The Pearl Of Vynes - Chapter 17 Retired Brave

“Keep in line and no pushing” Miles shouted jovially. As he and Alice walked their way back to boat Alice looked at Miles with suspicion.

“How did you know about this guy Miles?” Alice asked.

for visiting.

“I already told you, he had a bounty poster” Miles repeated to Alice, watching as the people made their way across the rocky trail that the two of them had earlier made their way into the cave.

“But you sound like you know this guy” Alice said, Miles sighed with the interrogation.

“I’ll explain it later, for now we’ll get everyone to safety and we’ll discuss it then” Miles said, pushing off Alice’s concerns. Alice was still pouting about the response, but for now she had to agree with the priorities. As they all reached the rowboat, all of them could surprisingly fit and Miles paddled out to the anchored boat. A roar could be heard from the cavern as they made it to the sail boat. Two heads peered around the cavern as the people were starting to panic again on the deck of the boat. Miles shouted at the people to remain calm and turned towards Alice.

“Open the sails, we’re gonna race this thing back to port” Miles shouted as he manned the rudder, the people although quieter were still casting nervous glances at the monster that was barrelling towards them. With the wind behind them, the boat rocketed forward and the hydra was slowly losing distance on them. As they came around the coast, the port came into view with the roars of the beast in rage fading away. Some small repairs were already underway from the recent chaos that had occurred. Alice noticed that the people were sounding an alarm, as the boat continued at speed towards the port. Miles instructed Alice to set the sails down as they coasted to the docks. The released captives were already jumping off the boat before they had tied the ship up. Alice tied the boat against the dock as she looked back in the distance for any sign of the hydra, relaxing and breathing a sigh of relief from all the tension she wound up in her body. As the last of the people ran past Miles and Alice a number of guards came down to the docks, trying to find the answer to the returned people.

“They look pretty happy don’t they?” Miles remarked at the guards walking towards them with stern faces.

“I’m sure you would be to” Alice pointed out to Miles. The guards were already lined up along the pier, the man at the front was in charge certainly easily could be seen as a captain.

“In the name of the local mayor we order you to explain yourselves-” The captain was cut off as a huge wave splashed over them, a roar that could shatter ear drums was right behind Alice. Terrified, Alice turned around to see the hydra with two heads now in a seething rage. The hydra dove into strike but then a harpoon came out of nowhere and planted itself straight into the creature’s chest. With a roar of pain, the creature back off and collapsed in the shallower water of the pier and floated, dead. A man push past his way through the rank and file of guards, Alice could see the man oozed with strength and confidence.

“Not every day I get to slay a hydra. Reminds me of my old days” the old man said with a huge grin, his beard was neat but white along with his hair that was neatly cut short. The man was very tall to say the least, easily towering over both her and Miles with a light set of leather armour with a sword strapped to his waist. Walking over to Alice the man grabbed her hand in a firm shake.

“I can’t thank you enough young lady” the large man said shaking her hand roughly, enough so that Alice was worried her arm was going to come off.

“Tane?” Miles said from behind Alice. The large man looked up behind and Alice let loose a beaming smile.

“Miles!” The man walked up to Miles and pulled him into a rough embrace.

“You haven’t aged a day since I last saw you in the capital” Tane said with a huge grin.

“And you’ve aged a lot, why are you here?” Miles asked Tane, keeping him at arm’s length.

“Well after a long time of adventuring, I thought it would be a good time to retire. Although I certainly am entertained enough still” Tane said laughing, Alice looked back at the hydra still floating in the harbour the large metal rod was buried half way into the creature with green blood oozing around the wound.

“Well I have a man who seems behind the kidnappings and tied up” Miles said pointing at the boat, the tied up man was still lying down on the deck of the boat.

“We’ll take care of it from here, and I’ll need you to drop by the barracks. A full explanation and a catch up would be nice” Tane said with a wink, heaving the tied up man onto his shoulder and leading the guards away, easily a head taller than the rest of the troops. Alice stared after the situation with Miles at her side.

“Never thought I’d see him again” Miles said smiling. Alice didn’t want to question it; exhaustion was already starting to overcome her and it was hard to keep herself standing.

“Let’s go find an inn, a rest would do us both good” Miles said, noticing Alice’s drowsiness. The boat owner had already rushed down to the pier.

“It was a good boat, young master” Miles said to the man, giving a pouch of coins to the man as he stood in awe of the creature lying dead next to his sailboat. While Alice and Miles both wandered back into town, tired from the events of the day.

Alice woke up from her nap, her legs sore but the stress over the last couple hours had washed away. Looking over from her bed, Miles was sitting cross legged on his bed deep in thought as usual. Noticing Alice was awake, Miles gave a smile.

“Ah, you’re up. We’ve got to head off, there’s someone I’d like you to meet” Miles said as he got off the bed, slipping on his shoes Alice hurried to get ready as well. Her belt and dagger were lying hung over a chair in the corner and she slipped on her shoes as well.

“Where are we going?” Alice asked, as she tried desperately to fit her feet into her boots.

“To the local barracks of course” Miles said with a grin. Miles was already walking out the door as Alice limped out with a half put on boot. Trying to follow him down the hall, Alice looked the door behind them and raced after Miles, hurrying behind him. Catching up to Miles and overlooking the crowd that was starting to gather below them as patrons came in for food and drink to celebrate the night. After walking down the stairs and into the cold night, Alice shivered from the cold wind the coast seemed to constantly have. Few people were out in the late hours of the night; however a few patrols wandered the street to keep the peace, visibly armed to dissuade any criminals that might wander about. Walking the cobblestone roads winding through the town, Alice looked around as the windows glowing from candlelight. Before she realised it they were both in front of the barracks, the noise was muffled but busy as Alice could see in the doorway left open people rushing back in forth .

“Come inside, I’m sure he’ll be expecting us” Miles said as he walked inside.

“Who?” asked Alice.

As they entered a dull murmur echoed across the rooms, guards wandered back and forth with paperwork. Miles bumped into one of them by accident as the man was carrying parchments in his arms.

“Apologies, have you seen Tane?” Miles said, picking up some of the documents for the man.

“The commandant is out back, probably snoozing again” the man said, rushing off to his duties past Miles.

“Many thanks” Miles said waving to the man who already disappeared among the rush of people. Making their way further inside, Alice noticed people sitting down on wooden benches with shackles around their hands, a number of them looked quite dangerous. Miles stopped in front of a door, the large man Alice had met earlier today was sitting down reading some papers.

“Tane!” Miles shouted as he came over to the commandants desk.

“Miles” the Tane replied with a grin, getting up from his stool he gave a rough hand shake and gesture for the pair to sit down at their desk. Miles and Alice took a seat on the wooden stools standing in front of the desk.

“So where do I start with you getting involved in this mess?” Tane stated, grabbing a quill and dipping in ink as he scribbled a few notes that Alice had trouble discerning.

“Well, a client of mine happened to disappear. After the hydra attacks it wasn’t hard to put two and two together. Anyway he’s been very thankful to me lately” Miles said patting his pouch which sounded a heavy jingle. Tane nodded as he finished some notes.

“Well, thankfully it was pretty easy to close this.” Tane said, focusing on his parchment and finished his scribblings.

“We’ll definitely have to head to the tavern, there’s a lot to catch up on” Tane said with a smile, standing up from his desk.

“Of course, let me introduce you to my apprentice, Alice” Miles said, gesturing a hand towards Alice on his side.

“A pleasure to meet you, I’m Commandant Tane Zander, leader of the local guards.” Tane bellowed.

“He may not look like it but we’ve slain many a monster together back in the day” Miles said grinning as well

“I’m getting to old for that now” Tane said throwing his back in laughter, “Speaking of which lets head out before I’m caught up having to do more paperwork”

Tane threw an arm over Miles’ shoulder and walked him out of the barracks into the street, Alice following closely behind. As the two of them walked they struck up a conversation to pass the walk, going back into an old routine.