Post by Caimvarin on Jul 14, 2009 3:16:38 GMT -5
The Vanguard- Chapter 2: A Mistake of Royal Proportions
Images flashed through Victors head, all scurrying together to weave the tapestry that was the same dream he'd been enduring for the past year, the main feel was the same but the names and faces changed, he always saw Harabec and himself stood on the roof of a great mansion in the rural, secluded town of Leavas, the sea resting close by, lapping at the golden beaches just behind the manor, sun setting and a flock of doves flying over head. One day he would buy that manor, they would finally have a permanent place of shelter, instead of drifting from one roof to another, he didnt know how but one day he would get it.
Though this time it was different, walking towards the manor house was the cloaked woman from before, he saw her face wash across his mind again, “wake up..” she spoke softly,
he really didnt want to, “wake up...” she repeated, what was going on?
“WAKE UP!” the voice became manly and hostile, Victor opened his eyes quickly and shot up “huh!?”
he looked around the room, three armoured people were standing in the middle of the room, the one in the middle seemed familiar somehow
“That's them!” he spoke in a gravelly voice “They are the perpetrators, they are also the ones who saw her last!”
Victor sighed, he knew this man now...he must have finally climbed out of the refuse cart and was probably not in the best of moods, but the fact that he was an officer of the law was finally sinking in to Victor...what made it worse was the fact he was holding their weapons,
“I said get up!!” the third soldier was stood next to Harabec's bed trying to rouse him, he took out a baton and gave Harabec a prod in the rib “are you even-”
a hand grabbed the baton and yanked it from the guards hand, and in the same motion it disappeared out of the window “I'm up geez! Is this the breakfast wake up call?” Harabec sat up and opened his eyes slowly, his vision blurring back into focus, his gaze was met by the guard next to his bed.
“whoah!” Harabec recoiled in surprise “The maids here sure leave a lot to be desired!”
“SILENCE!” the guard yelled at Harabec, who in turn clicked his neck “isn't it ironic how we always yell silence?”
“will you shut up?” the guard retorted obviously annoyed.
“Bec...cool it for a few moments...” Victor sighed as the guard in charge came out with the words they had never ever wanted to hear “you're both under arrest!”
Victor shook his head with a puzzled expression “Okay what's the problem here? Is it us dumping your friend here?”
“Pardon my language” Harabec folded his arms “but frankly, chuckles here got what he deserved, he was trying to kidnap a woman right outside here last night!”
“Thats WHY you're under arrest!” 'chuckles' replied picking a couple more scraps of rubbish from his armour, “I was sent to retrieve her as a matter of importance to our Highness the King...who wants to see the ones responsible for allowing her to leave!”
Victor groaned “you mean you were doing your job!? And we've somehow pissed off the royalty?”
Harabec looked at the ground “you know Victor....you remember that thing about being a wanderer you said yesterday?”
“you mean how nothing shines brighter than gold?” Victor replied,
“no...the other one...bout always knowing what you are getting yourself into...”
“oh...yeah...” Victor sighed
“you were wrong...” Harabec spoke with a resigned tone
“i know”
“good”
“good”
“okay you runts lets go!” the guards stood them up,
“alright” Victor and Harabec agreed as they were marched out of the room.
They had been taken through all of the back alleys to avoid the crowds, daybreak loomed over the great city from between gaps between the towers on the walls and the great buildings of the centre, Harabec beheld a stunning sight as the castle came into view, casting its enchanting visage against the brightening sky, a noble figure it stood sternly in the centre of an island surrounded by a moat, a long marble walkway leading to the large reinforced but ornate doors that allowed entry to the bastion.
To Victor the realisation that the king wanted to see them personally was sinking in, what had they done that was so bad? As far as he was concerned she was in trouble, he did the right thing and helped out, the king wouldn't have wanted to see them just because they dumped a guard in a refuse cart either...unless there was no other crimes going on in this city of which there was more chance of building a snowman in the flames of hell.
“Bec?” he looked at the seemingly captivated Harabec,
“yeah?” he turned to his friend
“what do you suppose we did?” Victor asked uncertainly.
“If I didn't know any better Victor, I'd hazard a guess that we committed a crime!” Harabec laughed.
“How can you be so light hearted about this?” Victor stressed.
“Cause I don't care, it'll be the same as always we serve a couple months then go back to living...we get guaranteed shelter and food for a while, granted its not as cuisine as the scraps of bread and water were used to in the high life but still!”
Victor sighed as they passed through the doors “I guess you have a point there...but I don't see why the king would want to see us of all people personally!”
“Maybe he's a fan?” Harabec joked as he looked around the elaborately decorated corridors, floored with a red and gold carpet, white marble walls and detailed portraits lining the walls.
A short whistle escaped Harabec's lips as they passed an open door which had a lavishly furnished room inside, then he saw it, straight ahead, a white and gold ornate door, “the audience room” the head guard stated as he brought them to a halt, “he's waiting for you both....”
Victor nodded slowly and started pacing to the door, Harabec grinned menacingly “has the patience of a saint that man I swear....i'm so proud of him!”
“just shut up and get in there...” the guard gritted his teeth as they paced through the doors...
The grandiose hall was covered with portraits and elaborate ornaments, gold lined the many pillars that led the way to the end of the hall, a small elevated part of the room housed a golden throne in which an old man in a red and grey robe was sat, he seemed fairly decrepit from the looks of him but his experiences showed, a battle scar ran through his left eye, bereft of colour.
“Are these the ones?” he voiced in his croaky growl.
“Yes my lord...these two aided in her escape...” the head guard marched them before the throne.
“um...your majesty?...what's going on he-”
“SILENCE!” the old king snapped, spit flying from his mouth in a fit of rage,
any thought Harabec carried of repeating the irony joke died with Victor's question,
“one month ago....” the old man stood up from the throne “my son, Prince Remus disappeared while he visited the outlands,” he shook his head with a scowl as he eyed up Harabec “it was attacked...we don't know what by, I don't even know if my son is safe or even still alive!”
Harabec looked at Victor who returned the glance with an uneasy expression.
“understandably I put my family first, it was obvious Remus was the reason of the attack, so I only naturally protected the rest...but my daughter Shiari did not see this in the same light I did, so she decided to sneak out to find him...” the old man began pacing around the two, looking straight at Victor “so when we came to talk to her about Remus, we found her room was empty, her book cabinet was unlocked and her wardrobe open with strands of her hair on the floor....I feared for the worst, and then I get word that she is still in town from a guard, one in particular” he snarled as he motioned towards the head guard “he begins to chase her, and just as he secures her, ready to bring her home...two do gooders unwittingly aid in her escape...”
Victor felt his heart sink as his apprehensions came true...this was not just an ordinary mix up, a minor offence they could shrug off with a matter of weeks, he looked back to Harabec who sighed,
“I'm sorry my boy...am I boring you?” the old man snapped at Harabec's exhalation,
Harabec shook his head “no...yo-”
“Then maybe you will be more interested when I tell you that I could have you both executed for this!”
They both recoiled in shock, “WH...WHAT?” Victor gasped, Harabec gritted his teeth, of all of the times in their travels this was the first time that death could be ruled in as a certainty, he felt a shiver crawl down his spine.
“I thought that would interest you both...” the king laughed slowly, “but notice I said could...I have a proposition for you...”
Victor nodded slowly, clenching his fists as he felt his heart pounding in his chest.
“...You two go out....find her...and bring her back to me safe and sound, you keep your lives and I forget this whole mishap...the alternative, I take your heads...so my friends which will it be?”
Victor glanced at Harabec who had beads of sweat trickling faintly down his face, it took a second to register Victors gaze, but when he did, he nodded, it seemed his mind was made up, Victor took a deep breath“We'll find her...”
“I know you will...” The king shot a smarmy grin as he made a wafting motion with his hand “no one apart from me and a select couple of this castle are to know that you two are the ones looking for her...and no one outside of this castle is to know that she is missing! And don't even think about running away before bringing her back, I will know...now go...get to it...I have matters just as urgent to attend to...Hollis, you may give their armaments back” he sat back down into the throne as Victor and Harabec turned away and walked briskly out of the hall without a word, receiving their weapons on the way out.
As the doors were closed behind them Victor placed a hand on his chest “My god!” he breathed heavily “were still....alive!”
“God I hate that guys guts!” Harabec growled under his tongue as he slotted the spear onto one of the weapon holders on his back.
Victor shook his head as he slung the rifle over his shoulder, “to be honest it was kinda our fault that she got away...”
Harabec sighed “you're right..but still, do we even have any idea where to start?”
Victor felt his heart sink, “umm...no...” he scratched the back of his head...
The silent aura surrounded them both, as every thought led to a blank, where would she go? Where is she now? Who is she with? Where is her goal? A lot of questions with no answers, and no idea where to start to begin finding the clues, heads hazy after the realisation that they had been literally granted a second shot at life...
The only thing occupying Harabec's mind in particular as he sheathed the sword on his back was that old coot of a monarchs voice...it really ground on him...every word he said felt like a needle in his flesh, slowly twisting and pushing further in, every single word was...
'we found her room was empty, her book cabinet was unlocked and her wardrobe open with strands of her hair on the floor'
“We could try her room...” Harabec suggested,
“damnit Bec! now is not the time to go perverted on me! Snap out of it!” Victor snapped,
“Listen the bookcase was open, she could have kept a diary or something!” Harabec shrugged
“Not an excuse to read on the secrets of a princess...that will get us in even more trouble!” Victor sighed,
“Look we're already in a proverbial death row, I don't think it can get any worse...besides there has to be something in it about when and where this Remus guy went rabbit, she took it hard apparently” Harabec folded his arms.
“God I hope that was not an innuendo,” Victor rubbed his brow “but you could be onto something...if it says where he disappeared then the first logical place to start looking is there!” Victor looked around “but with that said...where is her room?”
Harabec closed his eyes with a painful expression “please don't be in the highest room of the tallest tower...this particular prince charming hates stairs...”
Victor grinned “okay, the fact that you consider yourself charming is very perplexing...but still, we can't just go up to someone and ask where it is can we? No one is to know we are the ones looking for her...”
Harabec drew a confused expression “wait...didn't he say no one outside of this castle is to know she's gone? How do you keep something as big as the princess has buggered off under wraps?”
Victor clicked his fingers “a body double!” he looked at Harabec “all high class people thought to be targeted by assassins or the like always have a decoy lookalike!”
“Bit of a sucky job” Harabec grinned, “you, what, stand there and be me, okay, bang...what kind of saps are retarded enough to stand in for that?”
Victor sighed with a smile “there's always someone who will, its one of those jobs that should have died out long ago but it calls out to those with limited intelligence, but anyways, back on to my point...this Princess Shiari should have a body double in the castle, that must be how they are keeping the illusion that she's still here!”
Harabec rested a hand on his hip, “so you're saying, we find the double we find the room...”
Victor nodded with a grin
“right...lets do it” Harabec pumped a fist before starting a slow pace down the corridor.
Victor glanced in rooms as they passed then they came to a branch off, “umm...”
Harabec looked at Victor “we should split up...we'll have a better chance of finding her quicker...”
Victor raised an eyebrow “and what if we do find her? How do we let the other know? Just shout 'found her!' at the top of our lungs?”
Harabec grinned “that would work! But I was thinking more along the lines of using a butler to relay the message...”
Victor took a step back, astonished “you....actually came up with a plan that could work! I'm impressed! Okay, I take left, you take right!”
Harabec looked down the right corridor there were three rooms towards the end of the corridor and a large doorway with two guards brandishing halberds stood to attention watching it “oh sure...give ME the hired goons!”
Victor raised an eyebrow “do you want the stairs?”
“nah armed guards are fine, halberds aren't as lethal as people think” Harabec grinned as he began his trek down the corridor...
The left side wasn't much better, sure it didn't have the guards but as far as annoyance went the sheer volume of rooms was going to prove to be tedious, then there was the staircase at the end an addition to the structure which held the promise of much of the same on the floors above, he quickened his pace as he proceeded from door to door, opening and peeking inside before closing them and begrudgingly moving on,
he felt he was in the wrong place entirely, a laundry room, the granary, the restrooms and he even got the luck to find the maid's changing rooms, luckily vacant at the time but he got it non the less, he turned to glimpse at Harabec's progress.
Storeroom, storeroom, storeroom, “great” Harabec sighed as he looked at the two guards just out of earshot, 'looks like its through there then' he walked upto the guards and unclasped his collar and parted it, showing his whole face, he had a small brown goatee beard, and the scar that ran down his cheek ended at the bottom of his top lip, he tried to walk between them without saying anything “you there....Halt!” the guards crossed their halberds in front of the doorway, barring access “you are not allowed past this point!”
Harabec sighed “that's a shame! What's past there?”
“The guards quarters and the royal quarters” Harabec felt a sense of annoyance ping inside “ah, I'm headed in the wrong direction totally...pardon me!” the guards nodded as Harabec bowed and began to walk back towards Victor.
Victor's ears twitched as he scratched his chin, his fine tuned senses picking up Harabec's conversation 'through there huh?' he thought,
as Harabec approached Victor heard footsteps “there were two suspicious character around here a few moments ago...have you seen them?” came stern voice from up the stairs
Victor grabbed Harabec by the arm “Bec! Come on!” he bundled them both into the laundry room, he looked around the room for anything they could hide in, there were elaborate bedsheets hung up throughout the room and a large number of barrels stacked up in the corner, “Behind there!”
“What's going on you idiot!?” Harabec protested as he was dragged behind the barrels
“Keep your voice down!” Victor hissed in a whisper “I think their looking for us...”
They heard the door open and a maid walked in with a large metal cart, she left it in the middle of the room as she started to take the sheets down and place them in, a second voice rang out, this one female “Mira, what are you doing?” “Taking these sheets to the royal quarters Ma'am, I have to change the sheets!” “not before you explain this mess in the maids room!” “what mess?” the maid was led away,
Victor shook his head...”whoops..”
Harabec grinned “you have a little accident there Vic?”
Victor nodded “I may have opened the door a little to hard yes...three vases smashed off the table,”
“This could be the best move you have made yet though....that cart looks quite big and is headed to the royal quarters...”
“you don't mean”
Harabec grinned “lets go...we have to be quick...”
Victor sighed “you gotta be kidding me!”
Harabec bolted out from behind the barrels and laid in the cart followed by Victor who pulled the sheet the maid put in the cart over them, it was a tight squeeze but it was the only way in,
shortly after the footsteps came back “honestly...I think matron gets a little too suspicious!” a shaky girls voice spoke, a couple of clip sounds became audible, then they could feel the light weight of another sheet fall on them. This process repeated another three times before the cart jolted, they were moving!
“its a little more sluggish today!” she grimaced “trust me to get the one with the wheels that stick...”
Harabec grinned at Victor who was getting into the element, “Hello Mira!” came the voice Harabec recognised at the guard who halted him, the grin turned to a smirk as he realised they were through, now all that was left was to wait until the cart stopped.
Victor felt them turn corners right and left, and even swore they were travelling down a slope at one point, he looked over at Harabec who was perfectly still, grinning widely.
Then he felt them stop, the cart was pushed sideways to the wall with a light thud as they felt the cart jolt, they heard Mira's footsteps plod away gently.
Victor whispered to Harabec “i think the coast is clear....gimme a sec...” he slowly rose to his knees and slowly lifted the sheets from himself as he peered over the edge of the cart, they were in a tight corridor with a red and gold carpet, elaborate golden doors indicating high status rooms stood fast at the yonder end of the hall.
“what do you see?” Harabec whispered,
“ssh!” Victor looked back down at him before returning his gaze to the room.
“this looks like the royal quarters alright, lots of gold decoration,” he then saw a figure in a long black dress with a white apron...Mira, she was talking to what appeared to be a woman with long black hair dressed in a yellow dress.
“just leave them over there Mira, I'll change them later, I'm still cleaning Lady Shiari's room, I do hope she's alright!” she spoke softly and Mira nodded “Yes Milady, I know you do not wish to be disturbed, I shall leave you to your duties...”
Victor ducked back down in the cart “got them” he whispered
Harabec nodded as they heard Mira's footsteps once again pass, Victor's head came up again just in time to see the woman walk back into the room and close the door.
“...we gotta do something about her...” Harabec sighed as he climbed out of the cart and helped Victor out, “what are you two doing here?”
they both froze, as they turned around slowly they saw the woman dressed in yellow “are you two the relief I asked for?”
Harabec bit his lip “yeah...um, we came as fast as we could when we got your orders ma'am!”
The woman sighed “where are your uniforms? Your armour?”
Victor grinned “we didn't want to be late, we just rushed straight over!”
The woman groaned “you people get worse by the day, alright...i have to go and get ready for the façade, you two watch the room!”
“Will do!” Harabec smiled with a salute.
“I wont be long!” she was clearly agitated as she began to pace away down the hall the way they had entered.
When she was out of sight Victor nudged Harabec “now is our chance...lets get in there and have a look see!”
Harabec nodded and slowly opened the door, and closed it quietly when they got inside.
Victor stepped into the middle of the room at the bottom of the bed and looked around, three large windows peered over the city, they must be on the second floor, he took a couple of steps towards the window,
Harabec followed Victors pace but stopped when he felt something soft underfoot, he lifted his foot up and looked down, a mass of silken black hair lay on the ground, he knelt down one one knee and picked some of the fibrous strands up and rolled them between his index finger and thumb.
“found something...” Victor said slowly, Harabec dropped the hairs, rubbed his palms and wandered over to Victor who was now in the corner of the room in front of a small oak cabinet, holding a black book in his hands.
“What have you got?” Harabec asked folding his arms while trying to peer over Victor's shoulder.
“Lets just say your idea with the diary was quite a good one....here...” he offered the book.
Harabec took it and began to read,
“4th day of Golden Harvest:
Brother Remus is going away today, he is paying his respects to the harvest gods at temples across the Outlands, I don't know what is going on but he and father have been having many heated discussions lately, something does not feel right between them...Remus has promised to write weekly so I look forward to the tales of his travels.”
Victor looked serious “Seems like its not only you that hates King Ferdelance's guts huh! Read two pages on...”
Harabec nodded curiously as he flicked the pages forwards.
“63rd day of Golden Harvest:
I am concerned, brother has not written to me for two weeks now, I hope everything is alright.
Matters at home have not changed, I don't know what is troubling father so much but his temper seems to be getting worse whenever brother is mentioned...please be safe Remus...”
“82nd day of Golden Harvest:
Brother has not sent word of his health since his letter from Notia Temple on the 44th day. I have heard rumours that Khavendor has been attacked but by whom it is uncertain, but I hope you are alright brother...Father is beginning to act very strangely, he is very worried about Remus, maybe he does actually care after all...but he refuses to tell me what has happened acting like all he hears is gossip...but I think he knows.
Father is restricting me to the castle, I am not allowed out unaccompanied, he is getting very protective for some reason...I'm worried about Remus...what has happened?”
“Looks like our highness isn't playing with a full deck” Harabec said quietly
“there's a lot more to this than he let on, this goes past more than just looking out for his daughter...” Victor placed his fingers to his lips in thought “why didn't he put more protection on the son?”
Harabec shrugged “I dunno, maybe he hung out with the wrong crowd? Liked the wrong kind of music or slept with the wrong woman, who knows?....maybe the last entry will say more...”
Harabec flicked forward through the pages until he came across a blank, then turned back one,
“here's the last entry...”
“100th day of Golden Harvest / 1st day of Reaping
I cannot stand this any more, brother has still not written...something is wrong but father refuses to look for him, he has sent out a couple of minor search parties but I fear his heart is not into his efforts, I am expected to sit in this castle and do nothing while my brother has gone missing after the garrison he was last seen in was attacked and left in ruins...no more, I am not standing for this.
I leave tonight, I'm sorry father...but if you don't care enough to look for him, what chance does he have? I am sorry...but I leave tonight...I will walk his path, find him and bring him back...I wonder if you will approach this act in the exact same way...who will come for me? Shall I tell you when I return? Lets hope I am able....
Goodbye for now father....
Shiari Dhalia”
“This is screwed up!” Harabec voiced “and in answer to her question he has responded in the same way, he's sent two schmuks who have nothing to do with this feud to find her with no hints on where she'd even gone!”
Victor shook his head “something about this is fishy...but we now know that she is headed towards Fort Khavendor via Notia and she's visiting a couple of temples...now lets get out of here before the cavalry turns up...”
Harabec nodded “I hear you, but we should hang onto the diary, she might want to take down the names of who saved her” he smiled “but seriously, it will also remind us of where she is headed...”
Victor nodded “yeah...good call...now lets get out of here!”
“But how? We can't go back the way we came” Harabec asked,
Victor ran to the window and opened it, he looked down “well...the stables are down there....and that's a pretty big bale of hay!”
Harabec walked to the window “man...I hate you sometimes...”
Victor grinned as he jumped softly “Race ya!”
Harabec groaned “fine...here goes! Gang way!” he closed his eyes as he leant forwards and let gravity do the rest.
Images flashed through Victors head, all scurrying together to weave the tapestry that was the same dream he'd been enduring for the past year, the main feel was the same but the names and faces changed, he always saw Harabec and himself stood on the roof of a great mansion in the rural, secluded town of Leavas, the sea resting close by, lapping at the golden beaches just behind the manor, sun setting and a flock of doves flying over head. One day he would buy that manor, they would finally have a permanent place of shelter, instead of drifting from one roof to another, he didnt know how but one day he would get it.
Though this time it was different, walking towards the manor house was the cloaked woman from before, he saw her face wash across his mind again, “wake up..” she spoke softly,
he really didnt want to, “wake up...” she repeated, what was going on?
“WAKE UP!” the voice became manly and hostile, Victor opened his eyes quickly and shot up “huh!?”
he looked around the room, three armoured people were standing in the middle of the room, the one in the middle seemed familiar somehow
“That's them!” he spoke in a gravelly voice “They are the perpetrators, they are also the ones who saw her last!”
Victor sighed, he knew this man now...he must have finally climbed out of the refuse cart and was probably not in the best of moods, but the fact that he was an officer of the law was finally sinking in to Victor...what made it worse was the fact he was holding their weapons,
“I said get up!!” the third soldier was stood next to Harabec's bed trying to rouse him, he took out a baton and gave Harabec a prod in the rib “are you even-”
a hand grabbed the baton and yanked it from the guards hand, and in the same motion it disappeared out of the window “I'm up geez! Is this the breakfast wake up call?” Harabec sat up and opened his eyes slowly, his vision blurring back into focus, his gaze was met by the guard next to his bed.
“whoah!” Harabec recoiled in surprise “The maids here sure leave a lot to be desired!”
“SILENCE!” the guard yelled at Harabec, who in turn clicked his neck “isn't it ironic how we always yell silence?”
“will you shut up?” the guard retorted obviously annoyed.
“Bec...cool it for a few moments...” Victor sighed as the guard in charge came out with the words they had never ever wanted to hear “you're both under arrest!”
Victor shook his head with a puzzled expression “Okay what's the problem here? Is it us dumping your friend here?”
“Pardon my language” Harabec folded his arms “but frankly, chuckles here got what he deserved, he was trying to kidnap a woman right outside here last night!”
“Thats WHY you're under arrest!” 'chuckles' replied picking a couple more scraps of rubbish from his armour, “I was sent to retrieve her as a matter of importance to our Highness the King...who wants to see the ones responsible for allowing her to leave!”
Victor groaned “you mean you were doing your job!? And we've somehow pissed off the royalty?”
Harabec looked at the ground “you know Victor....you remember that thing about being a wanderer you said yesterday?”
“you mean how nothing shines brighter than gold?” Victor replied,
“no...the other one...bout always knowing what you are getting yourself into...”
“oh...yeah...” Victor sighed
“you were wrong...” Harabec spoke with a resigned tone
“i know”
“good”
“good”
“okay you runts lets go!” the guards stood them up,
“alright” Victor and Harabec agreed as they were marched out of the room.
They had been taken through all of the back alleys to avoid the crowds, daybreak loomed over the great city from between gaps between the towers on the walls and the great buildings of the centre, Harabec beheld a stunning sight as the castle came into view, casting its enchanting visage against the brightening sky, a noble figure it stood sternly in the centre of an island surrounded by a moat, a long marble walkway leading to the large reinforced but ornate doors that allowed entry to the bastion.
To Victor the realisation that the king wanted to see them personally was sinking in, what had they done that was so bad? As far as he was concerned she was in trouble, he did the right thing and helped out, the king wouldn't have wanted to see them just because they dumped a guard in a refuse cart either...unless there was no other crimes going on in this city of which there was more chance of building a snowman in the flames of hell.
“Bec?” he looked at the seemingly captivated Harabec,
“yeah?” he turned to his friend
“what do you suppose we did?” Victor asked uncertainly.
“If I didn't know any better Victor, I'd hazard a guess that we committed a crime!” Harabec laughed.
“How can you be so light hearted about this?” Victor stressed.
“Cause I don't care, it'll be the same as always we serve a couple months then go back to living...we get guaranteed shelter and food for a while, granted its not as cuisine as the scraps of bread and water were used to in the high life but still!”
Victor sighed as they passed through the doors “I guess you have a point there...but I don't see why the king would want to see us of all people personally!”
“Maybe he's a fan?” Harabec joked as he looked around the elaborately decorated corridors, floored with a red and gold carpet, white marble walls and detailed portraits lining the walls.
A short whistle escaped Harabec's lips as they passed an open door which had a lavishly furnished room inside, then he saw it, straight ahead, a white and gold ornate door, “the audience room” the head guard stated as he brought them to a halt, “he's waiting for you both....”
Victor nodded slowly and started pacing to the door, Harabec grinned menacingly “has the patience of a saint that man I swear....i'm so proud of him!”
“just shut up and get in there...” the guard gritted his teeth as they paced through the doors...
The grandiose hall was covered with portraits and elaborate ornaments, gold lined the many pillars that led the way to the end of the hall, a small elevated part of the room housed a golden throne in which an old man in a red and grey robe was sat, he seemed fairly decrepit from the looks of him but his experiences showed, a battle scar ran through his left eye, bereft of colour.
“Are these the ones?” he voiced in his croaky growl.
“Yes my lord...these two aided in her escape...” the head guard marched them before the throne.
“um...your majesty?...what's going on he-”
“SILENCE!” the old king snapped, spit flying from his mouth in a fit of rage,
any thought Harabec carried of repeating the irony joke died with Victor's question,
“one month ago....” the old man stood up from the throne “my son, Prince Remus disappeared while he visited the outlands,” he shook his head with a scowl as he eyed up Harabec “it was attacked...we don't know what by, I don't even know if my son is safe or even still alive!”
Harabec looked at Victor who returned the glance with an uneasy expression.
“understandably I put my family first, it was obvious Remus was the reason of the attack, so I only naturally protected the rest...but my daughter Shiari did not see this in the same light I did, so she decided to sneak out to find him...” the old man began pacing around the two, looking straight at Victor “so when we came to talk to her about Remus, we found her room was empty, her book cabinet was unlocked and her wardrobe open with strands of her hair on the floor....I feared for the worst, and then I get word that she is still in town from a guard, one in particular” he snarled as he motioned towards the head guard “he begins to chase her, and just as he secures her, ready to bring her home...two do gooders unwittingly aid in her escape...”
Victor felt his heart sink as his apprehensions came true...this was not just an ordinary mix up, a minor offence they could shrug off with a matter of weeks, he looked back to Harabec who sighed,
“I'm sorry my boy...am I boring you?” the old man snapped at Harabec's exhalation,
Harabec shook his head “no...yo-”
“Then maybe you will be more interested when I tell you that I could have you both executed for this!”
They both recoiled in shock, “WH...WHAT?” Victor gasped, Harabec gritted his teeth, of all of the times in their travels this was the first time that death could be ruled in as a certainty, he felt a shiver crawl down his spine.
“I thought that would interest you both...” the king laughed slowly, “but notice I said could...I have a proposition for you...”
Victor nodded slowly, clenching his fists as he felt his heart pounding in his chest.
“...You two go out....find her...and bring her back to me safe and sound, you keep your lives and I forget this whole mishap...the alternative, I take your heads...so my friends which will it be?”
Victor glanced at Harabec who had beads of sweat trickling faintly down his face, it took a second to register Victors gaze, but when he did, he nodded, it seemed his mind was made up, Victor took a deep breath“We'll find her...”
“I know you will...” The king shot a smarmy grin as he made a wafting motion with his hand “no one apart from me and a select couple of this castle are to know that you two are the ones looking for her...and no one outside of this castle is to know that she is missing! And don't even think about running away before bringing her back, I will know...now go...get to it...I have matters just as urgent to attend to...Hollis, you may give their armaments back” he sat back down into the throne as Victor and Harabec turned away and walked briskly out of the hall without a word, receiving their weapons on the way out.
As the doors were closed behind them Victor placed a hand on his chest “My god!” he breathed heavily “were still....alive!”
“God I hate that guys guts!” Harabec growled under his tongue as he slotted the spear onto one of the weapon holders on his back.
Victor shook his head as he slung the rifle over his shoulder, “to be honest it was kinda our fault that she got away...”
Harabec sighed “you're right..but still, do we even have any idea where to start?”
Victor felt his heart sink, “umm...no...” he scratched the back of his head...
The silent aura surrounded them both, as every thought led to a blank, where would she go? Where is she now? Who is she with? Where is her goal? A lot of questions with no answers, and no idea where to start to begin finding the clues, heads hazy after the realisation that they had been literally granted a second shot at life...
The only thing occupying Harabec's mind in particular as he sheathed the sword on his back was that old coot of a monarchs voice...it really ground on him...every word he said felt like a needle in his flesh, slowly twisting and pushing further in, every single word was...
'we found her room was empty, her book cabinet was unlocked and her wardrobe open with strands of her hair on the floor'
“We could try her room...” Harabec suggested,
“damnit Bec! now is not the time to go perverted on me! Snap out of it!” Victor snapped,
“Listen the bookcase was open, she could have kept a diary or something!” Harabec shrugged
“Not an excuse to read on the secrets of a princess...that will get us in even more trouble!” Victor sighed,
“Look we're already in a proverbial death row, I don't think it can get any worse...besides there has to be something in it about when and where this Remus guy went rabbit, she took it hard apparently” Harabec folded his arms.
“God I hope that was not an innuendo,” Victor rubbed his brow “but you could be onto something...if it says where he disappeared then the first logical place to start looking is there!” Victor looked around “but with that said...where is her room?”
Harabec closed his eyes with a painful expression “please don't be in the highest room of the tallest tower...this particular prince charming hates stairs...”
Victor grinned “okay, the fact that you consider yourself charming is very perplexing...but still, we can't just go up to someone and ask where it is can we? No one is to know we are the ones looking for her...”
Harabec drew a confused expression “wait...didn't he say no one outside of this castle is to know she's gone? How do you keep something as big as the princess has buggered off under wraps?”
Victor clicked his fingers “a body double!” he looked at Harabec “all high class people thought to be targeted by assassins or the like always have a decoy lookalike!”
“Bit of a sucky job” Harabec grinned, “you, what, stand there and be me, okay, bang...what kind of saps are retarded enough to stand in for that?”
Victor sighed with a smile “there's always someone who will, its one of those jobs that should have died out long ago but it calls out to those with limited intelligence, but anyways, back on to my point...this Princess Shiari should have a body double in the castle, that must be how they are keeping the illusion that she's still here!”
Harabec rested a hand on his hip, “so you're saying, we find the double we find the room...”
Victor nodded with a grin
“right...lets do it” Harabec pumped a fist before starting a slow pace down the corridor.
Victor glanced in rooms as they passed then they came to a branch off, “umm...”
Harabec looked at Victor “we should split up...we'll have a better chance of finding her quicker...”
Victor raised an eyebrow “and what if we do find her? How do we let the other know? Just shout 'found her!' at the top of our lungs?”
Harabec grinned “that would work! But I was thinking more along the lines of using a butler to relay the message...”
Victor took a step back, astonished “you....actually came up with a plan that could work! I'm impressed! Okay, I take left, you take right!”
Harabec looked down the right corridor there were three rooms towards the end of the corridor and a large doorway with two guards brandishing halberds stood to attention watching it “oh sure...give ME the hired goons!”
Victor raised an eyebrow “do you want the stairs?”
“nah armed guards are fine, halberds aren't as lethal as people think” Harabec grinned as he began his trek down the corridor...
The left side wasn't much better, sure it didn't have the guards but as far as annoyance went the sheer volume of rooms was going to prove to be tedious, then there was the staircase at the end an addition to the structure which held the promise of much of the same on the floors above, he quickened his pace as he proceeded from door to door, opening and peeking inside before closing them and begrudgingly moving on,
he felt he was in the wrong place entirely, a laundry room, the granary, the restrooms and he even got the luck to find the maid's changing rooms, luckily vacant at the time but he got it non the less, he turned to glimpse at Harabec's progress.
Storeroom, storeroom, storeroom, “great” Harabec sighed as he looked at the two guards just out of earshot, 'looks like its through there then' he walked upto the guards and unclasped his collar and parted it, showing his whole face, he had a small brown goatee beard, and the scar that ran down his cheek ended at the bottom of his top lip, he tried to walk between them without saying anything “you there....Halt!” the guards crossed their halberds in front of the doorway, barring access “you are not allowed past this point!”
Harabec sighed “that's a shame! What's past there?”
“The guards quarters and the royal quarters” Harabec felt a sense of annoyance ping inside “ah, I'm headed in the wrong direction totally...pardon me!” the guards nodded as Harabec bowed and began to walk back towards Victor.
Victor's ears twitched as he scratched his chin, his fine tuned senses picking up Harabec's conversation 'through there huh?' he thought,
as Harabec approached Victor heard footsteps “there were two suspicious character around here a few moments ago...have you seen them?” came stern voice from up the stairs
Victor grabbed Harabec by the arm “Bec! Come on!” he bundled them both into the laundry room, he looked around the room for anything they could hide in, there were elaborate bedsheets hung up throughout the room and a large number of barrels stacked up in the corner, “Behind there!”
“What's going on you idiot!?” Harabec protested as he was dragged behind the barrels
“Keep your voice down!” Victor hissed in a whisper “I think their looking for us...”
They heard the door open and a maid walked in with a large metal cart, she left it in the middle of the room as she started to take the sheets down and place them in, a second voice rang out, this one female “Mira, what are you doing?” “Taking these sheets to the royal quarters Ma'am, I have to change the sheets!” “not before you explain this mess in the maids room!” “what mess?” the maid was led away,
Victor shook his head...”whoops..”
Harabec grinned “you have a little accident there Vic?”
Victor nodded “I may have opened the door a little to hard yes...three vases smashed off the table,”
“This could be the best move you have made yet though....that cart looks quite big and is headed to the royal quarters...”
“you don't mean”
Harabec grinned “lets go...we have to be quick...”
Victor sighed “you gotta be kidding me!”
Harabec bolted out from behind the barrels and laid in the cart followed by Victor who pulled the sheet the maid put in the cart over them, it was a tight squeeze but it was the only way in,
shortly after the footsteps came back “honestly...I think matron gets a little too suspicious!” a shaky girls voice spoke, a couple of clip sounds became audible, then they could feel the light weight of another sheet fall on them. This process repeated another three times before the cart jolted, they were moving!
“its a little more sluggish today!” she grimaced “trust me to get the one with the wheels that stick...”
Harabec grinned at Victor who was getting into the element, “Hello Mira!” came the voice Harabec recognised at the guard who halted him, the grin turned to a smirk as he realised they were through, now all that was left was to wait until the cart stopped.
Victor felt them turn corners right and left, and even swore they were travelling down a slope at one point, he looked over at Harabec who was perfectly still, grinning widely.
Then he felt them stop, the cart was pushed sideways to the wall with a light thud as they felt the cart jolt, they heard Mira's footsteps plod away gently.
Victor whispered to Harabec “i think the coast is clear....gimme a sec...” he slowly rose to his knees and slowly lifted the sheets from himself as he peered over the edge of the cart, they were in a tight corridor with a red and gold carpet, elaborate golden doors indicating high status rooms stood fast at the yonder end of the hall.
“what do you see?” Harabec whispered,
“ssh!” Victor looked back down at him before returning his gaze to the room.
“this looks like the royal quarters alright, lots of gold decoration,” he then saw a figure in a long black dress with a white apron...Mira, she was talking to what appeared to be a woman with long black hair dressed in a yellow dress.
“just leave them over there Mira, I'll change them later, I'm still cleaning Lady Shiari's room, I do hope she's alright!” she spoke softly and Mira nodded “Yes Milady, I know you do not wish to be disturbed, I shall leave you to your duties...”
Victor ducked back down in the cart “got them” he whispered
Harabec nodded as they heard Mira's footsteps once again pass, Victor's head came up again just in time to see the woman walk back into the room and close the door.
“...we gotta do something about her...” Harabec sighed as he climbed out of the cart and helped Victor out, “what are you two doing here?”
they both froze, as they turned around slowly they saw the woman dressed in yellow “are you two the relief I asked for?”
Harabec bit his lip “yeah...um, we came as fast as we could when we got your orders ma'am!”
The woman sighed “where are your uniforms? Your armour?”
Victor grinned “we didn't want to be late, we just rushed straight over!”
The woman groaned “you people get worse by the day, alright...i have to go and get ready for the façade, you two watch the room!”
“Will do!” Harabec smiled with a salute.
“I wont be long!” she was clearly agitated as she began to pace away down the hall the way they had entered.
When she was out of sight Victor nudged Harabec “now is our chance...lets get in there and have a look see!”
Harabec nodded and slowly opened the door, and closed it quietly when they got inside.
Victor stepped into the middle of the room at the bottom of the bed and looked around, three large windows peered over the city, they must be on the second floor, he took a couple of steps towards the window,
Harabec followed Victors pace but stopped when he felt something soft underfoot, he lifted his foot up and looked down, a mass of silken black hair lay on the ground, he knelt down one one knee and picked some of the fibrous strands up and rolled them between his index finger and thumb.
“found something...” Victor said slowly, Harabec dropped the hairs, rubbed his palms and wandered over to Victor who was now in the corner of the room in front of a small oak cabinet, holding a black book in his hands.
“What have you got?” Harabec asked folding his arms while trying to peer over Victor's shoulder.
“Lets just say your idea with the diary was quite a good one....here...” he offered the book.
Harabec took it and began to read,
“4th day of Golden Harvest:
Brother Remus is going away today, he is paying his respects to the harvest gods at temples across the Outlands, I don't know what is going on but he and father have been having many heated discussions lately, something does not feel right between them...Remus has promised to write weekly so I look forward to the tales of his travels.”
Victor looked serious “Seems like its not only you that hates King Ferdelance's guts huh! Read two pages on...”
Harabec nodded curiously as he flicked the pages forwards.
“63rd day of Golden Harvest:
I am concerned, brother has not written to me for two weeks now, I hope everything is alright.
Matters at home have not changed, I don't know what is troubling father so much but his temper seems to be getting worse whenever brother is mentioned...please be safe Remus...”
“82nd day of Golden Harvest:
Brother has not sent word of his health since his letter from Notia Temple on the 44th day. I have heard rumours that Khavendor has been attacked but by whom it is uncertain, but I hope you are alright brother...Father is beginning to act very strangely, he is very worried about Remus, maybe he does actually care after all...but he refuses to tell me what has happened acting like all he hears is gossip...but I think he knows.
Father is restricting me to the castle, I am not allowed out unaccompanied, he is getting very protective for some reason...I'm worried about Remus...what has happened?”
“Looks like our highness isn't playing with a full deck” Harabec said quietly
“there's a lot more to this than he let on, this goes past more than just looking out for his daughter...” Victor placed his fingers to his lips in thought “why didn't he put more protection on the son?”
Harabec shrugged “I dunno, maybe he hung out with the wrong crowd? Liked the wrong kind of music or slept with the wrong woman, who knows?....maybe the last entry will say more...”
Harabec flicked forward through the pages until he came across a blank, then turned back one,
“here's the last entry...”
“100th day of Golden Harvest / 1st day of Reaping
I cannot stand this any more, brother has still not written...something is wrong but father refuses to look for him, he has sent out a couple of minor search parties but I fear his heart is not into his efforts, I am expected to sit in this castle and do nothing while my brother has gone missing after the garrison he was last seen in was attacked and left in ruins...no more, I am not standing for this.
I leave tonight, I'm sorry father...but if you don't care enough to look for him, what chance does he have? I am sorry...but I leave tonight...I will walk his path, find him and bring him back...I wonder if you will approach this act in the exact same way...who will come for me? Shall I tell you when I return? Lets hope I am able....
Goodbye for now father....
Shiari Dhalia”
“This is screwed up!” Harabec voiced “and in answer to her question he has responded in the same way, he's sent two schmuks who have nothing to do with this feud to find her with no hints on where she'd even gone!”
Victor shook his head “something about this is fishy...but we now know that she is headed towards Fort Khavendor via Notia and she's visiting a couple of temples...now lets get out of here before the cavalry turns up...”
Harabec nodded “I hear you, but we should hang onto the diary, she might want to take down the names of who saved her” he smiled “but seriously, it will also remind us of where she is headed...”
Victor nodded “yeah...good call...now lets get out of here!”
“But how? We can't go back the way we came” Harabec asked,
Victor ran to the window and opened it, he looked down “well...the stables are down there....and that's a pretty big bale of hay!”
Harabec walked to the window “man...I hate you sometimes...”
Victor grinned as he jumped softly “Race ya!”
Harabec groaned “fine...here goes! Gang way!” he closed his eyes as he leant forwards and let gravity do the rest.