Chapter 23: “Why did it have to be me!”
*Trot, trot, trot* went the horse, the courier growing more and more anxious the closer he got to his destination, holding a very special yet inexpensive note. “Wonder what’s in it? Best not check or I might lose meh life he... S’pose that’s not really that funny.” He was the kind of courier who spoke to himself the entire way toward the destination.
Ploughing Sect was north of Giath Sect, Giath Sect was the furthest sect from just about any nation or action, during their heydays they owned such an incredible amount of land that it made up for their ‘out of action’ location. For this courier, he was heading further north after receiving very precise instructions from the main butler of Grand Peat’s residence. “Now, you are to take this to the Inverted Star Sect pronto, quick, quick, mhm, mhm! No delay! Off with you, no mistakes! Give Peat’s regard to the Sect Leader.” *SLAM* went the mansion doors as they closed following the butlers' short commands with the courier facing a gust of wind due to the gigantic nature of the doors.
“Why did it have to be me though!” The courier thought to himself as he was now on the horse following twisting long pathways. Couriers across the lesser continent formed a huge networking system for the delivery of messages, courier birds were a rarer occurrence and were not often trusted with serious documentation. “How do ye do!” Said the courier to another courier who was going in the opposite direction toward the Ploughing Sect.
“I do well journeyman! Off to the Ploughing Sect to deliver a message to a Greater, sure it’s just political crap ha.”
“Hey, hey... Do you- do you look in those things?”
“YOU GOT A DEATHWISH FRIEND?! Of course I DON’T!” The courier headed toward the Ploughing Sect begun whispering even though absolutely no one was around but vegetation, trees and small hills, “I heard the last courier who opened the envelope of someone above commoner rank got his tongue and eye- actually, let’s just not talk’a’bout it...”
“Eek! Well, that aside, I'm headed to the Inverted Star Sect.”
“Ha...”
“Ha?”
“G’uid luck with that journeyman! I’m off, GIDDYAP *slap*” The courier headed toward the Ploughing Sect slapped his horse and the horse went galloping away.
“WHAT DOES ‘HA...’ MEAN! Ahh, why did I get this job! Why me! That damned butler could have chosen any courier, the Inverted Star Sect are known to be the creepiest of all the sects and they are so bloody far away. Aye, aye, aye... Should’ve just become a farmer, life would’ve been boring but at-least it would’ve been easy.” With that, the courier continued his long journey through the dirt roads of the Lesser Continent, heading further north until he reached a new sign giving more precise directions.
Time passed...
“To Inver- S- Sec... Damn sign, can hardly read it, why is there scratch marks and red staines on it, it’s as though someone is expressively saying through this sign, ‘HA HA! We are an EVIL SECT who will KILL you, take the obvious degradation of our sign as a clear WARNING to not come any CLOSER!’ I mean come on, is a courier really fit for a job like this... Welp, if I go back without delivering the note the punishment will probably be worse, like those brothers who were thrown in jail so long ago for attempting to rescue their sister from Peats’ hands.” Soon, the horse was trotting but the environment was becoming misty and dark, the courier had been on the horse for quite some time, taking food and toilet breaks inbetween. “Perhaps before the Sun completely settles, I can make it to some residents of the Inverted Star Sect, have some warm supper, couriers are always treated well after all.” The courier got out his torch and continued commanding the horse through an ever-growing misty darkness. What was once the view of trees, vegetation and roaming animals was now darkness, fog and shadows.
Time yet again, passed...
*Sigh* went the courier, “guess the Inverted Star Sect is still really far away from that previous sign, sure is misty – why is it so damn misty? This all feels so wrong... I should camp out I guess, I'll tie the horse to a near tree and nap until morning.” And that is just what the courier did!
Rather than pleasant *tweet, tweets* of the very early morning birds, it was *QUARK, QUARK* of pitch-black creepy ravens sitting on dead trees looking for morning worms hidden in the under cultivated soil. The courier, cold as a morning rock, was peeking out of his hay sleeping equipment, a common thing for couriers to carry around for longer jobs. “It’s like a rat died and poisoned every living thing in sight!” The courier said out-loud as he rotated his head to get a gauge of the environment around him.
“Yeah, well, it is not as though our sect leader is the most nature loving creature in the world.”
“AHHHHHHHH! I HAVE A- A KNIF-”
“Sh, sh, shh. It’s the early morning, you’ll disrupt the ravens who are hunting for their morning meal, the fog makes it difficult so they have to focus eeexxttrraa hard... Don’t move, don’t turn around, don’t do nuffin,’ I got a reeaal, shaarrp object just beyond your line of sight that may make a nasty cut if you start freakin’ out.”
“O- ok- ok please, please.”
“Reeelaax boyo, I know you’re a courier.”
“Where even are you?”
“Just beyond your line of vision hehe, pass it!”
“Pass what?! The note?”
“Yes, give it to me, I'm her majesties personal courier, we saw you in the midst's of the night approaching the outer region of our sect, then you laid a hay sleeping bag down, I was tasked with collecting the note from you since you had the appearance of a courier.”
“Ca- can’t I just turn around and have a look at you? Please? I just need to-”
“Boyo, do you know why it’s misty here? *Sigh* you probably don’t, even if you could look around you wouldn’t see much but the tip of a knife hanging over you. The fog disrupts the vision of those who are not trained like we are. It’s just dead trees and dead life anyway, I myself am hardly that interesting, ravens are practically the onnllyy wild-life who live here, you’re not missing out on annnyyything by not being able to see me.”
“So- so is your sect hidden in the mist?”
“You sure ask a lot of questions don’t ya?” The mysterious courier said flipping but ever-still pointing a sharp object extremely close to the skin of the Ploughing Sect courier. “You pass me that note, get on your horse and be on ya way, alright chump?”
“Ye- yeah, sur-. Oh, my Sect Leader asked me to send his regards to your majesty!”
“Right, right, I'll pass that on, my bloodlust is increasing so I really suggest you get going before I create a very messy scene here keke...”
“OH MY, O-OK, RELAX, TAKE IT!” The courier reached rapidly into the hay-quilt and found the note he hid in there, took it out without moving any other part of his body and threw it in the direction of the voice he couldn’t see.
“Thank you for your business mister courier, off you go! Get on your horse.” There was a *woosh* and a sudden lack of presence of whoever that being was, the courier started to calm down but he was definitely a hot potato now.
“What a way to warm yourself up in the morning, HA! I FEEL SO ALIVE AND SO TERRIFIED, WOO! Okay!” He jumped up out of the quilt and his eyes turned toward the horse as he tried to calm the adrenaline coursing through his body down, “horsey, let’s go! A close encounter with death a day keeps illness away I say!”
Time passed...
“Your majesty... I have a note from The Ploughing Sect Grand Elder Peat.” The ‘courier’ threw the note like a shuriken at an immense speed for but a piece of rough paper and a stunningly beautiful and well-dressed being plucked it out of the air like a slowly falling feather, tore it and read it. No sooner did she throw it back to the ‘courier’ who also plucked it out of the air but not with the same dexterity, the ‘courier’ quickly bowed, recognising that the well-dressed being was about to address her/him.
“I see.” Her Majesty began, “well this changes everything...” A butler by her side gave her a piece of paper and an ink-pen, she began writing in impeccable style, a note. “Have this re-printed twice, one for the Lions and Serpents Sect and one for the Indigo Sect... Ahh, war, power, control – do you not ADORE it, HA HA-” Her majesty began laughing in the most ominous of ways whilst everyone around her remained as silent as possible, she threw the newly written note like a shuriken back to the ‘courier’ who caught it yet again, but again, lacking her majesties incredible elegance. “Of you go my precious maid, print another copy and deliver it with the speed the Inverted Star Sect is known for. I expect you back in 5 days.” The not so courier more so maid raced out of the door at incredible speed and her majesty relaxed in her throne giggling and smiling. “We are going to be most busy soon my children, your training is going to be increased from 6 days a week to 7, you will thank me for it, I need privacy, everyone... OUT!”
End of Chapter 23
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