Dawn of Adventure

by Andrew Bardsley

  “Not to worry, Lizzy. The town is to send scouts to return everybody belonging that was killed.”

  “Well, I guess that I won’t be getting a new robe out of today then.”

  Jane just chuckled at her sister but took out a belt from her inventory. As Lizzy was putting it on the leather belt, she noticed that the tall, handsome Darcy was looking into the resurrection area of the temple. When she saw Lizzy's eyes looking in his direction. His eyes went wide for a second. He moved forward as he looked like he was about to come over and talk to them. But then just nodded instead. Then he left the room quickly with a flash of his expensive wizard robes.

  Jane, who had seen his reaction, said, “Whatever was that about Lizzy?”

  “Who knows maybe he was about to tell me off for dying,” Lizzy said with a frown. “Dear sister, what had been happening since I was killed.”

  As the two exited, the temple thought the hall of the gods. With all, it's magnificent looking heroic statues of the gods. That were honored for the protection of the world. Jane said, ”The town is in an uproar. The news going around is that Sir William Lucas and the town council have sent a message for help from the kingdom's army.”

  “Are the wyverns flying to attack the rest of the county?” said Lizzy.

  “For now, it seems that they flew back into the mountains. So, we're not in any immediate danger.”

  When the two stepped out of the temple, Lizzy saw the rest of her family standing next to one of the flowing fountains of pure water. Her father was talking with some of the other leaders of the county. Lizzy could hear his voice had a tone of impatience as some of the others shook their heads to his comments. He was moving his hand as if he was trying to get an important point across the warriors and wizards around him.

  Her mother was standing chatting with a group of Ladies in other noble families. When her mother saw Lizzy exit the temple, she shouted dramatically, “Lizzy, my darling hero daughter. We're all so proud of your action today.” Then to the surrounding people, she said,” Wasn't Lizzy such a star today, and aren't we all so proud of her.”

  Polite clapping was heard from the nobles as they acknowledged her efforts in the last-ditch defense of the portal. Lizzy flushed with embarrassment at the attention her mother had drawn to her. But then this was expected. The dramatic gestures from her mother were not at all unusual for her mother as she truly loved the drama of life.

  She stood around, slightly embarrassed in her white robe. But thankfully soon, the conversation with the rest of the nobles finished. With her walking carefully with her bare feet, the rest of the family started its journey back to their manor. Surprising for such a close to the assemblies hunt, they returned, therefore, in good spirits to the estate.

  This was mostly due to Lady Bennet refusing to let the attack dampen the glad events of the day. As typical, she was full of the success of her children. Halfway through the return journey, the Alchemist Bennet cheered up from his worries about the attack on the county. Much to his wife's delight, he joined in the fun as they talked about the main accomplishment of Bingley and Jane.

  With the ancient green and dark brown forest on either side of the pathway. In the light of the sun that was casting long shadows across the familiar path to the manor. The lively conversation continued.

  “Oh, my dear Alchemist Bennet,” as she linked their arms as they walk through the darkening forest, “we have had a most delightful day, a most excellent time was had by all. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked, and Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and was with her most of the time! Only think of that, my dear; he actually fought with her in the arena!

  “First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed to see him battle with her! But, however, he did not admire her at all. Indeed, nobody can, you know, and he seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going about the battles in the morning. So he inquired who she was, and got introduced, and asked her for the two next fights. Then the two third he battles with Miss King, and the two fourth with Maria Lucas, and the two fifth with Jane again, and the two sixths with Lizzy, and the Boulanger—”

  “If he had had any compassion for me,” cried her husband. Dramatically, acting impatiently as he was smiling at his wife's tales of the day. “He would not have battled half so much! For God’s sake, say no more of his partners. Oh, that he had fallen in the first battle!”

  “Oh! My dear, I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively handsome! And his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw anything more elegant than their clothing. I dare say the magical inscription upon Mrs. Hurst’s armor.”

  Here she was interrupted again. Alchemist Bennet protested against any description of finery. She was therefore obliged to seek another branch of the subject. Related, with much bitterness of spirit and some exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of the wizard Darcy.

  “But I can assure you,” she added, “that Lizzy does not lose much by not suiting his fancy, for he is a most disagreeable, horrible man, not at all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited that there was no enduring him! He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very great! Not handsome enough to battle with! ”

  Jane and Lizzy smiled as they went on for the rest of the journey. As their mother with a dramatic flare retold the event of the battle with the wyverns. Their father played his usual role as a provocateur of his wife's stories. It was nearly fully dark when the family reached the gates of the manor within the forest around the estate. The monsters of the night were starting to howl as they began their hunt for the night.

  Chapter 8

  When Jane and Elizabeth were alone in their rooms as the darkness of night was closing fully around the large powerfully built manor house. They could hear the odd cry of the creatures of the night through the thick warded stone walls of the manor. But they were not afraid as the manor defense, in the forest, had stood for generations.

  Jane was laying on her bed, reminiscing about the day's events. Jane, who had been cautious in her praise of Bingley before, expressed to her sister just how very much she admired him. With a bright, happy smile on her face as she recollected the man.

  On the other side of the large joint bedroom, Elizabeth was changing from the robes of restoration, she had come home in. She listened to her happily chatting sister. While Lizzy was just getting into her usual night dress for bed. This had enchanted items that would flow magic through her pathway as she slept. It had been a gift from her parents when she had decided to be a wizard. The nightgown had been of many benefits to her development. As her powers could be enhanced during her sleep.

  Jand said with her gentle enthusiastic voice, “He is just what a young warrior ought to be, sensible, good-humored, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!—so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!”

  “He is also handsome,” replied Elizabeth with a knowing smile at her good-humored sister, “which a young man ought likewise to be if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete.”

  “I was very much flattered by his asking me to fight in the arena with him. I did not expect such a compliment in our first meeting.”

  “Didn't you? I did for you. But that is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never. What could be more natural than his for you? He could not help seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman in the county. No thanks to his gallantry for that. Well, he certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider person in your life.”

  “Dear Lizzy!”

  “Oh! You are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in anybody. All the creatures of the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a being in your life,.” said the darker haired girl with a smile at her sister.

  In rebuttal, Jane spoke, “I would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone, bu
t I always speak what I think.”

  “I know you do, and it is that which makes me wonder. With your good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others! Affectation of candor is common enough—one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design—to take the good of everybody’s character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad—belongs to you alone. And so you like this man’s sisters, too, do you? Their manners are not equal to his.”

  Jane said with earnestness, “Certainly not—at first. But they are very pleasing women when you converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother and keep his estate, and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming neighbor in her.”

  As Elizabeth finished dressing, she listened in silence. But was not convinced; their behavior at the assembly had not been calculated to please in general. With more quickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than her sister, and with a judgment too unassailed by any attention to herself, she was very little disposed to approve them. They were, in fact, very fine ladies. Not deficient in good humor when they were pleased, nor in the power of making themselves agreeable when they chose it, but proud and conceited.

  They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in the capital, had a fortune of twenty thousand gold, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of rank, and were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly of others. They were of a respectable family in the north of the kingdom. A circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than that their brother’s fortune and their own had been acquired by crafting but battling.

  It had been gossiped that Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly a hundred thousand gold from his father. The latter had intended to fight for a dungeon but did not live to do it. Bingley intended it likewise, and sometimes made a choice of this county’s dungeon. But as he was now provided with a good estate and the liberty of a dungeon. It was doubtful to many of those who best knew the easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend the remainder of his days at Netherfield.

  Between him and Darcy, there was a very steady friendship, despite great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper. However, no disposition could offer a more excellent contrast to his own, and though with his own, he never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy’s regard, Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion. In understanding, Darcy was superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was, at the same time, haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not inviting. In that respect, his friend had the advantage greatly. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually giving offense.

  Chapter 9

  Within a short walk of the Bennet’s family, Longbourn estate lived a family with whom the Bennets were particularly intimate. Sir William Lucas, who had been the organizer of the assemblies hunt. The now knighted man had been formerly an armor crafter in Meryton, where he had made a tolerable fortune. He had risen to the honor of knighthood by services to the king.

  The distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. For the man was one of the royal crafters and had given him a disgust to his more mundane business and to his residence in a small market town. In quitting them both, he had removed with his family to a house about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge. Where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and, unshackled by mundane business, occupy himself solely in civic duties to the crown. As he was still a royal craftsman and crafted for his family and friends on occasion.

  For, though elated by his rank, it did not render him supercilious. On the contrary, he was all attention to everybody. By nature, inoffensive, friendly, and obliging, his presentation at the king’s court for a while had made him courteous.

  With Sir William’s connections to the court of the king, he had been able to quickly alert the royal personages of the attack on the county. This results in quick action that as the kingdom dispatched forces to uphold the northern border of the county.

  A few days after the events at the hunt. While these events of the protection of the kingdom’s border were all ongoing in the background for Lady Bennet. Who’s main focus, in life, was still her daughter's state of handfasting. For apparent to everybody, in her mind, monster attacks were common enough that she was not disturbed by the events on the hunt day. Even if her husband reminded her, they were legendary creatures, and this time it might be different. But still, as she protested, they were safe in their robust and stately fortification. So she could, with a clear conscience, focus on the gossip of the day.

  Sir William Lucas and Lady Lucas came to the Bennets manor to talk about the state of affairs. Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too skilled in combat, to be a valuable neighbor to Lady Bennet in training her girls.

  The Lucas's family had several children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman, Charlotte, about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth’s intimate friend. The young lady was a wizard, as was Elizabeth. They had spent many hours on adventures and studying together.

  That Miss Lucases and her eldest daughter should meet with Lady Bennet to talk over a hunt was absolutely necessary. As gossip must be shared. With her came her husband, Sir William Lucas, to meet with the Alchemist Bennet. They had an important meeting about the up and coming action against the monster's incursion in the north of the county. But none of this was of interest to the Lady of the manor. Though her second daughter, who was interested in what the local nobles were doing to push back the beasts. As she would have preferred to be with her father. Lizzy wanted to attend as she was disinterested in the gossiping. Still, her mother had insisted she be part of the women's party.

  The two men had retired to the Alchemist’s workshop. While the Ladies were talking in a well-equipped training room in the back of the manor training courtyard. This room was a narrow hall with comfortable seats at one end. Where people waited to take turns to attack a target at the opposite end. This seating setup had been at the instance of Lady Bennet as it was often the place where most of her exciting gossiping took place.

  For a while during the meeting of the Ladies. Lizzy and Charlotte have been taking turns to shoot off fireballs. Each of them going for the accuracy and power of the attack. When Charlotte had finished her turn. She returned to the seating to meditate so that she could recuperate her mana. The Lady Bennet smiled at her as she included her in the conversations.

  “You began the day well, Charlotte,” said Lady Bennet with civil self-command to Charlotte. “You were Bingley’s first choice.”

  “Yes, but he seemed to like his second better.”

  “Oh! You mean my Jane, I suppose, because he battled with her twice. To be sure that it did seem as if he admired her—indeed, I rather believe he did—I heard something about it—but I hardly know what—something about Mr. Robinson.”

  “Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr. Robinson; did not I mention it to you? Mr. Robinson’s asking him how he liked our assemblies, and whether he did not think there were a great many pretty women in the hunt, and which he thought the prettiest? And his answering immediately to the last question: ‘Oh! the eldest Miss Bennet, beyond a doubt; there cannot be two opinions on that point.’”

  “Upon my word! Well, that is very decided indeed. That does seem as if—but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know.”

  “My overhearings were more to the purpose than yours, Eliza,” said Charlotte. “Darcy is not so well worth listening to as his friend, is he?—poor Eliza!—to be only just tolerable.”

  A loud explosion was heard from the range in the stone room with its blacked walls. The dark scorch marks on the walls were due to much use over the generation. As the Bennets generations of the b
ennet family had practiced their magical attack in the relatively safe practice area. With the noise echoing around the room. All the women looked up from the seats to see Lizzy looking slightly embarrassed as she had blown the magical dummy to smithereens. Each of the small pieces spread across the floor started to move. As the gathered people watched, the parts were drawn to the center of where the target dummy had existed. Soon as the women watched, the dummy started to self repair its body.

  Looking at the angry face of her daughter, Lady Bennet said, “I beg you would not put it into Lizzy’s head to be vexed by his ill-treatment. For he is such a disagreeable man that it would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Long told me that he stood close to her for half-an-hour without once opening his lips.”

  “Are you quite sure, ma’am?—is not there a little mistake?” said Jane in a tone of disbelief. “I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her.”

  “Aye—because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield, and he could not help answering her, but she said he seemed quite angry at being spoken to.”

  “Miss Bingley told me,” said Jane. Trying to defend the man from the woman’s bad opinion of him. “That he never speaks much, unless among his intimate acquaintances. With them, he is remarkably agreeable.”

  “I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If Bingley had been so very agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guess how it was; everybody says that he is eaten up with pride. I dare say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage, and had come to the hunt in a hack chaise.”

  “I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long,” said Charlotte, “but I wish he had teamed up with Eliza.”

  “Another time, Lizzy,” said her mother, “I would not adventure with him if I were you.”