Ceileigh wanted to confront Mercedes immediately but when they reached her she was already passing through the city gate. They shouldered past her men and finally saw her in the square. She stepped up on the rim of the fountain in the center of the square and clanged her sword and shield for attention.
"We've arrived! Good work, men!" she announced to the group. "A hydra's head is a fine prize. His Grace will be pleased with the Corps' work. Walk proud though these streets, for we are heroes to the people of Gran Soren! Now rest up, we deserve it!"
Ceileigh approached Mercedes as she hopped down from the fountain. "Why did you leave me behind out there? I went back to help you and you left me to die!"
"A little overdramatic, no?" Mercedes scoffed. "Unfortunate things happen in battle. If you cannot handle it, I would suggest staying out of the way."
Ceileigh snorted derisively. "It was no accident! And you know I was the one who removed the hydra's head." She had a sudden realization. "Did you bring me along just hoping I would die so you could take the credit?"
"Again I have underestimated you, it seems. You are sharp for a nobody," Mercedes smiled wickedly. "No matter. Word is already spreading of the Enlistment Corps' victory and bravado. There is nothing you can do to stop it now. Whose word do you think people will believe?"
The cart and soldiers were already heading down the street to the duke's castle. Mercedes yanked Leandor's shield and sword out of his hands and turned to follow them. "Make yourself at home, Arisen. Lose yourself among the people of Gran Soren," she laughed over her shoulder.
Ceileigh stared after her for a moment, her mind racing with things to say. Instead she thumped down on the fountain, shaking her head in disbelief. How could Mercedes discount her after all she'd done? Hadn't she proved herself even a little bit worthy? In Cassardis, expert fishermen and women were highly respected members of the community. Even though everyone there knew the basics of fishing, it was crews like Ceileigh's that kept the village thriving. Although Ceileigh wasn't overly prideful, the dismissal she felt from most people out here in the world was something new and it took the wind out of her sails for a minute.
It also made her realize that she was really on her own, with no one to back her up but her pawns. For the first time in her life she had no safety net, no friends to fall back on. Perhaps she would make some along the way, and perhaps not. Either way, she wasn't about to let anything stop her from getting her heart back and proving she could fulfill the role of Arisen. One corner of her mouth lifted at the memory of Adaro chuckling, "Minnow, the fastest way to make you do a thing was always to tell you that you couldn't."
"Are you alright, master?" asked Leandor, leaning over to look at her face.
She stood up with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Yep," she said flatly. "I would say let's find the inn but I have no money for a room."
"I have gold, Arisen," Alvin spoke up, fishing a handful out of his belt.
"Where did that come from?" she asked, surprised.
"I found in the in the fountain while you were sitting," he said.
Ceileigh laughed. "Those were probably thrown there by people making wishes and now you've taken their offerings back. That's a lot of lives you've ruined," she joked. Alvin looked stricken.
"I'm kidding. You've never heard of wishing wells or throwing coins in a fountain? Never mind…let's go."
The inn wasn't hard to find, it was right there in the square. A sign hanging from the eaves read 'Gran Soren Union Inn'. "I hope this is enough money for all of us," Ceileigh said, pushing the door open.
A short man in a red hat, yellow coat and white cravat greeted them from behind the counter. He was quite tan and a black goatee.
"Are you the Arisen all are speaking of?" he asked. Apparently word's getting around about me too, Ceileigh thought smugly, but her shoulders slumped again at his next words. "You've a plainer air than I expected."
"Ah, forgive me, I spoke poorly," the man said hurriedly. "I'd simply imagined a sort of figure pulled right from legend. Pray, allow me to begin anew. I am Asalam and this is my inn. Though we deal in a number of trades here. I hope this is the first of many visits, ser. I am at your service."
"We'd like rooms for the night," Ceileigh said. As it turned out, the coin they had was only enough for one room. Looks like I'll be sleeping in my clothes yet again, thought Ceileigh with an internal groan. She hoped there were four cots at least.
To the left there was a waiting area and there was a dining room with a fireplace behind the counter. To the right were the very cheap rooms, which was really one big room with several cots in it, with another fireplace and a wooden partition to make it semi-private. The fireplaces were dormant since fall had barely begun. On the left wall of that room was a stairway leading to the second and third stories, where the proper rooms were located.
When they opened the door to their room, Ceileigh was dismayed to find only two beds inside. Ready for them to protest, she told Rita and Alvin they would have to sleep on the floor. However, all they said was, "Yes, Arisen." They took the blankets from the beds to lay on, leaving Ceileigh and Leandor with only sheets.
Ceileigh noticed all the pawns kept glancing in the same direction as they prepared to sleep. "What is it?" she finally asked them. "What are you looking at?"
"There is a riftstone nearby, Arisen," said Rita.
"And a great many of our kind," Alvin added. "There, to the northwest."
Leandor had a distant look but didn't offer any insights, and Ceileigh let it go for now. They all lay down and she realized just how tired she was. She wrapped herself in the sheet, turned toward the wall and was fast asleep in minutes.
The next morning Ceileigh was amazed by how refreshed she felt; she must have slept very hard. "We need to make some money if we ever want to move on," she told the pawns. "I saw a notice board downstairs with job postings on it, let's start there."
They found a few prospects but headed out to find some food first. At an outdoor pub called Arsmith's Alehouse they were able to unload a shipment of crates in exchange for breakfast. They found another notice board there with more job postings. Ceileigh felt strange among so many people rushing about their daily tasks with barely a glance for each other unless they were directly involved with the matter at hand. Cassardis only had a few hundred residents and everybody knew each other.
As they checked out various food stands and shops, they passed a crier. "The Duke's brave Enlistment Corps has dispatched the foul hydra wot terrorized the southlands!" he shouted to all who would hear. "Brave Ser Mercedes struck the mortal blow, felling the vicious creature!"
Ceileigh ground her teeth and shot the man a dirty look, though he didn't notice. They explored the square further, noting Camellia's Apothecary and Caxton's Armory for whenever they had money to spend there.
"I highly recommend Caxton's," said a voice from behind them. They turned to see a very dark-skinned man in a red tunic smiling at them. "They have the finest weaponry in Fountain Square."
"Who are you?" Ceileigh asked.
"I am Mason," he replied, putting a hand to his chest. "And you are the Arisen, yes?" He had an island accent. The glint in his eyes made Ceileigh slightly uncomfortable. He seemed like he knew a lot of secrets. She didn't answer him immediately.
"Pawns are woven tight into the fate of the Arisen," he continued. "If you'd know your destiny, know them."
"Sure. Thanks. We better be going," she said, starting to walk away. He simply watched them go in silence, still smiling and rubbing his chin.
"That guy's creepy," Ceileigh whispered to Leandor when they'd put a little distance between them.
"But he's right about one thing. I do have a lot of questions, and maybe that group you felt earlier can help me understand everything that's happening. Should we go find them? After that we can ask about some of these jobs."
"If you like, master," said Leandor with that not-quite-smile again.
"This way, Arisen," said Rita, hurrying away.
The street between the apothecary and the armory led to an open archway. They passed under it onto a road leading left and downward. Where the road ended was a building even bigger than the inn, with a fair amount of people coming and going out of it. To the right of the road, straight ahead through the archway were workstations, barns and small homes around the edges of a large field. The whole area was surrounded by the city wall, with another gate on the far side of the field.
"The riftstone lies this way, Arisen," Alvin said, pointing toward the large building. He and Rita practically trotted toward it then. Leandor stayed by Ceileigh's side but his eyes were locked on the building and he was frowning slightly.
"What is it? Aren't you excited to meet more of your people? And didn't you say being near a riftstone makes you…happy…or whatever pawns feel, er, think?" Ceileigh faltered, still unsure if pawns really had emotions or not.
"That is true, master," he replied without looking away. "However, I sense something else there. Something malicious."
They reached the building to find Alvin and Rita standing just inside the door, looking somber and talking to a brown-haired man in a navy blue outfit covered by a cream tunic. He was a pawn from the look of him, but he somehow stood out more than most of them. Like Leandor, Ceileigh realized. It's like there's something extra inside. The pawn turned to greet her.
"Welcome to Gran Soren's Craftsmen's Quarter, Arisen. We have felt you approaching and awaited your coming," he said. "This pawn is called Barnaby. I attend to the affairs of this Pawn Guild. The Guild serves as a place of rest for pawns, and as a gate to the Everfall."
Leandor's frown deepened as he took a step forward.
Barnaby held up a hand to stop him. "The Everfall lies beneath Gran Soren. 'Tis a place of great importance to our kind. Something has been amiss lately, but we will discuss it later. For now, let us rejoice in the coming of the Arisen, the light that guides the Legion."
"Can you answer some questions for me?" Ceileigh asked him.
"I will do my best, Arisen," he said. He led her to a table and chairs and gestured for her to sit. "What is it you wish to know?"
Author's Note: Hopefully you didn't find this chapter too boring, but action can't happen every second I guess, and the rest of the plot has to advance somehow. ) Thanks to my loyal reviewer koryandrs - I see a lot of views/visitors but hardly get any feedback, so feel free to let me know what you think so I have an idea of what people like or not.