Chapter 20- A Princess Walks Into A Bar

Dried blood crusted across Morpheus’s mouth as he tried to breathe. He could hear the clang of metal footsteps hitting the marble floor.

“Was a chimera on the list?” He heard someone ask.

“No, and is that his hand?"

“A fucking illusion ring.”

“Let me see.”

“Chain him now.”

“Bring out the bodies.”

“Why are these fuckers still around. Thought they all died out.”

“Silence, don’t talk about the issue, we’ll get answers later.”

Morpheus was barely conscious as his legs and arms were chained and he was dragged to a cell in the dungeon. He fell unconscious again.

Hours later he woke up, gasping for air. Morpheus was hanging by his chains attached to the ceiling.

“He’s awake.” A guard that sat next to him said.

Four more guards hurried in the room.

“What’s your name!”

“Nvos.” He tried to say in a croaky voice.

The guard quickly checked his list.

“Well Nvos isn’t a filthy chimera.”

“I’m…” before Morpheus could speak he received a punch to his stomach.

“Answer!”

“I’m… Brevair’s student.”

“Komodo shit.” A guard said and punched him again, this time in his face. “Where is the Ditorian hiding.”

“I don’t know.” He said struggling in his chains.

He fell unconscious again.

“Where is he!” Brevair’s voice boomed around the dungeon.

“Brevair, he’s not human.” A guard said.

“Fuckint idiots I know he’s a chimera.”

A guard gulped and pointed to his cell.

He could see out his bloodied eye Brevair breaking the chains with his bare hands.

“You fucking didn’t think to come get me.” “If you weren’t guards I’d have ripped your heads off and offered them to Osiris.”

He awoke a day later, but clean and in a comfy bed.

“Morpheus!” Reyna exclaimed.

She hugged him, thankfully, he saw Sophia and Brevair behind her.

“What happened?” He asked, still slightly dizzy.

“Ditorian, a dying out group who worshipped the god Axon. They attempted to kill everyone in the hall.” Sophia said.

“Why?”

“Their god states that anyone who is not a believer should die.”

“A terrorist attack.”

“A what?”

“People who push their beliefs by killing others.”

“That’s a good way to put it actually.” She responded.

“Who died?” Morpheus asked.

“A Queensdale rep, a scarecrow, five guards and two waiters. I’m surprised you’re alive.” Brevair said.

“Shit, and yeah that thing got me good, went through my buff too.” The young chimera said.

“It's made up of pure life force, so you can guess how it’s created” Sophia added.

He laid back down again, processing what had just happened.

“Why was I put into a cell?” He asked.

“Because of this.” Brevair said, holding up his illusion ring. “Those fuckers didn’t even think to come get me when you told them.”

“Ah fuck, so the secrets out.” He said through his teeth.

“I wouldn’t worry about it, reports say you jumped in front of the Princess.” Brevair lightly chuckled.

“Yeah, wait hold on a second.” He said, taking his white shirt off.

His Isis tatoo now had two trees in the back, behind the angel. He checked his notifications but only his vitality had gone up by one.

“I didn’t get a mark.” He said.

“You still have two, prick.” Reyna said.

A knock came from the door, Brevair opened it to see the king standing there.

“Where is he.” The king said.

“Cavet, he’s not a part of the Ditorian.” Brevair responded.

Before any of them could speak again Morpheus did. “King Cavet, look.” Morpheus got up off the bed, wincing and walked over to the door.

He outstretched his arms.

“You’re the one…” “Fucks sake and you have two.” Cavet said rubbing his temples.

“You’ve been hiding him the whole time?”

Brevair looked down, “We know kings will recruit marked. He saved Reyna’s life so we owed him a lot.”

Cavet stared into empty space for a moment.

“Did you save my daughter's life?” The king asked.

“I think so.” Morpheus replied.

The king hugged him, the young chimera was speechless.

“Thank you, Morpheus was it. That’s what I got told in the report.”

“Err, yes it’s Morpheus.” He responded.

Brevair spoke up to flatten the awkward encounter. “What’s happening with the Ditorians?” Brevair asked.

“The ones we found gave up their hideout west of Ervos, a bunch of my men and the Scarecrows are going to sort it out.”

“What have the Scarecrows and Queensdale said?” Brevair asked.

“Luckily it was only a rep from Queensdale, and the Scarecrows couldn’t care less.”

“No major repercussions, that's good.” Brevair said.

“The empire didn’t know anything about it as well, their rep even gave the dead ones family money.”

“It would be considered a coward's attack even to them.” Sophia added.

“Indeed. Anyway I still have matters I need to attend to. Thank you Morpheus for what you did, you will be rewarded accordingly.”

“I would have done it for free but a reward would help, spent most of my money on a suit.”

The king chuckled and walked away.

“He seems really stressed, never seen him hug someone like that before.” Sophia joked.

“I think if a magical bomb exploded at your daughters coronation you would be stressed.” Reyna said.

“Where are we by the way?” Morpheus asked.

“Kings private guest quarters.” Sophia responded.

He opened the window next to him and looked out. He was in a large circular tower, with a view overlooking Ervos.

“How much is a room here you reckon.” He rhetorically asked.

“Fee is to save the Princess.” Reyna joked.

“That three piece suit cost me a lot, and for it to get ruined I hope he rewards me well.”

“You guys know we are leaving, like now.” Sophia said with her arms folded.

Morpheus put on his normal plain black clothes, he took the ring back from Brevair but stored it in his new pouch. No point in hiding anymore.

A few seconds later another knock came on the door. It was the guards who chained Morpheus up.

“Sir Morpheus, we would like to apologise for beating you.” A nervous guard said.

“It’s fine, you were doing your job. Have you ever heard the term an eye for an eye?”

The guard shook his head.

“Ah well you’ll soon learn it. You’re the one who hit me right?”

“Yes Sir.” He gulped.

Morpheus punched him straight in the gut.

“Oof, … I get it now.” The guard said, taking a knee.

Brevair laughed. “What have you turned into Morpheus.”

“Had to get some revenge.” He said with a shrug of his shoulders.

The guards left, shortly followed by the group.

“Any plans then?” Brevair said as they were exiting the Royal Quarters.

“Might travel down to Southcross, see the world, you know the usual.” He replied.

“Be careful down there, closing in on the Empire’s ground.”

“Fuck em.” Morpheus casually said.

“Ha!” “You finally got a personality.” Brevair touched his shoulder. “You’re always welcome back, Reyna you’re gonna have to catch up to him.”

“Yeah I know.” She moaned.

“I’m gonna head over to the Dashing Horse Inn. Sleep for a while.”

“We’ll leave you to it.” Brevair said.

He said his goodbyes with some tears in his eyes. These people had helped him a lot, the had fed him, clothed him and given him a home.

“Before you go I want you to have these.” Brevair said.

Brevair brought out the battle-axe he had used in training, and a green crystal.

‘Communication Crystal’ you can use this crystal to communicate with people who have one similar. Their mana signature has to be imprinted on your own to communicate. Quality-Uncommon Cost Estimation~40 Silver. State-New.

‘Pride of the War Orc’ this battle-axe is a one of a kind. Made for the leader of the War Orcs. Quality-Unique Cost Estimation~5 Gold 45 Silver. State-Pristine.

“Brevair are you sure?” “You said this was one of your best?”

“My glory days are over, you’re gonna need this more than me.” He said.

“If you’re sure.” Morpheus said. Feeling the battle-axe again really made him realise that his other one was far inferior.

“Yes, I’ve spoken now be on your way. If you see Loki again, tell him I’d like a gift for looking after you.”

Loki’s tattoo glowed slightly.

“He heard you.” Morpheus said.

“Ah, may you seek what you are looking for young chimera.”

He waved till they were out of sight, down towards the northern gate. “I really need a drink.” He said to himself.

He lit a cigarette and walked into the nearest tavern, sitting at the nearest table.

He was three ales in when the room went silent and everyone got up and bowed. He felt a hand on his back. It was the Princess.

“Be on your business.” A guard in silver and blue said. He hit the bottom of his spear on the wood, and the room carried on with usual chatter.

“Your highness.” Morpheus said bowing.

“Thank you for saving my life, I was in shock when it happened.” She said elegantly.

“It’s fine, anyone would of done it.”

“But you did, and what did you do to my mark?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing actually? Is there a more private place we could go.”

He got an ugly stare from one of the guards but he went and asked the bar lady. She opened a room into the back with barrels piled up high.

A guard stood at the door while another four went into the room with Morpheus and the Princess.

“Before I show you mine, can you ask these guards to take an oath?” He asked.

“They are oathbound to me, so they will not speak of anything unless I tell them.”

He nodded and began to take his shirt off, exposing all his tattoos.

“I’m marked by Hercules, Isis and the dungeon Spirit Themetruük.”

They were all shocked and one guard even took a knee.

The princess ran her finger down his arm, starting at his fingertips and ending at his Isis mark. Both of the marks glowed in harmony.

“Both of our marks glowed when I stepped in front of you. Both Hathor and Isis seem to be good friends.”

“I think you’re right, you have my trees and I have your wings.”

A guard spoke up. “Strings of Fate have been influenced by the gods.”

“Right you are Nelios.” The Princess said.

It was slightly awkward, a Princess was currently touching a chimera in the back of a tavern.

“Morphues was it?” He nodded. “My father asked me to give you these.”

She handed him a bag of coins and a silver and blue badge shaped into a shield.

“This is a blessing, he would like you to represent us. By no means do you have to work for us, only you will be known as a double marked.”

This was a reward he was hoping for, the money really, but a blessing was just a bonus.

“Thank you, it would be my honour to receive this.” He said bowing.

She hugged him. ‘What is it with this family’ he thought.

“We will be leaving now, I think Nelios would like to speak with you.” The Princess said.

The guard that was kneeling moved over and kneeled again in front of him.

“Marked one, please will you bless me. My family have worshipped Hercules for generations.” The guard said, taking off his gloves and lifting both his hands up.

He didn’t know what to do but went with it anyway. He placed his hands on top of his.

“I, Morpheus Nvos, by Hercules, give a blessing to Nelios, who has worshiped the God of Strength, and shown great loyalty to Princess Olivia.”

A bright glow came from his wrists, golden tentacles tattoo formed on Nelios’s hand. It was Hercules’s club.

You have given Hercules’s Blessing to Nelios, true worshipper of the God of Strength.

“Thank you, oh by Hercules thank you.”

“You are a true worshipper.” Morpheus said.

‘This is new’ he thought. He could give blessings from the marks he had and who they worshipped. Morpheus felt like the second coming of Christ.

“Thank you Morpheus yet again, the bastards who committed the act have been dealt with” The Princess said.

“It’s fine. I hope you live long and reign wise.” Morpheus said.

“I hope so too.” The Princess replied. She walked out with her party following.

He sat down on a barrel and rubbed his temples for a moment. He looked inside the bag of coins to find ten gold pieces, he was over the moon. The door opened and a head popped in.

“Oi, chimera, you the one who saved her.” The bar lady said.

“Maybe.” He said with a smirk.

“Your drinks are on the house.”

“I’ll drink to that.” He said.

He sat at the bar till the evening set, explaining the events to all the people in the tavern. He explained the details while leaving all his secrets out.

He was fully intoxicated when he stumbled out of the tavern looking for the closest Inn, he asked some other drunks and they lazily pointed down an alley.

He walked down the alley, one hand holding a cigarette, another against a wall holding himself up.

A hooded man walked up to him and handed a piece of parchment to him. He was surprised but opened it anyway.

‘The Glorious King Henry of Southcross, would like to speak with you. Come to the Golden Dragon Inn when you receive this message. Located East side next to the Royal Quarters.’

‘Glorious huh’ he thought in his drunken state. He quickly healed up the alcohol in his bloodstream and headed over. Morpheus could more or less guess what he was going to be asked.

He arrived at the Golden Dragon Inn, the most luxurious place to stay in Ervos. He walked in to find a couple guards in golden armour looking at him. They directed him up a fight of stairs and into the Kings suite.

“Ah young Morpheus, please sit.” The king said. He was wearing a golden robe.

Morpheus nervously sat down at a table opposite Henry.

“Is that god mark the only one you have? I’ll know if you’re lying.”

Morpheus shook his head. He only mentioned god marks.

“The one you probably saw is Isis, I have Hercules’s as well.”

The king didn’t look shocked, he already knew.

“You understand what I’m going to ask of you?”

Morpheus nodded.

“I’m very sorry your majesty, but I would like to decline.”

“I can offer you gold, lots of it.”

“I’m sorry, King Cavet has already paid me well.”

“Instead of working for me, how about this?” He held up a golden badge with a ship and sword outlined by jewels. The young chimera’s eyes bulged.

“Will it not anger him?” Morpheus asked.

“I doubt it, the big kingdoms will give you offers like I have. You might become a bargaining tool.”

“I think I will have to decline you then. I am yet again, sorry.”

The king sat back in his chair and sighed.

“If you change your mind, the offer will be there.”

“Thank you, I intend to head to Southcross on my travels anyway. I’ve heard it’s a magnificent city.”

“Indeed it is, just walk up to palace, they’ll know who you are.”

“Thank you your majesty.” Morpheus said.

He pushed his chair back and stood up, quickly leaving the room.

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Henry sat on the bed, a young lady was feeding him grapes.

“Your majesty, what would you like us do.”

“Buy some more information, It’s comforting to know he’s not a threat.”

“You are correct your majesty, he’s seems humble and straight headed.”

“That will be the downfall to him eventually, send a message to Cavet, that bastards going to piss himself.”

“As you wish.”

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