by Steven Drake
“Perhaps,” Darien said with an earnest nod. “For the moment, let’s gather all the information we can. Watch this one if you would. I’d like to investigate their camp.”
Darien did investigate the camp, carefully. He found nothing at first, but on the edge of camp, he noticed a slight divot in the smooth white of the thin layer of snow. As he brushed the snow away, he found the imprints of a horse’s hooves in the soft ground. He was fortunate. Another few minutes’ worth of snow and the tracks would be covered completely. Had the ground been harder, he might never have found them either. The tracks could not have been made recently, certainly not since the snow started, as the snow above them had remained smooth and undisturbed, a smooth pit in the even blanket of fluff. Darien guessed they had been made several hours to half a day earlier. The camp had obviously been in use for several days, judging from the accumulated ash in the central fire. Most likely, these men were sending back regular reports as they gathered information, rotating people in and out. Fortunately, the only person who could positively identify him as Darien the Executioner lay dead, as did all those who were present when the identification was made. Darien found four horses, which he quickly rounded up and tethered together to take back to town.
Darien led the horses up to Garok who was already waiting with the still sleeping mousey youth draped over his shoulder like a dead animal. With that, they started back to town. They would have a great many explanations to make to Kellan. Hopefully, the city master would not ask too many questions.
This evening had begun in frustration, and was set to end the same way. Darien could not help himself thinking how the evening would have gone better for him, and immeasurably better for the several whom he had slain, had Mirisa simply left him alone to read in his cave.
Chapter 18: A Familiar Fear
Mirisa stared out into the night as people wandered the streets of Exire. The lodge had mostly emptied, as the festival had mostly ended. Many of the people would take the celebration home, but not her. Instead, she stood worrying about an irresponsible patient. Why couldn’t he just eat, drink, and enjoy himself like a normal person, she wondered.
As she stared out into the night, Miri watched the people continue their celebrations on their way home. Miri could barely make out a couple exchanging a passionate embrace in a shadowed alley. A heavily drunken man sang in unintelligibly slurred speech, supported by two friends. Several of the town’s dogs played in the street, not understanding the reason for the festivities, but sharing in the mood nonetheless. Still, there was no sign of Garok or Darien.
Garok had to have left over an hour ago, just after Miri had the dreadful sensation of being pulled by an invisible force. Like the day she had found Darien on the mountain, it had struck her suddenly. She had been dancing with Kellan, blissfully unaware, her senses dulled by drink, when the feeling hit like a wave. In a flash she had sobered up, and then felt cold. She thought of Darien, and then looked for him, but he was gone. Something had happened. She did not yet know what, but the feelings had not abated. What trouble had Darien gotten into? He broke his promise, Miri thought as she gritted her teeth. He promised not to wander off.
“Miri, he probably just went home,” Kellan volunteered as he laid a hand on her shoulder. Miri turned to smile weakly at the big man. Kellan had always been kind, but he did not understand. This was not just a wild hunch. It had been real, frighteningly real. “Come inside. Garok will find him.”
Miri turned and walked back inside. She found a chair at the far end of the room where she could watch the door, and waited. A few people worked at cleaning the remainder of the mess. The cleaning would continue well into the next day, but the worst had already been dealt with. The activity in the lodge was winding down, and people were thinking of sleep. Miri had to do something to get her mind off of her anxiety, so she decided to lend a hand. She searched for the innkeeper, a large elderly woman with kind eyes. She had not taken five steps when she saw a large and familiar silhouette looming just outside the doors of the lodge.
Garok. Finally, she said to herself and started off towards them. Garok carried something over his shoulder, and Darien walked slowly a few paces behind. Darien looked awful, covered in some sort of filth and a fine dusting of snow. He stooped slightly, and favored his right side. The darkness seemed to thicken around him, strongest around his right side, where the dark mark was centered, but his light burned brighter as well. Miri sighed, let her anxieties fall, and then let her irritation quickly take their place. She stomped over towards them.
“Just where were you?” Miri demanded. “I was worried so I sent Garok. You took enough time getting back.” Miri looked over to Garok, who shrugged sheepishly. It was then that she noticed the sleeping man draped over Garok’s shoulder. “And who is this? What’s going on?”
“If you would give us a moment, Lady Mirisa, I have some things to discuss with Kellan,” Darien said wearily.
“Anything you can say to Kellan you can tell me too. I want to hear this. You promised me you wouldn’t wander off again. I haven’t forgotten your promise.” Darien gritted his teeth but had the sense not to argue at least.
Kellan had appeared from somewhere in the back. Obviously, he had noticed the ogre’s shadow as well. The stout hunter rolled his eyes and sighed. “All right, it’s fine, just tell me what you two were up to.”
“I saw someone suspicious and I went to investigate,” Darien said. “I was right.” Darien then launched into his story, how he had tried to explore the camp, then been caught. Then he described the pitched battle, and how Garok had arrived to help. Miri noticed that Darien seemed to be hiding something, not lying exactly, but holding something back. She was busily speculating on what it might be, when she saw Garok draw something from his belt that made her heart freeze in her chest. She recognized the symbol of Zandrek’s White Wolves. Instantly, Miri knew that these men had come for her. No, not again. I thought I was safe here. I thought he would finally stop chasing me.
“So, it was Zandrek’s White Wolves, you’re certain?” Kellan asked after the explanation was finished.
Garok handed the necklace to Kellan. “Zitane will know his brother’s token. I am not surprised. That one does not give up easily.”
“Why did you engage them alone?” Kellan turned back to Darien. “How did you know they were enemies?”
“I have my own enemies. I feared one of them might have recognized me. As it turned out, I was right. He might have come after me if I’d let him escape, or he might have sent others.” Darien spoke calmly, but Kellan gave him a hard look.
“Doesn’t matter now,” Garok interrupted. “If Zandrek sent this many, it means he was after Mirisa. Better we kill them now before they surprise us in the night. Their leader was strong, too strong for you, too strong for me, a mage like Darien. You should be thanking, not questioning.”
“I’m too tired and drunk to deal with this tonight.” Kellan shrugged and rubbed his head. “Garok, take that prisoner to Jailer Marten. We’ll interrogate him tomorrow. I’ll go rouse Zitane then I’m going to bed.” Kellen turned back to Darien and looked sternly at him once more. “You’re sure nobody got away.” Darien and Garok both nodded, then Kellan stomped off.
It still felt unreal, that Zandrek would pursue her even here. There would be a time for fear, for frustration, but for the moment, she laid that aside. First, she had to express her frustration at the man who had broken his promise and ruined her evening. She reached back, and slapped Darien across the face. His eyes blinked twice and went open wide. He looked more stunned than angry.
“I’m still not happy with you.” Miri looked Darien straight in the eye, who continued to stare dumbly.
“Alright, perhaps I acted irresponsibly,” Darien finally said. “But I’m used to acting on my own authority. I don’t usually ask permission before…”
“No buts,” she interrupted. “If you’re going to apologize, don’t make excuses.” He gritted his teeth,
but she was not about to let him off the hook. “Well, I’m waiting.”
“Fine, I’m sorry,” Darien said. Garok let out a laugh, his laughter always sounded like a distant avalanche. At least someone found this amusing.
“Apology accepted,” she said. Then she caught wind of something she hadn’t noticed before, an unpleasant odor, dried blood, sweat, and worse. “Ugh, you smell like a corpse.”
Darien started to say something, but before he could, Miri grabbed his arm and pulled him along behind.
“Now, let’s see about getting you a bath.”
“Lady Mirisa, I don’t have time…”
“I’m not going near you smelling like that. If you want me to keep you alive, you’re going to take a bath.”
Pulling Darien along was like dragging a stone, even though he had obviously been weakened by the fight.
“Wait, why doesn’t Garok need a bath?” Darien suddenly exclaimed.
Miri paused for a moment, surprised more by the cold man’s almost childish tone than the question itself. Is he really going to argue about that?
“Really? You sound like a brat complaining that he has to bathe instead of his brother.” She stopped and turned towards him, crossing her arms on her chest. “He’s an ogre of course. He smells of moss and damp earth no matter how much he bathes. Besides, he’ll clean himself off without being ordered. You won’t. You haven’t washed twice in as many months, and now you’re covered with, well, whatever.”
Mirisa led him to one of the larger rooms in the back of the lodge, and went to fetch soap and water. Miri took a few minutes to find a tub and one of the lodge’s servants. When they entered the room, however, Miri noticed Darien slumped against the wall in one corner. He had been hurt worse than he’d let on.
I can’t leave him like that, Miri thought. Her aggravation gave way to concern. She set down the tub and had the servant start heating the water, then went herself to check on Darien. She leaned down toward him. He had slumped over, with his back against the wall, hair hanging over his face, longer than it had been when she’d found him. He could use a haircut as well. Still, he looked almost peaceful. Up close, she could see the light within him, burning far stronger than she had seen since he had been awake. What did it mean? She had never seen the light and darkness both increase in intensity at the same time. She reached down and ran her fingers through his raven hair. It slipped easily through her fingers, still slick with sweat and whatever else. He stirred, and Miri withdrew her hand.
“Are you all right?” Miri asked.
“I’m fine, thank you, just resting,” he half mumbled without opening his eyes.
“Does it hurt? Has it gotten worse?”
“I’ll be fine,” he repeated mindlessly.
Muleheaded man, he isn’t fine at all, Miri thought to herself. He acts like he’s invincible, but he’s just stubborn. Miri tore away a section of Darien’s shirt, it had been ripped in several places anyway. He made no objection, and probably barely noticed. The dark mark seemed to pulse with anger, but it had not grown as large as she had feared. She laid her hands on it. This time it felt hot, almost burning. She poured her energy into it, and felt the familiar resistance. She had gotten more skilled over these past weeks, and the wound seemed to yield without much effort.
Darien groaned, then opened his eyes, and he actually smiled. “That’s much better, Lady Mirisa, thank you.”
“Oh, good, I was worried…” Miri stammered before returning to her hard look. “But you still have to clean up.”
The servants had already started bringing in the water, and Miri went to fetch some fresh clothes. When she returned, she laid them on the bed near the window, then sought out Zitane. He would want to speak with her. Now that Darien was taken care of, Miri felt the weight of the evening’s events begin to weigh on her. The realization that Zandrek had picked up her trail, and even now continued his pursuit, sunk in. Each step grew more difficult.
She found Garok in the large common room of the lodge, speaking somberly with Zitane, who had his hand at his chin. As she approached, her brother looked up and spoke a thousand words with his expression, understanding, sorrow, weariness, regret, and a dozen other emotions. Miri’s constitution buckled, and tears escaped. She ran to Zitane, and he embraced her.
“It’s all right, Miri. I know.” Zitane’s voice was comforting, almost as a father comforting a daughter.
“What will happen now?” she asked.
“We have to leave,” Zitane confirmed what she already suspected. Just when Exire had started to feel like some kind of home. “The only question is when, and where to go.”
“He will never stop chasing us, never,” Garok argued. “Where is left to run?”
“I have heard tales of a vast sea, leagues and leagues to the west, far beyond the forest. There are cities where ships sail all over the world to all lands known and unknown,” Zitane said. “Perhaps there.”
“And have you any idea how to get there? What roads to take, how long the journey? What lies between us and this sea?” Garok always thought of the practical things.
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it. I didn’t think he would find us here.” Zitane gritted his teeth and rubbed his temples.
No one spoke. All three took turns staring mutely at the floor, then at each other, hoping to discover some answer, but none was there, either written on the floorboards or germinating in their minds. Time ticked by. The room grew dimmer as the servants put out most of the candles and torches.
Finally, Garok broke the silence. “There is a time to run, and a time to stand. Perhaps it is time for us to face this. At least here we have allies.”
“Kellan can’t possibly hope to repel Zandrek’s forces,” Zitane argued. “If Zandrek sent even a force of a few hundred, it would be too much for this town.”
“It is not Kellan I think of,” Garok said.
“Then who?” Zitane said. “Wait, you mean the mage, Darien?” Zitane’s mouth curled downwards. “I do not trust him. If he wanted to help, he would have already offered. Miri saved his life, and he barely cares.”
“That is not true,” Miri said, surprised at the force of her sudden outburst. “He does care, or he wouldn’t have fought those men.”
“He’s protecting himself,” Zitane said. “He needs you to survive. As soon as he doesn’t, he’ll leave. He’s made that clear.”
“Not to protect himself,” Garok protested. “He fears the men who hunt him, even as we fear Zandrek, so much he suggested to me that he should leave Exire immediately.”
“But he can’t,” Miri argued. “He’ll die.”
“He knows that,” Garok rumbled. “Yet he would rather die himself than see others die for his sake. I do not think he does anything for his own sake. He carries a grief not unlike my own. The men who hunt him are the same who killed my brothers.”
“You so seldom speak of that.” Miri walked over to the large ogre and grasped his large, leathery hand. She could see the pain in his face and the hurt in his voice. “Who are they?”
“They name themselves the Shades. They are powerful mages, like him. One of their number took the life of my four brothers, and nearly killed me. The Shades serve the Demon King of the east. Darien confessed to me that he left their order many years ago.”
“The Demon King?” Zitane said open mouthed. “Then the rumors are true.” Garok nodded somberly. “That doesn’t make him any more trustworthy, does it?”
“It means we share a common enemy,” Garok said. “I saw the look in his eyes. Darien is convinced that these men will pursue him to the end of the world. This is something more than a simple grudge. He has some greater importance.”
Greater importance. Miri had always suspected that, and now Garok did too. Darien had known the leader of these men sent by Zandrek. She felt close to discovering something, and it both terrified and excited her, but then she was ready to cling to any hope, however faint.
Zit
ane rubbed his chin furiously, clearly thinking, evolving a plan, or at least an idea. Miri had faith in her brother, even when he had none in himself. He would make the right choice, whatever it was.
“Well, it’s an idea. He knows the lands east of here, and he seems to be on speaking terms with dragons, of all things.” The confidence had returned to her brother’s voice. He would figure something out. “But let’s be cautious. I want to see what this prisoner has to say. Perhaps he will know how deeply involved Zandrek is with these people, and let’s keep quiet about how much we know. I don’t think Kellan will turn us out, but we can’t be too careful.”
Zitane reached out and gave Miri a warm embrace. To her surprise, Garok extended his massive arms around the both of them, and they all shared a hug.
“Get some sleep, Miri,” Zitane said. “We’ve come this far. We’ll get through this. I think I’ll go talk to Kellan, just to get an idea what his thoughts are. He could make this easier, or harder, and I need to know which it’s going to be.”
Miri smiled in return, and then turned away. Garok lumbered outside, probably returning to the old barn he usually slept in. Zitane disappeared in quick steps back down the hallway to his room, his hands still rubbing his chin, his mind churning beneath the surface. Miri felt somewhat better.
Before she could sleep though, she had one more thing to attend to. She made her way back to the room where Darien had been, hopefully, bathing. The door was shut, and Miri wondered if she should wait, but then he might have passed out again. She turned the knob gently, quietly. The door was unlocked, so she pushed the door ever so gently forward and poked her head through until she could see Darien.
He sat reclining in the water, apparently calm. The water looked as foul as she had expected, but she did not dwell on that. His hair was wet, and water dripped down onto the floor behind the tub. He had one well-muscled arm lying on the side of the tub. She could not tell for certain he was awake, so she waited, debating whether or not to say something. Would he be angry at her checking on him? A moment later, she saw him stir. He ran a hand through his hair, and started to stand up. Miri froze for a moment, watching him rise out of the water, then panic set in and she pulled her head out and swiftly, but silently, shut the door. She leaned against the wall and felt her heart pound against her chest for several minutes.