My head was throbbing from breathing too hard. Spittle began running down my mouth in sticky strings as I ran as fast as I could. The southern edge of the wall was finally insight. After coming onto the road, the going had been a lot easier. Although not paved, the compact dirt was a welcome change to the underbrush they had been trekking through for the last couple of hours.
I saw the door, glad that the end was in sight and that help would finally be found. The previous command replayed in my mind.
“Tom, you have to run to town and bring back help. I’ll stay here to protect them just in case. Tell them everything except about the heart. Trust me, they’ll come if you do.” Vi had sounded almost panicked as she had relayed the plan to me. And now, a couple miles later and about to have a heart attack, I was finally at my destination.
The large wooden door stood approximately 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide was made from hard maple wood and was thickly set in its frame. I stopped just in front of it, wiped the spit off my mouth and wet my lips.
“Somebody help!” I banged on the door, sending pain through my curled fists. “I need help! People’s lives are in danger! Somebody please!” I continued banging my fists into the door harder and harder. Finally a reply came.
“Who goes there?” Came the stern reply.
Thank Voth!
“My name is Tom and I work for the Tour Emporium!” my breath came out in huffs, but i continued, “I took some adventurers over to the dungeon today but it collapsed and one of them is severely injured. On our way back we were attacked by wolves. You must send for a doctor immediately!”
There was no reply
“Did you hear me! I need a doctor or a medic or something right now!”
“I'm sorry but I can’t open the gate unless it’s an emergency.” the voice responded.
“Are you out of your damn mind! This is as much of an emergency as it gets! People are going to die if you do not open this door right now!” my voice began to crack as warm tears began streaming down my face.
I’ve failed because of this idiot! People are going to die because of me.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
My eyes shook open in remembrance. I padded down my pockets until I felt a slight indentation. “If you open this door right now I will give you a gold coin.” I pleaded.
Almost immediately I could hear latches and beams of wood being moved. Within a minute I could hear both the moaning of the door and the man who was straining to push it open. I grabbed on to aid in the effort.
A young man in his early 20’s held out his hand for the payment.
“Not until you grab the medic or doctor.” I replied curtly while settling my deepest glare.
“Look, that wasn’t..” He began but I cut him off.
“Go get the damn doctor right now or the lives of 2 innocents are on your head!” I screamed at the top of my lungs both hoping to intimidate and to gather anyone who might be passing nearby. I succeeded in the later.
A pair of guards who had been coming towards the sound of the commotion now jogged to where I was. I told them frantically about my situation and one of them went off to grab the garrison's medic along with some additional help.
5 minutes later a half awake doctor and 6 guards all with horses stood outside the wall with me. I told them of the dire situation and we all mounted up. The doctor and I each rode with one of the guards at the front of the caravan. Before we left I intentionally tossed the gold coin to the guard that had opened the door in full view of everyone else.
“Thanks for doing your job.” I said before turning away.
I could see that one of the guards who wore the insignia of a captain squint his eyes, registering the guard's face for later.
Serves him right.
I have never ridden a horse before, but I’ve determined that it is most definitely the worst form of travel imaginable. Breakneck speeds were required that night, which did not make for easy travel and my crotch along with my thighs were continuously jostled. There were definitely going to be bruises.
Within 10 minutes we had dismounted and pushed through the underbrush to the area where the 3 adventurers had been. As I came into the space where they should have been I noticed many things that were wrong. First and foremost, Vi was not with them. Secondly, the bag of supplies along with choice pieces of Shan and Charle’s armor were missing. The bracers that I pilfered for daggers earlier were one such item. Finally, although Shan was there, she was a weird shriveled version of herself. Her muscles were gone, her heavy figure now replaced by a thin emaciated woman. Her skin was no longer a deep caramel, but now was as white as cotton.
The doctor ran past me towards the two of them. He gave directions to two of the guards to begin bandaging Charles while he pulled out some mysterious vials and began coaxing the liquid into Shan’s mouth.
A guard behind me whistled loudly, “Damn look at all the dead wolves.”
The doctor looked at me eyes blazing, “Tell me again exactly what happened.”
I gulped and averted my gaze not realizing that this would be the most important story that I would ever tell.