Summoner : The Raleighs

Chapter 3

Fletcher was woken by a dwarven servant and hurried to get ready. He was 16 today and would be going to Vocans soon. He opened his wardrobe and browsed his collection of clothes. He debated weather to dress formally or casually. He ended up putting on a sweater and jeans he then walked downstairs navigating his way through the massive castle until arriving at the dining hall.

He saw  various nobles seated at the table and dwarven servant girls bringing platter sof eggs and bacon. He walked over to the table greeting Harold and paying respect to the various nobles.

Harold told Fletcher to sit next to him and handed him a scroll and said "Happy birthday Fletcher I hope you like her".

Fletcher thanked him before putting the scroll to the side and putting eggs on his plate. He finished breakfast quickly and excused himself taking the scroll with him. He walked to the massive garden outside sitting on a bench and summoning Athena.

He allowed her to fly smiling as she flew above the clouds. He examined the scroll wondering when he should summon it.

Not long after a out of breath dwarven ran up to him. She composed herself before saying "King Alfric wishes to see you in the council room".

Fletcher looked up watching Athena fly. Athena sensing Fletcher discomfort flew back and landed on Fletcher. She was infused  and then  Fletcher headed to council room scroll in hand. Fletcher walked quickly knowing not to keep Alfric waiting. As he saw the door to the council room he sighed before slowly opening the door.

Fletcher saw Lady Faversham and lord Forsyth with King Alfric plotting.

King Alfric turned around told Fletcher "Soon you will go to Vocans...i need to know whose side your on".

Fletcher looked stunned then asked "What sides are you talking about"?

King Alfric smiled and said "In the council of course".

Fletcher quickly responded "My king I'm not in the council".

Lord Forsyth stated "When you arrive at Vocans it will be announced that the winner of this year's tournament will have the right to a seat in the council". Lord Forsyth took a deep breath in and continued "yours cousins will be attending Vocans with you so now we ask you again whose side are you on".

Fletcher thought for a moment knowing he could not tell Alfric the he was against him. After what must have been a minute lady Faversham cleared her throat and gave Fletcher a smile.

Fletcher returned the smile and said "I will be inclined to be on the side of the true king".

Alfric frowned at his choice of words but accepted his answer nonetheless and dismissed Fletcher.

Fletcher hurried out the door heading to Harold's room. On the way he spotted Harold talking to a noble women called Boudica Hastia who was also on the council. Boudica was thickset and had spotted red hair shot with silver. When Fletcher arrived Boudica greeted him.

Fletcher had a feeling he interrupted something and shot a grin at Harold whose face had gone red.

"Lady Hastia how have you been", said Fletcher in a bored voice.

Lady Hastia ignored Fletcher question and replied with "Happy birthday Fletcher I got you something". She reached into her satchel and handed him a box no bigger than his hand.

Fletcher opened it to see a golden ring with his family crest painted in jewels engraved in it. He thanked her then turned and told Harold "I'm sorry for disturbing you two lovebirds but may you help me with the scroll you gave me"?

It was Lady Hastia turn to turn red as she and Harold exchanged glances.

Harold replied "of course we will let us go to the summoning room"

As they walked Fletcher finally asked "so are you two together".

Harold stuttered a maybe while Lady Hastia said yes with a straight face.

She lifted her eyebrows at Harold as he changed his answer to "it's complicated".

Fletcher laughed at them before entering the summoning room
He unrolled the scroll and began reading "do le me ga roh doh me la ma dah". A flash of light as a juvenile manticore appeared it was no bigger than horse and roared at Fletcher. Fletcher looked at it in amazement and turned to thank Harold ignoring the demon as it charged at him. Lady Hastia shouted a warning but it was to late the demon had stung Fletcher. Lady Hastia ran for help as Harold summoned an array of demon to capture the manticore while he attended to Fletcher.

Fletcher shaked in agony dropping to the floor wishing for it to end. He could sense Athenas distress but he could also feel something new in him. The manticore was in his head spreading it's vengeance to every corner of his mind. His eyes could see King Alfric along with other nobles arrive. He could feel them lift him and bring him for medical attention. Fletcher eyes felt heaving his vision went blank.

---
I have been sitting on this for a while not sure if it's good or not but yep