A Promise of Vengeance

4. Hunted

Hunted

925 A.F. (After Founding)

Second Cycle of the Second Moon—Reunion

The mug of ale brushed Rhaven's lips, though he took no sip. The brew was fresh—fresher than the air in the tavern—but he would need his wits about him this night. Four men at the corner table had watched him all through the meal; he felt sure they had come to kill him—or to try.

Out of habit he reached to scratch the bottom of his right ear, most of it missing thanks to a group who had come for him years ago. Despite the time that had passed, odd sensations continued to bother him—tingling, itching, and an occasional twinge of pain.

A gentle push moved his plate to the center of the table. He closed both hands around the mug and set it close to him. His elbows brushed his dark cloak aside as he cast casual glances about the tavern. Bits of conversations bounced around the room, and stale smoke from pipe tobacco clung to candlelight and clustered in corner pockets.

tavern

The serving girl stared at his still-full mug, a scowl on her face like she'd just lost a copper. "Somethin' wrong with the ale?"

"The ale is fine. Leave me to my meal and come back when I call."

Before long, two of the men headed toward the door. They kept their eyes focused ahead of them, making sure not to look in Rhaven's direction. The third man pushed his chair back, catching it on an upturned floor plank. Rhaven suspected the last man would wait to follow Rhaven when he left. He wondered once again what they wanted him for.

He sat for a few more moments, long enough to make them anxious, then called for the serving girl, paid her, and left. They will probably be waiting in the alley by the butcher's shop, where it is dark and cramped.

A brisk pace carried Rhaven along the cobblestone streets, dusty from the day's business and the lack of rain. The last of the four men followed him out of the inn, though the man kept a good distance between them. Rhaven breathed the thick air, the scent of a coming rain lingering. The butcher's shop lay around the next bend. Rhaven's hands twitched; it had been a while since he'd killed a man.

He rounded the corner. Two of them hid in the shadows. The other must be in the alley.

cobblestone street in alley

It was a typical maneuver for an ambush—two would approach from the front, one in the alley from the right side, and the one following him from behind. When they closed to about six paces, the two in front reached for their swords. Rhaven drew a knife from a strap inside his cloak and threw it, striking one of them in the chest.

The man gasped, staggering back as he fumbled to remove the blade. Rhaven rushed forward to keep them off balance. They would have expected him to retreat, or at the least, to stop and fight. They wouldn't anticipate a charge. The second man had his sword half-drawn when Rhaven's sai pierced his throat, blood gurgling out like a gutted deer.

One man was dead and one injured, but Rhaven wasted no time. He continued his charge, dispatched the man still struggling with the knife in his chest, then spun to face the one from the alley on his right. The man attacked, swinging his blade with a great deal of vigor and inexperience. The sai in Rhaven's left hand caught the blade and twisted, snatching it from his hand. Before the man could retreat, the other sai found a channel between his ribs and into his heart.

The fourth man arrived just as the third one fell. He turned to escape. Rhaven drew a knife from his boot sheath and threw it, catching the man on the back of the leg, a hamstring shot. A scream pierced the night as the man collapsed to the pavement, then crawled to the wall and propped himself up.

Rhaven approached. "Why did you try to kill me?"

"The reward. But we wouldn't have killed you if we could have taken you alive."

"You should pay more for your information. A few extra coppers might have saved your life."

The man's eyes sparkled. "Is it money? I can get you gold."

"I'm no longer wanted, that's what I meant about the coppers." Rhaven slid a sai into the man's lungs. "Die slowly, friend."

He cleaned both sai then sheathed them, his black cloak swirling as he walked down the street.

Three horses charged past Rhaven, their hooves pounding against the stone raising a raucous clamor. Two riders dismounted and rushed toward the tavern. The last one stayed with the horses. Rhaven's long strides soon had him standing beside the man.

"Have you heard, stranger? Victas in Kamnor, heading toward Twin Forks!"

Rhaven's heart skipped a beat or two. For a moment he stood there, rigid as a tree stump, mute as a rock.

"Victas!" The man repeated himself. "We just came from Sykor and got the report from a guard post."

"Time to leave Barclaen," Rhaven said.

A puzzled look came over the rider's face. "No need, mister. They'll never get here."

"I know," Rhaven said, then went to get his mount.

He entered the stable and tossed a coin to the boy, half-asleep by the first stall. "Get up, boy, I need my horse." The stable smelled cleaner than most; in fact, straw proved the dominant odor. The boy took good care of things.

The boy bounced to his feet and stammered out a reply. "Sorry, sir, I wasn't...I mean I didn't—"

"Nothing wrong with sleeping," Rhaven said. "Get my mount ready fast and you might earn an extra copper."

Hay stuck to the boy's clothes and lay in his hair, but he didn't take time to brush it out. "I'll get him right now, sir." He raced toward the stall that held Argus.

The boy's hands worked like a rat chewing rope. He unlatched the stall door, moved the bucket out of the way, grabbed the reins, and led the horse into the main area of the barn.

"Did he give you any trouble? That horse can be stubborn."

"He wouldn't let me do nothin' but feed him. I tried to brush him and thought he'd have my arm for supper. If I'd been in there behind him..."

"You must be good for him to let you get that close. He doesn't like many people." Rhaven grabbed the blanket and saddle then walked him out of the barn, the eager stablehand trailing him like a day-old duckling.

"Anything I can get for you, sir?"

Rhaven seated himself then tossed a silver coin to the boy. "Careful where you spend this, and don't let anyone take it from you." With that, he clicked on the reins and tapped his heels. "Let's go, Argus. We head to Kamnor."