CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  MORE THAN A MERCENARY GUILD

  Garrick Landow gave a quick laugh to himself as he continued down one of the busiest streets in Valtross. The last thing Elias had told him before they parted ways was to be careful, and what had happened not a few minutes later? Bested by a thief almost half his size.

  If it wasn’t for Elias going to the city’s temple and Cerelene and Onyx watching over Maldrin back at the inn they had just checked into, Garrick knew he would have been reminded of the embarrassing moment by his friends for the rest of the quest.

  After turning down a few more streets, Garrick saw his destination finally come into view. In a few minutes he would be at a place that, to him, was as important as a temple was to Elias. Maybe more so.

  As Garrick walked up the stairs of the Valtross Mercenary Guild, he felt his stress and cares leave him. He knew it would only be for a time, but the mercenary guilds were the closest thing Garrick had to a home. It was where he felt the most comfortable. It was where he could be himself, unlike Shepherds Bend or even The Sleepy Kettle and Yard Inn.

  When Garrick walked through the door and heard dice hitting the tables, smelled meat smoking, and heard mugs clanking, he knew he would be staying longer than he needed to. Out of habit, the mercenary checked the posting wall for jobs. Sure, he wasn’t going to take a job now, but the wall, and more notably the jobs posted, could tell you the climate of not just the city, but the greater area as well.

  As Garrick scanned the board he noticed that there were more than a few for Tanisgroth, the next big city they would be traveling through on their way to The Cloud Shroud Mountain.

  “Why are you looking at that board, Landow?! Your skills are so bad, you need two weapons and a wolf to get by!” blurted out a deep voice.

  Garrick smiled to himself as he turned around. At a table just a short walk away was a big middle aged man, well muscled, with long blonde hair and a long braided beard, who was lifting a giant battle axe in the air. As Garrick walked toward the big man, he noticed a thin, toned young woman with short blonde hair and a bow and quiver sitting next to him, as well.

  “Jace my friend, you are just jealous I have twice the skills you have!” countered Garrick with his arms out wide.

  When Garrick got to the table, Jace stood and placed his battle axe on his back again. Then the two mercenaries embraced each other firmly.

  “Where is Onyx?” asked the blonde archer at the table. “It is good to see you, but I still say Onyx is the best part of you. That mystic wolf has always been my companion, when I must hear you two speak again of past jobs and the good old days.”

  Garrick froze and then studied the young woman’s face. After a few seconds he was surprised when he realized who she was.

  “Iniah...is that you?!” asked Garrick, his eyes wide.

  “Well, who else would it be?” replied Iniah, a bit taken aback.

  Garrick shook his head in disbelief and, with a big smile on his face, pointed at the blonde woman. “You have cut your hair. It is not tied back...and well...you have grown. That is for sure.” Then the mercenary leaned back. “And your clothes!”

  “So you thought my father had gotten a new woman along with this new battle axe, I assume?” retorted Iniah, somewhat perturbed.

  Garrick looked over at Jace while the big man laughed heartily, watching his daughter and fellow mercenary friend interact for the first time in almost two years.

  “Garrick! Garrick! Sit down! It is good to see you! So where is Onyx? I do not think I have ever seen you without him,” asked Jace, after taking a drink of ale.

  Garrick was silent for a moment as he mulled over his answering options. Jace and Iniah were good friends, but the quest he was leading was secret, and for good reason.

  “He is with Maldrin,” replied Garrick. “We are traveling together. He has been cooped up in his cottage for far too long.”

  “Father, we must go see him! I remember when that old wizard used to animate the dolls mother made for me,” said Iniah, happily, but when she saw Garrick’s face change, she fell silent.

  “I am sorry Iniah, Maldrin is resting,” said Garrick. “He pushed himself to his limits right before we got here.” Then the mercenary smiled and quickly changed the subject. “By your looks, I assume you are going on jobs with your father now?”

  “Yes. No more dresses,” answered Iniah. She looked over at Jace. “And father may not cut his beautiful locks, but I decided to. The less to be grabbed by in battle, the better.” Then the young archer looked at Garrick’s quiver. “Speaking of better, I have gotten much better with my bow since you taught me.”

  After motioning for his daughter’s bow, Iniah handed it to Jace. “You should see her with this, Landow. Ever since you taught her the basics a while back, it has rarely left her side.” Then Jace looked back at Iniah. “I am proud of her.”

  Garrick took the bow from Jace’s hand, and smiled at Iniah, who was grinning from ear to ear after hearing her father’s praise in front of the man who took the time to teach archery to a young girl not his own.

  “And you did not want me to teach her. Remember?” teased Garrick, leaning over and slapping Jace on the arm.

  “Yes. Yes. You were right,” replied Jace, pointing a finger at Garrick while sitting back in his chair. Then the big man smiled. “Did Iniah ever tell you the main reason she asked you?”

  Iniah slapped Jace’s arm. “Father, stop it!”

  “She was quite taken with you, that is for sure. Both handsome and kind,” continued Jace.

  “I never should have told mother that. Of course she told you!” relented Iniah, biting her lip.

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  Garrick laughed, seeing Jace’s smile as his daughter tried in vain to cover her embarrassment. “Iniah, you flatter me.” Then after grinning over at Jace, the mercenary clasped his hands together on the table and tried to add to Iniah’s embarrassment. “Well, do you still find me handsome?”

  Upon hearing her father laugh again, Iniah glared at him and yanked his braided beard hard. It was the sign that she’d had enough, and Jace knew it. Next she looked over at Garrick.

  “I still do, teacher,” replied Iniah with a shy smile. “But there are more handsome men here.” Then the archer reached over and patted Garrick’s hand. “And younger.”

  Seeing that the teasing had run its course, Jace took a drink of ale and changed the subject. “So, what do you think about how big Valtross is becoming?”

  Garrick’s smile faded as he looked back at Jace soberly. “Valtross is certainly an up and coming city. With its population growth and new business, and the taxes taken from them, Valtross has certainly added to its beauty.” After sitting back, the mercenary’s face became more serious. “However, as with any city on the rise, that money and beauty has attracted more people who would like to get it the easy way. I had barely settled at The Gallant Night Inn when I caught a thief going for my pouch. Happened on the way here. Poor girl. Seemed like the constable knew her.” Then Garrick pointed at Jace’s daughter. “She was the same age as you, Iniah. Short blonde hair, too.”

  Iniah rolled her eyes and took a drink of ale. “That would be Deelah. Every since she has returned from the capital city she has been nothing but trouble for her sister. Anya is much older, and the lead cleric here.” Then Iniah leaned in closer. “Rumor has it, Deelah would be in jail back in Aubrelon if she had not mentioned that Anya was her sister.”

  “Anya is beloved around these parts. I would make a play for her, myself, if she was not a cleric,” added Jace, stroking his beard absentmindedly.

  “Yes, I am sure your wife would like that,” scoffed Garrick with a grin.

  Garrick watched Jace close his eyes and take a long drink, while Iniah looked down at the table. Suddenly, it made sense! The changes with Iniah. Why she was with her father. Garrick opened his mouth, but before he could apologize, Jace shook his head and stopped him.

  “What happened to Maren?” asked Garrick softly.

  “Landon Rosser killed her,” replied Jace. Then the big man patted Iniah’s hand. A second later he held it.

  “Rosser killed her?” asked Garrick in surprise, but with respect.

  “Not directly. But he killed her all the same. If that mad man had not taken up arms and led a revolt against King Brock, Maren would be alive today,” stated Jace angrily.

  “Rosser led his men and the goblins through our town two years ago,” replied Iniah, quietly. “One of his soldiers and a goblin came into our house. The man tried to take me. When my mother came to my defense, the goblin stabbed her.”

  “I was here in Valtross protecting the city. No one thought Rosser would move through a small, out of the way town like Kaber,” said Jace, as Iniah fell silent for a moment.

  Garrick felt anger beginning to rage inside him, but remained calm as Iniah continued a memory that he knew she would never forget.

  “One of Rosser’s commanders, Daukus, heard the commotion as he was passing by,” said Iniah, quietly. “When he saw my mother on the ground and the blood on the goblin’s knife, he slayed the monster with one swing of his sword, and then with one punch knocked out the man who had grabbed me. He apologized to me, and then preceded to tell me that this was not what Landon Rosser was fighting for.” A moment later Iniah’s face became angry. “As if I cared.”

  As Iniah became silent again, her father, who had been looking off into the distance, caught a glimpse of the ring tied around Garrick’s scabbard.

  “I understand now how you feel, Garrick.” said Jace, sadly. Then after kissing Iniah’s cheek, he looked up at Garrick with compassion. “I realize not completely. I did not…”

  Garrick put up his hand and Jace stopped “No my friend...” Then he looked back at Iniah.

  “I miss mother,” continued Iniah. “But being with father has helped. He always provided. As you know, gone for long periods of time.” Garrick watched as Iniah returned the kiss to Jace’s cheek. “Now we are making up that time. Though I know we would both give up this time together to have her back.”

  Garrick watched as Jace held back tears. “When I look at the stars I know she is waiting for us, but she will not see Iniah join her in Elion’s Embrace anytime soon, if I do my job correctly,” assured the big man. Then he laughed. “Listen to us! This is a joyous meeting! What brings you here, Landow? Whatever it is, I am glad you came now. We may be leaving soon.”

  Garrick opened his mouth to answer, but the words changed with the news of his friend's possible departure. “We can get to why I am here soon enough. Where are you two off to?”

  “Tanisgroth,” replied Jace, sternly. “Mogooch was just there. He told me about the attack on The Dwarven Mountains, at this very table, a few days ago.” A second later, Jace looked at Iniah before his gaze returned to Garrick. “After I told Iniah what Mogooch said, she agreed it was a good idea to go.”

  “We will be going to Tanisgroth in hopes of getting work defending the city, if the dwarves can not hold whatever mysterious force has come across from The Barren Wasteland,” added Iniah.

  “Perhaps we will be employed by a wealthy family to protect their estate, like you do at Shepherds Bend,” continued Jace. Then he leaned closer to his daughter and laughed. “Maybe even marry Iniah off!”

  Garrick laughed as Iniah shook her head, smiling. Jace started to take another drink from his mug and, after finding it empty, he continued. “When was the last time you worked in Shepherds Bend?”

  “I was just there, actually,” smiled Garrick.

  “I bet Lebec and Estella’s vineyards are bursting by now,” said Jace, with his arms opened wide. Then he asked the question Garrick knew was to come next. “How is Katrina?”

  Garrick sat back in his chair and sighed, hoping that with such a lively crowd in the guild, his friends wouldn’t notice. “She was fine...until I left. Our relationship is complicated. It was good that I left when I did, before things got worse.”

  “What about Melita? I assume you came through The Crossroads to get here,” followed Iniah.

  “We only saw each other for an evening. I had an important job in The Holy City, so I only stayed the night at The Sleepy Kettle and Yard and left early the next morning,” said Garrick, purposely leaving out the important discussion he and the beautiful barmaid had.

  “Garrick, I do not know how you do it. Carrying on with these two women at the same time. And with an elf at that!” marveled Jace.

  Garrick sat up straight again at the table. Then Jace and Iniah watched as his face became contemplative.

  “It is funny,” spoke Garrick, after a few seconds. Melita is an elf, but growing up at The Crossroads she is almost human in her actions.” Then he smiled. “And Katrina is human, but as proper and elegant as an elf, having grown up the rich daughter of wine merchants.”

  “You will have to choose soon, Garrick,” announced Iniah. “I may be just a few years past my coming of age, but I am a woman all the same. If you do not choose soon, you will lose one.” Then Iniah grabbed his hand. “You could lose both. It could happen anytime.”

  “I know,” nodded Garrick, already knowing the truth. Then he cleared his throat. “You asked why I was here at the guild. Simple. Avenal the Relentless.” Then the mercenary watched as both Jace and Iniah’s eyes grew wide. “Back at The Crossroads, I ran into Gustine as he was leaving on a hunt, and he told me that Avenal had roughed up a few of us at the guild there, but he could not tell me why. Just that no one was talking. I did not have time to stop at the guild there. Have you heard anything here?”

  “No,” answered Jace, as he grabbed his battle axe from his back. “But if Avenal comes for us, I am prepared. That half elf is big and strong, but he is not bigger and stronger than me.”

  “And with me by my father’s side, it is a fight Avenal does not want,” added Iniah, grabbing her bow. “I do not care how many people he has taken on at once.”

  Garrick watched as Jace grabbed Iniah’s mug of ale and took a drink. Then he heard him say something that would stick in his mind for the rest of the visit.

  “Garrick, the people here are not talking either. But one thing is for sure. Avenal the Relentless is still looking for someone. And whoever that is better keep their eyes open.”