The Lost Runes Saga [Epic Fantasy]

FORTY-FOUR

Vidar went back and then underground but found no path forward this time either. Full of frustration, he stepped onto the plaza, circumventing the soldiers by taking the long way around, then walked up to the keep, trying to look like he belonged. It worked until he reached the keep itself. Guards were posted by the gate. They eyed him as he approached and not only refused him entry, but sent more guards to haul him back behind the line of soldiers keeping the citizens clear of the plaza.

Vidar's eyes widened, and he tried to look down when he saw the guards coming for him. Just his luck.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't our old friend," one of the trio said.

It was the ones who'd tried taking him to jail not that long ago. Their faces still bore the bruises of their last meeting, and when Vidar realized he could not hide his face, he ran for it. There was no use in arguing or fighting, so he did the next thing and put some distance between himself and his pursuers.

They saw it coming and were soon following close behind. Running toward a row of ballistae by the side of the keep, Vidar finally had a bit of luck.

"Fredrik!" he shouted, hurrying over to the rune scribe from Stalheim. "Please tell these bastards to stop chasing me," he panted.

Fredrik looked at the trio. "It is fine, gentlemen. You may go."

They grumbled, but did not press the rune scribe. When they were gone, Fredrik said, "Vidar, we've received word of unpleasantness from the chapter house. You were not involved, were you?"

"Unpleasantness?"

Fredrik's voice hardened as he replied. "Kidnappings."

"Of course not. Why would I want to kidnap rune scribes?"

Fjodor's diversion at the rune scribes' guild went further than Vidar would've thought. This was something else. Something more.

Fredrik's demeanor softened a little. "Freja is investigating, and I'm sure she will get to the bottom of it soon. My task is preparing for what is soon to come."

"Dragons," Vidar said.

"We counted roars from five distinct beasts. Their coming weighs on all our minds." He slapped the ballistae next to him. "But we are working hard to get these beauties ready! The ingenious use of stakra runes presented by your friend will be of great use."

"Good," Vidar said. "Listen, I have a favor to ask."

"Name it."

"The bones of the dragon used to craft these bolts for the ballistae. I need to find where you keep the remains."

Fredrik raised an eyebrow. "Jarl tells me something similar happened not so long ago, with arrows stolen in the night. Perhaps this thief is also a companion of yours?"

Vidar froze. "Thief?"

"A young man with some difficulties with the language. We thought him a dennerman spy at first. Now we're not so sure. Stolen clothes, stolen boots, and knowledge of our secret location."

Vidar saw it in Fredrik's eyes that there was no hiding his connection to Rend. "Please release this prisoner to me."

Fredrik regarded him for a good while. Thinking. "I'll have two things from you in exchange for your friend."

"What?"

"Your word and a discovery. I want your word that when I leave Halmstadt, you will come with me."

"To Stalheim?"

Fredrik nodded. "We have not received word for quite some time. It is troubling times, but I will return once we are through them, and when I do, you will accompany me on the journey."

Vidar didn't like the sound of that. Perhaps he would've gone once the shop in Halmstadt was up and running, and the dragon scourge taken care of, of course, but forcing his hand like this? No, he did not like it. Still, there was no other way forward. They needed Rend.

"Fine," Vidar grumbled.

Fredrik held out his hand. "Your word, Vidar."

"I give you my word." Vidar took the hand and squeezed.

"Very well. Now, the discovery? With you, I'm sure there's something new since last we spoke."

Vidar looked up at the tall rune scribe from the capital and considered telling him to bring Rend first, then discarded the idea. Even if Rend was returned to him, they were still in Nordstan. No, things could turn ugly in an instant. Better to take a step deeper into Fredrik's good graces.

"My most recent discovery is the combination of runes. Join them together with a line and combine or complement their effects."

Before Fredrik had time to say that wasn't a discovery, Vidar made the runic symbol for styrka in the air between them with his finger, then the algiz rune.

"We have been joining styrka runes with algiz runes to provide people with barriers. With that, anyone can touch an arm to the styrka rune, draining their essence. That will then rejuvenate the algiz rune. This idea is usable with kenaz and sowilo as well."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Fredrik moved his lips like he was tasting Vidar's words. "Bringing the runes to the people. A discovery with far-reaching repercussions. Nevertheless, it is a new discovery from an interesting young man, as promised. You have upheld your part of the bargain, Vidar, as I knew you would. Please follow me and we will retrieve your friend. If we happen upon Freya, my companion, on our return, please do not speak of our agreement or your discovery."

"Very well," Vidar said, unsure what to think about the two rune scribes keeping secrets from each other.

Back at the keep, the guards glared at Vidar but did not stop him, since he was in the company of Fredrik. Even after having been inside the keep a few times, it didn't take long for him to get lost in the hallways, small passageways, stairs, and the many, many rooms. Fredrik, however, never hesitated, and they soon found themselves in a place Vidar recognized all too well.

"Wait here," Fredrik said.

He went up to the second cell on the right and talked with the man guarding it, who'd been lounging in a chair by the opposite wall. He stood at attention now, giving Fredrik rapt attention and answering questions without delay. Once they'd exchanged words for less than a minute, the guard unlocked the cell and went inside, followed by Fredrik.

The guard soon exited again and hurried down the corridor, ignoring Vidar as he passed. After waiting a moment longer, Vidar walked up to the door and peeked inside. He sucked in a breath, shock and anger building in his chest.

"What is this?!" He shouted, hurrying inside.

Fredrik, who was in the process of releasing Rend from the wall where they'd secured his hands and feet, turned and shook his head. "I'm afraid the steward does not treat his guests with much respect. This is common in the provinces, unfortunately."

No styrka runes were used to drain Rend of essence, but other than that, he was in worse shape than Vidar found Alvarn in. Bruises covered his arms and chest, and what looked like deep puncture wounds in his abdomen wept blood.

"Vatrfjall," Rend mumbled as Vidar rushed up to him.

"I have sent for a physica and the maids so they may clean him."

Vidar glared at Fredrik. "Did you do this?"

"Me?" Fredrik asked, stiffening. His expression showed just what he thought of being accused of such a thing. "Preposterous. This is the work of a brute." He stood and walked to the cell door. "I believe you can find your way out on your own once your friend is more presentable. Do not get yourself killed out there and do not attempt to steal any more bones, or the steward will have my hide for releasing the prisoner."

"Fredrik, wait!" Vidar shouted.

He didn't turn back up at the door, but he did stop. "Yes?"

"I am going to attempt something when the dragons return. Please tell Jarl not to attack them until I do."

A few long heartbeats later, Fredrik replied, "How will we know?"

"You won't be able to miss it."

"I'll try," Fredrik said, letting out a weary sigh.

With that, he was gone. Vidar turned to Rend and placed a hand on his bare chest. A sliver of dragon's essence remained, a good thing for Rend, or his injuries would have been even more grievous. Still, Vidar added more. If it ran dry now, Rend wouldn't make it far.

"Can you stand?" he asked. "Who did this to you?"

Rend struggled to his feet and grunted. "Not know."

The stolen, unwashed clothes Rend wore when captured were in a pile in the corner, and, with some aid from Vidar, Rend got them on.

"What were you thinking, running away from the house?"

"Vatrfjall."

"Your dragon is dead!" Vidar spat.

Rend looked up, his eyes dark. "You... kill."

Suppressing the overwhelming urge to scream in Rend's face, Vidar drew in a breath and spoke with as much calm as he could muster. "You are responsible for the deaths of so many in Halmstadt. Disappearing like this almost ruined our plan and endangered everyone still within this city's walls. And for what? Dragon bones?"

"Vatrfjall."

"VATRFJALL IS DEAD!"

Vidar closed his eyes and took another steadying breath. This was not the time to make the guards take note of them. "Vatrfjall is dead."

"Vatrfjall dead," Rend said, his head hanging down to the floor as they walked down the corridor. "Her bones sing."

"What's that?" Vidar asked, leading Rend to the staircase that would lead them to the side door.

"Cries of pain," Rend mumbled. "Defilers."

"You found Vatrfjall's remains," Vidar said. "Will the dragons find them as well?"

Rend nodded but did not speak.

Just like with Alvarn, the dragon's essence did its work in restoring Rend's health as they moved down the stairs, out through the side door, and across the plaza. They couldn't have been keeping him long, considering the brief window of time between Vidar leaving for the rune scribes' guild and then returning with Alvarn. To still have done such damage to the poor bastard. Vidar gritted his teeth and kept his fists clenched as they made their way across Nordstan, almost hoping someone would dare attempt to get in his way.

"They come," Rend said.

Vidar's eyes widened, and he looked up at the sky, turning this way and that, his heart pounding in his chest. "Where? I don't see them."

"Coming."

"How do you know?"

Rend touched his free hand to his chest. "Feel. Here."

"Well, I'll get you back to Alvarn, so you're ready, and then go check in on some of my friends before its too late. Once the dragons show up, it's time to go."

"Go?" Rend asked.

"We might not have a dragon," Vidar said. "But that doesn't mean we can't fly."

Rend looked interested enough in Alvarn's fiddling, but Vidar still made sure Alvarn knew not to take his eyes of the dragon rider. If he ran off again, things would become dire in a hurry.

"Do you really have to leave? I could use some help finishing this," Alvarn said.

"I got some information when retrieving Rend. Sounded like the thieves' guild have maybe taken some rune scribes from the guild. Just want to check in and make sure Siv and the students haven't become prisoners."

A look of horror crossed Alvarn's face. "I understand. Just hurry back!"

Vidar turned to run when his friend shouted after him. "Vidar!"

"Yes?"

"Rune scribes being kept as prisoners is not something I can abide by, no matter what they've done to us."

"I understand," Vidar said, nodding. "And agree with you for the most part."

Alvarn narrowed his eyes. "Good."

"Good!" Vidar shouted, turning to go. "Don't lose track of Rend!"

Finding Fjodor took a lot longer than Vidar would've wanted. The warehouse by the docks gaped empty and the inn was shuttered. On his way from there toward Ida's hideout, he once again caught Linus following him.

"Stalking someone with that red hair of yours is a fool's game," Vidar panted, leaning forward on his knees. All this running wasn't good for him. "Why are you following me this time?"

Linus grimaced and sighed. "Fjodor wanted me to keep an eye on you withoutgetting in the way."

"Where is he?"

"Who?"

"Fjodor!"

"Oh," Linus said. "He and Ida are working together coordinating that paint thing you wanted."

"Where?"

"It's faster if I take you there."

"Please," Vidar said, glancing up. "While the skies are clear."