Chapter Three: Brutal Assault
Castle Vrbada, Prague, Czech Republic, 9am
He was silent, taking his lashings like the man he was growing into. Without even a stifle or a scream.
Eighteen lashings for the eighteen years he's lived on this Earth.
Even in his room, Tomáš was silent, his expression never changing while he lay on his stomach, his mother placing ointment on his newly formed welts and open wounds.
Queen Jindřiška sighed. "This is how it must be, my love. Surely you understand."
She leaned down to kiss the top of his head, "Do not think I do not love you, my son, but..."
She hummed.
"My darling Tomáš. One day..you'll see that all I do is for you. For us."
Prince Tomáš said nothing, staring at the wall as he heard the door close, feeling nothing but the sting of the ointment now seeping into his open wounds. Blood had stopped pouring from his wounds, now dried over on his skin, all he could think about was the cold leather of the whip hitting his flesh.
He was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't notice Kuai Liang walk into his bedroom and lay down beside him. "Tomáš.." he said sadly, running a hand through his hair. Tomáš instinctively leaned into Kuai Liang's hand, allowing the younger Lin Kuei brother to scoop him into his arms, mindful not to bother the ointment that was healing him.
"My best friend...my dearest friend..." Kuai Liang said, rocking him gently. Tomáš wrapped his arms around Kuai Liang, laying his head on the crook of his shoulder and neck, sighing into his skin. "I should be stronger than this." "Shh.." Kuai Liang said,"don't speak, just, relax."
Still, Tomáš trembled in his hold, unable to relax. All he could think about was that he disappointed his mother, embarrassed her and the rest of the family, and the punishment. "Would it have been better to let that woman touch me?" he asked. "Of course not.." Kuai Liang said,"no one should be touching you inappropriately."
Bi Han walked into the room quietly, sitting on the other side of Tomáš and his brother, leaning down to press a kiss to Tomáš' head. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Physical pain will go away sometime, but emotional...takes a while."
His attempt at humor caused both brothers to smile, then Bi Han went to look out the window. "Your mother had a talk with that woman's family. She apologized for your behavior but also asked her to be mindful of touching you next time."
"...she said that?" Tomáš asked curiously. Bi Han nodded. "Regardless...there won't be a next time." Tomáš said. "I will kill her if she tries again." Bi Han said.
The three were silent, Bi Han's eyes trailing down Tomáš' body, looking at his open wounds sadly. "Never again, would I let anyone hurt you." Both brothers looked at each other, and Bi Han patted Kuai Liang's hair. "That includes you, too, Kuai." Kuai Liang smiled. "Of course, we're all peas in the same pod."
Later on in the day, Tomáš walked through the halls, when he ran into his father and his retainers. "Tomáš, glad to see you up and about. How are you feeling?" he asked, his deep accent reverberating through the halls. Tomáš was silent at first, a silent rage simmering inside him, but he chose to swallow it, and replied,"I will be ok."
With that, he left, King Václav watching him intently.
Tomáš walked further down the hall until he made his way to the meditation room where Bi Han and Kuai Liang were waiting for him. Sektor and Cyrax soon followed, and the five kneeled down to begin meditating.
Nothing but total silence, it allowed Tomáš to enter his own thoughts. With so much going on lately, he was afraid to be trapped in the darkness and desolation of his own mind. Unsafe as it was, meditation was something that was meant to bring about calmness; surrounded by his most trusted friends and allies, he felt everything would be ok for now.
After ten minutes, the five rose up from the floor and assumed martial arts poses.
Tomáš had joined the four Lin Kuei warriors as a trainee, without his mother's knowledge. He wanted to be able to defend himself and not rely on his allies all the time. He wanted to prove that he wasn't just a pretty, defenseless prince. That he could be just as formidable as his fellow warriors. Despite the four knowing their own magic, Tomáš took it upon himself to learn practical magic.
Bi Han threw a gas mask at Tomáš and handed him both his smoke bombs and a small training sword, while Kuai Liang took the combat dummy out of the closet. Dressed in their ninja garb, he had received his own grey suit recently, the five began their katas and exercises. The four; Bi Han, Kuai Liang, Sektor and Cyrax were pleased with the progress Tomáš was making with his combat skills. He moved swiftly, creating combinations with both his smoke bombs and small sword, finishing with a teleportation and drop kick to the chest of the combat dummy.
The young prince wiped the sweat off his forehead, when Kuai Liang jumped at him. Tomáš was ready and flipped backwards, the younger Lin Kuei missing him with a dive kick. Bi Han used his ice powers to slide at Tomáš, but the prince was ready, jumping in the air, causing the older brother to miss him. Bi Han was ready, sliding again, taking Tomáš into an embrace, carrying him bridal style.
"You're getting better, little brother." he said with a smile.
"Thanks." the prince said, returning his smile.
Once they were finished their exercises, the five returned to their meditative positions, and began a short set of tai chi. The five were in perfect synchronization with each other, ending their katas with another round of meditation.
"You should go, Tomáš, before your mother catches you with us." Kuai Liang said. Tomáš handed Bi Han his gas mask and smoke bombs before nodding and fleeing from the room. He went back into his bedroom, and into the adjacent bathroom where he sunk into the cold water of his bathtub, not without a small wince of pain from his previous wounds.
He lay against the edge of the tub in contemplation, staring out the window when a cool breeze flew into the bathroom. It was peaceful.
Being mindful not to sink back into his dark thoughts, he distracted himself by washing his hair and body, letting the gentle waters relax him. Leaning back, the young prince sunk beneath the cold depths, staring at the ceiling above him. A few moments of silent reflection, he rose up from the water, smoothing back his hair, and breathing a sigh of relief.
How easily he could have allowed himself to stay beneath the depths...
"What a way to die..." he muttered.
So easy to escape. So easy to run away from everything.
Then he thought of Kuai Liang. He smiled. The younger Lin Kuei would never forgive him. He'd curse the prince's name in his sleep. Wish for nothing more than for him to suffer in the deepest pits of hell.
Bi Han.
The elder Lin Kuei would blame himself forever. His grief would..no, Tomáš couldn't think of that.
Tomáš would admit that suicide has absorbed his thoughts before. It was a secret he even held back from the two Lin Kuei brothers. Not even his parents knew. They were on a mission for the Lin Kuei, before they assumed protection of the young prince, Tomáš was alone in these halls, without any friends, no siblings, nothing. There was no friendliness here.
He remembered hearing his father's advisors call him a failure. That the little prince, afraid of everything from the sound of a fork falling to the floor, to his mother's stern glare when he messed up even his simplest English lessons, he felt useless.
Cold steel against his wrists, he watched as the blood splattered on the wall, praying that he'd cut deep enough to kill him. One slash to the femoral..god please take me.
Tomáš breathed, holding his hand to his heart.
"Enough of this. I am Prince Tomáš Vrbada, I am not that weakling anymore." The scars were still there, and some memories never fade, but the fire now inside him burns of rage, "I will be strong. I will lead this kingdom when it is my time..."
Standing outside his window, he allowed the cool breeze to touch his naked body, drying him off. Behind him was a long mirror, and Tomáš looked at himself over his shoulder.
He wore a toned, slender body, one efficient for quick and swift execution, should he feel ready to join the Lin Kuei for real. Smooth and hairless other than on his chest and below, he ran his hands down his skin, looking at the long scar that ranged from his waistline to the inside of his right thigh.
"No one will ever see this..." he said to himself. It's why he prefers to bathe alone. If Bi Han, who swore to protect and never allow anyone to harm Tomáš knew that this scar was there, he'd be upset. Then he'd try to find who hurt him..he smirked, "Imagine, Bi Han. It was me who hurt myself."
He then placed that hand on the mirror. "I suppose I was a little different before we met...but now, it's you and Kuai Liang who made me into the man I am growing up to be."
"And sometimes I don't feel up to the task."
The words spilled out of him before he could stop them. It didn't matter, he was only talking to his own reflection. "Sometimes I feel that I won't be strong enough to handle this."
He thought of the two brothers again.
"But I'm not alone anymore."
He smiled.
There was a knock on his bedroom door, and a servant poked their head in the room, ripping him from his thoughts.
"Prince Tomáš, your mother requests your presence at dinner."
The young prince quickly covered himself up and hid in a dark corner, nodding. "Tell her I will be there shortly. Thank you."
They haven't seen each other since this morning, when Queen Jindřiška attempted to smooth things over with him. He had no interest in seeing her or talking to her. But it would be worse if he did not attend dinner. He dressed in a simple red cloth button down shirt and dress pants, smoothing out his hair, leaving the room.
Queen Jindřiška watched as Tomáš walked into the room and went to his seat at the table. She personally served him a plate of Svíčková na smetaně, and he could only look on in skepticism. They generally save this dish for holidays or other occasions. "Mami..this is.." he said with surprise. "Yes, I know, It was your favorite growing up...and we do not have this often." she replied, patting his head.
King Václav entered the dining room, surprised to see Tomáš' dish in front of him, while his dinner was a much simpler meal. It was delicious. There was enough for Tomáš to have two plates, which he did, along with a glass of wine. He engaged in conversation with his parents and their retainers, learning the ways of politics the best way he could.
As heir, he should know how to run things within the castle, once he takes over for his parents. The dinner and conversation went on for hours, and Tomáš felt more comfortable speaking on these matters with his parents and retainers. The retainers were also impressed with the prince's conduct and complimented him on such. The king and queen looked at their son with pride and with smiles.
Once dinner was over, Tomáš helped clear the table and returned to his bedroom, falling asleep.
His dreams were not steady tonight. There was blood, fire, the stench of death so strong, it caused Tomáš to wake up from his sleep and look for any dead bodies in his room. He held his hand to his head, breathing as sweat fell from his forehead. "What the hell..." he said, holding his hand to his heart.
It felt like a memory, not just a dream. He looked down at himself, his nightshirt was soaked in sweat, and he removed it, falling back to the pillows. He'd have a talk with Bi Han later on about this...if he could get back to sleep, that is.
Also unable to sleep, Bi Han and Kuai Liang were on the balcony on the fourth floor of the castle, on a canopy overlooking the stars. Kuai Liang had his head on his brother's shoulder, Bi Han stroking his hair with one hand, the other hand pointing at the stars and constellations, giving facts and stories about each star. The younger looked at his brother in awe at his knowledge and listened intently.
Bi Han found it endearing. What he wouldn't do for his little brother...
Jaroměř, Czech Republic, 8am.
"Finally..."
She breathed a sigh of relief as she finally made it to her destination. After playing a show in a club in Jaroměř, Hesperia changed into a pink tube top and black cargo pants, letting her hair down at the Brutal Assault festival. Tagging alongside her was the Hollywood actor Johnny Cage who met up with her in Prague. Curiously, he joined the woman on her trek to the heavy metal festival. It was definitely a culture shock.
"Come on, Johnny, let's go get something to eat! The first band doesn't go on for another few hours, so we have plenty of time to drink and eat." she said, pushing the older man forward. "Alright, alright, don't break my legs, I need those for my next movie!" he yelled.
Castle Vrbada, 8am.
Tomáš woke up once again in a cold sweat, gasping as he woke up from another violent dream. This time, he saw a hot vapor of grey smoke and orange eyes looking at him. It felt so real...
He shouted for Bi Han and Kuai Liang. Immediately the two ran into his bedroom, Kuai Liang scooping the young prince into his arms as he latched onto his shoulders and trembled in fear. "It's like..I don't know how to describe it, but it's scary. " Tomáš said. "Does this monster in your dreams give you a name?" Bi Han asked. Tomáš shook his head.
"I see this...monster...this being...floating around, killing everything in sight. He has a body, a form, but its shaped like a smoke vapor, he floats in people's bodies, burning them from the inside until their bodies fall apart..."
Bi Han looked on with worry. That sounded like the time Tomáš had killed one of his father's strategists. The man who put his hands on Tomáš...
He shook that thought out of his head. It was most likely nothing.
"I must smell terrible, forgive me." Tomáš said, smiling up at Kuai Liang. "It's no problem. But if you want to bathe, I will let you go."
"Please." Tomáš said, leaving Kuai Liang's embrace. He walked into the bathroom, entering his bathtub, washing away all the sweat and grime from his body. When he returned to his bedroom, he had his towel around his waist, and the two brothers left the room to allow him to get dressed.
Once he was dressed in a black shirt and pants, he turned to Bi Han and asked, "So... what are we doing today?"
Bi Han smiled. That couldn't be good.
"I had this crazy idea to take you out of the castle today, Tomáš." he replied. "What?!" Tomáš yelled. "It's Brutal Assault Weekend, and you're finally eighteen, you can go this time." Bi Han replied. Tomáš' eyes grew wide. "Brutal Assault? Really? You think...I can go?"
"Of course. We'll have to sneak in and not look like royal guards, but I think we'll blend in just fine." Bi Han said.
Tomáš' looked out the window in wonder and curiosity. "I know not much about the outside world. How do I even act at a festival?"
"Well...for starters, don't wear anything that even makes you look like royalty. We're three attractive hot as fuck guys out for a festival on a Saturday, what could possibly go wrong?" Bi Han asked, flicking back his hair.
"I can think of three things." Kuai Liang deadpanned.
Both men looked at the younger and he continued," Tomáš, Bi Han and Kuai Liang."
"Do you have such little faith in me, little brother?" Bi Han asked. He wrapped his arms around both men and brought them close to him.
"Come on, it'll be fun. We'll have a great time, then bring the little prince back to his mommy like nothing ever happened, right, Tomáš?"
"My mother doesn't have to know anything." Tomáš' snapped, "besides, what will we wear? I don't have anything that's not...prince like."
"Yeah, you can't really go there wearing those fancy robes and dress shirts, you'll stick out too much." Bi Han said, holding his chin in thought. "So much planning...we should have thought about this sooner." Tomáš' said. "I've been considering this for a while, I'm only speaking on it now. I have clothing we can wear, nabbed some from the local shopping mall in town." Bi Han said with a wink, "come on, let's put you in some punk clothes and we'll see what you look like."
"Punk...?" Tomáš' asked. "Ya know, black, denim, combat boots, you'll look great, oh great prince." Bi Han said with a wink. The three walked into Bi Han and Kuai Liang's room where Bi Han threw a yellow tank top at Kuai Liang and jeans and gave Tomáš' a grey shirt with dark green cargo pants. Bi Han joined with a dark blue tank top and skinny jeans, throwing his hair up in a high ponytail.
Once they were changed, they looked in the mirror, and Tomáš' said, "We look ridiculous."
"I dunno, Tomáš', you're looking kinda cute." Bi Han said, pinching his cheek. "Hands off, bitch." Tomáš' said, laughing. They all laughed, and quickly, the three left out the window, with Kuai Liang putting a training dummy in Tomáš' bed, locking that door behind him.
"I'll have a talk with Cyrax and Sektor first, then we'll be about our way. It's an hour to the festival in car, but we're fast, we can make it before the first few bands." Bi Han said. He met up with the two guards, Bi Han telling them to kill anyone who would dare stop them from leaving. "Protect Tomáš." Cyrax said, "but I know I don't have to worry about this." Both men saluted, then the three flew into the morning's mist.
"I don't know why you had to paint my hair black, too." Tomáš' said, tempted to scratch at his scalp. "Because white hair sticks out. We're trying to blend in, not get attention." Bi Han said, "what, you don't like looking like us?"
"I... don't think I could look like you two if I tried." Tomáš said, "I mean, other than the obvious." Kuai Liang chuckled. "Uh..yeah, that might be a little difficult."
Jaroměř, Czech Republic, 2pm
"Brutal Assault, Brutal Assault!" Hesperia cheered, double fisting two beer cans while Johnny Cage looked on in worry. "Psycho woman..." he muttered, watching her crush the beer can in her hand, then toss it into the trash. There was a game of limbo going on, and as tall and muscular as Hesperia was, she was able to bend under the lowest setting and win the feather boa.
"Oh, lighten up a little, J, we're having fun!" she said, laughing. She spun the actor around, putting the boa on him, as she dragged him to another tent, where people were doing karaoke. "Don't you want to sing anything, H?" he asked. "Hell no, I'd give up my identity if I did." she said with a laugh, watching someone butcher an Iron Maiden song. A pop star singing metal songs would be bound to get someone's attention, and she wasn't looking for that.
Instead, she had another beer and watched as Johnny went up on stage to sing. He was almost inconspicuous until someone yelled, "Ninja Mime!", causing Johnny to nearly fall off the stage. Hesperia laughed and cheered. "Ninja Mime! Ninja Mime!" and the crowd rushed the stage cheering Johnny on. He took pictures and signed autographs, claiming Hesperia was his cousin from Norway and she played along.
"H, you're going to be drunk by the time the first band plays!" Johnny laughed, putting his arm around Hesperia as they walked around the festival grounds. As they walked, people approached Johnny for autographs and pictures, causing her to smile. "It seems your movies are a hit here in Czechia."
"Hey look!" she began, and Johnny looked at her with dread. "Oh no." She pointed at the slip and slide and jumped up and down. "Can we, can we go?" she asked. She was like a child, and Johnny laughed. "The line is long, maybe a little later." he said. She nodded. "Ok, we'll come back."
Johnny bought Hesperia a shishkabob and she smiled, holding his hand as they walked through the festival grounds, towards the stages. "First band is about to go on soon. We should go."
Jaroměř, Czech Republic, 6pm
"Finally made it." Kuai Liang said with a smile, sniffing his underarms humorously. Bi Han sprayed himself, Kuai Liang and Tomáš with body spray and they snuck into the festival grounds. Tomáš looked in awe at everything. He had rarely if not ever been into town in Prague, nonetheless in a festival like this. His eyes were wide, and he wore a blush. "Wow! Look how cool everything is!" he yelled.
Bi Han smiled, looking at his liege with his happy smile and curious face. In the distance, they could hear the bands on the stage, but they were in no rush, he wanted Tomáš to experience all the festival had to offer first. The three walked through the festival grounds when Tomáš stopped and spotted a stand with sweets and ice cream. "Sweets!" he yelled. "Sweets! Can we get some, big brother?" Kuai Liang asked. Both men pulled the older Lin Kuei towards the stand and gave him puppy eyes. "Of course, anything you two want." he said.
Tomáš was sneaky, he took money from the castle's vault and brought some with him. He handed it to Bi Han so that he would not drop any of it.
Kuai Liang got a strawberry parfait and Tomáš got a blueberry parfait, Bi Han looking on with a smile. "Thanks Bi-Han." they said in unison.
The elder Lin Kuei smiled at the two and patted their hair, right before sinking his teeth into some fried oreos that he found at another stand. The trio walked through the festival grounds, Tomáš watching in awe at everything. It was endearing, Bi Han looked at him happily.
"He should know of this outside world..." he said to himself, "he's going to rule this place one day, these people..he'll learn how to be an efficient king."
No doubt, Bi Han had in mind that Tomáš would be a great ruler when it was his time. He wasn't too fond of the current monarchy, King Václav and Queen Jindřiška, he thought they were slimy, proud and arrogant, and mostly treated Tomáš like a puppet. None the less treating him and Kuai Liang like shit, too.
Sektor and Cyrax were lucky that they stayed as apart from the castle as they did. Sure, they protected Tomáš as well, but from their own distance. They were a bit older, too, so it probably would have disrupted their little dynamic. They cared for Tomáš in their own way, and Bi Han was grateful for that.
His thoughts were broken up by a thin beer can hitting the side of his head, bouncing off and hitting the ground beside him.
"What the hell...?" he said to himself, when a whiff of peach spray ran past him. He looked behind him and saw a flash of pink fly past him, surely it had to be human, and he blinked as a man tried to catch up to the pink zephyr.
"Hey...Bi Han?" Kuai Liang asked, watching his elder brother. Tomáš looked on as well, confused. "Nothing." he said with a smile, turning back to the duo, "a pink tornado tried to use me as a trash can."
"A pink..tornado? Do they even come in pink?" Tomáš asked, tilting his head like a confused puppy.
Bi Han looked behind him again, looking for that wave of pink, shaking his head as they were gone.
"Most likely a woman." he said to himself.
He watched as Kuai Liang took Tomáš' hand and led him to a tent with more sweets, and he smirked. "His mother is going to fucking kill me."
An hour later, the trio, stomachs filled with snacks and sweets and a slice of pizza, went to see their first band. Bi Han took out the festival schedule and said, "The Grand Leveller?"
"Sounds scary." Tomáš said with a laugh,"Spoooky."
The three watched in amazement as the crowd around them seemed to congregate in the middle and maddeningly running around in a circle. The revelers in the circle moved to the beat of the band on stage, and they played music that Bi Han had never heard of.
The guitars were loud and fast, drums were pounding, each pound reverberating in their hearts, and the vocalist, a tall man with long hair down to his waist shouted into the microphone as if shouting an incantation to the devil.
He watched on as Tomáš listened to music and even bobbed his head and tapped his foot to the sounds. "His mother would kill me for getting him interested in death metal..."
Tomáš cheered along with the crowd once each song was over, and even began to get closer to the crowd. "Hey, Tomáš, wait! Don't go in that circle, you'll get hurt!" Bi Han shouted, making chase.
So much for trying to lighten up and have fun at a festival, he was too busy babysitting a curious puppy!
He followed the young prince as he and Kuai Liang went deeper into the revelers, being pushed and shoved, crushed by the amount of people there. Beer was thrown around and spilled on him, along with people falling and crowd surfing over his head, finally, they made their way to what people called "The Circle Pit"
Immediately, Tomáš joined in and began running in a circle with everyone, his agility allowed him to keep up with everyone. He was forced to join the circle pit as well or get knocked down. Just when things were slowing down as the song slowed, he saw that pink zephyr again.
Sure enough, it was a woman.
A tall, muscular woman, looking like a fitness model, swinging her hair around shouting the lyrics to the song currently being played. A man...was that...Johnny Cage?..approached her, and she wrapped her arm around him, throwing her beer can in the air without a thought in the world, and threw Johnny into the whirlwind around her.
Alarm shot through him as he saw two men aggressively approach her, but she flexed and quickly shoved them away before Bi Han could interfere.
"No, we're trying to blend in, not stick out." he thought to himself.
Tomáš and Kuai Liang rejoined Bi Han, both smiling, faces red from exertion and sweat. "This is fun, Bi Han! This band is great!" Tomáš yelled. He watched as the crowd began violently pushing each other, the woman in pink in the middle, throwing people around like rag dolls.
"You should go flying on top of the crowd like those guys over there." Kuai Liang said, and Bi Han's eyes grew wide. "Tomáš, no!" Bi Han yelled, before the young prince said, "Yeah! Let's!"
But the prince was gone before Bi Han could stop him, and Kuai began to lift him up. The crowd helped lift Tomáš and he found himself on top of the crowd, moving towards the stage.
"I am so fucking dead." he muttered, holding his hand to his head, picturing all the things that could possibly go wrong in this situation.
"These people have no idea that their future king just crowd surfed over them." Kuai Liang said with a smile.
Hesperia really should stop throwing beer cans around. Johnny said she hit someone with the can earlier, but she simply dashed towards the stage as The Grand Leveller was about to start.
She quickly made her way to the maelstrom of the mosh pit, dancing, bouncing and running around in the circle pit, flexing and showing off her muscles as she headbanged to all her favorite songs.
To be someone else today, it was an amazing feeling.
No one here knew she was the pop star, Tuxedo Mask, today, she was Hesperia Sverre, and today, also Johnny Cage's worst nightmare.
A crowd surfing's patron's foot brushed past her as the crowd looked like they were dropping the participant.
"Oh come on, you gotta keep him up and floating, people, let's go!" she shouted, lifting the dark-haired boy before he could hit the dirt. "Fucking rookies!" she yelled, grasping the man by his calf, and using all her might to help toss him back into the crowd. Everyone cheered, and she went back into the circle pit.
The band was at their last song, and she wiped the sweat off her face.
"Last band of the night, huh?" Johnny asked, giving her a bottle of water. "Yeah, that's my work out of the day. Never seen that guy before though." she said, dousing herself with the water, then drinking the rest.
"Lots of new people this year, I suppose. When you go every year, you start recognizing people." she added.
Together, she and Johnny left the festival grounds, but not before having one more shishkabob.
Once the two returned to their hotel, Johnny left her off at the room and said his goodbyes. "The Czech people will be upset that ninja mime is gone, ya know." she said. He shrugged. "They'll live."
They both laughed and she hugged him. "Good seeing you. I'll check in with Kurtis in the morning and let him know what's going on. You get back to Vienna safe, ok?" "Sure thing!" he said, saluting her as he left. She watched him leave, then jumped in the shower.
As she washed all the sweat, the dirt, the grime, she asked Alexa to make a collect call to New York City.
"Time to go to work.", she said with a smile, looking at the suit that was splayed out on her bed.
I've never been to Brutal Assault, a metal festival in Czechia. I have friends who go every year and tell me how much fun it is, so maybe someday! But since that's the next big fest going on around now, I figured it would be fun to let our friends go.
I'm almost sure Brutal Assault is nothing like this, but eh. Whatever. Let Tommy Have Fun.
I'll let you all guess the band they were all watching. Obviously, I'd probably get in trouble if I used the band's real name. Not that they're reading this, but shhh...
So, I did the google maps thing, the distance from Castle Vrbada (Prague) to the festival grounds actually takes a day if you're walking, let's say the trio hasn't figured out public transport yet, nonetheless a train. Fiction says they made it there within a few hours instead.