A Crimson Tale

by K. L. O Johnson

  The demon cries out in pain, its arms spinning around to claw at me, I step around again, ventral. Opposite of where I once was. I jab the dagger into its chest as I approximate where its heart will lay. A high shirks fill my ears and I jerk out the dagger before forcing it back down again, his form falls to the ground. I haul out my dagger once more as its form becomes nothing but ash. I stare at where it once was. How is a demon able to survive outside of Transit, outside of Limbo?

  The thoughts running through my mind were a bit much. I had to find that out later but right now I need to hunt down that Priest before he escapes the city. I run towards the open doors and down the halls, I hear galloping hooves and cries of demands. Peering out the glass window I see them, I see the Priest and his guards.

  I run along the tiles, sure, I would cut them off from where they gallop on horseback; it takes more effort to keep up with those horses but I manage. At this rate, I’m happy that the buildings make up for the lack of ground, I can cover on foot. The men urge on their horses and I look up ahead to see a bell tower, knowing that there were lower obstructions in that vicinity. I sprint harder, aiming to beat them to the bend.

  To my surprise, I do, beat them to the next bend and leap onto one of the beams where I knock off a horseman, and hijack his horse. The other two were aware of what I had done. I race my horse down the turns and alleys of the town. The Priest is really amusing, his cries and pleas to spare him, all of his crimes mount up to a death sentence including all of the lives his taken. There’s no one who would fight for him in the court of law.

  Still, a job is a job, when normally given these jobs; they were on the verge of a death sentence. “What is all this for?” Ironically we are Knights yet we aren’t as shivery as we once were expected to be. The times change. People change. When the world threatens to become unbalanced, we are sent to balance it out, when the demons and supernatural threaten the natural balance of any world. We are sent to even out the scales. My job, my life is higher than just any good cause to keep people safe.

  Some people are not meant to know what really exists. We keep them from finding out. We ride into an open meadow, I aim my crossbow and shoot the next guard, down he falls as his horse begins to slow. I ride past it and aim my crossbow at the Priest. “May your soul find peace,” I mutter and release the wooden metal lined arrow, the spindles around it turn as I see it drill through his skull. He falls from his horse and remains motionless.

  *.*.*

  By the time I return to the inn, the night is quiet and very few people are present. There, on my bed, is a red envelope and golden seal is my next order of business. I leave Mina in the hands of Max who willingly took her in, prior to the need of an assistant who can help him around his shop. We venture to the Order it is still three days away and snow piles around the hooves of our horses. Snow masses on the branches while icicles fall from the very same branches towards the earth like frozen daggers. Yet the ride didn’t seem to be too long, I see people in the city of Muland the city that surrounds the Order.

  Life is evident in this vibrant and colorful city, where crime is minimal as Knights petrol the streets and live among the people. We don’t necessarily hold ourselves to high standing we just do the job what’s to be expected it isn’t something I do expect. But it happens. Knowing that a partner, neighbor, friend or colleague could be a Knight the city is kept at peace, sure there would be crime but it’s the power of the people and their courage to stand in the face of danger that gives we Knights more of a reason to fight. Our name and identity remain a secret. For the safety of those we love. I remember one time long ago, when I wondered these streets, it was my first time in this town upon my arrival from the Nexus.

  I heard ruckus in a nearby tavern. There was a fight between two men one of which who wanted to take the other man’s wife who was scared out of her wits. The moment I confronted them, one of the men attempted to attack me and overpower me. I may not have my heritage’s strength but I do have its brainpower. The problem was resolved and the man was grateful. Since then, many Knights seemed to have willingly help those they saw in trouble. After all, not everyone can defend themselves like we can.

  People part for us as I lead our horses to one of the city’s many stables but this one has the crest of the Knights, two crossed blades upon an unevenly shaped diamond where the bottom resembled the design of our shields. I place my horse into the stable into an empty part of the barn and dismount my horse, Varden does the same. I enter the small office at the far corner of the stables which overlooks, the four by four, courtyard. There were four large towers at the corner of each of the stables, our insignia placed on banners which run down the on either side of the onyx colored towers. I push open the wooden door and enter. The squeak of the oxidized hinges causes a man to look up, Branden is his name. “Kalverya, what brings you here?”

  “I’ve returned.” I say with an obvious tone, he clicks his tongue and roll his eyes at my words. The thing we would do, I would be sarcastic and he would be over-dramatic.

  “Of course you have.” he says, I remove my helmet and place it under my arm. “I see you are aware of the rules when on the property of the Order.” he teases and I nod, my mismatched eyes meeting his grey ones. Age wasn’t pleasant to him yet his eyes seem to radiate that energy he had in his youth and still has now.

  “Send the Chief word of my arrival.” I say and he stands moving over to the Pigeon Coop. He pulls out one and places a small note around it’s ankle before moving over to the window where he releases the white feathered being into the blue sky.

  “Already done.” he says with a mocking smile and I allow my lips to pull themselves into a smile. He’s seen horrible things in his life and he lost his family because of the wars and famine that plague this world and the greed of the government. The idea of a diplomatic unity is nothing more than a dream on this world. There’s no such thing as a monarchy not since the fall of the royal family. This world is now governed by Midra.

  He turns to us with the same smile. “Welcome to Muland!” he says with delight in his eyes and I sign in. After I’ve done that, I receive my payment from Branden and leave, leading Varden through the now icy cold town. The layers of snow cover the red roof tops. People clothed in their winter clothes walked the snow covered streets. Regardless of the icy cold streets and air; people seem to be as warm and full of energy as summer.

  “This place is busy.” I hear Varden say, just barely though. The drivel conversations of those around me drove me slightly mental but I tried my best to block them out including Varden, knowing he’s going to criticize me as rude later tonight. I figured that we rest at the Order tonight before I present him to the Chief. I’ve had enough surprises to last me a life time. With people after Varden and the package, I begin to wonder about the link.

  “Forget the truth and focus on the unacceptable, is that which rules the world it’s the unforeseen truth that we suffer as they do.” I stop and turn over my shoulder. Nothing. ”We are not the key you are.”

  “Varden, did you hear that?” I question and he goes quiet before glancing around. He turns his head to the side and regards me.

  “No.”

  “Never mind it’s nothing.” I say to the confused yet worried expression on his face. I had to go to the Oracle maybe she’ll be able to determine my mental stability. Maybe all these years of war, killing, death and lose I’ve finally lost my mind and didn’t even realize it. “Let’s keep going.” It’s midday by the time we manage to reach the gates of the Order, they stand tall and proud yet ever intimidating, with towers spaced at every few hundred meters or so, the Order is practically a fortress on a mountainside.

  I stop before a Security Barb dressed in a blood red uniform with silver three layered armor like the rest of us. Our layers of armor are a physical representation of our achievements, of our titles. “Rank, division and identification number.”

  “Commander Silver AX174.” I hated having to say the cle
arance requirements, it is such a mouthful.

  “Seal please,” he says and I flash him the seal at the back of my badge, it was and is our dog tags, mine was the shape of a Lezh, it’s like the number thirteen just squashed together. There are some people in the Order I’ve come across that are just plain horrible at remembering names or they can’t pronounce it. Some can’t remember mine and on the first meeting had trouble pronouncing it so instead they called me by my seal—they called me ‘Lezh.’ “You’re free to pass.” he tells me but stops Varden.

  “He’s with me.” I say.

  “I need prior notice from the Chief.” he says and I pull out a letter Hazlitt handed me. He eyes it over before nodding his head, handing me back the letter, reluctantly he allows us to pass. The inside of the Order was an old castle of the first royal family but since they decided to move to Midra where ironically, the slaughter of the family started.

  After that there was a rebellion against the government and its politicians. Many were killed. Now there is no such thing as the working class that class was abolished, there are only the poor and the rich. The people in the towns and cities I’ve come across are poor but are able to survive just barely. I sadly am not part of the poor yet I feel an outcast among the rich maybe because I don’t mingle with them.

  I hear the sound of familiar footsteps and I turn to see Tessa her blond curly hair falls over her shoulders, her black uniform she wears, not like mine. Instead, it is a black silver jacket, black leather gloves, pumps and stockings with a black thigh high work skirt, slits on either side in case she was attacked. Each lined in silver, with the emblem of the Order upon her breast.

  “Kalverya.” she says as shy as ever and I roll my eyes she was only a teenager but still had plenty of time of training and plenty of time to learn to not be so submissive.

  “Tessa,” I say and Varden stops beside me, he waves at Tessa and she smiles.

  “Hi. I’m Varden.” he says and she nods her head.

  “We know who you are. The Chief has been expecting you.” she says and turns on the balls of her heels and leaves. Her father is the Chief Commander, their blond hair is the evident trait they share, and their eyes weren’t blue like Varden’s but a warm chocolate color. It was warm and vibrant just like they are. We follow Tessa down the large grey high arched ceiling halls.

  6:The Order

  © 2014—All rights reserved by author

  The glossy golden floors were well waxed as always, there’s not often many people here other than students and apprentices. The full-fledged Knights such as, myself, are frequently out on missions. Some Knights; are teachers and mentors but I couldn’t bring myself to be one—though even there’s a limit to the amount who can be educators and who is qualified enough this in itself creates small classes. I prefer not to be a teacher or mentor because most children are practically disobedient pain in the necks. Though, Tessa has proven again and again that not all youth are like that.

  The Order is laid out in a particular way that it will be able to both recruit, train, educate and moderate its Knights and Squires. Those, that do manage to graduate from the Order are automatically classed as Knights and categorized into the term “aristocrats” since we have our own trust fund that adds over the years of our training. It is the money we live off and depending on the amount of missions we complete and our service to the government we make more and are promoted through the Order and handed treasures and precious jewels as another forms of payment.

  I have never needed to worry about that since I am an aristocrat and was given my own land to govern by the previous King of Zylaria, King Rupert, in reward of my service and bestowed a Lady a member of the Upper Royal Court. I’m not the only one who has been recognized, as such. Our Order strangely is universal, so what I achieve on one planet rolls over onto the other where land and fortunes have been handed to me not that I can figure out what to do with it. Still not anyone can be aristocrats. Not everyone can be Knights. Since our academy’s curriculum is that of a, sieve. “Here we are.” Tessa’s soft voice pulls me out of my thoughts and I stop before the door. The same two large wooden doors I seem to always enter when bestowed a mission. I just hope the man isn’t in one of his good moods that seem to, creep me out, more than I can begin to express. Tessa pushes open one of the doors and presents us to the Chief.

  “Thank you Tessa, you may go.” he says and she nods her head and leaves.

  The large doors close behind her. “I was wondering how long it would take you to get here.” he says and raises a golden-blond brow.

  “We would have been here faster if you didn’t make me go through that city.” I accuse—my voice colder than ice and he appears to almost pout.

  “I had complete faith in you why would I underestimate someone of your caliber?” he purrs with mockery and I fight the urge to punch him, it’s times like this, that man brings out a violent side of me, I’m not proud of. Varden’s immediately voice brakes through whatever ice has formed, calming me down at bit.

  “Why am I here?” he asks and I turn to where he stands a meter behind me.

  “That is the fun part, young man.” he says and I stop. Did he just say young?

  “How old is he?” I question faster than I can stop the words. The Chief regards me for a moment with an even gaze but answers nonetheless.

  “He’s twenty three, still a young man in my eyes.” he says as he glances at Varden before he turns his gaze on me. “Wouldn’t you agree?” I nod. Only realizing now how much older I am than him it seems almost weird; I feel like a cougar at the moment. I could be his great-great-great grandparent.

  “Sir,” I begin evening out my voice after that awkward information. “How is he related to all of this?” I ask. It was a question that I’ve been meaning to find out lately. First a Mystic, than a group of Golgotha’s followers and then that Assassin all these correlating points makes me; wonder who he really is.

  “He, Kalverya, just maybe the descendent of King Rupert.” he says and I gape at him. The previous King, King Rupert—the one hundred and two year old man who refused to hand over his title—the preceding King who ruled this planet with an iron fist. I remember when he was just a scrawny Prince. It is odd how time flies.

  “You’re joking, right?”

  “No, I’m not. Many people still don’t like the idea of a Monarchy so they try to dissolve any possible chance it has of acquiring its power, again.” he says. “It’s one of the main reasons why I had assigned you to this mission. You have protected the Royal family for many years and it would only make sense if you continued to do such that, regardless of how many years have passed.” he says. I nod.

  “But…are you sure it’s him?” I ask, desperate to know the truth.

  “That’s what we need to find out. There are three others here who could be the potential descendant. As such we need to question them.” he says, “We would use Electrophoresis like you do on Earth and Nephelia but we sadly are not as advanced so cannot carry out such a complex form of magic even though we’ve managed to harvest indoor plumbing.” he says.

  “It’s science.” I retort. “And you’re doing a lot better than Earth, they didn’t start indoor plumbing until the twentieth century. I think. I was born after.”

  “What’s the difference?” I don’t reply, there’s no point in me trying to explain something like he said: “complex” to someone so unevolved. I hold my tongue in hope not to offend him not because he’s my boss but because he was my friend first. We met a long time ago when he and I were just Lieutenants. Ever since the battle on the Southern Plains he’s been a good friend of mine.

  “Okay.” says Varden after a moment’s pause that had filled the room with an impenetrable silence. “How long do I have to be here?” he asks.

  “For only a week or two that should give us enough time to trace your family tree and find out where you descend but if you already know it than we’ll be one step ahead.” he says and Varden nods. After t
hat I lead Varden to his quarters where he’ll be staying in the guest wing, the stone onyx walls remain the same as ever.

  “Do you think it’s me?” he asked. I had no answer to that, I really didn’t know who he was to even say what he may be I couldn’t do that. The part of finding a person’s identity is that from a family, my family I know for a fact is all over the place. So there really was no need for me to give him hope that may or may not crush his spirit in the end.

  Now, I wonder the halls, soon to find my way back to my room or so I think until I see a man dressed in black leaning against one of the stone walls. His head turns to me as his brown hair sprawls down his shoulders. Those brown eyes watch me with a form of amusement which only annoys me more. “What are you doing here?” I ask, last time I saw him he was at the Moonlight Inn. “Don’t you have a mission to be doing?”

  “It’s already done.” he says as he makes his way toward me.

  “Why are you here?” I ask. His lips pull themselves into a smirk and he turns his gaze out onto the courtyard below, I follow his gaze to see a man in silver uniform, his silver cloak stretched out behind him as his brown steed trots towards where the Chief Commander stands.

  “No reason just came to watch the play.” he says and I raise a brow.

  “It’s show,” I comment.

  “Same thing, the only difference is, this is reality.” he says and turns and walks away. My gaze returns to the man, his silver hair sprawls down his back as his blue eyes regard the Chief before bowing with a hand over his heart in respect. His eyes turn to me a smile pulls his lips upward; I couldn’t help but smile as well. After all this time, he’s back and he’s alive.

  The gentle warmth of the sun bequeathed upon me this morning is what pulls me from my sleep where I turn under the thick blood red silk sheets. My bed against the wall and my lotus plant in the corner, there’s a desk just opposite my bed with a quill and ink pod. Along with several well cut sheets of paper. I had to write my report today, something I wasn’t looking forward to but like everything else it had to be done. No questions asked. I force myself out of my bed and move over to my bathroom.