The Sorcerer's Ring (Book 1) (7 page)

“Don’t let this place fool you,” Scarlet replied as they walked past the open iron gates. “We could still be in danger. Enjoy yourselves, but stay cautious.”

Remi lifted her nose in the air to take in the new scents. Someone was cooking an array of seasoned meats over a fire and there were kids running in the street, chasing after each other with sticks. The roads were made of bricks and so were the houses, though the people did the best they could to decorate the buildings after the structures were erected. Windows were lavished with fancy canopies and banners. Miniature plants sat on the ledges and there were numerous wooden signs hanging from posts high above the doors, letting the patrons know where they were headed.

The streets were dimly lit but it was bright enough to see everything. The townspeople were casually dressed but no one was dirty. Wearing finely pressed shirts, pants and dresses, they would walk by twos or threes into the various buildings talking at a low volume. Though they were strangers to this new land, not one person turned their attention towards them. Remi figured that strangers were often visiting.

“This is the town of Surmount. It’s a way station for weary travelers such as ourselves. This place isn’t immune to the looming war, but at least everyone respects it. I’ve rarely heard of or seen violence here. We should be okay.”

“Okay?” Kace asked. “Who would be chasing after us?”

“The fact that we came all this way for Remi says to the enemy that she’s important. Spies from Cimmerian could be watching us right now.”

Remi suddenly became paranoid, looking into the faces of all those who passed by. If there were spies present, they sure weren’t breaking character.

“We’ll stay in an inn tonight. I’ll be going out with Eckard to make sure there are no threats here and then you’re free to check out this place yourselves but not until then. You three are still green to this.”

“I’m able to take care of myself,” Kace retorted. “You should know that.”

“I’m aware,” Scarlet glowered at him. “But you also might make a situation worse. I also know how hot-headed and stubborn the Quietus can get once they’ve engaged someone in battle. If there’s a way to keep things civil, I would prefer that at the moment. We’re a long way from home.”

“Just for tonight,” Kace muttered, looking over at Remi. “Besides, someone has to protect her.”

“Oh please,” Remi chuckled. “You’ll be the one that needs saving.”

“Come,” Scarlet said as she took the lead. They followed her into a quaint brick two-story cottage, squeezed tightly between two tall buildings that looked like residential living. A bell tinkled as they walked through the door, and a heavy-set woman in an apron and flowered dress waved at them from behind a cherry oak counter. Remi noticed that there were a lot of souvenirs and knick-knacks hanging all over the walls, everything from saws and little figurines to lanterns and quilts. Barrels sat in the corner with fish on ice and hot tea sat on the far end of the corner, begging them to taste it. A set of stairs on the far left corner led upstairs to where she assumed the rooms were.

“Greetings travelers,” the woman said, her long hair nearly sticking to the sides of her face. “Looking for a room or two.”

“One will suffice,” Scarlet replied. “How do we pay?”

“What do you have that I may want?”

“This,” she said, quickly reaching out and latching onto Remi’s poncho. Before she could fight against the Sage, Scarlet had wrestled it from her and lifted it over her head. Kace stepped forward with a growl but Eckard stood between them.

“What are you doing?!” Kace yelled as Olivia looked at them all in surprise. Remi winced as she felt the cold envelop her. She nearly fell to her knees but she forced herself to stay upright. She couldn’t show weakness…not from something so simple as this. There would be a bed with blankets upstairs…she hoped there were.

“It’s fine,” Remi said weakly as Scarlet snickered and bunched up the poncho in her hand.

“You two are wearing them!” Kace yelled. “Give her yours!”

“But we’re not the ones that have to prove ourselves,” Scarlet replied. “It’s obvious that Remi is sick. It’s all over her. Are you blind?”

“I know she’s sick—”

“—and you trust her enough to keep her around. That’s absurd. She has to prove herself. All I did was take away her warmth. That’s nothing. Look.” Scarlet stopped to take off her poncho and then she snapped her fingers at Eckard, signaling for him to do the same. He obeyed and soon only their armor underneath was visible. Scarlet was wearing a dark purple breastplate with the symbol of a lion etched into it. She had steel covering her limbs as well but it only came to her knees and her elbows. She raised her head high as Kace glanced at Eckard who was wearing the same ensemble, except he had no colors or symbols over his armor. Olivia found herself taking off her poncho as well, revealing only her t-shirt and pants. Kace shook his head.

“What are you doing?” he asked Olivia, but all she did was stare at him.

“The point is made,” Scarlet said. “Look at her. She’s barely conscious.”

Kace winced as he saw Remi beginning to turn blue. Her eyes were listless and she was starting to sway back and forth. Kace hugged her tight and held her close to his chest. She shuddered under his embrace and he held her away from him only for a moment as he took off his dirty shirt and put it over her. He then grabbed her and pulled her back into his arms, her head resting on his bare shoulder as he nuzzled his cheek into her hair.

“I’m no damsel,” Remi muttered into his bare chest, “in distress.”

“We know,” he said, lifting his eyes to Scarlet. “Alright, she’s good. What now?”

“So you’re going to be by her side whenever she needs help? You might not always be there for her.”

“You don’t get it. She’s the one that saved me. I’m just repaying my debt. If it wasn’t for her, I would be cut up and distributed amongst her people by now. Not to mention that once she gets going, she’s a better fighter than I am. In battle she’s the strongest between the two of us, and if the only way I can show my thanks is to keep her warm outside of battle, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

“Hmph,” Scarlet said, not convinced. “Repaying a debt…well, as long as you don’t mind being her crutch.” She turned to the housekeeper. “I would like to offer this poncho of that young girl’s as payment.”

“What makes this so special?”

“This poncho is a specially made fabric designed by her townspeople. A people that live on the edge of Cimmerian.”

“The edge, you say?”

“Once you’ve inspected it, you’ll see that there is nothing like it in Terra. The materials were taken from Cimmerian itself, gathered over time in raids.”

“Ah,” she said, running the palms of her hands over it. “It’s true. This is different. A few different animals were slain in making this. Do you know what kinds?”

“It would take a trip to Cimmerian to find out. The girls have no clue as well.”

“Interesting. I’ll have to send out my son to investigate. Well, this certainly pays for a room. Take the large one upstairs at the end of the hall. In all honesty, I think the mystery you’ve provided is more compensation than the item itself.”

“Glad to be of help,” Scarlet said, glancing back at Remi for a second. She then headed towards the stairs and they all followed. Kace crouched down and put Remi into his arms, carrying her. She was barely aware of it.

*              *              *

“How long do you think they’ll be?” Olivia asked Kace as the door to their room closed. They could hear Scarlet and Eckard walking across the floor and down the stairs.

“Who knows?” he muttered, sitting down up against the wall. Olivia followed suit as she looked around her. Eight different carpets made up the floor. There were six beds, three on one side of the room and three on the other with plenty of walking space in the middle. All there was in the middle was a small circular table with a vase that had no flowers in it. There were plenty of things all over the walls though. Paintings of people that used to stay in the inn, or of unknown places. Pictures drawn by children of lakes and animals and sunsets. Rusted pitchers and worn shoes. Beautiful necklaces and strange sculptures. Perhaps it was all put there as entertainment. It was certainly interesting to behold. Olivia found herself examining each painting and each item, inspecting every corner and surface, wondering how it was crafted and who the original owner was. She supposed that Remi’s poncho would be added to one of the rooms as another conversation piece, and it suddenly put a bad taste in her mouth. She turned back to Kace next to her.

“So it all worked out for Remi again,” she said. Kace scowled toward the center of the room.

“What are you talking about?”

“Her poncho was taken away, but it’s still going to be put up somewhere in the inn. No matter what happens from here on out, there’s a piece of her in this world. It’s like she’s left a part of her legacy.”

“It does her no good if she dies from the cold.” Kace peeked over at one of the beds where Remi was sound asleep and lightly snoring. He had taken the three blankets from the other beds and placed them over her.

“But people will still hear of who she is. And with that whole spectacle downstairs, the innkeeper will probably tell the story of what happened if someone asks.”

“What does it matter?” Kace snapped. “Why do you care so much?”

“I don’t,” she said in surprise.

“It’s obvious that you do. And it kind of pissed me off how you added to that ‘spectacle’ too. What’s your problem with Remi?”

“I don’t have a problem with her.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” he mumbled, facing the center of the room once more.

“Well, why are you so stricken with her? You’re like in love or something.”

“That’s not it,” he replied. “I meant what I said downstairs. I owe her. The Quietus may be ruthless at times, but we have some honor. For one, we always keep our word. And second, we repay our debts. Besides, I do want to see more of the world.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” she spat back at him.

He closed his eyes. “Jealous?”

“Fine. If you must know…I’m kind of sick of Remi getting all of the attention. I love her. I really do, but she’s still weak. I’m a lot stronger than she is, but everyone dotes on her. I don’t get it.”

“She needs the attention because she can’t handle it all on her own. Can’t you see that?”

“We’re not at home anymore. She should be treated just like anyone else. I thought that was how it was going to be, and that’s why I was fine with leaving with her. We could be equals. But we’re not. She’s still drawing all eyes on her while I remain in the background. No matter how hard I try, I’m still forgettable.”

“It’s because you try too hard. That crap you pulled downstairs? Taking off your poncho with Scarlet and Eckard? You looked like you were a puppet. Like you didn’t have your own brain. It was pathetic. I could understand why you would tell me about Remi’s condition when we first met, but you could have still said it in private. You didn’t have to make that one of the first things you said. Again, it made you look pathetic. Why would I want to hang around someone that’s so desperate for attention that they’ll throw me in the mud to get it?”

“Glad you think so highly of me.”

“No, I don’t,” he said truthfully. “But that doesn’t mean that can’t change. I feel like this is the first real conversation we had. So maybe this can be a fresh start. How’s that sound?”

“Yeah,” she said with a grin. “Can we?”

“Sure,” he said, glancing back at Remi. She hadn’t moved.

“I just have to say one thing. Just so you know.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’m not protecting Remi anymore. If I’m going to be my own person, I really can’t. My life has been tied from her from the beginning, but it’s cut now. It’s fine if you’re there for her, but I’m moving on. Hope you understand.”

“I get that,” he said.

“UGH!” Remi yelled. Kace and Olivia jumped to their feet as she flung the blankets off of her and onto the floor. “I’m all sweaty.”

“Payback,” Kace laughed. “Now you know how it feels.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have done that,” she groaned as she plopped her head back onto the pillow. “Okay, now I’m cold again.” She reached down to pick up them up when vomit spewed out from her mouth. Kace and Olivia jumped back and scrunched up their faces as she wiped the residue on her forearm. She glanced up at them with a weak smile. “Okay, that was gross.”

“Understatement,” Olivia said as she walked around the room, looking for a basin or bucket of water to access. Remi groaned and jumped out of bed, nearly falling onto her knees once her soles hit the floor. Kace rushed to her side and grabbed her clean arm, steadying her.

“Let’s go clean you up. There’s a bathroom at the far end of the hall. You think you can make it that far?”

“I’m going to have to,” she replied as Kace opened the door. He swung it open wide and looked down at her feet to make sure she could still walk while Remi stared straight ahead. Her eyes widened in horror as a man stood before her.

He had dark red eye-shadow around his eyes and thin lips. His hair was slicked back and greased heavily with a black, tar like substance. He wore a three piece dark blue suit and he was so lanky that his face was nearly as thin as a skeleton’s.