Hunt for Justice (5 page)

Nolan on the other hand did not like it one bit. They stuck out like a Taruun in a group of children. The storms might have slowed down word of Ezzy's bounty just as it had slowed them down. Or someone might have gotten word out on pigeons and her face was plastered all over Lurthalan already. He would only relax once Ezzy hid Paz somewhere when they got closer to the city. And then only a little.

They camped for the night, rose early, and before the sun had risen very far in the sky, they rounded a hill and Lurthalan came into view.

"Finally," Ezzy said with a laugh. "Civilization."

"That's one word for it."

"Bah, you are such a grump. Let's go. If we hurry, we can be in the city before nightfall. One of the inns has a bath with my name on it."

The thought of a warm bath to ease his aching joints was enough to improve Nolan's mood. As Ezzy picked up the pace, he did his best to limp along after her. They might be in for a world of trouble in the city, but Nolan would face anything that life threw at him if he got a few moments to sooth his sore body in a nice, hot bath first.

CHAPTER FIVE

Coming Home

Lurthalan.

The only settlement in the realm large enough to be called a city. Divided in half by the Melcoi River, Lurthalan sat on the southern edge of the Great Melcoi Lake. The west side contained most of the buildings: the docks, a few of the temples, the Water Market, Merchant's Circle, and hundreds of homes. The east side of the river held mostly temples, the Hero's Refuge, and a solitary inn. Two roads led out of the southern end of the city, one on each side of the river. A stone wall began to ring the tightly packed buildings on the west side of the river, its construction started a few years ago. Built by Vilathos twice Paz's size, the wall was dwarfed only by the temples that spotted the city landscape. Massive structures completed before the time of the Plague, the temples were each unique and a sight to behold. Hundreds of followers gathered both inside and outside of each temple every day or crossed over the Melcoi Bridge from one side to another.

Which Nolan believed might be a problem.

The temple of Avien'zia sat just outside the western gate. A huge circular building made of wood and furs, it was often surrounded by the casual devotees of the goddess. Small tents, cooking fires, tanning racks, and anything else associated with hunters littered the grounds. Shouts filled the air and blood stained the earth. All the massive temple of Avien'zia and surrounding tents were missing in order to be included as a district of the city was a name. The majority of people that lived in those tents were hunters, butchers, and leatherworkers, which was of no real concern. It was the other men and women, the ones in garishly decorated leather armor and carrying a plethora of weapons, that made him worry.

Bounty hunters and Fara'korin, the elite trackers of Avien'zia, swaggered among the tents and makeshift stalls. The Fara'korin had no equal when it came to hunting men and were expert marksmen. They wouldn't be a problem though. Avien'zia's special hunters took too much pride in themselves to take any notice of Ezzy. Whatever small bounty she had on her was nowhere near enough to catch their interest. Ezzy could hold up a wanted poster with her face on it to one of the Fara'korin and they would laugh at her. They would probably tell her to become more interesting as well.

It was the regular bounty hunters that Nolan worried about. With no moral code, little to no compassion, and an appalling lack of basic hygiene, they would turn over their own mother for a few coins. If word of Ezzy's bounty had already reached Lurthalan, most of the bounty hunters gathered around the temple would have a picture of her in their possession. If that was the case, their only hope was that her bounty was small enough that it wasn't worth memorizing for most of those gathered in the area.

Approaching the city, Ezzy had Paz drop their bags and then sent it to sit amongst the other Vilathos constructing the wall. It wouldn't look out of place there, even with his unique, all-metal design. It would also keep Paz close, just in case they needed him.

With Paz out of the way, the two of them blended into the mass of people walking into and out of the city, and got as far into the middle of the crowd as they could. It was close to mid-day, which worked out well for them. The roads into the city were packed this time of day. People and carts jostled as they moved about, the crowd pushing in on them like grapes caught in a wine press.

He had forgotten how horrible it all was. He hated being touched since he had been a child, so it was almost painful to have so many people rubbing against him. His stomach began to churn, his vision blur. The people, so many people, all around him...

Something slid into his hand. He glanced down and found a small, tan hand in his, squeezing gently. Looking back up, he found Ezzy studying him with compassionate eyes.

"It's going to be ok," she mouthed to him.

He focused all of his attention on that hand. Felt the pressure she applied. Let the crowd around them disappear. His breath returned, his stomach calmed. Closing his eyes to the world, he let Ezzy lead him through the crowd.

How his anxiety over crowds of people had gotten so bad, he didn't know. He hadn't been around many people during his training. Years of keeping to himself after he went out on his own and only coming out to perform jobs had made the problem more acute. The physical attack he suffered that gave him his limp certainly played a large role as well. But he had always felt nervous and on edge around large groups of people, even at a young age. Having lived in the city his entire life, he should have learned how to manage it.

Instead he was struggling just to put one foot in front of the other and was being pulled through the crowd like a child. He should be keeping watch. They were probably passing Avien'zia's temple this very moment. He should be scanning the crowd, looking for any signs of recognition on the faces around them. A normal man or woman was just as likely to give them away and collect part of the reward as a bounty hunter. Nolan felt utterly useless.

Blind to what was going on around him, he stumbled through the crowd. At one point, Ezzy picked up speed, pulling him faster than before. Fearing trouble, he risked opening his eyes. A sea of men and women surrounded him. A rainbow of different colored clothes assaulted his eyes, increasing the sense of disorientation. He lost his focus for a moment and the clamor of too many people washed over him like a tidal wave. His feet went numb, and his palm began to slip from his walking stick. When his toe hit a loose stone in the road, he almost went down, but Ezzy kept a good grip and he stayed on his feet. Shutting his eyes again, he decided it was better to be guided. Ezzy was smart enough to pick out anyone dangerous.

After walking for what seemed like an eternity, Nolan was pulled off to the left, perpendicular to the direction they had been headed. Fewer people bumped into him as they moved, until he didn't feel anyone around them at all. Only then did he chance another look.

"Are you alright?" Ezzy asked, her voice raised to be heard over the nearby crowd. She still kept a tight hold on his hand.

"Yes, yes," he got out between long breathes, "just a little overwhelmed. Give me a moment."

"Of course."

Letting go of his hand, she took a few steps further down the street. Nolan risked one glance back at the river of people as it shuffled up and down the main road, shuddering at the mass of bodies moving about. They had barely made it past the main gate. Ezzy had taken them down the first street on the left side. His street.

"I figured you might want to go home for a bit," Ezzy said. "Get some new clothes, maybe take a bath. We can meet at the High Horse for some dinner later and plan our trip to Shade."

"And what will you be doing?"

"Going to get some supplies. Maybe talk to the few allies my family has left. Try to learn what's been going on while we were away. Figure out if word of my bounty has reached here yet. See how much I'm worth." She winked at him.

"Just be careful. Don't go around boasting about having a bounty on your head."

"Yeah, yeah."

"And remember what I told you. Do not go home, even if you think the bounty hasn't reached here yet."

"We'll see!"

"Ezzy!"

Before he could get another word out, she dashed into the crowd. He only kept sight of her for a moment, and then she was swallowed by the herd of people.

Nolan let out a sigh. She knew there was no way he could manage his way up the main street after her, not with that large crowd. Well, it was out of his hands now. He would just have to hope that those smarts kept her out of trouble. And that her temper didn't get her into more of it. With nothing else to do, Nolan began to limp home.

His street was peaceful compared to Main Street. Rows of homes ran along the right side while the city wall rose on the left. Many had complained that the wall blocked their view of the surrounding lands, but Nolan didn't mind. It was funny to think that just a year ago, most of that wall had barely been started. Now, it ran along the road, past his home, and curved around the other buildings almost to the lake. An impressive piece of work, as were the massive Vilathos that were building it.

Nolan would never risk bonding anything that big. And he couldn't comprehend the strain that bonding the massive one in Rensen could have on the mind. Although, he would like to see it someday. Paz was as large of a Vilathos as he was comfortable bonding to a human, and it was a battle every time he reinforced Ezzy's bond to the metal construct. Just thinking about it made him tired.

A nap. That's what he really needed. A few moments of sleep without a downpour keeping him awake or Ezzy kicking him in her sleep. His house was perfect for sleep. No windows, few lights. Just complete darkness in his oversized bed, buried under his thick, expensive comforters. It would be heaven, especially compared to the past nights of traveling and the ones waiting for them. Just the thought made him quicken his pace.

He reached his door moments later. It was indistinguishable from the ones on either side, except for its lack of windows. With a contented sigh, Nolan twisted the key into the lock of his door and walked into his sanctuary.

CHAPTER SIX

Rest and Relaxation

Bliss. That's the only way Nolan could describe it. Pure bliss. Waking up in his own bed, wrapped in his blankets and in complete darkness, was the most amazing feeling. The absence of light in his room mirrored his dreamless sleep. Thaljori never dreamed for some reason. Emptiness seemed to be the theme of his life.

Except for Ezzy, of course.

Sitting up, Nolan tried to rub the sleep from his eyes. He was supposed to meet her for dinner. What time of day was it? No way to tell in his home. He had the windows removed when he moved in. When he needed his rest after a Bonding, even the slightest ray of light sneaking past a curtain would wake him. Of course with a windowless house, he could only guess the time of day if he went outside, but he had never had to keep to a schedule before so it didn't matter. People waited for him, not the other way around. Except now he wasn't being hired to do a job, he was helping the daughter of a good friend. Or was he simply helping a friend? Nolan had never defined what Ezzy was to him. Regardless, he needed to figure out if he was late for his meeting with her.

But his bed was comfortable...

"Light," he grumbled.

A large glass bowl, suspended from the ceiling in the middle of the room by a copper chain, began to glow as the flame inside burst to life. The Glowglobe was easily the most expensive object in his house, and that included his room-sized swampsilk rug from Shade. One of four installed in his home, the source of unlimited light was a product forged by an inventive pair of magic users. Inventive and rich. The convenience of the item mixed with the dangerous process to produce them increased the value of Glowglobes ten-fold. It took a skilled Elementalist willing to give away some of his power for as long as a year depending on the size of the globe, combined with an Instiller willing to risk manipulating the Elementalist's fire magic to create a Glowglobe. By now the original inventors were probably making almost as much as he had made as the Thaljori to a Hawkpurse family.

He pushed the thought and tinge of jealousy aside and got out of bed. He needed to finish packing. And he still had no idea if he was late or early in meeting Ezzy. Nolan moved to his wardrobe first, kicking his travel bag aside from where he had tossed it before climbing into bed last night.

It still must be early enough that Ezzy hadn't started to worry about him. He could get his packing done and be all set to go, just in case they needed to make a hasty retreat. Maybe he could even get a cup of tea while he packed. He sent the order to his Vilathos to brew a cup and bring it to him.

Nothing.

He didn't have a Vilathos.

Massaging his temples with both hands, Nolan tried to clear the fog that had crept into his thoughts. How long had it been since he had control over a Vilathos? Eight years? Nine?

"Just a simple mistake," he mumbled. "Force of habit after decades of having a Vilathos of my own."

Just an excuse.

"It's being home, that's what made me think I still had a Vilathos."

You are getting worse.

"Poor sleep and having my thoughts escape me every now and then is something that happens to everyone. It's not a big deal."

Fool.

Ignoring his own thoughts, Nolan finished packing and limped his way downstairs. It was his age that muddied his thoughts. Forty-some odd years would muddle any mind a little. It was his age, and sleeping in poor conditions for so many nights. That was all. Maybe he could convince Ezzy to stick around one more night. She could sleep at his house for safety and he could get one more night in his bed.

Walking outside, he was surprised to see the sun still up, although it had mostly set behind the mountains far to the west. Surprised and happy. This late in the day meant most people had closed up their shop or had finished their work for the day, and most importantly, had already made their way home. Walking back to the main street, he found it devoid of much activity. The occasional cart rolled on by, a few hunters coming in late from their hunt, the last couple of stragglers returning with their shopping for the day. It was nice and peaceful, just the way Nolan liked it.

He let a small smile touch his lips as he made his way down the street. The High Horse Inn was farther down the main road, across from the wagon fields that sat at the beginning of Merchant's Circle. One of three inns in the city, the High Horse was by far the nicest. With the most rooms and the largest common room, the High Horse also had the best food and entertainment every night. While most of the clientele had a great deal of money, it wasn't uncommon to see the occasional fisherman, hunter, or tradesman at the bar. The owners didn't discriminate; if you had the money, you were welcome in the High Horse. And when your money ran out, you were expected to leave and make room for the next paying costumer.

Even before he reached the bottom of the porch that wrapped around the front of the inn, he could hear the sounds of merriment and music drifting out of the front doors. The one guard standing at the door gave him a quick look and nod as he walked inside. If a Sparkteller was performing, there would be a couple of guards at the doors and a line growing down the street. One guard meant some music, maybe a performer or simple story teller, but best of all, it meant a smaller crowd.

Nolan scanned the tables and bar at the back for Ezzy but came up empty
.
I'm here first
?
Unexpected, but she could be unpredictable at the best of times. Unless she got herself in trouble...

He let out a laugh and moved to an empty table with the least amount of patrons nearby. If Ezzy got herself in trouble, he would have seen or heard about the destruction. She was probably just making some last minute preparations. Definitely hoping that they would leave tonight.

When a waitress stopped by his table, he ordered some bread and a glass of alcohol-free cider. If he was going to convince Ezzy to stay in the city for one more night, he would need his wits about him.

Leaning back in his chair, Nolan glanced around as he waited for his food. At the other tables sat finely dressed men and women wearing the colors of Hawkpurse families, mingled about with a few hunters still covered in specks of blood, and a variety of other people of indeterminable profession. And there were a few of the Taruun, of course. Towering men and women with marble-colored skin and sharp edges to their features where most people had curves. The Taruun only worked with trees, either foresters or woodcrafters for the most part. They stood out in most villages and towns, but were a common resident here in Lurthalan. On the stage, a man played a lute, another a drum, and a woman sang the familiar songs of hard work and enjoying life. At the bar sat more of the working class, smiths covered in soot and burnt clothes, carvers with a thin layer of sawdust in their hair, and a few farmers still in their overalls. It was interesting to see all of the different classes mingling about. The common room of the High Horse was one of the few places in the realm where people talked freely with one another across the class divide.

His attention returned to his own table when the waitress returned with his order. The smell of the freshly baked bread made his stomach growl, and he quickly paid for his meal and tore a piece off to eat. The bread was soft and warm and had a slight honey taste to it. With a contented sigh, Nolan sat back and waited for Ezzy to arrive.

***

Three mugs of cider and another half loaf of bread later, Ezzy still hadn't walked through the doors. Night had descended over Lurthalan, and the common room was starting to get packed. The patrons that had been here since Nolan arrived were starting to get a little sloppy as well. One man had already been tossed out for falling over a table, and Nolan had to wave off a woman that tried to sit at his table and start up a slurred conversation with him. People began to jostle his table and chair as they moved about. Nolan's breath started to catch in his throat as he felt the crowd pushing in on him. Ezzy needed to get here soon.

When a patron spilled his mug onto Nolan's table, splashing him with what smelled like burnbeer, he decided to go get some air outside. He pushed his way through the crowd, using his staff to herd the drunks out of his way. His stomach churned with each person he bumped against until he finally stumbled through the swinging double doors.

A cool breeze washed over him as he made his way to the porch railing. Sweat dripped from his brow. Leaning a little over the side, Nolan did his best to keep down the bread and cider. The state of his mind might be up for discussion, but the stress and sickness that came about whenever he was in an overly crowded area was getting worse.

"Pull yourself together," he whispered to the cold night air.

Taking a few deep, calming breaths, he slowly began to feel better. His stomach settled and he felt himself ease back from the verge of passing out.

"You ok, buddy?"

The deep-set voice made him jump. Feeling foolish, Nolan turned around and nodded at the guard.

"Yes, yes. I'm fine. Just a little woozy is all."

"Alright. Maybe you should take a break from drinking for a bit then."

"Yes, I think I'll take that advice. Thank you."

With a shrug, the guard took up his post by the door, leaving Nolan alone again with his thoughts.

I hope this lead finally gets us on the right track. I don't know how much longer I can traipse around the realm and place myself in situations where I'm surrounded by people.

Nolan was smart enough to know that his years of self-isolation were the main cause for his anxiety around crowds. He wasn't a Healer or a Saniteal, but he knew enough to recognize his problems were partially self-inflicted.

At least their next destination, Shade, was a relatively small town. Built underneath the Unyielding Wall, Shade was supposed to be a tight-knit community. Rumors about the people who lived there ranged from funny to strange, and all had some connection to the Unyielding Wall. No one knew when the wall had gone up or who built it, but it predated the Plague. And it was magical. The rumors said that whatever magic was used to make it was bleeding out into the surrounding land. Which included the animals and people in Shade.

The village of Shade was run by the Janpair family of the Hawkpurses, as opposed to Ezzy's family, the Ciantars. They had been the ones to fund the settling of the town, and held an iron grip on the land. Not one of the stronger families, they were still feared because of their erratic behavior. The easiest way to Shade would be to pay for passage on a Janpair trade caravan, but with Ezzy's history and how well-known she was amongst the other Families, they had a better chance of having Drenks himself carry them to Shade than getting the Janpair family to allow them passage. With Paz having to carry their supplies, the only option they had was to continue traveling by foot. They'd cross over Melcoi bridge in the heart of the city, leave through the east gate, then travel south through the Coriana forest. They would reach Shade in a few dozen days. With any luck, they would find better weather on this trip.

Probably not, though.

With a grunt, Nolan pushed himself up off the porch rail. No point in putting himself in a bad mood before they had even departed. After all, his goal for the night was to convince Ezzy to stay in the city. One more night in his own bed would be pure bliss. It was just a matter of convincing her that--

"Hurry up!" a voice said from a little bit down the road. Nolan squinted as he tried to make out where the voices were coming from. With only the green moon out so far and the street lamps spaced out, it took him a few moments to spot the two forms moving towards the inn. They walked with hurried steps, the shorter of the two struggling to keep up with the long strides of the second, taller man.

"We don't even know if Zeke and Dean are at the High Horse," the shorter man said. "We should just go back and collect the bounty ourselves."

"The post said she was dangerous."

"Not dangerous enough to warrant even a gold coin. It's just one girl after all."

"All that means is she hasn't done enough yet to warrant a large bounty--"

"It's not even an average-sized bounty--"

"There haven't been many bounties posted in a while. We need to take whatever we can get."

"It would be enough to help get us through the cold season if we split it only two ways. I told you we shouldn't have spent so much money on that Soushade armor."

"Enough, Danny," the taller man barked. They had reached the stairs of the porch and were walking up. "We look for Zeke and Dean inside. If they aren't there, then we swing back to Fisher's Row and try to take the girl ourselves. That a fair enough compromise?"

"Yeah, I suppose that's fine, Ben."

"Good, 'cause that's what we were going to do anyway."

Nolan waited until the two had passed inside then limped down the stairs.

Foolish girl!

Of course the men could have been speaking about some other bounty. Some other girl. But Ezzy's mother and two younger brothers lived in one of the small shacks that littered the area on either side of Fisher's Row. Add to that the little comment she said before leaving his company earlier, and it had to be her. Nolan needed to warn her before things got bad--for her or for whoever tried to capture her. Like the man said, her bounty at the moment was small, but if a fight ensued and she brought in Paz for help, he couldn't see any way where a dozen of the shoddy houses in the area wouldn't get destroyed in the ensuing chaos.