The Melaki Chronicle by William Thrash

Author:William Thrash [Thrash, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-02-12T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Melaki smelled the air. Damp, fresh, and only tainted with the slightest bit of death.

Normal.

Talin had been gone since morning. His ride would take six days there and six more back. He sat looking at the fire, the morning light creeping through the shuttered windows.

He would scout certain of the buildings today. Talin had allowed as much as his claim to whatever he wanted in the village.

How magnanimous of him.

He would find a place separate from Talin. The wizard's conceit grated on him.

He can brag his crap to his horse.

Later, he would start searching for that cachement where they had killed that white demon out in the middle of nothing. It had to be somewhere.

He got up and went outside. He eyed the pile of bones in the square. Without thinking, he groaned. He knew he would be burying them so he would not have to look at them.

Frowning, he set about that immediate task.

Finish it.

He brought a cart by hand and began to pile bones. Then he stepped back.

This will be faster.

He patterned force and began moving the bones into the cart with more ease and speed.

And cleaner. He wiped his hands.

They snuck up on him. He was not prepared.

But they were not sneaking. He just was not paying attention.

“Hail, wizard.”

Panic shot through him as he spun. He released his pattern immediately. He had been using his magic without the oily cover. Bones dropped and clattered to the ground. Behind him were two people.

Ah. He recognized them – the mercenary husband and wife from the tavern. He had a heavy pack on his back. She had two.

He smiled, embarrassed. “Hail.”

“Would this be Soam's Crossing?” said the man.

“Indeed.”

“Ah, very good.” He fetched a map from a pocket and then came close to Melaki. Pointing to the map, he said, “This is where we are, yes?”

He nodded.

The man looked around and then finally off towards the east, squinting. He looked back to the map. “We took the village next to yours. Talam's Ford.”

“Oh? We shall have neighbors? We saw your village while we were sweeping the area. It looked and felt clean, but we did not get too close. Not our claim, you know.”

The man looked uncomfortable. “Good to know. Those undead can be unnerving. I am Neret and my wife is Tila.”

Melaki blinked. “Tila?”

His horse nickered from the stall.

I could not possibly ever tell her she shared the name of my horse.

“Yes, Tila,” Neret said. He frowned. “Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing. I am Melaki.”

The man still frowned. “Might I ask a favor?”

Melaki stood next to a jumble of bones and a cart trying to look casual.

Neret pointed behind him to Tila. “She took a gash to her knee from a ghoulish thing. Would you...?”

Healing, of course. He's making her carry a double load with a wound? Neret fell several notches in his estimation. Down to about where he viewed Talin. “Certainly. Come inside and take some rest. I will delve her injury.”

They followed him into the tavern.

“It is rather dark in here,” said Neret.

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