Caravan to Kittikin

by Brian S. Pratt

  “Yeah.”

  They had followed the Halflings the rest of the day and when they left the road to set up camp, they did so as well. Now the night was deep and the world quiet.

  Fallon had changed into clothes that blended with the night. Other than his eyes, he was nearly invisible. In his hand he held a small pouch. “Are you two ready?”

  Standing, Jaikus rubbed the sleep from his eyes and nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Okay. Let’s do this.”

  Little over a mile away the Halfling’s fire burned in the dark. Three forms slept peacefully around it.

  “They didn’t post a watch,” Jaikus said.

  “Those who practice the arcane arts guard their camp by other means,” Fallon explained. He glanced to them. “Are you two new to the Guild?”

  Jaikus replied, “No,” while at the same time Reneeke said “Yes.”

  He chuckled. “Thought so.” When Jaikus looked to be about to argue the point, Fallon held up his hand. “Doesn’t matter for what we do tonight. I’ll deal with the wards, you two subdue the Halflings once they wake.”

  Reneeke nodded. “We’ll be ready.”

  “Now, silence from here on out.”

  Two heads nodded.

  Leading the way, Fallon brought them to within two hundred feet of their camp. At that point, he paused, reached into his sack and pulled out a simple golden ring. He slipped it on his finger then slowly continued toward the Halflings’ camp.

  When he got to within twenty-five feet, a blue glow appeared before them. As he slowly moved forward, the glow continued to appear until a half-dome of blue light enveloped the camp. Fallon glanced back and whispered, “Magic wards. Touch it and nasty things can happen.”

  Jaikus nodded. “Your ring?”

  “Detects magic,” Fallon explained. “Now be quite.”

  As he crept closer, other glows began to appear within the camp. One shone from out of a pack used by the nearest Halfling as a pillow; a second was on the hand of another. The glow came from a ring with three red rubies.

  Fallon stopped when within five feet of the edge of the glowing dome.

  The three Halflings slept oblivious to their presence.

  Reaching into the sack again he removed a smaller pouch secured with a tie-string. Untying it, he poured a small pile of gray dust upon his palm. He then signaled Reneeke to come closer. “When I throw this, it will negate their wards. If they should stir, you and your friend get in there fast. If not, wait a moment.”

  Reneeke nodded.

  Fallon turned back to the glowing dome and stepped closer. Then he took the gray dust and threw it. Where the dust settled upon the glowing dome, the glow began to diminish. The dome quickly looked like it had numerous holes riddling it.

  The three Halflings remained asleep.

  For several moments the holes in the dome grew larger before the dome vanished altogether.

  Fallon held up a hand telling Reneeke and Jaikus to wait a moment. He then reached into his sack and pulled out a small root which he tossed into the Halflings’ fire. It produced a faint smoke that quickly spread to permeate the campsite.

  Putting a cloth over his mouth and nose, Fallon whispered, “Don’t breathe it.”

  Reneeke nodded and pulled his shirt up over his nose and mouth. Jaikus did likewise.

  The root was quickly consumed and after little more than a couple minutes, the smoke dissipated.

  Fallon removed the cloth and gestured to the Halflings. “They are harmless now.” He glanced to Reneeke. “Tie ‘em up and remove their magical items. Though they can’t cast spells, they can still utilize their items.”

  Nodding, Reneeke entered the camp. To Jaikus he whispered, “Remove everything that glows.”

  “Yeah, Rene. I got that.”

  Fallon produced several lengths of sturdy cloth. Jaikus took one and went to the Halfling with the glowing ring. Jaikus went to the other with the glowing pack and Fallon the last. Each quickly grabbed them, turned their Halfling over, and then bound their wrists with the cloth.

  “Hey!” one hollered.

  “What’s going on?” another exclaimed when they woke to find their camp invaded.

  The glint of a knife appeared in Fallon’s hand. “You keep quiet if you know what’s good for you.”

  Jaikus slipped off the ring and put it in his pocket. Within the pack that had been used for a pillow, Reneeke found a wand.

  “Nice,” Jaikus said when he saw it.

  “Thieves!” Fallon’s Halfling hollered but was quickly silenced by a knee to the stomach.

  “Jaik, get our chest.”

  “And the vase?” Jaikus suggested.

  “The vase too,” Reneeke agreed.

  “You can’t take our stuff!” One Halfling hollered.

  “Why?” Jaikus replied. “Is Lord Holleran going to stop us?” then he laughed as he went to where their cloth-wrapped booty had been stacked. “Wonder what else you have?”

  “Jaik,” Reneeke said. “We aren’t thieves. Let’s just get what has been stolen from us.”

  “Fortunately,” Fallon said, “I do not have such qualms.”

  Searching their belts, he found each of their coin pouches. Hefting them, he said, “This should just about recompense me for what I had to use to retrieve my necklace.” The necklace was located when he searched the shirt of one. He eyed the Halfling. “This is going to cost you plenty.”

  The Halfling looked up at him in fear. “Are you going to kill us?”

  Fallon shook his head. “Unfortunately, I am not an assassin. Times like this, though, I wish I were.” He turned to Reneeke. “How about you two? Are you planning on killing them?”

  Reneeke shook his head. “No.” He then glanced to each of the Halflings in turn. “Unless we see you again.”

  “You won’t,” the Halfling said. “We swear it!”

  “Then you have nothing to worry about. But we do plan to spread the word about you and this Lord Holleran scam you’re running.”

  “Got it, Rene.”

  Jaikus approached with their chest under one arm and holding the vase with his other hand. The chest glowed while the vase did not.

  “Should we knock them out?” Jaikus asked.

  Fallon shook his head. “No, the root will negate their powers for the next twelve hours. By that time we should be long gone.”

  “But you can’t leave us here like this,” one Halfling said.

  Shrugging, Fallon replied, “I can, and will.” Then to Reneeke, “You two ready to get out of here?”

  “Yeah. Let’s go.”

  The Halflings protested being left tied as they made their way back to Fallon’s horse.

  The thief noticed Jaikus eyeing the Halfling’s ring in the moonlight. “I wouldn’t put that on until you know what it does.”

  “What?” Jaikus asked, turning to him. “Oh, right.” He slipped it back into his pocket.

  The wand Reneeke liberated he slipped into his pack upon returning to their camp. “We’ll get some Identify scrolls when we get back to Reakla and see what they do.”

  Jaikus’ grin was wide as he anticipated what the ring could be. A ring of wishes? Luck? Protection? The possibilities were endless.

  Fallon untied his horse from the bush and then pulled himself into the saddle. “Thank you, boys for helping me get the necklace back.”

  “Thank you for your help,” Reneeke said.

  “Maybe we could work together again sometime,” Jaikus suggested.

  Shrugging, Fallon said, “Never know.” Then to Reneeke, “You be careful with that wand.”

  “Count on it.”

  “Farewell,” and with that he kicked his horse into motion and vanished into the night.

  Chapter 9

  “Let’s see the wand, Rene.”

  Reneeke pulled out the wand and showed it to him. Eight inches long and made of a dark wood, it looked more like a stick than an item with mystical powers. There were no arcane marki
ngs, nor were there any jewels or anything that would mark it different than a stick lying on a forest floor. Except, it had glowed when Fallon’s Ring of Magic Detection drew near. So they knew it held power of some sort.

  Jaikus held up the ring. “Our first magical items.” He practically glowed with enthusiasm. “It’s just the beginning.”

  “If they’re useful,” Reneeke commented. “For all we know, that ring could be used to keep warts away.”

  Eyeing the ring, Jaikus shook his head. “Not this ring. Warts? I don’t think so.”

  Reneeke grinned at his friend. “Let’s get this chest back to Master Tuppin.:

  Groaning, Jaikus realized they still had a long walk ahead of them. “I thought we were supposed to ride to Kittikin.”

  “Would you have rather had a boring ride, or walk a ways to return with a magic ring?”

  Jaikus grinned. “Good point. I’d rather walk.”

  “Then let’s get to it. I won’t be able to relax until this chest is returned.”

  They walked a ways before Jaikus said, “Horses, Rene. When we get coins, it’s horses for the both of us.”

  “Would be nice to ride, no denying. But I thought to invest in leather armor, or more scrolls and potions. Riding or walking, we’ll still need them wherever we go.”

  “Fine, you get those, and I’ll get a horse.”

  Alternating between jogging and walking they put the leagues behind in short order. Throughout it all, they kept one eye behind them in the event those Halflings should get it in their minds for a little payback. By the time night approached, they had reached where trees grew in greater abundance. Moving off the road a ways, they settled within a thick grove.

  “I’ll take first watch,” Reneeke offered.

  Jaikus was so exhausted, he didn’t even try to argue. Instead, he rolled out his blanket and fell right to sleep.

  Reneeke moved off a ways and while the last bit of daylight remained, took out his wand. Things magical had always fascinated him. Stories with magic users had always been his favorite. Anyone could wield a sword, but to be able to bend arcane forces to your will, now that would be something.

  The wand felt good in his hand and he wanted so desperately to flick it and see what it could do. But Fallon had been correct. To mess with unknown magic could very well be a death sentence. Plus, wands usually only had a limited amount of charges. He wasn’t certain, but figured to get them recharged would cost some serious coins. It would be foolish to waste what may very well be its last charge because he was curious. Sighing, he put it away.

  When it came time to wake Jaikus, it took some doing for he was in a deep sleep and reluctant to leave it. But he finally got him up.

  Jaikus’ eyes wanted desperately to close. The few hours had been nowhere near sufficient. He walked about just to remain awake. After a bit, even that proved little use. Yawns plagued him and he cast continued glances back to his bedroll.

  Reneeke snored.

  Sighing, he decided to climb a nearby hill and see what there was to see. He needed something to keep him awake. The side of the hill was steep and the ground unstable. More than once he slid back down amongst dislodged rocks and dirt.

  Once at the top, he had a good view of the surrounding countryside. The moonscape was quite beautiful with shadowed areas broken by stretches of moonlight. Turning full circle, he was about to walk down when there came a flash of light, blinding pain in his chest and the feeling of flying through the air. Then there was nothing.

  The first rays of the morning sun fell across his face. The warmth brought him back from sleep and Reneeke cracked open an eye. Knowing they had a long way to go, he sat up and stretched.

  “Jaik, how was your…” he began then realized Jaikus was gone.

  Snapping full awake, he grabbed his sword and held the scabbard as he scanned the countryside. About to cry out, he stopped. If Jaikus was nearby, he would return. If something bad had happened to him like an accident, he would have been hollering for help. And had he been attacked by some beast while keeping watch, the commotion would have woken him. The chest was still there. All this ran through his mind as he turned his attention to the ground.

  If all that had not happened, then it could be that someone had taken Jaikus, and he had a good idea who that might be. Or rather, who they might be. Coming upon Jaikus in the dark, not knowing where Reneeke slept, they had taken him. The last thing he wanted to do was announce his whereabouts by hollering for his friend.

  It took a few minutes, but he found Jaikus’ tracks where he had walked off on his own. Spying the hill where the tracks led, he nodded. That would be someplace where Jaikus would gravitate; up there he’d have a good view of the surrounding countryside. He saw the dislodged dirt where Jaikus had climbed. Thus far there were no signs of struggle or that Jaikus had been trying to flee.

  He hid the chest amongst several bushes and unless someone knew exactly where to look they wouldn’t readily discover it. Hoping that it would escape detection, Reneeke left it there as he followed Jaikus’ trail to the hillside and began the ascent.

  He took it slow and crawled up the hillside so as to keep his silhouette from giving him away. Reaching the top, he came across where Jaikus had paused to look around. And there it was. Two furrows marred the tracks where Jaikus’ feet had abruptly moved backward. There not being additional tracks where the furrows ended, he concluded that Jaikus had been knocked off his feet. In his mind’s eye he visualized one of the white bolts “Lord Holleran” had used on the creatures from the Fort. The area where Jaikus would have landed held myriad foot prints, three sets were much smaller than human.

  But where were they?

  He crawled atop the hill and took a look at the surrounding terrain. Of Jaikus and the three Halflings, there was no sign. Coming down off the hill, he quickly returned to the where the chest laid hidden. After removing additional branches from similar bushes in the area, he completely hid the chest and their packs from casual view. Then buckling on his sword, he returned to where Jaikus had been abducted, and followed the tracks as they headed back for the road.

  “Where’s my wand?”

  Jaikus’ head snapped back as a diminutive fist struck him with much more force than he thought the Halfling should have been able to muster.

  Standing three foot nothing, the Halfling wore a brown leather jerkin secured by a belt with many small pouches. On his finger was the ring Jaikus had relieved him of the night before.

  “I don’t know where your wand is.”

  “Wrong answer,” the Halfling said as he accentuated his displeasure with another blow to the jaw.

  “Cirric,” said the Halfling wearing a short sword, “he may not know.”

  Cirric glanced to him and shook his head. “Oh, he knows alright. It’s just a point of getting him to talk.”

  “But what if he doesn’t?”

  Turning to Jaikus, Cirric said, “Then he will wish by all the gods that he did.” To the third Halfling, the one wearing green leathers, he added, “Yuri, start a fire. We’ll get him to talk.”

  As Cirric removed several steel rods and a wicked looking knife from their packs, Jaikus began to sweat.

  Reneeke followed the tracks deeper into the hills. Whenever he reached where the tracks rounded a bend, he would slow up and peer around until certain no one would observe him. Then not seeing anyone ahead, he would hurry forward. He continued like that until hearing Jaikus cry out in pain.

  His first instinct was to rush forward, but then he remembered how quickly these Halflings had dealt with those two creatures. In moments they had reduced them to piles of unrecognizable gore. If he rushed in, they would do him the same. So with a silent Hang in there, Jaik, he moved forward much more cautiously.

  The sun prevented any attempt at a stealthy approach. Rounding a hillside, he saw them. Jaikus was tied with his back against a tree. Several feet away burned a fire that was being coaxed to life by one of the Halflings. Another s
tood before Jaikus who knocked his head back against the tree with a blow to his nose. Blood flowed as Jaikus brought his head back up.

  “Now, I’ll ask you again,” said the Halfling in the brown leather jerkin, “where is my wand?”

  “For the last time,” Jaikus said, spitting blood, “after we reclaimed our items, our Pact was over and we went our separate ways. I believe your wand is even now heading for Reakla.”

  “Why don’t I believe you?”

  “Because you are stupid, that’s why.”

  Another blow split his lip. Jaikus just laughed.

  Jaik, just keep your mouth shut, Reneeke said silently. Though that was something he could rarely do. During a moment when all eyes were directed at his friend, Reneeke darted from his hiding spot and advanced another twenty feet to shelter behind a fallen log.

  “We’ll see how funny you think this is.”

  Cirric went to the fire and used a cloth to pull one of the rods from where it had rested among the coals. It was pointed and glowed red. He brought it to Jaikus and raised it toward his face until its heat began evaporating Jaikus’ beads of sweat.

  “Why aren’t you laughing now?” the Halfling said.

  Jaikus just looked nervously at the glowing rod.

  “I think this quite funny,” Cirric said. Then turning to the one with the short sword, he said, “Don’t you find this amusing, Unil?”

  “Yeah,” he said with an evil grin. “I’m busting up inside.”

  “Now, one last time. Where…is…my…wand!”

  Jaikus licked his lips but kept silent.

  Unable to close the distance quickly enough to ensure their magic would not come into play, Reneeke instead gathered half a dozen stones from off the ground. He couldn’t be certain which Halfling was the Illusionist, though he was fairly sure the one with the short sword had no magical ability. One didn’t find magic types using swords of any kind. The one menacing Jaikus was his best bet seeing as how he was demanding the return of his wand.

  Readying a stone, he waited until all three were focused on Jaikus.