War of Dark Ages: A Unicorn's Journey

The tavern draws near and Torin along with Natasha are standing outside both with nervous expressions across their faces.

“Natasha, go up with Riley and help him turn down her bed.” Torin gives the order and she rushes into the tavern upstairs. His gaze turns to the woman in Commander Kail’s arms. “I heard she has a name and that there was quite the commotion.”

“Yes, unfortunately, it seems too much is happening all at once. I’m afraid exhaustion caught up to her.”

A voice behind Torin startles him, “Her room is ready, it seems they are giving her a bit larger room.” Riley stands slightly behind him. “Apologies, seems I still have a bad habit of scaring people.”

Torin glances at Riley, “It’s fine. Go on, I’m sure both you, Commander, and the missy will need a lot of rest.”

They walk into the tavern upstairs, stepping silently down the hallway. At the end of the hallway, Riley opens the door and steps aside.

“Natasha, can you turn on the basin? I’ll leave her here for the moment and I need you to wash her. Knock on the door when you’re finished.” Commander Kail puts San on the bed and they both leave waiting outside.

They both step out into the hallway and wait. A few minutes pass with a knock resounding on the door. As they enter San is lying in a larger bed with the blanket pulled up over her.

“I didn’t have any extra garments for her to wear.” Natasha stands gazing down at her with her hands twisting together.

With a brief nod of his head towards Natasha, Commander Kail walks to the left upwards near the nightstand, and sits on the chair beside her. “Thank you. Natasha, you can visit her whenever you like, I am not going to leave her side.”

Natasha leaves the room, closing the door behind her.

A deep sigh erupts from Commander Kail as he leans forward placing his elbows on his knees.

“I’m sure she will be fine.” Riley places his hand on his friend’s shoulder.

’How can you say that when we have the Duke harping down our throats, Madam Fortun making constant scenes, the violence of the town as of late and on top of that Durdley’s crew and the trees?” Commander Kail swears under his breath. “And most of all I couldn’t protect her when she needed us the most. Dammit!” He thrust his hand through his hair, completely frustrated by all occurring events.

“I’ll leave you here for a moment.” Riley steps outside the room.

“What in the world am I supposed to do now?” He sits on the bed beside her reaching to brush back a strand of her hair.

A few hours pass and Commander Kail looks to the other side of the room, spotting a desk with some papers and penna on top. Giving a glance to San lying there he walks over and starts writing down the next orders set to be given to clear up this mess. With exhaustion dripping from his forehead, continues to write.

More hours pass and Commander Kail finally can put the penna down. Looking down at his work needs to make sure they get to where they need to go. He starts to rise and his vision becomes a bit blurry staggering against the desk. A knock sounds on the door. “Come in.”

Torin steps through the door with a plate of food. “Thought you might be hungry since you haven’t come down.” He walks over placing the food before him with a glass of water and takes the piles of papers setting them to the side. “You need to take care of yourself as well Commander.”

“Alright, but I still need to get these orders out to the right people.” Commander Kail sits down and starts eating.

Torin moves to the chair beside the desk and sits down picking up the pile of papers. “I can sort these to where they need to go while you eat.”

Commander Kail hesitates for a moment. “Sure.”

The documents Torin is looking at astounds him. “Would you mind if I sorted this out by who the contacts are?”

Commander Kail glances over at Torin with a mouthful of food in his mouth and gives a slight nod before swallowing. He grabs the large glass of water and starts drinking. The water felt particularly good as it took away a bit of the dryness in this throat felt earlier.

Torin takes the pile of papers and sits on the floor making fourteen different piles in a crisscross form. Picking them up he lays them on the desk. “If you wouldn’t mind, I know you need your rest. Would you allow me, Riley, and Ragnar to deliver these for you and ensure they get completed?”

Commander Kail glances at Torin while taking the last sip of his water. “You have a lot of work to do yourself, don’t you?”

A smile spreads across his face, “That I do, but I also want to protect her for my own reasons.” Torin walks up to the side bed gazing down gently at San. “In a way, I feel somewhat responsible for using her the way I did even though she is honest to a fault. And you need your sleep, can’t have the Commander taking up all the work because we are slacking off now, can we?”

Commander Kail smirks at Torin, “Alright, I know when I have gotten beat. Ragnar and Riley, why don’t both of you come and join us?”

Riley opens the door, “How the hell did you know? I swear no matter how many times I do it, you can still find us.” He places both hands on hips with a pout spread across his lips but the gleam doesn’t reach his eyes.

Ragnar continues to stand in the doorway swearing, shaking his head.

Commander Kail smiles, “That my dear Riley, is a secret.”

Torin leaves the room and gives an order from down the hall to someone. A few moments later a low mattress was brought into the room.

Both Ragnar and Riley stand to the left as they place it on the right side of the bed.

It is not as big as the mattress San is on being half its size, and just as comfortable. A blanket is also brought in and as Commander Kail lays down on the bed, he realizes he is more exhausted as his eyes start to close.

Riley pulls the blanket up under his chin, tucking him in. As he stands up, looks over to where San lies resting with a worried expression resting across his face.

Ragnar glances inside, “We will protect them both, you know we will, Sir.”

With a last glance at them resting, “Yes, we will.” Riley grabs the papers on the dresser and leaves the room. He is followed by Torin who first picks up the food plate at the desk. They go downstairs to the tavern eating area.

Sometime later, they are sitting at a table in the tavern. Each of them has a glass of water as they start going through the pile of paperwork.

Riley glances at five stacks of documents that need to be sorted out at the Barracks. Placing them down he scratches the back of his head looking over the documents. One is the documentation of the Relics and Weapons in identifying them, the second is documenting the shipments that came in from which port and ship, and the third is the verification of the payments from and to Mr. Durdley and the Kingdom of Saluden. As for the other two documents, the interrogation of Mr. Durdley and Mr. Rysen, they are told to use whatever methods including torture to gain any information from them.

“There is a lot to hand out and to take care of here. Kail was doing this much work on his own?” Ragnar places a couple of documents in his hand on the table.

Riley not looking up, “Knowing him, he will do things that need to be done. Kail is that type of person.”

Torin smirks and glances at Riley, “Seems Kail is good at his job, too good that he tires himself out a lot.” They both agreed.

Riley looks up from his documents towards the tavern door as rushed footsteps head their way. From the sound of the first set of steps, it is light and the second is heavier, it is a man striding towards the woman.

Torin looks up as Latoyia rushes through the tavern door, halting at the doorway looking left and right breathing heavily.

“Latoyia! For goodness’ sake, will you please slow down? I am sure she is all right!” Raden strides behind her trying to keep up.

Latoyia spots them sitting at the table and rushes over to them, her words spilling over themselves. “Is she alright? Is she ok? I heard she fell ill! Does she need anything?”

Torin stands up and walks over to where Latoyia is standing and places a hand on her shoulder as Raden walks in behind her, “Take it easy Latoyia. San is resting upstairs with Commander Kail looking out for her. You will not find a better person to guard her than him.” He lowers his hand and smiles down at her, giving her a slight reassurance while Raden stands beside Latoyia.

Raden glances at Riley with a frown, “We wanted to know if there was anything we could do to help.”

At the same time, Latoyia clenches her fists together at her side, “Please let us do anything! When we first met, I gave her that book to use for my own means of destroying the trees. I thought if the trees got destroyed, then Mr. Durdley would go down as well. But... But...” her voice tails off.

Riley stands up, pushes the chair slightly left, and looks at Latoyia who is staring down at her feet. Before he can say anything, Raden slaps her on the back of the head.

Latoyia grabs the back of her head and glares at Raden. “What was that for!”

Raden crosses his arms and starts tapping his fingers on his arm glaring straight back at her.

Riley smirks.

Torin laughs slightly, shaking his head.

Ragnar stays in his seat glancing over at Raden observing them.

Placing a hand on his hip, Riley glances at her, “You were the ones who wrote all those transcripts?”

“Yes, Raden taught me how to write and document the transcripts to show anything you saw and the shipments.”

Riley put his hand on the back of the chair, “Then would you both consider doing a few jobs? Mind you the reason will be for the town to keep the paperwork straight. The real reason is to help Commander Kail who will do anything to protect her upstairs.”

Latoyia looks at Raden with a questioning and earnest glance.

Raden smiles, “It would be an honor. I always wanted to help her when she first showed up at our store. For some reason even though she looked dangerous, I couldn’t figure out why I trusted her, but I did. And for that, I am glad even though San got hurt. That I can’t forgive myself, so I will do whatever is needed to help.” Raden puts his hand on Latoyia’s head.

Latoyia turns around and stares at her feet. “I want to help as well. Not for the town, but I will do it for her.” She looks up at Riley with determination in her eyes. “I don’t want her to suffer anymore for something I should have tried to take care of a long time ago.”

With a nod of approval, Riley hands them three different documents. “These are things that need to be done and something tells me I can trust both of you to do it. This first one is identifying, the second has a detailed list of the shipments, and the third is a documentation of all transactions.”

Latoyia looks over the documents, “I can handle the first and the last one but the second one might be better if Raden handled that. He is good at that.” Latoyia looks at Raden and he nods his head in response.

“Oh yes, I will need to send a letter with both of you to verify what you shall be doing and giving orders. I want this done yesterday but I do not want you to exhaust yourself.” Riley sits down, takes a blank sheet of paper, and starts writing the letter. Upon finishing the letter, he signs it at the bottom. Standing up he hands Latoyia the letter. “Take this and show it to the guard at the Barracks Storehouse. He will follow the instructions.”

Latoyia takes the letter and marches out of the tavern. Raden follows behind her heading in the direction of the Barracks Storehouse.

Torin watches them leave. “Seems San has made a statement in this town already.”

Riley sits back down. “Yes, Even with all the trouble that happened when she showed up. Some hate her and some respect her. Completely different from anyone they have ever met.” He smiles down at the documents. “Even me.”

Ragnar gives an aggravated sigh and drops the rest of his documents on the table.

“Something is troubling you.” Riley questions as they both glance in his direction.

Ragnar slightly raises his eyes, glancing at Torin before looking at Riley, “Well, for the longest time I think I hated her.” Ragnar plops his chin onto his hands in frustration. “I mean I felt San was wrong somehow, as if she wanted to dominate everyone at first. But. . . as I got to be around her, San was different.” A few minutes pass and Ragnar stands up, turns around with his arms crossed leaning against his chair. “San valued truth more than anything else and her own desire. It was as if her own beliefs were a wall that no one could pass or break. When I saw that about her, I greatly admired her for it.” Ragnar thrust his hand through his hair, “And yet at the same time it made me ashamed. Here I am thinking I can do all that I can when San did this much in just a few days holding strictly to the values she has. Even after I learned that San had forgotten who or what she was, still held fast to her beliefs. Guess I just want to protect her as well and prove that I can do more than what I have been.”

Meanwhile, Torin sits down. “San is that honest to a fault.” He shakes his head giving a shaky laugh, “It is why I started doing things here to help her. And how I got to tell my daughter the truth about what happened to her mother. I didn’t want to hide it anymore.”

Listening to them, Riley blinks a couple of times and orders in a firm and tight voice, “Alright you two, let’s see what we can get done here.”

Ragnar glances at Riley asking in a teasing voice, “Are you crying, Sir?”

As sarcasm drips in his voice, Riley briefly glances at Ragnar, “You want your story at the mansion to be told?”

Ragnar snorts and looks down at his paperwork.

Torin chuckles and takes a sip of his water.

Riley picks up the two documents lying before him, “These last two documents are going to be a trial. The soldiers are not cut out for this.”

Ragnar with a questionable look on his face walks over to Riley glancing over his shoulder at the documents. “Would you allow me to question them? It states that rules do not apply when interrogating them. I would like to be the one to make them suffer and talk.” His voice verberates with anger transferring to his body.

“Are you sure? I’m asking because I was sure you wouldn’t want to do this because of the incident a few years back.”

Ragnar stands straight up revealing he is hiding nothing, “It’s time I stopped running and started doing my job.”

With a smile across his face, Riley hands the two documents to him, “Very well, do your worst, my friend.”

Ragnar takes the documents and leaves the tavern in the direction of the Barracks.

“I had no idea he was suffering; He doesn’t show it,” Torin remarks dryly.

Taking a sip of water Riley glances at Torin, “With him, you won’t. It’s good Ragnar can hide his emotions but at other times, it’s also a hindrance. I’m glad he was finally able to confront that dark part inside him.” He picks up the four documents left by Ragnar and laughs.

A look of bewilderment crosses Torin’s face gazing at Riley.

“These are going to be a pain, I can see why Ragnar was struggling as to how to proceed in completing them.”

“That bad?”

“Well, these four are for the Duke and The Count.”

Torin shakes his head glancing down at the documents.

Meanwhile, Riley’s list contains that the first two documents confront the Duke and Count about the confrontation and hold them responsible for almost hurting the town. Third is taking the Royal Guards and managing the situation with the evidence they have to stop the Kingdom of Saluden and the Temple of Dierie until further investigation. He places the page on the table with the other two documents. The last document, aware of how painful the fourth is going to be, Riley grimaces and rubs the back of his neck with one hand as a worried expression spreads across his face.

Catching his expression, Torin picks up a couple of documents from his pile. “Seems those you have are going to be a bit of trouble.”

“Yes, talking to the Duke and Count will be the hardest ones out of any of em.”

Torin grimaces, “As much respect as they get from some people, don’t ask me to go talk to them.”

Riley gives a shaky laugh. “What else do you have there on you?”

“I have five documents here. The first three can go together; I am not good at gathering information from people unless they come to the tavern and start talking. Seems Commander Kail wants information on any stories of the trees from anybody. Also, any stories about anything else that happened in town or the area in the last thirty years and a detailed outline of the events to see if there is anything that might stand out.”

“That’s Kail for you. Always ready to get all the stuff he needs to get a job done. I can get information, but I am the same as you. I don’t have the ability to socialize very well with others.”

Torin places his hand on his chin. “I do know someone who is great at collaborating information. We were on adventures together when we were younger.”

Natasha walks over with a plate of meat sticks and places the plate on the other side of the table away from the papers.

“Thanks, Natasha.” Torin smiles at his daughter.

“That person wouldn’t happen to be Granger, would it?” Riley takes a meat stick and starts to munch on it listening to Torin’s response.

“Yes, it would. As much as he does not want to admit it, what San did the other day not only saved him but quite a few other people. He knows they are not grateful, yet Granger always repays the debt.” Torin shakes his head and grins with mirth dancing in his eyes as if remembering something funny. He grabs a meat stick and starts to munch on it.

“Excuse me, Is there a Mr. Riley here?”

Both of them look towards the door as a nervous young and hooded woman steps inside.

With a wave of his hand, Torin beckons them over, “Come on in Trise and Winfred. Riley is over here.”

At the cafe where this event occurred earlier, Riley remembers glimpsing them. “What can I do for you?”

Trise halts a couple of feet in front of Riley twisting his hands in front of him.

Winfred stands beside Trise placing her hand on his arm giving a calming gesture, “We were worried about San and wondered if she was all right.”

Riley crosses his arms in front of himself staring at them in disbelief. “You’re concerned for her welfare?”

Trise glances at Riley, “Well. . . I will admit when I first heard about her. I... ... kept thinking she was a devil or something evil.” He gulps. “But when… the Huge Carbuncle came towards us and greeted her as if she was an old friend, I…” Looks up at Riley, “Began to wonder who the devil was. Was it me or something else? San looked content being next to that large creature and wasn’t the least bit afraid of them. I was, so I want to do something to help even if it is only to offer food.”

A hint of disapproval appears in Riley’s voice, “As good as your intentions are, food is something you can’t give her.”

Torin stretches out his hand towards Riley in a one-minute gesture, “Wait a minute Riley, they might be able to do something else, if you don’t mind.”

“Very well, what do you have in mind,”

“Have either of you heard anything or are good at collecting stories from people around town?” Torin gives a thoughtful look to both of them.

Trise places his hand on his chin.

Winfred responds with a soft-spoken voice, “I can talk to people, yes, most don’t like my kind. The stories I hear don’t make a lot of sense. What kind of stories are you looking for?”

“Anything dating thirty years back and partly concerning the trees. We need to gather as much as we can.”

“Stories about trees.” Trise looks up directly at Riley with determination in his eyes. “Heard some pretty strange tales at my cafe about that. Some say there are corpses that reside below the trees. One story told of how the tree ate five people at once. Another said, about twenty years ago a group of small children disappeared in the woods, never to be seen again.”

Riley raises his eyebrow at Trise. “This will take a lot of work and I need to make sure you are serious about this. Can you gather a lot of stories by tomorrow morning?”

As each second passes, Trise looks more determined, “Yes, I can gather the stories. I want to help out somehow as I feel I am partly responsible even though I’m still somewhat new to the town. Remembering all of them will be a problem.”

“I can help you there Trise if I would be permitted. I not only have a good memory; I have this device that will also help.” Winfred draws out a small ring holding a memory symbol on it.

Riley gives a nod of approval toward Trise and Winfred, “I’ll be counting on both of you. Please do your best and thank you.”

At the same time, Torin hands them a couple of documents. “These are what we need in full description of the stories. Be careful out there as well. Some people might get offended if you are sounding too nosey.”

Trise gives a nod and turns around with Winfred.

Winfred pauses as an item catches her attention. “Oh, I almost forgot, give me one moment.” She puts down the documents in her hand on the table beside her and walks to the counter near the tavern door picking up a small plant with a few beautiful flowers. Walking back over and setting them on the table, “When she came over with the carbuncle, he seemed to like these flowers as much as he liked the fruit he ate.” Winfred reaches out her hand and lightly touches one of the flowers, “I noticed how protective San was of the little creature. I couldn’t figure out how someone as dangerous as her would befriend such a sweet and simple creature. Watching them together I realized it was a friendship that I can’t understand.” She gazes at the flower as her lower lip trembles, turning around to face Riley. “I am bringing these because she said these are magical flowers. I am still not sure what she meant by that, but these flowers are sacred to her. I thought ... ... San might like to see a few of them when she wakes up.”

“Natasha, would you take this upstairs and place it in her room on the left nightstand?”

Natasha nods and picks up the plant walking towards the hallway upstairs.

“Well then, nothing waits till tomorrow. Shall we get going, Trise?” Winfred picks up the documents.

Trise nods and they head out of the tavern to work on their project.

“I was not expecting that, Torin.” Riley turns around and reaches for the glass of water.

Torin looks down at the documents left. “Don’t mention it, I’m glad they can help out.” He grabs another meat stick.

The glass is put back on the table while Riley leans over glancing at the documents. “What are the remaining documents about?”

“One of em is exploring the old building in the middle that no one wants to rent. The owner was the merchant who sold his land 40 years ago to Mr. Durdley. Seems Commander Kail wants the building searched thoroughly.”

“Did Kail find something about that place?” Riley sighs and glances at Torin, “Would you be able to go to the old building and search for it with your friend Granger? You two might uncover something of significant importance.”

Giving a friendly smile, “I take it, you want to go exploring?”

Riley scowls at Torin, “Shut up. I have something else I have to do.” He grumbles as a look of disapproval stretches across his face.

Torin’s smile turns into a full grin, “It has been a while since I went scouting. I think Granger would be up for the challenge. I also know someone who can take care of this last one if you do not mind. He is a bit hardheaded, sure, but knows his craft.”

With a stretch of his arms, Riley picks up the four documents on the table. “Alright, let’s get started and see how much we can accomplish tonight shall we?”

Natasha watches as her father and Riley leave the tavern. She smiles as she hasn’t seen him this excited since her mother died. Upstairs San and Commander Kail for the moment are being protected.