ToL » The Chronicles of Anything » Chapter 29 - Saga 4, Conundrum

Chapter 29 - Saga 4, Conundrum

Calm Before the Storm

*

CardinalFang groaned something fierce, sitting on a large stone and mumbling under his breath. Drexlin stopped in his tracks, DarkGuardian sighing vehemently as DarkKnightZach walked over to their impish friend.

“What’s wrong, monstrosity?”

“I can’t be the only one who’s tired, cold, and hungry.”

“Of course not. But we keep going.”

“Until we find YOYOY? That’s not-“

“Or a Mod.”

“Hey, guys…”

It was DG, seeming to have spotted something up ahead. He was smiling. This was a welcome sight, considering their collective grim demeanor of recent memory. The foursome and NirvanaTool hadn’t had a hint of good news for a day now, an odd occurrence in the realm of Anything. Even the dodo showed signs of excitement, after a bizarre period of silence and serious contemplation.

“What’s the deal, fair dwarf? We figures it’s high time for sweeter cookies in the way of fortune. Tell it up, griz.”

The dwarf chuckled, pointing ahead.

“GreenDestiny draws near. In fact, I believe he’s spotted us as well and is coming this way. Remember, we tell nothing of demons, wars, artifacts, or messages. We’re merely asking around for YOYOY, having been traveling with him, then apparently losing the scribe on the last trail. I’ll gladly do the talking.”

The others merely nodded, not finding any basis for disagreement, considering the source.

Indeed, the NoThRoG Mod marched right up to them. DarkGuardian smiled politely, looking proper for all intents and purposes, opening his mouth to speak. However, GreenDestiny cut in with the first word.

“Have any of you seen YOYOY lately?”

The dwarven hero’s jaw remained dropped, in an awkward stance of stark shock left attempting to remain secret. Behind him and slightly about were the others, eyes widening of their own accord, DarkKnightZach having to audibly cough and turn his head to avoid not making it obvious. NirvanaTool began humming a nonsense song, figuring that’d come as natural. CardinalFang was content to freeze.

The thought crossed all their minds – GreenDestiny had definitely seen YOYOY recently, and had lost him, just as they had. Any number of possibilities could lie beyond that. Maybe all the Mods were on alert and searching, perhaps even an Anything-wide bulletin was given. Had YOYOY done something harmful? Or merely done something curious to raise enough attention?

DarkGuardian had to play this carefully.

“Uh, no, we haven’t, at least, not me, um, you guys?”

They were only further in shock, the last thing they wanted was to be drawn into this too. Maybe DG wasn’t thinking quick enough, or stalling, or slipping up, but either way they all responded with rapid shakes of the head. Hopefully GD wouldn’t perceive as too quick.

“Yeah, we haven’t seen the ol’ Chronicler. What’s up?”

GreenDestiny shook his head as well, sighing deeply, folding his arms in a dire stance. It was obvious he was thinking something through as well. The two seasoned residents of Anything stared each other down, the green hulk responding deliberately.

“Would you let me know if you see him? I’d appreciate it.”

DarkGuardian nodded, about to respond only to be interrupted again.

“Or any Mod, for that matter.”

Any Mod?

“Sure thing GD, but, I must know… has he done something? I mean, a violation, of some kind? I know he can be mischievous, but I-”

GreenDestiny furrowed his brow. You could almost feel it.

“Yes.”

The Mod then sharply turned on his heel and left. DarkGuardian decided it was a good idea not to pursue the point further. The party remained, until GD was out of earshot. Zach was first to speak amongst them.

“What do you think, DarkG?”

“I don’t know. But it can’t be good.”

*

Stormcrow bit his lip. His bitterness was seething, not realizing the group had brought him so far from home. As he ground his teeth, you could see the bony ridge across his forehead sway the slightest bit.

He loosed the arrow.

Barely a second later, the serrated bolt ripped into the eye of a hippo, native mammal of Anything. The beast bellowed loudly, rearing back on its two strong hind legs and roaring in pain. Another arrow pierced his exposed belly. Growls turned into whines and whimpers as the giant animal slowed, crimson blood spewing forth about the ground. Soon it was over, the monstrous thing rolling onto its side and expelling a last breath.

The cunning elf grinned.

He got up, briskly walking into the clearing and admiring his prey. Fine meal for a lizard, indeed.

His eyes burned and he quickly turned about to the source, instantly drawing and arming his bow. Only yards away was yewbow, also exactly prepared. The two eyed each other intently, neither bothering with breath or motion of any kind, both precisely honed in their craft for this very situation. But here, neither fired. Stormcrow was first to break the startling silence.

”What are you doing here?”

Yewbow grinned, a foul expression.

“There’s enough quarry for the both of us.”

Stormcrow blinked, not quite understanding.

“I’ve done all the work, and you’re to take benefit? Have you not any concept of honor, yewbow?”

“Honor is a made-up fairy tale idea for the weak, much like etiquette.”

“So, what, are you going to kill me?”

“They say that’s impossible-“

As if on accident, yewbow let fly the projectile in the midst of his speaking. A well-split second later, a small explosion erupted between them, a loud shattering of fine wood and steel bits, resulting in a cloud of sawdust and particles scattered all around.

Yewbow’s turn to blink, as it took him a fair moment to figure out what had happened. Perhaps the legends were true, after all. But a rage was boiling within him, blinding his mind to all reason. That wouldn’t have been a problem, had Stormcrow not been hindered by strong emotion as well. For another moment, both were still, bows still raised but not loaded.

A duel for the ages had begun, the likes of which had never been seen before.

Both were too tense to remain still for long, and soon, it would begin in earnest.

*

“... YOYOY?”

YOYOY gasped, his head jerking towards the voice. He began meekly crab-walking away, back sliding sideways against the wall of whatever building lay behind him. His body was too tired, too fatigued for this. Even after a night of sleep. He couldn’t help but fear releasing the dark power again, thankful he was in control at least for the moment.

“Hey, it’s alright… I just wanted to talk. Really.”

The figure took another step forward, then sitting a few feet away from the scribe.

“I haven’t been, I mean, I didn’t mean to, to, too long have I oh no… not now…”

YOYOY winced, gritting his teeth hard, as if physically trying to keep the demon within. The nearby being was a tad confused, considering things for the moment. His speaking came slow, purposefully.

“Yeah, GreenDestiny told me you’d been, um… Well I know you’ve pulled some small-bit mischief in the past, but this was new. Didn’t believe it until I saw ground zero with my own eye. I still don’t believe it, really. Doesn’t seem-“

He stopped, noticing new moisture glimmering on the chronicler’s cheek. The newcomer sighed, trying not to be frustrated. In a moment so awkward, it was difficult to achieve anything, especially without lessening one’s self in another’s eyes.

“Look, I know something’s up. That wasn’t you. Wasn’t right, wasn’t natural.”

He carefully scooted closer, leaning in for a harsh whisper. YOYOY barely turned his head to acknowledge his trusting closeness.

“Whatever it is, you can tell me. If it’s within my power to help you, I will. We can clear this up right now, I’ll square it away with the other Mods, you won’t be in any trouble. This whole thing will blow over real quickly. I know it-“

He’d reached out to YOYOY, gently holding the shoulder of his prone form. This contact wouldn’t normally derive a pause, but now did as the very action caused the tormented soul to shriek in ear-piercing fashion and bound backwards a good couple yards, then lying flat on back with loud, violent spasms.

Siege911 suddenly stood up, hand grasping the handle of one of his more potent Mod blades. He didn’t know what we was witnessing, he couldn’t.

As YOYOY lie wracked by the lord of Hades within, he beheld a vision. His previous nightmare also returned, DarkGuardian alight in all his Warlord glory, sledge held high with matching battle cry. Only now did he witness the view across the battlefield, of Siege911, the pirate Mod, the new kid on the power block, returning to old form with heavy weapons armed at ready. Behind him to counter the dwarven contingency was a nation of followers, many from his own realm of Siegeopolis, others native Anything followers.

He didn’t, couldn’t fully understand the conflict, only screaming as he witnessed the resulting clash, the spilt blood already trickling all around. Dwarves fell, his countrymen fell, Siege and DarkGuardian reveling in the carnage, reasoning lost to bloodlust and rage, desiring only vengeance at any cost.

His eyes slammed open and he then beheld Siege standing above him, hand extended in a gesture of assistance.

“Siege, no, you can’t, your touch, it Take the Artifact! ah, no, no…”

911 raised an eyebrow.

“Artifact? GreenDestiny mentioned something like that, friend, what is it?”

YOYOY shook his head.

“I don’t even know, I don’t Partake and find out, thou of weakness! Clench it in your greedy hands! has something to do with a war, and a-“

“Show me.”

“What?”

“Just show me this Artifact of yours and we’ll see what’s what.”

“Okay, but… no, I can’t, it’s All yours, fair Mod! The Artifact is all yours!”

Siege911 wasn’t sure what to make of the sudden and significant changes in YOYOY’s voice as he spoke, but was more occupied with learning of this ‘Artifact’ he kept mentioning. Rather than ask again, he simply extended his arm once more, reaching out with arcane force and pulling the Artifact to himself straight from the scribe’s holdings.

“No!”

He stared at it briefly, rolling it between his fingers. Its identity was obvious. What was perhaps of much more important was who it formerly belonged to, and that took little thought to determine. How YOYOY came to acquire it, where it was found, neither was actually significant.

“You really don’t know what this is, do you?”

YOYOY winced again, holding his stomach as if it was burning, writhing within.

“No, I Oh yes, Siege911. I quite know. Now be off and do what you must to fulfill prophecy, for your Message has been given, as you’ve received the Artifact.”

Siege slowly, surely pocketed the Artifact and took a step back, staying only for a bothersome lingering curiosity.

“What’s gotten into you, chronicler?”

”Don’t worry – It won’t be in me much longer.”

Siege911 backed away, then turning and briskly jogging off, something rather on his mind.

YOYOY was bent over in agony, then began to choke and gag with much effort. This persisted for a minute or so, before all effort stopped and all black sound silenced. His body numbly fell again to the ground, and all was again quiet for the time.

*

© Eric Bailey

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