Tears of Liscor, page 96
part #9 of The Wandering Inn Series
“I would. Gamel, please guard the tent. As for you, Gralton—I rather suspect you’d like to stay. Which you may, unless Lord Byres objects?”
The [Lord] of the Byres House hesitates and looks at Gralton again. Something unspoken passes between them, and he nods hesitantly.
“It’s…not that secret of a matter. By all means. Excuse me, Lord Gralton. My issue is urgent. I wouldn’t bring this up, but I have nowhere else to turn. Tyrion is not open to reason, and—”
And no one’s sticking their necks out for you. I nod.
“Go on.”
Yitton takes a deep breath.
“It’s my son. And my daughter. I think they may be in Liscor.”
I sit straighter. Gralton doesn’t seem the least bit surprised by this. He must already have known. But I didn’t. And that’s not good.
“Are you sure?”
He shakes his head.
“I do not know. Liscor’s Mage’s Guild is refusing all [Message] spells not from a Drake city. But my daughter was last sighted in the city. She and her team ran into an—an incident. I was informed she survived and joined a new team and that my son went to check on her. But neither has sent me a [Message] spell, and I fear they may be trapped in the city. Or worse, as prisoners.”
“And we are about to assault said city, which is inhabited by Drakes.”
“Yes.”
Yitton said the word heavily. I nod. That said it all, really. I heard that Yitton was against attacking Liscor from the start. It’s not a position anyone else in the camp has taken. But his sense of honor plus the fact that he might be putting his children in danger, well, it paints a picture.
A terrible one, because I can’t help him. But Lord Gralton and Yitton are both looking at me, and I sense I’m being tested. By Gralton. I think Yitton is genuinely at the end of his rope. But why Gralton? Does he want to see what I’ll do?
No, no, Gralton is too straightforward for that. Then, is he hoping I’ll help Yitton? Or perhaps—
I turn my head towards the two, more to buy time than anything else. Let’s see. We have an [Emperor], me. An unknown quantity. Lord Gralton, who hates trickery and is about as sociable and charming as a rotting pig’s carcass. But is powerful. And Yitton Byres, one of those rare honorable men people keep talking about. I’m not sure how honorable he really is if push comes to shove, but I think he’s a man who tries to be good.
Ah. I think Gralton sees what I see. An opportunity. I lace my hands together and lean forwards.
“I see. I understand your predicament, Lord Byres. Unfortunately, I doubt if anyone could persuade Lord Tyrion to halt the attack, for any reason. Nor do I have the…power to rescue your offspring if it turns out they are indeed in Liscor.”
Yitton’s shoulders fall. Not that I think he was expecting any other answer. He’s desperate.
“I see. My apologies, Emperor Godart, Gralton.”
He turns to go. I raise my voice.
“Lord Yitton, that doesn’t mean I’m unwilling to help. And, I think, neither is Gralton. If there is a way to rescue your children, whether by ransom or some other means, let’s discuss it.”
The man turns, hope on his face. I turn my head towards Gralton and sense him bare his teeth in a savage grin.
“Is there something that might be done?”
“Perhaps.”
I temper expectations. I don’t know, honestly. But the point isn’t to make outlandish statements. I look towards the tent opening and raise my voice.
“Gamel! Find two chairs for Lord Gralton and Lord Yitton, please. I think we’ll be here until we’re ready to ride. And perhaps while we’re riding we’ll speak further. Until then—Lord Yitton, please have a seat on the floor. I’d offer you my bed, but then I’d have to do the same to Gralton and I prefer life without fleas.”
The man barks a laugh. Yitton looks askance as he takes a seat on the floor. I sit and look at the two. It’s not just about Yitton’s son and daughter. It’s about forging connections. Choose your allies wisely. And unless I’m wrong, I’d guess that Lord Gralton’s made his choice faster than the other nobles. Faster than Lady Ieka, who makes me nervous, Lord Erill, who’s a bit too cunning, or the others.
“I don’t know what the future will hold, much less the attack on Liscor. But I do know that when the pieces are in the air, we can only make plans and hope they go well. You don’t know where your children are, Lord Yitton.”
“I know where two are. But the other one…”
Yitton trails off. I shake my head.
“If and when, gentlemen. If and when. If they are in Liscor and if we attack, what will occur?”
“They’ll be taken prisoner. Or killed.”
Gralton speaks bluntly. Lord Yitton puts his head in his hands. I turn my head reprovingly towards Gralton.
“Very well. But perhaps we can forestall that? With an offer of a ransom, perhaps. Or a guarantee? Do Drakes honor the rules of war? And what will your children do, Lord Yitton? I heard that they’re…adventurers?”
“Yes. Yvlon’s Silver-rank. And Ylawes is Gold-rank. His team is strong, but he couldn’t take on a city.”
“But he could protect his sister? Don’t give up hope, Lord Yitton. What would he do? And how might we aid him, if it comes to that? Lord Gralton, I’m sure you’d be willing to help. As allies.”
“Perhaps.”
The man growls. Yitton looks up. He glances towards me and Gralton as if he’s only now figuring out what’s going on. Perhaps honorable men are just rather slow on the uptake when it comes to intrigue. He hesitates, and then he nods and sits a bit straighter. He doesn’t seem that much more hopeful, but he’s trying.
“If Ylawes is in the city, he knows what’s coming. And the only reason he would stay is—he’s a [Knight], and he champions causes. But he wouldn’t risk a war unless Yvlon were there. He won’t abandon her. So he’d be trying to find them a way out. North, towards us, unless he’s wary of the Goblin Lord.”
“Would he go south?”
“He’s Human. And he’d run into all the Drakes heading towards Liscor. No. No, he’d go north. And if he were trying to escape…”
Yitton grips his hands together worriedly as he talks. I listen with Gralton as Gamel reappears with some chairs. We talk, forging the beginnings of what might be friendship, an alliance of convenience, or something else. And I invest my time and energy into helping Yitton do something for his son and daughter. What else can I do? I can’t stop the war. I can’t change Tyrion Veltras’ mind. I have very little power. But perhaps—I sense Gralton looking at me.
Perhaps I have an ally. A smart one who conceals his true intentions behind a façade that’s half-real. And who’s decisive enough to take sides rather than choose the strongest person to hide behind. Maybe Gralton’s a betting man. Maybe I look like a likely dark horse to him. There are worse allies to have than him and Lord Yitton Byres. I nod at Gralton.
A smart man. He still smells like wet dog, though. Then I turn my attention back to Lord Yitton. If his son really is in Liscor, I pray he won’t do anything stupid. For his father, if nothing else.
——
“We’re going.”
Yvlon looked up at her brother. He was dressed in full armor and had his shield on one hand. His hand was hovering around his sword’s hilt as he stared down at her and looked around the inn. The other Gold-rank teams stared at him and Dawil and Falene, standing behind Ylawes. The Dwarf hefted his hammer, and the half-Elf shifted her staff. Yvlon glanced at Pisces, Ceria, and Ksmvr. Then she looked up at her brother.
“What?”
“We’re going, Yvlon. Now. Grab your gear and get ready. We’re leaving Liscor and going north. Any team who wishes to join us—or anyone in the inn—is welcome to come, but we are going now. Before Liscor is attacked.”
The [Knight]’s jaw was set. Yvlon leaned back in her chair as Ceria rubbed one eye and stared down at her eggs. She looked towards Erin and Lyonette.
The inn was barely open this morning. And signs of last night’s festivities were still scattered around the inn. Empty mugs, plates that had yet to be washed, a passed-out Goblin lying under a table…Yvlon shook her head.
“It’s too early for this. Lyonette! Can I get some water?”
She waved her mug. Ylawes frowned at her.
“This isn’t a joke, Yv.”
“I’m not saying it is. And I’m not going, Ylawes. I’m staying with my team.”
Yvlon looked back up at Ylawes, scowling. Her brother grimaced.
“So you’ve said. But your captain doesn’t seem capable of making up her mind.”
“Hey, I’m just—”
Ceria protested weakly. Yvlon stood up.
“We’re going with Erin. We’re not leaving her behind.”
“I’m making up my mind too!”
Erin shouted from the kitchen. Ylawes looked at her and shook his head.
“I understand that, and it is a noble cause, Yvlon. But be realistic: Liscor is about to be attacked, and when it is, both you and I will be in grave danger. Our only chance is to go north now. Persuade your captain, bring Miss Solstice and the others.”
“I have a name you know, it’s Ceria—”
“Why don’t you go and let us decide what we’re doing, Ylawes? If we go north, we’ll go north. But we’ll do it with our team. You can leave.”
Yvlon folded her arms. She wasn’t wearing her armor, but her metal armguards and gauntlets were more or less permanent fixtures now. They covered the…modifications Pisces had done to her arms. And the damage.
“I won’t leave without you.”
The [Knight] snapped, his brows crossing with vexation. Yvlon sighed.
“I’m not a child, Ylawes!”
“But you are my sister. If Father learned that I abandoned you—”
“This isn’t about what our father would say! And what I do isn’t your problem, Ylawes.”
“It is. I can’t let you risk your life any further. We’re going, and you are coming with us. This isn’t a discussion.”
“No, it really isn’t.”
Yvlon stared at Ylawes’ face, exasperated and annoyed. It was always like this. He was always in charge, and she was sick of it. She stared past Ylawes at his teammates.
“I’m not budging. I’m a grown woman and an adventurer in my own right. You don’t give me orders, even if you are Gold-rank. Just go, Ylawes. What does your team think of this? Falene? Dawil?”
The half-Elf shrugged her slim shoulders.
“I follow my team captain, Miss Byres. And I happen to agree that you and your team are being quite foolish. It falls to us to keep the less-experienced out of harm’s way.”
Ceria rolled her eyes. Yvlon looked at Dawil. The Dwarf hesitated.
“I can’t say I’m pleased, lass. But your brother has a point. There’s a fine line between stubbornness and suicide, and you’re pushing both. Why not leave?”
Because it would mean being saved by Ylawes. Yvlon scowled. She didn’t want to say it, but that was why. And because Erin wasn’t going. That too. But mainly the first part.
“It’s my choice. I’m a Horn of Hammerad, and we aren’t budging.”
She looked at Ylawes. The [Knight] blew out his cheeks and looked around. Griffon Hunt, the Halfseekers, Gemhammer—the other teams of adventurers who were waiting in Erin’s inn, taking turns moving the door further south—stared at him. He hesitated and then shook his head.
“This discussion is over. Yvlon, if you won’t see reason, we’ll have to take you by force. Come on—”
He reached for her arm. Yvlon backed up.
“Don’t, Ylawes.”
“Be reasonable. Don’t make me force you.”
“You? I’m not six anymore, Ylawes. You can’t pick me up and carry me.”
“If I have to, I will.”
Again, Ylawes grabbed at Yvlon’s arm. This time, he seized the metal vambrace. Yvlon gritted her teeth. She pulled, but Ylawes was strong.
“Let go.”
“Don’t resist. Your arms are fragile.”
“Then let go.”
Yvlon yanked, and Ylawes nearly stumbled. He let go, afraid of damaging her arms. Yvlon felt fine. She backed up as Ylawes looked at Ceria.
“Please talk some sense to her.”
The half-Elf got up slowly. So did Pisces and Ksmvr. Ceria looked uneasy, but her expression firmed as she looked at Yvlon.
“We’re not going yet, Ylawes. And Yvlon’s one of us. If she doesn’t want to go, you have to respect that.”
“He is doing this for her own good, Ceria. I’ve pointed out the obvious to you as well. Why won’t you heed reason? We are both half-Elves—”
Falene scowled at Ceria. The [Ice Mage] rolled her eyes.
“And that makes us kin, right? Forget it. You can go, but if you try to take Yvlon, we’ll—”
“What, stop us?”
The tone of Falene’s voice was frankly disbelieving. Yvlon felt a surge of adrenaline and anger as the [Battlemage] looked from her to Ceria. Pisces folded his arms.
“You would do well to reconsider any threat, Miss Skystrall.”
“Yes. We are completely and legally able to defend ourselves with lethal force. I think.”
Ksmvr nodded. Dawil raised a hand.
“Hold on, you two. Falene and Ylawes aren’t suggesting—”
“Yes we are, Dawil. Ylawes, take your sister. I have had enough of arguing.”
“And I’ve had enough of you two trying to order us around.”
Yvlon reached for her sword. Ylawes stared at her, and his hand went to his hilt.
“Don’t be a fool, Yvlon!”
“Then back off.”
“I can’t. Why are you being so stubborn when I’m just trying to help you?”
“I. Don’t. Want. Your. Help! I never have!”
Yvlon snapped at Ylawes. She drew her sword, or tried to. The blade was half-way out of the sheath when Falene pointed a finger at her.
“[Binding Cords – Iron]. Ylawes, take her!”
A series of thin metal cords erupted from her fingertip and wrapped around Yvlon. The [Wounded Warrior] shouted in outrage and fell back, struggling. Ylawes stepped forwards, and a wall of ice sprang up.
“Don’t do this—”
Ceria warned Ylawes, but Falene pointed her staff again. The ice shattered as something struck it, and Ceria stumbled back. Pisces made a noise of outrage. He lifted his hands, and flames burst from them, aimed at Falene. Ylawes surged to block them, and the flames burned harmlessly around his shield.
“Is it combat, then? Should I aim to incapacitate or kill, Captain Ceria?”
Ksmvr drew his shortsword and raised his dagger. Falene bound him with the cords spell as well.
“Stop! Stop, you featherbrained nitwit!”
Dawil roared at Falene. He shoulder-charged the [Mage] as Ceria raised another ice wall. Yvlon was struggling as Ylawes bent to grab her. She tried to kick him, and he tried to pull her up, but he had miscalculated how heavy she was—and how hard it was to drag an uncooperative person single-handedly. Pisces drew his rapier, and Ylawes turned towards him. The [Knight] drew his sword, and Yvlon shouted.
“Ylawes, don’t!”
Pisces and Ylawes faced off as Ceria aimed her wand at the struggling Dawil and Falene, who were shouting at each other. Ylawes narrowed his eyes, and Pisces lowered his posture. The two hesitated—and an arrow embedded itself in the table next to them. Both dodged back and turned.
Halrac lowered his bow. The other adventurers were on their feet. Ylawes turned to them and then twisted. He blocked a whirling frying pan, and the cast iron pan clattered to the ground. Erin lowered her hands.
“Darn. That never works anymore.”
“Don’t interfere.”
Ylawes snapped at Halrac. The [Scout] aimed his bow at the [Knight]’s chest.
“That’s not your decision to make. Let your sister go, Ylawes. She’s an adventurer, and so are you. You don’t get to order her, family or not.”
“That’s precisely why—”
Ylawes’ face flushed. Bevussa folded her wing-arms, looking annoyed.
“I’ve seen enough too. This may be a family matter, but it’s turned into a Gold-rank team fighting a Silver-rank one. Enough. Falene, put down your staff. Cast a spell and we’ll all attack you. This is stupid and pointless.”
The other adventurers nodded. Typhenous pointed his staff at Falene. The half-Elf hesitated and lowered her staff reluctantly. She glared and then doubled over. Dawil had kicked her hard in the shins. The Dwarf looked at his two teammates and shook his head.
“You idiots. I told you they’d never go. Listen to the other Gold-ranks.”
“I can’t just—”
Ylawes swore as Dawil kicked him in the shins, hard enough to go through the metal armor. The Dwarf glared up at him.
“You want to carry your sister off like a damsel in distress? It didn’t work the first time you tried it, and it won’t work now. If you want to give it a shot, I’ll scrape you off the floor when the other Gold-ranks paste you to it. Otherwise we’re done here. Idiots.”
He stomped away. Ylawes stared at Dawil, his teeth set, and then looked around. He stared at Yvlon.
“Sister, please think about this.”
“I have. I’m not going, Ylawes.”
Yvlon folded her arms. Ceria hesitated, looking at Ylawes. The [Knight] breathed in and out, slowly, trying to keep calm.
“Then what will you do? If Liscor falls—”
“I’ll go with my team. If Liscor falls, we’ll take Erin south.”
“But the Drakes—”
“Are not your concern. We’ll survive, Ylawes. But I’m not going to follow you.”
“I see.”
The [Knight] looked pained. And hurt. Yvlon’s own chest stung a bit as he straightened. He had come all this way for her. But she’d never asked him to. He turned and looked around again, then at Yvlon. Then, at last, he shook his head.
“I thought—”
He never finished the sentence. Ylawes just turned and walked out of the inn. Falene looked at Ceria. Pisces made a few rude gestures.
“Remember we offered you a chance. We are leaving Liscor.”
