Tales of the Forgotten: Prelude

Traveling is better when accompanied.

July 24th, 2017 2:03 P.M.

Eclipse, Sayona

Eclipse was a town slightly larger than I had anticipated but nonetheless it was the town I was looking for as it housed the main branch of the Lunarclaw tribe. After I had dropped Rainfeather off at the small town of Sharptalon I quickly made my way up north towards Eclipse as she told me thats where they were based out of. At the entrance of the town stood two guards who both bore the crest of the Lunarclaw tribe, a purple shield with a chevron placed on it as well as the crescent moon placed in the middle created by two claws.

As I approached the gate they lowered their spears, “Who seeks passage into Eclipse?” they asked in unison as I bowed deeply.

“Our name is Sigurd, a weary traveller seeking nourishment from the confines of a safe town such as Eclipse by the benevolent Lunarclaw tribe.” I stated aloud as they raised their spears.

“Open the gates!” they yelled as I heard them scrambling from the top of the walls. Not long after did the gates start to open and lock into place as I entered the large town. I was flanked by two guards as I started to walk down the path.

“May I ask why I am being followed sirs?” I asked as I continued to walk with them.

“Any outsider must be escorted by guards to their destination when traveling within Eclipse as per the law.” the female guard to my left said as I nodded. The town was littered with gryphons who simply stared at me as I walked past and towards a pub called The Good Onion Pub. As I entered the building the two guards took post at both sides of the entrance and simply stood there as the door closed.

The pub was nearly empty spare the three gryphons sitting around a fireplace and the female gryphon behind the bar counter, cleaning some glasses. The gryphon at the fireplace that had recently been strumming a beautiful tune had now stopped as he stared at me in astonishment. The others seemed to have noticed and looked at me now as well as I walked to the counter and sat down on one of the chairs.

The female gryphon turned around, no doubt expecting another gryphon as she looked over me flatly and sighed. “What does an outsider want at my establishment?” she growled as I looked at her fur mark on her forehead, distorted at the top of the crest, survivor Zeke informed me as I nodded.

“Don’t worry I won’t be here for long if  Greycrest will hear me.” I responded as I looked her in the eyes and she looked away rolling them. “May I get some water before I head out? I’m quite parched by my journey from the town of Sharptalon.”

“That’ll be five bits then.” She growled as she held out her claw to me as I stared her down blankly.

“Five bits? For a cup of water? Rainfeather was right when she said you didn’t like outsiders Agatha.” I smirked as she glared daggers into me and slammed her claw down onto the counter, startling the gryphons around the fire.

She leaned in close while still glaring at me, “How do you know Rainfeather you filthy outsider?” she whispered harshly as I let a smile graze my lips.

I shook my head and leaned backwards in my chair, “I might tell you if you give me a fair price on water, but even without it I can still go about my business but I know you’re worried about your niece.” I smirked at her as she slammed her claw into the counter again.

“DON’T FUCK WITH ME, TELL ME WHERE SHE IS!?” she yelled at me. The gryphons around the fire were at my side now blocking any route to make a run for it, albeit I had no intention to as I continued to stare her down.

“All I’m asking for is a fair price on some water in exchange for the whereabouts of your niece. What I will tell you is that she is safe and sound after I treated her wounds.” I informed her as she visibly softened and slid back behind the counter.

She swallowed her pride, “That will be a bit, please.” she said as I smiled at her and reached into my pocket and pulled out a bit and handed it to her.

“Now was that so hard? I promise and guarantee that Rainfeather is safe in Sharptalon in south Sayona, I found her traveling in the storm a couple days ago with a large gash in her thigh, a broken wing, and several other wounds. I brought her back to the cave I was residing in to treat her wounds, the next morning she told me her name and confirmed the rumors I had heard of the Lunarclaw tribe.”

“The two banished with her were captured and are to be publicly executed tomorrow evening. I am here to speak with the chieftain so that I may try to help them through diplomatic means, and if not I will get them out by force.” I informed her as she handed me a cup of water that I quickly downed as she stared at me blankly.

“And how do you know I won’t tell the guards about this?” She asked smugly as I shrugged and got out of my chair, proceeding to walk over to the door.

“Because, you want your sister and brother in law rescued just as much as Rainfeather.” I replied as I saw her eyes shrink to pinpricks and her mouth a soundless no. I cocked my head sideways and smiled, “It’ll be alright Agatha, but please get out of here while you can if push does come to shove then they will be after you as well as you’re an affiliated family member.” I warned her as I stepped outside and was flanked by the guards again as I walked towards the Great Hall of Eclipse.

July 24th, 2017 4:58 P.M.

Great Hall, Eclipse, Sayona

It took almost an hour to find my way to the great hall as the town wasn’t exactly deserted with gryphons everywhere, traveling to and fro. The guards that had been following me took position next to the guards that were standing at both side of the doors and opened the gargantuan made of Sayonian Blackwood, with a large crescent moon made of polished silver in the middle of each door. I was greeted with the smell of braziers burning as I walked into the hall and up the steps towards the middle of the throne room where Greycrest sat patiently on his throne.

Five guards stood at each side of the room and two at the foot of his throne. I slowly walked forward towards the king as he took notice of me and smiled before standing up himself and meeting me halfway. I bowed to him and he gestured his claw upwards for me to stand.

“Greetings Chieftain Greycrest, I am Sigurd of Equestria, the first human to walk this world in several centuries.” I stated as he nodded his head.

“Welcome Sigurd of Equestria, I am Chieftain Greycrest of Eclipse. I expected humans to be a bit more brute than you but I suppose not all is as it seems. What pray tell, does Equestria wish of the Lunarclaw tribe that they must send the only human to us?” He asked calmly as I shook my head.

“My apologies Chieftain, I do not come in place of Celestia nor Luna. I come upon my own regard as I have not seen Equestrian lands for 2 years now, they bear no influence nor sway upon my mind nor heart.” He looked at me curiously as he nodded his head in acknowledgement.

“Then why are you requesting an audience with us?” He asked bluntly.

“I am here to request the release of the two gryphons known as Gale and Beamplume, Father and Mother of Rainfeather, into my custody. If there is a price I will gladly pay it, all you need is to name it.” His eyes went wide with intrigue and four of his guards surrounded me.

“Stand down!” he exclaimed as he walked up to me and analyzed me again. “It intrigues me, why do you wish for them to be released into your custody, more importantly why are you willing to pay any price for them? Could it be that you are doing this for that deplorable youth Rainfeather to gain favor with her? Might it be that you are vested in her beauty and charm? Or may it be that you wish to deceive her?” he pushed as he stalked around me.

I shook my head, “You seem to know my intentions well Chieftain Greycrest, would you allow your escapee to continue through life happily? Or will you allow me to show her what it means to be a true slave?” I responded darkly as he smiled at me and laughed.

“Be that as it may, I doubt you will have enough to cover the expenses necessary to purchase them into your custody as they’re to be executed publicly in a days time. Lest you have a thousand bits on your person now?” He joked as I lifted up my robe and untied the bag of bits from my cuirass and it dropped onto the ground with a large thud.

“This should more than cover the expenses Chieftain.” I stated as he gawked at the large bag of bits on the floor before staring back up at me and smiled.

“Release the prisoners into Sigurds custody, from this day forth they are his slaves to do with as he desires. Let it be known that the execution is cancelled!” He stated as he had two of his guards carry the bag of bits away and two more guards came in towing both Gale and Beamplume behind them in shackles.

I walked over to them and grabbed the chain that held them and stood over them as the one I presumed to be Gale glared at me and Beamplume looked at the ground without saying anything. “Lets go you two, I have places to be.” I said harshly as I yanked at the chain and walked out of the Great Hall and out into Eclipse.

July 24th, 2017 9:21 P.M.

Outskirts of Eclipse, Sayona

I looked back over my shoulder as Eclipse slowly started to fade in the distance before disappearing behind a large hill and I sighed loudly before turning around to face Gale and Beamplume who stared at the ground silently. “You know, you two could be a little happier than that.” I said as I dropped the chain and crossed my arms.

“Says the one who just bought our lives for his own gain.” Gale snapped back at me as I shrugged my shoulders before walking up to him and releasing the chains around his neck and front claws. I walked over to Beamplume and started undoing her chains.

I looked over at Gale as I undid her claw chains, “You know Gale, your daughter was right about you not knowing who your friends are. I dumped my money into purchasing you two for her so that I wouldn’t put the entirety of your family and your wife's family in danger. The only reason I treated you the way I did on my way out was to keep up the appearance that you were in fact my slaves. If I showed otherwise push may have come to shove and it would have been a mission to get all of your family the fuck out of dodge.”

I stood up as Beamplume rubbed her claws where the chains had bruised. “I was ready to risk my life for two strangers, possibly more, for the sake of someone who I just met. Why? It wasn’t for a false love nor for any reason except to help someone, or multiple creatures, who can’t help themselves. You two were put there on death row because that forsaken “Chieftain” wanted a little something something from your daughter and she didn’t want to give him that something something! Whatever he actually charged you with, or put you in there for no reason, is in the past now and you can go and live your life once again.”

He looked down remorsefully as Beamplume walked over to him and hugged him, “Now whether you want to see your daughter again is up to you and I will be happy to bring you to her as I have to follow up with her about you two.” I finished as I turned and started to walk towards Sharptalon again.

I felt something tug on my robe from behind me, it was Beamplume. “T-Thank you S-Sigurd, for what you did…” she stammered out as Gale looked a bit surprised. “I...I want to see her...if that’s alright.” she said quietly as I nodded in approval.

I looked at Gale who stood silently a few feet away now, “What will it be Gale?” I asked as he nodded his head.

“I will come with you...on one condition.”

“As long as it doesn’t further increase the hole in my pocket I will listen, what I spent to get you two out was what I had saved from the past six months for necessities.” I informed him.

He shook his head, “Take me with you after we see my daughter.” he stated as I looked over him cautiously. I went to object but he interrupted, “I don’t want to stay idle anymore, the only times we were allowed outside of Eclipse were during escorts or transporting goods, nothing more. I want to see what all of Sayona has to offer me, not just Eclipse.” he fell silent as I smiled at him.

“Well I won’t be here in Sayona for much longer, about a month at most. I’m traveling further northwest to Mirador, homeland to the Minotaurs, my first destination is the Great Labyrinthian.” I informed him as he nodded, “You may come with me then Gale, I will stay in Sharptalon for two days after we arrive. I will give you some bits to gather materials of your own and to gather books that will further your knowledge on how to survive in the wilderness.” he nodded his head and walked over to me and nudged my side in agreement.

The rest of the trip back to Sharptalon was relatively quiet as we walked, but as soon as we arrived in view of Sharptalon it was all but quiet in the small town as it glew bright orange against the darkened night sky.