Ascent of the Unwanted (The Chronicle of Unfortunate Heroes Book 1) (19 page)

They continued through the small town and out towards the road which carved its way through the hills. “Do you think this has anything to do with why we are here?” Erik asked Lawt.

“Lack of maintaining drainage and malnourished people are alarming but I think this is just the beginning of what we are going to see. Remember, we can’t get bogged down with the small items no matter how tragic or we won’t solve the real problem.”

“You’re here to investigate something?” Miranda asked.

“We have heard reports of trouble,” Lawt said.

“That is trouble. I grew up two towns from here. Olumar was never a wealthy village but it never looked like that. And then there is that tree as we entered the town.”

“You’re right. We need to get to the next town and see what is going on there. It could be localized. If the next town looks better we can come back,” Erik said.

They traveled on and a few hours before sunset they came across telltale farms signifying another village was drawing near. The farms looked as disheveled as the ones they had seen before. The houses again were run down and the fields poorly maintained. “It is as if they don’t know how to take care of themselves,” Ramona said.

When they made it to the town things were not any better than the last village. The roads were not as muddy but it was apparent the town had not been maintained. There were more people in the town, and more of those men in the green and white tunics.

“Erik, I think I know why things look the way they are, at least partly,” Ramona said. “Except for the men in green I have not seen any man between the age of twelve and fifty in these towns. The workforce is gone. It is as if they left the women and children at home and just disappeared. They are trying to keep up but with double the work and probably half the knowledge it’s overwhelming them.”

“What about the man with the girl in the last village?” Erik asked.

“Did you notice his limp? He got to that girl as fast as he could but he could not run,” Ramona said. “So I should say, every
able
-bodied man is gone.”

“It’s getting late, Erik. Should we look for an inn?” Lawt asked.

“Yes, we better do that. Keep your heads up though, we don’t want any accidents. Look for anything else you think is out of place.”

The Swinging Lantern gave them a cold welcome. The lady of the establishment moved gingerly behind the counter as they entered but barely looked up to recognize their entrance. The party moved to the empty main room and sat themselves to await service.

It was a while before an old man approached them. One eye was milked over and blind but the other was sharp and cautious. “The Father Oak grants us patrons. It has been too long. Thank you for coming, how may I help thee?” The old man asked.

“We would like some food and lodging for the night please. What are your rates?” Erik stated.

“We will be happy to give what we have, as is the teachings of the Father Oak. All receive what they need to survive. May he overlook our past transgressions and deem us worthy.”

As the old man left three men in the green and white tunics opened the door. They walked into the common room and took a far table. They looked at the party and spoke quietly amongst themselves.

“I am guessing they are the local version of authority,” Oswald said.

“So it would appear,” Lawt said without looking away from the new additions to the room.

Suddenly one of the men stood up and walked to where the old man had gone.

“And it appears they are used to prompt service.” Erik said.

“Erik, these people are afraid of the green tunics,” Miranda added.

“Why do you say that?” Ramona asked.

“You can see it in the way the men walk. The way they are always alone. No one approaches them, they do the approaching. When they look at people the people cower away like beaten dogs. They are trying to hide it but it is there.”

“He is coming back. That did not take long,” Lawt said.

The entire table turned to see the man in green. His look was angry and his gaze was on them as they turned to look. “This looks like trouble,” Lawt whispered.

The old man with the milky eye walked up to the table and cleared his throat meekly to get some attention. “Sir?”

Erik turned to the old man. “Yes, my good man.”

“I am afraid that I misspoke. We can offer your party gruel and a room, at the cost of…” he looked over at the man in green briefly, then at Erik, “Five gold.”

“Outrageous!” Ramona said standing up.

Erik laid his hand on Ramona’s arm and coaxed her to her seat.

“We thank you for your hospitality. We would welcome what you have to offer.”

The old man left as fast as he appeared but Miranda had kept her gaze on the three men in green. They had all stood up when Ramona stood. Their hands went straight for the hilts on their belts.

“I think we need to leave,” Lawt said.

“Yes I think you’re right,” Erik said. “We are better off camping on the road than sleeping here tonight.”

Erik stood up and left the five gold on the table. The party walked out of the inn but Miranda looked back at where they had been sitting. The one man in green had walked to the table and scraped the gold coins into his hands with a smile.

They mounted and rode out of town. “At least there wasn’t another oak tree,” Ramona said as soon as the town was out of sight.

“I think you spoke too soon,” Oswald said.

On the right side of the road, in the middle of a large clearing, was a mountainous oak. In its branches the dead swung in the evening breeze. “This can account for some of the missing men, but only a small percentage of them,” Oswald said. “I suggest we sleep with one eye open tonight.”

They had ridden as far as the large dog Sampson could run. The poor dog, no matter how big and sturdy, was no match for a galloping horse. They were still able to put miles between them and the last village Miranda had named Briarbard.

The puzzles of the day occupied Ramona’s head. One, there were no men of working age except the men in authority, and fear ran rampant through the villages. Two, no signs of wealth or any signs of maintenance at all, while dead men hung in bunches on old oak trees. Three, the man in the Swinging Lantern had mentioned a Father Oak. Who, or what, was Father Oak? Their mission was for the supernatural. None of this fit a supernatural cause. It was horrible but mundane.

Ramona hated guard duty, but then she doubted anyone liked being forced awake from a cozy bedroll to shiver in the dark. Ramona whipped her head around hearing a sound carried on the wind. She waited. The darkness could play games and tug at her fears but it had sounded like a moan. She listened, peering into the darkness. The cloudy night drove away any help the moon might offer. There it was again. It was a moan! The moan of a man, but he was trying to say something. It echoed off into the distance and there was no telling how far away the cry came from.

Erring on the side of caution Ramona walked over to Lawt and shook him awake. “Is it my turn?” He mumbled with his eyes still closed.

“I heard something.”

Lawt sat up, his hairy chest seemed to glow in the darkness. The scars he had accrued marred the skin in dark, random streaks. He ran his hand through his hair, the spike at the end of his other arm automatically going to his shield. The shield’s hollow spike was fitted to allow his appendage to slip in snuggly. The tube was padded with leather so his boney skewer didn’t slip after his arm was fastened. With his good hand he cinched the remaining straps tight on his arm. He preferred to wear the shield most of the time.

“I’ll go look. While I am out, pack up the camp. Then we can head out after a light breakfast.”

“It’s still a few hours before dawn, probably three or four.”

“You’re right, but I am up now. Besides, I can hear what you were worried about and you were right to wake me. We might as well be prepared in case we need to get out of here.”

Lawt saddled and bridled Titan then headed out into the woods. The moan had gotten louder. It was now more than a moan. Every time it came groaning through the trees it sent a chill up Ramona’s spine and she had to stop what she had been doing until it left. What was it trying to say? It sounded like ‘slaughter,’

Ramona finished with Lawt’s gear and started on Oswald’s equipment. What an odd little man he was. She had to admit he was smarter than her, which was a feat in itself, but the way he got answers from people was uncanny. Ramona could not remember ever lying to him, even when she was trying. Somehow the truth always ran out of her mouth like water running down a steep hill. She smiled to herself. She had forgotten about his legs. They met just yesterday and already something as important as that had slipped her mind. Of course she had not forgotten them, she’d just overlooked them. Was that his doing as well? No, she would overlook Lawt’s spike on occasion too.

The moan came back, it was louder and froze Ramona in place. It screamed in agony. “Myyy daaauuughterrr!”

Oswald jerked awake and sat up, looking around.

“That is trouble,” he said.

“What is it?” Ramona asked.

Now the whole camp was waking up.

“I don’t know. But I know magic when I feel it, and that is dark magic,” Oswald said.

“Magic is for superstitious villagers and old wives,” Ramona said.

“Tell that to the thing coming for us. We need to pack up
now
!” Oswald ordered.

The entire camp rushed to their feet and started gathering their gear without concern of order. They wadded items into balls and crammed them into bags. Erik concerned himself with frantically saddling and bridling the horses, while the others continued the panicked gathering.

“Where is Lawt?” Erik asked.

“I sent him to investigate,” Ramona said.

The thunderous gallop of Titan could be heard approaching fast. Erik mounted and drew his sword.

“Here he comes, and it sounds like trouble,” Erik said.

“Run!” Lawt screamed from within the forest.

The group mounted quickly but waited for Lawt. He burst from the woods on Titan at a full gallop, his bare chest flexing as he wheeled Titan around to cut off an arrow. The arrow slammed into Lawt’s shield knocking both rider and horse onto the ground. Titan recovered quickly getting back to his feet lifting his rider with him. The impact on the shield could be felt by Ramona. Three arrows stuck out of his shield with wisps of white smoke trailing off one. Lawt turned Titan again and fled into the forest away from the oncoming menace.

The group bolted after him. Lawt was not following the road. He went through the forest. It was not dense but it was still dangerous. With Miranda clinging tightly to her waist Ramona spurned her horse, Jessop. Lawt wheeled around again.

“Keep going!” he screamed. “Erik, keep a pace Ghost and Sampson can manage without hurting themselves! I will try and stall it.”

Ramona heard the whiz of the arrows spin by her and the tree trunks in front of her splintered with the impact. The horses veered and dodged falling trees while the riders watched for more incoming missiles. She looked around for Oswald and was relieved to find that Sampson was keeping up. Jessop would follow Erik and Ghost so she turned to look for Lawt. Ramona nearly fell off her horse in terror. Chasing them was a man on a horse with a chilling halo of gray white light surrounding him. His eyes burned red and his flesh fell from his skin, exposing large swaths of bone. He was armored with the traditional heraldry of the Wynarche stag.

“My daughter!” the specter screamed. “Her visage!”

Lawt was behind them protecting their flank. Titan’s breath billowed from his mouth and nostrils but the steam from his lungs was dark against the specter’s halo. Four more arrows stuck out of his Lawt’s shield, one arrow stuck out of his left shoulder. The arrow had gone almost completely through. Ramona resisted the urge to turn and help. Lawt had his job to do, her job would come later.

“Through that gate!” Erik screamed from ahead.

Ramona whipped her head forward. They were fast approaching a wall. A dark area in the wall was the gate Erik spoke of. The party raced through and Erik jumped off Ghost to wait by the opening. As soon as Titan and his rider galloped through, Erik slammed the gate closed. The specter’s rage took the form of a curdling scream.

Ramona felt Miranda let go of her and jump off Jessup. Ramona tried to turn and see where Miranda went but she could not open her eyes. If she opened them or even moved that creature would kill her.

“Miranda!” Ramona screamed. “Miranda we have to stay together! I’m scared too, but we can get through this.

Something touched her leg. Ramona screamed and kicked trying to get it off her.

“Ramona! Calm down, it’s just me,” Miranda comforted her. “I’m sorry. That initial fright made me do something stupid. You calling out like that gave me the ability to gather myself. I’m back.”

The terror inside of her faded. Warmth radiated up her leg where Miranda touched her.

Ramona looked at where they were. The pathway had been overrun with weeds and the trees framing the path were slightly wild but still elegant. The wall was well made and the wooden gate was strong. Down the path beyond the trees Ramona could see an impressive house.

“If that thing could destroy trees with just its arrows why is it not bringing down the gate?” Miranda asked.

“It screamed like we had beaten it,” Oswald said. “Perhaps this area is forbidden to it, but let’s be ready for anything…just in case.”

“Where are we?” Ramona asked.

“Looks like an abandoned noble’s estate,” Oswald said.

“How do you know it’s abandoned? With the condition of the villages we passed through this could be the normal level of maintenance.” Miranda said looking back.

“No torches and no guards,” Erik chimed in. “We might as well look at the house. Either that or just sit here. That thing seems to have been blocked by the gate but I don’t want to be here if it decides it does want to get in.”

“First things first,” Ramona said. She dismounted, grabbed her aid pouch, and walked over to Lawt. He would pretend not to notice the arrow in his shoulder until she made an issue of it. She made a point to look impatient while waiting for him to dismount. She pulled the shaft out sharply and made sure the arrow hadn’t severed any main arteries, applied a poultice, and then bandaged him up quickly. The impact had damaged a lot of the muscles around his shoulder. His impressive healing would take care of most of it but it would still hamper him considerably for a while.

The party walked slowly up the rundown path that led up to the house, looking over their shoulder constantly at the closed gate in the wall. They reached the house without event and Erik let the horses free, allowing them to run in the courtyard. Titan and Ghost would stay nearby and Jessup would naturally follow. Lawt knocked on the door.

“Why did you do that?” Miranda asked.

“Manners. If somebody does live here we can’t go walking in uninvited. Making assumptions gets you into trouble,” Lawt said.

They waited outside, the cold stagnant air weighed heavily down on their shoulders. Lawt pushed the door open without resistance and walked in. He reached for an unlit torch on the wall and set his flint and steel to it while the rest of the party entered the house. As the torch light flickered alive it revealed the marble floors and flying staircase of a magnificent entry way. The lower main room could be seen below the stairs. A cold hearth that would be welcoming if a fire graced it was the centerpiece of the house.

Erik grabbed another torch and lit it. “I suppose a thorough search of the residency is necessary. Too bad we did not find this place earlier. Even if the place is empty with soft beds, I doubt I could sleep after that fright.”

They moved to the main room of the house. It was full of dust and cobwebs, covering finely crafted furniture. The furniture placement focused attention to the stone hearth. It was adorned with a carved wooden mantle and a large picture hanging majestically above it.

“That armor looks familiar,” Ramona said pointing to the picture.

“Is he what was chasing us out there?” Miranda asked.

“It looks exactly like the thing that chased us. They both have the Wynarche crest, the rank of chief warden, and the same armor,” Erik said. “I can guess we are close to the lord’s manor if this was his chief warden’s private estate. We found the supernatural, but why is it happening?”

“I don’t think this house has finished giving up all its secrets,” Oswald said.

They finished exploring the lower level and only found usable food stores in the kitchen. The food was not exceptional but there were some unique spices.

The chill that crept on them as they walked up the stairs was not subtle, nor could it be described as a gust. It crept over them like a cold fog. The first room was large and obviously belonged to the master of the household. The furniture had been destroyed. Splinters of wood littered the floor from the remains of the four poster bed. One wardrobe door hung halfway to the floor, hanging on by one bolt. A large charred area marred the beautiful hardwood floor.

“The room reeks of demonic residues,” Oswald said. “This must be where it was created. The chief warden must have sold his soul to some demon in return for…something. He turned himself into a Fynes!”

“What’s a Fynes?” Ramona asked, trying to keep her voice from quivering.

“Everyone praises Beshra, but like to forget about her brother Loris, the Miscreant. He created the demon lords. Poor fools gets it into their heads that making a deal with one of them is a good idea. Most are gullible and simply sell themselves for small things. Money and nobility being the most common. This time though…” Oswald whistled.

“This time what?” Lawt said

“When a good man, I mean a purely good man makes a deal with one of these lords it means something to them.” Oswald hesitated scratching at the charred floor with his foot. “It usually occurs when the good man wants the strength to fix an injustice. The lords will give the man the power to do it, but at a heavier price than just selling their souls. These good men become the lieutenants of hell’s army, the Fynes. As soon as the Fynes get the justice they desire, they are enslaved by the lords.”

“Hell’s army?” Ramona said laughing. “We aren’t school children needing to be frightened to behave.”

“Just because the demon lords use their armies to fight amongst themselves doesn’t mean they don’t exist woman.” Oswald said with a sigh. “When the Daughter of Fools brings war against the kingdoms, those armies will unite.”

“And you’re telling me all those old tales the priesthood uses to keep people supporting them actually mean something?” Ramona laughed.

“I understand your misgivings. Most churches today make up whatever they want in order to keep their believers in their seats. But look at the root of their story. That truth has to come from somewhere. Beshra, Loris, the Father of Blood, the Daughter of Fools, they all exist.”