Chapter 13: Auld Acquaintance

Darren finished up his report with the town authorities, making sure nothing would happen to Louis and Martinez. He rejoined Sara, Milar, and Legerra in the bar, noting that the bartender was still absent. I’ll take care of that later…

Milar and Legerra bowed as Darren walked up to them. Milar handed Darren’s sword back. “A very good show, but did you really have to scare Sara like that?”

Sara checked her reflection in a nearby glass. I don’t look shaken or anything…I think.

Legerra laughed. “Just check the upstairs windowsill…it’s got ten permanent grooves now.” Sara blushed. Oh…right…

Darren smiled, his voice taking on a light, teasing tone. “Oh really? I’m surprised Legerra didn’t try to ‘comfort’ her.” Legerra rubbed his side. “I tried.”

Darren smiled, but it was quickly gone from his face, noticing Sara climbing up the stairs rather quickly. He headed for the stairs too, elbowing Legerra in the ribs when he tried to follow. “Owww…fine, you can have your fun…” Darren glared at him. “Or not…”

Sara kneeled at the windowsill, tracing over and over the grooves her hands had left. Darren walked up behind her, putting a hand on her shoulder. She stood and turned around, facing Darren with watery eyes. Darren’s heart melted and he caught her in his arms.

Sara said nothing, just crying, releasing pent up frustration and pain, the worries and anxiety that had plagued her ever since she arrived in Shirn. Darren said nothing, letting her get it out. Finally, he whispered into her ear. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think about what my actions were doing to you.”

Sara pulled away slightly and looked into his eyes for a minute, then hugged him close again. They stayed there until Milar came running up the stairs, out of breath and noticeably embarrassed to be interrupting. “Sorry Darren, but there’s someone down here who demands to see you.”

Darren nodded at him and looked down at Sara. She sniffed and wiped her eyes. Darren smiled gently and let her go. “We’ll talk later. Come down whenever you’re ready.”

He turned and walked down the hallway, down the stairs, and into the bar. Legerra and Milar stood next to a man and a woman, facing someone Darren had never seen before. He can’t be more than 19…18 would be my guess. Although technically I’m perpetually 19, at least I have the benefit of experience.

He nodded to the man, clothed like Milar and Legerra, but with a long bow made of some strange wood on his back. “Thendat.” He bowed to the woman, who wore the same type of clothing as Sara, but with less armor. “Fraydon. Good to see you both again.” They bowed low.

He turned to the young man facing them. “And you I’ve never seen before.”

“My name is Acerin. I came to fight you, Darren Kinsley.” Darren raised an eyebrow. “Fight me? Didn’t you just see what happened out there?”

Acerin nodded. “Yes, and I can take you.” Darren shook his head in amazement. “Kids these days…why do you want to fight me?”

The young man shrugged. “To test myself? Because I can? Because I want to?”

Darren smiled. “Seems to me like you don’t quite know why yourself. How’d you like to come along on a little journey instead of fighting me?”

Acerin eyed Darren with no small amount of suspicion. Darren’s smile grew. “Yes, I know it seems like a trap of some sort, but consider it your chance to study me, and if the time comes when you wish to leave, you can choose to, and we’ll fight then.”

It was quite obvious that there was a grudging respect for Darren from Acerin, but just as obvious that there was almost no trust. Right about then, Sara came down. Acerin’s eyes widened and Darren laughed, as it had become the standard reaction from most men seeing Sara.

Acerin quickly turned back to the business at hand. “What do you stand to gain?”

Darren thought for a second. “Well, I gain a traveling partner. If you’re as good as you say, you can help out me and help…someone high up in the royal court. If I backstab you in the wilderness, what do I have to gain? Nothing.”

Acerin mulled this over for a minute. Darren held up his hands. “Take your time. I’ll be here for another couple of hou-”

The bartender got up from behind the counter, and Darren whirled to face him. Anger blazed across his face. “YOU!”

Instantly the bartender bolted for the back door, but it slammed shut and locked itself. Luckily the bar was empty except for Darren, his friends, and Acerin, or questions might have been asked. Acerin started at the glow surrounding Darren. “You can use magic?”

Darren never took his eyes off the man behind the counter. “Introductions later. Retribution now.”

Sara said nothing, watching the bartender made a run for the front door, only to be picked up by a powerful wind and smashed against a wall. Darren mentally thanked Sara, and walked to the back door. “Everybody out the back. Now.”

They filed out, leaving Sara and Darren in the room. Milar’s voice floated in. “Don’t forget, we have some basic gear in our upstairs room. It’s the only locked one.”

Darren nodded. “Sara, release him and go with the others. I’ll grab the gear and meet up with you all at the rock, as planned.” Sara nodded silently. {Darren, be quick.} {I will be.}

The group left the bar and watched the door slam shut. They made their way east, out of town to the well-known landmark. There was no-one there at this time, which was probably for the best. Legerra climbed to the top of the rock and called down to the others. “You can see the second story from the top.”

Sara climbed up and watched the upstairs inn. Please, God…no fire…no explosions…It came as a tremendous relief to see Darren walking towards them carrying the gear.

He dropped the gear with a heavy sigh at the base of the rock as Legerra and Sara climbed down. “Okay, quick introductions. Sara, this is Fraydon, one of the best scouts on Shirn. She knows it better than I do, and excels at stealth.” The women exchanged smiles and nods.

“Thendat is an incredible archer. I still haven’t found his equal, except perhaps when he shoots twice.” Everyone chuckled.

“Milar and Legerra are swordsmen. I don’t know which one is ‘better,’ but it’s quite entertaining to watch them spar. And this is Acerin, apparently a magic-user.” Acerin whirled to face Darren. “How’d you know?” Darren smiled patiently. “You saw my aura. Only people who use magic can see the power being collected.” Acerin nodded slowly and turned away again.

Darren looked around. “Okay, so that’s all of us. Everyone, this is Sara. A good friend from Silver Lake, she can also use magic and has skill with long knives.” There were polite and friendly greetings all around. “So we’re all here, ahead of schedule, and now we just have to get to the Great Library in Pilosh.”

Acerin spoke up. “What are we doing there?” There were murmurs of assent all around. Apparently Darren had kept their mission objectives quiet.

Darren smiled. “We’re doing research.” Acerin started to say something, but Darren cut him off. “We’re on an unofficial secret mission from the king himself to find the Stone of Naugan.”

The group exchanged incredulous looks. Legerra raised his voice and spoke with a slightly sarcastic tone. “If you had told us it was going to be a suicide mission, and that we didn’t even know where we were going to die, I might have thought differently about accompanying you on this one.”

Darren looked directly at him. “You’re free to leave.” Legerra held up his hands in front of him. “I didn’t say I wanted to leave. It’s just…it doesn’t seem like you trust us that much, Darren. We’re here for you.”

Darren said nothing. At length Thendat, leaning against a rock with hood pulled over his head, spoke. “When do we leave for the library?”

Darren walked to each person, handing out gear and rations. “Unless you have something you need to get, we leave now.” No-one moved. “Let’s go.”

The group of seven began walking at a steady pace towards the south, the sun directly above them and blazing down. Everyone seemed to have a place, and fell into step accordingly. Fraydon walked twenty or thirty feet ahead of Darren, Thendat trailing Fraydon by five to ten feet. They made no noise, and seemed to be the scouting party for what lay ahead.

Milar walked a few feet behind and to Darren’s right, Legerra a few feet behind and to Darren’s left. Acerin walked directly to Darren’s left, Sara directly to Darren’s right.

After an hour or so of silent walking, Sara turned to Darren. “Darren…what did you do to the bartender?” Darren stared at the horizon, eyes always ahead. “I gave him a taste of his own medicine. I sealed the bar, tied him up, and left him sitting at a table. Illusions of anyone he had ever loved and everyone he trusted will be appearing throughout the next week, ignoring his pleas to untie him and help him. He’s being betrayed.” Darren turned to Sara and smiled sardonically. “Imagine that. But if he figures out the point of what I’m doing, then the ropes will shrivel and he’ll live. If not, he’ll die of starvation.”

Sara shuddered and said nothing. Darren noticed her troubled face and also said nothing, choosing to walk on in silence rather than bring it up. I know I told her we’d talk later…but will we ever get the chance?

Apparently Acerin quickly decided walking was too boring, because he began juggling spheres of fire and ice as they continued the journey. Darren glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, still saying nothing. But when Acerin made them spin around Darren’s head…That’s enough.

“Boy, the magic is not to be played with.”

“Boy? Where do you get off saying ‘Boy’ when you’re just a year or two older?”

Darren smiled darkly inside, keeping his face expressionless. It was always refreshing to see someone so young and naïve. “Don’t you know enough to study your enemies before you challenge them?” His tone turned mocking. “Or do you always rush in, demanding the satisfaction of a duel and hoping they’ll back down?”

Acerin said nothing. A lightbulb went on in Darren’s head. “Or…is this your first challenge? Wow…I’ve seen some real hotheads, but you take the cake.”

“Enough!” Acerin had an aura. “You think you’re all that, Darren? You think you have all this power? I have a direct tap to the source!" He unleashed a concentrated wave of fire directly at Darren. Sara didn’t even have time to think about a defensive spell before Darren reacted.

Darren focused a large amount on defense and sent a small surge of magic back to Acerin’s attack, effectively cutting it off before it even reached him. Acerin stood there dumbfounded. “What…how…?”

Darren let his magic die, slowly allowing Acerin access to his power again. Acerin looked at Darren cautiously, a slight waver in his voice. “Don’t tell me you’re going to kill me now. That would just be inhumane.”

Darren walked to Acerin, stopping two inches away from his face. “Oh, I see. I’m held to a higher code of morals, just because I’m different for some reason? It didn’t seem to stop you from attacking without giving warning. Why the double standard? Are you that scared for your life?”

Acerin remained silent. Darren stepped back. “That’s the smartest thing you’ve said all day.” The younger one was visibly furious at this remark. Darren pointed at him. “That’s your problem. You get too worked up about nothing. Let it go as an insult, and insult me back later. You don’t blast a man just for snubbing you in the street.”

He turned and resumed walking, and so did Acerin. The rest of the group eased up a little, putting away their weapons but still eyeing Acerin with some measure of suspicion. Everyone took their place again.

Darren continued talking. “Your method of pure power in huge amounts may work on lesser people, but against experience you have no advantage. I’m surprised that although you’ve heard of my power, my agelessness doesn’t make it into the legends. That’s good, by the way. The less they know, the better. Acerin, public displays of power don’t get you anything but mistrust. Just look around. Another move like that fire and you’d be dead, even if you killed me. They’re watching you now, and it’ll be some time before you’re trusted by them again.”

Acerin mumbled an apology. “Oh, don’t apologize. It’s worth making mistakes now and then. If nothing else, learn this lesson: choose wisely which mistakes you make.” Darren ended the discussion, refusing to answer any questions until they were camped for the night.
~
Sara couldn’t sleep. It was hot and stuffy inside the small tent she shared with Fraydon. How am I supposed to get to sleep? She rolled over and looked at her companion. No use asking her; she’s been doing this for years, according to Darren. She sighed and got up, opening the tent flap. Fraydon and Milar had fixed the strap on her armor, and there was a noticeable difference. She could move much quicker and quieter now.

She stepped out and looked around. Nothing but a clump of trees where we are and rocky flatland in every direction.

A dull noise reached her ears. Sounds like someone’s yelling…that’s all we need now. She reached out with magic, sensing the direction of the noise. Further south.

It was only a one-minute walk. The flatlands took a deceiving dip and rise, effectively creating a natural hole. No wonder I didn’t see this place. She knelt and crawled until she could look over the edge without being noticed.

Darren floated in a small crater, dressed in the traveling style of Shirn with his cloak nowhere to be seen, rocks spinning around him in an endless circle. Eyes closed and not moving, he almost looked comatose. Without warning, his left arm shot out and smashed a rock to dust. He did it again, this time with a smaller rock and his right arm. Again and again he practiced with different rocks and techniques, improving dexterity and speed.

He sank to the ground slowly, the glow around him disappearing. Sara was about to stand up when suddenly a glint appeared near the ground. She focused on it, but it disappeared. After a few more glints, she wished a hole would open up and swallow her.

He was crying. Weeping silently, he buried his face in his hands and sank even lower, face almost touching the ground. Sara couldn’t act, too many thoughts running through her head to even focus on any coherent one.

The tears suddenly stopped, Darren clenching both hands into white-knuckled fists. Kneeling and then standing, he ran full speed, arms and legs wild, at a huge old stone standing in the pit, screaming “AAAAAHHHHHHH!” There was still no power coming from him. And that’s when Sara realized: he didn’t plan to use it.

Darren practically threw himself at the stone, punching until the blood flowed from his hands and down his arms, spattering the rock and painting the ground red.

Sara covered her mouth with her hand so she wouldn’t cry out.

Darren kept punching, seemingly immune to the pain he was inflicting on himself. He finished after a minute or two, the stone unhurt, unmoving, and uncaring. Without using magic, he knew he couldn’t destroy it. He stood up, the pain and his wounds fading as he let the power heal him, fire burning away all trace of blood from the environment.

He stood looking at the ground and the rock for a while. It could have been a minute. It could have been an hour. Finally Sara crawled backwards until it felt safe enough to stand and walk silently. She eased the closed tent flap open, shutting it behind her. Fraydon didn’t even stir.

Sara sighed. Her body needed rest, but her brain forbade it. Finally she began to drift off out of pure exhaustion. And out of all her drifting thoughts, out of all the confusion and fear, she fell asleep with one thing still on her mind.

Didn’t I leave the tent flap open when I first left?
- posted by Nick @ 4/26/2004 10:44:00 AM