The Callindra Chronicles Book One - First Quest (26 page)

“
No offense intended.” The
guard said, “Those… things wreaked havoc before we figured out how
to identify them. We lost many.”

“
I am a healer.” Tryst said,
“If you have wounded I can help.”

The guard looked at him, the suspicion in his
eyes slowly being replaced by hope. “I’ll take you to the mayor and
then if he agrees you can see to our injured.”

Chapter 21

The guard led the way through a series of
low stone buildings to the high walls of the keep. To one side they
could see a stockyard overflowing with lowing cattle. On the other
side, a gang of children were playing a game involving kicking a
ball of rags around in a flagstone courtyard. They walked into the
keep and Callindra noted the heavily armed guards on both sides of
the door.

He brought them through a series of corridors
and into a large hall. Fireplaces burned on each end and the
windows were wide open, letting in a pleasant breeze and plenty of
sunlight. A tired looking man in rumpled purple and gold robes sat
in a carved chair with purple cushions.  

“
What is this then captain?”
He said, looking up from a cup of wine.  

“
Travelers my lord Mayor.
They’re clean, I checked them personally.” He gestured toward
Tryst, “This one here is a healer. He says he might be able to help
us.”

“
Is that so?” He said,
looking up at them. “I see, that would be most welcome.”

“
I am Tryst te ‘Chern.”
Tryst said, “These are my companions Vilhylm, Cronos and Callindra.
We are on a mission of some import, however I would be most honored
if you would allow me to attempt to help your people to earn our
room and board for the night.”

“
Wonderful! I am Iason, and
this is my guard captain Lucca. Please allow me to show you and
your friends to refreshments and once you are ready…” A look of
hope passed over him as well, “Well, if you can help us we will
forever be in your debt.”

Lucca set his wine cup down and stood from
his chair, leading them down a short hallway, and down a flight of
stairs. The smell of soap and wood fires made Callindra very aware
of her filthy, blood splattered state and she saw with relief that
they were being led first to a huge bathing pool.

The water was hot enough to make her wince,
especially when her wounds touched it. It was a relief to sluice
the dust, dirt and blood from herself though and then to briefly
soak in the pool. Once she was clean, she returned to find Tryst
waiting for her with a needle and thread.

“
We need to take care of
those gashes across your stomach at very least.” He said, “Now that
they’re clean I can stitch them up.”

Callindra sighed, she’d been hoping to get
away with just a quick bandage and then be able to go and eat but
wasn’t surprised at his insistence. She was only wearing her chest
wrap, having anticipated Tryst wanting to patch her up and sighed
again as she lay down on a rough wooden bench in the changing
room.

His hands were deft and gentle and she was
able to relax in spite of the pain of the needle and thread. She
wondered at how comfortable she was with Tryst, even in this state
of undress and vulnerability. There was no question in her mind
that he was treating her as an equal; as he would his own
brother.

This was what she had wished so hard for
during her training. Callindra felt her eyes sting with emotion,
she had never dared dream that she would actually find true
companions like these and now more than ever she knew she would
fight to the bitter end for any one of her friends.

“
All done. Now go and get
some food. Red meat, hearty ale, bread and vegetables.” He said,
pulling her from her reverie. “Nothing strenuous for at least a
day.”

“
You’ve told me all that
before.” She said, her voice muffled from beneath the tunic she was
pulling over her head.

“
And you’ve ignored every
time, at least the part about taking it easy.” Tryst said with a
smile, “That’s why I feel the need to repeat myself.”

Callindra laughed, “Fair enough my friend.
Thank you for your help, as always.”

“
You bleed with us
Callindra, it’s the least I can do.” Said Tryst, putting his needle
and thread away carefully in a small cedar wood box. “Now let’s get
food together. I’m worried about what I’ll find when I get to the
infirmary.”

The others were already in the main hall,
enjoying a meal with Iason and a few others they hadn’t met before.
Apparently there was an abundance of cattle and a dearth of fodder,
for the meat was plentiful and fresh but there weren’t many
vegetables. The meal was largely consumed in silence for Callindra
and her friends were hungry and the folk of the keep seemed to be
intentionally keeping to themselves. After the plates had been
cleared away, Tryst rose and turned to Iason.

“
If you would lead me to
your wounded, I will see what I can do for them.” He
said.

“
I’ll … just come to see
where you’ll be.” Callindra said. She was getting a strange feeling
and decided she wanted to see where they were bringing her friend.
 

The infirmary wasn’t far away, and it only
had four occupants. They were all children though, laying on beds
heaped high with blankets and large fires roared on both ends of
the room. The children shivered in spite of the heat and the extra
coverage.

“
I will be fine Callindra.”
Tryst said, “Go and get some rest. I think you took the worst of it
out there.”

She nodded slowly and retreated, moving back
to the main keep and finding her bed. Her body was screaming for
sleep and she knew if she didn’t rest she wouldn’t be able to be
worth a damn the next day. Even with a good night’s rest she would
barely be able to dance the Korumn the next day.

Removing her boots, she fell into bed, laying
Brightfang’s hilt on the pillow next to her. When sleep came, she
wrestled with troubling dreams filled with green eyed monsters and
strange children who left burning footprints wherever they
walked.

-

The sunlight streaming through her window
awakened Callindra, and she sat up, disentangling herself from the
twisted mess of her sheets and blankets. Her room had a mirror and
she glared at her reflection, hair looking like she’d spent the
night in a gale, not in a quiet bed, eyes with dark circles
underneath them…  

She stretched and grimaced at the tightness
in her abdomen. After running through some basic Stances, she went
to look for some breakfast, and her friends. Cronos was eating a
hearty breakfast, and Callindra sat next to him and poured a mug of
tea.  

“
You look like shit.” Cronos
said.

“
And a mighty fine morning
to you!” Callindra retorted, “When did Tryst get to
bed?”

“
Eh? What do you mean come
to bed?” Asked Cronos, “He’s been at it all night
again.”

Callindra shoved the rest of the bread in her
mouth and stood, grabbing her teacup. Adjusting Brightfang’s
scabbard over her shoulder, she headed for the door. The feeling of
unease was back and she needed to see Tryst to set herself at ease.
Cronos shrugged and returned to his breakfast.

Hurrying across the courtyard, Callindra
paused briefly at the door to the infirmary and took a deep,
calming breath. “It’s just your imagination fool girl.” She
muttered, “These people have been nothing but hospitable after the
initial unpleasantness at the gate.”

Opening the door, she was hit by a wave of
heat. The air had a strange, sweet scent that made her nostrils
burn. Beneath that sweet smell was the unmistakable reek of
brimstone. Tryst knelt by one of the beds, an assortment of medical
supplies arranged about him. Callindra approached him on cat’s
feet, not making the slightest sound. When she put her hand on his
shoulder, he started slightly and looked up.

“
Oh, Callindra.” He said,
his voice thick with weariness. “You startled me. I was nearly done
here. Nearly done.”

“
Tryst.” She hissed, “You
need to get out of here!”

The closest figure sat up in bed. He was a
boy of perhaps twelve or thirteen, one strongly built but now his
muscles hung loose on a frame ravaged by fever. He looked at her
and she saw his eyes for the first time. They were pools of emerald
fire. “Water.” He croaked.

Callindra whirled, rising from a kneeling
position, drawing her sword and striking in the same motion (Dance
of the Coiled Viper) and removed his head from his shoulders. “GO
damn you Tryst, they’re infected!”

“
No, no, I was praying. I
used magic. I’m sure…” Tryst trailed off. In spite of their size
difference, Callindra hauled him to his feet and shoved him to the
door grimacing at the pain as the cuts across her stomach tore
their stitches open. He seemed disoriented, as though he had no
idea what was going on.

The second bedridden figure was struggling to
rise against the heaps of blankets, and so was the third. She
panicked, turning from Tryst and only waiting long enough to see
the shine of scintillating green beneath their eyelids before
killing them as well. A crash sounded from across the room and
Callindra turned to see a nurse standing there, staring at her in
horror with a tray of breakfast scattered on the floor at her
feet.

Callindra ran to her, flinging the drops of
blood off Brightfang’s blade with a practiced flick of her wrist.
Grabbing the nurse’s head she looked into her eyes and saw a
flicker of burning green.

“
No, it’s not in me.” The
nurse whispered, “I swear it’s not in me.” She broke into tears,
“Please, my fam-” Callindra didn’t hesitate any longer, she
couldn’t allow herself to. She cut the woman down.

Shaking with suppressed emotion, she went to
where Tryst was leaning listlessly against the wall. Reaching a
trembling hand out, she lifted his face to look into hers. Her
heart nearly stopped. His eyes had an emerald sheen to them. Not a
flickering flame like the others, but it was unmistakable.
Callindra let out a strangled sound, releasing him and raising her
sword in both hands.

Could she do it? Was he infected? What if she
didn’t kill him? Once it took him over… She gripped Brightfang so
hard her knuckles hurt. Her sword wavered in her grip and finally
she let out an explosive breath.  

“
I can’t do it.” She sobbed,
letting her arms fall to her sides, “Gods and Demons, I killed them
for the same but I can’t do it to you.”

Tryst shook his head and stared up at her,
“What’s that?” She looked at him again, his eyes were clear.
Dropping her sword, Callindra pried his eyelids wide and stared
intently at them. There was no sign of the green tint. She couldn’t
doubt herself. The others had been infected, they HAD been. She had
done the right thing.

“
We have to go.” She said,
“You need rest and these people… we need to go.”

“
Callindra!” Said Tryst,
“Callindra what have you DONE?” He was looking past her at the
carnage she had left in her wake.

“
They were infected Tryst.”
She said, “They would have killed you, killed me, killed us all!”
As if in response to her cries, one of the corpses began
moving.

“
Get out!” She shouted, “Get
out NOW, you’re in no condition to handle this right
now!”

“
I’m not leaving you.” He
said quietly.

“
Go. Get. The others.” She
said, her voice deadly quiet. “You don’t even have a weapon or a
shield, let alone your armor. I can hold them but only for a short
time. GO!”

Tryst nodded grudgingly and ran as best he
could. The monsters that had been children threw off their bedding
with violence that belied their size. None of the former weakness
remained, as if they had been storing the power taken by the fever
and waiting to release it now.   Callindra grimly took
Brightfang in a two handed grip and faced her enemies.

-

Callindra closed her eyes and wove Brightfang
in an intricate pattern, keeping her breath measured and even. She
called the arcane power that drove the very world to spin into
herself and harnessed it. Her eyes flashed open and she rushed the
creatures, moving faster than she ever had before. She was the wind
and she danced between her enemies, Brightfang cutting huge rents
into their bodies.

Pausing at the far side of the room,
Callindra realized that the corpses hadn’t fallen and that they now
stood between her and the door. Cursing in fear and frustration she
gathered herself, looking for a way out. A had grabbed her ankle in
a vice like grip. She had forgotten the nurse.

The door burst open, Cronos and Vilhylm
coming through nearly at a run. Vilhylm leapt through the air,
smashing both hands down with brutal force and bludgeoning one of
the monsters to the floor. Cronos was incanting arcane words and
bolts of power flew from his fingertips to strike another.
 

Two still remained, both focused on
Callindra.  One had her leg and continued to hold it, clawing
at her unprotected calf with its other had but she kicked the hand
away, managing to stumble out of the way of the other’s clumsy
attack.  

“
Hurry, they’re getting
stronger!”  She warned, hacking awkwardly at what had been a
nurse.

Behind her friends, shouts of alarm could be
heard.  Soldiers came through the, weapons drawn and eyes
angry.  When they took in the scene, their horror was strong
enough to send two of them running back out the door screaming in
panic.