Winter came early in Paris with freezing air and stinging winds. The snow was kept at a minimum with flurries here and there until it left a fine coating on the ground and buildings. The Holy Order's headquarters gained an extra charm with the white snow, which clung onto its walls and angled roofs.
The cold wasn't on Ky's mind. It was on Gears and a defenseless village.
A messenger had come to him just yesterday to relay a village in east France were being terrorized by Gears and the knights harbored there needed help. Him.
Adding more soldiers wouldn't do much good, only confusion, he decided. There was a fair amount of knights to defend it for now. He just needed to go there himself to access the situation—and another.
He was escorted down to the stables where he felt warmer air as he walked the aisle with horses housed on his right. He turned his head slightly as he passed one stall and said, "Good afternoon, Indigo."
"I think you'll like him," his escort said as they walked. "He's a good kid. Up there, he'll show you." He pointed ahead where a man stood in front of a gate, leaning on it.
"Thank you," Ky said, and the two parted.
He walked to the man who was watching an arena. He was wearing a horseman's attire with tall leather boots. He didn't notice him until he spoke.
"Excuse me."
The man turned his head, stared at him, then his brows flicked once he noticed who he was.
"Umm, sir!" He saluted.
Ky smiled. "It's all right."
"You came for our flag bearer?"
Ky nodded.
The man smiled proudly and said, "He's pretty good. He's at the top of his class. Skilled. But he's inexperienced."
"All the better for him to learn. We're not going into battle at first. I don't think. We need a bearer just in case we do go."
"Very good."
The man then pointed into the arena where there was a small rider on a stocky white horse, armed with a spear. There were several T-shaped poles, and upon closer look there gold rings hanging from the end of the poles.
The rider circled the arena in a gallop, then picked up the pace and charged the poles. He raised his weapon up and speared a ring.
He circled again. Mimicking an attack, he brought his horse up to a sack left by the wall and impaled it with a short throw. The spear hit its mark.
Ky watched him perform more tricks on his attacks and horsemanship. The little horse and its rider moved in perfect unity. There were times he didn't use any tugging or kicking, only signals with his legs and arms.
They had supplied him with a good horseman, so it seemed.
"He's very good," Ky commented. "He doesn't ride like a junior."
"But his inexperience in battle is a concern," the horseman said. "Young fighters and flag bearers like him spook sometimes, or worse, killed."
"I never had one spook on me. How old is he?"
"Sixteen, I think."
He nodded. "I'd like to speak with him. When he's done. If he's willing and ready, we'll be leaving today." He turned and walked down the aisle and said to a stable door, "Indigo."
He stopped at the entrance where he waited, leaning on the wall with his arms crossed. He tucked his hands under his arms to keep them warm. His gloves he wore weren't enough to keep his hands warm from the bitter cold. He wasn't expecting to stay out here long.
By the time the tips of fingers began to burn, the boy approached him. He had dark blonde and wore white. He was a few inches shorter than Ky.
"Hello," the boy said shyly.
"Hello," Ky returned. "I saw your performance back there. It's impressive. I didn't catch your name."
"Javelin. Sir."
Ky smiled weakly and held a cold hand out, which the boy took. It was a bit embarrassing to offer him a cold hand but it was all he had.
"You may call me Ky through the trip."
"Oh, sorry, sir." He paused, catching himself. "I mean Ky!"
He couldn't help but smile.
"So, are you ready?" Ky asked him soon after.
"Well, I have to prepare my horse first and fetch my flag."
"I too need to prepare myself. Listen, get everything you need and I'll meet you at the end of the bridge."
"Yes, sir."
Waving a hand, Ky returned inside the stables where he walked to one of the occupied stalls he addressed earlier. He opened the top side of the door where a brown head of a stallion stuck its head out.
"You heard me, huh?" He gave the horse's muscular neck a pat.
Then, behind him, a stable boy appeared. "May I help you with your horse?"
"Yes. Could you get a saddle and reins? It's possible I'm going out for battle."
"Yes, sir. Should I bring him out for you?"
"No."
He didn't want to risk him. His horse, Indigo, had a knack for bitting anyone who tried to touch him or came in enough reach for no reason at all. And kicking was on the menu, too. The horse was a pain. He acted like a wild horse freshly pulled from the wild, and Ky was the only one who could get on his good side. He was restricted only to him. Others were at risk for certain activities. Riding was absolutely out of the question.
He was the perfect war horse.
The youngster turned and left. After he did, Ky went inside and greeted the horse with a few scratches.
"We're going soon, Indigo."
He stayed inside with the horse, grooming his mane a few places with his fingers until the boy returned with his arms full of the heavy supplies he requested. He dropped the leather saddle first, which was lugged over his shoulder.
"Do you need help?" the boy asked.
"No, thank you." He reached a hand out and the boy gave him the reins. Ky took them and put the bridle and bit on bit—carefully. He had bit him once in a while.
He dressed the rest of him, strapping the buckles around his belly and chest, then finished it by adding a bard for the saddle, decorated in blue and gold. After he was through, he gave him a once over and stepped out, leaving the horse inside. "I'll be right back."
He returned to the headquarters where he made his own preparations and retrieved Thunderseal from a wide, red-carpeted room. It awaited him for on an altar, protected by magic. It glowed white and blue like a star. He reached for it, and upon recognizing its owner, it broke its shield. With that done, he also retrieved a normal broadsword and sheathed it at his side—for extra precaution, and brought a second cape for the weather. He knew there was a long and cold journey ahead.
When all was in order, he trekked back to the stables where he led Indigo out, mounted, and rode to his meeting point with Javelin. He saw him mounted on his tiny horse holding a blue flagstaff with a gold cross on the center of it. On the tip of it, pointing to the sky, was a sharp silver blade.
Javelin was dressed in full uniform now, white and sky blue, like the color of his flag.
Ky was anxious what he could do.
He waved as he approached.
Javelin smiled, his eyes focused more on Indigo than him.
"He's a Friesian," he said happily, mentioning his horse's breed.
"What's that? Oh. Yes. Come along. We've got a long journey ahead." Then, Ky removed his cut-fingered gloves and pulled out a black leather pair from his pocket and shoved them on instead to save his hands from the cold as they rode.
Securing both swords at his side, holding Thunderseal in one free hand, he led the way.
The beginning of the trek started in a calm walk, then picked up into a trot during the night. By mourning as they moved further on and saw the mountains rise higher and higher, he knew they would be coming up to the village soon, and with that, the two burst out into a competitive race.
No one would ever catch him playing such a reckless game that could break his neck. He was fond of swordplay, but that was different.
Ky felt like a kid racing like this. It felt good.
The two entered a dark patch of woods where the race went on, twisting and avoiding trees. Going down a small slide towards a long and wide field, Indigo nearly slipped as he went down, though gained traction again when he hit the ground on the field. When they came out, that was when he saw the awaiting village in clear view. A tall gate waited in the distance, a fine finish for their race.
They picked up speed, going as fast as their horses would tolerate. Now it was a race and a hurry to get into the village walls.
Their horses' hooves kicked up snow and Ky leaned up closer to his horse's neck. Now would be a bad time to fall as fast as he was going. Sure, the ground was soft now, but he didn't want to think of what would happen.
They raced side by side, the little horse beside him amazingly able to keep up. Onyx, Javelin called it, did better in the woods, but it still wasn't over.
He saw the gates beginning to open. The closer they got, Javelin erected his flagstaff and kept by Ky, waiting to move in. Now, there was an unspoken rule: first one to pass through the gates was the winner.
They both charged through the open gap, with some of the villagers watching. He hoped they wouldn't plow over any bystanders.
"Quick dismount!" Javelin called like a playful child.
Javelin leapt off Onyx in full run and landed on his feet, sliding a bit on the ice on the street, but the move was graceful. Ky went for the same move, and lost his balance upon his dismount and slid on the ground and fell.
The air went quiet and he knew all eyes were on him.
He made a total ass of himself in front of everyone.
How embarrassing!