Chapter 4
“H-hey, where are you taking us?” stammered Lox as Winter led them down a side street. The man she had noticed was pretty good, she had gone down several different side streets and alleyways, only to find him casually following behind once again after they re-emerged onto the main road. Definitely not just a street thug.
“You didn't notice we're being followed?” she replied while sneaking a glance behind her. “we're going to ambush him back in there,” she stated coldly motioning with her chin. The place they were at now was fairly narrow, and the tall buildings obscured the blue sky above. The place she had indicated was a group of stacked up crates that stood about chest high to her. “Quick, before he gets around the corner!”
They quickly dove behind the large wooden boxes, and waited sitting on their heels. “Knife, quick!” she demanded in a low voice holding out her hand. Lox only took a moment before he fumbled around and handed it to her, a worried look on his face. “Don't do anything unless I say so, now be quiet!” He nodded and they began to wait.
There it is! She could just make out the swish, scrunch of padded shoes. As the steps grew closer she tensed up. Suddenly the footsteps stopped, what is he doing? Hurry up! After a what seemed an eternity the steps continued, a little faster this time. Suddenly a leg thrust forward past the box Winter was crouched behind.
With a smooth motion and a flash of blond hair she thrust forward, stabbing the man in the left calf. As the man let out a yell in surprise she yanked the blade free, stabbing twice more in succession, once in his right inner thigh, once on the top of his left knee. As the man fell to the ground in pain Winter held the knife blade to his throat, drawing a thin line of blood before the black haired man was able to throw himself into the opposite wall. She kept the pressure on the blade following the man as he crumpled to the ground in a heap, eyes wide with fear.
“Who sent you?!” she demanded narrowing her eyes. The man's eyes got wider if that were possible, “Who. Sent. You.” With every word she increased the pressure on the blade slightly.
“T-t-the...” he stammered. Winter leaned in darkening her gaze, “The King!” he nearly yelped, “His Majesty, y-your brother,” he tried to smile weakly at that, “he wanted us to keep an eye on you, only that I swear!”
“Why?” she demanded. She could hear Lox shifting around behind her, but ignored him. “Tell me why!”
“I-I don't know...Your Highness!” the poor man's eyes were tearing up now.
“How much does my dear brother know, hmm?” A dangerous gleam entered her eyes and the man gulped again.
“Only...only that you and that boy,” he said nodding at Lox, “escaped the prison, ah, without help from the insurrectionists.”
“There are insurrectionists?” Winter asked, tilting her head. The man's face paled as a confused look crossed his face.
“Why of course,” he stated “those led by Lord Newell, Milady.”
“Ah, of course, Lord Newell,” she said acting as if she knew the man. “I suppose you've been following our movements since the escape?” He nodded. Winter's mind raced, for the past few days we've been visiting mages and magic shops searching for a teacher, I wonder what the King is making of my movements. Might as well ask, then send a message.
“And what does my dear brother believe I've been up to?” she asked putting on a devilish smile. Suddenly she realized she didn't even know this king of a brother's name.
“Ah, we...suppose you were looking for medicines, or perhaps a healer..?” the man had calmed down too much and had said the last bit with a slightly questioning air.
“Lox, step on his knee,” she said coldly.
“W-wha?” the boy stammered behind her.
“Just do it boy,” she demanded as she leaned in and shook the spy roughly. Lox did as he was told and the man grimaced in pain.
“Boy? ...You know I'm older than you right?” he muttered, she ignored him though.
“Gah! Why...princess?” the man grunted in pain as Lox's foot started to crush his wounded knee.
“Simple, I don't believe you,” she stated. “Now, tell me the truth, what does my brother know?”
“A-aah,” Lox was doing a good job, “H-he knows what happened to you in the prison,” he gasped, “He thinks you've been searching for a healer, I tell you true Highness!” He was sweating now, “I would never lie to you princess!”
Hmm, being royalty might have it's perks, but honesty from others would never be one of them. Nevertheless, she believed the man now, his eyes spoke of truth. “Fine, I want you to give him a message, directly,” she said anger entering her voice.
“A-anything Highness!” the man stammered.
Suddenly white hot anger bloomed inside her, it felt like her hair was standing on end, her voice was deadly calm however, “Tell him that he will pay,” she said, “tell him that from now on he won't find me, tell him that if he sends any more spies to watch me he will find only corpses, tell him that when the time comes he will regret throwing me into that dungeon!” The man's eyes were practically popping out of his head now. “GO!” With that she got up and kicked the man repeatedly until he got up and started limping away as quickly as he could.
“That...” gasped Lox bending over with hands on his knees, “was too intense.” He regarded Winter from the corner of his eye, “they teach you that in your princess training? Or, whatever they call it?”
“Advanced interrogation techniques,” she replied absentmindedly waving her hand. She then turned to the boy, hand on her hips, “did you know there was a resistance supporting me?”
“Ah-” he sighed looking away, “I might have heard something like that, I don't pay too much attention to things like that.” He looked back at the blue eyed girl then, “what do we do now though, they know where you are, where I live...” he paused as understanding hit him, “...oh no, Clarissa could be in danger too! All because I was stupid enough to try and stake out the palace of all places!”
Stake out, is he some kind of thief? She thought to herself.
“Only the best in the Rose Quarter!” he said puffing out his chest, “but more importantly, what do we do now?!” Winter was startled, she must have actually said that out loud. His face was tinged with worry over his sister though, she had to take control of this situation.
“First we have to leave the city,” she said thinking out loud while tapping her nose. “We'll find a village, a small one, and we have to leave as quickly as possible.” It would be a shame since they had just found a magic tutor, but it couldn't be helped. Actually, maybe not... Lox was looking at her expectantly, as if she could solve every problem in the world, “you go grab Clarissa at the guild, gather whatever money you can and pack as much as you'd need for a day's journey, then meet me at old man Heldrin's”
“But the closest village I can think of is more than a three days out,” Lox said confused.
“We're packing light,” she replied, “we can hunt on the way if we need food,” she paused, “bring plenty of water.”
“Well, if it's water either Clarissa or Heldrin can conjure some,” the boy said matter-of-factly. “You really think you can get that old coot to come with us?” he asked.
“Yeah, I'll manage,” she replied confidently. Unless I'm mistaken, that old man will jump through all kinds of hoops to teach Clarissa and me. “No problem.”
“All right, I'll be there in an hour,” said Lox as he started to lope away. It wasn't long before he had disappeared around a corner.
Slipping the small knife behind her belt and wiping her bloodied hands with a handkerchief Winter made her way in the opposite direction, back towards the old Archmage's shop. She had a decent sense of direction, but her footsteps came to a halt as she happened upon a large open square. It seemed a large crowd had gathered, and there were people up on a tall wooden stage, with one man yelling to the crowd in a loud voice.
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“...for the crimes of Lèse-majesté, subversion, sedition, and treachery against her Royal Highness Princess Ainsford!” the yelling man seemed to have finished. That was my name right? What's going on? She stopped then, peering over the heads of the crowd that surrounded her. There were three people on the stage, no, that's a gallows. He had never seen a gallows before, the middle east had favored stonings, Rajm they had called it. Even after they had made it illegal he had seen it happen in Afghanistan. Still, this was something different, but equally disturbing, and unless he...she missed her guess, it was for her sake. As she heard the trap doors open and the crowd gasp, she lowered her head and continued on her way.
-*-
It wasn't long before she once again found herself in front of the old mage's shop, she barely paused as she swept open the door. Walking towards the back, she saw Heldrin behind the counter, a questioning gaze developing on his slightly wrinkled old face. Oddly she found she couldn't place him at an exact age. Putting aside the thought she spoke while approaching him.
“Situation's changed old man.” she stated flatly with eyebrows arched. “I have to apologize first, but if you want to keep on living you're going to have to leave the city. With Lox, Clarissa, and me,” she added.
“Oh hohoho,” he chuckled with a dangerous gleam in his eye, “that doesn't sound like a normal threat young princess.”
“Far from it Mage Heldrin,” she replied, “It seems my brother the king has been keeping tabs on me, he knows where I've been staying since I broke out of the jail,” she paused eyeing the man with a level gaze, “and he knows I came to visit you here as well. It won't be long before he sends some soldiers to pack you away, especially considering your past with me and the palace.”
With every word Heldrin's face darkened, until finally he slumped over as if defeated. “I should have known as much,” he muttered bitterly. Winter opened her mouth to apologize again but he stopped her. “No, no, it was only a matter of time. Even if you had never actually come here I suspect they'd have at least sent someone to check and make sure I wasn't up to something.” He sighed then, “I was a fool to think I could live peacefully in this city after all.”
“Lox is bringing Clarissa here as we speak,” she said after a moment, “we'll be leaving as soon as they get here.”
“As you command, princess,” he replied gazing around as his store. It was obvious that it would be painful for him to leave it all behind. He made his way behind an open door leading to a back room and after a bit of time she could hear him moving things around, packing. After a few moments he reemerged carrying a medium sized scrip over his shoulder, and a long walking stick in his right hand. He handed her a small bundle then saying, “here, it was originally meant for your birthday last year, but obviously circumstances never allowed...”
Winter took the bundle curiously. Setting it on the counter she carefully untied the rope cord holding it shut. She paused testing the thin rope, seems strong enough. She put the rope into a pocket, ignoring Heldrin's quizzical look. What's a CIA agent without a garrote wire? Quickly she unwrapped the package.
Inside was a folded up piece of clothing. She lifted it up, letting it unfold while holding it against the light of the dimly lit shop. It was a long, luxurious looking travel cloak made of dark blue wool lined with a linen like fabric. Silver scroll work decorated the hem, making it's way up around the deep hood and lining the cuffs of the two sleeves. A silver clasp at the neck would hold it in place. Putting it on Winter felt a sense of warmth flow into her, it's length came down to just under her knees. Looking closely as the scroll work she could see small words woven into the design. Unknowingly a small smile formed on her face as she looked up at the old mage.
“Protection from the elements I grant unto thee,” she read, “protection from cutting blade, from harmful spell; I shall keep thee safe.” After she finished the verse the designs started to glow dimly.
“So you really can read it,” Heldrin huffed shaking his head. “It took me weeks as an apprentice before I got the pronunciation right.”
“Will this really protect me like it says?” Winter asked incredulously. She was mostly confused how an item could be infused with magic at all.
“It will serve you well,” he replied. “Nothing compared to even a good set of leather armor, but it will turn aside a blade in the dark or the stray spell that may come your way on a battlefield,” his eyes took on a far away look then. “ I fear there may be many in your future unfortunately.”
“Thank you Heldrin,” she said gracefully. “I'm sure it will keep me safe.”
-*-
It wasn't long after that Lox and Clarissa arrived wearing travel cloaks and small bundles strapped to their backs. Actually it looked like Lox was carrying everything, as Clarissa had only a small pouch on her belt. No doubt she was in charge of the money.
“Did anyone follow you?” Winter asked while letting them inside. She peered up and down the street looking for anyone trying to appear too normal. The best spies never actually looked like spies after all.
“Not that I could see,” Lox replied. The sun was in the latter half of the sky, it wouldn't be but a few more hours before it set.
“Will we have trouble getting out of the city?” she asked. She had seen a city gate on one of their earlier trips and it had been admitting a steady stream of traders arriving during the day, mostly with cargo full of weapons or food.
“We can get through with our adventurer badges,” piped in Clarissa. "Birdy gave me one for you too Winter!" Reaching into a pocket the small girl pulled out a bronze medallion about the size of her hand. It had a picture of a dragon curling around one side, while the other had a simple design with a staff crossing a sword.
“And if they ask me I'll just tell them I'm going out to gather some herbs for the shop,” said Heldrin “There are certain herbs far from town that only bloom in the moonlight after all,” he added.
“So you convinced him to come along after all, eh?” laughed Lox with his eyes twinkling. He obviously felt safer with a powerful archmage accompanying them. Clarissa frowned looking away from the man.
“Oh hohoho, it's only natural,” Heldrin laughed. “The princess was most...convincing in her arguments.” No doubt he saw teaching Clarissa as compensation for getting him into such a mess. The short girl snorted rather cutely and crossed her arms, still refusing to acknowledge the mage's presence.
“Shall we get going then,” she pouted impatiently looking up at Winter.
“Yes,” Winter smiled, “we'll exit from the south gate, then when we are out of site from the city turn east until we come upon some village...or something.” She honestly didn't know where any villages were as she had neglected studying any maps as of yet.
“If I may make a suggestion milady,” interjected Heldrin.
“Of course,” she replied, then added, “and if we are going to be traveling together you can drop the polite speech, it's a bit tiring after all.”
“Ahem, well then,” he coughed. “I suggest we make our way to a small town called Martin's Mill,” his dark brown eyes looked into hers then, “I believe you have some friends staying there after all, Winter.”
“Ah,” she said considering. “I'm sorry for drawing you all into this...” she paused, “but I think it will be best for us to stick together, at least until we get to Martin's Mill.”
“I reeeeaally don't think any of this is going to just blow over, Winter,” said Clarissa putting her finger to her lips in thought. “If anyone is to blame for us getting involved it would have to be my idiot brother,” she said impishly. She's probably right though...
Shaking her head, Winter motioned them to follow. “Lets get going then.” With that they exited the magic shop and made their way to the city gates.