by Heath Pfaff
I could see the men clearly in the vortex of speed I'd created. Four of those remaining were dressed as guardsmen, wearing the colors of the kingdom. They were humans, gruff faced and handling their weapons with the finesse of trained killers. The fifth figure was the most startling. It came at me through the slowed world with agility, and deadly intent, dressed in a cloak of Lucidil fabric. I recognized that fifth figure's face immediately. Silent. He had vanished after I took the crown, along with two other Knights of Ethan, leaving our numbers at a scant eleven, since Lucidil's death.
The enemy fell upon me, the humans coming within range before Silent could. To them I dealt out death, ripping through their fragile forms with almost no resistance. From one of the falling men, I stole a sword. The blade wasn't weighted well for my preferred fighting style, but it would be enough. I charged to meet Silent, forcing my body to propel me even faster. My heart pounded upon the inside of my ribs like a drum beat to which I wove a dance of murder. My blade snaked out, and Silent threw himself backwards in the nick of time, barely avoiding the blow that I had intentionally aimed wide, so that if it struck, it would only injure. I could have killed him easily enough, but I still remembered that he had been a friend once. Even though he'd betrayed me before, I still stayed my blade.
A glint of motion behind me caught my attention, and I spun around just in time to see two other Knights of Ethan, Swift and Merciless, two I knew only as the traitors who had left with Silent after Lucidil's fall, rushing towards Malice where she lay curled up in the corner. I traced the line from them to the window, and knew how they had gotten into my room without alerting the guards. It was a long climb, but not an impossible one, especially for a former Knight.
I broke from my fight with Silent and dived back across the room. Swift was reaching for Malice, and I forced myself even faster, a roar escaping my throat as I charged. The two Knights looked up, shock evident in their faces. They were not expecting me, and certainly couldn't hope to get their defenses up in time.
Behind me, even in the density of slowed time, I could hear the splinter of wood as my door caved in. I didn't know who was entering, but I hoped that it was my guards. Silent was chasing after me, but he was not as fast as I. My borrowed blade licked out and caught Swift at the elbow of his outstretched arm. The limb fell away easily, separated in an instant by the sharp blade I wielded, and he jumped back, clutching at the injury. I did not slow my advance. I skidded across the stone floor of my chamber, coming to a rest between the enemy and Malice, interposing my body in front of their target. Why did they want Malice?
They will take her and use her for their pleasures. The fell beast growled inside of me. I heard a snarl escape my lips. She is mine. The beast's voice snapped venomously.
"Mine." I whispered, an echo of the monster's words, in a voice barely recognizable as my own. Rage boiled from within me, radiating out from my being. Swift was retreating, trying to exit through the window, and Merciless had gone pale, holding his sword out before him as he slowly backed towards the exit. Silent, however, was not retreating. He charged in from my side, his blade leading the way. My heart beat like a drum, and I was moving again. Silent seemed to be crawling through the air, his killing intent obvious on his face. My blade snaked down the side of his own, knocking it wide, even as it cut a deep line down the inside of his arm and slid effortlessly into base of his shoulder, splintering bone, and parting muscle as it tore through his body like paper. His blade dropped to the ground. The threat was not ended, however. Seeing me engaged, Merciless was closing the distance that had been between us. I felt his blade point touch my back before I realized that I had left my flank unwatched. I spun and jumped with all the speed I could muster. Instead of piercing my heart his blade passed through my lower chest, below my left lung, and wedged into my rib cage.
My vision blurred with a dominating fury. I released my sword, leaving it in Silent's shoulder, and lashed out with my claws. My hand impacted Merciless's face like an axe striking over ripe fruit. The impact blew his head to pieces, and his body slumped to the ground in a mess of blood.
The world lurched back into regular speed even as my guards, having broken down the door, finally reached Silent. Swift was out the window, climbing down a rope tied there. I didn't bother with him. The two black cloaks that had been guarding my room picked up Silent roughly, for he had slumped to the ground on his knees. My sword still hung from his body.
I took a moment to check on Malice, who sat huddled in the corner sobbing, making sure she was uninjured, before I walked back over to Silent.
"Why, Silent?" I demanded of him, my voice still more the Fell Beast's than my own. "When you left, did I ever send anyone after you? Did I ever do anything that you should hate me so deeply?"
Silent looked at me incredulously, as though I were out of my mind.
"First you ruined my dreams and killed the only man with a vision that could bring peace, and then when I left you behind, you had me hunted endlessly. I have been dodging your assassins for years." The once-Knight spat at my feet. "Yet you would stand here before me and lie about it."
"I never sent anyone after you." I said firmly, my eyes locked on his.
Silent just laughed. "Then you have less control of this country than my resources have led me to believe."
His words cut to the heart of the matter. Obviously someone had indeed been hunting Silent. I could see the feral look in his eyes, and could feel the weight of truth in his words. The country was out of control, and I was unable to rein it in. Though I was the king, I was merely another man along for the ride.
"My King, you are injured." One of my Black Patch Brigade guards said. I looked at him, for a moment not certain what he meant, and then I looked down. A sword point still protruded from my flesh, the hilt, I knew, was sprouting from my back.
"A moment. . ." I told the black cloak. The creature nodded, and resumed his solemn duty of holding the prisoner.
"Who sent you? Under whose orders did you come to kill me?" I asked, forcing myself as calm as possible. My voice, I noticed, had returned to normal.
"I was approached by a beggar in a bar. He handed me my orders, and I took them. I do not know who wanted the job done, but the task was not to kill you. We were supposed to kidnap the girl, and kill you only if the opportunity presented itself. We were informed that you left the room almost every night by this time. We didn't expect you to be here." Silent stated simply.
My anger flared once more. What would anyone want with Malice? That they threatened my life I did not care, but that Malice was being put in danger was something I could not abide.
". . . and you do not know who would want such a service? Where were you to take Malice after you'd abducted her?" I asked once more, my voice just shy of the growl of the beast.
Silent chuckled weakly. He was losing blood, and he was not as powerful a healer as was I. "You have enemies everywhere, and friends almost nowhere. Any number of men are awaiting your downfall. As for where we were to take the girl, I'll die before I tell you that."
"I see." I replied coldly. I could have had him tortured, and the truth might have come from him, or he might just lie. I could never be certain, and the time it might take to get anything from him would likely render the information useless.
"Let him go." I said finally.
The guards did not give any outward sign of surprise, but Silent's face wore shock prominently.
"Are you going to kill me yourself, then?" He asked.
I stepped into the speed, moving as fast as my injured body would permit. I shot forward, grabbed the hilt of my borrowed sword, and pulled it from his shoulder, and then let the world resume its normal pace around me.
Silent gasped in pain, staggered forward a little, but did not fall. He looked at me as though I were the last thing he might see. There was fear in his eyes, and in his posture, but he did not speak out. It wasn't pride or strength that stilled his tongue. He held only fear. It was hate
that kept him from telling me what I wanted to know. Fear and hate. The Silent I had known was truly dead.
"You can go. Follow Swift. Leave this city, and don't come back. From here out, you will be on a kill-on-sight order within the capital. I shall try to find out who is sending assassins after you, and see that it stops. I believe I know who to talk to about that." It did not take a great leap of logic to guess that Ethaniel had acted to stifle a possible traitor. I would need to have words with him on the matter. I did not savor the prospect.
"I'll probably try to kill you again." Silent muttered quietly.
"Next time we meet, I'm going to end your life, Silent." I told him. "Not because you are a threat to me, but because you are a threat to those around me. This time I give you your life because you were once my only friend, but I'll never show you such a kindness again." The words were cold, and I delivered them with an impassiveness I did not feel. Inside I was a storm of emotional distress, somewhere between grief at the final loss of a once trusted companion, and rage at that past companions attempted abduction of Malice. Had I not been there. . . It didn't help to dwell upon it.
"Leave." I snapped, and Silent jumped and ran for the window, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.
After he was out of the window, I walked to it and watched him descend to the ground. Once he reached the ground, I unlatched his roped from the cross beam it had been lassoed to, and drew it up, tossing it onto the floor. Malice had stopped crying, and was now on the bed, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She was watching me with concern and confusion on her face. I approached the two black cloaks who still stood, awaiting new orders.
I turned to the nearest. "Draw this sword from my back." I ordered him. He took a step forward, and then stopped. A look of mixed emotions crossed his face.
"I may hold no sword that draws the blood of my king." He intoned before stepping back, and looking at me blankly.
I sighed heavily. I was beginning to feel tired. My injury was wearing on me as my body tried to heal it, and was unable to do so. Malice was getting out of bed, walking toward me. She seemed hesitant, but there was determination on her face.
"I can do it." She said. I considered her for a moment. She had the strength, and the skill with arms to pull it out without causing any more damage, so long as she applied them.
"It needs to be pulled straight out, preferably as fast as possible." I told her.
She nodded and circled around behind me. I could see that she was nervous. In her mind, she had never killed an enemy, and never dealt with such a bloody situation.
"Just keep your hands steady, relax, and draw the blade straight back." I told her calmly, keeping my voice as soothing as possible. I felt the pressure on the blade as she took the hilt in her hand. She moved fast, drawing the blade out with such precision that I barely felt the motion. I sighed in relief as I heard the sword clatter to the ground. Malice was at my side in a moment.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?" She asked concernedly.
"No, I feel much better now." I replied, and the words were true enough. My body was already working on repairing the terrible wound. I could feel the burning. "Let us find another room to rest in for the night."
"Guards," I called the black cloaks. They snapped to attention. "I want this room cleaned, the bodies disposed of. Inform Ethaniel of the events that transpired. Send a steward to prepare a new room for me to use in the future. For tonight, I will be sleeping in the guest room next door. Post a guard on the ground floor below the window from here on out. No more disturbances tonight."
The orders given, I took Malice and we left for the guest room. I was tired, and growing more so by the minute. Healing was hard work. We entered the small adjacent chamber and made our way to the bed. I was leaning heavily upon Malice by that point, though she seemed not to mind. I sat down on the edge of the feather mattress heavily, and was about to fall backwards when Malice stopped me.
"At least take off your bloody clothes." She said. "I know it's late but. . ." I could see how uncomfortable my bloodied, disheveled state made her.
I nodded. She was right. I shouldn't lay in bed covered in blood. I drew off my shirt, though I left my pants on. There was little to no blood on them, and I was not inclined to undress myself that much in Malice's presence. My wounds had closed, though they were still healing both outside and in. The line where the sword had broken my flesh was brilliant red, and stung fiercely. I used my shirt to clean the blood and mess from my fur. Malice had to help me. She brought in a pitcher of water from the draw-tap in the guest rooms bath facility, and helped me get rid of the last of the mess. Cleaned, I tossed my shirt on the floor and laid back in bed. Malice curled up at my side, drawing the blankets up over us both.
"I thought we were going to die." She said softly.
"We can't die yet. There is too much we need to get done." I answered, pulling her close to me with my one good arm before sleep swept me away. I did not dream.
I woke long before the dawn, but I did not leave the bed immediately. Instead, I waited for Malice to wake up as well. How she slept so long every night, I did not know. As a Knight, with the changes to my body, I needed only a few hours of sleep every week when not injured or fighting constantly, and I could survive on less. Injuries, or long stretches of pushing my limits, could change the needs of my body, but on any average day, sleep was not essential. Even if I forced myself to rest, I rarely slept an entire night. Malice should have been the same.
I lay on my back, in the exact position I'd fallen asleep, but Malice had rolled onto her side. I could feel her back against me, rising and falling with every breath she took. As she inhaled, her skin, even through her nightgown, felt like fire against my own. I resisted the desire to move closer to her. I waited in the silent darkness, my thoughts drifting to the troubles of the kingdom.
The sun eventually began to stream through the window of the room, brightening the interior of the guest chamber. I felt my bed companion stir, and then she jumped, as though she had been startled. Her arms went out wide, and she looked frightened until she turned over and her arm struck me in the chest. She spun the rest of the way in bed, and though she still looked sleepy, she wore a smile on her face.
"You stayed the entire night." She announced, her eyes sleepy, but a brilliant, almost jewel-like, green in the early morning light.
"I thought you could use the company." I answered
Her smile brightened. "Thank you." She said, and then her arms were around me, her chest pressed against me, and we were embracing. Desire welled up in me anew.
Finally we parted, and I found that it took a sizable amount of willpower to force myself to leave the bed. I needed to get my mind focused on the day's tasks. After the previous night's events, I knew that I would need to speak to Ethaniel. He would doubtless have a few things to say, and I had a few of my own to bring up. Most pointedly, I wanted to know why Ethaniel had sent assassins after Silent without verifying such an order with me. He had overstepped his bounds. How many other times had he done so?
I sent one of the black cloaks guarding the door for the steward, who I had bring a fresh set of clothes for Malice and me. We took turns in the bath room, changing, and preparing ourselves for the day. I dressed in the clothing popular amongst the Knights of Ethan. My shirt was dark gray, almost black, with no sleeves to impede the movement of my Fell Beast arms, or arm, in my case. The pants were black, loose fitting, and ended just below the knee. These allowed for my legs to move freely at very high speeds, a necessity for a fighter such as myself. Besides, Fell Beast legs did not afford the fit of a standard pair of pants. Above it all I wore a cloak. When I was just a Knight of Ethan, I generally wore one of the shifting garments made from Lucidil fabric, but as the king, I was generally given a cloak of vivid blue to adorn myself in. I preferred the shifting cloak, but the castle staff preferred me to have on an outfit which would allow them to identify me quickly. I was told that this was so that I could be pa
id "proper respect" by all who saw me, but I felt that it was much more likely that my bright cloak was a warning to keep silent, and keep distance. As a Knight people feared to speak to me, as a king, people rarely wanted to speak to me, unless it was to air a grievance, or request a gift.
Laouna was adorned in a simple sun dress of dark green. It was longer than the summer outfit she'd gotten herself the day before, and was far more adept at hiding her more feminine points, but it was still a lovely outfit on her. The green, a color that matched her eyes exceedingly well, also served to highlight her vivid, red hair and pale skin. Dressed as a warrior, Malice had always been beautiful, but dangerous, a goddess of war. Adorned as any other girl might be, she somehow transcended the mundane, and still seemed every bit the goddess. Perhaps though, she seemed more a deity of innocence than ought else. I loved her no less for her loss, but I missed the master of blades who I'd fallen in love with originally.
Clothed and ready for the day, we set out for the kitchen. Malice ate twice a day, and though I generally ate less frequently, the wear of the night before had left me with a fierce hunger. My wound was still healing, though I knew on the outside it would appear to be completely repaired. Inside I could still feel the burn of muscle and flesh mending, accompanied by a sharp pain with every step I took, a pain that reminded me all was not yet well. Even amongst the Knights I was a miraculous healer, but my body could only do so much. I was lucky that no vital organs had been pierced. Those were always much more difficult to heal, since to heal properly, those pierced organs needed to be working. I had survived many blows that should have permanently injured, or killed me.
After eating, we made our way to my public study, where I would take care of the early business of the day, and work on my confounding pile of official documents. Of course, I knew that morning would not be one of my most productive before I even reached the study. I would have the business of the night before to handle. The door stood open when I reached the office.
