The Broken Key (02) - Hunter of the Horde (7 page)

“Sorry you had to join to find out,” Bart said.

“I’m not,” replied Chad. “I enjoy being a member of the Guild, it sure beats grinding flour all day.”

“And herding sheep,” added Riyan. “But I’m not without hope that this could still lead to the information we need.”

“Oh?” asked Bart.

Riyan moved closer and lowered his voice still further. “The Guild has an archive on the third floor with dozens of old tomes which most likely hold the information. I tried to gain admittance but was turned away.”

“There’s an old fighter who runs it by name of Stryntner,” Chad explained.

“Maybe there’s a way to get on his good side?” suggested Bart.

“If there is I haven’t heard of it,” replied Riyan.

“Hmm,” Bart said as he grew quiet and introspective. “Maybe I’ll see what I can come up with.” Turning his eyes back to the other two he added, “Ask around, that sort of thing.”

“If you want to,” Riyan said. “But he didn’t seem like he was all that sociable.” Bart shrugged. “Who knows? Can’t hurt to try.”

Chad kept his voice low as he asked, “If we are unable to gain access to the Archives, what’s our next course of action?”

“I’ve been thinking on that for some time,” Bart said. “I paid a visit to Thyrr while I was in Wardean and managed to find out the name and location of the man to whom he sold most of those silver coins he fenced for you two.”

“Oh?” asked Riyan.

“The guy’s a collector of all things associated with the King’s Horde,” explained Bart. “In fact, he took part in the hunt thirty years ago when that last large batch of coins was found.”

“You think he might know something?” asked Chad.

“From what Thyrr said, the man’s been pursuing the Horde ever since he caught the fever thirty years ago. I don’t know who else would know more about it.” Bart sat back in his chair and gazed at his two companions. Then he glanced around the foyer to make sure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation. When it didn’t appear anyone had he turned back to the others. “I’m going to drop in on Kevik, then see what I can learn about this Stryntner. See if he has a weak spot we can take advantage of.”

“Take your time,” Riyan told him. “It’ll be nine more days before we’ll be able to leave the Guild’s grounds.”

“I’ll be back in a day or so and let you know what I found out,” he said then stood up.

“Okay, good luck,” offered Riyan. After standing up as well, he patted Bart on the back. He and Chad then escorted him over to the door and said their final goodbyes.

Once Bart was out the door, Chad and Riyan returned to their barrack and promptly fell asleep. The added exertion of another hour with the fat-uglies had really wiped them out.

Bart left the Guild behind and headed out to Kevik’s. After Riyan and Chad had told him what transpired at the inn, he wanted to make sure he was alright. To be sure that was not his primary reason for seeing Kevik, he needed his help with something.

It didn’t take him long to reach the road leading out to Kevik’s place. By this time, the sun had begun its descent to the horizon and the shadows were growing long. When Kevik’s tower came into sight, he saw light coming from the third floor window. As he had expected, the rest of the estate was dark.

“Kevik!” he hollered as he approached the tower’s door.

From the third floor window Kevik stuck his head out and grinned when he saw Bart approaching. “Didn’t know you had returned,” he hollered.

“Let me in,” Bart shouted up to him, “and I’ll tell you about it.”

“Be right down,” Kevik told him just before his head disappeared back into the tower.

A minute later the tower door opened and he waved Bart in. “Good to see you again.”

“You too Kevik,” he replied. Passing through the doorway, he paused a second as he waited for Kevik to shut and lock the door. “Heard there was some excitement last night?”

Kevik threw the lock and turned back to him. His face was split in a grin and he nodded. “I take it you just came from seeing Riyan and Chad?” he asked.

“That’s right,” Bart replied. “They said when the fight was over, you were nowhere to be found.”

Kevik shrugged. “When the fight first broke out, I scurried on my hands and knees straight to the door,” he admitted.

“That wasn’t very courageous,” Bart accused.

“No, I suppose it wasn’t,” he replied. Kevik then began moving to the stairs leading up into the tower. “But the last thing I wanted to do was to become embroiled in a fight.

I’m not what you would call skilled in such things.” As they reached the second floor landing, he paused and turned back to Bart. “I suppose I could have started throwing spells around, but was afraid that might have changed the temper of the fight.” Bart nodded, “I see your point.”

Kevik turned and continued up the stairs. “Shortly after I made it to safety, members of the town watch showed up and hauled everyone off to jail,” he explained. “Didn’t know what else to do so came back here.”

“You could have gone to the jail and tried to get them out,” said Bart.

“An apprentice magic user without a master?” he asked. “In what way could I have swayed them?”

Bart followed Kevik the rest of the way to the third floor. He could see the logic behind what Kevik had said, and of all the professions out there, magic users tended to follow logic’s doctrine more than any other. Once on the third floor he saw the staff lying on the table in the middle of the room.

“Still haven’t finished with that yet?” he asked.

“Getting closer,” replied Kevik. “There’s one more binding spell that I have to master then I’ll have it.”

“Will you make your attempt to become a Practitioner once you’re done?” inquired Bart.

“It won’t be too long after that,” he said.

“I’m glad for you,” replied Bart.

“Everything in Wardean turn out well?” Kevik asked. He crossed the room to a table set against the wall and sat down. He motioned for Bart to take one of the other seats across from him.

“As well as could be expected,” Bart replied. “The death mark is no more thank goodness.”

Kevik grinned and nodded.

“But I didn’t really come here to find out about your staff or how you had fared last night,” he admitted. He pulled his pack off and set it on the table before him. Reaching in, he removed the cloak that had been found in the treasure room beneath the Ruins of Algoth. “I think I know what this does but I would like you to do an identification on it if you wouldn’t mind.”

Kevik took the cloak set it before him. “What is it you think it does?” he asked.

Bart gazed at him a moment then said, “I think it’s a Cloak of Concealment.”

“What gave you that idea?” asked Kevik. He was surprised. A Cloak of Concealment was a wondrous thing, very rare indeed.

“Nothing in particular,” replied Bart.

Kevik could tell Bart hadn’t told him everything, but he owed Bart for the times he had saved his life since their first meeting. “Very well,” he finally said. “As you know, my spell doesn’t yield a great deal of information.”

“I understand,” Bart told him. Frankly, if he hadn’t spent all but a few silvers on the death mark, he would have bought a scroll for this instead of coming to him. But, seeing as how he was in the neighborhood and all…

Kevik settled himself comfortably in the chair then placed a hand over the cloak. All of a sudden, the cloak began to glow blue and he turned inward as the scene played across his mind’s eye:

His vision was slightly obscured as he watched a man passing by no more than a foot
in front of him. Then the scene changed…Two men fought. Their swords clanging as
blows were blocked. Then one was skewered and fell. Once again the scene shifted and it
felt as if a century or more had passed. He looked up and saw the light go out as a
chest’s lid closed over him.

Returning to the here and now, he opened his eyes and the blue glow that had enveloped the cloak faded away. He related to Bart what he had seen in the vision.

“That first part sounded like it could mean that someone had been hidden in the cloak while another passed by,” Bart said. Taking the cloak, he stood up and placed it around his shoulders. “Once when I had this on, a friend of mine passed by without acknowledging me,” he explained. “Tell me what happens when I put the hood over my head.”

“As you wish,” Kevik replied.

Bart backed up to the wall behind him. When he felt his back touch it, he took the hood and placed it over his head.

Kevik shook his head, “I can still see you.”

“Hmm,” murmured Bart. “Do you have any idea how something like this would work?”

“No,” Kevik told him. “I haven’t researched much in the way of enchanted items and their properties. Been too busy with my staff.” He saw how the front of the cloak was open and suggested that Bart pull that closed as well.

As soon as Bart pulled the front together, the cloak changed and blended into the wall like a chameleon. “Anything?” asked Bart.

“That did it,” he said. “If I didn’t know you were there, I would never even realize it.

There is a faint outline, barely discernible to the eye. I doubt if anyone not looking for it would notice.” The cloak had not only disguised itself, but had somehow affected the parts of Bart, such as his legs, feet, and hands that were not covered by the cloak.

From Bart’s point of view, nothing’s changed. He could still see himself well enough.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

Kevik grinned. “Oh yes,” he replied. “It worked beautifully. That cloak would be worth a fortune to the right person. Want me to try so you can see what it looks like?” Bart opened the cloak back up and the effect vanished. “Yes, if you don’t mind?” He removed the cloak and handed it over to Kevik.

Coming from the table, Kevik took the cloak and set it around his shoulders. He placed the hood over his head and brought together the front just as he had seen Bart do.

“How’s this?” he asked.

“No change,” Bart said. “I can still see you.”

Kevik tried pulling the hood further over his face and worked to get as much of the cloak’s front together as he could, but still the effect didn’t materialize. “What am I doing wrong?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” Bart said. Then he came forward and retrieved his cloak. Once again, he donned it with the hood over his head. As soon as he pulled the front together, he disappeared.

“You’re gone again,” Kevik told him.

“Interesting,” Bart said.

Kevik pointed to the small adjoining room with his bed and said, “I have a mirror in there if you want to see for yourself.” He was able to keep an eye on the outline surrounding Bart for half a second before losing him. Then he heard Bart’s voice coming from the other room. “It worked!” He was about ready to join him in the other room when Bart suddenly materialized in the doorway as he removed the cloak.

“This is fantastic!” he exclaimed.

“Should come in handy for someone in your profession,” Kevik observed.

Bart nodded. “Thank you for your help,” he said. Once the cloak was off, he put it in the bottom of his pack under the other items he was carrying.

“Certainly,” Kevik said. “Would you care to stay for awhile?”

“Sorry,” Bart said. “There’s some information I need to dig up in town that Riyan needs. Be back later.”

“Plenty of room in the estate,” Kevik said. “And it’s for free. May as well stay in the same room you did when we first arrived here.”

“I’ll do that,” he replied. “Won’t be back until late.” Kevik nodded as he started to escort him back down to the door.

“Why do you suppose it didn’t work for you?” Bart asked.

“I’m not sure,” he replied. “Maybe it’s keyed to work for only specific types of people.”

“You mean thieves and such?” questioned Bart.

“I’ve come across passages in old tomes that I’ve been researching for my staff which mentioned situations like that,” he explained. “Sometimes an item is commissioned not by an individual but by a Guild. So if the Thieves Guild were to commission a cloak such as the one you’re carrying, it would stand to reason they wouldn’t want it to fall in the hands of another Guild.”

“Sounds plausible,” Bart said. “I don’t really care though so long as it works for me.” They arrived at the ground floor and Kevik opened the door for him. Outside, the sun had gone down but the sky wasn’t completely dark yet. “Be careful,” he said as Bart passed through the door.

“Try not to stay cooped up in your tower all the time,” responded Bart.

Kevik laughed, they said their goodbyes, and then he shut the door as Bart began heading back to Gilbeth.

Two days later, another of the runners came to them just after their punishment drill and told them they had a visitor. After donning their swords, they went and found Bart waiting for them in the foyer.

He watched them approach and could see their sweat drenched bodies. “Towel off or something next time,” he said as they sat down opposite him. “You look a sight.” They looked at each other as if for the first time and realized just how bad their appearance was. Then they glanced around and noticed several disapproving stares directed at them for appearing in the foyer that way. There was no specific rule about dress in the foyer, but obviously they were expected to have a suitable amount of decorum when there. After all, this was where outsiders and Guild members visited with each other.

“You two aren’t going to get into trouble again are you?” Bart asked.

“Lord I hope not,” Chad replied.

Riyan did his best to ignore the glances that came their way and asked, “So, did you find out anything about Stryntner?”

“Actually yes,” he replied. “Seems he’s got this thing for young men…” Riyan’s face blanched as Bart trailed off.

Then Bart suddenly laughed aloud and said, “Just kidding. He prefers women, he was married after all.”

Chad joined in the laughter at Riyan’s expense. “Very funny,” he said, not smiling at all.

“Sorry, couldn’t help myself,” Bart said before getting his amusement under control.