The Descendants Book One: The Broken Scroll (27 page)

Feeling pleased with himself, he slept well that night, the stars as his blanket. 

Egan told them the next day that there was a small town in the direction they were heading.  It would be where they were going to change direction and head due north into the Greenlands. 

Eventless as the day was, Davin felt that it was dragging on.  They passed the time by creating images out of the giant boulders they came across, but Davin felt impatient for a good meal.  It took them the rest of that day, but by nightfall of the fourth day since Davin’s trials they had passed out of the Pebble Vale and could see the town on the horizon. 

Egan wasn’t kidding.  It looked very small to Davin’s eyes.  There looked to be one short stretch of buildings on either side of a dirt road, and a few outlying houses.  One of the buildings on the street looked rather large, larger than any place in Lemirre.  For a town like this, it certainly stood out and felt out of place.  

“This town is known as Cruud.  It is commonly used as sort of a resting point between the foothills, Slainte, and the Greenlands for folk traveling this way.  There really isn’t much here except one of the most famous pubs in the whole kingdom.”

Davin nodded, figuring it was Cruud based on the descriptions he’d heard of it. 

As they came closer they saw that the large building was also teeming with life.  Each of the building’s three stories seemed to have some sort of activity going on.   The rest of the town felted deserted compared to the commotion going on inside and around it. 

Egan, Davin, and Teague met up with the road that connected this little town to others to the north and south.  It carried them toward the outskirts and they quickly fell into the crowds of nightlife.  Folks paid them no mind except a passing glance.  Many were plainly travelers themselves, appearing worn out and dirty from a day’s ride. 

The town had no town gate and City Guards were nowhere to be seen.  This made the three of them feel better.  In a short manner, they passed the homes on the outskirts and came onto the main street with buildings on both sides. 

What they saw alarmed them.  Several of the buildings had been burned badly.  They were boarded up and were currently unused.  The others looked as if they had been built recently, replacing several that had been condemned. 

“Some of the town was damaged with fire it seems,” Egan whispered just loud of enough for Davin and Teague to hear. 

“Who would do such a thing?” Davin asked. 

“Deverell and his men I would assume,” Teague replied from behind the other men.  Egan gave him an incredulous look. 

             
“That’s not possible.  He wouldn’t dare go this far.  He wouldn’t risk the people turning their backs completely the king.  They need to think that O’Hara still has their best interest at heart.”

             
Teague cleared his throat, as if he had a lot more to say.  “When Deverell was promoted out of the army, I took well note of the fact that he always did things his own way, even in the early time of his promotion.  He always seemed to be able to sway my father to his side without much effort.”

             
Egan gave both of them a skeptical look.  “If that is the case, it was a foolish idea to act this drastically.  Maybe he should show more restraint in the future,” he growled. 

“Do you think he had a purpose for burning this town, or has he just lost his mind?” Davin queried, asking more out of confirmation of his fears.     

“I’m sure he didn’t tell the people his true reason, but I have no doubt it has to do with us,” Egan said. 

Davin scowled.  “I wouldn’t put it past him to do something like this for an even lesser reason.” 

As they walked Davin noticed that they were only receiving odd gazes from the locals, which was fortunately less than majority.   It was as if they were unsure about the three men that had entered their town.  It made Davin nervous and he pointed it out to the others. 

Egan suggested, “Probably better to not keep eye contact with anyone for too long.”

Egan guided them to a garment maker across from the big lively building, suggesting now would be as good a time as any to pick up some fresh clothing. 

Egan addressed the shopkeeper while they perused his racks.  “Strange times we live in, eh?”

The shopkeeper looked up from the parchment he was reading with a surprised look.  “Yes, yes, indeed.”  He bent back over his material, clearly not in the mood for conversation.  

Egan pressed him, “Seems you have had your share of trouble here.  What happened, if I may be so bold as to ask?” 

This time the shopkeeper bore his gaze into Egan.  Egan turned away smoothly as if examining some other clothes.  Davin made ready to leave before the owner got too suspicious.  Luckily, the man relented and his expression softened. 

“That’s the army’s doing, that is.  They came here looking for fugitives with special abilities.  No one had any idea what they was talking about.  Before we knew they was burning things, as if they thought we was lying.”

Egan thanked him for the information.  They bought their necessities and left without incident.  Although, the man at the counter continued to give them uneasy glares all the way out the door. 

“Our guess is confirmed,” Teague said softly as they weaved in and out of the people in front of the large building. 

Egan shook his head in disgust a few times.  “It is sad that it has come to this.  But maybe if Deverell continues his rogue brigade, it will be exactly what the people of this kingdom need to wake up to the truths around them.” 

“
It’s bad enough that my father is not in his right mind,” said Teague.  “But Deverell appears to be just as bad. 

They headed up the wide steps to the building.  There was a large sign to the left of the doorway.  In gold lettering it read “The Golden Outpost, Pub and Inn, Home of the Best Brew and Rest for You”. 

Clever,
Davin thought as they entered.  The pub was massive.  It took up the entire ground floor of the building.  The place was a buzz with conversation.  People sat and drank while they played various types of games, most of which lead to more drinking.  There were some games that were played on a board with pieces that Davin had never seen before.  And there was even a small stage at one end of the building, providing the pub’s hired thespians a place to perform at various times.

All manner of folk seemed to come to this place.  There were men and woman of wealth and then just the opposite one table over.  The drunkards sat around the bar and scantily clad woman walked around serving everyone.  Harmless flirtations by the serving girls kept many of the men entertained.  The pubs in Lemirre were nothing like this and Davin stood flabbergasted, taking it all in.   

Wherever they could work gold into the color scheme, it was used.  From the bar itself to the handrail on the stairway leading upstairs, the owner had taken the opportunity to make sure he lived up to the pub’s name.  In fact, the only area that seemed unaffected by the color of choice was the walls.  They remained the unassuming, dark brown wooden hue. 

As the three of them meandered through the tables, Davin noticed the smell was even unique.  It was a musky fragrance combined with the mouth-watering aroma of fresh cooked steaks. 

“We cannot eat down here, gentlemen,” Egan said softly, as they salivated over the good food smells.  “We will rent a room and bring food up to us if you so desire.”

“Are you sure its going to be a problem being down here?  Since we came in, no one has even noticed our presence,” Davin complained, still taking in all of the sights and smells. 

Egan grabbed Davin’s arm and stopped him to make sure he was listening.  Davin jumped at the sudden movement.  Egan continued peering around the room as he spoke. 

“That’s when things are most dangerous, when you are off your guard.  There are enough people in here that we cannot tell who is paying attention to us and who isn’t,” Egan answered. 

They found their way through the crowd and headed up the stairs.  At the top and to the left was a counter with an old man behind it.  It looked to be where they would rent a room. 

“Here we go,” Egan exclaimed at the sight, just loud enough for Teague and Davin to hear. 

Never once having made eye contact with the man, Egan secured their stay.  It hadn’t looked too difficult though.  The old man barely noticed there was someone standing in front of him.  Egan probably could have told the man he was a Descendent and the fugitive the army was looking for.  It wouldn’t have made any difference. 

Once they had settled Davin headed downstairs to place the order for their food.  The atmosphere hadn’t changed.  People were still everywhere and he had trouble getting service. When he did finally get the food and drinks he didn’t have any better a time carrying it all back through the crowds.  He wished now either Teague or Egan had come with him. 

He was about to take the first step up the stairs when he felt an arm reach around him and covered his mouth.  A raspy female voice sounded softly behind him.  He didn’t recognize it. 

“Meet me back down here at first hour, alone.  We have much to talk about.  Do not tell your friends about me.  Go.”  She released him and he started quickly up the stairs.  He tried to turn around and identify the stranger but she had already lost herself back in the crowd. 

How the food hadn’t been compromised by all his jostling he didn’t know.  When Davin arrived back at the room with dinner, he debated telling Egan and Teague about this strange woman despite what she had told him.  Surely, Egan would try to keep him from going if he said anything.  It wasn’t that he wasn’t wary about this stranger’s intentions, but curiosity had won him over.  And he was a Descendant, he could handle one woman. 

Not if she catches you
off guard. 

Davin watched the moon outside their window slowly drift until he knew it was past first hour in the morning.  He had taken the guard duties for the first part of the night.  That meant that the others were asleep, which made things much easier. 

He got up and tip toed out the door.  As he descended the stairs he heard the sounds of casual conversation enter his ears. 

He looked around for the mystery woman.  The pub was somewhat less crowded.  There were actually some empty tables sprinkled around the room, and the ambient noise wasn’t as overbearing anymore. 

He touched the last step and heard someone call his name.  It made his heart pound for a moment.  He realized it was the woman from earlier.  She was sitting just right of the stairs and her head was covered by a cloak. 

“Come sit,” she told him.  Davin did as he was told, though still unsure of the woman’s intentions. 

“Who are you?” he said as he sat down. 

“You should know,” her voice sounded different now, more familiar.  She pulled down her cloak and Davin gasp.  It was Roland’s wife, his godmother.

“Niahm!’ he shouted, louder than he should have.  And then he caught himself.  Speaking softer, he asked, “By the Ancients, why on earth are you here?”

She spoke in the warm soothing voice Davin had known all his life. 

“I have been running,” she said bluntly.  “I’m sure you have done your share as well.”  There was underlying sadness in her tone.  It made Davin nervous.  She also looked very tired and puffy around the eyes.  What happened with Roland was probably still weighing heavy on her. 

“Running from what?  Are you being chased by the army too?” Davin wanted to ask a million other questions but figured it was best to take it slow.  She looked around and then lowered her voice and came closer to him. 

“A lot has happened lately, Davin.  When you escaped, First Captain Deverell grew furious and told his men to burn Lemirre to ashes.  They succeeded.  Every wooden structure is gone.  Little was left after they were done.  Deverell proceeded to question everyone about your whereabouts.  When no one said they knew where you were, he killed many of us.” 

Davin lowered his head and shook it violently.  “All of this suffering is my fault.  If I hadn’t have stood up for Roland none of this-,”

Niahm grabbed his arm.  “If you hadn’t have stood up for Roland, he would have surely died.  No one blames you for our suffering.  The king wants your power for one reason or another.  You couldn’t allow yourself to be taken captive.”

Surprise grew on Davin’s face.  “You know what I am?” 

She nodded.  “Yes.  It is impossible to tell a Descendent of who they are until they are of age.  That was why we never told you before.  Even if we wanted to, our mouths wouldn’t have been allowed to say the words.  You’re mother was very open about her gifts to us as long as we kept it secret.  She believed she was the only one left of your kind.  And she was it seems, except for their son.”

“There is one other.  I am traveling with him.  And we are trying to find any that might still be alive before O’Hara does.”  Davin heart thudded with excitement at his next question. 

His mother had been the same, a Descendant, which meant all of the abilities that went along with it.  And why wouldn’t she be?  It was passed down by blood for hundreds of generations.  That opened up a whole list of options.  She would definitely have more of a chance of still being alive.  He thought about where they might be until it occurred to him that he was still in the middle of a conversation.