The Severaine

Chapter Four The First Piece of the Puzzle-1

Chapter Four

The First Piece of the PuzzleThe innkeeper felt his jaw lower in horror as he realised who had been responsible for the sounding of the bell above his door. He had long anticipated a visit from his favourite customer, but with her he knew would be that assassin. The young lady who never failed to instil fear within him. Despite this there was no hiding the lust reflected in his eyes. A lust for the only thing that brought him comfort, the riches he was offered in exchange for his services. Once the three had entered he continued to watch the entrance expectantly. His breathing quickened, becoming shallow, as he wiped his hands down his bright green shirt nervously. When it became apparent they were alone, he fixed his vision upon them. The signs of anxiety quickly faded, his voice holding no tells of his previous concerns.

“And what can I do for you?” His familiar mercenary smile flashed briefly towards them as he took in their appearance. It soon faded as he realised not one of them would be able to satisfy his requirements. Then again, he thought as the smile returned, perhaps Elly had sent them.

Acha approached the desk with purpose. They hadn't really discussed what they would do on their arrival. They had simply followed Daniel's determined march through the twisting streets of Collateral as he somehow led them effortlessly to the practically impossible to locate inn. Standing in silence before the innkeeper spoke volumes about the lack of forethought behind his plan. Fortunately, Acha had an idea of her own. Even if it wasn't a good one, given they had only this one opportunity it was better than standing there and saying nothing. Their only advantage was the fact they had been seen here previously with Elaineor, and it was one Acha intended to use.

“Elly sent us,” she lied with conviction. This was one name he was sure to react to. She kept him well funded for the simple services he had provided. “She wishes for us to collect something for her.” She quickly lifted the sketch from Eiji's hand to unfold the parchment. She placed it before the innkeeper allowing him to cast his gaze over it before he looked to her questioningly. “This,” she stated impatiently tapping the drawing, already seeing his desperate attempt to mask the recognition his eyes had betrayed.

“She sent you?” he questioned almost in disbelief. “What might I ask is so important she couldn't come to me herself while she is here? She has never been a fan of…” he paused casting his vision over the three of them critically once more and gestured in their direction. “Lackeys.”

“She had business she needed to attend to,” she answered flippantly with a dismissive wave of her hand.

“And Marise?” Surely if Elaineor had things in need of her attention she would have sent her more trusted ally, not these three.

“With her of course.” She gave an annoyed sigh, leaning forward on the counter slightly. She could see the doubt evident in his eyes as his jowls vibrated with the slow shaking of his head. Acha allowed herself closer still, sliding around the counter to stand beside him. If her words failed to sway him, there was always an alternative method at her disposal. One that would guarantee the required result.

“I don't have it.” He placed his hand upon the desk, angling himself to give Acha his full attention. She could smell the sickly-sweet stench of sweat which seemed to envelop him so completely. “If she wants it, she will have to collect it herself,” he stated, unaware of the contradiction his words had given. Acha opened her mouth already armed with her next response when Daniel interrupted.

“Very well, perhaps you would prefer to negotiate with Marise. Maybe she can explain things a little more clearly. It seems we are having some difficulty understanding one another.” Daniel turned away from them, his determined stride advancing towards the exit. “Come on, we have better things to do than waste our time on this corpse. Eiji, you watch him, make sure he is still here when we return.” Daniel snatched the door handle. He had already taken his first determined steps outside when the innkeeper's panicked voice called to him.

“Wait!” he screamed, his shrill tone almost reaching the decibel capable of shattering glass. “What do you mean corpse?” Daniel turned his head back to look at him, his foot still outside.

“I would think that much would be obvious even to you. We were sent to you for a reason, they will be less than happy with being interrupted. Elly already informed us that as long as we retained the keys your services are expendable.” Daniel hoped he was right with this assumption; it was one he had made from observing them during their stay here. He once more began to make his exit.

“Wait!” He squeaked once more, this time the elevated pitch causing his voice to break. “I do have it.” On hearing his admission, Daniel stepped back inside pushing the door gently closed before turning to face the innkeeper with a cold stare. There was a short stretch of silence that seemed to last longer than it actually did.

“Well?” he prompted impatiently as it became apparent that he had no intention of offering the information willingly. The innkeeper fidgeted uncomfortably under the weight of Daniel's stare. He moved pulling a cloth from his pocket to mop away the sweat that had formed on his now glistening brow.

“Yes… of course… wait here I'll fetch it.” Before he could make his exit, Daniel had grabbed him, the anger reflected in his eyes sent shivers down his spine. It was the same anger, the same bloodlust, he had seen in Marise; a power that was raw, unpredictable, one he knew better than to mess with.

“No, show me.” His voice was cold and calculated as he released his grip. “You are not to be trusted.” The innkeeper sighed hearing these words. He had known for a long time how low he rated in Elly's opinion. He reached out onto his cluttered desk securing a half-buried paperweight, and as it broke free it became all too apparent what this object was. Daniel snatched the relic from his grasp, passing it to Eiji in a smooth off-handed manner.

The cold metal instantly began to send vibrations into his fingers. Within his grasp the ancient energy became apparent as he studied it intently. He was unsure how long to scrutinise it for, his gift having already revealed its origin. His eyes clouded in deep thought as he weighed it in his hand. Its mass and texture were like nothing he had encountered. It was an amalgam of so many different metals and substances, some he recognised on instinct, and others unfamiliar to him. There was no doubt this was the object they sought.

Eiji, still in awe, uttered not a word. Within his palm lay a physical demonstration of the knowledge and capabilities spanning across a time he could not even begin to comprehend. A knowledge that had survived even the Severaine. He gave Daniel a firm nod confirming his findings.

“My pay?” The innkeeper looked up suddenly in alarm as he realised, with all the talk about Marise, he had forgotten the most important thing, his fee. Daniel glared at him, his cold, angry gaze giving cause for another wipe of his clammy brow. He feared few people, but it seemed this boy had the same effect on him as Marise did.

“Elly will deal with you later,” he stated coldly, his eyes trained on the door recalling the innkeeper's words and the suggestion Elly could be somewhere within Collateral. His mind taunted him with images of it swinging open to reveal the two people he feared the most. He heard himself laugh, unaware of the sound even leaving his lips. It was an almost maniacal, hysterical sound as images of Elly and Marise clouded his thoughts. Better to leave quickly than to risk crossing their paths just yet. They were finally making progress—it was too soon to end it now.

Hearing this sound Eiji opened the door, afraid some untold delirium had taken hold and threatened to expose them. He gestured him through, casting a cautious glance back to the innkeeper. Daniel did not so much as pause as they left. His steps gained speed as he guided them out into Collateral, and around the twisting maze of streets, until they found themselves on the border of the entrance to the trade district. It was here they all took pause, allowing the tension to drain from their bodies. It was difficult to imagine they had actually succeeded.

“That was amazin',” Eiji praised, his hand still tightly gripping the metal that weightless in his grasp. He glanced to it once more to ensure it was still within his possession. “Even I was beginnin' t'believe y'.” Eiji took a moment to take in their surroundings. Despite the time they spent here neither he nor Acha understood this metropolis, yet from how Daniel had so expertly navigated the streets he hoped he had somehow learnt more of its secrets during their stay. It was on this assumption that he asked his next question.

“So, where to?”

“I don't know,” he answered, his vision scanning the surroundings. He was almost certain he had caught sight of that familiar colour. That inhuman blue that made Blackwood's daughter so easily identifiable through the crowds of people that filled the streets. “But I do suggest we leave.” Acha and Eiji cast their gaze below to the sea of people hustling through the trade district. Daniel felt himself retreating. His vision was fixed on the crowd below, his cautious steps leading to the closest exit, giving Acha and Eiji no choice but to follow.

“What was it Venrent said?” Eiji paused for a moment thinking back. “Somethin' about one of the pieces being cursed right?” Daniel and Acha looked at him and nodded.

“I remember reading about a cursed metal, but its whereabouts were lost long ago.” Daniel, realising that his statement was just a reaffirmation of what Eiji had just said, smiled briefly. “I seem to remember its last owner was a cleric, or so the rumours went… we could always ask around. A thing like that does not stay with the servants of the Gods for long, unless of course its threat is considered too great, in which case it may have been sealed like the unholy crest…” His enthusiastic sentence trailed off as he turned to look at Acha and Eiji. They both grinned at him with hidden meaning, a meaning he couldn't quite place. “What?” he questioned, unsure what he had done to become recipient to such looks.

“Nothing.” They answered in unison, which only broadened their smiles. The truth was as he spoke, although only briefly, he seemed more like himself than he had been for some time.

* * *

Daniel felt the impact from his new surroundings strike him like a solid blow. He could not determine what it was about the luscious green forest they had emerged into that filled him with such dread. Nor could he place the familiar feeling of the surroundings. Had turning back not meant the chance of an encounter with Elly, he may have suggested they returned to use another portal.

Small rays of light danced across the forest floor where the gentle streams penetrated the delicate canopy overhead. Pollen and dust, otherwise invisible, became illuminated in the warm glow. Although the season approached winter, not a single leaf had fallen to line the hard mud floor of the forest; nor had the trees started to turn the rich orange and red shades normally associated with this time of year, despite others of the same breed in other locations having long made their transformation. This forest had adapted and evolved. It had needed to in order to survive the bitter icy wind that penetrated its borders throughout the year, the cold, freezing influence from the Caves of the Wind.

The Caves of the Wind were considered to be the place where all wind was born. This subterranean complex reached far into the depths of the earth, to where it was thought Gaea, the earth goddess slept. It was told that the breath of Gaea created the winds, that as she exhaled, new wind was formed, so cold as it was born that it would freeze the face of any near it. As she inhaled, the older breath warmed by its travels would return to her, filled with stories of her children and home.