Echoes of Broken Vows

Chapter 3

Varesh was a city that was always full with life, filled with the thick smell of spices, mixed with the less pleasant odor of the crowd. Rowan sneaked through the shadows of the alley, his eyes were fixed on Sam. Colorful carpets stretched over market stalls, their fabrics fluttering in the warm breeze.

Sam spun immediately and pounced in a flash, emerging from the dark like a predator. Rowan didn’t have time to react, he felt the cold steel of a dagger pressed against his throat. The rough stone wall dug into his back as Sam pinned him in place.

“Why did you follow me?”

Sam angrily asked, his eyes darting around to ensure they weren’t being followed or observed. “Even if you didn’t intend to. I’d say it’s a rather big coincidence that we bumped into each other, am I wrong?”

Blood started to drip slightly from Rowan’s neck. “I need you to keep quiet about it. No matter what you saw.”

Sam looked into Rowan’s eyes, the intensity within Sam’s stare was unmistakable. “You’re my best friend, you can clearly trust me,”

Rowan managed to say, in a low, guarded tone.

Sam released his grip on Rowan and helped him back to his feet with a grunt. His posture started to become more relaxed and loose. “In the Eidolon, you can never know whom the trust,”

Sam remarked as he sheathed his dagger, the metal sliding home with a soft hiss.

Rowan decided to adopt the look of a common Vareshian citizen and left his ebony cloak in the alley they left, he had many of these cloaks to spare. He followed Sam through the busy streets, enjoying the weird sensation of anonymity. Most of the buildings In Varesh were low in height and positioned close together, creating a web of narrow alleys and passageways to walk in.

Rowan and Sam decided that the best plan was to hide within the crowd, they went to the Stallion Inn, a well-known inn within the city, famous for its ales. The inn’s interior was dimly lit which always gave Rowan a cosy feeling. The low murmur of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter gave them exactly the shroud of privacy they needed. Wood smoke from the hearth mingled with the rich aroma of roasting meat and freshly baked bread.

Sam took a long sip from his ale, savoring the fruity aftertaste. “I’m sorry that I lied to you all this time,”

he said, his voice low. “For a long time, I’ve felt sick about the twisted work that the Eidolon is doing. They can change the world, but they choose to do it only for the highest bidder.”

He paused to take another sip, his eyes scanning the room cautiously. The flickering light from the wall lanterns cast dancing shadows across his face, adding to the secretive atmosphere.

“And I can’t take it anymore, the horrible things we have to do for the sake of it,”

Sam continued. “I’ve been giving information to the rebels in Valdrin, hoping they’ll be able to turn things around, but they’ve been quite sluggish.”

For the first time in what felt like ages, Rowan experienced a feeling he had almost forgotten: relief. Rowan leaned in closer to Sam, so close he could slightly smell the ale from Sam’s breath.

Still hesitant, Rowan said “I think that I want to join,”

Rowan whispered. His heart raced with fear and excitement. “I can’t stand by any longer,”

Rowan declared “I feel like I have to do something.”

Sam leaned back in his chair, the wooden frame creaking slightly. An impish smile crept upon Sam’s face, his eyes gleamed with excitement in the dim torchlight. Sam always knew to recognize an opportunity. “I guess that’s settled then,”

Sam replied, “I’m happy that you’ve come around”.

“I want to help the rebels in Valdrin to gather more intelligence on Garron.”

Sam passed his hand through his short wavy hair, “I plan to steal his journal from the restricted section of the library. And I can always use an extra pair of hands.”

To Rowan it seemed like an impossible task, but yet immediately felt inspired by Sam’s daring plan, if he could he would go to steal his journal right now. Even though the risk to his life was real and immediate, he knew he had to act. The danger was worth it if it meant finally standing up against the injustices they’d caused for so long.

“So... Tomorrow night?”

Rowan asked with a smile.

“Tomorrow night,”

Sam echoed back.