In the previous episode (Chapter 1: Episode V), gazers voted for Choice 3): “Silvae takes the chains from the soldier nearby Tally and proceeds to tie her up”.
Read on to see how the community vote impacts the story on The Lucid Planet.
The Marchioness was staring at the fire to her right, she could see the flames slowly meander and flicker in a repeating fashion. There was a humming sound in the background, it was faint. She changed her attention to the sound. It was a continuous note, something that resembled a singing bowl. As she focused on the sound and the fire, the two elements began to move in sync with each other where one appeared to affect another.
Curiously as her focus began to weaken, the fire and music receded. She returned to reality when Silvae stepped in front of her. Bewildered, Tally looked up at Silvae and realized what was happening. Her eyes initially fierce with anger from the apparent betrayal, relaxed as her gaze met his. Silvae, without speaking a word, began to tie the chains around Tally’s arms and legs in a methodical fashion. To her astonishment, it was not anger she saw in his eyes, but a much calmer tone that the Marchioness had not been expecting. She thought to herself that this was not an act of betrayal, but one of protection.
Kipflix, noticing that Silvae had finished tying the chains around Tally, walked over to both of them disturbing the stillness of the moment. Stepping close to Silvae, Kipflix began his interrogation -. “How did you come by this woman?” The initial warmness of his welcome was replaced by a stern inquisition.
Silvae paused for a time and considered his response carefully. “Well, it’s not often I take in strangers… Moreover, it’s not often I find injured strangers when out picking mushrooms. So, in all, I think that this is a line of questioning that I am not quite prone to answer” Silvae replied with some indignation. “However, for you Kipflix, I will make an exception. From what I could get out of the girl, she’s some kind of merchant from The Garden who lost her way. I’m not quite sure how she came to be out this way, or how she came to be injured, but I was bringing her to the edge of the Forest so she might make her way back to her realm.” It was a half truth, but Silvae thought it convincing enough.
Kipflix looked at Silvae sternly. He did not trust the Herbalists' account of the events leading to the discovery of the girl and was growing impatient. Feeling the restlessness swell within him Kipflix stood up and walked over to where Tally lay. Although of average height, the Marchioness was towered over by Kipflix who was uncommonly tall for a Dwellnar. Looking up she could not help but feel that others had been in this intimidating position before and shuddered to think of the outcome of that engagement. Kipflix, stared down Tally and studied her features. She was fair, but unremarkable. Not special in any way in particular, but no merchant that was for sure.
“Harboring strangers of the realm is not a good look on you, old friend.” said Kipflix with a cold indifference. “What troubles me is not that you wanted to help this girl, but why you didn’t alert your Lord of her presence. I can understand your curiosity, but not your total abandonment of duty to your fief. Something more sinister is going on here. I can feel it”. Kipflix faced his soldiers and grunted out orders to bring them over to the carriage.
The Marchioness and Silvae were brought over to Kipflix’s carriage. Tally, who had only ever traveled in absolute luxury could not help but notice that this carriage resembled more a box on wheels than any form of transport she was used to. There were no windows, only small slots in between the woodwork, it was almost as if it was a cell on wheels thought the Marchioness.
Tally, now understanding that she was about to go into captivity, made a plea to Kipflix. “Sir, I am at a loss for what you mean to do with us? I simply do not understand. We mean no harm and are quite near to being gone from this land. Surely we can work out some arrangement that benefits us all.
Ignoring Tally, Kipflix barked, “Put the girl in the carriage.” The soldier’s aggressively grabbed Tally by her arms and lifted her up. Screaming Silvae’s name and kicking with all her might, Tally desperately tried to fight her way out but was unsuccessful. The soldiers, regaining control of Tally, secured her in the back of the carriage and shut the door.
Silvae fearing for what would happen to Tally, began to plead with Kipflix. “Enough! This is madness!” he shouted. “The girl means nothing to you and I, she is a stranger in this land. By oath of the Forest I am bound to give her safe passage out of these lands. You cannot deny me that right!”
Kipflix smirked. “There is no law of the Forest other than what we ourselves make master Herbalist. Force alone dictates that, and I have the greater strength of numbers to impart my will over any ancient mysticism, no matter how real it might seem to you.”
Silvae, at this point visibly upset at the turn of events, slumped to the ground. He had been bested and he knew it. Still, a fire quietly raged within him. Something greater called out for him to try and save Tally from the Dwellnar Prince.
Building up his last ounce of courage Silvae stood back up and turned to face Kipflix. “I cannot let you…” he uttered but he was unable to finish the sentence before Kipflix plunged a dagger into his side. Silvae, not knowing how to respond, simply looked up at Kipflix in astonishment. At that moment it dawned on him that he had been stabbed and the pain took over. Letting out a deep yelp Silvae fell to his knees and then slumped on the forest floor.
Kipflix, with his dagger in his left hand, looked down at Silvae, who was still breathing but losing blood from his side. “I’m sorry Silvae, but necessities are necessities and you are no longer one… Take her away”, gruffed Kipflix.
“But Sire, what do we do with the Herbalist?” asked one of Kipflix’s soldiers.
“There can be no witnesses. Even his body can provide answers. Get him into the carriage.” He cleaned his dagger on his armor, returned it to his holster, and mounted his nearby horse.
Kipflix, content with his good fortune of capturing this stranger, thought over his options.
1.) Bring Silvae and Tally to the Dwellnar court
2.) Bring Silvae and Tally to his camp for further questioning
3.) Leave Silvae somewhere in the Forest and take Tally to the Dwellnar court
4.) Leave Silvae somewhere in the Forest and take Tally to his camp
5.) Return Silvae to his people in exchange for a reward but keep Tally for questioning
6.) Return Silvae and Tally in exchange for a larger reward
Vote here:
Riding steadily on his light brown sumpter horse, Baron Treste moved through the forest, tree by tree. The path that he was taking was one of the old trade routes that had since been forgotten by time. His father had often spoken about these roads, how they were filled with both religious and merchant folk, all seeking their fortunes and futures as if they were already written.
Suddenly he could hear singing in the distance. It seemed to bounce off one tree to another and the sound appeared to initially be all around him. He looked up puzzled and then realized his mistake. His Filipa Bird darted downwards from the sky and landed on the head of his horse. “Hello Martince! What have you found for Papa?”
The little bird absorbed what The Baron had asked and quickly flew upwards but remained in sight and ahead of Treste to show him the way. The two repeated this pattern many times that day until they reached a stream near the villages at the edge of the forest.
Martince circled the area and then landed on the tip of a small house. Treste, close to the bird, dismounted from his horse and led it by its brindles over to the house. There was no one, only silence.
Treste walked around the villages and not a single soul remained. There was no sign of a fight or anything for that matter. Clothes were still hung out to dry, as were the remnants of a recent hunt.
Nearby there were the hot coals of a fire. He tread carefully over to it with his hand holding the top of his holstered sword. With his hands outstretched, he felt the warmth over the fire and concluded, “Warm but warm enough for it to be recent.” He turned to his side and noticed deep tracks going in an easterly direction. As he looked closely, there was evidence of footprints and several areas of blood. “Green blood?” Pondered The Baron. This blood was not human, it was likely of the Forest people.
Behind The Baron, there was the sound of snapping branches on the floor. He turned to face the sound but there was no one. His heart began to thump deeply and rapidly. Someone else was here, watching him from the tree line.
There was a deep pulse that seemed to vibrate from the floor itself. It spooked The Baron’s horse immensely and it shrieked and leaped back on its hind legs. The pulse seemed to strengthen. The Baron raced towards his horse filled with terror of an unimaginable magnitude.
He quickly mounted his horse, grabbed the reins, and there at that moment he had to decide where to go.
1.) Should he return to his Prince and report his findings?
2.) Should he pursue the tracks and see where they go?
3.) Should he muster up some courage, dismount from his horse, and stay where he is?
Vote here:
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