Journey of the Messenger Cycle 2 Part 1c
It was cool when they stepped out of the Donst Terminus, and a light, misty rain fell. A well made road descended to the town of Donst in the valley below. To either side were plaza-like concourses built from large cut stones with an ornate railing around the perimeters. To her right, the northern plaza had a few stone tables and benches along the side of the mountain with plenty of open space. A few people waited, watching those that came out of the terminus. To the left, the southern plaza had a modest sized inn, a common house or tavern, which emitted considerable noise as many folks had gathered there to shelter from the weather, next to a small market with a handful of hopeful looking merchants. Far to the west a great black tower soared skyward, still visible despite the misty, damp air.
Here there were mostly Maldorn folk, the noise of the tavern and the merchants calling out their wares was a confusing babble, of which only the occasional word was recognizable. Glancing behind her she saw no sign of Berri, who was going to bring the horses along after they were unloaded. She glanced to Roddarra, “Let’s wait over here, it’s less noisy.”
“Sure. I’ve never seen the valley from this side before.” They moved off to the right. Roddarra’s attention was towards the tower, Ijah kept an eye out for Berri and gave the others who waited in the area a glance. She did not see anything that concerned her, though many of the locals were armed, most did not appear as though they were expecting trouble. The exception was a broad shouldered man, wearing a long coat, who seemed to be a guard for a plump, well dressed, middle-aged man. From her time in West Port a decade ago, she assumed the man was a merchant.
“We’ll be heading over there,” Roddarra indicated the black tower, “Lord Jostan Harlk has a small palace south of the mercenary’s fortifications. It overlooks the valley, though I think the view from here is better.”
Ijah shifted most of her gear onto one of the stone benches and adjusted her sword to her left arm. She glanced to the distant tower again, then shifted her attention to Roddarra, admiring the woman’s fair features as she put the crate she was carrying on one of the stone tables.
After a moment, Roddarra glance to her, “What are you looking at?”
“You. For all the beauty of the scenery, yours is far more compelling.”
Roddarra smiled and moved up beside her, taking her right arm in hand, “You.” She squeezed Ijah’s biceps, pulled her closer and kissed her cheek, “You say the nicest things. A poet’s heart.”
Ijah’s smile broadened, “I’m not much for poetry, but I do dance, sing and I know a thing or two about most subjects. I’m sure I could find some way to entertain you, should that be your desire.”
Roddarra gave a throaty laugh, nuzzled her face against Ijah’s and gave her a few little kisses along the neck. Ijah shivered in delight then gently pushed her friend back a bit, “You’ll have to stop that. The things I’d like to do with you are best done in private…” Roddarra gave a pout and Ijah assured her, “Tonight, after we see to getting lodgings in Donst. I think we can afford to rent a small room for Berri.”
“We can certainly afford to rent Berri a room.”
A sudden pained cry drew their attention. They turned and saw the prisoner woman sprawled on the ground, just outside the entry of the terminus. She was still bound and one of the guards was with her, holding one end of a chain. It was not the guard who had tried to get friendly with her during the canal trip.
The man gave the chain a yank and barked a command. The woman floundered and shook her head. Clearly frustrated, the guard went to her, bending over to grab the woman’s arm. She lashed out violently, trying to strike the man’s head. He knocked the attack aside, cursed and roughly dragged the woman to her feet.
Ijah took a step towards them but Roddarra put a restraining hand on her arm, “Best to leave them to their business. Lord Jostan’s likely to be better disposed towards our request for aid if we haven’t first killed one of his men.”
Ijah looked at her friend, then to the woman the guard was hustling past them. Begrudgingly she gave a nod, took a deep breath and forced herself to relax. She did not know the woman’s story, perhaps she had done something to deserve such treatment. Still, it disturbed her to see a woman being handled in such a fashion. “You are correct, of course.”
Roddarra nodded
, yet they both watched the guard as he roughly took the woman over to where the plump merchant and his body guard stood. The well dressed man was scowling at the woman, he moved away from the railing on which he had been leaning and asked the mercenary something.
“Wooo-weee! Mardornon’s shinning prick! Would you look at that tower!”
Berri was just outside the main entrance of the terminus, the horses on a lead behind her. She smiled over to the two of them then looked up at the overcast sky, “Is it still the same day?”
From behind Berri a familiar voice called out, “Move along, don’t block exit!”
Berri turned, stood on her tiptoes then waved, “Sorry.” She let loose a loud whistle taking up the slack on the lead, “Come on Horse, stop gawking at the scenery. People are looking to move along. Move along!” She headed in their direction.
The other mercenary lead a pair of horses out from the terminus, he gave Berri a frustrated glance as her chosen course still held him up. Oblivious, Berri beamed at the two of them as she approached, “You both look very pretty with the mist in your hair. Where to now?”
Another cry of pain drew their attention. Ijah glanced over to see the well dressed man strike the chained woman across the face with a riding crop. The prisoner was on her knees, the mercenary held her chain and firmly grasped her shoulder. The merchant struck her again.
Ijah closed the distance in a few quick strides, coming up behind the mercenary. The merchant’s body guard saw her coming and moved to intercept while drawing a short sword that had been concealed under his long coat. Behind her she heard Roddarra exclaim, “Oh no!”
The body guard raised his free hand, sword held slightly behind him “Now hold on miss-”
Ijah continued forward, striking the guard under the chin with the pommel of her sword, she heard his teeth clack together and he reeled to one side. The mercenary was startled. He moved away, dragging the prisoner who sprawled across the well fitted stones. The merchant’s eyes expanded with a look of terror, he drew something small from within his vest and pointed it at her. She kicked him as he discharged the weapon, there was a flash and she felt a sudden painful burning sensation below her collarbone. Her kick had slammed into his chest, he staggered back into the railing, dropped his lash and weapon then careened over the edge.
Ijah was more than a bit surprised. She had not intended for him to go over the railing. From below there was a distant scream followed by surprised shouts. Her wound burned, she smelled cooked flesh. She heard Roddarra closing from behind, “No, no, no.” She saw the bodyguard moving towards her and then someone kicked her knee from behind.
The guard struck her in the head with the pommel of his weapon, despite her delayed attempt to evade him. Two people took her to the ground from behind. One of them was Roddarra who kept calling out, “She’s with me! She’s with me!” Ijah decided not to fight, for fear of maiming her friend, who was still shouting. She had switched to Maldorn.
The mercenary and Roddarra each pinned an arm and were kneeling on either side of her back. Her wound was painful and still felt as though it burned. The two who held her were arguing loudly, Ijah saw the prisoner make a run down the road, no one was chasing her. Ijah silently wished her luck.
She heard the other mercenary trying to interrupt the ongoing argument, eventually he switched to the andalee. In a loud voice he said, “I believe four of us speak freeholder’s tongue.”
The argument stopped. The man continued, “From what I saw, this woman was simply defending herself.”
Roddarra, with a definite note of hope, “See? That’s what I was saying.”
“You said she was going to the aid of the prisoner?” The mercenary sitting on Ijah said, his tone incredulous.
“Just to stop the man from striking her.”
“I saw both the merchant and his guard draw weapons before the Tannican committed any violence.”
Roddarra corrected him, “Kereshi”
“Sure, kerri-shy, then.”
The bodyguard countered, “That’s a load a crap if I’ve ever heard one. She was coming right for us, murder in her eyes.”
“It was you who had your sword out waving it in her face. Your master drew his little holdout and shot her. That’s what I saw.”
“I believe you saw incorrectly.”
“Are you calling me a liar?”
“If the boot fits!”
“Really? I demand you retract your insult.”
“Demand all you want, you’ll get no satisfaction that way.”
“Then you leave me no choice. What is your name?”
“Tabbard Hollen.”
“Tabbard Hollen, for the slanderous statement of calling me a liar, I, Lumbra Todsven, issue — ”
Ijah spoke up, “Hey, listen up!”
The mercenary stopped short, she had everyone’s attention. “I’ll surrender to the local authorities. No need to make this more complicated than it has to be. Perhaps you can let me up?”
There was a pause, Ijah could not see what transpired between them, but the two on her back stood, the mercenary took her by the arm and gave her a hand up. Roddarra took her sword and suggested, “Perhaps you should give me your knife?”
Ijah looked to her friend, nodded and allowed her to take the weapons. Berri was still over with the horses and their gear, the girl looked bewildered and angry. From the entrance of the terminus she saw four dwarves, armed with their odd pole axes and armoured in well fitted heavy leathers. They marched up, stopped in formation with a lot of thumping and a fancy display with their polearms. Everyone watched and waited, a long moment passed, nothing was said or done. The rain came down in earnest with a grumbling roll of thunder across the mountains to the south.
A younger dwarf with a well trimmed beard, wearing heavy robes of white, yellow and gold, joined them from the terminus. He came to where the others were and thumped his rod of office loudly on the stone. He took a slow look around then pointed to Ijah, the mercenaries and the bodyguard, “I am Garkrn Edovmnti of the linage of Thlakn-de, son of Kemlt Terbnny and Lathelplee Av-vngdrk of the clan Ngra-drgl. Please accept my apology for the brevity of introductions and my condolences regarding your short lifespans. I am your investigator and representative within the clan over this, just passed, issue of disturbance. It is I who will interview and investigate this issue to determine if any legal issues exist between yourselves and the clan of Ngra-drgl. Those four I indicated should follow me.”
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