Chapter Fifteen
After an eventful night, the day dawned to the sound of rain which was fast becoming the norm in Bracksford. Sayana slept peacefully, nuzzled against Aiden's shoulder as they huddled together for warmth under the blankets.
Aiden had been with a woman once before, roughly a year ago - a brash young farm girl named Millie back in Coldstream, who wanted to get back at Pacian for something he'd done to her. It had been quite an education for Aiden.
Aside from that encounter, he'd never really had time to chase girls around. He was driven by events outside of his control to learn more and more about what had happened to him in that cave, and as a result, the chasing girls part of his life had been neglected. Apparently, he had been paying attention to Millie's 'lessons' however, for he found last night to be a pleasant diversion from more pressing matters.
Feeling the need to further investigate the strange cube, Aiden began the delicate process of extricating himself from Sayana's embrace. He was halfway clear when she emitted a faint whimper and gripped him a little tighter, making the last few moments just that much more difficult.
Once he was finally free, Aiden dressed himself quietly, noting with mild annoyance that some of his clothes were damp from where water dripped through a leak in the roof. He briefly glanced at Sayana as he was stuffing his treasured relics into the oil sack, noticing that one of her eyes was open and watching him.
“Good morning,” he whispered. She smiled back at him sleepily.
“Where are you going?”
“Dale is an early riser,” he explained. “After breakfast I'm going to see what he has to say about this cube. Why don't you sleep in a bit? I think you've earned it.”
“Mmm, I think I will,” she murmured. “And then I'm going to buy new pants. No... two new pants.”
“I'll catch up with you later,” Aiden said, blushing as he quickly stepped over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“My lips are down here,” she whispered, looking up at him with amusement.
“Right, sorry,” Aiden replied, correcting his mistake and then hurrying out the door to avoid further embarrassment. Aiden didn't know if it was just a one night thing, or the signal that they were now together in a more ongoing fashion. Given her background, he had to believe that Sayana was as inexperienced in these matters as he was, however confident she appeared.
Outside the inn room, Aiden looked down the dimly lit hallway and saw someone slumped against another door. The shock of blond hair indicated that it was Pacian, sleeping quite soundly in what Aiden could only assume was a drunken stupor. And while he wasn't sure, he suspected it was Nellise's door he was camped outside of.
Deciding to let his friend sleep it off, Aiden went down the stairs and stepped into the common room. Colt was in his customary position, sprawled on the floor, with three bruised local men unconscious nearby. Some of the tables and chairs had been broken, most likely having been used as makeshift weapons during the night.
It was still early for patrons to be lining up for breakfast, but Tom the innkeeper and his daughter Aislin were already up and about, preparing for the day ahead. The little girl was standing over Colt's prone form poking the big man with a broom in a courageous, yet vain attempt to wake him.
“It's probably better for everyone if you let him sleep,” Aiden advised her as he approached.
“But he smells so bad,” Aislin complained while continuing to poke him with enthusiasm. “People will be eating soon, so he needs... to... move....”
“Tom, why don't you help me carry him someplace else before your daughter breaks something important,” Aiden requested.
“Not a bad idea,” the innkeeper rumbled, setting aside his mop to assist. “Let's put him out in the stable for now, I think it's a kinder solution than throwing him out into the rain.”
“You are the very soul of consideration, Tom.”
“I don't normally provide this level of service to customers,” he confided, “but you and yours did us a real favour by getting that north road cleared, and I'm not unappreciative, even if Colt is a loud-mouthed braggart.”
“Go easy on him, he's nursing a broken heart,” Aiden said as he picked up the big man's arms, while Tom grabbed his feet.
“Yes, with an elf-maiden,” Aislin remarked. “It would be nicer if he’d bathe.”
“Told you that, did he?”
“He told everyone within earshot last night,” Tom grunted as they shuffled across the floor towards the back door, and the stables beyond. “Personally, I think he should settle for a nice human woman, although I don't know anyone that'd have him, to be honest. The man has some issues, no doubt about it. Here now, watch your footing mate, the bottom step is a bit loose.” With some careful footwork and manoeuvring, they managed to lay the big man down on a pile of hay without waking him.
Aiden washed his hands quickly in a nearby trough, and then headed back inside. He briefly considered taking a tray of food up to Sayana, but figured that she was a big girl now, and wouldn't need pandering to. Or would she? Aiden kept second guessing himself when it came to this situation, and he wasn't sure if something was going to offend or not.
Ultimately, he decided she'd still be asleep anyway, and after throwing a few copper jacks in Tom's direction for the fine meal, he pressed on with his plan for the day.
It was raining softly as he left the Bracksfordshire Arms, so he dashed across the street and purchased fresh clothes and a new longcoat before heading over to Dale's. The old man was already up, as Aiden had predicted, and welcomed him inside once more.
“Damn this inclement weather, wot?” Dale bristled, opening one of the curtains to let in a modicum of light. “If I had learned in advance that Bracksford was prone to this sort of prolonged moisture, I would have retired somewhere with a climate more suitable to the storage of old books. I've already lost two priceless tomes on the southern lands to water damage.”
“Yes, that book I bought from you last time was damaged by water too,” Aiden remarked truthfully.
“Blast, that was a one of a kind, too. I hope you were able to glean something of value from it beforehand.”
“Oh yes, it was of immense value to me,” Aiden assured him. “But I have something here that might be of even greater value, if you'd care to take a look.” He fished out the cube and held it out before him, drawing intense scrutiny from Dale almost immediately.
“Well well, what have we here,” he murmured, peering through his spectacles at the odd device for a moment, before he plucked it out of Aiden's hand and sat down at his desk nearby.
“There are small nodules on this side of the box,” he mentioned as he examined it with a magnifying glass. “The runes upon them are quite familiar to me, although I can't quite place where I have seen them before...” This caught Aiden's attention, and he had to fight the urge to prod the man to elaborate.
“I'm sure it will come to you eventually,” Aiden suggested. “Just tell me what you can.”
“Well, it is clearly quite old indeed, judging by the slight scarring along the sides, as you can see here, and along here,” he said, pointing at the areas in question with a long, bony finger. “It seems to be made of metal, though I can find no signs of forging or working of any kind – it is completely seamless, aside from the aforementioned nodules. Where did you find this?”
“I first saw a diagram of something like this in Alcott's Treatise, the very book I purchased from you recently,” Aiden explained. “I needed to know more, so we undertook an expedition into Ferrumgaard to see if anything more could be found. I was fortunate enough to locate the relic itself, amongst other things, and there may be something of importance written upon some scrolls I recovered with it.” Dale turned to look at him with astonishment.
“You ventured into Ferrumgaard? How remarkable! You must have seen such wonders down there. I'm rather envious, actually.”
“Don't be,” Aiden informed him soberly
. “It was an unpleasant experience for all concerned. Here, let me show you these scrolls. They're in dwarven, so I haven't been able to read them.” He reached into the sack and produced the relevant papers, and carefully deposited them on the desk next to the cube. Dale was quickly engrossed in their contents.
“Remarkable,” he finally declared after a few minutes, picking up the cube and pressing on one of the nodules. It sank into the side of the box with a soft, audible 'click', but nothing else happened.
“Was that supposed to do something?” Aiden asked uncertainly.
“Well, the chap who wrote these notes used to press that one, and strange glowing script would appear on the other side of the cube,” Dale explained patiently. “However, he also wrote that after a few weeks of experimentation, it stopped working altogether, and nothing he did ever made the script appear again. So, I think we can safely conclude that this arcane device has succumbed to the ravages of age. Much like myself, wot?”
“Was there anything else in those notes about what the device did when it was working?” Aiden asked, ignoring the attempted humour.
“A few scratchings here and there, but nothing substantive,” Dale replied. “If I'm reading this correctly, these were his research notes, used as a basis for writing a book on the subject. They're incomplete, so either you missed something while you were down in Ferrumgaard, or he finished his book and left with it before the city fell.”
“No, he was still there when I arrived,” Aiden remarked dourly, drawing a raised eyebrow from Dale. “I suppose I could have missed something, but I don't recall seeing any other books around.”
“I'm afraid that's all I can tell you at this point,” Dale concluded rather hastily. Aiden could see he was clearly impatient to get back to his own research.
“Thanks for your time, Dale,” he offered graciously. “I'm very appreciative. Can I be of any help to you in return?”
“Only if you know what that damned thing over there is,” the old man muttered, gesturing at the large contraption Aiden had seen the last time he was here. Back then, it was covered in dirt and grime, but since then Dale had cleaned it thoroughly, and a gleaming device now stood against the wall. It was a glass tube, perhaps five feet in height, mounted vertically on a metal base, and capped on the top with more metal. Metal pipes wound their way from the base up the sides where they connected to the top, and it was the strangest thing Aiden had ever seen.
He moved to examine it closely, more for personal curiosity than for any insights he might provide. The tube was pitted and scarred to the point that it looked more like frosted glass, and prevented him from seeing what might have been inside. Aiden tentatively ran his hand along the tube, remarking to himself that it felt more like metal than glass.
The metal base it was mounted in was dark grey, not from dirt, but by design. It was just as worn as the tube, but featured several nodules along the top, with runes etched into them that were barely legible. Crouching down for a closer look, Aiden could immediately tell that the runes were in the same language as the ones on the cube.
“Dale, the runes on this device of yours are similar to the ones on my box, did you know that?”
“Of course!” the old man exclaimed, slapping himself on the forehead. “I would forget my head if it wasn't attached to my neck. Yes, that is where I had seen them before, my boy. Forgive my poor memory - it's the first thing to go at my age.” He stood up and shuffled over to the large contraption with the cube held in one hand.
“Yes, yes, clearly from the same creator,” Dale muttered, comparing the two devices.
“Have you any idea what the runes represent?”
“I haven't yet seen enough of them to provide a basis for translating the language, although this cube of yours does provide me with a few more letters... words... whatever they are. I shall take notes.” He shuffled back to his desk, dipped a quill into a vial of ink, and began writing down notes of this new finding.
On an impulse, Aiden leaned over and tried to push in one of the nodules, much in the same way as Dale had done with the cube, and was pleased to see a small hatch flip open. The inside of the little hatch was empty, though it was lined with tiny bumps and grooves.
“Did you know about this little hatch?” Aiden asked of Dale.
“Yes, it's the only thing that still works,” the old man replied. “Another press on that same nodule closes the hatch again.” Aiden rubbed his chin absently, pondering the meaning of this development, when a thought occurred to him.
“Pass me the cube, if you've finished with it.” Aiden placed it over the hatch, discovering that it was the same size. Applying pressure gently to the cube, he slowly pushed it inside the chamber until it made a 'click' sound. Astonishingly, it was a perfect fit.
“My word, they're more intricately connected than I thought,” Dale exclaimed, having watched the whole thing. He tried pressing a few more nodules, but nothing else happened. Aiden had felt like they were on the verge of discovering something, only to be disappointed once more. They looked down at the cube for nearly a minute before Dale spoke up.
“Aiden, I wish to buy your cube.”
“Funny, I was about to offer to purchase your contraption,” he responded, both of them enjoying a brief laugh. “Seriously though, I don't think I'm willing to part with the cube just yet. I'll pay you for your time though, and I'll also take your translated notes from the papers I brought in, if you please.”
“Oh, I was just translating in my head, I didn't actually write them down,” Dale apologised. “You'll have to give me an hour to write them all out for you.”
“That's not a problem, I've plenty of time today.”
“Well then, have a seat and I'll get started immediately,” Dale offered. Aiden took the box out of the contraption and dropped it into a pocket. After clearing a few books of untold value from a nearby chair, he sat down to ponder these findings.
After half an hour, there came a knock at the door. Dale was too busy to pay it any heed, so Aiden opened it and saw Pacian standing outside in the rain, clad in a new cloak.
“Thought I might find you here,” he remarked, appearing somewhat hung-over. “There's a meeting happening in a few minutes you should come to, so finish up whatever you're doing and let's go.”
“Good morning to you too,” Aiden drawled. “What's this meeting about, and why do I have to be there?”
“It's about the akoran raiders,” Pacian answered grimly. “Things have gotten worse over the past week, and I'm told there's some new information about what's happening. Their local militia leader is giving us the details, a 'Corporal Redfurn'.
“Who told you all this?” Aiden inquired.
“Olaf, while I was getting our pay for clearing the highway. He seemed pretty upset, actually, although to be honest, I don't recall ever seeing him not upset. Maybe it was just gas. Oh, here’s your cut of the money, by the way,” he added, handing over a gold sovereign which Aiden absently put into his pouch.
“Okay, I'll be there as soon as I've finished up,” Aiden finished. “Where is the meeting being held?”
“The barracks, just behind the mayor’s office. I'll see you there,” Pacian answered, and then swaggered off along the street.
Dale had just finished the translation so, their business concluded, Aiden shook his hand and bid him good day, then headed straight for the barracks. Pacian's description had been correct, for it was indeed a converted barn. A local militia member stood guard outside the large doors and upon recognising him, allowed Aiden to pass with a quick gesture.
There were over a dozen people inside listening to a woman in chain mail. She hesitated mid-sentence as Aiden entered, casting an annoyed glance at him before she continued speaking. Pacian gestured Aiden over, where he had saved a seat for him.
Glancing around, he could see Nellise and Colt across the room, pointedly focused upon the armoured woman. Aiden sighed inwardly, sensing the awkward distance betwe
en them, both physically and metaphorically.
Sayana appeared next to Aiden, placing a hand lightly on his shoulder. He smiled up at her, but noticed a certain tension in her features that hadn't been there before. Was it something he had done? Again, he found himself floundering in a sea of self-doubt.
“No you're right, Mister Clifton, in that they have avoided empty carts returning from Coldstream,” the armoured woman was saying, her voice sounding too small for her solid frame. The man she addressed was a local wheat farmer, and like many of the other locals present he wore a look of mild anxiety as they talked about the situation.
“Clearly, the raiders are looking for food, even above riches. They’ve avoided the few patrols I have sent out along the road, which gives me hope that a show of force could send them running back to the hills.”
“So the threat isn't as bad as we initially heard?” said an older man with weathered skin and grey hair, who Aiden recognised as David Patel, the man from whom Pacian had acquired his old ranger leathers.
“Apparently not. I'm inclined to issue a travel warning to anyone moving east from Bracksford, and send out a few more men to patrol the area. That should be sufficient.”
“So, as you can see we have the situation well in hand,” Olaf declared to the assembled audience. “Thank you for your time, I will make every effort to keep you apprised of the situation as it continues to develop.”
Sensing the end of the conversation, most of the assembled crowd began to leave, talking amongst themselves in hushed tones. David, however, wore a look of obvious scepticism as he passed the mayor. It suddenly occurred to Aiden what was really going on – he put his hand on Pacian's shoulder as he started to stand and indicated he should wait.
He noticed that Nellise and Colt weren't leaving either. When the last of the civilians left the room, the door was closed behind them, and then the real meeting began.
“I apologise for the deception,” Olaf began, stepping forward to address them, “but as you can imagine, the townsfolk are rather skittish after all the recent troubles -”
“So you lied to them to put them at ease, how unprecedented,” Aiden finished cynically.
“Regrettably, yes,” Olaf conceded. “When you hear what Corporal Redfurn has to say, I'm sure you'll understand my reasoning.”
“Alright then, where is this Corporal?”
“I'm right here, and my name is Tara,” the armoured woman replied wearily, clearly used to being overlooked.
“Ah,” said Aiden, trying to cover his embarrassment.
“You all have a lot to discuss, and I have to prepare for the arrival of a very important dignitary from Fort Highmarch, so I shall leave you to your affairs,” Olaf said. With that, the elderly statesman left.
“Shifty bastard,” Colt muttered. “So, what the hell is going on?”
“Last night, I received word from an associate of yours, who has been keeping an eye on the akorans,” Corporal Redfurn said, getting right to the point.
“A ranger? What's his name?”
“His name is Duncan, if that means anything to you. He was co-ordinating with a younger woman in the same leathers, though I didn’t meet her.”
“Yeah I know him, damn good ranger,” the big man nodded. “If anyone can find out what's going on, it's him. The young lady would be Sally. She’s probably been spying on them for weeks.”
“What have they discovered so far?” Nellise asked politely.
“Duncan relayed a message before heading back out to continue his surveillance,” Tara continued. “We've had good relations with the akoran tribal people for decades, up until about three months ago when they cut off trade and forbade anyone from entering their lands. We couldn't figure out what had happened, until recently. Apparently, they've had a change of leadership, and the new chief, Erag, is a brutal, vicious bastard.
“This new leader has a different perspective on the kingdom to his northern border - that would be us – and has whipped his people into a frenzy, preparing them for war. Several hundred of their warriors have set up a fortified camp not far south of Coldstream, and their numbers are growing day by day. Pretty soon, they'll have enough people to crush everything in their path, and plunder this entire region.”
“So, what would happen if this 'Erag' met with an unfortunate accident,” Pacian asked delicately. Aiden noticed a flicker of irritation cross Nellise's face – clearly he wasn't going to endear himself by proposing more bloodshed.
“Hard to say, really,” Tara answered hesitantly. “Either the rest of them would go on a killing spree to honour him, or give you a big sloppy kiss for freeing them from tyranny.”
“I don't like either of those options,” Pacian murmured.
“Hang on a moment,” Aiden interrupted seriously. “What exactly do you want from us?”
“I would have thought it obvious,” Tara replied curiously. “All of you have shown that you're capable of dealing with situations like this, so instead of sending in what few people I have at my disposal, you can do what needs to be done. The mayor has nothing but praise for your team.”
“I think the word 'team' is a little strong, to be honest,” Aiden said delicately, noticing the uncomfortable looks from the others. “And if you think we're going to fight hundreds of savage warriors for you, you're a loon.”
“Of course not,” the Corporal objected. “What I'm talking about here is a precision strike against their leader. Duncan and I agree that without Erag, their momentum will waver, and the war won't happen.”
“Ah, nothing like a good old assassination to solve all our problems,” Pacian drawled.
“Look, my family lives in Coldstream,” Aiden said, “and if they haven't been attacked already, then they soon will be. I want to make sure that doesn't happen, so even if no-one else wants in on this job, I'm going.”
“You believe this to be our only solution?” Nellise asked, looking mostly at Pacian but including Aiden in her stern gaze. “Kill whoever we don't like? Have you given any thought to the consequences of such an action? I would think the akoran people would be outraged at our meddling and go to war anyway.”
“I would agree with that,” Tara interjected, “except for one thing. Their former chief Morik Far-Eagle disappeared, right before Erag seized power. Morik was always co-operative with Aielund and beloved by his people. Erag couldn’t have stood against him directly, and would have been a fool to kill him.
“So you're saying Morik is still alive?” Aiden asked.
“Most likely, yes,” Tara confirmed. “Given a chance, Morik could reclaim power and end the threat instantly. The only difficult part is getting past so many of their people, all fired up for war.”
“Sayana is from Akora,” Aiden volunteered. “Maybe you could guide us in?”
“I don't think it's a good idea,” Sayana hedged. “They will have patrols covering the entrances, and getting past them without being seen will be all but impossible.”
“The rangers managed to do it,” Tara disagreed. “And from what I hear, your wilderness skills should easily be a match for them.”
“Myself and the rangers, yes, we can do it,” Sayana continued, “but what of the others? Nellise, you are not the stealthiest person I have ever met, nor is Aiden.”
“All you have to do is scout ahead for us and let us know when it's safe to move,” Aiden suggested. “We can get some white cloaks to help us blend in with the snow. I think this could actually work.”
“If Morik is being held near their forward camp, it will be extremely difficult to get to him without running into the guards,” she retorted. “If you are planning to bypass the warriors, free Morik, and then have him lead an uprising, I think you had better come up with another plan.”
“All things being equal, I would prefer to do it the way you just described,” Tara remarked. “I can only assume you will have to dispatch a few guards here and there, as a matter of necessity. With your assistance, they wil
l be able to minimise these casualties. Isn't that worth the risk, if it avoids a war?”
“I... can't,” Sayana protested with a quivering voice. “I haven't been back to akoran lands in a long time, I wouldn't have any chance of guiding you to the right place.”
“I recall you saying you haven't been there for six months, back when we first met,” Aiden noted. “That isn't such a long time. Is your memory that poor?” The wild girl looked like a trapped rabbit, eyes darting back and forth looking for a way out. Aiden knew that she hadn't been completely forthcoming with information about her past, or the real reasons for her exile to the mountains.
“You were on your own a lot longer than six months, weren't you,” he began, speaking gently so as not to seem accusing. “And you didn't leave Akora because they were low on food either.” Sayana shook her head meekly, before taking a deep breath and plunging in.
“As my abilities began to manifest, the people became nervous, thinking I was cursed,” she spoke quietly. “They do not like sorcery, or those who practice it. My father, a respected man in the tribe, was pushed into doing something about me, over my mother's objections. They didn't dare kill me, for it is said that killing a witch brings a curse upon the murderer, so I was abandoned in the mountains as a small child, eighteen years ago,” she stated without emotion.
“Eighteen?” Pacian said in disbelief. “But you can't be more than sixteen years old.”
“I'm not entirely human,” she replied softly, pushing aside her wild hair to show her slightly pointed ears, an act of courage on her part that Aiden had to respect her for. “My mother was elven, and they age far more slowly than humans. I am actually twenty eight years old. I was cast out and left to die in the wilderness by my own people, and if I return, they will surely do worse this time.” There was only silence in the room as everyone present digested this startling turn of events.
“I, for one, consider the character of an individual over any concerns about blood,” Nellise stated thoughtfully. “And I think I can safely speak for everyone here that your heritage is of little concern to us. I can only imagine the fear you must be feeling at the thought of walking back into your homeland to face your people. I do not think this is the wisest course of action, but if we can avoid further bloodshed by freeing Morik, then I believe it is worth the risk.”
“You needn't actually face them if you don't want to,” Tara added, compassion evident in her voice. “Just guide the others in, then hide and wait for them to leave.”
“I won't let anything happen to you,” Aiden added firmly.
“Very well, I will help however I can,” she finally relented. “Did Duncan say where their main camp was?”
“Yes, right over here,” Tara explained, pulling out a rolled up piece of parchment with a crude map sketched upon it. She laid it out on a small table in the middle of the room.
Sayana pointed out a series of caves in the area she remembered being used by the akorans years ago, telling them she thought there was a good chance they were still being used today. This accorded with Duncan's information that a palisade had been erected around the caves, with enough room inside for a thousand warriors to make camp.
It seemed like an impregnable defence, except for the hill to the west of the camp where the palisade ended. With some cautious manoeuvring, they might be able to creep around the hill and get to the cave entrance from behind, with only minimal encounters with the guards.
“The inside of the caves is something you will have to figure out yourselves,” Sayana finished.
“We'll manage,” Pacian said. “If you like, I could sneak in there by myself, free Morik, disable the guards, and cut the head off Erag while he's sleeping. The only trouble is, I don't know what I'd do with the rest of my day.”
“Cocky little bastard isn't he,” Tara remarked.
“Yes, you're taking this far too lightly, Pacian,” Nellise chastised him. “As I have been telling you for the past two weeks, there are better ways to deal with people like this. Given the chance, I'm going to try and talk sense to this man before you stick a knife into his back.”
“And as I've been telling you,” Pacian shot back, “there are some real monsters out there, and I'm not talking about giant serpents either – while you're trying to deal with this man, he'll be laughing at your naivety and getting ready to cut your head off with his axe, or something far worse! Some people need killing, Nellise, the sooner you learn that, the longer you'll live.”
“Enough,” Aiden barked. “We'll evaluate the situation when we get there, but from what I'm hearing, there isn't going to be much room for negotiation on this little trip, so don't get too attached to the idea Nel.” She didn't seem too impressed with Aiden's remarks, but crossed her arms and chose not to speak further.
“If we're gonna do this, then let's do it right,” Colt grunted. “No half-measures. I'm not sneaking past an army and breaking in to some bloke's cave of doom, just to have dinner with him.”
The brief exchange between Nellise and Pacian highlighted the strained relations within the group, and was a discouraging start to what, in all likelihood, promised to be a dangerous journey. Sayana held Aiden's hand under the table - her grip was tight, and a quick glance at her tense features showed that this was going to be particularly difficult for her, no matter how much planning went into it.