Jaikus and Reneeke Join the Guild

by Brian S. Pratt

  He finally got a good fire going. He hung the remnants of last night’s pot of stew over the flames. Taking an empty jug, he hobbled with the aid of his spear to the river and filled it with water. Once back in the cabin he filled a bowl and located a somewhat clean cloth. He brought them into the bedroom and began cleaning the blood off Ceryn.

  Not long after beginning, Ceryn awakened. His unexpected grabbing of James’ hand startled him and nearly caused James to spill the contents of the bowl.

  “I can take care of this myself, I’m not that weak.”

  Smiling, James replied, “Just returning the favor. You saved our lives out there last night.”

  “I think we both deserve credit for still being alive.” Sitting up, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. “You have many surprises about you, yes?” Coming to his feet, he headed for the door.

  “I suppose I do.”

  James grabbed his spear as he accompanied Ceryn to the river. His leg still hurt badly, but with the aid of the spear, was able to make it without it worsening. Changing the subject, James asked, “Who were those guys last night?”

  Ceryn knelt at the water’s edge and commenced to wash the blood that stained his hands and arms, something he was far too tired to do the night before.

  “The leader’s name is, or was, Garrett. Some called him Garrett the Snake after the tattoo of the green serpent on his arm. His little band of cutthroats had been raiding this area for a couple years, but no one has ever been able to stop him, until now. There’s a reward for taking him down. I’ve no use for it, and since you saved us last night, you can claim it.”

  “Uh, thanks, but I wouldn’t feel right about taking all of it.”

  Turning his head, he glanced up at James. “Take it. If you don’t, it’ll just be used to fatten some administrator’s purse. I’m sure you could use it.” After removing all traces of blood from his exposed skin, he got back to his feet and returned to the cabin. Once inside, he inspected the cook pot and used his big spoon to stir it. A sniff and taste later, he pronounced it ready. Removing it from the fire, he carried it to the table.

  James lent a hand by taking the bowls and spoons from the shelf, plus a couple of mugs and set them on the table. While he served the stew, Ceryn poured the ale and they set to eating.

  After Ceryn finished his first bowl, he looked at James and asked, “So, you’re a mage, eh?”

  “In a matter of speaking. I’m sort of new at it.”

  “New or not, that was some spell you cast, with the balls of fire. Quick thinking. You would be good to have on one’s side in a fight.”

  Reddening slightly under the praise, he shook his head. “Not too good if I pass out before it’s all over.” He still felt ashamed at his weakness of the night before. He felt like he let Ceryn down when he needed him most.

  “Now don’t you belittle what you did. Your actions turned the tide in our favor and without your efforts, this morning would have found us dead or wishing we were.” Ceryn let James take a second helping and then scooped out the rest for himself.

  James thought about what Ceryn had said, and came to admit that there might be some merit to it. Feeling slightly better, he downed the rest of his ale and let out a loud belch.

  Ceryn chuckled. “After we finish here, I’ll hitch my horse to the wagon and take you into Trendle.”

  It wasn’t long before their bowls were empty. Ceryn glanced to James and said, “Just rest here while I get the wagon ready. I’ll bring it around front. We need to bring in the bodies if you’re to receive the reward.” Heading out the door, he made his way to the corral behind the house. In a few minutes he had his horse hitched to the wagon and brought it around to the front.

  With a strength belying his wounds, one by one he gathered the bodies of the outlaws and placed them in the wagon. After the last outlaw was in, he used a tarp to cover the grisly scene and returned back inside to inform James it was time to leave.

  James hobbled to the bedroom where he gathered his few belongings, and carried them out to the wagon where Ceryn waited for him. Tossing his backpack to the Warden, he asked, “You didn’t happen to see a book lying on the ground when you rescued me from the wolves?”

  Catching the backpack, Ceryn shook his head. “No, but I wasn’t looking for one either. I was more interested in saving your life. Why? Was it important?”

  “Yeah, it was.”

  “Too bad. I doubt if we could find it now. If you lost it during the last fight with the wolves, then it’s in the river and no telling where it would be now.”

  With a helping hand from Ceryn, James managed to climb onto the wagon and took his seat next to the Warden. “I guess you’re right.” He felt bad about losing the book, but realized there was little that might be done about it now. No sense bemoaning what can’t be changed.

  With a flick of the reins, Ceryn got the horse moving. They pulled out onto the dirt lane that led from his cabin. After a short ways it met the main road which ran along the Kelewan River on its way to Trendle.

  Not far from where they turned onto the road they found where the outlaws had picketed their horses. Pausing for only a short time, Ceryn gathered the horses and tied them in a line behind the wagon. Once secured, he returned to his seat and got the wagon moving.

  For a time they remained quiet as James took in the beauty of the area. To his right was the rolling Kelewan River, well over fifty feet across and flowing smoothly. The sun filtered through the trees and banished the morning chill. It made way for a warm summer day. The birds flittered to and fro and called out in a multitudinous chorus.

  “How far is Trendle?”

  “About a day’s ride. We should be there by nightfall.”

  Glancing at James, he added, “I probably should warn you that mages are not well thought of in these parts. Some bad things happened a while ago and, well, let’s just say that the people haven’t forgotten. They don’t much trust strangers at all, really. It takes them a while to warm up to anyone. They’re good people, just wary.”

  “I can understand that. I’ll try not to give them reason to distrust me.”

  “There’s a family who has a farm just outside of town. If you like, I could take you there and see if they’ll let you stay with them while you’re recuperating.”

  “Yes, I’d like that. I’m a pretty quiet person who tries not to be a bother to anyone.”

  Ceryn nodded and chuckled. “I’ve noticed that about you. After we deliver the bodies to the Town Hall and talk to the mayor, we’ll head out there.”

  Nodding, he agreed to the plan. “How much of a reward is there for Garrett and his band.”

  “I believe five hundred gold pieces for Garrett and another hundred for each of his henchman,” he replied after giving it a moment’s thought. “If I’m remembering that right, you should get eleven hundred gold pieces, a tidy sum. You can also have your pick of their horses too if you like. The rest will go to the town where they’ll be auctioned off at the end of the month.”

  Eleven hundred gold pieces and a horse! James couldn’t believe his good fortune. My situation is getting better and better.

  “I don’t know too much about horses.”

  Ceryn eyed him with surprise. “Truly?”

  James nodded.

  “Well then, don’t worry, I’ll pick one for you. One that’s not too temperamental.”

  “Thanks, I would appreciate that.”

  For the rest of the trip, they rode in silence. James dozed on and off, still not completely over the previous day’s exertions and last night’s magical feat. Later that evening when the sun had sunken low in the sky, Ceryn directed his attention to the road ahead. Nestled in among the trees along this side of the river were several wooden buildings. Ceryn nodded when he looked questioningly at him. Trendle.

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  One

  _______________________

 
Riyan looked out over the landscape, his position on the ridge afforded him a commanding view of the valley. The moonlight overhead painted the world in shadows, among which who knew what sorts of beasts may lie. Undaunted, he turned to his companion and directed his attention to the castle nestled in against the backdrop of the far side of the valley. “Look,” he said, “there across the valley.”

  His companion, a man like himself who had seen many a battle, nodded. “We’ll find her in there for sure.”

  The lady in question had been snatched from her home by person’s unknown. Her family contracted Riyan and Chadric to track down those responsible, rescue their daughter, and slay her captors. After several days of following their trail, it has led them here.

  “Let’s go,” Riyan said and then headed out. Chadric followed close behind.

  They worked their way down from the ridge and soon found themselves in the shadowy darkness of the valley floor. Heavily forested, this area gave off a less than comforting feel as they made their way closer to the castle.

  Howrrrrrrrr!

  Not very far off a wolf’s howl split the night. Riyan and Chadric came to an abrupt stop as they turned their attention toward the direction from which the sound had originated. The moon’s light did little to dispel the shadows as it was unable to effectively reach this far below the forest’s canopy.

  “What…?” began Chadric when Riyan held up his hand to silence him. Becoming silent once more, Chadric focused his attention on the shadowy boles of the trees before them.

  Then all of a sudden, one of the mountain wolves that infested these parts launched itself out of the shadows. Moving straight for Chadric, it snarled and its teeth became pale shadows in the darkness.

  Riyan pulled his sword from its scabbard just as his companion was bowled over by the beast. “Chadric!” he hollered.

  On the ground, the wolf had one of Chadric’s gauntleted forearms in its mouth and was shaking it furiously. “Ahhh!” he cried out. With his other fist, Chadric began hitting the beast alongside the head but the blows did little in persuading it to release his arm.

  Then Riyan came to his aid. Striking out at the back of the wolf with his sword, he cleaved the beast almost in two by his thunderous blow. Kicking out with his foot, he knocked the wolf from off his friend.

  “You okay?” he asked. Offering a hand, he helped his friend to his feet.

  Chadric nodded. Then he took a look at the gauntlet covering his forearm and saw where the wolf’s teeth had indented the metal. “Yeah,” he replied.

  “We better hurry and reach the castle,” Riyan said. “Wolves never hunt alone.” No sooner did he say that than another howl split the night not very far away. Wiping his sword off on the wolf’s hide, he gave Chadric a hand up and then they were back on their way to the castle.

  They passed among the trees much more quickly now, the howling of the wolves driving them onward. Despite the frequency and close proximity of the howls, no other wolf made an appearance.

  At last they reached the far side of the valley. Here the forest became less dense and it wasn’t long before the outer wall of the castle appeared through the trees. High on the upward slope of the valley where the mountains began, its dark edifice loomed hauntingly. The wall ringing the castle rose high from the valley’s floor, beyond which climbed a spire even higher into the sky. A single light broke the darkness as it escaped from a window high in its upper reaches.

  When they reached the edge of the forest across from the wall, they paused for a moment. “Something’s not right,” observed Chadric.

  “I know,” agreed Riyan. No guards were present upon the battlements and the gate stood open. “It can’t be this easy.”

  “Could be they didn’t expect anyone to have trailed them back here,” suggested Chadric.

  “You may be right.” But deep down inside, Riyan didn’t think so. “Come on,” he said. Moving quickly and quietly, he raced towards the open gate. Other than the normal sounds one would expect while in the forest, nothing else could be heard.

  Upon reaching the gate, they pressed themselves against the wall and peered through its gaping maw. The inner courtyard looked clear. A courtyard stretched forty yards from where they stood to the door leading into the castle. The tower they saw with the light was but one of three that extended upwards from the main body of the castle. Two shorter ones extended upward at either end while the one with the lighted window towered to twice their height out of the castle’s central keep.

  Riyan raised his hand which bore the Ring of Evil Detection. Calling upon its power, it took but a moment before a glow began surrounding a three foot statue that stood on a short column situated between them and the door leading into the castle. Exactly what the statue was couldn’t be readily determined in the moonlight from this distance. “I thought so,” stated Riyan. He glanced back to see if Chadric had seen the glow.

  “Now what?” Chadric asked, he too had seen the glow.

  “I’m all out of protection scrolls,” he replied. “The ring will afford me some protection against whatever it is.” He glanced back to the statue and drew his sword. “Stay here.” When he heard Chadric say, ‘Alright’, he moved into the courtyard.

  Working his way around the statue, he kept one eye on it and another on the rest of the courtyard. As he came closer, he could tell the statue was of some demonic beast. There were wings on its back and a single spiraling horn protruded from out of its forehead. The head had a cruel visage with what looked like two dagger-sharp fangs extending upward from out of its lower jaw.

  Then all of a sudden he felt a vibration in the ring, one he always felt when evil was near. The eyes of the statue flashed a dark red and the head slowly turned towards him. As the statue came to life, he now understood why there were no guards on the walls or in the courtyard. This was the castle’s guardian.

  Coming out of its sitting position, the demonic creature stretched upright and raised its head. Then it gave out with an ear-piercing screech. Growing silent, the creature launched itself off the column and towards Riyan.

  With a war cry of his own, Riyan raised his shield to ward off the creature’s attack. Bringing his sword into position, he waited.

  Beating its wings, the creature flew through the air and struck out at Riyan with the claws of its feet. Riyan raised his shield and felt the creature strike it with jarring impact. Then he retaliated with his sword, striking out at the creature with a resounding blow.

  The blade of his sword rebounded off the creature, doing little more than chipping away a small piece of the marble it was constructed of. The jarring impact of the sword on the marble left Riyan’s arm tingling.

  With wings flapping, it rose into the air only to turn and strike once more.

  By this time, Chadric had reached his friend’s side and used his mace. He smashed the creature as its attack was thwarted again by Riyan’s shield. The mace did more damage, being a bashing weapon such as it was. But it still did not do enough to stop the creature.

  As the creature made ready for another attack, Chadric came up with an idea. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a small crystal vial. Then as the creature again moved to attack Riyan, he threw it. When the vial struck, it shattered upon the hard marble surface and the fluid it had contained began burning the creature.

  Shrieking, the creature fell to the ground and started thrashing about as dark smoke wafted from where the liquid had touched it. Chadric and Riyan move forward quickly and begin laying into it with sword and mace. They soon had it reduced to a pile of broken marble. When at last its movements stopped completely, Riyan stepped back and looked to his friend.

  “What was in that?” he asked.

  “Holy water,” Chadric replied. “Got it before we left Rynwall.”

  Riyan nodded his head and grinned at his friend. “That was fortunate,” he said.

  “Turned out that way,” agreed Chad.

  Leaving the shattered remains of the creatur
e behind, they ran toward the door leading into the castle. Upon reaching the door, Riyan flung it wide and strode fearlessly into the castle. Dark and ominous, the interior was full of shadows as the moonlight made its way in through the many windows.

  The hall they now found themselves in had the appearance of having been left unattended for some time. Cloth covered many of the pieces of furniture, spider webs hung in the corners of the room, all in all the place gave the feeling that no one’s been here for some time. If that was the case, then why did the trail of the woman’s captors lead them here? And what can it mean that a light shone from the window at the top of the tower?

  Riyan glanced around the hall for a brief moment before crossing over to the stairway leading up. Taking the steps quickly, he and Chadric ascended up to the landing on the second floor. “We have to find the entrance to the tower,” Riyan said.

  Chadric moved down to the entrance of a hallway that headed in the general direction of the tower. “Could be down here,” he suggested. He saw that it extended further into the castle.

  Riyan nodded and then moved to join him at the hallway. Taking the lead, he left the landing and headed quickly down the hallway with Chadric right behind.

  The hallway itself was rather wide with several doors lining both sides. Moving past them, Riyan walked quickly towards the end of the hallway where he hoped to find the entrance to the tower. When he reached a little over halfway to the door at the end, his ring all of a sudden began vibrating to tell him evil was close. He no sooner paused and was about to tell Chadric to be on his guard than the doors lining the hallway opened. From out of the opened doors, skeletons bearing swords and shields rushed forward to attack.