CHAPTER FIFTEEN
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Urman Gant
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17th of Decepter, 935 PC
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Growing up, Urman had always thought going underground could only take you closer to the three hells, but lords be good, Kathar had put that belief to rest when he’d built a four room den right below the forest. Smack dab in the middle of the Emerald. You’d never know it walking by, with the hidden hatch and all, but it was down there. And Urman was real damn happy about it. What tickled him pink though was the thin lathering of soap that covered his face and neck and the bowl of Hot Rocks at his feet. He loved the rocks. Couldn’t get close enough to them in the evenings. He’d nearly forgotten what warmth felt like he’d been chilled to the bone for so long. But now… Whew. Good living, this was. Even had a bed to sleep in even though its purpose felt wasted on him and his guilty conscience.
Kathar stood to his left, carefully scraping the soap and hair from Urman’s neck with an obsidian blade. Not too many people in the world that Urman would let put a blade to his neck. Yet, he felt at ease. Kind of like royalty down here in this castle. It was the cushion under his bare feet that did it. Every so often he’d look at it just to make himself smile. His crooked toes formed a frown that reminded him of the drunks outside Pauly’s back in Locke.
He’d been smiling a lot since coming here. Everywhere he looked something about the den put a good feeling in him. Especially the woodwork – nothing short of masterful. Thick timbers stood side by side along every wall, each one with carvings that made a picture of Locke if you were staring at it from far away. There were a bunch more logs along the ceiling that were held up by four bigguns that were tied together in the middle of the room. There was no doubt they were strong enough to withstand a good shaking of the earth. Made no sense how they got down here, but Kathar had a work ethic about him and not many things made a man more resourceful than a good work ethic. Least that was what Urman’s pa always told him. Aye, the whole place looked like The Creator made it specifically for Kathar and gave it to him at the new year.
“If I had to reckon I’d say I’ve never done nothin’ this impressive in my whole life. Never have, never will,” he said as Kathar turned away to dunk the blade in a bowl of water. He had a big smile on his face when he turned around but not because he was proud of himself. “You know I hate that shit-eatin’ grin.”
Scrape. Scrape. “For you, just being alive is impressive,” Kathar said. Letting bygones be bygones had mostly worked after their spat in the woods but there’d been a little back and forth later that night too. Things had gotten back to normal between them the next morning though. Like always, all they needed was a night to let the tempers simmer down. Urman was grateful for that. He had plenty of guilt piled on him as it was. Didn’t need his best friend resenting him.
“That ain’t the same and you know it. I stumble around dodgin’ silver steel and purple lightning. Half the time it’s an accident. Lost track of how many times I should have died years ago. But you… You built something worthy of The Creator.”
“It’s not bad, I admit it. But don’t doubt yourself. You’re a crafty man in your own right. Nine lives, as they say. That’s to be envied.”
“By who? The dead?”
“Precisely.” They shared a chuckle at that one.
Scrape. Scrape.
A tired old hound wandered into the room, light brown like leather, ears drooping down the sides of her head, eyes looking for a place to lie down and some sympathy to go with it. She brushed against the bottom of Urman’s legs then found a comfortable spot in front of the Hot Rocks. Kolton was playing with blocks not too far from her. He leaned toward her and gave her some of that sympathy she was looking for, rubbing her side softer than most boys his age could ever manage. Got that from his daddy, no doubt.
Ember still had some pep in her step the last time Urman had seen her. Now, the only time her eyes were fully open was if there was food to be had. Funny how quick old age can sneak up on you. Lucky dog though, ate better than he had in months. The tastes of blueberries and mushrooms were so familiar to Urman these days he could almost fill his belly just thinking about the damn things.
Scrape. Scrape. This time along his cheek. Almost done.
“She’s getting old,” Kathar said. “Not sure how much longer she’s got.”
“She’ll be alright,” Kolton said, clearly unaware of how the world works.
Urman looked at the poor old gal and said, “Don’t go dyin’ while I’m here, Em.” Unlikely. He’d only be here a few more days at most. Surely she’d last that long. He wanted to stay in Kathar’s den forever but he had places to be. Nowhere near as enjoyable as this one, but that’s life when you’re trying to save someone you love. “Been thinkin’ about Locke a lot lately.”
“Oh, no. Thinking about that place will get a man like you into even more trouble than you’re already in.”
That's about what Urman expected. “Do ya remember it?”
“We spent twenty-three years of our lives there, didn’t we?”
“But do ya remember it? The streets, the bridges, the buildings.”
Kathar dunked the blade in the water again and looked at him suspiciously. “What are you up to?”
“Do ya remember it or not, Kathar?”
“Most of it.” He scowled at Urman. Hard. “Tell me what you're up to?”
Wasn’t none of his business really, but he needed the man’s smarts. Urman had planned plenty of his own adventures and well, they seldom ended with anything but blood and death. Not this time. “I’m goin’ back there and I need a plan. A good one.” Nothing but Ember’s loud breathing and blocks bumping softly. He tried to sit up but the hand on his shoulder felt like a ton of bricks. He could understand the reaction. They’d promised never to step foot back in the city when they’d finally escaped. Each for their own reasons, but it could all be tossed into the same slop bucket.
“You’re not going back there,” Kathar said.
“I have to.”
“No you don’t”
“Yes I do.”
Scrape. A little firmer. “We made a promise.”
“And I’ve kept it longer than any other I’ve ever made ya, but this is important. Got a chance to get him back.” Always felt like their agreement only applied to Urman anyway.
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Kathar finished up his job and tossed the blade into the water with a plunk. He walked away in a huff. Just like he used to as a boy. It was always Urman who’d stand up to the little pricks that would give them shit down by the docks. Didn’t care how many there were. He’d fight like one of the three devils had possessed him, maybe all three, no matter how many fists were flying. Made him a favorite with the dock workers which earned him his first ale way before he should have been drinking.
He climbed out of his chair but just stood there with his ass in his thumb, looking at Kathar who’d made his way into the kitchen. A chair scraped across the floor. Let him talk first. That’s what he wants. Urman spent the next couple minutes watching Kolton use his blocks to build something like a castle that was way better than anything Urman could do with them. Little shit sure is a chip off the old block.
Nothing happened for a while. Urman got tired of waiting but just before he spoke Kathar said, “That place is in shambles, you know. It’s not like it used to be.”
He moved toward the kitchen slowly. It was even nicer than the living space. A gorgeous mahogany table and two matching chairs took up most of the room. Counters and cabinets owned the other end. “How do ya know that?”
“Still have friends there,” Kathar said, only half-trying to be convincing. “They write from time to time.”
“Ya don’t say.” Urman was the suspicious one now. He loved turning the tables on Kathar. Something he’d only ever managed half a dozen times or so if he had to reckon.
He sat down in the handmade chair. “Ya been there, haven’t ya? To see her?”
Kathar not only looked ashamed but worse, sad. “A few times. Iris has ruined it. Lotus everywhere. They’ll hunt you down like an animal, Urman.”
Nothing new. Fancied himself a damn good runner nowadays. Much as he hated it.
“That’s why I need a good plan. In-n-out.”
“Why are you going there anyway?” There was still plenty of pleading in Kathar’s voice.
Urman reached into his pocket and slid the small red box he’d taken from Ezil across the table. Partly because he needed to convince Kathar to help him and partly because nothing could make his friend smile like a good secret.
Kathar ran his finger along the top of the box. “Cherry.” As if Urman cared what kind of wood the box was made of. “What’s in it?”
“A secret.”
They shared a grin. “You know me well.”
“Too well.” He pointed at the box. “Go ahead. Take a look.”
It was about this time when Kolton appeared at his daddy’s leg, hands on his thigh, eyes on the box. “What is it?”
Kathar stole a glance to make sure it wasn’t something the boy shouldn’t see. Urman shrugged. Who in the three hells was he to make that choice?
“I don’t know, but let’s find out.” Kathar opened the box and fished out the folded piece of parchment. “Looks important.” He said it jokingly, without knowing what he held in his hands. Urman got up and went after some dried meat in a chest on the counter. The parchment unfolded quietly. “How in the three hells did you get this?”
Urman took a bite and chewed. The seasoning was about as good as he’d ever tasted but he had no clue what it was. Kind of spicy. He thought about Ezil and what he’d done to him. “I have my ways.”
“Where did you have to go to get this?” Kathar asked, laying the formula down on the table, staring at it in disbelief. Kolton wandered off in disappointment.
“Around. All around.”
Kathar’s eyes narrowed. “It’s my humble opinion that when a man won’t tell where he’s been, he doesn’t like what he’s done there.”
Dammit if they couldn’t go from rainbows to crossbows in the blink of an eye. “Just come right out with it,” Urman said. “I know you’re suspicious of me. It’s like ya think I’m a different person.”
Kathar leaned away and stared at him. “Can you blame me? You’ve avoided talking about your travels since you got here. What am I to think? That you bought this with money you earned at the docks?”
“Ya can’t beat the people I’m fighting by playin’ fair, Kathar. Everything I’ve done has been for a reason. A good reason.” Silence. He rolled his eyes when it was obvious Kathar wanted answers. “I spent a long time in the west. Out in DuVale. But before that, I was all over. Been in every realm. Seen the five capitals. Serelle’s is the best by far. Gamblin’ halls the size of your ma’s house. Big stupid theaters for big stupid actors. Ships everywhere. Ships like ya never seen. Been in villages so small you couldn’t find ‘em if you was standing in ‘em too. I spent nights in caves and forests, under bridges, and in barns. Found an old temple once, up near Iron Helm. Abandoned but still in pretty good shape. Thought about settling down there for good.” Nothing for a moment. He glanced at the living space then lowered his voice. “And I did terrible things everywhere I went. Because I had to… Good enough?”
“And why didn’t you?”
Urman was breathing hard now. “What?”
“Why didn’t you settle down in the temple?”
“You know why. Three hells, he’s always been the reason I’ve ever done anything. And it was too far away from you.”
“And I suppose he’s the reason you’re going back to that dastardly city?”
“Course.” He crossed his arms on his chest, chewing on the last bit of meat angrily. “Wouldn’t go back there any other way.”
For some reason Ember’s heavy breathing in the other room helped him cool down, guiding his own breathing. Then Kathar said exactly what he was afraid of and got his heart pumping again. “We’ll go with you.”
“Not a chance! All I need is some help plannin’ a route in-n-out of the city.” He said it like his pa used to say things when he didn’t want any backtalk – the men he dealt with these days didn’t respect any other tone – but hearing it now, while talking to his only friend, it sounded… bad. Kathar was unfazed though.
“Did you really think you could come here with a queen’s bounty on your head and waving this thing in my face and I wouldn’t want to see to it that you don’t get yourself killed? It’s been a long time, Urman, but surely you haven’t forgotten that much about me.”
“You’re not comin’ with me.”
“Urman.”
“Kathar.”
Like fucking kids again.
Tempers started up. The kind between two close friends, the kind that got a point across but didn’t end up hurting anybody. Kathar looked the way he always looked when he was being stubborn; like an arrogant rich boy. I’ll be damned if I’m gonna get them caught up in this.
“There ain’t no reason for you to get tied up in this! It’s too dangerous,” Urman said. There it was again, that horrible tone.
“Never stopped me from being involved before.”
“I ain’t messin’ around with a bunch of clueless fools down at the market no more. And I sure as the three hells ain’t just tryin’ to sneak a mug o’ale at Pauly’s!” There were soft footsteps in the other room, sneaking down the hallway. Tough as he acted, Urman was scared of a lot of things. His own temper most of all. He needed to cool down, end this conversation. “These people will slit your fuckin’ throat and not lose an ounce of sleep over it. They’ll hunt ya down till ya ain’t got nothin’ left in your legs. They turn ya all around, Kathar. Make ya somethin’ ya ain’t.”
“I don’t care,” Kathar said calmly.
Urman’s chest puffed out in anger as he stared at Kathar’s resolved demeanor. “How can you say that? How can you fuckin’ say that to me?! You have all this.” He gestured at the den. “Your life is perfect. Don’t throw that away because some fool came knockin’.” He could feel his nostrils flaring with each breath.
Kathar stayed cool as ever. “Look Urman. I love you, and I mean no disrespect. But you clearly can’t get this job done without help. Or else you’d be here for good by now.” For good? “Don’t you want that? Some sort of normalcy. Instead of having to run, fight and hide each and every moment of your life.” Normalcy. Out loud the word sounded made up, too good for a man like Urman. “Don’t you want to sleep in a bed every night? Fingers laced on your chest rather than wrapped around daggers. Don’t you want to tell the truth for a while? Wouldn’t that feel good? Wouldn’t that lift a weight off your chest?”
If his tears hadn’t dried up years ago he might have felt some on his cheeks just then. “Course I want that. But I ain’t willing to risk yours to get my own.”
“You aren’t. I am.” Kathar grinned just as annoyingly as before but this time it made Urman feel a little better about getting his brother back.