by Adams, David
The full fury of the storm hit, the rain slapping hard against the roof and walls while the wind whistled and shrieked. Luke shivered. “Sure glad we found this place. Trees wouldn’t have done us much good as shelter.”
Darius nodded while he watched the rain run down the tavern’s lone window, a waterfall broken here and there by direct hits.
They took their time with their drinks, hoping the storm might pass swiftly, and Luke felt a growing uneasiness about the otherwise quiet interior or the tavern. “Place is starting to give me the creeps,” he muttered.
As if the words were a cue, a grizzled man stood with some effort, then limped over to their table. “Mind if I sit with you young gentlemen a spell?”
Not seeing a good alternative, Darius gestured at an empty chair, inviting the man to sit.
The man licked his lips and looked at them with his right eye full open and his left squinting, as if trying to bring them into proper focus. “Lonely country for two young chaps,” he stated.
“The Old Road can be a lonely place,” Darius said, trying to shift the meaning of the word from veiled threat to simple conversation. “But there have been others through here, no doubt.”
“No doubt,” the man agreed with a strange, leering grin. “King’s men and robbers…and maybe the two of you are no different.”
Darius leaned back in his chair, trying to appear indifferent. He was glad they had chosen a corner table, as he knew no one was behind him and he could see everyone else in the room. Whether the others were in league with this man or not he couldn’t yet tell, but all eyes were now focused on the man and the two brothers.
“So which are you?” the man demanded.
“I’m no robber,” Darius answered, “and if you say robbers and king’s men are no different, then I guess I’m neither.”
The man looked Darius up and down, measuring him and his answer. He smiled, suddenly more affable, and the tension in the room abated. “Well enough said. If you’re neither, then you’re a simple traveler—though we don’t see many of them in these dark days—or you’re in search of something.”
“If I was looking for something,” Darius said, returning the man’s grin in a knowing way, “might you be the sort of man that could help me find it?”
The man nodded. “You bring honor to your parents. They raised a bright boy. Now, what is it you seek?”
“I need to get in touch with someone who has special abilities. Someone who has skills some might consider…unnatural.”
The man rubbed his nose with the sleeve of his shirt. “An odd request. One might ask for more information before responding to such. There are a lot of strange things going on in the world, and a lot of power better left unused. I’ve dealt with wicked men often enough, but there are others…” The man shook his head. “If you’re looking to make contact with those that are said to drink blood and call on dark powers, I can’t help you.”
Darius was taken aback. “I hadn’t heard of such a thing, and even if I had, you misunderstand me.”
“Then perhaps you should be more plain in your language.”
Darius cleared his throat, then said quietly, “I’m looking for a wizard.”
The man leaned back and scratched his head. “That’s a tall order. Quite tall. I’ve heard stories, but never more than that.” He pondered some more, and then said, mainly to himself, “He might know, if anyone would.”
“Who?” Darius asked, trying to contain his excitement.
The man waved the question away. “That’s information, son, and I don’t give that away for free. See here, it’s late. How about you take a room for the night, and I’ll go see if my…friend…knows anything that might help you. If so, we can talk price tomorrow. If not, we simply part ways.”
Regardless of how little Darius liked or trusted the man, it was the closest they had come to a breakthrough since the journey began, and a possibility, however remote, he could not walk away from. He agreed to the man’s proposal, then clapped Luke on the back and said, “Let’s go see the barkeep about a room.”
*
The room was small, dirty, and overpriced, but the brothers tried to see the best in the situation—having a roof over one’s head and a bed to sleep in while a storm raged outside made matters seem far better. They wanted to rise early, and the nature of the accommodation gave them even more incentive to blow out the room’s two candles as soon as possible and settle in to sleep.
Sometime after midnight the storm passed, and a silence settled over this part of the world. Had the brothers not been so worn out from their time on the road, and so seduced by the dubious comforts of the lumpy mattress they slept upon, they might have heard the furtive whispers and shuffling feet earlier. As it was, when they were rudely woken each was held fast by strong arms, and knives were positioned over their throats.
Darius swam up from sleep, sure the situation was bad before he fully knew why. He tried to remain calm and still while his eyes fought for focus, a single candle that guttered in the breeze that wafted through the just-opened window the only light.
“Lay still, boy, or they’ll cut you whether they want to or not.” The speaker was the man they had talked to earlier, and the words were directed at Luke, who struggled to free himself from the two men that held him down. The assailants, the brothers could now see, were the other men present in the tavern earlier that evening.
Luke managed to make eye contact with his brother, and receiving a nod, did his best to relax, at least physically. He would wait for one of them to let down their guard, to loosen their grip, and then…
The man held up Luke’s pack like a prize. He turned out the contents, and then pawed through them for a few seconds with a frown that could have been disappointment or simply the mask of someone intent on a task.
“Good enough,” the man said, the words as non-committal as his expression. “Now for the other one.”
“If you mean to rob us, we don’t have much of value,” Darius said. He glanced at his sword. It was beside the bed, even within arm’s reach, but with the men holding him and the knife biting down on his windpipe, it may as well have been back home.
“I’ll be the judge of that, although I don’t intend to rob you unless you deserve it.” He searched around the bed with the candle before him, giving a small cry of triumph as he found Darius’ pack.
The man knelt to go through Darius’ belongings, and as he did so Darius could see no more than his shoulders and the back of his head. He felt his insides tighten and forced himself to close his eyes and take a deep, calming breath.
“Well, what have we here,” the man said. He rose and marched to Darius’ side of the bed. Thrusting the candle and his discovery into Darius’ face, he demanded an explanation with a harsh, “What’s this?”
Darius had expected to be confronted with the book, but instead it was his blue-and-yellow uniform, one that identified him as a soldier in Longvale’s army. Unsure what kind of answer would be best, Darius chose to simply state the obvious. “It’s a uniform.”
“Yours?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you said you weren’t the king’s man.”
“Service is forced upon everyone once they come of age. Being forced to fight in the war doesn’t mean I’m part of the King’s Guard.”
The man leaned close, his stale breath making Darius want to recoil. “If I thought you were a member of the Guard we wouldn’t be talking.” He smiled, a cruel grimace that made one of his companions snicker and say “Want me to do ‘em?”
“Shut up,” the man said, annoyed at having been interrupted. Once his compatriot had lowered his head in obedience, he addressed the brothers once again. “One can’t be too careful in the business I’m in. Trading information, that is. If I was to lead the wrong sort of people to some of my contacts…well, let’s just say I’d like to keep my skin.”
“You needn’t worry about us,” said Darius. “We’re not here as the law or as spies.”
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“So you say,” the man replied. “And I want to believe you. I do believe you. Problem is, the first mistake I make could be my last.”
The man pondered things for a few moments, then turned to Luke. “You always so quiet?”
“With a knife at my throat, yes,” Luke answered, returning the man’s hard look.
“Where are you from?”
“A farm perhaps thirty miles from Old Bern, as the crow flies.”
“What’s your name?”
“I’ll give you mine when I’ve heard yours.”
The man laughed, a short bark. “That you shan’t have. You’re not easily cowed, I’ll give you that.”
Luke simply waited for the man to go on.
“Where are you going?”
“We told you what we seek. We’re moving toward Anson’s Furnace, since that’s where the Old Road heads, but it’s not our destination.”
“Then what is your destination?”
“I don’t know. We’re looking for help, and we aren’t sure where, or if, we’ll find it.”
“Why does your friend here have a uniform?”
Luke sighed. “I heard his answer as plainly as you did, and I wouldn’t say different now even if it weren’t the truth, which it was.”
The man plopped on the bed next to Luke and pressed the knife more firmly against his throat. “You’ve a smart mouth for one your age. Maybe I should do something about that.”
Before Luke could process the threat and decide whether to reply or not, the room was shaken by a loud boom, and a flash of light so intense that all within were blinded by it. He felt the hands that held him go lax, and the knife moved away from his throat. He started to sit up, but was overcome by a sudden and surprising wave of dizziness. He fell back upon his pillow and lost the brief battle he waged to keep his eyes open. In seconds he was fast asleep.
Chapter 4: A Touch of Magic
Darius awoke in what seemed a familiar position, his back propped against a tree, the dull ache already working its way into his muscles. Seeing a hooded figure bent over him, he reached reflexively for his sword, but found only damp grass.
“Your weapon is safe, as are the rest of your belongings,” said the figure, the voice soft and melodic. “You’re welcome to it once you’re fully awake.”
Darius strained to see the speaker’s face, but the meager moonlight was not enough to penetrate the shadows cast by the hood. He suddenly felt panic rising inside him and started to look about frantically.
The figure pointed, the hand which emerged from under the cloak small and delicate, not skeletal as Darius had irrationally feared. “Your brother’s over there. He’s fine. I’ll wake him next.”
She started to rise and Darius took hold of her arm. “Who are you?”
“A friend,” she replied. “At least for now.”
He let her go and watched as she ministered to Luke. She spoke to him quietly for a few minutes, then returned to Darius. “Feeling more awake now?”
He nodded.
“Let me help you up. If you feel dizzy, lean on me.”
He got to his feet, swayed once, and then his legs found their strength. He took a few deep breaths, and then released the arm she had proffered. “I’m fine.”
“Good. Once your brother is up, we’ll be off. Those men who held you will be out a few more hours. I want to be miles away before then.”
“But what—”
She stopped him with a raised hand. “We’ll have plenty of time to talk on the road. Let’s get away first. Get your things.” Darius did as he was told, happy to have his weapon again, and relieved to find the book back in his pack.
She was equally reticent to answer Luke’s questions, so they set off in silence. She led at a quick pace, and showed no hesitation about where she was headed. They saw signs of neither the tavern nor the Old Road as they started out—in what direction neither brother could say—and they moved across open country as opposed to along any defined path.
They came to a dense patch of trees and entered in. She glided through gracefully, and it seemed to Darius she could have easily lost them in here had she wanted to. She slowed and glanced back from time to time to be certain they were keeping pace. After a time they came to a small clearing, and here she wheeled about and threw back her hood.
Even in the darkness they could see she was a beautiful young woman, her delicate features framed by wavy locks of raven hair. She looked at them with eyes both deep and playful, and the edge of her lip curled into a smile. “I think we can tarry here safely for at least a brief time. Where should we begin?”
“I’d say we should begin with ‘Thank You,’ ” Darius said, giving a small bow. “What happened back there?”
“I was hoping nothing,” she replied. “Nigaf and his lot are usually better for a threat than any real action, but once they get to drinking they can be a bit rash. I was afraid he’d really do some harm to your brother, so I had to intervene.”
“You were in the room?” Luke asked. “But where—”
“Wasn’t. I was outside the window. They came through the door, and likely thought one of you had left the window ajar to let a breeze in.”
“And we thought they opened it to get in,” Darius said, finishing the thought.
“Exactly, which is how I could follow along, being just outside.”
“But why were you there? Are you saying we were saved by chance?”
“Hardly. I’ve been on your trail for more than a day. I was just waiting for the right time to make an appearance.” She shrugged, then added, “This wasn’t the way I would have chosen, but I suppose it’ll have to do.”
Darius folded his arms. “I have to admit you’ve lost me.”
“You were looking for someone with special ‘talents.’ I’m not sure why, or if I want to help you any further, but I’m willing to hear you out.”
Luke’s eyes grew round. “You’re a wi—”
“I prefer ‘sorceress.’ ”
Darius struggled for words, then finally settled on, “You aren’t exactly what I was expecting.”
“I would guess not. Probably thought you’d find a gray-haired old man with a pointy hat.” Seeing she had hit the mark, she smiled softly. “Nothing to be ashamed of…and there are a few like that. They tend to be a little more eccentric. Hard to fit into a crowd when you stick out like a sore thumb.”
Luke lowered his brow in thought. “So did you use spells to track us?”
“Nothing that exciting. I have contacts too, and when someone might have need of my particular skills, word reaches me. Your approach wasn’t bad, but I doubt anyone would have led you to a wizard. If we want to be found, we’ll appear at a place and time of our choosing.”
“Okay, but what happened back at the tavern? That was a spell, right?”
She nodded. “Best way I know to knock six men out, eight if you count yourselves. So, I’m here, I’ve given you a little demonstration, and perhaps gotten into your good graces by pulling you out of that room. Now it’s your turn.”
Darius hesitated. “I’m not sure where to start.”
“Names are always a good place.”
“Of course,” Darius said, slightly embarrassed. “Darius, and this is Luke.”
“I’m Adrianna.” She waited patiently for one of the brothers to go on.
With a sigh, Darius took up his backpack. Despite what she had done, he still felt hesitant to reveal why they needed her help. If they could have traveled together a few days, built a little more trust… But such a request seemed inappropriate, and insulting a sorceress was likely to have unpleasant consequences. Slowly, he pulled the book out and offered it to her.
She didn’t take it, but rather studied it for a time with her hands at her side. “Where’d you get that?”
Darius cleared his throat. “I’d prefer not to say, at least for now. I’d like to get it open, but it appears to be held fast by magic.”
“No doubt,�
� Adrianna said, more to herself than Darius. She reached a tentative hand out, and ran her extended index finger quickly along the edge of the book’s cover before pulling away again. “I don’t think I can open it.”
Darius’ heart sank. “Are you sure? We’ve tried forcing it, even an axe. I was sure it was bound by some sort of magic.”
“Oh, you’re right about that.”
“But you can’t help,” Luke said.
“I didn’t say that. I can’t open it, but I might be able to help. There are others more versed in such things. We need to seek out an old friend of mine.”
“You’d take us to this person?” Darius asked.
“At least part-way. But you’ll need to decide whether to trust me, and him, before we arrive. You’ll have several days to make up your mind, but we’ll need to know everything you can tell us about the book.”
“Fair enough,” Darius said. “We can’t pay much.”
“I have no need of your coin. I’ve decided for now that this could be worth my time. If that changes, I’ll let you know. Now, if you’re ready, we should press on a bit further before the sun rises.”
Darius and Luke watched her start off, exchanged a look, and both shrugged together. Feeling they had little choice, they followed.
*
The small thicket of woods they passed through on their first night together proved only a prelude, as Adrianna led them straight into Wyndham Forest. It was dense with oak, pine, and poplar, and after a few miles the brothers realized they could easily be lost forever in this place. It covered several hundred square miles, and was unmarked by roads or any lesser sign of human passage. It wasn’t a particularly dark or foreboding place, but the sameness of the close-packed trees gave a traveler the claustrophobic feel of being trapped in a maze that might have no exit.
“This place gives me the creeps,” Luke whispered to his brother.
“Me, too,” Darius answered. He pointed at Adrianna. “Focus on her. She seems to know where she’s going.”
“I hope so. If she would collapse from exertion we’d be in a fine spot.”
“That’s unlikely to happen at the pace you two move,” Adrianna called back to them without turning around. Surprised at her acute hearing, the brothers quickened their step.