The Warden's Sword Read online

  Finn’s eyes flicked open but he remained motionless. The fire had burnt low during the night and it was little more than hot coals. It offered little light in the predawn darkness. The horses seemed restless and stomped the ground. The eldon rose from his bedroll and drew his sword. He moved silently into the undergrowth. The black sword amplified his night vision, allowing him to see a short distance into the darkness.

  Scanning the darkness revealed little but the horses were nervous for a reason. Something had spooked them. Motionless, he listened for some time but all was quiet. It was then that he noticed a small creature under a bush not far away. It was a goblin which had followed the smoke to the camp. Goblins had exceptional noses.

  The sword’s hilt was warm under his grip—it hungered for blood. In one quick leap, Finn could be on the goblin and kill it. No, that’s the sword talking.

  The goblin raised its sharp features to the air and sniffed several times. Slowly the goblin’s head turned, its nose guiding it in its search. It stopped—looking directly at Finn. In half a heartbeat, it turned and vanished into the undergrowth. Finn gave pursuit and leapt over the fire after it but it was gone. With its small size and ability to blend into the forest, it would be impossible to find—even the alp sword couldn’t help him catch a goblin.

  Like all goblins, this one would be up to no good. Finn’s grandfather had once told him that parts of the world were infested with hordes of goblins and that they were little more than animals. Brutal and cruel and only driven by their most basic urges. Goblins were pack animals and had no real social structure. There would be more about.

  Sheathing his sword, Finn stamped on the fire. After packing up his gear, he threw a saddle on Patch and tied on the bedroll. The sun was rising in the east. “Well, boys, let’s find Anna.” The horses’ ears twitched as they listened silently to their master.

  He led the horses from the camp site and followed the game trail to the east. These game trails were worn into the forest floor by countless years of animals travelling the quickest path through the trees. It was easy going and so he rode Patch.

  By midmorning he had reached a wide, well-travelled road. It was the main road from Parma to Eraque in the south. And beyond Eraque was the capital of Rulle. The capital sat at the edge of the sea, which was something Finn had never seen before. It was said to be greater than all the lands combined and deeper than the tallest mountain. Ferocious storms were rumoured to batter the coastline and break apart ships like they were children’s toys. Most of the older races, dwarves, gnomes and eldon, shunned the sea. For reasons he didn’t understand, humans were drawn to it. His grandfather said that the sea fuelled the human desire to discover new things.

  Finn dismounted and bent to the ground. Both women had stood there recently. He followed their footprints into the centre of the road where he could see there were horses pulling a wagon—no, the tracks were too narrow. It was a carriage. Two men got out—possibly to talk to Anna and Maria, and then everyone got in and the carriage drove on.

  “Hopefully, they’re safe now,” he muttered. But he wouldn’t be happy until he saw Anna again. He looked south. The road stretched away and disappeared amongst the distant trees. In the last few months he had travelled further than he had before. The distance from his home village to Freewater no longer seemed as great as it did when he and his brother left home a year ago.

  Don’t worry, Anna, I am coming!

  Chapter 44

  The door opened and a rectangle beam of light flooded into Severus’s dark room. The doorway remained vacant for several heartbeats and then suddenly a small, dark shape slipped in. In lightning succession, blades flew from the intruder and buried deep into the person occupying the bed—the sleeper didn’t make a sound. Kliem crept forward and raised a long knife for the killing blow.

  The door closed, throwing the room back into darkness.

  Kliem turned and held his long knife forward—prepared for combat.

  “You know, I never did like you,” said Severus from the door.

  The only light that entered the room was from under the door and through the gaps in the window’s shutters. Severus could just make out Kliem’s outline but not much else.

  “I’m just obeying my orders—it’s nothing personal,” said the gnome and moved away from the window knowing that he would have been silhouetted against it.

  “You don’t mind if I don’t help with your orders?”

  “I would be disappointed if the legendary Severus, who has evaded the Brotherhood for twenty years, didn’t at least put up some fight. Although…with the poison still in your system, it will be hard going for you.” There was a smug confidence in Kliem’s voice.

  “I’m not dead ye—”

  Kliem leapt forward, thrusting several times at the eldon’s stomach. Leaping sideways, Severus parried the attacks with his sabre but barely got out of the way of the gnome’s deadly attacks. He knew that the gnome’s weapons would be coated in poison—it was his trademark. The smallest nick would mean death.

  “Not bad,” said Kliem. “For a dead man.” The gnome renewed his attacks, his knife slashing low at Severus’s legs. Fortune was with the eldon as the knife only tore through cloth and not flesh.

  Kliem rolled onto the bed and used it as a spring board, leaping at Severus’s exposed neck and driving his knife down. Cursing silently, Severus dropped his sabre as Kliem slammed into him. They grappled on the ground before Severus grabbed the gnome’s wrist, trying to pin down his knife. Kliem was small but in his weakened state, Severus could not match the gnome’s strength. The knife inched toward Severus’s neck as his strength waned. In the blink of an eye, it would be over.

  With nothing to lose, Severus drove his knee into the gnome’s stomach but the gnome expected it and clenched his muscles. The blow fell harmless but it was enough to put the short assassin off-balance. Still gripping Kliem’s knife arm and with his remaining strength, Severus lifted the gnome off the ground and ran several paces toward the window. The window’s shutters scattered into small fragments as the two combatants travelled through the wood and out into the night air.

  Severus grunted as he fell heavily onto the tiled courtyard below. He was stunned and his head spun from his exertions. Kliem, on the other hand, rolled out of the fall and onto his feet. He still gripped the knife.

  “Well, I have waited a year for this moment.” A smiled played on the short assassin’s lips as he looked down at the prone eldon. “It’s a shame that no one is here to witness the great Severus dying in a pool of his own pathetic blood—”

  “I’m here, gnome,” said a voice like gravel.

  Kliem spun to see Karok step out of the shadows, a long-stemmed pipe in his mouth…and a hatchet in each hand. For a brief moment fear flashed across the gnome’s face and then he was composed again. “This is not your fight, dwarf!” spat Kliem as he changed his fighting stance.

  “An opportunity to kill a cowardly gnome…I’m making it my fight.” The broad-shouldered dwarf stepped forward, eager to draw blood. His gaze firmly fixed on his prey.

  “Not today, dwarf!” And with that, Kliem threw his knife at the dwarf’s head. Karok batted the weapon away with the flat of his axe and when he looked back, the gnome was gone, leaving only Severus lying in the moonlit court. The dwarf stepped forward but the gnome assassin was gone.

  “Forbannelser!” cursed the dwarf.

  A groan drew Karok’s attention back to Severus. The dwarf placed a hand under Severus’s arm and lifted the eldon effortlessly to his feet. Severus was unsteady on his feet and leant on the dwarf’s shoulder for support.

  “This is going to be an interesting tale, no doubt,” said Karok gruffly. “But first you must regain your strength with a few mugs of dwarven medicine!”

  Finn rode into the Green Garden Inn’s courtyard and jumped off his horse. A boy appeared and took the reins as Finn ran through the inn’s back door. He moved through the taproom, ignoring the ea
rly morning patrons and headed to the stairs.

  “Hey, lad!” said a deep voice. Karok and Severus sat at a table beside the fire and his father leant sideways in his chair. His eyes were closed.

  “Is he…?”

  “No, no. He’s just had too much medicine,” replied the dwarf. It was then Finn noticed a dozen empty mugs on the table before them.

  “Is he all right?”

  “Yes. The medicine is working.”

  “He doesn’t look good. What happened?”

  “I’ll tell you about it later. Did you find your girl?”

  Finn pulled up a stool opposite Karok. “It’s a long story but I tracked her through the forest and back to the road where she was picked up by a carriage. Are you and Severus able to travel? And where is Kliem?”

  “That’s a long story as well.” He took a long swig of his ale. “The gnome tried to kill your father—”

  “What?” interrupted Finn.

  “That lowlife gnome works for the Brotherhood and he tried to kill your father. He ran off into the night before I could bury my axe into his skull.” Karok banged his fist on the table, making the mugs jump. “I’ll get the coward next time.”

  Finn thought for a moment. “Let’s grab our gear and secure Severus in the wagon. We’ll try to make him as comfortable as we can. We’re only a few hours behind Anna so we need to leave as soon as we can to catch her.”

  Chapter 45

  It was late afternoon and Karok sat silently beside Finn as he drove the wagon through the city gates of Eraque. The two small horses trotted along tied behind it. Eraque was a smaller city than Parma but still many times bigger than Freewater. The gate guards waved them through without giving them a second look. If they had, they would not have found anything except Severus wrapped in several blankets. He had recovered a little from his ordeal but was still suffering from the side effects of the poison and slept most of the day.

  “Have you been here before?” Finn asked Karok as they drove through the tall city gates.

  “No.”

  “We need to find an inn and let Severus sleep in a bed again. If we have missed Anna here, we’ll have to follow them to the capital...”

  “Head to the centre of town, the merchant sector is where the best ale can be bought,” said the dwarf with a glint in his eye.

  “He needs rest not ale.”

  “You rest your way and I’ll rest mine, young eldon.” Finn couldn’t help himself and smiled at the dwarf.

  Following the entrance road, they were soon at the market square. It was late in the day and there was little activity on the streets. Finn stopped the wagon in front of an inn whose faded sign announced it as ‘The Royal Rest.’ The small, unimposing building didn’t live up to its grand name but it would for a night.

  Finn parked the wagon and the three of them entered the inn, looking for a room. Karok stayed down at the bar and Finn took his father and their belongings upstairs. Severus used his son’s shoulder for support.

  In the room, Severus dropped on the bed. “You must leave me here. I’m only slowing you down.”

  “Nonsense…we have to travel in the wagon anyway. Karok isn’t built for riding.”

  Severus nodded.

  “Are you feeling better?”

  “I feel stronger but I still need more rest to recover.”

  Finn walked to the window and looked into the street below. “The truth is—all this is beyond me. I need you…for your sword and for your support. You and Karok are more help to me than you realise.”

  Severus studied his son. “I was never there for you in the past. I’m glad I can help now.”

  “Let’s go downstairs and ask for news about Anna or the princess. They may still be in the city.”

  After the two eldons and the dwarf had finished their meals, Finn asked the barman about the city. He was friendly but had no news about the princess. The other patrons had heard nothing as well.

  “No one has heard anything,” said Finn.

  Karok up ended his mug, gulping down its contents. He placed the empty mug on the table, belched and said, “Maybe we should ask around town. At other inns.”

  The older eldon looked at him suspiciously. “Our mission is not to taste every ale in this city.”

  “Drinking helps us blend in with the locals.”

  “You’re a dwarf…and you probably stand out even with your own kind. How are you going to blend in?”

  “By drinking. Good ale helps people bond.”

  “If Anna,” said Severus, “and the princess are being held against their will, you might make it worse.” The dwarf didn’t look convinced.

  “I’ll look around. I’m young and people don’t see me as a threat. I am sure if I play the part of a visitor, people will tell me things.”

  “It’s worth a try. If you hear nothing we must assume that they didn’t stop here. We’ll leave in the morning.”

  Finn stood and Severus grabbed his arm before he walked away. “Be careful and don’t draw too much attention. You never know who’s listening.”

  “I’ll be careful.”

  Karok grabbed Finn’s other arm. “Are you going to drink that?” The dwarf nodded toward the eldon’s drink. “It’s a shame to waste it.”

  Finn smiled and left through the inn’s front door. The old eldon’s features were unreadable as he watched the door close.

  “That’s a good boy you have there,” said Karok as he reached for Finn’s drink.

  Finn adjusted his green warden’s cloak, covering his sword as he left a small tavern called The Parrot’s Wing. It was late and no one had any news of Princess Maria. He kept to the well-lit streets and headed back toward The Royal Rest. The streets were almost totally deserted at that late hour. He only passed a few men from the city watch and the odd drunk.

  “Help!” cried a woman’s voice. Finn halted, peering into a dark alley. His hand slipped under his cloak and rested on the sword. Its hilt was warm.

  He hesitated. There was movement in the darkness. Someone was not having a good night and was being robbed. Well, sword, it looks like you are going to have a late supper!

  Several steps brought him to where two men leant over a smaller person, pushed up against the alley’s wall. His vision enhanced as he drew the sword. The two men were armed with cudgels and they were robbing a woman.

  “Leave her alone!” commanded Finn, his voice steady and full of authority. His confidence was a trick of the sword.

  “Well, well,” said the woman. She pushed through the men and looked Finn up and down. “The pickings are poor tonight but I guess we can’t be too picky. All right, boys, kill him.”

  What?

  The two thugs stepped forward, murder was on their minds—it was easier that way. Finn moved into a low guard and waited for his foes to get within striking range but they stopped. Something moved behind him. He was surrounded.

  “Move on stranger, this pup is ours,” said the woman, now holding a long-bladed knife.

  “That pup is mine!” replied the newcomer.

  Finn didn’t need look over his shoulder, it was Severus. His father stood at the entrance of the alley with his long curved sabre in one hand and the other under his cloak. The thugs were now unsure as their odds had changed. This was not how they did robberies.

  “Kill them!” cried the woman, a wild look in her eyes. The thugs looked at each other and stepped forward. Before the first thug’s foot touched the ground, a knife flew passed Finn and imbedded into the thug’s neck—silently he crumpled to the ground, trying to stop the flow of blood pouring out of his neck. The second thug didn’t like the odds and turned and ran down the alley, quickly followed by the woman.

  “Most petty robbers are cowards…” said Severus solemnly as he looked at the dying man.

  “Have you been following me?” asked Finn.

  “Yes.”

  “You know that I can look after myself.”

  “I k
now but Kliem knows where we’re going and will try to kill me again. And anyone else that gets in his way. We must be vigilant.”

  Chapter 46

  They were parked at the south gate before sunrise. Father and son sat on the driver’s bench and waited for the heavy timber gate to open. Severus’s health was improving. He sat tightly wrapped in his plain brown cloak—hardly plain as Severus often pulled out a weapon, money or other items from hidden pockets. Karok sat in back of the wagon and Finn could hear him sharpening his axe. Finn was convinced that fighting was his second favourite thing besides ale.

  The small gate house door opened and light spilled out. An unarmed soldier stepped out into the cool morning air and stomped his feet and flapped his arms in an effort to keep warm. He pulled back the draw bar and slowly pulled open the double gates. When his task was complete, he disappeared back into the warmth of the gate house.

  With a flick of the reins, the wagon moved forward and gently rocked as it left the city. Many leagues and several days’ travel lay in front of them. What they would find in Rulle, Finn could only guess. All he knew was that he would not give up until Anna was safe in Freewater where she belonged.

  The road south of Eraque was wide and cut a straight path through the seemingly never-ending forest. Severus had travelled this country many times and had told Finn that the trees didn’t last forever and that Southern Krystoria was mainly flat, open country.

  Finn looked through the canvas flap into the rear of the wagon. Karok sat motionless and stared out the back of the wagon. It occurred to Finn that he knew so very little about the dwarf—of both of his travelling companions. Since he met his father, they hadn’t had a moment to relax and talk about their pasts. All Finn really knew was his father was an assassin that was now hunted by his own guild. But at least he finally knew his father was alive, a question which had haunted him all his life.