A Song of Spiders

Chapter 12 - The Village

‘Sir Knight, we will be forever in your debt. Our father the King will pay you handsomely for this brave deed.’ The Knight stood in gleaming armour leaning on a broadsword as tall as him. There was a blood red plume rising from the top of his ornate swan-shaped helm. He looked at the young prince and princess before him.

‘No gold will be necessary, your lord and ladyship. Honour is my reward. I have sworn to free you from this evil wizard's dungeon and free you I shall.’ He turned and strode ahead of them up the grey corridor. Karma and Dex looked at him go. It was as if they could see both a gallant knight and a young priest striding ahead of them.

‘Giving him the stun square was a bad idea. Are you sure he is not in controller mode?’ whispered Dex. 

‘We didn't give him a stun square, your royal annoying highness, he thinks he has a broadsword. Thankfully, I can project my voice with this thing. I can still hear my rasping in real life, this is very odd.’ said Karma.

‘Come on and keep up with him, don't let him suspect there's anything odd about this projection. I hope it is strong enough to hold against whatever we meet in here.’ said Dex.

They saw a medieval dungeon corridor lit with fire sconces overlaid on the true modern one. A large oak door with a huge iron keyhole appeared to be at the end. In reality it was a metal door with a keypad.

The ex-priest entered the code in the door panel and it slid open. He turned to them and said. 

‘I have a powerful magic key I took from the hunchback jailer. It will get us as far as the main courtyard of the castle keep. From there I will retrieve my noble steed Valinor, and secure  horses for your majesties also.’ He marched ahead of them. They could hear his armour clank as he walked quickly passed small offices. People moved around them or sat at computer terminals. No one paid them any attention. O'Shayada said loudly.

‘These peasants will not harm you. Resume your work underlings. Make way.’ He pushed through a group of young men who had been standing having a meeting in the corridor. They stepped back and allowed them to pass. Dex considered that O'Shayada likely treated them like 'peasants' all the time, so this was not very unusual. They moved forward quickly and kept their eyes down. 

They stepped out into a large concrete courtyard. It was cold, they glimpsed guards wearing black in towers in the corners of the walls above them. They were wearing chain mail and holding crossbows or flak jackets and assault rifles depending on how they chose to see them in controller mode. O'Shayada marched to the left and entered a code into another door and stepped in. They followed quickly.

‘So far so good.’ said Dex.

‘We are not out yet.’ said Karma.

They were in a large, bright garage. It was full of expensive looking cars and bikes. It was also in their minds a series of wooden stables covered in straw smelling of the horses that stood looking out at them impassively.

O'Shayada shouted, ‘Squire, bring me my steed, make haste.’

A young man in a brown uniform stepped out of a small office holding a clipboard. He appeared to be wearing a leather jerkin and wearing a wicked looking iron mace on his belt. He had a can of mace on his belt in the real world.

‘You're not on the schedule until Thursday Father O'Shayada. Who are them two?’ He pointed the clipboard at Karma and Dex.

‘Enough of your insolence, squire. Do my bidding at once.’ roared O'Shayada. He stepped up to the confused looking young man and prodded him in the chest with his armoured glove.

‘I am a knight of the round table and you will obey me. My duty must be done. This is your last warning.’

The young man cocked his head to one side and put his hand on his mace. ‘Here, what's that you're wearing on your head? And you two, show me your IDs.’ He stepped towards them, O'Shayada was now to his left, he raised the stun square and jammed it into the guard's side.