Disclaimer: The characters within are used without permission for the sheer non profit enjoyment of fans of the Gabriel Knight genre. Part 5
Heat.... Uncomfortable heat exuding from a gorgeous silver ring, its carved ivy dancing lazily about the band, each leaf brought to brilliant life by the thoughtful gaze of the sun. Flawless in all ways, lacking even the smallest scratch or subtle tarnish, it was a work of art-- one that Gabriel wish he knew how to destroy.
Frowning down at the artifact lying in the protective red handkerchief it had been stored in, frustration had become commonplace with the fool thing. Several weeks of near constant study to destroy it-- to send the creature back to the hell it came from had resulted in what he started with. Nothing.
Folding the cloth back over the ring, he stuffed it in his pocket and glanced over at Mosely. His friend was exhausted having been up for almost thirty-six hours straight he looked haggard, ready to collapse any moment. They had been at the hospital since the old man abruptly died in Mosely's office hoping to get the autopsy report. That desire seemed to be rapidly falling on the wayside.
"Hey, Mose." Gabriel clasped him on the shoulder, suddenly realizing his own fatigue. "Why don't we head out to your place? Get some rest? They'll call us as soon as they know anything."
Mosely nodded and blinked his puffy eyes a few times. "Yeah..." He managed. "Let's go."
It was midmorning when they emerged from the hospital, the sun beat down through the muggy shades of mist that immediately set upon their clothes and skin. Gabriel cursed, taking off his jacket and slinging it over his shoulder. He felt miserable-- his clothes damp with sweat and his hair was flat and stringy. Topped off with a throbbing head, he felt as though he was nursing a four-alarm hang over.
"You drive." Mosely handed him the keys and flopped in the passenger's side pulling his seat belt on lethargically. Gabriel frowned as he hopped in the aging Sedan that Mosely called his squad car.
"I can't believe you're still driving this piece of crap, Mose." He muttered starting up the car and heading off in the direction of Mosely's apartment. Traffic was exceptionally light for a change and they made fair time. Either that or the daze that collected over Gabriel's senses deadened the world around him.
He haphazardly parked in front of the complex and killed the car, nudging Mosely with his elbow. "We're here." He pushed the door open and hopped out, trudging up the stairs to the second floor, his friend a few feet behind. "I hope to God you've got this place cleaned up." Gabriel looked at him as he placed the key to the knob-- and stepped back surprised as it swayed slowly open.
Suddenly awake, Mosely drew his gun and pushed the door open with his foot, peering in cautiously. Gabriel kept his distance but tried desperately to look past his friend into the dark apartment. There was a sound within-- something rustling... moving. "What the hell is that?" Gabriel whispered harshly, squinting. His hand clasped the talisman as he edged over to lean against the door jam for a look toward the opposite wall.
"I have no idea." Mosely stated, less quietly as he took a few steps. "Jesus!" He cried unleashing a fury of bullets, the explosions echoing in the courtyard of the apartments-- followed by a strange gurgling cry far from anything human.... And then the silence....
Laughter filled the dim hall accompanied by the lilting tune of lyre. Strong draught was passed along by a sweating innkeeper his one maid serving as quickly as possible to the overwhelming number of patrons he enjoyed that evening. It was as if there was another war on. What could possibly provoke such merrymaking?
He didn't care. His purse was growing heavier by the hour. Merchants, soldiers, even that priest disguised as a peasant were tossing coins on the bar, filling their flagons time and again. A few of the more inebriated fellows were dancing to the music performed by the thin woman in the corner.
Typically, he didn't like it when musicians just took up their trade in his bar without permission-- usually when they did, people left. Troubadours were never a big attraction for his establishment. He went in for a rougher crowd and so close to the edge of town near the forest it was to be expected. But they had funds and they easily spent them...
He glanced over at the young woman and smiled. He reckoned she could make better money at a different profession. She was tall with pale skin, her long blond hair danced about her mid back-- a splendor even in the drab darkness of the common room. She wore a white blouse, which shimmered in the lantern flames. Silk perhaps, like the crimson vest clinging to her lithe body. With her lyre cradled on her knee she resembled some elfin spirit unaware of her dark surroundings... her eyes appeared distant. Lost within the melody that perhaps only she could fully comprehend.
A slap on the shoulder brought him back from his reverie and he immediately set to filling another order. 'Remarkable woman.' He thought, surprised with his fascination. 'I wonder....' He wasn't given long for the thought.
The door slammed against the wall startling the patrons to silence. A tall man entered wearing a black cloak, which obscured his face and most of the sword that dangled from his side. The murmuring began again and soon the bar had resumed its previous state. The man found a table and perched on the chair his eyes averted downward. The bard in the corner, who had never ceased playing, looked up for a moment and performed a final strum-- the song warranting a roar of applause.
She offered the briefest of smiles and stretched her arms, the silk of her blouse dripping over her tensed muscles until she came to rest, looking about with a scrutinizing gaze seemingly gauging the crowd. The voices died down and everyone stared in her direction waiting patiently.
Kail was no exception. He stared openly at her, surprised at the rate at which his heart was pounding. She was quite easily the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Under different circumstances, he certainly would've approached her... Fact of the matter was that he was finding it difficult to not throw caution to the wind and introduce himself anyway. Couldn't hurt.
Then he realized that there was no choice in the matter. He would talk to her. As sure as he would wake up the next morning as sure as his heart pumped blood throughout his body, he would at the very least introduce himself to her. And though her beauty certainly captivated him, it was her voice rising softly above the clatter of the room that snatched his soul away.
It was a clear ethereal tone with perfect pitch as each note danced from patron to patron, dragging emotion out of each. Tears fell with each somber stanza and the lyre brought about grief for the topic-- It sounded as though it were a Celtic myth, maybe even something out of the more recent past. A story of love between two forbidden, something that could never be.... The meanings were lost with the strange language and its rough translation was difficult for most to discern but the mood was enough....
His purpose forgotten, Kail stood from the table and relocated to stand closer to her. He pulled his hood away from his face, hoping desperately that she would look up-- that their eyes would meet. Something he certainly scolded himself for.... 'There's no time for this, Kail.' He heard some annoying practical side of his mind tell him. 'Your mission...' He blocked the rest out with a slight shake of his head. Time enough for everything....
The passion in her song began to increase along with the tempo. She raised her head to emphasize, eyes closed tightly as she immersed herself within the emotion of the words. Kail's eyes widened and his arms fell to his sides her beauty and verbal conveyance captivated him. As the final stanza of her chorus subsided, her eyes slid open and the music stopped abruptly as their eyes met.
Eternity in heaven with each moment that passed, Kail basked in the glory of her gaze and he prayed that the feeling would never end. And as he thought that he could be no luckier, she smiled at him-- not out of manners or any social grace but out of the same pull that drew her to him.... She was attracted to him.
Gracefully, she reentered the song, the pause acting as a perfect segue to her next stanza. Her eyes were fastened on Kail and the smile remained through her singing. Several people began to dance about, the melodies possessive of the spirit. Kail folded his arms almost uncomfortable under the gentle scrutiny of her lovely eyes...
"You there." A rasping voice sounded shortly behind Kail. "We need to have a word with you."
Reality was thrust back upon Kail as he glanced around, irritated at the interruption. "Can't you see I'm busy?" There were four of them, each dressed in dark, weather stained clothes. The one speaking had his hood tossed back revealing a scarred, bald head, his mouth drawn in a hateful sneer. Brown eyes squinted even in the dim torchlight, a few days facial growth clumped on his cheeks.
"It shouldn't take long." His tone was dangerous, accentuated by the hands of the other men drifting to the hilts of weapons.
Glancing between the men he shrugged. "I see your point. Where shall we conduct this... conversation?"
A wicked smile flashed across their leader's face. "Follow me." He turned and strode off toward the front door of the inn, his men waiting for Kail to follow before proceeding behind. People moved aside the group quickly-- those that were oblivious to their passage were brutally shoved aside.
Stepping outside, the biting chill of the evening air assaulted Kail's face and bundled into his cloak before turning to face the others. A sharp blow met his face, sending him reeling back against the hitching post. His feet left the ground but before he could tumble over, rough hands grabbed his shirt and hoisted him back up to look at the bald man who was now inches away.
"Who are you?" His tone was filled with venom, his foul breath spit the words at him.
"You had to hit me to ask my name?" Kail asked a bit winded with surprise. A fierce blow connected with his stomach forcing the air from his body as he began to keel, coughing painfully.
"Don't toy with us. Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"My name is Victor." He managed. "I've traveled here looking for work if you know what I mean." He tried to smirk but the pain in his nose caused him to flinch instead. "Perhaps you men know of some?"
"From where do you hail?"
"I don't know that any of this is your concern." Kail glared at the man, testing the strength of those holding him. There was little hope of overpowering them both. "Perhaps you'd like to tell me why you care?"
"I ask the questions. If you choose to cooperate, you increase your chances of survival. If you choose not to..." The man shrugged. "Where do you hail from?"
"I come from a small farming village to the North." He squinted at the man. "It's no longer standing."
"And what sort of work are you looking for?" The man smiled as if he knew the answer already.
"I think you know otherwise we wouldn't be talking." Kail lowered his voice and relaxed in the grip of his captors.
"You and I are talking because we know who you are...." He pulled a knife from the folds of his cloak and gripped it tightly in his right hand. "Good evening, Shattenjäger." He drew back with his arm, his face twisting into a sadistic parody of joy... the blade was thrust toward him.
He closed his eyes and began to cry out when he heard a crash and grunt of surprise. Opening his eyes, he saw the musician, her blond hair dancing behind her with the wind a sword in her hand. The bald man was sprawled on the ground, his knife scattered several yards into the road. Another lay beside him with a red stain streaked across his back, blood welling up and over the clothes. She glanced at the two holding Kail both looking completely surprised, mouths agape.
"Perhaps you should let him go?" She asked, her gorgeous voice serene despite the violence she had instigated.
The one on the left complied and turned to run taking three steps away from them before hurling in the air with a horrid gurgle, the hilt of a throwing knife sticking from the back of his neck. The second pushed Kail toward her and withdrew his own shorter sword and paired off, waiting for her to recover.
She gracefully stepped aside Kail while keeping him standing and in one fluid motion battered the man's sword up and thrust home to his chest, burying the blade until it stuck out the other side. Blood spilled from his mouth and the sword fell lifelessly to the ground, his face was contorted in pain and shock as the last lights of living seeped from them as surely as the blood from his wounds. She kicked him off the weapon and he fell backwards with a final grunt.
She took Kail's arm and pulled him around the building hurrying him to a jogging run, leaving the gruesome scene behind. His questions were answered with hushes and she put her finger to her lips as they hurried along the road toward the forest followed by the sound of cries-- an alarm in the town throughout the night, echoing in the trees.