Rise Of The Forgotten: Paths Cross

CHAPTER SEVEN, THE BEAR, THE LION, THE PRINCESS, AND THE DANCING DRAGON

The Nesfundru walked down the main road of the village, with excitement, determination, and purpose. Not noticing the reaction from some of the villagers who were cleaning up the rubble from the attack. But He soon realized the villagers who had just this morning been entertained by him started to form a crowd behind him as he made his way toward the cleric. He noticed once a few of them started to grab farming tools and other objects to be used as weapons. To his surprise, a large crowd of people surrounded him with intimidating looks. The Nesfundur raised his hands and said in a charming voice and tone, "What is the meaning of this..lovely crowd hm?" "If you have forgotten me from this morning, allow me to reintroduce myself." The Nesfundru bowed and imitated tipping a hat, "I am the famous Francisco De La Martinez." "SHUT YOUR TRAP DEMON" one of the villagers shouted, "Let's KILL HIM" "YEAH, HE IS PROBABLY THE ONE WHO BROUGHT THE GULTONK HERE AND KILLED THE KNIGHTS TO MAKE US DEFENSELESS." Francisco quickly started running to the alleyways that weren't blocked by destroyed buildings, he bobbed and weaved through turns and in between stacks of boxes and other objects that had been placed throughout the the allies. This wasn't the first time Francisco had to run from an angry crowd of people, especially in the Umar kingdom. The only thing that surprised him was the fact it didn't happen sooner; as Francisco continued to run through the alleyways he cast a form-changing spell to conceal his handsome Nesfundur face from the villagers. Taking the form of a wounded villager, one who held the appearance of one of the tavern patrons. He made his way following the signs that remained. He found a modest temple, nothing over the top that was usually found in Umar but still a better-built building than the rest of the village nonetheless. Built with marble and paint to look as if gold sat within the trimming of the building. He entered and to his surprise, there weren't many wounded, normally this would have been a good thing but in this case, it was just as bad if it was filled with people, if not worse. The ones that were there laid in peace having been here since before the attack. Francisco quickly changed back to his form and quietly made his way through the rows of beds to the back of the building where he thought the young knight may be. Francisco poked his head around the closed door at the back of the building to find the young knight lying in a makeshift cot on the floor of a closet. Francisco slowly made his way in and took a bow as Clayton and the cleric looked confused as to why a Nesfundur was bowing to them. "I apologize for the intrusion, I am-". "I know who you are, Nesfundur, " Clayton interrupted. " Oh so you have heard of me, well I did not know my name carried so fa-". Again interrupted by Clayton, "I don't know you by fame but by investigation, we look into newcomers here especially those from rival Kingdoms." Francisco smiled and twirled his nonexistent mustache. Clayton stood up, the cleric rushing to his feet, " I wish you would lay down. I may have healed you of your wounds but you still need to rest." Clayton reached for his bent and cracked armor. He slowly fastened it on, " You know your tale should be told throughout the lands, filling the hearts of all your countrymen." Francisco Said while he walked through the small closet space. " And I could tell it for you, all you would need to do is tell me what happened in detail and I will do the rest. I'll make you famous, the Hero Knight of Blue Stream Village. Everyone will know now of your nam-." Clayton quickly grabbed Francisco by the neck, he leaned close into Francisco's large ear, "There is nothing to praise or boast about what happened here except for caution of the danger that lurks in the lands. The death that happened is nothing to be glorified by your false tales of glory and granger. Now I have no issue with you or your kin Nesfundur, but seeing how you snuck in here makes me think the villagers aren't too happy to see you walking around. Take your leave and begone I do not want any more death tonight." Francisco, slightly surprised at Clayton's reaction, struggled to get out a few words, " You are making a habit of interrupting me while I Speak." He pushed a small struggle of a laugh out, " I think we are going to be fantastic friends." Clayton removed his hand and walked out to the grand hall, he stopped and turned to the cleric. "Where are the wounded? Where are the survivors?" The Cleric shook his head and in a broken voice of grief, "There weren't any other than yourself and the three men in the front row." Clayton stormed out at an anger-filled pace, walking past the three wounded men who unfortunately had passed away due to their wounds; making Clayton the only survivor. Back at the tavern all had begun to settle down for the night, a few patrons had passed out due to drinking, and some stubbed their way out the front door. In the room of Diomede, he sat by the fireplace cleaning his greatsword, while listening to Kira inform him of what had been going on with her people and why she was so far north in a human country. She informed him of the Dead Lands invading her homelands. "My father has called upon the clan leaders to send ambassadors to ask for aid." Diomede was surprised by this, never had he heard of the Boarkar asking for help. Kira continued, " But thanks to the blood tucks, it has been difficult to do. They continue their rampage across Alberain killing any in their path and destroying any chance we have to mend the relationships with the other races." Anger overtook Kira's face, and she looked into the fire as it flickered. Diomede noticed a tear run down her face; he put his sword away into its sheath. Diomede in a soft yet hard tone asks, "why are you here in Umar by yourself?" Kira looked to him, " I was not alone when I set out on my journey, I had twenty loyal warriors accompany me. But along our travels we were attacked by both monsters and people." She continued with her voice shaking, "It wasn't until the Lords of Lagoona had caught wind of us." "They tracked us like animals and slaughtered the remaining of my warriors. If it wasn't for the sacrifice they made I would not be here now." Diomede slowly placed his hand on her shoulder, at first she reacted with anger but once she looked into Diomede's eyes and could see he was genuine she calmed herself and welcomed the comforting touch. Diomede asked again, "Why are you in Umar Kira?" She looked to Diomede, " I am here to find Master Orcsha." Diomede, shocked to hear that name again, pulled his hand back. " Orcsha is alive?" Kira nodded. Diomede stroked his beard, he couldn't believe that the old bastard could still be kicking after that bloody fight so long ago. Diomede sat back in the chair and let out a large sigh. Kira pulled out a roll of paper and told Diomede how it was a letter from Orcsha to Kira's father telling of how he was settling in the Umar kingdom where his enemies wouldn't think to look for him. "If I can manage to get Orcsha to come back to the Boarkar's territory he would be able to not only help with the invasion but it would boost the morale of my people to see one of our heroes still drawing breath." Diomede agreed that the idea was a good strategy, but " How did you convince your father to allow you to do this, surely a number of his trusted men could have gone on a journey and attempted to bring Orcsha back?" Kire was quiet for a moment, she stared into the flame again, " My father did not give his blessing or his permission to go on this journey, frankly he didn't think the idea was the best option to take." A feeling of dread washed over Diomede at the thought of a War chief roaming through the lands looking for his daughter. "You mean to tell me you left without your father's permission and took twenty of his men to travel across the eastern continent to a country ruled by an egotistical racist king known for killing his own people for living too far from his grasp?" Kira's face, though a shade of green, became a deep red. She was able to push out one word, "yes." Diomede stood up and plopped onto his bed, after a few minutes passed and the sound of muffled talking; he raised his head and grunted out," I'll take you to Orcsha but after that you are on your own." Kira perked up with confusion and stood up at the foot of Diomede's bed. "What do you mean you will take me?" She asked. Diomede sat up and replied, "I'll take you to to find Orcsha, after that he can take you back to your father." Diomede plopped back down onto his old flattened pillow. Kira feeling a slight relief, breathed a small sigh. Then she realized a human was willing to help her, a Boarkur, this confused her a bit. Never in her life did she think a human would help her find a Boarkur war hero let alone journey with her and put himself in danger. Then a spark of suspicion struck her. Why would he just help her? What could he want from her? Is he going to try and betray her? Then it hit her, he wasn't helping because he wouldn't want anything from her but to know where Orcsha was and maybe worse to fight and attempt to kill him. Adrenalin filled Kira, she grabbed her sword and was ready to draw it so she could drive it through Diomede while he lay. Then a thought entered her mind, if she were to kill him now she would still have to face the dangers and the risk of being hunted by the Umar kingdom. She loosened her grip on her sword. She sat back down and contemplated on what to do, she didn't know the land, and up to this point, she had been lucky with passing through the human towns without being caught. Kira knew he was her best chance right now of making it to Orcsha in one piece even if he did have his plans and agenda. Kira made her way to her room as she walked past an open door she noticed the woman from the bar with the great axe, they made eye contact and the woman did not say anything nor did her expression change. Just before Kira fully passed by her door for a moment it seemed the woman had a large man standing behind her. Kira quickly made it to her room, locked the door, and closed the windows. She lay on the bed, she still wasn't used to the softness of the human world but she did seem to be growing to like it. A few moments passed and she found herself in a deep sleep. The night was finally quiet with everyone returning home, and the excitement dying out, the night sky clear and full of stars. The quiet gave way to the sound of horses riding into the village. The sound of horses echoed throughout the once-calm village, cutting the quiet that had just begun to settle in. Twenty-five riders had rode into town, and twenty-four of them had armor ornate with different types of markings indicating rank and achievement. The twenty-fifth rider was a large man draped in a cloak covering his body, the only thing showing was his helmet which was solid black and had a trim of silver, and a helmet filled with red plume. The other riders dismounted their horse and waited at attention to the large man. He turned, looked at his surroundings, and lifted his head to smell the air. He turned to his men and in a deep emotionless tone, "Find them...now!"