Lord of innis torr, p.7
Lord of Innis Torr, page 7
part #3 of Bridge Quest Series
“That’s it?” Noble said, disappointed.
“Yeah,” Kevin chuckled, “that’s it. I figure no sense in making an enemy of the big guy. When he comes back, he’ll see that she was well taken care of and I can pry him away from Karl.”
“Huh,” Noble grunted. “That’s a good idea.”
“What else?” Kevin urged.
Noble shrugged. “It’s the same story. We spend our days exploring the city and come back here. While Dieter stalks around the place wanting to get back to rescue Elena, Karl and Caryn and Raquel are frolicking in his bedroom.”
“Together?” Kevin said, his eyes popping wide, though not without a hint of envy.
“Naw, not together. Still, while they’re enjoying themselves, Dieter and I are left to fend for ourselves. Karl sent the two women into some town today to get food with the intention of staying here for a while.”
“What?” Kevin snarled. “What town, where?”
“I don’t know. They didn’t say.”
“Did you ask them?”
“No. I didn’t want to raise suspicions.”
“Find out.” Kevin ordered.
“I will,” Noble calmly replied, “when the time is right.”
Kevin pursed his lips in irritation then said, “What’s Karl got in mind?”
“It’s like I’ve said before, I’m not quite sure yet, but now he talks about wanting Annabeth here, that if they had her, he’d feel confident enough to start back.”
“I will not give him the sorceress,” Kevin tartly replied.
“Have it your way,” Noble said. “All I’m doing is telling you what he said. My guess is that if she was here, it might cause a little discord.”
“What do you mean?”
“Though the two women are willing to play along, I don’t think they’re quite as happy as they let on. It’s not overt, but the two women snip at each other. My guess is that if Annabeth was here, it would get even worse. You can imagine how three women would be all wanting the same guy. Karl would have to move on just to keep them occupied.”
“I won’t give him the sorceress,” Kevin said.
“You said that already. I’m just relaying what I hear.”
“Anything else?” Kevin said with finality.
“No.”
“Tomorrow night then. Find out where the town is.”
Kevin’s stone went blank and Noble wrapped his in the opaque cloth.
Karl emerged from the shadows. “Good job. Sleep well.”
For the next week, Noble’s reports remained the same. Kevin’s anger manifested itself when Noble was unable to produce the name of the town where Caryn and Raquel once again went food shopping.
“Why not?” Kevin demanded, barely controlling his frustration.
“Because they said the damned town didn’t have a name,” Noble snapped.
“That’s impossible,” Kevin stated. “Every town in this game has a name.”
“Listen,” Noble replied, his own frustration mounting, “I’m telling you what they told me. If I keep pestering them they’re gonna begin to wonder about me. For the last time, all they said was that it was a small village with a smithy, a butcher, two taverns and a bunch of homes, somewhere in Mann.”
“That doesn’t help,” Kevin huffed.
“Yeah, well that’s all I got.” Noble folded his arms and with a grimace of pained irritation, said, “This is getting old. At least Karl has the two women to play with. I’m stuck here twiddling my thumbs waiting for the man to get off his ass and do something. I’m beginning to think he’d be content to stay here for the next ten years.”
“Do something then.”
“Like what?” Noble disdainfully replied. “It’s not like he’s going to listen to me.”
“What about Dieter?”
“Dieter is loyal to a fault,” Noble said, shaking his head. “Even though his beloved Elena is back there, Dieter will not cross Karl and will support him in everything. I give the man credit. He’s a man of his word, regardless of circumstances.”
“What’s that supposed to mean,” Kevin said, staring at him with cold hard eyes.
“It means just what I said,” Noble answered, wondering what had suddenly upset Kevin. “The man will not budge unless Karl tells him it’s OK.”
“And the two women?”
Noble splayed his hands. “The same.”
“Dammit all,” Kevin groused. “What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s distracted,” Noble answered. “He’s got two babes with him here. Why should he move on when he has all he needs right here?”
“That’s not like him,” Kevin observed.
“I know you said you wouldn’t send Annabeth back, but I think you’re making a mistake.”
“Why?” Kevin’s face hardened.
“Look at it this way,” Noble reasoned. “With Annabeth here, the only person left in Avnoch is Elena. Karl can’t justify leaving her there, especially when the rest of the team is here. He’ll have to go back just to get her. How could he look Dieter in the face and say ‘we’re gonna stay put.’ Besides, add Annabeth to the mix and you know we’re gonna have to move. Further, once we get going, it’ll be only a matter of time before I can find out where we are and report back to you.”
Kevin silently stared at him. “Two days. We’ll talk again in two days.”
Two days later, Noble reported the same repetitive report. Kevin angrily terminated the link before Noble could finish.
Noble didn’t report in for the next three days. When he finally did, Kevin was not happy.
“Where the hell have you been?”
“Right here like usual,” Noble replied, the answer obvious.
“Why didn’t you report in?” Kevin’s glower had the look of someone who hadn’t slept well for a couple of days.
“Didn’t see the sense to it,” Noble indifferently replied. “All I do is tell you the same thing over and over again, and all you do is get mad that nothing’s changed, like it’s somehow my fault that Karl hasn’t done anything.”
“That’s not your place,” Kevin flared, “to decide when to report. You do it like I ordered you to.”
“Ordered me to,” Noble sneered. “You can get off your high horse. I’m not some lackey to be pushed around. I’m doing this because I see personal gain from it. In fact, I could terminate this whole business and you’d be up shit’s creek not knowing what’s going on. How’d you like that to happen?”
“What?” Kevin exploded.
“Keep it down,” Noble snarled. “Yell at me all you want, but if you compromise me, we’re through. Get it? Through.”
Noble forcibly suppressed a laugh watching Kevin simmer, his eyes bugged out in apoplectic anger, jaw clenched. After a long silence filled the room, and Kevin regained control of his emotions, he narrowed a hateful stare at Noble.
Wanting to reach through the stone to throttle the little bastard, he instead restrained himself and asked, “What’s the status?”
“Pretty much the same,” Noble replied. “We’re learning the city quite well. I think he’s decided to make this place our home base, sort of his new capital. He’s talked about positioning weapons at strategic spots while scoping out the locals to see who can be trusted to bring into the city.”
Kevin’s jaw dropped. “Dammit all.” Then in one quick burst of words, he said, “Two days from today. Report.” And the stone went blank.
Surprised at the rebuff, Noble wrapped the stone as Karl stepped out of the shadows.
“That was well done,” Karl complimented. “Let’s see what happens.”
What happened occurred the next day. Karl purposely kept everyone in the citadel. He had Noble make a listing of the wines in the buttery, and Dieter was put to inventorying the weapons while he and the two Rangers waited in Annabeth’s room, seated comfortably in cushioned chairs brought up from the living room.
“I wonder if one of us ought to wait in your room,” Raquel said, standing.
“Probably a good idea,” Caryn agreed.
No sooner had Raquel stepped into his room that she called out, “She’s coming.”
Karl and Caryn raced back to his room to witness Annabeth amalgamating in the middle of the room. Like Raquel before her, Annabeth solidified on her hands and knees, facing away from them.
Her transformation complete, she sat back and gasped a deep long breath, her hand probing her throat. She startled when Raquel softly asked, “Are you OK?”
She turned her head to stare up at them, her face unmasked in a pain that penetrated her soul. Tears coursed down her cheeks and she struggled to stand, oblivious to her nakedness.
The others stormed over to lift her up. Once on her feet, she looked briefly at each of their faces before erupting into a well of tears and throwing her arms around Raquel, to sob uncontrollably.
Feeling a bit awkward, Karl watched and waited.
Finally regaining control, Annabeth pulled away from Raquel and wiped away the tears with the heels of her palms.
“Sorry. I’m sorry,” she repeated, inhaling a deep breath.
“Nothing to be sorry about,” Karl soothed.
“I didn’t realize it would hurt so much,” she explained, wiping the last bit of dampness from her cheeks. “But it was when he stood before me, a razor in his hand and the look in his eyes. I… I’ve never been so scared in all my life. I couldn’t even defend myself because Caillac and Finella were there casting spells and counter spells.” She raised a hand and tapped a finger to the side of her head. “In here I knew I would come back here, but at that moment, all I felt was the terror of dying. I was so scared that I froze.”
Staring at Karl and Caryn, she blinked and suddenly remembered. “When did you get back?”
“About a week or so ago,” Caryn answered.
“I’m glad you’re back,” she said with heartfelt emotion. “Is anyone else here?”
“Dieter and Noble are also here,” Raquel said. “We thought it might be better if they were elsewhere when you arrived.” Her eyes traveled the length of Annabeth’s naked body as way of explanation.
“Thanks.” Annabeth replied then frowned. “You knew I was coming?”
“It’s a long story and we’ll tell you all about it after you get dressed,” Raquel said.
“I don’t have any sorceress clothes here,” Annabeth said.
“You’ll have to wear Ranger clothing for now,” Caryn answered. “I’ll get you some.”
While Caryn left to rummage up some suitable clothing, Annabeth caught Karl’s eyes lingering on her gorgeous nakedness.
“See,” she smiled knowingly at him. “That’s the difference between a player and an NPC.”
“What is?” Raquel asked, puzzled.
“The way they look at you when sex is on their mind,” Annabeth smirked, starting to feel her old self.
“Speaking of which,” Raquel said, “Caryn now has dibs on the Viking too.”
“I kinda figured as much,” Annabeth said with a nonchalant shrug. “I like her.”
Raquel leaned in and stage whispered, “We’ve talked about double-teaming him at night. With you here now, we can triple team him.”
Annabeth cast a playful glance at Karl and flicked here eyebrows. “You randy fellow you.”
Karl responded with a long suffering sigh but said nothing.
Caryn returned with an armload of clothes and plopped them on the bed. “I think these should fit.” She turned and leaned against the bedpost and flashed a mischievous grin at Annabeth. “Mind if I watch?”
“She’s getting dressed not doing a strip tease,” Karl said with a frown.
“You just have no imagination,” Annabeth teased. She sashayed over the bed in slow sensual steps.
Karl’s gaze lingered on every part of her exquisite body.
Picking up a top in each hand, she languidly turned and held them out to her sides, exposing her voluptuous body, the large firm breasts, narrow waist, toned legs and shaved-smooth body.
“Which one do you like better?” she innocently asked then narrowed a carnal gaze at him.
Feeling like he had just been caught as a voyeur, Karl shook his head and huffed, “Come downstairs when you’re ready.” Spinning on his heels he strode out, sounds of giggling following him.
The three men were in the living room when the three ladies walked in. Annabeth looked the part of a Ranger, giving Karl an idea.
“For now,” he said to Annabeth, “I think you should remain a Ranger so that no one knows we have a powerful sorceress with us.”
“If I’m so powerful,” she countered, “why couldn’t I defend myself?”
“Three against one is tough to beat,” Noble consoled, “especially when you don’t know who your friends are.” He gave a meaningful glance at Karl.
“You’re getting better,” Karl acknowledged.
“I miss something while I was gone?” Annabeth said, noting the exchange.
“We’ll talk about it later,” Karl said, wanting to move on, but Noble preempted him.
“I’m, or was, a traitor,” he said matter-of-factly. “When I saw that the team was either gone or in prison, I had to make a choice. I chose to throw my lot with Kevin so that I wouldn’t end up like you all. I made the wrong choice and am now trying to earn my place back on the team.”
Annabeth stared at him then asked the obvious question. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I’m not a sorcerer or a ranger or a Viking or a berserker,” he sourly replied. “I chose to be a thief and that is what I am stuck with. Had I known then what I know now, I’d have chosen anything other than thief.”
Annabeth’s frown remained then dissipated. Turning to Karl, she asked, “What’s the plan?”
“We wait another couple of days then we begin.” He turned to Noble. “Your part in this is critical. Are you up for it?”
“Yes,” he replied without hesitation.
“Good.” Addressing the group, Karl said, “Everyone spend time in the armory. Take your time and find the right weapon or weapons for you. You too,” he said to Noble. Then addressing the two Rangers, he said, “I wonder if you two can track down Ben.”
“You want us to go into orc territory?” Caryn said, wide eyed.
“No,” Karl answered with an understanding smile. “I want you to call up some friends to do it for us.”
“Oh yeah, duh,” she sheepishly replied. Leaning over to Raquel she whispered, “Remind me to think before I open my mouth.”
“Likewise,” Raquel whispered back.
“Are you going to tell us what the plan is?” Noble asked.
“Not until after your talk with Kevin.” Noting Noble’s lips tighten, Karl explained, “When he asks you if you know our plans, you can tell him the truth and should he use the Augury Stone to double check…” He didn’t need to finish as Noble immediately understood.
“You can talk to Kevin?” Annabeth asked, her face grim.
“I’ll let Raquel explain,” Karl replied. “For now, let’s get busy.”
In the late evening, Karl and three ladies sat in the living room sipping on a sweet white wine and discussing the events of the past several days. Noble, glad to be able to go to sleep without having to wait up for a call to Kevin, had followed Dieter out the door and upstairs to their rooms.
Caryn gave Annabeth a sympathetic look. “You look tired.”
“I am.” Lifting the crystal wine glass up, she noted it was still half-filled. “This will be it for me tonight.”
Caryn shifted her eyes to peer intently at Raquel. “Did I show you that one blouse I found in my closet?”
Raquel furrowed her brow and blinked, wondering why that was so important at the moment when epiphany struck. “No you haven’t,” she answered, downing the rest of her wine.
Standing, she held her hand out to Caryn who likewise tipped her glass back and drained the rest of her wine. Without further comment, the two Rangers walked hand in hand out the door, leaving a confused Karl as to the sudden interest in a blouse.
Annabeth uttered s soft sigh and smiled. “That is so sweet.”
“What is?” Karl said, raising an eyebrow, wondering what he had missed.
“They gave you to me tonight,” she explained, her eyes misting. “That is just so sweet.”
She placed the half-filled glass of wine on the sofa table and stood, reaching out for Karl who quickly emptied his glass. Pressing against him, she luxuriated in the strength of his arms.
“I just need you to hold me, to feel your arms around me… to know that I am safe.”
Lifting her up in his arms, he carried her to the threshold then up the stairs, her head buried in his shoulder, her tears moistening his shirt.
The following night, Kevin was in an apoplectic rage, the veins in his temple throbbing, when Noble expressed surprise that Annabeth was supposed to be there.
“What do you mean she’s not there,” Kevin exploded.
“Just what I said,” Noble replied. “She’s not here,” which was the truth, because she wasn’t ‘here’ in his bedroom.
“Then where is she,” Kevin angrily demanded.
“How should I know,” which was also the truth, because Annabeth could be anywhere in the citadel. “Are you sure you sent her back?”
“Of course I’m sure you moron,” Kevin snapped.
“Maybe her bind spot was someplace other than here,” Noble suggested, ‘here’ being in his bedroom.
“Just dammit all,” Kevin fumed. “Find her. I know she’s somewhere back there. You find her or you’re in deep shit.”
Instead of anger, Noble calmly replied, “You insult me and now you want me to do you a favor?”
“Remember who you’re talking to, little man,” Kevin threatened.
“Oh,” Noble replied with mock terror, holding up his hands in front of his face, “I’m so scared.” Lifting up the opaque cloth, he said, “See this? This is the curtain that holds your future. Now you see me. Now you don’t.” He draped the cloth over the stone then lifted it and repeated, “Now you see me. Now you don’t.” Again he draped the cloth over the stone. He waited a few seconds then lifted the cloth off the stone to see Kevin’s face purple with rage. “You want me to work for you, but you insult me. Here’s the deal. Before, I was content to accept the price you set. But not anymore. Now I want part of your kingdom. I want to rule a city. I want to be lord of some well-established good sized city, like Contyn or Statmyr.”
