The morning came faster than she had wished, feeling as if she could have slept an eternity. She felt revived from the weariness that consumed her the night before, but she could have definitely used a few more hours of sleep.
The bustle of the camp echoed around as the sun peered through the opening in the canopy above and into her tent flap. She could hear the footsteps of men all around, starting about their daily tasks, and the shouts of officers ordering their men to begin their rounds.
Some soldiers were ordered to patrol the camp ground to ensure the safety of all the inhabitants while others were ordered to change shift with those who stood watch in the night, patrolling the borders of the camp and the surrounding woodlands for any signs of a potential threat.
She could hear the distinct clap of their fists to their heart and a thundering bellow of ‘Yes sir!’ before immediately starting off on their duties.
She quickly sat up and stretched before wiping off the sleep from her eyes. She got on her feet and made her way through her tent flap and into the camp outside.
The morning was still young, and the sun was barely finding its way through the canopy of the trees above. She knew that once it reached its height in the sky that it would be piercing through with much more intensity, so she relished the dim morning light and the cool air while it lasted. She shook off the remaining drowsiness and started to make for the large command tent Captain Ryan had disappeared into the night before.
Just as she neared the entrance the flap opened, and Ryan stepped out into the open ground between them. He flashed his usual grin when he saw her and raised his hand in greeting.
“Hey there. I was just coming to get you up. How did you sleep?” he asked.
“Fine as I could I suppose. I see everyone’s up and moving already. Did you get any sleep last night? You look exhausted.” she replied, concerned.
“I’ve been up all night with the other officers trying to find a way through the city’s defenses. We can’t seem to find a way in without alerting the soldiers patrolling the perimeter of the city.”
He let out a big sigh and wiped his eyes before going on. “I’m exhausted, but we can’t afford to rest right now. We have too much to do, and we don’t know how long we have before our location is compromised. The scouts reported seeing a few groups of soldiers scanning the surrounding wood only yesterday. It’s only a matter of time before they search this area and find our camp. We’ve taken out a few of their search parties, but we can’t risk taking them all out in the same area or it will give away our location.”
“Yeah, that makes sense…do you think they will find us soon?” asked Erin, concerned her newfound sense of safety wouldn’t be lasting much longer.
“A few of our men led the soldiers away from our camp before returning for the night in an effort to draw them away. It seems to be working for now, but as I said, it’s just buying time, not providing a solution,” replied the captain.
He shifted his weight in an effort to get comfortable. He had been standing all night bent over that table, his back was aching, and his eyes were heavy from the lack of sleep. Erin frowned with concern and disapproval, but Ryan shrugged it off in dismissal.
“Anyway…we can talk about that later. What I need now is to hear your story, find out what you know, and see if it can help us with our effort.”
He put his arm around her shoulder and started walking off towards a bench nearby. It was near a small fire pit that was dug out in the center of a ring of small tents that surrounded the pit. It appeared to be where the soldiers sat and ate, the smell of roasted meat still hung in the air near the bench.
They sat down together before Erin turned towards her friend and began recounting the events that led up to her capture. She began the morning of the day she met David. She explained how Tyrius had wanted to take her out of the city for some time alone, just to get away from the normal hustle and chaos of the capital. He must have noticed that she had needed a break from her studies and normal routine – he was always sensitive to her needs even if she didn’t express them.
Once they had left the city walls and had been walking for some time Tyrius mentioned he felt a breach in the spells around the Forgotten Temple where the orb had been sealed away. They immediately set off to find the source of the intrusion.
“By the time we arrived, the orb was gone, and the temple was empty. Or so we thought…” she explained. “Tyrius went off to alert the soldiers patrolling the local area before going to speak with the King, and he left me to investigate to see if I could find any signs of who may have intruded and taken the orb.
“When I was inspecting the area inside the temple a boy, about my age, appeared behind me. I think he was more startled than I was.” she laughed. “He said his name was David Bishop and that he wasn’t from this world, that he was taken here by some magic portal between worlds. He also had somehow absorbed the orb into his hand. He said it was calling to him and that in a trance he grabbed it and couldn’t let go.”
Ryan’s eyes went wide in disbelief. He had never heard of anything like it. He urged her to go on.
“I wasn’t able to find out much more before General Krauss and some soldiers arrived on the scene. I told David to hide behind one of the pillars to remain unseen. When the General left, together we went back to the city to go find the Elders.”
Her lips began to quiver as her eyes welled up with tears, “That morning was the last time I saw him…” she said, barely above a whisper. Captain Ryan gently placed his hand on her shoulder in silent understanding before she mustered the strength to go on.
“We made our way to the Elders to get their help. I told them about David and the orb, and they went into an uproar, saying something was happening at the castle that demanded their attention. They told us to go find a man named Orin in West Post and then they vanished. When we left the Elder’s chambers the sky had changed to a swirling darkness and a storm was raging unlike anything I had ever seen. We ran through the streets to my house to get supplies for our journey. That’s where I found my mother...she had been badly wounded. The soldiers, they had been looking for something, she said they had found it… that she was sorry she couldn’t protect me better, and then she passed.” She tried to hold back the tears, but they flowed freely anyway, forcing her to take a moment to compose herself again before continuing with her story.
“We could hear the sounds of the battle raging through the city streets as we ran and escaped through a secret passage that Tyrius had once shown me that leads beyond the city walls. He always told me to be prepared in case I ever needed to leave the city unnoticed. I never actually thought I would have to use it…” she said.
“Wait, stop right there” Ryan interjected. “You know of a secret passage that leads into the city?” he asked, suddenly more alert.
“Yes, there’s one near the rear of the Western District in the Northern wall. He told me it was made in secret long ago by the Elders to use if they ever needed to get out of the city undetected. He said their duty as an Elder called for such secrecy at times.” she explained.
“Is it big enough for a grown man to fit through it? For someone my size?” he asked, leaning towards her urgently, suddenly very awake.
“Well…yeah. It might be a tight squeeze, but you should be able to make it through.”
Suddenly the realization hit her. “That could be our way into the city!” she exclaimed excitedly, chastising herself for not mentioning it sooner. She had just been so exhausted when she arrived the night before that it hadn’t even occurred to her to mention it to Ryan.
“My thoughts exactly” replied Ryan jumping up from the bench. “Come with me, we can finish your story in a moment. First, we need to relay this information to the other officers. This could be the break we’ve been waiting for.”
He started off towards the command tent where the other officers gathered for their briefings. Erin quickly jumped up and started after him.
When they entered t
he tent the other officers quickly turned their attention to them. Captain Ryan settled into place next to the table and motioned for Erin to come up beside him. They all looked surprised and disgruntled to see Erin with him, implying that their tent was no such place for young girls such as her to be in.
“Gentlemen, I have some very important information to share with you. This is Erin. She’s a personal friend of mine and she has some information that is critical to our cause and may help us gain access to the city without having to go through the soldiers.” The officers’ gaze quickly settled on Erin, suddenly eager to hear what she could contribute to their cause.
“Go on, Erin.” Ryan urged.
“Okay…” she replied nervously. “Good morning” she said as she cleared her throat nervously
“As Captain Ryan said, my name is Erin Alderan. I’ve been an apprentice of Tyrius the Elder since I was young and have been instructed and privy to many things, including some secrets of theirs that I hope may be of some assistance to you.” Some of the men silently nodded while others remained stone cold, unsure of what a young girl could possibly help with in such a momentous battle campaign.
“I know of a way into the city that the soldiers and General Krauss aren’t aware of…. a secret way.” The atmosphere in the room suddenly erupted into hushed sounds of excitement and their faces filled with hope. Captain Ryan quickly motioned for the men to settle down so they could hear what Erin had to say.
When the whispering died down, she continued, “When I was escaping from the chaos in the city on a mission given to me by the Elder Council, my friend David and I used a secret passage through the city walls in the Western District that Tyrius had shown me many years before.
“It’s big enough for someone my size to fit comfortably, but you soldiers may have a harder time getting through. You may have to duck down and go through one at a time. I can lead you to the passage when the time comes, and we are ready for our assault on the capital” she finished.
The men in the room looked at Erin with a newfound respect and appreciation. Before they had been at a loss at how they would get into the castle without taking severe losses from fighting through the soldiers and front gates.
Now they had a way in without having to fight, which means they could use their entire force taking back the castle and holding it off while they restored order and took care of General Krauss and the soldiers who remained behind. This one girl could have very well turned the tides of this conflict.
With newfound energy and purpose, the men quickly set about preparing and planning for the upcoming attack.
Captain Ryan put a strong hand on Erin’s back and patted her proudly. “You did well, Erin. Now how about we get something to eat and you finish telling me the rest of your story” he said, grinning. He seemed to be more awake now, the weariness no longer etched across his face.
They exited the tent and walked through the camp to where an old lady was stirring a huge pot of porridge cooking over a fire. When she saw them approach, she smiled knowingly and quickly poured them both a small wooden bowl full of the creamy oats before returning to her endless stirring.
The two walked over to an adjacent area and sat down on a couple of small boulders set in the ground as makeshift chairs. Erin began telling the rest of her story between bites of porridge while Captain Ryan sat and listened, eager to hear the rest of the events that led to her capture.
Erin told him of their flight from the city and their first encounter with the three soldiers from the Royal Guard. She explained how they extracted what information they could from one of the surviving soldiers before sparing his life and sending him away.
She recounted the trek through the woods to West Post and their brief stay in the town before their trek out to Orin’s house, and the ensuing attack from the posse of soldiers sent to find them. She spoke of Rex, the war-seasoned barbarian who helped them defeat the soldiers, and of Orin, the senile old man who promised to help David learn more about the orb. She then told him of their plans to enlist the help of Rex’s people back in Ravenfell, his homeland, so that they could have a better chance in taking back the castle and freeing Tyrius and the King.
“That’s when I found out that General Krauss had been holding Tyrius and the King in his dungeons. I knew then what I had to do, but I knew the others wouldn’t approve and say it was too risky, so I left. I couldn’t just sit there and let Tyrius go…I don’t even know if he’s still alive, but I have to try to rescue him if I can. He’s been like a father to me; he would do the same for me.” she explained.
Captain Ryan nodded knowingly before she continued.
“When I left, I made my way back to the outskirts of West Post. I was trying to make my way back to the entrance so I could follow the main road to the capital. That’s where the soldiers captured me and threw me in that awful smelling wagon.
“It wasn't much longer before you and your men showed up and set me free.” She finished her story, amazed at how quickly the retelling had seemed to be when it felt like an eternity living through it.
Captain Ryan seemed to be unsettled about something. “Tell me more about this orb. I remember vaguely hearing Tyrius talk about it some time ago, but I never really paid much attention to him when he talked of such things. I guess I should have been more attentive” he said, scratching his head.
Finished with his porridge and seeing that Erin was finished too, he collected their bowls and set them to the side. “What do you know of it?” he asked.
She then explained to Ryan what had been revealed to them by Orin. How the orb is an object of immense power created by the Mystics long ago. That it was created by yielding what remained of their lifeforce after their battle with the Defiant One and was meant to preserve their collective power through the ages, storing it in tangible form until one day, a child would be born that they predicted would come to our world and restore order by reuniting with the orb.
She explained that by uniting with the orb, David would one day become the Final Mystic of Creation – a unified form of the Mystics, possessing more power than any of them individually, but instead harnessing their collective powers in a single sentient form. That he is the only one who could ensure the Defiant One is never released from his prison.
She pulled a strand of hair back behind her ear before continuing.
“David is out there somewhere with Orin and Rex. I don’t know if they are looking for me or if they’ve gone to seek help from Rex’s people in Ravenfell. All I know is that whenever this battle finally begins, we will need David to make it through.”
She looked down at the ground, wondering once again how David was doing and where he was at. No matter what she did, her mind always raced back to thoughts of him.
Captain Ryan could see that the issue was bothering her, so he decided to change the subject.
“Well, let’s just hope that he was able to make it to Ravenfell and convince them to help our cause. They would help tip the scales into balance and give us a better chance at winning this fight.”
He stood up and walked their empty bowls over to a small tent near the cooking area before setting them in a large water basin to be washed later with the rest of the cooking wares. When he started back towards Erin, she stood and met him by the fire.
“What are we going to do, Ryan?” she asked, frustrated. “We’re outnumbered at least fifty to one. General Krauss had to have been planning this for years to have tracked down the Wolf Guard and convince them to help him. Now he’s using them to strike fear into the hearts of the soldiers, using their families as bargaining tools to force them to carry out his will. It seems like he’s thought of everything. What chance do we possibly have to take back the capital?” she asked as they slowly walked through the camp.
“I’m not sure, but fear has a pretty big impact on some people. If enough of them have sided with the General because of fear for their families’ safety, maybe when they see us storming the palace from
within the city walls it will be enough to convince them to turn against the General and join our cause. For those who have joined him willingly, though, there is only one fate they deserve – a swift and sudden death.”
He turned and looked at Erin with fierce determination. “I promise you I will do everything in my power to help save Tyrius. He’s a dear friend of mine too, you know. He means a lot to me, he always has. We will find him. For now, try to focus on the cause.
“We need to start training some of the citizens who are able to fight. They need to learn so we can be better prepared to stand up to the horde of soldiers that we will eventually be facing” he looked around at the farmers and merchants that filled the camp before them. “These men won’t stand a chance against those trained soldiers, but if they are equipped and properly trained, then their chances to survive will expand substantially. We have to do everything we can to prepare everyone for this fight.”
She understood the importance of training when it came to a big fight. If she had not spent her childhood getting trained for combat as well as her studies, then she would not be standing here today. She would have easily been dispatched by any of the soldiers that she had faced since leaving the capital.
“You’re right, Ryan. We need to train these men. How can I help?” she asked eagerly.
“Well, you’ve been trained in combat since you were young right? Do you think you’d be up to helping train some of these men into soldiers?” he asked, happy to put her to good use to keep her mind off her troubles.
“Yes, sir!” she said with a grin.
“Great! Consider yourself officially recruited.” He pointed across the camp towards an open area where the trees thinned out into a natural clearing. It formed a sizeable field that would provide ample room for several different training stations. “You can set up a training ground over there and use it for your exercises. Find anyone you can who is able and willing to fight and have them gather supplies and meet you at the training ground. I’ll come check on you later in the afternoon.”
David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb Page 17