CRASH... the sound of glass shattering emanates through the quiet village. It was nighttime most of the outlander families were at home with there children except for the few who were out grabbing a drink with some friends. A short stout man had fallen into the alleyway below as a toned figure stands above him. The man covers his eyes from the light behind the fit figure.
"Look man I don't, I don't have the money yet, I swear it i do that you will have it soon enough, you got to understand I still have a family to care for to."
The figure doesn't falter at the ,and statement but rather takes another step towards him a fist raised. The short man cowers preparing to get pummeled, instead he hears the sound of a body connecting to the mans side, cracking his ribs and throwing him back a few feet. He crashes into some worn boxes against a deteriorating wall.
The man on the ground looks to this new person in the mix, perhaps someone trying to play hero, not realizing what they just did.
The figure leans town locking eyes with him, they were unmistakable causing the man to freeze for a moment.
"Brightley" He thought they had been wiped out years ago.
A hand extends helping the man up.
"Are you alright?" Brightley says to him. Brushing his worn sleeves and holey pants off he nods to him.
"Good your coming with me Bonavich." With that they were off.
The two men sat across from each other there hands resting on there ends of the table. Bonavich was tense with a little sweat that dripped along his brow. Neither had spoke for the past 20 minutes but rather stared at there drink in front of them. Cormac shifts his weight and leans against the table looking over the man in front of him.
"I'm guessing your wondering why I brought you here tonight."
He says gesturing to the room around them. They sat in a circular booth with stained cushions torn from wear and war. A wooden bar sat behind them with rusted metal edges. The wallpaper had truly seen better days. What once was a deep purple with golden accents was now faded and torn showing the shell of what kept the building standing.
With and old rag Bonavich wipes his temples before resting his hands at his sides.
"If its money you want, you will get none from me. I barely have enough to care for my family."
Cormac chuckles and shakes his head
"Money is not what I need, rather I need information that only few can give. You are one of them."
Bonavich lets off a grim smile.
"Boy that's a new one. Nobody ever seems to care about the history of the old world except those who are searching for something from it. What makes you think I give you any information?"
He says sitting straighter, with a sense of determination
Cormac chuckles to himself.
"Oh that's easy, I can offer you something nobody else could. The protection of your loved ones and your debts paid off. Isn't that what you want my dear scholarly friends." he says resting his hands on top of each other.
Bonavich sits back as he looks at this promising offer. It was true he used to be a high scholar before his life fell into ruin. Clasping his hands together he looks over to Cormac.
"How can you guarantee this all?"
Cormac leans back
" I can get you out I have allies all across the world. Choose where you want to be and they will come for you in a few days with a place for you all to stay. The choice is yours, just give me the information I ask for and you will be on your way."
Bonavich weighs the option to stay or go but easily chooses.
"Tell me what you want to know and ill give you what information I can, but may we go somewhere more private an not in the public eye. There are many here that would kill for any info I hold in the aging noggin"
He says in a whisper.
Cormac nods as he stands up and begins to walk before stopping next to him.
"Your place may be our best option then."
Bonavich nods, for it was true, he lived in a remote cottage on the outskirts of the town surrounded by dormant forests. They make there way there to find soft light emanating from a fireplace inside.
They step indoors and are met with a gentle warmth, helping brush off the nip of winter from outdoors. The house was worn down with creaky floorboards and furniture in mediocre condition. A women sat in a rocking chair knitting what looked to be a winter scarf. Bonavich leans over placing a kiss upon her cheek saying I am home my dear.
She simply smiles and nods at Cormac as he steps into her field of view.
Bonavich looks at Cormac
"My dear wife sadly can not speak, el Doro took it from her before she narrowly escaped there clutches. Only few are lucky enough to escape like she has with a sound mind and most of her body still in tact."
Cormac looks her over she was maybe in her mid to late 40s, a body worn from life on the run but yet her eyes still showed so much determination and fight left within her.
He gave her dry and calloused hand a firm grip and whispered a thank you for her strength before walking back to Bonavich's side. He stops for a moment and thinks of how these are thee reason he and his team still fight everyday, to give hope to those who feel hopeless and for those with determination still within even when they themselves have nothing, he looks at Bonavich with a smile before gesturing his hand
"Shall we?"
Bonavich nods.
"Let me take you to my study."
Taking the lead, Cormac follows him through the house until they come to a back room. Stepping inside was like taking a step back in time. There was no electronics or anything you would see in present day. But instead shelves stacked with worn weathering books it was like a snapshot in time before them.
"Welcome to my gallery of knowledge both old and new histories and stories. It is nowhere near as vast compared to what the gatekeepers held in there homes once upon a time."
Walking over to a line of books he pulls out a few dark red leather bound ones. He blows gently at the collection of dust upon them before bringing them over to a desk. He sits behind it and motions for Cormac to sit. He does quickly and leans over to look at the worn foil on the books cover.
"May I look at it?" Cormac asks going to touch it. Bonavich stops him.
"Its rather old here are some gloves so you can flip through the pages, our bodies natural oils could easily damage it and id rather keep it in the best condition I can for these are the last copies of the gatekeepers writings."
Flipping through the pages he didn't understand the writings fully. Bonavich chuckles at Cormac
"Its encrypted only few have the ability to translate it, our own ability so to speak from our families."
Cormac stops and looks at Bonavich realizing what he is saying
"That would mean."
"Yes" Bonavich states before standing up and staring around the room
"You came to the right place. The story of the gatekeepers is a sad one. They were created to hold knowledge of everything thus why they were so reclusive. Only working within there walls among there people for outsiders would hunger for the knowledge they held. Knowledge is and forever will be a powerful thing. The stories say that the originals knew them and were at peace with them, they only would enter there temples when they were allowed or it was made absolutely necessary. They didn't know one of them would be the reason for there undoing.
When el Doro first started there descent upon the nations colonies, villages etc. The gatekeepers had gotten word from an unknown source upon there plans. In a panic they did what they could by taking the most prized books, scripts, scrolls and more and sent them across the world to places only the gatekeepers themselves could find or those with pure intentions. They were able to save much of it before the fell. Well at least what was most important. But without a strong barrier against the outsiders el Doro easily fell into there villages and towns. Setting homes ablaze, killing whoever they could that would not submit or tell them where to find the information. Much of it was lost to el Doro and only few young children and some elders were able to escape, the rest are left to history as sad as it is.
I was lucky to find an elder to teach me before he passed only a year or two ago now. Though he believes there are still some elders out there with young students in secrecy but in all my years I have not found any or even figured a way to contact them. But now seeing as I have met you maybe there is still hope for some to return to our once beautiful temples or for a new generation to continue the work our ancestors once did."
Cormac looks at him
"So you have come to a decision then, to carry the traditions of your people. We then will be of service to your cause and help you find that you are not alone in this. Thank you for your help and I will fulfill my end as well." closing the book Cormac gets up to leave. Bonavich stops him with his hands in his pockets.
"There is something else you are wondering, the answer is yes, you will find him. Maybe not now but soon you will."
Cormac stops for a minute and looks at Bonavich's back his head turned to the side with a smirk.
As Cormac goes to open the door he stops for a moment sending a retort towards Bonavich
"By the way good acting from before"
A deep chuckle runs through the air
"Seeming vulnerable is always an easier feat. Now go my friend, your family is waiting for you."
Before turning back staring out a window at the greying clouds in the sky.