novelxo Chapter Chapter Five
Slowly the young couple moved through the groves and trees that surrounded their home. They never looked back though. It was if they had ended that point in their lives and they were moving on to the next big adventure in their lives. Traveling mainly at night to avoid notice and sleeping during the day in copses of trees and bushes, they gave the appearance of shades lost between this world and the next. The few travelers met on the road avoided the young pair as they hurried down the paths and roads to their own destinations, rarely even looking back at the pair of lost souls looking for a haven to rest their weary bodies.
The illusion was completed by the dark grey woolen cloaks both wore as protection from the cold night air. The cloaks covered them from top of their heads to their knees hiding from sight the armor and sword of Tanis and the elven features of Charina. Many a time Tanis stopped to ask passersby the way to the town of McCryden. It was long ago the infant Tanis was carried to the elven home land from the home of his mother. After a little time the ways all became foreign to him and many times the two foot sore wanderers had to double back and use a different road. Even not knowing the proper way to go, when he was on the proper path his spirits were high and when on the wrong path his spirits would fall to the point of despair. He swore that even in death Artitous still guided him to his proper path and that made him feel that he was doing the right thing.
On the second night of travel the pair found themselves face to face with one of the dangers that they feared. Bandits appeared all around them demanding all their property of value for using their road. Tanis stood before the head of these bandits and spoke to him. “Sir, We are newlyweds and looking for a new home. We have nothing worth stealing. We seek only a safe place to start our family and live in peace. Please sir. Leave us be. We mean you and yours no harm.”
The bandit smiled at Charina, “So newlyweds huh. Well you must know that we get the first night with new brides as well. Have nothing of value? I disagree. I see a lovely young lady that will warm all our blankets while your corpse cools. When we bore of her then we will end her life as well. It has been a while since we have had a woman and we do not bore easily. I will warn you of that.” Laughed the bandit.
At those words Tanis became incensed. Drawing his blade he screamed, “Then let the bravest and strongest of you be first to taste my steel! You will have my wife over my dead body! Any of you care to taste steel?” Tanis threw his cloak back over his back and cleared his arms for a fight.
The bandits seeing the armor and sword stepped back a moment and looked at Tanis. “You are just full of surprises aren’t you? Elven royalty and yet you are not an elf. You must be the bastard of the Lord McCryden we have heard of. Elven ladies are even better then a human woman. She will last us even longer. Hey boys I hear that elven girls are rare treats and we will be treated tonight!” At those words the bandit attacked Tanis. A few moments and the bandit leader lay dead at Tanis’s feet. Tanis’s blade having severed both the man’s sword arm and his head. Tanis turned toward the other bandits who picked up and fled at the approach of the young warrior. Charina smiled as she wove the power and switched each of them as they ran. All the pair heard as the bandits ran was the shouts of the men yelling of the murdering elves. The couple laughed as they continued on the road. The few passersby simply stared and moved faster figuring on mad spirits that may infect them.
As the two traveled they came upon an old farm off to the side of the road they were traveling. They stopped and talked with the farmer and found that it was close to their destination. The cottage was small and bereft the ornaments the homes of the elves possessed. It had a commonplace set of walls made of the dark clay of the surrounding earth and pine boughs for a roof. Though the cottage had a look of age, it was well tended. The darkened windows held no glass and were shuttered on either side with rough cut boards. The rough door again had the rugged appearance of poverty but was also well maintained.
Walking up to the door, Tanis struck it twice with mail covered fist. The door gave off two resounding knocks. The door showed some light around the edges as someone inside moved to it. When the door opened Tanis took a step back. The withered form at the door just stared and a voice like sandpaper rasping a piece of wood asked him his business. The withered face was that of a woman and she gazed upon the couple with delight at seeing them. Her twig like arms came up one holding a candle the other taking Charina and escorting her into the little hovel. The poor old farmer spoke to them in a voice like cracking parchment. Though old the voice held a strength that only years could account for. The strength was surprising coming from that withered frame.
“What brings you two shades of Hades to my door at this ungodly hour? Are you demons of death to finally deliver us from the bondage of Lord McCryden? Speak for if I do not like what you are telling me it will surely mean the end of your cursed existence. Do I make myself clear, youngsters?”
Tanis took in the old man’s words without an utterance. He had just noticed the crossbows in the withered hands of the old man. “We come from the land of the elves to exact revenge for a wrong committed many years ago against the very one that has oppressed you. I am Tanis Thalin borne by the young woman that his lordship raped on a past Beltane so many years before. Tell us where to find him and I will leave this very evening!”
The old man quickly held up his hands and said, “No one travels into the village at night. If you are to do what you claim you will, then it is best that you leave in the morning. Let us bed you down for the evening and feed you tonight and in the morning before you journey to your deaths. Here now give me your cloaks.”
The couple thanked them greatly and turned over their cloaks to the old woman and man. At seeing Tanis’s armor and Charina’s ears the farmer and his wife gave a start. Quite rapidly the old man brought forth one of his lambs. It was near death from some disease he could not put a name to. He begged at the feet of Charina to heal it for it and its brothers were all he had after the lord took his ewe and ram for his dreaded tax. Charina was already by the lamb and offered her assistance even as the man continued his tirade. After but a few moments Charina had the lamb licking milk from her fingers and was feeding it from a bowl.
Seeing the lamb’s near-perfect recovery the old man grasped Tanis’s hand and grasped Charina’s hand in warm handshakes and even offered them their bed. The couple quickly convinced them that the floor and some food were thanks enough. The four spent most of that night deep in conversation and some things came to Tanis that he had not thought of prior. The lord of McCryden had a hundred warriors around him, all skilled with the weapons they carried. The town of McCryden was walled and all those entering by the main gate was required to give name and purpose for entering the town. Tanis was counting on surprise for his plan of vengeance to succeed.
The old man was some help on both points for he had a cart loaded and ready for market the next morning. “The guards do not check the carts at the gate,” the old man explained. “If it contains nothing that they themselves want or need then they leave it be. Let’s hope none are hungry as I pass through!”
So the four planned through the evening hours and some of the night coming up with a plan for Tanis and Charina to enter into the town of McCryden undetected.
Morning came quickly with little rest being had by the old couple or the younger. As the farmer led his cart away, hidden deeply within it laid Tanis and Charina. Many times on the journey the old farmer stopped to converse as was his way with the farmers who lived nearby. Before reaching the gates, the farmer had gathered several other farmers following with their carts as well. Several more led the way into the town with their carts as burdened as the old man’s.
As the parade of farmers approached the town’s walls, two guards stepped forward and stopped all the carts. Rumor had it that a new group of fighters had formed out in the country and all vehicles coming into the town were to be searched. The old man bit off a curse as the guards approached. The guards went to the rear of the column first and the old man bent to his cart and murmured to the couple under it. “Time to make for the thieves’ gate in the east wall. The guards are looking for a group of revolutionaries that may be trying to sneak their way into town to perform mischief. Best you away now while they are still out and about.”
Hearing of the new obstacle in his path Tanis repeated the old man’s curse and led Charina from the old man’s cart. Moving as fast as they could stealthily, they reached the wall without being seen. Moving quickly, they soon reached the small door at the east wall that was called the thieves’ gate. Tanis went to it and knocked twice on the door. A young strong voice answered the knock by asking what business the pair had in McCryden. Tanis was expecting this and answered the man that he was a soldier of fortune looking for work and that his wife was accompanying him to set up house wherever he found work. The voice at the gate laughed and the door was opened and a young man stepped forth. He was taller than Tanis by a head which was tall considering Tanis was more than six feet tall. Tanis walked up to the man and he put out his hand. “Fellow traveler,” began Tanis, “I hope your travels have gone as well as those of my wife and me. I am looking for a place to put down roots and was led to believe this to be the place to do that. So if you don’t mind moving I will be on my way.” Tanis moved to go around the man but he stayed in front of him.
“So you wish to enter do you, well there is no place for the likes of you here. I will either see your back and your gold in my hand or see your blood here on this soil and have your woman for my own.” The young rogue replied.
Tanis stepped back a step and eyed the rogue with his knife drawn. The thief looked at the two young lovers and his posture made him look like a man at his ease. He expected no resistance and if resistance did come he expected to be little problem dispensing the young man. Tanis reached under his cloak and placed his hand on his scabbarded sword’s hilt. Taking yet another step back, he drew the serpentine blade. With the point at the thief’s throat he moved toward the gate with Charina at his side. Instead of being able to enter he found more men with a variety of weapons waiting for him. Taking two steps back Charina cast a fire spell at the front line of thieves. As these fell others quickly moved toward the couple. Tanis lay about him with the practiced ease of a man used to handling the blade in his hands and had used it often. Rapidly men fell away until once more it was the tall young man who first approached them.
The man raised his hands and looked scared for all of his swagger. “Hold your hand, my friend. Hold. I am called Perrick Alon and I am one of the best thieves in the world. Surely you can find some use of my skills. If it does not interfere with your quest may I join your little party of two?”
Tanis lowered his blade, he was sick with the killing that had just happened and looked to the man that had caused it. He simply nodded his head and the man began a flowery speech of how he would never let him down and at the wisdom of the young lord and the beauty of his lady wife. Tanis listened with half an ear. He was entering the town and he was as focused as an archer with his bow drawn ready to fire. He was nearing his quarry and he did not want any more interference to postpone the confrontation that was to come.
Perrick spoke aloud to Tanis and Charina, “You come at a much fortuitous time for you have not only found the greatest lover in all McCryden, you have also found her best, I mean her second best, fighter. I will never let you down. I can get you in anywhere you wish to go. I am also the greatest of thieves in this or any other country and you are well served to use my skills. You will not be sorry my lord. Just you wait and see.”
Tanis nearly stopped dead. “You can get us into anything or anywhere?” Tanis whispered. “Indeed, my lord,” was the young thief’s rapid response. “This may be both of our lucky days. You will join us and be unharmed and your skills will be a great boon to me and what I need accomplished in this town.” Tanis said. “Anything you say, my lord. Your wish is my command. You are most generous my lord.” Rambled Perrick.
Tanis and Charina looked at Perrick and said in unison, “Perrick, Shut up!”