'Trull, you were out all night, go lay down while I talk to your friend.' The little beast gave the old woman one more hug, making a little grunting sound in the process. He then jumped from her lap and ran to another room. As soon as the door closed the woman stood up from her chair and started towards me. I could feel her eyes on me, punching holes into my soul, seeing into my mind. 'Put that away before someone gets hurt.' I could only nod my head and put my sword away. 'You look like a southern man, yet you wear Arcadian rank on your cloak pin. What do you want with me?' I could not move, I could only speak. I told her that the little beast got caught in my snare and he told me to follow him. I did not know where he was taking me but I could not stop following him. 'You speak true, I see this now.' The woman turned from me and went to pick up the bag Trull had dropped on the floor. I could move again, maybe I always could have but I did not want to at the time.
'Thank you for not killing my son. I don't know what I would do without him.' I looked at the woman in shock. 'I found him three years ago along the side of the road. He was just new born, I could not stand to see the poor thing suffer. I have raised him, he keeps me company and I keep him safe.' I started to ask just who she was when she told me. 'Names are not important, I am a druid this much I will tell you. My grove was lost many years ago. I was nearly done with life when I found him. When he is ready to be on his own, I will pass from this world and into the next. He is my last charge. To make a creature of pure evil, something able to love and be loved.' I just shook my head. When the old woman died, he would be alone. He would have no one that understood him. Not humans or his own kind. He would be an outcast to all. I started to tell her this when it dawned on me that his own kind left him to die. At least with her, he had a chance at life.
The old woman then reached into a cupboard and pulled out a small sack of coins. She wanted to pay me for letting Trull live. I refused and told her I had more money than I knew what to do with as it was. I then told her I had to leave, I had left my horse alone long enough as it was. I told the old woman good bye and started for the door. It was then that I heard a howl of pain and the running of flapping feet and Trull came charging towards me. 'Noooooo stay.' The old woman stopped him from coming all the way towards me. Holding him tight against her body she held him. It was the oddest thing I have ever seen in this life. I waved to them one last time as I made my way out the door. I have never made my way back to see them. I doubt I could find it again if I tried. I wonder if the little beast ever turned on her or if it was only her power keeping the creature in check as she did me. Could she really change the nature of evil with just love, I doubt it. Some creatures and even people cannot deny their true nature. This much I know.
I made my way back to my mount, collecting my rabbit along the way. By the time I had the thing cooked and ready to eat the sun had returned to the sky and it was time for me to go. Eating as I rode, I tossed aside what was left of anything I could not eat. Most of which was just bone. As I was going down the road I did not see a single soul for miles on end. I passed what looked to be old farm houses yet they looked to be lifeless as could be. What man had made his own was being reclaimed by nature. Which I assume is only right, one day I will be laid to rest in the ground but not for a long time and not without a fight. I will live as long as the gods permit me to. Knowing when to fight and when to run has served me well. I wish all men understood this concept.
Just as the sun started to set again I saw them. There were six men, all of them armed and waiting for me in the middle of the road. I eased Emily to a stop, standing up looking for more. While the grass along the side of the road was tall, it was not tall enough to hide any more men. The wood line was too far off for archers. I did see a small clearing in the grass where they had a small camp west of the road. Horses were tied together near a ring of tents, a small fire burned in the center. I turned and took my shield off the rear of my pack, drew my sword and started to move again. Six men, all of them armed with shoddy weapons and bits of useless armor, well all but one. He was the leader, I could tell by the look on his face. He was the only one who looked sober, who didn't think they were about to have a bit of fun as I heard one of them say. Even his chain armor looked semi well kept. I stopped a good twenty feet away from them as they started to spread out on the road.
'You will pay us to pass, if you refuse we will have to hurt you. You don't want to get hurt now do you?' I looked down at them and locked my eyes on the leader. I asked him how much he wanted, that seemed to draw a chuckle from his men. 'All of it, hold back and we will take everything including your life.' I just looked at them and shook my head as I slid down off Emily's back. I then asked them if they knew who they were dealing with. 'Kill him,' was all the leader could say. While I regretted what was about to happen, in a way it was refreshing to run across someone that had no clue who I was. One of the thugs pulled out a long curved dagger and started to run towards me. Screaming about how he was going to take my pants. Soon they were all moving, the leader was leading from behind.
Holding his dagger high, he came closer and closer to me. I wondered if he had ever fought anyone who had put up a fight before. As I side stepped his charge I sliced deep into his gut, nearly cutting him in two. With each step I took forward, I met another man. Each step I took, another man fell. Five steps were taken into the pack of men and five men fell before me. The leader stood and stared in shock, dropping his weapon he held his hands high above his head. 'Please sir, spare me your wrath, please!' I felt a wave of hatred come over me, gone was my control, my anger was boiling over. Five men had died by his command. The cost was on his head and for that he would pay. The tip of my blade ripped into his neck and passed back out the other side. He put his hands over the cut, thinking he could hold himself together as he started to gurgle out his final breath. His eyes followed me as I moved to his side, the light of life was slowly fading from them.
"Don't worry, your men will join you on the other side." It was then that I finished the job. As the bandit leader lay dying, I felt the wave of anger fade and it was replaced by guilt and revulsion. It was only then that I put away my shield and sword. One by one I took the bodies of the men I had killed to their little camp. I stacked them up like piles of wood and then tore into their tents. Rotten food, no coin and a barrel of water that smelled like swamp water. I dumped that over the small fire they had going. While I did not care about the men I killed, I could not let their fire spread to the grass and the trees beyond. I then cut the horses lose, letting them run free. Two of them followed Emily and I at a distance. I had decided that I would not rest that night, the trail was safe enough to ride at night. One of the horses was still there behind us as I saw the town of Klassen ahead of me the next day. I wasn't sure how long I would be in town, I only hoped my new friends avoided any trouble along the way.
45. Waiting
I rode into town just before noon. As there was only one inn to be found, I assumed I was going to find the others there. After talking to the innkeeper I discovered that no one matching their description had been there. I figured that they would be along soon so I paid for two rooms for us. After I put my horse in the stable and put my gear in one of the rooms I decided to explore the town. There was a small shrine to the water goddess Nemai'Een, which I expected for a town so close to Darknight Bay. While the town was not on the bay its self, it was less than few hours ride. The town of Rohloff was right on the bay, three or four towns like Klassen were all about the same distance away. Fear of the deep discouraged people from wanting to live so close to there in days gone by. I could smell the market before I could see it. The market was loaded with fresh fish, smoked fish which I found interesting and about any other thing you might pull out of the deep water.
The town constable was also the kingdoms representative. His home was a walled complex, he and his family lived above the jail. There was an outer office where people could come in to file complaints, on the outside of that was a wall of
wanted posters. I took a moment to look at a few of them. Two of the men jumped out at me right away. They were among the bandits who tried to rob me on the road. I looked deeper then, trying to see them all. While the artist who drew the posters wasn't the greatest, none of them looked like the leader. After I looked at each posting only two of the men I fought were there. I pulled down each posting and walked in the office door. Inside the office was well lit, the floors were being swept by a small boy, no more than ten years old. I looked to my left and saw one single desk with a man sleeping behind it. The young boy started yelling at him to wake up. He looked at me with a blank look on his face. This one was closer to my age but still young. When I held the posters up for him to see he rubbed one hand across his eyes and got to his feet.
'Dad, there is some bounty hunter here' he yelled into the back room he was moving towards. When the older man came out I could see that he was father to both the young boy and the man who was sleeping. He wore the seal of office around his neck and an odd pin on his breast. I later learned it was the crest of the lord who was responsible for this part of Arcadia. I often wonder if he had ever been there. The man who only went by Sheriff Tomas took one look at me and started yelling at his sons. 'You idiot, that is no bounty hunter. He is a military captain for the kingdom, Brell put that broom down and get our guest some water.' I had forgotten my cloak pin again. I felt no need to correct the man but soon as I was done here I was putting it away. I did not want to give too much about myself away. 'How can I help you captain?'
I put both posters down on the desk and told him about the ambush and showed him on a map where it had happened. I told him where to find the bodies and to have his men watch for the horses. 'Well, I would have to hire a few lads to go out there. Once they get back with the bodies I can give you the reward. If I know anything about the others I will let you know once I get my eyes on them.' I just nodded my head and told him that would be fine. When he asked me for my name I only told him Darmot. To this day, I am not sure why I never told him my last name. It just didn't seem like the thing to do. 'I have a room or two here in my home if you need it.' I thanked him and told him I had already paid for a room at the inn. I then told him if he needed me, he could find me there.
On my way back to the inn I just looked around the town. Not paying attention to anything at all other than the buildings. Most were older and in need of repair. I doubted anything new had been built there in thirty years. I made notes in my head about the cost of shipping lumber that far and if it would be worth it to open another inn in such a small town. That night as I sat and dined on a creamy fish stew I told myself that I would head towards Rohloff in the morning to take a look around if my friends had not arrived. I expected them to walk in at any moment yet for some reason I feared it was going to be awhile. I sat in the common room of the inn until well after dark, the ale was watered down but it had a good taste. When I was ready to give up and go to bed for the night, Tomas walked in the door. I raised up my hand and waved to him.
'Captain, I sent out three lads in a wagon to pick up those bodies after you left my office. They should be back sometime in the morning or the afternoon depending on how much they loaf around out there. Come to the office when you wake up and I will get you a proper meal while we wait.' I told him I was looking forward to it and started to offer him my hand. At the same time he started to salute me, fist over heart. I told him that wasn't something he had to do. I was no longer part of the military and I only fought during the invasion. He stuttered a bit and said something about the cloak pin I had worn earlier that day. I told him that I still wore it to honor the men I fought with, the men who died under my command and to honor a friend. Tomas sat down and had ale with me. While he had known of the war, he was 'a bit fuzzy on the details.' I don't know if it was the ale or something about him that made me open up. It was really the first time I had spoken about the war with anyone who wasn't there. It was the first time I had spoken of Arturo in ages. Tomas looked away while I wiped the tears from my face.
As I crawled into bed that night I was more than a little drunk. Talking to Tomas about the war had taken its toll on me. It brought to mind something else that I was out here on my own. Without my friends. They were an everyday part of my life for over a year. I hated the fact that they were not with me. A part of me wished things were different between Hetaron and I. It was too late now, we had both done things that could not be changed. I could abandon the others who were counting on me and return home. Try to fix the damage that was done. Yet I knew then as I know now nothing could change what happened. You would have more luck changing an arrows path after it has been launched. After I fell asleep I dreamed of dead men chasing me only to be saved by a goblin who believed he was a great ranger. When I awoke the next morning I was covered in sweat and all my bedding was on the floor. I don't know if it was the dream or the ale that made me that way.
Once I was clean and dressed I made my way to see Tomas. I checked with the inn keeper on my way out the door, there was still no sign of Zender and the others. While I knew they were more than able to take care of themselves, something wasn't right. By all rights they should have beaten me to Klassen. At the time, I thought they may have had trouble locating the rod. I know today it was due to Zackary refusing to enter a forest near the border of Arcadia and Eystlund, they had to go around the entire area. It took some time before they would give me a reason why they chose to go around. When I arrived at the sheriff’s office, I saw the wagon outside, its cargo was covered with a heavy tarp. Remembering my dream from the night before I stood there for a moment, just to see if there was movement. I wanted to kick myself yet I could not shake the feeling, something wasn't right.
'Good morning Captain Darmot!' I looked in the door to see young Brell standing there with his broom in his hand like it was some kind of spear. I returned his greeting and gave him my best smile. When I asked him where his father was, he told me to wait and he would go get him. I stood and looked out the window at my dead cargo as I waited for Tomas. When I heard the sound of heavy boots on the floor I turned away and watched the door at the back of the office. When he came in he had three men with him, all of them armed and armored. I had to resist the urge to place my hand on my sword. 'We found the bodies you told me of but you seem to have miscounted. Not that I can blame you really. I can tell you that all of the men were wanted criminals.' I held up my hand and asked him what he meant about miscounting. 'The lads here only found five men. They looked around a bit for a blood trail or drag marks, they found nothing. Other than the trail you made when you dumped them all off the road.'
My blood started to run cold. I knew that there were six men in all. I also know they were all dead, I checked more than once. I turned away from Tomas and went outside to the wagon. I could smell the bodies under the tarp yet it did not slow my hand. I reached down for the corner of the tarp and yanked it off the bodies. I stood there and looked at them all lined up side by side. I started to wonder if they were playing a joke on me. I knew there had been six of them and yet here were five. I turned to the other men and asked them for myself. I asked them if they were sure one of them were not eaten or dragged away by an animal. 'No sir, the area was clean other than the mess you made.' I turned back to the wagon and started to count again. Five, there were only five still. The leader of the bandits was missing and I did not know where he could have gone.
46. Paladin II
I stood there just looking at the wagon. I knew Tomas was standing there holding something out to me but it took a moment for me to focus on him. 'The reward is reduced because of them being dead and all. Are you feeling OK sir?' I just shook my head a little, trying to clear the cob webs from my brain and told him I was fine. I then told him to keep the reward, to give it to the men who brought back the bodies. I didn't want anything to do with it. He clapped me on the back and turned away. While I am sure he thought it was just me being weak in the stomach, I knew there was something wr
ong. There should have been six men in all. I had killed enough men in my time to know when one was dead. He should have been among the bodies.
I then told Tomas I was returning to the inn. Perhaps it was the ale from the night before but I doubted it. I only wanted to return to my bed and perhaps I would wake up from this strange dream. Before I left I pulled out my money pouch and gave Tomas two heavy coins. I told him that all the men must be given a proper burial. He gave me a strange look and nodded his head. On my way back to the inn, the haze in my brain started to clear. As if I was walking out of a fog into the sun. It was then that I saw him. Standing outside the little shrine to Nemai'Een with one hand on his hip, the other was on his chin. He had not changed much since I had seen him last. His armor was different and he carried a massive two handed sword on his back. I stopped about five feet away from the man and watched until I could do so no more.
"You are not going to attack it are you?" I asked my friend. Michaels turned towards me, it was then I could see the change that had come over the man, if only for a moment. His eyes grew large and a smile broke out on his face. 'Lord Kromwell!' he shouted for all to hear. The troubles I had seen in his eyes melted away and I was once again face to face with my former second in command, my friend. He took two large strides towards me and embraced me as a brother again. 'It is good to see you Lord Kromwell, is Hans with you? What of little Pare and that cursed wizard?' As his voice boomed around the area I felt the need to drag him away. There were too many eyes on us and I did not want it known who I was. Though it would seem that it was too late for that now. I told him to just follow me and asked him to just call me Darmot. I took him back to the inn where we could have a meal and talk in private.
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