Unrest 5
FuSoYa cursed under his breath as his foot skidded off the slippery rock and sank him calf-high in the waters of the rushing river. Holding the pack above his head, far out of the water’s reach, he didn’t have a free hand to hoist up his robes before they, too, became soaked and heavy around his ankles.
I knew this was foolish.
The Journeymaster chided himself the whole way there. However, this was something he knew he had to do, foolish or not.
The time had finally come when the Manor loosened its grip enough that Fu was allowed to travel beyond the city on his own personal business. Throughout the turns, he worked diligently on gathering evidence and information to incriminate the Manor leaders who used their influence to terrorize the innocent and weak. Now, with his new-found freedom, he would take this information to Anarchy and prove himself worthy of membership to the resistance forces.
With his mind mage powers, he began to pick up on Anarchy activity across the city. He watched for the nights when they delivered the Newsletter, and discovered that their movement largely worked through a network of young people who appeared to have come from a disadvantaged background. He also picked through their thoughts to find their site of operations.
Why do they have to be hidden way out in the middle of the forest?
Under the guise of visiting home, Fu gathered all of his evidence and traveled out into the wild lands to locate the Anarchy base. It had been a long time since he left the safety and comfort of the city, and he struggled to remember the lessons his parents taught him about traveling through the lands.
This is the one benefit that the Manor offers. One is not forced to deal with insects and unpleasant sleeping arrangements.
He wondered if joining Anarchy would require more time living under the sky. Then he promptly pushed the distasteful thoughts from his mind as the forest ahead drew nearer. A strange buzzing sound filled the trees, adding to his discomfort and concern.
More insects. That is not what I want to deal with.
Fu finally planted his feet firmly on the opposite bank. Though he would not allow himself to be afraid, he admitted to briefly swallowing down rising uncertainty.
If mere children can travel this path unharmed, so can I.
It wasn’t until he heard the echo of the large voice that he really began to second guess himself.
“One from Manor. Return to city and step no further in forest!”
Fu paused, holding tightly to his bag. He knew it would seem, at first, that he was someone from the Manor trying to unveil Anarchy. It was only his evidence that would protect him from their scorn.
“I am here to speak to the leader of the Anarchy,” the Journeymaster lifted his chin, peering into the forest.
Nothing moved. His senses couldn’t pick anyone from the tree line. There was nothing but the buzzing from the branches ahead and the foam of the water behind him.
“I know you are here,” Fu called out. “I came here to join your efforts.”
He could hear a momentary muttering from behind the trees. There was more than one of them there, and they appeared to be talking between themselves.
“I have evidence,” the Journeymaster added, holding up the pack. “And information on the Manor’s current objectives.”
Finally, the forest rustled and emitted a cloaked figure, who approached from the brush. His face and body were obscured by a long, rough-hewn robe that looked far too large for the slight frame. The voice spoke with the throaty sound of someone attempting to obscure their voice, “Anyone can come from the Manor and claim these things. We can’t be certain if you mean harm or if any of your ‘information’ is accurate.”
Fu narrowed his eyes, concentrating on the figure, bringing his mind powers to a focused point. Much to his surprise, he found his attempt repelled and met with nothing but mental silence on the other side.
“Oh, it’s not going to be that easy,” the cloaked one smiled, seeming amused at the failed attempt. “We know of your mind magery and are prepared to counter it.”
“If you really were prepared, I would not be here right now,” the Journeymaster frowned. “Using street kids to keep low key is a good idea. But they broadcast their intentions and locations too easily.”
The figure pursed his lips in displeasure. Then he raised one hand upright.
Fu’s breath hissed between his lips as several larger shapes strode from the forest on either side of the cloaked one. He didn’t know what they were, but they appeared to be giant feline creatures who walked upright like a person. They also bore dangerous looking weapons and glittering, mistrustful eyes.
The Journeymaster fought to hold his frightened breath. Instead, he lowered his brows and took a slow step backwards. “Is this intimidation?”
“You know too much,” the figure muttered.
The creatures gave an air of agreement. Their minds were filled with a strange humming sound, like broken pieces of unrelated song. Fu couldn’t understand what passed as a thought process at all. He couldn’t control what he couldn’t understand.
As the huge shadows fell over him, he backed away, clutching the pack to his chest. It was really hard for him to hide his fear, “Wait! I told you… I am not here to turn you in or cause trouble. I mean it when I said that I want to help!”
“Then you can help us by not struggling,” the figure said, putting his hands on his hips. “Take him. Take his stuff. Bind his magic, too. We don’t need him influencing his way out of this.”
Fu debated whether to fight them as the large claws closed around him from all sides. Humming-minds or not, he could still do some damage as a mind mage.
If I do that, then I have no chance at all to join them. I cannot blame them for their suspicion – I am no better than the Manor in their eyes.
Gritting his teeth, he stood still and allowed them to tie the strange multi-colored ropes around him. He almost panicked as a silence overtook his senses, clouding his mind and leaving everything feeling dull and lifeless.
“What… what are you doing to me?” Fu protested as they pulled the pack from his grasp.
“Magic block,” the figure told him. “It’s temporary… if… you are really here for the reason you say you are.”
“This is impossible!” he stared at the looming creatures frantically. Until that moment, he didn’t know such a thing could be done. As the Journeymaster struggled with the concept, it hung over him like slow suffocation.
“Calm,” one of the creatures told him. “Makes more difficult to fight it.”
Fu swallowed, boggling a bit. Every bit of pride he had was flying straight out the window, “You… talk?”
The creature snorted through his nose and lifted a long cloth between his claws. The Journeymaster recognized it as some sort of blindfold.
This is happening for real.
“No… no…” he began to struggle. But his limbs were entwined in the magic-sucking ropes and his mind was too foggy to find a way to escape. The last thing Fu saw was the cloaked one’s satisfied smiled before the darkness of the blindfold took his vision from him.