Return of the Stormcriers

CHAPTER 47 - TOOTH AND TALON

Hour after hour, the miles bleeding into one another, Nathan walked steadily between Captain Gattis and Jahn. Kyler walked several paces ahead of the group, seemingly unaffected by the constant pace they had kept over the last several days. Rain or shine his demeanor never faltered. While he was never overly open and friendly, neither was he impolite. Nathan reached absently into his cloak, fidgeting with the silver leaf pendant as they walked.

  Gattis had been unfamiliar with the emblem when Nathan had shown him the pendant the morning before. Kyler and Jahn had seemed just as perplexed at the small silver design. Perhaps it was some unfamiliar religious token. He wished he had taken the time to inspect the other bodies for similar necklaces. His mind had been in chaos after the heat of the battle and he had not even thought to check the rest of the men.

  "There is a small village up ahead," Kyler noted, breaking Nathan's reverie. "Would you like to avoid it my Prince?"

  "No," Nathan instructed, hurrying to cut off Gattis' protests. "We need supplies if we are to continue our travels."

  The Captain nodded begrudgingly at the prince's words. As much as he hated the idea of being around so many people, they were running low on food and desperately needed bedrolls. With luck, no one would recognize Prince Nathan by sight this far removed from the capital.

Within the hour roofs began to dot the horizon, filling the sky with lazy wisps of smoke from their chimneys. Details came into focus a short time later, people wandering through the wide streets on their daily errands, calling out with unintelligible voices to one another. With a look from Gattis, Nathan pulled his cloak up around himself tightly, covering his face with the cowl. Now that they knew that they were on the run from Verden's military, as well as the resistance, they could not afford to take any chances. With Bernoulli's betrayal there was no one they could trust.

  "This town is called Tarioc," Kyler whispered to the group. "Small and simple town, they're good people though. We should be able to find the supplies that we lack here. Assuming, that is, your Royal Highness brought money along with him."

  "He has more than enough money," John hissed, hurrying to defend his prince's honor.

  "It is quite alright, Jahn," Nathan quieted his man. "Mr. Dustil did not mean any insult by it."

  They reached town just as the sun began to descend from its noonday height. The houses were much more neatly built than Highmill, lining the wide dirt streets in nearly perfect rows. The people were unfailingly kind, welcoming the visitors to their town whenever they passed. Several of the townsfolk recognized Kyler and called to him familiarly, asking who he had brought to town. The hired guard answered politely, but vague enough to not draw undue attention to their group. He led them quickly to a merchant stall in the western section of town that he assured them would carry the travel supplies that they needed.

"Kyler Dustil!" The merchant bellowed with a large smile. Nathan nervously looked around to see how many stares this man had brought towards their group. Luckily no one paid him any mind, they must be used to his volume.

"Stanford!" Kyler called back jovially, causing Nathan to cringe from the noise. "How have you been old friend?"

"I have been well!" The merchant responded, lowering his voice only slightly as they approached his stall. "Who is it that you are escorting today?"

"We are merchants, like yourself," Captain Gattis answered quickly, forcing a fake relaxed grin and extending his large hand for a hearty handshake.

"Why does that one keep his face covered?" Stanford asked gesturing towards Nathan.