Dawn of Adventure

by Andrew Bardsley

The final section of the path had some recent work done. As the road was being paved and widened, leading up to the estate surrounding the dungeon. Lydia was waiting on a fallen log just before the bridge across the lake. She was skinning some animal that she must have hunted on the way to the estate.

  With a smile, she looked up from her work and said, “That took you too long. I’ve been bored waiting for you here.”

  Kitty moved over to her and threw a pack at her. Then said, “It looks like you’ve been so bored. Here carry your own pack next time.”

  The skinned animal disappeared into her inventory as she picked up her pack. Then she stuck her tongue out at her sister and walked across the bridge. Shouting to the family behind her, she said, “The Lucas family are already in the castle, so they're just waiting upon us.”

  Following behind the now running Lydia, the party moved across the bridge. As Lizzy looked down on the stone of the bridge, she was surprised to see a new magical inscription chiseled on the surface. With curiosity, she looked at the intricate markings and started to try and understand then. Eventually, she had to give up as her mother called her from the gate tower.

  “No time for that Lizzy as were late already,” she shouted.

  She was just about to shout that they were not late but still had time when Lydia shouted, “Come on, Lizzy. They're just waiting on you now! The all high and mighty Darcy is looking most upset.”

  Flushing with embarrassment as surely, he must have heard her loud mouth sister. Lizzy jumped up and started to run across the bridge. When she entered under the large castle gatehouse, she moved through the first tunnel and into a large bare courtyard. In the center of the yard was the large keep that was the entrance to the dungeon. The rest of the party and their retainer adventures were present and chatting away.

  Lizzy saw about a hundred people altogether. None of them below the standard class level. With her father, Bingley, and Darcy, they even had legendary level people. Two of them were even combat classes that were always looked upon as being superior to the crafts. This was an expedition that should be able to deal with most of what the world could throw at them.

  She saw that Lydia was looking around the assembled adventures and was looking impressed as well. She then started to share her opinion with her sister Kitty who was standing beside her.

  She said in a boastful tone of voice, “Why do we even need the stupid army of the king. It looks like this party could take on anything in the mountains.”

  Hurst, the dark knight, and brother-in-law of Bingley snorted in reply to the girl's comments. Then he said with a tone of dismissal, ”Young lady, if you think that I’m going to be traipsing around the mounting for months, then you got another thing coming.”

  Lydia said with a cheeky expression, “It looks like you could do with the combat practice.”

  His wife and her sister looked at each other with shocked expressions as they muttered to each other. The dark knight was about to say something more, but Lizzy went over and pulled Lydia away and said. “Follow me before you repeat something rude, sister, dear.” Then quietly, she said, “You and your big mouth can be most embarrassing sometimes.”

  She noticed that as she pulled Lydia away that Darcy was chatting to Bingley but looking at her intently.

  Trust him to be disapproving of my sister's comments, She thought with resentment.

  Sir William Lucas rang a bell to call actions to everybody in the courtyard. Like a town crier, he said in a clear, loud voice announcing to the square, “Now that we are all here, we can advance into the mountains to do the king’s biddings. Of course, with grateful thanks to the dungeon master for the use of his portals. As the representative of the king, I will be leading the party.”

  At this point, he was disturbed by a gunt from the frowning Hurst. Sir William looked at the heavily armored knight in his dark metal suit of armor. That denoted his class as a Dark Knight.

  He said with a polite smile, “You have something to say, my dear Sir?”

  The man picked himself up to his full height with creaking armor and said, “Well, darn it, I do! It seems completely absurd that you would be in command, Sir. You're not even the highest level, and you are a craftsman to boot.”

  The diplomatic Sir William said, “My good sir, who would you prefer to be in charge? You perhaps?”

  “If I must. But we have one not only of the highest level, noble blood, and a duke to boot,” said the man with scorn, “surely him!”

  Darcy cleared his throat at the unwanted recommendations and then said, “No, certainly not, I’m just a guest in this county. Sir Williams has the king's commission. It is my opinion that we must follow him in this endeavor.”

  The rest of the men, except Hurst, nodded their heads in agreement. Then Hurst reluctantly bowed to the king's armorer. But still with a frown in disapproval of the man he saw as beneath his noble level.

  “Thank you, sirs for your confidence,” Sir William said, returning the bow, “let us be off then.”

  Chapter 11

  It was the first night in the mountain for the expeditionary scouting party. The sun was starting to set in the distant horizon. The misty light and the long shadows were moving across the hilly landscape. Showing a rugged wilderness that was full of dangers. During that day of travel, the party had fought a few battles as they moved high into the hills. They had yet to see anything that was a severe threat to the large group of adventures.

  Charlotte and Lizzy had been assigned the job of setting up a ward around the campsite for the night. Due to the high elevation in the foothills of the northern region. The night was going to be cold. So they had cast a healing spell on their cloaks to keep them warm as the cool air seemed to decline as the light got lower.

  Charlotte was working some twenty meters away from Lizzy. Said across the distance, “Lizzy, you're better at this than me can I have some help over here.”

  Lizzy shouted back, “Just let me finish here, and I will be right over.”

  She then focused on the magical defenses ward she was setting. In the dirt, she had marked out some inscriptions that were the symbols for power and reveal. Once the markings were correct, she infused a small amount of energy into the lettering. The inscriptions glowed briefly for a second then faded as the dirt had turned to molten stone. Once she was happy with the new stone inscription, she initiated the spell with her full power. The markings flashed brightly and melted into the earth of the hill. Then around, she started to move magical lines of weave as white flashing stands in the air. When the strands of power had formed into a web to entrap any creature and alarm the camp, they vanished.

  “Finished, I’ll be right over.”

  With the web of power fading around her, she ran over to where Charlotte was marking symbols on a rock.

  When she saw the cuts markings in the rock, she said, “They look correct to me.”

  Charlotte flushed red but said, “I really just wanted to get your opinion on some of the party traveling with us.”

  “Oh, let me guess. Is it the members of the dungeon master’s party?”

  “Of course. Who else. As we are well acquainted with everybody else.”

  “Shall we carry on working as we talk,” said Lizzy with a smile at her friend who just wanted to talk as she was prone to do. “It seems to me that Jane’s pleasing manners are getting the goodwill of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley. Though I know that they find my mother intolerable. With her flair for drama and impropriety. The less said about their opinion of my younger sisters is not worth speaking about.

  “I think that they are still supercilious in their treatment of everybody, except Jane, of course. I really could not bring myself to like them. Though I must say that their kindness to Jane, such as it was, has a value as arising in all probability from the influence of their brother’s admiration.”

  As the two moved on after activating the ward that Charlotte had supposedly been struggling to work. They went further away from
the camp and to the now dark shadows of some trees. Then started on another ward placement. With some prompting from Charlotte, Lizzy carried on her analysis of the newest members of the county nobility.

  She said, “It was generally evident that whenever they met, Bingley does admire Jane. It is equally apparent that Jane is yielding to the preference which she had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a way to be very much in love. But she considered with pleasure that it was not likely to be discovered. Since Jane united, with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper and a uniform cheerfulness of manner which would guard her against the suspicions of the impertinent.

  “It may perhaps be pleasant,” replied Charlotte, “to be able to impose on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be so very guarded. If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him. It will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the dark. There is so much gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment. That it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all begin freely—a slight preference is natural enough. Still, there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly, but he may never do more than like her if she does not help him on.”

  “But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow. If I can perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton. To not to discover it too,” said Lizzy in exasperation the direction the conversation was going.

  “Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane’s disposition as you do,” replied Charlotte pushing her point to her friend.

  “But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavor to conceal it, he must find it out.”

  “Perhaps he must if he sees enough of her. But, though Bingley and Jane meet, it is never for many hours together, and, as they always see each other in large mixed parties. It is impossible that every moment should be employed in conversing together. Jane should, therefore, make the most of every half-hour in which she can command his attention. When she is secure of him, there will be more leisure for falling in love as much as she chooses.”

  “Your plan is a good one,” replied Lizzy, “where nothing is in question but the desire of being well married. If I were determined to get a rich husband or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. But these are not Jane’s feelings; she is not acting by design. As yet, she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard nor of its reasonableness. She has known him for only a few days. This is not quite enough to make her understand his character.”

  “Not as you represent it. Had Jane merely dined with him, she might only have discovered whether he had a good appetite; but you must remember that they have done a great deal. Today she walked and talked with him all day.”

  “Yes; this has enabled them to ascertain that they both like gaming better than Commerce, but with respect to any other leading characteristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded,” said Lizzy as they move on to another ward formation.

  “Well,” said Charlotte, “I wish Jane success with all my heart. If she were married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterward to have their share of vexation, and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.”

  “You make me laugh, Charlotte, but it is not sound. You know it is not sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself.”

  Lizzy looked around the dark night sky. With only light from the fires of the campsite as well as the stars lighting up the rugged hills. It was hard to see into the details of the county in the distance. But if she concentrated, she could just make out flickering lights far distance that she thought may possibly see some of the towns in the plain below her. She looked across the ward that she and Charlotte had just created. With one magical command, she activated them to see if the now interconnected weave of magical thread covered the area around the campsite. Lines of light arose from the ground showing the network of fibers of power protecting the camp from possible night attacks. If any creature tried to pass the wards, it was in for a shocking surprise.

  Turning to her friend with a smile indicating a job well done. She said, “I wonder what's for dinner.”

  “Let go and find out,” replied Charlotte, “but it's probably the normal adventures stew.”

  With Charlotte casting a small magical light to lead the way, Lizzy chuckled with her response. As she thought of the usual method of just throwing what you had in a small cauldron for a stew. Typically whatever had been hunted that day went into the pot to feed the adventures.

  The two women sang a favorite old melody as they walked arm in arm back toward the yellow glowing fires of the campsite. In the dark, they could see several tents set up for the different noble parties for the night’s rest. While most of the retainers would just sleep around the fire. It was considered improper for noblewomen to sleep out in the open, with mixed company. This was one of the annoying aspects of coming from being born into a well established noble family. From her point of view, it just made life difficult for her.

  The two women moved across the rough pack of soil under. Soon under overhanging branches into the large camping area. Passing several of the smaller campfires. That had stove pots hanging from metal tripods above the fire. They could already smell the meat and barley stew that was the typical adventure fare. Still humming and singing, the girls made their way to the large fire in the center of the camp. This was where the noble parties were mingling. Sometimes the girls chatted with people on the way. Both for feeling invigorated at being on a journey away from the confinement of the county.

  Before they got to the centerfire. There was a shouted commotion from the assembled nobles. Lizzy, over the general shouting, could hear her mother's voice repeating the name of her sister.

  “Lydia, Lydia...that is most inappropriate for a young girl to do. I order you to take the challenge back,” the Lady’s voice could be heard about the uproar.

  Lissy thought, mother certainly wants everybody to hear. What's she playing at?

  With the rest of the adventures in the camp, the two ladies started to move forward. They all were looking with interest at what was happening at a large fire lighting up the faces of the anger noble. When the two reached the center of the camp, they saw that everybody was in an uproar.

  Lydia was standing with her hands, on her hips looking at the massive armored Dark Knight Hurst. Who was laughing raucously at the smaller girl. Mrs. Hurst was looking shocked as she looked at the challenging pose of the youngest Bennet. Jane was standing by Bingley, looking worried as her parents were talking to their youngest daughter. Her father looked tired as his usual mocking smile was not present. He seemed to be allowing his wife to do most of the talking.

  “Lydia,” her mother said with an expression of horror, “I demand that you take back the challenge. It's just not right for you to act this way in a civilized party.”

  Lydia did not take her eyes off Hurst. Who still was mocking her with a broad smile. As he took a swig from a bottle in his hand.

  He said, “Do what your mother tells you, little girl. I’m gentlemen enough to allow you to take the challenge back. We can just say it is the stupidity of your youth.”

  Lydia spat at his feet and said, “That is the only answer I have to you. Great oaf. You’ve, and your party has spent the whole day disparaging my family and me. I, for one, am sick of their polite social convention that a man like you hides behind. So. I’m calling you out with this cha
llenge. Only a coward would back down now. I guess you are a coward!”

  The large man in his heavy, impressive armor face flushed red with her statement. Pulling off his gauntlet, he threw it down at the girl’s feet. It smashed in the mostly silent night as the only sound was the wild animals, were heard around the campsite. Then as he reached to pick up his gauntlet, murmuring from the crowd broke out.

  Lizzy saw Darcy and Bingley walking up to the man as he was retrieving a large helmet from his pack. Lizzy could just hear the muttered remarks. They were trying to convince him of the inappropriateness of accepting a challenge from a young noblewoman.

  On the other side of the challenge, Lizzy could see her mother talking earnestly to Lydia. She seemed to have passed the point of trying to dissuade her child from fighting. Now the Lady appeared to be giving her advice. As she nodded her head to her mother, Lydia was getting prepared for the challenge. With a quick motion, the girl pulled out a small crossbow from her inventory. Then activating the magic device as she loaded in several bolts. She also pulled out a small thin dagger and then a small bottle.

  Hearing a man grunt, Lizzy's focus was turned back to the Dark Knight. Who was fully armored with his helmet locked into place. She shook her head with despair for Lydia's chances. The man had thick and powerful armor with black shaped metal plates covered his entire body. The only hole in the armor that she could see was a thin slit for him to see out of. He must have spent an incredible amount of money on the set. This made her wonder what level the man was. Could he be one of the nobles that hide behind the power of their weaponry? She started to get suspicious as Lydia had a skill for information gathering on her opponents.

  Charlotte muttered to Lizzy, “What is Lydia thinking? She doesn’t even have a weapon that could possibly pierce the armor. That crossbow is just too underpowered to be of any use!”

  “She must have a plan,” said Lizzy back, “she may be rash and headstrong sometime. But when it comes to battle, she’s not stupid.”