The Blade Heir (Book 1) (13 page)

Lucius entered the pub and recognized some of the customers from the night before sitting inside drinking their worries away or sleeping with their heads on the tabletops. Behind the counter, Eldred was replacing empty wine casks with new casks and inserting taps on each of them. Lucius found the sight of such menial labor being done by an elf almost unnatural. He walked up slowly to the counter, not wanting to disturb Eldred, but the elf became aware of his presence almost immediately.

"Greetings, my friend," Eldred's smile gleamed. "How may I serve you?"

"Hello. I was wondering if you might have seen my friend, Siegfried, by chance."

"Yes, he did stop here this morning to inquire if I had any empty wineskins for sale. He bought two and said he would return later for them," the elf replied.

"How long ago did he leave?" Lucius inquired further.

"Nearly an hour prior. He did not say where he was headed, but if you are looking for him, perhaps it would be best to wait here since he is sure to return," Eldred suggested.

"Yes, that would probably be best. I'm not really in the mood to run about in search of him. Thank you, Eldred," Lucius replied, spotting an empty table near the counter and heading for it.

"May I get you something to drink, sir, while you wait?" Eldred raised a palm in the direction of the wine casks.

Lucius hesitated for a second. "Yes, that would be fine. I'll have a small glass of your wine, please."

Eldred bowed in compliance and poured a glass of wine from the cask behind him. As the elf walked over to place the wine in front of him, Lucius set down his pack and remembered the ancient scroll Helmer had given him, which was rolled up inside of the bag. Fear of it being stolen by an ignorant guard gripped him as he realized its importance. He opened the bag and searched its contents, relieved to have found the red papyrus scroll sitting inside. He set it on the table then took a sip of wine. The drink was sweet and had a hint of peppermint to it.

After he finished his drink, Lucius unrolled the long piece of parchment on the table and began reading random passages in the text. The elvish script was difficult to decipher at first; the fine strokes of each letter were more stylized than any of the elvish books he had read in the past. Reading had never been a pastime Lucius enjoyed like his father and brother. When he learned to wield a sword as an adolescent, he cared for it even less. Most of the books in Helmer's library required an acute intellect to understand and were rather tiresome to read. However, the passages in the scroll piqued his interest.

Lucius read about the origins of mankind, created by Yéwa in eons past. The passages of the red scroll spoke of the fall of man into evil and treachery—banished from a peaceful existence in Amarna, a glorious realm, into an arduous mortal life in the island of Gezer. Lucius skipped ahead in the document and read about Yéwa's exultation of a sheepherder who helped free an enslaved people from the clutches of a tyrant. The people were known as the Terrín. They were highly favored by Yéwa, but as Lucius read on, he learned of their betrayal and rebellion against Yéwa. Further down the parchment, Lucius read about the Terrín's subsequent punishment by Yéwa: the conquest of Gezer by the enemies of men and the mass exile of all mankind into Azuleah. Many years pass when Yesu, the son of Yéwa is born and chosen to be the king who will reconcile all men to their God
.
The passages cover much of the king's life, focusing on his love for his people and his willingness to forgive their many ills. His humility is boundless despite his divine heritage and royal status. Not even elves are this humble. The red scroll foreshadows the doom awaiting King Yesu—an assassination plot concocted by corrupted vassals seeking to end his reign. Lucius skimmed down to the bottom of the scroll, down to the very last passage. To his shock, he discovered the humble ruler of all mankind is put to death by the very men he wished to save.

Death?

Lucius leaned back in his chair, a flurry of thoughts racing through his mind. In an earlier passage, King Yesu said he would rise again to rule the living and the dead; his death was to atone for the sins of men. But the scroll ended with his death and nothing more.
There must be something missing.
Many promises were spoken by this Yesu
that remained unfulfilled. Lucius began to doubt the power of this God known as Yéwa. If Yéwa could not save Yesu, how could he save anyone else? Perhaps no higher being existed to lead the men of Azuleah. He sighed deeply and rolled up the red scroll.

Lucius stared at the empty glass on the table for a moment, deciding whether or not to call Eldred for another round. Before he could come to a final decision, his brother walked through the tavern door. Siegfried walked in carrying two small sacks in one hand and a larger sack in the other. Lucius waved to get his attention and the elf promptly strode to the table.

"Where have you been?" Lucius asked, clearly annoyed at having to wait so long for his brother to show up.

"I have been acquiring supplies for our journey, Lucius." Siegfried placed the two sacks on the table and the larger sack on the floor next to his chair. "I have bought food, cooking utensils, and additional clothing for both of us."

"You bought clothes for me? I do hope they fit, Sieg," Lucius peeked inside one of the sacks on the table.

Siegfried handed him the larger sack on the floor where the clothes were stored. "I am confident the extra jerkin and breeches will fit you, brother. However, if they are too tight on your frame, the amount of walking you will experience on this journey will surely resolve the problem."

"Funny," Lucius replied while examining the brown sheepskin jerkin and woolen pants. "I don't suppose you found any horses we could purchase for our travels?"

"Unfortunately, the stables I visited did not wish to part with their steeds, and I doubt we have enough money to afford the prices."

Lucius frowned, lamenting their means of transportation would continue to be on foot. He began to express his feelings on the matter to Siegfried when Eldred walked up to their table.

"Greetings, Siegfried. Would you care for a drink?" the polite bartender asked.

"No thank you, Eldred. But could I ask a favor?" Siegfried picked up one of the sacks on the table. "Would you be willing to store these sacks along with the wineskins I purchased until later this afternoon when we retrieve them?"

"Yes, of course, my friend," Eldred grabbed all three sacks with one hand and managed to grab Lucius' empty glass with his other hand. "Have you already visited Lumiath in the Scarlet Quarter?"

"That is where we are headed presently, dear Eldred," Siegfried shot his brother a quick glance, as if to remind him of their primary purpose in Sylvania.

In truth, Lucius had not forgotten about the D'aryan seer, but his thoughts had been temporarily diverted by what he read in the red scroll. Everything he had learned about Yesu had led him to believe the great king was either immortal or invincible, but the scroll had negated all of his preconceptions. He stood up and stuffed the scroll into his pack. "Let's go find the seer."

The streets of the Scarlet Quarter were cleaner and emptier than the other areas of the city seen by Lucius and Siegfried in the last two days. The few people they passed on the faded red cobblestone path wore luxurious clothing ranging from brightly colored doublets on the men to exquisite gowns trimmed with fur on the women. Most of the looks they received from the townsfolk conveyed disdain and superiority, undoubtedly from noticing the pair's humble apparel. The air of supremacy was stifling to Lucius and it reminded him of Quetulya's relentless condescension. Siegfried, on the other hand, seemed either aloof to the snobbish stares directed at them by the residents of the Scarlet Quarter or he simply did not care.

As they traveled on the winding road of the quarter, Lucius spotted a brick building with wooden shingles and a dark green door. Above the door hung a sign that read, "Greimane's Unguents and Elixirs." Lucius strolled toward the two-story building, and Siegfried soon followed, once he realized his brother was no longer beside him. They both walked up to the green door, and Lucius slowly turned the doorknob to check if the shop was open. The doorknob turned easily, and after a slight push, the door creaked open allowing them entry into a fragrant store brightly lit with numerous candles on the walls and on small tables. On the far right of the door, there was a long counter extending the entire length of the wall save for a gap to access a door leading to a storeroom. Behind the counter were shelves containing numerous vials, bottles, and jars filled with contents of all colors. Directly ahead of the doorway there was a staircase leading up to the second floor of the shop—presumably where Lumiath resided.

"Greetings, weary travelers," a loud voice boomed from behind the counter where a man with a bushy mustache and blue turban stood with his hands outstretched. Neither Lucius nor Siegfried had noticed the man upon entering the shop; it was as though he had appeared out of thin air. "My name is Theodore Greimane, and this is my humble store, which is positively brimming with exotic elixirs, potions, and unguents unseen in any part of Azuleah."

Lucius stepped closer to the counter, examining the merchant's wares closely. Siegfried remained near the door, uninterested in Greimane's goods.

"Do you require an unguent for wounds received in combat? Or perhaps an elixir that can cure an infectious disease?" Theodore Greimane smiled eagerly at Lucius, desiring to make a sale on the more curious of his two visitors.

Lucius could not resist his curiosity, especially if there was an item that could aid them in the wilds of Azuleah. "Tell me more about this unguent for wounds."

"But of course, my young lad." Theodore beamed and quickly snatched a small jar filled with a yellow cream. "The Unguent of Und is an excellent remedy for cuts, lacerations, and burns. It is made from the egg yolks of Und seabirds—very rare and exquisite. No warrior or traveler should venture without a jar close at hand."

"How much is a jar?" Lucius asked, aware now of the unguent's significance.

"One centen is the cost for this exotic unguent," Theodore grinned.

Lucius balked at the price. "Surely, you can't be serious? Perhaps we could barter for this exotic unguent?"

"I doubt there is anything you own that I care to barter for, my young friend," Theodore laughed at his own veiled insult. "One centen is all I desire to barter for."

Lucius scowled at the greedy merchant and nearly protested, but his brother walked up to the counter and put a hand on his shoulder.

"We are not interested in your potions, Mr. Greimane, especially if they come at such an extravagant cost." Siegfried said.

Theodore Greimane's smile disappeared and his face contorted into an ugly frown. "Well, if my prices are not to your liking, then kindly leave my store. I am a busy man and don't have time for stingy elves or children!"

"Children," Lucius snapped. "Listen—"

"Peace, brother," Siegfried interrupted. "Mr. Greimane, although we do not wish to buy anything presently, we do require your assistance. We have come here to meet with the resident above your store, an elf named Lumiath. Is he here?"

"I don't know who you're talking about," Theodore said, drumming his fingers on the counter top. "Now, are you buying anything or not?"

"Are you saying that Lumiath doesn't reside here?" Lucius asked.

"I have never heard the name in my life," Theodore replied. He turned and slammed down the Unguent of Und on a shelf behind him.

"I do not believe you, Mr. Greimane," Siegfried said plainly.

Theodore turned to face the elf, his cheeks very red now and his nostrils fully flared. "Listen, elf. There is no one named Lumiath here. Now, I will call the guards if you don't—"

A loud knocking from overhead cut off the annoyed merchant's words and they looked up at the ceiling in unison.

"What was that?" Lucius looked over at Theodore.

Theodore sighed heavily and shook his head slowly while biting his lip. "He will see you."

"Who?" Siegfried asked, a smile slowly formed on his face.

"Lumiath," Theodore replied through clenched teeth. "Now go upstairs and leave me be."

The merchant stormed away from the counter and into the storeroom.

"Well, that was pleasant," Lucius said.

Siegfried remained silent, his gaze fixed on the stairs near the entrance of the alchemist shop.

"Shall we, brother?" Lucius gestured toward the staircase.

"Lead the way,
Ellyllei
."

Lucius eagerly made his way toward the staircase with Siegfried close behind. At the top of the stairs, they entered a long hallway with two doors on either side. Paintings of serene landscapes hung on the walls between the doors. The furthest door at the end of the hallway to their right was slightly ajar. As they neared the opened door, the fragrance of citrus mixed with incense was heavy in the air. Lucius stood directly in front of the cherry oak door, unsure if he should knock.

"Please enter," a deep voice beckoned from inside the room.