|
Chip and the Quest for the Golden Acorn. Bk 1, Chp 1, Pg 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page 5
Chip made the decision, and it was set. Everyone in attendance gasped, the hall filled with exclamations of outrage and alarm. Councilor Brandt looked astonished and enraged. "What.... did you just.... say?" He asked, talking between clenched teeth. Chip stood his ground in those baleful eyes. "I said I do not accept the patronage of Stephen, nor will I ever." He announced, looking at the wide-eyed crowd, his eyes falling sadly on his three best friends: Gus, open mouthed and shocked; Gwen, alarmed with tears in her wide eyes and paws over her mouth; Rose, eyes wide and umbrella forgotten. "This.... this has never happened before!!" exclaimed Brandt, stamping his foot in outrage. Already two burly squirrels were marching up the stage, clad in the armor of the Warrior Caste, swords at their hips and helmets on their heads as if they were going to war at any moment. "According to our laws, any who decline the patronage are hereby exiled from the Great Oaks and it's domains. You, Chip of Greenwood, are hereby exiled!!" Brandt proclaimed, thrusting the scroll holding the Great Oak Laws near Chip's face. Chip's eyes scanned the page, then said: "You don't have the power to do that, Councilor. Only the High Councilor Nevar can do that." Brandt nodded sagely, looking at the curious eyes in the assembly. "So it is, so it is. Instead, you will be sent to our detention tower to await the High Councilor's decree on your behalf." Brandt said sorrowfully. Yea right, Chip thought, he doesn't care. He's just one of those really ambitious squirrels who want complete control over everything, and for everything to be in routine.... He shook his head, shrugging off the paws at his shoulders. "I know where to go, Councilor. I do not need an escort to get there." Chip said defiantly, already hating the Councilor for reasons he personally couldn't fathom. Thusly he was lead, one warrior behind him while the other was out front, cleaving a path through the mob below. The assembly reacted instantly, shouting in outrage and confusion, many asking him to take his words back. But he couldn't, so he stayed silent as he was led to his destination.
The Detention tower was, in most cases, simply a well-furnished dungeon. Had stone walls, was a good forty to fifty feet tall, two high windows, and numerous couches and chairs. A bookcase adorned the back wall opposite the doorway, a large rug covered the floor with chairs and couches atop it. One bed sat in the far right side of the squarish tower, which Chip decided needed to be sat upon when they arrived. The door, a stout oak - of course - door with a single barred window at its peak. Closing the door behind him, one of the guards peeked through the window. "Why'd you say no?" He asked, anger clouding his words. "Because I will not lose whatever beast I am as Chip to be overcome by a fanatic like Steven. Whatever I am now will be forever soiled by a name I have never wanted." He said sadly, knowing his words had no affect on the guard outside his room. He sighed wearily at the harrumph from the guard as he returned to doing his job. Chip shook his head, and began to wait.
Chip slowly woke up, believing the loud noises coming from outside his doorway were just part of his dream but, instead, were real. He raced to the door, seeing a mill of people running around, his guards looking anxious. "What's the hubbub about, eh?" He asked innocently. He didn't expect a reply, but he got one. "Seems High Councilor Nevar is dead..." came the cold reply, the guard speaking between his teeth. Chip gasped loudly. "No..... Dead? How?" He asked, his eyes wide. "Councilor Brandt said it was from his sickness. He was very old, after all, so it wasn't much of a surprise. The only good thing that came of it is how much Miss Gwendolen beat the snot out of Brandt when she heard." The guard chuckled with his friend. Chip shook his head sadly, wiping a tear from his eye. I will miss you, Nevar. You were like the father I wish I had since mine sort of ran off, he thought sadly, speaking a small prayer on his behalf to the Allmaker, the Creator and Lord of All. He also knew, now that Nevar was dead, that Councilor Brandt would soon become High Councilor Brandt, and exiling the new heretical Chip of Greenwood would be his first decree. Chip shuddered at the thought.
Lord Arimor Darkheart · Sun Nov 15, 2009 @ 11:45pm · 0 Comments |
|
|
|
|
|