Celebrating Antonia Bayle Day

Recently there was a small gap where I didn't write any short stories. I wanted to write one short story over the holidays that spread from thanksgiving to new years. This first part depicts celebrating Antonia Bayle day in Qeynos, while the upcoming one will celebrate Lucan D'Lere day in Freeport. I hope you find this short story a nice addition to your holiday cheers. Enjoy! .

As a young wood elf Talaysen took pride in knowing his city and its inhabitants. There was so much to do and so many places to explore he could never hope to do it all in one time. One of his goals was to eventually visit the city of Freeport and see for himself what dangerous perils lay in the city of deceit and treachery. First, he had a goal that his kind kerran friend Berin was willing, however reluctantly, to help him with. That most seemingly distant goal was to meet Antonia Bayle face to face and ask her to walk with him in the palace gardens. It would be a tremendous honor to take part in the one day of the year where Antonia Bayle was present in the city and celebrated with many of the prosperous citizens.

"You're dreaming again, I can tell." Berin nudged him on the side, waking him from his perfect dream.

They were walking down Lucie street in South Qeynos , headed to all the festivities that had begun to take place in North Qeynos . Every year the entire population gathered in North Qeynos , spread from the tavern in the south all the way north to the gates which lead to Elddar's Grove. Everyone was spending all day celebrating the city and its leader. All in anticipation of that evening when she would step down from her castle nestled in the middle of the city and wave to the lucky crowd that managed to get up close. Two years ago someone had rushed the guards and attacked Antonia Bayle right in front of everyone. They were killed but not without inflicting a terrible scratch on the queens thigh that is rumored to still remain scarred today. Not even the society of wizards was able to cure her. Rumor had it the scar was made without really using anything to physically scratch her with. Would he get a chance to see that scar?

"Obsessive. You know everyone in Nettleville Hovel expects you to trip your way to Antonia Bayle, and even if you get within five meters of her you probably won't know what to say."

"Gather around people, gather round. I will be warming up my voice soon." They passed by someone preparing to sing for a small crowd at the tavern. The crowd quickly grew and before they knew it, it was difficult to maneuver even in the open courtyards. They found a small bench which luckily was vacated near a tree overhanging the main walkway.

For almost an hour they sat there watching the many citizens from all over the countryside, traveling to sell their wares or simply to see the city and partake in the celebrations. Even an Iksar had passed by, waving to them as he headed towards the market square. It was unusual but certainly not unprecedented to see various other races out and about when celebrations began. It was a time to celebrate and even those who had come from Freeport to dedicate their lives towards Qeynos, were welcomed. Antonia Bayle had made a list of rules long ago and one of those rules stated that all citizens were to be treated equally, if they proved themselves. Anyone found to break this rule in the extreme was to be thrown in prison and inspected by Antonia Bayle herself to judge whether they were worthy for redemption.

They watched the passerby's for another few minutes, then finally got up to head closer to the market square which was setup near the Antonica gate. That was when Talaysen noticed an unusual item held by a small ratonga on his way towards the gate. He pulled Berin after him as they slowly wound their way around the crowd towards the ratonga.

"Do you see what is in his hand? I think it's a weapon. Didn't they ban weapons from the city proper for the festivities today?" It took a second for Berin to notice the ratonga, which had temporarily stopped by a merchant to view an expensive collection of jewelry. They had stopped by that very merchant while the merchant was setting up last night. Talaysen had thought about purchasing a necklace for Antonia but couldn't when he realized the price of fourteen gold. His life savings so far totaled only five gold pieces. Berin had promised to help but never seemed to get around to it. He was always out fighting and collecting his own resources which he quickly spent on books at the Nettleville scribe.

Berin squinted towards the ratonga, attempting to view what he was carrying on the various pouches attached to his belt. "Talaysen, I cannot see who you are pointing at. There are too many people here. Why don't you go up and ask him what he is carrying?"

Talaysen frowned. There may be few Iksar in the city but there was a good reason there were fewer ratonga. They were sneaky little rodents, smelly, unclean, and always attempting to "barter" their way through life. Although Talaysen had a suspicion they stole much of what they acquired. Worst of all they were often diseased. Antonia Bayle allowed a few of them in the city only if they proved their worth greatly. This one must have proven his worth or he wouldn't be here. Still, Talaysen had a suspicion about this one. "I don't think that would be very wise. He might be diseased or some other unknown ailment. Why don't we follow him around and see where he goes."

Berin laughed. "You always make up excuses. I know you don't much care for ratonga either. I don't like the little smelly things either, but we live with them here and you know one of my ratonga friends who lives in the same inn we do has a perfectly respectable career as the assistant banker. Most may be unclean, but some are not. Still, if you want to try to out sneak a natural born sneaker, let's give it a try. Anything to take your mind off Antonia for awhile!" Berin slapped Talaysen on the back as they watched the ratonga purchase a small platinum necklace and then head along the wall towards South Qeynos . Where was he going that he had to take the back alley?

They followed him up to the grate leading to The Down Below, the under works and the not-so-friendly part of the city. No one passed through The Down Below unless they absolutely had to or they were outsiders wanting a way in by any means they could. They peered around a building's corner, watching the ratonga lift the heavy metal grate to gain access to the catacombs. A waft of putrid air immediately poured out of the hole in the ground. They were rather far away from the grate and they could still smell it. Talaysen wondered how bad it must have smelled that far up close. The ratonga peered around, seemingly rather nervous, flicked his tail twice and leaped right into the hole. A distant splash sounded.

With no one else in site, a rare occurrence even in the back alleys with so many people around, they slowly approached the open grate and peered down below. Another waft of putrid stench floated up to clog their nostrils. Talaysen didn't have that great of a sense of smell, but he knew Berin, a Kerran, had a perfect sense of smell. It was especially difficult for him.

"Wait. We aren't really going to go down there, are we?" Berin frowned, then started picking at his fur in nervousness. "I just cleaned myself this morning. The last thing on my mind is to get dirty again, and wet!"

Talaysen took a last look down, holding his nose closed. Coughing once at taking a deep lungful of damp air, he grabbed the edge of the grate and pulled it over the hole. Berin stood there, debating whether or not to go with Talaysen into The Down Below.

"The things I do for you Talaysen." Berin took the other side of the grate and began to pull it the other way, exposing the hole again and a "fresh" waft of air. "You never finish anything and I for one intend to find out what is down there, even if I do have to get dirty for you. I've never been to The Down Below before and neither have you. Why, I've been all over this city except for down there." He pointed to the darkness below." Talaysen looked surprised at Berin's change in attitude.

"Worried you won't get to see Antonia Bayle because you'll have too much fun?" Berin smirked.

Taking one last look they both decided to see what was down there. There were still plenty of hours in the day and enough time to see Antonia. What could go wrong?

They spent what seemed like hours searching around the darkened catacombs for the ratonga. They were naturally sneaky but this one appeared to have really gotten away from them rather fast. When they first entered there was a poor merchant at the top of a set of stairs that lead further into the catacombs. They asked her where the ratonga headed but she simply shrugged and replied, "I'm sorry but I must have fallen asleep. It's so boring down here you know. Even with the constant threat of rodents every which way I just can't help but." She yawned and then shrugged again.

Heading further into the catacombs they followed someone's tracks, a footprint too large to be the ratonga's but the only ones they could follow. "Are you sure this is such a good idea? I don't want to celebrate the holiday, dead. Perhaps you were right after all." Talaysen said.

Berin was about to reply when they heard a loud splash to their left, further down another corridor they had not checked yet. They ducked around a few crates and waited. Another splash sounded, much closer this time. A flickering light appeared and then a frantic gnome came running around the corner, screaming incoherently. It ran passed them without noticing their presence, even as it turned back at its supposed assailant, tripping in the process over a rotting piece of wood that was jammed in the stone floor.

They were about to help him up as he finally noticed them, reaching out in desperation. The gnome must have gotten his leg jammed under a rock as he wasn't able to get up. Before they could reach him the gnome's eyes widen as he began to shake from fear of something ahead of them. Talaysen and Berin followed the gnome's gaze to the corridor where the gnome had come from. Talaysen almost yelped as they watched the same ratonga with the knife in the market square above come running directly towards them, knife outstretched in the left hand and a wand in the other. The ratonga was clearly on a hunt for the gnome, ready to kill him if he caught up with him, which he now had done.

Talaysen thought frantically. He didn't expect to be following a murderer! For a moment he thought about them quietly hiding between the crates but knew the gnome had already spotted him and surely would give away their position. It was already too late though as the ratonga approached, lifting the knife, ready to swing it with full force towards the gnome.

"You'll die for your crimes traitor!" The ratonga extended the wand, waving it about in a figure eight pattern. Energy had begun to build on the end of the wand's tip. Just before it flashed Talaysen got up without thinking and rushed head on into the assailant, knocking him over and whipping the wand out of his hand sending it flying on down the corridor. The energy of the wand went off causing a small explosion that tore a chunk out of the stone wall farther down the corridor.

They helped the gnome up while the assailant was lying unconscious in a dirty pool of water. The knife that was held in the other hand had also been dropped, almost at Talaysen's feet. He picked it up, pointing it at the assailant, expecting him to get up at any moment.

The gnome brushed himself off as best as he could and looked at Talaysen and Berin, a relieved smile on his small, wrinkled face. "Thank you fine sirs. If there is anything in this land that I may provide to you, it is yours."

Talaysen thought about that for a moment and then replied, "A way out of here would be ideal." All three of them headed back the way Talaysen and Berin had come from, leaving the assailant still unconscious. A few rats had gathered near the crates, waiting for their opportunity to pick any food that the ratonga had carried.

After reaching a grate leading to Willow Wood they thanked the gnome again and headed back to North Qeynos , quite pleased they had saved someone's life and not managed to ruin their own in the process.

While passing the park they had previously sat down in, they began to argue over the events they had just been through. While it was relatively obvious to Talaysen that the assailant was there to murder the gnome, Berin had this crazy idea there was more to it, and that the assailant was possibly after Antonia herself. Berin mentioned something about recognizing the gnome near the castle before. What didn't make sense to Talaysen was why the assailant shouted at the gnome, "You'll die for your crimes traitor!"

They stood their in the middle of the market square shouting at each other, Berin bringing up random complaints about his fur getting wet and all matted down, Talaysen surprised that Berin thought they were chasing an assassin of Antonia Bayle.

"Why would anyone today attempt to kill Antonia Bayle!?" Talaysen shouted the last part a bit too loudly. Guards came rushing over and quickly tied Talaysen's hands behind his back. The taller guard whispered in his ear. "We don't want any trouble. Just come with us and we'll let Antonia decide your fate."

"There is always someone who has to ruin Antonia Bayle day. Pray she is in a good mood and you don't hold her up too long that she misses the festivities." The shorter guard muttered from behind him as he jabbed the end of his sword in Talaysen's back, prodding him forward. He turned around briefly to see that Berin was held by two other guards right behind him. This was outrageous. They had done nothing wrong, except for a slight slip of the tongue. At least he would get to see Antonia after all.

They were escorted to the castle entrance and then forced to wear a cloth around their eyes so they couldn't gain extensive knowledge of their whereabouts within the castle. To his surprise the guards didn't throw them in a cellar but a somewhat comfortable but empty room somewhere in the main castle, probably on the second or third floor as to make escape a bit more difficult. Tapestries lined the tall walls, most of them depicting Antonia Bayle. He thought about attempting to reach for one to attempt to escape, but despite the predicament he was in he still wanted to see Antonia up close. Besides, he could explain his way out of this. He successfully helped a citizen of Qeynos from certain death, and the proof was the knife they took away. Talaysen sighed with relief at the thought that he had a reasonable defense.

A moment later he heard the lock release from the main doors to the room. They swung open and that's when his hopes sank when he saw who was standing in the archway. It was the ratonga he had knocked down in the sewers. Berin walked towards Talaysen, an angry looking expression on his face, as if Talaysen was the one that had gotten them into trouble. Well, he was the one who got them into trouble. A moment later four guards came into the room and held Talaysen and Berin to two seats in the middle of the room. After they waited for several minutes, someone else appeared from around the doorway. The most beautiful woman in his dreams, the one he stared at every night in the picture on his bedroom wall, had entered the room.

"Explain yourselves to your queen." The ratonga said as he stood a short distance to the side of Antonia. Talaysen noticed a rather large scar and bruise on the left side of his face.

Talaysen didn't know what to say. He was feeling two things at once and it was so confusing he just couldn't speak. His excitement at finally meeting Antonia Bayle and then feeling despair at a hopeless situation was dizzying.

"Very well, they are to be thrown in the cellars for two months. Perhaps that will get them to loosen up their tongues." Antonia said.

Berin kicked him on the side so hard Talaysen yelped. Antonia had turned around but then stopped at Talaysen's yelp. "It wasn't my fault!" Talaysen shouted, then closed his mouth and took a few deep breathes, starting over again. "We were just out exploring, when we saw this suspicious looking ratonga heading for the sewers." Talaysen pointed towards the ratonga next to Antonia. "We followed him down into the catacombs where we saw him wielding a knife, chasing off a poor gnome! He was going to kill him!"

"I was not in the sewers! You must have me confused for someone else." Antonia held up her arm to silence him. It wasn't like him to interrupt interrogations.

"Go on, I want to hear the whole story if you would." She said.

Talaysen went back to the very beginning, telling the story from when they first entered North Qeynos all the way to their capture. The "assailant" had continued attempts to halt their confession several times. He even attempted to 'strongly advise' Antonia to kill them at once.

Talaysen tried to emphasize the fact that they were arguing and when he shouted "Kill Antonia Bayle!" he had phrased it as an expression of shock and had absolutely no intention of doing so or ever thought about it. In fact, he was so eager to explain the situation he went quite a bit through his life in Nettleville Hovel and talked about his dream of one day meeting "the most beautiful woman ever to set foot in Antonica." Talaysen wasn't sure but he thought he saw her blush in response.

When asked about the knife he took, he told one of the guards it was in his back belt pocket. The guard searched the belt, found the pocket and produced the knife. The handle was still wet with water from the catacombs, and reeked of it too.

Antonia frowned, turning towards her assistant for an explanation. She had obviously recognized the knife, as it was one she had given to him several years ago. "What is the meaning of this? You were supposed to be in the castle guarding me for the festivities. Why was this knife, one I gave to you personally, in the catacombs and brought to me by these two individuals?" She pointed at Talaysen and Berin.

"My lady, they must have taken it from me! I was never down in the catacombs." The ratonga frowned. "Was it that twisted little gnome that always tells lies about me?"

"And the scar on your forehead? Did you just happen to bump your head on the bed again while supposedly sleepwalking? How did those two get in the castle to steal your knife in the first place?" Antonia crossed her arms, clearly infuriated. Talaysen smiled as it was all rather intoxicating from his perspective. One minute he was on the chopping block, the next it was that fool chasing the gnome that was going to be sentenced a painful death.

The ratonga stepped back a few paces, pointing his finger at Antonia. The other two guards that were left in the room stood alongside Antonia, slightly confused looks on their faces at seeing someone who worked so closely with them appear to be turning traitor in the blink of an eye. "I knew I should have killed that gnome years ago. He is the true traitor you should be dealing with, and even more so in the fact that he ratted me out too many times, attempting to take my position! If only I had the chance to kill him nothing like this would have happened." The guards holding Talaysen and Berin released their grips and headed for the ratonga, who quickly grabbed the wand in his robes and held it aloft. "I'm warning all of you to remember that I won't forget this mistake. Stay away and you won't have to feel my wrath." He pointed the wand towards Antonia, the two guards quickly standing in front of her. "And for you my lovely queen. I suggest you make way as I will come back for this city, even if I have to destroy her first to get at what I want." The ratonga backed away, still holding the wand out, vanishing down the corridor.

They all stood there, Talaysen thinking he might have just saved his life, his friend not believing what just happened, and Antonia in shock that one of her closest advisors was a traitor.

"You may have just saved all our lives." Antonia turned to Talaysen and bowed ever so slightly.

He blushed, and almost fainted at the thought he had successfully achieved his one dream. That dream was staring him in the face, and after all he had been through today he still didn't know what to say to her.

"You did well today. I shall not forget this. Be sure to stop by the castle sometime next week. We have some things to discuss." Nodding to her advisors, she turned and left, leaving Talaysen and his friend along with two other guards in the room.

Berin turned to Talaysen and smiled. "I guess it was worth it after all. You got the thing you most wanted. What do you intend to do now?"

Talaysen thought about that for a moment. What would he do now? It didn't take him long to come up with an answer. "I will go see Antonia Bayle next week." He smiled and left Berin shaking his head in amazement and slight jealousy.