It was a magnificent sight. Segments of steel blade snaking through the air like a cascading serpent. It was beautiful and confusing as well as terrifying, being the last moments for an unlucky brigand. Felkin used the trees as cover and his strikes were like a serpent hunting, quick and deadly. He was well hidden as he took a few bandits at once with a slice of his blade. Sethan and his sister, walked stealthily and surveyed the area. They then stopped being tense, as they met with Felkin.
“Good work! This looks like the last of them here.” He extended his hand but Felkin just stared back and walked away. “Good thing that they didn’t have any of the marked ones.” Remarked Felkin after checking the corpses of his slain foes. “Nice fighting skills, how long have you been training?” asked Asralyn. Felkin was silent. “Interesting sword.” “What about it?” Felkin stood up and dusted himself while sheathing his sword on his hip. “It’s reminiscent on what the higher ups call relics.” Asralyn remarked. Sethan was startled and motioned to stop her but met her gaze and continued. “Well, they’re weapons or armor that seem to have capabilities beyond normal understanding, and only a select number of persons can wield them.” Said Sethan. “They’re either known as heroes of legend, or loathed figures that brought upon death and evil. A number of the hidden cloak knights are tasked with confiscating such weapons.” Said Asralyn. “Will you be turning me in, if what I have is one such relic?” Felkin asked. The tension in the air grew as the silence continued.
“Well, I think this is enough talk. We should get back to the others.” Sethan remarked. They walked and soon approached the rest of the knights. “Captain! Are things all done here? We should get back as soon as possible.” “You know him, can’t help himself not to help others.” Asralyn remarked. Sethan was visibly annoyed and answered back to her. “You aren’t even officially part of this expedition. You impersonated another knight; you’ll be lucky not to face imprisonment or exile.” “Hmph.” She remarked.
They soon walked out of the forest and approached a nearby settlement. They walked downhill and came upon the entrance of the town. As they entered, the townsfolk saw their bright iron armor and the crest emblazoned upon their shields and their captain’s armor, there were excited and hushed murmurs as a man approached them. “Knights! Are you knights? Please help us, bandits attack us, steal from us!” Sethan looked at his knights who had varied silent expressions on the obvious decision of the captain. “We have eliminated the nearby bandit camps and we will stay here momentarily to quell any fears and protect the town from any such threat.”
Stolen story; please report.
“Thank the light!” “Thank you knights!” “Thank you, kind sirs!” The town clamored excitedly in praise as the crowd went closer and the knights slowly walked, Sethan awkwardly accepting praise and various gifts. “Please, its all that we can offer.” He was handed a basket of cheeses and assorted meats. “Please, help us!” He was handed a basket of vegetables. “Whoa!” he could barely keep up with the barrage. “Gahahaha! The life of the knight is not always so glamorous. But moments like these, make it all worthwhile.” A senior knight said to Felkin.
“Look, we might not always do the right thing, but what we do is for the best.” “I wonder.” Felkin gripped his sword tightly. “Whoo!” a younger knight exclaimed happily after a drink of ale. “Remember, we are guests, and we are only accepting the kindness from the townspeople because they so graciously offered.” “What’s the problem? The captain accepted their offer! We even get free lodging!” “We are only staying here momentarily. When this is over, we go straight to the capital, no stopping.” Remarked Sethan. “As you say so captain!”
Felkin sat near the window, on its sill and rested on the glass, looking at the darkening sky. He thought about the knights, he thought about relics and his sword and he thought about the town, about in the other towns things would change if they were knights. He thought about his companions and wondered what happened to them. He silently uttered a wish of their safety to himself. “Hey. There’s a room for you too.” Said Sethan. “Thanks, I think I’m going to stay out here a little longer.” The other knights were either unconscious like some of the other drunken patrons or had already gone upstairs to rest. He had been offered but did not accept the fine ale offered to him. Felkin stared outside into the moonless night, at the stars that twinkled across the sky. Like the souls of the people that twinkled in the vision of his right eye.