A ride Towards Harsh wisdom: Chapter three (3)

“ I have a notion, if you’d all like to hear it.”

This sudden declaration from Demlun snapped Rilleux out of his idle
reverie, and he turned to face the curly haired youth, who was now on
his feet, again practicing his sword motions. His blades cut seamlessly
through the air, making a faint whooshing sound as he moved his arms.

“ My notion is this. “ Demlun continued, now confident he had all of
their attentions. “ We have now been out in this bloody forest for five
days, getting sick of the weather, sick of sore arses, sick of eating
trail rations, and sick of each other. Now the only fun parts, for me at
least, have been the fighting, and that’s because I do enjoy stabbing
things, I cannot tell a lie. “

“ Is this going somewhere?” asked Valette, who was obviously not in the mood for hearing too much more of Demlun’s voice.

“ Of course it is, oh Madam D’orzerge. We now have the trophies of
five separate skirmishes to show for our efforts, the Arusha pelts the
icing on a fine cake. While I do love fighting, too much of a good thing
can make one weary of it, like lovemaking or sweet candy. I reckon
we’ve done more than enough to constitute a decent pilgrimage, by
anyone’s standards, and I don’t know about the rest of you, but my ma
and pa didn’t expect much of me to begin with. So I propose we get on
our horses, turn about the way we came, and ride for Illpialle in an
hour or so. How does that sound?”

For a moment or two, no one spoke, all of them pondering on Demlun’s idea.

“ Someone sounds like he just wants to curl up by the fire, like an
old pussycat.” Was the eventual taunt from Valette. “ What, does the
spoiled brat want to go home to his mummy, because he doesn’t like the
cold and the wet?”

Demlun sneered. “ You’re every bit as spoiled as me Valette, don’t
you forget it. We all grew up in comfort, so let’s not try and pretend
that this week has been a gritty time for all of us. There’s no point in
putting on airs that you’re tougher than anyone else, miss steel
britches.”

Valette seethed at that, and her fists clenched in preparation of knocking Demlun flat. Before she could act, Franclerk cut in.

“ Pilgrims normally spend at least two weeks in Txarral, don’t
forget. If we go home too early, our parents will suspect something is
up, and may even send us back up here.”

Demlun threw his arms up, exasperated “ then we don’t go straight
home, you bloody dimwit! We spend a couple of days in Illpialle, maybe
take the scenic route if we like. I don’t know about the rest of you,
but I found Illpialle to be a perfectly charming town, and its women
delightful!”

At this, Valette stamped her feet in anger. “ Again, this coward only
thinks with his prick! All you want Demlun, is to traipse around like a
mongrel shoving Arusha pelts in the face of every poor girl you
harassed in Illpialle, hoping one of them eventually gives you a pity
fuck!”

Demlun stood directly over her, his eyes narrowing. “ Well excuse me,
but a man has needs! We can’t all take a copper haired beauty with us
to bed each night, giving us a seeing to when everyone else is trying to
sleep!”

That was the last straw. In less time than Rilleux could blink,
Valette was on her feet. A swift movement of her fist, and Demlun was on
the ground, flat on his back. He let out a cry of agony, swords falling
from his hands as he reached them up to his nose. Rilleux could see the
blood already start to flow from it, and he winced a little, imagining
the pain Demlun must be feeling. Still, there was no question in his
mind that he somewhat deserved it.

In another quick movement, Valette had her greatsword above her head,
and was ready to bring it down on Demlun. Before anyone could stop her,
she swung downward, and it was all Demlun could do to roll out of the
way before the blade reached him.

“ Stop it Valette, please!” Screamed Rohais at last, desperately
tugging at Valette’s arm, trying her best to prevent her from making
another attack. Meanwhile, Demlun had crawled over to Franclerk, who
like Rilleux had simply watched the whole scene unfold in mute shock.

“ Get off me, I’ll fucking kill him!”

“ Shoot her Franclerk, she’s bloody lost it!” Pleaded Demlun, genuine
terror in his eyes as he looked up at his would be protector.

Franclerk didn’t have the faintest idea what to do, and he began to
quiver in his boots as he felt the whole situation overwhelm him. The
confident and bossy archer had been replaced by a confused boy, and
Rilleux decided he now needed to step in.

“ Demlun you bloody fool, apologise now!”

At this, Demlun looked at Rilleux, a betrayed expression on his face.
Blood still flowed from his nose, and was beginning to stain his tunic.

“ She’s trying to bloody kill me! She’s a lunatic, I always said so!”

“ And you’re an asshole, you know that? You never know when you’ve gone too far!”

“ Take her fucking side then, I’ve got two swords, one for each of you!”

With that, Demlun got to his feet, grabbing his swords as he rose.
Once upright, he stood in a combat stance, the fear on his face turned
to raw anger. This was no bluff, he was entirely willing to shed the
blood of his companions. This was the climax of tensions built over a
week of hard travel and bloody conflict, and stars above only knew how
this would all end.

The scene now resembled something out of old Hoilettan tragedy, with
all the melodrama and violence that epitomised the genre. Valette had
now roughly shaken off Rohais, who upon being shoved to the ground,
began to wail desperately for her lover to lower her sword. Franclerk
now fell to his knees, his hands upon his forehead as simply stared,
wide eyed and opened mouthed, at the whole affair. Valette and Demlun
stood across from each other, weapons drawn and ready. Both of them had
their teeth bared, looking somewhat like snarling dogs as they watched
each other, readying themselves for their next move. Rilleux was trying
to shout, but nothing escaped his mouth, and foolishly, he reached for
his sword.

“ My young friends, I have news, if you’d wish to hear it.”
Mer
Papin was now standing between Demlun and Valette, and from the look on
his face and the calmness of his voice, he seemed completely obvious to
the whole argument going on around him. How he’d manage to get there
without anyone noticing him could only be an act of a sage, surely one
of the old tribal spells the guide had claimed to have skill in.

Valette and Demlun instantly snapped out of their mutual bloodlust,
jumping back from each other in shock as Mer Papin appeared. Franclerk
let out a yelp of surprise, leaping to his feet. Rohais only looked
relieved, Rlleux guessing that she was even more grateful than he at the
old man’s presence.

If Mer Papin noticed their reactions to his sudden arrival, he did
not show it. Instead he merely continued “ under these ruins, there are
the remains of what was once a dungeon. I would imagine it worth
exploring, if you youngsters are interested. It may provide a momentary
distraction, from other more puerile and baser pursuits.”

At this last remark, he looked once at Demlun, and once at Valette.
The two warriors lowered their heads as he did so, shameful of their
actions. This reminded Rilleux of the scolding’s he’d get from his sword
instructor, after being too reckless at morning drills.

“ Do you know what’s down there” Asked Franclerk, calmer now for the presence of the old guide.

“ Not a clue” Mer Pain replied, smiling. “ I only know that I’ve seen
the entrance, and that it should be fairly easy for you all to get
inside. From what I could smell and hear, nothing dangerous is inside.”

“ Why didn’t you go down there yourself?” asked Rilleux .

At this, Mer Papin grinned at him. “ I hate dark places, and dungeons
most of all. That’s why I won’t be going down there with you, so if any
of you want to explore for yourselves, it’s your risk to take.”

“ Do you know anything about this castle?” Asked Rohais, who was now
on her feet. “ Like who built it, and might have lived here?”

“ There’s a hundred different tales, and so many claim to be the full
truth or half of it. Some say an old Gardenan or Hoilettan outpost,
abandoned once the settlements were all destroyed. There’s talk of the
mad king Garrien planning on building the last of his great castles out
here, his murder coming before work could be completed. My favourite one
tells of the legendary King of Txarral having his stronghold here, and
his gold staying here till this day.”

“ Now hang on”, Rilleux butted in. “ I’ve never heard any legend about a King of Txarral.”

Mer Papin shrugged. “ I didn’t say it was a well-known legend, only
that it was my favourite. Likely they don’t tell it to noble brats, only
in my home village.”

“ Whatever, is there likely to be gold, or anything worthwhile down there?”

At this interjection from Valette, Mer Papin gave a warm smile.

“ Who am I to know? Nothing comes from merely asking me about it,
only exploration will give you the answers you seek. Though I don’t know
what you’d want with gold, as we aren’t exactly near any stores.”

After this, there was a moment or two of silence, Mer Papin sitting
down upon a loose stone, satisfied that he had no more questions to
answer. Above their heads, a Cipon Falcon flew, letting out a loud cry.

“ Alright then”, said Valette, after a pause. “I guess I’ll go down. Rilleux, come with me.”

“ Me?” Rilleux could not help but be surprised by this. If Valette
was to go anywhere, Rohais would surely have been her only companion.

He turned to Rohais, and as he expected, she looked very confused at
this. However, she said nothing, merely staring at Valette with a look
Rilleux couldn’t quite read.

“ Yes, I said you, do you have mud in your ears? At least two of us
should go down there, the rest can stay and watch the horses.”

Rilleux looked to Franclerk and Demlun, but neither of them had
anything to say. Franclerk was now inspecting his bow, trying to avoid
anyone’s gaze. Demlun simply stood still, taking long deep breaths. He
evidently still needed time to properly calm down, and being around
Valette for much longer would not help matters.

“ Fine then” said Rilleux, looking back to Valette. “ We should set
off now”. Turning to Mer Papin, he asked, “ Which way is it?”

“ Just a few minutes west of here, I’ll lead you”, Replied the guide.
With that, he began walking in that direction, Rilleux and Valette
following behind him. Before they lost sight of the others, Rilleux took
a last look back towards Rohais. He saw that she was now curled up on
the ground, knees pressed to her chin.

He had to find out what was happening with her and Valette, and soon.

Mer Papin led them down a wide path, managing to avoid clambering too
many ruins along the way. As they walked, Rilleux noticed that there
were more complete looking structures around him now, with the remains
of what one might call towers or even small buildings lining their
route. It led him to wonder just what this castle might have truly
looked like in its prime, as it certainly seemed more important than a
simple Hoilettan advanced fort.

After a minute or so of silent marching, they found what they were
looking for. The entrance to the dungeons was, as they might have
guessed, a hole in the ground. More exactly, it was a hole in the ground
with the remains of what must have been stairs. Upon looking closer,
they could see that the hole lead into some kind of tunnel, one that was
fairly large and wide. From here, they’d be able to explore all of what
had been the dungeons, and likely beyond.

Without a word, Mer Papin left them, this time simply walking back
the way they had come rather than using a spell to disappear. Valette
walked towards the stairs, and Rilleux was left with no choice but to
follow her.

In two minutes, they had entered the tunnel, walked a hundred yards
or so forward, and found themselves in what they could safely call the
dungeons proper. The walls were lined with moss, the smell and feel of
the place evident of it being unoccupied for centuries.

Still, as they walked in, the lanterns that hung on the wall light
up, responding to their presence. While this may have startled some, the
two warriors knew this as sagefire.

In almost every noble house in Hoilettan, a sage was employed, either
permanently or on temporary hire, to serve the family and perform
certain minor spells for their benefit. The most common of these spells
was Sagefire, an enchantment which ensured that every lantern in the
house would set itself alight the moment anyone walked near it. This was
a great convenience to the nobles of Hoilettan, and made sneaking about
the palaces at night nigh on impossible, deterring would be thieves and
mischievous servants.

Even an average sage could make one of these enchantments last a
century or two, so it stood to reason that a particularly powerful one
must have been employed here. Again, this was another clue to the former
stature of this place, as powerful sages tended to only serve the
highest lords, with the most powerful among them being under the
personal service of the royal family.

“ Alright, I guess this is far enough.”

Rilleux had been looking around himself, his mind slightly absent
with thoughts about the castle, so he jumped slightly as Valette’s
sudden remark. He turned around, and saw her leaning against a wall,
arms folded across her chest.

“ What do you mean, far enough?”

Valette glared at him.” Did you really think I wanted to explore this
place? There’s nothing down here, it doesn’t take a genius to figure
that out . If any pilgrims or bandits have ever found this place, they’d
have cleared it out years ago. “

“ So why are down here then, and why did you ask about gold?”

Valette was clearly irritated, and she spoke now in a slow,
deliberate manner. “ I asked about gold to convince the others I
actually wanted to come here, and I asked you along because I need to
talk to you.”