Chapter 11 The Stalker and the Shadow
Ashlyn found herself
spending more and more time out in
“Ashlyn! That you? I didn’t think I’d find you here!” Ashlyn turned to find her cousin Anastasia walking toward her.
“Were you looking for me, Ana?” Ashlyn returned with a smile. So I’m not really invisible after all.
“Well, I keep an eye out for you. You’re known to frequent the city,” Anastasia said as she joined her. “I was on my way to the boot shop. Care to join me?”
“Sure,” Ashlyn replied and began to follow. She wasn’t sure if she should be wary or not, but it was just buying shoes.
“I have been wanting to talk to you. I mean, you’re with the Rangers and all,” Anastasia began as they walked along.
“Yes, what about them?” Ashlyn asked.
“I wanted to see if I could join up,” she replied.
“Benedict would be the one to talk to about that. I have nothing to do with the recruiting,” Ashlyn returned. “Why the sudden interest?”
“Because it’s more exciting than doing nothing. Besides that, I could do the job any better than some man could!” Anastasia said passionately. “I heard what you guys did in Angmar a while back and ever since then, I’ve been thinking about becoming a Ranger. I believe that there should be a lot more women involved. I wanted to talk to another woman and get her viewpoint on it. You and Pandora are the only ones, aren’t you?”
“I believe so,” Ashlyn thought for a moment.
“I want to prove that us women can do the job just as well if not better than the men!” Anastasia continued with passion.
“Then join up! I’m sure Benedict would be glad to have you aboard and I would, too!” Ashlyn said happily and gestured toward a food cart. “Lunch?”
“Oh, no! Some more shopping first! I could use a new pair of boots and by the look of yours you could too,” she said just as happily as they entered a shoemaker’s shop. Anastasia charmed the shopkeeper and Ashlyn wound up purchasing a new pair of boots for herself in the process. She kind of surprised herself with the purchase since yes, she loved window-shopping, but it was the spending money part she didn’t usually indulge in—unless it was edible! She bought a pair of fine riding boots that were among the best in the shop. They were supple, soft, and they seemed to massage her feet, giving them a rejuvenated feeling. They felt so good that she was ready to just wear them right out of the shop.
Just as the girls were about to exit the shop Anastasia pulled Ashlyn out of harm’s way when a human-sized cannon ball came crashing through the front window. He made a graceful somersault over the broken glass and instantly found his feet. He was dressed in tight black clothing and his face was covered except for his eyes. He reminded Ashlyn of a Ninja. As he made eye contact with the girls he gave them a quick nod before the shopkeeper could recover from his initial shock of having his shop window busted in. He was quick and methodic as he then fatally stabbed the shopkeeper and instantly took off again the same way he came in. Anastasia and Ashlyn gave chase.
Anastasia was charging down the street and Ashlyn was trying to keep up but was suddenly stopped dead in her tracks as a cart loaded with apples pulled out in front of her. Ashlyn couldn’t put the brakes on in time and the cart went toppling over. With an inaudible sigh of frustration she stopped to help the vendor right his wagon and pick up the spilled goods.
“Hey! Why can’t you watch where you’re going! Look at what you’ve done! Darn reckless kids! You’ve spilled my apples all over the street! How am I supposed to sell those now? You young people! All you do is tear around in such a hurry as if the world is going to end! Well let me tell you a thing or two!” She tuned him out completely as he berated her for not watching where she was going. She barely looked at him to acknowledge him. If he only recognized who I am! The fool! I was watching where I was going! If anything, it was completely the other way around! When he had finished, Ashlyn was able to get her apology in.
“I’m so sorry, but my cousin and I were in pursuit of a man in black that just killed the shoemaker. He just crashed in through the window, killed him and left again, leaving my cousin and I alone. We were chasing him when I accidentally bumped your cart here,” Ashlyn apologized as she helped to pile the apples back on. Her manner was cool and calm. The apple vendor seemed to pause for a moment, not prepared for a calm and rational response to his tirade. He had completely worked himself up and was ready to get into a heated argument, just for the sake of arguing and venting.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize,” the apple vendor said slowly. “Thanks for the help. You mentioned the doings of a man in black. That would be the work of the Stalker. There’s been random killings like that all over the city—mostly shopkeepers and such—for the past two months, so you can imagine that us merchants are a bit on edge ourselves. None of his victims ever survived—save one. Goes by the name of Dancin’ Pete. I don’t know how accurate his story would be since he’s known to drink and tell quite a saucy tale, but if you really want to know, he can be found at the Rusty Barnacle Tavern.” The vendor finished piling his apples on the cart.
“Thanks for the information and again, I’m sorry about your cart. Take this for your trouble,” she handed him a few Amber Crowns which brought a big smile to the vendor’s face and gave her a “Pleasure to do business with you!” as he went on his way. Ashlyn had barely taken two steps to be on her way to try and find Anastasia when she ran into Vincent, Finch, Blake and a new face she did not recognize.
“So what bring you out to the city?” Ashlyn asked as she caught up with them.
“Hey, Ashlyn! This is a new friend of ours, Draven. He’s fleeing Chaos and Random suggested that we find him lodging here in the city,” Vince greeted.
“Shh!” Ashlyn silenced him and looked around. She only caught a suspicious eye or two looking their way and quickly looking away again. “Nice to meet you, Draven!” She shook his hand.
“Do be careful of what you say! The locals don’t take kindly to the out-of-towners if you know what I mean!” she leaned in toward Vincent. “They don’t like shape shifters and they really don’t like Chaos very well.”
“Are you in the middle of getting into trouble again? It looked like you made that apple vendor's day,” Blake commented.
“I was just shopping with Ana when this weirdo comes crashing through the shop window, gives a little nod to Ana and myself, proceeds to stab the shopkeeper and leaves again without robbing him or anything. Just stabs him and leaves him for dead. Ana took off after him and I was doing a little investigating,” Ashlyn replied innocently. “The apple vendor was telling me that this isn’t the first time this guy has struck. According to him the Stalker has been doing random killings throughout the city and mostly to merchants. It’s also been known that none of the Stalker’s victims live save for one. I was hoping to hear back from Ana so we could go down to the Rusty Barnacle and check out a survivor’s story. It’s a one-legged coot by the name of Dancin’ Pete. Wanna come with?”
“Sure. I think we could all use a drink,” Blake replied.
“That gives me an excuse to explain to Draven the finer points of Amber Ale,” Vincent replied.
It was down by the docks in a very seedy part, much like the part of town where Bloody Sam’s was located. Ashlyn had a hand on her sword and had her senses alert for anything. Thankfully, they all reached the tavern with no incident.
He was there as the vendor said he would be. He was in a corner booth by himself and appeared to be nursing a rather large beer. Pandora was the first to notice the wooden peg leg.
“Must be why they call him “Dancin’” Pete,” she whispered to Ashlyn. He looked like the very picture of a pirate with his bushy beard and big gold hoop earring. He wore a scarf over his head. All that was missing was the eye patch and the hat.
“Looks like Black Beard to me,” Ashlyn muttered and took a seat near him at the bar. Finch was eyeing some of the women down at the other end of the bar while the rest of them took up seats nearby. Customers gave them shifty-eyed looks but did nothing and returned to their drinking.
“Ah, new faces. What brings you all down to the Rusty Barnacle—and a couple of pretty faces, I might add,” a loud voice addressed them from behind. Ashlyn and Pandora turned to find that the pirate was talking to them.
“We’re looking for someone,” Pandora said. “Goes by the name of Dancin’ Pete.”
“Well of course that would be me. What, were you lookin’ for a dance?” he chuckled and leered at her a little. Pandora remained passive.
“I’ve heard that you’re a real storyteller in these parts,” Ashlyn said boldly.
“I see that my reputation has spread,” Pete smiled broadly. “Gladly I can spin you a tale, but who might you lovely things be? And feel free to join me at my table so I won’t have to yell.” A slight look of surprise crossed his face as not only Pandora and Ashlyn joined him but Vincent, Blake, Finch and Draven had gathered around as well, giving their introductions as they gathered.
“I’ve heard tell that you’re the lone survivor of a stalker attack,” Ashlyn said conversationally as she sipped on her beer. “We would all love to hear about it.”
“So you’re looking to scare yourself,” Pete chuckled again then became all serious. “Yes, it’s true that I had survived the attack of the infamous Stalker. In fact, that’s how I came to have me peg leg. Authorities say that the Stalker attacks are just strange, random acts of killing but I know that’s not so. The night I was involved, I was drinking and gambling in an establishment on the South Quarter. As anyone knows, gambling is strictly prohibited here in the city—something about the Mayor wanting a “clean” town, or something—and I’m just sitting there with my beer having a good old time when the Stalker showed up. Strange fellow. He was dressed all in black and completely covered except for his eyes. He was real quick on his feet, boy I tell you! Took the whole place by surprise. I won’t go into the gory details seeing that there are ladies present, but the Stalker single-handedly made quick work of the place and slaughtered everyone that was there—men, women and left me alive. I didn’t have to ask why. He wanted someone to bear witness to what he had done and to spread the word about what he had done and why. The Stalker proclaimed that he was serving out justice since no one else was doing it and that he was going to bring about the end to the rule of the Shadow. Heck if I knew what that dad-burned freak meant by the Shadow. If you’ve heard all the other stories, the Shadow is nothing but a mythical tale of an untouchable crime lord. It has never been proven—ever—if the Shadow has ever existed. But I was left alive to spread the word, I’d suppose, but as you can see, you can believe it or not. No matter how drunk I get, I know I tell the story straight and that’s all there is to it! So there, now! And now darlin’ how ‘bout that dance?” Pete leaned toward Pandora and the others were already filing out.
“Some other time, maybe,” Pandora smiled and left him a coin for another beer. “But thank you for the story.”
As Pandora joined Ashlyn and the others outside they knew where to head next. It was taken to the authorities next to see what they knew of this “Stalker-thing”. As it were and especially with the most recent incident happening in broad daylight, the mayor had caught wind of the whole thing.
“Yes, I’m Constable Jace. May I help you?” a young man had stepped up to the counter of the precinct.
“We need to speak to someone about the Stalker killings,” Pandora spoke up. Jace jerked his head up and was suddenly alert.
“You wouldn’t happen to be heading an investigation of some kind on it, are you?” he asked hopefully.
“Yes,” Pandora replied, not quite sure what to make of the question.
“Oh, good! Then you must be from the Castle! We were about to go looking for you ourselves. Mayor Bek wanted to find you so we could offer our assistance to you regarding that case. If you’re able to put an end to the Stalker, he would be entirely grateful—” Jace began but was cut short as a man came running in off the street and was practically in hysterics.
“Constable! Constable! Help! The Stalker is at it again! He’s in the hotel down the street! He’s killing people in there!” the man nearly fainted before he could catch his breath. Pandora gave one look at the others and they all headed down the street in a run for the hotel.
“Vincent, are you sure this is a very good idea?” Draven spoke up.
“Aw, don’t worry about it. As you hang out with us more, you’ll see that we get into this spur-of-the-moment stuff all the time!” Finch said. “Just go with the flow. It’s just that finding you your residence had been put on hold for the moment. Besides, we just might find a good use for your talents here while we’re at it!”
“Fine with me,” was all Draven said and followed easily behind the group as they rushed down the street.
As they approached the hotel it looked as if there was no one there. There were no lights and no life stirring within. Just as they were about to enter the hotel to investigate Pandora stopped short.
“What’s that noise?”
“Where?” Vincent asked.
“Sounds like it’s coming from down the street,” Pandora tried to strain her eyes to look and when she couldn’t see anything yet she sent Tariel out.
“Sounds like a crowd gathering,” Ashlyn paused to listen. “And it’s getting louder.”
“Better hide! Tariel sees a huge mob headed our way!” Pandora herded them all inside the hotel.
“Hello? Anyone home? Room Service!” Finch rang the desk bell. No one answered his call. He looked down at his hand and the red smudge that was now on it. He took a moment to carefully peer over the desk to find that the desk clerk was lying dead on the floor, as were a few of the guests around the lobby. Further investigation revealed that this wasn’t a hotel at all but a whorehouse and the Stalker had dispensed with his strange brand of “justice” once again.
“That’s one angry mob! Tariel can see that riots have broken out citywide,” Pandora announced. “We’ve gotta go!”
“We won’t be able to get out the back door,” Vincent came running back into the lobby. “It looks like we’re surrounded!”
“Are they after us? How did they know we were here?” Finch wondered aloud.
“We know you’re in there, Shape Shifter! Come out! Come out before we come in there to take you out!” the angry mob began to shout out.
“They’re after me?” Draven spoke up for the first time. “I never told anyone save for you guys who I am and where I’m from.”
“It must’ve been overheard in town while you were looking for lodging for him. The locals don’t take too kindly to Chaos people—they really don’t,” Ashlyn said quietly.
“Come on! Give us the Chaos Lord and we’ll go away!” a voice could be heard from outside. Someone was banging on the doors and windows were already being smashed in.
“We’re getting out of here. Join hands, everyone,” Blake extended his hand to Pandora’s and held a Trump in the other. When they had stepped through they found themselves in the living room of Blake’s house. In the distance, the riots could still be heard.
“They might figure it out in a bit. I hope hiding out here will be enough for us for at least a while. Welcome to my home,” Blake said. “Don’t get too comfortable.”
“I’ll try sketching a Trump of Mayor Bek. It’s his town so he might be able to shed a little bit of light on the subject,” Pandora sat down at a desk and began to draw. No sooner had she finished it that the mob could be seen making its way up the hill toward the house.
Pandora concentrated and activated the Trump. “Mayor Bek? Don’t be alarmed. It’s Pandora.” The Mayor was scared senseless for a moment since he had no idea what Trump was.
“Get out of my head!” he protested with fear.
“I’ll be happy to. But before I do, I need you to tell me what’s going on with your town. Why all the rioting?” Pandora asked.
“Wild rumors were spreading that there was some shape shifter in town actually looking to take up residence here! As you can guess, the locals here don’t take kindly to outsiders and before I knew fully what was going on, I had a full blown riot on my hands that not even my police could handle—heck, some of them have joined in! I admit to having lost control here and would be grateful for any other assistance you can provide in getting this issue resolved!” Bek replied. He appeared to be alone and scurrying about his office gathering papers into a satchel. It looked like he was going to try and evacuate himself and try to save himself from the destructive riots. “Now get out of my head and don’t EVER do this again!” Pandora cut the contact and frustratingly crumpled her sketch.
“The Mayor is of no help. He’s about to flee for his life and basically gave us the go-ahead to call for reinforcements—a lot of good that’s going to do us now!” she grumbled. The noise of the crowd was now prevalent and seemed to come from all sides of the house.
“Draven, use your Logrus or Trump out of here and we’ll hold them off!” Blake drew his sword to defend his house. Everyone else had done the same. The mob was being merciless.
Breaking glass, angry shouting and the ruthless mob pounded every way into the house. Draven had retreated to a corner to concentrate while the Amberites stood to protect him. The mob had begun to make their way into the house by the time Draven had made his escape.
“Where is he? The shape shifter! They let him get away! Down with the Amberites! Burn the house down!” The crowd became a demolition crew, smashing everything that could be broken and setting fire to everything.
Ashlyn, Finch, Vincent, Pandora and Blake were left to the mercy of the mob for what seemed like a moment. Despite the chaos raging about them, the cousins kept their cool. While fending off their attackers Blake had managed to open a Trump back to the Castle and they made their escape. Of course, it goes without saying that this only whipped the crowd into an even angrier frenzy and Blake’s house was left to burn to the ground.
Upon returning to the Castle, King Random was quickly informed. He made sure that Draven was safe first before attending to the issue at hand. He sent Ashlyn, Blake, Pandora, Vincent and Finch back to Amber City with over fifty Rangers in tow to try and restore peace to the City. It took about a good hour for them to do it, but real peace wasn’t restored until Benedict had also come down to the city to smooth out all the rough edges and quiet any remaining unrest. And as it was all coming to a halt, the Mayor wasn’t anywhere to be found. Benedict sent the cousins to his house to find him and make sure the mob didn’t get him “just because”.
By the time they got there the governor’s mansion looked like the mob had gotten to it already. The gate was wide open and the two front guards were lying dead at the front door that was also sitting there wide open. No one could be found in the immediate vicinity. The office was a mess with papers strewn about everywhere except for a small safe that was open, but the contents were still neatly stacked in it. That was when they had heard the noise on the roof above them. Blake, Finch and Vincent decided to go and check it out while Ashlyn and Pandora were left to search the office for any clues.
“Oh, no way!” Ashlyn gingerly removed the papers from the safe as if they would crumble in her hands.
“What did you find?” Pandora brought the light over for a closer look.
“These papers. There really is a Shadow and it’s Mayor Bek!” Ashlyn breathed.
“That sounds awfully serious,” Pandora took the papers to have a look for herself and found that Ashlyn was right. A loud thump was heard above them.
“I think the guys might need our help,” Ashlyn dashed out of the room. It wasn’t hard to find the roof access and when they did, they found the guys holding the Stalker at bay, who had the Mayor lifted high over his head, prepared to throw him off the roof.
“This man is the Shadow and he must pay for his crimes!” the Stalker spoke.
“If that’s so, then you should turn him over to the King to decide his fate,” Pandora spoke up.
“The king!” the Stalker sneered. “No one has been able to dispense with the justice around here because of a corrupt and evil mayor. The king is too far away, all warm and snug in his Castle to worry or deal with the people out here in the city! I have done away with the wrong doers for all the right reasons!”
“A vigilante. Just perfect,” Finch could be heard muttering darkly.
“Put the mayor down!” Blake commanded and leveled his gun at the Stalker. “Or else I’ll be forced to dispense “justice” on you!”
“Then you’ll do as you have to,” he replied simply and made another motion to throw the Mayor over.
“No!” a cry from Pandora, a zing of Ashlyn’s crossbow and the pop of Blake’s gun. The Stalker lurched, dropping the Mayor over the side and fell over himself as he clutched at his chest and shoulder. Silence reigned as no one moved for a moment. Finch took off first at a run. Eventually, everyone had made it down to the ground. The Mayor was found dead and the Stalker as well with a gunshot wound to his chest and a crossbow bolt in his neck. Finch was there first and when he had removed the Stalker’s mask he had paled and didn’t move. Pandora was next.
“Finch, you look like you’ve just seen a ghost. Who is it? Someone we know?” she asked and moved in to get a look and she too stopped short.
“What’s so darn interesting?” Ashlyn was next and did the same thing with a small groan of “Oh, no!” as she turned away and quickly looked about for Vincent and Blake. Blake was trailing along behind, seeming nearly exhausted. They all were. Vincent caught Ashlyn’s eye and seemed to wordlessly ask a question with his own and was suddenly suspicious of the way they were standing around and looking Blake’s direction. He turned and looked as Blake came up to them.
“Was it such a terrible thing? We finally put an end to the Stalker,” Blake said. “Don’t everyone be all enthusiastic all at once!”
“Blake...” Pandora faltered.
“What?”
“The Stalker. It was...” she tried again.
“Someone we knew? Who was it?” Blake demanded and advanced to see for himself but Finch stepped in his way.
“It was Stilgar, your brother,” Finch said quietly as he put a hand on his shoulder.
“Stilgar? No—” Blake rushed forward but no cry came from him.
“Blake, I’m so sorry,” Ashlyn said softly from behind him somewhere.
“The fault isn’t yours, Ashlyn. It’s mine. I’m the one who killed him,” Blake said quietly.
“Blake—” Ashlyn tired.
“I killed him!” Blake said with emphasis. He stood a moment longer and his hand went over his heart, but still, he didn’t cry. Vincent had activated his Trump of Amber Castle.
“I’ll take you home,” he said and helped Blake step through it with him.
“I’ll report this to Benedict and we’ll take care of the body. Finch, I’ll need your help. You can go back and tell Random if Vincent hasn’t done it already,” Pandora said wearily. Ashlyn only nodded dumbly as she pulled out her Trumps and went back to the Castle. Vincent was staying up with Blake so she took it upon herself to relate the news to the King.
When all was said and done, the city riots were stopped, Draven was granted asylum and given a small place of his own a little ways down the mountain away from the Castle but not close to town. And despite all the attempts to persuade him otherwise, Blake gave his formal resignation to the Rangers and went into seclusion off in shadow somewhere. Anastasia stepped in to take his place as a Ranger. It was hoped that life would return to something resembling normal once everything had settled again.
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