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Hannibal The Summoned. Chapter 5

A Regular Day.



Waking up, June looks around to where Ella was supposed to be sitting, noticing she was gone, with it being day, she gets out of her bed and looks around the tarp, seeing nothing, and nothing that she could do, however she notices an entrance to the tarp.


Wanting to go outside to see what's out there, she attempts to take a step outside, but was stopped with what felt like as if there was an invisible wall stopping her from leaving the tarp, outside looked like to be in the deep woods of the dense forest of Misselwood.


She stands there for a moment trying to remember the magic word, that magic word Ella told her.


Eventually she navigates through the fog of her mind remembering what she did, (Ella put her hand out with her palm up she says 'oscailte,' and a hand mirror appears out of a black void.)


So, June trying to copy her, holds her hand out saying the word thinking of the door, saying that word a door appeared directly in front of her. She takes a step back in shock at how quickly it appeared, taking a second to compose herself and steps through.


Passing through the door June enters the hallway of the mansion, she takes a few steps in the centre of the hallway where she bumbles into Scarlett and falls to the ground, with Scarlett unfazed she just stands there laughing, holding her hand out helping June to her feet saying, “we one, sorry, doing fine day?”


Dusting herself off June remarks “fine, what are you doing?”


Smiling Scarlett replies, “come on little one, let's walk or do Scarlett need to carry you?”


She smiles as they walks uttering "by the father, full of questions today, we are?"


Looking down as June thought she did wrong she remarks "sorry."


Shaking her head Scarlett laughs "no, no we one, its ok thing is I have trouble talking the way humans talk, I'll try too speak clearer for you."


She smiles as she walks uttering "I'm sorry, I have trouble talking the way humans speak because of these tusks in my mouth, ill try too speak clearer for you."


And as June does she accepts it without question, as they walked Scarlett tried to articulate her words correctly, explaining “you see I'm the head guardian of this place, once the leader is away that is, I am now doing my rounds of the mansion, then once that's done, I have to go around through the town, it's just a daily walk around to see if all is well.”


“And what if it isn't?” June curiously asks.


“Then we have to deal with it, your very quick-witted for your, what age are you?” Scarlett says slightly impressed.


June counts on one hand, “eight.” she says looking up at Scarlett


Smiling Scarlett looks at June, noticing her clothes thinking that she might need to get new ones. As they get into the foyer, June's mouth went agape astounded by the bright colours and how beautiful the place looked June points everywhere surprised, unable to say a word but everywhere she went her head went on a swivel at this gorgeous place.


With Scarlett still trying to word it properly she says “this building is gorgeous isn't it, I almost forget how beautiful this place is since I lived here a long while, this island though, it moves around the void by the leader's power, the power is to protect the people in the town below us and we as its residents are to help protect the island and help the leader where we can.”


Nodding her head as she follows Scarlett around the mansion, from the foyer they both go to the main hall noticing nothing out of the ordinary, thinking that she didn't see this before June asks Scarlett "hey we didn't go through this when we first came here."


Nodding her head "smart, you noticed, the leader used his powers to make the walk quicker, you see the furthest room down the hall, that's is the room that you met the leader, its a long walk from that wee island to the leaders throne, so he thought he would make it easier on you."


Narrowing her eyes as they get into the great hall, June asks as Scarlett looks around "then why did he not put the door at the small island?"


Laughing Scarlett remarks "good question, no clue, ask him that the next time you meet him."


In the great hall was many beings like tree people, beast people, Aarakocra, with each and every person saying hello to Scarlett.


In the great hall was many beings like tree people, beast people, Aarakocra, with each and every person saying hello to Scarlett.


June looks at Scarlett wanting to ask a question but doesn't thinking back on the last time she asked something, so she kept quiet, next stop was the library where owling stood looking at books Scarlett askes them "anything happening?"


Each one shook there head saying "nothing wrong." she nod her head leaving them be, after that was the leaders throne room in front of the door two beast people where situated there as guards, they walk up to the guards with one of them saying "your are aloud in boss but the wee one is not, sorry."


Scarlett looks at June but all June was looking at these dog people, she asks "will you be ok here on your own?"


Nodding her head she says "yea" so Scarlett walks in the door and walks around the room seeing nothing different since the last time, she walked around no more than five minutes and walks outside the door and as she walked out she seen June and the two dog people curled up beside as she petted both dog person.


until Scarlett walking out they both jumped up in embarrassment, she didn't say a word with June getting up also smiling, Scarlett walks of with June in toe, as they turned the corner Scarlett started to laugh loud enough that the dog people could hear, the dog people join in laughing no how stupid they looked.


thinking she did wrong June stays quiet as they finished the main house, getting outside Scarlett asks "you ok, spoken in a while you have not."


June utters "I just feel like I'm messing up a lot of stuff."


Understanding now Scarlett says "you mean what you did to Leo and Rocky the two dogs, I'm sure they loved it don't fret over that, seeing people smile is a good thing."


smiling June puts that behind her as a fun experience and continues through the long pathway with hedges sculped in animal shapes, to the edge of the hill to go down to the town.


As they walked down the hill June looked at Scarlett thinking of that question once more, noticing this Scarlett started to feel uneasy, so she stops as they get just about half ways down the hill, with Scarlett asks, “what's wrong, it looks like you have a question, ask me?”


June hesitates for a moment then asks, “why are you an Orc?”


Smiling in shock finding it slightly funny she says, “because I was born that way, I'm a half orc in all honesty, my father was the orc and my mother the human.”


“But how?” June asks.


“That's a question you must ask them.” Scarlett says trying to avoid that question, although she knew exactly what had happened, so she stays silent a moment as they reach the town.


The town in the day was much prettier than the time before, one and every building seemingly glowed with pride, each building was made by stone and concrete, and some where thatched and other tiled, while flowers grew by the path, every building stood side by side with narrow passage ways in between them, people leaning outside their windows batting down what cloths they had, drying them off, mostly everybody she seen looked happy.


Shaking her head to get that thought out of it, Scarlett explains “you see this village June; this village and this island is called dorcha. I must show you some of the places here.”


Smiling June happily follows along, first was a shop ran by a bald male elf and his family, Scarlett walks to the man shaking his hand asking, “how’s work going, Warren, much business?”


Warren the elf was bald, tall and had pointed ears, clean shaven with a roman nose to boot, brown eyebrows accentuated by his eyes, his skin an off set of green he wore loose fitted robes, and boots under that, the aura around him was pleasant and happy.


Inside the building stood tables, and on them sweets of plenty, shelves that strung across the side of the walls that also held sweets in jars, yet at the far back was cakes and other delectable food, the walls were coloured beige with stripes of dark green that ran down it, that looked quite a pleasing.


Warren warmly greets Scarlett saying, “I'm doing fine, mam business is doing fine, I'm the only baker in this part of town now, so business is doing extremely well.”


Scarlett says, “oh, what happened?”


Shaking his head Warren explained “no, no, that dwarf changed his whole thing again, first it was metalwork then bread, now father knows what he's doing now, but besides that who's this wee one.”


Turning around Scarlett sees June not bothered by the conversation her eyes where fixated on the food around her, “oh yea I forgot, this we one is June she is the most resent one that the leader took in.”


Smiling he nods his head simply saying “hello.” acknowledging her and going back to talking to Scarlett like she wasn't there.


That conversation continued for far too long in June's eyes, so she looked around the building going to the far corner at the end of it seeing a stone fire, seeing bread dough rise and behind her Warren son walks up behind her shacking June saying, “hello there, what's your name?”


Jumping up June looks around seeing an elf child laugh at her, June then smacks in his shoulder playfully then starts to laugh with him at her being scared.


As they laugh, Scarlett continues to talk to Warren “can I put in an order?"


Surprised he asks “oh, you never order anything in here, what's the accession, wait is it for... why?”


Itching her chin Scarlett says, “it was Ella's idea to do this, because she is a child after all, and she wants, Ella wants to do something nice for.”


Warren asks, “where is she, I haven't seen her in a long time?”


Looking at June having fun running around the shop, she says “ah she's at the great hall the one in town, at the moment, getting things set up, for a party for her, tonight that is, can you make a cake that says, well this.”


Handing him a piece of paper, that read (welcome to the village June.)


Opening it he nods saying “yea sure, I already have one made its just the icing now, I'll have it done for tonight.”


Scarlett feeling that she had done her part decides to leave, so she shouts on June, with June walking to her side grabbing hold of her hand, Warren notices this, though he doesn't say a word he thinks Scarlett looks like a mother taking care of her child.


Once outside they continue to walk the village with both of them holding hands, as they walked, she thinks to visit the dwarf that changed his business to see what’s wrong with him, still worried about clothes that June was wearing and also thought she need to find better clothing, so Scarlett kept her eye open for good clothes for June to wear.


The village was lively with stands of plenty fruit, veg and every ground grown food, many people trying to out shout the stand next to them, going through the town it felt different from the first time, like no one was looking at her.


People cared not about her only those who are buying there goods, everywhere she walked June seen new and wonderful looking food, which was making her hungry.


However as they went through the town Scarlett lets out a sigh seeing a building called dwarven cloths, stepping in the store Scarlett remarks, “you in, you little shit.”


The building interior was pained pure white and pink with rows and rows of clothes, stretching from the entrance to the back of the building, even though it was small to Scarlett, June felt amazed at the large clothes shop that she sees in front of her.


From the back of the building, you could hear a rough and grumbly voice shout “is that you, young scar?”


Banging and clanking out walks a small, bearded man, scruff and ugly, long braided hair that fell down his back, still you could say it was unkempt, he wore long heavy leather (well for his size at least) metal boots weathered skin and droopy eyes, a large fat nose that had a red tint to it, saying “it is you, how's my favorite murder machine, did you get bigger or am I just that short?”


They both bantered back and forth as June walked around the store looking at the clothes, seeing many that looked cool but nothing she would wear, until she stopped at one,


The clothes was a long shirt with browny grey trousers and boots that would reach just below her knee, she was enamoured by it, all she could do was just to stand there looking back at Scarlett.


Scarlett noticing this walks over to her with the dwarf in toe.


June says, “this one, I like the look at this one.”


His ears perking up the dwarf walks to her nodding his head “I’ll get a smaller version of this one for ya.”


Shaking her head slightly Scarlett thinks, always the businessman, as he scampers off to get another smaller version, June looks at Scarlett as Scarlett looks at her smiling, the smile reassures her that everything is going to be ok.


Moments pass and out walks the dwarf itching his head, he looks back and forth between June and Scarlett, with June smiling as he sees the exact same version he held in his hand only smaller, he says “well ok, put it on, in the back there, pull the curtain for privacy.”


June did as the dwarf instructed and as she was changing the dwarf says to Scarlett “is that who I'm thinking it belongs to.”


Scarlett nods in confirmation “yes, it is, what do you think of her Isaac.”


Scratching his beard, he says “hmm, she is like the mother, but we will have to see.”


The curtain opens and the shirt was down to her knees although the trousers fitted perfectly with the boots.


Both Scarlett and Isaac both smile and nod with acceptance, June smiles with happiness running around the building, Scarlett looks at Isaacsaying, “how much for this.”


Shaking his head “nothing you both are my first customers you see.”


Smiling she says that a party is going to happen at night, and he was invited, the whole town is and she doesn't have the time to invite everyone so she asked Isaac if he could, agreeing Isaac nods his head and saying "I'll send out the word, I'm guessing it a surprise party then."


Feeling like she did all she could here she shouts on June once more to follow her, Scarlett thanks Isaac and leaves with June ecstatic with her new cloths.


As June walked, she thanked Scarlett she then says, “you know a lot of people.”


Smiling she doesn't say a word looking around, seconds pass seeing no issue around the village, she turns to June to say something, however notices June was trailing behind out of breath, so, again Scarlett walks to June and picks her up and placed her on her muscular shoulder like she did before.


As Scarlet places June on her shoulder she points to people trying to explain the people around her, as she try's and articulates her words once more, “look over there, it's the storyteller and over there the queen of the cats, though she isn't a resident here not fully anyway, and over there is a human I can't remember his name, but I can tell you this he is a master at the sword, oh speaking of a sword or rather weapons there is a talking weapon which is so funny, always talking in rhyme. There is plenty more to meet in this village, you should at some point introduces yourself to them.”


June looks around at the people once more, now at Scarlett's height, people going through their regular life on this regular day, none of them scary, only a few odd-looking but not dangerous.


Scarlett says, “next place we need to go is the wall.”


Smiling all June could do was get excited to see what else Scarlett wanted to show her, they continued far outside the village to the great wall.


June looked at this large wall, as they came close to it, they stopped at the gate with Scarlett putting June down on the ground, off to the side of the gate stood stone steps leading to the top of the wall, and says, “steps, can you walk up them?.” with June accepting noticing that the stone steps where uneven.


Scarlett utters “yea the stairs are uneven and that's on purpose, so I'm sorry but I don't want you to fall off my shoulders and hurt worse than if you where on the steps by yourself, if you need to take a break when you are going up, sit on the steps, or would you like to stay down here?”


June shakes her head say "I wanna go up to see."


Nodding her head Scarlett stands at the bottom step, waiting for June to make up her mind, understanding that she didn't have to go June, however started walking up the steps, with Scarlett following behind her.


Taking there time as they walked up the steps, half ways June took a step misplacing her foot, falling onto the stairs scraping her knee, Scarlett unsure on what to do puts out her hand to help her, but instead of cry, June just started laughing.


Scarlett smiles as she knew that June is not hurt, and helps her to her feet asking "you ok, need help?"


getting to her feet on the uneven step June mutters "I'm grand." so they continue to walk carefully to not fall again


reaching the top of the wall stood guards, warriors, solders that protect the village from external threats, but today nothing was a threat.


Two of the warriors that where meant to be guarding the stairs were playing board games, sitting on there asses just goofing off until, Scarlett appeared, the warriors scramble and stumble to stand straight in attention, which they did, eventually and just in time, they stood there and in sync they both said “Colonel.” not noticing June.


Scarlett simply said, “at ease.”


Once she said that the two guards went back to normal, sitting back down resuming their game.


June and Scarlett continue on standing above the gate, they look on the village pointing out they where just at that building, Scarlett agrees pointing out the towns great hall, and other places that might be good to see at a later date.


Scarlett turns around to a seeing one observant guard, cloaked in full plated armour, she walks up to this guard saying, “nothing new, Riley?”


The guard turned its entire body as it was difficult to see in there entire plated armour and loafed helmet, and out of this body of armour a feminine voice came from this menacing presence uttering “nothing Colonel.” taking of the helmet.


And out of this helmet came a tanned skinned trans human woman, she had long black hair with red at the ends, a feminine face with no blemishes on it, a pointed chin, her body didn't shout feminine dew to the plated armour she wore.


Smiling Scarlett says, “ah come on Riley, we are friends, call be my name.”


Giving a giggle turning her head looking at the small child, June meanwhile was still enamered with the look of the town, Riley says “yes, I know but I'm on duty, besides that hello there wee one.” waving to her, as June hears Riley, she turns and walks over to them both.


Riley puts out her hand for June to shake it, June looks at it for a second and then grabs it with both hands shaking it introducing herself “I'm June.”


Nodding her head Riley introduces herself and with that done as she wasn't versed in introductions, she stands up and smiles, June then runs to the edge of the castle walls looking over the edge on the other side, and looking up seeing the sun fade away into the empty void.


Scarlett leans to Riley saying silently “are you coming to her party?”


Shaking her head she explains “no I'm on duty as I said, I wish I could though it sounds like more fun than, doing this.”


Nodding in agreement Scarlett utters “oh yea I agree, this job is the annoying one, because nothing usually happens, but when it does it's like a swarm.”


They both agree on that and chat on for a long while, on the other hand June wondering around the platform above the gate, looking at the two guards plaing the board game, seeing that it was boring she moves on looking at the sword rack seeing one she wanted to pick one up, however Scarlett noticing this shouts on her not to touch those.


Not wanting to make scarlett mad, she leaves them and moves on to somthing else, she looks around more with now a table infront of her with a map of the entire village, stairing at it for a while she commits to memory, well as well as she could.


Moving one she then stood just above the gate and looks down at the small piece of land that she woke up on, seeing that tree still glow bright.


Next to her was a massive horn pointing out towards the void, but before June could even think about walking up to it, Riley go's and places her hand on June's shoulder, shaking her head as if to say don't touch that.


“Don't, blowing that horn is to warn the people in the village if we are under attack, so please don't blow that.”


Nodding her head understanding, Riley goes back to Scarlett, followed in toe by June, however Scarlett feeling like they outstayed there welcome she utters “right June, I think it's time we get back to the mansion.”


Agreeing they both head back down the uneven stairs with Riley putting back on her helmet going back to her post, the two guards still engrosed in there game, Scarlett take a glance at board and says "if you move that piece you would win."


the warrior who was going to win sees the moves and places it, thanking Scarlett as they head of down the stairs, at the bottom of the stairs Scarlett asks, “how did you enjoy today?” as they continue walking.


As they walked still holding hands, with joy in her heart June says “I thought this place was scary at first, but as I looked around it wasn't scary anymore I though the dwarf would be scarier...”


With that said Scarlett laughs as June continues “the people when I came here where really scarry but now because you were with me, I don't feel scared of these people.”


Nodding her head Scarlett stays silent as they continue back to the mansion, going through the village first, looking around June notices the village was empty, not even a soul was around.


June looks around staying quiet, half ways through the town, June looks at Scarlett, with her having a slight grin on her face, trying not to show, June now feeling suspicious keeps her eyes open.


However, as they reached the other side of the village Scarlett veered left, into an alley. June stopped wondering what she was doing, she just stood there watching her walk off, feeling nervous she decides to run after her.


Going after her June starts to run faster trying to catch up, but Scarlett was always just out of reach, running through the town through the alleys as they twist and turn, Scarlett after turning one corner disappears.


Looking around out of breath, thinking were could she have gone, she sits for a moment as her stomach started to rumble, Scarlett standing on top of the building looking down believing that she did wrong jumped down in front of her, saying "I'm sorry wee one, I thought it would be fun, if we ran around the town."


June starts crying saying "I thought you left me."


Realizing that she is just a child she sits down beside her hugging her apologizing again and again, until she stops crying, June says sniffling her nose "I'm hungry."


Trying to lighten the mood Scarlett says "ok follow me." and so they walked off hand in hand.


They turn for a bit longer then a corner and the towns people where lined up cheering knowing where she was, she sees on the great hall a banner that reads (Welcome to the Town.)


June in complete socked looks up at Scarlett with Scarlett looking back at her saying "welcome to the village June."


Walk in the door, and you could see Warren and his family, the dwarf Isaac, the sword master, the queen of the cats with many other cats pampering her, the storyteller, the sword that could talk, an otter queen with many of her subjects, and stood in front of them all was Ella with Scarlett walking up beside her.


June think's on how to get Scarlett back, coming up with an idea she puts her hands in front of her face and started to fake cry, Ella runs up to her asking “what happened?”


Pointing at Scarlett, June says “she ran away from me.”


Many people looked at Scarlett with Ella trying to lighten the mood, walks up to Scarlett smacking her on the shoulder slightly hard and says, “why did you do that.” lightly.


Scarlett stands there for a moment, trying to think on what to do, she decides to walk up to June giving her a big embrace, apologizing to her, with everyone standing there in shock.


As Scarlett was known around the town as this hardened stoic woman with nothing getting bothering her.


June puts her hands down saying "got you." with Scarlett smiling.


She then lifts June up and placing on her shoulder once more, making her start smiling, as everyone realizes it was a joke, everyone started to party.


Everyone started drinking and eating in the feast, with many passing out drunk and others playing games, as a boar roasted over an open fire, and those who are not drunk where feeding those around them that where.


Scarlett sat next to the door, drinking ail thinking over what happened, unable to get drunk, the door of the building began to knock, wondering who it could be she gets up and opens the door, opening it fully she sees Riley and the rest of the guards that were stationed at the wall stand there.


Confused Scarlett asks, “why are you all here who's looking after the wall.”


Riley explains “I know, but the leader told us to go to the feast and he’ll look after the wall for the night, so can we come in, or are you going to block the door all night” she says happily.


Smiling Scarlett lets her in, as the leader of the land sits cross legged on the wall looking into the void, for the duration of the feast.


Ella abstaining from drinking ail, notices June sleeping on a seat next to the hearth of the fire from all that has happened today, her mouth plastered with cake.


She goes to June, kneeling down beside her cleaning up her face, picking her up after, June waking up slightly, Ella walks to the door opening the great hall brings her back to the mansion.


Still slightly awake Ella asks June “can you open the door and allow me in.”


Reaching out her hand he holds onto the handle pushing it down saying, “you can come in too.”


Smiling Ella walks in the tarp placing June on her bed, tucking her in for her second night here.


June smiles asking to hear the rest of the story about the leader as a bedtime story, with Ella responding, “oh right, where did we leave of, right I remember.”


To Be Continued.


 



Written/Story by: Ethan McCloskey


Irish to English:

oscailte = open

dorcha = dark


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