Hello everyone from your friendly neighborhood BONDSWORD! I hope you've been R&Ring my stories and if not...I think you should if you're actually a member and all. It's really good to get feedback from my readers! Anyway here's chapter three...my longest chapter so far. Enjoy with some popcorn!
Kyle was tossing and turning as he had for the past few nights. It was a slightly frigid morning, and he was lying outside as he always did. He lifted his head for a few seconds and looked at the four tents where Lyn and the four knights were resting. He thought of them all asleep in their beds, and smiled.
Then Kyle craned his head one hundred and eighty degrees and looked off toward the mountains. A pale sun was beginning to creep over the summits of the landforms. Now it was time to get up.
Kyle began to walk around the campsite picking up small pieces of wooden litter. He found some good pieces: a few small sticks for kindling, a few larger pieces of wood, and a few logs. Then he set to work. Kyle picked up some slightly large stones and set them around in a circle then he set the kindling in the center, reached into a small pouch near his bed, and lit the kindling. Then, after playing with the fire for a few seconds, he placed some of the larger pieces of wood upon the flame.
By the time he had started the fire the tip of the sun was just peeking out from the summits of the mountains in the background.
Kyle stepped around the fire and over to the tents. He opened the first, which had been crudely pitched, and yelled, "Get up!" to Sain. The knight who was still half asleep yawned and rubbed his eyes.
"Is it morning already?" he asked. Kyle nodded.
Kyle followed the same procedure with the two tents for the other knights and found them slightly more awake than Sain but still sleepy. Then he walked up to Lyn's tent. He tapped on the flap listening to the hollow flapping that his knock made within the tent. A wide awake Lyn suddenly poked her head out.
"Yes?" she asked smiling.
"I'm just getting everybody up. You should get dressed soon. I've got a fire ready, and the moment we've eaten we're moving on," Kyle said.
The girl nodded which caused her green hair no longer in a ponytail to shake around. Her brown eyes and glowing smile caused Kyle to turn slightly red.
"Are you feeling alright?" Lyn asked staring at him. "You look like you're running a fever."
Realizing he was blushing he quickly turned his back to her. "Yeah, I'm fine… I just…didn't get a lot of sleep last night… I need to tend to the fire." So changing the subject Kyle quickly walked off to tend to the flames that were being whipped around in the wind.
The three knights got out of their beds one by one. First was Jaron, then was Sain, then was Kent. They walked slowly to the fire, and sat down on logs that had been placed around it.
"So…" Sain started. "Did you not get much sleep last night?"
Kyle stared at him. "Why would you say that? Did I mumble or something?"
Sain shook his head. "No. Last night I heard someone talking so I left my comfy tent, and went to see what in Elibe was going on. When I found where the noise was, you were standing by your bed, and cut down the large tree where you were sleeping! I couldn't believe it. But then I thought I had to be dreaming so I went back my tent and fell asleep."
There was a tense silence for a few seconds before Lyn's chirpy voice rang through the clearing. "Hello? Is anyone still out here?"
She stepped out of her tent now in her dress. "I thought you all had gone and left me!" she said. "But of course, none of you would go and do that would you?"
Sain, Kent, and Jaron, all placed their hands over their hearts. "Never milady," they chorused. "We are to see you to Caelin!"
She thanked them and turned to Kyle. "What say you Kyle? Would you leave me here in the middle of nowhere?"
Kyle didn't answer for a few seconds. "No," he finally replied. "I owe you my life… I wouldn't leave you." He didn't turn to face her though as he answered. His face was flushed red, and he was worried that he was getting attached to her. This concerned him. Not that Lyn was not kind, and beautiful…but she could be killed if Kyle got her involved.
"But," he added. "after seeing you safely to Caelin, my service is over. Do you understand? When we reach your new home I take my leave. Till then I am at your total service."
Lyn nodded, and the three knights watched both her, and Kyle. Jaron was focusing his gaze upon Kyle's face since he had the best vantage point of it. Kyle caught his friend's gaze, and glared at him.
After a few more seconds Kyle said, "I'm going to get more firewood." Then he turned to the others. "We break camp at about noon. All that I'm saying is get warm."
Lyn nodded. "Yes I agree. We should not tarry here any longer than necessary. But would you allow me one slight detour? It is to a temple only about a mile away from here. Many in Sacae stop by to pray for a safe journey. Would that be fine with you?" She was staring up at him with her eyes shining, and pleading.
Kyle nodded knowing he could not refuse her. "Yes. It's fine with me. Praying for a safe journey wouldn't be a bad idea… After what has happened during our last adventure, I think a few prayers would be a wonderful idea…"
Noon came too quickly for the knights, specifically Kent and Sain. The act of taking down the tents went very quickly, and then there was the meal for the midday. The three knights and Lyn munched on a bit of dried meat that Kyle had bought for the group when he and Lyn had been in Bulgar. Kyle however snacked on an apple, a few small carrots, and the heel of a loaf of bread.
When finally they had all eaten, Kyle said to Lyn, "So where is this detour you wish to take?"
Lyn pointed to a small dirt road that deviated only slightly the left of their traveling direction. "About an hour that way is a small temple. It houses the Manni Katti a sacred sword in these parts. Travelers often stop there at the onset of a long journey, as I told you earlier, to pray for a safe journey."
Kyle smelled the air for a moment. It was damp and heavy…rain would be coming soon.
"Very well Lyn," he said. "But if we are to go we should depart at once. Rain is coming swiftly upon our heels."
Kyle quickly took to a brisk walking pace toward the temple. Lyn followed, and the knights, in the passion of guarding this young woman, rode behind her in formation. No one spoke. No one moved much. No one did really anything other than walk. What was there to say? At times one of the knights would take a deep breath as if about to speak, but no sound seemed to make it out.
An hour of walking found the five in front of a large temple made of a light yellow stone. Kyle took one look behind him. Clouds of rain were swiftly approaching… He turned back, tapped Lyn on the shoulder, and began to whisper into her ear.
"Listen… I think that we should stay in this area for one night longer… It would be much better for the group to not be out in the rain… the two fortresses there seem well maintained, and cleaned so we should spend at least one night in them to stave off the rain, and keep everyone warm and dry."
Lyn turned to him, and nodded. "Yes I think that it would be better for all of us to stay out of the wet. We'll pray here for a safe journey, and in the morning shall set off for Lycia."
Kyle nodded. The five stood there for a few seconds admiring the scenery and the temple itself when suddenly a strange smell wafted through the air. Kyle shifted his gaze to where the entrance of the temple was, and watched as a woman came running toward them.
"Excuse me…" the woman began. "Are you five going to the temple?"
Lyn, and Kyle nodded but it was Kent who spoke.
"Yes," the knight said. "We are going to the temple. Why? Is everything all right?"
She came closer to Lyn, and took her hand. "Please you have to help the priest! A local band of ruffians ran in a few minutes ago and no doubt the priest has been accosted and the Manni Katti captured!"
"Don't worry," Kyle said stepping forward and drawing his sword. "We'll take care of it."
A man could be heard in the background. "I thought I heard someone! Go check it out."
"Go to safety," Kyle said to the woman. "We'll handle everything here."
Lyn stared at Kyle. "That is quite uncharacteristic of you…" she said. "I didn't know you could be so compassionate."
Kyle didn't even look at Lyn. "There isn't a necessity for compassion usually… But thank you."
Lyn smiled. She could tell that he was shy especially around her…but she didn't want to say anything that would make him feel awkward.
Suddenly though Kyle took off running, and the next thing that was heard was someone scream. Jaron, Kent, Sain, and Lyn headed off in the same direction he had, and rounded a corner to see a bandit lying on the ground covered in blood. Kyle, who was towering over the crumpled body, sheathed his sword.
"Lyn, Jaron, Sain, Kent there's a wall that's slightly cracked. Batter that wall down, and then storm the temple!" Kyle stood there for a moment and a second bandit came running at Kyle. The man swung his axe, but Kyle leapt over the man, drew his sword, and cut an enormous gash into the villain's back.
"GO!!" Kyle said. "I can hold my own!"
"But, Kyle…" Lyn tried to say.
Jaron took her by the arm. "Come my lady. Our friend Kyle can handle himself. I can personally attest to his skill."
Lyn tried to protest further, but none of the three knights would listen to her or acquiesce to her pleas. Instead Sain picked her up and put her on his horse. Then he rode away toward the broken wall Kyle had mentioned. When they returned to the wall they searched up and down until finally Jaron found a portion of wall that had an enormous crack in it.
The cavalier jammed his iron lance into the crack and began to use it as a crowbar. He pried his way up and down into the break in the wall. The four heard the sounds of steel being drawn, then a clashing of steel, then finally a scream.
"Hurry Jaron!" Lyn cried.
Jaron tried again and again, but finally he stopped for a breath. Realizing he didn't have enough leverage seated upon his horse Jaron jumped off and put all of his weight into pushing the lance down. A single brick shot out of the wall, and suddenly the entire barrier simply went tumbling down. When finally the smoke cleared only a large pile of rubble remained.
The first one through into the temple was Lyn, followed by the stumbling horses of Jaron, Kent, and Sain. There were two bodies, and one man sitting atop upon a seat. Lyn drew her blade, ran into the center and pointed her sword at the man.
The man rose, drew his sword, and walked down the stairs. The silhouette of the man was quite imposing, and Lyn suddenly said, "I can see bright yellow eyes!!"
"Demon!" she screamed. "What have you done with Kyle?!"
The man sheathed his blade, and kept coming. Lyn held her blade tighter, but when the man stepped into the light, she noticed that it was Kyle that was approaching her. Kyle smiled as he approached. Lyn smiled while blushing at the same time, and then suddenly turning cross she slapped him across the cheek.
"AH! Damn! Why did you do that?!" he asked holding his cheek.
"You led me to think you were dead!!"
Kyle reached into his pocket, pulled out a box of matches, struck one, and then lit a few candles.
"Accept my humblest apologies," he said. "But the bandit over there," he motioned toward a man with an axe lying on the ground in a pool of blood. "put out the lights so that I wouldn't be able to see. I had to use the windows."
"Be that as it may," Lyn began, "I still wish that you would have at least talked too me."
Kyle looked hurt. "I'm sorry I assumed that you were more bandits." Then he walked over to the smaller man that actually had on a shirt, and then lifted him into the air.
"Where is the priest?" Kyle asked the man. The man however refused to answer. "Oh…so you don't wish to talk, hm?" Then Kyle smiled, and threw the man to the wall off to his right. The man coughed up blood as he struck the brick.
Kyle walked over and picked him up again. "I'll ask again: Where is the priest?"
The man coughed again, and said, "The room back there… He's…in that room." Then the man reached into a pocket, and procured a key. "Here…this…is the key."
Kyle thanked him with a smile and took the key. The young myrmidon walked over to the door whistling a happy tune. Suddenly the bandit got to his feet, picked up a sword that rested near his hand, and raced at Kyle.
The man was nearing Kyle and was about to slash before Kyle turned around and with a cold stare impaled the man. Again, the fool coughed, but this time a slight fountain of blood poured from the man's mouth.
"Why didn't you just stay down?" Kyle asked.
"B-Because…I'm Glass!! The…god's fear…my blade… My swordplay…is peerless! Uhhh…" With that the spark of life faded from Glass's eyes. Kyle withdrew his sword, and allowed the corpse to fall to the ground.
"Fool. You could have lived longer…" Kyle's last words of pity were dispersed, and then he turned around inserted the key into the lock and opened the door.
"Thank you, young sir…" the priest said.
Kyle shook his head. "Think nothing of it. I was merely doing something to help a friend… Now dear Father of Saint Elimine would you allow my compatriots and I to pray upon the sword?"
The priest nodded his head, and said, "Yes. Now that I have placed my seal upon the weapon it cannot be drawn from its scabbard until the rightful owner appears."
"Lyn!" Kyle said. "Since you were the one that suggested this you should pray first."
The young woman walked up to the sheathed sword, sitting upon the altar.
"Now," the priest said, "touch the sacred pattern of the Manni Katti, and pray for a safe journey."
Lyn reached down and touched the pattern of the sword, when suddenly it began to flash.
The priest looked down in surprise. "Hm?"
Then Lyn did the same. "Wha? Did it just…"
An enormous flash filled the entire temple.
"I never thought in my life that I would meet the rightful wielder of the Manni Katti… Lyn this is you sword…"
"What? No this is the most legendary sword in all of Sacae! It couldn't be my sword!" Lyn said.
"Do you require proof?" the man asked. "Draw it from its sheath."
There was the sound of the sword being drawn and suddenly Lyn was holding the weapon. "It came out…effortlessly," she whispered.
"Never…in my life did I think that I'd meet the wielder of the Manni Katti. Lyn that sword is yours…" the priest said.
Lyn stared at the sword as it rested flat in her palms. "My…sword?"
Four of them walked out of the temple. "This is all…so unbelievable…" Lyn said in awe. "The most legendary sword in all of Sacae…actually belongs to me…"
Sain turned to her. "Think of it this way: Some weapons feel more comfortable in your hand right? Well the sword feels most comfortable in your hand. Does this make it any easier to accept?"
Lyn nodded. "Yes…I suppose it does…"
Suddenly from behind them Kyle came out smiling, and whistling a tune. He seemed to be slightly happy about something…and it was irritating Sain. The young cavalier was the happy-go-lucky one not the myrmidon!
"What news do you bear that has put you in such a good mood?" Sain asked.
Kyle stopped in front of all five of his compatriots. "I have spoken with the priest. We are allowed to stay in the fortresses. The knights shall stay in one, and Lyn and I in the other."
Seeing the distress that this put upon Lyn he quickly added. "I shall sleep in the rafters above. Have no fear."
And so the five having secured dry bedding for the night went to their respective buildings. Kyle sat atop the ramparts of part of the fortress plucking at the lyre he'd bought a day back. Far off he could hear thunder.
Lyn climbed the ladder to the ramparts and sat down beside Kyle. Whether she did this out of boredom or sheer insanity, Kyle did not know.
"So… Why did you have it so that you and I are staying in the same fortress?" Lyn asked.
"Because I thought you might feel safer or at least more comfortable with me than the knights…" Kyle replied.
Lyn nodded. "Yes… It does my heart good to have you watching over me…than it does to have Sain sleeping with me…"
Lyn placed her hand upon the wall of the fortress, and Kyle set his hand upon hers. So completely absorbed were they in watching the storm come in that they hadn't felt the touch of each other's hands. But Sain suddenly brought this fact to reality when suddenly from below he yelled:
"Hey! That isn't fair! So that is the reason you wished to be alone with Lyn!"
Kyle looked down, noticed that he was touching Lyn's hand and pulled away.
"Go to your quarters and get yourself some sleep Sain!" Kyle commanded. Grumbling the knight sulked off into the other fortress.
"Well…at any rate Lyn you should also go to get some sleep. Go down to the main chambers and let fly your fancies and dreams. I shall be down soon enough into the loft…"
From far off where Kyle and Lyn sat looking into each other's eyes and trying to guess the intent of the other a great storm was brewing, and not just in the sky. Kyle was concerned…something else was fast approaching…the Black Fang.