Well, here were are every one. Chapter six. I didn't think this story would be this long. I am now thinking of writing a sequel to A Bard's Tale when this story is done. Please send my your reviews, and tell me what you think of that idea. I realize that the last chapter was mostly a romance chapter, and that some of you may not like that very much. I realize that some readers want action, so here we go. An action chapter.
Chapter six. On the trail of the mage.
Blazewind sat under a tree in the woods, playing her pan flute. She looked over a Belfire, who was picking wild berries off a bush nearby.
Why, she asked herself, does he have to be in love with me. Why can he not see that this is not what I need right now. I need to keep looking for Jamis' killer. I can't fall in love just yet. She stopped her thoughts dead, before she could finish thinking them. What am I thinking 'just yet'? I can't fall in love with Belfire at all. She shook her head to rid her mind of those thoughts and went back to playing. She could not however focus on the music, and soon she went over to pick berries with Belfire.
"Did you mean what you said to me last night?" she asked, as the two of them sat on the ground, eating raspberries.
"What part of what I said?"
"The part about being..."
"In love with you?"
"Yes, that part."
"Um hm," Belfire said simply, reaching up to touch her hair with his red stained fingers
"Sorry,": he muttered, realizing that his fingers were stained with berry juice. "It is good that you have red hair. It won't show."
"True," Blazewind answered, detracted.
"I have always loved your hair by the way," Belfire said. "I reminds me of the light of a hundred sunrises." Blazewind could not suppress a laugh.
"I figured out why I may have had that nightmare," she said, changing the subject to one of seriousness.
"Why?" Belfire looked at her with concern.
"We are so close now to the place where Jamis died. I did not recognize exactly where we were until this morning, but now I realize that he was killed in that clearing we passed last night. That had to be the place. I recognize all of this. It makes me think that we might be close to the place where the killer went to hide out."
"Blazewind, that was years ago. I hope you aren't think you can find him there now."
"Of course not. That was so long ago. I just think I should inquire when we reach town. Maybe someone who have been there a while may know something."
"You should go ahead and ask around, but I don't think you should pursue this farther than that. You could be on the trail of a very dangerous individual."
"I have to win justice for Jamis," Blazewind said stubbornly, standing up.
"So you are looking for a mage, eh?" the bartender in a small rundown tavern said, as Blazewind leaned on the bar, with Belfire behind her. She looked around at the place, which looked about to crumble to the ground any day. The look of the leaking, water damaged ceiling above her head made the bard very nervous, and she tried not to show it to the man. He leaned in toward her, with breath sticking of whiskey, and put a filthy hand on her shoulder.
"There was a mage around here years ago," he said quietly. "He did not live here long, only a summer and fall. Strange man, never quite right in the head, if you get my drift." He tapped on his head lightly to make his point, and Blazewind nodded understanding.
"When did he leave town?" she asked, "and where did he go?"
"Left about five years ago," the man answered, his eyes on Blazewind's breasts. "Took off in a hurry people say. Some say he had spent the past several years of his life hunting around for some magical pendent necklace. Some say he believed it held the power to call on the forces of darkness, but I always thought that was nonsense."
"Did he find it here?" Blazewind asked. Her breath was caught in her throat, and she felt weak in the knees, waiting for the man to finish the story, hoping that it would all fit together; Hoping the man would direct her onto the trail of the mage.
"Yup," he said. "I do believe he did. He found what he believe to be the pendent. Like I say, he was half out of his mind. He found some little trinket in the pocket of some bard, so they say, and he killed the bard that night. Guess he wanted to stop him from telling anyone. There were others that the bard was traveling with, and I guess they must have been hidden well enough in the woods asleep. He did not see them, it seems. Some say the dead man was raising a girl at the time... red head like you. I am getting carried away though. That has nothing to do with anything, now does it."
"Thank you for the help," Blazewind said, covering her breasts with her arms, hoping to make him stop starring. "Do you have any idea where he went?"
"Rumor has it he went to a town called Sleeping Lake about a days travel from here by horse."
"Thank you," Blazewind said. She turned to Belfire with a look of triumph on her face.
"Let's get going," she said.
"Young lady wait," the bartender called to her, waving her back over. She leaned back against the bar, and he leaned in to whisper again. "Be careful young lady. You don't know who are are messing with here. This man has committed murder. Don't go looking for trouble. Just take your friend there, and go the other way."
"Thank you for your sound advice," said Blazewind, before she and Belfire walked out.
"Belfire," she said, looking over his map outside, "is it out of the way to go to sleeping lake?"
"No," he answered, pointing out some dots on the map. "Sleeping Lake is here, and my village is here, a long way to the south. We would almost have to go though Sleeping Lake anyway. Do you want to go there?"
"Yes," Blazewind answered. "I need to see what I can find out there."
"I figured you would," Belfire replied. "Keep in mind though that this man probably won't still be living there now."
"I know," Blazewind told him. "I want to try to find out where he is now."
A trip to Sleeping Lake led them on the road to Hollow Mountain, which led them to Crimson Cove, and on to Merrybrooke. After a week of traveling, both were anxious to fine the mage. They both wanted for their own separate reasons to be done this quest. They were now several days travel off Belfire's plotted course home, and as rain began to pour from the sky, neither of their moods were very cheerful. They trotted along on their horses, though the muddy field, overgrown with thick, long grass. Blazewind, trying to remain positive sang a song, as she rode, Belfire fallowing closely behind.
"You really think that this is the place?" Belfire asked, dismounting his horse to lead him through the mud and weeds.
"I think so," Blazewind said, getting off her horse as well. Her feet hit a puddle of runny mud, and she frowned in disgust, at feeling it under her feet. "This seems to be the place that woman back in Merrybrooke told us about."
"But this path leads to nowhere but some cliffs," Belfire protested.
"She said we need to find a shelter in the rocks," Blazewind reminded him. "Cliffs are made of giant rocks aren't they? I think the mage's workshop is inside one of those cliffs."
"Alright. I keep trusting that you know where we are going."
"Thank you, Belfire."
"For what?"
"For everything," Blazewind said, turning to face him, while still holding the horse's reigns. "For helping me on this quest, for being my friend, for asking me to travel with you."
"You're welcome Blazewind," Belfire said, as they began to walk again. "Thank you for a lot of things too. You know how I feel about you, and I just want to say that even if you can never love me back, thank you for being my friend anyway."
This is it," Blazewind said suddenly, coming to a stop to inspect the entrance to a cave carved out of the huge cliff that stood before them. "This has to be it."
"Blazewind," said Belfire, "what is your plan?"
"I am going inside to find out who is in there. If it is the man who killed Jamis, then I will do as I see fit at the moment. I am quite sure it will be him. I can feel it."
"I will go with you," Belfire said, and Blazewind stopped him with her hand.
"No. Don't put yourself in danger. This is my mission. You just wait in the cave entrance. I will be back."
"Blazewind," Belfire said as she turned to walk away. "Turn around for a moment."
"What's wrong?" she asked, her sword in her hand, ready to go into a fight.
"Nothing really," Belfire answered. "I just want to look at you for a moment... to memorize and remember what you look like... In case I never see you alive again."
"Oh, Belfire," Blazewind said, her whole body trembling with fear. "You will see me alive again soon." She turned and hurried into the depths of the cave, and out of his sight.
Blazewind crept farther into the cave, trying hard to stop her body from shaking. She had to admit that she was afraid of what she would find around the next corner... or the next. She wished that she could just find who she was looking for and do what she had to do, so that she could rid herself of the growing fear, which was beginning to feel like it was eating a hole in her stomach. She could not fight the urge to throw up, and did so while leaning against a wall to steady herself.
What am I doing here, she asked herself. I am a bard, not a fighter. Maybe there are somethings in life that just happen, and fighting will not make it right. I want to go...
"Well hello there little lady," said voice behind her. She jumped almost a foot in the air, in a wave of terror at seeing a man walk up quickly behind her. The man was older and was dress in a mage robe, with a very wicked look on his face. "You are looking for me, I presume."
"You killed Jamis Stormybrooke!" Blazewind yelled accusingly. She did not know what else to do. It was too late to flee. Shaking like a leaf on the tree in the thunderstorm, she knew that she would have to see the battle through to the end.
"Who?" the mage asked. "I have killed several people in my life and I will admit to that. I can't know one pointless victim by name." He walked across the stone chamber in which they stood, and put a hand under Blazewind's chin, staring her menacingly in the eyes. "Tell me more, young lady. Who was this Jamis I'm said to have killed."
"He was a bard," Blazewind said, trying to cover her shaking with a strong voice. "He was the man who taught me all I know about the bard life. He was the first person to believe in me. He taught me to believe in myself. You killed him in cold blood because you thought he took what you wanted."
"Didn't he?" the mage asked in mock innocence. "Everyone knows you bards are nothing but a bunch of sneaky thieves."
"Not all of us," Blazewind shouted, raising her sword. "Not me, and certainly not Jamis."
"My my," said the mage. "Aren't you a trembling little thing. And you are going to fight me, are you?"
"I intend to avenge my friend," Blazewind said, anger driving away her fear. "You look to old to even handle a weapon."
"Oh, my naive little thing. I don't need a weapon to fight you, and win. I have the most powerful weapon of all at my hand." He took his hand away from her face, and held it out to shoot a string of fireballs across the room.
"You see, silly young bard," he said. "You can't win. Not against a high level mage. Just to be fair, I will make you a deal. If you can get close enough to me to take a swing with your weapon, I will let you take that swing, before firing back, but I don't think you will get that close." In the blink of an eye, the old man had teleported, and was at the far end of the large cavern. Blazewind tried to get close enough to swing at him, but whenever she had come close, he either put up a forcefield, teleported across the room, or threw fire or ice at her. Blazewind, soon exhausted yelled in rage, and leaned against a wall trying to catch her breath.
"Shall we call me the winner by default and just call a truce," the mage asked, as Blazewind dropped her weapon, which had somehow become burning hot in her hand.
"I... I..." Blazewind tried to speak as the mage came to her, and kicked away the sword.
"You fought a good fight," he said. "I am truly impressed by your talent. Perhaps you should have been a fighter instead of a bard. Can we talk seriously for a moment?" Blazewind nodded, having no father options.
"I did not mean to kill your teacher," the mage said. "I just wanted to find out who owned the clothing that the pendent was hidden in, and he said that it was his jacket. I advanced on him, but only to talk. I wanted to be sure that he knew how dangerous the pendent could be, and to be sure that no one in the camp had been hurt by it. He must have thought I was going to kill him, because he drew a knife from his belt. I kept going toward him, trying to talk my way out of a misunderstanding. I reached out to grab the knife from him, and one thing led to another. He stepped forward, and lost his balance. I tried then to keep him from hurting himself, knowing full well of course that he had a knife in his hand. I missed my chance to grab him, and he fell... right onto his weapon. I could hear someone awake in the tress, and I ran, hoping no one would no what happened. Young lady, I am truly sorry."
"Oh," said Blazewind in surprise. "She had not been expecting this at all, and she looked into his eyes, and saw truth.
"But, you said that you have killed many people in you lifetime?" she said, confused.
"I used to work for the wrong kind of man," the mage answered, "...as an assassin. I did not know that you had come to avenge that bard at first."
"But still, after you knew, you wanted to fight me."
"I knew that I would not hurt you by accident, and I was confidant that you could not hurt me. I simply wanted you to learn a good life lesson."
"And what lesson was that?"
"I wanted you to learn that you are stronger than you think, yet at the same time weaker than you think. You can't will all battles, but you will win some. Now go on, young bard. Back out into the world, and remember this lesson."
"Yes... I w... will," Blazewind stammered, shocked by this turn of events that she was facing. She began to hurry toward the passageway down which she had come. She wanted to get back to Belfire, and their journey. She tried to convince herself to shake off the feeling that something was wrong with the mage's story. She desperately wanted to believe him... but...
"You should know before you die, that I lied to you," the mage called to her suddenly.
"What?" Blazewind cried, turning around to see a bolt of lightening flying toward her.
"I did mean to kill that man," the mage shouted. "It will be good to have you out of the way now as well." The lightening was ignited by a ball of fire, and Blazewind ran forward, trying to escape a, now out of control blaze. She had nearly reached the cave entrance just ahead of the flames. She was thrown several feet though the air as the blast reached the outside air and caught the wind.
Belfire had grown tired of waiting in the cave entrance, and wandered back outside into the rain, which was slowing down. He had wandered farther away, up toward the muddy road. He had for a time wanted to go and help Blazewind, but he knew she was right. That was something she had to do on her own. He had seated himself, sheltered from the rain by a large tree, and that was where he sat when he saw the blast.
"Blazewind!" he screamed, leaping to his feet. The two horses, who had been grazing in the weeds, ran for the road, terrified of fire, as horses always will be. He was sure that she was dead as he saw the wind catch the flames and fan then onto the wet grass, which thankfully put out the fire, or at least most of it. Little fires burned her and there over the field, but were controlled by the rain. Belfire felt dampness on his cheeks that he was sure was not from the rain, as he searched for the bard in the tall, partly burned grass. He stumbled about, blinded by tears, as he still kept searching.
"Blazewind," he screamed again. "Blazewind, where are you?" The rain stopped falling suddenly, and he listened for any sound carried on the wind. A small cry came to his ears just as he was ready to rest for a moment. In a patch of charred grass near some flat rocks, he saw what looked like the blue shirt that Blazewind wore. He ran over and let himself drop to his knees beside the semi-conscious young human.
"Bel... fire..." she said slowly, reaching up to him. "I... I think the... mage burned down... his..."
"Blazewind, don't worry about it now," Belfire said. He looked her over carefully and tried to stop crying, as he saw her appearance. Her clothes were in near shreds of fabric, and her body was, in many places red, and pinkish purple. She was bruised and bleeding, as well as burned, and her two long red braids hung limply over her shoulders, the ends quite charred from the fire. He carefully lifted her head onto his knees, as she closed her eyes.
"Belfire," she muttered, barely above a whisper. Her arms suddenly flew up as she let out a random scream of pain. Her took her thankfully undamaged hands, and tried to quiet her. He was sure he could heal her, if he could only focus... and right now that would be difficult. She screamed again and clung to his arm in fear.
"Blazewind," he said softly. "Please don't panic. It will be okay. If I can just focus my energy, I can heal you."
"Okay," she said, trying to steady her breathing. She let go of his arm, and let him gain his focus, while he kept gently speaking to her. She opened her eyes again, and stared into his, looking for something to focus on.
"Belfire," Blazewind said in the morning, just as the sun was rising.
"Hmmm?" Belfire said. He was leaning against the trunk of a tree, watching her, as she slept, wrapped up in a pile of bedding that he had bundled her into in the night.
"I believe," she said, trying to sit up, "that this is now the second time you've saved my life."
"I am a cleric," Belfire answered. "It is part of my duty to do what I did. I am glad you are better. Do you feel alright?" He passed her a bottle of drinking water.
"I will be fine," she said, after taking a drink. "Belfire, i want to tell you something."
"You should rest for a while longer now. You can tell me when you wake up again."
"No. I have to say it now. It is important."
"Alright. What do you need to say."
"Last night," Blazewind said, looking at him with adoration, "I realized something."
"What did you realize."
"I realized that I could not let myself die, because I had a great reason for living. I have fallen in love with you."
And there you have it, my friends. I will leave you hanging here for now. Geez, writing the end of that chapter nearly made my cry. The romance is heating up between our leading couple. Please review. I really want your feedback on that chapter. Goodnight for now. It is time I went to bed.