Paladin's Oath

by M. H. Johnson

  Jess shuddered, blinking in sudden understanding. “And your name is also Midnight, isn’t it, Twilight?”

  Her familiar nodded solemnly. “It is.”

  Jess sighed. “And you would never betray me. I know that. With all my heart.”

  Twilight nodded. “More than anything else, you can count on that.”

  “Jess! What are you saying?” Her mother’s voice was near panicked.

  Her sister was blinking, suddenly putting the pieces together. “Oh no, Jess. You aren’t… oh no.”

  Jess shivered with a terrible understanding. Wordless, nameless, nevertheless she felt the weight of destiny in her heart. She knew it was time to make a choice. Her only concern was that it be the one most aligned to all she loved and believed in. She did not, after all, fear dancing with her most dangerous paramour. For every true warrior knew the consequences of having Death as their constant companion.

  Slowly, Jess drew her mithril blade. It sparkled brilliantly, even in the muted light of the room. Her mother started to cry even as Jess spoke with terrible purpose. “Was this the sword you saw in the picture, Mother? A handful of cards drawn at your eldest daughter’s birth?”

  Her mother started to shake, she turned her head away. “I hate that blade, Jess. I hate it! Don’t make me look!”

  Appolonia just stared, shaking her head, even as the beast below began to howl and bellow his rage, joined by others. The screams of terrified men and women began to ring through the great manor.

  "Answer Me, Mother!" Jess demanded, voice turning urgent.

  Yet it was her sister who answered. “Yes, Jess. I’ve seen pictures in the books Father keeps in the library. You know I once fancied history, tales of truth where you so enjoyed fancy, and so, to prove that I should be able to go off to school like you, I tried to impress Father with all I knew.” She shuddered. “I saw some dark texts in Father’s library, Jess. About treachery, battle, poisons, death.” She smiled weakly. “It killed my idealism, all the more so when I figured out that those were texts you yourself had studied as a Squire of War. But it did not kill my desire to know more. And one of the tomes spoke about the true meaning of the Cards of Fate." Apple shook her head. "Of course I memorized the family hands. I thought it would be fun to know their meaning. But Mother, she refused to tell me what yours were. That only piqued my curiosity, and so I pinched mother's key to the sacred tome's locket, and went delving in the family records, where nothing regarding births are hidden."

  Apple sighed, gazing at her sister. “The hands you were dealt speak of doom, sister. That this is not the first time you've walked upon the face of Dawn, or bled upon its soil. That your journey will take you beyond life, to places I can't even fathom.” Apple blinked fiercely, tears streaming down her cheeks. “It also means that you will die, Jess. That it is your destiny to die. Endlessly.” She shook her head fiercely. “But it's just a bunch of stupid cards, Jess. I don’t believe in destiny. We choose our fates, we all do!” Now her sister was yelling. “We don’t have to fight! We don’t ever have to leave Father’s lands again! Don’t let your life be ruled by a bunch of stupid cards!” Apple began to sob in earnest, and Jess found herself holding her sister with her off arm, soothing her tears.

  “Appolonia,” Jess said softly, “You know I would never hurt you, you know I would never want to leave you. But I need to hear you say it, Apple. You know what this sword is, what it means, don’t you?”

  “Stupid, headstrong bitch!” Apple cried, striking her sister fiercely on the chest, and Jess smiled in gentle sympathy. “All right. You win,” Apple sighed. “A perfect blade, beyond peer, like no other. Made of the fabric of legends, the heart of dreams. Pure as the blood of dragons, terrible as the essence of death. A mithril blade. Wielded by heroes, paladins, and the most terrible of foes.” She gazed intently into her sister’s eyes. “It means you are a paladin. Okay, Jess? Just like the founder of our land. You have grabbed onto and summoned your fate, and it has answered. You are a Knight of the Order of David, and you will die.”

  “I know,” Jess nodded. For all that she knew nothing of such an order, she felt the truth of her sister's declaration resonate within her very soul. “Death shall always come to claim me, sister mine. The question is not if, but how. And when.” Jess’s grin turned savage. “Trust me, Apple. Death will pay a terrible price, when he tries to claim my soul.”

  Jess turned to her mother, eyes snapping with intensity, brooking no argument or refusal. "Mother, all you need to do is look outside and see the ill green sky! The minotaurs below, bellowing their challenges even now, no doubt tearing through our people like fodder! Can't you feel it? This demesne is starting to slip into the Shadowrealms! Here, more than any place else, old symbols hold power. And we must reclaim this land. It is time. Say what needs to be said, or everyone in this manor is in peril!"

  Her mother began to shake. “Jess, I don’t know what you are talking about!”

  "You do," Jess said coldly. "I, Jessica de Calenbry, do submit my claim as an heir to the Calenbry demesne, and all those who have sworn fealty to our House. I make a cry for Claimance upon these lands; as defender and champion of the souls born and raised here. I make a cry for Precedence as she who holds Primacy in battle, and virtue among all contestants for the Turnsby holdings. Accept or refute my claim, Mother. But if you refute it, hundreds will die!"

  Her mother shuddered, gazed into Jess's fierce eyes, and gave forth a terrible sigh. “I, Agda de Calenbry, do acknowledge my daughter Jessica de Calenbry's claim. Knight-protector of these lands, defend them with blood and honor, by Rite of Domain and Primacy!"

  Jess nodded coldly. “And done.” She breathed deep and felt a curious tingle of satisfaction. And terror. Death was all around her. Innocents, dying in terrible agony. She could feel it, now. She could feel a link to everyone.

  Jess began to shake, catching sight of her mother’s expression of surprise and terror as Jess felt herself collapse to the ground. Still trembling, Jess forced herself to stand once more, knowing with terrible certainty exactly what she must do.

  "Apple, help me!" she cried, dashing back to her quarters, pulling out her trunk, which despite all her mother's attempts would open for no one save Jess herself. With a shiver, the oaken trunk popped open.

  Quickly, Jess shimmied out of her mithril armor and shift, putting on with practiced speed first her gambeson, then her lamellar armor of boiled rawhide plates, followed by thick quilted leggings, rawhide boots, and greaves of hammered bronze. Then came Jess's mithril hauberk over her head once more, flowing down to her knees. With the tightening straps already sliced off, it fit over her lamellar armor perfectly.

  It was an exquisitely effective combination. The toughened lamellar under the mithril would absorb concussive force as well as, or better than plate, and the mithril itself was utterly resistant to cutting blows. And for all that her lower legs and head were protected by bronze, the curve of the greaves, much like the curve of her padded helm, would assure that all but the most precise of blows would glance off to little effect, as steel would only bite into hammered bronze dead on, and even then, it was far, far better protection than rawhide alone.

  Jess tightened her chin strap with quick efficient movements, almost entirely dressed in less than a minute. Even Eloquin would be proud at how diligently she had practiced the many nights that vivid dreams had sent her bolt upright, screaming, and the exercise had given her some sense of purpose, something she could prepare for, as if her nightmares were a warning cry for battle to come.

  “Ye gods, you can armor up fast!” An awed Apple commended.

  "No time!" Jess snapped, jutting her hands out so her sister could quickly place on and fasten her specially made gauntlets of bronze and rawhide, each palm bare, knowing well the conduit her own dark magics needed. Her sister's help saved her precious few seconds that maneuvering the straps with her teeth would cost her.

  “Okay Apple, I’m off. Keep Mother safe, okay?”
She smiled bravely for her little sister who for some reason seemed ready to cry again.

  “Jess! Promise me you’ll be okay,” her sister pled, and Jess felt a tight hot ache in her heart.

  “I promise to fight bravely and well. I promise to do all I can to make sure you, Mother, and everyone else is safe. Beyond that, Apple, I leave for the Fates to decide.”

  She dashed for the entrance room, gazing into Johnathan’s fearful eyes. A fear he was obviously doing his best to master, which was all Jess could ask for. All four of the guardsmen looked upon Jess with something akin to awe, none of them being blind to the scene that had played out in the other room.

  “I’m going to ward these rooms,” Jess said. “Nothing will be able to enter without my leave. I need you four with me. We must protect the people under our wardship, as is our duty.”

  Johnathan saluted. “I don’t claim to understand what’s going on, Lady Jessica. But our swords are yours to command.”

  Jess nodded solemnly. “Thank you, Johnathan. Your aid is all I ask for.” Jess closed her eyes and breathed deep. “The abominations have not yet entered the manor. We can leave without fear of ambush.” Her eyes snapped open and Johnathan stepped back, even as she turned to her family once more.

  “Oh by the Angels, Jess. Your eyes!” Apple called plaintively, even as Jess waved her hand in farewell.

  “Remember, keep the windows shut. Stay here until I return, or Father or Geoffrey come with reinforcements in the days ahead. You should have at least two days of water, if worst comes to worst.” She smiled softly. “I love you both.”

  Jess shut the door as soon as Johnathon and his men filed out. Taking a deep breath, Jess felt the great manor's peril, its boards even then creaking with discord and arboreal pain as the terrible monstrosities attempted to force their way in. With a gentle touch, Jess felt a ward as strong and fierce as any she had ever made barricade her loved ones deep in the protective bosom of their rooms. Neither fire, nor smoke, nor force of arms would penetrate their hardwood quarters. Somehow Jess knew that their air would remain as fresh as a woodland breeze.

  “Follow me!” Jess cried to her men, dashing down the hallway towards the screams she heard in the great hall below, feeling the sudden ache of another life under her family’s care being cruelly snuffed out. In seconds she was down the stairs, Johnathan and his men panting behind her, beholding a scene of terror and devastation.

  7

  The windows overlooking the grand patio had been shattered. Two of the minotaur-like beasts had just torn through the fragile wards protecting the manor proper, broken and dismembered guardsmen littering the patio before them. Jess's nostrils were hit with the foul stench of death as she locked gazes with the hideous beasts.

  A tableau of horror. Dozens of guests risen for an early meal were huddled in the center of the room, more than a few of the nobles present sobbing in mortal terror. Several of the nobles armed with blades were making a valiant stand with the few surviving armsmen present, placing themselves between the huddled nobles and the vile creatures even at that moment approaching, vicious bone clubs raised high.

  “Johnathan! Help protect them!” Jess barked.

  “Yes, Lady Jess!” Her Lieutenant cried, and the four, now equipped with full shirts of mail, helmets, shields and arming swords, served as the only truly competently equipped defenders of the mass of panicked nobility. They would hopefully buy the noble guests a few seconds, should the worst occur.

  The larger of the two minotaurs, ill green eyes glowing with hate, it emitted a hideous shriek, endless souls locked in perpetual agony. Though towering over the terrified nobility, the the grand dining hall with its artfully designed arched ceiling allowed the beast plenty of room, even for its massive horned skull.

  The beast howled once more and charged, its massive weapon crashing down upon one shrieking guardsman, his blade no match for the bone club that knocked away the sword without slowing in the least, pulverizing the hapless man's skull so hard it exploded, covering the screaming nobles with brain and bone, his entire body rupturing with the force of the blow.

  “Hold your positions!” Jess’s voice cracked with authority even as she roared and charged. The raging bull was fast, snapping around to meet the perceived new threat, but Jess was faster.

  The furious beast roared, lashing out with his massive club, but Jess had already ducked under the blow, charging forward to ram her blade deep into the minotaur's belly, slicing effortlessly through entrails and the sickly green chords of abyssal power that bound the monstrous abomination of man and beast together. Its terrible bellow broke off in a sudden screech as Jess savagely tore free her blade, the creature stumbling to its knees as its entrails pooled out in a fetid blue-gray mess of slimy rot and filth.

  And Jess did not hesitate even as the creature strove to right itself, spinning around to cleave head from body, leaping back with a dancer’s grace as the massive creature collapsed in death even as the second minotaur roared and charged, its massive club shattering the marble tiled dance floor where Jess had stood but moments before, a cloud of dust and shattered rubble shooting forth.

  Jess locked gazes with the second minotaur, far larger and quicker than the first, even as she felt time slow to a crawl, her lips stretching into a fierce grin as she strove to read her foe, as she did all who dared face her across the dueling circle. The way it gripped its massive bone club, the way it shifted its balance, the way it glowered its hate at her, through death glazed eyes. Jess understood in that instant that it was no mythical beast at all, just a horrid amalgamation of beast and man, patched and stitched together by the vilest of necromancers, anchored by chords of abyssal power flowing off to realms hideous and strange, fueling the undead amalgamation with the darkest of magics.

  Magics that were an abomination to cast, utter blasphemy, arts that had been embraced with almost loving care. Jess focused her gift, the entire network of foul energies shining brilliantly before her eyes, sensing the way the chords of power pulsed and flowed, even as the beast roared and charged once more.

  Yet Jess felt no fear even as she raced forward to seize the Vor, darting left even as the creature pivoted right, flowing under the construct's furious swing even as her own blade lashed out in a tight arc, bile and curdled blood spraying forth from the wound she inflicted before spinning away from yet another fearsome overhand blow, the massive club shattering the buffet table into an explosion of kindling, tureens and plates of food sent flying through the air with wicked force, as no few surprised screams did attest.

  Her heart was pounding with fury and dark, heady joy, and Jess could feel her cheeks tighten with a mad grin. Her muscles tingled with the ecstasy and fury of battle, even as her laughter rang with madness. Never. Never did she feel so alive as when she danced with death. Her foe snorted, hateful gaze locked upon Jess, the wound to his side all but unnoticed.

  In the very instant the creature tensed and gathered itself for a charge, Jess was already there, feinting with a snapping Zwerchhau strike to the right and pivoting to the left even as the roaring minotaur's club whistled through the air with devastating force, pulverizing the tiles she had stood upon but an instant before.

  The bellowing creature had committed himself utterly to that devastating swing, Jess's blows having goaded it to a towering fury. And even as it gathered itself to wrench its club free and lash out once more, Jess struck, plunging her sword deep and hard into the creature’s unprotected side, cleaving through the beast in a spray of blood and gore, piercing its very heart.

  Jess shuddered and lurched away as a furious flood of energies poured into her even as the creature collapsed in death, the dark chords of magic that had sustained it now completely cleaved through.

  A strange stillness overtook the room. Everyone present breathing frantically as if they had been the ones to dart madly about the chamber, dodging the terrible blows that had rained down upon the now shattered marble floor. Eyes kept flickering bet
ween the two fallen beasts of nightmare and the warrior decked in brilliant mithril armor before them, shining blade sparkling like a living rainbow, looking for all the world like an ancient paladin plucked straight from the storybooks.

  Jess blinked, somehow pulling that thought out of the ether.

  “By the gods. Jess de Calenbry, is that you?” uttered an awestruck Armond, trying to resheathe his rapier with shaking hands, blinking at the travesty of shattered bodies and bloodied devastation about him in disbelief, as if he thought himself dreaming.

  “Don’t.” Jess’s voice was curt, cold, and suddenly all eyes were upon her. She felt herself begin to flush. “Don’t sheathe your sword just yet, Armond.” She caught his gaze, forcing him to meet her own. “More of them are out there. You must stand ready.” She turned to address the whole group of terrified nobility gazing at her with something akin to awe. “You must all stand ready! Anyone who has a blade to their name should be ready to use it.” She did a quick inventory of all the faces gazing at her, relieved to see the one face she most hoped to see.

  “Karine Turnsby, please come forward. Our need is urgent.”

  The young woman, near shaking, nevertheless bravely made her way forward, her face solemn. “Jess. Those creatures. They were going to kill us.” She shuddered, gazing at the massive beasts, one headless, the other near cleaved in half by Jess's terrible blade, both massive beasts utterly covered in flies, seeming to rot before their very eyes. “I don’t know how you did it, but thank you.”

  Karine bowed solemnly toward Jess, many other nobles quickly following suit. "Your reputation as an adventurer is well earned. I will make sure the bards know of your heroic battle on our behalf this day."

  Jess, anxious and feeling the screaming deaths of others on these lands rippling through her soul nodded sharply. "Karine. We have very little time. There are still others out there, and without your help, there is very little I can do to protect all the families trapped and helpless in the village nearby."