Chapter 9: Building a revolution
Back in Samarkand Angelia kept herself busy by completing tasks for the people in the village. Whether that was rescuing a kidnapped child or finding the blockage that stopped the water or seeing who hijacked the food deliveries, you name it Angelia did it. It kept her experience on point, her skill with her pistol were just as good as Reaver's if not better. She returned to Garth's home placing her bloodied katana in the kitchen sink filling the basin with water she scrubbed away the dirty blood that clung to the metal. After cleaning her blade, she left it on the counter to air-dry giving her a minute to rummage through the post, she spotted a letter from Walter sitting in a nearby chair she read the letter.
Dear Angelia/Reaver,
I've asked Jasper to make two copies of this letter so you each can know what's going on.
We had to escape the castle last night, the king went mental he got so angry with the villagers rioting outside the castle walls that he was going to execute them all. Hannah-Rose stepped into the war room telling the king to stand down, he would not, instead he made her choose between the innocent people and her close friend Elliott. She choose Elliott, before you jump to conclusions that she was foolish, she does love the boy.
Thank you for telling me about how to get to the guild rooms, they are magnificent, Jasper can hardly believe he's there right now. Treacle is also with us if you are worried about her, she's taken pride of place beside Hannah as she continues her path to becoming a hero.
Logan is also fine, but we had to leave him behind. Being the kings advisor he's a lot harder to get to and though the king maybe losing his morality I know his pride will keep Logan safe.
Please do not fret your majesty, soon you will govern this fair kingdom again.
Your faithful solider,
Walter
Back in the Millfield's mansion Reaver was enjoying afternoon tea, his servant Barry brought the food out from the kitchen carefully placing it down on the table then cautiously poured the tea. Reaver ignored the snivelling man as he opened a letter addressed to him but the handwriting he did not recognise until he started reading the letter. When he read what the king forced his daughter to do Reaver balled his hands into fists screwing the letter slightly in his hand, he then got up from his seat with a roar of aggression knocking the table over and all the food and drinks went everywhere. Barry quivered in horror at his master's aggression but still keeping his creepy smile he waited for Reaver to do something then he tidied up the mess. Reaver closed his eyes sighing heavily he pulled the letter, so it wasn't screwed up anymore to continue reading it. When he finished reading the letter he spotted Barry cleaning up, he didn't need this right now.
"Don't bother"
"But Master Weavah, sir it's- "
"I said LEAVE IT"
Reaver pushed the table that Barry half picked up knocking it out of his hands, the servant looked at Reaver with immense fear. Reaver looked down at Hatch in disgust he back-handed the man across the head ordering him to leave. When Barry didn't move fast enough Reaver snarled pulling out his gun shooting the man near his legs, he deliberately missed. The bullet shredded through Barry's left trouser leg slicing the surface of his skin open making it bleed profusely, Reaver didn't disable him but he did hurt him. With a yelp Barry quickly scrabbled out of the room hurrying to get a bandage so he doesn't bleed everywhere angering Reaver more.
"Gah Useless cretin"
Finally, Reaver slumped back in his chair re-reading the letter, he closed his eyes sighing heavily again. He was angry for what the king forced his daughter to do but he was also angry at the whole situation. His daughter already has her first serious relationship and he's not even there to help her or warn her off these boys, he knows what he was like before he got serious with Angelia. Reaver only hoped Logan was as safe as Walter made out because if he wasn't and that bastard Cartwright did anything well, secret or not, Reaver would shoot him if it was the last thing he'll do.
Back in Samarkand Angelia cried when she read about her daughter's choice, what an evil thing to make a 19yr old do. She was somewhat relived to hear Logan was ok because he was so good at being the king's advisor. What went through both Reaver and Angelia's minds was the guild rooms, yes, they were for emergencies, but the rooms were beneath Reaver's Millfield's mansion, so he could access them, and Angelia had a spare guild seal that could transport her there. Both of them sighed in their different locations, knowing full well they couldn't go traipsing through the guild rooms as they didn't want to distract Hannah's quest.
Stuck in the middle of this mess, Logan managed to calm down his father after he discovered Hannah ran away with Jasper and Walter. He decided to let her run but as for Jasper and Walter they were traitors of the crown anyone who found them would be rewarded for their heads dead or alive. It was getting late, the king retired for the night but not before telling Logan to be mindful and not step out of line otherwise there will be trouble. Logan took himself to his room, usually he'd try and see Treacle, he liked having a dog around gave the castle a bit of bright life than the usual dark deeds that went on between these walls. Annoyed at his sister for running away but partly understanding why, Logan kicked off his boots sitting on the edge of his bed, he laid back but as he did some papers on his bed side table slid under the bed. Grumbling to himself Logan sat up then leaned forward looking under the bed, he pulled the loose papers out, but he also pulled out the soft cuddly toy he gave Hannah when she was 2yrs old.
"Huh, I forgot I gave this to Hannah. I wonder why it's in my room?"
It was the cuddly pirate toy that looked exactly like pirate king Reaver, he held the toy for ages just staring at it. Something about to toy reminded him of a memory but he couldn't quite focus on it, his memories were still hazy. Logan placed the cuddly toy on his bedside table propping it up against the wall, he then got ready for bed slipping into bed he rolled to one side staring at the toy then drifted to sleep.
…
"Hi daddy, have you come to play?"
"No sweetheart *sigh* Your mother and I have some very important business to attend to, it's in a faraway place so we'll be gone for a few weeks"
"Can't we come with you?"
"I'm afraid not Logan. Your sister and you are too young, it's much too dangerous. Maybe when you're older"
"But daddy…"
"Aw Hannah don't cry sweetie"
…
Logan jolted awake clutching his chest, he had cold sweat across his brow and tears prickling in his eyes. The memory was just faceless figures, but he knew that was him and his sister when they were younger, unfortunately he couldn't quite place the voice. He felt like he's heard it before, but the memory was so fuzzy he wasn't sure. He looked at the cuddly toy frowning at it then rolled over going back to sleep.
Back with the hero-in-training Hannah-Rose she just battled her way through an underground maze that was built underneath Brightwall library to collect a strange artefact for Sabine, the leader of Mistpeak village. As she picked up the weird box she turned it over in her hand wondering what it was, she felt slightly guilty as she was going to hand this trinket that was her mothers over to a man she hardly knows just so he'll help with the revolution. Hannah knew without sacrifice there can be no victory but still part of her wanted to keep the box and work out what it was and what it meant to her mother.
Hannah-Rose was also a little confused by the blind mystic woman Theresa, she told Hannah how she guided her mother to become the hero she is. Hannah had so many questions, namely what happened to her mother, but Theresa simply said it's not her destiny to intervene Hannah had to discover the truth and build the revolution herself with any allies she could find. At this point she had Saker deciding on sparing his life rather than killing him, if they were going to fight then Saker was definitely a man you wanted in a fight. Using her guild seal Angelia appeared in the guild room getting her regular greeting from Jasper, she then interacted with the map allowing her to fast travel to Mistpeak village.
Walter was already waiting at the village when Hannah arrived with Treacle, she walked up to Sabine handing him the artefact. He frowned at it looking puzzled, he even shook it a little then tossed it to Boulder seemingly not interested in the trinket which annoyed Hannah a bit. Needing to make allies she sucked it up keeping her smile in place and delivering a written promise that she'd return the mountains to the village dwellers.
"Come on. That's a good start but we need more to follow your cause"
"You have someone in mind Walter?"
"I do, meet me at the monorail. I have some friends in Mouringwood"
Whilst Walter waited for the princess at the monorail station, Hannah-Rose went off to do some other side quests she noticed when travelling. She helped a woman get divorced from a nasty piece of work, she saved a child from wolves in the chillbreath caverns, dressed as a chicken to get the chickens back in a coop and even helped deliver a letter between friends from Brightwall to Mistpeak. When she did meet Walter the monorail appeared, all invented and manufactured by Reaver Industries. She did wonder how good was this Reaver at keeping an eye on the quality of his products as she watched those poor people plummet to their deaths as the cart fell off the tracks.
Jumping straight into action Walter used his sword to bust open the lock getting the pair of them to take a lift down to the wreckage. When they reached the bottom, they found the cause of the crash, Hobbes and a lot of them. They battled through the caverns until they were trapped in a central stone ruins platform, the magic Hobbes had conjured up a force field spell, so they couldn't escape. After they defeated all the Hobbes, Hannah had a brief encounter with Theresa again, she watched as Walter gave the Hobbe spell caster a heart attack, surprised that worked the pair escape the cavern entering the sunny but boggy area of Mouringwood.
"This is Mouringwood, an idyllic looking place during the day. Same can't be said when nightfall comes"
"Why?"
"You'll see soon enough. Come on, we are meeting the army your mother originally put in place to protect the kingdom, or what's left of the old unit"
The princess and Walter walked through the pretty green rolling hills, running along a dirt path, suddenly the scenery changed dramatically. Blood stained the mud and grass, half burnt flags fluttered in the breeze, a central stone ruins occupied the area which was barricaded all around. Walter approached the double wooden gates first calling up to the guard there, he questioned whether they were hollowmen to which Walter mocked the man telling him to open his eyes. Once inside the barracks Walter introduced Hannah to Major Swift the man in charge of Albion's Royal Army or also known as the Old Guard. Swift told Hannah it was this group that protected the hero queen and the same unit Walter came from.
"So, you knew my mother?"
"I met with the queen frequently to keep her updated on the state of the kingdom"
"Do you know what happened to her, I get the feeling Walter likes avoiding the question"
Walter was stood behind Hannah his eyes widened when she asked so bluntly about her mother. He waved his hands at Swift shaking his head quickly but acted normal when Hannah looked over her shoulder at him.
"I… I only knew the hero queen sadly passed away during childbirth"
Hannah just frowned at Swift doing a silent hum of disapproval, Walter cleared his throat then spotted Ben he flagged him down.
"Ah Ben, this is the princess"
"This is Ben, one of Albion's best soldiers. You'll never find another man quite as loyal and hard working as this one"
"Wow, did Swift pay you to say that Walter? Nice to meet you your highness"
"Please, call me Hannah"
"Hannah"
She shook the soldiers hand, it felt weird, not like every other person's hand she's shaken. Her stomach felt like it was doing back flips with butterflies going nuts inside, she could feel herself blushing ("get a hold of yourself! What about Elliott"). Thinking about Elliott and hoping he was safe and waiting for her helped Hannah calm down. She didn't want to distract herself with silly crushes on handsome soldiers ("dammit did I just think he was handsome, avo! Shoot me now"). Soon Walter and Swift wandered off to discuss a few things, namely the reason why they are here and to keep it quiet about the hero queen being banished from Albion. Major Swift agreed with Walter it wasn't wise to reveal the truth now as she could abandon her cause to find her mother when Albion needs her. Ben meanwhile introduced Hannah to Jammy, so known as he is the jammiest solider in the Royal Army.
When she showed off her impressive skill wiping out as many hollowmen as she could there was an air of banter going on between Jammy and Ben which was highly amusing. Suddenly there was banging at the gate, a large number of hollowmen had made it to the gate. Leaving the mortar Hannah jumped down running between Ben and Walter ready to attack she pulled out her gun taking aim. When the gates came crashing down everyone sprang into action even the lute player used his instrument to smash a few hollowmen. As they battled through the hollowmen the banter started up again but this time it was between Ben, Swift and Walter. A hollowman was about to strike Ben across the back as he was too preoccupied fighting other hollowmen nearby, quickly leaping into action Hannah called out Ben's name pushing him over she straddled him as she blocked the sword attack with her own sword then pulled out her gun shooting the undead bag of bones.
"That was pretty damn impressive! So, your mother wasn't the last Hero of Albion, after all"
"Sorry, didn't mean to jump you"
"You sure about that? Hahaha don't worry about it"
Ben grunted as he got up, Hannah stood up with easy stepping over Ben shooting more hollowmen allowing him to get up without being attacked. Then the recently deceased member of the Royal Army pulled himself out of his grave casting a force spell that knocked everyone out except Hannah. She battled through the army of undead defeating the deceased lieutenant, everyone came too as soon as Hannah defeated the undead. They all cheered and impressed by the hero of Brightwall. She promised Swift she would reinstate the Royal Army and put them back where they should be protecting Albion for the kingdom rather than these suicide missions.
"You might not know it, but what you just did gave these men hope. Come on next stop Bowerstone"
Chapter 10: Daughter of Reaver unbeknown to her…
Trudging through the slime of Bowerstone sewers Hannah and Walter finally made it out breathing in the polluted air of Bowerstone Industry. Walter told Hannah they were going to meet the voice of the people, the rebellion of Bowerstone and its leader Paige. He explained how this place has decayed drastically since the king has been in charge, getting worse with every year. It saddened Hannah as she looked inside the open factory doors seeing the factory manager shout at the workers to work harder, some of the workers were children. They crossed a bridge noticing a crowd of people all shouting as they got closer they saw a man stood on a raised circular platform addressing the crowd.
Inside that particular factory upstairs was Reaver, he was in his office working out the latest revenue but the constant shouting going on outside was driving him nuts. He was still seething from hearing about his daughter out there on her own fighting who knows what and trust avo knows who. He just wanted her to be safe. After recounting the first page of profits for the third time Reaver lost his patience, he looked down over the railing see all his employees had wandered out to the courtyard listening to this deranged man. Reaver would not lose order, he slowly walked out onto the balcony hearing the stupid man before intervening.
"Reaver is exploiting us! We deserve fair pay, demand better working conditions. We're workers, we're not slaves! Reaver treats us like animals, not gunna take it anymore. There's only one thing for it we have to stand up to Reaver!"
Before he let the wretched man continue Reaver banged his cane on the railing, falling on deaf ears he then shot the man in the back watching him collapse.
"But lying down is so much easier than standing up. My dear friends I'd like to help bolster moral, the rules for what I like to call the Reaver Team Spirit Aware are these; Firstly, any worker that to much murmurs another complaint will be shot. Secondly, any worker who takes more than a three second break will be shot. Lastly, any worker who breaks any other rules I have yet to formulate… Yes, you guessed it… Will be shot"
He watched their horrified faces, smirking evilly he broke up the crowd.
"You may return to work now. As you know I'm a generous man and likely to start handing out prizes right away, so go on. Shoo. Be off with you. Chop, chop"
Hannah couldn't believe Reaver would kill the man just like that for speaking out, he was such a heartless man. Walter saw the disgust and disappointment in her eyes when she watched Reaver kill that man in cold blood, he felt guilty that she was looking at her father and she had no idea. Reaver was still out on the balcony glaring at the workers watching them walk back into the factory, as he turned to go back indoors he spotted Walter and Hannah-Rose. Walter was talking to Hannah getting her to follow him, so they didn't meet eye to eye. He was so relieved he's seen her and so proud at the hero she is becoming. When Hanna turned down a corner as Treacle barked to dig some treasure up Walter paused by the gate looking up at Reaver. The two men did a curt nod, Reaver smirked heading inside whereas Walter frowned shaking his head then re-joined Hannah.
"Reaver is a bloody menace, who knows what was going through the king's head when he gave Reaver full control of industry"
"I just can't believe father would allow such horrors to happen"
("More like your father is causing the horrors") "Ye-Yeah… come on. Not much father to the rebel hideout"
Hannah-Rose wasn't convinced still, she had this nagging feeling that everyone held a secret about her mother, yet they didn't want to say anything. Regardless she followed Walter into the sewers again speaking out that it was too quiet Walter agreed then they were suddenly surrounded. Hannah drew out her sword ready to deflect or strike, whichever came first. Walter told them to back off he knows Paige, the second in command thought they were lying he prepared to shoot but then Paige shouted 'Stop' at her fellow rebels. She apologised but questioned what the hell was Walter thinking. They followed Paige through to the main room where they had notes and a map of Bowerstone. The leader of the rebellion really didn't like having the princess in her secret hideout, Hannah could understand where she's coming from.
"I'm nothing like my father"
"It's true, she isn't" Walter had a double meaning when he said that.
"Really? Like sacrificing a group of innocent people when they stood up for what they felt was right… And for what? So, you could save one boy? You're almost as bad as Reaver"
Hannah opened her mouth to say something, but she knew it wouldn't win this argument nor gain Paige's favour, so she remained quiet.
"That's what I thought. Can't trust royals, they only think about themselves"
"Paige. Then let her prove herself to you, prove she is a hero for the people"
"Alright, but only because I trust you Walter I know your word always holds the truth"
With that Theresa showed up informing Hannah of her importance of gaining Paige's trust since she is the voice of the people. She will be a key player in helping her take back the crown and control of Albion. Leaving the hideout Hannah went off with Treacle helping others with side quests. Walter remained with Paige discussing their adventures and what the princess has been through already, to help soften Paige's opinion of her. Although Swift, Ben, Jasper, Samuel and Walter knew what truly happened to the queen, Paige did not. She did actually believe the lie Cartwright told about her dying in child birth when the princess was born.
Walter decided to keep it that way, again Paige is a head strong woman he didn't need her not to trust the princess and trying to find the queen instead. The old guard definitely kept Reaver out of the conversation, of course Paige brought him up anyway because of his cruel work ethic and she mentioned Reaver had a ball coming up knowing he is well off she ordered her second in command to infiltrate his mansion see if he can find anything that will help them.
Whilst that was going on Hannah-Rose completed a few side quests, one was particularly weird a group of lads dressed up who wanted to play a board game but had a magic artefact that shrunk Hannah allowing her to physically play across the board. If that wasn't weird enough at the end of the game she had to kiss the princess, rolling her eyes ("typical men") she played along kissing the wooden cut out defeating the game. That had to be the weirdest the rest were more; criminals she had to pull in, bet on chicken races, help Samuel with his library collection and deliver more letters. It wasn't until she was back on Bowerstone did she come across Linda who was turning away poor folk, Hannah asked what's wrong Linda poured her heart out saying her fiancé has been kidnapped and that she needs to sell the place to afford the ransom.
"That's ridiculous"
"Tell me about it, but if I don't pay up they might hurt my love"
"Don't worry. What about if I was the payment, or more payback"
"Yes! That would certainly teach those assholes a lesson"
The two ladies approached a house across from the orphanage, a creepy guy welcomes Linda but questioned Hannah's presence. Linda explained Hannah is the bag lady, so the money doesn't leave her hands until Linda gets her fiancé back. Reluctantly the man let them in, the leader of this gang spoke to Linda asking for the money she told him to do one which initiated a battle. Linda worked on opening the door whilst Hannah fought off the thugs, when she knocked the last one over and Treacle sunk her teeth into the man's neck killing him, Linda picked the lock letting them into the main large room. Linda approached the leader pointing a gun to his face ordering him to tell her where her fiancé was, he explained he's quite safe… at the bottom of the pit.
"Go fetch my beloved. I'll keep an eye on this weasel"
"I'll be right back, be careful Linda"
"Don't worry I will"
Hannah dived off the edge landing in the water with Treacle not far behind making a big splash when she hit the water. Swimming to the shore Hannah wrung her wet clothes dry brushing back her wet hair she looked up and couldn't believe what she was seeing. She wasn't even bothered when Treacle shook herself dry next to her. She stepped up to the man that was Linda's fiancé.
"Elliott?!"
"Hannah? What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to rescue Linda's fiancé!"
"Oh, ugh right. I guess I should explain myself"
"Yes, you should. Elliott, I sacrificed those innocent people for you. I love you, I thought you'd at least wait for me?"
"I did, or sort of did. I was taken away to outside the castle grounds where your father's guards threw me out banning me from the castle, so I couldn't even tell you I was ok. I heard you escaped the castle and now training to be a hero! I thought you forgot about me"
"No! The thought of you being out there, safe and waiting for me kept me going *sigh* let's not continue this conversation here, we need to get back to Linda"
"Yes… Linda"
"Come on, Elliott"
Hannah took him by the hand dragging him through the sewers letting go to fight any creatures they came across. During their travels through the maze of sewers to get back to Linda, Elliott just kept talking about how sorry he is and how wonderful Linda is, how he didn't mean to hurt Hannah he just thought she moved on. All the while Hannah felt something inside of her shift, when she held Elliott's hand in the royal gardens it gave her butterflies and when she kissed him she knew how much she loved him, but now. Now she wasn't so sure, the butterflies are replaced with painful bouts of guilt she didn't want to take Linda's fiancé away from her and the thought of kissing Elliott again seemed wrong he's a taken man now. Before they knew it, they reached the door back to the main room, where Linda was.
"Wait, Hannah"
"*sigh* What is it Elliott"
"Seeing you again, I don't know it's just brought up some old feelings I guess. Look I do still love you, but I love Linda too, maybe I'm just confused, or this is pre-marriage jitters. I'll let you decide… do you think I should stay with Linda even though I'm always going to doubt her thinking I should be with you or should I back out of the engagement?"
Hannah looked at his hopeful face, but she couldn't do it. Finding out he is engaged to another woman broke her heart she couldn't in good faith take another woman's fiancé and then always be paranoid he might come to his senses and go back to her.
"Elliott, no. I let those innocent people die for you, because I loved you. I couldn't do that to Linda, not another innocent person's life a wreck because of me. You both got engaged for a reason, you love each other"
"Well, I can't believe this is goodbye then"
Hannah gave Elliott a long hug, to her it was goodbye, she loved Elliott, so she couldn't keep seeing him even as a friend. The old feelings will always be there, pulling away with sorrow lacing her features Hannah opened the door seeing Linda on the floor. Quickly Elliott ran up to Linda helping her up then they all left the dreadful thug den. Hannah got a thankful hug from Linda, but she gave Elliott a handshake, keeping it professional. When Elliott and Linda disappeared off Hannah walked in the opposite direction allowing a few small tears to run down her cheek.