Batul stepped forward, slowly pushing open the door which allowed a few slivers of sunlight to sneak into the gaps before finally heaving it completely open. We all shielded our eyes while stepping forward, momentarily blinded by the bright light from outside.
"Dear god…" Emily gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.
"That's one way to put it," I whispered while stepping out of the opening to the tunnel we just traversed. I looked around in amazement at the damage that had been caused. “He couldn’t have done all this, could he?”
“I don’t think so,” Gerald shook his head. “Look over there,” He continued, pointing to the right, down the street from us. A handful of bodies were spread out among the ground consisting of guareds, civilians, and what looked to be more robed individuals of different races.
I looked down the street to the left to see the corner of the Filham house manor fences and a few armored men jogging towards the manor with spears on their shoulders. “You reckon we should go there first?”
“I think that’s our best option, besides, maybe my father will know more about all that has been happening. At least, I hope he does,” Emily replied, turning towards the manor. “Doesn’t hurt to ask, anyway.”
“True. Maybe they need help, as well. Why else would more soldiers be heading there?” Batul agreed. “Let’s get a move on,” he insisted, brandishing his mace and shield. “If anything gets in the way,” he slammed the face of his mace on his shield, “they’ll learn the taste of true Traster punishment.”
Emily moved forward to Batul and Gerald, unsheathing her blade. It was a beautiful ebony blade with an edge on both sides and what seemed to be runes engraved towards the hilt. “We do this together.”
I couldn’t help but feel awe at the confidence from the others as I had only been around Goblins most of my life that cared only about themselves. It was honestly a refreshing experience. I walked over to one of the bodies, slowly nudging it with my foot. It appeared to be a dark skinned elven woman. She stared at the sky with glassy purple eyes and a dagger stuck into her lower abdomen, blood still seeping along the ground from the wound. Leaning over, I pulled the dagger from the elf slowly, wiping the blood on the robe she wore, matching the orc from the courtyard.
Walking over to the others I saw the look of confusion on their faces. “You all have weapons,” I said, indicating towards Gerald with his wand that he had pulled from his robe and the other two. “I figured I probably need one if I want to be useful as well, right?”
“Do you even know how to use that thing? We haven’t actually seen you do much of anything really.” Gerald questioned.
I tossed the dagger hand to hand while looking at them, “I used to help with the clan hunting sometimes if one of them got sick. Besides,” I continued, the dagger starting to shine a molten red before igniting in flames, “I am an enchanter, afterall. I think I can hold my own if I have to.”
Batul gave out a hearty laugh, “I do like this one very much!” He guffawed.
“Well then,” Emily shifted her eyes from everyone to the way ahead, “ I guess let’s go.”
We made our way down the street and turned towards the Filham gates where four guards stood on each side of the entrance. Two of them looked to be a caster of some kind while the others held swords and shields in each respective hand. All eight of them seeing our motley lot trod up to them. One of the mages on the left side of the gate stepped forward, holding his hand out to us.
“Stop. I am captain Cedric Benald of the Filham Guard, what business do you all have here?” He asked us while inspecting all of us closely.
Emily stepped forward before answering the captain's question, “We’re here looking for my father, George Tesharion, and to see if we can help in some way. It looks like you all may need some assistance,” She finished, looking around at the courtyard of the massive tan building that wrapped around the courtyard in a horseshoe shape. Dozens of injured and bleeding guards were being tended to by a few healers while a pile of bodies that looked to be of the attacking group were placed near the wall near us, possibly to serve as a deterrent to further attacks.
“We are all capable,” Gerald interjected. “Besides, we have urgent news that must be relayed to Mr. Socom Filham and Mr. Tesharion.”
I looked past the guards into the courtyard located after 3 steps onto a landing. The courtyard held two statues of the Lord and Lady of the house on each side of a fountain that was surrounded by a lush green hedge perfectly trimmed into a square. The fountain top was scorched black and water was trickling out of a broken tip. The statues were also cracked and chipped in various places with what looked to be slashes and… lightning strikes? I thought to myself.
“Where is the gate?” Batul asked aloud, having realized that there was a single bar standing vertically in hinges, looking as if it were physically torn from the rest of the gate.
The guard looked at the orc and pointed directly behind us. All of us turned to see where he was indicating just to find that the gate was stuck in the side of a building, sideways, as if sliced into the wall.
“What happened?” Emily exclaimed in wonder. I also couldn’t help but be amazed.
“Sir Filham. He… took care of some intruders,” the guard answered morbidly. “That’s all that’s left of the first group,” He continued, indicating at the pile of bodies near the gate. “We all took care of the second group. Socom was busy with your father, who is indeed here. A few of us were injured in the exchange. They were formidable.”
“Can we see him?” Emily insisted.
“This way,” The captain spun to lead us up to the landing. “Wait by the fountain and I will see if you can go in.”
While walking in I couldn’t help but notice all the damage done by the small battle here. Amazed that they already had people helping repair what could be done quickly and safely at this time.
“I think I’ll wait out here, guys. These people could use a helping hand.” I informed the group, looking at all of them.
“That sounds like a great idea. It certainly does look like they could use you.” Gerald sighed. “I just can’t believe all of this.” He finished shaking his head.
“None of us can,” Batul responded while walking towards the group. “I think I’ll hang out here with the goblin and help where I can. I’m not good with diplomatic or sensitive stuff, besides, you two have it handles,” He laughed, looking at the others.
“Oh, good. I can just have you lift me up when I need to reach somewhere high up.” I grinned at the orc.
Just as I was finishing that the captain returned beckoning towards us all.
“Socom and George are prepared to meet with you in the library,” he gestured towards the door that was located in a beautiful tan awning.
“Thank you, Cedric, your help is much appreciated,” Emily smiled at the captain. “These two are going to stay here and assist you all where they can while we meet with father and Sir Filham.”
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“That is great to hear,” the captain said while turning to look at the orc and I. “We can certainly use a pair of extra hands.”
“We’ll meet you back here, guys. Good luck.” Gerald and Emily turned away before heading to and eventually disappearing within the awning.
“Where do you want us?” I asked the guard with a smirk on my face, “We’re here to help with whatever you need.”
“Talk to Emilia,” he pointed at a blonde haired older woman with an aged face in a black gown who was currently attempting to heal a young lady whose leg looked as if it had been crushed under some falling rubble. He then turned and headed back towards the gate before assuming his position with the other seven.
“Not much of a talker, huh.” I joked, looking at Batul.
“No one is much of a talker when compared to you.” He smirked at me in response.
“Fair enough.” I raised my hands in the air as if surrendering. “Let’s go talk to this Emelia lady.” Both of us headed over to her.
“No weight for at least a week. I was able to mend the bone but you still need to keep off of the leg or it could aggravate the injury. I know how you are, Cecily. No riding. None. If I hear of you riding..”
“You won’t!” The girl replied quickly, shaking her head. “It doesn’t really hurt anymore. Thank you so much, Emelia. You really are a lifesaver.”
“Of course, dear.” The older woman helped the girl named Cecily to her feet. “Now you head inside and wait until this is all over with,” she finished, shooing her away towards the manor.
“Emelia, I presume?” I opened, walking towards the woman.
“Oh? Who is this now? If you’re not seriously injured any of the other healers can help you, I’m busy with the badly injured right now.” She put her hands on her hips while replying to me.
“No, ma’am. Me and the goblin would like to lend a helping hand where needed, if you’ll have us… ma’am.” Batul declared.
“What can you two do?”
“Uh…” Batul stammered.
“I can repair those statues and other things in the area where needed. He can help carry stuff where it needs to go,” I gestured towards the orc beside me. “It may not be much, but it’s something.”
“Indeed.” She considered us for a moment. “You can have a look at the statues and fountain if you like. There’s plenty of damage to go around, that’s for sure. As for you,” She turned to the orc. “We can use you in helping to transport the wounded and materials to people who are running out.”
“Sounds good,” Batul said, putting his fist to his chest.
“Erm. Yes. Follow me.” She turned and walked towards a group of people under a makeshift canopy of canvas held up by tall wooden poles.
Well then, I guess I’ll have a look at the statues. I thought to myself while turning to head towards the tall marble figures. I looked around at the ground as I walked over there, noticing the amount of debri and gravel was around from all the blasts. I eventually stopped and stooped down to pick up a few of the shards that had been blown off the statue to inspect the quality of it.
“Hmmm.” I thought aloud while rolling the shards in my palm. This is pretty good marble. Pretty expensive marble, as well. I finished up with inspecting the ground around me and continued heading back towards the statues.
When I reached the statues I noticed that most of the damage was actually not really that bad. It was mainly just pock marks from the blasts and occasional scarring from stray arrows. Noticing that one of the slashes in it looked a little off, I inspected the spot closer. “Oh, wow.” I let out, amazed. The statue was not all marble. In fact, it was mainly pumice stone. Interesting, I thought to myself, rubbing my finger in the indentation that a blade had left. I looked at the other statue of Lady Filham and headed towards that one, inspecting any cuts finding that this one matched the other one in how it was made.
I gathered my thoughts and placed my hands on the stone statue in front of me. After a few seconds of concentration and pouring some energy into the statue the pieces began to mend themselves around me slowly and began to look as if nothing had happened to it.
“How did you just do that?” An older man who was walking by stopped and asked me, amazement clear on his face.
“That? That was nothing really. I’m good at crafting and such. A little concentration and things just… do that.” I said pointing at the statue.
“Lad, that’s amazing.”
“Nah, it’s really nothing. Doesn’t help where it matters.” I replied shrugging, “I’ve always been able to do it.”
“You must be an Elemental,” He said to me. “Those are the only ones I’ve ever known to be able to conjure stone like that.” He gestured to the newly repaired statue. “You’ve only ever been able to fix things made of stone?” He questioned me.
“Nope. I’m able to enchant things with all sorts of things,” I answered, pulling the dagger out, it beginning to blaze after being revealed.
“You are definitely an Elemental, boy. No doubt about it.” He shook his head. “In all my days I’ve only seen one other Elemental and was the old king of Silitha.” The elder man said, looking at me.
I stared at my hands, taking in everything I just learned. “Whoa…” I whispered.
“Quite a combo, if you’re an enchanter as well.” He chuckled. “I’d hate to be there when you realize what you can really do.”
“I’m a god!” I yelled towards the sky with my hands raised. After a few moments of silence I brought my eyes down and noticed everyone staring at me, Batul just shaking his head with his hand covering his face. “Er… I was just kidding!” I screamed out again, putting my hands to the sky once more.
“You’re definitely strange, that’s for sure.” The elder man shook his head. “We appreciate the help though. I’m Jenkins, btw. I’m here to help out my daughter Laura who is healing some of the wounded.” He stuck his hand out to me.
Taking his hand in mine and grinning I replied, “well, Jenkins, thank you for the info. I gotta see what I can do, if what you said is true.”
Laughing, he turned away and waved at me before walking away, “Good luck, boy.”
Wow. Elemental. I like the sound of that. Gaziz, the Enchanting Elemental. Oh yeah, I thought to myself. With a toothy smile that reached my ears I walked towards the other statue and repeated the process, this time trying to focus on summoning stone rather than fixing the statue. Just as last time everything started to revert back to normal.
Well, almost normal. All the spots I repaired on this one were black instead of white like the last one. “Oops.” I said aloud to myself. Looking around to see if anyone was looking at me and noticing everyone was busy with their own situation, I put my hands back on the statue and focused on changing the statue back to marble. After a few seconds I noticed the black slowly turn to a grey then to a matching white. Huzzah! It worked.
Smiling at my work I made my way to the fountain and repeated the process while grinning like an idiot.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gerald and I made our way through a brilliantly carved archway into the main room of the manor.
“This way, if you please,” an older gentleman called to us, waving us down a corridor. “They are expecting you,” he added as we came to a large mahogany door.
Reaching for the handle I turned and looked at him. Upon seeing him nod to me I fully grasped and turned the handle and pushed the door open, the door creaking as the heavy wood swun inward into a massive library.
“Wow,” Gerald murmured next to me as we entered. “This is… magnificent,” he broke out in a huge grin while entering the room.
“We definitely don’t have something like this in our manor,” I added onto the elf’s comment.
In the center of the library there were six red velvet stitched chairs. Positioned in a circle around a table, I noticed father and another man standing across from him, leaning over and pointing towards a paper on the table.
The short black haired man was wearing a matching black button up shirt with his sleeves rolled up and black slacks.
“They had to have entered through here, which means you can exit to the right. If you head straight, especially on horseback, I don’t think they would be able to match your speed. You’d at least be able to avoid them a bit easier,” the man explained to my father. Just as he finished his last sentence he looked up and saw us entering. “Ah, this must be your daughter, Emily, and her friends.” He looked past us, “or friend, I should say.”
“The other two are in the courtyard assisting where they can. You’re people looked like they could use a hand.” I replied to the man, smiling shyly.
“Well,” He clasped his hands before him, “we certainly appreciate that. We’ve been isolated since this started, other than your father arriving.”
“I only arrived because I escaped the governing building. Speaking of, where is Eldwin,” my father asked, his eyes dancing between the two of us.
“Sir.” Gerald said, stepping towards the two men, “Eldwin is…”
“He’s gone, father.” I interrupted, tears starting to swell at the bottom of my vision. “He gave up his life for the four of us to escape through the same tunnel I believe you escaped through.” I finished, my voice cracking from the pain in my throat.
“He what?!” George stammered, “what do you mean? How do you know?” He started to have a pained look on his face.
“We heard it, sir,” Gerald shifted his gaze down. “Just before we heard the orc… kill him.”
I put a hand on the elf's shoulder while still looking at my father. “It’s true. He attempted to stop him, saying that we had to get to Ashwood. Something about demons and magic. Gerald has told us everything since then. We need to deliver what the king gave us so they can, hopefully, finish some spell.”
“I know about it. I can’t believe he would do that though. This city needs him now more than ever.” He shook his head solemnly. “Socom, what do you make of this?”
“Hmmmm.” The man thought aloud, having sat down with his face on his clasped hands. “We need to get you to your house so you have a chance to escape. Your family is located right on the eastern wall and that gives you a great advantage when it comes to getting out of the city.”
“What about Eldwin?” My father insisted.
“What’s done is done. We will deal with this when we can. Right now, though, we have more important matters in front of us. You said he gave you something?” Socom questioned the elf.
“Yes,” he replied, pulling an object out of his robes that was wrapped in a blue fabric.
“Well, let’s see it,” Socom said, his eyes growing wider.
Gerald slowly began unwrapping the object, revealing a blade, then a silver hilt. It was a silver dagger. The hilt and the blade all being a single unit, forged together.
“Wow….” I whispered, looking at the gleaming blade. It appeared as if it had been shined just yesterday.
“Let’s get it out of here,” my father insisted towards Gerald. “We don’t need you losing it before getting it to where it needs to be.”
“Oh, it’s right where it needs to be,” Socom interjected, reaching a hand towards the item before Gerald quickly snatched it back and began wrapping it again.
“What is the meaning of this, Socom?” George snapped at the man.
He just turned and looked at him, laughing to himself before finally stopping. “I’ll be relieving you all of that dagger, and your lives, now.” He sneered as he began to stand and raise his hand towards us, his eyes turning completely black.