Paths of Green and Gold

Thoris - guild

Thorn turned around to see a short thin man in a grey frock-coat. His smiling face was covered in wrinkles, his hands behind his back. His eyes shone with intelligence, scrutinizing the guest.

The warrior bowed with respect. "Impressive collection, sir," he said honestly, raising his head.

[Unfortunately, I lack the education to fully appreciate it...]

"Good afternoon," he added. "I'm Thorn. Please forgive an unannounced visit.”

The man nodded and smiled again. He gestured to one of the armchairs while taking a seat in the other one.

"To what do I owe this unannounced honor then?"

Thorn sat down.

[Honor you say? It's not going to be an easy conversation...]

"Well, I'd like to say it's just a courteous visit to greet you as I recently arrived in your town, sir, but actually I would like to ask you for information," he started shyly. "About my mentor, Lady Likimeya. Her current location, to be exact..."

The man narrowed his eyes and nodded with understanding.

"Characteristic name," he said after thinking for a while. "I feel I heard it before. What would you like to drink?"

The sudden change of topic caught Thorn off guard, as he didn't hear the door opening. The butler put two glass goblets on the table and poured an amber liquid in one of them. The scent of berries and flowers filled the air. The warrior brought himself back to order. 

[Of course... I worry not to take too much time, and I forget about rituals...]

"I'll follow my host's choice..." he bowed his head slightly.

The butler tipped the bottle over the other goblet - the scent grew more intense: it brought to mind an orchard with blossoming plum trees. The drink glittered like liquid gold.

- ...I think I remember," the master of the house continued after the servant left. "Isn't that the red-haired girl from around Parravon? Half-blood, wasn't she? The favorite of Aldous..." he raised his chalice and took a sip. "I don't think she has ever visited Thoris." 

Thorn nodded, raising his glass and inhaling the pleasant scent. The man's words summoned Her image from the time when they visited Parravon. The role of a damsel in distress was so unnatural for Her. The warrior smiled at his memories.

"You called her your mentor," his host noticed. "Isn't she too young to teach new recruits?"

"It's not for me to judge, sir." 

"Of course, of course," the man took another sip of his drink and put the glass down. "Well, we don't leave our people in need. I'll try to find the answer to your question. But please, tell me the reason for your visit," the man's cordial smile made it easy to imagine him surrounded by grandchildren. "And how did it happen that you had to be carried into the town?"

Thorn tried the wine. "Thank you, sir."

[Is your question just a courtesy or is there really something you don't know about what happened so close to your town...?]

"I was accompanying a relative in her journey..." he started slowly. "Not far from Thoris we stumbled upon some bandits... Their leader seemed to be of Elder Race..." The warrior paused. "Sir, have you ever heard about hairless creatures with four fingers? After death his appearance dramatically changed," he frowned.

The host shook his head. "Could you give me more details?"

"Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a closer look..." Thorn said apologetically. "His skin was pale blue, but it's hard to say if it wasn't the result of decay. I have never seen such a creature before. When he was still alive he just seemed like a very well trained swordsman of Elder Race... or maybe half-blood..." he shrugged, putting the forgotten chalice back on the table.

"If in the end he was defeated, though..." the host seemed to think about something intensively. "I understand it was his companions who brought you to doctor Tregarth's hospital - metaphorically of course?” 

"You could say it was a joint effort, sir," the warrior said quietly, staring at the golden wine in the glass.

[Maybe not too well-coordinated but very close to success anyway...]

"How long do you intend to stay in Thoris?" 

"At least until doctor Tregarth decides that I am free to go," the warrior smiled and picked up the glass again.

"Yes, yes, certainly... Excuse me for a moment. I need to attend to... some matters. Please feel at ease and use the library, if you find anything interesting," the older man got up and nodded. Thorn also stood up and bowed thanking the man.

[Were those bandits so important or did I miss something?]

After the host left, Thorn didn't go back to the books, but went to the window. On the bookrest, there was a work in a language he couldn't understand, and behind the glass panes, he saw a view of the garden or rather tree crowns that efficiently masked whatever was below. Only in a few places, he could spot a path, a flower bed, or a pond with a small fountain.

[I hope I didn't offend anyone I shouldn't offend by killing those bandits... It's not very probable that the Guild would allow its subordinates to attack citizens on the roads, especially considering the barbaric way it was done... Were those merchants from Thoris or just going there to sell their goods?]

He started to analyze the scene they found with Selena. It looked like a usual robbery. Could he have missed something?   

[I'm not an investigator. It's not my job to solve this kind of puzzles...]

The soft carpet muffled his steps, as he came back to the table to take another sip of wine. He didn't want to think about the dead. It couldn't change anything anyway. He looked through the shelves in search of a book that could take his attention away from the past. His eyes slid across titles: "The Sacred Architecture of Ancient Thoris", "The Water Fowls of the Seven Baronies", "The Empire's Foreign Policy During the Great War". His gaze stopped at "The Influence of Wars on the Transformation of the Cutting Weapons of the Old Empire". He carefully took out the book, opened it at random, and started reading.

The treaty was written in an accessible way and illustrated with numerous drawings, presenting various cold steel weapons. Fascinated, Thorn looked at one and two-handed swords, sabers, epees, cords, and cutlasses.

"So you found a book to read?"

The words startled Thorn. He looked up from the book. His host came back, holding a small carved wooden box. The warrior nodded, closing the treaty and gently putting it back in its place on the shelf.

"Indeed, sir." He smiled. "And a very engaging one, too."

The master of the house nodded in approval. "If you'd like, you can borrow it," he offered. "I know that Simon is really meticulous regarding his patients' recovery, so until he decides you're well, you will have to rest," he emphasized the last word.

"Thank you, sir, but I wouldn't like to damage or lose your property, and I cannot guarantee every patient's honesty when faced with such a valuable item," Thorn weighed his words carefully. "Besides, I am planning a rather active rest," he added, trying to sound light.

"Of course," the man narrowed his eyes. "I already sent your question along. I trust we will receive the answer in a few days. Please, be patient."

Thorn bowed his head. "I'm really grateful, sir."

"While waiting for the news, would you be open to some assignments? Even in Thoris, we do have work sometimes..." A shy smile appeared on the man's face.

The warrior considered his question for a moment. Finally, he nodded. "If you have nothing against giving work to someone so inexperienced, sir..." 

[Selena wouldn't be happy knowing I’m thinking about working during the "healing process"... But then this kind of duties would force me to stay out of trouble - at least with the law... Unless she meant a different kind of trouble...]

"Oh, I didn't have anything in particular in mind yet," the grey-clad man explained. "I just like to know what kind of resources I have at my disposal at any given time," he smiled again. "Besides, I don't know a better way to get experience than action. The theory gives you the basics and the general image, but it's the practice that makes a master, young man." His scrutinizing gaze seemed to pierce through all the walls the warrior built around himself.

Thorn nodded again, feeling uneasy. "Yes, sir."

"Is there anything else you need?"

"Forgive me, sir, for taking so much of your precious time," the warrior said quietly. "I hope that the death of those bandits didn't offend anyone... important?" he added hesitantly.

The host looked at the warrior surprised. "Do you think that anyone important could care about some scum who mistake "work" and "s*******r"? I think you seriously underestimate our town... It's true we live far from the capital but we are not savages. And we quickly and efficiently deal with those who are."  

Thorn barely restrained a sigh of relief.

[I should have stayed silent... ]

"I'm really sorry, sir. I didn't mean to offend you," he said quickly, bowing again. "It's just that your reaction to my story was quite... vivid, so I had strange thoughts..." he added apologetically.

"You didn't offend me, young man." The master of the house smiled. "If you'd like to finish the chapter, please feel at home. Edwin will escort you out whenever you are ready to leave. And if you'd like to join me for dinner, I'd be honored. For now, however, I need to return to some urgent matters." 

"Of course," Thorn said with another respectful bow. "Thank you very much for the invitation, but I think I'll get back under my cousin's caring wings." He smiled. "If you need me, you know where to find me, sir."

The older man nodded and the warrior left the library, gently closing the door behind him. He went down to the hall, trying to control the speed of his steps. He just wanted to go outside already. It was a really tiring conversation.

[Calm down... It's done for now... And what's most important, you made the first step towards your goal... ]

Downstairs, he nodded at the butler, who opened the door for him. He walked out and finally relaxed. He went down the street at the same unhurried pace. He wanted to walk around to rest and get his balance back.

He didn't like this town, but then he didn't like any human town or city. The architecture was coarse, there were too many people around and too much noise. Adding to that were all the unpleasant smells intensified by the high temperature. 

At least the district where he was now was not crowded and rather quiet. It reminded him of the last time he was wandering around a luxurious neighborhood, although that city was much bigger...

+++

[The pain in his hand was strong enough to extinguish his fury. Slowly, he realized that he most probably broke a few bones. He couldn't move his wrist and any attempt to bend the elbow made him want to scream or, worse, pass out. The tickling of the blood dripping down his hand also reached him from behind the falling curtain of rage. But he didn't stop. He strode forward, barely registering the elegant townhouses, inns, shops, and mansions.

-”Of course, I know where she is, but it doesn't concern you. If she doesn't survive I might tell you more…”-

Someday he was going to kill that conceited pointy-eared bastard. Or die trying. That time would come... Eventually. For now, he couldn't do it. Yet again, the shackles his sister put on him were too tight and heavy. He felt everything was coming to an end…]

+++

He stopped, as the memory of the paralyzing pain shot through his arm like a lightning bolt. Taking a few deep breaths, he tried to regain his composure. After a while, he resumed his walk.

Although he realized that the buildings surrounding him were built with a lot of attention to detail, and the colors and materials used to adorn them were supposed to catch the eye of anyone who passed by, the richest neighborhood of Thoris didn't impress him. Angular proportions and excessive ornaments couldn't enchant someone who grew up in a place where even the simplest hut was a work of art.

Here and there he saw a maid hurrying with her errands, a messenger, or a servant. At one point, he was passed by a blue open carriage with a matron wrapped in a sparkly shawl. But even with all that, the streets were rather empty. After some time, he saw a glimpse of the city wall between the buildings.

[It's time to go back...]