Perceived Fate

Malum took it back, it was worse. Optimism was wrong again as the buffoons decided to make the carriage a brawl area and with side games including Piss Shot, Finger Wars and who’s got the largest.

It seemed war had reduced their dignity to nothing, at least he had Jameson to claw back his sanity else Malum was afraid he would lose it all.

They arrived eventually, the walls looking as grand as always.

They entered through the special gate and soon found themselves inside of a pub. The first item on their agenda was celebration. A toast to their lives and a toast to the ones lost on the wave with them.

They laughed, some cried, most went to the brothel next door after they had finished their drinks.

Malum would have joined them, but Jameson was strictly against it because he wasn’t allowed to. The Nobles who had forced him here didn’t want him to have heirs, such a ban on all sexual activities was put in place to ensure his progeny didn’t ever spread.

Not wanting to leave his friend Malum could only stay with him. Instead they toured the city, moving from pub to pub.

Malum learned far more about the Nobles that had dragged his friend down and he learned the last name of his friend.

“Jameson Smith, head of the Smith Barony. We used to have thousands of crafters under our house. Forging weapons for even the King. Then my dad passed away when I was young and because I was to young to take the mantle my mother who had never even thought of running an entire household was forced to take charge.

She tried her best, but when I came of age it was already a shell of what it once was. Competition had taken the decision that we had outlived our stay and I couldn’t do anything about it.

She blamed herself for my ruined future and she passed of depression not a month after my birthday.

I swore revenge, and I even got some. Against some of the merchants, I killed their leaders and got some of what I wanted.

I lost my title, became a Fallen Noble and ended up here. The house remained.” He looked off into the distance, “ and my sword stayed with me as well.” He then looked down at it with such emotion. Pride, sadness, Malum couldn’t quiet discern.

“I fought again and again and again. Became as strong as I am but the merchants who lived bought titles and even titled families don’t want to see my grudges return to court so they agreed that I should stay. I have so many points I should be able to return back with glory but because of the agreement the purchase would never see the light of day.”

Malum pat him on the back. He thought about many things to say but decided to just keep his mouth shut.

“Sorry for leaving that all on you. I’ve been wanting to tell somebody for years but my friend all end up dead or there just not the right type.”

Malum expressions showed confusion so Jameson explained.

“Take Davidson, he’s a man who friends with about everyone. As a long-term vet he’s seen it all so its left him on the rather strange side. He’d tell me to just do it anyway, he’s a very simple man and it shows in his fighting. He’s strong enough to not care about that thought, like the gut from your training, Bear.”

“Fair enough and thanks. Mine not nearly as interesting though, just a traveller set off by a village who hated just the sort. My Uncle who raised me had disappeared on the day so here I am.”

Lying didn’t feel great. Especially after the reveal Jameson had just told him, but Malum kept up his usual excuses. It would hurt him to learn the truth, so he told the lie.

Jameson asked more questions about his earlier life and Malum asked similar ones back to him. There drunken adventure ended with them both resting on the table, mugs still in hand.

Sadly they couldn’t sleep there as the pub turned into a late casino so they were pushed upstairs towards there beds and they exchanged one last wave before they climbed into each their beds.

Their friendship had grown closer, and during the month it would only continue to grow.

Malum was searching for something to get his old friend for their upcoming wedding. It was still far off but he didn’t want to leave it last minute so he decided to search every store for something special.

The gleam of mundane gemstones came to his eyes. Their beauty made them attract some decent coin, merchants usually bought this kind of stuff and Malum was only looking at them because he hadn’t found anything else.

The jewel dealer behind the counter was a professional as he explained the background of each piece that justified there outrageous prices.

Malum looked closer at a few and could tell they were actually pretty poorly made. He had never done jewellery but he did learn basic crafting as his Kingdom was built of the back of crafters and his Uncle made sure that he was at least competent on the subject.

The one he was looking at was just inches away from a shattering, the pressure built up on the gem was insane and the metal band holding it in place was only going to slowly break in the pressure.

Interestingly, as he closely observed another he found his sixth sense begin to heat up. He looked again and felt the item was bad. Red, coarse, disgusting, putrid, every one of his senses agreed that the item was terrible.

Interested, he looked at another and found after some inspection that the feeling slowly returned. This one made less sense however as even though his initial findings found a average item it showed on his sixth sense as a great item.

He tried again and found he got the same response from his sense. The amber locket was interesting but Malum failed to see how it could get that reaction from his own senses.

Wanting to find out more about his new sense, Malum bought the item and brought it home. In his hands the item felt even better, like he was holding a pot of gold and yet logic told his brain that it was just an ordinary item.

At his inn, he inspected the item for anything he might have missed but initially didn’t find anything. Trying other methods he found little reaction with the gemstone.

So he turned his attention away from it and instead onto the chain. His good feeling was for the item in general so perhaps it was hidden on the necklace.

It was small and hard to see but Malum found letter carved into the little chain links holding the necklace together. He got out his sword and carved the letter one by one onto his sleeve.

CAVE, R CITY, 4000 PACES N.

A pace was the standard metric for a second of riding on horse. So it was an hour and 7 ish minuets. R city was obviously Roosevelt city which left N meaning North.

What was in this cave, and why did a necklace lead it’s location. His good feeling seemed to say it was a good thing as even his shirt now felt good as the inscription was carved into his sleeve.

Malum wanted to think treasure, but he didn’t completely trust this sense of his. How could it have known about the coordinates, even if Malum had unconsciously seen them how did it know what was in these caves wasn’t dangerous?

Greed fought against fear as Malum weighed up the two ends. On one hand it could lead him to a fortune and on the other was death.

He decided after thinking to give it a go. His sense had helping him tremendously during his wave so he hoped it carried over into treasure hunting.

Jameson was out doing his own thing, but they had plans to meet tonight for drinks. Malum left a note in case he was late which he left in his room.

If he died at least then his corpse would be found, and he wouldn’t suffer a true death.

Renting a horse was easy and with only an hour ride Malum went off with only some food and water on his person.

North was easy to find using the stars so he followed it towards the destination. He still had n hours ride so he got himself comfortable.