Chereads / Shadows of Judgment / Chapter 8 - Solo Journey

Chapter 8 - Solo Journey

Duvainion first visits the towns library, first deciding to try and find a map of some sort. He may be young, but he is fairly bright, already. So, once he finds a map of the continent, Almeron, and already knowing his own country's name, Faelion, he then eventually manages to figure out the country where he is now, Adororia. He then finds a map that shows only a close up of Adororia, and then attempts to figure out where he needs to go. Eventually having sort of figured some basics out, he then starts to head off, soon arriving at the outskirts of the town.

He seems hesitant to start out on his own, and just stands off to the side of the road as he stares out at the road that lays beyond the town, definitely nervous about setting off without Caleldes, for once. Though he soon mentally pushes himself enough, and actually starts on out of the town.

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Truagrog, the Orc King, eventually visits Caleldes in her cell. "Greetings, Caleldes." He just grins at her, the grin in no way implying anything good.

Caleldes just glares at him, wordlessly.

"Not up for chatting? That's fine, I'll just do the talking, then." After a momentary pause, in order to make sure she has nothing to say, he soon continues on. "You know, with you being the head royal guard and all, or rather the former head royal guard, at least, I'd have assumed that you'd be a lot more dangerous and formidable. But it seems that you've failed, rather miserably if I might add, at your one and only job, probably one of the most important jobs, and you completely f*cked it all up."

"I may be captured, but as long as the young Prince is still alive and out there, and out of your grubby hands, then I've still succeeded in my job and orders to protect him." Despite her calm outer demeanor, she is definitely angry, Truagrogs apparent taunting seeming to have actually gotten to her, whether she realized it or not.

Having noticed the inward anger within her words, he grins a bit. "You're definitely easier to anger then you'd like to admit."

She just looks away from him, not wanting to give him any satisfaction in her expression.

"Anyways, let's get back down to business. Where is the Elven Prince?"

"Why should I tell you? It's not like you'll kill me, or anything, I'm too important for you."

"Fine. I suppose that I'll just have to change my tactics, then." He just smirks at her some, heading closer to her now.

She does seem rather alarmed by this now, attempting to back away from him, though with being in a small cell, is unable to avoid him.

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It starts to get dark now as Duvainion continues on along the road, Buddy walking beside him. Despite having the shadow elemental magic, he still starts to get nervous as it starts to become night time, knowing that night can get a bit dangerous, but also knowing that he doesn't have enough money to hire a carriage to get him to where he wants to go, either.

Though in spite of how he feels, he continues to press onwards as it starts to get later on in the night. He soon ends up carrying a tired Buddy in his arms, not wanting to stop to rest, if he doesn't have to.

Though as the night drags on, Duvainion does start to get tired as he continues to walk. Although eventually he ends up getting tired enough and just decides to find a safe place to sit down, only planning on resting his feet for a while, though after a bit, he does actually end up falling asleep, still holding Buddy, but now also cuddling him as well.

When the morning finally arrives, Duvainion eventually wakes up, sitting up while stretching and yawning. He looks around, though doesn't spot Buddy at first, starting to worry now. Though soon enough, he spots something from some nearby bushes, getting up and heading over to check them out. Parting the bushes, he finds a couple full grown shadow wolves, along with Buddy, who then jumps at him, licking him, happy. He hugs Buddy, but then looks to the other two wolves, a bit confused about their presence here. The two shadow wolves bow to Duvainion, and then start to leave. Though he still seems confused as to why they were there in the first place. Though he soon puts it out of his mind, and just starts to head off as well, Buddy following alongside him.

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After a few uneventful days of travelling, finally Duvainion eventually makes it to the capital, Elesstead. As they get closer, he asks Buddy to hide inside his shadow, just to be safe, as he's unsure of how the humans would react to Buddy, and Buddy happily does as he's asked. Duvainion then joins a fairly large line that appears to be heading into the city, there seeming to be different lines, he gets into the line for those on foot, and there also appears to be another one for people in carts or carriages, as well.

Duvainion eventually makes it to the front of the line, and he looks up at the guard as he does make it up to him.

"Take the hood off." The guard orders him. Duvainion is hesitant to do so. "Take it off, or no entry." The guard then threatens to turn him away if he doesn't comply.

Duvainion then slowly takes his hood off, now revealing that he's an elf.

The guard doesn't seem too pleased at seeing this, though just moves on with his job. "And where is your parent or guardian?"

"... She was captured on our way here, but I was able to get away."

"Alright. And reason for visit?"

"Business, I guess?"

"What sort of business?" The guard questions Duvainion, seeming a bit suspicious about him.

"I need to... see the king..." He decides to just be honest.

"What? As if a kid, especially one as shabby looking as you, gets to see the king. Get out of here."

"..." Duvainion then chooses to reveal who he is. "I'm the Elven Prince, and I've been traveling secretly."

"Sure you are, kid. Now leave, before I have to get rough with you!"

Just as Duvainion is about to simply accept defeat, not sure what else to do, a different guard soon approaches. "What's the matter here, soldier?"

"Commander, sir! Well, this kid here-" Though he's soon cut off.

"Duvainion, is it? Where's your royal body guards?" The commander inquires.

"Caleldes was captured on the Way here..."

"Really? I heard that she's supposed to be one of the best fighters in the Elven Kingdom. Must have been a tough opponent... Anyways, don't pay this newbie here any attention, I'll take you to the king personally. Then I'll figure out what to do with him." He glances at the rookie guard as he says the last bit, the rookie guard paling a bit at this. And the commander then takes Duvainions hand, and leads him off into the city.

"He does have a bit of a point, though, you are a bit dirty."

"We had to travel secretly, we were being chased..."

"Chased? By who?"

"I don't know, but they were big, mean, kinda scary, and kinda green looking, too."

"Orcs, of course... Alright, well, I'll get you a set of clothes that will be fit for meeting the king, then we'll need to get you cleaned up, too. Okay?"

"Are you sure? I don't want to use your money up on you." Duvainion asks, just a bit concerned.

The guards commander just chuckles a bit. "It's okay. I may not exactly have noble levels of money, but I'm no commoner, either. I can spare enough for a good and noble style outfit."

Duvainion just nods a bit. "Okay. Thank you."

"Of course. I may not have actually met you before, but I have actually done business with your kingdom before, and have seen you, in the past. I was just rather surprised to see you here, and all alone to boot, is all."

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After getting a new outfit and getting cleaned up, Duvainion is then brought to the palace, and he now stands in front of the large doors to the throne room. The doors are soon opened by a few of the guards, and Duvainion is actually announced as he enters. Duvainion does seem a bit nervous, especially with doing this on his own, though tries to keep himself calm, as he walks on up to the king on his throne.

Although, despite his age, he does not seem to have forgotten his manners for Nobility and Royalty, either, and he bows to the king. "Greetings, your Majesty."