Ru Emerson - Keep on the Borderlands

“Myself, I doubt the men we fought are part of the armed campyou want. These men set up a lousy ambush that fell apart almost at once. They had more men, but we came away with only a few minor wounds and killed maybe half of them.”

“Perhaps,” the castellan allowed and turned his attention toEddis. Between them, she and M’Baddah described the brief one-sided fight on thesteep road.

“We never got close to the big man on the rocks,” Eddisfinished. “The other two-there seemed no reason to stay behind and study them.There might have been more men hidden, and we had two men to deliver safely here. As for that fellow in the tavern, Castellan-that was luck only.”

“We’ve talked to witnesses,” Ferec replied. “But, as youchoose.” He got to his feet and paced the small space behind the desk. “Banditshave always been a problem here. In the years since Macsen left us, we’ve hadfewer men and resources to keep the outside lands cleared of them. These days, we must be content with maintaining the gates and walls, sending out a sortie only when such men come too near the Keep. Unfortunately, these most recent raiders are brash and deadly. They seem to roam the wilderness freely, attacking whomever they choose, but whenever I have sent men to seek them out, they haven’t returned. We believe they have some kind of spyhold in the ridges southof us, where they can keep watch on the road and perhaps even on our gates. So they know when we send out men after them.” He sighed quietly.

He leaned across his desk, hands flattening the topmost map. “I believe we need a different kind of company, or at least, a different kind ofleader-someone who can track those bandits to their hiding place and destroy it.Bring in whoever is in charge of those mercenaries, if possible. Retrieve whatever can be found of the goods and money they’ve stolen.” He eyed them inturn. “People like you.

“This may seem a curious reward, but we will make certain youare well armed and provisioned. You will be free to choose your own company, and we will lend you men who know the nearby woods and riverlands. If you win through, half of whatever trove you recover is yours, to divide as you see fit.”He paused. “If you choose, you may talk this over among yourselves and send meword.”

Jerdren looked at Eddis and raised an eyebrow. She glanced at M’Baddah and his son, then nodded. “No need for that, si-Castellan,” she said.“We heard rumors of this hunt when we arrived, and we’ve talked it over already.For my men and myself, I accept, and I know Jerdren and his brother are willing. But M’Baddah has an idea-about these spies you think may be out there.”

The dark outlander inclined his head. “If I were a master ofbandits, I would have such spies. Any high place that can be seen from your walls is suspect. Such men would know when any company leaves the gates, including ours.”

“We thought perhaps,” one of the advisors said, “you coulddisguise yourselves as a caravan and its escort.”

“But if no such company had come into the Keep previously? Itwould rouse suspicion.” M’Baddah spread his hands. “They say that from your eastwalls, a man can see all the way down the cliffs to level ground and across open meadow to the forest.”

“That is why Lord Macsen chose this crag and built as hedid,” Ferec replied.

“I suggest, then, that our company wait for nightfall anddescend first those east walls and then the cliffs, avoiding the road and the gates entirely. Your men can lower us by ropes, and we could gain the shelter of the woods before moonrise, with the bandits no wiser.”

“I like that,” Jerdren broke in.

Eddis nodded. “With a man on watch where we went down with arope ready to lower, we could send back for supplies if necessary, and no one out there would know.”

“I can see we’ve chosen well,” Feric smiled. “I’ll give youmy letter of credit for whatever weapons and provisions you need before you leave tonight. My captains will get word out to the barracks and around the Keep that we want skilled volunteers, and you, Jerdren and Eddis, will be given passes for the inner bailey and the fortress gates, in case you need to speak with me.”

He gestured, and one of his advisors distributed cups, pouring a little wine for everyone. Feric raised his in toast. “To your success,and your safe and speedy return. When you do return, we will do what we can to find a more fitting reward.”

It was neatly done, Eddis thought. He had worked out abargain, sealed them to it, and politely dismissed them in almost no time at all. A very short while later, they were escorted by a single guardsman across the now mostly deserted inner bailey.

Jerdren clapped his hands together as the gates closed behind them. “That went well! So, now what?”

A newly risen half moon glanced on closed doors and shuttered windows. Nearby, light came from the windows in the backside of the tavern. Torches flanked the wide entry to the chapel and a single flame flickered somewhere inside. The fountain square was quiet, the inn shuttered for the night with only a single lantern burning low before the main door. From somewhere inside, a loud snore broke the stillness, and someone else snarled a curse. It was very quiet, except for a sudden, muted burst of laughter from the tavern.

“This place goes to bed earlier than our old village,”Jerdren remarked sourly as he headed for the tavern.

“At this hour?” Blorys asked.

His brother shrugged. “It’s not so late, and there’ll bepeople wanting to talk to us. After all, Ferec said he’d get word out. Butthere’s been plenty of rumor, and with us as his guests tonight-”

“There’ll be even more rumor,” Eddis said dryly. “But I’m notready for sleep, either-not after such a meal.”

The great room was full, the trestles filled with people. Brief silence from those nearest the door greeted their entry, but after a moment, people turned back to their own business. Blorys went off to the taverner’s counter for cups.

The tables they’d had the evening before were still pushedtogether, and two pale-haired fellows sat at one end.

“Willow! Mead!” Eddis opened her arms in greeting. “When didyou get here?”

The two scrambled to their feet and came forward to hug the slender swordswoman, who hugged back fiercely. They were shorter than Eddis and slender, clad alike in loose deep green shirts, greenish-brown trousers, and tall, smooth boots. Golden hair fell loose behind their pointed ears to their shoulders.

“Elves,” Jerdren murmured in surprise.

He fell quiet as Eddis beckoned him over, introducing everyone around as her companions drew up stools. Blorys distributed cups, and the taverner himself came over with a pitcher of wine and Eddis’ usual ale andpressed fruit. He waved aside her coins and was gone before she could protest or thank him.

“We arrived late this afternoon,” Willow-or Mead-replied tothe swordswoman’s earlier question. They were alike enough that it was difficultto tell them apart, though a closer look revealed subtle differences between their clothing and their faces. “What are you doing so far south this late inthe year, though, Eddis? I thought you and your men didn’t like facing thepasses if there might be snow.”

“We still don’t, Willow. The pay was worth it, though. Iwouldn’t have expected you two here, myself. Last I heard, you were headingnorth.”

“We went north. It proved to be another false lead.”

“We had better luck east,” Mead added.

“Same matter or another?” Eddis asked as she mixed fruit intoher ale.

The elves exchanged glances. “The same matter. We finallycaught up with the company that attacked Mother’s clan, two years ago.” Therewas grim finality in his voice. All dead, Eddis guessed. “One of the dying toldMead that two of their leaders had split off some time before, That they’dplanned on coming this way, to harry the East Road.”