The room was almost pitch black. A single crack in the door let the little light shine into the room, painting dancing shadows along the walls of the cell. Still bound with each link of a chain larger than a fist and with only a few pieces of what used to be his clothes barely hanging by threads, weak and breathing heavily, Sor had his head down. Refusing to look up even to the sound of a click and the following grinding sound of metal on metal. As the door slid open a cloaked figure stood in the door holding a small flame in the palm of his hand. Behind the cloak
“You run out of time. Bound and broken, yet you still refuse my simple offer.”
“I will not tell you anything.”
“Are you sure of that? I can be very persuasive.”
“I took an oath, I will not break that for anything. Just kill me already.”
“Now why would I waste such a valuable asset? You see, there are things worse than death. I will ensure you will live to see the day when I take what is mine. Even if that will take centuries.”
As the door of the cell closed, all that could be heard was the sounds of a soul giving into darkness. No one heard anything and no one will.
After another week, Sor was looking even worse for wear. His body started to look like a corpse, shriveled, and as thin as a twig. Standing on the far side of the cell behind a small table in the corner, the cloaked figure was just staring at him with glowing eyes of fire.
“I… will… not tell… you… anything!” Sor yelled but was silenced by blood in his mouth, just barely loud enough for the strange-cloaked person at the other side of the room.
“Oh? Well, you see I know you had a way to get me out of this awful place.” The strange cloaked man said in a quiet yet grave voice that shook the room.
“The only way out is…” Sor cut himself off before he spoke again.
“Ahh, here we go. Slowly we are making progress. See it's not so hard to just tell me”
“Never,” Sor said after spitting the blood from his mouth and steeling himself to look at the strange cloaked figure.
The strange figure sighed, “Well I guess I'll just take the knowledge straight from your head. By removing it.”
The figure pulled a knife from within, a strange knife with a black blade with red-gold lines decorated, and a hilt made from a dark wood which seemed to just be a hole in the space it took up. Slowly the figure walked over to Sor with the knife held in one hand. He did not even look like he was walking, more like just floating across the ground.
“Let's see what you are trying to hide,” The strange cloaked man said in the same strange voice. He started to mumble something that could not be heard because of the horrifying scream from the man chained to the wall.
* * *
“Good morning Sparky,” Verin said in a half-groggy voice, still tired from the intense riding they had done the day before. Verin is tall with golden hair. He wore just his pants made by his tailor back home, with black string holding the different pieces together. His brown shirt sits on the floor next to his bed.
“It's time to get up. We have to get going in a few minutes.” He said.
Getting out of his bed, Verin opened the window to let light enter the room. The sunrise lit up the whole room and he turned over his necklace with the strange writing that no one had been able to understand the meaning.
“Come on, it is barely morning,” Baren responded, turning over in his bed to pull the sheets over his head. “And you know my name is Baren, I don’t see why you insist on calling me Sparky.”
Baren was a little shorter and a little larger than most, but not so much that he would be kicked out of the class they were in. He too had cloth pants and a Brown shirt, but he also had a large hide coat that looked closer to a cloak.
“Oh come on already. You know why.” Verin said with a slight smile protruding over his mouth.
“That does not mean I enjoy it though. If I knew you would end up calling me that all the time I would not have taken the bet to stand so close to the lightning rod.”
“Well, It works does it not? “ Verin asked with a grin and a slight chuckle.
Walking over, Verin threw on his shirt and pulled his sheets to make his bed.
“Well we have to get going, today we are going to Tarvalis. We need to hurry. or Professor Kib will have us both in the stables when we arrive.” Verin said, turning to grab his book and papers from the table and stuffing it in his backpack. So be sure to not forget your coat.”
Groaning Baren sat up with sleep still in his eyes. Frustrated Verin started to walk out of the massive wooden door to the room they were in.
Stopping at the door, Verin turned and spoke, “We all agreed to leave at first light so we can make it there today. We don't want to have to camp on the road again. Better to just get there.”
“I know, I'll be down at five, just let me get my stuff and I'll meet you there.”
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As he left the room, he headed down the stairs to meet Kib and the others in the lobby of the Inn they were staying at. In the lobby was a small group of guards in the corner standing at attention with their armor on and swords in their sheaths. Engraved into their armor was the emblem of the Ravenhale School of peasants who served the king of Tarvalis. Also in the room were a few of the other students sitting around a large wooden table eating some bread and cheese. Decorated around the room were a lot of pictures depicting the old owners of the Inn including the current owner Marcos. A larger man with a thick wild beard and a balding head. He looked to be in his 60’s but everyone knew he was much younger.
Verin decided to stay away from the others in the room. Finding a spot where no one was, he sat down and took his book and charcoal pencil from his bag. He resumed the drawing of the strange symbols on his necklace which he had started the previous day whilst they were riding. Verin thought he had seen the symbols elsewhere but he couldn't remember. After a few minutes of drawing, Baren came down the stairs in his hide jacket which looked to be falling apart, and his satchel slung around his shoulders to rest by his right side. Looking around for only a moment he spotted Verin and walked over to join.
“I think I have everything this time,” Baren said, although Verin was not paying any mind. “Hey Veirn” he called a little louder drawing the attention of a few other people in the room.
Slightly spooked and dropping his pencil, Verin greeted him with a frustrated expression. “Next time, please don’t yell my name.”
“Not my fault you did not hear me,” Baron said as he was about to take a seat. Before he could, however, Professor Joyus Kibble walked into the room from the side office where he had been talking with Marcos.
Loudly Professor Kib called everyone's attention, “Alright everyone, we are leaving now. Grab your things and we will meet outside. I want to be there before sundown, so we will only stop one time today around midday to let the horses rest.” Hurriedly he turned and walked out the door followed by two of the guards and the rest of the students.
“Darn I did not even have time to eat,” Baren said in a frustrated voice.
“Well you should have gotten up earlier,” Verin spoke as he put his book in his bag and stood up. “We'll grab a piece of bread and cheese from the table over by the front as we leave.”
“Are you ready to get back home?” Baren asked.
“I suppose.”
“Uh-huh. I know you are. I know you want to see Leila. You are always drawing her. I've seen your book,” he said.
“You have?” Verin asked nervously, as his cheeks reddened.
“I have. You do remember she is my little sister right?” He asked a little irritation in his voice in the way all protective brothers have.
“I do know, and that is why I have not told her I like her,” he said obesity embarrassed as they both got to their horses and began to mount them.
“Well you better ta-”
“Alright students here we go,” Professor Kib said interrupting Baren before turning on his mount and getting it walking.
“I know, I will,” Verin said after a moment.
“You say that but when?” Baren sighed before continuing. “Look, we are friends and she is my sister. You have known us both for all of our lives. So I have watched how you have looked at her since we were both fourteen. Now here we are 5 years later and you still have not talked with her.”
“I know I promise I will speak with her this week,” Verin said in response.
Baren sighed again. “You know she likes you too right?”
Verin did not respond, Instead, he sat there silent. As they continued in silence for a couple of minutes, they had finally made it out of town. Passing by several shops along the dirt road. One of which they stopped by last night for a meal and drink. They also passed a tailor and lots of stalls where merchants were trying to sell their different wares. They remained in silence for quite some time. They were walking through a strange forest, with massively tall trees, and only started talking after they were about an hour out of town. They were passing over a bridge when suddenly Professor Kib began to sprout out information about the bridge. He continued to talk, but Verin had stopped listening to both him and Baren took out his book, and began to draw their surroundings.
A little after midday, they came across a clearing with a small water hole. Everyone dismounted to let their horses take a break and get some water. Baren took out a loaf of bread and a few pieces of cheese, as did Verin.
“What do you think you will do with the test after we get back?” Verin asked while tearing off a piece of bread.
“Not sure,” Baren said in reply, “perhaps I’ll do alright, after all, we have been out here for a week learning about the kingdom.”
“Have you not taken notes?” Asked Verin.
“Nah, I don't need them, I don't ever end up using them anyways. They will just end up in the trash at some point.” Baren said.
Before they could continue their conversations one of the guards started yelling for people to get to the horses and head for the city gates. They were still about three hours away, and not many people started moving. They did after several of the other guards drew their swords and the rest readied arrows to their crossbows. In a panic, Verin ran to his horse and passed several guards. Some of the students were shouting as he ran past to get to his horse. Once mounting and above most of the people, he saw figures on horses in the forest running towards their clearing. As he stared at the people getting closer, Baren mounted his horse and began to yell at Verin.
“Let's go,” he said with a little fear in his voice. “I heard a few people say they were thieves from one of the neighboring kingdoms, but I did not hear which one.”
“What are they doing here?” Verin asked with the same tint of fear in his voice.
“They are thieves, so I will assume they are trying to steal from us.” Another student said running past his horse.
Turning to gallop away from the people behind them and head to the gate, he followed Baren into the thick forest. Leaving everyone behind, they just ran in the direction they thought was the city. Being the first out of the clearing, they did not hear when Kib tried to yell at them for going in the wrong direction. Moving fast, they did not stop for a while, even after they could no longer hear the yelling and clanging of metal. Eventually, they came across a different bridge from the one they had crossed, but with no water underneath. As they slowed to cross it, they could hear horses not far behind them.
“Under the bridge,” Verin said and immediately turned to the side without crossing over and Baren followed close behind.
Once underneath, they saw a strange hole in the side of one of the pillars. They did not enter immediately, instead standing still as other horses galloped quickly over the bridge. About a minute after they no longer heard the people above them, Baren turned to keep moving, but Verin did not and looked at the hole in the pillar.
“Let's get moving,” Baren said after seeing Verin not moving.”
Instead of responding, Verin dismounted walked over to the pillar, and looked in. Frustrated and grumbling to himself, Baren turned to dismount and walked to Verin.
“Do you see this,” Verin asked, still studying the door in the one pillar, which led to a staircase with strange writing about it.
“No, it's just holding the bridge up,” Baren said, looking confused.
“Do you not see the stairs?” Verin asked incredulously.
“No. Did you hit your head on a branch as we were riding? Baren asked and got a glare in response.
“So you're telling me you see this hole in the pillar with a stair leading to who knows where?” Verin asked.
“No,” Baren responded hesitantly. “Why is your necklace glowing?”
“Huh” was all Verin managed to get out before looking down to see that his necklace was glowing, and rather brightly. “This is weird right?”
“Yeah, maybe we should get you to a doctor. And me if I see glowing necklaces.” Baren said.
“What, no, we should check it out.”
“There is nothing there. Let's get going, we still have a,” he was saying as Verin stepped through the doorway, And could no longer be heard. In confusion, Verin turned around to ask what he was going to finish speaking. But, when he did, there was just a stone wall and no exit. Quickly looking around, all he could see were the stairs leading lower.
“Come on Verin, you are ok,” he said to himself quietly. “ You somehow just walked through a door and now have no way out.”
After a moment of looking around his surroundings, he decided to take the stairs. No way out here, maybe there is something deeper that will lead to an exit and hopefully ans-. His thought was cut off by a brilliant bright flash of light. Brighter than lighting across the sky. A moment later, he found himself on the grass in the middle of nowhere with only a few trees and distant mountains.