2011 Halloween Workshop!

Figured I'd post my first chapter (still requires going through some editing, so if you spot an error or have an opinion, bring it up!), second and third should be done before the week is up, but fourth and fifth I'm having issues on getting the specifics planned out (excluding those two, in which I know what will happen but not how, I've outlined the entire thing and come up with a whopping 11 chapters).

The streets bustled around like a swarm of bees. The many high granite walls of Fahranur surrounded everything of the city, and at times even prevented the wind from entering. The only wind that enters the city comes from the west, which is opened for the cliff’s edge. The city was built like a maze to ward off invaders in the early days of the kingdom. But there never were such invaders. Now, the winding and encircling passageways act as ways to confuse travelers and give guides a large profit.

In the sunny day, there was only one cloaked individual in the city’s central plaza and bazaar. He stared up at the sky, the sun blocked by the walls laced with lines and upside-down pyramid designs. His hood fell off as he looked up, revealing his crimson red hair and his Orrian features.

The man sighed as he looked around. Those who were staring at him turned away. There were few Orrians in Istan, and all were viewed as nobles. Those who saw him will likely try to haggle him into buying unnecessary things.

He needed to leave.

“An Orrian traveler with blood-red hair? That’s pretty uncommon.” A quaking voice behind the traveler said. Turning around, he saw a small boy, perhaps around eleven or twelve, in rags with a huge childish grin on his face. “Can you really be him?”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about kid.” The man said, walking away.

“You’re him right? Right?” The man ignored the boy, who in turn simply repeated his question.

“I’m no one.”

“No one is no one because everyone is someone.” The boy said cheerfully. “I’m someone too!”

“Leave.”

“Answer my question please. You’re him aren’t you?”

“I am a guy, so I am a ‘him’ but I don’t see how that is of any importance.” The two have passed several bazaars. Faces turn towards and away almost instantly as they pass by. Neither were loud.

“No no, I didn’t mean that.”

The man wiped around, his cloak spitting in the air. “Look kid, I don’t have time for your childish games. So leave me be. I’d rather not kill a kid, but I will if it’ll shut you up.”

“You also have a temper. You must be him.” The boy said, keeping his wide grin.

“You have a death wish, don’t you.”

“Almost. I just want to be like you, Konig. You are Konig right?”

The man stared in silence at the kid, and the kid just continued grinning in response. A minute had passed before the man turned around and walked away again. “Don’t mention my name again.”

“I knew it!” The kid shouted excitedly as ran to catch up. “So will you teach me? Can you make me like you?”

“No.” Konig snapped.

Konig began walking at a faster pace, hoping to leave the kid behind, but the boy managed to keep up, and constantly asking questions. Without realizing, Konig had been going in circles in the halls surrounding the central plaza. Nearly an hour had passed without change.

“Why are you so stubborn?” The boy, no longer grinning, began to pout. When Konig didn’t answer, the boy ran up and kicked him in the back of the knee, knocking Konig down.

“Little brat…” Konig grumbled.

“There you are!” A woman’s shout sounded through the area. Donned in white armor, clearly a member of the Sunspear Guard, protectors of the continent, the woman strode up and grabbed the boy by the ear. “How many times do I have to go out looking for you? I’m taking you home immediately! And you, I’m sorry for any trouble this boy has caused you.”

Konig said nothing as he stood up and brushed the dirt off of his cloak. In doing so his hood once more fell off.

“You’re Orrian? My apologies, you must be one of the visiting nobles that the king has sent out for. I will gladly escor-“

“I’m not a noble. I’m merely a traveler, nothing more.”

“You are too something more!” The boy shouted, grinning once more. “You’re Ko-“

Konig quickly covered the boy’s mouth. “I would prefer if you didn’t announce my name to the world, kid.”

The woman pulled Konig away from the boy, her face now glaring with fury. “And why would that be? Do you have a bounty on your head?”

Konig stared at the woman, shocked by the sudden change in her personality. “No, I’m not that foolish.”

“Right, well if that’s the case, then I guess you won’t mind coming to my office to double check, would you? Or would you rather be dragged there for harming King Onrah’s son?”

“It’s okay, he’s not a criminal. He’s just famous.” The boy smiled. “And what he did was my fault anyways.”

“I don’t trust anyone who refuses to give their name to me.” The woman said before straightening up. “I’m First Spear Janah, Fahranur’s my territory. And I’ll be having my eye on you… the other on this kid.” She turned around and began to drag the boy as he protested.

Konig remained still, staring at the two. Minutes had passed after they were out of sight when he finally moved, bursting into laughter. Those nearby turned curiously at him.

“Reminds me of when I was young.” He said, remembering the time when he’d sneak out of his father’s estate just to be dragged back by the head guard, Afzal.