The Patron Quadrilogy: The Legend Begins

Chapter 40

Monday, October 16th, 6:30 p.m.
Kingdom of Rota (Hospital)

Brendan and his friends arrived in Rota not long after their conversation had ended. Thankfully, the trip to the hospital was just as uneventful as their flight from the Tree. The streets were devoid of people.

"It's really quiet," Blue said.

"Maybe they imposed a curfew?" Yellow suggested. "There was just huge battle not far from here, after all."

"Let's just hurry to the hospital," Red said impatiently.

"I agree," April said. "The fact that no one is outside is good for us. It means that we won't be delayed. Let's hurry there."

"Think we can use our Powers?" Owen asked quietly.

"Even though any witnesses are inside, I'd rather not," April whispered. "We're still in a city, and who knows how long the streets will remain empty. We're just gonna have to walk there."

"April's right," Brendan agreed. "Just because the fair Princess and her court know about our Powers, we don't know if the people know about our Powers."

The group continued walking until they came across a solo officer patrolling the empty streets. Brendan and Wally tensed slightly, but the others noticed it fully.

"We'll have to ask for directions," Red told them. "Brendan, would you mind?"

"Any particular reason?"

"Well you're the most..... Approachable, apart from May and Claire. And you're definitely not going to let Claire ask him, I can already tell that. And with our luck, and her's, May would get recognized, and then the streets would be flooded with fans." Red looked at May. "No offense."

"None taken," May said dryly.

"Alright, I'll do it," he said, walking over to the officer. The others followed behind at a distance. Brendan took a few more steps before the officer saw him and the others.

"Hold it!" The officer shouted, walking over. "The Kingdom of Rota is under curfew. Return to your homes immediately."

"Apologies, but we're not from Rota. We were mountain climbing to get a good view of the Tree and a couple of our friends got injured and we had them brought here. This town has the nearest hospital, you see. We were heading to the hospital but unfortunately we wound up lost here in the streets."

"Why do you lot look like you've been in a warzone?" The officer asked. "Mountain climbing doesn't get you this filthy."

"The mountain fought back," Groudon said.

"The mountain fought back," Brendan repeated, before mentally facepalming. He heard everyone else behind him facepalm as well. The guard was stunned.

"The mountain fought back?"

"Yes," Brendan said, thinking. "Aight, let's just roll with this. I'll figure some way out of this."

"The mountain..... Fought back?" The officer repeated, slowly.

"That's correct, yes."

"It fought back?" The officer asked. "The mountain?"

"No, no, the mountain was only fighting us, there was no third party." He could hear April and Steven whisper-yelling for him to shut up. Blue and Yellow, on the other hand, were whisper-yelling for him to keep going. "I can tell neither they, nor this man, were expecting to hear that from anyone today or any other day."

"Gotta break expectations somehow."

"The bar was already set low, I didn't think it could drop farther."