Chapter Twenty-One - Rebels

The city of Ilgard was crowded. It was very modern, immensely prosperous, and stunningly beautiful. The city streets were laid masterfully with brick and not a single one was out of place, uneven, or rough. You would have thought it was all one stone, colored to look like a path of bricks. Fences were lined with Lorlean Dance, fountains decorated the intersections of the streets. Buildings stood tall and menacing with their ornately decorated facades.

Perhaps the most stunning part of the scene was the towering palace which stood at the north end of town. It towered over the entire city, facing south. A black and white gate surrounded it, with guards stationed on either side of every entrance. Ilgard was an impressive city to be sure. They walked along the main stretch of road passing street side vendors along the way. After a while, Gaden called out to the rest of them.

“Hang on a second.” They stopped and waited for him. He approached one of the vendors. Behind his counter was a variety of weaponry hanging on the shelving.

“Enough arrows to fill my pack,” Gaden told the man. The man peered around the desk and examined Gaden’s pack. He counted to himself briefly before replying,

“Twenty shale.” And he placed a bundle of arrows on the counter.

“Twenty?” Gaden asked outraged.

“Shale, yes. Twenty shale or find your arrows elsewhere.” Gaden rolled his eyes, but as he wasn’t familiar with the city of Ilgard, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to find more arrows anywhere, so he reached into his purse and dropped four silver coins on the counter. The merchant took the coins, added them to his own purse, and passed the arrows to Gaden. He took them and was pleased to find that at least it did fill his pack snugly, and their quality seemed quite nice. He walked on.

“They better fly past the horizon at that price,” he told Avan.

“You are in Ilgard,” he told him.

“So?” Gaden asked, though he soon felt ignorant for asking it.

“Tax,” Elric said, darkly.

“I’d rather be in Eladin if I’m to pay that rate for a bundle of arrows.” Once they had reached the city, Gaila yielded the lead of the group to Elric. This was, after all, Elric’s mission. Gaila’s lead in the forest was merely to expedite their travel through the forest as he was more acquainted with it. So, they followed Elric’s lead through the city center. None of them had ever been to Ilgard before. Gaden had never even been to Lorlea. They weren’t entirely sure what they were looking for but hoped it would at least present itself to them in due course.

As they hadn’t had a decent meal since leaving Alderhaven, they decided to stop at a large pub that was on the corner of two busy streets. A plaque over the door told them this was called The Foaming Barrel. A crowd loitered outside the establishment. They walked to the front door and entered. Gaden noticed at once that this pub was nothing like Cuthbert’s pub. This one was nicer. It was clean and didn’t give the impression that it might fall in on itself at any minute. There also was no ring for wrestling in the corner of the dining room. They took seats at a table large enough for their party and made themselves comfortable.

“If their food is priced like their armory, we may all be splitting a loaf of bread,” Gaden said. They laughed. Wondering what the custom was in Lorlea, they gazed around the dining room trying to spot a server. They did not see any.

“I’ll check it out,” Elric said, and rose from his seat. He left them in search of service.

“I do not understand why people wish to inhibit their senses with a substance that dilutes their reasoning,” Gaila said, repulsed, as he watched a man belch loudly, sway a moment, and collapse onto his table.

“Nymphs don’t drink?” Avan asked him.

“Nymphs do not drink substances which harm our ability to reason if that is what you mean.”

“Yeah… you don’t drink,” Avan said with a grin.

“Is that bad? Not to… drink?” He said, as though trying to master the lingo. They looked at each other. It hadn’t occurred to them to consider it either good or bad. Nobody answered him.

“I thought Daea got drunk off something he had at Alderhaven,” Gaden said.

“Maybe it isn’t strong to nymphs.”

“Maybe,” Gaden shrugged. “Or maybe nymphs can just handle it better,” Avan half rose from his seat and looked at some point over Gaden’s head.

“No way!” He said, as though he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“What?” Gaden and Findhar turned to look behind them. Elric was walking their way carrying a large platter loaded with a variety of food and drink.

“Where did you find that?” Findhar asked him.

“Self-service.” Elric chuckled and set the platter down on the table. It was laden with drumsticks, potatoes, beans, and something inside a pitcher that smelled fruity. “I’ve never seen anything like it before,” he said and sat down. “Help yourselves, it’s paid.”

“What’s this?” Gaden asked, pouring a little of the liquid into a mug.

“No idea,” Elric said. Gaden smelled it. It did not smell like it had fermented into a strong drink. It truly just resembled some variety of fruit juice. He sipped it and was pleased with the flavor. It was also cold. That was something hard to come by. It took a lot of energy and supply to keep drinks cold.

They dug in. It was the best thing they could have hoped for after a diet of bread and cheese off of the forest floor for days. There was quite a lot of feasting and very little talk. Even Gaila seemed to be enjoying the feast, though the food was nothing like what would have been served in Alderhaven.

“You have to eat something.” Avan had observed. And then the feast came to an abrupt and unwelcome halt

Two armed men walked up to their table and stopped. They looked at the five of them without saying a word. They wiped their mouths and cleared their throats. Elric was the first to speak.

“Can we help you with something?” He said.

“I do hope you are enjoying what we have to offer in Lorlea. You certainly seem like you are.” One of the men said though it didn’t sound as though he hoped any such thing.

“Can we help you with something?” Elric repeated, this time with a little more force. Avan had his fingers clasped around his sword. Gaden was just ready to grab for the bow strapped to his back.

“Perhaps we could go for a quick walk.” The man said and pointed to the exit. Elric rose. The rest of them started to rise as well, but Elric signaled for them to stay put.

“Perhaps you could tell me what this is about. Are you law enforcement? Have we broken the law?” The man smiled and shook his head.

“No, you haven’t broken any laws of which I am aware.”

“You would be wise not to draw attention to this table.” The second man whispered in the first man’s ear. He looked over his shoulder.

“Perhaps you’re right.” They took chairs and helped themselves to the table. The men took mugs from the empty table behind them and began to help themselves to the drink Elric purchased.

“Is there something we can do for you?” Elric asked for a third time, sounding put out at this point.

“You can act as though nothing unusual is happening right now. Eat. Enjoy the food.” The second man said in a whisper.

“You’ll forgive me for not being so quick to trust you,” Elric told him.

“We are unarmed.” The first man said.

“Great. That gives us the clear advantage.”

“Findhar, not now.” Elric snapped.

“Look, we aren’t here to cause trouble. My name is Alrann. This is Tehban,” he pointed to the second man who was so keen to keep his voice down. “I know who you are,” he told Elric, but Elric did not respond. “I also know where you came from, and I know why you are here.” Still, Elric said nothing. The man reached into a pocket inside his cloak. Gaden heard Avan’s knuckles tighten around the hilt of his sword. The man pulled from his pocket a folded slip of parchment.

“Do not open that at the table. Finish your meal and enjoy a quick rest. I know it must be difficult having traveled here through the Tulusbian Forest. After you leave, go to the library across the street before you open the package I have just given you. Do not open it before. We are being watched. You will receive further instruction from the parchment. If you follow the instruction written there, we will be able to help you find what you seek. If you do not trust me, then you will be on your own. Farewell, gentlemen.” And they rose from the table.

Not a word was spoken for several very uneasy seconds. And then Elric discretely placed the slip of parchment into his own breast pocket.

“Finish your drinks and let’s go. Try to act naturally.”

“Do you believe them?” Avan asked him.

“I do.”

“You can’t possibly trust them!” Findhar said.

“He does not.” Gaila answered him.

“He does, too. He just said it.”

“No, he did not. He said he believed them. That is not the same thing.” Findhar rolled his eyes.

“Exactly,” Elric said. “They were right about one thing at least. We are being watched.” Elric pointed to a mirror across the room. In their reflection, they could see behind them, two armed guards sitting at the table against the wall.

“How are we supposed to get out of here without them following us?” Gaden said.

“We’ll need a distraction. We should have never come to such a place like this.” Elric was frustrated. “Bringing a wood nymph to a pub in Lorlea,” he slammed his napkin down on the table. “I’m sorry, Gaila. I don’t mean to offend you.”

“I quite understand,” he said.

“Alright, what’s done is done. We need a plan.”

“We have to split up,” Gaden said. Findhar started to argue, but Gaden cut him off. “No, listen, there’s only two of them. We have to split into three parties. There’s no way they can get all of us if we split into three. Avan and I will act as though we are going to wash. There’s an exit in the back of the pub, we’ll use that. Gaila, once we get out of sight, you jump up and cause a distraction. A wood nymph creating a scene in the middle of a Lorlean pub is bound to tie up the attention of the only two armed guards in here. As soon as they are occupied, Elric, you and Findhar make for the main exit. Once they’re clear, Gaila, you take off for the back room and run those nymph legs of yours as fast as they can go. There’s no way they can catch you.” There was silence for a moment as they thought it over.

“It’s dangerous, but I think it’s our best shot. It can work,” Elric said. “Where do we meet assuming we all get out?” They thought for a moment.

“The library,” Findhar said. “It’s the only thing that makes sense. They wanted us to go to the library for a reason.” Elric nodded.

“Findhar is right. We make for the library. Remember, if one of us is captured, we aren’t supposed to be here,” he paused solemnly. “I can’t promise that any of us can go back for anyone.” They looked into each other’s eyes, and they all nodded in agreement. “Be careful, son,” Elric said, placing his hand on Avan’s knee.

“You too,” Avan said, and then looked at Gaden. “I feel like a wash, how about you?” He said.

“A wash sounds nice,” Gaden answered, and they stood together. They walked toward the end of the room where the washroom was. Gaden noticed in the reflection that the guards were eyeing them closely.

“Natural,” Avan whispered without moving his lips. Gaden realized he had been clenching his fists, and he relaxed. They rounded a corner and walked down a narrow hallway.

“Gaden…” Avan whispered again. “To the left.” Gaden looked left and felt his heart drop. There was a second dining room. It faced the washroom with a clear view of the back exit, and at a table directly across from the exit, sat another armed guard.

“What now?” Avan asked.

“Wash your hands,” Gaden said out of the corner of his mouth. They bent over the basin and dipped their hands into the water. Gaden pretended to be washing his hands to buy himself a little time to think.

“Any ideas?” He whispered.

“I think we’re going to have to run for it.”

“I wonder how many others there are,” Gaden said. “Should we go back and warn them?”

“It’s too late. They’re probably already working on getting out. We would be walking into a trap.” Just as Avan said this, they heard a tremendous commotion from the first dining room as Gaila sprang from his seat and began to ravage the food bar. Screams of bar patrons, repulsed by the nymph, echoed through the hallway.

“Seize him!” they heard one guard yell. Gaden noticed the guard watching them had become momentarily distracted by the chaos Gaila had caused.

“Avan, now!” Gaden said, not troubling to keep his voice low, and they made for the exit as quickly as they could, their hands dripping with water. They reached the door, and Gaden’s wet hand slipped on the handle. He grasped it again and pulled hard, but it wouldn’t move.

“Push!” Avan yelled in frustration. The guard noticed they were making an escape attempt and had jumped up to give chase. Annoyed with his moment of ineptitude, Gaden placed his shoulder against the door and pushed a little harder than was strictly necessary, but they got out just the same.

The door let them out into a back alley. They looked both ways for a moment, weighing the odds.

“That way!” Avan said, pointing to the left. They tore down the alley as quickly as they could. They heard the door slam again and looked over their shoulders. The guard was still behind them.

“I think we’re going to have to consider the possibility that we can’t outrun him,” Gaden yelled as they climbed over a brick wall and squeezed between two prickly bushes.

“What are you suggesting?” Avan said as he pulled briars and thorns from his long hair.

“I’m… not… sure,” Gaden said, through heavy breathing.

“Well, we have to think of something.” They rounded another corner and confronted a crowd of people.

“Are Lorleans decent people?” Gaden asked through his aching side.

“I suppose… What’s your point?” Gaden was silent briefly.

“ARGH!” He yelled to the sky.

“WHAT?” Avan yelled back.

“Just… follow my lead!” Gaden shouted in frustration. He ran toward the crowd of people. As they approached the crowd, Gaden seemed to target one of the Lorleans standing still, looking the other way. Avan realized what Gaden was about to do a split second before he did it.

“Gaden! Stop!” But it was too late. Gaden had pulled his fist back as far as he could, and hit the man square in the back, knocking him to his knees and winding him.

“Avan! Come on, quickly!” Avan had stopped dead in his tracks at what Gaden had just done. Gaden grabbed him by his collar and dragged him through the crowd. “MOVE!” He shouted in Avan’s ear. Gaden looked behind them. The guard was there. He acted as though he wasn’t sure whether to stop and help the old man, or chase. To Gaden’s delight, the guard knelt and began assisting the old man.

“I HAVE YOU NOW!” The guard yelled at them.

“We’ll see…” Gaden mumbled, then they ran around the next street corner and stopped to catch their breath.

“You… assaulted… a citizen!” Avan yelled through his gasps for air.

“I had no choice. It was the only way!” Gaden said, frustrated with both himself and Avan.

“If they didn’t have us for anything before, they sure do now!”

“Don’t fool yourself, Avan. They had us before.”

“You don’t get it!” Avan yelled the last two words and pinned Gaden against a brick wall. “We cannot cause more trouble than we have already!” With a magnificent show of force, Gaden gathered himself and shoved Avan off him.

“Listen! He was gaining on us! We had nowhere to go! If he had caught us, we would have gone straight to prison. I asked you for a suggestion, you came up with nothing! I saw an opportunity, and I took it.”

“You assaulted a citizen!” Avan hissed.

“It’s done!” Gaden yelled. And they went silent for a moment. “It’s done,” he repeated. “We had to get away. Capture wasn’t an option.”

“We can’t be the villains, Gaden.”

“That’s what you think we are? Villains?”

“You’ll have a hard time passing yourself as a hero by assaulting the innocent,” Avan said, pulling his cloak straight.

“He’s fine. And we got away.” They looked at each other one last time, and then looked down the street. It was oddly peaceful after what had just transpired.

“We have to get to the library. They’ll think we were captured and they’ll go on without us,” Avan said. Gaden was glad he had dropped his hero complex.

“It’s this way,” Gaden said, pointing in the other direction.

“Let’s go.” They walked back up the street and decided to take an alley to cut through to the main road. There were undoubtedly more guards on the lookout for two men who had just assaulted an old man on the street. As it turned out, they were fortunate. They met no more guards or anyone else suspicious along the way. They made their way back up the main road, and then they saw the library they had been directed to enter.

It stood two stories tall, with great marble pillars supporting the overhang dwarfing the entrance. Gaden and Avan entered the library together through the double doors at the front. They stepped onto hard, cold tiles at first, but there was a thick rug that ran up the long aisle ahead of them to a large, round desk in the very center of the library. Behind the desk stood the one who they assumed to be the librarian. They approached the desk.

“May I suggest aisle eight?” He said.

“No thanks, we’re looking for a group of people that may have come in earlier.”

“I really think eight is where you want to be,” he said again and then raised his eyebrows. Avan nodded in the direction of aisle eight, and Gaden followed him. They walked past seven other rows of towering shelves until they came to the eighth, at which point they turned. Relief spread through them as they saw Elric and Gaila standing there. But then they realized Findhar was missing.

“Where’s Findhar?” Gaden asked. Elric shook his head solemnly.

“He’s not…”

“He isn’t dead. But they have captured him.”

“We have to do something,” Gaden said without thinking.

“We can’t, Gaden. Not now at least.” Elric put a hand on Gaden’s shoulder. “We have to focus on the mission.” Elric pulled the parchment from his coat pocket.

“What does it say?” Avan asked.

“The librarian here is a spy for the resistance. He’s working to destabilize Narda’s government. He has given us directions to another location where the remaining resistance is currently in hiding. If we can get there, it’s likely we can find exactly what we came looking for. It seems they have been watching for us.”

“But where is this place?”

“It’s a few blocks across town. We need to get going. The librarian handed me these.” Elric held out more folded pieces of parchment. “They’re maps of the Temple of Lorlea. He asked me to deliver them to the resistance.” Elric put them back in his breast pocket. “We need to get moving. They’re expecting us, and according to the librarian, we don’t want to be on the streets when night has completely fallen, and it’s almost dark now.” They followed Elric back down the aisle. The librarian nodded to them as they exited and made their way to the front doors. Elric nodded back to him. They reached the front doors and opened them. The sight on the other side of the entrance made them stop in their tracks. About twenty Lorlean guards stood at the door armed as though for battle. Nobody moved except for the guard in the very center.

“In the name of Lady Narda of Lorlea, you are all under arrest for assault, theft…” He reached into Elric’s pocket and stole the maps, “and high treason against the throne of Lorlea.” There were too many of them. There was nothing to be done. Any resistance would be met with a swift defeat. Reluctantly, they handed over their weapons and allowed themselves to be taken into Lorlean custody.