Weeping Monk P.O.V
After a job well done, I started praying to my fallen brothers because those archer demons cannot be saved. The words of Father Carden were very clear: everyone who does not follow the one God must be annihilated. To do this is my divine task, I need to put an end to these ferns.
We were in a forest looking for the Feys that escaped after our last attack. My attention was torn away as I felt a vibration calling me to a field very close by. Following such a sensation, I led the rest to where the vibration was most powerful. There I saw, around a giant stone, our bloodied wolves cut in multiple angles. It was sloopy swordsmanship, someone with little experience.
"It seems that some swords from the ferals have disappeared from our attack perimeter," says Father Cardean. I look around looking for something that would take me as far as possible to these ferals.
"Did you find something?" he continued.
"Footprints, from two people, Fey women to be more precise. It seems that only one of them engaged in fighting the wolves". I said to him looking at the footprints.
"A Fey girl?" asked the priest in amazement, "Then it wasn't just any sword."
"Father," one of the paladins anxiously shouted to get our attention.
We followed the scream and I was surprised by what was happening in front of me. There was one of my brothers in a pile of roots that entered his body and were crushing him bit by bit. In front of him I saw the other brothers praying clemency for the Almighty Lord.
"Stand up," ordered the priest in anger. With a look of deep disgust he barks orders again.
"Stand up," kicking one of the Paladins. As if not enough, when they stand up he slaps him.
"That's how they face the enemy? Shame on you, look at that, look, that's the enemy."
I understand he's not dead and the priest is grateful that the paladin is not dead.
"He's alive," acknowledged the priest to the paladin. "Who did this to you, my dear?"
The Red Paladins occupied in their own dilemma, I drifted away from the group to observe the area for traces of the girls' escape. It didn't take much looking for me to notice the small splat of blood on a tree's branch.
"Wolf's blood, same footprints, the same girl who killed the wolves," I said, sensing the same aura that the girls had that led me to this exact location. . Upon holding sufficient information, determination reignited within me.
"Let me find her, Father."
"I need you to kill all the Feys in this forest," he instructs, "You get him out of there," he continues, "We're looking for a Fey girl with a big sword. Take this description to the Hawk bridge, congregation of the Sheep and Burnt Canyon. Tell them who to take in the Wolf-Blood Witch, will be burnt with her," and with his spat of orders, we split up.
Cautiously, I went back to the forest to look for the rest of these cretins. I sensed that inside these ruins there were some Fey. In fact, I was right as I spotted a small child. To lure him out, I decided to use the famous Fey phrase to get his attention.
"Born in the dawn," I started
"Past at twilight," the child replied. He took the bait.
In front of me there was a little Fey boy, he was very scared. Looking like a prey caught by the predator. I will not kill him, I will use him to get information. I caught him by the neck and forced his face on one of the rocks nearby.
"I'm gonna ask some questions. And if you lie, I'll know and I'll hurt you I threatened wanting to scare the boy.
"How many of you escaped?"
"I don't know," lying to me , I pushed his head a little harder against the stone. That done, it resulted in the child speaking up.
"I don't know! I saw some running into the woods of the Ironwood."
"How many?"
"A few," unsatisfied with his response, I turned him over to look him in the eye. All while squeezing his little neck tight.
"How many?" I kept asking.
"Enough to kill you, your bastard!" Spitting on me, brave little brat. I'll use him to hunt down his fellow tribesmen.
"You thought you'd get away with it, you are wrong," I said, pulling him by the arm. I took him with me by tying his arms with a rope tied to my own horse, in other words he would need to keep up the pace to avoid being dragged. It was getting late; the stars were appearing in the blue vastness above our heads. The child kept talking.
"Where are we going? What do you need me for? I know who you are. The one who mourns, the Weeping Monk." The child ended up tripping over a pile of grass.
"You killed the Moon Wings. Does that make you feel very brave? You hate them because they're beautiful and you're very ugly?" the child jeered.
"Even your horse is ugly, and I love horses. You are so stupid and naive thinking you are going to get away with it ," continued his monologue.
Eventually I began to tune out the child and occupy myself in observing my surroundings for potential dangers. As I expected, I sensed Feys trailing nearby. Not one ounce of worry because after all this is what I had intended. My lips curled into a smirk knowing how foolish these Feys were.
"Boy, you don't know about reality, that's part of life. You stinking creatures are destined to die and I'm destined to take your lives," I said loudly for others to hear.
"It's getting dark. Let's stop here and rest," I informed the boy.
I made a fire to attract the attention of the feys, I was enjoying this moment.
I felt that the little brat brings that same connection I felt when I had sensed the Wolf-Blood Witch that caught my attention, but with him it was a family sense, that I couldn't explain.
"I don't want to stay here anymore. I want my mother, I know she's alive she wouldn't let some baboons dressed in red kill her! She's the most powerful Fey I've ever known, she can use a lot about nature and its merits. My aunt and her are the best healers these lands have had and ... " as the fire kept alive, so did the child's endless compliments and idolization of that woman continue. The child's eyes would twinkle with unshed tears as he recounted the memories where such woman did impressive things. I would be lying, if I said she didn't catch my attention.
How does one woman get this gratitude and admiration from a little boy who should have no more than ten summers. I can't have such thoughts, I have to do my job. While the little one was talking, I lay on a log, pretending to go to sleep so they'd think I was off guard. I hear footsteps, it's time for the show. I feel a brass tip on my chest.
"Wake up, you murdering pig," I open my eyes.
"Josee," says the kid feeling relieved. Unfortunate for him to not know these demons would die in a few seconds.
"Squirrel, are you okay? Tie him up, I think we got the big killer, look into his eyes," says Josse.
"Did you cry for us, brother?" the leader of the group taunted, an overconfident bunch.
"Bring me a hot coal Grim. Have you ever been dragged by a horse with a boiling coal up your ass?".
Continuing the taunts while walking confidently, circling me around the camp. Little did they know they wouldn't last another hour.
"Kill him, Josse," said that brave little brat.
"What were you gonna do with Squirrel, you bastard?" the leader of the group aggressively, questions me.
I don't know why, but I'm really interested in that rascal and that super-powerful woman he has as a mother. Who would win in a fight, me or her, those thoughts have been in my head since he started talking so lovingly about her.
"I have no interest in the boy. He's bait," I said in a mysterious tone.
"Bait"? What for?" that Josse person truly was a naive pest. Goliath sighs.
"Be still Goliath. For you," tired of their antics, I wasted no time and kicked one of the Feys and punched the other. I skillfully utilized my reins to hang one of them taking care of the other. Josse charged at me to which I unshed a hidden axe to deal with him. It wasn't over just yet as the only woman of the group stupidly ran to attack me. She was met with my sword and that was the end to her. The hope that temporarily shined on the so-called, Squirrel, was gone and replaced by fear witnessing the aftermath. Fear instilled in him meant he would be more obedient causing less unwanted issues. With every step I took, the child would get more nervous.
"Tell your feisty brothers and your precious mother what you saw, tell them to wait for me ," I cut off the rope I used to tie his hands together.
"Go," wasting no time in an instant he ran toward middle of the forest.
Staring toward the direction he ran off to, I thought to myself that maybe this wouldn't be the last time I would encounter him.
PYM P.O.V
We were running after Nimue saved our lives from the paladin and his wolves, wanting to throw the paladins off our scent. Along the way we made a plan for our escape. We have two very important tasks to accomplish. For me the main task is to find Squirrel, the boy has been in our lives' since he was born but in the last five years, he became very close to us after the death of his mother and Nimue adopted him as a son.
At the moment, we are in a river trying to remove all the evidence that we are Fey. I am very afraid of what happened to our village, all those Feys who died just because they were Feys. I realize that my best friend is pretty shaken up, having lost her mother and not knowing if her son is alive.
"I think we should head over to the bridge to see if someone can give us food and shelter for the night," I suggested.
"A great idea, I don't know what I'd do without you. From the first time I used my Fey powers in the bear attack, then when my dad didn't want me and we ran away so many times it was you who got us out of trouble and that day the kids arrested me and I almost killed that girl. And now that you could be anywhere else, you're by my side," she said in tears.
"My dear of course I'll be by your side since we were little Gawain and I chose you as our sister and if I remember correctly you made us promise that under any circumstances we would be on each other's side," I reassured the poor thing.
"But if Squirrel's dead?" that mother hen attitude came back and I gently rubbed her back to comfort my dear friend. She needed all the reassurance that he was alive, I don't know myself. However, it's best to be hopeful.
"Nimue, you've taught this boy everything he knows, he's your son. He's probably taken shelter and tried to protect other Feys," Nimue let out a little smile.
"Come on, we've got missions to fulfil," and we're back on the road. When we got to the gate, we saw we were surrounded by Red Paladins.
"Nim get on the wagon and pretend to need help. Think of something- that you've got a toothache! I'll agree to anything you say!"
With the plan laid out, we put it to motion. Away from the vile Red Paladins.
My idea worked, but Nimue lost a tooth which itself is a story for another day. We began to hear a small murmur in the main square. It was a paladin speaking.
"Attention, attention. By order of the Holy Roman Emperor, for heinous crimes: infanticide, cannibalism, and the murder of the lord's servants on earth, in conspiracy in demonic spirits, thirty denarii of gold will be given for the capture or death of the assassin Fey known as the Wolf-Blood Witch. Whoever offers the witch help or shelter will be a heretic, punishable by torture and will be burned with it, " the messenger declared the new orders from the Red Paladins. Things weren't looking too good right and the urgency to remain hidden became larger.
I looked closely at my sister, poor Nimue shaking in immense horror. They really wanted her dead, but that isn't going to happen. I opened my mouth to say some comforting words to Nimue, but for a second everything stopped and I felt a source of energy pulling me into a small alley. I don't know what exactly possessed me to pull Nimue away from the square and into that direction. I should shrug it off and believe it was maybe a gut feeling that thought the small alley would be a good hiding place. Nimue gave me a look of confusion at my actions and I just have a shrug in my own confusion. However, noting what was ahead of us really wanted me to smack myself in the head, there was little time to hide.
There were two people in the alley, a woman warrior and her knight. The woman had an air of authority, she was a brunette and a complexion a little darker than Nimue and I. Although, what amazed me most was this Nordic god in front of me. He was blonde with eyes that looked as if they were reflecting the sea, it looked like there was something pulling me towards him, like an imaginary line connecting him and I ... then I realized I had found my soulmate!
"Look, look. What do we have here? Two little girls frightened with a giant sword! Should we be scared or laugh?" the woman said amused at our appearance.
"Don't go near her," said Nimue coming in front of me with her leaf veins showing up as an indication of her about to attack, to protect me.
"Our little kitten has claws!" she said, impressed with Nimue.
"I'm known to be the commander of the Vikings, Red Spear but my actual name is Guinevere. Next to me is my first mate, Dof," Guinevere pointed at the man when she said his name.
"My god... I love you." Oops, I let that escape my mouth. I could feel my face going red.
"Pym! Stop it... My God you've found your soul mate!" Nimue whispered, understanding what had just happened.
"Are you Feys?" asked my intrigued life partner.
Not entirely trusting them to not turn us in, I decided to question them.
"We are, are you going to turn us in?" I mustered all the courage I had to question.
My mate was getting more and more interested in us. I even got a pretty little smile from him.
"No, I don't think so. I'm pretty intrigued by what you said," he answered looking at me intensely.I felt my cheeks turn red and warm.
"We have to hide right away, it's curfew. I don't want them to recognize us, Pym," Nimue said worried.
"So you're the famous Wolf-Blood Witch," said the intrigued captain, curious if Nimue was that person the Red Paladins are after.
"No, I am Nimue from the Sky Folk," my friend said, trying to get her attention off the subject.
"Let's go," said Nimue as she headed toward the exit of the alleyway. We left the alley. We went to a place near where wagons were parked.
We saw some familiar faces. Arthur, the boy we found a few days ago. Nimue went up to him with a lost face. I followed her because I knew her too well and she'll likely get into trouble, Dof and Guinevere went with us. Guinevere looked interested in Arthur, she already had her hand on the sword ready to attack, Dof was in front of me wanting to protect me, he still doesn't know me that well and hasn't even been 10 minutes ago since we met and the bond was forcing us to have an instinct to protect each other.
"Nimue, Pym, what happened? Why the scared face."
"Our house was burned down by Red Paladins, my mother died trying to save me," she said desperately, "Can we go with you?"
"Look, who's back, the Witch!" exclaimed one of Arthur's friends.
"And she brought friends, she's got a lot of courage to show up here, especially looking like a beggar. You still owe me," he pushed Nimue hard to a pole.
"Does it look like she has a sword?" he said, looking at the sword.
"No, leave me alone." Meanwhile, Dof and I are preparing some horses to escape.
"To kill her you need to get past me," defended the famous Red Spear of the Vikings.
"Guards, The Witch," he said, pointing to Nimue as Guinevere took her to the horses and climbed on one of them with Nimue. Meanwhile, I shared one with Dof. I looked over Dof's shoulder and saw Arthur going towards his horse, it looks like we're going in a group of five.
We were followed by a few Red Paladins. Arthur stood in front of us and guided us to a small hut, where we hid. Nimue and I hid behind Dof and Guinevere to avoid being seen.
Soon Nimue was explaining to everyone the task we had to do: that we should find the great Merlin and hand over the sword to him. With that she showed the sword to the other three who had not seen it yet.
Arthur took the sword and began to handle it, Guinevere thirsty to burn some calories, started a little sword fight. I think we have a couple in formation. I eagerly turned my attention to Dof, informing him that he, well we, are soulmates.
"Dof I know we've just met, and you must think I'm kind of weird, but Feys have a way of knowing if people have a compatibility like soulmates and when we met I felt this connection," I said looking down without being able to look into those beautiful blue eyes. I then felt his hands on my face, making me look into his eyes and I felt him leaning forward. My face was red as a tomato and was freaking out right until I felt his lips on mine completing our bound. He gave me a sly after that as I stared stupidly at him, I was completely shocked at what just happened.
"Nimue!" Arthur shouted, realizing that Nimue had fainted. I immediately pulled away from Dof. We ran up to her. I sat near her supporting her head and kept calling out to wouldn't wake up.
"I know a place that can take care of her, it's a few hours from here."
We agreed with Arthur and he took us to a big place with lots of torches. I think it's an Abbey. I was afraid they'd catch Nimue and I because it was against the church for people to be Fey. Dof seemed to be aware of that as he held me close to him, while Arthur carried Nimue with Guinevere hovering like a mother lioness taking care of her cub.
We entered Abbey's great halls and saw a woman who remembered Arthur a little. She came up to me and whispered.
"Born at dawn..." she waited for me to continue my people's line.
"To pass in the twilight," I ended up trusting her.
"I am Morgana, we must run. Arthur stays with the girl he's holding and the others follow me," she instructed .
We went to an area below the building, it was a small cave that had a small river.
"You stay here. In a few hours I'll be back to bring food," she told us.
"May I at least see her, please?" I asked . She nodded, and we went there, Niume was lying and no sign of Arthur and the sword.
"Where is the sword?" I asked Guinevere.
"I was with Arthur as he carried it, he must have taken it. I'll go after him and bring it to warrior kitty. Dof, you stay and take care of these two. I feel they are very important."
Despite my growing worries, I smiled to myself a bit with what Guinevere said. It sorta made me happy to be seen as someone close.
"Take care in your search," I saluted her and she went after the thief.
Dof and I went back to the cave and tried to get some sleep, but I couldn't help but worry about what would happen from now on. Plus, and Dof sat super close to me, it looked like he wanted to hug me but sensed my mind was elsewhere. It was thoughtful of him to respect that, not that I would mind per say, but it wasn't the time for that sorta thing. We would certainly need to discuss the soulmate thing and kiss at a later time.
I don't remember what happened next, but I can tell you that I flew to the stars.