John and his companions are searching the mountains for survivors from the abandoned village of Rock Haven. This chapter, sadly, lacks any sexy-times. Consider it a reprieve, there's plenty more action yet to come!
Chapter 9
,
Chapter 1
, or
Enchanted
, the book that started it all
"There it is," Helleen called back as softly as she could.
John and Artesia lifted the heads and peered ahead. John could see as well in the dark as if it were high noon thanks to his demonic heritage but he didn't want the others to know. He glanced at Artesia first and saw she was picking out the buildings too. He turned and called back to the others, relaying the information that they'd found the village of Highpass.
"Let's go, it's almost too dark to see the ground in front of me," Matthew said. "I don't much care for being hunted in the dark."
"Better to be the hunter?" Artesia asked.
"No, better to be around a camp fire or in my bedroll!"
Artesia let her lips twitch in a smile at his unexpected response.
They continued to the out buildings and moved past them. There were no lights flickering in the windows but the faint smell of cook fires lingered in the air. They looked to one another, their spirits boosted at the thought of what cook fires meant.
Jennaca held out her hand when she and Helleen reached the edge of a house. Helleen stopped, her chain-covered bodice pressing against Jennaca's arm. Helleen turned back, her chain links rustling against one another, and held out a hand to warn the others.
"What is it?" John whispered after closing the distance and pressing in behind them.
"Nothing," Jennaca said. "And that's the problem. We're on the late side of dusk, sure, but there should still be people about. Those at a tavern or some guards or something, you'd think."
"You'd think," John agreed. He peered past her and looked up and down the street. "Not many buildings, really. That one there would be the first one they built. It's large enough for people to stay in while they built up others. When it's done it turns into a tavern or temple or something, I'd guess."
"A temple should be built upon consecrated ground," Sadie said from behind him.
John glanced over his shoulder at her. "You're right, a proper one would be."
"Well, let's start here," Jennaca said and gestured at the building they were crouched beside.
"If they've a fire inside I wouldn't mind warming up a little," Helleen agreed.
Artesia snorted and let it go at that. As the sun had dipped behind the ridge and settled into the west the temperature had grown colder and colder. They'd climbed higher into the mountains too, making it harder to breathe as they went since the air thinned. Skimpy armored skirts and daring breastplates did little to protect plunging cleavage from plunging temperatures.
John gave Jennaca a nod and said, "Let's go introduce ourselves."
Jennaca flashed him a smile. The two of them left the shelter of the building and walked around to the front. A gentle breeze blew across the opening in the center of the town. John's infernal heritage helped him take no notice of inconvenient climates. Jennaca's arms and belly shivered and was covered in goose pimples but she ignored it and moved to the door of the small home.
John nodded when she looked at him. She knocked on the door and stepped back and to the side. They waited almost a full minute before Jennaca stepped up and knocked on the door again, harder.
They looked at one another after several more seconds passed. John opened his mouth but Jennaca gave him a quick shake of her head and pointed at the door. John's eyes narrowed and he looked back at it.
"Who's out there?" a gruff voice called from behind the door.
"Travelers," John answered. "We're from Rock Haven."
Silence greeted him. He and Jennaca shared another look before the man spoke again, "The pass is blocked!"
"We climbed over it," John said. "Took us a couple of hours and we suffered a few bumps and bruises for the effort."
"What's your name?"
"John. My companion is Jennaca and I've several others that came with me, including a priestess of Eile."
The speaker was silent again. John tempered his desire to pound the door open and was rewarded when he heard a bolt being drawn and then the latch lifted. The door opened enough for a bearded man to peer out at him. He looked John up and down, his eyes narrow with suspicion.
"You're John?"
"Yes," John said.
The door opened wider and so did his eyes when he saw Jennaca in her loin cloth, half shirt, and multiple weapons. "A bit cold out, isn't it?"
Jennaca shrugged. "Feels nice, but if I stop moving it might set in to me."
He grunted and looked past the two of them. "You said you had others... and a priestess?"
"I do," John said and nodded to Jennaca.
She stepped back and to the side until Helleena and Artesia could see her. She waved and they all came walking out. They gathered in front of the door and the three scantily clad gladiators shivered in the mountain breeze that flowed through the common space of the small village.
"This is Sadie, she's chosen of Eile," John said and gestured at the woman.
Sadie smiled at the villager and stepped forward so he could see her. "I wouldn't say chosen, but I am a priestess. Are you hurt or sick?"
He hesitated and then said, "Not me, but my brother... he hurt his leg."
"I'd be happy to see to him," she said.
He nodded and eyed John. "Just you."
"Half a moment, friend," John said. "We--"
"I got no proof you're friends," the villager said. "You want me to trust you, you need to give me a reason. Send her in to help my brother. If all goes well then that'll be a mark in your favor."
John glanced at Sadie and then back to the man. "Sadie's not mine to command, she's free to do as she wishes. All of these people are, I was simply hoping to get some of our more exposed members out of the cold."
"We're fine," Roxanne said. "Fine enough for now, that is."
John looked to Helleen and Weston and got clipped nods in return. He turned back to the villager and smiled. "Well, seems they're made of sterner stuff than I gave them credit for. We'll wait out here."
The villager glanced out into the darkness and nodded. "Take care... set a guard or something. Don't wander off either, these lands aren't safe. Especially at night."
John wanted to ask him about the demons but he bit the question back and said, "So we've learned. We'll be fine... for a bit, at least."
The villager pulled the door back and motioned for Sadie to come in. She cast the others a glance before slipping through the opening in the door. It was pushed shut and locked behind her, leaving them standing in the cold, dark, empty village proper.
"You didn't ask about the demons?" Matthew noted.
"We'll get to that," John said. "The longer I sit and chat with him now, the longer it takes us to greet them proper and get inside."
"If they haven't be taken, are we even sure there's a problem?" Weston asked. He turned and gestured. "I mean, here's a town. Small, but still a half dozen buildings and a well in the middle of it all. Maybe something else happened at Rock Haven?"
"Like what?" Jennaca asked.
Weston looked at her and blushed. "I... I'm not sure."
"Don't forget Arika and her grandfather," she said. "They didn't lock themselves up and nearly die of thirst on their own."
Weston clamped his lips together and nodded.
"It's good to question though," John praised the young gladiator. "Keep us on our toes and make sure we're not overlooking something."
His head lifted and he nodded.
Matthew caught John's eyes and gave a nod of thanks.
"Artesia," John said and turned to his woman-at-arms. "Would you make sure we're set up in case something comes out of the wilderness at us?"
"Yes, my lord," she said. "Should we protect the entire town, or just this house?"
"The town, if we can manage. Let's show them we're not fucking around."
"You're serious about this, aren't you?" Matthew asked.
"Until we know more, we have to act on what we do know," John said.
Artesia had to clear her throat and called Jennaca's name a second time to get the women to break through her adoring gaze at John. She soon had all of them with instructions on how to patrol -- in pairs, no less -- and how often to check in or call out if something was amiss. Everyone, even Zynga, had a job save for John and Matthew. They remained in front of the house and waited, each lost in their own thoughts until one of them thought of some manner of small talk to share.
The night stretched on until, almost an hour later, the door opened and Sadie stepped out. She was wiping her hands with a rag and frowned when she found only John and Matthew. "Where are the others?" she asked.
"Patrolling," Matthew answered.
"What's this? Patrolling? Patrolling what?" the villager asked as he filled the doorway.
"This village," John said. "Making sure none of whatever's out there comes in here."
The villager winced. "We tried that. Then our men started to disappear. Nobody wanted to do it after that."
"We're taking care to make sure that doesn't happen."
"So did we," he muttered.
"How's your brother?" John asked, redirecting the conversation.
He straightened and looked to Sadie. His face softened and he nodded. "Your words were true, she helped him."
"It was a bad broken," Sadie said. "Bone was broken and through the skin. It took three men plus me to set it straight and bring Eile's blessing to him."
"He'll walk again?" the villager asked.
"Yes, but infection had begun to set in, much longer and he'd have lost his foot."
The villager shuddered. "I can't think you enough then... please, come in. It's a bit tight in here but we can make do if there's only a couple of you."
