Andu and the Heroes of the City by HJ Donperi (top 5 ebook reader TXT) 📖

Chapter 1 - The Gathering

Andu and the heroes of the city

 

The old man walked into the inn. He looked around with satisfaction. It was homely and comfortable. He walked to the door to the kitchen. Mack, the innkeeper was trying to convince the cook to stay.

 

“Come on, Bekka, I know you want to leave Andu but I need you! The mayor and his goons won't bother us. They like your cooking and strong drink too much.”

 

Bekka looked at him dubiously. “Don't you think there is something not right about it all? Besides, I'm a magic-user. I'm not safe here. They'll find out and ship me out as a slave to Baracus.”

 

“At least give me time to find another cook, PLEASE! Just a week, I promise.” Mack pleaded.

 

Bekka grew quiet and looked behind Mack toward the kitchen door. Mack slowly turned around, frightened of what he might see. An old man stood in the doorway watching them. He smiled at Mack.

 

“I know you're a bit busy at the moment but I wanted to let you know it's going to be a busy night. Some people will be meeting here and I'd like you to make sure they are comfortable.”

 

“Sure, sure.” Mack said as he ushered the old man back into the taproom. “Let me get you a drink.” He had every intention of finding out how much he had overheard.

 

 

A few hours later..

 

Sandra sat on the hard bench in this small inn. She didn't know the name of the town even, but she decided she was too tired to keep traveling. 'Staying here for a short while won't hurt. I'll hire myself out as a mercenary and maybe in time I'll join a group heading further west.' She played one of her throwing daggers along her fingers with innate skill and contemplated her mug of ale.

 

Meanwhile behind the inn...

 

Rasta limped into the alleyway between the tavern and the blacksmith's. He knew his wound would need cleaning but he couldn't do it here. Those soldiers from Baracus would soon be coming here. He was too valuable to the Emperor. 'Ah what luck!' He thought to himself.

The door to the tavern's kitchen was open to let in the cool air. Rasta waited quietly in the shadows until the cook had gone to the vast pantry underneath the floor. Then he slipped in grabbed a couple of rags and clean dishcloth and a mug of water and went on through to the hall. As he hid in the hall Rasta heard the soldiers questioning the patrons and the barkeep for clues to his whereabouts. Quickly tyeing a rag over his short black hair, and quietly moving towards the back stairs he wrapped a rag around his waist. If he ran into the soldiers he might be able to get by as long as he didn't look at them directly. He shuffled up to the guest quarters with the weary look of one of the inn's lackeys. As he reached the top of the stairs one of Emperor Baracus's soldiers questioned him.

"You there! Have you seen a man with short black hair and gold eyes? He's a fugitive of our land."

Rasta said nothing just shook his head and moved to shuffle by him.

"What's in the mug?!" the soldier laughed and snatched it out of his hand, taking a sip he sputtered water all over the floor. "Water!!"

Rasta said with a croaked voice, "Yessir, for the lady in the back room". He nodded his head and left the soldier glaring after him as he continued his shuffle down the hall.

Rasta reached the back room and opening the door, he stepped in and as he turned to close the door he saw the soldiers going down the stairs muttering angrily.

Zella sat in her small room and wondered whether the common room would be less stuffy. Maybe she could use a bit of magic just to get the air moving. "It's so bloody hot in here!!" she said out loud.

 

Since the neighbouring country of Baracus had banned magic. Andu had issued a proclamation saying no magic could be done in the city. No one really knew the reason as magic was not banned in this country. The official reason was that it would interfere with trade with Baracus. That was a year ago and Zella was having a hard time keeping it under control. Having the ability to do magic was similar to having a temper. You can control it to a point, but one little thing could set off fireworks.

 

Zella knew she was coming close to breaking point. Every time she heard voices the temptation to cast a spell of listening was getting too much for her. That's why she had sought refuge in her room, away from temptation.

 

She was debating whether or not to go downstairs when a man came into her room. Looking at him curiously she watched as he turned and watched someone in the hallway. She stepped quietly behind him and looked to see two of Baracus's soldiers heading down the stairs.

 

"What are you doing in my room, sir-rah??!!" she bellowed at him. Smiling inwardly as he jumped a few feet in the air at her voice booming right next to him.

 

Cursing as Rasta landed on his wounded leg. He looked up at her in surprise. Her voice sounded like she was a tall, strong, woman. He shut his eyes and looked again. He saw standing before him a small petite woman with pale blond hair and violet eyes. She had a small pixie-ish face that was strangely appealing.

 

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I had word from the kitchen that you wanted some water." he replied recovering his composure and realizing his need to maintain his anonymity.

 

Zella looked at him, "Mmm-hmm. So why are you looking out the door instead of delivering the water??" She waited as he brought the water to her, then she yanked off the rag from the top of his head. With a gasp she looked down at the knife at her throat.

 

"I'm not going to tell them you're here. The less I have to do with Baracus the better, believe me." Zella told him, happy that there her nervousness didn't show in her voice. Rasta didn't like the idea of her knowing he was wanted but he didn't see that he had a choice. She would have to leave with him or, like most women of his acquaintance, she would let the world know she had seen him.

 

Back in the common room...

 

Sandra sat there quietly as soldiers entered the tavern and started questioning the patrons. She overheard snatches here and there to get the gist of the subject matter. So they were looking for a man with short dark hair. She played with the idea of offering her services until she heard the name of Emperor Baracus dropped in conversation.

 

'Never again will I have anything to do with him or his country!', she thought to herself. Sandra rose from her seat just as the soldiers noticed her. Two of them pushed her back down into her chair.

 

"We'd like to ask you a few questions, but first what's a pretty girl like you doing alone here?" the captain asked with a leer.

 

Quick as a wink one of her knives landed on the table in between his fingertips. "I'm no ordinary girl.....sir." A slight emphasis on the sir gave it just a little twist of disrespect, not enough for him to make a big deal over but like a paper cut..just enough sting to make it hurt. "Ask me your questions, I'd like to be on my way if you don't mind."

 

The captain's face turned red with anger but he controlled his temper enough not to cause a scene. "But we do mind!" Turning to one of his men he said, "book us a room so we can .....question .......this witness in private."

 

Sandra pulled out her knives and stood directly in front of the Captain.

 

"Care to try?" she asked politely but held the knives in between them. "I am no mere woman. I believe I am outlawed in your country. A nice bounty on my head...quite respectable. You keep up the rudeness and threats and you'll find out why."

 

The Captain paled as he realized who it was he was looking at...under his own eyes he saw the hair colour change from black to blonde. The eyes became the familiar green and her ears became the pointed ears of the elvish race.

 

"Sandra De Spartamus!" He backed away. Then realizing he was losing face with his soldiers he ordered them to capture her. "Catch her men! She's worth a fortune. The king will honour us beyond your wildest dreams!!!" Then realizing his best men were busy elsewhere, he changed his mind, "Men! Retreat! The man we are looking for is not here." And he left the tavern with what grace he could muster.

 

Sandra rose to leave the inn when all of a sudden she felt that familiar surge as someone in the inn used the craft. Her eyebrows rose as she realised there was another craft user in the vicinity. 'It's illegal here. What do they think they're doing??!!" She turned and ran for the stairs...'I have to find her before she gets caught!' 'Or he?' as she remembered the man the soldiers were searching for in the tavern.

 

 

 

Meanwhile outside another the soldiers were looking for new prey...

 

 

A dark haired man coming from the west ran into the group of soldiers.

 

"You!! What are you doing outside your kennel, Dog?!" He said to the captain of the guards. "Run back to your master. Tell him to keep his animals on his own property or next time I'll kill his pets." With that he set fire to the Captain's face leaving a burn the size of a hand on his cheek.

 

The Captain gasped," We are out of our jurisdiction men. Head back to Baracus...NOW!" And he turned tail and ran.

 

Kenneth grinned as they ran from sight. He frowned at the sign as he entered the town. No magic allowed within the town limits by order of the town mayor. 'Hmmm, things must have changed a lot since he was last here.' he thought to himself. He headed for the Inn. It'd been a while since he saw Mack's face. He wondered if the old innkeeper would recognize him. As he entered the inn, he noticed a newcomer on a horse out of the corner of his eye but he ignored him and continued on his way.

 

Sir Peter rode his horse into town and handed him off to the stableman at the tavern. Well he'd burned his bridges.'I suppose I'd better get used to a country where magic is used.' he thought to himself. He gave the stableman a gold coin and carried his bags into the Inn.

 

"I'd like a room, please." Peter said to the innkeeper with a smile.

 

"I'm sorry, sir but we are filled. All my rooms are taken for the night. You can sleep in the barn if you like?" Mack said not wanting to turn a customer away.

 

Peter frowned, "I'll have a drink in the tavern and think about it." And he sat down at a table in the corner. 

 

Sandra ran up the stairs following her instincts and opened the door to the far back room occupied by Rasta and Zella. "Are you out of your bloody mind???!!!" she yelled. "Don't you know there's a pact between the mayor of this town and the Emperor??!! Any magic users will be sent across the border into slavery over there..is that what you want? To be sold as a slave?!"

 

She looked at the guilty pair, trying to decide who was the idiot who performed the magic. When the small elf spoke up in a subdued voice, "Is it really that bad?" she asked. Sandra looked at her, "It's worse than you know. I've been