“‘Ou’be heawd Enoch’s speech about us wibin’ on “bowwowed time” Yeah dah onwy thin’ on buwwowed time am dah economy once dis obewexaggewated watshit am obah, wewe aww gon’ be poowew than ebah I teww 'ou…”
[A comment from one caravanner to another]
After receiving the notice we packed and left the following day, us all geared up. Traveling with Mary Due until we got to a settlement outside Port Xerxes, where Dar gave her to a Raccoon herder who he paid to take care of her until our tour was over. After that we just paid a wagon to take us to Stablelot, with it only taking two days until we arrived. Exiting the carriage and entering Stablelot. Seeing this place, I almost instantly felt the same type of vibe I felt when the tower collapsed… Despair. Soldiers were absolutely everywhere, on the streets and alleyways, at shops and taverns, even occupying an entire restaurant. In total it seemed as we walked, about 50% of all people we saw were soldiers, like if you removed the context you’d think Stablelot was under occupation from an enemy nation. Dar speaks as he looks around, just as shocked as I.
“‘Ou heaw about waw an’ 'ou nu weawwy think of it ‘cos it’s not in am face, buh dis… Fuckin’ heww.”
He sighs and we make our way to Camp Driscoll.
Once there it was mostly the same picture, soldiers and even more soldiers. The Camp was pretty hard to travel through, it having so many wagons and tents. Half way through the camp courtyard we heard a distant voice call out, it immediately recognizable.
“Though you two would never show up!”
We turn to see WingScratch walking to us, her having a faint smile. Once she get’s here she continues, looking over the soldiers as she speaks.
“Isn’t it a glorious sight! Took months of nonstop coordination, but I think I finally have all the soldiers in place, ready for the call.”
I speak, a bit shocked of what I heard.
“Am dah one who set aww of dis up, puttin’ sowdiews in cities!?”
WingScratch speaks, looking confused.
“What!? Of course I did! Enoch wanted an army like the one’s in Chicago and I delivered. Of course though there wasn’t any infrastructure to support an army like this, no permanent castles or large fortresses. I had to keep them in or near cities for logistical reasons.”
We were both speechless and WingScratch notices it, her speaking quickly there after.
“Look it’s been a long winter, many things had changed since you all were all stuck indoors. How about we head inside? Charles, Ix and most of the high ranking Royal Guards are already here!”
Hearing that the others were here quickly break us out of our speechlessness, I speak.
“That’d be nice.”
Entering Camp Driscoll we followed WingScratch and headed towards the mess hall, and once there, at the farthest table we saw them, our comrades Charles and Ix. I spoke, waving out to get their attention.
“Chawwes, ix!”
Hearing me both turn and look, getting up and walking over. Charles with a warm smile speaks, as he shakes my hoove and pats my back.
“It’s su gud to see 'ou two! How hab 'ou’be been?”
Dar speaks, a slight blush coming to his face.
“Wet’s just say it was “cozy” coupwe of months.”
Ix gives out a sigh and speaks, sounding a bit down.
“At least you, Emily and Charles had a good time. I spent my entire leave in Stablelot and it felt like every other day there was someone knocking at the place I was staying at and asking if I was the one giving out orders or something… At least it wasn’t all that bad”
Ix speaks the last part as she peers over to WingScratch, quickly looking back and speaking again.
“Want to come join us for a few? Since you’re here we now have to leave, meeting with the King.”
I speak as we begin walking.
“Suwe.”
We spent the next few moments eating what was still available, and catching up with the other high ranking guards. After that we left, Charles giving me some context on what Ix had said. Him saying that Enoch wanted a quick meeting to discuss the journey to Appalachia, and the entire Royal Guard was going to join him. As Charles finishes speaking, I speak. Us now getting close the Royal Residence to Stablelot.
“Dah entiwe guawd!? That’s gon’ be one giant cawaban wewe bwingin.”
We enter, two Royal Guards standing by the entrance.
The residence after all that building, now looked on par with the Palace outside of Stablelot. It’s recently carved luxury furniture and ornaments letting off that special new shine. As we get closer to the personal chamber sounds could be heard from it. We didn’t know at first but as we got closer we could tell instantly what it was, yelling… I could hear Tethius yell, not in the screaming sort of way, but sounding as though he was frustrated.
“‘Ou nu get it do ‘ou, we nee’ these suppwies fo’ dah twoops! If we nu dewe’s nu way dey’ww go to fight, just decide go home!”
Enoch bounces back, his tone slightly less harsh.
“We just nu can keep takin’ fwom ouw own peopwe Tethius! Fiwst we enwisted dewe own sons, sendin’ them off to possibwe death… An’ nao dis! Tethius if we nu pwan things out accowdingwy ouw own peopwe am goin’ to skin us awibe.”
After that Tethius shouts, and what he say’s leaves me in complete shock.
“PLAN THINGS OUT!? AM MAJESTY WE AM ONE DAH BWINK OF BANKWUPTCY! IF WE WIN DIS WAW WE AM GOIN’ TO WOSE EBEWYTHING! IF-”
Dac suddenly let’s out a loud cough and we turn to look at him, us all having faces of shock. The door to the personal chamber suddenly opens and we are greeted by Tethius, him looking more stressed than ever and breathing heavily. After the initial realization that we were here he speaks.
“What did 'ou heaw?”
WingScratch speaks.
“Oh just the thing about financial ruin, and such.”
Quin turns to look at WingScratch speaking to her first before turning to Tethius.
“Awen’t ‘ou awways dah bwutish one? Tethius deaw ‘ou nee’ to stahp wiff dah scweaming, howwibwe fo’ am heawth!”
Tethius after a few seconds speaks, getting out of the way of the door.
“His majesty wants to speak wiff 'ou, about dah twip.”
We head inside, turning to meet Enoch.
“It’s gud to see 'ou aww!”
Enoch said with a weak smile. And when first looking at him, it was rough. His eyes seemed to look more tired than ever, half of his mane was graying, and just by looking at him you could tell he was in a bad state. He continues speaking, adding a slight chuckle.
“Enoch am sowwy 'ou had to heaw that, wost bit of my composuwe. Buh that doesn’t mattah nao, wewe weady.”
Enoch goes to a chest and opens it, pulling out a map and speaking.
“Dis was giben to me by dah dwagons, it wiww take us to dewe homewand.”
We look at the map and see a rough map, it going from Nickel city to a area with a bunch of drawn on mountains. Charles speaks after looking at it for a bit.
“when do we depawt exactwy?”
Enoch speaks, putting the map back in the chest.
“Fowwowin’ dah scheduwe wiff me sendin’ dah wettews to ouw awwies, an’ accountin’ fo’ twabewin’ time. Fwuffy’s best’ bet am that we weabe tomowwow mownin.”
Everyone looks and speaks with interest, while me and Dar just look at each other and sigh. Another who knows how long journey of mindless travel. Fin
Thank you for reading my story! I hope to have the next part done in a few day’s to a week, and of course constructive criticism is appreciated. May you have a good day!