Hello everyone! I'm excited to announce that A Knight's Honor is back. Yay!

I apologize for previous messages about not finishing it. But I'm emotionally better now and can continue to write this, so please forgive me for that inconvenience.

Clem lowered the piece of parchment as tears flowed from her eyes. She gripped the letter in hand and squeezed her eyes shut as feelings of guilt washed over her. "I'm a traitor..." She whispered out.

Sophie and Louis looked to their captain not having heard her clearly. "What?" Louis asked.

"I'm a traitor," Clem said more clearly. "It's all my fault." She covered her eyes with her hands.

"Clem you're not a traitor." Sophie waved her off.

"Yes, I am!" Clem shouted. "Don't you get it?! I'm in love with the queen. I've committed treason against the entire kingdom!" She threw her journal away from her and it fell open on a random page.

"We know," Louis said flatly. "We've always known you liked Violet."

Clem looked up shocked. "You knew? Don't you know how bad that is? It's against the law for me to love her, if the high council found out I'd be..." She trailed off unable to finish her sentence.

"So what?" Louis said. "The queen loves you back it's nothing she can't fix."

"Besides no one cares that you're together. If anything there happy for you, just like I and Louis are." Sophie explained as she bent down to grab Clem's book. But an image on the page grabbed her curiosity. "What's this?"

Clem looked over and saw the page the book had landed on. An image of a dagger could be seen with different runes inscribed on it. She sighed as she threw a stick into the fire. "It's a sunforge blade."

"Awesome name," Louis stated, and Clem gave him a weird look.

"I didn't name it. That's just what it's called."

"But you drew it?" Sophie added.

"I copied it from an ancient textbook," Clem said as she threw another stick into the fire and watched it burn. "It's made by Sunfire elves. It's a weapon that stays as hot as the moment it's forged for hundreds of years. It can cut through anything, so the sheath is inscribed with special runes to protect you from the heat."

"That sounds so cool!" Louis announced, getting excited.

"But it's not real," Sophie said, one hand on her hip. "We all know magic doesn't really exist."

Clem sighed and turned to Sophie. "That's...not exactly true."

"What do you mean?" Louis asked scooting closer. A look between excitement and worry on his face.

Clem gazed into the fire wondering if she should tell them another one of her deepest secrets. "Might as well. I'm already a traitor."

She took a stick and started to scribble in the dirt, making an outline of the continent. "Long ago the realm was one land. Rich in magic and wonder."

Then she took her book from Sophie and opened it to a page with six magic symbols on it and laid it down so they could see. "In the old times, there were six primal sources of magic." She explained as she pointed to each one. "The sun, the moon, the stars, the earth, the sky, and the ocean. Otherwise known as natural magic." Then her face turned somber. "But thousands of years ago a human mage discovered new magic. Dark magic. A power twisted and evil that corrupts the user."

Then Clem went back to her dirt drawing. "Horrified by what they saw, the elves and dragons put a stop to the madness. Every last human was drove to the west." She drew a line to cut her map in half. "And so, the continent was divided in two. In the east, the magical lands of Xadia. And in the west, the human kingdoms."

Then she drew a four-legged figure on the line that separated the realms. "For centuries the King of the Dragons defended the border himself. But humans used unspeakable dark magic to slay the dragon and all-out war broke out between the two lands."

"But three hero's stood up and saved the heir to the Dragon King, the Dragon Prince. Restoring peace to the lands. But sadly Xadia was sealed away so nothing like that would ever happen again and over the years the idea of magic had gone away with it." And she wiped away the east side of her map.

"But an ancient book lies in the castle's walls. A book containing dark magic. Something that must be protected at all costs." She looked up at her two soldiers. "Most people have forgotten it, but magic still exists. It is both a miracle and a major threat to our existence."

"Whoa, no way," Louis said.

Both he and Sophie were in a complete state of shock and amazement.

"It was my job to protect that book at all costs just as it is my job to serve the queen. Hundreds of years ago the High Mage of Katolis was corrupted and turned evil from dark magic in his struggle for the throne. And it is my job to make sure that never happens again."

"So what you're saying is we've had the power to do magic this whole time?" Louis asked.

Sophie came over and whacked him on the head. "Didn't you hear her? That book contains dark magic. Ya know, the kind that's evil."

"But she also said that there's natural magic as well." Louis pointed out.

"That's true," Clem said. " But only certain people have the ability to perform natural magic. It's something you're born with. It ties you to the six primal sources of magic."

Louis's shoulders slumped and a pout was put on his face. "Darn."

"So what happened to Xadia?" Sophie asked. "Where did it go?"

"I'm not sure, really. Some say it never existed in the first place, others say powerful magic sealed it away forever. And others yet, still believe that it just lies out east farther than what we've traveled, just waiting to be found." Clementine explained.

She stared into the fire. "But it doesn't matter anymore. Magic or no magic, it's still me, I'm still a traitor. It's all my fault. I failed my queen and the entire kingdom. I let them all down." She sighed and stared down at the letter she had written to Violet. "I trained as hard as I could but I'm not good enough, and I never will be."

"Shut up!" Louis said.

"What was that?" Clem glared at him. Louis was usually a very passive soldier.

"Just shut up! You're talking crazy!" Louis looked at his captain wondering if he had taken the right step or had gone too far.

"Just listen to me. You're too good to feel this bad about yourself. I know that, Sophie knows that, and you should know that." Louis explained. "You have true courage and a big heart. Why do you think Violet fell for you?"

Then Sophie stepped in. "We've never seen you get knocked down before but if you did, we know you'd get right back up. And that's real strength. It's why Violet loves you, for who you are. You're smart, and fast, and beautiful. You're the most amazing person we've ever met, Clem. And it's why you're our leader.

"You were born to lead us, Clem." Louis encouraged. "You're our Captain. And you're going to save the queen."

Clem thought about it for a minute before she smiled and stood up. "You're right. We're going to save the queen. But will do it together." And she raised her sword. "For Katolis! Long live the queen!"

"Long live the queen." Her soldiers echoed after her.

Louis and Sophie smiled at each other, happy that they had finally lifted the spirits of their leader.

"Now we better get some rest," Clem stated sitting back down by the glowing fire. "For we leave at dawn."

The sun shined just over the horizon. The peaks of the trees shown a golden yellow as the leaves glistened in the morning light due to the late-night frost that covered their fibers.

But someone had been up way before dawn, tending to the horses. Clem brushed the sides of Thunder as she fed him an apple from a nearby tree. "Just you and me Thunder. We'll be sure to rescue Violet no matter what, now won't we?" Thunder whinnied as a response to Clem's question. But his call woke the rest of the team.

Louis gave a long yawn as he sat up. "Morning already?"

"Rise and shine soldier. We have a long climb ahead of us. And a more important fight ahead of us too." Clem said the last part more to herself than Louis.

Sophie started to rise next to him. And Clem threw them both an apple for breakfast from the tree she had fed Thunder with. "Once you're done we need to get a move on. The sun is already at the peak of the mountain. Daylight is upon us and if we don't hurry death will be too."

"Well good morning to you too," Louis grumbled as he bit into his apple.

"So where are we going next?" Sophie asked.

"We head up," Clem stated flatly as she tightened the saddle on Thunder. "Hopefully we reach their camp by nightfall, if not sooner. They shouldn't expect us coming in from the back. If we're lucky I'll create a diversion while you guys slip in and rescue the queen."

"And if we're not lucky?" Louis asked intrigued.

Clem gave him a serious look. "Then we fight to the death."

"Remind me, never to get on Clem's bad side," Louis whispered to Sophie.

Clem was about to hoist herself into the saddle when a cry from above drew her attention. She looked to the sky and had to put up her hand to block out the sun. But a shadow moved from above. A sharp screech sounded and a bright orange bird flew towards Clem.

She put out her arm and the bird landed on her armored wrist. "What the? Pyre? What are you doing up here?" She stroked the bird's head.

That's when a loud rustling could be heard from far ahead. "Soldiers, swords now!" Clem whisper yelled. She pulled out her own sword and transferred Pyre to her shoulder.

The rustling grew louder. And the Knights grew anxious as their enemies approached. Watching and waiting for the moment to strike.

Suddenly a horse burst out of the bushes. Clem raised her sword to strike the rider, but a yell stopped her. "Wait wait wait! It's me!"

She looked at the rider and paused her attack. "Ty?"

"Yes, it's me." He explained, sliding from his saddle after calming his horse.

Clem's look of confusion turned to one of anger. "God damnit, soldier!" She said throwing her sword to the ground. "I could have killed you!"

"I'm sorry." Ty apologized trying to explain. "But I was ordered to come find you."

"What do you mean?" Clem asked.

Ty reached into his saddlebags and pulled out a piece of rolled parchment. "Captain news from the...well the Captain." He said handing her the letter from Captain Agar.

Clem transferred Pyre over to Ty then she took the letter and broke its waxy seal. Then she began to read.

She grit her teeth after scanning over the words. "Fucking David. I knew he would try something like this." And she balled up the letter, throwing it into the embers from last night's fire.

Then she turned her attention back to Ty. "Thanks for bringing this to my attention soldier. But there's nothing I can do about it from here. David's punishment will have to wait for the queen's return. I ..." She paused and listened, feeling a disturbance in the air. "We're not alone." She whispered.

Just then Thunder gave a whinny of alarm. Clem picked up her sword from the ground and pointed it at a nearby bush. "Show yourself!"

A rustling was heard before a huge wolf with blue markings emerged from the tree line. But what surprised the group was the creature riding on it's back. "Greetings." Came a voice. "I mean you no harm."

Louis's jaw dropped and Sophie and Clem stood in awe. Clem slowly lowered her sword. "You're a...an..." She couldn't seem to get the words out.

The creature slid from the back of the wolf, dressed in green robes. His ears were pointed and he had wood antlers coming from the tops of his head. He spoke softly when he talked almost in a whisper. "I am James."

Clem looked him over once more. "But you're an earth blood elf."

James nodded slowly as he petted the wolf's neck. "Yes."

"Incredible," Ty whispered to himself.

"But wait." Sophie stopped everyone. "I thought you said elves only lived in Xadia."

James bowed his head. "You speak the truth. But I am no ordinary elf. I was part of a scouting group that guards the borders of Xadia. We were called The Whisperers, for we move silently and our goal is not to attack."

"Then what are you doing all the way out here?" Louis asked. "Isn't Xadia far away from here?"

"Again you speak the truth," James confirmed. "But as I said, I am no ordinary elf. I was sent as a scout into your land for Xadia is under threat...from humans."

That's when Clem raised her sword and pointed it at his throat. His wolf gave a fierce growl but James did not flinch. "Explain yourself elf! Katolis has no war with Xadia. We have no violated your borders and you dare accuse us of such treachery!"

"Please." James pleaded. "I do not wish to fight. And I know you are not the ones who have caused such a threat, for you wear a different color of uniform. So I must tell you, you are all in very real danger."

"What do you mean?" Clem asked while still refusing to lower her weapon.

"About ten miles from here lies a camp." James pointed up the northeast side of the mountain. "A camp filled with the same soldiers who seek destruction at our borders."

"The Delta!" Clem gritted her teeth.

"Precisely," James said. "They have a large camp set up on a cliff on the northeast side of the mountain. Most of the fleet are held there."

"The northeast?" Clem said confused. "Then their leader is a fool. Don't they know that side of the mountain is unstable?!"

Then she took a minute to think about it. "Wait, you're telling me that the Delta seeks to infiltrate Xadia?"

James nodded. "They're leader seeks magical powers located in Xadia."

"Lily!" Clem said to herself while tightening her fist.

"But wait a minute. I thought Xadia was too far to the east to be discovered." Sophie pointed out.

"Xadia is far to the east," James confirmed. "But there is a much faster way to get there in the north. Lily plans on crossing the Trench of Octiblen to get to The Midnight desert. Then having her troops cross the desert to reach the magical lands of Xadia."

"She's gone mad!" Clem exclaimed. "There's no way she'll make it through the Midnight desert. During the day it burns as hot as the sun. And doesn't she know it's infested with Soulfang serpents? She'll stand to lose ten thousand men in a single day."

Then it clicked for Katolis's Captain. "That's why she raged war on all the other kingdoms. Lily needs the manpower to infiltrate Xadia. But this doesn't explain why she took the queen. Violet has no purpose for her attempts to conquer Xadia."

"This is where you are wrong," James explained. "You see, all of Lily's attempts to cross the desert have failed. So now she seeks the ultimate warrior to get her through."

"You mean...?"

"I'm afraid you've been led into a trap, my friends. For Lily does not seek your queen, but you." James pointed at Clementine.

Clem gave a yell of frustration. "Ahhhh, son of a bitch!" She continued to rant as she paced back and forth. "She used the queen to lure me out."

"Maybe rescuing the queen isn't worth it," Louis whispered to Sophie. Then he ducked just as a knife flew over his head and pierced the tree behind him.

"Say that again soldier." Clem threatened as she produced another knife. "For I promise you, I won't miss again."

Louis gulped nervously. Afraid to say anything with the threat of being killed hanging over his head, literally.

"We're going," Clem announced. For she could still hear her saying to Violet that she would never break the chains that bound them together. Then she turned to her horse and pulled out a roll of parchment from her saddlebags.

"I'm sending you back with a message soldier." She said referring to Ty as she wrote down a message. "Send for the Kings of Agathon. Lord Talbot and Lord Harrow will come to aid the kingdom of Katolis. For this war is much bigger than we feared."

"But the Kings of Agathon are so far south, they'll never reach us in time," Ty explained.

"We have to try," Clem said handing him the note and mounting her horse. "For not only the sake of our kingdom but the fate of all humanity hangs in the balance."

"Yes, Captain." Ty placed an arm over his chest.

Then he turned and studied the wolf at James's side. He recognized those symbols outlined on its fur, though these ones were blue instead of purple. "Those markings. I recognize them. Except they were purple last time." He said pointing at the wolf.

"These special markings are only found in this type of creature. Smoke wolves are commonly used to carry messages in Xadia. But I'm afraid if you saw one before that was purple you must have encountered one spawn from a place of evil. Only blue smoke wolves have a permanent body." James explained, tracing the symbol on the wolf with his finger. "As long as it did not bite you, you will be okay, for a bite releases a poison into the victim's body and leaves a nasty burn."

Ty gasped in horror remembering last night's events. "Please, my friend was bitten by one of those. Is there nothing I can do to save her?"

James's face was grim. But he reached into his satchel and pulled out a green and yellow fruit. "This is a halo fruit, only grown in Xadia. Have your friend eat this and it should counter react the poison. Without it, she will die." He handed the fruit to Ty.

"Thank you, James," Ty said, placing the fruit in his saddlebags.

"Yes, thank you. We are forever in your debt." Clem said, and she bowed to him with her arm across her chest. A sign of respect in Katolis. "It has been an honor meeting you."

"And I, you, my friends." James bowed his head in return. "I hope we shall meet again in a time of peace."

"I hope so too. And maybe one day we will be welcome to come visit the lands of Xadia. But for now, we have a date with destiny." Clem reared up Thunder and raised her sword. "Let us go rescue the queen!"