Philadelphia

Fulcher fiddled with the onyx ring still stuck to his finger as the carriage continued across the country roads. He had joined Vardia on the coachman’s seat, giving the girls the inside of the carriage to rest with Arrow. Letting out a sigh Fulcher glanced sideways at Vardia, deciding to try and pull some information from him while he had the chance.

“Hey Vardia, I’ve been kept quite sheltered growing up. Can you tell me about the area we’re traveling through? This is the furthest I’ve been from the castle,” Fulcher said. Vardia nodded as he began to explain.

“Certainly Sir! We’re traveling south from your home through the bottom portion of the Midlands. Your father’s claim extends to the land owned by Lord Corvidrop, who is the southernmost noble under his rule,” Vardia explained. He motioned to the woods surrounding the path they rode on. “This is likely the safest stretch of land in the whole kingdom! No enemy borders, and no roaming monsters since your father greeted the Hunting League.”

“Hunting League?” Fulcher asked. “Remind me, which group was that? Father has so many, you know…”

“Ah! Certainly. You know the Huntmaster? I believe he was at the last advisor meeting you attended with your father,” Vardia said.

Fulcher thought back to his time at the keep. He remembered the meeting of advisors he had witnessed, and the mysterious man with a quiver by his side.

“Yeah,” Fulcher said, nodding along. “Father mentioned he was in charge of some war in the East?”

“Precisely!” Vardia exclaimed. “After decades, the adventurers and champions that purged our land of beasts grew restless. Your father sent them on a mission to conquer the kingdoms of the Ever-Frozen to sate their need for gold and plunder. Rumor has it he sent them to die, but they managed to claim the North in Dilyniant’s name! So now, he sends them to the East. It’s a final test to see if he can diminish the army and rely on paid adventurers and mercenaries instead.” Fulcher grimaced at the thought of further warfare for such a reason.

“You mentioned beasts, were there magical beasts around here before the Hunting League was formed?” Fulcher asked. Vardia nodded, his visor rattling.

“Exactly. The adventurers purged the land of many things, getting rid of magical beasts, fae and fairy, and any remnant demonkin. Even larger non-magical animals were up for targeting. Anything to earn favor and reputation with the League.” Vardia explained. Fulcher sat in silence for a moment as he peered into the empty woods.

“Vardia, why does Father hate magic so much?” Fulcher asked. Vardia now remained silent for a time, uncharacteristic for the young Custodi.

“If you’ll forgive me for saying, Sir… I believe magic is what took the good Queen. Your mother,” Vardia said softly. Fulcher nodded in understanding before suddenly grabbing his chest, an intense ache forming over his heart.

What is this? It’s like my body is responding to hearing about Fulcher’s mom… this pain, it’s so strong…He gasped softly a few times to settle his increasing heartrate.

“Sir? Are you well?” Vardia asked, nervousness creeping into his voice.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Fulcher assured, leaning forward with his hands on his knees as he breathed slowly. “Think I was just remembering something.”

“Of course, Sir,” Vardia said. They rode in silence for a time as the sun crept higher into the sky, sneaking rays of light along the path through the canopy of the surrounding woods. Their uncomfortable peace was eventually interrupted by a low hum behind them. Fulcher stood as best as he could with the wobbling of the stagecoach, peering over the top at the growing dust cloud far behind them. As he squinted his eyes he made out the shapes of horsemen charging down the road at then, each with a tabard matching the iconography of Dilyniant’s keep.

“Soldiers! Faster Vardia!” Fulcher shouted. Vardia cracked the reins, the four horses pulling the carriage shifting their canter into a gallop. The carriage rocked and groaned against the unsteady forest path.

“How did they find us?” Fulcher asked.

“With the League conducting the war with the East, the military is free to send more troops to domestic fronts! Your father likely sent out cavalry to catch us!” Vardia responded.

“They’re going to catch us,” Fulcher realized. He began to carefully climb along the side of the carriage, throwing the door open and climbing inside. Schon and Stella had woken up from the bumpy ride, the former peering out the window as the latter curled up alongside Arrow in the corner.

“What’s happening?” Schon asked unsteadily.

“Cavalry, they found us!” Fulcher said, pointing out the window at the passing trees. “We’ve got to bail and run into the woods.”

“What? That’s a terrible idea!” Schon said, grabbing the side of the cart to stand.“The horses won’t be able to follow us!” Fulcher tried to explain.

“Horses can run into the woods, Fulcher!” She yelled before spying the ring on his hand. She grabbed his wrist, inspecting it quickly. “Since when did you have a ringcaster?”

“A what? Schon, this really isn’t the time,” Fulcher said, patting Arrow to get him off the seat and ready to leave. Schon rolled her eyes.

“Uhg! You don’t even know how to use it do you?” Schon said, tugging Fulcher to the door of the coach.

“Use it? What- whoa! Schon!” Fulcher stumbled into her as she kicked the door of the coach open. A passing branch struck the door, shattering it off the hinges of the coach and scattering the fragments along the road. Schon grabbed an inside handle to keep herself from falling out, tugging Fulcher’s arm awkwardly out the busted door. She aimed his hand backwards at the approaching knights.

“Make a fist!” she commanded. Fulcher did as she said, making a fist as he struggled to remain inside the carriage.

“Abyssal black!” Schon yelled.

No sooner had the words left her lips than darkness itself surged from the ring on Fulcher’s hand, engulfing the approaching cavalry in blackened night. Schon aimed his hand left to right, using the darkness as a painter would cover a canvas to blanket the entire road and roadside woods in entropic black. Schon let go as they gained distance, pushing past a curious Arrow to sit back in the carriage. Fulcher remained leaning out of the broken door, watching the darkened blob left on the road grow smaller as they fled. The confused shouts and disobedient brays of the cavalry and their mounts were the only reminder that they were once a threat. For now it seemed they were safe from capture.