Hawkridge

Chapter 9

Colt packed his belongings that night and in the morning left for Longbranch, sharing a horse with the doctor. The man had to retrieve new supplies for them what was still in bad condition, though mercifully there weren't many left what still needed the doctor's attention. Colt supposed a more dramatic exit could've been asked for, but true to his word, Old Man Alder wouldn't even loan him a horse. There were some jokes made as he rode behind the doctor away from the manor, fellow ranch hands thinking him a fool for going off without money and chasing his own tail.

He wasn't the first person to go trying to find his grandfather's fort. Only two folks that he knew of had ever been there and back, and one of them was lying dead in a cave with an arrow through his chest. The other somehow managed to fit in his lap as they rode on to Longbranch, feet resting against the hilt of her sword.

Aephyr seemed immensely pleased to be out of the vault. Said she'd spent enough time in caves to last her a lifetime. Whether or not the vault counted as an actual cave didn't seem to much matter to her. She smiled as they rode at an easy pace at the trees and flowers by the roadside. Every now and then Colt caught her glancing back towards the manor, but held back from asking what she was about while the doctor was so close. He might be able to explain Aephyr away, but why bother with that awkward conversation and risk being sent to one of them mad houses?

So he passed the long ride whistling and exchanging stories with the doc that sometimes set Aephyr to fits of giggles so violent it was a wonder she didn't fall off the horse altogether. The sun was high overhead when they finally approached the East gate to the city. This time a pair of guards waved them through, truncheons looped to each of their belts and each holdin a spear as tall as themselves. Seemed the town wasn't taking any chances about any cave goblins still lingering nearby.

It was queer just how normal the town seemed, despite the number of folk who'd just died. People went on crossing the dusty road and scurrying from building to building with their daily business as if nothing had happened. Colt wondered who'd stepped up to fill the sheriff's boots. Not Anthony, surely. He was a mage, and a good man, but nobody in Longbranch would accept a young man who hadn't seen twenty winters as their sheriff, let alone one who might die on them any day. Horrible thought, but that was the truth of it.

Colt dismounted once they reached town square and wished the doctor a good day.

"Keep eatin' the spinach," the doctor said. "And drink plenty of water in case them headaches we talked about put in an appearance."

"What is it you keep lookin' at?" Colt whispered as he made his way over to the sheriff's office. Little chance though there might be of Anthony actually stepping into his uncle's boots, there was a good chance whoever was there now could tell him where he could find the boy. Out of all the folk in town, Anthony seemed the most likely to let him room free of charge or lend him a horse, and he needed to know how the mage was doing.

Aephyr giggled. "Nothing," she sing-songed.

A trio of guards were at the sheriff's office, discussing something in hushed voices that fell silent when they caught sight of him at the door.

"Help you, young man?" the nearest one asked.

"Lookin' for Anthony Maer," Colt said. "Thought he might be around here."

The guard shook his head. "Not since his uncle passed. Mostly keeps to the sheriff's house—his house now I reckon—and the temple. You don't find him at one, you'll find him at the other."

Colt gave a nod of appreciation, wishing he had a hat to tip. "Thank you, sir."

The temple was on the western side of town square, which made it notably closer than Anthony's house. His trunk wasn't heavy by Colt's usual standards, but days of laying around on his back made him get tired more easily. He refused to let it show though, and balanced it on one shoulder as he crossed the square to the Mother of All's temple.