Dark One Rising (21 page)

He came up on a row of shabby buildings, mostly taverns and inns along the waterway, and stood in the middle of the street deciding which one to hit first. A nice warm mug of spiced ale would really hit the spot right now anyway, so any one of them would do. He chose the one at the end of the street. He could make his way from back to front, and if he found out nothing, he could go back to the woods from the east side instead and actually save a couple of leagues.

There was light coming out from the only window in the place, and he could hear a few voices from inside. He entered and looked around. There were three tables occupied. A couple of people were eating breakfast and talking quietly, and one man sat at the bar, finishing off a mug of something. He sidled up to the counter and slid onto a stool. A large man with big arms and legs, wearing an apron over his linen shirt, was washing a mug with a wet cloth, but turned when Alekzand’r sat down on the stool. Alek nodded to him, the barkeep smiled congenially.

“What can I get you, stranger?”

“I’d love a mug of some spiced ale if you got it.”

“It’s a bit early in the day for that, don’t you reckon?”

“Since the sun doesn’t seem to know what time it is these days, I suppose I can forget as well. I’ve been traveling awhile in this cold that chills to the bone. I think my body could use a bit of warmth, no matter what time of day it is.”

He laughed and nodded his head. “Here, here.”

He turned his back on Alek, poured a mug full of steaming liquid, then turned back, sliding it across the bar to him. Alek took a long pull on it and smiled. The warm liquid coated his raw throat. He was so content he almost audibly sighed.

“That hit the spot I reckon. Looks like we’re in for a wet few days. Are you just passing through?” Garreth asked Alek, who was halfway through his drink already.

“Yes. I don’t expect to be here long. I’ve purchased my supplies and I’ll be on my way. Just thought I’d get a drink and warm myself before I get on the road again.”

“Where are you headed?”

The other man at the bar had finished up, left a coin on the bar, and went out the front door. Alek watched him go, then eyed Garreth again.

“Azlyn.”

“I can see why you want to go there. Warmer country over there. That’s a way’s off yet. What, about a three week ride I suspect?”

“That’s about right,” he paused. “I’m actually looking for someone. Thought maybe someone in town might have seen her. She might have come through last night, maybe yesterday afternoon.”

“Your her have a name?” Garreth said, eyeing Alek warily. He knew this must be the stranger that had visited Bale early this morning. He needed to tread carefully.

“Melenthia Breslin. I’m looking for Melenthia.”

“Haven’t seen her today.”

Alek reached into his pocket and pulled out a bag of gold, dropping three coins on the counter.

“Are you sure?” he asked again.

Garreth left the coins on the counter, his eyes never leaving Alek’s. He laughed. “Now what would the princess be doing in town, at night, and frequenting my place? This side of town is no place for a lady.”

“Well now, that’s true, usually, however, she is on the run and coming to somebody she knows would be her first move. A safe place to hole up for the night and warm food would be what I’d want. If I were her.”

Garreth wasn’t convinced this guy was telling the truth. He seemed genuine, but he needed more. He grabbed his meat cleaver from under the bar.

“Why don’t you tell me who’s asking and why, and maybe I’ll let you walk out of here with all your limbs.” He lifted the knife up for Alek to see, who eyed it nervously for a minute, then smiled.

“Fair enough. Name’s Alekzand’r Morgan. I’m…”

“Bounty Hunter for King Dainard Grayson of Azlyn.” Garreth finished the sentence and became really nervous now, and moving the large knife closer to Alek across the counter.

“Now hang on there. I’m only a Bounty Hunter when there are criminals to track. The rest of the time I’m the king’s Royal Advisor. Believe me, when it comes to His Majesty, that in itself is a full-time job.”

“Still doesn’t explain why you’re looking for the princess.”

“I’ve been asked by her brother, Prince Kevaan, to keep her safe and take her to Azlyn.”

“Why is she running?”

“She’s been given over to the Duke of Xenos for marriage. Her brother is opposed to this, and so is she. Her brother, my dear friend, enlisted me to take care of her and they were supposed to meet me at an undisclosed location. However, the duke is a day and a half ahead of schedule and Melenthia ran, without Kevaan being able to get her out himself. She’s running, and I need to find her. There’s some really awful people that are going to be looking for her pretty soon, if they aren’t already, and if I don’t find her first, something bad might happen to her.”

Garreth lowered the knife slightly, but still had a tight grip on it. Melenthia had said that Kevaan didn’t get back in time to help her, so she fled on her own, without anyone knowing. This stranger, the same one who questioned Bale earlier, seemed sincere. Even Bale said he suspected no malice in him. But this was Melenthia, and he swore he wouldn’t betray her. Just as he was going to answer, the door to the kitchen opened and Conor came through. He was clearly upset. His fists were clenched and his jaw was tight. He went to his father, and before he realized Alek was even there, he blurted,

“Father, we passed through the gate just fine until a stranger and two men-at-arms, who passed us going the opposite direction, questioned the gate guards. He pointed us out, father. They started to come after us. We were far enough passed the gate for a bit of a head start, but I had to put Melenthia on her horse and make her go. They would’ve been able to catch us in the wagon. When they reached me, I thought they were going to kill me, but the leader just looked at me. I felt like he was looking right through me. I was so afraid I couldn’t even move. I couldn’t see his face under his hood, but his eyes were red and they glowed, father. He looked at me for a long time, then left me and went after Melenthia. They’ll catch her, father, we have to do something.”

“My God, a wraith,” Alek gasped.

Garreth grabbed his son and hugged him, rubbing his head to soothe him. Alek reached across the counter and grabbed Garreth’s arm. “Please. If you are her friend and you know where she’s gone, please tell me. I have to find her. She’s in more danger than even I suspected.”

“What?”

“The thing your son saw, that was a wraith.”

“What’s a wraith?”

“It’s a creature that no living being hopes to ever meet. He’s dead, but not so. The only way he could cross over from the beyond was if it was called. If Fallon was the one who called it, then he controls it. If that’s true, then he’s more dangerous than anyone would have suspected. Please, Garreth, if you love her, tell me where she’s gone.”

He let go of the knife and looked at Alek, fear in his eyes, still hugging his son. “She was going to head west, go through the woods and cross over the Xanthe into Isamar. She was hoping to get there where no one would know her. If she’s being followed, do you think she would still keep to the plan?”

“If Kevaan has taught her well, then yes, I think she would stick to her plan. She would try to outrun them and get to Isamar. If she could reach the Xanthe and get across ahead of them, she would be safe. A wraith will not cross over water. But a wraith is also power driven and does what it’s bidden to do. If he wants to catch her, he will. She won’t be able to outrun it forever.”

“Then you better hurry. Please, save her.”

“She already has quite a head start, but I will do everything in my power to do so.” He got up from the bar and headed toward the door. He turned back to Garreth. “I left my horse at the far end of town. I’ll lose precious time if I go back for him. Do you have one I could borrow? It would do to have one that is fresh anyway.”

“Yes, we have several in the stables.” He turned to Conor. “Go, saddle the warrior horse. There are two bags in there filled with fresh supplies, too. They belong to a patron, but I’ll explain. Go!”

Alek tossed the bag of gold to Garreth, and he caught it. “Give him that. I think that’ll be explanation enough.”

“Thank you.”

“You can thank me when I have Melenthia safely in hand. Send a message with the fastest rider you can find to His Highness at Lachlan Castle. Tell him that I’m on her trail. Tell him that I’ll send word when we reach Drydon Keep. But tell the messenger to be careful. Give it to no one but the Prince, and if he’s caught, tell him to destroy it.”

“It will be done.”

He left Garreth standing at the bar and flew out the door.

***

Melenthia walked for the rest of that afternoon and into the evening. When the first signs of dusk were upon her she was sore and tired. She practically dragged her feet, trying to stay upright, her head throbbing with every step. The bleeding had stopped but she could feel the crustiness of it dried on the rag tied around her head. She had eaten a few forest berries and had stopped several times for a drink in a wayward stream, but she knew she was going to need to stop, and soon. She thought she was on the Isamar side of the Xanthe. Garreth had made arrangements for her to get across the river on the ferry, the fee paid, but she had found her own way across. Certainly not in the way she would have chosen however.

She continued to follow the path she had found, but so far it led nowhere. She had never been to Isamar, from what she could remember, but she knew that there were not many towns there, and the ones they had, were spread out, away from each other, across many leagues of sand. She knew there was a small town, just across the border from Aaralyn, but she had no idea if she was anywhere near it. The forest here was still so dense. The Dark Woods crossed over the border into Isamar, but only for a league or two. After that it was sand as far as the eye could see. No vegetation, just scrub and dust.

As the hour passed she began to smell smoke, but the density of the trees hid her view from it. The darkness was setting in now, and she had only the limited moonlight, the clouds covering most of it, to show her way between the tall trees. The shadows were thick and she jumped at them every now and then before realizing it was only a stump or an odd shaped snag.

She used her nose to guide her, making her way between the trees, the path now all but gone. She started to hear sounds now, the far off nickering of horses and the echo of a fire crackling. She hoped that it wasn’t Fallon’s camp she was walking into but knew she had to take a chance. Her head and body needed attention. She had felt woozy for several hours, knowing that it was from blood loss and lack of food, and knew she had to get help. As she got further into the trees, she could finally see a small light dancing in the distance, the smell of the wood burning stronger. She walked toward it, using it as a guide, and eventually came to a spot where she could see the campsite.

It was small, one bedroll and a small fire burning a few feet from it. She could clearly hear horses somewhere off to her left, but could not see them. She knew it wasn’t Fallon’s camp, for if it was, there would be several tents and the sounds of multiple horses. He never rode anywhere without an armed escort. This could very well be bandits or criminals trying to hide their numbers. She smelled something cooking, and it smelled so good her stomach reeled from hunger at the whiff of it. She looked around but saw no one, so she crept into the camp and went to the pot on the fire. She leaned over and inhaled deeply. It smelled like some kind of stew, maybe rabbit or pheasant, and her mouth started to water. She looked around again to make sure no one was sneaking up behind her. She grabbed the spoon that was resting on the pot, ladled up some food and stuck it in her mouth. She burned her tongue but she didn’t care. It tasted so good she almost started to shovel it in, but knew she had to take it slow, so as not make herself sick.

She got about four spoonfuls down her throat before she heard footsteps coming toward the campsite, the dry needles crunching under foot. She didn’t have her knife or her sword, so she had no way to defend herself, and she was so weak she doubted she could fist fight someone, or worse, many. She turned back toward the way she had come but not before being seen. A man came through the shadows of the trees and saw her. He took a couple of quick steps toward her, and she bolted. She jumped over a fallen log and headed off into the trees, hoping to lose whomever was behind her in the darkness. No such luck. An arm swung in from behind and pulled her off her feet. The man backed up and went into the light of the campsite again. Melenthia kicked and squirmed, trying with all her might to loosen the grip of her captor. She elbowed him in the groin, and he humphed and loosened his grip just enough. She slipped from out of his grasp and slid to the forest floor. She was up and running again before he could recover fully. She ran as fast as she could but tripped over a root and fell face first into the dirt. She was dazed for a moment, then shook it off and got up. She was dizzy, and her ankle hurt from tripping. She was not fast enough to get away. The stranger grabbed her from behind again and dragged her kicking and squirming back to the campsite.

“Enough! Stop your thrashing around or so help me I’ll hurt you.”

“I won’t go with you. I won’t let you take me to him alive.”