Martin said, Whatever it is, we need a magician and a powerful one.
Magician? said Brendan.
Those are no natural creatures uncovering that thing Ill warrant, some Keshian spell-caster has somehow I dont know, wished the monster up. Or found it asleep and is waking it up He looked at the mayor and Captain Bolton. You certain there are no magic-users in the city?
The mayor looked almost apologetic. We have had a few mountebanks and tricksters come through, and witch-women with their charms and love potions. We encourage them to move along quickly.
Brendan said, So youre not hospitable?
The mayor said, You must understand. We are as busy a trading port as any on the Bitter Sea. We are the gateway to Yabon, and anything heading up to there or LaMut comes though here, and likewise anything leaving the duchy comes through here. Such traffic means lots of sailors and lots of gold.
Which means lots of predators, said Martin.
Well, if its widely known that you have no love for magic-users, perhaps they just dont announce their craft, suggested Brendan.
Martin nodded. Head to that inn where travellers are being housed and start sniffing around for anyone who might help. He turned to Bolton. Get a small patrol and if you hear any rumours about witch-women or sorcerers in huts or caves in the surrounding countryside, go investigate. Check all the outlying villages if any are still occupied, and inquire there. He glanced away, as if through the walls he might glimpse the still-roiling water in the harbour off in the distance. I need to know what it is Im fighting. If this is some beast the Keshians plan on turning against us His voice lowered and only his brother could detect his fear. I need to know whats out there.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The inn was packed.
Brendan could barely get through the door as he entered and made his way through the press of bodies. As soon as he returned to Martin he was going to suggest they open another building, perhaps one of the nearby stores, and house some people there. This one was fit for a brawl at a moments notice give how crowded it was. Moreover, with nothing else to do, most of those in the commons were just drinking, and a room full of unhappy drunks was a recipe for disaster.
How to begin? thought Brendan. He couldnt just stand up on the table and ask if there was a magician in the room. He moved slowly through the press, trying not to jostle anyone holding a drink while he scanned faces. Almost everyone he spied was obvious in their calling: teamsters from the north, traders from the Free Cities. One fellow caught his eye until he realized he was the storyteller-minstrel who had tried to convince the mayor to let him sing for his supper at the mayors house until Martin had him escorted down here.
Towards the back of the room were two tables, one occupied by four men and the other by an odd assortment of two elves, a short man who looked Keshian, and a striking-looking woman who was vaguely familiar to Brendan. He wondered what it was about the four men that struck him as odd. They were wearing travelling clothes of good cut and fabric, but not overly fine. None appeared to be armed, but even at his young age Brendan had learned that a wily man could secrete half a dozen blades on his person. Then two things struck him at the same moment: their hair was cut in identical fashion rather than long over the ears as most poor workers often wore, or cropped short and rudely cut, these men had a well-barbered look that one saw on rich men and in court. The other thing that struck him was the fact that although they were sitting together, the four appeared to be studiously ignoring one another, pretending to be four strangers who found themselves at the same table. When he glanced downward, he saw they wore identical boots.
Brendan veered away from them and approached the other table. By then the two elves and their companions had taken notice of his approach, the woman staring hard at him. As he reached the table, she said, Martin?
He smiled. My brother. We are often mistaken for one another.
She returned the smile. Youre Brendan, then.
Yes, he said, his smile becoming a quizzical expression. Do I know you, lady?
You were very young when I last visited Crydee, she said. I spent most of my time with your father and your eldest brother. How are they?
Brendans smile faded and he said, We lost father in the war, and Hal was last heard from in Roldem, where he was at university.
I am Miranda, she said, rising.
Wife of Pug? asked Brendan. Then you are exactly who we need. Please come with me.
She glanced at the others and Nakor said, You scoot along. Well watch He shrugged and she knew he meant the four men.
Brendan said, I scarcely believe my fortune in finding you.
Heads were turning as those nearby couldnt help but overhear the exchange. Lets talk outside, shall we? suggested Miranda.
Before they could reach the door, a sound split the air unlike anything heard in this citys history. It was a bellow of rage so loud that the buildings shook and plaster dust and fell from the ceiling. It was as if an earthquake rocked the city.
A few of the drunker guests of the inn fell down. Some ducked under tables, while others pushed towards the door.
Brendan acted without hesitation, drawing his sword and slamming the basket hilt into the stomach of a man attempting to push past him towards the door. Sit down! he shouted, as he struck a second man across the jaw. For a brief second the surge halted. He might be young and slender, but Brendan was the one with the sword and the best most of these drunks had was a belt knife.
As the men in the commons pressed toward the door, the four silent men in the rear of the inn stood and as one reached up to unfasten their hooded robes. The robes fell away. Beneath, each man was dressed alike, in a deep red tunic and black trousers ending in black ankle boots. Around each mans neck hung an amulet and in its centre a red jewel glowed.
Oh, my, said Nakor. He felt the hair on his arms, neck, and head prickle with gooseflesh, and he was sure he could smell a very familiar magic stench. To Arkan and Calis he said, Please, kill those four men. Quickly!
Calis took a moment to consider, but Arkan acted without hesitation. Whatever else these annoying humans might be, he had been around beings of power enough times in his life to recognize that the little man and the tall woman were far more formidable and dangerous than they appeared to be. Moreover, he had been watching those four men on the other side of the room more closely than the others had and by now possessed a firm sense that they were not only dangerous, but that there was something wrong with them. It was like running across a sick animal in the wild. You might not at first be able to judge what the problem was, but in an instant you knew it wasnt a healthy bear or deer. It didnt matter if the animal was rabid, poisoned, wounded from an earlier struggle, you just knew you had to kill it as quickly as possible before it infected other animals.
Arkans second arrow was back to his ear by the time the first one struck one of the four men in the neck, killing him instantly. He let it fly as Calis loosed his first and two more men died. The last man began an incantation, uninterrupted by the death of his companions. They must be spell-casters! Arkans third arrow finished his chant.
Bedlam erupted as those nearby dived for cover and shouts of anger and fear filled the room. Brendan wisely stepped aside as the second surge of the crowd towards the door threatened to overwhelm him.
Miranda grabbed the nearest man, a very drunk teamster by all appearances, and with little apparent effort picked him up by the front of his tunic and threw him into the crowd, causing a general collapse of bodies. Outside! she shouted at Brendan, who took no pause in turning, opening the door, and leaping through.
The two city watchmen posted at the door were turning to investigate the noise as Brendan made his exit, almost knocking them down.
Sir? asked one, a youngster barely big enough to hold the pike hed been given.
Let them through, said Brendan, stepping to one side, followed a moment later by Miranda. Then there was an explosion of bodies out of the door, as those who had been trapped inside for days came flooding outside to scatter in all directions.
The other watchman, an elderly, toothless man, said, What are we to do, young sir?
Dont get trampled, said Brendan.
The bellow that had begun the ruckus was repeated, clearly coming from the direction of the harbour. And that, young sir? asked the old watchman.
Well see to that, said Miranda.
Brendan said, You know what it is?
She nodded. Only too well. Her tone left no doubt that Brendan wouldnt care for the revelation.
What about these blokes, sir? asked the young watchman as the last of the inhabitants of the inn who didnt wish to remain exited the building.
Let them scatter as long as they dont cause trouble. Well round them up later, if we survive whats coming, said Brendan. Theyve nowhere else to go, so its either to the wall to fight, or back here to drink. Just make sure no one tries to go out the northern gate. The young soldier saluted and ran off in that direction.
Nakor and the two elves exited, and Nakor said, Keshian Demon Masters.
Miranda nodded. Dead?
Yes, said the little man. Our elf friends are very efficient.
Well, one problem solved, and another begun, said Miranda. Come, to the wall!
Nakor said, Yes, I can feel it, as if answering an unasked question.
Nakor and the two elves exited, and Nakor said, Keshian Demon Masters.
Miranda nodded. Dead?
Yes, said the little man. Our elf friends are very efficient.
Well, one problem solved, and another begun, said Miranda. Come, to the wall!
Nakor said, Yes, I can feel it, as if answering an unasked question.
Feel what? asked Arkan.
Dont worry, said Nakor. Youll get to kill a lot of humans shortly!
Just make sure theyre on the other side of the wall, said Calis, as the group broke into a trot.
The wall and main gate hove into view as they rounded a corner. Brendan sprinted the last ten yards and took the steps two at a time. Reaching the wall, he could barely negotiate the press of bodies gathered there and as he moved past Bethany and Lily, who were now stationed with the archers nearest the steps to safety, pushing through a knot of soldiers, towards his brother, he began shouting, Back to your posts! There could be more than one-