What Ho! ~ A Choose Your Own Adventure!

(4.5) Whiny Wallis

~  4.5 - Whiny Wallis  ~

"EXCUSE ME," you say to the ogres. They stop their bickering and turn toward you. "I would rather enjoy getting this duel over with." You heave yourself up and draw your sword, swinging it impressively in front of you.

"Aren't you going to put on the funny looking suit?" Wallis asked.

You are taken aback. "Can I put my armor on? I thought ogres didn't allow armor to be worn in combat." You would much prefer to fight in armor instead of your undergarments.

"We don't allow it." The mother said. "Not one bit, missy-moo."

"Fair enough," you say. "Then let us begin."

Wallis nods. "Can we do it in the game room, Mom?"

"No Wallis---you'll need to do it in the dungeon. There's nothing to break down there."

"Mom..."

"NO WHINING. Now go finish this human off. And save your sister some brain for when she gets home please!"

Wallis nods tiredly and waves you over to follow him. He grabs a torch off the wall and turns down onto a deep, small passageway carved into the rock.

"This is where they used to keep the prisoners," Wallis explained, "when this belonged to the prince."

"This cave was a prince's?" you ask. Why not try and get to know Wallis? Maybe it will show you about his personality, and in turn, his fighting style.

"Indeed it was. Well, first it was Grandma's cave. She was a great ogre. Good moral conscience, called off Mom for being too strict with me."

"What happened to your Grandma?"

Wallis stopped walking, head stooped. There was a great big splat on the stone floor, and you looked to see tears falling from Wallis's cheeks.

"She fought hard, to keep her cave, but the prince and his knights overpowered her. Me and Mom ran. The prince used our house to build a mine and keep people locked up."

You can't help but feel sorry for the ogre. No wonder he wanted to kill you so badly; the humans slaughtered his loved one and stole his home.

"So you came back and restored your honor by killing the prince?"

"No. He left when they finished mining all of the natrium. We moved back in and reclaimed the place."

Not a very honorable move, not striking down your foes. You suppose you would have ended up like this ogre if you should have chosen to run with your horse as Wallis and his mother argued.

"Anyway. I don't know why I'm telling you all of this. You'll be dead in a few minutes anyway. Have you had any butter recently? I like it when the humans have butter in their bellies."

"No, I'm afraid I havn't." you reply. Wallis looks crestfallen. "How often did you eat humans, before the prince took your home?"

"Not very often. We only ate them when they a-wandered by, or on holidays. Now I go hunting for them every night. Take back a little of our honor. Mom doesn't approve cause you're so unhealthy. Oh look, we're here."

The steep mine shaft levels out and opens into a large room lit by several oil lamps. The floor is tiled with damp stone bricks. The ceiling is high, and across the room, about where a second story would be, there is a balcony and a door leading to parts unknown. Along the walls, iron bars mark prison cells. In almost every cell, a white skeleton lies. You shiver.

"Welcome to the dungeons! Where we will fight to the death," Wallis says.

"Wallis," you start, not sure how to put your sentiments into words, "I'm not sure we should actually---"

"Hang on there." the words echo off of the stone walls and seem much louder than they should. Its a new voice, a hoarse, deep voice. You whip your head up to the balcony. Leaping down is a man dressed in skinny breeches and a breezy tunic unbuttoned halfway down his chest. He has dark, curly hair floofing about, a proud nose, and dark skin. His most astonishing feature, however, are his eyes; they're amber, and they sparkle wildly with adrenaline and life.

"Woah," you say under your breath. This guy.

Just as you bring your wits about you and ask this man who he is, Wallis screeches, "IT'S HIM, MOM! MOM!! It's the prince!"

There is a distant call back from the tunnel you have just come out of. "It's Vince? Wonderful!"

"NO! MOM, the PRINCE!" Wallis backs away from the beautiful man. "Don't come one step closer!"

"Oh... I don't intend to." the prince says. "Because when I walk forward, you will step back." He steps forward, a great long stride. Wallis steps back hurriedly.

"We're taking back this mine, taking back this land. Cleansing it from dangerous beasts like yourselves." He pauses to take another step closer. "We've received word from our scouts that the North branch of the mine still has natrium seams. We thought while we're here, we may as well help the local community by killing off the rogues." He takes a third step forward, and Wallis hurries back even more.

Suddenly the beautiful man is standing next to you. His glittering eyes look into yours, and you wonder if you've finally met an adequate romantic partner who shares your love of wild adventure. He smiles, and your heart almost melts... but not quite.

This man invaded the home of poor Wallis, and killed his grandmother! Then again, they did eat people. But only on holidays! And if Wallis and his mother knew better, could their ways be changed?

"Help me put him out of his misery, miss?" the prince says slowly, gazing right into your eyes. You look away, at Wallis, who backs into a corner, petrified.

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"Yea, I can do that."

5.9

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 "No, never! Stop terrorizing this poor soul!"

5.8

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