Ali6131: Thank you! Now the mystery starts, so I hope it'll become even more interesting in the next chapters! ^/^ Well it was more that he reminded me of him, and Tiny Tim is just so cute~! 3 It will be explained why Noah acted like this later, even though it's kinda obvious maybe. xD Cool that you like the theme, since it'll be a big part of the story from now on. :D
Hey y'all! Still like my story? :3 If there is something you miss in it, know something you think will make it better or if there is something that you just really want to see in fanfic? Try asking me and I'll consider all options. No promises though! ;) You can ask even the stupidest things, like if you know a name for one of the children Noah "played" with. (like the spoiled girl that didn't want to play Vikings! ;)
I just hit a 1,000 views on this fanfic! Just a side note that makes me happy! :D
Noah looked up at the tall man standing before him. 'Living with a suspicious stranger that calls me by my name even though we've never met? Of course!' he said sarcastically while rolling his eyes.
'Hey I'm doing you a favor kid.' The man said, clearly he didn't like sarcastic comments. 'You can also sleep outside if you want.' The stranger moved in closer. 'But that's not gonna make you solve the mystery now does it?'
This peeked Noah's interest, since he still wasn't sure about how much the townsfolk knew. One of the rules on the wall said that they couldn't speak of the outside world to the villagers, which would include the contest. But hinting at the mystery like this would mean that the man would want to help him, or it was just a trick.. No, Noah still wasn't convinced. 'Who knows, maybe you're the cause of the whole mystery. The evil villain himself!' Noah exaggerated this bit as if this was a Scooby Doo scenario. 'I'm not sure if I wanna take that chance.'
The stranger didn't seem amused, but he also didn't seem alerted though. What he probably would have been a little if he would be "evil". So Noah decided that taking him up on his offer would probably be the best for now. He didn't want to bite so soon though.
'I'd first like to see you help the others. Or was the offer excluded to me?' Noah asked quickly.
'No I'll help, if they're not as troublesome as you.'
'Noah, troublesome?' Heather asked theatrically. (she apparently caught up on the conversation) 'That would be a first. But you know where we can stay the night?'
'Not only to stay the night,' the man said. 'Didn't you read the plates over there? Y'all have to work here if you wanna survive. I know who has extra space available here, if y'all follow me, I can show you.'
'Hey!' Heather called out to the other contestants. 'We've found someone that can help us get a place to live.'
Noah had to admit that Heather wasn't dumb. By calling out to everyone she seemed to be helping the others, and she didn't mention anything of the outside world in front of the stranger. She pretended to seriously be looking for a place to live in a village like this. If only the rest of her personality wasn't that rotten. She just wasn't one to be trusted.
Everyone decided that this was the easiest way to solve the problem at hand, so they followed the stranger trough the town.
'Is there a house of stone available?' Dave asked the man. 'It's more hygienic and warm.'
'Sure,' the man said pushing Dave to the stone house we just reached. 'The Pottery, one of the richest people in town and he has a free room made just for you. Have fun!' The man continued walking right away and we followed, leaving Dave in a state of bewilderment.
'Did he say pottery?' Dave whispered to himself. 'Does that mean I have to work with clay or can I just sell them?'
The next house where they stopped was a house of a weaver. 'Even though this work might not be physically hard, don't underestimate it.' The man said. 'There are three beds available.'
'That's for me Cody!' Sierra said. 'I'm the best weaver there is!'
'I'll join too, if you don't mind Sierra.' Cameron said.
'You will?' Gwen said stumped. 'But in All..-'
'-It's okay when Cody is around.' Cameron cut her off. 'Don't bring up things off the past, since not everyone here is aware of it.' He put extra emphasis on some words to let Gwen know that he stopped her from breaking the rules.
'Sure,' Gwen noticed now too. 'I'll pay more attention to my company and what I say Cameron, thanks.'
It seemed that their friendship outlasted All-Stars, good for them, but troublesome for the others that wanted to win. Friendship is just another kind of alliance really.
'Oh, I forgot the Baker,' the man said suddenly. 'Anyone interested in that? The couple there has one bed available. You work early and get off early, also the smell is delicious.' He added.
'That's sounds okay to me.' Sky said. 'I wake up early anyway and I could use extra time to train, where is the bakery?'
'Across from the Pottery.'
'So across from Dave, great.' She pondered while taking off to the bakery.
'I also forgot the inn that you saw at the central square. They have a place available for a help chef and two waitresses.'
'Hey Amy, I think that would be great for us.' Heather said to Amy. 'And why don't you join too Alejandro?' She added. Noah didn't know if it was because she still liked him (what didn't seem likely since they were pretty distant earlier today) or if it was because she wanted a slippery eel like him to be close by. Not a bad idea actually. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.
Amy seemed to doubt if she would take the offer. Heather was the same kind of person as her and would make a strong ally. But she wouldn't be able to drag Samey with her as she usually did. Then she seemed to think of something that made her decision. 'Yeah I'll join!' she said while high fiving Heather.
'I think my skills are better to be utilized someplace else. Topher seems like a good replacement for me though.' Alejandro said.
This irritated Noah. Heather's intentions were always more clear than those of Alejandro. Was he trying to shove Topher in Heathers new alliance? Why?
'Sure why not,' Topher said. 'You would have to be mad to turn down a offer to work with two pretty girls.' Heather could gag at this comment, while Amy's ego seemed to get a boost from it. The threesome made their way back to the central square. What left us with 12 people to divide over houses. The stranger continued walking and the group silently followed, taking in the village that surrounded them. The group passed places like the Butcher and the Tailor, maybe they had no space to give away?
The next stop was the Smithy. Outside you could see a strong man hitting melted steel into the form of a blade. 'This seems like a place for you tough guy.' The stranger said to Duncan, obviously not knowing how Duncan had acted in All-Stars. Otherwise he would probably had set him in a petting zoo.
'Yeah that's for me alright, I needed a new knife anyway. So why not make it myself?' Duncan seemed way too happy with the chance to be the tough guy again instead of the sweet idiot that burns down a "cottage" to prove a point.
'Also close is the guardhouse, they have plenty of free rooms.' the man said pointing to a small tower at the other side of the street. 'We have need of protectors of the law around here.'
'That sounds perfect,' Jo said. 'Anyone want to join me?' Nobody reacted on her offer, what made her just shrug and take off. 'Your loss.'
'Is there someone who doesn't mind to get their hands dirty and loves helping others survive?' The man said while the other contestants walked to the next destination.
'That would be me!' Harold said. 'I'm a scout and a true hero!'
'Then they can certainly use you on the farm. You'll be the one that makes sure we don't starve.'
'A farmer?' Harold said a bit surprised. 'Isn't there a-'
'And moving on,' the man said to the others leaving Harold behind. Clearly this stranger wasn't really interested in the opinions of the group.
'Sir?' Courtney asked when she caught up with the man. 'Is there any minstrel around here that has a free room perhaps?'
'I don't know if he has any extra beds,' the man said. This was the first time that he actually showed a little doubt. 'I guess you could try if you want, you'll probably find him in the inn. Can you find your way back?'
'Sure, thanks sir!' Courtney said. Obviously she wanted to make a good impression on the stranger by being polite. Also working for a minstrel wasn't hard work at all and she could sing all she wanted.
'Next are the Gardener and the Chirurgeon,' the man said. 'They live beside each other so that the Chirurgeon can easily use the herbs the Gardener grows. Anyone here likes nature?'
'I would like to learn more about plants! Who'll come along?' Bridgette said.
'I would love to join!' Dawn answered.
'That sounds wonderful!' Ella said in a fluttery tone. 'Why don't you come too Samey?'
'You really want me to join?' Samey asked.
'Of course you silly,' Ella answered pulling Samey with her towards the house with Dawn and Bridgette following them.
'And now we only have four left.' The stranger said to the ones that stayed behind. 'You guys are picky or just silent. Got any preferences?'
'What place holds the most knowledge here?' Scarlett asked.
'We have a library, if you wanna spend time with dusty old books.' The man said. 'Three free beds if I remember correctly, separated over two rooms.'
'I'll join Scarlett,' Alejandro said, what immediately rang alarm bells by Noah. 'Maybe you should come too Noah.'
This took Noah by surprise, what could Alejandro be planning? He was still thinking about the offer to stay with these untrustworthy lunatics when the dark clothed man answered for him.
'No, Noah will stay at my place.' He said solemnly, leaving no room for discussion. Noah loved it that it was now Alejandro that looked surprised. It was like he had to keep himself from commenting on this. Noah didn't understand it either though, why would this man want him to stay at his house so badly? It kinda creeped him out to be honest, but he couldn't deny feeling a bit honored at the same time because the man chose him instead of Alejandro or anyone else for that matter.
'What about you?' the man asked Gwen.
'No thanks,' Gwen said. 'Got any place that's a bit more unusual and quiet?'
'Maybe the Locksmith?' The man said. 'It's a dark place owned by the Heartling twins, they drive very good business though.'
'Sounds good to me,' Gwen shrugged. 'Where is it?'
'You can come along with me, it's close to my house. The library is also this way, so you two can walk along.' He added for Alejandro and Scarlett.
It didn't take long before Noah was left alone with the stranger. And yes, he still hadn't asked his name at this point. His house was close to the Locksmith, Library and the Gardener and Chirurgeon. Which meant that Sammy wasn't far away too. Wait what? Why would that matter? Noah thought. It also meant being close to Ella, Dawn, Bridgette and worst of all Alejandro and Scarlett. Also Gwen, but he didn't mind her that much.
'So.. What's your profession?' Noah asked the man that seemed way taller now that he was alone with him.
'Never mind that.' The man said. He stopped just before his house and turned to Noah. 'And, have you made your decision kid?'
'You seem to have it made it for me already.' Noah answered in his usual sarcastic tone.
Again the man wasn't amused. He just kept staring at Noah with an unreadable expression. Noah had to admit that this man was good, he pretty much pushed Noah into a corner. Theoretically Noah could still refuse, but it just didn't seem the right thing to do anymore. And he was on a show for crying out loud! It could never be worse than economy class in World Tour. There also wasn't any real danger anyway.
'Okay, I'll stay with you.' Noah said. 'But do answer me this. I know you heard the others mention my name, but that can't possibly be the only reason for you to choose me. So what's the reason?'
'You'll find out eventually,' the man answered with a smirk while he opened the door. 'For now I'll just show you your room for the next few days.'
I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter even though it was really just putting people in houses. I gave quite a bit of thought about the places where they'll be staying, but I'm still not 100% percent sure about some of them. Anyways do you guys suspect some possible alliances already? (also, do you like those?) And do any of you know why the stranger chose Noah or what Alejandro is planning?
I love hearing you guys guess, but you can also just wait and see. All will come in good time! ;)
