Category: Renado

The city of High Raena was the first semblance of familiarity to Renado in many months.  He had been here several times during his life, but his last visit had been over five years ago.  A lot had changed during that time.  The dome roof of the Joyous King’s Palace rose over the city, just as it always had, but now the second moon was rising behind it.  Though the moon had been hidden during his approach to High Raena, from the east, Ren now walked southwest.  They had entered from the north gate of High Raena because the Sunset River, now nearly devoid of ships, prevented the existence of any gates on the east side.  That was another difference—High Raena’s waters had been as busy as the harbours of Saanazar or Sheld, when Ren had last visited. Continue reading Renado 61

The enormous walls of Ith were still there.  The trails of smoke overhead still marred the sky.  The sprawling metropolis was as Ren had left it: massive, melancholic, and madly beyond any man’s control.  Ren and his men had to beat a few rogue guards senseless just to enter through the eastern gate where they had many-a-time arrived at the city.  One man tried to stab Virn with a knife before the little skirmish was done.  When Virn caught the blade in the palm of his hand and put his other fist through the side of the man’s skull, Ira yelped.  She spent the rest of the afternoon staring at Virn. Continue reading Renado 60

From Vagren, Renado and friends went to a hillside for a few days, then to the village of Toreya, and then camped beside a brook.  According to a pair of hunters they had passed two days ago, they would stay in a village again in a few days, a little place called Binnom.  Their days—in town or out—were filled with bitter drinking and wayward thoughts.  Ren’s beard matted longer, Ira’s attempts at cheering him grew lamer, and Virn’s constant stupor deepened. Continue reading Renado 59

Eight days passed while Renado prepared his group with some supplies.  They increased their training extensively, uncertain what to expect after their teleport.  Though many secrets were bound by the Tether and kept in Ren’s throat so as not to be spilled to the uninitiated, Ren was able to share with Ira the nature of teleportation—Journey spells, as the magicians described them.  He explained to her that they would experience only a blink between here and there, but that a large portion of the time would have passed in the world when they arrived there. Continue reading Renado 58

An awful storm was roaring across Vagren on the day that Irrith sent her next summons.  It belted rain down on the rooftops with a clapping din and occasionally bellowed the townsfolk deaf with sudden thunder.  It was next to impossible to hear Halrum over the chaos.  “A what?” Renado asked, as they sat in the Down Dunrall common room.

Halrum raised his voice so his reply could be heard.  Of course, in that moment the roar of rain on the wooden shingles above lapsed a little and the thunder took a breather.  “A letter!” roared Halrum’s voice.  Embarrassed by his inadvertent outburst, the old errand-runner stroked his silky grey beard and bowed his head. Continue reading Renado 57

“Favourite drink?” Ira asked, smiling.  She leaned on her hand, with her elbow resting on the bar.  The Down Dunrall barkeeper had already served her a glass of rye whiskey, while Renado had just asked for ale.

“I like a good cider,” Ren replied.

Ira gave him a humorously raised eyebrow and started to smirk.  “Cider,” she muttered flatly, then took a swig of her whiskey. Continue reading Renado 56

Renado walked slowly along the Vagren street, weaving between market stalls and clusters of drably dressed townsfolk.  Cutting off an old man with a pronged grey beard, Ren was rewarded a disapproving glare and a verbal scoff.  He scowled himself and continued on his way.  Kazra and Virn cut a clear path up the avenue, but it closed behind them before Renado, Asar, and Woodro picked up the rear.  Sarno and his men trailed between them.  It was, finally, time to report to Irrith. Continue reading Renado 55

Every other time that he had arrived at the city of Vagren, Renado had camped beyond the gate for at least one night.  The Vagren curfew kept them out during nighttime hours and the vouch-only gate policy often delayed him even further.  Halrum would stop by every few days to check if Irrith had any visitors, but Ren had waited several days once before gaining entry to the secure city.

On this trip to Vagren, they walked straight past the line of refugees and travellers.  Lotha led them right up to the gate, ignoring the slaver’s booth nearby, and waited near the front of the crowds.  A guard walked out under the fortified archway to speak with her and a moment later they were in. Continue reading Renado 54

They were three days from Vagren when Asar spotted someone cresting the hill behind them.  They had passed other travellers by this point, but none who carefully followed where they went and kept the same distance.  After Asar noticed, Renado kept an eye out.  That evening, their tail could be seen watching from the second hill behind them.  Ren ordered his men to set up camp while he sent Woodro back to investigate. Continue reading Renado 53

Even though it was the dry season, Renado led his men through at least one rainstorm as they crossed the Raderan hills.  It was more than halfway through their journey from Ith to Vagren, and Ren had a few crewmen out in the lead for scouting.  With low-hanging clouds and torrential downfalls that began as suddenly as they ended, he was fearful they would miss Olston altogether on that rainy day. Continue reading Renado 52