So, this is a story that I've been working on for a while now. I submitted it as my uni application and have been accepted into several universitys for it, which hopefully means its good. Feel free to have a read. It's fantasy, which is my most favourite genre. Sorry it's long, but it's a proper story I have been working on for quite some time now. I have more shapters to post if you guys like it. Enjoy.
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Chapter 1: The hooded figures.
Max flung open the wooden door of his rented room. It was very traditional, and it was his home. The bed in the far corner looked comforting and inviting but the feelings of tiredness and hunger played around inside him and he couldn’t determine which one of them was more important at that moment in time.
He decided sleep could wait, as the dinner menu in the inn was only available for a little while longer. He took off his travel pack and placed it on the bed, then made his way for the bathroom. He entered, and filled the basin with water and washes the fresh dirt of his face. Underneath the dirt was a handsome young man with beautiful diamond blue eyes. He took of his leather cap, revealing golden brown hair that was mid length. He removed his armour and travel cloak, and filled up a bigger basin to wash his armour and sword.
Max was an Underhand, which meant that people gave him jobs to do and he did his best to complete them. So far, he had only failed one job, and didn’t talk about it. His friends, Jake, was convinced that it was personal as well as business, so never asked about it. Max was hired in public and in privacy, but he didn’t mind wherever he was hired, as long as he was paid well.
He dried his armour and sword and placed them to one side. He went back to his room and opened the wardrobe. He put on some nice clothes and examined himself in the mirror. He was thin, and in good shape due to the missions we went on. Most of his job demanded him to be physically fit and usually involved him running from people and things, climbing and crawling. He worked out, but his jobs usually took care of this for him, so never prioritised training in spare time.
He finally decided he looked good enough, and he wasn’t trying to impress anyone. Running from the leader of a deadly, bloodthirsty gang of bandits was impressive enough, and that’s what he had been doing a few hours ago. He left his room, bolted the door and started down the staircase.
When he arrived in the inn, he sat down at his usual table and waited for someone to come over to serve him. He loved the atmosphere of this inn and it was one of his most beloved in the town. He liked the inn keeper, who was a personal friend, and he loved the girls, who all seemed to flaunt over him, but he wasn’t interested in getting with them, just enjoyed their company, which differed from being on a lonely road all day, trying to steal back already stolen goods.
“Max! My man! How are you?” Barren, the Innkeeper came up to his table. “What brings you back to my dull place I call an inn?”
Max looked puzzled. “Well, the fact I’ve been coming here for the past two years may be a good reason.” He replied as Barren grinned widely at him.
“I’ve never met such a boy like you. Your special, you know that Max… I’ve always known that you are…” Barren continued to smile broadly. Max would have acted more surprised at the comment that Barren made, but Barren frequently told Max that he was special, and the novelty had worn off.
“Thanks.” Max motioned toward the menu. “I’ll have my usual thanks.”
“No problem!” Barren said, clapping his hand on Max’s shoulder. “Oh, and, when you get the spare chance, I’ve been having a little rat problem down in the basement, if you sort it out for me, you wont have to pay your rent for another month.” He winked at Max. Max let out a laugh.
“Barren, if you remember rightly, I’m not paying my rent for another 2 years as I helped you when your inn was broken into and when you had the bird problem in the rafters.”
“Fine. But wont you find it in your heart to help out a poor blundering fool.” Barren put on a sad tone.
“When you put it that way, I can’t resist. Consider those rat’s as good as gone.” Max smiled.
“ That’s ma boy!!!” Barren beamed. “You can have an extra big meal!” He run off to the kitchen and Max laughed. Somehow he managed to get an extra big meal every night, even when he didn’t offer to help Barren. Max enjoyed knowing Barren for the pure fact that Barren treated him as a human being, not an expendable Underhand that you could use as and when you wished, which is what Max was, but he did have feelings after all, he was only human.
Max had turned up at Barren’s inn two years ago after his parents had disappeared and Barren had taken him in straight away and got the job of an underhand for him. At the time, Max didn’t know what was happening, but soon he learned to fend for himself, and he eventually didn’t need anyone but himself. But he still stuck around the inn, as he considered Barren as family. A family that didn’t abandon him.
After a few minutes of watching everyone in the inn, Max’s food came and he tucked in immediately. He hadn’t eaten since this morning, and the anxiety of getting caught in a bandit den can really famish you, Max thought. As he was eating, the inn girls decided to begin singing a song to entertain the visitors. They had beautiful voices, and were all beautiful girls, but they weren’t right for Max. Max liked the mysterious type, and a girl that wanted a relationship, not just a cute someone’s arm to hold.
He watched the girls, and joined in with most of the songs, as Barren kept the drinks coming. Max was seventeen, and Barren let him have the odd ale or two until he made sure no alcohol reached Max’s lips. This again, Max enjoyed as he knew that he had someone their looking out for him.
Just as the girls finished a song, and everyone broke into applause, the inn doors opened and two cloaked figures walked in. Max happened to look up at them and watch as they moved suspiciously across the inn room and sat at a table in a corner. Naturally, this wouldn’t have bothered Max, for many people entered the inn every day, but for some reason, these two looked more suspicious then usual, and Max had met suspicious. They both leaned in and talked in quite voices. Max had to know what they were talking about. He got up and weaved in and out of people before coming to a seat and sinking into it right next to their table. He had his back to them and listened carefully.
“…not possible to do so. We must reach it soon. We’ve been travelling for days, village upon village and no boat. If this one doesn’t have a boat, I’ll personally scream.” The once closest to him said. She was a female, and sounded incredibly tired. She continued talking. “I’m going to find us a room, we can rest the night and continue looking for a boat in the morning. Once we get the boat we head west. If we continue any further south we’ll be too far off course.” She got up and left the table. Max immediately knew they were completely new to the area as the land to the south was inhabited by gangs and clans which two people alone would never survive for and longer then an hour in. Max slyly turned to one side, and acted as if watching the inn. The other figure had removed the hood. She was also a girl. Max gawped. She was stunningly pretty and Max couldn’t help but stare. She had long blonde hair that stopped near her waste and was green eyes that looked completely covered in mystery. Her skin was tanned, as if she spent all her time in the sun.
Max suddenly realised that she was looking right at him. He closed his mouth and went to turn around.
“Can I help you?” She asked politely. Her voice was melodious and Max felt it enter his ear and dance through his body.
“Erm… no. Well, yes. But no… erm… sorry…” He felt himself go red as he muttered and stammered. The girl giggled.
“It’s ok. My names Fathyn, but people call me Fae.” She looked into his gaze. “And you are…?”
“Oh, erm, I’m Maximillian.” Then gasped. He hated his full name and couldn’t believe he just told the girl. “But people call me Max, because I hate my full name, and I wished I wasn’t called it because it sounds ridiculous and I don’t think it’s very professional after all-” but Fae cut in.
“It’s fine. Max is a nice name. It’s nice to meet you.” She smiled at Max, who had started to sweat. “Don’t be nervous.” She assured him.
“O…ok…” Max stuttered and Fae giggled again. “So… what bring you here to Haworth?” Max asked, trying desperately to act normal.
“Me and my sister have been travelling the continent, it’s been fun, and we are stopping here for the night and continuing in the morning.” Fae explained.
“Are you heading south?” Max asked. Fae pulled a puzzled look.
“How did you know that?” She asked.
“Oh! Erm…” Max kicked himself. He wasn’t meant to be listening in. “I just overheard you, that’s all.”
“Oh… well, yes we plan to head south if we can’t find what we need in this village.” She continued. “We need a boat to head across the western seas and dock in the Lavyn continent somewhere.”
“Where?” Max asked. He had never heard of Lavyn before.
“Lavyn. It lies on the west side of the Iteka continent. East of this lies the Eastern Expanse, or Eastern Iteka. But that’s over the mountain range, and only experience travellers and hikers have ever made it across the large expanse. We don’t know what lies on the other side as the hikers that do come over usually continue over the sea to Lavyn, or rest and go back. It is said only as few as ten people have made it across. Others die during the journey; therefore no maps have been brought over. All maps in this area show either only the Iteka continent, whereas other maps have the very slight eastern edge of Lavyn mapped on it. There is a town called Fethmur located just on the edge of Lavyn. That is where we are headed.” She finished with a smile. Max looked at her.
“You know a lot of geography.” He said. “So… why are you-” but for the second time of the evening he was cut out, but not by Fae this time. The other hooded figure who had entered with Fae had returned and had been standing behind Max for a while now.
“That is none of your concern.” Max turned in his seat and jumped up. Her hood was down and she was quite tall, with auburn hair and dark brown eyes that were staring at him through tiny slits. Max had never felt more uncomfortable in his life. He silently moved aside so the woman could pass. She strode passed and picked up her travel pack from the bench where she had been sitting. She turned to Fae.
“Fae, did you forget what I had told you?” She asked scornfully.
“I was just chatting, Jenna.” Fae said, standing up. “Max, this is Jenna.” Max held out his hand, but Jenna walked passed without so much as looking at his offer of a handshake.
“I have a room waiting for us upstairs. You should say goodbye to this… Max, and meet me upstairs immediately.” She gave Max one last look of disgust, then turned her heel and marched up the stairs. Max turned back to Fae.
“Not the most polite of girls is she.” He smirked.
“She’s ok really, but she’s just tired. Well, it was nice meeting you Max, but I suppose we must part our separate ways. If you get time, do pop in to see us in the morning so I can say goodbye. Thanks for keeping me company.” She shook Max’s hand and walked past him and up the stairs. Max watched her go, then sat down at the table Fae had been sitting at. Barren walked over.
“Aye, she’s a fine lassy isn’t she?” He said to Max, who just nodded. “Well, I wouldn’t get your hopes up, they’re only staying one night.”
“I know.” Max watched the stairs, hoping she would come back down. “But that’s only if they get a boat.”
“Boat?” Barren asked. “Why they want a boat?”
“Heading to some place… Lavyn.”
“Lavyn? Over the sea?” Barren chuckled. “Two little ladies making their way over the sea… on their own, I presume?” Max nodded. “They need a proper crew if they want to get anywhere as it is. I doubt either of them know anything about controlling a ship.” Barren shook his head. “Anyway, they have to be stark raving to be getting a boat this time ‘o year. The only ones you can get are on the river… were not the biggest boating place you know…” Barren shook his head again. “Ah well, let ‘em be I say. You off to bed laddy?” Barren asked.
“Yeah, probably, I’ll have to take care of those rats tomorrow, if that’s ok.” Max said.
“Take as long as you need, if it weren’t for you, we’d still have birds up in my roof. G’night!” Barren walked off to serve to some customers, and Max decided to go to his room. He trudged upstairs, wondering why Fae had to leave so soon, and why they had to get to Lavyn so urgently. Fae was a nice girl, but he got the impression that she wouldn’t be able to sail a boat through treacherous waters. He thought of some way to help Fae in her journey. That’s when he remembered.
“ Jake.” He said, and smiled to himself.
Fae walked into her room and closed the door behind her. Jenna was standing at the other end, looking straight at her. They stood there for a while, gazing at each other until Fae finally broke the silence.
“What?” she asked.
“You know full well what!” Jenna said, striding over to Fae and poking her in the chest. “You carry on blabbing what were doing to the rest of the inn and you can kiss this journey goodbye!”
“I wasn’t blabbing to the whole inn, just Max.” Fae said, walking over to her bed and lying down on it. Jenna followed right at her heal.
“Yes, but anyone would do anything for the power that we are questing for!” She forcefully said to her, now towering over Fae’s lying body. “If ‘Max’ found out what we were heading to Lavyn for then he would take the next boat to the west sea and arrive before we could.” Jenna’s tone suddenly fell from angry to soft, and calm. “We wouldn’t want Max getting there before we did would we?” She asked, now smiling.
“I don’t understand Jenna. I thought we were the only ones as we have a map of Lavyn, even if Max did go to Lavyn, he wouldn’t know were he was going.” Fae questioned Jenna, but Jenna didn’t like that. Her tone turned back to anger.
“But what if Max DOES have a map to Lavyn? Then what Fae? Then the power goes to Max and we loose out of getting mother better. Do you want that on your conscious Fae? Do you want to be the one that kill’s mother?” Jenna asked bitterly. Fae bit her lip.
“No but-“
“Exactly…” Jenna cooed now, stroking her sister’s hair. “So, let’s just go to sleep, and forget about Max, and just get on a boat tomorrow and go to Fethmur. We’ll have the power before we know it, and I’ll… We’ll… be extremely powerful.”
“And… we get to save mother.” Fae said.
“Yes, and that, now sleep, mother wouldn’t want you tiring yourself now would she? Tomorrow we get up bright and early and head down to the river, find a boat, and set sail.”
“Ok. Thanks for joining me; I love having your company. Mother will be ok, and we’ll be great sorcerer’s.” Fae said, contently, and slowly fell to sleep.
Linear Mode
