The Wanderers: Chapter 3 - Framed (Part 2)

Chapter 3: Framed (Part 2)

BANG, BANG, BANG! Harkyn awoke confused. The moon was still glowing in the sky and the world outside was still shining. Harkyn, disoriented and confused, looked toward the door on the other side of the room to find the origin of the rude noise. Suddenly there was a loud ‘Crack’, followed by his door being knocked in and shattered with a battering ram. Splinters sprayed across his face as Royal Guards came pouring into the room. They rushed him, throwing him out of his bed and onto his stomach as they began to bind his hands behind his back.

“What are you doing?!” Protested Harkyn being dragged into the hall.

“Harkyn Leafguard. You are under arrest by order of the King!.”

“Buh uH?” Harkyn managed some unintelligible words due to his drowsy state before he was dragged out of his room. The guards’ chain mail and plate armor reflected the moon's dull glow from the windows in the hall as they passed through the doorway. A shadow of the royal seal could be seen on the floor at the end of the hall, seeming almost terrifying. As he was pulled out of his quarters, he could hear a commotion across the hall.

“Harkyn what the hell is going on here!!” Said Von still in his mail and shirt being restrained against the wall.

“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”, Maldris kicked a guard, crippling him before a small squad of guards threw a net, immobilizing the child. Maximus dove at Mal trying to pull the net off before a guard clubbed him in the head, knocking him unconscious over the net.

“Wa-Wait! What is going on here! We were given these rooms from the king himself!” Harkyn began to resist the guards to no avail. The guard kicked him hard in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him and sending him sprawling across the polished stone floor. Harkyn’s mind went into shock as he gasped for air, “Why!!”. The guard simply stuffed a cloth in his mouth shutting him up as they dragged the party though the endless halls. The cold stone floor rubbed the shins of the party as they were dragged into the Throne Room. Harkyn looked up at the Iron Throne, atop it sat the king still in his bed robes from the night. The king stood up as the party was thrown on their knees in front of the throne. With a commanding voice the king announced, “It has come to my attention that we have criminals among us!”

There were a few various nobles assembled around them watching the group with sleep deprived eyes. Von and Mal appeared to be terrified and Max was just starting to regain consciousness. Harkyn looked up at the King perplexed.

“I, King Ducain Ainsworth III, Hereby declare Harkyn and party, guilty of theft from a royal official. Do you have anything to say for yourselves?”

Harkyn tried to speak, once again to no avail because of the gag. Luckily, his gag was removed from his mouth by a familiar guard.

”Speak now Elf, or face blind judgement.” It was the Captain from earlier that night. He had no face mask on and only his sad weasley face remained gazing blankly at Harkyn. The Elf calmed himself down before his protest, “My liege, what was stolen? What is going on? Is this a joke or an initiation?”

“Far from it.” Said the King in a grave tone. “I was excited to have new blood amongst the contemporary Heroes, but come to find out, I had employed thieves, deserters, and murderers!”

“Your highness, what are you saying?!”

“Poor elf. Are you telling me you don't know? Well, I suppose I should tell you. After all, I was shocked too when I was awakened moments ago. My secretary informed me about the sudden disappearance of my crown and that I received a package this evening. So before investigating my crowns whereabouts, I took the liberty to examine the contents of the package. The package contained three wanted posters along with documents that included information on those individuals and another. Those anonymously delivered documents were of you four. On the right, is the dwarf known as Vondall Thoran from Hammerhold. He is wanted by the Jack’s private militia for desertion. It is also said that he killed many of his own during his escape. To his left, is the man known as Maximus Braveheart from Spring Grove near Crimson Harbor. He is the former leader of the the bandit group known as the Red Ravens. He is wanted for thieving, pillaging, and murder.” Maximus slumped his head to the floor unable to look his allies in the face. “On the other side of you to your left is a child, who till recently, has been an enigma. Little is known, including its name, but it was recently caught assassinating one of my political officials from the Court of Lords! And you elf. I know about you too. Harkyn Leafguard from Alfheim. Heir to the noble Leafguard family, Magic Academy drop out, and can't produce a lick of magic. The lot of you are a disgrace.”

Harkyn and the others looked around at each other and hung their heads in shame

“But, King! We haven't stolen any royalist goods. Let alone a crown!” Complained Harkyn. “My companions and I left for our rooms that you so humbly gave us after we had our fill of drink and food on behalf of your graces. We swear we have not stolen anything your Grace.” Harkyn bowed his head even lower and felt his companions dip their heads in respect as well with gags still in their mouths. The King let out a deep sigh, “After reading your profiles, I had one of my mages investigate the scene. He caught what appeared to be you and your companions stealing my crown from this very room on his scrying stone. Because of the evidence against you and your criminal backgrounds, I have reason enough to believe that you four are the culprits.”

Harkyn shifted back up to face the kings glare. “My liege you may check everything in our possession. We have not left our rooms since we retired there this evening.”

“Guards! Investigate their quarters. Report back with your findings.” The guards lead by Captain Helmsworth, shifted out of the hall leaving behind the rhythmic sound of shuffling armor as they marched to their destination. They returned just as quickly as they had left and the lone Captain approached the king and produced a moderately sized burlap bag. The Captain gave the king the bag and removed his helmet, revealing a too familiar weasley face, “My king, Your crown.” The king removed the bag from the brilliantly jeweled golden crown and tossed the bag to the floor. The King grinned with relief and placed the crown atop his head. “Where was it?”

“The elf’s room Sir…” Replied the Captain regretfully. The King turned his gaze back to the party still kneeling on the ground, “You really thought you could steal from me? The King?! Because of your crime, I’m revoking your royal quest.”

“But your highness!” Retorted Harkyn. “That is not fair!”

“Fair? Fair? You want to argue with me about something being ‘fair’? You’re lucky I don't have you killed!” He stopped and took a deep breathe. “But I digress. You four will instead, spend ten years in the city dungeon and I will be reassigning the quest to someone more worthy. Heathcliff Montreal and party will take over the quest.”

“I would be honored my King!” Announced Heathcliff, approaching the throne from the back of the room. He glanced at Harkyn with a satisfied smirk and stopped at the foot of the throne. Harkyn wondered if he had been waiting there the entire time.

“My team and I will leave on the morrow, my Lord, and return post haste with artifact in hand.”

“Good Sir Knight, I give you my blessing. May the goddess of luck smile upon your journey.”

“Thank you, your Highness.” Said Heathcliff with a bow.

Harkyn was feeling so many mixed emotions at once that he felt sick. He felt like the boot that kicked him earlier was still in his stomach. This wasn't right. He knew that he didn't steal the crown, but who would have? They were being framed, but who would frame some new adventurers that have not done anything worthy yet? Suddenly, everything began to make sense. The stolen crown, Heathcliff’s sudden appearance accompanied by his shady grin, and the incident at City Hall. Heathcliff had to be behind this. He must have planned to frame him after the incident at City Hall. And while doing so he leaked his and his new companions secrets. Harkyn felt absolutely terrible about the situation he just threw his new business partners into. This wasn't right. This was unacceptable!

Harkyn responded outraged, “Wait! My Lord! I have reason to believe Heathcliff set us up!”

“What is this nonsense?” Replied the King.

“Yes, I have reason to believe that Sir Heathcliff Montreal framed us to get revenge on what happened earlier today.”

“Explain yourself Harkyn Leafguard!”

Harkyn then revealed the happenings of the day to King Ducain who sat, partially listening, yet not appearing to care.

“Are you done?” Replied the King once Harkyn was finished telling his tale.

Was he for real? Harkyn could not fathom the Kings indifference!

“Do not mind him my Lord. Everything he spouts is filled with deceit.” Interjected Heathcliff

“Lies!!!” Rebutled Harkyn.

“Enough!” Yelled the King, clearly annoyed.

“Father!”

A small and fragile voice suddenly came from the meager audience. The young girl in the green dress from earlier that night approached the King on his throne.

“What is it Cecily?!”

“Why not settle this matter by having the two parties compete against each other.”

“Compete against each other huh?” Said the King intrigued. “That… That actually sounds very amusing.”

The King took a moment to think it over.

“Very well. I have changed my mind. The two parties will compete against each other to obtain the Stonehaven artifact. The party to successfully retrieve the artifact and return it to me will win.”

Max frowned at the king and then the statue of the Goddess of Justice. He could not believe their fate was going to be decided on the King's bipolar whim. Where was the justice in that.

The King then turned to Harkyn.

“Elf!”

“Uh! Yes Sir?!” Replied Harkyn.

“This is your only chance to redeem yourselves. If you successfully retrieve the artifact, I will will grant your party amnesty for your current and past transgressions. But, if you fail. You will be sentenced to death for stealing my crown and for your arrogance in challenging me. Understood?!”

“Y-yes, my Lord! But what if Heathcliff loses sir?”

“Nothing. He has wronged me in no way and thus will have no punishment for failure.”

A grin replaced the solemn expression on Heathcliff's face. That man had some ego, thought Harkyn to himself.

“I've had enough arguing for one night. So, by order of the King, your quest starts now! Guards! Escort our guests outside.” He then turned to Cecily. “Come daughter. Let's get you back to your bed.”

And with that, the guards removed the parties gags and escorted them outside as the King left with the princess. Their final send off was the sudden and obnoxiously loud closing of the outer gate.

The group stared back at the gate equally angry as they were confused.

Von angrily paced back and forth in front of the gate “Great! What are we gonna do now?!”

“Calm down Von!” Cried Max. “We’ll figure this out.”

“This is all my fault guys. I dragged you into this mess, so I'm the one to blame…” Said Harkyn disheartened.

“Don't say that.” Replied Max suddenly feeling guilty.

“It's not your fault elf lad.” Apologized Von, seeming to calm down. “I just don't know what to do from here.”

“Maybe I can help?” Responded a voice from the shadows. A sleek dark figure with a weasel face seeped out from the dark of the night and approached the party.

“Hey! You’re that Captain! What are you doing here?” Responded Harkyn surprised.

“Sorry for surprising you, but It's my philosophy that anyone who likes maids as much as I do can't be all that bad.”

“Really?” Said Von off to the side.

“Shhh! Nevermind it.” Replied Max.

“Also, I don't like Sir Heathcliff. He just has a bad aura about him. So, I figured I'd help you out. But remember, I was never here and I did not help you out.”

“But your-” Started Harkyn.

“Shhh! Nevermind it.” Replied Max.

The guard continued.

“I have a brother who works for the Craftsmen guild. He’s looking for some people that can handle themselves and are willing to transport goods from the Capital to Cliffshire. I know it might be out of your way, but it’ll get you a little bit of money and he’s giving away the wagon after completion. So at least, you’ll have some mode of transportation to aid you on your quest. Take this.”

He handed Harkyn a piece of parchment.

“This has the directions to my brothers office in the Craftsmen Guild HQ in the market district to the west. Once you’re there, show him the seal at the bottom of that paper and he’ll know I sent you. I have to go now or they’ll question my disappearance from my post. Good luck and Godspeed heroes.”

Bidding his farewell he sank back into the shadows from which he came.

“Did he just call us heroes?” Said Harkyn astonished.

“Let’s just find the Craftsmen Guild and be on our way.” Replied Von obviously still slightly aggravated.

“We’ll have to wait outside till the Craftsmen Guild opens in the morning.” Said Max still a little shaken up. “Although, I don't think any of us are gonna be sleeping any time soon, so we might as well.”

Maldris stood sleepily by Harkyn and seemed to not care either way at this point. Von took charge and all the others fell in line behind him walking into the night.