Chapter 4- The road to goodbye
Devar met me on the road out of the city of Tripoli 3 days from our last meeting. I am up before sun and my companions come into sight just as the dawn begins to break. He'd gone all out this time for as I drawn near I can see that my traveling companions are complete with a merchants caravan and all the supplies and food that accompany a long journey.
He meets me with an embrace, trying to push a pouch into my hands. I peer inside and raise my eyebrows when I see the bright seen of gold pieces within. I shake my head, pushing the coin purse back to him.
"Make sure to look after Bernice and the kids while I'm gone." I tell him.
"You need to look like a nobles son." He argues. I laugh and shake my head at him,
"I already do Devar and besides how long do you think a naive rich boy would retain his money on the road." Devar smirks at that, his storm grey eyes crinkling at the corners. I stand on my tiptoes, leaning forwards and whispering into his ear. "How many rich boys have you robbed, you devil!" He grins at that, placing a finger underneath my chin and lifting my gaze to his.
"Not enough." He tells me with a wink.
"Ladies! How about you quit flirting and help an old man load up eh?" Calls the caravan master, humor sparkling in his eyes.
"Quiet yourself Sven! I'm trying to have a serious moment with my brother here." Sven gives a loud snort in response.
"Just tell him you're coming with him already you lout!" Exclaims the caravan master. I turn to Devar aghast, my mouth hanging open as I glare at him accusingly. He holds up a hand to stop me before I decide to take a chunk out of him.
"I've already arranged for the orphanage to be well taken care of. Plus I talked to … the authority and he has assigned another branch to meet with our contacts in the city during our absence." I level a disapproving look at him.
"How long have you known?" I ask him irritably. Knowing from the sheepish look on his face that it had been for a while.
"Only since we last met." I grit my teeth together. "I wanted to see how warm your goodbye would be." He tells me teasingly. "Besides, we'll hardly see each other at all. I'll only be your liaison, It won't be like it was in Tripoli or Axium." I nod my head with a sigh, I would like to be mad at him but that seems impossible to maintain for any length of time. Instead I go to help with the loading, smacking the back of his head in admonishment as I pass by. His eyes gleam as he follows to help, already knowing that he is forgiven.
Sven for his part leans off the back of one of the wagons to whisper conspiratorially into my ear.
"Careful with that one lad, he's a right rogue. Wouldn't be the first to fall for a bard, you lot have charmed princesses and kings alike. What's one roughian to add to the tally?" I laugh at his warm hearted warning, patting him on the back.
"Awe, don't worry about me Sven. I spend half my time in taverns, I know how to handle myself." He grins at that.
"Sometimes an old man forgets." He admits warmly.
It takes us the better part of an hour to pack up the remainder of the supplies and head out. I carry my lute strung across my back, an unmistakable mark of my trade. My sword is concealed beneath the fabric of my cloak, for I am both guard and entertainer for this journey.
When Devar slips a signet ring onto my fingers I pull him aside and force him to explain. It is by far the most surprising thing he has acquired for my cover. More-so for the fact that is was none other than the signet ring of Mercurio Regus who himself freely provided the item, as an act of loyalty.
But even the lords son could not imagine the purpose his signet would be used for. The only people privy to the goal of the mission are Devar, the Cornerstone and Me. My secondary goal likely only known to me. The caravan begins rattling down the road as my thoughts continue to weigh heavy on my mind.
"Are you composing something again?" Asks Devar as he sidles up next to the wagon and swings up next to me. He sits and appraises me as if I am a cabbage at the market. "You always scowl when you're composing, that and when you're worrying." He says, picking a leaf from my hair. "There's no difference between the expressions you know, it's quite confusing." I sigh, running my hands through my short hair in an effort to untangle it.
"Your confusing." I inform him, watching as his face twists in mock indignation.
"ME?! I am very straightforward." He insists.
"Are you now?"
"I am, I make no illusion of my proclivities my friend. Which of course include a love for drink, gambling, lifting gold from the pockets of fools and a penchant for bards!" He exclaims. I try to keep a straight face, but one of the guards lets out a loud snort of laughter. The grin I was holding back cracking onto my face, as I shake my head at him.
"You jest."
"But do I?" He asks, pursing his lips and putting on an expression that could only be considered sultry.
"Dear Lord man!" Calls one of the guards. "Just say the word little bard and I'll come and wallop that imbecile next to you."
"How am I little! I'm the same size as you!" I insist, pretending offense.
"In height maybe, but you look as fragile as flower. If you were any prettier, or your shoulders any thinner, I'd think you where a lady. but alas the gods be unfair, I bet girls just line up at your door." I grin at him like a cat that's been in the cream. The expression on my face telling him everything he needs to know on the matter.
The road that leads out of the city is a wide and hard packed dirt path; It branches several times but if one takes the proper route it leads all the way to the Keep of Lord Verdean and its surrounding village. Somewhere in the depths of my mind I remember the place, the wall the rain had fallen in a torrent as I stood gazing outside into the downpour. I was kept out of the sights of the adults, confined to my bare room amidst the grim austerity of the keep. Dark stone walls rising up around me, the hearth doing little to assuage the rising chill.
The rest of the day remains clear for travel and our time fairly quick for a long trail of wagons and armored men. Before I know it, the light begins to dim and we halt to cook an evening meal and set up camp next to the road. I choose to sleep under the stars, taking a chance on clear skies and laying out my bedroll on some flat ground with a cushion of moss underneath. There is a break in the canopy above me and the stars are already winking into being. I munch on some bread and cheese as I pluck at my lute, bringing it back into tune.
Lady Vengeance knows you still
She lurks within your dreams
She remembers every whispered word
Remembers every scream
She paints her lips a crimson hue
A bloody shade of red
She's dancing in the moonlight
She's dancing with the dead.
and every star that shines within
her empty, night sky eyes
Are promises once spoken
From lips now cold and dry
Lady Vengeance knows you still
She lurks within your dreams
She remembers every whispered word
Remembers every scream
Now linger near your shutters
she's waiting at your door
she watches as your children play
Patience is her scorn
She wants to creep into your mind
occupy your every thought
she only wants to play the game
For you to break apart
The end is close
you hear it's breath
next to your bed at night
The end is close
It slithers near
to meet your bloodshot eyes
Lady Vengeance knows you still
She lurks within your dreams
She remembers every whispered word
Remembers every scream
Oh, every star that shines within
her empty, night sky eyes
Are promises once spoken
From lips now cold and dry
My voice trails off into the night and I find that the camp is silent, the men look at me as if I am a ghost. Their faces pale and their eyes edged with red, it feels as if a great rift has opened up between us. Sven gives an awkward laugh, patting one his men on the shoulder and shaking free of the stupor I seem to have set upon them.
"There Int no shame in feeling a little fear over a dark song like that, for our friend here is a damn good performer. Perhaps he'd like to sing sumthin a tad bit merrier so this superstitious lot can sleep tonight." I take his advice, seeing my mistake for what it is. The next song I sing is indeed merrier, it is a tune I know well and I let my thoughts drift elsewhere as my voice curls through the forest.
After I've put my loot away one of the guards saunters over, he is a well built man with dark hair and a light beard. A scar runs crossways over rough masculine features and he wears the light leather armor of a guard or a ranger. His boots well worn and the sword on his back rigidly maintained.
"Quite the voice ya have there boy." I nod my head to him in acknowledgement, wiping off my boots before pulling out a small jar and a cloth. I work the oil into the leather, rubbing in small circles until it sinks in to the material. The last thing I want on this trip is my boots to dry and crack.
The guard sits down beside me, taking out his sword and a wet stone. He prepares to sharpen the edge.
"Most other bards I've met are the friendly sort. As a mercenary I've seen much of the world and all its ugliness. Though I prefer jobs that are less bloody now a days. My point is, that I have seen eyes like yours on battlefields and on slavers vessels. It makes a man sad to see that look in the eyes of a kid." I watch him out of the corner of my eyes, keeping silent and waiting to see if he'll continue. "I know it's none of my business, but you be careful lad. You hold the whole world at arms length, if you don't decide what matters to you most. Then one day you will find out what matters by losing it." He tells me, glancing over at Devar who leans against a wagon talking to Sven. "It is true that I don't know what motivates you, I just don't want a boy like you to have to live under the weight or regret." I give him a pert nod, knowing that he means well.
"I'm Rowan by the way. " I tell him, unwilling to continue his line of questioning. "I'm curious, how did a mercenary end up guarding merchants goods so far from the eastern skirmishes."I inquire, intrigued.
"Names Reagan and you know how it is. I've seen enough blood for a lifetime, see that kid over there. The blond little mutt with part of his ear missing?" The boy in question can't be more than 16, he throws dice with the older men. His eyes are keen and from what I can tell, his tongue is equally as sharp.
"Yah, what about him." I ask
"I pulled him from a siege when he was 8, his family was killed during the looting. I entered his home to look for valuables and the little rat gave me this." He said pointing to his scar, "The man with me wasn't so lucky. The kid stabbed him 7 times before I even knew what was happening." I let out a low whistle.
"So you brought him here?" The mercenary nodded.
"He had guts that kid and guts I can respect. But if we'd stayed he'da been slitting soldiers throats in their sleep." He tells me with a shake of his head. "I couldn't have that and besides, the front lines of a war zone is no place for a kid. No matter how vicious that kid happens to be. I call the boy Devin after my little brother, never got his true name outa him though. I don't know if even he remembers it anymore."
"Devin eh? I'll remember that. Is he taking part in the tourney when we reach the Verdean keep?" Reagan shrugs, standing up and dusting himself off.
"That's up to him, he's his own man after all." When he departs, it is with the steady confident gait of a soldier. He waves goodbye, walking over to the group of gamblers and sitting down next to the blond boy in question.
I wonder if that boy remembers his name after all? Or if he just wanted to leave behind the weak little kid he must have been. Oh little Isolde, I think to myself wryly; For as little love I bear you, I still have not forgotten.
Two hours later and the camp was settled in to sleep. Two Guards stand watching, they are posted in shifts near the wagons. The wind rustling in a light breeze and as the night deepens in earnest, bringing sleep along with it.