Ossendar: Book Two of the Resoration Series (45 page)

As red as the dwarf was turning, the thief was going pale. “I had to intervene to get them safely out of the city, and they had a sword to my throat.” He recoiled from the heat of the dwarf's anger, and the confidence he had shown earlier had evaporated.

“So, someone puts a blade to your throat and you shout out my name?” Arnok was still staring daggers at the skinny old man, but at least Vinekh had re-sheathed his sword.

Hughes held his hands out in front of him, trying to placate the angry dwarf. “It wasn't like that. You sent me to help them, and I had to let them know I was a friend of yours.”

Arnok opened his mouth to retort, but Vinekh spoke first. “Enough! Arnok, you can sort that out later. We don't have the time to do it now.” The dwarf closed his mouth, but he still shot angry looks at Hughes. The thief, for his part, looked like he wanted to find a tree to hide behind. “Hughes. Take our horses and tie them up.”

The thief scurried to obey; he seemed relieved to get out from under the dwarf's glare.

Flare was confused, “I don't want to seem ungrateful, but why did you help us?” Arnok stopped glaring at the thief, and turned to face Flare. “I mean they were offering a lot of money.”

“Money isn't everything.” The dwarf grumbled into his beard.

Just then, there were three short cries of a blue jay. Smiling, and ignoring the confused looks of their guests, Flare raised his hands to his mouth and hooted twice like an owl. A moment later, Atock came over the edge of the hollow, and descended the slope.

Arnok seemed impressed, “Not as dumb as I thought.” He muttered, barely audible, but Flare's elven ears still picked it up.

“So why did you help us?” Flare repeated again.

“For about ten years now, things have been getting worse in Helum. The taxes are quickly becoming unbearable, and new laws have been passed which make the most mundane things a crime. Some of us are trying to resist these changes.” Vinekh said.

“You're rebelling against your king?” Flare asked, amazed. Rebellion was very rare, probably because of the horribly gruesome deaths that the rebels could expect if caught.

He looked uneasy, but Vinekh nodded. “It got even worse starting several years ago. Some foreign prince visited, and ever since then, the king has given him everything he has asked for.”

The first faint tinges of anxiety stirred in Flare's gut. “What foreign prince? What's his name?”

Vinekh shrugged, “It's Zalustus, and I don't even know what kingdom he's from. But I do know one thing. He's trouble.”

“Is he in the city now?” Flare asked quickly, trying to sound calm, but failing miserably. His pulse was racing. Had Zalustus set the bounty on them? What if he had already caught some of the others?

Vinekh tilted his head, as if studying Flare. “No. Why? Do you know him?”

Flare breathed a little easier, he was not yet ready to face Zalustus again. “Yes. We've met. In fact, I'm the reason he has that long scar down the side of his face.”

Vinekh nodded, seeming impressed. “He hasn't been here in a while, lately, he has been sending one of his lieutenants. Normally it's the Lady Jasmine.” The way he said lady made it seem a curse.

“Jasmine?” Flare repeated, “Never heard of her.”

“Then you're a very blessed man.” Arnok mumbled.

Vinekh nodded, “Quite right. She's a horrible woman. Loves torturing people, especially men. People walk softly when she's in the city, and lately she has been in the city far too often. Anyone arrested for a crime, even a minor one, could very easily die at her hands.”

“Describe her.” Atock suggested.

“Slim and very attractive. White blond hair that comes down to her shoulders. Beautiful face, but with cold dead eyes.” Vinekh's manner changed as he spoke, he seemed to be trying hard to force the image of the woman away, to resist it.

Flare nodded, the description fit one of Zalustus' lieutenants that he had seen at Mul-dune; had to be the same one. “I've seen her, but I didn't know her name.” Glancing closer at Vinekh, he asked, “But that still doesn't explain why you helped us. I understand that you are fighting a rebellion but why help us escape?”

“Isn't enough that we helped? Accept it and move on.” Arnok growled.

“No.” Flare shot back, fighting hard to keep his temper under control. The dwarf rough personality was starting to get to him. “I want to know why, at least if you want me to trust you.”

The dwarf hastily opened his mouth, but Vinekh spoke first, shooting a glare at the dwarf as he spoke. “I lost my brother to that evil woman. Anything that she wants, then I will fight to the death to prevent her from getting it.” He paused a moment, letting his words sink in, “And from what I hear, she really wants you.” He pointed at Flare, before glancing at Atock and Philip. “Don't miss-understand me, she also wants the two of you.”

Philip looked puzzled, “Why, though? I mean why does she want us?”

This time it was Flare that answered, “She wants us because Zalustus wants us.”

There was a moment of silence, each of the guardians lost in their own thoughts. Finally, though Arnok broke the silence. “All right, we told you why we helped you. Now it's your turn. Why does that wench Jasmine want you, and why are you in Helum?”

Flare hesitated a moment, wondering how best to answer. It would not be a good idea to tell them everything, but some shouldn't hurt. His gut feeling was that these men could be trusted, and he hoped he was right. “We were supposed to meet some friends here.” He motioned to Arnok with his hand, “The other descriptions that you mentioned.” That was the truth, and he didn't see how telling them that could be harmful.

“Makes sense,” Vinekh said. “But what are you doing after you meet up with these friends of yours?” He was studying Flare closely, obviously searching for any sign of deception.

Once again Flare hesitated, he could not tell them the whole truth, but perhaps a piece of it would be enough. “We are traveling to just south of the
Silver
Mountains
. We are,” He paused, searching for the right word, “spying out the land.”

Vinekh and Arnok both wore expressions of amazement, while the thief just looked frightened. “That country is cursed.” Hughes finally managed to get out. “Why would you go there?”

“We're guardians,” Flare answered. “We're going there to check and make sure the country is still empty. We're concerned about this Prince Zalustus. We have never heard of him before, and he shows up with an army of goblins and such to try and seize
Fort
Mul-dune
. Why would he do that, and where is he from?”

Vinekh was completely shaken by Flare's words. “Guardians! And traveling to Golt!” Golt was one of the names for the area south of the
Silver
Mountains
, and east of the black forest. It was a shortened version of the full name of Golteranth. Vinekh looked flabbergasted, his eyes bulged, and he kept looking from one to the other. This was the first time that he had really looked disturbed, since arriving at the hollow.

Arnok didn't say anything, but he was staring out over his beard, his eyes as big as saucers.

“Does this,” Vinekh stopped and swallowed and started again, “Does this have anything to do with Kelcer?”

Flare had only thought that Arnok and Hughes had looked disturbed before. Arnok now looked fearful at the very mention of the Kelcer name, and Hughes looked down right petrified.

“No.” Flare answered firmly and quickly. Pushing away a tinge of guilt. Was this trip related to Kelcer? He was a fighter who could use magic and sorcery, but he didn't think anyone alive still knew wizardry, and he wouldn't learn it if he could. He swore to himself that he was not the destroyer that Kelcer had prophesied about.

Flare's denial of Kelcer instantly calmed the others down. Vinekh sighed, “Good. May it please Adel that I never live to see that day.”

An inspiration hit Flare. “Vinekh, could you help me find a guide?”

Vinekh's eyebrows shot up. “A guide for Golt. I can not help you there. I doubt anyone from Helum would go there, or admit it if they did.” He shook his head at the wonder of it all.

Arnok looked thoughtful, “True, we don't know anyone that could guide them through Golt, but perhaps ol' Morley could guide them through the
Black forest
.”

“Morley?” Philip asked.

Vinekh nodded, “I hadn't thought about him in a while. He's an old trapper that hunts the
Black forest
. Not many will these days, but he swears by the forest, says it has the best hides and pelts that can be found. The merchants agree with him, too. He always makes good money after a trip to the forest.”

“Where can we find this Morley?” Flare asked.

“He lives in a small cottage way to the east of Helum.” Vinekh studied them for a moment. “Is what you're doing important?”

Flare glanced at Philip and Atock before answering, “Yes. It is. And your Lady Jasmine is desperately trying to stop us.” He threw her name out, because he hoped that would nudge them to help.

Vinekh nodded, and was silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. “Okay. Arnok, will you show them the way to Morley's hut?”

The old dwarf surprised Flare by half bowing, “Yes, my lord.”

“Lord?” Philip burst out, “You didn't say anything about being a lord.”

Vinekh regarded Philip coolly, “I was not aware that it was required of me.” Then he sighed, “I am Lord Vinekh al-Muldaria of the house Muldaria.”

Flare stared at the man. A lord? That explained the man's bearing, but what was a lord doing in a rebellion. And house Muldaria? He had never heard of it, so it couldn't have been too close to the throne. Guardian training could not possibly teach them about every noble house, but they did a good job covering the major ones. “You'll forgive us, but we are surprised that a lord would be involved with a rebellion.”

Vinekh smiled ruefully. “A thousand years ago, my ancestor ruled, and not only Helum but all the way eastward to the forest and all the way westward to the ocean. But that was a long time ago.”

Flare couldn't help himself, “So, is the rebellion to put your family back on the throne?”

Vinekh shook his head, “No. There are men closer to the throne than I, who deserve it at least as much as me.”

Flare was impressed in spite of himself. If Vinekh was telling the truth, it took a good man to admit that there were others around him, who were better than he was. “Sir, can I ask another favor.” At Vinekh's nod, Flare continued, “Our friends should be on their way here. Could you please warn them?”

Vinekh considered for a moment, “It will be difficult. With the bounty that has been placed on you and your friend's heads, everyone will be looking for them. But I will pass the word amongst those that I trust. If one of us sees them first, then we will do what we can for them.”

“Thank you.” Flare said simply, but inside he felt immensely relieved. Perhaps, the other two parties of guardians would get lucky. Perhaps. He chose not to think about them getting caught, it would be too hard to continue. He said a silent prayer that they were all okay.

“Sir, you really need to get back to the city. Otherwise, there may be questions.” Arnok said, looking back towards the road as he spoke.

“It's the winter festival; I probably would not even be missed. And anyway, there are many small parties in the villages around Helum.” Vinekh said grinning, but the grin slipped after a moment, “You are right, of course. Even if there is only a small chance, I can not risk it.” He turned back towards the guardians, “Arnok will see you to Morley. Good luck to you.”

Flare reached out and grasped the offered hand, “Thank you sir. We appreciate your help.”

In the background, Arnok was fussing at Hughes, making him get the horses untied. Vinekh leaned in closer, “Arnok is a little bit gruff. Please don't let him bother you.”

Flare smiled, genuinely liking the man. “Of course not, Sir.”

Chapter 19

The wagon hit a hole or rut in the road, and the wagon bottom seemed to drop away from beneath Heather, only to come rushing back up, all too quickly. She hit the wooden wagon floor hard, the left side of her face bouncing off of the wood, and a groan escaped her.

Being a prisoner was torture for obvious reasons. First, someone was offering a lot of money for the guardians' capture. Second, not only were Aaron, Mikela, and herself in trouble, but for all she knew her fellow guardians could have already been caught, or worse killed. She pushed that thought away roughly. The worst part about this trip was the physical torture. None of Wylon's men had so much as touched them, but they were still physically beat up. They spent the days traveling in the back of this wagon, and their bodies were covered in bruises. Their wrists were one big sore from the ropes chaffing their skin, but the worse part was the gags. The gags were so tight, that it made their jaws hurt and their mouths kept drying out. There was a guard in the wagon with them, and he had orders to give them water occasionally, but Heather was sure that the man had an evil streak. He seemed to delight in withholding the water, and then only giving them a sip or two. She suspected that Jefflem may have had a hand in it. On Wylon's orders, Jefflem had been kept away from the prisoners, but some of the wagon drivers liked the boy.