"State your business here. Mor Vendrel is closed to visitors at the moment."
Two knights stood in front of the tall steel gates of the great city as the next day was present. The walls were built so very high. Made of this gray brick with large lines of metal a long ways apart striping the enormous wall all around it. You could very well see through the large gaps of the gates. The most noticeable thing to take in were the levels of the place. At the middle, a higher elevation of ground with tall towers for the castle that was finely crafted to look smoother despite it being made of rough stones from the earth. The wood for roofs of the towers painted black with the Imperial sun flags flapping in the wind. Below that level, smaller towers and fancy homes for the nobles. Below that, the level where she and they were standing, for the more modest and not so wealthy individuals. She raised and threw a leg over her horse after releasing the reins, doing so and landing on the stone of the ground on the bridge which hovered over a loudly running stream.
"I am from Winter's Ark. I hold valuable information for only his Majesty's eyes. I wish to meet the audience of his Steward, at the least." She said.
She held little anxiousness or doubt. One Knight had furrowed his brows while the other spoke.
"Never heard of you. Be on your way." He ordered.
Davina's brow raised.
"Wait- Look at her, Parthus. Her cloak-" The other observed, pointing to her.
Imperial cloaks typically were a creamy white with golden outlines and the insignia on the front and back in the middle.
"Ah, I know who this is! You're that girl under Legate Dae-Xing. You must be, he's mentioned trying to get you occupied here before." The nameless man stated.
Davina kept her cool, appearing quite calm. What else could she do except agree? This would give her better access to the city. But, she did have to manage to get herself to the Savencroner before he went off to some other place.
"Yes. Now, I deeply require to be let through those gates. Do I have your permission for entry?" She asked, acting as if she was in a rush.
Parthus looked at her skeptically, then glancing at his partner with a clear bond between them. This must've been a friendship years ongoing.
With the trust he had for the other, he sighed.
"Very well. Keep in mind that foolishness won't be tolerated." He stated.
She stared and nodded, with the nameless one soon quickly raising his hand up with the gate creaking soon afterwards to be raised.
The Knights were dressed quite well. Fitted in a full heavy cuirass with gauntlets and greaves fitted with hard and smooth appearing steel. They had gold fitted Along the outlines as well as for the expertly designed sun on their chest of gold.
She turned around, soon going back to her horse and climbing onto her faithful steed. With a puff, she had soon begun a light gallop through the city. The gates were lowered with a loud thud that made her horse jump a bit with a worried neigh and the buck of her head in defiance. Davina immediately soothed her by rubbing along her neck.
"Shhh, easy girl." She said, softly speaking as she looked around.
Every time she came the place seemed bigger. She had only been here perhaps once or twice in all the time of her near few years off of her third decade in this world. Which, her age had been paused indefinitely. She rode her horse forward, slowing down for the sake of the busy people passing by that she didn't wish to bump into. It was slightly aggravating with the immense population but also more worrisome since there were noticeably a younger crowd moving between the people too. Then, she came to a clearing where there was a massive path of stone in one big circle. There were stands and buildings surrounding it. Stores for various things. Weapons, armors, trinkets, whatever you could think of. There were farmers trying to make a living. Plenty of drunken tavern boys stumbling about and laughing together as there was also plenty of singing. It was odd for such a bigger place to have more innocence. Less violence than that ridiculous town of Brytwood. However, her eyes caught something quite alarming ahead.
"Shit." She muttered.
There was a line of soldiers moving through the center of a pathway connected to this circle. People moved out of the way. Davina quickly pulled the reins to the side to go to the right, or any other direction would be preferable. If that nameless guard at the beginning was observant, they most likely would be more so. She stressed moving off of the way to avoid any unnecessary interaction. She eventually got to a point where she was a good way away and she could dismount her steed and then quickly get to work on making herself more less obvious.
Davina jerked the chain of her cloak off and pulled it to her front, quickly folding it and tossing it aside in the bushes. She was seemingly only dressed in these shoulder guards, gauntlets, and her greaves. She had on a dark leather tunic that only went as low as below the thighs a bit. With that, she clutched the reins of her horse and simply waited. Watching as the soldiers went by.
"Greyson don't!" A girl suddenly yelled amidst the somewhat surrounding silence.
A boy, just barely into his double digits ran out between two people and stumbled down in front of the two horses and men who were following two others, making the horses buck upwards a little. The boy had just been trying to see the inspirational Imperials as they marched. He was too short to simply stay in the back.
"Dammit boy!" A knight yelled.
He controlled his horse but the line behind him stopped. As did the superiors to the front. The girl, probably the boys elder sister, ran out and quickly grabbed his arm to stand him up.
"I'm so sorry, sir! It was an accident!" She apologized so quickly.
"Y-Yes! It was an honest mistake!" The boy added.
"Fucking hell, you stupid children!" The knight soon hopped off his horse.
He grabbed the girl's arm, jerking her away and shoving her aside into the other knight to whom had caught her after he was off his horse.
He took the boy, grabbing both his arms.
"Do you not know what the fuck it means to stay out the way?!" He yelled, being this abnormally enraged man.
Davina's eyes stared in near disbelief. The temperament was absolutely bewildering. Disgusted, she prayed… For their safety, but also for the knights sake.
"I said I was sorry!" The boy was nearly frightened to tears as the man simply took it as an attitude and I then backhanded him with a brutal sound. The boy's head immediately whipped to the side with a loud yelp as he had almost immediately begun crying.
The sister yelled.
"Stop it!"
Her lips pressed together firmly as her jaw clenched. This was just awful. She hated how she felt so required to help them. The one holding the girl smiled slightly as the other beat onto the boy. There was no longer any debate or reluctance. When she saw those two kids in trouble…
Davina wouldn't accept any other outcome but them surviving such an encounter.
"Next time-" He yelled between kicks to the boys back.
"You'll stay- Out- My way!" His voice went hoarse nearly.
Then, the next scene unfolded pretty quickly. A dark haired woman had moved through the crowd, going up to the horse that no longer held a repulsive knight. She jerked the heavy shield from it, circling around the horse to quicken her steps as she approached. The one holding the girl just barely was able to process what was to happen next.
"Hey." Davina called out behind the knight kicking the boy. She got his attention, him turning around with rage before she reeled the shield back with both hands and soon slammed it across his face with a sickening crack and thud. The knight immediately stumbled to the side. She dropped the shield, swinging her boot as hard as she could with little restraint to kick him right in the face, doing so to the point his helmet came off.
"You're worthless." She hissed, disgusted with him. Her hateful silver eyes then looked to the boy with concern, seeing him all balled up and shaking. Then, with no time to aid the poor child, her attention was caught by the girl being shoved to the side with the other knight quickly drawing his sword and taking a sprinting step to thrust his blade right through her since she had no armor. With that, Davina thrust her hand to her left hip to even more quickly draw her own sword and swing it to slam into the other out of the aim for her chest as she let her blade tip down to hold it upside down while she thrust herself forward to put it to his neck. He grunted, glaring down at her with much irritation.
"I wouldn't." The knight said, frozen in place unless he wanted his throat slashed. She scoffed.
"I just might." She retorted, sternly.
She hated how she put herself here. Risking her own well deserved justice to end a conflict. But, these were children. Surely they wouldn't have ever deserved such a heinous thing to happen to them. The boy probably would've been beaten to death mercilessly. The girl probably violated in the most repulsive and unforgivable way.
"Oh my God! Greyson!" Another woman nearly screamed in terror as she shoved her way through the crowd and ran to the boy. An older woman, one who clearly cared for the boy ran to his side and quickly cupped his face and cradled him. He was very much alive.
"I'm sorry, Mother-" He said, coughing out a breath.
She told him not to apologize, but to simply breathe as she held him tightly, quickly standing to hold him to her. He was able to stand, thankfully, with the mother extending her arm out to hold her daughter. Her poor children were frightened to the core. Then, a sigh emitted from one of the other soldiers. The superior leading, the military governor.
"Honestly." He said, with a low and truly unsurprised voice.
A thud was heard. Him dismounting his horse as his slow steps were soon to circle to the side of the knight in peril.
"So much fuss over two children? You both seemed to have lost your heads." He stated, eyeing his dark gaze between them.
He soon raised his hand up to put his fingertips to the blade of Davina's as if to lower it. She didn't let it move. His eyes then transfixed onto her.
"Lower the blade, if you will." He calmly demanded.
"And let these few get killed because these children got their march intervened?" She asked, rhetorically.
The knight with a blade to his neck only grunted. He was clearly beginning to hate this woman already.
The superior officer to the hateful man soon withdrew a deep breath.
"The family will be spared. Even you. I simply don't have the time or luxury to deal with petty issues." He said, seemingly not very interested in even this truly violent issue.
The knight seemed to have furrowed his brows in disbelief.
"Sir-" He hissed.
"Silence, boy. Get your brother out of the road and get back up on that horse. We have a mission. It does not lie here." The military governor stated.
Davina kept her glare to the knight. Much to the vice versa. With the man's fingers still laid on the blade to press it down. She finally lowered it. He did the same with his.
"Now then," The leader added.
"Get out of the road." He firmly stated.
Davina finally turned her silver orbs to him. He was a fairly tall man, the military governor. He was fair skinned, having a thin face with that same look in his hazel eyes that matched his tone. Disinterest. His hair was short, cut to one side with a few strands across one side of his forehead. Not too much age touched his face. But, you could see plenty of gray at the sides and a few streaks up top. They had never seen each other before. He was pretty thin for such an allegedly powerful figure. She eyed him down and up with disdain before she shoved her blade into her sheath and soon just passed by the knight, bumping shoulders with him as she had walked off into the crowd. She could feel his eyes on her, too. What a relief, this was. The convenience of a man's uncaring attitude towards life saved her revenge. She released a deeply taken breath in relief as she moved between people who somewhat moved out of her way.
"Wait!" She heard the familiar voice behind her.
She stopped, turning her head to see the poor woman holding her beaten and frightened children.
"Thank you, thank you so much! The soldiers here they-" She nearly stuttered.
"They are horrible- Please, take this as thanks for saving my children. They are all I have left." The poor woman had offered a mere jewel. A flawed, but still beautiful ruby.
Worth a couple hundred crowns at most. Davina looked down at it and raised a brow, then looking back at her.
"That's very kind." She said.
However, the dead Knight had extended her hand out as if to take it. However, she did this to close the peasants hand around it. Their eyes then met again.
"But not necessary. Use it for you and your children's gain." She said.
What use would she have for it? Taking it and knowing they were in desperate need. While her body would need for nothing.
"Thank you…- You're a saint." The mother repeated.
"Thank you." Davina said, nodding her head once before turning away.
She went to tie the reins to a post. Afterwards, she leaned to the satchel and soon plucked a carrot out of it. She broke it into little bits and fed it to Beatrix while she looked around. What a fortunate turn of events. That aside, after feeding the horse of hers, it was time. She knew that she could not afford to waste any more time here, no matter what. She gently caressed the underside of her horse's jaw, patting the beast's neck before looking at her prized and greatly valued steed. Her eyes dulled from frustration to visible sentiment.
"You've been a great help in my life, girl." She said, whispering the animal as she petted it.
"You'll be free once I retrieve what's mine." She spoke in regards to her life.
She quietly promised she wouldn't be long. With that, she gave one last pet to the loyal horse before stepping passed her. She went around the crowd of people, turning the corner of the massive stone crafted buildings with brick roofs and wooden outlines for edges, corners, doors and frames. Her boots lightly thudded as she had stepped passed the corner, her head slightly turning as her expression rested in this calm and benevolent face. Her vibrant grayed out eyes staring ahead as she walked down a long path. A person going by here and there. The army had long since gone. And, Davina raised her boot up to a worn step. A step to a long, high set of stairs to the second level of the kingdom. Where, it led to the most wealthy part of the entire place. The tall mansions and manors all have their own bits of land and the market there being even bigger with the homes being more finely tuned to look far more structurally sound. The very appearance of the place and the people there made the scenery seem immortal. The people, all clean with fine robes and attire. A fountain of an angel running water from their hands as the noblemen all gathered around as if it was just a social gathering. The stone there, the ones that acted as ground when there wasn't grass, it was smooth and not rough. Not aged, seemingly. You could tell that this was the place where the poor suffered to get by while the wealthy often get snuffed out from resentment every now and again. It was then that the Valerian had finally made her way up it with the sun beginning to set behind her. Silhouetting the warrior as she walked, her shadow casted far in front of her as the many lanterns and lights above pillars and poles had shortened its length while she walked. The second level had little to offer her. Aside from a line of glares and rather curious gazes. Passed this, was the target. The reason for all of this. The castle, standing high in the air seemingly in the clouds with its few towers ending in sharply pointed roofs. It was the most beautiful of all. It was so symmetrically built with its barely noticeable age and it's uniquely wide structure. It was so high it was almost intimidating. Almost. Inside, the Valerian would find herself entering.
"Ugh, I fucking hate working down in the crypt. Gives me the creeps." The voice of a man aired on the bridge.
"What are you, eh? A little lad? Who gives a toss about your paranoia? It's colder out here than in that damnable crypt!" The other exclaimed, awfully dryly.
"Aye, did you hear? It says up on that mountain near that wretched kingdom that there's walking spirits. Spirits, man, I say." The more tame man averted the subject to a relative one.
The other tried to stifle his laughter.
"Spirits, huh? Let me ask you something," He led on.
"What?" The other glared.
"You're a fucking moron." The other scoffed.
The opposing guard simply shook his head.
"May the gods take me before I scalp this pile of shit…" He muttered.
She slowly, very slowly climbed. She cautiously put the tip of her boot between the groove of a stone and an opening of a large chip in the wall. Below her, a long fall into a very cold stream of water. Thankfully she had managed to avoid the water due to the very thin walkway on each side of the wall. Her gloved hands soon came upon the edge. She pulled herself up with a quiet grunt, her silver eyes quickly darting around before she climbed up. To her right, were two guards standing at the beginning of the bridge. Thankfully the wall she climbed was curved so she was just barely out of view. As well, as she was perfectly energized without expending any stamina, it felt like anyways.
Davina knelt down, keeping a firm grip on her sheathed blades handle with her index and middle finger below the hand guard to touch the leather with the thumb included while her two other fingers touched the leather of the sheath, holding it in place to avoid any rattling. Her shoulder gear wouldn't make too much noise as long as she didn't run. Her eyes remained on them as she had slowly stood up, quietly stepping up to the next wall that stood higher than the one below. It was a tower, the smaller one of the bunch. It was like a crows nest for the castle. An overseer. Most likely a man with a bow there. Trained well.
Her thoughts were silent as she had snuck onto their side. Their helmets were just perfect to keep their sides blocked. However, one of them decided to look in her direction. She felt this wave of adrenaline rush just from seeing the slightest movement from them and she immediately acted.
"Say, when do we go there again? Our last shift, I mean." The one on the left asked.
The more bold and foul-mouthed one.
"Hmm… I believe at nightfall. Worst time if you ask me." He answered.
The other's eyes trailed along his friend, eyeing him down and up as he simply turned his head away, soon to mutter.
"Thank the fucking lords I didn't." He said, snarkily.
Davina was crouched down again, being a lot closer this time. Her breath was held as she had not moved an inch. She was right behind the railing of the bridge that was just thick stone that covered her body. To which, was just naturally a thin and small enough body type. She would sigh in relief, but she knew better. Then, she was startled by the massive wooden doors striped in steel opening behind the knights, to whom didn't move or speak and even straightened in posture.
"Ah, damn cold… got my joints aching." An elder man had groaned in displeasure.
He had held his arms to himself as his robes dragged behind him as he walked.
"You alright sir? Need some aid getting home?" The rude, yet surprisingly kind guard stated.
"Ah, no thank you, son. I'm a little too grumpy to be in company right now." He stated, walking off slowly passed them as he did.
As the chatter somewhat proceeded, Davina shot her eyes up to the door. It was opened. She quickly walked while knelt down to the door, eventually standing up as she had gripped the knob of the other side of said door and pulled it shut with her inside and her body being embraced by the much warmer scene. She finally sighed. Much to her relief. She was never much good at sneaking. She had been trained for too many blunt and blatant battles and confrontations. However, irrelevance was just that and would stay as such. The dark haired woman had turned her head, her eyes trailing upwards to the place before her. Yes, this castle..? It would take time to get to him.
It is in every good story that you have a hero and a villain. One with the other. Though, this woman's story will be different. In this world, it is quite hard to distinguish which you are without really being the other. On this night, she will decide which she is to be. And, the world will decide as well.