Troubling News II

Chapter 2

People at Ephira are not that rich and powerful. Majority of them are ordinary peasants. Some noble families are here but not to mention, there are no Azure or Golden Feather families to be seen in this rural city. Though the city's elder and captain are well famed across the southern region of the kingdom.

"Who are they?","they have come to help?","My...are they just this much?","guess that mage was right about this". The whispers of the Ephira people on the side roads which were watching Kennel and his men silently, Percival was not sure if they are welcoming them or no but hearing their words had made him suspicious. He then immediately ordered a knight (from cavalry group) to go around the city and ask around to see what happened.

"May I ask what is your business here?" A man took percival's attention that was wearing heavy armor, looked like kind of infantry captain with a group of pikemen following him. "Are you the city captain?", asked kennel.

- Yes I am. But you did not answer my question.

- My apology. I am Percival Kennel and I am coming from capital for the investigation of the Ranbauren.

- If that is so, then where are your men? Are you intending to defeat all thoss wild orcs and werewolves with just a mere group of cavalry and mage?

- (A cavalry speaks in arrogance) watch your tongue! You are in front of a Percival.

- I do not mean rudeness. First I don't see a token which shows you are a valid as Percival. Second how do I know if you are not sneaking in and you aren't enemy?

- What do you mean by we are enemies?

- Infantry captain: forget it. Pikemen! Surround these intruders!

Percival was so surprised to see how the he and men were welcomed in city. But he was not fond of arguing with others. Instead, he was curious to see what had happened outside the city which made the people inside so alert. Meanwhile he was struggling to persuade the city captain that he is not enemy, the elder of Ephira had already been informed about their arrival and sent a messenger to bring them for further discussion about Ranbauren. However the poor infantry captain didn't know of anything about percival's mission and thought of him as an enemy in disguise.

- Pikemen, ready. We can not let enemy to roam around inside our city. Hold your weapons and bring them down!

- Pikemen: We shall perish the intruders on behalf of our dead brothers.

- (this doesn't look good. Pikemen hold the uperhand against cavalry and those crossbow men on the rooftops can handle the mages easily).

- City Captain: crossbows ready! Fire with my sig...(intrrupted)

- Hold your wepons. Do not be hostile toward our guests.

- City Captain: Who are you?

- I am the city elder's new henchman. Elder ordered to bring them at him without any troubles.

- City Captain: but they are enemies. we can't let them reach the city elder.

- Henchman: I don't have any more information. Elder said they are percival and his men that are here to help. He will also give you information about this. Currently he urges to see them.

- Then you shall guide them. Men hold your weapons for but stay alert and be careful.

Following the henchman's lead, percival and his men went to meet the city elder along with the city captain. It took the henchman to persuade captain but it wasn't hard. Besides it's been few hours that he was back from a fight with goblins, so he didn't want any other problems. after some time, the company reached in front of a 3 floor building thorough the main road and Kennel was also exhausted from his long travel. but he was still grateful to those haste potions that he had. without them he wouldn't even reach where he was now in the next month!

- Henchman: Percival, you may enter the city hall now, the elder is waiting for. Also captain, if you have any questions, you can ask elder. He invited you to discuss about the city's safety and precautions.

From Kennel's view, the city hall, where the elder would always mangae the city from, was not any weird. Although it's building was old and some of the walls were crackd, still it looked resilient. Plus the wooden windows with ironic old class crests looked stylish and the setting sun view which they passed on to viewers eyes were just so stunning and relaxing. For a moment he remebered the days when he was a child and how he would enjoy his family's gathering when the sun was about to set. The scenary in the long pass of the city hall reminded him of the gathering 15 years ago. Then a flash of what happened to his whole village waked him from his nice thoughts and told him that beauty doesn't mean safety. Also the pikemen in both side of the hall were armed to teeth. He tried to get himself on the mission. Afterall he had a feeling that something is going to happen, maybe similar to something...from 15 years ago.

- (A soldier near the door of Elder's room) Elder! Percival and Captain Rein are behind the doors!

- mhm...let them in.

The doors opened and Kennel started walking in alongside the captain. "Well, I have been waiting for some time.", said the elder, a man who did not looked that old nor young, roughly about his 50's or higher. "My apology, our captain didn't know you will be coming here, for his little quarrel with you." His voice was a little rough and heavy. Kennel was making up some words but didnt want to argue over the past, since the current uprise was urgent. He wanted to focus on the recent events to see what has been goin on in south eastern borders.

- Percival: No problems. Let's get to business.

- Oh then. I am the city elder of Ephira. It's nice to meet you Percival Kennel. I had already been informed thorough the on and only teleport in the center of this building that you will be arriving here soon. Since Captain Rein did not have any chance of coming here and was busy defending the city, I could not inform him about you. so...

- Percival Kennel: if possible I want to hear about this defending thing you mentioned just now.

- Then I guess Rein would take it from this point.

- Ehm...the whole thing started two weeks ago percival. A knight came in here and claimed he is a guard of the tax collecting crew. His injuries didn't let him to speak more till next week. We already sent a group of infantry to investigate it, but since it came out of the blue we didn't find anything, till we heard about Ranbauren. They have a teleport too and sent us a letter though it. At first we couldn't believe but then the same thing happened to us just before your arrival.

- Percival: I want to see the letter, if possible.

Kennel continued to hear the situation from Captain Rein and was carefully analyzing the possibilities. He also read the letter and thought of coming to a conclusion. But some part of the story still remained a mystery and he wanted to know that. If it was goblins doing, how come they are attacking now after a hundred years?

To be continued...

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