Seeds of Virtue, Dark Descent, Book I

CHAPTER 14

  Dex and Jannda rode down the wide avenue cutting through the center of Pelartis. They carefully navigated their mounts through the crowd, headed for the merchant that would hopefully point them in the direction of the assassin, or someone that could. If the man they were going to see did not have the information they needed, they would just have to hope that Brask and the others would come up with something. This was a big city and they all knew finding one assassin, even one as unique as the one they were chasing, would be difficult.

  As they continued down the brick paved roads, Dex’s mind continued to drift to Druzeel and to what he had said to the young wizard. He had not meant to make Druzeel feel so inadequate or like some child they needed to chaperone, but in his mind, he went over the words he had spoken and quickly realized that was exactly how he had come off. He had made the young man feel like a fifth wheel, like he was nothing but trouble and a constant pain in their side. Brask would agree with that statement and there was a small part of Dex that could as well, but Druzeel was useful and had powerful magic at his disposal. If Brask and the others could just get past their preconceived notions, the wizard could truly shine. Graeak never would have sent his prized student with them if the archmage had not thought him worthy. They just needed to start treating him like an equal, something that Dex had not done just a few minute ago. He was upset with himself for there were many times in his own life where he had been with people that treated him like he had treated Druzeel and he remembered the pain and anger from those times. He should have known better.

  “Stop beating yourself up,” Jannda said a few minutes later, seeing the look on his face. “He’ll be all right.”

  “I know,” Dex said, looking at his friend. Jannda had always been able to read his expressions and know what he was thinking, especially after a tense situation. Her ability to read people and sense their thoughts was what made her such an accomplished bard. She knew what songs to sing, what tales to tell, and most importantly, what magic to cast to ease anyone’s troubles.

  “Do you?” she then asked. “I’ve seen that look before and know your disrupted thoughts will be with you for some time. Do you care about that boy so much?”

  “I care about what happens to him,” Dex replied truthfully.

  “Just what happens to him?”

  “No,” Dex responded, shaking his head, a smile on his face. “I care about him. I guess I can’t help myself. He really does remind me of a younger, more innocent Dex Swifthood.”

  “Was there ever anything innocent about you?” Jannda joked, trying to ease her friend’s worries.

  “At one time,” Dex simple said. “Though I think...know he can take care of himself, Graeak trusted him in our care and I don’t want something to happen to him. It would look poor indeed if we returned to our employer with the corpse of his prized student. That boy has so much potential I just wish Brask and the others would give him the chance to show it.”

  “You don’t think they have?”

  “Not without expecting him to fail. Sometimes they even set him up to fail. I just think he needs motivation and less of words that antagonize him.”

  “True,” Jannda said, realizing that she had offered a few harsh words toward the young wizard herself. “But he also needs to learn what not to do and sometimes the only way to do that is to fail.”

  “Agreed,” Dex replied, “but let him fail on his own. Brask seems to only place him in the worst situations, wanting him to fail and even encouraging it. It is one thing if Druzeel collapses under pressure by himself, but quite another if someone else, a supposed companion, steps on him before he has even had the chance to try.”

  “But that may only make him stronger,” Jannda pointed out.

  “Or crush his spirit completely,” Dex said. “There is only so much a man can take before he implodes. Druzeel has tremendous power at his fingers and I want to make sure it is pointed in the right direction, used for the right purposes. Ridicule that young mind too much, pound on it too hard, and it will crack and that will benefit no one. That may even cause him to turn against those he originally thought as his friends and I don’t think that is something anyone wants, even Brask.”

  “Brask certainly walks a fine line with Druzeel,” Jannda said.

  “I just want to make sure he doesn’t cross it,” Dex replied. “If that happens, there may be no helping either one of them.”

  “You are way too pure to be a mercenary,” Jannda joked, a smile quickly spreading across her face. “You should have been a priest.”

  “Don’t have the stomach for it,” Dex replied. The two companions shared a laugh, which helped to push away their worries and questions of Druzeel, at least for the time being. When the moment of mirth passed, they turned back to the road.

  As they moved into the wealthier part of the city, Jannda looked behind them, looking for the handful of guards that had been following them since they left the dungeons. It didn’t take long for her to locate them for they were staring in their direction, still right on their heels. Though annoying, the guards’ presence was not particularly troubling. They were going to see a wealthy merchant after all, not some shady underworld criminal. If they wanted to waste their time, then so be it. Their presence just assured that Brask and the others would have fewer men following them. Now they may have a problem with those Pillars for Jannda knew her fellow traveling companions were on their way to see a known thief and criminal. That was not something they wanted the authorities to know, but that wasn’t her problem right now. Right now, she only concerned herself with finding the merchant.

  “So where do you think Brend is at this time of day?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

  Brend Hillsborrow was a wealthy merchant, dealing in jewelry and other exotic, and fairly expensive, clothing accessories. In a city such as Pelartis, a city full of affluent, self-centered people, a man like him thrived. There was hardly a man or woman–and sometimes a child–that was walking around that did not sport one of his creations. His products were sold in the over three dozen stores that lay throughout Pelartis. He called his business Alluring Accents and one could find the beautifully designed buildings, as carefully crafted and built as any of his pieces, on almost any corner, in only the richer neighborhoods, of course.

  Because his craft mainly attracted the attention of women, wealthy women who were married to nobles and other well-connected people, Brend was the perfect man to turn to regarding information, of any kind. One wouldn’t think it, looking at the elegant, well-dressed women that usually visited his establishments, but when their husbands, and sometimes lovers that their husbands knew nothing about, spoke of business and gossip, their women were always close by, listening to every word. And those words were often repeated and heard by the employees at Alluring Accents, who relayed that information to Brend. Dex soon discovered that his gold came not only from the overpriced trinkets he sold, but it also came from the information he cared to sell and in this city, any city for that matter, information could carry a high price.

  “Either at his largest store or the Dryad’s Kiss,” Dex answered. He knew Jannda knew where to find the man but he answered her anyway. Talking about what they were doing was a good way to keep his mind focused on the task at hand on not on his other concerns.

  “The man likes to drink,” Jannda remarked. She had met the heavyset merchant shortly after meeting Dex and immediately took a liking to the man. Though he was a serious businessman, stern at times and sometimes hard to deal with, he knew how to relax and have a good time. Many of those good times involved him sitting in a chair, surrounded by women, knocking back glass after glass of sweet red wine. She had never met a man that could drink like Brend Hillsborrow.

  “So which should we try first?” Jannda asked, smiling as she started to think about the merchant. “The tavern or the store?”

  “Since they are right next to each other,” Dex said, “I guess it doesn’t really matter. My gues
s is, at this time of night, Alluring Accents is closed, but the Dryad is open all night long. He’ll be there.”

  Dex had first met Brend while on a job for a gem merchant. He had been hired to transport a large collection of gems to Alluring Accents, but had run into problems along the way. The value of what he carried soon spread to every ear in the city and he was soon besieged by thieves and assassins. Though difficult, he and a handful of others hired to do the job delivered every single stone, surviving because of Dex’s leadership and tactical skills. Brend had been so impressed with Dex that he soon hired him to do odd jobs every time he visited the city. The two soon developed a strong friendship and Brend told him he should stop by any time he was in Pelartis. The mercenary planned to do just that.

  The two Knights reached the tavern twenty minutes later. There were still an abundance of the people in the streets but the crowd thinned slightly as they reached the Dryad. Dex thought the sudden dispersal came from how late it was but Jannda attributed it to their proximity to a place with lots of ale and a plethora of beautiful women. Though technically not a brothel, those with the right amount of coin could purchase a night of sinful pleasure within the tavern’s walls. Those that ran the Dryad did seek out and employ the most beautiful in the city, and it wasn’t just to serve drinks and food either. That particular characteristic was another reason why Brend frequented this place.

  The front of the Dryad’s Kiss was constructed of stone but had two giant tree sculptures carved of wood, one standing on each side of the door. The limbs stretched all the way up the building, shaped around the stone as if they had grown that way naturally. Thousands of carefully carved leaves hung off the limbs, adding beauty and a feeling of nature to the building. Windows with frames of dark wood sat on the upper floors of the building, expertly placed so the leaves and limbs of the tress would not block the view of the Dryad’s visitors.

  The base of each tree was five feet wide and held cravings of deer, squirrels, and other animals of the forest. The theme continued up the wide trunk, lightly fading into the wood almost ten feet high. If one looked closely enough, they would be able to spot a handful of women that had been carved into the wood in such as way as to hide their nakedness behind a leaf or bush. The animals making up the collage also helped to make it difficult to spot the dryads hiding in the sculpted forest.

  “Beautiful,” Jannda said, admiring the work. She had been here before but being a bard, she had a deep love for all works of art, both spoken and physical, and the sight of the wooden statues always amazed her.

  “Yes,” Dex said, nodding in agreement. He looked to his right and saw Alluring Accents just a few doors down. The torches resting on the elegant columns of marble were out, signaling that the business was indeed closed for the night. That gave them only one place to look for Brend. Dex just hoped the merchant was actually here. He had never been to the man’s home so if he weren’t inside the Dryad, they would have to meet with the others and look for alternate avenues of information.

  Dex and Jannda dismounted and led their mounts over to the half dozen young men that stood near the entrance to the Dryad. Each of them was dressed in plain trousers and bright green vests with a picture of a tree on the front. Both Knights handed one of the young men the reins to their mounts and a few pieces of silver to another. The man that took the coins nodded in thanks, gave them each a wooden coin with a number on it, and led the horse and pony to the stables that sat at the rear of the tavern.

  “Interesting service,” Jannda said, not remembering the young men last time she had visited. Then again, last time she was here, she had not been with her pony.

  “This place is often visited by the rich,” Dex explained, “and they expect such treatment, however foolish it may seem.”

  “Hey,” Jannda said, holding her hands out to the sides, watching her pony being led away, “I’m not complaining. Just hope they treat her well.”

  The two walked up to the strangely plain wooden door. They would have thought that a place with such an extravagant exterior would have something a little more...majestic as an entrance, but the door was just a slab of thick, heavy wood. They pulled it open and walked inside.

  The interior of the Dryad’s Kiss was just as artistic and beautiful as the outside, with beautifully carved walls, elegantly crafted tables, and a marvelously built stage that currently held a handful of bards, each playing a different instrument. Their music filled the entire room, which was very large and very crowded, and gave the tavern a homely, comfortable feel. Staring at the two elves and three humans on stage, listening to the beauty of the music, Jannda suddenly felt the urge to jump up and join them, lending her voice to their alluring harmony.

  As Jannda watched the bards perform, Dex looked over the rest of the tavern, marveling at the architecture. The walls of the Dryad were crafted to look like one large forest mural, with dozens of trees carved into it. Frolicking and dancing among those sculptures of wood and leaves were dozens of scantily clad dryads, each one meticulously formed to show off their seductive assets. The work was so well done that Dex swore that one of those creatures was about to jump off the wall and dance for the tavern’s patrons. He looked up at the ceiling, seeing that it was made to look like hundreds of interlocking tree limbs, wrapped tight around one another to hold up the ceiling and floor above it. His eyes moved next to the large counter, which had the look of a downed tree, an extremely thick downed tree, with a flattened top so it could hold plates, goblets, and other utensils. Stools that looked like miniature trees and chairs that looked to be made of leaves sat scattered in front of the counter and around the trunk-like tables that sat throughout the establishment. Each one was full of patrons, drinking, eating, and sharing stories of conquest and adventure.

  And those figures listening to those exaggerated stories were the serving wenches of the Dryad’s Kiss, each dressed like the dryad carvings on the walls and looking just as beautiful. All of them had long hair, tanned skin, and wore hardly a thing. Every woman wore a narrow top that just barely covered her breasts and a short skirt, each of which looked to be made of dark green leaves. The women were laughing and engaging each patron, though Dex knew half if not most of them really did not care what their customers were saying. They only had coin on their minds and acted in a way that would assure they got it, be it at the table or in one of the dozens of bedrooms on the upper levels.

  Everyone that worked at the Dryad was female, even the bartender, though she was anything but attractive. She was a burly woman with powerful shoulders, large arms, and even larger legs. Her face looked to be as hard as stone and her gaze was said to be able to melt steel, but she held a friendly expression as she served drinks and platters full of food. Dex has never met Grenda Bulgshrum but he knew she was not a woman to be taken lightly, no matter her current state of mind. Not only did she own the Dryad’s Kiss and serve as its bartender, but she was also something of a bodyguard for the girls working for her. Anyone abusing those she employed soon found themselves unconscious and out in the street with hardly a memory of how they got there.

  “There he is,” Dex heard Jannda say. He looked away from Grenda and followed Jannda’s eyes to a large table near the back of the room, surrounded by a handful of serving wenches. They were all laughing and flirting with the large, nicely dressed man that sat alone at the table.

  The jewelry merchant was dressed in a coat of bright blue silk, a surcoat and mantle of orange, and a blue cap made of some other type of material that Dex could not identify. As usual, his short brown beard was neatly trimmed and carefully combed, as was his shoulder length hair. His face was rosy and his dark blue eyes sparkled as he laughed and mingled with the females around him, telling Dex that he was already full of red wine. His large belly was wrapped with a colorful sash and his pudgy fingers, even his thumbs, were adorned with some type of ring or trinket. Along with those, he wore a golden necklace, a few sparkly bracelets, a handful of earrings, and a pearl stud in
his right nostril. Even if he didn’t like wearing all that jewelry, he certainly dressed the part of his chosen profession.

  The companions worked their way through the crowded room. As they went, Jannda kept turning, keeping one eye on the door. When they had almost reached Brend, the Pillars that had been following them came in and quickly picked Dex out of the crowd. Jannda was so short that she was hidden from view amongst the tables and patrons, but she managed to keep an eye on the guards.

  A few conversations suddenly stopped as the guards entered. Though not uncommon, Pillars in the Dryad were a rare thing for most of the men had been told–and some outright forbidden–not to visit the tavern because of the type of business they did. The reason it had not been completely shut down was that Grenda had paid off the right people, many of which were repeat clients in the tavern. As long as she caused no trouble and the guards didn’t disturb the business, the Dryad could stay as it was. Since the orders of these particular guards were to watch Dex and Jannda, many of the men were more than happy to be able to follow them into the tavern that many of them never got the opportunity to visit.

  Jannda watched as the guards tossed a few coins to the handful of men sitting around a table. They gladly gave up their seats for the pieces of silver. The Pillars then sat down, their eyes trying to stay focused on Dex, but more often than not, they fell on the gorgeous women walking around the room. Jannda suddenly got an idea but waited until they made contact with Brend.

  “By Findle!” the hefty merchant bellowed as they neared, citing the god of luck. “Dex Swifthood!” His voice was deep and carried through the room, almost overpowering the loud music playing just a few feet to his left. “And Jannda!” he continued, a wide smile filling his massive face as his eyes fell upon Dex and his halfling companion. “By the gods, it has been a long time.”

  “Hello Brend,” Dex said cheerfully, walking right past the giggling women and shaking the merchant’s meaty fist. “It is good to see you.”

  “And you as well,” the man answered, not bothering to get to his feet. Truthfully, Dex did not blame him for staying seated. At the moment, the merchant had a very attractive serving girl sitting on his knee. “Have a seat you two. Ulthra here will get you whatever you wish,” he said, patting the girl on his knee gently on the back. “I’m buying tonight so order whatever you want. And Jannda, why don’t you get up on stage and sing us a spell or two?”

  “Come now,” Jannda said, batting her eyelashes just as the girls surrounding Brend were doing though she was doing it mockingly, “never before midnight.”

  “Is it not yet midnight?” Brend said, his face feigning surprise. “Time seems slow tonight. Thank Tilmeric,” he said, referencing the god of time, “I’ve got nowhere to be tomorrow.”

  Brend let out a mighty laugh, one quickly taken up by the girls around him. He grabbed the full glass of wine sitting on the table next to him and downed the entire contents in one massive gulp. He wiped his lips and set the glass down, motioning for the girl standing just to the right of Dex to get him another. She smiled longingly, took his glass, and left to do his bidding.

  “So, what will you have?” Brend said. “Surely you’re hungry. You have the stench of the road on you. Traveling can make any man, or halfling,” he said, shooting Jannda a wink, “famished.”

  “Normally,” Dex said, “we would gladly take you up on your offer, but we are pressed for time.”

  “Oh, come now,” Brend said, shooting Dex a disapproving look. “Matters of business should wait for the sun. The night is for fun and entertainment. Isn’t that right ladies?” The serving wenches responded with another round of giggles and laughter. Jannda just rolled her eyes.

  “This can’t wait,” Dex responded, taking on a serious look. “Brend, I really need your help.”

  The jewelry merchant looked up at his friend and saw the concern on his face. Brend’s expression of merriment quickly faded, replaced with a stern business look. The man knew when to get serious and if Dex was concerned, he had cause to be. Jannda couldn’t help but smile at the sudden change in attitude. That was why she liked Brend so much. He really only had two types of moods: fun loving, carefree drunk or serious merchant. The best thing was that he could seemingly change between them on a whim

  The merchant patted Ulthra on the hip. She stood and moved around to the back of him. Brend leaned forward, meeting Dex’s eyes.

  “What do you need?” he asked, his voice low and calm.

  “Do you have somewhere private we can talk?” Dex asked. “Not that I do not trust the girls here, but others may be listening.”

  “In the back,” Brend said. “Grenda has private dining rooms.”

  “Good,” Dex said, but before the merchant rose, Jannda quickly pointed out one problem.

  “They’ll follow,” she said, motioning towards the group of Pillars across the room. Some of them eyed the girls that walked by them, but more than a few were intently watching the exchange between the merchant and Knights. “You think the girls can help us out?” Jannda asked Brend with a mischievous grin.

  “Not a problem,” Brend said happily.

  The merchant motioned for Ulthra to lean down. When she did, he whispered something in her ear. Whatever it was, a malicious smile quickly spread across her face. When he leaned up, she nodded at the merchant, motioned for the other girls to follow, and led them over to the Pillars table. Dex and Jannda watched as they immediately began to flirt and engage the men, who were more than happy to have the company. In seconds, all of the guards had forgotten about why they were here.

  Brend got to his feet, rather quickly for a man so large, and motioned for Dex and Jannda to follow. The two did as instructed and walked with the man through the room towards the counter.

  “Wait here,” Brend said. The man walked over to the counter. Grenda came over to him. The two exchanged words and the merchant slipped her a few coins. She nodded and dipped her head toward a large door sitting just to the right of the long bar. When their conversation ended, Brend walked over, opened the door, and motioned for his two friends to enter.

  Inside was a large rectangular room, just as elegantly constructed as the room they had just left. Carvings of trees and dancing dryads decorated the walls. Two huge, stone fireplaces, made to look like the yawning mouths of some fearsome beast, sat on two of the walls, one on the far wall across from them and the other to their left. Three wooden tables, surrounded by dozens of chairs, sat in the center of the room. A huge chandelier hung from the ceiling over each one. Each fixture had over a dozen thick arms made of steel that held hundreds of glittering crystal prisms and pendalogues that shined in the candle light. At the moment, only the one in the center was lit but it provided more than enough light to illuminate the entire room. Cabinets, credenzas, small tables, and other various types of decorations finished off the room.

  Dex and Jannda walked into the room, followed by Brend, who shut the door behind him. The three companions walked to the center dining table and took a seat. Brend leaned forward to speak but Dex held up a hand.

  “One moment,” he said. He looked at Jannda and nodded his head.

  The halfling suddenly started to sing, almost in a whisper, yet her voiced filled the entire room from floor to ceiling. She sang of a deaf woman, lost in the woods on a winter morning. The poor girl had been picking flowers when a snowstorm suddenly hit. She managed to find shelter before being swept away by the winds, but was now hopelessly lost, unable to hear the calls of her mother and father as they searched the woods, desperately trying to find her.

  The melody may not be loud, but Brend felt it pull at his heartstrings. He felt the girl’s fear, felt the hope flowing from her body as she tried to find her way back home. That was Jannda’s gift. No matter what she sang, no matter how loud or low her voice, the words were always beautiful and filled anyone that listened with certain emotions, depending on the subject. In this case, sadness was the emotion the song invoked, but t
here was something else behind the halfling’s words. As Brend listened, he felt the magic behind the song. He felt the mystical energies gather and spread throughout the room. The magic washed over him, his two friends, and the wood surrounding them, coating the entire room as if she were painting it with a large brush. Her song only last a few minutes, but when she stopped, all the noise from the other room suddenly stopped. Brend suddenly felt as if he was in a bubble of silence.

  “No one can hear us now,” Dex said, “be they listening by ear or magic.”

  “A breathtaking melody,” Brend said, looking at Jannda with renewed respect. “I dare say one of the loveliest I’ve heard in a long time.” The halfling bowed in gratitude. She would have liked to hear more of his praise, but time was quickly flowing by.

  “As I said,” Dex started, getting to the point, “we need your help, specifically information you may have come by.”

  “I shall give you all I can,” the merchant replied.

  Dex and Jannda spent the next few moments telling the merchant what they were doing in Pelartis and who they were looking for. Both Knights knew they could trust the jewelry merchant so they told them who had hired them, what was stolen, and everything else that they felt would help him find what they were looking for. They even mentioned the run in they had with Xavdak and that they think the assassin was behind the entire ordeal. When they were finished, they sat back, wearing expressions of hope.

  “After all this time,” Brend said, “you still find yourself in the most precarious predicaments. I see things haven’t changed very much.”

  “No they haven’t,” Dex replied.

  “Well,” Brend said, a slight bit of disappointment to his voice, “though I am glad that you two have so far come out unscathed, I regret to say that I have heard nothing of the assassin you described. Whoever he is and for whatever reason he has come to Pelartis, I hate to say that he has remained in the shadows. He is either very skilled or extremely lucky.”

  Dex and Jannda’s shoulders slumped at the merchant’s words. They had expected Brend to have something, but the man wasn’t even able to provide them with the next step. It appeared that they would have to rely on Brask and the others. This assassin was really started to get on their nerves.

  “I may not be able to lead you to the assassin,” Brend said, his face telling them that he had suddenly thought of something, “but I can point you to where someone like him may go. Someone with his type of magic, with the types of items he possesses, would have to go to the Undermarket, especially if he plans to sell those items. I can’t imagine he would try to purchase or rid himself of such an item anywhere else.”

  “What’s the Undermarket?” Jannda asked, unfamiliar with the term.

  “The place to buy things that the Pillars and other law makers do not want you to buy,” Dex quickly explained.

  “And the place where your assassin would go to sell the staff or purchase other wicked items,” Brend added. “If you want to find him or speak with those that may know where to find him, that is where you must go. I suggest you make sure your coin purses are full though. Many of those in the market charge much more than I do for information.”

  “Do you know anyone we can speak with?” Dex asked.

  “I know a few,” Brend said with a smile. “I think I can–”

  “Quiet!” Jannda suddenly said, placing a hand on both Brend and Dex. Both men instantly went silent, wondering what had spooked their halfling friend.

  Jannda stepped away from her friends, turning her ear towards the far end of the room, specifically to the fireplace across from her. For a few moments, she heard nothing but silence, but then the faint sound of someone shuffling down a chimney came to her ears. She caught the sound a second time, but this time it came from the other fireplace.

  “We are not alone,” Jannda said, turning back to Dex and Brend.

  As the words finished coming from her mouth, a black cloud fell from each chimney, covering the inside of the hearths completely. It started to pour into the room, moving like a gigantic slug, swallowing the light. Both Dex and Brend jumped to their feet. The Knight whipped out his longsword and dagger while Brend took a few frightened steps back, moving towards the protection of his two friends.

  Suddenly, two daggers made of shadow exploded from the cloud from across the room, moving with the speed of a crossbow bolt. They covered the space that separated the three companions and the darkness in seconds, speeding right for Brend’s heart. Just before they hit home, Dex grabbed his friend and yanked him to the side. The man just barely avoided the speeding missiles as he fell into his savior. The daggers whizzed by, stopping only when they hit the wall behind them, striking the door that the three friends had entered through. Seconds after they hit, they dissolved, leaving nothing behind but two gouges in the wood.

  “Go!” Dex said, positioning himself between the cloud of darkness and his friend. Jannda did the same, facing the cloud on her left while Dex concentrated on the one across the room. The two Knights motioned for Brend to flee, to run to the protection of the main room on the other side of the door.

  “I’m sorry I can’t help,” Brend said with a tiny bit of fear. Though he was a large man and could fight like a dragon for the best bargain or deal, when it came to physical altercations, he considered himself a mouse at best. “I fight with words and coin, not blades and magic.”

  “Just get to safety,” Dex said, continuing to push him back. His eyes stayed locked on the black blob across from him. He noticed that it had slowed its advance into the room and had started to warp and change. It split four times and each separate cloud started to take shape. He looked to the cloud facing Jannda and saw that it was doing the same thing.

  “It’s jammed!” came a panicked shriek from behind them. Jannda risked a glance behind her and saw Brend trying to rip the door open, but it stayed as still as a slab of stone.

  “Is it locked?” she quickly asked, fearing she already knew the answer.

  “No,” Brend said, showing her that the handle did indeed turn. “It just will not budge.”

  Jannda cursed. Whatever was about to face them had somehow barred the door behind them and with the spell she had just cast, no one on the other side would be able to hear them for many minutes. By then, they could all be dead.

  “Is there another way out?” Dex asked, seeing no other doors or windows before them.

  “Yes,” Brend answered. “Behind the fireplaces.”

  “Well that’s no good,” Jannda said.

  The eight shadows, which were blocking both fireplaces, had now taken on a humanoid shape, each one holding blades of darkness. With a silent curse, Dex immediately recognized what these creatures were for they had no distinguishing characteristics and seemed to be entirely composed of shadow. He had faced these creatures before, in the Fairgrove Forest.

  “Shadow stalkers,” Jannda said, echoing Dex’s thoughts. It suddenly became perfectly clear that the Pillars weren’t the only ones watching them. The assassin had somehow found them and sent his minions to deal with his pursuers.

  “Stay behind me,” Dex said, switching positions with Jannda so he was now facing the fireplace on the left, the closest possible exit for his friend. “We’ll draw them off and make you a path.”

  “I’ll summon the guard as soon as I’m clear,” Brend said.

  “Just get that damn door open,” Jannda replied.

  Dex and Jannda started to separate, with Brend staying close on Dex’s heels. The mercenary moved towards the fireplace and the four stalkers that had started to walk in his direction. Each of the featureless shadow men held their blades out, ready to sink them into flesh.

  “When I say,” Dex said, directing his voice at Brend, “run to the fireplace and get out of here. I’ll cover your exit.”

  “Can you hope to occupy them all?”

  “I’m going to try.”

  Dex quickly scanned the room, looking at every possible scenari
o for the battle ahead of him. He looked over the walls, the ceiling, the tables, and even the fireplace, trying to gain every advantage over the four figures walking towards him. It would have been much easier if he only had to worry about himself, but he had to push the stalkers back and keep them busy long enough for Brend to escape. At the moment, there was only one thing within his reach that he could use to push all of his attackers away.

  Dex suddenly broke into a sprint, running at the stalkers, right by the side of the table. As he went, he sheathed his sword and dagger and brought his hands out in front of him. Anyone watching him would have thought he had lost his mind for he was now bearing down on four armed and dangerous creatures, but at the last moment, just a few feet from reaching the stalkers, Dex leaned over as he ran and grabbed one of the wooden chairs sitting next to the table. The seat was much heavier than it looked and he almost fell over trying to lift it, but his forward momentum provided the extra burst of strength he needed and he lifted the chair and started to swing it wildly.

  The stalkers, apparently startled by their target’s sudden movement, stopped their advance and raised their weapons to defend themselves. Unfortunately, Dex was swinging without aiming at any one of them in particular. He was just hoping to drive them back. The tactic appeared to be working for with each wild swipe of the chair, the shadow stalkers jumped back to avoid being hit with the thick wooden legs. Two of them tried to sneak by but Dex was much faster than he looked and almost smashed their heads in.

  “Go!” Dex shouted as he pushed the stalkers back a few feet from the fireplace. Brend didn’t need to be told twice and ran for the opening. One of the stalkers tried to rush by Dex to get to the fleeing merchant but the mercenary altered his swing and successfully blocked the stalker’s attempt.

  Brend quickly reached the fireplace but paused before blinding walking in. He took a second to make sure a stray shadow stalker wasn’t waiting in the chimney or dark corners of the hearth. When he was confident it was safe, he dove in, pushed on a loose stone that he knew activated the secret door, and jumped through as soon as the back opened.

  Dex heard the thick stone wall open and felt the ground beneath his feet vibrate as it snapped shut. Though his friend was safe, he kept swinging the chair around wildly, waiting for the stalkers to become impatient and make a mistake. He didn’t have to wait long.

  As he swung to the left, two of the shadow men on the right surged forward, blades aimed for his side. Instead of pulling his swing back the other way, Dex let the power of his attack pull him around in a circle. As the chair swung around, the stalkers tried to skid to a stop, but by then it was too late and the chair crashed into them.

  Dex let go as his wooden weapon made contact. To the wood builder’s credit, the chair only cracked in a few places instead of breaking apart. The fact that it stayed together only aided Dex for it carried forward, throwing the stalkers back and to the ground. It rolled over top of them, crushing their shadowy forms and causing wisps of shadow stuff to snake into the air. Normal men would have groaned in pain and their blood would have already painted the floor, but the two stalkers never made a sound and only darkness leaked from their wounds. Dex would have loved to run over and end them before they got to their feet, but the other two stalkers were already charging.

  He jumped back as they swung, still wielding nothing but his hands. The blades missed by a few inches but the shadow men pursed. Instead of grabbing his weapons, he retreated and jumped up on the table, scrambling to his feet. As the stalkers moved to follow, Dex kicked out, sending a wooden chair right into the gut of one. The creature stumbled back but did not double over like a normal man would have. Dex quickly reminded himself that these things had no internal organs or bones to damage. They were figures of shadow stuff and could only be stopped with a mortal blow.

  The stalker he had yet to face jumped on the table, turning towards him with his blades. The creature’s slight delay allowed Dex to finally bring his weapons to bear and he lunged, aiming a well placed strike at the stalker’s head. Unfortunately, the shadow man, or whomever his form was mimicking, held some skill and it easily dodged the thrust. Dex didn’t let his first miss discourage him and he continued his assault.

  The two traded blows for a few moments, neither of them gaining any ground. Dex got the feeling his opponent was only trying to wear him down and not trying for the kill. When he heard movement behind him, he knew why.

  The stalker he had hit in the gut with the chair was climbing on the table, soon to be followed by the two he had knocked down with the chair. Though the narrow surface they fought on would only allow one stalker to attack him from each direction, it was only a matter of time before the wounded ones figured out that it would be more advantageous for them to stay on the ground and attack his legs. After all, he could only battle so many opponents at once. He had a knack for strategy and fighting tactics but that wouldn’t help when surrounded by enemies.

  Suddenly, Jannda’s musical voice filled the air. The sound quickly filled the room and penetrated everyone within. It didn’t take long for the magic within those words to take effect and Dex felt a surge of strength and clarity pass through him. His mind was eased and he felt as if he could take on a hundred stalkers. The creatures around him experienced just the opposite. Their movements slowed down just a bit and their attacks seemed a little less concentrated. They started to become clumsy and were visibly annoyed at the song the halfling was singing.

  Dex used their sluggishness against them and planted a swift kick in the stomach of the stalker behind him. Again, the creature didn’t collapse in pain or loss of breath, but it stumbled away, providing Dex with some room. He lashed out with his sword and gave the stalker in front of him a strong attack that should be easily parried. The tactic worked and his opponent blocked the strike, but it drove its sword downward, just as planned, and Dex kicked out, sending that stalker staggering backwards. The other two stalkers, finally realizing what they were doing wrong, positioned themselves around the table’s edge and swung at Dex’s legs. The mercenary jumped up, avoiding their blades. The stalkers reared back for another swing but he never gave them an opportunity to hit him.

  When he jumped, it put him within range of the large chandelier hanging overhead. He grabbed hold of the bottom of the fixture, praying it would be strong enough to hold him. The thick metal arms groaned in protest but held his weight, so he pulled up and squeezed himself between the arms, climbing to the top. As he went, he kicked free dozens of crystals and accents. They fell to the table and floor with a crash, filling the room with a noise that sounded like a million coins falling on stone. The sound was horrific and somewhat drowned out Jannda’s voice.

  The stalkers, seeing their prey swiftly moving away from them, jumped up to the chandelier after they had regained their footing. Moving just as fast as Dex, they climbed up the chandelier, daggers and swords seeking Dex’s legs.

  Dex quickly found himself at the top, his head bumping into the ceiling. He had to duck a dagger thrown from below, from one of the stalkers still on the ground, and the movement made the fixture start to sway. The rocking motion was actually a good thing for it made it harder for the stalkers below to hit their target.

  The stalkers were quickly gaining, but that was exactly what Dex had wanted. When they were well intertwined inside the chandelier, he grabbed hold of the thick chain that hung from the canopy and slammed his dagger to where the bottom of the chain met the column of the fixture. There was a shower of sparks but the chain held fast. The quick jerking movements made the chandelier sway even more, but Dex was relentless. He slammed his dagger in the same spot twice more, desperately trying to snap the fixture loose. Just as the shadow blades were speeding towards his calves, the chain came loose with a tearing sound and the chandelier fell free, taking the two stalkers with it.

  The two shadow men on the ground dove away just as the chandelier crashed to the ground. Since it had been rocking back and forth, w
hen it came free, it was angled at the ground and not at the table below it. Regardless, the thing came apart in an explosion of crystal and steel, showering the area with deadly shards and leaving the ground peppered with grooves and vicious scrapes. The sound that came with it rocked the room if not the entire building. Dex didn’t care how powerful or strong Jannda’s spell had been. Someone would definitely here that. The two shadow stalkers inside the fixture also came apart, their shadowy bodies exploding as if they had swallowed a fireball spell. When the puffs of darkness cleared and the debris settled, all that remained were a couple of black stains, thousands of shards of crystals, and a few twisted pieces of dark steal.

  Dex didn’t hold onto the chain for long for the two stalkers that had fallen to the ground when the chandelier fell picked themselves up and turned in his direction, daggers readied to throw. The mercenary let go and fell onto the table, sword and dagger ready once more. The stalkers moved towards him.