The 12 Tales of Christmas season 2 - A ghost of a chance
Welcome everyone to the 10th story of the 12 tales of Christmas. Well we’re closing in on the end of this compilation series. I hope you’ve been enjoying the stories so far. For this one my buddy BlazinMike decided to lend a hand. He chose the number 10 and Ghost as the word.
Now let me show you what I came up with. For this one, no surprise, we’re delving back into the realm of fantasy.
A prominent monster hunter and his rogue sidekick are on a mission. Their goal: To recover the long-lost treasure of the hunter’s family. Being led by the ghost of said hunter's ancestor whose had them collect ten keys. But collecting the treasure isn’t going to be easy as there are forces aligned against their efforts. Come and check out the heroic fantasy/adventure/comedy story a ghost of a chance.
Hannigan Swiftfingers glowered as he walked behind a chain mail clad man. The one in front of him wielding a crossbow and a sword sheathed at his belt. The man also wore leather boots and a tabard. Hannigan meanwhile wore a leather vest, brown-black boots, and his usual rogue’s attire.
"Come be an adventurer he said. A life of wealth and glory it’ll be.” the rogue complained then harrumphed.
“The only thing I’ve gotten so far is grief and my arse almost handed to me any number of times.” He complained.
“But your help is no less appreciated Hannigan.” A voice said to his right echoing as if from a great distance.
The rogue yelped as he almost leapt out of his skin from being so frightened. He then turned to see a spectral figure floating alongside them. “Sir Meligan what are you tryin’ to do give me a heart attack?!” he growled in annoyance at the ghost knight.
“You should pay attention to the road good rogue. One never knows the form that danger will take. You of all people should know that.” The ghost knight chided.
“Yeah-yeah,” The male thief growled.
“But it’s kind of hard when, I’ve been the one whose more often than not almost gotten killed. And I still haven’t forgiven you for what happened with that damned dragon.”
The Monster Hunter Bryant Meligan said, “I understand Hannigan. I also got chased by that foul tempered beast and my bolts didn’t exactly do so much as a dent to his scaled skin.”
“Well...yeah that’s true.” Hannigan mumbled conceding the point.
The ghost knight said, “You both have done well and now you have the keys to uncover the lost treasure of the family. You two have passed the tests needed to gain it and have proven yourselves tenfold.”
Hannigan pointed out, “Hey Bryant, you do know you’re an engaged man now right.”
Bryant Meligan flushed before he spoke. “I know-I know, we broke the curse of ugliness on Persephone and I do care about her that way. But I must admit I have some issue about arranged marriages.”
“You and she are both rash bastards at times you know.” Hannigan pointed out.
Bryant grimaced at this. “You are right my friend. I guess we both have been rather hapless since this adventure began.”
The ghost of Sir Jeffery Meligan said, “Among the treasure is a book of all my adventures. And trust me when I say half of the adventures I got into, I stumbled across by pure chance.”
Hannigan said, “Sir Jeffery got a question. With this adventure coming to a close, is there anything else we may need to worry about?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” the ghost knight said.
Hannigan patted the bag on his belt that held all ten of the keys collected. “There may be some issue on my end Hannigan,” Bryant pointed out.
“Remember my cousin on my mother’s side Sharvis is still out there. And you can bet he and his goons will be wanting to get their grubby hands on the family treasure.”
The rogue groaned and facepalmed. “Oh, bloody hell I’d forgotten about that bastard! You think he may try something before this adventure is over?”
“Knowing the kind of stupid levels of persistent he is...I don’t doubt it.” The Monster Hunter observed.
“And ‘ere I thought we were going to head into the manor house on First Star Eve and find it nice and easy. But nope not with us blokes! There’s always something to get in the way!” The thief complained.
“I fear my great grandson speaks truth good rogue. All I can say is trust in your abilities and when in doubt improvise.”
Hannigan snorted out a laugh. “That’s pretty much how we’ve been handling this since the bloody adventure started!” He quipped.
“So, Bryant where’s your family’s old estate?” Hannigan asked.
“It’s outside the city of Karsamir my friend. I must confess the city has seen better days due to the corruption.”
Jeffery sighed and shook his head. “I fear that is due to the curse on the house and the town. Until a worthy heir to the family fortune comes along the house will remain deserted. And thus, the town will remain cursed by corruption.”
A look of trepidation washed over the rugged looking rogue’s face. “That could be a problem mate.” Hannigan ventured.
“Why is that ” the Monster Hunter asked.
“I have mates who run a thieves guild in Karsamir. The mayor of that town is a ruthless bastard who drains the town dry and has connections to the Night Knives.”
The Monster Hunter whistled. “The notorious thief and assassin guild? I’ve heard of them, a nasty bunch.”
Bryant turned back to the road ahead. “Well, looks like we may have double the problem.”
Hannigan grabbed his head and moaned, “Why me, why?”
Rogue, Monster Hunter and ghost marched for another half hour. Finally, they moved past the walls of Karsamir. Even from outside the dilapidation showed the city had seen better days.
Good thing Bryant doesn't know how I got on the bad side of the mayor in that town. As long as we don't head in, I'll be okay. Still, I got this sinking feeling trouble’s coming.
The thief sighed in consternation and muttered, “And knowing how our luck works chances are it is.”
“What’s that Hannigan?” Bryant called.
“Nothin’ boss.” The rogue stated.
But the ghost sent a thought to the Monster Hunter’s hired companion. “You’re not wrong you know. One would think that even approaching the town the mayor would’ve sent out some guard to collect a fee. Yet no one has come."
Hannigan kept his eyes peeled as the sky above began to darken. And there up ahead on the top of the hill was a manor house. Bryant stopped before it as he gasped in horror. “By the Gods what did that Witch Breevelda do to it?!”
The manor house stone columns looked like they had degraded with time. The brickwork of the mansion looked like it was falling apart. The yard was overrun with weeds and vegetation. The once elegant windows looked smashed. And then the three noticed that there was a pathway leading to a derelict front door.
Hannigan whistled at the wrecked mansion. “So, we have to find the treasure in here before First Star Eve tonight otherwise it won’t show for another 40 years aye?” The thief ventured.
Bryant nodded and said, “It’s true, and based on the look of things it appears someone else beat us here.”
His face darkened as he continued. “And I’d bet any amount of coin that someone is Sharvis.”
The Monster Hunter thought for a long moment and then the rogue saw the man’s face brighten. “Hannigan dear fellow. Do you have the ingredients for making those special itching and cough bombs of yours?” he asked.
The rogue’s face furrowed at this. “Yeah, I never go anywhere without having any of em’.”
And then the thief’s face began to brighten. “Oh, oh, oh!” he said as understanding dawned on him.
Then his face furrowed. “But wait I figured after everything he did, you’d want him dead.”
An evil smile flashed across the Monster Hunter’s face. “Hannigan Swiftfingers why in the world would I want to send that monster on a vacation?”
Greater understanding dawned on the rogue. “Total bloody humiliation! You sneaky and brilliant bastard!”
Bryant stated, “My dear fellow killing Sharvis would be too easy. No after all the horrible things he’s done I want him to live and suffer the consequences of his vile deeds.”
Hannigan's face flashed a predatory smirk of his own. “What did you have in mind mate?”
The Monster Hunter walked over to him and whispered in one ear his plan. The thief listened and nodded.
A half hour later the two descended down a stairwell into the basement. There waiting for the two were three individuals. One was an arrogant looking man dressed in a white silk shirt and bown leather trousers, vest, and gloves. He had a thin mustache on his face. The look on the pale-skinned man’s face was one of total contempt for everyone.
With him was a weasel-faced woman dressed in the garb of a wizard. The other was a tall muscular man in plate mail. The man had a thick black beard and a scowl on his face of someone who liked hurting others. “Well-well-well,”: the man with the thin mustache said in an arrogant tone. “Look who showed up a few hours late and a few coins short.”
Bryant rolled his eyes and said, “Sharvis is there no end to you?”
Then Hannigan noticed the man in plate mail. “Well-well if it ain’t Mayor Rando of Karsamir I presume.”
The man pulled his mace from its holster and waved it around. “Now you listen up and listen good Bryant Maligan and Hannigan Swiftfingers! Sharvis here has paid me some good money to be part of this, and I don’t like going into this without some reward."
He took a step forward malice on his face. “Hand over the keys and run way like the little runts you are or I’ll beat some sense into you!” he snapped.
“Oh, please resist. Give me a reason to turn the two of you into frogs or little insects we can squash!” The woman sneered.
Sharvis smiled in an unpleasant fashion. “I'd say my girlfriend Leena and the mayor are deadly serious. Please do as they say and make this less unpleasant.” Bryant's evil cousin chimed in.
Hannigan noted the ghost and Bryant shake their heads. “Sharvis you never change. Always the coward, having others do your dirty work.”
Sharvis let out a derisive laugh. “It’s not cowardice it’s being practical. Why should I have to get a callous on any part of my perfect pampered personage? I have others who can do the work for me.”
Leena leered and said, “And in case you two have forgotten I like using my magic to kill people.”
“And the Night Knives have taught me many ways to kill someone in the slowest way possible,” the mayor added.
“You know how to ruin a First Star celebration.” Bryant added.
But Hannigan was busy paying attention to what the plan was. Got to handle this the right way or else the traps won’t go off. The rogue thought.
The mayor took another step forward as he snapped, “Enough talk!”
That was the cue Hannigan had been waiting for. He moved to the other pouch on his belt and brought out the Powderball bombs. He threw them and they exploded. The three coughed and hacked up a storm even as they started scratching themselves. Bryant and Hannigan scampered up the stairs.
“Sorry, you’re gonna’ have to catch us before you have those keys.” The rogue taunted.
The two scampered up the stairs and up another nearby set. “Now we wait,” Bryant stated.
The two didn’t have to wait long as the coughs and scratching turned to an annoyed roar from the mayor. Sharvis yelled, “After them, make them suffer!”
Sir Madigan whispered, “Now pay attention Hannigan. This is why letting greed cloud your judgment is unwise.”
The rogue pulled a glowing crystal from his belt. He whispered to the Monster Hunter, “Good thing that fiancée of yours has a creative mind.”
Two sets of footsteps stormed up the steps. The rogue pressed the strange crystal. A rune appeared on the sapphire-colored crystal device. Evil cousin and mayor stopped before they reached the stairs. “Oh, come on,” Sharvis said in derision. “Do you think the mayor and I are that stupid?!”
The two leapt over the flooring before the stairs. And the two got the surprise of their lives when a hole appeared on the first step. The two men dropped into the hole screaming in surprise and fear. Hannigan smirked and said, “Being too greedy is bad,” The rogue admitted.
“But assuming is also a recipe for disaster.” The ghost added.
The thief put the blue crystal away and pulled out a green one. They scampered up to the second floor of the manor. He pressed a button on the emerald-like crystal. Bryant said, “Now my friend we wait.”
“Oh, you won’t have to wait long,” a familiar female voice said.
The evil spell caster Leena appeared behind them. “I thought you might have some trick up your sleeve. My Sharvis and the mayor are nothing if not predictable. You'll find I'm smarter than them or anyone.”
Hannigan screamed in pain as he and Bryant got blasted by lightning bolts. Then the ghost got sent flying by another one. “You didn’t think I’d forget about you Sir Madigan," she mocked.
The three stared at the sorceress in surprise. She flashed an evil smile before she spoke. “Oh before I kill you, I should let you know something. It was my family who brought the curse on you Madigan wretches. The dread witch Breevelda was my great grandmother.
"Also, it was me who put the curse on your fiancee Bryant Madigan."
“You?” All three squawked.
‘That’s right, my family has a long history of taking what we want when we want.”
She waved a dismissive hand. “Now the mayor and my boyfriend are in that pocket prison. Which means I can use the keys you have to take the Madigan treasure, and I’ll be set for life!”
Leena then extended a hand and snapped, “Now hand over the keys or else I’ll…"
She never got the chance to finish as all heard the floorboards groan. Leena got a surprise when some of the floorboards transformed. The wooden floor panels became a giant hand. Said hand grabbed her before Hannigan and Bryant laughed in derision. The wooden hand began to glow with a magical rune.
They noted Leena try to mutter a spell and found that there was no response. “Wha-wha-what is so funny?!” The evil sorceress demanded.
“Stupid wench!” Hannigan spat.
“Foolish spellcaster my companion and I figured out who you were ages ago! All thanks to my fiancée and the help of a few magic entities doing some investigation.” Bryant explained.
“You knew?” She yelped.
“Of course, Leena Fireshade of the Fireshade family! Every adventurer worth their weight knows of the things your family have done! And you’ve proven no exception to that rule.”
A new voice began to chuckle. A shapely chestnut-haired woman in dark blue spellcaster’s robes of her own appeared. The thin blonde-haired woman looked at the new figure and gaped. “Persephone,” she said in a hoarse whisper.
The woman smirked and said, “Looks like the plan worked well. Now Miss Fireshade, the Wizard’s council wants to have a few words with you. And the King of Corvelia would like to have a word with your boyfriend and the mayor of Karsamir.”
Leena tried to struggle against the large hand. Persephone shook her head and stated, “Try and squirm all you want scheming little witch! The anti-magic ward safeguard will make sure you can’t cast anything. At least until the Magician’s Guild arrives to take you into custody.”
“Lady Persephone, I appreciate the assist. But did you have to keep this plan secret until right before it happened?” The thief put in.
“Forgive us friend but sometimes you can be a little open mouthed. Especially after you've had a good pint of mead. " The Monster Hunter pointed out.
Hannigan grimaced and said, “Fair enough.”
Sir Jeffrey recovered and said, “And with this the curse on this family is almost done. Let us return to the cellars, I can open the way to the treasure with the keys.”
Persephone looked around and said, “Wait, Bryant my love I’ve had a thought. Instead of abandoning this place, I see potential in the old Madigan family estate.”
“You do?” the human men said.
“I do, granted it’ll take some work, but we could improve on this place. Besides that, truth told, my old tower is not what I thought it was. I’ve been thinking of moving anyway.”
Bryant’s eyes brightened at this thought. “Restore the old family estate? What a fantastic idea!"
“That's okay for you blokes but not me! " The rogue said with a snort.
“And what do you plan to do with your share of the treasure good rogue? " The ghost knight asked.
Hannigan Swiftfingers rubbed his hands. “There’s a certain buxom female rogue back in Karnsdale who has a guild she needs help running.”
The ghost shook his head while the Monster Hunter and Sorceress snickered.
Hannigan chimed in, “Now this is my idea of a happy First Star.”
And there you are folks, story number 10 of the 12 Tales of Christmas is all done! But there are still two more stories to go before it’s over. I hope you enjoyed this story. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. If you liked this story, please hit like and share this across social media.
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The 12 Tales of Christmas season 1
Next: All American Christmas