Children of the Cursed Page 11

  “Don't hog all of the glory.” Ulrich came running up and knocked one of the attackers to the ground.

  “You too are here, Ulrich?” Gawain acted surprised, even though he wasn't.

  “Someone has to save your ass.”

  “And what of Leon?”

  “Right here, Master Gawain,” Leon said. “We can't let you have all the fun.”

  Gawain smiled at the sight of his students and Ellyn, but still, he felt a hint of anger building up in the pit of his stomach. “Looks like it’s a bit of an unfair fight now,” he said, choking back his true feelings.

  The man laughed, “One grown man, and a bunch of kids? Do you call that an unfair fight for us? Do you jest?”

  “I assure you that this is no joking matter,” Gawain replied. “Either attack and die, or lower your weapons and let us pass.”

  “My choice?”

  “Of course.”

  “Since you refuse to hand over the piece of blade peacefully, then I will take it by force and kill the four of you.” The man proclaimed. “Kill them all!”

  “Prepare yourselves for battle!” Gawain commanded. “Use all of the skills at your disposal.”

  “Stand down!” But the group did not listen at first, which seemed to infuriate whoever was making the demands. “I said, stand down! I'm the King Of Thieves, you will listen to me when I speak!” The King Of Thieves rode up closer on his horse. At first glance you could tell that he was a big burly man, with a thick red beard, and long curly red hair. He wore heavy armor that shined brightly in the sun, and he held onto a very large battle axe that only a man of his stature could carry.

  “I did not order such antics to take place!” He said with anger. His voice was very deep and raspy, commanding respect with every word that he spoke. “Who is responsible for this?”

  The man that had approached Gawain and demanded he hand over the item in question approached and knelt down before the King Of Thieves. “It was I who orchestrated the attack on this man,” he answered. “But I had no idea that these children would interfere in such matters.”

  “Yet I heard you order your men to kill them all, did I not?” The King asked.

  “You did.”

  “Why would you do such a thing, Kole?” The King questioned. “You're my most trusted and loyal second. It is not like you to be so foolhardy.”

  “Your Majesty.” He bowed. “If you would be so humble to give me the chance to explain my actions.”

  The King thought about it for a minute, “You may, but this had better be good.”

  “My scouts have told me that this man and his companions have stumbled upon a piece of the Legendary Blade,” Kole explained. “I wanted that man to hand it over peacefully, but he refused.”

  “So you decided to take it by force?” The King bellowed. “You of all people know, that's not the way we do business here at East Haven. Or have you forgotten that?”

  “But your Majesty, that item they carry is worth a fortune,” Kole responded hysterically.

  “Shut up!” The King demanded. “You know the rules, you don't kill in my town. If you want something bad enough, you bargain for it. We no longer take things with the use of force.”

  “Do you not understand what they carry?” Kole angrily responded.

  “I care not for your words at this time, Kole!” The King snapped. “You're lucky that I don't exile you and your men for disobeying my laws. Leave my sight and do not return until I say otherwise.”

  Kole stood up and bowed to the King once more, “As you wish.” He turned to walk away but before he did so he gave a warning to Gawain, “This isn't over yet. Mark my words, I will have the object I seek before you leave here.”

  “That's enough, Kole!” The King roared. Kole turned and slightly bowed his head to the King smiling before walking away. “I do apologize for his disobedience, he's still young and trying to impress his men.”

  “That's quite alright,” Gawain said. “I understand how youth can be a handful.”

  “I'm glad that you understand.” The King laughed loudly and heavily; he sounded just like a bear growling at its prey. Gawain was one to understand how to treat others and laughed along with the King, as a sign of respect. When the sounds of laughter faded Gawain was very humble.

  “Your Majesty, if I may.” Gawain approached.

  “Please call me, Asher.” The King smiled. “I really hate formalities.”

  “You can call me Gawain. The pleasure is mine.”

  “Nonsense, Gawain. You're in my town, so the pleasure is all mine indeed.” Asher smiled. “What can this humble king do for you?”

  “For one we need a safe place to stay for the night, now that everyone knows what it is that we carry. Two, we would like a safe passage in the morning when we take our leave.” Gawain asked of Asher politely.

  “Of course, I will see this done right away,” Asher replied with kindness. “Wait, I have an even better idea. Join me as my guests of honor for tonight at my residence.”

  “We would be honored, but we have to respectfully decline,” Gawain replied with courtesy.

  “But I insist. If you wish to stay safe, it would only make sense.” Asher wasn't going to take no for an answer. “It would be rude of me not to offer such kindness.”

  “Well since you insist, it would be rude of us to say no to your kindness.” Gawain bowed.

  It wasn't long before three or four bandits returned with their horses from the Inn. That was a sign that Asher wasn't going to give them a choice in the matter, regardless of the words being said. At least he was kind enough to let them check their belongings before they mounted the horses. “Is all as it was before?” Asher asked.

  “Yes, all is as we left it.”

  “Good. Then if you would ride by my side to prove to the others that you are my guests.”

  “Of course,” Gawain humbly said.

  “Why is Gawain being so friendly to that man?” Ellyn whispered. “Is he not the leader of the thieves in this town?”

  “He's the King Of Thieves,” Leon whispered back. “Gawain can tell when a man is honorable and deserves the utmost respect, that's why Gawain treats him in such a manner.”

  “About as honorable as a thief can be.” Ulrich quietly interrupted. “However, it would be best to stay on his good side for the time being.”

  “Hmm, I think I understand. Asher could be of use to us.” Ellyn whispered.

  “Something like that.” Ulrich spoke softly.

  Gawain rode his horse beside Asher, just like he had asked of him, while Ellyn, Leon, and Ulrich stayed close behind. “We're almost there,” Asher announced. As they drew near, the King's manor was coming into sight, “Behold, the manor of East Haven.” It was a marvelous view to behold indeed. The manor itself was made from stone, but not like any stone that had been seen before; this stone shined as bright as the armor Asher bore, and seemed to stand just as tall as the King himself.

  It was surrounded by gates that at first glance seemed to go on forever, the manor was guarded tighter than any castle keep. Which was understandable, being the King Of Thieves you had to protect your treasure just as much as you had to protect yourself.

  “Do you see that?” Ellyn gasped. “What a beautiful sight to behold.”

  “That it is, young miss.” Asher turned to her and smiled, before looking back at the gates, “Your King has returned, let us inside.” They could hear the guards on the other side scrambling to hurriedly open the gate to let their king inside.

  Within seconds the big iron gates slowly opened, the grinding of the gears could be heard working hard to do its job. “Let us hurry along,” Asher smiled. Once inside it was a short ride before they found themselves at the bottom of the steps where Asher resided. “Follow me,” he said, dismounting from his horse.

  “Let us make haste,” Gawain said to the others. “We do not want to seem rude.” He dismounted from his horse and proceeded to follow Asher up the steps towards the
manor doors. Leon was the first to jump off of his horse and run up the steps behind Gawain, followed by Ellyn. Ulrich, on the other hand, took his time; he was in no hurry to please anyone. “What's the holdup, Ulrich?” He shouted from the top of the steps.

  “I go at my own pace,” Ulrich grumbled.

  “We don't have time for this,” Gawain snarled. “Hurry along!”

  “He's crazy if he thinks that he can tell me what to do.”

  “Come on, Ulrich,” Leon said. “If you don't hurry up I will make sure that I'm the first one inside the manor.”

  “Like hell, you will.” Ulrich went running up the steps as fast as he could, within a blink of an eye he passed everyone, even Asher and Gawain, straight through the manor doors.

  “Ulrich!” Gawain's eyes flamed. “The King is always the first to enter, not his guests.”

  “It's quite alright, Gawain.” Asher laughed. “Kids will always be kids, no matter how you look at it. Even if they are the mightiest of warriors, the kid inside will always show through young ones such as them.”

  “Of course.” Gawain bit his tongue. “Even so, manners are of the utmost importance when you're a guest in another man’s home.”

  Asher walked by and slapped Gawain on the back; not knowing his own strength he almost sent Gawain stumbling to the ground. “You need to lighten up, Gawain.” He laughed, walking on inside. “So what do you think about my humble home?” Asher asked Ulrich.

  “I have to admit, it's not bad.” Ulrich answered. “Still, it's not as big as the Academy.”

  “The Academy you say?”

  “Yes, where we train to become knights.”

  Gawain overheard and quickly walked inside the manor, “This truly an amazing place you have here, Asher,” he said. “How does one such as yourself acquire a magnificent place such as this?”

  That remark seemed to get under the skin of Asher, “The answer to your question will have to wait until later, I have some pressing matters to handle,” he replied. “My servant shall show you to your quarters, I shall call upon you all when dinner is served.” Asher turned and made his way down the hall until he was out of sight.

  “If you would follow me,” the servant said. He took them down a long stretch of hallway, the same that Asher had retreated down. The servant stopped and opened one of the doors at the end, “This is your room good sirs, if you need anything let me know. I shall return when King Asher is ready for you, do clean up and change your clothes before then.” He then turned his attention towards Ellyn, “Madam, if you would, please follow me. A young lady such as yourself needs a room of her own.”

  “I will be just fine staying in their room.”

  “That is not how things work here, young lady.”

  “Fine.” Ellyn snapped and stomped away. Behind her followed the servant, muttering some unpleasant words under his breath. When Ellyn and the servant were out of sight, Gawain began to chuckle ever so slightly. “You heard the man, let's get ourselves cleaned up.” He opened the door and walked inside.

  “Keep an eye out,” Ulrich whispered to Leon. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

  “Paranoid as ever I see.”

  “No, I just know how to keep myself alive.”

  “Calm down, I was only joking.” Leon chuckled. “You know that I trust in your word, my friend. I shall keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary.”

  “Thank you.” Ulrich grinned.

  An hour later there was knock on the door. Gawain not being one to trust in his new surroundings grabbed for his sword. “You may enter, but do so slowly,” he warned. The door opened slowly, and the servant peaked around the corner with caution. “There is no need to act in such a barbaric manner. I'm just here to inform you that Asher has requested his guests join him for dinner now, that is all,” he replied. “Please leave your weapons and armor behind, and follow me to the dining hall.”

  “Like hell we will.” Gawain barked.

  “Whatever, do as you please.” The servant snarked. “It's not like I can stop a pack of barbarians.” He leads them back down the corridor and into a dining room.

  “Ah, my guests of honor have arrived.” Asher proudly announced. “Come, sit and feast with me.”

  There was a long table at the center of the room, and atop that table was a feast fit for a king. A huge cooked bird sat in the center, surrounded by potatoes, and a tub of gravy on the side with bread rolls, to the right of that was a fully cooked pig with an apple in its mouth. And to the left was where the beers and ciders were kept. Asher sat at the head of the table and already had a massive turkey leg in his hand. “Come now. Eat. Eat,” he bellowed, waving the turkey leg around in the air with one hand and a cup of mead in the other.

  It had been over a month since Leon, Gawain, and Ulrich had eaten a full course meal, and even longer for Ellyn. They pigged out and ate as much as their stomachs could handle, and drank their fill of ciders as well. “Now that we have stuffed our bellies full of food and booze, there are some questions that need be answered,” Asher said, rubbing the grease from his beard.

  Gawain leaned back in his chair, pulled a smoking pipe from his pouch and stuffed it with tobacco. He proceeded to pull two flints from his pouch as well, striking them together until the sparks lit the tobacco in his pipe. Gawain puffed on the stem and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke from his mouth. “Go on, Asher. I shall answer your questions to the best of my abilities.”

  “That's good to hear.” Asher smiled. “You seem like a very honest man, I trust you shall be truthful.”

  “Likewise.” Gawain puffed on his pipe again and let out another cloud of smoke.

  “You asked me a question earlier that struck a nerve.” Asher lit up his own smoking pipe. “I feel as though I owe you an answer,” he said, letting a cloud of smoke rise from his mouth.

  “Don't worry about it,” Gawain replied. “I shouldn't have asked such a personal question in the first place.”

  “It's quite alright.” Asher responded, exhaling another thick cloud of smoke. “My father owned this castle before I.”

  “Beg your pardon?”

  “My father was the First King Of Thieves,” Asher said. “You look surprised to hear that.”

  “That I am,” he responded, puffing on his pipe yet again. “Did you take over once your father stepped down?”

  “My father didn't step down.” Asher lowered his head. “He was murdered.”

  “I'm so sorry,” Ellyn frowned. “Gawain, you shouldn't ask questions that make a person remember such horrible things from their past.”

  “One thing you learn from your past, Miss Ellyn, is how to use such memories to become even stronger than before.” Asher cracked a faint smile.

  Leon stood up from his chair; clearly, this conversation was upsetting to him. “I need some air,” he said. “Thank you for the food, Sir Asher.” He turned and walked out of the dining hall.

  “Is he going to be okay?” Asher asked.

  “Leon is a strong young man, he will be just fine.” Gawain smiled. “Tell me more of your father.”

  “What more do you want to know?”

  Gawain raised his brow, “Why would someone want to murder your father?” He asked, emptying his pipe and replacing it back into his pouch.

  Asher looked around the room to make sure that none of his help was around to listen in on what he had to say. “There's a secret tomb underneath this manor,” he whispered.

  Gawain leaned forward as though to keep Asher's secret safe, “Did the assailant know of this tomb?”

  “I'm not sure,” Asher answered. “But I do believe that whoever it was wanted my father's treasure, so badly so, that they were willing to kill for it.”

  “What was so important about that treasure that someone would kill your father for it?”

  Asher was hesitant to speak because Ellyn and Ulrich now leaned in as close as they could, which made Asher smile, almost laugh. “Looks like you're not the only one th
at wants to know.” He chuckled lightly. But his smile faded, “The hilt to the legendary blade that you carry a piece to is held in the tomb that I speak of. My father felt it was his duty to protect it with his life.”

  Sometimes it took much more than words to spark Gawain's curiosity; however, when Asher talked of the hilt that was hidden away inside the tomb below, he was all ears. “That must explain why your father was killed.”

  “I believe so,” Asher said.

  “Can I ask a favor of you?” Gawain said, with a furrowed brow.

  “I can tell by the look on your face this is of the utmost importance,” Asher replied. “Go ahead and ask your favor.”

  “Will you allow us entry into this tomb?”

  “I can, but only if you answer my questions first.” Asher smirked. “It's only fair.”

  Gawain relaxed back into his chair, “Ask me anything that you wish.”

  “That's what I like to hear.”

  “This is stupid,” Ulrich grumbled. “I'm going to see if I can find Leon.”

  “Wait for me!” Ellyn shouted, chasing after Ulrich until they both disappeared out of the dining hall. Asher and Gawain had the room to themselves and could discuss things in private, “Kids.” Asher bellowed. “Always so impatient.”

  “That's what I deal with on a daily basis.”

  “I feel sorry for you.” Asher laughed loudly. But that laughter was short lived as he was quick to get back to the business at hand. “Answer me this Gawain, where do you and your companions hail from?”

  “The two young men and I hail from the great city of Drasal.”

  “What of the girl?” Asher questioned. “Is she not a part of your group?”

  “She is now after we saved her life.”

  “What happened?”

  “We happened upon a caravan that was being attacked by bandits; we managed to slay the scum. But it was too late, as all of the people with the caravan were already dead. To our surprise, Ellyn jumped from the shadows waving a blade at us. Once we calmed her down, she explained that she and others had been taken against their will, by the people of the caravan. She also explained that they were in league with the bandit scum. But something happened after they made the exchange, the bandits turned on the caravan and Ellyn was lucky to escape with her life.” Gawain explained.