Quest's End: The Broken Key #3 (18 page)

When they originally came up with this plan, he had argued against leaving the horses with someone they didn’t know. But Chyfe had insisted that it was the only way for them to avoid suspicion. So, they had left it to Seth and Soth’s judgment. If they felt they could trust him, so be it. And they had.

“They’ll be there,” Seth assured them. “He seemed an honorable sort.”

Bart just glared at him as they turned off the road toward the farmhouse. He fully expected for the horses not to be there.

As they moved toward the farmhouse, the unmistakable sound of a horse’s snort was heard coming from within. When they entered through the front door, they found the farmhouse was just a shell of its former self. The back wall was gone as was most of the roof. Tied to a fallen support beam were their three horses.

“I told you he would leave them,” Seth said as he dismounted.

“So they are,” replied Bart.

“Thought he would be here,” commented Soth as he dismounted to claim one of the horses.

“This was where he must have stashed his horse last night before coming to Marl Crest,” stated Chyfe.

“You think so?” asked Chad.

Chyfe nodded and pointed over to the other side of the farmhouse where a pile of semi fresh horse dung lay. It was in a place where their three horses could not have left it.

The rest who were riding double dismounted and reclaimed their horses. Once they were all in the saddle again, they left the farmhouse and resumed their trek south to Hylith.

The plains south of Marl Crest were barren for the most part. In the summer, this area would have tall grass blowing in the wind. But now there were only stunted remains.

Seth and Soth rode in the fore now that the likelihood of encountering Raiders was greater. It was their hope that since they looked like Tribesmen, it may give them an edge should they be encountered. For their part, the twins were quite glad to be leading for a change.

Throughout the morning, the road remained deserted. They continuously kept vigilant for signs of riders in the distance, but so far their luck held good. Above them, the sky was crystal blue. Far to the south was another matter as dark clouds filled the sky.

“Not much to this area,” commented Riyan from where he and Bart rode behind the twins.

“Wouldn’t expect there to be,” replied Bart. “If this area is truly disputed by both sides, then life here could be hazardous.”

“I suppose,” agreed Riyan.

Shortly before noon, the outline of a small cluster of buildings appeared out of the horizon before them. Several buildings stood on the west side of the road, none of which were of any size. Looked more like a cluster of huts than anything else.

As they drew closer, it quickly became apparent that the buildings had long been deserted. Doors were off their hinges, one of the buildings had long ago been gutted by a fire.

“Think they were killed in a Raider attack?” asked Chad.

Riyan glanced over his shoulder at his friend and shrugged. “Maybe,” he said.

Coming abreast of the buildings, a small animal akin to a kidog bolted from one of the buildings and raced off into the plains.

“Should we stop?” asked Seth.

Bart shook his head. “No reason to,” he replied.

Seth nodded and continued on. They soon left the deserted buildings behind.

Those weren’t the last of such buildings lining the road they encountered as they traveled. A couple miles further on they passed by a farmstead set off the road. It too had the look of being abandoned. Then there was nothing for an hour. Now with the sun halfway through its descent to the horizon, more buildings appeared ahead of them. This time however, they could see smoke rising from one of the chimneys.

“Someone’s home,” Soth stated.

“So it would seem,” agreed Riyan.

Shortly after the buildings had come into view, the smoke coming from the chimney stopped. The building from which the smoke had risen was a single story dwelling, set among half a score of similar structures. It and the other buildings had the look of being abandoned. There was no sign of life.

“That’s odd,” commented Bart as they approached the cluster of buildings.

“What’s odd?” asked Riyan.

“Smoke from a chimney usually means people,” he explained. “Yet this place looks just as abandoned as the one we passed through earlier.” He continued gazing at the building from which the smoke had come as they rode past the buildings. Then, just as they came abreast of the one smoke had risen from, he saw an eye peering out from the corner of a window.

“Hello!” he cried as he came to a stop. Immediately, the eye vanished. “Someone’s in there,” he said.

Riyan turned to look. A moment later, the eye reappeared. “Suspicious sort,” he stated.

“I would be too if I lived here,” said Chyfe. Chad nodded in agreement.

“None of our business,” Bart told the others. Then with the eye staring at them, they continued on their way.

When the cluster of buildings had disappeared behind them, Riyan said, “You know, maybe that first place we went through hadn’t of been as deserted as we thought.”

Bart nodded. “I was thinking the same thing,” he said. “In a place prone to raids, and possibly even banditry, such caution could well mean the difference between life and death.”

“But why would anyone stay in such a place?” asked Soth.

“It’s hard to leave your home,” Bart explained. “Even in such a forlorn place as this.”

“True,” agreed Chyfe. “The unknown is always more terrifying than whatever you are currently dealing with.”

“I’d agree with you for the most part,” Riyan relied. “But I would think there would come a time when even the unknown would be preferable to some things.”

“You got that right,” agreed Bart. He himself had embarked on the unknown when he originally came to Quillim. Of course, he had done so because his life would have been forfeit had he remained in Wardean.

They rode until the sun was low in the sky before moving off the road to make camp. There they made a fire to keep the cold at bay until morning. It took most of the remaining daylight for them to find sufficient fuel to last throughout the night as the surrounding countryside had little in the way of trees. What they did find were roots and grass which they bundled tightly together to form logs.

A watch was posted and the night passed uneventfully. As the sun emerged with the dawn, they had a bite to eat before retuning to the road. The clouds which were present to the south throughout the previous day were no closer, much to everyone’s relief.

The road continued to be deserted as they put miles behind them. Late in the morning a forest appeared ahead of them. By late afternoon they came to a village situated within the northern fringe of the tree line. Unlike the previous collections of huts they’d run across, this place was clearly inhabited.

They were pretty sure they had passed out of the disputed area and were now completely within lands unequivocally that of the Moran Tribes. And in all probability those of the Orack Tribe.

Any doubt about where they were was quickly quelled when they saw that the villagers had the darker skin of Tribesmen. As if that wasn’t enough the tell-tale pattern of the Orack Tribe was worked into many of their clothing.

“Now to see what kind of reception we’re likely to receive,” Riyan said. He was glad beyond measure that their first encounter was to be with a village rather than a Raider raiding party.

As they continued to approach, villagers began taking notice of their arrival. They didn’t seem overly concerned about the imminent arrival of strangers. Curious would be the term Bart would have given them. But when a group of a dozen armed men emerged from within the village, things grew tenser.

“Just take it easy,” Bart said to the others. “They’re being cautious is all.” Then to the twins he added, “Remember, we’re agents of a trader up north interested in securing trading contracts for the coming summer caravans.”

Never taking his eyes from the armed Tribesmen, Seth nodded.

“No one do anything that could be remotely construed as hostile or suspicious,” warned Riyan.

An older man wearing a leather breastplate with a sword hanging at his hip led the group. He paused as he reached the edge of the village and spoke to the onlookers who had gathered there to gawk at the new arrivals. After a brief exchange of words, the onlookers moved back a dozen yards to be out of the way.

Seth and Soth continued to lead their group forward. When they came within twenty feet of the armed men, Seth raised his hand and brought them to a stop. Glancing back to those behind him, he said loud enough for the armed men to hear, “Stay here.” Then he turned back to the fore and rode out alone.

“Welcome stranger,” greeted the man with the breastplate when Seth drew near.

“And to you sir,” replied Seth. “You needn’t fear, we are not here to cause your village any trouble.”

“One can never be too sure,” the man replied.

Seth nodded. “My name is Seth,” he said. “My brother and I are agents for a merchant up north who has sent us here to investigate the possibilities of trade.”

The man glanced behind Seth, taking in his brother and the others. “I’m Garron. I have charge of this area,” the man with the breastplate said. “We don’t have much in the way of trade goods here in Sterrith. Though Enia has some fine wood carvings which you may find of interest.”

Behind him, his men visibly relaxed as it didn’t look as if a fight was going to take place.

“Perhaps,” agreed Seth. “Unfortunately, my master is a dealer in fine wines. He recently received word that one of unique quality has been made available, and it is to that aim that I am here.”

“Then you would wish to inquire further south in Hylith,” Garron stated. “If you’re going to find what you are looking for, it would be there.”

“So we understand,” Seth replied. He then looked to the armed men behind Garron before returning his gaze to him. “Do we have leave to stay the night in your fine village?”

“Provided you cause no trouble,” he replied. When Seth agreed, he glanced back to his men and nodded his head. At that, his men broke ranks and began heading back into the village.

Seth waved for his brother and the others to ride forward. “This is my brother Soth,” he said to Garron once his brother had joined him.

“Good to meet you,” Garron said. Then he saw the staff in Kevik’s hand. Turning back to Seth, he arched an eyebrow and asked, “A magic user?”

“Yes,” replied Seth. “My master had heard there were troubles down here and provided my brother and I with an escort.”

Riyan did his best to hide the grin that unexpectedly tried to break through.

“You have little to fear in Sterrith,” Garron said. “So long as your purpose is peaceful.”

“That is good to hear,” Seth replied. “Does your village have an inn?”

Garron nodded. “We have two. The Hollow Tree and The Green Bough.”

“Which one would you suggest?” Soth asked.

“Oh no,” he said with a grin. “I’ll not do that again.”

“Do what again?” Seth asked.

“I know both innkeepers,” he explained. “And the last time I suggested one over the other, it caused me no end of trouble. They are both good, clean inns.”

Seth laughed. “I understand,” he said. “And I thank you.”

“Behave yourselves and we’ll get along fine,” Garron told them.

Seth gave him a nod. Then he glanced back at his brother and the rest and indicated for them to follow as he proceeded into the village.

The villagers, after realizing the new arrivals weren’t there to make trouble, returned to going about their tasks, though they kept an eye on them. The village itself was larger than average, and in Bart’s opinion was about to develop into a town.

“Nice place,” commented Riyan as he gazed around at the clean streets. The general mood of the villagers was upbeat.

First inn they came to was The Hollow Tree. Out front hung a sign depicting a hollowed out tree wherein a sleeping man stood upright. As they stopped near the front, Bart said to Seth, “Go in and see about getting some rooms.”

The rest dismounted as Seth went inside.

“Are you from the north?”

Riyan glanced down and discovered the question came from a boy of about six summers. “Yes we are,” he replied.

The boy immediately spat on him and raced away.

“What was that about?” Riyan asked in shock.

A woman who had been talking with another nearby said, “His father was killed by a soldier from the north.”

“Oh,” Riyan said. “Was his father a Raider?”

The woman’s face turned into a grimace. “Certainly not!” she replied. “His father was a merchant who objected when soldiers were going to help themselves to his goods.”

“That’s a lie!” Chyfe exclaimed. “Our soldiers would never do such a thing!”

“Believe it young man,” the woman said. “While his father’s life was pouring from him, the soldiers ravaged his mother and sister.” She glanced to Chyfe as she said, “His sister was only fourteen at the time.”

Another woman next to the first added, “If he hadn’t been hiding in the wagon, they would have found him too. He was the only one who survived.”

Riyan came and laid a hand on Chyfe’s shoulder. “Easy,” he whispered in his ear. “True or not, we can’t have you causing trouble.” Across the street, five of the armed men who had been with Garron were watching them. One held a bow.

Chyfe turned away from the women and stared off into space. His face was red from anger and it was all he could do to keep his rage in check. When Seth returned with the news they had rooms, he quickly noticed their mood had definitely changed. “There’s a stable out back for the horses,” he said as his gaze went from Chyfe to his brother.

“Give Riyan his key,” Bart told him. Then to Riyan he said, “It might be best if you and Chyfe went upstairs while we take care of the horses.”

Riyan nodded. Seth handed him the key and told him which room was his. “Come on,” he said to Chyfe as he steered him toward the front door of the inn. Inside, they found the inn to be similar in nature to those found in Byrdlon. Riyan kept Chyfe in motion as he herded him toward the stairway leading up to the second floor. Once there, he quickly found the room to which the key belonged, and put Chyfe inside.