Author's Note: Hey everyone! I feel like this is the longest I've gone without an update, and for that, I apologize. This last month has been super busy with IB testing and such, but I just took my last one today and now I have some free time! I'll try to keep regular, once a week postings from now on. Thank you for sticking with this story! And thank you for all your reviews as well, they're greatly appreciated.
Additional AN: Sorry, I had to take this chapter down and repost it. The author's note was supposed to be in the beginning but got stuck in the middle somehow. Oops...
Merlin made his way to the small island where traders in exotic goods and rare treasures went to stay away from prying eyes. Merlin had heard that this was where he could find his next ally, or at least where he could find information.
Ignoring the stalls of expensive furs and enticing incense, he went to the center of the island, where the Catha were known to be. Merlin, while not having a way of reaching Alator, knew that he would not be unwelcome.
The tattooed guard at the door stared at him as Merlin asked for Alator. The man said nothing, towering over the scraggly sorcerer. A voice came through from the back.
"Let him through. He is welcome."
The man glowered a moment longer before reluctantly moving off to the side. He passed through into a cool, dimly lit room where the scent of incense burning enveloped his senses.
"Emrys," said Alator, kneeling before Merlin.
"Please, Alator, that's really not necessary," muttered Merlin, self-conscious.
"It is an honor to meet with you again, Emrys," said Alator, rising and gesturing for him to sit beside him on the ground amongst the lighted candles. "To what do I owe such an encounter?"
Merlin looked at the man in front of him, sizing up his true loyalty.
"You said once, Alator, that you, and potentially others, would gladly give your lives for the future I am trying to build."
"Aye, and I stand by that promise."
"Good. Because I'm here to take you up on it."
Gilli had finally reached the town that Merlin had described to him. He was to find a woman, renown for her healing skills through the art of magic.
Though that second part wasn't as well known, having to hide in the shadows like all other sorcerers.
He entered the tavern and requested a place to stay. As the inn keeper handed him the keys to his room, he asked, "What do you know of a woman, named Alice?"
"The healer?" asked the inn keeper gruffly.
"Yes," said Gilli hopefully. "Do you know where I can find her?"
"'Fraid not," answered the man. "Haven't seen 'er in years. You could try askin' that lot over there. They come from the next town over, they may have 'eard somethin'."
Gilli nodded his thanks and walked over to the small group, easily the quietest in the whole tavern.
"Excuse me," he said. "I'm looking for someone, do you think you could—"
"Go away, boy," growled one of the men.
"Sorry, I'm just looking for-"
"I said, go away," the man stood up, glaring at Gilli.
"Come on Tom, leave the boy alone. He's not worth your time," said one of the others. He then turned towards Gilli, "You best be off now. We don't know anyone you're looking for."
He reached up and pulled Tom back into his seat by the arm. Tom grudgingly turned away and tried to ignore Gilli.
Gilli refused to give up.
"Alice. A healer. I'm looking for Alice," he stated quickly before they had the opportunity to interrupt him again.
The men all froze and Tom snapped his head toward Gilli. "What do you want with that witch?"
"Witch? No, I just have a personal message to give her," said Gilli. He and Merlin had planned for whatever circumstances they could think of to get Gilli to personally meet with her. Merlin thought it would be best if Gilli was the one to find her, given her past with Merlin.
"What is it, boy? I'll make sure it's given to her," said the man who had first calmed Tom down.
"So you do know where to find her?" prompted Gilli, causing Tom and the others to glare at the man, one of them smacking him upside the head.
"And what of it?" demanded Tom, deciding to take his comrade's blunder in stride.
"It's important that I tell her this message, sir. It's an extremely personal and private matter."
"Rest assured, you can trust us to deliver it when we see her next," growled Tom. "What's the message?"
"Please, I need to speak to her personally. She would appreciate if such a… delicate matter was delivered to her in person," Gilli was trying to make the lie as convincing as possible. "Just tell me where I can find her. Please."
The men stared at him, then resumed their original huddle. Finally the man who had let slip their connection stood up.
"You'll come with us, boy, if it's so important for you to meet her. We leave in the morning at first light, don't be late."
"Thank you," said Gilli, relieved.
The next morning found Gilli outside the tavern, mounting his saddle a little ways off from a group of four men. He had discovered that the man who had let slip their knowledge of Alice's name was named Markus. There was also James and Owyn, though they stayed pretty quiet throughout the day.
"Oi, you! You coming or not?" called Tom, scowling in Gilli's direction.
"Coming!"
They rode for several hours, and over the border into a northern kingdom. Gilli was just starting to wonder when they would reach their destination or at least stop for lunch, when they rode into a city.
"Welcome to Odin's kingdom, boy," said Tom. "This is as far as we'll take you. You have to find the witch from here on your own. Last I heard, this was where she was. Who knows now, eh?" He and the others left laughing at Gilli's expense.
Gilli sighed and brought his horse up to the nearest inn. Who knows how long he'll stay there in this city? He might as well prepare for at least a night or two.
He started asking around the city about a healer, not daring to give her name. He didn't want to cause her any trouble if someone started to suspect her of magic. After half a day's worth of no luck, he headed back to the inn. As he was walking up the stairs to his room he passed a door left ajar and voices coming from it, catching his attention.
"No, I'm sorry, I don't have the skill to heal this…"
"Then who does?"
"They say there's a woman, just outside the city limits, who can heal most anything. Name's Alice. Secretive, doesn't leave her house much. No one knows much about her, just that she's good at what she does."
"You hear about that boy wandering around town today? Askin' about a healer? Think he meant her?"
"Maybe, but no one's going to help him. They're all too scared of her to do anything. They say she has magic. That's how she heals all those people who are seemingly hopeless. If you want, she lives 'bout an hour's ride east of here. But you didn't hear it from me."
"Thanks, but I'll try somewhere else. I don't trust any witches."
There was the scraping of a chair across the floor and footsteps coming towards the door. Gilli scrambled away from the door as quickly as he could, trying to make it look like he was already walking down the hall a little ways before they came out of the room. Two men walked out, one in a dark hooded cloak covering his face, presumably afflicted with whatever malady the other could not fix.
When he finally entered his room, it took all of Gilli's determination to not whoop and jump for joy. His day of riding and searching had not been in vain. He could now find and talk to Alice. It would all be okay from here on out.