《Red Company》 Chapter 1 The streets of Elgurid were never empty, even on rainy nights such as these. Despite the late hour, everything was bathed in a warm glow that came from the forges on the east side of town. Elgurid was a steel town. Its forges operated around the clock, smelting iron from the surrounding valley, turning it into the finest steel in the provinces. This was a town that never slept, which delighted the rural folk when they first arrived, lured by the promise of work. However, the work at the forges was hard. Life in the town was hard and unrelenting. The conditions were poor, especially in recent years, and the new arrivals often left quickly, only to be replaced by fresh batches of wide eyed newcomers. Thorace Hardin was one such transplant, having arrived when he was ten. He was a five year veteran of the town¡¯s mean streets. A scrawny, gangly boy, he was tall for his age and on this night, he wore a hooded cloak to protect himself from the rain. He stifled a yawn and watched rainwater gush out of a nearby gutter, turned black by the soot that caked the sharply sloped roofs that were characteristic of the town¡¯s buildings. Soot from the forges covered everything here. Homes, clothes, windows, walls, but lately, something new permeated the air. It drove people to step quickly when walking the streets, which they did only when absolutely necessary. It caused them to stay away from windows after dark, and it caused the atmosphere, already heavy from the constant smog to grow heavier still. It was fear. Fear from the string of gruesome murders that had occurred over the past month. People had been going missing only for their badly mutilated bodies to turn up days later. Rumours had abounded, and sightings of ferocious monsters and misshapen giants, straight from the pages of fables, were reported to the Watch almost daily. The reports were so numerous and persistent that it was impossible to separate rumour from fact. Many of the disappearances had occurred here, in the Downwater District, and Thorace had taken it upon himself to get to the bottom of things. That was as sure a way as he could think of to win himself acclaim and perhaps a way out of this foul, black stained town. Or at least a way out of poverty. Then, perhaps the Teahouse¡¯s apprentice would see him in a new light. His heart swelled when he thought of Liara Junkov. She was a year older than he, with hair the colour of fresh straw and sparkling blue eyes¡­ He shook his head and admonished himself. He had to focus lest become the Downwater Demon¡¯s latest victim. When he tore his gaze off the gutter, a flash of red caught his eye. He turned to see four figures clad in red cloaks walking down the street and blinked. He thought he was imagining them at first. The rain stained everything it touched black, but these cloaks looked immaculate. He looked down the street and saw several other passers-by following his gaze. Two of the figures appeared to be men and two were shorter. One was an inch shorter than Thorace, but much broader at the shoulder. A dwarf from the look of it, while the other was even shorter. Perhaps a young child. An odd combination to be found wandering the streets, regardless of their garb or time of day. The boy decided to follow them. He was not a little proud of his ability to stalk the streets unnoticed. A valuable trait in the rougher parts of town. As he approached them, he saw that at least two of them were armed. One of the men carried a sword at his hip while the dwarf had a large axe slung across his back. Thorace took a deep breath to gather his courage and walked closer still. Soon, he was close enough to listen in on their conversation. ¡°We¡¯re attracting stares, Vi,¡± the dwarf grumbled. His voice was deep, and he spoke with a rough brogue. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault these yokels haven¡¯t seen magic before,¡± the other diminutive one said with a woman¡¯s voice. ¡°Besides, you know how hard it is to get soot stains out of our cloaks.¡± ¡°Now children, let¡¯s not fight,¡± the unarmed man said. His voice was tired, and he sounded old. He appeared to walk with a slight limp and was happy to lag behind the others. ¡°Captain please, talk some sense into her,¡± the dwarf pleaded. The armed man took a deep breath and the others fell silent. ¡°A little attention isn¡¯t a bad thing, Tavar.¡± ¡°But Captain¡­¡± Tavar began to protest. ¡°Remember why we¡¯re here,¡± the Captain said. ¡°To get to the bottom of these murders?¡± Tavar ventured. The Captain shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re here to get paid for getting to the bottom of these murders, and to that end, standing out is not a bad thing.¡± Thorace backed off when the dwarf turned his head from side to side before remarking. ¡°Can¡¯t see a thing in this muck. It¡¯s a shame Etsara isn¡¯t here. She¡¯d find whatever it is we¡¯re looking for in a jiffy.¡± ¡°I¡¯d wager this place would make her violently ill,¡± the older man remarked. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine being further removed from nature.¡± Thorace darted into an alley when the old man broke into a violent coughing fit. He stood just out of sight and spied on them as the quartet came to a stop and looked at the old man with concern. ¡°Perhaps we should find you an inn where you can rest for the night, Lector,¡± Violet suggested, her voice tinged with concern. Now that she had turned around, Thorace saw that she had a young woman¡¯s face and large, round ears. Gnomes were rare in Elgurid and it took him a while for him to identify her race. The old man was gnarled and raised a hand. Once he finished coughing, Tavar handed him a flask of water. The dwarf had a thick, black beard that was neatly groomed and flinty slate eyes that were the colour of slate. He was powerfully built, and his arms were almost as thick as Thorace¡¯s waist. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°She¡¯s right, you know,¡± he said once the old man took it. ¡°We can¡¯t have the Company doctor getting sick.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just the air,¡± Lector protested. ¡°I just need to get used to it is all. Besides, what will happen if one of you gets injured when we do encounter this¡­ thing that we¡¯re after.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably just someone who¡¯s snapped,¡± Tavar snorted derisively. ¡°We¡¯ll make quick work of him.¡± ¡°Oh no we won¡¯t,¡± the Captain said. ¡°We won¡¯t do a thing before payment is safely in my hands.¡± The dwarf¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°So we will stand idly by and watch whatever or whoever this is murder someone?¡± The Captain shrugged. ¡°If it comes to it. We don¡¯t work for free. We learned that the hard way, remember?¡± ¡°That is not what the Company stands for, Averal,¡± the doctor croaked after swallowing a sip of water. ¡°It is now,¡± the Captain said sharply. Thorace sighed softly. The red cloaks were mercenaries. The town steward had sent a call for aid out recently, so their arrival in town was not unexpected. Mercenary bands were common and had an unsavoury reputation of being little better than the bandit gangs they were often hired to keep away. Where they went, violence and crime often followed. The boy didn¡¯t know what band this bunch belonged to, but he knew that he would be best served having as little to do with them as possible. As he backed deeper into the alley, the hairs on his neck stood on end. He wanted to turn around, but fear gripped him, making him immobile. Like a prey animal caught in the sights of a predator, he felt as though any movement might cause the predator to strike. He felt the presence draw closer until he could feel its hot breath on his neck. He was in its sights now. He willed his body to move but it wouldn¡¯t listen. His mind went to the mercenaries, but he could no longer hear their conversation. Perhaps they had moved on. In front of him, he saw a man walk past the alley, but he was on the other side of the street. He might as well have been a hundred miles away. Thorace felt his legs tremble as the breath moved away from his neck. Whatever was behind him was rearing back, perhaps to strike. The boy¡¯s life flashed before his eyes. Then, his mind fixated on Liara¡¯s face. Smiling warmly from behind the counter at Fleur¡¯s Teahouse. He knew he couldn¡¯t die now. Not without telling her how he felt. ¡°Help!¡± he managed to choke. The creature growled in surprise, and Thorace felt as though a spell had been broken. He could move again and attempted to run out of the alley. His legs, though, were uncooperative, and he stumbled, tripping over his own feet. As he fell, he felt something large rushing past the back of his head, missing it by a hairsbreadth. He fell to the ground. Hard. Tasting blood, he attempted to scramble to his feet but when he looked up, he saw a pair of heavy boots running towards him. It was the dwarf, and he had his axe held high. The dwarf let out a loud roar as he leapt over Thorace¡¯s prone form. The boy ducked his head and winced as the Tavar planted his foot square on his back. The dwarf weighed a ton, and Thorace saw stars for a moment. Moments later, the weight was lifted, and the sound of steel striking stone filled the alley. When he could, Thorace rolled onto his back and saw the dwarf driving a hulking thing back with furious strikes of his axe. The dwarf¡¯s foe appeared to be wreathed in shadows, obscuring most of its features, but it stood at almost twice the dwarf¡¯s height and was covered in green scales. It had an elongated snout that was lined with razor sharp teeth and its reptilian yellow eyes glared at Thorace with cold fury. The dwarf¡¯s axe was a blur as he swung his weapon expertly, but the creature was nimble for its size and dodged each blow easily. ¡°Tavar, stand aside!¡± Violet cried from the mouth of the alley. ¡°Now wait just a minute!¡± Averal protested. Violet paid her Captain no heed and held out her finger, pointing it at the creature. ¡°Augue!¡± Moments later, a huge ball of fire rocketed over Thorace¡¯s prone form, singing the boy¡¯s hair. At the last moment, Tavar flattened himself against the wall of the alley to get out of its way. The creature wielded the shadows around it like a cloak and raised its arm, causing the shadows to envelop it completely. The fireball collided with the shadows and exploded, briefly turning night into day. When the explosion subsided, the creature was nowhere to be found. ¡°You didn¡¯t incinerate it, did you?¡± Tavar gasped. ¡°Of course I didn¡¯t!¡± Violet snapped. ¡°I¡¯m not a novice.¡± ¡°How was it, Tavar?¡± Averal asked as he walked into the alley. The warrior grunted. ¡°Nothing I couldn¡¯t handle. I faced far worse in the Fall.¡± The Captain grinned. ¡°Good. Now then, let¡¯s go see the Steward.¡± ¡°Do you know where we might find him?¡± Tavar asked. Averal shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t, but he probably does.¡± Thorace blinked in surprise when the others turned to him. Averal frowned when the boy didn¡¯t reply. ¡°You do know where the steward is, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°The boy is in shock, Averal,¡± Lector said as he appeared over the boy. He examined Thorace with steely green eyes before extending his hand towards the boy. ¡°Are you alright? Can you stand?¡± Thorace nodded and allowed the old man to help him to his feet. ¡°I think so¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re lucky we came along when we did, lad,¡± Tavar remarked. ¡°Thank you,¡± the boy managed. Tavar bowed his head. ¡°I am Tavar Broadaxe, and you are?¡± ¡°Thorace Hardin,¡± the boy mumbled feeling self-conscious. ¡°And I¡¯m Lector Broadshore, that is Violet Huscar, and the sour faced man over there is Averal Danpur, our Captain,¡± Lector said. ¡°We¡¯re¡­¡± ¡°Mercenaries,¡± Thorace blurted. ¡°I know.¡± Averal¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, and he walked up to the boy, towering over him. He was a powerfully built man in his thirties. Unlike the others, who kept their appearances neat, their Captain¡¯s hair was shaggy, and his beard unkempt. ¡°What makes you say that, Thorace Hardin?¡± Averal asked. ¡°I was following you and overheard your conversation,¡± Thorace blurted. The boy¡¯s face turned red as soon as he spoke. His first impulse had been to lie, but for reasons unknown to him, he had spoken the truth instead. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice him following us,¡± Averal remarked before turning to Tavar. ¡°Did you?¡± The dwarf shook his head slowly. The Captain grunted and turned his attention back to the boy. ¡°That¡¯s quite the talent you have there.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Thorace mumbled awkwardly, not knowing what else to say. Averal eyed the boy for a moment longer and Lector cleared his throat. ¡°He¡¯s too young, Averal.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything,¡± the Captain protested. ¡°But you were thinking it,¡± the older man pointed out. ¡°You¡¯re a mind reader now, are you?¡± the Captain demanded sharply. Lector shook his head. ¡°No, but I¡¯ve been around you for long enough to know what you¡¯re thinking¡­ Don¡¯t give me that look.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the reason discipline is in the state that it is,¡± Averal sighed before shaking his head. ¡°No, as Captain, that falls squarely on your shoulders,¡± Lector replied softly but firmly. A crooked smile twisted the Captain¡¯s lips briefly before he turned his attention back to Thorace. ¡°Now then, do you know where we can find the Steward of this town?¡± Chapter 2 The sky began to brighten over the town square, heralding the arrival of dawn and the promise of a clear day after last night¡¯s downpour. The mood on the streets was lighter than it had been the previous night. It was as though the people were breathing a sigh of relief. They had survived the night. Yet none knew that the previous night was the first in months that the Downwater Demon had not claimed a life. A steady line of pious men and women climbed the stairs to the church for dawn prayers before they went about their daily business They wore dark colours to hide the soot that would inevitably stain their clothes, and many walked with kerchiefs pressed firmly against their noses and mouths. ¡°Are you sure he will be here?¡± Averal asked. Thorace pulled his hood lower over his head, conscious of the stares the Captain¡¯s red cloak was attracting and nodded. ¡°The Steward is here every morning at dawn without fail.¡± ¡°How pious of him,¡± Averal remarked dryly before turning to his companions, who had traded their red cloaks for plain brown ones on his order. ¡°You three can go inside and declare your oaths.¡± ¡°We can all go in,¡± Thorace suggested. ¡°Inside or out, it makes no difference where we meet him.¡± A pained look crossed the Captain¡¯s face as he looked at the Church over his shoulder. He turned back and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid Churches and I don¡¯t mix.¡± Thorace¡¯s eyebrows shot up and he took a step away from the Captain. ¡°You¡¯re an apostate?¡± ¡°No, he isn¡¯t,¡± Lector said firmly before looking at his Captain. ¡°Best not create any misunderstandings, eh?¡± Averal grunted. ¡°I am a God fearing man as much as anyone else¡­¡± ¡°The Captain thinks himself unworthy of God¡¯s grace,¡± Tavar explained. Averal gave the dwarf a sharp look. ¡°My faith is between me and God.¡± ¡°Ah, here he comes now!¡± Thorace declared, glad for the opportunity to change the subject. The others turned to see a black carriage rattle down the street. It was flanked by a pair of horsemen acting as outriders, and the townspeople made way as it pulled to a stop at the foot of the stairs. ¡°Get inside, you lot,¡± Averal ordered before removing his sword from his belt and handing it over to Tavar. ¡°Take this. Quickly now.¡± ¡°Are you anticipating trouble?¡± Violet ventured. ¡°It does seem to come more often than not when negotiating terms,¡± Averal pointed out. Lector let out a tired sigh. ¡°That has more to do with the way you negotiate than anything else.¡± The Captain raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. ¡°I was quite the diplomat in case you¡¯d forgotten.¡± ¡°Were,¡± Lector stressed before he and the others took their leave. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going with them?¡± Averal ventured when Thorace didn¡¯t move. The boy shrugged. ¡°I have no ties to you, and I¡¯m keen to see a skilled diplomat in action.¡± Averal smiled wryly. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± One of the outriders pulled the carriage¡¯s door open and Jeflan Jerland, steward of Elgurid stepped out. He was in his forties and was dressed in white from the wide brimmed hat on his head down to his leather walking shoes. His eyes locked onto Averal almost at once and narrowed. Averal smirked. ¡°Oh, I get the feeling the two of us aren¡¯t going to get along at all.¡± ¡°Does that mean you won¡¯t be taking the job on?¡± Thorace asked worriedly. Averal glanced at the boy before taking a deep breath. ¡°I suppose that depends on that peacock over there.¡± Thorace contorted his face in confusion. ¡°Peacock?¡± ¡°Step back,¡± Averal warned. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want him thinking we know one another.¡± The boy fell silent and backed away as the Steward approached, flanked by two guards whose armour rattled as they climbed the stairs. ¡°A blessed morning to you,¡± Averal said, bowing his head. ¡°I am¡­¡± ¡°You are mercenaries here for the bounty, I take it?¡± the Steward asked, cutting Averal off brusquely as he climbed past the stairs past where Averal was standing before turning around so that he could look down at the Captain. Averal¡¯s smile didn¡¯t falter. ¡°That I am.¡± Jeflan looked around theatrically. ¡°Where is the rest of your band?¡± Averal shrugged. ¡°No need to involve the help with negotiations, is there?¡± The white clad man arched an eyebrow. ¡°My terms are on the bounty. What is there to negotiate?¡± ¡°Payment terms,¡± Averal said. ¡°The amount isn¡¯t an issue, but I want payment in full upfront.¡± ¡°Now see here, you little shit,¡± one of the guards growled as he stepped forward menacingly. Averal, though was unmoved. ¡°That¡¯s enough Duwan,¡± the Steward said before turning his attention back to the tall stranger before him. ¡°That cloak. You¡¯re from the Red Company?¡± ¡°Guilty as charged,¡± Averal grinned. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Jeflan smirked. ¡°Do you have proof?¡± His eyes widened when Averal held up a polished metal disc that was the size of a large coin. Two lion¡¯s heads were embossed onto its face. ¡°Is that real?¡± he asked, his voice hoarse. Averal nodded and offered it to him. The Steward took it and examined it in wonder before turning back to the Captain. ¡°Can you¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hold it too tight, or it will rip the skin right off your dainty little fingers,¡± Averal warned before holding his hand up. The guards bristled when the coin flew out of the Steward¡¯s hand and back into Averal¡¯s. The Captain pocked the coin and arched an eyebrow. ¡°I take it there are no more doubts as to my credentials?¡± ¡°No,¡± the Steward replied before twisting his lips into a sneer. ¡°So it¡¯s true. The Red Company has lowered itself to mercenary work. How the mighty have fallen.¡± Averal shrugged carelessly. ¡°We do what we must to survive in this new world.¡± He paused before adding. ¡°So, do you agree to my terms?¡¯ ¡°No,¡± Jeflan shook his head. ¡°Payment up front? Outrageous. Besides, do you doubt my word?¡± ¡°Of course I doubt your word,¡± Averal replied without hesitation. A guard strode forward to strike Averal. The Captain dodged his fist easily, catching the guard off balance. Averal then placed a hand on the guard¡¯s chest just as he was about to topple down the stairs and turned his attention back to the Steward. ¡°When the banners were raised, not a single soldier from the Valley of Steel answered the call.¡± ¡°We were hardly alone,¡± the Steward scoffed. ¡°It was the price you paid for your arrogance.¡± ¡°And so you must forgive me for being unable to trust the word of oathbreakers any further than I could spit,¡± Averal remarked. ¡°That¡¯s enough slander out of you,¡± Jeflan hissed before gesturing to his guards. ¡°Apprehend this man. Let¡¯s see if a few nights in the dungeon will teach him some manners.¡± The guards drew their weapons, and Averal raised his hands. ¡°Now then, no need for violence. I¡¯ll come along peacefully. Your master will want to know where I am when he reaches his wits end with the creature that is bedevilling your town.¡± Jeflan smiled sweetly. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± ¡°Indeed we shall!¡± Averal promised as the guards shoved him down the stairs. Thorace watched in disbelief as Averal allowed the guards to take him away without so much as a struggle. He then turned his attention to the Steward, who watched them leave for a moment before walking back up the stairs with a troubled look on his face. The boy turned back down and wondered if the Captain had planned to be imprisoned all along. Shaking his head, he began to climb the stairs, deciding to get morning prayers out of the way. Inside, he found the Captain¡¯s companions seated close to the door. Lector beckoned the boy who thought about it for a moment before joining them. ¡°So, where¡¯s the Captain?¡± Violet asked. ¡°Did the Steward¡¯s men take him away?¡± ¡°They did,¡± the boy replied. ¡°Well, everything¡¯s going to plan, then,¡± Tavar observed sourly. ¡°What will you do now?¡± Thorace ventured. Lector coughed before replying. ¡°Find a place to stay, I suppose. There¡¯s no telling how long the Captain will be locked up for.¡± Throace brightened. ¡°I think I know just the place.¡± Violet was instantly on guard. ¡°It¡¯s not one of those places where you earn a commission for bringing people from out of town in so that they can be charged usurious prices, is it?¡± ¡°No it isn¡¯t,¡± Thorace insisted defensively. ¡°I know someone working there is all.¡± ¡°So you do earn a commission,¡± Violet sniffed. ¡°Now now,¡± Lector said. ¡°It can¡¯t hurt to at least take a look at the place.¡± ¡°And we¡¯ll have to figure out a way to speak with the Captain,¡± Tavar sighed. ¡°He will want updates.¡± ¡°Updates?¡± Thorace asked. The dwarf nodded. ¡°You didn¡¯t think we were just going to sit on our heels while he¡¯s imprisoned, did you?¡± The boy shrugged. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°Why, discover more about this creature, of course,¡± Tavar replied. ¡°Don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but we want to get out of here as quickly as we can. As soon as the Captain has what he wants, we want to be able to spring into action straight away.¡± ¡°It would be good if we could meet up with the Captain while he is incarcerated,¡± Lector mused. ¡°I might know a way,¡± Thorace said. ¡°Really?¡± Violet ventured. ¡°Perhaps,¡± Thorace allowed. ¡°But if I¡¯m going to help you, I want a cut of whatever the Steward is paying you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± Lector said quickly, cutting the gnome and the dwarf¡¯s protests off. ¡°You can discuss that with the Captain when you bring us to him.¡± ¡°One of you,¡± Thorace said, looking pointedly at the old doctor. ¡°I can only bring one of you, and it will have to be you. The guards don¡¯t take kindly to non-humans sniffing around where he¡¯s being held.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Tavar protested. ¡°I see plenty of dwarves in here.¡± ¡°Notice how they are keeping to themselves?¡± the boy pointed out. Tavar blinked and realized for the first time that he was the only dwarf in their section of the Church and was attracting curious stares. ¡°Should he move?¡± Lector asked. Thorace shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s too late now.¡± Lector nodded. ¡°When can we go?¡± ¡°After morning prayers, if it suits you,¡± the boy replied. ¡°It does,¡± Lector said. Before Tavar could voice an objection, a man wearing flowing gold robes and the tall hat of a priest walked in. Clothes rustled as the congregation got to their feet. Trailing behind the man was half a dozen boys dressed in gold robes, carrying an elaborate litter on their shoulders. Inside, was a statue of Pochtil, the God of Light cast from solid bronze. The service was a brief affair. Work was waiting for the good people of Elgurid, and if they didn¡¯t work, the Church would receive no tithes. Thorace and his new companions were the first ones out. After they dropped the dwarf and the gnome off at a nearby dwarven tavern, Thorace and Lector made their way back towards a large stone building on the edge of town. ¡°This is the Arsenal,¡± Thorace said as they walked past the large set of reinforced doors that led inside. ¡°It doubles as a redoubt if the town comes under siege.¡± ¡°The walls look sturdy enough,¡± Lector remarked sourly as the boy led him into an alley that ran between the Arsenal and the neighbouring stables. ¡°Can you think of a way to spring the Captain if things go pear shaped?¡± ¡°Oh no,¡± Thorace said, shaking his head. ¡°Like you, I¡¯m not doing nothing for nothing, and if you¡¯re scarpering, there will be no pay for me, will there?¡± ¡°There was a time when people would be falling over themselves for the opportunity to lend the Red Company aid,¡± Lector sniffed before coughing as the stench of human excrement assaulted his nostrils. ¡°I can¡¯t say I¡¯ve ever heard of your group,¡± Thorace remarked absently, looking up at the small, barred windows set six feet off the ground. Lector¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°You¡¯ve never heard of the Red Company? The Royal Guard of Infarlin?¡± Thorace turned around and smirked. ¡°Oh, that Red Company. Weren¡¯t you supposed to have been wiped out in the Fall?¡± A shadow crossed Lector¡¯s face. ¡°Most of us were, but some of us survived.¡± ¡°The Steward didn¡¯t think much of you,¡± Thorace remarked absently. ¡°He threw a grand celebration when news of the Fall reached Elgurid.¡± ¡°Did he now?¡± Lector grunted. ¡°He said you were arrogant sods who got what they deserved,¡± Thorace remarked. ¡°I can¡¯t say I know enough to have an opinion either way, myself.¡± ¡°No, you wouldn¡¯t,¡± Lector mused. ¡°Just don¡¯t let the others hear you say any of what you just told me.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Thorace said before coming to a stop. He counted the number of windows they had walked past and turned to the doctor. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°Could you keep it down out there?¡± came the Captain¡¯s voice from the window they were under. ¡°I¡¯m trying to have a nap.¡± ¡°Just thought I¡¯d check in on you, Captain,¡± Lector whispered. ¡°Oh¡¯ it¡¯s wonderful here,¡± Averal said. ¡°You three should know what you have to do, so get to it. Come back when you have something to report.¡± Lector gave Thorace a tired look before replying. ¡°Will do, Captain.¡± ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you got yourself thrown into a dungeon on purpose,¡± Thorace snorted. ¡°All part of my cunning plan,¡± Averal said cheerfully. Thorace shot Lector an incredulous look. ¡°Is it?¡± ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Averal said. ¡°One so clever that it will leave you gobsmacked at my genius when it all plays out. I¡¯m like a spider spinning his web, right from this humble cell.¡± ¡°We¡¯d better go find the others,¡± Lector suggested with a weary sigh. ¡°He will keep going on like that for a while yet.¡± Chapter 3 There was an urgency in Thorace¡¯s step as he led the three out of towners down the streets of Elgurid¡¯s Woodside District. It was almost midday, and the sun was high in the sky. The previous night¡¯s rain had washed away most of the smog that typically hovered above the city like a dark cloud. However, the sunlight did little to dispel the ominous mood that hung in the air which only seemed to grow stronger as they travelled deeper into the district. ¡°It¡¯s like something is warning us to stay away,¡± Violet said before shuddering. ¡°It¡¯s just your imagination,¡± Tavar laughed. The dwarf¡¯s laughter sounded forced, as though he was trying to dispel his own growing discomfort. When they turned a corner, he frowned. ¡°That¡¯s odd.¡± Thorace followed his gaze to the tall trees that loomed over the town to the north. Their trunks were dark, and their leaves were deep green. ¡°The trees?¡± Tavar nodded. ¡°You don¡¯t see many trees near steel towns. Normally they chop them all down for fuel.¡± ¡°From what I hear, Jervan, the Steward¡¯s father declared those woods a reserve,¡± Thorace said. ¡°The present Steward removed that protection when demand for steel increased after the Fall but¡­¡± Violet¡¯s eyes narrowed suspiciously when the boy¡¯s voice trailed off. ¡°But what?¡± ¡°There appears to be a curse protecting those woods,¡± Thorace admitted at length. ¡°I knew it,¡± Violet breathed. ¡°And you¡¯re taking us towards its source?¡± Lector asked incredulously. Thorace whirled around after the others came to a stop and began waving his hands around animatedly. ¡°Now let me explain! The curse only affects those who harm the woods.¡± ¡°How?¡± Violet asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. ¡°Accidents befell those who attempted to cut the trees down,¡± Thorace replied. ¡°Mishaps would haunt them when they attempted to work. Tools would break or go missing, animals would attack.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± Tavar asked incredulously. ¡°I very much doubt a few inconveniences would keep smelters from such a convenient source of fuel.¡± ¡°Then there was Durlin who fell over dead¡­¡± Thorace began. ¡°You should have led with that!¡± Violet cried. ¡°He was already old!¡± the boy protested. ¡°Besides, mishaps have only ever happened to those intending to cut trees down! Fleur has run her business on the edge of the forest for years and nothing has ever happened to her!¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t the place you were taking us to called Fleur¡¯s Teahouse?¡± Lector ventured. Thorace held out a hand. ¡°Now, I know what you are thinking but please, at least see the place for yourselves before you decide if it¡¯s to your liking. That¡¯s all I ask.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ve already come this far,¡± Lector began. ¡°And I don¡¯t much fancy staying at the Boisterous Buffalo¡­¡± Violet offered, referring to the tavern she and Tavar had been left in while Thorace and Lector saw the Captain. ¡°What was wrong with the Buffalo?¡± Tavar demanded. ¡°The place was filthy, Tavar,¡± Violet cried. ¡°I¡¯m still itching from that disgusting chair you forced me to sit in!¡± ¡°Oh you¡¯re just overly sensitive,¡± the dwarf snorted. ¡°Come on, this way,¡± Thorace urged as he walked briskly to the next intersection. ¡°It¡¯s just around this corner. Look!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡­¡± Tavar¡¯s voice trailed off when he arrived at the intersection and looked down the road at where the boy was pointing. Fleur¡¯s Teahouse was a picturesque two storey cottage nestled in the shadow of the trees. Its walls had been painted pastel blue, and it was topped by a bright yellow straw roof. A thin plume of smoke rose from a stone chimney and flowers of every colour of the rainbow provided dramatic splashes of colour to the large garden that fronted the cottage. ¡°That certainly does look inviting,¡± Lector remarked. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it?¡± Thorace said eagerly. There was a free meal in it for him if he convinced them to stay, and he would have a compelling reason to frequent the Teahouse, and see more of Liara¡­ ¡°Well, I¡¯d say it¡¯s worth taking a closer look at,¡± Violet offered. Tavar was less enthusiastic. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like they serve ale.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a tavern just around the corner,¡± Thorace pointed out. ¡°Could we take a look at that, first?¡± Tavar asked hopefully. Lector shook his head. ¡°First, we secure a place to stay. The rest can come later.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope this Fleur¡¯s rates are reasonable,¡± Violet breathed. ¡°Oh, they are,¡± Thorace sang, practically skipping as he led them down the road. Tavar eyed the buildings on either side of the street warily. ¡°Most of these places are abandoned.¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°Oh, many left once the accidents started occurring,¡± Thorace said. ¡°The people here are a superstitious bunch.¡± ¡°Were any taken by the Demon?¡± Lector ventured. Thorace shook his head emphatically. ¡°Oh no, the Demon only takes people from the Downwater.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not far from here,¡± Violet remarked. ¡°It isn¡¯t, which makes it convenient for you, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Thorace asked brightly. ¡°You¡¯ll be sniffing around there over the coming days, won¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I suppose you have a point¡­¡± Tavar allowed grudgingly. Up ahead, butterflies could be seen flitting between the brightly coloured flowers in the Teahouse¡¯s garden. A low, weathered fence bordered the garden from the road, and the gate was open. ¡°Come on then!¡± Thorace cried as he ran down the stone paved path that wound through the garden, letting the garden''s floral scents fill his lungs, clearing the stench of the smog from them, before bursting in through the front door. Once inside, the cottage was warm and inviting. Thorace came to an abrupt halt when he saw the young woman standing behind a counter facing the front door. Her skin was pale and blemishless and seemed to glow ephemerally in the natural light that poured in through the cottage¡¯s large windows. Her hair was a striking red that shimmered when she turned her head, and her deep green eyes were wide with surprise. ¡°Thorace!¡± she gasped. ¡°You know you shouldn¡¯t come around while I¡¯m working!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve brought guests, Liara,¡± he beamed. ¡°Three of them!¡± ¡°Now, we haven¡¯t decided on anything yet¡­¡± Lector, who was the next through the doors warned before falling silent as he crossed the threshold. He swayed on his feet and leaned against the counter for support. Liara furrowed her eyebrows with concern. ¡°Are you alright, sir?¡± ¡°I just felt a little light headed¡­¡± Lector began. ¡°It¡¯s the fresh air in here,¡± Liara said. ¡°Your body has become accustomed to breathing the poison outside and now realizes what it¡¯s missed.¡± Lector frowned and shook his head. ¡°I suppose you might be right.¡± Violet entered next. A panicked look crossed her for a moment as she took in her surroundings. Liara moved quickly from behind the counter to appear at her side with a pouch filled with dried flowers, which she held under the mage¡¯s nose. ¡°You are disoriented,¡± she cooed. Her voice was as soft as velvet, and Thorace felt his lips curl up into a smile when he heard it. ¡°Here, smell this.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Violet made a feeble attempt to push the pouch away, but a glazed look came over her eyes and she sighed. ¡°No, actually that is better. What is it?¡± ¡°Just a concoction the mistress made,¡± Liara said, holding the pouch under the gnome¡¯s nose for a moment longer just to be safe. ¡°It has a wonderful calming effect.¡± ¡°That it does,¡± Violet murmured absently. ¡°I should quite like to see it,¡± Lector remarked as he eyed the pouch. ¡°Oh!¡± Liara barked before pocketing it. ¡°This is a secret that is not mine to give away. I¡¯m sure the mistress will be willing to share with you if you asked her, though.¡± ¡°You really need to take care of your health!¡± Tavar boomed as he came tromping in. The dwarf looked around the cottage and arched an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m sure some might find this place lovely, but it¡¯s a little too¡­ quiet for my liking.¡± Liara¡¯s eyes narrowed when she saw the dwarf and her tone turned hostile. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m with them,¡± Tavar replied evenly, staring the girl down. ¡°Do you have a problem with dwarves?¡± Lector noted where the girl was looking and stepped in between the pair. ¡°Don¡¯t fret, my companion uses his axe to cut down foul beasts like the one stalking the Downwater, not trees, young lady.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Liara¡¯s eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth with her hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just assumed¡­¡± ¡°No harm done,¡± Lector said, patting Tavar on the shoulder. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± The hostile look lingered in Tavar¡¯s eyes for a moment but the dwarf eventually sighed. ¡°Just a misunderstanding.¡± The dwarf then saw Thorace and grunted. ¡°Calm yourself, lad. I wasn¡¯t going to harm your girlfriend.¡± Thorace looked down and realized he had curled his hands into fists. With some effort, he relaxed them and looked back at the dwarf. ¡°No¡­ she¡¯s not my¡­¡± ¡°Lad, I honestly don¡¯t care,¡± the dwarf said coldly. Lector and Liara exchanged uncomfortable smiles and at length, the doctor asked. ¡°Is your mistress in? I should like to have a word with her.¡± Liara frowned. ¡°I believe she¡¯s in the woods, but she should be back shortly. Could I interest you in some tea while you wait?¡± ¡°Do you have ale?¡± Tavar asked. The girl gave him a blank look and Lector cleared his throat awkwardly. ¡°Tea would be lovely.¡± ¡°Denil!¡± Liara called over her shoulder. ¡°We have guests. Can you see them to the reception, please?¡± Almost at once, a door leading to the rear of the cottage opened, and an elderly man stepped out. He was tall and as thin as a reed and had a head of wispy, grey hair. He was immaculately dressed in a spotless white shirt and a black vest and trousers. ¡°Good afternoon,¡± his voice was high pitched and melodious. ¡°This way please.¡± Denil led them into the neighbouring room where plush lounging chairs were arranged around a large window that offered a view of the garden. Once everyone was seated, the elderly man clasped his slender hands together and bowed his head. ¡°We don¡¯t often get visitors here,¡± he said. ¡°How did you find us?¡± ¡°Thorace introduced us,¡± Lector said. ¡°He was quite insistent.¡± ¡°I was wondering, does he get a commission?¡± Violet ventured. Denil smiled politely. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t say.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s a yes, then,¡± the gnome snorted. ¡°Our rates are very competitive, don¡¯t you worry,¡± Liara sang breathlessly as she burst into the room bearing a silver tray laden with steaming a teapot and four cups. ¡°And you won¡¯t find a more comfortable or cleaner inn in all of Elgurid.¡± ¡°That I can believe,¡± Lector remarked as he looked around. ¡°This room is spotless. I¡¯ve not seen anything like it in a long time.¡± Liara paused to pour the tea and Thorace eagerly took a cup. The brew was thick and dark brown, and the boy savoured the aroma of the herbs before taking a sip. A shiver ran down his spine as the piquant liquid touched his tongue, energizing him. He then glanced at Tavar who eyed his cup suspiciously before taking a sip. The cares quickly vanished from his face to be replaced with a contented smile. ¡°Liara¡¯s tea is better than any ale, isn¡¯t it?¡± the boy ventured. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go that far, lad,¡± the dwarf replied and paused to take another sip. ¡°But this is a very fine drink.¡± ¡°It is remarkable,¡± Lector agreed, looking very impressed. ¡°I dare say this is better than anything the finest teahouses in Infarlin could serve up before the fall.¡± ¡°High praise indeed,¡± a soothing, motherly voice said. Thorace turned to see a tiny woman standing at the door. She wore a pastel yellow dress, and her hair was as white as driven snow. ¡°Madam Fleur, I presume?¡± Lector said as he got to his feet. The woman nodded, and Denil quickly went to her side to help her to an easy chair. ¡°You lived in the Bastion of the West?¡± A sad smile crossed Lector¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ve not heard that name spoken without derision in a long time.¡± ¡°What happened was tragic,¡± Fleur remarked. ¡°So much was lost.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lector choked, and Thorace saw a shadow cross his companions¡¯ faces. ¡°But life goes on,¡± the old woman continued. ¡°I take it you are looking for a place to stay?¡± ¡°We are,¡± Lector said. Fleur reached over and placed her hand on the old doctor¡¯s knee. ¡°Well, I hope you can find comfort here, if only for a little while.¡± The doctor nodded before taking another sip of tea. Without taking her hand off Lector¡¯s knee, Fleur asked. ¡°So, what brings you to our town?¡± ¡°We are hunting a beast,¡± Lector replied. Fleur exchanged a look with Denil and sighed. ¡°The Downwater Demon. That has caused us many a sleepless night. The Downwater District is just next to us¡­¡± ¡°I know,¡± Lector said. ¡°You will be able to rest easy soon now that the Red Company is here.¡± Chapter 4 By Thorace¡¯s estimates, it was just around midday. The smog had returned, resembling an acrid fog that enveloped the town. The boy pressed a kerchief against his nose as he crouched down to inspect the ground for clues. "Find anything?¡± he heard Lector ask from behind him. Thorace shook his head. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t been inches from it, I¡¯d have thought I dreamed the whole thing.¡± ¡°None of the doors look like they had been forced,¡± Tavar added as he walked towards them from further down the alley where they had encountered the creature the day before. ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t incinerate the blasted thing? Accidents happen and there¡¯s no shame in admitting it.¡± Violet looked up from the ground and scowled at the dwarf. ¡°Do not confuse me for some birthday party conjurer. I have perfect control over my power.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, you two,¡± Lector said sharply before breaking into a fit of coughing. The old doctor leaned against a pile of boxes for support, but they were empty and fell over from his touch, sending him tumbling to the ground. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Violet gasped as she and Tavar rushed to his side. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Lector growled and frowned at a grate that had been hidden behind the pile of boxes. ¡°It¡¯s a drain into the sewer,¡± Thorace observed. ¡°Tavar would have a hard time squeezing through that,¡± Violet remarked. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to imagine how the creature from last night could fit.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see where else it could have gone,¡± Lector pointed out. The gnome scrunched her nose with distaste when she caught a whiff of the stench rising from the grate. ¡°You want to go down there?¡± Lector looked her in the eye and shrugged. ¡°Do you have any other leads?¡± The doctor turned to Thorace and asked. ¡°How extensive are this town¡¯s sewers?¡± ¡°They cover the whole town, as far as I know,¡± the boy replied. ¡°But most of it is in disrepair. I think there have been a few collapses.¡± Tavar lifted the grate and peered into the inky blackness below. ¡°This construction looks dwarven¡­¡± ¡°They could well be,¡± Thorace shrugged. ¡°They¡¯ve been here for as long as anyone can remember. I think they were built when the town was founded.¡± ¡°Whoever founded this place was diligent, then,¡± Tavar said, sounding impressed. ¡°Well go on then, lead the way,¡± Violet said sourly. ¡°Don¡¯t get your knickers in a twist, I¡¯m going,¡± Tavar shot back. Once the dwarf disappeared down the hole, Violet gave Lector a look. ¡°Do you think the Captain got himself thrown into a dungeon because he anticipated this?¡± Lector gave her a tired smile. ¡°You know, I wouldn¡¯t put it past him.¡± ¡°Are the rest of you coming?¡± Tavar¡¯s asked from down in the hole. ¡°Do you see any sign of the creature?¡± Violet asked, keeping a good distance from the grate. ¡°I do, actually,¡± the dwarf replied. ¡°Tavar Broadaxe, if this is one of your tricks, I swear to God¡­¡± the gnome began. ¡°It¡¯s no trick, get down here,¡± Tavar snapped. Violet sighed before lowering herself down into the grate. She landed in the sewer below with a splash. ¡°Oh God, I think I¡¯ve stepped in something!¡± she wailed. ¡°It¡¯s best not to think about that,¡± Tavar chuckled. ¡°And I¡¯d keep my mouth shut as much as possible if I were you.¡± Lector hovered over the exposed hole and levelled his gaze on Thorace. ¡°After you.¡± The boy blinked. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°If you want to get paid, you have to do the work, lad,¡± the old doctor grinned. ¡°Go on, I¡¯ll be right behind you.¡± The boy looked down the hole with distaste before reluctantly climbing down. Once inside, he found himself knee deep in the most foul smelling liquid imaginable. Tavar and Violet were standing a good distance away, and the gnome had turned the most interesting shade of green. The dwarf grinned crookedly while beckoning Thorace over. The boy decided to stay where he was and immediately regretted it when Lector dropped himself into the sewer. The doctor landed in the sewer with a splash and Thorace felt something wet and slimy against his cheek. The sensation combined with the stench broke the boy¡¯s resistance, and the contents of his stomach came rocketing up his throat before he could do anything to prevent it. Violet was quick to follow suit. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. As they both wretched, Lector looked up at the hole and frowned. ¡°You¡¯d need to be tall indeed to replace the grate after coming down.¡± ¡°That creature certainly was tall enough,¡± Tavar remarked. ¡°A shorter person could hold the grate over their head as they jumped in to put it back in place, though.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Lector said. ¡°I should have thought of that.¡± Thorace bent over instinctively as he threw up, which only brought his face closer to the foul smelling liquid, which made him feel more ill. He soon began to feel faint and only remained standing through sheer grit. He moved to brace himself against the wall. It was slimy to the touch, but there were scratches underneath. ¡°Over here,¡± he croaked when he was able to. ¡°I¡¯ve found something.¡± ¡°See, I told you there were clues down here,¡± Tavar grinned. ¡°You son of a¡­¡± Violet began before being forced to stop by a sudden wave of nausea. The dwarf gently pushed the boy¡¯s hand away and touched it without hesitating. He frowned and used his dagger to scrape the mould and slime. ¡°They look like runes,¡± he breathed before touching the exposed stonework. ¡°To mar these walls would have been no easy feat.¡± ¡°It could have been left by our perpetrator,¡± Lector offered. ¡°Looking at them fills me with unease.¡± ¡°So it isn¡¯t just me,¡± Tavar murmured. ¡°What on earth are they?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Thorace asked when he could look up. ¡°They just look like scratches to me... left by some form of animal.¡± Lector blinked and looked at the wall again. ¡°So they do¡­¡± Tavar bit his lip. ¡°I could have sworn¡­¡± ¡°Perhaps this stench is doing something to our vision,¡± Violet suggested. ¡°My eyes are certainly watering.¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­¡± Lector said dubiously. He looked down the sewer and blinked. ¡°What¡¯s that over there?¡± Thorace followed the doctor¡¯s gaze and saw a pile of sticks woven together on a raised platform a good distance down the tunnel they were in. Tavar unslung his axe and held it in his hands before carefully making his way towards it. ¡°It looks like a nest of some sort,¡± he said. ¡°Violet, do you have my back?¡± ¡°Always,¡± the gnome replied as she forced herself to stand upright. ¡°It¡¯s definitely a nest,¡± Tavar said as he approached it. ¡°I see remains¡­¡± ¡°What sort of remains?¡± Lector asked, peering over the dwarf¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You tell me, doctor,¡± Tavar said. Lector held up a severed arm and frowned. ¡°This came from a woman¡­¡± In the corner of his eye, Thorace saw Violet go pale. Then, he came to the same realization. ¡°The creature is probably still down here.¡± ¡°The two of you had better come close to me,¡± Tavar suggested. ¡°It hunts at night,¡± Lector remarked. ¡°Why isn¡¯t it here in its nest during the day?¡± ¡°I¡¯m certainly not complaining,¡± Violet offered, looking around warily. ¡°Well, we know where to find this beast when the Captain gets what he wants,¡± Lector said. ¡°We had better leave before it returns.¡± ¡°Good, the sooner we get out of here the better,¡± Violet said. ¡°I¡¯ll need to soak in a bath for a week to get this stench out of my hair.¡± Lector tossed the severed arm into the water and smiled at the gnome. ¡°Might want to hold off on that. We¡¯ll be down here again before long.¡± The gnome whirled around and arched an eyebrow. ¡°Are you suggesting we should smell like lavatories until the day Steward suddenly decides to release the Captain, should it ever come?¡± ¡°We won¡¯t be able to sneak up to his cell if the guards can smell us from a hundred paces away,¡± Thorace warned. Lector blinked. ¡°That¡¯s a good point.¡± ¡°I thought it was fairly obvious,¡± the boy sniffed. ¡°We reek and we¡¯ve only been down here a few minutes,¡± the doctor pointed out. ¡°Yet that creature presumably spends all its time down here, and yet none of us smelled anything off about it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s very fascinating, but can we discuss this above ground?¡± Violet asked testily. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right,¡± Lector allowed, making his way towards the grate they had entered from. Thorace was about to join him when a low hiss echoed down the sewer. The others froze in place except for Tavar, who drew his axe. The dwarf glanced at Lector and arched an eyebrow. The doctor shook his head before turning to Violet and cocking his head down the tunnel in the direction of the hiss. The gnome began to chant. Another hiss echoed down the tunnel followed by a splash, indicating something had entered the tunnel further upstream. ¡°Do we fight?¡± Thorace asked, looking around desperately for something he could use as a weapon. The boy saw something slithering just under the surface of the water just as Violet finished her spell. Her eyes had turned yellow, and she held out a fist, aiming it at the sewer¡¯s roof. ¡°Lapsus!¡± There was a loud rumble and moments later, the sewer¡¯s ceiling crumbled and fell with a crash, blocking the tunnel off. ¡°What have you done?¡± Tavar cried. ¡°These stoneworks are priceless artefacts!¡± ¡°Saved our bacon, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve done!¡± Violet retorted. ¡°Now let¡¯s get out of here. Help me up!¡± Thorace looked in disbelief as the doctor hoisted her up as though she were a child. ¡°Are we sure that thing is dead?¡± ¡°I deliberately aimed my spell short,¡± Violet replied once she was safely above ground. ¡°But you can go looking for the body if you like.¡± A loud roar came from the other side of the rubble and Lector sighed with relief. ¡°Well, it looks like we can still look forward to getting paid.¡± ¡°You should have finished it off!¡± Thorace protested. The boy felt a meaty hand clamp around his shoulder and turned around to see Tavar looking at him with compassionate eyes. ¡°We don¡¯t like this any more than you do, but you¡¯ve lived on the streets for a while now. Surely you understand that one cannot live without money.¡± Slowly, the boy nodded. ¡°We are no different,¡± the dwarf sighed. ¡°Doing free labour will only get you taken advantage of with the way the world is these days. We learned that the hard way.¡± Lector hoisted himself out of the hole and peered back down. ¡°Do you need a hand climbing out?¡± Thorace shook his head. He was angry. Lives were going to be lost because these people could only think of themselves. They couldn¡¯t be relied upon to keep his town safe. To keep Liara safe. Neither could the Steward. He¡¯d just have to get stronger and become the guardian she needed. The boy looked up at the grate and jumped. His fingers brushed the lip, but they were slick from the foul liquid in the sewer, and his grip slipped. He came toppling back down and would have fallen into the disgusting water had Tavar not steadied him. ¡°Easy now,¡± the dwarf said kindly. ¡°Take my hand,¡± Lector offered as he reached down into the sewer. ¡°There¡¯s no telling what disease you might contract if you fell in that soup.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take my chances,¡± the boy said through gritted teeth. He jumped again, and this time, he was able to get a good purchase on the lip and hauled himself up. In the alley, Violet was looking at her clothes in despair. ¡°I hope the Teahouse has a bath,¡± she groused. Being reminded of the Teahouse seamed to blow the boy¡¯s misgivings away, and he broke into a faint smile. ¡°There is one, though Fleur only allows baths during for special occasions.¡± The gnome arched an eyebrow as Lector helped Tavar out of the sewer. ¡°I very much doubt she will welcome us between her sheets smelling like this.¡± Once the dwarf was out, Lector saw that Violet¡¯s spell had collapsed part of a nearby building and sucked air through his teeth. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get out of here before an angry mob arrives.¡± Chapter 5 A frigid wind moaned as it came gusting out of the forest, making the hair on Thorace¡¯s neck stand on end. He and the others were in the inn¡¯s back garden on the edge of the forest that ran behind the inn. Two large wooden basins had been placed on the ground, which Denil and Liara were filling with buckets they filled from a stream that came flowing out of the forest. The water was ice cold, and Thorace shivered profusely. His skin crawled from the foulness that had soaked into his skin, and he watched as Tavar and Lector stripped their reeking clothes off before tossing them into a pile. Violet was doing the same behind a partition that had been brought down from the house. ¡°What are we going to do with those?¡± Tavar asked, looking at his sewage soaked clothes with distaste. ¡°Burn them?¡± The doctor shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ll wash them as best we can and wear them again when we have to go back down into the sewers.¡± Tavar turned his attention to Thorace and gave the boy a compassionate look. ¡°I know it¡¯s cold, but you¡¯re going to have to take them off.¡± ¡°They¡¯re the only clothes I have,¡± the boy murmured. ¡°You¡¯re going to catch the plague or some other disease hitherto undiscovered by civilization if you keep wearing them,¡± the dwarf warned. ¡°They need to be washed. We need to be washed.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the last bucket,¡± Denil said as he emptied a bucket filled with ice cold water into one of the basins. He then looked at the boy and frowned. ¡°I¡¯m afraid the mistress won¡¯t let you into the teahouse wearing those.¡± ¡°Come on, Thorace, I¡¯ll wash them for you,¡± Liara offered from the other side of the partition. ¡°But first, you have to take them off.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll lend you a spare set of clothes,¡± Denil added. ¡°I can¡¯t possibly wear any of yours,¡± the boy protested. ¡°Mine will be a better fit,¡± Tavar offered. The boy scowled and began to take his clothes off. He felt better almost as soon as he stripped his reeking tunic off, but a sudden gust of wind chilled him to the bone. He glanced at the others, who seemed impervious to the cold. Then, Tavar¡¯s body caught his attention. It was covered in thick, corded muscles and numerous scars, most of which looked to have cut the dwarf deep. ¡°Oh, these?¡± Tavar asked, noticing the boy¡¯s gaze. ¡°Trophies from years of hard service in the Red Company. Many would have left me crippled or worse were it not for our capable doctor.¡± ¡°You are and were a reckless fighter,¡± Lector sighed, shaking his head. ¡°You must have fought ferocious foes,¡± Thorace breathed. The dwarf rubbed the back of his head and grinned. ¡°You don¡¯t know the half of it. Infarlin was the Bastion of the West and bore the brunt of the Enemy¡¯s attacks.¡± ¡°The Fall was five years ago,¡± Thorace remarked. ¡°Why haven¡¯t we been overrun since?¡± Tavar scowled, and Lector replied. ¡°We lost the battle but mauled the Enemy at the same time. They have been gathering their strength since. I fear it is a matter of time before they renew their assault.¡± ¡°Perhaps they have learned their lesson,¡± Liara said from the other side of the partition. ¡°And will be content with what they have gained.¡± ¡°Wishful thinking, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Lector said. ¡°Our scouts have been keeping watch on the ruins of Infarlin, and the Enemy has begun to mass their forces there as we speak.¡± ¡°Then let us at least hope our corner of the world will be spared,¡± Denil remarked. Tavar scooped some water from the small basin and hesitated before pouring it over his head. The dwarf gasped. ¡°It¡¯s bloody freezing.¡± Denil handed Thorace another small bucket, which he eyed with distaste. The boy then heard Violet chant. Moments later, steam began to rise over the top of the partition. ¡°Oi, do that for us too,¡± Tavar protested. ¡°You should have thought to ask me before you stripped naked,¡± the gnome replied. ¡°I have no intention of seeing you in your birthday suits.¡± ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get this over with,¡± Lector sighed. The water rushed out of the old man¡¯s lungs when he dunked a bucket of water over his head. He then turned to the partition and frowned. ¡°Do you think the Enemy will come to our town?¡± Liara asked. Her voice sounded worried, and Thorace wanted nothing more than to rush to her side to reassure her. Lector hesitated before answering. ¡°I think they are already here. That creature could well have been sent by them.¡± ¡°Then perhaps you should not have let it go free,¡± Liara said softly, and Thorace found himself nodding in agreement. ¡°Now now,¡± Denil said after an awkward silence. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s fair to expect them to work for free. After all, they are doing our town a service and yet we are still charging them for their stay.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a thought!¡± Liara¡¯s voice brightened. ¡°Perhaps I could convince the mistress to allow them to stay for free in exchange for free room and board.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid they didn¡¯t come all this way for free lodgings,¡± Denil remarked. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Lector said. The old doctor glanced at Thorace and smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t approve of our mercenary ways?¡± ¡°Letting that beast go is going to cost lives,¡± the boy pointed out. ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to go see the Captain to give him an update after we¡¯ve cleaned ourselves up,¡± Lector said. ¡°You are welcome to come with me and voice your displeasure.¡± Thorace arched an eyebrow. ¡°What good would that do?¡± The doctor chuckled before shrugging. ¡°It could be cathartic.¡± Thorace gave him a confused look. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It means that going to see him will make you feel better,¡± Tavar said before dumping a bucket of ice cold water over the boy¡¯s head. From the fading light, Thorace guessed it was almost dusk when the arsenal came into view. The streets were busier than they had been before in previous days. News of the creature not striking had spread throughout the town, and people were a little braver. ¡°No guards?¡± Lector muttered as they walked past the arsenal¡¯s door. ¡°Guards are expensive,¡± Thorace shrugged. ¡°The Steward hired them very reluctantly under pressure from the foundry owners.¡± Lector frowned. ¡°We aren¡¯t that far from the ruins of Infarlin¡­ How many men at arms does the Steward maintain?¡± The boy made a face. ¡°If you include the guards at his estate, perhaps a dozen?¡± Lector sucked air in between his feet violently and shook his head. ¡°A town this size should be maintaining at least ten times that number, especially considering how dangerous the roads are these days.¡± Thorace shrugged as he led them down the alley. ¡°There are toughs for hire, of course, which is where most of the temporary guards came from. You pay them to protect your businesses or your caravans.¡± ¡°I suppose they¡¯d be the ones robbing them if they weren¡¯t being paid,¡± Lector mused. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong there,¡± Thorace breathed before coming to a stop. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Lector looked down the line of cell windows and nodded once he saw that the coast was clear. ¡°Let¡¯s hope that he¡¯s not been moved.¡± The doctor looked up at the window and hissed. ¡°Captain?¡± ¡°Anything to report?¡± Thorace thought the Captain¡¯s voice sounded more chipper than usual despite having spent more than a day in his cell. The boy kept his head on a swivel, looking down both ends of the alley while Lector gave a detailed report of their expedition into the sewer. When he was finished, there was a brief pause, and Thorace thought the Captain might have fallen asleep. He exchanged looks with Lector, who held up a hand and smiled. At length, Averal asked. ¡°Are we sure there is only one?¡± ¡°We saw no sign of any others,¡± he allowed. ¡°What manner of creature was it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid we didn¡¯t get a good look, but probably some indigenous creature twisted by the foul magics coming out of the west,¡± the old doctor sighed and paused. ¡°We¡¯ve seen far too many in our travels of late.¡± ¡°And what of our accommodations?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been put up in a Teahouse on the edge of the forest,¡± Lector replied, looking quite happy to talk about Fleur¡¯s establishment. ¡°It¡¯s quite the lovely place.¡± ¡°Did you find out why the trees weren¡¯t cut down for fuel?¡± Averal ventured. ¡°I must admit the question has been gnawing at me.¡± ¡°It seems they¡¯re cursed,¡± Lector replied. ¡°Elvish?¡± Averal asked, sounding interested now. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know,¡± the old doctor said. ¡°I suppose Etsara would¡­ it¡¯s a shame she¡¯s not here. The Teahouse really is quite lovely.¡± ¡°I look forward to seeing it,¡± Averal remarked. ¡°And the proprietor? Can she be trusted?¡± ¡°Oh yes,¡± Lector said, nodding enthusiastically even though his Captain couldn¡¯t see. ¡°She is a lovely woman.¡± ¡°You sound quite smitten,¡± Averal observed. ¡°No, nothing like that,¡± Lector sighed. ¡°It really is remarkable. Not seen anything like it since¡­ well since Infarlin¡­¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ve bloodied the beast that¡¯s stalking this town, and disturbed its nest,¡± Averal remarked. ¡°I can¡¯t help but feel that I¡¯ll be out of here before long.¡± ¡°Do you think that it will go on the rampage tonight?¡± Lector ventured. ¡°If not tonight, then soon,¡± the Captain replied. ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t we do something about it?¡± Thorace blurted. ¡°Warn the people, patrol the streets?¡± ¡°Oh, you were there,¡± Averal observed dryly. ¡°You should have spoken up earlier.¡± ¡°Well?¡± the boy demanded. ¡°People are going to die tonight. Are you going to just sit on your hands?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the Captain replied bluntly. ¡°Because your Steward has given me no other choice, locking me in here like this.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t play dumb with me,¡± Thorace said hotly, clenching his fists tight. ¡°You could order your people to act!¡± ¡°And why should I, hmm?¡± The Captain¡¯s voice was soft, but Thorace was taken aback by the venom in it. Even Lector looked disquieted. ¡°For centuries, Infarlin protected your borders with Red Company at the forefront,¡± Averal said, the bitterness heavy in his voice. ¡°And when we could no longer stand alone and requested aid, you all stood idly by. Now that the wolves we once kept at bay are at your door, I¡¯m imprisoned for having the audacity to demand payment up front.¡± Thorace tried to protest, but the Captain would not let him get a word in edgewise. ¡°No, young man, I will not have my people lift a finger until we have been paid in full,¡± he continued. ¡°My only duty now is to my own.¡± Unable to take the Captain¡¯s tirade any longer, Thorace stormed off down the alleyway. ¡°There is a lot of blame to go around for the Fall,¡± he heard Lector say sadly. ¡°But none can be attributed to the boy.¡± There was a short pause before the Captain spoke, his tone jovial once more. ¡°Do you happen to have any cleansing elixirs on you? I think they served me something bad for lunch.¡± ¡°You want my elixirs, which I carried out of the burning ruins of Infarlin, to cure your upset stomach?¡± Lector asked incredulously. ¡°They only change the latrine bucket once a day,¡± Averal replied. ¡°Well, I hope you rot in there!¡± Thorace shouted down the alley before running off. The boy bit his lip as he stalked down the street. He had little love for the people of Elgurid, but he didn¡¯t want to see them killed needlessly. He looked over towards the keep that rose from the centre of town and thought about informing the Steward. However, he couldn¡¯t see them taking the word of a boy such as himself seriously. How else could he warn the people? ¡°You¡¯ll have to forgive the Captain,¡± Thorace jumped when Lector suddenly appeared beside him. ¡°He was as selfless as they came, which is why they made him Captain as young as they did.¡± The doctor paused to look at the Arsenal over his shoulder before continuing. ¡°The years since the Fall have been hard for all of us, but him most of all. The experiences have humbled us and turned him¡­ cynical.¡± ¡°Once this Demon is dealt with, I want nothing more to do with him or your group,¡± Thorace huffed. ¡°You could warn your parents,¡± Lector suggested. ¡°I don¡¯t think the Captain would object to that.¡± ¡°They¡¯re dead,¡± Thorace said. ¡°Oh,¡± Lector blinked. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be, I can¡¯t remember much about them,¡± the boy said. ¡°Is there anyone else you want to warn?¡± the doctor ventured. ¡°Any other family, friends?¡± Thorace shook his head. ¡°Liara is the only one keeping me in this wretched town.¡± ¡°Then your concern for its people¡¯s welfare is all the more commendable,¡± Lector remarked. ¡°Don¡¯t patronize me,¡± the boy snapped, deciding on what he could do. ¡°I¡¯m going to patrol the Downwater tonight. Alone if I have to.¡± Lector took a deep breath. ¡°That is your choice. I have no right to stop you.¡± The boy whirled around and glared at the old doctor. ¡°You would let me go out there to die?¡± Lector held his gaze silently before replying. ¡°Of course, I would rather you didn¡¯t, but as I said, I have no right to stop you.¡± ¡°One of you could at least accompany me!¡± Thorace cried. The doctor blinked. ¡°I¡¯m afraid our orders are clear.¡± ¡°Useless!¡± Thorace huffed before storming off.