Battle SeerChapter 16: The Hunt for Romen Garrenson
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Table of Contents Chapter 16, part 1 appears in this issue. |
The room had a small bench up against the wall to his right. There was a large mattress in the far corner and a lot of papers strewn across the floor. There were blood-red markings painted on the walls, each sigil significantly different from the others. There was no Rune Man in the room. He looked towards the door to find Jarren looking at him in shock.
“I thought you said he lived here,” stated the Lord of Nomen, his heart starting to slow a bit. He could hear people upstairs being hustled outside.
Jarren nodded his head that he understood. “I know where we can find our little informer. He’s always at the Shady Rat.”
“Good,” responded Ian as he looked around. “He owes me some money.”
Jarren Arusio stepped into the room hesitantly. He crossed over a piece of paper and came over to Ian. As he did, a door opened quietly in the corner. Ian barely had time to react as an unseen force slammed into the informer sending him flying across the room and into the wall.
Another force barely missed the Lord of Nomen as he spun about to face his attacker. Rapier and dagger came up in defense. Romen Garrenson stood there watching him intently. His robes were pulled back and his finger was dripping blood to the floor below. Each droplet gave out a hiss as it fell to the ground. The man didn’t say a word as he stared at Ian.
“I think we’re in trouble,” came the informant from behind. Ian didn’t turn around, but he glanced back quickly. Jarren was up on his feet, his clothes smoldering and fading from the magical blast.
Then Ian saw what he was talking about. All around them, runes were glowing dimly. They had been carved into the walls of the room with very detailed precision. Ian spun back when he heard the door slam closed. The sigils were drawn on the door as well, and as the runes connected the door disappeared.
The Rune Man’s blood continued to fall to the floor in small hisses. Ian tensed slightly and the Rune Man started to draw. It was all Ian could do from running away. Instead, he sprang forward to strike at the Rune Man only to find himself dodging another magical blast. The blast hit his leg and spun him around. His lungs exploded as he slammed into the wall. He had trouble seeing for a second.
He tried to spring to his feet but found a beam of light running from wall to wall across his chest. All around the room, the sigils were releasing beams of blue light. Ian found himself standing in the middle of a puzzle he could not possibly solve.
The Lord of Nomen looked up from his prone position to find the Rune Man staring down at him. Ian tried to crawl underneath but stopped dead in his tracks when his coat burned where the light touched it. The beams would rip him in half if he weren’t careful.
“You are trapped,” came the Rune Man’s voice. It was hollow and empty of any feeling. “Your death is imminent now. You should not have come here.”
Ian could barely contain the rising panic in his throat. He moved his foot and felt a beam of light slice through the leather of his boot, missing his toes by less than an inch. Behind him, he heard Jarren yell out in pain. He couldn’t help the little informant at the moment.
“Let him go,” exclaimed Ian. “He’s done nothing.”
“But he has,” nodded the Rune Man. “He led you to me. That must not go unpunished.” With a quick motion of his finger, a rune flared to life in front of Romen Garrenson and it sped away to slam Jarren in the chest.
Ian only heard the thud and the huffing and puffing his friend was doing. The informant was trying not to yell out. Ian had to do something fast. He only hoped most of the people were out of the building.
“We only wanted to know how you knew those things that you told our prince,” he yelled.
That caught Romen’s attention.
“I know those things because I foresaw them, fool.” Romen Garrenson touched a beam of light with his finger and it winked out. He took a step closer to Ian. The room’s overhanging light cast the Rune Man’s face in complete shadows as he towered over Ian. He touched another beam and it winked out, as well.
“Say goodbye, Ian. I foresee another to take control over Nomen in the immediate future.”
Romen Garrenson let his blood flow and he drew in the air for a moment. The sigil burned bright and strong for as it hung in mid air. Ian prepared for the blow he knew he could do nothing to deflect or dodge.
With a roar and hiss, the sigil traveled with mighty speed, cutting through beams of light in its explosiveness, and slammed into the Lord of Nomen.
All he felt was heat as the magic entered his body and stilled. He felt his flash ripple with goose bumps. But he couldn’t understand why there was no dulling of the senses nor any pain. His clothes didn’t even burn. He looked up to find the Rune Man staring at him wide-eyed with shock. Ian found genuine fear in those eyes and he looked at his right hand, which was throbbing slightly.
His dagger was pulsating in his hand. He could barely make out a blue shimmering light emanating from the blade. He didn’t have much time to think on it, however curious he was.
“You might have escaped me, but not your friend, fool!“ exclaimed the Rune Man. Instantly he drew another rune and slammed it into Jarren’s chest.
On instinct, Ian brought the blade up. The beam of light winked out. The Lord of Nomen felt his dagger throb in his hand. He was astonished. Quickly, he touched another beam that ran across his legs. It, too, winked out. He was on his feet again as another rune slammed into his friend. Jyro was barely holding himself up as he weakened. If he fell, he would be sliced apart.
Ian didn’t hesitate. He spun about and sliced all the light in front of him clean. He took a step and stabbed the Rune Man in the ribs. The tall, gangly blood mage fell back with a squeal of pain. He quickly drew a sigil and let it fly at Ian.
It fizzled away leaving no trace of its existence. Seeing his weakness, the Rune Man started drawing again. This time Ian was prepared for it. He dove to the floor and came up in front of Jarren. Just in time to catch the blast full in the chest. The blast surrounded him for a moment and weakened.
Not wasting any time, he cut his friend free. This time they both had to dive out of the way as a part of the wall exploded next to them. Romen couldn’t hurt Ian with his magic, but he could hurt him otherwise. Both came up only to tumble away again as part of the ceiling came crashing down. Ian spun away easily, but Jarren was too hurt and was slammed in the back by a falling timber.
Ian needed to act.
The Lord of Nomen came up again determined not to dive, anymore. With a fury no one had seen in the man for two years, Ian Dihn charged forward, spun left and cut the Rune Man across the shoulder. Romen Garrenson ducked and came around again as another part of the wall exploded. But Ian was faster. Wasting no time, he charged from the right and stabbed Romen Garrenson in the leg with his rapier. The Rune Man reeled from the blow and Ian stocked him. His dagger slashed out and cut. Two more steps and the Rune Man fell to the ground lifeless, his eyes still open with the surprise of being bested.
Quickly, Ian bent over and picked up his friend. Jarren was barely conscious. His coat had been completely cut and burned in the front. He picked him up and slung him over a shoulder. With little difficulty, he put his weapons away and headed for the door. He made it to the first step when he heard part of the ceiling crash down into the room. The ceiling was falling apart! He only hoped all of the people were out of the building.
Grunting with the effort, he stumbled up the steps blindly. He took note that the halls were empty. He made it to the top as part of the stairs fell away beneath his last step. He ran as fast as he could down the splintering hall.
Something fell right behind him but he paid it no mind. He charged forward like a man determined and exploded out the front door as something crashed down over him to block the entry way.
He was on his knees panting when he felt the first spattering of rain on his back. For once it felt good against the burning in his lungs. He looked back to find the building in ruins. Then he noticed people surrounded him.
Someone put his hat on his head and he looked up. His men, dressed in light blue cloaks and hats, were going to Jarren’s aid who lay sprawled on the muddy street next to Ian. The informant was unconscious. He made sure they wrapped him properly. Next, he made sure they didn’t take his illegal tools.
Then he turned his attention to his citizens.
Fifty men, women, and children looked at him. Some had blank expression on their faces. Others looked defiant, angry, and some afraid. They stood there with only the clothes on their backs, getting wet and cold, waiting for him, their lord, to tell them what to do. Waiting for some explanation as to what had just happened.
He felt a pain in his heart. They had lost everything tonight. He was responsible for it, too. He was now responsible for putting their lives back in order. He looked down at his belt to the dagger that lay strapped at his waist. He couldn’t believe it. He was as dumbfounded about it as these people were about this night.
Somewhere out in the streets of Nomen, he heard dogs barking. Maybe it was best to get these people out of the rain.
He would tell Father Rayul about it as soon as possible. It wasn’t until he put his dagger out of his mind that he noticed it was raining harder.
He grumbled under his breath as he came to his feet. Then he realized in how much danger they were. Fifty people. It was raining, and it was still nighttime; just the right combination for trouble.
“You,” he pointed to one of his men, a strong man by the looks of him. “Round up these people and take them to my home.”
The man’s eyes widened. “Are you sure, my lord?”
“Yes, do as I say, good sir,” Ian commanded. Those people needed help. “I am their lord. Now hurry. We can still make it back safely!“
And they were off. All the way back to Castle Greypearl the rain chased them.
To be continued...
Copyright © 2005 by Julian Lawler
