Book 4 Ch 1: Faberge Man

Book 4 Ch 1: Faberge Man

Arthur and Brixaby stood on a hill and looked out at the city ahead of them.

It was hard to miss.

Entirely encircled by steep brick walls, the buildings inside were arranged by height. The ones at the citys edge closest to the wall were the shortest. Each row further back was built slightly higher, allowing for windows or balconies to peek just over the ones in front. This repeated, row after row, until the buildings reached over twenty stories high in the middle.

Plus, every building seemed to be made of different materials, varying in color and texture. Some buildings were in several colors, giving them a patchwork look.

He wasnt sure if it was impressive or impressively ugly.

I smell no dragons.

Arthur glanced at Brixaby who had his head cocked to the sky. He barely seemed interested in the city at all.

Not a surprise, Arthur said. Most cities back in our kingdom only saw dragons when there was an eruption nearby. I didnt even see my first dragon until I was twelve years old.

Brixaby gave an exaggerated shudder. Then you must be glad I am in your life!

Its made things interesting, Arthur said dryly. He gestured back to the city. Have you figured out what were here for?

The dark dragons gaze dropped to the city again. He shrugged. The card only tells me where, not what. It probably assumes we already know what were looking for. Now we are close, the map has been updated to the middle of that city. Then his head turned to look to the stand of nearby trees. Not with any urgency as if hed just heard something. He looked like he was considering.

Come to think of it the trees were strange. They were of a type of oak Arthur hadnt seen before. That wasnt what made them interesting: It was the fact they were here at all, so close to such a large city.

From their vantage point on top of the hill, he had a good view of the area before the walls. It was all scattered forestland with some straight dirt roads that led directly to arched openings within the city walls.

No farmland. No cultivated areas. And apparently, no one had ventured out of the city to cut firewood.

Very odd.

Arthurs train of thought was interrupted when Brixaby suddenly said.

I wish to hunt.

Hunt? Arthur echoed.

Yes! Brixabys chest swelled with pride. I think it would be delightful to hunt proper prey for once. Not just small animals like rabbits or cats.

Cats? Arthur almost asked before he decided he didnt want to know. I thought you liked your food cooked, he said, instead.

I do. I will hunt it and you will cook it. Several delightful smelling creatures in this forest remind me of venison.

Now Arthur got it.

His dragon had gone from the size of a parrot to the size of a small donkey. He wanted to try out his teeth and claws or maybe his new card powers. Theyd both gained some over the last few days.

If youre hunting, Ill scout out the city. Well meet here this evening when the sun touches the horizon. In his mind, Arthur reactivated his Nullify card which worked on his Return to Start. But that could be lifted by either of them at any time. Key in your Return to Start here, just in case.

Yes, it would be inconvenient if either one of us were sent to the Mesa Free hive. Brixaby crouched as if ready to take off. Then he paused. But if you encounter trouble, you will regroup here, yes? I am a dragon. But you have no claws. He looked faintly pained.

Im a Legendary cardholder linked to a Legendary dragon, Arthur said, summoning his inner Brixaby. Trouble will find itself in trouble with me.

This seemed to mollify the dragon. With a snort, he sprung into the air. Though he kept low, within the branches of the trees. No need to attract attention from this Kingdoms hives whoever they were.

Arthur waited until the sound of his droning wings faded. Then he turned to the city.Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only

There was no way he would be able to hide who he was forever. As soon as someone realized he was linked to a dragon, the local hives would come calling.

As Arthur walked on, he kept a light thought on his Phase In, Phase Out card. Just in case someone took a shot at him. While he heard muttering from the guards hed passed, no one did.

A quarter mile ahead, he saw another cart this one had the same dimensions with the same large boxes. Only it was green with gold nonsensical looping writing on the back.

It was also rolling up to the city wall, and several guards had already come around to chat with the driver.

There were more guards along the top of the wall. A lot of them.

One guard turned from the green cart and saw Arthur. He called him over.

Unable to understand, Arthur showed his open palms in an exaggerated shrug. I dont understand you.

Oakee, oakee, the guard said and led Arthur toward the wall to another guard who was seated at a small portable writing desk. From the more ornate uniform, he looked to be in charge.

The two gabbled and then the seated one stood and approached Arthur.

Do you know my language? Arthur asked.

The mans eyebrows rose. A Faberge. Its been a while since Ive seen one of you.

A what? At least the man spoke his language, though Arthur wondered how well.

Its what we call your Kingdom. Like the fancy egg, yeah? All your weird buildings come to a point, like an onion. He tented his hands and chuckled. Since you have no name for yourselves, we had to come up with something. So? How did a Faberge man find himself here?

Arthur, always ready to level up his Deception Skill, already had a story in mind. I bought a trip from a portal card user, but he was only a Common and he had the wildcard of his set. Made for a random destination. Arthur shrugged. I didnt care.

The man eyed him. Criminal?

Some might say so, Arthur said. My family was sentenced to the border for my fathers crimes. This wasnt too much of a lie, to muddle things in case the man had a truth-detection card.

Weve heard of such practices, the man said. Its barbaric to condemn an entire family for the crimes of another. But we still dont tolerate criminal behavior here. If youre caught stealing, youll regret it.

Im not a thief. Im looking for a fresh start.

Thats what all thieves say. But youll be able to prove yourself. Im Domingo the two words that sounded like She Raf on shift, and youre at the border ofThe next few words must have been in his language because it was incomprehensible and long. Were the last of our great state. Did the portal drop you close to the city?

Yes, the buildings are hard to miss.

Youre a lucky kid. Wandering that forest isnt wise.

Why? Arthur asked. Does it belong to the local baron?

No such nonsense here. Domingo looked like he was going to say more but at that moment there was a commotion behind them.

The plodding cart was coming in at a greater speed the driver snapping the reins and cracking a whip over the back of the oxen to urge them to hurry up.

Arthur would have felt sickened except the guards at the top of the boxes were standing again. One threw out a lightning bolt at something behind them.

Seems youll see for yourself. Stand behind me, Domingo said.

The guards on top of the wall came on alert and called out to one another.

Then Arthur heard whistling from the trees. The sounds of scourgelings.

The attack happened in a flash.

Several scourgelings with massive, bulbous heads and gray hides, like mockeries of the oxen, sprang out from between the trees. Its head split open in half and clamped oversized teeth on the neck of one of the oxen.