Bergtrost

“Where are we?” Will asked as he looked around at the valley he’d been teleported too.

In response, and as Hearthfast got to his feet grumbling. Hunter simply pointed to a place behind Will.

Turning around, Will saw the scenery in front of him open up, just about the same time as his mouth did.

Rising from the far mountain cliffs, was a vast castle. Four massive square towers sat at each corner of the fortress, but they were all overshadowed by the fifth, and largest tower that rose well into the sky.

Bellow the castle, stretching along the valley floor directly in front of Will and Hunter, were several more buildings, though these were much smaller. Will guessed that it was some kind of town, used for, well whatever, Will wasn’t too sure on that point yet.

“Your mother and I had the same look on our faces when we first saw it as well.” Hunter said gruffly, though there was something different as well, a strangely warmth to that was usually absent.

Will continued to stare at the large stone fortress, his mouth still slightly open. Only stopping when he felt Hearthfast barge right past him.

“Well come on then your Wizardship, this shit ain’t going to lug itself up there now is it.” Hearthfast grumbled, carrying the contents that had been laid out for the Dwarf to carry. Contents that Hunter must have grabbed before going through the portal himself.

“Welcome home William. You’re where you belong now.” Hunter said as he followed his Dwarf up the long road towards the castle.

Will watched, still entranced by the view. Before deciding that it probably wasn’t a good idea to be alone here; then running off to fall back into line with Hunter and Hearthfast.

As the trio continued to approach the mountain castle, something dawned on Will. They had been able to make out more and more details of the castle as they approached. From the large balconies covered with strange planets, to what looked like gardens on the outcrops. They were so close now, that they could also start to make out windows and catch glimpses of what lay within as lights started to ignite behind the glass panes.

But as they continued their approach, Will began to realise that there was one thing he had not seen. A way to access the place. There were no stairs, not even crude ones cut into the mountain side. The castle just seemed to sit against the mountains with no entrance or exit.

Supposing that they would have to climb the mountain to reach the castle, Will stared once more at the mountain face. It was almost sheer; no easy way up was revealing itself. He had climbed trees back at his village. But they were one thing, this though, the castle had to be a hundred meters above the ground. No one could climb that.

Will didn’t raise this fact though, he knew now, even from only spending a matter of a few hours with the Hunter, and that was that the man did not like to be disturbed, even when there was no other conversation.

But as they approached the small town, that seemed to comprise of a handful of farms, some small houses that were cobbled together of a random collection of materials that looked like it was only held together by magic, which Will supposed, they probably were. Along with the odd homes, were a collection of odd shops that were mainly arrayed against a large lake that reached all the way to the mountains in the north.

As they continued to march onwards, and as no sign of how they were supposed to get up to the castle. Will could no longer help himself.

“Hunter? How do we get up there?” Will asked staring almost vertically now in his attempt to see the castle in its fullness.

“You’ll see.” Hunter replied curtly as they continued to walk through the small hamlet. Which quickly showed Will that the materials on the buildings was not the only unusual thing. Weird creatures that Will had at most only read about inhabited the town. A large bull-like creature walked past them without even looking at them. Several elderly crones sat outside in deep and quiet discussion about something that Will could not make out. And as they passed a house that reeked like a disturbed graveyard, he saw what looked like hag darting in between the windows.

“What is this place?” Will asked looking at the town, and was relieved to see some humans walking between the shops.

“A refuge.” Hunter responded as a party of dwarves, mining gear on their broad shoulders an all, walked past them. “The Empire issued a decree making the hunting of these creatures legal. A few years back. So, they come here. Where The Magi gives them his protection. Even if they don’t deserve it.”

Hunter’s gaze flicked over to where the Hags were peering over at them.

Will only watched the creatures for a little while longer, until one of the bull like creatures began pointing at him and started growling. It was then that Will decided that his shoes were more interesting than the creatures of the town.

Choosing to ignore the burning sensation for answers to his question, and the following thousand that he had about this place, was a lot harder than he’d thought though as Will continued to follow Hunter, the three of them making their way towards the cliff face, with the sun already starting to set behind the castle.

From a distance, the cliffs had seemed difficult to climb. Up close as they were now, Will saw that they were more like impossible. There was nothing, nothing to get a grip onto, and it was too sheer to even attempt to climb without ropes or any form of anchor point.

“Hunter?” Will said looking at the rocky wall. “How?”

“Be patient kid.” Hunter replied, cutting off the interrupted question.

Will was about to argue, all he wanted was an answer for hells sake. How hard was it to get one.

But just as Will was about to press that particular point further, the mountain wall beside him began to glow faintly. Like someone had lit a blue flame behind a waterfall. It wasn’t quite like what Hunter had done back in the Harthpoint’s barracks. But it was close enough for Will to realise what was happening as a parting began to open in the cliffs.

Will watched as the spell finally ran its course, revealing a large room inside the mountain. With a large dark wooden door right at the end.

“In you go William.” Hunter said as he shoved the boy though the opening, before stepping through himself, followed by the Dwarf.

The room, whatever it was, was a lot brighter than it had looked from the outside. Will had thought that it was evening light that had been illuminating the caves, but he found that that wasn’t the case after turning around to see nothing but solid stone behind him. the light was also not coming from torches, instead pale balls of blue light, hovering a few inches away from the rocky walls were the cause of the lighting.

The doorway was even more impressive from here than it was from outside. It was intricately carved, showing many scenes, there were battles, where magic was shown to destroy whole armies. There was a depiction of a group turning themselves into wild animals. And right at the centre, so that he stood straddling both doors, was the figure of an old man, with a long-carved beard, a burning ball of fire in one hand, and a large book in the other.

“Right then.” Hunter said, straightening himself up, and sounding nervous for the first time since Will had met him. That frightened Will more than anything since his sentence to be burned alive. What was behind these doors that could frighten the man so much? “You ready?” Hunter asked Will, who nodded his own eagerness trumping any fear that his companion might give off.

Hunter nodded at the eagerness, however misplaced it was; turned around, and knocked four times, on the large door.

Will thought they would have to wait a while, knowing how far up the castle was, he knew it would probably take time to just come down here.

He was surprised however, when the doors opened immediately, revealing a tall, but elderly woman standing in the middle of doorway. Despite her age, she had a very hard, stern face, and a hawkish glare. Will’s first reaction was this was a woman that did not take fools lightly, and reminding him unfortunately of his stepmother.

“Ah Charles. You’ve come back.” The woman said as she stared at Hunter imperiously.

Will was about to ask who the woman was referring too, before realising that ‘Hunter’, could not be this man’s real name.

“I have, Master Thothson.” Hunter replied.

“And you’ve returned now because…” Master Thothson started, before catching her gaze on Will, who tried to remain calm, but he was reminded uncannily of his first encounter with the Griffin back at Hunter’s home. “Ah. Of course. Yes, The Magi told me about you, boy. Though he expected you later.”

“I had no choice Master Thothson, we had an unconfirmed Witchfinder sighting at my home. I had to risk two portals in a day even if it would bring the Witchfinders down on my home faster than anything.” Hunter said, sounding oddly apologetic.

“Well. I can’t fault you on that boy.” Master Thothson said reproachfully gazing back at Hunter. “But all the same, it was vital that this boy was returned to us alive, rather than quickly.”

With that, she turned on her heal, and created a portal directly ahead of them, before walking through it without a backwards glance.

Looking up at Hunter, Will still couldn’t think of calling this man by his real name, and waiting for some reassurance. In response, Hunter nodded and followed the stern woman through the portal, followed shortly after by Will and Hearthfast.

The portal deposited them in the largest room that Will had ever seen in his life. It was so big, that he could have sworn that the entirety of Mayor Harth’s estate could fit inside. Just like what he was rapidly considering the entry chamber, this room was also lit by floating blue balls of light. Though these were even brighter, to the point of almost being blinding.

Along the walls, were several paintings, just like the main door, they features scenes of great magical feats, both in war and peace.

“Welcome to Bergtrost, William Sharp.” Master Thothson said imperiously. “Due to the lateness of your arrival, you’ve missed dinner. But looking at you, that seems par for your life. All food is served in the Great Room directly behind you.” Master Thothson said; indicating another large doorway behind Will, where even now, the after smell of food called to him temptingly. “Now then Charles, The Magi will want a full and detailed report, if you will follow me. Your Dwarf can show the boy to his room. He’s been assigned to room 5B, curious coincident though it may be.”

Hunter nodded at this, and followed Master Thothson through a doorway that Will was sure hadn’t been there a moment ago. Before he could ask though, he was alone with Hearthfast.

“Well come on then boy. Haven’t got all bloody day now.” Hearthfast said as he began to ascend the large stairway.

“What did Thothson mean by curious coincident. It’s just a room, isn’t it?” Will asked after catching up with the dwarf. He started to worry where he was being taken if it wasn’t just an ordinary room.

“Firstly boy. That’s Master Thothson to you now. Unless you want to get turned into a ferret by her on your first day.” Hearthfast replied not even looking at the shocked reaction on Will’s face to this news. “And to answer your question. It is a curious coincident. You’ll be sharing a room with one Luke Horn. Whose old man was executed alongside your mother.”

“Wait. What?” Will said stopping halfway up the stairway.

“Oh yeah. You two will have a lot to talk about.” Hearthfast replied, finally stopping after realising that Will was not right next to him. “He’ll be a few months older than you I’d say. A good kid as well. If you can stand the practical joking type.”

Hearthfast returned to his route march, leaving Will to catch up.

“You know him then?” Will asked.

“Oh yeah. I know almost everyone around here. I’m not young anymore kid. I’ve seen close to three-hundred winters now, and many generations pass through these walls. Literally in this case, young Luke was born here, one of the few that were, probably why he’s not dead comes to think on it. His manner would have surely landed him on the pyre if he hadn’t been cooped up here all his life.” Hearthfast said, and making a right turn as they reached the top of the stairs.

The pair continued in silence for the next few minutes, turning down corridors, and ascending and descending stairs. The place was a complete maze, and Will was sure that he would never make it anywhere on time. But the Dwarf seemed to know where he was going now, and tomorrow he guessed he could just follow the crowd.

“Why didn’t Hunter tell me his real name?” Will asked, the question coming to him as they passed a statue of an elderly man with a long staff.

Whilst Hearthfast didn’t stop walking at the question, it was clear that he was uncomfortable at it.

“Because he’s ashamed of it, boy.” Hearthfast grumbled after a moment’s silence. “He hasn’t gone by his name to anyone but The Magi, since your mother saved his life along with the two girls they were charged with collecting, by giving up her own. That was the last collection mission he swore he go on. Instead changing for a life of hunting magical creatures, trading up afterwards by collecting them and bringing them back to his home. A way of treading his old life risk free, well more risk free I supposed, he’d collect animals, but not humans. Fetching you was a one off he sworn, a debt being paid to the dead. I can’t see it as a full return to his old life.” Hearthfast finished mournfully as they came to a stop outside a small lightly coloured door with an embossed golden ‘5B’ directly in the centre of the door and more importantly, no handle. “Well, here you are boy. The doors don’t need handles. It’s part of the privacy that the school provided. Only those with permission can gain access. Which you will have now that Master Thothson has assigned you.”

“Err,” Will said looking at the heavy door.

“You better get in, William. It’s not safe to be out ‘ere alone at night.” Hearthfast said grimly, casting a wary gaze up and down the corridor.

Before Will could realise what had just been said to him, including the use of his actual name by the dwarf, Hearthfast continued down the corridor, before vanishing into thin air before his eyes.

The corridor, which had seemed welcoming when they had been a duo, now looked menacing, the walls seemed to close in around Will, like they were intent on crushing him between them. The lights that had shone bright the previous minute now seemed to have faded with the dwarf’s absence.

Quickly, a lot quicker than Will had intended to a few moment prior, he placed his hand on where the door handle should be and gave a primitive push. The door opened, then closed, and taking the initiative, Will made himself enter the room.