Death Or Fortune (17 page)

    
Walking down the steps of the platform some of the booing had changed to
cheers.  Not that I cared either way.  I had beaten Cynthia without
doing her much harm.  More than anything I damaged her pride and perhaps her
backside a little.  She was fuming at me. That much was clear.  Not
that it mattered to me, her blood was not on my hands.
"I will never
get close enough to him now. What is the matter with you, this wasn't personal.
Do you have any idea how much money you just cost me?"
I tried to tell
her I was sorry but she wouldn't listen.  I told her then that I would
make it up to her and that she should come see me in Arcadia.  That I
would be more than happy to put her to work and help her recover anything I may
have cost her. She took one long look at me and could tell I was being serious.
 At the time I had no idea just what it was that I would be asking of her.
 Looking back, I wish I had never made the offer.
    
"You going soft on me Kromwell, you know that
woman would have killed you had it come down to it."
I looked at the
dark mage and shook my head. I reminded him that not everyone is like him and
that I did what I did for a reason.
"Perhaps, she could be a valuable
ally but not someone we need on our bad side."
I told Hetaron that he
worried too much and I started to make my way out of the arena. I didn't want
Jasmin and Pare waiting for us too long. I saw the dreaded Rogar on my way out
of the arena. Massive did not begin to describe the beast. He had destroyed
everyone who had fought him so far, I doubted he would have much trouble with
the next man he faced. I had two days to prepare for him. I just hoped it would
be enough.
     Jasmin talked me out of moving to a different inn.
 It would only be for a few more days as it was.  Just as I tried to
make my point one last time about how it might be safer for us to move anyway,
there was someone else knocking on the door.  I could only point to it,
hoping she would see my point.  She told me I was being silly and maybe I
was. I opened the door to see the same man who I had threatened at my father’s
home.
"Master Kromwell sends his regards and would like to see you as
soon as possible.  He said it is a very important matter."
When I
asked what it was that he wanted the brute just told me that I had to come. I
told him that I would be along shortly thinking it had to do with my mother.
"I
will wait for you downstairs then."
Wishing I had my sword on me I
reminded him that I knew the way to my parent’s home. Yet when I walked out of
the inn he was there waiting for me.  He had an extra horse for me to
ride.
     Just a short time later I was once again in front of
my father’s desk. When I walked in he held up one finger towards me as he was
reading over some papers, it reminded me of when I was a child.  I hated
him even then.  I looked around the office, not much had changed since I
was young.  I even had some fond memories of this room but most of them
had nothing to do with him and everything to do with being in there when I wasn't
supposed to. When he began to speak he drew me rapidly back to the present.
"You
have done very well for yourself boy. I never expected you to make it this far.
I am sure you have had your fun along the way but now I would like to talk
business."
I wanted to tell him that I would never do business with
him or people like him. The words where there in my mind and my heart but they
would not come out.
    
"I had hoped you would not advance this far. I
knew no one would beat Rogar before the finals and I had taken measures to see
that he made it that far. He was given an easy path.  I also wanted to
send him a message as well, I never thought that you would block that message
before it reached his ears. Oh I wouldn't have done anything to prevent him
from winning, in fact I want him to win. He will win boy. Just before you
arrived I placed a bet in his favor. One hundred thousand gold, I stand to win
a great deal more. I would like to make sure you do not do anything foolish,
like try to win.  Rogar will be happy, which keeps him out of my hair.
 I will be happy, the money I will make off the fight and other things I
cannot talk about at this time. So I am telling you now, you will lose the
fight boy. Let him beat on you a little if you would like but you will lose."
     I was in shock.  I just looked at him with this
dumbfounded look on my face and asked him if he wanted me to throw the fight.
"Yes,
that is just what I want. I will make it worth your while by the way.  You
do this for me and perhaps we can do other business down the road. I have
always wanted to set up a shop or two in Arcadia."
Each and every word
out of his mouth drew my ire.  I could not believe what he was asking of
me. Then it dawned on me.  I could believe it, I knew what type of man he
was but I never thought he would ask these things of me.  It was all I
could do to keep my temper.  So all I could tell him was no.
"Think
this over boy. You know you don't stand a chance anyway."
     "Oh I think I do have a chance" I told him.
"You do as well otherwise you wouldn't be wasting your time with me now.
 I will not go along with this.  You should have not bet against me
father." I then turned to walk out all the while he kept telling me that I
was making a mistake. That I would die at Rogars hands just like everyone else
he had faced. I told him one last time that I would not go along with him.
 Just as I placed my hand on the door knob to leave his office I told him
one last thing.  I would be dead and in the ground before I allowed him to
open up a shop in Arcadia.  He only shook his head at me and said
"very
well boy."
     I have only seen my father twice since that day. Once
when I was visiting mother the last time I was in Eystlund.  The last time
was three months ago when my mother came to see her grandchild. I would not
allow him in my home and I had Pare follow him everywhere, Pare kept track of
every person he spoke with or even so much as glanced at.  As far as I
know, he still has not found a way to open up a shop in Arcadia.  No
matter how hard he has tried.  He knows that I was the one who blocked his
attempts these past few years.  I will continue to do so until one of us
are dead. 

     After
leaving my father behind I walked the town for a while.  It was a random
chance that I ran into Hetaron on the street. I saw him coming out of a
building. When I asked him what it was he was doing he said he needed a few
items.
"There are things I need for my craft that I cannot pick up on
any street corner. What do you care for anyway?"
I told him I didn't
care and then told him about the talk I had with my father.
"Do you
plan on going along with him?"
He asked me with a raised eyebrow. I
stopped where I was in the street and looked at him and asked him what he
thought.
"Interesting, I did not think you would but I had to ask. I
have faith in you Kromwell to do the right thing if nothing else I expect you
to win."
I asked him how he could be so sure. While I never doubted
myself, Hetaron was never one to encourage me.

 
    
"I have looked to the future. You will not die tomorrow, while things are
not clear I can still see you in the days to come.  I know you Kromwell,
you are stubborn and hard headed.  If you are not dead, you will find a
way to win."
I asked him when he started seeing the future. How he could
do it. He just explained it was something he learned from his master. He did
not understand the messages at times and they were sometimes in conflict with
each other.
"Yet I know this, I see you many days, years ahead. A
bright and shining light surrounds you. It stands in contrast to my darkness. I
still don't know what it means. Only that we are together at the end of days.
However they end."

     I could
only shake my head at the crazy wizard. We walked back to the inn together in
silence. I often wondered why he was still with me. He did not need me as his
powers had grown in by leaps and bounds since we first met.  Perhaps it
was some vision that he had.  Telling him that he had to stay with me. Was
he using me or were we using each other.  I wish I had asked him more
about the visions he had.  Did he really know what was going to happen? If
so, why not try to avoid it? Are we on a path set down by the gods, unable to
change anything about our fate? These are not questions I can answer for myself
or for anyone else.  I have decided that I will deal with what happens in
the moment.  If I don't like it, I will just do what I always do.
 Pick up my shield and sword.

    
The wizard Hetaron sat at his table waiting. After taking a light meal with two
of his companions he stayed behind while they went to retire for the night. He
was expecting a visitor, someone who would only come at night. Not all business
was done by the light of day. So he sat in silence with nothing but his wine
and his staff. The only time he looked away from the door was to wave down the
serving girl. He was in a good mood after all. He had bet a lot of gold on
Darmot and he kept on winning. He even considered asking the serving girl to
serve him in bed. Not that she would do it for free. "Everyone has a
price." he said to himself. Some would do anything for coin, Hetaron would
give up anything for power. Some would say he already has.
     "Pardon me sir, but are you number sixty
four?" The wizard looked to his right and saw the man who did not use a
door and was not there just a moment before.   He looked into his
eyes and nodded his head yes. "Password?" he asked.
     "Animus Calx." he told him. The man just
nodded his head once and pulled out a rather large belt pouch. As he put it
down on the table it made several, slightly muted clinks.  The sound of
coins made the wizard smile.  He picked it up and knew it was all there.
 He then in turn handed it back over to the man.
     "How would you like to use this?"
     "Put it all on Kromwell, to win." The man
looked the wizard in the eye and asked if he was sure. "Oh yes, you know
who I am and I believe he will win.  I will expect you here tomorrow night
at the same time with my winnings."
     "Only if you win my lord."

     "Of
course" he said. Hetaron had a plan to help him win, if the fool wanted
his help or not.  He couldn't know about it or he would resist.  His
honor would not stand up to it. While he was willing to use his normal gear
like every other fighter in the tournament, he might not take too kindly to
having spells cast on him. Even if that bloody cleric did it before every
fight. It is one thing for a priest to stand at a pulpit and ask his god to
bless his flock.  It is another thing for him to lay his hands on a man
and directly ask a god to grant a man his protection.  No, the wizard
shook his head.  Darmot would not allow it but he had too much gold to
lose.  He would cast his spell on Darmot. "The fool nearly cost me ten
thousand gold pieces against Mangosh." This was not a mistake he would
risk again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     The morning sun illuminated the stained glass window
of the new temple.  At the top was a silver dragon, under that was a
blazing sun with a war hammer in the center. Near the bottom was a white robed
man, a book in one hand a lamp in the other. The silver dragon was the symbol
of the god in times gone by. The sun and hammer were now the more popular
vision that the church was trying to project. Yet the young man who was paying
for most of the restoration of this temple insisted on the old being honored
with the new.  While he was a young cleric none doubted his faith or his
direction.
     Each morning you would find him here. In the temple of
Solarth there were two things that could be counted on. The sun would rise and
Zender would be there each morning. The only time he couldn't be found there
was when he was called away to do the gods work. At his side this one morning
was another man of the faith, one who was very special to Zender. Hans was the
first soul he had saved. He gave him hope and set him on the path towards the
light. Hans could only hope that one day he would live up to the example set
forth by his mentor.

     "Will
you be in the arena today?" Hans asked his old friend.

     "Yes,
the king invited us to sit with him. Myself, Zackary and I assume Lomark will
be there. Heroes of the realm and all that. Truth being told, someone made a
threat against Darius. We will be there to make sure nothing happens."

     "If
that is the case, why attend at all?"

     "Is
he a king or a prisoner?" Hans could only nod his head in understanding.
"I am sure it is nothing but I will be damned if it is going to happen
while I am there. Not as long as I can still hold this." he said while
holding up his hammer. Hundreds of years old, the weapon was said to be
blessed. Modeled after the fabled Fist of Solarth, it was from a time when
clerics took to the field of battle instead of waiting in the rear to heal the
wounded.  Zender had a passion for battle, some of his brothers said he
had too much passion for it. "The good god uses us each in a different
way. You stand here and preach of peace, I will be out there seeing that the
god’s justice is done when that peace fails." For this there was no
argument.

     Hans was a
firm believer in the methods of his mentor. As an old warrior, he saw firsthand
the good that could be done. Yet as time went by, he was looking forward to the
days when he could put aside the armor and only hold up the book as a sign of
his faith.  This was not that day but it was coming soon.  This much
he knew.  Hans bid is mentor farewell and set off for the inn where his
friends were staying.  He could not afford to be late, Darmot was counting
on him to be there.  Not that he was in any danger of missing anything.
 Darmot would insist on waiting for him, no matter what Hetaron said.
 No, the only danger Hans faced was having to hear Hetaron complain over
and over again. He tried to remember the teachings of the good god when in the
presence of the dark wizard. He tolerated him for two reasons. While he had a
dark soul, Hans had not witnessed him do anything evil.  The other was
because of his mentor.  Zender's best friend was also a dark wizard.  Zender
would not give up on him until he gave in and put on a white robe. While Lomark
was open to the clerics friendship, valued it even.  Hetaron was not.
     "He would fry me soon as my back was
turned." A startled woman looked up from her basket of fruit at the cleric.
"Sorry ma'am, I was thinking out loud.  Solarth bless you." She
gave Hans a smile and nodded her head. Hans could only wave and keep walking.
"I have to stop doing that, it is becoming a habit." Hans did not
realize until he was among the masses moving towards the arena that he had not
stopped.  In the years ahead when standing outside of Bishop's Hans
office, everyone knew not to knock on the door when they could hear his voice.
 Most assumed that he was talking to Solarth when in truth, he was only
talking to himself.  Standing under the sun at noon that day it happened
as it had happened every time before.  The cleric wrapped in white stood
on the arena floor.  Arms held open waiting for his friend.  A friend
who was followed only by the specter of death.