My two fellow knights wore boredom like a fair lady wielding a handkerchief when passing through the slums that surrounded the harbor districts. Though I couldn’t fault them, our district, our patrolling zone, was filled with nothing but carriages. High gates, the scents of various blossoming flowers, and that envy-invoking high manors that set back in the plot. Who would disturb men rich enough to afford other men to stand outside their gates in this forsaken heat?
These guards might not have been the best that could be offered but they were more than skilled enough to point their crossbows and pull the trigger. It did not take much to ruin someone's day like a bolt to the stomach or worse, a collapsed lung and no physician nearby.
A carriage with white satin cloths covering the window drifted by. The symbol of lions roaring etched in silver set upon its side and the driver sat in fine leather that looked like wet, combed dog fur. The fool looked at us and raised his weak, rounded chin. A smirk graced his lips and his eyes bedded down with superiority, yet, with a simple showing of our aura. All that weak sense of superiority vanished and he became just like any other peasants when faced with something beyond his understanding. He blanched and looked straight ahead, quickly disappearing around the bend without shooting us another contempt filled gaze.
“I can’t wait until we can graduate and officially wear our knight cloak. Want to see how these mutts look down upon me then.” Dennis spit a wad of tobacco to the side and hooked his sword belt with his thumb.
Jason slapped Dennis’ brown, torso leather, sending the smaller man stumbling a few steps. “Buck up. It isn’t but a few days away. What you should be worried about is the fact that we might be pulled to war before we even had a chance to revel..”
A scream pierced the usual calm air. The sounds of blades clashing made us turn around to see a carriage surrounded by ten knights on horseback. Their foes swept out of alleyways like trash the street sweepers blew away. They shot a second round of bolts before engaging with swords.
“Well, a little fun before we get off,” Austin, the biggest of us, unsheathed his sword and rushed into the chaos.
The others shared a simple look and ran forward with eager looks to show off their training. It was simply a stupid decision. Yet, I let them go as I was not the leader of the Patrol, Austin as the biggest and Nobleborn, was. Though, I did walk over to the gate guard who watched the fight with interest.
“Can I borrow your crossbow?” I gestured at the thing he wasn’t using but I couldn’t blame him, it wasn't his problem.
The guard hesitated but then spotted the Knight-in-training symbol, two swords crossed behind a hand in prayer, upon my black leather armor. He handed over his crossbow without a second thought. I tapped his bolt bag and he hurried to untie it and hand it over.
I moved a little more into the street for a better aim. The bolt’s tip gleamed in the midday’s sun as it tracked its first target. With a gentle squeeze of the trigger, the bolt jerked forward, it soared across the distances, and punched right through the neck of the fool raising his sword to attack an obvious, new squire. The fool staggered backwards clutching his neck with one hand. He dropped his sword and clutched his neck with both hands, moving towards the alley.
I didn’t watch him be struck down by an excited squire who just got a new lease on life. Instead, I put the crossbow against my leg, pulled back the lever, placed a new bolt in the slot, and aimed at the next one. It was without a doubt, like shooting at predictable targets that only moved left and right. The enemies made very obvious gestures when attacking. It could be seen from how the defending knights weren’t even trying hard to defend the carriages. Facing two or even three against one in some cases, they still held on and looked completely relaxed.
My next bolt took someone who had eyes upon Dennis. They caught him with his back turn while fighting three of the fools. I believed that this would be the key to why he would perish on the field of battle, yet, he came from an average family much like myself. I couldn’t watch him be cut down right in front of me even if I didn’t like his self-serving mindset.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Anyway, I loaded my third bolt upon seeing the fool hit the ground hard from taking the bolt in his chest. I’m sure his butt hurt much more than the broken ribs he now had.
The sound of horse hooves pounding the pavement made me take in the new arrivals but there were just more squires led by a few more knights. It didn’t take us long to clean up the troublemakers after that. They turned and ran, from knights and squires with bows. Can’t be much more foolish than that and these men were, hopefully, sober when they made the decision to attack in broad daylight, within a district patrol by the best of the trainees.
I handed the crossbow back over to the gate guard and went to meet up with my team. They were each grinning with blood-stained faces. Well, all except Dennis who sported a few minor wounds from trying to take on more than he was capable of with his stature and ability.
“Don’t you get tired of playing the smart guy? I know you have a bloodthirsty streak inside of you.” Dennis jabbed my chest with his little fist and I did what all smart people do.
Ignore the little kid and began assessing the fools for any identification. After all, the carriage that was under attack, was dressed in gold trimmings. The knights were easily at the Master Knight level and that wasn’t taking into account that the leader of them dispatched all who attacked him with ease. To the point that he just sat on his horse with three dead bodies spread out before him. The rest had obviously been smart enough not to provoke such a tyrant.
“Bandits?” Someone asked.
I squatted down in front of the one I shot in the chest with a bolt. A stream of blood trickled down his chin and he lay staring at me without an ounce of resentment or fear. As if he had already become one with the thought of his death. I lifted up his hand and compared it to mine. The reason why? There are two types of knights that exist in this world. Ones blessed by the Goddess and the one blessed by the God of Death. The training for me was like learning how to bake compared to the training of Death Knight, who undergoes something very similar to what assassin's did, suicidal.
Unfortunately, this chap's hands were calloused but it was in the same vein as mine. Meaning that he didn’t have scars, chipped nails, or the stench of decay hugging his nail beds. I dropped his hand and unsheath a dagger.
“Our Goddess is ever forgiven of sin in this life.” I planted the dagger in his heart and held the back of his neck. “May you go with glory and honor to her paradise and suffer no more.”
People often told me that you could tell when someone died. Their eyes, the light within goes out. For as long as I have been killing, providing mercy kills, and failing to save someone. I have never seen this light and still didn’t at this moment. Instead, his eyes held mine even in death. His face was as relaxed as it had been when he was slobbing out his life blood.
Sighing, I checked his pockets and snatched up his money purse. Inside were five gleaming, golden coins etched with an eagle. Our kingdom was one that had a fascination with serpents and our gold coins held the very same symbol as the royal family. It was odd given they allowed the Church of Light to provide alms to their people given that they, themselves, felt above godhood.
“They might have been bandits but they were paid by our allies,” I said, tossing a coin at the Commander of the patrol team.
Commander Levore caught it in his gauntlet and flipped it over in his palm. He grunted. “Clear the street and return to your routes.”
I hefted up two corpses and took them down to the graveyard where men would prepare the corpse for their rites.
“Well, we are off. Anybody down for the brothel? I hear they got a few new singers and I need to relax before we get sent off to war.” Jason dusted off his hands and turned to us.
“I can’t go.” I waved while walking away.
“He never has time for us. Like he’s too good or something but only one of us is a nobleman and even he hangs out with us.” Dennis spoke loud enough for me to hear.
Yet, I don’t argue with walking corpses and it was clear he was soon to expire. Maybe, I should offer to pay for his passing rites as a last gesture of amusement.
Updated every four days due to job restraints.