Chapter 8

That almost accelerated quickly, Janus thought to himself. The little bald inquisitor almost was trying to pick a fight with him at the pub, making demands and shortly later outside he started resorting to threats. He wanted Janus to turn himself in and go to the capital for processing. It’s something all Second Borns go through if found inside the empire, however Janus was in the neutral territory, so Janus should be exempt. That didn’t stop this inquisitor from threatening whatever and some sort of legal action.

What made his poor attitude more meaningless that was evidently frustrating to the Rangers is the fact that the inquisitor wasn’t even invited at all. Turns out the two Rangers were sent to request Janus to visit the Rangers keep for a chat with the captain. This bald guy called Master inquisitor Thorn thought that his status gave him authority that meant he could stick his nose in.

If anything, surprised Janus it was that the little shit was an Inquisitor and the girl likely his initiate. Given his little stature and unintimidating look it wouldn’t be hard to believe she was the master inquisitor and he the assistant. Honestly the girl was much more intimidating than her boss. Looking down on the little man as he was trying to be intimidating a much taller Janus was almost comical.

As far as Janus could tell he wasn’t under arrest, but this summoning was a bit of an inconvenience. Not really inconvenience, Janus earlier was doing nothing anyway thinking how he was going to pay the blacksmith for his sword.

So, Janus sat in the passenger seat of a carriage heading to the keep that overlooked the city. The inquisitor was mad when Janus climbed on the front rather than crawl into the back with the others. it didn’t help when Janus said, “Tallest in front.” Rather more smugly than intended but the jab seemed to hit him just as much.

One of the Rangers was driving, sitting next to Janus she introduced herself as Adel, she was the girl in the pub that kept getting in Thorns way. She was pretty with an Arabian look and raided hair, her Ranger cloak had elite archer badges. Beautiful and deadly, a kind of girl the Rangers often liked to attract. She bit her lip and looked at Janus with a smile. “True you’re a Second Born?” She says with a bit of excitement, her accent was close to Arabic.

Janus like an idiot just smiled while facing forward and gave a thumbs up. Eye contact is a luxury for him on this rocky carriage balancing his head, however she doesn’t notice or doesn’t care for Janus’s rudeness.

She continues to grin speaking, “That’s cool, my great grandfather was a Second Born.” She nods obviously proud of her heritage, “I’m fifth generation Egyptian after him.”

That sparked an interest in Janus, “Really. What time-period was he from?” Janus said very curious.

Adel leaned in with a raised finger like pointing out a star, “Greek invasion, he saw Alexander himself believe it or not.” That is interesting. It is incredible the kind of people that come to this world. The diversity of time travel. “Where are you from?” A little over eager she asked.

Janus proudly says, “England, or Northumbria to be precise.” He declares as he shakes his fist to match her enthusiasm.

Her eyes became brighter at the name, “Truly? You saw the empire days of Britannia?” She seemed to know some earth history.

Janus cuts the air with his hand indicating no, “Not from any notable time. I died in the 2020s.” Janus then thought to himself about that time, born too late to sail the world. Born too early to fly to Mars, He can’t think of anything noteworthy that happened in the 21st century really.

The smile she had briefly left her face and came back a little more forced. “Ok, that’s an alright time I suppose…” she nods with just a little bit of disappointment.

Janus noticed the change and was a little offended, oh I’m sorry I wasn’t at the battle Waterloo or anything special lady. Janus was sarcastically thinking while almost voicing it to her but still, keeping it to himself trying to be polite.

She may have noticed his offence, “I mean nothing by it. I really like meeting Second Borns. It’s kind of a hobby of mine. In fact, it’s why the captain wants to see you.” She says defensively.

Janus then realised an important question, why do they want to talk to him? He tried asking for an answer, but Adel just shrugged off his question, she most likely had no clue why herself, just told to do it. “I am passionate on meeting Second Borns and the captain does to, I think. He has a hat collection.” Hat collection Janus marked, “Some hats like Cowboy or Napoleon but also replicas helmets from earth. Like Roman, Crusader, Viking, Samurai, and USA or Germen World War.” She lists them very informed; the captain seems enthusiastic about warfare. She stopped talking after that pointing out the front entrance to the Rangers keep.

While moving closer Janus’s ears poked up a little because he could hear bagpipes playing in the distance. the Ranger’s base was crawling in view, anyone in the city could see the Rangers keep if they wanted too. A small fort atop a hill overlooking the northwestern wall of Segunda with its back to the mountain at its north. In addition to the mountains the Dwarves had their own base not far into the cliffs that leads into the underground, Rune roads they control, that are easily accessible for the Rangers to travel. Janus often saw this fort in the distance but never gotten this close. Once Janus contemplated joining the Rangers until he grew out of the idea for the Fellowship.

The keep was surrounded by an outer wall built from timber that was harvested from the trees closest to them. Clearing the ground around them so archers could find targets without obstruction. Behind the outer wooden wall was a single solid rock building made from grey stone harvested from the mountain north. It appeared that the Dwarves had a hand in building it. One big box of medieval architecture design atop a hill, with large square towers slightly taller than the main building at every corner.

At the front was a drill yard where other rangers are working on fitness. Around the keep several hundred Rangers are rotating between exercise tasks, A bell rang out and they all stopped and switched places rotating in a circle. The first group was running laps, second push ups, third sit ups, fourth pull ups and fifth burpees. They seemed professional army at first look, despite being a civil volunteer unit they are disciplined like a force.

They took no mind to the carriage as it rolled around and stopped, “Welcome to the Crisis keep of the Rangers.” Adel marks as Janus carefully climbed off the carriage trying to stop his head falling off to the side. Losing his head now in front of hundreds would be embarrassing. Successfully and mercifully landing with everything secure he scanned the grounds as the others climb out. Janus looked at the keep with some admiration, it was built to sustain hundreds of people.

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The thing that caught Janus’s eye was not the murder holes, arrow slits or giant crossbows at every corner. But it was the stairs and doors that got his attention. They seem simple at first glance, but it is very clever that they had in mind. Look carefully and you can see no doors or windows on the ground level, only stairs leading up to a set of double doors at the third floor. This design is made so if enough attackers force the defenders into a siege all the defenders must do is set the stairs on fire. Leaving the attackers kicking their boots into solid rock walls on the ground. Kicking with frustration as hundreds of arrows or heavy objects likely fall on them from above them.

Observing what he can around the fort and inside the outer walls were other buildings, among them are horse stables, a private blacksmith, outdoor food area with grill fires. Oh and of course, it wouldn’t be a very good base without a pub for the staff and soldiers. It should also be noted that the surrounding buildings plus the wall are made to burn. To prevent attackers from using them to help siege the fort as cover or a place to rest they would be set on fire to deny them to the enemy. Made to burn but to also burn slowly making an attack on the fort more difficult that would be delayed for days.

This place is impressive Janus thought, they really planned what they could think would be the worst outcome of an attack. It is also important to know that this is just the things he can see. With whatever hidden surprise this place may still have Janus can figured it might be safer here in a siege rather than in the city of Segundo itself.

“Something wrong with your neck?” Janus turned to see Thorn, the inquisitor speaking to him. Hands behind his back he was eyeing Janus as if he was an obstacle that needed to be removed. To scan his surroundings Janus had to fully rotate his entire body, an odd movement that the inquisitor took notice.

Janus looked at him as Thorns protege stood down from the carriage door and moved next to the inquisitor. Her red cloak swept back as Janus could see a symbol that indicated she was a member of the Witch Hunters guild of the inquisition. “I got hurt in my last fight over a week ago.” Janus says remembering not to mention where because the inquisition or this arrogant asshole, Thorn will likely go and investigate. Possibly finding the village talking about a guy with the detachable head. Given the alcoholic reputation of the village has it wouldn’t take the inquisitor much effort to learn it was Janus. As an afterthought, not saying anything about the village would also protect Louis for the time being since he too is a Second Born.

“Don’t think this place can keep you protected too long.” Thorn voice was nasally pitched as if his nose was blocked. Janus frowned looking closely, it did seem like Thorns nose was broken to many times. One would wonder why…. “I will have the means to take you back to the capital for processing soon enough.” Thorn says confidently.

What is his problem? Janus thought, he is too zealous for his job and that’s saying something about an inquisitor of all people. What branch is he from? It is already clear that the girl he is with is a Witch Hunter recruit, but Thorn has no such markings of allegiance. Is he another Witch Hunter like her? It is plausible but by how he’s been acting to Janus he may be a Soul Hunters, a special branch that searches for Second Borns. It would explain his stubborn hostility to Janus. That or he could be interrogator, investigator or maybe even a miner group like Pathfinder, whatever it is his insignia is more than likely under his breast plate out of sight.

“I haven’t done anything wrong inquisitor.” Janus says defiantly, “You do not have the right to pester me.” They both know the law and in the company of the Rangers Janus is protected, doubly so protected in the neutral zone. Thorn is aware of this code that Janus is untouchable. Then it came to mind, unless Janus’s had broken a major law… Such as possessing a forbidden book of spells he found. “I’m leaving and I know even outside of this place you still can’t touch me.” In a mocking tone to mask his unease of his book.

Giving the inquisitor a final look he saw Thorn was armed with two large knives, and a short sword. However, in his stunted height the knives are more like short swords alone in his hands. Looking at the blonde girl Janus noticed her weapon was a crossbow. She seemed the smarter of the two, she spent time scanning Janus trying to figure out who he is just as much as Thorn was doing.

Janus did the same, scanning them both with a better look at their features. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, she was sharp. She had the sharp look like a bird of prey would have and to top it off she had a hooked nose like one too. A predator was fitting description for her as she watched Janus with a look as if determining on how to fight him. Janus decides she is the more dangerous of the two because she had clearly set up a plan ready to kill him.

A Ranger then approached, it was the man from the pub before, “Ignore him, we all do.” Thorn flashed a face of anger at that comment. The Ranger making it clear that Thorns behaver is a common theme to brush off around this place. Thorn was speechless, fuming at the disrespect from the Ranger stormed away. Janus smirked at this reaction, it was like the unpopular kid at school told to get lost.

The Ranger, Matt is his name just gave a sigh of relief to be away from Thorn, “Since the Rangers and Fellowship started becoming a single organisation. The inquisition has been an argumentative force to work with. The intelligence service is handy to help coordinate. But” Matt grunts the last word then continues, “Honestly if not having that means no Thorn, I think we are better off.” He points Janus towards the fort as Adel waves goodbye to them and deals with the horses with the carriage.

Shit, this inquisitor really is that bad Janus thought, Janus was sympathetic about that. A bad colleague makes work miserable, “I take it that his antagonistic behaver is towards everybody not just me?”

Matt just rolled his eyes, “You wouldn’t believe, and trust me. you’re not that special him.” Janus gave a half smile, if it was someone else other than Thorn that comment would have hurt.

Then an afterthought came to mind, Janus inquired. “What about the girl? She seems intense.” Shifting his focus to her rather than the Inquisitor.

The Rangers expression became neutral at that question, “Dawn? She’s a good woman, or girl really.” He corrected himself, “She is very a determined individual, in fact some of us joke that she is the real master in charge, but we seem to see that Thorn is the one holding her back.” That’s funny, Janus had the exact same thought earlier but unfortunate for her.

“Dawn?” Janus repeats the name, she is young to be an inquisitor even as an apprentice. Janus was about to talk more about the two but was cut off.

“Janus!” A voice called out as him looked up to see that mutual friend Adel spoke about at the pub before. Forge, how did that name not come to mind before? Janus can only ever think of five names in his life he would think fondly of, and Forge was one.

Janus’s eyes light up smiling to the strong California voice, “Forge!” He yelled back, finally Janus thought. Finally, someone likable for a change. Forge hadn’t changed much this past year, with his blonde hair, blue eyes, and broad shoulders like a poster boy for the army. At first sight one would think he was a Captain America knockoff.

But Forge was clearly a Ranger now, but a year ago he was a mentor to Janus for his apprenticeship in the Fellowship. Years earlier, Forge did talk about that he was a Sergeant Major back in his Rangers days before the Fellowship. It’s obvious with the announcement of the two groups merger in the paper Forge got his rank back.

The two of them meet halfway on the stairs and clasp hands, saying over the top of each other, “You son of a Bitch!” Just like that Predator movie, given that Forge was also a Second Born, he understood the reference very well. They both chuckled and clasp hands in friendship but Forges smiling expression began to fall a little while looking at Janus.

By reacting to Forge, Janus’s expression began to fall with him, “You, ok? How have you been this past year?” Janus observed trying to understand what was that look he gave him?

Forges smile came back as normal, “Been doing wall, got word you were in the adventurers guild and the captain wanted to see you.”

Janus gathered that by the previous Rangers, “So I’ve been told but how did you know I was back in town?”

Forge puts a friendly hand on Janus’s back, guiding him into the fort. “I left a request at the Adventurers Guild to call the next time you booked in. then I sent those two Rangers to find you. Sorry I didn’t come myself, but they did not say anything?”

“They didn’t say a word, in fact they said it was a surprise.” And almost grateful for it, Forge is a pleasant surprise, “You didn’t send the inquisitor, did you?”

Forge was insulted by that, "Hell no, you to have the misfortune of encountering him was the last thing anyone wanted. He been giving you a hard time?” He says concerned.

Janus smiled reassuringly and patting forge on the back, “Nothing I wouldn’t have expected from the inquisition.” The pair of them stop to process this. “It’s been a year and your back in the Rangers Forge. With your old rank too, that was fast especially since the merger was announced today or yesterday?”

Forge grabbed a fist full of his cloak and held it up, “They were actually merging for the past month, they just made it official now is all.”

It may be official now but how did this happen? “What does this mean for the Fellowship? I saw the mood down by the guild and people are less then pleased.” Janus talking about his view back down in the city.

Forge dismissed that, “We can talk about that later, now I want you to meet my commanding officer here. He wants to meet as many Second Borns as he can.”

That is still a subject of confusion to Janus, “Whatever for?” Janus asks.

Forge shrugged, “It was the same for me month ago. I think he probably wants to recruit you.” Forge was saying almost jokingly.

Janus stifled an almost bark of laughter. “Me?” he says with disbelief, this captain wants Second Borns to join? It is not an unheard-of practice really.

Most groups and organisations do seek out reincarnated people to employ simply because they might have skill or talents brought in from Earth. Whatever he wants from Janus he will be disappointed, even if Janus wasn’t a Dullahan he can’t think what he could bring from his past life to contribute here.