“That sounds exciting. I’ve never been outside of Riegelwood. I stay too busy.” A patron four stools over called out for her. “Excuse me.” She hurried away, took the man’s order, then disappeared through the doorway that led back into the kitchen.
Hacksaw dabbed his forehead on his napkin. The thrill came over him as he was quickly reminded about his days of soldiering and adventuring. There were many taverns, inns, and an assortment of ladies who cozied up to him and sent his blood running. It was the innocent ones, like Little Shirl, that surprised him the most. He gulped down his mead and finished off his plate of food. He took out his pipe and started smoking.
Turning in his stool, he watched two halflings on the stage. Their locks of hair were almost as red as a cherry. They played lutes with fast fingers, working the strings vigorously, but their smiles were as broad as a rainbow as they sang. There was a third halfling, identical to the others, springing from table to table, playing a tambourine to the thrill of the crowd. Hacksaw’s shoulders gently rocked side to side. His hand patted the bar in rhythm. Caught up in the moment, he listened to the words they sang in a rolling, bright, and cheery tune.
We’ll never forget the day he came, the day the dragon came to town,
As quick as the wind, with fire on his chin, he stole the princess away,
So, we never forget the day he came, the day the dragon came to town.
The flames were bright, his teeth like swords, his scales as bright as flame,
It was the day he came, we’ll never forget, he took the princess to his cave,
But the brave, the bold, the daring, the citizens of the wood, swore an oath to one another that they would take the dragon down.
They took to the Channel, where the storms of heaven roared, the floods came to swallow them the day they left the down.
The day after the dragon came to town… the day after the dragon came to town,
But armed with hearts of gold and chivalry, the brave warriors of the wood, armed with righteous power, sought the dragon to cut him down, the day after the dragon came to town.
Deep in a cave, black and cold, they hunted the cold-hearted beast, fought with a lion’s ferocity and slew the dragon down… and slew the dragon down.
That was the day that we will never forget, the day the dragon came to town,
And on that day, the dragon sealed its fate, for stealing a priceless princess destined to be the ruler of our town.
So, we’ll never forget the day it came, the day the dragon came to town. It tried to take our crown. Now it soils a dark, damp cave.
That’s what the dragon gets for coming to our town, don’t ever come to our town, don’t ever come to our town, don’t ever come to our town.
Hacksaw started coughing, smoke from his pipe spilling out. He couldn’t help but think that song was about Nath. Those halflings were exactly the ones Nath described. They were part of the Men of Whispers. The thing was, there wasn’t any sign in the tavern of the woman, Nina, or any others for the matter. But, being so caught up in the moment, Hacksaw hadn’t been looking really hard. He’d been enjoying himself.
I need to get my head on the mission. I’m here for Nath, not me, but this is nice.
He started coughing again. He picked up his tankard and drank the rest of his mead. A few more rumbling coughs came out. “Lords of Thunder, what’s gotten into me.”
A heavy hand started slapping his back. “Are you well, old traveler?” the person patting his back said.
Tapping his chest, he twisted his head over his shoulder. Hacksaw’s eyes widened as he caught sight of the biggest woman he’d ever seen.
CHAPTER 58
A moment from unfurling his rage on the Men of Whispers, Nath felt an invisible hand on his shoulder. He sank back into his crouch. No one was behind him, but his inner conscience spoke to him. “Don’t do it, Nath. Not now. Patience.”
The Men of Whispers sauntered right past without a single glance his way, showing no signs of care or fear. It was the swagger in their stride, the cocky cheerfulness in their forces that had Nath’s fingers twisting on the leather bindings on the hammer. He took a deep breath. Once the brigands were out of eyeshot, but with their foul mutterings still tickling his ears, he set out after them.
If they are going to kidnap somebody, then I’m going to have to stop them.
Like a prowling panther, Nath followed, picking his way through the forest, careful not to reveal himself. The Men of Whispers might be a little careless, but they weren’t stupid, and Nath wasn’t about to do anything stupid himself. But following them into Riegelwood wasn’t the best idea either.
Just outside of town, where the glow of torches and lanterns were specks in front of the buildings, the brigands gathered. The tallest of them stood in the middle. It was Andeen, a slender, bearded man, with a little charm in his cutting voice that ruffled the muscles underneath a man’s skin. It seemed, after two years, none of the brigands had changed at all. And in the dark, Nath gave them closer study, memorizing their shapes, sizes, and how they walked.
Finally, in pairs and groups of three, the brigands spread out, entering the city from a different direction. Two brigands, along with the pair of horses, stayed back, just off the road. They were bundled up fairly well, pacing and rubbing their hands together. The riding horses nickered and snorted quietly. Their ears twitched.
So, that is the getaway plan for the kidnappers. We’ll see about that.
Facing the city, the pair of surly men talked quietly, passing a bottle back and forth. One gruff voice said to the other, “It’s going to be a bit.”
“Don’t be so sure,” the other replied, speaking with an elven accent as he took a swig from the bottle. “Andeen acts fast when the moment comes.”
“Nah, they won’t do anything before the pyro-works scream in the skies. That’s when I would do it.”
The leaner brigand shrugged.
Nath was certain the man was part-elf, and possibly the second one was part-orc. They’d be a rough pair to overcome if he wasn’t careful. Using the shadows cast by the trees from the moon, Nath moved in behind them on cat’s feet. At the same time, the part-orc and part-elf went for their blades and turned. Nath grabbed them both by the back of their heads, filled his fingers with hair, and slammed their noggins together as hard as he could. The part-elf sagged. The orc stood on noodling legs, teetering. Nath slugged him hard in the jaw. The orc brigand spun to the ground in a heap.
Finding rope on the horses, Nath bound up both brigands, gagged them, and rolled them into the woodland. With a smack on their hindquarters, he sent the horses galloping away.
“That should put a kink in their plans. Now, it’s time to hatch another plan of my own. There won’t be any more kidnappings on my watch.” Nath donned his hood. Using his sledgehammer like a cane, with the head in his hand, hidden by the sleeve of his cloak, and the handle on the ground, he sauntered into town disguised as an old man, completely oblivious of the two-headed vulture that now circled high above him.
CHAPTER 59
Hacksaw blinked at the sight of the mountain of a woman behind him. She was attractive, with a hard, angular jawline. Auburn braids of hair twisted up on her head. Fit with the rigorous build of a blacksmith, her arms were bare and muscular. She wore a weathered brown leather tunic, buttoned down the front. She kept patting his back with a calloused hand. “Are you well? You appear to have choked on your spirits.”
Turning on his stool, Hacksaw swallowed. “Thanks, kind lady. I think the show had me worked up. It’s a lively place.” He extended his hand. “I’m Hacksaw. From Huskan.”
She showed a little smile and took his hand with an iron grip. “I’m Nina. I run this establishment. So, you are enjoying yourself?”
“Am I ever,” he said, pulling his hand free from her powerful grip. He’d never known a woman so strong before. “You sure do know how to run a business. This place has been jumping and hopping since I’ve come in, but it ru
ns smooth as a sailboat on breezy waters.”
“Why, thank you,” she said, filling the stool beside him on the left. “I hope you don’t mind, but when I have a moment to spare, I check in with newcomers. I take a keen interest in our customers at the Oxen Inn.”
“That’s just good business,” he said, turning back toward the bar and facing her. She sat taller than him in her stool, but not as broad. “Back in Huskan, my mother and I have a tavern, but it’s a far cry from this. It’s mostly a place to get something hot to eat and warm your toes after a long day in the timbers. It’s respectable, just not very fanciful.”
“It seems we clothe ourselves in a similar cloth,” she said, eyeing him up and down. “Hacksaw, you wouldn’t take it the wrong way if I treated you to another round of mead, would you? I just appreciate a kindred spirit. And you have a salty demeanor that I like enough to share a cup with but nothing else.”
“No, I’d be flattered, and please, no need to think I’d try to take advantage. You are a young and pretty woman, but I could pass for your grandfather.” Hacksaw puffed on his pipe. “See, only old codgers smoke from a stem pipe. Just look around.”
She made a delightful laugh. “I’m sure you know your way around the ladies. I can see it in you.” She looked deep in his eyes. “I watch people all day. I know what they are thinking. I’m a very good judge of character like that.”
Hacksaw leaned back. Nina had a deadly intent in her voice, but it came across in a very charming tone. She was attractive, just as Nath described, but there was a nasty streak lurking behind her eyes too. “Eh, I’m not sure what you are meaning.”
Nina clamped her left hand down on his right forearm. “I’ve seen all types. I know a seasoned adventurer when I see one. There are other places in this town for men like you, and to keep my patrons and my reputation intact, I like making sure you aren’t bringing any trouble.”
Hacksaw winced. Her hand had the power of a vise in it. He looked down. She wore the leather gauntlet that Nath described as the Gauntlet of Goam. The blue gemstone was like the sky, a twinkle deep within. “It seems there has been a shift in the wind, and I don’t follow. I thought you were buying a fellow tavern keeper a tankard.”
“Sorry, but that steel on your hip doesn’t look like anything an ordinary man carries. You are an adventurer, and those are troublemakers. I’m not very fond of their kind.”
“Those days are decades gone,” he said, pulling his arm out of her fingers. “I’m more soldier than adventurer, and all I have to show for it is this sword, if you don’t mind. And I’m not going to cross one countryside to another without it.” He dumped the ashes out of his pipe onto his plate. “And you should be a little less direct with your elderly patrons. I’ll pass on the drink.” He got out of his stool and put three silver talents on the bar. “I’ll be enjoying the festival elsewhere.”
CHAPTER 60
Using the sledgehammer as a crutch, Nath hobbled into Riegelwood, hunched over, and dragging a foot from time to time. Leaning heavily on the cane, he made his way down the festive streets. The celebrations in Riegelwood were in full swing. The townsfolk teetered through the streets, arm in arm, some dancing and others singing. They carried large canisters of ale or clay jugs of wine. There were bonfires in the middle of the streets. Hosts of people gathered around them. The lantern posts were decorated with blue and white colors, casting off a wintery glow in the streets. Colorful streamers crossed the streets, connecting one building to the other. Women, dressed in heavy cloaks trimmed in fur, squealed and giggled to the men who entertained them with songs and rugged acts of bravado as they wrestled bare-chested in the streets with one another.
Sneaking a peek from time to time, Nath thought to himself, These people have lost their minds. When he first came to Riegelwood, over two years ago, the thriving town had a wholesome sense about it. The people, in general, seemed openhearted, but now they were all caught up in revelry. He shoved his way onto the storefront porches, where many made a line between the posts, watching the wild parades carry on throughout the city. He caught a man breathing flames out of his mouth. Three acrobats jumped up and down as seesaws hurled them over the bonfire flames. The raucous crowd screamed in drunken jubilation.
What is wrong with these people? They seem as if they have gone mad.
An older woman and a young daughter, wearing heavy cloth dresses, and with their heads covered in a modest white raiment, scuttled Nath’s way. The young woman’s eyes were big as saucers as her head turned toward the activities. “Mother, why are the people being so wild? They scare me.”
Head down and holding her daughter tightly by the wrist, the mother replied, “They are expecting a long winter. They are getting the orneriness out of them, I suppose. But I’ve never seen them so worked up before. Just don’t look at them. We’ll be to your grandmother’s soon.”
As the women passed Nath, he caught a couple of men sharing a bottle, leering at the women. They fell in step behind the mother and daughter, sniggering. They hustled to catch up to the women, making catcalls. Nath stuck his foot out. The first slob fell face-first into the planks. The second tripped over top of his friend. They both jumped up with faces as red as beets. In a shaky old voice, Nath said, “Pardon me, young ones. My sight is poor even for my age. You are not harmed, are you?”
“No,” the burliest of the two said. He shoved Nath into the wall. “But you will be, old timer.” The ham-fisted man punched Nath hard in the stomach. His knuckles busted on Nath’s metal breastplate. “Eeeouch!” The drunk clutched his busted hand. “You’re wearing some sort of armor. I’m going to kill you, trick—”
Nath whacked the man in the jaw with the butt end of the hammer. As the other drunk went after a dagger tucked between his belt and bulging belly, Nath slugged the man hard in the face. He caught the second one as he fell, and dragged the knocked-out man into a store doorway. Scanning his surroundings, not one person looked his way or appeared to have even noticed. The two women were gone.
There’s another good deed done.
Keeping on the porches, Nath half-hobbled, half-moseyed through the town. He’d learned his way around enough in the short time he spent there before and had a good idea where he was going. Peeking through the crowds from time to time, he searched for the Men of Whispers, who could be lurking anywhere. The problem was, there were thousands of people milling about the streets, and despite the lanterns, torches, and bonfires, it was still dark, casting a lot of shade on people’s faces.
Not far from the Oxen Inn, a huge stage had been erected out of wood that overlooked the crowd. Center stage, singers, acrobats, and dancers performed amazing feats as one. It reminded Nath of the showings that the Trahaydeen elves performed in Dragon Home. From a talent standpoint, it wasn’t the same equivalent, but the effort was there. Seeing that was where the crowd was thickest, he wedged his way between some folks standing on the edge of the porch. Casting his gaze over the area, he listened to the conversations around him intently.
A pair of gusty women, half covered in animal furs mixed with cotton clothing, said, “I’m quite eager for the city lord’s appearance. He’s such a handsome man. His smile knocked me out of my loafers the first time I saw him, I swear it.”
The second woman, with a thick head of hair hanging down past her shoulders, said, “You fall for any man that smiles at you.”
“You don’t think the city lord is handsome, Lila?”
“Of course I do, Sallie, but I don’t lose my senses over it. Yes, he has the smile of an elf and the eyes of a dove, but I’m not going to slobber all over him, or throw my britches at him like you tried once.”
Gasping, Sallie replied, “I never threw my britches at him. I was carrying my wash from the wellsprings, and the wind caught them. You make it sound like I threw them in his face. That’s awful.”
“Heh, heh, heh,” Lila laughed. “I saw what I saw, and I’m sticking to it.”
Sallie hit Lila in the should
er. “Like you are beyond reproach. If he wasn’t getting married, you’d be throwing yourself on the floor of the castle gate.”
“Maybe you, but not me.” Lila grinned ear to ear. An eruption of applause and cheering broke out as the act on stage came to an end and the entertainers, hand in hand, took a bow. They departed. A quartet of trumpeters in royal raiment came to the front and blasted their horns. “Ah, the city lord comes with his new bride to be.” She nudged her friend. “Try to restrain yourself.”
“I’ll whistle all I want. I at least have to get him to look at me.”
Nath turned his eyes to the activity on the stage. He was confused about the description of City Lord Janders. He didn’t remember him as the women described, but he was glad to hear the man would marry again. Perhaps that was what Riegelwood needed to regain its civility. He peered around the edges of the stage.
I hope I see Janna and she is well.
Nath rose out of his stooped position when the crowd fell silent and the horns went quiet. A man in formal winter garb stepped out to the front of the stage. He was very tall and lean and spoke in a strong voice. “Citizens of Riegelwood, please welcome with a hearty applause, City Lord Tobias and his bride to be, Lady Janna.”
What?
CHAPTER 61
Nina hooked Hacksaw’s arm and pulled him back onto his stool. “Now hold on, Frosty Britches. I didn’t mean to turn the table and seem rude, or disrespectful for that matter, but I was vetting you. It comes with the territory, and it’s natural to me.”
Hacksaw cast an inward smile to himself. Nina played right into his hands. She came at him like an attack dog, and he flipped it back on her. She felt guilty. He could see it by the creases in her face. Once again, he pulled free of her sticky grip. “I don’t know. Once I’m ready to move, I’m ready to move. We don’t treat people like that in the north, unless they are acting up or something. I don’t think I’ve done anything but enjoy myself until now. You’ve ruined it for me.”
Enslaved: The Odyssey of Nath Dragon - Book 2 (The Lost Dragon Chronicles) Page 18