Ch 2
Eric woke up to the sun shining in his face and the clatter of wagon wheels. The light was so painful he had to shut his eyes. The motion was making him sick. Even the soft clatter of wheels drove into his brain. Pawing his way up to the side, he puked over the side of the wagon.
"Stop," he got out in a croak.
The wagon slowed to a halt. Even the brake being set was loud. Tikiez's voice went right through him. "Have you come to your sense yet?"
Feeling miserable, Eric winced. "Not so loud, please," he begged.
Tikiez stood over him, fists on her hips. "Do you even remember last night?" she asked in a musical growl.
Eric rubbed his face feeling horrible. "Do we have to do this now?"
"Yes. Do you remember?"
"Not really…."
"You gave an elf a gun so she could shoot you in the head!" she snapped.
"Got some water?" he asked. His throat was dry as hell.
Tikiez squatted down and made him look at her. "Get this, Master. My life depends upon YOU. I am not going to let you die. That was a stupid thing to do, giving an elf one of your guns."
"I did that?" he asked.
"You did. The next time you drink I will not leave your side, no matter what you say." Tikiez stated.
"The water?" he asked.
She handed him a canteen. He drank down much of it. She dumped the rest on his head. "Lie down and rest, I'm taking us east away from elven lands, and anywhere near any elves. They seem to upset you." She then climbed back over the seat and got the wagon going again.
Eric sat back and wondered where he was going to trade his steel now. No matter how this trip turned out, he wasn't ever coming back here, ever again.
By the time they stopped to make camp, Tikiez wasn't acting as angry at him. He had recovered from his hangover and got a pit dug and a fire started. While he hung the pot of water and put the meat in to de-salt it, Tikiez got more firewood.
Squatting down across from him, Tikiez fed the fire as she said, "I don't need to breathe, no normal thing can hurt me, even it if cleaves me in half. Once, a dragon ate me. I got myself back together and ripped him apart from the inside. I've been speared, burned, stabbed by damn near everything, and a wizard thought I would look cute as a block of ice." Pausing, she added, "I haven't found anything that frightens me in the least, except for you. It's not your body I am attached to, it's your soul. You die, I die with you. No more anything except the eternal darkness. If you get another bout of wanting some elf to kill you, please reconsider. It's not just your life you're throwing away."
"Sorry," Eric said to the fire.
"Want to tell me why you did that?" she asked.
Eric thought about it. He'd died many times before, but never stayed dead. "Probably wouldn't have worked anyway."
"What? You died once before?" she asked, cocking her head.
"Once?" he asked with a snort. "Several times I can remember clearly. Couple I can't."
"You can't die," Tikiez said, watching him.
Eric shrugged. "So far. The worst one I can remember was a mountain falling on me. By the time I came around in the water, there was no land in sight. Drowned a couple times before I reached shore. That was really miserable."
"How did a mountain drop on you?" she asked and planted her elbow on her knee, face in her hand. "I really want to hear this one."
As Eric began to explain, he remembered. Tikiez got into his mind and relived it with him.
…
Eric was a proud defender of the town and his parents, brother and sisters were proud of him. Being a farm boy and practicing with the local guard Captain, Eric was very good with his sword and his spear. He'd even came up with a couple moves that stumped his instructors. Now, at 28 yeas old, he was the instructor. He also was also sought after by a few of the town maidens. Betty was his favorite, and he'd started courting her. Light brown hair that trailed down her back, a pretty face that when she smiled, it was like the sun opened up in her features. A lithe body and tiny hands and feet, Betty was a treasure.
Still working on the farm when he wasn't doing his guard duties, Eric had a great life. He knew everyone in town, and they knew him. He had proposed to Betty, and she accepted. As soon as he had their house built, they were getting married to start their own life together. All was hard work, but happiness.
That was until a priest came into town. Being in the guard, Eric always bore a sword on one hip and a club on the other. The club was his main weapon to crack shins or elbows to stop street fights or guide Mr. Sanders home after he'd drank too much.
Eric and Ben had just loaded up the hay wagon when he heard a voice.
"You are Eric Carvon?"
Eric turned to see the priest in his robes, a deep hood hiding his face except fo a bit of nose ad his mouth and chin. "Yeah, that's me, your Holiness," he replied properly.
"The world has need of you, come."
Eric looked at Ben. Ben shrugged and whispered. "You better go."
Following the priest, Eric was led to the market. The Priest collected his mother who was selling vegetables, then they went to the church.
"What's this about?" his mother whispered to him.
Eric shrugged. "No idea, Mom. He said he needed me, but hasn't said what for yet."
The town Constable was inside with their priest. The stranger Priest went up to the alter and prayed, then returned to the curious group.
The priest said, "Eric Carvon, you have been chosen for a holy quest. To the north, The king priest of Ishtar has declared that he is a God. This is high sacrilege. The Gods have given us one final chance to correct this folly. This impostor does stand on Holy Ground where combat and killing another is not allowed. You, with the help of a Knight, are to remove this false god from Holy Ground and destroy him."
"Your Holiness?" Eric asked. "I've never killed anyone. I also don't know any Knights."
"The Knight's name is Soth, he will be coming from a different place. He will meet you, you will know each other by the Holy Quest you are on. Remember, this is very important, do not kill on Holy Ground. Only after the false God is removed to the street, do you slay him. If this is not done, then the Gods will bring their wrath down upon the world. Civilization as we know it will end, and famine and death will stalk the land. You both need to be there, Paladine has decreed it."
Eric stared at the priest as did everyone else.
His mother put a hand on his shoulder. "Eric, this is a Holy Quest. You must go fulfill it."
Eric swallowed. This was scary shit. Still he saw the guard Captain nod, as did their priest. "When am I to leave?" he asked.
"Begin your journey in the morning. You will travel to Ishtar and find Sir Soth. Together you will go to the Kingpriest, Beldinas Pilofiro, pull him away from Holy Ground and end his life. Once that is done, you will be blessed by Paladine."
Eric itched his chin. "Well, if I get a blessing, I suppose I should go."
"You will be a hero to us all," the guard Captain said in a serious tone.
"My son, the hero!" his mother said proudly. "I will pack you plenty of food for the trip." she hurried out.
Eric started out the next morning on his horse, his sword at his side, his spear in it's holder and his supplies on the back of his horse.
.
Eric had gone silent, but Tikiez was still getting his memories. Leaning closer, she touched her head to his and brought her thin tail out to put the spaded end on his forehead to keep the memories flowing.
.
The city of Ishtar was large and grand. Tall buildings the likes of which Eric had never seen before were everywhere. The city guard here has polished steel breast plates, unlike his brass one - that could use a little polishing - their spears were longer and had long silver heads. They even had fancy hilts on their swords.
One of the guards came close ad held up a hand. 'Sir, you are from the countryside?" he asked.
Eric nodded. "I was suppose to come see a Knight. A Sir Soth. Do you know where he is?"
"I have not heard of him." The guard then pointed down the street and said, "The knights usually gather down near the temple. See the third street down? Go left there, then two streets farther, go right. You'll see the temple. To the left of the temple is where you should find the one you're looking for."
"Thank you, Sir," Eric replied.
"You have business with the knights?"
"Yeah, I was told to go on a holy quest with Sir Soth." With a wince, he added, "I have to find him first."
"May your quest be fulfilled," The guard said and salute him by touching his sword hilt to his forehead.
Not sure what to do, Eric copied the gesture, then headed for the temple.
The temple, like everything else here was a grand structure with thick columns the height of trees, topped with long stones between them. Eric could see that as soon as he got into the right street. Getting closer, the buildings and a grand stairway were inside the outer columns. The stairs only went partway up the column height to stop at a platform. It looked like an over-done speaking platform.
The banners on poles leaning out from the wall of the building to the left showed bright Coats of Arms. That had to be the building he was looking for. Coming up to the hitching post, Eric tethered his horse and went up to the tall double wide doors. Seeing guards here, he stepped up to one.
"Sir, I was told to come see a Knight. His name is Sir Soth. I am to go on quest with him."
The guard pointed inside. "Straight ahead is the registrar. If Sir Soth is here, he'll know."
"Thank you." Eric went in across the foyer large enough to put half the town in to the long polished wood desk a well dressed man sat at.
"May I help you, sir?" the man asked.
"Yes, I'm Eric Carvon. I am suppose to meet Sir Soth here. In the city."
The man opened a book and studied it as he leafed though the pages. "Do you know when he arrived?"
"No, I imagine some time not long ago," Eric offered.
The man hummed, went back a few pages and looked though then again. "I'm sorry, I am not seeing him here."
"Is there anyplace else he could be?" Eric asked.
The man looked up at him and smirked. "I highly doubt it. Could it be you have the wrong name? Or perhaps someone came in his place?"
"Could be," Eric agreed. "I wasn't told much, just come here to the city and meet with him."
"I see," the man said and closed the book. "Sir Soth is not currently here. If he arrives, what is your name?"
"Eric Carvon. I came to meet Sir Soth for a very important quest. I was told it was a Holy Quest."
"It is possible he has been delayed. Upon his arrival, I will let him know you are looking for him. Return at noon, if I have seen him, I will let you know where to find him."
"Thank you. What do I do in the mean time?"
"Get a room at an Inn. By your … dress I would suggest one near the south gates."
Eric had come in the south gates. He thanked the man again and left.
The Inns were expensive. Eric had a whole three silvers and a 14 coppers. The rooms were a silver a night. Stable fees were five coppers, then there was the feed and stablehand's charge of another three coppers a day. Great. He hoped Soth would turn up soon.
Eric had to admit, his room was nice, and even had a locking door and a sawhorse to put his saddle and packs on, unless he wanted to pay a pair of coppers for them to stay in the stable. He went down to see about some food. It was a twenty copper fee for dinner, he went back up and ate some of his diminishing rations.
That night, Eric had a strange dream. He was standing beside a road and watching a knight gallop away from him. He got a strange impression the Knight was going the wrong way. He tried calling to the knight, but he kept galloping away into the distance.
Remembering the strange dream in the morning, Eric went out, got his horse and returned to the Knight's place. Sir Soth hadn't shown up yet. Even as the man told him so, his dream returned. A knight ridding away at full gallop.
Eric swore that dream felt real. With the lack of Sir Soth here, all he could do was see some of the city, then return to pay for another night at the Inn and hope Soth turned up.
Again, he ate from his diminishing pack supplies and drift off, wondering where this Sir Soth was.
Again, he had a dream of standing by the road. A knight was coming this time. He saw the crest on the knight's shield. For some reason, he thought this was Sir Soth. He waved a hand in the air. The knight rode on past, again at a full gallop. The wrong way. Eric also felt hurried. The Quest had to be fulfilled, Soth or no.
Snapping awake, Eric sat up. It was late at night. He rubbed his head. He'd heard others tell about their realistic dreams that told them important information. Bob and Sally's lost little boy had been found that way from a dream Sally had.
His dreams were telling him Soth was running away. That didn't make sense, why would a Knight run from a quest? Especially an important one.
"What am I to do?" he asked the dark room. The Kingpriest needed killing, but Soth wasn't going to be here. He was broke, he couldn't stay in the city another night, and no help was coming. Shit, was he in a fix! Maybe another Knight would help?
The Kingpriest needed killing, or the world would suffer grievously.
He was Eric Carvon, a guard in a small town. He was suppose to be getting married soon. Why was he picked to come here and kill some pompous asshole? A tiny voice told him to go home and forget this nonsense. Go into a palace by himself that had to be guarded and kill this king? It was suicide mission! Go home, marry Betty and try his best to have lots of kids. That was the sensible thing to do. Let someone else worry about this.
Eric got out of bed and got dressed. He paused putting his boots on. If he went home, who would save the world? Soth wasn't coming, he was sure of that. There was no one else to do this.
"Shit!" he spat, stomped his boots on and hefted his saddle up.
Eric rode through the lamp lit streets puzzling out how he could possibly kill a guarded King. Right, he was going in to hunt down some noble, drag him into the street and kill him.
Hunting. What did one do when hunting? Be silent. Stay out of sight until it was time to strike. Pick the right place to strike from. If the stag had worn a path, sit off the path under cover until he got close.
But stags didn't have guards. No, but they usually let the does go ahead of them. Right, wait until the guards passed by, then strike. Inspect the area and find place where the king priest was going to be, then wait until his guards passed by and the king priest was close.
Somehow, Eric knew he wasn't going to have time to drag anyone anywhere. He was good with a spear. He just had to find the place to throw it from. He'd have to kill the king priest then try to flee.
Coming up to the Knight's building, he tethered his horse there like he had the last two days. The temple didn't look guarded. Right, he just wasn't seeing the guards. The door into the knight's building was closed. No one out front. He pulled his spear out of it's sheath and walked into the shadows and closed on the temple.
Stepping slowly and quietly, he moved up beside one of the columns. At the top of the stairs into the first building, a fire was burning with pair of guards by it. The big brazier lit the steps and the area around it. He studied the steps that went up to a platform. Most likely, that was where this kingpriest was going to come down. He looked at the path from the building to the steps. It was clear. Noting to hide behind. Suddenly, he felt steel on his neck.
"Don't move!' a stern voice said.
"Not moving," Eric agreed.
A hand took his spear. His sword was pulled. Two guards who were unbelievably quiet came around in front of him.
"What are you doing here?" one asked.
"Looking around. I couldn't sleep, and I heard this was a pretty impressive place," Eric lied.
"It's against the law to be anywhere near the palace grounds after dark," the other guard intoned.
"Sorry, I didn't know that," Eric offered.
"Face the column, put your hands behind your back."
Shit, he was caught already! He turned, wondering if he should try to escape. Two swords pointed at him and they had his weapons. Slim chance of escape. He turned and face the column. "look, I really didn't mean any harm," he said.
Sword touched the back of his neck. His hand were tied tight. He was then pulled away and marched towards the other guards. He looked around and offered, "At least I get to see it."
He was stopped at the base of the steps. One guard ran up the stairs with his weapons. He talked to the other guards, left Eric's weapons there then came back down. They guided him to the side and into a door under the stairs. They went down a hallway. One guard went ahead and opened a cell.
There was no way Eric was going to kill anyone inside a cell. He had to act now!
A kick backwards caught the guard behind him in the groin. Quickly, he spun and kicked the man in the head before he could recover. The guard hit the wall and fell unconscious. His hands were tied tight. Remembering a trick to free himself, he bent as low as possible, rolled backwards forcing his hands under his butt. In the roll, he got his tied hands in front of him. He was also close to the guard who had recovered from the shock. The guard tried to stab him with his sword. Eric pushed the blade away with the rope on his hands. The blade cut the rope. The guard pulled his arm back to strike again. Eric punched him hard. The guard recoiled and tripped, loosing his grip on his sword.
Eric jumped on the guard and pounded his face a few more times. The guard was out cold. Eric got up and dragged the guards into the cell. After a moment of thought, he realized one guard was about his size. He stripped the man's armor off and put it on.
Quickly, he dragged the guards so their hands were between the slats. He tied their hands in place with their own ropes, yanked their boots off then gagged them with their socks. What the hell, he put a pair of their soft soled boots on. Eric shut the cell door and sheathed one sword. The other, he laid along the backside of his arm.
Walking down the hall, these boots were much quieter than his. Getting to the doorway, he peeked up the wall. The two guards were above him. The wall around the building was shadowed. A tiny vice told him, he could cut and run, and wouldn't be found.
What good would that do? Nothing. He was here to stop massive destruction, not protect his own ass.
From what he saw, there was only one entrance to the hallway with the cells. This kingpriest had to come down those stairs. He stepped back in and decided to wait for this king priest to show himself.
Eric stood behind the door until the sun was up.
"You majesty, they said they put him in a holding cell."
Eric perked up at the voice.
"Show me this misguided assassin."
Eric peeking out. A guard in a fancy helmet and medals on his chest, leading a robed figure who reminded him of a priest, yet he wore a crown. This had to be the guy. Eric stepped out and stopped, looking as surprised as the fancy guardsman. He then shoved his extra sword into the man's leg just above his knee guard. The guard screamed and fell. Eric rushed past him to pull the other sword up to the King/priest's neck and pull him in front to use him as a shield. Gasps and cries came from a bunch of guards and priests by the steps.
"Nobody move" Eric bellowed.
"Everyone stay in place!" the priest commanded. Eric dragged him to the side, away from then wounded guard. The guard did try to get up and fell back down.
"Stay down, you are wounded," the priest told him. The priest then tried to glance back at Eric. "You did not kill him."
"Didn't want to."
The man you took that uniform from?"
"Tied up and in a cell. Come with me and none of your men have to die," Eric said firmly.
"I am Beldinas Pilofiro, Priest and King of Ishtar. Who are you?"
"Eric Carvon. I came to stop a terrible disaster." Eric then noted other guards come closer.
Pilorifo held up an hand. "Come no closer, get the Captain to a healer, and check the cells inside for our men." When the guard were doing as he ordered, Pilofiro said, "Eric Carvon, you could have killed those men. You didn't. You tell me that you came to stop a disaster. That tells me your motive, although very improper, was done with good intentions and a good heart. A less noble man would have killed them, and me by now."
"I don't like killing anyone," Eric said honestly. "Just, come with me." He pulled and the King resisted.
"You can speak to me here. No matter what it is, I swear to you, I will listen. What is this disaster you are afraid of?"
The King sounded sincere. Eric licked his lips. Was this the right thing to do? That priest said this man had to die. Could he be reasoned with? "A priest came to our town. He told me I had a holy Quest. A Sir Soth was suppose to meet me here but he never showed up. The Priest said there would be a great disaster, and to prevent it, you had to die. What you did to make this disaster, I don't know."
Slowly, the King Priest said, "You acted on faith. Again, a noble action. Eric, I fear you have been deceived by a fraud. I want you to think about what that priest told you. If he truly had divine guidance to stop me from doing something, instead of a single knight and a town guard, don't you think he would have instead, sent a whole company of Knights? Or even an army? Would it not make sense that a sizable force would come? Eric, you have been deceived by a man wearing robes who was not a priest, but someone who only wanted to assassinate me. I submit to you, that the only disaster possible by getting rid of me is preventing peace and harmony for all of Ansalon! Think, what makes more sense. What someone pretending to be a priest told you? Or what I am telling you. Where is this Knight who didn't show up. Do you know of, or even heard of a Knight who refused to go on a quest? I will tell you, his honor would not allow it. Any Knight would die before breaking his vows of honor. The only explanation is that there was no knight! You were set up to take the fall for what that … impostor wanted."
Eric swallowed nervously. What this King was saying made perfect sense. A whole lot more sense as he thought about it.
"I dreamed the Knight ran away," Eric said weakly.
"Evil can haunt our dreams. If it was bent on making you an assassin, dreams could have well been put into your head to make you push on. I ask you to act on what you know, what you have seen. I know your heart is good. I beg you, don't let evil guide you astray," he king said in a pleading tone.
Eric felt he was right, but could not bring the sword down away from his neck.
"You are confused?"
"Yeah," Eric admitted.
"Then stay where you are. I was planning on a grand speech, but this will do. After you hear me, I ask you to join me up the speaking platform to tell all the people the good news. We are coming to a new era, Eric." The King then lifted his arms and spoke in a powerful voice.
"Our sovereign God, Paladine! I beseech you to give me the power of the Gods to further your will upon the lands! Grant me what I desire and give me God … Ack!"
Eric's arm jerked on it's own, opening the Kings' neck. He watched the blood spray out in shock as the King collapsed.
Above, the sky grew dark, Eric looked up as people screamed. The sky was full of a firey mountain coming down on them fast. There was no time to run.
.
The next thing Eric remembered was waking up in a turbulent ocean. He tried to swim. Never learning how, he splashed and gulped air until he choked on water and drowned.
Eric woke again in the water on a turbulent ocean. He tried to swim. Never learning how, he splashed and gulped air until he choked on water and drowned. After a few times of this, Eric woke up with a gasp of breath and could breathe. Eric woke up on a beach, half out of the water. Terrified of drowning, he cambered up onto the beach in a crawl.
"Not having a good time, eh?"
Eric looked up to see an old man in a white robe and a tall white hat sitting on a rock, eyeing him.
"Where am I?" Eric asked in a croak and coughed out some water.
The old man shook his head sadly. "Soth never came, did he? You listened to the one who brought destruction on the world. Let this be a lesson to you, boy. Next time, kill the one you were sent out to kill."
Eric had to think to remember. "What happened?"
"No human is allowed the power of the Gods. That is what that Kingpriest wanted. He was warned, and refused to listen. You were told not to kill on holy ground, and you didn't listen. You will have a long time to learn how to listen."
"What does that mean?"
"You will find out." The man then vanished.
…
Tikiez looked at Eric's memories of traveling through the destruction. The mountains near where his home was were islands now. Traveling to Castle Soth, he found only ruins and some people nearby who told of the quakes that happened right after Lord Soth had returned to accuse his wife of adultery. A few claimed they heard her scream in pain just before the quakes hit. Anyone who'd been in the castle was crushed to death when the quakes made it collapse.
As the people who had lost everything wandered out to find new homes, Eric helped gather them to look for a new place to live that wasn't devastated.
.
