Chapter 29: Hidden at Port (Aurora)

  "How much longer, until the ship we chartered can cross?" Aurora asked her friend and fellow fugitive on the run, Isla.

  "Not too long by the next morning we should be able to board and be ready for the journey ahead," Isla replied. The two were in an inn of Cross Point, a northern gulf trading spot and while still a township under the protection of House Mert, it was a better place to find a ship that was ready for a full journey across the gulf to Yannis, rather than the fishing boats down near Kale Wharf. The ships here were much larger and better able to handle the winds of the open waters. Also, they were large enough to hold large cargo and food, allowing longer-term voyages with better safety for travel. "Captain Holly was her name, she said that she just needed another day and that we would be able to be her cargo on the journey to Yannis. She'll have enough space for us, even the priest."

  "I am still shocked at how fast I had to run to keep pace with you. I mean at some point you could have slowed down just a little for me." Edwin says with his head lying against the table of the inn. He was still exhausted from the journey as he was on foot the whole time while the girls rode on Calyx. While taking residence in the inn for a few days now the party did their best to lay low though they knew that their presence had been noted and reported around, as Aurora was one of the most well-known faces in the realm, and even though many in this area had never seen her face to face, she fit the rumored and lauded description of a rare beauty that carries a sword. Also, the fact that Isla was a pegasus rider removed any chance for a person to not think of them as the people they are, or at least a well-known person of importance. As stated the Pegasus was a dead giveaway.

  "So just another day here, please all let us keep our wits about us then and see to it that we don't drop our guard as we are still sitting ducks until the ship leaves for the foreign waters," Aurora speaks, trying to keep her voice down as much as possible. At least in the inn, the trio had less chance of drawing attention, unlike in the streets next to Calyx.

  "How do you think the people or I guess the leaders of Yannis will receive you?" Isla pondered. "Sure you are of house Mert, but we are from the feudal lands of the free cities, and Yannis is a kingdom. Do you think they'll rush to our aide or cause or whatever you hope they will accomplish with us sister?"

  "To be honest, I do not know. The people of Yannis don't have many formal meetings or graces with the free lands. Perhaps because of the terrain? Perhaps just because they look down on us? I do not dare presume though. What I do know is getting back to Yannis will give me a chance to speak with their king and see if we cannot entice him to help us in a war effort against Dol." Aurora spoke a little too loudly catching the attention of a few men around the inn, some of whom took a keen interest in her looks and her words.

  "Sister please, so you intend to use Yannis as a place to bolster, rally, and launch an offensive."

  "It is more about taking the pressure off of my father and making sure that the Bruin house only sees me as their enemy and no one else. I do not want my father or the others of our lands being punished for my recklessness and fighting."

  "Our recklessness and fighting." Isla clasped her hands around Aurora's showing the lady her unwavering support." The two were already close and thought each other sisters in many ways before this fugitive episode, and yet now more than ever they truly felt connected.

  "Beg pardon to interrupt the moment shared by my divines before me." Edwin ruined the bonding moment for the women. "Do we have the money to pay for our passage?"

  "Just barely, with the funds that I carried for the lady's care while in Kale Wharf, Holly said it was sufficient as she needed the work," Isla explained, with solid relief from the other two as they felt better about the next day ahead.

  Two of the men at the inn quietly snuck out keeping a focus on the trio as they exited the building. The trio did not notice, yet another figure, hooded near the hearth drinking a cup of tea could see the whole ordeal. He had his face covered as if he were both cold and trying to keep himself hidden from the others around him, to not draw attention. He smiled as he saw the men exit though. As he knew in this evening he didn't hold any of their attention. "Seems I am not their focus tonight. Good, I had thought my debts too high to go unnoticed a day longer." He says quietly sipping his tea.

  Aurora eats a bit of bread as the day lingers slowly on. The innkeeper was quite accustomed to long stays in the building, especially from travelers and those awaiting a ship. So this paced occupation of the table did not disturb or upset anyone in the establishment.

  "NEIIHHHHHH!" The sound echoes inside the building, even though the door to the inn is closed firmly. The sound instantly alerts Isla, as she knows the voice that made the sound.

  "Calyx!" she hollers concerned as to why a sound of panic and further frantic sounds are coming from the pegasus tied to the troth outside. Isla thought perhaps a person had grabbed his wings or tail. She arose in a quick motion and charged outside to check on her steed. Aurora and Edwin took notice of the noise but were generally not alarmed by the sound as it was thought by them to be perhaps just some child. As Isla opened the door and walked outside, Aurora perked up at the potential for danger, as she noticed that Isla had left her lance inside.

  "WHAMM!" a hard hit followed by a small thud reaches the ears of those inside the building. Aurora knows that something is going on that is not friendly to their party, whether it be intentional theft or harassment they were unaware. Yet the danger was very real.

  "Edwin, grab your staff and stay close," Aurora speaks as her gaze is fixed on the door.

  "I think you have this, my lady," Edwin replies as a coward fearful that perhaps he may be called into actual combat and not merely as a combat medic.

  "This is for Isla, who saved you from a sure death." She speaks while grabbing his garb. She releases her grip from his clothing, and pats down the priest, knowing that maybe her action is too brash in the moment. "Edwin I need you, Isla may need you. I have no clue what is going on outside and we have to both investigate quickly and save her if need be."

  "Fine…but only because it is for Isla. You do realize I am not viable in actual combat. I don't know any offensive magic and I have about as much strength as a bag of sand." Edwin frowned at his own self-deprecating estimation as he knew that it was true. He also knew that even in the area of his supposed expertise, healing arts. That he was a true novice and barely functional. He couldn't even properly be a real field doctor. Edwin was both afraid and embarrassed and Aurora could see it in his eyes as they inched toward the door.

  "LADY AURORA MERT OF AATH!" a voice calls to them from the other side of the door. The town was well constructed and paved with stone to fight potential erosion but the streets were mostly undeveloped and open, far from a master keep or crowded bazaar. Aurora could tell the man calling to her had a solid distance from the door to the inn. She and Edwin position themselves along the wall of the inn as if to hide themselves from their caller. She then slides herself along the wall as if she is afraid of being seen or heard, she moves to the window nearby to get a view of the outside. Edwin simply clutches his staff while staying put. He knew they weren't calling for him after all. Aurora peers around the side of the window trying to limit the ability of someone to see her from the outside. Though it is of no use.

  "AHHH LADY AURORA! WE SEE YOU AND WE HAVE YOUR FRIEND!" The man calling out such words goads the lady into a full view of the scene ahead as she abandons the safety of the wall to see what lies outside. There was a stationed gang or mercenary-looking group of men, disheveled and worn from their obvious life in the region taking hard jobs. They were unkempt, but men nonetheless and armed with grit, to outmatch the weak and unrefined weapons they had. Two held Isla by the arms as she was stretched out to see with her head sunk into her chest showcasing that the rider was unconscious. Blood was lightly dripping from her hair onto her breastplate.

  "She ain't half bad looking boss. Might be worth a spin later." One of the gangly creatures of the group spoke freely. Aurora could hear this comment, she wasn't sure if this was a true statement of interest for pleasure toward Isla or a planned comment to incite Lady Aurora into a foolish action or surrender. But surrender to what? She was confused as to this moment she truly had no clue who these men were and what they actually wanted. She was confused but thought it best to engage with them in conversation from the safety of inside the inn to discern or negotiate with them. They could have just as easily killed Isla if that was their goal.

  "Why do you attack a royal escort in the lands of Mert protection?" Aurora spoke clearly, seeking to muster the courage that would normally come from the throat of a noble in times of speaking their grievances with a lesser party.

  "We heard a rumor the blue lady of Mert was going rover. Heard she went and attacked Bruin men and seeks to start a war to usurp her father for control of the Mert house." He grins lightly. "Know anything about such a rumor?" Aurora was puzzled. Yes in the journey to the Cross Point, they were very much slowed down by keeping a pace to allow Edwin to stay with them and allow him something of a proper rest, but she did not think it possible for the word to have reached this northern point and become a known rumor so quickly. Sure it had been a few weeks, but how would this have fully reached here?

  "You speak nonsense." Aurora seeks to use her position to lie her way through this problem. "Unhand my guard…this moment!" The people inside the inn could see this was going to turn into a real issue and began bracing themselves, falling over tables to take cover, as they prayed the building itself would not come under siege due to this scuffle that was beginning.

  "NOW LADY!" He picks his teeth with his free hand while brandishing a worn bronze sword. "WE JUST WANT TO ESCORT YOU OURSELVES BACK TO YOUR FATHA AND CATCH A NICE BOUNTY O GOLD IS ALL!" She tenses up at the fear this knowledge of her being in this town could bring, not just from the mercenaries and low-life types, but also from the news spreading to Dol, and even back to her father in Aath. She is now fearful of what would happen if this news got back to her father and the response by all. As this man wasn't just the threat himself, he was now proclaiming her being there for all to hear, even though she knew traveling with Isla anyone would notice her, just now did it set in the dangers of being so easy to distinguish from others.

  "I will not and cannot allow you to escort me to Aath. Release my guard or we shall have arms!"

  "AY LIKE MA CHANCES LITTLE LADY LORD!" the mercenary grins and lets out a sharp laugh as in spite of his target still being inside the building he believes that he has the upper hand with his gang of twelve at his side.

  "Hey, uhh. Are we watching the back door or any other doors?" one of the men holding the knocked-out rider asks the leader.

  "Are there other doors?" He replies.

  "You know we have been here a hundred times perhaps and I have never really thought if it was a single-exit building or multi-exit." Another thinks as he scratches the side of his head. Aurora stays inside and uses this moment as a chance to gain a little more composure as she takes in the situation at hand. The men do in fact look ill-trained, and the lady had proven her sword skills in her last battle to be a real threat and not mere tournament or fencing play. Yet she did not instantly feel confident to fully tackle the coming odds. She notices that the two are holding Isla, and lets out a sigh knowing that at least those two will not be of use in a fight.

  "Huh…you three, go and circle the building, look for any doors or ways they can get out from inside and if so, then stand watch I guess." Three of the gang mumbled and grumbled as they were the ones chosen for the task while all in the gang still puzzled themselves as to whether the building did have a second door, and also why they were unable to recall a definitive answer.

  Aurora liked this as even though the odds would still be difficult and taxing, the potential to stand against them was improving. She exhales a deep breath and moves toward the door. Only to be stopped with a hand on the shoulder. She pauses thinking it is Edwin seeking to offer comfort as she is ready with her sword drawn to exit and challenge the men. She believes they won't kill her, but she is scared for Isla and Calyx. However, looking to her left she sees Edwin still dead gripping his staff against the wall of the inn. She then turns to find the man in the hood and both jump backward a pace. She readies her sword to move toward the man. However, she notices the man is not carrying a weapon and though it is not enough to lower her guard completely she is less tense.

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  "Pardon miss." The figure speaks. His cloak is dark but his voice has no threat in its tone. "It seems you have trouble on your hands."

  "Congrats you have eyes." Aurora retorts with frustration in her voice as she is ready to go outside and deal with the men, and sees this moment as an unsettling distraction, one that is endangering Isla's life. "Speak now if you wish or leave me and my priest to handle these men."

  "Yes. Well, I think you could use some help." The figure pulls back his hood to reveal a man perhaps a few years older than Aurora with a mildly handsome appearance, showcasing he is of some means or has come from something of a comfortable lifestyle in the past, and sadly, even for Aurora, this truth makes a difference in his ability to be heard by her.

  "I could, are you able to provide such?" She answers.

  "I am." He replies. "For a cost."

  "Speak it, if you truly are able, I am listening and reasonable to a fair trade." She replies, though her attention and focus are still outside as she wishes for help but rather would like to end this discourse.

  "Just give me passage with your party to Yannis."

  "Done." She replies. "Grab your weapon and help me free my friend." The man chuckles as he leads the way to the door opening it for Aurora, he follows suit leaving the door to slam in Edwin's face. He then exits after. Aurora is puzzled and thinks the man is perhaps a fighter or a skilled thief, though she cares not and charges the gang with a sword raised as she finds herself separated from the volunteer.

  "THUMM!" a booming dark pulse hits three of the men next to the leader knocking them to the ground as Aurora charges. She is knocked off guard and falls to a knee to look back only to find the mystery man chanting with a black aura around him and an anagram of sorts pulsing in his hands clasped at his breast. He is a black mage, called by some a shaman. A practitioner of the dark magic. "PLEASE LADY KEEP FOCUS! I AM NOT THAT POWERFUL WITH MY SPELLS!" He speaks with purpose to bolster the lady as he continues his channeling. He is correct his shots did not rob the enemy of life but did wound solid as if they were hit in the chest by an ethereal sword.

  Aurora dashes forward seeing her friend on her knees unconscious she wishes to free her first and yet, she knows the best bet is to stop those with free hands. One comes at her before she has to make the choice, however. He has only a wooden fishing spear on his person and while big and strong, his posture is weak. Aurora is unsure as well if these men were truly vile, or simply men seeking to make a living, or perhaps even earnest mercenaries seeking to serve her father in this task. She ducks under and then cuts through the back of the exposed calf muscles of the man, dropping him to his knees in agonizing pain. The rush from the attack hits her as she finds in this moment the bloodshed of her last fight still has not been fully processed, and a certain level of shock waves over her mind, dropping her guard.

  "LADY!" the shaman slammed a flux spell into the man who had dropped to his knees, knocking him fully unconscious and removing his threat as the chaos and sound of the area were now creating a larger scene and grabbing the attention of those throughout the town. "Priest cover us. This could get ugly." Edwin, grasping his staff looked swiftly around the corners for the three that had gone around the sides. He knew his ability to fight was moot, but resolved to honor his commitment to help.

  Aurora hearing the call from the shaman snaps back from her wave of unsettled emotion and shakes it and the thoughts clear. It is her, and her friends or the men. She cannot play for sport, she cannot have an existential crisis every time she is forced by another to draw a blade. This is the path her actions have chosen for her and in this moment, despite knowing the pain she will have to cause, she embraces it as she tightens her grip on the blade. The sound of the world goes numb as she moves with clear purpose. Her feet are swifter than before with less hesitation in her steps. Two axe men approach her, and she ducks inside the reach range of them both only to then sever their tendons in their hands. She is still able to preserve their lives but ceases at least for the near future their ability to be a threat, as they immediately loose their fingers from their weapons realizing their pain, and drop to the ground to wallow in their despair.

  The leader of the gang tenses up and moves in himself to Aurora. While he had no desire to fell her, or even seriously harm her, the sight of the dark magic and the cuts upon his friends injuring them perhaps for life snapped any thoughts of her wellbeing. He slashes his worn sword violently with brazen purpose and no skill or style, hacking and slashing like a wild animal flailing after being caught inside a net. Aurora is frantic as she knows while her sword skill is far superior, she is concerned about the strength and the wild swing arcs of the man as if she is afraid a bad parry will harm her in the process. The man feels a rush to his senses as he sees her on the defensive rather than offensive in position as though the threat is turning.

  The shaman fires a killing blow into one of the men that he had hit earlier as they were now getting up. Yet he is rushed by the men coming from around the side of the building. The three of them caught the shaman and Edwin by surprise as now they were on the defensive. The shaman is caught quickly by a lance blow to the rib cage knocking him back and forcing him to now channel spells with only one hand. Edwin parries an axe hit with his staff and then runs back to the shaman in the ensuing moment as the three-on-two stand at a crossroads. "NEIIIGHH!" Calyx broke free from the troth pulling the wooden straight bar until it snapped off from the troth hold. Calyx, then being the intelligent peg he was flipped his neck around in a whipping motion causing the wood still attached to his reins to become a blunt projectile with a sharp end where it was broken from the main beam. The wood crashes into the chest of a gang member staking him directly under his ribs. The man grunts as loudly as he can while the wind is knocked fully from his chest by the blow and his diaphragm is raised to the highest point of his ribs, making the inhaling of air something he cannot do. His face quickly turns purple, while his body starts to shake. Edwin takes this as an opening and performs a healing spell on the shaman sealing the wound on the dark magic user. The man staked with the wood, shakes violently as the purple and the blood becomes all the others can see of him as he drops to his death. The two remaining shift their focus to the pegasus as they are enraged at the actions of the mount.

  "YOUR BATTLE IS HERE!" The shaman with the aid of the healing spell numbing the pain and sealing the wound on his chest, launches a double shot of flux at them knocking one unconscious and the other to his back. Calyx being the wise animal he is wastes zero time and proceeds to stomp his hoof into the skull of the remaining of the conscious gang members assailing him.

  Aurora is not able to rejoice in the small victory held as she is still dealing with the leader and the other two who hold possession of Isla. She dodges and slides around further, making sure to not allow herself to be scratched by the blade as she fears even a light cut from such a worn and poorly maintained sword would result in a serious risk of injury or infection. Then the whinny of Calyx is heard by the leader. Breaking his berserker fugue state and allowing his madness to break. Just long enough for his chaotic speed and reckless style to slow enough for Aurora to see an opening. She then with both hands on the hilt pushes the blade upward slicing under the groin of the leader. The pain registers for the man but it is an unwarranted pain as he drops with severe bleeding which leads to his death within a few seconds. Aurora had bested and slain this man. She is resolved. She is not overcome with regret as she understands, it is what must be done to protect herself and those she loves. And she loves her sister. "ISLA!"

  The rider with her arms still held in check by two different men flutters her head signifying that the words are heard despite the trauma to her head. She is not truly conscious but is in a fuzzy state between sleep and wake. Calyx and Aurora both move toward the remaining two. One of them seeing the situation worsen for them draws a knife and holds it to the woman's neck. "STOP! DO NOT HARM US OR SHE DIES!" the man speaks in a panic as he and his friend remaining on his feet are both concerned for their safety. The rest of their gang was either dead or seriously injured and unable to help in this fight any further. They knew this was merely their chance to keep their lives.

  "We have not killed all your friends, drop your arms and flee and we shall let you live." Aurora though fresh off a kill and filled with a defensive passion for her friends is still very much a human in her approach to this problem and seeks to give the men a chance as she appeals to their desire or assumed desire from their actions to survive the encounter gone wrong.

  "No, you won't let us live we can't trust you. Drop your weapons and kneel or I'll kill her."

  "THUMM! THUMM!" In a quick flash, two hard-hitting flux spells slam into the men breaking the man with the knife's neck and the other popping his jaw sending him to the ground hard. Calyx then runs and stomps on the chest of the remaining man as he exhales all air from the pressure before suffocating under the weight of the winged horse. Aurora seeing her chance drops her sword and rushes to the side of Isla who still drifting from the pain.

  "Edwin please a spell!" Aurora calls. Edwin suddenly jolts to action as if he had forgotten that he can heal people, he trips over his robe as he moves toward Isla. Then he stumbles back to his feet as he shuffles toward the visibly injured rider, seeking to mend her. Edwin casts the spell as best he can and then wraps her head where he sees the bleeding. "Will she be alright?" Aurora asks the priest.

  "Uhhh….., maybe," Edwin speaks with serious uncertainty in his voice.

  "Maybe?"

  "Look my healing…well…. I am not very advanced or experienced. I mean I can seal wounds and provide general pain relief but I am not adept in my order." Aurora is frustrated but still thankful the priest is trying what he knows to help her friend. Calyx nudges the lady and signals to Aurora to lay her upon his back. "I am impressed at how smart Calyx is." Edwin tries to change the subject to hide his embarrassment.

  "Pegasus are very intelligent beings. They just usually mute themselves when their rider is present with them." Aurora explains as they hoist the rider across the mount's back. Calyx positions his wings to support her weight and be able to move with her not falling while out cold still.

  "We should probably find that ship you guys have booked and see if we can't get an earlier departure." The shaman speaks as he keeps his eyes peeled in all directions knowing most all of the town's eyes were upon them in one form or another.

  "Not so fast, shaman, who are you?" Aurora perked up as she sheathed her sword. She did not see the dark magic user as a threat and sought to honor her promise but needed to know more about this man.

  "I am Kristoff. I am from Yannis originally. Though I have been traveling around these lands for a time. My lady, please we must make for the ship at the harbor." Kristoff was worried and had a look of fear still on his face despite the threat before them being neutralized or dead.

  "One more question why do you want to go to Yannis that you would risk your life to help me?" Aurora asks.

  "Look….we need to leave these people are all watching we have no clue how they will react to this brazen violence in their streets." Kristoff had a few beads of sweat forming.

  "Not until you answer shaman."

  "uhhhh…." Kristoff dropped his hands in shame and dejection as he knew he needed to answer. "I have certain debts that are piling up…..from bad wagers and broken payment contracts….I kind of have a gambling problem…..and several other things of a money nature pursuing me. Hence why I was hiding out here." Kristoff sighed further and asked if this answer would suffice.

  "So you're afraid of your debts catching up to you. How do I know you won't sell us out for a profit and a chance at clemency for your finances later on?"

  "I guess you don't my lady, but look at your group right now. What if you get jumped by pirates on the waters? Is the crew of the ship tough enough to protect you? Or would you like a person like me alongside you?" Kristoff appealed to the reason for better strength in numbers. An appeal that was very telling for her, especially with Isla banged up as she was.

  "Fine. Lead the way to the harbor we are looking for a captain Holly." Kristoff nodded and smiled as they both felt that a bond of trust, while perhaps shaky had been formed.

  The party moved quickly down the paved street toward the docks. Isla was the one who had gone and booked the charter and while it was still roughly a quarter of a day early for departure for the ship the party was confident that they would be able to get to sea quicker. The town erupted with commotion behind them as the results of the street brawl were being realized by the people. The blood and injuries of the crushed bodies by the hoof prints. These things held the focus but Aurora feared perhaps a mob reaction growing. "HOLLY! CAPTAIN HOLLY!" They called as they sprinted up and down the wooden beams yelling toward each ship.

  "AYYE! HERE!" A smaller woman with a thin frame but a strong constitution stood before them as they moved and examined the ship and captain who caught their attention. "Could tell by the pegasus that you were with oh Isla there. AH, it seems she has had too much to drink." Holly laughs as she sees the woman slumped over the side of the mount.

  "No Holly, we were attacked by some men, they were….."

  "Probably seeking some kind of reward for you huh noble lady," Holly replied.

  "You know our situation?" Aurora replied.

  "No, not really but you are clearly a high born of high-born types, and your friend is a pegasus rider so I figured you were on the run, otherwise you wouldn't be even talking to a ship or person like me. Am I right?" Holly placed her hand on the rail of her ship leaning in to hear the answer.

  "You are correct…now can you please…."

  "Let me guess. You want to set sail early eh?" Holly laughed. "No worries lady and friends hop aboard we are pretty much ready, I had a feeling this could happen when she booked the trip earlier." The party boarded the ship quickly. It was one of the smaller large vessels in the harbor but was still a deep-sea travel boat that could house quite a crew. The group got all aboard and set Isla onto a cot below deck to heal up with Aurora and Edwin attending her.

  Without too much further time being lost the ship pushed off from the dock and began its journey toward Yannis. And not a moment too soon as reports and grumblings of the incident and the people involved were spreading in the town. Igniting both conversation and mixed opinions of the lady of Aath.

  "Oh, Isla just wake up well, and let us go to Yannis to rally some kind of war effort together. I am not a legendary warrior or god killer, but I cannot help but feel this cause of rebellion against the Bruin is my purpose. Even if it causes me to have to harm some of the people I seek to protect." Aurora lays her head onto the lap of her resting friend. She seeks a hug or some kind of compassion at the moment. But finds peace on Isla's chest. The calm after the rushed emotions of the day sees the lady, fall to sleep nearly instantly.