Death Or Fortune

by James Chesney

  Before we left that day we made our plans. I was to return home to Arcadia and inform Roderick of the threat. Both kingdoms were in danger with the Rod of the Arcane in Toryth Vol. He must make ready should we fall. I gave my word to Darius and the others that I would meet them in three weeks time at the appointed place. With help or by myself I would be there. Hans and myself found Pare and Hetaron outside of the castle. Pare was sitting on my shield, Hetaron was silent and lost in thought. I thanked my small friend and told them to make ready because we were leaving that night. No one said a word to me. The three of them just turned to leave as I headed back towards the castle, in search of my wife.

  41. Leaving II

  The wounded were piled up inside the walls, clerics from the local temple were seeing to them. I thought for a moment I saw Zender barking orders out to his brothers. I did not think on it. I just wanted to find my wife. I would have plenty of time to think of the priest in the days to come. I found my wife, still in the dining room. Part of the table had been cleared and there were a few wounded being attended to there. One of them by Jasmin. Not a hair out of place she was trying to hold an old man down while keeping a wad of bandages pressed down on his chest. He was doing all he could to fight her off, screaming that he would be fine. As I approached the table I saw Darius come into the room.

  The old man, older than I had ever seen, seemed familiar to me somehow. Something about the look in his eye. Wearing white robes, etched in silver and a beard longer than the hair on his head. His robes were stained with his own blood. One of his arms was badly wounded, his legs both broken and twisted. I looked at my wife and she just shook her head. 'He has sent away three clerics that wanted to heal him, he said he needed to speak to the king. He needed the clarity of pain. I don't think he is going to make it much longer if this bleeding does not stop.' I walked closer to the table and put my hand over hers. I lifted it to see the wound under, it was as if something had sliced open his skin just to see what lay inside. I had seen worse on the field of battle but not on anyone this old. I looked my wife in the eye and told her to run. Told her to run outside to find Zender, if he did not hurry this man would die. While it was no laughing matter watching her run with her dress hiked up brought a smile to my face.

  'Beautiful girl, you have done well for yourself boy.' I looked at the man on the table and asked if I knew him. 'I do not know the man you are but I have seen the boy you were.' His face twisted by the pain he laid his head back on the table and watched Darius approach. I looked the king in the eye and saw the question in his eye, I could only shrug and shake my head. The king placed one tender hand on the forehead of the wizard and asked what happened. 'When the call went out that there were dragons overhead I went to get the rod. I thought it was the only way to fight them off. Captain Herschel delayed me in getting to the armory in time. I was in there when the dragon came in the wall. I was hit by broken stones just a few feet away from the rod. The dumb beast lashed out at me when I tried to stand. I never saw it coming. I should have seen this coming. I could have been ready, prepared.' The old man seemed disappointed in himself.

  The king stood by and listened to the story all the while stroking what was left of the old man’s hair. 'Bravin Silvermorn you of all people should know better than to try to face a dragon on your own. None of us saw this coming, I thought it was hidden here. I need you to get well soon, we have to find it again.' I could hear the stomping of booted feet, when I turned I saw Zender enter the room again followed by Jasmin. He did not pause to talk or question he only told me to move back. He looked over the old man and pulled out what looked to be a potion jar and a wooden stick. 'Darmot, I want you to put this in his mouth and hold him down. I have to straighten his leg before I can heal him or it will not mend correctly.' I did not argue and did as I was told. The old man began to protest but went quiet as I placed the wood in his mouth. I watched as he pressed hard into the old man’s leg, feeling for the break. I held him down as Zender tried his best to put the old man’s legs back together, one at a time. After the third adjustment, Bravin Silvermorn passed out from the pain.

  Even without the healing powers granted to him by Solarth, Zender was a gifted healer. In the days to come Bravin would have a slight limp but still had the use of his limbs. I shook Zender's hand one last time and told him I would meet him at the appointed time in the city of Klassen near Darknight Bay. He only nodded his head and went off to continue his work. I took my wife by the hand and escorted her out of the castle, arm and arm with her as we had entered so many hours before. 'I am going to pretend that I did not hear that. I am going to pretend that you did not just agree to go riding off again the moment we get home. I understand why you have to do it, I talked to that wizard some time before you came in. Yet for right now, I am going to just ignore it and if you don't want to see me cry, don't bring it up.' I could only pull my wife a little closer and hold her tight.

  I did not see my friends again that night. Each was doing his own thing. Yet come morning they were all ready. I got up before the first light, dressed and finished packing the wagons. I could not wait any longer to be away. As the others were eating I put my armor on again. I set my shield behind the driver’s seat of the wagon and it stayed there all the way home. We were back in twelve days. Each day we drove longer and longer before resting at night. I just wanted to be home, where I knew my wife was safe. Where I was away from my father and all of the trouble he can cause. I just wanted things to get back to normal again. While I did all that I wanted to do in Eystlund, it was no longer my home. It felt like an old boot that I had out grown. Once we hit the main city of Arcadia we took Hans to his temple. Unloaded all of his gear and did the same for Hetaron later at his estate. One of his servants had to call for help to haul away all of the stuff he had brought home with him.

  As we arrived at home, Charles was waiting for us. He had with him all the reports on production and other things having to do with my property while I was gone. Other servants came to clean out the rest of the wagons. I did not care about any of that . I just took my wife by the hand again and took her into our home, leading her straight to our bedroom. Before I closed the door I looked down a hall to see Pare going into his room. Pulling a bag twice his size behind him. I lifted one finger at Jasmin and told her I would be along soon. Pulling the door closed behind me I walked down towards Pare. He was looking through a pouch on his belt trying to find the key for his door. When I saw him pull out one of his lock picks I knew he had given up on finding it. I lifted his bag for him and followed him into his room. I tossed it in a corner and asked him if he needed anything. He only shook his head no.

  I then told him something that had been on my mind the entire way home. I told him that he didn't have to stay with me. That I would give him enough money to move away, go where he wanted to. He just looked at me with a stunned look on his face. 'There is nowhere else I want to be. You are my very best friend Darmot and I will not leave here unless you want me to. What fun would I have if you were not along with me.' I could feel tears start to form in my eyes, I knew he spoke the truth right from his heart. It was then that I told him that I needed him to stay here without me. He raised one eyebrow and looked at me funny again. I then told him that I needed him to stay with Jasmin while I went off to look for the Rod of the Arcane. 'Why?' was all he could ask? I then told him that a lot of people lost money when I won the championship in Eystlund. Someone might try to take revenge out on me by hurting her. He ran across the room and hugged my legs. 'I am honored Darmot. I will be glad to stay here to watch her back.' I placed my hand on his head and thanked him. When I went to bed that night I was sure that everything was going to be ok. That we were going to go find the rod and come home. It was the first sound night of sleep I had in over a month. It was also the last for quite some time. The taste of betrayal kept me awake for many nights to come.

  42. Growth and Change

  The little halfling stood in his room looking at all t
he things he had brought home with him. A handful of odd rings, a few pouches of coins, a tusk like tooth from an orc and a few other odd items. He held the tooth in his hand, inspecting it, having half a mind to make it into a necklace for Darmot. "I am sure he would love a reminder of the fight with Mangosh." He dropped the tooth into one of his pockets and forgot about it for a time. He then went around the room, checking the traps he had left behind. While he was sure all of his things would be safe in Darmot's house, he just wanted to be careful.

  Finding nothing changed since he had left more than a month before Pare smiled to his self. "This is the best home I have ever had, no one messes with my stuff!" What the little halfling didn't know was that the lord of the house told his people to avoid the Halfling’s room. Not even Charles would enter the room without his master at hand. Even if the Halfling asked him in. Lord Kromwell wanted Pare to feel at home, letting him do what he wanted in his room. Feeling a dry spot somewhere in the back of his mouth and a powerful hunger coming on Pare took one of his coin pouches and set off for the Red Dragon Inn.

  Waving at one of the servants in the house on the way out the door he started to whistle while walking down the street. He placed his hand on the one single money pouch he had attached to his belt. The other on his knife. "You can never be too careful, there could be thieves anywhere." On his way to the inn he stopped at a jeweler to ask about the rings he found. The jeweler was a twitchy sort of fellow but he did not turn the halfling away. Pare had been in the store a time or two before and had not given him any reason to. The jeweler gave him a price for all the rings and Pare just let out a disappointed sigh, "Not magical at all?"

  "Well I don't know I am not a wizard!" he said with no humor in his voice at all. Pare scooped up the rings and dumped them in a pocket. He then pulled out the Orc tooth and put it in front of the man asking him to put it on a chain. The jeweler told him he would do it for five silver pieces. Outraged in silence he paid the price and told him he would be back to pick it up the next day. It was for his friend so the cost didn't matter to him. He waved to the old grouch one last time and went out the door. As he walked down the street he kept hearing a clinking sound. Without even looking he reached down and slid his two belt pouches apart, they were coming together with each step he took.

  At the Inn Pare never had to pay for a thing. He was to be given as much food and drink as he wanted, for a small fellow he could drink most humans under the table. He sat at his favorite spot in the whole place. Right in the center of the room in front of the dragons head mounted on the wall. At times Pare imagined the life like eyes were watching him, cursing him for killing its children. While part of him was sad for killing the small beast, they were going to eat him so he ignored that part of his inner voice. Sometime after finishing his second plate of food and his third pint of ale Pare noticed a familiar face on the other side of the room. He ordered another pint of ale and set off across the room to say hello to his lady friend with eyes of blue.

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  Hans returned to his small room at the temple to find things just as he left them. With great care he went about putting away his gear, looking fondly at his armor wondering when he would need it again. "Far too soon I imagine." After he put it all away he took one last look in the back of his small wardrobe, pulling out his sword. Well over five hundred years old the blade had passed from father to son in his family. Hans let out a little sigh as he put it back in his place, hidden from view of anyone else who might come in. Hans felt a moment of regret as it dawned on him that he was the last of his line. "I've never had time, never made time. I do not have time for a family. Now that I have devoted my life to this, these walls and my god. There is no time for me." A knock at the open door took Hans from his thoughts of family and endings.

  "Sir, the Bishop would like to see you when you have a moment." Hans nodded his head and waved off the little messenger. It was one of the children of war that the church had given a home to. There were so many of them and so little space for them all. While the church and the kingdom did all that they could to find them homes, there were more children than there were homes willing to take them. The donation Darmot made from his winnings would feed and clothe them for months to come. Picking up the small chest Hans went off to find the bishop in his small office. Setting the chest down outside the door he brushed the road dust from his robes, swearing at himself for not changing. Once he was satisfied he knocked on the door and waited for permission to enter. Once the word came he picked the heavy chest back up and made his way in.

  "I was going to come see you sir, I have a donation to add to the coffers from Lord Kromwell." He placed the chest down on the bishop’s desk with a relieved sigh.

  "Very good, I will be sure to send him a note thanking him before I leave." Hans looked at the man with a shocked look on his face. In the time he had been in Arcadia, the Bishop had not gone more than a step or two off the temple grounds. "It has been decided that it is time for me to move on. I don’t know what Solarth holds in store for me but I have been summoned by the arch-bishop. He is in Westheath. I have in my desk drawers the orders signed by him naming you Bishop of this temple. I told the Arch-Bishop that you were in Eystlund visiting friends but would inform you of the good news on your return."

  "Sir, are you serious? I have never known you to be a joker." Hans could feel the blood draining from his face as if his body was taking on the temperature of the stone walls of the temple.

  "Yes I am serious. There will be a small ritual tonight, nothing formal but you will vow to Solarth that you will be the care taker of this temple. I honestly could not think of a better person for the job. You have seen the world, it is time that you focus that energy into something that needs it. It is a time consuming job but as I said, there is no one better." Hans had to remind himself to breath. He thought he would just come home and fall back into his normal duties until he was called away again. He had even been thinking about going with Darmot as far as Klassen. It wouldn't be possible now, he would have to stay behind for sure.

  "Well son, do you accept?" the bishop asked. Hans hesitated for just a moment more.

  "It would be my honor sir." Hans fell to his knees before the Bishop and gave his thanks to him and to his god. Once he was on his feet again the color started to return to his face. Accepting of the fact that this was really happening he turned and started to leave the room. The Bishop told him to be ready at the altar just after sun down. He spent the rest of the afternoon in prayer in his room. Just as the sun was going down he got up from his knees and put on his best robe. As he approached the altar later he said to no one but himself, "I am alone but I have this. This will be enough."

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  The wizard Hetaron awoke in the middle of the night. A cold rush was running through his veins. His dreams had shown him the way forward, yet at what price. For one small moment he thought about the actions he must take to achieve what it was that he wanted most in the world. Nothing mattered to him but the power. He must have it, he would do anything to have it. He had seen a hundred possible futures for himself. Most of them pleased him deep down inside. He would need help getting what he wanted but he had to be careful of who he trusted. Not that he could afford trust. At times he did not even trust himself.

  When the morning light burst through the window of his bedroom, Hetaron began to make his plans. First he would have to go see his master, Senjin. It was a gamble but one he was sure that would pay off. If Senjin had taught him anything it was that trust was for the weak. “Trust in yourself and no one else.” Hetaron had found Senjin at an early age. Selling his magic trinkets to the common folk in Arcadia. The black hearted mage saw the potential power in the young man. He took him as an apprentice that very day. Teaching him how to use the power and how to find more. How to grow within the dark arts and grown he had.

  Hetaron made quick work of his other business, the business of his estate. The lands and ti
tles granted to him by that fool Roderick. If the king knew what Hetaron had been doing he would have him removed. Not just from his position as an Arcadian Lord but from life. If he could find someone willing to take on the task. There were very few within the kingdom that could best his power now. When he achieved his next goal, there wasn’t a soul on the planet who could stop him.

  Shortly after sun set later that night, Hetaron arrived at the home of his master. He took a moment to ready himself. He was uneasy in his presence as of late. Senjin could feel the power his student held, Hetaron was never sure how he would react. Yet he knew once the carrot was laid out tonight, Senjin would follow. He just had to be careful not to give away too much information. He was playing a dangerous game but the rewards were worth the risk. Standing in Senjin’s study he waited for his master to speak.

  “You have been gone longer than I expected, I see you have news to share with me.” The older wizards voice was sharp and drawn out.

  “Yes, I have very interesting news. I got home as fast as I could without giving myself away to the fools who follow me. First though I have a gift for you.” Pulling his hand from his robes he held a fist sized diamond. “I assume this will work for what we talked about? I have two of them, this and one just like it at home.” The older mage picked the gem up to the light and started to inspect it. After a moment or two he nodded his head, satisfied that the gem would work.