Tales of Teir: Discovering Beyond the Discovery Options

[redsrock]

Tales of Teir

Foreword

Before the tale actually begins, as the author of this story I feel it is necessary to give you a brief introduction to the events that have taken place in the near past. Firstly, the entire story will revolve around the massive landmass in the northern part of the world of Teir. Four regions mark this landmass, and they are: Illacor, Valgaria, Blik, and Shienk. The tale shall begin in Illacor, but for the most part it will take place in Shienk, the land east of Illacor.

Here is a map of the northern landmass with all four regions identified:

Link-MAP

As you can see, Illacor is the only place with rivers that are named. This is for a reason. The main character of the story is unaware of the names of places in Shienk, so I think the reader should be as well. However, for the sake of the story I have included several names, just so thing aren‘t too confusing for you. And now…for the ‘current events’.

Illacor has just recently named a new King to the throne, actually roughly two and a half years ago, but that is fairly recent given the fact that the former King had last some sixty years. The new King’s name is Vorenicus Avrovil, and up until now his reign as King has gone relatively smooth. It has been well documented that the Nothren of Illacor are enemies with the Haakian of Shienk. However, the two sides have gone without war for more than twenty years, mostly in part because of some shrewd diplomacy between the former Illacor King.

Now that has changed, and the two have had a few words with another, or at least King Avrovil and the Emperor of Shienk, Junias Caultic. The two disagree on an area in the northeastern part of Illacor, fairly close to the city of Karuun in which the story starts out at. King Avrovil believes it is rightfully Illacor’s, but Emperor Caultic insists that the land was stolen from Shienk hundreds of years ago. The King says that such a remark is ridiculous since it happened so long ago, while the Emperor says that he is the only one in Shienk’s history brave enough to take back the land that is “rightfully” theirs. This sounds simple, but do you honestly think it is ONLY about land and nothing else? I’ll let you decide on that for yourself.

This quarreling of words have gone back and forth for some two years now, with no fighting taking place whatsoever. But it’s only a matter of time until the final hand is dealt, and both sides collide. And now the story begins. I hope you enjoy it…..




Chapter One: A Problem Before the Problem

Standing next to the city fort, in the middle of Karuun, I was talking with my good friend Fevlin. We had just finished making our daily rounds through our small and secluded town, making sure our soldiers were on patrol, as well as looking out for any wild animals that may have crept into town from the forest in the east and north. I am the Captain of the Karuun army, which us mainly comprised of volunteers. I wouldn’t say my job is too hard, but I definitely wouldn’t say it is easy either.

Of course, some of the people here in Karuun don’t believe that. They think I was named Captain just because my father was the former Governor, before he drowned drunk that is. Because of my father’s questionable way of life I’ve always been touted the same person, even if that is totally wrong. I am not my father, and I’ve proven that these first three years of my service by protecting Karuun from any dangers, rebuilding what was once an extremely weak militia into a larger and more skillful group of soldiers. But some people don’t want to see that. No, they’d rather remember the bad things so they can have something to complain about.

“You’re right, but can you blame them, Cyric? I mean, your father was a fairly bad person.”

Fevlin is one of two people that I can really talk to about anything. That was one reason why I wasn‘t getting angry at him for calling my father a bad person. The other reason was that he was right anyway. My father really was a bad person, and I can accept that. My mother was a wonderful woman, but she died when I was just an infant. My father had seen other woman of course, but none of them stayed more than a night, if you know what I mean.

“Yes, but when will they forget him and realize what kind of man I am? It’s starting to aggravate me. Three years now I’ve been nothing but great for this city. And what do I have to show for it? Nothing. I get no credit whatsoever, and I am not appreciated at all.”


“Well, you got me and Ollie,” he laughed. “Voren and your sister as well. I guess that counts for something.”

I rolled my eyes and said, “Great, four out of five-thousand people think I’m a good person. And where is Ollie anyway? He was supposed to have joined us this morning.”

“Who knows. Probably getting drunk at the tavern or smoking his sugarshoot again. Or maybe both, I wouldn’t put it past him.”

After rolling my eyes I told Fevlin to head to his quarters inside the fort, while I went to fetch Ollie from wherever he was. Ollie was a good friend of mine as well, possibly even greater than Fevlin. But about three months ago he started to drink, and I mean heavily. The sudden death of his mother is one of the causes I am sure, but that is still not an excuse. As of now he hunts in the forests and sells his findings to the local merchants, but whatever silver he makes he just drinks it away nowadays. I want to get him into the army so he can actually make something out of himself, but Governor Jedic won’t let me until I can prove he is fit for the job.

What of the main reasons the Governor won’t let him on board is his addiction to sugarshoot. Sugarshoot is a common blue plant located in the mountains west of us. People grind it up and then smoke it through a pipe, and blue smoke emits from the pipe. And despite it smelling sweet, those who smoke it tell me it doesn’t taste nearly as good as you would imagine. It is not yet illegal, but smoking it is greatly frowned upon. I’ve never tried it myself but I’ve heard it messes with your mind, makes you see things that aren’t really there and makes you do things that you wouldn’t normally do. I don’t see why people smoke it if it doesn’t even taste good, but I guess it’s just one of those things.

I entered the local pub and looked around the crowded bar and just barely spotted Ollie sitting at a table alone in the opposite corner from where I came in. He was of course smoking the shoot, and also had five empty bottles on the table, no doubt some kind of alcohol. Something about him made me worry. His head was in his hands and he just looked so depressed, and that just wasn’t like him at all. He was one of the more lively persons in Karuun, especially when under the booze.

Voren Geri, the pub owner, was cleaning some drinking glasses behind the counter. He was a Mogtran male, hailing from the country of Lyr, which is far to the southwest. Like all Mogtra, Voren was a tad bit taller than seven feet and had muscles nearly the size of my head. Thankfully for us he was a peaceful Mogtra, like all of his kind for the most part. When the Mogtra migrated to here they had been attacked by our people who thought they were monsters. But they quickly established themselves as respected members of our country, and have remained that for over thirty-five years now. Voren himself is over one hundred years old, which was considered middle-aged for most Mogtra.

*A picture of a Male Mogtra. Voren doesn’t necessarily look exactly like this because obviously he would be wearing some kind of clothing, but at least you can get a general idea of what the Mogtra look like: http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/8826/picture046ao2.jpg

I walked over to him but he saw me before I could tell him to keep quiet, Voren has always been a loud talker, and I didn’t really want Ollie to know I was present. “Ah, Captain, how ya’ doing this fine evening?” he yelled loudly, his furry brown mane flapping at his sides. Thankfully the room had already been loud and barely anyone seemed to have heard him.

“Shh, keep quiet for a second will you?” I laughed after holding a finger to my lip. Then I took a quick glance at Ollie and asked Voren, “So how long has Ollie been in here today?”

“Since noon I’d say,” he responded while chuckling and looking down at his glasses. Of course that also meant he was looking down on me since I was just a tad over six feet. “I take it you’re looking for him?”

I sighed heavily and replied, “Yes, I am. He was supposed to have helped Fevlin and I during our daily rounds, but he never showed up. He looks…depressed in a way. Anything wrong with him that you can think of?”

He squinted his eyes at Ollie across the room and then looked back down at his glasses. “Not that I can think of really, I-” His furry hands stopped moving and his eyes suddenly lit up. “Actually, yes, there is something. Apparently he asked Miss Cezelia for her hand in marriage last night, and she of course said no.”

“What?” I yelled in surprise, for Miss Cezelia was my little sister. She was only twenty-three, me being twenty-seven. That was another thing people dislike about me, that I am so young yet I am already the Captain.

Apparently I had yelled a little too loud, because a few tables were looking in my direction. “Can we talk in the back?” Voren nodded his head and then told one of his workers to keep an eye on the counter while we were gone. He led me back through the kitchen and into a room where all the food was stockpiled.

“Ya’ heard me right, Captain, he asked her to marry him,” he said, trying his best to hold in the laughter.

“Why in the world would he do such a thing? He knows Cezelia can’t stand him!”

“Well let’s think about it, Captain. What does Ollie tend to do all day?”

I sighed again and leaned against a large box, holding my hand against my head because I could already feel a headache coming on. “So he was drunk when this happened?”

“Yup!” he said, this time unable to hold in the laughter. “I’m sorry, Captain, but I find this funny. On the other hand, I would be high surprised if he actually is depressed because he was rejected. Ollie drinks and smokes a lot, but that doesn’t mean he’s stupid. Surely he cannot be sad about it, since he knows that he was messed up in the mind when he asked her anyway. I think it is actually something else, but perhaps you should speak with you sister first.”

“I would like to talk with Ollie before I do that.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You know how argumentative he gets when he’s drunk or messed up in the mind. I suggest you walk Ollie to his house, talk to Cezelia to see what actually happened, and then confront Ollie about it when he’s in a more stable set of mind.”

I grinned and patted Voren on the arm, “It’s a good thing you’re so smart, Voren. Thanks.”

“No worries, Captain. I am here to serve,” he said sarcastically and then took a bow. We both laughed at that for a few seconds before returning to the front. Ollie was at the counter asking for another drink. The young woman keeping an eye on the counter was about to sell him another bottle, but I stopped her.

“I don’t think so, Ollie, you’ve had enough for tonight. Let’s go home, it’s already nightfall.”

He looked at me for several seconds with a set of extremely droopy eyes, opened his mouth to say something, and then passed out on the floor. I sighed and rolled my eyes once more as a crowd starting to form around his body. “Get back!” I called out to them.

“Will you look at that, Ollie passed out,” Voren said with another chuckle. “You know, Captain, he’s about the same size as you. How about I pick him up and take him to his house? You better talk to Cezelia to see what happened.”

“That’s awfully nice of you, but what about your pub?”

“Don’t worry, Sari can hold the fort down until I get home. Besides, closing time comes in about thirty minutes. Things start slowing down right around this time.”

I thanked him and then left the pub, leaving our tiny market area and heading straight towards my sister’s home. Like everyone’s home, hers was located in the north and northeastern part of the town, and right beside my own. Her house was actually a bit nicer than mine, only because she actually decorates it and keeps it spotlessly clean. I don’t really care, I’m only in it to sleep and eat anyway.

“Coming!” I heard her yell from within the house once I had knocked. She opened the door and looked rather surprised. “Cyric? It’s going on eleven o’clock, is something wrong?”

“Yes, I think so. It involves Ollie. Can I come in for a little bit?”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course. He didn’t do anything stupid did he?”

“Well, that depends on what you would call stupid. Do you call stupid getting drunk and then passing out in a public tavern?”

“Oh my…yes, come in. Do you want something to drink or eat? I just fixed some bala-bread if you want any.”

“No thinks, I’d like to wrap this up quickly so I can go to bed. Tomorrow is going to be busy.”

We both sat down at her kitchen table, inside a rather small area but big enough for two people. “I hear Ollie asked you to marry him. Is that true?”

She rolled her head from side to side and gave me a goofy grin. “Yes, he came knocking at my house at a quarter past midnight last night. He started yelling something and I could tell he was drunk. I cracked open the door and told him to shut up and go home, but he kept on yelling. He asked me to marry him, but like I said…he was drunk. So why are you asking this?”

“When I walked into the pub Ollie was sitting in the corner by himself, looking downer than I’ve ever seen him. Voren told me what happened, and now I’m trying to find out what’s wrong with him. I was hoping you’d have some information.”

“Wait…you don’t think it has anything to do with me rejecting him, do you? He was DRUNK, Cyric, and I’m surprised he would even remember what happened! I don’t agree with Voren one bit.”

“Voren never said he thought it was directly involved with you, Cezelia, but you should have seen Ollie sitting in the pub. He looked so down. I know something is bothering him, other than his mother’s death. He’s been drinker more and more each week. I’d like to think it’s just the addiction that so many people get, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s something more. I just wish I knew what it was. ”

“Yeah, well I wouldn’t worry about it. Ollie is nothing but a useless drunk and you know it. I don’t care if he’s your friend, Cyric, you do too much for him. If you don’t do anything about his drinking or smoking he’s going to do something bad.”

I really wasn’t in the mood for a lecture, so I gave Cezelia something she hated. “Alright, mother…”

“Really funny, Cyric. Mother would tell you what I’ve just said. You’re a good officer, you really are. But Cyric is going to be a burden to this town if he keeps getting away with things.”

“Maybe, maybe not. I’m gonna talk to him tomorrow and hopefully I’ll get to the bottom of whatever is going on. Goodnight.”

Cezelia gave me a hug and I left. Fevlin was waiting in the fort barracks just like I asked. I explained to him the situation and he laughed just as Voren did. I wanted to simply laugh it off as well, but then I started to think about what my sister said had. Maybe she was right, maybe Voren would become a burden to the town if I didn’t do something about his problems. It’s not really something I wanted to think about, but I was Captain after all. I couldn’t just keep standing by and ignoring it.


“Eventually I will have to do something if he keeps this up, Fevlin. We can’t have him waking people up at midnight, now can we?”

“True,” Fevlin responded inbetween bites of an apple. “However, what is there to do, Cyric? It’s not like we can follow and watch him all day. Honestly, there‘s really only one thing you can do that will work.”

“Are you suggesting that I throw him in prison?” I asked crazily.

“Well I don’t know, you tell me,” he said, almost in a defensive tone. I guess I was probably and bit too questioning with my own tone. “Do you have any other ideas? Ollie is our best friend, I’m well aware of that. But when he‘s effecting the townspeople that’s crossing the line. And he’s starting to come awfully close to it. Bothering Cezelia isn’t that big of a deal, he’s done that all his life. But when he’s drunk there’s obviously no way of controlling him. Either you do something now or live to regret it in the future. I’m sorry, Cyric, but there’s just no other way.”

I looked at the ground for a few seconds, thinking about what I had just heard. Fevlin was right and I knew it, I just wish I didn’t. It’s like I already said earlier, Ollie has been my best friend since childhood. And also like I already said, he didn’t use to be a drunk. It’s when his mother died that he turned for the worst. But there’s no going back now, because you can’t fix the past no matter how many times you dream that you can.

“You’re right, I think I’ll wait inside his house until he awakes. I need to talk to him as soon as possible. Whether or not you agree, I’m going to give him one final chance. Believe me, I’ll pound that into his head until he can repeat it in his sleep. I can’t keep giving him second, third, fourth and fifth chances anymore.”

“Do you want me to go with you, to keep you company at least?”

“No, you’ve worked hard today. You can go home now.”

“Well, if you don’t mind I think I’ll just sleep here in the fort tonight. I’ve been meaning to work on a new table for our kitchen here, and Lavernius said he’d help me when I get the chance. He’s in there right now so I figure now is a good time.”

“Arlight, then. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Cyric. And good luck with Ollie as well while you‘re at it. By Bavlian’s Blade I know you’re gonna need it.”

I hate to keep repeating myself like I’ve already done numerous times, but Ollie drinks his money away. And in doing so he’s been forced to live in the outskirts of the town, in the area where the poor and less-privileged live. He’s not exactly poor by official standards, it’s just that silver usually doesn’t stay in his pockets for a very long time.

When I arrived at his house I knocked lightly a couple of times. Voren answered the door, having to duck under the doorway while coming outside so he wouldn’t bang his head on the wood. “He’s asleep right now, Captain, but he was muttering some weird stuff on the way here.”

“Like what?”

“Something about…I don’t know, I think he said something about not being worthy. Most of it was slurred to where I couldn’t hear him.”

“Thanks for taking care of him, Voren. You can leave now. I’m going to wait here until he wakes up. He and I have some things to discuss.”

“It was my pleasure, Captain. I’ll see tomorrow at breakfast with Fevlin as always?”

“Probably not tomorrow, Voren. I‘m supposed to meet with the Governor first thing in the morning. We‘ll try and stop by sometime in the afternoon if we‘re not busy. Have a good night.”

So I walked inside the home. It was pitch black, save for a small fire in the living quarters that Voren must have started. It was a fairly cool outside with a steady breeze, so the warming fire felt good on my skin. Ollie was snoring like a bear in his room upstairs, so I walked into the kitchen to see if he had anything to drink, besides alcohol I mean. Of course, not to my surprise though, the kitchen was littered with bottles, some empty, some full, some half gone, and some shattered all over the floor. It looked like a twister had made it’s way through his house. Of course, I hadn’t visited him in his home in almost two weeks.

Luckily I found a bottle of pear juice, so I took the bottle and walked down into his cellar where he had a small library. Before his mother died he was an avid reader, especially historical documents about the alienic lands to the southeast. Ollie was obsessed with the Zervegei of Zevroth in the northeastern region of Teir. I’ll admit they are an interesting civilization, but Ollie took his interest almost to another level. Because of him I’ve learned a lot of information about them, even though history shows that they have never visited out lands.

I sat down at a table. On it was a sugarshoot pipe and a pile of what looked to be some blue powder-like material, which I knew was basically sugarshoot crushed into tiny pieces, with a couple of other things mixed in as well. I sat on the other side where I had more room and started to read a book that was lying face down. It was titled “History of the Zervegei: The Battle of Canatalo River”.

I must have fallen asleep shortly after that because the next thing I knew I woke up to a ray of morning sunlight coming in through a window that had been built into the cellar. Birds were chirping outside and I could hear the rustling of footsteps as well. I turned around to walk up the stairs and that’s when I realized Ollie was sitting at the table.

“You finally wake? It’s eight o’clock in the morning,” he said without emotion.

I stretched my arms into the air and said, “You should be talking, Ollie. What was wrong with you last night?”

“You saw it for yourself, is there really a need for me to answer? I got drunk and passed out. It happens all the time, everyone should be used to it by now.”

I wasn’t liking the tone of his voice. It was sort of defensive in a way, but at the same time with a smartalic tone. It was easy to tell that something was wrong. “Don’t get smart with me, Ollie. I know something is wrong, I could tell by the way you were looking last night. Something is upsetting you, and I want you to tell me what it is.”

He just chuckled and took a bite of a yellow bala -fruit he was holding, the green juice shooting out from the bottom and spraying onto his table. He didn’t seem to care, and at that moment I knew that was the case. It was as if he was losing interest in everything. “Cyric…the people here don’t like me. I know what I’ve become, I’m a useless drunk and sugarshoot addict. That’s what’s wrong with me. I’ve become something that I never once dreamed of. But that’s alright, I’m gonna leave soon anyway.”

“What?” I yelled. “Why would you leave?”

“Because I’m not welcome here anymore, that’s why! The only people who have even the least amount of respect for me is you. Fevlin doesn’t care for me anymore, I can tell it in his tone of voice. I guess I don’t blame him, but it doesn’t matter. I can’t stay here anymore. It’s time a move on to another place, maybe make a new name for myself.”

“And where do you plan on going? The nearest city is more than fifty miles away.”

“I haven’t decided yet. Froc sounds like a good option now, I could open up a winery or something with the money I have left. It’s the capitol of Illacor after all, so hopefully I can earn some money quick. Either way it doesn’t matter, I’m leaving tomorrow morning and you can’t talk me out of it.”

“You know, Ollie, this is kind of sudden. I was going to try and get you in my army, after helping you stop drinking and smoking. I-”

“Yeah, well maybe I don’t wan to quit! Dammit, Cyric, stop getting in my business all the time! I know you’re just trying to help me and all that, but it’s really starting to get on my nerves.”

I didn’t say anything else to him, and instead I left the house, never looking back. He didn’t say anything to me either, and honestly that disappointed me. I was hoping he’d say he’s sorry and ask me to come back and talk, like he’s always done. But no, that wasn’t the case this time. And that’s how I knew it was over. I’ll admit that I wasn’t as sorry as I thought I would be. Of course part of that was my anger towards him just wanting to give up and leaving, and another part was that I was still in shock. I really wasn’t expecting him to tell me that he was going to leave Karuun for good.

Maybe he would change his mind and stay. I really didn’t think that would happen, but it never hurts to dream.

[redsrock]

Chapter Two: The Problem


Even though I had apparently slept the night away in Ollie cellar, I was still extremely tired. But I was scheduled to meet with the Governor in one hour, so I didn’t have any time to rest. Fevlin was already up about in the fort, tidying up the kitchen, and standing proudly next to the table he and another militiaman named Lavernius had built during the night.

“You did a nice job with the table,” I said after sitting down on a nearby stool next to the table. “Did you two really do this in one night?”

He laughed and said, “Of course not. We’ve been working on and off for about a week now. For the most part the only thing we had to do last night was paint it brown, and that didn’t take long at all. By the way, how’s Ollie?”

“Not good. He says he’s going to leave.”

“Come again?” he asked, even though I knew he had heard me.

“Yes, he says he’s not wanted around here, and he’d like to make a new life for himself, probably in Froc. It’s not really my business, so I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Of course it’s not your business. But then again, he is your best friend after all. Perhaps you should try and talk him out of it? I know he’s a drunk and all, but I never wanted him to leave. I’ll admit he hasn’t been my favorite person for a while, but that doesn’t mean I hate him.”

“I’ve already spoken to him and he’s made up his mind. There’s going back. I wanted to talk to you about your rounds today. As you already know I have a meeting with the Governor, so if you want you can take one of the militiamen with you. Or not. It doesn’t matter to me.”

I could see it in his eyes that Fevlin knew I was trying to get around the subject of Ollie, and thankfully he honored those feelings. “Yes, sir. I should be going now anyway. Good luck with the Governor. What does he want anyway?”

“I’m not sure. Zevril didn’t say, not that I expected him to. I have to go now, I don’t want to be late. Just be sure while on your rounds check out the Destitution Quarters. You know the peddlers like to get drunk and start fights now and then.”

Fevlin nodded his head and I left the fort, heading to the Governor’s mansion, which was situation atop a hill in the southwestern corner of the city. Governor Jedic Bine has been in power for nearly two years now. He took over after my father died, and since then Karuun has thrived economically, or at least compared to the past. When my father was Governor our economy was rather poor, mostly in part because my father ignored it, along with several other things as well. As soon as Jedic stepped in as Governor he immediate began implementing some rules and regulations to help bring back a healthy flow of wealth to our city. Trade routes with the other cities that had once been forgotten were brought back, and this helped the city tremendously. Jedic is certainly a skillful person, but there’s just one thing about him that I don’t like. He doesn’t like me…at all.

Jedic is nearly seventy years old, but acts and walks as if he’s barely even seen old age. He has always seen my father as a cheat, and also claimed long ago that he cheated to become Governor. I don’t know the truth to that, but I’d say he’s probably not lying. Still, he’s treated me unfairly ever since becoming Governor, and that’s just not fair. However, I don’t really wish to speak of it anymore, because his opinion of me will never change no matter what I do.

After climbing the steep steps into the mansion lobby I was greeted by Zevril, the Governor’s personal assistant. If there was one person I could say was my rival, it would be him. He’s been an enemy of mine since childhood, mainly because of my father and his father, who is the brother of Governor Jedic. Zevril’s father these days works as a consultant to a Governor in the west. Zevril has an extended vocabulary, or at least in my opinion, and he almost never directly insults me. Instead, he’ll do it in a sly way that honestly sometimes leaves me confused, but usually more angry than anything.

“Is the Governor ready to see me, Zevril?”

He was straightening the portraits that were displayed on the wall when I walked in, and while responding to my question he continued with his work without making eye contact. I found that quite rude.

“Yes, the Governor has been waiting for you as a matter of fact. You were supposed to have arrived at eight o’clock, and it is currently eight forty-five. That means you are forty-five minutes late.”

“What? No, the meeting is scheduled for nine o’clock. You told me yourself yesterday.”

“No, that is incorrect, Captain. If you would have listened more closely yesterday you would already be aware of that, but unfortunately for all of us that is not the case. However, I am not here to quarrel. Please follow me and I’ll escort you to the Governor’s chambers.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He was downright lying and he knew it himself. But rather than argue any further I simply followed the man as he led me up a tall flight of stairs, and then down a long corridor to our right. When we arrived at the Governor’s chambers I remembered how highly decorated it was. Several types of jewels and ornaments were displayed on the door, and a silver shield-shaped crest at the very top, an ancient item passed down to every Governor of Karuun.

“Here we are, Captain. I presume you are able to find your way into the room yourself. Good day.” he said with sarcastic tone. Then he took a quick bow and left before I could respond. I hated that man more than anyone inside the city, but what was I to do? Absolutely nothing, for he was the Governor’s forty-seven year old cousin, and arguing with him wouldn’t be a smart move on my part.

When I knocked on the door it took only a few seconds for the Governor call out. He yelled for me to come in, so I opened the door and stepped into his room. He was currently reading a book while sitting at his overly large desk next to a window, hundreds of books on the massive oak shelves behind him. At first he did not look up, but when he saw that it was me he closed his book shut and motioned for me to take a seat in front of him.

“You’re late, Captain,” he said while staring into my eyes. He had neither a smile nor a frown upon his face, but I could tell he meant business with whatever the meeting was all about.

“Sir, that is not true. When I talked with Zevril yesterday he said-”

Then he held up a hand to silence me. “It doesn’t matter. You’re here now, aren’t you? Now, I’m sure you’ve been wondering why I’ve called you here this morning. Something has come under my attention that needs to be addressed, and I wanted to speak with you about it before it’s too late.”

“Yes, sir?”

“I was told that Ollie disturbed the streets two nights ago, after midnight. Is that true, Captain?”

A lump immediately formed in my throat. “Yes, sir, that is true. But I spoke with him this morning and everything has been taking care of.”

“Is he in jail?”

“No, sir, of course not.”

“Then you are wrong, and everything has not been taken care of.” His tone was getting more stern by the second. “Captain, you are well aware that the curfew for all citizens is midnight, correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then why was Ollie not reprimanded for his actions? Why did you let him slide?”

“I…-”

“I’ll tell you why, Captain. It is because Ollie is your best friend and you’ve let him get away…once again I should add. I will not stand for this any longer. You are too weak when it comes to Ollie. He must be punished for his actions.”

“But, sir, Ollie has informed me that he is to leave Karuun tomorrow morning. Can’t we just let him go?”

“No, you have to set an example once in a while, Captain.”

“But if he’s going to leave anyway what’s the point of reprimanding him?”

“Because if we let him get away free, then we are essentially telling that citizens of Karuun that they can do whatever they want, and then leave the city without be punished. That is not a very good message to send to our people, don’t you agree, Captain?”

“No, it’s not a good message. But-”

The Governor put up his land hand to silence me. I sunk back into my seat while Jedic stood up from his, walking to the window and looking out. He scratched his hairy bead for a second and then said, “I’ve been thinking about his punishment, Captain, and I believe what I have come up with suffice. You and another officer shall confront Ollie at his home and tell him that he is to be arrested for his crime. I say you and another officer because if past history for Ollie repeats itself, he will likely be drunk. Things may get out of hand, and since you two are friend emotions will be running high as well. He is to be imprisoned for seven months.”

“SEVEN MONTHS?” I yelled. “But the normal punishment for his crime is three nights!”

“His past crimes are part of this as well.”

“But that’s not fair, it’s-”

“SILENCE!” I was standing at my chair boiling with anger. The Governor walked over to me, just inches from my face, and said, “You will not, I repeat, will NOT interrupt or disrespect me again. In case you have forgotten I am the Governor of this town, not you. You will abide by my rules, whatever they may be. Now, leave here and find another officer to accompany you to arrest Ollie. You are dismissed.”

I left the room angrily, slamming the door behind me. Zevril was still adjusted the portraits in the lobby area, and when I walked out the door I could have sworn he had a smirk about his face. If it weren’t for my self-control I would have walked back and asked him what was so funny. Of course, blowing up was probably exactly what Zevril wanted, so he could report it to the Governor.

Fevlin was eating breakfast in the barracks when I arrived. I guess he could sense my anger because the first thing he said was, “Is something wrong?”

I shoved a chair out of my way and said, “Yes, but I need to speak to you in private.”

The two of us walked into my office on the third floor, and then sat down at a table in the corner. “The Governor wants to arrest Ollie, Fevlin.”

“Really? What for?”

“For what he did the other night, and I guess I can understand that. But he is also tacking on all the other crimes that went unpunished. He want to throw him in jail for seven months! Can believe that?”

Fevlin looked me in the eye and said, “Honestly, Cyric, I can believe that. The Governor has a point if you think about it. It may seem unfair to you, but how fair is it for all those people you’ve punished over the years; the same crimes you did not punish Ollie for. How fair is that?”

“But…that’s not…it’s not-”

“The same? Oh yes it is, Cyric. It is the same, but you fail to see that. I don’t really put all of the blame on you. You and Ollie have been friends since childhood, so it’s natural to have a soft spot for him. But I think the Governor is doing what is best for everyone.”

Unbelievable, simply unbelievable. Now Fevlin wasn’t even on my side. “This is maddening, Fevlin. I can’t believe you agree with the Governor. It doesn’t matter I guess. I want you to come with me to arrest Ollie.”

“Yes, that would be a good idea. Ollie is probably drunk, so-”

“Dammit, would you quit saying that? That’s all everyone does is call him a drunk! It gets old after a while you know.”

Fevlin stood up from his chair quickly. “There’s a reason we all call him a drunk, Cyric, but I can see you will always be too blind to realize that for yourself. And if I am so annoying to you then I will stay here. Get someone else to help you, because I‘m not doing a damn thing!”

He then stormed out of the room, bumping his shoulder into mine on the way out. I wasn’t angry at what I said, and I meant every word of it. Maybe Fevlin isn’t even my friend after all. It doesn’t matter. He can rot for all I care. The other militiamen had been staring at us once the yelling started, but once I looked in their direction they went back to whatever it was they were doing before.

Fevlin had made so angry that I did not want anyone to accompany me, so I left the fort and went back to my house. I was too angry to go to Ollie’s by myself, and I needed something to cool me down. On the way inside my house I spotted my sister watering some plants she had just recently plotted. I guess she saw that I was angry because she called out to me before I had a chance to get inside my home.

“Cyric, come here for a second! What’s wrong? Did Ollie make fun of your chin hair again?” she laughed. Unfortunately I couldn’t laugh back, and that’s when she knew it was something serious. “Cy, tell me. What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to talk about it, Cezelia. I need something to drink.”

I tried to walk inside my house but she grabbed my shoulder. “No, it looks to me like you need someone to talk to. Mind if I have a drink with you?”

“I guess it doesn’t really matter if I mind or not, does it? Just come on in, I‘ll pour us both a glass.”

We entered my house and headed down stairs, where I had a personal winery constructed last summer. I wasn’t as heavy a drinker as Ollie mind you, but I liked a glass of something while reading, or if I was having company over. “It’s about Ollie,” I said while pouring mok, a sweet and thin alcoholic beverage, into our glasses. “The Governor wants me to arrest him for what he did other night, as well as any other offenses that have gone unpunished.”

“And you’re mad because you actually have to reprimand him after all these years?” She laughed while sitting down at a small round table in the middle of the room.

I handed her a glass and then sat down beside her. “No, it’s not that. It’s the fact that he wants to punish him for his past offenses as well, and he wants him to serve seven months in prison! That’s not fair one bit!”

“It’s also not fair that he has gotten away with everything thus far. It’s about time you discipline him for something, Cyric.”

And here we are again, someone bashing on Ollie. Just like Fevlin, the Governor, and pretty much anyone else I could think of. “I understand why you feel that way, Cezelia, but I don’t agree with punishing him for crimes committed in the past. I know there isn’t a law that protects Ollie from that, but it’s still unethical, at least in my eyes that is.”

“Well that’s the problem, Cyric. It only matters what the Governor says, and you know that. You also know that you aren’t on most peoples’ good-list, and for matters that apparently you are unaware of.”

“Unaware of? I know exactly why people don’t like me, Cezelia. It’s because of father and the way he treated everyone when he was in power.”

“No, that’s not it,” she chuckled. “I know you’d say that, because you just don’t get it. People don’t dislike you because of father, they dislike you because you are too lenient towards your friends. Ollie is a prime example, but I’ll give you more. Fevlin used to be a wild one before you got him to settle down, but his crimes went unpunished as well.”

I was gripping my wine glass tightly, so tight that I had to calm down or else shatter the glass. “You’re wrong, that isn’t why. They-”

“Please, Cyric, just listen to me for a second, will you? All you do is mope around and feel sorry for yourself. I see it everyday! It’s ‘the Governor said this’ or ‘he or she said that’. It’s getting ridiculous! I’ve already told you many more times than once, you’re a good overall officer. But you are simply too lenient to those who you deem friends. Remember when Voren got into that fight with the traveler from the south? He killed him, Cyric, killed him! Yet you let the crime go untouched.”

“It was in self-defense, Cezelia! You know that!”

“Was it really? How hard did you investigate, Cyric? And tell me the truth.”

“I…it was taken care of long ago! Why bring up the past?”

“Because it’s the past you aren’t learning from! Cyric, if you would just listen to me for once you’d realize that. You-”

“I’d like for you to leave, Cezelia?” I said, interrupting her and standing up.

“Excuse me?”

“I said I would like you to leave. Get out of my house, I don’t have time to argue with someone who obviously isn’t smart enough to know the truth. You mind is clouded, Cezelia. It’s-”

“My mind is clouded?” She asked loudly, now standing up as well. “You are one who can’t see two feet in front of you, not me! Don’t try and pin your problems on anyone other than yourself!”

“My problems are my own, and have nothing to do with you! You don’t love me, all you want to do is force opinions on people, and if they don’t agree with you then they are automatically incorrect! You are so arrogant sometimes!”

“Fine! Have it your way, Cyric! I’ll leave, but don’t come crying to me once you no longer have any friends at all! I’m tired of dealing with you, and obviously you are never going to see the truth! Mother always told us to heed each other’s advice and counsel, yet now you shun me away when you need me most. It’s so sad, but I’ve done all I can do. You’re on your own from now on.”

She drunk the rest of her wine in one big gulp and then threw the glass to the ground. I watched as it shattered into a hundred pieces, and then I watched my sister stomp angrily out of the room, slamming the door behind her. I didn’t care, it was her fault she was an immature brat, not mine. After cleaning up the mess I laid down in my bed just to get a few minutes of rest, but apparently I fell asleep because the next thing I knew I woke up to no light but a thin ray of moonlight coming through my window.

I immediately thought of what the Governor told me to do so I headed over to Ollie’s house by myself. Obviously I was the only one willing to try and help Ollie, rather than talk behind his back. But when I knocked on his door I received no answer. My first thought was that he had fallen asleep, but I stood there knocking for a few more minutes, still with no answer. I was just about to unlock the door with a key that unlocked all of the houses in the Destitution Quarters, when a little old lady that I call Miss Jaines came walking up to me, her old legs wobbling while he held a wooden cane in her shaking left hand.

“If Ollie is who yer lookin’ for then ya’ won’t find him here.”

“Do you know where he is then?”

“Yes, m’dear. I saw him walkin’ into the woods with a small wooden crate in his arms. I asked where he was goin’ but he kept walkin’ without mutterin’ a single word. Sounds odd, don’t ya’ think?”

“Yes, it does. Did you by any chance get a glimpse of what was in the crate?”

“No, Cap’n, I did not. I tried of course, but I am too short. I’ll tell ya’ one thing though, he was limpin’ more than a mother of mine then next morning’. Almost like he was hurt or something’.”

“Thank you, Miss Jaines.”

“Don’t mention it, Cap’n. You know I favor ya’ more than any of the other officers, if that’s what the fools wanna call themselves. But I do wanna tell ya’ one thing before ya’ leave. Ollie is becomin’ a bother for some of us here. I wouldn’ mind it if ya’-”

“I’m sorry, but I have to leave now,” I said, interrupting her and leaving her alone. I could tell she was glaring into my back with a stare of hate, but I didn’t care one bit. I wasn’t in the mood for another lecture on how “lenient” I am.

So then I left for the forest. What in the world could he doing carrying a crate into the woods? And why would he be limping? I knew I had to find out fast, and I couldn’t help from thinking the worst. Perhaps Miss Jaines had mistaken the limp for a drunken stagger. There were many possibilites, and thankfully I had a great idea on where he had headed. Ollie’s favorite spot in the forest was actually just a few yards out of it, on the edge of a tall cliff that offered a fanatsic view of the forest resting some two hundred yards below. The spot was only about three minutes away from the city because we had the shorter portion of the forest near our town. It was much larger in the southeastern area.

After hiking up a hill in the forest I came to this spot, and indeed Ollie was there. He was sitting on his bottom, holding a glass of wine, his back to me. I stepped on a twig and he immediately stood up and turned to face me. His hair was wild and his hands were shaking.

“Ollie. What are you doing here?”

He turned around and stared at me or a few seconds, his eyes filled with something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. He looked angry, but he also looked…sad in a way as well.

“Go away, Cyric, just leave me alone. You don’t need to be here.”

His words were slurred and I know my previous assumption was right that he was certainly drunk. He was staggering back and forth slightly, but not too much. Still, even the slightest stagger was dangerous because he was so close to the edge of the cliff. And when I looked closer I noticed he was crying.

“What’s wrong, Ollie? Is it something I can help you with?”

I started to step towards him but he began to yell frantically. “I SAID STAY BACK! JUST GO AWAY!”

I immediately stopped in my tracks and stood there. There were six empty liquor bottles to his left, and a sugarshoot pipe to his right, with a pile of the blue dust lying on a piece of parchment right beside it. There was no telling how long he had been up here, and it was likely he had left his house shortly after I had left this morning. He was talking like a madman.

“Ollie, buddy…just listen to me. I’ve-”

“No, you listen to me! I don’t deserve to be alive anymore, Cyric! I’ve blown my chances! It’s time to end the madness. You and everyone else are right. I am nothing but a worthless drunk. There’s nothing else for me now.”

“NO! What are you talking about, Ollie? I never said you were-”

“No, I’ve turned into a monster! Just look at me, DAMMIT! When I got mad at you back at my house I knew the time had come. I’ve been thinking about it lately, and I think now is the perfect time. I don’t want to hurt anyone no more.”

“Wait, Ollie, let’s just-”

“Goodbye, Cyric. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused.”

And before I could mutter another word he dropped a half-empty bottle he had been holding, and the wine spilled onto the grass below him. He took three steps back until he was just inches away from the edge. Then he let his body fall backwards off of the cliff, his eyes closing and his hands rising above him as he fell.

“OLLIE, NO!”

I ran over to stop him but I was too late. I watched as his body fell down until I could see him no more because of the dark. In a matter of seconds I heard a faint thump from below and I immediately cringed at the horrific sound. After falling my knees I began to vomit, most of it phlegm since I had not eaten anything for nearly a day. And then I started to cry uncontrollably. This went on for only a few minutes until I felt a loud rumble that was seemingly coming from the village.

“What in the world was that?” I thought out loud. Soon I heard a scream, and in no time more screams followed, ones that were shriller that the first. I took one last teary look at the cliff and then took off towards the village. I would return later, but whatever was going on in the village needed my immediate attention.