choose your own adventure, episode 11a
KNIGHT SWORD, EPISODE 11A
You turn and race away into the darkened tunnels, a lantern in one hand, the sheathed soulblade in the other. Caius and Mourner continued to shout at each other. You wonder how long it will take them to notice your absence.
However, as you wander through the tunnels of black stone, you quickly realize that staying with the arguing men might have been a better idea. You’re lost, and you’re not sure how to get out of the ancient tunnels. You’re not even sure how to get back to the portion of the tunnels below the Ghost Board Inn.
You stop for a moment in a round chamber of black stone, the walls carved with scenes of Dark Elves slaying and torturing humans. You sit below a statue of a Dark Elven warrior, hoping to take a moment to think. But you’re utterly exhausted, and your mind too clouded with grief and fear
Your father is dead, slain at the hands of Ulmoch. The Raven’s orcish soldiers are hunting you. Even if you do get out of Moridun and to Curtwall’s farm, you’ll still be an outlaw, and the Ravens and their soldiers will keep hunting you. The rebels might help you…but from what you’ve seen of Mourner, the rebels might care more about getting their hands on the soulblade than keeping you alive.
Even Caius, who you’ve known for years…he seems to care more about the soulblade than keeping you alive.
Torchlight flares in the archway across the chamber. You scramble to your feet, soulblade in one hand, lantern in the other, but it’s too late. A man steps into the chamber, scowling…but relief, overwhelming relief, passes his face when he sees you.
It’s Dietrich, your betrothed.
He rushes across the room and catches you in a hug.
“You’re alive, thank the High God,” he says. Dietrich’s a foot taller than you, and built like an ox, thanks to hours at his father’s forge. “I’m sorry about what my father did.”
“Your father?” you say, blinking in confusion. His father Donald is Moridun’s most prosperous smith.
Dietrich scowls. “He changed his mind about our betrothal. So he wrote an anonymous letter to the Count, saying your father was a rebel, had a soulblade hidden in his house.”
“Dietrich,” you saying, fearing his reaction. “My father did have a soulblade.”
You hold up the soulblade.
Dietrich blinks several times.
“Oh,” he says at last. You fear that he will run away, or overpower you and take you to Ulmoch and Vlacht, but he only nods.
“You’re…not going to turn me in?” you say.
Dietrich seems flabbergasted. “Why would I do that? I love you. And that’s the sort of low trick my father would pull. I’ve been doing all the work at the forge for years, but he takes all the credit.”
You are so relieved that it’s all you can do not to fall against him, sobbing.
“We should hide the sword down here,” says Dietrich, “and then tell the Raven that we never saw it.”
“Um. No,” you say. Dietrich has a good heart, and he is utterly fearless, but he is not all that bright. “The Raven and his orcs are looking for me. They know I have the sword.”
“Oh,” says Dietrich. “What should we do, then?”
“My father told me to take the sword to Curtwall,” you say.
“Curtwall?” says Dietrich. “He’s a good sort. For a wizard. Always pays his bills on time. Come first light, we’ll go through the gates and to his farm.”
“We can’t,” you say. “The orcs are guarding the gate.”
Dietrich grunts. “We can use the tunnels to get out of the town. My father sometimes smuggles finished items through the old tunnels, so he doesn’t have to pay taxes on them.” He scratches his chin. “That’s why I’m done here. Father heard you escaped to the Ghost Boar Inn, and rounded up some thugs to capture you. I came along, hoping I could find you before they did.”
“But that means,” you say, “that Donald is guarding the tunnel out of the town. In case I find it.”
Dietrich nods. “Aye.”
“Give me a minute to think,” you say.
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