The Willowsbrook Chronicles - Chapter 21: An old enemy reemerges!
Gunther glared at a person he had hated since he was a child. The man stared back; a pleading look on his face. The big man took a deep breath.
“Please, Gunther,” Terrel begged. “This hatred between us has gone on long enough, let this end!”
Gunther felt his anger surge. “You walk on to my property like nothing happened,” he roared.
“And you have the audacity to ask me for forgiveness? You, who almost set the orphanage on fire? You, who tormented me along with that gang of yours?
“You, who helped bring so much misery and pain to the people of Faith Lane?”
“Gunther?” Naomi snapped in a chiding tone.
“No Naomi,” he retorted. “This lying bastard needs to hear this!” Then he turned his attention back to the priest, who looked on him with a warm gaze. “And get that faux calm expression off your face you scheming piece of dung! Who do you think you’re trying to fool?” The big man snarled.
The man’s face furrowed. “What do you mean by that?” he asked, puzzled.
“I know enough about you to recognize you took that off some priest of Mallastra. Was it before or after you slit his throat?” The big man stated in a accusing tone.
To this, the man’s face lit up in anger. “How can you say such things? I can assure you my new faith in the Goddess of Love and Compassion is…”
“A fabrication!” Gunther shouted interrupting the man.
He began to shake from the rage he was managing to control. “It’s obvious you took that off some priest, and killed him while at it! You’re not allowed in this Inn! Get off my property, and never return!”
“Gunther Willowsbrook!” he heard Naomi snap.
The big innkeeper turned to see a disapproving look on her face. “Now you listen here, you haven’t even given this man a chance to explain himself. Also, he has orders from the Prophetess Josephine II herself.”
At this Gunther exploded. “And the Prophetess can go eat mud!” he roared. “This bastard is not coming on my property with that phony letter, or wearing that phony garb! He’s not allowed on here and that’s final!” he snapped and turned away.
He stormed off back towards the inn. “Gunther,’ he heard Naomi call to him.
Gunther tuned it all out. He was so full of unbridled ire at seeing one of his chief tormentors show up again.
If Antonius thinks I’m going to let him on my property after what he did, he’s mistaken. This is my Inn, and I won’t have anyone from my past coming in and ruining things. I left Ansolar behind for a reason, Gunther thought as he entered the Inn.
The Master Builder, and his family, were in a discussion about one of the buildings on the property. Connor McElroy’s face furrowed. “Mr. Willowsbrook, is something wrong?”
The big man took several breaths to calm himself. “Nothing you nor your family need concern yourselves with. Twas an undesirable who needed removal from the property.”
They set back to work, until the front door opened.
Naomi was explaining, “I’m sorry about this, I don’t know for the life of me what’s come over Gunther. You’re more than welcome to stay here. Besides, who are we to deny a request from the Prophetess.”
The innkeeper felt the anger return. He turned to see his head barmaid coming in… Terrel with her.
Everyone in the room got the surprise of their lives when Gunther stormed up to Naomi. “I told you he wasn’t welcome here on the premises!”
That’s when Gunther noticed a message scroll in Naomi’s right hand. “if you weren’t so busy fussing over past wrongs,” Naomi hissed. “You’d know that indeed Prophetess Josephine the Second has a request!
“She wishes for us to give sanctuary to one of her flock, Brother Terrel here. She wants to have him housed in the chapel building that’s being rebuilt.”
The Innkeeper took the scroll, and unrolled it. He examined the writing, then he threw the scroll to the ground. “He’s still not getting in here, and he can quit with this nonsense.”
“Hold Gunther," Terrel stated, starting to sound perturbed. "You insult my faith, and claim that this is an elaborate lie?”
“Of course, it is," The big man retorted. "That stolen Mallastra attire, this false letter, it’s all a fabrication!”
Terrel Antonius took a breath. “Gunther, be reasonable," he stated in a calm tone. "Why would I do such a thing? My faith, and position as a vicar is no deception.
“Tis naught but the truth I speak, by Mallstra’s good graces. I want to bury this feud with you. But, to be candid about this, you’re being….”
“Shut your blasted mouth now you piece of horse crap!” The big innkeeper roared.
The man shook his head. “No, I will not. This hatred must end, for both our sakes.”
“Gunther," Naomi put in, trying to reason with him. “You know I’m a pretty good judge of character.
“Brother Antonius wants to make amends. Can’t you see, this is your chance to bury the past once and for all.”
He was about to say something, when he heard someone yelp in surprise.
Quigsley came running out of his room and scampered down the stairs. And he looked as if someone or something were pursuing him. The inn owner turned towards the illusionist. “What’s going on?” he asked.
“Everyone, whatever’s going on here can wait. We got company coming, powerful and nasty company!”
Gunther’s face furrowed. “But how can that be? If there were trouble coming, the Druids or the Dryads would’ve given me warning.”
Before Quigsley could speak, the group heard the sounds of bows firing.
All dropped to the floor. Gunther felt the sensation of burning flame shooting past where he’ been a mere second ago.
He heard something striking the wall behind him. He looked to see an arrow covered in an aura of flame had struck a wall, as had several others. “Those arrows have pyremancy to them!” Quigsley exclaimed.
“A Fire Mage?” Gunther yelped.
“Hello, Gunther!” a voice called which caused the big man’s blood to run extra cold.
“By the Gods, not him!” he heard Terrel groan.
The Innkeeper looked out a window. He saw a black-haired woman whose hands glowed with flames, and many thuggish looking men. Leading them was a man who had a very wolf-like grin on his iron-jawed face. “Morgan Kosarr!” Gunther whispered
“You know that man?” Connor asked.
“To my shame Connor McElroy." Terrel admitted. "Before I became a man of faith, I actually ran with that wretch’s gang. That was before the Green Gremlins forced him and his bunch out years ago.”
Gunther felt the old familiar fear return.
He remembered all the times in Faith Lane when Antonius and Kosarr had beat him up. He needed to run and hide, or he'd get killed if he fought that monster outside.
It was likely getting forced out of Faith Lane had made the gang leader more dangerous. This would hold true if that Fire Mage with him was any indicator.
“What are we going to do?” Naomi called breaking Gunther’s train of fearful thoughts.
“To defeat that man, we need aide. But to call for it, someone needs to provide me an escape route.” Terrel explained.
“Don’t trust him!” Gunther snapped. “He’s in with Kosarr!” The innkeeper added.
“How?” Quigsley added sounding incredulous.
“I’m not!” The priest retorted between gritted teeth. “Kosarr and I are actually sworn enemies these days.”
“Liar!” Gunther snapped.
“Can you two save this squabble for later, we got to figure out what to do about those guys out there.” Quigsley complained.
“Come out Gunther,” Kosarr called. “My mates, girlfriend, and I want to kick the crap out of you, that's all!
“And we know Antonius is in there too. Celina can sense his Divine magic!” The gang leader called in a predatory tone. That caught Gunther off guard. “You see, Antonius is in with them!” he snapped.
“Are you daft,” Quigsley retorted. “I know that tone of voice well. This priest sounds like someone that bastard wants dead!”
More flaming arrows shot through the windows and struck the walls. “You're quite right Illusionist Quigsley Starshatter.” The priest answered.
Then Gunther saw him pull out a dark blue crystal from his robes. “And it seems I’m going to have to use something to get out of here and get some help. Even with my skills in the shepherd staff, we’re going to need more against Kosarr’s lot.”
Gunther saw a pained look sweep on to the priest of Mallastra’s face. “How did he get past the Dryads; they would’ve warned me if trouble was coming.” The big man wondered out loud.
“Knowing the capabilities of that witch girlfriend of Kosarr’s, I’ll bet she had something to do with it.” The priest observed.
“Willowsbrook, you and your staff had better get out here, before I count to three. Or else I’ll have my girl here set your Inn on fire. Come out and meet your end, weakling!”
The man of faith looked at the group and stated, “Stay strong everyone.”
He then leapt forward and grabbed Gunther.
The big man tried to push the priest off. There was a bright flash, and a wave of dizziness swept over him.
Seconds later, the innkeeper pushed the man off and stumbled to his feet.
Looking around, the big man noted the sounds of wildlife, the cold gusts of wind, and heard the crashing of waves. The druids had done a lot of exploring since they’d begun healing the land. They had provided Gunther with some maps of the region.
Terrel got to his feet, and dusted himself off. “Good thing there’s not been much rain recently, and the snow has melted.”
“What’s your game Antonius?!” Gunther snapped. “You brought me all the way out here to finish me off so Kosarr doesn’t? Or to laugh at the fact you took me away from my friends?!”
“You overgrown, stubborn idiot!” The priest roared his own temper going. “It’s, both of us, Kosarr is after! I did what I had to so we can come up with a plan!”
Gunther’s mind blazed with hatred, having had enough of this man’s lies. Without warning, he slammed a hard-right hook into the priest. The man went flying backwards to the ground.
Gunther raised his fists and tensed. Terrel got to his feet a visible bruise on his face. “Gunther, you’re making it very hard for me to make amends for what I’ve..” he began.
Gunther wasn’t listening, he'd grown tired of this man’s deceit. Locked in rage, he stormed towards Terrel intent on doing whatever it took to silence him.
The Roccaforte male dodged out of the way of a wild punch. Yet, Gunther was able to stop his forward momentum. Hopping on one leg, Terrel leapt away, shepherd staff at the ready. “By Mallastra, do not make me do this," The priest warned. "I don’t want to hurt you!”
But for the big innkeeper, all those years of bullying were what mattered. He had no Inn, his friends were as good as dead, and this faux-priest was mocking him. Gunther turned towards the man and let out an animal-like snarl, before he rushed him again.
The Mallastra vicar again dodged the blow. The big man never saw the move, but felt the shepherd staff hook one of his legs. Caught off balance, he got swept off his feet, and crashed to the ground. “Can we please be more reasonable about this?” The priest asked partly pleading, partly annoyed.
The Innkeeper stumbled to his feet, and launched a clumsy elbow at the man. I must hurt him, I must hurt him, I must hurt him, roared in his mind.
The priest ducked out of the way. Gunther began throwing punch after punch. Driven by a pounding in his head that stated this man needed punishment and silencing. This man who had been responsible for so much of his torment as a child.
Gunther felt a momentary flash in the back of his mind. A distant voice was telling him that something was wrong. But that voice got buried beneath the Dragon-like rage that swarmed over his psyche.
The man continued his relentless berserker attacks. His vision turned red, as he focused everything on Terrel Antonius.
The priest used his staff to block the bigger man’s punches. Then he finally went for a blow to the innkeeper’s skull. Gunther grabbed the weapon, and with skill he’d not known, connected with an elbow to the priest’s ribs.
The staff dropped from Terrel's hands, as he stumbled back. Gunther then laid into the priest with fist blow after fist blow. Finally, the bruised, battered, and bloodied man laid on the ground.
But the big man wasn’t done. The Innkeeper looked around, and grabbed a nearby boulder as big as his head.
He must pay for your pain! he must pay! kill him, kill him and the pain goes away forever! A voice whispered to him.
Gunther lifted the boulder over his head. He wanted to make Terrel pay the ultimate price for all his suffering. “Gunther, stop!” a familiar voice screamed.
The big man halted his intended final blow to his long-time oppressor. He turned to see Emelia and her Druids running his way, a pleading look on her face, her magic at the ready.
Kill him and the Druids, make them all pay, the voice shouted.
At that moment, something deep inside Gunther broke through. This. Isn’t. Me! the voice of his own reason shouted into his mind.
Gunther turned to his target, in time for the man to finish muttering something.
A bright light flashed in Gunther’s mind. A wave of white-hot pain surged from his head through his entire being.
The Innkeeper let out a scream of agony as he dropped the rock. He shut his eyes and clutched at his head, even as he sank to his knees.
The surge of pain seemed to last for an eternity, before he fell to the ground. As he drifted off, he heard Emelia's commanding voice. “Brothers, sisters, help Gunther and the Mallastra priest.”
Then sweet nothingness claimed him.
Uh-oh, something isn’t right with Gunther. He’s never behaved in this kind of psychotic fashion before. Something rotten is afoot here, and is this the end of Gunther?
What’s going on true believers? You’ll have to find out next time. The Burying the past story arc continues In the saga of the Willowsbrook Chronicles.
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Previous: Chapter 20: The path of redemption!
Next: Chapter 22: Mother Allegra's Tale