Quest's end bk-3

by Brian S. Pratt

  Quest's end

  ( Broken key - 3 )

  Brian S. Pratt

  Brian S. Pratt

  Quest's end

  Chapter One

  The Kingdom of Byrdlon was gripped in winter’s icy fist. Snow covering the ground was blown into a flurry by an icy wind. Those few souls who were forced to brave its fury were hardly recognizable as people. Bundled up as they were with layers of clothing and coated by the new fallen snow swept off the ground by the wind, they looked more like ghosts in their passing.

  Above, the sun tried in vain to break through the snow blown haziness. All that was visible, should one have bothered to look up, was a disc of dim brightness. Cold. Only the foolish or desperate would brave such conditions. Most sensible people remained indoors with fires burning brightly.

  One individual was unable to remain inside. A promise given was a promise kept. Though, if he had known today was going to be like it was, he never would have agreed to the meeting he was heading toward.

  Wrapped in layers of clothing, the man leaned against the blowing wind as he passed through the empty streets of Gilbeth. The lower half of his sword’s scabbard poked out from beneath the bottoms of two jackets, one of which had been borrowed from a friend.

  Not much further, he thought to himself. On either side of him, the lights coming from windows promised warmth that he direly wished he could partake. Instead, he continued putting one foot in front of the other and pressed ever onward. When he came to the next intersection, he was struck by a gust of wind blowing from out of the side street and was almost knocked over. Gritting his teeth, he turned into the full force of the wind and made his way along the side street.

  Behind him, the footprints he left in the snow covering the street were quickly filled or removed by the wind. Not much further, he said to himself yet again. And it wasn’t. Squinting his eyes against the blowing snow, he looked ahead and saw the townhouse that was his destination.

  A face peered through one of the ground floor windows. The child was seven years old, with golden locks that were uncommon in this area, though not completely unheard of. Her breath condensed on the cold of the glass window and she would be forced to wipe it clear from time to time as she looked out. When she saw the man coming down the street she quickly left the window only to return a moment later with an auburn haired girl who had to be her sister. The sister saw the man coming and grew excited.

  He saw her wave to him. A smile appeared on his face as he waved back. Maybe this was worth it, he said to himself. Trudging onward, he reached the bottom of the steps to the townhouse just as the front door opened.

  “You made it!” the older sister exclaimed excitedly.

  “I said I would come,” Chad replied as he ascended the steps. The warmth from within came through the door and enveloped him as he neared the top. Alicia, the older of the two sisters, and the one for whom he had braved the fury of the storm, stepped aside as he entered.

  “Is this him?” the younger sister asked.

  “Yes,” Alicia replied as she helped Chad off with his outer garments.

  “How can you tell under all that?” she asked.

  Alicia gave her sister a look that said go away but the little girl remained with them in the foyer.

  “Go tell father that Chad’s here please,” Alicia finally said. When her sister looked like she was about ready to balk at Alicia’s request, she said, “Go!”

  “Alright,” her sister said. “But you know you’re not supposed to kiss him.”

  Turning red, Alicia made to move toward her sister, but her sister scampered away. “Sorry about Erin,” Alicia said. “You know how little sisters are.”

  Chad nodded. His own younger brother Eryl could be the same way at times. “Oh yes,” he replied with a grin.

  “I really didn’t think you would make it,” she said. Hanging up his jackets, she turned back to him and gave him a smile. She cast a quick glance further into the house. When she didn’t see either of her parents, she gave him a quick hug.

  “Papa!” Erin hollered from where she was peering around the corner. “They’re hugging and you told her that she couldn’t do that until she was married!”

  Then from around the corner appeared the girls’ mother. With a smile on her face, she shooed away the little pest and came forward. “Welcome to our home,” she greeted Chad.

  “Thank you ma’am,” replied Chad. “It’s quite lovely.”

  She beamed at the praise. “We’re so glad you could make it,” she said. “Alicia was worried that the storm would be too much for you.”

  Chad absentmindedly put an arm around Alicia’s waist. When he saw Alicia’s mother’s eyes narrow ever so slightly at the familiarity with which he was treating her daughter, he came to his senses and quickly removed his arm. “Oh, it’s not so bad,” he lied.

  “Dinner will be ready shortly,” she told them. Then turning to her daughter she said, “Your father is in the library.” About that time, Erin reappeared again and was ready to say something when her mother grabbed her by the arm. “You need to help me in the kitchen young lady.”

  “But mama!” she cried. “I want to see Alicia’s boyfriend.”

  “None of that,” her mother said. Then with a tight grip on her daughter’s arm, she dragged her to the kitchen.

  He glanced to Alicia and could see that her face was still a little red with embarrassment. “Come on,” she said as she looped one arm around his. Then arm in arm, they proceeded into the house.

  Chad and Alicia had known each other since before the trip to Catha. In the weeks since returning, they’ve grown to know each other better. Last week it had been decided that it was time for him to meet her family. Always dreading that part of any relationship, he had agreed to come this evening to dinner.

  Her family was part of a trading concern here in Gilbeth. She said that her father, her older brother who is now married and living elsewhere, and an uncle ran caravans from one end of the kingdom to the other. Her father had even gone to The Marketplace to trade with the goblins as well as down south into the Moran Tribes. Now that winter was full on, the caravan was wintering here in Gilbeth until the roads were once again passable. Few traders braved the wintry conditions. Most do as her father does and ceases their trading during the darkest part of the year.

  They passed through the front living area where guests were entertained, and into the hallway leading further into the house. The smell of pipe smoke was evident, and when they passed from the hallway into the library, Chad saw her father sitting by the fireplace. With a book in one hand and a pipe in the other, he looked up as they entered.

  Still gripping his arm, Alicia said, “Papa, this is Chad.” Then as her father came to his feet, she said, “Chad, this is my father.”

  Chad came forward and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you sir,” he said.

  Her father put his pipe between his teeth and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you too Chad,” he said. “Alicia’s told us all about you.”

  “Good things I hope,” he said with some levity.

  “You wouldn’t be here if they had been otherwise,” he stated in all sincerity. Turning his attention to Alicia, he said, “Why don’t you go help your mother while Chad and I get better acquainted.” It wasn’t a request.

  Alicia’s face fell slightly at being sent from the room. Giving her father a slight nod of her head, she said, “Yes papa.” Then with a final squeeze to Chad’s arm, she turned and left the room.

  “Won’t you have a seat?” her father offered, gesturing to another chair next to him.

  Chad was thankful the chair sat in close proximity to the fire burning in the fireplace. The chill from outside still maintained a presence within hi
m. Once seated, Chad silently enjoyed the fire’s warmth while her father gazed at him. The fact that her father didn’t say anything slightly unnerved him. When the silence grew too overwhelming, he said, “You have a wonderful family.”

  Alicia’s father nodded. “They are my greatest treasure,” he replied.

  The doorway to the library was in Chad’s line of sight and he saw little Erin peering around the corner at him. When she caught him looking at her, she quickly ducked her head back out of sight.

  “Alicia tells me you belong to the Warriors Guild here in Gilbeth?” asked her father.

  Chad nodded, returning his attention to the man sitting across from him. “That’s right,” he replied. “I recently finished my initial training and have been raised to Armsman.” He sought some sort of reaction from him at that, but his face revealed nothing.

  “She also tells me that you are employed by a magic user,” he stated. “One who himself has only recently left behind the designation of Apprentice.”

  “Yes, sir,” he acknowledged.

  “Not much money in that is there?” he asked.

  Chad didn’t know what to say to the man. “Not a lot, no,” he replied. Then his eyes caught sight of Erin peering at him from around the corner again.

  “Hmmm,” grunted her father. He didn’t look entirely pleased at the man his daughter held an interest in. But then again, what man was ever good enough for a father’s daughter?

  “My father owns and operates a mill up north in Quillim,” Chad offered.

  “A millers’ son?” he asked.

  Chad nodded. “That’s right,” he replied. “Though my older brother Tye will be taking over the mill after my father.” Erin continued to stare at him from the hallway.

  “I see,” Alicia’s father said.

  Just then Erin disappeared from the edge of the doorway. A moment later, her mother arrived with a tray bearing two glasses of steaming mulled wine. “Thought you could use something to warm yourself,” she said as she entered the room.

  “Thank you, ma’am,” Chad said after she came forward and he had removed one of the two glasses from the tray. The father took the other.

  “Dinner will be another ten minutes,” she said.

  The father nodded. Then she turned about and passed through the doorway. Chad took a sip of his mulled wine just as he heard Erin out in the hallway whine, “But mama.”

  “Come along,” her mother’s voice said.

  Then Chad saw Erin peer around the door frame one last time before scampering after her mother to the kitchen. Turning back to the father, Chad saw his eyes crinkled in amusement. He sipped his steaming cup of mulled wine quietly.

  He and the father spent the time until they were called to dinner talking about Chad’s past, his hometown of Quillim, and other mundane subjects. Chad felt a great deal of relief when Alicia appeared at the doorway to the library and announced that it was time to come to the table. He allowed her father to precede him from the room. As he passed into the hallway, Alicia took his arm and walked with him to the dining room.

  Five places were set at a table that could have held ten. Her parent’s sat at either end, while Alicia was centered on one side, and Erin sat next to Chad across from her on the other. The food laid out for dinner was much finer than anything he’d had in quite some time. Meals at Kevik’s estate weren’t what one would call gourmet. In fact, depending on who was doing the cooking, one couldn’t even call them edible half the time.

  As he took his seat, the smell of the roast goose and fresh baked bread caused his stomach to growl. His mouth was watering fairly well and it was all he could do to be patient and wait. Fortunately he didn’t have to wait very long and was soon breaking off a piece of bread and spreading a generous portion of honey onto it. He had always loved honey. Being expensive as it was, it wasn’t something they had at Kevik’s estate.

  Taking a bite, he savored the taste of the honey, and actually closed his eyes for a brief moment. When he opened them, he saw Alicia’s mother looking at him expectantly. “This has to be the best bread I’ve ever tasted,” he said.

  “Chad likes honey,” Alicia explained.

  “Then, by all means have more,” her mother said as she moved the honey pitcher closer to him.

  The roast duck was perfect, the skin crispy and meat full of juice. Before he even realized it, he had cleaned off his first plate. Everyone else at the table hadn’t yet eaten through half of what they had.

  “Would you like more?” her mother asked.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he replied and helped himself with more of everything.

  “It’s good to see a boy eat,” her mother stated.

  Erin giggled. “He eats like a hog mama.”

  “Erin!” admonished her father.

  The smile on her little face vanished quickly when she turned fearful eyes toward her father. In her exuberance, she had overstepped the bounds of etiquette.

  “That is not how a lady talks at the table,” her mother instructed her.

  “Sorry,” she said quietly.

  Chad glanced at the father and mother, then back to the sad face of Erin. “At least I don’t snort while I eat,” he said with a grin. Glancing across the table to Alicia, he saw her grinning back at him.

  The brightness returned to Erin’s eyes as she raised her head to look at him. A smile began to emerge then disappeared as she cast a glance to her father. She could tell he wasn’t amused, and was glad that he didn’t pursue the matter further.

  “So,” her mother began, “Alicia tells us that you recently came back from a trip to Catha?”

  “That’s right,” he replied. “A couple weeks ago.”

  “Papa took me there one time,” Erin piped up.

  “You remember that do you?” her father asked.

  “Oh yes papa!” she exclaimed. Turning back to Chad she said. “It was so big and…” The rest of the meal was spent in talk ranging from Erin’s trip to Catha, the area and people of Quillim, and a dozen other topics.

  This was going better than Chad had hoped it would. He liked Alicia, more than most of the others he had acquaintance with in Gilbeth. This evening had been a source of angst during the last week. But like his instructors back at the Guild had said, ‘Most of what you fear is of your own making.’

  When the goose was gone, and Chad had all the bread and honey he could eat, Alicia’s father said, “Chad, I’d like your opinion on something.”

  “Anything sir,” he replied. He glanced over to Alicia who only shrugged.

  Her father turned to her mother and said, “Could you fetch the bottle that’s in the storeroom. The one I brought back on my last trip?”

  “Yes dear,” she replied and went to get it.

  Turning to Chad, her father said, “One of the traders I deal with in Kendruck gave me a bottle of what he said was a new wine that has just been made available for trade. He suggested that it might find a market in this area.”

  When she returned, she held an amber colored wine bottle. Chad was quick to notice that the seal hadn’t yet been broken. “Saving it for a special occasion?” he commented.

  The father shrugged as his wife gave him the bottle. “Not especially,” he replied. Grabbing a corkscrew from off of a nearby shelf, he was soon breaking the wax seal and removing the cork. “The trader gave me a taste of it before I left. I found it to have a fruity flavor, stronger than what you would normally find in this area.”

  His wife produced two fine glasses, each worth more than some men make in a month. He poured a small amount in each then handed one to Chad. “Tell me what you think,” he said. “Would it find a market among others of your Guild do you think?”

  Chad took the glass cup and examined the liquid held within. While Alicia and her family watched, he first sniffed it and was surprised by the tangy aroma of fruit that the wine exuded. Then he put it to his lips and took a small taste. When the wine hit his tongue, it practically exploded with fruity f
lavor. He held it in his mouth for a moment before swallowing it.

  “Well?” asked her father.

  “I like it,” Chad replied. “You’re right about it having a strong fruity taste.” He then upended his glass and drank the last of the wine it held.

  “But do you think others would care for it?” her father asked.

  Chad set the cup down on the table and her father offered him more. Nodding, he replied while her father was pouring more of the wine into his cup. “I think so. Some of the younger members might not care for it as the fruitiness may be deemed unmanly. But it has a strong flavor and goes down well. You may well want to offer it to the older, more genteel clientele at first.”

  Her father nodded. “That’s what I thought as well,” he said. “I’ll have to purchase several cases next time I’m down there.”

  Picking up his glass which had been refilled, he took another sip. The fruitiness was something he definitely liked. Then a thought occurred to him. “How much alcohol does it have?” he asked.

  “Why?” replied her father.

  “As you know, my employer is a magic user and they tend to avoid drinking wines and ale as it inhibits their ability to perform magic,” he explained. “I get the feeling that there isn’t much alcohol in this. If so, then he and other magic users might be a market which you may wish to consider for this wine.”

  Her father sat back with a thoughtful look on his face. “You know,” he said, “I never knew that about magic users.” Then he nodded. “Maybe that could be something that I can talk over with the trader when I see him in the Spring.”

  Chad drained his glass and glanced across the table to Alicia. He gave her a smile which she returned. She was happy, he could tell. The fact that her father even offered the wine to him and asked his opinion about it spoke volumes.

  “So,” Erin said as she turned to Chad. “Are you going to kiss my sister now?”

  “Erin!” exclaimed her mother, shocked that such a question would be asked at her table.