The Auric Insignia (3 page)

     He woke with a jolt, like rustled from a bad dream, his heart was pounding and his body was covered in a cold sweat. He had fallen asleep leaning against the wall next to the bed, trying to stay awake. Rubbing his face, he resisted his body’s urgent demand to return to the floor. Whilst steadying himself against the wall, he inspected the dormant face that stuck up above the covers. She was asleep, and breathing, he saw with relief. Whilst reprimanding himself for these unorthodox sleeping positions of late and the number they did on his back, he made his way over to the pantry to start making something to eat. He scrounged up some dried deer meat and some dush roots, planning to make a stew. Going out to get some water from his reserve, he glanced up towards the sky, noting that the sun was set low to the east, indicating that they had slept through the remainder of the previous day and had kept on sleeping all throughout the night.

     - What have you gotten yourself into........

     Once he had gotten the fire burning again, a somewhat pleasant smell began to spread through the small house. This time he chose to wake his unconventional guest instead of being scared to death once more. He poured a bowl of stew and threw in a chunk of torn bread joined by a wooden spoon. He carefully opened the door to the bedroom as not to startle her, but to his surprise he found her awake, sitting up, waiting for him.

     - So what are we having?

     - You’re awake!?

     - Obviously, good morning to you too!

     - Hilarious, truly. How long have you been up?

     - Oh I woke up when someone blundered out of here an hour or so ago.

     Roarke grimaced a smile and handed her the bowl.

     - It’s nothing fancy but it will fill your stomach.

     - Thank you. What’s that meat? Elk? No wait, deer right?

     - Yes that’s right. That’s not a problem is it? The meat I mean, I didn’t murder a friend or something?

     - Killing for food isn’t murder, it’s survival, so no the meat isn’t a problem. I’ve dabbled in carnivorous cuisine before.

     - Good, I didn’t want to offend.

     - How did you catch it, I mean don’t humans use tools, weapons to hunt?

     - True, most hunters use a bow but I’m a lousy shot so I rely heavily on my snares.

     Before he could continue, she had leapt from the bed and grasped him by the throat, pressing him against the wall.

     - You use snares!?

     - What the fuck is wrong with you?! Let me go!

     - Answer me!

     - Yes, I told you! I can’t hit any...

     - The snare that hurt me, the metal one, was it yours?

     - Y-yes.

     The lack of air made Roarke’s head throb with pain as  he tried to fight her grip.

     - I knew I couldn’t trust you, you’re a spy assigned to guard the borders towards the Kappian realm!

     - What are you talking about?!

     - The snare, it was poisoned with Eitr.

     - I don’t know what that is!

     - Lies....

     - Why would I poison my snares? Ir doesn’t make any sense, the meat would be useless.

     - Sustenance isn’t your mission.

     - I don’t have any mission. I had just bought those snares because they came recommended.

     Her resolve broke and doubt began seeping in through the cracks, making her loosen her grip.

     - Who!?

     - Brock.

     - Who’s Brock?

     - The smith in town. He recommended them, he promised these wouldn’t brake. You have to believe me, I saved you, didn’t I?

     Her grip loosened even more until her claws finally released his now sore throat. Roarke dropped to the floor, coughing violently.

     - For a second there I thought you were going to kill me.

     - I was.

***

Hello smith

- So tell me, Brock, what kind of man is he?

     They were sitting outside the house, he on his chair and she on the ground. Roarke sipped the brew he had made from herbs to calm his aching throat.

     - Like I said, he’s the local smith.

     - I mean is he dangerous?

     - He’s strong as an ox from working the forge his whole life, but he is no warrior if that’s what you mean.

     - There are far greater dangers than brute strength.....

     Her eyes seemed to drift, though Roarke found it hard to tell. Those black eyes made it seem like she saw nothing and everything at the same time. Time passed with nothing said and Roarke gave up hope that she would continue. Even if he was curious, he didn’t want it to seem as if he was. Roarke was like that, he got curious like any other, he got cold, tired and felt everything everybody else felt, but he denied it, he denied the world to see who he really was. He wanted to be viewed as unmoved by the currents of life, a blank slate, more like a sculpture of a man than an actual one. A stone figure, disengaged from the rest of the world, untouched and unaffected. This had always been the case for as long as he had had a personality to speak of, whether or not the world was fooled could be debated however.

     There they sat, close in body but remote in mind, the silence of the forest resting like a blanket over them, until Korri’s voice cut through.

     - I have to see this man.

     - Why?

     - He may information, information vital to the Kappian cause.

     - Motivation aside, how are you going to get to him? I mean sure, the security is basically nonexistent but I think someone will notice if a giant squirrel walks into town.

     - As if you bald monkeys are normality incarnate.

     - Monkeys?

     - Never mind, don’t worry about it. As for the smith, we will go in the cover of darkness.

     - We!?

     - Unless you have something better to do?

     She smiled a toothy grin showcasing her murine teeth. She had called his bluff, forcing him to either admit his interest and go with her or vehemently deny and stay behind. Annoyed with himself and the fact that he had been unsuccessful in hiding his true feelings, he caved with an audible sigh.

     - Fine.......

     - Great, then I don’t have to force you. We leave when the moon stands at its highest.

     Sitting in a tree overlooking the village they made an odd sight for anyone watching. Roarke had reluctantly climbed up after Korri wouldn’t stop insisting that this was the easiest way to get a grasp on the outlay of the village. Blatantly ignoring the fact that Roarke was ill-equipped to climb any tree, let alone a tall one. Whilst holding on to an overhanging branch, knuckles turning white, Roarke slowly pointed with his free hand.

     - You see that house there? The big one with the extra large chimney.

     - What’s a chimney?

     - The big smoking tower thingie on the roof.

     - Yes of course, why didn’t you just say so?

     Roarke rolled his eyes and took a deep breath, planting his other hand on the branch as well.

     -Yeah well anyway, that’s Brock’s smithy and he lives in the back with his wife Jennifer.

     Being a village consisting of workers, people of sparse means, early nights was generally the norm, as such, the dirt streets were empty except for one lone guardsmen on duty for the night. Sitting by a brazier in the town square, he hardly seemed to pay much attention to his surroundings. His position was one of tradition, the night shift was divided between the able bodied men and women of the village. Situated so remote, the chances of bandits raiding was so low that the main job was to look out for fires and to sound the alarm should the livestocks be attacked by predators, trying their luck in the dark.

     - Okay, I’ve seen enough, lets go.

     Having formulated a plan, she pushed herself off from where she had been sitting. Clearing every branch on the way down, she landed gracefully sixty feet below.

     - Showoff......

     With clammy hands, Roarke started his descent, hurrying to catch up, he nearly slipped on the moss that covered the arms of tree. As he was nearing the forest floor, he stepped on a patch of bark that gave way, causing him to slide off the branch. Before he could compensate and steady himself, he fell the remaining distance, landing on the only rock protruding from the earth within viewing distance.

     - Fucking piss, shit, ass, shit.

     - Are you done yet?

     Biting his lip to suppress a retort to the amusement he had heard in her question, he got on his feet and joined Korri as she waited by the treeline.

     - We’ll chance an eastern route through the houses and hope we don’t come across anyone, rather than risk being spotted the sentry. Observant or not, even a blind hen will find a grain of corn once in a while.

     Between them and Brock’s smithy were residential houses, four of which they would have to pass within close proximity of.

     - Does he have more than one entrance?

     - How would I know!?

     - You’ve been there!

     - Yes in the front, in the store, buying supplies. Jennifer is not so beautiful I have had to bother with learning any other entrance.

     Korri gave him a look of bewilderment.

     - What do you mean?

     - Oh never mind, I guess it’s likely he has a back door, considering the size of his house.

     - It’s likely!?

     - What do you want me to say? I don’t notice stuff like that, before tonight that information would not have served any purpose.

     Shaking her head in disbelief, Korri set off, quiet as the night itself and before Roarke had gotten halfway, she was already hugging the side of the first house. They ran along the side wall until they had an open patch of ground before the next house. Once again Korri took the lead and rushed across the open space, halting without a sound. Roarke, not being quite as light on his feet, struggled to keep up and still remain silent. With only the moon and the shine of some distant torches to light his way, it was a wonder he could make his way at all. As they rounded the corner, that luck had run out. Hidden in the dark was a water trough, not seeing it until it was too late, Roarke ran into it and fell in with the sound of the splash bouncing off the walls.

     - Who’s there?

     Roarke twitched his head towards the sound, frantically blinking to get the water out of his eyes. When his sight regained its focus in the new light, he saw an old lady standing over him, lantern in hand, squinting with a concerned look on her face.

     - Roarke, is that you? You scared the life out of me, I thought it was the woodfolk coming to get me!

     It was old lady Gumma, the oldest person in the village. Gumma had been a friend of Roarke’s parents and she had always been good to him. By the looks of it, it seemed she had been on her way out to the outhouse when she had heard the commotion.

     - Oh,.... hi there.

     - Roarke dearie, what are you doing in the pig’s water trough?

     Panicking, trying to come up with a story that explained his situation, he remembered Korri. He looked around him, searching for her slender silhouette. To his relief he didn’t see her anywhere, grateful that he didn’t have to explain magic and talking animal-people as well. His alleviation was brief however, as something caught his eye, hovering above the roof of the outhouse. Like twin silver orbs, the moon was reflected in something hidden in the dark, a creature perched atop the small roof, ready to pounce, should the situation require it.

     - Roarke dear, can you hear me?

     Realizing he had not said anything, he tried the first thing that came to mind.

     - Helllo Guuuumma, rhow are you thivsz eeevening?

     - I’m fi.....

     - Good good, goooood, Aim gladd you’ree guud. Nooew Aim szorry Gummps butt Ai Kan’t stai and talk, okaaaai? Aim a veeery bezy purson u no. Ai justz popped iiin fo’ a quciz drrrink an’ naaow ai musssst bee off.

     - But ...

     - Nooooo buttz!, wale Aivz gott won an’ uwe gott won, butt nooo moar dan thoze. Butt wat r uuuz dooingg aout att thiz ouuur!? A voman offf ure achge chud beeeinn bedd, u cudd catzh a kould!

     Before the old lady knew what was happening, he had ushered her inside and closed the door behind her.

     - Phew.......

     He waited quietly to see if she would reemerge from the door but as seconds started turning into minutes, the door remained closed, suggesting the old lady had taken his advice and gone to bed. He released the air he had been holding in, water dripping down his face as he searched the roof of the outhouse, hoping to catch the attention of his soon to be, partner in crime. Only the coal black velvet of night met his gaze, leaving him unsure of how to proceed next. As he stood there deciding the course of action, his intellections were interrupted by a figure breaking free from the darkness in front of him.

     - Are you coming or what?

     They passed the final house before the smithy without incident and as they crossed a larger path before arriving at their terminus, Roarke noticed that the building did indeed have a back entrance. Sharing this observation, Korri changed her trajectory towards the door that stood between them and a yet blissfully ignorant smith. Coming closer, Roarke saw to his dismay that the door was of the heavier variety, worthy of a smith. Brock, being one of the more wealthy inhabitants of the village, had taken precautions. With boasting superfluous to a regular farmer, he had had a heavy oak door fashioned, outfitted with his own high quality steel bolts.

     - For fuck sake, a steel bolted oak door! By the size of those fittings it looks to be eight - ten inches thick, we will never get trough this.

     Not sharing any of his concerns, Korri proceeded to use her clawed hands to remove the wood into which the bolts had been secured. Her strength and lancinating claws made short work of the tough wooden fibers. When she had exposed the metal workings she showed a feat of superhuman vigor as she wrenched the contraption from the wood. A feat that not only impressed Roarke but also reminded him of something he had forgotten, however unlikely, she wasn’t human.

     - Once we enter here there will be no stopping until we are done, do you understand?

     - Yes

     - Your mission will be to deal with the wife, this Jennifer. I’m fast but I’d rather focus my attention where it’s needed.

     - Okay, got it.

     - No screaming, no running away to get help. I don’t want to hurt anyone if we can avoid it but I will if I have to.

     - I get it.

     - Good, let’s go.

     She slowly opened the door to avoid alerting their targets of their presence, every muscle tense, a huntress on the prowl. Roarke admired her ferocity, the primal force in her eyes that demanded respect and inspired fear. Without a sound she set off in a blur, vanishing into the dark of the house. Roarke followed as fast and quietly as he could, closing the door behind them. Well inside they quickly located the bedroom where they found the smith and his wife sleeping. Fueled by powers unknown, Korri wrenched the large man from his bed, slamming him against the wall. The thud woke Jennifer from her slumber as Roarke descended upon her, his hand barely reaching her mouth as a scream bounced against the palm of his hand. Her panicked eyes seeking his, searching for an answer to her misery but only finding confusion. Fear infusing her, she kicked and wriggled in a futile attempt to free herself. As Roarke’s second arm closed around her body, she was completely trapped. Meanwhile, Korri had hoisted Brock by the neck, her claws digging into his skin, only allowing the shallowest of breaths.

     - Hello smith.

     Her voice shooting clarity into a moment of chaos, the sleep drained from his eyes and they focused on hers. Seeing his attacker in the dim light of the smoldering embers exerting their last life force in the small brazier on the other side of the room, the blood vanished from his face in the presence of this monster from his darkest nightmare.

     - Your life, and that of Jennifer over there, are in my hands. If you do as I say and answer my questions, you may return to your life relatively unscathed. Understood?

     She loosened her grip as to allow a an answer.

     - What the fuck ar...

     His question was cut off by fingers that might as well have been made of steel, constricting his windpipe.

     - I want answers, not questions. Okay now let’s try this again, do you understand?

     - Y-yes.

     - Good, now then. Do you see that man over there by your wife? You sold him some snares a while back, tell me about them.

     First now noticing Roarke, Brock looked at Roarke with a mixture of confusion and betrayal on his face.