* * * * *
The plain wooden door opened, startling Druzeel from his daze. It had been over two hours since his questioning with the dwarven captain and he feared that he would be left here forever. He had almost fallen asleep and the sound of the door opening woke him up.
“Please follow me,” said the Pillar that had entered the room. He was dressed just like the other man standing near the door, who had not moved an inch the entire time Druzeel had been in the room. What discipline! Druzeel thought to himself. The man must have had intensive training and conditioning to be able to stand motionless for almost five hours. As Druzeel stood and followed the guard, he stopped and looked over the man just to make sure it really was a human being. Confident that the guard was, he followed the other guard out and down the hallway.
He was led into a large circular room, the same one he had entered before the Pillars had separated the group and taken them to their rooms. Inside was empty, save for the torches lining the wall. Half a dozen doors stood on his left, including the one he had entered through. The large double doors that he had original entered through when first coming into the building lay closed, but behind it, he could hear what sounded like men and women talking. He knew that the main foyer lay on the other side. When the group had first arrived, it had been filled with guards and other citizens. It sounded as it still was.
Though the room beyond was alive with activity, the chamber in which he stood was empty, save for himself and the guard, but it didn’t stay that way for very long. After only a minute, another door opened and Dex and Jannda walked in, led by single guard. The Pillar led them into the center of the room.
“Please wait here,” he said. Both guards turned and left, leaving the companions alone.
“What’s going on?” Druzeel asked.
“Don’t know,” Dex replied, studying the room. He looked up and noticed a balcony wrapping around the room. Druzeel noticed him staring up at the ceiling and followed his eyes. Standing on the balcony above, a balcony that none of them had the time to notice when they first arrived, he saw a dozen or so Pillars, spears in hand. So, they had not been left alone after all.
A few seconds later, before the others had a chance to converse, two more of the doors opened. Inside walked Thorstar, Ristil, and Vistalas, all three led by two guards. They told them to wait, as with the others, and left.
“So are we free to go or not?” Ristil said, turning his face towards the Pillars above. When no one answered, he just cursed and lowered his gaze. None of the companions knew what was going to happen. Neither Xavdak nor the guards had said they were guilty. They hadn’t said they were innocent either, so they stood in center of the room and waited, as instructed.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, another door opened. Brask came through, being led by no one. Instead, the guard that he had most likely been following just held the door open for the mercenary to walk through. The Pillar shut it as soon as he entered the room. The man looked irritated and angry. Dex went to say something but thought better of it as he saw the man’s expression. To everyone’s surprise, except for the man who was the obvious subject of Brask’s ire, the leader of the Knights pushed by them all and walked right up to Druzeel. He looked down with a mixture of annoyance and hatred.
“You just couldn’t keep your mouth shut could you?” Brask spat, leaning over and coming within inches of Druzeel’s face. Druzeel looked back at him, a small sliver of distress filling his eyes. Did Xavdak tell him what I said?
“What the hells did you do now?” Ristil asked, his voice quickly carrying the air of expectation. Both Brask and Druzeel ignored him.
“I’m not going to lie for you,” Druzeel said, trying his best to sound strong and confident. His voice shook just a little, betraying his true feelings. Brask just continued to stare him down. “Did you think he would believe you were going to give back what you took?” Druzeel continued. “Did you think he would–”
“It doesn’t matter!” Brask yelled in Druzeel’s face. The young wizard jumped back, surprised by the outburst. He had almost fallen over Brask’s reaction was so strong. “I swear to the gods,” he continued, spitting fire, “if we get thrown into chains because of you I’m going to beat you to death!”
“Brask,” Dex said. “Calm down.” Brask whirled on him, his eyes flashing.
“Shut your–”
Before he could finish, the double doors leading from the room opened and Xavdak walked in. All eyes, including Brask’s, turned from the confrontation and settled on the High Captain. Dex made a sigh of relief for he didn’t know if he could have stopped Brask from beating Druzeel. For the time being, their host had just helped calm the situation.
Xavdak studied the situation he had walked into but said nothing. He was content to wait and observe what would happen between the group. When the rage slowly faded from Brask’s face and the man took a step back from the wizard, he knew he had just unwittingly diffused whatever had almost happened. He took a mental note of the conflict of the group and tucked it away in his mind. Perhaps he could use that later if the mercenaries got into any future trouble.
“Based on your statements,” he said, “and the lack of any physical evidence linking you to the murders, you have been cleared, so far, of any wrong doing. Unfortunately, dishonor and disrespect are not against our laws,” he added, referring to the looting of the dead.
“So far?” Vistalas was quick to ask.
“Yes,” Xavdak said. “I have sent Pillars to the caravan to gather the bodies and bring them back for a more thorough investigation. Until we have completed our analysis, you are not to leave the city.”
Brask cursed and shot Druzeel and hateful glare. He turned back to the dwarf. “How long?”
“As long as it takes,” Xavdak said plainly. “Believe me, I have no desire for you to be in the city any longer than you must. Should be no longer than a few days. If cleared completely, you may depart Pelartis.”
“Are we free to leave now?” Dex asked. In response, Xavdak just stepped to the side.
“Our belongings?” Ristil asked.
“Waiting for you outside,” Xavdak replied. “As well as your mounts.”
Brask wasted no time and walked from the chamber. The others quickly followed. They moved through the large foyer without even noticing the dozens of guards eyeing them in suspicion and dislike. Druzeel noticed them but avoided eye contact. He knew that the people staring at him thought him to be as the others, without honor or decency. He matched pace with his companions, wanting to be out of this place as quickly as possible.
Xavdak was true to his word. Outside stood their horses and a handful of Pillars holding their belongings. The guards gave them their weapons and gear and walked into the building, shutting the large doors behind them.
“This changes nothing,” Dex said as he strapped on his daggers and longsword. “We still have a job to do. We should split up and see if we can find out about the thief. We can meet up at the Wilted Rose in a few hours.”
“My contact is still in the city,” Vistalas said. “If someone like the assassin is still here, he should know.”
“There is a well-connected merchant I know that should be willing to help as well,” Dex added in.
“Good,” Brask said, anger still thick in his voice. “Thorstar, Ristil, and I will go with Vistalas. Dex and Jannda will go to the merchant. Meet at the Rose in four hours.”
“What about young master incompetent there?” Ristil said with a smirk, motioning to Druzeel who had yet to speak. Druzeel’s eyebrows lowered in anger but he said nothing. Brask looked at Dex and gave a satisfied smile.
“He goes with you, since you cherish him so much.”
Dex only nodded, wiping the smile from Brask’s face. It was clear the two still shared a little distaste for each other after what happened. Perhaps some time apart would do them good. Jannda just let out a troubled breath but didn’t say anything. It was clear she did not like t
he current arrangement.
Druzeel walked to his horse, pretending to look over his belongings. Ristil and Brask’s harsh treatment was expected and their actions hadn’t bothered him in the slightest, but Jannda’s hesitant breath had stung a little. He wondered if Dex felt the same. If the man had any hard feelings, he didn’t show it. No matter how they felt, Druzeel knew he had done the right thing. He told the truth and would do so again if confronted with a similar situation. What was Brask so upset for anyway? For the moment, they were free. That man can turn any positive into a negative, Druzeel thought. What a horrible way to live.
As he watched Brask and the other three ride away, a small amount of relief coursed through him. At least I won’t have to listen to their relentless barbs anymore, Druzeel thought to himself. Well, at least for four hours anyway. He hoped they could avoid any trouble. If they got into a fight or crossed the wrong people, Druzeel had little doubt that Xavdak would throw them in chains.
* * * * *