The Callindra Chronicles Book One - First Quest (13 page)

“
I don’t know where he is.
He wasn’t supposed to teach me; it’s because of me he’s in trouble
and now he’s out there somewhere running for his life. I can’t even
watch his back.” Callindra said, “I have to get stronger so I can
stop being a burden.”

She stood up, steam rising from her skin.
“I’d better get going if I’m gonna get around before the day’s
out.”

“
Good luck Callindra. If yeh
need a vouch lemme know. Us girls gotta stick together ya
know?”

“
Thanks Fen, I appreciate
it.”

Callindra looked at her clothes with a
skeptical eye. With a sigh, she put them back on despite how dirty
and worn they were. On her way out, the old woman handed Brightfang
back with a nod.

“
That’s quite the blade you
have there. I can see why you wanted to take care of it.” She said
with a knowing smile, “I haven’t seen work like that in an
age.”

“
Thanks for watching him for
me.” She said, not sure what else to say.

“
You watch that blade close
you hear? Not many carry something forged by Belach.”

“
He is my life.” Callindra
said, “How do you know about Belach? Is he famous?”

“
Infamous is more like it.
He used to make swords for nobles and kings, but fell from favor
after he refused to add unnecessary embellishments to weapons.” She
clucked her tongue and shook her head, “Nobody says no to the royal
court, he should have known that.”

“
How do you know so much
about it?” Callindra asked, and then winced, “No offense intended
of course, I’m letting my tongue get the better of my
discretion.”

The woman gave her a thoughtful look, then
seemed to decide she hadn’t meant to be rude. “You would do well to
remember that no one is born old youngling. I was a merc for years
before I retired here. Nasty wound to my back laid me up for a
couple years and when all was healed I decided I’d had enough
fighting.”

“
What are mercenary
companies like? Are they as rough as…” she glanced toward the
soaking pool, “As some seem to think they are?”

“
Depends on which company
you end up with. Most are, young girl like you needs to be careful
around here.”

“
I can take care of myself.”
Said Callindra with a shrug of her shoulders.

“
Since you own that sword I
believe it, but they don’t always fight fair. In fact they almost
never do. Besides, what recourse do you really have when you are
out on campaign? You just watch yourself youngster, learn from the
mistakes of your elders.”

“
Thank you. My name’s
Callindra by the way.”

“
Meghan. Most call me
Meg.”

“
Thanks Meghan.” Callindra
grasped the woman’s forearm and was pleased to see her eyes widen
at the sign of respect. “I’m sure I’ll see you once or twice more
before I sign on somewhere.”

Chapter 12

She walked out the front door of the inn,
noting the sign read “Empty Keg” before strolling towards the
market place. Even this early the sounds of hawkers crying their
wares filled the air as many folk looking similar to her were
making their way in the same direction. Callindra realized that she
was likely the youngest looking person here, although she was
willing to bet some of the boys were younger in spite of being
nearly twice her size.

“
Watch it you!” A man
yelled, bumping into her, “Show some respect for your
elders!”

“Please accept my apologies grandfather.”
Callindra replied with a sardonic grin, “I was careless.” He was
hardly old enough to be her father, and his face reddened with
anger at her slight.

In a twinkling, he had a dagger drawn. “I
should teach a little chit like you some respect perhaps?” Two more
men emerged from an alley, leading Callindra to suspect this wasn’t
the first time they’d run this little game.

“
Yeh gotta pay fer disrespec
lil un. Fee’s six gold.” Said the first.

“
Ifn yeh aint got it then
we’ll just take tha sword.” The second said.

Callindra swept Brightfang from his sheath in
a blur of shining steel, knocking the dagger aside with ease.
Compared to sparring with Glarian this was going to be nothing.

“
Three on one does not seem
like fair odds!” A voice with rich timbre sounded behind her.
Callindra half turned and saw a wall of polished steel chainmaile
that reflected the morning sunlight and a shield that seemed
unnaturally bright. The man’s face was almost beautiful, his rich
blue surcoat had no sigil but she was pretty sure he was in a
knightly order.

“
I don’t need your help Sir
Knight; this scum will likely run before their blood fills the
gutter.” The men looked slightly nervous.

“
Alas I am not a knight;
however there is perhaps some assistance I can render if
necessary.” He drew a huge hammer from where it rested in a
reinforced loop on his belt, then dropped it to the ground with a
thud that she swore she could feel reverberate through her feet. “I
must warn you that I will not allow anyone to be killed. From the
look of things I may be forced to restrain you young
lady.”

“
Alas I am no lady, and if
you attempt to restrain me I am not responsible for the injuries
you will sustain.” Callindra said.

“
Your voice could raise
frost on this shield I believe.” The man said, “Our conversation
seems to have deprived you of entertainment however.”

Callindra saw that her would-be assailants
had melted back into the crowd, some of whom were still watching in
hopes that there would be a fight. She sheathed her sword and
extended her hand.

“
I’m Callindra Sol’Estin.”
It was customary for an apprentice to assume the surname of her
Master once out in the world and she had decided that she was
taking it even if Glarian wasn’t here to give his
approval.

“
Tryst Te’Chern.” He grasped
her hand firmly, “You really should watch yourself in this city
Callindra. There are many who would try to take advantage of
you.”

“
Yes, they may try, and if
they have the brains of a dung beetle they may live to run away. I
won’t be here for long and by the time I’m leaving I’m sure my
company will take care of me. Thanks for your concern though
Tryst.” Callindra turned to go.

“
Wait, if you are looking
for employment in a mercenary company perhaps I can be of
assistance. I have been asked by the leader of my Temple to find
worthy associates for an important task. Mayhap the Gods have had a
hand in our meeting?” He said, carefully restoring his hammer to
the loop on his belt.

“
I don’t think so Tryst. I
haven’t seen anything that would lead me to believe in Gods. I live
by the edge of my sword, the worth of my training and the strength
of my body.”

“
Is that so? How then did
you come to this place? Your garb suggests a slightly more… wild
upbringing.” He quirked an eyebrow, an expression that would have
made most men look silly but simply made his face seem even more
innocent and attractive. “Of course I mean no offence.”

“
I’m not sure, but I expect
my Master had a hand in it and if that old man is a God then I’m
afraid you’d be disappointed in your faith.” Callindra replied, “If
I can’t find a company here that fits my needs where can I find
you?”

“
Leave me a message at the
Temple to Harn and I will get it.” Tryst said, “There is something
about you that leads me to believe you will join me Callindra. I
sense in you the strength and daring needed for a task this
dangerous.”

She watched him stride purposefully down the
street, wondering what the task he had mentioned entailed in spite
of herself. It wouldn’t be a terrible thing to have that mountain
of metal on her side.

-

It was late afternoon and Callindra was
tired, thirsty and frustrated. The only companies that had even
allowed her to try out insisted that she was too young to campaign
and would have to spend at least an additional year or two training
before she was permitted to fight. She’d had enough training, she
needed to be in combat if she was going to progress fast enough to
catch Glarian.

She leaned against the side of a building
with a sigh, enjoying the shade for a moment. A door opened and she
started to move away before the shop keep could rebuke her for
loitering.

“
Callindra? Is that you?”
She recognized the voice of the priest who had attempted to rescue
her earlier in the day. “I didn’t expect you to come so quickly.
Come inside and take some refreshment.”

Tryst wasn’t wearing his armor, now he was
clad in a simple but well-fitting linen tunic and trousers with the
sigil of a shining shield on the breast.

“
Sorry Tryst, I didn’t mean
to come here. I was merely seeking a moment’s shade before pressing
on.” She said, fearing that if she entered it would give the man
the wrong idea. She still intended to find her own way in the
world.

“
Oh.” His face fell, “I was
hoping… well, no matter. Come inside anyway, I can offer you shade
and cool wine before you continue your search. Our door is open to
all without obligation.”

With a cautious glance, Callindra could
indeed see that the doors seemed to be rusted open. These hinges
had not been moved for a long time. “Thank you Tryst, I’ll take you
up on that.”

Once inside the temple Tryst moved in an
unhurried stride, even so Callindra found herself having to trot to
keep up as she took two steps for each one of his. The furnishings
were austere; the only decorations were hammers and shields, each
one with a plaque detailing the accomplishments and eventual demise
of the wielder.

He led her to a simple room, apparently a
common eating area of some sort. There were a few similarly attired
men and women sitting in quiet conversation. Callindra was
painfully aware that she was the only outsider present, even though
nobody made an issue of it. Tryst sat at a table and poured two
cups of wine, taking a sip and gesturing to the seat across from
him.

“
Thanks, I was getting
parched out there.” She said, accepting the cup and sitting
gratefully, “So tell me about this mission of yours.”

Tryst gave her a quizzical look, “I thought
you weren’t interested?”

“
Well I figure if I’m
enjoying your shade and drinking your wine I should at least listen
to what you have to say. Besides if we don’t have some kind of
conversation it’s going to be a touch awkward don’t you think?” She
sipped the wine and found it to be a simple, yet refreshing
white.

“
I’m sure you have heard
tales of destruction in the North, but even more troubling is
what’s not being said. My order has seen and fought demons there
with terrible causalities. Creatures that burned from within,
infecting others with the bright green flames of abyssal fire even
as they died.”

“
I was always taught that
Gode and Onde, the elder gods kept the world in balance and would
not allow devils or angels to touch it.”

“
Here I thought you didn’t
believe in Gods?” Tryst gave her that quizzical look again and she
blushed in spite of herself, “Regardless of that, with so many of
us busy fighting there are few left to undertake tasks for the
Biscop and so I am forced to recruit from outside our
walls.”

“
I’ve never met a God,
therefore I don’t have any reason to believe in them.” She
said.

“
How sad to believe in so
little.” Tryst said, “If I only acknowledged that which I could see
I would limit myself to almost nothing.”

“
As for your Biscop, what is
the task he asks of you? Or can’t you tell me unless I agree?”
Callindra asked, leaning back against the cool stones of the
wall.

“
I don’t know the details,
only that they wish me to gather capable companions and venture
west. I have heard rumors though that they are trying to make
contact with some older powers.” He lowered his voice, “I think
they want me to contact the forest folk, the Old Ones.”

Callindra laughed, “The Fey haven’t existed
for an age, if they even existed at all! Your superiors can’t
expect us to find something that isn’t there.”

“
Demons walk among us, I
have heard it from the mouths of men whose word is above reproach.”
Tryst said gravely, “Something is changing Callindra, and I fear
things will get worse before they get better.”

“
So who else have you found
to assist you on this errand? When do you leave?” She asked, not
entirely certain why she was entertaining the idea of joining
him.

“
I have a pair of warriors.
You can meet them if you choose to join us; I will allow them to
introduce themselves.” Said Tryst, “We leave first light day after
tomorrow. I must be in the main cathedral in a fortnight’s
time.”

Callindra finished her wine and stood with a
smile, “I don’t know why, but I’m thinking about joining you
Tryst.”

“
I do hope you will come
with us Callindra, I believe we would benefit from your impulsive
spirit.” He said with a wry grin.

“
You sound like an old man
Tryst, if your companions are anything like you I think I’d go
insane after a couple of days.”

“
Or perhaps we would be a
calming influence upon you. There must be balance in all things
Callindra.”