Caravan to Kittikin

by Brian S. Pratt

Jaikus grinned. “You got it.”

  Passing back through the Keep, they reached the door and exited to the courtyard.

  “I’ll open the gate,” Jaikus said.

  “Okay,” Reneeke replied.

  He remained by the broken door with sword drawn while Jaikus crossed to the gatehouse to release the locking mechanism on the gate in the curtain wall. A minute later, there was a clanking sound followed by Jaikus hollering, “Got it!”

  Putting his ear to the opening in the door, he listened for sound from within the Keep. By the time Jaikus appeared from the gatehouse, none had materialized. He returned his sword to his sheath and joined Jaikus by the gate. They pulled it open and went to the tree line to gather wood for a fire.

  Each brought in four armloads of branches and dumped them near the Keep’s entrance. Reneeke then produced his flint and with some tender, set about getting the fire going.

  “I’m going to check on the horses,” Jaikus said.

  “Okay,” Reneeke replied. “Just be careful.”

  Rolling his eyes, Jaikus shook his head, and headed for the stable.

  Striking the flint sent sparks onto the tender. Then a brief stint of gently blowing upon them caused a small flame to appear. A few small sticks to encourage it to grow and he soon had a nice fire burning. Once the smaller had caught sufficiently, he added larger branches until a good-sized fire blazed away. When he was certain it would burn without further attention, he added a few of the larger pieces then joined Jaikus at the stable.

  “We got some fine horses, Rene.”

  He found Jaikus standing with saddle in hand before a dark stallion. It was already bridled and he was about to put on the saddle.

  “That is a fine looking one, Jaik.”

  Jaikus slipped the saddle on and cinched it tight. Straightening, he turned a grin to Reneeke. Then he nodded his head to the stall next to his. “Got one for you in there.”

  Reneeke walked to it and found a mule nearly a third smaller than the horse Jaik had picked out. “Very funny.”

  Jaikus laughed. “There’s one three stalls down that will suit you better.”

  That one was a roan mare equally a match for Jaik’s. He came up to her and laid his hand alongside her face. “How are you doing?”

  She snorted and Reneeke patted her shoulder. “Me too.”

  A lantern hung from a nearby hook and he took it down. Upon finding it still held quite a bit of oil, he returned to Jaikus and said, “Be right back.”

  Jaikus saw the lantern and nodded. “Good idea.”

  Reneeke left the stable and went to the fire. With a burning brand he lit the lantern’s wick. Then he tossed the brand into the flames and headed back to the stable.

  He carried the lantern to the storeroom at the back where the saddles and tack had been placed and gathered what he would need to get his horse ready for travel.

  Jaikus joined him. “Do you think we should stay the night?”

  “No,” Reneeke replied. “This place doesn’t feel right.”

  “That’s what I thought you would say.” He paused a moment then said, “I was thinking of taking them all and selling all but two that we’d keep as packhorses.”

  “Good idea, Jaik. They’d just die if we left them in here.”

  Once Reneeke had his horse saddled, they returned to the back room for bridles for the rest. Reneeke took a length of rope they could use to secure the horses in tandem for the trip back to Master Tuppin. Jaik grabbed an armful of bridles.

  Emerging from the back room, Reneeke froze as a shadow passed across the front of the stable.

  “Rene, I’m not sure…,” Jaik began before Reneeke grabbed him and pulled him back into the storeroom.

  Holding his finger to his lips, he motioned to the front of the stable. “I saw something.”

  “What was it?” Jaik whispered.

  “I don’t know,” Reneeke whispered back. “I didn’t get a good look at it.”

  “One of the creatures?”

  “Maybe.”

  Setting the rope down, Reneeke peered through the storeroom’s door. The stable was quiet but for the occasional snorting of horses.

  “Hell and damnation!”

  From the courtyard came a man’s exclamation.

  Other voices responded though none could be made out.

  Reneeke left the back room and raced at a crouch to the window at the front overlooking the courtyard.

  Six riders sat atop their steeds before the ruined Keep door, a seventh had dismounted and stood before it. The one on the ground had flaming red hair pulled back into a ponytail.

  “I told them not to open it until I returned,” Red Ponytail said.

  “Jaik,” Reneeke whispered, “kill the lantern before they see it.”

  “Right.”

  While Jaikus went to extinguish the light, Reneeke kept watch on the men in the courtyard.

  “Less to share it with, Mackum,” one of the men said.

  The one on foot just glared at the man on the horse.

  Mackum… Mackum the Red? The name had come up during Master Tuppin’s questioning of the bandit. With the red hair, the one on foot had to be him; the leader of the bandits that had attacked the caravan. So he hadn’t been with his men when the chest had been opened.

  The stable went dark and none of the men had noticed. Jaikus rejoined Reneeke at the window.

  “Be on your guard, boys,” Mackum said. He pointed to the ruined door. “That door was sound when I left. Willie, watch the horses. The rest of you come with me.”

  As the others dismounted, Mackum grabbed a burning brand from the fire and turned toward the door.

  “You think anyone’s alive?” one of his men asked.

  “Someone made that fire,” he replied, pausing. “And not too long ago I’d wager.” He glanced around the courtyard. When his eyes passed over the stable, Reneeke ducked down while Jaikus remained at the window. They continued on until his gaze swept the entire courtyard. “My guess would be they’re still here…somewhere.”

  To Willie he said, “Keep an eye out. If you see anything, holler.”

  Willie, a fighter of middling height with a scraggly dark beard and shaved head, nodded. “Will do.”

  “Come on. Let’s find out what happened and who I’m going to kill.”

  As they headed into the Keep, Jaikus said, “We got to get out of here, Rene.”

  “Yeah, and soon.”

  Reneeke glanced out to where Willie stood by the fire. The man’s attention was fixed upon the broken door and the light from the brands held by Mackum and the others.

  “Let’s make a run for it.”

  Turning his attention to Jaikus, he nodded. “Might be our only chance. Do you still have that scroll of magic missile?”

  Jaikus pulled it partly out of his shirt. “Yes.”

  “Keep it handy.”

  “Where’s the fireball one?”

  “Back on the pony,” Reneeke replied. “In hindsight, I probably should have brought it.”

  “Yeah,” Jaikus agreed.

  A glance back through the window showed Willie still by the fire looking into the Keep.

  “Let’s saddle one more horse each so we’ll each have a spare.”

  “Then make a run for it?”

  Reneeke nodded. “Let’s be quick and silent.”

  “You got it.”

  They headed to the back room and in the shadows, gathered the extra saddles. They soon returned and began securing them on another pair of horses.

  “The chest is gone!”

  Mackum’s voice rang through the night.

  Cinching the last strap tight, Reneeke returned to the window overlooking the courtyard. Mackum and the others had emerged from the Keep.

  “What happened?” Willie asked.

  “Someone killed our men and stole the chest,” one of Mackum’s men replied.

  “And they have to be around here someplace,” Mackum said.

&nb
sp; “Yarl, Kerrin, you two stand by the gates. Anything tries to get in or out, kill it.”

  “Yes, sir,” one of them said as he and another went to stand by the gate in the curtain wall.

  “Willie, you check out the stable and then make a sweep of the grounds. The rest come with me and we’ll search the Keep.”

  “What should we do if we find them?” Willie asked.

  Mackum the Red replied, “Bring them to me.”

  Chapter 11

  Willie headed to the stable, two went to the curtain wall and Mackum took the last three with him to check the Keep.

  Reneeke watched Willie approach. He silently motioned for Jaikus to move further back within the stable as he did the same. The third stall on the left was empty and they ducked within it.

  “We need to take him out fast and quick,” Reneeke said as he drew his sword.

  Jaikus nodded in the shadows. “Can’t let him raise the alarm.” His sword glinted in his hand.

  “Right.”

  Just then, the front door to the stable creaked as Willie pushed it open. The long sword in his hand glinted with light from the fire. He stood framed in the doorway as the door swung fully open. Moments passed as he searched the interior darkness before stepping within.

  Horses snorted and one whinnied as he passed along the stalls. At each, he would peer over the side to the stall’s interior before proceeding to the next.

  One by one he checked each stall in turn as he drew ever closer to the one in which they hid.

  “Ready?” Reneeke silently mouthed.

  With a grim set to his jaw, Jaikus nodded.

  “This is stupid,” Willie muttered to himself. “Why would anyone be hiding in a stable?”

  He finished checking the four stalls between where they hid and door. Then he headed to the one across from theirs.

  Reneeke pushed the stall door open carefully and silently. Jaikus followed him out and then as Willie searched the other stall, they crept up behind him.

  When Willie turned around, he found Reneeke’s blade at his throat and Jaikus’ pressed against his abdomen.

  “One word and you’re dead,” Jaikus whispered.

  “Understand?” Reneeke added.

  Willie raised his hands and nodded.

  “Get his sword, Jaik.”

  Jaikus pulled Willie’s sword from his scabbard then tossed it into a pile of hay behind him.

  “Keep an eye on him,” Reneeke said as he went to the back for a length of rope.

  He tied Willie’s hands behind him. Then taking an old horse-cloth, he stuffed it into his mouth. He secured the gag in place with a section of rope. Two more sections of rope bound his ankles and knees together. Once he was trussed up and not likely to go anywhere, they tossed him in the empty stall and then gathered their four horses. The reins of their spares they secured to the backs of their saddles.

  Reneeke mounted. “Have that scroll ready.”

  Jaikus showed that it was in his hand. “Way ahead of you.”

  “We got two at the gate then we’re out.”

  “Wish Charka and Lady Kate were here right now.”

  “I’ll do you one better,” Reneeke said. “I’d even be happy if Seward was here.”

  Chuckling, Jaikus said, “Me too. Bad disposition and all.”

  “Or we could use Chork to bore them to death.”

  “That would be priceless.” Jaikus secured his spare horse to the back of his saddle then mounted.

  Reneeke nudged his horse into motion and brought it to the front of the stable. There he looked out from the shadows to find the only men in the courtyard were the two at the gate. Mackum and the rest remained within the Keep.

  “Let’s do this.”

  “Yeah,” Jaikus agreed.

  Kicking his horse into motion, Jaikus yelled, “Hyah!” and bolted for the gate. Reneeke was right beside him with sword in hand.

  “Mackum!” the man nearest to them hollered as he drew his sword. His partner drew his and together they moved to intercept.

  Jaikus didn’t even slow. He raised the scroll to point at the one who had hollered and spoke the activation word. Twin, red missiles shot forth as the scroll disintegrated. They struck the man dead center on the chest and knocked him off his feet.

  The other paused a moment when his partner was struck. In that moment’s hesitation, Jaikus flew by. Reneeke rode for the man and swung his sword causing him to leap backward to avoid being hewn in two.

  Then they were through the gate.

  “We made it!” Jaikus cried jubilantly.

  “We aren’t out of it yet,” Reneeke said. Already shouts and curses rose from beyond the wall. “Ride, Jaik. Ride fast.”

  They thundered down the hill and Reneeke brought them to a stop at the bottom. Just off the road they found their pony.

  “Jaik, transfer everything to the horses.”

  Grabbing one of the packs, he pulled out the scroll of fireball and moved to standing in the road.

  “What are you doing?”

  Keeping his eyes on the Keep, Reneeke replied, “Just hurry. We don’t have much time.”

  And sure enough, moments later riders emerged from the Keep at a gallop.

  “Here they come.”

  “But I’m not done,” Jaikus shouted.

  “Hurry!”

  Jaikus first transferred the cloth-wrapped chest. Once it was secured, he threaded rope through the rest of the packs and tied them around the chest. Moving to the other packhorse, he began securing the rest of the cloth-wrapped items.

  Reneeke held his ground. Scroll gripped in one hand, he watched as Mackum and four others descended from the Keep. Once they were midway down, he raised the scroll. Three quarters and less than a hundred yards away, he took aim on the lead rider.

  “Done!” Jaikus yelled as he swung up into the saddle. He took the reins of Reneeke’s horse and was headed to join him on the road when Whooosh! a massive ball of fire shot forth.

  Once it was on its way, Reneeke swung up into the saddle. Then with a kick to his horse’s sides, broke into a gallop as the fireball exploded behind them.

  Not slowing, they glanced back to see if the fireball had stopped them. There were several places on fire including the trees on both sides of the road. Whether or not Mackum and his bunch smoldered with the rest, it was impossible to tell in the dark.

  They didn’t slow until reaching the main road. Turning northward, they continued at their breakneck pace for several leagues before Reneeke had them leave the road and shelter in a thick copse of trees. From their vantage point, they kept watch on the road to see if riders would appear.

  Time passed slowly and the road remained quiet and devoid of life.

  After a half hour, Jaikus asked, “Think we got them?”

  Reneeke sighed. “I hope so.”

  “We need to get more of those scrolls.”

  “First chance we get, Jaik.” Reneeke dismounted and secured his horses to a nearby tree. Jaikus did the same.

  “I’ll keep watch. You try and get some rest.”

  “Rest?” Jaikus asked. “I’m way too excited to even think about resting. A narrow escape then a harrowing ride through the night…how can you even think someone could sleep.”

  “Well, if you aren’t going to, I will. Wake me in three hours.”

  Jaikus looked incredulously at his friend. How he could sleep…? “Three hours it is.”

  While Reneeke rolled out his blanket between the trunks of two trees, Jaikus replayed in his mind their thrilling escape from the Keep. He could still feel the scroll crumble between his fingers as its magical power was spent. Following the lights of the missiles as they knocked the man back. Since there had only been four others with Mackum, it was likely the missiles had killed him. Or at least injured him enough to prevent him from joining in the chase.

  Jaikus and Reneeke Brave the Keep. Now that had a nice sound to it. He wondered if he could interest a bard in the tale. Might
have to embellish a bit; add a generous amount of swordplay, maybe even a damsel in distress that they were there to save. When it came time to wake Reneeke, the only resemblance to the actual events the story still retained was that they were in it and the scroll usage. Other than that, it was totally unrecognizable as the events that had unfolded earlier in the evening.

  Once Reneeke woke, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes then asked, “Any sign of them?”

  Jaikus shook his head. “The road’s been quiet.”

  “Maybe that fireball did get them.”

  “I hope so.”

  Jaikus rolled out his blanket and laid down.

  “Going to be able to sleep, now?”

  The adrenalin of the escape had long since worn off and the fatigue of the past few days had settled in its place. “Oh, yeah.”

  “Good. I’ll wake you before the sun rises.”

  “Reneeke,”

  “Yes, Jaik.”

  “After we’re through with our business in Kith, how about we find an inn and sleep for three days.”

  Chuckling, Reneeke nodded. “Sounds great to me.”

  Shortly after the sun crested the horizon, they emerged from hiding.

  The road was clear both north and south. Returning to it, they headed north at a league-eating pace. Things definitely were on the upswing over the last couple days. Horses beneath them, packhorses full of loot, and the road clear before them. It was a great day to be a young Adventurer.

  After noon, they came across the couple who had lost the vase to Lord Holleran. They returned it with a brief explanation as to who had stolen it. They were most appreciative to have it returned. Reneeke assured them that there was nothing inherently evil about it, that in fact, there was no magic associated with it at all.

  “We thank you both,” the husband said.

  “Yes, how can we repay you for your help and kindness in returning it to us?” the wife asked.

  Now that they were no longer deemed a threat, their two children were much more outgoing than previously. The little girl actually gave Jaikus a hug which both startled and pleased him. Now this was what adventuring was about.

  “The deed itself is payment enough,” Reneeke assured her. “We of the Guild are more than happy to help those in need.”