I woke up in an unfamiliar room, and it took me a few seconds to remember entering the inn and getting to my room.
The Gull wasn’t safe, or at least, I didn’t think it was. The Commerce knew about me, or at least that some’one was asking questions. Perhaps Sæwine hadn’t told them where I stayed, or maybe he had, I wasn’t going to take that chance.
The new inn was fancier, cleaner, and more expensive. I couldn’t afford to stay there for more than a day or two, as my coin pouch was feeling rather light. The docks were no longer an option for me, and I was at wit's end as to where to get money at the time. Anything I did might draw the attention of the Commerce.
I consoled myself with the fact that I’d had a calm night’s rest, for the first time since arriving in the city. No dream, or nightmare to torment me.
My thoughts circled, passing over the memories of my time in this world until the end of last night. My conversation, and warning to Burgheard.
I wondered if I was too harsh, or threatening, but I discarded that worry. I’d placed tremendous trust in him, revealing my abilities, all to earn his trust. I could only hope he would.
Gaining him as an ally would aid my endeavours, but I needed more.
I needed to gather more allies, contacts, and connections. I needed to remove the Commerce, and perhaps fill the void they leave behind. I could take their place, though through better means. If I can make use of any existing infrastructure, it would save me quite some time, though I’d have to be vigilant.
They obviously use criminal means, and they might not take kindly to me and might act against me, betray me.
My first objective should be supporting Burgheard, getting in touch with his contacts, and learning as much as I could about the Commerce. Whether I had time to prepare, or if they made the first move was impossible to say, but I wasn’t going to sit around waiting.
Thoughts for another time, as I still hadn’t achieved anything of note.
I looked at the room's ceiling, breathing calmly, as I pondered. The mattress was decent, considering the last one I slept in, but it was nothing even remotely comfortable. I was used to far better.
My thoughts drifted to my past, my home, and my friends. My mentor, and fellow Gifted. I wondered what they were doing now. Where are they trying to locate me? Did they even know I survived? Had they arranged my last rites, and sent me off to the next life?
“Haah,” I sighed. rubbing my eyes. “No use laying here, brooding.”
I spoke softly as I rose from the bed. The room was sparsely decorated, with flaking paint, and a broken shutter in the window. The sounds of the city’s morning activities drifted through, into the room.
Crafers opened their workshops, while merchants prepared their goods. People bustled to and fro, delivering messages, or fetching items. I heard a young woman laugh, and the clattering of hooves on cobbles.
The sounds felt peaceful, and I felt my tension evaporate. For all my troubles, worries, and stress I’d put myself through yesterday, a new day dawned, and the people went about their business.
It was with a smile on my face that I walked into the main hall of the inn, and sat down for breakfast. My heavy heart had eased its burden somewhat, and I found myself hopeful. I felt a strange confidence in the belief that Burgheard would come around. He might not trust me fully, or join my cause properly, not yet, but I felt confident that he’d listen. In time, he’d come around. When I proved my intentions and ability, he’d see what we could achieve.
The doubts and the weight of my ambitions still nagged at the back of my mind, but I felt too good to dwell on them. The fears and troubles could wait for a while. I wanted to enjoy that morning.
I didn’t see too many people in the dining area, but the few I did see sat quietly, eating in silent solitude. I looked around, not seeing anything, or anyone out of place. I had to remember to stay cautious, but I also had to live my life. I couldn’t always be on the job, so to speak. I had to find a way to enjoy my life, have some fun, smell the flowers, and all that stuff.
The meal tasted better than I could have imagined, and I wondered if it was my outlook or just great cooking, but I didn’t care. I savoured the meal, before leaving the inn behind, complimenting the innkeeper.
I took a breath of fresh air as I exited the inn, and stepped to the side. I leaned against the wall, and watched the morning bustle, reflecting on how different it was from my history.
The more I watched, and learned of this city, the more confident I was that this had to be a separate world or dimension.
The changes could be due to Officer Reaves, and perhaps Commander Clare, though I had found no evidence of her.
If I remember correctly, around the year 500 AD, the cities of England should have been almost abandoned. With the fall of the Roman Empire, the people went to the villages, and farming communities, as the structure, and support brought by the empire fell apart. They should also have been under some harassment from the Anglo-Saxons, but they were held back by Officer Reaves, at least here. I didn’t know anything about the rest of the British Isles.
There were a lot of people in this city and a lot of activity. There were colourful clothes, and commoners wore jewellery, although cheaper, and simpler ones compared to the nobles and the wealthy.
I wanted to learn more, and I had an avenue for doing that. Perhaps I could visit John today? I’ll check on Burgheard first, though, and then I’ll see if I can visit the House of Learning.
Pushing off from the wall, I made my way toward Burgheard’s smithy, feeling increasingly nervous with each step. His aid could prove pivotal, as I could benefit from the contacts he has. He could also grant me some legitimacy, and proof of how I can help the people.
Having him as a delivery method for any innovations I bring, would also improve my chances of succeeding while remaining undercover. He had a far better grasp on the current level of technology and would be better suited to ensuring it all felt reasonable.
I couldn’t introduce too advanced methods, or technology too early, or it would draw suspicion, rather than curiosity, and interest.
I caught myself fidgeting, as I approached the door to the smithy, and I had to collect myself before I knocked.
Burgheard opened the door, but only shook his head.
“I’m sorry,” he said, and I felt my stomach drop. “But I need some more time to think. I’ve checked on the results from your tip, and it works, but joining you now… I need some more time, but I’m not going to expose you.”
I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Burgheard.
“Very well,” I said as I took a step back. “Take your time. I know it’s a lot and a big decision. I’ll be staying at a nearby inn for another night, and then I’ll have to find somewhere else, but I’ll be around.”
He nodded, but didn’t say anything more, and closed the door. I got the impression that he’d be too distracted to work for a while.
I figured I’d give him a few days, but I needed something to do, and some way to earn some money. I’d consider that as I walked since I’d decided to see if I could talk to John.
The House of Learning was a fairly large building near the Noble District. It was a low, but wide, taking a space similar to several residences, and the residences in the district were decently sized.
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It was surrounded by a low wall, and the gate stood open. The door to the building was closed but unlocked, and I was met with a reception area as I entered. It was spartan, and simplistic, with several doors leading off.
A young man sat by a desk and looked up at my entrance.
“Do you have an appointment?” he asked in a bored voice.
“No, not quite,” I responded and approached. “But a man named John said I could come to see him if I had questions.”
“Ah, yes,” the man sighed. “John. Very well, I’ll enquire if he’s available. Wait here.”
There was little to look at in the room, so I was left to wait while busying myself with my thoughts.
I started to consider my plans for the coming days, and weeks.
I intended to seek out, and meet Burgheard’s contacts, as long as he agrees to help me. That would require me to leave the city for some time, and who knew what the Commerce would do at that time.
I was reluctant to leave, but I also knew there was little I could do if I stayed, as it was.
I was powerless, so far as influence and standing in the city went. All I had at the time, was my personal abilities, and the Gift, which I was reticent to rely too heavily on. Every time I used it, I risked exposure, and considering this world differed heavily from the history of my world, I had no real way of knowing whether other wielders of magical powers existed. There could be others, who’d recognize, or track me.
I doubted the Commerce had any with that capability. They’ve shown a capacity for unscrupulous actions, and I felt they would have made use of such a power if they possessed it. They might have been fearful of the church, so I had to keep an open mind and consider that in my planning.
Assuming that they didn’t have any ability to detect, or use magic, then I could make use of disguises to ask more questions, and eventually infiltrate the organization.
There were great risks involved in that idea, though. If I were caught, I would likely be forced to fight my way out, which would lead to a lot of death, and I would like to avoid that, if possible. It would be difficult to distinguish those who believed in the Commerce’s ideals and those who were coerced, or simply doing a job.
Another consideration was the time it would take, and what I would have to do to get into the organization. I might have to compromise on my morals to gain acceptance, as I doubted an entry-level underling would gain access to any worthwhile information.
I was leaning heavily towards waiting until I got Burgheard’s answer and travelling with him to his contacts, taking the risk of leaving the city to the Commerce. I could use that time to gather some materials, or items that could let me earn some money, which would help me gain influence. There might be certain things that were overlooked due to ignorance that I could use to make a profit.
If I could prove myself through Burgheard, it would make it easier for me to reach out to other craftsmen as well. I should be able to help with improving fabric quality, health and medicine, hygiene, and more.
And once I set things in motion, I’m sure there are those who’d be able to build upon it. I could, eventually, set the path for education for the masses.
Long term, but I might be able to do it.
Even so, if I succeed in all that, it’ll still be many lifetimes before the technology is advanced enough for me to go home. Immortality would still be a requirement, which meant I needed a space to do research and experimentation.
Each of these steps would require money, influence, and connections.
I was interrupted before I could continue my train of thought, by the door opening. The same man re-entered the room.
“He’ll see you now,” he said. “Please follow me, and don’t touch anything.”
He turned without another word, and I scrambled to follow. I paid more attention to him then, noticing he wore brown robes, and kept his hair cut short. He almost resembled a monk, as depicted in some old media. He walked with quick, silent steps, and moved through the building with confidence, likely knowing the way like the back of his hand.
We walked through corridors lined with paintings of imperious, studious, and strange-looking people. Most of them were elderly, but there were a few younger ones. I noticed a lack of women in the paintings, though it made sense considering the time. It was hard for women to be taken seriously in that time period.
We walked past open doors, and I saw desks, and shelves lined with books and scrolls. Men were poring over texts, and manuscripts while writing down thoughts, and ideas.
The prevalence of books in this place struck me as strange, considering the time. I’d thought books would come later, but I shook my head.
“I gotta remember,” I thought. “This is not like in the history books. Things are different since there’s at least one person who has changed the past. I’ve got to keep that in mind.”
The man, who had yet to introduce himself, led me to a simple door at the end of a hallway, knocked twice, and then entered. I followed behind him, and the man left without a word.
I glanced after him, wondering at his behaviour before my attention was drawn by John’s voice.
“Ah, Jace,” he said while standing from his chair. “How good of you to come. I expect you want to learn some more about the forgotten hero. Or, is it other knowledge you seek?”
I looked him over, noticing the wrinkles, and white hair. He was balding, and what little hair he had left hung freely from his scalp. He wore the same brown robes as the other man, and his fingers were stained with ink.
His desk was littered with paper or parchment, perhaps vellum and a quill and inkpot stood next to an open book.
“Yes, John,” I said, standing somewhat awkwardly in the room. “I was wondering about a few things, actually.”
“Oh, grand,” John said, returning to his seat. “I do enjoy discussing history. Too few show the same interest, I’m afraid. Most are satisfied with recording what is happening now, or just doing the work of transcribing old texts. Too few endeavour to understand, and explore the past.”
The old man became more and more animated as he spoke, and I couldn’t stop a smile from spreading as I listened to him. If this man was a history teacher, then he might actually have managed to teach some people.
“Oh! Where are my manners? Sit, please, sit.”
I did, looking around the room as I did. The walls were lined with shelves containing a large assortment of books, and scrolls. They all looked to be well-handled, and treated with respect, and considering the man sitting in front of me, I wasn’t surprised.
“Now, what can I help you with?” John asked, with an almost giddy expression.
“As you said, I want to know more about the forgotten hero, the man who inspired that statue,” I said while I leaned back. “But I also want to know more about the city, and the surrounding area. Could you give me the major points first?”
“Of course, of course!” he almost shouted, as he sprung from his chair, and moved around the room with impressive agility for such an old man. He gathered several books, and loaded them onto the table, before returning to his seat.
“Now, where to begin?” he said, before he picked up a book, and started explaining.
The forgotten hero was a man who mysteriously appeared on the city outskirts a few years before the fall of the Roman Empire. His guidance proved vital in helping the city cope with the fall of the Empire, and he introduced significant advances in many fields, but he is mostly remembered for his ability to train and lead the people of York in their defence against the Anglo-Saxons.
He successfully defended the city for years before the Anglo-Saxons gave up. Nobody knows how many years specifically, as many records regarding the man were destroyed in later years, but it is known that his defence of the city led to the victory against the Anglo-Saxons as a whole.
The regular victories in defence of the city inspired the rest of the island, and led to revolts, and uprisings, until it became untenable to maintain their occupation.
In the void left behind by the Anglo-Saxon exodus, the Christian church sent their representatives to aid in the rebuilding effort, as well as to investigate the hero and install their influence on the island.
“So, Officer Reaves attempted what I wanted,” I thought, scratching my chin. “But, something happened, and he disappeared? At a time when the church appeared to investigate him. That is suspicious.”
“What happened to the hero?” I asked. “You mentioned before that he vanished, but are there any clues as to what happened?”
“Hmm,” John seemed to be gathering his thoughts. “Now, I hope you understand that this is merely my attempt to understand history, and not an attempt to vilify.”
He looked at me with a serious expression, and I nodded to him, suspecting the path this talk was going.
“Yes,” he continued. “He vanished, seemingly without a trace, shortly after the church representatives; the Inquisition arrived. There are scattered records of their investigation, and then there was nothing about the hero. While it is suspicious, I do not think they’d do anything to him without due cause, and while the lack of records, and the timing is suspicious, it does not confirm that the church did anything. Without access to their records, which I don’t have, these questions will likely remain unanswered.”
“I see,” I said deep in thought.
“If the church did capture, kill or drive Officer Reaves off,” I thought. “There might be clues in their records, but how would I gain access when the scholars can’t? I’d have to sneak in, which I’m reluctant to attempt. I know nothing about the powers of this world. I need to know more.”
“Very well,” I nodded and thought about my next question. “What can you tell me about the city itself, and the surrounding area?”