Knights: Legends of Ollanhar (7 page)

The brothers were delighted. "We're paid in full. We
will return to our forge as happy men this night. If you ever need a
blacksmith, you can find us along the Greenspring Road that leads west out of
town."

As they departed, Lannon entered the inn.

The innkeeper rushed over to him. "That was amazing! I
can't believe it! You must have scared them senseless!" Then his eyes
narrowed, as his shock wore off some. "I saw you give them something. What
was it?"

"The money you owed them," said Lannon, glaring.

The innkeeper gave Lannon a sheepish look. "Is that
what they claimed? Those rogues are lying, of course." He cleared his
throat. "But you did a noble deed in scaring them off, and I will be more
than happy to care for the boy until the Knights arrive for him. No matter how
long it takes."

Lannon nodded. He stepped close to the innkeeper.
"Make certain he is well cared for. I'm holding you responsible." His
tone was grim--a clear warning that Lannon would be very displeased with any
mistreatment of Taith. He didn't trust the innkeeper, and he was irritated over
being lied to.

The innkeeper nodded, his eyes wide. "Of course. He
will receive excellent, excellent care. Fear not, oh mighty Knight." He
bowed twice. "You have my word of honor on that. I'll put it in writing if
need be."

"No writing is needed," said Lannon.

He started back toward the stairs to find Taith slowly
trudging down them. Lannon could tell by the dejected expression on Taith's
face what he was thinking. A shadow of fear lurked in that expression as well.

"You're leaving tomorrow," Taith said in a
gloomy, sad tone. "And I'll be left here on my own. Am I right?"

"Yes," said Lannon. "But I'll see you again
when we return. The innkeeper will
 
look
after you until the Knights arrive. This should be an exciting time for you
Taith. You will soon be trained as a Squire of Dremlock."

"I'll miss you a lot," said Taith, tears in his
eyes.

Lannon ruffled the boy's hair. "I'll miss you too,
Taith. But the next time I visit you, I'll be amazed at the warrior I see
before me."

"But I want to go with you," said Taith.
"Don't leave me here." He bowed his head. "Don't leave me behind
like my father did." The boy looked so small and helpless standing in a
beam of moonlight. Lannon felt great pity for him, but granting his wish was
out of the question.

"I'm sorry, my young friend," said Lannon.
"Our mission is far too dangerous. Focus on your future, Taith, and let
nothing distract you."

"This is the end," said Taith. "I'll never
see you again."

"Nonsense," said Lannon. "I have every
intention of returning." But there was a chance Taith was right. Many of
Bellis' best fighters had vanished on this same quest to obtain the elusive
Green Flamestone.

"If you don't return," said Taith, "what
will happen?"

Lannon ignored the question. "It's time to go back to
bed now. We plan to leave early, probably before you're awake."

"Don't do that," said Taith. "Wake me before
you go."

Lannon said nothing.

Chapter
4:

The Land of Mud
and Mayhem

 
Early the next
morning, when Taith was still asleep upstairs, the travelers ate a fine
breakfast of fried fish. They had the bulk of their supplies, and they were
eager to resume their journey. But they were waiting on Saranna.

 
Yet they didn't
have to wait long. They hadn't yet finished their food when Saranna and two
other Rangers entered the still mostly empty inn. She handed the signed
contracts to Lannon and introduced her companions.

"This is Brakthas," she said, "and
Galandra."

Brakthas was a large man with long black hair and bronze-colored
skin. Muscular arms, adorned with tattoos, protruded from his tunic sleeves. He
wore feathered earrings and a red-and-black Vulture feather in his hair. He
also wore a necklace of Vulture beaks and talons. His eyes were dark, his face
somber. He was armed with a long, bone-handled dagger and a bow, but wore no
armor. He nodded to the travelers. "Divine Knights, a long way from
home."

Galandra was a stocky, red-haired girl with bright green
eyes. She wore extravagant leather armor and bore strange weapons for a
Ranger--a steel slingshot rather than a bow, a blowgun strapped to her back,
and a short steel spear with a guard over the tip that she carried like a
walking stick. "Pleased to meet you," she said. She smiled, but her
eyes were cold and dangerous.

"Hiring you two cost us a lot of silver," said
Aldreya, "but we trust Saranna's judgment. What are your skills?"

"I'm a good tracker," said Brakthas. He fell
silent.

"He's much more than that," said Saranna.
"Brakthas is the best tracker alive, and his knowledge of wilderness
survival is unsurpassed."

"Then we should be great friends," said Lothrin,
rising to shake Brakthas' hand. "Tracking and wilderness survival are
skills I possess as well."

Aldreya gazed at Galandra. "What about you?"

"I can hold my own in a fight," said Galandra.
"I'm all about stealth. I'm also skilled in the use of various
poisons."

"An assassin?" said Prince Vannas, frowning.

"I assassinate Goblins," she said. "Why
fight face to face when a single poison dart from the bushes can do the work
for me? But I can fight close range quite well when I need to. This spear isn't
for show."

"I've heard of you two," said Jace, looking
amused. "We need not bother questioning your skills. Your reputations
extend far beyond this region." He turned to Aldreya. "These are
legendary Rangers--skilled at everything and extremely dangerous fighters. We
were quite lucky to cross paths with them. The price listed on the contracts is
actually a steal for us."

"A steal?" said Brakthas, raising his eyebrows.
"Perhaps we should have asked for more." He laughed. "I like the
whole
dangerous fighters
thing though. It makes us sound scary. Are we
scary, Galandra?"

"Scary as can be," she said, making a claw-like
gesture with her hand. "People quake in terror at the sight of us.
"Okay, maybe not."

"You're from the Varros Clan, correct?" Jace
asked Brakthas. "You have the look and manner of a Varros warrior."

Brakthas nodded. "I'm Varros." He nodded to
Galandra. "She's Tolopaz--the red-haired, pale-skinned clan from the Black
Hills." He smiled. "I added that in case you didn't notice her red
hair and pale skin. "We've known each other for a long time. We played
together as children."

"I used to give you beatings," said Galandra,
winking at him.

He nodded. "You were a mean little girl. You stole my
fur cloak and threw it in the river. I had to go in icy water to get it."

She shrugged. "I'm still mean. I enjoy it."

"So when do we leave?" asked Brakthas. "I'm
really hungry. That fish smells great. Do I have time for some?"

"Eat your fill," said Aldreya. "But make it
quick. We have a long journey ahead of us."

Galandra sat down across from Aldreya. "Tell us about
the journey. We already know it's going to be perilous, but give us some
details."

"I'd like some details too," said Saranna,
sitting down.

"Me too," said Brakthas. "And some
fish."

They talked and ate for a while. They learned that the two
Rangers were employed by a rich merchant living nearby, with their main duty
being to guard his estate from bandits. The merchant had reluctantly agreed to
release them from their contracts--for the duration of their journey with the
Knights--out of respect for Dremlock Kingdom. Galandra and Brakthas seemed
simple and likable, with each having a good sense of humor, but there was
something grim or almost sinister about them lying just below the surface.
Their minds were cunning, their wits razor-sharp. Their keen eyes glimpsed
everything, and they knew far more than they revealed. These were warriors one
definitely didn't want as enemies.

Lannon scanned them with the Eye and saw a code of honor
there, but he also glimpsed just how dangerous they were. They had killed many
times, and not just Goblins but lawbreaking humans as well. They weren't just
Rangers--they were also bounty hunters and assassins on the level of Shennen
Silverarrow. They knew many silent ways to kill, and any fool who dared try to
take what they had wasn't likely to keep on living. Lannon saw that they could
be trusted to a point, as long as they felt they were being respected and
treated fairly, but they were joining this quest purely for the pay and a
chance at gaining treasure. Profit was their motive, and they would let nothing
stand in the way of it.

Lannon wanted to glimpse more--to understand just how
ruthless the two could be if provoked--but the Eye failed to go deeper. But he
had seen enough to know that they weren't thieves or murderers, just deadly
warriors one didn't want to cross. And if Saranna trusted them, that was good
enough for Lannon. She was as noble as a Divine Knight and Lannon fully trusted
her judgment.

Brakthas finished off his platter of fish and wiped his
greasy fingers on a cloth napkin. "Yum, was that ever good. Time to
go?"

Aldreya nodded. "We will ride without pause until
dinner."

"That's a lot of riding," muttered Daledus, who
like Jerret looked kind of groggy and ill from the previous night's ale
consumption. "No lunch?"

"I eat every three hours," said Jerret. "I'm
definitely having lunch."

"Jerky and cheese," said Aldreya. "Eaten on
horseback."

"And bread," said Jace, who had a spare loaf
stuffed in one pocket. He patted his cloak. "I have a jar of pickles in
here somewhere too."

Brakthas shook his head as he gazed at Daledus. "Hey,
is she always so strict? Not even lunch? I don't get it."

"We're in a race," said Aldreya. "It fairly
important. It has to do with the fate of our continent. That sort of
thing."

Brakthas jumped up, almost knocking over his chair. His
eyes were wide in mock surprise. "We better get going then! That's serious
stuff!"

"I'm ready," said Galandra. She winked at Lannon.
"Looking forward to traveling with Divine Knights. You'll have to show me
some moves."

Dallsa gazed at her, frowning.

"I don't know many moves," said Lannon. "My
swordplay is rather simple. And you don't appear to possess a sword."

"I want to learn swordplay," she said.

"I'll teach you," said Jerret.

She ignored the barbarian. "I'm sure you Knights have
a spare sword I can borrow. If not, I can purchase one here in town before we
leave. So maybe a few lessons from the High Watchman?"

Lannon shrugged. "I suppose." It was an odd
request, and he sensed Dallsa was glaring at him. Her jealously was overbearing
and apparently inescapable. Considering that Lannon was very rigid in following
the Sacred Laws, she didn't seem to trust his judgment at all when it came to
women. He wondered if she thought he was naive when it came to the ways of the
world.

***

They bought some more supplies before riding out. Jerret
found some sturdy chain mail in one of the shops to replace his missing
Knightly armor. It was heavy, strong, and durable--of Dwarven design and
crafted for intense combat. It cost a small fortune, forcing Jerret to borrow
quite a bit of silver from Lannon. But Lannon was happy to see the former
Knight with some impressive new armor.

The day was sunny and warm as they rode out of Red Barrel.
They continued to pass through farmlands throughout the morning, with long
stretches of corn and wheat fields on either side of the road. This was a region
where honest folk lived who just wanted to be left alone. They were used to
doing things their way, and the expansion of Bellis Kingdom had changed nothing
for them. They farmed, hunted and trapped, sold their goods, and made due.
Bellis had yet to impose taxes on them and the harassment and strict rules that
would come with those taxes, but there was muttered talk in the houses and
taverns that things would soon change.

Lannon was apprehensive about leaving Taith in the care of
the innkeeper, but he was reasonably sure the boy would receive excellent care.
After all, the innkeeper wouldn't want to risk the wrath of Lannon or the
Divine Knights. Lannon fully expected the innkeeper to put Taith to work
(something Taith would hate), but he felt it would be good for the boy to be
given some chores and responsibilities considering the hardships he would be
facing as a Squire of Dremlock. Taith's days of slogging through life were
over. He would soon learn a new way that would push his mind and body to the limits--a
way of pain and punishment and fierce endurance. The fires of Dremlock would
forge him into a warrior, stripping away his pettiness and laziness, dulling
his fears and regrets, and leaving him no time to dwell on the pain of his
past. His days would be filled with sweat and competition, and any rest he was
lucky enough to receive would feel like a true blessing.

Good luck, Taith
, Lannon thought. He didn't envy the
lad.

They intended to ride until dinner, but in an unexpected
move Aldreya decided to pause for lunch. They rode into a field and built some
fires. They had stocked up on a lot of vegetables in Red Barrel, which they
fried up with canned venison and seasonings in their large iron skillets.

 
After everyone had
eaten, Aldreya produced a map she had purchased in Red Barrel that revealed the
lands leading to Wolfbine Kingdom. She pointed to the location of a town called
Maldorian Alvorian, or Malva for short. "We could reach this town by
nightfall," she said.

"I would advise against going there," said
Galandra. "That town is in the Mud Belt, and towns in the Mud Belt are
having serious problems with bandits lately." She traced her finger over
the map. "I suggest we stay on the Aktos Trail and just camp when evening
comes."

"Agreed," said Saranna. "Some of those gangs
of rogues are extremely dangerous. Lately the whole Mud Belt is a den of
thieves and cutthroats making war on each other and whatever honest people
still live there."

"What do you think, Brakthas?" asked Lannon.

The tall, bronze-skinned warrior hesitated, then said,
"I have to agree with the ladies. If we're looking for fighting and
bloodshed, that's the place to go. On the other hand, the Aktos Trail is
dangerous too."

"We definitely don't need any trouble," said
Lannon. "We had enough of that in the Soddurn Mountains."

"Last I knew," said Saranna, "Malva itself
was bandit free. I visited there about two months ago. A Ranger named Fodan
maintains law and order there, and he's no one to fool with. It's the journey
there that would cause me concern--through long stretches of forest where
bandits hide out waiting to ambush travelers. I've heard reports that the
region has grown more dangerous since my visit, with a gang called the Blue
Vultures causing the most trouble."

"The Blue Vultures?" said Lannon, raising his
eyebrows.

"That's right," said Brakthas. "The Blue
Vultures. Those are some nasty, nasty barbarians. Sneaky, too. If we were to
encounter them, we'd have a tough fight on our hands. The Blue Vultures are
some scary fellows."

Aldreya smirked. "I don't think we have much to fear
from wandering bands of barbarians. Dremlock doesn't yield to rogues."

"You're not in Silverland anymore," said Saranna.
"Things are different out here. Some of these gangs are like trained
armies."

"Is it even worth going there?" said Dallsa.
"We have plenty of supplies, and we can sleep in our tents. I don't see
the point."

"We need more warriors," said Aldreya. "And
there is no safe place for us on this journey. If Malva has what we seek, we
should go there."

"Warriors can be found there," Saranna admitted.
"There are a few wealthy businessmen living there who protect what they
have at all costs, and Fodan has some highly skilled mercenaries working for
him. Some of the best fighters money can buy go there seeking employment."

"Hey!" said Brakthas, glaring at Saranna in mock
anger. "What are you trying to do, get us mixed up in a war with the Blue
Vultures? And keep in mind that any added help is going to dilute our share of
the treasure."

Saranna shrugged. "Greater numbers equal greater
safety. I'll worry about treasure later, when we actually find some."

"Exactly," said Galandra. "I'd definitely
feel safer with a crowd around me. Makes it less likely I'll be the target of
some assassin's bow."

"I guess we'll proceed to Malva," said Aldreya,
"and see if we can hire a few more fighters. Any objections? What's your
opinion, Jace?"

"I have no objections," said Jace. "We need
as many warriors as we can get, wherever we can find them. These Blue Vultures
do concern me, though. I've encountered barbarian gangs before. Very savage and
very cunning. But I think it's worth the risk. Personally, I'm willing to put
up with a few barbarians merely for the sake of good food and a comfortable
bed."