40 Unearthed (1/2)

The last dregs of light were cast over the line of people waiting to enter the city, guards checked each person before they were allowed entry into the capital. I haven't ever been to Whitehall before, so I don't know if this was practiced before.

Still, I was sweating with worry the entire wait, I glanced at Jake and asked with a hushed tone.

”Did you bring identification? Otherwise, we'll have to sneak around this entire visit.”

Jake smiled proudly before brandishing two leather-bound parchments. Then said.

”Thankfully I thought ahead, I have some skill in... ”Fabricating” identifications. This should be as authentic as a fake can be, the seal was off memory so it might not be completely identical. It should be enough to get us through.”

I examined the parchment, on it was my generic information. It included my age, approximate date of birth, and other important bits of information. It even had my Paladin Crest, something you get after becoming a knight. He must have a really good memory if he can remember such small details like that.

With newfound daring, I waited until the guards got to us, then handed them my information confidently. The bored-looking watchman treated my enthusiasm with disdain. He flipped through my pamphlet mindlessly before returning it to me. He did the same with Jake's, only after he returned his identification did he look at Jake's face.

At that moment both he and Jake truly examined each other, recognition dawned on the watchman's face. He quickly glanced over to the other guard and said.

”Aah.. I need to take these two in for questioning. It'll only take a moment, cover for me Jenkins, will you?” He nodded with a curious glint, but not curious enough to ask questions.

Fear shot through my body, a hundred different thoughts fought for precedent. I discreetly glanced at Jake, he looked just as surprised as I did, but he didn't look scared. He looked enamored if anything.

The guard escorted us through winding stone corridors until we arrived at a secluded room, empty of anything barring a couple of chairs and a desk. Jake plopped into one of the chairs and propped his feet on the table carelessly.

I stood in confusion as the guard locked the door before finding his place in the chair in front of Jake. I began to steel myself for a barrage of questions, possibly even torture, but the guard's indifferent expression softened, he wore an expanding grin as he held out his hand to Jake saying.

”I never thought I would see you again! Man, what're the chances? So what are you doing all the way down here Jake?”

Jake took his hand as he spoke and matched his expression with a similarly elated smile before saying.

”It's crazy isn't it, honestly I thought I'd never see you again.” He looked at me and said. ”This is Cody, him and I go way back. He used to be my right-hand man when I used to.....” Grief flashes momentarily before he can regain his composure.

Cody intercedes for him. ”When I was hooked on skoom and did some questionable things, he helped me. He got me on the first caravan to the south while he faked my death, I eventually ended up here, the temples here have amazing addiction recovery facilities if you'd believe it.”

Jake's gaze settled on Cody's careless eyes. ”So what did you want? I doubt you would take us to a secure location just to catch up on old times, right?”

Cody lifts his hands in defeat. ”You're right, although I did want to catch up, I need to warn you. Things have been changing here, the king is trying to keep the Forsaken Order from writhing their way into the capital, but still... I don't know, we got orders to watch out for disguised Forsaken, but it's not easy to keep them out. Anyway, I've had my ears to the street and what I've heard isn't good.”

Jakes's expression darkens, before asking. ”Have they infiltrated the castle? We need to get an audience with the king.”

Cody shrugs and said. ”Probably, I don't know. I doubt the king is going to meet with two random guys at a time like this. Why do you need an audience?”

Jake just shook his head and said. ”We need to see the king, or Christian does. That's all you need to know. Can you help us out?” He looks down in thought for a moment, before his expression lights up.

”We're supposed to look out for some kind of officials from the King's Council. There's a copy of their paperwork that we use to verify their identity, you could theoretically copy them and take their place, pretty good plan right?”

I ask Cody skeptically, ”How do you know about such important visitors? Aren't you just a watchman?”