Death Or Fortune (40 page)

    
Zackary and I arrived back in the capital of Arcadia in a hair over two weeks.
 After we turned Ramanthus over to the king’s men in Eystlund the depths
of his insanity were quickly brought to light.  Darius made the mistake of
letting him speak.  Any humility we saw in him when he knew his grand plan
was in ruins had evaporated by the time he made his speech. Zackary and I left
the following night after our dinner with the king.  I experienced one awkward
moment watching Zender and Zackary say goodbye to each other.  I never
said anything to the big man but his tears touched me.  I had expected
some kind of trouble on the road but in the end it was a nice trip.
 Finding all the gold we took from Ramanthus in the bag of holding Zender
gave me was also a nice bonus.  Zackary was given his fair share of the
coins, more than enough to keep him in his spirits for a year or more.  I
then gave a large portion of it to the church of Solarth in Arcadia in Zender's
name.  I figured that is what he would have done with most of it anyway.
 I put the last of it away in my vault, Charles told me I was foolish for
walking around with so much coin on me.  I guess two hundred thousand gold
pieces is a bit much to walk around with.
     We arrived in the Lords District just after dark.
 I had thought about taking Zackary to an inn but after all he had done
for me, if I had to move someone out into the street to make room for him he
would stay in my home.  At least for one night anyway.  We dismounted
in front of the gates and walked our horses back to the stables.  While
there was no trouble putting them away I never expected to find myself locked
out of my own house.  While the key I had fit one of the locks in my door,
it did not fit the other two. I started to worry a bit and pounded on the door.
Truth be told, I was a bit irritated and ready to get out of my armor.
 Not to mention, I had not seen my wife in months.  I stood back and
waited for the door to open, when all that opened was the small peep hole in
the I was ready to kick the door in.
'What business do you have here at this
hour?
' I looked at Charles, ready to lose my mind. Remembering my helm I
took it off and asked him to open the door.  I thought for a moment the
man was going to crack when he saw my face yet he kept his composure.
'Forgive
me Lord Kromwell, one moment please.
'
     Zackary let out a little laugh and mocked him by
saying
'ohhhh Lord Kromwell'
while waving his hands about.  Once
the door opened I saw Charles had a pair of women with him to help carry our
bags.
'We welcome you home Lord Kromwell'
he said while bending at the
waist.
'I trust you are well and whole?'
I told him I was fine but the
crash I heard coming from the back of the house made me drop my hand to my
sword.  I could hear the light footsteps running through the house, I also
thought I heard a chair fall over in the dining room.  I stood and waited
for the steps to keep coming, Charles was speaking to me but I ignored all that
he had said.  The steps were getting faster, getting closer every moment.
 As a small figure ran into the room I felt a smile start to form on my
face.
'Darmot!
' Pare screamed at the top of his lungs.  He ran
towards me and jumped into the air.  If not for Zackary keeping me up
right he would have knocked me over.  With his arms locked around my neck
he started to talk and cry all at the same time.
     I tried to listen to all he said but after a while I
couldn't understand all that he was blubbering about.  I just held him up
and let him go.  I was so happy to see him again I didn't care that his
tears were running down the back of my armor.  I doubt halfling tears will
cause it to rust.  While he had me in a death grip, he made me promise to
never leave home without him again. It is a promise I have kept to this day.
 I also told Charles to find Zackary a room and food for the night.
 All his screaming and crying did do one good thing, it gave Jasmin time
to compose herself before coming down stairs.  I watched as she came down
the steps, she had a long flowing blue dress on, her hair was tied back and
hanging down in a single tail. She had changed since I had left, she looked
older.  Yet there was something else, a subtle grace that she carried
herself with hid her strength.  I've never seen her look more beautiful.
 With no luck at all I tried to pry the near hysterical halfling off me.
 When I said her name he stopped and pulled his head out and looked
around.
'Isn't it wonderful Jasmin, Darmot is home I am so happy
!' She
nodded at him without saying a word, when she smiled I felt as if this was the
reason I left.  Just so I could come home and see that smile.
     At last I managed to get Pare off of me and put him on
the floor.  I went forward to greet my wife, taking her hand in mine I
bent over to kiss her hand.  I told Pare that I would see him in the
morning and started towards the stairs.  Half way up the stairs he called
out to me, I could hear something odd in his voice so I turned and looked back.
 He was holding up Hetarons flying carpet.
'If you have this, does that
mean he is...
' He knew the answer from the look on my face.  I told
him that it couldn't be avoided, in the end I think he knew that was the truth.
 He did not say another word to me that night.  Not that I would have
noticed if he did.  I had other things on my mind and I had to deal with a
wife that had missed me.  Once she had given me a bath, checked me for new
scars we went to bed.  Though I don't think I got any sleep until the sun
came up the next day.  If not for my obligations to the kingdom I don't
think we would have left the bedroom at all the next day.

     I had
maybe three hours sleep before I was up and moving that first day back.  I
looked at my armor for a moment and considered putting it on.  In the end
I decided against it.  I had to tell the king of Hetarons death, going
armed wouldn't have gone over well.  I did not want to give him the wrong
idea.  Black shirt, black pants and boots with my red dragon scale cloak.
 After a second bath and scraping months of growth off my face I looked
like a new man. With one last stop into my office where Charles had everything
I brought back with me I found the map I needed.  There was a large circle
around a forested area in southern Arcadia.  I had more to report than
just the death of an Arcadian lord.  I had to tell him that I had found a
clue as to where the Messiah might be found.  Just before I left the house
I found Charles and told him if Zackary was looking for drink to send him to
the Red Dragon Inn.  If he was going to spend all his money on ale, he
might as well do it in a place I owned.  For the first time in what seemed
to be a life time I was standing in the open air, under a sun filled sky
without my sword and armor. I felt so good I decided to walk to the castle.

      I
had thought about stopping into the office of Captain Turk but figured it would
wait until after I was done with the king.  Odds are he already knew I was
back in town.  I was escorted to Roderick’s public office.  Where he
would meet with the other lords and anyone else that had issues he had to deal
with.  After I was announced and told to enter I saw that I wasn't going
to be alone with the king.  I never expected to be made an Arcadian Lord
for my part in the war.  I was doing what needed to be done.  When I
was first appointed, I was the seventh house.  After directly saving the
kings life, I was moved to the third house. That and the man who was the third
house before me tried to kill the king.  It all happened so fast, I do
believe I have adjusted well.  Of the thirty noble lords, only two out
rank me.  Both of them were here in the king’s office today.  Lord
Ward Warren, who was first house and Lord Anderson Floyd was second house.
 Lord Warren reminded me of my father and not in a good way.  Just
the way he looked at me set me on edge.  It reminded me of how someone
might look while wiping animal droppings off their boots.  I often
wondered what his agenda was, every other thing he did was for his own benefit,
and if it helped the people in his fife it was more of an afterthought.

     As was
proper I bowed to my king before I acknowledged them at all.
'Lord Kromwell,
it is good to see you have returned from your mission. I trust it was successful?'
I told him it was but at great cost. I told him in the hunt to find the Rod
of the Arcane my friend and companion Lord Hetaron had been killed. I told him
that there had been a terrible battle and in the end Hetaron was killed. While
I left out some of the facts, this was all true. Hetaron was my friend and I
didn't see the point in dragging his name through the mud now that he was dead.
By pointing out the fact that he had betrayed me and threatened to kill me. I
then told him we made a narrow escape, just avoiding Xcavere and his horde.
'How
was he killed Lord Kromwell?'
I told them it was near the end of the
battle, that Lord Hetaron had expended all of his magic and was near
exhaustion. I told them that I saw the attack on him coming and tried to prevent
it. In the end he fell to a blade in the neck, his death was quick and
painless. King Roderick was strangely silent for a while, until Lord Warren
decided it was his turn to speak.

 
    
'Bah! So you have come here to admit your failure to protect your 'friend' to
the king. How touching, I am sure you did your very best. Tell me Kromwell,
what did you have to gain by letting your 'friend' die? Also where is this rod
you went to find? Shouldn't you present it to your king as proof you were
victorious?'
The sarcasm was so thick you could almost feel it in the air.
 I could feel my anger starting to well up, I almost wished I had my
sword.  If I had a weapon and something to fight I could defend myself.
 This was almost beyond me in my current state of mind.  I told him
that I had nothing to gain by Hetarons death and that the Rod of the Arcane
wasn't mine to claim. That it was the property of Eystlund.
'Well, who do
you expect will be placed in the late Lord Hetarons house? Someone who backs
you I assume? Is this your way of gaining support for the crown? Also, if an
Arcadian Lord died trying to find that rod we should have a say in where it is
kept. We should demand it be turned over to us.'
I looked to Roderick but
he was silent, as if he wanted to hear my answers.

     I told
them that I didn’t care who would be picked to replace Lord Hetaron.  I
then reminded him that Lord Hetaron was a hero who risked his life to defend
Arcadia side by side with me.  I then told him again we had no say over
the rod.  Demanding that an item of power be turned over to us, when we
had no claim on it could have been seen as an act of aggression.  Arcadia
could not afford to break the peace with our southern neighbor.  I thought
he was going to spit on me for a moment but he just called me one word, a
coward.  It was then that I lost my temper, he has no clue how close he
came to getting knocked on his self-important ass.  I asked Lord Warren
where he was during the war?  Where was he when an army of mercenaries was
marching on the city?  It was then that Roderick decided to speak up.
'That
is quiet enough gentlemen. Do you have anything else to tell me Lord Kromwell?
'
It was then that I pulled out the map.  I told him of what happened to
Zender and his friends.  How they had been captured by the Messiah
somewhere in the circled area. I then asked Roderick if I could have the troops
to try to find and capture the man who dared attack us.  Before he could
say anything Lord Warren once again spoke.

     'What a
colossal waste of time and money. You are trying to deflect blame off yourself
by bringing this supposed new fact to light. Once again trying to make yourself
look like a hero. I demand that an investigation be made into the facts of Lord
Hetarons death. We will find out the truth.
' I told him he was welcome to
travel into the mountains of Toryth Vol and find out for himself.  When
Roderick stood up and stared at us I started to feel like a child who was
caught doing something I shouldn't have.
'I will take this matter under
advisement Lord Kromwell. I am going to command you to stay in the city should
I need to speak to you some more on what happened to Lord Hetaron. If this is
all you have, you are dismissed.'
I could not wait to get out of there, had
I stayed longer I might have done something foolish.  I bowed to the king
and told him I would do as he commanded.  I nodded to Lord Floyd, who was
silent the entire time I was in there.  He just sat there watching and
listening.  When he returned the nod I turned on my heal and left the
kings chambers.  From there I returned to my home, having forgotten about
going to visit Turk in my anger.  Shortly after I proceeded to get roaring
drunk with Zackary and Pare.  It was the only fitting end to my day.

     I awoke
the next morning with a pounding headache. I should know better than to try to
keep up with Zackary, even Pare was in rough shape that morning.  It was
an odd night, Pare kept talking about patrols and how he should be out.  I
never even thought to ask about it the next morning when I saw him trying to
eat his breakfast.  I had the cook make me a little something, I needed
something solid in me or the day and maybe my life might have ended right then
I felt so bad. Zackary was the same as he was the night before.  I swear
the man could drink a bucket of poison and shrug it off the next day.
 When I asked him what he had planned for the day he said he might try to
see a bit of the city.  I told him I would show him around as soon as I
was dressed.  I had plans on running some errands and I told him he was
welcome to come with me. When he asked what I just told him that he would see.
     I took two things with me that morning.  The roll
of blue dragon hide and the coins I was going to give to the temple of Solarth.
 Charles told me I was foolish for giving them that much coin but he
always argued with me over how much I gave away.  Zackary and I set out
and headed first for the merchant's district, I wanted that hide turned into a
cloak and Zackary didn't have much in the way of good clothing.  I soon
learned that the later was because he really didn't care about it.  I then
took him to the temple of Solarth with me.  He gave me an odd look and
asked why we were going there.  I asked him if he had forgotten already,
he just shook his head at me and asked the same question over and over again,
'Fergot
wat
?' As we walked up to the front entrance to the temple Hans came out the
door having seen us coming from his office window.  He gave the cleric a
big grin and said something about at last finding someone that could drink with
him.  In the time I had known Hans I had never seen him touch a drop, from
the look on his face I could tell this wasn't always true.
'It is good to
see you two. I trust Zender and Lomark are still alive?'
I told him that
they were still both well when we left Eystlund.  He told us to follow him
inside where we could speak in private.
     There was something different about Hans, he had
changed since I had left him last.  I couldn't put my finger on it but it
was something more than just being Bishop of the temple.  As we moved
through the temple, he issued orders, sent younger priest running off to do his
commands.  Perhaps it was just that he had grown into his role as Bishop
but I know there was something more.  It would just take him some time to
tell me, if he told me at all.  He asked us what all had happened, we told
him everything from beginning to end.  From Zackary refusing to get on the
first ship we found to the death of Ramanthus. 'I
wish I could have been
there my friends. Hetaron did not go easy did he?
' I told him how the woman
Cynthia had killed Hetaron when he had his back turned.
'Solarth forgive me
but there is a small amount of justice in this I believe.'
It was then that
I told him and Zackary about what happened the day before in the king's office
with Lord Warren.  How he accused me of letting Hetaron die in order to
gain support for the crown.
'What?
' Hans was slightly confused about
this.
'Did you tell them that he tried to kill you and your family? I am
sure if Zender's father was still here he could vouch for you.'

     It was my
turn to question him as no one had told me that Windfall had been around.
'Oh
he was coming to see you but you left just before he arrived. He heard about
some kind of contract on Jasmin when he got to town, between him and Pare they
made quite a bit of noise. The two of them got a lot of folks tossed in jail
and ran more than a few out of town. Pare told me most of the story, so you would
have to question him about most of it. What are you going to tell them Darmot?'
I told them I didn't want to tarnish the reputation of Hetaron, as we were
appointed at the same time and we were known to be friends I didn't want that
reflecting on me.
'Ahhh so you don't want it known that he was planning on
killing you then coming back to destroy all of Arcadia. I am not sure I
understand your reason behind this but should it come to it I will back you,
you know that my friend.'
Truth be told I didn't understand it myself yet
it felt like the right thing to do.  It was more than protecting myself, I
was protecting my king who appointed the evil wizard in the first place.
 Lord Warren has a thirst for the crown which is no secret, this would have
just been one more thing he could have used to fight Roderick with.

    
'Have
no worries Darmot. You told them as much of the truth as you could. Hetaron was
far too dangerous for his own good. Even if you didn't kill him, it was the
right thing to do. What about his body, I hate to say it but sometimes wizards
have a bad habit of coming back from the dead?'
I then told him about the
wards Ramanthus had placed in the White Spire. When Ramanthus was killed for
his crimes, if he was telling us the truth, it should have all been destroyed.
If his body wasn't ash, it should be buried under several tons of rock.
'Still,
you never know with a wizard. I hope he is gone for good, I would hate to have
had to face him as an enemy. If you get a chance to tell King Roderick the
whole story, you might want to do so and tell him your reasons for withholding.
I am sure he would understand. He may even thank you.'
Zackary told me that
I had nothing to worry about, that he would back me the entire way.  Not
that I could understand half of what he said, I got most of it.  At the
age of twenty one I was worried about kings and entire nations when other men
my age only worried about who they would take to bed next.
     I started to stand up and tell Hans good bye when he
jumped up.
'Oh my, I almost forgot! I have something for you if you will
come with me.'
Hans took off at a near run.  For a moment, one small
moment I felt my heart skip a beat.  He reminded me of Ramanthus and how
he would carry on from one moment to the next.  He stopped once he got to
the door of his office and waited for us.  It was there that the reminder
stopped and my heart continued to go on.  Maybe it was just the pressures
of the job getting to him.  It wasn't until much later that I learned that
he had a lot on his mind.  More than any one man should have to worry
about when his scope is four walls and the word of a god.  Zackary and I
followed Hans to the rear of the temple where they had a modest stable, once he
opened the door I saw her standing there, just as beautiful as I remembered.
 I walked over to Emily and put my hand on her nose, giving it a good rub.
 I asked Hans where Michaels was.
'Oh he is around somewhere. I think
he went to visit with Captain Myers, he is the head of the city watch now. It
took them awhile but they found someone to replace Nikle.  He was in the
army with Michaels, they seem to be friends.'

     I thanked
Hans for taking such good care of my horse.  I told him that if Michaels
needed a mount to come by my home and I would give him one.  I had Emily
for far too long to leave her there.  Zackary and I told Hans goodbye and
headed out.  I had one more stop in mind before heading back to my home.
 I took Emily into the stable of the Red Dragon Inn.  I thought about
going in the back way into the kitchen but I wanted to give Zackary a good
impression of the place.
'Bloody hell!
' was about all he said when we
first walked in.  His eyes were fixed on the dragon head mounted in the
common room.
'Still looks alive!'
I always enjoyed seeing a person's
first reaction to it.  It almost made the big bitch landing on me worth
it.  More than anything else I wanted Zackary to like the place, I was
going to offer him one of our private rooms to live out of so he had a bit more
freedom to be himself.  I never expected him to fall in love, not with the
inn but with someone in it.  We both watched as the serving girl came over
to us.  I had only met Linda a few times before.  Pare seemed to like
her and Jasmin said she worked hard.
'Lord Kromwell!'
her red hair
seemed to blaze with life in the dark room.
'It is a pleasure to see you
again. How may we serve you?'
     I told her we would need a table and some food.
 I looked at Zackary to ask if he wanted a drink but he just stood there
in stunned silence, lost in some kind of red haired fantasy. When he came out
of it he ordered ale with his meal. While we were eating I asked him if he
would like a room in the Inn.  I told him it would be his, free of charge
with meals included. That being said I told him he had to pay for his drink.
 I couldn't afford to give the man free ale.  He would drink the inn
dry in a month.  He accepted right away, I don't even think it was a
question for him. Once he had eaten and we were alone he asked about Linda.
 I told him that she was one of my girls and he about spit out his drink.
 I then had to explain to him about what the help will say when they think
I am not listening.  They call their selves '
Kromwell's Women'
.
 Most of the help I had hired for both the inn and my home were all widows
of the war.  Some of their husbands were in my command; others were just
on the street due to the riots.  If we had a job for someone, I tried to
help those who lost everything they had in order to keep our freedom.

     Zackary
came home with me that afternoon but only to get his gear.  He still lives
there today and Linda has him wrapped around her little finger.  I've
never seen the man so happy.  Jasmin tells me that the two are planning on
getting married, yet the man has never said a word to me about it.  I see
him about once a week at the inn.   He helps out in the kitchen and I
have not had to replace a single stool or mug because they were broken in a
fight in over a year.  No one dares to start a fight when Zackary Red
Beard is in the bar.  He has been known to drag more than a few folks out
into the streets and pummel them until they give up.  He once took four
men outside at once, beat them all silly and had the four of them buying his
ale by the end of the night.  He is a good man, a good friend and I am
proud to have known him all this time.  I owe the man my life and for that
he will not only have a place in my heart until the day I die.  He will
have a place in my home, no matter where it might be.