David Bishop and the Mystic of Creation

by T. C. Crawford

  They all worked together like one large family, always helping one another as needed, never having much but always willing to share with those in need. It was a simple life, but hard, not just on the body, but also on the spirit. It was common for men and women to be taken away on a whim, without any cause or reason, by the Wolf Guard – most never being seen or heard from again.

  This is what led Natan to begin recruiting the other rebels and begin their resistance. For their people, their children, and for their future to be free of such uncertainty.

  “Once we have word that the people are with us, we will spread the word for everyone to prepare to gather in the three main marketplaces, the North Sector, the Eastern Sector, and the Western Sector by the fish market. That will have the central headquarters surrounded when we begin our strike.” said Natan, pointing to a small makeshift map he had drawn in the sandy floor.

  “Do your people have enough weapons to support this kind of rebellion?” asked Tyrius, concerned of the prospect of arming thousands of people living in poverty with weapons effective enough to take on a militarized Wolf Guard and Guild consisting of trained warriors and seasoned fighters.

  “We will have them covered, yes.” said Natan, “We have many tools we use throughout the city –fishhooks, harpoons, shovels, axes, hammers, and some swords we have managed to pick off over the years.” he said, smiling.

  Tyrius, Erin, and David shared equal looks of concern. Fishhooks and harpoons were effective tools for their trade, but to use them against the Wolf Guard who had those long, curved blades that would easily cut through the wooden handles of such tools, that was a different story, not to mention the short swords used by the Guild.

  “Pardon my concern, but fishhooks and harpoons and shovels are not weapons, they are tools. The Wolf Guard and Guild members have real blades that are designed for war. These are poor substitutes…” said Tyrius, concern in his voice.

  “I saw the people fight in the streets when they ambushed the Wolf Guard. These people are brave and determined. Even with such inferior weapons, they will pose a formidable threat to the establishment.” replied David, nodding towards the others in the room, who all stood up straighter as they heard his praises.

  They clearly all admired David and took his words to heart, something David knew he would have to use to his advantage if needing to rally the people behind him.

  “Their sheer numbers and determination will be their greatest weapon. The most important thing will be making sure they don’t lose their resolve once they get into the action and start to see their friends and family fall beside them in battle. Morale will be the key deciding factor if we are going to come out of this on top” said Erin, chiming in.

  “Have any of your people been in combat, Natan?” she asked.

  “Yes, many. Many have had to live in constant threat of the Wolf Guard and the Guild, many times having to fight their way out of dangerous situations before running away. These are the ones who come to us for protection. Once you run away from the Wolves or the Guild, you can never show your face again or they will take you. Those who survive are lucky, many do not survive, and many more still are taken away.” he said, clenching his teeth in anger.

  “Our numbers have grown recently. People are angry, and people are fighting back more and more, knowing that to give up is to die. The people know that when the Wolf Guard or the Guild take you away, you are a dead man. This has caused many to stand up and fight, instead of giving up easily. Now our numbers have more than doubled in the past month alone. And with David here, our ranks will grow even faster.” he said, looking to David with admiration.

  David was not used to this kind of attention, but he sympathized for Natan and the others and wanted more than anything to help them achieve their goals.

  After hearing David’s account of the ambush, and seeing Natan’s determination, Tyrius seemed to relax a bit on his stance and instead focused on the task at hand.

  “So, once we get the numbers and everyone is in position, how will you start the attack? We have to make sure we have the element of surprise, and we can’t risk word spreading too quickly of the rebellion or the enemy will have time to mobilize and respond in a coordinated attack.” said Tyrius.

  “Yes, this we have thought of too.” said Natan. “We wait until the market hour, where the Guild and Wolf Guard send many of their soldiers to the markets to see that they get their first picks. When they are looking over the shipments, we catch fires around the market, closing them off and keeping their soldiers blocked off from the rest of the city.

  “This is when we rush all three groups toward the central headquarters and take them by force. If we take the central building and take out their leaders before the main forces return from the markets, we can free Riyan and the others.”

  David suddenly chimed in with an idea, “The central barracks, the pyramid shaped structure. That’s where I was being held and it had a heavy presence within its walls. I bet you that’s where they are storing their weapons stash too! If we can take that, we can get their weapons from within, giving us a greater chance to take the rest of the city.” he said, to which everyone nodded eagerly.

  “If we do this, the rest of the people will see we have won and will fight back, but if we don’t show them our strength by taking the main building, they will not join us. I know this – it was where my parents failed before. They had gotten to the steps of the main fortress, only to fail in taking out the leader of the Wolf Guard. The rebellion died soon after, and the members were all beheaded in a public execution for all to see what punishment awaits those who resist.” said Natan.

  “Their leader’s name is Bloodvayne,” said David, “he’s much bigger than the Wolves we came across in Eldergate and the Great Plains. That’s who was going to take me to Eldergate, and he would have, had I not been rescued. I think we will also need to make sure Jakob Zander is taken out too – he is the leader of the Guild. So long as he lives, your people will not be victorious.”

  “This is true, we must eliminate both leaders to cause the most confusion to the enemy. But their building is not in the central pyramid with the Wolves. They are further east. They take shelter in a compound made of large timbers. It surrounds their main building like a great wall.” replied Natan.

  He looked over to a woman who was standing off to the side and waved his hand for her to come over.

  She was tall and skinny with long black hair that flowed down the length of her back. She wore shabby clothes like most of the others consisting of plain trousers and a light, flowing robe that covered her head and was customary for the women in the area to wear, as it allowed the air to flow through the fabric and cool the skin while protecting them from the intense sun.

  “This is Anita, she will show you the compound so you can see what we are facing with Jakob. Maybe you can find a way for us to get through their gates?” said Natan. “So far, no one has ever tried.”

  “Yes, that would be great” said Erin, smiling and nodding to Anita.

  David chimed in “I’ll come along too!” He was eager to spend some more time with Erin and catch up after being away for the past several days.

  “You two go ahead, I will stay here and continue going over the plans with Natan and the others. We must make sure we are truly prepared for everything, there’s too much at stake if we fail.” replied Tyrius.

  “Alright, see you in a bit then” said Erin, hugging Tyrius and waving goodbye to Natan.

  Anita led Erin and David through the maze of narrow corridors between the buildings until they reached the main road.

  The sun was on its last stretch of sky heading towards the horizon in the West, casting longer shadows and signaling that the end of day was growing nearer.

  With the air beginning to cool off from the scorching heat of the day, more and more people were beginning to gather in the streets to enjoy the reprieve and get their work done while socializing with their neighbors.

&nbs
p; The endless chatter of people busy at work echoed around them as they made their way through the crowded, dusty streets.

  They passed several noisy vendors that were yelling at them as they passed, trying to get them to come take a look at their goods. Some were selling various spiky fruit and vegetables, and some were selling different types of outfits and face coverings for the dusty storms that plagued the region. It was a very chaotic market.

  Children ran throughout the streets laughing and playing, while others sat on the sides holding out their hands, hoping for a gesture of kindness from the passerby’s in the form of food or coin.

  David even caught a few of the children trying to reach their hand into his pockets. He quickly shooed them away, telling them he had nothing to give them, at which they quickly scattered off, fearful of a rebuke.

  Eventually they reached an area where the buildings stopped looking so ragged and frail and instead were much better built. There were hundreds of sandstone brick or adobe structures that Anita said had been standing for many years and would be still for many years to come. Buildings that lasted more than a couple of years were apparently a luxury that most of the population couldn’t afford – including Anita and her family.

  Anita explained that they were now in the wealthier middle district that formed a ring that separated the poor outer slums from the rich inner circle.

  She said the city was much like a circle, with the outer edges being the poorest, and the inner most section being the wealthiest where the pyramid of the Wolf Guard stood along with the Guild’s compound which they would soon be reaching.

  The three major markets that they would be setting blaze to in the coming days each existed in these middle-income sectors, as they were within reach of the wealthiest members of society but didn’t impede on the wealthy class’ privacy and grandeur. This strategic position still gave access to the poor and middle classes, whose money really fueled the economy as the majority of the population fell within these classes.

  Finally, Anita brought them to a place where there were large, sandstone walls with great arched openings being guarded by members of the Guild.

  “This is one of the gates separating the wealthy inner district of the city from the rest of us. It is guarded at all times by two Guild members at each entrance. They rotate shifts twice a day and twice throughout the night, so they are always fresh and alert. When the uprising begins, we will need to take out these guards quickly so they don’t ring the bells at the top of the gates and alert the rest of the city.” she said, pointing to the large bronze bell positioned at the top of the arched opening in the gate.

  It was connected to two long ropes that were rung through rings along the wall and hung just behind each of the guards. They were well within reach so it would be easy for them to sound the alarm in the event of any trouble.

  “If you look through the archway, you will see the Guild’s compound. It is that large wooden building there, just beyond the street.” she said.

  Erin and David looked to where she was pointing and could see the structure she was referring to. It was a great, walled structure surrounded by wooden fencing that rose nearly eight feet tall. They could see a wooden gate that was currently open but had the ability to quickly shut in the event of an attack.

  They silently noted the number of guards before the entrance and began formulating plans on how they could get through the front gate and to the structure before any alarms went off, causing the gate to be securely shut.

  “Anita, are there any basements in the city?” Erin asked, “Particularly near the Guild’s compound?”

  Anita thought for a moment to herself before answering, “We know of a merchant who sympathizes with our cause. She owns a small shop a couple of streets down that specializes in perfumes. She keeps her stores in a cellar to keep the flowers and other ingredients cool, so they don’t spoil.”

  “Do you think she would be willing to help us?” asked Erin.

  “How would she help us?” asked Anita, “She isn’t a fighter.”

  “I don’t mean to fight with us, but if she could give us access to her cellar, we could easily burrow through this soft rock in a matter of a day or so. If we planned it right, we could tunnel under the wall and beneath the compound. Then, when the uprising begins, we can break through the floor and take them out from within.” she said, looking at David for confirmation.

  He thought for a moment, considering Erin’s idea. “That could actually work.” he said, finally. “What do you think Anita?” he asked.

  “I think that we should go see her and find out.” she said bluntly.

  She led them back down the street and a couple minutes later they were entering a small building roughly the size of a two-bedroom house. As they looked around while Anita spoke to the owner, David realized the back of the shop was actually shared by the wall separating the two districts, meaning as soon as they tunneled just a few feet into the wall, they would already be into the inner district and would only need to tunnel roughly fifty feet or so before they reached the compound. It was a perfect location for Erin’s plan.

  The walls on the main floor were lined with shelves filled with hundreds of little vials of glass, each containing a variety of different colored liquids that when opened released a pleasant aroma.

  Erin was walking down the aisles, smelling each of the bottles before finally deciding on one she liked. She put a dash of the liquid on her neck and wrists.

  When David walked past her, her scent was intoxicating and made him wish they were in a more private location, but he knew that was a far-off fantasy and they probably wouldn’t have a chance for such intimacies until the Defiant One was defeated – if ever.

  Instead, he just sighed and shrugged off the thoughts, replacing them with the more pressing concern of the rebellion and, ultimately, heading back north to the Crystal Caverns and stopping the Defiant One.

  Eventually, Anita returned with an elderly woman with gray, frizzy hair wrapped up in a tight bun and a nice looking, flowing dress that stopped mid-calf. Despite her old age and countless lines etched in the corner of her eyes and around her mouth from years of smiling, her skin was still otherwise smooth and flawless, and her eyes twinkled brightly.

  “David, Erin, this is Francesca, but we all call her Frannie. She’s agreed to help us. We can start digging tonight” said Anita, smiling.

  Chapter XXVII

  When David and Erin finally got back to the rebel headquarters, the sun was almost completely set, and the warm air was beginning to rapidly cool. The streets were all lined with torches protruded out from the walls of the buildings, giving a nice warmth to the encroaching night.

  Tyrius and Natan were sitting at the table with Ty and Kal, eating a small meal of bread and chunky soup filled with local vegetables while going over the final plans for the operations when David and Erin walked through the door.

  “How did it go? Did you find a way into the Guild compound?” asked Tyrius, getting up from the table to greet his friends.

  “Yes, we think so.” said Erin.

  She explained to Tyrius, Natan, and the others around the room of their idea to tunnel from Fannie’s cellar into the ground beneath the compound, giving them a way to quickly enter the Guild after the fighting begins without the risk of being shut out at the gates.

  “If we can get in there quickly and surprise them, that would give us an even bigger advantage. They would never expect us to come from beneath the ground like that!” said Natan, excitement beaming on his face.

  “Exactly what we were thinking.” said David, “The chances of us being able to get through the main gate into the inner district and through the Guild’s gate are pretty slim. We would have to really move fast, and even then, the odds aren’t in our favor.”

  “Agreed, I think this is our best shot at taking the compound. We will have to dedicate a separate force from the main attack to make this happen. How far is the distance from the shop to the
compound?” asked Tyrius.

  “Roughly a stone’s throw” said Anita, after mentally gauging the distance. “The material of the bedrock is the same grainy stone used throughout the city” she replied. “It gives way easily under a minor amount of force. Pickaxes and chisels will easily cut through it. With a small group of men cutting away and another handful actively clearing the debris, it shouldn’t take too long to prepare the tunnel.”

  “That’s great news” said Natan, “Anita, go and gather some of the men and get them started on this at once. We can’t afford to delay any further. We must get this tunnel ready for when we are ready to strike.”

  Anita nodded and quickly exited the room to recruit the force needed for the operation, while David and Erin stayed behind to get a bite to eat and finish catching up with Tyrius and Natan.

  After eating, Erin pulled out her pack and grabbed a long object that was wrapped in a blanket and twine.

  “David, I forgot to tell you about this earlier, but this is for you.” she said, holding out the long, wrapped object for David to take and open.

  Seeing the look of confusion on his face, she said “It’s a gift, from Gilric Ellisar.”

  David took the object from her hands and from the size and the feel of it in his hands, he immediately knew what it must be. He quickly unwrapped it, excited to see what lay beneath the thick cloth.

  When the hilt of the sword was revealed, he placed his fingers around it and slid the rest of the blade out of the scabbard beneath the blanket.

  The sound of steel being drawn rang throughout the room, turning heads of everyone in attendance.

  David held up the blade and inspected the intricate carvings in its side, running his fingers along the edge of the ancient ruins.

  “It says ‘Here lies the sword of legend, forged for the bearer of the orb’” said David in awe, to which Erin and Tyrius both looked at each other in wonder.

  “When did you learn how to read ancient Elvish script?” asked Tyrius, bewildered and double checking the inscription on the side to confirm it was, in fact, in the ancient language.