Being a feast day, Brook Bridge was busier than ever even if was early in the morning. I had heard reports that Brook Gate would open early this morning to allow those who were going to Fairfields, on the other side of Lundein, to make their way there to trade.
From the increase of wagons pulled by donkeys and horses, this was likely the truth. But even discounting them Brook Bridge was still extremely busy; be it from locals or those on a pilgrimage from far to attend the Saint Evaine feast to where she once lived. The noise of the people talking and shouting amongst themselves, the cries of the animals, and the creaking of the wagons it was almost too much for me.
The smell of animals and perfumed washed and unwashed bodies alike was similarly overpowering. Maybe I ’d quickly see Sara, who should be in her tavern this early in the morning, before retreating to my dorm just within the boundary walls of Mægen Scōl.
As I did my best to push my way through the crowds of people and miss the droppings of animals and puddles of stale vomit, I looked around at how Brook Bridge had decorated itself for Saint Evaine ’s day. Though not as colourful or overwhelming as what was found on the main road there were still bouquets of flowers, smaller sections of drab or weathered bunting without religious iconography, and only a handful of banners which all contained, what I knew now was, religious iconography.
I hadn ’t seen Three Bridge like this last year as I was in Mægen Scōl in an awakening coma. But now knowing the story, I realised that the simple circle was indicative of a ring, the token which Saint Evaine’s lover gave to her to indicate that he loved her. Rarely there was a curved line with dots on it, probably Saint Evaine’s prayer beads showing her depth of faith. Finally, there was also a picture of a woman, wearing a veil, kneeling in prayer. That I understood to be Saint Evaine herself.
It was a popular story amongst the masses as it was a romance for the ages. A plain-looking young woman who caught the eye of a powerful noble. They fell in love, and she bore him an heir. The problem for those in power was that she wasn ’t a noble, just a low born servant. And instead of ending the dalliance, he continued it. His arranged marriage wife took steps to rid him of this meddling low born woman. But the noble found out, and he sent her away to a nearby chapel to save her life. As he sent her away, he gave her his signet ring to give to their son when they came of age.
Tradition had it that the chapel he sent her to was the one here in Three Bridge, though that was an old chapel, it was probably still far too new to be the original; there was a possibility it had built upon the ruins of the past, but I wasn ’t so sure about that.
Instead of staying cloistered away, after giving birth, she went out and did good for those in need. In time, the noble ’s wife heard about this and discovered it was the same person she had wanted dead. Angered over the fact the noble would not allow her to provide him with an heir she took steps to kill the unfaithful Evaine and the child.
But though Saint Evaine was beaten to death; she would not give up either the signet ring even after death, nor her prayer beads. In hearing about how his wife had his lover killed, he divorced her and exiled her to a distant religious house. He then took in his son and officially made him his heir.
‘I told you we would find him somewhere around here,’ I heard Doctor Lee’s slightly shrill voice carry over the hubbub of the crowds which were making their way past me.
Making their way through the crowds, far easier than I could ever manage despite my large and intimidating size I saw a group of three heroes being led by the headmistress of M ægen Scōl, Doctor Lee. She had a timeless beauty about her. Even here, surrounded by the chaos of Three Bridge, she walked with a straight-backed elegance, as if she deserved whatever she so desired. Her softly creased elderly face, with warm pale beige skin and silvery hair held a stern look. Her piercing gaze focused on me, not that it was hard to see me as I towered over everyone but the people sat on the wagons.
What were heroes doing here in Three Bridge?
Normally they were only here to punish those who had done wrong within the city walls of Lundein. But from what I heard Doctor Lee they were deliberately looking for me.
I looked at the heroes. I was a bit surprised that the tyrannical Three Jobs were not here. Normally they would do anything they could to needlessly interfere with Three Bridge. Two of the heroes I didn ’t recognise and were probably Dayers, trained heroes but not yet settled down within a guild, from somewhere else attracted here to take part in security for the Lundein Fair. The last, a muscular man, wearing a purple outfit and a metal mask with a stylised sailing ship on, was from the Lundein Pool Guardians considering the metal mask he was wearing. I recognised him, but I couldn’t quite place him at the moment.
Which wasn ’t all that surprising, as I had only just started to focus my studies on the Lundein Pool Guardians. Their area of focus was the expansive port, which stretched all along the Winster River within the confines of Lundein’s walls. They were almost as powerful as a Livery Guild and occasionally acted as one. Until now they had my respect as they had never operated within Three Bridge, as far as I knew, focusing on security for Lundein Pool.
As they got closer, the two Dayers split and surrounded me as if I was a suspect. A small crowd of people gathered to watch what was happening.
‘Tell me,’ the purple outfitted man said, his voice projecting clear through the chaotic murmur of Brook Bridge, ‘did you have anything to do with the theft of cargo this morning?’
‘No.’ I said honestly. ‘I’ve not been within the walls of Lundein for almost a week now.’
‘The cargo was not held within Lundein, but within an associated warehouse.’
That surprised me. I had never heard of an associated warehouse within Three Bridge linked to Lundein Pool.
‘Still no.’ I said.
‘Open yourself up for mind reading.’ The purple man said, anger tainting his strong voice.
‘I cannot.’
‘Open yourself up for mind reading.’ His voice grew even sharper with anger.
‘As Master Berwyn stated, he is unable to open himself up like that.’ Doctor Lee intervened on my behalf, her stern face focusing upon the hero.
He scoffed. ‘How convenient.’
‘So tell me, where is your wife and child?’
The strange question so surprised me I couldn ’t say anything. I just glanced between the hero and the similarly surprised Doctor Lee. ‘I do not have a wife.’
‘Do not lie. We have witnesses saying that they saw you and your wife and child—’
A sharp pain flowed through my body.
I spun round.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
A nondescript man with pale pink skin and scruffy brown hair held an ornate blooded knife in his hands. He looked blankly at me.
My hand clenched itself into a fist. I punched the man in the throat, feeling his windpipe cave in.
The nondescript man flew backwards, tumbling slightly, before coming to land just in front the wheels of a passing wagon.
There was a horrid crunch as the iron rimmed wooden wheels crushed the man ’s skull.
Amid jeers and cheers from the surrounding crowd, I walked over towards the dead man who had stabbed me. Between the pain in my side, my strength, and what I wanted to do it was easy to ignoring the hands which were desperately trying to restrain me. In fact, I was pretty sure I dragged one of the heroes along with me for a while before they let go.
The knife must ’ve been a relic or mystical as there was still an intense twinge of pain coming from the wound.
The wagon driver had climbed down from the wagon. She was staring at the man she had run over.
She was a looker, with lustrous yellowy-gold skin and deep black hair. She was wearing a beautiful forest green dress. If it wasn ’t for Sara, last night, and our current situation then maybe I’d have tried to do a Gomes on her. Then again, if it wasn’t for Sara, I would probably not even thought about this woman in the same way I looked at her now.
That was if her yellow-gold cheeks hadn ’t been pale and her eyes wide with fear.
She looked up at me and the three heros which must ’ve been following me.
‘I didn’t mean to kill him kind sirs, please you must believe.’ She then knelt down on the filthy road surface, lowering her head close to the ground, ignoring the mess which would make her lovely dress impossible to clean.
‘Stand, please, it’s not your fault.’ I said crouching down next to her, and lifting her face with one hand. With the other hand I took hold of the ornate dagger which the luckless man had stabbed me with. I wiped the blood off onto the clothes of the man.
‘You have done no wrong, please go, I will make sure that no ill fortune falls upon you. If it does, mention the name of Doctor Lee of Mægen Scōl and I shall protect you to the fullest of my considerable power.’
‘Is that not right, Master Carrack?’
‘It is as Doctor Lee states. You are free of any problems, unknown and blameless merchant. You may depart. May you have good blessings and profits during the Lundein Fair.’
It was as a good as a reply as any. So, gently I helped her to her feet, carefully keeping my back straight to avoid straining the wound even further. I guided her trembling self back atop of the wagon. Discretely with a kick I knocked the body out of the way of her wagon ’s wheels wincing as the pain in my side flared up. With a pained smile and a nod, I motioned for her to go ahead.
Now with both hands free I tucked the ornate knife into my belt.
She nervously urged the wagon forward, eyes keep darting between where she was going and us.
After she had started her journey towards Brook Gate, I turned to face the three heroes and Doctor Lee.
‘We will retain that knife.’
‘What knife?’
‘The one within your belt.’
‘Why? Are you saying you had something to do with the stabbing?’
‘No.’ I heard the frustration in his voice as I forced him to admit an untruth.
‘Do you have powers over this region?’ I asked, knowing that since the so-called Three Bridge Revolt no heroes had powers over Three Bridge; just as those within Lundein had wanted.
‘No.’ Again I heard the frustration in his voice.
‘You better leave it there, Master Carrack,’ Doctor Lee said, ‘Berwyn, here, is one of our top students. You know your are in the wrong. He knows he is in the right and knows his rights too.’ She looked around. ‘It is best we leave before things turn ugly.’
The surrounding crowd had grown even more. The jeering and shouts had simmered down into a dangerous and angry murmur. A few drunks caught up amidst the crowd were probably speaking things that any sane person wouldn ’t dare.
‘Yeah, you better leave.’ A voice shouted from somewhere within the crowd.
Another shouted, ‘you be cowards.’
‘Yeah,’ a third voice shouted. ‘You only come when want something.’
‘Here, here,’ a few random voices shouted out from the depths of the crowd.
‘You, do something about them.’ The purple outfitted and metal masked hero, Master Carrack, said to me loudly so the crowd could hear. ‘We’re going now.’
He was putting this all on me. I couldn ’t cope with crowds. And he just left them to me and turned around doing his best to flee.
‘You can do it, Berwyn, I have faith in you.’ Doctor Lee said, her stern looking breaking into an unusual half-smile, briefly tapping my arm. ‘Come to the medical room soon and we will get that wound of yours healed up.’
With that she left, following the heroes who were trying their best to carefully squeeze through the crowds without causing even more troubles.
‘Uh, uh, some of you might know me.’ I said trying my best to project my voice as they had taught me.
‘Yeah. I know ya. Ya knocked me teeth out. Ya fookin’ big bastard.’ A jolly voice shouted from somewhere near the front. ‘It do be me fault though. I were a bit too handsy. And I were warned.’
The voice gave an embarrassed chuckle.
‘I know ya too. You be Miss Sara’s man. You bastard. I wanted to catch her eye, beauty that she be.’ A man about my age, from the front of the crowd shouted.
A few chuckles followed that.
‘Aye,’ another said. ‘I thought she be weakening to me charm. Then ya came along. Saved her. Then she only had eyes for ya.’
‘Last night I saw him escort her to his place. There hand be entwined like young lovers. Her gaze only upon him. ’ A reasonably pretty woman shouted, from just within the crowd. I could she was wearing the same poor quality skimpy clothes she had last night as I walked past her with Sara. Either she had worked all night, standing around the streets, or she had worked all night in the bed of another.
I felt my cheeks flush warm. With how pale me, I gave a shake of my head internally, my cheeks were I knew everyone could see me blush.
‘Aye. He be a good one. After all the ribbing we give. He but blushes.’ A female in her mid-thirties shouted out. ‘Sara and Berwyn, may we bless them on this Saint Evaine day!’
‘Sara and Berwyn!’ The crowd roared in return. ‘May Saint Evaine bless their union!’
Oh, damn.
Just how would Sara react to the news our fledgling relationship was now the talk of the town?