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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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Real Family.
Fable : Fall of the Guild

Part VIII - "Witch-hunt"

By: Jesse Racine AKA Samson

Original Date Written: July 10, 2012

“...I don’t exactly feel comfortable with this idea of your’s, Tim. It’s kind of risky.” Darrah said, looking at him, her face rather serious. “I think it could work.” Bianca said. Darrah looked at her, her expression intact. “Well, yeah, it could work. I never said it couldn’t. I said it was risky. It could work, but it’d be easy for something to go wrong. If something goes wrong, it’ll be bloody.” “We won’t let that happen. Appearance-wise, the League members shouldn’t suspect a thing. And when it comes down to a fight, you two won’t be helpless. We’ll have the element of surprise.” “And if something does go wrong, we’ll be right in the middle of them.” Darrah said, looking at him as he finished speaking. Dattebayo was mere minutes away. The carriage driver had stopped the ride to let them know, Darrah using the opportunity to open the trunk she had had a servant put in the back of the carriage, revealing her arms and armour. Dressed up in her armour, her sword and shield resting over the bench beside her, she sat with her elbows to her knees, leaning over a little.
“I trust his plan. I’m not afraid.” Bianca said, looking at Darrah. Darrah’s eyes gleamed with annoyance as she looked back at Bianca. “I’m not afraid either. I just don’t like being helpless around a bunch of people that would want to execute me.” “Like I said, neither of you will be helpless. And even if you were, I wouldn’t let them do anything to either of you.” Timoteo said, making the both of them look over at him. His expression turned a little angry as he said “This won’t be a repeat of when those bandits captured us. Nobody’s getting touched, nobody’s getting hurt. I won’t let this plan get messed up.” Darrah and Bianca both glanced at each other, meeting the other’s eyes. Darrah’s face went peaceful, her eyes falling to the floor of the carriage. “...Well, alright.” She said, looking up and meeting his eyes again. “I trust you. I don’t have a better plan, anyway.” Darrah said, a little dismissively. “Do you have the rope, or will we need to find some around Dattebayo?” Timoteo asked.
Darrah nodded, turning to her left and beginning to rummage around in a sack of supplies she had. “No, I’ve got some. Brought it with the food, along with some other odds and ends...Didn’t know if we’d need them, so I just grabbed a bunch of things.” She pulled out a length of rope, handing it to him. Timoteo looked it over. The rope was around three meters long, more than enough for what he wanted to do with it. “Perfect, this’ll do.” He said. The carriage came to a slow stop. “We must’ve arrived.” Bianca murmured out. “We better do this in here, just in case the carriage is being watched.” Timoteo said, glancing back and forth between them. Darrah and Bianca both nodded in agreement. Bianca reached over to her cloak, resting over the bench beside her. Pulling out her firearm from a pocket inside, she loaded it up with a slug and some black powder from two little pouches she had, replacing the pouches back inside her cloak afterwards. She handed it to Timoteo, saying “Here you go.”
“I doubt you’ll be able to get off more than one shot.” Darrah commented. “That’s why she isn’t giving me her pouches of slugs and powder, too. I know I’m not going to have the chance for more than one shot.” Timoteo simply said, giving her a sidelong glance. Darrah made a bit of an annoyed face at him. Bianca turned her back to him in the carriage, bringing her hands behind herself, keeping her wrists close together over the small of her back. Timoteo brought the rope over, beginning to tie her wrists together. When he had tied a decent knot, Darrah handed him a small knife from a pack of food, meant for cutting pies and slices of bread. He used the knife to cut off the excess rope, leaving Bianca securely bound. Darrrah then turned her back to him as well, keeping one knee against her bench as she stood up a little. She brought her hands behind herself, letting him begin to tie her up. “Avo, this is humiliating...” Darrah muttered.
Timoteo looked at her in curiosity. “What, being tied up?” He asked. “Yes. And knowing I’m going to be dragged through the city makes it worse. I mean, look at me. Do I look like I’d be tied up easily?” “Then I won’t tell them I got you easily. I’ll tell them you put up a good fight.” “That’s better.” Darrah said, a little curtly. As Timoteo finished tying Darrah’s hands together, he said “You’ve given me another idea, though. The League’s stirred everyone up, around here. Bringing you out could make them mob us and try to humiliate the two of you. If the League has a little safehouse in Dattebayo, it might not even be in the poorer neighbourhoods.” “So?” Darrah asked. He cut off the excess rope, dropping it on the bench beside her. As he sat back down, she turned around and sat down on her bench, again.
“So, I should go out and ask around, spread the word that I’ve got some Heroes I want to turn in. Someone could point me in the right direction. It’ll cut down on the time I walk you two around, cut down on the embarrassment factor.” “I would prefer that, yes.” Bianca said, a bit quietly. Timoteo reached over and grabbed Bianca cloak, beginning to slip it on. “Alright, I’ll be back soon. Wow, this thing’s a bit heavier than I thought it was.” Timoteo said, looking at Bianca. Bianca watched him with a little smile, saying “It’s mostly the things I keep in the pockets.” Timoteo grabbed her firearm, quickly saying “Be back soon” before opening up the carriage door. Pulling up the cloak’s hood, he stepped out of the carriage, closing the door behind himself. He looked around, letting Bianca’s cloak cover him almost completely, concealing his identity. The sky was twinkling with stars, the moon washing pale light over the land.
He didn’t recognize the neighbourhood he was in, it was likely a few miles from the neighbourhood he grew up in. It was a charming little neighbourhood despite how rundown it was, but that could’ve just been Timoteo’s sense of nostalgia. Even if he didn’t recognize the neighbourhood, he still recognized it as part of his hometown. The dirt road the carriage was on led on for quite some distance, leading into the heart of Dattebayo. Every little while, however, the dirt road would split off to the right and left, leading down to another street, another neighbourhood. The homes around him were all made of wood, none of them looking very well cared for. Some were in varying states of disrepair, and some were little more than huts, crudely fashioned together from scrap pieces of wood. Some were similar to how his family had been, trying to make the best of an unfortunate situation. Despite residing in a poor neighbourhood and living in a small, cramped home, some took care of their homes as well as they could, even trying to pretty them up with things such as a flower gardens in their front lawns.
Few people walked the streets at that time of night, perhaps half a dozen or so. Timoteo slowly walked along the gravel road, taking a deep breath, looking around. It felt oddly comforting to be back home, but it wasn’t a comfort he wanted. An unwelcome warmth, a bittersweet feeling. He felt like he was really going back home, but he didn’t enjoy it, it was a home he had long put behind himself, one he had outgrown. Anybody who saw him and recognized him wouldn’t think of him as an adult, they’d view him as the child he had once been, not treat him or respect him like the man he had grown into. Stepping back into that old home was just like stepping back into the shoes of a child. Lost in his thoughts, he hadn’t even realized he was approaching a middle-aged man until he caught the man’s attention, looking at Timoteo peculiarly. Thanks to Bianca’s cloak, Timoteo figured the man likely felt wary, wondering if Timoteo intended to rob him.
Timoteo blinked, snapping himself out of his thoughts. “Excuse me, sir.” He said, catching the man’s attention. “Whaddya want?” The man asked, his hand straying towards his back pocket. He regarded Timoteo with suspicion, one eye narrowed a little, watching him keenly for any sudden movement. “I hear the League is here, in Dattebayo.” Timoteo said. The man’s hand slowed down. He didn’t stop watching Timoteo sharply. “That they are.” He simply said. “I have two Heroes I’d like to bring to them, and I want to bring them to the League directly. Do you know if they have a base around here, you know, somewhere they stay at?” The man sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets. “More of ‘em, eh? I wish the League would just bugger off and leave us alone. Dattebayo was doing fine until they showed up.” “Yes, I understand they’ve...Caused a bit of a stir.” Timoteo slowly said. The man nodded, looking hard into Timoteo’s hood, the darkness making it impossible for him to make out Timoteo’s features.
“Well, I know where they hang around. It’s in the center of the city, around the market. League was too good to hang around the outskirts, oh no. Too important. They had to get a place in the center of the town.” The man began to walk past Timoteo, muttering to himself, cursing the League’s existence. Timoteo slowly turned and headed back over to the carriage. Looking at the driver, getting his attention, Timoteo said “Take us to the center of the city, the marketplaces. League’s got their safehouse around there.” The driver nodded, waiting for Timoteo to get back in the carriage before putting his horses on the move. “Well?” Darrah asked, watching him get back inside the carriage. He pulled back the hood of the cloak, sitting beside Bianca. “The League’s got their hideout near the markets, in the center of the city.” He simply said. “Not much, but it’s a start.” He added. “I don’t like it. If there’s League sympathizers there, they might try to interfere if they hear a fight breaking out.” Darrah said. “You’re right. But if we can get back on the carriage quickly, your driver can get us out of Dattebayo in a hurry.” Timoteo said, raising an eyebrow slightly. “I guess.” Darrah simply responded, rolling her eyes.
When the carriage came to a stop again, Timoteo opened up the door, poked his head outside, and glanced around. This part of Dattebayo, he recognized. The houses here were much bigger and well-cared for, similar to the ones at Bowerstone. There were numerous wooden stalls standing around in the street, none of them attended by anybody at that time of night. Timoteo kept looking around, his eyes eventually falling on somebody, leaning against a building nearby. The man was staring at him, his arms crossed over his chest. Timoteo realized he was a League member when he noticed the man’s dark coat, undone and hanging open. Beneath the coat, he wore a dark blue shirt, his pants deep green in colour. Holstered at his side was a firearm. Timoteo leaned back into the carriage, pulling up the cloak’s hood as he said “I think there’s one of them out there, just keeping an eye on the marketplace. Just follow my lead and things should be fine.” He said.
Bianca and Darrah nodded slightly. Timoteo stepped out of the carriage, looking back inside, loudly saying “Get out here, now!” The League member nearby kept watching, narrowing his eyes as Bianca stepped out of the carriage, hands still tied behind her. Darrah came out struggling, Timoteo grabbing her roughly. “Let me go, bastard! Do you know who my father is?” Darrah shrieked. “I don’t give a damn who the fool is. You’re still gonna get what’s coming to you, Hero.” Timoteo angrily said. “Don’t fight it, it’s no use.” Bianca weakly said, looking at Darrah. The League member stopped leaning against the wall, beginning to walk over. Timoteo slammed Darrah’s side against the carriage, near the door. “You keep fighting like this, and I can’t guarantee you’ll even make it to the League in the first place! I’ll kill you right here in the damn street!” Timoteo loudly warned. Darrah’s hair in her face, she defiantly said “Try it! I’m not gonna die, this day!”
Bianca hung her head down, as if giving in. Timoteo looked over as the League member neared. “Hey, you! You’re League, aren’t you?” He asked. The man nodded, raising a hand, feeling it over his chin, running it over his stubbly beard. He looked at Darrah and Bianca severely. “Yes, I am. I take it you’ve brought these Heroes to us for a reward?” He asked. Timoteo grabbed Bianca and Darrah by an arm each, roughly pulling them closer to his sides. “You got that damn right. Could use the gold.” Timoteo greedily said. “I bet.” The League member slowly stated. Stepping closer to Bianca, he looked her up and down, thoughtfully saying “Well, this one’s definitely a Hero.” Walking over to Darrah, he stared into her angry eyes, saying “But, this one...How can I be sure this isn’t just some woman you’ve captured?” Timoteo chuckled. “She’s wearing armour, and I’ve got her sword and shield in the carriage.” “That doesn’t exactly mean she’s a Hero, but it’s not a good sign. Do you have her Guild Seal?”
“Seal?” Timoteo repeated, with confusion. The League member looked at him with a bit of exasperation. “Yes, her Seal. It’s a circular hunk of metal with the Guild’s logo on it, that funny-looking “S”. If she has one of those, she might as well be damned.” Timoteo shrugged. “Never saw one with her, but I’m telling you, she’s a Hero. Saw her break a hobbe’s jaw with barely a tap.” The League member kept looking Darrah up and down until Darrah spit in his face. The man’s jaw went tight. He whipped a hand up and slapped her as hard as he could across her face, knocking some of her hair over her features from the force of the blow. Timoteo’s eyes went furious, but he did nothing. The man wiped her saliva from his face, angrily saying “You know what, I don’t need any more proof that she’s a Hero. We’ll take her, anyway.” “That’s what I like to hear.” Timoteo remarked. The man turned and began to walk off, waving for Timoteo to follow him. “Let’s go, I’ll show you where we’re at.” He said, over his shoulder.
“Right.” Timoteo said, beginning to walk after him with Darrah and Bianca at his sides. As the four slipped between some buildings and began to walk down a dark alley, Timoteo released Bianca, reaching into the cloak and pulling out her obsidian dagger. Discreetly, he brought the dagger up between her hands and the small of her back, cutting through enough of the rope that it was held together by a mere thread. All Bianca had to do was give her bindings a good yank, and the rope would come apart. He did the same thing to Darrah before putting away the dagger, holding them both by their arms again. The man looked over his shoulder at them a second later, barely missing Timoteo’s actions. “It’s just down here.” He said, nodding off to the side. “Is this the only place you guys have got in Dattebayo?” Timoteo asked. “That’s privileged information. In other words, none of your damn business.” The League member responded, sounding suspicious.
“Sorry, just wondering.” Timoteo said. The League member looked over his shoulder at him, saying “This is the only place you need to know about. You get more Heroes or Hero sympathizers, you bring them here. We’ll take care of the rest. You get your gold, and you go on your way. We clear on that?” Timoteo nodded, narrowing his eyes a little in annoyance. “Crystal clear.” He said, keeping his tone calm. “Good.” The man forcefully said, looking forwards again. He led the three of them up to a dark wooden door, set in the back of a little unassuming home, the building looking just like the numerous others making up the alleyway. The League member knocked at the door in a specific pattern, doing a few rapid knocks before two slow knocks, followed by a few more rapid knocks. They waited for a few seconds before a few locks were audibly undone, the door pulling inwards. Standing there was another man, tall and with head shaved aside from a vertical strip, an intimidating crest of hair atop his head.
He wasn’t wearing the typical dark jacket of League members, a faint light flickering around him through the doorway. He looked at the other man before looking at Timoteo, Darrah, and Bianca. “Luka. Another two, I see.” The man said, beginning to stare hard at Bianca, in particular. The man that had been guiding the three, Luka, nodded sideways at Timoteo. “I found this guy bringing them in. Wants to turn them in for the reward.” The man looked at Timoteo with a smile, nodded at him, and said “Looking to make two hundred gold, huh? Easy money. Come on in. Bring your pets.” Darrah grit her teeth together at being called a pet, but Bianca didn’t react. Luka walked in before Timoteo, keeping the door open until the three of them had entered. Then, he shut the door, locking it up tight. The group stood in a decent-sized room, a plain wooden table off to the right, a few matching wooden chairs sitting around it. Numerous candles were placed in a bundle over the table, all lit, illuminating the room fairly well.
A painting or two were on the walls, Timoteo barely glancing at them. “This way.” The man said, Luka waving for them to follow, the two heading down a nearby hallway. Darrah glanced at Timoteo, the young mage looking back for a moment before beginning to guide the two along. The home seemed rather sparsely furnished, the hallway devoid of any sort of furniture or decoration, the trio being led through an empty room at the end of the hallway. They walked through the doorway and entered another room, seeing a few other individuals. Timoteo subtly glanced around. Four other people were in the room, making six League members in total. Two men were sitting on wooden chairs, reading books, one having a leg crossed over the other. A woman sat near a window, smoking from a wooden pipe, blowing the smoke out through the window. Another woman stood near a doorway off to the side, leaning against the wall beside it, watching the group walk in.
Only the men wore their League jackets, neither of the two women were wearing them. “Another two? The pens are getting full, Raphael.” The woman by the doorway said. “They’ll handle another two. And if not, who cares. Not like anybody important is getting hurt.” The man with the shaved head said. “We’re gonna need to make a shipment tomorrow. Clear some space.” One of the men reading a book said. The woman with the pipe glanced over, saying “I want to go, this time. Sitting around waiting for you guys to get back is damn boring.” “It’s not like we get to see the show, Caitlin. Nothing to get excited over.” Luka said. “Still.” The girl with the pipe muttered, looking back out through the window.
One of the men with a book, the only one in the room to be silent so far, looked up from over his book. When his eyes fell on Bianca, they widened a little. Bianca noticed his look, meeting his eyes. He lowered his book a little, beginning to slowly scan along her form, staring at her curves. She narrowed her eyes a little in reaction, looking away from him. “Jeez, this one looks like a knight. We’ll need to get her out of that armour before we put her in the pen. Just asking for trouble, leaving her in that.” The woman by the doorway said, beginning to walk over towards the three of them. “You’ll get me out of this over my cold, dead body.” Darrah muttered. Everyone caught her words, and it drew the attention of the room. “Hoh hoh, this kitty’s got fangs. Look out everybody, we’re dealing with a badass, over here.” Raphael mockingly said, turning around and looking at Darrah. The man with the book that had been sizing up Bianca looked at Darrah, chuckling sadistically.
Darrah’s face quickly grew red with anger. The girl that had been by the doorway walked closer to Darrah, abruptly screaming in her face. “Hero scum!! You wanna get dead in the next ten seconds? No? Then you’ll shut the fuck up and do what we say, when we say it!” Darrah began to smile a little, slowly clenching her hands into fists behind herself. “What about this one? She’s been awfully quiet.” One man with a book said, closing his book and dropping it to the floor as he stood up. Luka looked at Bianca, saying “Oh, her? No trouble from her. Nice and quiet since I met this guy, here.” “Shame. I’d have loved to teach her a lesson.” The second man with a book said, glancing along Bianca’s curves once more. “Pervert.” The woman with the pipe commented. The man who had dropped his book approached Bianca, looking down into her eyes. “The quiet ones make our lives easier, but they’re also boring. Are you gonna stay quiet the whole way to the Arena?”
Bianca looked back into the man’s eyes unflinchingly. “I was taught that a true lady never raises her voice.” Bianca quietly said. The man let out a laugh, Raphael laughing as well, Luka smirking a little. “True lady this.” The man said, suddenly whipping a hand over, slamming it up between Bianca’s thighs hard enough to almost lift her off her feet. He cupped her groin with such force that her eyes widened a little, Bianca flinching at the pain. Timoteo threw an arm out from within the cloak, brandishing Bianca’s firearm. Pointing it right in the man’s face, everyone was caught off-guard when Timoteo sprayed the man’s grey matter on to the wall behind him. Chaos erupted in the room. Darrah and Bianca both snapped their rope bindings, freeing themselves. Bianca quickly raised the slain man that had touched her, putting his corpse under her control. Before Luka or Raphael could draw their firearms, Darrah had punched them both in the face as hard as she could, breaking Luka’s nose, knocking them both to the ground.
The second man with a book, Caitlin, and the woman that had yelled in Darrah’s face, all scrambled to pull out their weapons. Timoteo tossed Bianca her obsidian dagger before he blasted a shot of Force Push into Caitlin, making her scream as she was shot through the window she had been sitting in front of. The man that had touched Bianca drew his firearm, shooting the woman that had yelled at Darrah. Darrah grabbed her firearm before she fell to the ground, shooting Raphael, finishing him off. Timoteo stomped on Luka’s face, grabbed his firearm, and shot the second man with a book in the stomach. He grunted in pain, falling backwards in his chair, crashing to the floor. Timoteo stomped on Luka’s face one more time before Darrah took over. Her power as a Hero of Strength, combined with her armour, let her stomp Luka’s face so hard that his jaw crushed, his face a bloody mess. Bianca released the man she had raised, letting his corpse collapse to the floor.
Walking over towards the man Timoteo had shot, she watched him hold his stomach, his hands planted over his wound. Breathing fast and shallow, he eyed his firearm, resting on the floor beside him. Bianca kicked it away before he could try grabbing it. Her face emotionless, she got down on a knee beside the man. Timoteo glanced around the room, making sure nobody was trying to sneak up on the trio from some other room. Darrah simply watched what Bianca did. Bianca stared into the man’s eyes, quietly saying “You were looking at me. You wanted to punish me.” The man laughed breathlessly. Bianca held up her obsidian dagger, her face still expressionless. “I’ll give you the sweet release.” Bianca murmured. Holding the man’s head still with her left hand, she had her palm pressed to his forehead, pressing his head back against the floor. “Rot in hell, Hero.” The man choked out, sputtering up blood. Bianca shot her right hand over in the blink of an eye.
Her obsidian dagger stabbed through his left eye, blasted through his socket, and jutted into the cargo of his skull. He went still. Darrah furrowed her brow a little. Bianca pulled her dagger free of the man, wiping it off on his jacket. “Are you okay?” Timoteo asked. Bianca stood back up, nodding a little. “I’ll be fine.” She quietly said, looking at him, beginning to approach him. “A little brutal, Bianca.” Darrah commented, looking at Bianca coolly. Bianca pointed at Luka’s body. “And stomping a man’s face in isn’t?” Bianca replied, raising an eyebrow at Darrah. “That’s different. He was still a threat. That other guy wasn’t, he was probably about to die, anyway.” “And I made it easier for him. Quicker.” Bianca simply said. Darrah narrowed her eyes, but dropped the subject.
Timoteo slipped off Bianca’s cloak, handing it to her, Bianca taking it with a quiet thank-you. “What about the girl with the pipe? Smashing her through a window couldn’t have killed her.” Darrah said. Timoteo quickly grabbed the firearm of the man Bianca had executed, rushing over to the window he had launched Caitlin through. Sure enough, he spotted her crawling along the street, looking wounded as she tried getting away. Timoteo took careful aim, taking a few seconds to line up his shot. When he fired, he hit Caitlin in the left side of her stomach, blowing through her clothes and slicing open part of her belly. She collapsed down on the ground with a light thud, no longer moving. “There.” Timoteo said, tossing the firearm out through the window. He handed Bianca her firearm, Bianca slipping it into a pocket inside her cloak. “Let’s find the pens these guys mentioned.” Timoteo said, walking through the doorway nearby.
Bianca and Darrah followed behind him, the three of them heading down another hallway, walking past a staircase that led up to a second floor. “Upstairs?” Darrah suggested. “Probably just bedrooms for the League members.” Timoteo said. They found a doorway in the same wall as the staircase, Timoteo opening it up, revealing a stone stairway leading downwards. “The basement.” Bianca gently said. “Makes sense to me.” Timoteo said, beginning to descend the stairs. Bianca let Darrah follow first before she started to descend, bringing up the rear. As they headed down the staircase into the cold earth, Darrah muttered out “Wish we had a candle, or something. It’s pitch-black down here.” “That can be easily remedied.” Bianca replied. A light suddenly washed over Timoteo and Darrah from behind, the crackling of fire sounding out. Darrah looked over her shoulder. Bianca was holding up a hand, a small sphere of fire twitching in her palm.
Darrah smiled a little, but said nothing. Timoteo saw the stone hallway continue to descend into darkness for several more steps before it reached an end. When they got to the bottom, he, too, held up a hand, using a fireball to offer light. They found themselves in a wide room, the walls, floor, and ceiling all dark stone. A groan came from across the room. “On an unrelated note, I’m a little surprised we killed all the League members without any of us getting a scratch.” Darrah muttered. “Maybe not a scratch, but a bruise, on the other hand...” Bianca mumbled out. Darrah smiled wryly at Bianca. Another groan came out. “Maybe they’re coming to burn us...” Timoteo heard someone mutter out. Timoteo began to cross the room, saying “Hello? The League members are dead, we’re here to set you free!” “What?” Someone responded, utterly shocked. Darrah and Bianca followed after him, Darrah saying “We’re looking for Tim’s family, but we’re not letting you all rot down here. We’re letting you go.”
“Tim? Timoteo?” Someone repeated. Timoteo rushed across the room until his and Bianca’s fire illuminated the pens. Made of iron bars, numerous cells were set in the walls on either side of the basement, along with one big pen-like cell against the far wall. About two dozen people were in the pen, most of them appearing to be asleep. A few individuals were in the cells to the right and left, and they, too, appeared to be sleeping. A young man, looking to be in his early twenties, stood near the door of the pen. Darrah and Bianca instantly noticed the family resemblance, just like they had with Susan. The man’s facial structure was similar to Timoteo’s, his brown hair thick, his eyes determined but warm. He was wearing a ratty brown shirt, his pants in no better condition, torn in numerous places. His eyes widened when he saw Timoteo. “Tim!” He loudly said, rousing a few others in the pen. Timoteo rushed up to the pen door, saying “Martin! Where’s dad?”
Martin grabbed at the cell bars, slowly hanging his head down. Timoteo stared at him for a few seconds before Martin muttered out “They took him in the last shipment...They sent him to the Arena three days ago. Only reason I wasn’t sent with him is because they don’t send everybody they have in every shipment...” Timoteo curiously said “The Arena? What for? Don’t tell me they’re going to force him to fight monsters and stuff!” Martin shook his head. “I don’t know what for, Tim. They just send people to the Arena when they’ve got enough of us, that’s all I know.” A young woman walked up beside Martin, saying “A-Are you gonna let us go?” Timoteo nodded. “Where’s mom?” Martin asked. “At Sundale. We’ll bring you to her.” Timoteo said, determined. “You’ll need the key, it’s-” “Just stand back.” Darrah said, walking up to the cell door. Martin jumped back when Darrah raised a foot, kicking hard at the cell lock. She didn’t break the door open, but she bent and twisted up the metal forming the lock, weakening it.
With another solid kick, she had the door open a few inches, the lock still holding strong. She rammed her side into it, knocking the door open entirely. By then, the ruckus had woken just about everybody in the cells, all of them disbelieving of what they saw, incapable of believing their good fortune. Martin stepped outside, some rushing out of the pen, fleeing immediately. Others were more cautious, wondering if everything was a sadistic trap by the League. Many stopped and thanked the Heroes profusely, some breaking down into tears. As Darrah broke open the other cells, Martin stayed and spoke with Timoteo. “I’m guessing mom found you, and told you about what happened.” He said. Timoteo nodded. “I don’t know what’s gonna happen to dad, but...I don’t think going to the League is a good thing.” Martin said. “You let me worry about that.” Timoteo quietly replied, his mind racing. Darrah had finished breaking open the cells, people still piling up the staircase as she walked over. “Hey, we need to get out of here, soon as possible. People are gonna start wondering why people are pouring out of this place.” She said, pointing over to the staircase. “Right. Let’s go.” Timoteo said, nodding.
When they got outside again, everyone was swarming away from the home, running off into the night surprisingly quietly. A few people were looking out from their windows, watching the event with curiosity. Timoteo, Bianca, Darrah, and Martin all got into Darrah’s carriage. The driver, knowing the plan, quickly sent the carriage down a nearby street, doing a few turns until he was heading back the way he had come. Martin explained to Timoteo everything that had happened, telling him Susan’s story, only with more details. He recalled how the League had dragged him and their father off to their safehouse, tossing them into the pen with, at the time, about a dozen others. When enough people had been put in the pen, the League members had come, escorting most of them out at gunpoint. They never came back, and it wasn’t until later that Martin learned people the League had been capturing recently were being sent to the Witchwood Arena.
He recalled how, typically, the people down in the pens had little contact with their League captors, only really seeing them when they were being given food. Sometimes however, they would come down for a sadistic visit, getting their kicks from taunting and mocking the captured individuals. “One of them, Howard, was a creepy hobbe-porker. When we were down there, we had to go to the bathroom in buckets. Sometimes, this Howard guy would come down and wait around for a girl to use the bucket. Didn’t matter how she was using it, he just liked watching. I hope you cut his throat.” “They’re all dead.” Timoteo simply responded. It took time, but Timoteo and Martin eventually began to have a truer reunion, asking each other about how things have been over the years since they last saw each other. Timoteo recounted his years at the Guild, Darrah usually the one to add in, Bianca having less to say about how Timoteo’s Guild years were.
Martin was rather interested in Timoteo’s Guild years, his explanation of how his own years were being somewhat short. “I hate to say it like this, but I don’t know how else to put it. Without a second kid, things were easier on mom and dad, but that doesn’t mean we lived in the lap of luxury. I got a job, worked since I was fifteen. Pay was crap, but I knew kids that were payed less for harder jobs. Got a few girlfriends, had my heart broken, started to love ale. Then the door gets kicked in by the League. You know the rest.” “I’m sorry my problem became your’s.” Timoteo simply said. “It’s not your fault.” Martin replied, giving a careless wave. Speaking in an almost reluctantly affectionate tone, Martin said “We missed you, bro. I brought up visiting you a couple of times to mom and dad, but they always shot the idea down. I never forgot you, none of us did.” “I heard. Doesn’t mean I believe it.” Timoteo flatly said. Martin looked at him with curiosity.
Darrah suddenly piped in, interrupting the brothers. “You guys had eight years to visit Tim. I know money was tight, but that’s a long time. I don’t believe you couldn’t scrap together enough gold to go see him in all that time.” Martin looked at her with indignant eyes. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful you came and saved us. But who the hell are you, and what makes you think you have any business butting in on our family affair?” Before Darrah could respond, Timoteo said “She’s a Hero, Martin. I’ve known her since I was sent there. She knows all about how you guys never visited.” “Doesn’t matter. This is between you and me.” Martin said, raising an eyebrow at Darrah. “My name’s Darrah, and I watched how lonely Tim got over the years. We were his family too, but we weren’t his blood, and he knew it.” Darrah said. Bianca slowly reached over into Timoteo’s lap, slipping her hand into his. He held her hand as Darrah firmly continued.
“He wanted to see his family, and I wouldn’t blame him if he started to feel abandoned. It’s like you were a part of his life he just had to leave behind, whether he liked it or not...And he did not like it.” Martin didn’t respond right away. “...I wouldn’t have been able to save up the money, alone. I had to contribute. It’s not my fault.” He eventually said. “I’m sorry, Tim. I wanted to see you, you’ve got to believe me.” He added. Timoteo slowly said “I want to, but it’s awfully hard to when I distinctly recall eight years going by, alone.” Martin went quiet for several seconds. He eventually just thanked Timoteo again for getting him out of the League’s clutches. Bianca suggested then that the group get some sleep, it was already well past midnight. Everyone agreed, Martin looking relieved that the subject was being dropped. Bianca wrapped her cloak around Timoteo and herself, using it like a blanket, letting them sit close on the bench. Darrah used a pack of supplies as a pillow, trying to sleep in her armour, having considerable difficulty. It took Martin a while to settle down to sleep, but he eventually did, using a sack of supplies for a pillow like Darrah...
Though the driver himself had needed sleep, he let the horses remain at a leisurely walk, letting them head back in the general direction of Sundale on their own. By the time Timoteo woke up, the carriage was already riding into Sundale. He slowly opened his eyes, feeling a little stiff from sleeping while sitting upright. Martin was already awake, he quickly noticed, chowing down on a freshly prepared sandwich. “You’re awake, finally. Here. Have a sandwich.” He heard Darrah say, Timoteo looking over. She was out of her armour, sitting there beside him in her dress. She smiled warmly, holding out a sandwich. He pulled aside Bianca`s cloak, letting it rest down in his lap. Bianca was still asleep it seemed, her head on his shoulder, one hand over his thigh. He took the sandwich from Darrah, taking a bite, tasting the strawberry jam ooze over his tongue, titillating his tastebuds. Darrah smiled when she saw how he enjoyed the flavour, glancing at Martin.
Martin looked at Timoteo, saying “You never told me your friend was so rich. I hear we’re going to some kind of mansion?” Timoteo glanced at Darrah as he said “Yeah, I guess we are. I’m sure you’ll have fun. Darrah will treat you well.” “You and your mother are welcome to stay at the estate for as long as you need. I can understand that, after already being pointed out as having a Hero in the family, as well as being freed from those League members, you might be...Reluctant to go back to Dattebayo any time soon.” Darrah said, her tone friendly. “I appreciate it. I’m sure I’ll find some way to repay you. I’m a worker, I can make myself useful.” He said, smiling. Bianca slowly awoke, the talking going on in the carriage rousing her. She blinked a few times, yawned, lifting her head up from Timoteo’s shoulder. “I smell strawberry.” She mumbled sleepily. “Want some?” Timoteo asked, offering her his sandwich. “Mm, okay.” Bianca cooed, taking the sandwich, enjoying a bite.
As the carriage rolled up to the estate, the gates were opened, the driver rolling the vehicle inside. When the carriage came to a stop, Darrah stretched, groaning out “Ohh, it’s good to be back home.” “I’m curious about how this place looks.” Martin said, beginning to open up the carriage door, stepping outside. “It might surprise you.” Timoteo warned, Bianca quietly eating the sandwich beside him, still cuddling up to his side under her cloak. When Martin stepped outside and got a look at the mansion, he stood stock-still, muttering out “Holy shhhiii...” Darrah chuckled, climbing out of the carriage. “Your mother is likely still in the infirmary. I’ll show you the way. C’mon, Tim.” Timoteo gave Bianca’s thigh a rub, beginning to stand up. She grabbed her cloak and stood up as well, holding the remainder of the sandwich between her teeth as she pulled her cloak on. The group stepped away from the carriage as several servants rushed out, beginning to collect the bags of supplies as well as Darrah’s trunk of equipment.
Darrah looked at Timoteo and smiled, saying “As always, you’re welcome to stay as long as you want, Tim. You should spend some time with your mother and brother.” Darrah slowly looked at Bianca, her smile weakening just slightly. Slowly, and obviously a little begrudgingly, Darrah said “And...If you really insist...Bianca can stay, too. But she can’t leave her room, she needs to take her meals up in her chamber. I can’t be having her cause a stir.” Timoteo glanced at Bianca. Bianca’s eyes were a bit unsure. Timoteo looked back at Darrah, saying “Thanks Darrah, but...We’ve got a problem of our own we need to deal with, back in Darkwood. I don’t think we’ll be able to stay.” Darrah looked at him with curiosity and surprise. “I didn’t know. What’s going on?” “Just a little witch-hunt.” Timoteo simply said, raising an eyebrow. Darrah slowly nodded, mumbling “Mhm.”
Martin looked at Timoteo with surprise. “Tim, you’re not going to stick around with us? What’ll I tell mom about you, about dad?” “You let me worry about dad. I’ll see if I can’t do something. You’ll think of something to say to mom.” Timoteo simply said. Martin slowly nodded. “Well...Alright, if you say so.” He said. Timoteo offered his hand, Martin glancing at it before reaching out, the two shaking hands. He pulled out his Guild Seal, afterwards. “We’ve gotta get back.” He said, reaching over, holding Bianca’s hand. Darrah stepped closer to him and hugged him for a few moments, slowly releasing him as she said “Alright...I’ll see you around. Don’t hesitate to come up here if you’re in trouble.” He nodded once, a moment later disappearing in a shimmer of blue light, Bianca disappearing along with him...
Timoteo and Bianca walked into Grizelda’s cottage, Bianca quietly shutting the door behind herself. She gave Grizelda a call, just to see if she had returned. After a few seconds with no answer, Timoteo said “She must not be back, yet. I’m glad we got through Darkwood without running into any Witchspotters.” “Mhm.” Bianca mumbled out, in agreement. Bianca stretched and yawned silently, murmuring out “I didn’t sleep that well, in the carriage...” Timoteo rolled his head around, saying “Yeah, I’m a bit stiff...” “I woke up in the night a few times. The carriage kept waking me, it was hard to sleep when everything was moving...” “Let’s get some sleep, then. I could use a little more.” He said, bringing a hand to the small of her back, beginning to walk with her towards her bedroom. Bianca smiled a little, murmuring out “Alright...But, Tim, what about your father? Are we going to try and save him from the League?” Timoteo slowly said “I don’t know. The Arena’s a big place. I’ve seen drawings of it, heard people talk about it...It’s like a fortress. If the League’s taking it, it could have an army there. I want to, Avo, I want to...But I don’t know if it’d be suicide.”
He looked over at her, walking into her bedroom with her. “I need to think of you. I need to think of the others. I can’t throw myself into a fire if I can’t put it out.” “So...We’re just going to let him die?” Bianca quietly asked. Timoteo went quiet. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to teleport to Knothole Glade and storm the Arena. But, he had a sinking feeling that somehow, some way, trying would mean the death of him. And not just him; others would die too because of his foolishness, people he cared about. If he had to accept abandoning his father to the League, or worrying about himself dying and the people he cared about joining him, he’d rather lose one person than several more. He had been quiet for several seconds before Bianca reached up, gently stroking his cheek. “It’s probably for the best...It could be a League trap. They could be prepared for anyone trying to free their loved ones. It...It might just be for the best.”
Timoteo stepped away from her, walking over towards her bed. “Maybe. But that doesn’t make it easy. Even if I haven’t seen him in years...He’s still my father. And the League has him, all because of me.” “It’s not your fault.” Bianca gently said, pulling her cloak off, draping it over the chair before her desk. Walking closer to him, she said “You can’t control what happened. You can’t blame yourself for what happened.” “I can. He got taken because I’m a Hero, because I went to the Guild.” “From what you’ve told me, you didn’t feel like you had much of a choice in the matter.” Bianca said, bringing a hand to his back. “Still.” He said, slowly turning and looking at her. “I’m not seeing my mom any more, I’m not seeing my brother any more...I could’ve stayed up there and spent time with them, and I could be chasing after my dad, but...I’m not.” He sat down on the edge of her bed, his eyes weary. “They don’t really feel like family any more, but Darrah was right. The Guild became my family, but they were my blood. I wanted things to be right. I wanted them to visit. And when I finally had the chance to see them again, I just...Brushed it off.”
Bianca sat down beside him, her expression concerned. “I’m letting my dad die. How can I explain that to my mom, or Martin? What will I say the next time I see them? I’m sure I’m going to, some day. Do I just say I failed, or that I turned into a coward?” “You’re not a coward, Tim!...” Bianca quickly said. “I want to do something to help him, but...I get this feeling that if I do, I’m not gonna make it back...That I might not even get to help my dad, anyway...And when I think about dying, I think about you, and...” Timoteo stopped himself, blinking once or twice, his eyes starting to glimmer a little. Bianca reached over, slipping her arms around his shoulders. She pulled him closer, smothering his face down into her bosom. He felt like chuckling, telling her he didn’t need the comfort, but he knew he’d be lying if he spoke such words. He hugged her around her waist, closing his eyes, feeling her warm pillows press into his face. “You are not a coward...I know who you are, Tim...” Bianca murmured out.
“Family is more than blood, I know that very well...I don’t know if I’d consider my parents family, if I had been at the Guild for years and they never visited, like you...I don’t blame you for spending little time with them...It sounded to me like they could’ve seen you, but didn’t bother, and once you confronted them, they felt ashamed and said it just would’ve cost too much.” “Mm.” He mumbled out, in halfhearted agreement. “I’m here for you...I want to help...” She cooed. He raised his head from her chest, lightly saying “You’re helping enough, just by being here.” Bianca smiled a little, meeting his eyes. They shared a tender kiss, then another, before they began to undress.
A huge room, circular in shape, the floor dusty dirt. Men march in, kicking up choking clouds of dust. The dozens of men and women up in the stands around the room don’t care, they’re above the dust, looking down like vultures. They scream and cheer, clapping furiously. The men are dragging someone out into the middle of the room. The sky above is cloudless, the sun watching in all it’s fiery fury as the man is thrown to the ground in the middle of the Arena. The patrons begin applauding louder. A League member walks out from a nearby doorway set in the stone walls, brandishing a firearm. “Here we have him, folks! The father of a Hero, brought here today to die for your viewing pleasure!” A loud voice booms, announcing the start of the event. The crowd keeps clapping. The League members walks up behind the man on the ground. He gets up on his knees.
His father, his hair turning gray with age, a thick gray moustache making him look rather sophisticated. He was wearing mere scraps, half-naked, bruised and beaten before being brought out for the show. He looks to the sky. “You left me here, Tim! This is your fault! Why didn’t you do anything?!” He loudly proclaims. The League member presses the muzzle of his firearm against the back of the man’s head, squeezes the trigger, and-
Timoteo’s eyes snapped open. He felt dead tired, so he knew he hadn’t slept for as long as he could’ve. Bianca was still in bed, asleep, judging from her slow, peaceful breathing. He was spooning with her under the covers, her soft, curvy backside pressed into his loins, Timoteo having an arm draped over her hip, his hand on her smooth tummy. He blinked a few times. The nightmare was still vivid in his mind. He knew he wouldn’t be able to fall asleep, not for a little while, anyway. Slowly, quietly, he slipped out of Bianca’s bed, letting her sleep on in peace. Just in his underwear, he figured he could make himself something to eat, perhaps heat up the rest of the stew Bianca had made earlier on. He quietly opened her bedroom door, shutting it behind himself before he began to walk out towards the living room. His expression turned perplexed when he heard the fireplace crackling, Timoteo slowly walking out into the room. He was given quite the surprise when he saw Grizelda sitting there, reclining in her usual chair, sipping apple cider. She looked over at him and smiled a little, glancing along him. “Hello, Tim. Keeping well?”
“Er...” Timoteo mumbled, a little embarrassed about her seeing him in his underwear. She apparently clued in to this. She smiled more and said “I don’t mind. In fact, I think I’d like to speak with you. Take a seat.” He slowly walked over to Bianca’s chair, sitting down. Grizelda stared into the fire, a black cauldron hanging over the flames, bubbling sounds coming from it. Timoteo watched as her smile died, her expression turning surprisingly serious. “I’m not going to waste time with idle talk.” She coolly said. Timoteo blinked. He didn’t think he had ever seen Grizelda so serious. “Did I do something wrong?...” He thought. Grizelda looked over at him and said “Darkwood won’t be safe much longer. A few days, at the most. I was coming back from the Chasm of Blood when I ran into those Witchspotters.” Timoteo went pale. Grizelda looked back into the fire. “I came up behind them and asked them if they were lost, if they were trying to get to Barrow Fields. When they saw me, they panicked and pulled out their firearms. I killed the ones that tried shooting me. Two of them ran. I found notes on the dead ones, warrants for my head.”
“I know. Bianca and I found a dead one, not long ago. We found the warrant he had.” He slowly said. Grizelda nodded, taking a sip from her glass. Still staring into the fire, her face went emotionless. “I don’t know how many men will storm Darkwood, but it’s going to make this place much more dangerous in the weeks to come. I’m not leaving. This is my home, it’s been my home for decades, and I refuse to let some arrogant fools with firearms put me on the run.” “What will you do if they find this place?” He asked. Grizelda raised her eyebrows and lightly said “I have other homes. There is much I’m willing to do to survive, but I don’t want Bianca to have to worry about it.” Looking at him, Grizelda asked “Speaking of her, what’s she up to?” Timoteo put his elbows to his knees, his eyes on the floor. “She’s asleep.” He lightly said. Grizelda nodded faintly, looking back into the fireplace. There was a long period of silence, lasting well over a few minutes.
Finally, Grizelda said “...I want you to take Bianca up to Snowspire. She’ll be safer there than she will be here, now. I don’t want her to live with the fear of waking up with a firearm in her face. I don’t want her to live with the fear of thinking that she could suddenly die, any day.” Timoteo slowly looked up to Grizelda. “What about Octavia?” He asked. Grizelda raised her chin a little. Slowly, almost knowingly, she said “Something tells me Octavia will try returning to the Chasm of Blood any day, now. When that day comes, I’ll tell Bianca, and she can handle it as she chooses. She can confront her mother herself, or she can let me handle it. Either way, I, too, want to be there. At the very least, I won’t let her mother try escaping again.” Timoteo nodded lightly. “Will you tell her that yourself, or are you leaving? Will I have to tell her?” He asked. Grizelda quietly said “I will stay. I’ll tell her myself of my decision. She won’t like it, but it’s for the best. I don’t want her exposed to the full force of this Witchspotters nonsense. Vincent Hopkins had better hope his lackeys don’t annoy me too deeply, otherwise I may see fit to tracking him down. The day I get burned at the stake is the day a balverine kisses the moon.”
Timoteo smiled a little, but it died a moment later. “Darkwood is Bianca’s home, too. She’s already lost two homes. She won’t want to lose this one, too.” He quietly said. “I know...I know that.” Grizelda slowly said. “She’s going to want to stay. She’ll worry about you.” He said, raising an eyebrow lightly. “I know she will. But, she can’t. I don’t know how my resistance towards these Witchspotters will go. It all depends on their numbers, I suppose. I’m confident I will repel them, but I don’t want Bianca to worry about that. She’s strong in her own right...But she’s more fragile than I am. Wiping out these Witchspotters may bring down the League on Darkwood, and from the things I’ve heard about the League on my days of travel to and from the Chasm...” Grizelda shook her head gently, slowly saying “...It...Would be a bigger challenge. I don’t want to have the fear of knowing that, should I fall, Bianca would be next...That she might die in an even worse way. I don’t want to fight with the knowledge that if I fail, I won’t be able to defend her.” Timoteo was quiet, unsure of what to say in response. Grizelda was silent too, but eventually, she looked over at him, gazing at his face. “What’s on your mind?” She asked. Timoteo blinked in surprise. He didn’t lie.
“My father...He was taken by the League. I rescued my brother with Bianca and Darrah, but my father was already gone. He’s been taken to the Witchwood Arena.” Grizelda’s expression turned curious. “Whatever for?” She asked. Timoteo shrugged. “I don’t know. An execution, likely.” He quietly said. “I see.” Grizelda softly said. “I’m sorry. It must be hard for you.” She added. “I want to do something to help him, but I don’t think I’d get away with it. The Arena was a big place. The League might be using it like a headquarters, or something. At the very least, if they’re taking people there, it’ll be like a prison...Tons of guards, all with firearms...” “Don’t throw your life away. I can understand your conflict. It may not be easy, but in all reality, it may be for the best to just accept the loss.” Grizelda said, rather quickly and easily. “That’s what I’m trying to do. I thought it’d be easier than this.” He muttered. Grizelda slowly drained her glass, setting it down on the table beside the both of them.
“I want, and need, you alive, Tim. Heroes face a dark time. I’ve never been one to hold allegiance with your Guild, but the League aims to wipe out every trace of Heroes, themselves. Children with Heroic capabilities being killed, families of Heroes being executed...The League is evil. Truly horrendous. I’ve heard more than a few stories from travellers on my days away from the cottage.” Grizelda began to stand up. “I need you to protect my Bianca. I need you to look after her, and keep her safe from harm.” “She’s not weak. She can take care of herself.” Timoteo said, raising an eyebrow lightly. Grizelda walked around her chair, taking her glass. “True, but she’ll be all the stronger with your protection.” “I know, I didn’t mean to say I wouldn’t, I just...” Timoteo started, Grizelda shushing him with a little titter. “I know what you meant.” She simply said. Walking towards the hallway, she said “She needs you. And I need you to keep her happy, safe. She deserves it. And making sweet love to her whenever you can wouldn’t hurt.”
Timoteo slowly began to blush. Grizelda chuckled, walking off down the hallway. She returned a minute later, her glass refilled with apple cider, a second full glass in her other hand. She handed him the glass as she took her seat again, the two of them taking sips from their glasses. “Once you two leave for Snowspire, which I hope will be shortly after she wakes up, I’m leaving her fully in your care. Once you go to Snowspire, I’m entrusting her to you entirely. I know you’ll protect her with your life. I would very much prefer it if she would stay here...But Darkwood won’t be as much a safe haven for her as it once was.” Grizelda crossed one leg over the other. “I hope that I can one day frighten the Witchspotters and League enough that they’ll learn to leave Darkwood alone. I hope that I can, some day, make Darkwood safe enough for my little Bianca to come back. But that might not be for a while, and until then, I need you to be vigilant. I get the feeling that the League may not keep their eyes from the Northern Wastes much longer.”
Timoteo slowly nodded. Grizelda looked at him and smiled a little. “I owe you a great deal, Timoteo. You’ve done much for Bianca, and, in turn, done much for me. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, you need but to ask.” “You can start by not letting yourself get killed. You’re Bianca’s real mother.” He said, looking her in the eyes. Grizelda smiled a little. “I suppose you could see things that way, especially after the things Octavia’s done.” “Family’s more than blood.” Timoteo said, thinking over what Darrah had said to Martin. Grizelda was quiet. She blinked a few times. She started to smile a little more. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. I certainly love Bianca.” She quietly said. “Then keep yourself safe. I’ll take her to Snowspire, and I’ll do what I can to make things safe for us...But don’t have her lose you, too.” He urged, raising his eyebrows a little. “I’ll do what I can, but I make no promises. Should the worse come to pass, I don’t want to be made a liar.” Grizelda stated, looking over to his eyes.
“Good enough.” He replied, leaning back in his chair. Grizelda took another sip from her glass before uncrossing her legs and standing up, saying “Now, enough of that unfortunate topic. I see Bianca made some stew before I came, I’ve been heating it up. Are you hungry? Let’s eat.”
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Fable : Fall of the Guild