Part 14
Cards on the Table
The girl was quiet, as they ate breakfast. Afterwards, Uncle Ben asked the barkeep about transport to Calta. The barkeep simply directed him towards the side of town he thought they could find such a ship.
The girl walked silently beside her Uncle, as he asked people along the way about ships.
“She is quite subdued,” Namic said.
“And our friend is no where to be seen,” Ranin said.
“He will come when needed,” Namic said. “He made that much clear.”
“I heard you are in need of a discrete ship to Calta? No?” a short sailor said, cutting across the crown to reach the two travelers. “My Captain is making such a trip, it might benefit both of us if you can make an arrangement together.”
“Is this captain going to be trust worthy?” Ranin asked.
“Few captains at this port can afford to be dishonest,” Namic said. “And despite this man’s look, he seems honest.”
The small sailor led them through the crowds until he reached a tavern door. The tavern was loud and full. People parted for the group giving them only a cursory glance.
“Captain,” the guide said, as they approached a tall middle aged man with a slick black mustache. He sported a large hat as he sat alone at one of the tables near the corner, his cane leaning against the back of his seat.
“These are the people I spoke of.”
“Ah, yes,” the captain said standing, “I am Captain Selgaro.” He offered his hand to Uncle Ben before continuing, “Come sit, we have much to discuss.”
“He seems like a fair fellow,” Ranin said.
“I doubt he has a liking for the authorities,” Namic said.
The two sat and discussed business. They settled on all the details; their departure date was set for the next day.
“You caught me and my crew at a convenient time,” the captain said, sipping his sherry.
A sailor walked up to the captain’s table. “Captain,” a sailor said.
“Yes?” he replied.
“It is about some of our passengers,” the sailor said, glancing at the Uncle and the girl.
The Captain looked at him silently, making no move.
“Captain?” the sailor said, confused.
“I hold no secrets with my clients,” the captain said.
“We overheard an officer asking if anyone had seen a young girl and an older man who fits the description of our clients,” the sailor said.
“Ah, so this is why you need a ship,” the captain said. “Fear not,” he continued seeing their distress. “I have no intention of rescinding my offer. It would be quite bad for my business.”
The captain gestured to the side and a few moments later a sailor came up with two large cloaks.
“These cloaks may help you stay hidden,” the captain began, “Be on my ship tomorrow by midmorning without being followed, and I’ll give you passage to Calta as promised. If you are discovered however I will be forced to oust you as stowaway. Do we still have a deal?”
“I don’t think we have much choice,” Uncle Ben said standing and accepting the cloaks.
“Then I hope to see you tomorrow,” the captain said. “Go through the back. The guards looking for you might be watching this establishment.
“Thank you, sir,” Uncle Ben said.
The two went to the back kitchen. One of the cooks saw them and motioned for them to follow, and led them to a door. “Follow this out,” the cook said gesturing down the alley. “When you get out fade into the crowd; and get those cloaks on!”
The Uncle and the girl threw on their cloaks and stepped out.
“A good plan,” Namic said. “Under normal circumstance it would work.”
“Oh,” Ranin said, as they watched the two cloaked travelers enter the thoroughfare.
“Someone they know has entered the city not too long ago,” Namic said.
“Where have you been looking?” Ranin teased.
The girl kept her hand firmly fixed to her uncle’s as they waded through the crowd. They headed towards the inn. The crowd was thick and pressed against them.
“Make way,” A voice shouted. “We are Royal Wardens. Make way.”
The crowds parted pulling the girl and her uncle with them. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself. The clatter of hooves on cobblestone echoed through the streets. The girl looked up and gasped; it was the constable.
“He’s here?” Ranin said surprised.
The girl however was frozen.
The constable looked around the crowd. The moment his eyes fell in her direction the girl shuttered. Then, unable to stop herself, she bolted.
“Not the most subtle of tactics,” Ranin said.
“Indeed not,” Namic said. “She has obtained the attention of the guards.”
The girl ran franticly, her uncle following far more subtly. The crowd parted before them as people with surprised faces shifted out of the way of the terrified girl. The sound of hooves became faster and louder, before the constable on his horse overtook her and cut her off easily.
The girl took several steps back and the hood of her cloak slid off. The constable looked mildly surprised as he recognized her.
“So you are here,” he said.
“How?” she said, then the Vassal of Fire came from behind her pushing her back and placing himself between the mounted man and her. “Sworder?”
“How? You ask?” the constable said. “We apprehend three criminals on the highway some days past and they claimed to have seen you. These descriptions fit you very well: an old man, a young girl, and a Kazan. Once they told me where they had attempted to waylay you it was not too difficult to guess which city you were heading to.”
“That will be your last mistake,” the Vassal said, his sword seemed to glow with an inner flame, as he stepped forward.
“Sworder!” the girl said grabbing, the Vassal’s free hand. He looked back at her silently. The girl looked at the ground, unable to hold eye contact. “Please, I know you must fight but do only what you have to… to protect me.”
They stood silently for a few moments.
“Quite an interesting proposal,” Namic noted.
“Thank you,” the Vassal of Fire said, slowly, “Now. Go!”
“Sworder?”
“This is a fight I believe I can not win,” the Vassal said. “I will buy what time I can.”
“But,” the girl said.
The Vassal turned to the Uncle. “Take her and go,” he said.
The Uncle nodded and grabbed the girl’s hand.
“You would think he would be more confident,” Ranin said. “He has after all defeated the man twice before.”
“That is why he is so cautious,” Namic said. “The first time the constable underestimated her, the second time him. He must believe he has the upper hand.”
“If that is true he has quite a problem,” Ranin said.
“Indeed… true,”
Archers raised their bows and fired. The Vassal slashed two out of the air and the other two burned before reaching their target: the fleeing pair.
“The next man to raise his bow will lose a hand,” the Vassal of Fire said.
All the archers hesitated, and then one drew his bow back. The Vassal charged the man, who hesitated upon seeing the approaching Kazan. Nervously he shot straight at the Vassal, who cut the arrow without breaking stride.
Four guards stood in his way, their weapon drawn. The Vassal smashed the sword of the first, slashed at another, caught the side of the third, and dodged the last. He found himself in the middle of the garrison, slashing and hacking at whatever was in reach. The guards moved to surround him and then pressed in. He deflected what he could but a sword caught him across the back.
“Uh, oh,” Ranin said. “He’s in trouble.”
“This form he has taken can turn it around,” Namic said.
“Really!?”
The Vassal of Fire reversed his grip and thrust his sword into the ground. As flames erupted around him, the guards cried out attempting to escape the heat. The constable’s horse reared back in fright, as several severely burned guards rushed past the beast.
Out of the flames the Vassal sprung straight at the bowman, who had ignored his warning. With a single stroke the man’s right arm was severed. With a cry of pain the man dropped to the ground, blood pooling around him.
“He is pushing his advantages,” Namic said.
“Like what?” Ranin said. “He’s out numbered and on the defensive.”
“He’s a Kazan,” Namic said, “And his opponents know that. He can withstand a great amount of suffering and know that he will recover quickly. But they will suffer the consequences for much longer. He is using fear.”
“Fear?” Ranin said.
The Vassal of Fire struck out at another guard, who backed away as fast as he could.
“Bah! Useless men,” the constable said, regaining control of his horse. “Go!”
A loud thump came from behind the Vassal, who turned to see the looming figure of the Clay Golem. The Clay Golem’s fist suddenly connected with the Vassal of Fire’s face, sending him slamming into the side of a wall.
The Clay Golem continued to charge before the Vassal could extract himself from the wall. The Clay Golem brought his fist back and attempted to punch the Vassal through the wall.
The Vassal quickly leapt out of the way of the Golem’s fist. Swinging his sword, he took out a portion of the Golem’s shoulder.
“This again,” the Vassal taunted, “I have defeated him once before why do you think it will be different now?”
“You are right,” the constable said, grinning, “I may have to show you more of my cards.”
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