A Crimson Tale

by K. L. O Johnson

  I enter the tavern and regard a room full of men and women clustered around small wooden table stationed with wooden chairs. Feeling a familiar aura I turn to see that Altair and Varden now stand behind me, I guess I was so engrossed with the harmonious and happy atmosphere that I didn’t seem to notice them approach. I enter and lead the way to a table at the far end of the tavern. By the time we manage to make ourselves comfortable a woman has taken our orders and vaulted away. “So what’s got you down?” questions Varden and I turn to him, I didn’t say anything yet I can’t help but stare at him for a moment longer than I expected. He really did look like him. He really did look like John.

  He doesn’t seem to mind, though, I turn away.

  “Fine,” I say and Altair clears his throat. I guess he’s noticed the resemblance as well.

  “We’re going to have to stay here for some time.” says Altair and I nod. “Reports have been coming in about unusual spiking in Covenant activity.” This was information we received from Gustof before we left and were required to check all possible Covenant activity along our journey to Midra still I can’t help but wonder why they are occurring? When our orders arrive, we eat our meals in a more comfortable silence with a hint of ineptness. I try to brush it off and focus on my meal and my task after. It isn’t long until we found ourselves at the edge of the town; a coat of snow surrounds us. It’s boundless and empty no life is seen and I feel more content in this environment. The silence makes my mind feel much better more relaxed.

  “What exactly are we looking for?” questions Varden and I wonder through the blanket of snow that leave a trail of my boot marks behind me. I hear them follow.

  “Anything that appears out of the ordinary.” comments Altair. And I stop. Something is here. Something threatening…

  “Like that?” questions Varden I turn to where he stops by my side, Altair on my other side stop and turn to him as much as I did. We follow his line of sight and a roar echoes throughout the white meadow. A Sylith stands tall—a winter monster—its golden eyes regard as with anger as his front paws stand before it. It has the skeletal layout of a gorilla on Earth but the difference is it is a lot bigger and power—surviving only in the harshest weather of winter. I watch as not one stands before us but three, the two others pull themselves from within the snow. Just like how demons use the shadows to transport; they use the snow.

  “Yeah like that.” Altair growls as I hear a zing sing throughout the meadow. The sound is as comforting as the sun. I reach over my shoulder and unsheathe my Prevail.

  “Varden. Stay back.” I state. I hear a thud and turn to him. His leather satchel is on the ground as he pulls over his bow he had draped around his torso, arrows in its quiver and he takes aim.

  “Not a chance.” The icy fury in his blue eyes stops me from arguing and I turn back to the Syliths. Several things I’ve noticed about Varden these past few days, is one; he’s as stubborn as an Ox and will take more than a mountain to move him, two he’s brave and a bit thick headed sometimes and three really knows how to bring trouble. I flip from the icicles that are sent our way as enemy projectiles. I see Altair has brought up his large silver shield; he slams it into the ground where it is stationed while Varden fires from behind it with Altair. Seeing that two of them were shot down and the third now on the ground. I turn to them to see they have a look of accomplishment in their eyes.

  You know how you have those friends…the ones that try to be better than you or try to demote you even though you know that your social status is far higher than theirs. This how it felt now, my heart heavy as I recall that moment. There was a trace of truth in the lie, it was a game I wanted to play but never really back fired. This game I played with my friends, with “those” friends because I felt that they had already crossed the line. So I intended to just show them how much pain they have inflicted upon themselves by continuing to continue whatever it is they continue to talk about behind my back.

  I always knew when they were talking about me and I always knew when they were just that “money hungry”—no one likes those—they are nothing more than parasites just like my friends and just like these monsters they will fall. Still they are the same very friends that feed off of you so they can promote themselves and yet it only makes me despise them more and enjoy their downfall so much more.

  They forget they are playing a dangerous game and I’m the sharpest tool in the shed, I won’t hesitate to cut them to pieces if it means they recognize where they stand. The sight of the three monsters are ugly and fearsome as ever, still Varden appears to have this fire in his eyes—something fell to mind, I hope he isn’t like them? I think in reference to my past experiences with so called friends. There was a part of me that was happy they were dead but there’s another part of me that knew there would be more like them.

  The fire present in his eyes is something I can’t completely ignore, something I once had now though, that flame has been extinguished. He takes them down the moment they rise; Altair is quick with his arrows—no surprise there. That man could take down a whole army as can I; that’s what we were trained to do “no mercy, no regret, no chance” the creed of our Order “there’s no mercy given to you from your enemy so do what you must without regret if you don’t you’ll have no chance of survival” those words as far as I can remember, have been embedded in my mind. Through thick and thin they’ve stayed.

  That is what I live by that is what I’ll die by.

  Several more Syliths fall from under siege of my party. I have yet to join the fight Preying on their weak points I intercept one of their current attacks, I take him down, my sword slides through his torso where I stand over his now deceased body. The next one draws towards me. I regard it with a deathly stare. “Nindo…” whispers one and I frown. How could they possibly know who I am? Do they have any connection to Golgotha?

  “Kal?” I hear Altair utter wearily. He had a reason to. Anyone who knew who I really is after my blood. They were after my powers and if desperate they were after my trust fund. I glare at the Sylith. How dare it think it can intimidate me!

  “Are you done ugly?” I question unamused, their numbers only increase and we find ourselves in a full blown battle, the frost beasts continue to use their element to their advantage. There was a time when the snow turned hard and I was grasped in a large fist. Not even the arrow from the men helped but I managed to slice my way through and wiggle out of its grip before it decided to munch out on me. Still their icicles continue to smash against my iron—like scales it exploding against my form as I run towards them at full speed.

  It is not as fast as it would have been if I were in my Nephalem form but when you’re kind of stuck in between both forms “Human and Nephalem” and lost your abilities you are as fast as your muscles can take you which is fast enough to not allow the snow beasts to catch me as I slip around their ankles and bring several down on their knees. I manage to take out eight or so while Altair stays by Varden keeping the shield for him—knowing he will be killed by the icy mortars and daggers—easily. Sometimes I forget how fragile mortal men are. I hear another roar and I recognize it. It roars like we do. I turn to Altair. His expression is what I feel—shock.

  A Frost Dragon.

  I don’t like the idea of fighting our cousin race like the Nephilim so instead I drop my guard for long enough that a Sylith knocks me to the side, his large hand is forced down on top of me as it’s sharp teeth growl down at me. I wiggle under it to have it force its hand around my slender form which honestly made me feel tiny and I wasn’t a tiny woman—I am slender yet toned. Fit for battle. Fit for birth, I scowl. I hear large footsteps approach and I freeze. A snow blizzard picks up out of nowhere and I see piercing blue eyes staring back at mine. It only approaches. I can hear the calls of Altair and Varden but only faintly. I feel hypnotized—lost even.

  ‘Nephalem,’ I hear its words gently tickle my mind. ’Why have you come?’ I don’t answer. ’Why have you come?’ its voice more dema
nding in my mind.

  ‘We have been informed that Covenant activity has been occurring around these parts.’ Its eyes lock on to mine and I feel a sense of not fear but comfort.

  ‘There is no Covenant bound monstrosities, I have seen to that.’ It states. I nod.

  ‘Still we were given orders.’ I think and it doesn’t say anything for some time. The blizzard stops suddenly and I know it is the dragon’s doing. Dragons do not open their mouths to speak so they communicate mentally just like most species of the Mystic, Supernatural and Otherworldly. There are some species in this universe who speak through verbal communication because they lack the mental capacity to use their telepathic side of their brains.

  ‘Come.’ It says. ’Bring your friends too.’ It turns from us and the Sylith turn from us and follow the dragon as it wonders across the white ground. The snow causes the blue crystal and scale dragon’s wings and body to glisten under the sun. I couldn’t help but admire it from a distance. Altair and Varden stand over me as they both help me to my feet I didn’t notice they had arrived since my gaze was locked on the dragon’s retreating form and I couldn’t help but think.

  ‘So that’s what we look like?’ Altair turns to me with an odd expression.

  “What do you mean?” he asks. I shake my head and smile at Varden’s confusion.

  “Nothing, Come on.” I say and lead the way. Altair follows beside me. Varden I can feel hesitates.

  “Are you sure?” he asks from where he still stands.

  “Positive.” I say over my shoulder and continue to walk. We enter a cave at the end of the large open white frost covered meadow and I glance at the frozen layout of the cave. I can’t help but smile at the sight of the dragon. A natural sky light is displayed upon the dragon where it stands on all four paws—tall and proud—fearsome and brave. I couldn’t help but agree at what they now mean when they say “dragons are elegant yet formidable creatures” it made me feel a bit of pride for what I have. I have pride? That’s new. I stop at the edge of the lighting where it transcends down from the single opening high above. I feel Varden stand closer to me, I turn to him and see him eyeing the snow beasts around us with fear that he tries to hide.

  It’s evident in his eyes.

  Like the animals I’m forced to hunt at times have the same sight of fear in their eyes. I don’t say anything. ’Why are we here?’ I ask.

  ‘To give you information of course, you will not find any Covenant groups here but you’ll find them in the northern mountains there they have set up camp and driven out the natives there.’

  ‘Why?’ I ask.

  ‘That is what you must find out.’

  *.*.*

  We hike up a large hill after passing through a dense snow covered forest. We stop to rest on several boulders and I pull out my canteen that was held to my waist through my energy bonds. The Nephilim have a similar way to hold things to their body while humans seem to use magnets, glues or heat to hold or mound things together. I honestly can’t remember the last time I needed water than again my body is different. There’s no need to have water as much as humans after all we were built for war—it’s not expected that you’ll find water on a war torn world or food for that matter but that’s why we were trained from a young age.

  “So what do you think is up there?” Varden questions as he scans the brink of the tor. It won’t take much longer until we reach the bend but I wondering what were expected to find exactly that dragon seemed old and wise so I trust his words for now but I don’t trust it as of yet.

  The trusting of a person takes a lot longer. Even Altair is still working back my trust after he withheld information from me—one part of me says “he did it for the better” the other concludes conspiracy. I try to disregard the other but I can’t help not trusting him right now.

  “We don’t know yet but that’s what we’re going to find out.”

  “Why are we doing it?” I ask and catch the attention of both men. Their blue eyes lock onto me and I continue, “I mean there are Shadow Knights and Rangers they do this whole Intel thing all the time.” I say and feeling slightly annoyed at my words why on earth our Chief made us do this when we had to escort Varden back to Midra.

  “Don’t know?” says Varden. “Maybe he was trying to give you guys more to do?”

  “Doubt it.” I retort.

  “There has already been Shadow Knights and Rangers here.” says Altair. He turns his gaze on me ignoring Varden. “We’ve already been given Intel I just haven’t had a chance to tell you.” I glare at his words. He has some nerve. Who does he think he is keeping stuff like that from me?

  “And you didn’t tell me because you don’t trust me?” I jump down from the boulder and place my canteen on the side of my utility belt where it is often positioned. “Let me guess orders right?” The words coming from my mouth surprisingly weren’t painful. I couldn’t help but act very sarcastic. “So you decided that we go see the dragon for what? So you can learn more or was this also a part of your plan?” I question feeling almost disgusted with myself. I’ve been humiliated and shamed so many times that I can’t even begin to count yet now that I am where I am today and have not uttered a single lie ever since I took my vows as a Knight. I can’t believe the damage I’ve managed to cause. It’s been three hundred years and he still remembers. “You know I’m used to people not trusting me. I don’t trust me either but that doesn’t mean you can rub it in!” I spit and storm away.

  I brush past Altair and not bother looking at him and make my way towards the top of the hill, the snow becomes a lot paler under the sun. I sit down in the snow and scan the horizon. There’s nothing but I know there’s more to it than meets the eye. I honestly couldn’t believe him some people know how to forgive and forget but not him and yet he’s the one that is actually trying to patch things up with us—how ironic is that?

  There is no sound, no movement, the layout before me is just empty and lifeless like me. What’s the point of living if you have no heart? I would wonder to myself at times. There was a time long ago when I wanted to take my life but couldn’t because I thought of it as a cowards move a pathetic act of giving up. I guess what I didn’t realize then but did now. I have already given up but still live and breathe.

  A gentle whistle sounds through the air and I look up. My eyes wide where I bring up my forearm guard, the arrow is deflected and I stand on my feet. Many more arrows arrive and I deflect them easily as my eyes are sharp to take in that which not all will see. “My…my, haven’t you become stronger.” says a familiar voice. I turn to the sound and see a woman in black armor her face now covered. I stare at the woman before me, she tilts her head to the side and I fight the urge to ring her neck where she stands and wipe away any self-confidence she has in my presence.

  “Golgotha,”

  “Yes. It is. I.” she states coyly. I clench my hands tight by my sides. She glances down at my hands under my cloak not that she can see them but my body language is all she needs and she knows it. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” she churns and I force my face to become expressionless—I know how to fight her—show nothing. “Still fighting the emotions I see. Tell me…wouldn’t it be better to remove all those stupid emotions? Wouldn’t it be better to feel nothing?”

  I don’t say anything.

  “The silent treatment I see.” Her form slowly becomes black and gaseous; she drifts around me like a breezing current her voice close to my ear. “Hand him over and I’ll give you that freedom. I’ll release you from those holy emotions.” she whispers and I swing my fists around nothing touches her—nothing fazes her. “You and I are one in the same, you know that. We have been running around each other for as long as I can remember yet neither of us has given in. Have we? They’ll never accept you and they’ll never trust you.” My eyes widen at the word: trust—as much as I hate to admit it—she’s right. They’ll never trust me and it is that same reason why I can never be a leader. It is that same reason w
hy, I can never be a lover.

  “You’re after Varden, aren’t you?” I ask. Her razor-like teeth, stretch into a smile across the darkness as her black gaseous form refuses to give away her identity—to give away, her origin. It refuses to display the female that she was instead—her body—a mist—of darkness.

  10:Betrayal

  © 2014—All rights reserved by author

  “We’ll done, very well done.” she mocks. ”You’ll never be a part of that world you’ve always wanted. You’ve been dropped into the darkness and left to die. When you suffered no one was there to quell the pain or the sorrow, no one was there to remind you who you are. No one was your real friend.” Her words hit home and I fight back the tears that threaten to expel down my face. I refuse to cry. Not in front of her!

  “Why don’t you hand him over willingly and I’ll give you what you desire,” I feel her hand on my shoulder as her lips are close to my ear. The gas expels around me engulfing me in a storm of obscurity. “I’ll give you your solitude.” I nod. “Take him to Midra there you’ll find a man dressed in black clothes of a man with a golden tattoo. Covering his features, he’ll wait for you at the stroke of midnight, at the edge of Midra. Deliver him to us deliver the Prince.” With that lingering in the air, she’s gone.

  By the time I return Altair and Varden are deep in conversation, I can hear them talk about things I’ve done and Varden says, “That’s all?” I’m surprised at his nonchalant reaction; it makes me think differently of him. I wonder if he really accepted me for who I am rather than what I’ve done—if that’s the case he has my complete trust and I know at that moment I would do whatever it takes to protect him from Golgotha. He seems to notice my eyes on him and he turns to me, his face is soft, a small smile pulls at his lips that make my chest lightly flutter. I continue to stare I don’t know how long we locked eyes for but by the time it’s broken by Altair standing in front of me with his hands on his hips.