Chapter 17 - Z
The next morning was almost the same as yesterday. The only things that were different was that, one, Yurick was still sleeping on my chest when I woke up, two, some man was babbling about how some cloaked man did something, and three, everyone seemed to be worried that I would collapse or something, whereas their caring meters were on an all-time low for the past month (with the exception of Mirania, of course). I told them last night that I just needed to rest. I felt right as rain… whatever that means.
I talked to Dagran downstairs. "Good, Zael. I'm glad to see you back on your feet." I was about to reply and say 'thank you for carrying me back', but he added, "Now I need you to get those upgrades that you failed to get yesterday." I was going to object. It wasn't my fault she got kidnapped! "Now, I know that the mansion ordeal got in the way, but it doesn't change the fact that our swords need to be repaired."
I nodded compliantly and walked out the door. Luckily, Horace's shop was just around the corner. I opened the door to find a cheerful couple holding each other. I smiled.
"Master Zael! I can't thank you enough!" He jumped towards me like a hyper child, "I have decided to give up archaeology," he sounded mellow again. "No more adventuring for me! I will stay here, with my Meredith." I was jealous. I wished I could have just given up everything and just stayed with Yurick for the rest of my life, but being a mercenary got us money to support ourselves. It may not have been the best life, but at least it was one.
"Horace, dear, didn't you want to tell him something?" Meredith was still holding on to his arm. Her voice was soft and sweet. She's not the type I would expect to be married to someone like Horace…
He nodded eagerly, "Did you hear about what has been going on by the well in the east corner of town?"
"No. I can't say that I have," I cocked my head in curiosity. "What about it?"
"You know where the Reptids were hiding underground?" I nodded. "Well, there is a small tunnel that leads to the well." He paused. "Naturally, when I heard, I ran over to see what it was about," he looked down and muttered, "and I seemed to have dropped a very valuable book down there."
"Let me guess, the Reptids took it and you want me to go down there to get it back for you." I shifted my weight.
He smiled, "You're very sharp. Would you please?"
I hesitated, thinking of what happened last time I helped this guy.
"The book has notes in it on how to fix a cursed blade," Meredith added. "A cursed blade holds a lot of power that could assist you later."
I shrugged. "Dagran should go for that. Alright, but first I do need to upgrade these." I put 5 swords on the counter.
"I'm so sorry that you keep getting mixed up in my husband's madcap schemes like this," she gave me a smile then started moving the swords. "We will charge you the lowest we can afford," Meredith said. I smiled at her and nodded a thank you.
When the upgrades were complete, I ran back to the tavern to return the weapons to their respective owners and told Dagran about the new quest.
"He took her, I tell you!" the babbling man screamed, "I'm the worst father in the world!"
Dagran and I stared at the man then continued our original conversation.
"Go on your own. It doesn't seem like a task to get my hands dirtied with," he said as he leaned against the wall.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Fine then, I'll go alone." I turned and left the tavern. I started towards the eastern part of the town, passing through the market and a few back alley ways. I heard a small boy teasing a little girl and saw a cat run across a few roofs. The day seemed like nothing special, but it was peaceful. On my way through the market towards where the fountain was, I was tapped on the shoulder. I spun around quickly.
"Master Zael, Count Arganan has summoned you to the castle. Please go as soon as possible," a knight said stiffly then saluted me and marched away.
"Okay then," I muttered. Like that's going to happen any time soon. That guy had something about him that just wasn't easy to trust. That and I was trying to avoid the matter of Calista. It's not that I don't like her, but…
I continued towards the fountain. When I got there, the first thing I saw was a bunch of children merrily skipping about. Then I looked closer and saw a dark hooded figure walking down a small alley. I followed him. "Who's that?"
He turned and smiled at me. I looked closer and, for a second, I could have sworn it was Jirall. I continued after him, following him down a back alley with only a few doors. The closer I got to him, the faster he walked until he was in a complete sprint. I ran after him, trying not to lose his trail. Finally he stopped and entered a smaller, and seemingly less popular, tavern and, naturally, I followed. It was called the Flame & Lizard.
It was busier than I would have expected for such an isolated tavern, but the mood was colder. The men were fighting, the children spinning and playing, and the women looked bored to tears. That man has to be here somewhere. I looked around and found him standing idly by two drunkards. There he is. Then he walked over to the bar. Except for the cape, he looked like a pretty normal, and not suspicious at all, man. Maybe he's the one who took that girl that the old man was ranting about. I approached him slowly. It was just a hunch, but why else would he be acting weird.
"What do you want?" he said with a deep grinding voice.
"That girl you kidnapped, I'm going to get her back," I wasn't even positive that this was the guy so I decided to bluff and see if I was right. If I wasn't I would play it off like I was crazy.
"Quite cocky, aren't you? But you're out of your league. No-one gets in our way and lives." His voice grew louder, but no-one else seemed to notice… until he pulled out a sword.
This is definitely the guy. I snickered and drew my newly upgraded Paladin. Every guard in the room ran towards me as well. I figured it would be fun, so I waited for all of them to surround me then ducked and swung my blade in a circle, knocking all of them down. It seemed as if the place was having a usual business day. The majority of the people moved to the sides of the room, but continued to fool around and dance while the bar maiden cleaned a glass like it was the only important thing in the world.
One of the guards charged at me with his sword in hand, but missed and broke one of the few tables, sending wood chips and planks flying in every direction. I knocked him unconscious by the hilt of my sword on the back of his helmet. I ran towards the cloaked man and met his blade with my own. It was a power struggle that seemed harder than it actually was. I pushed them towards his face, opening a small cut in his cheek. Then he matched my strength and pushed me back, causing us to break apart. I raised my sword again and he ran towards the stairs. I hurried after him, but was blocked by the rest of the guards.
Just then the door to the tavern opened with a loud bang. I debated whether to look and risk getting struck down while I wasn't paying attention or to strike them while they stared at the door. I didn't need to turn. I already knew who it was when he spoke.
"Zael, you know, if you wanted a drink, you could have stayed at Aeriela's tavern. This place is a dump," Dagran snickered as he pulled out his sword. "You seem to be doing pretty well on your own. Maybe we should leave." He smirked.
"Hope you don't mind us lot barging in anyway," Syrenne sounded sober enough to fight at least.
"I don't know. He still seems reckless as ever. Maybe we should leave." Yurick wasn't joking, or if he was he sounded very cold. Did I do something wrong?
"It's a raid! On the ground floor!" a voice shouted from the balcony. Everyone in the room and all of the guards that had blocked me ran out of the tavern behind Dagran and the others, but not even a few seconds after, the lower floor was surrounded by the guards from upstairs and, apparently, the back room from behind the bar. The bar maiden froze and slowly exited the room.
"You're gonna regret comin' 'ere!" one of them yelled.
"This is getting serious," I muttered with a chuckle.
"I do believe it is you who is going to regret letting us in here in the first place," Dagran laughed.
"We'll show you terror like you've never known!" another guard added with a sort of grunt as he charged Dagran, who quickly cut him down.
I laughed at how idiotic the verbal attacks were then looked around to assess the situation. "He looks like the leader," I pointed to the last guard that came from behind the bar. He, too, had an eye patch. It was the first thing I noticed about him. "If we take him, the rest will be plain sailing."
"Right, let's get busy, shall we!" Syrenne ran into a fight with two of the guards, hitting them at the same time with her swords. She was the only warrior I knew that could easily and swiftly handle two huge blades at the same time. Sometimes I agreed with Lowell that she was too much of a man to be a woman, but unlike him, I would never say it aloud. I like my head where it is.
"Dagran, are we alright using magic here?" Yurick asked.
I stood my ground in the centre of the room near the door and waited for the three men coming at me.
"These idiot soldiers can pay for it. Fill your boots!" He replied while blocking.
I braced myself as I blocked the first attack and countered quickly.
Syrenne began laughing like a mad woman. I thought she had finally lost her senses, when she said, "Oh look, it's my favorite brandy!"
I rolled my eyes and continued to knock out guard by guard.
"Don't tell me you're gonna take it," Dagran glanced at her.
When the third one dodged the counter, I slashed towards him, causing him to fall into one of Yurick's flaming circles.
She smirked in that way when she was about to do one of two things; hit Lowell or drink until she fell unconscious. "You know me so well. I'm gonna get so hammered tonight!"She laughed again.
"Then let's finish this and get out of here. I don't want to do anything today," Yurick groaned. What's up with him today?
Sure enough, the guards were all taken out shortly after the fight even started. Why mercenaries were looked down upon was beyond me. Our fighting skills were almost unmatched.
"So why are you here? I thought you told me to do these 'miniscule tasks' on my own," I turned to Dagran.
"A man back at the tavern was rambling about something so I finally told him to shut up. He told me he wouldn't rest until someone found his daughter. He was even going to pay for it," he responded. Money… that explains everything. "We saw you running down here so we followed you. You know the well isn't anywhere near the fountain, don't you?"
"I saw a cloaked man on my way there and decided to follow him for the same reason you left the tavern. Only I -," I started.
"If anything related to the word 'free' comes out of your mouth, I will personally execute you." Dagran glared at me. "Nothing is free, Zael."
There was a stiff silence before he suggested we go upstairs to look for the robed man.
"I'll scout ahead," I pushed passed my brother towards the stairs, "see what's up."
Dagran replied with an 'I'm the big shot' tone, "Okay, we'll keep watch," like it was the more important job of the two.
"There's not much point in me going up there. Tight spaces and fireballs don't usually mix well." Yurick propped himself against the wall and turned his head from me. What did I do?
I shook it off and ran up the stairs to find a door. I opened it a crack and saw two guards standing near the railing.
"Why's it so quiet?! There's nobody here!" one said.
"What's going on?" the other one added.
I smirked to myself, thinking of my next move. I cracked the door enough so my crossbow could fit through and shot both of them in the back of the thigh, causing them to fall over the railing. I put my bow back and tried to hide a smile.
"Throwing henchmen over a banister is not scouting." Yurick stood behind me with a hand on his hip and rolled his eye.
"Having a little fun without us, love?" Syrenne walked through the door smiling.
"Ah, there's another door. I'll check this one." Once again the 'I'm the big bad' attitude. I love him, but that is really starting to annoy me.
"Syrenne, want to check the other one with me?" I pointed to another door across from Dagran's.
"Let's do it." She followed me.
The first thing we saw upon entering was three more guards.
"We won't let you stop the ceremony!"
Ceremony? What the hell is he blabbing about? Is that why they took the girl?
Syrenne stepped forward with a smirk. "You had your fun. Let me handle these guys." I raise my hands in a 'have at it' motion.