The Unfated Wanderers Canto 39
Keeper of Lore landed outside of Brownstump. She changed into her human form and they entered the village. A full day of flying had exhausted her. She sought an inn for the night while the Wanderers sought the ruler of the village.
They easily located a temple in the center of the village. It had stood there since the days of the Elder People in the Span of Might. The door was locked and they could find no entry. They continued to a grand hall next to the temple wherein the ruler certainly resided. They entered the hall and their fame eased their way. Vilerend and Billet were taken straight to Pond Brownstump where he sat in his court room on the second floor. They explained the situation, describing the Realm of Terrors and the vertices pinning it to the Living World. They begged for access to the temple so that they could unpin the final vertex.
Pond said, “I would unlock that door for you if I could. I must share a tale with you to explain why I cannot. I do not hide my shame. I would help you, not just to bring succor to the world, but to also release myself from this curse.”
He clutched his chest and lifted his shirt. A key was grafted into his skin. It looked as if it had been heated and placed onto his flesh, then as the wound healed, the skin grew over the key. He lowered his shirt and said, “Allow me to explain.”
“In the early days of this village, there was a terrible storm. The river rose too high and the village was flooded. Everybody wanted to shelter in the temple’s tower. I was greedy when I was young. I only granted entry to the temple to those that could pay me for the privilege of entering my temple. Unfortunately, several families drowned in the flood. Once the waters had receded, everyone left the temple. I locked the door and put the key around my neck. The cord fell away and the key joined to my flesh. I am cursed by my actions to suffer this bizarre punishment. It is a part of me and I cannot remove it.”
“I believe that the only way to break this curse is to sacrifice of myself to atone for my misdeeds. I have given away my fortune. I help the needy. I started a school. No deed has sufficed. My curse endures.”
A woman entered the room and said, “Lord, the Reform Weavers have gathered the most gullible of your citizens. The mob is coming here to seize the hall and depose you.”
Pond angrily struck the table and said, “We knew that we had lost them. I did not think that they would be convinced so quickly. You were right, Mist.”
Mist replied, “I wish that it were not so.”
Pond said to his guests, “The Reform Weavers have been pressuring me to give them the village. They want to unite Icebrunt under one theocratic government. They have no right. They are strangers to Brownstump and they are usurpers. I refused to capitulate, so they have been working to convince my people to turn against me. The world is crumbling and everyone is terrified. I had no solutions to offer. The Reform Weavers had too many convenient answers. I hoped to meet with my people tomorrow night to dissuade them. Fate had other plans, I suppose.”
They heard the mob enter the ground floor of the building. Mist said, “I will bring your family to you.” She returned moments later with Pond’s husband and his two children. The invaders entered the court room.
The mob was led by a man wearing a tabard adorned with an embroidered needle and bobbin. He declared, “Pond Brownstump, we have claimed your village in the names of the Weaver and the Spinner. The time of discussion has passed. Give us control of the hall and we will allow you and your family to leave the village.”
With a sigh, he stood and said, “Never has an entire village been raided from its ruler and its people. You have no authority to do this and tradition forbids it. Since I cannot stand against your might, I must relent.”
Pond and his family were led out of the hall. As he passed before the Unfated Wanderers, the cursed key was freed from his flesh. It fell to the floor. Vilerend saw it fall and quickly placed a foot on it to obscure its presence. As the mob filed out of the room, he pocketed it.
The Unfated Wanderers left the Brownstump hall with the rest of the citizens. Reform Weavers set to work claiming the space. They removed all of Pond’s family’s possessions and raided his treasure. A lifetime of work was undone and Pond was now destitute.
Billet and Vilerend made their way to the temple next door and used the cursed key. The door opened and they sneaked inside before anybody could stop and question them.
The main room of the temple was tall and wide and supported by two massive pillars. A portal was stretched between the pillars like a hide ready for scraping and tanning. The Wanderers stepped through the shimmering purple light into a room identical to the space that they just left. The only difference was a black, iron pedestal cradling a glass orb. An inky, oily black light emanated from the orb. They pushed it onto the floor and it shattered. The portal began to close and they leaped through, leaving the Realm of Terrors behind.