Chapter 26

Everyone stared in shock. No one could say anything to what had just happened.

Valkron did not move from where he was. His eyes stayed green with swirling black, wide open and devoid of emotion. Blood ran along the blade of the sword down to the hilt, where it dripped off and was now forming a small puddle next to his feet. The drops regularly went plick in the silence, ringing in everyone's ears.

Emeth's eyes were wide open, so wide you could see the whites around. He seemed to be barely breathing and he was trembling. If anyone had touched him then they would have found out that he had gone cold, so cold that it was unbelievable he was still breathing, but no one wanted to. He was frozen to the spot, and so was Valkron.

Incidentally, so was Aldev.

The monk's hands went up to the blade sunk deep into his abdomen. The wound was not clotting at all; blood spluttered out of it, onto his grey coat in dark congealing patches and dripping onto the ground. The blade had been thrust one foot into him and the tip was protruding out from the other side. Valkron stared over the monk's shoulder, as unmoving as anyone in the group.

Very slowly the knight straightened up and yanked at his sword. With a meaty sound the blade slid out and clanked onto the cobbles. Aldev dropped to his knees, his hands still over his wound, his eyes still wide open in shock. Valkron gazed blankly down at the monk, as emotionless as a totem and somehow instilling more fear into the others than any gore or blood would.

Aldev's lips moved. 'This...isn't...possible...'

Emeth straightened up. He was still barely breathing and he had gone whiter than a sheet in a mixture of shock and relief. Eyes wide open he stared at Valkron and his bloodstained sword.

It was only when the monk collapsed did anyone react. Samaroh ran forward first and got to the man's side. He turned him over, took one professional look and stared at Valkron. No words needed to be said.

The wizard moved to Valkron's side and touched the knight on the shoulder gently. Valkron turned to him stiffly, the black blade's energy swirling gently around him.

Green-black eyes gazed into pure golden irises. Emeth's eyes searched worriedly for any recognisable expression in his friend's face.

'Valkron,' he said, 'I'm here. We all are.'

The impassive face did not change. Emeth tried again.

'Valkron, we'll be by your side. What are you thinking? You can tell me.'

The knight continued to gaze blankly into Emeth's face. The wizard felt panicky but he squashed the feeling down and reached out for the knight's shoulder. He could feel everyone's eyes on him.

Like lightning the knight grabbed his hand, but his ghastly eyes never left the wizard's face. Emeth strained against his grip, trying to get to his friend's shoulder. Several minutes passed, with the tension rising as they watched the silent battle between Emeth and Valkron.

Minutes ticked by. Eni was unconsciously clutching her brother's sleeve, turning it into a multitude of creases. Iruna had taken off her blindfold and her eyes were darting between the two of them. Khan too watched them nervously.

Emeth gritted his teeth, still staring into Valkron's eyes. For the first time in his life he willed his concern and his worry into his eyes. He knew Valkron was reading his expression for hostility, anger...anything that would set him off. But all Emeth wanted his friend to return.

'Valkron,' he said, tears welling up in his eyes, 'come back...to me.'

They watched as one shimmering silver drop fell from the golden eyes and splashed onto the cheek of the knight.

Eni looked over her shoulder nervously, and then back at the tight cluster of people. 'Are you sure it's fine to approach him?'

'I think he's fine,' said Iruna, looking back anxiously. 'But on the safe side let Emeth approach him instead.'

'I don't know why,' said Nocturne, scratching his head, 'but it seems to me that both of them...make really good friends.'

He got given the look he always got when he spoke truthfully.

'Don't let them hear that,' warned Khan, although the side of his mouth was twitching. 'You're lucky they're both not themselves right now.'

'Yeah, I guess I am,' sighed the hunter, completely not registering the assassin's tone until a few days later.

They turned to watch Emeth stand in front of the knight, who was sitting on an upturned crate and holding his head in his hands. There had been no words spoken between them but it seemed that they shared the closest bond of friendship of all.

'Though I suppose the relationship is temporary,' said Nocturne, blissfully not noticing everyone's looks at him. 'But it when lasts it's good, don't you think?'

'That's a very good way to put it in words,' said Samaroh.

The wizard stared at Valkron unblinkingly and in silence. The knight himself seemed too distracted to notice that everyone was watching him. His sword had gone back to normal and was simply bloodstained, but it was the sight of it that had sent him reeling, by the looks of it.

After quite some time Samaroh detached himself from the group. 'I'd better give the monk a proper burial, I'm not human for nothing...'

He hurried off looking concerned. The others did not even look once at him, because just then Valkron had started speaking.

'Whose blood is this?' he said, his voice trembling. 'Tell me, someone, whose blood have I spilled?'

'Aldev,' said Khan, gently pushing Nocturne aside and stepping forward cautiously.

Valkron did not move. He stared despondently at the cobbles instead, clearly too lost in despair to notice anything else. 'Is he dead?'

'Yes,' answered Khan steadily.

'How did I do it?'

'You ran him through with his sword.'

Valkron stayed silent for a few minutes, and then he whispered, 'I never meant to kill him. He...didn't deserve to die. I just wanted...to stop him...'

Emeth reached out and grabbed the knight's shoulder. 'Valkron,' he said, 'you did nothing wrong. He was annoying us. You were right to kill him.'

'I wasn't. Don't say I was. Please.'

'Valkron, listen to me. Don't listen to the darkness Argath awoke in you. Listen to me. I'm telling you that you did nothing wrong and you don't have to worry. No one will judge you for what you did.'

'I cannot accept. I don't kill without a reason, but I broke the rule--'

Everyone stepped back in shock. Emeth had grabbed the knight so fiercely that Valkron was jerked out of his despair. He lifted his head to stare into the golden eyes, burning with the determination of getting his point across.

'There is no rule. Did you ever sign an agreement saying you would abide by it for all your life? Did you ever take an oath and say that you will not kill for a reason? Is that a yes? If you did then listen to me. You are not the kind to kill without a reason. Therefore you know why you killed Aldev, you just don't remember now. Eventually you will tell us, but for now accept that you did it and move on! Look towards the future and fight for the world! Get past the I can't!'

There was a shocked silence so deep a pin would have clanged.

Valkron gazed into the golden eyes. Then he blinked. And much to everyone's relief they saw the swirling black clouds in his eyes fade away, leaving nothing but the deep green they were so used to.

Emeth stepped back, breathing hard. 'And get that into your head!' he spat, so hard Valkron leaned backwards in the force of his words. 'For Odin's sake you are one spineless knight!'

'Well, it was good while it lasted,' said Nocturne in an undertone. Iruna had covered her face with her hand - it was hard to tell if she was laughing or exasperated.

Emeth strode off fuming, leaving Valkron still stunned where he was. Everyone stared after him and then turned their focus back to the knight.

Valkron blinked several times and then passed a hand over his face. 'That was certainly...enlightening.'

No one went back into the inn without a chuckle or two.

The knight stood in his room staring at the broken mirror. He felt rather different than he had been before he killed Aldev. For one thing the bloody voice in his head and heart had faded into the background, weaker and less murderous than before. He felt less inclined to kill and more inclined to solve the current problem without violence.

Is this who I am? he thought, staring at his reflection. His own green eyes stared back out at him.

It was a strange habit of his, a habit he did not really stick to these days because he was always busy. Whenever he had pressing questions that addressed his goals and his reason for his existence he would go to the mirror and look into it. Somehow all his questions were answered. It was better than talking to someone about it.

He looked worried, in the mirror. But there was a question in his eyes.

Talk about it to someone, why don't you?

'They'll think I'm mad,' said Valkron softly. 'Or they'll think I can't take this job anymore. I don't want them to think that way.'

You always seem more confident of yourself, Valkron. The reflection raised an eyebrow. Why don't you BE more confident?

'I've never been confident,' he whispered. 'Not since that time.'

It's time to forget "that time", Valkron. It's time to start again. The Raulus will understand that.

Valkron frowned. On the contrary his reflection nodded at him and smiled encouragingly.

Go on, Valkron. Do what you can do, and we'll see if the others can do anything else. One obstacle has already been removed. Emeth is right - get past the "I can't". Go on.

Valkron took a deep breath and closed his eyes, willing himself to calm down and think properly for once. To his surprise he slid easily into it. I used to think like this before. It seems so much easier, he thought, feeling a little better than before.

However he still felt bothered. He shifted restlessly from one foot to the other and then moved away from the broken mirror to the window. The cold wind blowing through the open window did nothing to relieve his nerves. He stood there for a long time, gazing out into the silent, dark buildings of Prontera and thinking of nothing in particular.

Finally he decided some sleep would help. He shut the window and closed the curtains before taking off his armour, rather tiredly. So much had happened and he wasn't too sure if it was day or night now.

He removed his shin armour and was putting the plates away when he remembered something. He looked back at his leg and then pulled up his pants.

For some time Valkron stared at the great swirling mark on his skin. No one could blame him. A lot of things he did not remember during his brief spell of murderous intent had suddenly come back to him, rushing up to his face in a most particularly unpleasant way.

Argath Iruvedla. Emperor Vedlavin.

The names echoed in his head. He felt as if a veil had been lifted off his eyes and his brain much less unclouded than before. How could he have been so stupid, so blinded by his fears, that he had not made the connection, let alone see it?

That was it. Suddenly he knew everything. He knew where Emeth's spell was pointing to. He knew what was happening. Above all, he didn't like any of it.

So when he strode into the lobby everyone who was there stopped talking. It was either that or risk getting killed. That was what they feared.

'Where's Nocturne? And Samaroh?' demanded Valkron, after glancing over them.

'Nocturne's gone up to his room to get his quiver and Samaroh's burying Aldev,' said Iruna, a few minutes later.

'Oh, yeah...' Valkron winced slightly at the memory, but he would not allow it to stop him. 'Eni, could you get your brother down? Now? Are all of you ready to go?'

'Go where?' said Khan.

Valkron stole a sideways look at Emeth. The wizard was unnaturally silent, leaning against the mantelpiece with his head bowed so that his thick red hair fell over his eyes and obscured any expression whatsoever if he had any on his face.

'I know where we need to go,' he said quietly. 'I understand. We've got just one errand to do before we set off for the portal, and it actually just concerns me.'

'Suddenly you seem so sure about what you're doing,' said Iruna, as Eni hurried off to get her brother and the door banged open to let in a draught of cold air and Samaroh dusting his robes. 'Is it me or is it you?'

'More me than you, don't worry...' Valkron's voice trailed off. He certainly did not remember anyone out with him on the night he met Argath, but the sight of the same great mark across Samaroh's chest caused him to realise he had done something else other than kill Aldev.

The priest looked up at him in the sudden silence. 'What?' he said.

'What did I do to you, Samaroh?'

'You'd like to know?'

'No, but I'd like to get it over with.'

The priest's eyes narrowed. 'You injured me with your sword.'

'Oh.' Valkron lowered his eyes. This was not going well.

In the uncomfortable silence Iruna said, 'Well, talking about it won't help. What's past is past. Valkron, we're not blaming you for anything, so don't suppress it--'

'No. No, Iruna, you're wrong. I'm not suppressing it, I'm...accepting it.' Valkron looked up at Samaroh. 'If you like you can hit me in return.'

Even Nocturne and Eni, coming down the staircase, paused and stared from over the banister. All eyes focused on Valkron, who showed no sign of any regret whatsoever of saying it. Samaroh was the one who stared at him the longest.

In one swift movement the priest struck the knight across the face with the heavy tome he usually carried - and read - and everyone winced. Valkron did not object.

'You needed that blessing,' said Samaroh, a corner of his mouth twitching. 'Thank you for admitting it.'

'You're welcome,' said Valkron, rubbing his cheek absently, where a red mark was already appearing. 'Thank you for hitting me, I deserved that. Is there...anything I could help you with it?'

'If you've still got yours then there isn't much you can do, can you?' said Samaroh, shrugging. 'It'll go in time. All wounds do.'

Valkron looked around at the part-- his party. He felt much stronger now. The smarting pain from his cheek was making him feel more awake than before.

'We are moving out,' he said. 'And we're heading for a little place I know, but I'm going to be the only one to deal with whatever's there.'

In Payon the ten Chivalry soldiers had received bad news. The other Chivalry groups had either been killed, or had disappeared without trace. Consequently there were few survivors now.

'But the people in Juno are safe?' said Devar, scratching his stubbly chin as he looked at the panting runner who had brought them the news.

'Yes,' replied the runner. 'After the people were seen to the soldiers went out to see if there were any more survivors...and never came back. But the sages in Juno have sworn to protect the people until the order in this world is restored again.'

'Since when did you become so poetic, Sagna?' asked Redova, frowning as he leaned on a nearby tree trunk. 'I thought you were one of the happy-go-lucky novices in the Odyssey.'

'I was not,' retorted the young knight indignantly. 'Whoever told you that?'

'Now, now, calm down,' said Anox coolly. 'Nothing gets solved by arguing. Sagna, who sent you?'

'I was assigned to the Al de Baran batch, but when we were herding the evacuees into the city everyone else just...disappeared.' Sagna looked worried.

'And you weren't responsible for it? How can we trust you?'

'Devar, let's not be so strict on him,' interrupted Kanya. 'Let's just talk over this, senior knights only. How's that sound?'

Sagna watched the senior knights gather together and begin discussing, He sighed and sat down on a nearby upturned pail. All he could do now was wait.

Someone stepped up to him. He looked up into the unblinking eyes of Edell.

'Hello, Sagna,' said the young crusader. 'Remember me?'

'Like I'd ever forget you,' said Sagna.

Edell seemed satisfied with that. He knelt down beside the knight and relaxed. Sagna's thoughts drifted away from Edell and concentrated on other things. Especially the Raulus party.

He felt worried for Valkron. There had been many things he had particularly disliked about the commander, since Valkron had been his tutor before he went off on leave for a couple of years. That was why he was surprised he felt worried for his superior.

'I wonder what Valkron's doing now,' said Edell, just at that moment.

Sagna gave him a ludicrous stare. 'What are you talking about?'

'He was with us in Payon,' answered the crusader. 'And he helped solve a...problem of mine, too. I'm really grateful towards him for that, but I'm hoping that he survives all this so that I can thank him properly.'

'If we can't survive that,' Sagna pointed up to the massive spell in the sky, 'I don't think anyone will.'

'He's not the type to give up or die that easily.'

The way Edell had spoken - quietly and confidently - made Sagna unsure of what he was thinking. 'How would you know? We're human. In a sense we're pretty weak.'

'But do you know why our race is admired, Sagna?' said Edell, almost dreamily. 'It's because we stand up for each other and pledge our lives to do anything we can for our people and our world.'

'You a Valkronist or something?' said Sagna suspiciously. 'He's the only one who's ever said this kind of thing. With so many beliefs these days he could probably start his own called Valkronism.'

'No I'm not,' said Edell, giving Sagna a look. 'But I can see why Valkron believes in those things. In a way he's looking at life from a realistic point of view and yet he's making it easier for us younger soldiers to understand what he sees.'

'Okay, I'm convinced you're a Valkronist now,' said Sagna, but he was starting to feel that Edell was right.

'That's nice of you,' retorted the crusader. 'I explain what Valkron's tried to get across to us and you go and say it's got nothing to do with you. You haven't changed a bit, Sagna.'

The knight watched the crusader leave and settled back down, feeling definitely uneasy. This was not something he could sit with.

As he mulled over his options the others returned.

'We think, Sagna,' said Kanya, 'that we need to locate Valkron and keep track of him. He's pretty much the only person who knows this kind of thing and has lived to tell the tale. Do you know where he is now?'

'No,' said Sagna, troubled.

Devar closed his eyes. Redova hastily said, 'Do you have any idea of where Valkron would be at this moment?'

Sagna thought about this. The last time he had met them was before the world was thrown into such disorder. Valkron would probably not know where to go before, no matter how battle-hardened he was-- wait a minute.

He said, a little slowly, 'I think I have an idea.'

The nine soldiers watched him. Edell, not far off, had stopped in his tracks.

'He was looking for a likely cause of the portal when I left him,' said Sagna. 'I bet he went to Juno and researched. Then he...you said he went to Payon with you?'

'Yes. From Prontera.'

'Did he say anything about something he had to do?'

'No, it was more like he told us there was something we had to do,' said Devar.

'What was it?'

'Something about the portal and--'

'Yes, I know that. I meant anything else.'

'He was talking about Geffen,' said Anox. 'About the Ten Guilds raid.'

'Don't talk to me about that, please,' said Sagna, wincing. 'I lost my entire guild that night, including my friends Faran and Estelle. I don't need reminding. But did anyone accept what he was saying?'

The nine soldiers exchanged glances. 'No one did...until now,' said Kanya.

'That's it then,' said the young knight. 'He'll be wanting to deal with it himself. But I have absolutely no idea how he'd do it--'

'Pardon me,' said Edell from behind, 'but does that light in the sky tell you anything?'

The others looked up. Far above them was a bright line of light stretching across the dark skies and standing out from the darkness. It was blue and red. Even though it was fading anyone could see it quite well.

'It's heading northwest,' said Kanya, eventually.

'That must have been a wizard's-- Emeth! He was with Valkron!' Sagna punched his hand. 'He divined the direction of the portal!'

'But what lies northwest of here?' said Devar. They looked at each other.

They knew. In a split second they were scrambling over one another to get to their things. It was only when Redova bellowed, 'STOP!' that they halted in the middle of whatever they were doing.

'Why are you all jumping to the conclusion that they would need help?' said the knight, glaring at everyone. 'And even if Valkron is already headed for that direction we can't all go! We need people around in Payon!'

'Well, they would,' said Kanya nervously. 'Even if we wouldn't like to go there we don't have a choice, do we? It's our duty to help fellow knights.'

'It's also our duty to keep the people safe,' said Redova flatly. 'That argument isn't going to shake me, Kanya.'

'I'll go,' said Sagna, stepping forward. 'I don't have anything to do. Al de Baran is safe now, properly secured with all the right procedures. I'll go.'

Redova's face stayed blank for a few minutes, and then he said, 'Would anyone else choose to go?'

There was a pause, and then Edell said quietly, 'I'll go with him.'

Immediately there was a hubbub of noise. Kanya shook her head, saying, 'You're my student, Edell, and I don't give you permission to go on such a dangerous mission.' Devar huffed, rolling his eyes, and commented on the hot blood of youngsters these days.

Slowly the noise died away. One by one they looked at Anox, who was patiently tapping his foot.

'I think it's a good idea,' he said slowly. 'These two young soldiers will ride out towards the northwest and bring a couple of falcons with them. This is how we communicate, and eventually we, as senior knights, can pinpoint Valkron's exact location and bearings. A balance of duties. They are keen to go. Who's to stop them? Edell won't be your student any longer soon enough, Kanya. And I'm sure the Odyssey left a few lessons on you, am I right, Sagna?'

'You could say that.'

'Then it's all settled then.' Anox raised his voice. 'Any objections? Or other plans? They're all welcome.'

The silence was enough. The older crusader nodded to them and they went to get their pecos from the makeshift stables the residents had hastily built for them. The ten soldiers had brought with them two falcons in case of any communication between groups, and these two they gave to the mounted riders, along with enough victuals to last them, their mounts and the falcons for several days.

'Make haste, the two of you,' said Anox, as they turned their pecos to face the gates of Payon. 'We need to know where Valkron is as soon as possible.'

'Yes, sir!' said Sagna and Edell, saluting together.

Anox leaned forward and spoke so quietly the two of them had to lean nearer to him to hear what he was saying. 'And here's your chance to prove yourselves that you are true Chivalry knights. Don't let the world down, and not Valkron either. Prove that you are worth your knighthood.'

Sagna looked at Anox and realised that the crusader did worry about Valkron as well, but believed in letting them make their names. Edell looked at Anox and realised the crusader was a lot cleverer than he looked.

'May Tyr bless you, and Odin's spear spell victory for you,' said Anox, nodding at them. 'Good luck.'

'So where are we heading off to?' asked Eni, as they left the inn. 'You said we-- you had a little errand to do.'

'That's right,' said Valkron, walking over to his peco and stroking it. It honked quietly and nuzzled him with its' colourful beak. 'But I need you all to be around. If I don't I probably might not survive.'

'That's very...frank of you to say that, Valkron,'said Iruna carefully, as she went over to her peco and stroked it gently.

'Thanks, Iruna,' answered the knight absently. He mounted his peco and loosened the reins. 'Well, we'll get going first. I know exactly what I want and not even Argath is going to stop me this time.'

Everyone shared looks. Although they knew Valkron had recovered they weren't too sure if this was the knight who had snapped and ordered them around at the beginning of their treacherous search.

Valkron looked at them. 'Feeling a bit mystified about me?' he said, grinning. 'Not to worry. I'm fine. Maybe I'll need to get rid of the damned mark on my leg and try to help Samaroh get rid of his, and then--'

'You're doing it again,' said Nocturne.

Valkron raised an eyebrow. 'Doing what? I just said I wanted to help--'

'I'm not too sure if you're the Valkron we know because you're doing it over and over again,' said the hunter.

The knight stared at Nocturne for some time before he said, 'Explain, please.'

'He means to say suddenly you care for us,' said Eni. 'The last time you were all fight-for-yourselves-I've-got-better-things-to-do-than-protect-you. Now you're so kind to us. Did you foresee that we're all going to die or something?'

They stared when Valkron laughed. 'No, I didn't. I just realised that all along it was me being the idiot. I hide everything from anyone else and I don't practise what I preach. This time we're going to work together on this, and no buts from any of you. If we don't work together we're all going to die.'

'That was pretty clear from the start,' said Khan, but he sounded as if he was grinning. 'So, Valkron - what's this "errand" you have to do?'

'If I tell you now you'll say I'm whacked in the head.' Valkron turned his peco around to face the western gates of Prontera - the sealed gates.

'We're quite used to your so-called "whackedness", so you might just tell us anyway,' said Samaroh.

Valkron kept quiet for a moment. Then he looked over his shoulder at their questioning, upturned faces.

'I'm still not too sure if you need to know,' he said at length, 'but I do know that if I need to fight back I'll have to get a piece of equipment a lot of people wouldn't dare to use. It'll be risky but it's a risk I'll be willing to take. It's also quite dangerous, to be truthful, and seriously I'm going to be involved in it so you all should keep out of it. This is a genuine warning.'

'We know,' said Eni. 'You've never lied to us before.'

'Although you can be a bit weird we can trust you,' said Nocturne, oblivious to the look Khan was giving him.

Iruna sighed. 'I don't know what you're up to this time, Valkron, but you'd better make it safe. Tell us what you're going to do, if not where we're headed for.'

Valkron turned back to face the western gates. 'Emeth?'

'Yes?' said the wizard.

'You win.'

Emeth shrugged. 'Up to you to think of it that way, I guess.'

'Thanks.' Valkron looked back at him and grinned. 'Could you unseal the gates?'

As the wizard went forward resignedly the crusader remarked, 'You still haven't told us what you're going to do, Valkron. You can't avoid the question forever.'

Valkron smiled grimly. 'I need a crescent scythe.'