The three of them quickly stood on their feet, stunned at the revelation. Cassian stumbled back in shock, falling back on the wooden plank floor with a loud thud. The men who ate at the other tables looked at him and laughed as they broke bread and drank, while the others ignored him and continued with their meal. "M-milor--" Hawk started to mumble and bow, but the head of the house Browgan quickly grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him back down his seat with surprising strength, catching the former baker off guard.
"Be quiet," Dunwick told him as he pressed a finger to his lips, signaling the group to remain silent. After a brief moment, he asked them to sit back down and they were quick to oblige. "Thank you, I'd prefer to keep my identity a secret. It is very tiring to be kept all cooped up back at Eagleview, and the people here are much more lively."
"But milord," Wyatt leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "With all due respect, isn't it dangerous for you to be here with all the mercenaries and with you being far away from Eagleview?" He asked, concerned about their savior's safety.
"You'd be a fool to think I need any help defending myself, boy. I've been through skirmishes and have survived one of the bloodiest wars this land has seen," he replied to Wyatt who seemed to regret what he had said. "Be thankful that you're the son of Blackwood. Where is the man anyway, and what brings you to Shire's Eye of all places?"
The girl who served them water earlier then returned to fetch their mugs. "Do you gents want anything?" She asked.
"Four plates of cod please, make sure they come from the most recent batch," Dunwick replied, smiling. The lord was adept at blending in with the crowd, changing his accent and tone as quickly as lightning. "All right, be right back then!" Said the girl, signaling the cook to prepare their meal.
Dunwick then looked back at the group, who failed to answer his questions. "Hmm...I know when something is wrong. Your faces gave it away. What happened?" He asked as his demeanor returned to normal, sensing something was off as the mood changed quickly, as the faces of the beaten down trio turned from fear and respect to sadness.
"Uhm...milord, it is a long story." Hawk stepped in to break the silence. The lord of Eagleview looked at him, shifting his sitting position, intending to listen to every word. "Go on, I have all the time in the world."
Hawk then spent a good amount of time retelling their adventure, how they first met each other in the dungeons of Rosetown and the chaos that ensued after the capital of House Polifio was ransacked, a particular portion of their tale that made Lord Dunwick laugh like there was no tomorrow. Cassian stepped in between the conversation and spoke about how Dale had disappeared. After hearing Cassian's story, the head of the House Browgan held up his hand and asked him to stop.
"Hold on," he began to ask in a serious tone. "Are you saying Dale Blackwood, the hero of Rosetown, the man who saved my life, is dead?"
"Not exactly, Milord," Wyatt replied. "He simply disappeared in a massive amount of nature that consumed him, we aren't exactly sure of his condition, but we're hoping that he st--" Dunwick slammed the table hard with his left hand, revealing the Browgan House's signet ring. "Hold on, a massive amount of nature, you say?" He asked, his tone becoming increasingly curious and angry. "What do you mean by that, lad?"
"I cannot say anything more than what was already said, milord," Wyatt replied to him. "A freakish wave of roots and dirt chased us away toward the western exit of Rosetown. It was as if Mother Earth was chasing us while we ran away from the chaos. My father bought us some time to escape, but eventually, he was covered in a massive mixture of wood and soil. It's hard to believe, but it is the truth."
Hearing those words, the lord was visibly furious. He stood up from the table and began to pace back and forth in an agitated manner. The trio silently panicked as their original plan of stealth might be compromised.
"That...fucking...idiot!" Dunwick screamed, catching the attention of almost everyone present in the area. "And here I had thought his bastard of a father was bad enough, it turns out, he's even worse than him!" He continued, and a searing headache had begun to form in his head. The girl from earlier had slowly made her way toward the table, carrying the freshly cooked cod, and quietly placed them on the table.
"H-here you go, gents," she said, her voice quivering as it was evident that she wanted no part in this mess. "Thank you, dear," Cassian replied, but as they looked at the steaming, cooked meal, their appetite disappeared as their host was clearly, not in the mood.
A couple of heavy breaths later, Lord Dunwick finally calmed himself as he released a tired and annoyed sigh. "This is bad. Very, very, bad. Come with me, quickly. As for the food, bring it with you, eat it, leave it, I don't care." He instructed them as he plucked out twelve gold coins and placed them on the table, which were triple the amount needed to pay for the fish. The trio immediately took the wooden plates with food and their weapons and ate as they left the scene. The lord also tossed a coin to the girl and the supposed owner of the food stall, who was beginning to complain about what was happening, but shut his mouth immediately after seeing the amount of gold present on the table.
The four quickly maneuvered themselves through the streets of Shire's Eye, ignoring anything and everyone in sight. Lord Dunwick led the charge, and by some unexplainable nature, Wyatt felt like the streets had paved a road for them as people quickly stood out of their way upon seeing the old man.
"Where are we going?" Wyatt asked as they made their way deeper into the town. "We make way for the town hall. I have an urgent message to write, and a few things I'll have to explain to you three." Dunwick replied over the noise of people conducting their own business. "Wait! We have someone else waiting for us near the town hall," Hawk quipped. "He's a companion of ours, we wouldn't be alive if he weren't here."
"Then he deserves an explanation too. I'll head first inside as the three of you go look for your friend," Dunwick instructed them. "Do not take long, for my patience is wearing thin because of that Polifio bastard." The three of them nodded in silence and ran as quickly as possible. Once they reached the town square, Lord Browgan, cursing under his breath, directly headed for the hall as the three of them began their search for Xhiamas.
"Divines take me--where is that man?" Cassian muttered as he scanned his surroundings left and right. "I don't know either. He's practically impossible to find in this crowd," Wyatt responded, as he too found it difficult to spot the Arrow. A few moments later by sheer luck, Hawk spotted the scout and pointed toward a direction. "There he is. Let's get him." True enough, amongst the sea of people, Xhiamas stood underneath the covers of a vendor's stall with a large sack strapped to his back, preoccupied with talking to someone. They were deep in conversation, with Xhiamas looking uncharacteristically agitated.
The man he conversed with was a stranger to Hawk and Cassian, but Wyatt remembered him. It was the same person he and Xhiamas encountered in the tavern back in Rosetown. Why is he here? Wyatt thought to himself. He immediately removed such thoughts as more pressing matters were at hand. It wasn't long before they reached Xhiamas, and as they did, the mysterious man took a good look at them, stepped back in silence, and wandered off into the crowd, vanishing without a trace.
"There you are!" Cassian grabbed ahold of Xhiamas' arm. "Thank you for the supplies, but we need to move right now," he remarked. "It's a bit of a story, and we're short on time," Hawk added. "Quickly, to the town hall." They then moved toward the building as Xhiamas and Wyatt exchanged glances. No words were spoken but Wyatt knew that Xhiamas understood that he wanted answers. They then followed the other two, who waved at them from afar.
----------------------------------------
The metal chain links rattled loudly as the wooden doors of the town hall swung open with Wyatt leading the way, followed by Xhiamas, Cassian, and finally Hawk. They were met with odd looks from people and guards inside and were eventually approached by a tall man dressed in grey and white clothing with the sigil of a tower pinned on his chest--the mark of a town mayor.
"Lord Dunwick is expecting you in the library," he said. "Best you make haste, it has been a while since I've seen him in this state." The group thanked the mayor and headed toward the library, which was located on the second floor of the structure. Hurrying up the stairs and finding themselves in the right spot, Wyatt knocked using the metal clamp and opened the door, revealing two soldiers and a messenger flanking Lord Dunwick, who was focused on making the final steps on writing his letter by pouring sealing wax on the parchment and pressing his ducal signet ring, imprinting the sigil of House Browgan.
"Send this to the Capital," he handed the parchment to the messenger. "Ensure that Ser Byronard reads the letter. Tell them that this is of utmost importance." The messenger nodded his head. "As you wish, milord."
"That's a good lad," he patted him on the back. "I am entrusting you three with this letter. Make sure that no one will know of this message. Now, make haste--and may the Divines guide you." The three then left without another word, leaving Wyatt and company alone with the Warden of the West.
"Now, I think you people might be wondering what in the seven hells might be going on, but I will try to explain in the best way that I can," Lord Dunwick sat down on one of the couches that were found in the center of the room. "Please, sit." He then gestured for the group to sit down, but his demeanor changed as he caught a glimpse of Xhiamas who sat down in front of him. "You know who I am don't you, Lord Dunwick?" Xhiamas asked him.
"Well, this is a surprise," Dunwick said as he smiled at the group, somewhat excited upon seeing Xhiamas. "You told me you had another companion--but you lot never specified that he was an Arrow of all people!" He cackled with laughter. "This brings another element to the table. I never thought I'd live to see the day when I get to see another one of your kind again." He leaned in closer to the four of them. "Now, you never really continued your story earlier. State your true business here."
"Milord Dunwick, the three of us are mere runaways looking for another chance at life. We swear to you upon the old gods and the Divines, we bring no harm to your people or Shire's Eye," Wyatt explained but Lord Dunwick simply replied to the response with a hearty laugh. "I appreciate your honesty, boy. However, you're a bit naive, and I can't blame you for that--being young, it's in your nature after all. Don't you people know that wherever their kind goes, chaos is soon to follow?" he pointed at the Arrow, who remained silent. "It happened years ago, and it is bound to happen now. Rosetown was a prime example, and if you were to ask me for my opinion, I thank your people for doing the deed."
Xhiamas bowed his head, humbled by the praise. "No need to thank me, my lord. I was merely accomplishing the task entrusted to me," he said while picking up an apple from a nearby fruit basket. "May I?" he asked, to which Lord Dunwick agreed to with no hesitation. "Hold on, something's not adding up," Cassian piped in, sounding agitated. "Lord Dunwick, forgive me for what might come off as rudeness, but why are you not affected by what happened at Rosetown?" he asked the head of House Browgan.
"And now begins my time to explain things," Dunwick stretched for a bit. "I'm quite sure that your friend here has already introduced to you what the Arrows are and why they exist, but I will tell you the importance as to how badly we need them here in Primera." he stood up from his chair and walked around the library, the wooden floorboards creaking with each step.
"The Wandering Arrows have shaped our history as a kingdom, and are rooted deep into our society, even deeper than you might think. They have seeds planted within the military, and the trade markets, and have even planted a seed or two in each Great House--even the Capital itself. They sow seeds of chaos and reap the outcome, but they are not the only ones who benefit from it. In truth, everyone benefits from their work, even if most do not notice it at first."
The three were still confused as to what Lord Browgan was trying to point out, but Xhiamas smiled as he was thankful that someone had understood their philosophy.
"Tell me, boy: why do you think we need chaos here in Primera?" Dunwick asked Wyatt, to which left the smithy's son speechless. "I-I don't know, milord," he replied, confused.
"Simple. To become strong. For three thousand years after Unrel Wolfsbane of House Llyn united the Great Houses into one, great kingdom, Primera became the beacon and standard for other nations. They aspired to be like us. Uniting everyone was not done through simple diplomacy, as this land was never tame back then. Blood was spilled, tears were shed, and sacrifices were made. Such factors shaped the people back then and the very same factors shaped the Great Houses into the powerhouses that they are now. Every event of tragedy and discord in our history was done for the better good of our people." he explained as he went closer to the window and glanced outside the town.
"Now, imagine a kingdom filled with hardened, powerful, vengeful men and women. Dreams, egos, and aspirations are sure to clash and because of that; corruption also bears fruit. However, not everyone can get what they want. Hence, the king asked for help from a foreign country in secrecy, thus creating the Wandering Arrows. Their only purpose is to sow necessary discord, but not too much. In that way, order is present, power is kept in check, corruption is rooted out, and the people are hardened and become strong. The only uncontrolled event in recent history would be the Civil War that began after the Blackroot Massacre. The Arrows never planted anything in that chaos, and our nation paid the price dearly." Xhiamas looked at his companions, who were slowly coming to terms with the knowledge that they were given.
"It is a lot to take in, I understand that," he said, taking a bite of his apple. "However, I believe in due time you will come to understand everything." Wyatt looked at him with a blank expression on his face, as if he were in a daze. "So if I'm understanding this correctly, every war, assassination, political dispute, and movement was influenced by your people?" he asked him. "Yes, that is the truth," Xhiamas replied with no hesitation. "Every single event was either influenced or orchestrated by us, to keep any potential insurgence from happening, or to keep corruption to a minimum." he continued.
After the revelation, Wyatt was a mess. His heart pounded with anger, his eyes held back tears. He gritted his teeth as only one thing came to mind. "If that is the case, then partly...you're also responsible for my father's death." he stood up and slowly grabbed his hammer with murderous intent, knocking down a candle lamp while doing so. Cassian and Hawk quickly held him back, as they sensed bloodlust in the boy's eyes.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"Easy now, Wyatt!" Hawk pleaded as he held him back with all his might, feeling that if his strength faltered even for a little bit, Wyatt would easily blow past Cassian and him. "We know that they influenced the entire thing, but he is not to blame for what happened to your father! He alone decided to stay by himself!" He attempted to reason with the boy but failed as he was only met with grunts of defiance. Xhiamas looked at Wyatt with the same nonchalant expression as always, not even fazed by the boy's rage.
"Enough of this," Lord Dunwick intervened, as his patience finally had worn thin. "Sit down, boy." His voice boomed and echoed throughout the room, knocking off a few books from the shelves and blowing uncleaned dust from the walls. Wyatt, Hawk, and Cassian found themselves dazed, knocking over the couch they were sitting on as they stumbled onto the wooden floor. They immediately found their bearings and looked for the ones responsible for knocking them over but to their surprise, they saw no one but Xhiamas and Lord Dunwick, both of which were in their respective positions, and looked at them as if nothing happened.
"W-what was that just now?" Cassian voiced out in shock and terror. "Who did that?"
"Me, of course," Dunwick replied, answering the former medical practitioner's question, which made the three of them back up to the end of the room, weapons raised. The head of House Browgan laughed at the sight of three people, clearly scared half to death and confused. "Do not worry, I won't use that again unless necessary. A mere showcase of power. Sit back down, and clean up the mess, it's impolite to not clean up after yourselves." The three of them immediately cleaned the mess up quickly and put down their weapons, but still were uncomfortable enough to entertain the idea of sitting down.
"Very well then," Dunwick sat back down on his chair as Xhiamas continued to take a bite of the apple he had taken earlier. "Onto the important part. I will make this very simple and quick. Every word I say from here on out is the truth, whether you believe them or not," Dunwick looked at the trio with a serious look in his eyes.
"First: the usage of magic for the race of Men was banned after the Civil War. To further enforce this, each leader from the Great Houses of Men used an enormous amount of mana, nearly killing us, to cast a vow that made every person forget that magic existed. We also swore a vow; to never use mana in public to avoid panic from the common folk, and to prevent such an incident from occurring again. A few individuals were exempted from this spell, such as members of the Great Houses, the Royal Guard, and key figures who played significant roles in the war. This included your father." He looked at Wyatt, who was trying to comprehend the situation.
"Second: Lord Mikhael Polifio has evidently, broken that vow. As per the rules of the Codex and the severity of the crime, he is marked as a traitor to the realm and will be sentenced to death. This explains why I sent the letter to the Capital, as we require Sir Byronard and the Royal Guard to investigate and carry out the matter. This also explains why I cannot march into Rosetown and carry out the punishment. I have hated their family for a good while now, but as Warden of the West, I cannot bring needless bloodshed unto my people." The three of them looked at each other, still confused, but slowly came to terms, realizing that Lord Dunwick was on the side of righteousness, even if they still felt his ways and philosophies were twisted in a sense.
"Mana? Vows? What is this?" Hawk asked, dumbfounded by what he had heard.
"I know that you must be confused with what I have shared. However, I trust that your friend here will explain things later on," he looked at Xhiamas who nodded in silence. You might say that I am a madman. In some ways, I believe I am--but you must know that I will always stand for what I believe is right. I care little for what others might think of me, to hell with them." He said as he slowly approached the three. "You three were given a second chance. I advise you all to make the best out of it. Such opportunities are hard to come by, these days," He then moved toward his table and brought out a wine cup. "We will, milord. T-thank you, and apologies again for our rudeness." Hawk apologized and bowed, to which the others followed suit.
"Bah! There's nothing to apologize for. You people are still young. It is only natural for you to make mistakes. It is up to us old people who inch closer and closer to Death to guide you on the right path," he replied as he opened a cabinet that contained a selection of wines that were imported from different parts of Primera, and even from foreign kingdoms as well. "Where are you headed off to now?" He asked as he chose a bottle and poured crimson-colored wine into the cup while being careful to not spill any of its contents.
"Gillsberry, milord. We originally planned on hiring a ferry but were cut off due to uhh...recent events," Cassian quipped, to which Hawk elbowed him in response, being careful not to insult their host again. "Then go," The lord simply waved his hand, signaling them to leave. "You do not need my permission to leave. As a thank you for providing me with an entertaining day, and interesting news, I'll provide you with a ferry for free. Head to the harbor and look for a man named 'Flint'. He's a mercenary who has worked with us for years. Tell him the phrase: 'The eagle watches over the trout', and he'll do the rest. He's easy enough to find. Look for a person with an eyepatch over their right eye and a blue cloth tied to their left forearm, and you'll be set." Dunwick then gulped down the wine instantly as if it were water. "Ahhh...that hit the spot," he remarked.
"You've been merciful, milord. I'm sorry for my earlier actions," Wyatt said as he bowed, somewhat ashamed of what happened. "Again, we thank you for your generosity."
"Don't thank me just yet boy. This day is just getting started, and I'm now in a good mood," Lord Dunwick replied, leaving Wyatt confused. "What do you mean by that, Milord?" he asked, bothered by the response. "Remember the soldiers from earlier?" Lord Dunwick asked him. "Well, they're back--and this time, they brought back up."
A noise came from outside the library and suddenly, the mayor barged into the room, his face full of concern. "My Lord Browgan, I've just been informed that a large group of soldiers on horseback were spotted on the main road. They seem to be soldiers from House Polifio. They'll be here at any moment, possibly within ten minutes or so," he informed the group.
"How is that possible? I thought we were clear of them!" Cassian raced back and forth. "You forget where you are, lad. Shire's Eye is home to many dangers. There are eyes and ears everywhere," Lord Dunwick answered his question as he poured another serving of wine into his cup. "Their leader's a smart one, I'll give him that. He probably sees me only as a trader, but I cannot say the same for the rest of you--the bastard probably hired someone to listen in on our conversation. Well, it matters not. Best you go off now." He advised the four of them as he drank his wine.
Wyatt then approached Lord Dunwick. "Can you provide us safe passage to the port?" he asked, wondering if it was possible. "Easy now, boy. You're asking for too much already," the lord replied. "You may be the Ironclad's son, but looking at it now, you're nowhere close to the man he was. You're tarnishing his legacy, boy. Hell, are you even his to begin with?" he continued, stunning Wyatt into silence.
"Your father saved my life, and I paid the debt earlier today when I bought you time," Lord Dunwick spoke to the boy, who looked down at the wooden floor, seemingly disheartened that he brought shame to his father. "But, if you truly are his son--then prove me wrong; show me what you can do. Do this, and I'll grant you safe passage to Gillsberry. Call it a favor." The words were enough to give Wyatt the confidence that he needed. Desperate to live up to his father's name, and prove that he was worthy to carry on his legacy, he looked up and stared at Lord Dunwick, his hand clenching the handle of his war hammer tightly.
"What do I need to do?" he asked in a serious tone. The head of House Browgan laughed and smiled at him. "There it is--there's the intensity you Blackwoods are known for," he replied, tossing aside the wine cup that tumbled onto the floor. "Put on a show. Show those Polifio bastards what you can do. Impress me, then I'll grant you your safe passage."
Hawk looked out the window, scanning the area, and true enough, green cloaks swarmed the town center. Stalls were cleared and merchandise was thrown as soldiers on foot began to surround the front of the town hall. "They're here," Hawk warned the others. "What should we do?"
"Simple. We fight." Wyatt replied in a serious, but dead tone. "Fight? You're joking, right?" Cassian asked him, laughing half-heartedly. "We can't handle that many soldiers! I'm not even a fighter to begin with!" he remarked.
"It's either we fight and go down swinging, or be locked up in a dungeon to rot for life. You choose." Wyatt shot back at him. Realizing the gravity of the situation they were in, Cassian sighed. "Divines take me--all right then." he readied himself for the fight as he began to prepare his sword and shield.
Wyatt looked at Xhiamas, waiting for his response on the matter. "I will be with you, not to worry. I know we are not on good terms at the moment but know that I promised your father that I would keep you safe, and I will," he spoke to Wyatt, who nodded in response. "Okay--then let's go. It would be rude to keep them waiting,"
"Ahahahaha! Now we've got a show." Lord Dunwick cackled with laughter. The four of them then headed out of the library with their weapons in tow. Lord Dunwick and the mayor were behind them. They slowly descended the wooden steps as the eyes of every person in the building gazed at them as hushed whispers spread all across the room. Wyatt and company then found themselves at the wooden doors of the town hall. There outside, were soldiers waiting for them. All four of them knew that the only way to escape would be to go through hell first.
"Ready?" Wyatt asked the others. Xhiamas and Cassian immediately responded by placing one hand on each side of the wooden doors, waiting for the signal. Hawk, who was behind them, already had his dagger prepared. "We're only waiting on you," he said as he placed his hand on Wyatt's shoulder. "We'll get through this. We're lucky bastards after all." Wyatt smiled at the comment. The thought of killing someone never crossed his mind before, but now he had no choice.
"Open the doors." He commanded. The wooden doors then swung open with a loud thud, the metal links clanging as the four were met with the hot wind of the high noon and a large force of soldiers loyal to House Polifio. In the center of the chaos, stood the man responsible for bringing this swarm of green cloaks into one area. Wyatt stared at him as he tightly held his war hammer with both hands, to which the soldier responded by giving him a devious smile.