The Writings of an Illiterate Man Vol. 2

“We’re approaching the Queen’s chamber.” Schafer said calmly to Hill. The pair fought their way through the nest of Lisks. “What exactly are we lookin’ for again in the chamber?” Hill asked as he pulled a small Liskling off of his helmet. “We need a vile of whatever fluid is in their hatching pool.” Schafer replied, annoyed that Hill already forgot what they were supposed to be doing. “And what exactly is that supposed to do for us?” Hill replied snarkily. “I mean, I’m just tryin’ figure out why we’re playing errand boys and riskin’ our lives for a damn egghead. “That foundation scientist said that… hold on... I gotta reload.” Shafer said as he slammed a fresh magazine in to his pulse rifle. “That scientist said it could hold the key to reversing the infestation and turning people back to humans.” “Help me! Please! I can hear you! Please help me!” a voice echoed through the tunnels. “We better go check that out.” Schafer said. The pair fought their way towards the sound...

King Nathaniel of the Normans sat in the throne room next to his queen, Allesandra of house Carlisle. To his left was his Chief Financial Minister, Calios of house Marquis. To his right was his most esteemed general, Zacharias of house Terris. As they were discussing the annual Feast of Kings, they heard the clatter of plate male as a rather tall and lanky knight ran up to them. Sir Jeffrey of the towers arrived, huffing after his long trek. “My lord!” The knight exclaimed. “The Iron Legion has attacked one of our towns in the forest!” The Town That Was Attacked “Thank you for delivering this most troubling news, good sir knight.” The King said, distraught. “Go and find a place to rest.” “My God! What horrible news!” The Queen exclaimed. “Whatever shall we do?” The King looked to his General for his opinion. “I believe we should respond in kind.” The General said. “We cannot let an act stand without response. If we don’t show them we are willing to stand against them, t...

Sigmund walked into town; the villagers stopped what they were doing to stare. Sigmund was used to it. He was a behemoth of a man. A white bear’s pelt covered his chainmail but still allowed easy access to the two swords on his back. That sort of a man attracts a lot of attention: both wanted and unwanted.   He walked up to the town’s center and eyed the notice board. He made his way to it and plucked off a piece of paper from it. WANTED: MONSTER HUNTER . Sigmund pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and unfurled it. He held them side by side to compare them. They were the same: he knew he had arrived in the right town. Sigmund made his way to the inn, figuring the innkeeper would know a thing or two about what he was about to hunt. “I’ve heard you’ve got yourself a bit of a problem.” Sigmund said, unfurling the bounty notice and placing it in front of the innkeeper. “Aye,” the innkeeper replied gruffly, “And what’s it to you?” “I’m looking to solve this problem for y...

Mark raced down the hill side clutching Jessie’s hand as the pair made their way to the docks. They had a boat waiting for them to take them to their new lives. Their families were very much against the two even speaking to each other. The Wilson and Taylor families had been feuding for the last 30 years. All of this because of a stupid cat. Mark thought to himself as shots rang out behind him; impacting the trees as he and Jessie weaved in-between them. Just after the civil war a cat was accidently trampled by a horse.   Nobody even remembers who’s cat it was! Or who even killed it! Mark screamed in his mind, adrenaline pumping. “I can’t believe your brothers are stupid enough to shoot at me with you right next to me!” Mark said, panting. “Joseph and Jeremiah never were the brightest.” Jessie replied, nearly giggling if not for how out of breath she was. “There’s and old barn up ahead. We can maybe lose them there.” Mark suggested. “Okay. I need to catch my breat...

Harvey sat down at the table. As he did so a middle-aged man in a suit came over and handed him a newspaper. “Ah, thank you, Winston.” Harvey said. “Of course, sir. And what will you have for breakfast this morning?” Winston asked. “Just eggs and toast this morning please, I am feeling something light today. Oh, and an orange juice as well as my coffee.” Harvey answered. “Right away, sir.” Winston said as he turned and walked toward the kitchen.  Harvey thumbed through the news section. Nothing out of the ordinary. A few thefts. Parliament in gridlock. Just another normal day. As he sipped his coffee, he heard a crash behind him, down the hall.  “What the bloody hell was that? Was that a window?” Harvey exclaimed, startled.  “Winston! Go investigate the cause of that noise.” He commanded, but was only met with silence. “Fine, I’ll just see to it myself!” Harvey got up and made his way towards the source of the noise. As he rounded the co...

It was nearing midnight, and though the moon shone full, it was still dark. Justin walked forward, tentatively, following an old path in the woods. He had heard the legends. The hushed whispers of the folk of the town he grew up in. That there was something that could give him anything he had ever wanted. Something unnatural. He heard the rumors: that you had to bring gifts – an offering of sorts. He had spent the last week meticulously gathering what he needed: a yarrow flower, a cat’s paw, human blood – your own blood.   You’ll find your dreams at a crossroads. It was a phrase well recorded with the town. Every victim of an unsolved murder within the last hundred years in his town had the phrase carved into one of their arms. Granted, there weren’t many of them, but there were enough to make people wonder. The phrase repeated in his mind over and over. He grew nervous. The Crossroads Justin stopped. In front of him, the path split. A crossroads, he thought . He was...

Jun Kai was set to take the throne. In only moments he would become emperor; just as his father before him and his father before him. However, he would first have to go through ritual combat. It was customary that anyone who though that they were more fit to rule would have the opportunity to challenge for the throne. That time was now.  One by one challengers stepped forward. An expert swordsmen, Jun struck them down with little effort.  "If there is no one left to challenge, Jun will take his rightful place on the throne" The Elder Shaman proclaimed.  "I will challenge" a hooded figure said stepping forward.  "And what is your claim to the throne?" The shaman questioned. "It is rightfully mine” The figure said removing his hood. “Shiro!” Jun exclaimed, “But I thought you were –” “Dead?” The stranger replied, “I thought so too, brother. The throne is mine! And if you want it so badly you will have to try to kill me again!...

Jameson’s feet sank into the fresh snow as he trudged along the mountainside. Two days he had been in this new territory, British Columbia, and he had already been asked to track something. A spirit bear, they called it. A great bear with fur white as snow. No such thing , Jameson thought, but still he listened to them; money was money. They said that it had started to come down in the night and take people, that they needed help. Jameson obliged, he told them what he needed on top of his pay and they happily agreed. That was almost a week ago. Today was his fourth on the mountain; his fourth without so much as seeing another soul. Jameson was no stranger to the wilds nor the isolation. When he was an infant his parents moved to the newly founded Oregon Territory. His father taught him how to hunt and how to track; skills that would prove to be invaluable to him as looked to make his own way in this world. Tracks. Finally. Jameson rejoiced, if only for a moment. He could fin...

A mile inland from the eastern shore lay Onyx, crown city of the Seylun Kingdom. Built into, on, and around a mountain, the city housed the royal family. To the northeast of the city was a large river, winding its way to the ocean from the inland mountains. To the west of the city was open field, prime farmland. Many of the city's lower-class citizens found themselves here working the land, only venturing into the city to trade for essentials. Around the edges of the city, near the base of the mountain, was the city’s primary defense: a towering wall – twenty stone high and ten deep. Legend tells that the walls have stood for thousands of years and that they would stand for thousands more.   As a major trading hub, the city was a prime target for invasion. Many nations wanting to plant their banner in the heart of the city have attempted to assail the walls; none leaving so much as a scratch. Each successive monarch thinking in their hubris that they would be the first to con...

“I can’t believe you lost the keys!” “Ya know what Hill? There’s a lot of things you don’t think about when you’re being shot at.” The air was still as the two men walked into the town. “Awfully quiet round here…” Schafer said as he flicked off the safety on his rifle. “For an outer world capital, there sure aren’t many of people. But I guess there aren’t many bandits either.” Hill shrugged. “What the hell is that?” Schafer pointed to a figure out in the distance. “What the hell is what?” “That!” “Well, we should probably check it out.” The two men began to make their way towards the figure. As they got closer they began to be able to see the figure more clearly. “What the hell is that!” Hill said, with a slight quiver in his voice. “It looks like a person but…. Twisted….” Schafer responded, almost as if he was saying it to himself to confirm his own disbelief instead of answering his companion. The creature walked listlessly, almost st...

In the countryside of England resided a small village founded on a river. Most of the village folk were simple farmers; peasants whose families never had much to their name. The mayor of the village was a former soldier before he settled down to a quiet life of farming. He was a man well respected by the folk he presided over. However, he was a headstrong man, and when he made up his mind few things could change it. In the village also resided an old man. He was wise beyond his years. The village folk revered him, coming to him whenever they needed advice. Even the Mayor would come to him on occasion seeking advice. Witchcraft was a long-seeded fear in this part of the country, and when rumors of supposed witches behind found spread, a wave of paranoia spread with it. And even though no witch siting had been made near the village, the folk were still on edge. One day two of the villagers went the lake at the end of the river to fish. When they got there, they noticed a wom...