The rider raced through the Snake Pass towards Castle Fig. His horse was covered in sweat indicating either a long ride or one made in much haste.
The rider approached the keep, dismounted his horse and began pounding on the door of the keep loudly calling for the Ancient. He began to tire and looked down at a wound he had sustained from an attack by brigands in the pass. He continues to pound on the door, determined to deliver his message before his life's blood drained from his body. as he started to lose consciousness, he made one last attempt to open the door to the keep. He pulled a wand out of his vest near the injury and attempted one last time to blast open the door of the keep, to no avail. It seemed that it was hopeless as his sight dimmed and he collapsed on the keep's stairs.
He awoke in a bed in a small room lit only by candle light. He looked around to see the form of a young woman sleeping in a chair beside the bed. He raised himself, and immediately fell back against the bed. He lifted the blankets of the bed and looked where the injury had been. It was dressed and cleaned but still slowly seeping through the bandages.
He looked up to see the young woman looking at him with gentle eyes.
"Easy there young man. You have had a long couple of days. I am Concubine, Crafter of Castle Fig. " she said.
"Couple of days???", the messenger asked, with urgency. "I must speak with the Ancient. I bring urgent news from New Maginica."
"Okay, Okay. I will go summon the master, but you must lie still." Concubine replied. "Your injuries are not quite healed."
She turned and climbed the stairs, which lead to the rest of the keep. She stopped at the top of the stairs.
"Master! The messenger from Britian has awakened!", she yelled up the stairs.
Concubine looked back towards the messenger with concern on her face. she was startled when she looked back to see the Ancient in front of her.
"What is the status of our young guest?" the old man asked.
"It's grave, Master.", she replied. "The injuries he sustained will be fatal soon. It appears as if he had been attacked by brigands on his way here. Whatever his mission was, it was important enough for him to die for. He is asking for you."
"Then I will see this messenger. Please wait for me in the dining hall. You might want to send word to the other children.", Fig replied.
Concubine nodded, and left the room.
The old man sighed, and went to the bedside. He looked down upon the messenger, who had drifted off again. The old man reached down and stroked the messengers forehead and whispered in an unknown tongue. His hand began to glow.
The messengers eyes opened. He struggled with his wounds and coughed briefly and grabbed the old mans hand.
"Thank Lord British I reached you, Counselor Fig. I bring word from New Maginica.", he said, struggling. "There has been another attack on the peoples of the island. The Amber Witch's gardener has been killed in broad daylight. The entire island is in an uproar. They are blaming the Britianians. I was sent here to bring you word of this matter, no matter the cost. I was attacked a number of times on the way here, but was unable to escape unscathed it seems.".
He coughed a few more times and fell again once more into an unconscious state. Fig placed his hand upon the messengers chest feeling the last beats of the his heart, and then he was dead.
"Sleep well, noble messenger. Your death has not been in vain and you have accomplished your mission. You will be remembered with honor.", Fig said, closing the dead messenger's eyes.
He turned back to the stairs of the room with his head hung low.
"And so it begins." he said disappearing into the rest of the keep.
LOADING, PLEASE WAIT...........
