Two travellers walked down the dirt road. Streaks of sunlight filtered through the canopy of trees, painting the forest floor with myriad patterns. The wind blew. The shadows danced. A thousand new shapes replaced the old. Milo stopped to watch them, amused by the show. No matter how much time had passed, he always felt like there was something new and beautiful to find in nature. As if endless mysteries were layered atop another like leaves on a forest floor just waiting to be unveiled. He knelt down and picked one up.
Thunder rumbled up ahead as a horse-drawn cart came barrelling down the road at full gallop. Bits of dirt and leafy debris scattered in its wake. No coachman was driving the cart, yet for some reason the horse slowed its pace down to a trot, then to a walk when it saw the youth crouched in the middle of the path, lost in his own world.
Milo smiled up at the horse with gentle, clear eyes and extended a hand towards it. The horse slowly approached and nuzzled its cheek against his palm. Milo looked into its eyes and patted its face a few times before standing up and taking its reins. He turned the horse around to the direction it came from and started to lead it back.
“Uncle Gu,” Milo called out. “We’re leaving.”
“En,” the old man grunted out a response, and the two travellers, plus horse, walked onwards.
They were packed lightly and dressed in sturdy cloth like most travellers from the region. Neither of the two were distinct enough to stand out in a crowd, but there was something about them that always seemed to invite company. They gave off an aura of harmony that was hard to describe with words. It was as if come sun or storm, come peace or calamity, the two of them would always be themselves, unaffected by the whims of the world.
“It seems there’s a village ahead. Shall we return you to your companions?” Milo asked the horse as they crested the final slope.
It gently blew out some air in response.
“Good, then let’s go.” He rubbed the horse's cheek.
Milo watched the shadows dance and play across the forest floor as they walked. Birds flew out of the trees in droves.
They approached the gate of the village and saw nothing inside. The buildings were all shuttered up and not a person was in sight.
Milo guided the horse along.
“I feel rude not having a name to call you by. Would you mind if I called you Horse in the meantime?”
Horse butted its nose against Milo’s hand.
“I guess that’s a no,” Milo laughed. “I suppose we’ll just have to seek out your companions and learn your name from them.”
Horse snorted in assent and they kept moving.
The village was humble and efficient like any other. The stone well at its center was surrounded by homes. Trodden paths branched out in every direction. Tools and carts sat close by and at the ready. It was clear that the space was well lived-in. Every inch served its purpose, but the people it served were missing.
A bright flash. The roar of flames. An explosion from just past the village center.
The shutters on several homes twitched with curiosity. Louvers shifted up and then back down as the hidden villagers snuck peeks outside.
Milo, Gu, and Horse walked idly towards the commotion.
“That’s probably your companions up ahead, then?” Milo inquired.
Horse snorted.
Boom. Another eruption shot fiery plumes up to the firmament.
“I’m looking forward to meeting them. A majestic steed such as yourself must keep great company,” Milo smiled.
Horse raised its head and walked with pride. Milo laughed and patted its shoulder.
Boom. A wave of heat flooded towards the trio as they left the confines of the village center.
The three of them were greeted by a large open clearing after they passed through the outer gate. There was nothing in the area except tree stumps, freshly charred grass, and several large boulders. A path formed from years of travel cut straight through the middle of the field. It led right up to the feet of four figures standing in confrontation.
On one side stood a man sheltering a girl. The heat that radiated from his sword distorted the air around it in rippling waves. His gloves were blackened and the rest of his clothes didn’t fare much better. Scorch marks left dark stains all across his previously refined attire. The man’s arms were particularly ragged. But as Milo watched, the angry red burns that peeked through the tattered fabric were visibly fading. With the man bearing the brunt of the damage, the girl was dirtied but left otherwise untouched. She was free to channel her Gift through the swordsman until his wounds were healed. He readied his stance once more.
Facing them from the other side was a fully-armoured knight and a woman in leather, both swaggering with the playful leisure of cats tormenting their prey. The source of all the burns was obvious. Shimmering like a white-hot beacon of chivalric glory, the knight was covered in flames from head to toe. He burned so intensely that the ground he stood on was covered with ash. The woman, more than willing to be outdone, simply held a whip of fire in one hand.
Fire Lady (as named by Milo) swung her arm round in a wide arc. She flicked her wrist at the end, shattering the air with a crack of her whip. Fire bloomed from the impact and a bolt of flames shot out, fast as an arrow, towards the swordsman.
He parried the bolt off to the side, sending it flying past a village home, just narrowly avoiding contact. The girl behind him flinched from the burst of heat, then relaxed as it dispersed. The swordsman shook his sword out. It was glowing faintly red.
Milo, Gu, and Horse entered the scene right as the events unfolded.
Fire Lady licked her lips, eyes glimmering with a cruel light. With another crack of her whip she launched out the next flaming projectile. But this time it was flying directly towards the trio just arriving.
Gu started to raise an arm, but Milo stopped his movement with a light touch on the elbow.
The swordsman dashed over faster than the eye could see and batted the fireball away a second before it reached the trio. Fire Lady smirked. She snapped her fingers right as the flat of the swordsman's blade made contact. The ball of flames exploded with a deafening bang. The sword flew out of the man's hands and spun through the air in a graceful arc.
Time seemed to slow at that moment as if to bear witness and pay respects.
The man covered his face when the burst of flames erupted.
The girl cried out in shock.
The sound from the explosion echoed out into the surroundings.
Another flock of birds flew out of the trees in droves.
The sword hit the ground and shattered into four pieces.
Time resumed its flow, but a deathly silence followed.
The man looked at his arms – seemingly unburnt despite being bathed in flames – and then at where the broken sword lay in pieces on the ground.
“Oh, my friend,” the swordsman sighed. “My dear, dear friend.”
He wanted to mourn the loss of cherished companion but was given no time. The woman in leather was already gathering a mass of flames in her hands several times larger than the last. The swordsman felt its heat pulsing towards him despite the distance. He stared down Fire Lady, unblinking, as the girl that was under his protection knelt down and started to gather up the pieces of broken sword with her dress.
Fire Lady hurled the projectile.
“Uncle Gu.” Milo took his hand off of the old man’s elbow.
“En.”
Uncle Gu raised his arm. The fireball that was flying towards them suddenly flipped directions midair and retraced its path directly back to Fire Lady like a reflection off a mirror. Her eyes widened in shock. The projectile hit her square on the right shoulder and exploded, sending her flying. She smashed into a boulder and slumped to the ground, unconscious.
The knight in flames ran over to check on her, then drew his sword and stood protectively in front of his fallen comrade.
The swordsman walked over to Milu and Gu. He nodded a greeting to Horse, who snorted happily in response.
“Excuse me, kind travelers,” he cupped his fist at them and bowed, “it appears recent circumstances have suddenly found me lacking a sword. Strangers though we may be, could I be so presumptuous as to request one from either of you?”
Milo and Gu looked at each other and laughed awkwardly.
“Sir Knight, though it would be an honour and privilege to witness you use this blade of mine…” Milo trailed off as he dug around in his pack. “Alas, said blade is but a dagger.”
He pulled out a small polished dagger with a wooden hilt and offered it to the swordsman.
“Young noble, it pains me to inform you that I am no knight. Nonetheless, if despite my humble roots the offer still stands, then I will gratefully accept this blade of yours.”
Milo nodded and handed him the dagger. The swordsman's entire bearing changed the instant he held the weapon in hand. It seemed like even the wind was split in two as it approached him.
“Not a knight?” Milo smiled and took a step back.
“Regrettably so. Still, I will fight and embarrass myself in front of the young noble and his companion.”
Milo said nothing and returned to Gu’s side.
The swordsman walked over to squarely face the knight in flames. He shouted across the distance, "I may not be knighted in my own right, but even so, I would like to disgrace myself by proposing a duel. If it not be beneath your dignity as a knight to fight with a common man, then I implore you to accept the challenge."
Fire Knight (as also named by Milo) stood upright and pointed his sword forwards in equal parts threat and challenge. Flames surged from the knight’s armour. From beneath the fully insulated full helm, his angry metallic voice came out in a deafening shout, "How dare you tarnish this knight’s honour! My noble family comes from an unbroken line of distinguished gentry. And I, myself, was personally anointed by the king of the land. You will take back your words of false claim or you will face the punishment of death.”
Swordsman: “???”
Milo: “???”
Girl: [polishing pieces of broken sword with her dress]
Gu: “...”
Horse: “???”
Girl: “???”
Fire Knight waited with his chest raised high, but received no response. The flames around him grew brighter and brighter.
"...Knight of flames, perhaps there was something you misheard during my ch–"
“I see you have no words to speak in your defense.” The knight deafly adjusted his posture– “In that case, prepare to die!” –then charged over, sword held to his middle and the point angled forward, posta breve.
The swordsman readied himself to receive the charging – likely presbycusic – knight. The gleam from his dagger caught the sun and reflected a spot of light onto the closed visor of Fire Knight’s echo cage. The light playfully danced. A drumming gallop from behind. The crash of steel footsteps from ahead.
Fire Knight got closer. Closer.
Twenty feet.
Ten feet.
Five feet.
The flames on his sword burned white-hot as Fire Knight thrusted forward at the swordsman.
The swordsman waited until the last second before dodging and jumping out of the way. He landed on the floor, hunched over on his knees with both hands covering his head.
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A moment later, a galloping Horse, hidden beneath the veil of dagger’s gleam and hearing loss, ran straight into Fire Knight and bulldozed him into the ground with a kick to the helmet. The flames surrounding the knight were immediately extinguished. Sizzles and acrid smoke drifted from Horse’s front hooves as it pawed at the ground and snorted.
The swordsman got up from his curled posture on the floor, dusted himself off, and started petting Horse while cooing words of praise.
“He has The Sight,” Gu remarked.
“En. He’s probably something of a knight despite his words,” Milo nodded.
Pulling Horse along, the swordsman scratched his head and laughed sheepishly, “No, no, I’m nothing of a knight. Simply a humble servant who does whatever it takes to survive. Nothing like a knight at all. Not a shred of dignity to be found in these old bones.”
Milo smiled at him. “Matter aside, let’s make introductions. I’m Milo, and this is Gu,” he said with a gesture. “I’m curious about your companion’s name. He didn’t seem fond of Horse.”
The girl ran over with excitement. “The horse’s name is Pancho and this stinky old guy is …” She looked at the swordsman and hesitated.
“Not-A-Knight,” Milo offered.
“Yes, Not-A-Knight,” she nodded. “And I’m…”
“Young Lady?”
“That’s good, yes. Pancho, Not-A-Knight, and Young Lady. Pleased to make your acquaintance,” she said with a curtsey, the front of her dress bundled into a pouch to hold the bits of broken sword.
“Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Milo bowed in return.
Seeing the commotion die down, villagers started to come out of their homes one by one to investigate.
“Shall we tie up Fire Lady and Fire Knight before making camp somewhere more quiet?” Milo suggested. “I fear many people are soon to arrive with many questions.”
Gu muttered under his breath, “Your naming sense is sh–”
“A splendid idea! We’ll get on that post haste,” said Not-A-Knight. He immediately fetched some rope and started tying Fire Lady to the boulder that she crashed into, then hauled Fire Knight over and tied him up just the same.
Milo walked to the center of the clearing and picked up an embroidered leather pouch from the road. He walked over to Young Lady and showed the bag to her. Her eyes widened and she immediately snatched it out of his hands. She held the satchel close to her chest with one hand and her bundled up dress in the other.
“Young Lady!” Not-A-Knight scolded. “Apologize.”
Young Lady froze on the spot and looked like she’d been wronged. Tears started to fill her eyes. She looked between Not-A-Knight and Milo and eventually bowed her head in apology. “I’m sorry, young noble.”
“It’s not a problem. Milo is fine,” he smiled.
Young Lady walked away grumbling, “You’re not even a knight, why do you care about this…”
“It is basic human conduct to be kind, courteous, and polite. One doesn’t have to be a knight to be human,” Not-A-Knight responded. "Perhaps the opposite."
“Hmph. Whatever, let’s go,” Young Lady sniffed.
“How about we thank our new acquaintances and cook them a meal. They’ve helped us and offered us camp. Having more companions will make travels easier,” Not-A-Knight whispered.
“Cook a meal!? I’m a p–!”
Tak. Not-A-Knight flicked a pebble at her.
“I’m – I’m obviously going to ask them,” Young Lady relented, covering her forehead.
Milo and Gu were petting Pancho. The three of them pretended that they heard nothing and saw nothing.
Young Lady walked over with her head lowered. “Young N– Milo, Gu. Would you do us the honour of joining us for a meal? We would like to thank you and show appreciation for your help.”
“We would be delighted to share a meal and have your company,” Milo smiled. “But beyond making camp in the woods, we have no destination in mind.”
Not-A-Knight clapped his charred gloves together. “Fate will take us where it takes us. Until it no longer serves, let us be companions. Our roads will part when fate dictates as such, but let us enjoy our time together until then."
“Well said. Let’s drink and have a meal,” Gu handed Not-A-Knight a waterskin.
Not-A-Knight took a swig and sighed, “Good wine!”
“I always recognize a gentleman.” Gu put an arm around Not-A-Knight’s shoulder. The party walked past the clearing and into the woods.
♢♢♢
The four of them parked the horse cart and set up camp. A small fire was soon crackling while a pot hung over the flames to boil. The old and young split off into two groups.
Gu and Not-A-Knight sat on a log and chatted by the fire.
Milo and Young Lady prepared dinner on the back of the horse cart.
Young Lady held her knife in a white-knuckle grip while holding a mangled beetroot in the other. The bowl between her and Milo was filled with chunks of chopped meat and root vegetables with varying degrees of uniformity. Half of the bowl was dictated by ordered expertise, the other half by chaos.
The two chopped side by side while Pancho absently grazed in the background.
"Young Lady," Milo broke the silence.
“What?” she replied.
Chop.
“I simply wanted to commend your efforts, that’s all,” Milo smiled.
Chop.
"Don't distract me.
Chop.
“I'm busy.
Chop.
“Concentrating.
Chop. Chop.
“On preparing.
Chop.
“Dinner for everyone,” Young Lady slowly replied with gritted teeth.
Chop.
“We’re much the same, you and I.” Milo tossed a handful of perfectly even vegetables into the bowl.
Chop.
Young Lady regarded him with a cagey look, “…What do you mean?”
Chop.
“Hmmm, how should I say this…” Milo considered his words carefully. His hands never stopped moving. “Beyond just preparing dinner, we have much in common. I know things may seem difficult now, but I promise that the journey will get better with time.”
CHOP.
“How would you know?”
Chop.
"Both you and I are much alike as victims fled from royal game. I know that much was lost and bled but newfound life as refugee is not so dreadful."
Young Lady paused. "If this is a joke, it isn't very good."
"No joke," Milo said, returning to Common. “We’re both cut from the same cloth. From different countries and different makers, but the same cloth nonetheless.” Milo looked down. “I've just had my dyes faded by the sun.”
“…” Young Lady contemplated the meaning behind his words.
Chop.
They returned to their preparation in silence.
Chop.
Chop.
♢♢♢
Back at the campfire.
Not-A-Knight was occupied with casting a concerned gaze over to the pair in the horse cart every few seconds.
“I’m getting dizzy looking at you,” Gu said.
“Apologies, I just can’t stop myself from being overly concerned,” Not-A-Knight replied, looking back towards Young Lady again.
“Don't worry. He's a kind soul and a fine teacher. He’ll only be a good influence,” Gu faintly smiled.
“The girl is still young and hasn't seen enough of the world. In her stead, I apologize for any offense that Young Lady has caused – and will inevitably keep causing – in naivety. She means well inside but has much learning to do in the art of expression.”
“The boy is just as young and has seen too much of the world. This much is nothing.”
“Then perhaps the two of them will make good foils for each other.”
“En. Perhaps. Now stop looking. Drink.”
The pair sat in silence, passing the waterskin back and forth while watching the flames dance around the logs. Tongues of orange and red licked the air. Sparks jumped into the sky and faded to ash. The fire crackled.
Not-A-Knight’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m afraid all this wine has passed straight through me. I’m headed to the woods to relieve some burdens, I’ll return shortly,” he said while getting up.
“En.”
Not-A-Knight walked past the treeline and sprinted back to the clearing to deal with two problems left unresolved.
♢♢♢
Young Lady looked over to the campfire and saw Gu sitting alone on the log.
"Stupid guy, leaving me all alone here. What if there was danger," she complained under her breath.
Milo laughed. “As of now the only danger is you to yourself. Focus.”
“Hmph. Who cares about that stinky guy anyway.” Young Lady turned her head back to the task at hand and continued chopping.
Milo glanced over at Young Lady’s side of the bowl.
“Young Lady, how should I put this…” Milo trailed off, still cutting in rhythm. “I think learning how to use a knife would benefit you greatly.”
Young Lady put her dagger down and looked over, eyes shining with excitement, “You mean to fight?”
“Hm? No. To cook.” Milo looked at her dissected beetroot. “Your fingers are in mortal peril, splayed out as they are. The stew has ample meat within without the need for scars.” His laughter chimed like bells.
Young Lady’s face, flushed with embarrassment, was hidden by the evening sun.
“I can show you if you’d like,” Milo offered.
Young Lady nodded. She lowered her head and studied earnestly.
Comfortable sounds of knives on wood filled the air. Violent hacking cuts were soon replaced with a precision that was gaining more and more fluidity with time.
Milo’s knife stopped moving as he looked back to the campfire.
“You two care for each other a lot,” he said.
“En.” She nodded.
The two finished preparing dinner in warm silence.
♢♢♢
Gu looked at the dagger tucked into Not-A-Knight’s belt as the swordsman walked past the trees and back into the campsite.
“Did you tie up loose ends?” Gu asked.
Not-A-Knight followed Gu’s gaze and looked down. Two strings of leather dangled from the front of his pants.
“I apologize for the unsightly display. My graceless actions seem to serve constant reminder that I am not fit for knighthood.” Not-A-Knight quickly fixed the drawstrings on his pants and adjusted his belt. “Both loose ends are tied."
Gu nodded, satisfied with the answer. “Give the boy his dagger back when it's time for dinner.”
♢♢♢
Time passed. The campfire cast long, dancing shadows in all directions. Dinner bubbled in the dangling pot above it. Wisps of fragrant steam drifted through the air as the aroma of spiced stew spread across the camp.
Milo ladled a scoop of stew into a bowl and offered it to Not-A-Knight. “Give this a try, it was made by Young Lady.”
“Why are there so many beets in it?” Not-A-Knight asked, poking around the stew with a spoon.
“Don’t eat it if you don’t want it,” Young Lady snapped.
“I never said that,” Not-A-Knight scooped up a spoonful of stew and paused. “Young Lady, just to make sure, you enjoy travelling together, right?”
“What kind of question is that?”
Not-A-Knight looked at his spoon with skepticism.
“Before I eat this, I simply wanted to make sure that you weren’t tired of me. If you were, just know that poison is a poor option. The others still need to eat, and it would be ungrateful to deprive them of that joy.”
“You're so stupid! Just eat it, or don’t!” Young Lady yelled at him and pouted.
Not-A-Knight blew on the spoon and brought it up to his mouth. Under everyone’s gaze, he took the first bite.
He chewed and swallowed.
Young Lady looked over at him expectantly.
“Young Lady,” he said.
She held her breath and waited for the verdict.
“It’s very good. You did a great job.” Not-A-Knight stood up and gave her a pat on the head before taking his seat and finishing the bowl.
The girl found a place on the log and sat with her head down, hiding a pleased expression.
Everybody around the campfire smiled. The flames and the last remaining light of dusk dyed the scene in warm orange hues.
Milo served Gu, then Young Lady, and then himself.
Nobody spoke. Even with nothing but the sounds from the campfire and the clacks of spoons against bowls, the atmosphere was one of perfect contentment.
♢♢♢
Wildlife and insects of the night began their evening song.
Not-A-Knight stood up to return Milo’s dagger back to him.
“Thank you for lending me your blade. Although I regret not being able to make elegant display, the dagger certainly did serve its purpose.” Not-A-Knight bowed and offered the dagger to Milo with both hands.
Milo took the dagger and turned it around in his hands, looking at the blade curiously. Two new souls swirled within. After a while he wiped his hand over the flat of the blade and sent them back to the world. He nodded in appreciation and looked Not-A-Knight in the eyes with a gaze clear as ice. “Thank you, Not-A-Knight. You’ve worked hard where none could see."
Not-A-Knight felt his heart jump a beat.
Gu slapped his shoulder. “Don’t think too much. Come, let’s clean. Can’t have the kids do everything.”
The party of four tidied up and made for bed.
Milo and Gu unrolled their mats and laid them on the ground to sleep. Young Lady and Not-A-Knight got onto the back of the horse cart and curled up for the night.
A moment later, the cart bent and creaked.
Thump.
Young Lady jumped onto the ground and walked up to the pair lying on the floor. She slowly peered over at them to see if their eyes were open.
“Milo. Gu,” she whispered.
“Yes, Young lady?” Milo responded.
"If new companions wouldn't mind, I'd like to offer you a kindly invite onto padding softer than the hardened ground. It's warmer here atop the cart and often nicer spending time with newfound friends and kindred hearts." She fidgeted and whispered again in Common. “Would you two like to join us on the cart? It’s warmer and softer than the ground, and we would enjoy the extra company.”
Milo and Gu looked at each other and smiled.
“We would be delighted, Young Lady. Thank you for the offer.”