Chereads / Rise Of The Forgotten: Paths Cross / Chapter 37 - CHAPTER 37 WHO IS REALLY IN CHARGE?

Chapter 37 - CHAPTER 37 WHO IS REALLY IN CHARGE?

 The Group continued to follow behind the guardsman, he led them upstairs and reached a walkway. Once on the walkway, the group could see the entire barn. Every animal, stall, and crate sat underneath the roof. The heat and smell had gotten captured in the height of the barn but weren't unbearable. They continued to the far other side of the barn and entered a room that sat facing the walkway. Inside the room, a round man sat in a red chair, with his fingers crossed while they rested on the desk in front of him. Behind him stood the man with the black thick beard and four other guardsmen in each of the corners of the room. "Ah welcome!" The round man said from his chair. "I hear you are troublemakers?" The round man said. Diomede stepped forward, "No we aren't troublemakers, it just happens to find us." The room fell silent, The guard that led the group exited the room shutting the door behind him. Clayton and Lily scanned the room, both were prepared to reach if the moment called for it. Kira moved closer to Diomede, enough to pull on his cloak so that if anything felt off she could inform Diomede.

"Well, that's not what my good friend Mr. Walters has told me." The round man said as he stood up from his chair, revealing his large stomach covered by a somewhat fancy shirt that hugged onto a button. "Let us start over shall we." The round man extended his arm and held his hand open. "I am Mayor Thomas Jolly, and I welcome you to my small slice of heaven." Diomede looked over the hand to see if the Mayor had some sort of ring on that would affect him. Kira focused on the Mayor, she felt nothing more the restlessness. Diomede grabbed hold of the mayor's hand and shook it, "I am Sir Eithen, and these are my companions, Eric, Murkwood Mary, and Susan." The group gave gestures of greetings to the mayor. "I thought he was your father and she was your daughter?" Mr. Walters asked. Diomede glanced at them and back to Mr. Walters, " He is and she is. I never said we were blood." Diomede said in a sarcastic tone. Mayor Jolly walked around his desk, the floor groaned with each step he took. "Now then what's this about your father killing a young girl?" The Mayor asked. Diomede crossed his arms as he pulled them out from under his cloak. "As I said before, I assume the girl was some projection or worse created by the being we encountered in Blue Stream." The Mayor shared glances with Mr.Wlaters. "I see, then you wouldn't mind if send a rider to collaborate on your story then?" Diomede looked to Clayton, two shared a saddened look. "Unfortunately Blue Stream is no more." The Mayor and Mr. Walters looked at each other and gave no reaction. "I see said the Mayor, then it is as we feared." Mayor Jolly walked over to a tray that sat on top of a dark brown wooden cabinet and began to pour a drink. "We were worried about what may have happened due to the light and loud explosive sound we heard that night." The group's attention moved to Mr. Walters as he spoke up. "We sent Mr. Layer to see what had happened but he brought you all back here." Diomede smiled, "That's why your wife was so keen on us talking with you?" Mr. Walters nodded, "Yes but I would be willing to help y'all if you help us in return." Diomede turned to Kira, waiting to see how she felt about it. Kira peered into Mr. Walters, she could sense that he didn't hold any hatred from them or murderous intent. Only the worry for his town and caution gripped his core. "He is concerned about us but doesn't hold any malice intent toward us." Kira said. "So you are going to forget about what happened earlier?" Asked Clayton. Mr. Walters turned to the young knight, "No we won't but if whatever your enemy is, then it would be best if you leave immediately." Clayton broke eye contact and turned away from the others, his mind filled with worry and doubt, he felt a hand grab at his arm in comfort. It was Francisco, as the two shared a look of gratitude, Francisco gave Clayton a wink. "You make a fair point my good man, we will be willing to help you in any way so that we may leave this place with utmost heist!" Francisco sprung to life with energy and made his way to the front of the group. Mayor Jolly turned with shook at the loud voice of the Nesfundur. Diomede rolled his eyes with annoyance and let out a large sigh. Kira's face swelled with a smile at the returned Nesfundur Bard. "Now what is it you require of us?" Francisco shouted as he placed his hands on his hips. Mr. Walters truned and met the Mayor's gaze, "Ok, we need you to ensure our shipment makes it to the Kinga." Clayton's attention was quickly captured at the name of his village. Diomede slowly nodded, "what's the shipment and wwhy do you need strangers to protect it?" Diomede asked in a blunt tone. Mr. Walters shuffled in place, "Our shipment is Slumbergus and the Snakes of The Field have been attacking our shipments." Clayton was shocked by the information, Kira felt the discomort and turned to Clayton. He replied with a look that said "later". Diomede extented his hand "That seems easy enough, any pament involed?" The Mayor began coughing loudly on his drink at the suggestion of payment. Mr.Walters met Diomede's hand and the pair firmly gripped each other and shook. "Your free travel and supplies will be payment enough for the insadent you caused today." Diomede smiled, "Fair enough." Mr. Walters pulled out a piece of paper and began writing upon it. "We will begin preparing the wagon, the horses we have won't get you to kinga but when you reach Haststad ask for a man named Marco, if for what ever reason you can't find him ask for his son Jacob he will give you two Brutusons to get you to Kinga." Mr. Walters turned and handed Diomede the paper folded in on itself. Diomede Nodded in aggreement and tucked the paper, "Fair enough, what information about the Snakes do you have?" "They attack at night and live up to their brutal reputaion, the bastards have killed some folks that were very important to those here." Mr. Walters stated as he looked to the Mayor who had now began stairing into his glass. Kira felt the sad emotions that under the surface of the mayor's blank stair, was a tidle wave of both grief and loss. Diomede only replied with "Understood." The group exited the office and began walking down the walk way they were first lead across. Mr. Walters stood in the door way and watched as the group continued on their way out. "Do you think it was a good idea to invole them in our buisness?" asked the Mayor. Silence sat in the air as Mr. Walters didn't respond, only pondered on the choice he just made.