Kessen rode into the outskirts of Takino weary and bedraggled. His poor horse was in even worse shape. It probably will not recover from this chase and it was actually the second horse the Ranger had run to the ground. He patted the animal gently on the neck as it stumbled toward the inn. Two slashes about an inch long on the left side of the doorpost about waist high marked his destination for him. Most likely the marks were intended for Gavril not himself but all surviving Rangers had their informants use the same marks so that if one was killed, another could quickly pick up the trail. Where is Gavril anyways, Kessen thought, and why isnt he the one chasing down this young man?
Walking through the door, he made as though he was scratching his neck while surreptitiously scanning the room. He let out a sigh and sat himself at the nearest open table. There was no one here he recognized and if Gavrils informant was in here they were not giving the countersign. The thought of having to find another horse and setting out for another town wearied Kessen almost to breaking.
A serving girl came and took his order and it wasnt until she began walking away that his weary senses noticed something they should have right away. There was something off about the room. There was a tension in the air. A group of sailors were drinking and gambling at one end of the room. At first glance they seemed like the typical bunch, but as he watched, Kessen realized that their revelry seemed a bit forced. They were trying to act normal but something or someone had most of them on edge. Nearly all of them were sending occasional quick glances towards something behind him to the left.
His server came over with a mug of ale and Kessen used that as an opportunity to reposition himself so that he could glance in that direction. Only two tables were occupied. In one sat a small man with a blond beard who was so nervous his entire body was quivering. The other table held a young man, probably around twenty, with his hood up and a dark shadow of a beard staring straight back. He was the one.
The two made eye contact and Kessen figured he might as well get the message out and let the chips fall where they would. As he stood up and walked over he wished he had Gavrils gift for the dramatic statement. Instead, as he slid into the only other chair at the table he said, Hello, Im Kessen.
The young man said nothing in reply. He simply planted his elbows on the table, folded his hands, and rested his chin on them while staring straight back. After an awkward moment, the Ranger continued, You certainly move fast. Ive been on your trail for a while now trying to catch up and give you a message Well, um, that message is that the path you are on is not set in stone. Evil wants you, but you must stand against it.
Kayeen made a slow deliberate blink before replying, Another man gave me a message that was fairly similar to yours. He waited until he saw the recognition in the other mans eyes before continuing, I killed him.
Those three words struck Kessen like lightening. He sat back in his chair stunned and unbelieving and didnt notice until it was too late that the young man had made a motion freezing him in place. He tried to push against those binds but the shock and turmoil of what he had just heard prevented his mind from maintaining the focus needed to break the magic holding him.
Satisfied that the other man wasnt able to move, Kayeen asked, Foglaid, is he the one?
The nervous little man at the next table over looked everywhere but at the two men sitting near him, Well, um what is happening happening right now?
I locked him in place. I can feel a push against me but its pitifully weak. Quite sad, really.
I I dont think youd feel any um, well, he couldnt if he wasnt not, you know.
Kayeen snickered at the fear emanating from both the other men. He pulled his sword from its scabbard and laid it on the table between himself and the man he had trapped. The inn grew quiet as the others in the room forgot their dice and their cups. Those working the inn scurried away like rats. Kessen recognized the sword and muttered its makers name.
Mykl? Kayeen asked, was that the swords name? Its not anymore. After stealing it from my father and killing your friend, I decided to name it Death. Quite appropriate, dont you think?
Kessen looked up and the young man but he had no idea what to say. He was still frozen from the shoulders down, and again he was given another piece of information that didnt add up. Who could his father be to have access to a sword made by Mykl? Suddenly the bond holding him was gone as he heard Kayeen say, Stretch out your hand. He quickly started to stand, but just as quickly realized that his present state of mind had him helplessly outmatched in a battle of magic. He needed to first find an opportunity to retreat and regroup. He needed time to process Gavrils death. For now, he would just have to play along. He placed his hand, palm face up, on the table as he lowered himself back into his seat.
Kayeen gripped the hilt of the sword and places the flat of the blade on Kessens outstretched hand. What is your name?
Kessen.
Kessen, I want you to repeat back exactly what I say, understood?
Yes.
I Kessen, do solemnly swear, to obey Kayeen, son of Andrei, in every command given to me. Where no command is given, I do promise, to conduct myself, as I believe, he would have me act.
The Ranger repeated back each phrase, shocked at learning that his opponent was the son of that traitor but mostly amused at what this young man was trying to do. As soon as he said, act the sword was pulled sharply away leaving a gash in the palm of his hand that began to trickle blood. The son of Andrei then cut his own finger on the blade and said, I, Kayeen, do accept your oath as he touched his bleeding finger to Kessens gash. The Ranger closed his hand and pulled it away.
Stand up.
Kessen was shocked to find himself standing to his feet.
Sit down.
Horror began to fill his mind as, against his will, his body lowered itself back into the seat.
Place your hands on the table.
Kessen began to shake almost as much as the man who had watched the entire confrontation from the next table over. This is not possible.
Kayeen laughed and leaned back in his seat. Well, well. Foglaid, would you believe this? It actually worked.
I, I you, um, you said you would kill him.
Well, there doesnt seem to be any need for that, anymore, does there?
Well, I
Kayeen ignored the frightened little man and turned back to Kessen. We will be leaving sometime late in the afternoon tomorrow. I am on the Blue Spray. You will find the ship and be on it, but first, you look tired. Get some sleep.
Every eye in the place followed Kayeen as he stood up and walked out of the inn. Before he was halfway to the door, Kessens head was down on the table and he was dead to the world. The sound of his snoring was the only sound in the room.
- - - - -
The journey through the Great North Range was just as difficult as Gavril had promised and more. As much as he wanted to rest, it was not possible. If they were to stop without heat the two would fall into a sleep they would never wake from. If they stopped to rest with one maintaining a fire, they risked weakening the snow around them enough to trigger an avalanche. This was danger enough without their increasing the odds. Gavril showed Avril the trick of warming his clothes through magic but the concentration was difficult to maintain it at a low enough temperature to not burn his clothes. The cold was just as bad as promised but fortunately they did not have to deal with the winds as the mountains around them served to break that off. Twice they heard a deep rumbling and Avril thought it was an earthquake. The second time Gavril pointed behind them and Avril saw the snow sliding down from a mountain peak to their north that they had passed a few hours earlier.
More and more they seemed to be going downhill now instead of up. Gavril warned him that this was even more dangerous because there is a tendency to give in to momentum instead of working for every step. Avril did his best to focus but step by step he became more of a walking zombie. All thought, all emotion, all concentration was long since gone. All he knew was cold and pain and hunger. Then they turned a bend and he saw before him the most beautiful of sights. Before them the valley widened out. There was an abundance of evergreen trees occasionally speckled with the gold or brown of another tree that had not quite lost all its leaves. Most beautiful of all, on the horizon ahead, there were no mountains. They were through.
Gavril led them forward and down for another couple hours before finding a sheltered spot between three pines. He built up the snow on two sides and warmed some rocks then both settled into a dreamless sleep.
It seemed only minutes later when Avril woke to find Gavrils hand over his mouth. Every bone and muscle in his body ached and he started to groan in pain when he heard Gavril whispering in his ear, Quiet. We have company.
Satisfied that his young companion would obey his order, Gavril removed his hand. Avril listened for a bit then heard the sound of someone making their way towards them and, if he was correct, they were softly crying. Avril had spent the last couple years tracking his brother in the shrouded forest to the north and Gavril had years of experience as a Ranger. Both knew enough woodcraft to recognize someone was out there who did not know, or care, to maintain silence and who was not an immediate threat to them.
Silently, the two reached an agreement to go out and assess the situation. Avril began moving and stretching to get the blood flowing through his body again while Gavril repacked what little they had and then the two headed out. The two worked their way around to a position downwind and a bit behind the other person in their forest. They came into sight at about the same time the girl they were tracking came to a stop and began working the rope into her hands into a noose. She had already tied one end to a branch and was standing precariously on a rock about two feet off the ground.
They could not see her tears from their vantage point but their effect was obvious in the clumsiness of the girls actions in trying to form the noose. Twice she had to undo it and start over before apparently getting it right. Avril watched in silent horror as he realized what was going on. He saw the girl fix the noose, this time she seemed to be satisfied with the knot. She pulled it tight and tested the strength of the rope connected to the branch above her. The girl slipped her head through the noose and tightened it from behind. Then she kicked away the rock below her. Without even thinking Avril reached out his hand. The rope broke and the girl dropped, like a rag doll, to the ground. Beside him Gavrils eyes widened in shock and the older man muttered to himself, Were dead.
