Sword of Light (The Knights of the Golden Dragons - Book One) (8 page)

           
The
huntress had lived almost her whole life among the trees she called home,
making fast friends with the wolves that lived there. She followed the ways of
the Goddess of Nature revered by most rangers and druids within the wilder
lands. These chosen people taught the ways of nature to the villagers and
farmers outside the cities, and sometimes acted as healers to the more remote
settlements outside the reach of the temples.

           
Tana's
view of the cities and the people within was easily understood by her few
remarks concerning them. "City dwellers have forgotten the gifts of the
wood and the link to nature we all have. The druids are little more than wild
priests to the city dwellers. We carry no more importance than the farmers that
provide their homes with fresh meat and grain. You seem like a good sort for a
man. It is a pity you would choose to poison your innocence seeking counsel
within a city that has spawned so much evil in recent years. Be wary of those
you choose for companions, and do not let me find you in my forest again. There
is nothing for you in the wood, and it would be a shame to see harm come to
you."

           
The
words were very clear in their intent, but somehow Gregor suspected this was
not to be the end of his and Tana's association. Fang gave a low growl as Tana
finished speaking, appearing to be displeased by her companion's words. The
large gray wolf had acquired a taste for the remaining dried meats Gregor
shared as they traveled. When Tana was about to dismiss him at the road, the
wolf nuzzled Gregor and playfully nipped his thigh. He tried not to jump at the
pinch of her jaws, and lost his balance, falling toward Tana as Fang neatly
stepped to one side. Tana quickly turned to catch him, setting Gregor back on
his feet before the warrior's full weight dragged them both sprawling to the ground.
"Now, what is this about, Fang?" The huntress cautioned the wolf with
a severe look. "He needs to go, and so do we. Are you so easily swayed by
treats? There will be no living with you for a while, I see." Tana brought
her attention back to Gregor once more, favoring him with a small frown.
"You need to make haste if you are going to make the gates before sunset.
The guards of Nactium lock the walls tight after nightfall, since the goblins
and orcs have become more aggressive. You will shine like a beacon with that
armor and the blades you carry, so I would not advise waiting for the brigands
that haunt the road to come out for their nightly patrols. A single warrior
would serve as a prime target for them, I would imagine." Fang signaled
her displeasure at Tana's words with a bark. The gray wolf pushed at Tana's
back, forcing the huntress to take a step closer to Gregor. Tana turned to look
down at Fang, clearly annoyed by the animal's interference. "Don't worry
about him, Fang. I am certain this brave warrior can make his own way to the
gates before nightfall."

           
Gregor
felt that Fang had her own opinion of his abilities. The wolf turned back to
eye the young warrior, cocking her head to one side, and once more pushed Tana
toward Gregor. Whether it was the hope of more food or a genuine concern for
Gregor's safety, the warrior could not say, but something in the wolf's stance
indicated that the beast was not ready to leave him. Gregor felt compelled to
speak. "There is one more favor I would ask of you. Master Silverwing and
I parted with such haste that he gave me no indication of how to find the
proper temple within the walls of Nactium. Have you been within the walls, and
if you have, could you tell me where I might find the Temple of Light? I assume
a city so large has many temples dedicated to the Goddesses and Gods of the
lands."

           
Tana
seemed openly frustrated by this request, and Gregor regretted it immediately.
"Yes, I know the city well enough to take you to the city watch and the
jailers. I am also familiar with the judges who have set poachers free, lining
their pockets with ill-gotten coins, and the governor who issues bounties for
the packs that seek only to hunt in their own forest without molestation. You
will find that the streets are well marked, and except for the occasional
pickpocket, few will trouble you. The streets are patrolled regularly, and I am
certain that with a bit of coin you can receive an escort to the temple you
seek."

           
"So
I should be able to hold out my purse and find a guide to the main Temple of
Light easily enough in any tavern?" The innocence of the young man's smile
affected Tana. Gregor's honest reply to her vitriolic words caught Tana by
complete surprise, and as he finished speaking, laughter equally honest broke
from her of its own volition.

           
Tana
regained her composure quickly and blushed at her own reaction to his words.
"Forgive me, Gregor, but Master Silverwing is not unknown to me, which is
why you are not swimming to the city as we speak. I would have thought the
ranger would send someone more prepared to the treacherous city you approach.
The merchants and rogues alike would be at your heels, smelling an easy mark.
Gregor, you do not even have the basic skills to make it to breakfast in the
inn at the gate. May the Goddess bless you, and hopefully me, as
well.
It appears we are to journey together to the city
after all. I hope you are happy, Fang." Tana fixed Fang with a baleful
look before turning down the broad dirt road. Gregor closed his mouth with a
click of his teeth as he hurried to catch up.

***

           
The
group made the city gates by evening, though Gregor was winded from the
increased pace. The bandits who must have been shadowing the road gave them no
trouble, and there were few travelers so close to nightfall. Gregor had noted
the slow moving caravans of merchants that had stopped along the road, making
camp together well before reaching Nactium in order to
to
take advantage of the safety of numbers. Great bonfires had been set, awaiting
the igniting touch of flame in anticipation of a long night at the camps.
Gregor saw that many rugged looking mercenaries serving as guards had organized
patrols, moving around the ring of wagons. The hired swordsmen appeared to be
little more than paid thugs themselves, and although they did not challenge him
and his companions, he found himself wondering just how safe the huddled
merchants and tradesmen really were. Tana had aired similar thoughts after they
were out of earshot of the roaming guards. "I doubt the tradesmen would
find much comfort in traveling with those mercenaries if a large group of
brigands set their minds to organizing an assault. The smarter rogues would
wait until the merchants were set upon by a goblin horde, or worse. There is
little safety in numbers outside the city gates, and bonfires do not deter the
boar men when such a large prize is set before them. No doubt the 'guards'
would flee to the woods in hope of saving their own skins, only to return later
and see what the orcs had left behind. There is truly no honor among thieves,
even well paid ones."

           
Gregor's
curiosity was piqued by the mention of orcs so close to the cities. Dakin's
stories had indicated that the humanoids had stayed away from the more
populated centers, and he said as much. Tana's reply was punctuated by a snort
of derision. "That may be true where Dakin hunts, but then again, he has
not seen the goblins in the numbers I have. The orcs I have encountered are far
more aggressive than their weaker brethren. Less than a moon ago one of the
wolf packs was attacked by a handful of them that were hunting game in the
forest. The wolves' howls roused me from sleep, filling the night with their
pain and anger. I transformed, making haste to the clearing where they were
desperately fighting for survival against an enemy of a strength the poor
creatures had never encountered. Most of the pack were dead by the time I
arrived, and the scene was one that terrified and enraged me all at once. Dead
orcs and wolves littered the copse of trees. Several of the wolves that still
breathed were hanging in their boughs. I will never forget the sounds of feeble
growling silenced with the cracking of bones and rending of hides.

Tana shook her head sadly at the
memory.
 
“The orcs in the clearing fought
over bits of meat torn from the dead wolves like mongrel dogs, grunting and
striking at one another. I had seen orcs before, but there was one among them
the likes of which I had never seen." Gregor witnessed a tremble pass
through her as Tana continued. He wanted desperately to reach out to her, but
found he had no words to offer in comfort. "The light of the full moon
reflected off his back, giving him an odd glow, like sunlight passing through
blood. He tore at the meal before him, consuming one of the fallen orcs and
tossing away the bits he could not readily break in his jaws. The others in the
war party kept a good distance from the creature, though they seemed to be
gathering more meat for him. Two other dead orcs had been thrown within reach
of the creature's long arms. There was little hope for the wolves that
remained, so I returned to the place my bow and other equipment was stored,
intent upon ridding the forest of this evil. The orcs had taken to the forest
in search of more meat when I returned. I tracked and killed them each in turn
as they bumbled through the trees, the stupid bastards, until only their leader
remained. The grotesque humanoid still remained where it was when I had last
seen it, gnawing and tearing the remains of the dead orcs at its feet. The
large beast must have caught my human scent and decided it was more interested
in softer flesh. It dropped its meat and pointed its nose into the air, turning
to face the stand of trees where I stood with my arrow nocked. The eyes of the creature
gave me a moment's pause; they were unlike any eyes I had ever seen.

Tana frowned slightly. “It may have
been a trick of the moonlight, but this creature that vaguely resembled the orc
kind had eyes that glowed like embers of a dying fire. Two red-hot coals shone
out from under its heavy brow, and the tusks protruding from its mouth seemed
impossibly long. I had no time to consider what this could mean, as the huge
monster began loping rapidly toward me, not so much running on two legs as
using its arms and legs to move with greater speed. My first arrow put out the
fire of one of its eyes, but it barely even slowed. I sent a second arrow into
its other eye, blinding it but slowing it only a moment, as once more it caught
my scent. It took several more arrows and finally my blade, buried deep it its
chest, to kill the creature. Nothing held its body together once it fell dead.
The only sign of it ever having existed was an area of dead grasses in the
rough outline of its body where it had fallen. I did not dare touch the ground
that night, and when I returned to the area the next day, the grasses had
already begun reclaiming the spot."

           
"Demon
spawn." Gregor's features hardened as he recounted his encounter with the
demon that had destroyed the Knights of Bella Grey, and almost killed him as
well. The demon's eyes were burned into his memory forever, and Tana's
description of the creature she had seen brought the image of the demon to the
surface once more. "Master Silverwing shared stories of the mating of
creatures from the Abyss with humanoids of the lands, but never anything like
this." He made note to make inquiries of the priests once they arrived at
the temple. Somehow he doubted he was the only one who had been visited by the
evil figure that had invaded his dreams in Dakin's home.

5

Food for
Thought

A great wooden gate stood at the
entrance to the port city of Nactium, as foreboding as it was impressive. Two
guards stood at either side of the entrance, clad in dented plate mail and
bearing wide-bladed halberds in addition to personal hand weapons hanging from
their belts. Each tower at the sides of the gates was host to several
militiamen who bore crossbows at the ready. They were moving about constantly,
searching the deepening twilight for any threat in the surrounding area. Gregor
was shocked from his examination by a high-pitched voice emerging from one of
the helmeted guards flanking the gateway. "Tana! Welcome back to the city!
We see you have brought a new friend with you, too. He looks too clean to be
another poacher. Are you giving tours of our great city now, in addition to
capturing unwary bandits?" The guardsman in question sounded younger than
Gregor, and he wondered why one that could not even grow hair on his face would
be trusted to secure the city's walls. Times were difficult indeed when mere
boys filled the ranks of the city's protectors.

           
The
boy's incautious prodding was answered by a low growl from Fang, and a
ridiculing remark from her mistress. "Watch your mouth, boy. Fang would
have at you if not for her respect of me. That bladed spear you hold would not
protect you. I doubt you have the strength to wield it properly in your slender
arms." Fang emphasized Tana's words with her own feral bark. The young
guard was caught by surprise at Fang's bark and dropped his halberd. He moved
to pull his sword awkwardly from the sheath at his belt, but the blade did not
wish to be exposed, and the hilt would not budge.

           
The
guard next to the boy issued a barking laugh of his own at the young one's
antics before addressing Tana himself, "I recommend you tie up that dog of
yours, Mistress Tana. The guard cannot afford another wounded soldier in the
infirmary. I would like to see this one cut his teeth in battle before there is
a need to stitch him up. What is your purpose in darkening the great doors of
Nactium?"

           
"I
am bringing a pilgrim to the Temple of Light. This warrior was lost after
fleeing into the forest, pursued by the bandits you guardsmen are supposed to
keep at bay. The streets of fair Nactium are not safe after dark, as you well
know, so I will be bringing him to the temple myself." She turned to look
at Fang intently. "No need for you to worry the poor defenseless guards,
Fang. Go on into our forest and rest. I will find you soon."

           
The
guard's sharp answer to her words came quickly enough. "That dog is lucky
no hunter has found her yet. She has a lovely hide, and with a bit of work
would make a fine rug." The other guards laughed with him at his jest.

           
"Most
hunters would find her more than their match. Those that might be foolish
enough to track her would find my arrows are hard to swallow. Now if you will
excuse me, we are due at the temple. I believe this pilgrim's God would be
displeased to know he was delayed by halfwits." Tana moved through the
open gateway, Gregor trailing behind her before they had a chance to reply.

***
   

           
They
walked through the city at a slower pace, allowing Tana to point out the
various places that Gregor might find useful, as well as the places he should
definitely avoid. Even at night, there was a clear division between the
sections of Nactium. Gregor felt he would be able to find his way with little
effort after Tana had left him with the priests. The low buildings where
craftsmen practiced their trades were marked with carved pictures and names on
the signs hanging from the eaves. The loaf of bread clearly denoted a baker,
and the anvil and hammer was the location of a smithy. Tana noted which
tradesmen she sometimes dealt with for supplies, and suggested that Gregor
should seek them to supply his needs as well. She promised to take him around
once the trades had opened for business the next day, and make sure their
association was known so he would not be cheated. Tana, for her part, had grown
to like the naive wanderer that had come to her forest, and whether she liked
it or not, she felt some responsibility for him.

           
The
simple warrior had been overwhelmed by the grandeur of the Temple of Light
itself, which was more a complex of various devotions to the facets of the God
he was chosen to serve than a simple place of worship. The sheer number of
priests and acolytes that maintained the main house of prayer was beyond
anything Gregor had ever witnessed, and the libraries of books made him eager
to find a tutor in the many languages of the varied tomes. He was welcomed with
open arms by the Brothers and Fathers of the God of Light, and felt immediately
at peace among them. Safety emanated from the very stone of which the walls
were formed, and every tapestry and statue scattered throughout the many
buildings spoke to him. When Gregor and Tana had first arrived, she too had
been moved to pay respects at the foot of the magnificent altar devoted to the God.
They had bowed their heads and knelt as one before the candlelit dais. Gregor
felt the touch of the great power he had experienced when he had been saved
from the Tharnorsa that had destroyed the Knights of Bella Grey. Tana would
speak later of the soft light that suffused his bowed form while she had
listened to Gregor's simple words of honor.

           
The
Father who had come to greet him offered rooms for the pair after Gregor had
explained why he had come and who had sent him. The priest did not appear
surprised at the hour of his arrival, explaining that they had expected him,
though his companion was not foretold. "The God of Light keeps his own
counsel, and we simply do his bidding," Father Oregeth said with a smile.
"We have ample housing for the two of you, and Tana may stay with the
sisters of the temple if this would please her." He turned to Tana with a
nod. "They would probably enjoy the opportunity to speak with a servant of
the Goddess of Nature. She has no proper sanctuary within the city, though we
do our best to serve the needs of all the higher powers within these walls.
Sadly, there are few written records concerning the Goddess of the wilds,
despite every person's reliance on
Her
special gifts.
We gather what information we can from the worshipers bringing food and
supplies for our stores here."

           
Tana
declined the offer respectfully, with some amount of regret. "These are
dangerous times, Father Oregeth, and there are matters that require my
attention before I return for Gregor tomorrow. It would be best if he were able
to get a good night's rest before beginning his studies, I am sure you will
agree." Tana nodded to Gregor and Father Oregeth. "I will return for
him at midday tomorrow, if that will give you enough time to arrange his
introduction to his tutors."

           
Father
Oregeth moved his hands in a sign of blessing toward Tana, touching her lightly
on her forehead. "That should give us ample time, Sister, and we look
forward to your return. I will make the arrangements personally, and he will be
ready when you return. Travel safely with the God's and Goddess'
blessings." He turned to Gregor as Tana waved a farewell, beginning to
make her way back to the gates of the city.
 
"I think you will find that though our cots are simple, they will
be more comfortable than the forest floor. Let me show you to your place of
rest." Gregor found his sanctuary was more than adequate to his needs. A
rack had been provided to store his armor and weapons. There was also a small
bookshelf near his bed that held several simply decorated leather-bound books.
Gregor found a longing unlike he had ever known, eager to possess the knowledge
and the wisdom they held.

***

           
Gregor
found his tour of the city with Tana the next day enlightening and amusing. The
tradesmen Tana chose to deal with were unique personalities the likes of which
he had never encountered, yet each brought back memories of his home. Each man
and woman seemed to possess a pure nature unspoiled by the life inside such
great walls, and Gregor found it easy to understand why Tana trusted them,
despite her strong dislike of all things civilized.

           
The
baker, Master Regar, dealt in delicacies Gregor had never sampled until now.
His ovens were easy enough to find because the smell of his goods drew you from
blocks away. The scents issuing from the chimneys of his humble establishment
made you hungry even after a meal, wondering what ingredients the cook had
gathered to create such tastes. Gregor was sorry he lacked a cloth with which
to dab his watering mouth as Tana and he entered the place. "Ah, the
swordsman shares complements already, and you have yet to sample a morsel!"
Master Regar handed Gregor a light, flaky item wrapped in parchment paper and a
piece of rag for a napkin. "Have you eaten? Can't have a friend of Tana's
going hungry in my home. Tana, would you like the usual, or are you feeling
adventurous today? Got some biscuits for Fang. She should like these especially
well. Soaked them special in some boar fat. The butcher has been favoring me
with fresh meats of late. I suggested he might find a market for wrapping his
meat in my dough, and business has been brisk for both of us since we teamed
up. Nothing like one of my buttery rolls with a treat of meat baked
inside." The laughter in his voice was contagious, almost causing Gregor
to drop his first bite.

           
"Well,
it is getting near noon meal. What do you charge for the new creation? I am
sure Gregor and I would be thankful for the offering, once he finishes that
glazed roll he has." Tana's hand shot out, as if she intended to take the
rest of Gregor's treat from him. She pulled her hand back in mock concern when
Gregor greeted the movement with a growl sounding much like Fang. "Have
you come up with a name for them yet?"

The baker enjoyed the interplay
between Tana and Gregor. Like so many of her friends in the city, he wondered
often if she would ever find a human companion that suited her. The poor girl,
in the baker's estimation, grew more feral each time he saw her. She spent too
much time alone in her forest with little company outside her pet. "Watch
your fingers, Tana. Looks like you would do better to snatch one of these
biscuits from Fang than separate that handsome man from his pastry." The
baker frowned momentarily in puzzlement before he spoke. "Well, the
butcher is calling them traveling rations, as he is selling them mostly to the
mercenaries and merchants floating in and out of Nactium. The name does not
really do them justice, by my way of thinking. Why don't you and your friend
try them and see what you can come up with that might suit them. Got a fresh
batch, warm as you please."

           
Tana
took the offered roll, biting into it with gusto. Her teeth carried through the
light breading to find a well-seasoned hunk of meat inside. Tana's eyes opened
wide in appreciation for the taste that blessed her tongue, savoring the
mixture of buttered loaf and tasty meat. She chewed the first bite hungrily
before giving her praise. "I recognize the deer meat, and the roll is
definitely one of your best recipes, but the two combined is simply amazing.
There should definitely be a name fitting it better than simply traveler's rations.
Let me think."

           
The
baker laughed as Tana resumed eating. "Well, the butcher has been seeing a
lot of wild meats since the hired blades invaded the city seeking coin in
service among the traveling merchants. It would seem there are some fair
trackers among their numbers. Takes the butcher and me a day or two to prepare
the loaves for the travelers, but they seem willing enough to wait since word
has gotten around. You are enjoying softer bread than the merchants and their
hired hands normally receive. It takes a stiffer loaf and a saltier bit of meat
to serve for the trips of the tradesmen these days. They pay a fair price for
these things, and I spend many a late night at the ovens meeting the demands of
the market. The rolls like the ones you and the swordsman are having fetch a
strong price. I have seen more than a few servants of the governor's house come
right here to purchase as many as they can carry. It seems we have drawn the
attention of a few stomachs among the more affluent. Still, I make a lot of it
for the common folk, sending some to the guardsmen when I can. A lot of those
guards are little more than boys summoned for the service, while their fathers
try to keep the granaries full for the city. A man cannot forget where he came
from when the Gods and Goddesses favor him, so I keep the militia in my favor
with treats. Truth be told, I have already made more than any humble baker
should, and could retire tomorrow if it suited me. Still, I cannot stand the
thought of abandoning my ovens, and it looks like I will have no shortage of
demand for my wares for quite a long time. Come up with a name for the finer
rolls, and you can consider our debt settled, Tana." He went to get
another loaf for Gregor to sample, while Tana finished enjoying her meal.

           
Once
Gregor had a meat roll of his own, he wasted little time in making it disappear
into his belly. He wiped the remains of it from his mouth and smiled brightly.
"I have a name for it!" Gregor exclaimed around his last bite of
roll. "You should call it 'the Baker's Secret.' I am certain you won't be
sharing the recipe. Not too fancy, but I think it might serve your
purpose."