THE SUNDERING.
Thug: Come on then! Show us what you got you #$%^!
Dave: You M- *burp* you… whatever I was gonna call you… you ain’t seen nothing yet.
The thug punches Dave in the face knocking him onto his ass and a pile of trash.
Thug: Yeah, what I thought.
The thug starts to walk away from Dave, Dave tries to get back up but slips over more garbage.
Dave: Where are you going you-
Dave gets up and puts his arms up in victory. The thug waves him away as he continues walking back out to the street.
Dave: You losers! Yet again another win for the Dave the Dishwasher!
To then fall back onto the trash pile and start to doze off. Before being confronted by a mysterious figure who knocks Dave’s boot, to no avail. Dave still slumbers, if anything the knock only made him snore. The mysterious figure then winds up a bigger kick that wakes up Dave.
Dave: AH! Another dare challenges the great and fierce the Dave!
Grey: You seem to get theatrical when you’re drunk.
Dave: Oh Grey, it’s you… COME TO FACE THE MIGHT OF THE DISHWASHER ONCE AGAIN!!!
Grey: I can’t handle you like this.
Grey grabs Dave’s arm and with a small glow from Grey’s hand, Dave sobers up completely.
Dave: Hey, what the hell asshole? I was enjoying being drunk.
Grey: Can’t have you in a state, I need your help once again David…
Dave: What happened to you paying me back after that one? A man doesn’t just nearly die fighting Mongoose without payment.
Grey: I remember when you told me you did this for the love of the game.
Dave: The game changes after the 34th near death situation. What is it this time?
Grey: The barbaric tribe of Mac’Rel are back attacking the Bassarni, 10th realm.
Dave: Hold on, last time it was something here. On Earth. Like what I normally face, Earthbound foes.
Grey: What’s the matter David, I thought you were always up for adventure?
Dave: Ah, fine. You twist my arm, who are these Mac’Rel?
Grey: You’ll find out as we go along.
Grey pulls out of one of his pockets a piece of chalk and draws a circle in the wall with the Kano Rune. After a few seconds the section of wall in the circle opens a gateway to the 10th realm and after stepping through it the gateway closes behind them. Dave looks back as he realises there is no back for him but continues forth with Grey after a few seconds.
They stop at the top of view out onto the lands below them, known only as… The Sea of Green.
Grey: There… That is the Bassarni, a neutral territory between the Lands of Mac’Rel and the Cratist. King Mac’Del is the ruling dynasty over Mac’Rel and wishes to control more of The Sea of Green, the Bassarni only wish to live off the land and for their people to live long and healthy lives.
Dave: Are the Mac’Rel hoping to then take over the land Cratist hold?
Grey: I believe so, and if they do not hope to take Cratist for themselves, I fear they will enslave the Bassarni. They have a reputation for being hard workers.
Dave: Either way, bad guys.
Grey: Unfortunately for us, a threat too large.
Dave: So why did you bring me then?
Grey: To help with reconnaissance, find out a way to take out the Mac’Rel, then provide this information to the Cratist who will ally themselves with the Bassarni to defend them.
Dave: We won’t be fighting with them?
Grey: I can’t lose Earth’s champion.
Dave’s thoughts drift to how effective this ‘adventure’ will be, more could be done he thinks. Grey begins to move again and Dave catches up after being lost in his thoughts. They begin to reach the treeline of a forest on their way to the capital village of the Bassarni, when Dave starts to vocalise his questions.
Dave: Are there any other tribes in The Sea of Green?
Grey: Like any people, there are many spread out far and wide.
Dave: Are there any other tribes who might help in the defense of the Bassarni?
Grey: No. The Bassarni have little to no contact with other tribes from what I’ve been able to gather, they’ve been the victim to tribes many times before they came here to be alone. The only reason the Cratist will defend is the fact the Mac’Rel will attack them next.
Dave: So they aren’t even doing it for noble reasons? That’s wrong.
Grey: And you fighting that man in the alleyway?
Dave: He was harassing some girl. Wouldn’t leave her alone.
Grey: And that gives you the right to attack him? How could you have known that you had the situation wrong? You were under the influence of alcohol.
Dave: Because I knew, me being drunk had nothing to do with it. And when I asked him nicely he decided to fight me.
Grey: That’s a lie as I was watching you in the bar before you went outside. You called him names and told him you would break his hands if he continued, which your losing of the fight only cemented your failure to actually protect the woman.
Dave: It got him away didn’t it, and the bar staff made sure the girl was fine.
Grey: After making sure you and the harasser had been kicked and banned from the establishment. My point is David, you can’t fight your way out of every situation.
Dave: But I’m not fighting out of the situation, I’m fighting to protect. That was what the old man told me before giving me The Sword. That’s what I did at the bar and it’s what I wanna do here too.
Grey: All I’m asking is you look at the whole picture before acting, and plan with those who have authority to put that punctuation at the end of the sentence. Look, we’re almost there.
Dave and Grey arrive at the village, a humble town but a large one, filled with farmers, their wives and their children. All in the capital do their part as while they might not trade outside their borders, they do trade with the other smaller towns of their tribe. The capital is the only Bassarni town to allow wanderers and travellers from outside the borders meaning that Dave and Grey are not sticking out of the crowd. Grey heads towards a tavern called the ‘Largemuth’ and upon entering is meant with a quiet hideaway for a few workers taking temporary refuge from their tasks. At the bar was an older Bassarni male, Grey made his way to the bar while Dave looked around before shortly spotting one of the many travellers they had seen, but this one stood out from the crowd, large and wide with clear muscle under a cloak he wore, next to him from what Dave could see, a sword.
Grey: Hello, good sir. We talked via letter about Lampreys game.
Bartender: Aye yes, you must be Mr. Grey, give me a moment and I’ll take you in. And ‘ere… for you and your chum, on the house!
Grey: Thank you for the kind offer, Mr. Gar.
Mr. Gar walked to a door leading to the back of the bar, giving Dave and Grey a moment to themselves and look around at the bar.
Grey: Not too different from your work.
Dave: Weird, exact same layout only just more… fishy?
Grey: I see what you mean, I’ll note that in my files.
Dave: So… Who do you work for anyway? I’ve been meaning to ask.
Grey: I work for a company with no name, We operate within the Worldtree itself and the only way to get there is with my chalk. It’s similar to what you on Earth would refer to as Mount Olympus or Asgard.
Dave: Heaven?
Grey: I presume that works too. Though I wouldn’t suppose us to be angels, just people with the power to keep on eye on things.
Dave goes to sip his drink before Grey stops him.
Dave: It’s one drink for god’s sake.
Grey: Need you on your toes, we don’t know who might be watching us, it is not out of the ordinary for there to be Mac’Rel in the Capital. Currently we are the only ones that know they even plan to attack.
Dave places his drink back down, before Grey takes a sip of his.
Dave: Hypocrite.
Grey: I can handle my drinks unlike others I know.
Grey now notices the large fishian himself now but with the cloak it is hard to tell what species he is. The large fishian begins to take a drink, but before Grey can get a good look at his face Mr. Gar returns to guide the two travellers out to the back rooms of the bar. As they move to the back room, the large fishian watches them.
Mr. Gar continues to lead them further and further through the backrooms of the tavern, as they go Dave and Grey look at each other as fears of being led astray fall into their minds until Mr. Gar finishes his guiding by opening a storage room door and waits for Dave and Grey to enter. As they enter Mr. Gar slams the door shut and a clunk can be heard as the lock keeps the door in lock and when Dave and Grey turn around they are greeted by a group of Mac’Rel with weapons primed against our heroes.
Dave: You guys must be at the welcoming party? And look, you brought party favors. Don’t worry…
Dave unsheathed his sword from his back and readied himself. Followed by Grey with his Rapier.
Grey: We brought our own.
But before any fighting can commence, Mr. Gar comes crashing through the door shortly followed by the large fishian from the bar. Now the attention of the Mac’Rel was on this fishian… and before they could even make the first step of their attack the fishian grabbed his trusty steel and sliced through them with one swing before their now detached limbs and bodies fell to the floor. Dave and Grey watch in horror and respect for the skill of this warrior before returning their swords to their idle state.
Grey: And who might you be good sir?
Codnan The Bullfishian: I am Codnan of Codmera, I was following these Mac’Rel after they stole from my camp. Now I have killed them. Goodbye.
Dave: Hey wait up a minute there! Codnan was it? Look, you seem like a decent warrior and we need some help.
Codnan: Clearly. You had not killed them before I had arrived. But I do not help unless it is necessary.
Dave: The Mac’Rel are planning to enslave the nice people of Bassarni here so they can go after the Cratist, and it seems that wherever Codmera is could be next.
Codnan: Codmera is far away from this dirt hole.
Dave knows he been caught in the lie and can’t think of anything else to add, Codnan looks off for a moment as thinks to himself, his thoughts were a mystery to Dave and Grey.
Codnan: Tell me what you have on your mind over a drink. Then I will decide if I will help you.
And before Dave and Grey can respond Codnan walks off back to the bar, shortly followed by our heroes.
THE WILD SKY.
Thunderous laughter fills the Bassarni tavern known as ‘The Largemouth’, all coming from the equally thunderous and ferocious Codnan the Bullfishian, joined by our heroes, Dave The Dishwasher and Grey. They have discussed their plan to find a weakness in the Mac’Rel’s military to give to the Cratist to defend the Lands of the Bassarni from being enslaved.
Codnan: HAHA You dare wish to merely sneak into the Mac’Rel Capital? They are paranoid people and have that hunk of stone locked down tighter than an Alewife. You would need an expert thief in your party. Lucky for you two, I traveled with thieves for a time.
Codnan stood up, throwing his chair below him across the room with just the strength of his legs.
Codnan: It is decided, I will help you!
As Codnan looks down at his new friends, he realises they have long since passed out from the alcohol, followed by more thunderous laughter from the large fishian.
Codnan: Can’t handle the Bassarni mead.
Codnan picks them both up and over his shoulders as he makes his way towards his camp just outside of town. Hours later Dave and Grey awake both with hangovers sent from Hel to Codnan cooking morning meat on the campfire, his eyes somber and his demeanour is almost hiding the sadness his soul carries.
Codnan: Ah. You two are finally awake. Here eat this. It will cure you from the headache.
Codnan hands them both a warm tea with leaves floating in clay cups. With a sip their hangover dispersed and they returned to normal.
Dave: Gotta get this recipe from you at some point.
Codnan: It is simple. Hot water and these Tetra leaves. Have some I picked earlier.
Grey: Where are we?
Codnan: Outside of Capital. I’m sure you had no place to stay while in town. And I thought a watchful eye was needed.
Dave: Thanks Codnan.
Codnan: I’m going to get us some horses and we will ride to the Mac’Rel and find their weakness and strike it while the iron is hot.
Grey: We are only retrieving information, Codnan, we will not be attacking them.
Codnan: And allow them to gain the upper hand. How do we not know they will won’t intercept us riding back to the Cratist. Or that they have spies within the Cratist. The simplest move would be to attack now.
Dave: They also might be on their way to us right now.
Grey: The simplest move is not always the wisest. They have a whole army, then if we do somehow get through them, what then? The King will order whoever he has left to conscript more soldiers and then we are back where we began.
Codnan: I will take command of the Mac’Rel.
Dave: How?
Codnan: By having killed their king.
Grey: And how do we know you won’t leave their kingdom in dismay, or mistreat its citizens?
Codnan: Because I am a man of my word. I have no time for lies or nonsense.
Dave: Can we also have you be the leader of Earth?
Grey: No, I do not like this idea. The odds of even getting past the guards at the gate is slim.
Dave: You got a better plan? All I’m hearing is ‘oh that won’t work!’ or ‘that’s too scary!’ or-
Grey: I am thinking of one! and David I brought you here to hopefully learn a lesson in your responsibilities as the Dis’Washir. And while I respect your dignity to fight for what is right, I need you to know there is always another way around a situation.
Dave: Yeah, yeah, look before you leap. I get the idea.
Grey turned away as he knew Dave did not truly understand what he was trying to say. Codnan hands Dave some of the meat he had been cooking, all while Dave thinks on Grey’s words, maybe there was a way around but whatever it was, it was going to be just as hard as fighting out of the situation.
An hour later, Codnan goes off to retrieve the horses with Grey leaving Dave to himself at the camp, he uses this time to sharpen his sword. The sound of sharpening can be heard from quite far, heard by Mac’Rel planning to sneak up onto Dave as they rustle through the nearby bushes, as they grow closer they start to surround Dave.
Dave is focused on sharpening his sword before hearing a twig snap, without hesitation slices the bushes behind him and after a second the leaves fall to reveal one of the Mac’Rel before they too fall over. The rest of the soldiers jump out of their hiding to corner Dave and gain the upper hand.
Dave: Oh no. I’m surrounded… Who could have seen this coming.
Dave readies himself.
Everyone starts attacking each other, Dave on the defensive blocking and dodging their swords. Then as they move to ready their next attack, Dave begins his swing and slices through 3 of them, Dave had no time to count them till now. He turned around to another 4 with their swords over their head and with a swoosh in the air the swords dive towards him. Before they land Dave steps out of the way, and due to the amount of force from his attackers they stumble and Dave spins to wind his attack to slice them from behind and before long them stumbling becomes them falling onto the ground. All but Dave remained.
Dave: Next time, bring a real challenge!
Without needing to wonder if more were on the way, the question was answered when more came running from out of a nearby tree line. Still recovering his breath from the last fight Dave readies himself again.
Dave: Note to self… keep your mouth shut…
Luckily for our hero, Codnan and Grey arrive on their horses followed by another for Dave. As the Mac’Rel catch up to them, Dave narrowly dodges a slice to the back as he gets on his horse and they begin to ride off. The horses were almost pushed to their limits before Dave and his party slowed down to a trot, and after checking their surroundings they were finally safe.
Codnan: We are deep in Mac’Rel territory now.
Grey: We have to find disguises, if they attacked our camp then they know what we look like.
Codnan: I’m sorry friend Grey, I do not believe stealth is a viable option available to us anymore.
Grey: Unfortunate. I guess we are doing what you wanted now Dave.
Dave feels a sting in his bones after hearing the delivery of those words, something is not sitting right within him, but he continued on as he began thinking of their predicament. As they rode more and more into the Mac’Rel’s heart, a plan grew and built in Dave’s mind but he also knew he had to wait for his moment to strike. They only stopped their ride as a result of their horses running out of energy and therefore decided to camp the night. Dave could not sleep so took on the nightwatch, anger in his eyes which was enough to keep the animals away.
When the sun rises, Grey and Codnan wake from their slumber to see the campfire burned away and Dave’s horse gone, Grey searches around the nearby area for any sign of Dave. Codnan remained at the camp calm as if nothing was wrong, Grey returned to the camp and confronted Codnan.
Grey: What did you do to him?
Codnan: Why do you think I had anything to do with his disappearance?
Grey: Because I have heard tales of the mighty Codnan on my travels to these lands many times.
Codnan: And you believe the rumours they spread as fact. To think you ‘believed’ in logic.
Grey: I only believe the facts that overlap with each other. I know you had something to do with your family’s murder.
Codnan in a fit of unparalleled rage, screamed and grabbed Grey by the throat. Both men looked into each other’s eyes to see a lack of fear.
Codnan: You know nothing of my past, demon. But I know what you are. I have seen you in my dreams, haunting me…
Codnan dropped Grey onto the ground, afterwhich Grey returned to his feet and fixed his clothes.
Codnan: But I also know you are not what you once were. Otherwise you would not care for your friend. But know this demon… I had no hand in my family’s death or any death of anyone who was not deemed guilty.
Grey: I believe you… My apologies Codnan.
Codnan: Wherever our friend is, he can handle himself. Trust him. And trust me I do not know where he is.
Elsewhere, a chained Dave is getting dragged by soldiers through castle halls towards a throne room and not long after is dropped in front of the throne with a fat greedy king sitting atop. The throne room was massive and held treasures and trophies of previous conquests and adventures. The king was uninterested with what was brought before him and questioned what it was.
Soldier: We’s have no idea what’s he is sire, but he told us he needed to sees you’s.
The King Mac’Del: Thens why is he locked in chains?
Soldier: Becuz we’s wouldn’t let him in to sees you sire. So he punched me.
The King Mac’Del: Why do you seeks me out mystery man?
Dave: My name is Dave, I’m here with a warning, two men wish to bring your empire down by discovering its weaknesses and then giving that information to the Cratist to put you all in your graves.
The King Mac’Del: How’s do I know the information you’s bring me is even real?
Dave: Because I rode with them and found it more… monetary to help your fine kingdom.
The King laughs, enjoying Dave’s showmanship of treachery. But Dave can also see there is another reason for this laughter. The King calms himself down before continuing.
The King Mac’Del: I like you’s way of thinking, but some of the details you’s bring me are… shall we say not as recent.
Dave: What do you mean? I heard you were getting ready to hostile takeover Cratist?
The King Mac’Del: Not since I bought the Cratist empire. Which I was just abouts to finalise before you’s interrupted me. Doesn’t matter either, I believe in you’s story and I don’t likes being attacked. Captain Amberjack, take our new friend here and find these losers.
Back at the camp, unaware of Dave’s betrayal, wait for his arrival to be surprised by what does return.
LORDS.
Dave: HEY! WHAT THE HELL! LET GO OF ME!
Dave is shoved into a jail cell, Captain Amberjack stand over Dave.
Captain Amberjack: You are lying. You are betraying us not your friends.
Dave: And how do you know I’m lying?
Captain Amberjack: I have command over the spy network as well as the castle security and one of our nation’s great armies, word spread fast of two outsiders looking to overthrow us. The King is a fool who does not see through your lies. A fool who can not survive the weight put onto his shoulders. Let alone the weight of his own body.
The Captain walks away and orders a guard to stand watch, Dave in chains slides back towards the wall with his head held down in shame. All he had wanted to do was get within the castle and close to the king but all he did was get captured and thrown around by the revelations he found about the nature of the conquest over the Bassarni, there was no war… they only wished for enslavement.
While riding their horses, Grey and Codnan discuss Dave’s whereabouts.
Codnan: I believe he may have gone to storm the castle himself. I sense a great warrior in David.
Grey: Knowing him, most likely.
Codnan: You do not seem impressed?
Grey: I’m trying to prepare David. He is new at all this, he is one of the last few remaining to protect his world from its end. That requires tools and skills that he doesn’t have.
Codnan: What is to say he did not have a plan before entering their domain? I have seen many plans, mine or another’s, fall apart faster than a chopped limb fall to the ground. In my many travels, one thing has brought me survival… my wits.
Grey: He still shouldn’t just rely on it as the only way to deal with everything, I have seen life to know it requires precision and care. It is a reason I took up fencing, body and mind in sync
Codnan: Rather than teach him as if he were a child, treat him like he is your brother and he will learn these ways over time. It is how I have learnt.
Grey: You are a wise man Codnan, thank you.
Codnan: A life of seeking knowledge from everyone and anything.
They ride for some time in silence, coming up on the Mac’Rel Fortress. Mould and moss cover the rock walls guarding its citizens from attackers. Surrounding this castle is a dark forest where our heroes watch the main gate as they find any weaknesses. They watch as the castle gates open followed by multiple patrols of knights and soldiers get told to search the surrounding area.
Codnan: They know we are here.
Grey: David what have you gotten yourself into.
Codnan: He has helped us find the weakness.
Grey: And that would be?
Codnan: Do you not see? He has made a large portion of their soldiers come out to find us.
Grey: Let me guess, you intend to attack head on?
Codnan: No, we must sneak in. Then attack them once we are close enough to King Mac’Del.
Grey: Finally, a plan that isn’t just rushing in.
Inside the castle walls and below deep in its basement sits Dave in defeat… but it is a defeat he will not accept, Dave stands up and walks towards the jail bars. Grabs them and starts screaming and shaking them violently hoping something would come of it, sadly nothing did. In rage he kicks a rock, knocking from the wall into the door’s lock, damaging it significantly.
Dave: Well now that was lucky.
He sets up the rock again to kick it into the lock again and hopefully break the door open, he winds up the kick and launches the rock into the air, unluckily this time right through the bars and smashing into the wall across from him. The guard on duty hears this and goes to tell Dave to stop just as he sets up another rock to kick at the lock again only to miss and knock out the guard.
Dave: Real lucky.
He reaches the bars to try and grab the guards keys but is just short of it, and with no more rocks to be able to break the lock, he thinks of the only solution left, running into it head on. He gets into position and rams into it with his shoulder, this nearly breaks the lock and one more hit should knock it clean off. Dave thanks whatever gods watch over this realm for the mould of the Mac’Rel’s fortress and gives it his all one last time to freedom. SLAM! The lock comes right off as the door slams back into the bars as the sound of the metal crashing echoes through the dark hallways of the dungeon. Dave quickly makes his move to the keys.
All while outside our other heroes sneak into the castle walls, slicing through any who dare get in their way. With each step further into the enemy territory the more they must watch their backs, unfamiliarity does not fare well for battle. Each kill is one step closer to the King and saving Dave and the Bassarni from enslavement, one power can only get so big before it seeks to destroy others for its own gain.
Dave unlocks his chains and picks up the guards sword before trying to find his way back to the surface, it’s not long before he is seen and must defend himself from two guards. He dodges one of this slices towards him and using the momentum from the dodge attacks the other guard in the leg, the guard drops his sword and before it can clang onto the floor Dave grabs it and uses it to block a second attack from the first guard. While blocking, He then uses his other sword to deliver the final blow in the guards abdomen and with a blunt thud the battle was over and as Dave leaves he throws his second sword into the half-alive guard.
Grey and Codnan make it within inches of the throne room before getting spotted by a single guard they had not seen, with only a look at each other they ran for the throne room smashing the doors open to find King Mac’Del sitting on his throne with the King of the Cratist, King Gar.
Codnan: I should of know the Mac’Rel would buy their way to victory! Only a coward would cheat his way to power!
King: Mac’Del: You must be the traitor’s friends. You are too late to stop our conquest over the land that will soon be ours!
Grey: That land belongs to the Bassarni, and we will stop you from enslaving them.
King Mac’Del: Guards, Kill them where they stand!
And with that we begin the final battle for the fate of Bassarni. The guards run towards the pair and before they can even make it to them or remove their swords from their scabbards they are sliced by the mighty power of Codnan the Bullfishian! The other guards focused on Grey are also met with swift demises as he uses his rapier to his advantage and keep distance between him and the attackers.
The two kings watch with laughter, not caring for the lives of soldiers but while distracted they do not hear Dave crash through the door leading to the jail cells with the body of the guard that was standing in front of it, Dave gets back onto his feet ready to fight having reunited with The Sword while on his way back to the throne room. He makes his way stealthy behind the two kings before being stopped by Captain Amberjack.
Captain Amberjack: I knew you were a liar.
Dave: And I knew you were an asshole. Don’t you see that your ‘king’ has no respect or care in the world for your fellow soldiers, I wouldn’t even be surprised if you considered them brothers and LOOK AT HIM! Only laughter.
Captain Amberjack: We swore an oath to protect the King no matter what.
Dave: I wouldn’t call a worthy person to swear an oath too. As soon as you served no purpose you’d be thrown to the side and forgotten about.
Captain Amberjack: YOU STILL CONTINUE TO LIE TO ME!
Followed by a speedy attack that Dave was not ready for and only barely blocked at the last second. Meanwhile on the other side of the throne room a miniature war waged against Codnan and Grey, they found themselves against an endless stream of guards and soldiers, to make matters worse more soldiers came from the castle wall to attack from behind. Codnan’s rage reaches higher heights as he grabs a guard with one hand and launches them into the air and into the first wave of soldiers at the door, all while he uses the other hand with a sword to slice through a layer of guards.
Grey speaks an incantation before blasting back another wave of guards away with a stream of fire from his hand, some guards stand back as they watch in horror as Grey moves his hand lighting more and more of the horde, Codnan stands back and watches Grey’s eyes which only reflect the bright orange light of the flames and Codnan realises the kind of man Grey once was returning to the surface.
Dave and Amberjack cause sparks to fly and their sword strikes gain speed and power, becoming harder and harder to keep up with, Dave with the split seconds of breathing time tries to find a weakness in Amberjack but his attacks are only getting worse as more of his friends get burnt, sliced and diced. Each crash of iron pushes Dave back more towards the wall, and when he stops checking his back he trips over a chuck of the door from earlier. Now standing over Dave, Amberjack raises his sword and looks Dave in the eye. A weak point.
Dave: Wait! You kill me now and your men will continue to die! I can work this all out.
Captain Amberjack: I will not listen to your lies anymore!
Dave: I can see you are not evil like those men sitting on the throne, you just get told where to go and what to do, surely you can be more than that! Surely you can see that will only bring death and pain and suffering to the world!
Captain Amberjack: I would kill the world for my King.
Dave: And here’s me thinking you had a heart.
Next to Dave was the guard he slammed through the door, he grabs the fallen guard’s sword, kicks Amberjack’s leg causing him to fall to his other knee and Dave pierces the sword through his heart and he sits there for a while.
Dave: I tried to give you a chance.
Finally Amberjack falls to the ground. Dave feels guilt that he couldn’t get the captain to see the errors of his way. Blinded and deafened by rage he returns to his feet and makes his way to the kings as the sounds of metal with the heat of flames rage at the throne room entrance. Dave places both of his swords at the throats of the Kings whose laughter dissipates from the room.
Dave: EVERYONE STOP!
A silence fills the throne room, everyone looks towards Dave in horror that their king has been taken hostage. Codnan and Grey watch wondering how this will turn out. Dave looks down with a emotionless expression, beaten and tired all he wants is for this conflict to be over with.
Dave: Please… just stop. Lay down your swords and spears, and just stop…
He looks towards the kings.
Dave: Don’t go after the Bassarni, they are but humble farmers trying to live their lives.
King Gar: It seems your new friend here doesn’t know who the Bassarni are.
King Mac’Del: You would be right King Gar. Who you fight for Dave were once the most skilled and feared warrior empire in all of the Sea of Green. They are no better than us, all those ‘farmers’ would move and sell slaves like they were the wheat they trade now.
Dave: And now they aren’t, why don’t you do the same and you find another, less destructive, way to expand your empire, Like land that isn’t occupied.
King Gar: Or land we rightfully own, land that they paid for in blood of mine and King Mac’Del’s men, land we still intend to return to its rightful owners.
Codnan: I bore of these politics and lies!
Codnan grabs the spear of a nearby guard and lunges it into King Gar’s neck, while Dave is distracted, Mac’Del grabs his kingly sword and starts swinging at him. Dave blocks with the guard’s sword only to break on impact, slicing a sizable cut into Dave’s left side, from the collar down to his stomach. Luckily for Dave it was not deep enough to cause major damage, just enough to lose blood, quickly. Codnan pushing through guards followed shortly by Grey who quickly turned around to cast another fire incantation only to light a flame wall in between them and the guards.
Dave tries to grab his wound before he has to defend using the The Sword with his only hand available. Codnan leaps two steps at a time up to the throne and unsheathes his sword. With a silent slice through the air, The last King’s sword arms were chopped clean off leaving only stumps, and before Dave can fall onto the ground Codnan grabs him. Grey catches up to them, only to fall to Dave’s level as he watches his friend’s life fade away slowly but surely.
Codnan: Use your magic and get him help.
Grey: And leave you?! I can not and will not leave you in this throne room, as soon as the flames die down, you will be killed.
Codnan: Then death have me! Someone must stay and fight for these people!
Grey looks at the guards and soldiers using all methods of removing the flames stopping them, then back at Codnan who stands ready for a war of one against many. No fear, no regret, only rage and focus.
Grey: And you will stay safe?
The Bullfishian laughs
Codnan: You should be asking if they will be safe left here with me… Tell the boy, I said… tell him I wish him well on his own adventures.
Grey: I will. And Codnan… Thank you, Thank you for fighting for these people.
Codnan: Goodbye Grey, my friend.
Grey grabs a chalk from his coat and draws a circle with the Thursia rune in the middle, Grey gives Codnan one last look before picking up Dave, then a look into the gateway. A short breath and a step into the hole. As the portal closes behind them, Codnan watches the chalk turn to dust and float away, then turns his attention back to the army who have just made a path through the flames. If Codnan dies today, he will be happy for he died a warrior’s death.
WHERE BOYS FEAR TO TREAD.
Grey with his friend Dave in his arms, steps into the gateway on the floor, and what begins as falling straight down quickly changes orientation as the other side of the gate is on the wall rather than a floor. Grey lands on his back as he slides a little forward from the momentum. A short groan and Grey is back on his feet back to carrying Dave. Grey’s white coat, shirt and pants grow red with Dave’s blood. Grey walks through a white hallway with paints, plants and other decorations also white.
A trail of blood followed Grey as he made his way through the hallway. Eventually they happen upon a janitor, also wearing white with white mop and bucket.
Jani: Hey, if it ain’t good ole Lu!
Grey: Hello again Jani, how are you doing today?
Jani: Doin’ great as per usual, just got this place clean! I see you’ve had another productive day too.
Grey: Where is she?
Jani: Office as usual.
Grey: Thanks Jani. And sorry about the mess.
Jani: Don’t worry! needed to mop this hallway anyway.
Grey started to walk towards the office before turning around to give Jani another look, a cheerful face despite the mess, Grey has never seen Jani do anything else. Dave in and out of sleep, the white becomes blinding everytime he opens his eyes if only for a split second. Grey arrives at a reception desk, again all white down to the screws in the chair.
Zee: Welcome back Grey. Gail is ready to see you.
Grey: You care to take my friend to Raphael?
Zee: Absolutely.
Grey hands Dave over to Zee, and watches as she walks away. A deep breath and Grey opens to the doors to Gail’s office, she is staring out a window only for there to be more white, She turns to Grey.
Gail: Here to report another failed assignment?
Grey: Always so disappointed in my results. Why must you act so?
Gail: Cause you are my favourite, the one I expect the most from. It’s why I asked you to start getting involved in the first place.
Grey: And yet I fail. Or rather, I complete the task at hand but not in the way you wanted.
Gail: Is that sas I hear? Nevertheless, what did you learn of the Sea of Green?
Grey: The Mac’Rel was in business with the Cratist. We ended that business.
Gail: With that human you so insisted on bringing with you.
Grey: He is a Dis’Washir, the last of his kind, he is Earth’s-
Gail: I do not need a history lesson. Please learn a lesson from this assignment, don’t bring rookies with you. I don’t even see what you see in that boy.
Grey: I see a man who has stood up against the dark forces at play.
Gail: Did he make that choice or was it The Sword that chose him?
Elsewhere in the white halls of this realm lies Dave, over him is Raph using a mix of magic and human-esque medical equipment. Dave sticks out like a sore thumb with his black clothes and hat, The Sword placed against the wall in its scabbard. Watching over both Raph and Dave is Ariel.
Raph: How am I doing Ariel?
Ariel: He will live. I sense a great strength in him. Someone else watches over him.
Raph: Sara?
Ariel: Something else.
Raph: Well that’s good, wasn’t looking forward to giving him over to Az. Lu’s talked a lot about this friend of his, I can almost see what he likes about him.
Ariel: Do you believe he can carry this scar?
Raph: Can any warrior like him? Most likely he will feel defeat whenever he looks at it.
Dave tries to open his eyes, each time they open a fraction they close again. He can feel something magic stopping his awakening. But everything in his body wants to fight this magic and wake. Dave, still under the impression he is still in the throne room, fights so that he may fight again. His body starts to shake a little, knocking Raph’s hand off the wound.
Ariel: He is fighting you.
Raph: I can see that.
Ariel: Be careful when he wakes.
Raph: Care to help?
Ariel: You know I am only meant to watch his vitals.
Grey, still in Gail’s office, wonders of Dave’s condition but is stuck listening to his next assignment.
Gail: It must be done with discretion. Am I clear?
Grey: Yes. It will be done.
Gail: Good, now you may go check on your friend, I hear he is fighting to wake up.
Grey leaves the office angry and with huff as he closes the door, another assignment he didn’t agree with. As he walks to Raph’s sickbay, he remembers a time when he agreed with Gail and her methods but more recently the assignments have become more… deceitful. Grey’s mind changes when he arrives to Raph and Ariel, to see Dave open and close his eyes as he fights the magic.
Grey: Let him wake, he will not harm us.
Raph: Hello to you too Lu.
After a moment of speaking an otherworldly language, Raph drops the spell over Dave while still trying to fight the magic springs upright, followed by confused and disoriented panting and looking around. Grey quickly goes to Dave’s side.
Grey: It’s ok David. You are safe, and healed.
Dave: Codnan! We have to go back!
Grey: He will be fine, he told me himself he would and know he can keep his word.
Dave: Still we shouldn’t of left him, and the amount of guys who were after us was too many even for him!
Grey: He wanted you to get to safety, to go back would only be spitting in his face. You didn’t see how furious a warrior he was, he will be safe.
Dave calms down, and really takes in his surroundings.
Dave: Hate to be the guy to keep this place clean.
Raph: Jani actually loves his time cleaning for us.
Dave: Introduce me to your friends Grey?
Ariel: Going by Grey now?
Grey: Yes, I am. Anyway, Dave I’d like you to meet Raphael and Ariel. They made sure you healed properly.
Raph: And before you say thank you, you’re welcome.
Dave: Now I don’t know what to say.
Grey: Nothing more, I’ll take you back to my office and we’ll see how your friends back home are doing.
After a short walk through more white halls, Dave finds himself in the office of Grey – which surprisingly was not all white but actually had colour to every item in the office – covered wall to wall and floor to floor with notes and files from his previous adventures and assignments, even his desk was covered with large piles of paper. Dave couldn’t help but be surprised not just by how colourful the office was compared to white of the rest of the building but by the unorganised and messy room which did not match with Grey’s personality.
Grey sat down on his side of the desk and started dialing his phone. He then gestured for Dave to sit down who was still marvelling at the office. When he sat down, Dave studied Grey as he waited for a response on the phone.
Grey: Operator, Grey here. Any messages for me? … Ok… … … Well now that is something I will have to discuss with him, Thank you Operator.
Dave: What did he say?
Grey: Let’s just get you home first, you need some rest.
Dave: Rest? Don’t need it, feel good as new!
Grey felt as if he could see through those words but decided not to say anything, it was understandable to want to bury what he was feeling, everything had gone wrong so quickly. But Grey also knew it was too delicate to be able to do anything about it.
Grey: Home first.
Continued in… MAYONAISE!