Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"What the hell do you want Hank" snarled Zhaey
Hank lazily reclined in his chair still smirking "Well it's nice to see you too Jesus Christ"
"What kind of sick fucking person are you that you would tie her up!" yelled Zhaey pointing to a bound and frightened Pit
"Oh relax it's just duct tape"
"You have the gall to waltz in here right in the middle of the capital and do this? What's stopping me from calling the police or the thousands of soldiers here? You really think I'm just going to let you walk out of here?"
"Hahaha oh please you and I both know you will" laughed Hank
"Yeah and why?"
Hank silently pointed to a muffled Pit. "I would hate for something bad to happen to this cutie. If I didn't know any better, it sounds like you're just getting mad to show your little secretary you care about her"
"Tell me what you want. NOW" roared Zhaey
"Hit a nerve? She's a little young for you Zhaey.."
"Hank, I will personally strangle you. I don't care if I die doing it"
"No small talk? OK" shrugged Hank. "Anyway I'm here for really just one small request. I want you to come and join Erdos"
"Are you out of your goddamn mind?"
"Maybe. But think about it for a second. Waytfm's time is coming to an end. You and I both know that. For every dissenter he executes, another five pop up. Those recent riots and protests aren't for nothing. And when Way does finally get usurped what do you think is gonna happen to you? The renowned military general. You think you're just gonna get a 2 week notice? No you're going out with Way and by out I mean public execution with little kids spitting on your hanging corpse. I think joining Erdos is the rational choice here"
"Yes joining a terrorist group against the strongest country in the world is the safe bet here. You're still a raving lunatic I see" remarked Zhaey
"Oh well, it was worth a shot. If you change your mind wander around Zion for a few days and I'll find you" said Hank.
"You're stationed in Zion? You expect me to believe you're giving away your location to me?"
"Sure why not? You're not going to do anything. If that idiot Atnorman can get away alive I'm not that concerned" laughed Hank as he stood up and motioned for the door.
As Hank left and Zhaey rushed to untie Pit, he felt a deep uneasiness overcome him.


Obyeag and Atnorman had successfully made their way through the mountains and had landed in a small mining community not far from Lacu. Night had fallen and they both lounged in the local watering hole peculiarly named the "Iron Cavern" (the mining colony was known for copper). The tavern was empty aside from a few regulars who all stuck to their own table to the side. Obyeag had gotten to know Atnorman relatively well (and already had taken to calling him Norm) in the last few days of their voyage. Obyeag had learned that Norm was a contractor who was making his way to Zion to meet with new clients and had agreed to accompany him since it was on the same route to the capital.

"Have you ever been to the capital Norm?" asked Obyeag
"Oh sure a few times" smiled Atnorman. "It gets kind of boring after a while. It's a little too chaotic for me"
"I seriously can't wait" beamed Obyeag. "I honestly don't think I've ever seen more than 50 people together at once"
"Oh well don't idealize it. Big cities are nice but there's gonna be some unsavory stuff. The garbage, the beggars on the street, the crime. Ha don't get me started on the crime"
 Atnorman's warning, however, didn't seem to deter Obyeag's good mood.
"So you mentioned you're going to Zion. I don't know much about that. You said it's a desert? asked Obyeag
"Oh yeah. Zion is a little...strange. It's really just a town in a huge desert but there's a lot of mythology and stories surrounding secret societies and cities hidden in the sand"
"Oh wow that sounds exciting!" gleamed Obyeag
"Ha I don't seriously buy any of that stuff. It's just a regular run-of-the-mill town with a bunch of tourists getting scammed out of their money by the locals"
"So what kind of job are you gonna get from the people you're meeting?"
"Oh probably nothing that interesting. Go get this from there and come back kind of deal. It's not like I'm an assassin or anything haha" joked Atnorman.
"Well it still sounds like a lot of fun. I've been thinking about what job I want and getting paid to travel the world doesn't sound bad."
"It has his perks. I'll tell you what. If you help me with this job I can make you a junior contractor and we can be partners. How does that sound?" offered Atnorman.
"That sounds great! You mean it?!"
"Sure thing kid. Pretty soon you'll be helping out a new adventurer and getting your own assistant!"
"Assistant?! I thought you said junior contractor?"
"Tomato tomahto! Stop worrying about it" laughed Atnorman

And so the new friends continued feasting and drinking the night away in the Iron Tavern, Atnorman sharing stories and tales of far away lands and monsters as an entranced Obyeag intently listened.

Of course, the observant reader knows that Atnorman's intentions weren't as well meaning as they seemed. The truth was that Atnorman was indeed a contractor. But his contracts were measured not in lost or rare items obtained but lives taken. Norman was an alchemist who learned the craft from a little-known Academy in the northern Rensselaer region. He was expelled after it was discovered that he used forbidden transmutations and enchantments. After leaving school, he bounced from job to job until he found Erdos, who reluctantly hired him as a contractor. And so he hoped and expected the same would come of Obyeag. Erdos was in dire need of new blood, he thought, and Obyeag  fit the bill. What he didn't expect was what would happen shortly after leaving the Iron Tavern.

As Obyeag walked out of the tavern alongside his new friend, he was met with a familiar but wholly unexpected face.
"M..Meson?!? Is that you?" Obyeag exclaimed as he saw his childhood friend standing confused holding a map of the town.
Meson turned and with a bright smile said "Oh man you have no idea how glad I am to see you!"
The old time friends embraced and could barely hold their respective excitement.
"What are you doing here?!" asked Obyeag
"Um so yeah that's a long story. Is there a place we can talk that's not so out in the open?"
"Oh yeah sure we were just heading to a hostel. Oh by the way this is Norm I met him out in the mountain when he saved me from an attacker" said Obyeag as he pointed toward the always smiling Atnorman.
"An attacker??! Geez. Anyway it's nice to meet you" smiled Meson.
"You as well. I'm assuming you're a friend of Obyeag's?" asked Atnorman.
"Yeah we grew up together actually. Do you guys mind if I join you?" asked Meson.
"No of course not. Let's head on over" smiled Atnorman.

And so Obyeag walked with his old and new friend to a nearby hostel where they settled in a small but homely room on the third floor. Atnorman decided to take a slight midnight stroll to let the friends reconnect and clear his mind, leaving just Meson and Obyeag nervously chattering about recent events, a scene reminiscent of only a few days ago.

"So tell me what's up! How did you even get here?" asked Obyeag
"Well the same way you did.. I walked" Meson said.
"Ok by why?"
"Well when news got out that you actually left I gotta admit I was pretty shocked. I never thought you had it in you. Everyone was talking about it"
"Oh God. And my parents? How did they react?"
"Erm well I'm not really sure. Your dad came by the next day and asked me a few questions about you"
"Did you say anything?" Obyeag nervously asked.
"No I just told him you always talked about it but you never were specific" remarked Meson.
"Ok good" Obyeag said as he sighed a breath of relief.
"Anyway last I heard he hired someone to come get you and bring you back"
"Like.. a contractor? Heh that's kind of funny" chuckled Obyeag.
"Why?" inquired Meson.
"Well that guy you met, Atnorman, he's a contractor. And he said I'd get to be one if I went on a job with him" grinned Obyeag
"Wait what did you say his name was?"
"Atnorman"
"I thought he said he name was Norm?"
"Just a shortened version, what's the problem?"
Meson looked more agitated than usual and began looking around nervously. "Jesus Christ Obyeag. It was all over the news, there's a wanted murderer with that name. No picture just a description but how common is a name like Atnorman?"  whispered Meson.
"Oh come on there's no way. Why would he save me if he was some murderer. It's just a common name. Besides you still haven't told me why you specifically followed me. Maybe you're the contractor for all I know" said the defensive Obyeag
"Oby please. I'm serious. You just met this guy.."
"Just tell me why you're here Meson."
"I'm here because after thinking about it... I wanted to come with you. I know it's insane and I know every time you asked I laughed, but I never thought you'd actually go through with it. When you did... I felt like I was missing out"
"So you ran out on your parents too?"
"Oh God no. I just told them and they were fine with it. Your parents are just-"
At that moment, Atnorman walked in and interrupted the two friend's conversation.
"Oh sorry boys was I interrupting something?" asked Atnorman.
"Oh no we were just going to sleep actually" replied Obyeag.
"Uh yeah. Sure." Meson hesitantly remarked, still uneasy about Atnorman.

When Atnorman was taking his stroll outside in the cool windy night, a fluttering newspaper had caught his eye. He wasn't one to read the news (or really anything that wasn't outdated occult fanfiction) but seeing his name in bold letters was enough to make anyone stop for a moment. As he read his name, the crimes he was wanted for, and the price on his head he began to wonder. "How did the government know it was him? Did they have a record of him? No surely not, they didn't even provide a picture only a basic sketch that could look like anyone. Who could possibly have identified him?". Then his mind moved to Obyeag and he realized he had given the kid his full first name. If he were to see this his suspicions might grow. This was a problem and he had to be diligent of it, otherwise everything he worked for could begin to unravel.