by A E Stanfill
“Of course, Master Gawain,” Leon replied before walking away.
“Ulrich, Ellyn, see if you can find us any horses,” Gawain asked of them.
“Whatever old man,” Ulrich said.
Micha watched until the two young ones were out of sight, “Tell me Sir Gawain. How is it that someone so young could defeat so many grown men?”
Gawain paid no mind to the question he was asked, “Let us concentrate on finding survivors.”
“Are you not going to answer me?”
“I am not.”
“Do you not trust me?”
“This is not the time or the place to discuss such things, we need to find any survivors and get them to a safer place. Once done we can talk about whatever you wish.”
Though he didn't like Gawain's response, he went along with it
regardless. “If that is the way it has to be for now, then so be it,” Micha sighed. “Any survivors that we find who are willing to leave, we shall lead them to where they will be safe, where I hail from.”
“That is most generous of you,” Gawain replied.
“It is the least I can do, seeing how we failed to protect them.” Micha frowned, “But that mistake shall not happen again.”
“Remember those words and follow them through even if your King does not.”
11
Welcome To The Great City Of Wespington
Two days and nights of traveling had now gone by, and the horses were getting tired and weak. The survivors who had decided to abandon their town and follow Micha to his promise of safe passage were getting frustrated. But could you blame them for being upset? Their town that most had helped build and protect was ripped right out from underneath them. Now they found themselves being led to a new homeland by complete strangers that they had no choice but to trust in.
“How much longer until we are there?” Gawain asked Micha. “Neither the horses nor the survivors can handle much more.”
Micha pointed straight ahead, “Do you see the castle that towers over that set of hills?” He asked.
“That is the great city of Wespington.”
“Ah, so you know of it. Then you must also know of the King.”
“I've met him once or twice in my travels with the Academy,” Gawain responded. “His heart is big and he's not one to fight a battle needlessly.”
“That is true for the most part,” Micha said.
“Has something changed?”
“I shall let the King explain that to you.”
A few hours later they found themselves in the streets of the great city. Houses and Inns were around every corner, people crowded the streets, more so than any city they'd ever been in. There were tents placed on almost every side of the streets where traders were exchanging their commodities for a coin.
Micha suggested they ignore all else until they get to the castle, but most of the survivors from Coalfell had already disappeared into the crowds of people. Like most castles located in a city, this one was no different. It towered above all else and was protected by a large steel gate that had to be opened from within.
“Does every castle have a gate?” Leon sarcastically asked.
“Every King needs his castle protected,” Gawain said. “Most castles have great stone walls built around them, not gates.”
“Isn't that what soldiers are for?”
“One day you shall understand why things are done this way.” About that time the gates had opened allowing access inside the courtyard of the castle. Four soldiers came up to greet them, but when they noticed Micha their attitudes had changed.
“Why are you back so soon?” One of the men asked. “Are you not supposed to be on the battlefield?
“Things have changed Vardis, and not for the better,” Micha answered grimly.
Vardis saw a group of ten standing a little way behind Micha, “What of them?”
“These people need a safe place to stay, food, water, and clothing.”
Vardis shook his head, “I cannot allow that, these are pressing times taking in refugees is not a good idea at this point.”
Micha was about to turn and tell the others they had to leave until he remembered Gawain's words about keeping his promises, no matter what happened. He grabbed Vardis by his armor and pulled him close to his face, “I am going to tell you how this is going to go, Vardis. You are going to take these people and get them what they need. And if you don't then by the gods I swear I will run you through with my father's blade.” After Micha made his threat he shoved Vardis back. “Is that understood?”
“Understood,” Vardis swallowed nervously. “Men, take the refugees and get them whatever they need and after that find a place for them to stay.”
“Glad that we came to an understanding.” Micha slapped Vardis on the shoulder. He turned and motioned to Gawain and his companions to follow his lead.
There they were standing outside of the castle doors. Micha ushered them inside and wasted no time in heading for the throne room. It was then that they were stopped short by the King's most trusted adviser, William. “What are you doing inside this castle, strangers” he said, but not in the way of a question. “Micha, is that you?
“It is.” Micha nodded. William gave him a hearty hug; William was one of Micha's fathers best of friends, or so they had thought. Micha even viewed him as a second father figure.
“What brings you back so soon, young man?”
“I have urgent news for the King.”
William looked behind Micha to see if Angmar was near, “Should that not be your father that delivers such news?”
Micha's gaze shifted, “My father.” He felt his voice choking up, and that was when William caught a glimpse of Angmar's sword sheathed to Micha's side.
William placed his hand on Micha's shoulder, “Say no more. I shall see if the good King will visit with you.” Deep down he knew that if Angmar's son was carrying his blade, his friend had surely fallen in battle. With a saddened half-hearted smile, William turned, disappearing into the throne room. Moments later he returned, “The King will see you now, please tell your new companions not to cause any trouble.”
“Do not worry yourself, William, these are good people.” William bowed ever so slightly before allowing them inside. Micha looked back at Gawain and his pupils. “Please allow me to approach the King by myself, and when I need you, I shall call upon you.”
Gawain nodded, “We shall do as you ask.”
“Thank you for understanding,” Micha said. He straightened his posture and composed himself. Then walked on inside the throne room where the King awaited, “Your Majesty.” He knelt down to one knee.
“To what do I owe this visit, Micha?” The man responded. The King was a whole hearty man with a strong voice that echoed throughout the castle walls. In a way, he reminded them of Asher, The King Of Thieves. “And where is General Angmar?”
“My father perished on the battlefield,” Micha answered, gripping his fist tight. “Everyone is-” He took a deep breath in between his words. “Everyone is dead.”
“Everyone?”
“Yes.”
“And what of the enemy?”
“They too fell on the battlefield as well.”
The King stood from his throne and walked over to where Micha was kneeling. “Please rise,” he said. “Tell me all that has transpired.”
Micha stood and answered, “A weapon was fired upon us.”
“A weapon?”
“It was a weapon of great destruction, fire fell from the sky and obliterated everything in sight. If not for these brave souls behind me, I would have died as well,” Micha answered, but he couldn't bring himself to tell the King the full truth about his father.
“Sir Gawain,” the King said, peering over at the guests that stood off in the distance.
Gawain took a step forward and bowed, “Your Majesty.”
“The last I saw of you, you were still just a student at the Academy.”
“T
is true, King Peregrine. But now I am a master trainer of students of my own,” Gawain responded. “However, this is not the time to talk of such things.” Even though he was happy to see King Peregrine again so many years later, there was still a dangerous weapon that had to be dealt with before pleasantries could begin.
“What happened out there?” Peregrine asked. “Not that I don't trust in Micha's words, but I do wish to hear it from you as well.”
“You are at war with King Adan, are you not?”
“What has that got to with anything?”
“It seems as though King Adan has somehow acquired the Reaper Cannon and you know what I speak of.”
King Peregrine snarled, “That blasted thing has been the bane of my family's existence.” He remembered that it was his father, the king before him, who had the weapon built in the first place.
“Were the weapon and blueprints not destroyed when you became king?”
“The weapon yes,” King Peregrine answered. “But the blueprints I left in the hands of my most trusted adviser.”
“It seems as though your trusted adviser has betrayed you,” Gawain said.
“William would never betray us.” Micha was none too happy with Gawain's accusation. He has known William for many a year, and to think he would be capable of that kind of treachery would be folly.
“I agree with Micha,” King Peregrine said. “William has been a loyal subject of mine for as long as I can remember, he would give his life for his kingdom.”
“Forgive me, I didn't mean to upset the both of you,” Gawain humbly replied. “Do we not need to question William on the whereabouts of those blueprints? At least that much should be done.”
“You have my permission to question him but that is all, Sir Gawain.” King Peregrine said. “Micha?”
“Yes my Lord?” Micha bowed his head slightly.
“Go with Gawain. William will be more inclined to answer questions if you are there.”
“As you wish my Lord.” Micha bowed.
“Meet me back here at day’s end with your results. For now, I must meet with the council to determine our next move,” King Peregrine informed them before walking away.
12
William A Traitor?
Gawain and Micha found themselves in front of an old hut just outside the castle walls. The roof looked as though it could cave in at any moment, and the outside wall was beginning to crumble. “Why have you brought me here?” Gawain inquired.
“This is where William lives.” Micha shrugged, “Why else would we be here?”
“Isn't the king's adviser supposed to live inside the castle?”
“William is of a different sort.”
“Since you know the man, it's only fitting that you knock on his door instead of me.”
Micha nodded in agreement and began knocking on the door before him. “William, are you in there?” There was no answer so Micha knocked a second time. “William, it's me Micha. I just need a word with you.” Again no answer.
Gawain was getting impatient and pushed Micha out of the way. “What do you think you are doing?”
“Giving myself permission to enter his home.” With that, Gawain kicked the door in.
Micha intervened by placing himself in between Gawain and the open door into William's home, “You heard King Peregrine's words; you, Sir Gawain, are disobeying direct orders. I cannot allow this to transpire any further.”
“William needs to be questioned, friend or not. You can either help me, or I shall move you out of my way with force.”
Micha frowned and stepped to the side, allowing him to enter, “There has been enough senseless bloodshed, I do not wish to be the cause of more,” he sighed. “Just go easy on William, for he has many years upon him.”
“I cannot make such promises,” Gawain mumbled, walking past Micha into the hut.
The hut was small, with only enough room inside for William himself and no other. There weren't that many places for William to hide from the two men. They searched the place high and low but could find no signs of him or the blueprints ever being there in the first place. “Where could he have gone? And with his shield and spear to boot,” Micha muttered.
Gawain kicked over one of the small tables in the room out of frustration, “He must have overheard us talking with King Peregrine and fled.”
“William would never do that.”
“Look around you.” Gawain waved his arms in the air. “If he's not here then where? Why has he armed himself if not in fear of us finding him then?”
“Shall we go and tell King Peregrine?” Micha said.
Gawain's eyes narrowed. “We shall find William ourselves and get the truth from his own lips.”
“What about your students?” Micha asked. “Not only that, King Peregrine has asked us to be back by day’s end.”
“They can take care of themselves,” Gawain answered. “As far as the King goes, I shall deal with that upon our return.”
“You are braver than I.”
“It has nothing to do with bravery.”
It was getting late into the evening and the sun was starting to set behind the mountains. All while Gawain and Micha were on the hunt for William. They happened upon a small wooded area no bigger than a few acres. “We are losing light with each passing second,” Micha said. “Not only that but we are crossing into some dangerous terrain. If we do not have a source of light we shall end up being a fancy feast for the ferocious beasts that dwell here.”
“Then we shall make our own light source.”
“Whatever do you mean? We have no torches or flints with us.”
“Fire isn't the only thing that can aid you at night.” Gawain raised his hand whispering words that he did not wish for Micha to hear. To Micha's astonishment, a bright blue orb appeared out of thin air.
“You're a magic user.” Micha gasped.
“Is this the first time you've witnessed such a feat?”
Micha looked on in amazement, “The kingdom of Wespington forbids the use of magic, and anyone breaking that law is either exiled or thrown in the dungeons. That be the reason I've never seen magic used before now.” It was a harsh truth. Magic users were mostly considered freaks of nature or bringers of evil. Kings and Queens alike were afraid of such power being used to overthrow them and take what was theirs.
“King Peregrine fears magic users? That is concerning to me.”
“Why is that?” Micha asked. “I shall not tell the King of what you have done.”
“It is not you that concerns me,” Gawain replied. “Let us find William and get back to the castle before trouble finds its way to us. We can speak of this matter another time.”
After scouring the wooded area outside of Wespington, Gawain and Micha made the decision to call off the search and return to the castle. On the way out of the woodlands, they stumbled upon a campfire just ahead of them. “Do you see what I see?” Micha whispered.
“It has to be William.”
“Then let's go confront him.”
“No, we will use the element of surprise to our advantage. That way he cannot flee for a second time,” Gawain said, crushing the orb in his hand and surrounding them with darkness, except for the light of the campfire. He took the lead and was carefully sneaking his way towards where he guessed William would be waiting.
Micha was right behind him, trying his best not to make any unnecessary movements that would cause unwanted noises, alerting William of their presence. What Gawain and Micha didn't expect was that William was already aware of their presence, following closely behind. Gawain stopped and took a good look around but William was nowhere in sight. “Where is he?” Gawain whispered.
“Do you think he heard us making our way towards him?” Micha whispered to Gawain. Right then he felt something sharp and cold touch the back of his neck. “Gawain.” He dryly swallowed.
“Stand up slowly!” William demanded. “If you make any sudden movements I shall have no choice but
to act swiftly.” Both Gawain and Micha cautiously stood up with their hands raised high in the air, making sure not to do anything that would spook the man. “Make your way towards the campfire. Again if you try anything funny, I will drop you where you stand.” William stayed close behind them and led Gawain and Micha towards the camp. “Turn around…Slowly.”
Micha turned to see William standing there with a spear pointed at his throat, “William?”
“Micha,” William replied, lowering the spear. “What in the hell are you doing out here?”
“We could ask you the same,” Micha said.
“I always come out here at night.”
“So you didn't flee?”
“Flee?” William was confused. “What reason would I have to flee?”
“Then what are you doing out here?” Micha repeated himself.
“As I said before, I always come out here at night. Perfect time for hunting.”
“It seems odd that a man your age is out in the middle of the night hunting.”
“Remember I do not live inside the castle walls, and I do have to fend for myself, do I not?”
“William we need to know what you have done with the blueprints,” Gawain interrupted.
“How does he know of the blueprints?” William angrily hissed.
“King Adan has built his own version of the Reaper Cannon and used it against us and his own men on the battlefield,” Micha grumbled.
“That's not possible,” William said nonchalantly. “The blueprints are with me at all times. Not a soul could have gotten to them unless I allowed it.”
“Show them to me then,” Micha said. “We must know for sure.”
William took his spear in both hands, lifted it high above his head, then brought it down across his knee breaking the spear shaft in half. He took one half of the broken spear and shook it until a rolled up piece of parchment fell to the ground. William reached down to retrieve the paper and handed it over to Micha. “I believe this is what you came here for.”