“I have no idea. Everything about him is strange. Why does he always wear a hood and gloves? Why don’t we know his name? Why doesn’t he let me feed you? Something is very off about this fort.”
“I agree. Back in the city, all any boy wanted to do was to come to the fort and be a knight. So often boys would leave for the fort never to be heard from again. It was assumed a dangerous profession and thought they perished, but now seeing it first hand, I am not so sure.”
“I’m not sure what the case may be, but I plan on finding out.”
“I should get back to my room,” he sits up.
I place a hand on his chest lying him back down. “No, you can’t now that he’s out there. He could be waiting in the halls for all we know. It’ll take too long to get you back. He could see us.”
“I can’t stay here, what if he looks for me in my room and I’m not there?”
“We’ll come up with something. If that is the case, I guarantee the first thing he’ll do is ask me, so for now you’re still safest here.”
His head falls to the pillow with a yawn.
“Would you like some more food?”
He waves his hand. “No, thank you. I am so full. I was famished.”
“I could tell. You sure you don’t want anymore?”
“I’m sure. I need rest.”
I pull the covers over him. I slip off my boots and vest and pull the drapes tight around us in case Keeper returns. I crawl under the sheets next to Thorn and whisper to his sleeping face, “I’m so glad you’re here.” I shut my eyes, listening to the cadence of his breathing. I find it very comforting to have someone I know sleeping in such close proximity to me, which I realize is for the first time since I’ve left the Realm. His breathing gets heavier as he sinks into a deep sleep. Right before I drift off, I swear I hear him whisper back, “Me too.”
XII: Lightning in a Bottle
I awake to Thorn sleeping sound, facing me in the bed. No nightmares. No panic attacks or cold sweats to have wakened me. I allow myself to relish in the normalcy of the moment for I know it will soon be gone. Encompassed in the darkness of the drapes I reach a hand out to his face. My thumb brushes a thin strand of blonde hair behind his ear. He stirs. Clear blue eyes look up at me.
“That was the best sleep I’ve had in…I don’t know how long.” He says
“Me too.”
“What time is it? I should be getting back.”
I peer out the curtain to see cool light creeping across the floor. “Looks like it’s early morning.” I let go of the curtain enjoying the darkness a little longer.
“What’s that?” He tilts his head at me.
“What?”
“Your eyes. There was some kind of glow to them just now. I just saw it for a second in the dark.”
I keep my gaze on him.
“There, again. Like a little white flash around your pupils. What is that?”
Someone else can see it after all. “I was struck by lightning.”
He sits up propping himself on an elbow. “What? How?”
“It happened in the tomb. It’s a long story.”
“Tell me, we have time.”
I delve into everything that happened. Crawling down the dark steps. The fire. Dameon. The shrine of the sword. Vampiric Elves and the darkened ones. Rulsh, lightning in a bottle, the branding and everything that followed, including Dameon’s death. He stares at me as I tell him the story, like it’s something out of myth.
“I was wondering what that bandage on your arm was.”
I peek under it. The brand is scabbing now, less ooze, less blood.
“Yeah, I’m officially marked. It feels more like the sign of a prisoner than the sign of a warrior or a ruler.”
His thumb gently grips my wrist and brushes over the gauze. A fire spreads through my chest at his touch. My throat tightens. I feel like my heart beat is pounding out either side of my neck. His eyes meet mine. Silence spreads across the air between us. He leans in. My heart is all I can hear, blood roaring through my ears like waves. I'm about to lean in when we hear the door unlock. His eyes widen with panic. I jump out of the curtains, walking around the bed.
“You're still asleep?” Keeper asks perplexed. “And yet you're...dressed?”
I look down at myself, still wearing my clothes from yesterday, save the boots. “Yes, I was so tired from all the food I laid down and fell asleep.”
He eyes me with suspicion. “Finish dressing. Your training will commence soon.” With that he leaves the room. I pull back the curtains on the bed.
“What now?” Thorn asks.
“I'm not sure, we have about an hour until he comes back. I can go check the halls to see if they're clear. If anything we'll say I was just walking you around, something like that.”
A knock comes at the door. I look back to Thorn. “It can't be Keeper again, he never knocks. He has a key.”
“Well whoever it is probably shouldn't know I'm here.”
I pull the drape back over the bed and walk to the door.
“Hello?” I open the door a crack. “Banes! What are you doing here?”
“I hadn't spoken to you since you returned from the tomb. I wanted to see how you were.”
“Come in.” I shut the door behind him. “Can you keep a secret?”
He twists his mouth at me as if he’s unsure of what to say. “For you, my lady, of course.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, please don't call me by that ridiculous title.”
He laughs. “Alright what shall I call you then?”
“My name.” I walk over to the bed placing my hand at the end of the drapes.
Banes lets out a whistle looking around the room. “Man, elegant chambers you have here. I guess it comes with being the…”
I shoot him a look.
He laughs.
“That's better.”
He steps closer to me gesturing toward the bed. “So, what's this secret? You have a dead animal in there or something?”
I throw him a glare. “Dead animal? No.” I pull back the drapes to reveal Thorn. Banes looks back and forth between the two of us.
“Did anyone see him come in here?”
“No.” We say in unison.
“What’s he doing in here?”
“It's a long story, but I need you to help me get him out of here before Keeper comes back.”
“He was here all night?!”
“Keep your voice down, we need to get him out of here unnoticed.”
Banes studies Thorn for a moment. “Are you still on crutches?”
“Afraid so.”
“Then I'll carry you. It'll be the quickest way to get you back to your room.”
I look to Thorn assessing his reaction.
“Jaria, can you grab the crutches?” He asks.
I nod reaching under the bed for them.
“Let's do this.” Banes leans down, lifting Thorn into his arms cradling him like a child. I lead the way down to the door. We walk down the hall just as I hear Keeper’s voice from the stairs. I dart my eyes to Banes, motioning for the door across the apothecary. He runs as quick and silent as he can behind me. Opening the hall to the training room we step inside as Keeper breaks me from shutting the door behind us.
“Excuse me, my lady, but what is the meaning of this?”
Banes stops, Thorn still in his arms, the crutches in mine. Banes stares at me. After a second he gives me the slightest shake, refusing to speak.
“My lady?” Keeper presses.
“Thorn was on his way to the kitchen for some water when he slipped. Banes and I heard him and came running to help.” I look to Banes who gives me silent approval.
“He was not well enough to stand on his own, Banes offered to help him back to his room.”
“I have told you,” Keeper warns, “not to do the job of servants.”
“Forgive me, Keeper,” I warn in return, “but I am the lady and I can help whomever I please.”
A few seconds pa
ss as we stare one another down.
“Banes,” Keeper speaks over my head, “please see to it that Thorn is returned to his quarters. I will bring along the crutches shortly.”
Banes turns and takes Thorn down the hall. Once he's rounded the corner Keeper yanks the crutches from my arms. “Listen, my lady, as I told you last night; I do this for your own protection. Not to be cruel to you as you seem to think. I am on your side. I am trying to protect you. You are of great importance now, greater than you have come to realize. With this will come great power, and in time, great loss. I am to train you on the realities of your situation, which includes not getting too close to people that you will most likely lose.”
Hate burns in my stomach. “Keeper, as your lady I will deem what is best for me. If I have to learn the hard way, so be it. But you are never again to tell me who I can and cannot help, is that understood?”
He opens his mouth for a retort and shuts it before anything comes out. With a half bow he replies. “Yes, my lady. It will not happen again.”
“Good. And see to it that Thorn and all others in the infirmary are fed a hot meals and provided fresh water three times a day. He is an excellent warrior, and he needs to recover. As the Knight Divine I plan to have my men and women strong. This includes providing for them when they need it, helping them when they are wounded and ill, and above all training them to be the absolute best they can be so when that time comes that you are so fond to remind me of when I may lose them, they will be ready enough to stay alive, by my side.” With that, I had officially given my first orders as Lady of the Sanctums. The Knight Divine within me is finally emerging, earning her place.
¶Two weeks later things at the fort are improved. Thorn has made a full recovery and is off crutches. He sneaks to my room for late night chats and comfort on occasion and back into training with his ax. Danny is well into learning the skills of the sword. Shauna is getting better, but still needs work blocking attacks and Banes is by far the best knight at the fort. The others are falling well into place. The wizard has been showing us remedies we can fix for ourselves out in the wilderness. Roger has been keeping busy feeding the fort and Keeper has been overtly silent.
My new sheath is made of a feather-weight black glass, matching the black metal of the blade. No one other than Thorn has noticed my eyes and I’m still not sure what long term affect this will have on me.
“My lady?” Keeper calls from the doorway as I finish tying my hair into a knot atop my head.
“Yes?”
“It’s time to affix you with your new armor.”
Turning from the mirror I follow Keeper down the hall and into the armory, a basement below the training room.
“My lady.” The blacksmith bows. He resembles Roger in many ways, befittingly so as I had come to learn he is his brother. “This should fit you nicely.” He holds up a black metal breastplate with the fort insignia in gold. I eye the matching pieces on the table. “And, a nice layer of chain metal for beneath.” He holds up a shiny, long-sleeved chain metal shirt.
“It’s beautiful.” I admire it as he holds it against me. The sword, the sheath, now the armor. I finally look like a knight. Not just any knight, the Knight Divine. I strip off my leather vest and boots. He places the chain mail over my long-sleeved linen top. He then affixes armor over my arms and legs. “Boots?” I ask peering around the room. He holds up a finger with a smile. ¶Walking behind the wooden table he returns with a matching pair of black metal boots that come up over the knees to a sharp point. “Perfect.” I can’t help but grin as the armor wraps my skin.
“Fit for a Knight Divine.” He stands back admiring his work.
“Indeed.” I look down at myself.
“Now, if you’ll follow me, I have a surprise for you.” Keeper says more than asks.
“What is it?”
“This way.”
Walking outside it’s a relief to feel even the faintest of warmth as light snow begins to blanket the grounds. The sun is bright today, making the sight of snow a bit blinding.
“Here.” He extends his arm to the stable where the knights keep their assigned horses. I walk up unsure of what it is I’m looking at…until I see the white streak down the nose of a chestnut horse.
“Stallum!” I run over to her. She neighs upon hearing my voice, trotting to me. I cup her head in my hands and nuzzle her. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.” I whisper to her, tears welling on the rims of my eyes.
“Surprise!” Danny pops out from behind one of the stables.
“Danny!”
He walks up to Stallum palm open. She licks a sugar cube from his hand. Soft giggles escape him. It’s still hard for me to see him here, he is by far the youngest of anyone at the fort. Barely a teenager.
“I talked Keeper into getting her for you, from Tanner.”
“That’s so sweet of you!” I eye Keeper who remains silent beneath his hood.
“Yeah, I’ve been in charge of the stables since I have the most experience. We were going to assign you a horse but I remembered what you told me about Tanner having your horse. It took some convincing,” he leans in to whisper, “but it was worth it.”
I look back to Stallum, still in shock.
“Thank you so much.” I pet her nose as she sighs, closing her eyes. “I’m so happy to have her back.” I turn around to tell Keeper I’m going to take her out for a ride only to find he’s left.
“What’s been up with him lately?” Danny asks.
“I’m not sure.”
He twists his mouth to the side in curiousty. “Really? I thought he spends all this time with you, you must know him best.”
I shake my head. “Hardly. I feel like I know him the least.”
“Have you ever seen under that hood?”
“No, have you?”
“No. Nice armor by the way!” Danny changes the subject.
“Thank you. I’m glad to be official.”
“What’s this about new armor and being official?”
I turn to find Banes entering the stable, clad in his standard issue silver armor with the fort insignia in the center of the chest, same as mine. He walks up, looking my armor up and down. “Well, well,” he says in a playful tone, “look who’s finally got some armor. I’d say welcome to the club but you own the club now.” He looks to Stallum. “Who’s this?”
I turn to Stallum and scratch behind her ears. “This is Stallum, my horse from the Realm. Danny had Keeper find her for me.”
His eyes widen. “Keeper went and found her for you?”
“Well, we already knew where she was,” Danny interjected feeding Stallum another sugar cube..
“Still, doesn’t sound like him.”
“I wouldn’t really know. He’s an enigma to me.” I state.
“He’s an enigma to everybody.” Banes walks to one of the stables opening the wooded hinged door with a whistle. His jet-black mare comes trotting out. “Were you going for a ride?” He asks me strapping the saddle to his horse.
“Yeah, why, do you want to come with?”
He nods placing his left foot into the stirrup, straddling his horse. “Yeah, saddle up!”
I look to Danny whose already one step ahead of me fetching a saddle. “Keeper had this made.” He walks over with a large black, gold-toned saddle with a curling pattern carved into the sides.
“Wow,” Banes says sarcastically, “sounds like Keeper will do just about anything for you these days.”
I throw him a glare. “Unlikely. I’m just trying not to let him walk all over me.”
“Well I’d say you’re succeeding.” Banes walks his horse to the gate.
Danny finishes tightening the saddle and I hop on Stallum.
“Thank you again, Danny.” I wave as Banes and I exit the gate on our horses.
“Anything for you, Knight Divine! Don’t forget to be back before dark!”
Trotting off towards the city we pass the snow’s melting point and enter spa
rse green fields through which we race and gallop. “So, how does it feel to be Lady of the Sanctums?”
I pull the reigns to the left following him. “Good.”
“Good? You have this killer sword, black metal armor and your own personal horse with custom saddle, and all you can say is ‘good’?”
“I’m just not sure what comes next.”
“What comes next is you reigning the Seven Sanctums.”
“But what does that entail?
Ear piercing screams split the air. Stallum backpedals herself to a halt. Banes stops several feet ahead of me. We pause, scanning our surroundings. The city is a short distance away. Silence stretches. Screams come again.
“The city!” Banes looks to me. “We must go!” He smacks the reins on his horse. I kick Stallum’s hind quarters and we race off after Banes. Leaning down into the wind, mirroring the memory of outrunning the wolves. We gain speed catching up to Banes. Black smoke begins billowing out of the inner city as people pour out of the gates nearest us.
“This way!” Banes steers his horse for the east gate.
Smacking our reigns we gain speed bolting for the entrance to the city. A deathly roar splinters the air, causing me to let go of the reigns. “Banes!” I scream looking up at the black dragon lifting itself from within the city walls. It is not a blood dragon, but a dragon none the less. I have yet to lay eyes on any dragon other than in paintings or books. The sight causes me to paralyze, fixed on the enormous creature hovering over the city. Banes looks back to me, equally paralyzed in fear as the dragon’s deep yellow eyes fixate on us.
“Get inside, make sure everyone is out of the city. I will draw the dragon away.” I tell him.
He hesitates.
“Banes! The city, now!”
With one swift clap of the reins on his mare he dashes through the thickening black smoke pooling out the east gate and disappears inside. I look up to the dragon, hovering close.
“Yah!” Smacking the reins I turn Stallum back into the fields, away from the city. Looking to the dragon I make sure he follows me into the fields, yelling to keep its attention fixated on me. Black wings beat behind, flattening the wheat fields. We run until the dragon flies in front of us. She neighs lifting to her two hind legs nearly flipping me off her back. The dragon swoops down all but missing us with his claws. Stallum backs up as the dragon turns to face us. I swallow hard and place my hand on the sword’s hilt. Time seems to stand still as beating wings keep the dragon in place.
The Writings of Assassination: Book One Page 15