"On my quest to search for my future King, I encountered the most peculiar of places. The City of Dragon's Knee or as it's more commonly known the Grave of Champions. Ever since its first sacking at the hands of the Brass Claw Empire it has become the final resting place for more Slayers and Warders than even the Capital."— Dran Gro Shra 'An Orcish Perspective on the habits of the Drakes'
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The streets of Dragon's Knee are rather quiet. They always are. You wouldn't want to disturb the spirits you see. There are far more dead residents than living ones at this point. As a Knight of Vanlor I have grown accustomed to this fact. Every night we go on patrol to make sure that no one disturbs them during their strolls. My friend Tomas and I both were knighted by the Duke of Dragon's Knee on our eighteenth birthdays ten years ago. Since then I have spent every other night roaming these mausoleum streets keeping the peace.
I waited outside of the armory for the news. The sun had been down for an hour or so already so I was anxious to get on patrol. Tomas finally stumbled his way out of the barracks. His face was red as is usual at the end of the week. "So Tomas, what's our assignment?"
He barged into me and started dry heaving. "Simple. . ." He covered his mouth with his hand. "Just by the City Gate tonight." He picked up his bottle off the ground and gestured it to me. "Want some?"
I picked it up and threw it against the stone wall. "No, and you've had enough."
He turned to me stunned. "Ah come on!"
I grabbed his back and helped him over to the front gate. "Hey, the walk will be good for you. It'll clear your mind."
The walk was smooth with only a few bonewalkers on the way and they were docile. Except when we turned a corner to the right. We saw streaks of blood leading down an alleyway. Placing my hand on my sword I walked slowly over to investigate. I peered down the alley and turned my eyes immediately. It was a boy no older than eighteen with a corpse tearing and pulling at his flesh. "Igni's Flame!"
Tomas lumbered up next to me. "Teaches the little tike for going out so late. Nothing we can do about it now."
My hand trembled and loosened its grip. He was right. If we intervened we could be tried and hanged by first dawn. We continued onward, but those helpless blue eyes would stick with me for a lifetime.
After another twenty minutes of weaving through the winding streets, we finally reached the front gate. It was a tall structure made out of massive gray stones. The iron bar gate was closed, but the drawbridge was down. The two knights waiting by either side of it were tapping their toes and stamping their pikes as they waited. The taller of the two walked up to us. "Took you long enough, Alevari."
Tomas placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sorry about the wait boys. We ran into a kid who got on the wrong side of some esteemed corpse. Feel free to grab one on me once you get back to the barracks."
The knight smiled. "You should try to be more accommodating like your friend here. Come on, Larth."
Larth nodded to the taller one and they both headed back towards the barracks. Tomas leaned against the stonework and reached for something attached to his belt. After tapping around for it he pressed a small steel flask up to his lips. I tisked, "Your addiction never ceases to amaze me."
He laughed. "Addiction. I just have to make up for what you don't drink. Wouldn't want you to bring down the city's average levels of consumption now would we?"
I rolled my eyes.
The night dragged on slowly. It always does. I typically passed the time by counting the rungs on the gate. I think I've come to the conclusion that there are twenty-four in total, but Tomas insists there are twenty-six and that the others are up in the Gatehouse itself. As my eyes just finished getting to the bottom of the gate we heard a clang on the other side. I gestured my lantern over into the dark. "Who's there?"
Looking down I saw illuminated in red firelight a white-haired gnome clamoring on the gate with an unlit lantern. "A little help here, sir?"
"It's Dane, and sorry. The gate remains closed till morning."
He looked up at me. "Excuse me, Dane. Can't you make an exception for a member of the Archaeological University?"
I raised my eyebrows. "Wait are you with the expedition out into the Claw Peaks?"
"Yes, and I need to head into the city."
Tomas went for his rung of keys to the smaller iron door. I pressed a hand against his chest. "Hold off a second, Tomas." I turned my gaze back to the gnome. "Why come back so soon? Did something happen in the mountains?"
He looked around. "Please there's something out here chasing me. I'll tell you as soon as you let me in."
I inhaled. "No can do. I am under strict orders to not open this door unless it's in a case of an emergency."
He looked back and then up to me. "This is an emergency. Something out here wants me dead."
Tomas grabbed my shoulder and I turned my gaze to him, but not before we heard a screech from the other side. An undead cloaked in silver and white robes was upon the gnome. I grabbed the keys from Tomas and unlocked the gate. The adrenaline set in as my arms began to tingle and my hairs stood up on end. Just as it was about to sink its teeth into the gnome's neck I severed its head off its shoulders in one fell swoop. I stood there in disbelief. How could one get outside the walls?
Tomas walked up to me eyes wide. "What have you done?" He then straightened his posture and turned his back towards me. "Leave, now."
I dropped my sword. "Tomas, I—"
"Now. This is the last kindness I can afford you."
I threw the keys to his feet and grabbed my sword off the ground. I picked up the gnome single-handed by his belt. He kicked his arms and legs. "Where are you going? We have to get back to the University! It's a matter of great importance."
I didn't respond, I just kept on walking. I walked as far as I could until my legs could no longer carry me. Then I collapsed onto the ground of the forest floor. My mind flashed back and forth from the corpse to the boy. Tomorrow is a day I hope does not come.