Ugggh! Huge chapter! I APOLOGIZE for the lack of story line! I have it all planed out, it's just that the problem is getting there-and my writing style 'cause I like to take my time. And the last two chapters have really been going nowhere because I was procrastinating on writing this chapter cause of the flying. Either way, I hope this goes somewhere. Enjoy!
The sound of wings on the wind echoed throughout the forest as a shadow cascaded onto the ground, a dragoness soaring just above the treetops.
Ember took a deep breath, filling her lungs before exhaling. It was amazing! Even though she was only above the treetops and her wings were stiff from lack of exercise, it felt as if she was relieving the very first time she flew. Air crisp and sharp, blowing onto her body as the sound of the element rushing passed the very ends of her wing membranes roared. It was exhilarating!
Yet despite having the rising need to fly up into the cool clouds, Ember did not. The dragoness was perfectly happy with touching the tips of the pines with her talons. She was not entirely sure if she could even gain anymore altitude with the knight on her back. It made her movements somewhat awkward, and her wings worked harder to keep both up in the air.
"Are you alright, Silas?" Ember asked, glancing back briefly as she looked for Spyro, yet to her dismay, she had found no trace of the purple male.
"Yes...I am." Silas answered slowly, holding onto her for dear life. He did not have a problem with falling no, it was just the fact that they were above the treeline. It was so odd, and more than once the knight suddenly felt sick. Needless to say, the young man preferred to be grounded.
"I don't see him. I hope he isn't hurting anyone!" Ember voiced her dismay, her wings completely outstretched as she caught a sudden gust of wind and glided.
"He could not have gotten too far, but then again...he did have a head start. Damn." Silas spoke, getting used to riding her. Riding a dragon was not that different from riding a horse. Who knew?
"Ember, to the right. Look." Silas ordered, his eyes catching smoke in the distance, his body leaning to the side slightly as his useless arm hung limp. Ember gasped as the sudden shift in weight caused her to tilt to the right, the pair nearly colliding with a tree as Ember grunted, using all the strength in her wings to pull them up and stabilize them.
"Damn. That was close." Silas mumbled, shaken as his right arm wrapped around her chest, the man in no mood to fall.
"Don't do that again! You're too heavy to move any which way you like!" Ember growled, annoyance in her tone, a snort escaping her.
"My apologies. But did you see the smoke?"
"I see it. What is it?" Ember asked, her body tilting to the right to turn as Silas did the same.
Silas grumbled, pushing the hair from his eyes as he squinted.
"I do not know. It does not look like dragon fire. I think we should land. It will be difficult to be spotted from the ground, and is safer." Silas commented, Ember finding a tight clearing to drop down in, wings outstretched to soften the landing as her talons hit the ground, body stumbling before coming to a sudden halt that almost sent the human flying forward.
Wordlessly, Silas dismounted, his footing unsteady from being air bound so long. Ember's chest puffed out in pride at what she had accomplished in her flight and landing.
"So now we find where the smoke was coming from!" Ember chirped, excited as the man shook his head.
"No, you will remain here where I know it is safe. I will-excuse me!" Silas cried, suddenly rushing to nearest bush and vomiting, Ember flinching at the harsh noises.
"Are you okay?" Ember asked, concerned as the man simply waved her off, wiping the vomit away from his chin as he caught his breath.
"I feel better." Silas replied, approaching her with a slight smile, as if vomiting made all his problems go away.
"Stay here, Ember. I will come back for you, you have my word."
"But-"
"No buts. You are like a child sometimes." Silas replied, fighting to not roll his eyes as he looked into the sky and saw the smoke.
Silas continued to walk into the direction of the smoke, soon beginning to smell the smoke, but judging by the scent it was a controlled flame. He could swear he could hear voices as well. Terror began to mount in the young knight. What if this was the King's men? He would be executed on sight. Yet why would the King have his men so far away from Regensburg? Hope swelled in the knight's chest as a camp came into view, and judging by the banters it was the Grand Duke's camp. Yes!
Silas' eyes shone as his stride increased with eager excitement, stumbling slightly. Silas' breathing and heartbeat increased as his chest puffed out in pride. He had found them, he had found the Duke! The man that had spared his life, the man whom had known him since birth, the man whom sired a beautiful daughter, the man who had witnessed Silas' feeble attempts to save that beautiful daughter. This man is the one he had sought, and by God he had done it!
A brief shadow of doubt made itself known in the darkest corners of Silas' mind, but it was one that he quickly pushed out. He was far too confident that the Duke would wish any ill harm to him. It would not break his confidence of one walking against many.
Walking into the camp, Silas noted that he had seen several men that he knew, but regardless if they saw him or not, they seemed to pay him no heed. Others, however, did. They stared or glanced at him and began speaking. But it bothered the young man not. He needed to see the man that spared his life.
"You, boy." Silas called, a squire coming to a stop at that, nearly spilling a bucket of water.
"Y-Yes, sir knight?" The boy asked, wide eyed, as if fearful.
"Take me to the Grand Duke."
"B-"
"Take me." Silas ordered, voice firm if a bit harsh, and the boy flinched at that.
"Y-Yes, sir! F-Follow me!" The boy stuttered, practically running in the direction as Silas followed.
"You seem rather tense." Silas observed, the boy nodding.
"Yes. There is so much going on we squires are not sure what to do." The boy spoke, Silas seeing knights preparing their war horses, fitting their armor with the aid of a squire or praying with a priestess. The camp was far from dead. They even had kennels for their hunting hounds.
"I can see that. How goes the war?"
"A lot of us are fleeing the towns. The King is taxing us finances that we do not have, and then he sacks the town, trying to route up any rebellions and publicly executing them." The squire answered, Silas remaining silent upon hearing a gravity of the state as the boy suddenly stopped.
"Here is his tent, sir knight. I must be off now lest I get yelled at for not doing my duties."
"I thank you." Silas spoke, watching the boy scurry off as Silas breathed deeply before pushing the air out, calming himself.
Walking into the tent, Silas saw a single man crouched over a map, brown hair and beard greying as his fingers glided across the paper, working out scenarios within his head. Silas stayed quiet, observing the man briefly before stepping forward.
"What is it?" The Duke, William, asked. The man was too bothered with his planning to even look up.
"My Liege." Silas spoke, the man at the desk completely freezing, his breath beginning to hitch.
"I know that voice..." William replied, slowly looking up to see the very man whom he had exiled standing before him, "Silas, it is you!"
"I have returned." Silas replied, grinning as William laughed, walking around the desk to clasp his hand firm on the young man's shoulder.
"By God! You actually made it, you are alive, my boy!" William smiled, obviously happy, "Your father would be so proud of you if he knew you were here! Did you see him on your way here?"
Silas' smile soon disappeared at that, brow creasing in concern and confusion.
"Father is here?"
"Yes. As is your cousin. They fled when Regensburg became too hostile for anyone even suspected of joining the rebellion. From what I have heard, Eamon has been rounding up families in the middle of the night and executing them at sundown, torturing them 'till their execution." William explained, his arms dropping to his sides in despair. Silas remained quiet, digesting the news.
"What has befallen us?" Silas asked softly, William sighing deeply.
"War is the consequence for humanities' failures." William replied simply, Silas looking off to the side before returning to William.
"Well whatever the case, I am at your disposal, my lord." Silas spoke, William laughing gently.
"I always liked your spirit. My daughter could never ask for better...but at any rate, go and rest, grab some stew. You look like you need it." William spoke, Silas looking upon the man with slight shock.
"You have no need of me? I can fight, m' lord!" Silas cried in dismay, William shaking his head.
"Adler...look at yourself. You are strong, but you look like you got into a fist fight with a bear." William spoke, motioning to his bent armor and dented shield.
"I feel like it." Silas muttered, rubbing a cut he found on his chin. He had no idea he even had a cut on his chin, or for that matter stubble. Last he checked he was clean shaven. How long was he out in the forest?
"How goes the war?" Silas asked suddenly, still feeling his face for stubble as the Duke sighed.
"Not well. We have won a few battles, but my brother simply has more resources to work with." William replied, Silas' arms falling to his side, an idea forming in his head.
"My liege, did you hear of any sky-plagues recently?" Silas asked, William looking at the young man strangely.
"Dragons? Just a rumor of one being slain by some French mercenary. Why? You are not drunk, are you?" William asked, Silas shaking his head.
"No! I do not get drunk; I pass out." Silas defended himself, William chuckling.
"Says the knight that stripped and ran down the halls." William grinned, Silas' face flushing at that, an awkward silence falling over the pair.
"Oh...You knew?" Silas asked, horrified and embarrassed as the man simply nodded.
"But, in any case, what is with this sudden talk of dragons?" William asked, saving the young man from his own embarrassment, Silas jumping slightly.
"Oh, umm, well, m'lord, I have something...someone that I would like to show to you." Silas replied, voice wavering, as if suddenly nervous-though not from the previous topic.
"A...dragon?" William asked, tone and facial expression greatly showing disbelief as the young man began to panic slightly.
"Please, my Duke! Never have I lied to you! I have remained honest and true to both you and your daughter, and shall not start lying to you now! I know I did many foolish things in the past, but tricking you has never been one of them and it will never be! Please, my lord, all I ask is for your trust." Silas pleaded, William pausing, considering his options. It was not like Silas was a liar, despite the incident with Anaya, he had never spoke a lie to his face. And the Silas he had known since the younger was a babe...he may have been a fool at times, but when a situation became grim you could always trust him. The Duke sighed deeply, closing his eyes before opening them once more.
"Very well...take me to this dragon." William spoke, Silas falling to his knees and bowing deeply.
"Oh, thank you, my Duke! Thank you!" Silas replied, swiftly getting up.
"Come! She is not very far away! Just in the woods!" Silas cried, excitement in his voice and a slight skip in his step as William followed.
"How is it that you...met this dragon?" William asked, his decorative armor shining in the sunlight as the pair walked close together, voices soft as they moved across the camp.
"Do you remember that mercenary, the one the rumors are about? I was asked by a local lord to go kill this beast that has been hunting his flock. I met the man...what was his name? Mordred? Yes, that was it. Well, I met him, and convinced him to allow me to join on his expedition since we were both in service under the same man. I did not believe in dragons until then. Scales as black as night while others were as red as the blood she spilt. Out of all of Mordred's men, only he and I survived. It was only luck that I had managed to kill her, but at the cost of the Duchess' steed. I was so angry I had killed what had been hers that I walked off into the forest, leaving Mordred with the spoils." Silas spoke softly, William's eyes widening as Silas shown him his dented shield, the twin eagles scared with what looked like massive teeth marks. There were even indents where the fangs embedded themselves.
"And what of your second?" The Duke asked, Silas chuckling.
"She is...friendlier. I was seeking shelter, and came upon a cave. She was inside." Silas responded.
"I take it you and she are friends. Does she have a name?" William asked, his curiosity growing.
"Ember. Her name is Ember." Silas answered after a second's pause, shaking his head, "My lord, I know this sounds insane, but what I speak is the truth."
"Do not fret. I believe you. You were never one to believe in the mystic." William responded, smiling slightly, "And I believe you have shown me enough proof."
"Yes, I did, did I not? These indents are different than that of a bear." Silas replied a bit shyly, clearing his throat as the pair went passed the camp and into the forest, both falling silent.
"Ember? Ember, are you here?" Silas called, the pair pausing before a slight rustle was heard, a pink dragon emerging from the dense forest.
"Silas! There you are! I-" Ember froze as she noticed the other human with him, eyes showing confusion and slight fear.
"What a magnificent creature." William spoke in awe, looking up at the beast as Ember blinked once, but then puffed her chest out in pride and stretched her wings, enjoying the attention.
"Oh, thank you! Your armor looks so shiny and pretty!" Ember complemented back, Silas fighting the urge to face palm himself at the dragon's childish statement. But then again, it was Ember...
"Thank you, kind dragon." William thanked simply, smiling, somewhat at a lack for words and in slightly shock that a mythical creature was standing before...and speaking for that matter. And had manners.
"My Duke, this is Ember. Ember, this is the Grand Duke of Bavaria, William Farring!" Silas introduced his ruler with pride, both smiling.
"It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Ember. Silvanus has spoken of you with much enthusiasm." William greeted warmly, the old Duke seeming not at all phased, but rather fascinated and awed.
"Hello, Grand Duke, sir!" Ember chirped happily before her eyes widened in sudden fear, wings and tail twitching in nervousness.
"Oh, no! I messed up, didn't I? I was supposed to bow, wasn't I, Silas? Silas? Was I supposed to bow?" Ember asked, her blue eyes flicking to the human in question as her scales heated up.
"There is no need to bow to me, friend. Though I may carry the title of Grand Duke, I am still but a man." William replied, smiling underneath his beard.
"I shall not lie, I feel honored to be in the very presence of such a special creature. I thank you for showing me your friend, Silvanus." William spoke, Silas smiling at that.
"You are most welcome, m'lord. It was my honor." Silas stated, Ember giving the Duke an odd look. Why did he keep calling Silas Silvanus?
"I find her most fascinating. Pray tell, friend, how would you wish me to address one such as yourself? I have read some books on dragons and their culture, but know little and I do not wish to take offense." William asked, Ember's eyes widening at the human's statement.
"You...You may call me Ember...umm..." Ember paused, unsure how to address the man. She knew very little of human society, and did not wish to offend the man. She guessed he had to be of high rank judging by the way Silas spoke around him.
"Ah, William, please."
"Okay. William..." Ember replied, testing the name. It sounded so odd. Why did humans have such odd names?
"Did you...mention books? Books on dragons and their...our culture?" Ember asked, her curiosity and excitement growing as the man nodded perhaps a bit too enthusiastically.
"Now you did it..." Silas muttered softly, Ember's hearing picking up the knight's comment with confusion.
"Yes! I love to read, and have come across several books on dragons regarding their history and biology-though it is through the eyes of men. I do not know how true it is, but I find it interesting nonetheless."
"Truly? Can...Can you perhaps...show me these books? I would love to see them." Ember asked, eyes shining as the Duke frowned.
"As much as I would love to, my friend, I am fearful to say that they are not in my possession." William replied, Ember slumping at the human's response.
"Oh...I see..." Ember replied, crestfallen.
"Ember does not know much of dragon history, my liege. She fears that most of it is in ruin." Silas replied, losing his balance slightly before catching himself.
"I see. That is most unfortunate. And I see that you finally hit something harder than your own head, hmmm?" William asked, observing the younger man as Silas took a second to respond.
"Perhaps." Silas stated simply, William then turning his attention to the dragoness.
"The books, I know are in the library within the castle's walls lest my brother decided to burn them for some ungodly reason. If we ever claim Regensburg, I will be more than happy to show you those books, Ember." William spoke, Ember seeming to smile slightly at that.
"Thank you. That's very kind of you."
"I would love to stay and speak with you more, but I must return to my duties. My generals are probably running around like headless chickens looking for me." William replied, pinching the bridge of his nose as a sigh escaped him.
"I apologize to you, Ember, but I cannot allow you with my men. I do not trust them enough for a physical appearance of a mythical creature." William apologized, Ember's eye crests rising in shock.
"Do not trust your men? You trust me over your own people?" Ember asked, the old Duke nodding.
"Silas trusts you, and if he does then so do I." William spoke, nodding once more in confirmation as Silas smiled.
"I am honored by your trust, m'lord. I shall return later in the eve to keep you company, Ember. I promise." Silas spoke, Ember snorting slightly in response.
"You better, Mr. Knight! I'll be so bored until you come back." Ember whined, Silas waving her in farewell as he and William began to walk towards the military camp.
"You are a strange man, Silas. Either by the grace of God or by dumb luck...you make me wonder." William commented, laughing slightly.
"How I have survived thus far? I do not know." Silas spoke, suddenly feeling every muscle in his body cry for rest, movements stiff and limbs heavy.
"How you carry on. You have overcome emotional and mental obstacles that would destroy a man, but you...it has made you stronger."
"And you as well, if I may be so bold, my Duke. What man in his right mind would rebel against a King whose army outmans his foe's by three fold? Those odds are suicide."
"Yet you would willingly go to your death, as would I?" William asked, Silas nodding.
"Without hesitation." Silas replied, looking into the sky. Where was Spyro? He could not have just vanished. God forbid he was slaughtering some poor village...
"You are either very foolish, or very brave. I am still trying to decide which you fall upon, for only the foolish or the brave would dare halt an execution." William spoke, Silas feeling his chest clench.
"I am guessing a fool." Silas spoke, William chuckling at the young man's response.
"Not quite. Do you remember your oath?" William asked, Silas nodding.
"What was it?" The Duke asked, pausing in his steps as the younger man did the same, his lips moving silently before his voice came alive, soft, yet with rising power.
"Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong." Silas recited, William smiling.
"Be it foolish or brave is your question, but a knight? There is no question." William spoke, voice firm as the pair slowly continued their walk into the camp, the fuffle and scuffle ever present.
"You could never do any wrong in her eyes. She was always so proud of you." William continued, clearing his throat suddenly as he looked away, as if hiding in shame only to look back at Silas and smile.
"I must take my leave of you, friend. God keep you safe."
"Thank you. And He you, my lord." Silas spoke, a bit taken aback by his statement. Still, despite the physical exhaustion of his body, Silas could not help but grin, feeling his chest fill up with pride. She could do no wrong in his.
"No, no...not now." Silas muttered to himself, feeling his body just want to collapse. He could not. He had unfinished business to attend to. He could not rest yet.
"My arm can wait, my body can wait, rest can wait...Father, Berend? I must find them first...then I can rest...ohhh, sleep sounds fanciful...now. I miss not having a bed." Silas groaned, forcing himself to wander stiffly through the camp in search of his kin.
Tada? I tried. I'm terribly tired right now, but for some reason I had a sudden realization: whenever I write something with Silas, usually something GOOD happens, and when I write something with Rorek, something MAJORLY fucked up happens. So, since I'm literally so tired that I'm actually hyper, I decided to make another poll. This poll is simple. Silas vs Rorek. Your preferences for choosing which can be anything you choose: Personality, Character Development, Insanity, whatever you can think of-I don't care. They-in a sense-are opposites, and frienemies. Before I go on, I would like to thank everyone who is supporting this story! Let the Silas vs Rorek poll begin!