The newgate fortress

The first known

Thierry's brown eyes opened once more, but now he saw light. Plenty of light. Too much light. He lifted his torso and realized he was on a soft, warm surface, ran his hand over and looked down. Was he in a bed? He looked around, it was a spacious room, with a very high ceiling and lit by a lot of candles. It had a rustic appearance, but its appearance was clear, and the floor was reddish. Where he was? There was no one in that room but him. Thierry removed the white blanket that was over his body and sat on the bed putting his feet on the floor.

He wasn't wearing his clothes, on the contrary, he wore a loose-fitting shirt protected by two leather suspenders and a pair of not-so-tight pants that reached up to his shins. He looked from side to side and no sign of his robes. He frowned.

He saw a large wooden door, so he got up and went to it, opening it. A cold wind hit his body but he could see it was daylight. He put his hand up to shield his eyes, and left the room. It was a huge hallway, with several doors facing open windows illuminating the place. The weather was nice, not too hot but not too cold either. Thierry went to one of the windows in front of the room he was in and looked around. There was plenty of green, but you could see pools of smoke in places far apart. Are they residents? The village could be inhabited by normal people and not wild cannibals.

He sighed heavily, leaning his forehead against the wood of the window when he heard footsteps in his direction.

- Hi!

He rolled his eyes quickly and caught sight of a strong-looking man in a leather jacket that looked like the ones the Musketeers wore and black trousers accompanied by dark boots. He was only a little taller than Thierry, with a very dark complexion, short black curly hair, accompanied by a not-so-full beard under Thierry's chin and a thick mustache. Dark eyes with a scar that ran across his right eye. But despite these features, he had a youthful air.

- I see you've already woken up, lucky for you that you managed to survive until you got here, not many can. - He smiled excitedly as he leaned his body against the wall and faced the young musketeer. - My name is Darlan, Otto and I found you on the sand of the beach a few meters from here. As a matter of fact, we thought you were dead. But when we got back, you were on your feet pointing a sword at us. You don't remember that, do you?

Thierry noticed that the man was quite talkative, sighed taking in every word he had said without pause, and glanced at him from the corner of his eye.

- Honestly... I remember few things. - he replied turning and sitting on the floor.

- I imagine, you swallowed so much salt water that could end up turning into a fish. Darlan commented looking out the window, but out of the corner of his eye he saw the young man running his hands over his face uneasily. - What's it? Do you always wake up in a bad mood like that?

- I'm not in a bad mood.

- It's not what it looks like.

- You don't know me, okay? It doesn't know when I'm in a good mood or bad. Thierry snapped as he placed his hands on his knees. He realized that he hadn't been polite at all, Jean would probably tell him to stay calm in that situation, but he was alone and among strangers. There was no way to be very calm. - By the way, since I'm your prisoner, why don't I have handcuffs?

- Prisoner? Darlan frowned. - Handcuffs? - He laughed out loud. - You don't need that, if you want to go out I'm sure the father and mother will respect your wish. Well, but you won't be able to go that far, and from the Island you won't be able to leave. Nobody will give you a boat.

- Island? Thierry asked in astonishment. - What island? Where am I exactly?

Darlan smiled heartily. It was always like that when they met someone new in the North, first surprise, then non-acceptance, maybe later rebellion, and finally acceptance. They were all like that. But something made him like the young man.

- You are on Walgonrei Island, my dear. Darlan replied casually when Thierry's dark eyes opened wider than they could. They were capable of jumping out of orbits.

-I-Island... Walgonrei? stammered the Musketeer. - But... the map, the map... It said...

- About a treasure that would barely fit in a single ship? Yes, the map said that. And indeed this treasure exists, but it belongs to the father. And he uses it wisely, to take care of us. After all, so many children like that don't support themselves, do they? Darlan asked, walking to the door of the room where Thierry had left and he saw a basin of water beside the bed. It was a sign that the man was not doing as well as he wanted.

- Dad? Who is your father?! - Thierry asked nervously getting up from the floor with some difficulty and leaning on the walls. Darlan looked at Thierry with one of his raised eyebrows and a mischievous grin.

- Patience, you'll meet him sooner or later. But I think you should go back to bed, you're not tough like us, you need to rest more to regain the strength you've lost.

- At least tell me where I am, I can't stay here without knowing absolutely anything. And since I'm not a prisoner, it's at least a right that I have to know my location. - asked Thierry calmly butjust as accurately, he could have made a discovery, or he could have condemned himself to a reality.

Walgonrei's treasure did exist, but it had an owner, a very alive owner, and everyone seemed to know it. That trip was a mistake, betting everything on that treasure was a mistake, and Thierry was beginning to see that. Darlan saw that the man was smart, knew how to handle a situation calmly, wanted to gain confidence? Perhaps. But he had promised his father that he would help with Thierry and that he would keep that promise.

- You didn't tell me your name... It's impolite not to introduce yourself to anyone who introduced you to. - Darlan quickly changed the subject, even though he was curious about who would be the new member of his family, the question came at a good time.

Thierry rubbed his right hand over his face and sighed, Darlan was right, he didn't even remember the etiquette and politeness of finding himself alone on an island and having only contacted that man. But his education wouldn't fail, right now.

- Forgive me for my bad manners, I'm still very confused and stunned... - Thierry replied in a hoarse voice, maybe even tired. - My name is Thierry Dermont, I am from Paris, France.

- Oh... another Frenchman. - Darlan commented smiling. - Otto is also French, I think you two will get along well. you don't seem to me so young, how old are you?

- Twenty four.

- Yeah, I imagined that age group. Beards and mustaches help us look older. - He smiled, running his hand over his beard. - I'm twenty-six, there's a lot of time to be needed. Darlan replied playfully. - Well, I would really like to stay here longer so we can get to know each other better, since we are going to live together, it would be good if we at least became friends.

The Musketeer looked at the man with confusion and curiosity, how could he get along? He would get out of there, whatever that place was, he would find a way out of it and back to France. Where he should never have left.

"I really think you should go back to bed, it's starting to look pale..." Darlan worried but Thierry shook his head quickly taking a few steps towards the brunette.

- No, you still haven't told me where I am! I know I'm an Island, but where on this Island do I find myself?! he asked nervously, he was starting to get annoyed that Darlan would always dodge answering that question.

Darlan even opened his mouth to answer the Musketeer. But even before he said anything, a female voice full of concern and gentleness invaded their ears.

quickly.

- Heavens! You shouldn't be out of bed, you're getting cold in those bare feet!

The voice took their eyes to the beginning of that corridor, when Thierry's breathing almost stopped with the shock, the surprise and the disbelief of what he was seeing. She was a woman, yes, and beautiful, in Thierry's eyes, who knew very well how to appreciate feminine beauty when he saw her. But that woman... was, big, very big, huge, he had never seen a human being that size in his life! Darlan seemed too normal, so he should get to know this woman so he wouldn't be surprised by her size. That's why the roof in this place was so high, thought Thierry. The size of that woman was abnormal for Thierry and as she approached the two of them, he took steps back. He was without his sword, without his pistol, he was vulnerable and at the mercy of these people.

- But... She... It's huge! - Thierry said in total disbelief.

- She is, isn't she? You get used to it with time, beginners like you are scared by her size, but I guarantee she is the most beautiful woman you will see on this island. Darlan replied with a certain pride as he saw the woman walking towards them both.

Thierry had to lift his head to look into the woman's face. It was a young face, very beautiful, full lips and blue eyes thatthey carried worry. But what caught his attention, as much as her height, was the color of her hair... a harmonious mixture of rosy blonde, which he had never seen in his life either. She was dressed in a plain blue dress, with full sleeves and letting her shoulders and a beautiful shiny necklace show.

- Darlan, what does he do out of bed? - Asked the woman, lowering her face to look at the two.

- I don't know Mom, when I came to see if he was okay I found him here with his head out the window. - Darlan defended himself. Quickly removing the thought from his mother that he had been the one to pull the rookie out of bed.

Mommy? Thierry looked at Darlan and then at the woman, frowning and totally not understanding much. Was that woman his mother? That size? So how big was the father? Thoughts began to swirl in the young Musketeer's mind.

God, she could be considered a giant!

- Good heavens, boy, you can't do that! - She scolded Thierry with a softness that gave a dry drop when she looked at him seriously. - You could end up getting worse... Come, I brought you some very tasty things to eat. You must be hungry...

She held up a silver tray with a cloth over it, and offering a gentle smile for Thierry. She reached out to him and he took steps back nervously, it scared her.

- Hey, calm down, she won't do you any harm. said Darlan, amused by Thierry's fear. The woman smiled with understanding for the boy's fear.

- It's okay my dear, Darlan is right, I won't hurt you. I just want you to feed.

Thierry judged from the look that he was as tall as that woman's hips, she was so tall. But she didn't pose a threat to him, in fact none of them posed a threat so far. He just didn't trust them, and wouldn't trust them anytime soon.

- Go with her, she'll treat you well. He is the kindest person you will ever meet in this world. Darlan placed his hand on Thierry's shoulder and muttered the words close to him to try to dispel the Musketeer's suspicion. - And speaking of her kindness, can Otto and I go to the stream? Darlan took advantage of that moment of tenderness from his mother to try to get a different ride with his brother.

- Darlan...

- Please... - he asked.

- You remember what your father said last time, don't you? - she arched one of the eyebrows but already giving in to the boy's request.

- Please mom, it will be fast! We'll just freshen up and come back, he won't even notice our absence. Darlan said insistently. The big woman smirked and shook her head.

- It's ok. Go, but don't be long, it's to be quick! You guys took a rain shower yesterday and I don't want to see you sick.

- It will be very fast, I swear! Thank you mommy! - She lowered her face so he could kiss it. - See you later Thierry, rest a lot!

Thierry had his chin on the ground, the man of a few hours had acted with a boy in front of the big woman. Was it some kind of dementia of his? Psychological problems?

- He's sweet isn't he? He just doesn't know how to stay quiet for long, but he's still a great boy. - Said the woman watching Darlan run down the hall, but soon taking her eyes to the boy who had stayed.

The woman's gaze returned to Thierry and he felt shivers, could he really get used to someone that size looking at him?

- So... your name is Thierry? she asked sweetly with a smile on her mouth.

- It is... It is, ma'am. - was an answer almost was an almost automatic response on his part, which made her want to smile. Formalities, he should have gained an education and a good education before reaching Walgonrei. She was curious, wanted to meet him and was very excited.

- It's a very nice name. - she praised. - You don't need to call me madam, you can call me by my name. My name is Sora, it's a great pleasure to meet you Thierry.