Emerald of the Elves (32 page)

“How about today?” grinned Zackary.

“We need to get fresh news about the Lanoirian army,” Alex declared as the city walls of Melbin came into sight. “I do not want to accidentally run into them on our way to Caldar.”

“Melbin isn’t the safest place for any of us,” reminded Tanya. “The last time we were there you were almost killed and the rest of us were almost arrested.”

“You make it out to be worse than it was,” chuckled Alex. “Hanjel is not a serious threat, and you were well out of the city before Niki was discovered missing. Still,” he added turning more serious, “it is dangerous for us in any city. Melbin will be no exception.”

“We could stop in Lorgo instead,” suggested Arik. “I would like to let those people know that our mothers have been recovered.”

“We can stop in Lorgo to inform them,” nodded Alex, “but Lorgo gets few visitors. My contacts in Melbin will be more informed of what is happening in the south.”

“We are bound to be noticed in Melbin,” interjected Jenneva. “I doubt that many dwarves have visited the city. Prince Darok will draw a lot of attention.”

“I could remain outside the city,” offered Prince Darok. “I do not wish to contribute to the danger.”

“No,” Arik stated emphatically. “If the people in the cities are not used to seeing dwarves, perhaps it is time for that to change. Prince Darok stays with me.”

“Let us remain separated then,” suggested Jenneva. “The attention that Prince Darok brings to your group will allow Alex to make his contacts in secrecy. We can use the same arrangement that we used the last time. Arik’s group can stay at the Fluttering Jib, and we shall stay across the street at the Bosun’s Chair.”

“Agreed,” nodded Arik as the northern gate to Melbin came into view. “Should we enter using different gates?”

“I do not think that will be necessary,” Alex shook his head. “You ride on ahead a bit. Everyone’s attention will be drawn to Prince Darok, and nobody will notice me. Do not forget that we are known as Mikal and Yolinda Obanik in Melbin.”

Arik nodded and urged his mount to go faster. Prince Darok and Tanya joined with Arik as the two groups separated.

“You thought Tanya would stay with our group,” Jenneva declared softly. “I can see the disappointment in your face.”

“I do like traveling with her,” Alex responded, “but she has her own life to lead. She takes the task of guarding King Arik seriously. I am proud that she is conscientious about it.”

“You think that is why she sticks to Arik like the sole to a boot?” giggled Jenneva. “To protect him? Love was never an easy concept for you to grasp, Alex. I still remember how long it took you to propose marriage to me.”

Alex looked confused and shook his head. “She shows no signs of anything but duty to her king,” protested Alex. “You are seeing flying unicorns where there is nothing in the stables but nags. I have never even seen them holding hands.”

“And people say that Rangers are observant,” laughed Jenneva. “Have you not picked up on the rivalry between Tanya and Sheri in Tagaret? Or the way that Tanya looked at Arik at Watling Flats after Tedi introduced his bride-to-be? As for holding hands, most of the time their hands are filled with weapons. There is precious little time these days for romance.”

“They do get along well,” shrugged Alex. “Tanya could certainly do worse than the king of Alcea.”

“If she limits her choices to only men who can best her in a spar,” giggled Jenneva, “there will be few to choose from.”

Alex laughed and nodded as he watched Arik’s group approach the gates to Melbin. Prince Darok certainly did draw attention, but they were passed through the gates without a problem. As Alex and Jenneva passed through the gates, the soldiers paid no attention to them. Alex smiled inwardly.

Alex and Jenneva rode through the busy streets of Melbin towards the Bosun’s Chair. There were more people on the streets than Alex had ever recalled seeing in Melbin before. He gazed at the people and saw that many were carrying their belongings on their backs. Nodding to himself, Alex realized that the situation in lower Sordoa must be worse than he had heard. These people were clearly fleeing before the Lanoirian horde. Alex was so intent on watching the people that he failed to detect the Melbin guard that was following him.

Alex took a direct route to the Bosun’s Chair and put Kaz and Yorra in the stables. He rented a room under the names of Mikal and Yolinda Obanik. They were not in the room for more than five minutes when there was a knock on the door. Alex looked at Jenneva and then pulled his sword. He walked warily to the door and cracked it open. Standing in the hallway was the familiar orange and black uniform of the Melbin Guard.

“Open the door and let me,” demanded the guard.

Alex sighed as he opened the door, but he held his sword ready. The guard walked in and closed the door.

“Mikal Obanik, you have been banned from entering Melbin,” stated the guard. “Why are you here?”

“Supplies among other things,” Mikal responded as he stared at the man’s face. “I don’t recall ever meeting you. Who are you and what do you want?”

“My name is Lomar,” replied the guard, “and what I want is peace in the city. You will leave the city at once, or I will have you arrested.”

Alex slowly sheathed his sword in a manner that showed he had no ill intent. “We are only staying the night,” promised Mikal. “I am not looking for trouble. In fact, I seek to avoid it.”

“Then we want the same thing,” Lomar smiled thinly. “I would offer to help you with your packs, but you seem to do alright without any help.”

“Look, Lomar,” reasoned Mikal, “the reason that I am banned from the city is an old affair. It happened over five years ago, and I am sure that it is forgotten by now.”

“Forgotten by some, perhaps,” Lomar shook his head. “There are others with much longer memories. I don’t really want to arrest you, Obanik, but I will to keep the peace in the city. Don’t make me do it.”

“Why haven’t you arrested me?” questioned Mikal. “If you know that I have been banned, then you must know why it is so.”

“I saw what happened that day,” nodded Lomar. “The disgusting actions of the guardsmen were the reason I decided to join the guard. I also know that you came back to Melbin a while ago. Hanjel might not have found you the last time, but I will not take the chance of him finding you this time. You must leave now.”

“Hanjel did find me the last time,” countered Mikal.

Lomar stared questioningly into Mikal’s eyes. “How is that possible?” he asked. “I know he went searching for you. I made the mistake of telling him that I saw you in the city. Still he never mentioned finding you, and he is still alive today.”

“Perhaps he chose not to mention the meeting,” frowned Mikal. “He tried to knife me in a dark alley. I taught him some manners and warned him that there would be no third time. I do not seek any revenge on Hanjel. I would prefer that the incident never happened.”

“If Hanjel felt the same,” retorted Lomar, “I would not be standing in your room asking you to leave the city. He will attempt to kill you again. If he does kill you, or more likely, you kill him, I would feel like I could have prevented it. I think the king’s orders banning you from the city are unjust, but it is the king that I serve. I will escort you to the city gates.”

“It is the people of Melbin that you serve,” corrected Mikal. “Look Lomar, let me be honest with you. There are people in this city that I consider friends. I need this one night to talk to them to find out about the situation down south. I need to reach southern Sordoa, and I do not want to run into Emperor Hanchi. I can tell by the mobs on your streets that people are already fleeing the south. I will not leave my room except to talk to these friends. Can we be reasonable about this?”

“Emperor Hanchi is causing quite a stir down south,” mused Lomar. “There is talk about the rogue armies making a stand at Trekum. Some have asked King Alfred to aid in the cause. Others want to retreat to Melbin if they fail in Trekum. Who are these friends? Perhaps I can bring them to you?”

“I am sworn not to reveal their identities to anyone,” Mikal shook his head. “It is dangerous for people in Melbin to be associated with the likes of me. Could you imagine their predicament if Hanjel found out about them?”

“A valid point,” nodded Lomar as he walked to the window and stared out. Finally he turned and faced Mikal. “What about Hanjel?” he asked.

“I will try to avoid him,” promised Mikal. “If you could help by sending him somewhere towards the sea, I would be appreciative. Still, if he attacks me again, I will kill him. Long life is not well served by giving a crazed killer too many opportunities for success. I have spared Hanjel’s life twice already. If he cannot learn his lesson after that, than I have no choice.”

“At least you are being honest with me,” nodded Lomar. “Be gone before the first lightening of the sky. If I see you after that, I will arrest you.”

Lomar spun to leave. Alex smiled bitterly and said, “Thank you, Lomar.”

* * *

The innkeeper scowled at the sight of a dwarf in his common room. The patrons fell quiet and turned to stare.

“Two rooms for one night,” Arik said to the innkeeper at the Fluttering Jib.

“You can have two rooms,” snarled the innkeeper, “but the dwarf won’t be staying in either one of them. We don’t allow his kind in here. He can stay in the stables, if the horses don’t mind, that is.”

The common room howled with laughter, and the innkeeper smirked with the praise. Arik opened his mouth to speak, but Prince Darok stopped him by lacing his hand on Arik’s arm.

“Let me pay for your room, Arik,” smiled Darok as he dug into his purse.

The dwarf extracted a small gold nugget and eyed it appreciatively. He grinned as he saw the innkeeper’s mouth fall open at the sight of the nugget. The innkeeper held out his open palm, eagerly awaiting the rich reward for the rented rooms. Darok gently placed the gold nugget in the innkeeper’s hand and closed the man’s fingers over it. As he did so, Darok grasped the innkeeper’s fist and squeezed it. The innkeeper’s eyes grew large and his mouth opened to yelp, but the dwarf leaned in close to his ear.

“My grip is strong enough to crush your hand so bad that there won’t be anything left at the end of you arm except that nugget,” smiled the dwarf. “Now you’ve had a fair amount of fun at my expense. Your paying lads at the tables have had a jolly good laugh, but I am pretty tired, and I get awfully cranky when I am tired. You’ve gotten way more than a fair piece of gold for your lousy rooms. I suggest that you take your gold and look away while we go up the stairs. You get a great profit, and I get the sleep I need to make me less cranky. You understand where I am coming from?”

The innkeeper nodded vigorously, and Darok let go of his hand. The innkeeper quickly put the gold in his pouch and turned away. Grumbles rippled through the common room as Darok turned and walked up the stairs. Arik and Tanya followed the dwarf prince.

The innkeeper waited until the Rangers had gone up the stairs and closed the door to their room. He went into the kitchen and filled a tray with ale mugs and returned to the common room. The patrons chided him for yielding to the dwarf. The taunts were loud and boisterous, but the innkeeper quieted the complaints by passing out free ale. When he arrived at the table occupied by Melbin Guards, he placed the tray on the table and sat down. He leaned forward in a conspiratorial pose.

“You know who those two are?” he whispered. “The ones with the dwarf? Those are the two that stayed here last time with that fancy lord from Cidal. You know. The ones that King Alfred thinks made off with the witch.”

“Is that so?” questioned Hanjel. “Are you sure about this?”

“There was another with them last time,” nodded the innkeeper, “but I never forget a face. King Alfred needs to know about it. I reckon that there might be a promotion in it for someone.”

“Who gets the honor of telling King Alfred?” asked one of the guards. “Should we choose straws for it?”

“I will leave that up to you lads,” Hanjel snickered.

“Why so generous all of a sudden?” asked one of the guards. “You don’t look forward to a promotion? Or you think the innkeeper is daft?”

“Neither,” retorted Hanjel. “I heard about the last time they were in Melbin. It was the same time as someone else. In fact, I heard travelers on the road say that they all traveled together. That means that there is someone in the city that I want to meet, and I know just where to find him. I’ll leave the promotions to you lads.”

“It’s not like we have to hurry,” countered one of the guards. “King Alfred is busy meeting with some general from down south. They aren’t going anywhere until morning.”

“And when you lads do come to take them,” interjected the innkeeper, “make them take their belongings with them. I’ll have to have both of those rooms cleaned, and I don’t want that dwarf having any excuse to return here.”

“They won’t be coming back,” laughed one of the guards. “I say we go together to tell King Alfred. Maybe we will all get promotions.”

“You lads do just that,” stated Hanjel as he rose to leave. “I have more important things to do.”

* * *

Mikal knocked distinctively on the door in the dark corridor. He saw the small sliver of light that was visible through the crack under the door go out. The door opened just a crack. Mikal pushed the door open and stepped inside.

“Many things are happening in that city up north,” the voice said. “I am not surprised to see you drop in.”

“I am aware of the doings in Tagaret,” responded Mikal. “I am seeking information on southern Sordoa. I am particularly interested in Emperor Hanchi.”

“I should not be surprised about your knowledge of Tagaret,” chuckled the voice. “It has all the markings of Ranger involvement. Hanchi has amassed a tremendous army. He has already entered Sordoa and is heading for showdown in Trekum. General Mobami has enticed the free armies into making a stand to repel the Lanoirian invasion. Frankly, I do not give them much chance at success.”

“Is there no other opposition to Hanchi?” asked Mikal.