Chapter 11 Part 1

The carriage gets stopped at the gate. The captain of the guard is suspicious about why they have eight people tied up. Kate and the youngsters get questioned by the guards.

"why do you have people tied against this waggon? They look severely dehydrated!" The guard captain asks.

(narrator) here we go again. Another interesting looking character! Let's just cut directly to the chase. The captain is 6ft 2in tall. He is wearing full plate armour. His breastplate is made from many layers of smaller metal pieces, mimicking the scales of a dragon. It covers almost everything from the neck down, narrowing near the groin and leaving part of the sides exposed. The upper arms are protected by squared, half covering rerebraces which sit well under the shoulder plates. His forearms are covered by vambraces which have a row of hook-like barbs attached to each outer side. His thighs are covered by pointed, layered metal cuisses. Finally, his calves are protected by greaves which have rows upon rows of small metal pieces, mimicking reptile scales.

"they attacked the carriage about a day and a half ago, that's why they look dehydrated. Punishment for fucking with us." Christopher says.

"is he for real?" The guard captain says.

With a little shakiness in his voice, Haider says, "oh I wish I could tell you no."

"please, sir. Just take us to prison! That kid is sadistic!" The bandit leader pleaded.

A bandit collapses, eating a mouth full of gravel. The bandit leader starts crying. "please! Anywhere other than here!"

The captain recognises the bandit leader. "fucking hell. We don't need torturers. Just hire this kid! If he can make Tomlin the invisible thief cry, then I'm never getting on his bad side!"

"move!" Christopher points to the pack of guards and the bandits run over to them.

"ok, that's great and all, but these enchantments are rather powerful. Can you dispel them? You'll be making my job much easier."

Christopher walks over to the collapsed bandit still at the carriage and picks him up, throwing him into the crowd of his comrades.

"it's quite simple. All it takes is a small amount of virgin blood." Christopher teases.

"oh my god. Don't take him seriously. He wants to see how you react to it. It's just an expert level counter spell on the magic negation." Haider says.

"yeah, I know that. We would need to get an adventurer in to break these." The captain says.

"ugh, fine. We will do it the hard way." Christopher says.

Haider makes three ice sabres and hands one to both Christopher and Heather.

"woah! What's the hard way!" Tomlin says.

All the guards back away, expecting bloody mayhem.

"oh, come on. Christopher's sadistic, not a murderer. Plus, we're releasing the bindings." Haider says.

"well. I will." Heather says.

"wait. What do you mean?" The captain asks.

"we're going to cut off all their hair." Christopher says. He leans in close to the bandit leader's ear. "and yes. This thirteen-year-old kid knows what happens to the bald in prison. That's why I'm doing it." Christopher snickers and the bandits plead for all their worth.

"fuck. He wasn't kidding when he said sadistic. That's brutal." The captain pities the fools who got their head shaved.

After shaving the final bandit, Heather withers the vines, voiding the sealing spells entirely.

"they're all yours now." Christopher says.

The guards cautiously scoot past Christopher. Terrified at offending him. They take the bandits away, leaving just the Captain, Kate, Heather, Haider and our little ball of terror Christopher.

"so, what made him this way? Did he grow up in a dungeon or something?" The captain asks Kate.

"The person who meant the most to him passed away." Kate answers.

"poor guy, how long ago?" The captain asks.

"eight years, sir. Now that you feel sympathy for him, you see the problem, right?" Kate states.

"yeah. He's a dick. But I want to help him." He answers.

"welcome to the club." Kate pats him on the shoulder and walks into town.

"what about your carriage?" The captain says.

"keep it! I'm getting a new one." Kate runs directly through the gates.

"ok, do you guys know where you need to go?" The captain says.

"look, don't fuck us around. We want credit for taking those guys down." Christopher yells.

"woah, after what I just saw, I'm never going to do such an underhanded thing." The captain says.

"well. You just fucked up." Haider says.

"I don't know what you mean." The captain says.

"you just openly admitted that you've done this in the past. Implying that you were also thinking about doing it to us, too." Haider explained.

"oh. N-n-n-n-no." the captain stutters. "n-n-n-no, you got this all wrong. That's what you were going to say, right?" Christopher says.

The captain starts sweating bullets. "I'm only messing with you. I could be tortured if I laid my hands on you. I enjoy watching people with power panic against my brain. But you're still a scumbag for doing that shit. Just make sure we get the compensation and recognition, and we won't have a problem." Christopher giggles, walking inside the capital. Haider follows.

"can I just ask one thing?" Heather says.

"sure. Plant girl." The captain says.

"I like that nickname, but where is the Karthein inn?" Heather asks.

The captain points her in the right direction, and Heather runs to catch up to her siblings. Heather leads the boys down the main street. People stare at them as they walk past.

"don't you dare say anything Christopher! I will freeze your throat if you do!" Haider Says.

"ugh. Fine, why are they looking at us though?" Christopher groans.

A couple walk up to them and the taller man asks them, "are you Heddwyn's kids?"

"what's it to yo-urgh. Why did you hit me?" Christopher asks Heather.

"because you were about to make everyone hate us. Now shut up before I make you!" Heather's mana radiates from her body in an angry red hue.

"we're his kids. Why? What's it to you?" Haider asks.

"that's basically what I said!" Christopher says.

Heather's aura grows over Christopher. "shut up! Or ill pop you like a grape!"

"yes sis." Christopher obeys.

"we, uh. The entire district has been waiting for you to arrive for eight years. I can't believe Heddwyn has kids!" the shorter of the pair says.

"well-." Christopher started. Heather snapped her head back and stopped him.

"we aren't looking to stand out here. So please can everyone not associate us with our dad? He's kinda lame." Haider says.

The two men look at each other and laugh, walking away slowly. Casually dismissing Haider's statement.

"we should've just let Christopher talk." Haider says.

"I disagree. He would've ruined dad's reputation here as a hero." Heather says.

"let's just find this Inn, it's near to here, right sis?" Christopher asks.

Heather points down a branching street connected to the main road. "it's down there. The captain said we should be able to smell their food from the end of the street."

They continue down the main road, with everyone still looking at them. As they hit the corner, the overwhelming smell of fresh lamb stew carries along the breeze and hits their noses.

"fucking hell! That smells so good! It hit me like a truck!" Christopher says.

"I agree bro." Haider says.

"hmph. Smells ok I guess." Heather pouts.

"come on, sis. You can't tell me that doesn't smell amazing!" Haider says.

"don't test me." Heather says, frustrated.

"oh my god you're jealous!" Christopher yells.

"let's just book ourselves in. I'm not doing this with you today." Heather says.

Our trio stand outside of a towering six story building. There is scaffolding, as carpenters and builders build the highest floor. The walls of the building are painted white, with wood patterned accents twisting their way up the building, four windows on each floor patterned with squares turned 45 degrees. A swinging sign blows in the light breeze close to the entrance.

"I thought dad said it was two stories tall! That lying son of a bitch!" Christopher yells.

"does it matter? That was six years ago." Haider says.

"the place really had some upgrades then, huh? dad said just walk in and say our names to a lady named Zoey. Christopher, don't say a word or ill grow the iron tree I put in your hood." Heather.

"ok, ok. Ill keep my mouth shut!" Christopher sasses.

They walk through the door, and the loud, busy sound of the inn comes screaming out. Christopher covers his ears. We see multiple servers teasing customers, squeezing as much money out of as many horny old men as possible. A female voice is predominantly louder out over all the noise.

(narrator) I see Zoey still controls the mood in this place. All this bubbly positive energy makes me feel sick. Wait can I feel sick? Fuck it, why not? I'll keep up this facade.

Zoey spots the three and yells to the entire room. "keep your profanity quiet everyone. Some youngsters have entered!"

"oh, don't worry about that. We probably swear more than anyone else here!" Haider laughs.

"still, you're young and I like to keep it as innocent in here as possible anyway. I was just looking for an excuse. Head to the counter, ill be with you in a bit." Zoey says.

"I like her. She's funny." Christopher says.

"yet you'll still talk to her like shit." Heather says.

"I have no idea what you mean." Christopher replies.

"oh please." Haider says, amused.