David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb

by T. C. Crawford

  “Well, not really. You see….” David fumbled his words, grasping for any excuse he could find that would make enough sense to get her to stop looking at him so fiercely.

  “I was knocked unconscious in the woods by the orphanage where I grew up, and when I woke up, I was in this great field and was chased by some big wolf-like creatures into the forest. I ran until I came here to this temple. I only came in here to hide, really…but then, I saw this orb. It was like I couldn’t help myself, like I was hypnotized or something.” he said, scratching his head.

  His lie seemed to work, at least for now. She stopped looking at him and started pacing around apparently deep in thought.

  She stopped suddenly, “Wait…you said you were chased by wolf-like creatures? Are you sure?”

  David nodded quickly. He couldn’t get the image of those beasts out of his head if he tried, they terrified him.

  “This is not good…not good at all” she said, pacing more frantically now.

  “What –" David started to ask but was quickly cut off.

  “We have to go see the Elders and tell them what you saw, tell them everything.” she said quickly, grabbing David’s hand and starting towards the exit.

  Suddenly footsteps sounded from far down the corridor, capturing both of their attention.

  “Hurry, you must hide!” Erin whispered. She grabbed David’s hand and ran to the back of the room, crouching behind one of the great pillars supporting the massive stone ceiling.

  “Stay put, don’t come out until I tell you!” she said before quickly walking back to the center of the room and pretending to examine the now empty pedestal.

  A group of soldiers clad in sword and armor briskly walked into the room led by a man with handsome, but dark, features. He was middle aged, perhaps in his thirties or forties, and carried himself with a sense of pride and arrogance that only comes with experience and power.

  David almost cried out in shock. The man leading the company was the man from his vision!

  Who is that guy? David wondered, trying to get a better look.

  “Well, Erin” said the man, “have you found anything?”

  “No, General, there is nothing to be found. I’ve searched everywhere.” Erin replied.

  “Nothing at all, are you sure?” asked the man raising an eyebrow skeptically.

  “Nothing. Whoever stole the Orb must have been extremely skilled and powerful.” she said, assuring him of her sincerity.

  “Very well, you must return to the capital at once, it is no longer safe here. My men will search the surrounding woods for any signs of the intruder before reporting back to the king” said the man.

  “Yes, General. I will go alert the Elders of the missing orb at once. I need a few moments to check one more thing before I go, I won’t be long. You need not worry about me; I know the way.”

  “As you wish.” the man replied with a slight bow of his head. He turned and motioned for his men to exit before trailing behind.

  Suddenly the man from the vision stopped and turned back towards the room, glaring fiercely. David watched as his eyes scanned the room. When he seemed satisfied they were alone, he looked suspiciously at Erin before turning and heading towards the exit and down the tunnel.

  David stayed put for a moment longer, hoping his cover hadn’t been compromised, and giving himself time to steady his breathing.

  Confident they were alone again, Erin walked over to where David was hiding.

  “That was close. We have to get out of here and go see the Elder Council to let them know what has happened. I don’t think it wise to reveal your secret just yet, not until we speak to the Elders.”

  “Erin, I have to tell you someth-” David started.

  “We will have time to talk later, for now, we must go! Come, follow me!” She grabbed his hand again and quickly started toward the exit, carefully peeking around the corner to make sure no one was standing by the entrance, before heading down the tunnel.

  After they exited the temple and saw they were alone, Erin led them across the clearing towards the opposite side David had come from to a simple path that cut through the woods.

  David followed behind Erin as they walked quietly for some time through the dimly lit forest. The sun was gradually getting lower in the afternoon sky and the path would have been impossible to follow if it weren’t for the fact that Erin clearly knew where she was going. David trotted along beside his new companion wondering all the while what sort of mess he had gotten himself into.

  Chapter IV

  When they finally stopped it was late in the afternoon and David was glad to take a break. The air was crisp and cool with a light breeze rustling its way through the thick leaves and branches. The moon was now visible through the canopy as it rose in the sky, getting ready to take over from the sun as it started to set.

  Erin grabbed a small bundle of fruit from a nearby bush that looked a lot like blackberries, handing some to David before tossing the rest in her mouth.

  “So, what is this place anyway? Where are we heading to?” said David, eagerly devouring the sweet berries. They were delicious!

  Erin gave him a strange look. “You really don’t know where we are?” she asked incredulously.

  “I told you. I’m from a small town…” he said, deflecting.

  “You never said what town…” she said, examining David’s clothes that were clearly unkept, filthy, and hand-me-downs.

  “Oh…yeah, well, it’s pretty small, you probably never heard of it, anyway. It’s mostly just my orphanage and my school, you know, the bare necessities?” He could tell she wasn’t convinced, but she decided not to press him for the truth just yet.

  “We’re in the Outer Woods that surround the Mystic Mountain. But we are headed to the Capital.” she said.

  When she realized he still didn’t know what she meant, she decided to explain further.

  “The Capital, you know…Eldergate?”

  To which David just smiled and nodded, “Oh yeah, Eldergate. I know that town”

  Erin looked even more puzzled, “Town? Eldergate is one of Hurea’s most diverse cities ever constructed since the fall of the Last Age! It is enormous! You must have really hit your head hard” she said, shaking her head. “Come on, we’re nearly there.”

  She stood up and started walking down the path. David quickly followed suit, cursing himself silently for being so stupid.

  After some time walking in silence, Erin stopped abruptly and turned to David.

  “We are about to reach the main road to the city, and you mustn’t be seen. With the orb having gone missing the Royal Guard is going to be on high alert and on the lookout for any suspicious looking foreigners. And believe me, you look suspicious. If they spot you, they will certainly take you in for questioning, especially when they see your hand.

  "I will not be able to do anything to stop them if they catch you, so it is imperative that they do not! I must get you to the Elder Council to see if you are the one spoken of in the prophecy. They will know what to do from there.”

  “The one from the prophecy? But I’m just a nobody. What is this Elder Council anyway? Why are we going to see them?” asked David frantically.

  “The Elder Council are the highest-ranking officials in our kingdom, apart from the King of course. They work for the King as his chief counsellors, using their gifts of foresight to help inform him of important events in prophesy relating to his kingdom. They are well versed in the art of magic too, so they are very powerful allies for the King to have, acting as deterrents against foreign powers to keep them in check.

  "If we tell them what has happened, they will be the ones to know what we need to do next. It doesn’t matter who you were anymore, David, now you wield the orb and that makes you very special and important. We don’t have much time, the sun it going to set soon, and the outer gates will be closing. If we don’t make it in time, we will be locked out until morning.”

  She grabbed a pack that
was tucked under her robe and pulled out a dark brown bundle of cloth. She unraveled it and David saw that it looked to be some sort of leather cloak. It was hooded and when held up it nearly touched the ground at David’s feet.

  “Put this on, this will help you blend in” she said.

  David quickly pulled the cloak over his head and marveled at how well it actually fit him, considering it was made for Erin who was not as tall as he was. He assumed it had to be larger since it was made to go over her existing robes.

  They started walking towards what looked to be a clearing up ahead. David followed closely behind Erin, silently wondering how wearing a cloak would keep him from being spotted by the soldiers.

  As they neared the clearing, scattered beams of orange light began piercing more and more through the branches above as the forest began to thin. He could hear the sound of distant conversations and the clapping of hooves on pavement grow louder as they approached.

  When they reached the opening, the multi-colored sunlight from the setting sun drenched them in a shower of golden beams. He nearly stopped in his tracks blinded by the sudden intensity of the light – David realized they must be traveling West, toward the setting sun.

  When his eyes finally adjusted, David stood in awe at the sight before him. Only moments before he was nearly alone in the forest, now, he was on a wide sprawling road loaded with human and animal traffic. Hundreds of people were leading animals pulling carts filled with goods of all kinds: food, clothing, metal works. He couldn’t believe his eyes! David had never seen so many people in his whole life, and he surely didn’t expect such an active road to be running through a forest in the middle of nowhere!

  As his eyes followed the road, David could see that it led to a great clearing in the woods and crossed through rolling farmlands before reaching two large metal gates at the head of a massive walled city. Its stone walls towered high above the ground and had crenellations where armored soldiers patrolled endlessly back and forth across the top, while archers stood in strategic positions, looking out across the fields, and securing the area around the city. Torches were lit along its outer walls and near the gates, preparing for the coming darkness.

  Seeing his fascination, Erin smiled. “That is Eldergate. I take it you have never seen the city before?”

  David shook his head.

  The sight took David by surprise. He wasn’t expecting to see such a magnificent city built within the woods, let alone so many people. He understood now why Erin asked him to put on the cloak. In his own clothes he would stand out like a sore thumb; dirty, ragged, and even torn in some places, but with the cloak on he would more easily blend in with the crowd of people walking towards the city, most of which donned similar travelling cloaks themselves.

  “Come on, we need to hurry.” She quickly stepped out into the crowd and began walking beside a passing farmers cart being pulled by a mule, covering her head with the hood of her robe.

  David scrambled through the crowd to try to follow but found it far more difficult than Erin had made it seem. People and animals were everywhere! He found it extremely disorienting to try to navigate the endless stream of bodies and still keep track of where Erin had gone. He picked up his pace and finally caught up, keeping stride with her as they walked by the farmer’s cart.

  “Hey there!” one of the farmers shouted as he noticed the two companions.

  They smiled politely to the farmer and his family as they trotted along. He had two young girls sitting on his cart that was filled with bundles of wheat along with some large bags of potatoes and other vegetables. The older of the two girls was freckle faced with long blonde hair pulled back into a bun while the much younger girl had brown hair put up into pigtails. She wore a toothless grin and stared cheerfully at the two travelers.

  “It’s a good thing you got here when you did. Word’s out that there’s some dangerous people wandering about, so they want everyone to come inside the gates where it’s safe for the night.” the farmer said with a smile. “Had you waited much longer the gates would surely be closed.”

  The younger girl smiled. “Good thing you didn’t wait!” she said.

  Erin and David couldn’t help but smile at the girl’s innocence and charm, thankful that the family’s friendliness helped them seem like a part of their pack.

  The crowd was moving relatively quickly considering the massive amounts of people that were gathering at the gates. David’s nerves grew more and more uneasy as they approached the gate, fearful that he would be spotted in the crowd. Much to his and Erin’s relief, however, they walked right past the guards at the gate without any incident.

  Once they were within the city walls, they waved goodbye to the farmer and his family before darting off down a side road.

  The cobblestone street was complemented by the stone buildings that ran alongside it and was crowded and packed in every corner with people of all ages, some very nicely dressed, others more modestly. Beggars crowded around the stores, politely asking for food or drink as the crowds walked in and out of the shops carrying their bags of goods.

  They continued down the street passing an area lined with specialist’s shops that crafted metals and wood into fine weapons, armor, and tools. Further along, David’s stomach began to rumble as the aroma of freshly baked bread and delicious smelling food filled the air, reminding him of just how hungry he had become and how long it had been since he had eaten a real meal! They passed a series of bakeries and pubs before reaching a crowded marketplace further down the road.

  Reaching what seemed to be the center of the city, the marketplace hosted an elegant stone fountain, endlessly gushing crystal-clear water for all to enjoy. The fountain was plated in gold, slightly tarnished from weathering, and depicted a group of men holding shovels and pickaxes. Erin explained that they were the original settlers of Eldergate, which was once nothing more than a small mining outpost. It later grew into the sprawling metropolis that it was due to the abundance of precious metals and other resources found within the Mystic Mountain and surrounding areas.

  David watched as children ran between him and Erin, parading about the streets laughing and playing games while adults roamed the shops. He thought the city was more remarkable than anything he had ever seen, although he didn’t have much to compare it to.

  He had only ever had the orphanage to call home and apart from that, had only went back and forth to school. Most of his free time while growing up had been spent aimlessly wandering the nearby woods, passing the time in precious solitude – something he came to enjoy growing up in the orphanage. Even so, he marveled at the bustling market that now surrounded him.

  As they followed the cobblestone road through the interior of the city, David made sure to stay closely behind Erin, knowing if he lost sight of her, he would quickly get lost in the bustling crowds. The sun was nearly set now, and in the distance, he could hear the loud thud of the gates as they were slowly lowered and securely shut for the night.

  They continued out of the market and down some side streets that were increasingly lit by torch light, leading into what David assumed was the business district of the city. The streets were surrounded with tall buildings on either side with various signs for services and goods being sold. The street was wide but packed with people, even at this hour, making it tight to move around and even harder for David to keep up. Twice David was nearly knocked to his feet by a passerby who was completely unaware of his surroundings. Both times David nearly lost sight of Erin and had to scramble through the crowd frantically until he caught up.

  Eventually Erin came to a stop in front of a large building at the end of the street. It towered over the other buildings around it and looked much older, but remarkably still held fast. By the look of the intricate details etched into the stones, David could tell it was an important building.

  Erin walked up to the solid oak door and knocked three times with the iron knocker. David noticed the symbol on the door was a long staff with a
round orb on the crest, just like the one the man in the temple had carried. A moment later a slot slid open and a man peered out.

  “What can I help you with, Erin, dear? It’s a little late for a visit, don’t you think?” he asked.

  “Tyrius sent me here to speak with the council.” She paused, looking around to make sure she wasn’t being watched. “It is urgent news regarding prophecy of the orb.” she added hastily.

  “Ahhh…I see. Come inside, come inside.” said the doorman, unlocking the deadbolts.

  He opened the door to let them in, flooding the street with light and casting long shadows of the doorman and the pair standing by the entryway onto the buildings behind them. The doorman beckoned them inside and quickly closed and latched the door as they entered.

  The entryway connected to a long brightly lit hallway with large burning sconces lining the walls. The light flickered and danced with the flames down the hall, casting their shadows across the walls in long distorted forms as they passed by. The floors were carpeted with rich colors and designs and the walls had countless portraits lining the hallway, all of elderly men in white robes. David noticed one portrait that resembled the old man that had been with Erin in the temple. Beneath the painting was a gold plate with the name “Tyrius Vanderbolt III”.

  “This way please.” said the doorman urgently. He didn’t need any ushering to set a quick pace, for he seemed just as agitated as Erin.

  They followed him down the hallway and through a door at the end to their left. They continued down a similar hallway to a larger door with two lit torches on each side. The flame lit up an elaborate carving in the wooden frame, but David couldn’t understand the writing, though he thought he had recognized this same fluid script from the tapestries at the temple.

  The doorman knocked and waited a minute before walking quickly back down the hallways to return to his post. Only a moment passed before the door opened and a man with a staff and long white beard stepped forward into the light. David was shocked to see the man wasn’t nearly as old as he expected, but instead appeared to be in his mid to late sixties. He was lean but full of a strength that seemed to radiate from within.