Godstone, a Forgotton Realms story
Chapter Three
Liana and Jandar approach the southern half of Dagger Falls wooden wall where they are stopped at the gate by four guards. Three of them young men barely boys with patches of fuzz on their chins, led by an older man, his weathered face and confident stance let them know he has seen battle and won. Equipped in chain mail coats, with spears, round shields and swords, two. With crossbows at the ready. ”Halt, state your business! ” One of the youths yells, pointing his spear towards the strangers, fear in his voice.
”Good evening. ” She says with a disarming smile, ”We be looking for a drink and warm beds, can ye point us to the nearest tavern? ”
Eyeing their weapons cautiously, ”Youll be looking for the Red Rock. Follow this street five houses east and north three. Can miss it, but I warn you, cause any trouble and youll be leaving out on your ear. ” The older man directs. With a bow, they leave the gate, with two guards following at a distance, Liana plows through the fresh powder with Jandar close behind, his bow in hand. Candle light flickers through the shutters of the little brick houses as families sit down for their dinner. Warm and without fear of an attack, secure in the knowledge that their guards and God are watching over them diligently.
A sign in the shape of a red stone with a wide toothy smile partially concealed by ice marks the inn, a long single floored building that is surprisingly quiet. Pushing into the dining area, a balding man sits in a chair by the hearth sleeping, the only other guest out of their room. A boy in his teens leaps up from his book behind the bar at hearing the visitors enter, greeting them, ”Welcome to the Red Rock, Im Perrin, can I get you dinner? A drink? Or just a room? ”
”I be Liana and this be Jandar, we can use all ye have to offer. ” She says, taking a seat at a round table nearest the fire, hanging their cloaks on the back of their chairs and grounding their equipment. Perrin brings them each a cup of tea, a bowl of warm chicken broth and each half of a baked potato topped with cream and green onions.
Looking at her drink with curiosity, ”Uh, have ye no ale? ” Liana asks.
”Apologies milady, but our Father forbids the drink. I can bring you water if tea isn to your liking. ”
Putting the tea up to her nose, tests it with her tongue, ”Its fine lad. Can ye tell us about this Father? ” She asks.
”Hes the one true God, bringing the gift of wisdom and lights eternal hope, or so Teacher Aramon says. ”
”I take it ye don believe him? ”
Speaking quietly, ”Not really. He came into town a couple tendays ago, preaching how the First Father will save our souls and all the other gods are false. His sermons attracted growing crowds of people who feel the gods have done nothing to protect them and with the tithes he collected, soon had his followers convert the temple of Lathander to his God and personal sanctuary. ” Stoking the fire, ”Hes set himself up like a king, even had executions in his Gods name. ”
”An execution? ” Liana coughs, choking on broth.
”Well not exactly an execution, more a aptism by fire. She was the apothecary and a sorceress, though a recluse who many believed she was a hag, stealing babes and young mens virtue. He said that infidelity and magic are sins against man, therefore sins against the Father. Had her dragged before a screaming crowd and put the torch to her, along with Clerics Cheset and Lolwain who had been here since I can remember, good folk all of them. ”
”How horrid! ” Liana says, catching herself, lowers her voice, trying not to wake the sleeping man, glad she hid her own holy symbol.
”She begged for mercy, promised to convert, but when her neighbors started throwing rocks, there was no stopping it, that bloated bastard just stood there grinning, swollen with power. He foresaw an attack and single handedly drove them back but not before Captain Torec and a number of others died, afterwards he deputized his loyalists as guards and even more abandoned their faith. You should come to his sermon in the morning, hear what he has to say. ” Perrin offers.
”I think we will. ” Liana nods to Jandar who returns the gesture.
After emptying their bowls, Perrin shows them to their room, where they shed their gear and turn in for the night. Laying down and tucking in, Liana turns to Jandar sitting up on her elbows, on the opposite side of the room, ”Whatever happens tomorrow, we play it safe, I not be liking this First Father or this preacher. ” Jandar nods, wetting his fingers to pinch out the candles flame, both of them quickly falling asleep with not a dream.
That morning they are awakened by a knock at the door, followed by Perrins voice, ”Good morning, I brought hot water and towels. Foods on the table, biscuits and gravy, yams and tea. ”
After dressing, they leave their armor, weapons and her holy symbol under the beds before sitting at the table where Perrins father joins them. ”Morning, I must apologize for my sleeping, but it seems my boy took care of you two, I am Lyras and you are? ”
”Im Liana and this be Jandar, no need to apologize, Perrin did right by ye and saw tae everything needed. ”
”Have you been married long? And how long will you we staying with us? Just so my wife knows how much food and laundry to do. ” Lyras inquires, sipping his cup of hot mint tea.
”No, no, we be good friends and traveling companions, ” Liana laughs, ”We be resting a day or two afore getting back on the road. ”
Lyras eyes Jandar curiously, ”Your friend doesn say much does he? ” Neither the stern half elfs face nor posture change.
”Nay, he be the strong silent type. ” She chuckles, eating the yams topped with crushed walnuts and butter.
Perrin enters in from the kitchen after clearing the plates, ”The sermon will begin soon, that is if you still want to go. ”
”Of course, ” Liana Says, together they stand and just as they begin to leave, Lyras stops them, ”Hold a moment, I ask you settle up before going. ”
Liana hands him eight gold coins and Lyras pockets them after a quick inspection, they follow Perrin to the temple near the center of town, walking with a steady stream of townsfolk entering the wooden building, a man stands beside the door ringing a bell loudly, signaling the start of service. Stepping through the double doors into the nave, its vaulted ceiling and rows of pews on either side of a red carpeted aisle that leads to the alter where a large golden symbol of the Father hangs on the wall, an open book within a circle. Liana, Jandar and Perrin take a seat in the back of the crowded temple, much of the town having packed inside to listen to the sermon. The chapel is alive with chatter and gossip, much of it about their northern neighbors, after half an hour, a wide bald man in gold trimmed purple satin robes, a red shawl draped about his shoulders, gem encrusted rings on each of his fingers and three golden necklaces hang around his neck, the longest ending with the holy symbol of The Father, the open book with a dull black stone at its center resting on his large belly, enters in through a side door from his private chambers, as he appears, everyone stands, bowing low until he reaches the lectern, where they sit with anticipation.
”Good morning students. ” He says, his voice clear and loud with a wide smile.
”Good morning Teacher. ” They greet him in chorus.
Raising his hands before his heart with palms forward resembling an open book, the villagers echoing him. ”We gather here to receive your lessons our Father on High, grant us the wisdom to understand the gift of your blessed knowledge and grace to share his blessings with our fellow man. ”
”Teach us his wisdom, gift us with his sight! ” They sing in unison.
He continues, ”These lessons we are given, comfort not only our souls but open the way to the fields of eternal rest and redemption. ”
”We listen, we learn! ” They chorus.
”Our lesson for today is faithfulness, ” his voice taking an accusatory tone, ”not only to the ones we love, but to our Father and Teacher, for when we are faithful, not only do we speak the truth of his word but we protect our families and neighbors. Trust in Him is paramount, we must have faith in our Fathers wisdom to guide us through the evils of mans heart and the darkness of shadows untouched by His light. We revel in his strength to drive out the wicked that seeks to snuff out the light he casts upon our hearts, his vision to shape our world for the blessed who accept his love. ”
”We are faithful, we obey! ” they cry out fearfully, raising their hands to the sky as some drop to their knees, afraid they somehow did wrong.
”We have been betrayed by one of our own! ” He shouts suddenly, pointing to Perrin, ”He brings outsiders into our homes who would poison the work we have done and turn you away from his teachings, he speaks against the Father who protects you from the dark of death wrought by the foul beasts who feast on the nonbelievers! ”
The people turn to Perrin and the travelers, ”Betrayer! ” they hiss, hurtling baseless accusations.
”He has spoken ill of the Father to these heretics! She serves a false god, a god who only poises to steal your eternal souls from the glory of the Fathers heavenly kingdom! ” Holding up Lianas holy symbol as proof, given to him by Perrins father after he searched their room, the congregation screams with anger, some cry with fear and others spit curses. Ganlon and six guards enter into the temple, blocking the door with short spears and shields at the ready, protected by iron breastplates worn over padded armor.
”Take them! Bind their hands and throw them in prison, do not let them continue to corrupt our children and our hearts! ” Araman yells.
The guards grab Perrin, binding his hands behind his back, as they move towards Liana, Jandar pulls daggers out of his sleeves, slashing the throat of one man and putting the other into an eye who take her by the arms.
”Stop this! ” Liana yells as two other guards engage him with their spears, he draws two more daggers as the next two guards thrust their spears at Jandar in the tight space, dodging left, he takes the fingers from another, while he kicks the bench into the other man, pushing him back from Liana, then leaps on top of him, with dagger poised to pierce the soldiers skull, Ganlon puts his spear through Jandars gut before he can end the man. Collapsing with the spear still in him, Liana takes his head in her lap, gently removes the spear and casts a cure wounds spell to stop the bleeding and begin closing the deep wound.
”Keep your hands on it. ” She instructs, placing her hand atop his over the puncture. ”Youll be right as stone in a moment. ”
As she begins to cast a second time, the townsfolk angered at the death of their loyal guardians and her use of magic, pull them apart, subduing them out with fists and feet, dragging them to the jail where they are put in adjacent cells.
”Jan? Can ye hear me? ” Liana asks after coming to, her head throbbing.
He replies with a reassuring grunt.
Crawling to the cell door, she puts her hand through the bars and around the wall, finding Jandars hand and taking hold. ”We be alright, don ye worry. ” She assures him, he was already looking to escape but with a man watching from across the way and his injury, could do nothing.
He gives her hand a gentle squeeze, ”Moradin protect us with the earth, shield us from harm, share the strength of your might. ” They wait in the quiet cells for several hours, Liana praying and Perrin sobbing quietly, when the jail door opens and five men enter, four guards lead by Ganlon.
”Araman wishes to speak with you, come peacefully or well drag you to him. ” He says confidently.
”Aye, we will, no need for more blood being spilt. ” She says, rubbing her bruised side, there would be a time for combat but now was not it.
Entering into the cells, the guards bind the two prisoners hands behind their backs, and escort them to Aramans chambers. Before they can leave, Perrin asks, ”What about me? ” standing before the bars, anxiously waiting his fate.
Without looking over his shoulder, Ganlon replies, ”Your parents will be in to decide your punishment. ”
”I did nothing wrong! ” Perrin yells, shaking the bars with anger. Ganlon ignores him and escorts the pair through the street where the waiting people scream at them, throwing curses, rocks or leavings. Shown into the lavish chambers at the back of the temple, where Araman waits laying on a fur covered couch. He waves the guards away, leaving them alone with him.
”I would like to formally introduce myself; I am Teacher Araman, high priest to our Father, the one true God. Now, why has a half-elf mongrel and a runty dwarf violated my temple with their false gods and bloodshed? ” He asks with all the arrogance of a man in control.
”We was invited to attend ye sermon. ” Liana says firmly.
”Yes, I know that young Perrin has spoken out against our Father and myself, but why have you come to my village? ” He asks again.
”Dagger Falls was attacked a couple days ago by hobgoblins and we came asking for help but were turned away by Ganlon at the bridge, we be told your Father didn help nonbelievers and that ye had troubles of your own. ”
”You were told true, our Father cannot help those who refuse his lessons, especially when these good people have committed themselves to being saved in these dire times. Evils rise to swallow the light that has been dimmed from the neglect of your old gods and absent priests. ” He opens a bottle of wine that sits in a bucket of snow, filling a gold goblet and taking a drink from it.
”I can believe ye enthralled these folks so easily. ” Liana accuses, shaking her head in disbelief.
Smiling, he walks over to take a seat on the edge of his large bed where someone stirs beneath the sheets, ”Ah forgive my manners, this is Maerda. ”
Sitting up, the silk sheets falling off her head to reveal the burned left side of her face and ruined eye, the majority of her body covered in deep red and brown burns, she puts her arms around Aramans waist from behind, kissing his neck and resting her chin on his shoulder.
”I spared her from the flames, having passed the test of purity, now she serves the Father in spirit and me in flesh. ”
Smiling at them, ”He is generous to let me live, I willingly serve for the kindness he has shown me. ” She says in her smoke scarred voice, a smile on her thin lips.
”Ye be the one he had executed? And why the other clerics, what had they done to deserve death? ” Asks Liana stunned at the womans injuries and fact that she lives.
”Yes, but the Father gave Araman the strength and wisdom to spare me. ” Maerda purrs, the sound more a sandy whisper.
”The priests had done nothing! They sat idle as innocents suffered and died while collecting tolls for blessings and false promises, now they know their folly in serving such gods, but we will not and neither will you. I have a feeling that you too may see the light and join me. ” The way he says join turns Lianas stomach and angers Jandar, he was making progress loosening his bonds but was without a weapon he would achieve little. The elfs brow soaked in sweat, limbs trembling and vision blurring, he fought away the urge to collapse.
”Yet you would condemn your neighbors of the north to die at the hands of hobgoblins by turning away from them in dire need of aid! ” Liana yells, trying not to let her anger consume her, he was a monster, no better than the hobgoblins.
Jandar falls to the floor, his tunic wet with fresh blood, Liana kneels at his side, ”Jan needs me help! Let me have the amulet so I can better stop his bleeding! ”
Taking Lianas holy symbol from his pocket, he holds it up he before his eyes, inspecting the plain stone symbol of a gem within a mountain. Araman looks it over, turning it around, seeing nothing spectacular about it, ”So this is from where you get your divine powers? How can a simple device hold such magic… ”?
”No, tis merely an instrument, a focus, Moradin grants me the privilege to use his powers, a gift for my devotion an faith, cut me bonds an Ill show ye, just let me save Jandar! ”
”I watched as two men routed the hobgoblins last night, ” pointing to a scrying bowl, ”I am curious as to who they are. One matched the description of the late Captain Fitch but none of my guards knew the other man with him. Tell me who this man is and where he has gone and Ill spare your pet elf a slow death. ”
”His name be Kane, but Ive no idea where he is now, he did mention he was going east but thats all I know, by the Keeper, let me heal Jan! ”
”I have no reason to mistrust you but I ask that you send this Kane a message. ” He says, filling his mouth with wine, some spilling down his chest, amused with her loyalty to Jandar.
”Yes, yes, anything! ” Liana agrees urgently.
Araman calls for the guards to enter, ordering them to cut her bonds and watch least she does anything foolish, with her hands free, begins the ritual and chanting, casts a stronger cure wounds spells, the injury closing with a soft earthen light, flesh and muscle knitting together leaving only dried blood and torn cloth behind. Jandar touches where the wound was, slowly rising to his feet least he gives the guards a reason to stab him again.
”Now for that message. ” Taking hold of his own amulet in one hand, his thumb pressing against the black stone with purple veins woven throughout it, casts a sending spell, allowing Liana to send Kane a message.
”Tell him to come to my temple in South Dagger Falls, and give him a good reason. I wish to meet this man who struck down so many hobgoblins. ” Commands Araman. Ganlon was loyal but he had little else, what he desired was a true warrior and decided this Kane would do.
”What of Captain Fitch? ” Liana asks.
Araman smiles, ”He did not live long, a lone man against such odds was doomed before he began, now dead after walking headlong into an ambush. ”
Lianas shoulders droop, eyes going to the floor, silently asking for Fitch to be with his family at last. ”The message. ” Araman insists impatiently. Speaking loud and clear, ”Kane, it be Liana, we need your help! We be taken prisoner in South Dagger Falls, be careful… ” A guard strikes her with the butt of his spear before she can finish her warning, bloodying her lip.
”That will do, very convincing, now take them back to their cells. I must ask our Father as to what their punishment will be. ” Waving them away. Once left alone, Maerda disrobes him and he lays on the bed facedown.
”What will ye do with them? ” She asks climbing atop his back, massaging his doughy body.
”Purify them with fire and free them from their mortal shells. Lets see if their pathetic god can save them from me. ” He says smiling.
Liana and Jandar are returned to their separate cells to await their fate, either by Araman or Kane. Perrins mother and father enter into the jail soon after their meeting, ”Mother, Father! You have to get me out of here! ” Perrin pleads, reaching for them through the bars. Keeping their distance, they ignore their sons hands, ”You betrayed us Perrin! I heard what you said to these heretics and now we alone must decide your fate. ” Lyras says holding his sobbing wife.
”I did nothing but speak the truth! How is that a crime? ” Perrin asks outraged, had they been so consumed by Aramans hollow promises that they would sacrifice their own son?
”Quiet! I thought maybe these two corrupted your mind but I see now it was our fault, where did we go wrong? You were given all our love and there was nothing you went without. For your blasphemy, you will be purified, by fire. ” Lyras chokes up saying the words, ”Father save his soul! ” he prays.
”You can , I don want to die! Mother, say something! ” Perrin shouts, knuckles white around the bars.
They say nothing more and as they leave Perrin screams obscenities, rattling the bars, finally sliding to the floor sobbing.
Liana tries comforting him, ”I won let them hurt ye, ye have me word. ”
”Leave me alone! I wish youd never come here! This is all your fault, if you live, I pray my death haunts you for all eternity! ” He yells at her, ”not a moment will pass when you beg for forgiveness to be free of my dying screams, free of my face and never will it come!
After sitting in silence for several hours with the young mans wailing and cursing, sometimes pleading for mercy or atonement, until after nightfall when the guards return, tie their hands behind their backs and escort them outside into the slowly falling snow.
Gathered outside the jail, the townsfolk wait silently in the cold, the only noise to be heard is the crackle of their torches clinging to life against the wind. At the center of the crowd are three poles with logs piled up around their bases. Taking Perrin by the arms, he starts kicking and screaming, ”No, no, you can do this! I did nothing wrong! It was them; they corrupted my mind! Burn them, Father forgive me, I am your loyal servant ”
After tying him to the pole, the crowd parts allowing Araman to approach. ”Perrin, you have spoken against our Father and against me. Your guilt is without question and your charge is thus, purification by fire. May our Father have mercy on your everlasting soul. ” Araman nods to Perrins father, torch in hand, lights the pyre.
”Don do this, hes innocent! Stop this madness! ” Liana shouts, pulling away from her guards to stumble, falling on her knees before Perrin, looking up at him unable to tear her eyes away.
Liana begins a quiet prayer, ”Guide this young mans soul to the after, and let him suffer no more at the hands of evil men. Give him peace and salvation in your heavenly circle, let his sins find no ear and give him your eternal guidance. Grant him a place beneath the mountain to work in peace and give him comfort beyond his dying breath. ”
As the flames climb higher, Perring screams louder and louder, his parents turn away crying, a perverse grin creeping across Aramans face as Perrin is fully engulfed in the flames.
”Forgive me Father! I beg of you show mercy! ” Perrin cries, the heat consuming the air from his lungs, cutting short any further protest.
Araman touches his amulet, commanding the wind and snow into a whipping flurry, extinguishing the flames, leaving Perrins charred body smoldering, to everyones surprise he lets out a groan of pain, steam escaping his scorched throat.
Araman directs the guards, ”Get him down and take him to my chambers, quickly! ” Pointing to Liana and Jandar, ”And put those two back in the jail, I will deal with them later. ” A couple of the guards drag them back to the cells, and the rest gently ease Perrin onto a litter, taking him to the temple.
Returning to his chambers, Araman leans over Perrin when they are alone, ”The Father smiles upon you young Perrin and offers to forgive you of your crimes against Him. He will heal you, should you give yourself to serve him and his chosen teacher. ”
”I swear to serve the Father until my dying breath. ” Perrin whispers feebly, no moisture in his mouth.
Araman smiles, touching his hand to the young mans forehead. ”Tomorrow will be your first test, sacrifice the dwarf and half-elf for our Lord Father, show Him your loyalty and devotion. ”
Whispering, ”As you command. ” Before passing out from the pain.
Araman takes his amulet in one hand, the gem at its center glowing a faint purple light that spreads out across his arm to envelop Perrin, the burns healing over, leaving behind twisted and black scars like singed parchment.
”Such amazing magic! How does it work? ” Maerda asks, running her fingers over the remnants of the wounds on her own face watching through the haze left behind when he healed her, great as his power was, healing was not one of them.
”It is a Godstone, the hardened blood of the Father, the bigger the fragment is, the more of his power it contains. ” Araman says. ”Greatest of the gifts given to His followers. ”
”Where did you get it? ” She asks, reaching out to touch the stone, but Araman slaps her hand away. ”It was given to me, thats all you need know. ” He says opening a bottle of wine filling two goblets ”Tomorrow will be most interesting, the Father will surely reward me most handsomely, now I must get some rest. ”
After he falls asleep, Maerda remains awake laying on her side next to Araman, gazing at the amulet, before carefully removing it from around his neck. Holding it in her hand, it gives off an uncomfortable warmth and she feels a dull pain in her mind, followed by a whispering voice speaking in an incomprehensible tongue, like oil dripping onto flames. She quickly puts it back and tries desperately to fall asleep but the pain lingers in her head, a throbbing that digs at her temples.
Kane receives Lianas message while resting beside a fire in the ruins of long abandoned guard tower, he is startled to hear the priestess disembodied voice coming from nowhere, springing to his feet, sword in hand expecting trouble. Looking around quickly, finds that hes alone and finally understanding her call for help, sits back down by the fire. Thinking hard on the situation, he breathes a long sigh before gathering his things and making his way back to South Dagger Falls, where he climbs a tree allowed to grow close to the wall. Arriving in time to watch helplessly from the shadows as Perrin is put to the torch, he saw the robed man commanding the guards and knows him to be evil, after Liana and Jandar are returned to the jail, Kane circles around the town keeping out of sight in the darkness and evading the heightened patrols, follows Liana and Jandar to the jail. After they enter, he runs in, driving his blade into the first guards back and as the second man turns to confront the attacker, Kane lets go of the stuck blade, picks the young man up by the throat and throws him against the wall, slamming his head against the bricks until he goes limp.
”Kane! You shouldn have come; they be waiting for you! Go afore they know ye here! ” Liana warns. Ignoring her, he cuts their ropes, and leaves the jail, where they are confronted by a dozen guards already waiting. Seeing Kane ready his sword, blood dripping to stain the snow, Liana takes his sword arm lowering it, ”Kane, no more killing tonight, Ive seen enough. ” Reluctantly he releases it, falling into the snow with a heavy thud, joined by his shield, surrendering without any more bloodshed.
”Wise choice, Kane, I assume? The Teacher has been looking forward to meeting you. ” Ganlon says, as they are bound and taken to Araman. Awoken from his short sleep by a guard informing him of Kanes capture, Maerda drapes a robe over Aramans shoulders and he ties it closed before the prisoners arrive. When they are presented at last, he greets Kane, ”Welcome to our Fathers Holy Temple, I am Araman, teacher of our Father, you have caused me all manner of trouble. The beasts you slew were in service to us and after all the trouble I went through to bring them into the fold, they will not be so easily replaced. You have proven yourself to be a formidable warrior against such odds, but you could be so much stronger in my service! Pledge yourself to me and you will never want again. Gold, land, women, it can all be yours. ” Presenting his hand, ”Kiss my ring and these gifts will be yours without question. ”
”You ally yourself with hobgoblins, allow innocents to be butchered, and you honestly think you can buy me? Pathetic. ” Kane laughs, spitting on his hand.
”You
e a charlatan and a murderer! Ye had Perrins father burn his own child for nothing!
” Liana angrily shouts.
”Oh, but young Perrin yet lives. ” Pulling the blanket back revealing the young man lying on the litter.
Liana tries going to Perrins side but the guard holds her back, ”But he should be dead from the burns…Hows this possible? ”
”The Father has given him life in exchange for his servitude, surrender to Him and He might yet spare you too from the flames you are destined to feel. ” Araman says smiling wickedly.
”I think Ill just kill you. ” Kane says, struggling. against his bonds.
”What use could ye have for working with hobgoblins? ” Liana asks, a guard forces her down onto her knees before getting any closer to Araman or Perrin.
Smiling, ”you don see it, do you? They are a willing tool, wholly subservient to me. ” Laughing at her disgust, ”You cannot hope to defy our Fathers will! Tomorrow you will be judged, your life will be in His hands. Now, lock them back up, I tire of this pointless debate. ” Ganlon gives a slight bow and ushers them out of Aramans chamber into the freezing night.
”You will be purified in cleansing flames, before you can corrupt anymore of the Fathers loyal subjects. ” Proclaims Ganlon, when they are outside the temple.
”Im going to roast my dinner on your smoldering corpse. ” A guard taunts, getting laughs from the others.
”Oh, stuff it ye pompous oaf. ” Sighs Liana, trying to let go of her anger and frustration. Kane smirks at Ganlons displeased frown.
Turning to face Liana, ”You dare mock me? The Father has blessed me with His favor, I serve without failure! ” He yells, spittle flying.
”You serve man who commands hobgoblins to murder innocent lives, who casts aside any who do not drink his venom! ” looking at the guards who stand uncaring of her accusation, lost to their faith.
Kane quickly draws Ganlons short sword, plunging it into his stomach, ”So much for that blessing. Next time don tie a mans hands in front of him. ” He whispers in Ganlons ear.
Ganlon wheezes, shock on his face, ”But I was blessed… ” Sliding off of the blade, falls to the ground clutching the deep wound pouring hot blood and exposed guts.
The four other guards surround Kane with spears at the ready, foolishly putting their backs to Jandar and Liana to face the armed and obviously dangerous man. Kane sidesteps and trips the first man that lunges at him, Jandar removes a guards helmet, hitting him in the head with it, knocking him out. Taking the unconscious guards short sword, Jandar cuts Lianas bonds then gives her the sword so she can cut his. Liana passes the blade back to Jandar, who attacks another man that flanks Kane, driving the sword into the older guards back, critically wounding him, the man folds over with pain, out of the fight. A guard on Kanes left stabs at him as he dodges backwards evading the thrust, taking hold of the shaft Kane guides it into the guard on his right that is distracted by Jandar, impaling the man in the heart. Letting go of the spear, the left guard draws his short sword and cuts Kane across the forearm, countering with his own sword but is thwarted by the guards shield. Liana picks up a spear and hits him across the back of the legs with the blunt end, dropping him to his knees and Kane puts the sword into the guards neck, slaying him.
Putting his foot on Ganlons wound, Kane asks him, ”Wheres our gear? ”
Ganlon spits blood on Kanes boots, ”Go burn yourself before the Father does it for you, therell be no mercy for your sacrilege. ” Laughing madly.
Sticking his fingers into the wound, ”Wheres our gear? ” He repeats, losing patience.
”Theres nothing you can do to me to break my faith! ” He cries in pain.
Liana tries to heal him, but Jandar breaks her concentration, pulling her away from Ganlon, ”Jan, ye cannot let him do this! ”
Kane puts the sword into Ganlons ribs slowly so that each inch feels like minutes.
”Stop, mercy, mercy! ” He wails, ”Its in a closet in the jail, I have the key here! ” Wincing as he pulls the key from his pocket, holding it up to Kane, bloody hand trembling.
Placing the tip of the sword on Ganlons forehead. ”That wasn so hard, was it? ”
”Wait, just wait! I have gold and gems, let me live and Ill tell you how to find them! ” He begs.
Kane pulls the blade away, ”Speak true and I won kill you. ”
”Theres a chest in my room inside the temple, hidden in the closet, its two doors down from Aramans chamber. ” Kane hands the sword to Jandar and steps back, giving him room to put the edge to Ganlons throat.
”B…but, you said I could live!
” Ganlon whimpers, eyes darting from Jandar to Kane finally resting on Liana,
”What will your god think of you standing by as they execute an innocent man? He will condemn you for this! You
e just as guilty…
” The accusation bites at her conscience.
”I said I wouldn kill you. ” Kane tells him coldly.
His shriek becomes a gurgle as Jandar cuts his throat, blood pouring through Ganlons fingers as he feebly tries to hold it close.
”How could ye? ” Liana says clearly disgusted. She tries to save him by casting spare the dying to stop him from bleeding to death, but Jandar grabs her wrist interrupting her again and falls in behind Kane, who is running to the jail, key in hand. ”This isn over Jan! ” She calls after him. ”Well talk about this later, well, Ill talk, youll listen… ” She mutters with frustration, after closing Ganlons eyes, follows after them, shaking her head, braids bouncing wildly. How would she answer for this? She tries telling herself that she tried, twice, but her friend stopped her.
Friend, that word seemed ill suited at this revelation into Jandars character, how little she truly knew this mute man who despite his indifference to death, had saved her more than once during the Goliath Crusade within the Galena Mountains, pulling her from the jaws of a troll and leaping from a cliffside to kill a mighty stone giant, ready to crush her and several other dwarves with a boulder the size of a house. How selfless he seemed during that long spring and through to the autumn, scouting and running reports, and of course having her back no matter the problem.
Inside the jail, they find their gear in a wall locker behind the sheriffs desk and equip themselves but find none of their coin. Wadding through the rising snowfall past shuttered homes and businesses to the temple. Quietly opening one of the front doors, Kane cuts down a sentry just inside the temple, while Jandar kills the other with a fast backstab to the mans unarmored neck as he engages Kane, the three of them make their way through the candlelit side corridors to Aramans chamber, dispatching more guards as they go, the element of surprise gone.
The door to Aramans extravagant room bursts open and three figures rush in breathing hard, one bars the door shut. Sitting up in surprise and anger, the light of the hallway gone, plunging the room back into the gloom of the smoldering braziers. Angered at being awakened,
”What do you want?
” He yells at the three men shrouded by the beds curtain. To his surprise, one of them draws a sword, throwing open the curtain to see three of his guards, followed by the screams and cries of dying men that float down the hall to them.
”Whats going on?
” He repeats, fear tingeing his voice.
”Teacher, theyve escaped! Theyve killed Ganlon and several more men, now they
e coming for you!
”
Sweat beads on Aramons brow as the sound of battle and the dying continue to make their way to them. ”What are we going to do? ” Maerda ask him, clinging fearfully to his arm. The temple goes quiet after many long minutes, feet shifting nervously as the light that escapes around the door is disturbed. Clasping his hand over his mouth, a guard tiptoes to the door and puts his ear to it.
They wait nervously, finally breathing a collective sigh of relief when he turns around, ”Theyve gone, lets get you out of here before… ” The wood of the door splinters as a sword pierces through and into the back of the young man, who looks down at the blade protruding from his chest, his face contorted first in surprise then realization followed by agony and lastly the stillness of death.
Maerda screams when the blade is withdrawn, the corpse moving with it, finally falling to the floor without support. The other men draw their swords with trembling hands, having only fought training dummies, when the door cracks apart and light floods in, blinding them momentarily, Kane runs in leaping over the fallen guard, with a powerful swing that cuts through the first guards arm and deep into his side with a gasp as the air is blown from his lungs. ”Don just stand there, kill him! ” Araman screams at the remaining soldier frozen in terror. Pulling his longsword free, Kane shifts his posture to a ready stance, allowing him to draw his sword with a trembling hand and mimics Kane, having no real combat experience. Kane roars suddenly and the guard springs forward with a wild chop that Kane deftly sidesteps followed another untrained swing that finds nothing but air, Kane slaps him across the rump with the flat of his blade and sends the blade clanging to the floor with his shield, ”Run boy. ” He growls.
Araman yells at the young man again, ”Kill him you fool! ” Moving to retrieve the longsword, Kane puts the tip of his bloody sword to the young mans throat, freezing him in place, his eyes locked with Kanes intense rust red eyes and blood splattered face, voids himself. ”Kane! ” Cries Liana, entering in from the door, followed by Jandar who draws a bead on Araman with a notched arrow, ”Let him go, hes but a child! ” Kane lowers the blade and the young man runs past the terrifying swordsman, receiving a final kick to his backside before he exits the room with tears streaming down his cheeks.
With a sigh, Araman brushes Maerda off his arm, ”Good help is so hard to find, no matter, the Father has blessed me with powers beyond your simple swords and armor! ” He encases himself in a ghostly blue light that wraps around his body, resembling plate mail armor. ”I will send you to Him in pieces! ” He extends his palm outward projecting a transparent green cylinder of force with the head of a ram that slams into them, throwing all three through the doorway behind them, through the next wall and into the temples main hall. Jandar is the first to his feet, firing arrow after arrow at Araman, each bouncing harmlessly off him, unable to bypass the ghostly armor.
”You ruined everything! I offered you your greatest desires but now your pitiful lives end here! ” He screams, hurtling a flaming orb that streaks towards them, detonating in a howling blaze, igniting the tapestries bearing the Fathers symbol, the exposed rafters, scorching and knocking Kane and Liana down, only Jandar avoids harm by dropping behind a pew. Liana waves her arms and chants quickly, conjuring water that splashes down on her and Kane, dousing their lit clothes.
Kane recovers first from the fire and then cold water, charging Araman with sword held high in both hands. However, before Kane can get within striking range, a powerful gust of wind emanates from Araman, stopping him in his tracks. ”Is that all you can muster? Where are your Gods now? ” He mocks as he points his finger at Liana and five small red stars dart out each striking her unerringly. Wounded, she falls to her knees and quickly heals a portion of the damage with a healing spell.
”Such a waste of magic, it will not save you! ” He shouts above the hungry flames, his voice amplified tenfold.
Clutching her holy symbol, she conjures a floating blue war hammer that speeds towards Araman through the wind, sending him flying into the podium with a mighty blow. Waving his hand, he snatches her symbol of Moradin from across the room with a flick of his wrist and a thought.
”Without your focus, you
e powerless, bow before me and Ill grant you a quick death!
”
”Tis a tool, I be the conduit of the power Moradin gifts me! ” Liana commands the spirit hammer outside through a window, then moves her hands in practiced somatic gestures, chanting until an audible pop resounds through the hall, dispelling Aramans magical armor and quieting the gusting wind. Liana quickly sends her magical war hammer back in at him, striking him in the chest, breaking bone and dropping him to his knees. Jandar then launches a pair of arrows that find Aramans chest and shoulder, Kane closes the distance but is stopped again when the floor comes alive grabbing his foot, rising up into a wooden golem with the torso of a man and lower half joined to the floor, lifting Kane up, dangling him upside down, it throws him into the wall with a crunch.
Liana tries to hit Araman again but he stops the hammer in mid-flight dispelling it with a pop of his own, while Jandar wildly fires more arrows at Araman, only one finds flesh, piercing his leg. Looking around for some other way to combat this unstoppable man. Jandar takes a shot at the mountings of a tapestry, his first shot just grazes the metal hook, taking a breath as he steadies himself, he exhales on the release breaking it. The next shot cuts it free to fall towards Araman. Picking himself up Kane tries to move past the golem, but is forced back to avoid a powerful smash that he counters by hacking its hand off, only then to get pummeled by its other fist crushing Kanes forearm with a howl of pain.
Guards and villagers having heard the explosion and cries of battle, rush to the temple, Liana blesses herself and her allies with divine protection. A shimmering shield of faith guards her flank, as she tips a pew up against one of the entrance doors. The zealots are cut off from aiding their teacher when Liana plants herself in the open door, choking their advance and forcing them to come at her two at a time, pounding her hammer against a mans shield and shrugging off many of their blows with her own shield. Moving under their attacks, she smashes feet, ankles, knees and hands with abandon. Imbibing the potion of vitality to remove the fatally building fatigue and to further withstand their blows until the madman can be stopped, though she did not know if he could be, never had she heard of anyone commanding such divine powers.
Araman pulls the arrow from his leg, blood spurting to the floor, casting a spell on himself to heal a significant portion of his wounds, the quickly knitting flesh and muscle pushing out the other two arrows, as the cloth falls over him, he pushes it away with an unseen force but blocking his vision.
”Running out of blood yet? ” Kane taunts, throwing his weight into a devastating attack that slices the burning wood golem from the shoulder down to its opposite hip, the constructs half falling away, inanimate once again. Jandar shoots an arrow at Araman to keep him on guard while moving close enough to toss a healing potion to Kane, catching the glass flask, he fumbles with the cork, his hands wet with sweat and blood, pulling the stopper free with his teeth, he upends the sweet lifegiving liquid, almost instantly mending his shattered arm and ribs, easing the pain he suffers with each precious breath in the smoke-filled temple.
At last free of the tapestry, furious with how these three have disrupted his small kingdom, ”bleed them, burn them, kill them! ” The voice demands in the back of his mind, ”You most certainly will! And when I kill you, Ill bring you back to life so I can bleed you dry again, ” Araman hisses as he walks towards Kane, conjuring a cloud of spinning daggers around him that slash and slice regardless of where he moves, ”And again, ” shooting a scorching ray of flame at Kane, burning a hole in his shield and melting animal hide onto blackening flesh, ”And again! ” on comes a second ray, each wound closing slowly, but the potions mending fast being spent on previous injuries.
Having turned away from Jandar, Araman cannot defend against the repeated shots fired at his backside, spinning around, he hits Jandar with a barrage of crimson missiles, allowing Kane to charge him, his sword glancing off as if he had struck solid stone. Laughing madly, Araman grabs Kane by the throat with unimaginable strength, squeezing the life from him as he batters the invulnerable priest with blade and fist, suddenly all goes dark as Jandar puts his pack over Aramans head allowing Kane to get free.
”Half-elf mutt! Do you think yourself clever? ” pulling the bag free as Jandar attacks with a frenzied assault of blades, striking at the neck and eyes, looking for some weakness in the stone hard skin. Falling back, his lungs aching with starvation, Kane gasps for breath, choking on thickening smoke, Araman takes hold of a sword by the blade with a bare hand, wrenches it free and lets out a roar like a thunderclap, deafening Jandar and sending him to his knees, striking with his remaining blade, finding flesh at last in a leg. Looking down at the sword protruding from his thigh with confusion, ”how… ”
Impaling Araman through the back with his longsword, pulls it out to the side, tearing through the ribs with a great rip, on the final backswing, decapitates the charlatan. Liana is eventually overwhelmed by soldiers pushing their way into the temple, suffering multiple stab wounds before retreating to drink her own healing potion, followed by the last of her healing spells, they could not be more exhausted but still it was yet over. The loyalists form a wall of spears and shields blocking the entrance, until Kane rolls Aramans head into the feet of the guards, a couple break ranks to run outside, retching loudly.
Collecting her amulet from Aramans pocket, Liana looks down at the dead man, the corrupt root at the heart of the tragic events, ”where will ye go I wonder? What awaits you when the ferryman ends his journey? ”
”Stand aside and let us pass! ” Liana yells standing before Jandar holding up her shield providing the both of them with cover, Kane moves next to her, longsword in his right hand while cradling his torn body with the other, Jandar lays his bow sideways above her head, arrow nocked and drawn.
”Go, and never return. If you don , you won leave alive. ” Offers a guard, parting the group with the wave of his hand, allowing them passage outside, without a single protest. The townsfolk watch the travelers leave the temple, flames consuming the timber, suddenly, rocks are thrown at them followed by shouted curses, the two run out of town with the angry mob close behind, many wielding axes, scythes, pitch forks or whatever is nearby.
Rounding a turn by the smithy shop, Kane trades his shield for another and keep running to the east gate, with the villagers not far behind, the three guards look at the scene and stand shoulder to shoulder with weapons at the ready. Kane charges into them with a spine-rattling howl, one of the men drops his club and runs inside the guardhouse barricading the door, leading with his longsword, he slaps away the spear of one man and punches out with his left to hit him in the jaw with a wet thump that lays him low. Bringing up his shield to protect his head when the other guard brings a mace down on him with a loud crack, that rattles his arm, Kane thrusts his blade forward only to be blocked by the guards own kite shield.
The steel mace head rings with screeching metal as the man pounds away at Kanes shield, ”Come on, I got it open! ” Liana yells to him from the other side of the iron reinforced door, waving for him to follow her. Feinting with a high swing that draws away the guards shield to block, Kane kicks him in the knee, sending the man to the ground and gives him another kick to the head. The roaring mob comes into view of Kane standing above the fallen man and charges at him with an assault of curses and pitched rocks leading them, Kane turns to sprint for Liana but stumbles and falls when the guardsman catches him by the ankle.
Hitting the mans arm with the edge of his round shield until he lets Kane go, taking a couple rocks and bricks against his back on the way out through the wall, neither of them stopping, even after the mob had. They head east along the River Teshs road, where they slow to a walk, wounds hampering their movement, Jandar catches up to them shortly, carrying a bulging bag. ”Whatve ye there Jan? ” Liana asks, eyebrow raised suspiciously.
Jandar opens the sack revealing gold and silver jewelry, coins, ornate cups, along with a number of precious stones and bottles of wine taken from Ganlons room. ”Weve no need of that Jan, It belongs to the townsfolk! ” Pulling her hood up in the face of the freezing wind that begins pummeling them from the east. ”We won last out here long if it gets worse! ” Kane reminds them.
Liana invokes a spark of light atop her hammer, while no better than a torch, but immune to the elements, helps them navigate through the black of night and blinding sleet.
After a couple of hours on the treeless road being assaulted by the blizzard, an abandoned fishing hut comes into view. They enter the tiny building full of cobwebs and dust, lighting a fire with wood pulled up from the dry floor and shed their wet and icy garments, huddling together to share body heat. Kane produces some dried beef and salted nuts from his pack, sharing the snack while massaging red frost nipped fingers, cheeks and toes.
Jandar begins dividing up the treasure, forming three piles. Liana adamant they somehow return it, ”Tis not right, it be their hard-made savings, come spring they be needing it for seed and animals. They work their whole lives for what little they have just for Araman to steal it. We canna keep it. ” Jandar shrugs, continuing to sort it, to transfixed on his treasures, he does not see her disapproving glare, gold bracelets, blue topaz and golden beryl, ornate cups, platinum necklaces inset with amethyst and jasper, a sunstone statuette of a fox the size of a housecat and a set of silver combs inlaid with moonstones along with a heavy bag of coin.
”Their will was their own, they gave it up freely. ” Kane puts the coins in his purse and the rest of his share into the pack.
”Ye actin queer Jan, Ganlon be asking for our mercy and ye killed him with not a care, I thought ye tae be a better man than that. ”
”Would he have shown us any? Would any of them have? Your naïve if you think so. ” Kanes words bite at her conscience.
”They not be orcs nor goblins raiding and killing, they
e men after all,
” Liana sighs with frustration at the man she thought she knew.
”No, they aren , men are worse. With an orc I know where it stands, it will come with rage and hatred, not a smile and a cloaked dagger, ” nodding to Jandar, ”he knows well as I to give no quarter, no alms, that should be enough to judge his character. ”
”Is he wrong Jan? are ye so blind that ye can decide if someone deserves kindness, forgiveness? ”
He shakes his head no, the first time he lied to her and hopefully the last, if she knew who he had been before she rescued him from his confinement in a cage beside the road, then maybe she would not have saved him from that dark fate, destined to die broken with only the other condemned and carrion birds for company.
Sleeping until after sunrise, they awake to two feet of fresh snow, after dressing in their dry clothes and eating a light breakfast of hardtack, pickled apple slices and empty a bottle of wine, they resume east along the buried road beside the partially frozen river. Cold and tired, they arrive in Riverdale shortly before nightfall, the village winding down after finishing repairs to the mudbrick houses with their thatched roofs and cleaning up debris after the storm under a peaceful cloudless sky, ready for the next winter blizzard, they were a hard lot, fishermen and farmers with a tavern and warehouses used by the Zhentairims mercenaries and merchants traveling by land or water.
Walking down the main street of the tiny fishing village, the party is ignored by everyone they pass and find their way to the local inn, a two-floored tavern where a sign painted with Halfrens Castle sits out front greeting guests. Stepping into the cozy dining room, a handsome young man with short cropped hair and a narrow face, stands tall and thin behind the bar talking to an attractive woman, her rich blue dress embroidered with gold roses on the breast and sleeves, a pin on her collar of a lamb on a blue shield ringed in a band of golden yellow.
Seeing the new arrivals, he leaps over the bar and welcomes them shaking each of their hands and kissing Liana on each cheek, ”Welcome milords and milady to my humble inn, a room for each and dinner? We have some of the finest ales from around Cormyr with wines from Comanthor, jewel of the southern lands. I forget my manners, I am Halfren and this lovely lady here is Lady Kistaen Girout, of House Girout, famous clothiers from Arabel. What can I start you with? ” Halfren takes a breath and waits patiently.
”Rooms and food, rations do not sit with me stomach. ” Liana says with a forced smile, ”A warm pint as well. ” With a bow, Halfren whistles sharply, ”Dinner for three, and warm Winters Bite for four! ” He barks to the kitchen, a young woman in a white apron hurries out of the kitchen balancing four mugs on a wooden tray setting them on an empty table. ”Show us our rooms first. ” Kane says picking up and taking his steaming mug with him, sipping the hot and crisp cider brew.
”As you wish Sir. ” Halfren collects five gold coins from each of them after he brings them to their rooms, small bedchambers well furnished with a down filled mattress covered with wool blankets and heavy furs, a dresser with a mirror, wash basin and chamber pot. After they ground their gear, they join Halfren at the table, where more drinks await, and potpies stuffed with chicken, vegetables and a thick gravy, the Winters Bite steaming, its pale amber and thick head giving off a strong fragrance that bites at their eyes and tickles the nose.
”I never did get your names friend. ” Halfren asks, sitting at their table taking a long drink and wipes the foam moustache on his long bright blue sleeve decorated with red, white and gold swimming fish.
”I be Liana, this be Jandar, and thats Kane. ” She replies, a mouthful of pie, crumbly crust raining down her tunic.
”Where have you come from? ” Halfren asks, studying the new arrivals with their battle-worn clothing and faces.
”We just come from Dagger Falls. ” She replies for them after a hearty drink, preparing herself to break the news to him.
”Ah, I have a friend who owns a tavern there, her names Olavia. Any chance you spoke to her? ” Halfren asks.
”We did, Im sad to say she be dead. ” Drinking more ale, some of which spills, joining the crumbs.
”Dead! How? ” He shouts, at his outburst, the rest of the inn falls silent to listen to the travelers.
”The town was attacked by hobgoblins, a lot of good folk died, but we saved as many as we could. ” Liana explains.
”I can believe it! Please tell me Marola lives! ” Halfren asks.
”Marola? ” Asks Kane, half paying attention.
”Yes, Olavias daughter, Marola, she has dark hair, short with a wide bottom like a spade, looks like her mother. ” Leaning in awaiting the worst but hoping for the best.
”She lives, saved her myself. ” Kane says nonchalantly, never looking from his meal.
”Thank you so much! You can know how much she means to me! ” He shouts leaping to his feet, upsetting his chair and dancing about thankfully, Halfren stops when Lady Kistaen walks over and slaps him across the face. ”You cad, you will not be sharing my bed tonight. Go find your wide bottomed tramp. ” Striding upstairs to her suite. Running after her, Halfren shouts, ”My dear Lady, shes but a sister to me! Nothing more! ” Slamming the door in his face to the giggles and jeers of the guests.
Several other patrons join the conversation asking the wellbeing of friends and family, praying for good news, though much to their dismay, the travelers don know anyone by name. They are told of the defeat of Araman and his zealots, how Kane and Fitch crushed the hobgoblins in retaliation, to the cheers of the gathering crowd, who buy them round after round of drink. Well into the night, drunk and weary, they turn in for a much-needed rest under warm blankets.
In the morning while they eat breakfast of biscuits in a chicken gravy, Lady Kistaen, along with her adviser and bodyguard Carth, sit with them. An older man, Carths receding grey hair, face creased from conflict and a hard life, wears ornate iron scale mail, and a surcoat bearing his ladies crest of the lamb. ”I am Kistaen Girout, Merchant for the Girout family, daughter to Lord Garen. I ply the rivers and the Moonsea, selling our beautiful clothes to these, common folk, and those nobles that have an eye for fashion. I would love to have your help convincing the dwarves of the need to be looking more than like dirty hole makers ”
Liana listens, ”That be a hard sell, we look at clothes for their function, not to speak for all me kin though. Truth be told, I didn spend much time with me own kind. ” Liana laughs.
”Pardon me, I had assumed you came from some mining hole deep in the mountains, far from civilization. ”
Dismissing the ignorant comment, ”Wouldn your fancy clothes be better appreciated in Sembia or Cormanthor? ” She asks, those of the Dalelands were born in the dirt and would return to it, good honest folk who looked after their own.
Kistaen frowns, ”We already trade in Sembia, my brother is responsible for our trade in the Sea of Falling Stars. I wish to expand my market to the wealthy dwarven folk, do they not deserve our fine if not exquisite apparel? ”
Kane stands abruptly and leaves followed by Jandar, having ate their fill and with no interest in the conversation.
”Was it something I said? ” Kistaen asks puzzled.
”I found Jan in a death cage outside Zhentil Keep more than a summer ago, but I only just met Kane, Ive no idea what passes between his ears, not that Jandar makes any more sense… ” Liana says shaking her head.
”Between a criminal and a mercenary, I see you are the only one I can speak with then. ” Kistaen laughs. ”If you are not from the dwarven mines, from where do you call home? ”
”I be a cleric of Moradin, I studied at the Turranoir abbey for about fifty years. ”
”My, fifty years! I am always astonished at your peoples long life! If I could live that long I would travel and see every part of the world, Turmish, Waterdeep, Baulder Gate on the Sword Coast, and Athkatla, the City of Coin, in Amn, how splendid they must be! ”
”Ill be sixty-five this fall. Me Da gave me to the clergy at a young age, sparring me from indentured servitude with a debt collector. I could nae get his name from the abbot no matter how hard I try, sadly he took me Das name to his grave. ” Finishing her breakfast by mopping up the last of the gravy with a piece of biscuit. ”Being raised away from dwarven folk, they gave me a human name and left me without much of me accent. ”
”How awful! I am privileged to be the fourth born and am beneath my mothers overbearing gaze. My oldest sister is married to the Halasters, masters of ship craft. My next oldest sister is married to the Smiths, the craftsmen of all things born of the forge, and my remaining sister is to marry the next eligible Masons, builders with stone. ”
”My Lady, it is not wise to share our personal business with commoners. ” Carth says in his creaky aged voice. ”Oh Carth, you worry too much. She is fine company and most kind to listen to me drawl on. Now go see how the men are at freeing the ferry from the ice. ” Carth gives a sharp bow, leaving the women to continue talking.
Kane and Jandar explore the town, their first stop being a blacksmith, the shops walls are covered mostly with farming tools but Jandar finds a barrel of iron broad head arrows. As they leave, the smith asks him to wait a moment while he pulls an old but well-maintained suit of chain mail from a dusty footlocker, accompanied with a coif and gambeson.
”How much?
” Kane asks, running his hand over the close knit, double iron rings.
”Ill give ya it at the low-price o fifty gold. Much better than that ugly hide you
e wearing, ye won weep over it when a wee kobold tries tae stick ye. Haha!
” The dwarves soot-stained face beams with an ear-to-ear grin.
Looking down at his haggard armor made from layers of camel, wolf, and ox hide, he decides that it is time to part ways with it, opening his purse, shakes out only forty-eight gold. The smith tosses the armor back into the trunk, ”Shame to see it rot. ” Shaking his big bald head in disappointment. With a frown, Kane leaves the shop while Jandar pays for the arrows.
Next, they restock their dry rations at the general store, and Kane buys hemp rope, three torches, a crowbar, a stick of chalk, flint and tinder, a whetstone for sharpening his sword, a clay jar of whale oil, and two water skins. He pays five gold coins and lastly, go to the tailor for a new set of clothing, his own bloodstained and damaged beyond repair from cuts, too many stabs, burns and long roads. They each get a new outfit of hemp trousers and a long-sleeved tunic, returning to the inn, find that Liana and Kistaen had left.
Seeing Halfren, Kane asks him where the women went, ”Theyve gone to her ferry milord. ” directing them to the docks that aren but a few minutes from the inn, just north east some ways.
When they get to the open wooden dock, the small fishing boats having been pulled out of the water long before the winter froze over much of the river. The only vessel in the water is a flat-bottomed ferry, ice partially trapping it, while several men with pick axes and quarterstaffs are hard at work breaking the vessel free.
Carth is standing on the dock talking to a couple of men in studded leather armor with sabers at their sides, crewmen and security for Lady Kistaen. As Kane and Jandar approach the ferry, Carth addresses them ”Looking for your friend? Shes with my Lady inside the ship. ” When they begin to board the ship, he stops them, ”I don know why my Lady trusts you lot, but I don . You do anything foolish and Ill not hesitate to put you in the ground. ”
”Is that a threat old man? ” Kane scowls, not one for backing away from a challenge.
Taking hold of his rapiers hilt, ”No, thats a promise that I can and will keep, boy. ”
Kanes rests his own hand it on the pommel of his long sword, Jandar thinks of Lianas chastising of his wanton killing and brushes past Carth with Kane following behind after exchanging dangerous looks with the seasoned bodyguard. Stepping onto the tarred deck where long crates full of farming equipment, raw fabrics and clothing, hear faint giggling coming from inside the ship, they enter the main corridor and walk past a few rooms full of food stuffs, spare tackle and crew quarters, until they find where the laughter is coming from.
Peeking around the corner the men see Kistaen sitting on a bed full of many beautiful and fabulous dresses and gowns, while Liana stands before a long mirror holding a long ill-fitting dress up to her chest, made of white silk, embellished in gold, silver and lace, its low neckline and open middle would leave little to the imagination being made for a human almost two feet taller than herself.
”Its quite lovely, but Id never have reason to wear it. ” Liana confesses turning it over in her hands.
”Im sure you will be wed someday! Just imagine the envy of the other woman as you stand next to your handsome groom in that dress, no one would be able to take their eyes off you. ”
”I can nae take it, Moradin frowns upon such extravagances not used for battle or work, we be taught to tithe to the temple and help those too poor to help themselves. ” Laying it carefully on the bed.
”Please take anything you do find acceptable; I can promise a small fortune you can tithe or donate however your God desires if you come with me to Marsember. ”
Kistaen notices Kane and Jandars heads poking around the corner, ”See? Your boys find you quite fetching. ”
”What
e you scoundrels gawking at?
” Liana says embarrassed, her cheeks coloring, angry at being spied on or maybe at being caught.
”We wanted to know if you needed any supplies before we leave tomorrow morning. ” Kane asks stepping into the doorway, Jandar staying in the corridor unable to hide an amused smile.
”I can nae think of anything I need. Thanks for asking. Now shoo! ” Throwing a sandal with a calf high strap at him. Tripping over each other on the way out, not wanting to face Lianas wrath.
”Where are you traveling to? ” Kistaen asks once the men are gone, Liana helping her out of a bright red dress and a while bodice with lace.
”Kane be set for the east, maybe Zhentil Keep, as for me an Jan, we needing to chat about what be next, had been planning on going south, but after Dagger Falls, Im not so sure. ”
”I would like for you to consider coming with me, you can help with my trade negotiations, and I do so enjoy your pleasant company. ” As she refills their cups with a red cherry wine poured from a dusty bottle pulled from under the bed.
”Yeve been very kind to me, but I must speak with Jan before I can make any decision. ”
”I understand. Hes important to you, isn he? ”
”Hes my friend an we trust each other with our lives, but I can choose his path for him. ”
Kistaen takes a sip of the tart wine, holding it in her mouth before swallowing, ”Is there perhaps something more to the two of you than mere friendship? ” Kistaen says smiling.
”Hes just me friend, not a lover! ” Liana practically yells.
”He is handsome if you don mind me saying. Maybe he thinks of you at night? In his dreams, taking you in his strong arms, lifting you up and kissing you deeply. ” Kistaen coos teasingly.
”I rather doubt it, hes not a dwarf, we wouldn be, compatible. ” Siting to pull on her new leather boots, the only thing Kistaen could convince her to keep.
”Isn that where halflings come from? ” Kistaen continues to tease.
”No! ” Liana says indignantly. ”Its not right to fall in love with other races. ”
”Not right for you, your kind, or your God? And no ones talking about love, Im sure you have need of men folk, besides he is a half-elf is he not? His mother and father already being of different races. ”
”The half kin live a cursed life, living as neither of the halves, his elven parent will watch him grow old and pass, while he outlives his human friends and family, trapped between the two worlds, its no life Id wish for anyone. ” Shaking her head helplessly.
”More reason to enjoy it with him! Make his fleeting life a pleasant one and share in the moment, you will have centuries to remember and smile back on the memory. Is that not preferable than pushing him away to save yourself the hurt when he is gone? ”
”Ye a candle burning both ends, gone in a moment, can think beyond the now, too caught up looking at the tip of ye nose to see the road ahead. ”
”Ah but each day is to be revered and exploited fully as you never know if the next will come at all. ” She says cheerfully, the wine speaking as much as she.
”Enough of this, I need to discuss ye offer with Jan. ” Her boots on, Liana leaves the cabin back onto the dock, where Kane and Jandar are waiting, playing dice with a couple of fishermen a healthy distance from Carth. The three return to the inn where they spend the remainder of the day relaxing by the warm fire, Kane and Liana playing knuckle bones with a few drunkards, Jandar reading his book and listening to a halfling minstrel on a harp while her daughter sings with a sweet voice.
After dinner, Kane turns in early having said he wishes to leave at sunrise and having drank too much, leaving Liana and Jandar alone. Sitting across from each other near the hearth, Liana begins, ”Lady Kistaen wants me to travel with her to Marsember. But I will not go if ye don want to. ”
Jandar shakes his head fiercely in response.
”I would like to visit the monastery where I grew up, it be more than two summers since I left, and it be not a few days march from Zhentil Keep. ” Seeing his agitation when she says the name of the Keep, ”Can ye tell me why ye were in that cage? Ive given ye plenty of time to tell me on your own terms, I thinks an answer be due. ”
He looks down with shame and draws his finger across his throat in a cutting gesture.
”Ye killed someone? ” Liana asks not entirely surprised. ”Surely they would have forgotten you by now, if not presumed ye be dead. ”
Again, he shakes his head, frustrated at not sure how to tell her of his numerous crimes.
”If we don go tae Marsember with Kistaen, do we go with Kane and likely to Zhentil Keep? ”
He pauses to think hard, neither choice seeming particularly wonderful, Marsember would take months to reach by sea and Zhentil Keep was surly a death sentence, but he was acquainted with death. With a heavy sigh, holds up two fingers, choosing the second option, Kane and wherever his road leads, but at least it would be with a good friend.
”But why? He doesn need our company, hes more than able tae go alone. ”
Jandar points to his chest where a necklace would hang, tracing Aramans pendant, indicating that he wants to know more.
”I guess thats settled. I need not ask why ye cut Ganlons neck now, do I? ”
He shakes his head no.
”Well, get some rest. Ive got something to do before I go to bed. ” She says standing with a stretch.
Jandar leaves her alone, going to his room upstairs, closing the door behind him, Zhentil Keep, why of all the wretched places did it have to be there, if he was not presumed dead then surely, he was a wanted man and wanted men did not often last long among people willing to sell themselves or others for a pocket of coin.
Liana finds Halfren behind the bar, after getting the stolen items from her room, ”Can I ask ye a favor? ”
”Why certainly! ” He replies, setting a bottle of wine down on the shelf behind him.
Handing him a bag with her share of the of spoils from Ganlons strongbox, ”Can ye have someone ye trust return this tae South Dagger Falls? ”
”Of course, Ill have it sent right away. Anyone in particular that you want to receive it? ”
”No, it was stolen by the charlatan, an belongs tae everyone that he stole from, I be sure they want it back, if not need it. ”
Halfren gives a slight bow and exits the tavern to find a courier able to take the plundered gold to its rightful owners, then she too retires to her room with thoughts of Perrin, Araman and Dagger Falls, was the boy right in that she was to blame? Surely not, but hopefully he escaped the inferno and all would return to normal with that madman dead, the powers he wielded defied all she knew of the divine and arcane, if his faith was strong enough to be granted such abilities, then just how strong could one get or what might his god be capable of, that sent shudders up her spine, a new god who could challenge the great pantheon could break much, giving her memories of stories from the Time of Troubles when all magic had gone awry and gods walked Toril as mortals, such horrific event had risen from that time that many still resented the gods and their hubris.
The creek of the door to Kistaens room opening wakes her, ”What are you doing? ” She asks angrily at Halfrens intrusion as he stands silent and unmoving in the doorway.
”Not tonight, Im not in the mood. Now go away. ” Rolling on her side.
Still, he says nothing.
”What is your problem, Hal? ” She says frustrated by his silence, ”Go away and close the door. ”
Lighting a candle, sees his pale flesh, dead white eyes, the stench of mustard filling the room, face twisted in agony, frozen in his last moment of life, leaps on her. Kistaen lets out a scream that Carth responds to by running into her room with sword in hand, as she fights off Halfren, he quickly takes the frenzied man by the arm, pulling him away and throwing him to the ground, where Halfren growls and lurches at Carth, mouth open and arms outstretched, trying to grab hold and bite him.
Carth thrusts his thin blade through Halfrens midsection without slowing him down, lurching forward along the blade, latches onto and takes a bite out of Carths shoulder, the two crashing into the nightstand. His sword arm stuck within the walking corpses gut, takes a piece of splintered wood and stabs it into Halfrens mouth and up into the brain, finally stopping the monster. Shaken from the attack, Kistaen asks, ”What was that, that thing? It could not be Halfren, what has happened to him? ”
Throwing the corpse off and recovering his blade from the dead mans stomach, he goes to Kistaens side and looks her over to see if shes injured, a few scratches, nothing serious.
”He, he just came at me, I was so scared! ” Pulling the blankets tight around herself.
Carth inspects the body, ”Hes been reanimated by dark magic. I saw this sort of unholy sorcery once when a cleric raised my fallen comrades on the battlefield to have them feast upon us. I prayed I would never see this kind of foulness again. You did well my Lady, had you not I dare to say we would be having a different conversation. ” Dragging the body out into the hall, ”Let us get to the ferry and leave before anymore come for us, my Lady. Now quickly bar your door and dress while I do the same. ”
Nodding, she moves a footlocker behind the door and gets into her clothes, after Carth leaves to his own room where he dons his scale armor. With a candle in hand, he heads next door to Kanes room, quietly opening the door,
”wake up boy, we
e besieged by the undead!
”
Sitting up, Kane rubs the sleep from his eyes and while he equips his shoddy armor, asks, ”How many? ”
”I do not yet know, but roust your friends and we will see once we are ready. Hurry now. ”
The two men wake Liana and Jandar, and as soon as they too are ready, collect Kistaen from her room, she pauses to look at the once handsome man with regret, but not for long, there would always be another.
As they start down the stairs, Liana stops them, ”Wait, somethings wrong. ” Pointing to a thick greenish yellow fog reeking of mustard, blanketing the floor.
”Have a care, it mustve killed everyone on the ground level, then was animated, Foul magic indeed! ” appalled at the implications of an evil cleric or mage around, few good-hearted folk would dare to desecrate the dead except in dire needs, very dire, as without asking permission first often had them pursuing the caster once the spell expired.
Just outside their candlelight, they can see a couple of patrons shambling slowly about. After a few minutes of waiting, the fog disperses and Kane leads the attack by charging into the midst of the zombies, slamming his shield into one and carrying it into the bar where he runs his sword into its chest. The once living guest, a human man, pounds and claws against the shield, its teeth gnashing, flecks of spittle showering Kane. Spinning on his heel, brings the blade around to separate a zombies head from its shoulders that moves in behind him, then plunges the blade into the head of the undead he has pinned under his shield.
Carth intercepts two of the three zombies from swarming Kanes vulnerable right flank, striking with precision that would slay a living man but the wounds do nothing to stop them, it had been so long ago when his fallen comrades had been risen before his very eyes, turning the battle against them and ultimately his forces fled or joined the blasphemous army. Slashing wildly at their grasping hands, his rapier doing little to stop the undead, until Jandar fires two arrows into one, the first shot landing in its shoulder, the second piercing its head with a sickening sound like a melon being dropped.
With a moan, the other zombie tries to take a bite out of Carths forearm, with a cry, Carth kicks it back, giving him enough room to perform a steel serpent strike, cutting across the belly, then from hip up to the shoulder and back down into the heart through the neck. Still, it advances, Carth lunges forward to puts his weapon through its still face, felling it at last. Stumbling backwards, finds support in Kistaens arms, ”Carth you old fool, the days of youth have passed you by long ago, let them fight this battle! ”
Finding his breath, ”I am well my Lady, sleep still dulls the senses and slows my hand, grant me a moments respite. ”
”We don have the time old man, do as she says and stay this fight or itll be your last! ” Kane growls
”Ye have to hurt them enough to weaken the magic holding it together! ” Liana shouts, casting a blessing upon her allies to bolster their defenses and granting a magical force to guide their strikes. ”Moradin guide our hands and protect us from harm, aid us against those that wish us ill! ”
With two fewer opponents, Kane disarms a zombie that claws Lianas arm, then slices its head in two with a chop, flipping a table on its side to build space between him and the undead, severs another in half at the elbow level. Liana smashes her hammer into the leg of a zombie that savagely bites Kanes sword arm, bringing it down to her height where she crushes its skull in a spray of pink mist.
Jandar puts two arrows into the last zombies back from his spot up on the stairs, causing the monster to turn towards him, taking better aim, freezes when he realizes it is the halfling singer, Carth hamstrings its right leg slowing it down, ”do it! ” Jandar finishes notching the arrow and lets it fly into the zombies forehead, ending the fight. Liana says a quiet prayer over each corpse to ensure it never rises again and be at peace with a sprinkle of holy water.
Kistaen cautiously steps around the gore, holding the hem of her red winter dress and regretting her decision, ”We need to get out of here before more of these things show up, if only we can make it to my ferry, we can… ”
Looking out the window, Kane interrupts, ”I see a lot of them out there, it may be the whole damn village out there, they move slowly enough I think we can make it, be ready to run after I draw them away. ”
”No, we need to put these poor souls to rest, an find who did this. ” Liana argues.
”Much as I dislike fighting the undead, I have to agree with Liana, should they be allowed to run rampant, theres no telling what destruction they could sow elsewhere, let alone the fiend who raised them. ” Carth says wiping the blood off his rapier, ”No one deserves such a fate. ”
With a big yawn, Kane tightens his grip on his sword, ”Fine, lets get this over with quickly. ” Opening the inns door, hacks down the nearest two and gets the attention of the nearest undead, drawing them away from the tavern entrance, letting the others out through the door and into the freezing night. Resting high and distant, Selûne bathes the shambling horde in the dull light of her lunar glow, Carth and Liana help Kane strike down the zombies he drew away, but they only serve to attract a couple dozen more that slowly begin surrounding them faster than they can be defeated.
Carth shouts above the rising chorus of shuffling bodies and combat, there were too many, more than the lot that called Riverdale home, there were bodies pressed together filling the streets and all sharing the twisted visage of a horrific death. ”Everyone to the ferry, quickly now! ” Throwing himself into a small pack along the eastern side of the inn between them and the barge, joined by Kane, the two fight them back, allowing the others to flee towards the dock.
Not committing to full combat, only keeping the horde at bay, they make their way to the boat where Kistaens crew await, several undead lay on the dock and bob in the water, slain by the sailors who were aboard as the deadly cloud rolled in. All board the ferry, except Kane who continues to hold back the swell of walking corpses, surrounded and cut off from escape.
”My Lady, we feared you had fallen to this cursed fog. ” Says the ferry captain, a man with a tattoo of a sparrow over an eye, firing a crossbow into the zombie swarm fast as his second can reload.
”Carth would never let that happen. Now prepare to set course for Teshwave. ”, Kistaen heads inside to her cabin with Liana quickly following after her, ”We are not to be going with ye. ”
Without turning around, ”You can stay here and I assure you, there is nothing waiting you in Zhentil, it is a city of deceit and corruption. You are free to swim back to land, but you are not a fool, if you survive the cold, the dead will have you. ”
A shudder runs through the ferry as it pushes away from the dock, Liana runs up on deck yelling to the captain, ”Stop! Kanes still on shore! You must wait for him! ” She begs.
”We
e on the river now, and our next port call is Teshwave.
” The captain says sternly, his crossbow clicking one final time, his duties to the vessel demanding his attention and ammo exhausted.
Jandar continues to fire arrows at the undead from the deck until his quiver too is empty, giving Kane some semblance of aid though paltry in comparison to the danger, he watches helplessly with awe as that man fights savagely, the instinct to survive guiding his actions.
”Kane!! We
e going to Teshwave, from there well meet ye in Zhentil Keep, I promise!
” Liana yells to him over the splashing of the oars, as he disappears under a wave of undead.
You'll Also Like
-
Using Gacha to Increase My Companions and to Create the Strongest Girls’ Army Corps
Chapter 84 August 28, 2023 -
The Marquis’ Eldest Son’s Lascivious Story
Chapter 232 August 26, 2023 -
Secret Side Business Reincarnation: Former Yakuza Expands Territory for Family, But What?
Chapter 10 August 10, 2023 -
How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love
Chapter 57 August 7, 2023 -
Die, Replay, Repeat
Chapter 2 August 8, 2023 -
Can Even a Mob Highschooler Like Me be a Normie if I Become an Adventurer?
Chapter 24 August 7, 2023 -
Nido Tensei Shita Shounen wa S-rank Boukensha Toshite Heion ni Sugosu ~ Zense ga Kenja de Eiyūdatta Boku wa Raisede wa Jimi ni Ikiru ~
Chapter 90 August 7, 2023 -
The Daily Love Life Of The Immoral God And His Invisible Wife
Chapter 111 August 2, 2023 -
The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger
Chapter 63 August 2, 2023 -
World of Honor
Chapter 3 July 30, 2023 -
C.S.O.
Chapter 33 July 28, 2023 -
Survival Strategies of a Struggling Aristocrat
Chapter 28 July 27, 2023