“If
you are still returning to Mithril after hearing the message.
It was decided that you would want to know about this as soon
as possible. While we don’t understand Drendari’s
need for you, we do respect her, and yourself. You have aided
us in many ways.”
“Fair enough.” Edrin said, stepping forward so
that he was in a more comfortable and personal distance from
the man. “What is the message?”
“The Calastian’s in Shelzar have captured a half-elf
woman. The embassy has her now. We intercepted several messages
going back and forth from Vashon to the embassy regarding this
girl. This attracted our curiosity, since the Calastians have
little regard for females and even less for half-elf girls.”
“I’m guessing that we are getting to the point
where I might care as well.” Edrin said, picking up his
sword belt and re-sheathing his swords. “Its not that
I don’t care about innocents being captured and forced
into slavery, but I thought you Walkers had taken to rescuing
these unfortunates yourself.”
“We have, with various degrees of success, but this one
is a little different. It appears, from the messages that this
girl is claiming to be your daughter.” The Walker said.
Edrin froze, and then turned slowly to look the man directly
in the eyes. He took a step forward, his six foot six inch body
towering over the man seemed to grow even larger to the Walker.
“I think you better tell me your name at this point, Walker.”
“Why?” he stuttered.
“Because if it is true, then there are rewards, and if
it is not, then there are rewards in the afterlife, or so I
am told.” Edrin said, his voice a steel whisper in the
man’s ear.
“Hey now, I can’t be responsible for what some
snip of a girl says under the pressure of interrogation.”
The Walker said, “That’s all I’m saying.”
“That she said it is enough.” Edrin said.
“Oh, well then the name is Fezz, after my father’s
mother.”
A poke in the ribs came from Heilan.
“Okay, it is Rupert, after my Grandmother’s gardener.”
Another poke.
“Okay, it was my Grandmother’s dog, and before
you go jabbing me again, there’s no way I’m giving
up my real name. You can keep the rewards.” Rupert said.
“And by the way prince, you don’t look so good.”
No poke came this time. Heilan was looking at his prince, not
at Rupert. Edrin felt weak suddenly, and then collapsed to the
ground again. “Mother of shadow!” hissed Rupert,
“I didn’t do nothing! Look, he’s bleeding
from his side there, get some bandages!”
“Help me get this jacket off. How do you expect to see
what’s going on with tattered leather all over the place?”
Edrin could hear Rupert just on the edge of consciousness. “Get
some water and a thin knife!” Heilan said something. “Look
you big ox, I don’t care about how strong or fast you
are. Get me some water and a thin knife, and some light!”
Something else said beyond his hearing. “And get that
sister of yours in here too; she knows more about poison than
you obviously do. Move!”
Even Rupert’s rapid voice faded after awhile.
The light fluttered back in, and Edrin was looking at Sorlaya,
sitting over him. “Nasty bug bite you got there prince.”
She said, smiling. “Think you better lay there for a while
and let us finish up here.”
Edrin couldn’t move anyway, his mind was an open sea,
with no wind and no waves, waiting for something, anything to
come across and give direction to the blue on blue horizons.
Rupert and Sorlaya continued to work on the wound. “There,
that’s what I’m looking for.” Rupert said
suddenly. Edrin felt a sharp pain in his side and looked over
to see Rupert pulling out a long thin claw, or a stinger from
his side. “Poison I’m betting.” Rupert hissed.
“Mother of shadows.”
“Not any I recognize.” Sorlaya said.
“Me either.” Edrin mumbled.
“Okay, we’re in agreement, its bad.” Rupert
said, and wrapped the claw in some bandage cloth. “Need
to get him to someone that understands healing better than us,
and we need to get him there fast.”
“Need to go to Shelzar.” Edrin whispered. “My
daughter.”
“No.” Said Heilan from behind him. “You are
going to Burok Torn, to see Edberk. I’ll go to Shelzar
and look for the girl claiming to be your daughter.”
