Chapter 19: The Tangled Seb We See

Chase fell upon Seb with a fury. The boy yelped as he saw him looming over him and it was everything Chase could do not to take a rock from the ground and smash him in the face then and there. As it happened, Chase grabbed Seb by the shirt and forced him to let go of Thomas’ arm. Seb squealed as Chase increased his grip.

“Stop! Ok, I’ll let the little brat go!” Seb twisted in Chase’s grip and tried to free himself. Chase immediately pushed him down and he landed on the ground.

Before Chase could open his mouth, Brent had attacked the larger boy.

“Hey, Brent. How’s it—“

Brent’s fist crashed into the boys face and laid him out on the ground.

“Shut up you stupid moron,” said Brent. He spit on the side of the road. “You okay, Thomas?”

Wide eyed and still bleeding Thomas was breathing heavily, eyeing his foes on the ground.

“Thanks you two, but I would have taken care of it soon. I was just waiting for a good chance.”

“You were getting ganged up on is what was happening,” sneered Brent. “What is this? The second time in two days I’ve saved you? From the same guy? You need to toughen up.”

Thomas fumed. “I didn’t ask you to attack Greg. To be honest the guy is so dumb he didn’t even know what was happening. It was Seb here who punched me while Greg held my arms.”

Brent cracked his knuckles. “Is that true, Seb?”

Seb whimpered on the ground.

“CEASE THIS IMMEDIATELY,” shouted Brix. Chase turned to see the master at arms running across the field in their direction.

“Great,” said Brent. “Here it comes.”

The master at arms came puffing up to the four of them with what seemed half the field in tow. Chase saw his teammates and even Marlon with looks of concern. Claire smirked when she saw Greg on the ground.

“Two for two, Brent.”

“Thanks, Claire. Gonna have to ice my hand later,” he added with a smile.

“What is the meaning of this?” Said Brix. His face was turning red and he looked ready to explode.

“Thomas here was assaulted by Seb and Greg, it seems,” said Chase. “I saw them from the game table. That’s why I ran over here.”

“Forget the game,” said Brix, “You broke the rules by leaving the table. The other team won by default.”

“Come on, Brix,” said Brent, also getting red now. “We left to help a little kid in need.”

Thomas was fuming. “Hey! I was just fine!”

“Fine? Look at your face did you even get a hit in?”

“How could I? This big ape was holding my arms back!”

“Enough,” said Brix. “Stop talking. Brent, though it was fine to defend your friend here I can’t have you going around knocking out Greg every time you see him. The lads not even up yet.”

“He won’t be for a while. I was running when I hit him.”

Brix half sighed and half laughed, his frustration seemed to melt away.

“Aye, I saw the blow, Lad. It was quite something.” He straightened and suddenly realized the crowd watching him. “Ahem. But as I cannot have you striking the same player two days in a row, you owe me a mile run around the track before you have dinner.”

“What about them?” Chase pointed to the quivering Seb and the still unconscious Greg.

“Right,” Brix stroked his handle bar mustache. “Greg really looks up to you, Brent. I think getting punched twice is going to be punishment enough. Seb!”

During the discussion Seb had been trying to crawl away into the forest. Now he froze, and slowly turned his head around to face the master at arms. His face was the picture of terror.

“Tomorrow. 6 am sharp. BEFORE breakfast. We are gonna put you on a weight loss regime. I am a strong believer that every punishment should include a chance at reformation.”

Seb nodded glumly. “Yes, sir.”

“Chase, get Thomas cleaned up. And you lot,” Brix turned around to face the crowd of curious eyes. “Go to dinner. NOW.”

As the spectators began to disperse Chase’s teammates remained. Amelie immediately began wiping Thomas’ face despite his protestations. Without a word Brent left to begin his run, only pausing briefly to take a last look at the slumbering Greg. As soon as Brent was out of sight Seb bolted away into the night.

“Amelie, I said I am fine,” said Thomas, squirming away from her and the handkerchief she had produced.

“You’ve got blood everywhere,” she said sternly. “Stand still I am almost done.”

“Sorry guys,” said Chase. “I forgot about the rules of the game.”

Alex shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter. I don’t think our chances of recovering from that healing spell were very high. The other team still had all their players I heard so they would have won anyways.”

“True.” Claire nodded in agreement. “I wish they had chosen a different game for the final round. It was kind of fun, though.”

“You liked it? I thought you sounded upset the entire time.”

“No, not the entire time. I can see how it could be useful for training group mechanics. Just making it the final contest of the Triple Five was really annoying.” Claire’s voice trailed off for a moment. “Hey, what’s that?”

Where Seb had been laying just a moment before was a crumpled piece of paper on the ground. Claire bent over and snatched it up. She carefully opened it up and spread it out flat with her palm.

“Weird,” she said. “It’s a picture of Spade the Thief someone tore from the newspaper. What’s this doing here?”

Chase glanced at Thomas, who was staring wide eyed across the field, and he suddenly stopped complaining as Amelie wiped at his face.

“No idea,” said Thomas casually. “Maybe Greg dropped it when Brent laid him out.”

“Maybe,” said Claire. “I don’t think Greg can read, though.”

“Well it’s just a picture, ain’t it?” Said Thomas. “Hey! How about we all go get some dinner. I’m starving suddenly. You guys could probably eat an entire elephant after that competition.”

“Fine by me,” said Alex.

“Brent will catch up to us later,” said Claire. “Let’s go.”

Amelie finished her motherly ministrations and the group got ready to leave. Chase saw Claire fold the picture up and place it in her pocket. He sighed to himself but didn’t say a word.

The dining hall was buzzing with activity as people talked about the results of the Triple Five. In a corner surrounded by players were the champions who were regaling the crowd with a play by play of their three victories. No one paid their little group much mind except for a single player.

“There you all are,” said Marlon as they came in. “I’ve been waiting for you to arrive. I got a table saved for you. Get your food and join me, I have a little surprise for you.”

Marlon patted Thomas on the head which the boy deftly swatted away.

“Always into something, eh, Thomas?” Chuckled Marlon. “Ah well, I’ve got something for you too. Call it a consolation prize.”

“What is it?” Asked Claire suspiciously.

“Get your food and you’ll see,” said Marlon. “I worked on it all day. Hurry up!”

The old man excitedly wandered off the way he had come to a table which was empty but for his tray.

“Alright,” said Claire. “Whatever he has be polite, but very careful. Brent took one of his brews a week ago and was in the bathroom for three hours.”

The five were too exhausted to protest and so retrieved their food from the window and joined Marlon as requested. The dinner was a simple dish of steak of potatoes with a mug of cider to top it off.

“First of all, congratulations on a game well played,” said Marlon after they had all sat. He had a bottle with a cork in it beside his tray of food. “‘Twas a shame about the ending, but I would say helping a friend in need is far more important than winning a game.”

“I agree,” said Amelie cheerily. She smiled at Thomas to which he rolled his eyes.

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“Spit it out, Marlon,” said Claire. She hadn’t touched her food and kept it glancing at the entrance of the hall. “What strange concoction have you made this time? Is it something that will keep us up all night? Or give us the runs for a couple days?”

“Dear Claire,” said Marlon, feigning hurt. “I would never give you anything which would harm that delicate constitution of yours. This,” he uncorked the bottle with a loud pop and took a long whiff. “Is a humble bottle of mountain spirits.”

Claire’s eyebrows rose. “Mountain spirits?”

Marlon smiled and poured a dash into Claire’s cider. Claire sniffed the drink and took a small taste. Her face soured.

“That’s disgusting.”

“Who else wants some?” Said Marlon, oblivious to her complaint. “I know you do Chase, just make sure I get the bottle back.”

“What about me?” Said Thomas as Marlon began doling out the spirits into their glasses.

“Eight year olds shouldn’t be touching this stuff,” said Marlon. “But seeing that you earned some war wounds today I’ll allow you a nip.”

“Are you sure about that?” Said Amelie. She seemed to be having trouble shaking the motherly instinct around Thomas after he got hurt.

“He’ll be fine, just fine,” said Marlon. He returned the cork to the bottle. “He will have a good memory of his first drink around friends. I wish I could remember mine. It’s likely long lost to the forgotten memories of the Old World. Everyone. Cheers!”

Everyone raised their glasses and drank. Chase hadn’t drank any alcohol since he had spawned and the warmth flooded his chest and put him at ease. Around the table the girls and Thomas spluttered as the strange liquor burned their mouths. Alex was red faced but tried his best to act as though the taste didn’t bother him.

“Brent!” Said Claire, forgetting her drink. “Over here!”

Brent wound his way through the crowd with his food and sat beside Marlon.

“There you guys are,” he said as he sat.

“You finished that mile rather quick,” noted Amelie. Like Alex her face was also flushed. Chase thought she had pushed the drink away from herself.

“Brix went easy on me, if I am being honest. He knows I run a mile every morning before training,” Brent smiled before ravenously digging into his meal.

“Try some of this,” said Claire, handing him her mug.

Without a second thought, Brent quaffed the entire mug in two gulps. Every eye around the table was on him as he slammed the mug back on the table, burped, and then continued eating.

“Are you okay, Brent?” Said Claire, looking concerned. “Did you taste the alcohol?”

“Uh huh,” said Brent between mouthfuls. He pushed his own mug towards a bemused Marlon. “Give ‘e an’udder un, p’ease.”

“Well done, lad,” said Marlon, laughing as he popped the cork and poured. “Anyone else need a top up?”

For a while everyone ate quietly, enjoying the food after a long day. Occasionally some comment or brief conversation would be made concerning the Triple Five or the followings days activities, but even that melted away as the food disappeared down their mouths and Marlon’s bottle continued to be poured into their mugs. Chase knew that he was a little bit drunk after Marlon poured him a third cup and Amelie placed a slender hand on his arm.

“Be careful with that,” she whispered, “we still need to wake up tomorrow.”

“I’ll be fine, Amelie, but thanks.” Chase grinned a bit more wider than he usually did. Suddenly an idea crossed his mind. “Brent?”

“Yea, Chase?” Brent looked up from his plate. In the end he had devoured his own meal and any remains which Claire, Amelie, and Thomas had left behind.

“What are your plans when you leave this place?”

“Probably go straight to bed.”

“Heh,” Chase laughed. “I mean after the island.”

“Oh, right.” Brent’s carefree attitude suddenly vanquished and was replaced by a serious expression, despite the alcohol. “I have big plans.”

“Such as?” Chase tried to sound nonchalant.

“My goal has always been to get as strong as I can and challenge the strongest players in Esem. So, I am going to choose the Fighter class and make my own way for a while. Shouldn’t be too hard,” he added, staring into his mug.

Chase saw a pained look briefly flash cross Claire’s face. He tucked this into the back of his mind but didn’t comment or ask her what was wrong. It was clear to anyone with eyes why the idea of Brent striking off alone without her would cause her some distress.

“Won’t be too easy alone, you know,” said Chase. “Have you ever considered joining a guild?”

“Oh sure, sure,” said Brent. “But it would have to be a very specific guild. A high level Guild won’t take a new player, but joining with a bunch of new players who are strangers would be a bad idea as well. Also, the guild would have to be okay with my goals, you know? No galavanting about doing silly quests.”

“I see,” said Chase. He realized that everyone was listening to him and Brent.

Somewhere, in back of his mind Chase realized that if he wanted to forge a guild with these people then Brent was the key piece. He chose his next words carefully.

“How about we make one right now?” Said Chase, grinning drunkenly.

Brent paused, his mug halfway to his mouth, and burst out laughing.

“Good one, Chase!” He said, wiping a tear from his eye after he had guffawed and hit the table a couple times. “One imaginary game of killing a cyclops later and then we are all ready to form a guild. The idea is funny, I’ll give you that.”

“I think it’s a decent idea,” said Claire, a sudden light in her eyes. “I mean, we worked well today—not just during the final match but for the entire competition. I bet on the mainland we could all help each other quite a bit.”

“Maybe,” said Brent, seeming more interested in a passing fly than what Claire had just said. “But still, we all barely know one another. Not to mention I am about ready to leave this place meanwhile these three,” he motioned towards Chase, Amelie, and Alex, “haven’t even been here a week. They got at least a month before they pass the exam.”

A red face Alex surprised Chase when he ventured his opinion forward.

“Let’s do it,” Alex raised his mug. “We work well together, just like what Claire said. Let’s form a guild and go after Esem together. Brent, everyone has goals, perhaps we can push one another on the way.”

Claire nodded rapidly, then looked a bit woozy.

“Well,” said Brent, his forehead creased in thought but then he shook his head. “No. I don’t want to wait around. I’m leaving in a week and then my adventure begins. It’s a nice idea, maybe you lot can try it for yourselves.”

A crestfallen Claire took another drink, and Chase held his tongue. It wouldn’t do to push the idea any further when he himself was unsure whether he wanted it in the first place. He did note the looks on each of his companions faces at the brief conversation. While Claire and Alex seemed equal parts wistful and red faced, Amelie divided her gaze between Brent and Claire, an expression of puzzlement on her face. Marlon had his face in one hand and possibly had not heard a word they had said, and Thomas was looking queasy but curious as he looked around the table himself.

“I think it’s time for bed,” said Chase, standing up. “For me at least, this drink has really gone to my head.”

Marlon held up a thumb and smiled.

“It’s okay, Chase. I already clocked you for a light weight. Me and the boys here will finish this. Right?”

All around were groans but Alex and Brent pushed their mugs toward a grinning Marlon.

“Hey, Thomas,” said Chase, pretending as though he just had an idea. “Why don’t you come with me? You’re looking rather wan.”

Thomas shrugged. He glanced up at Thomas sheepishly.

“I agree,” said Amelie. “You need to go to bed...Hey! Did you drink mine?!”

“Oops.” Thomas hiccuped. “You weren’t touching it, guess I got a little confused.”

“Well done, Marlon,” said Claire dryly. “You got a little kid drunk.”

“Don’t worry,” said Marlon. “I was watching the little rapscallion. He’s my roommate after all and I am well familiar with his sneaky ways. I only put a bit in Amelie’s glass after I saw him eyeing it.”

“Who you calling a ‘little kid’?” Said Thomas sleepily.

“Come on,” said Chase, walking around the table. “Let’s go, I’ll make sure you get to the dorm safely.”

Thomas got up with little fuss and allowed Chase to direct him past the many tables of talking players and NPCs and out the eating hall. The night air was cool with a slight breeze which tugged at Chase’s garments. Without a word the pair made for the dorms, Thomas yawning all the way.

When they had exited the square the boy looked up at Chase.

“Well, Chase? No one is around anymore.”

“And?”

“Haven’t you been trying to talk to me for a couple days?”

I guess it is now or never, thought Chase. He slowed down. There was a bench between two trees by the path.

“Let’s sit over there, I don’t want to be standing for this.”

When they had settled down on the bench neither spoke for a moment. In the moonlight Chase could see Thomas’ face was still swollen and bruised. Whatever amount of alcohol he had consumed seemed to be making it hard for him to keep his head up.

“So,” began Chase. “Let’s start with the other day. Outside Ghelion’s office. What exactly did you hear?”

Thomas shrugged. “It was hard to make out through that door.”

Chase sighed. He was going to make him say it himself it seemed.

“You heard Ghelion call me by a different name, right?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Do you remember the name?”

Thomas looked at him briefly and then sighed himself. “I heard him call you ‘Spade’ a few times.”

“Yeah,” said Chase. “He was calling me that. I was trying to keep it secret but now that you know we might as well address it.”

“Right,” said Thomas, sounded uneasy. “The thing is...I think I already knew.”

“What do you mean?”

“I saw Spade a few mornings ago. Before the newspaper came and told everyone he was dead.”

Chase felt a chill roll over him.

“I was sneaking around the docks,” continued Thomas. “I wasn’t supposed to be around there but I wanted to see the beach. While I was there I saw someone swimming toward the island. I thought that was weird so I hid behind some crates and waited for him to reach the shore. Soon enough a man came out of the water. He was wiry but looked strong, and dripping wet from the ocean. He had his hair tied behind his head and his eyes...well, they looked just like yours do.”

“Did you tell anyone?” Asked Chase.

Thomas shook his head. “Nope. After the man had left the docks I was caught by Thaddeus. In all the commotion I didn’t end up telling anyone. I didn’t read the newspaper so didn’t know who people were talking about when they kept talking about Spade the Thief from the Old Guard. Just someone from the mainland was dead, and I didn’t really care. It wasn’t until I heard you and Ghelion talking and found a newspaper that I connected the dots. Not to mention you act pretty strange for a new player.”

The boy ended his story with a burp. He seemed to be waking up the more he talked. Chase thought about what he just told him before responding.

“I’ll tell you the truth but you have to swear never to tell another person. Ok?”

“Ok,” said Thomas. “I swear.”

“I am—was—Spade the Thief. It was my old life but I decided to respawn. That’s why I came back to the island in secret. I thought it was secret, at least,” he added.

“How is that even possible?”

“Respawn? Let’s just say I know more about the rules of Esem than most people. Also, I had enough to trade. That’s a rule about contracts that most people don’t know about. I had it on pretty good authority that, should I wish, I could respawn given the right conditions.”

“Strange,” said Thomas. “So you faked your own death?”

Chase sighed. “Looking back I should have. While at sea my old guild mates ambushed us. They killed everyone on board and sank the ship.”

“Why did they want to kill you so bad?” Thomas cocked his head in an endearing way. Chase hadn’t rehearsed this story before hand and he worried he was telling him too much.

“Bad blood, Tommy. Sometimes people who have known each other for many years, decades even, begin to hate one another. I still don’t really know why they wanted me dead.”

Thomas frowned. “You have to have some idea, Chase. Did you do something bad to them or something?”

I can’t tell him more than I told Ghelion, thought Chase. “Guild’s are like families, you know?”

“Not really.”

“Ok,” he said. “Well, they are. And even the closest family in the world will have secrets. Sometimes families are able to deal with them, and sometimes they can’t. It just so happened I knew a couple things, and someone found out, which led to them wanting me dead. That is what I assume happened, anyway,” he added.

Thomas glared at him. “And what did you know?”

Chase laughed. “Tommy, I can’t tell you. And I am not sure, myself. It could be any number of things. I have been in Esem for 25 years and I have done many, many things.”

Thomas didn’t seem satisfied with that answer but he nodded his head.

“Ok, fine. I believe that you are Spade. What is your plan now?”

Chase shrugged. “I really don’t know.”

“You want to form a new guild?”

“Maybe.”

“It sounded that way in the eating hall.”

“I don’t know, Tommy.” Chase thought about his spawnmates and about Brent and Claire. Marlon even flickered though his mind. They were all good people but he had really just met them recently and didn’t know much about them at all.

“Brent is the best fighter on the island,” said Thomas. “And Claire is close behind him. She will do anything that Brent says too. I bet...well.”

“What?” Said Chase, but he was pretty sure he knew what the boy was about to say.

“If Brent knew who you used to be he would join a guild with you in a heartbeat.”

Chase shook his head. “Not possible, I am afraid. I only told you because you accidentally found out anyways. Telling others could end up getting me killed.”

“True,” said Thomas. “I trust Brent though, Claire too. And your spawnmates seem like decent people. Brent is so obsessed with the Old Guard he would force you to let him join I bet.”

Chase had to chuckle at that. “Actually he has already told me he didn’t care much for Spade.”

“Ouch,” giggled Thomas. “That must have been hard to hear. What about Alex and Amelie, do you trust them?”

“I guess,” said Chase. “They were good during our introduction to Esem after we spawned, and of course during the game that you missed.”

Thomas pointed at his face. “I was in a meeting.”

Now they both laughed.

“Fair point,” said Chase. “Look, will you keep all this between us?”

Thomas gave that thumbs up. “Sure, Chase. It’s not like anyone would believe me anyways.”

“Thanks.” Chase thought about the others eating in the dining hall. “What’s your plan after this island, anyways?”

“Who knows, I heard kids usually end up at the player houses until they are old enough to go off on their own. Might have to make that my first stop though I am not looking forwards towards it.”

I forgot about those, thought Chase. The houses were not a place he ever had to visit as Chase had had Solomon and Karkren. They had taken him along with them and formed the Old Guard shortly after. Chase had been very lucky in that regard.

Chase was about to say something else but just then some familiar voices sounded from the path.

“Is that you, Chase? What are you doing there?”

Alex and Amelie, along with Marlon had been walking by and stopped when they saw them sitting there.

Thomas waved. “I’m here too, you know.”

Chase said, “just getting some air. Drank a bit more than I should have.”

“We’ll come on,” said Alex, he pointed a thumb behind him at a very drunk Marlon. “Let’s go to the dorms. You can bring him up to your room. He was singing to the entire hall when we left.”

Chase offered a hand to Thomas. “Ready, Tommy?”

The boy smiled and took his hand. “Let’s go.”