The Quellers, Dan Wright [top novels to read txt] 📗

you from enjoying life will always be solved by a good dance.’
‘There isn’t a dance in the world than can help me,’ Dylan said coldly.
The innkeeper shrugged, putting Dylan’s mug under a tap and pouring a fresh pint for him. As he poured, he noticed a strange mark on Dylan’s neck. He strained his eyes to look closer at it and realised that it was not a mark, but a tattoo. It appeared to be in the image of a huge dragon, with what seemed like an army of knights holding their swords aloft, almost saluting the mighty creature.
‘That is an interesting tattoo that you have,’ the barman said.
Dylan pulled up his coat to hide it. ‘It’s nothing,’ he said, a little harshly. ‘Pay it no heed.’
The innkeeper had a feeling that if he pursued to question Dylan it would lead to no good, so he held his tongue. ‘It doesn’t hurt to smile now and then,’ the innkeeper said. ‘These are dark times we live in, we need festivals such as these so that we can have light in our lives.’
‘Really?’ Dylan asked.
‘You haven’t heard?’ The innkeeper kept his voice low so that he would not disrupt the pleasant atmosphere. ‘Word has it that there is a plague that has spread out across the northern province of our lands, a plague so deadly that it has taken many smaller cities already.’
Dylan cared not for what the innkeeper was telling him. Because it did not mean anything to him anymore. ‘Maybe a plague is exactly what this world needs,’ he said. ‘Just so that people can truly what life is about.’
Dylan’s heart was like ice, encased for years and nothing the innkeeper could say would convince him otherwise. Shrugging, the innkeeper went away to carry on his duties.
‘What’s up with you, grumpy guts?’ Alix cried, running over to her brother and slapping him on the back. ‘You’re missing all the fun here!’
‘I’m sure what you and I class as fun are something totally different,’ Dylan said, annoyed.
‘Ooh, listen to you,’ Alix shouted. ‘Everyone in here is having a good time and you’re sitting here like the messenger of death. Come on, we just got paid five hundred big ones, live a little.’
‘I’ve been living for over a hundred years, Alix,’ Dylan grunted. ‘I’ve done all the living I can bare.’
Alix was a little bit concerned at Dylan’s behaviour. He could be a depressing character at the best of times, but today he was particularly miserable and she couldn’t work out way. She needed to find a way to raise his spirits – which would be about as easy as raising the dead, but she could find a way.
Then, as if providing an answer to her problems, a young maid came over and stood by Dylan. It was obvious that this girl had been eyeing him up all night and had now made her attempt to move on him. ‘Mr?’ she said in a fairly young, sweet voice. ‘I noticed how lonely you looked over here? Do you need some company?’
‘I’ll leave you two alone,’ Alix said, moving away.
Dylan barely looked up from his mug as the woman moved in on him. But the girl persisted. ‘My name is Felicity,’ the girl said. ‘May I ask what your name is?’
‘You can try,’ Dylan replied. ‘Whether I’ll answer it or not is a different question.’
Felicity was a little taken aback. Normally most men were not as cold with her as he was and she suddenly felt a little uneasy. But Felicity always resolved to get any man she set eyes on – and her eyes were on him so she would not let him go that easily. ‘So, have you found anyone yet to share in the love this week?’ Felicity asked. ‘Everyone needs someone they can share love with. I could be that one if you like?’
‘How old are you?’ Dylan asked.
‘Sorry, sir?’
‘How old are you? You look too young for these games.’
‘If sir must know, I am eighteen,’ Felicity said, slightly annoyed at being asked that question. ‘But I am experienced if sir is concerned about that.’
‘Eighteen?’ Dylan said, sounding a little shocked. ‘A young age for a whore.’
‘I am not a whore,’ Felicity shouted. ‘I only give myself to those whom I choose to give to. And I offer myself to you.’ She calmed down a little, trying to keep her composure after almost losing her temper. She was slowly beginning to regret coming over to Dylan, and would not have persisted were it not for the fact that Dylan looked quite attractive. She moved her hand down to his, her slender fingers moving up and down the veins in his hand. ‘You seem angered about something, maybe I can take your mind off that. Is there anything I can do to help?’ She moved her mouth closer to his so her lips were almost in his ear. ‘Anything?’
Dylan took one final swig of the new ale that the innkeeper had given him, he still paid no attention to Felicity. ‘You want to do to do something for me?’ he asked. ‘Then you can do this.’ He grabbed Felicity by the hand and held her tight, almost crushing the bones in her body. Dylan finally turned to her and looked her in her eyes with a stare that would haunt her for the rest of her life. ‘Cherish everything that you have in your life. Because when it’s taken away from you and you have nothing left – you’ll spend the rest of your days wondering why you are even still alive.’
He let go of Felicity’s hand and walked away. He had enough of this false joy and wanted to get away from it so he retired upstairs. Alix, who had been watching from afar, walked over to the girl to check on her. ‘Are you all right, sweetheart?’
‘He nearly crushed my damn hand,’ Felicity moaned. ‘What was his problem?’
‘Pay no heed to him,’ Alix said. ‘He’s not really the type of man that a girl like you would want.’ Alix moved her body closer so that her hips were touching hers and her arm was around her shoulder. ‘But, you know. If you’re tired of looking for the wrong man, then I’m always very... experimental.’
Felicity slapped Alix round the face with her good hand. ‘How dare you! What kind of girl do you take me for?’ She stormed away, searching for a man that was worthy of her affection.
‘And I thought the girls in Celtland were supposed to be open-minded,’ Alix moaned.

Alix left the party mood downstairs just briefly to go and check on her brother. The door wasn’t locked so she just walked right in. Dylan was standing with his back to her, hunched over and almost looking out the window, gazing out to the world beyond the glass. ‘Ok, just what is the matter with you?’ Alix asked, a little angrily and sore from being slapped a moment ago. ‘That girl was just trying to have some fun and you just scared the living daylights out of her.’
‘Good,’ Dylan grunted. ‘Better that she realises that life isn’t all roses than to live in false pretences.’
By now, Alix had had enough. She had been very patient for him the last few hours, but this was too much. ‘Ok, what is up with you?’ she shouted. ‘Why are you being so emotional? Here we are trying to enjoy the winnings of our last job and you’re crying like some garman poet.’
‘Is that all that’s important to you, Alix? Money?’ Dylan growled.
‘The money we earn is good wages,’ Alix told him. ‘You rather we live out on the streets like before, struggling to eat?’
‘LOOK AT US!’ Dylan screamed, turning round and letting loose a barrage of emotion that he had been storing for weeks on end. ‘Look at what we’ve become!’
‘Dylan?’
‘We used to be proud warriors!’ Dylan screamed. ‘We used our powers to help protect the world, now look at us. Reduce to petty bounty hunters that work for a gang of scumlords whose job is to bring in bigger scumlords! What happened to us, Alix? How did we fall so low?’
‘Dylan, the Quellers are finished,’ Alix shouted back. ‘We were fools to try and carry on their legacy as long as we did. They were dead when Maelus betrayed them.’
‘They were still better times than now,’ Dylan said, turning back to the window. ‘At least then I had something to live for.’
Alix knew that Dylan was letting on more than he intended to, but she knew that he wouldn’t admit to even her. She turned to leave, but her sisterly conscience wouldn’t allow her to leave without her saying her peace.
‘It wasn’t your fault you know,’ Alix said. ‘There wasn’t anything you could have done to save her.’
‘Just go...’ Dylan whispered. ‘Enjoy the party. It’s not right that both of us should suffer.’
Alix didn’t feel right about leaving him alone, especially not when he was like this. Then again, what would he do, kill himself? There were very little things that could kill a Queller and any attempt he made on his life would probably fail.
Alix just feared that he would one day be successful.
When he was sure that he was alone, Dylan reached into his inside pocket and pulled out a pendant that he kept there. He pulled the catch on the side and opened the pendant into the two halves that it had. Inside there was a picture of a beautiful woman, her long, dark hair shinning with star-like quality. Dylan moved his fingers up and down the picture as the memories came to stab his mind and remind him of his life the way it was now.
‘Selena...’

To be continued...
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Publication Date: 06-14-2011

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