Birdsong - Chapter 6

Matt was ignoring Velcan. He had been awakened for the last four nights because there apparently was some sort of danger Velcan had noticed. This "sixth sense" had done nothing but disturb a good night's sleep.

The rode had gotten more trafficked when they'd passed the border into the territory of the Eastern Shore. This had made Velcan even more irritating with all of his looking anxious and jumps at sudden sounds. They still had two days of walking until they reached East Shore Castle. I am so going to dump him here! How Matt was going to do it was another question.He follows me around like a over faithful dog. Matt stopped and Velcan walked right into him ("Ough"). Him? When did I start to call it that? It's not a person. He sighed. I want to be left alone!

Matt continued walking. Noon came and went but he didn't stop. A few clouds had gathered and far to the north the sky was grey. When evening came a wind had started to blow bringing down the grey from the north.

"We're getting rain tonight.." he mumbled.

There was no response from Velcan. As expected.

"What do you think? Should we pay for beds tonight? There should be an inn about ten minutes from here."

Silence.

"Velcan?" Matt turned. No one was behind him. "Velcan?" He raised his voice a little. Some old men looked at him as they passed him. Damn it! Why must this happen right now? That idiot doesn't know a thing about anything. Matt stood still thinking about his options. When the first raindrops started to fall he made a decision. Ten minutes later he paid a smiling man for food and a bed.

The next morning Matt woke up feeling great. A good nights sleep, a roof over his head and tonight he would arrive at the castle. Even the meeting tomorrow with Lord Matthew couldn't bring him down. As he went down for breakfast he realized that his irritating companion hadn't come back. Just as well. Now there is no one here to delay me. He sat down at the bar and ordered.

It was still early and the room was almost empty. One drunk slept under a bench at the far end and by the door sat a man dressed in black. From the kitchen came the smell of breakfast and the sound of laughter. Soon Matt was served. As the innkeeper poured him something to drink he leaned in.

"See that man over there? By the door? He asked about you. Gave quite a description of your looks."

Matt stopped eating and looked at the innkeeper. "What did he want with me?"

"No idea. I said I didn't know who he was looking for. I didn't like his tone. But then he just went and sat down by the door. He's been sitting there all night."

"Hmpff...Thanks."

Matt glanced at the man by the door. His blond hair was cut short. All of his clothes were black and he wore some sort of black leather armor. All of his clothes were made so he could move easily and fast. His long sword was laid on top of the table and from his belt hung at least three daggers. He also wore a cape. Probably more for look of it than the practical use.The man seemed to be deep within his own thoughts. Nothing to panic about.

The food in front of him was almost untouched when he thanked the innkeeper and started to walk towards the door fifteen minutes later. Matt walked right by the man in black, ready for anything. He reached the door and walked out into the fresh air and sunlight. The tension left his body and he laughed out loud. As soon as his meeting with Lord Matthew was over he could go back to his normal life. Even if the Lord had an assignment for him it would be better. Then he would be doing a job. Not running to see someone he didn't want to see.

He heard the door open behind him. "I've been looking for you."

Matt turned around. The man from inside stood there looking at him. He was tall.

"What do you want with me?"

"Oh, nothing personal." The man walked towards him. He was almost one head taller than Matt. "Let's just say that there are people who doesn't like you wandering around."

Something in his tone sounded like he was amused. When he was at an arms length away Matt put his hand on of his daggers. The man just smiled at him.

"It's no use."

Matt drew the dagger and at the same time the man's hand shoot out and hit him hard in the face. Surprised and disorientated Matt slashed out with the knife. His hand got grabbed and turned painfully at the same time as he was hit again. Matt kicked in the direction where he thought the man was but felt only air. His arm still twisted and his balance off the man pushed him to the ground.

"I honestly thought you were more of a fighter." The disappointment in the mans voice was obvious.

Matt felt himself being dragged. Probably away from the street. Then he was hit in the head again. And again. And again. He fell to the ground. A kick to the stomach and then nothing. He heard the man draw a dagger.

"This was too easy. You wouldn't believe me if I told you what they paid me to do this. They said 'Find him and tell him what he did wrong. Then kill him.' The master thief Matthew Monasson. Named after your mother - Mona. What a joke. No wonder you use the name Matt.

"However, this is why you are about to die. The location of the pentagram box is to be kept secret and Mr Lord Matthew shouldn't ask you to find it. The North can't risk that."

The knife pressed against hit throat.

"Goodnight."

Birdsong - Chapter 5

It was a moonless night. Julia hurried down the silent corridors in East Shore Castle. The black cloak fluttered behind her. She came to a staircase and went down. She reached the lower floor and continued towards the Entrance Hall. A warm light was visible in the far end of the corridor. Guards. Silently she walked towards it. She heard mumbles and movement, there were at least two of them. As she peaked around the corner she saw two guards playing with dices and a third snoozing against the wall, an empty pint beside him.

She drew back and moved into the deepest shadows in the corridor. There she sat herself down. The hood covered her face and the cloak hid the rest of her. Her breath became slow and controlled and she closed her eyes. The minutes went by. Suddenly she opened her eyes. They burned purple.

"Find me, guide me, lead the others away. 
You my brother, be a ghost, be a phantom. 
Howl in the night, for love or for fear. 
Find me, guide me, lead the others away."

Beside her the shadows grew darker. They twisted and twirled creating a wolf. The shadow wolf looked her in the eyes for a split second and then leaped away. It swished around the corner, almost invisible when the light went through it.

"What was that?!"

One of the guards had seen it as it passed them and disappeared through a door.

"I saw it too", the other said, "let's go."

Julia heard how they stood up and left their places. She counted to ten and stood up. Still keeping the magic close she started to move. This was dangerous, if she lost control for just a moment the fire would consume her. Slowly she walked around the corner. It was no one there. She allowed herself to relax and the magic started to leave.

"What have we here?"

At the same time she spun around somebody slammed her against the wall pressing a knife against her throat. Julia recognized him, it was the sleeping guard.

"How stupid do you think we are? Everybody leaving their post?" His shoulders shook as he laughed silently. "Hm..." He looked at her, the hood covered most of her face. "Who are you? Let's see... Oh, Lady of the North, Julia was it? And what are you doing sneaking around the castle in the middle of the night? I heard Lord Devan is angry with you. You didn't want to share his bed? That has to be the first time he's been turned down. Maybe I should do him a favor and get rid of the woman who doesn't show him honor? He would be glad..."

His breath reeked of beer and he smelled of old sweat. He continued to mumble. The clock was ticking. Julia felt the panic creeping closer. She had to move on, she didn't have all night and this was the worst thing that could have happened. Somebody had seen her. Angry with herself she closed her eyes, giving the appearance of being scared, but on the inside she started to fuel the magic again and when she felt the spark turn into fire she opened her eyes.

The guard gasped. He took a step back, holding the knife in front of him.

"Witch..."

Julia pointed at him with three fingers. He looked scared. She felt the magic burning in her body. He deserves it.

"The wolf wants you."

The room was filled with purple light and then the sound of a body hitting stone. The man had flown into the opposite wall.

The magic was now leaving her, and with it the anger. When the last spark was gone she started to run. The other guards could be back any moment and she didn't want to leave any more bodies behind her. She reached the Entrance Hall without incidents.

What happened? That amount of power should have burned me out completely. She looked down at her hands. They looked normal. I have to be more careful. She looked around and found the doorway leading down to the dungeons. I don't have time to think about what happened. The sunrise was only a few hours away and there was still much to be done. Julia looked down into the darkness. Let's go.

At first she didn't dare use magic to see through the darkness, but when she tripped and fell down a few steps she realized she had no choice. Carefully she once again reached for the fire within. This time she didn't light more than a spark, just so her eyes started to glow and she saw where she was going. When she finally reached the dungeons it was only three hours left until sunrise. I hope I've got enough time... She walked past the cells, most of the empty, and found another staircase leading further down into the darkness.

Down she went, walking along corridors and past empty cells. When she reached the fourth staircase she knew she was close. No one had been this deep under the castle for at least two centuries. This was the last staircase and when she reached the bottom she draw her breath.

Before her was a vast hall. Pillars, carved as dragons, were holding up the ceiling. The walls were filled with inscriptions in an old and forgotten language. She walked forward, always feeling the eyes of the stone dragons on her, to the other end of the hall. There was an altar, plain and without any decorations, made of the same black stone as the rest of the room. She knelt before it and whispered:

"Oh dragons of the underworld, I, your humble servant, come before you in this time of darkness. Please guide me and I will repay you in any way I can."

It was a dangerous promise but one that had to be made. Time to start working. Julia climbed up onto the altar. She took of her cloak and let it fall to the floor. No time to think about what happened. No time to be scared. She let the little spark of magic grow into a roaring fire. Half of her mid was completely focused on not letting it take control and the other half went through everything that needed to be done. From a bag hanging in her belt she took some black and purple powder. This would be energy consuming, and the fact that she had spent energy on sending a guard flying didn't make it any easier.

"Spirits of the North and South, East and West, 
hear my call! 
Spirits of the skies and you of the underworld, 
hear my call!"

She threw the powder up above her head. It hung there for a moment before it spread out in every direction and fell back onto the floor, forming a seven-pointed star, with her in the middle. Six of the points burned in purple flames. The seventh still waited for its call.

Birdsong - Chapter 4

It was midday and they had walked since dawn. Matt had tried to make his new companion speak but he didn't get anywhere. This Velcan guy, creature in human for, answered questions without extra details and did not show any interest in prolonging the conversation. Also, if he looked into its eyes for too long he felt dizzy.

It walked beside him in its dirty, torn clothes not wearing a shirt under its jacket, showing off a super skinny body (you could see his ribs clearly). It wore no shoes and carried only one bag over his shoulder. I wonder what's in it. Matt had asked but hadn't gotten any answer. Thinking about it, he hadn't gotten any answers when asking something personal. Well, they are known for not being friendly and they never talk to strangers. So why is he traveling with me? "Because this task will bring you to my homeland." I'm stuck and have no answers or anywhere else to go. With his mood growing darker for every moment and his stomach growling he made a decision.

"We stay here."

Velcan answered with a nod, stopped and waited for orders. Matt frowned. Can't he do anything by himself? He left the road and sat down with the back to a rock. From his rucksack he brought out a limp of bread and hard cheese and a water bag. He started to eat. Velcan sat down on the ground opposite him and took out an apple from its bag.

"Is that all? You're not going to eat anything else?" Matt asked.

"This is all I have."

Jeez. He's not at all prepared. What was he thinking? That we would sleep on feather pillows and have food brought to us? Everybody knows there are many too few inns along this route.

"Take this", Matt tossed him half of the limp, "but you owe me."

"Thank you."

That was it. No explanation to anything.

"What the hell is wrong with you! You look like some scum from the streets, not how I remember your kind, and you got nothing with you! What, didn't 'the Elder' tell you to wear decent clothes? That you actually have to eat? I let you follow me and now I'm starting to regret it. Give me a reason why I wouldn't leave you right here! And don't you dare pull that crap about my future. I go where I want to and your homeland is the last place I'd ever visit! And how in the name of the goddess can you know what my task will be? Your folk live on the other side of this world. Answer me!"

Velcan looked at him, a bit confused.

"I already told you, I can't tell you anything until you accepted you task." When these words didn't do anything to calm Matt down Velcan continued. "The Elder told me not to say anything else but that what I've already told you. Me answering this question is already speaking more than I should, not to mention all of your other meaningless questions. I'm here to do a job, nothing more."

"So I'm just a job", Matt surprised over the disappointment in his voice. In a worse mood than ever. Sarcastically he added "This is going to be fun."

They ate in silence. The sun still shone warm despite the summer singing on its last verse. Soon the two travellers fell asleep.

~

Velcan opened his eyes. The sky was clouded. The human, Matt, slept. How long had gone? He sat up and looked around. Something was wrong, he could sense it. He crept over to Matt.

"Wake up. Something is wrong."

"Hrmm..."

Velcan kept his voice down. "Matt! Now! Danger!"

"What... Where?" Suddenly awake the human sat up, dagger in his hand and reaching for his sword.

"I don't know", Velcan said. "But something woke me up."

"Thanks. That helps a lot. I can't see anything, or hear anything for that matter. Please don't wake me up next time you have a nightmare."

Velcan looked at Matt. Why don't he understand? Can't he feel it? But the human just went back to sleep. Irritated Velcan stood up and looked around. Everything seemed normal. Quiet. The Great East Road was deserted. They had to move on.

Matt just snoozed on and Velcan felt an urged to kick him. You aren't supposed to harm him.He sighed.

"Matt, wake up. We've slept for too long"

This time Matt woke up, obviously irritated with Velcan. To Velcan's great relief they soon were on their way. They walked without talking. The sun set but they didn't stop. What kind of behavior is this? Humans. I don't understand them. Everything they do is absurd. What have we to gain on walking in the night? We might loose the road, and for sure we're tired in the morning. Daylight has always been better for travelling than star shine. Lost in his thoughts he almost were 10 meters past Matt before he realized the human had stopped. Curious he looked back.

"We stop here. Let's make camp over there." Matt pointed towards some trees.

Velcan nodded, relieved they didn't have to walk any further.

"You can have the first watch."

Again he nodded, sat himself down by the fire. When the human had fallen asleep he took out a blue stone, the same color as his eyes, and held it in his hands. He closed his eyes and imagined himself back home. He whispered "Sun and moon. Lakes and forests. Bring me home." Then he kissed the stone and opened his eyes. The fire inside them was burning.

His surroundings looked different. It was like looking at two worlds at the same time overlapping each other. He could still see the fire and Matt sleeping, but there were also high trees with houses high up in the crowns. Lanterns that hung everywhere burned with blue flames. Birds flew around and streams with clear water found their ways between the rocks and trees. Velcan opened his mind a little further, letting the fire inside him burn a little brighter. Sounds were added to the picture. Songs, laughs, rippling water and flapping wings.

"I see you have used the Home Stone. What do you have to report?"

The voice echoed with immense power inside his head.

"I found the human. We're travelling along the Great East Rode and will reach The Forsaken Kingdom in 14 days."

"Good. You have done excellent."

"Thank you, my lord."

"When reaching The Forsaken Kingdom, there is one person you need to find. This human is to be found near the king himself. You'll know her when you see her. Her powers can't be hidden from us. Then let me talk to her, she is to be trusted, but don't under any circumstances let her follow you. That's all."

Velcan let the vision disappear. The fire inside him grew smaller, until it was just a spark. Matt was still asleep. The night went on, without incidents. And when dawn came they left.

~

"They were here."

The tall man dressed in black leather and a long cape mounted his horse. He looked down the Great East Road and smiled.

"Let's see what you are made of, little thief."