Dewsbury Tales - Avery Bennett
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Avery Bennett |
Avery is currently in his room, a small place with little furniture. Avery has a bed, a wardrobe, a bookshelf, and a desk. Avery is sitting at his desk, thinking about what they should do with his life.
“I need to get out of this city,” Avery mutters as they stand up.
Avery begins to think of potential ways to leave the city. Avery could try to sneak out at night, though the town has guards patrolling at all times, and they would likely get caught. Avery could also try to convince some of his friends from the guild to leave with them, though they would most likely refuse. The safest way would be to wait until the annual Dewsbury Fair, where many people from other cities come, and the guards relax their watch over the city.
Avery decides that the best way to escape would be to convince some of his friends from the guild to leave with them. Avery knows that the city is planning on raiding a caravan coming from the Kingdom of Tulan soon, so they decide to wait until then to convince them.
A week passes, and the day finally comes. Most of Avery’s friends in the guild have come to his house, curious as to why they wanted to speak with them.
“Alright, I didn’t want to do this here because it would cause problems in the guild, but I’m leaving, and I wanted some of you to come with me,” Avery says.
“What?! Why?” One of the rogues questions.
“I’ve just decided that I don’t want to be part of the guild anymore. I’ve got my reasons, and they’re good enough for me, so I’m leaving. I’d like some of you to come with me.”
There's an awkward silence as Avery’s friends try to process what they say. One of them, a young man with curly brown hair, steps forward.
"I'll go," Heath Lindone says.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I've been having doubts about the guild for a while now. The way we just bully people without reason, it just doesn't seem right."
"Alright then, I'll take you with me."
"I'm sorry, but I can't follow you down this path." Nara Cooke, another friend, says.
"Why not?" Avery asked.
"Because if we leave, we're deserters. We'd be executed for treason."
"They wouldn't waste the money to go after every single deserter. They need people to guard the city. They'll only go after the big names."
"I'm not taking that chance. I'm not a traitor."
Avery sighs, then looks at the rest of his friends. One by one, they all refuse to come with them. Frustrated, Avery stood up.
"Fine. Stay here and rot. I'm leaving now."
Avery says, "Heath, do you care to join me? "
Heath nods. "I'm ready to go whenever you are."
Avery smile. "Alright, let's get out of here."
The pair of them pack a few belongings and sneak out of their houses, leaving notes for their parents explaining that they’re going and that they shouldn't try to find them. Avery has been planning this for a while now and has enough supplies to last the two of them a week.
Avery says, "We are going to have to buy more food and supplies at some point, but this should be enough to get us started."
Heath nods. "Alright, let's get going."
They set off on their journey to the city of Dewsbury. Avery and his friend have a lot of fun along the way, laughing at each other's jokes and taking in the sights. Avery has never been out of his village before, so everything is new and exciting to them. They pass through a few small towns, where they stop and restock on supplies. They’re not sure how far away Dewsbury is, but they know they’re getting closer when they start seeing large stone towers on the horizon in the distance.
"We must be getting close," Avery says.
"I guess so," Heath says. "I hope there's good work there as well. I'd like to earn enough to buy a house."
"Don't worry. I’m sure there will be."
Heath smiles. "I know there will be. I'm with the best thief in the village."
Avery blush. "I'm not sure if that's true, but I'm glad you have confidence in me."
The two of them continue on their way. It's nightfall by the time they reach Dewsbury, and the city is vast. Street vendors line the streets, selling food of all kinds. Avery has never seen so much food in one place before. People bustle to and fro, going about their business. The guards are numerous, and they see several patrols marching up and down the streets.
"This place is huge," Avery says.
"Let's find an inn."
Avery follows Heath through the streets, and eventually, they find one that looks nice enough. The pair head inside, and the owner, a short man with a balding head and a large mustache, looks up from the desk he's sitting at. "Hello! How may I help you?"
"Do you have any rooms available for rent?"
"I have one room left, yes. It'll be five gold coins for one night."
"Okay," Avery says, pulling out his coin pouch and handing him the money. He gives Avery a key and shows them to their room. They sleep there for the night.
The following day, Avery and Heath head out to explore the city. They start by heading towards the center of town, where the castle is located. Avery stands and stares at it in awe. It is three times as large as their village's tavern and ten times as large as Avery’s house. Avery can't believe something so big exists.
"Come on," Heath says. "There's not much to see. It's the same as any other castle."
Avery shrugs and follows him. After a few hours of exploring, they end up at a park, where many people are gathered. In the center of the park is a stage with a podium on it, and behind that, a makeshift fighting ring. A man on the platform is talking to the crowd, who is eagerly awaiting the show.
"Welcome one and all to Castle Hill's very own Arena!" The man says enthusiastically. "I am Peter, and I will be your host for the fights today. We have an extraordinary event for you all today. Our first fighter is a self-trained warrior who has never lost a fight! He was almost a knight but failed to follow orders one time too many. Let's give a warm welcome for Gannon!."
The crowd cheers as a man walks out from the stage's back and into the fighting ring. He's wearing leather armor and carries a sword and a shield.
"And now, to face off against Gannon, we have a real monster. He stands at eight feet, six inches tall, and weighs over five hundred pounds. He comes from the darkest and deepest parts of the jungle but now makes his home here in Dewsbury. Let's give a warm welcome to the savage, the monster, the one and only... Zal!"
A huge, hairy beast-man walks out from the back of the stage and into the ring. He's completely naked, with long black hair all over his body and green skin. He has large fangs and walks on two feet like a man but looks more like an animal. The beast looks around at the crowd, snarling.
Avery looks at Heath, who is grinning ear-to-ear.
Avery looked at the monster and then at his friend. "Heath, I don't think this is a good idea."
"Come on. They’ll be fine! Just trust me on this one."
The fight begins with a roar from the crowd. Avery sighs and takes a seat. The crowd cheers as the two fighters step into the ring. Gannon takes his position on one side while Zal stands on the other.
"Come on! Kill him!" Someone in the crowd yells.
Zal leaps forward, swinging his fists. Gannon rolls out of the way and draws his sword. He swings it at Zal's leg, but he misses and gets a blow to the shoulder. Zal grabs Gannon by the head and smashes his face into his knee. He drops to the ground, and Zal stomps on his sword hand. He screams and drops the sword. Zal raises his foot and stomps on his hand, crushing it. Gannon screams in agony, and Zal grabs him by the head and rips it off with one quick motion. The crowd goes silent for a moment before erupting into cheers.
"And there you have it, folks! Our very own savage beast has claimed another life! Give it up for Zal!"
Avery stood up. "I'm not watching this," they say and start walking away.
"Avery! Where are you going?"
"I'm getting out of here,” Avery says and leaves. “I'll see you later."
Avery walks around the city for a while before deciding to head back to the inn. As they walk into their room, they sigh and sit down on their bed. "Why the hell did I think that this place would be any better than the last?" Avery wondered aloud. They hear a knock on his door and stand up to get it. When they open it, Avery finds a young woman with long brown hair and a pretty face. She smiles at them. "Hey there. I'm Rose. I'm staying in the room down the hall. I saw you looked pretty upset when you returned to the inn this afternoon, and I was wondering if you'd like to go get a drink with me in the tavern."
Avery looks at her for a moment, then nods. "Sure, I could go for a drink."
She smiles. "Great! I'll meet you in the tavern in a few minutes."
Avery heads to the tavern and finds a table in the corner. They sat down and waited for Rose. A few minutes later, she walks in and sees them sitting at the table. She walks over and sits down across from Avery.
Avery says, "So, are you in the habit of meeting strangers for drinks?"
"Only the cute ones." She winks at Avery.
"Oh, well then, I should be buying you a drink every night."
She laughs. "I might take you up on that offer."
Avery placed his hand on top of hers. "So Rose, what do you do for a living?"
"I'm a seamstress. Or rather, I will be once I get my store."
"Oh? So you're here looking for some investment?"
She nods. "I came to this city to seek investors. I have a large plot of land just on the edge of the city that I plan to build a huge store on."
Avery smile. "That's great. I think I know just the man for your investment."
"Oh? Is he a wealthy investor?"
"He's the wealthiest man in the city. King Alistair himself."
"Really? You think he'd be interested?"
"I don't see why not. I mean, especially if he is completely unaware of his charity."
"I don't follow."
"Well, I mean, if we just take the money from the king without his knowledge, you could have your store."
"Stealing from the king?"
"Borrowing."
"I don't know..."
"Trust me. I’ve done this before. The king has so much money he doesn't even know what to do with it. He won't miss a little gold."
"Well... okay. But Just to be safe, what if we just borrow a little gold at first? That way, if the king notices anything amiss, then we will know if stealing a significant amount will be worth the risk."
"That sounds smart. I need to speak to my colleague, Heath, about it, but I am sure he will be interested."
"When do you want to meet again?"
"How about tomorrow night?"
"Okay. Same time, the same place."
They finish their drinks, and she leaves. Avery heads back to the inn and goes to bed. They woke to see Heath stumbling into the room, obviously highly intoxicated. "Heath! What the hell, man? I thought you were dead or kidnapped!"
"I... I am... not used to drinking..." he slurs, collapsing on his bed.
Avery shakes his head and laughs at Heath.
The following day, Avery and Heath discuss the potential risks and rewards of stealing money from the king for Rose's clothing store. Eventually, they decide that it is worth the risk. They meet with Rose and tell her that they are willing to help her.
They spend the next few weeks scouting out the king's castle, looking for the best way to break in and steal the gold.
One night, they find a small cellar window that leads into a cellar that seems to have no guards. Heath says he thinks that the cellar could lead to a series of tunnels under the castle, and those tunnels should lead us to the Royal Treasury.
They meet Rose at the tavern that night and tell her the good news. She hugs them and expresses her gratitude for their help excessively. Avery almost feels a bit awkward, but they don't push her away.
"So, when do we break in?" she asks.
"Tonight," Avery said. "The guards change in a few hours, so we should enter then."
"Great!" she says. "I'll see you then."
She leaves, and Avery looks at Heath. "She gets nicer and nicer each time we meet."
"I know, right?" Heath says. "I'm starting to think she may like you."
"I'm not so sure if she's even sure of what I am. How could she like me?" Avery says.
"Just go with it. It's easier that way."
"I guess..."
That night, they enter the tavern. Rose spots us and waves us over to her table. "Hey, I'm glad you two could make it!" she says.
"We're here for business, not pleasure," Avery says. "Let's get started."
They explain their plan to Rose, who nods along. "That sounds good," she says. "Do we have everything prepared?"
"Yes. We are planning to head out soon."
"Actually, I was wondering if I could come with you guys. I mean, I don't want to sit around waiting around here for you guys to come back. I want to help."
"Are you sure?" Avery asked. "This is going to be dangerous."
"I can take care of myself," she says.
"Okay then. The more, the merrier."
Avery, Heath, and Rose gather their equipment and head out to the king's castle. As they walk, they see a group of guards marching through the streets, carrying spears and wearing chainmail armor. Rose notices Avery staring at them.
"What?" she asks.
"Nothing," Avery said. "I'm just not used to seeing so many guards."
"Well, that's because the king has been increasingly paranoid lately. He says there are people in this city who hate him and are planning to kill him."
"That doesn't seem too far-fetched," Avery says.
"I know, right?" Rose says.
Eventually, they reach the king's castle. Avery, Rose, and Heath sneak around to the back, where they find the cellar window. Avery opens it and climbs in, followed by Heath, who pulls Rose in. The three stand up, and Rose looks around.
"So... where's the treasury?" she asks.
"We don't know," Avery admitted. "We haven't gotten that far in the plan yet."
"What?" Rose asks, confused. "Why not?"
"We planned to scout out the castle first," Avery says. "To see where the best places to break in are."
"You didn't know where the treasury was?"
"No, we have no idea where it is."
Rose shakes her head and looks upset.
Avery sighs and sits down. "I'm sorry, Rose. We will find it, though. I promise you that."
"I... I don't know what to say, guys," Rose says. "I mean, this is a really important thing. I came to you with this because I trusted you, and I assumed you had this all planned out."
"We do," Avery says. "We just need to plan it better."
"No, I don't think you do," Rose says. "I think you're just as lost as I am. Maybe even more."
Avery says, "We will figure this out. Let's see what we can find. We need to be sure not to be seen by anyone."
"We won't," Avery says. "We'll be fine."
"I... I guess we don't have much choice, do we?" Rose says.
Rose sighs, and they begin their search. The three wander the halls of the castle, searching every room they come across. Most of them are empty, but some contain guards. They avoid these rooms, not wanting to risk running into anyone.
"This is taking too long," Rose says after an hour. "There are too many guards around. We're never going to find it like this."
"We just need to be careful," Avery says.
"I'm tired of being careful," Rose says. "I'm going to get myself into trouble one day being so careful."
Avery sighs and nods. Rose seems to be a bit of a drama queen at times.
"Fine, let's go. We will find another way to help you get the money for your store," Avery says.
Avery turns and walks away from the room they're in. Rose and Heath follow. They sneak down the hallway, passing a few guards along the way. Eventually, they reach a dead end.
"Uh... guys?" Rose says. "How are we getting out of here?"
Avery looked around. There's a window at the end of the hallway, but it's closed and barred shut.
"There's a window over here," Avery says.
Avery walks over to the window, and Avery and Heath climb through it. Avery helped pull Rose out of the window. Once she's out, Avery looks around outside. They’re at the edge of the castle, with a steep hill leading down and away from the court. They walk down the hill and away from the castle.
"That was actually kind of fun!" Rose says.
"Yeah, I had fun."
"So, what's the plan now?" Heath asks. "Rose, you still don't have the money for your store."
"I know that," Rose says. "I'm still thinking about how to get it."
"We could rob another store," Avery says.
"No, we can't do that," Rose says. "We're not doing that ever again."
"Then what are we going to do?" Avery asked.
Rose looks at Avery, then at his hands. She reaches out and grabs Avery’s hands, pulling them toward her chest.
"What are you doing?" Avery asks, confused and a little nervous.
"What does it look like?" Rose asks.
She leans forward and kisses Avery on the lips. They're surprised by this and don't react for a moment. Then, Avery begins to kiss her back, closing his eyes. Avery put his arms around her and held her close to them. The two kiss passionately for at least a minute as she runs her hands through his hair.
Then, she pulls away, looking into Avery’s eyes.
"Um, hey guys. I'm still here, by the way," Heath says. "Can we return to figuring out the plan now?"
"What do you think we should do, then?" Avery asked.
"I think we should look for a job or perhaps jobs," Heath suggests. "I mean, I know Rose wants to build and open up her store, but we need money for that."
"I suppose that's true," Rose says. "What kind of job were you thinking about?"
"I don't know. I'm not from this city. I don't know anything about what's available."
Rose says, "I think there's a place called Besslow Farm that's looking for workers. It's not too far from here."
"What does one do at a farm?" Avery asked.
"They grow crops, I think," Rose says. "It's hard work, but it's honest."
"I don't want to be a farmer," Avery says.
"Well, there's also the option of whoring."
"Hey! Don't knock it till you've tried it!" Avery says, laughing. Heath bursts out laughing so hard tears come out of his eyes.
"I mean, I wouldn't want to, but I'd be willing to if I needed to," Rose says.
"I'm sure you would," Avery says, laughing. "But let's keep whoring as our plan b."
The three return to the tavern and sit down with their drinks at a table.
"I'm not sure if I want to work on a farm," Avery says. "What else is there?"
"There's also mining," Rose says. "They're always looking for more miners."
"Do they dig holes in the ground and then fill them up again?" Avery asked.
"Um... in a manner of speaking, yes," Rose says. "Why? Does it sound appealing to you?"
"Not particularly," Avery says. "I think I'd rather be a miner than a farmer, though."
"I don't want to be a miner," Rose says.
"What do you want to be?" Avery asked. "It's not like we have much experience in anything or an abundance of options."
"I don't know," Rose says. "But I want something that doesn't involve me being underground or outside."
"Well, we've got a few days to figure it out," Avery says. "I think we should go to this farm and at least see if they may want us before we make any decisions."
"Fine," Rose says. "Let's go tomorrow."
The next day, the three set off for the Besslow Farm. It takes about an hour before they reach it, and they’re welcomed by a burly man with a thick beard.
"Hello," the man says. "I'm Owen Besslow. I take it you're here to see me."
"Are you the owner?" Avery asked.
"I'm one of four owners," the man says. "What's this about?"
"We were looking to find a job in the area and were wondering if you had any availability?" Heath says.
"Let's see... you, come with me," the man says. "You can help me feed the pigs."
"Um, okay," Avery says. "What about the other two?"
"The girl can sort out the crops in the storage house, and the other boy can clean the stables."
"What?" Rose says, surprised. "Why are the others getting preferential treatment?"
"Because I know what I'm going to have to do with you."
"Excuse me?!" Rose says, shocked.
"You're a pretty girl. I need to make sure you're not going to run off with one of my workers. I'll have my son, Harlan, watch you. He's sixteen and likes the girls."
"That won't be necessary," Rose says.
"He'll also make sure you don't steal any valuables," Owen says.
Rose looks to be uncertain before turning back to Owen Besslow. "I don't feel comfortable with that," Rose responds to Owen.
"Well, you can do what I say, or you can get out of here," Owen says. "It's my farm, and I'll do what I want."
"Fine," Rose says. "I'll do it."
"Good," Owen says. "Now that that's settled, the rest of you get to work. You," he says, pointing at Avery, "come with me."
Avery follows Owen as he leads them to a pigpen. Avery notices that the pigs seem to be made of equal parts, flesh and fat.
"Now, you shovel that pig shit into that trough,"
Avery did so.
Avery spent the next few hours cleaning out the pigpen and feeding the pigs. It's dirty, disgusting work. Avery and the others return to the farmhouse, where they are given bread, cheese, and wine for lunch. By the end of it, Avery’s acquired a newfound respect for farmers and their lives.
Owen enters the kitchen, where Avery and the other two are sitting while they eat. Avery looks up at Owen and asks, "So, what are we to be paid for our labor?"
"Paid?" Owen says, surprised. "No, no, no. You get to eat, and you can sleep in the barn for free. That should be payment enough."
"So we're slaves then?" Avery asked.
"If you like," Owen says.
"I don't take too kindly to being called a slave," Avery says, grabbing his sword.
"And I don't take kindly to my orders being questioned by those who would call themselves free men," Owen says. "Get 'em, boys!"
Owen's two sons and the farmhands rush into the room. Avery takes out one of the farmhands in the first pass, but too many of them. They knock Avery to the ground with wooden clubs and fists. They attempt to draw his sword, but a swift kick to the head knocks them unconscious.
Avery wakes up in a jail cell. Rose and Heath are in the neighboring cells. They can hear Royal Guards talking down the hall and realize that they must be in the Royal Dungeon.
"What happened?" Avery asked.
"You got us into a lot of trouble," Rose says. "When they kicked you, I tried to run, but one of the farmhands tried to shoot me with an arrow in the back."
"I tried to punch one of them and got clobbered," Heath says.
"What happens now?" Avery asked.
"I dunno," Rose says.
The three sit in the jail cell in silence for a while. Eventually, a guard walks over to stand just outside of the cell.
The guard opens the cell, and they walk out.
"What's going on?" Rose asks.
"I don't know," Avery says.
The three are brought out of the dungeon. They find themselves in the courtyard, where they see King Alistair sitting in a chair with his son, Prince Gregory, standing next to him. Standing around them are several Royal Guards. Standing in front of them is Lord Rosten, who knows Avery and Heath from their previous home and all of the trouble the two got into there. Beside him stands Owen Besslow and his two sons.
Avery looks at Heath and Rose, panic rising in his chest. Avery knows that Lord Rosten is pissed at them and Heath for all the trouble they had caused him in the past. Avery also understands that Owen has a grudge against them for arguing with him about his lack of payment and ultimately getting themself beat for it. Avery wonders if they can grab his sword and attack before they cut them down.
Then, Lord Rosten pulls out a piece of paper and begins to read it.
"I, Lord Rosten, leader of the Crimson Talons, have judged the three criminals in front of me. The girl is guilty of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and attempted regicide. She is to be taken to the top of the Spire and thrown off."
"What?" Rose screams. "That's not true! I didn't kill anyone! What is this?!"
Lord Rosten ignores her and turns to Avery.
"The boy is guilty of theft, conspiracy to commit theft, and assault. He is to be taken to the top of the Spire and thrown off."
"What? No!" Avery says. "You can't do this! I'm not going to stand here and let you fucking kill me!"
Avery tries to break free from the guards holding them, but they're too strong. Lord Rosten turns to Heath.
Heath awaits his fate.
"The boy is guilty of assault, conspiracy to commit theft, and conspiracy to commit assault. He is to be taken to the top of the Spire and thrown off."
Lord Rosten turns to Avery.
"Do you have any last words?"
Avery looks at him, then at Rose, who is crying.
"Yeah," Avery said. "Fuck you."
Avery looks at Heath before grabbing Rose's hand and turning to run out of the courtyard. Avery sees a door leading outside and heads towards it. The three sprint towards it, but the guards cut them off. They fight the guards with all their strength, but they're just too strong. They beat them to the ground and hold them still as Lord Rosten comes up to them.
"If I were you, I'd beg for mercy," Lord Rosten says.
"Go fuck yourself," Avery spit.
Lord Rosten nods, and the guards grab Avery and Heath as another holds back Rose. They carry Avery and Heath over to the door that leads to the spiral staircase that goes up the Spire. Avery looks at Rose, who is standing beside them, crying.
"I love you," Avery says.
"I love you too," she says.
One of the guards yells, "Shut it!" as he hits Avery in the back with the pommel of his sword.
Avery exclaimed in pain before looking for any way out of this. Unfortunately, the only way out is up the staircase. The guards force them all to climb the stairs as Rose continues to cry. Avery looks at her, and she stares back with tears in her eyes.
They reach the top of the staircase and are thrown over the side of the Spire. Avery screams as they fall through the air, watching as the ground gets closer and closer before they hit.
The pain is instant and overwhelming, but somehow Avery is still alive. They lie on the ground, broken and bloody. Avery goes over and sees Rose and Heath lying beside them, dead.
Avery wishes they were too.
They lay in pain, hoping it would all end. As the sun begins to set, Avery hears something like footsteps. They look up and see a man with a long, black cloak sneaking towards them.
"You three are the ones who tried to steal from the King and fight with the most powerful farmer in the city, correct?" He whispers.
Avery tries to answer but can only groan.
"I'll take that as a yes. It's a shame about your friends, though. Let's see what I can do for you. If you work for me, I can save your life, and you can have a second chance."
Avery tries to beg for help, but the man places his hand over Avery’s mouth.
"Quiet now. I can't save you if you die. This is your choice: die here, or live and serve me. Think carefully before you answer.
Avery nods as best they can but is not sure if the man notices. Avery felt the man's hand leave his mouth.
"Well?" he asks.
"I... want to live," Avery says.
The man nods. "Then I'll take you with me. What's your name?"
"Avery."
"I am the Count of Monte Gold, but you shall refer to me as Master. Now, Avery, what do you want most in this world?"
Avery thought about it for a moment.
Avery's bloodshot eyes fill with tears. "I want to live."
"That's a good start, but what else?"
"I want to be strong."
"Everyone wants to be strong. What else?"
Avery thought for a moment. "I want to take revenge."
"Good. That's very good. That's what I like to hear." The Count looks at Avery and smiles. "I think we'll get along just fine."
Avery takes one last look at Rose and Heath, their bodies covered in blood and their limbs lying unnaturally. The Count snaps his fingers, and his guards pick them up. They try not to scream as the Count's guards carry them into a carriage.
"Don't worry," the Count says. "I'll have your wounds healed soon."
Avery is placed in the back of the carriage, and it rides off into the night.
Avery doesn't know where they're going or what will happen to them. They can only hope that this Count is telling the truth and will help them.
The carriage arrives at a magnificent home a few minutes later. The large house is located in the woods just outside of the city of Dewsbury. Avery is carried inside, where the Count begins to summon his magic to heal his wounds.
"You'll be fine in a few days," he says. "I have a lot of questions to ask you, and then you will need to be prepared. Our journey will be dangerous, but I believe you will come out of it alive. you will have a chance to get your revenge and more."
The Count continues to work his magic, and Avery begins to feel better.
"Now tell me, how did you meet those two?" the Count asks.
Avery explains his story to the Count, and he listens intently.
"Heath and I arrived in Dewsbury only a couple of weeks ago," Avery explained. "We were staying in the local inn where I met Rose. She had a dream to open her clothing store, and we decided we wanted to help her get the money to do so. We tried to steal the money but ultimately failed. Then, we decided to try and get jobs at the Besslow Farm, but that didn't work out either."
"I see," the Count says. "And why did you want to help this Rose?"
Avery blushed a bit. "Rose... she's different from other people I've met. She's nice, and she's pretty."
The Count nods. "I see. Go on."
"We only worked one day at the farm before we realized they weren't planning to pay us, and we would essentially serve as slaves," Avery continued. "I got into an argument with one of the farm's owners, Owen. He and his men attacked us, and we awoke in the Royal Dungeon. We were taken into the courtyard and were told that we were to be killed for our crimes. They shoved us off the Spire and... somehow, I managed to live... but Rose... and Heath..."
Avery begins to cry, and the Count puts a hand on his shoulder. "I understand," he says softly. "Now, it's time for you to get some rest. We have a long journey ahead of us."
Avery nods. The Count's magic has healed most of his wounds, and he feels pretty tired.
One of the Count's servants leads Avery to a room where they barely get into the bed before drifting off to sleep.
A few days pass, and Avery’s wounds are healed. The Count provides them with new clothes and equipment, and the two set off on a journey to the far north. Avery's never been there before, but the Count says it's where they need to go to learn what they need to become a powerful wizard.
The trip is long and tedious, but Avery enjoys it a lot more than they enjoyed working on that blasted farm. The Count is a lot nicer than anyone Avery has ever met, and he's brilliant. He teaches them many things during their trip, and Avery feels like they have improved by the time they reach their destination.
"We're here," the Count says as they exit the carriage.
Avery looks around and sees nothing but snow and mountains in every direction. It's cold, but the Count protects them from the elements with his magic.
"Where exactly is here?" Avery asked.
"A small cabin I own. It's the perfect place for you to learn, isolated from the world."
Avery nods. The Count has been teaching them a lot, but he says Avery still doesn't know enough to take on the King. He says that Avery needs to learn more before taking on such a task. Avery is unsure if they are ready, but they trust the Count, so they nod before following him into the cabin.
"I think I expected us to be headed to some wizard academy or something," Avery says.
"Trust me, this will be much better," the Count says. "No distractions, just you and me."
The Count sets down his bag and opens it. He takes out a large book with a black cover. There is an eye with a pentagram around it, with a snake coming in from each side.
"What's that?" Avery asks in horror. "Satanic bible?"
"Something like that," the Count replies. "It's a book of dark magic. It's how I've stayed alive for so long. I've written a few of my own spells as well."
He puts the book on a table and starts unpacking more books. There's one about plants, one about astrology, one about alchemy... Avery realizes the Count is planning on teaching them everything he knows. The idea of this frightens Avery, as they're unsure if they will live long enough to learn it all.
"But I wasn't born with magic, “Avery says to the Count. “Will I even be able to learn?"
"Somehow, I think you will," the Count says with a smile.
Avery spent the next few months learning everything they could. The Count teaches Avery all he knows, and somehow, Avery manages to keep up. By the time a year passes, Avery knows nearly as much as the Count.
"It's time for you to fulfill your destiny," the Count says one day. "Are you ready?"
"I am," Avery says without hesitation.
"Good. Now, take this book. It contains the secrets of necromancy, the art of death. With it, you can raise an army to help you defeat those who have wronged you."
Avery pauses, looking at the book in horror. "This is what I need to use?"
"Yes. Are you afraid?"
"A little," Avery admitted.
The Count smiles. "Good. Fear is what keeps us alive. Fear tells us what is dangerous and what needs to be avoided. Never lose fear. Now, let's begin the ritual."
The Count takes Avery to a large circle inscribed on the ground, filled with different symbols.
"Stand here," he says, placing Avery at one point of the circle. He stands at the opposite point.
"Now, we begin the incantations."
The Count begins a long series of chanting. Avery tries to match his pace but finds it difficult. They feel the air growing colder by the second, and soon Avery sees the air take a ghostly form next to the Count. It's a woman, and she begins to laugh in a demonic fashion.
"Yes... Welcome traveler in the realm of death..." the ghost laughs.
"Ah, a spirit. An old friend," the Count says. "We're here to call upon you."
"You have called upon me. What would you like?"
"We would like your assistance."
The ghost laughs. "My assistance? My, my, my. You have come a long way from the man who trembled at the sight of my brethren. What could you possibly need my help with?"
"We need to raise an army of undead soldiers."
The woman laughs again. "An army, you say? Why?"
"To conquer the world!" Avery says without thinking.
The Count shoots Avery a glare. The ghost laughs again.
"My, my. Now, I know you humans do love your little fantasies, but this is beyond the scope of even your greatest dreams."
"I have the power to back up my claim," Avery says, pulling the book out of his bag.
"Ah, a book. How nice. What makes you think this book will help you?"
"The Count here says I need it to raise an army."
"The Count? Haha haha! This I have to hear."
"I need your assistance to raise an undead army so that I may defeat those who have killed the people I loved. Will you help?"
The ghost stares at Avery for a second then bursts out laughing. "My help? You want my help?"
"Yes."
"You're as crazy as he is!" she says, pointing at the Count. "I'll have no part in this!"
The Count sighs. "Fantastic," he says. "You've wasted our time for nothing."
"Wait!" Avery said. "Please! I need your help!"
The ghost doesn't leave but looks at Avery, her eyes looking thoughtful.
"I can still help you," the ghost says. "But you'll have to convince me."
"Anything! Just name it!" Avery yells.
"Resurrect my son," she says.
"What?"
"You heard me. My son is dead. He has been for years. I want you to bring him back."
"That's... That's impossible," Avery says, looking to the Count for verification. "Right?"
The Count sighs. "We just need your help to raise an army. We can't be bringing people back to life."
"I don't care! I just want my son back!" the woman cries.
"I'm sorry, but we can't," Avery says.
The woman stares at Avery in disbelief. "You can't? But... This man said..."
"We will try," the Count interjects. "We will try to raise your son from the dead. We can't promise anything, but we will try."
"Thank you," the woman says, crying into her hands.
"Now, we should get to work," the Count says. "We'll need the book, and we'll need blood. Your blood will do, boy."
Avery hands the book over to the Count, who begins flipping through the pages. "It's all in here, but I can't do this alone. I'll need your help. Take this knife," he says, handing Avery a small blade. "You'll need to draw some symbols into the ground following this diagram. Then, cut yourself and drip your blood onto the runes as I channel the power of the Dark Gods. Understood?"
Avery nods. "Let's get to it, then."
"Good."
The Count takes the book and leads Avery into the cabin, where he shows them the diagram. It's a very complex design, involving lots of circles and lines connecting. Avery has never seen anything like it.
"Begin drawing, boy. I'll need time to prepare."
Time to prepare? For what? Avery wonders, but they don't want to question him and risk him changing his mind.
Avery digs the knife into the earth and begins drawing the design. They are as careful as possible, making sure every line is straight and that the symbols are uniform. It takes Avery nearly an hour to finish.
Avery heads back into the cabin, where the Count is hunched over the book.
"I finished up the symbols. As for the spell, is it going to be a problem if we don't have the son's body here with us?" Avery asked.
"No, it shouldn't be a problem. We just need the blood."
Avery nods, and the Count stands. They led him outside to his precisely drawn symbols. Avery takes out his dagger and cuts open his palm, letting his blood drip onto the marks. The Count begins reading from the book in a language Avery doesn't understand. Avery feels dark energy emanating from him. It's almost as if the shadows are growing darker in the room, and Avery feels cold chills run down his spine.
Avery takes a deep breath, trying not to let the fear take over them. They see the Count's eyes begin to turn red as if they have been corrupted by something otherworldly. His voice becomes deeper and more menacing. He finishes the spell, and he collapses to the floor. Avery hears a loud wailing sound.
Avery sees a ghostly figure floating above the ground. It looks like a young boy, around ten years old. He has long blond hair and is wearing old, tattered clothing.
"Mama?" he says. "I'm scared. I want to go home."
"You are home, child," the Count says, his voice returning to normal. "You can rest now. You're free."
The ghost looks at the Count, then back to Avery. He smiles and begins to fade away into nothingness. Avery feels as if an invisible burden has been lifted off his shoulders.
"The boy's spirit should now be reunited with his body," The Count says. "By the looks of it, he was attacked by something before dying. Let's just hope he wasn't buried."
"What was that?" Avery asked.
"I told you. I'm a necromancer."
"No, I mean with the spell. What was that language? What happened to you when I cut myself?"
"Oh, that. That was necromantic. It's the language of the dead. I'm sure you've heard of it before. And when you cut yourself, I linked our blood together. It allowed me to channel your lifeforce into the spell."
"So... you're my father now?"
The Count laughs. "Hardly. But our blood is linked. If I sense that you're in danger, I can teleport to your location."
"That could be useful," Avery says. "So, what now? Shall we call on the army of the dead once more?"
"No, I think we've done enough damage tonight. I think it's time we head back to Dewsbury."
Avery nods, and they both gather their things from the cabin. The Count takes Avery’s hand, bursts, and the room’s shadows twist and turn together, forming a portal back to the city. Avery smiles at his success, then enters, eager to see what this new power will bring.
Avery and the Count arrive back at his mansion in the woods of Dewsbury. Avery retired to his bedroom before falling asleep. They have a long day ahead in which they will plan their next move.
Avery awoke the following day and headed to the kitchen for some breakfast. Avery sees that the Count is already up. Avery asks, "So, why didn't we use that fancy portal thing to get to the mountain?"
"It takes a lot of energy to teleport."
"Ah, right. I noticed you were a bit tired after we got back."
"That's an understatement. I'll be glad when you learn how to open portals yourself. Anyway, I've left some meat out if you're hungry."
Avery eats the meat and drinks some water. they're just about to leave when the Count stops them. "One moment, I need to give you something."
He opens one of his drawers and hands Avery, a small black cube. "What's this?"
"It's a communication device. Just speak into it, and it will connect you to me. Only us, though. It's enchanted."
"Ah, cool. Thanks, Dad," Avery says with a chuckle.
The Count laughs as Avery puts it in his pocket and heads to the Count's library.
Avery spent the next few hours reading up on necromancy. They find that it's a fascinating art, and they're eager to put their new knowledge into practice. Avery wonders if they can control the dead animals in the forest. That would be useful for his plans.
Avery tries to think of how to go about it, but they're interrupted by the Count. "Ah, I see you've found my library. Did you learn anything interesting?"
"Yeah. I want to try some spells."
"Well, we can do that later. We need to think of a plan for your powers."
"I already have a plan for my powers," Avery says. "I'm going to raise an army of the dead."
"Alright, but we are going to have to convince that ghost woman to help us. It shouldn't be too hard seeing as we resurrected her son," the Count says.
"I'm not sure if that's a good idea. She seemed pretty pissed when we last met her."
"I'm sure she'll be fine with it. We will tell her that her son is alive, and she should be satisfied."
"I don't think it's going to be that simple, but we can try. When do you want to do this?"
"Let's head into the city now. We need to pick up some supplies."
Avery nods, and they follow the Count out of his mansion and into the courtyard. Avery heads to the stables and gets onto a horse, with the Count doing the same. They head out of the yard and into the woods.
The journey to the village is uneventful, and they reach it in an hour. The town is much like it was when Avery first saw it, with a few minor changes. Namely, there are a few more buildings, and the ones already there have been repaired.
"This place looks a lot better," Avery says to the Count.
"Yes, it's finally recovering. It should only get better from here. Well, let's go."
Avery and the Count walk down a back street towards the tavern. Avery notices a few people staring at them, but most go about their business. They reach the tavern and head inside. The tavern keeper sees them and immediately panics.
"Oh my god, what are you doing here?!" he asks in a panicked voice. "I thought you were dead! I mean, I'm happy you're alive and all, but..."
"Relax, friend. I'm not here to cause trouble," Avery says. "I want to talk to you. Do you know if any places sell magic items in Dewsbury?"
"Um... there's a few stores, but they aren't that great. Most of the good stuff is in Kingsbury."
"Ah, Kingsbury. I need to go there sometime. Anyway, we'll take whatever Dewsbury's got."
"Um, okay... Well, there is a shop in South Cufect that may interest you. You will need to be careful, though, as there are many bad people there."
"That's fine. Just tell me where it is."
The tavern keeper gives them directions to the shop, and they head out of the tavern. Avery and the Count head to South Cufect, which is a less maintained part of the city. The people here look just as they did in North Cufect, although they are warier.
After a few minutes, they reach the store and see that it's called "Heather's Herbs and Potions.” They enter the store, which is very clean and well kept.
"Hello, sir, how may I help you?" a young woman asks. She looks about seventeen or eighteen years old. She has long brown hair and green eyes and is dressed in a white blouse and a black skirt.
"Do you have any magical items that can assist us in raising the dead?" Avery asked.
"I'm sorry, but I don't believe that such a thing exists," she says. "I don't think you want to mess with necromancy. It is hazardous to the user and those around him."
"I'm well aware of the dangers, but at times, the risk is necessary."
The woman nods. "I understand. Here, I can sell you some of this," she says, picking up a green vial. "If you drink this, it will protect you from most diseases for a limited time. Of course, that doesn't really help you with the dead rising."
"I'll take it," Avery says, taking out his coin pouch and buying the vial. they put it in his pack. "Anything else?"
"I don't believe so," she says. "If you want, I can also sell you this other potion. It's perfect for inducing sleep but be careful with this one. if you take too much, there is a chance of death."
"Hmm..." Avery says. "That too could come in handy for our plans."
Heather looks at Avery, concerned but shakes it off and puts the blue vial in a small bag, which she puts in his pack.
"Thank you for your business, sir," she says.
Avery and the Count leave the store and head back to the tavern.
The Count says, "Now, we should go get some food before we head back."
"I'm not hungry; let's just go," Avery says.
"You need to eat something before a long trip, boy. You never know when you're going to have time to eat again."
"Fine, we'll stop for food," Avery replied.
Avery and the Count continue to a local restaurant, which is empty save for the owner, who is cleaning up.
"Hello," he says as they enter. "What can I get for you?"
"What do you have?" the Count asks.
"We have just about anything you could want. Our specialty is the 'Meat Mountain,’ which has every kind of meat we can find, from chicken to bear. We have fruit, vegetables..."
"I'll have the Meat Mountain," the Count says.
"I'll have the same," Avery says.
The owner nods and heads into the kitchen. He comes back a minute later with the food, putting it on the table.
"How much do I owe you?" the Count asks.
"Five gold pieces each," says the owner.
The Count nods and takes out his coin pouch. He gives the owner ten gold pieces.
"Thank you for your business," he says.
Avery and the Count eat their meal in silence and soon finish. They head back out to the horses and begin the ride back to the house.
It takes about an hour to get back. They arrive and head inside.
"I'll see you soon, Count," Avery says. "I'm going to get some rest."
"I shall be in the library," the Count responds. "I'll be waiting for you when you wake up."
Avery nods and heads to his room. They lie down on his bed and fall asleep, thinking about how they will achieve his plan of killing the men who took part in the death of his friends.
Avery woke up eight hours later, in the early evening. The Count is still in the library and hasn't moved. Avery heads to the kitchen and begins eating some dinner. Afterward, they walked to the library and knocked on the door.
"Come in," Avery heard the Count say.
Avery opens the door and sees the Count sitting at the desk, writing something. He looks up at them and smiles.
"Hello, boy. Did you sleep well?"
"I did," Avery says. "Are we ready to begin the plan?"
"Yes, I believe so. Please, come in and close the door."
Avery closes the door and walks into the library, standing in front of the Count.
"Now, before we begin, I will assist you with the plan. After that, it will be up to you to carry it out. Understand?"
"I do," Avery says.
"Good. Now, the first thing you'll need is a disguise. I assume you have your sword?"
Avery nodded and reached into his pack, pulling out the sword they stole from the Redridge Pass bandits two years ago, long before arriving in Dewsbury with Heath. The Count takes it from Avery’s hands and looks it over.
"Yes, this will do perfectly."Also, you'll need to do something about your face. Since you are supposed to be dead, we need to ensure you are hidden from the guards. we'll need to cover that up."
"How?" Avery asked.
"Leave that to me," the Count smiles.
The Count takes off his cloak and wraps it around Avery.
"There," he says. "Perfect."
"Do you think this will work to disguise me?" Avery asks, unsure.
"Yes, keep your head down when you travel through Dewsbury," the Count says. "You'll be fine as long as you don't draw any attention to yourself."
Avery nods.
"Now, you can't get to the castle through the main gates. The guards there are on high alert and will not let you in no matter what. You'll have to climb the western wall and get in that way. I'll show you where."
The Count grabs a piece of paper and begins drawing a map.
"Here is the castle, here is Dewsbury, here's where we are now... You need to get here."
Avery looks at the map and nods. "Should I go after the farmers or the king first?" they asked.
"Well, the king is heavily guarded at all times. The best option would be to assassinate the farmers and take their documents before killing them. Those documents are given out to local merchants who supply the castle with goods and supplies. Then, you can simply walk into the castle."
"How do I get out of the castle once I kill the king?"
"I'll leave that up to you. Once you're out, set up camp in the forest. Be sure to find someplace where they won't find you. Understood?"
"Yes," Avery nods.
"Good. Now, are you ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," Avery says.
"Then you better be off. It would be best if you went on foot. It will make you less noticeable."
The Count hands Avery the map, and they put it into his pack. Avery then straps his sword to his side. With a nod to the Count, Avery leaves the library and heads out of the manor.
They walked through the forest, heading towards Dewsbury. Avery walks along a dirt road, passing by the occasional farmhouse or villager going about their day. They walked for about an hour before they reached the edge of Dewsbury.
Avery walks through the city streets, keeping his head down and his hood up. A few people are bustling around, but pay no mind to them. Avery walks through the streets, heading towards Besslow Farm on the other side of town.
Avery walks along for a while before seeing a sign that says "Besslow Farm: Home of fresh fruit and meat!" in crooked letters. Avery takes a deep breath and walks forward towards the house at the end of the drive.
They knock on the door and wait.
Soon, an older man comes to the door and looks Avery up and down.
"What do you want, boy?" he asks.
"I'm here for Owen," Avery says.
"Owen? He hasn't done anything wrong, has he?"
"No, he hasn't done anything wrong. I'm an old friend."
The man's eyes narrow.
"Wait here," he says.
He closes the door, and Avery waits for about ten minutes before the door opens again.
Avery recognizes Owen Besslow, the man responsible for the death of his friends, as soon as he opens the door. He looks as if he's seen a ghost, and anger quickly grows over his face.
"Hello, Owen," Avery says, pulling his sword from its sheath.
"What is this?!" he asks angrily.
"You know what this is. How could you do it, Owen?"
Before he can respond, Avery stabs him through the throat. They pull his blade out of his neck and let his body fall to the ground.
Avery quickly searches the house for any other family members and finds the older gentleman in the kitchen.
He looks at them in shock when he sees his sword covered in fresh blood.
"M-m-my son!" he cries.
Avery walks towards him and stabs him through the chest, killing him instantly.
They searched the house for the documents to get into the castle and any valuables before leaving. After finding the papers and a few pouches of coins, Avery walks down the road and into the forest leading to the castle.
It's a long walk, and they have to camp out in the woods for the night. They're ready to get this over with as soon as possible.
The following day, Avery arrived at the castle. It's a massive structure made of stone with an extensive moat surrounding it. They cross the wooden bridge leading to the gatehouse and find the drawbridge raised. Avery pounds on the door of the gatehouse, and a young guard answers.
"Hello," he says.
"I'm here to see King Alistair."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No, but this is important."
The guard shrugs and walks away from the door. Avery hears him speaking to someone, presumably another guard. He then comes back.
"Alright, come in," he says.
The gatehouse door opens, and Avery enters the gatehouse. The guard closes the door behind them.
"I'll take you to the King," he says.
Avery follows him through the gatehouse and into the castle proper. They're led through a series of hallways and large rooms. The castle is certainly impressive, if not a bit cold and unwelcoming.
Eventually, they reach the throne room. Avery’s heart is beating wildly, but they try to remain calm. The guard leaves Avery at the door and walks away. They take a deep breath and open the door.
Beyond it is a large room with a throne at the far end. Avery has seen King Alistair from a distance, but seeing him this close is different. He's wearing a dark blue robe with a silver crown atop his head. He looks regal and in control, something that gives them pause.
Avery only hopes he doesn't immediately recognize them. Avery sees a few guards about the room and realizes this may be harder than they had anticipated. Still, Avery knows what they need to do.
The king is sitting on his throne, looking out over the room. Avery walked forward with purpose, hoping to look determined. They draw his sword and raise it into the air, preparing to strike.
As Avery starts his swing, the king looks up at them. His eyes widen in shock before Avery’s sword connects with his head. Blood oozes from the gouge in his head as the guards rush them. Avery strikes down two of them before they manage to subdue them.
Avery is beaten and stabbed repeatedly before their leader gives the order to stop. They are left on the floor, bloody and broken.
"Take him away," the leader says.
Avery has multiple stab wounds, slashes, and bruises all over his body. His face is swollen, and it's more than likely several of his ribs are broken. Avery is barely conscious as the guards drag them away.
Avery glanced up one last time before leaving the throne room to see King Alistair dead on his throne. A sense of satisfaction comes over them before losing consciousness.
Avery spent the next several hours in a prison cell. They're given no food or water. They drift in and out of consciousness as they slowly succumb to his wounds.
Avery dreams of Heath and the many adventures they could have had. They dream of the Count as he trains them in the ways of dark magic. Avery dreams of Rose and their life together, her with her clothing store, and them selling anything they can to support her.
Eventually, Avery dies of blood loss, and the Royal Guards orders his body to be dumped in an unmarked grave.
Avery’s name is unknown to the kingdom, and word of the King's death quickly spreads. The Kingdom of Dewsbury has lost its ruler, and the people have lost their good-for-nothing protector.
The news reaches the Count, and he is deeply saddened but proud of Avery all the same. He holds a feast in his honor, inviting all Avery’s friends and family from Bullairbuc Hill and the faction of Swift-Arrows. He raises drinks and toasts Avery’s deeds as they mourn together.
The people of Dewsbury riot in the streets, and the government collapses. The Count quickly takes power in the ensuing anarchy, and he takes over the Kingdom as the new King. A wise ruler, he repairs the damage in Dewsbury. He rebuilds the city and restores its former glory.
The former count rules for many years, and his Kingdom prospers. The Count eventually dies of old age, leaving the Kingdom to his son, Wymond, who leads it with a fair hand.
Avery’s actions are remembered for generations. Countless bards sing songs of his deeds. Numerous children are told of his exploits. Countless statues are erected in his honor. His deeds live on for centuries, remembered by many.
Avery lives on forever in Dewsbury’s memory.
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