Rayas pulled his hood down lower over his face to protect against the constant drizzling rain. It was late fall, and the cold damp trickled down between his shoulders making his very uncomfortable. His stomach growled loudly, protesting his interrupted dinner. If only he could have had just one more biscuit for the road. Iris had packed him some of her signature sardine-caramel macaroons when she saw him out for his impromptu patrol… but, he wasn't really in a hurry to try them.
"Did you say something?" Roy called out through the rain; his horse trotted up beside Rayas' own.
"Huh? Oh..no." What do you think that light was?" Rayas asked, distractedly. He shook his cloak to shed excess water, but it did no good, he was already soaked through.
"I don't know..." Roy said quietly, His eyes fixed on the horizon where he's seen the flash. "I happened to be looking out the window when I saw the sky just seem to crack open; Then, this weird light. It was blinding... I FELT something… something in my bones. We Have to investigate."
Unlike Rayas, Roy seemed unperturbed by the rain, He wore no hood, or cloak and seemed utterly in his element, which…in fairness, Rayas supposed he was. The water slicked his hair back from his face, making it shine a darker silver, drops of the rain dewed on his eyelashes and his skin glistened, accentuation his strong jawline and proud noble brow. A cold, harshly beautiful and determined creature he was. Every inch the Kingsman he'd dreamt of becoming in their boyhood. Rayas sighed to himself, and silently for the millionth time wished that he could be or even just look half the man that he knew his friend to be… or at least maybe make Roy the teensiest bit less of a literally "Knight in Shining Armor".
They rode in silence for some minutes before Rayas' stomach betrayed him again. Roy laughed.
"Are you Ever not thinking about FOOD?"
Rayas shot him a mean face. Roy laughed. "I have these if it would help?"
He pulled out a small cloth bundle from his saddle bag. It was one of Iris's snack-pouches, no doubt filled with the same "treat" she'd accosted Rayas with before he had edged out the door. She must have cornered Roy too. He loved that girl; dearly. She was his sun and stars…but there was something desperately WRONG with her tastebuds.
"erm…I-I'm good for now." Rayas tried to play it off. Roy snorted audibly knowing exactly what was left unsaid, but being to kind of a soul to hound him further.
Roy laughed, loud and easily nudging his horse on gently to a quicker pace. Rayas followed. Before too long they saw a pair of figures slowly walking in their direction through the gloom. The taller of the two, an adult seemed to be stumbling and badly injured. They leaned heavily upon the smaller figure, perhaps their child. Roy noticed them first, pointing with his nose. "They must be more refugees from the West Famelle. Ever since the eastern city fell, the demons have been getting bolder..." He sighed. "Come on, The mystery in the sky must wait. Duty calls." He began to trot towards them, and raised his lantern in. friendly manner. "LOOO THERE!" He called in a deep commanding voice. "Welcome strangers to the Kingdom of Isliid, you now walk upon sovereign grounds, be not afraid you are well met!"
The taller distant figure collapsed to the muddy ground, eliciting a shout from the other. Who knelt to help them up. Rayas kicked his horses sides with a shrill cry, and raced past Roy. Roy sighed.. Of course.. he nudged his horse on to meet them.
Within minutes Rays reached the duo in the mud. He attempted to dismount with flourish but caught his heel in the reigns, succeeding only in stumbling and falling on his backside. The small person was still, leaning over their companion with suspicious eyes on Rayas.
"Ah…um." Rayas cleared his throat, and stood tall. "Welcome to Isliid! I am Rayas of the Guild. What aid can I offer?"
The upright person blinked twice and then spoke. "My idiot companion here is in need of medical attention. Where is the nearest hospital?"
"The what?"
"HOS-PI-TAL? Doctors, Nurses?" He's hurt." The man spoke again with an increasing edge to his voice. He shook his head "humans.."
"What was that? Wait, Hurt? He's Hurt? OH! We can take him to the infirmary! We'll get you guys some hot soup and some whiskey too!"
"Well," The man looked at his friend. "I certainly won't complain..."
Rayas and the shorter man worked in tandem to get the big man onto the horse, the whole time Rayas cheerfully went on about all the food waiting at the Guild. He spoke of it with enough passion to get the other man to crack a smile. It seemed he was looking forward to it too. Just then Roy arrived, trotting up, and seeing everything in hand smiled as he greeted the group.
"Hi Roy! Bout time…I was telling my new friends about Ganan's famous home-brew!"
He grinned, as he dismounted his steed gracefully, and helped secure the unconscious man to Rayas' horse.
"Thank you." The new comer said in a low voice. Roy turned around to tell him that it was no problem at all when he saw a faint glint in the strangers eyes cast from Rayas' swinging lantern. His smile fell, and he immediately drew his sword.
"YOU.. How did you get here? SPEAK….DEMON before I slay you where you stand!"
"Roy!?" Rayas lurched between the stranger and his best friend's blade. For his credit the man seemed utterly unphased. "What are you Doing!?"
"Shut UP, Rayas you literal LOG! How could you not notice that you're little friend here isn't human.."
"You're not?" Rayas said surprised, looking over his shoulder.
"No..the stranger stepped around Rayas to face Roy. "I'm Not."
"Why are you here?" Roy raised his sword. "What game is this?"
The man balled his fists, and looked like he was biting his tongue.
"If I have to kill you to get what I need, I will.. I will not suffer fools." He said, his voice dripping with venom. His eyes began to glow a blood red. "That Idiot however is delicate and if he doesn't get care soon, I fear whatever additional brain damage he has suffered this night will become permanent, and I don't think I could take it. HE IS human. Bring him somewhere safe. Tell him to meet me on the edge of the forest when he is safe to travel." The burning light faded from his eyes as Roy lowered his sword.
"He?" He nodded towards the man draped over the horse without taking his eyes of the demon. ""Is human?"
The demon said nothing, only narrowed his eyes.
"….Fine. We will take him to our guild. You may come to if you agree to be in bonds. We will feed and heal you, and then you will be on your way."
The demon spit on the ground at Roy's feet. "I will do No such thing." He snarled. And seemed to evaporate into this air. Roy's horse reared up, and whinnied in fear. He did his best to calm her.
Rayas whipped his head left and right "Where did he go? It's like he just disappeared!"
Roy narrowed his eyes as he mounted his steed. "He's certainly fast, that one... Come, Lets get back. I'll need to leave for the capital imediately to report the sighting. Make SURE you make yours as well." Roy said with a grimace. "The Citadel will want to know about this.".
"Oh….JOY." Rayas retorted as the two rode off.
From a nearby tree, the demon watched grimly making sure that the humans kept their word. So…that's how it was here, huh? Tch. They're all the same. He leaned against the tree trying his best to use the bough above his to shield his body from the rain. He pulled his knees and arms inside his cloak, making himself small. Humans..