Chapter Ten #3
The street outside was slowly getting busier as the market stall owners began setting up their stock for the day.
The stalls situated outside the Frostfyre Inn were at the disadvantage of being crowded by the king’s soldiers’ horses, who had been tied up to the various posts outside and left in the middle of the street.
A stable was probably next on their list of commands, but I supposed it wouldn’t be a complete waste of time and resources if it kept the streets clear.
“It seems I’m not the only one who’s decided to make Gladewood their home,” Josee said with a flick of her head toward the soldiers now exiting the Frostfyre. “Although, I believe my reasoning for such a decision is much more believable than theirs.”
“Don’t get me started,” I grumbled as I watched Commander Nuro walk over to his horse and greet it with a soft pat on the neck.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Hand of the King on this side of Mystica,” Josee commented as her oak-colored eyes narrowed on the soldiers pouring out of the door. “Where there are king’s men, there’s trouble. Unless you’re in the Capital.”
“And we’re far away from that,” I scoffed. “Be careful around them, Josee. If they start asking you questions about anything, make up an excuse to leave.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t say a peep about the shard,” the mahogany-skinned grocer mumbled to me. “Your secret will stay just that.”
“You saw it back in Burnberry?” I asked.
“I did.” She nodded and tapped the side of her nose. “I was among the people held hostage by those slimy bandits. Many people owe you their lives because of that day. And I will take your secret to the grave.”
“Thanks,” I sighed in relief. “Enjoy the goat cheese. I hope it sells well.”
“Oh, it will, trust me,” Josee grinned toothily. “Thank you again for the business opportunity. Alden told me how much you value commerce flowing around here.”
“It’s what keeps us afloat,” I said. “Take care now.”
“And you, Noah,” Josee said with a wave.
I hopped back onto the bench of the wagon and took the reins from Ellyn. I whipped them once, and Ethel began to trot down the street again, but just before I could turn the corner, someone called out my name.
I pulled hard on the reins and glanced over my shoulder to see Commander Nuro approaching on his own horse. Lieutenant Giian, Aila, and Kryyk followed close behind, but I spotted the remaining Hands making their way down the opposite direction of the street.
“Can I help you, Commander Nuro?” I tried to hide the agitation in my tone, but it was almost impossible to fully disguise it.
“Where might you be traveling to today?” the snooty commander asked as he pulled his horse up beside Ethel.
“Midhallow,” I said curtly. “I have cheese to sell and goods to purchase.”
“In such uncertain times?” Nuro prodded. “What if you get attacked on the road? Or what if Gladewood suffers another attack?”
“Well, that’s what you’re here for, isn’t it?” I asked. “I won’t be gone for long.”
“Some of my Hands will accompany you,” Nuro said. “For protection.”
“I don’t need your protection--”
“To deny their aid is to deny the king,” the Hand Commander cut me off with a sharp glare. “And you don’t want to do that, do you, Noah?”
I clenched my jaw so hard it felt like my teeth would shatter like porcelain. My grip on the reins was so tight that my knuckles turned white, but I managed to stop myself from completely blowing up thanks to Ellyn’s subtle hand on my thigh.
“No,” I gritted out. “I wouldn’t.”
“Good, then the matter is solved,” Nuro said before he glanced over his shoulder. “Hand Aila, Hand Kryyk, and Lieutenant Giian will accompany you.”
The only good part of this forced escort was that Aila was part of it. Not only was she the only soldier I’d made a little ?headway with, but she was also the only girl.
And a pretty one at that.
“Well, I hope you’re all ready to be bored out of your minds,” I drawled. “It’s just a shopping trip.”
“I don’t think Shaar will care about the reason for leaving,” Lieutenant Giian retorted in his usual dry tone.
“Well, I guess we should get going before he runs out and steals my cheese,” I shot back as I readjusted myself against the wood.
Because this was about to be the longest trip to Midhallow ever.
I silently prayed that Thror had received the carrier pigeon from Alden explaining the situation, and that I wasn’t greeted with expectant eyes and hopeful questions about the shard.
But the people of Midhallow weren’t fools. As soon as they saw the entourage of king’s men following me like a bad smell, they would realize the situation I was in and hopefully keep their mouths sealed tight.
Our small party slowly trotted down the street toward the exit of town. Lieutenant Giian followed close on my right, with Aila keeping pace on my left. Hand Kryyk kept a few paces behind the wagon, and I felt officially swarmed by the time we made it to the exit.
The watchtower was coming along nicely, and that was the only thing that gave me a little bit of pep as I prepared for the long journey ahead. The foundations had been fully built, and now it was only a matter of building on top of them, just like the watchtower by the southern wall.
The dwarves working on them gave us all small waves as we passed through the unfurling gate, and I gave Gladewood one last glance over my shoulder before I focused on the road ahead.
“Do you travel to Midhallow often?” Lieutenant Giian broke the heavy silence a couple minutes later.
“Not too often,” I said. “Especially not now.”
“I take it you’ve struck a trade deal with the Mayor?” he asked.
“Yeah, he’s a good friend of mine,” I said. “He stepped in after the last Mayor was deposed.”
“Deposed how?” Giian’s thick eyebrows tugged into a sharp frown.
“I killed him,” I said bluntly. “He was corrupted by Drakar. He was also among the first elves to regain their magical abilities.”
Giian, for all his stoic seriousness, spluttered on his own spit, but he quickly recovered with a loud cough.
“It would seem there is much the king hasn’t been aware of in these parts,” the lieutenant commented.
“You’ve got no idea,” I grumbled under my breath.
The suffocating silence returned, with only the sounds of the cold wind brushing through the forest and across the rolling hills. The cart rattled as we carried on down the trail, and I was more than happy to continue the trip in the awkward silence, but Karrida was the next person to break it.
“That dwarf is staring at me,” she muttered.
I glanced over my shoulder to see Kryyk glaring daggers at us. Clearly, the half-dwarf wasn’t too happy about having to escort us this early in the morning, either.
Good. That made at least two of us.
“Ignore him,” I said to my girlfriend as I focused back on the path ahead. “Ignore all of them.”
“We can hear you, you know?” Giian asked. “Even if I didn’t have elven ears, you talk rather loudly, human.”
“I’m well aware you can hear me,” I said without glancing away from the road. “Maybe you’ll get the idea that I don’t want you here.”
“You seem to enjoy turning down free help,” the lieutenant said. “Is there any particular reason for that?”
“I was the one who pulled Gladewood out of its grave,” I said curtly. “Not the king, and certainly not you.”
“Ahhh, so you think you can continue to protect it without our help?” Giian drawled.
“I’ve been doing okay so far,” I said. “You didn’t see this place before I arrived. It was a starving ghost town.”
“And yet here it stands,” Aila said, which briefly brought my attention to the stunning half-elf. “You should be proud.”
“He shouldn’t turn down more aid,” Giian said sharply. “That will only run Gladewood back into the ground.”
“Over my dead body,” I growled. “You’ve got no idea what we’ve suffered through.”
“I know what you’re suffering through now,” the stoic lieutenant said. “And I believe there is more to this situation than you are letting on.”
“I’ve told you everything,” I fired back. “It’s up to you if you want to believe me or not.”
“In Emberstone, men have been killed for less than being curt with the king’s Hands,” Giian growled as he forced his horse a few paces ahead of us.
“Well, it’s a good thing we’re not in Emberstone anymore, Dorothy,” I snapped.
“Lieutenant Giian, I don’t think arguing is going to help,” Aila interjected. “Let’s just focus on getting to Midhallow safely.”
“Ever the peacekeeper, Aila,” Kryyk commented.
“Someone has to be, clearly,” the violet-eyed half-elf said as she glanced between me and Giian. “Please, can we at least be amicable?”
Giian kept his pearly gaze on me without blinking. I was the one to look away first, because I knew he wasn’t going to back down unless he thought I wasn’t a threat anymore. The stubborn asshole.
“Let’s get to Midhallow,” I reluctantly grumbled.
I had cheese to sell. I had a crib to finish building. And I had a finite amount of patience.
We were stuck with the proud brigade whether we liked it or not.
The journey had to continue, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were already being watched.