“How could I be Prince Faust?” Faust continued. “I had an audience with him, and before I could even settle into Limorous, the court historian gave me orders from King Konrad to begin my journey with him. I did not even see the prince.”
The Volant regarded Faust, clearly not convinced yet.
“I had failed to report to the court historian I was recruiting these fine mercenaries and got carried away in the festivities of the arrangement.” Faust gestured to Ignas. “I became quite . . . enthralled, you see?”
The Volant was unamused. “You left before the lord and these mercenaries left after you.”
Ignas pulled Faust closer by his hip.
Faust played along and sank into Ignas’s side, enjoying their proximity too much. He fit quite well against Ignas’s muscular frame.
“Lord Arcus ordered us to come after him and demanded a caravan for the price he paid,” Ignas said. “It took some time to prepare it.”
“I did not approve, so I made a test.” Rene lifted one hand to motion to the forest. “I gave them a meeting point deep in the forest. They passed.”
“Why take this route? There are no towns this way,” the Volant asked.
“I wanted to see it for myself,” Faust replied. “I must know of all trade routes, but I plan to take the common ones back to Limorous. If I do not check others on the way, how will I bolster our trade?”
The Volant scowled, still eyeing Faust. “I will report this to His Excellency.”
“Please do,” Faust said. “I must combat our deteriorating conditions whatever way I am able.”
The Volant nodded and tapped his foot on the ground, activating his flight armor. The lines engraved in the armor lit in a dark green up to his chin, and he hovered over the ground. With one last glance, he took to the sky in a burst of wind.
Rene brought his glare to Ignas, an earth stone flickering in his now open hand.
Ignas pulled Faust even closer, but Zara snatched Faust from the other mercenary. “Don’t bring him into the middle of your feud.”
Faust stumbled, his ears hot. He gave Zara a pleasant smile. “Thank you,” he mouthed.
Zara winked. “Let’s get that paint off you.”
Faust pulled his horse to a stop, gazing at the empty town along their way to the city of Hol. Plants grew along the walls and fences. Dust covered the windows, and the overgrowth had overtaken the stables. It was no wonder the Volant questioned them about this route. Faust had thought there would be signs of life, but the plants felt unnatural. It was as if nature had been forced to grow. Someone had used excessive magic here. Faust reached out with his magic, letting it coil with the natural magic of Alimphis. Familiar earth magic tapped back at him. One of the deities was responsible for the town’s desertion.
“This town was forsaken a few years ago.” Ignas stopped nearby. “Guards don’t encourage anyone to leave the main road and bring them back whether they like it or not.”
“They must not want anyone realizing the deities drove the town out,” Faust said.
Ignas jerked his attention to Faust. “You can tell?”
Faust paused. He shouldn’t have said that. “The plants look unnatural.” He motioned.
Ignas observed the foliage. “It is a little different.”
Faust kept his shoulders straight. Ignas didn’t believe him, but Ignas didn’t bring attention to it, at least.
“It is more dangerous here than I thought, then,” Ignas finally said.
Faust smiled. “That is why I have you with me. This used to be a nice town at one time.” Faust kicked his steed into a slow trot, happy with the subject change. He stopped in front of an abandoned shop. “This bookstore used to carry many rare artifacts from the last century.”
Rene stopped beside Faust. “The merchant was uprooted once His Excellency Emoris heard of him.”
“Emoris had him removed?” Zara mused. “Why would he do that?”
“Knowledge of the past is forbidden,” Faust said, glancing longingly at the shop. “I love learning about the past, but such materials are scarce in Limorous. They fear something, or maybe someone, but I have never come across anything that seems dangerous to either deity.”
“We know plenty of shops full of artifacts in Windilum,” Zara said.
Faust’s smile grew wide at the prospect.
“Lord Arcus,” Rene clipped.
Faust sheepishly grinned.
Ignas chuckled. “You will like the Guild of Masters in the Kingdom of Roltan. Lord Clare is said to be the keeper of many secrets as its guild master.”
Faust’s interest was piqued. “Have you met with him?”
“Lord Clare is an elusive man,” Ignas said.
“Perhaps for you,” Rene laughed. “Now come, we do not have time to dawdle here. We must get to Hol ahead of another Volant.”
Faust gripped at the reins, sharing a glance with Ignas.
“We’ll beat them there,” Ignas said.
Chapter Nine
Faust couldn’t believe his eyes. Hol was a far cry from the joyous city beyond the large stone walls he’d remembered. Makeshift huts and campsites were set up all along the perimeter of the city. Some buildings weren’t even made of wood but blankets and pelts, not proper cover at all. Others were a mixture of metal and wood pieces in an array of sizes, not particularly sturdy. Waste and garbage littered the pathways among the overcrowded homes.
Faust took a shaky breath. “Rene?”
“Yes, my lord?”
“When did Hol extend this far out?” Faust asked with a glance behind them. It should have taken another half day to reach Hol the last time he looked at a map. He needed to update them when he returned to the castle.
“Hol has gained a rather large population in the last few years. I can see the slums have reached a new height since my last visit,” Rene said.
Faust took in the sight of Hol again. Crowding his people like this would not go unpunished. “Were more towns abandoned?” He would need to visit them and see if there were traces of Emoris or Lathil.
“Plenty of the towns between Hol and Akarvine have been,” Zara offered. “Many came here over Akarvine. Lord Heath is said to be vile. Kingsley Knights tell people Windilum is attacking the border cities to keep the people closer to Limorous. It’s a control tactic.”
Faust frowned. He doubted Konrad believed Windilum was attacking. Konrad sent him to these places on purpose. Evidence needed to be gathered about the cities and towns since Konrad couldn’t leave Limorous without Emoris’s approval.
“We shouldn’t linger here for long,” Ignas said. “We’ll leave the horses with the caravan as planned, and the caravan will head south to meet us outside Hol.”
Faust nodded. He began the brisk walk into the slums, aware of the stares they garnered. Several were poorly dressed while others were too thin, but as far as he could see, most of these people didn’t have the provisions Hol could offer. The knights weren’t performing their duties to the people.
“I didn’t think Hol’s crop was plentiful enough for this many people,” Rene said.