by Travis Bughi
Unfortunately, they were too late.
The gargoyles screeched and flapped their leathery wings, then dived down to attack the knights. Their claws were outstretched for a killing blow and their interlocking teeth were held open. In the night, their red eyes made them appear harbingers of death.
“Golden arches!” Emily screamed.
The gargoyles flinched at the words, stopping just above the knights’ heads, and then accepted the password before flying back up into the air. The knights turned around and gave Emily a curt nod. Gavin stared at her the longest before turning back.
The ogres had retreated back into the building. The knights stood outside the door, swords held at the ready.
“Do you know what’s inside, Emily?” Gavin yelled back to her.
“There are the ogres, a leprechaun, a samurai, some crazy woman, and a vampire!”
At the mention of the vampire, the knights gasped and took a step back from the bank. They exchanged glances, their armored bodies revealing fear as they retreated all the way back down the steps. Frantically, they looked all around the building and even searched the skies above the bank.
“Can vampires fly?” Emily asked.
“No, but Jack Borgan’s bank is open at the top,” Duncan replied.
The ten knights retreated back to the amazons but kept their eyes on the building and never took their hands off their weapons.
“If there is a vampire in there, then we’ll have to come back with help,” one of the knights said.
“You were inside, Emily,” Gavin said. “Are you sure there’s a vampire? Did you feel cold?”
Emily relayed as much as she could, but once it was apparent that she had indeed seen a vampire, the knights went into action.
“We must leave quickly,” he said. “You three amazons come with us. It won’t be safe until daybreak. Not to mention my superiors will want to hear your story, Miss Stout.”
Adelpha tried to protest, but Emily was more than willing. The knights whistled, calling their pegasi down to them. The beasts obeyed and flew down beside their riders. The knights were quick to mount up, years of practice outweighing the burden of their armor. After Gavin had mounted, he reached out a helping arm to Emily.
“Miss Stout?”
Emily didn’t need his help, but she took it anyway. When she grasped his hand, even though it was encased in armor, she still felt her heart jump to her throat. Adelpha refused Duncan’s help and climbed onto his pegasus alone, scowling at him as she did so. Chara refused help, too, slapping away a knight’s hand as if its mere existence were offensive.
“I’m much too old for this,” she complained, and mounted up.
Gavin’s pegasus led the way, leaping into the air while simultaneously giving a mighty push of its wings. Emily could feel the air pulling at her, and she clenched Gavin tightly.
It was the most exhilarating experience she could imagine. One moment, they were sitting mounted on the ground, and the next they were soaring through the air and over buildings. The pegasus’ wings rubbed against Emily’s legs as it flapped, but the soft feathers only warmed them as the cool wind swept by. Emily held Gavin tightly and looked down, watching the buildings shrink and rush by underneath them, like water under a bridge. The other knights were in the air, too, and keeping pace. Chara and Adelpha, for all their earlier reluctance, couldn’t keep the shock and awe from their faces. Emily grinned while her eyes narrowed against the wind. She stared out across the ocean and then out towards the plains, taking in the incredible view. With the wind in her hair and the shining knight in her arms, Emily nearly forgot that just a moment ago, she’d almost been eaten alive.
Lucifan was completely foreign to Emily from above, not that it was familiar when she was on the ground either. The moonlight cast shadows from the buildings, and Emily saw nothing but rooftops. She laughed, smiled, and touched a hand to the pegasus that carried her and Gavin effortlessly over the city. What strength these creatures must have, she realized, to carry such weight on their wings. How the animal kept them from tumbling out of the sky to certain death was a mystery all in its own. Emily was okay with that remaining a mystery, too, so long as it kept them flying. The pegasus snorted when she reached forward to run her hand through its mane.
“We’ll be setting down right there!” Gavin shouted, his voice barely audible in the wind.
Gavin pointed to a two-storied structure with a large courtyard in the back. Although it was all made of stone and large in size, the building looked tiny, because it was situated right up against the massive tower in the center of the city. Emily had heard that was the angels’ tower, and her heart skipped again at the thought of seeing them. Did they stay in that tower? She wondered. Are the angels Gavin’s superiors?
Will I get to meet angels, too? She hoped she would.
The pegasi dove down to the courtyard and cantered to a stop when their hooves touched the ground. As soon as the knights dismounted, a trio of servants came forth to take the reins. The knights pulled off their helmets, and Emily saw that they were all about the same age, youthful like Gavin, though one had shaved his head completely bald. These were not the same knights Gavin and Duncan had been traveling with in the streets several days ago. She thought to ask about that, but the moment passed when the ten knights headed inside the building and motioned for the amazons to follow.
Upon entry, Gavin grabbed one of servants tending the pegasi and gave him a hard stare.
“Wake Sir Mark,” he said. “Tell him a vampire has been spotted plotting to capture and kill. The angels will want to know.”
Chapter 16
Soon after, Sir Mark O’Conner emerged from the darkened hallways carrying a single lit candle in a tray, the servant who had fetched him now nowhere to be seen. Emily’s eye fell upon an older man, not unlike her grandmother, only with a shaved head and thick cheeks. His narrowed eyes squinted past the light he held, making his features appear dark and defined as he walked across the stone floor. He was dressed casually in a stainless white tunic and hardly-used linen pants. The outfit looked cheap, yet comfortable, and he clearly was not expecting any trouble on this weary, cloudless night, judging by the annoyed scowl he gave Gavin and Duncan as a means of greeting. As for how Emily knew he was a knight, it was because of how quickly he established his superior rank.
“Spit it out, Shaw,” Mark barked. “Why am I awake at this hour?”
“Sir!” Gavin and his squad went rigid at the sight and sound of the older knight. “We have reliable information that a vampire is plotting something.”
“Vampires are always plotting something,” Mark replied, “just as you are always forgetting to respect your elders.”
Gavin hesitated a moment and glanced at Duncan, who in turn tilted his chin down. A moment later, Gavin relaxed his stance and took a knee before Mark, kneeling low. The other knights followed suit, bowing down as a unit just behind their leader. Emily almost knelt, too, but checked herself. Neither Adelpha nor Chara had made a move, and the old knight’s eye had yet to fall on any of the three. Actually, for all Emily could see, Mark didn’t know they existed.
“We apologize, Sir Mark,” Gavin said, his voice sounding honest. “The urgency of the situation overtook us. This woman here, Emily Stout, was nearly killed by a group of ogres outside Jack Borgan’s bank. We believe she has valuable information on a vampire plot, sir.”
“The leprechaun, eh?” Sir Mark nodded and rubbed his chin.
There was no hair on his face at all, except for two bushing eyebrows and some grey nose hair. He finally took a moment to flick his eyes from the knights to Emily, Chara, and Adelpha. His gaze settled on each one, giving away nothing beyond the fact that he was clearly judging them.
“The youngest one, the farmer,” Gavin spoke to the floor, still kneeling. “That’s Emily Stout, Sir.”
“That’s better, Shaw,” Mark said, turning to Emily. “As much as I hate wasting my time, I’ll give you a moment of it.
What information do you possess, girl?”
Emily’s heart was still racing from all the events of the night, and she had to take a few breaths before she began her tale. She wanted to be brief, but found she didn’t know how. When she mentioned the amazon, Adelpha and Chara both took in sharp breaths and exchanged looks. As Emily stumbled over her words, Mark grew more irate until he held up a hand at the point where the ogres were commanded to eat her. She went quiet, and he took in a deep breath.
“To my ears, the only plotting I hear is that one amazon is trying to kill another,” Mark said and then pointed at Adelpha. “This one, specifically. Am I right to assume that you amazons would rather Lucifan and the knights stay out of such business?”
“Dead right,” Adelpha replied, coldly.
“Then I see nothing worth waking me for, Shaw,” Mark continued, turning to the kneeling knights. “There is nothing in Lucifan’s laws against trying to acquire a basilisk, as insane and unlikely as it sounds. If you have witnesses that this girl was about to be killed by ogres, find and arrest the beasts, and they will be charged for their crimes. As for the rest of it, I’ve heard nothing but a tall tale made up by a lowly farmer’s daughter. Jack Borgan, Count Drowin, and the samurai ambassador Okamoto Karaoshi? And somehow these three met and have an interest in some small girl from the plains? I’ve heard better stories, but not many. Tell me, Emily Stout, did you think this all up at once, or have you been planning to be rescued by a knight in shining armor for years?”
Emily was shocked into silence. The speed with which Mark had taken her for a liar was not something she’d expected from a man in his position. Fortunately, Gavin was on her side.
“Sir!” he lifted his head. “You didn’t let her finish. It was us who witnessed her almost being eaten by ogres. After I saved her—”
“You saved her?” Chara huffed.
“After we saved her,” Gavin continued, “the ogres retreated back inside Jack Borgan’s bank, so they must have been employed by the leprechaun. The gargoyles allowed them entrance. The angels will want to know.”
The old knight took in Gavin’s information and rubbed his bare chin again. He gave Emily a hard stare and then turned around. As Emily waited patiently, she noticed Adelpha lean towards her.
“Did you really threaten a vampire?” the amazon whispered.
“Well, I felt it was more like a warning,” Emily shrugged, “but I don’t think he saw the difference.”
To Emily’s surprise, Adelpha smiled. She blinked at the older girl, yet again at a loss of words
This is becoming a bad habit, Emily realized. I’m being left speechless right and left!
“Alright,” Sir Mark nodded, turning back around. “You have a good point, Shaw. Jack Borgan has a history of crossing the law, especially those he feels don’t apply to him. I will mention this little encounter to the angels in the morning, assuming there is time. It’s possible they’ll even take interest in this vampire’s plot, but don’t blame me when they brush it off as hearsay. Still, since it can be confirmed that you are being hunted by ogres, you three will stay here for the night—don’t protest, amazon. You are under angels’ law here in Lucifan, and this Emily here is a witness to a crime. You’ll be released in the morning, you have my word. Shaw, here, will show you to our visitor’s quarters. As for the rest of you,” he indicated the other nine knights, “return to Jack Borgan’s Bank. Seal the building off and wait for reinforcements. There may be other ogres still inside. Shaw will lead the reinforcements to reconnect with you, and then you will detain that greedy leprechaun. Macalister, you will take command until that time.”
He gave a curt nod to the ten knights who stood at attention and saluted him. Without another word, he marched away, taking the flickering candle with him. Minus Gavin, the knights turned and walked back out towards the courtyard. Duncan stopped when Gavin reached out and grabbed his arm.
“Be careful out there,” he said. “The vampire is probably long gone by now, but don’t risk it.”
“Rushing in was your plan, remember?” Duncan forced a smile.
His words sounded hollow, and Gavin only released him when he gave a nod. Gavin waited until the knights were mounted and in the air, disappearing over the buildings. Emily watched them go, too, letting her mind drift to the thought of feeling the wind in her face and feathered wings rubbing against her leg. When Gavin turned around, his eyes and tone denoted a state of urgency.
“I apologize, Miss Stout,” he nodded low. “I’m afraid I do not have the luxury of time and must escort you to your room immediately. I need to get back to my squad as soon as I can.”
“Oh,” Emily blinked. “Yes, I understand.”
You are a bumbling idiot, she thought of herself. That’s the best you can come up with? He probably thinks you’re the most boring girl in the world, the way you talk. Get yourself together. You were almost killed!
If Gavin noticed that he was making her blush, he did not show it. Instead, he grabbed a nearby candle, lit it, and led the three amazons deeper into the building down a few short hallways to a bedroom. He flung open the wooden door, revealing a small room with only two beds. He handed the candle to Emily and, for once, looked embarrassed.
“I’m sorry, but this is the best I can do on such short notice.”
“It’s alright, Sir Gavin,” she smiled. “You can make it up to me by doing me a favor.”
“Oh?” he raised an eyebrow, “and what favor might that be, Miss Stout?”
“Find out where that samurai, Okamoto, is. Please.”
Gavin tilted his head curiously and replied, “I’ll see what I can do.”
As soon as he was out of sight and the door was closed, Chara snatched the candle out of Emily’s hand and leaned forward until their noses nearly touched.
“First, we sleep,” the old woman said, “but in the morning, you give me every detail.”
“I can’t believe they’re forcing us to stay,” Adelpha seethed. “As if we’d be safer here rather than with our sisters. I have a traitor to find. Irksome knights.”
Chara and Emily shared one of the beds for the night. Although both beds were the same size, Adelpha was notably thicker than her companions. Emily had inherited Chara’s small frame and neither of the two were disturbed by the other’s presence. Emily’s back pressed up against her grandmother’s, and the excitement rushing through her veins soon gave over to fatigue. She passed into a deep, dreamless sleep that wasn’t disturbed until Chara shook her awake in the early morning.
“Emily,” she whispered. “It’s time. Start from the beginning, and don’t leave out a single detail.”
After a few yawns and some eye rubbing, Emily felt alert enough to speak. Adelpha was already awake, too, and she listened intently through most of the tale. Chara frequently interrupted, though, asking questions and clarifying things. Most questions were about the mysterious woman. When Emily finished her story, Chara went over specifics again, making Emily repeat some parts more than twice.
“She specifically said she was an amazon?” Chara asked. “And that she wanted Adelpha dead?”
“Only that she was an amazon,” Emily shook her head. “Adelpha’s name was never mentioned, directly.”
Chara glanced over at Adelpha who was looking down, her head tilted forward with eyes glazed over. Emily expected to see anger written in her face, but it was worry and regret she saw instead.
“Hmm,” Chara bit her lower lip. “We don’t know who they’re after then. The ogres could have been looking for a different pair, perhaps other amazons who were coming back to the tavern late.”
“Chara, please,” Adelpha spoke up. “I don’t need to be consoled here. Don’t try to pretend. That woman—this traitor—she wanted me captured, me. Whoever this was watched us leave the city, knew when we were coming back, thought there would be two us, knew where we were going to be when we came back, and gave all that information to a vampire. She wanted me dead in exchange f
or capturing a basilisk! If Emily hadn’t been with us, or if she had been older than me, then it would have been me tied to that chair.”
“The woman said she was married,” Chara raised a finger. “Anyone can claim to be amazon, but we amazons do not marry, Adelpha. Emily never saw her face.”
“Don’t say that like it’s a good thing,” Adelpha scowled, “and the marriage is nothing. Just because it is forbidden does not mean it never happens. You should know this most of all. Besides, she said she’s going to use special wood to capture the basilisk, and we both know that she’s speaking of treantwood. It’s the same wood we use to make our bows. This woman knows our ways. She is amazon, she’s with us, and she wants to kill me.”
“It could still be someone else. You are the next in line to be queen after all. There are many who could call themselves your enemy.”
Emily jumped a bit when she heard that. Her mouth fell open in surprise, too, but neither Chara nor Adelpha commented on it.
“Chara,” Adelpha begged. “Face it. She’s one of us. She’s an amazon, and she’s traveling with us.”
Chara gave one last, defiant mumble, but then buried her face in her hands, finally accepting the inevitable. She sighed, lifted her head and shook it slowly.
“I wished this day would never come.”
Silence took over after that, and Emily looked from Chara to Adelpha, hoping that one would catch on to her questioning glances. Eventually, Chara did acknowledge them.
“Well, Daughter,” she said, “you told us your story. Perhaps it’s time you heard ours.”
Emily listened well, and she finally had answers to the countless questions that were buried within her. However, by the end of the tale, she found there were still many more questions left unasked.
Unlike most amazons, Chara only had one daughter. Childbirth had been far too unpleasant an experience in her opinion, and she had no desire to go through it again. Being a mother, though, had been an absolute joy, so when Mariam ran off with Paul, Chara decided to take up motherly duties for another girl in Themiscyra who’d lost her mother. It was a common thing to do, being as how hostile the world could be at times, but the new daughter Chara took up was a bit special. She was older, about Emily’s age at the time, and she was the amazon queen. Her name was Hippolytha.