It didn’t take long for Furion and Thunk to catch up to the elegant lady and more importantly the blood rapier, Thadis. They hadn’t travelled far west, and Brightport was still a distance haven in front of them.
They could see Thadis was in ill health from well behind him as he was swaying uncontrollable on his mount with his red cloak flapping around wildly, it wasn’t until, Furion and Thunk got much closer, when Thadis rocked violently in his saddle and fell from his horse hard straight on to the muddy path.
“Thadis,” Cried the elegant Woman as she glided down from her saddle to check on her bodyguard
“Alianna, “Shout Furion suddedly recognising the Duchess face
“Furion, What are you doing here?” asked the Duchess as she still daintily slogged through the mud towards him
“I might ask the same question.” Remarked Furion as he jumped down from his steed
“When you left so abruptly the other night,” explained the Duchess “I never got a chance to tell you.”
“I explained, I had business, the Kings business,” asked Furion as Thunk rode up next to him “what were you going to tell me?”
“Gorgin, had left me in terrible debt,” moaned The Duchess as Thunk got down from his horse and studied Thadis injured frame “he was dealing with a merchant, before he died who was building a fleet of ships for him and now I owe him a great deal of money.”
“So you hired a Blood Rapier and decided to trapes half way across the country to pay off the debt, that’s not the best idea, Alianna.” Exasperated Furion “You could have waited and told me.”
“I would have,” clarified the Duchess “but there had been threats to my life.”
“Is he still alive?” Furion asked he lent over the blood rapier
“Just,” Advised Thunk as he could see the smoking like black mist travelling outwards from Thadis’s chest and heading down his arms “I take it you two have meet before?”
“Yes.” Said the duchess
“No, well at least once or twice” replied Furion “Thunk, this is the Duchess Alianna Ponor.”
“Pleasure,” responded Thunk
“We need to get him to a heeler, to remove the black magic from his body?” Suggested Furion
“Will there be one in Brightport?” asked the Duchess
“There might be,” Pondered Furion “But I’m concerned about this merchant you are planning to meet.”
“I’m not,” Responded the Duchess as she jumped back on to her horse “I’ve got two King guards with me now.”
As Kan and Ornoc left the Gomodin Plains they headed northwest towards the snow-capped mountains of Illion.
They could smell the stench on burning corpses floating on the breeze, for a least a miles away, before they saw the carnage, the battle must have ended a good few days before and the smoke was bellowing high in to the sky, as the fallen turned to ash.
“Who goes there?” Bellowed a brown bearded soldier as he drew his sword and approached them with his blood stained, kings crest barely visible on his armour
“We bring no ill will.” Remarked Kan as he held up his hands “We are….”
“Kings Guards,” Interrupted Ornoc as he pointed to his kings guard emblem on his tunic “carrying out the Kings business.”
“Beg, your pardon.” Humbly apologised the soldier as he sheathed his sword “I’ve meet many a Kings guard in my time, but I can’t say I recognises your faces.”
“We’re new,” quickly responds Kan
“Just been appointed.” affirmed Ornoc
“I’m Field Marshall Pard,” announced the soldier “and you are?”
“In a hurry.” Informed Kan before Ornoc could give some random names that would more than likely get them in trouble later
“Oh, well you can tell his highness that all went well, we defeated the rebels, and held his strong hold, Informs the Marshall “The remaining cowards, ran back to their forest retreat, to lick their wounds.”
“Very good, field Marshall” Stated Ornoc trying to sound superior
“Unfortunately, we are not here for your battle report, Marshall.” Explained Kan “We have business in the foothills of Illion.”
“I guess another scout, will be along soon, to hear my report, then.” Pondered the Marshall “Well at least you should be able to get safe passage through to the mountains now the rebels have dispersed.”
“We thank you and your men, for their bravery.” Added Ornoc as they both rode away from the field Marshall who gave them a confused frown as they left
Araphus Castle loomed high above their heads, black and entrenched into the mountain face, named after the Royal family and created by the Black Dread, with sorcery and stone, thought to be impenetrable, which the rebels had once again found out to their cost.
“You think the rebels, would learn, their lessons,” Remarked Ornoc as they started down the mountain pathway “I mean it’s not like the history books are littered with failed sieges of that place.”
“Who knows what dark magic fills those walls,” replied Kan “The rebel leader is a fool, and a madman.”
“And your father.” Mentions Ornoc
“I stopped calling him my father a long time ago,” responded Kan “The day he left me and my mother, to fight for what he said was a noble cause.”
YOU ARE READING
Broken Portal
FantasyWhen does the current become history, when does history become legend, when does legend become myth, and when does myth become forgotten.
