 |
|||||
Lessons - Part 01 |
|||||
The Quest Begins “Aw, nuts!” Eric threw down his cards in annoyance and scowled at Hank. “I can’t believe you won again! That’s three times in a row!” “This is boring,” complained Bobby, who was staring as his own hand with a look of disappointment. “Presto, can’t you get your Hat to whip up something else? Like an arcade game machine?” “Maybe. But where would we plug it in?” replied Presto with a yawn. Faced with that rationalisation, Bobby frowned. Presto collected all the cards from everyone and put the deck back into the Hat. “Be happy I was able to even conjure up these. Last time I asked for something to entertain us, the Hat gave me a copy of Rocky and nothing to play it on.” “We should probably get walking anyway,” said Hank, standing up. “We need to keep looking for a way home, right guys?” They nodded, though not very enthusiastically. Hank could understand. It had been a while since they’d seen Dungeon Master, and without him to tell them where to go they just wandered aimlessly, hoping they’d find a portal or something that would lead them to one. And then there were all the failed attempts… Hank suppressed a sigh. Sometimes he really hated having to be the one to keep spirits up. Didn’t they ever think that he got disheartened occasionally, too? That maybe he would like to receive a little guidance and reassurance as well instead of just giving it? He was only human after all. “Home. Huh,” Eric snorted, causing everyone to look at him. “Like we’ll ever get there.” “We won’t if we keep sitting around in one place all the time,” said Diana. “Hank’s right. We should get moving.” Hank gave Diana a look of gratitude. She often backed him up and it always helped. Hank wanted to smile as the Cavalier pouted in acceptance. Eric looked like a kid who’d had his candy taken away. They left the little camp they’d made, which had been up against some rock formations on one of the Realm’s great planes. Even if they didn’t get home, it would be good to get out of this place, which was grey and dusty and really quite depressing. “It’ll be good to get out of here.” From where she walked beside him, Sheila voiced what Hank had been thinking and he smiled. Sheila liked to be positive more often than not and sometimes he didn’t know what he’d do without her. “Greetings, Young Ones.” At the sudden and unexpected sound of Dungeon Master’s voice, Hank nearly tripped over. Glancing down, he saw that the little wizard had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. “Dungeon Master!” he exclaimed. The wizard always managed to surprise him. “What are you doing here?” “I bring news,” announced Dungeon Master, pausing for a moment to pet Uni’s mane. The unicorn bleated happily and nuzzled against the old Mage. “Of a possible way home.” “That’s great, Dungeon Master,” said Hank. He couldn’t help it – every time Dungeon Master appeared he felt himself gain a little optimism. A chance was a chance. Even if the odds of blowing it again were just as great, right now there was a possibility that they COULD get home, and that was better than nothing. “What do we need to do?” asked Diana, leaning on her javelin, which she had been using as a stick to help her ramble across the uneven plane. “In a city not far from here,” began Dungeon Master, “is a castle with silver walls. Inside the castle is an ancient amulet that holds the power of teleportation. It can send anyone, anywhere…but -” “I knew it. There’s always a but,” grumbled Eric. “But,” continued Dungeon Master, ignoring the Cavalier’s complaints, “it may only be used once. The amulet has yet to be used because its owner doesn’t realise what it is. He thinks it to be a mere necklace – no more than decoration. Perhaps if you go to his castle and tell him of your plight, he may become sympathetic enough to help you.” “Who is this person, Dungeon Master?” Sheila asked. “His name is Prince Estah and he rules the kingdom of Bahru. However, before you begin your quest know this: What the heart wants is not always right.” “Not more riddles!” protested Eric. “Why can’t you just talk like a normal person for on– Hey! Come back here! I’m not finished with you!” Eric looked around wildly for the wizard, but he had vanished. “Is it me or do Dungeon Master’s riddles get more confusing with each new one?” sighed Presto. “Let’s just forget the riddle for now. We need to find Bahru and the silver castle. We can cover a lot of ground before nightfall if we get a move on,” said Hank. Everyone agreed
and since Dungeon Master hadn’t bothered to offer any directions,
they continued in the way they had already been going. They walked
until sunset. Sheila felt comforted by the idea of being among proper civilisation again – at least for this world. She still hovered close to Hank, not wanting to stray too far until they knew if the locals would be safe. Not all their experiences with cities, towns or villages had been good ones, and Sheila knew from past occurrences that it was best to look before leaping. It was dawn. The city appeared to still be asleep. There were no signs of life in the streets and many of the little stone houses still had their window shutters closed. She’d dreamed of home again last night. She had been sitting around the kitchen table with her parents and Bobby, practicing for the Pep Rally at school with the rest of the cheerleading squad, listening to music in her bedroom while she studied… Such simple, mundane things, but things that she’d come to miss deeply since being torn away from that life. She knew the others dreamed of home, too. She knew how much Diana missed her track meets, how much Presto missed his own parents, how Hank missed eating food without having to kill and cook it first… “Can we find someplace to grab breakfast while we’re here, Hank?” asked Bobby from where he walked directly behind the Ranger and the Thief. Sheila had to agree with her brother. They hadn’t eaten since noon the previous day, and that had only been a small pheasant that Hank had managed to shoot down when it had flown over them by chance. Another reason to be relieved to be away from that rocky land. “I don’t see why not,” Hank answered. “Maybe someone can give us some food in exchange for a few chores. It’s still pretty early but we’ll find someone soon.” Once they reached the main square area, Sheila and the others sat for a rest on the edge of a fountain and watched as market traders finished setting up their stalls. More than an hour after they arrived in the town, it finally began to bustle with activity as people came out of their homes to go to work or shop or whatever else people did here. Sheila watched everyone go about their business. The people of this world still seemed wanderous to her, from the clothing they wore to their mannerisms and how they spoke. She’d never get used to it. She edged even
closer to Hank, suddenly missing home more than ever. “Stop being so dramatic,” said Diana as she dried what must have been the five hundredth plate. Or so it felt. “When we finish our shift in here, Hank and the rest’ll take over and then we’ll get to eat. We’re lucky the innkeeper was willing to give us chores for food at all...And it’s still your turn to call a letter.” “All right, alright. R.” “Oh, that’s easy. The Rolling Stones,” said Diana. They were playing a game where they each had to name a band they liked starting with whatever letter the other chose. It helped pass the time, and put an end to awkward silences. Despite being trapped in the Realm with him for almost a year, Diana still didn’t feel like she knew Eric the way she knew Sheila, Hank or even Presto. Eric rarely discussed anything too personal. He seemed to prefer complaining incessantly or making endless sarcastic remarks most of the time, and Diana didn’t like to pry. Even before entering the Realm she hadn’t really known him; she’d really just seen him around school acting like Mr Big shot, but other than that… And there was that silence again. Diana realised she was daydreaming and forced herself back to reality as she took another turn at choosing a letter. They played their
game until Presto and Bobby came to relieve them of their shift. “I wonder what this Prince Estah guy’ll be like?” inquired Diana. “Dungeon Master didn’t really tell us anything.” “Nothing new there,” said Eric. “Anyway, who cares? Just so long as we get this dumb amulet, right?” “If he’ll give it to us,” Hank replied. “I have a feeling this won’t be as easy as it seems.” “Yeah. If I know Dungeon Master, and I do, we’ll be lucky to get outta this alive – just like every other adventure he’s sent us on,” said Eric. “Quit complaining, Eric,” groaned Bobby. “Just speaking the truth,” Eric shrugged. He grew silent and the children continued their walk with little conversation after that. It didn’t take long for them to weave their way through the town. Soon they reached the outskirts and saw the castle just on the horizon. Even from a distance the silver walls sparkled and glistened in the light. They would need to cross a few fields to reach it, so they kept on at a good speed. So far this seemed too easy. “Wow!” Bobby exclaimed as the castle became clearer. “I’ll say!” agreed Diana. It was beautiful, and it actually did have real silver walls. The shine the walls gave off was almost overwhelming and they all just stared for a while. “It’s so beautiful,” Sheila said, her eyes as big as saucers. Eric was the only one looking uninterested. “It’s okay, I guess. If you’re into flashy.” Diana gave the Cavalier an incredulous look, but said nothing. “Think we can get some good lunch there?” asked Bobby seriously. “Lunch? We only just had breakfast, and a good one at that,” Hank chuckled. “But if Prince Estah offers…” “Then let’s
go!” Eagerly, Bobby charged off. The others grinned, then followed
the young Barbarian toward the castle. “Enter!” Estah barked. The door creaked open and one of his royal guards appeared. Estah remained behind his desk, now poised in his ‘I’m royalty so you must worship and be horribly intimidated by me but I don’t really care about anything you have to say’ pose. “Your Highness…” the guard began. “Whatever it is, be quick about it,” ordered Estah, sneering at the guard like he had crawled out from under a rock. To speed this boring interruption along, Estah added a haughty, “I’m busy.” “Your Highness,” the guard address the young Prince again, “there are six people approaching the castle. They look to be of your age, though one is certainly a much younger child. They carry weapons with them, and are accompanied by a baby unicorn.” Estah frowned. People approaching the castle? But that never happened. Everybody in his kingdom knew that they were not to disturb him without first writing to ask, and then they had to present a letter of permission from the Prince himself upon their arrival if they had been granted an audience. And had the guard mentioned weapons? Estah stiffened slightly. Maybe these uninvited guests weren’t guests at all. Maybe they had come to attack him. What if they knew General Gordon? Estah knew he had caused a lot of people offence when he had ordered the hanging of one of his highest ranking officers. He had heard rumours that Gordon had been plotting treason against him, and felt the need to remind people what was tolerated in his kingdom, and what was not. What if these people were friends or relatives of the fallen general coming to seek revenge? If they were, they had left it a bit long. That little fiasco – which Estah often wished had never happened – had taken place more than six months ago. Regardless, Estah was frightened now that the thought had entered his head, and when he was frightened, the Prince tended to make very rash decisions. “Prevent them from entering my castle. At any cost,” Estah decided. “But Sire—” “You have your order, knight. Now do it!” A cruel smirk twisted Estah’s face as a thought came to him. “Or would you rather spend the remainder of your years in my dungeon, regretting your hesitation? True, the dungeons are rather full thanks to all the cretins I have to deal with, but I’m sure we can find a space for you.” “I will carry out your orders, Your Highness,” the guard said, offering no more argument. “Get on with it then,” Estah snapped. The guard nodded
and retreated while Estah returned to his pile of gold coins. “So now what?” asked Eric as they came to a stop in front of a bridge. The walkway was suspended over a low moat, and across it was the main drawbridge entrance to the castle. “We just stroll on in like it’s a mall?” “Works for me,” said Diana. “Maybe the prince won’t be as intimidating as his home,” suggested Hank hopefully. Hank had hardly finished his sentence, however, when he heard someone from above cry out “Intruders!” He glanced upwards and saw an army of soldiers gathered upon the castle’s battlements. “Oh boy,” Hank groaned. Turning serious, he raised his bow and turned to his comrades. “Get re -” Hank didn’t even get to finish issuing his command. He heard a noise cut through the air and suddenly felt a burning sensation as something pierced into his left side. He dropped to the ground like a stone and was vaguely aware of Sheila screaming his name. For an excruciating moment all he knew was pain. Then nothing.
|
|||||
Website
Copyright © 2005 David Walch |
|||||