by Alex Cannon
Cortibis made for the west.
The streets were clean, and a dark alleyway or street was rare. Most were lit up nicely and kept clean. Cortibis noticed a great lack of people milling about the streets. He had only seen two people and they were locking themselves in as he passed by.The quiet and the clip clop of the horse’s hooves were eerie. Why was everyone in for the night? There should be people at inns and taking walks.
Cortibis located no one, but could not help a sense of impending dread that lingered over him like a knell.He could not shake the thought of the woman’s statement as she locked up the door.”Strange things have been afoot at night.”
What in the name of Ooln did that mean?
He was overwhelmed by the enormity of the city. He had been to Rommel only once before, and that had been in captivity.As alive as the city seemed during the day, it was just as dead in the night.No one was about and no sounds emanated.
He passed by a sign for an inn. It was called the Fast Rabbit, and its doors were locked tight.No music or celebration could be heard inside.A shiver ran up his spine, but he shook it off.
In the darkness he heard a sound.Like a grunt, but more like a growl.A figure zipped from one shadow to another about two blocks away.He leaned forward on his horse to get a better look.Only the dirty yellow light of a strategically placed lamp broke the inky black night. The problem was the light ruined his night eyes and cut such a stark line in the darkness he could make out nothing.
He could sense around the corners and under the awnings deep shadows of murder and fear.He tried to shake off the feeling of dread clenching in his bowels, like evil itself.
Cortibis smelled something, but the smell was peculiar. He slowed his mount and began to look around for the stench.He could not quite place it.
In the darkness of one of the alleyways, he saw something lying on the street.He slowly pushed his horse closer to get a better look.As he got closer he determined that whatever it was the smell emanated from it.
Cortibis stopped his horse and got down. He stepped in something liquid. His foot slid around. He leaned closer to see what it was.The dim light illuminated a lump bulk on the ground, but he still could not determine what it was in the darkness. He stood up and regarded the area.After a moment of pondering, he went back around the corner, to the front of the building.He edged himself up the pole that held the lamp, and lifted it off the hook.He climbed back down, lights and shadows bobbing around like enemies, and walked around the corner.
He stopped, cold.
What he saw was near indescribable. Initially he took it for a pile of trash, but quickly realized it used to be a man.Now it was just a piece of meat.
Cortibis walked closer, and almost gagged. The amount of blood was startling. It was deep around the corpse.The entire body had been mauled and looked as if it had been partly consumed.He felt the bile rising up in his throat, but swallowed it back down. Steam floated away from the carcass and a sewer near by in the cold night. The kill was still fresh. He pulled his sword from its scabbard instinctively.
He turned away from the gory scene and was about to walk off when he spotted another, smaller bundle next to the body.Could it be? He hung his arm out as far as it would go for his feet would not take one step toward the mess that used to be a man.
The blood soaked bundle appeared to be something wrapped up.His heart beat wildly in his chest. Could this be?He moved a little closer and got within sword distance of the body and the wrapped bundle.
The bundle certainly looked like the Sword. That could only mean the body was the remains of Sterlin Similow.He flicked the bundle away from the figure with his sword and walked around the body to retrieve it. He pealed back the corner of the bloody rag and sure enough it was Range’s Sword.He pulled off his leather vest and picked up the messy package with it. Dark, viscous blood dripped from the bundle. A wave of nausea attempted to overwhelm him, but he mastered himself. The site of blood would not unman him. He could just hear Rolin with his condescending remarks. Are you unmanned, Cortibis?
He got back on his horse, took the lamp, and made his way back to the woman’s shop.
When he got there, he saw the other two horses were gone, but the saddle and the packs were tossed about willy-nilly. What had happened? He stopped his horse by the front of the shop and placed the lamp on the ground by the packs.They looked as if someone had stripped the horses of any non-living thing. The bridle, bit and saddles of the horses were strewn about as if it had been ripped off the horses and thrown.The packs had stayed pretty much intact.He was particularly interested in what was in Sterlin’s bag.
Cortibis had begun gathering up the bags when he heard the clatter of another horse’s hooves on the stone street.He stood up and pulled out his sword—ready.
The clip clop grew louder and presently a dark figure came around the corner.It was Rolin.
“I am here!” Cortibis waved.
Rolin pulled up his horse.”What is this?”
“I have found the Sword.”
“How were you able to locate the thief?”
“He was dead.”
Rolin’s head caught up.”Say again? Who killed him?”
“I am not certain who killed him, but it was vicious. It looked as if he had been eaten.There was much blood around him, and his body had the look of a rabbit that has been caught by a wolf.” His stomach still turned.
“I got the feeling that something is not right here.I have a desire to run into a house and lock myself in. The horses are gone as well?”
“Aye,” said Cortibis.”I am not certain what it is, but apparently the residents of this city feel it as well.I passed no one as I searched.The streets were barren. Not even an inn or tavern was open. Something evil is indeed afoot.”
“Let us not be caught unawares. Pick up this mess and bring it inside.”
“What about the horses?”
“They will have to fend for themselves. We will be staying here tonight, and we have no place to lodge them.Be brave, beasts.”The two men gathered up the slew of baggage.Rolin eyed the bloody package Cortibis had picked up.They rapped on the door three times.After a moment the old woman answered.
“Come in, quickly!” she said.”I am surprised the both of you have returned alive.” She looked up and down the street quickly.
They looked at each other and then stepped inside. Cortibis shrugged. The old woman slammed the door behind them and bolted the lock.
Rolin ventured,”Madame, what is afoot? Something is out there.”
She nodded solemnly.”There are foul things that roam the streets at night.I don’t know what.”
“Like what?”Cortibis asked.
She shook her head.”You boys stay here tonight. I will make you some pallets on the floor.Would you like some hot tea?Just brewed some up.”
“That would be great,” they both said.
She turned and headed toward the pot. Rolin and Cortibis made their way to the back room and checked on Range.He was still sleeping, but most of his color had returned.The candle the old woman had lit was almost to the second hour mark.
“He looks better,” Cortibis said.
The old woman appeared from behind the curtain.”Aye, he is taking well to the medicine.He is a strong one, there are few like him these days.”
“He has carried a great burden for many years, and did so willingly to serve the good of man.It cost him the life of his daughter and friend. He still grieves,” Rolin said.
“Such a tragedy.What burden would cost him the life of his child?If I am not being impolite?”
“We are sworn to secrecy by the one who lies on your bed,” Rolin said.
“Say nothing more,” she said and handed him a hot cup of tea. She poured out some for Cortibis and then for herself.
“I do not have much room here. I will have to move things around to make room for your beds.The ground will be hard and cold, but not nearly as cold as outside.”
“And safer,” Cortibi
s said. Whatever was outside, he wanted nothing to do with.
“You seem to be good people, except that one fellow with you. Did you find him and what he had stolen?Thieving is a poor way to do business.That healing potion he used on you and your friend?It is a potion only for the very rich. It is far too expensive for a common traveler.Only a mage or king would be in possession of such a potent magic.”
“We don’t know much about him. Perhaps he was royalty,” Cortibis said, holding up the blood soaked package.”The thief was found dead.” He left it at that.
“Strange portends are popping up every night. If I am correct, it will only get worse,” she said.
“What is the king doing about it?” Rolin asked.
“I have heard things. Nothing solid, but things, you know?Some troops patrol the streets, but Allayna Townsend, who works for the baker Haimee Floorslick, said she heard from a friend of hers the guards were being killed as soon as they were about.Odd things. Whatever this is, it is evil to the core. Word has it the king is marshalling a great band of troops for readiness tomorrow.He will get to the bottom of this. Our fair city shall be no den for brooding evil. I only hope what I hear is true.”
“Brave words madam—“
“Please call me Hélène.”
“Well, Hélène, I am Rolin Zavatla, this is my companion Cortibis Worldhouse, and our injured companion is Range Ironstone. Whatever that evil was we felt tonight, it is great.”
“I have felt its fear for the last three nights. But during the day, the feelings subside.It is if it was a bad dream, and you laugh it off.No one mentioned it the first night, for fear of being called a fool. But the second night it was horrible, and the next day everyone was talking about it.”
“Both of us felt this same evil. I cannot believe that, of all the people in this city, someone would not know what was the cause of this.” Cortibis said.
“Certainly, perhaps the king knows. My suspicions keep me locked away.”
Cortibis understood the woman’s fears. She was brave when was working on an injured person, but this evil that had no presence, hiding around every corner.
“Thank you for the room, we will be gone in the morning,” Cortibis said.
“If you need to stay later, feel free. My place is not much, but you are safer here than outside.”
“Let us see what is in the dead man’s bag,” Rolin said, pulling it free.
“I will be in the back, getting my cot ready,” Hélène said.
They withdrew Sterlin’s burlap bag and pulled the drawstrings apart. They removed some clothing, a small diary book, a bag of sparkly diamonds, the vial of solutari poltari, some money, a pipe, weed, and a packet of quick flint.Nothing too extraordinary.
Hélène walked back into the room.She stopped, pointing at something lying on the floor.”That is the scarf of Levitin!What are you doing with it?”
“It was in the pack of the thief.” Cortibis stopped himself. The thief?”Are you certain that it is the scarf of Levitin?”The bright blue scarf, with flecks of gold sewn into it lay on the floor between the two men.Levitin the thief.Sterlin the thief.Thief, thief, thief.
“I would know it anywhere.The man I had in my shop tonight was Levitin?I cannot believe that.Levitin is a good man. He gave to the people.”
“Hélène, are you certain?”
“That is his wardrobe and his scarf!All black clothes and the blue scarf.Levitin was in here not two—” She stopped, realizing what she was about to say:She had harbored Levitin, a crime punishable by death.She looked at the floor,”I guess it doesn’t matter too much now that he is dead. He did so much for the good of the common people. This is horrible. His death will bring the morale of this city to its knees.”Not the kings and other nobles, Cortibis thought.
“He was in our town as well,” he said.
Rolin paused for a moment and then handed the diary to Hélène,”Why don’t you read his diary tonight and see what you can discern from his notes.I am afraid we will have to read it as well.”
“I will read it tonight. I will be up anyway, watching over your friend.I am hoping to find some redeeming information here within.For my sake at least.”
“I hope you do as well, ma’am.It is a sad day if Levitin is dead,” Cortibis said.
She said she would wake them if Range awoke.
Their sleeping area was minimal, but vastly warmer than outside. Some small areas were cleared for them in the front of the shop. Thin pallets were placed on the floor in the small aisles.They could hardly roll around without shaking a rack or a shelf. They had rewrapped the Sword in clean wrappings and discarded the bloody ones. They did it in the dark and neither got a good look at it.
Cortibis settled into his pallet.
He could see the front door and the small space under it. A pale light sneaked in from outside. He suspected a lot of cold as well. Rolin had just lain down and was getting as comfortable as possible on the hard floor.He pulled his blanket up to his chin, and fell asleep almost immediately.Cortibis watched the dim light emanating under the door.
The glow was coming from the lamp on the opposite side of the street.He just knew cold air was seeping in through that crack. Somehow he could not get past that thought. Finally he decided to find something to place over it.As he was about to stand, the light was interrupted by a shadow. Cortibis lay still. He focused his eyes watching the shadow move around.The movement was like a drunken man, weaving side to side. No. The shadow looked like a man pacing in front of the door.
He heard some sort of animalistic mewling.A bear perhaps?It would explain the death of Sterlin Similow.But that fearfulness when outside could not be explained by a mere bear. He could feel the fear slide under the door, almost visible, moving into the room, riding along the draft of cold.
Cortibis watched for a moment. He would wait; it was probably nothing. They had heavily bolted the door and he saw no reason to wake the slumbering Rolin.At least not yet.He could hear the quiet lamentations coming from the back of the shop as Hélène read the diary of Levitin.
He heard scraping at the door, and his heart jerked with alarm as the handle jiggled, but did not turn.The shadow moved and was gone, the gut clenching fear along with it.Apparently whoever or whatever was outside had decided to leave them be. He quietly got up.He pulled back the thick curtains covering the windows.Outside all was still.He could see nothing moving about.But that wasn’t quite right.
As he watched he spied shadows moving among the shadows.Another shot of fear pierced him. He was certain that one of those shadows was looking at him.
The shadows moved back and forth, but never stepped fully into the night. He could see something that did not look human.
Cortibis stood there for a while and waited, but never got a clear view, so he let the curtain fall and stepped back, looking for something to plug the gap under the door.
After hunting for a few minutes he found a large rag, rolled it up, and stuffed it under the door.The room was cold. He went to the small fireplace housing the kettle.A fire still burned. He grabbed a few more logs from the short pile next to the fireplace and tossed them in.The fire slowly regained some of its ire. He nodded, it should last the night.
Cortibis crawled under his cold blankets and hoped for a quiet night.He pulled his blanket up over his head to keep himself warm.The blanket was thin.He lay still waiting for his own body heat to warm the covers. While he was waiting, he fell asleep.