The Empire
"I'll find him." Luke blurted out. "I'll find him, and the Dragon Egg." he added. The Emperor turned around to face him, and the four other assassins who stood lined up in the Great Hall. "Ah! A volunteer." He said, looking mildly pleased. "I trust you've learnt from what happened last time?" He said. "Yes, Sir." Luke replied, remembering being flung across the forest by that damn hybrid. "Good. You will leave with a squadron at dawn." The Emperor ordered, dismissing the others, but keeping the chosen assassin behind. Once the door closed behind them, he walked up to Luke, who was still standing formally. "Last time I sent you, you came back empty-handed." He said quietly. "That won't happen again. Is that clear Luke?" He told him. "Yes, Sir." Luke said. The Emperor lowered his voice; "If that happens again, you'll be saying farewell to that wife of yours, understand?". Luke was silent, A penalty that high?!... "Yes. O-of course Sir." Luke replied, not expecting his voice to sound scared. "Good. I know you won't disappoint me.". The Emperor stood back, and gestured to the door, dismissing Luke. He nodded in respect and headed for the door. I'll find him... I have to!
Luke headed for the supplies chamber, knowing he best be prepared for an encounter with the hybrid. Water. Enders hate water. He would have to get that later. Luke lit a small candle and placed it in a holder, before going into the chamber. Along with the basics, he went to the forbidden sector, which was access from a door hidden behind a bookshelf. He pushed it to the left, before opening the dusty door. If he was to fight a magic user, he would have to equip himself with something magical. On an armour stand was a relatively clean-looking chestplate. Above it, a sign which gave a brief description; "Dejourin's Plate, enchanted with the Curse of Rebounding. Any spell cast onto the wearer will be rebounded back onto the mage that cast it.". Heh, a taste of your own medicine... Luke thought. He took off his own basic chestplate, and replaced it with Dejourin's Plate. He left it on the armour stand, and continued around the room. A small, glowing box on a high shelf caught his attention next. It glowed a soft pink, and had a sign below it; "Band of Balkemoore. Heals the wearer of any minor wounds.". This might come in handy... Luke thought, taking it out of the box and slipping it on. The clear gem in the middle of the metal band glowed, accepting its new wearer. "Lukas! We're heading down the pub, you coming or not" He heard his comrades coming down the corridor. He ran out of the forbidden sector and slammed the door, and pulled the little bookshelf back. "Yeah, on my way!" He shouted back, blowing out the candle and closing the main door behind him.
Badlands: Unclaimed land
"Do you reckon we'll reach the town by nightfall?" Drake asked. "Don't know, by we'll get close. There's a few hours of daylight left, so we might set up camp soon if we're too far away." Grayson explained. He held a map in his right hand, and the compass in his left. Mia was carrying Jodie, who had fallen asleep a while ago. "We might get to the town, I can see it on the horizon. The only problem is that the Empire's there so we'll have stay low.". Grayson said. On the horizon lay a long wooden wall, with towers along it. The gate looked closed, but it was hard to tell. "I've got an idea." Mia said. "What if we wait until tomorrow morning? Then we can go in with the traders and won't be noticed.". "That's a pretty good idea. You good with that Drake?". Grayson agreed. "Why not. If e can get close to the town and set up camp, it'll make it easier in the morning.". Drake suggested. "Good point. Let's keep going". Grayson said, following the dirt path. The path followed the flat, grassy plains. To the left of the path was a thick forest, and to the right was more plains, and mountains in the distance. For land occupied by thieves and thugs, it has some damn beautiful landscape. The sun was low in the sky, sitting above the mountains that lay beyond the grassy plains. The land was empty, no animals or people around. But the plains aren't a problem; it's what's lurking in the forest. Many thieves and thugs choose to camp out in there, because travellers don't easily see them and they can make themselves hidden.
"Should we set up camp? The sun's set now, so the daylight will disappear soon." Grayson asked. "Might as well, the forest here might offer us some cover." Drake suggested. The town was much, much closer now, and the details of the wall were visible. Each tower had light at the top, the gate was indeed closed, and the town much more fortified than expected; a tell-tale sign of the Empire. "Here. There's a clear patch of grass there." Grayson said, leaving the dirt path and heading into the forest. "Drake, do you wanna get some firewood?" Grayson asked. "Yeah sure." He said, heading deeper into the forest. Mia set down Jodie carefully onto the grass, while she got out the sleeping bags. Grayson set down his bag and put the map and compass away, before gathering the rocks that lay by the patch to make a fireplace. "Should I wake her? So that she can have some food?". Mia asked. "Nah, we'll feed her in the morning, best let her sleep." Grayson replied. "You sure? You seem overly-confident with the whole parenting thing." Mia said. "What's that supposed to mean?" He asked, knowing that he never told her about his past, and his family. "Nothing. I'm just saying.." She replied, putting Jodie to bed in her little sleeping bag. Grayson dismissed it, finishing the fireplace and then getting his sleeping bag out as well. "I'm back." Drake called from the now near darkness. "Let's get this fire going." He said, dropping the firewood bar one stick, which he held tightly in his hand, muttered a spell and set alight. "We can see now." Mia commented, laying down in her sleeping bag. Drake lent down by the fire, and put the lit stick into it, which caused it to start burning nicely. "I'm gonna hit the hay if you don't mind, I'm pretty tired." Drake said, putting down his sleeping bag and setting his bag down alongside it. "Alright, I'll keep watch." Grayson said, but Drake had already fallen asleep. He looked over at Mia, who was sleeping alongside Jodie. "Huh..." Grayson said, sitting down to the quiet crackling of the fire.
