Chapter 5
Present day
The crow of the roster woke her up. It was past dawn and she'd slept in later than normal. She opened her eyes and immediately shut them again. The light was too bright for her aching head. She'd called upon a lot of power yesterday and now she was paying the price. Slowly she opened her eyes again and this time keeping them open to only slits she was able to look around her room.
Yep, she thought, definitely past dawn.
She sat up in bed and gently massaged her temples to try to ease her headache. It helped a little but what she really needed was a day to rest and meditate. She hadn't had to use that much power in a long time and now her lack us practice was coming back to haunt her. After a few minutes, with her headache a little lighter, she changed her appearance into "Mary" and got dressed for the day.
Once clothed she walked out into the kitchen and found Bridget and one of the other bar wenches bustling around prepping food for the Price and the rest of his party. She took a bowl of gruel from beside the hearth and went outback to eat completely unnoticed by the others in all the chaos.
Sitting on a stump they used to chop wood she ate her breakfast then drew her legs up so she was sitting cross-legged on the stump. Closing her eyes she strove to empty her mind of all thoughts and fears. Her concentration deepened until the sound of the world around her silenced as if she'd gone deaf. Clarity of mind achieved she slowly delved deeper into her mind and spirit until she felt her power. It was not nearly as strong as the day before, but on closer inspection it was not as depleted as she feared. She let out a small sigh of relief. If she used too much power she would have had no choice but to buy or make a potion to replenish her spirit; as it was, if she was careful not to overdo things, her spirit would replenish on its own within the next few days.
Feeling calmer she returned to the world around her and immediately felt a magical presence studying her. She opened her eyes and glanced over her should at the doorway behind her. Tyon the mage stood leaning against the door frame watching her. She couldn't tell how long he'd been there but judging from the angle of the sun about half an hour had passed since she sat upon the stump.
"Guest or not, it is kind to announce your presence to someone you're watching mage," she said quite rudely in her shock of seeing him there.
"My apologies madam," he replied easing away from the door and approaching her. "But in my defense I did announce myself; you just failed to hear me."
Her cheeks flushed and she felt shammed for not only forgetting her manners toward a guest but for also forgetting to monitor the area around her while she meditated. If Calthix was here, and they were alone, he'd berate her mercilessly for such a mistake.
"I must offer you my apologies mage," she said rising to her feet and offered him a little bow. "You startled me and I spoke without thinking."
"None are needed madam," he said acknowledging her bow with a nod. "If I may ask were you meditating?"
"Yes mage, too help relieve a headache," she replied with a partial truth.
"Interesting," he said. "Did it help?"
"A Little," she replied and then started to head inside. "If you'd excuse me I must be getting about my duties."
"Not at all," he said stepping aside to let her go in.
When she crossed the threshold she glanced back and saw the mage looking at the stump she'd been sitting on, his brows pinched together in deep thought.
She let out a soft sigh. She had a feeling she'd be leaving soon. The mage was showing too much interest in her and would no doubt be keeping an eye on her. It just went to prove the old saying that "no good deed goes unpunished".
Kimeara threw herself into her work that day. She was especially careful to avoid the Prince's party as much as she could without drawing attention to that fact that she was. The inn was packed with more customers than normal. It seemed word that the Prince was staying here had speared through the surrounding area and everyone stopped by to pay their respects to the Prince. Luckily for her the Innkeeper and his wife had decided that only they should see to the needs of the Prince and his party so she didn't have to interact with them directly.
She did notice that the two male guards in the Princes entourage made several trips to and from various shops in town and took their purchases up to the Prince where they were not seen again. She would not have found this odd until on their last trip up the stairs that afternoon they brought back with them a renowned artist who lived at an estate between Goldshire and Stormwind. She couldn't put her finger on it but she thought that this might not be a good thing.
When the innkeeper's wife Hilde came down to collect the Prince's supper she asked her "What are they doing up there?"
Hilde looked shocked that a bar wench would have the nerve to ask about what a royal does and doesn't do. "Nothing that you need concern yourself with Mary, get back to your work" she replied sharply.
Feeling mad that she'd been talked to in such a manner just for asking a question she went back to work.
"What's got your bonnet in a twist," Handreed said as she stopped at the bar to pick up some more ale for her customers.
"I asked Hilde what the Prince and his party are doing upstairs and she got offended and told me off," she said bitterly.
"Don't you pay that no mind lass," he said patting her arm. "Things 'ill settle down once they leave and everything will return to normal 'round here."
"Thanks Handreed," she said and with a lighter heart she went back to waiting on her customers.
Just before dusk the two male guards came downstairs again. This time they both carried stacks of pamphlets, hammers and tacking nails. One headed straight out the door but the other held the door open and carefully tacked one of the pamphlets to it before also departing.
As soon and the guard left all the clientele rushed to the door to see what was on the pamphlet. Following with the rest of the staff Kimeara waited for space to clear to look at the sheet. When she did she felt her marrow turn to ice and he blood run cold. The top of the sheet was taken up by a fairly detailed drawing of her face and the scars on her hands as they normally appeared. Below that was a message.
"Attention by order of Prince Anduin this person is wanted for questioning.
If seen please report any sightings to the local authorities. No action should
be taken to apprehend this person individually for she is skilled in magic and potions.
A reward in the sum of 100 gold pieces shall be paid for any information
that leads to locating this person."
Underneath the message was a brief description of the magic she had used to save the prince and a written description of her appearance.
Shit, shit, shit, she thought to herself terror flushing the cold from her body. She'd have to run now no doubt about it. With that type of price on her head it would only be a matter of time before people put two and two together and realized who she was. Even worse word of this would surely reach her enemies and they'd soon know that she'd been spotted near Goldshire. The last she heard was that her enemy was up near the Plaguelands; she knew they'd come quickly to ferret her out.
Kimeara calmly went back to work and did her best to carry on like she normally would. Her mind was busy spinning away trying to plot her escape. She was distracted enough that she brought a customer the wrong food twice in a row.
On her second trip back to the kitchen to correct the order Bridget asked her, "Are you ok Mary? I've never seen you get an order wrong before."
"I'm fine," she said a convincingly as she could.
"I've been meaning to ask ya something Mary," Bridget said filling a plate with the correct items. "Do ya remember that peddler you got the tea from? I've been thinking that the peddler might be the person they're looking for."
Damn, she thought. It's all unraveling.
"No but I think she said she was going to Stormwind," she lied to cover her pause.
Then she added bitterly, "I don't know what all the fuss is about. It sounds to me like this stranger saved the Prince's life and should be left alone. Making her feel hunted is a poor way to repay her kindness."
Bridget looked shocked by the sourness I her voice. Kimeara quickly took the dish and, making a quick exit, headed back into the common room and gave the plate to her customer. She asked one of the other wenches to cover her for a few minutes and taking a mug of ale from the bar she went out back and sat down on the stump to drink it.
While sipping her ale she contemplated the chaos that was her life. She knew she did the right thing in saving the Prince's life. She would have done it for anyone high born or common. The only difference would be that a commoner would have been grateful enough not to look for her. They would have understood that some people need to travel on the fringe of society and would have respected that. There might have been tales and she might have even become a local legend and yes eventually word would have reached her enemies but it would have taken longer and she would have been long gone by the time they arrived.
With the Prince and his edict involved word would spread like wildfire. It would be known in Menethil Harbor by the following day and then would travel up to the Plaguelands the day after. She had no time. If she wanted any type of head start, she'd have to leave tonight. This time the thought of leaving filled her with more sadness than before. She'd come to like it here and to care for the people she worked and lived with more so than anywhere else she'd been. It was almost like having a family again. Now once again it was being torn away at the whim of someone with power.
"Damn ungrateful little brat," she said softly to herself then drained her mug in one long pull.
After the last customer had either left for home or gone to their room Kimeara quickly finished with her cleaning and as fast and she could without arousing suspicion went to her room. Once inside she quickly changed into her travel cloths and packed up her few belongs. She never had many things since she knew they might have to be abandoned at a moment's notice. She took one of her healing potions and wrote a quick not on a scrap of parchment.
The note said "For your son if his fever returns."
Slipping into the kitchen she put the vial with its note where Bridget would find it in the morning then went back to her room. She took out another scrap of parchment and wrote "Leave me alone, you owe me" on it and placed it in an envelope and addressed it to the Prince.
With her pack over her shoulders and the envelope in her hand she quietly left her room and headed toward the front door. She had thought of going out the back or out her window but figured that if anyone already suspected her that's where they'd be watching.
As she entered the common room a soft voice greeted her, "Goin' somewhere lass?"
She turned and saw Handreed, sitting at the bar with a mug of ale in his hand, looking her over.
"Yes," she replied. "Could you see that the Prince gets this?"
Understanding lit Handreed's eyes as he took in her cloths and pack and the letter in her hand. Slowly he reached out. She thought he was just going to take the letter but before she could think he pulled her into a tight hug.
"Thought it mighta been you lass," he said softly. "You run hard and fast. If any ask I'll tell 'em you're in the woods gathering."
When he released her Kimeara felt tears prick her eyes. It'd been so long since someone had done her any kindness. She looked at the dwarf fondly and wished again that she could stay.
"Thank you Handreed," she said placing a quick kiss on his head and the envelope on the table. Then quickly she left the inn.
Outside she dispelled her disguise and pulling up the hood on her cloak moved into the shadows. She silently went from shadow to shadow until she reached the edge of town. She was constantly on guard for anyone that might spot her and raise the alarm. When she reached the edge of town she took off down the south-eastern road that would lead to either Lakeshire or Duskwood depending on which way she wanted to go. She decided to put off making a choice until she reached the crossroads which was about a full day's ride away. Walking it might take her a day and a half to reach.
When she was about an hour out of town she let her hood down and moved off the road to travel parallel to it through the woods, staying on the road while fleeing somewhere was a good way to get caught. After moving into the woods she stopped and summoned Calthix, who appeared with his normal burst of green flame.
"Greeting Little Mistress," he said looking around at their surroundings.
"Greetings Calthix," she replied.
"The Prince?" he asked.
"The Prince," she said then told him about the pamphlets.
"The next few days will be the most dangerous," he said. "If you can make it through them you can assume a new identity and lay low until this blows over."
"What is it doesn't blow over?" she asked.
"Then I would suggest that we head down to Booty Bay and jump the first ship to Kalimdor," he replied.
"Do you think we can make it that far without being spotted?" she asked.
"Let's make it to the crossroads first and we'll see," he said.
Turns out she needn't had worried about making it to Booty Bay. She wasn't even going to make it to the crossroads. About two hours after she summoned Calthix they started to hear sounds of pursuit. They could hear the neighs of horses being ran at night far behind them but closing quickly and she also heard the baying of hounds.
"Damn them," she cursed.
"I can try driving off the dogs Little Mistress," he said.
"But the mage might be with them," she said.
"Doesn't matter Little Mistress, a few sparks of flame to their hind quarters and the dogs will run," he said.
"Do it, but be careful," she said.
With that he left her shoulder and flew back toward their pursuers. She had been walking but now with them closing on her she changed her pace into a jog that she could keep up for a good while; only time would tell if it would be enough to allow her to elude capture.
From behind her the sounds of dogs yelping and loud shout echoed into the night. Chuckling to herself she continued toward the crossroads all the while looking for a place to hide. Night was her ally and she would continue to flee while she could. When dawn came her advantage of being unseen would be gone and the advantage would shift to those chasing her.
She noticed a clearing to her right and headed toward it. She came out into an empty field left to go fallow and across the field she could see the ruins of a farm house and barn.
Must be the old Blackwell Place, she thought. The Blackwells had raised pumpkins until the last of the family had died in a bandit raid. In the years since various bandit troops had setup shop only to be driven out by guards or one group of adventures or another. For now it appeared to be empty and the barn looked like a good place to hide out.
She felt a sudden tug on her spirit and knew that Calthix had been dismissed.
"Damn mage," she said irately as she entered the barn and looked around. She knew that these ruins were an obvious place to hide but she had no other choices at the moment and from the noise behind her she could tell they were getting very close to catching sight of her.
Inside the barn she quickly climbed the crumbling ladder to the loft. Then she climbed up into the rafters and crept to the front of the barn overlooking the road. Finding an opening between a pair of boards she looked out into the night.
Her pursuers were on the road across the field from the barn. Judging from the number of torches' she gaged their number to be about ten. The mage was clearly among them, she could tell by spying his staff in his hand, as was the female guard from the Prince's retinue.
The guard was gesturing to the posse and her voice carried through the still night, "You four come with me and we'll search the house and barn. You others go with Tyon and search the woods to the left, she couldn't have gotten much further."
"Inkara," the mage said getting the guard's attention. "Remember she is to be brought in, not beaten and dragged in."
"She's already made that decision for us by sending an imp after us mage," she said with ire in her voice.
"The imp only singed your dogs and didn't cause any permanent harm," Tyon said.
"If she surrenders we'll be gentle, if not it's on her," Inkara said turning away and heading into the field with her men.
Kimeara watched Tyon and his men depart then turned her attention to watch how Inkara and her men searched the field and house. Inkara separated her men so they were evenly spaced throughout the field and then they dismounted and marched through in line with each other leading their horses. It was all very orderly and by the book. After the field had been cleared Inkara left one man to guard the field and took the others over to the house. She had one man stand guard out front and another around the back then she entered the remains of the building with the other guard.
Kimeara had been hoping that they'd be sloppy but luck was not with her this evening. Instead she got people who obviously knew what they were doing and were taking extra care not to leave her any route of escape. She knew that if she was to have any chance of getting out of here she'd have to use her magic to down some of the guards. She hated to do it because they weren't really doing anything wrong; but between a few injured guards and her in jail she'd take the guilt of injuring the guards any day.
When the search of the house was done, Inkara left another one of the guards standing watch at the house. Then she moved toward the barn with the two remaining guards following her. She sent one around back to report any exits. Kimeara knew there were none, she'd already checked. When the guard reported the same he was ordered to stand watch out front while Inkara and the last guard entered the barn.
They entered slowly and with great care. Kimeara watched them progress toward the rear of the barn until her sight of them was blocked by the floor of the hay loft. Taken the only chance she could see she dropped to the floor twelve feet below when she heard the guard's feet on the ladder. She landed hard and knew her presence was given away when the guard right outside the barn door cried out, "SHE'S HERE!"
Regaining her feet she could tell she'd sprained her right ankle in the drop but that didn't stop her from bursting out of the barn as fast as she could. The guard was right in front of her and brandished his torch at her while trying to draw his sword. By the light of his torch she could see that he was young and, while not inexperienced, was still a little wet behind the ears. When he swung the torch at her again she stepped ahead and thrust out her right arm to bat the torch away and then kicked him in the fork of his legs. He made a whimpering sound and collapsed to the ground in front of her clutching his groin.
She leaped over him and dashed off around the barn trying to put it between her and the other guards before they spotted her. Bad luck, that fickle bitch, stuck again and she was spotted before turning the corner. Off she ran as fast as her leg would carry her. She knew it was only a matter of time before they caught her but she kept hoping for a way out.
She heard someone closing in from the right of her and new it was the guard from the house. Glancing to her right she gauged his distance then reached for her power. A slight pain came to her head as she brought forth a ball of green flame and threw it so it would land a yard in front of the closing guard. The ball splashed down and with a sharp Whoosh! the dead leaves and twigs went up in flames creating a barrier between her and the guard. Kimeara continued her blind run into the woods.
She heard a horn blare far off to her left and knew the mage had sensed her magic. She heard an answering horn a little ways behind her. Looking back over her shoulder she could the guard from the barn and the guard from the field closing with her but she saw no sign of Inkara which worried her. Calling on her power again she cast a spell at the guards behind her that would cause them to break out in boils. Not nice, but after a few minutes the spell would cease to create new boils and they would heal in a few days.
Their cries rent the night as the spell took them. From the ruckus they were making you'd thought she'd flayed their skin from their bodies. Too late she heard the sound of hoof beats from in front of her and turned to see Inkara's mailed fist drive right between her eyes, she was knocked off her feet and to the ground both by the first and the force of her own momentum meeting the first.
She tried to gain her feet to continue to run but out of nowhere it seemed a booted foot lashed out and kicked her in the abdomen. She hunched over as the air was blasted out of her and by the feel of it at least one rib broke or cracked. Looking up the saw Inkara standing over her with her foot pulled back to deliver another blow. Reaching quickly for her power she blasted Inkara's mind with hers, but she was weak and her thoughts still scatter from the blow to her head. While the blast did stagger Inkara it only made the guard madder than she had been before. The guard fell over her and started raining blows down upon her one after another. She felt her lip split and knew her nose was broken and the beating continued.
Suddenly Inkara was no longer on her, peering up with eyes rapidly closing with swelling she saw Tyon standing over her with his staff aglow. She could fell the full force of his power as it swirled around him. Following the direction which his staffed pointed she saw Inkara being restrained by two guards. She could see their lips moving but couldn't hear their words but Tyon seemed to be berating Inkara and Inkara was yelling back.
While no one was looking at her Kimeara tried to crawl away, but only succeeded in getting a few inches before another pair of booted feet appeared before her eyes. Looking up she met the eyes of someone she knew. It was Thomas, a grizzled old war veteran who served as a town guard whenever the fair was in town. Looking up into his eyes she saw sorrow and compassion there as he slowly shook his head to indicate she couldn't get away. Despair settled in around here and she let her eyes close to shut off the world around her.
She felt her limbs being moved and gentle hands probe her wounds. Her pack was taken from her and someone was going through it. She could hear better now and heard the soft crackle of a fire and the sound of various people moving around her. Her hands were shackled together but her feet were free. From the way her right leg felt they had put a splint on it leg to help her ankle support her weight. Cracking open her eye, only her left would open, she looked up to see Tyon working over her with bandages. As more feeling returned to her she realized she had no shirt on and quickly tried to cover herself and let out a small cry.
"Hush child," Tyon said. "I've seen it all before and you need attention before we can move you." He continued to work over her body and pulled her arms out of the way so he could wrap her chest with bandages to help her ribs heal.
"My name is Tyon and you have my word that you'll not be harmed again," he said as he finished dressing her wounds. "If you give me your word you won't try to escape or reach for your power I'll unshackle you so that you may put your shirt back on."
Looking up into his eyes she tried to decide if she could trust him. He led her gaze to the left and she saw Inkara sitting with her back to a tree without armor or a weapon. Looking back at him she raised her eyebrows in question, or at least she thought she did she was still having trouble feeling her face.
"She has been relieved of command and put upon report until we reach the city," he said in answer to her gaze. "Your word?" he asked again.
"You have it," she croaked out.
With that he unbound her hands and handed her shirt back to her. It felt lighter in her grasp and she realized all the magic was gone from it.
"Did you really have to disenchant it?" she asked as she slipped the garment over her head and back down her torso. "Do you have any idea how much it cost me to get that done in the first place?" Then she realized that all the enchantments on all of her cloths were gone and her face soured.
"In fact I did, and I do have a rough idea of the cost," he replied with a twinkle in his eye. "I had no choice but to disenchant your cloths once you attacked the guards, just as I now have no choice but to take you before the King, instead of the Prince like originally planned."
"I've done nothing wrong but defend myself against those who'd hunt me down like a rabid wolf," she said testily.
"I would agree that from your perspective that would be absolutely true," he replied sitting across from her on the ground. "But from the laws perspective you are an unknown magic user traveling through the land in disguise for reasons unknown. If you were the King or a law keeper what would you do?"
"I've lived here for six months and have harmed no one and helped those who needed it," she countered insulted at them thinking she was up to no good.
"We know that you have been playing the role of bar wench under the guise of "Mary" and that you've given various towns people "tea" that is actually healing potion. We also know all about your efforts to save the Prince," he said. "But if you only do good why do you hide? That is the question we need to know the answer of."
At his question she shut her mouth and refused to talk. She'd given enough away by opening her mouth. To give them any more would just speed the news of her whereabouts to her enemies. Looking over she saw Thomas going through her pack and watched him withdraw her father's herb book. The only thing of his she had left beside the hunting knife.
"Thomas, be careful with that," she said before she could stop herself.
Tyon stood and retrieved the book from Thomas and started to leaf through it. His eyebrows arched as he studied the contents. When he finished his quick perusal he came back over and sat across from her again.
"Where did you get this?" he asked holding up the book.
"It was my fathers," she replied, a desire to make sure the book was kept safe prompting her to speak.
"Please don't let it be damaged even if I'm locked up," she said with a pleading look in her one open eye.
"It will be kept safe," he said his voice solemn. "From the look on your face I take it your father is dead?"
"Yes," she replied. "That book and my knife are the last things I have of his."
"Your mother?" He asked.
"Died in childbirth," she replied.
"Do you have any other family?" He asked.
"None," she replied.
"Child what is your name?" He asked.
Irritated at being called child, by someone who was at most decade older than her, she was about to tell him off when she looked deeper into his eyes. His eyes spoke of long years and untold sorrow. Staring deeper she could almost see the decades of life in his soul, more decades than a human should have.
"Potions or curse? " She asked instead of answering him.
He gazed at her with surprise clearly evident on his face. The he regained control of his expression and gazed back at her in turn, not answering her question.
"You have your secrets old man and I have mine," she said smugly.
Thomas walked over and handed Tyon her remaining disguise potions and he sole remaining healing potion. She looked at it with longing, wishing that she had the strength to rush up and grab it but knowing that she didn't.
Tyon noticed her looking at the vial in his hand and a speculative gleam entered his eye. He checked to make sure it was only a healing potion then turned to her with the vial open.
"Your real name for the potion?" He offered.
Kimeara thought about it and glanced around at all the people in the clearing. There were too many ears and lose lips about. She shook he head.
Tyon glanced around the clearing trying to figure out her refusal. Then a suspicion entered his mind as to why she wouldn't give her name or any information about her past. She wasn't afraid of trouble with us, he thought. She's afraid of someone or something in her past. She's hiding.
He leaned in very closely and whispered into her ear, "Whisper your name in my ear and the potion is yours and you have my word I'll only tell the King." Then he leaned back and looked into her eye to see if this was acceptable.
Kimeara thought it over and argued with herself about it. You can't trust him, one part of her said. You can, he promised, another part of her said. He's trying to trick you, insisted the first voice. He could make you talk with enough magic, the second voice argued back. You cannot trust anyone, reiterated the first voice. He stopped Inkara from beating you more, and they'll torture it out of you in the city, you have to trust him, the second voice insisted. Her warring sides continued on for some time; then she decided that she had to trust someone and it might as well be the man with an ancient soul in a young man's body.
Meeting his gaze she nodded her assent and opened her mouth for him to pour the vial in. When the potion hit her throat she could feel the healing power speed through her, she let out a sharp gasp as her broken rib popped back into place, her ankle healed, her nose was whole once again and the swelling went down around her eyes. It didn't heal all her wounds, she still had bruises all over and scrapes on her face from the mail gauntlets, but it took care of the major ones.
She signaled him to lean closed and when he did she whispered into his ear," Kimeara."