Chapter VII in an ongoing
Saga
As Jon surveys his new surroundings, he notices several things. First, this
isn't Central Park. Second, there is something in the woods around him. Jon
shrugs off the first, thinking it is just a forest somewhere. As he thinks that, the
second fact is shrugged off as well. Jon finds a rather secluded part of the glade,
and starts to dig a hole, using a combination of psionic digging, and physical.
When a sufficiently deep hole has been dug, Jon psionically sets the bodies in, and
covers it up. Jon drives a simple cross into the ground, and then walks to a gnarled
tree. He turns toward the rising sun, and walks fifteen paces. Jon again digs a
hole, this time slightly deeper. He then sets the box containing the diamond down
in the hole, covering it up. The case of money has been placed in Jon's pack. Jon
turns, and noticing an almost hidden path, starts down it, away from the rising
sun. Jon advances cautiously, well aware of the dangers. Jon walks for almost an
hour, and comes across a crossroads. Jon starts across, just as a figure in jet-black
armor rides through on a jet-black horse.
~~What the?! Watch where yer going, lousy......~~ Jon psionically yells.
The armor clad figure turns his horse, and rides back to Jon. The figure
draws a rather long, elegantly carved longsword, and holds it at Jon's 'throat'.
"Did ye speak to me, a knight, in an unrespectful tone, whelp?"
~~What about it?~~ Jon says as he pushes the blade away.
"Well, that is cause enough for me to kill ye, serf."
~~Serf? Serf! Call me a serf, ye tin can!~~ Jon exclaims, and his
psychedelic aura springs to view. The knight's horse backs away, startled, near
gallop. The knight falls from his horse, and lands with a crash. The knight stands,
and picks up the longsword.
"Ye have harmed me, serf, and caused me to lose my horse. Bow down and
receive your punishment." he says, and lifts the sword up.
~~Sure, right, uh-huh, what-ever.~~ Jon says, and he points at the night.
Instantly, his armor begins to super-heat, melting, and burning the knight.
"AHHH!!!! What source of sorcery is this??" the knight says, dropping the
longsword and running.
~~Nope, wrong answer.~~ Jon says, and the knight lifts off the ground.
"AHHHHH!!!!"
~~Now, please tell me why you called me a serf, why you are dressing like a
soup can, and where am I?~~ Jon says, as the knight floats above the ground.
"Wha? Put me down!! You can't do this!!! You are a serf!!!"
~~Answer the last two questions.~~
"I'm dressing in armor, because I'm a Dark Knight. And this is the year of
the Lord, twelve hundred and forty-three." the knight answers, and falls to the
ground.
~~Now, leave. Ferget you saw me.~~ Jon says, and picks up the longsword.
"But, my sword."
~~I said, LEAVE!~~ Jon says, and his aura flares violently.
The knight hightails it out of the area, towards the west. Jon inspects the
sword, closely. It is made of some kind of black metal, and razor sharp. It has an
elegant hilt, with rubies imbedded in it.
~~Nice find.~~ Jon says to himself, and he places the sword into his pack.
He starts back down the path, toward what seems to be lights of a city. He walks
almost all day, and as night falls, he comes across a forest, and a small building,
maybe a tavern or inn. Jon contemplates the situation, and decides to stop.
~~It'll probably be smarter than wandering through a strange forest.~~
Jon walks up to the doors, and opens them, slightly. He sees several knights
dressed in the same type of armor, and a few men dressed in simple clothes.
Women dressed in simple dresses are serving the men. Jon enters, slowly, and
catches the eye of one of the women.
"G'eve, m'lord." she says.
~~Huh, ow, yes. G`eve.~~
"Ye seem lost, sir. Would ye like a drink?" she says, and points to a vacant
table. Jon sits down at the table, and nods.
~~What do you suggest?~~
"What do I suggest?" she says, and giggles slightly. "Ale, ale, and more ale,
m'lord. Want a tankard?"
~~Yes, it will `ave to do.~~ He says, and surveys the tavern as she brings his
drink. He watches the men, drinking, laughing, having a general good time. As
the woman brings his drink, he asks her some questions.
~~What would your name be, miss? And the name of this place?~~ Jon
says, and makes a sweeping gesture, encompassing the bar at the side, and the
entire place.
"My name be not important. Jus' call me woman. And this is the Inn of The
Weary Traveler."
~~Ah, an Inn. Can I rent a room for the night?~~
"Yes, of course. Jus' speak to him, m'lord, and he'll get you a room right
away." she points to a man drinking it up across the room, wearing a colorful shirt,
and a patch with a bed on it.
~~Thank ye.~~ Jon says, and picks up his tankard, walking to the man.
~~Sir?~~
"Yes?" the man asks.
~~One of the women told me to talk to you to get a room. Would that be
correct?~~
"Yes, yes. Please, call me Lord of the Inn, or just Lord." the man answers.
~~Okay, lord. `Ow much is a room for the night?~~
"A room costs 20 pieces of gold." Lord answers.
~~Do you accept this?~~ Jon asks, and holds out a dollar. The lord takes it,
and tests its strength. Of course, it rips.
"Hah! What is this? Paper? I do not accept paper, foolish young man. I
need gold coins. Come back when ye have real money."
Jon turns, and walks back to his table.
~~Where am I gonna get gold coins?~~ he thinks aloud.
"In need of gold, young one?" a knight asks, walking over.
~~Yes, good sir. Yes I am.~~
"Well, I am in need of a companion, to help me overcome the goblin hordes
in the forest near us. Would ye be interested?"
~~Yes, I would. It sounds easy enough. When do I start `elping ye?~~
"Tomorrow, young man, tomorrow. No one in his right mind enters the
woods at night, when the goblins are out and about. You can sleep in my room,
and then we start, at sun-up tomorrow."
~~Well, I will need to sleep. Which is your room, sir, so I may start on my
sleep?~~
"Ah, young man. I don't even know ye name."
~~Jon. Jon Starsmore. And ye would be?~~
"I am Sir Gilfreid. `Tis apleasure to meet ye, Jon of Starsmore. My room is
the one with a dragon on the door. `Tis my crest." he says, and holds out his arm.
On it is a red and gold armband, with a dragon posed to leap into flight
embroidered on it.
~~Well then, Sir Gilfreid. I shall see ye in the morn, to kill some goblins.~~
"As we shall, Jon of Starsmore. G'night, then!"
~~G'night!~~ Jon says as he walks up the stairs. He passes several doors,
all with a different crest on it. On one door is a snake, poised to strike. It catches Jon's
attention. He pulls out the black longsword, and looks at the hilt. An identical
snake is carved into the hilt.
~~Oops. Looks like Sir Tin-can slept `ere, too. Guess I'll `ave to find
another sword.~~
Jon checks the doors, and several are opened. He checks the rooms, but all
have elaborate swords, definately noticable if stolen. Jon checks the last door
before his, and it is open. There are several swords inside, a few that are
unmarked, and steal-able.
~~As much as I `ate to, I need to.~~ Jon says as he grabs the nearest
unmarked sword. Jon then shuts the door, ever-so-quietly. He then walks down to
his room, and opens the door. Inside, there is a spacious bed, and underneath, a
simple cot. Jon pulls the cot out from under the bed, and sits down on it. He looks
through his pack, checking the battery energy, his handgun, and placing the black
sword under the cot. Jon then pulls a blanket over himself, and falls into a restful
sleep.
(
geocities.com/timessquare)