The Tales of the Wanderer Volume One: A Book of Underrealm (The Underrealm Volumes 4) Garrett Robinson (poetry books to read TXT) 📖

his order, and the Mystic badge—three rods bound by a circle, with three-sectioned wings behind. But he also bore an arrow insignia on his tunic that told me he was a captain, the same as Jordel had been. My fingers played with a small bag at my belt holding one of Jordel’s clasps, which I had taken from his body in token of memory. I was glad the Mystics had not wanted to search our every pocket and pouch.

As the captain came to a clipped halt, I found myself straightening as the Mystics had. It was the long-honed habit of drawing up before an officer about to inspect you. (Mag, if anything, slouched a bit more).

Dryleaf bowed his head as he heard the captain come to a halt. “Your fine warriors were doing only their duty, I am sure.” He stepped forwards and offered his hand.

The Mystic captain stepped forwards and took his wrist gently to shake it. “They are dutiful, no doubt,” he said. “Though they often inconvenience new arrivals more than turns out to be necessary. But what can one do? These are dangerous times. I am certain ones such as yourselves understand.”

Mag cocked her head. “Ones such as ourselves?”

“Well, you understand me,” said the captain. “Warriors.”

Mag paused, appraising him for a moment. To cover the sudden silence, I stepped towards the captain and extended my hand as Dryleaf had done. “Of course we understand, Captain …?”

His eyes flashed as he took my wrist and shook. “You recognize the symbol. Few do. I am Captain Kun, of the family Zhou.”

I managed to keep my expression neutral, but inside I winced. Recognizing a captain’s arrow was nothing a simple traveler would be able to do. He suspected we were fighters, and I had just confirmed it.

But I said only, “I am Kanohari. And my friend here is Chao. Our elderly friend is Dryleaf.” Mag and I were using false names, you will remember.

“I may be blind, but I say again that I think you overstate things,” said Dryleaf, cheerfully snippy. “If I could see, I do not doubt I would find you almost of an age with me.”

The joke was well rehearsed, and I chuckled. Dryleaf smiled. But Captain Zhou’s eyes were on Mag. She was staring around as if in boredom, waiting for us to sort out the pleasantries. Kun saw it, and he pointed to her as he laughed.

“Do you see that? Her manner reassures me more than any words the three of you could speak.” Still holding my right hand in his, he clapped his left hand over them both and turned to the Mystic behind him. “Look at her—Chao, they say. Not a care in the world. Not afraid of you two searching through her things. You would expect a little nervousness from an enemy warrior—pardon me; you did say you were warriors, did you not?”

“We did not,” I said. “But I can answer you now and tell you that we were. Both of us served as mercenaries in our youth.”

Interest sparked in Kun’s eyes. “Sellswords? How utterly fascinating. The High King needs soldiers now, with Underrealm threatened by war. Who knows when the armies of Dulmun will strike next? Or indeed, these Shades you were speaking about with such authority. I am certain Her Majesty would rather have you on her side than let the enemy snap you up.”

This line of conversation seemed to be drawing into perilous territory. Mag’s attention was fully back on the exchange, but I spoke before she could. “Our fighting days are long past us,” I told him. “We are merely looking for a friend—another former mercenary who had gone to the coast to visit family. When we heard the Seat had been attacked, we grew concerned. We have journeyed long to seek her, for as you said, these are uncertain times. Fear not on our account. We are true citizens of Underrealm, and we would never lend our blades to vile traitors and rebels.” I gave an easy smile. “But we are old citizens as well, and too weary of fighting to pledge ourselves to the High King’s armies, even for coin.”

Kun did not look disappointed, but only smiled broader and shook his head. “That is a pity. You seem as though you would be good to have in a fight. But I might have guessed that you had left your fighting days behind you, what with your companion. Meaning no offense, of course, Grandfather.” He chuckled.

“Oh, that is quite all right, young man,” said Dryleaf, matching the man’s laugh. “Who could look at me and see a great champion?”

Oku padded forwards to sniff at Kun’s boot, and the captain stooped to scratch his shoulder. “Well then,” said Kun. “You are free to go on about your business, of course. But be careful. The Shades emerged from the Birchwood in strength, and seemingly from thin air. One wonders where they could be lurking now.”

“One wonders indeed.” I shook his hand once more and then helped Dryleaf into his saddle before gaining my own. “Thank you for your kindness. It is good to see that even in suspicious times, some have not forgotten the value of courtesy. Sky bless you.”

“And may the moons shine upon your path,” said Kun. He smiled as we left, and even gave a little wave just before we passed through the gate.

“That could have gone worse,” remarked Mag as we passed into the streets of Taitou. “But I think that captain paid more attention to us than he appeared to.”

“You are being paranoid,” I said. “My only worry about him is that he might be too friendly for his own good. A trusting manner is welcome to travelers, but it might let more sinister folk slip through a net that should be tight.”

“I hear your concern,” said Dryleaf with a smile. “Yet it is better to find out one was too kind than to find that one has been too cruel and made others