Chapter 19

'He's thinking,' said Emeth.

As one man the Raulus party turned to look at Valkron. Then they looked back at Emeth.

'How can you be sure?' said Eni.

'I'm sure,' said Emeth, staring ahead.

They looked back at Valkron, and then turned to look at Emeth again.

'People think like that?' said Samaroh.

'He's different,' said Emeth, still staring stonily ahead.

Turn. Stare at Valkron. Turn. Stare at Emeth.

'Are you sure?' asked Nocturne.

'Yes. He's thinking.' Emeth seemed to be focusing on a point just above the bustling crowd and he didn't look as if he was going to remove his gaze from there anytime soon.

They looked back to Valkron again. After the Prontera Chivalry had emptied Valkron had turned on his heel and strode out of the place, fixing his visor back on. His peco had hurried after him. His party, also not wanting to be left behind, scuttled after him.

Once outside he had simply walked into an alley situated between the Chivalry and another building. He had chosen to take a seat on a large crate and now he was staring at the opposite wall. His face was as blank as it had been in the Chivalry.

The Raulus party assumed that since Emeth had been the first one to join Valkron the wizard was his aide and knew the knight well. Their hopes were dashed. Emeth was now looking out at the crowd streaming past the alleyway, but it was clear he wasn't focusing on the people.

No one dared say anything to Valkron. After what had happened in the Chivalry they were not so sure as to how the knight would react if anyone disturbed him from his thinking.

The cobbles under their feet trembled as people rushed past. Prontera's residents were evacuating the city from three directions – north, south and east. The western gate had been locked and sealed. There was no hope to be found in Geffen now.

Eni rubbed her upper arms and shivered. 'It's getting a lot colder now,' she said, breathing white mist. 'Why is this happening now, of all times?'

'No one said it was going to be an easy life being a mercenary,' said Iruna evenly.

'No, I meant why do we have to be here or anywhere else when a portal opens up?' said Eni. 'This downright sucks, I tell you.'

Khan sidled over to Emeth. 'Excuse me for bothering you,' he whispered politely, 'but we found Adiemus in Geffen and before he took his last breath he asked Valkron to look to the skies. Why is that so?'

At this the wizard turned his gaze at the sky. Still looking at it, he said, 'For you it just looks stormy, but to be honest with you the sky's the one showing us how much time our world has left. From what I see we've got about a month left and that's on the outside, mark my words.'

'On the inside?' asked Khan worriedly.

'I'd give it about three weeks.'

'Then we can't just stand around here and wait for Valkron,' said the assassin. 'We've got to do something.'

'What, exactly? No one's going to bloody believe us on this.' Emeth removed his gaze from the sky and looked at Khan. 'It's up to Valkron to make the next move. He's the leader, at any rate.'

'Yeah, well, there just isn't time to waste.'

Emeth jerked his head to the silent, motionless knight. 'That's probably why he's thinking so deeply. He's not entirely stupid, Khan. Maybe he can be a bit reckless, but ultimately he's doing everything he can for other people, not for himself.'

'And how'd you know that?'

The wizard shrugged. 'It's so far the only thing I know about him.'

Between Khan's sakkhat and mask, the brown eyes were giving the wizard a look. Emeth half-smiled apologetically. 'Sorry,' he added. 'I'm not well known for my social skills.'

'Who is?' Much to Emeth's surprise, Khan took off his sakkhat and pulled down his mask. He had done this several times, but not in front of everyone and certainly not in the public.

'What the--'

'I'm just going to wait,' explained the assassin. He heaved himself up onto a a stack of tow crates. Emeth felt like he was talking to a teacher - Khan's mouth, when not in use, was straighter than a ruler.

He looked back at Valkron, who was still gazing blankly at the wall opposite him. A slight movement caught his eye. Iruna had pulled up a corner of her blindfold and was looking at the knight too. She noticed Emeth looking at her and shrugged before replacing her blindfold and assuming her stately pose.

Suddenly Valkron sighed and got off the crate. Everyone looked expectantly at him.

'We head out to Payon with the southbound batch,' he said, straightening his visor. 'No weapons are to be drawn, neither any spells cast. I want every one of you to refrain from doing anything other than living and existing, got it? Unless it's necessary.'

'Whatever for?' said Samaroh, turning to watch as Valkron walked past him. 'It's not as if we've got anything to do when we're with them, unless there's some healing involved--'

Valkron turned on his heel and walked back to Samaroh. He leaned towards the priest and said in a low voice, 'I hope I don't have to repeat myself, Samaroh. Don't question my orders. I'm getting tired of your constant questioning as it is. I decide if it's necessary or not.'

Samaroh backed off, but he unwittingly said, 'I'm not one of your knights.'

So? You're still one of my party. Either way you're still under me.' Valkron shot him a look that promised a kill. 'Let's go.'

The knight strode out of the alleyway and mounted his peco as if nothing had happened. His party was still staring after him but they were now used to these sudden departures and it took them a much shorter time to respond to his movements. They hurried out and after him as he made his way through the crowd, heading purposefully for the southern gate.

'Does he always act like this?' asked someone next to Emeth. The wizard looked around to see the monk Aldev.

'You're still here? I thought you'd left us already,' he said, looking surprised.

'Ah, well...' Aldev scratched the back of his head apologetically. 'I pretty much figured that I'd rather stick around with you guys, if it's all the same to you.'

'I'm not the leader here,' said Emeth. 'Valkron is.'

'Right now I wouldn't want to talk to him. He seems to be a bit...short-tempered at this moment.'

Emeth nodded. 'Fair point. But you do understand I'm not his assistant or anything of that sort. I've never seen someone who's so detached before.'

Aldev frowned. 'Detached from what?'

Emeth shrugged. 'My best guess would be the entire human race.'

The south gate was chock full of people struggling to get out as fast as possible. There was only one knight trying to organize them compared to four at the other gates. He was shouting hoarsely over the heads of the civilians, trying to make himself heard over the cacophony of crying, yelling and talking.

Valkron rode up to him. The knight made one last valiant effort to stop a small family from elbowing people aside before he gave up and turned his attention to the older knight. 'Yessir!' he sad, saluting.

'Why don't you get a peco to stand in the middle of the gateway?' asked Valkron coldly. 'Although there won't be much space left for people to move at least you'll have some control over them, right?'

'Well, sir...all the pecos have been taken,' replied the knight apprehensively.

'There are pet pecos running wild over the city. Use one of them.'

'Uh...I can't leave this gate, sir, till everyone's through.'

Valkron gave him a look that made him cringe. 'Obeying your superiors to their very last word...I don't know which one is more depressing: the fact that the seniors are so stubborn or set in their ways, or that the younger ones are known for their culpable stupidity. Iruna, block the gateway.'

'Whatever you say, Valkron,' said the crusader calmly, and rode forward.

Crusader pecos were trained to take the much heavier weight of their riders. It not only meant that getting a stomp on the foot from one would result in said foot being flatter than paper, but also that they were solidly built with a greater body mass and very unmovable. That was why the Chivalry kept riot Might pecos - these pecos were dressed in armour and once lined up across a street would prove to be one of the toughest barriers ever created. Valkron had witnessed the riot Might pecos in action before, so he knew how firm they could be.

Although Iruna's peco was not one of the riot pecos it was still pretty difficult to push past it. Iruna seemed to give the impression that she was enjoying herself as people tried to push past her peco. Finally the crowd became two lines. The gaps on either side of the peco were far too small to allow more than one person to pass the gate. Strangely enough the southbound batch was evacuated faster than the other batches.

'Thank you, sir,' said the young knight gratefully, as Valkron rode past him. The older knight nodded briefly and went out of the gates, his party following behind and exchanging looks between themselves.

The journey to Payon was silent except for the forest sounds and the occasional crying of a child or baby. Valkron rode in the midst of the crowd, his head held high and his gaze stern and fierce. The rest of the party kept up behind him, looking around nervously. Although there were eight knights and two crusaders guarding the crowd they still felt uneasy about travelling south. Besides that, many people were giving them looks, especially Emeth because of his height.

'Do you think Valkron's trying to impose a draconian image on the civilians?' whispered Eni to her brother as they walked.

Nocturne shrugged. 'Beats me. I have a feeling he always looks like that in front of people, though.'

'Maybe it is necessary for him to look like that,' said Khan in an undertone so that Valkron would not hear. 'Isn't that what a knight's supposed to do?'

'Hush there,' said Iruna, who was riding behind Valkron. 'I don't think Valkron follows normal knight principles, so leave him be. It's up to him to say what makes him the knight he is.'

Samaroh huffed. 'Personally I think he's just showing off.'

No one replied to this, but Emeth promptly struck him across the back of his head with his staff. Samaroh opened his mouth to protest, but the wizard pointed the staff threateningly at him so he shut his mouth and walked on sullenly. People were staring at the four of them again.

If it was cold in the day, it was even colder at night. What made matters worse was that there was a dry, harsh wind sweeping through the forest. The leaves in the trees whispered as the trees themselves shook their heads. The ten soldiers from the Chivalry set up camp in a large clearing and soon there were rows of tents with small campfires burning here and there.

'How far are we from Payon?' asked Eni, while the Raulus party gathered around one of the guttering fires to keep warm.

'I think we're halfway there,' replied Emeth, warming his hands. 'We should be. Everyone made good progress today.' He looked at Eni. 'Do you want to borrow my cloak? You're shivering.'

'Nah, I'll be fine.' Eni didn't really look fine when she said it, but Emeth was not the kind of person to press people. She bent down and rummaged around in her cart before pulling out a long thick traveller's cloak. 'This isn't for sale, I keep this to warm myself on winter nights.'

'Oh. Okay.'

'Would anything attack us out here?' asked Aldev nervously. Out of the eight of them following Valkron he had been the one who was the most uneasy with his surroundings. Emeth had had to spend several minutes explaining to him that there was no point in fearing the forest around them when there were so many knights and crusaders already on their job.

'Whta do you think?' said Samaroh.

'Uh...yes?'

'You downright suck, Aldev,' said Khan in disdain. 'What kind of monk are you? How in the world did you ever become a monk with that kind of behaviour, anyway?'

The monk kept silent, his face reddening. No one else said anything.

The only one who was not standing around the fire was Valkron. He had gone to attend a small meeting between the ten soldiers of the Chivalry.

The meeting went like this:

'For now we'll have to set up lookouts,' said a knight. 'The night will be long and it's already freezing as it is. We need volunteers to take on the night watch and the welfare of the people.'

'That means we'll have two of us on shifts, no matter what time of the night?' said a crusader. When the knight nodded the crusader said, 'I'm afraid that two people won't be enough, though.'

'Two people will be sufficient for this small group we're escorting, Edell,' said the crusader next to him. 'Although they're spread out it's easy to see them from here. No one will miss a thing.'

'It'll be a good idea to keep moving,' said the first knight. 'And someone has to constantly keep the fires lit.'

'Can't the people do that, Redova?' said Edell, looking apprehensive.

'They'll be asleep, Edell. They'll need energy for tomorrow's journey.'

'He's got a point, Edell,' voiced the second crusader patiently. 'No one's going to be willing to carry an entire family on their pecos, you know.'

'But you know how it is, Anox,' said Edell. 'What if we miss a fire?'

'As I said, we won't miss a thing,' answered Anox patiently.

'He's right, though.'

The ten of them turned to look at Valkron. He had his arms folded and was looking from face to face.

'He's right, to a certain extent,' said Anox. 'But that extent doesn't seem like it applies to the current situation, sir. If we deal with this in an organised way we'll be safe from anything that comes our way.'

'We don't know what we might meet on the way,' said Valkron. 'The monsters are much stronger now, and even though we've got a reasonable number of warriors here I don't know if we can stand up to a hundred-strong force of orcs or an army of kobolds. I say we all stay up and watch. Those in charge keep watch or do whatever you're supposed to do. The rest of us watch them and each other. We can't risk anything at this stage. These people are unprotected and they need help from us.'

The ten of them looked at each other. Then Redova said, 'But we too need rest.'

'I thought you underwent endurance training,' said the knight commander, raising an eyebrow. 'How many hours did you take before falling asleep involuntarily?'

Redova winced. The endurance training was evidently still fresh in his mind. 'About ten hours, sir.'

'If you can withstand ten hours you can withstand this one,' said Valkron dismissively. 'Back then the Chivalry wanted knights who didn't need to sleep for a few days. You all are just lucky they lowered the standard. All right, we divide the camp into ten divisions. I'm assigning each of you to one. You'll have to keep an eye on the fires and look out for each other while guarding your own place.'

The knights and crusaders looked at each other again, but it was clear that they had no other ideas. Valkron promptly took over then, speaking quickly and to the point about their duties. Within less than half an hour they were stationed at their posts.

Valkron went back to the party. It was late. He could see several of the Raulus party sleeping wherever they could, so he trod the ground softly as he passed them. There would be no point waking them up.

Finally he came to where Emeth was sitting cross-legged. The wizard appeared to be sleeping in that position, with his head hanging. Valkron gathered his cloak in one hand and sat down.

As the night wore on Valkron kept an eye on the centre of the camp and the ten soldiers. From time to time he paced the area. Whenever he felt tired he took out a small strong-smelling herb and cut off a piece of it to chew on while he watched. It took a long time and a lot of work to finish off one piece.

After a while Edell came over and gave him a bowl of hot broth. Valkron nodded his thanks and drank it, welcoming the warmth of the thick liquid and savouring its taste. The crusader went back to tend to his division, taking a helping for himself as he passed the pot. A knight's training also included cooking, and the broth was one of the recipes taught. It was cheap, easy to make and gave a lot of energy.

Valkron sat on his sleeping peco and watched the skies. They were as thunderous as ever, always shifting, always moving, threatening to rain fire and blood on the world. The atmosphere was thick with excess magic--

'Help me! Anyone!'

The white-haired knight sprang to his feet and looked around. The ten of them were looking around too, alarmed. No, it was nine - the one who had yelled was Edell.

Valkron sprinted across the camp to Edell's division. The crusader was kneeling on the ground. Blood was dripping from his mouth. His eyes were wide and staring, and no matter what Valkron could do he wouldn't reply or move.

'Damn,' he said. He looked up at the others. 'Get back to your positions and keep an eye out for anything! If anything attacks you fight back! We can't afford casualties now!'

The others obeyed him, running back. Valkron heaved the crusader onto one shoulder and, cursing the weight, managed to stagger back to the centre of the camp. He deposited Edell in the middle and then went and shook Samaroh by the shoulders.

'Fgfl...hwhat?'

'Get up, Samaroh!'

The priest got up and shook his ruffled hair. 'Who-- oh, it's you. What do you want?'

Valkron gave him a look. The priest hastily got to his feet and followed the knight over to Edell.

'Help him out whatever way you can,' said the knight shortly. 'I'm going to take over his place. If anything happens call me.'

'Got it,' said Samaroh, already with his pack open.

Valkron strode into Edell's division and took up his place. The other nine were watching apprehensively, but the knight commander knew that something was waiting for them out there. The little fire that was burning near Edell's post gave out too little light. He went over to throw some more firewood onto it--

Something screeched and dived towards him. At the last moment he turned around and plunged his blazing sword into it, sending blood splattering on the ground. One upwards stroke and the creature fell, split into two.

Valkron nudged it with his foot. He'd never seen it before. It looked like a living gargoyle with its wings and cruel, thin face. The liquid staining his sword was purple and sticky and fell off the blade in large coagulated drops.

There was more screeching. Valkron started as another swooped low over his head, but he rallied and went after it. A third emerged, followed by a fourth. Then soon there were too many to count.

Valkron dodged and swiped at them, swearing. By the sound of it the others were getting attacked too. He could hear yelling and swearing over the increased screeches of the monsters.

'Valkron! Duck!'

The knight obediently did so. A stream of fire shot overhead. There were final, deafening screeches as some burned away into nothing but ashes, while others flew away from him, wings or whip-like tail on fire. Valkron struck down a few more that were blinded by the attack, before they retreated.

He turned to see Emeth standing not far away from him.

'Go and help the others, Emeth,' said Valkron breathlessly. 'I'll get the rest up. This is an emergency.'

Emeth nodded briefly and set off at a run towards where Redova was frantically using his spear to beat off the creatures. Valkron looked back to the centre and saw six silhouettes moving around. They had obviously been awakened by the commotion.

More gargoyle-like creatures swooped down on Valkron, who set his sword on fire again and attacked them hard. Arrows whistled past him and struck their targets accurately. There was an explosion from one of the divisions and white light from another. The Raulus party had got the message fairly fast and were now working together with the nine other soldiers.

Valkron was catching his breath between a few attacks when kobolds rushed from the forest. He hit them so hard that several flew off their feet and into the advancing rush of kobolds. Nocturne was firing non-stop and casting traps all over the place. Valkron had to back off when a series of landmine traps exploded in front of him.

From behind he could hear screams. He turned to see a burning tent, before water gushed onto it from nowhere. Then white light burst out again, illuminating everyone as they fought back against the monsters.

After the kobolds there came a mob of petites. The knight cursed and tackled them, sending them flying out of the way. Ice slammed into them, before spikes erupted from the ground not far away from him. Valkron was vaguely sure he saw Samaroh run past behind him carrying his pack and book, but evidently that didn't stop the priest from casting Lex Divina and Lex Aeterna repeatedly on the monsters as he did. Iruna galloped past as well, contributing to the spells being cast onto Valkron's side.

The knight suddenly realised that it was his division was getting the most attacks. He gritted his teeth and swiped hard. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Anox, Redova and the rest of the Chivalry soldiers arrive to help him.

Valkron swiped a few more petites out of the way before he instinctively threw himself onto the ground. A few minutes later a series of burning meteors crashed into the wave of oncoming petites, while from another side a lighted potion shattered and exploded.

Someone grabbed him by the shoulders. Valkron looked into the cornflower blue eyes of Nocturne.

'Get out of the way,' he said. 'The others are here, it's best if we step back and let them take the frontline. There's even more monsters coming through from this way.'

'What about the other ways?'

'None. I don't know why, but you seem to be attracting them. Come on, let's go. There's nothing I can do here either.'

Valkron hurried out of the way with Nocturne following closely behind. They were just in time as well. Eni had summoned two massive marine spheres and they were now hitting the petites and squashing them. A murky green layer of energy wavered over the petites. Khan was disappearing and appearing on another side, dealing blows and dodging so rapidly that he was just a blur. Amaru was now in the fray, swinging a large hammer that crushed anything that got near him. The sound of jingling coins was imminent over the shouting, screeching and thudding of weapons.

Valkron tried to catch his breath behind them with his hands on his knees. Nocturne was watching the battle next to him.

'I guess the rest can deal with this now,' said the hunter, when Valkron had straightened up again.

'I agree with you. They're good when they work together.' The knight sighed. 'We don't often work out well in normal times, though. I wish we could change that.'

'That's because you don't know us, and we don't know each other,' said Nocturne, fitting a bolt into his crossbow. 'We can't trust each other except in battle, and who knows even then? We could all turn against each other.'

Valkron stared at him. 'Then why do you think we're together in a party that doesn't seem to work out at all?'

'I guess it's because we're all cowards,' replied Nocturne, shrugging.

Valkron turned away from him, thinking. The hunter's words seemed to be the truth. None of them wanted to be with each other because they could not see what each other's motives were about, but then again no one would go alone on this kind of journey. They had to resolve this relationship problem, they really had to...

There was movement behind Valkron. He whirled around, sword drawn, but the movement was not at him.

The knight stared at the blood dripping from the blade sticking out through Nocturne's chest. The hunter's eyes were wide with shock. The corner of his mouth was twitching.

Edell pulled the sword out with a fleshy sound. Nocturne collapsed without a word. Valkron held up his sword in front of his face, ready to fight, but Edell had lowered his sword and was now looking at Valkron. One of his pupils was smaller than the other and he was grinning like a bloodthirsty murderer out on a killing spree.

The portal, thought Valkron. It's affecting him too.

Edell turned to face Valkron and bowed. When he looked up he had a hungry look etched on his face.

'It's a pleasure to meet you, Valkron of the Prontera Chivalry,' he said. It was not Edell's voice. This one was harsher and hoarser, grating on Valkron's nerves. It was more like the voice of a beast than a human.

'What do you want from me?' said the knight, taken aback.

'Oh, I want nothing from you except a little chat,' said the voice. VAlkron knew it was not Edell who was speaking. 'Nothing...for now.'

'I warn you,' said Valkron, raising his sword, 'get out of him before I call our priest over to exorcise you.'

The voice laughed. 'Is that all you can do, Valkron? Call upon others' help to win? I thought you were far stronger than that. You disappoint me.' Edell's hands moved upwards, bearing the sword. 'This boy is so weak. I can play around with him. And you know what's the best thing? You can't hit him because if you do you'll kill him and not me. Too bad for you, Valkron.'

The knight growled. Whatever the voice was it was right. He wouldn't dare hit Edell, not like this.

'So what other choice do you have, do I hear you asking? Well...' Edell licked his lips hungrily. 'If you want him to be free, come to Payon. I will meet you there.'

'What will you do to him?' said Valkron angrily. 'Do you think I can trust you, whoever you are?'

'It's not a matter of who I am, it's more of what I am,' said the voice. 'Of course I'll keep the boy safe, Valkron. You don't have to worry. This boy is very useful. I don't think I'll be letting him go any sooner either.'

The knight clenched his teeth in frustration. This was not going anywhere.

'What do you want?' he said. 'Why are you here? What do you want from this world? '

'What I want from this world?' Edell threw back his head and laughed a hissing, grating laugh. 'You will know in Payon, Valkron. You will know there.'

The knight lunged forward just then, but whoever it was controlling Edell was too fast. He was gone in a whirl of leaves. Valkron's bloodstained blade swiped at nothing.

Valkron stood there and tried to keep down the mental shouting that had just started. It was then he remembered Nocturne. His anger dissipated and he spun around.

'Samaroh, get over here!'

'Why?' shouted back Samaroh, furiously healing someone.

'Just do it you idiot! Don't make me come and get you!'

I've got to get over this, thought Valkron, as he knelt down beside the bleeding Nocturne. I've got to be a little more detached. I can't go on like this. I can't be attached to anyone anymore. I don't want it to happen again.