CHAPTER FIFTEEN:

  HOPE IN HAND

  A few minutes after the departure of Avenal the Relentless, half the patrons of The Bloody Lance Tavern nursed their drinks quietly, while the other half, including Garrick and Deelah, left the warmth of the inside for the chilly outside air.

  “I had always heard of Avenal, but had never seen him,” said Deelah with a squirm, remembering their encounter. Feeling that the air had become noticeably colder, the thief slid on a pair of tight gloves. “And he thought he knew you. You are lucky he did not mistake you for that someone he knew.”

  “He thought he knew me because he did,” replied Garrick calmly as he glanced over every part of the street to be safe.

  Deelah stopped. Then she grabbed the mercenary’s arm, forcing him to stop as well, but before she could say a word, Garrick spoke.

  “You will be the first to know. I will have to tell everyone when we get back,” began Garrick, his eyes moving between Deelah and the street. “Just before I started the quest for the Scepter Sword, I heard that Avenal had roughed up some people at the mercenary guild back at The Crossroads.”

  Seeing that Deelah still had hold of his arm, her eyes still staring up at him, the mercenary took his other hand and lifted her hand away. Then as the thief realized the grip was broken, Garrick walked her over to the side of the street.

  “Whyever does he want you?” whispered Deelah closely to Garrick, over the sounds of foot traffic on the street. “What did you and those other mercenaries do?”

  Still scanning the street, Garrick finally looked back down at Deelah. “I do not know if what happened at The Crossroads had anything to do with it, but earlier this year, I and four other mercenaries foiled one of his bounty attempts. While on a job protecting an underground fortress in Arthurom, Avenal came for a new mercenary named Kameyo. He had never told us much of his past. However, evidently back home Kameyo had just killed the man that his wife was seeing behind his back. Luckily for his wife, his emotions cooled enough after he had killed her lover, that he let her live.”

  Engrossed in the story, Deelah watched Garrick’s face change, as if he were reliving that day.

  “Whoever started the name Avenal the Relentless is astute in their observations, to say the least. Yes, it is because he always gets his bounty, no matter what, but it is also because he will fight within an inch of his life,” stated Garrick. Then he looked down at Deelah. “And that is what happened that day. It took five. Yes, all five of us to defeat him that day.” After Garrick was silent for a moment he continued. “No matter what you think of your fellow mercenary. Whether you like him, love him, or hate him, when you are on a job, you are as brothers.”

  Deelah watched as Garrick’s face grew even more focused.

  “All of us were injured that day. Some worse than others. I was hurt the least. Thankfully because, unlike the others, when we exited the fortress I was still wearing one of the helmets our client gave to us. I had the visor down the whole time when Avenal arrived to take Kameyo back to the dead man's father, who had sent him. And it was on all through the battle. That is why the half-elf thought he recognized me, but could not place me fully.”

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  After pulling his cloak tighter to fight the cold air, Garrick continued. “A month later, when the job was over, I returned to the mercenary guild at The Crossroads. I saw everyone there. Well, almost everyone. Rance, Everton, Tervol, but not Kameyo. The three informed me that they had heard from the guild in Parnigal that Avenal had apprehended Kameyo there a few days after we went our separate ways.”

  As Garrick scanned the streets before starting back to where Baron Michael’s carriage waited, Deelah spoke. “You say that Avenal will fight to within an inch of his life. He retreated from the battle knowing he had lavender of…”

  “You are not just a pretty face, Deelah,” smiled Garrick, cutting her off as he looked at her. “Avenal is a monster on his weakest day. But yes, my guess is the flower that Bennell has was the bounty hunter’s last one.”

  With the story ended, Garrick and Deelah began to walk toward the shopping district of the city. Before long the peddlers were calling out their wares, from carvings to jewelry and weapons of war to ingredients for magic spells. The smell of baked goods and perfumes filled the air.

  “Excuse me. Would you like a flower for the little lady? A beautiful flower for a beautiful lady,” inquired a man with his hood over his head as he tried to keep warm.

  When both Deelah and Garrick waved no in the man’s direction, he spoke again. “Oh, but it is not just beautiful. It is a special flower. Perhaps not for the little lady. Maybe for someone else? Hmm…”

  Garrick stopped and grabbed Deelah’s arm firmly; the thief winced a little in surprise at the mercenary’s strong grip.

  “How special, my friend?” prodded Garrick.

  “Oh, you could say it is to die for,” replied the hooded peddler in a humble voice.

  “Bennell?” whispered Garrick as he squinted his eyes at the man.

  After the peddler looked around, he nodded. When he pulled his hood back slightly, Deelah’s eyes widened as she stifled a gleeful scream. The man matched the description of Bennell.

  “I am sorry I could not meet you at the predetermined place, but I am sure now you understand why,” spoke Bennell with a slight bow.

  “You stole the Lavender of Life from Avenal!” whispered the thief to the handsome, long haired, clean shaven young man. “If my friends back in Aubrelon could see me now,” smiled Deelah, looking from Bennell to the direction the capital city would be. “As a fellow thief I commend you.”

  “That was a very foolish thing to do, young man,” whispered Garrick. Then he grinned. “Still, I am happy you have such courage.”

  “It was nothing,” announced Bennell to Deelah, as he started to hand her a bouquet of flowers with the Lavender of Life practically hidden in the middle of the other surrounding perennials. Then he paused for a moment and smiled at the shapely beauty. “How about I give these to your friend here. I can show you around Fawndale.” After he looked over at Garrick, Bennell continued. “You look capable enough of getting back without my fellow thief.

  “Oh, you are handsome and sly, Bennell. But the flowers only, please,” laughed Deelah. “Still, I thank you just the same,” announced the thief as she leaned up and kissed his cheek as if she were his sister.

  Garrick laughed as Bennell looked at them grinning sheepishly, trying to cover his mild embarrassment.

  “Well then. Perhaps I will see you again, and your friends, of course, in Aubrelon,” persisted Bennell as he handed the bouquet to Deelah. After looking at Garrick, Bennell sighed. “Tell Baron Michael we are even.” Then, as he pulled his hood lower over his face, he began to walk backward slowly. “If he needs my services again he knows where to find me.”

  As soon as Bennell turned, he dashed off deeper into the busy marketplace. Then Garrick and Deelah walked quickly in the direction the carriage was waiting. The carriage that would not just take them back to the mansion, but to the place where Elias would finally return to them.