The Construct Quest

By Trevor Cook

A young man named Crom must set forth on a Quest to save all life. Traveling through portals to unknown worlds he encounters strange and unique people, monsters and aliens. With the help of those he meets along his journey he must transform and become a legendary hero or fail his quest and see the destruction of the Universe and all life in it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781300989981

Book preview

The Construct Quest

THE CONSTRUCT QUEST

By

Trevor Cook

Chapter #1

Blades of grass tickled the sides of my sandaled feet as I ran.  The summer air smelled of pollen.  Birds were chirping, dogs barking yet I could only hear one distinct sound above everything else.  My heart was pounding.  Like a drum beat urging me onward, ever faster and farther.  My competition was close behind me.  I didn’t have to look to know they were there.  I was running into the wind so I couldn't hear them.  Still, I knew they were close and getting closer.  The city gates stood open before me, a handful of people went about there daily business.  The sounds of the marketplace were growing louder with each step I took.  Four armed and armored guards stood atop the two watch towers next to the main gate.  They watched us approach intently, not out of some worry or concern, but because they likely had a friendly wager on who would win.  Deep down a part of me secretly hoped they wagered on me, but I knew I was the least favored.  That wouldn't stop me from winning though.

I am Crom son of Cromwell, and I am in the most important race of my life.  A race to determine my fate, my destiny.  This race would define the path the rest of my life would take.  The wind tried its best to ruffle my hair, but the hair has been cut short this day and firmly keeps its place.  It went against custom to have short hair given the position I was striving for yet it made sense to have short hair, to keep it out of my way during this crucial time.  I am a little different from your average boy, though as of today, I am now a man.  At least a man by age if not by deeds.  Eighteen years old, that was the age that determined if you were a man or a boy.  I always thought numbers were such small things to have such great power.  Yet I had learned that numbers had a power all their own.  This much salt made food taste good, any more and it would spoil it.  This many knights and you would win the battle, any less and defeat and death.  Sometimes numbers could be very cruel, but today I felt they were all in my favor.  At six feet in height and with a lean build from long days spent working hard around the castle I had long since stopped thinking of myself as a boy.  However when that short nearsighted old woman would grab me by the ear and pull my head down so she could stare into my brown eyes and call me a foolish-young-good-for-nothing little boy, I could not find the strength to disagree with her.  Magrie, the head chambermaid of the castle had been the closest thing to a mother I had ever known.  It was she who had cut my hair and stitched together these fine clothes I wore today.  Though she always had a frown on her face there was a smile in her eyes that told me she was proud of me.     

The grassy field gave way to the hard dirt road of the main street leading into the city.  Passing through the gate the city walls momentarily blocked the wind and I could hear the foot falls almost upon my very heels.  It seemed as though their very breath was upon my neck as we charged down The King's Way and headed for the castle. 

As I dodged to miss colliding with a pair of well dressed ladies crossing the street in front of me Daniel the Quick, as he likes to call him self, strides ahead of me.  Konrad is right on his heels and now they are both leaning forward and pushing with all they’ve got to pull ahead of me.  I know deep down I have a small reserve I could tap into and pull ahead of them, but I save it.  I had a plan and to win I had to follow that plan exactly.

We passed into the castle courtyard and the guards at attention are just a blur in the corner of my eyes as we fly by them and head straight for the steps leading into the Great Hall.  Konrad and Daniel take the steps side by side and pound ahead of me, there is no chance of catching them now.  That’s okay, I can hear them both breathing now, and I know they’ve both made the same mistake. 

Hurtling over the top step and through the wide open doors they both sprint for all they're worth down the length of the Great Hall.  Row after row of benches line the Great Hall and at the end sitting upon a raised dais is the King. A few Nobles sat upon either side of the kings dais watching with varying levels of interest.  Konrad's father Duke Monouve was there as was the Count and Countess of Hwuert,  Daniels parents.  Nobody was awaiting my arrival. 

Konrad and Daniel were just about 10 strides or more ahead of me when they reached the last row of benches.  They skidded to a stop and bent over fighting for breath as they tried to squeak out words with no air in their lungs.  As they finally raised their heads and began to open there mouths to speak I reached them and quickly boomed out in my best voice.

Message for the King!  Konrad and Daniel both swung their heads around to gape at me, words choking in there throats.  I took a quick breath and continued before either could recover. 

The Baron of Granzt gratefully accepts your kind invitation and hospitality for the Harvest Festival three months hence.  I finish with a deep bow.  The Kings voice rings out with his usual good cheer.

Well done, well done all.  It is my pleasure to declare you, Crom son of Cromwell, the winner of this competition.  All three of you have earned the right to become my Royal Messengers.  And you, Crom, shall also serve as my Herald.

Konrad and Daniel were both grinning and slapping my back as there parents gave a less than enthusiastic applause.  I was not sure their lack of joy was from their sons having lost or that I, a commoner, had won. 

My father had died some five years ago in the service of the King.  As the Sargent at Arms for the city guard my father had been sent off with several of his men to dispatch a group of bandits that were raiding travelers passing through a forest to the south of the city.  The bandits had turned out to be a much larger and better armed group of men then expected and a truly vicious fight had ensued.  In the end my father and his men did win, but at a very high price.  He died from his wounds a month after the battle.  He had  refused the Kings offer of Nobility.  This was no surprise to me, for my father had often commented on how spoiled and lazy most noble born were.  My father believed that a man should earn his place in the world and fight every day to keep it.  He was very proud of the title of Sargent at Arms, a title he had earned through deeds many throughout the city could recount, and would not die with some false honorific title placed upon him.  With my fathers passing and my mother having been long dead I was taken into the castle and made a serf, placing me in the care of Magrie.

I had five years to contemplate my future, my fate.  As a serf in the castle I was given a much better education than any commoner should expect and had several opportunities to listen in or observe some of the greatest and most learned people in the kingdom.  Minstrels,  bards, swordsmen, archers, blacksmiths even the Royal chef had found time to say a word of two to me praising their professions as I went about my duties around the castle.

As my eighteenth birthday approached I had made my decision.  I would be a messenger, but not just some common conveyor of news.  As a Royal messenger I could travel the kingdom and beyond carrying the Kings Words.  Though my father had taught me the art of swordsmanship from the time I could walk I had never felt comfortable with the idea of doing harm to another let alone killing somebody.

The Kings Chancellor, an old surly gentlemen that had served the Kings father,  led the three of us out of the great hall and up to a room halfway up one of the castle spires.  In the room were three large beds, three desks each with fine chairs rather than the stools I had become accustomed to sitting at.  The Chancellor directed each of us to one of the beds, upon which was laid out fine new clothes.  They were basically the same, each had leather breaches and a sleeveless brown vest with a dark green sash.  However my sash had a gold emblem upon it with the Kings Coat of Arms sewn into it.

Bathe, The chancellor swept his arm to a curtain at the far end of the room, likely a tub concealed behind it.  Dress and rest.  After midday meal you will all come to my chambers.  You have much to learn. 

The three of us all bowed to him as he turned and swept from the room with his long robes trailing behind him.  Konrad flopped down upon his bed with a muffled groan and Daniel stretched out upon his then propped himself up on an elbow.

Well Crom, since you won I guess you get the honor of taking the first bath.  He smiled at me and waved at the curtain, Konrad gave a muffled laugh still face down on his bed.

I walked over to the curtain and lifted it stepping behind to find an entire room beyond.  There was a large tub and sitting next to it upon a raised platform was a large barrel of water.  In the corner was a kettle sitting upon a grill with glowing embers beneath it.  I checked both barrel and kettle to make sure both were full then turned the tap on the barrel letting water fill the tub.   I carefully carried the hot kettle over and poured in some hot water till the tub was to my liking.  Tossing my old clothes into the corner I wondered if I would get the chance to wear them ever again.  They had been a gift to me on my eighteenth birthday from the Magrie.  She had treated me like a son since the day I had arrived, that included scolding me whenever I managed to get into trouble and I was always getting into trouble.  She often said I had a mind that didn't know how to be silent.  I asked way to many questions and was always in search of something, anything, that was outside of my daily chores.

Slipping into the tub I discovered just how stiff and sore my body was.  As I soaked there thoughts drifted into my head of traveling the countryside carrying messages to the distant corners of the kingdom.  I would see places and people I had only heard of from travelers and minstrels.  What a great life I was to have! 

*  *  *

For two months we trained.  In the first quarter of the morning we rose early and studied swordplay.  As messengers we could be traveling alone and it was common for thieves to attack solitary targets of opportunity.  We spent the two hours prior to midday meal on horseback.  We had each been assigned a fine steed and were responsible for feeding and grooming it.  After midday meal we spent the rest of the our days with the Chancellor.  He made us pour over maps from all across the kingdom and beyond.  He taught us codes and the look of foreign seals.  We studied the different customs of distant lords that were needed should we be in their presence to deliver or receive messages.  He quizzed us on the names of every city in the known world and each noble within said city.

My head hurt and I expected Konrad and Daniel were feeling the same.  It was impossible to remember everything we had been taught.  Names and places started to blur together.  Still, we continued to study and learn as much as we could.  We had a great deal expected of us.

As Herald for the King I was given further training.  It was my job to arrive two days before the King upon any trip he set out upon and see that the nobles were properly informed, that accommodations were to the Kings standard and any petitioners were informed of the Kings timetable.

Konrad and Daniel had become better friends to me than I had expected them to be.  They were both born to nobility and as such were only here to earn themselves some attention in the royal court.  After a few years they would either return home and partake in an arranged marriage, most likely to a noble lady they had met in court and pressured there parents to pursue, or they would be knighted and return home to await the day when they would take over their fathers title and duties.

Konrad and I were the best swordsmen and spent most of our time helping Daniel improve his skills, though Daniel was constantly displaying his wit and making us crack up with constant jokes.  Daniel was more than just a jester, he shined at memorizing maps and could ride a horse through an obstacle course blindfolded.

After almost two full months of training not one of us had left the castle for more than a short trip into town to practice riding in a crowded marketplace.  Today was like most days.  We attended our afternoon lesson on the language of the Muint, a distant kingdom that we’d likely never visit.  However languages were a passion of the Chancellors so we did our best to pretend to learn them.  We had come to understand that he didn't expect us to remember everything so as long as we paid attention and repeated what he said exactly as he said it he would smile and nod and move on to some other lesson.  After our afternoon lessons we had retired to our normal hiding place high up one of the castle spires.  This was a lookout post that was only in use during times of war and was so high up most of the servants failed to climb up here and clean it more than once a year. 

I’ve always wondered...  Daniel began and Konrad and I both winced.  Daniel loved to talk philosophically. He was laying stretched out on a bench with his hands clasped behind his short blond hair.  He was lean and lanky, the tallest of us three. 

What is it this time?  Konrad bravely ventured from his normal post sitting on a stool with his back against a wall and his arms folded over his chest.  His eyes were closed as if in meditation though it was not deep thoughts that caused this.  He simply found his memory of a certain chambermaid that had caught his attention preferable to our lounging forms. 

Oh, I’m certain it will be fascinating as always.  I shot him a smile over my shoulder from my normal spot occupying the southern window.  Since it was I that had found this place and led them here I was able to claim it for myself.  The window had the best view of the city with just enough sunlight hitting it to warm me despite the cool breeze.  This was a special place for me.  A place I had found shortly after I started to live in the castle and needed to escape Magrie's wrath. In this place there was no noble nor commoner, just three friends.  I sat upon the windows ledge with my back against its inner rim.  Next to the window on the wall hung a massive bow and on the other side of the window were arrows that were as long as a mans leg.  Each of the arrows had a bit of cloth wrapped about its shaft and there was a pot of dry kindling and a flint beneath the window.

About the nature of nobility.  Daniel continued talking to the ceiling.

Like if a Duke is more handsome than a Count?  Konrad opened one eye and turned it towards Daniel, he knew that Daniel had spotted the very same chambermaid.

No. No.  I’m not talking about titles.  I could tell Daniel was in one of his more serious moods.

So your talking about noble actions?  I asked.

Kind of Crom but not quite right.  I’m talking about noble ideals.  Like, what if you lay down your life for another, that’s noble, but if that person is evil was your action still noble?

I think I follow you Daniel.  Konrad inserted.  It’s like the question of intention versus action.  If you intend evil but your action has good consequences then the action is all that matters, the intention behind it is irrelevant.

I disagree with that.  I slipped from the window and paced the circular room.  A noble action just like an evil one requires intention.  If I take this bow and fire an arrow out of the window here with my eyes closed, I’ll have no idea where it might land.  If that arrow should strike a lady crossing the street I can not claim my intention was pure since I knew that the arrow had to land and that there were people in the city.  By the same logic if that arrow were to strike a thief fleeing the city guard I could not claim heroics since I had no clue he was there yet alone a criminal.

Ah but Crom by that same logic all actions require intentions.  So if your intentions were evil then you would keep your eyes closed and would be responsible for any evil results.  However if your intentions were noble you would have opened your eyes and looked to avoid the lady, and you would have searched for the criminal or some other suitable target.

What if I missed?

If?  Snorted Konrad.

Crom, Daniel raised up on one elbow.  You would have taken that possibility into account before you let loose your arrow.  That is the nature of nobility, it guides your actions, even beyond conscious thought.  He had a smug look on his face as he pointed at me.  A noble heart creates noble intentions and noble actions.

Before either Konrad or I could respond the trap door to the watch room snapped open with the creaking of old timber.  The helmeted head of one of the castle guards popped up from the ladder.

You three!  Get to the Kings Council chamber.  Now!  With a strong shove he pushed himself up through the hole and stepped quickly to the side pointing back the way he had come.

We shot each other a nervous look then came to the same conclusion, the King needed a royal messenger! Perhaps all three of us.  I was the last to the opening and had to wait.  I glanced at the guard who was now standing at the window where I had been sitting.  Something about his stance bothered me.  As I climbed down the stairs and started after Konrad and Daniel I realized with a glance back that the guard was not following us.  He had just assumed his post!

The Kings Council chamber was where most of the business of the kingdom was taken care of.  Normally the King his Chancellor and whatever Nobles were in the city would meet here with a guild or farmers union to settle some dispute.  When we reached the door to the chamber there were two of the Kings Knights standing guard on either side.  One of them motioned us in with a tilt of his head.  Inside was the King, his Chancellor and the Barron of Granzt along with two Knights, one wore the emblem for the Captain of the Kings Guard and the other for the Sargent at Arms for the city guard.  I knew the Sargent at Arms instantly as one of my fathers friends.  He gave me only the slightest smile as we entered the room and took our place off to the side.

The three of us stood silently as the chancellor squinted his eyes at the Barron and asked him with a most unusual tone of voice as though he hoped against hope that the Barron would change his answer to suite him.

You are certain they have both gathered such a large force?

My dear chancellor, The Barron began.  Though my information comes from merchants and not your trusted scouts I can assure you it is as accurate as possible given the nature of the information.  Majesty, chancellor, I’m certain you both are aware of the rumors of increased hostility between the kingdom of Divbon and Polxier. 

The Barron was a rather young man, only a few years my senior.  He had inherited his fathers title at a young age after his father fell to illness.  The city of Grantz was the home of the merchants guild and they had been very supportive of the Barron leading to rumors that he was being controlled by them.  Though I had only met him once before, the day of the race, I felt that he was very smart and would not be easily pushed around. 

The merchants have kept track of what has been purchased by both kingdoms over the last year.  It was their own idea to have merchants look into how those items were being distributed.  Our mines in the north are among the richest in the world, so it was with little surprise that they both would buy iron from us in order to outfit soldiers for war.  However they also purchased horses and other provisions.  When the merchants became aware that the amount of iron was growing they began to look for where the iron went.  They discovered both Divbon and Polxier had begun training new troops in large numbers.

The King sat back in his large cushioned chair with his hands clasped over his chest as he spoke. 

We have always remained neutral in the affairs between Divbon and Polxier.  Still, we are not unaware of the anger that exists between these two kingdoms.  We can trust the information you have received is accurate.  What troubles us is where they are massing their troops.

The chancellor leans over the map that fills the large round table in the center of the room.  He jabs one long bony finger at the map and glances up at the Barron.

Here?

The Barron nods once.

And here?  Jabbing the same finger at another part of the map the chancellor looks up again receiving another nod.

That puts both forces less than two days march from our southern border.  The chancellor glared at the map for a moment before continuing.

There are three possibilities.  One, The chancellor began to tick off on his long bony fingers.  They are merely using those locations as supply depots.  Two, they intend to wage there war on our land.  Three, they are planing on invading us. 

Hrmf!  Came from the Sargent at Arms.  Invade us with weapons we provided them with.

The King smiled at him.

Such irony would be painful, however I do not believe this is the likely option.  Divbon and Polxier hate each other with a passion.  The forest that serves as the border between them is so thick and full of bogs and poisonous snakes and other critters that any large scale battle there is almost impossible.  That same forest has proven excellent hiding ground for thieves and bandits.  Both kingdoms accuse the other of funding these bandits further angering each other.

The King took a deep breath before continuing.

Three years ago the Regent of Polxier sent a request to me for permission to march his army across our souther border and invade Divbon.  Two years ago Divbon made the same request, both were denied.  So now they force our hands.

Precisely Majesty.  The chancellor stated flatly.

This leaves us with few options as I see things.  The Captain of the Kings guards spoke up.  He kept his arms folded across his barrel chest and glared at the map with intensity.

We either go to war with both in an attempt at stopping them from crossing our borders.  Or we chose to support one side and end this war as fast as possible.  Unless you wish to do nothing and simply let them fight it out?

That is not an option.  The King let out a deep sigh.  That land they intend on waging war upon is some of the richest most fertile farm land in the Kingdom.  Almost half of all our cattle graze in the south and much of that land would be destroyed by two armies marching and battling upon it.  Not to mention those armies are going to be hungry.  The impact of this war would likely see our people starving this winter.  That We can not allow!

The King shot to his feet and strode from the table to a desk near the wall.  He picked up a quill and dipped it into an ink well then began to write two letters.  Rolling each up and sealing them with hot wax he pressed the Kings Royal seal ring into the wax.  He turned to the three of us with a feint smile on his lips. 

We shall invite both the Regent of Polxier and the King of Divbon to a meeting.  We will explain to them the foolishness of this vendetta.  We will try to make them see reason.  However something extreme may be required, a contest of champions perhaps.  We will make it clear to them that this war must not happen.

The King pointed the scroll held in his right hand at Daniel. 

You will take this to the Regent of Polxier, you shall have four knights as escort.  Deliver it and return at once, do not await a response.

The King pointed the scroll held in his left hand at Konrad.

To the King of Divbon with you, again an escort of four knights.  Do not await an answer.

Daniel and Konrad each stepped forward and accepted their scrolls, bowing low.

Majesty.  They both said in unison.

Herald, you shall ride at once to the estate of the Count of Nattis.   Inform the Count to expect Us to arrive within two days of your arrival.  Captain, how many?

From the castle and city both we should be able to muster about seven hundred Knights, squires and guildsmen Majesty.

Very well.  We shall be some seven hundred strong and traveling fast and light.  He is to have provisions and accommodations suitable for Us.  Have him recall all of his retainers and begin their harvest at once.  They must also move what cattle and other animals that are within a days ride to the south of his estate to the north of his estate.

I do not believe the Count will be pleased to hear all of this, Majesty.  The chancellor spoke with a thin smile upon his nearly white lips.

Pleased or not he shall obey his King.

Majesty.

I bowed and turned to leave as he dismissed the three of us with a nod and a wave of his hand.  I could feel excitement and apprehension warring within me.  Daniel and Konrad were in very high spirits as we rushed first up to our chambers then down to the stables.  At last we were  fulfilling our duties.  At last we were acting in service of the King.  The fact that this meeting might be the precursor of a war was something for the old people to worry about.

Chapter #2

Riding down from the castle to the front gates of the city was slow due to the number of people in the street and the size of our party.  Kings Way was always busy at this time of day and the sight of eight Knights and the Kings Messengers riding out caused many to pause in their barter of wares to stare in apprehension.  I didn’t bother glancing about, just kept my eyes on the ground in front of my horse.  I could feel many eyes upon me, all wondering what our departure might portent.  The weight of our mission was slowly starting to slip in past my excitement.  Two Knights road in front of us clearing a path and the remaining six brought up the rear.  The guards at the city gate were far more attentive than normal.  Glancing back over my shoulder my eyes drifted up to the castle tower.  Though I could not see him, I knew there was a guard up in that tower looking down on us.  Watching our progress and moving his gaze over the entire city and beyond.  Looking for some threat that he knew was too far away to see, but would be coming far closer than he would ever allow had he the means to stop it.

Clearing the city we picked up the pace and galloped south for half a day.  We were pushing the horses, but there was little choice.  We stopped at a fork in the road to rest the horses and bid farewell and good luck to each other.  Daniel and his four knights would be taking the Lakeshore road to Polxier.  Konrad and his escort would be taking Cattle Runners road to Divbon.  From here I would be traveling alone along Queens’ Way to the counts estate.

Without a word the Knights had separated into two groups, one Knight holding the reigns of four horses feeding each an apple while the remaining three stared down Lakeshore road.  They glanced over to the Lake that was not yet visible at this distance then back the way we came.  The other group of knights did the same, glaring down Cattle Runners road then off to the woods in the distance.  None of them bothered to look down Queens’ Way.

A little more excitement than I had hoped for on our first assignments.  Konrad spoke under his breath as we stood together. 

Your knights are bigger than mine.  Daniel muttered looking past me to the three knights standing a short way down the road Konrad would soon be on.

Smarter too.  Konrad replied.

And just how do you know that?  I grinned at him.

There with me.  He smiled back.

Trade you my guy with the broad shoulders for that tall lean one of yours?  Daniel hooked a thumb over his shoulder to his escort.

Konrad folded his arms across his chest and pondered it for a moment then slowly shook his head.

Na, shame to break up a matched set.

Fun as this talk is, we’d best be moving on.  I looked from one to the other.

You be sure to keep an eye out for any pretty girls at the counts estate Crom.  I’ll be needing some good company once I arrive there.  Daniel clapped me on one shoulder grinning from ear to ear.

Two for me, Crom, I’ll have worked up a powerful need by the time I arrive.  Konrad clapped a hand on my other shoulder.

Just don’t you two be marrying any princess while in foreign countries, last thing I need is to be forced to bow before the likes of you two.  I slapped both of them on the shoulder closest to me and turned to mount my horse.  Without any instructions the knights moved as one and were mounted and ready to go.  Konrad, Daniel and I shared one last look at each other before we all set off on our own paths.

*  *  *

Alone at last.  Out of the castle and the city at last.  On a great adventure at long last.  This was what I always wanted, so why was my stomach so upset?  Why was the hair on the back of my neck standing up, as if some great force was pursuing me down this road?  I