Death Or Fortune (28 page)

     In some
circles what happened later that night is still spoken about.  One man by
the name of Gilbert claims he was there the night Master Thief Basil was taken.
 No one knows how the bounty hunter and his little assistant found them.
 If you buy Gilbert enough drinks he will tell you the story.  How
the man in blue armor rushed in the door with no weapons taking down the two
guards without making a sound.  How he saw the black demon come in and hop
from table top to table top towards the back room where Basil was hiding,
diving inside before the rest of the guards could secure the door.
 Gilbert will tell you how he remained calm as other men tried to flee.
Only to walk into the loving arms of Captain Myers and the city watch.  He
sat at his little table and watched as the bounty hunter knocked out the last
two guards and went to join his little friend in the back room.  The small
peek he got inside the room was the last time anyone ever saw Master Thief
Basil.  Some say the bounty hunter killed him. Others say he fled north to
hide.  Gilbert is one to think the little demon ate Basil whole.
 What really happened to him, no one knows except for Windfall and his
little demon in black.

    
As we exited the dead forest the mountains were a day or two ahead of us.
 Zackary and I passed the time, talking about our past adventures.
 Truth be told I only understood half of what came out of his mouth but he
is a good man.  I asked about the rod and where they found it the first
time.  He told me a grand tale of the five of them sneaking into Orcenhome
and having to fight their way back out.  He told me of the death of his
cousin William.  William was a gentle soul who had the mind of a child and
arms like tree trunks.  When I asked him how they got the rod all the way
back to Eystlund he told me that they were carried by a gold dragon.  I
stopped in my tracks and stared at him in disbelief.
'A gol' Draggin' I
tells ye! Ro' onnits back al tae way tae Aysltloond!'
I looked back at
Zender who could hear us and he only smiled and nodded his head. I asked him
how they managed that and he told me
'Oh, he owed us a favor.'
    
'We saved it. We could have demanded anything from
it as a reward but Zender insisted that at some point we might need a dragon on
our side. Power, gold, magic beyond all compare and we got a flying horse.'
Lomark felt the need to add.  Later that night as we were resting I could
hear the wizard still complaining under his breath about it.  The
following day and night passed without incident, the mountains looming ahead of
us, getting larger with every step we took. With the knowledge that we would be
climbing the following day, Zender called for an early stop.
'We need to be
well rested when we start, the gods only know how long it is going to take us
to find the trail that leads to the spire
.' When I made a comment about how
a 'flying horse' would come in handy I thought the wizard was going to test a
new spell on me. Instead he just looked down his nose at me and said a single
word, '
perhaps
.' I learned then that there are limits to the wizard’s
humor.

    
During the first watch of the night I stood guard.  I was watching the
mountain range that stood over our heads like some kind of cold hard monster.
 Other than the few undead we had run into over the body of a fallen
paladin, we had not encountered a single being during that first week.
 Maybe it was dumb luck or that the gods were watching out for us.
 All I know is one thing, whatever it was, it wasn't working any more.
 I could hear them long before I could see them, running in formation,
driven forward by their keeper.  We were foolish not to cover our tracks
as we made our way across the wasteland.  While they were undead, they
were just following in our footsteps.  A good ten Torythian Foot Soldiers
from what I could see in the moon light.  I quickly got the others up from
their rest to give them the bad news.  I stood there waiting for them
while the others got ready behind me.  Lomark was the first to come
forward, he almost sounded happy when he spoke.
'We need to finish this
quickly
.' he said in hushed tones.

     'I am
going to cast a fireball directly into their ranks. Once I do that, charge
forward. Do not give them time to recover.
' Zackary and I stood side by
side, waiting for the signal to attack. Zender stood off to the side of the
wizard, weapon in hand.  I could hear the wizard speaking the language of
magic off to my side.  I closed my eyes just slightly to avoid being
blinded by the magical explosion in the middle of the night.  As the
fireball erupted in the middle of the ranks, Zackary and I started forward.
While the explosion was impressive, it did not have the desired effect. I
watched as many of the undead returned to their feet, smoking and burnt they
turned towards us.  The troops were under the control of two Torythian
elite, they were barking out orders for them to attack us, they were not
touched by the wizard’s magic. Later that night Zackary made a comment about
them almost looking human, if not for their dried yellow skin they could have
passed for it.  I waded into the pack of zombies only to once again be
ignored by them.  All of them seemed to go after Zackary until I started
hacking into them.  Then, I had all the attention I could deal with.

     I did not
see the elite move into the fight. It was odd seeing an undead creature move
with such grace. Using a massive two handed sword it cut down one of its own to
get to me. All the other undead gave way to him as he moved up to meet me.
'Your
head I will have godling
.' Speaking to me was the one thing I did not
expect from the creature.  I do not know what land the creature came from
or how long he had been dead.  The only thing I knew at that moment was
that it could fight.  He pressed me back, away from my friends and away
from his minions. Soon it was just the two of us, locked in a dance of death.
 The world around us disappeared, as if we were fighting in a void.
 Each of us pressing and falling back.  I kept waiting for an opening
that never came.  He fought without mercy, without fail and with limitless
energy.  His form was without fault and it was all that I could do to keep
up with him.  The only advantage I had was my strength but it mattered
little against his skill.

     
While I am sure I knew it was going to happen I was distracted when a lightning
bolt ripped into the last of the troops.  This was Lomarks answer to the
elite that was moving into to attack Zender.  The bolt burned a hole the
size of my head through the chest of the creature. That small moment I looked
away from my foe was all the opportunity it needed.  It's foot smashed
into my chest sending me down to my back.  Its horrid evil face loomed
above me, blocking out the light of the moon as it raised its weapon to finish
me off.  I tried to roll away as the blade started to fall but something
held me in place. Something had hooked into my armor and would not let me free.
I raised my sword arm to deflect the blow but his blade never touched mine.
 A flurry of silver passed over me, Zackary's shield blocked the creatures
strike. He turned the creatures blade away as he moved, striking his own blow
to the creatures head with his fist.  Soon the two were joined in combat
and I could not free myself from the ground.  I laid there helpless as a
new born baby, hooked to the ground watching Zackary fight the undead beast.

     With the
rest of the undead taken care of the remaining elite was overwhelmed by the
three men still fighting. The three of them turned to look at me.  Lomark
rolled his eyes and looked towards the sky as he turned away.  When Zender
asked me if I was hurt I told him it was just my pride that was injured.
 Zackary helped free me from the old dead tree root that had punched its
way through one of the straps on my breastplate.  I stood there holding it
for a moment thinking that this little bit of old wood nearly killed me. When
in truth it was my own fault.  I let myself be distracted.  As we
made our way back to our little camp site I clapped him on the back and told
Zackary that if he ever made his way to Arcadia he would have all the ale he
could drink on me.  I never thought he would take me up on it but I meant
what I said.

     When I
woke up the following morning Lomark was among the bodies, doing only the gods
know what. I never asked and I never really cared. All I cared about was the
path in front of us and getting home alive.  As it was the path ahead of
us was unclear and getting home was starting to sound like a dream that would
never come true.  As we started to make our way into the foot hills of the
mountain range that morning I walked in silence.  I was more than a little
home sick.  Wishing I could see my wife or talk to my friends.  Even
if he made his intentions to kill me very clear I would have welcomed Hetaron
at that moment.  He was just another part of what I was missing from home.
 I told myself that if I ever had to leave home again for a long period of
time I wouldn't leave Pare behind.  No matter how bleak our outcome
looked, he was always able to find something to be happy about.  After our
fifth frustrating day in that mountain range, I would have given up everything
I owned just to see his smiling face again.

     Master
Thief Basil saw the little demon charge into the room.  He was almost
amused until it was hitting him in the head with the flat of his weapon. A
sudden pain to the head and the lights were soon out. When he woke up he knew
he was being carried by a larger man but did not know where he was being taken.
 His mouth was gagged and the bag over his head kept him from seeing
anything at all.  He figured it was best to keep his mouth shut and play
coy until he had a chance to free himself.  Then he could get back on the
street, gather his men and find out just who it was that raided their hide out.
 Basil was rather upset over it all, they have had to move five times in
the last year. This was the first one that had a private room for his private
use. Times were getting tough for a thief in Arcadia. The new captain of the
city watch was no Nikle. Old Captain Nikle knew when to take a bribe for the
good of the city.  This new man, Myers arrested the last person who
approached him.
     For years they had a nice operation going, since the
war though it has been a rough road to hoe.  Even with the hood over his
head he could smell the horses.  Basil started to wonder if he was going
to be killed in a stable.  Yet why go through all this trouble just to
kill me somewhere else.  They could have killed me right there at the hide
out.  No, who ever had him, wanted something that him being alive depended
on. Basil had practiced his trade all over, from coast to coast. You did not
live fifty five years without knowing how to keep your mouth shut.  As
soon as the smell of the stable faded away Basil smelled something else, roast
beef and something else.  Something he had not tasted in years, yet he
would always know the smell of good ale.  He could hear other people and
thought of yelling out to them but between the gag and the hood it would only
come out muffled.  Not that it mattered in the end.  He could feel
himself being carried down a flight of stairs.  Each step reminding him
that he was in a very dangerous spot and he very well could die if he did not
play his cards right.  He was dropped into the chair like a sack of
potatoes and quickly tied to it. While he was ready for the worst, he was not
ready for the shock he felt when the hood was removed from his head.
     "Looks like his eyes are going to pop right out
of his head.  Put the hood back on so they don't fall on the floor."
Pare said while taking off his mask. Basil took a quick moment to look at the
halfling and then right back to the face in front of him. How long had it been
he wondered.

    
"Thirty years Basil, they have not been kind to you my old friend"
said the half elf. He reached out to the old man and pulled the gag from his
mouth.

    
"Chase? You son of a whore! Untie me you halfblooded bastard, you scared
me to death!" Basil went from fear to outrage in a heartbeat.
     "I am sorry Basil, you know I can't do that and
my name is Windfall."
     "The bounty hunter?  I taught you everything
I know, you son of a bitch. What in the nine hells is this all about? Why
didn't you just turn me over to the watch like you did the rest of my
boys?"
     "We have a few things to talk about and I know
you haven't pulled a job yourself in ten years. Not since Keller Kromwell ran
you out of Eystlund, which is funny now that I think about it.  A Kromwell
is the reason you and I are talking here instead of down in the jail cell of the
city watch.  Pare!" The half elf only pointed towards the door, this
was his notice that it was time for him to leave. "Change back into your
clothes before someone sees you in that armor."
     "But I want to watch!" He tried to protest
but the half elf only pointed to the hidden door once more.  No other
words were spoken in the room until he was gone and the door closed behind him.
     "Now we can do this two ways Basil. The easy way
is you tell me what I want to know and out of respect for our former
relationship I will let you go on your way.  Then there is the hard way,
where I get angry and take that anger out on you until you tell me what I want
to know. Now I know you may be tempted to lie to me but take a look around.
 This isn't the city jail and the men we took down tonight are all sitting
there asking each other one single question.  Where is Basil? Every member
of your little guild is going to know you talked when you don't get tossed in a
cell with them."
     "You can do anything you want, I won't betray my
men. Damn you Chase, I should have killed you thirty years ago and saved us all
a world of trouble."
     "It is Windfall and I don't want you to betray
any of your men. I just want information on something I hope you don't have
anything to do with but I know you know about. There is a large, very large
price tag out there on the head of a woman.  Lady Jasmin Kromwell, perhaps
you know who I am talking about."
     "Yea I know her and that pompous husband of hers.
So called war hero, if he is anything like his father I hope they both get
whacked." Basil did not see the hand move but when it made contact with
the side of his face he felt it. An explosion of pain rocked his head, the
coppery taste of blood trickled into his mouth. "What did ya do that
for?" he asked once he could see straight again.
     "He is nothing like his father and he is my
friend. You may think I owe you something for teaching me about lock picking
and how to avoid a trap or two but you are mistaken. Now, you will tell me
about who wants Lady Kromwell dead or this will be the beginning of a very long
night for you.  Do not leave a single detail out or this one night could
turn into days.  I brought you here for one reason.  You can scream
your bloody head off down here and not a soul will hear you."
     "Bastard!" Basil let his head hang low,
looking towards the ground trying to think of a way out.  Yet an old motto
of his came to mind while he was looking at how well his hands were tied. He
realized that the half elf was serious about leaving him down there for days at
a time.  As his own father used to tell him, when in doubt save your own
ass. "You get me out of town, I don't want anyone to see me. Get me out of
town and I will tell you all that I know."
     "Very well Basil, tell me and I will have you out
of the city before dawn."

     "It
was a woman named Cynthia, she said she was working for that wizard friend of
Kromwell's.  The other one they made a lord, Hatrack or something like
that."
     "The wizard Lord Hetaron?"
     "Yes him, she put out word that the two of them
were leaving town together and would pay close to fifty thousand gold for the
head Kromwell's wife when they returned.  It has to be done while they are
away to avoid anyone thinking something is wrong.  A lot of guys thought
it smelled funny and wouldn't touch it.  He is a war hero after all.
 A lot of folks respect him, fear him as well.  Last guy that took a
shot at Kromwell got crushed like a bug and he did that with his bare hands.
 Look Chase, I know you don't owe me anything but you have to believe
me."
     "What about the two guys I took down outside the
Kromwell home the other night. They were looking to take her."
     "Mort and Abe? Those guys are from out of town.
 Just came in a couple months ago and they were paying dues with another
guild.  Thought it would be easy pickings here with all the upheaval and
all.  Hell Chase, some of my boys fought with that Kromwell.  If you
go to my second, tell him that the Kromwell thing was all a lie, that there is
no money, he will get the word out to the other guilds, void the contract if
you will.  I am not saying she would be safe, who the hell is in this
town." The half elf looked at the old human, he did not doubt anything he
said. It was all as much as he feared. It was the woman who called herself
Cynthia that wanted Lady Kromwell gone.  Reaching behind his back Windfall
pulled out a dagger.
     "If so much of a hair is harmed on her head I
will hunt you down Basil.  I know things, you know I do. Now who is this
second of yours?"
    "A priest of Tempest named Sineo.  He is the only
one the boys trust to keep account of guild funds.  So when they do a job
they 'donate' to him at the temple.  He makes sure that nothing can be
traced back to the boys and I, he then gives me the money to pay the one who
did the job." Windfall just nodded his head and cut the man lose.
     "I am sorry I had to hit you, I wanted to make
sure you understood I am serious."
     "Just keep up with your end of the bargain Chase.
 I need to stop and pick up my wife on the way out of town." The half
elf looked at the old human and raised a single eyebrow in question. "Aye,
old nag tied me down five or six years ago.  I would leave her behind but
she keeps me warm at night." The half elf let out a slight laugh leading
the old human out of the room.  Never once did either one see the dark
shape in the corner of the room.  Hidden in the shadows of one of the many
bookcases in the room.  Neither one saw the unhappy face fall into small
hands as the door closed behind them.  The small shape did not understand
what was going on as tears rolled down his face.  Perhaps if his friend
Darmot was there he could explain it but that would not make the pain in his
heart go away. A sob racked his body, shaking without control as Pare tried to
understand why his friends wanted to hurt each other.  Perhaps if Darmot
was there he could do something to help but at that moment there was nothing
anyone could do. For there is no prayer or spell that can mend a Halflings
broken heart.