And…. We have another chapter!
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*
Chapter 12
They woke up the next morning and had a quick breakfast. Red spotted a horse trader at one of the tables, and since he had decent horses, went over and began to haggle with him. They were finishing up when Lance got up to pay the innkeeper, who stared at the coins for a moment and then declared that they were counterfeit.
“You lying scoundrel!” Lance hissed. “I’ll cut off your ears for this insult!”
That was when six armed men burst in through the door. Lance took in the situation at once and fired off both his pistols.
“Run for it, Red! It’s a trap!”
Two men fell and the rest rushed him as he drew his sword. Red needed no urging, he grabbed one of the horses he had just purchased, dug his heels into its flanks, and took off without a backwards glance, heading for Vermillion.
He arrived with good speed, though his horse collapsed right outside the gates, near death, and was heading for the harbor when he spotted a young man dressed in a richly embroidered golden coat, talking with a sailor. He was asking the captain if he could be taken to Houen immediately.
“I’m sorry, sir.” The man was saying, “But Cardinal’s orders – no one is to leave except with written permission from his Eminence.”
The man flourished a paper and the captain nodded. “Well, get this signed by the Harbor Master, and I shall take you across.”
The man began walking to the harbormaster’s house, followed by a servant in dark blue livery embroidered with silver. Red followed him closely, before they entered a wooded area and he walked up to him.
“Excuse me, Sir, but you seem to be in a hurry.”
“Yes, I’m in a hurry.” The man said. “What of it?”
“I have a favor to ask of you.”
“What is it?” Gold glanced at his watch irritably.
“To leave for Houen ahead of you.”
Gold laughed contemptuously. “I’m afraid that that is impossible. I’ve traveled a hundred and fifty miles in sixty-four hours and I must be in Ever Grande tomorrow.”
“Well, I’ve traveled that distance in half of that and I must be there tomorrow.”
“I’m traveling in the King’s name.”
“Well, I’m traveling in my own name!”
“I’m sorry sir, but I got here first and I won’t leave second.”
“And I’m sorry as well, sir, but I got here second and I will leave first.”
“I do
believe you’re trying to quarrel with me.” Gold narrowed his eyes at the
impudent man. “Crystal! My pistols!”
The servant reached for them.
Red reacted quickly, and one good punch took the servant out. Gold snarled and
reached for his sword, Red did the same.
Alas, Gold was not much of a fencer, and Red gave him three thrusts in the chest, knocking him out. With that, he stole the letter to the harbormaster, and went to get it endorsed. The letter identified the man he had taken out as Gold, Count of New Bark Town in Johto.
With a shrug, Red left him there, and went to get the harbormaster’s signature.
“You have an order signed by the Cardinal, Count?” The man asked Red, who had introduced himself as Gold.
“I do.”
“Well, everything is in order.” He nodded.
“I should hope so, being one of his faithful servants.” Red kept a straight face, though inside, he was trembling. What if Gold woke up and came here?
“It seems that his Eminence is very desirous I should prevent someone from leaving this country though.” The harbormaster frowned. “Might you know who he is?”
“Ah, a young gentleman named Red, from the Pallet region, I believe.”
“Do you know him?”
“I do.”
“Give me a description of him then.” The harbormaster smiled. “I shall detain him here and send him back to the capital under armed guard.”
Red gave him a precise description of Gold, who was no doubt unconscious, perhaps dead, somewhere in the woods.
“Is he accompanied?”
“Yes, by a servant named Crystal.”
“We’ll keep a sharp lookout.” The man signed Red’s permission with a flourish and gave a toadyish smile. “Will you be seeing the Cardinal on your return, Count?”
“Of course.”
“Please tell me that I am his faithful servant.”
Red promised that he would, and headed to the harbor. The Captain was almost ready to sail.
“Here is my permission, endorsed by the harbormaster.”
The Captain examined it and saw that everything was in order. “And what of the other gentlemen?”
“He suddenly felt unwell and could not come.”
“Well, tis no matter. Let us be off.”
After the ship had sailed, a mattress was brought and Red let himself sleep off the exhaustion. He’d ridden hard for almost another day and was glad for the rest.
At eight o’clock the next morning, the ship docked in Houen.
Red did not have far to go, for Duke Morty’s mansion was large and sprawling near the waterfront. He went up to the door and introduced himself to the footmen there. The man saluted and within a few moments, Morty himself had come out.
He recognized Red’s uniform and frowned. “What is it?”
“Your Grace had better read this letter.” Red dug it out of his doublet, glad that the dive into the mud on Mount Moon had not ruined it, and handed it to Morty.
The man immediately turned pale, and read quickly. Finally, he beckoned for Red to follow him and they entered another room.
“How is the Queen?”
Red sighed. Love was still foremost in the man’s mind. “She is yet safe, but will not be if I return without the tags.”
“I understand.” Morty sighed. “So it comes to this. I had wished to keep them, but her life is more important.”
With that, he took from his vest a key, and moved to a heavily locked and bolted – Red counted four locks – chest of ivory, and from within, removed the little rosewood box of diamond tags Queen Sabrina had given him. However, as he counted them, he gave a gasp of surprise.
“What’s wrong?”
“Two of the tags are missing! There are only six, when there should be eight.”
“Do you know what happened to them?”
Morty swore. “It must have been Milady, the Countess de Winter. She danced with me several times at the ball two days ago, pressing me to renew our former friendship. It’s well known that she’s one of the Cardinal’s agents. And I would not have noticed the ribbons holding these being cut. Ah…!”
“So that’s why…” Red gasped. If Queen Sabrina only wore six tags, then the King would no doubt ask where the rest of the set was, and if she couldn’t answer and Cardinal Oak could, well…
Morty nodded thoughtfully; then rang for a servant. “Do not despair yet, Red.” As the valet entered, Morty told him to call for the jeweler.
They could still duplicate the tags. Such skill would be difficult to find, but not impossible.
Now all they had to do was wait.
End Chapter
Completed 3/30/06
I like Morty. I cast characters I like in good roles…