Burden of the Cursed -- Chapter Three

The city walls were now finally within sight much to Adam’s evident relief, the dense forest life and overgrowth had proved more difficult then anticipated as the travelling duo enclosed towards the location where the map specified its approximate position. The looming afternoon sunlight had reached its lowest peak and soon would fall back within its slumber, the crimson mix of the clouds and approaching dusk was almost to beautiful to pass as both Adam and Tinnus paused at the entrance of the outside stables and stared in bewilderment at its stunning beautiful.

“It’s pretty” Tinnus said, Adam simply nodded as they continued onto the path.

The city stablemen were the first to welcome them both as they arrived from the main road, they approached with standard smiles and pattern questions about their destination and purpose, and once Adam confirmed their temporary residence at this unknown city their eyes glowed with awe.

“How long do you think we’ll be here for?” Tinnus asked as they both approached the main city gates on foot.
“I don’t know; personally I’m glad that was a loaned horse from the guild. Did you hear how much they were going to charge us for a full week?”
“5 gold pieces wasn’t it?”
“Daylight Robbery I say!” Adam spat, Tinnus just laughed however as their slowed pace led them towards the large wooden gates which blocked their way. Adam handled the friendly banter with the city watchmen and laid the way for the evitable sound of their pathway being opened for them.

The city of Medenral itself was a sight quite wonderful to behold, the welcoming sight of the city was a large fountain feature which huddled closely around a large fruit-bearing tree of unknown designation. A small marketplace was situated within the corner of the gate walls, calling to those who arrive to observe their products and begin trade.

Old wooden shacks and homes loomed high across each of the many streets which spread out past the fountain and beyond, within the distance the towering peak of a temple could be seen. It was not long until Adam had soon lost his way through the slightly empty mid evening streets. Asking one of the city guardsmen earned him a rough estimation as they proceeded to probe deeper into the city’s belly.

“Once we get to the small river which runs through town, cross the bridge and it should be on the right hand side” Adam recited as he led the way through the cobble-patched streets, Tinnus trailing behind as he admired the city’s architecture.

Soon, they approached the tiny stream like ravine which passed through the middle of the entire city and spotted the small wooden rope bridge, soon after crossing it was quite clear which one of the large buildings belonged to the Fighter’s Guild.

“All right Tinnus, I need to go inside and report for duty. You think you could keep out of trouble for a while whilst I’m inside?” Adam joked.
“Very funny” Tinnus smirked “I think I’ll have a bit of a walk about, but I’ll try to stay nearby if that’s the case”
“Well its getting late and if I’m not around by late moon, get yourself booked in the local Inn” He parted his hand with spare gold coins and secretly kissed him softly on the forehead. And with that, he was gone. The wooden door to the Guild house closed shut behind him, and Tinnus sighed as he made his way towards an unknown part of the town, taking each stride with a slow pace.

He had the whole night.

*


The Guild Hall was smaller than Adam expected, two young occupants were partaking in sword-fighting techniques with the wooden dummies as he entered the reception area, they eyed Adam with caution as he approached the front desk and smiled at the young women behind the counter.

“Good evening ma’am; my name is Adam Ictinus. I’m expected by your Guild Master.”
“Oh yes, welcome Candidate; Guild Master Isaac has been waiting for you in his office, top floor” The red-haired woman replied, she pointed towards a small stairway which led upwards into a dark corridor way.
“Thank you”


Guild Master Isaac William jotted the last of his journal entries for the evening, closed the tome shut and rolled parchment papers which laid spread across his desk. He ran his fingers along his temples in a hope to relieve a slight margin of stress, unfortunately that wasn’t to be the case. His mind was perplexed by circumstances beyond his control.

The sound of knocking upon his office door interrupted his thought process, calling out for his guest to enter, his voice was harsh and broken and seemed to fit someone who had done nothing but yell for days upon end. Adam passed through the doorway and saluted formally in the veteran of war’s presence.

“Sir, my name is Adam Ictinus”
“Ah yes the Fighter Candidate from Huna. Welcome to Medenral, how are you finding our city?”
“Beautiful sir”
“Yes, she certainly is. One of the oldest cities here in Bo’resent; many great minds and warriors have called this place their home before becoming what they were capable off. Wartawn the Brave lived just a couple of yards from my own residence, we even played together as children through the streets all of those years ago. Then there was Adrian Cryer, the young man whom sacrificed himself to help banish those creatures back into Divide all of those years ago…”

Adam stood posed, his interest with the old man’s stories were not the real reason he had travelled so far to get there, he knew of all of these heroes well, they were apart of his studies to become a member of the Fighter’s Guild and as the Scribes would tell him, ‘We must learn from our mistakes in order to crave a more braver world for those less fortunate” It was funny really, as Adam remembered that old saying, his mind wandered back to Tinnus, a young Savag boy, trapped here within a region whereas a bounty would be placed on his head simply because he existed; where he would be executed without a fair trial or jury purely because they feared the Savag. Humans could be so uncompassionate.

“I’m sorry” Isaac muttered after a brief pause, Adam felt embarrassed though as he simply failed to notice the silence.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Sir” Adam whispered.
“I’m a Guild-master, not a Scribe. I should show you more respect, you may be young but you surely know these stories of which I speak, I’m sorry if I have insulted you.”

Adam shook his head, watching the old man stray from his chair and look intently out of the window.
“You have not insulted me sir, it’s true I know of these men, but then who hasn’t? But I still appreciate your tale”
An odd silence fell into the room, Adam watched as the old veteran simply stared through the window, as if he could not tear his gaze away from what lay beyond, or that perhaps he saw something which others simply could not see. Either way, Adam decided that he should change the subject, if not to stray from their current paths, but to mostly get to the order of business as it were.

“Sir, you have summoned me here for a mission I would presume?”
Isaac stirred; his old eyes fell onto Adam with a fierce dedication.
“Yes lad, we must discuss the mission.”

Isaac once again returned to his sitting position and sat presentably behind the large wooden desk; he motioned Adam to take one of the empty seats in front of him and waited until he was seated.

“Now then, do you find it usual for another Guildmaster to ask for help from other Fighter’s Guilds?” Isaac started, Adam thought about it for a moment, realising that the mission involved simply could not be as straight forward as he was expecting.
“I can only guess, Sir. But because you require an outsider with capable skills to undertake the specific mission?”
“You have half of it right my young candidate. We do certainly require a man of certain talents, but the main importance is a man whom others do not expect.”

Adam’s eyes tilted; confused he waited to hear what the Guild master could say to explain further.
“Adam, the mission involved is quite dangerous but extremely important, so important that I could not ask any of my own members to undertake it.”
“But why, Sir?”
“I fear that my own guild and my team of trusted comrades are being spied upon by unforeseen eyes. A person of great importance arrived to the Guild a couple of weeks ago, she pleaded with us to help her get to her home city of Reathe quite far to the North. We assisted of course, but after sending two of my best men to escort her. They were attacked with perfect coordinate and skill by hooded enemies unknown. One of the men returned with the girl gravely injured whilst the other has not been heard from since, I fear the worse”

The pause allowed for a brief relax, Isaac poured a small mug of water from his table and swallowed its contents quickly. Adam however, continued to listen intently.
“So, the girl is alright?” Adam asked, the Guild master nodded as he returned to the mug to the corner of the table.
“She is safe for now, no harm came to her but she knows she is not safe here or anywhere else until she arrives home. For you see, she carries grave news of high importance. If she tries to tell us, she is magically forced to stop…she has been cursed in a manner of speaking”
“Cursed?”
“Yes, she informed me upon her arrival that she has horrible news regarding war of some kind, which is as much as she can muster before she is magically silenced for a time. The curse is indeed quite powerful, defiantly put in place by a Magician of incredible power. But we have had time to wonder whether or not she was cursed in spite, or protection.”

Adam listed the scenario in his head. So an important person, a woman, arrived at the Fighter’s Guild a couple of weeks ago, carrying the burden of vital news which she cannot retell to anyone. She has been sought after by powerful forces unknown and now has been put into hiding for her own protection. So far so good, he thought.

So they have employed me, a fighter from a distant guild to secretly escort her to her hometown in Reathe since they suspect that spies have infiltrated the city and are trying to locate her. It all seemed logical Adam thought; he just needed to know a few more details.

“Who is the girl then?” Adam asked
“I’m afraid I can not divulge that information, we can only say that she is a top priority.”

Adam nodded, he knew that it was a need-to-know basis and decided that ignorance was perhaps bliss.

“Very well sir, I accept the mission” Adam said, rising from his chair and staring the old man straight into his eyes.
“Atta boy, Adam. You will go far as being a brave and noble man. You will do your family proud”

The next couple of minutes revolved around meeting locations, checkpoints and even a secure and perfect plan to escape all attention on the city. After all was confirmed, Adam saluted the old man a stern farewell and left the Guild building with a rather perplex problem to undertake next.