Necromancer

Chapter 1

When I got out of bed this morning I did not expect to be jumping over chasms, and getting shot at with wooden arrows. I gasped for air running faster and faster; My footsteps echoed with a great thuds as my heart beated faster. I’m determined to make it out of this cave alive. I turned around my head trying to get a look of my enemies hot on my tail. Behind me in the darkness I could hear goblins wailing desperate to get their gold back. “Come back here you filthy mutton stick!” Arrows whistled past my ear as I hastily tried to remember the spell for stamina.  “Viribus!” suddenly my adrenaline kicked in. I turned a 90 degree angle narrowly missing a huge rock wall. Multiple loud clanks sounded as the arrows bounced off. I saw a ray of sunshine which peaked out from a large crack in the wall, just big enough for someone to squeeze through. I leaped inside and shimmied out into the warm sunshine filled air. My black straggly hair was covered in dust and grime. I flung out the sacks of gold that weighed me down and collapsed on the grass. It smelled like the pleasant scent of pine compared to the stench of the musty cave I smelled earlier. “That old woman is going to kill me when she sees my clothes!” I looked near the entrance of the cave hoping they didn’t follow me. Surprisingly there were no more wails. All I could hear was the soothing howl of the wind.

It felt like hours went by before my body received strength again. Well... I better get going, I started to walk east with the sun setting behind my back. I was in the middle of Blightwood forest, known for its thieves who ambush passerbys. Being alone made me a big target. That being said there was no time to waste, I got what I came for. The earthy ground crunched beneath my worn boots. In the distance, east gate of Hadensurg came into view. A lone guard stood near the left side. His eyes scanned the horizon until he caught sight of me. Crap... “Halt Stranger! What is your matter of business!” His gruff voice echoed under his steel helmet. He wore the insignia of Hadensburg on his armor. A falcon with a crown between it talons. I’m gonna have to play this cool maybe he won’t know I’m bluffing. “Don’t you know who I am!” I snapped. His eyes narrowed “got no clue,” “Im a nobleman from Danes.”  The man looked up and down my pitiful clothes. “Some nobleman, you don’t have anything expensive on you. And where's your letter of recommendation? If Danes sent you they would’ve gave you a letter.” he saw right through my lies. “ Your no nobleman just a vagabond trying to get in! Off to the galley you go!” Man I don’t have time for this. I grabbed the nearest stick from the ground and swung it right in his face connecting with the side of his helmet. A loud clang rattled and I ran past into the city entrance. I can’t believed that worked. But I’ve got bigger things to think about right now.

I ran in the street and turned right into a small alleyway, I stopped in front of  a cramped wooden house between towering buildings, two giant windows with mannequins clad with all sorts of clothing. A green door sat in the middle with a sign on it that read, MADAME ANNETTE'S TAILOR. I slowly opened the door with  the hinges making an audible creak, I gotta get up the stairs without her seeing me. As soon as my foot hit the floor a booming shrill voice came from inside. “What on earth happened to your clothes?!” “Bless your soul child walking in like this! You shouldve left those rags of yours at the door!”
Now that I thought about it I barely looked at my clothes. My black cloak was shredded and torn caked in slime. My beige shirt was barely hanging on my wiry frame. “I’m really sorry about the damage, I will try to make it worth your while Madame Annet.” She scowled under her gold framed glasses. She wore a light brown tunic with sleeves and a white skirt. Her grey hair was packed into a neat bun on top of her head. She had her hands on her hips which meant drama was on the way. “Humph! I made them just three days ago, you better be!” Mrs Annet was a tailor with a very short temper. She was also kind enough and allowed me to rent the attic upstairs without telling anyone.

I clasped her hands and put 3 gold coins into them. “These should cover the repair costs correct!” Her annoyed expression suddenly changed into surprise. “Well yes this should do. “Wonderful! I need them ready in two days you think you could do that for me?” She looked up from the coins her expression turning back to anger. “Now hold on young man! I’m going to need at least a week to repair them! “A wee-” I closed my mouth remembering not to make a fool of myself. “Okay fine a week it is!” I hurried up the stairs and swung the heavy iron door open finding myself in a dark dusty attic. The room was spacious with high ceilings, wooden beams held up the leaky roof. I muttered a spell to light a flame in my hand. I lit the candle holder mounted to the wall. The light danced across the walls, revealing stack of books on the floor and a small wooden desk near the left wall with a human skull on top. In the center of the room was a pentagram circle drawn with blood. I stripped off my clothes down to my underwear and flopped on the bed near the corner of the room. My eyelids felt heavy, my breathing slowed, slowly I closed my eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.