Arthur Daigle's Blog - Posts Tagged "golem"

It was a dark and windy night, and goblins laughed and danced around a fire of burning modern art. Normally goblins don’t help people, but earlier that day they’d seen a town’s mayor try to convince his people to buy these monstrosities for an obscene price. In a move rare among goblins, they’d stolen the paintings and took them a safe distance from the unfortunate humans before destroying them.

“There goes the last one,” a shaggy goblin said as he fed a painting into the flames. It showed what was a cat, or possibly an iceberg, floating over a landscape of pink something or others. Goblins were stupid and a bit crazy, so they weren’t driven mad by this nonsense, but others weren’t so lucky. They’d seen three men lose bladder control just from looking at this painting, and an entire crowd ran in terror when the artist tried to explain his work.

“Missed one,” a short goblin said as he handed over another painting.

The shaggy goblin frowned. “Wait, that’s a painting? Of what?”

“I don’t know!” the short goblin shot back. He studied the misshapen images and frowned. “I think the red thing and the yellow thing are having a fight with the blue thing, and the blue thing is having stomach trouble. Look, just forget what it’s supposed to be and torch it before Stotle sees it.”

“Before I see what?”

The other goblins winced. They’d done their part to save humanity, but before beginning the trip they’d left behind one of their members. Poor old Stotle wasn’t ready for such horrors. The pale skinned goblin with wide eyes wore a molding rug for robes, normal enough for a goblin, but his mind was hopelessly twisted after reading a book on philosophy. There was no telling what those paintings could have done to such a fragile mind, and they had no intention of finding out.

“Nothing, Stotle,” the shaggy goblin said. He tossed the painting into the fire and watched the blurry images turn to ash.

Stotle stood at the door of their ramshackle house at the edge of the Jeweled Forest. He’d been asleep, but light from the fire had woken him. He peered through the darkness and saw the inexcusably foul artwork being destroyed. “Is that Jubal’s masterpiece, Society’s Folly in the fire?”

The shaggy goblin scratched his head. “That might have been the name on it.”

“Did you burn the rest of his work?” Stotle asked. The goblins hemmed and hawed as Stotle approached and studied the crackling fire where some paintings were only partially destroyed. “Yes, it looks like you got all of them. There’s Bartender’s Delight, that’s Horsehead Bookends of Doom, and I do believe that one was I Can’t Believe I’m Being Paid for This, the painting that got him thrown out of art school and nearly lynched.”

Turning back to his friends, Stotle said, “But since they’re destroyed, is Jubal really an artists? You can’t be an artist if you have no art, assuming that was art and not an assault on the senses.”

Panicking, the shaggy goblin shouted, “Stop him, he’s getting philosophical!”

The goblins grabbed Stotle and eased him to the ground. The short goblin grabbed a stick off the ground and jammed it into Stotle’s mouth. “Bite down. It’ll keep you from talking.”

Stotle did as instructed, but even with a stick in his mouth he kept trying to analyze the lack of Jubal’s career, talent and possibly lack of the man’s mind. He could go on like this for hours. The only cure the goblins had found was gagging Stotle until he’d gotten it out of his system.

“I don’t get it,” the shaggy goblin confessed. “We can bounce back from almost anything. Bruises, bumps, cuts, scraps, frostbite, fire, none of that hurts us for long. He should have healed from whatever that book did to him.”

Stotle chewed through the stick in his mouth and ate it. “As I was saying…”

“Hello?” The goblins turned to see two humans approaching them. That was odd, as few humans traveled when it was dark. These humans were youngish, a man and a woman dressed in worn clothes and coming out of the forest. The man stepped in front of the woman and asked, “Forgive the intrusion, but may we warm ourselves by your fire?”

Shocked, the short goblin blurted out, “You’re asking goblins for permission?”

“It’s your fire, so we must ask and leave if denied,” the man replied.

“That has got to be the stupidest thing I’ve heard tonight,” the short goblin said. He glanced at the fire and the rapidly disappearing paintings. “Not the stupidest thing I’ve seen, though.”

Stotle got up and dusted himself off. “The fire is free for any to share, as is our home.”

“You are kind, although I doubt your, ah, house, could fit us and you,” the man said. He led the woman closer and they sat by the fire.

Stotle nudged the house. “I doubt that will be a problem.”

The house began assembling another room from dead branches, loose rocks and even dirt. It did so quietly enough that the young couple didn’t notice it growing larger in the darkness.

“This is a first,” the shaggy goblin said. “I’ve never seen tall folks come near us without swearing and throwing things, and they’re even asking for help.”

“A year ago I don’t think I would have come, but harsh times and true friends have helped me see that goodness isn’t the property of any one race,” the man said. “My name is Tristan Fireheart, and this is my wife Isa and our daughter, Mira.”

The baby gurgled in her mother’s arms and waved her arms. The goblins swiftly gathered around Isa and her daughter, their faces showing awe. If they were expecting a show they were sorely disappointed, because young Mira yawned and promptly went to sleep.

“She’s no fun,” the shaggy goblin said. “Not here a minute and she went to bed.”

“It’s been a troubling time for us,” Isa said. “She needs her sleep.”

“Aw that’s no fair,” the short goblin complained. “You can’t get tired out being carried around. She should have plenty of vim when all she does is eat and piddle.”

“Now be fair, piddling can be hard work,” the shaggy goblin countered. “Why I remember the first time I tried coffee. Woo boy, I was on the toilet for a long time!”

Tristan blushed and Isa stifled a laugh at the goblins’ conversation. Tristan cleared his throat and said, “My wife speaks the truth. We sold our horses this week to cover our expenses and truly abominable road taxes.”

“What drives you so hard that you travel at night and with so little?” Stotle asked.

“We seek a new start in life,” Tristan explained. “We fled my father’s rule and look to settle in Ocean view Kingdom, which I’m told is not far from here.”

“A few days travel will find you at your destination,” Stotle replied.

“Our maps don’t show this area in detail,” Tristan said. “You’ve already been kind enough to let us rest here. Could you be persuaded to show us the way to Oceanview?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t help you,” Stotle told him. “I don’t exist.”

Tristan stared at him. “What?”

The shaggy goblin shook his head. “It’s not his fault. The poor fool went and read a philosophy book. It drove him totally bonkers.”

“It’s true, I don’t exist,” Stotle protested. “My life has been so absurdly silly that it can’t possibly be real. I’ve escaped death many times, seen things no one should see, and somehow come out of it not only alive but with both my sanity and credit rating intact. There’s no way that could happen. Therefore, I can safely conclude that I don’t exist.”

Tristan and Isa stared at Stotle. The short goblin sighed and patted Tristan on the back. “Get used to it, because he does that four times an hour, more if he’s bored. We can show you the right trails to take to get you where you’re going and stay away from road tolls, but you’ll have to put up with a few days of that nonsense.”

“Why do you want goblin help?” Stotle asked. “We have a well deserved reputation for untrustworthiness going back thousands of years. Logically you should seek aid from anyone else before turning to us.”

“A goblin gave us accurate directions a month ago,” Isa said. “I think he did it to help our daughter more than us, but regardless of his reasoning, it was kind.”

“Goblins has been no worse to us than our own people,” Tristan continued. There was pain in his voice as he stared into the fire. “My father has tried to kill us, and I fear he hunts us even now. Other men have taken advantage of our suffering, charging us unfair prices for food, lodging and transit through their lands. I took a hundred gold imperials at the beginning of this journey and spent them all.”

“Tragic,” Stotle replied. He looked back at the house, now double its original size. “The morning may bring new insights, and if nothing else bring you closer to your goal. I hope it will prove equal to your dreams. Let us put out the fire and retire for the night.”

“If you wouldn’t mind leaving us the fire, we’ll stay here while you…wait.” Tristan stared at the enlarged house. “That building has grown! What happened?”

“Nothing happened,” Stotle said. “You were just looking at it from the wrong side to see how big it is. Allow me to open the door, and let’s see, yes! There’s a crib inside, a bit simple, but large enough for your daughter. How thoughtful.”

“But I was looking at it from this side,” Tristan protested. He stared at the house and frowned. “Did something just move above the door?”

“Stop smiling,” Stotle whispered to the house. Louder, he said, “It’s dark and you’re tired. A night’s sleep will make everything better.”

There was a harsh noise from the forest, a gnashing, growling sound. The goblins backed closer together while Tristan and Isa stood up.

“What was that?” the shaggy goblin asked.

Stotle searched the dark forest, trying to find the source of the strange sound. “I don’t know. I’ve never heard anything like it.”

“I have,” Tristan said. “Earlier this night, Isa and I heard it in the forest. It was farther away then. I approached your fire to avoid whatever that is, for it sounds dangerous.”

“Leave the fire burning and get in the house,” Stotle ordered. He rarely showed such determination and authority. The goblins obeyed, but they made sure Tristan and Isa went ahead of them.

There was a rustling noise in the forest, the only warning they had of the attack. The shaggy goblin was knocked over and two more goblins were driven to their knees. Something tried to grab Tristan, but he ducked and punched his attacker. A second attacker grabbed Stotle as it got between them and the open door, and in the light of the fire they saw what they faced.

Isa screamed. Goblins cried out in panic. The two vampires roared in delight at so much terrified prey. White skinned and wrinkled, the vampires wore tattered rags and had long, sharp fingernails. Their ears were long and wide, like a bat’s ears, and their red eyes matched the color of their gaping, toothy maws.

The roars stopped as the vampires got a good look at their victims. “Oh for the love of all that’s foul, it’s a bunch of goblins!”

The second vampire holding Stotle by the throat threw him aside. “Filthy vermin! Your blood’s a stew of toxins. We’d get sick even sipping from your veins, you gutter worms.”

“Being undesirable works in our favor for a change,” the shaggy goblin said.

“I smelled man blood!” bellowed the first vampire. Its eyes narrowed as it saw Tristan and Isa silhouetted by the fire. “Ah, there is a meal here.”

“Leave now and we won’t have a fight,” the short goblin said.

The vampires laughed. “You would threaten us? We are lords of the night, the stuff of nightmares made flesh, the ultimate predators! We take what we want, when we want! If you feel like dying, we can oblige you without feeding on your tainted blood, goblin filth.”

Stotle grabbed a burning log off the fire by an unlit end and swung it at the first vampire. He hit it on the foot, and the vampire bent down as he screamed. Stotle swung again and hit the vampire between the legs. As the vampire doubled over, the goblin struck him over the head. The second vampire charged into battle, but Stotle tripped him and set his clothes on fire.

“You see?” Stotle said. “This proves I don’t exist. There’s no way I should have gotten away with that.”

“Inside!” Tristan yelled. The humans and goblins ran into the rattletrap building while the vampires recovered. They’d taken blows that would leave a man moaning in agony, but their wounds healed in seconds. In moments they ran at the door so fast they might as well have been flying, but they were a split second too late. Bang! Tristan slammed the door shut and slid a bar over it.

“Vermin!” the first vampire yelled. “You think this hovel can hold us out?”

“Frankly, yes,” Stotle replied. He peered out a window too narrow for the vampires to reach through. “Vampires can’t enter a building without the owner’s permission.”

The vampires fumed as Tristan added, “None here are fool enough to grant you entry.”

The shaggy goblin grabbed a stick of firewood and broke it to form two pieces with sharp ends. “I’m not dumb enough, but I might be angry enough.”

“That same proscription against uninvited entry prevents you from forcing your way in regardless of how strong you are,” Stotle continued. “The situation is a stalemate. You have no choice but to leave.”

“Rodents don’t dictate terms to lions!” a vampire yelled.

The second vampire put a hand on the first’s shoulder. “Wait. Hear us, prey. Our dread lord Vacast, Lord of Vampires, sent us forth with a task. He seeks the Dawn Lantern, a great treasure not seen for many years. We have searched high and low, in places none but our kind can tread and live.”

“No luck, then?” the shaggy goblin asked.

“Would we be here wasting our time with you sub humans filth if we had succeeded?” the first one yelled. “Do you really expect goblins to know anything? They’re too dumb to know the color of the sky!”

The second vampire rolled its eyes. “Anger management classes just didn’t work with you. My point is, many seek this wonder and have failed. But men and elves can only go where their kind can survive. Goblins live where others can’t. You may have heard of our prize, maybe seen it. We can’t return to our master empty handed. Tell us where it is and we’ll leave you alive. Speak truthfully, for we can hear lies.”

“With those ears I bet you can hear winning lottery numbers on the other side of the planet,” the short goblin quipped.

“I doubt either of them know what color the sky is when they can’t stand the light of day,” Stotle added.

The vampires growled and bared their sharp, glistening fangs. “Speak or die.”

The shaggy goblin held up his hands to get the other’s attention. “Okay, everyone empty out your pockets and see if you got this doohickey.”

“That’s not what I meant!” the second vampire yelled as the occupants of the house duly turned out their pockets. This produced a mound of lint (which Stotle ate), a set of skeleton keys, a pewter spoon and a yak horn, but no Dawn Lantern.

“Has anyone heard of this whatchamacallit?” the short goblin asked.

All eyes turned to Stotle, who shrugged. “I know a ridiculous number of things, but nothing regarding magic lanterns.”

“I do,” Tristan answered. The vampires’ jaws dropped at the news. “It’s one of the fifty most powerful magic items on Other Place, a lantern made of obsidian and lapis, with a diamond at its core.”

The vampires pressed up against the bared door. “Where is it?”

Tristan shrugged. “As you said, it’s been lost for years, so long that all have forgotten who made it or what it can do. The last man to hold it died so long ago his name is forgotten. I only know of the Dawn Lantern from reading books on ancient history.”

“That’s useless!” the first vampire spat.

“What did you expect?” Tristan replied. “If I knew where to find it, I would had recovered it and been a man both rich and feared.”

Scowling, the second vampire pressed him, “Were there hints in your books? Did the authors give clues where it had been last seen?”

Tristan looked worried when he answered. “They listed a dozen kingdoms where he might have lived or passed through, and a hundred cities he visited.”

“If the Dawn Lantern was in any of those places, someone would have been found long ago,” Stotle pointed out.

“Then your books are useless, as are you,” the second vampire said.

Stotle stared them down. “Your prize is not here, and the door will not open before dawn. Leave and seek your lantern elsewhere.”

“We still hunger,” the first vampire growled. It smiled at them, a toothy grin, before saying, “We can’t force the door open, but I’m sure you’ll open it once we set your hovel on fire.”

“That is ethically and morally inexcusable,” Stotle said. “You’ve had our aid so far as we could give it, in spite of the fact that you attacked us. No system of beliefs supports your behavior. You do not have to do this. Regardless of your hunger, you are thinking beings capable of making choices.”

The vampires grinned at him. “Then we choose to see you die.”

Stotle frowned. “Model Zero Constructor, take the form of a man and embrace the vampires.”

The house shuddered as it folded forward over the vampires. Rocks, dirt and logs peeled away as Tristan and Isa screamed. The vampires screamed as well, for the front wall formed into two powerful arms that wrapped around them. In seconds the house was gone and the Model Zero Constructor stood, a golem made of bricks, lumber and iron standing ten feet tall and holding the vampires tightly. They tried to squirm free of its grip, and failed utterly.

“My God,” Isa said.

“Model Zero Constructor, form a house without doors or windows over the vampires,” Stotle ordered.

Timbers that made up the golem separated and scooped up the logs and rocks it had just discarded. The vampires struck the golem and tried to break free, but it was far too strong for them to hurt. It transformed the debris into a small building just big enough to contain the struggling vampires, imprisoning them both.

* * * * *

The goblins spent the night with Tristan, Isa and Mira around the fire. Morning came and the goblins tried to entertain Mira when she woke up. The baby was a good sport about their crude antics, even swatting them with her teddy bear. Tristan foraged for food, and turned up wild greens and a pair of trout. Noon came soon enough, and the goblins gathered around Model Zero.

“Our unwelcome guests made a poor choice last night,” Stotle began. “We must make a choice of our own.”

Tristan frowned. “Indeed. I doubt you intend to leave your golem here to hold them forever.”

“He is our friend, and goes where we go,” Stotle said. “We can’t hold the vampires until nightfall, for releasing them would put us in harm’s way again.”

A muffled voice called out from inside the stout building. “Set us free this night and we swear to leave you in peace.”

“Even if they keep that vow, letting them go means they would go on to feed on others,” Tristan pointed out.

“And we would be responsible for any harm they do,” Stotle added.

“Gold!” a vampire yelled. “We can bring you gold!”

“I’m not that desperate,” Tristan said.

Stotle shrugged. “I don’t want it in the first place. We cannot leave them here, nor can we take them with us and turn them over to the authorities. There is too great a chance they could free themselves if Model Zero tried walking such a great distance while holding them.”

Tristan was silent for a while as he studied the house. “A vampire lives in the city where I was born. He is a piteous thing, forever lamenting his lost humanity, feeding only on blood the butchers bring him, trying so desperately to still be a part of the world he once knew. I spoke with him and sensed a kinship, a person of kindness struggling daily against the curse he lives under.”

“Whereas these two embrace their new form and consider themselves superior to all,” Stotle commented. “It’s possible they might learn from this experience and become better for it, but taking such a risk means others could be put in great danger.”

“I fear we don’t have much of a choice,” Tristan said to Stotle.

“None at all.” Stotle looked up at the sun in the clear blue sky. “Model Zero Constructor, take the form of a man.”

Model Zero reassembled his component parts to become a towering golem again. As the roof of the house peeled off, the two lords of the night, the stuff of nightmares made flesh and ultimate predators screamed in terror.

Nolod was the richest city on Other Place and a land of contradictions. The vast metropolis included opulent wealth and wretched poverty, high culture and crass entertainment, heartwarming compassion and unbelievable cruelty. Some scholars had diagnosed the city as bipolar. One example of this curious dichotomy was the trash heap at the edge of the city, which grew and shrank throughout the day.

Nolod’s million humans, elves, dwarfs and other races generated an appalling amount of garbage, which was unceremoniously dumped at the city’s edge. But when half the citizens lived in dire poverty, this was a resource to be exploited. Carts left garbage every hour, and those desperate enough to see value in it hauled off an equal amount. Thus the city’s dump received a mountain of trash every day yet never grew.

“Ooh, good pickings,” Biffle said as he neared the dump. The short goblin wore ragged clothes, and his green eyes opened wide at the inviting sight. Night was falling, but he could see in the light from Nolod’s neighboring prosperous district.

More goblins scurried up behind him. The group numbered fifty strong and included two orphaned human boys, not an unusual situation when goblins were so stupid they thought such orphans were goblins and adopted them.

Cylix the goblin smiled and added, “Perfect timing. Tonight’s trash is out and nobody got here before us.”

Biffle opened a stained leather bag and dug through the piles of refuse. “Load up quick. Competition will be here soon.”

Scores of filthy goblins dug through the trash, gorging on rags, bones and scrap wood before stuffing more refuse into their sacks for later. Smarter goblins (an oxymoron, to be sure) gave more edible bits to the human boys. They dug deeper through the heaping piles, stopping only when Biffle called out, “Is anyone missing an arm?”

Cylix checked both of his before answering. “Um, no.”

That answered was repeated by more goblins, prompting Biffle to climb out of the trash pile. “Then I’m stumped, because I’ve got an extra one over here. Come take a look.”

Goblins gathered around to see a wooden arm eight feet long and a foot thick buried in the trash. More digging produced a ridiculously large hand at one end of the arm and eventually turned up the rest of the body.

“It’s a timber golem,” Cylix said.

Biffle finished digging the golem out. “What’s that?”

“It’s dwarf magic, cut rate stuff. Dwarfs use them for heavy lifting like unloaded wagons and carrying wine barrels.”

Now that the golem was fully excavated, they had a better look at it. The golem stood twelve feet tall and must have weighed a ton, but it was a sad looking thing with nicks, scratches and cracks in the wood. Its body was a tree trunk stripped of bark, with arms and legs attached with large wood pegs. The golem had no face, only a silver amulet sparking on its chest.

“What’s the poor guy doing buried in garbage?” Biffle demanded. “I mean, yeah, he’s missing his left arm from the elbow down, and most of his toes, but that’s it.”

Cylix pointed at the amulet on the golem. “Look for another amulet like that. Owners use them to control their golems.”

Biffle dutifully dug through the trash and asked, “How come you know so much about golems?”

“I learned a lot about magic when I lived for a year in the rafters of a wizard’s tower. Then the guy kicked me out for eating his pants.”

“Proof that wizards have no manners.” Biffle smiled when he saw a faint light in the trash. More digging produced a sparking silver amulet identical to the one on the golem. “Here we go! How do we use it?”

Cylix took the amulet and said, “Simon says stand up.”

The golem sat up, causing a landslide of garbage. Goblins scattered as the golem steadied itself with its remaining arm and climbed to its feet. Seconds later the golem wobbled and fell face first into the trash. It struggled to its feet, only to fall once more.

“Simon says stop!” Cylix shouted. The golem fell silent.

Biffle hurried over to the fallen golem. “What’s the matter?”

“He can’t answer you,” Cylix explained. “Golems are mindless.”

A goblin smiled and offered, “He could go into politics.”

“Enough of that!” Biffle shouted. “Bad enough the guy is hurt, then you go and insult him.”

Biffle went over every inch of the golem. More scavengers came to the dump, including poor humans, harpies and a lone troll. It was only a matter of time until someone tried to force the goblins off their find. Biffle had to work fast.

“Those missing toes are keeping him from walking. That’s why he got left here. Some snooty dwarf must have figured if he can’t walk then he can’t work.” Outraged, Biffle turned to his goblins. “I won’t have it, throwing away people just because they’re hurt. Find him some toes!”

Further scavenging turned up scrap lumber and two broken shovels the goblins nailed to the golem’s feet. It took a lot of work, and they had to chew the scrap down to fit, but when they were done the timber golem had makeshift toes.

“Simon says stand up,” Cylix said. The golem staggered to its feet, and the goblins cheered when it remained upright.

“You did it, Joey!” Biffle said. Goblins gave him curious looks, and he said, “I found him, I’m naming him. We’re not done yet. Joey needs an arm. I know where we can steal iron chains and thick timbers to build it. You watch, we’ll make Joey as good as new.”

“Then what?” a goblin asked.

Biffle grinned from ear to ear. “We’ll talk more outside town.”

Cheering goblins left Nolod with the timber golem in the lead. Ten days later they returned to the city with their makeshift golem, an event Nolod would need months to recover from.

This is the first part of Midnight Riders.
*********
“Are they gone yet?” Dana asked.

Jayden glanced out the barn’s only window. “If anything, there are even more soldiers than before.”

The barn had seemed a good place to spend the night. Dry, clean, empty after its animals had been confiscated to feed the army, it had been the perfect home for a wanted criminal and his, sidekick? Partner? Dana wasn’t sure exactly how she was supposed to describe herself after following Jayden for over a year. Maybe follower worked, but that made it sound like he was her master, and that really didn’t describe their relationship.

Morning found their campsite a prison when they woke to hundreds of soldiers marching down the road. The men stopped by the farm to refill their canteens at a well. The farmer watched them, more bored than scared, as he had nothing left they could take. Soldiers marched down the road, only to be replaced by still more soldiers.

“Where are they going?” Dana asked. The barn was far enough from the road that the soldiers wouldn’t hear her unless she shouted.

“Zentrix,” Jayden said. He still wore heavy winter clothes over his black and silver uniform, and was busy studying one of the spell tablets she’d found for him. “I fear Lootmore and his people are going to face the worst of the king and queen’s fury this summer.”

“Do you think they’re ready for it?”

“No. They will fight competently and courageously, and they will fall in spite of their valor. They lack the manpower to match the forces against them.”

He set the granite spell tablet aside and got up to stretch his arms. “For that to happen there has to be a battle, and I aim to prevent it. There is an old saying that amateurs study tactics and professionals study logistics. Food, medicine, draft animals, tents, warm clothes, these are essential to an army’s survival just as much as armor and weapons. Too many commanders ignore the essentials of life, assuming they can seize what they need from conquered territory.”

Jayden turned to her and waved in the direction of the soldiers. “If they run out of food weeks before the fighting starts, if they don’t have horses and oxen to pull their wagons, if medicine for common illnesses all armies face doesn’t arrive, they fail before the first sword is drawn. That’s one of the reasons we’ve come here.”

Curious, she asked, “What’s the other reason?”

“In the past, you’ve pointed out that I would have an easier time defeating the plans of the king and queen if I had more help. I can’t deny the point, especially after all you’ve done for me, but finding men willing and able to assist me is no easy task. Few would take on an army, even snapping at one’s heels as we are, and fewer still for the paltry rewards that have come our way.”

Dana put her hands on her hips. “Paltry? We’ve both got magic swords.”

Jayden chuckled. “You have no idea how much fighting men charge. Even the magic and riches we have secured would not be enough to interest most capable warriors, nor keep them long if they did come. Thanks to Clevner, I have a lead on men either bold or desperate enough to work with us.”

“Clevner wasn’t exactly the trustworthy type. He might have recommended someone as dirty as he is.”

“You make a fair point, for the men we seek could easily be enemies. Clevner spoke of a group called the Midnight Riders. Details on them are sketchy, but tales tell of a large body of horsemen dressed in black who attack army storehouses, seizing fortunes in goods before disappearing into the night. They say nothing as they load their packs and saddlebags with food, oil, candles and other goods. They only attack unguarded targets and inflict only minor injuries on the men watching the storehouses.”

“It sounds like Lootmore’s doing,” Dana said. Then she frowned. “Wait, he doesn’t have that many men, and the last time we saw him he was stealing armor. Food and candles aren’t important enough for him.”

“I thought the same thing myself. Still, they’re not your run of the mill thieves or bandits, either, or else they would rob less risky targets such as farmhouses. I believe they are either foreign agents or revolutionaries. I wish to meet them and judge the quality of their character. If they are worthy men, there is the possibility of an alliance. If they are villains and rogues, I need to stop them before they hurt people I actually like.”

Jayden looked out the window and scowled. “We aren’t far from the last reported attack by the Midnight Riders, but with so many soldiers outside we might as well be on the moon. Even looking at them disgusts me. So many following orders with unthinking obedience, attacking a nation we’ve never been at war with and have no reason to fight. I wonder what excuses they use to justify bringing horror and suffering to a neighboring land.”

Jayden’s expression changed from disgust to curiosity, and he waved for Dana to join him at the window. “Our mission is more dire than I’d feared. Look.”

Dana came over and peered out the window to see armored men carrying bright banners coming up the road. There were only a few dozen of them, but soldiers pointed and stared, some even calling out to their officers.

“I’ve never seen soldiers or mercenaries like them before,” Dana said.

“They’re neither one nor the other. Cimmox the necromancer claimed the king and queen had cast a wide net for allies, gathering up the despicable and vulgar from other lands. I see he told the truth. Those banners proclaim these men to be gladiators from Battle Island. Gladiators kill daily for pay, and they are skilled and brutal in equal measure.”

“At least there aren’t many of them.”

“That handful is worth five times their number in ordinary soldiers. If they get their hands on magic weapons and armor, they’d be worth ten times as many. Pray the king and queen are too distrustful or stingy to properly arm them.”

Army officers met the gladiators and showed them which road to take. The gladiators showed little obedience and no respect in return, but they marched on with the rest of the army. Jayden and Dana watched for three hours until the soldiers were gone.

“We must assume the rest of Cimmox’s claims were not idle boasting,” Jayden told her. “That makes every hour wasted a serious loss. We must find the Midnight Riders before they are killed or leave for safer hunting grounds.”

Dana and Jayden left the barn and kept to backways and cow paths far from any major road. This slowed them down since such routes were rarely straight and never properly maintained, but they were safe from discovery by soldiers and mercenaries. They traveled through pastures and forests, rarely seeing people.

Two days traveling brought them to a small city not far from the border with Zentrix. From a distance the city looked peaceful enough, its buildings in good repair and the citizens well dresses and healthy. A river ran along the south side of the city and had considerable boat traffic. Dana spotted soldiers, but not nearly as many as she’d expected.

“Welcome to Trenton Town, so named for its founder, Erving Trenton,” Jayden declared.

Dana saw people enter and leave the city unchallenged. “Where are all the guards?”

“They were likely absorbed into the army when it passed through,” Jayden replied. “Only a minimal force was left behind to maintain order. I am sorely tempted to work mischief here, but finding the Midnight Riders takes precedence.”

“How do we find these guys when the authorities can’t?” Dana asked. “I don’t think your magic detection spell is going to help, because it sounds like they don’t use magic.”

“Given their success rate they might, but it’s more likely they’re simply careful planners. Finding them won’t be easy. My intensions are to question the locals. Buying a few rounds of drinks does wonders to improve men’s moods. If I’m right, someone in this city knows who the Midnight Riders are and where to find them.”

Dana gave him a disbelieving look. “You’re a wanted criminal. Who’s going to drink with you?”

“I’ve found a shocking number of people are happy to do so. The king and queen have gone to considerable lengths to upset their subjects in most provinces and cities. High taxes, confiscating goods and conscripting citizens into the army doesn’t make friends. We just have to be careful about which bars to patronize.”

“You have contacts who either like you or are terrified of you in some of the places we visit,” Dana pointed out. “Is there anyone here who could help us?”

“Not this time. I was here years ago and made friends with a family of blacksmiths. I helped them escape the kingdom when the king and queen ordered them brought to Armorston and put to work producing weapons. With their departure there is no one here I know and trust.”

Unlike some cities they’d visited, Trenton Town lacked a city wall, and they were able to enter the outskirts of the city without drawing much attention. Jayden still wore his winter cloak over his black and silver clothes, including a hood over his messy hair. This meant the few people to pay them any attention gave at most a passing glance.

“Getting kind of warm for clothes that thick,” an older man said to Jayden.

“If you have summer weight clothes to spare or money to buy them, I would be most appreciative,” Jayden replied.

The old man chuckled. “I have no surplus of clothes or coins, and no hope of that changing. Sympathy is all I can share with you. Stranger, a word of warning.”

Jayden stopped. “Yes?”

The old man nodded at Dana. “Take your girl out to the countryside and leave her there. We’ve had soldiers, mercenaries and now gladiators coming through the city like a parade. Most are louts, and some no different than monsters. I wouldn’t want to see what happens if they saw a young lady.”

“Your warning is much appreciated. My niece and I won’t stay longer than we must.”

Once they were far enough away to avoid being overheard, Dana said, “If that’s how they’re acting in a city, heaven help girls living on farms they pass through. Jayden, if these men are as bad as he says, they’re going to drive honest men to rebel.”

“They might, but mercenaries and gladiators would make short work of farmers and shopkeepers.”

“I thought the mercenaries revolted and ran off.” Dana and Jayden had helped mercenaries from Skitherin Kingdom learn that girls from their homeland were being sold in Meadowland Kingdom. The knowledge had enraged them to the point of rebelling against their employers and fleeing with the freed slaves.

“Mercenaries from Skitherin Kingdom rebelled, removing thousands of men from the king and queen’s armies, but I doubt the royal couple hired men only from that blighted kingdom. Men hired from other lands would have no reason to be upset by Skitherin women and children being sold as slaves. They might even buy some.”

The city streets were slowly coming to life as more people left their homes. Normally this happened at dawn, but it was nearly noon. Had they stayed indoors to avoid the armed men who’d recently traveled through their city? That fit with the older man’s warning. Men gave them suspicious glances when they saw both Dana and Jayden carried swords.

“Who are you with?” a woman demanded.

“No one save ourselves,” Jayden answered.

“Then why are you armed?”

Dana said, “We’ve been traveling between cities. Not all the roads are safe.”

The woman relaxed. “I can believe that. Just, keep those blades out of sight. They make folks nervous.”

Finding a bar was easy. The city was lousy with them, small places that were only now hanging up signs with tankards painted on them. Jayden went in one with a few tables already crowded with customers, and the bartender said, “Outsiders pay upfront.”

“Fair enough,” he replied, and placed a copper coin on a table. He chatted with the bartender and customers while Dana kept watch at the door.

“Your girl is being mighty skittish,” the bartender noted.

Jayden sipped his drink. “You’ll have to forgive her concern, but one of your fellow citizens gave her a fright. He said she would be in danger if mercenaries saw her.”

A man near Jayden downed his drink in one gulp. “He was right, and she’s right to listen to him. Used to be a fellow was safe if he didn’t do anything stupid, like walk the streets at night. Then it got so a guy needed friends and neighbors to back him up in broad daylight when bullyboys in uniforms swaggered about. Now a man’s not safe even if he’s got a sword and twenty men behind him.”

“Here we go again,” another man grumbled.

“Don’t you give me that!” the first man yelled. “You saw what happened to the food stalls yesterday. Every one of them was emptied out with nothing to show for it but IOUs. Have any of you ever seen one of those slips of paper honored? I’ve got four of them, and I’ll fly before I get the gold they promise!”

“We’re all hurting,” the second man replied. “The rest of us don’t keep talking about it.”

“Easy for you to say,” the first man retorted. “Nobody robs quarriers. All you have is rocks.”

“I’ve got IOUs for the pay I was supposed to get,” retorted the quarrier. “I’ve been living off my savings since last year.”

“Gentlemen,” Jayden began, “we all suffer. I was hoping one of you might know where I could purchase supplies such as cooking oil. I know many who could use it.”

“There’s barely enough to go around here, and less every day,” the first man told him.

Dana kept her eyes on the street. “I’ve heard lots gets stolen at night.”

“Not from us it doesn’t,” the barkeeper replied. “Thieves take from those who have.”

The conversation went on for a while as men repeated tales of woe. Jayden visited three more bars and made inquires on where he could get common goods, or what should be common, and who could provide them. Each time the answer was the same. Few men had anything, and those who did were rapidly running out. He bought drinks for men whose clothing was threadbare and money pouches were empty, earning a little goodwill, but the answers stayed the same.

Jayden and Dana stopped that evening and got a small but filling meal from a man pushing a cart loaded with food. Most of the stores or stalls were empty. The few selling goods were either mobile like the food seller’s cart or easily concealed like the neighborhood bars that could take down any proof of their profession in a matter of minutes.

“These people look like they’ve got experience hiding their stuff,” Dana said after they’d left the cart.

“The soldiers and mercenaries we saw heading toward Zentrix were likely not the first. I imagine earlier groups failed to pay for what they took. This could make our search harder. If the Midnight Riders are nearby, these people have no reason to betray them and every reason to hide them.”

“What for? They don’t benefit if government storehouses get robbed. They might even get in trouble. Hungry soldiers could clean them out if they can’t get food from the army.”

Jayden studied the emptying streets. “You might be surprised how much support the Midnight Riders get. The goods they steal are low value. If they want to turn those goods into coins, residents of Trenton Town would be only too happy to pay for them.”

Dana’s attention was drawn to shouting by the river. She saw a large barge bump into smaller ones, as if its crew could barely control it. Men on other barges shouted insults and obscenities as the larger barge muscled its way through. “That barge is low in the water, and there’s a tarp over it. What could it be carrying that’s so heavy it could sink a boat that big?”

“I see Cimmox was being honest in all his threats. Do you see the symbols carved onto the side of the barge? GW, Golem Works. It’s a dwarf corporation that specializes in producing golems.”

Dana’s heart sank. “They brought a replacement for Wall Wolf?”

“Wall Wolf was so large it would have sunk that barge outright if someone was foolish enough to load so heavy a cargo. More likely they’re bringing a stone golem. They are smaller and lighter than Wall Wolf, if only slightly, and nearly as dangerous.”

The Golem Works barge moored itself to a dock in the city, and armed dwarfs took up guard positions around it. Any man who came too close was told to leave, and threatened with spears if they argued with the stocky dwarfs. Clearly, they weren’t going to risk losing their property.

“I imagine the stone golem will join the army heading for Zentrix,” Jayden said.

“You could burn the barge,” Dana suggested.

“Appealing, but no. My fireball spell would do little to no damage to the golem. At best I would cost them the barge, a replaceable commodity.”

Dana whistled. “Soldiers, mercenaries, gladiators, a golem, they’re not taking chances.”

“The king and queen seek to win with overwhelming force and then move on to their next target. This war could be over and Zentrix made a province in Meadowland Kingdom before autumn. We’re going to have to find or manufacture a miracle to prevent that from happening.”

“We need a place to spend the night.” The sun was going down, producing a gorgeous sunset that Dana would normally love to watch, but darkness was coming. One of the men at the bar said it wasn’t safe to travel at night. Did that mean there were thieves? Monsters? Ghosts?

“I saw an inn earlier in the day.” Jayden led the way through the city as shadows stretched across the streets. Dana kept a close eye on their surroundings, worried that they’d run into an ambush. She saw people hurry into their houses, followed by loud clunks as they barred their doors.

Strangely, some people opened their doors as night fell. Men hung temporary signs from their doorframes and set out tables. Goods offered included drinks, games of chance and meats Dana couldn’t identify. Were these people eating monsters?

“This is new and discouraging,” Jayden said as they walked by a stall selling huge feathers.

A woman at the stall shrugged. “A girl’s got to eat. Selling griffin feathers never hurt anyone besides the griffin.”

“My needs are more basic. Food, drink, oil and the like for myself and those I care for.”

The woman laughed. “You might find someone offering those, but you better be less squeamish about it than you are with me. Nothing for sale at night came here honestly.”

Jayden was questioning the woman when Dana heard squeaky wood wheels. She turned and saw wagons rolling into the city as if it was broad daylight. Men climbed down from the wagons and did brisk business with furtive citizens. “Who are they?”

The woman at the stall looked over and rolled her eyes. “Competition. They only come to Trenton Town when they’re sure they aren’t going to get their cargo commandeered by the army, the nobles, mercenaries or whatever flavor of official thieves are in the neighborhood.”

Shocked, Dana asked, “Your mayor allows this?”

“As if he could stop armed men from taking everything they lay their hands on,” the woman said with a smirk. “He sends his staff to buy from smugglers the same as the rest of us. See those old ladies with wheelbarrows? They’re on his payroll.”

Dana watched men sell food, livestock, cloth, firewood and construction timbers. At first, she couldn’t figure out why these people felt the need to come at night. These were legitimate goods and couldn’t all be stolen. That meant they were scared of being robbed. The army must have done a lot of looting to generate this much fear.

Then she saw him, a man she knew too well selling armfuls of candles to eager customers. “Problem.”

Jayden looked over from the woman selling griffin feathers. “What is it?”

Dana pointed in the rapidly dying light. “Look.”

“Who are you pointing at?” Jayden squinted and then raised an eyebrow. “It can’t be.”

“What’s this about?” the woman asked.

Jayden slapped a gold coin on her table. “For your time and honesty. Come on, Dana. Let’s go meet our friend.”

Dana’s fear vanished, replaced with a near murderous loathing. She kept her sword sheathed but gripped the hilt tightly. Jayden had a hand on his own sword as they jogged after their target. A few disreputable looking men saw them and hurried out of their way.

They reached the collection of wagons as the last of them sold off their goods. Business had been brisk, but it also appeared that none of them had brought much cargo to avoid losing too much if they’d been caught. The men were climbing back into their wagons, some of them already leaving town, when Jayden burst into a run and leapt onto a wagon.

“Hey, what’s going on?” one of the men demanded.

“Tell them we’re friends, or I tell them the truth,” Jayden whispered.

Jeremy Galfont the graverobber kept his eyes on Jayden. “It’s all right, lads. Him and me know each other.”

Jayden was close enough to spit on the man, which Dana would have done in his place. “Yes, we go back quite some time, don’t we? Almost a year.”

“Rather surprised you recognized me,” Galfont said. There was a big difference in his appearance since Dana had last seen the man. Back then he’d barely escaped horrifying monsters released from the Valivaxis, a magic gateway to the tombs of ancient elf emperors. He’d been dressed in rags, his hair long and ragged, and there had been shackles on his wrists.

Life must have been good to the graverobber (no doubt at someone else’s expense), for his clothes were finely tailored leather and his hair neatly trimmed. He drove a wagon showing no sign of wear, and the horses pulling it were young and strong. Dana didn’t consider herself a vengeful person, but seeing this repulsive man so prosperous made her blood boil.

“I believe we parted on good terms last time we met,” Galfont said.

“Indeed we did,” Jayden replied. “The passage of time has clearly been good to you.”

“That’s a tale best told in private.” Galfont’s eyes drifted to bystanders watching them.

Jayden helped Dana onto the wagon. “By all means. We’ll be glad to join you.”

Much to Dana’s surprise, Galfont didn’t panic. He drove his wagon to a small house not far from the city.

“It’s not much, but it meets my needs,” Galfont said as he tied up his horses outside the house.

“This is an interesting change for you,” Jayden replied. “Graverobber to smuggler? Thief?”

“It’s a bit more complicated than that.”

Dana jumped off the wagon and held up a lone candle. “I’m pretty sure you didn’t find this in someone’s grave. Who did you take it from?”

“I don’t rob graves anymore,” Galfont protested. “I thought you’d approve that I’ve taken up a new line of work. You were certainly mad enough about my last one.”

Dana jabbed him in the chest with the candle. “You mean was I mad that you snuck into cemeteries, dug up dead bodies, looted them and pawned the jewelry those people were buried with? Leaving their families brokenhearted, and their friends and neighbors terrified that the same thing could happen to their parents and grandparents? Yes, I’m furious!”

Galfont stared at her for a moment before asking Jayden, “So, did you find that Vali-whatever it was?”

“Found, sealed, disposed of. Galfont, you were useful to me once, and there’s a chance you could be useful again.”

“I’d really rather not.”

“That statement implies you have a choice in the matter. I’m looking for some exceedingly dangerous men who have been known to operate in this area. They use the name Midnight Riders.”

“It rings a bell,” Galfont admitted.

Jayden waved his hand at the darkened city behind them. “The good people of Trenton Town knew little to nothing about them. I think that’s because they are good people, not likely to associate with men who’d break into army storehouses. You, on the other hand, are not exactly good.”

Galfont said nothing. Jayden continue speaking.

“We saw you selling goods those people needed badly, so I am moderately grateful, except I wonder where you could have gotten your cargo. I think you stole what you were selling. The Midnight Riders also steal goods in this region. I imagine you’d rather not have competition, or have to deal with the armed response the king and queen are certain to send to deal with their depredations. You should be only too happy to tell me everything you know about them, in return for a generous reward if the information is accurate, and a terrible punishment if it’s not.”

Galfont looked down. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

Jayden leaned in close. “Try me.”

Galfont took a deep breath and said, “I’m the Midnight Riders.”

Dana dropped the candle she was holding. “Wait, what?”

“I am the Midnight Riders. There isn’t a bunch of men stealing. It’s just me.”

Jayden stared at him. “I’ve had several drinks today. I believe I need more.”

“That I can help you with,” Galfont said. He opened the door to the small house and ushered them in. The building’s interior was simple, with wood furniture and well stocked cabinets. Galfont brought out a bottle and cups, serving himself first before sitting at a table.

“Start your story at a point where it makes sense,” Jayden said.

“Ooh, that would be in my childhood, but I’m sure you’d prefer a later date than that.” Galfont drank deeply from his cup and refilled it. “After we last parted ways, I tried to go back to my old profession. I thought I’d be able to start right back up again as if nothing had happened.”

“Because that’s what people living here need, more despoiled graves,” Dana retorted.

“You need to stop feeding her raw meat,” Galfont told Jayden. “Anyway, it didn’t work. Taxes were so high and opportunities so few that people weren’t burying the dead with their jewelry. They were pawning it to buy food. The one time I got a solid lead on a silver ring, I found four other fellows trying to take it. I told them we could sell it and split the money, which I thought was a reasonable suggestion, when they all pulled out knives. By the time the fighting was over and bandages applied, we found there was no ring. Gravediggers had taken it before burying the body. There’s no honor anymore.”

Dana rolled her eyes. “There’s irony for you.”

Galfont scowled at her. “As I was saying, circumstances forced me to adopt a new career. In my wanderings I came across storehouses filled with goodies. Anything a man could want and more, just sitting there. I asked around and found this was meant for the army. Now me, I’m a pacifist. I never carry weapons even when I’m on a job.”

“You’re robbing the storehouses,” Jayden said.

“Robbing isn’t quite the right word,” Galfont told him. “I’ve come up with a better way. I steal from people who want to be robbed.”

“I must have done something to deserve this,” Dana moaned. “What was it?”

“I’m serious!” Galfont protested. “Storehouses with really nice things like arrows and spears, those get heavy guards. Storehouses with little things people need, boots, rations, lamps, sometimes they don’t get guards. Not enough men to go around, I’m told.”

“You’re told by who?” Jayden asked.

Galfont sipped his drink. “Clerks man those storehouses, keeping records on what comes and goes, cleaning up and so on. Those clerks are present whether there are guards or not. I figured out who these clerks were, chatted them up, spread some wealth and said, ‘Hey, you, let’s fake a robbery and split the money.’, which went over very well.”

Jayden perked up. “How does this work?”

“I figured there’s no market for armor, weapons or saddles around here. Boots, clothes, I leave those behind, too. If a fellow buys boots I stole from the army, there’s a good chance soldiers will see him and wonder where he got them. I told the clerks to tell me when they have things that can be used up. Food, cooking oil, candles, people need them, but they won’t keep them around for long. They eat it, burn it, use it and it’s gone, no evidence to get them in trouble. The demand is constant, so my customers always buy more.

“The clerks send word to me when they’ve got goods I want and there are no guards, and I show up late at night to load up my wagon. If there’s a lot I’ll come back a second time. The clerk tells the authorities about these mysterious black robed riders who robbed them. I rough the place up a bit, bash open the doors with a hammer and give the poor man a few bruises so it looks like he tried to fight back and lost, not his fault.”

Dana glared at Galfont. “I thought you were a pacifist.”

“It’s better than the clerk being suspected and hung! I sell the goods in cities like Trenton Town and give the clerk his share of the cash once the heat dies down. I’ve done it five times.”

“Astounding,” Jayden said. “This plan is so stupid it actually works. The biggest flaw is sooner or later the king and queen will post guards at all their storehouses, or set a trap at a storehouse loaded with goods you traditionally steal.”

“The thought had occurred,” Galfont said drily. “I’m already seeing more storehouses with permanent guard details. I think I’ll have to change professions again. I was planning on leaving for a less warlike home, but all the borders are closed. What’s a fellow to do?”

Jayden set his drink aside and smiled at Galfont. “You should get rich with one last robbery, with me as both partner and customer.”

“I’m not sure I like the sound of this,” Galfont said.

“I’m sure I don’t,” Dana added.

“Contact the clerks looking after the storehouses,” Jayden told him. “I need a list of places with the kind of goods you don’t bother with. Weapons, armor, wagons and more. Come nightfall you will lead me to them, I shall destroy them and pay you well.”

Galfont stared at Jayden. “How well?”

“Two hundred gold coins if you lead me to at least three full storehouses, with payment made only after I’ve destroyed all three.”

Dana’s jaw dropped. “Do we have that much?”

“We do. And Galfont, as a bonus, you can take whatever you want before I burn the rest. Do we have a deal?”

Galfont refilled his cup and drank it in one long gulp. “Welcome aboard, partner!”

This is the conclusion to Midnight Riders.
***********
Dana woke the next morning in Galfont’s small house. She saw Galfont leaving, looking as giddy as a child on his birthday as he got onto his wagon and rode off. She went to the kitchen and found Jayden studying his spell tablets. He took one look at her and set the tablets aside.

“You’re not happy,” he said.

“No, not happy. We’ve worked with some questionable people, but this takes the cake. This man should be in jail or six feet underground. Instead we’re making him rich.”

“He is less likely to cause trouble if his pockets are full. He is also unlikely to betray us for a reward when his own neck could end up in a noose.”

Dana sat at the table. “It feels like we’re rewarding him for being bad. I know we can’t always pick and choose our friends, especially during a war, but I think we’re crossing a line. It could backfire on us like it did with Clevner. I get that the people of Zentrix need help badly and soon, but is it always going to be like this? Looking for the least bad choice?”

“It’s been this way with me for years,” he told her. “I have had good and honest men working with me, and the experience was if anything worse. My plans could have hurt them, their families and neighbors if I’d failed. In this case the only man who’d suffer if we fail is Galfont, a minor loss to humanity, but still a loss. There are few I can count on for help, making men even as questionable as Galfont valuable.”

Dana snapped her fingers. “Sorcerer Lord Jayden doesn’t have many people he can trust, but Prince Mastram does.”

“No,” he said firmly.

“It could work.” Dana leaned across the table toward him. “There are a lot of angry people in the kingdom. We met a bunch of them yesterday. Tens of thousands of people would come to serve a prince back from exile.”

“They would die just as fast! King Tyros and Queen Amvicta would stop at nothing to kill me if they knew I still breathed. Any who came to my side would be cut down without mercy, as would their families.”

“The king and queen are already coming after you,” she pointed out. “How could they make it worse than it already is?”

“I know them better than you do,” Jayden said, his voice grim. “I saw them at their worst during the civil war. If they are frightened, they can do deeds more terrible than you can imagine. They have no shortage of mercenaries and gladiators only too happy to follow orders, no matter how terrible.”

Jayden stood up and put his hands on her hers. “Prince Mastram is dead, and for the good of the kingdom must stay dead. Even a whisper of the truth would bring down horrors beyond imagination on innocent people. As loathsome as Galfont is, using him is superior to the alternative. Please, don’t bring this up again.”

The rest of the day was spent in stony silence. Jayden continued studying his spell tablets and Dana explored their surroundings. Galfont’s house was far from any neighbor, ensuring they weren’t noticed by suspicious locals.

To Dana’s surprise, she saw shepherds guide herds of goats through the wilderness to lush bits of pasture. The shepherds were armed and watchful, with fierce dogs. Dana figured these men were keeping their herds well clear of armed men who could confiscate them.

It was nearly dinner time when Galfont returned on his wagon. He ran over and nearly knocked the door off its hinges in his eagerness to reach them. “This is your lucky night!”

Dana figured a lucky night would be Galfont being arrested by the authorities or eaten by wolves, but she bit back a harsh reply when the former graverobber sat at his table. “Most of the storehouses were emptied by the army on their way to Zentrix, but there are three nearby filled to the brim with goodies.”

“Why weren’t they emptied, too?” Dana asked.

“The soldiers didn’t have enough wagons. Word is they’re going to unload on the front and come back for the rest.”

Jayden asked him, “What sort of goods do they contain?”

“One has oats for horses and oxen, but it could be food for men just as easily. Another has saddles, horseshoes, yokes and the like for draft animals and cavalry horses. The last one is the real prize. It’s got uniforms, tents and blankets for five thousand men.”

“An army could fight without any of those,” Dana said.

“Not as well as they could with them,” Galfont countered. “There are more storehouses farther out, but they’re either empty or guarded like fortresses. It’s this or nothing. Deal?”

“What are their guard compliments?” Jayden asked.

“Ten men or less for each one, and no knights or archers. They’re more likely to run than fight.”

“What about the Golem Works barge in the city?” Dana asked. “If it’s carrying what Jayden thinks it is, we could have a fight on our hands.”

Galfont chuckled. “I saw them leave Trenton Town hours ago. They said they’d only stopped to buy food.”

“We hit them all tonight,” Jayden said. “Galfont, pack your belongings so you can flee after we’re done. When the third storehouse is destroyed, you’ll get the pay as promised. If we have to leave before finishing the job, you’ll be paid according to how much we did.”

“Fair enough,” Galfont told him. “We’re going to have to leave right away to do this. Hide in the back of my wagon and we’ll reach the first one by dusk.”

Dana and Jayden sat in the back of Galfont’s wagon as he rode through the growing darkness. It wasn’t comfortable for several reasons. The first was the wagon was meant to carry cargo rather than passengers, and there was no padding when they hit bumps in the road. The other cause of concern was how many other people were coming out only now that it was dark. Wagons shuttled around goods and people, while hunters and trappers brought fresh meat to sell. She’d never seen a city busier at night than during the day.

Jayden seemed to echo her thoughts when he asked, “Is it always so active?”

Galfont answered, “Locals tell me trade at night started last year and has only grown. They’re trying to avoid tax collectors and officials who steal worse than I ever did. Their duke has been ordered to put a stop to it, but he depends on untaxed trade as much as his people do.”

“How long until we reach the first storehouse?” Dana asked.

Galfont pointed ahead of them. “Not long before we hit the one with uniforms and tents. It’s a barn seized by the army outside city limits. I want to make it clear I’m acting as native guide. You’re on your own when the fighting starts.”

Jayden drew his magic sword. “I expected as much.”

“Did you ever learn what that thing does?” Dana asked.

“I figured it out earlier in the week.” Jayden looked almost giddy at the thought of using. He pulled off his outer layer of winter clothes to reveal his black and silver uniform beneath it. “Before we strike, I need you back in uniform.”

Dana frowned when he handed her the cloth mask, long gloves and leggings. “Then why are you trying to be as obvious as you can?”

“I’m counting on my reputation spreading fear. The king and queen know me well, but they have only vague details concerning your identity. The longer they remain ignorant of your name and face, the easier you’ll find it to move around in public.”

Dana put on the concealing clothes when they were in sight of the storehouse, just an old barn with ten spearmen standing around a fire. The soldiers looked bored and tired, and as they drew closer it was clear they were teenagers. They saw the wagon approach and barely reacted.

“Come on, guys,” one of the soldiers said. “This couldn’t wait until morning?”

“You ride at night and your horses are going to break a leg in the dark,” said another. “Cripple a horse and you’ll be whipped and branded.”

Jayden cast a spell and leapt off the wagon, landing with his sword pointing at the ground. “Gentlemen, tonight you get to choose whether you live or die.”

“Who the devil are you?” one asked.

Dana climbed off the wagon and drew Chain Cutter. The sword glowed in the darkness and made the soldiers gape in awe. “Seriously? Don’t any of you read the wanted posters?”

A soldier pointed at Jayden. “That’s the Sorcerer Lord! And unnamed female accomplice!”

Dana slapped her free hand over her face. “They’re still calling me that.”

Jayden pointed his sword at the soldiers and declared, “Run or fight, children. I should add that fighting ends in dying.”

The soldiers were far too young for their job, but to their credit they lined up and formed a wall of spears between Jayden and the storehouse. The young soldiers ran screaming at him. Their charge ended when a giant clawed black hand flew in and wrapped its enormous fingers around their spears. The youths yelled as they tried to pull their weapons free. Dana ran in and lopped off their spearheads with Chain Cutter. The now defenseless men cried out in panic as they fell back.

“Daggers!” one of the youths yelled. “Draw your daggers!”

Four soldiers broke and ran away while the rest pulled hunting knives from sheaths on their legs. The poor fools spread out and charged Jayden again. It was a desperate gambit that ended when the giant hand swept over them and effortlessly bowled them over. Five more ran off while the last cowered by the storehouse door. He made frightened, whimpering sounds.

Dana waved her sword in the direction the other soldiers had fled. “Go on, get out of here.”

“You’re not going to kill me?”

“Do you want me to?” The youth shook his head, and she said, “Then don’t ask stupid questions like that. Scoot.”

Once the soldiers were gone, an older, overweight man stumbled out of a door on the side of the storehouse. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, Galfont. I told you there’s nothing here you want.”

Galfont hurried over and put an arm around the old man’s shoulders. “There’s been a change in plans. The fellow over there is paying you a handful of gold coins.”

“Gold?” The old man smiled from ear to ear. His joy ended when Jayden bashed down part of the storehouse’s wall with his giant black hand. “Here now, what’s he doing?”

“You’re being paid enough to not ask questions. Take the money, hide it, and if anyone asks—”

“Sorcerer Lord Jayden destroyed the storehouse,” Jayden told the old man. “Galfont, I see no need for your friend to suffer injuries to make this look like a robbery. My reputation is excuse enough for him to leave.”

Jayden began chanting a spell Dana was familiar with. The old man looked puzzled when he left, saying, “Gold, and I didn’t get slapped around this time. It’s an odd night.”

“How’s he going to destroy it?” Galfont asked Dana.

Jayden finished his spell, and a tiny ember floated from his hands into the hole he’d made in the storehouse. He walked casually back to the wagon and climbed aboard. “Take us to the next one.”

Galfont pointed at the storehouse. “But you didn’t—”

BOOM! The explosion tore the storehouse apart. Burning pieces of fabric and wood fell from the sky as heavy as rain in a thunderstorm. Jayden used his black hand to tamp out a few fires that were starting to spread and had it float back beside the wagon.

“Right, um, on to the next one,” Galfont said. He waited until Dana was onboard before driving away. “Take this as a professional critique, but you need to work on your approach. Too loud, too flashy. Everyone within a day’s travel heard that, including the authorities.”

“Great, we’re taking advice from a graverobber,” Dana muttered.

“Former graverobber, thank you. The next storehouse is at the edge of town and has saddles and yokes. The noise must have drawn a crowd by now. If we’re lucky they’ll follow the sound to our last stop.”

“I’m not greatly concerned about soldiers,” Jayden told him.

“I imagine you wouldn’t be,” Galfont said as he brought the wagon to a halt next to a large building at the edge of Trenton Town.

Soldiers on guard duty were alert and looked scared. One pointed at smoke in the distance and asked, “What was that?”

Jayden dismounted and smiled at the soldiers. “Roughly one thousand gold coins worth of goods burning. Tragically for you, the event is about to repeat itself.”

These soldiers were as young as the last ones and panicked even faster. Half of them ran when they saw Jayden and the rest fell back.

“Hold them off!” one of the teenagers said. He grabbed one of his soldiers by the arm and shoved him to the left. “Go, get help!”

Jayden sent his giant hand to swat soldiers aside, and they ran off rather than face it. The soldier giving orders was the last to flee. Jayden made the hand scoop him up. The youth screamed as the hand brought him back to Jayden.

“I have a message for your commanding officer,” Jayden told him.

“I don’t know who that is!”

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Dana demanded.

“I, I was under General Thrade’s command, but I was transferred to General Kame, and then assigned guard duty here after Thrade and Kame left. I don’t know who’s giving orders here.”

Jayden dropped the soldier, who ran off as the giant hand battered a hole into the storehouse. A pudgy clerk came out of a side door and said, “I would have opened it for you.”

“Pay him and get him out of here,” Jayden ordered. Galfont took the clerk aside as Jayden began chanting. Dana kept an eye out for the trouble that was sure to come.

“I hear men coming,” Dana warned.

Jayden finished the spell and sent a single spark floating into the storehouse. “To the last target, and hurry.”

BOOM! The building went up in flames. This one didn’t detonate as explosively as the last one. Dana figured it was because the saddles and yokes wouldn’t burn like fabric did, and the horseshoes wouldn’t burn at all.

Dana and Jayden climbed back aboard the wagon and Galfont drove off. They heard men in armor running toward the storehouse, and shouts were coming from all around them. Frightened people came out of their houses to see what was going on. Vendors selling goods on the streets gathered up their possessions and fled.

“The last one is on the other side of the city, and I want my wagon filled with goods from it before you blow it up,” Galfont said. “We need to hurry. If whoever is in charge here has a working brain, he’ll figure out where we’re going and try to beat us to it.”

“Get us there first,” Jayden ordered.

Galfont drove his horses hard through the streets. Twice he had to slow down to avoid groups of people coming out of their houses. One man nearly got run over, but Jayden’s magic hand scooped him up and set him down in an alleyway.

“What’s happening?” a woman shouted at them.

“Wanted criminal coming through!” Jayden shouted back. Dana would have bet good money that his warning would have sent bystanders running for cover. Instead they hurried over to get a glimpse of him.

A flash of light to their left caught Dana’s eye. She looked over and saw nothing as the wagon rocketed down the street, but as they passed an alley, she saw the light again. There were dozens of soldiers running down the streets and carrying lanterns to light their way.

Dana waved her sword to their left. “Soldiers are going parallel to us on the next street over!”

Galfont pulled on his wagon’s reins to slow down before he hit people milling around in the street. “Get out of the way!”

“We’re not moving much faster than they are,” Jayden said. He cast a spell that formed a globe of light that shot down the street ahead of them. Pedestrians flinched away from the sudden light, opening up the way for them.

“That’s it up ahead,” Glafont told them. He nodded at a large building at the end of the road. “Former church for the Brotherhood of the Righteous before they were kicked out of the kingdom. These days it stores oats.”

The converted church was guarded by more young soldiers who looked terrified. When Jayden dismounted the wagon, one ran up and said, “What’s going on? We heard explosions and screaming. Are we under attack?”

Jayden looked the youth in the eyes. “Is it really that dark that you can’t recognize me?”

The soldier screamed and ran. The rest saw him flee and followed suit when Jayden’s giant black hand came barreling toward them. He sent his magic hand crashing into the old church’s doors, knocking them off the hinges. A frightened clerk peeked out of the building as the giant hand retreated.

“You, out,” Jayden ordered. The man ran past Jayden, but to their surprise came running back. “What are you doing?”

“Soldiers!” the clerk screamed as he went back into the old church.

Dana, Jayden and Galfont spun around to find fifty soldiers marching toward them. The men wore chain armor and had shields, spears or swords, with ten men carting lit lanterns. It would have been an intimidating sight if the men were advancing. Instead they stood in a rough line, neither advancing or retreating. They were young, some younger than Dana, with a sprinkling of men far too old for the difficult job of soldiering.

“Do something,” Galfont whispered to Jayden. “Anything.”

The soldiers had them ridiculously outnumbered. Jayden was a credible threat to a group this size, but they stood a chance of killing him in battle. There was no attack, though, nor even an attempt to threaten or harass them.

Jayden bared his teeth and marched toward the line of soldiers. “This is best the king and queen can do? This rabble? Your army is preparing to invade a neighboring country, and you can’t even face one sorcerer.”

Dana caught up with him and put a hand on his arm. “Jayden, look at them. They’re called soldiers, armed like soldiers, but they’re kids and old men. Some of them are younger than I am.”

“Is that it?” Jayden demanded. “Did your generals leave behind men they didn’t trust to face the horrors of war? I can’t tell if that was an act of mercy or contempt. One of you must be an officer in charge of this mob!”

An older spearman said, “I think his name is Commander Varnos. He gave us orders when we got to this city. That was five days ago. Haven’t seen him since then.”

Jayden stared hard at the men. A look of confusion swept across his face, followed by rage. “You’re new recruits. You haven’t been given any training, have you? Your leaders gave you armor and weapons, as if that would make you soldiers, and sent you into the jaws of war. I wondered how I could enter this city so easily and strike barely opposed.”

Boom. The sound echoed down the street, a distant thunder that spoke of power. Boom. Soldiers spun around and panicked at the threat coming up behind them. Boom. They cried out in terror as a ten foot tall stone man walked down the street toward them. Boom. The golem looked like a bald, muscular man. Boom. Dana gasped when the golem blinked its stone eyes and grinned.

“Make way, mayflies,” a dwarf with a long black beard called out. He wore plate armor and held a silver amulet in one hand and a black ax in the other. “Clear the road.”

“You said the Golem Works barge left this morning!” Dana shouted at Galfont.

“We left, and we came back,” the dwarf said casually. “Upriver is too shallow for our barge to float with my friend here riding along. We were going to walk to the front lines, but a frightened human told me the city was under attack.”

“Lovely,” Jadyen said. More quietly, he told Dana, “Few of my spells can hurt the golem.”

The dwarf chuckled. “Sorcerer Lord, is it? Name’s Dunrhill Stronglock. Word was the elves killed off your kind long ago. Guess there are always survivors. I’d have some sympathy for you after what my people suffered at elven hands, but the man paying my bills is keen on hearing of your demise. Nothing personal, you understand.”

“Perish the thought,” Jayden replied dryly. “You do know an iron golem tried to kill me and died?”

“Heard about it,” Stronglock. “You had two wizards helping in that fight that I don’t see here. Odds are in my favor, not yours.”

Jayden rested his sword on his shoulder. “Feel like giving me a chance to surrender? Most of my foes do.”

“That’s reason enough not to do it.” Stronglock raised the silver amulet high. “Simon says kill the Sorcerer Lord.”

The stone golem lumbered toward Jayden as soldiers got out of the way. It hadn’t gotten far before Jayden’s giant black hand charged in and hit the golem in the face, knocking it over. The hand swung down again and again on the prone golem. For a few seconds that was enough to keep it in check, but the golem grabbed the hand and squeezed. Jayden cried out as the giant hand dissolved into black mist.

“Are you hurt?” Dana asked him.

Jayden rubbed his hand. “I canceled the spell before I suffered too much feedback.”

The golem stood up and advanced on them again. It was a serious threat, but like Wall Wolf it wasn’t fast. This gave Jayden time to cast two spells before it reached them. The first formed a shield of spinning black daggers in front of him while the second reformed his giant black hand. The golem raised both hands high to attack Jayden, ignoring Dana entirely. She drew her sword and ran at it, only to find Stronglock in her way.

“I heard about you, too,” the dwarf said. “Word is your sword is impressive. Let’s find out.”

Dana swung at Stonglock, and her sword met his ax in a shower of sparks. Normally Chain Cutter hacked through weapons, but the ax suffered little more than a nick. Stronglock swung at her head. Dana stepped to one side and hit his ax again. Sparks again showered onto the street as each weapon held.

“It’s as good as I was told,” Stronglock said approvingly. “Is that Thume Breakbones’ workmanship?”

Dana dodged another swing from the dwarf. “Yeah. Bald, rude, self-centered.”

Stronglock’s next attack went low in an attempt to hit Dana’s heels. She jumped over it and swung down, but Stronglock already had his ax up to block it. “That’s Thume, all right. My ax is one of his earlier weapons.”

Dana charged Stronglock and tried to stab him in the shoulder. The dwarf parried her sword with more sparks raining down on them. This was bad. Dana had learned a lot about swordsmanship from Jayden, but she hadn’t landed a single hit and was barely avoiding Stronglock’s ax. She’d heard dwarfs were legendary for their stamina. Stronglock could keep this fight up for hours, while she would tire far sooner.

Not far away, Jayden sparred with the stone golem. The golem tried to punch him and hit the shield of spinning blades. Black blades broke when the golem struck them, scratching its right arm from fingertips to its elbow, but doing nothing else. Jayden swung his magic sword at the golem, and to Dana’s amazement he moved as fast as its original owner, Brasten. Jayden moved so fast he was a blur as he struck the golem across its face and neck. His sword merely scratched the stone.

Stronglock kept after Dana with powerful, relentless attacks. She was faster than the dwarf and avoided the worst of it, but when she blocked one swing, he punched her hard enough to send her back three feet.

Jayden ran over and helped her up. “This isn’t going well, and the soldiers are blocking our escape route.”

Stronglock and his golem were heading for them. Either one was difficult to beat, and together they were more than Dana and Jayden could stop. Dana backed up a step, and her sword grazed the edge of a building, cutting into the stone. Inspiration hit like a thunderbolt.

“Trade partners,” she said. Jayden looked shocked by the suggestion, but she pressed on. “I can hurt the golem at least a little, and your spells should stop the dwarf.”

Jayden sheathed his sword and cast a spell to form his magic whip. “It’s worth trying.”

“Letting a girl fight your battles?” Stronglock taunted.

“Shut up and dance,” Dana said as she went after the golem. It ignored her in favor of Jayden, and she cut a deep gash in its right leg.

“Simon Says kill the girl,” Stronglock ordered. He tried to attack her and got only feet before Jayden swung his whip and wrapped it around the dwarf’s ax. The whip didn’t eat through the ax like it did nearly everything else, but Jayden was able to drag Stronglock to a halt.

Powerful as the golem was, it was tragically slow. The stone golem swung at Dana and missed, smashing in a wall of a building she was standing next to. When that failed it tried to kick her. Dana slashed the golem across its foot and left another deep gash. The golem scowled and lunged at her with arms outstretched. Dana jumped out of the way and swung her sword behind her, catching it across the belly.

Stronglock wasn’t doing any better against Jayden. The dwarf stopped trying to pull free and instead charged him. Jayden let his magic whip dissolve and drew his sword. With the sword’s magic he moved amazingly fast as he lashed out at the dwarf. Stronglock’s heavy armor stopped most of the swings, but one stroke took off half of his beard.

“You don’t touch a dwarf’s beard!” Stronglock bellowed. He pointed his ax at the soldiers and yelled, “Stop milling around and fight!”

The men looked uncertain until a lone soldier pointed and asked, “Hey, what are they doing?”

All eyes turned toward to the former church. Galfont had been busy during the battle carrying one sack of oats after another to his wagon, but the former graverobber wasn’t alone. A steady stream of citizens hauled away the storehouse’s contents.

“You thieving dogs!” Stronglock yelled.

An angry man shot back, “Who do you think grew this in the first place!”

More citizens gathered until they outnumbered the soldiers five to one. A man pointed at the bags being taken away and shouted, “We need food more than the army does! Come on, lads! Take back what’s yours!”

An already chaotic melee became utter madness. Enraged residents of Trenton Town surged into the soldiers from behind. Some men tackled the soldiers while others pushed on to loot the storehouse. Most of the soldiers were occupied fighting back, while others ran off and a few actually joined in the looting. Dana fought the golem while Jayden sent a flurry of sword swings at Stronglock.

“You people are idiots!” Stronglock yelled as he struggled to get past crowds of rioters and soldiers. He was making some progress when Jayden brought his giant magic hand down on the dwarf and knocked him over. Dana was amazed when the dwarf got up quickly, but her surprise doubled when the dwarf’s face contorted in fear. “No! Where is it?”

Dana couldn’t figure out what terrified Stronglock until she noticed he carried his ax in one hand and the other was empty. He’d lost his silver amulet when Jayden hit him. The dwarf scrambled across the street on all fours in his search for the amulet.

The stone golem was still coming after Dana, and she had to slip through the crowd to escape it. She was lucky the golem was trying hard not to step on the townspeople or soldiers when it came after her. That avoided a massacre and slowed the golem’s pursuit. As she struggled to get through the packed crowd, she saw a small, glittering amulet skid across the street. Someone kicked it by accident, then another person kicked it in a different direction. Dana and Stronglock both tried to reach it while countless people ran between them.

Dana was smaller and lighter than the dwarf, and that was just enough for her to slip through the crowd and grab the amulet. She crawled away while both Stronglock and his golem followed her.

“Stop!” Dana yelled at the golem. It continued after her. “I said stop!”

Jayden caught up with Stronglock and punched the dwarf in the face. “Tell it Simon says stop!”

The golem caught up with Dana and raised both arms to crush her. She couldn’t move fast enough through the crowd to avoid it. “Simon says stop!”

The golem froze in place. Dana got out from under it and pushed past the many people around her. “Jayden, come on, let’s go!”

Jayden pushed through the rowdy crowd to reach her, and they both ran. They saw Galfont drive his wagon away, although someone had climbed onto it and was throwing out the sacks of oats. Dana heard Stronglock hollering as he chased them, but the dwarf couldn’t match their speed and soon fell behind. They ran through the city until they reached the river.

Dana held up the amulet. “Can I control the golem from here?”

“It has to hear your orders to obey them.”

“I guess I should have told it to follow us. It could have been the help you need.”

Jayden looked back into Trenton Town. City streets rang out with the sounds of rioting. “It’s best you didn’t bring it. Golem Works would do anything to retrieve it. The stone golem moves too slowly to keep up with us, and it’s so heavy its footprints would be deep and easy to follow. Golem Works can likely track the control amulet. You’ll have to get rid of it.”

Dana set the amulet down and swung her sword at it. Chain Cutter effortlessly hacked through the silver amulet. “That overgrown statue won’t go far now.”

“Not until the dwarfs bring a new amulet and attune it to the golem, a process that could take days to weeks.” Jayden led Dana away into the night away from Trenton Town. They’d only gone a short distance when he said, “I wonder if Galfont escaped in the confusion.”

“Oh, he got away. He’s a slippery one.”

“The enemy’s attention was more on us than him, so you’re likely right,” Jayden admitted. “We’ll wait for him at his house, pay him and move on in the morning. I’m tempted to stay here longer, but with the army supplies burned, stolen or already gone there is nothing left to attack. We have to find new targets, and soon.”

“You sound awful depressed. We won, Jayden. You burned two warehouses, helped empty out another and got away with it.”

Jayden stopped and stared at Trenton Town, a city he’d left in disarray. “I have been striking blows like these for decades. None of them stopped the wars I feared would come to pass. Tonight’s victory was small, and we must strike many more like it.”

This is the first part of the Dana and Jayden story Buried Treasure.
*************
“Dear mom and dad. I want you to know that I am okay. I will try to get back to you as soon as I can, but things are kind of crazy with the war going on.”

“Writing to your family again?” Jayden asked. He and Dana were currently in a forest clearing not far from a nearby town.

“I don’t want them to worry about me, and I’m sending money,” Dana replied.

“I wasn’t aware they needed it.”

“If life is as crazy there as it is everywhere else we’ve been, they’ll need help.”

Dana continued with her letter. “There is something you need to know about the wars that have broken out. I have met people from the countries Meadowland is invading, and they are nice. I haven’t seen anything that makes me think they are responsible for the problems in our homeland.

“I have seen things in Meadowland that worry me. Some noblemen were buying young girls. Other people were importing monsters and golems. I have seen good men and women treated unfairly. These things didn’t used to happen, and I am worried for the kingdom.”

“Don’t give away details on where we are or what we’ve done,” Jayden cautioned. “Letters can be intercepted.”

“I wasn’t going to,” she said. “I am sending money with this letter to help out with expenses, and I will send more when I can. Please look out for Emily and Rachael, and keep Lan from destroying everything he gets his hands on out of trouble.”

“Your brother sounds like a spirited young fellow.”

Dana pressed the letter against her skirt. “No reading other people’s mail!”

“It looked interesting.”

Dana grumbled and folded her letter over four gold pieces. As much as she felt the need to help Jayden, she regretted being away from home for so long. There was always a lot of work, and her sisters would be stuck doing it now that she was gone. Worse, the neighbors could start gossiping about Dana’s absence. Some folks would think her leaving reflected poorly on her family. She didn’t think her father’s position as mayor was in danger because of such talk, but it wouldn’t help him.

She and Jayden had stopped at a small town in the north of the kingdom. The town was suffering after many of its men were conscripted into the army, some as laborers and others as soldiers. The town had lost a fair portion of its food stores to help feed the army heading for Zentrix. Jayden stayed in the nearby wilderness to avoid attracting attention while Dana came and went as she pleased. This let her purchase supplies they needed and look for targets.

They needed those targets badly. Dana and Jayden had destroyed three storehouses only two weeks ago, which normally would have been a success, but it hadn’t stopped the army headed for Zentrix. They’d destroyed uniforms, tents, saddles and other goods, while helping others take oats meant for either men or horses. The army could march on without any of that.

“How soon until the fighting starts?” Dana asked as she addressed her letter.

“We have days at best until they cross the border. Zentrix forces will no doubt do all they can to slow that advance with snipers, ambushes and burning anything that could be used, but it won’t be enough. I fear casualties on both sides will be astounding, with victory going to Meadowland Kingdom within three months.”

“It doesn’t feel right rooting against your homeland.”

“The alternative is infinitely worse. Be careful when you go to mail your letter. Most local forces have been absorbed into the army, but there will still be some defenders left who will be suspicious of an unknown girl coming to their town.”

Dana handed him her sword and slipped the letter into one of her bags. “I’ve got a cover story if anyone asks. I’ll be back soon.”

Leaving Jayden behind in the forest was worrying. She didn’t think anything would happen to her, especially after the warm reception she’d gotten last time she went to town. Anyone who paid in hard currency rather than barter was welcome in stores. What did worry her was leaving Jayden alone for so long. He got bored easily, and he had a bloodhound’s tenacity when it came to hurting the king and queen. If he saw an opportunity, no matter however risky, he’d do it without a second’s delay.

She walked through the forest and came to the edge of town. It was small, simple, poor and looked like it would stay that way forever. A few people saw her and waved when she headed to a small rented house with a crude wood sign that read, ‘Gnome Express’ propped up next to the door.

Dana knocked before entering. “Good morning, sir.”

A male gnome with black hair nodded in reply. The gnome only came up to her waist, but he carried himself with an air of competence. He wore leather armor with metal studs on it, hobnail boots, and a rainproof cape. He was armed with two daggers strapped to his belt.

“I have a letter for the town of North Lights,” she said as she handed over the letter.

“Two copper pieces,” the gnome told her. When she handed over the fee, the gnome bowed and pressed his right arm across his chest. “In the name of Gnome Express, I swear to deliver this message to only the intended recipient, letting no threat bar my way.”

Dana curtsied. She normally wasn’t so formal, but gnomes could be very particular about their customs. You simply had to follow the rules. “I am honored by your service.”

She turned to leave, and found a spearman standing in the doorway. She gasped in surprise, and the gnome grabbed the handles of his daggers. The spearman took a step back when he saw their reaction and held up a letter. “Um, mail?”

Dana and the gnome relaxed. She said, “You surprised me.”

“Sorry.” The spearman handed the letter and two small copper coins to the gnome. “I’m in a rush, so can we skip the speech?”

“No one respects tradition anymore,” the gnome lamented as he placed both letters in a flat leather waterproof bag.

“Jenkins!” Dana, the spearman and the gnome all jumped when a man in chain armor and wearing an officer’s helmet with its small metal wings stomped into the room. “What do you think you’re doing? You were called to service yesterday!”

The spearman’s face turned red. “Sir, I’m sorry I’m late. I needed to send a letter home. The farm—”

“That’s not your concern!” The officer barked. “You’re a soldier now. You have only one concern, fighting for the king and queen. Whatever is back home doesn’t matter. Give me the letter. I’m going to make sure you didn’t include military secrets.”

The officer held out his hand to the spearman, who pointed to the gnome. Annoyed, the officer stomped over to the gnome and held out his hand. The gnome’s face turned red, not in embarrassment, but in anger.

“I took a sacred oath to faithfully deliver the mail. None may touch it save the one it is intended for, regardless of what you or your king wants.”

“You obey the law the same as everyone.” Then the officer tried to grab the mail bag.

“No one touches the mail!” The gnome punched the officer below the belt so hard that the man doubled over in agony. That brought him close enough for the gnome to grab the officer’s helmet, rip it off and repeatedly punch him in the face. “No one, you ulmixin, crilviz, floth eating son of a diseased dog!”

Dana didn’t know what any of those gnomish swear words meant, and felt no need to learn. She took the spearman’s arm and led him out of the room. “We should leave.”

The spearman waved toward the rented house and violent assault occurring within it. “Should we do something? I mean, it’s kind of my fault.”

The officer’s helmet rolled out of the house as the gnome screamed, “I’ve killed monsters, and you rakmid, scum sucking trab thought you were going to take me down? The gall!”

“I’d rather not,” Dana told him. “He might be rabid.”

Dana hurried off before anyone came to investigate the commotion. She’d nearly gotten out of town when she saw the gnome ride off on a short legged pony. Dana made sure no one was watching her before going into the forest. She found Jayden in the clearing studying his spell tablets.

“Any difficulties?”

“No, and I have a renewed respect for the postal system.”

Jayden put his spell tablets into his bags. “It’s the only institution to survive the collapse of the Elf Empire, and still delivers mail across three continents. I’m told the gnomes who serve in it are quite rambunctious.”

“That’s a polite way of putting it. Jayden, where do we go from here? There’s nothing of value here we need or can destroy that would slow down the army.”

He hesitated before answering her. “I’m not sure. Following the army and looking for weaknesses to exploit would be dangerous and likely wouldn’t turn up good opportunities. Nearby towns have proven to be of no interest. That leaves the second lead Clevner gave me. It’s not my first choice, or even my third, but if successful may provide us the edge we need.”

“His first lead didn’t work out the way you’d expected.”

“No, but that’s less Clevner’s fault than Galfont being more inventive than either of us would have given him credit for. The second lead could be the help we need or a threat equal to Cimmox the necromancer.”

Dana’s heart grew cold at the sound of the foul necromancer’s name. Dana, Jayden and the elf wizard Green Peril had only defeated Cimmox with divine intervention. She wasn’t looking for a fight anywhere near as risky.

“You’re worried, and justifiably so,” Jayden said. He scattered cold ashes from their fire pit. “Clevner told me of a strange sight in the north of the kingdom. Men saw cloaked figures and a horse drawn cart traveling in wilderness areas, never approaching settlements or even lone houses. The few who saw them stayed well back, but a lone knight tried to investigate.”

“Is he still alive?”

Jayden put on his backpack and handed another to Dana. “Surprisingly, yes. He approached the unknown group and one of them came to face him. The robed stranger beat the knight senseless, shattered his sword and left him on his back. The knight was sure he’d be killed, but the stranger turned and left. He staggered to the nearest garrison and returned with reinforcements, but the strangers were gone with no trace of their passage.”

“The robed guy sounds dangerous, and pretty confident the knight couldn’t bring back help in time.” Dana frowned and said, “These guys are spooky and tough, but they didn’t kill the knight when he was down. Is that why you’re interested in them?”

“It’s one of the reasons. The strangers took a chance by letting the knight live when many others wouldn’t. It speaks of mercy. The other reason I’m interested is to my knowledge there is nothing important in that part of the kingdom. It’s farmland, pastures and forests, with a smattering of manor houses belonging to noblemen of little status or wealth. These robed men, if they are men, are headed nowhere of value.”

He turned and looked intently at Dana. “What if there is hidden treasures worthy of their abilities? Gold? Magic? If so, it would be useful to us in our struggles. I wish to find these people and learn what their goals are.”

“They could just be passing through the kingdom and don’t want people to know about it. They might even be smugglers.”

He shook his head. “I’ve met my share of smugglers. They keep to the shadows, and if discovered flee combat or buy off their enemies. If battle is unavoidable, they don’t leave witnesses.”

Jayden pointed west and said, “Stories say these strangers were heading north along wilderness roads. I know these roads, and there are only so many they can take. We’re not far from where the strangers have to be heading. We’ll go for those roads and pick up their trail.”

The two left without further delay, heading deeper into the north of the kingdom. This area was lightly populated as the ground grew increasingly hilly. Tall grasses and dense forests covered the land, with shepherds and lumberjacks the most common professions. Roads were few and poorly traveled, and there were no signposts or markers to guide travelers. Dana and Jayden passed through three small villages where people stared at them curiously.

Dana saw mountains in the distance that were cloaked with clouds. “We’re not going that far, are we?”

“Ideally no, but one road does lead there.” Jayden stopped when the road they were on split into three trails heading north. He got down on his hands and knees to study the ground. “Clevner’s tales said these strangers had a cart, but the ground is too firmly packed for hoof prints or wheel ruts. Still, the fact that they brought a cart limits which way they can take.”

Jayden pointed to the left path and said, “This leads to the mountains you’re hoping to avoid. Such a cart would be useless when the trail narrows and becomes rocky. That leaves two the strangers had to take. They can’t be too far ahead of us based on the dates of Clevner’s tale and the winding wilderness roads they used.”

“Where do they lead?”

“The first passes a minor nobleman’s estate, formerly property of the Brotherhood of the Righteous before their banishment from the kingdom. The second leads to old mines long since depleted of metals. Neither is an obvious destination.”

Dana frowned. “If we take the wrong one, these guys will have enough time to get away. Fifty-fifty chances aren’t promising.”

“There is a way around our problem, thanks to you.”

“Wait, what?”

Jayden held up a spell tablets. “It took time to translate one of the spells you recently found, but I’ve mastered it. It’s called shadow fox, and creates a surprisingly fast scout. The scout will only last hours, but in that time should find proof which of these paths the strangers took. Find me a body of water. A puddle will do.”

A short search turned up a ditch with enough muddy water for Jayden’s spell. He began chanting and made strange hand gestures. Shadows reached out from beneath trees until they wrapped around one another in front of Jayden. The shadows grew darker and denser until they coalesced into a black fox with a gray underbelly.

“Ooh, it’s adorable!” Dana bent down and rubbed the fox’s back. “It’s so soft.”

Jayden stared at her. “What are you doing?”

“Most of your spells make big, nasty sharp things. This little guy is cute.”

Jayden rolled his eyes. “That’s not what it’s for. Look at the water.”

Dana looked at the ditch, and to her amazement she saw herself in the water. She waved her hand in front of the shadow fox, and the watery image of her wave. “You see what it sees. Can you hear and smell through it, too?”

“Shadow foxes transmit only images. That is enough for my needs. I’ll send it along one trail and look for our mysterious quarry, guiding it from here.”

The shadow fox tensed before taking off like a shot down the central road. Dana whistled. “Horses aren’t that fast. How long can it run like that?”

“It won’t stop until I order it to.” Jayden studied the image in the water as the shadow fox ran along the road. “This is actually quite interesting. Most Sorcerer Lord spells were devoted to causing damage. Mind you, they used shadow foxes to spy on one another in their fratricidal conflicts, so it’s not entirely benign.”

Dana smiled. “I still think it’s cute. And fuzzy.”

“There are times I wonder about you.”

They spent two hours watching the shadow fox. Fascinating as it was, Dana was just as glad to rest after spending so much time marching through difficult country. She wondered how long it would take them to walk the same distance the fox ran over if they found the strangers. It looked like a difficult route.

“I see houses,” Dana said.

“A very small community,” Jayden replied. He pointed toward the cluster of wood houses, and the shadow fox left the trail to investigate them. “The strangers may have taken shelter there. Let me search for a few moments. Look, there’s a patch of mud at the edge of the road, and a fresh wheel rut in it. There are no wagons or carts among the buildings, so they didn’t make the mark.”

Just then the fox lifted up off the ground. Jayden waved his hand right and left, and they saw the fox try to slip free of whatever held it. “Something’s wrong.”

A pink, pudgy hand appeared in the image before it grabbed the fox’s snout. Dana stifled a laugh and said, “Yeah, and he looks about four years old.”

Jayden made ever wider and more forceful gestures with his hand, but the fox remained trapped in the little boy’s grip. They saw his face briefly, a grinning boy with curly hair and wearing only short pants. The boy had one arm wrapped around the fox and petted it with the other. The boy opened his mouth in a silent call, and more children ran out of the houses. They gathered around the fox and petted it until Dana and Jayden could only see grubby hands.

“Don’t scratch them,” Dana said.

“It doesn’t have teeth or claws,” he told her. The mob of children parted just enough for Dana and Jayden to see a harried looking woman leave a house. She took one look at the shadow fox, made a silent scream and waved for the children to move aside while she grabbed a broom. “We’re about to learn how much damage a shadow fox can take.”

Dana winced when the woman swatted the shadow fox twice. The image blurred as children ran away and the fox took off like a shot. The fox took another hit as the woman chased it, but it escaped after running a hundred feet.

“It’s sturdier than I’d thought,” Jayden said as he directed the shadow fox down the road. “Faster, too. I’m impressed how long the spell is lasting. Not feeling feedback when it was hit was a welcome bonus.”

“Hold up,” Dana said. Jayden stopped the fox, and Dana pointed at the edge of the road. “There’s another rut in the mud.”

“I see more ahead.” The wheels had made plenty of marks in the mud, and as the fox ran mile after mile the mud grew deeper and the ruts more frequent. “Wait. That’s them.”

Dana peered at the image in the water and saw a horse cart missing one wheel. Robed figures propped the cart up on rocks while others tried to reattach the wheel. They were making slow progress but should have the job done soon.

“I was wondering how we’d catch up with them if they’ve being traveling for weeks,” Dana said. “I guess their cart can hold them back if road conditions are bad, or if it breaks down.”

“I don’t see symbols or insignia that would identify them,” Jayden said. He directed the shadow fox off the road to hide in the underbrush. The strangers kept working until one of them saw the shadow fox. He waved for the others to stop and pointed at it.

“He’s got good eyes,” Dana said.

The stranger took one step forward and waved his hand in a circle. There was a flash of light, and the puddle of water exploded, soaking Dana and Jayden from head to foot.

“What happened?” Dana asked.

Jayden wiped his face off on his shirt sleeve. “He destroyed the shadow fox, and sent a considerable amount of energy through the spell to us. Count yourself lucky we didn’t suffer injuries. At least one of these people commands an impressive amount of power.”

He glanced down the road. “We need to learn whether this is an opportunity or a threat.”
* * * * *

Dana and Jayden set out after the strangers the following morning. The lost time wouldn’t matter much when the strangers were struggling to fix their cart. By noon they’d reached the houses where children had heaped affection on the shadow fox the day before. They found the children’s mother washing the little boy in a large washtub. The woman looked worried when she saw them, relaxing only when Dana smiled and waved.

“If you’re selling goods, I’ve no money,” the woman said.

“We’re just passing through,” Dana said cheerfully. “Ooh, he’s adorable!”

The youngest boy sat in the washtub and frowned. “I want my puppy!”

The woman heaved a sigh. “I’m sorry. He’s been like this since he got his hands on a wild animal yesterday. Now I have to wash him in case it gave him fleas.”

Jayden nodded to the woman as he and Dana continued on. They came across ruts from the cart and found the site where it had been stuck the day before. It was gone, as were the strangers, but there was only one way they could go. They marched for hours until the forest thinned and the road branched again. It would have been aggravating to search for these people again, even with the shadow fox, but luck was on their side when they found fresh ruts from the cart.

As they headed down the road, Dana said, “These guys know someone was spying on them, so they’ll be expecting trouble.”

“They might. Few are familiar with the shadow magic of the Sorcerer Lords. I am the current reigning expert, and there is a mountain of information even I remain ignorant of. The strangers surely know they faced a magical being yesterday, but with luck they won’t know what it was, what it was capable of or who sent it. They will no doubt be wary, but so would anyone traveling during a war.”

The road went by an old cemetery that covered fifteen acres and was ringed by massive trees. Jayden stopped when he saw it. “This might be their destination.”

“But they’re not here.”

“They’re not here now. Necromancers or graverobbers would wait until the cover of darkness to work. We should search the area to see if they already disturbed the graves.”

Dana and Jayden climbed over a low stone wall around the graveyard and searched among the headstones. Nothing seemed amiss to Dana as she walked between the graves. The headstones were so old that the writing on many of them had been worn away by years of wind and rain. Here and there she saw fresh flowers in front of headstones. It was heartwarming to see that someone still cared for this place.

She’d nearly finished checking the graves when she saw a large black dog step out from behind a headstone. It stopped and looked at her. Dana smiled and bent down before holding out her hands. “Hey there, boy! Aren’t you big! Someone’s taking good care of you.”

The dog’s ears perked up and its tail wagged. It trotted over and licked his hands. Dana giggled and petted the dog. “You’re a strong one. Yes, you are. Who did you come here with? You’re not wearing a collar, but lots of dogs back home don’t, either. I don’t see anyone with you. Jayden, did you see anyone?”

“No, why?”

“Somebody left their dog here. Or maybe he came on his own.” Dana stroked the dog’s jaw. “Is your owner buried here?”

“Who are you talking to?” Jayden walked over and froze when he saw the dog. “Dana, back away slowly.”

“Don’t worry, he’s friendly.”

“That’s not a dog. It’s a church grim.”

She didn’t move and instead looked at the dog. It was a beautiful animal and certainly friendly. Nothing about it looked, smelled, sounded or even felt unusual. “What’s a grim?”

Jayden put his hand on the hilt of his sword but didn’t draw it. “It’s an old practice not used often in modern times. When a graveyard is first established, a dog is buried before men are. Its spirit becomes tied to the graveyard, and it will defend it from evildoers. It must have suspected us of planning harm when we entered the graveyard armed. The grim is far more dangerous than it appears.”

Dana looked from the dog to the tombstones. Most were illegible, but she saw some burial dates that were over a hundred years ago. She turned to the dog and asked, “How long have you been here?”

She didn’t expect the dog to speak to her, and she felt silly even asking the question. Yet the dog stared back at her, and somehow without making a sound it managed to convey the sense that it had been protecting this graveyard for a very long time. Tears ran down her cheek when she thought of how long it had been here alone. Dana hugged the dog. “You’re a good boy.”

The dog rubbed against her and licked her face. It waited until she stood up before walking behind a tombstone and disappearing as if it had never been there. Jayden led her from the graveyard and back to the road.

“It was so quiet,” Dana said.

“Be grateful. Church grims only howl when they are in danger and need to summon help. Let’s go. The people we seek have clearly not been here and move farther from us with every passing minute.”

“Not necessarily.” Dana shrieked and jumped. Jayden drew his sword so quickly the magic sword was a blur of steel. The robed speaker stood next to a large oak tree near the cemetery, where he must have hidden from Dana and Jayden. “I am impressed, young lady. Few show appreciation to those who serve as loyally as this church grim. You have my respect.”

Dana placed a hand over her heart as she tried to control her breathing. “Um, thank you?”

“You’re welcome.” Dana couldn’t see much of the stranger past his brown robes. They covered even his face and hands. She could see glimmers of gold near his face, but nothing more. His voice was deep and commanding, and echoed as if he was wearing a helmet. “Sir, you must be the creator of the monster I disrupted yesterday.”

“The correct term is shadow fox, but yes, it was mine,” Jayden replied. “I apologize for spying on you, but time and circumstances forced my hand. I am—”

“Sorcerer Lord Jayden, a man responsible for considerable damage across Meadowland Kingdom for fifteen years, although you recently sped up the pace,” the stranger interrupted. “Word of your misdeeds reached me long ago.”

Jayden raised an eyebrow. “Misdeeds? I feel a large number of people in the kingdom are guiltier of those than I am.”

“Many in the kingdom are sinners of the worst kind and risk their immortal souls. You are guilty of only misdeeds, but you are guilty. You have robbed caravans, stole horses, looted ancient ruins, assaulted countless people, associated with known criminals and numerous lesser crimes. You have done some good to mitigate your sins, but you are a ruffian and a rake, with a reputation of carousing and theft.”

Dana stepped in before the conversation grew hotter. “I know he was in some failed relationships, but that’s not carousing.”

The stranger wasn’t budging. “I refer to incidents in the city of Vascmer.”

Jayden’s face turned red. “Oh. Yes, well, that is a bit harder to explain, but the rest of these accusations are hardly fair. My actions in the past were based on saving lives. That goal hasn’t change, although the coming of war has made it far more difficult. This may sound surprising, but when I heard of you, I thought we might be able to help one another. Is that an unwise request, priest?”

“Wait, he’s a priest?” Dana hadn’t seen a priest in eight years. Excited, she asked, “You’re with the Brotherhood of the Righteous?”

“The hood on your robe lifted briefly, long enough for me to see your symbol,” Jayden said. “Few in Meadowland wear the ring of three parts.”

The stranger pulled back his hood to reveal a gold helmet with black edging. The helmet didn’t show his face, but it had a ring divided into three equal parts on the forehead. That ring was the symbol of the Brotherhood of the Righteous. Dana had only seen it rarely since the brotherhood’s expulsion from Meadowland Kingdom years ago.

“You guessed correctly,” the priest announced. “I am Father Amadeus Firepower.”

Jayden sheathed his sword. “My, my. Whatever brought you back to Meadowland must be important for the brotherhood to send their top trouble shooter. Where are the men traveling with you?”

“My mission is no concern of yours, nor are my companions. I have heard that as of late you do more good than harm. This pleases me, but you are much mistaken if you think you can recruit me to your service. I have goals that do not involve you.”

Jayden wasn’t giving up. “I seek an alliance, not servitude. I am trying to stop King Tyros and Queen Amvicta from harming neighboring kingdoms, a task beyond my power at this time. Your help could make the difference between good men living or dying. I admit that I have made decisions I’m not proud of, but they were necessary to prevent greater injustices. Surely the enemy of your enemy is, or could be, your friend.”

“The enemy of my enemy can well be another enemy.” Firepower paused before adding, “I do not doubt the sincerity of your desire to stop the wars currently raging and to save innocent lives. What I question is the means you employ to carry out these goals. Associating with you risks me being labeled a thief, arsonist, traitor and more. I must judge my actions carefully, lest I do harm to the people of Meadowland Kingdom and to the Brotherhood of the Righteous.”

The priest continued before Jayden could reply. “My orders come from the brotherhood, and I must obey them. There is room in those orders allowing me to act upon new information or events, but it doesn’t permit me making the sort of alliance you seek or staying once my mission is complete.”

“And what is your mission?” Jayden asked. When the priest didn’t respond, he said, “I already know you’re here, and I have no intention of revealing your presence to the authorities. Nor do I wish you ill. Use the room in your orders to accept help from a powerful source, even if I am undesirable.”

Firepower answered with obvious reluctance. “When the brotherhood was ejected from Meadowland Kingdom, we weren’t allowed to take much with us. Most was seized, but we hid items of value when possible. We also left behind men and women loyal to the brotherhood to oversee that property and send us reports on what was occurring in our absence. Several agents contacted us last month with news that King Tyros had ordered his forces to investigate former brotherhood properties for the items we’d hidden.”

“What are they looking for?” Dana asked.

“I’m not at liberty to say.”

“The king wants them badly enough to divert forces away from the fighting during a war,” Jayden said.

“He must not find what he seeks,” Firepower replied. “I was ordered to retrieve the items and extract our agents. The men and women you saw with me are some of those agents, but there remains one more to find. Once I have him and his family, I will leave Meadowland Kingdom through a route the brotherhood knows of but your king does not.”

“If I can’t have your help, let me offer mine,” Jayden told the priest. “We’re not far from the front lines, and we could encounter army units. While I don’t doubt you live up to your fierce reputation, my assistance could make the difference between you succeeding or failing. If nothing else, I might improve your poor opinion of me.”

“It’s not my opinion. It’s everyone’s opinion.” Firepower paused again. “I can hardly dismiss you as if you were a servant, nor can I force you to leave without a fight I do not wish to engage in. Swear to me that you have no intension to steal the items I seek.”

“I so swear it.”

Father Firepower nodded to the north. “I left my companions and our cart hidden behind an abandoned farmhouse. We will join them and leave at once.”

This is the conclusion of Buried Treasure.
******************
Firepower led them to his agents and the cart. The agents looked surprised to see him with company, but a wave of the priest’s hand calmed them. “They have offered assistance.”

“Are these the people who spied on us?” a man asked. “You said you’d stop them.”

“So that’s why you were waiting by the graveyard,” Jayden said. “I wouldn’t expect a priest to set an ambush.”

“Do not question my methods. I have fought long and hard to defend the faithful.”

“You’re not used to being questioned, are you?” Jayden asked.

Dana elbowed him in the ribs. “We’re trying to make friends.”

“Many question me,” Father Firepower said. “Some from curiosity, others from honest concern, and others in a vain attempt to make themselves appear wise or worldly. I answer all of them, sometimes to their sorrow.”

“Can we please focus on what we’re doing?” Dana asked. “How far is it to your friend?”

“He lives not far from here,” the priest answered. “A day’s hard marching will reach him, and five more will ensure our escape.”

Jayden peered into the back of the cart. “You brought food and drink, and have quite a few packages wrapped in burlap.”

“The cart’s contents are no interest to you.”

Father Firepower led them for hours through narrow trails in the wilderness until they came up the gates to a large estate. He hesitated at the gates.

“One of yours, I believe,” Jayden said.

“Once. Perhaps one day it will be so again. This was Greenview Abbey, land gifted to the brotherhood by King Tyros’ ancestors two hundred years ago. It was a worthless swamp then, but through hard work and wisdom it was made into productive farmland.” His voice was bitter when he said, “Now look at it.”

Dana came alongside him. The estate certainly looked prosperous, with fields sprouting wheat and men pulling weeds. The buildings were large and in good repair, and she heard sheep bleating in the distance.

The priest pointed at hills covered in tree stumps alongside the fields. “In times gone by we planted trees to hold the hillsides in place and provide both building materials and firewood. Carefully managed, it could have provided resources indefinitely. Instead it was stripped bare by the baron who now rules here. He is a vainglorious fool with dreams of becoming a general. Such bloodthirsty desires cost gold. He ordered all the trees felled and sold the wood to buy weapons, planting nothing in its place. See, the soil already wears away. A strong enough storm will bring these hills sliding down onto the fields, destroying both.

“The work of generations is being destroyed in mere years. Herds of dairy cattle have been sent to slaughterhouses, artwork ripped from walls and sold to the highest bidder, property sold or mortgaged so this idiot baron can play at war. He has enough to satisfy any man’s appetites, and still he hungers for more.”

“The brotherhood could have stopped this from happening,” Jayden replied. “When the king and queen exiled you, priests, nuns and monks left meekly. You could have fought back. Many would have sided with you.”

“If that is an example of your wisdom, I prefer your silence,” Father Firepower retorted. “Meadowland Kingdom had barely survived a civil war and you would have had us start another? We could have fought back, killing so many the kingdom would be left desolate. Our property would have been burned or looted, the destruction faster and more thorough.”

Father Firepower turned to face Jayden. “We left to avoid causing horrors as great or greater than what this land had already experienced. We believed that the chance would come for us to return, either as welcomed guests or by sending missionaries in secret to win back the people. It was a risk, but the alternative was unthinkable.”

Dana slapped a hand over her face as Jayden kept pressing his point. “Is this better? You avoided a war that would have caused much suffering to one kingdom, and now Meadowland, Bascal, Kaleoth and Zentrix are all in peril.”

“What would you have me do?” Firepower yelled. He marched up to Jayden and pressed an armored finger against the Sorcerer Lord’s chest. “Would you have priests and monks become killers? Would you have us lead peasants against knights?”

“We’re making enough noise to draw attention to a secret mission,” Dana said. She got between Jayden and Father Firepower. “People need us. Focus on that.”

“Does she always act as your buffer?” Father Firepower asked Jayden.

“Yes. It bothers me how much I need her to do that. Years of hardship and watching my homeland sink into hatred and madness have left me thin skinned and bitter.”

The two stared at one another until Father Firepower turned away. “The hour is late and we won’t reach our destination before nightfall. I know a place we can rest until the morning.”

They made camp in a rocky gully far from the estate. Father Firepower shared nuts and dried meats and fruits from his supplies, but he was adamant that they not make a campfire. Dana and Jayden stayed by themselves, which seemed to suit the priest’s friends just fine.

On closer inspection, the brotherhood agents were simple folk. They had no weapons, and Dana saw no evidence that they were wizards. Dana had to respect their courage, for they were standing up to the king and queen in their own way, and they could expect no mercy if caught.

“So, exactly what happened in the city of Vascmer?” Dana asked.

“Personal matters I don’t wish to discuss,” Jayden told her. “I don’t ask about your past relationships because it’s none of my business. It’s not asking too much for you to do the same.”

“What’s her name?” Dana teased.

Jayden folded his arms across his chest. “That was one of my more spectacular failed relationships, one I’d thought no one knew about. You will never meet her, and that’s for the best.”

“Fine, be that way.” Dana’s voice dropped to a whisper when she spoke to Jayden again. “It sounds like you’ve heard of this priest before.”

“Amadeus Firepower is one of the Brotherhood of the Righteous’ most talented and dedicated men. We already saw his power when he destroyed my shadow fox. I assure you that was the barest taste of his potential. When the brotherhood has given up all hope of peaceful resolutions, they send him in to save who they can and punish those they must. His list of accomplishments is long, and the foes he’s defeated are many. Firepower cares nothing for kings, merchants, wizards or mad scientists. Faith, love, hope, these guide him, and only those with those gifts impress him. I fear I am short on all three.”

Jayden managed a weak smile when he looked at her. “You, on the other hand, seem to have made a new friend.”

Dana blushed. “I used to go to brotherhood services weekly before they were expelled. I have a lot or respect for them.”

“Careful, Dana, he might try to recruit you. The brotherhood needs every man and woman it can get.”

“She could do worse,” Firepower called out, making Dana blush even more. “Over the years we have evacuated many faithful. If you so desire, you may take refuge with the brotherhood as have many others.”

Dana spoke before Jayden could. “You are kind to make the offer, but there are people here who need me. I can help those who can’t help themselves.”

“You are indeed one of ours,” Father Firepower replied.

“Wait here for me,” Dana told Jayden. She went to Father Firepower and said, “I haven’t had a chance to admit my sins for eight years, and there are some things that have been bothering me. I would also like to tell you what I’ve seen in the last year that your agents might not know about. It might take a while.”

Father Firepower gestured for her to sit. “Of course. Know that His love has no limits, His mercy is boundless, and His kingdom welcomes you with open arms.”
* * * * *

They woke early the next morning to find a dense fog had rolled in during the night. Dana worried that this would cause trouble, but both Jayden and Father Firepower seemed pleased.

“We are blessed,” the priest said. “This will conceal us from our enemies, and cover our escape.”

They followed the priest to what looked like an abandoned storage shed at the edge of the nobleman’s estate. Father Firepower went in first and pulled up loose tiles from the floor to reveal a secret compartment. He brought out silver plates and cups Dana recognized as sacramental vessels, but he also brought out more packages wrapped in burlap. He loaded them onto the cart carefully while Jayden watched.

“Books,” Jayden announced when Father Firepower set one of the packages down. “It’s the right size and weight. For a moment I wondered if they were holy texts, but while you would no doubt want to preserve those, the king would have no interest in them. I doubt these are spell books, either. Tell me, priest, what secrets are written here that the king must not have?”

Father Firepower glanced at Jayden before he unwrapped a package to reveal the books inside. Holding one up, he said, “You guessed correctly, but this is a secret in the loosest possible term.”

Dana slipped in closer and read the title. “The Book of Life and Death. That sounds ominous.”

“Appearances can deceive,” Father Firepower told her gently. “The brotherhood had many duties when it was welcome in Meadowland Kingdom. They included officiating births, marriages, and deaths of the faithful. When the faithful moved, they registered at churches in their new home. Each church recorded this information in books. Recovering lost sacramental vessels is important, but these books must be reclaimed at all costs.”

Puzzled, she asked, “Why?”

“Because without meaning to, the priests conducted a census,” Jayden told her. “The civil war cost many lives and drove many people from the kingdom. Chaos and hardships since then have prevented the royal couple from conducting a census of who remains. Even now the king and queen seek to raise armies without knowing exactly how many people there are to conscript. Those books list every man, woman and child.”

“But the brotherhood was forced out eight years ago,” she protested. “There’s no telling how many of those people died since then, or how many more were born or left the kingdom.”

“While the information within these books is outdated, they are a starting point,” Father Firepower said. “Royal officials can look for the men listed here, or at least look for their graves.”

“Don’t tax records say the same thing?” she asked.

“Surprisingly, no,” Jayden told her. “Each town and city are responsible for collecting a specific amount of gold. The king and queen don’t care how it’s done so long as it is, and assign the task to local officials, men largely known to be corrupt and incompetent. They send the amount owed without writing much if anything down. The king and queen’s plans are being hindered by the very system they rule.”

Father Firepower loaded more books. “Two months ago, our agents reported government officials were searching property confiscated from the brotherhood. Those officials described what they sought to servants and scribes in the hope that one of them had seen their prize. These searches are ongoing and intensifying. My superiors in the brotherhood sent me to retrieve the books, or barring that to destroy them. It pleases me that I may return them intact.”

“That’s most of the job done, but where’s your man and his family?” Dana asked.

“He lives close to the cemetery where we first met,” Father Firepower explained. “We will go back and collect him and his kin before leaving the kingdom. You may join me if you wish.”

“Impossible,” Jayden said. “I’m not sure what else I can do to stop these wars, but I must try.”

“I understand.” Father Firepower finished loading the books and led them back the way they came. The fog helped hide them from prying eyes, although there were surprisingly few people around. Dana wondered where they were. The land seemed rich enough to support hundreds if not thousands, even if it was being badly mismanaged. They soon reached the cemetery and took a small path to a large oak tree. The priest pulled up the sleeves on his robes to reveal gold gauntlets trimmed with black, and he struck the side of the tree three times, then three more and three more after that.

“Hopefully he heard my signal,” Father Firepower said. “We will search for him if he doesn’t come within the hour, but that increases the chance of our discovery.”

“Does he know you’re coming?” Dana asked.

“Not the exact day. I wasn’t sure what challenges I would face that might delay reaching him. My message to him said to be ready to leave on a moment’s notice.”

“How large is this man’s family?” Jayden asked.

“He has a wife and five children,” the priest replied. “Why do you ask?”

“Because that’s quite the crowd coming toward us.”

Jayden pointed down the trail, where fifty or more people came out of the fog. They carried bags on their shoulders and some led farm animals. A man in the front of the group came to Father Firepower and dropped to his knees.

“Who are these individuals with you?” the priest demanded.

“Forgive me, but there was no choice,” the man wept. “My neighbors saw me packing and demanded to know where I was going. I, I told them, and they begged to join me. Please, sir, we can’t leave them here. Life grows worse by the week. Recently mercenaries and gladiators came through our village and ate our food stores. They said we were lucky they didn’t take our daughters with them! Sir, if they return…”

Father Firepower looked at the frightened peasants gathered before him. “I understand. I don’t have enough food for so many, but there are places where we can get more. All of you, come with me before your master realizes you have left.”

Boom.

“Oh no,” Dana said.

Jayden drew his sword. “I heard it, too.”

Boom. Boom. Father Firepower looked around. “What is that?”

“Stone golems,” Jayden told him. Boom. “By the sound of it at least two.”

“We meet again,” a familiar voice called out from the fog. “You didn’t run fast enough or far enough to escape me.”

“Stronglock, don’t you have a war to fight?” Jayden called back.

Two stone golems marched out of the fog at the edge of their vision. One looked like it wore stone ‘clothes’ in the style of a gentleman, while the other looked like a miner with a stone ‘helmet’. Behind them came the dwarf Dunrhill Stronglock in his plate armor and wielding a black magic axe. Still further back were two more dwarfs in workman’s clothes and holding silver amulets.

“After your attack on Trenton Town, and my failure to stop it, King Tyros’ generals gave a choice,” Stronglock replied angrily. “Kill you or die in your place. They graciously allowed me to use two of my company’s golems. Finding you was impossible with magic, but too many people had seen you and would inform on you in return for cash.”

Father Firepower turned to Jayden. “You sought to help me, and led your enemies directly to me.”

“Not intentionally!”

“Friends of yours?” Stronglock asked. “If they stand with you, they can die with you.”

Father Firepower glanced at his agents. “You know the route we’re taking. Get them moving.”

The golems lumbered toward Dana and Jayden while Father Firepower’s agents and the peasants fled. Jayden cast spells to form his giant black hand while Dana drew her sword Chain Cutter. Their earlier fight with Stronglock had been difficult, and that was when he had only one stone golem. Dana’s first instinct was to run, but that would leave these peasants to Stronglock’s mercy. The dwarf had been ruthless enough in their first encounter, and desperation at the threat to his life would only make that worse.

Father Firepower pulled off his robe to reveal the impressive plate armor he wore. It was gold with black trim, with the ring of three parts on his forehead, chest and belt. Like Jayden the priest had no weapons.

“Impressive enchantments on your armor,” Stronglock told the priest as he marched toward them. “Start running if you don’t want me to crush you in it.”

“I give you this opportunity to leave before battle is joined,” Father Firepower replied. “Ignore my offer at your peril.”

“I’m the only peril here,” Stronglock snarled as his golems lumbered into battle.

The golems were so slow that Dana, Jayden and Father Firepower were able to gang up on one and strike before the other could come to its aid. Dana slashed its heels and cut deeply into the stone. Jayden sent his giant hand crashing into it and bowled it over. Father Firepower kneeled and prayed before he grabbed the fallen golem by the arm. The golem sat up as Father Firepower braced his feet and shouted.

“God is my strength!” The priest pulled on the golem’s arm, and to everyone’s amazement he threw it into the other golem, knocking both onto their backs. Father Firepower looked at Stronglock and yelled, “This is your last warning! I don’t want to take your life, but I can do it!”

Stronglock’s shock vanished quickly, and he gripped his ax tightly before charging. He reached them as his golems stood up and rejoined the fight. Stronglock ignored the priest and focused on Jayden. His first swing was a clear miss, but the dwarf kept running and slammed into Jayden hard enough to knock him back. Jayden rammed his giant hand into the dwarf, but Stronglock swung his ax through it, hacking it in half. Jayden screamed as feedback from the damage broke bones in his hand.

Dana charged Stronglock and kept the dwarf back as Jayden staggered from the pain. The dwarf blocked her swings as easily as he did the last time the fought. Ax met sword in a storm of sparks without either breaking. The stone golems were catching up and would be on her in seconds.

Father Firepower took Jayden’s injured hand and prayed. Blue light flowed from the priest’s hands and mended Jayden’s wounds. They attacked Stronglock together and drove him away from Dana.

The gentleman golem tried to punch Dana and missed by inches. She slashed at its hand and cut off a finger. Father Firepower rushed in and punched the golem in the stomach, leaving cracks and doubling it over. Dana hit it again and cut a notch in the top of its head. The golem stood up straight and caught the priest in a bearhug. That lasted only until Dana slashed across its right knee and did enough damage to topple the golem. The miner golem helped up the gentleman while Dana helped up Father Firepower.

Jayden was busy sparing with Stronglock. He’d created his black sword and fought with it in one hand while using his magic sword in the other. The magic sword sped up Jayden’s attack, but to Dana’s surprise it made him swing his black sword just as fast. Stronglock was a skilled fighter and his armor was good, almost good enough to block the whirlwind of attacks coming at him. The dwarf took two hits that cut deep into his shoulder guard and breastplate.

“I will not yield!” Stronglock bellowed. He pushed on regardless of the blows he was taking and charged. Jayden leaped out of the way, bringing him so close to the golems that one of them tried to kick him. He dodged the kick and parried Stronglock’s axe swing.

Dana spotted the two dwarfs stayed outside the fight. “They’re controlling the golems. We need to stop them.”

“I will slow these two down,” Father Firepower told her. He prayed as the golems approached him. “Faith be my shield!”

Both golems brought their fists down on the priest. The swings came close when they hit a bluish shield made of concentric rings, each one divided into three parts. The golems banged on the shield and made it waver. Dana ran for the two dwarfs, only for Stronglock to step in her way.

“You’re not using that trick again,” the dwarf said. He swung at her head and forced her to duck. “I’ll need weeks to repair the damage you’ve done, but I can fix it. Nothing will fix your head once I take it off. Die, pest.”

That was when a monstrous black wolf leaped onto Stronglock. Wolf might be the wrong term. The midnight black animal was bigger than an ox and wreathed in white flames. It caught Strongarm’s ax handle in its jaws and ripped the weapon away. The monstrous wolf ran off sixty feet, spit out the axe and raced back to jump onto the gentleman golem. It bit the golem’s right arm, and there was a sharp crack as the stone limb broke off at the elbow.

Dana gasped in amazement. “What is that?”

“The church grim,” Jayden told her. “He looks a tad different when he’s angry.

Strongarm ran off and recovered his axe while the golems tried to fight the church grim. Father Firepower picked up the severed golem limb and clubbed the gentleman golem with it. Jayden attacked with his black and magic swords, cutting grooves into the miner golem’s arms. Dana joined him and drove her sword into the miner golem’s back.

“Your dog isn’t going to save you!” Strongarm yelled as he charged them. He swung at Dana, and she struggled to hold him off. “Nothing can!”

The church grim bit the gentleman golem’s right leg and pulled the golem over. Stone began to crack under its jaws until the miner golem kicked the church grim and sent it flying twenty feet. Father Firepower struck the gentleman golem so hard that the severed arm broke apart, as did the left side of the gentleman’s face. Jayden attacked Stronglock and kept the dwarf off Dana.

“Die, you idiots!” Stronglock screamed as he blocked one of Jayden’s blows with his ax. Two more blows left gashes across the dwarf’s breastplate. “Just die!”

The church grim got off the ground and shook its head. The monstrous dog fixed its eyes on the golems and began to growl.

Jayden let his black sword dissipate and grabbed Dana by the arm. “Run!”

Dana and Jayden raced away from the golems. Father Firepower stayed only long enough to drive his fist into and nearly through the miner golem’s kneecap to topple it before he followed them. Stronglock tried to follow them, but he found the church grim in his way and glowing brighter with each passing second. The huge dog threw back its head and howled. Horns blared in reply, and the light around it grew brighter still. Dana looked behind her where the golems were standing again and looking confused. Beams of light shot out from the blinding light around the church grim, cutting them to pieces.

Stronglock tried to run from the light before the deafening sound of horns hit him like a battering ram and knocked him over. His armor cracked and his axe was thrown fifty feet. The two dwarfs with him threw down their now useless amulets. The sound of horns brought them to their knees.

Dana, Jayden and Father Firepower didn’t stop running until the light behind them dimmed. Dana gasped for breath, and she grabbed onto a tree to keep from falling down. Jayden and Father Firepower were nearly as exhausted. Once she could speak, she asked, “What happened?”

“The golems hurt the church grim badly enough that it felt threatened,” Jayden explained. “It called on divine help to deal with them. Stronglock should have called his golems off the moment he saw it. Pride or anger kept him from admitting how much danger he was in.”

Dana looked back the way they’d come. The other two dwarfs were carrying Stronglock away. Stronglock’s hands moved, so he’d survived somehow, probably by being farther away from the church grim than his golems had been. The church grim was gone as if it had never been there.

“Why did it come?” she asked. “Jayden, you said church grims guard graveyards, but we’re half a mile from the graveyard it’s responsible for, and Stronglock and his golems weren’t threatening it.”

“The church grim has orders it must obey, as do I, but those orders leave room for interpretation,” Father Firepower said. “Aiding a brotherhood member in need would qualify, as would saving innocent lives, especially that of a friend.”

Dana froze. “Wait, you think it did this because of me?”

“I imagine it’s been a long time since anyone showed it affection,” Jayden told her. He smiled and said, “You do have a way of making friends wherever you go. Grateful as I am for its help, we need to go as soon as possible.”

“Every soul within five miles must have heard our battle,” Father Firepower said. “I must gather my people and leave before soldiers come to investigate.”

Jayden extended a hand in friendship to the priest. “This didn’t go nearly as well as I would have liked, but I am grateful to have met you. Destroying those golems will give the people in Zentrix some small advantage in the coming war. I fear it won’t be enough.”

Father Firepower shook Jayden’s hand without hesitation. “Do not be afraid, for He is with us in all things and against all dangers. We may meet again. Until that day, I urge you to spend more time in prayer. It will lead to wisdom.”

The priest walked off into the fog. Jayden flexed his right hand and said, “I regret not staying in his company for obvious reasons. It seems Clevner’s information was again only partially accurate. This puts us in a poor position. Zentrix either is already being invaded or soon will be, and I have no idea how to help its people.”

“Something will turn up,” she told him. “We should go before people come to see what the noise was about, and before the fog lifts.”

“It already is. I can see twice as far as I could before, and the sky above is clearing. Dana, as pleased as I am that we succeeded, we’re not doing enough. Too many lives are in danger. As much as I appreciate the help we just received, further divine intervention wouldn’t go unappreciated.”

Dana sheathed her sword. Feeling playful, she said, “Father Firepower would say God works in mysterious ways.”

“Hopefully not too mysterious.” Jayden shielded his eyes from the sun with his right hand and looked to the west. “Those clouds look like rain.”

As if on cue, rain poured down in torrents.

Greetings, all, and my apologies for not writing for so long. I have been busy with personal matters, and I was getting the second Dana and Jayden book done. That took me nine months longer than I'd expected, but it's finally done. Book 2 is titled Dana Illwind and War's Shadow, and it can be found on Amazon as a paperback and ebook, and is on Kindle Unlimited. It's my sincere hope that you will find it as entertaining to read as it was to write. Thank you all for your patience.

https://www.amazon.com/Dana-Illwind-S...