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Fable : Fall of the Guild	By : Samson Category: +A through F > Fable Views: 8222 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter List
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Attack Who They Cherish.
Fable : Fall of the Guild

Part VIII - "Witch-hunt"

By: Jesse Racine AKA Samson

Original Date Written: June 23, 2012

Timoteo and Bianca had barely reached Grizelda’s cottage before a voice emanated from within his pack, urgently saying his name. Bianca looked at him in curiosity, the both of them coming to a stop. “I think that’s Darrah...” He mumbled, releasing Bianca’s hand, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. He pulled his pack off, reached around inside, and pulled out his Seal. His Seal was glowing blue, Darrah’s voice coming from it crisply. “Tim, are you there? This is really important-” “Yeah, I’m here. What’s wrong, Darrah?” Darrah sounded a little subdued as she said “Tim, I’m not exactly sure how to say this...It’s going to be a shock for you. Your mother’s here.” Timoteo blinked. Bianca glanced at his face before looking back to his Seal. “My mom?” He repeated. Darrah slowly said “Yes, and she doesn’t have good news. It’s about...You should just come up here. We’re gonna have to do something about the problem.”
Timoteo narrowed his eyes, looking at Bianca, muttering out “Darrah, your home is miles away from Dattebayo. Did she come by carriage?” “No, she came on foot.” “On foot? But that would’ve...” “I know. She’s not in good shape, but she’s recovering. It’s about your family, Tim. You just need to come up here, okay?” Timoteo’s face grew pale. “Did something happen to my family?” He asked. “Please, just come up here. This is something we need to talk about in person.” Darrah calmly said. Bianca brought a hand to Timoteo’s back, her eyes concerned for him. Timoteo was quiet for a couple of seconds before he said “...Okay, I’ll be at the Cullis Gate soon.” “Thank you. See you soon.” Darrah said, the glow from his Seal fading. “Tim...” Bianca quietly said, looking into his eyes. He blinked, his jaw going tight. He pulled his pack back on as Bianca slipped her hand down from his back, quietly saying “If anything’s happened to my family, so help me Avo...”
“Let me come. I need to help.” He glanced at her, meeting her eyes, his expression a little surprised. She nodded gently. “I can’t stand by, this time. I want to help you. I don’t care if Darrah doesn’t like it. I just need to help with this, Tim.” He just nodded, his eyes grateful. She didn’t smile, her eyes still worried. She brought her hand to his, clasping it. He held his Guild Seal tight, thinking of the Cullis Gate near Darrah’s home, he and Bianca disappearing in a shimmer of blue light after a few moments. When they reappeared over the Cullis Gate, he started squinting heavily, the sudden sunlight above straining his eyes. Bianca raised a hand to her hood, pulling it up, helping to conceal most of her face. He shoved his Seal back into his pack, saying “The mansion’s this way, come on.” She nodded, beginning to walk off with him, still holding hands with him. When they made it to the estate gates, Darrah was waiting for them, standing up on the perimeter wall.
When her eyes fell on Bianca, however, her expression quickly grew astonished, an expression which then evolved in wrath. She marched down from the perimeter wall, ordering the guards to open the gates. When the gates opened, and Timoteo and Bianca saw her, she stood there in her dress, smiling a little. “Good to see you again Tim, though it’s barely been a few hours.” She said in greeting. “Good to see you, too. Where’s my mom?” Darrah’s expression calmed, and she said “The infirmary. She’ll-” Timoteo quickly walked past her, saying “I need to see her, I know the way to the infirmary.” Darrah turned around and watched him walk towards the mansion. Her brow slowly furrowed, Bianca walking up beside Darrah. Instead of following after Timoteo immediately, she decided to try and speak with Darrah. “Hello, Darrah. It’s good to see you again.” Bianca softly said. Darrah looked at Bianca through the corners of her eyes, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean, “good to see you again”?” She said, angrily.
Turning and looking at Bianca, she muttered out “What are you even doing here, Bianca? I figured Timoteo would’ve known not to bring you up here. I had no interest in ever seeing your face again.” Bianca slowly turned towards Darrah. She raised her hands to her hood, pulling it back, exposing her head. Her eyes were narrow, her brow deep. In a quiet voice, her fury not in her tone, she said “I came because I wanted to, because I was worried about his family. If you can’t understand that, Darrah, then you are a despicable woman. I’m here to help, whether you find it agreeable or not.” Darrah’s face turned a little red with anger. She stared Bianca in the eyes, her own eyes wide as she said “The last time I saw you, you were sucking on his-” She cut herself off, gritting her teeth as she went quiet for a moment. “You are not a guest in my home. You are not welcome on the grounds. You can wait outside for Tim to come back out and see you.”
“You have no right to keep me away from him or his mother, especially not with his family apparently in peril.” Bianca quietly muttered, clenching her hands into fists down by her sides. Darrah smiled condescendingly. “I have all the right in the world. This is my home, and if I don’t want you in it, then I have an army of guards to keep you out.” Darrah held up an arm, pointing out to the path beyond the estate. “Now, get out.” She loudly said. “Is there a problem, Lady Darrah?” A guard asked, he and a few comrades walking towards the opened gate, armed with spears. Bianca glanced at the guards, raising a hand, pulling her hood back up. “No, I don’t think so. This uninvited individual was just about to see herself out, wasn’t she?” Darrah said, staring hard into Bianca’s hood, starting to smile a little.
“I’m never going to forget this, Darrah.” Bianca warningly muttered out. “Suits me just fine. You’ve done a few things I’m never going to forget, either.” Darrah retorted, her smile melting into a snarl. Bianca stared at Darrah for a moment before slowly walking away from the gates, standing out on the dirt path. Darrah walked back on to the estate grounds, facing away from Bianca as she called out “Shut the gates!” The guards near Darrah started closing the gates, Bianca’s wrathful eyes never leaving Darrah’s back as the gates came to a close. Darrah smiled with satisfaction, heading for the mansion.
Timoteo rushed into the infirmary, glancing around. “My lord?” The infirmary keeper said in curiosity, having thought he had already departed from the estate. Timoteo ignored her, walking deeper into the room, glancing around. Almost every single cot was filled with wounded guards from the battle with Benedict’s bandits, Timoteo looking around for his mother. By then, his mental image of her had deteriorated to general shapes and colours, no fine details left; still, he knew he’d recognize her when he saw her. When his eyes fell on her, quietly lying in a cot with her eyes closed, he rushed over. “Mom? Mom, it’s...It’s me.” He said, starting out excited, his voice slowly growing quieter as he spoke. She opened her eyes wide in surprise, blinking when she saw him. Tears came to her eyes instantly. She was quiet for a second. She smiled brightly, saying “Avo...I barely recognize you, Tim...You’ve grown so much...” Timoteo smiled a little, leaning over by the bed, slipping his arms under his mother’s, hugging her tight.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, giving his cheek a kiss. “It’s been years...” He softly said. She rubbed at his back. “I know...We missed you terribly, Tim. I hated myself for letting that Hero take you away, but it seemed like the right thing to do, for you...” “I have no regrets about going to the Guild, mom...How come you never visited me?...” He slowly began to release her. Her expression was turning more and more sad with every second. “I know it must’ve hurt, Tim...But we just couldn’t afford a carriage ride all the way over to the Guild. We would’ve had to bring food with us, and all the gold needed for everything...” Timoteo slowly said “Eight years, mom...You couldn’t come even once?” A few teardrops rolled down her cheeks. “Tim, baby, if we could’ve gone to see you, we would’ve...Do you think we abandoned you?” “It certainly felt like it, at times.” Timoteo quietly said. Someone began to walk up behind him, Timoteo glancing over his shoulder.
It was Darrah, her expression a little downcast. “Tell him about Dattebayo.” Darrah quietly urged. “Where’s Bianca?” He asked, glancing around. Darrah looked at his eyes for a second before looking away, quiet for a moment before she said “I told you before you came up here to help with the bandits that her presence wouldn’t do any good. If people see her, it’ll cause a panic. She’s not allowed on the grounds.” Timoteo raised an eyebrow in curiosity, his tone disbelieving as he said “Are you keeping Bianca from taking part in this?” Darrah’s brow went a bit deep. “Who’s Bianca?” Timoteo’s mother asked. Without hesitation, Timoteo answered “A very close friend.” “His lover.” Darrah said, her eyes falling to the floor. Timoteo’s mother smiled a little, raising a hand, wiping away her tears. “Oh, that’s wonderful! Why would you call her a close friend, Tim? She must be more than that.” Timoteo sounded a little embarrassed as he said “Because it sounds weird to call someone my lover. She is, but telling it to someone sounds weird.”
“Are you embarrassed of her?” His mother asked. Timoteo quickly said “No, no! It just feels weird to out-loud call someone a lover.” “I see.” Timoteo’s mother said, smiling widely. “She’s an evil witch.” Darrah said. Timoteo’s mother gained a confused expression. Timoteo glared at Darrah, firmly saying “We need to talk outside.” He started to leave the infirmary, Darrah slowly following after him. When she stepped outside, he was leaning against the wall beside the doorway, his side to the wall as he faced her. “Tim-” “I really don’t care about what you have to say, Darrah.” He muttered, darkly. She looked surprised as she stared into his eyes, remaining silent so he could continue. “I want Bianca here. This is my family we’re talking about. She has a right to be here and know what’s going on with my mom. I know you’re trying to keep her out, you’re just using the rest of the people here as an excuse.” “No, I’m-” “Yes you are, and you know it. I want her here.”
“Tim-” Angrier, he said “I want her here, Darrah. Now.” Darrah sighed, raising a hand near her face, rubbing at her forehead. She closed her eyes. “I...I can’t do that, Tim. I can’t let her be a guest in my home. Not after what I’ve seen you two do.” “Darrah, I’m sorry you caught us in the act, how many times do I have to apologize? We were both sorry for what happened. I thought you stopped hating Bianca? I thought you’d try forgiving her? Didn’t we talk about this when I stayed here for the bandits?” Darrah’s chin suddenly trembled. “We did.” She quietly answered. “Well?” He angrily asked, holding his arms out by his sides, obviously expecting a more agreeable answer. Darrah sniffled. “...Why’d you have to do that, with her?...I can’t let her in here.” She mumbled out, her voice tightening with emotion. “Yes you can. You just can’t forgive her.” He forcefully said, his eyes widening a little. Darrah turned away from him, letting out a shaky breath.
“Avo Tim, you’re making me cry. I’m not letting her in my home!...” Darrah breathed out. Timoteo’s expression calmed over the span of a few seconds. He stepped close behind her, reaching around her waist, hugging her from behind. She glanced over her shoulder at him, her eyes red. She pulled away from his arms, saying “No, no...Every time we fight like this these days, I end up crying, and you end up comforting me. I’m tired of it, I’m not weak. I don’t need it.” Turning around and looking at him, blinked rapidly, she loudly said “Why don’t we really fight, anymore? Why don’t I get as mad with you as I used to? Why do you always have to comfort me? What happened to the days when I could have a laugh fighting with you, and it was no big deal to me?” “I don’t have to comfort you.” He said, a little gently. Darrah sniffled, looked off to the side, and said “I know. But you do, anyway.” He nodded. “Bianca’s the special one, to you...Why do you comfort me, and hug me, and-”
“Why did you kiss me so many times during the week that I stayed here?” He simply replied. Darrah sighed, turning her back to him again. He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms over her’s and tight around her, keeping her from easily walking away. This time, she didn’t resist. “I’m tired of fighting with you, Darrah. Every day, every time I see you, there’s drama, we fight...I don’t want it, anymore. Can’t we get along?” “I want that too, Tim!...” She lightly yet pleadingly said, turning her head towards him, his chin on her right shoulder. “I just...I don’t know...I just start problems and fights. I don’t know why. I guess it’s a habit...” “You care. And you don’t like that Bianca cares, too. Or that I care about her.” He lightly said. “...Yes.” Darrah mumbled. Her hands slowly trailed up to his wrists, holding him back as he held her. “I care about you too, Darrah. I always have. We’re friends for a reason, we fight, but we care.” Darrah was quiet.
After a few seconds, Timoteo said “What you’re doing to Bianca isn’t fair...She doesn’t hate you, Darrah. There’s been some real damage done between you by this point, but if you believe for five minutes that she doesn’t want to hurt you, I think you two could get along...” Darrah chuckled, a few tears running down her cheeks. “No, we couldn’t.” She simply said. “I think so. But if you don’t, then you two won’t. At the very least, she should be here, and she wants to help with my mother’s problem. Like it or not, Darrah, she’s a Hero too, and she’s very capable.” “Tim-” “She should be here, Darrah...Please, it’s not right to deprive her of this. She didn’t think you’d do this to her. Can you think of how this must be hurting her?” “She hurt me too, ten times worse than this...” Darrah mumbled. He squeezed her in his arms. “Then don’t stoop to her level, if you think that way. Show her you’re the better person.” Darrah was quiet for a few seconds.
He waited for a response, rubbing at her lean, toned belly from over her dress, Darrah still holding his wrists. Eventually, she took in a deep, shaky breath. “Alright, fine...Avo damn you, Tim...I’m starting to think you can make me do anything you want.” She said, sighing in the middle of her words. He smiled a little. “Not anything. You’re too hardheaded for that.” She smiled a little. “Don’t start a fight, Tim.” She simply said. He nuzzled his face into the side of her neck, lightly smelling some of her hair, smelling the honey aroma of her dirty blonde locks. He felt a surprised quiver run through her body. “Thank you, for this.” He quietly said. She said nothing, slowly smiling a little more, rubbing at his wrists.
When Darrah had the gates opened up, Bianca was still standing there. Darrah’s expression was calm as she stood in the opened pathway. She fully expected Bianca to mock her, belittle her, take advantage of how Darrah was giving in to try and humiliate her. As such, her jaw was somewhat tight as she said “Bianca...You can come in. I’ll show you to the infirmary.” Bianca quietly stepped through the opened gate, slowly looking around at the estate. “What changed your mind?” She asked, surprisingly calmly. Darrah coolly said “Tim did. You know that.” “I thought he might have a word with you once he found out what you had done, but I didn’t think he’d really change your mind.” Bianca quietly said. “Well, he did. Congratulations. Welcome to my home.” Darrah said, just a little sourly. She started walking down the path towards the mansion, Bianca following beside her. They were both quiet for several seconds before Bianca said “You have a beautiful home, Darrah. It’s certainly huge.”
Darrah relaxed a little, her jaw not as tight. “Well...Thank you, I guess.” Her brow furrowed, and she looked over to Bianca. “But you’re not here as a guest, let’s get that perfectly straight. You’re not staying for any meals, you’re here just to see Tim’s mother, hear what the issue is, then you’re leaving, we all are. We’ll be going to Dattebayo.” “That’s fine.” Bianca simply said, a bit gently. Darrah furrowed her brow more, feeling annoyed that Bianca was barely reacting, thinking Bianca was trying to show she didn’t really care about the idea of staying at such a luxurious estate as her father’s. Darrah only realized she was looking for a reason to start a fight with Bianca mid-way through her sentence, saying “Look, I know you hate me, but that’s no reason to insult my home.” “I wasn’t insulting your home, your home is impressive, Darrah. And I don’t hate you.” Darrah looked at Bianca with confusion. She almost felt disappointed that Bianca was, once again, not giving her a reason to fight with her.
Bianca shook her head a little. “I don’t hate you, Darrah. I certainly have reason to, but I told you a long time ago, don’t you remember? You’re a friend of Tim’s, and because of that, I have to accept you. You’re his friend...I have to consider you mine, too.” “I...” Darrah mumbled, trailing off. She shook her head quickly, sighing a little. “Let’s go.” She simply said, her expression tired, almost weary. The fire was gone from her eyes. “Can you think of me as your friend, too?” Bianca asked, surprising Darrah heavily. Darrah looked back at Bianca. The two had reached the mansion doors, Darrah raising a hand to the handle of one of the two large wooden doors. Darrah stared into Bianca’s hood, unable to meet her eyes. “...I don’t know. There are too many wounds, on either side.” “I understand.” Bianca gently said. “Maybe one day.” Darrah admitted, turning back to the door, pushing it open. She led Bianca up to the infirmary, the two quiet throughout most of their walk along the mansion floors.
Bianca did notice that just about everyone who saw her, from guards and servants all the way up to the rich folk, were staring hard at her, whispering amongst themselves. Darrah noticed, of course, and when she glanced at Bianca and saw that she was aware of the attention her presence was getting, she simply said “Pull your hood down, then you’ll really get attention.” “I’d rather not.” Bianca mumbled, glancing off to her left, seeing a group of guards to be watching her keenly. Darrah smiled a little with amusement, saying “I knew you would cause a stir. Not a good one, either. Rumours are going to be flying through social circles like a wildfire.” “That doesn’t bother me any.” Bianca merely replied. “Of course not.” Darrah said, smiling more. They were quiet for a few minutes more, reaching the infirmary. They walked inside, Bianca looking around with curious interest, eventually spotting Timoteo as Darrah walked towards him.
Due to her unfocused eyes, she couldn’t make out any details about Timoteo’s mother, only really able to notice that she had the same mousey brown hair as he did. When he looked over at them, he smiled a little, glad to have Bianca by him. Looking over at his mother, he said “Now, please...Tell me what’s going on in Dattebayo.” His mother looked towards the ceiling. Her expression went regretful. “Men and women came to Dattebayo, claiming to be our saviours. They said they had gotten rid of the Guild for us, and that we were free.” Timoteo’s expression slowly grew angry. “The League.” He muttered. His mother nodded a little. “The Anti-Hero League, that’s right. They claimed that Heroes were still on the loose, and I thought “Of course they are, you can’t beat a Hero!” They said they needed to search Dattebayo for Heroes, and punish Hero sympathizers, anybody that helped them or viewed them as victims. They put up a reward of a hundred gold pieces for anybody that would point out Heroes or Hero helpers. In the long run, it’s not much, but...”
“...A lot of the neighbourhoods, like our’s, would’ve thought that was a ton.” Timoteo said, sighing, closing his eyes with disappointment. He knew where his mother’s story was going, a sinking feeling of regret filling him. His mother nodded gently. “It turned everybody against each other. Everyone was becoming so paranoid, people were pointing each other out left, right, and center. I really don’t believe anybody that got pointed out actually helped Heroes, maybe one or two actually did, but as far as I knew, no Hero had really come to Dattebayo for months. How can we help them if they aren’t even coming to us? People were accusing other people just for money. I don’t think it mattered to the League whether or not they could prove it. Sometimes, people just vanished. Other times, you’d see the League drag people off, kicking and screaming, taking them somewhere...Avo only knows what they did to them. And eventually, someone...Someone remembered how you were taken to the Guild, Tim. The League actually asked for confirmation, asking around. When a bunch of people said the same story, they broke into our home...They tore the place apart looking for you. When they couldn’t find you Tim, they took your father and Martin...They dragged them off somewhere, told me I could see them again if I brought you to them.”
“Obviously, that’s not going to happen.” Darrah said, her tone annoyed. “We won’t let any harm come to your family, Tim.” Bianca lightly said. Timoteo’s jaw was tight. “Do you have any idea where they took them?” Timoteo asked. Tears swam in his mother’s eyes. “No, I don’t even know if they kept them in Dattebayo...” “It’s probably just a trap, Tim. They want anybody with ties to Heroes. Even if they got you, they’d still keep your family.” Darrah said. “I realize that.” Timoteo said, glancing at her. “I’m not going to let them hurt Martin or dad, okay, mom? We’ll head to Dattebayo right now. I think I’ve got a plan.” “Please be careful, they have firearms Tim, do you-” Timoteo chuckled, saying “I know all about them, and I know what they can do, trust me. It doesn’t make them invincible. Makes them quite dangerous, but League members don’t wear armour, they don’t think they have to. Catch them unawares, and they can be taken down without letting off a shot.”
“Stealth? Gibbons would be proud.” Darrah commented, smiling. Timoteo glanced at her, half-smiling. “It would be good to have Gibbons with us on this, he could be of some use.” Bianca mumbled out. “Using Cullis Gates is getting dangerous. I suppose someone could go down to Barrow Fields and teleport him up here, but Barrow Fields is right outside Oakvale, League members are probably watching it like hawks.” Darrah said. “True.” Bianca mumbled, her eyes falling to the floor as she thought on other ideas. “Is this Bianca, Tim?” His mother abruptly asked, having been staring at Bianca for a few seconds. Timoteo looked over at Bianca, smiling a little, saying “Yeah, this is her.” Bianca’s face went a little surprised, unknown to Timoteo and his mother in the dim light of the infirmary. Timoteo’s mother was smiling a little as she said “I hear you’re special to Tim. My name’s Susan. That’s a lovely cloak you have, I especially like the fur on the edges, there.”
Bianca sounded just a little flattered as she said “Thank you, I made it myself.” Susan smiled a bit more. “It’s dark enough in here, that hood keeps me from seeing your face at all, you know.” Susan said, warmly. Timoteo looked over at Bianca, his expression just a bit hesitant. He felt like asking his mother if she had ever seen an evil Hero before, just to prepare her for what might be a shock. He decided against the idea, figuring his mother had never seen an evil Hero, and that the question might just make Bianca’s manifested morality seem all the more disturbing. “Um...” Darrah mumbled, glancing between the two, feeling the same as Timoteo. “I don’t know if that’s wise. I might surprise you.” Bianca gently said. Raising her eyebrows a little, she looked at Timoteo from within her hood, her eyes worried. “Shy? It’s quite alright. I won’t push.” Susan said, relaxing back in bed a little more. The three of them relaxed, Timoteo looking back over to his mother.
“We’d better get going.” Timoteo simply said, feeling like he was cutting his reunion with his mother rather short. He felt like saying that the three shouldn’t use up any more time than absolutely necessary, but realized that might actually make things worse, make it seem like he was eager to leave his mother’s side. “Will you be alright while we’re gone?” Timoteo quickly added. Susan nodded and lost her smile. “Yes, I think so. Lady Darrah and the infirmary people here have been very attentive.” Timoteo glanced over at Darrah. She smiled a little with embarrassment, glanced off to the side, and said “I didn’t want to leave your mother alone. I wanted to help.” He smiled gratefully. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
She met his eyes again, smiling more, not with embarrassment, but with simple happiness. He looked back at his mother, Susan saying “Good luck, the three of you.” Reaching a hand out towards Timoteo, he held her hand, watching her expression turn melancholy. Looking down at their joined hands, she said “And, Tim...Whatever happens with your father and brother, I want you to know, I’ll never blame you. I love you. I know you’ll do what you can.” Timoteo looked down at their hands once she was finished, saying nothing. After a moment, he gave her hand a light squeeze, then slipped his hand out of her’s. “C’mon.” He said, beginning to walk away, Darrah and Bianca saying their goodbyes before following after him.
“I’ll have a carriage bring us to Dattebayo. Should be something like a ten hour trip.” Darrah said, walking down a hallway of the mansion with the two. “Better pack some food.” “Well, yeah.” Darrah said, giving Timoteo a quick glance. He rolled his eyes at her, something that made her reach over and smack his arm. Bianca glanced at her, and even though Timoteo didn’t seem particularly annoyed by her strike, she didn’t like the sight of Darrah laying a painful hand on Timoteo. She said nothing about it, however. As the group headed down to the first floor of the mansion, Darrah said “Alright, you guys can wait out by the front gates. I’ll get some food put together for each of us, and I’ll have a carriage drawn out. Fastest and strongest horses we can get, I promise.” Bianca promptly took Timoteo’s hand, beginning to walk off for the front doors of the mansion. Darrah raised an eyebrow and smiled a little smugly, seeing how Bianca was in a rush to leave.
Stepping outside, Timoteo said “Whoa, hey, why the hurry?” Bianca slowed down, not responding for a few seconds before she finally said “I didn’t want to stay in there any longer.” He looked at her for a moment before he started walking off with her, headed for the front gates of the estate. “Darrah tried keeping you out, didn’t she?” He asked. Bianca nodded, slowly and coolly saying “Yes. Yes, she did.” Timoteo looked at her, saying “I’m not happy about that, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have rushed off like that and left you alone with her. If I had been there, I would have stopped her.” “I don’t blame you at all for wanting to see Susan. But just the fact that Darrah didn’t want me to be there, didn’t want me to be involved...” Bianca sighed quietly. “That woman has a talent for infuriating me.” She muttered out. “Ten hour carriage ride won’t be a picnic, but I won’t let her bother you, I promise.” He said, nearing the gates.
“Thank you...” Bianca murmured, reaching over with her free hand, holding his forearm as well as his actual hand, keeping her side close to his. He smiled a little, giving her hand a squeeze, feeling her squeeze back. They stood in the shade of the front gate, standing under the perimeter wall, waiting for Darrah to come around. After five minutes, they relaxed a little. Timoteo stood with his back to one part of the perimeter wall, Bianca close to him and hugging him around the waist, keeping the side of her face to his chest through her hood. He held her around her shoulders, just resting time by, thinking over his plan to help his father and brother. After a dozen more minutes, it became apparent that Darrah might take a while. Timoteo smiled gently, taking a hand from Bianca’s back, reaching over to her hood. He slipped his hand inside, running his fingers along her cheek, stroking along her soft skin. She tilted her head back, looking up at his face.
He looked down, saw her meet his eyes from inside her hood, and brought his head down. Still touching her cheek lightly, they kissed, closing their eyes as they orally embraced. He felt her heavenly lips with his own a few times before they heard something approaching from towards the mansion.
Darrah walked out with four servants, three of them carrying large sacks of supplies, the fourth carrying a large wooden trunk. Beside them, coming down the path from somewhere else on the estate grounds, was a large wooden horse-drawn carriage. A man wearing a tall black hat was seated at the front of the carriage, holding the reins of two horses, one fully brown in colour while the other was a mix of cream and black. The servant with the trunk secured it in a compartment on the back of the carriage, the other three servants setting the packs of supplies inside. “Come on, this trip will take long enough as it is, every second wasted is a second something could happen to Tim’s family.” Darrah called out, rather seriously.
“She doesn’t need to remind you.” Bianca murmured out. “I know. But she’s just trying to show she cares.” He said, he and Bianca beginning to walk over towards the carriage. All three climbed inside, taking seats on the cushioned wooden benches lining either side of the carriage’s interior. Timoteo and Bianca sat on one side, Darrah and the supplies sitting on the other. The carriage started rumbling down the path, the hooves of the horses clopping along as they heard the front gates to the estate shut tight behind them. “Might as well get comfortable.” Timoteo muttered out, causing Darrah to smile a little with amusement.
Gibbons stared out hard at the pounding waves as the night wore on, his elbows to the wooden railing of the ship’s side. Without a word to Penny, he had collected some of his things and secured passage on the first ship to Knothole Glade, leaving Oakvale behind him. “I can stay at an inn for a bit while I do some decent work by day. Might need to do some stealing by night, at least until I can get myself a little place. If I can actually join the League, it’d be a perfect opportunity for me to sabotage any plans they have. Infiltrating the League can’t be easy, though. They’re probably paranoid as all hell about new members. Or...Maybe not. You never know, they might not be if nobody like me has gotten on the inside, before. Plus, when people start getting assassinated, I’ll look a lot less suspicious if I’m actually one of them. It probably won’t take long before someone starts looking at the new guy funny, though. But if I’m part of a big group that’s joining the League all at once...Hm...”
He unexpectedly heard someone begin to walk over, Gibbons glancing over. A man, in his early thirties, was strolling towards him. Gibbons remained relaxed, looking out over the ocean again. “You’re doing nothing wrong, just getting some fresh air on the deck.” He silently told himself. “Can’t sleep either?” The man asked, leaning against the railing of the ship as well, about two feet away from him. “Yeah. Not used to riding on ships.” Gibbons casually lied. The man had dark brown hair, messy and unkempt. He was wearing a sort of business suit, wearing a smart black overcoat, a white scarf loosely done around his neck, tucked into his coat. He wore black checkered pants, the shoes on his feet black, but already being eaten at by the salty air of the sea. “I’m pretty used to ships. I can’t sleep because I keep reading over this business contract I have.” Looking over at Gibbons, he said “Sorry, I’m a businessman. Name’s Jerry.”
“Call me John. John Poe.” Gibbons said, giving the man a nod. Jerry looked back out over the sea, saying “What do you know about the League?” Gibbons blinked, slowly looking over at Jerry. “I know they’re hunting down Heroes, stopping them from threatening us ordinary folk, anymore.” He simply said. Jerry smiled a little. “Yeah. So they say. Personally, I don’t really believe them that Heroes have been such a menace. I remember what happened when Jack of Blades tried burning Albion down, sending his minions everywhere as he went for those, eh, what were they called? Focus Sites? Whatever. Point is, Heroes helped fight off Jack’s cronies, and even got rid of Jack himself. But, it’s no matter to me. Can’t be. A businessman that wants to be as successful as possible can’t choose favourites, or play politics.” “Dealing with the League, then?” Gibbons asked. “Oh, yeah.” Jerry said, a little proudly.
“See, I knew these real smart guys, saw them tinkering around with their firearms. Trying to get longer range on them, trying to get more power out of each shot, trying to quicken the reloading and maintenance...Well, I thought they were really on to something, so I brought some of their plans to the League for them. League loved their designs, and donations poured in to me and these fellas. They had this one idea, only reason they got it was because the typical firearm just wasn’t working out for some of their ideas. They came up with a whole new firearm, long as your arm, shoots twice as far as the normal firearm. Hits targets with a whole lot more force, too. They call ‘em rifles, flintlock rifles.” “Huh.” Gibbons said, raising an eyebrow. Jerry nodded, smiling, saying “Man, does the League love the idea of rifles. Anything that advances firearm technology makes their mouths wet. I’ve got about ten crates of firearms down in the ship’s hold, I’m delivering them to the Arena. League wants ‘em, they can have ‘em, but definitely not for cheap. Me an’ the boys are sitting on a heap of gold. I’m still looking over the contract the League set up for us though, like I said.”
“So, the League’s got their base at the Arena, then?” Gibbons asked, curiously. Jerry said “Ahh, I don’t know, but they wanted the shipment sent there. I know they’re doing something with the place, now that they’ve got Heroes on the run.” “So it’s safe to say they’ve got a good number of people there.” Gibbons said, calmly. Jerry nodded, saying “Sure, why wouldn’t-” He cut himself off, looking at Gibbons, saying “Why are you so curious about the Arena, anyway?” Gibbons smiled, looking over. “I want to join, obviously. That’s why I’m on this ship.” Jerry relaxed, smiling a little, saying “Alright. For a second there, I thought this ship was carrying Heroes. I don’t think they’re bad, but I bet they’re desperate now, and would do anything to survive. Maybe even try and attack the League.” Gibbons smiled more. “If I come across any Heroes on this ship, believe me, I’ll be throwing them for the fish to fight over.” Jerry laughed.
Gibbons suddenly started squinting, looking past Jerry’s side, curiously saying “Is that another ship, coming up behind us?” Jerry glanced over, saying “I don’t see anything.” Gibbons kept squinting. “I’m sure I saw something.” He said, with determination. Jerry turned away from Gibbons, staring out towards the back of the ship. Gibbons quietly reached down to his right boot, pulling out the small steel knife he kept sheathed there. “I don’t see a thing, John. It’s too dark.” Jerry said. Gibbons stealthily closed the distance between the two, then moved like lightning. Reaching around John with both hands, he covered his mouth with one while plunging his knife into his chest with the other, stabbing him through the heart. John tensed up in surprise and mortal pain. Gibbons stabbed him once more before throwing him over the railing, hearing him splash down below. Gibbons’ expression was totally calm and relaxed as he pulled a cloth from his pocket, wiping off the blood staining his dagger. He threw the cloth over the railing as well, sheathing his dagger back in his boot. Without a sound, he simply walked away, heading back into the belly of the ship.
Timoteo, Bianca, and Darrah had just finished their dinner, settling in to try and get some sleep. It had been a long trip so far, and there were still a few more hours to go before they were expected to reach Dattebayo. Surprisingly, Darrah and Bianca hadn’t argued once on the trip. They usually spoke with Timoteo, and only with each other if the conversation with him required that they communicate to each other, they never simply talked to one another in their own conversation. Timoteo wondered if they were trying their best to get along with each other for his own sake, considering the issue with his family that they were riding along to confront. In her dress, Darrah still looked every bit as wealthy and important as she did at her father’s estate, Timoteo curious as to why she hadn’t gotten dressed in her suit of armour. Realizing it could’ve been uncomfortable to just sit in her armour for the long ride, but thinking the three might run into trouble the second they got to Dattebayo, he was a little confused.
Bianca had pulled back her hood once she had gotten into the carriage, leaning against him as they sat side by side, resting her head on his shoulder. Darrah didn’t seem particularly pleased by the sight of the display of affection, but didn’t let her sourness over it get very obvious on her face, Timoteo only noticing by the way she would occasionally stare daggers at Bianca, unknown to the resting Will-user. Timoteo eventually gave Darrah a look of his own, but she simply shrugged it off, taking a sip of water from one of her gourds. Timoteo began to stare off blankly then, something that got Darrah’s attention. “Do I hear horses?” He curiously said. Darrah smiled, saying “Well, obviously, this carriage is drawn by a horse, Tim? Or did you not notice that when we got on?” Bianca didn’t open her eyes, or move. “I hear them, too.” She quietly said. Darrah glanced at Bianca, her right eye narrowing as her left eyebrow went up.
When she heard the racing horses too, however, her expression went heavily confused. “Someone in a rush?” Timoteo suggested. Darrah said “Maybe...Could be something more.” The racing horses came up close behind the carriage, slowing down to match it’s speed, a few whoops of laughter coming from the riders. “Definitely something more.” Timoteo said, Bianca sitting up and opening her eyes. He came close to the side of the carriage, near the door. A man called out loudly from his horse. “Alright, driver! You just pull this carriage over, now! Nice an’ easy, we only want whatever cargo you’ve got! You make this stress-free for us, and we’ll make it all painless for you! You’ll even walk away, whaddya say?” Without saying a word, the driver snapped the reins, putting his two horses into a hard gallop. The three Heroes inside the carriage lurched at the sudden boost of speed. The bandits started racing after the carriage again.
“Wasn’t smart! When we catch you, we’re gonna take a look at the colour of yer guts, won’t we, mates?” The other riders laughed. Timoteo’s expression turned dark. He threw open the carriage door. “Tim?” Bianca said, curious. Timoteo grabbed the top of the doorway tight, leaning far out through the opening, leaning out beside the carriage. “Tim!” Darrah shouted in worry, scrambling closer to him, trying to pull him back inside. He resisted her grabbing, the wind rushing around him as he looked back at the riders. There were four of them in total, each riding a fully brown horse. Three of the riders were male, the last being female. Each looked like any ordinary bandit; dirty from a lack of bathing, dressed up in mere scraps collected here and there, all armed with large steel cleavers. It was a little disorienting to see the landscape zoom away from Timoteo, continually rushing past him and the carriage, but he tried not to think on it.
When the bandits saw him, they laughed, one of them calling out “Lookit this fool! You realize, of course, that when we catch you, you’re deader than a baby in a balverine den, right?!” Timoteo smiled a little. “Tim, what’re doing?” Darrah urgently said, trying to pull him back inside with a hard yank. “Let me go, I know what I’m doing!” He said, trying to shrug off her hands. He held up one arm by the side of the carriage, electricity crackling along his arm as if it were a lightning rod. Beams of Lightning shot from his fingertips, blasting into the first bandit, knocking him clear off of his horse. Without a rider, the horse came to a stop on it’s own, waiting for it’s rider to come back. “Holy hell! He’s a Hero!” One of the other bandits shouted out. Timoteo launched a blast of Force Push towards one of the other bandits, but he pulled his horse hard off to the side, narrowly dodging the attack. His manoeuver caused him to slow down and fall behind the others, however, leaving him at the rear of the pack.
One bandit pulled out a firearm, taking careful aim at Timoteo. Timoteo noticed the weapon, casting Physical Shield, the bandit’s slug ricocheting off of him and shooting off into the trees. The Physical Shield repelled Darrah’s hands, knocking her back to her bench, Darrah stunned momentarily from the hard magical push. Timoteo charged up a fireball in the palm of his hand, the fire swelling and licking painlessly around his fingers. He threw it at the bandit with the firearm, hitting him in the chest, engulfing him in flames. His horse panicked, beginning to run faster, the bandit eventually falling from his saddle. The carriage began to go down a steep hill, the final two bandits picking up speed as a result, the carriage moving at worrying speeds. The bandit that had dodged Timoteo’s attack earlier came up beside the female bandit, drawing his cleaver. He tried going as fast as he could, trying to catch up to the carriage to either attack Timoteo, or leap from his horse to grab on to the carriage, itself.
Timoteo threw off a blast of Force Push, landing a lucky hit, hitting the bandit square in the face. The concussive force hit him with such strength that he died instantly, his head snapping back, his neck broken. He tumbled off the back of his horse, flipping along the side of the hill a few times. The female bandit rode over to the carriage’s right side, getting out of the way of any attack from Timoteo. “I can’t see the last one, she’s on the carriage’s blind side!” Timoteo loudly said, looking back into the carriage. Bianca held her hands together in her lap, a green glow appearing in her palms. She mumbled a few words to herself. The driver of the carriage certainly had a shock when part of the hill’s path burst open, dirt flying up in a shower. Rising from the ground in a hurry was a skeletal horse, it’s empty eye sockets bright with green light. It began to race up the hill, moving faster than any living horse could manage. The female bandit tried moving out of the way of the approaching undead horse, and even though her mount was afraid of what it saw rushing towards them, it couldn’t move out of the way in time.
When the skeletal horse was close enough, it’s ribcage filled with green light. It jumped up towards the bandit with a cry, abruptly exploding in a blast of green Will, bones flying out in a shower of deadly shards. The bandit and her horse were instantly killed by the explosion, bones slamming into the side of the carriage as well, but luckily enough not piercing through the thick wood. The bandit’s horse collapsed, the dead bandit thrown from it’s back, the both of them flipping a few times down the side of the hill. The carriage tilted over towards it’s right side momentarily, giving Timoteo a shock, but the driver got the carriage back on all four wheels after a moment. When Timoteo’s Physical Shield fell a second later, Darrah shouted “Damn it, Tim!” She grabbed his shirt over his back, pulling him hard into the carriage, making him collapse back beside her over the sacks of supplies. “Hey!” He called out with indignation, giving her an angry look before getting back up, pulling the carriage door shut.
The carriage reached the bottom of the hill, the driver quickly slowing his horses down, bringing the carriage to a more safe speed. Bianca looked at Timoteo as he sat back down beside her, the mage letting out a sigh, smiling a little. “Well. That takes care of that.” He said, with satisfaction. Darrah’s expression was steaming with anger, made worse by his devil-may-care attitude. “You bastard!” She cried out, jumping towards him in the carriage, surprising the other two occupants. Grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, she gave him a hard shake, yelling out “What the hell were you thinking?! What if a tree had hit you?! You would’ve been snapped in two!” “I-” “No! Fat lot of good healing magic will do you when you’re in two pieces! Don’t ever do something like that again, you hear me?! Don’t you dare take a risk like that again, you stupid...!” Darrah was breathing heavy, staring hard into his eyes. Bianca stared at Darrah, quietly saying “Get off of him.”
Darrah glared at Bianca hatefully, about to say something when Timoteo grabbed her hips and gave her a savage squeeze, succeeding in getting her attention back on him. His expression quite calm, he raised his eyebrows, saying “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry.” Darrah stared into his eyes for a few moments, as if scrutinizing him for any shred of dishonesty. When she was satisfied, she released his collar, sitting back down on the bench across from him. “I didn’t worry.” She flatly said, letting out a sniffle, staring off to the side. Her eyes started to glimmer, but nary a tear fell down her light cheeks. “Are you crying?” Bianca curiously asked. Darrah gave Bianca a look cold enough to freeze fire. “No. I’m. Not.” She firmly said, punctuating each word. The three went quiet, Timoteo and Bianca both knowing Darrah needed some time to calm down again, obviously lying through her teeth about her feelings. The carriage rolled on, closing in on the metropolis of Dattebayo...
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Fable : Fall of the Guild