-Nunley the Hunter
“Ser Nunley! I’ve finally found you! I’ve been searching for months.” Says a young Capital official riding up to him.
“Go away, I’m on the hunt. I don’t have time for any political bullshit.” Nunley dismisses.
“But Ser, I’ve been travelling for months. I have a very important mission for you.”
“What could the King possibly want from me?”
“Not the King, the Coven. I was sent to find you from Marco.”
“They are all the same to me, I’m not interested. I’m hunting an ostrich.”
“He said you would probably try to get out of it. He also told me to remind you that you owe the Coven dearly, and that this one mission would clear your debt. He also said that if you refused the call, then you would become the hunted. The Coven would use every resource to bring you in for punishment.”
Nunley knows enough to not stand against the secret society. He knows if they are putting this much muscle on display, then he better pay attention.
“Fine, what is the order?”
“It’s a sealed order, to be opened by your hands only.” says the official.
“Ya, and we both know that there are ways around that seal. So, cut to the chase and tell me what the order reads.”
“You are to hunt down a Fin.”
“Aero? They want me to take out a prince? I met him years ago; he is scum… sounds like an intriguing offer. To hunt down a prince, another knight would be a great quest. Where is he?”
“When I left the Capital, he was on his way to Meego.”
“That far East? No, I’m not going to go. I’m too busy with my hunt.”
“I told you that the Coven demands it. You need to reconsider.”
“But all of that depends upon you finding me.” He unsheathes his sword. “It looks like robbers killed you before you could find me.”
He stabs the official in the chest. He waits on the official to die, then he robs the body to make the appearance of a mugging. Nunley walks away without a second thought of the man. He has a wing to collect.
-Kobi and Ayepex
“Two weeks ago, you said that they should have returned, but they haven’t. Are you concerned?” Kobi asks.
“I am, but there is nothing I can do about it. If they were found, I can’t go patrolling for them because people would be on to us. We didn’t want the mainland to know we were on it. A random Skyman can claim to be lost, but another would be proof that we are back.” Ayepex replies.
But you’re not back, not yet any way.”
“Yes, but more human interaction would compound any move we make at this point. It is best to be careful and give them more time. Perhaps the conditions have changed that has slowed them or maybe the old-time standards of our forefathers were off some.”
“They were also times for Skymen who had flown the routes many times. I hope it’s because Betta and Zyno have never flown the routes before.”
“I agree, we can hold out hope for a little longer. I will fly back to the island tonight to update the elders and return in the morning.”
“Okay Ayepex, if you have any more Skyman armor for me to purify, bring it. It would give me something to do while we wait.”
-Marco and Gerwin
“Gerwin, I must leave out tonight to return home. I will be leaving you in charge of attending to the King.”
“Yes sir, is anything wrong back in Orlea? You don’t spend too much time away from the Capital.”
“Everything is fine. My father has several of the old Birds in for a meeting and wants me to give a firsthand report of our interest here in Blue Water.”
“The old Birds? Together? This sounds a little more important than a report. Maybe you will be promoted for all your hard work.”
“Gerwin, I doubt that. These Oldtimers like to hold onto their seats of honor until death.”
“But that has to change once you get John Henry on the throne.”
“I imagine it will, but we have to get King William to name him his heir. If you get an opportunity while I am gone, make sure you send him that hint.”
“I will try, but he doesn’t have the patients with me that he does with you.”
“Gerwin, remember this. If the King gets angry with you, distract him with a young beauty. Especially one of ours that will work all his anger out of him.”
“Will do sir.”
“I’ll be back within the fortnight. Don’t ruin anything we have built here. I mean it.”
-The next Gilbert Knight
John Henry stands in the King’s Court. He has become more active and vocal since David’s disappearance. He knows these moments ingratiate him to his father.
“Father, a rider from the west arrived today with a letter. It’s from the Gilberts. With your permission, I would like to read it to the court.”
“Of course, son, what does our closest allies have to say?” King William asks.
“To our beloved King, From the desk of his humble servant, the Duke of Gilbert. On behalf of my wife, I would like to send you the first announcement of our pregnancy. We are expecting our fifth and final son. We expect the baby in about six months’ time near the celebration of V-Day. Also, upon the eve of V-day, we will charge our newest knight to come of age. Our son Patch will be presented his hammer and armor. We invite the Crown to this time of great celebration in Gilbert.” John Henry reads.
“Well, that is great news. John Henry, I want you to make arraignments to attend that event on behalf of the family. This will be a great exercise in your public duties to our people. The Gilberts have been servants of the Crown for a millennium, and we will show them our support during this great time of joy in their city.”
“Yes Father.” John Henry responds.
-Betta and Zyno
“We have to keep moving!” Zyno says with urgency.
“Yes, I know. The hunter is looking for us, but we are so far away from him I need rest.”
“If he finds us, he will kill us.”
“Yes, but I have been carrying you for over a week. My wings are numb. We need a day of rest.”
“But I can’t rest. I won’t rest until we are out of the region. He is a monster! He is coming!”
“Zyno, I know you have been through a huge ordeal. I know you have trauma, but he can’t possibly catch us now. We are at least five days ahead of him, and we are not leaving a trail for him to follow.”
“It doesn’t matter! He will find us. I wish, he had just taken my other wing to begin with and been done with me!” Zyno says as he breaks down and weeps again.
Betta has had to comfort his friend several times since rescuing him. The shock that Zyno is experiencing is understandable but it makes travelling so much harder.
“Look, we are about a week away from the Forge. If we take a day to rest my wings, then we will fly twice as hard tomorrow and make up ground.”
Zyno knows his friend is exhausted, but he is so fearful of Nunley.
“Okay, one day. I will do my best to hold myself together.”
“No, you need to close your eyes and sleep. I will take the first watch; I will stay awake every second that you are asleep.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, sleep. You need it.”
-Aero and his secret mission.
Aero summoned Matthew and Ali to Dabir’s office. Upon arriving, Matthew and Ali immediately kneel before Aero and Asna.
“Matt, get up. You don’t have to kneel every time I turn around.”
“I’m sorry, I am just proud to have a King and Queen worthy of my respect.”
“I thank you for that, and I hope we live up to your expectations.” Queen Asna says.
“Matt, the reason I called you and Ali in is because as you know, we are days away from returning to the mainland.” Aero says. “Dabir has rounded up twenty-five hundred Meegan volunteers to escort us back as a security force, and Asna and I have named Ali as the commander.”
“Thank you, my King, my Queen. I will do my duty to the best of my ability.” Ali says.
“We know, but we called you in to offer you a special mission that you must take a vow of secrecy if you choose to accept.” Aero says.
“I do.” Matthew vows without hesitation.
“As do I.” Ali seconds.
“What I am about to tell you, must remain secret. When I tell you this, only five people in the world will know and it must remain that way.”
“Understood.” Matthew says.
“I did go into the Cave of Brintz. I met the monster in there. He goes by the name Crimson, and he is over one thousand years old. He is a sorcerer that is trapped in the cave.”
“I knew it!” Matthew exclaims.
“He will first try to intimidate you by surprise. He told me that he smelled my royal blood. Then, he will show you his size. He is massive. At least eight feet tall, his shoulders are as wide as you are tall. His skin is a dark red from the blood magic he used centuries ago to sustain himself. But don’t let any of that fool you. He is on our side.”
“What are we supposed to do there?” Matthew asks.
“He is trapped inside the cave by an ancient spell. So, I need you to take him this box. Inside it, is all the known magic artifacts from the spells that cursed Meego. I need him to look at them and see if they can be reversed. Once he tells you the answers, you will meet us in the throne room of Blue Water Castle.”
“Will it really take us that long? If there is just the three of us travelling, we should be well ahead of you.”
“Three?”
“I have a squire now; he must travel with us.”
“My son should not see the beast. He is not ready.” Dabir interjects.
“I will have him set camp and tend to the horses.” Matthew answers.
“Yes, you will be ahead of us, but you will understand when you meet Crimson why it will take so long. He is a talker. He will make you go into detail about everything that has happened since I left the cave.”
“Okay.”
“So, when the group exits the Dried-up Sea, you three will slip off from the back of the group and will ride west.”
“What about the knights? Don’t you want us to help fight them?”
“No, you need to be on your way. Hopefully, everyone will be distracted with them while you ride away.”
Both men agree and collect the box of artifacts. They have their mission and will see it through.
Relics of the Old Age 