The Inconvenient Alliance

Chapter 19

Gregory POV:
I walk up the red and golden laced carpet as before, I see him there at the throne and take a deep bow. "You may rise" He directs, and I do so, my nervousness makes me flinch when I hear his voice and I see him glancing around near me. "Where is the rest of your group I assigned you with and why are the two I sent you three scouts after not captured yet?" He asks, clearly a bit annoyed and I quickly respond, "We couldn't catch them, and the others from my group didn't make it, your majesty, but that's the part I need to explain, their death was not natural but by magical means like that I've never seen before." I stand to attention as he asks a question, "Are you certain this magic was not just from the mage that is traveling with our wanted escapee?" I think about it and respond, remembering back to the odd artifact in that room of the cavern, the two, Drake and Grayson, they mentioned it was a diamond of some sort? Whatever the case, Drake did seem to know where it was when we followed them but he never seemed to activate it when it dusted Havor. It rather seemed to surprise them both at the same time it surprised us, then again I don't know much in terms of magic. "No, I do not believe so, this seemed different." I pause as I notice the emperor lean forward on his throne now intrigued, "Go on then, explain what happened, and be quick about it, I don't have all day." I begin to explain and go right to the point, leaving out some small details of our mission about how we only followed them to the cavern in the first place as havor started to get googly eyes over a precious gem we overheard Drake and Grayson talking about that ironically killed him later on, "While we were out scouting for Drake and Grayson we followed them to a cavern where we planned on ambushing them as we thought we could block their path of escape easier in the tunnels, only there was this room in the cavern that seemed to have magic as it was dimly lit by oddly colored torches lining the walls and there was this large blue crystal encased in stone near the far wall only when Havor went to investigate it he was turned to dust upon touching it, I was so freaked out about it I ran back here to alert you of it. The mage with Grayson, Drake, he seemed to know where this crystal was, but I don't know if it was his or not, It didn't seem like it was his as we all seemed surprised when it went off." I finish there and the emperor deeply thinks about this, almost baffled "You're telling me you found and witnessed an item so powerful it turned one of my men to dust upon contact?" I respond, "Yes, your majesty." He continues, "Hmm, if this is true then this dangerous item you found needs to be contained, and if such vile dark magic does belong to the mage Drake, or if he can potentially use this item you speak of, then such power should be kept out of his reach, perhaps there is more to why we cannot catch those two after all. You've done well to inform me of this, and though you may have left the last in your group to defend for themselves and have failed this mission, perhaps you could redeem yourself with a new one." He finishes and I ask, "What is the new mission your majesty?" the emperor continues, "I need you to lead a group back to the location where you discovered this artifact so that they could learn more about it as well as contain it, I'll inform them of this and you will meet them all at the main city gate and head off with them this early afternoon, for now though, your free to spend a few hours to prepare yourself and do whatever else you need to do before you head off." I have a feeling that if he's giving me any free time this may be one of my hardest missions and I may not make it back but I look to him, I wouldn't want to let him down again even though I may not have a say in this, "Alright, I can do that" I say, trying to hide the timid in my voice as he finishes up whispering something to a messenger, the messenger runs off probably to arrange the group to leave soon, and he turns back to me, a bit of annoyance clear in his voice again, "I pray for you that this mission will be better than the previous one I assigned to you and that we don't suffer greater losses than what we gain, your dismissed Scout." As soon as he says that I'm dismissed I hurry out of the kingdom and decide to head down to my home in the city first to get cleaned up. I head over to the decently sized, familiar house that is big enough for two along with a possible guest. I fetch the house key from my pocket, which fits perfectly in the lock. It opens easily and I head inside, closing the door behind me. I let out a long sigh once I'm inside, glad to be back home even if Andrew may not be here right now, hmm I should go visit him later on before I head out I think to myself as I take off my armor and head straight for the room with the large tub of water. I put my house key, my backpack, and my weapons in a safe spot while I get undressed and practically toss myself into the tub to get cleaned up, the water feels nice on my skin even though it takes a little while to scrub all of the dry mud off. Afterwards, I get dressed in some new clothes and sit in a chair near the fireplace to try to dry off as I clean up my armor some too from last night, using a bucket with some water, a washcloth, and a small amount of soap. Once I'm satisfied and have also dried out my armor the best I can near the fireplace, I put it back on, it's still damp but it will do. Then I stand back up, equip myself with my weapons, sling the backpack over my shoulder, and fetch the house key again before heading back out to the city, making sure I remember to lock the house and put the key back in my pocket before I try to find someone, a specific Knight. I eventually spot him patrolling a general block around the city and come over, glad to see him, "Drew! Andrew!" I call out to him, he is an older man, wearing his usual nice metal armor Knight uniform, he's one of the lieutenant knights that lead others around in big groups but smaller groups than the commanders. He looks similar to me and others may think we are related even though we are not to my knowledge. He hears me and turns to me as I come over, "oh, Gregory, your back, how are you doing? I heard some chat about your assignment from the emperor, some talk from the other knights around, and I heard that it didn't go too well?" I shake my head, "No, it didn't" Andrew thinks for a moment, "Well, you seem tired, and I'm not too busy right now if you want to grab something to eat and talk about it at a tavern?" I nod, "that sounds great" I walk with him, and we both enter into a local tavern, a small tavern with a few lit sconces around the walls, a small bar at the far side of the room, and a few tables with people around, some drinking Ale and many talking amongst themselves. We find some seats at the bar easy, others make room and let us sit down out of respect for Andrew's rank. I have always somewhat enjoyed that benefit while being around him. The bartender comes over, one of the common folk around the city, a short older woman with darker hair pulled up in a ponytail, she has a sweet voice and a kind smile. Andrew orders some water and whatever is selling the best lately in the tavern, which is a bowl of fresh vegetable stew. The food comes out quick, and the bartender pours us both two mugs full of Ale and some water. I never knew how hungry I was until I take that first sip of hot, savory stew. I haven't eaten for almost a day, I guess I'm a bit too used to being hungry and can tolerate it for a while since when I was younger I was living alone out in the empire for a little while without a proper home. One day Andrew came along and caught me once trying to steal crops to eat from a farmer's garden. I practically begged him to not turn me in and take me to the dungeons that day, I was alone, hungry, and scared. I'm still scared of things today as I heard outside of the city can be dangerous so I have never been out in the wilderness far from the city until recently, but luckily he didn't take me into the dungeons, even though he could have, instead, he decided to put me to work for stealing and in return he provided me with some things I needed to survive. Over time we got to know each other a bit better as he was there to watch me when I worked but when I had finished the work he knew I had nowhere to go and he didn't want to send me back to the city streets again, knowing I'm a good kid not trying to cause trouble and I deserve somewhat of a family, so he decided to take me in which was probably one of the happiest moments of my life since my parents passed. I'm still not entirely sure what happened to my parents, the most I remember is the knights mentioning an accident happened, but I'm still glad Andrew was kind enough to take me in and to teach me most of what I know today. Then I was signed up to be a guard like him when I came of age, I learned all beginner guards have the rank of scouts at first and if they do well they rank up. Scouts can also be called guards, though the name guard could also be a universal term for those in the ranks. I still have the same title as anyone else beginning in the guard ranks, so there's still respect from the common folk even if it's not entirely the same thing as being in a higher rank such as a middle-tier guard which most are, they are usually called knights, though I'm proud to be a scout even if it isn't exactly the same. I still have the same title and respect as any other beginner guard may, maybe a bit more lately since I was selected as one of the best, I can't say I enjoy being one of the best from what I've been through so far though. As I'm greatly enjoying the stew, slurping it up and not letting one drop drip down my chin, I hear Andrew speak, "I was worried about you last night, first time you've been that far away from the city, and then there was that horrible downpour of rain. When you got back I heard the two others you left with were not with you and that your assignment didn't go well, but whatever happened out there, I'm just glad you're ok and back in one piece." I set my bowl down and look over at him, and agree, "I'm glad I'm ok too" "Could you try to explain some of what happened?" Andrew asks and I begin to explain, "Well, I was sent to capture Grayson with a few others as he was spotted near the city I guess from one of the knights, and the emperor wanted a small group that would be more stealthy to go get him, but it ended up turning into this big nightmare when we followed them to an area in a cavern that just felt off in so many ways, I think there was magic in that place, and I think I accidentally discovered this dangerous magic item there. It was this odd crystal-like thing encased in rock, and it scared me. I ran out of there as fast as I could but I left the others behind." I pause and sigh, knowing I definitely pulled a cowardly move, and guards are supposed to be brave, I'm supposed to be brave, only I left Kalis down there to fight by himself, the item destroyed havor, I've never seen anything like it before, and it all happened so fast. Andrew speaks, probably noticing my mixed expressions about this, "everyone can get scared sometimes, and fleeing is not always bad, fleeing away from the danger could sometimes save your life. It is sometimes the smartest thing one could do in a fight if you know you're not going to be victorious even if it doesn't feel right to flee at times. Fleeing can give you another day to keep fighting, or another chance to try again some other time, such as in this instance. Now, I am not entirely sure what you saw or what all happened out there as I wasn't out there with you this time though many things can be scary when you're out in the world for the first time, and even though you left others behind you still managed to get back here with information for the emperor, and that's an important task right there." He pauses to take a long swig from his mug as I think about it, maybe he's right, if I didn't run I may not be here, and I wouldn't have been able to tell the news to the emperor about the discovery which reminds me of something the emperor told me once I delivered such news. I speak again knowing Andrew won't like the news, but it's best he knows, "This wasn't like anything I've seen before, and I'm supposed to meet a group by the gates to lead them back to the caverns over to where I found the item soon." Andrew nearly chokes on his drink and looks at me in disbelief, "what!? They're having you go back there to that dangerous area you mentioned where you're known as the only survivor that has returned thus far?" I quickly respond back, knowing he deeply cares about me and is worried about my safety, "I'll be careful, I just need to show the group where this dangerous item is so they can handle it and then I'll come home, I'll be quick and I won't get into any more danger than I have to, I promise." I'm uncertain about going back there at all, it was frightening last time, and part of me doesn't want to go but I know this should be easy, I just need to show the group the location, I don't even need to go inside that odd room again. Andrew sighs, "I hope you get a promotion soon, scouts always seem to get the more dangerous missions, even the best, as they're supposed to scout out the dangers for the Knights that come in behind usually. All beginners in the ranks are scouts until they are promoted to whatever higher ranking best suits them, and there's usually a final big task assigned to them they have to complete before they are promoted, but I never thought you would be going into something dangerous like this in the small time you're a scout. Next time you go there, help your group out if needed but also be careful, and if anything starts to go horribly wrong again then flee as you did before, just run all the way back here again alright? I rather you not end up in a medical bay for a time or worse" "Alright" I respond, after listening to his advice, which I may gladly take again if danger like before is to arise, I'm not one that is used to being in the middle of a fight yet, never really have been one to enjoy fights but I can at least try. I think of something, "Maybe one day I'll be a great leader like you." I look over and say to Andrew, of which he looks back and jokes, "or the best messenger the emperors ever had." We both laugh at that, knowing at this rate such things could be possible. I finish taking a sip from my mug before speaking again, "well, I should probably head off now" "Yes, just remember what I said, I would hate it if something bad happened to you after I have grown so fond of you, and you had me worried enough last time when you went out, was beginning to think something got you but I know you're too quick and clever for most things." He grins a little as he responds to me, finishing up the rest of his stew, "I'll remember what you said and, I'll still try to be careful, I wouldn't want to be out in a medical bay for a time either." I finish, knowing there's medical bay's that can be set up quickly in a few places around the city if needed, either at the church or out near the courtyard at the back of the castle from what I know and It's where all those who are wounded go, for those who need patching, or for anyone who needs a recovery period from battle injuries. I do hope I never have to be sent to one though, I think to myself, as we both stand and head out, parting ways when we leave the tavern. Andrew waves to me as I head off to the gate where there are guards and mages already waiting on me and they turn to me when I come over, expecting me, and we all head out once more which gives me a strange feeling of deja vu, and it doesn't feel good.