Naurus produced the lapel pin from his pouch and cradled it in his palm. His father looked at it, then at him with a look of resignation.
“What is this?” He asked to no one in particular.
“Yes Trevin, what is it?” Recht egged on.
After a deep sigh and an uncomfortable silence, his father finally coughed up. “It’s the symbol of the Black Door. The organization I used to work for. The agency that fucked my life up beyond all belief. The promises that were never kept. The pile of traitorous shit that Recht here threw together so he could have other’s do his dirty work. I ought to kill you where you stand, you son of a bitch pile of—”
He never had the chance to finish his sentence. Recht waved his hand and murmured quickly, and with that Trevin simply disappeared in a small implosion. The sudden vacuum then equalization of air pressure popped Naurus’s ears.
“Wha...what the hell was that? Where is he? Did you just kill my—”
“No, he’s not dead.” Recht butted in, returning to his friendly sage voice. “I just teleported him back home. I’ve had enough of him for now. He needs to cool off. Come, follow me.”
Naurus stood there dumbfounded, and the exchange he just witnessed sowed a deep discord and even a distrust inside of him. After only a few steps, Recht noticed he wasn’t being followed as he expected.
“Well, are you just going to stand there?”
“Why should I trust you? You really did all that to my father? Ruined his life and drove him from a decent job in the old empire?”
Recht didn’t even bother turning around, and his voice sounded as if he was right next to Naurus. “You are just as stubborn as your father. You really are a chip off the old block. Your father has a complicated and violent history, which is why he has held back many things from you. I don’t blame him, it’s partially done to protect you from your own curiosity. But that got the better of you out here. If you don’t come with me, you will die out here. We were followed out here, and I’m not sure what kind of company we have. I will explain everything to you.”
Naurus decided at this point that he was tired of dealing with this man, this whatever he was, this thing with no face. He finally wanted to see who he had been talking to this entire time. As they made their way towards the forest and out of the clearing, he snuck his hand up to the back of Recht’s hood and tried ever so gently to tug it down. It didn’t budge. So, he grabbed a fistful of the hood and pulled even harder. The hood felt like it was nailed on. At this point he was determined to get a result, consequences be damned. He grabbed the hood with both hands and dug his heels into the soft dirt between the bones, metal, and detritus strewn around. He was being dragged effortlessly by Recht, who was simply walking forward as if nothing was pulling on his hood. Naurus was digging trenches into the ground with his heels, exasperated at how this was all possible by a seemingly frail old man.
“You know,” Recht suddenly stopped, “I could hit you so hard that by the time you came to you would need a new haircut.”
Naurus ignored the threat and pulled as hard as he could. It was like trying to pull an old oak down with his bare hands. Nothing and no one budged even in the slightest.
“Is this how you treat your girlfriend? Oh wait...I almost forgot…” Recht snickered and Naurus let go, finally admitting defeat as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
“What do you even want from me? You gave me this curse, didn’t you? Are you having fun at my expense? Now I can see why my dad hates you so much!” Naurus belted out.
“No” Recht turned around, “I don’t find this particularly fun. Your father hates me because of a misunderstanding, a difference of opinion that goes back long before you were born. Let's see, you just turned nineteen as I understand it. You know nothing, yet you burn with the vigor of youth. Youth is wasted on the young. I simply want to make amends with your father, but through you. That curse you have been imparted was directly the fault of your father, simply put. Now you must pay for his sins and yours. You didn’t respect your elders, and neither did he. Now shut up and walk with me, you little snot.”
They made their merry way back down the trail whence he came, the clattering of a distant woodpecker startled him. In fact, various birds could be heard and the wind gently shook the millions of leaves over his head. Recht definitely has some sort of connection to this area, he's no ordinary sage or sorcerer. I can’t even pull his damn hood down. What have I gotten myself into? He mused to himself as they trudged along. As they came to the edge of the forest, Naurus saw the horses he and his father rode in on. However, a cart with a pair of horses hitched up to it was also there.
“Didn’t know we had company.” Naurus said a bit nervously.
“Oh, I did. You were followed here.” Recht said very casually.
“Who are they?”
“We are about to find out.”
Naurus stepped out of the woods and into the grasslands that surrounded them. The cart didn’t seem to have anyone on it or really anything of note in the small open bed. He looked behind him to say something to Recht but realized he was alone now. As he stepped around the cart, a man jumped out from behind it where he was hiding. A stained, pale red bandana covered his face and a tattered felt tricorn capped his head. He was dressed rather well besides this, wearing a silk jerkin and leather pants that were a tad too short. His hands were clasped around his back.
“Excuse me my good man, we seem to be lost. Would you be able to tell us how to get to the Shell Coast?” The man asked.
What a stupid question, everyone knows you just head straight east from here. Wait a minute... Naurus thought about how little sense this made. Nobody had any legitimate reason to go there these days.
“Uh...I’m not sure. I don’t think I can help you. I’ll just be on my way now.” Naurus turned around.
“Well, you got two horses so who else is with you?” The man asked brusquely.
“Nobody, the other one isn’t mine. I don’t know whose it is.”
A blatant lie that didn’t seem to land, considering the horses were nearly identical.
“Take us to the Shell Coast, will you?” The man sounded impatient.
“Us, who is us? I’m alone, I just said.” Naurus turned back around.
The man seemed to curse under his breath, and in a flash of movement produced a finely crafted pistol with a brass buttplate and a hexagonal barrel. Before he could say anything, the man cocked in and levelled it at his head.
“I’m no longer asking. Give me your horses and your coin and you might just live.” The man demanded.
That son of a bitch Recht...it’s a set up. Why does this shit always happen to me? Father was right... Naurus thought as he unhooked his coin pouch and readied to toss it over. The man's eyes suddenly averted, as if looked over his shoulder at something behind him.
“Now now…” a gentle voice came from behind Naurus, “What seems to the be problem gentleman?”
“Aha! Is that your grandpa? How cute. Stand and deliver, old man!” The bandit shouted.
Naurus didn’t even bother turning around as there was only one thing that could’ve possibly been behind him. As if on cue, another man stepped around from behind the cart and levelled a blunderbuss at the two. His pudginess was accentuated by an ill-fitting tunic and a dented iron sallet which made for an odd combination. He said nothing, simply standing behind the shoulder of the apparent ringleader, his chubby face expressing equal amounts of fear and confusion.
“It’s not very nice to point guns at an old man and his grandson like us. Surely there’s been a misunderstanding?” Recht almost pleaded, sounding very much like that of a frail old man.
The ringleader started chuckling, his bandana shaking over his face. The chubby sidekick joined in too, stopping just as soon as his boss did.
“I’m afraid there is no misunderstanding. Hand over your coin and we will be taking those fine steeds from you this beautiful day. Come on now, toss the money over!” Th
e ringleader commanded.
Recht simply started walking slowly towards him. Just after he came past Naurus’s shoulder, the ringleader levelled his pistol at Recht instead.
“Stop right there you dumb codger! I didn’t say walk to me. I said throw your coin over ‘ere!”
Recht didn’t answer, instead he took methodical and slow steps towards the men. Naurus decided to try to appease the bandit by yanking his pouch off his belt and holding it up.
“Right here! Don’t shoot! Just take it.” He made a conscious effort to step partially in front of Recht which caused the pistol to be levelled at his head again. He tossed the pouch at the bandit’s feet.
“Well that’s good.” The bandana shook under another chuckle. “See gramps, now all you have to do is follow his lead and you won’t get hurt.”
Recht simply stepped forward no more than two steps before the pistol barked with a sharp report and a billow of smoke that forced Naurus to step back and rub hot powder residue off his face. He looked up to see Recht standing where he was, completely unperturbed and holding his clenched fist up in front of his head, palm facing the smoking pistol not more than several feet away. He brought his hand down and opened it up, revealing the mushroomed lead slug sitting in his hand. The ringleader’s eyes popped open with bewilderment, and the prodigal grandson gawked at it as well.
“I tried to be nice.” Recht shifted back to his younger, angrier tone. “I tried to talk it out. I gave you a second chance. But this is how you repay me my kindness? Trying to shoot me in the fucking face? Jokes on you, as I’m old, but am no mere man. I hope you can run faster than my bullet.”
The ringleader took a step back and looked as if he was reaching for something in his back waistband. It would never be known what he was reaching for, as Recht simply rolled the lead mushroom up into a ball and flicked it off in a blinding flash of movement accompanied by a loud cracking as the sound barrier was broken. The ringleader’s tricorn blew off his head and a large hole now gushed blood from his forehead. He fell back like a falling tree and the chubby sidekick simply dropped his weapon and ran as fast as his short stubby legs would carry him. The effort was in vain.
“Get over here!” Recht growled and motioned as if he was pulling a chain attached to the pudgy sidekick.
Once he was back within arm’s reach Recht grabbed a fistful of his tunic and scoured the man’s eyes with his pitch-black visage. Naurus knew this feeling all too well and felt bad for the pudgy man whose eyes were filled with abject terror as his teeth started chattering.
“I’m only going to ask you this once. Who are you working for?” Recht calmly asked.
The man loudly gulped. “H-he….was my uh…b-boss…” he said as he pointed a chubby finger at the body that lay on the ground behind him.
“Did he pay you anything?”
“N-no. He just said he had a job for me. I’m just looking for some honest work, I swear! He never said nothin’ about robbin’ nobody!”
“Is that so?” Naurus could hear a smile in Recht’s voice. “I’ve got some honest work for you indeed. You can pay the time for your crimes in the mine. Off you go now!”
With a wave of his hand, the pudgy man simply vanished in a shimmering implosion of air just like how Trevin vanished. Recht turned and looked at Naurus, who was standing there dumbfounded at what just happened.
“Why did you condemn him to the mines? That’s just being an asshole, you saw how scared he was and told you the truth!”
Recht simply laughed in his unusually deep and resonant manner. “He was scared, but he was lying. He knew what he was getting into, and just wanted a quick payday. It’s no matter, he can earn an honest paycheck and pay his debt to society now. I am tough, sure. But I am also fair. He didn’t try to kill me, so I didn’t inflict harm either.”
“Ok then, I guess I’ll have to take your word for it.” Naurus replied with disdain.
“What’s the matter? Still don’t trust me because of what dear old dad said?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
Recht seemed to ponder for a moment. “So then, what will it take to gain this elusive trust from someone as stubborn as you?”
“What even are you? You are no mere man, but you still haven’t told me anything. Are you a changeling?”
“No.”
“Are you a celestial?”
“Nope.”
“A sorcerer?”
“Close, but no cigar. I doubt you’ll guess it but worry not as I have confidence you’ll find your answer soon.”
“Right, whatever you say.” Naurus sighed with dejection. “And what now, mysterious faceless whatever you are?”
“Now, you go back home and await further direction. I’m sure you’ll need to hash things out at home which will be easier with your father cooled down.”
“Alright, I guess I’ll be on my way then.”
Naurus turned and started towards the horses. He only made it a few steps before he felt a cold, steely hand on his shoulder.
“Why take the long way? I have a better idea.”
That was the last thing he heard before he felt like he was being pulled apart in a million directions at once.
Something Begins
His body ached, his head spun like a pinwheel, he felt like he had to vomit. Everything moved around him even as he was perfectly still. He closed his eyes and sucked in deep breaths, trying to stop his head from spinning. It suddenly did, and he opened his eyes to find himself laying on his bed safe and sound. A hint of ozone hung in the air. Mokhey jumped up onto the bed to investigate the sudden apparition of his owner.
I’m beginning to hate that guy too… He thought as he jumped out of bed and made his way downstairs. The house was quiet and seemed empty. He made his way outside and to his surprise it wasn’t quite dusk yet. Teleportation was practically instantaneous after all it seemed. He knew who he need to go to and try to find some answers.
The door to the athenaeum was open and a few patrons milled around inside, perusing the shelves and tables piled with books and scrolls. Naurus rang the service bell and waited patiently for the steward of these hallowed halls to make his appearance. Before long, Ektor’s friendly face appeared behind the desk and his eyes beamed with delight.
“Ah, I’m so glad you made it back! You look like you have a burden on your mind though.”
“Well, you’re not wrong. Can we talk with a little more privacy?” Naurus asked quietly.
“Most certainly my boy, follow me.”
They made their way off to a table in the corner of the reading room where no one else was around.
“So, what news?” Ektor asked eagerly.
Naurus did his best to give the abridged version of what just transpired recently. Ektor’s wrinkled face became gradually more concerned as the tale wore on.
“So, have you talked to your father since Recht met you in the woods?”
“No, and honestly I’m a little scared to.”
“Why? Your father isn’t a bad man.”
“But he has lied to me this whole time if Recht is being truthful. Who am I supposed to trust now if both my parents have lied to me?”
“Your mother hasn’t lied to you, at least not willingly.”
“What in hell is that supposed to mean?”
Ektor rubbed his eyes and contemplated deeply. “Naurus, do you even know how your parents met?”
“Sure! They met at a gala for single veterans of the Separation War and—”
“Wrong.”
“How do you mean wrong? That’s literally what they told me!”
“There’s no easy way to put this, but the real story isn’t nearly as romantic or glamorous as you might think it is. You see a long while ago, long before you were born, your mother was in fact a member of the Thieves Guild. Times were tough back then, and it was a lucrative gig. That guild operated with near impunity in the years following the fall of the empire and the Separation War. Your mother became a pr
ominent fence you see. The guild was legendary for its ability to absolve the rich of their possessions and use those gains for the betterment of the poor. Your mother’s job was to turn these possessions and goods into coin which she did through all sorts of shady connections she had. Your father was one of her customers if you will. He wasn’t a member of the guild actually, but he had ears all around and knew he could trust her with selling off contraband, drugs, and anything else he smuggled in to make a living. She set up her store just down the street from here, fronting it as a pawn shop. One day, I heard a horrible commotion and yelling coming from her shop. I ran over to find your father chasing some ruffians down the street before turning back. Your mother was left for dead, robbed and beaten by assailants still unknown to this day. It was horrible, yet your father took her in and nursed her back to health. After that beating, she didn’t ever remember much of who she was or what her life was like before that fateful day.”
“I guess that explains some things.” Naurus rubbed his temples and face trying to piece together his entire life up to this point now. “So basically, my whole life is a lie?”
“No, I wouldn’t say that. Your mother’s old identity is lost to time, but when she married your father and conceived you she was happy she started a new life. She used to be a spitfire, a loaded pistol who would trade blows with and verbally lash anyone she was offended by. She was powerless to stop a gang of thugs jumping her though. Your fate begun that day when your father was somewhere nearby and heard the commotion and ran in, drawing his blade. The cowards ran off, their mission being complete. I still believe your father harbors a sense of guilt over that event to this day. Your mother is now such a sweet woman, and a loving mother. Would you have it any other way?”
Naurus felt flushed, the anger inside him was building up. He felt as if none of this lying was necessary, but it was done anyway just because he was young and naïve. “Yes...I would have rather they didn’t lie to me my whole life...” He stopped, taking a deep breath as he felt tears start to well up.
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