Disclaimer: I don't own any Sly Cooper characters; they belong to Sucker Punch Productions/Sanzaru Games.
Claimer: I own all of my original characters.
I am very, very, very sorry for the update stall, but with major college exams, a death in the family, and 3 members being hospitalized…I've been swamped and haven't had time to write. But, I finally found time so I thought it would be needed to update. So, please, read, review, and let me know what you think!
Chapter 10: The Mechanical Beast
Nottinghamshire, England 1453 A.D.
After giving my belt a tug, I secured my under armor chain male. I sat, slipping my metal boots on over my feet and adjusting them so they would be comfortable for the journey to come. My shoulder pads were the next item to put on, which were indeed the heaviest part of a knight's armor. After the rest of my armor had been securely placed, I stood, glancing at my old, dented suit of metal…something I hadn't put on in quite a while now. I placed my sharpened sword in the sheath on my belt before picking up my helmet, brushing the dust from the top. Walking from my cottage home in the village, I headed for the back of the castle where I would meet Sir Henry. Seconds after Katherine and Isabel were taken by the beast, Henry and I vowed that we would save them from that horrid creature…even if it costs us our lives. It was our duties as knights to protect those we were entrusted to protect. Well, it was my duty as a knight to protect Katherine. I hadn't been told to retrieve Katherine or that I was even allowed to put on my armor again…for I was not a knight. I was still stripped of my title, but I had to save Katherine. For I loved the princess dearly and I couldn't allow her to be harmed. I would need my armor in order to face that dragon, so, I had to steal my armor back from the interior of the castle. Which was a simple task…but I did not feel right. I needed the armor though. For a man with no armor versus a metal dragon…a man would have no hope of surviving.
I gripped the handle of my sword firmly, feeling my stomach twist into knots as I though of my impending task. I was more afraid of Katherine getting hurt by that dragon more than I. If I was a knight or not, I could not allow my dearly beloved princess to be hurt by that mechanical beast. Which was a questionable thing to ponder about…I had never seen a dragon of metal instead of flesh. How a dragon such as this had gotten to our lands in the first place was a questionable thing to start with, but the fact that it was made of metal! T'was a curious creature and I wanted to get to the bottom of this mysterious beast. However, retrieving Katherine and her mother from its grasp was much more important at the moment. The only issue with saving the royal raccoons was the fact that Henry and I were not sure where the dragon dwelled. We knew the creature lived somewhere in the woods, but did it live in the forest? In a cave? Or even in a land much further away from Nottinghamshire? It was an unknown answer, but we would figure it out or die trying.
I walked the rest of the way to the castle in complete silence, an attempt to keep my presence unnoticed. I grip on my sword tightened as I neared the castle, having an unsettling feeling that something wasn't quite right. Trotting down the small hill to the back of the castle, I held up a paw to Sir Henry, alerting him to my presence. He returned the gesture before turning his attention to his horse at its saddle. I finished my way down the hill and gripped the reins of my horse, eventually stepping onto the foot holdings of the saddle and tossing my leg over the back of the horse, seating myself with a thud and a snort from my horse. Sir Henry had done the same, taking a deep breath before regaining his posture upon his horse and looking to me.
"Hast thou thought of a route for us to take?" I asked Henry as he gripped the reins on his horse in his paws.
"The beast flew to the west," he said quietly, "probably headed towards the caverns of Canterbury. I believe that we should follow the beasts trail, for our queen and princess should be dwelling with the mechanical menace for now." Henry was on edge, angry and ready to strike against the creature.
"The caverns of Canterbury?" I asked him with a confused look, "Tis a four hour journey! Dost thou believe that we will be able to reach them in time?" he nodded, clicking the reins on the horse and starting a fast trot. I did the same, catching up to his pace.
"Tis a six hour journey Sir Galleth!" he shouted over the clatter of our horses hooves, "but I hast traveled all around this country many-a-times! And I know of a shortcut, my friend! If we cut through the forest of Nottinghamshire, we should be taken to the base of the cavers! From there, we may climb to the top, slay this beast, and retrieve our royal raccoons! If we take this path, we should reach them in a mere three hours, giving us plenty of time to return them home!" I nodded towards my friend as we quickly galloped through the open fields of the county side, waiting to reach the edge of the forest. Henry was a diehard warrior and knight and it was obvious that he wasn't going to stop until he reach Isabel and had her home safely…and I felt the same towards Katherine. Only, instead of returning her home, I planned to take her away from this horrid country. When we finally reached the outskirts of the forest, we slowed to a stroll as we entered the thickly covered forest to reach the caverns.
"Sir Henry," I called to my friend, who had taken the lead, "Did thou really pursue the queen in thy youth?" he chuckled and gave a nod of his head before starting his story.
"Oh yes, the queen and I had quite the whirlwind romance in our youth. Thou should have seen us Sir Galleth," he had a smile on his face as he recalled his memories, "Running around like children, keeping our faces from Hector, carrying on our love in secret…away from prying or judgmental eyes. Which is why I do insist that if thou love to Katherine is true, then take her away from Maxwell, Galleth. For I regret not asking Isabel those many years ago for her own hand in marriage and allowing her to marry Hector. For I know now that if I had indeed married the fair maiden, then she would be happier than she is now."
"Even if she produced thee a daughter instead of a son, thou would still wish to be her wedded husband?" I knew that Henry loved Isabel, no matter what type of child she produced him…but it was always a curiosity of mine as to what he would have preferred.
"I would have asked for a daughter, Galleth. I have always wished for a daughter of my own," I ducked as my horse passed under a low hanging branch, briefly forgetting that we were venturing through a thickly dense forest.
"I can honestly say that not many men ask for a daughter as their first child, Sir Henry." He laughed, nodding his head in the process.
"Tis a true statement, but I am the exception. I have always wanted a daughter of my own…for I would not have to send my son away to train as a knight. You know as well as I on how hard training is for a knight. However, if a young boy does not become a knight, then he must join the priesthood. And I know that no matter what road he went on, I could not send him away. So, I would want a daughter, for I knew that I would not have to give her up until it was time for her to marry. But I also know that once Isabel married Hector…I could never love again. I have waited my whole life for her, Galleth, and I know that I shall never marry another woman, for I love her. Isabel is married, however, so I beg thee, Galleth, that if thou loves Katherine and she loves thee back, do not allow her to marry Maxwell…for thou shall regret it until thy death." I nodded and we stayed silent for the rest of the journey, simply maneuvering our horses through the forest until we reached the edge of the caverns a few hours later.
Henry and I dismounted our horses, keeping our grip firm on our sword handles as we started to climb the rocky texture of the caverns. Henry led the way and I followed closely behind him, pulling ourselves up the cliffs of the caverns towards the opening of the caverns. I could smell a foul mixture of fire, brimstone, metal, and something else horrid…making me have great pity for Katherine and her mother. I could feel my brow start to sweat from the heat that was coming from the mouth of the cavern. We had climbed a great distance before Henry finally stepped foot on the flat surface of the lip of the cavern. He grabbed my arm and helped to pull me up and once I was secured as well, we started our trek inside the cavern mouth. Our paws gripped the handles of our swords, ready to pull them out at any moment. Keeping quiet, so we would not alert the best to our presence, we reached the end of the small tunnel from the mouth, entering the heart of the cavern. My eyes spotted the beast in the center of the earth and looked as if it was sleeping. Also sleeping, was Katherine and Isabel, who were resting uncomfortable near a large rock a few meters away from the slumbering beast.
"I swear to thee Galleth," Henry whispered harshly, "I will turn that foul beast into a sword of bronze for what it has done." I nodded and we silently made our way to the sleeping females, not wanting to disturb the beast. They were separated slightly, breathing in and out softly. I tended to Katherine while Henry went to Isabel. I placed my paw over Katherine mouth, keeping her from screaming. Her eyes shot open and she had a brief moment of panic until I placed a single finger over my mouth to tell the princess to stay silent. She sat up, smiling as I removed my paw from her mouth.
"Oh Galleth!" she whispered before latching her arms around my neck, "I have prayed that thou would return." I hugged her back, kissing her temple before brushing her messy hair from her face.
"Of course I would return to thee, my lady." I smiled back at her, pressing my lips to hers, assuring myself that she was safe. She kept my face to hers as we relished this moment together in this…less than romantic setting. She pulled away, tears in her eyes as she came to her knees, ready for me to take her away from this beast. I glanced to Henry, who had just shared a similar moment, and we gripped our lady loves by their waists, hoisting them upwards. We stayed silent as we started to back away from the beast, ready to bolt the moment we were in the clear.
A bat overhead gave a shriek as it fluttered from on wall to the other, alerting the dragon of the escape attempt. Now awake, the dragon let out a shriek, rearing its head back. Seeing what it was doing, Henry pushed all of us down behind a rock, blocking us from the sudden burst of flames coming forth from the mouth of the dragon. With this, I knew what Henry and I had to do…we have to slay the beast if we wanted to escape with Katherine and Isabel alive. I put on my helmet and removed my sword from its sheath, turning to charge at the beast, only to have Katherine latch onto my arm with her paw. Peering into her beautiful eyes, she pleaded with me to stay and to not face the dragon.
"I must do this my lady. If this beast if not slain, then it shall return and take thee away again. I cannot let this happen to you my lady, not again." tears formed in her eyes again as her grip tightened.
"But you will perish Sir Galleth!" I nodded gripping her face with my free paw, looking deeply into her eyes.
"It is what I must do to protect my princess. For it is my duty to protect thee. I shall return to thee my lady, but I implore you to remember this, Princess Katherine of Nottinghamshire, I love thee." Kissing her soft, crimson lips once more, I pulled away from my lady love and rolled away from the rock with Henry, coming face to face with this mechanical beast.