"I cannot open this without more study. We need to return back to town." We all had things to tend to and things to mend. We had some good information for Turk. We had clues for smarter heads to think on. I had my armor and a chest of gold to take account of. Oh and Hetaron had that stupid rug he wouldn't shut up about. I thought he was crazy at the time, flying carpet. Who ever heard of such a thing? Today I can say it is a wonder to behold but you truly have to be an insane wizard to use it. I remember coming up that stair well for the first time in three days being the happiest man alive. It wouldn't last long. It wouldn't last long at all.
The city had started to come alive as we were riding into town. A new day, new coin, it was a new me. I told the others that the first stop would be the inn to get all of the stuff we left behind. We were going to some place different, some place nice. Some place that was clean. No one argued with me. I was leading the way, I could hear Hans and Hetaron talking of something. I didn't think it was important. People in the streets were speaking in those hushed tones again. I didn't notice and if I did, I wouldn't have cared. That was when I heard the terror in Hans’s voice for the first time, when he rode past me, telling me to hurry. "We have to get to Turk!" It startled me just a bit. We did get to him but not at his office but closer to the office of Captain Nikle. Outside of the city jail was a large squared off area. In the center of that area was the hangman’s gallows. It was in this area that people would come to see public executions. This morning, the house was packed.
Still mounted on my horse I could see Turk on the other side of the gallows. He was alone, his face a mask of stone. A hooded man stood on the gallows, checking the ropes. Checking the trap door. Once he was satisfied he stood and waited. The executioner stood still, watching the door of the guard post. Knowing his next job was coming. A large man, huge axe hanging from his hip. As he waited he kept reaching down to touch it. Almost as if he hoped to use it. My eyes kept shifting between him, Turk and the door they were both watching. Then came the horns.
One single long tone sounded in the air as a hush fell over the gathered crowd. The door to the guard house opened and two lines of the city watch came marching out. They were clearing a path to the gallows for the condemned. Then came the man I had met only a few days before. Hogan, from the king’s guards. He was bound and gagged being pushed forward by Nikle. The crowd began to throw stuff at him. That was when I felt the pull on my foot. I looked down to see Pare, white as a ghost. "Please tell me I don't have to watch Darmot, please I can't watch." I pulled a few coins out of my pouches and told Pare to return to the inn, pay our bill and to gather our stuff. Pare ran off as if the dark lords had been chasing him.
"On this day, by the order of King Roderick this man will be put to death for the crimes of murder and treason against Arcadia." Nikle seemed pleased with himself. It was as if he was happy to carry out this order. Nikle placed a black hood over the head of Hogan and then the rope. The crowd was cheering when Nikle gave the signal for the lever to be pulled. I felt as if I was falling with him as I watched him drop. I could feel the pull when he reached the end of the rope. The crowd began to roar as if it was some great beast, happy to have its meal. I turned to look at my two friends, Hans was saying a prayer for the departed soul. Hetaron seemed even more distant that normal. I began to feel sick, I had to get away from the mob.
We found Pare back in our old room. He was sitting on a bed, the color still had not returned to his face. I didn't blame him at the time and today I still don't. I saw the wash basin in the corner of the room, filled with fresh water. I started to strip off my armor and washed myself as best I could. Even with days of dirt, sweat and blood washed away I still felt dirty. With great care I packed my armor away. I would not need it any more on this day. I dressed myself in my finest clothes, my blue cloak and that stupid hat, feather and all. On the way out I paid our final bill collected my friends and went off to a much nicer place.
I had seen the inn twice before, not far from the lords district. I didn't care how much it was going to cost me. I had two things on my mind. Eating a hot meal and sleeping in soft bed. Looking back, I got much more than I planned for. Hans never even entered, he told us that he was going to spend the night in temple to pray for guidance. Hetaron was off soon after. He said he must see his master and work on a spell for the door that blocked our way. So there Pare and I stood, with all of our belongings waiting for a stable hand to take the horses. I could smell the food cooking in the kitchen. I think the smell of fresh baked bread even began to relax Pare again. He had started to talk about everything under the sun. I let him go, his voice was much louder than the thoughts in my head.
Today the inn is quite different. For the life of me, I cannot remember what it was called that day. Now it is called the Red Dragon Inn. Once the stable hand took care of our mounts Pare and I went inside. The main room was very well lit and inviting. There was a single man sitting at the bar speaking to a woman on the other side. I will remember this image for the rest of my life. The two of them were happy in that moment, Stephan and Pamala. Stephan took my money for two rooms, Pamala gave us food. As we sat down to eat and drink the stable hand returned and took our bags to the rooms we had just rented. I don't know how long we sat down there in the main room that first night. Long enough to see the light of day had long faded away, Pare had passed out in the chair next to me. I asked Pamala if someone could show me the way to my rooms. A bell was rung as I picked up Pare and tossed him over my shoulder.
A tender voice said to follow and I just struggled to keep up. Who knew Halflings could weigh so much. Up two flights of stairs I followed the yellow silk dress. The hem of it was very nice as with Pare on top of me, bouncing around that was all I had been able to see. I thought I heard him giggle once and I almost dropped him on his head. I deposited him in the first of the two rooms, when the voice asked me if she should light a fire I told her no. I doubted he would be awake before morning. I tucked the over fed and slightly drunk halfling into bed and turned to leave the room. I turned just in time to see the yellow dress walking out the door, telling me that my room was just next door.
I locked Pare's door and tossed the key on a wash table and closing the door on my way out. As the door closed I could see the yellow dress going into my room from the corner of my eye. All of our bags were stacked at the foot of one of the beds. The woman in the yellow dress asked, "Fire my lord". I said yes please and walked over to look out the window. I could see the lord’s district and the king’s castle beyond that. The view from there was incredible. It wasn't until I turned around that I truly had my breath taken away. This was the first time that I had seen her face, the love of my life, the one who would become my wife, my Jasmin.
10. Trap
I spent the better part of the night awake. Under a constant assault from my own thoughts I could not get any rest. I knew first thing in the morning I would have to go see Captain Turk. I knew something wasn't right about what I saw that day. I believe his loyalty to the kingdom was the only thing that kept him from charging the gallows to save his friend. He had a look of helplessness on his face. That was a feeling I understood.
Then I kept going back to the face of Jasmin. How her eyes captured me and set my soul on fire. I kept her in my room as long as I could without touching her or saying anything to betray my feelings. She was the inn keeper’s daughter. She was beautiful. She looked fragile yet carried herself with an inner strength that would make a mob cower from her look. Her family had money that much was clear. She was an only child she told me that night. One day the inn would pass to her. That was a life I could live with if it meant having her by my side and in my bed. I would give up all my plans if it meant I could be with her. All dreams of glory faded when I saw the light in her eyes.
Just when I had started to quiet all the voices in my head Hetaron came back. Why he insisted on sleeping in the same room as me I will never know. Looking back perhaps he didn't trust me as I trusted hi
m then. I will never know. He told me that he would need another full day to prepare his spell. If it was up to me we could have just waited outside of that door. At some point, I thought, the wizard would have to come out. At the same time as I was thinking about how much blood I could get from Hetaron before he would shut up, word of our adventures was getting back to the wrong people. As I tried to sleep, the great machine had started to turn. Hoping to catch us in its wheels and grind us to death between the cogs of its teeth.
Once I found sleep someone else had found me. I was awoken by a pounding on the door. I opened it up to see the face of one of the city guard ordering me to report to Captain Nikle. I was ready to throttle the man when I noticed that it was mid-day. I had slept several hours yet it felt as if only minutes had passed. I told the man that I would need some time to get dressed but I would be along as soon as I could. I only wondered what in the world he wanted with me. I turned to see Hetaron had already left. Another quick check found no sign of Hans or Pare. I still don't know why I did it but instead of just putting on normal clothes I started putting on my armor. I then took the papers we found so I could pass them on to Turk once I was finished with Nikle.
On my way out I saw Jasmin washing down the tables. With one hand on my sword and the other on my heart I gave her a smile and half a bow. It was as if she was just seeing me for the first time. Her father also saw me and he did not look pleased at all. Not that I thought of it, I just turned and left. Just seeing her face again made me happy, so happy I had walked half the distance to Nikles office before I knew it. The power she had over me was incredible. Even the smug face of Captain Nikle seemed pleasant when I thought of her.
Nikle was irritated that I came alone. I tried to explain to him that I figured it was best to come as soon as possible instead of keeping him waiting for me to gather all of my friends. "I have need of you tonight Kromwell." Nikle began unrolling a map over the top of his desk. It was the first time I had seen a proper map of the main city. "I have reason to believe there are more traitors hiding about. I received word of something odd going on at this farm house here." Nikle pointed to a spot on the map well outside of the city. "I want you to go there, see what is going on and report back to me before morning. I don't care if you have to watch that house all night long. Come back to me with something. The kingdom is in dire need of resolving this mess and all the trouble makers must be dealt with swiftly." I took note of the roads I would need to follow and asked if there was anything else I needed to know. He only gave me a smile and told me good luck. The look on his face was enough to give me the chills.
I had thought of giving the papers we had found to him but something told me not to. I took everything to Captain Turk. Told him everything we had learned so far and how we could not advance any more due to the door. He sat there in silence listing to me speak while he read over the papers. When I was done I waited for him to say something. The sound of silence became solid, its weight crushing down on me. Waiting for him to say something, anything at all. I could see from the look on his face that things were becoming clear for him. As the sun had started to fade on the world, the light of understanding was just about to dawn on Turk. At last he just told me that we had done good work so far and to keep him up to date on everything we had to find. Then he sent me on my way but not before telling me to keep everything quiet. Telling me not to trust anyone but him. I then told him about what Nikle had requested of me. I showed him on the map where he wanted me to go and everything Nikle had told me. He told me to do as I was asked but to see him before going back to Nikle. I had started to feel as if I were being pulled in two different directions.
As soon as I left Turks office I headed out. I don't know how but it seemed I had wasted several hours between the two men. The sun was nearly gone and the moon could be seen over the horizon. It was at least going to be a clear night. Not a single cloud was overhead. I had made good time that night. Perhaps better time than anyone could or would expect. Once I heard the excited bleating of the sheep I knew I was getting close. I kept going even though the light from Myrrdin reflecting off of my armor made it look as if I was a signal mirror. I got to the farm house and saw one very simple fact. Unless I was going to crawl around with the sheep near the house I wasn't going to get any closer. There was nowhere to hide, just grazing land, a barn and the house.
I don't know where they came from. I did not know who they were. It was honestly the last thing I expected to see. There were three men, one of them rather large, cutting across the pasture. The two smaller men had weapons drawn, the other carried a lamp. They were moving fast towards the small house and had not seen me so I started to follow. As they hit the door, I was going over the fence keeping the sheep in. The big one took one big kick and the door flew into the house followed by the two armed men. Something wasn't right here. I heard the sound of a dish shattering and a women screaming. Everything else was drown out by the sound of my breathing. When I entered into the kitchen, the big man’s lamp was on the table. I could hear people talking in the other room. I crept forward towards the door way between the kitchen and the main room, the two smaller men had a woman and child cornered. On his knees in the middle of the room was the husband. I couldn't see the third man but I could hear him crashing around in another room.
"Hurry up and kill him."
"No, you kill him, I want to do the woman."
"Really, I thought you wanted the little boy."
"Oh fine I will do it."
They still had not seen me. I knew in my mind I could take them both but I wasn't sure what would happen with the third man in the mix. The only sound I made was the drawing of steel and it wasn't enough to warn them of their impending death. Not yet anyway, like an idiot I roared at the top of my lungs but it got the reaction I was looking for. Both men were stunned for a moment, confused even and I was very aware of what was about to happen. Even more aware when my sword tip entered the neck of the first man, from tip to hilt the blade slid into his neck as if he had no bones in there at all. I twisted my hand to yank the blade free and began moving towards the second thug. He at least tried to lift his weapon to defend himself. Not that it did him any good. My first stroke hit him just below the wrist of the hand holding his weapon. As his sword was hitting the floor, mine was entering his chest. He was dead less than a moment later.
I turned to the man still on his knees screaming at them to run, to go, and get to town. He was shaken sitting still. I could hear the big man coming. I turned to the woman and boy telling them the same. I ran over and started pulling and pushing them, trying to get them moving. The boys voice got them both moving, "run papa." He couldn't have been more than ten years old. He was pulling on his mother’s dress, pulling her out of the house as I was pushing her. Just as the father took to his feet I heard it flying through the air. I turned just in time to see the axe hit him in the chest, his body was now flying with it, it landed in a heap, the axe still buried deep in him. The boy and woman were out the door and never saw what happened. I turned to see the large man, the hooded man pulling the axe out of the old Sheppard.
As I was running out the way I had come in, I saw his lantern on the kitchen table. I knew I had to slow the big man down so I knocked it down to the floor. Before I could catch up with the woman and child outside the kitchen was engulfed in flames. "Where is my husband?" she turned to see the fire and then there was nothing I could do to stop her. I tried to tell her that he was gone and she needed to run and run she did. She ran right back into her burning house. "MAMA!" the boy shouted as he raced off after his mother. I did the only thing I could do. Go after them. Before I knew it they were both back inside of the burning home and I was going in behind them.
The heat was incredible. Already I could feel my armor starting to cook me, I knew if I was in there much longer I would be finished. I heard it one last time “MAMA!" I rushed to hear him in time to see the burning beam come down on top of his mother and father. I grabbed the b
oy and kept moving through the house. "Come on kid, we have to get out of here." I pushed him into a room that wasn't burning yet. I could still feel the heat rushing to us from behind. I turned and pointed towards the open window. "Go, out the window." I turned and in horror watched it all happen. The large hooded man stood outside of the window, the boy staring up at him. I was moving in slow motion. The house behind me had started to fall into its own cellar. While I was moving to the window as fast as I could, the axe fell faster.
I burst through the window just as the floor at my feet had started to give way. The entire house was on fire and falling in on itself. The poor boy laid at my feet, his small body torn in two. I looked around and saw the hooded man running back towards town. I started to run again, knowing that I had to stop this man, this monster. The sheep were in the field, running from the burning house, it was them that gave me time to catch the man before he could get over the fence and back on the road. I said nothing as my sword arm was flying towards his back. With a quickness that I had never seen before in a man so large he turned and blocked my stroke with his axe.
That was when it hit me. That was where I had seen this man before. This was the man who pulled the lever that sent Hogan to his death. This was the kingdoms executioner before me. We then started to dance around each other, I had the advantage of armor and he had his size. Back and forth we went each of us scoring blows but nothing that caused real harm. He moved like a man half his size. For each blow of his axe I blocked on my shield, he dodged my sword. I began to wonder why he was doing this and the longer we fought, the more I had to know so I asked him why.
Death Or Fortune Page 4