Read Online The Demon's Blade by Steven Drake - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Steven Drake
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for attention.
"We're looking for a mongrel half-elf boy. He's wanted for questioning at the castle. Has anyone here seen him?" the man bellowed, as he glared around the room.
At first, there was no reply. The Duke was none too popular and it was unsurprising that no one volunteered any information. Finally, the elderly innkeeper spoke up, in a thin, trembling voice.
"We don't want any trouble here..."
"And you'll have none if you give us the boy," the man interrupted. "We know he's here. We saw his muddy footprints outside. He's a blundering fool besides being a mongrel."
At this, the second man picked up a chair, clearly aiming to smash it against the bar. He stopped when the first man raised a finger.
"Well what's it to be? Where is he, or do we just smash things until we find him?"
The innkeeper did not speak again, but looked down at the floor, where the footprints clearly continued on down the hallway. Muffled laughter filled the room for a second time. Darien caught himself before he could let out a laugh. These hunters aren't much brighter than their quarry, he mused. The two ruffians, however, were not amused.
"Oh you think it's funny, eh, well hold your tongues or we'll beat the smug outta’ the lot o’ ya."
The laughter died down and the two men disappeared down the hall.
Darien listened carefully for whatever sounds might come from the boy’s room. His hearing was better than most men to begin with, thanks to his elven blood, and he could further amplify that with magic. Between the wench's tip and the appearance of the two burly intruders, he had developed an interest in this young man. He heard a gruff voice speaking.
"Just come out, and this’ll be easier. We know yer in there, Jerris. Only a dim-wit half-elf mongrel like you would try to break into the Duke's castle."
The voice was clearly that of the one who had spoken earlier. I suppose he's the brilliant leader of the duo, Darien mused. A silence broke out, lasting perhaps a minute or two, and then sounds of a struggle ensued, lasting only moments. The men soon reappeared, each holding an arm of the young man, who was struggling mightily to escape.
This might have been no more than the end of an amusing, if unimportant evening, but the talented mind of the shade noticed something missed earlier. It was not a thing seen or heard, but a thing felt, a faint, but unmistakable tingling. He had felt this before, when he had finally found the piece of starstone he had used to shatter The Master's crystal and steal the Demon Sword. Whatever the object was, it was just a few feet away, in the vicinity of the young half-elf. The trinket the wench had mentioned; it must be where the stone is! As that thought hit, the shade quickly considered his options. I could follow them easily enough and try to steal it. If they take it to the Duke, stealing it will become more difficult. I could try to extricate this young man, this "Jerris" from whatever peril he is in, but without knowing the exact situation, that may not be wise. The Duke is cleverer and more determined than other northern lords, and it would be risky to make an enemy of him. Then again, it isn’t just the stone, but where it came from, that I’d like to know about. There was no more time, so he made what would be a fateful choice and spoke out.
"Best be careful with that one, he might prove more formidable than he appears."
"What would you know about it, outsider?" the leader shot back. "Ye’d do well to mind your own business. This troublemaker is gettin’ what’s coming to him and ye'd best watch your mouth, or we'll give ya some too."
The two men had stopped and both looked straight at Darien. His simple ploy had worked perfectly and the young half-elf boy did not waste the opportunity. Seeing the men distracted, the boy moved quickly, jerked his right arm away from the leader and grasped a talisman that hung round around his neck. Darien felt the reaction immediately as the boy
"We're looking for a mongrel half-elf boy. He's wanted for questioning at the castle. Has anyone here seen him?" the man bellowed, as he glared around the room.
At first, there was no reply. The Duke was none too popular and it was unsurprising that no one volunteered any information. Finally, the elderly innkeeper spoke up, in a thin, trembling voice.
"We don't want any trouble here..."
"And you'll have none if you give us the boy," the man interrupted. "We know he's here. We saw his muddy footprints outside. He's a blundering fool besides being a mongrel."
At this, the second man picked up a chair, clearly aiming to smash it against the bar. He stopped when the first man raised a finger.
"Well what's it to be? Where is he, or do we just smash things until we find him?"
The innkeeper did not speak again, but looked down at the floor, where the footprints clearly continued on down the hallway. Muffled laughter filled the room for a second time. Darien caught himself before he could let out a laugh. These hunters aren't much brighter than their quarry, he mused. The two ruffians, however, were not amused.
"Oh you think it's funny, eh, well hold your tongues or we'll beat the smug outta’ the lot o’ ya."
The laughter died down and the two men disappeared down the hall.
Darien listened carefully for whatever sounds might come from the boy’s room. His hearing was better than most men to begin with, thanks to his elven blood, and he could further amplify that with magic. Between the wench's tip and the appearance of the two burly intruders, he had developed an interest in this young man. He heard a gruff voice speaking.
"Just come out, and this’ll be easier. We know yer in there, Jerris. Only a dim-wit half-elf mongrel like you would try to break into the Duke's castle."
The voice was clearly that of the one who had spoken earlier. I suppose he's the brilliant leader of the duo, Darien mused. A silence broke out, lasting perhaps a minute or two, and then sounds of a struggle ensued, lasting only moments. The men soon reappeared, each holding an arm of the young man, who was struggling mightily to escape.
This might have been no more than the end of an amusing, if unimportant evening, but the talented mind of the shade noticed something missed earlier. It was not a thing seen or heard, but a thing felt, a faint, but unmistakable tingling. He had felt this before, when he had finally found the piece of starstone he had used to shatter The Master's crystal and steal the Demon Sword. Whatever the object was, it was just a few feet away, in the vicinity of the young half-elf. The trinket the wench had mentioned; it must be where the stone is! As that thought hit, the shade quickly considered his options. I could follow them easily enough and try to steal it. If they take it to the Duke, stealing it will become more difficult. I could try to extricate this young man, this "Jerris" from whatever peril he is in, but without knowing the exact situation, that may not be wise. The Duke is cleverer and more determined than other northern lords, and it would be risky to make an enemy of him. Then again, it isn’t just the stone, but where it came from, that I’d like to know about. There was no more time, so he made what would be a fateful choice and spoke out.
"Best be careful with that one, he might prove more formidable than he appears."
"What would you know about it, outsider?" the leader shot back. "Ye’d do well to mind your own business. This troublemaker is gettin’ what’s coming to him and ye'd best watch your mouth, or we'll give ya some too."
The two men had stopped and both looked straight at Darien. His simple ploy had worked perfectly and the young half-elf boy did not waste the opportunity. Seeing the men distracted, the boy moved quickly, jerked his right arm away from the leader and grasped a talisman that hung round around his neck. Darien felt the reaction immediately as the boy
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