Chapter 16 - Disagreement

 Music Inspiration

Chapter 16

Disagreement

Danny reacted immediately. He grabbed a knife that stuck into a roast and threw it at Duke.

Duke dodged very narrowly while the knife drilled into the noble wooden door.

"I knew you were still alive, you murderer!" Danny shouted during the throw.

Marianne reacted next. She grabbed one of the plates and threw it at Danny.

Cecile caught the plate and threw it back. 

Sedalia pushed Marianne out of the way and the plate shattered against the wall behind them.

Dexter looked stunned at everyone involved, who seemed to have lost their minds.

Danny got on a chair with one foot in a flash, pushed himself off and jumped over the table.

He narrowly missed Duke with the other foot, who backed away and tried to classify Danny.

How did Danny know him? 

Marianne slipped elegantly under the table when Danny jumped over it and pulled the surprised Cecile's feet away.

She fell to the ground, cursing, while Marianne jumped up and was pushed to the ground directly by Dexter.

"Have you all gone crazy?" he cried, pointing to Marianne. "STAY DOWN!"

Sedalia tried to grasp the situation.

Of the three, Dexter is the most dangerous.

He had to be eliminated first.

Oh, the Inquisitor wouldn't like that at all. Behind her backs, her hands began to glow and began to charge.

In the meantime, Danny had grabbed a sword from a gun decoration on the wall and attacked Duke with it.

Marianne's hand grasped a drinking cup that had fallen from the table during the scuffle and threw it.

Danny cried out.

The chalice had caught him on the head.

"Danny!" cried Cecile.

"As sorry as I am." Dexter caught Marianne with a well-aimed punch in the head and sent her to the land of dreams.

She had just proven how dangerous an Aranasera is, even on the ground.

Duke pushed Danny to the ground. "Come to rest, boy!"

Sedalia's hands were fully charged.

But before she could use her magic against Dexter, a hand clasped hers and someone shouted, "ENOUGH!!"

Surprised, everyone looked up in the direction of Sedalia.

Behind her stood a man in old Victorian clothing and looked at everyone reproachfully.

"Is that how hospitality is reciprocated?" he asked in a hard voice.

"We didn't start, but the boy here." Duke backed away from Danny so that he could stand up.

Sedalia's hands stopped glowing and the man let go of them. 

She ran to Marianne.

"You knocked out a woman, Inquisitor. Barbarian!" She reached into her pocket and took out a small ampoule.

Smelling Salts. 

She held it under Marianne's nose, who woke up very quickly.

"What happened?" she stammered dazed.

"I'm not a barbarian. It was self-defense! She is an aranasera. Apart from that, I tried to bring peace here," Dexter said angrily.

"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I have invited you all to dinner. Everyone is free to go out here and yes into the storm! My house, my rules!"

The man walked slowly around everyone to the head of the table and sat down.

Danny pulled the knife out of the wall and put it on the table, put the sword back in the decoration and sat down.

Duke picked up the shards of the plate and the drinking cup, put it on the table and sat down as well.

Sedalia helped the dazed Marianne around the table and they both sat down next to Duke.

Dexter helped Cecile up and they both sat down as well.

All 3 sat opposite each other and at the end of the table the stranger.

He clapped his hands.

"Then enjoy it, my guests. Who knows when you'll ever eat so well again."

He smiled...

Chapter 15 - The old Manor House

 Music Inspiration

Chapter 15

The old Manor House

It was slowly getting dark and not only that.

A storm was approaching. 

Sedalia looked up at the sky.

The wyvern hovered above them at a great distance and began to descend.

Sedalia brought the carriage to a halt while the wyvern landed behind some trees.

Shortly afterwards Lysander stepped out from among the trees.

Sedalia looked at him questioningly.

Lysander looked up at the sky and then at Sedalia.

"This is not a normal storm. Take the path through the Silver Forest and stay on the path. Maybe there is a tavern on the way.

If so, then spend the night there. I'm trying to find the cause and will soon open up again."

Sedalia nodded and kissed his forehead. Then she set the carriage in motion again.

Lysander looked after them. Then he transformed into the Wyvern and flys above.

The conversation was short and sweet, so that no one in the carriage had aroused suspicion.

Sedalia steered the carriage into the Silver Forest and followed the path.

It started to rain and it got windier.

The storm began. In the shelter of the trees, the carriage did not get so much.

Sedalia shivered, but concentrated on the path as it slowly grew darker.

Suddenly it became pitch black in front of the carriage from one second to another.

Sedalia could not react in time and the carriage drove into the darkness.

After a few seconds, it got brighter again. The carriage was on a path, but it was a little different.

The carriage drove towards a large house in the middle of the forest. An old manor house.

Sedalia was completely confused.

They were still in the deep forest, but she had never heard of an old mansion in the middle of the Silver Forest.

The rain became heavier and heavier.

Sedalia brought the carriage to a halt in front of the house and got off the box.

She walked around and opened the carriage at the back.

Marianne, Duke and Ascendary looked at her questioningly.

"We booked a place to stay for the night... I hope. Come out," Sedalia said.

Marianne and Duke jumped out of the carriage and helped Ascendary.

Sedalia closed the carriage and pointed to the door.

"I take care of the horses. I see a stable over there. See if someone opens the door." Sedalia went to the horses.

Marianne went to the door. while Duke sent Ascendary to the stable at Sedalia. That was certainly better than in the house.

Ascendary followed Sedalia.

Marianne grabbed the ring at the door and knocked hard with it.

Inside footsteps could be heard.

The door opened and an older man in a suit looked at Marianne.

"You wish?" he asked.

"A place to stay for the night?" Marianne looked at the man uncertainly.

"If you have to ask like that, you don't seem to be sure yourself, young lady." The man looked at Marianne ruly.

"What?" Marianne was confused.

"Yes, we're looking for a place to stay for the night," Duke said quickly.

"Well, I can offer you rooms, gentlemen," the man confirmed.

Marianne shrugged her shoulders and nodded.

Sedalia joined again.

"Good evening, dear sir. I have taken the liberty of putting our horses in your stable. To protect against the storm."

The man nodded. "That's okay. Follow me."

Duke, Marianne and Sedalia entered and closed the door.

He led them up the stairs and assigned them 2 rooms.

One for Marianne and Sedalia and one for Duke.

He told them to freshen up and change clothes with what was hanging in the closets in the room.

On loan, of course, and asks all three to appear in the vestibule again in half an hour.

They did as they were told, and freshened up, and changed their clothes, and went down the stairs together.

There the butler was waiting.

"Very nice," he said. "Dinner is served. I'm sure you'll be hungry."

Everyone nodded.

The butler pointed to a door.

Marianne nodded and opened it.

They entered the room. It was a large dinner room with a richly laid table.

Marianne, Duke and Sedalia derailed their faces when the three people at the table saw that they were also surprised.

Danny, Cecile and Dexter!!

Chapter 14 - Sedalia von Crystalburgh

 Music Inspiration

Chapter 14

 Sedalia von Crystalburgh

Several men dressed in robes stood in front of the stopped carriage.

The Inquisition of the Empire.

"Where do you want to go and what is your cargo?" one of the men shouted.

In the carriage, Duke grasped his sword, ready to use it.

"I am on the road on behalf of the librarian of the realm, Master Lysander. New books for the royal library are my cargo," Sedalia said calmly.

"Don't you recognize her, you fool," said another Inquisitor. "This is Sedalia Von Crystalburgh."

"Lady Von Crystalburgh, please forgive me for my ignorance." The Inquisitor bowed and took a step back.

Sedalia nodded to him as the Inquisition made way.

She set the carriage in motion again and passed the order.

Then we continued in the direction of the capital.

Sedalia's face was serious.

Her thoughts went back to the past.

To a time when there was no respect.

A time when they ... was a thief.

YEARS AGO

Sedalia was breathing heavily. 

She had barely escaped the city guard.

Exhausted, she looked at her prey.

An apple.

Sedalia lived in the alleys of the city since birth and was left to fend for herself after the death of her mother.

Her father had died in the war before Sedalia was born, and then her mother had lost everything and ended up pregnant on the streets.

Sedalia bit into the apple hungrily. She hadn't had anything to eat for days.

"Have we finally found you?" someone said.

Sedalia jumped up and found herself surrounded by 4 men.

She had become inattentive from hunger and now they had her.

"A place awaits you in the deepest dungeon of the city," laughed a guard and pointed at her with the halberd. 

"No!" Sedalia shouted, trying to find a way out between the guards, but one of the guards pushed her hard against the wall with his halberd.

"Why put ther in the dungeon, it's full enough. Let's free her from her misery and us from a problem," shouted the fourth guard.

Sedalia was frightened.

At that moment, a hand grabbed the fourth guard's head from behind and slammed it against the wall.

Unconscious, he sank to the ground.

The other guards swung around, ready to fight, but they stopped when they saw who was standing in front of them.

"4 guards against a petty thief. How proud you must be of yourselves," said the newcomer.

In disbelief, the first guard looked at the hand, the hand that had beaten the 4th Guardian unconsciously, and then at the owner of the hand.

"How.. Do you have? I mean... you are not a fighter, but a...."

"Librarian?" the man added. "Indeed. Now get out of here, I'll take care of her. Or must I first tell the king about you?" 

"No, no." The guards hurriedly left and took the unconscious man away.

Sedalia looked at the stranger in fear, she pressed herself against the wall. Pain in her leg prevented her from running away.

The man crouched down in front of her and stretched out his hand. The clenched fist opened and a pear appeared.

Pears were very rare in this part of the world. Sedalia looked at the pear with wide eyes.

"Enjoy it. My name is Lysander." A smile flitted across his face.

"Thank you..." Sedalia hesitated at first and then she took the pear and took a hearty bite.

"Don't be frightened. I've been watching you for a little while," Lysander said.

"Me? But why?" Sedalia enjoyed the pear.

"Because I think you're very smart and helpful. I would need a right hand and I think you are the right one." He held out his hand.

Sedalia hesitated, but then she took his hand.

And so a special relationship began.

NOW

Sedalia spurred on the horses.

She looked up at the sky and she felt the wyvern above them.

Invisible, but protective.

Only 2 more days, then they will reach the capital.

Chapter 13 - Escape forward

 Music Inspiration

Chapter 13

Escape forward

The big carriage literally raced through the landscape.

Marianne stroked Ascendary's feathers.

Her thoughts went back to the past.

She thought of Athena, of the Aranasera and then of her mission.

The document.

"Why is the document so important? The incident happened so many years ago. Why all this?"

Marianne looks at Duke.

"The Denerias incident was the worst thing this empire has ever experienced. As you know, I read the document in contrast to you. It puts the whole incident in a completely new light. Since I and Ascendary are directly affected, it is very important to me that the document achieves its goal," Duke explained.

Ascendary enjoyed Marianne's caressing.

"I'd be interested in what happened back then," Marianne said thoughtfully.

"There are a wide variety of versions of the incident. The document is authentic and therefore it has to reach its destination."

Duke sharpens his sword.

A jolt went through the carriage as it rolled over stones.

Explosions could be heard in the distance.

The carriage came to a standstill.

Marianne and Duke opened the door and stepped out of the carriage.

Sedalia had left the coachman's box and stepped next to both of them.

"What was that?" Marianne asked as more explosions could be heard in the distance.

"It sounds like a fight between 2 airships. Before the explosions, you can hear the firing of cannons," Sedalia explained.

"One might be the INQUEST, but which is the other ship?" Duke wondered.

"Definitely a big one, the INQUEST is the pride of the Inquisition." Sedalia looked into the distance.

Suddenly, there was a huge explosion and you could see smoke rising in the distance. Also a shadow over it.

"What ... Was that?" Marianne was shocked.

"Ammunition room," Duke said.

Sedalia nodded. "We should move on quickly. No matter who won."

Duke and Marianne got back in and Sedalia got back on the Coachman´s Box.

The carriage started moving again.

"Something tells me that the INQUEST has lost," Duke speculated.

"Why?" Marianne asked.

"The shadow over the smoke, it was significantly larger than the INQUEST. I'm sure it was the WYVERN." Duke sharpened his sword further.

"Then they will hunt me down. Like the LUFTREITER," Marianne said worriedly.

"The air rider was huge, easy to find. We, on the other hand, are small and fast. She won't find us," Duke tried to calm her down.

"And if it does?" asked Marianne.

"Then we might have a guardian angel. Just like last time." Duke sounded convincing.

Marianne nodded.

The carriage raced on.

After a few hours, she slowed down and stopped.

"Stop! In the name of the Inquisition!" shouted someone outside.

"Not good," Duke said, grasping his sword.

   

Chapter 12 - Confrontation

 Music Inspiration

Chapter 12

Confrontation

Dexter Demerodt stood before the INQUEST. 

The ship had been provisionally repaired and was ready to fly again.

Danny and Cecile were standing beside him.

Dexter turned to Danny.

"You're sure? A griffin?"

Danny nodded. "Yes. It's a gryphon feather and the gryphon is injured, the blood shows that."

Dexter turned back to the ship.

"How is that possible?"

Cecile looked at Dexter.

"Why is that so important?"

Dexter turned to her.

"You are young. Have you ever heard of the Denerias incident?"

Cecile shook her head.

"Not much. My father told me about it. It was the day when the Griffin Guard and all the Griffins fell into disgrace."

Dexter lowered his head.

"That's right. I was there."

Danny looked at Dexter in surprise.

"You were there? What do you mean by that?"

Dexter raised his head.

"I am one of the few survivors of the Denerias incident."

Danny stared at Dexter.

"What? What happened back then?"

Dexter took a step back and looked at both of them.

"Well, I'll tell you....."

A loud bang sounded.

Something exploded on the INQUEST.

All three turned around.

There was another airship in the sky. It was very large and had 7 masts.

"Oh God. It's the WYVERN, they really exist," Dexter stammers.

At that moment, the WYVERN fired another broadside at the INQUEST. 

Explosions shook the ship of the Inquisition and one of the masts bent over like a matchstick.

On the ground, the INQUEST was a pure target and one thing seemed certain now.

She would never rise again.

"Away!" shouted Danny, tearing Dexter and Cecile to the ground.

Another salvo hit the INQUEST and hit the ammunition depot.

A moment of silence, then the INQUEST exploded.

The debris flew far through the air and hit all over the landscape.

Then it became quiet.

The turrets of the WYVERN were retracted.

The ship regained altitude and flew away slowly.

Danny helped Cecile to her feet, which she gave a grateful look.

Dexter stood up and clenched his fists.

So many deaths!

So pointless.