Tales of Terrepikos PART 4

“It’s them!” I squeaked before bolting away. As if flying I streamed through every shortcut and secret passageway I knew to get a front row view of the arrival.

They all approached in the formation of a massive upside down triangle into the grand entrance yard just inside the castle walls. A gigantic carriage was being pulled in and I just knew it was full to the brim with props and set pieces for the performance. All the performers were on horseback carrying the massive thing. My young memory wants to say it was nearly a hundred horses but an adult’s logic would bring it down to about two or three dozen. But still! I was awestruck. It looked like they were pulling an entire house, with windows, various doors and hilariously a mailbox.

“This the place??” a random voice among the hoard shouted over the galloping.

“Ask me that again and you can kiss your stage time goodbye!” The hooded leader barked. The voice penetrated the night silence like an explosion.

“Sorry…” they croaked back.

“Yes. This is Plebes. Now don’t blame me cuz’ this place was harder to find than a blister on your ass! Not to mention in the middle of the night! Be thankful those raiders didn’t-” before the leader could finish he was stopped by the sight of my father. Even with a vantage point, I didn’t see him approach. A trick I hope to one day master.

“Good evening weary travelers!” he bellowed, filling the space with his voice. I could sense a genuine happiness in it. “Apologies for our Kingdom’s unorthodox placement but I assure you; your troublesome journey will be rewarded. Some of our best chambers are waiting for you. A quick head count tells me you will all be quite comfortable since we were expecting a party of well over fifty!”

The leader, with one swift flourish of vanishing Magic appeared directly in front of my father; who remained unfazed with a smile.

“You will find we provide the impact of a HUNDRED.” The leader remarked. After a tense moment of pause they bear hug like brothers.

“It is good to see you, Histrio.” The mysterious leader lowered their hood to reveal a face with a myriad of tattoos common with specific types of magic.

“We need to discuss OUR definition of ‘out of the way’ Kinalta.” The entire group laughed heartily.

“I warned you.” Father replied with a chuckle. “Now before I escort you all. I would like to introduce my son.” These words shocked me so much I lost my grip on the balcony I was eavesdropping from.

My stomach became my highest organ as I fell into a gigantic stack of hay that was meant for the score of visiting horses. I popped my head out to see my father’s hand extended to help.

“Come now son. I would like to introduce you to a dear friend.” As he pulled me out and had me shake the rocky hand of Histrio Stonefist. A master of magic both illusion and lightning. He lost his hand to something out in the wild and chose a replacement that empowered his combat magic.

So freaking cool.

He can also bring one to absolute tears with a monologue. I’ll tell you that for free.

Right. Where was I? Yes. I remember how cold his hand was contrasting to his warm and scarred face.

“Nice to meet you Tinley. Your father is known for many things but one of my favorites is how much he talks about his son in his letters.” I looked down in embarrassment; something he noticed.

“Now now, all good things Tinley! For instance… there isn’t a tale in his collection you couldn’t talk my ear off about.”

“Go ahead! Name one!” I blurted with an enthusiasm that, with retrospect, makes me cringe to this day.

“Hahaha! Maybe later lad. With two days of travel on us we would like to relax it off.” Then in a single motion Histrio got the entire ensemble to march toward the bedchambers with the gigantic carriage left behind; largely unguarded.

My father noticed my drooling gaze and decided to nip something in the bud.

“Tinley. I can forgive sneaking out to meet them. But now I think it is time you actually went to bed.” he gave me his famous “I’m serious” face so I just nodded and made my exit.

Sleep obviously eluded me… not only because of all the excitement but the party blatantly thundering through the castle.

It all seemed to be vibrating from the main dining hall…and by “it” I mean booming laughter, sword fighting and the slightest hint of music. Finally when I gave in and defied my father I went to see what was going on.

As I got closer it became more distinct, more recognizable. It wasn’t just random shouting; it was singing. The steel on steel I was hearing wasn’t combat… but an audience keeping the beat of the musicians the only way they knew; clanging their weapons. The rhythm revealed itself more and more with every step.

I entered mid-verse;

Once I was almost a dragon’s meal

Eye burning blood and claws of steel

But with all of my wits and the last of my luck-

My sword held up high “come and get it ya fuck!”

Bursting with passion I couldn’t stop slashin’

A worthy opponent, lethal satisfaction

Fury like fire, wings like a sail

I promise you friend this is no tall tale!

The verse was sung by a single person surrounded by the whole cast all joined for the chorus.

We are the Yarn Spinners, our tales aren’t tall

But epics of truth both large and small

We travel far, we travel wide

Fate is the map, destiny the guide

Take a seat, the rest we provide

Authors of history; but take no side

It concluded with an earth shaking applause and shouting from everyone who contributed. Celebratory flashes of lightning and fire magic went off as well. If I hadn’t ducked at the last second I wouldn’t have had a head. It all happened so fast but I remember the realization that a crucial piece of information whipped right past me.

These are the Yarn Spinners???

I just assumed it was some random troupe that happened to be in the area and my father somehow heard about it. I was an excitable and not thorough child. Nobody underestimates a parent more than their child, I suppose. But the idea that my father even knew a member of the legendary traveling troupe let alone be old friends with the guy who is apparently in charge! This group was known for being one of the few that actually traverses the entirety of Terrepikos. Performing plays and songs about all the epic events of history both recent and ancient.

Now Reginald may have been rude but he wasn’t wrong when talking about leaving this place. Every direction poses a threat that isn’t to be underestimated. So to travel the way these actors do they have to be the toughest and coolest bunch of folks to even grace us with a visit. Or so my adolescent and current self felt/feel.

I wanted so desperately to join them there and then. I even momentarily talked myself into it before I saw my father shamble onto a table addressing everyone. It was the first time I ever witnessed him even slightly drunk; or at least where it was obvious. Certain things aren’t easy to forget.

“Again! I would like to thank the Yarn Spinners for their lovely company this fine evening. I also would like to again apologize for-”

“Your king being a cunt???” a voice screeched from the back bringing seismic laughter from everyone, including my father to my young self’s surprise. His face went a shade redder as he stifled the giggles.

“...to apologize for his absence this evening. He is not fond of social interactions after sun set.” he explained.

“We ain’t gonna wake the royal baby?” another voice cracked out.

“Oh no. The sleep potions he takes are enough to put even Oxo out.” he pointed to a man with eyes so wide I could see the whites of them from across the hall.

“Unlikely!!” the bug eyed man replied with a gigantic grin.

“-most importantly, my gratitude for the performance tomorrow! I’ve been told many from the Kingdom will be in attendance and I know I’ve said this before but-”

The whole group finished this one for him.

“But Tinley is going to LOVE it!” they all chant out.

My face became as red as the drunkest one there. I basically received confirmation that a group I am obsessed with knows about my obsession. I recall wishing the rouge lightning blast I dodged earlier had hit me. With a gesture of his arms the party commenced and I saw Histrio walk up to him and whisper something. Nodding thoughtfully my father shook his head for him to follow. As soon as they left my line of sight I ran to pick up the trail. I almost lost them at the main staircase because I took a left when I was positive they wouldn’t go right but I barely managed to catch up to them right outside the dungeons.

“Kinalta. I like a tour of a fancy castle I’ll never live in as much as the next traveling asshole but can we just stop and talk?” It was his elevated and irritated tone that allowed me to find them again. I jumped back behind a corner the second before my father’s eyes scanned the hallway.

“I’m being cautious.” His voice echoed right at me. “You saw him when you arrived...he is very excited by you all… a setback I did not account for somehow.”

“What do you mean?” Histrio asked.

“My son is known for leaving his bed for far less than meeting his heroes.”

“Heroes? He knows we only TELL the tales right? We rarely ARE them. Sure we got a few soldiers and a wizard here or there but-” he began.

“You misunderstand. Tinley’s admiration doesn’t come from performing the tales so much as simply knowing them.” There was a pause before he continued. “A parent’s worst fear is having a child that wants to see the world. This world. One we both know is full of dangers and horrors his books could never prepare him for.” To this day I remember how that honest statement felt. “I know his heart yearns to seek out adventure. Out there. We may not be blood but I cannot shake the idea that he got it somehow from me. How I wish the apple fell farther…” he said, smushing my young little feelings.

“Hey now,” Histrio said. “You can’t blame the kid or yourself for having the itch. It’s something that was in him loooong before you came around. I don’t care how small he was when he showed up on that ledge!” My father shushed him but the knowledge that he knew something I only learned hours ago about me… was very surreal.

“You must keep your voice down. I’m nearly certain he isn’t in his bed. I am hoping the commotion of the cast will keep him there but…” I could feel my father composing himself. A process I am very familiar with. A pause. An exhale. Then finally, the calmest voice he can muster.

“In your letter… you said you had a lead?” he spoke. Due to me only being able to listen I could just barely make out the sound of Fortuna producing something from his robe’s pocket.

“I asked your usual questions…to the usual types. Not much traction for a long time; I’m sure you remember.”

“I do.”

“Well a few months back the troupe and I stayed at this inn at the base of the Toc Mountains. We’d locked in with a few other travelers for a few days. In that time we got talking. I eventually got asking…and wouldn’t you know it, the one who had something interesting to say was the blind vagrant that every inn seems to have.”

“This is is your lead?”

“Did the story sound finished? On one of the last nights, a few of us were awake around a smoldering fire sharing stories. I shared one about a baby found on a ledge, and as per your instructions, kept eyes on any faces hearing it. Nothing. No tells on any faces. At first I thought it was another dud. Until the blind one asked a very interesting question.”

A pause.

“Don’t leave me in suspense.” my father said.

“Is he allergic to death?” Histrio’s voice crackled, impersonating the vagrant. The heaviest pause in my life signaled my father’s speechlessness. “Now a garden variety phrase of madness like that? I usually wouldn’t pay it any mind. The whole week he just screamed about a coin of destruction or those bloody twins he worships. Half of what he said…it started to sound like the wind I was so used to ignoring. But this? This one stopped me. The same way it’s stopping you right now.”

“It’s thin.”

“Is it? Kinalta. Every time I sent you nothing to report, all YOU could do is regale us with story after story of young Tinley and his magnetism to danger and his even more keen ability to survive it. My whole troupe can recite your story of when he was a toddler that LOVED waddling away from Daddy. One day he wandered so far that he got lost in the forest just outside the city. You swore you followed the faint sound of giggling to find him bouncing on the back of a Toxic Rattleback, the very thing that took my hand. Thirty feet you said!”

“... did they say anything else?”

“You think I dragged my men all the way to this map stain you call a kingdom because of one thing a madman said?” He pauses for dramatic to my father’s annoyance. “I came because of two things he said.”

They both chuckle.

“The look of bewilderment on my face humbled me as an actor but I get a free pass since-”

“He was blind.” Father finished.

“The other thing he said…what’s got me trekking into this asshole of a-”

“Histrio.”

“...Sorry, sorry. I’ve had a few tonight and this afternoon now that I think on it. But yes! What he said…I figured was better delivered in person than writing.” I heard the distinct sound of a heavy hand being plopped reassuringly on my father’s shoulder. “The child will outgrow its hiding spot, fate demands it.”

I’ve thought about that night and those words more than a sane man would admit too. If my father had a response he never got to voice it because the sudden rumble of dozens of feet started to build like a stampede toward the three of us. I had to start my escape route and leave the conversation behind and I would have given anything to hear more of it.

More to come!