Chapter 2

“Damn it!” Klein exclaimed as they rounded the last house between them and the bridge. The bridge piles made out of large wooden posts stuck out of the water in a few places and they were blackened from fire. Stone that had formed a base and anchor for the wood base on each side of the river sat naked and a few destroyed boards were strewn about them, but it was obvious that the nails had been scavenged and hauled away.

“This is good news.” Rala comforted her distraught companion putting her arm around his waist. She watched Klein’s eyebrows unfurrow and the scowl that had been forming melt away. His eyes looked back to the town and then at the surrounding countryside.

Klein met Rala’s carefully hidden eyes. They were brown this time, like his. “He will be in town by night fall, or dead.” He deduced. “Hell, let’s get a drink to celebrate,” Klein laughed leaning forward enough to drag Rala by her wrapped arm.

“Hey!” She smiled at him. “Let’s get that drink and not hurt ourselves on the way!” Rala watched the surprise on his face before continuing. “But only one! The general isn’t going to just walk away with us.” Klein smiled and Rala realized he hadn’t been quite as surprised as she had thought. Klein took her hand and they strolled back into town.

“Trying to make it to Maruk eh?” The barber called from the entrance to his small shop. He was a tall man with wrinkling features and greying hair. The Barber was drying his hands on a rag from his apron pockets and walking out to the street turning to follow the road with them. Rala made a sheepish smile towards the man and nodded slightly.

“Aye, they have the mightiest walls and I have already seen two towns just like this raised by deserters.” Klein drawled to match the accent of the barber effortlessly. People in the small country like this are of course prone to notice travelers, but he would have thought they’d leave a pair of refugees alone.

“I don’t think that’ll happen here. We’ve got ourselves a good militia and we are quite out of the way.” The barber proudly gestured about to illustrate the small buildings and surrounding dry grasslands.

“You might be right, but I think the city is the right place to be… Dark times these days.” Klein said. Rala squeezed his hand. Sometimes it was hard for him to keep his mouth shut and Rala was always there to caution him.

“You’re not worried you’ll be drafted in?” The old barber questioned eyeing the hilt of his sword protruding over his left shoulder and the large dagger strapped to his waist.

“I don’t think it will come to that. The Rarun army hasn’t moved since it crushed the army on the other side of the bridge. I think they might be talkin’ like honest folk finally.” Rala squeezed his hand again. The conversation was going to get him in trouble, but he couldn’t find an out.

“Maybe… ” The Barber said thoughtfully. “I don’t know much about all that, but you folks look like a drink would do you good. I was headin’ to the tavern myself, if you don’t mind my company.”

Rala smiled, “We do! Figured it wouldn’t hurt to spend a day here. It is awfully nice here.”

“It’s not safe.” Klein mumbled, playing his part halfheartedly.

“I’ll buy the stew if you buy the drinks. Trust me its worth it.” The barber beamed at them. “I can’t wait to introduce you to Mary.”. He glanced over at Klein, “You folks are in for a treat. Nobody does lunch like Mary Ru.” The barber fumbled around in his apron pockets and pulled out a pair of spectacles. He wiped the lenses with a less than clean thumb and stuck them on his face.

He blinked a couple of times and smiled again. “I’m sorry!” He exclaimed. “I have been quite rude! My name is Eric and I’m the town barber, but I also make a nice beer in my free time if I must say so myself.”

Klein smiled. The man looked a hair over fifty, but he was as excitable as a kid. “I’m Klein, and this is Rala. I used to be a farmer down south and Rala, here, might give Ms. Mary Rue a run for her money for best lunch around.” Klein managed to keep a straight face as Rala dug her nails into his hand.

“Well, I’ll be. Maybe we will find a time for you to get in the Tavern and fix up a right fine stew, miss Rala. It’s a pleasure to meet ya both.” Eric led the way into the tavern. A bell rang as they opened the door and a delicious aroma wafted out of the inn. The source of the smell was immediately obvious in a big pot on a central fireplace with a smartly built chimney to allow access to all sides of the fire.

“Mary Ru!” Eric bellowed. “I’ve got guests in need of enlightening!” He raised one hand to his mouth and in a quieter voice he said, “and I’m not talking about The Scripts.”

“Eric is that you? Taking lunch already?” An old woman with her hair tied up high waddled out of a back room.

“Business was a -” Eric was interrupted by Mary Ru’s exclamation.

“Oh my!” She said as she saw Klein and Rala. “You two look like you could use a hot bath and nice meal.” Klein looked at his dirt covered attire and filthy boots. Rala had on similar well worn garb.

“That does sound nice, miss, but we just can’t afford much...” Klein trailed off sadly. “We are just trying to stay out of the way and make it to the city.” Rala squeezed his hand again.

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“What Klein is trying to say,” Rala began, “we would love to buy a round of drinks, but we definitely can’t pay for something as nice as a warm bath.”

“It’ll be my treat. We treat people right, here at Boarslo. I’ll get one of my girls on drawing your baths.” She bustled away before they could try to protest. The barber, Eric, only smiled and shook his head.

“Looks like I won’t be able to hold up my end of the deal, but it seems you might be out over the water on your end too. Mary Ru can be a bit, ehm, motherly. I suppose.”

* * *

“Wow, you know Rala, I really needed that.” Klein grinned and stretched. His clothes had been scrubbed and dried over the fireplace while he bathed and they were still a bit warm. Rala slumped into him while they walked down the hallway.

“Yeah… that was nice.” She agreed. As they walked down the creaky stairs back to the main level they realized that a bit of a clamour was coming out of the previously quite building. “I was worried about this...” Rala murmured as they continued down the stairs. When they reached the bottom and turned the corner it appeared the whole village was starting their night early. People sat at nearly every table and three more wait staff had joined the previously bare bones crew.

“I hope you two don’t mind, but word travels fast ‘round here.” Mary Ru said smiling as she walked over to them. “Drinks and stew is half off today!” She declared. The rest of the villagers cheered. Mary Ru leaned cospiratorily towards them, “Free for you though!” A waitress quickly walked over to them with a tray that had two bowls and two spoons on it.

“For the stew.” She said briskly. Klein turned to look for the stew pot and found sitting on the fire. It was the largest stew pot he had ever seen, it was actually sticking out of the fireplace at the open sides, but the walls bent back inwards at the fire places corners on two sides forming a large iron L shape.

“That pot is enchanted!” Rala whispered excitedly. “Look at the surface. The flow is going into both branches simultaneously!”

Klein continued his observations and realized she was right. The stew boiled up from the section above the fire before spilling out into the branches of the L where patrons happily scooped out stew into their bowls. Their spoonfuls were loaded with meat and vegetables and somehow just the right amount of broth.

“Incredible...” Rala whispered as she continued to the fireplace. Klein forced himself to ignore all the unfamiliar eyes watching him as he followed her closer. “I can’t tell if it’s active or passive...”

“So,” Klein whispered into her ear as they bumped past a particularly boisterous table. “The mage might actually be here?” Normally Rala was very good at detecting mages. A few of the villagers greeted them as they moved closer to the pot. They exchanged brief pleasantries and doubled down as hopeful war refugees hoping the war was over and that the big city would jump start their lives again. Rala wasn’t quite happy with the story, but none of the villagers seemed to question it.

“It’s definitely passive. The skill required to create such a powerful enchantment...” Rala said continuing the conversation. Klein wasn’t particularly impressed, but he didn’t know all the intricacies of magic. While Rala leaned in and pretended to smell the delicious stew Klein took a spoon full and began filling his bowl. Stew was stew.

Eventually Rala gave up studying the enchantment and took the bowl Klein had been holding to her nose with a feigned look of annoyance. He only smiled and took a seat at a table with a few villagers.

She sighed and exchanged brief pleasantries. “I’ll be by the Cauldron,” She whispered to Klein as she retreated from the excited villagers. The cauldron was truly fascinating. She could feel the flow of the magic. The delicate weaving of the enchantment.

* * *

She felt the vibration of the ring on her hand. The sword was here. His sword.

Rala had lost track of time. Her bowl of stew had gone cold and Klein had wandered away from his table. She hurried to find him, weaving through the tables to find him. The firelight flickered about a room of happily stuffed patrons. That damned cauldron had been occupying her thoughts. Combined with the constant inquiries by the Boarslo villagers she and Klein had let the day slip by. She found him by an attentive couple listening closely as he described his flight from a brown bear. He wore his big goofy smile and the fireleight reflected from his eyes.

“Thar ain’t no way you touched a bears face without losin yer arm.”

“I kid you not,” Klein assured the skeptical farmer. “I slapped the side of its nose. And it sack back on its great ungainly behind and looked at me like dinner shouldnt sting. The brute sneezed and took off right like that.”

“Klein!” Rala shook his arm whispering, “The General is here. He is in town. He walked in from the south!” She spun on her heel and stormed for the door. Klein looked at the farmer and his wife apologetically.

“Sorry folks, but it looks like the missus wants my attention for a moment.” He grinned and winked at the farmer. “I’ll be back in later tonight, I’m certain.”

Klein joined Rala by the door. “Are you hiding yourself from him?” Klein whispered.

“I don’t need to.”

“What do you-”

Let’s go!” Rala urged.

Rala pushed open the door and slipped against the side of the building. Klein followed her lead falling into the shadow. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle as Rala hid them in the shadows. It always felt like a cold bucket of water being tossed over your head.

“I thought he could do magic.” Klein whispered.

“He doesn’t do magic like me. He was born different. We use our stamina and mana to shape and bend the world by offering it energy to do as we please. Not many have the talent to do the magic he does.”

They crouched in the shadows, but had stopped moving before they had even really started. “That’s him.”

“The old guy in the cloak with the kids? Are you serious?” Klein whispered back. “What’s he doing?”

“I think he must be going to the inn… with a really bad disguise.”

“With the kids?”

“Yeah… it must be part of his plan. That bastard would stoop so low. We can’t just take him out with the kids there.”

“Damn it. I guess he wouldn’t have lived long enough to become the Lion’s Claws without having a mind for strategy.” Klein whispered.

They continued to watch his approach.

He walked with a stumble, his back was haunched, but the disguise was ruined in three ways. He had a longsword. His limp just wasn’t quite right. And his eyes were too focused.