We had set out for the North early in the morning, Members from both our platoons in tow. I watched, feeling dejected, as the scenery changed from the bright green forests and plain of the South to the icy whiteness of the North. I rode in silence, hearing the other knights talking and socializing but not having the nerve to join them. After all, they all feared the 'Cruel and Cold-Hearted' Judgment Knight.
Sigh… I wish the first Judgment Knight had been a bit friendlier.
We continued, our horses jostling through the steadily thickening snow, until we reached a small town. It was busy with activity, people bustling through the streets with smiles on their faces. Upon noticing me they would still, looking terrified before ducking into shops to hide. A few people even bowed awkwardly before doing so.
"Captain," My Vice-Captain approached me when I dismounted. He was tall with short black hair and a stiff personality. Well, around me at least. Every time I had tried to engage in conversation with him he had automatically gone into 'work' mode. As he was when he continued, brows furrowed seriously, "We have reports of the criminal being seen around this town. How should we proceed?"
I nodded in affirmation, turning to sweep the town over with my eyes before saying in my deep voice, "Have the knights divide and search the town. Tell them to proceed with caution; the criminal is a necromancer. Have them question some of the villagers, but tell them to be discreet."
He nodded and turned, ordering the knights in a slightly less serious voice. I sighed internally. What am I going to have to do to talk with them a bit friendlier? I turned around and noticed that Metal was still standing, looking to me for orders with a raised brow.
"I'm going to join the other knights in perusing the streets," I said quickly, "You may proceed how you see fit."
He nodded and turned, leading his horse away rather than leaving it to the knights to deal with as I had. Trying to focus on my task I began to walk through the streets, wanting to hit my head every time a mother would shield her child or citizens would duck into the shops in fear. Which prompted me to begin to wonder if it wouldn't be better to leave the searching for the knights. It was while having an internal debate about this when I heard somebody yelling out loudly, "Thief!"
I immediately rushed to the sound, just in time to see a girl in tattered rags running away, darting through an alley as she did so. I dutifully followed, grateful I didn't have to push through the crowd as they easily parted, looking terrified.
I ignored them, my feet hitting the snow hard as I ran after her, my dark robes billowing out behind me as I shouted out for her to stop. I knew it wouldn't work but it felt better to at least try and convince her to stop, rather than simply chasing her down. After all, she definitely couldn't outrun me.
I continued until we met a dead end in the alley and she turned to me, looking frantic. She was panting heavily and clutching something close to herself, her dark brown eyes watering in fear.
"You," I said in a deep, booming voice while adopting my Judgment Knight face, "Return the-"
Once second I was talking and the next I was on the ground, eyes widened in shock. Did I just get…kicked in the head?
"Quickly! Run! I'll deal with him!" A loud voice called out. A hooded figure was urging the girl past me.
"Wait!" I yelled as she turned the corner and disappeared. I tried to stand but my path was blocked by the hooded figure, who stood with hands on hips. I couldn't make out the face but the cloak looked like it was of high-quality fabric,"Move!"
"No!" The person shouted again, sounding furious, "Don't you have any shame?! What do you think you're doing, chasing poor girls! You're despicable!"
I froze, shocked before shouting, "Don't make me sound like a creep! What do you think you're doing?!" I stood angrily, brushing myself off and glaring at the figure, "She was a criminal!"
The person stopped moving and made a startled 'Oh' noise before saying sheepishly, "Oh… I'm sorry I thought…"
"Well you thought wrong!" I snapped, angry and sore from the tumble earlier, "Do you not know who I am?!"
"No but I'm really sorry!" The figure said, fidgeting, "I, Uh…"
I sighed sharply, rubbing my eyes as I said, "How do I know you two aren't in cahoots?"
"Well," The voice said slowly, "You don't… which is why I should probably…" I nodded to myself, glad that the person had caught on so quickly and was willingly to quietly come with me, "Run!"
Wait, what?
The figure disappeared around the alley, hood falling off to reveal flowing gold hair. I chased promptly, cursing my luck. This one was obviously faster than the other, and must be trained in fighting to have been able to pull the earlier sneak attack on me. In the end I lost the person when I reached the main street. She (for I was sure that only a woman would grow their hair to such a length) easily disappeared into the crowd.
"Damn," I muttered bitterly, trying to spot her in the crowd. When I couldn't I turned away from the shocked onlookers with a sigh, striding in the direction of the horses in an irritated manner. I can't believe that I didn't just lose one criminal, but two… I resolved to increase my training regime.
When I reached the horses it was steadily darkening, which made sense. After all we had started travelling in the morning, but had travelled so far. It really wasn't something that could be done quickly.
My Vice-Captain approached me again, adopting his serious face as he said, "Captain, We have prepared the rooms for tonight. You and Knight-Captain Metal have the top-most rooms. Will you be needing any more assistance tonight?"
I shook my head and he walked away briskly, back to his group of comrades. I've been feeling like sighing too much lately…
I headed to my rooms, slightly regretful that I couldn't join my knights. But I felt slightly better when the tension of the citizens eased slightly, no doubt thanks to my departure.
After scaling two sets of stairs I realized that the rooms he had booked must be massive. After all, the entire uppermost floor only had two doors. Which meant only two rooms. I pushed open one of the doors with a feeling of dread and had my fears confirmed. They weren't just massive. They were expensive.
In my room alone stood a fireplace, sitting room, bedroom and bathroom. It was so big it probably could have accommodated all of the knights in my division. And the furniture was all stained wood, obviously of high quality.
I felt like banging my head against a wall.
They always seem to find me the most expensive lodging in the whole town! Argh!
It wasn't that I wasn't grateful, but it showed their true opinion of me. They must think I'm so conceited! Why couldn't I just get normal rooms?
I tried not to lament too much, instead changing into more comfortable clothing and kindling a small fire in the fireplace. I sighed, warming my hands in front of it and feeling slightly eased. Until somebody pushed open my door. And, knowing my knights, it could only be one person.
"Metal," I greeted, not turning around.
"Judgment," He countered, devoid of all emotion, "Is there anything else that requires my help tonight?"
I turned around and tried to appear friendly as I said, "No, thank you."
Urgh! I sound too stiff!
I expected him to leave immediately, but when he didn't I felt a small spark of hope. Maybe he wants to converse?
He looked uncomfortable and sad when he asked in a quiet voice, "I heard from your vice-captain that you… visited Caelan's grave?" I sobered, nodding silently, "That's… Is it doing well?"
"Yes," I said seriously, feeling guilty. I hated reminding him of Caelan's death, as it always caused an even darker mood than usual. Still, I couldn't help asking in a small voice, "Do you… hate me?"
He looked shocked, but didn't deny the charge as he looked torn. Finally he looked away, replying in a soft voice, "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't but-"
"No," I said, interrupting him with a bitter smile, "It's okay. I know."
If I had been stronger. If I could have followed him. Thrown myself in front of the fire. Anything. In the end I could have prevented it. I played it over and over again in my head, and it haunted my dreams. All the things I should have done, but didn't.
"I'm going out for a jog," I said quickly, walking past him while looking at the ground, "Good night."
He stood quietly, and I could see that even as I descended the staircase that he didn't move. I ignored everybody I passed, until I passed somebody familiar.
It was the hooded figure that had disrupted me earlier, her back facing me as she talked to the barmaid. Trying to ignore my guilt I listened in quietly from the staircase, trying to keep out of her line of sight.
"And then he started chasing me!" She exclaimed, sounding outraged. Meanwhile the barmaid looked fearful, patting the girls shoulder comfortingly.
"Oh you poor thing," She said in a pitying voice, "What rotten luck! I can't believe that monster has come all the way here to our peaceful town…"
"Why's he a monster?" The girl asked curiously, seeming confused.
"Oh you probably don't know… That's the Judgment Knight," She said in a low voice, "He's the opposite of the Sun Knight! He goes around persecuting people for crimes. They say he tortures them for days, even after they repent!"
Ouch, I still couldn't get accustomed to complete strangers insulting me like this.
"Who's the Sun Knight?" She asked, making me wonder if she truly was stupid. Even two year old children know the Sun Knight!
"He's the kind and benevolent leader of the Twelve Holy Knights!" The barmaid said in a bright, worshiping tone, "His hair is golden, his eyes are the brightest blue and his skin is milky white!"
"Are they chosen for their looks or something?" She muttered, sounding unconvinced, "And anyway don't you think this Judgment Knight person could actually be an ok guy? I mean, criminals deserve to be punished!"
I instantly started to like this girl a lot more.
"No, No!" The barmaid said seriously, "He's notorious for being a bad guy! Some even say he was the one that caused the last Sun Knight's-in-trainings death!"
My eyes clenched in anger and pain, but I didn't refute it. After all it was my fault. I could have stopped him. I should have been stronger.
"Wendy!" The girl said, sounding shocked, "Isn't that a bit harsh?"
'Wendy' patted the girls arm sympathetically saying, "Trust me dear. The whole continent knows that the Judgment Knight is a heartless bastard."
"Mhm," The girl said, sounding unsure still, "I suppose you would know better than me."
"More importantly," Wendy said seriously, "Shouldn't you be heading home soon? Your brother is going to be worried."
"Brothers in the town over," She said, shaking her head, "His sword broke, so he has to get it fixed."
"Oh!" Wendy looked surprised and worried, "It can't be that you're staying by yourself?! Isn't there a Necromancer around these parts at the moment? What if you get attacked?!"
The girl laughed and turned to leave, waving goodbye, "I'll be fine! Nobody ever goes near out cottage!"
"But it's so far!" Wendy yelled after her in a worried tone, "At least have one of the boys escort you! There's even a blizzard coming!"
"I'll be right!" The girl shouted, disappearing into the whirling snow. I hesitated for a moment. It didn't fall under my jurisdiction, but I couldn't just let her walk out in these dangerous conditions. I followed quietly, trying to ignore Wendy's terrified stare as I exited into the snow.
Cold!
I ignored the feeling, trying to find her in the turmoil. I saw a soft light floating into the distance, and ran after it quickly.
Damn she's quick!
She seemed to be passing through the thick snow and gusts of wind without a problem, her light never once flickering as she did so. Meanwhile I was knee-high in snow and struggling to follow.
"Wait!" I called out to no avail, worried. If the necromancer really was lurking around these parts she was obviously in danger, even holding a bright signal light in her hands, "Wait up!"
She obviously didn't hear, instead leaving the town boundaries and wishing I'd kept my Judgment clothes on. The snow had already seeped through these clothing and was making my legs feel distant and numb. I continued for awhile, trying to catch up until I suddenly fell, feeling confused.
Oh. That's why. My legs have gone dead… I struggled to stand, beginning to panic when I realized that my whole body was steadily slowing down, shaking from the cold. Damn. Damn. Damn.
Can't I do anything right?!
Hey Caelan, I thought, staring up at the sky and trying to keep my eyes open, Is this punishment for letting you die?
No reply came.