A Remaining Podeshire 1

Chapter 5 (Part 1)

Sophia glanced at Oliver and noticed his body trembling. "What's wrong, Oli?" she asked in concern.

"...I-i-it's fine, I'm... I'm okay," Oliver replied, forcing himself to smile.

"No, you're not. You're stuttering. I noticed that every time you stutter, something's bothering you," said Sophia.

Gregory approached Oliver. "Is everything alright?"

"You can tell us what's bothering you," Sophia insisted.

Oliver sighed loudly. "...I'm just uncomfortable outside... especially if there's a massive crowd. What if... those assassins are searching for me, and they're blending in with the crowds?"

Gregory gawked at the street, squinting as he scanned every corner. "Don't worry. You'll be fine," he assured Oliver with a calm smile.

"Will I?"

"You'll be!" Sophia added. "Also, haven't I told you? How could those assassins know what you look like if you haven't appeared in public for years? And they probably have given up by now."

Oliver let out a relieving sigh. Suddenly, he felt Gregory laying his warm palm on his cold shoulder.

"Oli, I do not want you to spend your entire life feeling nervous for no reason. As your friend, I'd be happy to help you cope with your problems," said Gregory.

"I'll help you, too," Sophia stepped forward and added.

"...How, though?" Oliver asked.

"Come!" Gregory said.

     Gregory grabs Oliver's forearm and gently drags him down the street. Sophia hurryingly trails over their footsteps as she follows on their back. With a few more turns on the sidewalk, more people appear from every corner. Slowly, buildings begin to tower over ordinary houses. Soon, they reach the busy downtown.

     It is bustling. People fill the sidewalks, and carriages flood the streets. Countless men and women stroll down the roads while others line up at food stalls.

"...Why did we come here exactly?" Oliver asked anxiously.

"Let's just walk around," said Gregory.

Sophia gasped and whispered into Gregory's ear, "I think I know your plan, Greg. Are we going to make Oliver get used to the crowds?" She winked.

Gregory nodded. "Right, we do!"

"...C-can I go back?" Oliver asked as he attempted to escape, but Sophia blocked his path.

"Come on, you'll get used to it!" Sophia encouraged him.

"Is this necessary?" Oliver groaned.

"Yes, so you don't have to suffer every time you're in crowds," Sophia replied.

     The three of them began to stroll around the streets filled with a massive group of people. Oliver embraced himself and kept his head low. Walking slower among his companions, he made his way between Sophia and Gregory.

     Suddenly, Oliver hears a splash in his right ear. His head quickly turns in that direction, and he sees a potion maker brewing some concoctions on a stand as people line up. Being intrigued, Oliver smiles and pokes Gregory's shoulder blade.

"Greg, do you do that, too?" Oliver asked as he pointed at the potion maker.

"Yeah! I brew potions, but I do not sell them manually. My company does that part instead, and they pay me around two hundred to three hundred silver coins or... fifty to sixty gold coins every week," Gregory answered as their paces slowed.

"What is he making...?" Oliver asked as he peered at the glowing potions.

"Making a potion," Gregory responded.

"Pfft, be precise," said Oliver.

"Let me see..." Gregory halted and watched the potion maker add green herbs into a cauldron filled with simmering blue liquid. "I think he's making a stamina potion."

"Oh."

"Fascinating..." Sophia stated as she stared at the bottles full of glowing concoctions.

"...Come, let's move on!" Gregory resumed walking.

     While Oliver, Gregory and Sophia continued walking around the crowded downtown, Cal finally returned home without any groceries in his hand and hastened indoors. His footsteps echoed as he stomped every time he landed a pace. He then pushed the door to the basement open and passed through with a glare on his scowling face.

     Once he enters the room underground, Cal pulls a string beside the doorway. Then, a high-pitched bell rings, summoning his fellow men into the basement with him. Once they're all in the same place, Cal and his gather around a wooden table in the centre of the room, lit by one dim candlelight.

"Nelson, where's my son?" Cal questioned.

"Still in his bedroom, sire," Nelson replied.

"Good," he nodded. Cal then closed his eyes and sighed heavily. "Boys... I found him. I finally found him... after fifteen years of searching for that boy... I found the Remaining Podeshire," Cal stated.