[Episode 9] Spire and the Dragonwood Affair

[Novelette] Tales of Stonehaven [1,612 words]

Spire and the Dragonwood Affair is the first of five novelettes in The 5th Compass series. Captain Silverblade, the most feared and hated pirate in all of Stonehaven, has put her life in the hands of four of her most trusted pirates. Their mission is to each take possession of an enchanted compass and hide them where no one can ever find them. This is the story of Spire and how he got on with hiding the compass given to him.

Wendynn and his two traveling companions rushed outside and immediately shielded their eyes, not expecting such harsh sunlight. Inside, the tavern was darker than even they had realized. They looked in both directions, but the four brothers and the two guards they saw earlier were nowhere in sight. Instead, there were just townspeople milling around, talking to each other, paying no mind to the three strangers.

“I think it’s time we bid our farewell. This place is too out in the open. Let’s go someplace where there are less people. I want to be back on the ship before the sun sets.”

Wendynn took bigger strides this time, moving faster as he bobbed and weaved his way through the crowds. His companions were feeling quite sluggish from all the food they consumed earlier and were having a hard time keeping up with him until he collided into a child no taller than his waist. A man who followed close behind caught her. He steadied her by the shoulders.

“Watch where you are going, clumsy child,” Traix said, maneuvering Adelaide around Wendynn.

“I meant no harm. I didn’t see the little thing. Are you all right?”

Wendynn knelt down beside Adelaide, obstructing Traix’s ability to continue on to wherever they were going. She clutched a sword to her chest and smiled up at Wendynn with bright green eyes. She nodded then quickly looked away shyly. Traix looked from Wendynn to the two men who were approaching them at a quick pace and knew they were headed in his direction, too. They had found him!

“We must go,” Traix blurted out before taking Adelaide by the hand and rushing her past Wendynn. “Come along, girl.”

“What was that about?” one of the pirate’s said when he approached Wendynn who was still in a knelt position, watching Adelaide being dragged by Traix across the street at a breakneck speed.

“I don’t know, but I think we’ll accomplish more if we split up. Here,” he said, pulling his pouch of coins from around his neck and handing it to one pirate. “Take this and buy us supplies and food with it. But more supplies than food. I’ll meet you both back at the ship in a few hours.”

They both looked at the pouch filled with coins and back at Wendynn unsure if this was such a good idea.

“But—”

“This is not a discussion. I gave you an order. Now, go!”

They both shrugged and turned on their heels, letting their nose lead them to find some food. Wendynn knew it wasn’t a good idea to send them to buy supplies and hoped they heard his directive to buy more supplies than food. But his reasons for sending them away wasn’t so he could complete their mission faster. He felt a connection he couldn’t quite understand to the little girl and felt he needed to know more about her. When his two companions were out of sight, he quickly looked for the girl. But she and the man who pulled her were nowhere in sight. He had lost them. But they couldn’t have gone far. And now that he was alone he felt he could move about quickly and unnoticed as he scoured the neighboring streets in search of her.

It wasn’t long before he heard her voice shout for the man who pulled her to slow down. He spotted them down a side street and quickly ducked back around the corner out of sight.

“Traix, he’s not following us. Please slow down. We’ve been walking for ages and my feet need a rest.”

Traix relented and let her go. He leaned his weary body against a building and sighed, bringing his hands up to rub his eyes. He was exhausted as well. He felt like he hadn’t slept for days, keeping watch over them ever since they left Ebonthorn on a ship bound for Dragonwood where he felt they would be safer. Perhaps he underestimated the king’s reach. Traix was right. The king would never allow one of his own men to run away. What could he do? And did the king know he traveled with a child? Will keeping Adelaide with him be what gets him captured or worse, killed?

“Are you rested enough?” Traix asked, pushing himself off the wall and stretching as much as he could. The sound of bones cracking echoed down the alleyway and made Adelaide cringe.

“It has only been a few seconds. Let’s go back and sleep. No one recognized us there. I feel like I hardly got a few hours’ sleep.”

Traix looked down at Adelaide still clutching tightly to her sword. She refused to let him carry it, even though he promised it was just so they wouldn’t be stopped. It was his sword, after all. He still couldn’t believe how easily she parted with her father’s sword, just handing it off to that witch. That witch! She was the reason for all of this and he hated her for it. Why did she have to be wandering in the woods that night? They were just fine until she came along with her false promises of a safe haven where they could live out their lives in peace where the king would never find them.

“Fine, we’ll go back. I paid for two nights after all. You can sleep, but then we leave at nightfall. Agreed?” Traix held out his hand for her to shake when a can rolled down the mouth of the alley. “Who’s there?”

With his hands raised and palms open, Wendynn stepped from around the corner. He was so busy listening to their conversation that he didn’t notice the can at his foot until he kicked it. “I mean you no harm. I just wanted to make sure the little thing was all right. I heard her shouting.”

Traix couldn’t quite make out Wendynn who stood in the shade of the buildings on either side. He squinted and took a few cautious steps forward, then stopped immediately. “You? Why are you following us? See,” he said, turning around expecting to find Adelaide standing behind him, but she wasn’t there. He spun back towards Wendynn, but it was too late. She was already a few steps away, headed towards him.

“Hello, I’m Adelaide. What’s your name?” She held her tiny hand out for Wendynn to shake.

“My name’s Wendynn. You’re such a little thing to be carrying around a big sword. Are you your father’s protector?” Wendynn knelt down in front of her again like he had before and winked at her.

“Maybe.”

“Adelaide, come here, now.” Traix remained rooted where he was, not daring to get any closer to Wendynn in case someone ambushed him.

“It’s all right, Traix. He won’t hurt us. Look, he’s not with the king. At least, not any king I know. Are you a pirate?” Her eyes lit up with she said the word ‘pirate’ and he smiled at her.

“Can you keep a secret?” Wendynn asked, and she nodded rigorously. “I am a pirate.”

“That’s about enough,” Traix said, this time finding the courage to come up behind her and pull her back, away from Wendynn. “Pirates aren’t welcome in Dragonwood. I suggest you leave or I’ll be forced to call the guards.”

“I doubt that, Traix—”

Traix stumbled backwards. “How do you know my name? Who sent you? Who? Who?” Panic began to set in, and his voice cracked at the mere mention of his name. He didn’t realize that Adelaide had called him by his name in front of this stranger, but it didn’t matter now. He knew Adelaide would not give him his sword; his only solution was to use the dagger he had hidden in his boot. He reached down for it and brandished it before Wendynn could return to his feet and retrieve his own hidden dagger.

“Traix, don’t.” Adelaide raised her hand towards Traix who’s hand holding the dagger suddenly opened and it fell with a clatter to the ground.

Traix looked back at Adelaide, “not again,” and he crumpled to the floor, knocked out cold. Wendynn and Adelaide ran and stood over his body.

“Did you do that?” Wendynn asked. He knelt down and put two fingers to Traix throat. He was still breathing, though it was slight.

“Yes. I don’t know how I do it. I’m sorry, Traix.” She looked down at him and a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Don’t cry. I’m sure you didn’t mean to. He said ‘not again’ before he hit the floor. I take it this isn’t the first time this has happened?” She shook her head, unable to speak. “How long will he be like this?”

She swallowed hard and found her voice again to answer. “Last time we were in the woods. He yelled at me because I wanted to rest. He was asleep for hours. I honestly don’t know. Why am I like this?” She looked at Wendynn with pleading eyes, hoping he would have an answer for her.

“I’m afraid I don’t know, but you can’t stay here. How far is it from here to where you’re staying? Perhaps we can get him to bed before anyone asks questions?”

“Not far. We can get there through the alley. Traix prefers to travel that way. Strange isn’t it? I bump into you after begging him to let me get some sun on my face?”

“Yes, strange. Anyone ever tell you, you speak with experience far beyond your years?”

Adelaide didn’t answer. She just smiled as she led Wendynn, who hoisted Traix over his shoulder, down the alley.