Chapter 3 – The Shadow Pegasi Explored
"So far, all I know is that he was riding double with a Black Cloak and that he has a huge appetite." said Garose grumpily. It had been three days since the attack and the trio were sitting around a little camp-fire, eating breakfast in a sizeable, cosy cave. Or rather, Derok and Kerna were tucking into bacon while Garose was picking at his food. Kerna had never seen Garose so distracted or frustrated.
"I still don't understand why so many black feathers were left on the ground afterwards." Kerna had racked her brain to try to find explanations but none would make sense.
"I saw what looked like the leader, wearing a black cloak with black feathers lining the edge." replied Derok. He had fought the leader himself and was close to winning before the Black Cloak took off. Kerna shook her head.
"There were more feathers than just for lining. It couldn't have come from the horses because pegasi are white. The witnesses also say that the Black Cloaks rode into the square. I've tried matching the feathers to birds that I've studied but they don't match any." The feathers were puzzling Kerna, if not freaking her out a little. She could detect a slight magical force in them and she noticed that the darker the feathers, the more magical potential they had.
"Those men don't know how to treat their mounts. Did you see the way those horses bucked and screamed? It was as if the Sun was burning them. I've never seen horses behave that badly." thought Derok out loud.
"Let's go and see if our guest has anything to say now." said Kerna determinedly. The three walked to the back of the cave and turned left where a small alcove was set in the wall.
The seven pegasi knights had flown from Khathelet all he way to the Ilian mountains. The night sky was a beautiful, clear field full of bright stars. But the knights did not notice. They had lived on the mountains long enough to grow bored of the sky, be it day or night. They descended into a small valley surrounded by impenetrable mountains on all sides. The only way in seemed to be from the air. A light wind blew through the valley and brought snow into a large, enigmatic castle that reached up to the sky. The pegasi descended in front of the citadel and a small crowd of more cloaked men came rushing to meet.
"Give our pegasi medical attention. They have been flying non-stop for about three nights without rest or food. At least we humans had something to eat." commanded a hoarse voice from under the cowl of the leader.
"Non-stop!" cried a guard indignantly. "Have you learnt nothing? These magnificent pegasi are not our slaves! They help us on their own free will and you repay them like that?"
The leader turned to the guard who had spoken out. "You dare to speak like that to the Top Winged Cloaksman? It is my turn to question you, young man! Do we not teach you to respect elders?" he demanded irately. The young guard lowered his head.
"Forgive me, sir. I did not think before I opened my mouth. I am truly ashamed of myself."
"Don't worry about. Just forget it, okay?" replied the leader. The guard nodded and he and some others led the horses away to be taken care of. The leader's fellow knights staggered wearily off to their warm beds. Keltar would've given anything to follow them but he still had work to do. With a sigh, he trudged up the stairs to the heart of the castle where the throne room lay. He looked at the huge doors. They were carved with humans and pegasi battling another group of humans and pegasi. It was supposed to represent what would happen if ever white and shadow pegasi ever mixed.
Keltar twisted the Delphi Shield-shaped door knob and entered. The throne room looked nothing like the ones in royal houses. It was dark with torches set along the walls and a round table set in the middle. Directly at the head of the table and facing the door, a winged throne sat, shining eerily in the darkness. Candles were set in two pegasi like candle holders while behind the throne but on either side of it hung two tapestries that contained an ancient language that no-one but the ruler could read.
Sitting on the throne was a man with a deep black robe. A Delphi Shield hung around his neck and a hood covered his face but Keltar knew he was watching him. Suddenly, the man spoke. His voice was melodious and neither warm nor cold. "You are in such a rush to report to me that you don't even change into a robe, let alone rest. Have you not learnt to take care of yourself, Keltar?" he asked with a little amusement.
"I'm sorry if I interrupted anything you were doing, Lord Galben, but I truly wanted to finish the mission right away."
"Then did you find the girl?" asked Galben with a hint of desperation.
"I'm sorry, milord. None of the girls we saw was the one. We were attacked and had to flee."
Galben slumped back into his throne. "Grr, that girl is elusive. She is heir to the Winged Throne! We must find her before I join my ancestors. As much as I hate to, I must break the line of my ancestors and pass on this amulet to a stranger." Galben fingered his Delphi Shield. It was proof that he was the leader of the Shadow Pegasi and it had to be passed on. Otherwise the group and pegasi would die out. Keltar fidgeted around a little, as if he was trying to stop what he was about to say, but then he could contain himself no longer.
"Why is it a girl! And a young one to boot! For centuries our brotherhood has existed by the strict code. We are the only ones who can control Shadow Pegasi. Us! Males!" Galben looked up from a book that was lying on the table.
"Are you so ambitious that you would ignore the prophecy? Keltar, I know. You want to become the head of this majestic brotherhood. We all know that the Shadow Pegasi are a dying race. Only the leadership of a woman can keep us thriving. Do not forget that, cousin." Keltar flushed though the darkness hid his face so Galben didn't see.
"I'm sorry, milord. My trust in your decisions shall not waver again. It's just… we won't be a true brotherhood anymore, what with a girl leading us…"
"I'll see that your trust will not waver again. As for the brotherhood, I think we will have to live with what will come. You had better go to the infirmary. Good night." Keltar bowed and walked out, closing the door quietly behind him. "You heard all that, I assume?" asked Galben. A hunched shadow moved next to the throne.
"Torren heard everything. Torren did not miss a thing. Torren will do anything for his saviour brother."
"Our parents were willing to kill you for your deformity." said Galben quietly, staring straight at the door. "I recognized your potential as an assassin. When we joined the Shadow Pegasi, you willingly served the man who like a true father to us all. He was our grandfather. Now I am the acting father to all of the brothers here. Will you serve me as willingly?"
"Torren will do anything. To kill for the brotherhood is Torren's pride. The last thing the victim will see is Torren's deformed face which will haunt them in the afterlife. Torren lives to serve the brotherhood."
"Then go, my brother. In the name of the Brotherhood of the Shadow Pegasi, track down the traitorous Keltar. Watch him closely. If he says anything that might endanger us, take his life."
"Torren will not disappoint you." Torren moved back into the shadows and Galben only knew he was out of the room when the door opened and closed seemingly on its own accord. "For someone who is scarred, hunch-backed and has a limp, he sure moves gracefully and quietly." thought Galben. He closed his eyes and spoke out loud. "Where did I go wrong in bringing you up, Keltar? You were second-in-command and the closest family I have, closer even than Torren… in a way. Now you have incurred his wrath. Why Keltar?" Galben had whispered the last to words.
Meanwhile, Keltar was swiftly striding towards his room instead of the infirmary. "What if the prophecy is wrong? Only a man is truly capable of leading this great brotherhood. Women shouldn't even be in the lowest level, let alone lead us. Maybe I could somehow take…" he stopped. He thought he detected a presence.
"Ah, so you notice Torren. You do doubt the prophecy. Torren had hoped it was not so. It will be sad to lose you but you endanger us all." Keltar turned towards to where he thought Torren was, clutching a dagger fearfully but was struck down by Torren instantly. "You tried to attack. Hmm, what's is this? You were going to use your Feather Dagger? Not even dark magic can bring Torren down, but be that as it may, you were a true Shadow Pegasus Knight till the end." Torren placed the feather-shaped dagger which initiated access to the brotherhood onto Keltar chest and folded Keltar lifeless hands across the blade for someone to find his body. "Torren almost forgot! The brotherhood must now find someone to replace Keltar as a Winged Cloaksman. The other four will be surprised when they find out one of their number is gone."
"What! My son is gone! No, it can not be! Listen, you. I murdered suspected Shadow Pegasi spies. After that, my wife left me and my son because of what I did. He is my only pride and joy. He grew up learning the teachings of this brotherhood. Since I am busy, I leave him in your care for his first mission and now he is gone!"