laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

After months on the road south, they finally reached Soderham's promontory in the warmth of Vinna, the late Onebro would soon give way to the heat of Umealv and Alexander hoped that they would be home before then. His faith and strength had been tested on many fronts and he felt confident that Arhus would be pleased. At least he hoped so.
Artek and his friends had returned to the Black Mountains with their clansmen and bid their goodbyes in Ashton as their army sailed back with the templar bound for the Frontier and Davos. He now had another pendant that hung around his neck that sported the gloved fist holding four golden lightning bolts and Alex had returned the gift with his offer of blood. The short ceremony that the dwarves performed in the secrecy of the hold onboard the ship would bind Alex and Artek as brothers forever. He was proud that his league with those he had fought with and helped protect would remain down through their generations.

"Once we gain billeting," Stephen began as he wiped his neck with the already dirty cloth from the sweat and grime of the long road. "You should take the horses to the stablehand and have them replace the shoes."

"Yes, sir," Alex's deepening voice returned. It sounded odd to him but, he was glad that he would soon be seen as a man and not a boy any longer.

They rode up the long, winding road as Sir Stephen led the small group of templar who now numbered less than sixty-five, nearly half of them joining them in this city out of an initial army of over two hundred. Sir Deven, who had allowed Stephen to lead them, kept himself as a faithful lieutenant and now led their commander to the cathedral whose tall spires and high white walls were a welcome sight. Finally climbing out of the saddle, Alex grabbed the reins of their three horses as Stephen and Kenneth met the local paladin and templars at the front steps.

"Sir," Deven began. "It's been an honor to ride with you these past months. Please stay with us and take your rest before returning home."

"Thank you, brother. We'll stay for at least a few days and give our horses some time to recuperate," he stated as Alex led their tired mounts towards the stables.
He noticed the quiet interior with only a few horses within the plentiful stalls. Looking around, his eyes found the forge that was cold and dark. Listening up into the loft, he heard no movement and wondered where everyone was.

"If you're looking for anyone to help you," an elderly priest stated from behind as Alex turned. "There's no one to tend the stables right now. Gavin is in town working within the livery there. If you need his services, take your mounts down the main street and you'll hear the clang of metal behind the tavern. You can't miss it, just look for the hanging barrel over the door."

"Thank you, sir," Alex bowed, then led his horses towards the stalls before him. After pulling off their saddles and gear, claiming three stalls for them as the resident squires claimed their own, he then led the warhorses into town.

Soon, he arrived at the tavern whose music filled interior filtered out into the busy street as riders, horse-drawn wagons and passersby headed to various destinations. He turned down the long alley between the inn and cooper shop to his right. Sighing, he couldn't wait for a bath and hot meal as this morning's breakfast seemed like a week ago. Campaigning definitely had its drawbacks.

Within the long stable, he noticed the double set of stalls that flanked the wide entry and open loft in the center whose darker, peaked ceiling housed pigeons and who knew what else. Glancing to the left, he noticed the glow from within the forge and could smell the burning fuel and grime of steel under reconstruction.

"You lost," the female voice startled him from the distant right. He turned to see the gorgeous, raven haired girl who stepped out from the distant stall, pitchfork in hand. Her curvaceous body pronounced itself from beneath homespun woolen clothes of a commoner and he wondered if the local baron's daughter was trying to become inconspicuous. He stared into her deep, sea blue eyes that seemed to shimmer within the dim light as she leaned forward. "Hello?"

"I'm sorry," he replied nervously, adrenaline promoting sweat and other forces of nature in excitement. "I need to have these horses shod and returned to the cathedral of Arhus."

She nodded, her black hair shimmered a bluish highlight and he knew that she must be a sorcerer of some type as his stomach began to tighten in time with a nauseous headache. "As soon as Corbin returns, I'll tell him," she grinned. "You're handsome."

A flush came over him and he wasn't sure if it was her or the fact that he hadn't eaten for too long but, it was beginning to make him sick.

"Are you ill? Perhaps you should wash your face," she motioned to the trough behind them.

He sighed, nodded then dropped the reins and headed to the rectangular, wooden container and leaned over. Splashing the cool water over his face and head made him feel better - somewhat. Straightening, he wiped his face and neck, then turned to her again as she neared the horses who initially backed from her nervously. "I'll be back tomorrow."

"Certainly. What name should I give the smith?" she smiled a sultry grin that made his heart race.

"Ahh...Alexander," he introduced and found that he couldn't take his eyes from her as they stood there until she finally grabbed the reins and led the reluctant horses to the stables. He watched her curves and long strides, then realized what was going on as his headache subsided. Shaking his head, he turned and quickly headed back towards the main street and with each step began to feel better. Once reaching the stone bordered walkway that fronted each establishment, the realization hit him. He stopped and turned to see the dark interior of the stables to see no one until the rear door opened and a pair of older men's voices echoed within the small, dirt-filled yard until emerging beyond the main door to the large building. Sir Stephen had to be notified.

Within the large cathedral, he finally found his lord and man-at-arms who stood from prayer and turned to head towards the rear of the building. Jogging up, he gained their attention as they stopped.

"Did you find the smith," Stephen asked.

"Yes, sir. But, I think you should know, I found something else also," he began as he stopped near the paladin as both elder men eyed him curiously. "I met a girl there who isn't what she seems."

* * *

He led them both to the stables to find Gavin and the smith hard at work. As the paladin and Sir Kenneth spoke to the resident fabricator, Alex moved to find their gorgeous hand who took the horses. Scanning both sides as he moved, hand on his sword hilt, he eventually reached the rear door which stood open to the narrow alley beyond. He stepped out and quickly looked both ways to find nothing but crates and refuse.
After searching the loft, he noticed the rear corner had been occupied by someone as the hay had been stacked up to allow some privacy, but no trace of any belongings. Perhaps she was wise to his curiousity and escaped. He turned and headed back towards the ladder as the four men backed to eye him from below.

"Are they not up there," Stephen asked.

"No, sir. There's nothing up here at all, perhaps they ran," he explained, then started down into the main floor.

"We'll keep our eyes open, sir," Corbin promised. "I can't see them being a problem, they both worked well and kept to themselves, mostly."

"Perhaps we'll check with the gate guards and see if maybe they left the city, then. Thank you for your help."

"Of course, sir."

"Alexander, let's go," Stephen directed as they headed into the inn's rear door as Kenneth proceeded to the front. He leaned over and whispered. "Keep this between us for now until we get back to the church."

"Yes, sir."

Eventually, their search produced nothing more than favorable reports from neighboring shop owners and their families on how kind and giving both girls were. To Alex, it seemed that they were clever in hiding in plain sight and he wondered how long they had been in Soderham. Practising their forbidden religion under the nose of the church and so many of his servants within these walls was bold indeed. There had been no evidence of Saterists, but he was convinced in his own mind irregardless what the local population reported. No one could be that beautiful naturally and nearly make him that sick. If they weren't guilty, why did they run?