Saito the Dragon Knight

Chapter 1

Betrayal

"Thank you for joining me for dinner, Saito." Said Kirche as Saito left her quarters

"You're welcome, and thank you for inviting me, it was a very good dinner." Replied Saito. For once Saito was able to spend some time in Kirche's company without her wanting to get into his pants, just a nice dinner and talking.

Saito Was on the way back to Louise's quarters and to that pile of straw that he slept on but then Derf spoke up "we've got someone tailing us." Said the now fully restored blade. The Moment Derf said it a black cloaked figure came out of the shadows with a dagger in hand and attempted to ram the dagger through the Gandalfr but saito was now a fast drawer with his sword so he easily parried the dagger and in two swift strikes the assassin's hand parted company from his arm and the man's head went flying. "Partner, look, that ring is the signet ring of Louise's family!" exclaimed Derflinger

"Holy shit you're right!" exclaimed Saito recognizing the ring "Louise might be in danger!" he said and darted for Louise's room When he arrived he was about to open the door but stopped when he heard a voice… it was Louise's mother

"I am very pleased with you, my daughter for going through with this and breaking the contract with that vagabond, you are now to find a proper familiar one that is more befitting of someone of your family." Said the countess that Saito more than once would've loved to decapitate

"I am glad you are pleased with me, mother, however what are we to do with the boy, is it possible that we can send him home?" asked Louise's voice

"He is too dangerous to be kept alive, this world has changed him and while he lives he will forever be a threat to this family." Replied the countess

Saito Gripped Derflinger's hilt ready to draw and slay both of them but Derf responded, "Don't partner, she is a square mage and your ex-master is a void mage, there is no way you could take them down." Whispered Derf

Saito took a few deep breaths and walked away "What do you suppose we do?" he asked his sword

"Let's see if that Kirche chick can help us, she seems to have a thing for you, she might be able to help us." Responded Derflinger

"Well, I guess it couldn't hurt." Said Saito and hurried back the way he came but was obstructed by more soldiers

"There's the boy, Kill him!" said one of them and he charged at Saito, the soldiers may have had years of combat experience but saito had the power of the Gandalfr at his command he rolled, ducked, slashed and stabbed until all the soldiers were slain and saito didn't stay long to admire his skill he just ran he was almost around the corner into the wing where Kirche's room was but found himself blocked by two thuggish men wearing full plate armor, thankfully they hadn't noticed him yet because they seemed to be interrogating Kirche

"So you're certain you hadn't seen this boy?" one of them asked her

"He was here a few minutes ago, and we had dinner together then he left, What did the boy do wrong?" she asked completely confounded that the Vallière guards would be looking for him

"The boy has been branded an enemy of the Vallière family and we intend to take him down!"

"Just why the heck would the Family of Louise brand her familiar an enemy?" asked Kirche the guards would've answered but saito took the time to sneak up behind them and he impaled the first soldier through the back with Derf then pulled the sword out and slashed the other through the neck. "Oh my, Saito, so they really are after you but why?" asked Kirche when she saw the mess before her feet

"Louise's mother forced Louise to drink this potion that broke the contract and now they seek to end my life." Explained Saito "Any way you can help?" he asked

"Come in," she said ushering him inside and magically locking the door behind them "If what you say is true, then that means they broke one of the most sacred laws of magic laid down by the Founder." The royal palace must be notified at once, we must ride for the capital."

"Cool plan and all, Kirche but shouldn't we focus on getting out of here first?" asked Saito

"No need to worry, the school stables are right next to this tower," she said going over to the window and opening it to reveal a large tree

"Well, Let's just hope I don't break my legs or anything." Said saito who clambered out the window onto the tree and started the descent down, roughly six feet up from the ground he fell on his rear while Kirche leapt gracefully down next to him and helped him up they got to the stables

"Many students bring horses with them but the school horses are free for anyone to use." Explained Kirche who climbed up onto her own horse while saito picked a stead of his own, he had gotten used to horse riding while riding with Louise, and they rode off into the night

They rode hard and fast through the night until daybreak was on the horizon and seeing a town up ahead Kirche thought they should find an inn to get some sleep, finding one, Kirche and saito tethered their horses to the stable and entered to seek a room, "Hey long time no see, Saito!" said a voice belonging to Jessica, one of the women who worked at the inn

"Ah, hello Jessica, my friend and I are looking for a room to stay in for some rest." Explained Saito

"No prob, we haven't had that many guests lately so why don't you just go upstairs and crash into the first bed that you find!" replied the inn worker. Saito and Kirche ascended the stairs found a room and crashed for some well-earned rest.

Saito and Kirche awoke to some commotion downstairs grabbing Derf and Kirche pulling out her wand they snuck downstairs to see what was going on and discovered a confrontation between Vallière guards and a strange black clad stranger (A/N: Picture what Altier from the First Assassin's Creed game wears only the attire is all black) "by what right do you interfere with a noble family's business?" asked the lead guard

"My reasons are none of your concern." Replied the stranger "Only that I am ordered to ensure you will not succeed"

"How dare you, peasant!" exclaimed the lead guard "Kill him!" he ordered as the guards drew their swords. What happened next reminded Saito of Elite forces Documentaries he watched back home discussing the concept of a synchronized shot as all of the guards with the exception of the captain fell dead.

"Care to try that again?" asked the Stranger and the guard in absolute fear ran the other way out the door. The stranger now turned to Jessica "Now as I was saying, is it true that saito and another student are staying here?" he asked "I mean no harm to either, I am here under orders to help them." He added

"How can we be sure of that?" asked Saito coming out from around the corner his hand on Derf and Kirche pointing her wand at him.

Once more something strange happened in the sense that everything save for him, Kirche and the stranger turned black and white "Sorry about that, it is a spell that allows me to communicate with people in utmost privacy so that nobody will sell us out, My name is Roakie, I am an informant and spymaster for the dragon knights." Replied the man now identified as Roakie

"You expect me to believe that?" asked Saito his hand still clutched on his sword

"Believe what you will, If it will help you survive have a look at this letter." He said reaching into a pouch on his belt and handing it to saito to read

Saito took the letter and handed it to Kirche "Louise never taught me to read your language so I trust you to translate." Said Saito

"Very well." Said Kirche taking the letter and examining it "It seems to be a request from Henrietta to the Dragon knights for help in getting you out of harms way, and it has the royal seal on it so it is legit in my book." She continued nodding

"Okay, but if there is any sign of betrayal, you are dead." Said saito

"I can understand your lack of trust." Replied Roakie, "the Vallieres have a lot of people on edge at this time, but anyway I had your horses moved to the front with mine, we'll ride to the citadel together." As they left the building

Roakie's horse was a majestic black stallion, which had crimson eyes. Saito mounted his stead as did Kirche and they took off across town and out through the gates and off into the countryside. "So how long a ride is it to this citadel?" asked Kirche

"It is a week's ride, but you needn't worry, I know the way there well enough that can cut the time by a day or two depending on how tired the horses are." Replied Roakie.

A WEEK AND A HALF LATER…

The ride to the citadel took longer than Roakie had claimed, because they had to avoid Vallière men trying to hunt for saito. But finally they arrived at the citadel, it was a giant castle that if Saito were to have a say, it looked like it was carved out of the mountain itself, it looked majestic at first glance but once you got used to its grandness you noticed that it was more built as a fortress. "Seigrach Atunn… the Dragon Knight Stronghold in Tristain." Said Roakie who noticed Saito's look of awe at the place "Here dwells an order of warrior mages whose power is united with that of dragons.

"Dragons?!" asked Saito astounded

"Yes." Said Roakie "I once was a Dragon Knight, until an unknown assassin Slew my dragon, I am a broken knight and I now serve the knights as an informant and Intel expert." He said with a mournful look in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, what was your Dragon's name?" asked Kirche

"I… Don't Remember now," replied Roakie "But let's not meander much on the past, my orders were to get you to the Dragon Knights." They got their horses to move and they rode up to the gates

"Halt! Who goes there?" called someone from the top of the gates

"I am Roakie!" called out the ex Dragon Knight, "I come bringing Saito and his friend to the safety of the Dragon Knights as Queen Henrietta requested!" he said

The gatekeeper was silent but then called out to someone behind the walls "Open the gates!" The gates lurched to life and swung open. The three Travelers rode in through the gates and found themselves in a courtyard, on one side was a stables for horses, next to it was a smithy, opposite that was what looked like a small livestock feeding area and in the center of it all was a statue of a dragon with a warrior with sword drawn upon its back.

"The statue of our founder Kain and His Dragon Eldenari." Said Roakie seeing Saito look at the statue. They dismounted their horses and a boy from the stable hurried up and brought the horses in and the 3 headed towards the doors on the other side of the courtyard and two guards moved and opened the doors revealing a large hall which they entered.

Saito got a quick glimpse of a high vaulted ceiling of stone before he heard someone scream his name and next thing he knew his face was buried in something large and plushy, in two minutes he realized that this large and plushy thing his face was buried in was queen Henrietta's breasts! "Oh Saito, thank the founder you are all right, When I got wind of Louise's betrayal I feared the worst." She said

"Iph Nish tu she u too yur hinesh!" replied Saito muffled by Henrietta's breasts.

"Your Highness I know you are relieved that young Saito is all right but please don't suffocate the lad." Said a voice from behind the young queen.

Henrietta released Saito hurriedly while saito gasped for air "Sorry Saito" apologized the young royal

"No biggie," replied Saito "I am sure that pinkette's betrayal has put a lot of people on edge." He added

"Indeed it has." Replied the man who had spoken earlier, he had long blonde hair and beard and was very muscular, not to the point of body building muscular but he looked like he could wield a sword with great strength, he was wearing leather armor and had a huge sword that looked like it needed two hands to wield.

"Saito allow me to introduce to you one of our finest swordsmen and tacticians this here is Falderg." Said Roakie introducing him to the blonde man with the 2-handed great sword on his back.

"Pleasure to meet you, lad." Said Falderg nodding his head to saito

And I am pleased to meet him as well rumbled a voice from a source Saito couldn't see until he looked up and saw sitting on a ledge a great 4 legged golden dragon looking down on them

"And allow me to introduce you to my friend and eternal companion, Arnkell" added Falderg inclining his head up to the dragon

Saito stared in wonder at the beast who looked Saito dead on in the eyes, looking into a dragon's eyes was somewhat hypnotic and it looked as though the dragon was staring into his very soul, as if any barriers saito would've erected were gone in an instant because of this dragon's stare but as soon as his hypnotic gaze begun it was over the boy has a strong will and compassionate heart said the Dragon he could possibly be a worthy candidate for the trials he added

"Trials?" asked Saito

"that will be talked about later." said Falderg nodding, "in the meantime I need to explain the situation to young saito here." He said turning to saito

"What situation?" asked Saito

Falderg sighed "there is a rift forming in the Valliere family."

"A rift?" asked Saito surprised

"Yes the family is being torn into two factions one lead by Louise's father the count who intend to remain loyal to the crown, no surprises he would be leading that faction, the man was a very dear friend to the late king, Henrietta's father." Explained Falderg

"Indeed, he was, Duke Valliere was always a good and honorable man and a close friend of my father's." explained Henrietta Saito looked as though he was about to say something but Falderg continued

"The other faction is lead by Louise's mother: Duchess Valliere who is well known as a VERY powerful mage, capable of taking down an army if needed, who has gone mad with a desire for power and seeks to claim the throne for her own,

Saito gritted his teeth "I will have that woman's head on a stake even if it kills me!" he said angrily

"there are still some things we still do not yet know." She added " But what matters now is that you are now a free man, you have no obligation to ANYONE but yourself now, it may take some time but we might be able to find you a way home."

"I can't go back." Said Saito catching Henrietta off guard

"Are you sure? There isn't a future for you here now, not now that the contract is broken." Said Henrietta

"There is still one thing that remains." Said Saito as he turned to the young queen and he knelt before her, he unsheathed Derflinger and lay it on his palms holding it up to her "I Saito Hiraga offer my services to you and only you, your highness.

Queen Henrietta looked down at the raven haired boy astonished at his actions "This is unexpected, not that It's unwelcome it but why me?"

"Do you not know?" replied Saito

And then it hit her, he loved her, she obviously would've loved to have him as her lover or possibly husband, there were times she thought of speaking with louise about it but she couldn't bare to take him away from her best friend so she had to bury those emotions but now with him kneeling before her offering his life up to her in the form of his blade those feelings have dug themselves out and were back. There was only on thing she could do. "Saito Hiraga, please rise and sheath your blade." Saito Obeyed standing in front of her he saw that she was smiling with great happiness "Saito, I want more than just your services to a queen, I want you as a person." She declared to the room and brought him close and kissed him wanting nothing more than to hold him tight for the rest of her life. But sadly they had to come up for air "Come with me, to the royal palace, I already have a position in mind for you." She said but quickly added "and it is far better than doing my laundry all the time." She said with a wink

"And what might that be?" he asked

"I want you as my Personal Knight, you are a warrior that shall only answer to me and have all the rights and privileges of a noble." She said with a wink

saito was speechless and it took a bit of time to get his thoughts in order "I would be honored…" he began making Henrietta incredibly happy "But I think I should get better training first." He said

"You aren't satisfied with the power you already wield?." She asked

"It is not that, it is so I can prevent Failures I made in the past, I failed to protect louise from the rift that has formed in her family and I paid the price, now that Louise's mother seeks to overthrow you and you wish me to become your personal knight that means I will eventually have to face her if it comes to that and I will need to be stronger, now that I am with you, the woman I love, I CANNOT afford to fail you."

"If that is truly what you desire, Saito, why not train as a Dragon Knight?" suggested Falderg.

"A Dragon Knight?" asked Saito but as he thought about it the idea became more appealing to him "I would be honored." He Replied

"Well then, the rites of the dragon knight take time to prepare so I suggest you stay at the Royal Palace for a time." Said Falderg

"That is great and all but how will I get there?" asked Saito

"That is not a problem." Said Henrietta with a wink and beckoned him to follow her and led her to a chamber with a mirror within it Henrietta placed her hand on the mirror and the image changed from the lovely face of the Queen to an image of a chamber that apparently was in the royal palace. Henrietta looked at Saito and nodded to the mirror beckoning him to follow her through the mirror and he did so finding himself in Henrietta's bedroom

"Um… what was that?" he asked saito as Kirche followed behind him

"There is a network of mirror passages throughout the lands mostly used as an escape system, but can also be used for a quick transport if there is a mirror in the place however it can only link to a mirror the owner owns." Explained Henrietta, Saito nodded understanding but then yawned loudly which made Henrietta giggle softly "You can sleep in my bed with me love, I must return to my duties." She said and kissed saito on the cheek and whispered "I'll return tonight."