Their travel towards the royal capital was rather uneventful, and as they progressed the roads became ever better. No one gave a hurt knight, a burned woman and a young man much mind. Similar groups of travelers where not an uncommon sight these days.
After nearly a fortnight on the road they finally had reached Nyhem, and for now rented a room within a smaller inn near one of the citie's bridges. As the day was still young, Ramfrey had decided to try and find passage upon a ship, over to Coruneon or maybe even Rathikun. So far no one had recognized him, as he wore a rather plain leather doublet, devoid of any heraldry.
He made his way towards the harbour, through crowded alleys and streets. He had never seen Nyhem so busy. Carts and barrels and pedlars where rushing goods everywhere. The odd soldier or knight could be seen around, and yes - also many a beggar or cripple.
As the sun was coming close to reaching the pinnacle of it's way across the heavens for this day, he started hailing sailors he met along the docks and talked to a few captains. None of them was outbound towards their destination, and a few where under royal commission. A grizzled one eyed tar, smoking a pipe finally shook his head at him, pointing with his pipe as he took it from his mouth to point towards one of the harbour inn's. "Ask around there, mate. 'Tis a good place to find a ship." Ramfrey nodded and thanked the man before making his way towards the tavern.
The place had a low ceiling and was right now rather full with patrons eating lunch. Ramfrey made his way to the bar. leaning on it and scanning the room until the grizzled looking publican harumphed to get his attention.
"I'll have two pints of Ale. " He produced a shiny silver coin, a lot too much for that small a purchase. "If you could point me towards someone able to give passage northwards, to Rathikun or maybe Coruneon, I'd be much obliged."
The publican pocketed the coin, and gave him an approximation of a toothy smile, minus a few teeth that is. He nodded towards a corner booth telling him: "Old Gill over there is the bosun to the 'Bachelor's Delight'. She's out of the Summer Isles, so they might follow the northern coast on their way back, I'd ask him." As Ramfrey took the two ale and made to leave towards the sailor the man added. "They do not take passengers normally though, Mate!"
***
Alicja had been waiting in the inn for Ramfrey’s return. The inn was a quaint little place located in the stone district of Nyhem. Like most buildings in Nyhem it was constructed out a mixture of wood, wattle and daub. The furniture, though simple was still of a robust design and straw covered the stone floor so as to easily clean up any mess that the drunken patrons might make. Three large glassless windows lined the wall giving a clear view of the murky river. The bartender stood behind the counter alongside his wife, the inn wasn’t particularly busy and there were currently only three customers, two of which being Alicja and Christain. They had been quietly talking to each other, while drinking some beer that Ramfrey had purchased for them before he left. The beer was not to Alicja’s liking; its flavour was far too hoppy and lacked the smooth texture of Ralda’s beer. However she did not complain. The bartender, whom up until now had been carelessly cleaning wooden tankards, had started to make his way towards the door of the inn.
“Where do you think you’re going”? His wife demanded as she glared at him
“Where do you think I’m going, to the plaza, besides things aren’t exactly busy in here at the moment, I’m sure you can survive without me”. He answered gruffly
“Don’t tell me you’re going to see that execution” She sighed “How can you can get entertainment from someone’s death is beyond me”
“It’s justice at its finest, how could I not find enjoyment in that” the bartender replied proudly “That Mazeltof traitor had it coming, he betrayed our king and sided with the usurper”. At this statement Alicja froze, did she truly hear what that man had said correctly? Christain too was in shock, and his face shared a mixture of confusion and horror.
“Since when were you such a supporter of the throne” the bartender’s wife replied scornfully “last time I checked you hated the snake”
“That was before he started being the best thing that has happened to Nyhem. I can’t remember the last time commerce was this good. Anyway the execution is going to start at midday so I don’t have much time left” He said as he made his way out the door. His wife swore under her breath as she continued to clean the tankards her husband had left behind. Alicja was still frozen in place at this revelation; a member of her house was going to be executed, this couldn’t be real, this had to be some sort of nightmare. Christain on the other hand had finally come to his senses
“Alicja” he said softly, unsure what to say or what to do. At this moment Alicja suddenly sprang to her feet and ran out of the door; she wasn’t just going to stand by as her family was murdered.
“Wait” Christain shouted as he quickly tried to follow her. As soon as he stepped outside he knew he had no chance of finding her; the bridge was packed with people and Alicja had already disappeared into the crowd. Unlike Alicja, Christain had never been to Nyhem before; he had no idea where the plaza was. His only hope was to try and find Ramfrey, hopefully he would be able to find Alicja before she did anything that would get her killed.
Alicja had aggressively pushed her way through the crowded streets of Nyhem, even going as far as knocking people over as she desperately tried to get to the plaza in time. Nyhem’s main plaza was as massive as it was grand. The grand temple loomed over the plaza and various statues of the Klebrithian gods and goddesses lined the sides. An extremely large fountain stood in the middle of the plaza and in the center stood a statue of Jykher, god of life. A large crowd had gathered in front of a wooden executioners stand, located just in front of the temple. To Alicja’s horror she saw what she had dreaded. Stood atop of a stool was her father, and around his neck hung a hangman’s noose. On the stage with him stood Isabel, Grand Cleric Mildred and Ulf. Mildred was currently chanting a prayer though no one in crowd was listening; they were too busy jeering and swearing at Henry to even hear her. Ulf eagerly waited behind Henry, ready to kick the stool from under his feet. Isabel watched with a wicked smile, enjoying the event unfold before her. Alicja continued to push her way through the crowd. She had no idea what she was going to do, but she knew that she couldn’t just stand by and watch. She had to try and save her father, regardless of what happened to her.
***
Christain clawed both hands into his hair in desperation as he stood in the crowded street. What should he do? Ramfrey. Ramfrey knew the court and city, he could help. He was at the harbor, so that's where he had to go. Hurriedly he asked passers by for the way, then he ran off the way they had indicated. He bumped into people inciting curses and angered raised fists here and there, but he was young and nimble and thus could soon smell the typical smell of fish and tar and hempen rope, that one could find in each harbor.
As he burst out of an alley onto the quayside he sighed relieved, this harbor was not to big, he could do this, he just needed to remain calm. Quickly he trotted along the quay peering around for any sign of the tall knight. Among the mostly bendylegged sailors and hunched dockworkers the proud tall knight just had to stand out. He passed the second bar towards the end of the quay when he was squeezed along by a few sailors running in there. Excitedly they hooted and called for each other. Old Gill was arm wrestling with some landlubber, something one had to witness. Christain wanted to protest before he caught sight of the two men wresting.
Ramfrey was sitting opposite a dark skinned sailor, both sweating heavily. Grim determination etched into both of their faces as they muscles bulged and strained against each other. "I tell you, man, you can not win." Ramfrey grunted from behind clothed teeth. Then he was distracted for an instant by Christain wailing. "Sir! Please come quickly, it's....I....Heny...Mazeltoff, he is...he will be ....executed...Alic....your daughter..." Ramfrey's eyes darted to Christain and as he lost concentration Old Gill managed to finally turn his arm quite a few centimeters towards loosing. Ramfrey grunted loudly and strained again, his face getting redder, his stream of sweat increasing. "Not....now....kid." he muttered as he painfully slow regained what he had lost.
"But sir, please she...she ran there...she will be ..." Christain stammered desperately.
"Not now..." the knight grunted again, in turn increasing his pressure even more, the bones of the two arm wrestlers hands seemed to plop and in an instant Ramfrey had wrestled the Sailor down...making him fall backwards from his bench. Right away the knight seemed to collapse. He panted heavily, as stars danced in front of his eyes. To the cheers of the crowd he finally stood after a moment and emptied his tankard after a moment.,Gill raised his left arm, and quickly the crowd quieted. "Now that was no mere landlubber I say. Sir you just got yerself a passage." the big man laughed as he held his defeated right arm. Ramfrey nodded, and held up a hand to Christain, to be quiet for the time being. "Would you show us the ship right away? As you have heard something came up, and we might need to hurry."
Gill made a smacking sound and nodded, "Come along, lads."
***
On their way towards the ship Christain desperately babbled to Ramfrey what had taken place. Just barely avoiding spilling Alicjas name, as Ramfrey repeatedly told him to calm down. As they reached the ship, a huge two masted holk, sporting a more than suggestively clad figurehead he finally answered: "Okay boy listen up." he held the young man by his shoulders. "Go get all of our things from the inn. Pay them." He handed him two of his silver pieces. "...with this, and bring it all on board. Do not hurry overly, do not show any sign of hurry. Tell them that I have been invited to stay with a relative I did not know had bought a house in the city, something along these lines. I will get to the plaza and try to stop ...my daughter."
He then walked over to the Bosun, waiting at the gantry. "Good man, I know you will be leaving tomorrow normally, but I'd be much obliged if we could. " he handed him one of only 4 gold pieces he had left by now. "...hurry this up a bit."
Gill made the same old smacking sound again then nodded. "Only because you are quite the sportsman Sir, and I like ye. But do not bring any trouble aboard is that clear?"
Ramfrey ran, not as fast as he could, but in a trot he could maintain for a longer time. He cursed himself inwardly, he had his suspicions about the whereabouts of Henry Mazeltoff. Somehow he had hoped for a better timing though. As he neared the plaza, and the throng of people got denser some idealistic, no, some idiotic core of himself actually started pondering how to save Alicijas father. He chuckled bitterly, about his own foolishness. He would be glad to even save the girl at all. Why did he have to follow oaths. Why was he a knight? Why had he grabbed that bloody sword all those years ago?
As the street opened up into the great open plaza his eyes widened. He looked upon the mass of people. All of them wrestling to be able to see the dais. He stood. Stunned. He could smell the blood again, yet there had not been an execution yet. The press of people suddenly became the bloody melee of the battle, all those years ago. He heard the clashing of swords. Tasted the mud and snow for an instant. He saw his master, lying there in the mud, eyes open, soulless. Then the same dead man seemed to stand at his side again, smiling that old kindly smile. He was his age now. The plaza was back. Sir Berdig at his side lay a hand on his shoulder and pointed into the crowd. "Your 'daughter', She is over there, boy." The apparition said kindly, and right away Ramfrey was in motion again. Squeezing through the crowd. He lost sight of her as she as well was moving through the crowd, though more like a sleepwalker. Each time he heard Sir Berdig from his subconscious. 'Right.' or 'Left.'; 'There she is.' He finally reached the girl and grabbed her spinning her around. pulling her into a hug. "Wait princess." he whispered. "We can not save him." his voice was hoarse and grim as he spake. It took him more effort to croak the words than when he had been besting the Sailor some time ago. He held her, tight, so she could not view the dais. He himself could not avoid his gaze.
"LET GO OF ME" Alicja Yelled as she struggled to be free of Ramfrey. Meanwhile Mildred had finished her speech and was making her way off the stage. Isabel had now walked over to where Mildred had been standing and had started to address the crowd.
"Before you stands a traitor. A traitor not only to our King, but to all of Formaroth. He could have chosen to remain loyal to the crown and support our kings rightful claim to the throne. But instead he choose to support the usurper in exchange for power and helped to start the war that is currently ravenging Fomaroth. There is only one punishment for treason, and that punishment is death" As Isabel finished the crowd cheered in support. She continued to smirk as she turned round to face Henry. She spoke only loud enough so he could hear "If you have any last words, please make them quick" She said mockingly. Even now Henry stood proudly and defiantly
"I have only this to say to you: Remember our words, 'we never quit, we never give up and we never surrender', your may have taken my life but I assure you my children will have yours in return, that I can swear to you" At this Isabel signaled to Ulf, who eagerly kicked the stool from beneath Henry. Henry violently fell and the sudden force around his neck caused it to break killing him instantly, much to the disappointment of Isabel and Ulf.
Ramfrey stood, still holding the young Lady Mazeltof as her father neared his oblivion. They had both been entranced as the last words where uttered, Ramfreys grip on her actually lessening by a miniscule amount. He then suddenly flinched and gripped her crushingly tight as Henry fell to his very sudden death.
Ramfrey frowned again, it had been some time since someone's death had struck him this strangely. He looked around, carefully measuring the scene, and the crowd. If he could steer Alicja to remain calm, not to make a scene he might preserve her. They might not even have to rush out of the city as hastily as he had prepared them to. He harumphed lowly, and in a brittle voice started talking, taking great pains not to reveal them himself. "Daughter heed this mans words. W...Noone could not have saved him. Deep in this Den of his enemies." he talked slowly as he stroked her back and still held her. "He still has living kin, his house has not fallen. Maybe his heirs will pursue revenge as he proposed." he made a suggestive pause, and added in a louder, quicker and slightly higher pitched voice to make clear he did not mean it. "Or they might be wise and come under the Kings peace. " he tried to steer her slowly towards the next alley,. Away, towards the harbour and waiting ship.
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Konan375
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