Hello everyone from your friendly neighborhood BONDSWORD! I hope you've been R&Ring my stories and if not...I think you should if you're actually a member and all. It's really good to get feedback from my readers! Anyway here's chapter three...my longest chapter so far. Enjoy with some popcorn!
Kyle panted, and was sweating heavily. He held a sword in his left hand. The young man was standing within a sea of flames. Space all around was fire, and even the ground seemed to be made of the infernal ocean. Ahead of him occupying a large part of the ground was a dragon of fire. Red it was with the head of a salamander, and with wings of a deep red flame.
The young myrmidon leapt at the dragon and struck with his sword. His strike landed true…but glanced off of the monster's scales. As he landed he was picked up by an enormous claw. The dragon held Kyle just out in front of its face, and stared at him. For a moment Kyle was afraid that the beast would breath its horrible fire…but it just stared at him.
After what seemed to be a few minutes passed the beast reared back its head and roared. From the roar Kyle followed its gaze into the sky; a bright ball seemed to be coming down, and down…and down…
Suddenly Kyle awoke, drenched in sweat. He panted hard, trying to cool himself down. Then Kyle noticed that the sun was barely peaking over the mountains. However he could also smell breakfast cooking…bacon, and scrambled eggs!
Kyle looked over to where the kitchen was, and could see Lyn. She was not in her robe that he'd seen her in yesterday…and so to keep from making the situation awkward he looked away. Then he looked down and realized that he as well was not as clothed as he would have liked. Kyle lay back down in his tiny makeshift bed, and pulled the covers back over himself.
Lyn suddenly turned around. "Oh Kyle! I didn't hear you get up."
She turned around carrying a tray loaded with eggs, and bacon. Kyle didn't look at her.
Suddenly there was a confused look on her face. She set the tray on the table, bent down and touched Kyle's forehead.
"Are you alright?" she asked. "You aren't sick are you?"
Kyle shook his head not wanting to look at her. "No… It's just… You're… Um…you only have on your undergarments… Do you not wear your robe in the early morning?"
A few seconds passed before she said, "No… Not usually… But I guess it is a little awkward, you being a man and all…"
Kyle groped around in his small bag randomly until he finally found his shirt. He pulled it out and put it on. Lyn came back from the other side of the screen wearing her robe. Kyle breathed a sigh of relief. Though he wasn't against Lyn's looks and she apparently had no problem with not wearing all of her clothes in the company of someone of the opposite sex…Kyle himself was slightly uncomfortable with the whole situation.
Finally he got to his feet. Working quickly he snatched the blanket off the ground mat, rolled it up, shoved it in his bag, and then rolled up the mat and strapped it onto the front of the bag. She was setting the table the whole time while watching him. Apparently she found it humorous…
With his belongings now packed up Kyle got to his feet, walked over to the table and sat down. Lyn, who had been getting the plates and utensils, came back over from the kitchen and set down a plate and a fork and knife in front of him, and then set a second plate, and another fork and knife on the other side. Having set the table Lyn sat down, lifted some eggs that sat on a tray and transferred them to her plate. Kyle followed suit.
As the two ate breakfast, gorging themselves on the scrambled eggs, and bacon that was in front of them Lyn suddenly set her fork down and looking at Kyle asked, "Tell me Kyle. Do you have any…women in your life?"
Kyle looked up from shoveling a large cluster of the scrambled eggs into his mouth. Staring at Lyn he picked up a piece of bacon, gobbled that up quickly, and then finally after dabbing at his mouth with a napkin he answered.
"No, I do not. Why would you ask me such a question? Is there someone on your mind that I remind you of?"
Lyn shook her head. "No, I was just curious. I thought that you would… Because…well, um…" Lyn began to blush as she stammered slightly.
Kyle laughed, picked up his plate walked over to the kitchen and dropped the saucer he'd been eating on into a sink. Then he walked back over to find that Lyn was done. The girl picked up the tray sitting on the table, then upon it placed Kyle's silverware, her own plate, and her silverware. Then she walked behind the screen to where the kitchen was. There was probably ten minutes of washing dishes before Lyn came back out from behind the kitchen.
"So," Kyle started. "Shall we be on our way?"
Lyn nodded, smiled, and picked up her belongings that sat upon her bed. Then the two went outside. Lyn packed her belongings atop a brown stallion. She then looked at Kyle as he limped his way outside. He strapped his pack to the horse as well and then waited for her.
"Would you like the horse?" she asked. Kyle could see in her eyes a sympathy he hadn't seen in anyone else.
He smiled shook his head. "No thank you," he replied. "I think that you shall find I'm well enough to walk."
"Very well. Bulgar is about one mile that way," she said pointing to the Northeast. The two started walking with Kyle leading the horse.
However as the two made their way down the road Lyn could see that Kyle's limp was getting worse. Eventually she made them stop and switched places with Kyle, and she would not take his protests for an answer. So then Lyn was the one walking and leading the horse while Kyle looking depressed, and sad, had to ride.
Eventually the two arrived on a bluff that overlooked a large walled city. Though it was big…Kyle had seen larger and wasn't very impressed. But when Lyn looked back at him Kyle stared down at her and showed a very wide smile. The two then rode into the town.
There were tons of outside stall vendors that were set up. Kyle hopped off of the horse and started to browse nearby vendors. Lyn followed him around for a little bit making sure that Kyle didn't try anything that might get himself hurt. To her relief however he sat down near a lyre shop, and picked up one of the guitars.
He strummed a few notes, and then began to play. The notes were slightly plucked at first…and then began to become like a beautiful river of melodies. Then he began to sing. It was about a man who wandered through a valley…wound up at an inn and fell in love with the innkeeper. Lyn suddenly imagined herself in this situation and in her mind she was wandering through that valley. She had arrived at an inn. She opened the door, and suddenly a man walked up to her. Just before she saw his face…the music stopped and the vision melted away.
"Why did you stop?" Lyn asked. "That music was heavenly!" She seemed to swoon for a minute and then caught herself. "You should buy that!" she encouraged.
Kyle thought for a moment. "Did…did you really like it?" he asked.
Lyn nodded and clapped her hands and then looking at him with eyes shining like stars she said, "Yes! Oh…the music was beautiful…I could almost see the person…I felt like I was there!"
Kyle got to his feet. "I would like to buy this." He held up the instrument. It was plain, unadorned…
"Are you sure that you wouldn't like this one?" the vendor asked holding up a more decorated one.
Kyle shook his head. "No," he replied still holding the instrument in his hand. "I would like to purchase this one. For you see it isn't the instrument it is the one playing it."
The man nodded. "Yes… You are a true master of the art aren't you? You know how it is…and you reveal the world to be as such. No more, no less…Just what it is."
Kyle thanked the man, and walked away holding the lyre. Lyn was following close behind telling him something about the nonsense of some of the prices around the market when he noticed a weapons vendor. Kyle walked over to it, and looked carefully over the weapons before he noticed a weapon he liked. Lyn however kept walking on to purchase food.
Kyle picked up the sword, and after appraising it for a while asked, "How much is this?"
The man looked down. "750 gold." The man said nothing more.
Kyle reached into the pouch on his side, procured 800 gold and handed it to the man. Then he sheathed the blade, and walked away.
Suddenly, he looked over to Lyn who was waving trying to call him over. He ran to her, and she said to remind him, "This is Bulgar the largest city in all of Sacae!"
Then she went back to choosing between two different melons when suddenly someone cried out, "Oh my heart! What a dazzling vision of loveliness!"
Lyn put the fruit down and looked around in surprise. A knight with green hair and wearing lustrous green armor ran up and pushed Kyle out of the way. "Oh wait my beauteous one! Would you not favor me with your name or better yet your company?"
Lyn seemed to be quite upset with this remark, and she took a step back. "Where are you from sir knight that you speak so freely to a stranger?"
The knight's eyes seemed to gleam like stars. "Ah! I thought you'd never asked! I hail from Lycia, and the Caelin canton, home to men of passion and fire!"
Lyn smiled wryly and slightly maliciously. "Shouldn't that be home to 'callow oafs with loose tongues'?"
The knight winced but still smiled sweetly. "Ooh… You're even lovely when you're cruel…"
Lyn suddenly turned. "Come Kyle! I've run out of patience!" With that she took a path toward some of the other vendors in town. Kyle, not wanting to get too far behind ran after her carrying the bags.
"Wait please!" the knight cried.
Suddenly there was a loud and angry call from somewhere behind him. "SAIN!" The knight turned to face the sound and saw his friend.
"Ah Kent, my boon companion! Why so severe an expression?" Sain asked about his friend's crumpled angry face.
"If your manner were more serious, I wouldn't have to be so severe!" the other knight known as Kent said. Kent was in possession of red hair, and fiery red armor.
Sain looked hurt. "But to remain silent in the presence of such beauty would have been discourteous!"
"What do you know of courtesy?!" Kent yelled.
Suddenly however a third man in this contingent of knights rode up. This one had brown floppy hair, and purple armor that seemed to shine like a gem.
"Here you two are! I can't leave you alone for five minutes before you're both fighting again! Don't you remember the mission?!"
Kent, his focus and honor slightly impugned, pointed a finger at Sain. "It is HE! He was the one that was chasing after women again! This time it was a woman from the plains!"
"It is only in slight fun," Sain rebutted. "Besides, she was so beautiful! I simply could not hold my tongue any longer than I did…"
The young man sighed. Sain quickly had something else to say: "Jaron when was the last time you actually looked for a woman to bed with?"
Jaron the knight in purple armor was completely insulted by the insinuation of being a womanizer, and replied quickly and curtly. "I have never looked for a woman to bed with, Sain. Just you remember that."
Suddenly Lyn and Kyle came walking back down the same way that they'd left. "And can you believe that he had the audacity to say that?!" Lyn fumed. Suddenly the two came upon the three knights in the road.
"Excuse me," Lyn said. "You're blocking the road…if you'd be so kind as to move your horses."
"Of course," Kent replied acquiescing. Jaron quickly did the same, and Sain didn't have to move.
"Pardon me…" Kent began. "But I feel as though I've met you before…"
Lyn stared at him with a blank expression. "I beg your pardon?"
Suddenly angry Sain cried out, "Hey no fair Kent! I saw her first!"
Lyn was again angry. "Tsk! It seems there are no decent men amongst Lycia's ranks! Come Kyle, I've truly no patience left for this nonsense!" With that, and Kyle trailing somewhat behind her, Lyn took her leave.
"Wait it's not like that!... Sain you lout!!!"
Sain stared at his friend. "Not like that? I thought that…"
Jaron didn't listen to his arguing friends…in fact he was barely listening at all to what they were saying. He stared off after Kyle and Lyn for a few seconds, looked back to his bickering companions, and snapped the reigns urging his horse onwards. Noticing that their numbers had diminished by one the two looked for their third companion and noticing the ground he'd taken against them…they too made haste to pursue.
A few seconds after leaving Bulgar Kyle noticed out of the corner of his eye that he and Lyn were being followed by the knights. Suddenly however another man appeared, this one with a seemingly malicious intent for Lyn's life. Kyle did not panic though for fear of upsetting Lyn. He had seen how bossy she got…and how she tended to overreact.
The villainous man suddenly grabbed Lyn by the arm. "Hehehe… Your name is Lyndis is it not?" the man asked.
Lyn struggled to get a good look at him. "Wha-What did you call me? How… Who are you?!"
The man sighed and shrugged as he said, "Ah the things I'll do for gold… Ah well time to die darlin'!"
Thankfully for Kyle, the villain had completely ignored him, and so now Kyle had the full advantage. Creeping slowly up to the man, Kyle suddenly delivered a punch so strong that not only did the villain release Lyn, but he was sent flying back a few feet.
"What the?! Who the hell did that?!" the bandit cried trying to stand. Kyle glared at the villain with a gaze that was as cold and unfeeling as ice. Then he prepared to race forward again and kill the bandit.
But quickly the villain pulled out a whistle and blew into it. Four men came running out from behind rocks, trees, and shrubs.
"There are more than I can handle… But I'll not give up!" Lyn cried.
Kyle winced as he stepped down onto his left foot again. He'd not found a healer in all of Bulgar, and as a result his foot still remained injured. Under all normal circumstances he would have been able to handle this many bandits with little difficulty… However with his left foot mostly useless, his movements would be restricted to his right…which even on his best day was still a weak point.
Suddenly a voice cried out, "You there! What business do you have?" Then there was a second: "Such numbers against a girl?! Cowards the whole lot of you!"
The three knights came charging in. Sain was the first to arrive at the scene and he positioned himself in front of the Lyn…or Lyndis…Kyle still couldn't really understand.
"Stay back milady!" Sain cried. "I shall protect you!"
"First off," Kyle started. "I'm not a girl, and she's not alone. It's only five to two… Second I am more than capable to protect her. We have no need of your services."
Lyn looked at Kyle from behind Sain and his horse. "But Kyle… Your foot is still too tender an area to apply much pressure to. If you ever want it to heal then you will have stay off of it."
Kyle looked at her for a moment and knew that she was right. If he was ever to truly enjoy fighting again like he had he would have to at least let his foot heal. Once that was good again, no enemy could ever pose a threat to him anymore.
Finally and begrudgingly, Kyle accepted the assistance of the three knights. But Kyle went to walking off on his own as the first of the bandits started running towards him. The man held his axe high into the air trying to threaten or frighten Kyle but…the young man was unfazed. Just as the bandit was prepared to strike Kyle whipped out his sword and as quick as a flash of lightning had cleaved through the brigand. The villain's bottom half kept on running but his top half had slid off and eventually the man's legs stopped their futile trek.
The other bandits seemed enraged by the death of their friend and toward Kyle intent on killing him. But the three knights rode up, and got between Kyle and the brigands. Jaron drew a sword, as did Kent, Sain however was wielding his lance as he charged out. The foolish knight attacked first but the brigand was too quick to be hit by Sain's clumsy spear-wielding, and dodged the blow. Then the bandit attacked. Leaping into the air it flew right over Sain, and nicked him in the shoulder. Sain winced at the attack.
"Sain, why aren't you using your sword?" Kent asked.
Sain turned upon his horse and started to yell back at him. "Well, the lance is more heroic! A knight should look heroic don't you agree?"
Exasperated Kent rode up to him, and handed Sain a sword. "Use this to attack next time. I bought a spare blade in town…for when the one I'm using wore out… It appears, however, that you shall have need of it more than I."
Sain took the sword and said, "Really? My thanks Kent!" Then the eager cavalier charged off into battle.
"You're almost more trouble than you're worth…almost," Kent said wearily.
Kyle limped off toward the other brigands but Lyn quickly caught up with him. "Maybe you should stick with me… Is that alright?"
Kyle nodded begrudgingly. He hated to accept help at any time and to be helped by a woman… Still…it was beautiful woman…so he couldn't complain too much.
The second brigand that both Kyle and Lyn came against had a bloodlust in his eyes. He held the axe high in the air threatening the two. Lyn seemed slightly afraid, but Kyle was completely unfazed by this foolish show of strength.
Kyle took his arm from where Lyn was holding him up. "Alright Lyn, it's your turn. Strike!"
She nodded and drew her sword. The brigand leapt at her and tried to strike, by leaping at her in an arc, and jamming his axe into the ground. Lyn dodged the strike and when the man landed she shoved her hilt quickly into the man's stomach. Then when he was reeling backwards, she stabbed him through the chest, and seemed to pierce his heart. Then she redrew her blade, wiped it on the ground to clean it of blood, and sheathed it.
"Wonderful strike," Kyle said. "But when following up with your stab you might want to turn so that you face the enemy and can't do anything to you."
Lyn smiled and nodded taking his criticism. She seemed happy to have received a compliment upon her style of fighting, even if it came with a little advice.
To the south Kyle noticed that the knights had defeated the last few brigands and only the leader now remained standing. Kyle and Lyn headed in that direction.
"Cursed knights…always meddling in other's affairs…" the two heard the leader mutter under his breath. Suddenly they were upon him. He turned striking out with his right hand. Kyle grabbed Lyn by the collar of her dress, and pulled her down barely dodging the attack.
The young girl was panting heavily after standing, but Kyle's breathing was slow and calm. He continued walking toward the man.
"D-Does nothing faze you?!" the man asked. Kyle drew the sword he'd bought.
"I've only used this once…cuz' I just bought it… You understand? I really don't want to have to use it a second time…"
The leader swung viciously as did Kyle. The man's axe met Kyle's sword and the blade split in half. Kyle's stroke continued however and the last of the brigand's was quickly without a head.
"That takes care of that!" Lyn said matter-of-factly. "Now for these knights of Lycia."
The three rode up to Kyle and Lyn.
"Now…You were sharing your story with me?" Lyn asked.
"Yes…" began the one in red armor. "We have traveled far from our home in Caelin. It lies beyond the mountains in Lycia. We came searching for the daughter of our dear Marquess Haussen. A while back, the Marquess had a daughter. She fell in love with a nomad from the plains of Sacae, and wished to marry. However the Marquess would not accept their love…and so they ran away…and eloped. For eighteen years no one heard of her… Eventually the Marquess declared he had no daughter. But then one day, not but a year ago, a letter arrived from the Marquess's daughter. It said that she, her husband and her daughter were living happily on the plains. She also said that they had named their daughter Lyndis…"
Suddenly Sain interrupted. "This was the name of the Marquess's late wife. That his granddaughter should bear this name thawed the Marquess's heart. You should have seen how elated he was when he announced that he had a granddaughter of eighteen years… We didn't know that lady Lydnis died only six months after sending the letter. We found that out here… But we also learned that all was not yet lost! Her granddaughter still lived! I-I knew it immediately you are the…"
Kyle lost focus on their conversation at this point and turned to the knight in purple who was staring off toward Lycia. He walked up and tapped the knight's foot armor.
The knight looked down, and smiled.
"You know something…" the cavalier said. "I never thought that after saving your hide once…that I would do it again… How have you been since the little incident a year ago?"
Kyle smiled even wider than the knight. "I have been just fine except for going back to the Black Fang of course… But I've made a living and escaped with my life… So you really mean to take her back to Caelin? Have you even talked with her?"
Jaron shook his head. "No Kyle… I can't talk to her. I won't." Then he turned and looked down at his old friend in anger. "How could she not know she had a grandfather?!"
Kyle shrugged. "No one was there to tell her. Her mother died too soon."
Suddenly Kyle felt a tap on his shoulders. He turned around.
"Kyle… You heard all of that right?" Kyle nodded. "Oh…okay. What are you going to do? I know that having you by my side will do much to ease my journey…"
Kyle thought for a few moments and finally said, "I stand by your decision… You saved my life and so I shall accompany you until the end."
"We must be careful though…" Jaron said turning his horse around. "It is doubtless that Lundgren, your granduncle milady, will try to kill his niece… He aspires to ascend to the throne of Caelin and to hold its power in his hands… If worst comes to worst I fear that a war may be incited there…"
Kyle nodded. "Whatever may come I stand by your side…Lyndis." With that Kyle bowed slightly and then turned and stalked away.
With a tear in her eyes, and her hands over her heart she whispered. "Sain…Kent…Jaron…Kyle… I-You're all…thank you…"