Splashes of orange and red hues stretches across the pastel blue skyline as Florina soared through the cold air. The steady, heavy beat of her pegasus' wings was the only sound to be heard in the increasingly silent evening; the birds and daylight animals quietening down for the night.
The lights of Castle Caelin were twinkling to life, one-by-one, from the narrow window slits. The magnificent stone structure had become Florina's new home ever since Lady Lyndis had taken residence therein, along with her grandfather, the Marquess Caelin. The surrounding landscape was lush and green, even in the dimming light. Various flowers formed great clumps of vibrant colours which always brought a smile to her face on her scouting runs.
The Sunlight was rapidly giving way to the moon's waxen rays as the wash of colour was replaced by the deep dark blues of early night-fall. More lights came to life within Castle Caelin.
Another light flickered into existence, only this one resided on the perimeter of a large forest area, close to the castle walls. Florina frowned and goaded her steed toward the suspicious light. Lucius, the blonde-haired priest, commonly made late-night ramblings as he enjoyed the quiet solitude of the evening countryside. Despite this, Florina felt that there was something strange to this flaming torch; she was certain this was not Lucius.
With great speed and grace, Florina rushed toward the forest, her spear poised in case of an enemy threat. As she drew near enough to make out the ominous silhouette that held the torch, a sudden mass of lights were inflamed across the entrance to the forest. Each new torch brought increasing dread to the young Pegasus Knight. No sooner had she taken note of the barbarian horde than she was attacked by archers. Their angry arrows ripped through the darkness and past her, coming dangerously close. Her pegasus reared in fright and Florina had to pull hard on the reins to drive him back toward the castle in retreat.
Undoubtedly the castle sentries had already seen the sudden threat appear in the forest and Lyndis would be formulating a defensive plan.
An arrow stung her back as she fled the horde and she couldn't help but cry with the shock of pain. Her body numbed from adrenaline but the pain from her arrow wound simply seemed to increase. She became light-headed and the lights of Castle Caelin began to blur. Lyndis had told her to be careful and now Florina felt she had let her friend down.
--
"They appeared a few moments ago, Lady Lyndis," Kent offered a small, rushed bow to the beautiful, green-haired woman that marched toward him and Sain.
She was a woman of rare, raw beauty. Her deep blue eyes bore a strange spark of defiant determination, however she still carried a strange air of grace with her. Never discarding her Sacaen heritage, Lyndis had shunned the comforts of nobles, retained her old nomad sense of dress and even, despite the pressure from her retainers, kept her reckless ways. Everything about her was a marvel to Kent, though he wished she would allow him to take better care of her.
"Lady Lyndis! You look more radiant than ever!" with such exaggerated gestures that even a mere passing guard groaned.
"Sain, you should know better than that by now!" Kent scolded. He disliked Sain's conduct as a staple, however he couldn't stand his friend's callous remarks toward their benevolent lady.
"It's alright, Kent," Lyndis gave her knight a knowing smile, bringing a surge of pride within him to such a degree that he had to refrain from smirking stupidly in return.
"Ah! You see, Kent!? Lyndis takes my affections with kindn-"
"But Kent is right," Lyndis turned to Sain as though speaking to a young boy. "You should know better by now..."
"Oh!" Sain gave an expression of wounded pride, though Kent knew his fellow cavalier had received much harsher refusals in the past. "Your words cut me to my weary, unfulfilled heart-"
"Sain..." Ken growled.
"I fear I may have taken a mortal blow! To be so cruelly cast aside-"
"Sain...!"
"Oh woe! I can feel my desperate heart breaking in-!"
"Sain!" Lyndis snapped, ceasing Sain's on-coming monologue. Her dark eyes looked upon Kent with expectation. "Do we know who they are? What they want?"
Kent bowed a little and stepped to one side, suggesting that Lyndis climb the stone steps to the turreted wall over-looking the lands of Caelin. She proceeded with Kent marching beside her, "I believe it's quite evident that these are just bandits trying to take advantage of the situation here in Caelin. With the death of your uncle and your grandfather's ill health, there are many that don't believe a nomad could continue the line..." He paused and, with a desperate, sincere frown, cleared his throat. "Not that we, of Castle Caelin, believe the same thing, milady!"
"I know, Kent," Lyndis smiled again before casting her eyes across the dark landscape. "I can't blame them for thinking that, either. I can't believe it myself..."
Ken couldn't help but gasp at her words, "No! My Lady Lyndis! You're more than capable! I shall serve you ever with loyalty and honour!"
"Calm down, Kent," Lyndis shook her head with a bemused expression, though she continued to scan the horizon. "I've not run off yet."
"Look, milady! He blushes!" Sain cheered with apparent glee.
"It's the tension of the coming battle!" Kent was quick to defend himself but Lyndis wasn't listening. Her eyes narrowed, focusing on something in the distance, prompting the two knights to follow suit. A dark shadow against the night sky was making its way toward them, a shaded silhouette with a navy blue back-drop.
Lyndis had been born and raised on the plains of Sacae where the nomad clans dwelt. The nomads were taught from a young age to develop their senses, and so Kent knew that Lyndis was able to see the creature long before he and Sain would be able to begin guessing at its identity. Her expression became stern with a deep desperation clouded with her eyes.
"What is it, milady?" Kent inquired eventually, feeling tears developing in the corners of his eyes from the strain.
"A pegasus."
"Florina?" Kent stared back at the incoming beast and filled the unknown silhouette with the mental image of Florina's proud steed.
The small, lilac-haired girl was one of Lyndis' oldest friends and a Pegasus Knight to boot. Kent had long been weary of giving the young girl active duty in the service of Caelin as she was timid and dainty. He doubted she could hold her own in a large battle. However, Lyndis had much faith in her and as a result Kent felt much respect for Florina, although a protective streak same along with it an a wearisome sense of responsibility for her.
"She was on a scouting run when the bandits arrived," the young, soft voice of Wil emerged from behind Lyndis. His light-brown hair and brown eyes appeared as Lyndis shifted to accommodate him into the conversation. "The guards tell me she came across the bandits and then headed straight back here."
Wil was an eager young man with the seeming goal of bettering himself as a person, and thus Kent had great respect for him. Since coming to Castle Caelin,Wil had proven himself to be one of the best archers in the garrison.
"Oh! My little Florina! She must have been so scared all alone with all those thugs!" Sain began what might have been a soliloquy had Kent not nudged him with a swift elbow. Lyndis shot Sain a panicked look that told Kent Sain's word held more truth than the blonde-haired womaniser realised.
"I think she's slowing down?" Wil announced, drawing everyone's attention back to the approaching Pegasus Knight. "So is the bandit army..."
"What?" Kent's teeth grit as he saw the distant torches begin to shift and move.
"Their cavalry are coming first, "Lyndis informed them, though even she seemed strained to collect this detail. "Florina!"
Sain jumped, startled by Lyndis' sudden outburst. Kent saw the pegasus, proud and graceful, suddenly tumble and fall out of the sky.
"Open the gate!" cried Kent.
"Wil, take command of the archers!" Lyndis ordered as she bounded down the stone stairs, taking several with each step of her feet. "Fire at the incoming enemy when I return!" After yelling the last of her orders up to the young bowman, she pelted for the main gate alone whilst Ken and Sain charged for their horses.
With one deft movement,Kent had slipped his foot in the stirrup and mounted the horse that his page held steady for him.
"Where shall we hold the garrison from, Kent?" Sain piped up from his own horse. He trotted up beside his friend.
"We go to protect Lady Lyndis," Kent replied.
"What? But the castle-?" Sain spluttered a protest.
Without further words, Kent kicked his steed into a quick run across the castle courtyard. Somewhere in the back of Kent's mind he wondered whether Sain was more shocked by Kent's neglect of the castle defences or whether Kent had seemed to adopt Sain's own casual recklessness for a woman's safety.
Once he was out of the castle and onto the soft grass beyond, Kent quickened the pace even more, the sound of Sain's horse close behind. Although Lyndis was fleet of foot, faster than anyone he had ever met, Kent's horse far out-matched her and he was soon coming up beside her.
He held out his strong arm, which she accepted, pulling herself onto the horse to perch herself behind the cavalier. She was both light and nimble, making easy work of the process. Kent could almost feel Sain's jealous eyes burning a hold in the back of his head.
The pegasus had gotten to its feet, although it was evidently in serious pain, pierced by many arrows. Kent was surprised that the creature had made it so far from the invaders wounded so badly. He saw a bundled heap on the ground close to the pegasus, a mass of blue clothing and curly lilac-hair.
"Take Florina bac-" Lyndis began to issue her orders only to be cut off by Kent.
"No, milady!" Kent spoke loud over rush of air. "I know a certain tactician that would be very unimpressed with that strategy!" Although said to comical affect, there was no merriment in his voice. The tactician that Lyndis had once employed had left as mysteriously as she had arrived, though her talent and loyalty had been unwavering until the day she bid them farewell. "You take care of Florina. Sain and I will hold off their cavaliers until you're safe!"
"Thank you, Kent," Lyndis responded with a tone that seemed to recognise her foolishness. "Come back safe." She glanced behind them at the green-armoured rider eagerly coming up behind them and added to Kent; "Make sure Sain comes back too, will you?"
Kent now laughed and nodded, "I always do!"
With that, she slipped from the horse as though she had never been there save her voice. He always felt as though she might have descended from tree spirits.
He tugged at the javelin that was attached to the riding equipment upon his horse and lifted it to head height. His arm pulled back to increase the momentum, the projectile flying through the air with a fast push of his sturdy, experienced arm. It sliced through the air and struck the enemy horseman squarely in the chest, bringing about an agonised cry as he toppled from his brown steed. Subsequently, Kent drew his sword from his sheath and charged at the closest foe.
He had been expecting a second javelin to sail amidst the darkness, however Kent realised he hoped for too much to consider Sain remembering his equipment. He half-wondered if he would have his sword but decided even Sain earned more credit than that.
The first closed and, without decreasing his speed, Kent made a quick swipe with his sword to cut directly across the armourless rider. This one didn't scream but merely fell limp before tumbling to the ground in a motionless pile. Kent knew the bandits were outmatched and felt somewhat dishonourable for slaying them. He took comfort, however, in the knowledge that they were the attackers.
Two more horsemen approached him from the left, adjusting their trajectory to intercept Kent's course. They gave vengeful roars and rose their swords wildly over their heads. Kent tutted at their stupidity, leaving themselves wide-open to attack and allowing their emotions to take control. As they neared, he suddenly duked in their direction, taking them by surprise where he brought his blood-stained blade across the stomach of a bandit. The scared grunts and gurgling groans that emerged from his dying comrade caused the second bandit to falter. Kent circled and brought his steed to a stand-still, eyeing the man with a keen stare. The stranger threw down his sword and pulled on the rein of his horse, fleeing the ensuing skirmish. The other man had fallen from his horse and was slowly dying, bleeding profusely onto the dark, peaceful grass.
A loud soul-wrenching scream of pain shattered the night and Kent turned his horse to see a bandit clutching his face before being stabbed in the back of the head by Sain, who had circled back on his foe.
"All done?" Sain asked as he trotted up to Kent.
"For now," Kent replied and motioned toward a second wave of cavaliers that were nearing the two Caelin warriors. He turned to peer into the distance and saw no sign of Lyndis, Florina or the pegasus. "Looks like we head back to the castle."
"Poor Florina!" Sain sighed heavily. "She looked hurt! I do hope she's alright!"
"So do I!" said Kent starting off toward the castle again. "Though for different reasons than yours, I think."
"Kent!" exclaimed Sain as though he had been unjustly wronged. "What low opinion you have of me!"
--
Wil watched the red and green knights ride through the gate below him, a roar of victory resounding from the Caelin guards awaiting their return. The grinding of the metal gate started as it slowly began to close behind them, however Wil's task wasn't yet over.
"Fire!" he bellowed as loudly as he could, which didn't amount to much when compared with Kent or Lyndis. His archery unit heard him well enough, however, and each of them released their horse-hair bowstrings, launching the deadly arrows high into the air. Wil watched the mass of dark arrows, his own included, from the corner of his eye as he reloaded a second arrow into his strong bow. The already fired projectiles rained down upon the incoming cavalry that were racing toward the gate still, trying to get inside before it closed. Two of them were struck from their mounts and the second wave of arrows brought down a third.
Wil was pleased to see that his third arrow would not need to be fired as the remaining riders retreated and sped back toward the main military mass that was slowly encroaching upon the castle. The young bowman sighed with relief and joined in the congratulating of his small unit, much hand-shaking and back-slapping.
Mission complete, Wil rushed down the stone steps and came into the courtyard where he saw Sain handing the reins of his horse to a page. Following this, the pair of them headed toward a small door off to the side of the courtyard where several nurses were rushing in and out. Once inside they saw a dark room lit only by one lonely candle and at its centre was a solitary bed with several people crowded round.
One of the crowd turned her head with a deeply furrowed brow and turned to Lyndis, who was staring at the wounded Florina with a look of deep sadness, "Milady, I cannot work with so many people in here! The girl should have more privacy than this too!"
Kent gently shook Lyndis, who had seemed in a trance and didn't hear the doctor's request. The red-clad knight nudged his mistress toward the open doorway and cast Wil and Sain a firm look. The pair took the obvious hint and led the way out of the medical room, followed by a depressed Lyndis and reassuring Kent.
Wil had long held both Kent and Sain in great esteem, viewing them both as role-models to which he should aspire. Their chivalry was insurmountable and their courage unrivalled. Lyndis also relied on them both to great extents and something within Wil wished he too could be a support for his Lady.
He shook with sudden realisation and recalled why he had barged into the room to begin with, "Milady?" Lyndis did little more than murmur in response. Wil chewed his lip with concern before continuing at Kent's solemn stare. "Milady, Florina wasn't the only one out tonight..."
"What?" Kent couldn't hide his shock and Lyndis stirred, bringing her watery eyes up to view Wil.
"Ah... Lucius..."