This chapter marks the end of the Iron Knight's first adventure with Pepper.
Please comment, good, bad, ugly, I'm ready for it but the silence is killing me.
Once again and always, thank you for reading!
It was a cold dark day in the land of Cumbria. A day like every other day, for past 6 months. The passing of time made no difference to its mindless subjects.
The Captain rode into the eerily, silent, empty castle. Not a sound was to be heard. Nothing stirred.
Even the large oak tree at the center of the courtyard, which had been around since the castle's creation, had withered and dried.
The Captain dismounted slowly and stabled his horse. He limped to the throne room. All traces of civilized life had been removed from the castle. The walls were bare and the corridors bereft of any ornaments. The kitchen was silent and dusty.
In the large, throne room, the Captain stood at a safe distance from the throne, which was shrouded in darkness.
He knelt on one knee. "My liege, I have come from Loranthia. The rumors were true. The Iron Knight protects the people of the land."
"How does he fare? Is he a worthy opponent?" said a deep voice from the shadows.
Another voice hissed, a serpentine malevolent whisper. "Does he have the flame? Is he strong?".
The Captain answered "He has the flame and uses the armor. He is a fine warrior. He has managed to secure the affection of the people in the area. And yes, he is a worthy opponent, he destroyed most of my men. Then again he did have some help."
"Help?!" said the voices in tandem.
"Yes, my lord, a red-haired squire. A youngling of sorts. He and the Knight work as a team."
The Captain was shocked as the voices began to laugh maniacally, one human, one ... definitely not human.
Then the human one said "Oh, this is amusing. Both of my quarries are working together. Fate is making this easy for us, don't you agree?"
The second voice hissed sinisterly "Yesssssss, so much easier when they are both together and we can tear them apart. The man is emotional, we saw that with Yin Sen. Using the girl will make him weak."
The human voice said, "No, no, its the other way around. He's emotional, yes but we use him to break the girl. She is the stronger of the two. In any case we are splitting hairs. Captain?"
The Captain saluted smartly.
"Patch yourself up. I will arrange for another troop of soldiers for you. Move to the lands of Zornia. Set up base there. A great one will be born there soon."
The Captain growled, "What of the Iron Knight and his squire? You are just going to let them be?"
He jumped back nervously when three eyes began to glow from the darkness of the throne. Two were close together and were almond shaped with blue pupils. The third... the third was a huge, throbbing eye with a triangular, ruby red pupil. It had a thick, scaly, black rim. It blinked at him slowly and then contracted.
The Captain felt his chest began to constrict.
"They will get what's coming to them. Patience, Captain, do not show our hand. We can take back what we have so generously gifted to you." said the serpentine voice slowly slitheringly.
The human voice said sternly, "Go forth and do as we command. We will send orders when you have established a base."
The Captain turned and nearly ran out of the room as the two voices began to whisper loudly to each other in an ungodly tongue.