Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
TYNAN
My tired eyes landed on the vast barren fields.
The sun was almost all the way up. Here and there I could spot the lone figure of a crawler stumbling back and forth before the entrance to the dilapidated building.
My muscles were trembling with exertion, but I forced myself to stay upright.
Two more hours and we would be safe, at least for a while.
I rubbed my forehead and looked back at the building.
I tried hard not to show how exhausted I was, but my energy was at its end, and all of them knew it.
I stared at the prisoner, once again. The girl was lying in the fetal position, her arms wrapped around her knees.
Her bright red hair was in a low, disheveled braid.
She looked thin and frail. I still could not believe that she was kept in a high-security cell.
I expected to see someone rougher, stronger.
My curiosity about her was heightened. By what remained of her dress, I could tell that she was of a high birth.
Not many people in Talman wore light blue, silk shoes and lace.
Why do they need her? Who is she?
I stretched my hardened back, and inspected the fields around us.
“It’s time,” I said at last and stood up.
The moans and complaints came from every direction.
“Come on you guys! Think about a hot meal at the Dragonclaw. My treat!” Erin got to his feet.
He walked up to Frid and offered his arm. She looked at him for a couple of moments before accepting it and he helped her get up.
“It was a pleasure spending this night with you.” Erin added.
“With her and many other people,” Victor muttered.
“That’s a minor detail.” Erin grinned at Frid as she rolled her eyes.
I glanced at the prisoner girl who was still asleep.
“Hey.” I crouched beside her.
She did not move. I lightly tapped her shoulder, but she did not wake up.
“Hey!” I repeated a little louder and the girl sat up, startled.
It took her a moment to spot me. Her large brown eyes opened wide and she touched her forehead. Even under the smudges on her cheeks, I could spot tiny freckles that dusted her nose.
“We need to go. You can fly with me this time,” I said and she nodded looking away.
It took us another ten minutes before we got in the air. The girl I was carrying on my back was almost lying on top of me. It helped me fly faster and made the whole process more comfortable.
“I bet you’ve had more action this past half-hour than you had in the last year,” Erin spoke directly to my mind.
“Why do you care?” Frid joined in.
“I’m just saying,” Erin laughed.
“Stop just saying things. Start thinking before you speak.” Frid was always quick to defend me.
“Do you know what your problem is, Erin?” Victor chimed in.
“What? I can’t wait to find out,” Erin said.
“You haven’t had a real job in so long. Because, let’s face it, what you do right now is not too different from being a pet,” Victor chuckled.
“Laugh all you want. But you can’t deny that Ty needs to get out more,” Erin continued.
“Are you done?” I could not hold my frustration at bay any longer.
“You need to get laid,” Erin said.
“We all do,” Solomon joined in, and a burst of laughter followed his statement.
“Sol, my man. Sometimes I forget that you can talk,” Erin said. “As for the last statement, I’m all yours, anytime you need me, Alfrida,” Erin continued in a disgusting oily tone.
“No, thanks! I’m not that desperate yet.” Frid dropped, and another burst of laughter followed.
The beautiful peaks were coated in a thin veil of fog when we started to descend.
Below was the city of Riolle. The thickly settled structures were surrounded by the manmade lines of the channels.
The only point of access to the city from the ground was a wide, retractable bridge that could be lifted up and down by massive steel bounded ropes.
The system of channels and the bridge was one of the reasons Riolle was still the biggest free city outside of the capital.
Riolle was heavily guarded and flying above it could result in being shot down by a spear wielder. There were multiple launch posts throughout the city that monitored all flying activities.
I made a wide circle, and together we landed on the polished stone on the other side of the river.
When my legs touched the surface, the girl astride me slid down my back, and I started to transform.
On the other side of me, Victor landed, and Frid was already back in her human form.
I waited for Erin and Sol to join us before ringing a heavy, weather-beaten bell mounted to a wooden beam.
“Who goes there?” a voice shouted from the other side of the river.
“Travelers in need of rest,” I yelled back.
“Any infected?” the guard asked.
“No! All clean,” I responded.
“Step aside!” the man on the other side ordered.
The next moment, a mechanism started to slowly lower the wooden bridge with a loud clicking sound.
The girl beside me shivered and hugged her torso. I returned my gaze back to the other side. A group of armed soldiers and a cloaked figure entered the bridge, walking straight to us.
“Soul searcher!” Victor muttered.
I had only seen them a couple of times. Many cities employed soul searchers to do tasks like interrogation, or to help track people.
The city of Riolle went further and they inspected newcomers on their arrival by forcing them to stand before a seer with the ability to look directly into your soul, baring your darkest secrets.
Some people believed that soul searchers could see the past and predict the future, but I did not believe in any of that.
The figure glided over to us. The soul searcher moved from Frid to Victor, his remarkably long, pale fingers with sharp, pointy nails lightly touched the arm or shoulder of every person he passed.
Victor raised his chin, masking his discomfort with his regular bravado.
Frid clenched her hands to her sides, not looking too relaxed either.
Even Sol appeared a little discomposed. Erin was artificially quiet while trying hard not to meet the seer’s eyes.
At last, the cloaked figure stopped in front of me and he gave me a long look.
I met his gaze, too tired to feel anything but impatience.
The soul searcher paused and his hand landed on my chest. I frowned, not sure what that was supposed to mean.
The light eyes of the seer continued to peer into mine and I was sucked into a trance, experiencing the uncomfortable intrusion into my mind.
After a moment, the hooded man blinked and his head tipped to the side, as he tried to figure something out. Suddenly he stepped away.
I raised my brows, following the movements of the person in the long cloak.
When the figure stopped by the prisoner, I could plainly see that she did not feel intimidated.
Her gaze found the eyes of the seer as if she had nothing to conceal.
The soul searcher froze, his hand stilled on her shoulder.
Then he abruptly removed his hand and pressed it to his heart, giving her a deep bow.
Alina’s lips parted, and everything around us seemed quiet for a long moment.
Then, as if waking up from a haze, the sounds of the waters below, and the rustling of the guards returned, then the soul searcher walked back to the other side. Another guard approached us and asked all the usual questions about our intentions and if we had sufficient funds to enter the city.
My gaze kept returning to the redhead, who stood deep in thought, barely paying any attention to what was unfolding in front of her.
When all formalities were done, we walked over the bridge and Erin confidently led us to a street lined with taverns.
“That was odd, don’t you think?” Erin turned to ask me.
The others fell behind, distracted by the street performers. I stayed silent, watching a juggler throwing bright cylinders in the air.
“Who’s the girl?” Erin continued.
“Don’t know, don’t care,” I responded.
“Surely, you’re a little curious,” Erin lowered his voice.
“No. I’m just doing what I’m told. They want me to bring her back and that’s what I’m going to do,” I replied.
“Actually, they don’t know she’s alive yet. My orders were to meet up with you and immediately return with my report,” Erin said.
“Then why are you still here?” I asked.
“Come on, man. I’m allowed to take a breather.” Erin shrugged his shoulders.
“When are you going back?” I looked back at the new girl.
Her features had softened, but she did not look like she was about to faint anymore.
There was something in her eyes though, some quiet determination, that I did not like.
Despite her torn dress and messy hair, she was uncommonly beautiful.
Especially when she stood with her shoulders straight and her warm brown eyes clear and focused.
Realizing that I spent too much time staring at her, I shifted my gaze to Frid and Victor.
Frid was clapping her hands while Victor stood beside her with his arms crossed on his chest. His lips moved as if he was saying something to the girl.
Suddenly Frid gave him a side eye and laughed out loud, hard.
Solomon was nowhere to be seen. I moved my head and quickly found his massive figure.
He stood by the wall of one of the shops, talking to a city girl who was touching his bicep.
“Tomorrow morning. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted after all that flying.” Erin sighed.
I could not keep my irritation at bay any longer. “We need a place to rest.” I reminded Erin.
“I know just the place.” Erin nodded.
Thirty minutes later we were entering one of the taverns right in the heart of the city.
The building was concealed from the main street by an old, leafy oak that grew freely in the middle of the road.
Erin confidently walked to the counter where a thin, old man in a roomy gray jacket was reading a book.
“Good afternoon, sir. We are in need of room and board.” Erin sounded painfully cheerful.
“How many rooms?” The old man asked, giving us a quick appraising glance.
“Three,” I said and the eyes of a clerk landed on my face.
His back straightened and he examined our group.
“Twenty coins. Per night,” he added.
I frowned, reaching for my pocket.
“I got this.” Erin made a theatrical gesture, making sure that both girls saw his pouch.
Frid rolled her eyes while Alina looked away.
“Show off,” Victor muttered to himself.
“Single beds or double?” The old man stilled by the board with keys.
“Single!” we all said at once.
After our account was settled, we were given three sets of keys. Erin and I had to share a room, while Victor and Sol took one and the two girls would stay together.
“You’re lucky. I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning and then you’ll have the whole room to yourself.” Erin walked up the stairs.
I exhaled, following him.