Storm the Tower (Part 1)

Gavin squinted into the darkness, attempting to ignore how uncontrollably his heart was racing in his chest. The torch he held in his hand did little to minimize the chilly obscurity of the tunnel. Michael had told him to keep guard- to watch this specific tunnel because it was his "very important" job. But after about an hour of standing there with no beasts to fight- he felt like more of a third wheel than an essential warrior. In the distance he could hear Michael fighting off countless monsters- leaving him to this boring, barren hole. Sometimes he wondered just how much his strength was underestimated.

This entire operation seemed a bit sketchy to him- their ally Ray had helped plan most of it- Storming the Mad King's Tower and catch him off guard. Michael had jumped at it immediately, But Gavin...well, he had his reservations. Michael called it cowardice, but he prefered to call it...prudence. But to tell the truth, Gavin had little intention of coming into contact with the Mad King. The only reason he had agreed to this plan in the first place was because Michael was leading it- and he wanted to see his father again.

Strictly speaking, Geoff was not really his father. But raising him for most of his life after the death of Gavin's parents basically qualified him for the title. He had been a caring guardian- always watching out for him. Until he stopped. Sometime in Gavin's early adolescence, Geoff had stopped loving him, going so far as to cast him out of his kingdom without an explanation as to why. That was when he had met Michael- a royal running from his own kingdom too. The difference was that Michael had been cast out by an occupying force- a famed Mad King Ryan who had killed his father in battle. The same King they were currently trying to take down. Gavin wasn't all that interested in taking Ryan down- but he was interested in finding out why Geoff has chosen to abandon him for a murderous tyrant. The news that his adoptive father had allied himself with Ryan and some unfamed king named Jack was enough to grab Gavin's meager attention.

He lost himself in these thoughts, nearly dropping the torch quite a few times as he repositioned himself in his lean against the damp tunnel wall. When Gavin had been on watch for just over an hour, he began to doze off, the burden of his eyelids increasing until he was snoring softly. The relieving nap didn't last long until he felt a rough shove on his shoulder. Startled, he turned around, ready to pull out his bow, or the light blade at his side. What he found upon turning around wasn't a monster, but was definitely as terrifying.

"What the hell are you doing!?" Michael spat, barely able to whisper, "I told you to keep watch, and you're here freaking dozing off!"

"S-Sorry, Michael," he said, apologetically, "I was just-"

"I don't wanna hear about what you were 'just' doing, okay, just do your goddamn job!" Michael had a habit of interrupting him, but Gavin didn't protest much. He was the leader after all.

"There just wasn't much going on. But I promise I'll do better from now on."

Michael grunted his annoyed approval, pulling out his glimmering diamond sword to add light to the dreary pathway. "Let's go," he said in a gravelly voice, "I've cleared the path to the next tunnel." When he spoke so low, he sounded nearly like the bear whose brown pelt now lay gloriously across Michael's shoulders. He was rumoured to have wrestled the giant bear to death with his own hands, gaining the ability to transform between bear and man at will.

But Gavin knew that was all rubbish.

"Michael?" he asked inquisitively as they walked along, "Why do you always give me the easy jobs?"

"Huh?" Michael asked, distracted. He was examining a map of the tunnels, not even glancing up from the barely visible parchment.

"I mean," he ventured on, "you always fight the monsters and I just stand watch."

The warrior sighed, obviously tired of this conversation, "Because I'm strong, and you're fast, idiot. I'll fight the baddies and if you see something else coming, you can run to alert me before they get to me. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"It's just...you always seem to do the dangerous stuff."

"Well maybe I don't want you doing the dangerous stuff!"

"Sshh! Michael!" Gavin whispered, putting a finger to his lips, "You'll be heard!"

The King stared at him angrily for a second before muttering, "You're such a fool, Gavin." He began walking again, as Gavin scrambled after him, not wanting to be left in the dark alone.

"No I'm not!"

"Yes you are."

"If I was a fool, you wouldn't need me here!"

Another death glare. Suddenly, Michael raised up his hand in alarm, signaling for him to stop. Instead, Gavin accidentally walked into him, knocking his elbow on Michael's back, and letting go of the torch. The ignited wood clattered to the ground, and the flame sputtered out.

"Gavin!"

"...Sorry Michael."

"I heard something coming this way, and now we won't even be able to see what it is!"

"Sorry Michael!"

"I freaking hate you." Gavin knew he didn't mean it. They had been friends for years now, and Michael's terms of endearment often sounded like insults. Sometimes he just wished they weren't so harsh.

A short distance away, a small golden-orange light flickered on. Judging by its height, Michael guessed someone was holding a torch, or lantern. As the light came closer, he could make out the faint outline of a cloaked male figure walking calmly towards them. He breathed a sigh of relief. It was too skinny, and lacking an extravagant crown to be the Mad King. This he could handle.

Michael slowly got up, pushing his hand in Gavin's face to tell him that he was to stay on the ground and shut up. He pressed himself against the wall, ready to pounce when the figure got closer.

He was almost upon them...

Any second now...

Three...Two….One...

"Hey, what are you two still doing here?"

It was Ray.

Gavin could hardly control his snickers. "You looked like a right clod just then! You should have seen yourself! Getting ready to attack and-"

"Shut up Gavin." Michael growled.

"But-"

"If you're going to act like a child, then you really aren't ready for this."

Ray stared between them, his source of light blazing in the awkward silence. Around his belt he had sets of throwing knives and daggers, all enchanted to burst into flames when he touched them. Complete with black clothes, and a red cape, he looked like an amazing assassin, and he certainly was. Unfortunately, he couldn't work alone this time.

"Uh, guys," he said softly, "I hate to interrupt but- we have a mission to complete."

"Ray's right." Michael said quickly, "Let's go." He turned and began to walk in the direction Ray came from, with his accomplices trailing behind him.

Gavin didn't know what had gotten into Michael lately. He had always been a bit rough on the edges, but now more than ever he could be downright callous. Perhaps the stress of being a leader was catching up to him.

After a while, the tunnel began to rise. Gavin wondered just how many secret tunnels the Mad King had beneath his tower, and what on earth he needed them for.

"Here." Ray whispered sharply, just as Gavin thought his tired legs would crumble beneath him.

"Are you sure?" Michael asked. It wasn't like him to be uncertain.

"Positive. I've been through these tunnels dozens of times, and no one's even known."

"Huh," Michael shrugged, "Maybe the Mad King isn't as all-knowing as he says."

Ray nodded and put one of his knives close to the door. Gavin could see the faint outline of a doorway and the nearly airtight crevices where the tunnel would open up. Ray put a hand on the left stone, and pushed ever so slightly. It slowly moved back, seemingly weightless behind his gloved hand. The other door did the same, and they both slid to the side, revealing the entrance to Ryan's strategy room. Gavin had to cover his eyes at first, allowing them to adjust to light after what seemed like an eternity in darkness. The rest of the tunnel now seemed blanketed in obscurity compared to their little pocket of light.

"Are you ready?" Michael asked.

Gavin nodded, "Always."

Ray smirked and nodded as well.

The three of them walked into the chamber together, ready to face whomever was waiting for them inside.

Once they got in, Michael couldn't contain his anger. The roar he emitted was so loud, Gavin thought he really would become a bear.

Michael had been wrong. They had wasted their time.

There was nobody in the chamber.