Feral Mage Book 2: Chapter 8

Callie had approached the smoke on the horizon cautiously at first, but now she was making haste toward it. This was the first sign of civilization she had seen since the Hunters started pursuing her weeks ago, and to her luck, it was an inn.

She felt her gut growl at the prospect of a hot meal.

I have plenty of coins thanks to all those hunters.

She had been on her way to rescue Darren when she spotted the smoke. A meal, and a short rest would do her good before she got into another fight. More so, with how close the inn was to where the paladin had said Darren was, it probably meant that some of the Hunters had passed through. She could get information.

Callie took the tattered remains of the cloak she had worn and wrapped the cloth around her face as a scarf. It would be a poor disguise, but it was the best she could do in her circumstances. Besides, she would kill for a hot meal if needed.

The inn’s structure was human, and Callie wondered if she had been driven that far south to be near the border of the Kingdom of Brook. She hadn’t crossed the Winter River, so it couldn’t be the Kingdom of Graystone.

The smell of baked bread and roasted meat struck her as she entered the establishment. Saliva welled in her mouth with the desire to eat, but her eyes scanned the smoky room of the inn. A mixture of humans and forest elves sat scattered throughout it, most with their attentions focused on the food before them or those who sat adjacent. A few eyes lingered on her, and she met their gaze. The Hunters were always a mixed bunch. No race or nation seemed to be the majority with them, which sent a chill down her spine at the thought of just how deep the roots of this organization spread. Still, a killer recognized another killer, and none of these were, except one.

Callie’s lip curled in a small smile at those eyes before they returned to the bowl of food before them. She had hoped for information, and it looked like she found it.

She kept her smile as she made her way to the innkeeper. The old man behind the counter frowned at her as he took in the ill-fitting armor and tattered scarf. Then Callie spread five silver coins across the counter. His gaze left her for the coins.

“Meat, bread, and ale. The best you have,” Callie said.

Quickly, a tankard was placed before her, followed closely by a loaf of bread.

“I’ll bring the meat to your table. Venison stew with vegetables from my garden,” the innkeeper stated.

Callie took the tankard and loaf of bread, tearing a bite from it as she left the counter. The loaf was still hot, almost enough to burn her mouth, but she chewed and swallowed it as she made her way to the table, those eyes looking up at her again.

“Hello, Bellamy,” Callie greeted as she set her tankard down and pulled out a chair.

Those dark eyes narrowed at her.

“You’re the elf that got into the bar fight with Bryce,” she said, taking another bite of her stew.

Callie licked her lips as she looked at the bowl. The scent was heavenly.

That damn innkeeper better hurry…

“That was just a little spat over what to order,” Callie said, breaking her gaze from the food and back to Bellamy. “Bryce and I are the best of friends. I’ve been looking for him, do you know where he is?”

It amused Callie that Bellamy’s lip would twitch ever so slightly each time she said his name. It was as if the woman wanted to scowl when she said it.

“Bryce and I parted ways years ago,” Bellamy stated as she took another bite of her stew. “I have no idea where he is.”

The innkeeper arrived and placed a full bowl of the stew before Callie, the steam still rising off it. She plunged the torn end of her bread into the bowl and took a bite. She almost wanted to moan at the flavor. When was her last meal? A day and a half ago? That had been the trout she caught and ate raw, fearing the risk of building a fire with the Hunters.

“What if I told you he’s in danger?” Callie asked, dipping the bread back into her bowl. “That he has very dangerous people looking for him.”

Bellamy frowned at her.

“The only one I’ve seen trying to kill Bryce was you.”

Callie laughed at that as she soaked up the stew with her last bite of bread. She was about to comment on how tough of a bastard Bryce was to try to kill. She instead froze as she heard the door open and several heavy boots on the wooden floor of the inn.

“To hell with that damn dwarf! I need some ale,” a voice boomed.

Callie looked toward the group of people that had just entered the inn. A mixture of elves and humans, all armed and with the eyes of killers.

A snow elf swordman with the group met her eyes with furrowed brows, only to shift to a savage grin as his hand went for his sword.

“Well, looks like fortune smiles upon us. The Frozen Rose herself,” the swordman said, making his way to the table.

The other Hunters did the same until Callie and Bellamy were surrounded. Many of the inn's guests moved for the door, and others watched from a safe distance. Bellamy just glared at Callie.

“Are you going to come peacefully, Ms. Rose? Or do we have to make you more agreeable?” the swordman asked with a laugh.

Callie didn’t even dignify him with a look. She kept her focus on Bellamy. Bryce had told her he couldn’t beat this woman, and Callie was curious to see what she would do. Much to her disappointment, Bellamy just raised her hands.

“I don’t know this woman. She just sat at my table,” Bellamy said. “Whatever this is has nothing to do with me.”

Callie frowned and even saw some of the thugs move to open a space for Bellamy to leave. She narrowed her eyes at the woman.

“Bellamy, meet the Hunters,” Callie said, gesturing to the armed thugs. “Hunters, this is Bellamy. Bryce was her pupil.”

She smiled as the Hunters shared a look, and the opening was quickly closed. The swordman turned to look at Bellamy, who was glaring furiously at Callie.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he said as he rested his hand on the pommel of his sword.

Bellamy’s face shifted to a snarl.

“You little fucking bitch!” she yelled at Callie.

Her voice was still echoing throughout the small room when the giant serpent tail emerged from under the table and coiled around the swordman. Callie’s eyes widened as the tail squeezed, crushing the swordman’s body and splattering blood everywhere. Screams filled the inn as the table was flung aside by a continuously growing serpent tail that had replaced Bellamy’s legs.

Her Aspect, Callie realized.

The tail was soon long enough to encircle the room and lash about at the Hunters, flinging them into walls or crushing them. Some tried to stab and cut the tail with their weapons, but the scales seemed to deflect most blows, and the few that did leave a mark were little more than a scratch.

A stream of green liquid shot from Bellamy’s mouth at a group of the Hunters, covering them. Screams of pain came from those struck as she watched the flesh melt from their bones. That broke the rest of the Hunters and all those still in the inn. A mad dash took place for the door by the inn’s patrons, until only the two of them remained.

Callie sat in her chair, taking in the destruction caused by Bellamy. The inn was demolished, and seven men lay dead on the ground. She was shocked at the speed and ferocity with which the woman had struck. Her eyes widened as the tail coiled around the chair. Instinctively, her hand started to move for her sword, but she overrode the urge and returned her hand to her knee. She looked up and met those black eyes of Bellamy as the woman towered over her, thanks to the height of her serpent half. Callie just smiled as the woman’s forked tongue tasted the air.

“Alright, little elf. You got what you wanted, now start talking. What did Bryce do?”

Callie met Bellamy’s hard stare with her own.

“You were in the Redpine Kingdom, you heard the Bell of Winter toll.”

Bellamy’s eyes narrowed, but she lowered herself somewhat to be eye level.

“I’m not going to play guessing games with you,” she hissed.

The end of the serpent’s tail flicked at a chair not far from Callie, shattering it to kindling with a crack like a whip.

Callie sighed.

“Bryce was escorting a young woman who was the bastard daughter of the late Ice Queen. When the Bell of Winter tolled, an assassin came for her. Bryce and I fought together against the assassin to protect the heir to the Winter Kingdom, but the death of the assassin has put us in the crosshairs of—”

“The organization,” Bellamy finished, with a heavy sigh.

Callie raised an eyebrow.

“Fuck, Bryce…” Bellamy said softly, the fury the woman once held replaced with worry.

Callie sensed an opening.

“I don’t think he knows they’re after him. He left the Redpine Kingdom before the Hunters could find him, but one Hunter I interrogated said word has been sent to the other kingdoms,” Callie said, carefully watching the woman’s expression. “He’s very much in danger.”

“And why do you care? You seemed ready to drive your sword through him at the tavern,” Bellamy retorted.

Callie frowned.

“I am of House Queenshield! He fought for and protected my Queen,” Callie said. It was a partial truth. She was grateful to Bryce for the aid he gave Alice, but he would pay for stealing her away. “I’m surprised you even care. Your words had him locked up in a cell by Prince Vance.”

The fire returned to Bellamy’s eyes, but her serpent half started to shrink until the woman stood before Callie again on two feet, though her pants were in tatters.

“I care for Bryce. I don’t care for what he has become, and I knew that was the only reason he would be in The Redpine Kingdom.”

Bellamy walked past Callie’s chair to the counter. She picked up a bottle, looked at the label, and then pulled the cork from it. She lifted it and took a deep swig.

“I don’t know where he would be,” she said, setting the bottle on the counter.

Callie watched her for a moment, expecting her to turn and head for the door. Instead, Bellamy waited, her hand still gripping the bottle.

“I’ve realized I’ve failed as a teacher to my pupils. One is beyond my help now,” she raised the bottle again, taking another deep swig. “But I’ll help Bryce if I still can.”

Callie looked once more at the destruction of the inn. She had no issues with Bellamy traveling with her, in fact…

“I know someone who might have an idea of where he is. The man’s a mercenary, the same as Bryce, but we’ll have to help him first.”