Dusk Falling (Book 1) (16 page)

“You’ve a plan?” Serrtin asked. “You’ll need to glean as much info from these people- whoever they are- as possible without giving away our hidden agenda. If you truly want to help that,” She paused. “…help Genlo, you’ll need all your wisdom and cunning.”

She nodded, taking a sip. It was a fruity tea concoction, not all that unpleasant.

~ ~ ~

Early the following morning, a knock came to the door. Serrtin answered it, Aya having not risen from bed yet. The soft down and fluffy pillows reminded her of home and she slept the contented sleep of a carefree child.

“B-b-breakfast.” Stuttered a freckled young boy with a bowl-cut shape to his mouse brown hair. The tray of foodstuffs clinked as the boy trembled, not having expected a seven-foot saurian to answer the door.

Serrtin opened the passage wider and gestured with a nod to the table. She then went back to her post by the window. The boy quickly unloaded his tray and beat a hasty exit.

The smells of warm oat cereal, muffins, ham and orange juice brought Aya to the table a few minutes later. She dug in with gumption. Serrtin took part in the muffin and ham.

“I am going to go let Agemeer in on what’s going on before he starts to worry.” The saurian said after eating. “If the messenger comes before I return, wait outside. This place turns my stomach.”

Morning made way for noon and still the Bren mage waited. She did not want to miss the messenger Gartus would be sending so she did not leave the Inn. Aya trickled downstairs but eventually went back up.

A knock came to her door, startling the mage. She almost ran to get it. Standing on the other side was a small woman, smaller in stature than Aya herself. She wore a blue cap over her coppery curls, a tan tunic and leather breeches. Her smile was friendly. “Ey-oh, name’s Marron. You Aya?”

“Yes, I’m Aya.”

“Bounty Master Gartus wished to inform you the contact has been made and that your presence will be expected at the sixth hour.” Marron said. “Gartus said you’d understand.”

“Yes! Yes, I do. Sixth hour.” Aya responded, happy to finally hear the word. “Thank you very much.”

Marron nodded energetically, went to leave but then paused. “Ah, I hope you don’t mind me saying so but that capture you made, it’s real impressive. It’s so nice to see a gal in the biz, if you know what I mean. You’re an inspiration.”

Aya did not know what to say and responded so with a grateful thank you.

“You’re a model Hunter too- you follow the rules to a ‘T’ and you’re quick too. I wish I knew your secret.” Marron gushed some more before shaking Aya’s hand and then rushing off.

Aya watched the woman trot down the stairs, her smile fading. “Model Hunter…” She went back inside to gather her stuff. “We’ll see after today…”

~ ~ ~

Serrtin was thinking along much those same lines as she made her way back to the Inn. She had made a living out of being a Bounty Hunter. She knew little else.

And she was putting it in jeopardy over a hunch and a half-Elf ingrate. Serrtin had at all times held the utmost faith in the Circuit for choosing its contracts well. They did not take just any Clients. They were supposed to do a thorough background check to make sure the mission was legitimate. So how could the Circuit have allowed this Client to have placed a bounty? If they performed the background check wouldn’t they have realized these people were underhanded? No doubt, they’d try a ruse to throw the Circuit off but it only took a rumor of deception
for the Client to be dropped. Did that mean the Circuit knew and deliberately overlooked it because of the substantial money involved?

She found it hard to swallow with the trust she had placed in the Circuit. To distrust them would mean she was now placing her trust in the very individual they just hunted down. A very rude obnoxious and rather annoying individual; a decent fighter notwithstanding, Serrtin would give him that. They would need to prove his story. Until then, she would not fully trust his actions. Or the Circuit for that matter. It would be up to Aya.

Speaking of the Bren, Serrtin could see her up ahead waiting outside of the Inn. Patrons of the Pegasus would eye the girl’s attire with disdain as they passed by but the glances stopped falling on her once Serrtin came into view.

Early afternoon was spent waiting and readying themselves. Aya attempted to calm her nerves through prayer and meditation but failed to be able concentrate all the way. She berated herself but still was not able to keep her thoughts off what could happen later.

The two of them wandered the clean-swept streets, admiring the sights of Zara Krell but in a distant listless way. Eventually they stopped under a grove of perfectly manicured trees. Individuals and groups strolled by, chatting easily, or looking to be in quite the rush. Aya spied a Bren or two, the young mage watched them but in the end recognized neither. An Elf with long silver-white hair walked by, a confident beat to his footfalls, a longbow and quiver strapped to his back.

“I hope he is still safe.”

“Mmm…” Serrtin grunted, having seen the Elf as well. The Yarcka knew of whom her companion spoke. “You just worry about your part in this.”

“I will.”

Chapter 13

He was confused. He did not recognize them. If it
had
been
them
, Genlo knew whom they would send to ‘escort’ him back. “Perhaps they are trying to confuse me. Or they just have new men; I have been gone a long time.”

There were seven of them. They stood in the Circuit Hold, peering at Genlo in a way that made him wish there were no bars in between them and he- be damned with magic, he would attack them without it. Balling his fists, the half-Elf glared at them with as much fire as he could muster given the situation.

Aya stood off to the side, trying to appear aloof but she missed little. The leader met Genlo’s scathing gaze calmly but Aya did not see any exchange of negativities. He seemed to appraise the pale-haired youth, had expected the evil set to his eyes, but remained thoughtful. The six others with him were variously affected. The man was Larren, with unremarkable brown hair and eyes. Not a large man but had a good set to his shoulders. The sword at his hip was positioned low for ease of draw. He looked to be well-versed in its uses.

Gartus was all smiles as the end contract was signed. Then the line of conversation came up that quickened Aya’s heart.

“Ah, this is the esteemed Hunter who captured and brought in your man, Aya Mythren.” The Bounty Master replied with a gesture, “Her team is one of the best the Circuit has to offer and was handpicked for the mission. For a case such as this, we often have the Hunters remain for added protection.”

Aya gave a small bow, keeping her eyes flat and emotionless. The leader’s eyes lingered then dismissed her altogether. To Gartus, the man said, “Your consideration is appreciated but unnecessary. We are fully prepared to take him into our custody.”

“Moving too fast. I better say something or risk losing my chance.” Her mind raced. “Exactly how?” She said, voice husky with a no-nonsense confidence. She swaggered forward. “I don’t want the Chase leaving the confines unless I am completely satisfied I won’t be needed again so soon.” She crossed her arms.

The leader looked at Aya. “Your part in this an impressive one. To have apprehended such a criminal…” His words were praise but his eyes were dark. “I am sure this viper must have been poison, not only physically but he must have said many a foolish thing.”

“He spoke much of what all Chase do- vowing to kill those who bring him to justice- but after we had him gagged, he said little else.”

“Ah, a wise decision.” The man said with a wry smile. “Bounty Master, please open the bars. Leave the shackle, then step back.”

Interested in seeing what the troupe would do, Gartus quickly opened the cage door wide before stepping back away. Two of the braver men moved toward the door. Inside, Genlo tensed, arms out from his sides in case he needed to defend himself. That, or break bones if the opportunity arose.

“Excuse me,” Aya demanded. “No matter the crime, no punishment is allowed within the Circuit walls. It is in the contract.”

“She does have a point. You are not permitted to do anything to him except when defending yourself. It is Circuit Law.” Gartus said, looking almost miffed.

Taking a risk, Aya caught Genlo’s gaze. He tilted his head toward the men and gave a barely perceptible shrug. So slight was the gesture, the mage could not be sure she saw it or not. She couldn’t gamble trying to communicate again so she glanced away and hoped she had truly seen something.

The leader held up a hand. The thin nervous-looking man near the exit came forward, handing over a square silver-inlaid box. Upon opening it, the Larren took out an item and gave back the container.

It was a sphere. With Aya’s mage-sight, she could see it glow with some type of power but it did not have the same energy aura a focus sphere would have. It looked like a glass ball no bigger than an apple.

The leader shifted the sphere this way and that, the rooms light streaming through the vitreous surface unbiased. Quick as a striking snake, he threw the glass sphere at the Circuit’s prisoner. Genlo reacted automatically by throwing up an arm in front of his face. The sphere hit with the familiar ‘chink’ of glass then… he was gone.

The sphere dropped to the ground without breaking and rolled to the back of the empty cell.

Shocked, Aya tried not to gasp but was sure her face reflected what she was feeling. She moved to stand at the left of Gartus, both staring round-eyed into the cell.

The leader guffawed, pleased. About to order his men to retrieve the prisoner sphere, his concentration was split by a late arriver.

An average-looking Larren male with a dour expression. He sported a recent bruise on his right temple and a cut on his chin. He wore a long dark gray cloak, a face wrapping hung about his neck. The new addition spotted Aya, recognizing her a split second before she him. Both were shocked to see each other, to say the least.

“You!” The Bren exclaimed before she could stop herself. The leader frowned deeply but she did not see it. Feeling suddenly alone, she did not like the odds. “What’s going on here? I don’t understand.”

“Why are you here? I instructed you to remain away outside the city.” The leader growled.

“B-but why is the mage here? You said the Hunters never stay to meet the Clients!” The cloaked man said in the native tongue of Western Demaria.

“Fool! You’ll ruin everything!” The leader responded in like, anger evident in his voice.

“This man and several of his comrades attacked my team a few days ago. I demand to know why!” Aya called, pointing to the cloaked man.

“What?!” Gartus exclaimed, “That’s impossible, Aya. You must be mistaken.”

“I am not mistaken. Explain to me why you attacked us!”

The leader gave an annoyed laugh, gaze lingering menacingly on the interloper. To Aya, “Things are not as they seem and I am afraid I haven’t the time to explain them to you. Get the sphere.”

His men nodded but halted as Aya gave a sudden shout. “No. I won’t let you take him!”

The room was quiet in a collective state of disbelief. Gartus blank, mouth ajar.

“Then we will take him by force.”

A coldsnap spell immediately came to Aya’s mind, her limbs chilling with its power. She looked at the two standing near the prison cells, the men approaching cautiously from the door leading out. Then another figure caught her attention. The Bounty Master glowed a pale yellow to her mage-trained eyes, as he bowed over a clenched fist.

Suddenly, the spell was jarred from her mind like a slap. The runes on the walls flared painfully bright. Aya’s magic was nulled and her outlook on the impending fight suddenly took on a different shine.

“I don’t know what’s going on here but it will stop right now! Fights between Hunters and Clients
do no exist
, do you hear me? I want you all to leave
right now
.”

“Fine by me. We’ll just be taking what is ours.”

“I will not allow it! I know your plans for him and what you are doing is wrong.” She inched closer to the sphere.

“Aya, I will warn you only once- what you are doing goes against the Circuit Rules and-”

“To Hell with the Rules, I do what is right. Gartus, listen to me, these people are part of a Sect. They wish to sacrifice-” With an ‘eep!’, the girl dodged under the arms of one of the men. He latched onto her wrist as she scrambled past and received a slap for his effort. Her mind yelled at her: You’re no fighter! Aya, you have to get out- but Genlo! I promised!

The Bren skittered around another as he reached for her hair. She couldn’t keep this up.

“The feline is but a clawless mouse without her magic. Pity.” The leader said, crossing his arms, stepping away from the exit where he stood alone. Whether it was intentional or not, a gap opened to the only way out. With a final glance to the sphere that encased Genlo, the mage took to her feet.

Aya bolted into the commonroom as quick as her feet could take her. She slammed into the door and down the small flight of stairs. “Serrtin!”

~ ~ ~

The Yarcka was there in a heartbeat, sword already in hand. “How’d I know it was gonna end up like this? What happened?”

“Do you remember those men in dark gray cloaks that attacked us near Barda? Well, one walked in right after they used some kind of encasing device on Genlo.”

“What?! How did I miss-” Serrtin exclaimed, sharp eyes going to the Hold’s door. The sounds of pursuit were heard over the afternoon sounds of Zara Krell. “They’re coming.”

“If we fight them here, the Circuit…” Aya said worriedly.

“I know.”

Both Yarcka and Bren backed a few steps as out came five men. They brandished their weapons- mostly dirk knives. The cloaked individual was not present, neither was the leader. Serrtin twirled her flamberge. “To walk away now would be cowardly and though they may not know it now, to turn out backs would dishonor the Circuit. I for one choose to fight.”

Inwardly, Aya smiled. She knew Serrtin would never let her down. They had made their final choice and now they would go with it- see it to its end wherever it may take them. Again, she drew upon her ice spell, its energies chilling her body.