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~` Illusions `~

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CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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~` Chapter Fourteen `~

An endless sea of blue, perturbed by the silent growth of darkness on the horizon, accompanied the sun on its longing descent; its color, slowly, began to change. Red filled the sun’s figure, mixing with the outer rim of darkened azure on the skyline, and featuring an outlandish display that no one, no being, could match.

Veskile’s streets had quieted from their daily state of silence and held an unnatural blend of eeriness and seclusion; both had taken full control of the land as darkness began to fall. The carts had been sealed and pulled away, merchants crept into their homes, and even the strays animals, those that would normally cry out in the night, had drifted away from the town square and settled in whatever homes they could .

Winds swirled through the empty streets and filled every crevice imaginable, darting down alleyways and tormenting them with the ending assault; they damaged homes, ruined all order, and drove whatever remained into a scene of chaos. The deadly gales came down from the mountains to the north and rushed over the small city, making it almost impossible for citizens to leave their homes at night; they feared what might happen away from the safety of their warm, safe abodes.

Howling wind cried out in the city’s air, drowning the voices of the rising night in their unnerving pitch; it was unreal for the strangers of the land, but no one could block it out. Glass smashed from the relentless force sometimes and drove families to the brink of insanity, waiting, watching, for whatever might happen next in the midst of such a deadly foe; however, it never did come.

17-Jan-2009 00:42:09 - Last edited on 19-Jan-2009 23:02:01 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

Posts: 35,595 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Every night, the winds would mysteriously vanish after hours of torture, retreating back to their home high on the cliffs; it was as if they studied the men and women below, scrutinizing their actions, and planned for their next attack. Although, no man had ever sought out the devilish sound that emitted from so very far away, fearing its origins, its might. The secret had not been let free, but its effects were obvious.

Two silhouettes, guarded by the dying light’s contrast with the darkening visions, struck out across the streets and guarded themselves from the wind with their arms, pulling the cloaks above their faces to shield them. Pressing their feet hard against the ground, the figures struck forth past the gales’ assault and worked towards a door - the entrance to a pub - and threw open the door, rushing inside and slamming it behind them.

Sunlight’s release quickened now, and the windows were brushed with the last of its rays, watching it fall through the sky and begin to vanish along the mountains that engulfed most of their view, but most of Veskile’s residents knew that to venture out in the darkness was suicidal, a mission that no one was willing to take; it was unheard of.

Candlelight lit the bar in a fragile glow as the bartender touched a match to the tip of several that rested along the counter, welcoming the newcomers to his establishment. A good ten tables, rounded and wooden, were set across the floor in a random arrangement, but not all of them had visitors to climb on top of them and sing praises to the days activities; only one had such a privilege.

The bartender nodded at them as he scrubbed a glass with a rag, motioning for them to join their companions at the table. His face, shadowed by the dark that filled the entire room, allowed only the reflections of his eyes to break past the shallow abyss: they shimmered with a bright tint in the midst of such a blackness; it was peculiar, to those that came from the hell that reigned outside.

17-Jan-2009 00:42:27

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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Torn clothing hung onto his body, accompanied by a frail, white apron, stained by the spilling of drinks and the vomiting of drunkards. ‘This man has been through it all,’ one of the cloaked men thought, moving to the table. ‘I wonder where everyone else is, though; is it not the end of the week? Men should be off of work and filling this place to the brim, surely.’

Ignoring the thought for a moment, Anthoni took his place at the table, shedding himself of his protecting covering and making the most of the warmth, as small as it was, that came from the candle. Beside him, Brexton also took his place, but he merely pulled down his hood and revealed those lucid emerald eyes that seemed to glow brighter than the candle’s flame itself; they were mesmerizing, drawing in the attention of most who looked upon him and giving him the appearance of a peaceful, confident man.

“Has it been done?”

Anthoni glanced at Brexton and then ran his hand through his hair, sighing deeply. “Yes, sadly. I have sent word to the king himself, but I doubt we shall get a response other than a murderer, once again.” He grimaced with the last words and looked over to Korinth, who had her arms crossed on the table and was resting her chin in the cross-section. She glanced up at him, but he averted her gaze and continued: “The time has come, it seems, to leave Veskile and search elsewhere for this power. I highly doubt it is here, for it is so close to Revenske. If it was, would we not have heard of it before?”

“Ah, yes,” Brexton commented, raising his head and interrupting Anthoni. “However, this source has only just revealed itself; we cannot be sure of its whereabouts completely until there is more information.”

17-Jan-2009 00:42:43

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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“Brexton…” Korinth muttered. “I have told you everything there is, everything there will be. Nothing more is hidden in the depths of the land, for I would have learned long ago.”

“Korinth, I suggest you learn this now: the king is not a genius, and he is not a scholar; he is not one to study the books of lore and take what is said for what it was truly meant,” Brexton said. “He is a liar, a thief, and he will never have all there is to know. Messages of age have since been lost in fires, wars, and famine. Do you not think that the information exists somewhere and that there is a way to find it? Mindlessly searching for something… it is such a foolish thought.”

Korinth angled her arms and tilted them so that her hands bent towards her face, and then she lay her head upon them, eying Brexton with a smirk. “Of course the king is an old man and he has more important things to do; I would think that learning is not on top of his priorities.”

“The king does not have it all; it is not wise to follow him solely for his glory, his reputation.”

“I,” Korinth began, “will neither deceive the king, nor leave him. You may have lost your faith in him, but many still look up to him as a beacon of hope, a symbol of the journey ahead, a leader. Will you deny the people of such a thing?” She paused and then put her full attention on Brexton, who stared directly back. “Will you, in your selfishness, deny the people of the right to hope? A time of great need has come upon us, and I think the king is the best way to survive.”

“Damn the king!” Brexton exclaimed, raising his eyes and looking over towards Maxwell and Jacob, who sat meekly and merely listened to the conversation like Landon did as well. Korinth’s eyebrows flickered with interest and she frowned as Brexton continued. “This man is to lead the people of Heldora? This king, solely because of his position?” Brexton flared his nostrils as he stood up to release some stress, continuing to stare at Korinth.

17-Jan-2009 00:43:15

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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“The people blindly follow this false symbol of hope, so they do not deserve to hope. Do you think I, Brexton of Veskile, follow him for merely who he is? No! By God, no! I have seen his ways and have watched him. If you cannot understand this… this concept… then I shall have no business with you! A woman like yourself… fallen to the tainted ‘wisdom’ of a corrupted king… such a pity.”

Korinth was speechless, as were the rest of them. Anthoni’s attention, though, did not turn, and he merely glanced up at Brexton, who swept around and towards the door.

“Wait.”

All of the eyes fell to the back of the pub, where the bartender had slid out from beneath his rectangular prison and looked on, listening to their conversation. In his hand was a small parchment, while the other grabbed the side of his apron and threw it to the floor in a quick motion; it was confusing, and none knew of what he was doing.

“Who are you to command me?” Brexton inquired, stepping with a daring stare that struck into the heart of the common salesman.

Casually sliding a chair out and placing himself in it, he rubbed his hands together and chuckled softly; the piece of paper crumpled between his palms. It seemed to last for an eternity, but he finally ceased his laughter and looked up at the angered man who stood before him. “You are so very angry, for a man who is so respected here, Brexton.”

Striking a firm glance over to his companions, Brexton leapt over the opposite side of the table where the bartender sat, staring at him and studying his moves. Tilting his chin up in the air, his eyes never left their stern placement, and they merely continued to point down towards the smaller man. “What do you speak of?”

“All this talk of… treachery, isolation, and more…if it not hypocritical for you to do so?”

“Do not judge me, unless you wish for my magic to pulse through your veins.” Brexton’* expression did not falter.

17-Jan-2009 00:43:44

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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The bartender shrugged and then rolled the lightly-colored paper open upon the table, revealing a large list written in small font, far too small to be read from any good distance; but Brexton did not react, his mind still aching from the verbal onslaught he had just been a victim of.

“Brexton!” In an instant, the large man turned his head and his attention fell onto Landon, who had rose from his silent state and walked closer; his glasses remained on the table. “Do you not see? This man obviously has some way to help us, but you reject him? I daresay, cease, man! For the good of us all!”

“He is wise, for a servant of the king.”

Brexton’s mind was befuddled with what was occurring, and his thoughts moved from place to place without stop, without a pause to regain composure and carefully collect what had happened; he was confused, lost, and seemingly alone. “Well,” he began, shaking his head, “if we must.”

“I’m glad you see it my way,” Landon commented.

Withholding his anger, Brexton could do nothing by reclaim his place beside Anthoni, and he stared into the relentless face of his former opponent. Having lost, it was the ultimate punishment for his outburst, and now there he sat, embarrassed, forcing himself to not shrink in his chair.

“I heard you talking of a power,” the bartender said slowly, moving his gaze from the seated Brexton to Landon. “I think I may have something that is of interest to you, if you would like to hear it.”

“Endless torment, gushing forth; it rises above the heart of flame. Can you not see, what lives were lost? As if searching for something, as if it had an eternal cost? The endless years will not shrink by, leaving you to wither and die. Nay! You shall find yourself alone, a dismal fate for one; know this now, though, I warn ye well, ‘Enter, and you will not escape this dreaded hell.’”

17-Jan-2009 00:44:30

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

Posts: 35,595 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
The table of Anthoni, Jacob, Korinth, Brexton, and Maxwell and gave their full attention to the speaker, Landon, who held the crinkled paper firmly in his right hand, measuring the perception of his glasses with his right; his voice droned on for what seemed to be hours, trying to make sense of the cursed note, but it was to no avail; no good came of it.

“Pathetic.”

Anthoni turned his head to Brexton. “Why do you say that?”

“You expect us….” He paused and glanced around the table. “Well, me, to go out and find this forsaken thing with the only clue being like a poorly written poem? An attempt at something mystical, yet muddled with pointless words and endless distortion of the truth? And, what’s more: you think it wise to follow the advice of a commoner? Not even Korinth, as she said, has heard of any word regarding this ancient prophecy, so how would this… man… have come by such a powerful document?”

“Brexton…” Anthoni began.

“Do not try to answer me, fool; I have long since learned how to deal with such things. A bartender in a lowly city happens to come upon a long-lost piece of lore?” Brexton’s eyes flared with anger and contempt as they fell upon the defenseless owner of the pub. “Robbery? I believe not. This is nothing more than a hoax, if you can see through the web of lies this man proposes us to follow. Can we waste time? The king tells us no, and, by all means, can we afford to disturb the king?”

No one spoke; they all watched Brexton as he spun around and watched their reactions. Satisfied with his mockery of Veskile and his desecration of the poor man’s integrity, he sat down and crossed his arms, readying himself to survey the damage and act out once more, if needed.

Landon was the first to move past the vicious attacks. “We… we will take it. Fear not, for we know much of the ways of this land and the secrets it hides; we will see this through.”

17-Jan-2009 00:44:52 - Last edited on 17-Jan-2009 00:46:40 by CaptChekaka

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