Soron's Quest (6 page)

Raul smiled, “Trust me; you will be looked upon as an artist of note here. Any jewelry you have to sell will go quickly and if you ever want to make more, I will make sure you have all the supplies you need and a blacksmith shop at your disposal. Now if you gentlemen will excuse me I know a couple of noble ladies that meet for tea every afternoon that will throw a fit if I don’t show them these pieces before offering them to anyone else.” Raul stood, shook Soron’s hand and left with the two pieces of jewelry.

Marin turned to Soron once Raul was gone, “Friend you are a man of many talents. Now that we are alone and no one is trying to kill us, let us have a drink or two and get to know each other.”

Soron smiled at his new friend, “I would like that Marin. What would you like to know?”

Marin laughed, “Well, without being to nosy or rude, how does everything sound? I’m afraid to admit it but I know more about you than I let on, you were exhausted when you went to sleep in the wagon, but sleep was not kind to you. You had many nightmares and talked in your sleep. You have lived a hard life friend, but an interesting one. I wouldn’t mind hearing about it from you when you are awake.”

Soron laughed, “Well, if you heard me talking in my sleep, who knows what you heard. Alright if you spill your life’s story I shall do the same.”

Marin agreed, “deal, but I’m afraid my story is not nearly as colorful as yours, but it does have its moments.”

So for the rest of the day Marin and Soron sat in the small pub, drinking ale and telling stories. Soron shared all of his adventures with Marin, from the wars of his youth, learning to how to fight while protecting the valuable mines that brought prosperity to his father’s people, and then on to his encounters in the wild. Soron spoke of his fighting off yeti, the dangerous vraber- a vicious beast that looked like a cross between a wolf and a lizard and the other strange beasts of the north that he had encountered of the years, then his battle with the mighty Magnus Kollrson. Soron detailed his attack on the foot soldiers and how he kept them away from the caravan.

Marin was in awe; his mysterious northern friend was the son of a king, a maker of exquisite jewelry and an unparalleled warrior. Yet the way Soron told his story, he consistently made himself out to be less than a hero. He was always pointing out the flaws of his own actions. Soron was modest and much too hard on himself. Marin was grateful to have met the man. Despite Soron being a few years younger than him, Marin decided to never call him a boy again. Soron had been living a man’s life since the tender age of twelve. To have lived the life Soron had and not become jaded was a testament to the man’s character.

The men were still at it when Ramon returned. Now they were discussing Marin and his situation, his father’s push for Marin to marry one of the noble ladies of Salma, and Marin’s refusal. “My father sees position and money.  I see chubby, spoilt girls and years of heart ache. I leave the city every chance I get. Taking a caravan south to Venecia is safer than staying in Salma for too long. My father will have me married in no time if I don’t keep moving.”

Ramon laughed “Even I have received letters from Marin’s father enquiring to the available ladies of Venecia. He is determined to marry Marin off soon.”

“Traitor!” yelled Marin in mock protest.

“Oh hush, you know for a fact any woman I set you up with will be far more interesting than those plump diva’s waiting for you in Salma.”

Marin laughed and leaned over to Soron, “It’s true. I should make an effort to find one interesting enough to court while I am here. That way, at least I will have a say in the matter instead of arriving home to find my life arranged for me.”

Soron laughed, women were beyond his understanding. The girls of the north were always flirting with him, but he never found one interesting enough to make an effort to know, nor did he think himself worthy of anyone special. He was content to be alone, be here exploring a new world and making new friends. Life now was as good as he had ever known it. Soron was happy.

“Before we get too carried away discussing a suitable bride for Marin here, I have business to discuss with our northern friend. You have caused me great distress brother. I am lucky to be live right now.”

Soron looked at Ramon with concern, “What happened?”

“Those damn women almost tore me to shreds when I only had two pieces of jewelry to show them. I had to swear on my mother’s soul I would bring more soon just to leave with my skin intact. You better have more pieces hidden somewhere, or I am going to be in trouble.” Ramon threw a heavy sack of coins on the table, “there is your payment for the first two pieces.”

Soron took the sack of coins and inspected it. Handfuls of golden coins filled the sack. He looked up at Ramon “How much is there?”

Ramon laughed, “Two hundred gold coins, I probably could have gotten you more with other buyers but I have a particular fondness for those two, and they will be repeat buyers, so you get a little less now but in the long run will be better off. You will live well in Venecia friend; you will have no shortage of income as long as you can make more of your jewelry.”

Soron was surprised, he had no idea his artwork had such value. He would be able to live comfortably in Venecia without worrying about an income. He could do whatever projects he wanted without having to worry about eating. The idea was very appealing. “Thank you Ramon.”

“Just make sure you bring me more of your jewelry,” said Ramon with a smile. “Now back to Marin’s situation. Let me tell you about Lady Lucille…”

6

Trouble in Paradise

FOR A WEEK SORON roamed the city, exploring its streets, going through its large open market. He spent time checking out the vendors selling their wares on the streets, inspecting the different shops. The city had a strange and diverse culture. The range of different tribes and sailors from distance land that came through Venecia made for a colorful melting pot of people. Every day Soron heard a new accent, or saw something new to him. The sailors that roamed the docks, and the nearby bawdy houses, were a breed unto themselves. Hard working, hard playing with a colorful language that would make the hardest man blush at times.

The famed Thieves’ Guild of Mithbea had not made its way across the strait yet, but that did not mean there were not plenty of pickpockets and con artists roaming the streets. They were just not as talented as those on the southern continent. Soron learned early to keep only a couple coins on his person and the rest safely stored with Ramon Ventego his new friend. 

After a day of wandering, Soron returned to the Dew Drop Inn, the friendly inn having been his home for the last week. When he got there, he could see something was amiss. Mariah the inn keeper’s daughter was nowhere to be seen and her father Howard was serving in her place. The man had a troubled look on his face.

“What’s troubling you Howard? Mariah late for work?” asked Soron.

Howard shook his head, “No, Mariah is not well today. Nothing serious,” replied Howard as he cleaned a table.

Howard was a terrible liar; his troubled face told a different story than the one coming out of his mouth.

“Come on Howard, I know you well enough now to know when you are lying. Is everything okay?” Soron was concerned. Howard was normally a jovial sort, laughing and smiling. The inn keeper was always happy to be interacting with his customers.

Howard sighed and sat down. All day he had stewed over the situation. Perhaps the friendly northerner would have an idea on how to deal with this. “It Mariah, she worked as a server at another pub last night to help out a friend. The pub was a little seedy but she had helped out there before. Last night she was grabbed and taken like a working girl, a common whore. The bastards used her, beat her and left her in a heap in the back alley. She is lucky to be alive.

Soron felt a burning in his chest. Mariah was a sweet girl, flirty yet innocent. That anyone would do her harm was incomprehensible. “Where is she now?” asked Soron.

“She is in her room. Her friend noticed she was missing last night and went looking for her. When she found her she took her to a doctor then came and got me. The doctor says she will eventually be fine, but she is badly bruised and hasn’t said a word all day.” Howard had tears in his eyes as he spoke. He shared his daughter’s pain.

“And the ones who did this, have the city constables found them?”

“The constables know who did it, but can’t touch them,” said Howard bitterly. “The city constables are easily purchased in this city, and the ones who did this come from powerful families. No one that was in the pub will even admit the group was in the pub last evening. My daughter’s friend says they were there, but she is terrified to say anything else. No one will stand in the way of the noble shits. Their fathers buy the constables off and anyone who complains about the lads ends up hurt or out of business. There is nothing to be done.”

Soron frowned. His anger was turning into a burning rage; this was the kind of injustice that brought Soron to a boil. A calm man, Soron held a deep anger within him. Some said it was from the giant’s blood that coursed through his veins. But regardless of the reason, once Soron got to a certain degree of anger, he would act without hesitation. His dislike for violence thrown aside as the need arose. It was what allowed him to destroy an elite squadron of foot soldiers; it was the same force that gave him the strength to defeat some of the mightiest of foes. Now Soron’s anger was directed at an unknown group of men who used an innocent girl and escaped justice due to the influence of their families.

“What pub did she work at last night?”

Howard looked up at Soron. There was something in the northerner’s tone that suggested that to not answer his question was to invite danger. Howard could see a flicker in Soron’s eyes that scared him, Howard didn’t want the northerner getting hurt on their behalf but he was not about to lie to the man again. He simply answered Soron’s question “The Hell Cat.”

…

Marin found Soron sitting at a corner table of the Hell Cat. He was nursing a drink while watching the crowd. Marin could see the storm brewing within the great northerner. “May I join you?” he asked.

Soron looked at his friend and gave him a nod, he was in no mood to smile or be friendly. “Of course.”

“I was at the Inn looking for you; Howard said I might find you here. I heard what happened to Mariah.” Marin paused, “I don’t suppose I can stop you from doing something stupid?”

Soron look at Marin, “Define stupid.”

Marin treaded carefully, Soron was a friend but the man looked ready to explode. “Well, by stupid, I mean anything that gets your head chopped off by the city guard. The constables are a joke, but if you are caught killing those men, without having just-cause the families will insist on the city guard being called in. The city guard is much more formidable than the constables, and not as corrupt. I would have a hard time bribing them to release you.”

Soron looked away, “so what would you suggest? Let them go free, don’t avenge Mariah?”

“Nah, just for a moment pay more attention to my words. If the men were caught in the act, or attacked you, then anything you did would be justifiable. You can avenge Mariah, and do all of Venecia a favor while doing it. But you have to do it in the correct way. Those men are vile creatures and treat the city like their own private playground. Do what is needed, but do it in a way that can be explained. I beg it of you. I don’t want to lose a friend because of these animals.”

Soron’s facial expressions softened for a moment, he sighed. “Alright, but I am dedicating my immediate future to this task. Nothing will prevent me from getting my hands on them, one way or another.”

Marin nodded, “Good. Now unless you have a better idea, let’s go somewhere a little nicer. I am hungry and we need to discuss your new friends.”

Soron nodded, and followed Marin out, he would return another time.

The second pub was much nicer. It was farther away from the docks and catered more to the locals of Venecia instead of the sailors and visitors. As they ate, Marin explained his plan to learn more about the men who had abused Mariah. “I don’t know much about them, but Ramon will. Give me a day, I will talk to Ramon and find out as much about the men as I can, then you can plan a way to bring justice to them.

Soron nodded, “Alright, I will wait.” Now that he had set his mind to the task, he would take as long as necessary to deliver some justice for poor Mariah.

After the meal Marin went to find Ramon while Soron head back to the inn, he wanted to check on Mariah.

7

Avenging Mariah

“DECLAN LARSON, CALE PEARCE and Owen Gordon,” Ramon said. “Those are the ring leaders of the group. There are ten to twelve of them, but those three are the main leaders. All come from powerful families with strong ties to the Council. The others follow the lead of those three. Rape, torture, theft, and murder, the list of their sins is long.” Ramon paused and looked at Marin and Soron carefully before continuing. “If you are serious about this, I can arrange it so that you stumble upon an ‘attack’ tonight. It won’t be completely honest, but the men there will all be part of the group.”

“I’m no saint Ramon, I would gladly take a knife and meet each of them in an alley, but I promised Marin here to make sure I didn’t get my head chopped off for outright murder. Do what you have to, I will do my part,” said Soron. If the law didn’t care about stopping these men, then he didn’t care about the law.

Ramon nodded, “Meet me tomorrow at the Wandering Donkey around nine o’clock. Bring a couple of your pieces of jewelry.”

…

The Wandering Donkey was a rambunctious bar along the waterfront. The pub was known for its excellent food and brought in a diverse crowd.

Soron spotted Ramon right away, he was talking to a short older gentlemen. Soron went over to them.