Chapter 4

Darras slept well, though the bed was not as comfortable as the one in Erren’s home, still, the exertions of his walk meant that sleep came easily. He awoke as full daylight came and swiftly donned his outer garments and shucked his pack onto his shoulders before descending to use the ‘jakes’ and then to the well to draw water and wash his hands and face. He then walked through to the bar intending to say his farewells and give a final blessing upon it.

“Greetings good sir, are you Darras?” a middle-aged woman greeted him.

“I am indeed,” he replied. “May I know your name?”

“Yilda, Hersey’s wife.”

“Ah, the fine cook,” Darras nodded.

“Travelling on to Silvak?”

“I am and then on to Thurstock and hopefully then to the court of the Baron.”

“Here, bread and cheese with dried meat to aid you on your way,” she informed him, handing over a small package.

“Thank you kindly, good lady.”

“I wish you good journey.”

“Thank you. May the Lady of Light bless this inn and your family,” Darras replied with a slight bow before heading out of the door.

Shrugging his shoulders to adjust the pack, Darras set off out of the village, going the other way from which he’d arrived, noting the small Temple fully bathed in the morning light as it sat upon a small hill.

Yet again he had the feeling of being watched, though as before, not with hostility or malice, seeing no one, nor, if it were Elves, did he expect to. Once more the routine of his past set in and his stride ate up the ground as he followed the road towards Silvak and his first encounter with a shadow ... he hoped. He did stop where the road crossed a stream and rapidly built a fire to boil some water to purify it even as he drank from the well water he’d collected earlier.

“Idyllic,” Darras murmured to himself, not expecting an answer.

‘You never saw much rest in your last life, did you, Darras?’ Erren surprised him with a reply.

“No, Erren. There was some in my youth and what time I spent with Erriane was peaceful, if occasionally tense, as we really did not know each other that well,” he answered thoughtfully.

‘This world may reach that stage too, though magic will have an effect as well.’

“Were there gods and goddesses on my original world?”

‘Yes, though because you weren’t attuned to magic, you couldn’t, other than with a few priests and prophets with visions, follow their instructions all too well.’

“I hope it goes well for them,” Darras mused.

‘It will. Our plans are not easily thwarted,’ Erren replied and Darras could almost feel her smile. ‘Your water’s boiled enough; you’ve killed off the harmful ... stuff,’ she added.

“Thanks,” he nodded and moved it off the fire only to find he had company. “Greetings,” was all Darras could think to say to the Elf who had appeared from seemingly nowhere.

“Greetings, Merchant Darras. I am Tinara, a companion of Firios.”

“How may I assist you?” Darras asked, also indicating that she could share his repast.

“You were speaking to Wenderos?”

“I was, though I know her as Erren.”

“Know as in met?”

“Yes, as in met.”

“Your intent is to deal with the darkness in Silvak?”

“It is. It possesses the bar wench Connie,” Darras replied, feeling that he could at least trust the Elves, though Erren seemed far more guarded.

“Ah ... we do not enter towns if we can avoid it.”

“It would not avail you much if you could. What possesses her is not vulnerable to ordinary weapons nor assailable should you even kill her,” Darras explained from the memory of a talk he’d had with Erren.

“I see. Nor would our priests be immediately available, even if we trapped her,” Tinara nodded sagely.

“These shadows are parasites; trap Connie and it would leave her to possess another.”

“I will inform my people.”

“Thank you,” Darras nodded as she broke off a hunk of cheese.

“I will ensure your journey between the human villages is tranquil and wish you well in your mission.”

“Again, thank you. The support of one of the fair folk is much appreciated.”

“We would appreciate you coming to Iversirion, our capital, after your mission, if the goddess permits?”

“She does,” Darras replied after receiving an OK from Erren.

“You will be collected from Silvak after your mission. Iversirion has a gateway so we can expedite your journey.”

“I look forward to it,” Darras thanked her as she rose and moved swiftly out of sight.

‘I wasn’t expecting this. How interesting,’ Erren informed him.

“I take it the Elves remain mostly neutral or detached?” he queried.

‘Very much so. They have a lifespan of over eight hundred years and tend to see other races and their activities as ephemeral.’

“Guess from their perspective we would be,” Darras chuckled. “Well, it will be good to know we have their support,” he nodded. “I wonder just who it is that wants to see us?”

‘I have my suspicions, though only time will tell.’

As there was little else to discuss, he poured the purified water into his carrier and left the site as he’d found it, apart from the ashes of the fire. Darras then re-joined the road and continued his journey to Silvak.

Silvak was much bigger than Trecor, though obviously not a town as yet. Darras knew it was the primary seat of Baron Silvus, though his fort was set well away from the village itself. Darras doubted he’d have any issues from him, or his retainers. Kina’s visit would likely have the Baron a lot more worried than a merchant passing through, no matter how he’d been involved.

The village itself, though looking prosperous enough, had an atmosphere of tension about it, as if all was not as it appeared and Darras figured this was what the Elves had picked up on. There were few enough people to be seen and they appeared to be keeping their distance from each other and there was little in the way of any conversations, not even in the small marketplace he passed through.

Darras soon spotted the inn, marked with a sign picturing a bear, though the building was slightly run down as if the owners cared not for appearances and attracting people. Then again, it was the only inn in the village and in a recognised resting place on the main road to the East. Perhaps the owner saw little need for anything elaborate, though Darras suspected the presence of the shadow was more likely.

‘Do not say a blessing,’ Erren warned.

“Of course, my Lady,” Darras replied as he set foot in the inn’s rather dingy interior which reminded him of some of the more notorious taverns in Tira, the now destroyed capital of Ostari.

“Welcome, stranger,” the young woman serving at the tables greeted him. “How may the Brown Bear assist you?”

“I seek room and board,” Darras replied, seeing nothing amiss about her. “My name’s Darras, I’m a merchant from the Kingdom of Ralketh.”

“Rooms are five coppers, meals two and the beer’s a half copper, though most prefer the local mead at one copper.”

“A room, a meal and a mead then,” Darras requested politely, dropping eight coppers in her palm.

“Sit yourself. I’ll fetch your meal and let you know when the room is prepared,” she replied.

“Thank you,” he nodded and headed over to a corner from where he could observe.

Darras had to admit the mead was a fine drink and well worth a copper, though the meal itself wasn’t a patch on the one he’d received in Trecor; not that it was bad, just not as tasty or filling. Still, it did enable him to scan the interior of the inn and look for anomalies, picking out several unsavoury types, though no one of any real danger to himself. Darras still felt it as an almost crawling of his skin when his target did enter from a side doorway. Connie herself was a comely young lady, if slightly overweight, though this, if anything, added to her charm. What revealed her to him though was a translucent outer skin that flowed around her like a dark mist.

‘So that’s a shadow,’ Darras thought, hearing nothing from Erren and assuming she was keeping her distance so as not to alert Connie.

“Connie, can you tidy up room seven,” the barmaid requested.

“Sure, Benna.”

“Got a customer for it, so as quick as.”

“On my way.”

Darras figured both women would assume he was out of hearing range as most normal humans would be, but still was cautious as Connie’s voice had a very harsh overtone to his ears, though judging by the others, this was not something they could hear.

“A merchant, eh?” one of the men he’d categorised as a troublemaker of some sort commented.

“Aye, hoping to make my fortune by tempting the court of Baron Luxmann,” Darras replied.

“Well good luck to you. The Baron is said to dote upon his young wife.”

“So I’d heard. Just hope I’m the first in there,” Darras chuckled, noting the avarice in the man’s eyes.

“What trinkets be you carrying?”

“Fine combs and other grooming aids. Nothing that special, but rare enough in the Baronies here,” Darras replied, foregoing to mention the jewellery he carried.

“Well, good luck to you and remember to buy us a drink here should you be successful,” the rogue encouraged.

“Aye, I’ll need good fellows to raise a tankard with if fortune smiles on me,” Darras nodded, now satisfied that their greed would stay their hand, at least until his expected return.

“Your room be ready, merchant,” the voice of the barmaid Benna informed him.

“Thanks kindly, good lady,” Darras replied and finished his mead and set off where her finger pointed.

Connie stood at the doorway and simply indicated for him to follow her. The doorway led through to an inner courtyard that was empty of all people. She led the way to a doorway and opened it for him and indicated for Darras to enter. At this point Darras was planning a grab for her throat, but Connie beat him to it as a dagger slashed out into his side.

Unfortunately for Connie, the mithril embedded in his clothing prevented any penetration of the blade, though no doubt Darras would have a very large bruise where the attempt was made. In return he seized Connie by the throat ... or rather seized the shadow by the throat by concentrating on its form, causing Connie to fall away from him, her eyes rolling up in her head as she lost consciousness. The shadow itself was clawing at Darras whilst he used his other arm to grab her and prevent an injury as she fell. Once he’d lowered the girl to the ground though, Darras gave the ... creature his full attention as its ... skin bubbled and peeled at his touch, even as its blows became weaker. Using his now free arm, Darras punched hard on its chest finding the area to be somewhat insubstantial as his fist sank in to his wrist, causing the creature to go slack in his arms, though he held on until it disintegrated into a puddle at his feet before dissipating entirely.