"Sir Jose! Please silence your squire!" demanded Lady Ogela. The chamber that Maid designated as the Conference room in the Dragonslayer's tavern shook at the elf's clearing resounding voice. Sir Jose and Sergeant Trent both stood stiffly before the elf.
Kit's brow furrowed as she stared directly into the eyes of the elven knight commander. Even though she commanded a hundred warriors and held the highest ranking title in Essuria , Ogela was not very tall in stature. In fact she and Kit were approximately equal in height. Despite the fact the knight wore the finest silver armor and was a veteran of hundreds of battles, Kit was not all intimidated by her presence. She thought her swift kukri combat style was more than a match for her rigid sword and board style. She stood up to the elf defiantly and refused to budge from her point.
"Keeta…..at ease," said Sir Jose in a loud and firm voice.
Kit's resolve faded at his order. She turned around and faced her lord. " But…but…I promised. You were the one that told me about honor, and the first thing you taught me was keeping your word. I …gave my word to Madeline..to Magda…I have to help her recover her children," pleaded Kit to Jose. She looked at her lord and saw that he sided with Ogela. She could not believe the turn of events and her heart dropped.
"KEETA!" repeated Jose again, silencing any further protest from his squire.
Ogela shook her head at the pair," Sir Jose. The behavior of your squire is reprehensible. I suggest she takes lessons about obedience and humility from Rasmus here," she stated while pointing to her own squire. Rasmus stood straight at the mention of his name, but shifted uncomfortably when her gaze fell off him. Kit caught the youth staring at her again and she seethed in anger. How dare he judge her with his paladin vision? What did that boot licking toady know about honor? To Kit, the youth looked like he grew up in relative luxury, and most likely was a squire due to his father's money and rank. She detested being compared to such an entitled sycophant, the fact he was handsome just made it more infuriating.
Ogela turned her gaze towards Kit once again. Despite her desire to challenge the elf, Kit could not disobey Sir Jose. She reluctantly backed down and bowed her head. Satisfied that the squire's dissention was over Ogela outlined her plans to Jose and Trent. "As I was saying. The enemy is too great for us to deal with . Even if their Astral fortress is not fully operational, it will require more resources than we currently possess to siege it. I will take a sizable portion of my knights to escort the surviving townspeople to Cauldron and then I will proceed to Sasserine to raise the necessary troops. I am certain I can secure Griffon riders or perhaps a Grommish Skyship to assist us. Sergeant Trent will reorganize the remaining militia and see to the rebuilding of the defenses of Essuria in my stead. Sir Jose I trust you can discipline your squire before I return?"
Jose nodded silently.
"Excellent ", noted the elf who then turned to the stout oak door of the inn. Besides Maid, Pig Iron, Kaeda, Trent's outriders, and various members of the guard, Kit knew full well who else waited outside. "I also need you to keep an eye on the ….. dragon. I do not trust her and suspect treachery from her sooner rather than later. Magda is a powerful foe, which will have to be eventually dealt with, however for now she is a useful deterrent against our enemies. I suspect she currently has reigned in her aggression in the hopes to use us as pawns in her game, but we shall not be manipulated so easily. She will eventually see this, and her true self shall be shown. Though the dragon warding enchantment on the town has been destroyed, the one in Erland's hold is still active. If need be you can retreat there. I am sure you can withstand a siege from the dragon till we return to handle her properly.
Jose nodded again and cracked his knuckles in anticipation. "She's not the first dragon I've faced, and she definitely won't be the last," replied the knight ominously. Ogela seemed satisfied at the response and saluted once more before leaving the room with Rasmus in tow.
Sir Jose and Trent mumbled a few words to each other before following the elven knight. Trent walked past Kit and offered an apologetic look, but no words of solace. Sir Jose simply walked past the squire, with no words of encouragement or even a disapproving glance.
Kit stared at her lord in despair. She had pledged to help Magda, not to fight her. The town and all its defenders were saved by the dragon and now they were contemplating dealing with her with their swords. Kit knew that knights and dragons did not mix, they were like cats and dogs, or gnomes and kobolds, but the squire did not know who to side with when the time comes. Would she support an evil egomaniac dragon who only desired her children's return, or would she follow her brave narrow minded master, the man that freed her from slavery and returned her life back into her control.
As Kit sat in the conference room alone with her thoughts, a mug of ale was placed in front of her.
Kit looked up and saw Maid before her. "You know I don't drink," the squire said with a forced smile.
Maid nodded her head, "I know, but you seem to like holding the beer mug. C'mon it will cheer you up ", said the innkeeper knowingly before leaving the room to serve her other patrons.
Kit relented and held the glass. While many people found some sanctuary in the actual drink and the ritual of getting drunk out of one's skull in situations like this, Kit simply stared into the glass and saw her own warped reflection on the tinted crystal cup. The squire noted she saw a scared and confused girl , but also saw an ember of determination in her. She wondered if this was the life she wanted? To follow orders blindly despite what her heart tells her to do. She knew that Madeline would devour her in a minute if they had met under different circumstances, and noted to herself that she already attempted that on their first meeting. She remembered Sir Jose telling her how the dragon betrayed her own mate just to claim their entire horde for herself. Madeline was a treacherous and violent beast, but Kit knew there was also a noble side to her.
As a shapechanger Kit knew that one's humanoid appearance often reflected one's heart and soul. It wasn't a hard and fast rule but the correlation between the two seemed accurate enough. Kit was often considered impish and a bit on the wildside, and she admitted that her human appearance looked similar to that description. Her old lord Mogombo was a terrible murderous tyrant, and she recalled his regal appearance coupled with his piercing and almost burning eyes. Despite her violent and selfish nature, Magda had the countenance of a tragic noblewoman and the squire knew that the loss of her children was tearing her up. Though she never had kids , Kit could well imagine the primal instinct to protect one's young .
Kit stared from her room and into the other and saw Madeline alone in a corner. The polymorphed dragon had a forlorn look about her, similar to the one she had in prison. Kit remembered she was on the verge of despair there, powerless in her failure as a mother, and could see that look again on her. She wanted to confront her and explain her inability to convince anyone to help her, but she felt shame at this prospect. Kit wanted to shapechange , run away , and hopefully hide in a corner somewhere, but she could not bring herself to explain to Madeline why she couldn't disobey her master.
Wait…..thought Kit. This isn't right. She looked at Sir Jose as a goofy father figure and as a mentor, but this goes against everything that he had taught her. The knight had told her to stand up for what was right. He had told her not to judge people by their reputations but by their actions. How could one not help a woman recover her children, especially when one gave a vow to do so? Despite what Ogela had said about Madeline, Kit looked at the woman and did not see reigned aggression or whatever that elf had said. She only saw a desperate lonely woman, who only wanted her children back. Kit didn't care if she was evil to the core. Jose himself said that she was the same way when he first rescued her, a selfish bloodthirsty creature that respected only power. The knight had given her a chance to change, and she accepted. Kit didn't know if she actually succeeded in changing her moral outlook on life, but she doubt she would have this dilemma if she didn't have some shred of good inside her. She knew of course that if she helped Magda, most of the knights would brand her a traitor and claim she was Jose's failed experiment, but Kit didn't care. If she was to do one thing worth a damn in her life, it would be to honor her word and help this woman in need.
Kit stood up and with renewed purpose strode into the main tavern area of Dragonslayer's inn. Kit thought it ironic, that inside the tavern, the squire of the knight that this place was named after was about to help the dragon that was supposedly slain by said knight. She chuckled to herself even as she approached Madeline.
Before Kit could say anything Madeline held out a hand and gave the squire a sad smile. "You don't have to apologize, or make any excuses, I heard the whole thing. Though I am in human form, my draconic senses are still very sharp and I heard it all through the door. I thank you for your effort, but I absolve you of your oath. I am after all a Red Dragon. Like all my people, I will face this hurdle on my own …the way it should be", said the woman in a faltering voice.
Kit looked Madeline and saw a tear roll down her eyes. Without warning Kit lunged forward and hugged the older woman. "I won't let you do this alone. I gave my word, I will help you get your kids back ", swore Kit with fierce determination.
Madeline pushed the squire back with surprising force. "Please think this over. Do you know what you are saying? If you follow this path, you will most likely be cast out of your Order, and that's if we succeed. The enemy has already bested me once and that was when they were unaware of my true power. I fear that I am doomed to fail this quest, and it is a burden I cannot ask you to share," declared the woman sternly.
Kit considered her words, then giggled, then laughed. "Do I look like someone that fears death? I've been following a heartbroken suicidal knight for the last few months. I've charged hundreds of goblins with only a guy in an iron can riding a big dog as backup. I've been trained to fight demons that a Rakshasa lord is too wary to engage," stated Kit. "I've even charged an ancient red dragon besieging a town once," she added with a wink.
Magda stared at Kit then smiled. "So be it. I am sorry I doubted your courage or resolve, but I guess if you can challenge me to battle then you can face a few Githyanki."
"I…I…wish to help as well," stammered a voice from the background. Kit recognized the voice immediately and turned to see Kaeda at the edge of their table. Kit noted the wild beauty was still in the flowery dress that Maid had lent her, and saw a remorseful look in her eyes. "I too have keen hearing you know. I feel horrible that I am partially responsible for your capture. I am a druid first and foremost, and I will help you recover your eggs. Nothing is more natural than for a mother to guard her young."
Madeline looked at Kaeda with her one good eye, and appraised her carefully. "You are a druid? All my life, your kind has viewed my people as a type of unnatural phenomena that had to be driven away or killed. You've attacked me in the past and now you want me to trust you?" she asked.
The shy druid had no answer and simply looked down.
Though Kit had mixed feelings about the druid, the squire wasn't a fool. She knew that rescuing Madeline's children would be a difficult if not impossible task with just the pair of them, but the druid's magic might give them a fighting chance.
"Hold up Madeline. I wouldn't swear to help you , if I didn't trust you. If you really want to rescue your kids, I'm asking you to swallow your pride and trust Kaeda here ", argued Kit. The squire saw Madeline did not like to be questioned, and turned her good eye towards her. Kit felt her angry gaze sear through her and she knew she had to think fast. " Look….if you accept Kaeda's help, two things can happen. One, we get your kids back, everyone's happy. Or two….we all die, including the nosy big breasted druid here. That makes two out of three of us happy," joked the squire.
Madeline blinked at Kit's humor and stared at her silently. Kit thought she would transform right then and there and lay waste to the town, but the woman instead chuckled. " As you wish squire Kitahria. I accept your aid, lady druid," smiled Madeline.
Kaeda nodded . " I can't help the size of my breasts ", she muttered self-consciously.
"Oh its settled then, the three of us against the Githyanki," stated Kit smugly. Even though she knew their chances of success were slim to none, Kit felt proud at her declaration. Right or wrong, she decided to take a stand for what she believed in.
Kit checked her gear. Kukri's ready, armor patched, and even some rations for the road. Not that she minded hunting and foraging but she admitted to herself that she had grown accustomed to prepared foods. She recalled one particular extended expedition through the jungle . She was still under the paw of Mogombo, and she almost blanched when she remembered the taste of the bugs and grubs that she had to eat to sustain herself .
Thankfully that was long behind her and she had the foresight to pack several meals of cured meats and trail bread instead from the pantry of Erland's hold. She had to do so quietly at night though since she did not want to warn Sir Jose of her departure.
As Kit slinked out of the keep she glanced once more at the fortress. A part of her wanted to say good bye to her lord, she couldn't believe that they would part like this. She owed everything to him and it didn't feel right to disappear without a word. In her head she knew he would not approve of her decision to help Magda, but somehow in her heart she believed that he would approve of her actions. She told herself that she was simply following his teachings, and he would do the same in her position.
Kit allowed that belief to sink in , and surprisingly she found her resolve did not waver. In fact the more she thought about it the more she knew that her decision was the correct one. After the last attack there wasn't enough humanoids and giants in a hundred miles left to attack the town . She did not feel that her actions would endanger the town . Most likely, taking the dragon out of town would be the safest course of action for all. As much as she felt Madeline's distress was genuine, Kit knew that the dragon could easily lash out in frustration. Better to direct her fury against the Githyanki rather than the inhabitants of Essuria.
Kit waved a final silent good bye to the fortress and turned away. Madeline and Kaeda would be waiting by the shattered gates, and she did not want to be late.
"Oh…you're not thinking of leaving without saying goodbye to me are you?" said a soft feminine voice from the shadows. Kit cursed and knew who it was immediately. There were few people that could sneak up to her like that, and only one that was always so playful. The squire shifted her ears and nose to their bestial form to increase her ability to spot anymore interlopers.
Out of the shadows stepped Maid. Kit saw that she had a predominantly black tunic,corset, and skirt, with a hint of grey matted chain links underneath. She also wore high fashionable green buckled boots, that made the squire drool with envy. At her side was the finely crafted blade and bow that Trent offered her earlier.
"How..how did you know I was leaving?" asked Kit , raising an eyebrow.
Maid grinned. "Well….You might be tight lipped, but Kaeda certainly isn't. She seemed nervous earlier, and I knew she was up to something. All I did was asked her a couple of questions. She's just a country bumpkin at heart you know, and I can easily ply any information out of her without her even knowing. She's a nice girl with a brave heart, but she's nervous about this whole affair, and honestly can you blame her? So as soon as I put two and two together, I packed my gear and came to see you."
"Nothing you say will stop me Maid. I've made up my mind," whispered Kit as she wondered who else knew of their plan.
"Oh…don't be silly. I'm not here to stop you, I'm here to help you! ", beamed the Innkeeper.
Kit smiled but then looked puzzled at her friend. "Are you sure about this? What about your inn? You've already been away from it so long."
Maid rolled her eyes. "As much as I treasure my business, I value your friendship more. I only have one were fox friend, and I can always take another loan and build another inn," she explained with a big smile. "….it'll just add another five years or so to my debt to the Dwarven Teasmsters….", she added in a whisper sigh.
Kit hugged her friend, and waved her to follow. Soon the pair made their way silently to the main gate. There were sentries posted above on the ruined walls, but despite their vigilance they did not spot the pair.
Kit lurked in the darkness with Maid in tow, and made it to the outer wall, she then stopped when she spotted something moving in the shadows. She expected to find either Kaeda and Madeline , but instead she was greeted with the sight of an armored dwarf.
Pig Iron seemed oblivious to Kit's presence and scratched himself behind the ears with his foot. After a few strokes he seemed content and began sniffing his own armored crotch. Kit thought that she saw enough and stepped out of the shadows to interrupt him. "Okay…Okay…I don't need to see anymore."
Pig Iron hopped on all fours and brushed his beard against the squire's leg. Kit felt somewhat noxious at the dwarf and took a step back from him.
"Oh…Pig Iron's coming along too. Not out of any sense of justice or honor, he just didn't get enough killing last time," explained Maid as she laughed lightly at the pair.
As the Innkeeper laughed, Kit froze. Her heightened smell picked up the scent of apple pie, sulfur, fresh leaves, old fur, and cheap cologne. The squire immediately recognized the odors and the persons that they corresponded to. Kit thought for a second that perhaps they were just on a stroll or maybe a patrol, there was no way that her lord would have actually tracked her to outside the wall, she would have smelt, heard, or at least seen them with her enhanced senses.
"Keeta…..", warned a low voice from ahead that stopped both Maid and Pig Iron in their tracks.
Kit turned and saw it was Sir Jose and Sergeant Trent in full war gear atop their war mounts, Greenpaw and Fluffy 2 , standing at their rendezvous point . Next to the pair of dog riders, was Madeline and Kaeda. While Madeline stood tall and resolute in her aristocratic dress, the druid appeared uncomfortable and nervous. Kit knew then that they were discovered.
"Keeta…..your ears…and nose," noted Sir Jose as he kept one eye on her, and the other on Madeline.
Kit knew what was to come next. He would order her back to the Erland's Hold to chastise her for disobeying Ogela's orders. Then he would possibly drive Madeline away , or possibly do battle with her. If Sergeant Trent was with him, then the guards might possibly be ready to attack as well. With Madeline outside the walls, instead of inside with the villagers, this would be the perfect time to strike.
Kit felt compelled to hang her head in shame and slink back in the shadows, but instead she walked up and stood between Madeline and her Lord.
"I've made my decision. I gave my word and I'm going to stick to it," declared Kit with a faltering voice.
Sir Jose glared at her and Kit felt her will breaking. Before she retracted her statement though, the knight turned to the Halfling and smiled. "I told you she wasn't going to back down. You owe us both a gold."
Trent grinned and flipped a coin each towards the knight and Madeline. The shapechanged dragon easily caught hers. The other throw was short, but Jose swiftly drew his blade and caught the coin with it before it hit the ground. The knight then shifted the angle of the sword and it slid down towards his other hand.
"I apologize Miss Kit, I should have thought better of you," explained the Halfling with a deep bow.
"Umm…err yeah…I think," replied Kit not knowing what the pair were up to.
Sir Jose sighed," Well that settles it. It looks like I'm going to have to accompany you into the mountains. "
Kit could not believe what he just said. "Wait….are you going against Ogela's wishes?"
Jose pointed at himself and gave a mock look of outrage. " Me…disobey orders…please. Knight Commander Ogela specifically told me to keep an eye on you, and to watch if Magda is up to no good. It seems to me that to do that, I will have to follow you girls into the mountains. If I happen to help my squire keep her oath, aid a ..err…damsel in distress, and knock some Githyanki heads in the process…well so be it," he declared cockily.
"As long as you do not get in the way," added Magda with a hiss.
"My dear…I won't just be in your way…I'll be leading the pack," boasted the knight with a smug smile.
While Kit was overjoyed at her Master's plan there was still one question she had to ask, "I understand you are following Ogela's words , but you certainly aren't following the spirit of her orders. Doesn't your paladin code, or knightly honor forbid this?"
Jose scoffed at her notion. Greenpaw walked up to the squire and Jose leaned over and set his armored hand on her shoulders." We're members of the Order of the Husky , she's a Knight of the SnowLion. Besides the dog vs cat rivalry thing, we definitely don't take orders from her. While we definitely respect each others organizations, she's not my boss or yours. I'll take her commands under consideration and do what I think is best. "
Kit turned and saw Maid nod in approval at the knight's speech. Pig Iron was off in a corner grooming himself. Madeline still regarded him coolly with her one good eye, but Kit noted she seemed more relax than earlier. Kaeda smiled broadly at the knight and it seemed a bit of her nervousness seemed to have vanished.
Trent shrugged, "Well good luck storming the castle guys, I'm just here to send you off. While you aren't under Lady Ogela's jurisdiction, I certainly am. Even though the Western Freeholds are a loose collection of Independent city states, I am still bound by treaties to follow her orders. "
Maid walked up to the Halfling and kissed him lightly on the forehead. "We'll miss your skills and your stories," she said in a low drawl.
Trent blushed," Well, I'm sure you will. However, someone has to hold the fort."