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Shadows Under Abfall Chapter 26

  A single man in bright white robes stood in the first room of the magistrate’s office, his hands holding two rolls of parchment. Candle light illuminated the annoyance that lined his face. His narrow eyes looked down on the three.

  Elaine did her best to return the glare.

  He walked over to a podium and unfurled his parchment. He dipped his quill in an ink well and held it ready to write. He looked up at them disinterestedly as he wrote, and didn’t offer any greeting.

  “Three…mercenaries to see the magistrate,” he said as he looked them over. “It will be a few moments. He’s already in a meeting. Can I have your names?”

  “Our names aren’t important,” Logan said. “We just have news to report from Atral.”

  “So three mysterious mercenaries to see the magistrate.” The man scribbled on his parchment. “My day just keeps getting better.”

  He left them standing and waiting, going about his business with a measured slowness. Elaine had to resist the urge to tap her foot to count the time as the wait dragged on. It was like waiting on a royal audience, but more annoying.

  “Thank you for the information.” Finally, the door cracked opened and a man in a frilly white shirt and leather pants walked out. “We always appreciate the assistance of the Order.”

  He was young, especially for a magistrate. He would be Logan’s younger brother then. He had the same dark hair, and the same brown eyes of his brother. There was an innocent shine to them that Logan lacked.

  Elaine’s hand went to her sword when she saw who he let out. Elise stood before her, her armor gleaming in the dim light. As they locked eyes, Elaine tensed and started to slide her sword from its sheath.

  “Traitor!” Elise drew her sword in a flash.

  Immediately, both Elaine and Logan drew their own blades. Orange light filled the room as fire lit Joshua’s hand. The air stood still as the four faced down each other, waiting to make the opening move.

  Even with three to one odds, the fight wasn’t certain. Elise was one of her best knights. So long as Elise had her armor, she had the advantage of strength and stamina. Not even Joshua’s magic would be able to overcome her easily so long as she wore the armor.

  “I take it these are the problems you were talking about,” the magistrate said.

  “I will take them into custody,” Elise said. “This hunt is over.”

  “I’m afraid not.” The magistrate raised a slim hand and stepped in between the four. “I will not have any bloodshed within my office.”

  “Do you really think you can stop me?” Elise moved her sword’s tip to point at the magistrate. “What will a puny man like you do?”

  “Need I remind you that your Order has no authority beyond your lands?” the magistrate said. “This town is under the control of the Alban family. They do not follow your Order.”

  He was referring to the tithe. A noble family that followed the Order gave a part of their land over to the Order. Then they would give the Order some authority in exchange for protection. The Alban family didn’t participate.

  “Fine.” Elise sheathed her blade. “I will have to catch them another time.”

  She walked out after that, leaving Elaine, Logan and Joshua standing with the magistrate. He looked them over with interest and a thin smile curved his lips. He stepped up to Logan, looking him up and down.

  “You haven’t changed much, brother,” the magistrate said, extending his hand.

  “You’ve grown, Paul.” Logan shook his brother’s hand. “We need to talk.”

  “In my office then.” Paul motioned to the door.

  They followed him into the office. Shelves with actual books, not just rolls of parchment lined the walls. Even the two windows to the room had glass to cover them. The magistrate was a very rich man.

  “So, would you like to introduce me to your friends?” he asked as he sat behind a desk in the center of the room.

  “Elaine and Joshua.” Logan pointed to both of them in turn. “But that’s not why I’m here.”

  “I didn’t think you would come back,” Paul said.

  “There was a sarpan raid in Atral,” Logan said. “They used black powder to break through the walls. We didn’t find any survivors there.”

  “I’ll send word to Nethas.” Paul waved his hand dismissively. “That’s hardly cause for you to come here. You could have told just about anyone and sent them to me. Coming here was too risky.”

  “They’re still looking for me then,” Logan said, his eyes narrowing.

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  “The Alban family remembers their blood debts.” Paul frowned. “You’re lucky no one recognized you on the way in.”

  Elaine’s heart lurched at that. There weren’t many reasons that a noble family would keep a blood debt over a person’s head. Logan had likely killed a member of the Alban family, or perhaps something worse.

  “I had to risk it,” Logan said. “There are things worse than just sarpans in Nelim now. We’re going to stop something that’s worse than the war and we need your help to do it.”

  “I can’t imagine something worse than the sarpans.” Paul shook his head. “That black powder of theirs has made the walls nearly pointless. Atral isn’t the first northern town to fall to raiders this year.”

  “Why did we need his help?” Elaine asked. “The Order knows where we are now and by just being here, you risk a noble family hunting us down.”

  “It does compound our problems.” Joshua laughed hollowly.

  “I have a reason.” Logan held up a hand. “Paul knows about the different caravans that run through here. If there’s one that’s heading up beyond the front lines, he’ll know.”

  “I do know about one that’s heading beyond the front lines,” Paul said. “They are looking to hire some extra men. Go to the inn and ask for Carl the Green.”

  “That’s our ride north then,” Logan said.

  “We still have to get past the Order,” Elaine said. “They’ll be waiting for us.”

  “You’ll have to deal with that on your own,” Paul said. “All I can advise is to go out the back door.”

  “That will have to be enough,” Logan said. “Thanks for the help, brother.”

  “Just repay me by never coming back.” Paul turned his back. “I don’t want to see you on the execution block.”

  There were no goodbyes exchanged between the two brothers, only a shared smile and nod. They left out of the office and out a back door to the building. It led out to a small alleyway behind the entire block. It was so narrow they could only walk out in a single file line.

  “Are you going to tell us what happened?” Elaine asked as she followed Logan down the alley.

  “It would be nice to know what we have to watch out for,” Joshua said.

  “It was a long time ago, back when I was barely fifteen,” Logan said. “I killed the Lord’s son.”

  “Then that’s why your brother is the magistrate,” Elaine said. “They want to keep a close eye on him.”

  “That type of thing would be a stain on the family’s honor,” Logan said as they reached the end of the alley. “They spared my brother, but because I killed the boy, I was not allowed any leniency. They put a price on my head and I ran.”

  “Then why come here at all?” Elaine asked. “You should know that stepping back into their lands would be risky.”

  “As I said before.” Logan stepped out into the street. “I wouldn’t do it unless I had to. This is the best way north.”

  “You could have told us this before we arrived,” Elaine said, her cheeks burning. “All of this secrecy could get us killed.”

  “I guess we should reveal secret we keep right now then,” Logan said. “Don’t you both have a few things you want to tell?”

  “Now isn’t the time or place for this,” Joshua said. “We’re attracting too much attention.”

  He was right. Though there were few people in the street, some had stopped to watch the three strangers. Elaine didn’t see any guards among them, and the silver gleam of knight’s armor didn’t shine through.

  “We had best get on with this caravan,” Joshua said.

  Logan nodded and led the way down the road. The crowd started to move along as well, giving them no further notice. Elaine took a deep breath to steady herself, doing her best to restrain her anger.

  They reached the inn after some twists and turns in the street. It was a small inn, just two stories tall with a thatched roof and wooden walls. Logan led the way inside, Elaine and Joshua followed after.

  Mercenaries filled the room, all sitting at their own tables. Elaine tensed when she saw them. There were so many. Some of them held swords and some played with knives.

  Logan seemed right at home with it, stepping up to main counter and talking with the balding innkeeper. Within moments, he walked away with a triumphant smile on his face. He had found their man.

  They walked back to a dark corner of the inn. There, a very large man with long red hair sat with his back to the corner, his green eyes watching as they approached. Burly arms held his hands to his chin as he looked over the newcomers.

  His table was stacked high with empty plates and mugs. He had sat there for quite a while, doing nothing but watching the three. Elaine’s nose burned at the stench surrounding him. She tried her best to hide the disgust that threatened to rise in her face.

  “We have business with Carl the Green,” Logan said, bowing slightly. “I am Logan and these are my companions Joshua and Elaine.”

  “You’re looking for work,” Carl the Green said. “You want to make some coin on the plains.”

  “We do,” Logan said, rising up and looking Carl squarely in the eye.

  “What can you say for experience?” Carl asked as he reached down and took a deep drink of ale from his mug.

  “I have served for five years with the Crows,” Logan said. “My friend Joshua is a Tower mage, and Elaine is a seasoned fighter from the south.”

  “A woman?” Carl laughed suddenly, his rotund belly shaking in the candlelight. “I don’t care how seasoned she is, I don’t need one trying to protect my caravan.”

  “I can assure you…” Logan started, but Carl cut him off.

  The man rose up to his full height, standing from his table in one easy bound. He was taller than most, he might even have some ogre’s blood in him if Elaine had to guess. He bent down over Logan, pointing his finger into Logan’s chest.

  “I don’t need your assurances,” he said, throwing spittle out with each word. “You and the mage would be good for this work, but you have to be addled to bring her along.”

  “You think I can’t do it?” Elaine cut in, her hand going to her sword.

  “I think I could beat you with just one finger.” Carl laughed, turning to her and holding up his hand.

  “Okay, you’re on.” Elaine charged forward, striking with her fist into his stomach.

  Carl let out a gasp with the strike, but it wasn’t enough to hurt him. Elaine barely dodged beneath his meaty fist as he struck down at her. She moved by instinct, remembering all her street fights of old.

  She might not be able to overpower him, but she could still win.

  Again and again, he tried to punch at her, but every time she managed to dodge him. He had a lot of power, but he was slow. Elaine pressed that advantage. Her fist hit his fat stomach with every opportunity.

  It was not enough to bring him down.

  “I could do this all day,” Carl bragged.

  She knew he was right. Her chest was tight and her heart beat a fast rhythm. She had to find a way to end it, but she couldn’t use her sword. She had to find a way to bring him down without it.

  His final strike gave her the opportunity. He over extended himself with a right punch. For one beautiful moment, he was off balance. Elaine kicked down at his foot and pushed down from his side. Carl fell to the ground in a heap, his chest rising and falling in heavy breaths.

  “Alright, lass,” he said finally. “You bested me.”

  “You’ll take us along then?” Elaine asked, cracking her knuckles as she looked down on him.

  “Aye,” Carl said, pushing himself up from the floor with a wicked grin. “Welcome to Carl’s Merry Men.”

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