Birdsong - Chapter 9

They'd been running and climbing over rooftops for an hour when the girl finally stopped. Matt sat himself down. His heart was still beating fast and his stomach ached. The girl smiled at him.

"You look stronger than you are", she commented. "So tell me, why did he want to kill you? I hope your important, because you owe me your life." She winked at him.

Is this girl serious? Or is she just kidding around... "I'm not a fighter..."

"Hahaha! I could see that." She sat down opposite him and started to take care of her wounds. "I could take care of yours too if you like, but I don’t think it's needed. Anyhow, I wouldn’t do it until you told me your story."

She smiled at him again but there was steel in her eyes. One of her knives lay beside her.

What should I tell her? "As I said I'm not a fighter, I'm a treasure hunter." He paused. How would he continue?

"So you're on the search for or have already found something of value?"

"Yes."

"You're not much for giving answers, are you? You know that I could hand you over to the guards? So you better start talking, or I'll stop being nice." The smile never left her face. "First things first, you're a treasure hunter and you almost got killed for the knowledge of an item. Do you have this item?"

"No."

"Where is it?"

"You want me to tell you that? I almost got killed just so I wouldn't tell anybody!"

"Relax! Sorry for the question. What's your story with that item?"

"It was a job. Find it and deliver it."

"You mean find it, steal it and deliver it?"

"Yes." She's sharp! I have to be careful not with her until I know if I can trust her... She saved my life... Who IS she?

"So what are you doing now?"

"Traveling."

"Where to?"

"None of your business."

"Hahaha! If you want to make it to wherever you're going it is my business."

Matt frowned. He didn't like this. Velcan at least hadn't asked loads of questions. Velcan...Matt felt guilty. Where was that lost creature? Had the black clothed man reached him before he tried to kill Matt? After the meeting with High Lord Matthew I'll go search for him. He's probably wandering around and failing to steal food.

A hand waved before his eyes.

"Back now? I asked you where you're going."

He felt he didn't have much of a choice. "The castle."

He saw the girl's jaw drop. She hadn't expected that. Matt smiled inside, but when then her expression changed. She jumped up and laughed.

"This has to be my lucky day!"

This isn't good...

"I've always wanted to visit a castle, and now I've got a chance to visit the greatest one!" She danced around and suddenly grabbed Matts arms and pulled him up to dance with her. He tried to protest but she didn't listen.

When she let go of him she did it without notice and he almost tumbled of the roof.

"We can reach the castle tonight if we start now. Oh this is going to be amazing! I can be your bodyguard! Do treasure hunters have bodyguards? You might as well if you're good enough to be hired by some lord of the Eastern Shore. You'd have to pay me, of course, but..."

"Hold on a second! You're not coming with me. I can't take care of a chil..."

"Don't you dare call med 'child'! And you don't have to take care of me (you can't even take care of yourself). Anyway, you owe me."

Shit. "But if anyone askes, you're my apprentice."

"Okay! Let's go!"

~

The rest of the day they walked (on the ground). The girl talked continuously about everything. Sometimes she asked questions but mostly it was stories of this city. Gossip about people he'd never heard of, both common and noble. She told legends, history and prophecies. When evening was starting to get closer she told stories of the sea, stories seafarers brought with them of lands of wonder.

"...cities of men twice my size. They say even the tallest man feel like a dwarf there. But..."

"What's your name?"

"My name?" She hesitated for a moment. "You can call me Selma."

"Just Selma?"

"Just Selma."

Is she hiding something? They walked in silence for half an hour. The girl, Selma, kept her head down. Matt felt the pressure to say something. Anything. He opened his mouth but no words came out. Feeling lost and uncomfortable he shut it again.

"Who are you and what are you business at the castle?"

Matt looked and saw four guards blocking the way. They had reached the castle walls.

"I have a letter, from High Lord Matthew." Matt gave him the letter he'd received. The guard looked suspiciously at it and then gave it back. "How do I know it's not a fake?"

Matt sighed. The guard obviously couldn't read. "I'm awaited. If you won't let me seek audience with the Lord you'll be in serious trouble."

The guard mumbled something but stepped aside. Matt and Selma walked trough the gate. On the courtyard a servant came to meet them. He seemed to know who Matt was and, after a wondering look at Selma, led the way into the castle.

They walked down corridors and up many stairs. Finally they reached a door that led in to a bedchamber.

"Tonight is the 21st day of the fourth moon and I understand you've travelled far but before you rest I'm to ask you to wash and then you are to meet the High Lord."

Matt nodded. "I'll take this room. Please show my apprentice to her room."

"I'm sorry, but we didn't know you had company", the servant said, "we've only prepared one room."

Matt looked at him. The servant didn't meet his eyes and obviously didn’t know what to do.

"Then you better find her a room."

"Yes... my lord."

The servant disappeared trough the door with Selma following. She smiled at Matt one last time and before the door shut he heard her asking question after question about the castle. Finally alone he relaxed and looked around the room. It wasn't huge, but everything reeked of money. He put down his bag on the bed and found a bowl of water. He washed his face and most of the travel dust from his hair. Then he changed clothes to some a bit more clean, took the letter, sat down and waited. The minutes passed by. I hope Selma is okay.

There was a knock on the door and the voice of the servant reached him.

"My lord. If you're done I'll show you to the meeting chambers."

Matt stood up. Now it was time to find out foR sure what it was High Lord Matthew wanted of him. The pentagram box and a travel to the far west. I wish I could decline...

"I'm ready."