C3 Secret Alliances

Jackson is in front of the Thunderhoof house, stopped by the guards.

"What do you want, boy?" one of the guards asked, pushing him away.

"I need to see Lord ValekThunderhoof," Jack said boldly.

The guys look at each other and begin to laugh.

"You want to see Valek? How bold of you," the other guard said.

"I'm not here to play. Lead me to Lord Valek now!" Jack said authoritatively.

"And neither are we here to play. Go on,turn your ass back to where you are coming from," the last guard added, looking fierce.

"My name is Jackson Crownfield, son of Michael Crownfield and Oliver Pendleton. Heir to the throne and possessor of huge wealth. Now, will you let me in, or do you want a smack in your ear to aid in your hearing?" he said authoritatively.

The guards look at each other surprised.

"Take him to Lord Valek." the chief guard commanded.

Lord Vorak is in his chambers with his advisor Edmure.

"We need to ensure peace between us and Lord Simure," the advisor said.

"Give that crazy bastard, give him whatever he wants" Lord Vorak said.

"Yes, my lord," the advisor replied.

"And you're all dismissed," he says as he pours his wine into his cup.

Guards enter.

"My lord, a boy is here to see you," the guards said.

"I said I don't want to see anyone," Lord Valek snapped.

The guard added, "I'm sorry, my lord, but he claims to be a Crownfield, son of Oliver Pendleton."

"Son of Micheal Crownfield and Oliver Pendleton? Let him in.

The Guard leaves and Comes in with Jackson

Lord Valek looks keenly at Jackson

He waves his hand for everyone to leave.

"What is your name, boy?" he said.

"Jackson, my lord. Jackson Crownfield," he said.

"And why should I believe this? You look just like any boy in the street," Valek asked, sipping his wine.

Jack brings out his mother's ring with the initials "P" boldly inscribed on it, passed from generation to generation only to the Pendletons.

He comes down from his high sit with his wine, half-drunk, and walks to him

"Look at this," he says.

As Lord Valek is about to collect it, Jack stops him.

"No, and how will I trust you will hand it back to me?" Jackson said.

Lord Valek looks closely into his eyes.

"I See a warrior's eyes.why are you here?"

"Because I need your help, my lord," Jack says.

"Uhmm, you come here unharmed and unprotected and suddenly ask for my help? Did your mother send you here? She could have come herself then."

"My mother is dead," Jack said.

"Hmmm, my condolences. She was so beautiful."

"Thank you My lord. Back to business, I need all your men." Jack suddenly said.

"Excuse me?" Lord Valek said.

"Yes, my lord. I need 7 thousand men of yours and 200 coins, my lord."

Lord Valek looks surprised and in disbelief, then bursts out laughing.

"You? Need my men and my money?

Hahahahahahaha!!! You come here and ask for my men unharmed? How bold of you?"

"In exchange, I will give you not only this sacred ring, my lord and half of the Pendleton's treasures

"So what do you want me to do for such a great sacrifice?" Lord Valek asked.

"You will grant me 7 thousand men of yours, my lord, access to all your boats, and a hand in personally finding the treasures," Jackson said.

"7 thousand men, access to my boats, and a search for your treasures? You want to take back the throne eehnnn... Why do you come here thinking I will help you?"

"Because you were just like me, my lord. You had nothing and you are someone important today. I know you want to be king of the throne one day but if you will help me, I will make you one richest men in the world. This,I promise you," Jackson said.

Lord Valek looks at him and smiles.

"Listen, boy," he says almost in something that sounds like a whisper "Lord Elenor has eight dragons. One dragon is enough to kill us all,"

"Nothing is immortal, my lord. Once I get my treasures, I need to create the TitanForge machine that can kill those dragons, my lord, nothing cannot be killed," Jackson said.

Lord Valek looks with admiration.

"I will think about it. For now, you may leave." Lord Valek says.

"If it pleases your lord, I need the two hundrend coins now. It's a state of urgency my lord."

"What have you gotton yourself too" Lord valek asks but gets no reply

"Is anyone there?" Lord Valek asked.

A guard comes in, "Give this boy two hundrend coins" Lord Valek said.

As Jackson and the guards turn to go, Lord Valek asks, "Where will I find you?"

"At the Bakery, my lord. 7 to 7, my lord." He leaves.

*******

The death of Miss Freya has always retired to old age amd on her dying bed,her last word was "Red".

"Red," she has always thought. Is that the person who killed her, or was she talking about her bleeding red hands? Or was she talking about her favorite color even in a dying breath? She often wondered. Jackson comes in.

"Here you go," he said as he dropped a purse of coins on the floor.

"Where did you get this amount of money, Jack?" Charlotte asked, looking surprised.

"Don't ask me questions and treat our sister, Charl," Jack snapped.

"No, I need to know where you got this damn money, or I won't move an inch from here."

"What? Look, Charlotte, I think it's better if you don't know, okay? I did not get myself in any trouble, Charlly."

He turned to Charlotte, who resolved to stand her ground.

"Okay, I got them from Lord Valek."

"What? You got them from Lord Valek? How did you? Did you make a deal to turn one of his boys?" Charlotte asked.

"Of course not. I asked him to help me take back my throne," he said, emphasizing the "my."

"What? I can't believe this. You made an alliance with the devil? What makes you think he will help you? Those people can never help us, Jack, don't you understand?"

"He will, okay?"

"What did you promise him, umm, our lives?

Tell me, Jack," she said, hitting his chest in fury.

"Half of our treasures and the Pedleton's ring." Jack admitted

"What? You promised him the ring? Don't you get it, Jackson? That is our mother's family legacy. It's a sacred ring, goddammit."

"I know, okay? I know it's sacred, Chal, but we barely have enough to eat. We can't take care of ourselves anymore,don't you understand? Our dear mother died without telling us where she left our family's treasure. What has legacy done for us since we own it? Nothing! It hasn't clothed us, it hasn't fed us, it hasn't made us less vulnerable. Sister, this is a whole lot of opportunity for us."

Charlotte stood there downfolded, not believing her ears.