The Thorn Crown

Chapter V: Murmurs in The Dark

Darrion Freeman

Nostalgia once again flooded him. Every step seemed new yet so familiar. His stomach felt queasy; however, it was the good kind of queasiness. A nervous feeling, like butterflies in his stomach, filling him with excitement and passion. His heart throbbed against his chest and his body felt ready to spring to action. He pondered these past years in his mind. The years without his love. The years of anguish.

He gazed out towards the passageway ahead. The escape route for her majesty in case of emergency, built by a king of eons past.

Then the hairs on his neck suddenly raised. Footsteps came from a turn in the pathway, patting softly against the cold stone floor. However, upon closer inspection, the footsteps seemed to echo throughout the halls. Of course, they would echo, after all, he was in a stone cold tunnel but Darrion noticed that there were two sets. He froze up, trying to think of a way to hide, however the only way was back. A light followed alongside the footsteps, a bright, cold almost ethereal light, pulsating like a heartbeat. Even if Darrion tried to hide, the light would catch him. He placed his hand gently on his knife.

A guard came out, dressed in standard issue helmet, greaves and a dark green and black gambeson. He held a torch emitting a warm, fiery light, shedding light on his face, which bore blonde hair, and brown eyes, which seemed to be in a surprised state. His general countenance seemed young and frightened. The guard's eyes bounced up, down and off Darrion, never holding eye contact nor keeping his eye settled.

'Uhh-umm.' The guard stuttered.

Darrion opened his mouth however, he was too was lost for words.

'You-You're Darrion Freeman. The man who sailed across the whole world!'

'Um, yeah, that's me.'

The- the great pyramids of Araldabad! Khagan! What was it like m' lord?

'Interesting' He replied awkwardly. There was a slight pause. 'Did a patrol through this passageway commence while I was away?'

'Yes m' lord. Just me.' The guard said with a chuckle.

'Are you alone?'

'Yes sir.' He said with a shaky voice. His eyes peered down at his feet and there was another awkward pause.

'M' lord?' what are you doing here?'

'Just wanting to go for a walk outside. Get some fresh air. I'll be sure to not cause any trouble.'

Darrion strolled forward keeping a tight clutch on his knife, and looking for the second person he heard. While no sign appeared of someone, his feet came to a grinding halt. I only told the council members about that.

'How do you know about that?' Darrion asked. 'The specific landmarks of my venture?'

The guard had no words until finally he spoke 'Word spreads quick m' lord.'

'Right. Also, stop calling me that. I'm no lord.' Darrion continued walking from his strange encounter however, he tried to spot a second figure, lurking and skulking in the darkness. Nothing appeared or seemed out of the ordinary until Darrion noticed something. A strange moving warmth appeared from his left. Whether this person or thing had the shadows or scheming magic hiding them, Darrion could not see. He couldn't help but try to act normal in order to not rouse any suspicion. Curiosity took hold and he looked back.

Nothing.

He continued, not even letting a single thought pass though his mind and still keeping his hand clenched on his knife, to the point his knuckles turned white. Even mere blood ran cold through his body and a nervous sweat trickled out of his body. What's that guard up to? Sneaky little rat in the hallway. Perhaps he doesn't know that ghastly thing is following him. There was a longing pause in Darrion's mind. Hah! I'm nervous that's all. Imagining things, noises and ghosts. Nevertheless, contradicting his thoughts was a feeling of that false warmth which echoed throughout his body, a real presence haunting these cold black halls.