So those of you who have stuck with me this far: I thank you. If you are still reading this book then that means that I haven't completely bored you to death and I consider that quite an accomplishment. Already I have received some great encouragement and that is the biggest reason why I am still posting this.
So I went back over the first chapter and made some slight modifications to spelling and content flow, and I will do the same for these earlier chapters when I get further along in the story. So if you notice some misspellings or choppy/confusing paragraphs, please let me know in a short review. Thanks!
BTW: I decided to name his dog Sam. (I know, creative isn't it?) It is subject to change, so if you have any ideas, let me know! I love hearing from you guys. : )
The sun had long fallen below the hills, and prince Erick still stood in his room, the moonlight dimly illuminating his pain stricken face. Elise had been executed early that evening. As the sun set, it matched the color of her brilliant, auburn hair. And then it sank, engulfed by the unforgiving night. He heard the gunshots, but couldn't bring himself to look out the window. He couldn't handle seeing them drag away the remains of his childhood friend.
He kept reviewing all the moments he spent with Elise in his mind, afraid that he might forget. Her smile, her hair, her voice. The one image that kept reoccurring was when she stood before the throne and she repeated 'choose me', over and over. He couldn't get that sight out of his mind. He couldn't forgive Logan. He couldn't forgive himself.
Those idiots! Why couldn't they just stay out of the way? That way, perhaps Elise would still be alive. Why? Why hadn't he chosen them? Wasn't Elise more important to him than some stupid uprising? How dare he! How dare Logan make him choose. How dare he take Elise. He was a murderer, plain and simple. And he deserved to be punished.
"You mustn't blame yourself sir," Jasper said quietly, trying to console the young prince. "I don't think any of us realized just how far he'd fallen into madness."
"I have to do something," Erick said in torment. "I can't just stay here."
"You're not." The doors opened and he didn't even have to look up to know that it was Walter. "We're leaving the castle tonight. This kingdom needs nothing less than a revolution. It needs a new leader. It needs a hero. It's time to see if you're ready."
"Ready for what?" Erick knew that Walter was watching him, but he couldn't bring himself to face him.
"To be your father's son."
Erick waited for a few moments, still clutching the armrest of the velvet couch. "Alright. I'm ready. Let's get out of here." He pushed away from the couch but still couldn't look Walter in the eye.
"Very good, I will pack some essentials," Jasper said.
"There's no time," Walter stated. "We take nothing."
"Not even...pajamas?" Jasper asked, mortified of the thought.
Erick walked towards the door where Walter stood, passing Jasper who was quickly scanning the room for something small he could grab.
"Come on. We must leave now."
"Don't worry sir, I shall follow you wherever fate may take us," Jasper said, stalling as he hurriedly snatched up Erick's pajama's, regardless of Walter's instructions. He hurried after them as they exited the room.
"I should have done something in the throne room. I should have stopped him," Walter said, more to himself than to them.
"All you would have accomplished would have been your own death," Jasper said, catching up to him.
"Still, maybe I should have taken you away sooner."
"Were you planning on leaving the castle?" Erick asked him.
"It wasn't supposed to happen like this."
Well, that wasn't much of an answer, but Erick didn't feel like digging deeper for a better one.
"There is something rather sinister about this garden at night," Jasper commented as they passed Logan's statue which was lighted by a small lamp at its base.
"Where are we going? I thought we were leaving the castle." Erick was no expert on prison breaks, but he was pretty sure that a three story drop off the garden wall shouldn't be the first choice.
"We are, but there's something we must do first." Walter lead them further into the garden towards the back wall. It was raining lightly, making it even hard to see in the moonless night. The only thing guiding their way was the small lanterns at even intervals at the side of the road, but Walter seemed to know where he was going.
Erick stopped as they came to the huge stone structure in the center of the garden. "The catacombs? We're going in there?" That place always filled him with a sense of dread, and it definitely was not the place he wanted to be at the moment.
"Yes, It's time we payed our respects to Albion's last hero."
"I never thought I'd enter this place again," Jasper muttered as Walter opened the thick door.
"You should have known better," Walter chuckled. Erick slowly followed them down the stairs, not very eager to continue. "The night your father died, I promised him that I would bring you here one day. When you were old enough, and strong enough. This is your history. This is your legacy. The world has been too long without a hero, but I'm hoping that it will have one soon."
"I'm not a hero," Erick said with slight irritation. "I didn't inherit my father's powers, you know that."
"I guess we'll just have to find out, now won't we?" Walter said.
Erick stopped in front of the two caskets as Jasper and Walter passed him on either side. The former king and queen; the parents he never knew. He looked at the statue bordered by two huge columns; an angel, her face hooded and hands to her chest as if she was weeping.
Walter dropped to one knee and pushed in on a brick at the base of the right column, which gave way and slipped inside. Erick stepped back in surprise as the angel's hands lowered, held suspended by a thick chain. There was a gold and blue disk nestled in her palms which reflected the light of the torches.
"This is your father's most treasured possession: The Guild Seal."
"What is it?" Erick asked, coming closer to inspect it.
"It chooses those who have the power inside of them. Those who have the potential to become legends. Take it," Walter instructed.
He placed a foot on the step and picked up The Guild Seal. It was about the size of a large dinner plate and when he lifted it he could see that it was indeed glowing slightly. But that was all it did. He expected something more than just a fancy wall decoration.
"Is something supposed to happen?" he asked, somewhat fearing the answer. He already knew that he wasn't the hero to save Albion, but inwardly he was kind of hoping for it.
Right after he said that, The Guild Seal burst into light and shook in his hands. He instinctively held it tighter as the light increased even brighter. Everything became a luminescent white although he had screwed his eyes shut. Everything seemed to be dissolving, but he couldn't tell if it was him or his surroundings. He had the sensation of being lifted into the sky and being thrown down to earth at the same time then suddenly he was on solid ground. As he stumbled to catch his footing, he could almost see himself materialize as the bright light faded away.
He held up his hands to inspect them as they flowed back together like grains of sand. They seemed real enough, but something was still off. Before he could figure it out, he saw a shrouded woman standing before him through his fingers. She wore a red and white dress that looked like it belonged to a prophetess and reminded him of the stone angel.
"Who are you?" he asked in bewilderment, lowering his hands. His voice seemed to echo like he was in a small room, but a quick glance showed that he was standing on what was a small island surrounded by a thick white fog, a metal gate the only other thing he could see.
"I am Theresa, the Seer of the Spire," the woman answered. Her voice was silken and resounded around them with a mystical quality, like a handful of voices speaking together.
"Seer?" Erick asked softly. He couldn't really tell from where he was, but it looked like she was blind. Under the hood, her pearly white eyes inspected him closely. Even if she was blind, it felt like she could see into his mind. Which made him uncomfortable to say the least.
"I guided your father in his greatest triumph, but you have an even greater destiny ahead of you. The Seal awoke at your touch, as it would for no one else's. This means the fate of Albion rest on your shoulders."
At her words he could almost feel a heavy yoke being placed onto his shoulders. If anyone else said that, he would have disagreed, but somehow her voice gave it an absolute truth. But, for all he knew he could be hallucinating. Considering his impossible surroundings, he probably wasn't far off.
"Before you lies the path you were born to take, and at its end, the kingdom you were born to rule. Like all heroes, you will face many trials, but you cannot pass through these gates alone. You will need to gather followers and gain the support of the people. For now, you have the support of two friends; Jasper, who will serve you always..." A translucent image of Jasper appeared at her right, almost like a ghost. It looked so real, that for a moment he thought that Jasper must have come in after him, but the fact that he was floating a few inches about the ground dismissed the fact. "...and Sir Walter Beck, who will be your greatest ally." Again, an image of his mentor appeared at her other side.
"Together you have already taken the first step in your journey. Walk through the gate, and claim your reward." Theresa vanished, and Erick was left with the remarkably accurate presentations of Walter and Jasper.
He stepped off the platform, which now he could see bore the shape of The Guild Seal, and approached the gate. He took a moment to run his hand through Walter's unsubstantial arm. "And, that's really creepy."
He felt the bars of the gate before continuing. They felt real enough, but something felt off. It was like he was dreaming. He wasn't even sure if he was still breathing. Everything felt uncanny and fake. There was no wind, and no sound, but for some reason he thought he could hear someone singing.
He pushed against the gate which creaked loudly as it opened. He walked through the thick fog towards a large chest that sat on the path leading to the next gate. There was a large red jewel embedded above the latch. He admired it for a moment before opening it. A surreal flash of glowing sparks shot beside him as he lifted the heavy lid. Inside was a thick leather glove, its surface stained a deep red and a jewel secured to the palm and the back of the hand.
Theresa appeared again, standing behind the chest. "There is a great power inside you. You merely lack the means to unleash it. Take this."
"Oh, so this isn't just for a fashion statement? For a minute there I thought you just wanted to improve my good looks," he said with a smile.
The look on Theresa's face suggested that she was not amused.
"Point taken." Erick grabbed the glove and put it on his right hand, fastening the small buckle at the bottom. It fit perfectly, like he had worn it for years. A gentle light emanated from the crystal on the palm, and he swung it back and forth playfully before giving his attention back to Theresa.
"This gauntlet will channel the magic within you. Use it by the tomb in the mausoleum, and the way out of the castle will open for you," she instructed. "You will return here when you have gathered enough followers to reach the next gate."
Great. So he'd have to come back...
"Now go. Walter and Jasper will follow wherever you lead, and one day perhaps the rest of Albion will do so too." Theresa faded away and a pulsating symbol appeared in front of the next gate, moving like ripples in a clear puddle.
Erick walked to it, taking a moment to scan the empty expanse to either side of him. He put his hand into foam-like mirage and the ground beneath his feet flashed, sending him back into the void. The sensation was much quicker this time, but still plenty disorienting.
He found himself back in the tomb but was now standing on the indentation of The Guild Seal. Walter and Jasper stood in front of him, standing in exactly the same way they where in Theresa's realm. He was just glad that he couldn't see through them.
"Well, do you... Do you feel any different?" Walter asked the moment he touched down. He could breathe now, if that was considered different, but he didn't think that was the answer Walter was looking for, so he just gave a simple, "I don't know."
"Try casting a spell," Walter told him. "That's supposed to be our only way of getting out of here." When Erick looked at his hand, the gauntlet was still there, but it seemed more realistic somehow.
"You might have mentioned that earlier," Jasper pointed out.
"And spoil the surprise?"
"I'm going to agree with Jasper on this one," Erick said. Jasper flashed a triumphant smile towards Walter. "Okay, here goes," he said as he rubbed his palms together. He had no idea what he was doing, but for once he actually believed that he could do it. Whatever it was.
He summed up all of his power that Theresa spoke of, which was just like concentrating as he did before an attack, and took a deep breath. In one fluid move, he opened his palms and turned them over, making both his hands glow. He slammed his hands downward and fire erupted all around him, the flames licking at his feet but not burning him. The fire left as quickly as it had come, but the ground in front of them shook, and split open; the two stone slabs sliding away to reveal a long staircase.
"It bloody worked!" Walter Exclaimed. "You really are a hero!"
Erick gave a pleased smile as he looked down at his hands. Did that mean that he was like his father? A real hero from the old days? As far as he knew, all the heroes had been killed off, which didn't do much to increase his confidence level. Was he the last one?
"I never doubted it for a second," Jasper said haughtily, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Well, of course, neither did it," Walter defended. "Still though..." he paused to chuckle before announcing again, "it bloody worked!" He went on ahead of them down the newly revealed stairs.
Erick tentatively reached forward and poked Jasper's cheekbone, relieved that his finger didn't pass through. Jasper blinked a few times and regarded him strangely.
"Just checking," Erick stated before running ahead to join Walter.
"Somewhat narrow isn't it? Dark too..."
"You never did care for confined spaces, did you, Sir Walter?" Jasper asked with a mocking tone.
"I never did care for being poked in the eye or having my head chopped off, what of it?" Walter snapped.
"Oh dear, I seem to have struck a nerve," Jasper said with credulity.
"How about if I strike a butler on the bonce?" Walter said through clenched teeth.
"Hold on a second Walter, maybe I can help," Erick said, worried that they might start a fight. There were small steel dishes on the ground with oil in the bottom that looked like ancient torches. He gathered up his energy in his right hand and shot a ball of flame at the brazier, igniting its contents.
"That thing does come in handy after all," Walter chuckled, roughing up Erick's hair. Jasper instinctively approached him and patted it back down again. They continued ahead while Erick paused to light another brazier. He ran to catch up as Walter and Jasper came to where the tunnel expanded into a gigantic cavern.
"Ah! Now this is more like it!" Walter said in delight. "Grand, spacious, a plentiful supply of oxygen; just the way a castle's escape route should be."
Erick went up to the edge where he could see the entirety of the cavern. There were large holes in the ceiling where light poured through and when he looked over the edge he could gaze into the shimmering waters of a slow moving river far beneath them. He enjoyed it for a little while longer before following the others down the open path.
"I hesitate to ask, but what is our plan? Other than leaving the castle far behind us, which I wholly approve of, obviously," Jasper said, but with longing in his voice as if he had doubts of leaving the more sanitary conditions of the castle.
"It's simple. We have to stop Logan," Walter said.
"How am I supposed to do that?" Erick asked. "Even if I am a hero, I'm just one person."
"Exactly," Walter said abruptly. "That is why we need to find allies, and lots of them. Once you prove what you are, people will follow you, and many of them will be willing to fight, but they need a leader. Someone to believe in."
Erick wasn't even sure he believed in himself, why should anyone else have a reason to? All he had was a little bit of magic, which only use was as a parlor trick. And opening mystical doors left by his father and some creepy dream lady of course.
"Albion needs nothing less that a revolution," Walter said stoutly.
"Bats!" Jasper cried out. "Take cover!"
"Well, young hero, this is your chance to show us what you've got." Walter pulled out his sword and stood protectively in front of Jasper who was flailing his arms about in an attempt to keep the bats away.
Erick did his best to use his newly discovered power to keep the bats away, but Walter picked off the ones that got past him. Soon all the bats where nothing but burnt corpses on the trail. Okay, maybe a little more than a parlor trick.
"Excellent! Did you see that, Jasper? Did you see it?" Walter said with pride, turning to the disheveled butler. He seemed more excited about Erick's power than he himself was.
"Indeed. Your father would have been proud, sir," Jasper said as he straightened his clothes.
"Well, I know I am," Walter said. "Come on. And I'm proud of you too, old friend," he added as they continued. "I've never seen a man cower with such grace."
"It is merely a matter of hygiene," Jasper remarked. "Bats are filthy creatures."
"Oh burn," Erick said, elbowing Jasper in the side. He didn't know what that meant, it just sort of slipped out in his pyromanic mood. Maybe it would become a popular catch phrase someday.
Walter laughed along with Erick, but Jasper regarded them both with an annoyed expression. "Anyway, I think we've just seen the first proof of what you can do."
"Yep! If you need some bats killed, I'm your man."
"I think you're just a little more important than that. You are the hero who can lead this land in a revolution. Bats are just the beginning."
Erick noticed that they were following him now, which he found a little odd. Usually he was the one in the back. At least there was only one path so he didn't have to worry about leading them the wrong way. They passed many columns and statues in the walls, giving it a certain appeal. The grass was thin on the sides of the dirt road and covered the trail sometimes.
"More bats!" Walter announced as they started down the stairs. This set of vermin was disposed of much quicker then the last as Erick became slowly more confident with the flames.
"Another impressive display sir," Jasper congratulated him. "To think, this morning my job consisted of laying out clothes for royalty. Now I'm a midnight snack for bats." If he didn't regret leaving the castle before, he sure did now.
"You'll get used to it," Walter snickered.
At the base of the stairs there was large swath of moss covered by a thick sheet of water which Erick was reluctant to cross. It would surely stain his white trousers and he'd never get the stench out of his boots. Nevertheless, he continued through it, trying his best to go quickly but not splatter his pants. He shook his feet vigorously when he go to the other side, but it didn't help any.
The beautiful handmade structures ended, leaving them nothing but a rough trial to follow. It was like the escape route was never finished, which didn't encourage him too much.
"You might want to cover your noses from here on," Walter suggested after they crossed. "It's the Browerstone sewers."
"Ah, very well," Jasper said.
"This is disgusting," Erick said, doing his best to cover his nose with his left hand.
"You might want to cover your eyes too, Jasper, More bats!" A swarm of bats erupted from the sewer tunnel and Erick couldn't pick them off before some had ripped holes in his new clothes.
"You've certainly got the hang of that spell," Walter stated.
"Apparently not enough, look what they did to my shirt." Erick showed them his tattered sleeve.
"Not to worry sir, I'm sure I can have it mended in no time."
"Thanks Jasper."
"Shall we proceed?" Walter asked.
"Oh right. Sorry," Erick spluttered before leading the way through the sewer tunnel. Water dripped from the ceiling onto his shoulders, and he flinched back only to have another stream drizzle onto his hair. He found himself glancing over his shoulder towards the castle.
Walter had a sympathetic look on his face, and Erick hastily turned away. Walter opened his mouth to speak, but the prince shuffled forward though the grimy sludge, determination on his fine features.
"Urg, what an Unusual stench. I daresay we must be somewhere beneath Browerstone Industrial," Jasper mentioned. The smell reminded Erick of the same taint he smelled in the garden and the increased proximity did not do the best to improve it.
"Very likely," Walter answered, still following Erick. "Not the safest place for us right now, but we should be able to find a way out of the city once he reach the surface."
"That's not a very fool proof plan," Erick huffed, getting more irritated the further they went.
"I'm afraid that's the best you can get when this man is your strategy expert," Jasper commented, seeing the opportunity for another jab at Walter.
"If it was up to you we'd still be packing back at the castle," Walter pointed out.
"I like to be prepared, that's all."
The sewer split off in two directions, both blocked. The only way to continue was through a small gap in the wall. As they passed through to the other side, there was a cobblestone path extending over a sharp ledge. The problem was that it quickly ended with no other route. It looked like there was a gap in the cave a far way off across a small pond, but it didn't look like it lead outside.
"It appears to be a dead end," Jasper said.
"Not quite," Walter said. At the end of the path there was a circular platform with another image of the Guild Seal in the center.
"What is that?" Erick asked, stopping right in front of it.
"I'm pretty sure it's a Cullis Gate," Walter replied. "Sort of a magical transportation system for heroes."
"I was under the impression that Cullis Gates were all gone."
"Well, it looks like there's one left at least. Your father must have placed this one here in case he ever needed to use it." Walter seemed to more about his father than he did. Kind of unnerving to say the least.
"It's the same symbol that we saw by the tomb. Do you suppose it's activated in the same way?" Jasper asked.
"Well there's only one way to find out. You know what to do," Walter directed.
Erick climbed the few steps and took his place at the center. A quick burst of fire later, and he was surrounded by a mystical blue light. That uncomfortable sensation returned from the fist time he used the Guild Seal, but not nearly as dramatic and disorienting.
Erick had grown accustom to the transference and stuck the landing perfectly. Jasper didn't fare so well. The instant they set down, Jasper's knees buckled and he collapsed back on the ground with a light thud.
"You alright Jasper?" Erick asked, glancing down at his butler on the checkered floor.
"Couldn't be better sir," Jasper replied, but making no move to get up.
"What is this place?" It was a circular room with four doors opposite of where they stood, each one laced with thick cobwebs and covered in dust. Books and papers littered the dirty floor like a trashy room. Small candles at regular intervals around the walls provided some light but the large chandelier suspended above the table in the middle of the room did most of the lighting, but it was still fairly dim. The chandelier looked exactly like the one in his bedroom back at the castle. It reminded him of the nights that he and Elise would lay on the floor underneath it and just talk about whatever came to mind. Erick quickly tried to distract himself before the pain in his chest grew any more.
"You know, it must be," Walter mused, stroking his greying beard, "it is! It's your father's sanctuary!" Walter announced, walking further into the room. Erick hopped off his perch and followed him. "He used to speak of it but I never thought it was a real place. Well I don't believe it," he said, approaching the table which had a very detailed map of Albion on its surface. "Jasper!"
"Hmm?" Jasper looked up from his place on the floor.
"This book, there's a note with your name on it, look."
"That's not possible," Jasper said, pushing himself off the floor and approaching the table. " 'For Jasper'?" he marveled, picking up the small slip of paper. "Well, I grant you it is possible, but it must be a coincidence..." Even so, he slid the book to the edge and began flipping through its pages.
"Oh don't be a dolt," Walter accused. "The old King must have left it here for you. What's it called?"
"The Book of Heroes. How extraordinary."
"Does it tell us how to get out?"
"Uh, I'm still lost on exactly where we are..." Erick muttered, but was ignored as Jasper continued scanning the pages.
"This really is most remarkable. Everything that we could possibly want to know about Heroes and this place is right here in these pages. This map functions as a traveling mechanism. Simply choose where you want to go and, well, it should take you there."
"That doesn't–"
"Marvelous!" Walter announced, inadvertently stopping Erick from complaining. "Right, we can use that. We'll have plenty of time to explore this place later. Right now we have a rather large task ahead of us."
"But I don't even know where to start," Erick added quickly before he could be interrupted again.
"Our first stop will be the mountains of Mistpeak. There are people there who would make great allies. They won't offer their allegiance easily, but they despise Logan. And if anyone can persuade them, it's a hero."
"Very good," Jasper remarked. "I will continue to become acquainted with this sanctuary. No doubt we will need to make for use of its facilities."
"Right, all right then," Walter said eagerly. "Find Mistpeak on the map and let's see if that book is telling the truth."
Erick leaned over the map, but he didn't really know what he was looking for. Logan was the only one in the castle that had one and of course, Erick never got to look at it.
"Now that looks like the Dweller camp In Mistpeak just there," Jasper said, pointing to the finely sculpted mountains. "Select that as your destination and you should be taken there, just like that."
"Okay, here goes." Erick nervously extended his hand and touched the village nestled in the groves of the mountain. A shock ran down his spine and the room around him vanished in an instant, and he was standing on a snow covered hill.
"It worked!" Walter cheered, standing in the snow beside him.
"I'm just glad we didn't get ripped apart or something," Erick murmured.
"Oh, I'd forgotten how bloody cold it is up here," Walter said as he vigorously rubbed his forearms. "Come on, we'd better get moving."
Erick promptly followed as he continued down the hill towards the town.
"The people here call themselves Dwellers," Walter told him as they walked past short, dilapidated walls. "They're tough. They're loyal. And like I told you earlier, they hate Logan's guts."
"This doesn't seem to be a very lively town," Erick said, but that was an extreme understatement. The houses were simply covered wagons set in the snow. The wooden fences were falling apart and the people weren't too impressive either. They walked with their heads down and shuffled their feet and they huddled for warmth around tiny fires.
"It may not look like much, but this is where the revolution begins," Walter assured him.
These people weren't exactly soldier material. They weren't even fit to be servants. Why in the world would Walter bring him here? How could these miserable people help him?
"This is what Logan has reduced them to," Walter continued as the passed the villagers on the scanty trial, attracting more attention then he'd like. "He's taken control of these mountains and started destroying its forests."
Erick had a hard time listening to Walter over the pleas of the people. They watched him with hungry eyes devoid of all hope.
"All I've eaten this week is snow."
"Please! We're all starving!
I wish I could give you some food.
"You've come from the city. From Bowerstone haven't you? You must have some food."
I'm sorry, I don't.
"I'll trade you my doll for some food. She's really good. Honest. Her name's Sadie."
I'm sorry. I don't have any. Please stop asking. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
"I knew they'd have a hard time finding food, but I had no idea it was this bad."
"Walter, this is awful," Erick whispered. He wasn't sure that Walter heard him, but the large man laid a heavy hand on his shoulder as they walked to the gate.
"The man we need to convince is Sabine. A proud old sod, but a good man and a good leader. He won't give his allegiance easily, especially to a prince. Perhaps it's best if I speak to him alone first. You know, maybe you ought to find some new clothes while I talk to Sabine. Something slightly less ... princely. We don't need this kind of attention. I only have a little bit of gold, but it should be enough." Walter placed a small blue bag of gold coins in Erick's hand. "And maybe you can spread what's left among the people. They need it more than we do."
"Were can I find clothes," Erick asked in earnest, and not just because his bat torn clothes smelled rank from the sewers.
"Oh, Don't worry. You'll find someone willing to take that money off you. Now, wish me good luck."
"Good luck Walter, you'll do great."
Walter gave a small wave as he walked through the gates, leaving Erick alone with the staving mob. When he turned around there was a group of people watching him intently. He wanted to give them the money, he really did, but there were so many he was afraid that if he gave it to them, he wouldn't have enough for clothes. He shamefully squeezed past them and headed back into town. He thought he saw a shop somewhere on the way in, but he got disoriented by the flocks of people and ended up taking a while to get there.
He found the shop and the owner stood outside rubbing his hands together. "Hello," the owner moaned, too miserable to say anything else.
"I'll take that set of clothes you have there," Erick said, placing thirty coins in his palm.
"Oh good," the man said in relief. "Good, thank you."
Erick was about to walk away, but something stopped him. Elise wouldn't have turned her back on someone in need. He let out a big sigh and turned around. "Here, have a little more."
"You have no idea how much of a difference this will make. Thank you. You have a kind heart."
No, just a guilty conscience.
"Hello sir, this is Jasper." Erick twisted around, but saw no sign of his butler. "Er, hello? Is ... is this ... is this how you use..."
"Jasper?" Erick asked, slowly inspecting the area. The Dweller man gave him a weird look, but said nothing.
"I am speaking to you from the Guild Seal." Jasper said, a little louder than necessary. Erick retrieved the Guild Seal from his belt and held it in his hands but the sound wasn't coming from it. It was as if Jasper was speaking directly into his ear. "What an extraordinary device. It would seem that as long as you carry the seal, we can communicate freely."
"Maybe you can," Erick said quietly, returning the seal to his belt. "People are looking at me like I'm a madman or something."
"All part of the job sir." As Jasper continued, Erick handed out a gold coin to a woman wandering the street. "Also, you may return to the Sanctuary any time you deem it necessary. Might I suggest you do so now and try on your new outfit?"
"Yeah, I'll be there in a sec," Erick replied, still shaking the hand of the woman he gave his coin to. The gratitude in her eyes was beyond measure. He was afraid that she was going to start worshiping him or something. He felt a genuine smile start to prick his lips. It felt good. It had been a while since he hadn't had to force his face to contort into a look resembling a smile.
He pulled away from the woman and walked off a little ways where no one could see him. He then reached down and activated the Guild Seal, returning to the Sanctuary.
"Ah, hello," Jasper greeted him. He was standing beside one of the doors which had been cleared of debris. "Now, included in the sanctuary is a dressing room. Step through and I'll show you."
Erick joined him across the room as Jasper slid open the wooden doors.
"I've taken the liberty of laying out your clothes on these mannequins, which should serve as convenient storage for any garments you acquire during your travels. Now why don't you change into your new dweller outfit."
Erick did as he was told and returned his former clothes to Jasper. "There you are, you look just like a Dweller. I hope this new outfit is as comfortable as your royal attire although I suspect the chances of that are quite low." He reached up and tucked the stubborn strand of hair back up into his cap.
"Well, it certainly smells better, that's for sure, but it's kind of itchy," Erick said, looking down to inspect his new clothes. They were mostly brown, but the sleeves, sash and head cover were a nice, bright red. They were quite warm, as expected. He was starting to get hot even in the Sanctuary. Erick tapped the Seal, returning him to the Dweller camp.
"Now that you are properly attired you should return to Sir Walter," Jasper instructed through the seal. "It is time to meet the Sabine we've heard so much about. A reliable way to gather a few followers is by simply interacting with people. Try it; I'm certain you'll make an impression."
"Whatever you say," Erick muttered under his breath. He didn't really like socializing with strangers, and didn't know what to say or do half the time. Even so, he made an effort to talk to the people he gave money to. He went about the town giving out his money until it was all gone. He hoped that Walter wouldn't mind him getting rid of all his drinking money.
"Congratulations! Getting out among the people has paid off."
"Jasper, have you been watching me this whole time?"
"No, not exclusively. I've just been checking in on you once or twice ... or thrice, but who's counting?"
Erick chuckled lightly. "Thanks for keeping an eye on me, but I do need some time alone every now and again."
"Duly noted."
"Thanks Jasper." Erick headed back up to the gate where Walter stood waiting for him.
"That's it, the scruffy look suits you."
"So how did it go?" Erick asked, a satisfied smile pricking his lips.
"I've spoken to Sabine; explained everything and he's... Well, I told you he'd take some convincing."
"That bad huh?"
Walter humphed, but Erick could see a smile behind his beard. "Come on." He stood back politely as Erick approached the tent where a hulking man with a glass eye waited. Now he could see why Walter had a hard time convincing this guy, he looked like he wrestled bears in his free time. He'd never seen anyone so tall, he made Walter look like a dwarf! So that made Erick a pixie. Next to this guy, he certainly felt like one.
His dog ran up to Sabine, wagging his tail happily. From the look on his face, Erick couldn't help but worry that the Dweller leader might eat his dog.
"Out of the way Boulder, I can't see a thing."
The huge man with the glass eye stepped to the side to reveal a scrawny little old man sitting on a makeshift throne that seemed to be dressed like some sort of jester. Huge gold rings adorned his stark white beard and mustache.
Oh, so this was Sabine.
"So royalty walks into our home. A prince, no less." The disproportional old man said in a dramatic voice as he got up from his chair. "You're a long mile from the castle. Prince," he said harshly, jewels clinking as he walked down the steps to stop uncomfortably close to Erick. Even on the bottom step, Sabine's hunched back made him almost a foot shorter. "What do you think of our home then? Do you like what your brother has done to us?"
Erick opened his mouth to speak, but Sabine wasn't finished. "These mountains have always been ours, now Logan's taken them, and he's stripping them of all life. Oh, we're ready to go to war, but why should we follow Logan's kin?"
"You can trust me, you have my word," Erick promised.
Sabine snorted indignantly. "We don't take much stock in words 'round these parts. We're simple folk. Ain't that right Boulder?"
Boulder, the hulking man Erick had mistaken for Sabine, grunted in confusion. It seemed like he didn't know how to talk, but he wasn't sure.
"Then what do you want?" Erick asked, getting a little frustrated.
Sabine curled a highly ornamented finger, beckoning him closer. Erick leaned close enough that he could count his long white nose hairs. Not that he particularly wanted to. "Proof," he said flatly, blasting Erick with his dry breath.
Erick involuntarily recoiled, but luckily Sabine didn't notice because he drew back as well.
"First: prove you're truly as Walter claims, a hero!"
"How am I supposed to do that?"
"This is easily done. There's a secret chamber beneath the town of Brightwall, built by your own father."
He was distracted for moment as his dog was barking for attention from Boulder who happily complied but scratching behind its ears.
"Only heroes can survive it's trials and reach the relic within. Bring me one of these ancient objects and I will believe you. Second: prove you are warrior worthy of leading us into battle. You can do this by slaying the mercenaries who plague Mistpeak Valley and have long soured our existence. Third:"
Oh gosh, there was more?
"Prove you are a true leader. Persuade our neighbors in Brightwall to share what food they have with us. Boulder!"
"D'oh." Boulder stopped playing with Erick's dog and assumed his intimidating stance again.
Sabine leaned in close again. "If we cannot eat we will die, and the dead make poor allies."
"Is that all?" Erick asked abruptly, with some impudence.
Sabine leaned back for a moment as if in deep thought, his busy eyebrows twitching. "Yep! That's the lot. Off you go then. Good luck. Nice knowin' you," he dismissed him, clamping an oversized cigar between his teeth.
"Come on Sam," Erick called his dog, bringing it away from Boulder who gave them a tiny goodbye wave, much to the annoyance of Sabine.
"It's nice to see that Sabine hasn't mellowed with age," Walter commented as they left. "But anyway, I know the place he mentioned. Your father built the chamber under the Brightwall Academy; Albion's greatest seat of learning. At least it was, until Logan closed down. Just show the old librarian your Guild Seal, he'll know what it means."
"Alright will do," Eric said with confidence now that he felt he had one-upped Sabine.
"I'll try to find out more about these mercenaries. I'll see you in Brightwall when I have some information." They came to the gate leading out of the Dweller Camp and Walter opened it for him. "Hmm, it makes a nice change doing something useful," he said as he left.
"Good luck Walter. I'll see you in Brightwall," Erick said as he jogged across the bridge. He stopped as he came to a huge ledge overlooking the mountains and breathed into his hands to warm them up. When he leaned towards the edge, he could almost see into the valley. It sure was a long way down. He had the thought to go back to sanctuary and tapped the Guild Seal on his waist.
"This chamber beneath Brightwall sounds intriguing," Jasper said from his seat against the wall where he was stitching Erick's old clothes. "I'd heard rumors of course, but none other than heroes have lived to speak of it. You must take care once you're inside."
"Thanks Jasper, I will do my best. Have you finished mending my clothes yet?"
"They won't be ready to wear for a while, but I assure you they are plenty adequate for strangling a certain prince," he said in annoyance.
"What's this for?" Erick asked, ignoring Jasper's threat. He pointed next to Jasper at a cupboard built into the wall with a small pedestal in front of it.
"If someone has given you a gift I will keep it here until you wish unwrap it. I shan't peak, I promise."
"What's through this door?" Erick asked, pointing to the one door that was still shut.
"It's true that much of the Sanctuary is inaccessible at the moment... Hopefully I'll have it all shipshape shortly."
"Oh, okay. It looks kinda important. Did you see the sign above it? It looks kinda like–"
"Sir, I don't mean to be rude, but what exactly is your purpose of being here? Besides annoying me that is?"
"I just came to escape the cold for a bit. And believe it or not, annoying you was not my intention."
"Regardless, you have succeeded in doing so."
"Sorry, I guess I should head out now." Even so, Erick didn't leave. He leaned against the map table, watching Jasper for a long while.
Jasper sighed and removed his reading glasses, looking at him closely. "I don't mean to pry, but why are you really here?"
"I can't just stop in to check up on my butler?"
"No. You're stalling aren't you sir?"
"Alright fine! Yes, I'm stalling," Erick admitted with a dramatic lift of his arms.
"May I ask why? Your current task isn't that daunting is it?"
"No, I guess not."
"Then why do you feel the need to put it off?"
"Well," Erick sat cross legged on the floor in front of Jasper. "Walter left. And, I'm supposed to go down the mountain to Brightwall. Alone."
"Ah, so that's it," Jasper breathed. "You doubt the loyalty of Sir Walter and I."
"No, of course not Jasper. That's not at all what I was saying. What makes you think that?"
"If you truly understood the depths of our loyalty then you would know that we would never send you to do something that you weren't capable of accomplishing. This isn't just your journey my prince, its ours too."
"I guess that makes sense," Erick admitted.
"Good. Are you ready to go now?"
"Yeah, I'm ready." Erick stood up and gave a long stretch. "Um, so how long do you think it will take for you to finish-"
"Have a nice day, sir."
Thanks for reading! Please Review, even if it's just a few words, I really appreciate it. The next update may take a while, but it will come!
