The Flames of Deception - A Horizon of Storms: Book 1 (44 page)

Grimm walked up to the tall man and lowered himself to one
knee. “My Lord Kala, I have arrived.”

The man chewed at a piece of straw clenched
between his teeth and gave him a cold stare. “Yes, I can
see
that Grimm.
It
has
been a while. You look even
more
haggard than before and that is saying something,
given the
state
you were in then!”

Grimm nodded. “I am weak. Time is catching up to me.” He
swallowed.

Kala
nodded. “So it would seem. But there is a lot more for you to do
for us Taico.”

“
Time catches up to us all,” Grimm continued, ignoring him.
“Death will come for you too, eventually. I have seen him. He
brings the silence.”

Kala smiled. “Death wouldn’t
dare
pick a fight with me.” He plucked the
straw in his mouth and held it between his fingers. “I hear from
Maevik that you failed to stop the princess from leaving
Rina?”

“
There were complications. But that is
not
an excuse. Do with
me as you wish.”

Kala smiled. “We already
do!
” he scoffed. “Never forget that you are
here simply because we wish it to be so.”

“
I understand,” Grimm swallowed. “Though sometimes,
the darkness of before seems so welcoming to me. It was
so
peaceful.”

“
You will never be at peace
again
unless you do what
must
be done!” Kala
rebutted. “You will wander in eternal purgatory unless we can lay
to rest those demons that have haunted you. The gods that betrayed
you and gave your life away so readily.” Kala smiled. “We
are
helping
you to
find
your lasting peace, Taico.”

Grimm nodded. “I know in my mind what has to be
done, My Lord. That is why I am here. I wish to break the cycle
once and for all!” He stared into space a moment. “But... the
burning stench of flesh hangs in my nostrils like a
plague
. It
never
goes away!” He looked up at Kala, his face confused. “If
the dragon is freed, that stench will become a
reality
. How can that be right? How can I
escape it when it will cover the world?”

Kala bowed his head, so he was face to face with
Grimm. “Do you doubt us, Taico?” he asked. “Sometimes pain has to
be endured in order for peace to be enjoyed later. Well, when we
are done and our enemies have been eliminated, a peace
will
come. And then, so
will your own. Do you understand?”

“
Yes. Yes, I do,” Grimm replied. “I am sorry, My Lord. There
is so much confusion in my mind.”

“
And that is why you have been
sent
to me, Grimm. I can provide you with
more clarity. I can give you more strength to complete your task.
Remember, there is more for you to do than just
kill
the princess. If you are successful,
then your final journey will await you. The path to
peace.”

Grimm stirred with happiness. “As you command, my
Lord.”

He
indicated up a path with an outstretched arm. “Come, we will go
back to mine to talk of what I have planned for you.”

They
made their way across the streets of the expansive town to a remote
part of Gormal.

“
They will pass through here soon, My Lord,” Grimm advised as
they walked.

Kala
nodded. “I know. It is tempting for me to intervene. But there is
too much at stake for me to reveal myself. That is partly why you
are so important to us, Taico. One of your tasks is to intervene
where we cannot. You have seen what can be.” As they walked, they
passed two young women who instantly caught Kala’s eye. When they
were out of earshot, Kala asked Grimm: “How long has it been since
you were with a woman?”

Grimm squinted. “I... can’t even remember,” he answered.
“There has been no room in my head for such things for
decades.”

“
Your soul truly
is
ragged, Grimm!” he said. “When a man stops lusting
for the simplest of pleasures in life...” he looked back at the
women, who continued to talk. “Before we get down to business,
perhaps we should have some
fun!
Coercion is such a useful trick to impress upon a
person’s mind. Especially minds as weak as these fickle, little
people.”

Kala
stopped and his eyes crackled a deep purple. He stared intently at
the women until they froze a moment, as if in shock, and then,
delicately, they turned around, looked at him, and smiled
seductively.

“
You see Taico, how
easy
it is to influence the minds of others?” he turned
back to the man, but he was lost in thought. “Oh very
well
,” Kala sighed, and released his hold on the women. They
seemed confused momentarily, but then, as if nothing had happened,
went back to their conversation. “You really
are
no fun at
all!
” He put his arm around the skeletal man.
“Come on then, let’s get down to business!”

The
trek up the mountain was the last leg of a long day that had
drained the spirits of the four travellers by its end. With more to
teach Josephine than could be imparted whilst travelling, and with
no energy to continue onward through the mountains yet, they
decided they would pay for a room at an inn and rest for a night
before attempting to travel through the mountain pass and into
Olindia.

“
Know anywhere in particular where we could stay, Thadius?”
Matthias asked as they walked the cobbled streets.

“
There used to be a pub called the ‘Aslemerian’s Head’,” he
suggested.

“
Charming
,” Josephine sniffed.

“
If I remember rightly it is just off the central
square. I last came here about fifteen years ago,” Thadius smiled.
“The place has changed a lot since then. There are so many more
shops and people. It’s become
much
more civilised.” He suddenly stopped them in their
tracks and gasped.

“
What is it?” Josephine asked, glanced around. “Those men
haven’t come back have they?”

“
That is the shop of
Istaban Malazar!
” crooned Thadius, and pointed to a
building ahead of them, its window filled with swords,
quarterstaffs and blades of all varieties that glinted in the
sunshine. His pupils had grown so wide that his eyes looked like
shiny black onyxes.

“
My gods Thadius, you had me
worried
there for a second!” Luccius
said. “Why are you so excited about a weapons
shop?”

“
He is the
finest
armourer in the country! I had forgotten he had
established himself here. We
have
to go in!” he pleaded like a
child.

“
What
is
it with men and their weapons?” Josephine asked. She turned
to Matthias, who was gazing at the shop himself. “Not
you
as well?” she
exclaimed.

Matthias shrugged. “I have learned to appreciate fine
craftsmanship,” he said. “When I was young I used to help the
blacksmith in our town. I was his striker for a while. He was an
able man, but none of the swords he ever made were like these.” He
turned to Josephine, “Five minutes wouldn’t hurt,” he
said.

“
Oh
very well then!” She exclaimed, and exhaled, throwing her arms up.
“Men! You are all like little boys!”

The
shop was crowded with weaponry along all sides of its cramped
confines. Pikes and spears lined one wall, strapped in place by
leather buckles to prevent them falling, and on the opposite wall
hung swords of all shapes and sizes from wooden brackets. Thadius
looked at them in wonderment.

“
Hello gentlemen,” a man said from the far side of the room.
He was a burly fellow, with arms bulging from a sleeveless, blue
tunic. He had a bristled face and slicked-back hair, and his eyes
regarded them kindly. “Can I help?”

“
Are
you
Istaban Malazar?” Thadius asked
keenly.

“
The
very same!” the man replied, wiping his brow with a cloth and
leaning on a wooden work - surface with his fists.

“
Mister Malazar,” Thadius said breathily, “I have
heard praise of your wonderful weapons for years! It is such
an
honour
to finally see your work!”

“
Well it is always nice to meet an admirer,” the man said in a
northern Aralian accent. “I would hazard a guess that you are a
knight?”

“
My
name is Thadius and I am part of the king’s guard of Rina,” he
explained.

“
So
much for keeping a low profile,” Luccius whispered to Matthias. “We
aren’t very good at this are we?”

Matthias shook his head. “I think I might give up and just
hang a banner above our heads.”

“
I
have made weapons for the army before,” the man said. “Are you in
the market for a new blade?” Thadius and Malazar continued to talk,
so the others left them to it.

“
I
wonder if I could get a new spear?” Luccius posited.

“
I think they’re
horrible
,” Josephine said to them as she poked at
the hilt of one of the swords. “Whoever would want to buy such
things?”

“
One day you’ll be queen, your highness, and then
you will be in charge of all the men who
wield
these horrid things,” Matthias said.
“You’ll rely on them to save your kingdom. And if it wasn’t for one
of these horrid things Taico Grimm might have killed
you.”

“
Don’t remind me of that
repulsive
man!” Josephine sniffed. “I had just
started to forget the whole incident. And just because I may
command men who use weapons does not mean I have to
like
them.
War
,” she tutted. “If women alone ruled the world there would
be no such
thing
.”

“
An
interesting thought,” Luccius nodded. “I’ve never been involved in
a war really. Nothing larger than a tavern brawl by most
definitions.”

Josephine smiled “And you are
all
the better for it,” she said
wistfully.

“
Oh
my!” Matthias said suddenly, as his eyes fell on a sword in front
of him. Its hilt was shagreen and burgundy cotton - wrapped and its
scabbard a deep red. A cord of gold hung from it. He reached up and
lifted it from its stand, turning it over in his hands.

“
Ah, I see you have found the
salakha
,” said Istaban as he walked over
with Thadius.

“
I’ve never seen anything
like
it,” beamed Matthias. He drew the sword
slightly out of the scabbard. The blade shone in the afternoon
light. Engraved into its length were several
symbols.

“
That doesn’t surprise me. I would
like
to take credit for
its creation, but this particular sword came from hands more
skilled than my own, as much as I am loathed to admit such a thing.
It came from Lantai, a land beyond the North Sea. The writing is
from their language. It is a dedication to the gods. Here,” Istaban
proffered and took the sword from Matthias. He drew it completely
from the sheath, and it hummed. “Look here.” He indicated to the
other side of the sword. “The creator engraved a dragon into its
surface as well. The dragon was of deep spiritual importance to
Lantai. So I am
told
, anyway.”

Matthias caught Josephine’s eye a moment, before turning back
to the sword. The blacksmith passed it to Matthias to
hold.

“
It’s so
light
,” Matthias added, as he gazed, mesmerized at the
blade. Carefully, he took the scabbard from the owner and replaced
the blade. “How much
is
it?” he asked.

Malazar smiled. “Ah. Well this is the point in this
conversation where most prospective buyers have balked, and the
reason it is still here. I can’t let it go for less than three
hundred soldars.”

Luccius whistled and Thadius’s eyes bulged.

“
My house is worth only
sixty
soldars!” the knight
exclaimed.

Matthias looked to Malazar, and then back to the
sword.