“Where are we now?” asked James. It was three days since he had been summoned to this land, and James seemed no closer to returning to his homeland than he had been when he arrived.
“Wurtland,” replied Celeste, speaking calmly and directly. Celeste had been rather cold towards James since the ill fated hand holding incident. “We approach the home of the Empress of Wurtland, Wurtland Castle.”
The course of the road had been a difficult one. At times the road surface rose to great heights as it paralleled the aptly named Grey Mountains. Other sections descended and reached the valley floor, once again threading a path through the endless peasant farming communities and homesteads. On three occasions the group had been confronted by frontier forces of Empire soldiers, dressed in tattered gray and white uniforms. The soldiers seemed immensely fit and skilled, but poorly equipped. All showed great respect towards Oakleaf Gilderwood.
At one point, on a particularly high vantage point Celeste bade James to look east far across the valley and a large river, she named the River Stal. “Behold!” spoke Celeste in the gravest tones. “The terrible battlefield of Alberta’s Crown! There the Orc Lord Gorfiend defeated Stalsburg’s armies under Blucher, slaying him, and claiming a Runeblade as a prize! Four provinces, including this one, were terrorized and plundered. It was a dark time in the history of the Empire. Only the walls of Salsburg could defeat the Orcs.”
“What became of Gorfiend?” inquired James, wondering where he might have heard the name spoken before.
“Slain by the Dwarven king: At the Battle of Valdes Cavern! Or so it is said!” replied Celeste, and then added sadly, “The Runeblade was never recovered.”
“When was this battle?” asked James, wondering how recent it might have happened. Perhaps his fate had something to do with these events?”
“Five hundred years ago,” mused Celeste, her tones low and wistful. James suddenly realized just how long the memories lasted in this world. “Alberta never recovered from its loss. The province no longer exists. Its former capital lies there across the banks of the Stal,” she explained, her arm pointing east to a large town on a hill, perched above the banks of the river. “Pfieldorf.”
To James, it sounded like a dreary name for a capital.
The four continued down into the valley, this time to follow along the banks of a fresh mountain stream. Ahead, far in the distance, rose a large structure, also perched on a hill but surrounded by walls. “Wurtland Castle”, described Celeste, continuing,” but a castle without its Empress. All of this land's resources stoke the forges of Stalsburg, and few remember the Empress's last visit to Wurtland Castle. She prefers the pomp and ceremony of Stalsburg’s great generals, or better for her, the court life of Stalsburg Palace. Too unstimulating to attract m’ladies attention, here in the rural areas of Wurtland. James wondered if those were the only reasons for the Empress’s absence.
A group of guardsmen blocked the road ahead, once more deferring to the great Wizard as the three travelers approached the checkpoint. “Sir Gilderwood,” greeted the Captain. “We welcome your return to the province of Wurtland. May we be of assistance to your journey? We have horses at your disposal, if you wish and the finest outriders in our land to escort you to the castle. Our Lord von Richthofen awaits your appearance!”
“For a moment James was convinced that Oakleaf would refuse the assistance and bid James and Celeste to continue the journey on foot, but he was pleasantly surprised to hear him say, “It would give us the greatest pleasure to accept your hospitality!” and then continued, “My companions have journeyed many days with little rest or sustenance. I fear that I have been unreasonably distracted by recent events and have ignored their earthly needs. A mount to rest their tired feet and a comfortable place for the night would be a welcome change.”
Nights spent on the road to this point had consisted of sleeping under the cover of trees on bare ground. Although this might usually be considered intolerable by James, he had been reasonably comfortable due to the Wizard’s uncanny ability to find soft, dry and protected ground in out of the way places. As well, after a brief chant before sleeping the night, the insects and any small mammals in the area, seemed never to bother the travelers.
Horses produced, the four mounted and rode in a double file, alongside the Wurtland outriders. Five athletic, grey and white clad horsemen accompanied them to the gates of the city. A young outrider named Altibrix took up the riding position next to James. This was a welcome change from the stilted and uncomfortable conversations he had been experiencing with Celeste lately. His only other alternative had been Arthur Timberlane, who was a somewhat better conversationalist, but often repeatedly described his family and home in the outskirts of Stalsburg. Altibrix was much closer in age to James. He had only recently been promoted to the outriders and regaled the travelers with tales of daring battles that had taken place far more recently than five centuries ago. Indeed, as he listened to Altibrix’s remarkable stories James wondered why their journey had not been interrupted by an ambush of terrifying beastmen or horrible ghouls. Altibrix made it sound as if they lay behind every corner of the Grey Mountains.
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Wurtland Castle was a castle that had seen better days. More like a collection of mismatched stone and brick buildings of varying ages, but none recently constructed. Several walls showed battle damage, all showed erosion from the elements. Wurtland Castle occupied a hilltop, 2 days' journey from the capital city of Wurtland, Wurttenburg. The castle seemed isolated, emphasized by the fact that the Lord’s wife, the Empress of Wurtland, spent most of her time in Stalsburg.
Nonetheless, Lord Richthofen, once he had apologized for the absence of his wife, provided a wonderful night of hospitality. James realised he had been tremendously isolated by spending his days with a brooding and miserable Wizard, along with the distractingly beautiful, but unreachable, Celeste. James had a great time in the castle, aided by the nourishments and beverages, many exotic and unfamiliar to his previous experience. Well past midnight, a delightful young female servant named Angelica, escorted him to his private chambers, drew a bath for James in a porcelain tub and cleaned James head to toe. She finished the experience by putting him into bed in a canopied arrangement consisting of a rough cut wooden frame, a straw mattress and a remarkably thick, feather duvet. He certainly had never drifted off to sleep so comfortably in his entire, young life.
The comfort did not last long.
Sometime, very early in the darkness of the morning hours a dream entered James’s mind. A dark mist surrounded him. James was unsure where he was, and had no idea how he had arrived. Two glowing red eyes stared out of the gloom at him. A voice permeated the darkness, seeming to come at James from all directions. “The filthy one, the one who stoops to communicating with the animals and plants, the gardener,....... I despise that one”, growled the impossibly large, devil-like, man. Two large tentacles extended from the sides of his coal black body armor, coiling and uncoiling like a gargantuan snake. They appeared as two pythons or perhaps boa constrictors. Several much shorter men in equally macabre war gear surrounded the man. “I will destroy that one, and everything he has lived for…..”
James forgot most of the dream, but retained a sense of immense foulness. It was if he had been poisoned in some fundamental way simply to be in the being’s presence. When Angelica woke him in the morning he felt almost as weary as when he went to bed.
“I fear that my Lord does not appreciate the hard work I do for him…..” spoke Angelica sadly. “Sir James, you have slept only fitfully this past night and you wear a mask of troubles upon your face. Am I to blame for this?” asked the young servant woman, her billowing cotton blouse rustling in the cool morning breeze that blew in through the castle window.
“No!” insisted James. “No, it is certainly not your fault Angelica. I had a nightmare….” explained James.
“A nightmare”, repeated the servant girl gravely. “What is a ‘nightmare’ Sir James?” asked Angelica in the most serious tone possible.
James explained the experience of the dream as best he could, realizing that even as he spoke, his memory of the experience was failing him. Nonetheless, the details he was able to provide of the vision, clearly startled the young woman. “A ‘nightmare’ ye calls it Sir James,” responded Angelica. “Perhaps in your world this be so, (Apparently Angelica knew more about James than he had realized) but in our world such experiences are much more than mere ‘dreams’. That ‘dream’ was a vision, m’Lord, or I’m an Aquitanian Princess! You’ve seen a Demon! Be assured of that! Terrible events are afoot! I can only hope and trust that Sir Gilderwood can protect us from them!”
With that she said not another word about the dream and assisted James in his dressing. Somehow, his clothes had been completely cleaned, dried and folded. ‘Probably it was Angelica’, thought James.
Just then, Celeste entered the room. She took one glance at Angelica, and a look of what could only be called jealous disdain flowed across her face. It took no more than an instant for her to recover her composure and explain, “Sir Gilderwood wishes you to join him in the breakfast room, Sir James. Arthur Timberland has reunited with his family. We are to depart immediately. Sir Gilderwood awaits us!”
James rose to his feet, bowed deeply towards Angelica and expressed his deepest thanks for her assistance. Celeste’s eyes flamed and he followed her through the ancient hallways and down the stone stairs, eventually emerging into a large room with several ornate wooden tables. Oakleaf Gilderwood sat at the largest table next to the Lord of Wurtland, his armor chestplate shining in the morning light that poured in through the open windows next to the pair.
“Lord Von Richtofen has sought to inform us of some dark tidings, Sir James,” began Oakleaf Gilderwood. “I hope that you have slept well, as you will require all of your energy in the days to come. As I had feared, our recent conflict with Gloamanthal is but a small part of a much larger Chaotic incursion into our Empire. The armies of corruption are on the march. Badendorf itself is threatened. The very existence of our world is in question,” concluded Oakleaf gravely. Lord Von Richthofen nodded in agreement.
James noticed tears begin to well up in the corners of Celeste’s eyes. “Oh dear,” she gasped out quietly. “Is there anything that can be done, my Lord?” asked Celeste.
“We certainly welcome the presence of you and your companions, Sister Celeste!” replied the powerful Von Richtofen. “Your presence is required in our nation's capital. The Emperor himself has requested that I facilitate your journey, in order to insure your speedy and safe arrival in Badendorf. Three units of my finest orders of knights will accompany you, as well as my most trusted general: Otto Von Marbach, Slayer of the Goblin King,” and he paused as an incredibly tall man, clad in full plate mail to which was attached a large broadsword in an ornate leather scabbard , entered the room. “Lord Von Marbach is a veteran of more than forty battles, Sir James”, explained Lord Richthofen.
As James surveyed the astonishingly strong man, he noticed many scars on his face and hands, including two missing digits on his left hand. Von Marbauch’s eyes were large, and of the deepest and most penetrating blue color. He looked down at James and extended his hand in greeting, almost crushing James’s when they shook hands. Despite missing two fingers the grip was like a vise. He addressed James, “Young man, it is my belief that your presence in our world may tilt this struggle in our favor. I am greatly encouraged by your participation in our current travails.”
James was overwhelmed by this comment. How could he, a person new to this whole world, possibly assist anybody here, much less in a real war? Nonetheless, he felt compelled to respond to the charismatic Knight General. “I will do my best Lord Marbach”, and then instantly regretted his words, wondering exactly what he had committed himself to.
“We set off to Badendorf at the top of the hour!” announced Von Marbach. “My men await, at the castle gates!”. And with that Otto Von Marbach left the room.
“Gather your belongings, young James and dear Celeste. We will join with Lord Marbach’s expedition”, commanded Oakleaf Gilderwood, and then added grimly, “Haste is required.”
And with that the three returned to their rooms and packed for the journey to come.
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