Blood, Faith, and Steel Read online

  “Do not be so hasty to judge,” I said.

  Mina patted my arm. “You wait. He’ll be disgusted with me. And I’ll love every minute of it.” She winked at me before she walked away, Waspy flapping and chattering around her head.

  Celiann’s brother approached me.

  “I am Yensid Uroshoil.”

  I nodded to him. “Brady Theirot.”

  He looked at me as if inspecting cargo. “You are the human responsible for allowing Celiann to get into this predicament.”

  “Responsible? I think the trip to the boat disoriented you,” I said.

  Yensid shook his head. “Sister, has this one tried to mate with you yet?”

  Celiann blushed and shook her head.

  I sighed. Yensid didn’t just look down on sorcerers, it seemed.

  “I’m involved with someone else.”

  “Since when’s that stopped humans from trying to mate with other women?”

  At that moment, I would have cheered if another troglodyte flew from the ocean and landed upon him.

  “Well, it’s a good thing my good sister picked up the Golden Sword instead of you,” Yensid said.

  “I don’t understand. How did you know I considered picking it up?”

  “Wizards can sense these things,” Yensid said. “Though it takes little training to know that humans are foolish.”

  Berythal forgive me, I wished Waspy would have landed upon his shoulder and bloodied his ear.

  “Humans are too reckless to control Elven magic,” Yensid said.

  Celiann’s eyes met my own. “It’s not that you’re reckless. It’s your faith. No worshipper of Berythal could ever wield this blade.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  She patted the hilt of the Golden Sword. “If you had touched this blade, it may very well have destroyed your faith, or killed you outright. This sword holds experiences so dark it caused even me to question my faith.”

  “And she’s an elf. Magic that strong would destroy a human mind,” Yensid said. “Come sister, walk with me for a moment.”

  Mina came back as they walked away. “Told you he was going to be snobbish as a cursed snapdragon.”

  No wonder Celiann didn’t like spending time with him.

  A half hour later, Celiann, Yensid, and I found ourselves in Captain Dristake’s office. He excused himself as soon as we arrived, and for the next minute he yelled and cursed at his crew from outside his door. Once finished, he came back in and slammed his blue gloves on the table. “If I knew what it was, I wouldn’t have brought it aboard my vessel. And if I’d known that crazed half-elf woman was that deadly with a bow, I’d have tried to hire her.”

  “Perhaps you still can,” I said, though I knew Lelliani would decline. I couldn’t get that lucky.

  “I’m expected to deliver that crate, and I’ve a reputation to uphold. Good smugglers don’t ask questions. Can’t have it said that I pick sides. But I’ll not put that thing into the hands of the Omega Brotherhood, though it’s bad business crossing that lot.” He spat upon his own floor.

  “Savages, these halflings,” Yensid said to his sister, not even bothering to whisper.

  The Captain glared. “Flying whales! It’s my floor; I’ll spit anywhere I like. I got scrubbers that keep my deck spotless.”

  I tried to diffuse the tension. “Perhaps we can put the box back together, give them the illusion they’re still getting it. By the time they realize something is amiss, we’ll have sailed away. Chances are small they would ask for any details. If you’re an accomplished liar, tell them you were attacked and fended off the troglodytes.”

  “Lie I can, better than most. Kalsten’s the key. He’s agreed to assure his contacts that nothing was disturbed,” Captain Dristake said.

  “Why would he do that?” I asked.

  “He’s been with my ship for ten years. His father and mine sailed together. His wife is my wife’s sister. I can’t just be done with him without giving him a chance to redeem himself.”

  “Your sailor should mind his finances,” Yensid said.

  Dristake spit again. “Elf, stick to falling out of the sky. You know nothing about sailors. Kalsten will do his part. If he fails, he’ll never sail aboard another Halfling vessel.”

  Celiann nodded. “It’s good to give him a second chance. Honorable.”

  Dristake barked a laugh. “Honor’s got nothing to do with it. He’s not the first sailor to cause me trouble, and Kalsten wasn’t born with much brains. The lad didn’t know he’d bring an attack. I’d swear an oath to it. He’ll swab the decks until he can he win back his mates. It’ll take him years to become a full sailor aboard my ship again, and that’s if he gets the rest of the gems he was promised.”

  “If he fails?” I asked.

  There was no trace of humor in his voice when he answered. “Well, there’s plenty of sharks that need a feeding, family or not.”

  Chapter 4

  Several days later, we arrived near the shore.

  “It’s necessary, Butter Mumkins.” Both Elanor’s hands were in mine as I pleaded with her not to leave.

  “We need you.”

  “We can’t leave the halflings without support. And I’m the only one that can sneak ashore unseen in case they need some close-up support,” Elanor said, the smile never leaving her face.

  “You could be hurt, and I won’t be there to —”

  Elanor stopped my words with a kiss. “If I get hurt, I can have the cinnamon bread healer fix me.”

  “But I don’t —”

  Her fingers covered my lips. “Lelliani and I will stay with the halfling as the bad guys approach the docks. We’ll sneak ashore, move to vantage points, and provide cover in case things go bad. Captain Dristake and his crew need us. We probably won’t have to fire a shot.”

  “Lelliani will shoot someone. She always does. I should stay, help you —”

  “I can handle myself. Don’t worry. We’ll only be a day or so behind you.”

  I started to argue. Elanor’s eyebrows rose, which meant I was about to make her angry. I’d done that a few times, and regretted it. “Yes, dear.”

  She smiled and hugged me. “Be careful, my love.”

  She kissed me once more, turned, and disappeared below the hold. I sighed. There was no winning a dispute with her, and somehow, she made me like losing.

  Mina and I managed to mend the runes that held the Golden Sword. I assigned a glyph to them, which would make them glow when they were pronounced. Mina added a spell that, once the runes were read, would summon an insect swarm to attack anyone near the box. Why an insect swarm? How was I supposed to know?

  “Looks like it was never opened,” Mina said.

  I nodded. We’d put Celiann’s spare broadsword in the place of the Golden Sword. I’d cast a permanent light spell upon the blade, and Mina painted it gold. At first look, it would appear to be the Golden Sword.

  I wouldn’t be there to see if the ruse worked, though.

  Birch, Celiann, Yensid, Mina and I were to cast ashore. Yensid suggested we make our way to the Elven forest, about fifty miles north of the beach. He assured us they would know what to do with the Golden Sword. I wasn’t much for the idea, but Celiann agreed with him, and since she carried the Golden Sword, we all deferred to her.

  It would be horrible to be split from Elanor, but at least Lelliani would be gone. Berythal forgive me, to this day I was glad to be rid of her, even for a short time.

  The five of us climbed into a well-built but small boat, which barely seated us. It had two long oars, and it would be up to Birch to guide us ashore. He’d been getting a crash course in operating it from several members of Captain Dristake’s crew.

  Once we were all in the small boat, Captain Dristake gave us one last set of directions. “Straight ahead is where you want to land. Aim for the beach.” He pointed, and though the sun was just above the treetops, we could easily make out the sandy beach.

  “What if we miss the san
d?” Mina asked.

  “Aim for it,” Dristake said, “and you won’t have to worry about it.”

  “No problem. Birch good rower,” Birch said, and with an oar he shoved us away from Captain Dristake’s ship.

  We quickly found out that Birch had no idea how to row a boat.

  “Um, we’re going the wrong way,” Mina said. She sat in the very point of the boat, though I couldn’t see her because of Birch’s bulk. It quickly became apparent she was correct, for I could see the ship ahead of us, and I was sitting at the back of the boat.

  “Birch, we’re heading back toward the ship,” I said.

  “Birch just warming up,” Birch said.

  We rowed in circles for the next few minutes. The ship would appear in front of me, then to the side, and then it was gone.

  “We should’ve brought a halfling,” Yensid said. “We’re not going anywhere.”

  “Birch good rower. Elf watch.”

  Mina gave colorful directions, though Birch ignored her until she used Waspy. The creature would fly to the oar that Birch needed to row. Then it would fly back to Mina, who would tell it where to go next. Sure enough, the boat slowly turned and stayed in the right direction. Over the next hour, the shore became closer, though it became apparent we were not going to land on the sandy beach.

  Ten feet from the shore, the boat collided with an unseen rock. The boat almost tipped over, and before it righted itself, Mina and Celiann were catapulted from the boat and into the shallow water.

  “Oops,” Birch said, as he hopped into the waist-high water to drag the boat ashore.

  Yensid complained. “Clumsy half-orc. You should be more —”

  Birch gave me a slight nod, and I held on tight. He jolted the boat on purpose, and Yensid fell face first into the water.

  “Sorry. Birch all thumbs,” the half-orc said, not bothering to hide his smile.

  I suppressed a grin as I reached for Yensid and pulled him upright. “Best not irritate him too much. When he goes berserk in battle, he sometimes loses control. After the enemies all die, he goes for the ones he likes the least.”

  Yensid was quiet for a time after that, though Berythal only knows why.

  Fifty feet inland were thick trees; one long, narrow path wound through them.

  If Lelliani was with us, she’d be able to tell at a glance what had roamed up and down that path. Without her expertise, we could only plod onward, Birch in the lead, followed by Mina, Yensid, and myself. Celiann brought up the rear.

  We traveled for several hours through the large, ancient trees. It appeared to be a normal forest, and I actually enjoyed the quiet hike. We had no encounters until we rounded a sharp corner.

  Birch’s sword rasped from its scabbard and he took up a battle stance. We fanned to either side of the barbarian, weapons at the ready. Ahead of us was a small brook that meandered across the path. Several large rocks were on either side of the running water, and a small, wooden bridge that could be walked over in three steps was directly in the middle of the path.

  An enormous, hairy monster stood in the middle of the clearing. It had the head and torso of a bull, though it stood upright upon two tree-trunk thick, furry legs. It was twice as wide as Birch, two feet taller, and just as muscular. A treacherous great axe bore dual crescent blades, and the head of the weapon rested upon the ground. One of the monster’s elbows leaned on the handle.

  It was a minotaur.

  It did not bellow and charge like a normal minotaur would. Oddly enough, its eyes reflected intelligence. The minotaur was dressed in a clean, colorful purple coat and matching breeches. Its brown whiskers upon its wide chin were combed straight. Though we were downwind, its odor did not make me gag.

  Praise Berythal, it was a clean minotaur!

  “Greetings. I am Valas. It is my humble duty to guard this path,” it said.

  And a talking one at that.

  Birch didn’t lower his sword. Yensid whispered to his sister, and Mina moved behind me.

  Silence ensued, and I knew if I didn’t speak, Birch would attack. “Greetings, Valas. I am Brady, and these are my friends.”

  “How did you come to be here? This path can be found by only the most skilled of trackers,” Valas said. The axe didn’t move, and its stance remained relaxed.

  “We came by boat,” I said, “and travel to the Elven lands.”

  Valas grinned. “I see. You must go back along the shore. Follow it until you come to a village. There you can find the path that will take you there.”

  Yensid stepped forward. “Kind Valas, the village is not an option.”

  “I suppose you cannot tell me why?” Valas asked.

  “Can you tell us why you guard such a puny bridge?” Yensid asked.

  Valas only smiled.

  The only thing more disturbing than a clothed minotaur was a smiling one.

  “Only those in great need may use this path, and they must serve a greater cause. It is my responsibility to assure that the conditions are met.”

  Yensid spoke again. “We have such a need, and would like to pass.”

  “Perhaps. However, I must ask you up to four questions. Answer two of them correctly and you may,” Valas said.

  “What if we don’t?” Celiann asked.

  “Then you must go back. You may try to force your way, but that will be no easy task, I assure you,” Valas said.

  “If we must answer your questions to pass, we shall try,” I said. “But understand, we are a bit taken aback. You are no typical minotaur.”

  “That I am not. These questions are not typical, either, and have but one answer. Each of you may try to answer the question. If all five of you fail, you fail the question. Understand?”

  “Ridiculous. I’m an Elven prince. That is reason enough to let me pass,” Yensid said.

  I turned my back on the minotaur and whispered loud enough for our party to hear. “We try to fight this thing, someone’s likely to die.”

  Yensid looked at Birch. “He looks big enough to take him.”

  Birch didn’t answer, only turned to the minotaur. “Birch answer questions. If Birch fail, Yensid can fight Valas for bridge.”

  Yensid gasped. Birch and Mina chuckled. Celiann stared at me, her gaze blaming me for that comment.

  I never could win, could I?

  “Ask your questions, good Valas,” I said.

  Valas leaned his axe against a nearby tree, and clasped his hands behind his back. His stance, even though apparently relaxed, left little doubt of its readiness for battle should we try to double-cross him.

  “What goes around the house, and in the house, but never touches it?”

  We were all stumped except Birch, who answered, “The sun.”

  Yensid gasped. “That’s not possibly the answer, it —”

  “Correct,” Valas said. “Are you ready for the next?”

  Yensid opened his mouth, and then shut it. Behind him, Mina attempted to hide her laughter.

  I turned to Valas. “Ready.”

  “There are four brothers in the world that were all born together. The first runs and never wearies. The second eats and is never full. The third drinks and is always thirsty. The fourth sings a song that is never good. Who are we?”

  Birch grinned and looked at Yensid. “Birch knows. Does Elf prince?”

  “My name is Yensid. Yensid —”

  Valas cleared his throat loud enough to cut off the surly elf.

  Birch grinned wider. Behind Yensid, Mina had to sit down she was laughing so hard.

  Birch opened his mouth, but Yensid cut him off. “Wait! I know this one.”

  Birch laughed. “Elf not know. Elf stalling.”

  “I am not, I —”

  Valas cleared his throat again. “If you cannot answer this one, I can ask the next, but you may only —”

  “Water, Fire, Earth, Wind,” Birch said.

  Valas nodded. “Correct. You have proven your intelligence and wisdom, and may pass. Excelle
nt job, Birch.”

  “Ask another,” Yensid said.

  Valas shook his head. “It is not necessary. You have passed the test.”

  Yensid stomped his left foot. “Please ask one more.”

  The minotaur sighed. Mina howled with laughter. Celiann looked furiously embarrassed. Birch had already walked past Valas.

  Valas grinned. “Very well. What lives without a body, hears without ears, speaks without a mouth, to which the air alone gives birth. What am I?”

  Birch turned from the path ahead and yelled, “An echo.”

  “Correct,” Valas said.

  “That was mine, barbarian!” Yensid yelled.

  Celiann grabbed her brother’s arm. “Stop it. You’re making a fool of us!”

  “There is no dishonor in being bested by the barbarian, kind elf,” Valas said.

  He began to speak, but Celiann’s arm gripped him so hard he gasped.

  Thank the Gods, Yensid kept his mouth shut and walked up the path.

  People misjudge Birch because he’s seven feet tall, sometimes slobbers when he fights, and has an uncontrollable rage problem. I learned early upon meeting him that he is very intelligent.

  Yensid had just figured that out.

  “How did you ascertain the correct answers?” Yensid asked him several minutes later when he caught up to him.

  “Birch knows things. How to rip off heads, how to solve riddles — many things.”

  “Perhaps you could teach me to answer such riddles,” Yensid said.

  Birch shook his head. “Book-smart prince never understand.”

  Yensid’s face crawled into disgust. “It was sheer luck you solved those. You probably heard it in a tavern.”

  “Very old riddles to be heard in a tavern,” Valas said from behind them.

  “Give us another one then,” Yensid said. “I’ll answer it.”

  The minotaur nodded, and recited the next riddle. “When one does not know what it is, then it is something; but when one knows what it is, then it is nothing. What is it?” Valas asked.

  “Birch know that one,” Birch said.

  Yensid did not answer, though he pondered it for several long minutes. “I’m afraid I cannot answer that one. But I doubt you know that one, barbarian.”