Chapter Twenty-Nine: Search for the Lost Relic
At the Sanctuary Gabriel stood by the book of Heroes with his hands hovering over the book, a ball of light floated between his hands creating small treads moving around him.
Studying Gabriel Connor curiosity got the better of him, "ok I'll bite, what on earth are you looking for?"
"Well, I am in search of three things we will need before we think about confronting Tirich, the first two things being the Twin Sister Swords of Avom the third being a very important Old Kingdom Relic," Gabriel spoke not breaking his concentration.
"What the ball of light?" Tercero asked leaning on the nearby wall with his arms crossed.
"Well, you're half right, it's threads of time," he spoke expanding his hands letting the many threads flow around the room.
"Wow," Jaya smiled reaching out and touching a thread her hand phasing through the light.
"All these threads are many possible outcomes, many possible futures, as you can see there are too many to count," Gabriel explained walking around the map table.
"So, it's not just these fate cards you use to aid us huh?" Kyler spoke picking up his card from the table.
"I use whatever I can, to be honest, most of these outcomes are taking a huge leap of faith," Gabriel spoke looking around and smirking making a thread come towards him, "gotcha!"
"You found one of the swords?" Connor asked with a grin.
"Sorry the swords are still not present but I did locate the most important key, the Relic," Gabriel spoke pulling out the Relic card and sending it flying over to the map table where it placed itself on the other side of Albion's great mountains and placed itself over Rosewoods.
"What that place?" Roscoe asked seeing Seth frown.
"Only one of the most dangerous woods in Albion! How in the bloody hell did the Relic end up there?!" Seth asked pointing at the location seeing Gabriel studying the string and began to investigate the past.
"Ah that makes sense," Gabriel sighed, "my people are to blame, bloody Sabine didn't listen to my instructions! I hope that old git rolls over in his grave."
"Sabine?" Connor spoke recalling that name and looked to the promise that hung on the wall, "Hey he was one of the allies Adam made during his journey."
"This Relic, was a VERY important weapon, Sparrow originally had it kept in Brightwall but Sabine insisted on proof of Adam's hero blood and this relic was that proof, it would seem that the old bastard passed it down from leader to leader, this wouldn't be a problem if we weren't Dwellers," Gabriel sighed pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Dwellers? Oh! Those mountain-dwelling people who like to move around a lot," Kyler spoke recalling what little information he had on Dwellers.
"That's us, my people never stuck to one location, we occupied Mistpeak for many generations and many of us began to form convoys, each with different leaders, all traveling across Albion to claim a new place land to call home," Gabriel explained studying the map table, "it would seem the convoy that was tasked with the relic protection ended up going through Rosewood."
"Where they were never seen again," Connor sighed, "is there really no other way Gabriel?"
"Sadly no, we can't even use the map to travel there, the magic there prevents entry or an escape, you'll have to fight your way in and locate the relic," Gabriel spoke crossing his arms.
"If we can't use the map then how do we get there?" Jaya asked looking at the map where Mika approached and pointed.
"Here, just past Oakfield there is the town of Ashstone it is home to a large train station, destinations such as New Bowerstone, Millfields, Brightwall, and the location where we will head to, Brightlodge," Mika explained.
"That resort town built on top of a damn waterfall?" Kyler asked looking at the map, "Not bad idea, but getting on that train won't be easy our faces are plastered on every wanted poster and news broadcast daily."
"Then we will need disguises," Seth smirked looked to the dressing room then snapped his fingers, "I know exactly what we will dress as!"
Later that day Gabriel watched the group all exit the dressing room each one dressed like Temple of Light Monks their clothes hidden by the robes they wore.
"Not a bad idea, a group of monks on a pilgrimage to the city of Brightlodge, that should be a convincing ruse," Gabriel chuckled.
"I feel stupid," Mika growled scratching her side, "and how old are these robes?! They itch like crazy!"
"Got the money, Connor?" Seth asked seeing Connor step out of the treasury with a sack of gold.
"Yup, this should be enough for tickets, low class of course, can't have any suspect a thing if we were to take first class," Connor spoke tying the sack to his side,
"Once you arrive at Brightlodge be careful, Rosewood is protected by many creatures, some long thought extinct, fiercely protecting the last ancient magic left in Albion, I believe the Relic is in the heart of the woods, Darkwood," Gabriel warned.
"Nothing we can't handle, not like the Lady of Rosewood back from the dead!" Kyler chuckled.
"Who said she died? Gabriel spoke making the group go quiet.
"No if I recall a group of heroes banded together and entered the woods to save the mayor of Brightlodge and stop the Lady of Rosewood, I heard they succeeded," Seth spoke crossing his arms.
"Yes and no, you see her spirit lives in the woods themselves one could say she is Rosewood, her physical body was destroyed but the soul was simply misplaced, she needed time but she regained her form and still protects those woods," Gabriel explained.
"Oh, that's bloody brilliant! There's now a psycho plant woman roaming those woods?! What does this relic even look like?" Kyler asked.
"You'll know it when you see it, get going, be on your guard, and protect one another," Gabriel warned watching the group all vanish one by one to Ashstone but stopped Connor, "a word?"
"What's up, Gabriel?" Connor asked seeing the seer approach.
"I need you to listen carefully to me Connor, when you find the relic it will look like a box, turn the handle three times, that all you must do," Gabriel instructed.
"Just turn the handle three times? That it?" Connor asked, surprised that a powerful weapon needed such a simple method to work.
"That's it, don't be alarmed if something 'magical' happens, now get going," Gabriel spoke watching Connor leave.
Arriving at Ashstone the group arrived at a large town with many trains going in and out of the city, hearing the blow of one train horn Connor got in line to purchase the tickets.
Waiting with the others Roscoe yawned before looking up to Tercero.
"Are those woods really that dangerous?" Roscoe whispered.
"Si, from the stories I've heard, very," Tercero nodded pulling his hood over his head.
"There are only two places in Albion where its woods are fighting to keep people out, the first being Thorndeep, the second Rosewood which people believe the roots of that forest travel to Thorndeep," Seth explained.
"Through the mountains? Impossible," Roscoe spoke shaking his head.
"You'd be surprised how deep roots can grow, wouldn't surprise me if the Lady controls both the territories but safeguards Rosewood most," Jaya added seeing a villager looking at them, "Blessings to you, my child!"
"That gonna get old real quick," Mika scoffed seeing more people pass by, and sighed, "Blessing to you!"
"Sound like the Lady in her right, she protecting possibly one of the last places of Albion where nature and magic live in harmony, having settlers trying to move in and chop down the trees can upset that balance," Jaya said looking to Neo who looked annoyed without his helmet off but kept his hood up.
"How long do we have to do this?" Merlin whispered from inside a large bag Neo carried that hid his helmet and weapons.
"Just till we get to Brightlodge, then we can ditch the disguise and get into those woods," Neo whispered.
"Got the tickets!" Connor spoke rushing over and handing each of his companions their ticket, "So we all know the plan?"
"Yup, let's just get this traveling monk bit over with," Mika sighed getting in line to board the train.
After boarding the train Tercero took a window seat where he glanced over to see Patrol vans driving in, "de puta madre!"
"What?" Kyler asked looking over and seeing the patrol his eyes narrowing when he saw the warden Verruca step out of a van.
"Spread out! They're here somewhere! Search all the trains!" she ordered.
"How?!" Seth whispered looking to the rest of his group, "how did they find us?!"
"First Clockwork now here? How do they keep tracking us?" Connor whispered.
Thinking Mika's eyes widen before touching her shoulder, "My god, it's me, Reaver must have put a tracking implant inside me!"
"We got to get rid of it!" Tercero growled standing up, "Connor, Mika, sígueme!"
Looking to Kyler Neo could see the man glaring at the warden outside where he then grabbed his hood and turned his face away from the window, "She the one who killed your father?"
"That's the bitch," Kyler growled squeezing the metal armrest where it began to bend under his strength.
"Listen to me Kyler," Neo whispered, "I know it's taking all your strength not to get up and charge at her but you must wait, the mission is too important, you will get justice, we just have to bide our time."
Taking a deep breath Kyler nodded, "You're right, I'll have my revenge soon enough!"
"I'm sorry about your father Kyler, I'm sure he was a remarkable man," Jaya smiled.
"Thanks, baby girl, yeah he was, my number one fan," Kyler chuckled smiling at faint memories of his father before his champion days, before he got sick.
Whimpering Roscoe rested his head on Kyler's lap where the giant man petted the hound's head, "so what should we do if she boards the train?"
"Hmm," Neo spoke looking around before looking back to the restrooms that Tercero led Mika and Connor to the three of them sneaking into one, "we may have to hijack a train."
"That's a plan I get behind," Seth smirked standing up, "I'll head to the front, radio me if we are going forward with the steal-the-train plan."
In the restroom, Mika turned around lifting the back of her shirt exposing her back to Tercero and Connor, "Look for a thin scar."
Searching Tercero couldn't help but notice all the scars that covered the woman's body, all appearing to have been made by claws, what did this woman do to survive? Tercero felt sad for the woman.
"There!" Connor pointed to her Shoulder blade in a spot where Mika would have never been able to tear the device out herself, a small scar that was defiantly made by a professional doctor.
"Ok," Tercero spoke looking around and grabbing a towel and spun it and tightened and held it out to Mika, "bite, this is going to hurt."
"You're going to cut it out?!" Connor whispered watching Tercero pull out his hidden blade flip it and hold it in his hand.
"We have no choice, please get it out!" Mika spoke biting down on the rag and turning her head.
"Shit," Connor growled getting in front of Mika and taking one of her hands, "This is going to hurt, I'm sorry."
"I need fire, por favor," Tercero spoke holding out his blade to Connor who formed an inferno fireball in his hand watching the assassin sanitize the blade before touching Mika back and holding the knife over the surgical scar, "lo siento."
Cutting into the scar Mika's pain cries were muffled by her gag clinging onto Connor and digging her fingers into his arm painfully. He didn't mind he knew the pain she was feeling was far worse.
"I'm sorry Mika! It will be over quick!" Connor spoke watching Tercero use one of his hands to pull the skin apart and try to look through the blood for the device.
"Found you!" Tercero growled digging out the tracker and catching it in his bloody hands.
"I'll heal you," Connor spoke holding his hand over her cut using the spell to seal the wound while watching Tercero wash off the device before opening the bathroom window slightly peeking out.
Seeing Patrol approaching their train Tercero saw a man with a cart walking by and with a quick flick he sent the tracker flying into the cart.
Watching Tercero saw a Patrol pull out a pad and look in the direction the cart was going, "this way!"
"Heh imbéciles," Tercero chuckled closing the window.
"Done," Connor spoke healing the wound and watching Tercero clean up the blood with a paper towel and begin to clean up the evidence.
Wiping her eyes Mika removed the gag, "it's all out?"
"Yup, it will buy us time now," Tercero spoke watching Mika pull her shirt down.
"Let's get back to our seats," Mika spoke opening the bathroom door and quickly left.
Outside the warden Verruca stopped when her phone rang, "This is the Warden."
Listening to the other end she turned her head to the train the heroes were on locking eyes with Jaya who gasped and quickly looked away, "Yeah I see them, thank you, Raven."
"Did she see us?!" Jaya whispered seeing Mika approach their seat and narrow her eyes.
"She did, now what?!" Mika growled more pissed at the ordeal she went through moments ago.
"We move onto Plan B! Seth! Hijack!" Neo spoke into the seal while standing up.
At the control, Seth had a gun pointed at the captain and smiled when he heard Neo, "You heard the man, it time to leave early captain."
Gulping the man hit the switches making the train start to take off gaining more speed while outside the Warden began to run after the train, "They're stealing the train! A Team, get on that train!"
Jumping onto a ladder Verruca looked back to see more of her men jumping onto other carts before climbing up to get aboard.
"Can you all hear me?" Gabriel asked as the heroes quickly got out of their disguises and geared up.
"We hear you Gabriel, something is wrong! They keep finding us! It's like they know our every move!" Connor growled.
"They don't, Raven does," Gabriel spoke narrowing his eyes as he studied the map table, "it seems Tirich has his own Seer too."
"Wait to hold up, there another Seer?!" Kyler asked.
"There are many of us Kyler, some of us are born, some of us are made, how we gain our gift is different but compared to other Seers, Raven is the oldest," Gabriel spoke.
"Who is this, Raven?" Neo asked letting Merlin out of his bag.
"Well, I'm not sure myself if he is even remotely human anymore, he's maybe thousands of years old, the source of his eternal life and power is grief, he feeds off the negative energy, and his power is even greater than mine," Gabriel spoke recalling when Raven had pulled the strings in Brightlodge and set the Lady of Rosewood on the town.
"I'd imagine with Tirich on the throne there been a lot of negative energy for the parasite to feed on," Mika spoke pulling out her katana to attach it to her back.
"This must be why Raven aligned himself with Tirich, he's never made himself a player in events unless it benefits him," Gabriel spoke watching the hero's cards, "get to Rosewood as quickly as possible, I'll look into how we can pluck that birds sight."
