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Chapter 32: In my dreams

 

It took me only a couple of hours to figure out that despite being a freeman I had no money to my name so acquiring food or water would prove difficult. Either Lord Velour had not foreseen this difficulty or he had a sick sense of humor. I suspected the latter.

I made it northward to a small fishing town called Nune and made camp with my horse just outside the town. My first night I hardly slept as I was sleeping in the grass next to my horse and I had not eaten so my first night as a freeman was hardly anything to celebrate. I awoke with the sun feeling terrible and hungry I got on my horse and entered the town.

I meandered around the town for a few hours till I found a large tavern right in the center of town so I figured I would go inside and at least figure out the fastest way to get to Aldena. I tied up my horse using a little magic to ensure it would not be stolen and entered the pub.

The pub was packed with elves going about their daily business and most were in either eating or going about some business. I sat at an empty table near the back and watched the goings on.

I was trying to listen to people trying to find anyone who might be headed for Aldena but there was one particular elf just a few tables away who what nearly shouting over the noise of the whole pub

"Step right up... follow the ball and win coin my friends, real coin" I instantly focused on him. The elf was sitting at a table with four cups on it. I watched as a burly elf came up to the table and placed money down on it. I then saw the elf place a ball under one of the cups and then start moving the cups around the table. I followed the ball keenly and I was surprised when the burly elf picked the same cup I had mentally the cup came up empty.

"Better luck next time my friend" he said lifting the cup next to it exposing the ball.

The burly elf grimaced and put more coin down on the table and the elf did the same thing again. I closed my eyes and reached out with my magic across the room to the table. I followed the ball with my magic and I watched the ball stop and when the elf lifted the cup the ball lifted into the cup so it appeared it was empty it was then I noticed that there was a second ball on the table under another cup. I understood the trick the elf was using magic to levitate the ball off the table into his hand. If that were true I would be able to do the opposite.

The burly elf was going to leave but I rushed up and walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder

"What do you want squirt?" he asked turning around and I gulped

"I wanted to bet you on that game" I said

"You got money boy?" he asked

"No sir, the bet is that if you pick the cup I choose you'll win" I said

The elf laughed and slapped me hard on the back nearly bowling me over

"Tell you what son, take this coin and go ask him yourself, I'll watch" he said

I took the coin from his hand and walked over to the table

"Oh do we have another taker?" the elf asked

Now at the table I could tell that this elf in front of me was a real slime ball. He was a con artist and a really good one.

"Yes sir" I said placing the coin on the table. I could feel the eyes of the burly elf behind me nearly boring into the back of my head.

"Follow the ball, follow the ball, and whatever you do don't look away." The elf said and I used my magic to find the ball and to force it to remain on the table. Once I was sure it was secure I said

"This one" I tapped the cup

"You sure?" he asked

I smiled back

"Positive" I said

The elf lifted the cup and much to his astonishment as mine the ball was there on the table. The burly elf came forward

"Beginner's luck perhaps" the oily elf said "double or nothing?" he asked

"Sure" I said

The elf did the same thing again and I did exactly as I had done before and made doubly sure that the ball was locked to the table

"That one!" I said

The elf lifted the cup exposing the ball and I could see the sweat begin to drip from his forehead.

"One more round?" I asked

"NO!" The elf said tossing me a small sack of coins "take it and go!"

I turned to face the burly elf who was smiling at me

"Impressive kid, what's your name?" he asked

"Aden Sir" I said

"Aden, that was a quite a show of skill, how did you do it?" he asked

"Beginner's luck" I said with a smile of my own

"Come Aden, let me buy you lunch" he said brining me over to the bar

"Hey Rowan, get this kid a sandwich" The burly man said

"I don't even know your name" I said

"It's Twfen" he said looking down at me

"Nice to meet you" I said

"What brings you to Nune" he asked

"I am trying to get to Aldena" I said "but I don't know the way"

"And what business does a little boy like yourself have in Aldena?" he asked

"My business is my own" I said

"Where are your parents?" he asked

"Dead" I said

"I reached into my satchel and showed him my scroll decreeing me a freeman" and Twfen was taken a little aback

"Why would your lord grant you freedom?" he asked

"That is also none of your business" I said

"Look kid I'm a lower city guard for Aldena, I'm headed back there and I can bring you there safely, but you are going to need to trust Me." he said

"I sorry but I cannot do that" I said "but if you're willing to show me the way, I'm willing to follow... and I can pay" I showed him the sack of coins

Twfen frowned but relented

"Alright then he said, finish eating and then we can leave" he said. I ate my sandwich quickly and making sure I had everything we headed off.

I got to my horse and I followed Twfen to his and together we left headed west up the coast.

We were only out for a couple of hours when we came to a larger town.

"What is this place?" I asked

"This is Larent" he said "it's a seaport"

"Why are we here?" I asked

"Because we are getting on one of those" he pointed to one of the massive transport ships in the harbor.

"We're going by boat?" I asked

"Fastest way" he said

I had never traveled anywhere let alone by boat, so I was rather nervous as we traveled into town and down through the streets till we arrived at the docks.

"I'm going to need to speak to a few people to find the fastest ship." He said

I followed him as he spoke to several different merchants until he apparently found the one he was looking for. It was a merchant ship with a gnarly captain sitting on the docks.

"You boys traveling to Aldena then?" he asked and I smirked when I noticed Twfen looked particularly ruffled by being called a boy.

"Yes sir" he said

"Good then, well we don't got much space, you'll have to remain on deck" he said and I guess that was alright because Twfen nodded and soon we were climbing on board and I saw the name `Verdonia' emblazoned across the bow. From on deck we watched the horses being loaded into the lower cabins.

About an hour later our ship sailed west into the bay and out into the Aldenian Sea. Twfen and I sat across from each other near the bow and for the first time I got a real good look at him. He was burly as I had first observed but he had a boyish face and a bright smile, long dark brown hair and bright hazel eyes. He looked at me and smiled

"What are you going to do once you get to Aldena?" he asked me

I sighed but I figured he got me this far, I should be a little more forthcoming

"I am seeking the Mage Venore" I said

Twfen was silent for a moment and then looked at me.

"Venore is well known, why? Are you seeking him out?" he asked

"To join the Hands" I said and Twfen's eyes grew wide.

"So that's how you won, you cheated!" Twfen exclaimed

"Twfen that guy was cheating, he had two balls and was using magic to lift one into the cup" I said and Twfen frowned

"I lost a lot of good money to that guy" and I couldn't help it I laughed and Twfen at least gave me a smile.

"You should rest while you can, it will be morning when we arrive." Twfen said and at that moment I was feeling really tired so I agreed. I dropped to the deck and curled up into a ball and attempted to fall asleep. It did not take me long to succeed.

I was awoken by shouting and I opened my eyes and saw only blackness. It was night and by my guess a few hours before dawn. I looked around letting my eyes adjust and saw Twfen was nowhere to be found. I sat up and saw men running across the deck and I stood quickly rushing to the nearest one.

"What's going on!" I shouted

"Pirates" he shouted back and pointed to a point off our starboard bow and I could see the faint outline of a ship in the distance. Suddenly from the other ship I saw bright flashes of light.

"GET DOWN!" the sailor grabbed me and pushed me to the deck just as I heard the buzzing and crashing sound of something hitting the water just off the bow

"SHE'S ADJUSTING HER CANNON'S HARD TO PORT!" I heard the captain yell and the ship suddenly leered sharply and I was nearly thrown down again.

I stumbled back to where I had been sleeping near the bow and placed my hands to the deck kneeling down.

"ALL HANDS PREPARE FOR COMBAT" I heard and I looked up and saw the ship was about to overtake us on the starboard side. I closed my eyes and felt my magic surge through me.

"Protect the ship" I said "Protect the ship" I chanted over and over

I felt a fire swell within my heart and the flames burst from deep within me setting my body on fire from the feel of it. I saw a shield suddenly erupt around the ship clearly visible as a red hazy dome of protection.

I saw our sailors looking around us in wonder.

"FIRE!" I could hear the pirate captain yell from this distance

The pirate's cannons bounced careless off the shield and into the water. I watched the shield quiver and then burst outward away from the ship like an explosion then striking the pirate ship ripping her masts off her hull leaving her marooned.

I opened my eyes and saw the wreckage of the other ship as we gained distance between us. Twfen came rushing to me

"ADEN!" he shouted wrapping me in his arms "are you alright?" he asked

"Are we safe?" I asked

He smiled fondly

"Yes" he said

"Good" I managed to say as I blacked out from exhaustion

I was shook awake by Twfen and I could see light in the sky. It was morning.

"There's something you need to see" he said pointing on the horizon

I got up and rubbed my eyes and there in the distance was a vision that would haunt my dreams for all time. Aldena... The golden jewel of all the elves.

Her massive fortress rose from the sea and into the sky, and the great sanctuary tree rose into the air seemingly into infinity above it casting out the rising sun, causing it to appear to be on fire. A great city surrounded the fortress even out into the sea where a great wall was erected in the ocean and many ships were docked along it.

It was the most beautiful thing I had, have, or will ever see.

"Welcome to Aldena" Twfen said smiling at me

I smiled back, my smile brighter than the sun.