Chapter 14
A wooden carriage of extraordinary craftsmanship travels leisurely along an old, but well maintained brick road. A pair of muscular thoroughbred horses pull the carriage, just as they have done hundreds of times before, while a handsome man with silver hair manages the reigns. The carriage itself is covered in ornamental gold plates and jewels, letting all who pass know that nobility is traveling by.
The carriage slows to a stop as it reaches the front of a large iron gate. This gate has stood tall for hundreds of years and serves as the main entry point into the capital city of Leconak. The carriage finds its place within a small line of carts, almost all of which likely belong to merchants looking to trade their goods within the city. A lone guard moves away from a merchant and approaches the carriage’s coachman.
"Good day. I assume from the look of your carriage you are not here to sell goods?" says the guard. The handsome man gives a playful wink before speaking.
"You would be correct sir. I serve master Alvin, guild inspector. He has finished his investigation and has returned to make his report to the guild." says the coachman.
"Alvin huh? I thought I recognized this carriage from somewhere. Well a full inspection must be performed despite that." The guard signals to a group of his fellows, who then begin to approach the cart.
"Oh of course. However, my master is in quite the hurry—” He stops for a moment, assessing this situation. “Though you young guards are all that keeps the city safe from all the brigands and monsters these days. We understand you are quite busy and we appreciate your hard work." says the coachman as he removes a pouch from his waist and tosses it towards the guard. The guard catches it with ease and tosses the pouch between his hands a few times to get an idea of the weight. The guard flashes a grin and signals his men to leave.
"Seems everything is in order here. Hurry inside." commands the guard. The coachman gives a quick nod and snaps the reigns, guiding the carriage inside the city.
Inside the carriage sits Alvin and Harold who are currently chatting. Alvin is wearing an even more elegant robe than before, having to dispose of the torn rags of his former clothes. A ridiculous feathered hat sits on top of his head that hangs down, covering a portion of his forehead with a veil.
"As usual the city guard will let anyone in that spares them a few coins." says Alvin with a throaty chuckle.
"They should treat their work more seriously. They lack honor." complains Harold. His whinging is comparable to a small child’s.
"I agree. The Shiny God would never allow such a thing I'm sure. These guards would let a man eating ogre walk into the city if it paid some gold." says Alvin while placing an elegant seal onto a letter. "This is the last one Harold. We will make my report and send these letters out to my contacts. In a few days we will return to the mine."
"I do not like that place master Alvin. It is too confusing not squishing goblins." Alvin gives a hearty laugh and pulls out his journal to begin writing.
"Harold I'm certain you will settle in eventually. Now please remain quiet, I still have a lot of information I need to log for the Shiny God." says Alvin.
The coachman guides the carriage through two more checkpoints with no issues. After nearly half an hour the carriage arrives in front of the guild. The coachman quickly climbs off the carriage and opens the doors. Harold is the first to exit, his giant frame barely managing to squeeze out the carriage doors. Shortly after he plucks his short pudgy master from the cart and places him on the ground on his feet.
"Many thanks Harold," says Alvin. The giant man simply nods at his master's approval. Alvin turns to his coachman and begins handing him a stack of letters. "We will be in the guild for awhile so do run these along. When you return we will head back to the estate for a few days for some much needed rest."
Alvin goes to turn away but quickly turns back and hands a single gold coin to the coachman. "Oh yes, I almost forgot. Here is a tip, please be quick about it." says Alvin as the man stares at him in shock. The coachman quickly snaps back to reality and gives an elegant bow.
"Of course master Alvin thank you for your generosity." says the coachman, still in disbelief from the kind gesture.
Alvin simply waves the man away and approaches the guild entrance. Harold moves in front of his master and opens the large wooden doors. He steps into the room first. Even in town Harold is always ready for any danger that may threaten his master. Harold scans the room before looking back.
"Should be safe master Alvin. No monsters."
Alvin laughs and pats the mountain of a man on the back. This is a wasted effort as it never penetrates the thick platemail.
"Harold you never cease to amuse me. I doubt we would ever see monsters in the guild of all places. Though men are often more dangerous than beasts are they not? Thank you for always remaining alert." says Alvin.
Alvin surveys the room as Harold leads him to a counter. Various adventurers sit amongst the tables talking and drinking. There is a board hung on a wall, where many bounties and missions are listed. A group is currently looking over the boards content, most likely looking for an easy bounty to make some quick coin.
Unexpectedly, the groups are composed almost entirely of humans. Avlin sighs, "You know what Harold? Leconak really needs to fix its relationships with the other races. We hardly see any of them these days. Of course the only elf we have seen in years had to go and get himself killed." Harold looks at his master in confusion.
"Right. Might be too complicated of a subject matter for you my friend." says Alvin with a sad look. Alvin approaches the counter, handing the receptionist a large stack of papers.
"Hello master Alvin. I see you have, quite unfortunately, returned safely. I'm guessing this is your report? Please do everyone a favor and die next time." says the woman.
"Always playing hard to get. I love that about you my dear! Yes this is my glorious report of my adventure and investigation. Perhaps after this we can grab dinner? " says Alvin with a roguish smile. The woman stares at him for a moment in disgust before she briefly looks at the report.
"I'll bring this to the guild master straight away. Please wait here." says the woman.
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Alvin leans against a wall while Harold stands at guard. The pudgy man smokes from his pipe while writing in his journal. Nearly an hour passes before he finally hears his name called.
"Master Alvin the guild master is ready to see you now. Please trip on the stairs and die on the way up." says the receptionist. Alvin does his best to give the woman a charming smile but only succeeds in disgusting her further. Alvin and Harold move up the stairs and into the guild masters office. Harold stands at guard while Alvin takes a seat in front of the desk.
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A burly bald man with a mustache enters the room and takes a seat at the desk.
"Alvin if you could stop harassing the staff I would really appreciate it."
"Hello My dear guild master. I must assure you that women love it when nobility attempts to seduce them." says Alvin. The man leans back in his chair with an annoyed look.
"No. They really don't." The man sighs, “I read your report. As usual you exaggerated your trip a little too much. This town in the mine is just a few shacks or tents right?"
Alvin gives a smile.
"Oh no, I can assure you we have a real town. A town where goblins, humans, and crabmen are coexisting. It was fascinating."
The guild master thumbs through a few pages of the report before looking back up at Alvin. He stares at Alvin in silence for a moment.
"Alvin are you okay? You look ill." The guild master’s stare grows more intense.
"Oh I'm quite fine I assure you. Just a little fatigued from the trip." says Alvin. The guild master stares at him for another moment before shrugging and resting his shoulders.
"So we have a dead priestess and a dead elf. I couldn't care less about the barbarian, but this is bad timing Alvin. We were finally seeing the other races coming to Leconak again and this might become a turning point."
"Yes I agree. This may strain our already damaged relationship with the elves. The evidence does point to him trying to destroy a dungeon core and you and I both know what the church would have done if they got their hands on him." says Alvin.
The guild master nods at the statement. "I decided to send some staff out with an adventurer party to evaluate the dungeon. The staff will be moving in and running the guild. I know the mayor there made William the guild master but I cant trust him to run a guild on his own." says the guild master.
"I understand. When do they leave? I can give them some information about the locals, dos and don’ts and the like." says Alvin.
The guild master closes the report and folds his hands in front of him. "They just left. I can't risk someone else possibly trying to break the core of a new dungeon." he says.
"I never thought I would see the day that the guild acts so quickly!" says Alvin with a smile. The guild master laughs.
"Well we had to be quick. I wanted our people there before the church gets there."
Alvin blinks in confusion. "Why would the church be heading to this new town. My report did include that the town has a local deity already didn't It?" asks Alvin nervously.
"Of course they do. Most of the border towns do. The church will want to talk to the locals and this god… that’s if it can even communicate. After all they just had a priestess die in this new territory." says the guild master.
"When will you let them know?" asks Alvin.
"I already did."
Alvin stands from his seat suddenly, his face turning to anger. "When did you tell them?" he shouts, surprising the guild master.
The guild master laughs. "Where is this sudden confidence coming from, I thought you were a coward?! I told them maybe ten minutes after I got your report. They asked me to keep you here. Pretty normal to question people when a priestess dies." says the guild master nervously.
Alvin's face grows even angrier as he turns around quickly. "Harold we are leaving." shouts Alvin.
"Alvin you must stay for questioning, it won't take the inquisitor long." commands the guild master. Alvin rushes out of the room while Harold follows behind. The duo rush down the stairs and turn to run towards the exit. "Alvin stop!" shouts the guild master from the top of the stairs. The duo quickly approach the large wooden doors. Alvin attempts to open the doors but they hold fast.
“Apparently they think they’ve barred us inside Harold.” says Alvin knowingly, making way for Harold. Harold laughs madly as he plows his body straight through the massive doors. The doors burst open, sending splinters and debris all over the road in front of the guild. Alvin heads outside, following his guardian. Towns people nearby have stopped to watch the event. Some are even gossiping amongst themselves already.
Alvin's carriage is still gone, his coachman hasn't returned yet. Alvin quickly scans his surroundings and notices a group of people wearing white and golden robes that are quickly approaching them.
"Fuck. They are already here. I thought we would have more time." shouts Alvin. Alvin glances over to Harold. "Harold listen to me." orders Alvin.
"Yes master?" says Harold as he kneels down to get to eye level with Alvin.
"The church isn't going to let me go. That's an inquisitor and he's going to see my status. I really thought we would have more time before the guild notified the church." says Alvin as he sighs. Alvin removes the tattered journal from his bag and looks sadly at it for just a moment, then begins to write a few more lines inside it. "Harold, do you remember Yidhra? The nice priestess?" Harold thinks for a moment before nodding.
"Yes I remember! She was pretty." says Harold.
"I need you to get this journal to her Harold. It's more important than anything."
The members of the church have moved even closer, starting to encircle the two men while passerby watch.
"I can take you to her so you can give it to her master." says Harold.
"Thank you Harold but I will only slow you down. Get this to her. Don't stop for anything. I'm going to bide you some time. You must get there before the church." says Alvin.
"I understand. Then I come back and get you? " asks Harold. Alvin laughs.
“Yes of course. I'll be fine."
The members of the church have completed their encirclement, and the man who is recognizably the inquisitor steps forward. His face and hands seem to be covered in various scars and burns. His long white hair hangs over his shoulders. The inquisitor seems to be blind, his eyes dulled in their color, yet this does not appear to limit his capacity to understand his surroundings.
"I was just coming to interrogate you Alvin, yet here I find that you have defiled the Holy God’s land with your corrupted form. Just where did you spawn from demon?” The word leaves his lips as if it is an ember jumping out from a fire. Infinitely capable of as much fervor as its source. “Tell us and we will grant you a swift death." Harold looks up at the inquisitor while he readies his mace and shield, preparing to charge at the man who dared threaten his master.
"Harold! You have your orders. Go now!" shouts Alvin. Harold quickly grabs the journal from his master and turns away from him.
"I will be back for you master Alvin!" shouts the giant man as he charges forward. Four men try to brace for his charge but are flung aside as Harold bashes into them. One of the men is trampled beneath his weight and has his skull crushed by Harold's foot. Most of the robed men and women move to chase after the armored man but are interrupted by the inquisitor.
"That one is not tainted yet, we will deal with him later.” he says calmly. The men and women return to blocking off Alvin from escape. Many of the towns people have gathered at this point watching the struggle in front of the guild. "On your knees while I question you."
"Sorry, I will need to put up a little resistance here." says Alvin with a grin as sweat trickles down his neck.
"Fine. Force him down." Orders the inquisitor.
Four of the robed men and women approach him and reach out towards him. Suddenly four jet black tentacles fly out of Alvin's robe. One of the tentacles pierces the throat of one of the men, too slow to react. His body falls to the ground into a quickly forming pool of blood. Someone latches onto Alvin's arm and tries to pull him to the ground. Alvin quickly lashes out with his claws, cutting open the face of the man and covering the wound with a black liquid. The man falls to his knees in shock grabbing at his face.
"So you showed your true colors demon." shouts the inquisitor as he draws a single sword. Alvin quickly picks up the man next to him with a tentacle and throws the body at the inquisitor. The inquisitor cleanly cuts the man in two and charges at Alvin quickly. Barely having any time to react to the speed Alvin tries to brace against the sword with his tentacles. The blade cuts all four of them with no resistance, sending jet black fluid and blood flying across the nearby people. Alvin's tentacles drop to the group flailing.
"You inquisitors are insane." says Alvin.
"You have given up your pure form for this filthy one demon. How weak and pathetic." says the inquisitor as he effortlessly cuts off both of Alvin's arms. Alvin drops to his knees in defeat. The inquisitor looks over his soldiers and some of the nearby towns people. "Keep the demon alive, I will get my answers one way or another." One of the women in robes approaches the inquisitor.
"What about the witnesses?” she asks.
"Burn everyone here. I will not have an infestation in the capital." His soldiers all bow before him, then direct their gazes towards the townspeople.