Fae'th Friday

So here it is another Friday and I have just Finished another lonely trooper so feeling good about that. I also have a few more pages to post for Fae'th. Its a rather long post and lots of dialog but I like how it is flowing so far. Again constructive feedback is welcome. Now where were we...

“I would like to say there is no need for that. I am the Doctor and if you …”

A loud roar like sound came from the brute that carried Julie as soon as the Doctor said his name. The brute now faced the Doctor and the two lesser brutes. The lead brute looked at the Doctor through narrowed eyes. The Doctor had seen that face before and realized something he said had pissed the Brute right off. The brute in front uttered something to the other two and the two started to drag the Doctor in the opposite direction of the lead brute and a struggling Julie on his back.
The Doctor saw he was being pulled toward a large wagon parked just a few yards away. The main part of the wagon was made up metal bars that were in the shape of a large cage. The front had a bench with room for two and there were two jet black horses at the front to pull the wagon. As the distance grew between the Doctor and Julie so did the feeling of helplessness as the Doctor struggled against his captors. One of the brutes let go of the Doctor to open the cage door. The Doctor managed to pull his other arm free and made a run for Julie but only got two steps be for he caught a forearm across the chest that knocked him to the ground. The Doctor felt he lungs fight to regain the air that had been knocked out of them. The two brute guards lifted the Doctor up by the arms and tossed him into the cage. The Doctor looked up in time to see a rock fly from the ground and hit the lead brute in the rear. The two guard brutes seemed suddenly concerned and put their hands on their weapons. The lead brute swung around as he pulled the axe from his belt. Another rock flew out from the woods and hit the brute in the head. The rock cracked on impact and a small trickle of black blood came from the fresh wound on the lead brute’s head. The brute spun around and this time two more rocks flew at him. By now the guard brutes had their swords drawn and made a noise to their leader. The leader seemed to hesitate but upon being hit a fifth time with a rock he seemed to have made up his mind. He headed straight back toward the cage and as one of the guard brutes opened the cage door, the leader tossed Julie on top of the Doctor. The door slammed closed behind her.
All three Brutes continued to look around nervously as they boarded the wagon. The lead brute took the driver’s seat while the other two stood on small ledges that were on either side of the wagon. Two more rocks rose off the ground next to the carriage and flew past his head. The leader gave a quick whip of the reigns and the wagon took off with a jolt down the road.

“Are you ok?”

“I think so Doctor. Are you okay?”

“Yes, just bruised.” The Doctor answered with a half smile.

A man’s voice came from behind the pair and caused Julie to jump.

“One thing about the Noc. They are a superstitious lot.”

The two turned around in the direction of the voice as it continued.

“They are big and strong but one or two stone throwing ghosts cross their path and they are just scared little kittens.”

The owner of the voice sat with his back against the bars on side closest to the driver. A black cloak with a hood covered the man and Julie was unable to see his face. The only visible part was his hand that was shackled to one of the bars above his head.

“So sweetheart do you always travel with your doctor or is this a special occasion?”

“Actually it’s ‘The Doctor’” the Doctor corrected.

“Really , well which ever it is I would keep it on the Q T. The Noc aren’t exactly warm and fuzzy to you religious folk, Doc.”

“I’m sorry, religious folk?” The Doctor inquired. He had been called many things in his travels but rarely was he called religious. The man looked up at Julie and she could now see his face. He had fair skinned face that was covered with a five day old beard that barely hid his narrow lips. He smiled a half smile as he stared at Julie. His eyes were unusual in that his left eye had a rich blue iris while the other had a deep jade iris. Julie thought he would be quite fetching if it wasn’t for the foul smell of him which filled her nose when the wind blew just right. She couldn’t hold him completely at fault for the oder, there did not appear to be many showers in the area.

“Ah right, you two aren’t exactly locals so you wouldn’t know would you. Long ago a group of non magic users formed to the Real Legion of Science. The leaders of this group like to call themselves doctors. They study and experiment with the common items in the world around them and then invent things that do the same thing that a magical spell can do. The magic users fear this group will undermine their way of life and determined this religion, as they like to call it, must go. The two groups have been at odds for over a century and a half. It’s a feud that has divided our little world called Fae’th”
“Fae’th, its got a nice ring to it. So are you part of this Real Legion?” The Doctor commented as he studied the structure of the cage.
“Nah Doc, I am a horse of a completely different color. I did know someone who was at one time. She has long since gone though.”
Shade looked out in the distance in a sudden daze, as if the last sentence put him deep in thought. Julie looked around and noticed they had headed into the small town she had seen earlier. Most of the homes looked un-kept and the people wore various shades of brown clothing that looked well worn. One of the Noc uttered a loud series of clicks and growls at a group of children who tried to peak into the wagon. The children ran screaming.
“Doctor why is it that we can’t understand them. I thought the TARDIS allowed us to understand any language in the universe?” Julie asked quietly.
“Could be the same reason why she could pin point the location of this planet. Not in her database I imagine, but she usually figures it out.” The Doctor stated in the same volume as he studied the cage that held them.

“ So from where out there are you from Blue-eyes?” Shaden asked loudly, obviously feeling a bit left out of the conversation.

“Earth, a planet that looks a lot like yours, well at least at one time it did.”

“And what about you Doc?”

“Lets just say I am from many places and times and I am sorry but this planet seems awfully primitive to know about other worlds Mr…?” the Doctor answered motioning with his hand toward the man in the cloak.
The man paused for a moment and then shook as if someone had just woke him from a deep sleep.
“Oh of course where are my manners. I am Shaden Dar-Kor but I am better known as Shade and to answer your question, yes this is a primitive planet and not everyone is educated enough to believe in life on other worlds so it would be best to keep that fact about you on the down low.”
“But there are those besides you who do believe in such things?” The Doctor inquired.
“Sure most magic users are quite versed in the ways of the life, the universe and everything. How else are they to become a better user of magic?”
“So you are a magic user then?” Julie asked.
“Hardly, I just like to read a lot. No I am more of a renegade rogue, stealer of hearts, and acquirer of owned items both rare and common.” Shade stated with a bow of his head.

“A thief” The Doctor commented.

“With pride of course, but not just any thief mind you but one of the top thieves in all of Fae’th.”

“You mustn’t be that good if you ended up here” Julie chided.

“Oh this,” Shade said as he rose his shackled hand, ”This was unfortunate but necessary.”

The two Noc guards chuckled and Shade hit the side of the cage, “Hey private conversation here, keep to your noses out of our biz before I knock your block off.”
The guard on the left lifted a small crooked wand and yelled.
“SHOCK!”

The three small bolts of electricity that flew from the wand hit Shade and him wince but he did not scream.

“Yeah, should of have seen that comin.” He said through gritted teeth.
“See told you she would figure it out.” The Doctor stated to Julie with a smile. The Noc then made more unintelligible noises at each other. The Doctors smile disappeared.
“Don’t worry about it Doc. No one can understand a Noc but another Noc. Kinda like how birds can talk to each other but no one but them can understand what they are saying.,” Shade stated as he stood, ” Man Daconis has got to up your dosage there my Noc friends. You’re just too up tight.”

“Draconis is their leader?” The Doctor inquired.

“Not just their leader….” Shade commented as he motioned towards the right side of the cage. The Doctor and Julie looked out in that direction. They were now passing the town square and in the middle of what appeared to be the main street was a large brass statue.
The statue was of a dragon on its back legs with its wings spread out. At the end of the dragon’s long curved neck sat a head shaped like a snake with two large horns above each eye. It looked ready to strike at an invisible foe. The whole statue sat on a large black pedestal. On the front of the pedestal was a golden plaque. To Julie’s surprise, the text appeared to be in English and read:

All Hail Draconis,
Emperor of Fae’th!
Ruler of All
Servant to None
Isn’t That Grand?”

“How charming.” The Doctor commented.
“Sure if you like a sixty foot long, fire breathing, steel scaled bag of wind.” Shade quipped, “Course he hasn’t always been our leader. Before him the Magic users ruled the land through the Council of 7 but that all changed when Draconis came to town. If you think that statue is charming wait until you meet him.”

“What do you mean?” Julie asked a bit frightened and yet also excited at the thought of meeting a live dragon.

“Well where else do you think our little caravan is going but to none other than the Royal Premier Palace Draconis. It’s not everyday we get a visit from someone not of this Fae’th. The old reptile definitely will want to meet you and look over your ride.”

“Not if I have anything to do about it.”The Doctor replied.