Chapter7

The serpents in the cold, wet morning air were lethargic and bothered them little on their way through. They passed few people on the way into town, save a shepherd and a farmer or two. Kendrik nodded at each of them, whispering a quick prayer as those of the fold he was mimicking were wont to do.

"You make a good priest," Kendra joked.

"Not a priest," Kendrik answered with a thick accent. "A monk... from an order based out of Nujelm. Remember that if anyone asks you..." Kendra nodded as they plodded on towards town.

"Where are we headed?"

"Public moongate on the east side of town... we'll take it to Buc's Den and go to the bank from there..." Kendrik trailed off as some children and other townspeople rushed past chattering excitedly. He looked to his sister, who raised an eyebrow in response. "Hmm... let's go see what the hubbub is about." He nudged Schmendrik into a trot after the crowd.

As they approached the Jhelom Training pits, he could see a large crowd ringing the outside railing and a voice he recognized echoing through the area... it was Krynn. Kendrik dismounted and made his way swiftly over to the railing. Hundreds of guards stood below in formation, listening eagerly to their Captain.

"... it is your duty as my sworn soldiers - as my friends - to help me." Kendrik flinched as the cries of the guardsmen swearing their fealty to their Captain roared through the pits. "And to sweeten the pot..." Krynn continued. "Our gracious and most noble king, Lord British, has offered up a reward... of one million gold pieces to the man who brings him Kendrik Soulbane... Dead or alive."

The color under the makeup drained from Kendrik's face rapidly. Were his ears deceiving him? Was he really listening to his own brother offering up a reward for his head? He and Krynn had always been at odds, from the time they were children... but the reality of their opposite worlds hadn't hit home until now.

"Dad's probably rolling in his grave right now. Hell... if he were alive..." Kendra's angry mutterings stopped abruptly as she recognized someone in the crowd. "Ken... look... it's J and Axel..." Kendrik redirected his gaze from his babbling brother on the platform to another sort of kin.

"Jwilson and Axel... what're they doin' here? Mmm... must be scoping things out for Fingers..." As if he had heard his name spoken, Axel turned to look straight at Kendrik, then let his gaze slide away, back to the pit. Kendrik, too returned his gaze to Krynn.

"... that no criminal will be tolerated in our streets. Any man determined to be a member of the thieves' guild... will be struck dead on the spot." Both Kendrik and Kendra gasped in shock. Here Krynn was asking for the head of his own flesh and blood one minute... and the next calling for a witch hunt of all thieves! Surely he didn't believe he'd get away with it, did he? Kendrik's eyes narrowed... his thoughts hell-bent on rage at his elder brother...

"Ken..." Kendra interrupted. "They're gone." Kendrik looked back to where J and Axel were standing, but saw no sign of them. "They recalled out..."

"Probably reporting back to Fingers... he's not gonna be happy with this bit of news on his plate. Let's ride..." The robed man remounted his horse and started off towards the moongate.

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