"Your grace Zackariah and my self we descended the bridge during the invasion attempt. There was a cloaked man, who seemed to be in league with the goblins and orcs that attacked us. They seemed to be after whatever was on the pedestal in that tomb."
"Yes obviously that's what they were after, It was only the one thing that kept the bowl safe."
The king slams his fist while saying so.
"My king the hobgoblin that seemed to be his second in command was unusually strong and possessed skill and powers I have never seen."
"You and your group will go out and reclaim the amulet of the late king."
"Sir I hardly think we are the.."
"THAT IS ENOUGH DO
NOT QUESTION YOUR KING! IF I SAY YOU ARE TO JUMP IN A RIVER AND DROWN YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO DO SO. YOU WILL TAKE YOUR LITTLE TROUP AND YOU WILL GO RECLAIM WHAT WAS LOST UNDER YOUR WATCH, AM I UNDERSTOOD?!!?"
The King throwing a cup against the wall screaming so hard his neck veins look like they are going to pop.
"Yes, my king," Gargoyle said not daring to make eye contact.
"GREMMLEY SENd ONE FROM GREYS GROUP TO ACCOMPANY THEM. I don't care who." The king looked once more at gargoyle then, the group before he stormed off slamming the door behind him. No one dared speak, minutes went by. The chamber maids just silently ushered the group to a small cottage outside the castle. Not saying a word until they were outside the castle.
"Here is where you shall stay for the night as you are no doubt tired. A caravan will be here in the morning to gather your group. Do not leave this cottage." The chambermaid's hand shakes slightly as she gestures for the door.
The group went inside, and to their surprise, it was a very nice estate. The rooms are well-lit and freshly painted. There was a scent in the air of darkness as if a fall was captured in a jar and trapped in this room. The furniture was comfy-looking, almost too comfy as they sat down looking around not knowing what to do.
The maids show them the rooms and give them a quick tour before they leave. The two are now at the door then closing it. The group is still in shock after all that's happened.
"Guys what do we do?" said a confused Kyra.
"What can we do it's the king's orders and he is not in the mood to negotiate. Exclaimed gorgyle.
"WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THE OBVIOUS," Zack screamed kicking the table.
"He shouldn't have died If we were stronger he would be here with us. What now we go on being strong for him? No that's not enough he never wanted to come back into this." Zack collapsed to the floor eyes filled with tears of frustration.
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Everyone just surrounded Zack and all embraced him even Gargoyle. They all began to weep.
"Zack I know it's hard, it is for me to but he wouldn't want to see you like this. Don't let them win." belle said pulling him into her chest.
He grabs her arm firmly screaming into it. " I should have been stronger, I should have stronger."
"Zack you did all you could, there's no way you save everyone every time." Kyra said
"Zack we aren't giving up on this, we will find them and they will pay. For guntar our friend."
Gorgyle sais putting his hand on Zack's shoulder.
The group ate a dinner that even though the palace chefs were immaculate and punctual with their flavorful creations, the group could not taste there meal it was merely to fill their bellies.
They went to bed right after Kyra and Gorgyle taking one room and belle and Zack taking the other.
Gorgyles lays in bed, his mind racing replaying the battle they just barley survived. Analyzing every move, every turn, every breathe, scheming on how he could have done it differently.
"Hey hun what's wrong you look lost in thought?" Kyra said laying her head on his chest. Her hair partially covering her face as she looks to him hoping his answer is nothings wrong.
"Kyky you should have seen this guy he was unreal. It took me and Zack going all out just to hold him off. And I feel like he wasn't giving it his all, or we wouldn't be here right now." He said with a grim face, petting Kyra on the head more for his own comfort then hers.
She climbs up sitting on him, " now listen here what matters is you guys made you don't always get so lucky, you guys will be stronger next time and you will defeat this man, I have no doubt now shush."
She leans down and gives him a kiss. She embraces him and him her. They hold each other before falling asleep.
Meanwhile in the other room Zack staring off into space to afraid to fall asleep. Belle laying on his arm, not knowing what to say, she wants to fix it that's just who she is but she knows there's no words that can fix this. They both silently weep holding each other.
Before they know it or are ready, it's morning, there friend gone. darkness seems to be looking over them. they have been given the task to leave all they have known to find the late kings rune.
They are awakened by a man with pale green scaley skin and pointy ears. He Carrie's a bow on his back and a short sword on his hip. He wears a green cloak, with brown pointy shoes. He wears a hat that have leaves from a tree called eternal greens. A fork tongue flickers between his lips, with sunken yellow eyes staring at the group.
"AAAGGH WHO, NO WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU." Said belle with her nails sticking into the ceiling clutched for dear life.
Zack with his hand on his sword, "what do you want."
Gorgyle and Kyra burst into the room to see what is going on
The man pulls out a piece of paper signed by the king, which he then eats.
" I am sclavnie a lizard man. Pleasure to meet me. I will be guide and boss. Questions??" His small black pupils dilating back and forth as his head moves. His head snapping back forth adjusting his eyes at small movements.
"Uh.. yes one question, your in charge of the squad for this mission right? I'm just wondering because it's winter time and your cold blooded so...." Gargoyle said not trying to piss the scaly man off.
"Cold blooded yes, but also fire breathe yes. So sclavnie be fine. If to cold then sclavnie eat warm enemies, that keep sclavnie yes." His tongue flickers violently.
" uh alright then after you sir we're ready to go.
They hurriedly grab there things and run to the carriage outside waiting for them. It's cold and frigid out this morning but you can't tell because of all the heat from the asimir people walking around the plaza.
They are drove through town.
Everyone sitting awkward and quietly, the lizard man is look at them
All back and forth through the group.
"So you lost person mmmm?? Sclavnie know yes. Singing short man, good man. Sclavnie would not eat yes. He nice to sclavnie yes."
Zack chimes in " so you knew guntar?"
"Sclavnie knows him yes. He was first friend. Brought sclavnie back through portal. All family dead, lost whole clutch of eggs yes.
Short singing man brought me to the grey and I trained yes. Now kill things for grey and scary king man yes. People think sclavnie dumb sclavnie not dumb they dumb, sclavnie smart that's why the grey make him boss." He nods his head ferouciously as he sais this. A flap underneath his chin swings open like a sail on a boat and turns bright blue.
The group start to warm up to sclavnie,
Before they know it they are heading down the partially repaired bridge and are on the ground outside the bowl. Before to long Zack opens up the cover on the wagon and looks out to the mountains they all called home slowly shrinking in the distance.