Philippe of Morgarath

Episode Sixteen

'They will never send people with us.' It had been an hour since Philippe had been pacing around in one of the courts of the mansion. The other four were all sat on the floor, looking at the young regentson worrying over something that was basically unavoidable.

'Can you imagine?' he continued angrily. 'How can they think of the people like that... Or better said, how can they not think of the people.' He shook his head hard, and repeated the sentence he had said at least five times by now. 'They will never send people with us. This entire journey is useless. They do not believe us, and think we're being children.'

He knew the anger was not just with Twighn Delelia, but he did not care. 'How can they be so blind.'

Night was already falling. The horizon was turning darker with the minute. Philippe stopped pacing, and sat down with the others. 'We will never be able to kick Muerthall a*s with just the five of us...' he sighed.

'Why not?' Merya said. She had exchanged her dress back for her usual clothes, only her hair was still curled and hanging over her shoulders. 'Instead of hopping islands, let's straight away go to your grandfather. He'll support you, Philippe. He's family.' She was playing with a small flower that she had picked out of the grass a while back.

'And family supports you', she continued, but much less convinced.

Philippe looked up,when he heard footsteps. He saw a little boy, maybe a year or six, walk towards them. In his hands he wore a piece of paper. He gave it to Phil and then quickly turned around to run away.

Philippe read:

---

Hereby, the house of Delelia, from the island of Puddlyon, lead by Twighn Delelia, lord of the house of Delelia, first in his name, makes known to Philippe of Morgarath, regentson of the people of Morwerth and third in line to ruling, future general to the regent's army, that his request has been denied.

They also request him and his company to leave the island when the sun rises.

---

Phil did not know how to respond. He knew the Delelia family from here on would have a very strange name in his book. Why the absurd use of titles? Was it their purpose to make him feel small?

Without realising, all of his muscles tensed.

'Philippe', he heard Merya say. 'What does it say?'

Philippe crumpled the paper and threw it on the floor.

That's all the answer she needed.

'Idiots', Phil heard Davon say. Philippe clenched his teeth.

'I'm going there', he said. 'They can not do it.'

A hand on his shoulders stopped him. 'You can't', Reagon said. 'And you should not want to. I understand your anger, but we don't need them. f**k them.'

'Agreed', Merya stood by the big brute. Let's leave, as soon as we can. The earlier we are with your grandfather, the better. We need to bring Davon home, and I'm sure the Yaarth family will give us troops. And when they do, the Delelia family will get in line to do the same.'

Philippe sighed deep, but agreed. 'Let's travel to the harbour straight away then. It's half a day's trip, so I'm willing to travel all night.'

-

Like in many harbourtowns, it was very busy. The market was overloaded with fresh fruit, fresh fish. Everyone stood incredibly close to one another, and it seemed like the entire island had gathered here this afternoon.

Men and women were screaming from the top of their lungs, trying to beat each other's volume, while saying their merchandise was of higher quality than that of their rival neighbours. Women with straw baskets were pushing each other out of the way, trying to get the prettiest bread from the breadstand.

After a couple hours of walking around, trying to find some calm before their boat trip, Merya told them she wanted to buy some fruit. She went to the first stand she saw, but they told her they were closing up and not selling any more.

Confused she went to the second, and got the same reply. 'What do five minutes matter?' She tried to debate, but the men did not budge.

After the fourth stand she tried, she got pissed. 'What the crap is going on here?' She said angrily towards the woman that refused her. 'If you do not sell it to me, you have to throw it. How long will it stay fresh?'

The woman behind the stand seemed pale. She looked scared. 'I'm sorry ma'am', she replied. 'But everything needs to be removed and cleaned before dark.'

Merya grabbed her own elbows, it was clear that she did not accept that answer. 'Why?' she demanded the woman to clarify.

The woman shrugged, and continued cleaning. She seemed quite focussed on what she was doing, and not in the mood to fight this group of strangers.

'If you answer her', Philippe said, before he put a step forward. 'Then all of us will help you clean, so you are done even faster.'

This time the woman looked up. Then around. After which she nodded, accepting his offer.

'Well', she started. 'It's been months now, where vague, dark people appear in the night. They wear black clothing and their faces are demonic. Some say they are ghosts, that died at sea. After they are spotted, in the morning people are missing. Women and children mostly. It's not certain when they come, they do not come every night, but no one dares to try their chances.'

Davon took a step forward. 'And why don't you stop these people?'

The woman nodded. 'Many have tried, but they disappear on the spot. No one dares any more.'

The five kept their word, helped her clean, and afterwards gathered at an inside bar. It was very empty, but thankfully still open. Probably hoping for people to stay inside until morning.

'We need to help them', Davon said. Philippe saw on his face that he took the town to heart. 'You heard what the woman said, it's been going on for months.'

Philippe agreed. 'But we also need to get to your dad, as soon as possible.'

Davon shrugged. 'Father will be there, if it's today, tomorrow or in six months. He does not leave his island, trust me.'

He made a good point, thought Philippe.

'And with that', Merya added. 'There's no ship that leaves in the night. So we are stuck here for the night any way. How about we leave after dark, and see what the hell is going on here?'

Reagon growled, after which he put his empty pint down. 'I thought we were hunting for Muerthalls', the man said, clearly not content with the situation.

'It might be the work of Muerthalls', Philippe answered jokingly. Reagon did not seem amused.

'It's probably just men that can not get laid, that try to get it without consent.'

Instantly Merya said: 'It's also children that are disappearing.' Reagon shrugged.

'Your point being?' he said cruelly.

'You are disgusting', Merya answered. The disgust was obvious on her face as well.

'Oi', Reagon defended himself. 'I am not the one k********g people .'

'Guys', Philippe got in-between the bickering two. 'Merya is right that we are stuck here for the night. Let's just get out, and see what's-what.' Everyone agreed.