Nunley the Hunter
Nunley arrived at Perga Lyne, the big island of the Peel archipelago about a week ago. He is still hunting his trophy; his cape will not be complete until he claims the second wing from Zyno’s back. The problem for Nunley is that there are no Skymen to be found anywhere.
“Ser Nunley, the island is deserted. They are not here.” Says Griff.
Nunley turns to look over his helper. “Deserted? Have you not been paying attention?”
“Yes, no one is here. All we have seen is a few feathers.”
“Really, is that what you believe? You do not pay attention to anything!” Nunley says as he draws a knife. He points it toward Griff then flings it to his right.
The knife sticks in thin air! Nothing is there but the knife digs into something near a tree.
Quickly, Nunley rushes to the spot and grabs the air. Slowly he finds a spot to hold onto. He appears to be choking something invisible.
After a moment, what is in his hands begins to turn visible.
It’s a witch!
“So, the rumors are true, just no one knew where to find you because you are using magic.” Nunley says knowingly.
The witch screams in agony as Nunley slowly twists the blade.
“I know you… You were the old woman at that farm near Roane. You’re just a little greener.”
“Anastasia?”
“She went by Ann, she’s dead now.”
“What did you do to my sister?”
“The same thing I’m going to do to you if you do not tell me where the Skymen are.”
“Never!”
“Where are all the witches? I’ve only felt you since we arrived.”
“I’ll never tell you anything!”
“Really, then you are no use to me.” He begins choking her again.
She tries to wave her hand in the air as if to perform a spell but Nunley takes the knife out of her side and jams it through her hand into the tree he has her pinned against. He resumes choking her.
“Ser Nunley, give her another chance to talk!” Griff shouts as he tries to pull his arms away from her throat.
“No need, I know all I need to know.”
Griff stands back and watches the brutality of Nunley. He slowly chokes the life out of the old witch. Griff can tell how much Nunley is enjoying this.
After she dies, Nunley takes the knife out of the tree and cuts a lock of her almost wooden hair as a trophy. He has become a witch slayer.
“Griff, if the birdmen aren’t here there is only one place they can be… and we are on our way.” Nunley says.
“Where?” Griff asks.
“The Great Forge you idiot!”
The Kind Old Man
The old man walks the streets of the Bend unsure of where he is going. Unsure of where to lay his head down to sleep and where his next meal will come from. So he walks, just passing through he tells himself as he looks around at all the families. This is not his home; he knows he needs to keep moving.
He rounds the street to find a middle age lady struggling to carry several large sacks.
“Ma’am, may I help you?” he asks.
“I don’t want to be of any trouble to you kind sir.” She replies.
“It’s no problem at all, ma’am. In fact, I insist.” He says as he grabs three of the five bags.
“This is laundry for the kids of the home I run.”
“But there is so many, how many kids do you have?”
“Eighteen, I know it’s a lot, but they need a roof over their heads, it’s hard to turn them away.”
“How many people do you have helping you?”
“It’s just me.”
“I’m sorry to hear that…” the old man asks as if he is trying to get her name.
“Kate, and you are?”
“They call me… Willy. Named after King William the Sixteenth.”
“So you’re from the Bend?”
“A long time ago, I am a traveler now. Home is where I lay my head now. I’m headed west.”
“Well, Willy. It’s awful late to be traveling, I have an extra bed you can sleep in tonight, it’s the least I can do for your kindness. I insist.”
“Yes ma’am, I can’t turn down the offer of a warm bed.” The old man replies.
They arrive at Kate’s home that has been converted into an orphanage and spend the next several hours tending to the kids together. Once they finally get all the small children to sleep, they sit down at the dinner table and drink Bitterroot ale, a common drink among the people of Riverbend.
They laugh as they get to know each other. It is a welcome escape for both as their lives have them pulled in so many unexpected directions. At last Kate stands up and removes her gown. She stands naked before the old man. He stands and embraces her.
He grabs her hands, looks her in her eyes and with compassion speaks “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on, but I am not worthy of you. I do not deserve the touch of any woman right now, so I must decline your offer. But I hope to find closure on this journey, and if I do… Then I would love to return to you. I know you don’t understand now, but I promise I have to do this.”
With tears in her eyes, she puts her gown back on, and goes to bed alone.
The old man lies in the bed that she had set aside for him.
When she awakens the next morning, the old man is gone.
He left behind three gold pieces for her.
Marco
He ran out of the throne room when William announced Aero as the King, and he has been running ever since.
“To the bunker, we will be safe there.” He tells Gerwin.
So, they run through the side streets of the Capital, making sure to stay out of sight. He will be named a fugitive soon and must not be spotted. After about twenty minutes of sneaking they arrive at a secret bunker. A place used by the Covenant to convene in the Capital; only eight to ten people know about.
Once inside, Marco tries to process the events of the night. He paces the floors to the dank hideaway. How could this have happened? Marco has envisioned himself a mastermind, but he was caught off guard.
“Sir, we need to send a letter to your father immediately.” Gerwin says interrupting Marco’s thoughts.
“No!” he shouts. “I will fix this, don’t you worry. These outsiders my have gotten a good laugh on us, but I will get the last laugh! I already have a plan; I will need a list of all the castle staff that are loyal to us.”
“Yes Sir, anything else?”
“I want an alchemist to mix me up a large batch of that sleep ointment used for working on injured soldiers.”
“Yes Sir, anything else?”
“Yes, I will need a key to the castle cells. We will put John Henry on the throne yet!”
“Yes Sir, one of the guards will come shortly to check on us. I will get everything you need.”
“Good, now leave me alone.”
A Crimson Conversation
“He said that he could teach David how to perform the magic spells needed to break the curses.” Ali tells Asna.
“Why David?” She asks.
“There is magic in the king’s family, he said it would be the strongest.”
“Do you think he will be willing?” Asna asks.
“He will as long as Ser Stephan goes with him.” Aero adds.
“Then we will ask him tomorrow.” Asna relies.
“Agreed.” Says Aero. “I’m going to check in with Matt, excuse me.”
“So, Ali what was he like? Was he every bit as frightening as Aero said?” Asna asks with curiosity.
“He was terrifying at first, the most intimidating sight I have ever seen.”
“But?”
“He was so gentle and caring. He has a true heart for the Kingdom. He really does believe in the King.”
“Good, I am going to have to find a way to meet him.”
“Yes, my Queen.” Ali replies.
Aero and Matt plan a Bar Trip
“Well that went better than expected.” Aero says as he puts his hand on Matthew’s back.
“My King.” Matthew says as he attempts to kneel.
“Stop that Matt, let’s not get caught up in all that stuff.”
“Okay.”
“How was Crimson?”
“Scary and talkative.”
“I’m sure he was, what was his reaction to me sending you?”
“At first, he was surprised you broke your vow, but he quickly seemed honored to be able to help. After he agreed, he asked for every detail since you left the cave.”
“And you told him of course.”
“Yes! Whatever to keep him happy!”
“Indeed, I am so glad he’s friendly because he would be a handful to stand against.”
“Yes, my King.”
“So, how do you feel about going and getting a drink?”
“I have been thinking of Grove Stone for days. I am ready.”
“Not tonight, we have business to attend to at Maverick’s.”
“You mean to arrest your enemies?”
“I mean to test their loyalty, perhaps arresting them wouldn’t be severe enough.”
“I will follow you anywhere.”
“Gather up Ali and Stephan, we need to have some knights to watch our backs. I am going to speak with Asna and let her know that we need to strike while they are unaware.”
Matthew steps over to the other knights and speaks with them while Aero speaks to Asna and Roasa about the plan. As the King and his men depart for Maverick’s Roasa whispers to Asna “He will be drunk when he gets home tonight.”
Atop Tree City
It is near the midnight hour and the blind old man face the Meego Light shining in the distance. The old Skyman platform serves as a great place of reflection. As he thinks back on the past months since he met Aero, he has watched from afar. Like a master chessman, he has moved pieces into position.
He thinks back upon his work. The Kingdom has the right King and Queen on the throne, the crown possesses the Royal Blade for the first time in eight hundred years, the Skymen have returned to the mainland, and his ultimate goal is near. He blindly looks over that steady light of Meego’s curse in the distance and whispers to himself.
“Soon.”
Relics of the Old Age 