Chapter 1.6 Opal Eyes Inn

“There's a girl.” Feorick called to Memory.

He hopped down from the back of the black stallion. Memory hawed and shook head, her black mane whipped back and forth.

“Now, now.” He patted Memory's muscular neck, “We can finally get some rest, and clean ourselves up.” he pulled the travel pack free from Memory's back.

The inn had a stable around back, one of the boys took the reigns from Feorick and led the way, although Memory seemed like she was in the lead.

“Clean her up real good, she hasn't had a good brushing in a few days.” he called to the boy.

“Yes, my lord.” he bowed and continued down the ally toward the stable.

Feorick didn't feel very lordly, he felt dirty, more unclean than anything. The thought of that family still lingered in his mind. He killed many people in his profession, but usually forgot about them immediately after. This was different though, they were burned alive, and entire family and their home. It was unnecessary, even if Seleroc thought it so. He was an evil man, unpredictable.

He could be seen as good if it pleased him. He would ride through town handing out, or rather tossing buckets of coppers to the peasants, laughing all the way. He wouldn't want to touch their dirty hands. The peasants of the city would all out fight to get anything their hands could grab. Concealed knives would be drawn leaving people lying dead after the crowd dispersed after whips from Seleroc's entourage.

The familiar smell of leather, and Emengar's kitchen took him in. He realized how tired he was, but was startled by a sudden questioning.

“How could you show your face in this place after you left my bar in disorder?” A loud, deep but nonthreatening voice came from the back of the half occupied room. Feorick tried to recall the last time he had been there, it was a number of years ago.

“Get over here Feorick.” Tesen waved him over. “Where have you been? Travelling I suppose. You were never one to stay in one spot.”

Only a few knew of Feorick's real profession, he just called himself a traveller in most places. Tesen was in the know, he had hired him on more than one occasion during his younger years, but they became friend through a series of favours. Although he was still unsure about the accusation he made about leaving his bar a wreak. Maybe it was nothing, something to convince the patrons no less.

“Tesen, good to see you. I have certainly been living a mouse life. How have you been?” Feorick greeted the heavy set man with an embrace. Before Tesen could answer Feorick he asked for a room, and to have the bath filled.

“Most defiantly.” Tesen laugh a little nervously.

The men Tesen was sitting with seemed to become a little impatient. One stood up.

“I'm sure you two can talk later, we need to settle our discussion first.” The large man's hands braced the edge of the table, he leaned forward, he looked angry.

“Ok, just a moment.” Tesen insisted, hands up with palm forward, bowing his head ever so slightly.

“You have been stalling all afternoon!” The other man said sounding a little less irritated.

“Listen, Feorick, just go tell Nadlin to set you in with a room. I have to talk with these gentlemen about a few things. It's good to see you. We can catch up later.” Tesen patted Feorick shoulder and looked him in the eyes, concerned.

He knew something was wrong, but he wasn't sure what. What had he walked in on?

“Sounds good, I will talk to you soon Tesen.” Feorick bowed to the men at the table and turned for the back room to look for Nadlin. Tesen sat back down, and continued talking with the two men. They both wore dark overcoats with an insignia that Feorick wasn't familiar with.

Walking to the back room the sweet smell of cooking filled Feorick's nose, his mouth with saliva. Murk, he was hungry. He made his way into the kitchen where he knew he would find Nadlin. Unintentionally he sneaked up behind her. She was focused, hovering over her work.

“Smells perfect.” He calmly said over her shoulder looking into the pot.

“Blast!” Nadlin jumped. The plump woman twisted around, grabbing a ladle that laid on the counter top, whipping it up in front of her for defence. Feorick stepped back, hands up, with a smile on his face.

“Watch it woman.” Feorick felt a little more lighthearted and let out a short laugh.

Seeing Nadlin, brought back memories. When he was younger he would come to the Inn with his father. She would occupy him while his father met with some of the towns nobles, and merchants, in the common area. 

Feorick's father had been a merchant himself, before he lost his life during an incident between rival kingdoms at the Battle of Ker, or so Feorick was told.

He was young when it had happened. The night was dark. He was told to hide under the seat of the transport carriage. He still didn't believe it was an accident, sometimes in his dreams he recalled that fateful night, men on horseback killed his father. He vowed then to seek revenge. That was over fifteen years ago.

Of course Nadlin didn't know how he lived now. Tesen kept Feorick secret safe, an oath. Tesen did ask for assistance on a few occasion. Besides Nadlin didn't want to know anything negative about the world around her, Tesen made sure of that. She always had a bright welcoming smile, and a story that would brighten a heavy rain storm at midnight. Although she did follow the in's and out's of people in the city. She wasn't completely blind of what the world was like around her. She just wanted to live a happy life. What mistress wouldn't, not that she employed girls for the company of men. Those inns were located in the South-East. This inn was classy, built for the wealthy, and catered to formal meetings. Two floors were dedicated to meeting rooms were build above the common area. The building towered another floor above that, hosting the more expensive rooms in the in. The rest of the rooms extended off the common and dining areas. Nadlin made sure that the Opal Eye's maintained a cheerful, yet elegant, reputation.

A few of the other cooks in the kitchen stopped what they were doing to look at the confrontation, wide eyed.

“This is an old friend” She called out to ease everyone's concern. They slowly went back to their work. There was no need to push them. Nadlin always said 'A happy kitchen is an efficient kitchen.', and so she didn't push them with demands to quicken the pace. Her positive feedback and reinforcement had already made them well greased wheels.

“It's such a long time!” Nadlin grabbed Feorick in a hug, he thought of his knives. “What are you doing in Isseti?” She didn't notice. Or if she had, she didn't question them.

“On business, travelling.” The answer was the same every time someone asked.

“Taking the footsteps of your father.” Nadlin quickly stopped herself, and apologized, “Oh, sorry Feorick. I didn't mean to...”

Laughing it off he eased her frowning face.

“It's been over fifteen years. I haven't forgotten about him, but it doesn't hurt anymore to think or remember him.” He lied. It made him all he more vengeful inside. Like a boat pulling on its moors, he felt the tension of not finding those who killed his father. At least he would continue looking.

“I wanted you to set me up with a room. I'll be spending the night.” He changed the subject.

Nadlin's face flipped back to her cheerful self. Her red cheeks brighter with the contrast of her white kitchen apron. She somehow always kept it white, and it wasn't because she didn't do any work.

“That's wonderful.” Feorick thought her smile couldn't get any bigger. He was wrong. “Well, make yourself at home. You remember where the keys are. Just grab any room you like.” She glowed again. “Good to see you, we will have to talk about your travels.”

“Thank you Ms. Rouyen.” Feorick bowed and exited the kitchen after watching a wink form the beautiful round red face, and silver hair wrapped in a bun. She knew his intent on calling her by her last name. Nadlin and Tesen were bound at the hip, and they loved each other.

Feorick had been worried about Tesen, but didn't want to ask Nadlin who where the men sitting with him, so as not to cause worry. He was sure that he wasn't in harms way. Although the men he was sitting with seemed like they were in a way to harm.

He walked into the management office. Nadlin really did too much in this place. Besides make the best Smith's Stew in Isseti, she ordered the books and made sure every patron left with a laugh. He opened the key box and found that his usual room had been taken, so he choose the one next to it. It still had a window overlooking the back grounds and stable, one could never be overly cautious.

Opening the door to the common area he found the Tesen was still talking to the men, although he must have managed to lighten the situation for the two men seemed less angry and more on the brink of a smile.

Tesen noticed Feorick come out of the back room. He waved him to go up stairs. Feorick thought that Tesen would be fine. He nodded in his direction and made his way to the fourth floor. Finally he would have his bath.

The room was finely furnished. Feorick dropped his travelling bags and his newly acquired sack of coins. With the rattle he thought of the family again.

'How much is the cost of life, of death?' He thought to himself.

He slung his jacket over a mahogany chair padded with a deep green velvet. Two servants brought in four buckets of hot water, turned on the tap, and dumped the hot water in.

“We will be back with more.” One of the servants said as the exited the room.

Feorick watched as the bath filled. Taking off his boots and travelled clothes. He started to think about his service to the Empire. How he showed emotion to the emperor himself. Even though they knew each other, trained together growing up, there was no real bond between the two. They were not friends as he claimed in the treasure hall.

“How many more will die by my hands?” Looking at them before dipping them in to a wash-bucket. It was the first time he had question killing since he witnessed himself take a life year prior. He had been asked by Illerad L'Ulote, Seleroc's father, the previous Emperor, more of a service than a request.

Feorick began to lather his body before settling into the bath.

After Feorick's parents had been killed, he was found wandering down a road by a Captain Yekon Motees, and a few other solders of L'Ulote returning to report new of the Battle of Ker. Capt. Motees, picked up the young, a finely dressed yet soiled Feorick, and brought him back home with him. After questioning what happened, Motees decided it was best for him to join the ranks in the Kingdom of Isseti.

Growing up he quickly learned the ways of a solder. Motees was a master of the sword himself, and taught Feorick much of what he knew. And when asked to assemble an elite guard, Feorick was on that list. Although the youngest of the newly formed guard, he may have been the most skilled. The relationship between Motees and Feorick wasn't anything like a father and son bond. Feorick was a tool of the growing Empire, yet much more free and independent from a solder's life. One of the requirements for this guard was that they had little emotion, but could meld into society easily, as to go unnoticed.

After a year of training in this elite guard, the secretive, yet personal 'tasks' of the King were set into play. It could be said that without these trained elite stealth solder the Kingdom of Pale'garshar and Golsen may not have been conquered. That elite guard, many of which either died or remain hidden, was transformed into The Pious Guard around the time of Illerad L'Ulote's passing.

The Pious Guard was the next generation of stealth solder, even more emotion ridden, perhaps even more skilled, but certainly obedient to the throne. And with the hand of Seleroc manipulating them the empire could very will find itself in a new war. Certainly, his quest for power, riches, and land was not resolved with the abdication of Golsen and the willing annexation of the northern kingdoms of Nukovic and Evie, where no war was fought. Seleroc kept an open eye to the West, although partially blocked with mountains, deep forests, and rivers. There was trade with these kingdoms, but it was distant and seasonal. Since the war and sequential conquering of Golsen, that trade had come to a halt, for reasons unknown.

Feorick knew much about the comings and goings of the Empire. He visited most major cities within each Kingdom, and had an ear for picking up valuable information. Maybe one of the reasons he was still requested by Seleroc. Although, now completely independent of the contract by which he served Illerad L'Ulote, after his passing.

The servants had brought four more buckets and left them for him. He told them to just leave them next to the bath. He poured one in and tested the water. It was fine, steam rose from the bath. He rinsed himself off, slipped in, laid back, and relaxed. He would let the water loosen any dirt from his body he may have missed as he soaked. It felt good, he felt tired, after his long travels. He wanted to return to the Emperor quickly, he was upset that his soldiers rounded up that family and just burned them alive. He didn't want to think about it. He just wanted to relax. His eyes started to droop letting the warm water heat up his body. Almost immediately he fell into a lucid dream.

.....

He was back in the Pelio's house searching while the family slept in their rooms. He would not be found out even if they had woke up. His skills in stealth had been unmatched, one of the reasons that Seleroc asked him to partake in this operation. He was to find the item and leave without killing. He had thought this task would be another assassination assignment when he was first called to meet with the emperor, but most times his assignments had not been a direct meeting. A telegram usually found it's way in his hands, these had been obligations, a service to the Empire. Stealing this item had been a personal vendetta for Seleroc, although particularly unknown at the time. Feorick seldom looked deeply into his assignments, only to investigate the whereabouts of a particular person and their daily habits.

Feorick found the item. It was in plain sight, although the gray moon provided most of the light in the room the sword hung over the fireplace crossed with another sword. He heard a rustle from inside the house. Someone was up.

Pelio had walked to the kitchen, down the hall past the living room where the fireplace was located, Feorick hid in a shadowed corner. He was all in black, a shawl covered his face, and charcoal had been rubbed on the exposed areas around his eyes. He kept silent. Pelio returned to his room with a glass of water. Feorick waited for a short time and acted quickly to retrieve the sword. Just as he grabbed it the dream flashed to Pelio's eyes, flames reflecting in their blackness, and a quite scream started to seem into Feorick's mind, “You must get the sword. He will destroy us all!” The scream seemed to say, it grew louder and louder “He will destroy us all!”

Feorick woke up in a hurry, water splashed all about. He looked toward the door, servants had dropped of some towels off for him while he rested. His heart raced, his breathing heavy, and he felt more sick now than well rested. He would have to see to that after he filled his stomach with some of Nedlin's Stew. He started draining the water from the bath, using the clean water is the last buckets to wash and rinse himself off. The water was still warm.

.....

“Feorick is staying at the Opel Eyes's Inn, my holiness.” Teloc said.

“Good. He is still in the city. See to it that he's interrupted tomorrow and bring him back here. You don't need to force him. If he wants to leave the city that his choice and if he does, follow him.”