Chapter 5: A kind heart

People stared at us as our impromptu procession travelled through the streets. It was unusual enough that the Twelve Holy Knights would ride through the streets together. That we did it in company of seven unknown men were unheard of. The Knights of Khadaz hadn't changed back to their knight uniforms and still wore their simple clothing.

I glanced at Elisila; he rode the horse with ease and grace, completely in control. Earlier at the courtyard he had surprised us with his prominent horse riding. According to Inian, Elisila was a master at horsemanship.

I smiled and waved my hand slowly as we passed people. Now and then turning to Elisila; pointing and gesturing at certain buildings while talking about them in a voice loud enough for the people to hear. Behind me Storm was doing the same with Cheasna, the later with a bored face. They got the most stares, with their foreign clothing and graceful horsemanship. None of them seemed to pay their horse much attention. Inian was looking exited at everything and asked Leaf tons of questions.

You're frowning. I nearly crept out of my skin when I heard the voice in my head. Elisila smiled and looked at me. The small blue stone in my pocket shone softly, the red stone on his head shimmering slightly.

"I'm not", I whispered through a stiff smile.

Not on the outside, no. But on the inside? Oh yes, you are! I turned to the red haired man, smile slipping. I had been surprised when he greeted me this morning but since he had made comments about different things throughout the city. None of the other knights seemed to hear him.

He smiled warmly and turned to an elder woman bowing his head slightly. I noticed the others doing the same.

"Why did you do that?" Blaze asked Inian. If you wanted answers, he was the best one to ask.

"Did what?" Inian answered.

"Bow to that woman", Blaze said.

"Oh! That!" Inian said. "Tradition. You should always show respect to your elders. They already lived through much of life."

"Is that so?" I asked in a whisper. Elisila smiled while he answered. We're nomads; learning through our elders is the best way of staying alive. We don't need to repeat their mistakes.

Seemed reasonably.

The slow procession continued through the streets. The Knights of Khadaz looked around with a lazy interest. Meeting a patrol now and then we stopped and asked if they've seen anything unusual. Nothing. By noon I felt my stomach complaining.

"I know you guys think you don't need any lunch but I do", I muttered to Elisila. He glanced at me and smiled. He turned to the straw haired knight and gestured.

"Already?" he exclaimed. "We just eat breakfast! How can they already be hungry?!" Elisila gestured again. "Seriously? Well, if you say so, let's have a hoing!"

Inian let is horse fall back. "What about hoing?!" he asked with eyes gleaming of excitement.

"These fellas are already hungry it seems."

"Already? We just ate!"

"I know. But apparently they are hungry anyway. So I thought that maybe a hoing could be a bit of fun."

"What's a hoing?" Storm asked curiously. Inian immediately smiled widely.

"Its best thing there is. Its lots of food and a lots of drinking!" he answered. "You only do a hoing with people you want become friends with. Good idea right?"

Storm looked at the two skeptical. I couldn't but feel skeptical myself. Even though lots of food and drink seemed nice.

"You do that to?" I asked Elisila quietly.

Yes, of course I do. It is a lots of fun, having a hoing. I guess you would call it a drinking party. That's what you do with friends right?

A drinking party. Not a bad idea indeed, if I didn't happened to be the Sun Knight who couldn't drink more than three cups. In public that is.

Suddenly Elisila stopped his horse sharply. He was looking at something. I followed his gaze. A woman was standing on all for by the well, she seemed to be in pain. Her stomach was big and swollen.

She's giving birth! I thought with panic. As I opened my mouth to give orders, Elisila literally flew down from his horse and rushed forward to the pregnant woman. In trance I watched him take the woman's hand and helping her to a sitting position. Without opening his mouth he held her hand and smiled reassuringly. The rest of us dismounted and walked towards the two of them. To my astonishment Elisila started stroking her stomach with soft and gentle movements. As I drew closer I suddenly heard someone humming. The voice was melodious, soft and kind of weak. The others also stopped by my side and watched the two of them.

Elisila was humming. The plaza grew quiet as the people strained to hear the soft melody. His voice was hoarse, unused. The tuned extremely soothing. The woman's face was slowly drained from pain. Her breathing slowed and become normal. Soon she wasn't even sweating. She rose to her feet's, steady and calm.

"Thank you", she said. "I don't what you did but I know you saved my baby's life." With that she left and the sound returned to the plaza. That's was when I realized Elisila was still sitting on the ground. He had his head between his legs and seemed to be breathing hard. Sylvance stepped forward and offered his hand. Elisila raised a shaking hand and rose slowly to his feet's. He was pale and was breathing hard. He held a desperate hand on Sylvance arm; he's legs refusing to stand on their own.

"Is he alright?" Leaf asked with concern. Sylvance glanced at him but didn't say anything, his face grim. I watched them. It had slipped my mind that the two of them was a couple. I can't see the point of a relationship between men but each to his own I guess. Sylvance literally lifted Elisila on to his horse.

"What happened?" I whispered to the one standing closest to me. I realized I hadn't spoken to him before. Cesla looked at me silently for a moment and then answered in an equally soft voice.

"I can't answer to what he did exactly. I don't know", he said.

"Then what about right know?"

Cesla looked at his leader with sorrow in his eyes. "The powers we use are taxing. For him, even more so. Every time he uses his power, he feels drained and in pain."

"So why do it?" the low, dark voice surprised us. Judgment stood behind us; seemingly not even paying attention to the two of us. Cesla glanced at him and furrowed his brows slightly.

"Because he is kind. No matter what happens, he is kind. True he has made us and others dance to his tune many times. So he is kind of a bastard but he always had good intentions and his plots always work out to everyone's benefit. Because he has a kind heart that cares deeply for other people." Cesla turned around. Glaring at Judgment. "I think that's good enough for anyone, isn't it."

He turned again and walked to his horse.

"A kind bastard, huh?" I said in a low voice to Judgment. He nodded slightly.

"Then the two of you should have something in coming."