The Amulet (A tale of Eswor Book 2)

The past stays in the past

Hey hey hey it's Saturday and that means it's time for an update!!!
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Cole stared at me with his mouth hanging open. Timothy didn't look any better either.

"I find it funny that as soon as I decide to come to Dwaygord, I find you. I knew at some point you would catch up to me, I just thought it would be in Thalidien or Mirirth." I chuckled darkly. "I guess I should've seen this coming."

Cole took a step forward. "We need to talk." He growled. I sighed and nodded.

"That we do."

He looked back at the guards. "We're taking a break. I'll be right back."
I dropped the reins and followed him. We walked a little ways from the group and near a brook.

He pulled me towards him and studied me. His finger traced over my scar. "That scar is new. You're hair has gotten longer." He stepped back and circled me. "You deal two swords now?"

I nodded. "I learned back in Mirirth. I saved a guard from a large group of goblins and he trained me in duel swords."

Cole sighed. "Where have you been for three years?"

I shrugged. "Here, there everywhere. I can tell you that Galeilth and Dwaygord are the two places I haven't been."

Cole sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "Care to explain what happened after the ball three years ago? I was looking for you and found all of your stuff just gone. No note, no anything. It was like you never lived there."

I shrugged. "It's more like what happened before. You might want to sit down as its a long story."

Cole sat down on a rock and I sat next to him. So I told him. I told him about King Warren's plans for the amulet, and my brother. I told him about Seth wanting to come with us for the amulet. How after the ball I changed, packed my stuff and went to look for the amulet. I told him of my travels to find the amulet and how I found it in a year. I told him everything leading up to now. When I finished he looked at me with a new interest.

"Can I see the amulet?"

I hesitated before nodding. "But don't touch it. I was warned by the dragon not to let anyone touch it." Cole nodded. I pulled it out from under my shirt and held it in my palm. I put it back after a short while. I took his hands in mine, with pleading eyes, I looked at him. "You can't tell anybody anything I told you. Do you understand? You especially can't tell anyone in the Royal Family of Galeilth."

Cole nodded. He smirked and leaned closer, catching me by surprise. "We have a lot of catching up to do." He leaned in towards me so his nose was barely touching mine. I put my hands on his chest to stop him from getting closer.

"No we don't. I already said everything. Now tell me what's happening in Galeilth."

Cole frowned, but he leaned back away from me. "Warren is on a rampage almost every single day. Derrick is engaged and getting married in the summer. The queen has passed, she's dead and gone." He paused and looked at me. "As for Kinnley and Opal, they both left the castle and moved in the north part of Galeilth. I visit them every now and then, but Kinnley is sick and he's getting worse."

"Kinnley is sick?"

Cole looked at me sadly and nodded. "Yes he is. Plus the new Captain isn't any good. He is often drunk and the men just go out to drink, sleep with women and bully the people. I've made it my responsibility of keeping the guards in check. Seth helps every now and then. Derrick is busy preparing for becoming king. Warren may be rampaging, but he's also dying." I felt him pull me into his arms and I rested my head in the crook of his neck. "I missed you."

"I know." I closed my eyes and breathed him in. "I should get going soon. Your men would get suspicious." I looked up at him to find him looking down at me. "You're not going to turn me in right?"

Cole smiled. "I would never do that."

I pulled apart from him. "Okay." I stood up and pulled my hood over my head. I walked back to where Strider was grazing. I lifted the reins over his head and mounted him. I looked down at Cole. "Thanks for catching up with me. Now I want you to go back to Galeilth and tell everyone that you searched everywhere and couldn't find me. It's for the best."

Cole nodded. He took my hand and kissed it. "Just be careful okay. Watch out for Warrens men and dwarves. Especially dwarves."

I nodded. "You be careful too." I nudged Strider and galloped away. I didn't look back. I touched my face to find myself...crying? "Kav, this isn't time the time to cry." I told myself. I wiped my tears away and looked on at the road ahead of me. No use looking back in the past. Nothing good comes from that.

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I opened the door to Brightly's Tavern & Inn. I did my best to ignore the stares that followed me. I guess dwarves aren't used to seeing humans in their kingdom. As us humans aren't used to seeing dwarves, but they do show up every now and then in the human kingdoms.

I walked up to the desk. "I need a room for a couple of days."

The dwarf behind the desk, who I assume is Brightly, was standing on a stool so we were at the same height. He eyed me suspiciously. "What brings you to Dwaygord? Humans don't normally come up here."

I shrugged. "Needed a change of scenery, so I'd figure I come up here. Now about that room?"

The dwarf nodded. "How long are you staying again?"

I sighed. "Put me in for a week. And if I decide to change the length of my stay I'll tell you."

Brightly scribbled something down. "That will be..lets see..." he mumbled to himself quietly so I couldn't hear him. "Yes, that will be ten gold shillings."

I put the shillings on the table and took the key that he set out. "Thanks."

I walked up the stairs to where the room was. I unlocked the door and stepped in. I looked around the room. It was better then most inns that I went to. There was an actual bed, not a cot of hay, an actual bed in the corner of the room. A window was located farther away from the bed. I walked up and opened the shades. The view was amazing. I could see a forest leading up to the mountains in the distance. Galeilth, Thirer, and Mirirth were mostly cities and towns. Here in Dwaygord it was all nature.

I covered my hand over my mouth and started coughing. I hacked one last time and blood spurted on the floor. I widened my eyes and grabbed an extra cloth. I wiped it up and threw it in the chamber pot.

I looked up at the sky, and saw the sun was setting. I yawned, backing away from the window and took my cloak off. I also took off my swords and put them on the table that was in front of the fireplace. I plopped on the bed and put a knife under my pillow. I held onto it and felt myself drifting into sleeps embrace.