Ghostwalker - Erik Scott De Bie [36]
She had to find the man in black, the mysterious Walker she had heard about in whispers. She felt almost desperate to see him again. He frightened her, but he intrigued her; thus, he frightened her all the more.
Arya threw open the door to her room and darted inside,, ignoring the snoring bodies of Bars and Derst in the middle of the floor. Apparently, they had both tried for the bed but neither had made it.
Arya knew she didn't have time to don her plate armor, so she grabbed her shield and long sword before rushing down the stairs.
Arya heard hooves stomping by outside the door just as she reached for the handle. She threw open the door and leaped out to intercept the horsemen.
There were perhaps a dozen, dressed in the green and black of the Quaervarr guard, about twenty paces up the cobblestone street. Riding on unarmored horses, they carried spears, shields, and long swords. The horses were moving at a brisk pace, so Arya was certain something was afoot.
Arya dashed in front of the approaching horsemen, causing them to rein in. "Hold, in the name of Lady Alustriel and the Silver Marches!" she shouted, brandishing her sword high.
"Out of the way, wench!" one of the guardsmen, a young, handsome man with a scar running down his face, shouted at her. "We almost rode you down!" He drew his sword and pointed it at her. "Don't interfere-"
"Stand down, Narb," a deep, growling voice came. "Can't you recognize a Knight in Silver?" The boy seemed to shrink in his saddle, and the sword went back in its scabbard.
Arya turned. The lead watchman, a huge man on an even more tremendous stallion, addressed her. A hammer sprouted from his fist. Powerfully muscled, he might have been wider than the length of the warhammer he carried, his shoulders broader than Arya's sword was long.
"Hail," he rumbled. "Who are you who wears the colors of Silverymoon?" He indicated her blue cloak and distinctive brooch of office.
"I am Arya Venkyr, knight-errant of Silverymoon," she said, resolute.
"Well met, Sir Venkyr, Nightingale of Everlund," the commander said, with a slight nod, sparking murmurs from the other watchmen. Arya winced to see her name recognized, but the murmurs were only about a Knight in Silver, not about Arya Venkyr.
The captain pulled his hood back. Underneath, he had a blocky face with stone-colored skin, and the gemlike eyes and distinctly chiseled features of an earth genasi. "I am Unddreth, Captain of the Watch."
"Sir Unddreth," Arya greeted him. "What business takes you at such a dark time of night?"
"Narb reports that Sir Torlic-of the watch-has been attacked by some darkly clad intruder who appeared out of the shadows," he said. "We go to his aid."
"I'm coming with you," Arya said.
"I'm sorry, my lady, but you are not mounted," Unddreth observed.
"Horses are hardly necessary, if it's in town," Arya said, fingering her sword.
"There may be a chase," Unddreth rumbled. He flicked the reins of his huge war-horse. "We need the speed."
The rest of the guardsmen kicked their steeds and trotted down the cobbled streets. "I appreciate the offer of aid, but we cannot delay longer."
"My horse!" Arya shouted to the stable boy, who was peeking out the stable door at the commotion. Unddreth bowed his head slightly, turned his steed, and made to trot away.
"Don't bother," a voice came from the side. Arya whirled, and Meris was there astride his stallion, dressed in his distinctive white leathers. "I'll take you."
When Meris appeared, Unddreth stopped and looked at him warily. "We don't need your help, Wayfarer." The surname was a condemnation, akin to calling Meris a bastard directly.
Though the edge of his mouth twitched slightly, Meris ignored the genasi as though Unddreth's voice, the crashing of boulders, were but the breeze. He extended his hand. "Come."
Arya took a step back. "My thanks, but I'd rather ride with Unddreth," she said, narrowing her eyes.
"That brute's