Spontaneous Tales I - The King of Worrywarts
1
Masayoshiii
Gone
Google docs link
Basically, this is a short story based on a short discord interaction. I decided on a whim to write this, and it will probably be a short-medium length short story. Definitely under Novella length, though.
I am not sure how far I'll take this, but we'll see I suppose:
A soft drizzle moistened the fertile soil of the farmland. The myriad plants danced in the drops of crystal blue, as if they waltzed with a graceful glee. A dirt road, turned to mud, paved the way for travelers. As several travelers trudged the path, a man came out to greet them from one of the fields.
“Good day, travelers. Might your entourage be in need of shelter on this night?” He asked.
The man that greeted them was well-groomed and well-dressed. He had combed blonde hair, glowing blue eyes, and fair, untainted skin. He carried a strange object with his left hand, and it’s pole extended upward to a covering fabric that seemed held together by many wooden spines. The rain also seemed to bounce off of it, keeping the man dry.
The group of four eyed the man with both suspicion and awe, but one of them stepped forward first. He was a rugged man with a shaggy beard, clearly the least kempt and poorly-dressed of the group. Black, oily hair that was tangled up into knots and scars across his tanned, calloused face were indicators of the hardships of his travels.
“Why do you extend your hand in greeting to strangers with the offer of hospitality? Do you pity us? Or is this a trap of some kind?” The haggard man asked as he stepped forward.
The groomed man waved their hand in dismissal.
“Nonsense. I offer shelter to any travelers that pass through, regardless of the weather. The next city is quite far, and I presume the trip has been tiring for your group, has it not?”
“I see no reason to trust you. You also shouldn’t have a reason to trust us. What if we were bandits, or wanted criminals? Maybe even thieves or murderers? Would you offer shelter to them?”
The groomed man laughed with confidence, as if he wasn’t laughing at a joke, but a challenge.
“Then, by all means. I welcome you to try and steal anything you wish. You will find it quite difficult to escape should you do so.”
The haggard man glared at him in response. “Is that a threat?”
“No, you misunderstand me. I offer freely what I deem right, but I show no mercy to those who would take from me without permission.”
“I see. Then—”
“Hold on, my invitation stands. You can come with me, or continue your travels and sleep in the mud somewhere. I care not which. You have been quite rude, but I shall remain hospitable should you turn out to be decent people.”
The haggard man turned to the rest of his group, who all nodded.
“Alright, we accept you offer. I’m sorry for the trouble I gave you.”
“Nonsense. Do not allow it to bother you, and let your rest ease your weary bodies tonight.”
The groomed man turned, motioning the group to follow him. They did so, taking in the sight of the dancing plants on the way. It was truly spectacular.
“Are you a nobleman or a farmer?” The haggard man asked.
The groomed man chuckled. “A bit of both, actually. I earned my rank in the last war, though it’s still low among nobles.”
The haggard man was interested in this story. “So, what rank did you achieve?”
“I am but a lowly Count.”
The haggard man nodded in affirmation, with a bit of envy lighting in his eyes. “Well, you achievements outstrip our own. None of us received promotions in the last war.”
“That is natural. It has nothing to do with talent or skill, it is merely accomplished by being in the right place at the right time.”
“What do you mean?” The haggard man asked.
The groomed man went silent for a bit as they approached a large, wrought-iron gate.
“Please forgive me for not replying, I only thought it fitting to continue this conversation inside.”
“No problem. While you unlock the gate, do you need me to hold that… device for you?”
“Are you referring to this umbrella in my hand?”
“Umbrella? Is that what it’s called?”
“Indeed. I bought it from a merchant who travelled to the capital from a faraway eastern land.”
“So it keeps you pretty dry?”
“Truly. However, wind tears them apart with ease. This is the 4th one I have bought.”
“Well, that sounds… inconvenient.”
“At times, yes, it might be. However, as long as I test the wind before I leave, it is usually not an issue.”
“Huh.”
The groomed man managed to unlock the gate. They walked the long path toward a grand mansion, with labyrinths of hedgework and gardens all around. There were even several ponds, and many ceremonial fountains. So much for being a “lowly” Count.
This was the kind of wealth that one had to store for generations and maintain, unless they used some very underhanded methods to get their hands on it. With that in mind, the haggard man remembered why caution was needed.
“You’re no lowly Count at all, are you?” The haggard man questioned.
The groomed man turned to them with a smile. “This estate does not belong solely to me, rest assured. It is a… collective of low-ranking nobles that own it.”
As he opened the doors, revealing a pompous entryway with parting staircases, there was also a large, circular table in the middle of the large room. There were two other noble-looking men and one noblewoman seated at the table already.
“Ah, Count Talbert. It seems you have guests, as well. Please show them to the guest quarters and then rejoin us, we will wait for your return to begin.”
“Of course. You are too generous, Earl Marlon.”
“As are you. Sheltering everyone you see must be taxing, no?”
“My apologies if it offends you, I will find another way to help them.”
“I merely jest. I quite enjoy having guests. Have the maids see to their hygiene after showing them to their quarters.”
“As you wish.”
The haggard man raised an eyebrow at this conversation, but followed the groomed man without complaint, and his group continued to follow alongside him.
As they entered a hallway with many doors, two maids cleaning the hallway, one of which stood at attention, and the other that merely nodded at the noble man and continued cleaning.
“Alice, can you prepare the baths for these weary travelers? It should be a good chance for them to relax. Afterward, you can be free of your duties tonight.”
Alice the maid nodded in response. “Of course, master. I will prepare everything immediately.”
...
...
...
More to come soon.
Basically, this is a short story based on a short discord interaction. I decided on a whim to write this, and it will probably be a short-medium length short story. Definitely under Novella length, though.
I am not sure how far I'll take this, but we'll see I suppose:
The King of Worrywarts
A soft drizzle moistened the fertile soil of the farmland. The myriad plants danced in the drops of crystal blue, as if they waltzed with a graceful glee. A dirt road, turned to mud, paved the way for travelers. As several travelers trudged the path, a man came out to greet them from one of the fields.
“Good day, travelers. Might your entourage be in need of shelter on this night?” He asked.
The man that greeted them was well-groomed and well-dressed. He had combed blonde hair, glowing blue eyes, and fair, untainted skin. He carried a strange object with his left hand, and it’s pole extended upward to a covering fabric that seemed held together by many wooden spines. The rain also seemed to bounce off of it, keeping the man dry.
The group of four eyed the man with both suspicion and awe, but one of them stepped forward first. He was a rugged man with a shaggy beard, clearly the least kempt and poorly-dressed of the group. Black, oily hair that was tangled up into knots and scars across his tanned, calloused face were indicators of the hardships of his travels.
“Why do you extend your hand in greeting to strangers with the offer of hospitality? Do you pity us? Or is this a trap of some kind?” The haggard man asked as he stepped forward.
The groomed man waved their hand in dismissal.
“Nonsense. I offer shelter to any travelers that pass through, regardless of the weather. The next city is quite far, and I presume the trip has been tiring for your group, has it not?”
“I see no reason to trust you. You also shouldn’t have a reason to trust us. What if we were bandits, or wanted criminals? Maybe even thieves or murderers? Would you offer shelter to them?”
The groomed man laughed with confidence, as if he wasn’t laughing at a joke, but a challenge.
“Then, by all means. I welcome you to try and steal anything you wish. You will find it quite difficult to escape should you do so.”
The haggard man glared at him in response. “Is that a threat?”
“No, you misunderstand me. I offer freely what I deem right, but I show no mercy to those who would take from me without permission.”
“I see. Then—”
“Hold on, my invitation stands. You can come with me, or continue your travels and sleep in the mud somewhere. I care not which. You have been quite rude, but I shall remain hospitable should you turn out to be decent people.”
The haggard man turned to the rest of his group, who all nodded.
“Alright, we accept you offer. I’m sorry for the trouble I gave you.”
“Nonsense. Do not allow it to bother you, and let your rest ease your weary bodies tonight.”
The groomed man turned, motioning the group to follow him. They did so, taking in the sight of the dancing plants on the way. It was truly spectacular.
“Are you a nobleman or a farmer?” The haggard man asked.
The groomed man chuckled. “A bit of both, actually. I earned my rank in the last war, though it’s still low among nobles.”
The haggard man was interested in this story. “So, what rank did you achieve?”
“I am but a lowly Count.”
The haggard man nodded in affirmation, with a bit of envy lighting in his eyes. “Well, you achievements outstrip our own. None of us received promotions in the last war.”
“That is natural. It has nothing to do with talent or skill, it is merely accomplished by being in the right place at the right time.”
“What do you mean?” The haggard man asked.
The groomed man went silent for a bit as they approached a large, wrought-iron gate.
“Please forgive me for not replying, I only thought it fitting to continue this conversation inside.”
“No problem. While you unlock the gate, do you need me to hold that… device for you?”
“Are you referring to this umbrella in my hand?”
“Umbrella? Is that what it’s called?”
“Indeed. I bought it from a merchant who travelled to the capital from a faraway eastern land.”
“So it keeps you pretty dry?”
“Truly. However, wind tears them apart with ease. This is the 4th one I have bought.”
“Well, that sounds… inconvenient.”
“At times, yes, it might be. However, as long as I test the wind before I leave, it is usually not an issue.”
“Huh.”
The groomed man managed to unlock the gate. They walked the long path toward a grand mansion, with labyrinths of hedgework and gardens all around. There were even several ponds, and many ceremonial fountains. So much for being a “lowly” Count.
This was the kind of wealth that one had to store for generations and maintain, unless they used some very underhanded methods to get their hands on it. With that in mind, the haggard man remembered why caution was needed.
“You’re no lowly Count at all, are you?” The haggard man questioned.
The groomed man turned to them with a smile. “This estate does not belong solely to me, rest assured. It is a… collective of low-ranking nobles that own it.”
As he opened the doors, revealing a pompous entryway with parting staircases, there was also a large, circular table in the middle of the large room. There were two other noble-looking men and one noblewoman seated at the table already.
“Ah, Count Talbert. It seems you have guests, as well. Please show them to the guest quarters and then rejoin us, we will wait for your return to begin.”
“Of course. You are too generous, Earl Marlon.”
“As are you. Sheltering everyone you see must be taxing, no?”
“My apologies if it offends you, I will find another way to help them.”
“I merely jest. I quite enjoy having guests. Have the maids see to their hygiene after showing them to their quarters.”
“As you wish.”
The haggard man raised an eyebrow at this conversation, but followed the groomed man without complaint, and his group continued to follow alongside him.
As they entered a hallway with many doors, two maids cleaning the hallway, one of which stood at attention, and the other that merely nodded at the noble man and continued cleaning.
“Alice, can you prepare the baths for these weary travelers? It should be a good chance for them to relax. Afterward, you can be free of your duties tonight.”
Alice the maid nodded in response. “Of course, master. I will prepare everything immediately.”
...
...
...
More to come soon.