Refuge: Kurt's Quest (3 page)

“No need to apologize, your Grace,” said the
Elf, returning the bow.  “I knew of whom you spoke.”

“We will do as much as we can,” said Kurt,
shrugging his shoulders.  “Though we have enough of a war to the south, probably
as much as we can handle.  This I will promise you though,” said Kurt, before
the Duke could protest.  “My people do not fight wars that end in settlements,
and the trading of tracts of land and people.  We learned from the Americans
here,” he pointed a thumb at Jackie, “that the only end to war is when your
enemies are defeated, utterly.  And we will wage war against that bastard of an
Emperor until his armies are crushed and he is deposed.  That I can promise
you.”

“That will be good enough, my Lord,” said the
Duke, dropping to a knee.  “And in return, I pledge my life and my Duchy to
your cause.”

The Duke gestured for the Major Domo to come
forward.  “We will have a feast tonight.  Let our guests refresh themselves.”

“Is it a good idea to bring attention to our
visitors, your Grace?” asked Sir Gromli.

“The whole damned village saw them ride in,”
said the Duke.  “It would appear more suspicious if we try to keep them secret
at this point.”  He looked over at the people he had just thrown his fortunes
in with.  “Just do not say anything about your quest, or the war with the evil
Emperor.  Maybe everyone will assume they are Danes, and that I am forging a
treaty with them.”

Gromli nodded his head, then turned away, while
the Duke again gestured to the Major Domo.

“Baths are being drawn, my Lords and Lady,”
said the old man who was in charge of the amenities of the castle.  “Clothes
will be out in your rooms when you are finished.”

Kurt did not realize how much he had missed a
hot bath until he soaked himself in the waters of the large pool the castle
kept for this purpose.  The Nords seemed to have no nudity prohibitions, and
the men were expected to bathe with the woman.  Jackie didn’t seem to have a
problem, lowering her flat muscled body into the hot water with a sigh.  Kurt
tried not to stare, but found himself looking at her out of the corner of his
eye.  Her muscles moved beneath her taut flawless skin like those of a hunting
cat.  Her disconcerting blue eyes looked at him with interest.  She was of
lighter skin than most of the black Americans he had seen, though her skin tone
was not uncommon. 
Biracial, I think they call it
, thought the man,
though he knew the woman had said that both of her parents were full blooded
Negroes.  Her short hair was straight, with a touch of gold highlights to its
raven wings coloring.  Kurt felt himself blush under her gaze, his face
reddening as she lightly licked her full lips.

“Get in the water, Dwarf,” said Fenris, sitting
up to his chest in the hot water.  “No one cares if you look like a smallish
bear.”

“Humph,” said the Priest, keeping himself
covered with both hands.  “At least I am not as hairless as a girl, you
effeminate Elf.”

Fenris laughed, taking the banter as it was
intended.  Garios stood on the steps, the water around his ankles, hands still
covering his groin.  When he took the last step he became unbalanced and his
arms flapped in the air, trying to keep him upright.  Kurt’s eyes widened as he
saw that the Dwarf was endowed like a horse.  Then the short priest fell into
the water and submerged, to come spluttering up with a red face.

“We Dwarves do not take to swimming,” said the
Priest as he worked his way to the sitting steps.  “Too much muscle.”

“Too much bone and rocks in the head,” said
Fenris with a laugh.  And so it went, with the two trading jibes, while James
lay back and relaxed in the hot water, and Kurt tried not to seem to be looking
at Jackie, when she was all he had eyes for.

*     *     *

Jackie was slightly embarrassed to appear naked
in front of the men of the party.  She knew it was a silly way to feel.  Her
body, while slender, was nothing to be ashamed of.  All seemed to be interested
in what she looked like, except maybe the Dwarf, who gave her one glance and
nothing more.  The German Immortal couldn’t take his eyes off of her, though he
tried to pretend that he wasn’t looking.  She looked on him with interest. 
No
,
she had to admit,
lust.
  She had not had a man in quite a long time.  It
was hard to remember when. 
A boy back at the Academy?  Was it that long?

She looked on him as he sat in the water,
running a loofa over his skin.  That skin was fair, with a scattering of
freckles, where it was not sun bronzed at face, neck and hands.  Great muscles
moved under that skin as he washed.  She had dated a boy in high school who
went on to play defensive end at LSU.  Kurt’s body reminded her of that of her
ex-lover.  Hard and supple at the same time.  Strong and fast and agile, a true
athlete.  And he would remain that way for thousands of years. 
That’s not
true
, she thought. 
The Jewish man said we would get better with age. 
Faster and stronger, more agile.
  She almost couldn’t imagine being better
than she was now.  And living for thousands of years.

Then her mind was back on the German, who was
again giving her a shy, sidelong glance.  His eyes were also blue, the same
blue as hers, like the blue-gray of water over Arctic ice.  She had wondered
about that as well.  All the Immortals she had met so far had the same color of
eyes, like that was a gene linked to their longevity.  Kurt, Ismael, Paul, even
the two newcomers, the middle aged Russian and the five centuries old Polish
Woman.  Not all had the same hair or skin color though.  Paul had hair of red,
while Ismael had dark blond, and the Polish woman that of pure white.  And Kurt
had yellow blond hair, though it also picked up golden tints in the light, much
as hers did.

“I am so happy that we found this place,
Brigadier,” she said to the Immortal, deciding to take matters into her own
hands.  “The dirt of the road was getting tiresome.”

“Your beauty could never…”  The man stopped
talking, then looked away, then back.  “I meant to say, I too am glad,
Colonel.”

He then looked away again, and Jackie realized
that if any movement was going to be made here, she would be the one who would
have to do it.  She smiled at that thought, as serving women came in with large
towels to dry them so they could dress for the feast in their honor.

*     *     *

The feasting hall was about what Kurt had
expected.  Hard looking men and their ladies, who for the most part were also
hard looking, products of a hard society.  Serving men and women brought food
and drink to the tables.  He noticed that they were deferential to those who
sat at the tables, though the nobles, knights and ladies seemed to treat them
with respect in return. 
I wonder if that is how this society works
,
thought Kurt,
or if it has something to do with this particular noble.

The food was wonderful, good enough to have
been served in the best restaurants of Berlin or Paris.  Pork, beef, capons,
fresh vegetables and a fish and mushroom soup to die for.  Served with a fine
vintage of wine and foaming mugs of a very good beer.  Except for the people
throwing bones on the floor for the dogs to fight over, he could almost think
he was back in Munich.  He said as much to his host, sitting to his left at the
high table, the head.

“Not all of my people are so disposed to what
they call the lesser people as I am,” said the Duke, wiping his lower face with
a scented scarf placed on the table in water for that purpose.  “In fact, in
many areas of my country you will find the lords positively mistreating the
people.  I am ashamed to say.”

“And why are you different, your Grace?” Asked
Jackie, sitting on the other side of Kurt.

“Because I made a vow to the Goddess, when I
lay dying on a field of battle, and the bastards from the Ellala Empire combed
the field looking for survivors to sacrifice.  I promised her that if she would
save me, I would devote my life to helping her people, all of her people.  And
the Elves passed me by, though I was sure they would have to see me.”

“And your King?” asked Fenris, holding up his
wine glass for a serving girl to fill. 

The woman was smiling as she poured the glass,
obviously not a down trodden peasant.  And Kurt remembered the people in the
village, laughing and waving at the knight and his men as they rode through the
streets.

“My King is a snake,” said the Duke, and most
of the nearby conversations stopped.  “He gets his power from the Elves, and
would sell his own children to that evil bastard to retain his throne.”

“Is it wise to say such in public, my Lord,”
said Sir Gromli.  “I know it is your hall, and most here are to be trusted. 
But maybe not all.”  The Knight looked at one of the low tables as he spoke,
and Kurt glanced that way to see what looked like a villainous group of
sellswords.  Most were still drinking and laughing, but one in particular was
staring at the high table.

“We will need to move soon, anyway,” said the
Duke, shaking his head.  “We have these people here, and now.  What better time
to take the throne away from that madman.”

“And sit on it yourself?” said the Knight, in a
tone that said he would like nothing better.

“That remains to be seen,” said the Duke.  “I
would leave it to my Lord Kurt to choose our king, since he is the one
prophesized to save us.”

“We really don’t have the time to get involved
in a revolution, your Grace,” said Fenris, holding up a hand.  “We have a
mission, and a vital mission it is.”

The Duke looked crestfallen, like his last hope
had been pulled from beneath his feet.  “Then I am doomed.  We are doomed.”

“We will be back to liberate this country when
we can,” said Jackie, smiling at the Duke.  “I am sure we can do that for you.”

“She is correct,” said Kurt, holding out his
mug for more beer.  “In time we will be able to come to your aid.”

“I am afraid it is time I do not have,” said
the Duke, looking down at the floor.

“You’re not that old,” said Jackie, looking
from face to face.  “And I’m sure we can be of aid in the next year.”

“That’s not what he means,” said Garios, a
frown on his face.

“The Dwarf is correct,” said Sir Gromli,
shaking his head.  “The King is said to be on the verge of signing arrest
warrants for all of us.  It seems the rumors that we might be in opposition to
him have been spreading.  I am afraid that within the week we will have an army
outside our gates.  And I would spare my people the horrors of a siege.”

Kurt sat there for a moment, wondering what
they would have to do to resolve this situation.  Their mission was very
important, if truth be told, of absolute importance.  But they needed a ship to
go to this northern peninsula where the hidden temple was said to be found. 
Ships could be found and hired in the capital of this nation, though they might
be available in other locations as well.  And here was a potential ally in
their fight.  Could he turn his back on such in his hour of need. 
I will
have to ask the Goddess to guide me
, he thought. 
And perhaps Garios can
also be of help.

“I’ll tell you what, Duke Haraald,” said Kurt,
choosing his words with care.  “I would be a poor friend if I didn’t repay your
loyalty.  So we will think of something, and confer with you in the morning.”

“Very well, your Majesty,” said the Duke,
bowing his head.  He looked over at Sir Gromli and nodded.

“We have a gift for you, your Majesty,” said
the Knight.  “Something that might aid you on your quest.”

“I’m not sure we deserve a gift, Sir Gromli,”
said Kurt, still feeling uncomfortable at what to do about the Duke’s
predicament.

“Oh, we think you will deserve this one, your
Majesty,” said the Knight with a laugh.  “And you will do us a great favor by
taking him off our hands.”

The dungeons of the castle were not extensive,
and while not the filthy holes he would have expected in such Medieval
surroundings, they were still dark and damp.  And for the most part empty.  Sir
Gromli stopped in front of one and a shadow stirred inside.  Garios said a word
of power and the dark corridor and the cell were flooded with light, revealing
a small humanoid in dirty clothing, his arm shooting to his face to shield it
from the light.

“A Halfling?” said Garios in a confused voice. 
“And what use would we have for such a creature?”

“Scan the bars,” said the Knight, pointing from
the grillwork door to the windows.  “Tell me what you see.”

Garios stared for a moment, then whistled.  “As
heavy a set of wards as I have ever seen.  Why?”

“This one is a master thief,” said the Knight
with a chuckle.  “If those bars weren’t warded, such he would be gone.”

“Then how did you catch him in the first
place?” asked Kurt.

“They wouldn’t have,” said the diminutive man,
blinking as he looked around his shielding arm.  “If I hadn’t have been drunk
at the time.”

“Master Halfling here made a bet in an inn that
he could steal the Duke’s magic amulet,” said the Knight.  “Might have got away
with it too, if he hadn’t been falling down drunk.”