Chapter three: The Missing Haz Knight

Millefullie and the other Haz Knights were right there. With their weapons. And Zaha's sword in one of Millefullie's hands. While the sorcerer readied himself to fight these Haz Knights, Zaha found his power drew a dagger and sliced the invisible hand that had been gripping his heart. The sorcerer screamed out in pain as his wrist, lacking a hand bled. " mages!" The sorcerer cried. The eyes of the Haz Knights widened as out of the darkness a group of high and powerful mages emerged. Zaha drove his sword through the sorcerer's body and took his magic for his own.

Zaha ran towards one mage, one wearing all blood red. He lifted his hand to toss a ball of flame at Zaha, however the Haz Knight ducked and rolled tripping the Mage. The mage caught himself and grabbed Zaha's arm and tossed him into a large stone. " Knights." Millefullie started firmly. The Haz Knights, all armored up nodded and leapt at the enemy. Their powers against the Mage's. Millefullie lifted his sword and attempt to run it through the mage, the mage sent him back. Millefullie responded by kicking the mage back. While Zaha had found his wits. With his sword held firmly in one hand, Zaha darted towards the mage. The Mage drew his enchanted blade, while Zaha's blade drew in a spell. The blade cracked and formed into a flaming sword. The Mage ducked this blow as Zaha blocked the Mage's blade with his own.

The Mages drove Zaha and his Haz Knights from the woods, right outside the Lei estate. Drawing the waking family outside. To watch this battle between the dark mages and the Haz Knights. Zaha slid back and slammed his flaming sword into the ground, creating a quake. A large flaming crack dashed towards the mages. Flame shot from the crack. Which one mage began to burn. Zaha smiled and nodded to Millefullie. who kneeled infront of Zaha. Next to Zaha knelt Haz Knight Onion Glace, and then to the right of Zaha, Chiffon Cake. Zaha lifted his sword, Millefullie sunk his into the ground. Chiffon's faced right, Onion's left. North, South, East, and West. The mages paused in their movements and saw the smirk upon Zaha's face. His was the only one to be seen as the other's kept their's in the direction. Zaha stood and his sword began to glow and levitate into the air.

"Don't let their power's fuse!" The lead Mage demanded.

"Right!" Acknowledged another. And tossed flame after flame at Zaha's sword, Zaha looked at them, his eyes began to glow pure with with madness.A large white glowing ball formed around all the Haz Knights. And then there was an explosion. Only there was Zaha, around him a powerful green aura circled around him. Zaha smiled and snapped his fingers. To an on looker it appeared as though the stars were sharp, flying deeply through the mages' bodies. But no, it was a meteor shower flying painfully into the mages. Then Zaha, not through, appeared right in front of the head mage. And began to punch kick, beat him, by quickly appearing and reappearing before the mage. the others tried to subdue Zaha, but he only disappeared and went to them next before they could tell what was going on.

And then Zaha paused and touched the ground. The Haz Knights flew from behind him, thrusting their swords in the Mage's bodies. The Mages fell to the ground and melted away, Zaha split their powers equally with his Knights. One Mage however, one over looked, was barely alive. And thurst his sword into Zaha's chest. Impaling him. Millefullie stabbed the mage once more. Before Zaha, weakly stayed on his feet. He slowly pulled out the sword and fell to the ground. His breathing was slow and he lost himself in blackness.

"Zaha." The voice of a dove. The touch of an angel." Captain." The blurry face of a young woman. Zaha knew from her voice, it was Cinnamon. Still early the next morning.

"Cinnamon." Zaha muttered. His lavender eyes looked up at her. He realized he was laying half naked in his bed. A bandage was wrapped around his wounds. Cinnamon sat there, sleeping in a chair by his bedside. His black Cloak wrapped around her. Perhaps she slept with it on her own accord.Zaha winced as he sat up in the bed. He glanced over at his night stand. And saw a book laying there, it was Cinnamon's. It did not say journal or anything. But he felt it was wrong to snoop. When he looked back over at Cinnamon she was staring right at him. With a light smile on her face.

"You fought bravely, Captain." Cinnamon said standing to sit along side his bed. Zaha smiled at her.

"Thank you. Might I ask, what is this book of?" He asked gesturing to her book.

Cinnamon's eyes widened." That...is...well...there is nothing written in there, just something I found for you." She said and handed him a piece of paper.Zaha did not read it right away.

"Thank you." Zaha said and touched Cinnamon's hand." Are you busy this afternoon?" he asked.

Cinnamon, dressed in her sewed cotton dress shook her head," No, I am not. Why?" She asked blushing.

Zaha turned the sheets from him and stood from the bed, Cinnamon's eyes widened. He had many many battle scars. He was used to it. But they still hurt. His newest one stung a whole lot. He sloutched on his bed. Trying to stop the rapid bleeding.Which just began to bleed from a terrible wound.

" Do you need help with that?"the soft voice made him glance up from his bed. She held a bowl of water, rag and bandage. She knelt down aside his bed.

Zaha stared at her, calmly. " I am in no need of assistance, thank you." He said and looked away from her." I never... tend to me wounds." he whispered to Cinnamon.

She only laughed" All of you, man or Haz Knight, the same. Please, if you do not clean it, not only will it be added to your collection of scars, but it may get infected." She explained.pointing out, that though he was very built well, and very attractive being half naked, he did have alot of scars.She set down the bowl and rag. She slipped a little vial from one of her pouches, she dabbed a bit of the vial's liquid onto the rag. Zaha winced in pain. Upon feeling the disinfectant.

"Sorry." She said softly.

Zaha quickly eased back. "Thank you." He got out his lips.

"No trouble at all. " She said with a shurg. And smiled at him, while she cleaned the wound on his thigh,(the bleeding wound) and then wrapped it in a bandage. Zaha did not focus on that however. It had been a while sense he had been close enough to a woman, to where she was near his lower half. But he did very well to control the blood from leaving his head. "There." She stood and placed down her equipment and sat beside Zaha. "Water?" She offered the bowl to him.

Zaha, said nothing to her as he accepted. And sipped gently. He glanced at her from underneath his black hair. She was beautiful." Now, " she started. " What did you want to ask me?" She inquired.

Zaha motioned for his cloak. Cinnamon handed it to him, he wrapped it around his body." ...I want to know if you are interested in being my companion this afternoon? There is a hill not far from across the stream." He said.

Cinnamon smiled and blushed," Yes, I would like that very much Captain."

Zaha's heart started to beat wildly,"Please call me Zaha." He said softly.

" Do you need anything, Zaha?" She asked.

Zaha nodded," Where are my cloths?" He asked.

Cinnamon's eyes lit up,"Oh! It is in the closet, I took the liberty of modifying it. And their were rips from the battle like crazy." She said. And stood." What about food, do you need any?"

"No, thank you. Please if it is not too much trouble, go back to your cabin. I will come later to get you."

Cinnamon nodded and did as told. Zaha threw open his closet. His lavender eyes widened. His gold armor was the same, polished. It hung right by a black shirt. And rather than a long black robe, black pants with a golden belt,where the buckle had the Haz Knight symbol, un cracked and it too was polished.Black greaves were laid out neatly by his boots. Zaha's sword was seathed on the desk, it was clean of any blood. He looked over by there door," Millefullie." He greeted his second in command. The Haz Knight standing in the door way, approached, closing the door behind him.

" I talked to Lei." he started as Zaha began slipping on his clothing.

"Of what?"

"The canceled wedding plans." Millefullie stated.

Zaha paused in placing his shirt on. And stared at Millefullie." And?" Millefullie shook his head." I see. Then I shall meet with him later. Tonight. "

"Are you going with Ms. Tea?"

Zaha looked at him." Yes." Zaha said with a smile. And seathed his sword." Big Mama will not stand inbetween either." Zaha added.

Millefullie smiled," Our Holy Mother is kind. But, does this Cinnamon feel the same as you do for her?" He asked with an unsure tone.

Zaha turned to the window and glanced down at the Lei family, who was just leaving to go into town."We shall see, Millefullie." Zaha finally answered him.

Millefullie nodded and stood next to his commander," You know we will follow you into battle, Zaha. All of us. But if a war is broken out between the Spooner continent against the Haz Knights just because of your lust for a servant. Then I feel it is my duty to place in my opinion. "

"Go on."

" I would gladly bleed for you, and proudly. But for this, I would be of shame. But never the less...we'll follow and fight with you." Millefullie said seriously.

Zaha turned to Millefullie, and shook his head," If a war is the out come of this, then you and the other are to leave and never look back upon me. If such a war is to come, then you are to command the haz knights from now until the end of days."

Millefullie looked at Zaha. And sighed. Lowering his head.

" It is worth it, Millefullie." Zaha broke their silnce.

" For a woman, your's and everyone else's lives are worth risking?" Millefullie asked.

"For this woman, yes it is. She saved my life, Millefullie." Zaha paused and looked down at his comrade.

Flashback...

Lastat, had fallen to the ground. The cold snowy ground. Zaha rolled over from being knocked off. The snow chilled his skin, yet he paid no heed, he only remained focused on the enemy. Coming at the Haz Knight with swords ready to strike. Zaha stood and drew his sword. Readying for them to come at attack. Swiftly he swung his blade, slamming it into the throat of one man, then tightly gripping another's sword in mid air, tossing the stabbed one down. He killed another, while kicking another back. Zaha ducked a blow and slammed his fist into the other's ribcage. A cracking sound was heard.

Blood splayed onto the white snow. His own included. From his hand digging into the blade of his foe. He turned and saw a massive creature. With large fangs. Hooves, it had five arms. And a long tail, with a scorpion stinger upon the tip. He had the face of a beast. He had hawk feathers and carried a huge sword that could even shatter Zaha's. Zaha only shook it off and ran towards the creature. Leaping up he kicked it hard twice in the throat. The beast roared outloud and tossed Zaha from him back to the snow, where Zaha slid upon his back. Zaha stood and ducked the on coming blade of the creature, Sense this was a huge beast, Zaha leapt onto the sword and began with balance, to run up the blade towards the beast's throat with his sword ready. The beast swung and swung, trying to get Zaha off his blade. Zaha smiled and slammed his sword at last into his shoulder.

The beast leapt into the air and bucked Zaha into his claws. Painfully squeezing the Haz Knight. Zaha struggled to get free. And then the winged creature let go. But Zaha had a dagger out, he jammed it into his palm and kept a firm grip up the dagger's end. While the creature tried and tried to shake Zaha off him. Zaha smirked and swung himself back and forth with one hand. And then at last he leapt forward and onto the back of it's hand. Drew his sword slashing to his throat. But to his surprise. The beast flipped back wards, where Zaha fell from the sky. He landed saftly on his feet in the snow. And looked up. He picked up his sword and readied it. But the creature flew down too fast, and sent Zaha flying once more to the ground, this time, with a bleeding backside. His sword away from him. And then the beast flew back for a second time, Zaha moved backward trying to stand, and tightly closed his eyes. However the beast screaming forced his eyes open again. A young woman, about the age of sixteen. Had struck the beast with three throwing daggers.

She was clad in a white body suit, covered with a white breastplate, helmet with dragon teeth on the back, and arched close to her cheeks. Her long white cloak swayed to and fro, the heal of her knee high boots pressed into the snow. She stood inbetween Zaha and the creature. Zaha found his wits and grabbed his sword and stood beside the girl." No!" She shouted to Zaha," You are too weak and slow. I am quick and at full health." Without another word, the girl ran to the nearing beast. She drew a sword, leapt at it as it came to her in mid arm. Her sword plundged through the beast's heart. She let even the handle all the way into the creature's body. She flipped back and watched it fall dead to the snow. Zaha looked at her. But she was gone, her helmet was all that was left.

End Flashback...

Zaha opened his drawer and tossed the helmet to Millefullie." There was one other that day. Cinnamon was the run away knight. Big Mama said there was to be one more, but she was said to be gone. "

Millefullie shook his head," How can you be sure?" He asked Zaha." this helmet prooves nothing."

"This helmet proves everything. Millefullie, when that haz Knight came and saved me, she looked at me, I saw her eyes. They were kind and a beautiful green. Her face was as beautiful as Cinnamon's." He explained.

Millefullie's eyes widened, he realized something, " Of course...Cinnamon Tea! Big Mama gave her the name when she created her, she told me this. She was made out of forsight, she was to save your life, and disappear. So you would meet here again, by fate." Millefullie mused.

Zaha smiled," Then Karune knows more about Cinnamon and a reason why I should not love her. Then she is saying." He thought to himself.' So lonely, farm maid, Cinnamon Only female Haz Knight.' Zaha smirked to himself. At this.