The Magister and I sat in stiff and awkward silence for quite a while after that.
Looking up at him, I can see that he’s in deep thought. His brows are creased and he’s staring at the book while slowly drawing his hand down his beard.
It makes sense up until you consider that she drew the tower with such an impossible degree of detail, so much to the point that she would have needed a firsthand view of it.
A question bubbles to the surface of my mind. “So, if she had nightmares about that place, what do you think it means?”
He shrugs noncommittally. “I don’t have the foggiest idea.” He stops brushing his beard, and looks tired, with his hands resting on the table.
“In the past, I figured it was just fear of the dark. She refused to sleep in a room without a light source for years.”
He gestures to the various candles arrayed around the room to illustrate his point.
Yeah, I can imagine that giving a child serious recurring nightmares. I’m surprised I haven’t been having nightmares from it either to be honest.
I glance out the window. It looks like it's just past midday. The sun is high, and just coming into view through the top.
I hear a brief rustle, and turn to see the Magister standing up.
“I must gather some things in preparation for tomorrow, and make certain nothing gets left behind.” And promptly sweeps out of the room leaving me by myself.
The next few hours are about as boring as one might imagine, but I at least had a book of terrible poetry to read.
I think I tried reading it for a few minutes, then gave up, as it’s almost entirely instructional. There is an entire section on writing letters to different people of differing noble ranks.
It has a brief bit on delivering speeches and how to “Properly” address commoners as well. Nausea inducing. Looks like typical feudalism with a splash of imperial bullshit.
It didn't take long for me to wander back to flipping through the diary. It doesn't make any more sense than the last time I looked at it either.
On a whim, I flip to the last page. Nothing at all. It’s a blank page.
I turn the book over a few times and marvel at the feel of the leather binding. Everything just seems so vivid? Perhaps just more?
Its smooth surface has a few small ridges, and the tiniest of cuts in one place. The whole thing is dyed in a rich splash of deep blue.
The pages themselves have a faintly yellow tinge on them and are fairly thick paper too.
It’s like everything in my world was drained of color.
Maybe what I was seeing was the absence of magic? The cynic in me suggests that I was lonely, bored and more than a bit depressed. But maybe...
My hand brushes a slight bump in the binding. Curious. I lay the book flat on its spine and peer inside to see what might be making that little bump.
I can’t see into it without a light source, and I’m pretty sure I don't want a candle flame anywhere near this book.
I opt to tip it on its side and try to shake it out onto the bed. Nothing falls out.
Frustrated, I briefly consider hurling it out the window. Then oh so gently drop the book off the side of the bed and silently glare at it. It makes a dull thump as it lands on the plush carpet.
----------------------------------------
I’ve been pacing around this room long enough for my feet to start aching. I used to be able to sit still and contemplate, but recently I’ve been incapable of sitting for more than a few minutes.
I feel compelled to do something, yet I don’t know what it is. I can feel it like a tangible pressure on the back of my head. It’s not a headache either.
It’s been several hours at this point, and I’m getting rather hungry. The sun has settled into a position just above the horizon, it’s looking pretty late.
It seems rather unusual that Marry hasn’t visited at this point.
As I’m standing, considering. I feel a sudden change in the atmosphere. It’s subtle enough that I could barely even recognize it for what it is.
I need to pee.
That’s not what has my attention though. I could feel a low rumble through the castle floor. An earthquake?
I feel another rumble. This time more violent, enough that I can hear the windows rattle in their frames.
Walking over to the window, I have a look outside. I can’t see much as it has gotten quite dark. What I can make out is that there is definitely smoke rising from the town though.
Technically given that castles are entirely defensive structures I’m probably in the safest place here… No less worried though, with all these things considered.
Turning away from the window, I scoop the diary up from where I left it. No way I’m leaving it anywhere unattended.
I move towards the short hall and make a quick stop in the washroom. This is going to be true misery if I don’t have a bathroom available. The ornate bathroom is lit by a single tall candle shrouded in mirrors to make it brighter.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
The rumbling intermittently continues. Heading back out into the hall, I turn left, and head into the massive dressing closet.
Inside I can see signs of Marry having been here. A rather large backpack has been left, and apparently filled. Also next to the stool there’s a set of neatly folded clothes.
A deep blue long sleeved shirt, a gray hooded cloak, and a dark blue skirt that looks designed for riding, judging by the split in the middle. It’s quite long as well. There’s also a set of tall black boots with no heels. And yes, there are undergarments.
Everything here is extremely well made, and I can see various hallmarks of different craftspeople on the inside the clothes. All carefully hidden from direct view, but proudly displayed when you go looking for them.
Notably different from the constant assault of brands back home.
Nestled on a nearby table is a rather ornate Rapier and dagger. Both are sheathed.
Putting everything on, and putting the diary away into the backpack, I then give the room a brief look to see if there is anything I missed. Don’t think so.
I fumble around with the sword and dagger and settle on having the rapier on my right hip, and the dagger hooked into the belt from its sheath.
I try to pick up the backpack, and just barely heft it onto my back. Before putting it on I have a peek inside to see that it is neatly packed with clothes and several boxes that I don’t really have time to go through.
This took a few minutes, given my extra fumbling with unfamiliar clothing.
I take a brusque pace and start heading to the front door of the room. Opening the door, I lean my head out looking around.
Outside the door is a room is a hall going left and right, with the left appearing to travel down, and the right upwards. Torch flames light the way along the hall.
I guess Violet had this entire floor to herself and Marry.
Turning left, I start walking down the stairs. Along the way, I note the heavy steel shutters covering the walls in frequent intervals. Arrow slits?
I haven’t seen a single guard. That’s rather concerning. You would think there would be a bunch around.
I pass several unmarked doors and go past them without pausing until I reach what I am reasonably sure is the ground level.
It keeps going down, but I can see that the heavy steel door leading down there is firmly locked. At this intersection, an archway and walkway heads towards the castle's interior.
I can tell by the deep carpet and various statues and decorative paintings along the sides of the walkway. This also appears to be one of the few areas with windows. On both sides, a lush garden grows, obscuring the view.
Walking further, I continue following the hallway towards what I am pretty sure is the center of the castle.
A breastplate and chain armored knight is kneeling off the side of the hall. His armor is dull gray steel and trimmed with silver. It is also in-laid with various ornamental runes that are for the most part meaningless to me.
He also rests a curious weapon on his shoulder that looks like a quarterstaff made entirely of a silvery-blue metal with double edged blades on the end.
It’s nearly 8ft long and looks like its weight is substantial. The way he holds it makes it look far lighter than it seems it should be.
His helmet lacks a visor, and his face is turned away from me.
He appears to be meditating, or perhaps praying?
“Hello?” I ask.
He slowly turns his head to face me, slightly adjusting his position. His features are solemn and hard edged.
He looks to be in his early 20’s. His brown eyes stare at me with a mixture of confusion, and a hint of surprise.
“... My Lady.” He speaks in quiet baritones, barely a whisper above the low rumbling. He waits for my response.
“Would you happen to know what’s going on out there?” I point towards where I think the town is.
He shakes his head. “I do not.” His eyes briefly focus on the backpack, then pauses on the rapier on my hip. Then back to my face.
“So, what are you doing exactly?”
“I am currently assigned to guard this hallway and keep people from entering the west tower.”
Right… I guess that should have been obvious to me.
“Have you seen Marry?”
He rises to his feet in a single smooth motion, his eyes widening. “She was headed into town a short while ago.” His chainmail tinkles from the sudden motion.
“Will she be alright?”
“I… Am not entirely certain, she often goes to town unaccompanied though.” He looks at my face, searchingly. “You obviously wouldn’t be asking me if you knew either?”
I nod. “Do you know where the Magister is?”
His eyebrows subtly draw together at the Magisters mention. “I do not know where he is. Though If I had to guess, he is likely in the castle library. I can escort you there if you wish.”
“No- I want to find out what’s going on first.” Time to guess what their garrison commander is called… “Could you take me to the Guard Captain instead? Perhaps someone else who is similarly informed?”
He nods. Hefting his odd staff like weapon, he gestures for me to follow him through the castle. His footsteps clinking as his metal greaves shift beneath his weight. Muttering under his breath… “No point guarding an empty tower I guess.”
He pauses after a few steps and turns to reconsider the backpack. “Would you like some help carrying that?”
Ah… It is rather heavy. I don’t particularly want to part with it though. I shake my head at him. “I… Appreciate the offer. Though I think I can carry it just fine.” I also don’t know if I entirely trust him.
“Okay…” Giving me a look of slight concern. He turns away and leads the way down the hall.
Following him for a short while, he occasionally looks back at me.
The halls themselves are heavily furnished and decorated. They are lined with deep rugs dozens of meters long, statues of varying height and material, and chairs placed in tasteful positions overlooking windows and balconies.
By my estimate, we’ve gone about 100 meters through the winding halls. We haven’t seen a single other person yet.
I feel another soft rumble through the floor. That’s when the knight turns around with an expression of near panic on his face.
“What's wrong?” I ask.
“No time! Get back-QUICK!” And turns to run full tilt towards me.
I turn to run.
Moments later, I feel my feet leave the ground as he dives into me before I even have a chance to go further.
“OW!” His embrace is tight, and rather painful around the chest. I hear him grunt as we slam into the hard stone, he takes most of the fall, and defensively covers me afterwards.
“Close your eyes!” He yells.
... I do as he says.
Moments later, I hear the briefest of a thump, then a thundering *booom.*
I feel intense heat from behind me as an explosion tears a massive hole into the wall where we had just been standing.
The sound totally overwhelms my ears, leaving a painful ringing in its wake.
The ground rumbles violently.
...
The dust doesn’t take long to clear. My ears however… Are still ringing.
“Shit... That hurt.” the Knight groans. He rolls over onto his back beside me.
I am totally unharmed it seems… Pulling myself into a kneeling position over him.
“Are you… Injured?” I look over his pummeled armor.
He shakes his head. “I... Don't... think so. Just a bit battered. Will leave some nasty bruises though.”
I turn to survey the destruction. There isn’t much left of the hallway.
Turning to face the knight again, “So who’d be firing cannons at us?”