《The Healer From The Fringe》Chapter 28: Old Friends To Go With New Enemies
Advertisement
“The people of Cardona are an interesting lot. They’re fiercely independent, or at least claim to be, but at the same time require indentured and Bound labor from the West, tradesfolk and skilled labor from the East, many essential goods from overseas, and are in general a hub of intercontinental trade. All the same, they cling fiercely to their cultural identity as the home of rulers, great conquerors, and the most determined stock ever found on Esun. Most of that is all tomfoolery and ego-stroking, but every bit of propaganda has some kind of kernel of useful information hidden deep within. In the case of all the grandstanding, something much more sinister is communicated: Cardonans know they used to rule the world, and very much want to once again.”
Sola Toven, a scholar of urban culture and metropolitan research
The quartet entered the Heart of Esultare without much problem, despite everything. They found themselves surrounded on all sides by wooden and stone buildings, some three or four stories tall, though most just one. They were immediately swarmed by hawkers, peddlers, thieves, con men, guides for hire, employment scouts from the Guilds, and all sorts else. At the edge of things, in the dark alleys, the group noticed shambling and misbegotten folk, gaunt and with a certain downtrodden empty quality to their sight. The homeless, the forgotten, the mistreated of society.
Yet even in the outermost portion of the city, where it could be expected to be a hub of grime and poverty, such as these things were, things seemed brighter, grander, and wealthier than any place any of them, save perhaps Greg, had ever been. Helena very carefully guided the cart through the crowds and down the wide main thoroughfare, which was lined by stalls manned by all manner of merchants trying to grab your attention and earn some coin. The group was bedazzled, especially Helena, who’d never been further east than the western edge of Lakeside before this grand adventure.
Advertisement
“The first order of business is finding ourselves a place to stay!” Bim said, having to yell to be heard over the ambient noise of the crowd.
“But where do we go? We don’t have much money at all!” Helena answered in a similar volume, with a hint of worry on her face.
“I think I know a man who used to sell his wares in the Outer Market here when the 5th Battalion was stationed in the area all that time ago! I don’t know if he still does; we haven’t been in contact in years. His name’s O’Brian; I can ask around for him if you all don’t think it’ll draw too much attention!” Zara’s voice carried a lot easier than Bim’s or Helena’s, booming like a drum.
They found a place off the main road to leave the wagon while they searched through the busy main street on foot. “I’ll stay with the cart and make sure it isn’t nabbed while you’re gone.” Helena volunteered.
Bim gave his thanks. “Alright, everyone. The three of us are going to head out among the Market, and try to be surreptitious about it, but we’ll looking for one Steven O’Brian, Zara says. I’ll go with Zara, and Greg, you’ll be on your own. Are you alright with that?”
Greg nodded amiably. “I can handle myself. I might be from the country, but I know a thing or two about how to keep my ground in the big city.”
Bim was satisfied. “Alright, then, we’ll meet back at the wagon in two hours’ time. If you get any word on the merchant, pursue it. He’s our only real contact here.”
Zara and Bim waded through the crowds, pushing past people of all shapes and sizes, all origins and faiths. After around ninety minutes of searching and asking around here and there, they found there target: a portly man, perhaps five foot, two inches tall, in his late forties or early fifties. The ever-smiling man had a huge chestnut-colored mustache and bright little emerald eyes, with bronze-rimmed spectacles perched upon his nose.
Advertisement
He was just finishing showing off some of his wares, which appeared to be soaps, lotions, creams, and other beauty and cleanliness products, when he turned and spotted the pair, specifically focusing on Zara. His gleaming smile stretching even wider, the small man trotted out from behind his stall and spread his arms. “Give an old friend a hug, Lieutenant Zar! What’s it been, twelve, fifteen years? By the Archons, I was just thinking of you the other day, wondering how you were getting on in that awful damp prison of a fortress. But I see you’ve come out of it a stronger woman, if those muscles are anything to go by--” He cocked his head, squinting up at her. “-- My eyes simply must be deceiving me. Have you grown during our time apart?” Zara nodded silently in answer, the corner of her mouth pulling upwards, and O’Brian chortled gleefully and clapped his hands together. “Well, you simply must tell me everything that has gone in your life this last decade and a half. We’ll have tea just later this afternoon. But I must know: why are you in the city now? I thought you said you planned on never returning, after the Great Kerfuffle with Brosian being deposed and all.” His smile faded then, and his hands fidgeted with his vest buttons. “A dreadful business, that. But let’s put it all behind us. You simply must explain it all…” He muttered to himself, and went off puttering over to the stall.
“You don’t seem to have changed one bit.” Zara said, seeming heartened. She motioned to Bim. “Let me introduce my great friend, ah… Jim. We’re with a couple of others in town, and actually, we were looking for a place to stay for a while that’s cheap. You know how housing is around here.”
O’Brian stuck out a hand, shaking Bim’s vigorously. “Happy to meet you, I’m Steven O’Brian, an old pal of Zar’s. I know just the place to put your group up. The Wailing Wight.” He grinned, a twinkle in his eye.
Zara seemed skeptical. “That dump? I suppose it is just the sort of thing we can afford. How many open rooms do they have?”
“Nine of the ten, as ever. That strange eyeless codger’s still cooped up in the tenth room after all these years. I figure he hasn’t gotten any less sane with time.” He clapped Bim on the shoulder. “And don’t worry, lad, the place isn’t actually haunted. Though Ole Fren, the place’s owner, will try so desperately to convince you otherwise. Now, about that tea--”
And like that, they had secured accommodations and were ready to start planning the first proper step of their Master Plan.
Advertisement
Fifth Dimension
When a man from the past is reborn in the far future, what is he to do? His prided sword skill meaning nothing in this new life, he turns to a place where they matter - VR gaming. He lives his life in game, but when a game isn't all that it appears, how will his life change?
8 113The Wyrm King
A warrior, drenched by war after war had become tired of it. He cast his weapons down and picked up farming, a peacful work. A much more beneficial line of work as well. His life was just beginning to settle down when once again war creeped into his life. His village was attacked! He was the only survivor and he was saved by a Wizard. He vowed for revenge and set out on a quest that will gain him not only glory and power but the thing he wanted most, to see his family again. This is a tale of old, a tale of revenge, betrayal, and a tale of honor. This warrior does not know what his fate will bring him, but he does know, his revenge will be swift.
8 141The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, is an American children's novel written by author L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow, originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900. It has since been reprinted on numerous occasions, most often under the title The Wizard of Oz, which is the title of the popular 1902 Broadway musical as well as the iconic 1939 musical film adaptation. The story chronicles the adventures of a young farm girl named Dorothy in the magical Land of Oz, after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their Kansas home by a cyclone. The novel is one of the best-known stories in American literature and has been widely translated. Its groundbreaking success and the success of the Broadway musical adapted from the novel led Baum to write thirteen additional Oz books that serve as official sequels to the first story.
8 98Dearest O'Malley
This story tells about a car's life and the way he lived in 1967. His name is O'Malley Malibu and he is a 1967 Chevrolet Malibu with a straigh six engine. He grew up with a two door Lincoln and a Chevrolet Impala and did everything with them together. Later on into the story, O'Malley is sitting up for sale in a yard of a little old lady who's husband was mean to him for a little while. He meets his new owner Gladys Kennedy who takes care of him well. She takes O'Malley to work with her and to church. But one day, a bully picks on a car for a parking space and when the bully tries to pick on O'Malley, he learns his lesson of what happens when he messes with a Chevy Malibu raised in Texas. Soon after Gladys gets too old to take care of O'Malley, she gives him to Randy and Jan, the next owners. They have O'Malley as the only car they have to drive until he met Susie, a Mercury Grand Marquis and a blue van. Then comes along Erik and Nathan, the two additions that he meets. O'Malley plays and makes Nathan smile by the time he reaches 2 years old. Leading Nathan up the road to learning, O'Malley guides his new master through a home schooling system to keep him on track. As many years went by, O'Malley soon is passed on to Nathan's care and being a planned college subject of a college sememster work of having his transmission redone. When Nathan meets his new girlfriend, Natalie, O'Malley grows a liking on her just as she is showing her photos of O'Malley that she captured on camera in 2014 and 2015. He soon finds answers for all the questions he had been always asking from finding out what happened to Impa to discovering the location of where Gonzo was to opening up to a friend back that seemed to be next to him all these years. O'Malley and his friends make videos for the internet from a pickle and white flour bath to the Elvis impersonations to honor the Elvis Presley feastival for all Elvis fans around the world. The three friends have a lot of fun together including pranking each other for kicks and laughs. Ticking back in time, O'Malley tells the audiences the memories he had back to his younger days when he and his cousins would prank each other and laugh at it now as he remembers it then. From the happy to sad stories that he experiences throughout the novel. People stop and stare at the beauty of O'Malley's sleek body all over town including taking pictures of him without his knowing. The story has yet to unwrap the secrets inside of O'Malley outside the car shows. There are hints of originality, heart, tranquility, untapped potential, undisturbed sensational zen, and undiscovered twerks that make him so amazing that people don't see nor don't pay attention to like they do in the show. O'Malley has a smooth, witty, sweet and relaxed personality. O'Malley travels down the road of memorable experiences from being in a sample teaser trailer of a movie to meeting a new love to finding another of his old friend from the 70s to meeting a life coach that would be his biggest inspiration. This is a novel that needs to be discovered for all eyes alike.
8 121His Royal Ballerina. (completed)
A magical tale between a ballerina who comes across a prince who can't feel pain. she gets involved in a dangerous quest which will change an ordinary ballerina's life.will she get back what was lost? or lose herself in this enchanting story of a prince and his royal ballerina. Read the Review done by@angellover36 http://read-a-holic-reviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/review-his-royal-ballerina-by-sanayakant.html
8 159Chakra Spider
With great power comes great responsibility but Peter had never imagined getting in contact with such power. Disclaimer: I do not own anything
8 125