stated to the remaining guard.
The soldier, at first, seemed
thankful for that task. The furtive disturbances had stopped. There were no
more dashing shadows down alleyways, no more mysterious footsteps overhead or
behind. There was only silence, but just for a moment.
They heard what sounded like a
stifled grunt behind them and then some indiscernible shuffling—nothing like a
conflict or great struggle—but certainly a commotion of some sort. The sound
died away, leaving the captain and soldier more wary than ever. That concern
doubled when a loud thud echoed out from streets ahead of them.
The soldier looked to the captain
for direction, but the man in the red cloak simply stared out into the
darkness. The guard wanted to abandon the officer, but he couldn't take the
risk. He didn't even draw his weapon as he waited for an order that never came.
The captain proved even less
decisive. He wanted to yell for help, but he couldn't find the nerve to call
out. He would never be sure if it was pride or fear that held his tongue, but
he would delude himself into believing it was courage. That courage ended up
being tested severely, and it was found lacking of any depth.
Another flash of movement brought
the encounter to a head. Two nimble figures darted out of an alley and took
strategic positions next to the captain and his last guard. Ryson's hand
streaked forward and grabbed the accompanying soldier's sword, disarming him
without a struggle. Holding the blade menacingly to the guard's throat, Ryson
bid him to remain quiet.
Holli glared at the captain. She
did not disarm him or draw her own weapon. She simply bore down on him in a
dramatic display of will. A spark of emerald magic lit up each eye and they
glowed like those of a prowling cat.
"Your men have been
neutralized. No help is coming," Holli stated coldly. She wanted the guard
captain to fully understand the bleakness of his position. "You know who we
are and what we can do, but you seem to underestimate the power of magic. I
cannot have you make that mistake with me."
She held her hands out in front of
her and turned her palms to the night sky. The emerald magic at her command
danced back and forth from one hand to the other. It did not glow bright.
Instead, she muted the light of the energy so it would burn much dimmer than
any of the lamps on distant poles. Still, the presence of magic could not be
denied as the green energy suddenly flowed off both palms and formed a rotating
sphere in front of the captain's face.
Holli did not explain the purpose
of the spell. She let the glowing orb mesmerize both the captain and the
soldier and allowed their imaginations to conjure their own worst fears. She
watched with satisfaction as the guard captain grew pale, obvious even in the
emerald light.
"You will answer my questions
and you will do so truthfully." She didn't wait for a response. "Why
were we placed in jail?"
"I wanted to question
you," the captain stammered, but he did not delay in answering. He clearly
feared the magic, as well as the two figures before him.
"Regarding what?"
"Why you were here."
"How did you know we were
here at all?"
"I got a dispatch two days
ago. It said to be on the lookout for you two. It gave your descriptions. I
gave it to my men, and you were spotted on the streets walking through
town."
"A dispatch from who?"
"Regional Steward Wes
Prilgrat."
Holli understood enough of
politics in the Great Valleys
to realize that a regional steward held significant influence. One of such
power could certainly issue an order for a town commander and expect it to be
followed. She was surprised, however, by how quickly the guard captain revealed
the name of the person responsible.
"Where is this Wes Prilgrat
now?" she demanded.
"He lives in Ashlan, the
regional seat to the north. That's all I know."
"What were you to do with us?
"We were to hold you and
alert Prilgrat. I don't know why he wanted you captured. We just do as
The soldier, at first, seemed
thankful for that task. The furtive disturbances had stopped. There were no
more dashing shadows down alleyways, no more mysterious footsteps overhead or
behind. There was only silence, but just for a moment.
They heard what sounded like a
stifled grunt behind them and then some indiscernible shuffling—nothing like a
conflict or great struggle—but certainly a commotion of some sort. The sound
died away, leaving the captain and soldier more wary than ever. That concern
doubled when a loud thud echoed out from streets ahead of them.
The soldier looked to the captain
for direction, but the man in the red cloak simply stared out into the
darkness. The guard wanted to abandon the officer, but he couldn't take the
risk. He didn't even draw his weapon as he waited for an order that never came.
The captain proved even less
decisive. He wanted to yell for help, but he couldn't find the nerve to call
out. He would never be sure if it was pride or fear that held his tongue, but
he would delude himself into believing it was courage. That courage ended up
being tested severely, and it was found lacking of any depth.
Another flash of movement brought
the encounter to a head. Two nimble figures darted out of an alley and took
strategic positions next to the captain and his last guard. Ryson's hand
streaked forward and grabbed the accompanying soldier's sword, disarming him
without a struggle. Holding the blade menacingly to the guard's throat, Ryson
bid him to remain quiet.
Holli glared at the captain. She
did not disarm him or draw her own weapon. She simply bore down on him in a
dramatic display of will. A spark of emerald magic lit up each eye and they
glowed like those of a prowling cat.
"Your men have been
neutralized. No help is coming," Holli stated coldly. She wanted the guard
captain to fully understand the bleakness of his position. "You know who we
are and what we can do, but you seem to underestimate the power of magic. I
cannot have you make that mistake with me."
She held her hands out in front of
her and turned her palms to the night sky. The emerald magic at her command
danced back and forth from one hand to the other. It did not glow bright.
Instead, she muted the light of the energy so it would burn much dimmer than
any of the lamps on distant poles. Still, the presence of magic could not be
denied as the green energy suddenly flowed off both palms and formed a rotating
sphere in front of the captain's face.
Holli did not explain the purpose
of the spell. She let the glowing orb mesmerize both the captain and the
soldier and allowed their imaginations to conjure their own worst fears. She
watched with satisfaction as the guard captain grew pale, obvious even in the
emerald light.
"You will answer my questions
and you will do so truthfully." She didn't wait for a response. "Why
were we placed in jail?"
"I wanted to question
you," the captain stammered, but he did not delay in answering. He clearly
feared the magic, as well as the two figures before him.
"Regarding what?"
"Why you were here."
"How did you know we were
here at all?"
"I got a dispatch two days
ago. It said to be on the lookout for you two. It gave your descriptions. I
gave it to my men, and you were spotted on the streets walking through
town."
"A dispatch from who?"
"Regional Steward Wes
Prilgrat."
Holli understood enough of
politics in the Great Valleys
to realize that a regional steward held significant influence. One of such
power could certainly issue an order for a town commander and expect it to be
followed. She was surprised, however, by how quickly the guard captain revealed
the name of the person responsible.
"Where is this Wes Prilgrat
now?" she demanded.
"He lives in Ashlan, the
regional seat to the north. That's all I know."
"What were you to do with us?
"We were to hold you and
alert Prilgrat. I don't know why he wanted you captured. We just do as
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