Chapter 14 An Awful Spy
After spending the entire night lounging in the trees and around camp, Isaac and Lenna were ready to be back on the move. The cool night air and the dull crescent moonlight were nice but the night bugs were just as bad as the daytime bugs but without the benefit of being on the move. Isaac had also been forced to move multiple times as the campfire smoke moved in the night breeze. By the time everyone was ready to go, the morning dew was only barely dry. The sun had risen to clear skies and the heat had gradually risen to comfortably warm temperatures. Isaac’s black cloak and painted black dragon scale armor were far too hot in the sunlight so he opted to hide in the front wagon with Lenna while they continued on. The wolf hides were added to the list of cargo to be sold off in town and thankfully Hugh had agreed to leave the money from the sale at the Adventurers’ Guild when they confirmed the completion of the bounty. The caravan had just stopped for lunch when Ellie had made herself look busy next to the wagon to talk to the pair.
“I heard something again.” She spoke quietly but loud enough that the sound would be able to transfer through the canvas without much difficulty.
“Which side?” Isaac asked her and sat up.
“North side.” Ellie replied. “Are you gonna handle them now?” She wondered.
“He’s already gone.” Lenna told her casually. “But no.”
A short while later Isaac returned and had some questions for Ellie. “It was a pair of scouts this time and they seemed to be checking how many people were in the caravan, just like last time. What is the deal with bandits on this road? And bandits in general. Like, I feel like most of them would be able to find work in frontier towns working as rangers or guards.” He commented.
“The Adventurers’ Guild keeps track of its members so there’s no way they’d get adventurin’ work anymore.” Ellie explained. “For many, banditry looks like the best option. Especially when a bandit group has gone untouched for a little while nearby.”
“Like here.” Isaac surmised.
“Yeah.” Ellie replied. “This road’s a bit of an oddity, ya see. The dwarves don’t wanna get involved with human problems so they leave well enough alone. But on the other side of the route, Sapphirestone focuses more on the navy and the naval base that’s stationed there. They don’t gotta lotta guards for how big the city is already, so even the adventurers are stretched thin to pick up the slack.”
“Makes sense I guess.” Isaac commented. “I guess I’m just surprised that no one strong enough to just wipe them out single handedly has done it yet.”
“Someone tried to, a little while ago, so I hear.” Ellie explained. “Flame Ravens tried to hunt ‘em down but they scattered like mice. They only got a few of ‘em.”
Isaac nodded. “That makes sense. The Flame Ravens are a party built for hunting threats that are on their level. They are used to punching up so a bunch of low level bandits must have felt like sand running through their fingers. I doubt Shy could’ve tracked all of them down one by one in a reasonable amount of time”
“You seem to know a lot about the Flame Ravens.” Ellie commented.
“Shy and Fina did a mission with me at one point and Mark and Esk trained with Lenna for a little while.” Isaac replied. “Back to the topic at hand though, that is one of the reasons I don’t want to spook them. If we wait until they attack then I can make sure none of them escape while Lenna deals with them.”
“While blind in the sunlight.” Lenna commented.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“You can fight with your eyes closed. You’ve done it before. But if you think you need help I can work something out.” Isaac told her.
“It depends on how large of a front they force us to put up.” She explained. “I can only cover an area fifty feet across. Anything beyond that will be up to you.”
“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what kind of ambush our opponents will be springing.” Isaac replied. “Ellie, they won’t try to cause any unnecessary damage to the wagons right?”
“They should leave the wagons untouched if they can, yeah.” She agreed. “Won’t do them any good if their loot gets torched. It’s the people I’m worried about. We aren’t fighters. That’s what we pay you for.”
“You have a few competent combatants in your ranks.” Isaac replied. “They can be put to work.”
Ellie scrunched her face for a moment before she seemed to wonder how he knew. “How did you kno-” She began but Isaac cut her off.
“I can see people’s souls.” Isaac told her directly. “I know how powerful a person truly is.”
Ellie was silent for a moment as she took in what Isaac had told her. “You can see everyone’s souls?” She asked.
“Only when I want to, but yes. Why?” Isaac questioned.
“Does that mean you can spot Doppelgangers?” Ellie wondered.
“Why?” Isaac questioned again. As he narrowed his eyes on her, death flames ignited to change his visible spectrum from light to soul. Ellie’s lack of instant recoil from the death flames instantly tipped him off but Ellie was not quite what he had expected. “You’re not human.” Isaac told her. “But, I don’t think you are a Doppelganger either.”
Ellie’s face paled instantly. “No, I’m not.” She replied instantly. “My dad was… He was found out when I was little.”
“The man that should have been your father got ambushed in the night and switched with a Doppelganger, when the ‘replacement’ returned to your mother, she jumped on him thinking he was her husband and then you happened, does that sound about right?” Isaac surmised.
Ellie nodded. “More or less.” She agreed.
“So are you a changeling then?” Isaac wondered.
Ellie shrugged. “I don’t know.” She replied honestly. “I can’t change too much about myself and I’ve always been afraid of being found out so I don’t even try anymore. Can you keep this a secret?” She wondered with clenched fists, white knuckles, and trembling hands.
“If you haven’t eaten anyone then I don’t care.” Isaac said and waved her off. Ellie immediately shifted her attention to Lenna.
“If Isaac is fine with you, then I am too.” Lenna assured her. “But answer the implied question.”
Ellie shook her head. “No, I haven’t eaten anyone.” She stated. “I can’t even properly shapeshift.”
“What can you do?” Isaac wondered.
“You aren’t going to put me to work, are you?” Ellie asked in return.
“No, but it’s good to know what you are capable of, just in case.” Isaac explained. “So?”
“I can only change my coloring and my bones are a bit more bendable than normal.” Ellie explained. “They can still break but they tend to bruise instead.”
Isaac nodded in understanding. “You also have poor vision and great hearing.” Isaac added. “Slightly better healing than everyone else?”
Ellie nodded. “A little. Not too much that it raises any questions though, just some comments the first time someone notices.” She replied.
“There are all types of people on and in this planet and I am not one to judge based on species.” Isaac explained. “I am very much someone who is not above blackmailing people though. So, if I ever need your specific set of skills, I’ll contact you to call in this favor of not forcibly Identifying you in front of everyone.”
Ellie nodded with a gulp. “I understand. But seriously, I’m just a wagon driver. That’s all, nothing more.” She pleaded. “I’d be an awful spy or double agent or whatever.”
Isaac laughed. “I can tell. You’d crack under even the easiest amount of pressure.” He replied with a barely suppressed grin. “I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Isaac, if you add any more strays and misfits to your band of minions, Izen is going to have a heart attack. The last thing anyone wants is a barracks full of Darkness’s Shadows.” Lenna told him.
“Darkness’s Shadows?” Isaac asked and then grinned. “Shadows of Darkness, or just Shadows for short. I like that. That is actually a great idea.”
“Damn it.” Lenna swore. “I should have kept my mouth shut.”
“We could train them in the basement, or better yet, we could buy the house next to ours and turn it into a training ground for rogues that use magic and/or magic items.” Isaac went on as a brand new brilliant idea was beginning to put itself together in his head.
Lenna groaned. “Lua have mercy.”
—
Isaac and Lenna were just getting ready to stretch their legs one last time before the caravan resumed their journey when the sounds of men sprinting through the underbrush tickled their ears. Isaac and Lenna both looked towards the North at the same time. “They’ve made their move. It’s time to have a little fun. Lenna,”
“Yes, Isaac?” Lenna replied.
“Make sure one of them survives, is conscious, and can walk.” He told her.
“I’ll try my best but, it’s really hard to see and if they end up in the way of my sword, that is their fault.” She jokingly replied. “So I’ll leave the capturing to the man that turns people to dust by touching them.”
“If that’s the case, then maybe I’ll stretch my legs a bit.” Isaac told her with a smirk. “Maybe my mana pathways too.”