CHAPTER NINE

  TRAVELING THROUGH FAWNDALE

  As the companions traveled through the beautiful forest city of Fawndale, Garrick admired both its buildings and landscape. Its architecture was a mix of wood and stone. And though the stone set it apart from The Elven Forest, the well kept trees all through the city, that both stood tall and helped to create its buildings, made it the closest thing to Queen Lightshower’s kingdom that the humans had to offer.

  Though the busy streets of Fawndale were what his eyes were viewing outside of the carriage wagon, the mercenary’s thoughts returned to Cerelene’s words back on The Wet Wanderer.

  “Anya may not be alone.”

  That is what she had said. The elf maiden went on to say that it was just a feeling. But the thought that someone or something resided in the cleric was at least some kind of an answer. However, Maldrin had said there were no recorded instances of that ever happening, and with the old wizard’s robust knowledge of both magic and history, Cerelene’s theory seemed far fetched to say the least.

  As the carriage wagon continued amidst all the townsfolk and Knights of Aubrelon walking the streets, Garrick spotted two wizards discussing something under a tree. Their spellbooks were open and each were pointing at the other's pages.

  Seeing the wizards as well, and noticing Garrick’s eyes upon them, Maldrin spoke up from his seat directly across from the mercenary. “We faced the strongest sovereign dragon to ever soar the skies above and now we will face the greatest wizard to walk the land. And his apprentice.”

  Sitting next to Garrick and looking out the window that she and Anya shared, Cerelene turned to the two men as the cleric’s gaze still fell over the beautiful forest town that nestled against The Living River.

  “That is why you brought me,” spoke Maldrin apprehensively. Then he chuckled, trying to mask his trepidation as Garrick looked over at him.

  “I brought you because you are my friend,” replied the mercenary assuredly. Then he looked over at Cerelene and Anya. As Maldrin’s eyes followed, Garrick continued, “And yes. WE need you.” Then he gestured behind him to where both Ondibar, Deelah, and Onyx sat with Elias laying quietly in the cart. “As do they.”

  Seeing Garrick doing his best to reassure his old friend, Cerelene spoke up next. “Maldrin. When I saw the leviathan snatch you up, I was devastated. When you came back to us alive my tears changed from tears of sadness to tears of gladness. Do you know why?” But the elf maiden gave the wizard no chance to answer. “Not just because I had lost someone who had become a dear friend. But I knew that we could not do this without you.” Then Cerelene reached over and caressed Maldrin’s long gray mustache. “And we will not do it without YOU.”

  “You have more to teach me, wizard,” said Anya, turning from the window and tapping her staff against his.

  “The march up The Tower of Mystics and Magic will not be easy,” replied Maldrin, tapping the lapis lazuli stone in his staff. He looked at the wood wall that separated the wagon from the riding carriage, as he visualized Elias behind it. Then he looked at Anya, followed by Cerelene and finally Garrick. “My boy, we both agree that you need me.”

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  “Yes, my friend, I told High Priest Liam Jarstinian himself that I could not do this without you,” answered Garrick as he put his hand on the old wizard’s shoulder.

  Seeing Garrick’s face so serious, Maldrin leaned forward to meet his gaze. “Well then. When we see him next, you tell him that you could not have done it without US,” winked Maldrin.

  As both men sat back, smiling, they all felt the terrain under the carriage wagon become a little bumpy. Within moments the town of Fawndale was falling behind them as they traveled down a dirt road that led to the nearby hills. The hills that not only bordered Fawndale, but that, more importantly, housed Baron Michael’s mines.

  Before long the bumpy dirt road flattened a bit. Noticing another change in the terrain, Ondibar looked up in the direction they were going.

  “It is practically the size a small castle!” exclaimed the dwarf, seeing Baron Michael’s mansion coming into view. Then he tapped Deelah on her hand.

  “Look at the size of it! I have never seen anything like it. Even when I was in Aubrelon,” marveled Deelah. “I bet the inside is just as wonderful as the mansions there in the capital city,” she continued, as she began to pet the resting mystic wolf next to her with excitement.

  “You have rich friends in Aubrelon, do you,” asked Ondibar sarcastically as he saw Deelah's eyes become big. When she smiled and shook her head at the dwarf, Ondibar put his hand on the Knight of Providence’s chest and cleared his throat. “Listen thief, you will not make trouble here. For Elias’ sake. If one thing is…”

  “That will not happen, dwarf!” said Deelah, her cute smile turning to an angry scowl. “Do you think that I do not know what is at stake? You are lucky I did not cut this off,” finished Deelah, placing her knife at the middle of Ondibar’s beard with the speed of a striking snake.

  Surprised, Ondibar lifted his hand up from Elias’ chest and slowly placed it around Deelah’s hand that held the knife. Then as the dwarf pulled that hand down, his free hand took the thief’s other hand and placed it firmly onto Elias’ chest.

  “I am sorry, Deelah,” replied Ondibar in a steady voice. It is just that when you said…”

  Seeing the calm face of the dwarf, Deelah softened as well, knowing that even though she hadn’t meant to, she had gone too far.

  “No, Ondibar, I am sorry. I must remember that it is not just I who care for him. We all do…and you held his hand when he…well…”

  As her words trailed off, Ondibar patted Deelah’s hand and nodded. Seeing the dwarf's solemn face and noticing the cart start to slow, the thief grabbed the dwarf’s beard softly and smiled. Then as if nothing had happened between them, pointed above the carriage wagon.

  “Look,” said Deelah. “We have arrived.”

  After jumping out of the cart, Deelah, Ondibar and Onyx joined the others stepping out of the carriage. When they all looked up at the large open front door, a tall, well-dressed middle-aged man with two big dogs came through it and joined a handful of servants already standing in front of the entryway.

  As the man began to walk down the steps of the mansion, his two dogs followed on either side. When they reached the ground, Azure floated down, landed on Cerelene’s outstretched arm and chirped over at Tal, who had scurried up to Maldrin’s shoulder after the wizard took his place next to the elf maiden.

  “The Baron Michael,” announced the driver to Garrick with a sweep of his hand, as their host finally stood in front of them.

  “I apologize for being curt, but I have important business to attend to for King Brock,” began Baron Michael. “Captain Lestada is both a trusted business partner and a close acquaintance. He has vouched for you and if what he wrote in his message is true, then I am most pleased to meet you.”

  After Garrick and the others nodded a thank you, Baron Michael looked at a distinguished looking young man and continued before they could utter a word. “Alturas, please take our guests to their rooms. Place the Knight of Providence next to the library.”

  After passing all that stood before him, the baron looked with compassion at Elias, laying silently in the cart. However, his next words were to them all. “Rest assured, you are my welcome guests.” A moment later he nodded at a beautiful young woman standing next to Alturas. “Anything you require, food, drink, whatever it is, you only need ask Marta or any of my people here.” Then as Baron Michael started to walk off, he stopped and said one last thing.

  “Welcome to The Mansion At The Mines.”