The Old World

Memories

He awoke abruptly, the lingering sounds of his heavy breathing slowly fading out into the distant echoes of time. looking around trying to familiarize himself with his immediate surroundings, he remembered staggering into this cramped and moldy cabin the night before, he remembered being chased right outside the wall of the Capital through the Red Forest and he had somehow managed to loose his pursuers deep in the outskirts of the forest itself. What had he been thinking? He swallowed hard trying to control his breathing, and immediately he could feel pain in his throat. Caulker needed water. He stood up, running his tongue down his lips, and thought i really do need water and a wash after he sniffed himself. Cal took a peek outside the window it was still dark, which meant he had a couple of hours before first light. He headed towards the door and removed the early man made warning system, which compromised of a rope and a loud bell tied to the handle of the door and stepped out into the early morning darkness. He took a deep whiff of the air and walked by passing several squirels following the spots of vein like water till he got to a stream he took out his container filled it up with water then drank till he could no longer feel how dry his lips had become. He disrobed and dove in the cool pond water as he lay adrift backfirst floating and looking toward the sky he began to replay the events of last night in his head.

Growing up in the capital made infiltration easy for Cal. i mean, he had done this part hundreds of times when he was younger. sneaking out of the manor, avoiding detection by his fathers' guards, double stepping the wall to get at the perimeter fence, and drop at the other side of the wall easy work he thought. The difference was that back then, he was the son of a Lord. Lord Walter Warren iv. Now he was the son of a dead Lord whose name was synonymous with shame and treason. At twentyone Cal was basically the definition of sterotypical rich Lord's son lightely darked skinned, tall, muscular, athlethic, dripping with pure overdeveloped sense of confidence and light brown eyes that shone hazel when hit with the right amount of sunlight. In a sense, Cal thought he was the gods gift to women. Cal's plan was simple get through the wall encasing the capital, avoid the sentries, and stay clear of the enforcers. The first two parts of the plan were doable enough for Cal. The hard parts were the enforcers. The bloody enforcers. The enforcers were His. Dark robes, face shielded by dark plated like helmets. Most citizens of the capitals believed enforcers to be inhumane. Something about the way they moved and looked robbed everyone the wrong way. The enforcers were solely responsible for the almost non existance of crime in the capital. Once identified as a threat by enforcers, the citizen was almost never heard from or seen again getting into a combat situation, with one of them meant a forfeiture of one's life. The denizens of the capital operated under the assumption that the enforcers were of magical descent needless to say, Cal really hoped not to run into any of them. It was late at night when he decided to make his move. The capital was still abuzz with life despite the time. He walked up to the sentries at the entrance of the large double jarred gate underneath the wall he was stopped by one of the sentries at the gate "oi you there, whats your business in the Capital'? he put his hands into the pocket of his hood and pulled out a parchment that had the seal of one of the member councils knowing full well that the sentry on duty would not have the authority to stop and search him upon seeing that. the guard looked at him and looked at his other colleague and said "alright he is clear, come on right in''. 'thanks mate' responded Cal. He walked down the pathway which was dimly lit he kept his hood up so as to not draw attention moving pass ''Ollies Bakery" were he and some of his mates would try and knick some of the baked goods while fat ollie was otherwise occupied. That seemed like a lifetime ago, he thought to himself. He saw his destination but stopped and hugged the wall because between him and his point of entry stood two enforcers. "pls move on," he whispered to nobody in particular. He couldn't stand there and wait, so he rounded a corner and decided to back track, hoping that by the time he returned, the enforcers would be gone. In his haste, he walked right into ''ugghh'' he felt the bump before he saw who he ran into. parchements, ink, and booklets littered the floor. she was still on the floor while Cal had already recovered, apologizing and helping her off the pavement. 'apologies i wasn't paying any attention'' story of my life,''she responded. 'they really should do something about this abismal lighting its going to get someone in serious trouble one of this days" she said but Cal was no longer paying any attention he was already eyeing his destination and about to leave when he heard ''Caulker?' he drew the hood over his head tighter and was about to sprint when he heard again "cal wait its Denna'' of course it was Denna whoelse would think carrying this much reading material in the dark was a good idea. "Den you shouldnt be here" 'you honestly cant be telling me that Cal there are renderings of your pretty face all over the Capital'' he smirked and deepened his voice "you think am pretty do you?' 'o give off you sod, why are you back? you really shouldn't be here. " He pointed at his destination. A big building with three floors with no lighting, a massive gate, and a high wall WarrenManor. 'You want to break into your house? what could possibly be so important that you would risk immediate death by the enforcers?'' 'honestly? i couldn't tell you'' he replied. 'Very well, then have fun getting yourself killed. " she turned and was leaving when he said '' You are really not going to help me?'' help you get yourself and me killed for reasons known to you and unknown to me cause you won't tell me?'' yes Cal i wont'' 'we have known each other for two decades you evil witch pls help me'' 'i am helping you enough by not alerting the enforcers you overgrown peacock'' she responded. He really didn't want to tell her why he was back, but he knew she would not help him without giving her a valid reason. he sighed deeply and said, "There is something my father left for me. I am supposed to deliver it to somebody or hold on to it until someone comes for it. i cant tell you what it is i can only tell you that it is of grave importance that the council not get their hands on it'' Voices could be heard from the opposite side of the building they were chatting by so she held his hands and pulled him towards the end of a U street. she looked into his eyes slowly while he looked into her green eyes, and she said "Cal if anything happens to you because of this, i would have singlehandedly ended the Warren line. Pls be careful love' He kissed her right on the cheek and said ''you are aces den really aces. alright, remember how we used to get breakfast when we didn't like what was made at the manor?'' 'you mean when we would rob ollie'? she said with an attitude ''just distract the guards i shouldn't be long and we would meet back at ollies in a couple of minutes'' 'alright and please do be careful, no stupid stunts. Cal, i mean it, i won't be responsible for your death''. she walked right up to the gate of Warren Manor and started asking the guards questions. Cal sprinted to the side of the wall just as he had done in his younger years double stepped the wall flipping over the wall and landing with catlike reflexes on the outstretched and overgrown lawn He walked to the back of the manor, unhooked the hatch of a window, and let himself in. It was pitch black inside. He steadied himself and gave himself time to adjust to the darkness. Even in the darkness, he could navigate his way around with ease. i mean this was his childhood home he moved with purpose not intending to stop for anything except what he was here for until he came across the painting of his father the late Lord Walter Warren iv in all his glory. He couldnt help but run his gloved hands against the surface of the painting pushing back tears that threatened to overwhelm him he walked slowly away from his father one foot in front of the other he spoke to himself. He doubled the stairs in flight going upwards till he got to the master bedroom he pushed open the door walked right to bed climbed it to the edge then pushed a little button on the rectangular headframe of the bed designed to look ordinary which gave room exposing a secret compartment at the bedframe big enough for one item a "Saber".

The saber was a dark saber all black tinted steel that didnt seem at all natural he eyed it and had to admit to himself 'this is a really cool sword' ''Saber'' said a voice from within the room ''you should at least know the difference by now young Lord. your father died protecting that from the council. Give it here, and i assure you that your father's fate would not be the same as yours. Well, that's not entirely true. What i meant to say was, "At least you will die quicker and be spared the indignity of having being hung by your neck till you asphyxiate." Cal took cognisance of his surroundings and, without thinking, jumped through the window, shattering the glass in the process from the second floor cartwheeled onto the grass and without breaking stride kept running. His pursuer couldn't or wouldn't make the jump and opted to run back the stairs to get outside. The sharttered glass, however, alerted the guards outside, and two of them sprung into action, sealing the gates first, then pulling out their swords and also lighting fires on their torches Meanwhile Cal was sprinting with the saber's strap hung across his back he kept running hearing the voices of the guards being carried by the wind he could see their torches which meant they were closing in on him. The wall was straight ahead he was almost there but by the right was were the light and voices were coming from ''this is going to be close" he said out loud he got to the wall, double foot it and at the second footing he saw a swing of a sword by one of the guards right were his right leg was less than a second ago. if he was a second slower, he would have lost a leg there and then, but then again, he wasn't slow. He finished flipping over the wall, landed on the other side, and kept running into the darkness. Before the guards would be able to round the fence and come out of the gate, Cal would be long gone. Anyways, he wasn't worried about the guards he was however, worried about the man with the hood and mask concealing his face. 'Who was he? how did i not even know he was in there with me?" It was much more quiet out now except for a few drunken straglers. The streets of the poorly lit Capital were all but empty. Cal hugged the walls of buildings, scaling fences and sprinting as quietly as he could until he got to Ollies. He saw her waiting with what looked like a container and bread. ''you certainly took your time, i was waiting for over an hour'' he looked at her incredulously and said ''o am sorry i was being chased by a man who said he was going to kill me faster than my father had been killed''. That seemed to do the trick as she calmed down just a bit. ''Is that a sword? you had me become your accomplice in assault and burglary so you could lift a bloody sword?'' He looked at her sheepishly and said,'Are those for me? ''Yes, you overgrown peacock they are. you are a wanted criminal gods only know when you would get to eat Capital baked goods and drink good wine again''. 'You are just the best he said, drinking the wine first before chomping down on the bread. "Hang on, did you nick this off of fat ollie?" she smiled and said nothing. 'i have to get going denna' 'i know, i just Cal i know i might not see you again so please whatever it is you have gotten yourself mixed up in please be careful'' she said while carressing his face with her thumb. He moved to kiss he on the cheek, but she turned at the last minute and kissed him fully on the lips. It was deep, long, and wet. she pulled away after a while and said, "You know, we would have gotten married eventually if you know your father wasn't hung for treason and you weren't a criminal.'' Cal sighed and said ' you really are romantic, but yh, i know. see you around den'. He walked backwards, watching her watch him walk away, and then he walked calmly to the gate underneath the wall and walked past the unsuspecting sentries moving slowly into the red forest.

He was walking past a particularly hideous looking tree and admiring the saber when he heard it, a twig on the ground snapping in half. He looked up, assessing his surroundings, but whatever or whomever was out there, he couldn't see. it was just too dark. so he decided to just try to draw whoever it was out. "Just come out already. I am half tired. let's get this done.'' Just like before out stepped the individual in the hood and mask. ''Who even are you?' 'return the saber young Lord or be prepared to meet your father in the afterlife'' He was about to get into his fighting stance when out of the corner of his eyes he saw something that looked like a glint. it couldn't be he thought there was another one, and that one had a crossbow. He pivoted as he was about to take off the archer, released the bolt, and he fell at the right moment, the bolt barely scraping the threshold of his arm. He got up and kept running while the masked assailant gave chase. The archer kept firing bolts after bolts, each bolt missing, but each one was drawing inches closer. Cal could feel everything around him, his senses heightened by the fight or flight response he sprinted deeper into the red forest, he couldnt see his pursuers, but he could hear them. Branches scraped his face, his arms, and his feet, but he didn't stop he couldnt. He had gotten to the steep part of the forest he had to start climbing he held onto branches as he moved slowly. He could hear his pursuers now, and any minute, they would have sight of him. He heard the rustling of leaves and out came both of them. the archer crouched immediately and took aim, then fired the bolt hit exactly where Cal's hand was going next and missed going through his hand by inches. The plan was to slow Cal down long enough for the masked man to catch up to him and relieve Cal of the saber and also his head. Cal knew he had to risk it move and get hit with a bolt or wait and get caught by the masked man. He didn't think too long he was almost at the top one missed bolt, and he was home free. He made his move right hand raised to grab the top branch and pull himself up while the archer paitiently waiting for him to just pull then he would release the bolt and end the young Lords life. Cal pulled and the archer fired he prayed for a mircale as he pulled, the bolt hit Cal square on his back exactly were the saber was positioned across he didnt stop he had gotten to the top and knew what was coming next a dive into a body of water down below. He didn't stop to think he just lifted and jumped into the water, almost a seventyfive foot drop. He didn't resurface. he just dove deep. The masked man got to the top of the hill and couldn't find the young Lord. He took off his hood and mask, revealing a man in his early forties, coal darhair, and a scar underneath his right eye. Meanwhile, Cal swarmed to shore exhausted body aching, freezing, and muscle pains. He located a cabin crawled into it and slept.

As Cal lay in the pond backfirst in the early morning, he remembered a story his father once told him about the origin of the saber. "Come Cal, let me tell you a story about a little town down north called Lonnar.