Chapter 65: Followers of the Antagonista

At the time I wasn’t sure whether I was gonna live. I just remember the feeling of an empty stomach, and the hurt starvation caused. It consumed my every waking thought and I had dreams about eating. You would think my dreams would be about feasting but no, typically I was only eating apples, one by one, but far away from the castle of Erestal and all those around me. I think the great tormentor during those days wasn’t the lack of food, but of the constant threat of not knowing who to trust. Once loyal companions morphed into unrecognizable creatures when they hadn’t eaten for days, and their haunted gazes stared back at me with zombie like eyes, their jaws sometimes munching only air. Now when I dream it is not on some island in Tangamar eating fruit, but of those dark days under siege.

-Excerpt from the journal of Davy Cain on the siege was Erestal. 562SD

“One...two...three!” Said the leader, dagger raised high. Chase closed his eyes and excepted the inevitable, but just then a great roar came from the end of the alley.

“Back you fiends!” Roared a familiar voice. And another one said, “Meredith! Is that you?”

Daniel and Hackney, realized Chase. The thought slipped through his mind like oil on a rusty wheel. Despite the sudden commotion about him he could not open his eyes. The sound of clanging steel on steel and the surprised cries of their attackers filled the alley, and it was all Chase could do to stay conscious.

“Agni!” Said the leader. He sounded scared. Amongst the sounds of battle and the cries when one of the masked men were cut by their savior’s blade he was trying to remain in command. “Use the thing! We gotta go!”

“Not so fast,” said Daniel. He grunted and there was another shriek as his blade met flesh. “All of you are going down for this!”

“Look what you did to our leader!” Raged Hackney. “You’ll all pay!”

More sounds of clashing weapons. The foot falls around Chase sounded desperate as they tried to make a stand against the trained swordsmen with their cudgels.

“Agni, now!”

“Stop using my name, schlub!” Said the woman. But then there was the sound of a great rush of air, and Chase could smell something sulfurous around him. He cracked his eyes open and all was dark and smoky. He could not see a thing.

“What the—,” Hackney started coughing as the smoke enveloped them.

“They’re trying to escape!” Said Daniel, also coughing. “Don’t...cough cough...let them!”

Chase heard five pairs of legs run past the two men, pushing and cudgeling them with their final good byes as they ran for their lives. The sounds of blades being slashed in the smoke sounded but Chase heard no more strikes. Soon the desperate footfalls disappeared and they were alone.

“Forget them, Daniel,” said Hackney. He got to the ground beside Meredith and gently shook her shoulder. “Boss, are you okay?”

The smoke was beginning to dissipate, and Chase could make out the figures of Daniel and Hackney. They were both beside the Young Valorous guild leader.

“We were...attacked,” mumbled Meredith, slowly coming around.

“Well, your alright, now,” said Daniel, emotion in his voice. “I’m just glad we were walking by. What was that spell they used at the end?”

“Smoke bomb,” said Chase. Then he coughed and the taste of blood filled his mouth. Possibly had some internal bleeding, he realized with dread. “Not a spell.”

“Both of you,” said Daniel. He moved over to examine Chase and winced when he saw him. “I’m sorry we weren’t sooner. But we are gonna get both of you some help and then get back at whoever those freaks were.”

Chase tried to point out the alley where the tournament was going on and he knew his guild were still watching Claire fight.

“Amelie, get her,” he managed before coughing again. “Heal.”

“Right,” said Hackney gruffly. “Dan, wait here with them. Those masked people might return to try and finish the job. I’ll find Amelie and be right back.”

“What about Clark?” Said Daniel. “We could use him as well.”

“Drunk,” said Hackney, bitterness in his voice. “He’ll be of no use.”

Daniel swore but told Hackney to go ahead. Chase heard Hackney tell him to keep his blade out, and then jogged off out the alley to find the guild. There was a great cheer from the arena.

I wonder how Claire did, wondered Chase.

“Can you tell me what happened, Chase?” Asked Daniel gently. “Meredith is out again. Did you do something to piss those guys off?”

Chase tried shaking his head. Talking was the last thing he wanted to do.

“Attacked us,” Chase muttered.

“You both are busted up pretty good,” said Daniel grimly. “We may need some professional healers if Amelie can’t come through. Do you think they will be back?”

Chase tried to shrug his shoulders.

“I mean, we are gonna have to find them, anyway,” said Daniel. “They didn’t seem so skilled when we were fighting them. I guess both you being hunters didn’t really help out, huh?”

Chase opened his eyes again and stared at Daniel until the player blushed.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to insinuate anything. I’ll shut up now.”

“Thanks,” said Chase. Or maybe he thought it?

“Great AION!” Came a voice, accompanied by the sounds of running feet. Hackney had brought the Seven Banes, and their worried chattering set Chase’s teeth on edge.

“What happened?” Said Amelie with shock, sounding on the verge of tears.

“I can’t believe it!” Said Brent. “Who did this? I’ll find them and kill them all!”

“Me too,” seethed Alex. “Chase, what did they look like?”

“Enough!” Said Hackney. “Amelie, can you heal them both?”

Chase tried to open his eyes. He saw Amelie kneeling beside him, eyes wide and her skin pale. Brent and Alex had their swords drawn and concern and anger was etched into their features. Thomas was the only one who had not spoken, and had pressed himself against the wall and was white as a sheet as he stared at their bloodied bodies.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“I can try,” said Amelie. “But I don’t know the extent of their injuries. Healing both of them fully may be impossible for now.”

“Just do what you can,” pleaded Daniel.

“Where is Clark?” Asked Amelie, rolling up her sleeves. “I could use some help.”

“He’s indisposed,” said Daniel with chagrin.

“I see.”

“What about potions?” Said Alex. “Marlon made us loads.”

“They won’t help much I’m afraid,” said Amelie. “They are too low level to do much except mend wounds on the outside. I fear whatever happened to them caused internal damage.”

“Just do what you can,” said Hackney. “Maybe the potions can handle the rest.”

“Okay,” said Amelie. “Here we go.”

A light came from Amelie’s hand which hovered above Chase’s chest. The light was warm and he felt the heat from her fingers brush his face with their heat. The pain he felt within himself lessened, and the need to cough disappeared. Suddenly he felt as though he could sit up, and he grabbed her hands.

“Enough,” said Chase. Amelie looked surprised and her face was dripping with sweat. “Use the rest on Meredith.”

Without a word, Amelie shuffled around to do the same to Meredith. The leader of the Young Valorous had her eyes slightly opened but didn’t say a word as Amelie rested her hands slightly above Meredith’s chest. As the light poured from Amelie’s hands Meredith gasp and her breathing increased.

“Wow,” said Meredith. Her eyes flickered open and she tried to sit up but winced and lay back down. “Thank you, Amelie. I—.”

She coughed and some blood dribbled from her mouth. She wiped it away and examined the blood stain on her hand.

“I was only able to heal the worst of the damage,” said Amelie apologetically. She looked near to passing out herself now and despite kneeling on the ground was shaking slightly. “I have never had to heal such wounds before—especially for two people at once. I hope you are feeling better.”

Meredith’s eyes softened as Amelie spoke, and instead of saying a word she gently hugged Amelie and soothed her hair.

“Thank you, Amelie,” said Meredith. “I owe you my life.”

“It’s the least I could do,” said Amelie, sounding shocked to be held for so long.

“Chase, how do you feel?” Asked Brent. His sword was still out and his anger had not subsided, but the fact Chase and Meredith seemed to be slightly recovered had made him cease pacing the alley looking for more threats.

“Better,” said Chase. He winced again as he tried to stand up. Alex grabbed him by the arm and helped him to his feet. He felt shaky and his body still ached, but as he examined himself he saw only a few bruises, though later he could check the full extent of the remaining damage. “Thanks, Amelie.”

“Don’t mention it,” said Amelie. “Now tell us what happened, please.”

Chase glanced at Meredith, and she grimaced. Daniel and Hackney were helping her get on her feet. She seemed to have taken just as much if not more damaged than himself.

“We were attacked by the same people who hurt Seb,” said Chase. He was now leaning against the wall and trying to keep his breathing steady. All he could see in his mind were the blows of the masked men as they pummeled him with their cudgels. “All cloaked. All masked. There were half a dozen of them at least.”

“Only five, I counted,” said Meredith.

“Five people did this to you?” Said Alex with concern. “What did they want?”

“They talked like someone had sent them to kill us,” said Chase. “I don’t know...after that beating I am having trouble getting my thoughts together.”

“You might have a concussion,” said Alex, reaching his arm out to steady Chase.

“I remember,” said Meredith. She was leaning against he opposite wall and gingerly prodding her ribs. “Ouch, might need Clark to look as these later. They said they were here to send a message. But at the end they decided to kill us all. And yeah,” she added, glancing at Daniel and Hackney. “They are the ones who did the same to Seb.”

“Guess we know what comes next,” said Hackney, darkly. “Time to find who did this.”

“I agree,” said Brent. “The tournament is over for me until we find these players. No one does this to our guild leader and gets away with it.”

Suddenly a memory, punctuated by the blows from his attackers, came back to him.

“Not just players,” said Chase, looking up. “One of them was an NPC.”

Seven sets of eyes looked at him, besides Meredith, with shock and confusion.

“An NPC?” Said Amelie, gently. “You mean it was some kind of highwayman working for the players?”

“No,” said Chase, shaking his head. He winced in pain at the sudden movement. “No. He was working with them. And he was no highwayman or anything like we met outside Moontown. He seemed to be making his own decision, and even argued with the players.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” said Daniel, eyebrow cocked. He didn’t seem to want to discuss it any further however as he added, “how about we all get back to the Inn, okay? We can discuss it there and maybe get some potions inside of you two. I am sure you’re both still really shaken.”

“Good idea,” began Alex. He began to say something else but was cut off by the sound of a flute being played at the end of the alley.

Chase and the others looked sharply at the sound, expecting another attack, but instead were met by a player with flaming red hair. He was playing a flute as he walked and hadn’t noticed them until he was nearly five feet away from Alex. As he looked up, the flute to his lips, his eyebrows shot up as he examined the scene.

“My, my, what ever happened here?” Said Astor Briggs.

“Got mugged,” said Meredith quickly. She glanced nervously at the others. “It’s over. Attackers left.”

“Attackers? So more than one?” Aster looked genuinely curious, and he placed his flute away in his pocket. “I heard about a young boy being attacked earlier today, as well. Some strange people must be running around.”

“Very strange,” said Brent. He still had his blade out and was looking suspiciously at Astor. “Why are you here, anyway?”

“I was just taking a walk,” said Astor shrugging. The skin around his eyes tightened but it seemed that his curiosity was more powerful than his indignation at Brent’s tone. “These attackers...they didn’t happen to be wearing masks, were they?”

“In fact they were,” said Amelie, missing Chase’s look. He sighed to himself. “Do you know anything about them? Another of our friends also got hurt by these masked people.”

“It just so happens I do,” said Astor. He smiled shyly, as though he had just been asked about a secret recipe for a cake instead of about violent players who had nearly killed some others. “Let me guess, they were also in dark clothes? Perhaps they mentioned some NPC who they were taking orders from?”

“Yes,” Meredith reluctantly admitted. She seemed to not want to trust Astor at all but was too intrigued now. Daniel and Hackney looked perturbed that they were having to talk to the murderer but also wanted more information.

“Then that could be none other than the so called ‘Followers of the Antagonista,” said Astor. He sighed dramatically and spread his hands out. “They aren’t a guild or anything, but players who have decided to follow the Antagonista. For what reason I do not know but I have had some run in with them the past month. I thought Birchtown would be spared from their shenanigans but, alas, it seems that is not to be.”

“Followers of the Antagonista?” Muttered Alex thoughtfully. “Players are working for an NPC?”

“It’s happened before,” said Astor. “Though it was before any of us spawned many players worked for Lord Oscuro once upon a time.

“But why?” Said Amelie. “Why would players do that?”

“Beats me, madam,” said Astor. “Perhaps she is offering them something worthwhile. I know Oscuro gave many additional powers if they sided with him, which was a no brainer at the time as no one was able to beat him until the Old Guard came around.”

Astor glanced at Chase and his wounds.

“You really ought to get off the streets,” said Astor. “No telling when they might return to finish the job.”

“Just what we were saying,” said Alex. He seemed incapable from hiding his disgust for the little red haired man. “Thanks for the information, Astor.”

“Anytime,” smiled Astor Briggs. “And if you need any help tracking these attackers down don’t hesitate to ask. I love a good man hunt. Anyway...bye bye!”

He about faced and began walking away, whistling a tune as he did so.

Was he one of the masked people? Chase thought to himself. He glanced at Meredith and found her staring right back at him. It was definitely possible, though his voice did not remind him of any of the masked attackers. Sometimes people like that loved to return to the scene of a crime and be a spectator to the ruin they had caused. Just running into him was certainly suspicious.

“Ouch,” said Chase, feeling a poke to his side.

“Sorry,” said Thomas. He had not spoken a word since the Seven Banes had found him but some color had returned to his cheeks. “Did that hurt?”

“Yes,” said Chase. “If you’re curious I can kick you a few dozen times so you can understand.”

“I’ll pass, but thank you, kind sir.”

Between Thomas’ low bow and the way he mimicked Astor Briggs’ voice all laughed, even Chase and Meredith couldn’t help but chuckle despite the pain.

They were all about ready to go to the Inn when suddenly Brent gasped.

“Guys, we forgot about Claire!”

“Oh yeah,” said Chase. “Did she win?”

“She was still fighting when we left,” said Alex. “But it didn’t look to be going well.”

“Uh oh,” said Chase. “Well maybe we can—.”

But he was cut off by a sound from the entry of the alley. All turned around once more to see Claire, her face downcast, staring at the ground. She raised her hand and now it was Amelie’s turn to gasp.

Claire’s hand was mangled as though it had been stomped on by a horse.