Tales of Avanturia 1

Chapter 36: Past Acquaintances

„Fenrock! By the gods, take a seat, you look terrible, friend!"

Fenrock had returned to Harkon with the requested sword. His condition didn't get any better, and he was – just as he looked right now – feeling terrible. Harkon ordered a blackmage to check on his friend's injuries, they soon found out, what was going on.

„It was Fetch, wasn't it?" the vampire asked, „I knew, that you could never trust this lunatic.. I will have someone send our regards, see it as.. extra reward for your troubles."

„A cure would be enough..." Fenrock replied.

„I'll see to that. But knowing you, it's not only the poison." Harkon mentioned, „Don't tell me, that you actually used it in a condition like that!"

„I had to save them, Harkon..." Fenrock replied, „I would've never forgiven myself.."

„They must be really important to you, then huh? I understand why you did it, but it was still reckless. Anyway, where are they?"

„In a hospital, still in Gundirsvall.. I've left a note, to inform them that I traveled ahead."

Speaking of which...

„He did what?!"

The three Blood Roses read the letter, that their friend had left them. He explained, that he'd been poisened and that he had gone ahead back to Ravigrad. They could always contact him on his Telenomichron.

Which they did.

„Fenny, hello?!" Lucia was full of worries.

„... Hey.." Fenrock replied. He sounded very weak.

„What did you think by going ahead?! You could've just stayed in the hospital!" Lucia lectured.

„It was reckless of me, I know.. but I'm fine. I'm getting treated as we speak.. The jobs done.."

„You idiot.." Lucia said, sheding a tear, „We'll join up with you as soon as we can, don't do anything stupid, ok?"

„I'll try.." Fenrock weakly chuckeled.

„Promise?" she asked.

„Promise." he replied.

„Ok then, get well soon, I'm worried about you, idiot! Bye.." she then hung up. Of course Lucia was still worried to death, about Fenrock, but she had trust in him. He made a promise after all..

In the hideout of the Dark Ministry Harkon was gazing at his new sword, while Fenrock's wounds were treated. There was, however, not much of a treatment for the poison in his blood. The pain was still immense, but Fenrock tried to just shrug it off.

„So," he started, „You wanted to tell us something..?"

„Of course, I didn't forget that. And actually, I think, I found another thing out – especially for you." Harkon replied, „Something about your past. Your parents.. and your actual name."

Fenrock jumped up from his seat full of excitement, „What?!" he gasped, „How?!"

The vampire put his sword on the desk, „Well, I did some research. Anyway, you probably have a trauma, so you wouldn't remember.. I did some research regarding the great war, when you were just three years old. Do you remember how you always had this short vision of a woman, that you talked about a lot, calling out to you and telling you that she loved you? This is your mother."

Fenrock felt shocked. Those news.. The woman from his visions.. It was actually a memory..!

„Furthermore, I think, I could introduce you to a dreamsearcher. The best in all of Ravigrad, and probably beyond. If you're wondering how I found out – calculation. When it comes to deaths, no one can touch me!"

„I will go look for her in due time.." Fenrock replied, „But first, I'd like to get past this poison. You know, all things aside, it hurts terribly..!"

Just then, a member of the Ministry entered, looking awfully wounded, coughin up blood and sinking to his knees, holding his chest.

Harkon immediatly rushed to him, „Child, what happened?!" he asked shocked.

„Tripwire... ambush.. red-light.. He.. has a new.. poison..!" Harkon helped him up and brought him to one of the medical rooms, with Fenrock following him. Maybe it was the same poison, that they injected him.

The assassin was in massive pain, so it really came as a suprise, that Fenrock didn't suffer as much. There was a wound on the same spot, where he got injected aswell. Green poison spread like vines from it, all across his body, emitting from the wound. The young assassin started screaming and they had to restrain him to the bed.

„What is going on?!" Harkon asked.

„It seems like Fetch developed a new poison.." the doctor said, „The sample we took contains the blood of a Wyvern.. Amongst other things. It's the same as the one inside Fenrock."

A Wyvern's blood, no matter what kind, is known as one of the most poisonous substances in the whole world. If it gets in your body, it will start to burn and corrode you from the inside. Only people with specific mutations can survive it and even use it for powerful potions, which enhance their abilities.

The fact, that Fenrock was still alive is a miracle!

He received a call on his telenomichron – it was from Brynjolf, „Hey man, we're on our way! Are you still in the hideout?" he asked. Fenrock heard the noise of an airship in the background.

„I am, but be careful. Fetch is spewing poison in red-light, and it's deadly.. He ambushed a few assassins just yet." he replied.

„Will be. See ya!" Brynjolf then hung up. Luckily Fenrock managed to warn them. The only problem there was – they had to figure out, what Fetch's motive was to go haywire all of a sudden. Well, it was known that the leader of Tripwire was straight up insane, but he's always been true to the codex of Underground.

The hours of suspense passed, and so did the young assassin. Harkon sent a team of scouts ahead to take a look at the scene where the ambush happened. He also spoke out a big warning to everyone of his children not to leave the hideout alone – not until they figured out what was going on.

Maybe he'd arrange a meeting between all the leaders – Byron Ramsay, Jack Morgan, Fetch and him, Harkon Dorik. However, he doubted, that this would work, considering the current situation. They had to think of something quick and Captain Morgan was out on high sea, Byron was in Muinn Dir for another meeting and Fetch.. well, he wouldn't come without destroying everything.

Finally the remaining three Blood Roses arrived at the hideout. They were lead to Fenrock and Harkon, who were in the vampire's office, currenlty discussing a plan of action. From outside they heard furious shouting..

„How dare he?! This godless clown thinks he can just run around killing my people! My Children! I see this as a shameless declaration! A declaration of War!"

„Harkon, calm down. Shouting around like that won't help anyone. If at all, it's going to make me deaf and you hoarse." Fenrock complained. Just then his three companions entered.

„What's going on here?" Bella asked.

Lucia ran past her and straigt to Fenrock, „You big idiot!" She had tears in her eyes and sobbed as she buried her face in his chest, „Don't ever do that again!" Her voice cracked under her tears.

„Don't worry, I'm fine.." Fenrock replied warmly, „But what about you three?"

„Forget about it," Brynjolf replied, „I believe there are more important concerns, considering the amount of shouting that's been going on here."

„Fetch is poisoning my people!" Harkon shouted, „I swear to the gods, if I get my hands on him, there'll be nothing left to bury for what he did!"

Fenrock and Harkon put them into the picture and asked them too, what they should do about this situation. They had a bad feeling, that this was going to escelate...

Just when suddenly...

BOOM!