Exhausted from their long ride, the members of Wefpub woke late the next morning, with Star licking at their faces. Ace quickly scouted around. He came back before too long, as Corinna and Gerrod picked up camp. Ace reported that the King's Guard was just starting to move out. They gathered up their things and headed out again. They ate their breakfast of rations in their saddles, not even taking the time to eat.
Very shortly into their continued ride, they came across the markers that denoted the beginning of the region known as the Thieves' Triangle. The three-way splitting of the King's Highway formed this 100-acre triangle. The north-south road split off to send a westward spur to Oswegonia. Where this spur split to join the north and south directions, a triangle formed. It was within this area that a large band of thieves gathered and operated openly. They attacked and robbed any who traversed this section of the roadway, exacting their own toll.
The thieves of the Triangle had become very well organized. Over their many years of operating so boldly, they found numerous new followers. By acting in a highly trained, military fashion; the thieves took over many of the large merchant trains by sheer number. They took who or what they wanted, and then usually let the train go on its business. This constant marauding forced the merchants to hire fighters and even mages for protection. These hirelings could do little but protect the lives of the merchants. Even Gerrod had gotten quite a bit of work this way. These experiences taught him to respect the efficiency and skill with which they operated. The thieves worked fast and with precision. They filed out of every tree and bush, deadly accurate with their arrows, and near impossible to defend against.
The thieves would have little to do with the King's Guard of Oswegonia. Many of the thieves were refugees from the impoverished slums of that city. Having either gotten enough money to buy their freedom papers, or more likely escaped, they were never glad to see the King's Guard. The thieves might have attacked the Guard on principle, if they wouldn't have suffered so many losses in the attempt. They had a great and highly trained army; but so didn't the king.
Ace rustled through one of the many packs that hung off his pony, and produced a red banner. He tied the flag to the end of a long stick, and held it above his head as a signal. Fortunately for them, Ace had connections. It was possible to buy safe passage through the Thieves' Triangle, if you knew the right people. The signal flags showed this payment, and as terrible and swift as the thieves' actions were, they always honored the signal flags, if you flew the right colors.
Hundreds of faces peered out of the thick, colorful foliage. Faces of every race and size peered out from behind every tree. Faces even hung above their heads, and they knew all these faces held bows, readied with arrows notched, aimed at them as they passed. Gerrod had traveled through the Thieves' Triangle many times, but he never remembered seeing so many faces in the trees. They rode in silence, prayers on their lips, that Ace's signal would be correct. Their silence echoed that of the hundreds of faces they saw. Gerrod imagined that seeing two hundred of the King's Guard ride through in full dress armor had been quite a parade. It seemed most of the crowd that had gathered for that spectacle was still around to watch their small passing. Either that or they were in trouble.
They continued on for several hours, that felt like days in the unbearable silence, not changing their unhurried pace. Star, sensing the people all around, stayed by Gerrod's side, and away from his bushes. When they got to the fork in the road, which defined the Triangle proper, it was not difficult to tell which direction the army had gone. The curious faces still lined the northern path, so that was the way they chose. There was little chance that the thieves and the King's Guard would be in league to fool them, and they hoped the army still had no idea they were being trailed. They trusted their instincts about the faces.
With prayers answered, they met up with the road coming from the South, from Seaway, marking the end of the triangle. With no signs to lead them elsewhere, they headed north. Sunshine glinting off armor ahead of them confirmed that they were on the right track, and they slowed their pursuit.
Three ropes dropped down from the ceiling of trees above just as they thought they were making it through without a problem. As a group of three young men climbed down the ropes, many more men swung out of the bushes from all directions. The thieves surrounded them, but this wasn't an attack; that would have come in a hail of arrows that would have killed them. Instead, they seemed more interested in talking, as they maintained their distance. The small group stopped.
The apparent leader of the group stepped forward. He was a large human, dressed in a leather jerkin shirt covering obvious leather armor beneath. Steel bucklers strapped to his massive fore arms, and plate mail shin guards supplemented the meager leather. None of the armor matched, as if plucked from a number of different victims as trophies. He pulled a green cap low over his face. When he removed it, as if out of politeness, his balding head of blonde hair showed him older than his companions. He took a couple of steps forward, but made it clear with open hands that he meant no threat.
"Fenwick?" Ace greeted him as if unsure. "Fenwick Cooper!"
"Master Ace, you old dog!" the leader returned, warmly greeting their dwarven friend with an open handshake and a quick pat on the back. "What a surprise to find you out here on the road again."
"These be my friends," Ace introduced them. "Gerrod and Corinna."
Fenwick greeted Gerrod with a clasped forearm handshake, similar to what he gave Ace, but met Corinna with a courtly kiss on the back of the hand and a bow. "Well met, friends of Master Ace."
"Fenwick was a fellow member of the Inner Sanctum from way back," Ace explained. Corinna and Gerrod knew of Ace's days in the organized thieves' guilds of Oswegonia, and recognized the tribunal council that had mandated the affairs and interests of the guilds. It was a matter of honor among the thieves, such as it was, to be considered for the Inner Sanctum.
"I thought you had retired a while ago. What brings you to the road again?" Fenwick asked, though his clear eyes shown a glimmer of suspicion.
"We're just three lost souls out wandering the highway," Ace replied with a knowing wink.
"The Boss said to expect the army of guards to be passing through, but said nothing of sending you to keep an eye on them."
"Well, it never hurts to keep an eye on your interests, now does it?" Ace asked coyly, playing along.
"Not at all, not at all," Fenwick willingly agreed. "So, what do you know of this unusual parade?"
"Quite the procession, isn't it? Makes for a fine show, I'm sure," Ace answered, indicating the faces that still surrounded them.
"A lot of men, to be sure. Have you been able to figure out where they're heading or how long they'll be out?" Fenwick continued to pry.
"Not that I'm able to say. You understand. I'm sure that the Boss will fill you in with what he feels you need to know."
"Oh, well, of course," Fenwick apologized. "It's just that my men have been waiting for this day for so long, and this seems like it's going to be our best chance. It's an unbelievable opportunity to have so many of the Guard out of the city at once."
"Yes, but here patience is needed," Ace assured. Now that he had caught onto Fenwick's intentions, he sought to delay it if possible, or even advert it. He warned the eager leader, "I'm sure the Boss will know when the time is right and let you know. Acting rashly on your part would not bode well with him, I'm sure."
"I'd never attack the city without his orders. I value my life as well as my position."
"Then let patience be your watchword, I warn. Now, we cannot be detained any longer. We must be on our way. I would not want to have to report that we had lost track of the army because you held us from our duties."
"Of course, the right-of-way is yours, old friend," Fenwick granted with a deep bow.
"I'm sure the Boss will appreciate your leadership in this mission, and reward your wisdom handsomely
."
"May he look favorably upon you, too, Master Ace. Fare thee well."
With this, Fenwick and his men parted the way. The adventurers saddled up again. Led by Star, they made their way out of the Thieves' Triangle. They each held their thoughts to themselves, until they were surely beyond their realm.
Corinna pulled Thunder to a stop, even though they hadn't begun to catch up with the army again. "The 'Boss' is Raygan, isn't it, Ace?" She asked point blank.
"So it would seem," he answered, sharing her concern. "And he plans on raiding the city with the organized thieves of the Triangle."
"Might they have a chance of succeeding?" Gerrod asked.
"I'm sure that with the help of the thieves' guild inside the city already, they'd have a pretty good shot at it," Ace admitted.
"Too good," Corinna decided. "We have to warn King Lonnequist."
"But we also have to keep an eye on the Guard," Gerrod reminded them. "The threat to invade might also have been a distraction."
"Or it might be the whole reason for getting the army out of the city to begin with," Ace suggested.
"But where does Rai'dley and the Orb of Righteousness fit into all of this?" Corinna asked.
"Hard to tell, if Rai'dley's working with Raygan," Ace said. "I don't like the sound of that."
"Me neither, Corinna," Gerrod agreed. "What do you think?"
"Well, the King and Oswegonia are all the way back there," she reasoned. "We could either go back and warn them of the impending attack, or we could warn the army. Maybe they'd turn around to go protect the city."
"But that would mean blowing our cover," Gerrod reminded her. "I'm perfectly happy with them not knowing we're following them."
"But then going back to warn the King would mean going back through the Thieves' Triangle again, and that might make Fenwick even more suspicious than he already is," Ace warned.
"Well, we can't just sit here and not do anything. Even though it might mean revealing ourselves, I think we have to warn the Guards," Corinna decided. "It's our only real chance of protecting the city. Fenwick probably won't attack if he knows the army is on its way back. Without them, even if we did get back in time to warn the city, we'd still need the army to man the walls."
"She's right, Gerrod. There's not much we could do to help the city by ourselves. I never thought I'd be saying it," Ace chuckled, "but we need the King's Guard."
"All right, then," Gerrod agreed, "Let's ride."
The slow but steadily moving army hadn't gotten too far ahead, given their delay. With hooves clattering on the stone-paved highway, they thundered up the road. Finding discretion the better part of valor, they slowed their approach before they came upon the army so the sword-happy Guard wouldn't attack them before they could explain the problem. As it was, the ever-alert rear guard barely noticed them. As if embarrassed by their inattention, they quickly drew their swords against the small party.
"Halt there! Who dares sneak upon the King's Guard of Oswegonia?" A man on horseback shouted.
"Sneaking like a giant!" Ace huffed. A glare warded him off the offensive, as Corinna took over the encounter.
"Good day, Lieutenant," she greeted, noting the color of the crest on his helm. "We ride from Oswegonia to greet thee. We've news of importance for Captain LaBairne from the king."
The lieutenant looked them over well, and took whispered council from a fellow guard, never breaking his discriminating stare. He cleared his voice before speaking to sound more authoritative. He didn't motion to his men to lower their weapons, as the rest of the troops marched onward without them. Ten men remained behind. "I assure you, any official news from the king would not be left to messengers such as yourselves. We will not be fooled by your ruse. Speak now your true intentions, or be swiftly dealt with by sword."
Calm and thinking as always, Corinna didn't skip a beat. "Well met, lieutenant," Corinna continued. "The king would be proud of your vigilance."
The guards were taken aback, as Corinna had hoped they would be.
"But I am Corinna of Oswegonia. I have the papers to prove it," she spoke, lowering the hood of her heavy black robe. "By order of King Lonnequist, you are requested to take me and my friends to LaBairne, Captain of the King's Guard, lest you face the wrath of our good king." She gave the guard a smile, which while sweet, was not meant to be sincere.
The guard seemed alarmed, recognizing the beautiful mage of notoriety immediately. You could see the gears grind in his head, as the lieutenant scrambled to come up with excuses for his insults.
Mostly because she didn't want to waste any more time with this man, Corinna excused him and assured him he was right in questioning them so. "Now, to the Captain, please."
"Oh, yes, ma'am. Right away, of course!" He whispered commands to his second, the man that had advised him earlier. He then pushed his companions aside, so to be able to escort them to the head of the ranks personally.
His chest puffed out two sizes larger, as the lieutenant led the way past rows of men. All of this attention bothered Ace and Gerrod, who didn't care for gaining this much attention from the Guard, but not the lieutenant. He enjoyed all the attention drawn to him and those he escorted. Whispers of recognition spread through the different companies of guards. His gaze fixed ahead. His nose lifted high in the air. He strained his eager mount to slow to a trot, high stepping hooves loudly clapping on the stone. This was the lieutenant's finest hour.
With no help from their escort's unhurried pace, they finally reached LaBairne at the front of the parade of men. Just as the lieutenant was about to announce his findings, LaBairne dismissed him, draining all the wind that had puffed his sails on the long ride up there. He started to protest, but then realized it wasn't going to help. LaBairne gave him a glare that he shouldn't have had to give. Completely defeated, his head hung low as he made a hurried ride back to the end of the columns.
With a single hand in the air, LaBairne pulled the army to a halt.
LaBairne eyed the party with as much suspicion as the lieutenant had, and Ace and Gerrod slunk back, hoping he didn't recognize them from the Wefpub. He squinted, as trying to recreate that blurry, drunken induced vision, but eventually decided they were of no importance. His attentions focused on Corinna, whom he recognized easily. A frequent guest at the castle of the King, Corinna was a notable figure, and her ever-present black robe made her distinctive.
"Lady Corinna," he announced, bowing low in his saddle. He showed the powerful mage the respect that was due her. "What, pray tell, brings a lady of the court here to the wilderness?"
"I've news from the city, good Captain," she returned in a light, pleasant voice. It sounded more polite than she had been with the lieutenant.
"What news could be of such importance as to require such a prestigious messenger? Could not a few guards been sent instead?"
Corinna led his gaze behind him, to the long columns of guards still standing in careful formation. "Oh, well, of course." His eyes rolled at his obvious over sight. "So, please, what news have you?"
"There is reason to believe that the Thieves of the Triangle are planning an assault on the city walls. With the limited troops left in the city, they have an uncomfortable chance of succeeding."
"I see," LaBairne replied with a face so solid that it made even Ace sweat. He paused a moment, as if judging the weight of the news. "And you would of course have us return at once to the city to help ward off the attack, I presume."
"Of course! You and your troops are needed to defend the city and the King." His lack of concern or alarm at the news surprised Corinna.
"I see," was all that he said. With another wave of his hand, he started the long parade back up to a march, still heading north on the King's Highway.
"LaBairne?" Corinna called after him. Ace and Gerrod could only stare at each other in disbelief. "LaBairne!" Corinna shouted, but he never slowed, never even looked bac
k.
Corinna didn't appreciate being ignored. She heeled Thunder into a gallop for the few strides it took to catch up to the leader of the army again. She placed Thunder, mouth foaming, in front of the indifferent man. Gerrod and Ace followed behind as quickly as they could react. "LaBairne, where are you going?" Corinna's face flushed with anger. Bright flames burned in her eyes. "Oswegonia is in trouble! It may be under attack as we speak!" she shouted. "Didn't you hear me?"
Word of the possible attack spread like forest fire down the ranks of men, all concerned with the news. The murmur silenced abruptly when LaBairne raised his hand; all eager to hear his reply.
"Yes, Lady Corinna, I heard you. You seem to be whom I take you for," LaBairne began, his voice strong and deliberate. He was aware that his men needed to hear this as much as Corinna did. "That is perhaps why it saddens me so. You see, Lady Rai'dley, whom King Lonnequist has given command of every facet of the King's Guard of Oswegonia; warned me this might happen. I didn't believe her at first, all that magic and stuff; but I fear I must, for it has come as she has said. She predicted that I would be approached by someone representing Castle Lonnequist with this very news."
The significance of this escaped most of those who listened, but Ace's disgusted reaction showed he understood better than the rest. He knew what was to follow.
"And it was the orders of Lady Rai'dley to ignore any such rumors of attack, and to complete our mission as set out for us." LaBairne swallowed hard to get the words out. His gaze focused beyond Corinna, past them all, as if trying to avoid the honesty of their eyes. "She predicted these messengers to be enemies of the kingdom, and traitors to the King." Another hard swallow showed the welling of courage needed to continue. "That is why I can not believe you, Lady Corinna. I have my orders, and I must follow them, regardless of whatever argument you may present. I have always respected you, M'lady, so you can see why this pains me so. I believe you, but I can't do anything about it."
Corinna stopped dead. She saw the pain, knew the struggle that was the Captain's, and could not fault him for his loyalty to the Guard. None of them could. While that loyalty had always been an admirable quality of his, it now worked against them. That, they had to accept.
"Now, please, M'lady," LaBairne pleaded with the last of his respect. "You must step aside for the Guard, 'or be dealt with accordingly.'"
"As you wish, dear Captain," Corinna nodded, and calmly led Gerrod and Ace off to the side.
They could see that LaBairne's words had traveled through the length of the ranks as quickly as Corinna's had. The angry, traitorous glares and whispered rumors of the men intensified as they streamed by. Even the lieutenant sported a disappointed, betrayed face. It was difficult to tell whether any or all had believed the accusations, but as they continued to pass by, it became more apparent; it didn't matter. They continued to march.
Still shocked by what had just transpired, the three adventurers sat there for a few minutes. The army had again disappeared around a bend in the roadway.
"That blasted Rai'dley!" Ace spat under his breath. "She's given Oswegonia over to Raygan and his men."
"It wasn't us that Rai'dley had expected to report to LaBairne, but a real messenger from the King, once the attack had started," Gerrod agreed. "So the attack is not only real, but certain."
"We'd better get back to the city," Ace suggested. He was already reining Spade back toward the city when Corinna called after him.
"No, Ace, wait." She had the same, distracted gaze in her eyes that LaBairne had had. "We'd still be too late and too little help. Either way, I'm afraid there's nothing we could do to help them."
"Well, we can't just let them at it!" Ace protested heatedly.
"There's nothing we could do, Ace!" Corinna insisted. "Rai'dley's made sure of that. There's nothing we can do."
"But what about Aric, and the Wefpub?" Tears formed in the corners of Ace's eyes. Corinna and Gerrod knew that all of Ace's world was back there in Oswegonia, and with Raygan taking over, there was no way to guarantee its safety.
"I know, Ace," Gerrod clasped his shoulder, as much affection as Ace ever allowed. "But Helga's there to take care of things. You know nothing will dare mess with Helga!" He tried to joke, but Ace was in no mood. It took all the dwarf's great strength to hold back the tears and rage that boiled up from that large heart of his. He would not let them flow to the surface.
"Remember, Ace," Corinna tried to divert his attention and anger. "This is Rai'dley's fault as much as it is Raygan's. We may not be able to stop Raygan, but we can still see what Rai'dley has in store for the army. We have to stop Rai'dley, Ace. Remember the prophecy?"
"The prophecy," Ace absently repeated.
"Crying for loss and fatal twists,
For secrets told and people missed.
For trusts of gods, displaced by men.
For thieves of gold, now and then."
His lips quivered with the passing of the words. "I'll get ye Raygan," he vowed. "If ye harm me inn or me lad, I'll get ye."
Corinna and Gerrod shared solemn, knowing glances. Ace would follow through, or die in the attempt. So he vowed. So vowed them all.
"Let's follow that army," Ace decided.
Chapter 9
Elixir of Life