Authors Note: I apologize for the lack of action. Things will speed up soon. Pinky Promise.
Without further a do:
[-I-] Chapter Two [-I-]
Blake walked along the gravel path towards the odd blue and purple building. Blake stopped, and tried to conceal his laughter.
Outside the wooly building were two men, one standing on the others back while trying to place a sign above the wooden doorway. The first man was dressed in raggedy leather garments, and had a rugged look about him. From his missing eye to his scarred cheek, the man gave off an aura of toughness, were it not for his companion. Two nameplates floated above the duo, one saying "RiggedMiner" and the second saying "Rosso'less"
The second man wore light chain-link armor, and had two quivers of arrows slung over his shoulder. Leaning against the wall was his bow. The man looked like the strong silent type, but his voice gave off a very different impression.
"Move more to the left you coal-covered idiot! No that's the right! That's backwards! What are you doing? Why is it so hard to place a sign? Why'd you make the doorway so high? Why aren't you answering me Riggs?"
The second man, or Riggs, as his companion had called him, shifted position again and desperately tried to keep his balance.
"Maybe if you would stop flapping your arms like a butterfly, we could PLACE THE SIGN!" Riggs shouted.
Unfortunately, this outburst distracted Riggs, who lost his balance, causing the two friends to fall to the ground in a mess of arms and legs.
Without a second thought Blake rushed over to the squabbling friends, and helped them back to their feet.
"Thanks friend," Riggs said graciously, "I was afraid my incredible brawn would crush twiggy boys' glass bones."
The archer stood up and brushed himself off. "My bones are suitably stronger than grass. It would take more than a fat mans' incredible weight to hurt me."
"Fat?" Riggs asked incredulously.
The archer ignored his friend and held out a hand to Blake.
"Thanks anyways pal. My name is Ross, and as I'm sure you've heard, my large friend over there is Riggs."
Blake shook Ross' hand.
"No problem." Blake said. "So do you own that building or something?"
Ross rolled his neck and replied.
"Actually Riggs owns the building, but we built it together. Our little tumble was the result of Riggs' stupid idea to put a sign right above the doorway. I told him it would look better next to the doors."
"Fat?" Riggs said again.
"Don't take it too seriously big guy. Once you leave the mines the first thing that goes is your muscular physique." Ross said cheekily, while placing down a crafting bench.
Riggs snapped out of his stupor and turned to face Blake.
"So why are you here, friend? We haven't even told anyone about our little business venture." Riggs said innocently.
Ross looked up from the crafting bench with a disapproving frown. "We shouldn't be saying things like that Riggs, you know what happens if prince "I'm a pain in the tookus" finds out."
"What are you talking about?" Blake queried.
Ross finished crafting a sign, and looked Blake straight in the eyes. Blake hadn't known the talkative archer all that long, but he could sense that this was a rare moment of seriousness for Ross.
"If the prince finds out that you sell things, anything, without one of those stupid certification badges, you get ruffled up by the Black Knives. Or worse." Ross said quietly.
Ross finished tacking the sign to the building, and made sure it would directly next to the door.
A thunderous crack resounded throughout the stronghold, followed by an odd bit of music. The music was dry and lifeless, performed on violins.
Ross and Riggs looked up sharply at the noise, as if they were dogs snapping towards the sound of another dogs' bark. Ross grabbed his bow and opened the doors to the building. Riggs charged into the structure, with Ross in close pursuit.
"Come on!" Ross urged to Blake.
Blake took a tentative step towards the building, but was stopped when he heard a voice.
"There you are!" Will said with relief. "You went to the wrong building, but it's not entirely your fault. I should of realized we had two buildings made of purple and blue wool, haha! How silly of me!"
Blake smiled, the arrival of his friend Will had dispelled his sense of unease. The odd sounds and ominous warnings of Ross had disturbed him.
Ross!
"Hey Will I'd like you to meet Ro-…" Blake finished his sentence abruptly, realizing the wooden doorway had been broken and replaced with more wool. Apparently, Will had not noticed that the doorway had existed in the first place.
"Like me to meet whom?" Will asked curiously, following Blakes' gaze to the now-sealed building.
Blake shrugged and yawned.
"You must be tired," Will inferred, "I'm certain that night is falling and a good bed in a safe room would do you some good. It does become rather nasty at night."
"Hey Will," Blake asked, "Why are so many people either mining or working on the big wall? Why does everyone look so scared? What was the weird sound and music-thingy? What is a Black Knife?"
At the words "Black Knife" Will paled for a moment, but quickly regained his composure.
"My my, aren't we especially curious today? I'll escort you to the castle, then I'll explain everything in the morning."
Blake felt suspicious, but hid it with a large grin.
"I'll take that as a "yes", you go on ahead. Follow the gravel road to the castle gate, then I'll join you momentarily." Will said charismatically.
Blake didn't move for a second, but then began trotting up the gravel hill towards the castle.
When he was sure the new player was out of earshot, Will turned back towards the purple and blue wool building.
Will heard a man walk behind him. The newcomer grunted something incomprehensible. Will turned to face the man, and smiled.
The man wore flamboyantly-shaded orange skin-tight combat gear, and wore a red gas mask that concealed his face.
"Do your thing Pyrus." Will commanded.
Pyrus pulled a flint and steel out from his pocket, and chuckled. The unearthly sound echoed through his helmet.
Will began to walk away, but noticed a sign before he did so. The sign read:
Riggs and Ross armory
Ross and Riggs armory
Buy weaponry cheap!
Will smiled to himself, and began walking towards the castle. Behind him, a pillar of flame jettisoned into the sky as the would-be-armory burned to the ground.
-O-O-O-O-O-O-