Chapter Fourteen - The Woman on the Horse

1

They returned to the Grand Bazaar early in the afternoon. Hungry as they were, there were too many places flanking the avenue where they could eat. They found at least three cafes, but they chose the one that came recommended to them by Selby, Vexin’s Café. It had an outdoor patio in front that looked out on the Grand Bazaar. It was surrounded by a three-foot-high black iron fence. They picked a long table where they could see people walking on the street. A serving wench, whom they suspected of being a slave, served the food. It started off with bread, olive oil, cheese, and soup.

“Now, according to the map, the imperial offices are just off to the west of the Imperial Square. So, it should be around the corner from here,” Elwin commented while everyone was busy with their meals. One of the things he loved about the Old Verant Quarter was that everything was close. The Inner walls were three and a half miles end to end. They were staying in the heart of the quarter.

“Good, I’m tired already,” Anna commented. “This city life really wears you out!”

“There are too many people and too many things going on. This place is maddening,” Rith added. “It never stops!”

As they sat on the patio and watched the crowd, it was impossible to tell how many people were hurrying about buying goods, but the Companions wagered it must be a thousand or more. Citizens were constantly coming and going. Some were on horseback, but a few ornate carriages passed by now and again. Even the odd litter could be seen. The noble inside always hidden, often guarded by private soldiers and household slaves.

“I can appreciate why Selby’s a ranger,” Emerson said.

In a strange way they were all appreciating the country life. No one in the party had an interest in staying in the city for more than a week at the most. They came from a small hamlet of less than three hundred people, a farming community where everyone knew each other personally. The city had more people in one street than had ever been to Salome Hallow in a person’s lifetime. For all its splendour, it still felt cold and impersonal. People walked by, ignoring each other and seemingly distance. Only people who knew each other were seen talking and laughing together.

Suddenly Anna saw something and sat up get a better look at the crowd. It was four armoured people on horseback and one of them was a young woman. They looked like they might be knights. It was the woman that fascinated Anna the most. She was dressed in polished scale armour, her long blonde hair tucked neatly in a bun. Across her right shoulder was slung a long pole with a banner on the end. The image on the banner was a golden Griffin on a bright red field. Until that moment, knights had only been legends. Anna felt like one of her story books was coming to life before her eyes. A female knight was even rarer, but the possibility of such a thing became vivid in Anna’s mind. The world was changing, the rules and laws were changing, but most importantly the possibilities were expanding.

Elwin saw Anna staring at the group on horseback. “I believe they are imperial guards,” he pointed out.

“How do you know? Maybe they’re knights?” She questioned.

“Simple, the woman is wearing the armour and carries their standard. We’ve seen city guards and soldiers and they do not look like this,” Elwin said. He quickly finished his meal and leaned back in the chair.

“What’s the different?” Rith questioned.

“A subtle one, I’m not entirely sure myself apart from their dress. Look at them, they are clearly above city guards. Not knights, like the Red Dragon Army, but its more of an imperial roll than a military one. Think of them as a police force for the rich upper class. They are very honest, command respect and are loyal to the emperor and the council. Imperial guards all come from the ruling class and are the only ones that can arrest or judge a citizen of that class,” Elwin struggled to recall more, but he had only heard a few stories. He did not have much else to go on. Perhaps the stories were not even true, he wondered.

“So, they’re wealthy?” Anna concluded.

“More or less,” Elwin shrugged. Even he was not entirely sure. They certainly looked wealthy. The equipment and armour they wore was not cheap. These were just facts he could remember from books he read. However, most adventure stories were made up and Elwin suspected that some things were exaggerated to make them more exciting.

Next door to Vexin’s Café was a little squat building called The Opium Den. A set of stone steps lead down to the entrance which was below street level. The Imperial Guards stopped in front, dismounting. One of the young men stayed and guarded the horses and banner while the other three went down the stairs disappearing inside the buildings main entrance.

They were gone only a few minutes, but when the emerged from the depths of the dark building, they dragged behind them a man kicking and protesting.

“Unhand me I say!” The young man exclaimed. He wore a very elegant white shirt lined with lace that billowed in the breeze and black skin-tight leather pants. Another timid looking man, dress in equal high fashion, followed closely behind them. Without ceremony they dumped the wealthy young on the flagstone street.

A man, who Elwin took to be the owner or worker at the Opium Den, stood by the entrance looking nervous and frightened.

The young man struggled to his feet. “Do you know who I am! Do you know who my father is!” He spat at the guards.

“Of course, we do!” The young woman said. She had already mounted her horse.

“Who do you think sent us down here?”

“You should be ashamed of yourself. Your father believes you to be a disgrace to your family!” One of the men said with disdain.

The young man was enraged. He stumbled, as if drunk. A crowd was gathering as people stopped to stare at the spectacle. His servant helped him to his feet. He glared at the crowd.

“What are you people looking at!” He grabbed the nearest person he could reach shoving them violently. “Peasant scum!”

Quickly the crowd dispersed.

One of the guard spoke firmly to the owner of The Opium Den. “By order of the house of Pulla, this man is not to be let in your establishment again. If he is caught here in the future, we will arrest you and close your business for good. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!” The owner replied stiffly. His eyes bore like daggers at the guard. He disappeared behind the door, slamming it tight behind him.

“As for you, Boniface of the House of Pulla,” the guard said to the young nobleman. “I suggest you sober up and return home. You’ve squandered enough of your life on that opium shit!”

The Imperial Guard mounted their horses.

Boniface Pulla gave them a mocking bow then spat on the ground before them.

Elwin suddenly noticed something strange. The woman on the horse was staring right at their table. To his astonishment, she winked at them before they pulled away on their horses and trotted down the avenue. Elwin looked around at his friends and caught Emerson giving a little wave to the Imperial Guard.

“Was that wink for you?” He asked surprised.

Emerson would not answer, he just smiled.

“Come along Mur!” Boniface said to his servant once they were alone in the street. “Let go to The Royal Velvet and fuck some whores!”

Anna winced overhearing everything. “Such vulgar language and from nobles no less! Disgusting!”

The young, intoxicated man meandered down the street, his servant helping him along.

2

After their midday meal, the companions walked over to the government offices. It was a large four story white bricked building top with the same red clay tiles that seemed popular in Old Verant. It was wedge shaped with the building coming to a point at the Imperial Square where two streets branched off in diagonal directions.

The building had several entrances all of which were named, but only one read Guild Entrance. They had found the right place. Inside was a large room. The walls were covered with various posters and broadsides that advertising different guilds and orders. There was sign above a list of guilds. It read all guilds are presently recruiting. The list of guilds included requirements for joining.

Elwin read through the list. The first guild was the Sailor’s guild, but none of them had ever worked on a ship. The next one was a Scribes’ guild, but it required excellent reading and writing skills. Their education was average at best, besides it was a desk job. Only a trained and registered wizard could join the Wizard’s guild. The Engineer’s guild required specialized education and the passing of the entrance exam, apparently it involved a lot of math.

That left only two government run guilds on the list. The first was the Reservists Guild. It was mainly a mercenary organization, people who were loyal to money rather than the empire. The guild did not do much during times of peace and as a consequence many mercenaries had left Verant recently to find work elsewhere. Still others simply switched over to the final guild on the list. The one they had come here to join was the Adventurer’s guild.

On the back wall was a large window that looked into the office in the next room. A young man, dressed in a formal tunic, stood on the other side of the window. He was busy filing paperwork. When he saw the group approach, the clerk lifted his gaze. “Can I help you?” He asked casually.

“What can you tell us about the Adventurer’s guild?” Elwin asked.

“They’re recruiting,” the man said with a smirk.

“We can read,” Emerson said with annoyance.

The young clerk shrugged. “They are a jack-of-all-trade guild. Adventurers get assignments all over the empire, for a whole variety of different reasons. Creatures threatening communities, escorts for engineers and survey groups, rescue missions to earthquake ridden areas or flooded villages. All sorts of things. Assignments can come in from any level of government, but the imperial assignments pay the best.”

“We’re here to join the Adventurers Guild,” Elwin stated.

“As a party?” The clerk questioned. Adventuring groups were always referred to as parties.

He looked at the others even though it was unnecessary. “Yes.”

“Are you the leader then?” The clerk enquired.

“Yes.” No one else spoke up. Elwin had been the leader since they left Salome Hallow, no point in changing now.

“Alright then, I have a test you must fill out first, then I need basic information from the rest of your party. Is it just the four of you?”

“Yes. What test are you talking about?”

“It’s just a competency test to fill out. It just determines your level of education. Not to worry, you can not be rejected from the guild unless you are grossly under educated,” The clerk pointed out a door. “Just come around through that door. There’s a room in back here where you can fill out the test.”

Elwin came to the back and was handed a printed sheet with a series of question on it. There was a small desk with an ink well and pen. It only took a few minutes to fill out the document. IT consisted of basic reading, writing and math skills as well as questions about the empire and government that any educated person would know. When Elwin was finished, he handed it to the clerk. Meanwhile the clerk had gotten basic information from the rest of them. Not much different that the questions they had been asked at the front gates. As the clerk explained to them, the guild hall was in essence a registry. They registered and kept track of all the adventurers in the empire. The government had a record on everyone who joined any guild.

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The official record would now reflect that Elwin was the leader of a small adventuring party from Salome Hallow in the Militar province. The clerk explained that when they needed work, they could come down here to the government halls and enquire as to recent posting that had not been filled. Other cities and towns also had government halls where they could find assignments. Currently, all assignments had been filled, but new assignments were constantly coming in, so they were strongly encouraged to check in everyday if they really wanted to find work. The clerk assured them it would not take long, there was a lot happening around empire at the moment.

In the meantime, there was training offered to all guild members at a park a few blocks down the avenue. The clerk suggested that they take some training while they waited for work. Elwin was given a document which bore the symbol of the guild. Two crossed swords above a crown. If they showed the document to the trainer, they would not have to pay for the training. The guild would pick up the fee.

They thanked the clerk and left.

“I think we should see what that ring is worth,” Elwin said to Emerson once they were back on the street.

“Agreed,” he replied.

“Do we all have to go?” Rith asked. “Anna and I want to wander the Bazaar.”

“Alright but meet us back at The Griffin’s Tail before evening,” Elwin instructed.

They both nodded and then quickly disappeared.

It was the first time since they began the trip that Elwin and Emerson were left alone.

“You think they will be alright?” Elwin wondered.

“They don’t really have anything of value that can be stolen,” Emerson reasoned. “As long as they don’t wander too far, they should be alright.”

3

Elwin and Emerson walked back to the Grand Bazaar hoping to find a jewellery shop. Eventually they came to a place called Platinum Dreams. It proclaimed to be Verant City’s finest and oldest jewellery shop.

They went inside the old wooden structure, the door creaking as they entered. Two armed guards flanked the entrance. Glass display cases revealed some of the rings, necklaces and bracelets that were sold at the store. A short grey haired old man sat behind the counter. He examined an earring with a magnifying glass.

As they approached him, the guards eyed them silently. “Excuse me. I wonder if you could help us?” Elwin asked.

“Looking for something in particular?” The man enquired looking up from his work.

Emerson pulled out the ring. “Actually, we were wondering if you could identify this for us.”

The jeweller took the ring and examined it with the eye glass. “I should say so!” The small man said excitedly. “I made it!”

Emerson and Elwin looked at each other astonished and both thought the same thing. This was a very lucky break!

“You crafted this ring?” Elwin questioned.

“Well, not me personally, but it was made by an apprentice at my workshop. We were commissioned to make them,” The jeweller clarified. He adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses and peered up at them.

“Commissioned by whom?” Elwin asked.

The man eyed them suspiciously. He ran his fingers threw his thin tuffs of white hair. “This isn’t your ring, is it? Where did you get this?”

“We found it!” Emerson stated swiftly. His tone left no room to discuss it further.

“No matter!” The jeweller said defensively. Then he explained. “See these initials, O.B.C. That means the Order of the Blood Chalice. They are an order of knights, or so I was told. We made about two dozen of these rings for the order.”

“But what’s it worth?” Emerson questioned.

“About twenty-five gold coins. The rubies, tiny as they are, still make it very valuable,” The jeweller handed the ring back to him. “Are you looking to sell it? It’s custom work so you might have trouble finding someone interested in buying it.”

“I think we’ll hold on to it for now,” Elwin commented.

Emerson thanked the man for his time and the pair left shop.

As soon as they were in the street again, Emerson spoke. “That warrior was a knight? Bullshit! They were not empire loyalists.”

“We’re assuming that it belonged to him, maybe that warrior had stolen it,” Elwin suggested. “We better not show it around anymore. If that jeweller is right, then someone might want to know why we have a ring that belongs to a strange knightly order.”

Emerson nodded. “Good point, but I want to know more about this order. What did he call it? The Order of the Blood Chalice?”

Elwin nodded. “I agree. He said two dozen were made. Whoever this ring belongs to has some friends. We have to remember that.”

Emerson nodded. “This just got a lot more interesting, didn’t it?”

“Indeed,” Elwin replied.

4

It was mid-afternoon. They had a few hours to kill before they had to meet Rith and Anna. Elwin decided to show his map around. He thought maybe they would get lucky and find someone who could read the writing.

They went back to the booth where Elwin had bought the map of the city. The peddler had many maps from all over the empire. Small ones and large ones rolled up and tied with ribbons, he even had a large selection of map cases to protect them. Maps were expensive to replace, some were very rare.

The map peddler could not help them. He had never seen a map that looked quite like the one Elwin showed him. The writing was not standard for maps, it had been written in a language other than common. He even had doubts about the language being magical. “I have seen magic writing before. This is similar mind you, but not exactly the same.”

“Could it be coded?” Elwin wondered aloud.

“That would be my guess. Whoever made this map, they didn’t want others to know where it leads,” The man handed the map back. “It looks very old. If I had to guess, I would say its two hundred years old or maybe more.”

It was not much to go on, but anything they could find out would help. They thanked the peddler for his time and went back to the inn for some drinks.

“So, there was something I haven’t asked you yet,” Emerson asked Elwin later that day as they sat down at a small table on the front veranda of The Griffin’s Tail. He placed a pitcher of ale between them. Emerson poured himself a mug.

“Please elaborate,” Elwin said pouring his own mug to the brim.

“What exactly happened in the old crone’s hut?” Emerson asked. “I mean when she did the card reading.”

Elwin sighed. “It was strange. Before she started, she asked if we were wydring. Have you heard the term?”

Emerson shook his head.

“I told her no, but she didn’t seem to believe me,” Elwin said. “It means a group thrown together by fate to perform some task.”

“You don’t believe in fate?”

Elwin shook his head. “We make our own fate in life. We have free will.”

“But what if its free will that determines our fate?”

“I refuse to believe that,” Elwin replied. He would not even entertain such an idea. “We choose to adventure together. It didn’t just happen to us.”

“But what if it was fate that put my farm down the road from yours,” Emerson countered. “If I had lived anywhere else, we wouldn’t know each other and none of this would be happening. What if the plague is fate? You can’t just decide to avoid the plague either you get it, or you don’t. Maybe that’s how fate works? Would you be an adventurer if your parents hadn’t died?”

Elwin looked sceptical.

“Alright fine. I agree with you. I’m just saying what if we are wrong? Anyway…” Emerson said changing the subject. He moved in closer and lowered his voice. “The ring has got me thinking Elwin. What if Rith really has killed someone important? Not a knight as we know it, but that ring fit the warrior’s finger perfectly. I don’t think he just found it and put it on.”

Elwin nodded. “It could mean trouble. Maybe we can ask around about the Order of the Blood Chalice. I want to know who these people really are.”

Emerson nodded and drank deep from his mug.

It had been a hot sunny day and Elwin was glad they had a chance to rest and let the remainder of the afternoon drift by. He asked his friend. “So how do you like Verant City so far?”

“I think its growing on me. I understand the appeal for some people, but I still long for the freedom of the road. I want new challenges. I want to explore the empire.”

“Not to worry my friend” Elwin said. “I’m sure we’ll have a chance to explore. Let us enjoy the city while we have it!”

5

Anna and Rith had wandered around the Grand Bazaar for over an hour. They did not say much to each other, just comments about various things they saw that would never be seen back home.

Anna was restless. She had a lot on her mind that she wanted to say, but she was not sure how to say it. They came to the north end of the avenue. They stood before the massive triumphant arch dedicated to the first imperial expansion and the conquering of the Devon Kingdom. Next to them stood a huge four-story oak and fieldstone structure, the sign out front said Crassidio. It appeared to be some kind of a tavern. Didn’t Selby mention something about a place called the Crassidio? She pondered.

“Rith, I think we need to talk,” she stated.

“Yeah, of course,” he replied. He did not like the tone of her voice, but he was not sure what to make of it.

“What happened back in the druids hut?”

“What do you mean?” Rith said. Her vague question did not clarify anything. He studied her face, but it seemed expressionless.

Finally, she said. “You know… the card reading?”

“Nothing,” he replied defensively. “It was stupid. The old hag was a fraud!”

Anna crossed her arms and looked at him dubiously. “You really believe that?”

“Don’t look at me like that!” Rith said with annoyance.

“Why did Elwin want his cards read then, if she’s a fraud?”

“Ask Elwin!” Rith spat back. “I don’t know!”

“Well, what were the cards that came up?” Anna asked. She was getting frustrated with him. What was he hiding and why? He could tell her anything, she was here for him. “Can you tell me that at least?”

Rith sighed. He took a moment to try and recall them. Finally he said. “Sister Moons, The World and The Nergal.”

“Did she say what they meant?”

“Yeah, a bunch of gibberish that doesn’t make any sense!” Rith proclaimed.

They started to walk back towards The Griffin Tail. “Well, maybe not to you at the time, but she seemed pretty upset about it. She even threw us out!” Anna pointed out.

“Apparently the Nergal is a very bad card. She said that Sister Moons meant family strife and hidden occult forces. I mean, seriously? Elwin and I haven’t fought at all on this trip! There’s no family strife.”

“But there could be hidden occult forces?” Anna questioned.

Now it was Rith’s turn to looked sceptically at her.

“I’m just saying,” Anna added. “We don’t know what going on. Maybe were being watched by someone.”

“Why would someone be watching us?” Rith questioned. “We haven’t done anything of interest.”

“I’m not saying I understand either, but I want to make some sense of it,” Anna said. “What about The World? What is that supposed to mean?”

“Travel and exploration apparently. And expansion of world views,” He added.

“Well, that makes sense at least,” Anna said. “That’s what we are all doing, right?”

“Yeah, well she also said that death and destruction will follow me wherever I go! Is that the prophecy you wanted to hear?” Rith said heatedly. He stormed off in a huff.

Anna was worried that she said something wrong. Sometimes Rith was too sensitive! She thought as she ran after him. She grabbed Rith’s hand and dragged him into an alleyway where they could talk privately.

“Unhanded me!” Rith said angrily once they were in the alley.

“I’m sorry!” She said. “What did I say?”

“It’s nothing!” Rith protested. “I just don’t want to talk about fortunetelling. It’s all bullshit!”

“Oh, that’s just great! So now you’re going to use vulgar language as well!” Anna complained. “Just because some drunken aristocrat did? Really mature Rith!”

Rith leaned back against the wall his face obscured by shadows.

“You know, I never asked to be an adventurer, I just sort of happened,” Rith’s voice was quiet, distance. “I was happy on the farm. I didn’t want to leave. I could’ve lived my whole life in Salome Hallow and I would have been content.”

Anna leaned against the wall next to him and sighed. “I hated the farm. I couldn’t wait to leave home.”

Rith hung his head. “Elwin didn’t like the farm either. That’s why I’m here really. I love my brother. I couldn’t disappoint him. He wanted to be an adventurer for a long time before this came about.”

“Family strife perhaps?” Anna ventured. She wore a sheepish smile.

Rith fought a smile. “Shut up!”

Anna felt the mood lightening. She tittered and spoke. “You know your bother loves you, right? Back at the druid’s hut he was really upset. I know he was trying his best to be strong, but he worries about you.”

Rith nodded. “I know, but Elwin won’t let his emotions rule him. I know my brother well. He’s too level-headed to give into to fear or anger.”

“What about you?”

It was Rith’s turn to chuckle. “I’m not so lucky! More like our mother I guess.”

Anna looked out for the alley into the Grand Bazaar. It was mid-afternoon and the place was filled with people, hundreds of people only a few yards away. She guessed that Rith was wishing he was back on the farm, tilling the soil, planting seeds. They all missed the spring festival. It was last week. Here in Verant City they felt like they had no identity. Anna felt like they were drifting, following Elwin around. The Adventurers Guild might help them gain some sort of stability.

“There was one other thing that the druid said to us,” Rith said. Anna listened carefully. “She said we were wydring.”

“What does that mean?” Anna asked.

“Apparently it’s a group of people fated to be together for some reason. Elwin said we weren’t, but I’m not so sure. Fate is a harsh mistress,” Rith said.

Anna shook her head. “I don’t believe it.”

“Why not?”

“Free will,” she said as if was the most obvious thing in the world. “It wasn’t fate that put me in this group. I choose to follow you out of my own free will.”

Rith was quiet for a time as he thought about what she said. Anna started to wonder if she had caused him to have some sort of mental crisis. If he was, she did not have a clue on how to handle it.

“I had a strange dream,” Rith said finally.

Anna leaned in closer and listened intently.

“At the druid’s hut, when I was healing,” he said. “You saw what was happening.”

“Rith I had no idea what was happening. You were shouting like a madman. How do you know that it wasn’t just the magic doing its work?” Anna questioned.

“Maybe it was, but I doubt it. I don’t think this was part of the spell. It was like I slipped into another world, collapsing in on myself. I reached out with my mind and touched something within, like a dark pearl of power. It pulsed with a deep red glow. As I touched it, I could feel energy being transferred. I could feel my boned move and start to heal. Like I said at the hut Anna, I don’t think the magic did anything!” He said seriously.

She stared at him for a minute, her face unreadable. “How do you know?”

He shrugged. “I just do. I don’t know why. Anyway, the dream got even stranger. After I touched the pearl, it was like falling through the darkness of the Abyss and then suddenly I was standing on a parapet. It was like this massive walled city, but it was all white. Marble, limestone, granite, all manner of stone, but always white. I looked over the wall and the there was no ground. The city, or whatever it was, it flew threw the air drifting along the wind.”

Now Anna looked at him sceptically. But she said nothing just listened.

“I know it sounds silly, but it was so strange. It felt so real, like it wasn’t a dream at all. I felt safe, secure. When I woke up, I was still half in the dream stated. Anna the dream scared me! It seemed impossibly real. A city in the sky?” He just shook his head. “You don’t believe me, do you?”

“I believe you Rith. I just don’t understand what such a vision could mean,” Anna replied. It was true. She had dreams also, but they seemed mundane in comparison. “I was always told that dreams are metaphors. They aren’t mean to be taken literally.”

Rith nodded. “You’re probably right.”