Dark One Rising(142)
“As well they should be; the menace is coming.”
“Aye, that it is. I don’t reckon any of us is safe anymore. It’s fight or follow from what I’ve heard.”
“You’ve heard right. I saw many a neighbor follow out of fear. Not many are brave enough to fight. I have word for Alban of what is coming. I need to see him in haste.”
The barman nodded to him, wiped his hands on his apron and motioned him to follow. He led Maddon over to the corner where a rickety table was occupied with one man. He was leaned over a half drunk mug of something, and he was hooded. The barman touched his shoulder and the man looked up but said nothing. The barman hitched his head quickly to the side in Maddon’s direction. “This lad needs to get into Thorne’s garrison. Can you take him?”
The hooded man looked in Maddon’s direction now and nodded. “He’ll make sure you get inside the garrison.” He left, and Maddon stood in front of the table, looking down at the hooded man. He motioned for Maddon to sit. Maddon pulled up a chair and sat down, his bag still across his back. The stranger finally pulled the hood from his head and looked closely at Maddon.
He was grizzled, with longish black hair which looked as if it had been trimmed with a knife, and black mustache that hung long on each side. He had a scar on his chin, as well as one on his cheek. His brown eyes were sharp, his hawk nose pointed and narrow. He didn’t scowl, but his mouth held a permanent droop on either side. He regarded Maddon with those piercing eyes, and Maddon shifted in his chair a bit. When the man spoke, however, Maddon was surprised at the lilt in his voice and the soft cadence of his tone.
“What do ya want with Alban Thorne and his garrison?”
“I bring message from Amaris.”
The stranger rubbed his chin. “Alban is a suspicious man and does not take kindly to strangers dropping in. Why don’t you give me the message, and I will take it to him.”
“I have been instructed to give the message only to General Thorne himself.”
“I could torture you for it.”
“You could, but I doubt you’d succeed.”
The man looked amused. “You think you could withstand torture in order to hold on to a message?”
“I have seen the giants come through my city and kill all who were too weak or unable to fight. I have seen unnamable creatures savagely kill everyone I know. I have fought four giants with my bare hands. I can withstand more than you think. I have been dispatched here with a message for Alban. I will deliver it, or it dies with me.”
The stranger was impressed and sat up in his chair. “What’s yur name, boy?”
Maddon stared at the man, then decided his name wasn’t pertinent. “Maddon Ellbert.”
The man’s face changed. He looked off into nothing, his expression one of recognition. “Any relation to Nalo Ellbert?”
He was surprised that his grandfathers name was so widespread. “He was my grandfather.”
“Well I’ll be.” He looked over his shoulder and yelled to the barman. “Cado, bring this boy some spiced ale to warm his veins.”
The barman nodded and immediately poured a glass of steaming liquid into a mug. He carried it over to the table and set it in front of Maddon.
“Thank you.” He reached into his pocket to get a coin, but the grizzled man shook his head.
“It’s on me. Any relative of Nalo is a friend of mine.”
Maddon took a swig of the dark hued steaming liquid and coughed a bit after swallowing. The man laughed and patted him on the back.
“Goes down smooth, don’t it?”
Maddon just nodded and took another pull on his drink.
The stranger patted the table. “You finish that, and I’ll take you to ole Alban. It’s after supper, and he’s probably relaxing his old bones by the fire, but we’ll just rouse him.” He looked Maddon over again. “Did you ride here from Amaris all by yourself?”
“Yes. I was enlisted to carry the message. I was the only one left in the city capable of surviving the ride, or the road. I spent quite some time on the back roads, until I heard the wailings of the undead. I changed course after that.”
“The creatures are making their way this direction are they?”
“It seems so. Unless they are just the spies for the lord, keeping track of the coming and going of travelers. I suspect traveling is going to become more hazardous soon. Bandits and cutthroats will be a relief compared to what’s coming.”
“We’d better get you to Alban then.” Maddon finished off his drink. The man put three coins on the table, then stood. “Come on then, let’s be movin’.”