Death Or Fortune

by James Chesney

  With each strike he took at me, I became more confident in myself. I knew who I was, I knew who he was and on this day I was the better man. On this day, he would not take my gold, my horse or my life. I did not feel the blood running down my legs but the boots still have stains inside of them today. It wasn't before long that the man began to tire, slowing down and when his breathing became labored, I knew it was my time to strike. He took one last lunging attempt; I stepped aside and nearly took his arm off when I smashed it with my shield. I felt the bones crush under the impact. His howls of pain had still not ended when I took his head. I had my hat back on my head and was picking up my cloak before his body fell to the road.

  "I told him he couldn't beat you." I turned towards the voice and saw three more men, standing on the other side of the road. Two of them just looked on in shock as the body of their former companion laid in the road but the third. He was dangerous and I knew that if we fought he would end me. So I did the only thing I could, I ran. Before this dangerous man could push his men into action I was sprinting towards my mount. I felt an arrow strike my shield as I climbed into the saddle again, a second hit the pack with my armor in it. For all the good it was doing me in there, it might have saved my horse. Between that and my urgent kicking, she bolted down the road and then blindly off into the forest where not even the light of the moon could be seen. I don't know when I passed out but when I woke up the sun was high overhead and I had no clue where I was.

  "If the blade does not kill you, infection can finish the job." Another bit of wisdom from my mentor. I spent the remainder of that day and the following night in that spot. I treated my wound and even though the bleeding had stopped, I could tell something wasn’t right. During the night I had broken out into a fever. In the morning I gave my horse a well needed drink of my water and fed my empty stomach. I thought that my illness was only hunger. Two weeks later, in a haze I stumbled back on to the road and followed it to one of the few small towns that litter the country side between Arcadia and Eystlund. Covered in a mix of chain and leather armor, I passed out on the steps of the Broken Wheel Inn.

  4. Haze

  The first time I woke up it was to the sound of an angelic voice and a gentle touch. I thought it was nothing more than a dream. I was seeing the world through a dream like fog, my arms and legs did not respond at all. I thought for sure that I was dead or that I was back home under my mother’s care. I remember wanting to speak but before I could form the words I slipped back under the dark cover of oblivion. The next time I awoke, the true panic set in. I could not tell you where I was. The last thing I remembered, outside of my twisted dreams, was being attacked. I tried to move my arms and legs again but they were both tied to the bed I was in. The only thing more repulsive than not being able to move was the smell of my own body. I tried to put it out of my mind before making myself sick.

  I lifted my head and looked around the dim room. My saddle bags were in a corner, my armor on a stand with my weapon by its side. When the old woman returned to me what seemed like days later, it was only an hour, she began to tell me my own tale. The inn keeper had found me, near dead in front of their door. They took me in, treated my wound and gave me some kind of medicine for the infected wound. As she started to untie me she told me of how I tried to fight them. I was out of my mind with madness. Flashes came to me as she spoke and the dreams seemed a little more real. She asked if I would behave before she would untie my arms. I could only nod. I tried to sit up in the bed, put my feet on the floor but the world was still holding me down. The old woman admonished me for being impatient, that much I remember threw the haze.

  I had three meals of broth and bread in me before I felt fit to move. All the while, she kept telling me how close I came to leaving the world. "You were a ghost and I brought you back." Later her husband waved off her bragging but they agreed that I should have died. For close to a week I laid in that bed, under her care before I woke up. Once I was able to bathe myself I looked over the pink scar across my stomach. It looked ages old and there was no pain from it at all. The old couple’s words kept coming back to me. I could have died, I should have died and no matter how hard I scrubbed myself I could not wash that feeling away. I knew I wasn't ready; I should have never left home. I was no more a man that day than the day I left. No more a warrior than I was the first day I lifted up a sword.

  I would like to tell you that after a good night’s sleep and a hearty meal I shook off this feeling and continued my travels. If I did that, I would be lying to you and to myself. The next morning I took the coin pouch from the bottom of my bags. Every coin was there, every single one and I gave them all to the old couple whose door I darkened with my broken body. They tried to protest but I insisted. You see, I wanted them to pay me. For over a year I worked for the old couple, John and Marta. I wasn't ready and I stayed there until I felt I was. I helped with the Inn, cleaned the stables or any other number of things they needed done that they could not do for their selves. At night I would take my sword into the stables and practice my forms. I would practice until I couldn’t stand to hold the blade any longer and then I would push on a bit more.

  For over a year I washed tables and shoveled up muck. For over a year I punished myself for my first failure, my first defeat. Yes, I was still alive but I was not ready to continue on. I knew if I continued on down the road the moment I was able, I would not be here to write this tale. Fear of death kept me in place more than anything. When I at last set out my mind and body was whole. I thanked John and Marta for I owed them my life. I have since returned to them and paid them for all that I owed. They have since closed the inn and retired to a little home in the capital city of Arcadia, one that I own. It was an easy move for them. As you see, for over a year I was only three days away from the heart of Arcadia. Three days away from the place I now call home.

  5. Fate

  My first days in Arcadia are still hard for me to remember. Things happened so fast and before I could wash the road dust out of my hair it seemed I was back on it again. I came to town with a plan. Offer my sword to the highest bidder and make a name for myself. I quickly found out that I wasn't the only one looking to do just that. Mercenary companies were picking up men left and right. There was talk of war in the north countries and others were going to work for different lords to protect land and home. While I had an offer or two, I didn’t come all that way just to march off again, not for what they were going to pay me. Then at the end of my first day in town, I was approached by a strange pair of men. It immediately made me think of something I had seen at home; a man in black robes and a man in white robes.

  I had just settled down to the first hot meal I had since leaving John and Marta behind. The pair sat down at my table and looked at me. Had I not been in such a good mood, things may have gone differently. Hans of North Hembers, cleric of Solarth was the first to speak to me. ‘Please pardon us but we were hoping to talk to you if you do not mind.’ The black robed man had a face of stone, no expression at all other than disinterest. He reminded me of my father at first, I should have listened to that feeling. Yet I ignored it and told the man in white to continue. ‘My name is Hans, this is Hetaron. I saw you interviewing with some of the mercenary companies, will you be leaving soon or are you staying in town?’ When I told him I had no plans on leaving a small smile broke out on the clerics face.

  ‘I have only arrived here in Arcadia a week ago so you will have to forgive me if I am going about this the wrong way. I have never been on this end of things before. I am a priest of Solarth; a man from the Arcadian Royal Guard came to our temple yesterday. He was seeking any information we could lend on a suspected cult. There were bodies found outside of the city and there was something strange about them. My Bishop volunteered me to investigate even though I know very little of the dark arts, he told me that it would do me well to explore the city a bit. I tried to protest to him, that I was new to the order and not qualified to investigate something like thi
s he just waved his hands at me and told me I was doing it. He then sent me to a wizard by the name of Senjin, stating that if anyone in the city had knowledge of any strange or ancient cults, it would be him.’

  ‘Senjin was quite amused with me.’ The priest continued. ‘He told me he was far too old and far too busy to waste his time with something as trivial as this. Yet he felt the need to oblige us and he introduced me to Hetaron, his apprentice.’ I looked at the man in black again and he only nodded at me. ’We have to go meet with a Captain Turk in the morning; he will give us any information we need on where to begin. I was told that we would be paid very well for this and I was hoping that you would join us. Just in case we need someone that can handle a sword, you can handle that blade I assume?’ I ignored the question and told Hans I would be happy to join them. They were staying in the city and they were being well paid by important people, it was everything I could have hoped for. I told them to come find me in the morning and I would go with them to meet this Captain Turk. Little did I know that there was another set of ears in the room, who also liked the sound of what Hans had to say.

  I was awake and ready to go before the dawn. I put on my best clothes, shined my boots and had a good breakfast. I then put on my armor and sat down to wait for the priest to arrive in the common room of the inn I was staying at. I thought I was the only person in the room, yet there was another, who was also quiet eager to begin the day. Had I not spent so much time fussing with my hat to make sure it was sitting on my head just right, I might have noticed I was being watched. Not long after the sun light started to pour through the windows of the common room, Hans of North Hembers walked in the door. He told me Hetaron was waiting outside. As we left the inn, I never noticed the third set of footsteps walking out the door.

  It took us more than an hour to walk to the Lords District where we were supposed to meet with Captain Turk. I was so lost in thought over the gold we were about to earn, I was oblivious to everything around me. I honestly couldn't believe it was going to be this easy. Today I can’t believe how stupid I was or that my hat still fit on my fat, swollen head. The three of us met with Captain Turk for a whole two minutes. Captain of the Arcadian Royal Guard, the safety of the King and the thirty Arcadian Lords rested on his shoulders. He was only involved for one reason. Of the four bodies found outside the city, one of them was a second cousin to a Lord Drake. Who took that as a threat to him and demanded Turk look into the crime. He explained this to us very clearly and then told us he was not to see us again unless we found something new. Otherwise we were to deal with Captain Nikle of the City Watch, who was supposed to give us everything that we needed to know.

  Another hour of walking later we found ourselves in front of Captain Nikle. He took a good long look at us and shook his head. He then unrolled a large map and laid it out on his desk. It was the first time I had seen a map of the capital city, I was impressed. ‘We have no reason to believe this so called cult is hiding in the city. I don’t even think it is a cult but Turk isn’t so sure. As things stand today, he has more pull than I do so I have to dance to his tune, today. The bodies were found here, just north of the city. Each man was bound and gagged. They also had letters carved into their foreheads. The letters are not important but I was told to inform you that the letters were M, O, S, and A. Turk wants you to search the area, where the bodies were found. See if you can find anything else. There are also the ruins of an old military fort near there. That area is off limits, it isn’t safe.’ That is when I heard Pare’s high pitched voice for the first time.

  ‘Hey, I know where that is. I passed by that on my way to town. We can be there in no time!’ Hans, Hetaron and I all turned at once to see the little halfling standing at the corner of Captain Nikles desk. Pare the halfling had a sly smile on his face and a slight twinkle of mischief in his eyes. Over the years, Pare has at times been a pain to deal with but I will say this. Never have I met a more loyal companion. He is my best friend in this entire world and I can honestly say the only person who cares for him more than I do is my wife. Not that I knew that when I was standing there seeing him for the first time. The three of us believed that he was there at the request of Nikle, where Nikle assume he was with us. So the three of us stood there silent and when it was clear we were dismissed the four of us filed out of his office.

  Had the four of us been a newly formed blade you would have melted us down and started anew. You would have never seen just what we were able to do. For all of our faults as a collective we four together were unbreakable. Each one of us holding up the other. From that first day till the day Hetaron left us we were a force for good and for justice. We were never perfect and I still have blood on my hands that will not wash off. We made mistakes but we were young. Young enough to live through the mistakes and I hope learn from them. I often wish I could see the four of us standing there again in front of Captain Nikle before we started down this road. I wonder if I would have given us the chance that he and Captain Turk did. Granted, today I know Nikle just wanted to get us killed. Would I have seen the fire in my eyes? Would I have seen the power Hetaron would gain? Would I have seen the wonderment in the eyes of Pare? Would Hans inspire me then as he does now today?

  I only know this. On that day with my new friends by my side I would face whatever fate tossed our way. For I had two paths in front of me, I feared neither. I would have death or I would have fortune waiting for me.

  6. Pathfinder

  Just before being pushed out of Captain Nikles office, I made the mistake of asking about our payment. I was promptly and loudly told that ‘the city guard doesn’t pay to send people on a wild goose chase and that if we were getting paid at all it was going to come from the budget of the Royal Guard.’ Nikle made it very clear to us that while he had to deal with us: we were all working for Captain Turk. Standing in the street outside of his office, I started to wonder what we were going to do next. It was then that Hetaron decided to speak. ‘I will need supplies; we will all need supplies if we are going to search the ruins he told us of.’ I looked at the wizard and asked him what he meant. ‘If there is some kind of cult at work here, they will be there. It is a large hidden area and off limits to anyone other than the city guard. I will return to your inn in three hours’ time Kromwell, we will all meet there.’ With that Hetaron turned and left, leaving me with Hans and Pare.

  I turned and looked at the little Halfling who in turn was looking up at me. He was dressed in a dingy pair of pants and a shirt that was nearly worn through. Yet he still had a smile on his face as if he had not a single care in the world. He stuck his hand out to me and said ‘Hello, my name is Pare, very pleased to meet you.’ I was reluctant to shake his little hand but in the end I couldn’t help myself. His little blue eyes reminded me of the ocean the first time I saw it. He then turned to Hans and repeated the same line again, holding his hand out once more. Hans just smiled at him and said ‘I think not little thief, I need what little coin I have. Why don’t you tell us about this fort while we walk back to Captain Turk. As Hetaron said, we need supplies and I need coin to pay for them.’

  Pare was more than happy to tell us the story. It was true; he had passed by the ruins on his way to town. The tallest standing wall was no more than three feet high. Yet he found something wonderful, a set of stairs that seemed to be very well hidden that lead underground. At the bottom of the stairs stood a large set of doors, closed with a nice new lock. He said he could have opened the door but didn’t want to risk going in there alone. It was then that Pare told us that he had been following us all day. I looked at Hans who could only shrug at me and said something about Solarth having a sense of humor.

  Pare later told me that he had been following me around for the better part of two days. He said I had that look about me. He said he knew that I was one to watch. While I had known folks like him my entire life, what he said had given me a slight chill. That being said, in all the years I have known him, he has never once taken anything
from me. Not so much as a single coin. Anything he needed or asked for, I was glad to give.

  When we returned to the office of Captain Turk, it was clear he had not been expecting us. I let Hans speak first, thinking that if a priest was asking him for gold it would go over better. When we told him what Nikle had to say about our payment he could only shake his head. He told us that he would pay us one thousand gold pieces if we found evidence that would lead to the arrest of the person or people that killed those four, honestly it was a fair offer. Three men who were clearly inexperienced and very well may have been running off to meet their end. He knew this and it might be why he didn’t even so much as flinch when I let my greed get the best of me.

  I told Turk that we wanted a thousand each, half now and half when the job was done. He looked at me and asked why we would need so much up front. ‘How can I trust you won’t just walk away with my money, never to be seen again.’ I told him that we would need supplies. That Hetaron would need the money to fuel his magic, not that I know how much the souls of children cost. That Hans would need to buy supplies to help keep us all alive. In the end he agreed to give us two thousand in total, with half of it up front. He gave us four sacks of coins, I gave Hetarons share to Hans as I did not think it would be safe with myself or Pare. We returned to the inn just in time to see Hetaron arrive on his mount. We left the city not long after that.

  I walked my horse while Pare rode. He did not have a mount of his own and in truth I was in no hurry to find these ruins or any possible cultist that might be inside. Truth being told, while I was no longer alone I still wasn't sure if I was ready to live my life this way. Had I bitten off more than I could chew? Could I trust my companions? Today I know the answer to those questions. At that time though, being lost in my own doubts was better than listening to Pare's endless prattle.