead of an almost grown girl. A Shrean’s human appearance pretty much echoes our natural one, and we mature much faster than Humans. She had long golden brown hair and while not dressed as scandalously as my younger sister, she was still dressed to show off what she had. Which was apparently quite a lot now, I had to admit. Living among Elves tends to make you think of clothes more as a decoration than a necessity, especially when you run around covered in fur and on all fours most of the time.

  Jenna's boyfriend was another matter; he was dressed more like I was. His clothing hinted that he'd worked among Humans before and he was armed as heavily as I was. He had a no-nonsense look about him and a few choice scars that proclaimed him a fighter like myself. The way he and Jenna looked at each other made me smile, and it made all the others unconsciously take a step back from her. She'd not be getting in any of 'that' kind of trouble while he was around, I was sure.

  "My name is Clint," He said offering me his arm as he stopped in front of me.

  "Jareth," I replied and clasped his as he took mine in return.

  "I'd rather leave directly for home," he stated bluntly, with an air of one used to giving commands. I revised my estimates of him up a few notches.

  "A day's delay won't mean much in this journey," I said. "Besides, I have affairs I need to set straight if I'm ever to be back this way."

  "You have no reason to return here," he said softly, "you will be back living among your own kind."

  "Yeah, that's what I thought the last time," I growled in Shrean.

  He glared a moment at that, and just when I thought he was going to make an issue of it, he suddenly looked embarrassed.

  "Never leave a foul den behind, no matter how far from home," I whispered looking into his eyes, still holding his arm. "Because it will always be yours."

  He nodded slowly and I let him go.

  We were sorted out and on the road not much longer after that. We all ate rather well that morning, finishing off the last of our traveling rations. We wouldn't need them after today, so why waste them? Or worse, carry them any farther.

  Jenna and I walked ahead of the others to scout the way, I didn’t really expect problems this close to Northridge, but I wasn’t the kind to take chances. Clint and Tam scouted as well. With Clint aroun
d, I was now able to share that duty with someone I felt I could trust, even Jenna and Tam were far better at scouting than any of the Humans in the group.

  “So how are Mother and Father?” I asked as we worked together, Clint and Tam were off a few hundred yards to the north of us.

  “They’re doing well, they decided to have one last set of cubs after you left, so you have two younger sisters now, Jessie and Janet.”

  I shook my head and grinned, “Still with the J’s.”

  “They just turned six, so they’ve begun their advanced training, and terrorizing the boys!” Jenna giggled.

  “Not unlike someone else I seem to recall.”

  Jenna grinned, “Nope, not at all. Oh! Jacob sent us a message a few years ago!”

  I glanced at her surprised, Jacob was my littermate. He had signed aboard a large sailing ship to fight pirates, after several successful trips the ship had one day just failed to return. “He’s not dead?”

  “Nope, the ship he was on wrecked in a bad storm and he ended up at a place called ‘Mainstay’.”

  I nodded, “I’ve heard of it, it’s a Shrean settlement from the Third War. That’s quite a ways from here.”

  “Yeah, he’s got a mate and a few cubs; he’s joined one of the merc companies there and has settled in.”

  Jenna told me next about how my other cousins were doing, the rest of the clan, then she started filling me in on the events and the gossip of what had happened over the last eight years.

  We stopped briefly for lunch and checked with Clark, then went back out to scout as the wagons started to roll again. Tam joined me this time, as Jenna wanted to spend some time with Clint.

  “So why don’t you have any horses?” Tam asked as we checked the trail.

  “Too expensive to feed,” I told her. “We were up in the mountains and there weren't any good places for them to graze, so we would have had to bring food for them, which would have meant more wagons.

  “Besides, the wagons can’t travel that fast, so we’re stuck at a walking pace most of the time anyway.”