Hidden in the darkness
Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:21 pm
Sitting at the furthest table in the corner of the bar, Meloner took a gulp from his wooden cup and settled it back on the table, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He gazed absent mindedly at the empty stage of the Yubos Leg. The last dancer left to get married to a rich Matis craftsman. Since then no one bothered to find a new girl. The pub lost most of its customers due to the increasing number of brawls, in which, Meloner had to admit, got involved most of the time. Maybe it was his frown, sign of his typical Fyros character, that provoked drunken fools to challenge him, or maybe the fact that he was always seen alone. Any wise homin would instinctively stand out of his way. Meloner wielded a sword well, but he was no master. He himself would say : There is always a bigger fish. A homin who claims to be a master will be killed by his own arrogance. Meloner was also learning the skills of close combat, both with knives and fists. He prided himself in being one of the few homins capable of throwing daggers at long range and dealing lethal wounds. Many overconfident enemies, having disarmed the warrior, fell with a knife in their ribs and a look of utmost surprise on their faces.
As Meloner slowly turned his head to the entrance of the pub, he saw a customer walking down the stairs pushing his way through the crowd towards the barman. As he turned around, waiting for his drink, elbows leaning on the side of the counter, his eyes swept the room looking for something, or someone. Meloner made no effort to make himself seen. He leaned back and waited until the Fyros, a young officer of the Imperial guards by the look of his armor, nodded to him and squeezed between two chairs to sit at his table.
-Meloner ? Asked the officer.
-Yes ?
-You got my note ?
-I wouldnt be here at this hour of the night if I hadnt.
-Good. This is not an easy task. And I need a strong warrior by my side to help me.
-Taking a few refugees sightseeing around Underspring is not an easy task ?
Meloner leaned forward, eyes flashing a warning glare at the Fyros in front of him.
-I think you are hiding something from me, Alius. He said in a low threatening voice. I think there is more to this task than I am aware of. Why would refugees want to walk around a place like Underspring ? Why do you, a respectable, yet low ranked officer of the Imperial guards get involved in such a small and insignificant matter ? Even the price you are paying me is ridiculously high.
-I beg you to calm down, sir ! It was too dangerous for me to write the true intentions of this trip on the note I sent you. Keep your voice down, please. We cannot allow to be overheard.
Alius looked around the room nervously. Only one customer remained. A cackling little tryker with vicious eyes and his hair tied in a bandana. After watching him swaying and singing for 2 minutes, Alius cleared his throat and declared in a low voice :
-We are hunting down a dangerous murderer. Galos Kian.
Meloner brought his cup to his lips and leaned forward, listening intently.
-Hes escaped from the Palace dungeons two weeks ago. A scout reported to have seen him entering Underspring. Guards are waiting at every portal and forbidding diggers to enter. We even had to ask both the Karavan and the Kami to stop all teleportation into the lands. The negotiation with the Kami went fine. But the Karavan asked for a lot of money. And theyre giving us a limited time to find and capture Galos Kian before they grant access to Underspring to all Karavan folk again.
-And I suppose theyll blame the Fyros authorities if anyone gets killed in there ? Asked Meloner in a bitter tone.
-But thats not all. The other civilizations are not happy. They are accusing us of using the land for our own purposes. I fear a war coming closer every day. Not only will there be a massive conflict against the Empire...but the Emperor himself will have me executed if I dont capture that assassin. I need your help !
Meloner emptied his cup and rested it slowly on the table, thinking.
-What part do the refugees play in this ? He asked.
-Bodyguards, backup, call them what you like, but they certainly know how to handle an axe better than a refugee. Answered Alius with a smile.
-I work alone.
-Sir ! Please be reasonable ! Underspring is home to the kitin and the vorax ! You may be skilled with a blade, but you cannot fight off a herd of bloodthirsty vorax on your own ! Its madness !
-Your escaped murderer knows who you are, he is aware of your hunting him and believe me when I say we dont stand a chance if we chase him as a group. Alone I can find him.
After a few minutes of hesitation, Alius decided to trust this homin on which so much depended on his success.
-How much ? Asked the officer.
Meloner looked at Alius in the eye and answered :
-50 million....
The warrior dropped a few dappers on the table to pay for the drink and headed out of the Yubos Leg, leaving the officer to finish his firewine alone. Alius noticed Meloner was wearing a caster dress made of fur and what looked like green scale underneath. He recognised a Kami dress : an item from the Sanctuary of Ma-Duk and a reward from the war of the House of Gods. A war that marked Meloners spirit deeply. How many of his friends did he see perish on both sides, how many times did he narrowly escape death himself. So much blood spilt for the constructions of those temples when they couldve been built only at the cost of sweat dripping from the diggers foreheads. The next war would be worse. Much worse. And Meloner was ready for it.
As he walked past the square and into Bath Lane he turned his head suddenly, sensing a movement behind him. Meloner thought he saw a small figure, crouching behind the fountain, the moon reflecting a shadow of a head in the clear water. Two gleaming eyes stared back at him. Something shiny caught the light of the moon, very close to where the follower lay. A sword.
Meloner didnt move. He lowered his hand to feel for his knives and slowly raised the other, lighting a ball of flame in his palm. Suddenly, he threw a powerful fire spell in the direction of the fountain. He didnt hit but the light was all he needed. It was the drunk tryker from the pub that came charging to him with a sword and knife in his hands.
As Meloner slowly turned his head to the entrance of the pub, he saw a customer walking down the stairs pushing his way through the crowd towards the barman. As he turned around, waiting for his drink, elbows leaning on the side of the counter, his eyes swept the room looking for something, or someone. Meloner made no effort to make himself seen. He leaned back and waited until the Fyros, a young officer of the Imperial guards by the look of his armor, nodded to him and squeezed between two chairs to sit at his table.
-Meloner ? Asked the officer.
-Yes ?
-You got my note ?
-I wouldnt be here at this hour of the night if I hadnt.
-Good. This is not an easy task. And I need a strong warrior by my side to help me.
-Taking a few refugees sightseeing around Underspring is not an easy task ?
Meloner leaned forward, eyes flashing a warning glare at the Fyros in front of him.
-I think you are hiding something from me, Alius. He said in a low threatening voice. I think there is more to this task than I am aware of. Why would refugees want to walk around a place like Underspring ? Why do you, a respectable, yet low ranked officer of the Imperial guards get involved in such a small and insignificant matter ? Even the price you are paying me is ridiculously high.
-I beg you to calm down, sir ! It was too dangerous for me to write the true intentions of this trip on the note I sent you. Keep your voice down, please. We cannot allow to be overheard.
Alius looked around the room nervously. Only one customer remained. A cackling little tryker with vicious eyes and his hair tied in a bandana. After watching him swaying and singing for 2 minutes, Alius cleared his throat and declared in a low voice :
-We are hunting down a dangerous murderer. Galos Kian.
Meloner brought his cup to his lips and leaned forward, listening intently.
-Hes escaped from the Palace dungeons two weeks ago. A scout reported to have seen him entering Underspring. Guards are waiting at every portal and forbidding diggers to enter. We even had to ask both the Karavan and the Kami to stop all teleportation into the lands. The negotiation with the Kami went fine. But the Karavan asked for a lot of money. And theyre giving us a limited time to find and capture Galos Kian before they grant access to Underspring to all Karavan folk again.
-And I suppose theyll blame the Fyros authorities if anyone gets killed in there ? Asked Meloner in a bitter tone.
-But thats not all. The other civilizations are not happy. They are accusing us of using the land for our own purposes. I fear a war coming closer every day. Not only will there be a massive conflict against the Empire...but the Emperor himself will have me executed if I dont capture that assassin. I need your help !
Meloner emptied his cup and rested it slowly on the table, thinking.
-What part do the refugees play in this ? He asked.
-Bodyguards, backup, call them what you like, but they certainly know how to handle an axe better than a refugee. Answered Alius with a smile.
-I work alone.
-Sir ! Please be reasonable ! Underspring is home to the kitin and the vorax ! You may be skilled with a blade, but you cannot fight off a herd of bloodthirsty vorax on your own ! Its madness !
-Your escaped murderer knows who you are, he is aware of your hunting him and believe me when I say we dont stand a chance if we chase him as a group. Alone I can find him.
After a few minutes of hesitation, Alius decided to trust this homin on which so much depended on his success.
-How much ? Asked the officer.
Meloner looked at Alius in the eye and answered :
-50 million....
The warrior dropped a few dappers on the table to pay for the drink and headed out of the Yubos Leg, leaving the officer to finish his firewine alone. Alius noticed Meloner was wearing a caster dress made of fur and what looked like green scale underneath. He recognised a Kami dress : an item from the Sanctuary of Ma-Duk and a reward from the war of the House of Gods. A war that marked Meloners spirit deeply. How many of his friends did he see perish on both sides, how many times did he narrowly escape death himself. So much blood spilt for the constructions of those temples when they couldve been built only at the cost of sweat dripping from the diggers foreheads. The next war would be worse. Much worse. And Meloner was ready for it.
As he walked past the square and into Bath Lane he turned his head suddenly, sensing a movement behind him. Meloner thought he saw a small figure, crouching behind the fountain, the moon reflecting a shadow of a head in the clear water. Two gleaming eyes stared back at him. Something shiny caught the light of the moon, very close to where the follower lay. A sword.
Meloner didnt move. He lowered his hand to feel for his knives and slowly raised the other, lighting a ball of flame in his palm. Suddenly, he threw a powerful fire spell in the direction of the fountain. He didnt hit but the light was all he needed. It was the drunk tryker from the pub that came charging to him with a sword and knife in his hands.