CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

*~~~**~~~*

King

*~~~**~~~*

22nd of Decepter, 935 PC

Every movement of King’s horse sent pain through his body. And with Narah riding west at a break-neck, he had reached a level of agony he thought impossible just hours before. No legacy is worth this pain. He didn’t believe that though. His family’s legacy was the only thing worth the pain he was suffering through. Still, riding had become too dangerous to continue on without a break, he could keep his eyes open. Thus, as they crested a small rise in the earth and spotted the first glimpses of civilization in hours, he let out a quiet sigh of relief and begged The Creator to encourage the Yilan tyrant to stop and rest.

He almost kissed Narah when she reined in her horse and sat proudly in the saddle, staring at the wide open landscape ahead of them. She turned her horse around to face the others. Her body formed an outline in the bright sun behind her. King shielded his eyes and tried to relax the muscles in his back but instead ended up leaning off the horse and coughing uncontrollably until little beads of dark blood were sprinkling the dirt trail.

“We’ve made good time,” Narah said over his coughing.

Garth, the brutish Physicalist, chuckled deeply. Something King felt as though he’d never do again. At least not without breaking out in a fit of coughs and choking to death.

“To say the least,” said Shade. A look of pride on his face. His friend, the mercenary, matched his enthusiasm. It seemed King was the only one phased by the pace they had ridden. What else could I have expected? They’re hardened warriors and a boy who is pampered by a monster. I’m a dying fool with ambitions too large to obtain. Lords, I couldn’t keep up with these people in perfect health.

As if adding insult to injury, the assassin pulled a smoke stick from a small pocket on the front of his vest and stuck it between his teeth. Unlit. King was not yet comfortable around Shade. Yes, he was friendly enough, but the word assassin made him uncomfortable. To King, anyone whose job was to kill unsuspecting targets seemed like someone you keep at an arm’s length. Who am I kidding? If the man wants me dead, dead I shall be. May as well enjoy the show the man puts on with his elegance. His tall, slender frame moved with such coordination and balance in everything he did it was hard not to be impressed. He marveled at Shade’s skill each time he watched the man mount his horse without using his hands.

King coughed into his gloves then tugged at his wool mask to adjust it. The wind blowing in his face from riding a horse was torture, even with the mask. Without it he may have abandoned the journey altogether. What was I thinking when I agreed to come on this journey? I should have just told Alaric my situation and been done with it. I could have lived in the inn until I died. He had waited until he was away from Alaric to explain to the others that he was sick. Terribly sick. It made Diedro wary of him, but he wasn’t about to start an argument with a man like Diedro. The others were supportive.

“How are you holding up, King?” asked Narah.

He rubbed his eyes. “Like a tent in a storm,” he said.

“We’ll rest this night then,” replied Narah.

Thank the creator. Wait. Was she intending not to?

“Sounds good t’me,” said Garth. His horse looked just as relieved as King. “Could use a drink. Or three.”

Coyne was sitting in the saddle with him. His hands were wrapped tightly around the horn and pommel at the front of the saddle. At the beginning of the trip there had been fear in his eyes due to how fast the horse was moving but now he simply looked tired like the rest of them.

Narah turned her horse again. This time facing slightly south of the town. “See that grove over there” she said.

No one answered but everyone looked. Except Coyne who was fighting not to fall asleep against Garth’s chest. Just to the south of Amberwood was a decent-sized field with more dead grass and patches of mud than anything green. Surrounding the field were the infamous raindrop willow trees, named for the blue orbs at the end of their branches that glowed in the dark. The faintest radiance glowed in the orbs, even now that the leaves had fallen off. A short dirt trail ran through the patch of trees that sat between the grove and the town of Amberwood.

“That’s Raindrop Grove,” said Narah. “The Lotus use it as a landing zone when they’re swapping outfits on their cloudcruisers.”

“So, there’s gonna be a whole lotta of the bastards in the town,” remarked Garth. King had taken note that the man had left his stoicism in Thronerock and exchanged it for a fatherly warmth toward Coyne. There was no discarding his instincts though. Something about him said drinks could wait if it meant killing Lotus.

Narah simply nodded.

It was Shade who replied. “Leave that to me. I have a few friends here.” Shade had worn his hood for much of the trip, but now his bald head was showing. His sunken eyes always appeared dark and colorless from even short distances, but King had seen they were in fact green when Narah introduced the two men.

“Ah. We don’t need no friends to whoop some Lotus,” Garth said.

Narah said, “You’re to avoid any engagement with Lotus unless told otherwise, big man. We’re not here to fight them.”

“Then why risk wandering into their hangout?” Diedro asked, then took a drink from his waterskin.

“Because I have a better idea,” she replied with a grin.

The light breeze on King’s face was becoming too much. The sooner this discussion was over the better. He winced as he said, “Do tell.”

“We’re going to steal a cloudcruiser.”

This woman is going to be the death of me.

Diedro asked, “Who’s gonna fly a cloudcruiser?” As he waited for a response he dug at something in his teeth with his fingernail.

Narah pointed at Coyne, who was now sound asleep. His torso was hidden behind Garth’s massive arm he had wrapped around the boy.

*~~~**~~~*

King watched as the horses traipsed back down the path they had followed to the grove. Letting the horses go before they knew they would be able to secure a cloudcruiser was not how he would have handled the situation, but Narah was confident they would be in the air within the tenday. King hoped that wasn’t before a few night’s rest in the local inn.

“Come on, King,” said Garth. His massive hand was waving King toward the dirt trail the others were walking toward.

Down the trail they went, two by two. A thin sheet of cracked ice covered much of the dirt. It splintered and crunched beneath their feet. Narah was giving Coyne a brief rundown of what she hoped he could do for them. Though, he was far more interested in the glowing blue orbs that lined both sides of the trail. Diedro and Shade followed not far behind. The mercenary and the assassin for hire had a mutual respect for one another. That he could see. Their differences were clear as day though. There wasn’t room for another weapon on Diedro’s belt while Shade appeared unarmed. King knew better. As long as they kill Lotus and not each other, I care not who does the killing. Then there was Garth. King figured he’d see the other Physicalists kill men in any number of impressive ways. But having known Garth for some time, he knew the brute simply hacked anything and everything to death with strength unlike any other man in the empire.

As they approached the end of the dirt trail a foul stench filled the air. Both blessed and cursed be a town with a tannery.

Garth was displeased. “She’s got us stayin’ in a town that don’t get rid of its shit.”

“It’s a tannery. They often stink. I figure there’s one on the other end of town,” said King.

“I don’ like it,” said Garth.

“Not many do. Hence, they put them on the outskirts of town.” King frowned as the smell worked its way completely through his mask.

The group exited the patch of trees and entered the hustle and bustle of Amberwood. The day was coming to an end in the peaceful, quaint town. Garth noticed immediately that the residents of Amberwood were not at all bothered by the smell, commenting on it with his typical lowbrow humor. Don’t expect to be here long enough for our noses to learn to ignore such a stench.

Large men dressed in thick work clothes carried heavy logs through town toward a project in the distance. If King wasn’t mistaken, it looked as though a cathedral was being built. It was the first he had ever seen that was made of wood and not iron and stone. Smaller men and women stood in front of shops and tended to merchant stalls while children cleaned the cobblestone streets of debris.

Besides having a high number of Lotus, Amberwood was also known for having been twice the size it was now before a terrible fire burned well over half the city to the ground several years before. Since then, the town’s officials had relied solely on artificial warmth created by alchemy to heat homes and businesses. All fun facts Narah had provided as they walked along the uneven cobblestones.

They wandered east, toward the construction project.

“Eyes on the corners,” said Shade quietly. No one responded.

Soldiers stood on corners though they looked less prepared to fight than Coyne. Their weapons were sheathed, their helmets were held under arms, and most weren’t wearing armor. Those that were, had simple leather vests on. Nothing Garth couldn’t hack in half if it came down to it. As a whole, Amberwood’s population appeared friendly but unimpressive. What stood out to King were the enormous buildings made of logs, not cabins like the ones in Steppe either. Marvelous structures with three, sometimes four floors, that towered over the streets below. They were built tight to one another, in some cases being too tight to squeeze between. Shade made a comment about how easily he could traverse across the rooftops if necessary. Oh yes Shade, that sounds like a lovely time. Sorry though, I won’t be joining.

Narah stopped near a well in the middle of the main street. The others formed a misshapen circle around her. Shade sat down beside Diedro and offered him a smoke stick but he declined with a shake of his head. Garth held Coyne’s shoulders beneath his massive hands while the boy stared at everything around him in something resembling a mixture of curiosity and intense observation. Strange child. I doubt I will be spending much time getting to know him.

“Here are my thoughts,” Narah said. “A friend of mine, Old Willy, owns a shop in that building over there.” She pointed at one of the less impressive log buildings down a ways, toward the construction project. “I need to speak to him about when the cloudcruisers come in and out the grove. If I can get an idea for their schedule we can orchestrate a heist. I figure we should stop there first then secure some rooms at Rockwilder’s Inn.”

The first drops of rain began to fall, speeding up the tempo of the adults who were closing up shops and sending children home in laughter. Signs that read open were quickly turning to closed all around them.

Garth said, “Better find this place ‘fore he closes down for the night. Don’t wanna miss a cloudcruiser coming in this evenin’.”

The thought to demand at least one night in Amberwood crossed his mind instantly but Narah’s reassuring glance helped settle his nerves.

“We’ll be here tonight. May not have another chance at luxury for a while after this.”

Garth looked disappointed, like he had already prepared himself for an eventful night.

Diedro pulled one of the many daggers from his belt. “Sorry Narah, but I won’t be accompanying ya to Old Willy’s. Not welcomed there,” he said. He then proceeded to scrape carefully at whatever it was that was still stuck in his teeth.

“You’ve been?” asked Narah.

“Once.”

Garth chuckled. “What was ya doin’ in a magic shop?”

“Killin’ a customer,” said Diedro with a face as straight as his knife’s blade.

“Ah,” said Garth. “Makes sense.”

“Aye. Don’t think Old Willy is gonna want me in his shop,” said Diedro. “No matter who I’m with.”

King caught a glimpse of a soldier approaching them. His eyes warned Narah who turned on her heel abruptly. The approaching man stopped and put his hands out.

“Evenin’ folks,” said the soldier in a tone meant to calm nerves. His dim-witted look told King there was little to be worried about. His ragged gray uniform looked less like that of Resk’s royal army and more like something a militiaman would wear. “Can I help ya find something?”

Garth was about to speak when Narah answered. “Could you point us toward the inn? I assume you have an inn here,” she said.

“Course we do,” said the soldier with a smile. “You’ll find Coppers right down that street there.” He pointed toward a street that jutted from the main road. “And Rockwilder’s right there.” He pointed again, this time down the street Narah had already indicated the inn was on. “I think you’ll find Rockwilder’s to be wee bit nicer, but nobody’s gonna do nothin’ to ya in your sleep at Coppers either. Besides the bed bugs.”

“Thank you, sir,” Narah said graciously.

“Anything else I could help ya with?” he asked.

“Not at all, thanks,” said Narah.

King broke into one of his violent fits of coughs. He could hear the soldier speaking but couldn’t make out the words. When he finally regained control the soldier was looking at him blankly, obviously waiting for an answer to a question King hadn’t heard.

“He wants t’know what be wrong with ya,” said Garth.

Not the dark demise, that’s for certain. No need to get us run out of town right before I lay down in a nice comfortable bed.

“Just a cough,” said King. He let some of his magic course through him in order to give the smile he needed. “Been getting better each day.”

A sense of relief washed over the dim-witted soldier. “Good, good,” he said as he pointed toward King’s face. “Thought that mask might mean ya had something else. Anything worse and I’d havta ask ya to head out of town. Had a case of The Frost Mother’s Freeze last winter. Terrible disease that is. Lucky it ain’t one to spread too easy.”

“Very lucky,” said Narah though she was quite clearly done with the conversation.

Shade stepped toward the soldier. The smaller man stepped back, hiding his nervousness the best he could. “We must be going now. Thank you for your help… with the inn,” said Shade.

“Of course, of course. If you folks need anything else, just find one of us militiamen. Always happy to help.”

The group started moving toward the street the man had pointed out for them. The rain still wasn’t much more than a light drizzle.

“King, you may need to take your mask off to avoid any more unwelcome discussion,” said Narah. “It’s going to bring attention to us with you coughing up your lungs.”

That’s not happening. “I’ll consider it.”

“Something’s not right about the militiaman,” said Shade.

“Agreed,” said Diedro.

Narah looked surprised. “How do you know?” she asked.

Diedro turned around. “For one, he made straight for a building instead of his post.” He pointed the tip of his blade at a building the man went in.

“So,” said Narah.

“And the others have been watching us since we walked into town,” said Shade.

“We need to disappear,” said Diedro.

“Not without speaking to Willy,” said Narah.

Shade shook his bald head at his sister, pleading with her silently.

“We’ll split up,” she said as she glanced at Diedro.

Diedro was the one shaking his head now. “I’m not wasting my time looking for someone that don’t want me findin’ him anyway. I’ll keep an eye on the soldiers.”

“I’ll go with Diedro,” said Shade. “Not that fond of Old Willy.”

King was unsure which group to join. Sending Garth with those two is all but ensuring they’ll find a fight and then you’ll never rest. “I’ll go with these two,” he said as he stepped toward Shade. “Garth, protect Narah and Coyne.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I don’t need protection.”

Shade stared at her.

“I’m just saying, I can take care of myself.” Narah made her way toward the building Old Willy’s shop was in..

“Thanks, gents,” said Garth, looking less than thrilled to be joining Narah. Diedro grinned. The brute put his hand on Coyne’s head and tipped it backward to look him in the eyes. “Got your blade litt’l warrior?”

Coyne shook his head slightly within Garth’s grip.

“Good. Now climb on.” Garth lifted the boy high enough to let him squirm around to his back and latch on.

Shade said, “Keep her out of trouble. She had a tendency to…” He searched for the right word.

“I get ya,” said Garth. The duo bounded off toward the building after Narah.

*~~~**~~~*

It didn’t take long for King to regret his decision to join two men half his age and literally created for physical exertion. He looked down at the wooden stairs beneath his feet, then up, at the rest of the staircase. All the places in the empire and we stop in one with buildings built to the sky. Amberwood’s buildings were unlike any he had ever seen. At least, the one they were in. Directly inside the front entrance were two tall staircases like those in a tower that had flights that bent back and forth on themselves as they climbed. At the top of each flight of stairs was a landing at either side of the building. A more narrow catwalk connected both landings, and a railing was built around all edges that would have otherwise led to a steep fall.

Also on the landings were large sets of mahogany doors that had iron bolted to them near the tops and bottoms. The handles were hefty looking rings. The doors led into large rooms where countless vendors had set up shops. The man at the front door of the building explained that the higher they went, the more exotic the items became. I wish we were shopping for something fancy. I could sit down and relax. But no, Diedro and Shade had no interest in shopping. They were heading to the roof where they could see the entire town. When he reached the third floor landing he had to stop. Realizing they wished to go relatively unnoticed, as was Shade’s style, King chose to suppress the cough that tickled his throat with a bit of his magic. Warmth filled him immediately.

Shade was already halfway up the next flight of stairs when he noticed King was keeled over on the landing. He stopped.

“You alright, King?” he asked.

“No worse, just had to cough.”

Shade called to Diedro who stopped on the next landing and leaned against the wall. The bald assassin made his way back down to King and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“You don’t have to come up with us. We’ll be just fine. Right, Diedro?”

“Aye. No one’s gonna bother us up there anyway. Too high up.”

King stood, unwilling to let his illness get the best of him, and aided by the relief his magic was providing. “I’ll sit on the fourth floor landing.” He stepped past Shade and grabbed the banister for support.

When they reached the top King pressed his back to the wall and closed his eyes. Thank the creator that’s over.

“Alright, we’ll be back soon,” said Shade. He patted King on the shoulder and waited for a response. There was none. “Alright?”

“Aye,” muttered King. “Don’t be too long.”

“Of course not.”

Shade positioned himself under the square opening that led to the roof. Diedro had already climbed up and out. Shade jumped up and grabbed hold. He was gone a moment later. Then his arm appeared again as he pulled the trapdoor shut.

King pulled his mask down then let himself slide down the wall until his arse touched the rug on the landing. I’ll be home soon, great one.

*~~~**~~~*

King sat on the floor of the landing for at least half an hour. Every so often there’d be footsteps on the stairs but only a few people ever made it as high as the fourth floor. It made enough sense to him. Resk wasn’t known for its wealth like the realms of Morne and Serelle. Few in Amberwood are blessed enough to shop luxuriously. Which made the entire idea that Amberwood had a bazaar like this one stranger to him.

Time continued to pass. He thought about the men on the roof. As dangerous as he knew Shade to be, he was forthright about his past and his work. Diedro, on the other hand, came across as sneaky and unreliable. As if his time with The Hounds of Haldar had turned him into something he was unable to tame. And there’s the nagging sensation that Diedro knows something he’s unwilling to tell. The more he thought about the man the more he worried about the fact that Shade was alone with the mercenary. He was just about to stand up and see if he could climb through the trapdoor when the door to the merchant hall opened. The first thing to appear from behind the door was a shiny armored boot. The grinding of metal followed. Then a long, white cloak. A Hound. He did everything he could to remain still and silent but the Hound turned and looked at him. In no condition to fight, King made himself as pitiful looking as he could.

“Evenin’ sir. Sorry to be in your way,” he said weakly.

“Pathetic beggar,” said the Hound.

“Not a beggar, sir. Just down on my luck.”

The Hound stepped forward, his heavy boots making dull thumps on the rug. A sharp aroma came from his person. Citrus pomanders? “Not a beggar, ay? What are you then? Dim? Useless?”

King was done calling the rude prick sir. He transitioned smoothly into the con he ran whenever he felt like pulling one over on someone. “A priest.”

The Hound’s eyes narrowed slightly and examined King’s heavy clothes. “You don’t look like a priest.”

“Aye. But I am. My vestments are beneath my cloak.” He revealed just enough of his altered robe to be convincing. “Cold outside. Can never be too careful in the winter.”

Instantly, The Hound’s snarled face softened, his tone as well. “What’s a priest that looks like you doing in Amberwood? Shouldn’t you be in Tevron or Morne?” The Hounds of Haldar were frequent travelers, quite savvy to where most men and women came from.

“Aye. I hail from Tevron, but I’m looking for someone. A friend. But I got tired by the time I reached the top of the stairs. Haven’t been feeling tip-top recently.”

The Hound looked concerned for him. “I’m looking for someone too.”

“A friend?”

“No longer.”

“Tis a shame to lose a friend,” said King. “The Book of The Creator says … when lost in the darkness…” The Hound took over for him.

“... seek the guidance of a friend you can trust.” He smiled. “ I’m a man of The Creator too. Not a priest, but a devout follower. She’s gotten me through plenty of tight squeezes. Never know what those Lotus and Purists are going to do.” The Hound stretched out his arm and smiled. “Let me help you to your feet.”

King took his hand and let the man lift the majority of his weight for him.

“Citrus?” asked King.

“Aye. For the wife. She loves these things.” He pulled a small sphere away from his chest. A thin chain was attached to a ring on the orb. The orb itself was made of solid gold with rubies mounted in a circle toward the top. “Ever had one?”

“Not of that quality,” said King as he coughed into the crux of his arm. The Hound stepped back. “Priests are not men of wealth.”

The Hound put his hand on the ring on the merchant halls’ door. “Come with me.”

“I mustn’t. It’s too expensive, surely.”

The man threw his head back dismissively. “Let me buy another man of faith a gift. I insist.” And let me see what I can find out about Diedro.

King nodded and stepped through the open door.