Chương 54: The Run Back

Maelle had to leave Raylin behind at the temple and go to the watch station. The guard who'd carried her friend from the gatehouse was nice enough to come along and show her the way. Her business for the night wasn't finished as she had to return to the Dabaux estate to help Marina and Havlo. But she couldn't do it alone. The other escapees who'd helped save Raylin were gathered at the station.

They looked to her with inquiring eyes, and the mood immediately lifted when she informed them of Raylin's successful recovery. She noticed that despite being tired and ragged, everyone there had such beautiful smiles.

"Ah, the lady of the hour!" The voice belonged to a man in full battle armor who introduced himself as Captain Ozstin. He thanked her profusely for her service to the city, and she truthfully told him that she hadn't done it alone. Raylin was the one who set them free and gotten poisoned in the process. The other escapees had played their part in fending off the dungeon guards, and if it weren't for their help, she wouldn't have been able to carry Raylin to the city on her own.

And then of course there was the city watch, and the guards on night shift who'd gone out of their way to make sure they got Raylin to the temple in time. Captain Ozstin's face went grave when she revealed that Archmage Poshit was working for Dabaux. As for Marina and Rava and Havlo, the three heroes who aided in their escape, she spoke of their contributions but left out their names because that felt like the right thing to do—each one for a different reason.

Marina definitely wouldn't want Maelle to blow her cover. Rava's circumstances seemed rather complicated. And Havlo was pretending to be weak. Luckily she was the only escapee who knew their names. Captain Ozstin smiled after she told him about how Rava had frozen all the [Fireballs].

"Ah, yes, the visiting archmage. I spoke with her the day she came to Ardark. I've been told she's very capable, but even I'm surprised she managed to crack the case this fast." It all made sense now. Rava had been working with the city watch to bring down the kidnappers. Thats how she'd known to bring Marina to the Dabaux estate, and why she'd defended them against the assassins. A guard came in and whispered in the captain's ear.

Captain Ozstin turned to Maelle and the others and said, "I'm afraid this is where I must leave you. It seems my forces are ready to deploy." Maelle followed him out of the watch station. The other guard—the one who'd carried Raylin to the temple—also came with them. They headed west, out through the gatehouse, and there she saw something that took her breath away. Assembled just outside the city walls were hundreds of men and women, dressed in the uniform of the Ardark city watch, all standing tall and proud.

She turned to the captain.

"When you said you were gathering your forces, I didn't think you meant an entire army."

"Archmage Poshit is a fourth-circle archmage," Captain Ozstin explained.

"As much faith as I have in our visiting archmage, should she lose and we have to face Poshit on our own, we're going to need all the numbers we can get." She didn't think Rava could possibly lose, but it was hard to explain to someone who hadn't seen her in action. It pained her to admit, but Rava might possibly be even stronger than Marina. Captain Ozstin cast his eyes out over at the ordered rows of watch officers standing at attention.

"This turn-out means that everyone answered the call who could." Looking out over the sea of faces, she saw the grim determination of the people gathered there, but they weren't without their fear. These were men and women trained to keep law and order among civilians, not to fight the walking disaster that was a rogue archmage. But they'd all showed up because their city needed them. Though these weren't her people, she felt a swell of pride.

Humans weren't as strong as dragonkin, but their kingdoms spread farther than her people's empire ever did. She felt like she was catching a glimpse as to why. Captain Ozstin had been giving a speech, which she'd completely missed, but it seemed to be over now because the assembled officers began the long run to the Dabaux estate. She fell in beside them. The captain came up to her side.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm coming with you," she replied. He regarded her with concern.

"You've already been through enough."

"I've got to help if I can." She couldn't rest while Marina or Havlo might be in danger. Rava she wasn't concerned about because even Poshit was afraid of her. This was the first time in weeks that she didn't feel like a burden.

"The state you're in now, you're just going to be a burden," Captain Ozstin said. She glared at him, but the eyes that met hers were soft. Could he possibly be right? Was she actually a burden? She wasn't very strong. She couldn't even finish a silver-rank quest. And her level was still very low. But looking at the guards running toward danger, many of them didn't appear any stronger than she was. Some of them were barely of age. If the captain was right, wouldn't they be burdens too?

Then she realized that he didn't say those words because he believed them, he'd said them because he wanted to keep her out of danger. She put on her best, bravest smile.

"I understand I have no chance against the archmage. But if I can even do something as small as carry one person back to safety..." He smiled back.

"Well, I suppose if that's all you'll be doing." A few moments later the guards's advance came to a halt. It was odd because they were still a long way from the Dabaux estate. Maelle followed the captain up to the front to see what was going on. There were two travelers coming down the road, which was very unusual at this time of night. Everyone was on edge because of the mission, and no one was taking any chances—particularly as one was dressed in mage's robes. Maelle recognized the travelers right away.

"It's okay," she told the captain.

"They're safe." She ran up to them, and Amberlin's face lit up at the sight of her.

"Maelle! What are you doing out here so late?" Beside her, Havlo put a finger to his lips. Of course she hadn't forgotten about their game of pretending to be weak. But she couldn't help beaming at him, so relieved was she that he'd survived.

"Lady Amberlin, let's not be unfair here," Havlo said.

"After all, I found you wandering these forests not that long ago."

"And a good thing you did," Amberlin replied.

"I think I was walking around in circles. Somehow I ended up back at that giant molten crater, like, three times." Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"The what?" Maelle asked.

"Don't worry about it, don't worry about it!" Amberlin waved her question away.

"The Dabaux estate wasn't affected. Everyone there is safe. Uh, from the eruption. I don't know about the deadly chimeras." A molten crater could only have been created by a high-tier spell. That meant Rava must have fought with Archmage Poshit. As for the outcome, it was obvious. Boots was seated on Amberlin's shoulder, and as Maelle moved in closer, he hopped over onto hers instead.

"Look at that," Amberlin complained.

"He's supposed to be my cat, so why does he like you better all of a sudden?" She wasn't sure actually. The time they'd spent together hadn't exactly been pleasant. But maybe cats were into that sort of thing? There was still so much she didn't understand about them. Whatever the reason, she was glad to see he'd made it out okay, and stroked him under the chin. Seeing their interaction seemed to mollify Amberlin.

"I suppose it's all right if it's you."

"The city watch is on its way to the Dabaux estate to arrest the kidnappers," she said, deciding to answer Amberlin's first question.

"I have a friend there, so I wanted to come along to make sure she's all right."

"Is that so?" Amberlin said.

"Then I hope you find her well."

"I'm sure she is," Havlo said. Amberlin surveyed the columns of guards, who'd resumed their run and were streaming past.

"I've got to give you credit, figuring out that Dabaux was behind the kidnappings and then rallying the watch like this. I was having no luck until a tip-off landed in my lap out of nowhere. You're so resourceful, Maelle."

"Hahahaha, resourceful, that sure sounds like me." She couldn't tell them the truth because they might kick her out of the party for being a burden. Though she might not need to stay with them much longer now that Marina was back. Amberlin turned to Havlo.

"Maybe we should tag along and help out."

"I had a look into the estate before I found you," Havlo said.

"Everything there has settled."

"What about Archmage Poshit?" Maelle asked. She was the biggest concern for this task force.

"You don't have to worry about her," Havlo said.

"She ran away." This was a relief to hear, as it meant that the biggest danger at the Dabaux estate was gone. She might not have to carry any more injured people back to Ardark tonight.

"And there was another archmage there," she said. He shook his head.

"They've left too." That was too bad. She'd have really liked to thank Rava. But maybe that wasn't her cup of tea. She realized that Havlo was still looking at her. When she caught his eye, he said, "Is there anything you can tell me about that other archmage?" She owed her life to Havlo and his help during the escape, but she also owed her life twice to Rava.

"There isn't much I can say," she said carefully.

"But even Archmage Poshit was afraid of her."

"Her?" Havlo said thoughtfully.

"What else do you remember?" Maelle realized that she'd unintentionally given something away with her careless words. She was more mindful with all her answers after that and managed not to let anything else slip.

"I have one more question," Havlo said carefully, glancing sideways at Amberlin, who was keeping herself distracted trying to coax Boots back onto her shoulders.

"You had a friend in need of healing—""She's fine," Maelle replied.

"We got her to the temple in time. Everyone else is fine too."

"That's good." At this point Captain Ozstin approached them. Giving Amberlin and Havlo a warm smile, he said, "Will the two of you be joining us?"

"No," Havlo said instantly. Amberlin, on the other hand, passed her gaze over all the guards running past.

"Would our presence make much of a difference?" The captain said, "I'd feel a lot better for my people if you were there to help."

"Then I suppose we can tag along," Amberlin said, to Havlo's chagrin. As it turned out, their help wasn't needed after all. Everything at the Dabaux estate had quieted down. The chimeras had all been rounded back up and taken back into the dungeon. It appeared they were just hungry and became a lot easier to manage once they'd had something to eat. What remained of the estate's security forces all stood down when the watch arrived.

It seemed that after spending all night wrangling with chimeras, they didn't have the heart for another struggle. Or perhaps they knew it would be hopeless after seeing the watch's overwhelming numbers. As arrests were made, Maelle followed Captain Ozstin through the manor in search of the masterminds. They found Dabaux and his son in the parlor. The two merchants rose to their feet.

"What is the meaning of this?" Dabaux senior demanded. Then he saw Maelle.

"You!"

"Me," Maelle said. When Captain Ozstin ordered his officers forward to make the arrests, Dabaux senior unleashed in a flurry of indignation and spittle.

"Who do you think you are? Unhand me! I'll have all of you out of a job by morning. Do you think numbers can help you? The archmage will turn all of you into charcoal!"

"Archmage Poshit's gone," Maelle said gleefully.

"What do you mean?" For the first time, uncertainty appeared in the man's face.

"I mean she's gone."

"Do you mean gone-gone?"

"She won't be coming back to help you." If Havlo said it, it must be true. With that, a look of horror descended on Dabaux's face, and he fell quiet at last. As the guards led them away, the son said to his father, "I told you, Dad. She managed to draw blood." Maelle didn't know what happened to them afterward because she had her own priorities. She hadn't seen Marina anywhere. She spotted one of the kitchen staff standing around and looking in a daze.

"Excuse me, miss, but do you know what happened to the lady with blue scales?" The woman's eyes snapped back into focus.

"Do you mean the one who was fighting with those lizardkin soldiers? She left a while ago."

"Was she okay?"

"She wasn't in great shape, but she said she had to go find someone, and left after patching herself up with magic." Suddenly Maelle wanted to be back in the city so that she could go visit Virdis's shop because she knew that's where Marina was going to be. That's where they were supposed to meet if they ever got separated.

"And what about the assass—uh, soldiers?" she asked.

"Dead. All dead," the woman said in a hollow voice. Of course they were. She'd never doubted Marina for a second. Since there was nothing for her to help out with here, she decided that there was nowhere else she wanted to be more than back with Marina again. But there was one last thing she needed to take care of before she left. She found Captain Ozstin and pulled him aside. They found some privacy in what looked like Dabaux's office.

After closing the door so they wouldn't be overheard, Maelle took a deep breath and began.

"You're going to hear some strange rumors—""About you flying?" Captain Ozstin said.

"Y-y-yes, about that."

"I take it you don't want anyone to know?"

"That's right." She was glad he was being so reasonable. She didn't think she'd be able to explain it without blowing her cover.

"I had a feeling that would be the case, which is why I've already spoken with the officers involved, and they've agreed not to speak of it to anyone—as have the people you rescued. They do owe you their lives, after all."

"You went ahead and did that already?" Captain Ozstin smiled.

"While the watch isn't as well resourced as it used to be, we still try and do the best with what we've got. When someone as important as Archmage Amberlin comes to town, you know something big is about to go down. That's why, when I had some time, I nipped down and had a chat with your innkeeper. She told me about the other people traveling with the archmage. I knew that each of you would be powerful in your own way." Maelle realized she was holding her breath.

Amberlin had told the watch captain that she was an archmage. If he ever found out the truth, they were all going to be in big trouble.

"Hahahaha!" she said.

"Yeah, we're all totally powerful. All of us. But please don't go spreading that around. In fact, pretend we never told you."

"Well, technically, none of you ever told me."

"That's the spirit!" She racked her brain for a better solution. Then she remembered Havlo's game.

"Actually we're all pretending to be weak. Even to each other. So please don't tell them about me flying either." To her surprise, he nodded agreeably.

"Yeah, I can do that."

"Really?" He shrugged.

"In my job, I deal with eccentric people all the time. Everyone's got their own thing going on. You've done the city a great service, so accommodations can be made." Satisfied that all the loose ends were tied up, Maelle was ready to leave. When she stepped out of the manor, Amberlin and Havlo were waiting outside with Boots.

"Ready to head back?" Amberlin said. Now that most of the urgency had left her, she had enough mental space to realize that from Amberlin's perspective, she'd disappeared all day without a word. She bowed and said, "I'm sorry for making you worry." Since she didn't want to admit to the real reason she'd gone missing, this was the best she could do.

"You don't have to apologize, silly," Amberlin said, though her mood seemed to perk up. The three of them began the walk back to the city together. Once more Boots redeployed to Maelle's shoulders, only this time Amberlin didn't complain. Instead she revealed that she'd snuck out some chocolate from Dabaux's pantry, and handed each of them a piece.

"Except Boots," Amberlin said.

"Cat's can't eat chocolate, so don't give him any." Maelle hadn't had chocolate since she fled the palace. The taste reminded her of her old life, one which she didn't think she would ever get back. And the people she'd lost, whom she definitely would never get back.

"Are you all right, Maelle?" Amberlin sounded concerned. She realized she was crying.

"It's nothing," she said. She expected Amberlin to continue prying, but instead the adventurer said, "We haven't known each other all that long. It's all right to go at your own pace." Back in the city, she excused herself. Havlo looked like he had questions, but Amberlin grabbed his arm and pulled him along. Maelle was glad that Amberlin was good for this at least. And then she went to Virdis's shop. She did the special knock and waited. Every second felt like an eternity. Then the door opened.

And standing there were Virdis and Marina. Alive and in one piece.