“I had heard something like that,” Bard replied. “News from the capital doesn’t get here too quickly.” 215Please respect copyright.PENANAJsnk8nhyC0
“Right. Well, that alone wouldn’t be too unexpected. Man was old. The catch comes in choosing a successor.” 215Please respect copyright.PENANARpRMnKbpBA
“Well, it’s supposed to be the oldest male in the family isn’t it?”
“That’s the idea. But all the eligible heirs are being assassinated from inside the castle. We have a friend in the castle, and according to their info, seven have already been killed. By now, probably more.” 215Please respect copyright.PENANAXURyeHaRO0
Bard raised his eyebrows. “Now that I hadn’t heard. But before that, who is “we”?”
Artlem lowered his voice.
“For starters, my clan of the Kavalix.”
Bard’s face changed from stoic to conflicted at the mention of the name.
“My father, Achrom, is trying to lead the involved Tobryn clans against the capital to destroy the Contract Stone and gain their freedom from Rhoringdall’s rule.”
Bard didn’t respond, so Artlem continued.
“The Contract Stone is the only think keeping Tobryna under the Royal Family’s thumb, and on top of that, the five years since their last request are almost up. If the new king is more unstable than the last, a request could be disastrous.”
This was getting to be a little much. Now there were two things in the conversation Kage didn’t understand, a Contract Stone and a request. The only thing clear was that the place called Tobryna was stuck under the control of Rhoringdall, and they didn’t want that.
“And where am I supposed to come in to this?” Bard grumbled.
“Well, we don’t currently have the knowledge of how to destroy the Contract Stone. Since the knowledge of Calligriphic contracts has been lost over time, our only chance is to find the knowledge, at Mainspring.” Artlem glanced at Kage, before turning back to Bard.
“My father wants you to accompany a small group up to Mainspring.” He turned back to Kage. “Shole and I were also looking for someone not under the Tobryn contract for this part, since the contract blocks Tobryns from Mainspring.”
She nodded. She wanted to understand this contract better, but now didn’t seem like the time.
Artlem sat back and folded his arms. “Well? What do you say?”
Bard rubbed his face. “It’s not…I wasn’t expecting…”
He sighed, and paused for a moment as Artlem, Shole, and Kage waited in silence.
“I’ve retired from the mercenary business. But I owe your father, and by extension your clan.”
Artlem and Shole looked surprised. “You do?” Shole asked.
“I assumed you were just old friends.” Artlem said.
“He wouldn’t ask me without a very good reason.” Bard mused. His eyes met Artlem’s. “I won’t agree to it just yet, I want to speak with him first. But I will come with you to the Tobryn Outskirts to meet with him.”
“That’s good enough for me!” Artlem said. “How soon can you be ready to go?”
Bard frowned. He obviously wasn’t looking forward to leaving.
“Tomorrow morning. The sooner the better.” He rose from the booth, cloak falling back down around his huge figure. “You have a map right?”
Shole pulled it from his bag, and Bard motioned for him to unroll it.
He pointed to the map. “Meet me in the South Residential District, by the Baker’s Guild. Should be recognizable, even by travelers.”
“Sounds good to me.” Artlem said. We should pick up some supplies before we go, how about midday?”
“Fine.”
His eyes passed over Artlem, Kage, and then Shole before he turned at pushed his way through the now-thinning crowd of the inn.
Shole leaned back and breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, he didn’t say no. All we have to do is get back to the Outskirts with Bard and the rest is up to your parents, Artlem.” 215Please respect copyright.PENANAxYrH6EaD8E
“He wasn’t too thrilled about it,” Artlem said. “But oh well, you’re right. And finding someone to go to Mainspring was an extra.”
He raised an eyebrow at Kage. “Satisfied with you explanation, m’lady?” He said sarcastically. “Honestly, I was surprised you agreed to it with so little explanation. I was expecting you to try to rob us and run! Not that that would have worked out well for you.”
Kage sunk her head into her hand. “I was a little bit desperate at that moment.”
“I still am,” she thought, but they didn’t need to know that.
“But do you really have the time to be out here getting Bard’s help?” She realized out loud. “If the royal family is being killed off that quickly, are you going to have time to do anything before whoever is behind this takes control?”
“Well, Artlem’s father seems to think so.” Shole said.
"Besides,” Artlem said, “Even once all the other members of the Royal Family is dead, whoever is behind all this won't just be able to waltz up to that big chair, sit on the throne, and call it a day. There's political maneuvering, getting the support of the King's Council, and probably the military too. We have lots of time."