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| Author | Tales from a Kingdom |
|---|
-= Free at Last? =-
"How many men were with you?", asked the chinless man to the prisoner.
"With me? I fight alone.", replied the prisoner with aplomb. "You see? I am baseborn, orphaned at a young age. Likes of me don't have no families or friends, for their parents don't take it kindly with us playing with their children. I have found comfort in solitude for long as I remember. I prefer to take all the troubles myself. I even pray to myself".
The chinless man, left unsatisfied with the answer served the prisoner with a mail clad fist, his lips became red with blood. "You won't find that to your comfort when the whole litter of pigs will feed on you." He turned to the man sitting in the dark corner of the room. "Master, this one has clearly taken leave of his senses. I have been at him for two nights. Perhaps it is time to get rid of him , the pigs are hungry too and I have better things to do with my time."
"You will hold your tongue if you mean to keep it Clydas. There is no better use of your time ,other than the time spent serving me, you best remember that", replied the Master. Clydas, who was short, chinless and had pink eyes like a mole, could only bow his head meekly toward his master, a lean man with an unanimated face. " He is a prisoner of state, and those are supposed to be executed by a headsman. Those executions are not done after the sunset, escort him back to his cell. Consider yourselves lucky prisoner, you will have one more night to seek your wits back."
Yngvarr did not know what to feel. Given he would survive one more night, but that night would be spent in fear of what was to come next morning. He was told that the waiting was the most difficult part. He was told that, while he was drinking with the fellow thieves in the thieves guild's lair. The occasion was his initiation, and forty-one others in the guild. They called that ceremony "The thing", they were not a creative lot ,Yngvarr thought, not when it came with the words, but who could blame them, they were thieves not scholars. At the night of new moon, forty-two new additions were done into the family.
Entry in thieves guild was done by the means of an invitation. But, that was only for leading a van. The ambush commanders needed man power, that came in the form of lowly bandits and exceptional farm boys like him. He was strong, good with an axe and could keep a secret. His mentor Rymun noticed these traits and asked him to join him for an ambush. He did not really had a choice, had he refused, he would have been afflicted with an urgent case of sword-through-bowels in order to keep him quiet. So he agreed, and found it to his liking. With time, he won Rymun's trust. So he took him to the lair with him and vouched for him. | For a moment, his mind was filled with regrets. If only he had remained a woodcutter, that’s how he got his strength. He was told the blacksmith's girl looked at him with moist eyes, but he was too shy to talk to her. If only he would have mustered courage to approach her, maybe he would even have been an apprentice armorer, since his arms were strong. His work ethic would surely have her father like him. If only he would have stayed at the farm.
He had never imagined he would end up as a thief, a caravan raider. He even feared the Gods might not judge him kindly, for he was a thief, but nobody dreamt of becoming a woodcutter, what he was to do? Surely they would understand.
He lied still in his cell, but his soul was in turmoil. Out of nowhere, he heard a voice, "Bugger you scum! You lot are even worse than scum! You are sewer rats, that’s what you are!!", it was the Mole, for a timid man, he sure did roar quite well. "Open the cell! Aha Bastard! You got company!". He saw two new faces in the Mole's captivity. Two familiar faces, to his astonishment.
===
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https://www.lordswm.com/forum_messages.php?tid=2303449 | They were to ambush a caravan in the depth of the fairy trees. It was supposed to be easy, the guard consisted of just three swordsman and some handful of brutes. Rymun split his raiding party to scout other routes, since, this job was supposed to be done without much bloody mess and did not require large numbers of their van. Consequently, there were few small bands of thieves and each band had a first in command. Yngvarr was given the command for his band. He was thrilled, he could see the ladder to the top. This was supposed to be his first step, so he charged to climb it and he fell in the pit of chaos. The thieves were taken from the rear by treefolks camouflaged within the trees. Their rusty steel swords and arrows were no match to the giant wooden monstrosities. The realization came quick that it was a trap set up by the first ranger Eranthur. The caravan served as a delicious bait and thieves leapt at it like a bunch of silly river trouts. Some were killed, some were captured, some ran away and were brought back in chains.
"Do you know this lot?", asked the Mole thumping his club at the boy's chest.
"No I don't. You see? I don't keep company with suckling babes. Too much of a hassle." , replied Yngvarr.
"Why would we be with him? We slaughter the likes of him and feed it to the wolves", retaliated the boy with the raised brows.
"Do the deed then. You lot are supposed to be hanged by the dawn anyway. Might as well save us a lot of work.", said the drowsy Mole while locking their cell, it took four attempts for him to get the right key in the lock. "Bugger you humbugs!! Dragging people from their beds at the middle of the night. The Master ought to hang you tomorrow!!"
They waited for the Mole to depart. "Feed to wolves, really?".
"Well, he bought it.", replied the boy. Tion and Allard were two farm boys Rymun recruited to stand watch while they did the deed. The prospect of easy money was often well received at the countryside. "That short queer looking man. Did you see his eyes?", asked Tion who was elder of the two and generally did all the talking.
"Pink like a Mole. Maybe he got it from his mother. You get his kind when a man lays with a mole.", jested Yngvarr. The thought made the three of them chuckle. After the laughter dried out, he adorned a serious expression as if a mummer wearing his mask . "Did you tell them anything?"
"No, but I heard the mole-man telling the others that he would see to us tomorrow. It appears he has not slept for two days.", answered the elder farm boy. He was sixteen years of age. His dry and thin ,blond hair resembled an arid bush.
"Hey Yngvarr, are you sure we would be rescued soon?" , enquired the younger brother who was quiet till now. He appeared to be at least two years younger than his brother. That made Yngvarr, who was approaching his nineteenth name day, the eldest among them.
He realised the authority he held in that cell and spoke in the appropriate manner, "I'm quite sure we shall be rescued. There are stories about how the captured thieves are freed from the prisons overnight. But we need to give our brothers some time. Remember, do not submit."
"Of course! I was told the very best thieves, who had mastered the art of sneaking to a point where they can walk among the shadows carry out this task.", exclaimed Tion. Yngvarr was not sure who told him that, he had been with the guild longer than this boy and he never once hear of Tion's walker of shadows. But he remained silent, these were green boys, and agitating them would be the last thing he would want to do. He took a deep breath and was about to rest his head on the ground, and he heard footsteps. Who was it? Would that Tion's shadow walkers really existed, or was it the Mole wanting to make them feel uneasy by his spooky stare?
The source of the noi | | The source of the noise finally revealed himself to them. There he stood, lean and tall with two shiny eyes on his unanimated face fixated at them. "The Master..", whispered Yngvarr. He was convinced this can't be good, and it wasn't.. | It was the night of the full moon. The cell was showered with moonlight entering through the ancient iron bars. The full moon imparted an intriguing glint to his eyes, as if they belonged to a feral beast preparing to pounce on its prey.
Those glittery eyes made Yngvarr remember that he was to be executed by the dawn, but it wasn't dawn yet. Have the Gods decided that I shall not witness another sunrise? The thought made him terrified and confused at the same time.
"You boys seem disappointed", observed the Master, "Were you hoping for a rescue?". He went on without waiting for the answer, "Those thieves are well known to lure lackwits like you by the hollow promises of gold, jewels, power and safety. But there is a reason they hide in their caves, because they are thieves, and not the knights in shining armor." Slowly the feral beast approached them, as surefooted as any creature could be, and terrifying enough to freeze the prey in fear. "Where are your rescuers? I come here heralding your death and still they haven’t showed up. We don't spare our land or water for the likes of you. After I chop your heads off, your corpses shall be left to be torn apart by the pigs."
Those words were enough sweep the land away from the boys' feet. "Please! Mercy Sire! Mercy! We was hungry! We only stood watch! We did not raise any weapon on any of your folks!", Tion fell to his knees, his eyes began to moisten. Allard wept wholeheartedly.
"Don't expect any mercy from me. Unless..", he shook his head, " You pay the price. I receive full disclosure, you shall keep no secrets from me and I might reconsider."
"Yes sire! Anything you want to know, we will tell it all! Please! In the name of the Twins, have mercy!", cried Tion. He took Allard by hand and he turned to Yngvarr. The woodcutter was also frightened, but he did well to not show it. He considered the prospect of clemency appealing. Maybe he would return to cutting wood, earn honest gold for honest work. He might even talk to the blacksmith's girl. Marry her and sire some children. He was almost a man grown. The prospect bought his some kind of relief. But, if it was anything he learnt after being captured, it was the value of cynicism. He heard the voices screaming from one end of his mind. What was to stop him from killing you after you spill all the secrets? What if the assassins from the guild itself hunted you down for betrayal?
He had enough of it. He decided to rather die than to trust anyone blindingly and he shook his head in denial.
The Master appeared to be disappointed. He knew those two farmboys were freshly plucked, Yngvarr had a great deal more to tell. He was about to exit the cell, but he turned back and asked," So, the block for you?". The thief nodded. The Master turned his back towards him as earlier, and walked out followed by the boys. He managed to keep his face devoid of animation the whole time. | An hour passed by, and Yngvarr laid there with his back against the wall, admiring the full moon. Being moonlit, the cell appeared to be a tranquil place, even beautiful at times. He was wondering where does the moon goes, once the sun rises above the horizon. Does it hides behind the sun? Or is it there the whole time, but we just don't see it in the light of sun? His befuddlement was broken by Clydas. "Get up you filth!", he grunted while struggling to find the right key form the bunch. After six odd tries, he succeeded, consequently he entered the cell with an air of triumph, "Told you, your time would come. Now don't make me drag you, follow me."
Yngvarr tried to avoid looking at the Mole. He would not suffer the sight of his foul face in the last hour of his life. They made their way through a damp corridor. "Master wants to finish you in the night. The morning sun is too good for the rats like you." , exclaimed the Mole. That made Yngvarr uncomfortable, he was hoping to see the sun one last time. He tried to conceal his fear and displeasure.
Once I die, nobody would know me, nobody would remember me , but my executioners will. I need to die well. When they drink, they will not tell the story of a scared woodcutter who begged for his life, I will not give them this privilege. They would remember that I died well. Maybe they would drink a toast to me.
They passed the turnkey's chambers, climbed a flight of stairs and there they were, in a room with a fireplace. The fire lit the whole room. And there they laid peacefully, the two farm boys, the red ruin the knife made of their throats inspired revulsion. And there stood the feral beast, calm, unanimated and his eyes fixated at his next prey.
"They were kids, they obeyed you..", Yngvarr hushed gently with sorrow, "'They agreed to tell you everything".
"They did not have a lot to tell. Besides, I don’t like rats. They agreed to betray your friends and yet you mourn for them? Has the thieves guild been reduced to this? A bunch of lack wit boys green as grass?", he took out a token from his pocket, "Remember this?"
Yngvarr recognised the thing within a glance. "Yes, its mine."
"You were initiated, weren't you"
"Yes, this was given to me upon my initiation." replied Yngvarr, he was quite puzzled.
"I will keep this as a present. The dawn is soon upon us, I want you gone from my lands before the sunrise. Give the fair maiden my regards."
It all came to him like a thunderous wave. He had heard stories while drinking with thieves. The Empire, had an arrangement with the guild. The guild members would disappear from their cells overnight. In exchange, the guild would serve as their assassins and spies. Some lords went one step further to earn rapport with the guild. This was the great rescue they boasted of all along.
Together they made their way to the door, the Master gifted him an axe, "So you must be very happy now. You are free at last."
"Free at last?" , asked Yngvarr but didn't wait for his answer. His life now belonged to the guild. Its a long ride to the Lizard lowlands. He could cut wood like the old times to pay for his passage. Robbing someone on the road all by himself would be foolishness. Might be he could serve as a guard in a carriage, and hope it does not get ambushed by thieves. The irony made him chuckle.
THE END. | -= The scaly source of all magic=-
As Belmon walked through the portal he was greeted by his student Arwin, a lank dark scaled lad, whose tail twitched nervously as he bowed to his Master.
“Ah, Master Belmon! It is so nice to see you,” said Arwin. His hat slipped over his scaly forehead but didn’t fall off as if it was held up by magic.
“Arwin!” Belmon stepped forward and embraced him like a long lost son. He gently padded him on his back with his claws. “It’s always nice pay my favourite student a visit!”
“You’re too kind, Master Belmon!”
“Well, then, why did you sent for me?” Belmon asked while Arwin ushered him out the portal room into his study.
“We are quite far out from the realm, it seems.”
“Ah, yes, I’m quite pleased to say, that we are as far out as the portals allow. I had to improve on the sequencing a bit to squeeze out another few light years. It’s still perfectly save of course.”
“Good man! You’re studying a promising species, I’ve heard?”
“Yes, Master, about that... We are currently on the fourth planet of the solar system. From here I observe their culture. I only arrived a few weeks ago, but…” He hesitated. “I better show you, it’s hard to explain.”
Berwin looked with amusement as his student rushed of, neither offering his master a seat nor asking to take of his coat from him. As he came to expect from Awrin his studies always came, while his manners suffered in the process. Berwins deep chuckles echoed from the bare stone walls.
“Just a moment,” Arwin said from the next room. “Ah, there it is.”
Arwin came back into the room with a flat, rectangular object in his hands. “Please, take a look at this!”
He placed the small object into Belmond’s paw. It looked quite fragile in the massive hands of the master.
“What’s that?”
“It is an artefact from the species I observe,” Arwin said, “They are the dominant life form on the planet. Very intelligent, if a bit on the rough side.”
“Nothing wrong with that. I like a species that can look after itself.”
“Indeed! Well, well it was a bit of a challenge to aquire it from their planet, as you will understand in a moment. For them, it is the first of its kind. Its been a while since it was discovered by them. But we thought it was better to wait until they replicate it. Understand it. The dominant species on this planet call themselves humans. Atleast that's what they call themselves in hundreds of their languages.”
“To the point, Arwin…”
“Right! The species have successfully acquired the understanding of magic ”
"How is it even possible?" Belmon was flabbergasted," Couple of centuries ago they had no understanding of magic. How can they achieve in such a little time when it took us thousands of years?"
"They had help."
"I suppose you are right. We sent our scholars among them to secretly assist them. Its our achievement as much as it is theirs. But still.." , he took a deep breath," We considered them fools because every intelligent creature has magic. It’s a package deal. You can’t have one without the other."
“I know, but it’s true nonetheless,” Arwin insisted. “ But still they are clearly self-aware, they are very smart, without any form of magic." Belmon sat down on a stool. “Astounding!”
Arwin nodded. “We have met less magically gifted aliens before,” he said, “And all of them were quite primitive. None of them build anything that resembled a civilisation. But they did, Master Belmon, they did!"
“Without magic,” Belmond said.
“Without magic!”
“Unbelievable.”
“And it still is not everything,” Arwin said. “Now they actually know about magic, they know it exists. Some aspire to study it. Rest tell about it in their stories, in their legends.”
“Oh,” Belmon’s face light up again, “Well, that’s something.”
"I fear we might have propelled them to become a fearful race. They understand the magic.."
"But they don't understand the ethics associated with it . Of course, I | "But they don't understand the ethics associated with it . Of course, I always have faith in your precautions. Still,” Belmond continued, “It may be prudent to leave this place for now.”
Arwin was about to reply, but Belmond raised his paws. “I know you would rather stay and study them further, but for now the risk is too great. I have to insist that we leave now, I am sorry. They might discover our experiment”
Arwin gulped and finally nodded. “To be frank, I expected something like this.”
“After we discussed it with the High Council, you maybe will be allowed to come back. Don't worry, it will always be your discovery. Nobody can take that away from you,” Belmond said gently, “But for now, please get us into space.”
Arwin stepped to his crystal ball and laid his scaly hands on it. He concentrated for a bit and could feel the vibrations, as his wizard tower started to free his fundament from the ground it stood in for the last couple of weeks and slowly started to float up faster and faster. Belmond looked out of the small window and watched the red planet shrink below them. A bubble of breathable atmosphere, held together by a sophisticated spell, surrounded the tower on its way into space.
"By the way. What happened to the scholars we sent? Are they still discreet?", asked Belmon.
“On the contrary, they are quite well known. They even tell legends about us,” Arwin said while steering his tower with the magic ball.
“Ah? They remember us?”
“So it seems,” Arwin said. “They still call us dragons.” | | THE END | | [Post deleted by moderator virtual_vitrea // Wrong place, my bad :)] |
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