"The Great Hunters led by Ademar swore a pact to defend the mortal races from the Tyranny of Dragons. On that spot, a great city would rise, Hunter's Oath."— From Slayer Elgoth's work "The Blood Pact"
***
It happened while we were approaching the tavern. The sun changed its position like one of those panoramic paintings in Doge's Palace was being twisted in the sky. I busted open the door to the Inn. About ten people were inside all scattered around the few round tables and booths. The group of humans who typically play their game of cards by the front window had their noses pressed up against the glass. They watched in horror at the sight outside. I sat down at the bar and Ashton sat down next to me. I slammed my fist down. "Innkeep! The bloody sun is gone, pour me a cup of your finest."
The lot of the tavern slowly scurried outside as my words echoed through the dilapidated building. Ashton looked down at his feet. The worried denizens all eventually left the tavern a lonely husk. The once lively spewing of profanity and crude remarks was now replaced with the slow crackling of flames from the cobblestone fireplace. The innkeeper finally got out of the kitchen and placed a cask of something on the counter. He then looked around confused. "Where in the Hells is my bloody business?"
I gestured to the window. "I told you. Sky's gone dark."
He raised his eyebrows. "Just because a cloud has passed over the Inn doesn't mean the bloody sun is gone."
I reached over the counter and grabbed a mug. I then poured the brown liquid from the cask into it. "One infernally large cloud then."
He lifted the door to the bar and walked over to the window. "Hietlone's flaming arse!"
I lifted the mug to my lips. I thought about the passages. "Upon the breath of Givsney's wind, those of scale kind sought to bring night unending. Thanks to Igni's sword, Harfef's trickery, and Givsney's light the dragons were put to slumber bringing about the days of New Dawn." Dawning 1:13
Ashton looked up at me. "What now?"
I took a long swig from the brew. It was sweet and refreshing. Plus it gave that nice tingling numb sensation on your fingertips. "The sky is above our paygrade, kid. That's something straight out of the Canticles."
They nodded and reached over the tavern to grab a mug. I grabbed their hand in a deft motion. They looked up at me. "What?"
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"Pssh. You, sixteen? I had you marked at fifteen at the oldest."
"I turned sixteen in Firesdeath."
I snapped at the tavern keep. "This one here is not allowed to drink for three more years. You hear?"
He turned his head from his slack-jawed state and nodded. He walked over behind the tavern and looked left and right as he tried to collect himself. "Could I interest ya lad in some water?"
"Fine. Pour it."
The bartender's hands shook as he poured the water out of the clay jug. "There you go, lad."
We stayed there at the tavern for about a week. The building was perched upon a small hill that looked down upon fields of grain. Farmhouses burnt and mills combusted in orange and yellow as the peasantry went about raiding grain from their neighbors. The tavern stayed safe since after all was said and done people still respected the only place where they would get their next drink. It became apparent that the Warder's men were not going to do anything. Word came quick ever since the attack on the Capital that Hunter's Oath was to remain closed. So we waited. I tried thinking of a plan, but I couldn't come up with anything. To march on to Dragon's Knee to face that fiend would most certainly result in Ashton's death. That's something I could never forgive myself for. The boy though is growing impatient. With every passing day, he comes down into the main tavern room and looks at me expectantly, like I'll come up with a masterstroke that will solve all of our problems. The only thing I knew to do was wait. Thank the coins too, because providence came with the opening of that tavern door.
***
I sat down with Tanlel at the tavern. Well, I was sitting while Tanlel was standing on his wooden bench. The tired haggard tavern keep walked over and placed his hands on the bar. "What can I get for ya, lass?"
I reached into my pocket and placed four gold coins. "Two rooms and stiff drinks."
He nodded and poured two mugs of foaming ale. He placed them in front of us. Tanlel grabbed the mug with both hands and poured it down his throat. The mug was almost the size of his head and by the time he finished it he began tilting back. I placed a palm behind him. "Woah, be careful there, friend."
I felt a hand fall on my shoulder. "Hello there." I turned around. It was the blond officer. He smiled at me. "Not many newcomers ever since the sky went dark. Care to join us at our table?"
I looked over at Tanlel. He smiled at the man. "Oh, sure. That sounds delightful!"
The man smiled and walked back to his seat. Tanlel hopped down and walked over to one of the free chairs and sat down. Gods, small talk is the last thing we need right now.
I sighed and sat down next to Tanlel. The blond officer leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table. "So tell me. Where are you from?"
Tanlel smiled and was about to open his mouth. I placed a hand on his arm and squinted at the man. "Out east."
"How far out east? Dragon's Knee? Stravel County? Or somewhere in the Brass Claw Empire?"
I examined his slightly disheveled clothes. "What's a naval officer doing so far away from the Capital and the sea?"
He placed his cane on the table. "That's strictly on a need-to-know basis."
Tanlel spoke up. "Would it have to do anything with the archaeological work at the Academy?"
The kid's eyes lit up.
The man squinted. "Why would the Academy be of any importance?"
I unstrapped my sword and placed the sheathed blade on the table. He eyed it for a moment. Then with his one gloved hand, he unsheathed it. The grey steel gleamed as it was drawn. It got stuck. He jimmied it loose revealing the large sweeping cut through the center of the blade. "Run into some trouble on the roads?"
I nodded. "Familiar to you?"
The man looked at the boy. The boy nodded. "Something similar pierced through my step-father's chest."
I leaned back. "I see. So did you see them?"
The man snapped. "Gregory, bring our friends here some drinks." He rested his hand back on the table. "Yes, the man in plate with the flowing red cape."
The tavern keep came around and placed two foaming mugs back on our tables. I clasped one in my hand. "So how did a Naval Officer and a student come out into the country?"
The boy spoke up, "Only half of that statement is true. I'm from the academy and he is nothing, but—"
The man placed a hand on their arm. "Their guardian. As their father was cut down he entrusted them into my care."
Tanlel placed his mug on the table after taking a long gulp. "So tell me, do you know Professor Durance?"
"Yes, he was my step-father."
Tanlel frowned. "I— I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"It's fine. It has to be."
"Did he speak of a Professor Uthgar at all?"
The boy's eyes widened. He pulled out a stained leather book and placed it on the table. "He told me to bring him this book."
***
The boy handed me the small leather-bound book. I skimmed my small hands over its red-stained cover. I began flipping through its contents. "Did your father make some sort of discovery at the Academy?"
He nodded. "We had recently discovered a pure white horn. I had no clue what its function was, but my father said that the University might find some use for it."
I continued flipping until I reached a page titled "Horn of the Moon." Upon it was a well-drawn sketch of the object. I continued reading, " We discovered the horn on the twenty-fifth day of excavation. It was found at the center of the altar of the Moon. The main location of the cult to Igni's daughter Wyverl."
I pointed my finger at the illustration. "We need to move now."
Alevari grabbed her sword and picked me up and put me on her shoulders. The boy stood up too, but the man grabbed his arm. They looked at each other. "We need to go with them."
The other shook his head. "No, I made a promise to keep you safe. I intend to follow through on it."
The boy flung his hand down. "Sky has gone dark and all you want to do is sit around here and wait. The best way to protect me right now is to stop whatever that demon is conjuring up."
The man looked down. "Then go! Never come back for all I care."
The boy joined us as we went for the door. The tavern keep called to us from behind the bar, "Wait!"
We all turned back to face him. Alevari tilted her head, "Yes?"
"Are you really going to try to bring the sun back?"
She nodded. "And stop whatever else is afoot, yes."
The tavern keep rushed into the kitchen. The sounds of pots and pans being tossed about clamored out into the main room. He came out with his hands shaking as they clasped a halberd made from pure blue metal. He took each step with care as he placed its grip in Alevari's hand. "Take it. It was my grandfather's. He was a champion of the city's arena. With this weapon, he fought the fiercest of what man and the Hells could throw at him."
Alevari nodded to him. "Thank you. I will wield it with care."
We walked through the door. The boy turned back for a second then joined us. The tavern keep came with. He went around to his stables and brought forth our horse and another. "Ride fast. May the wind be at your backs."
We saddled up and Alevari turned her head. "You've got a name?"
The child centered themselves on their steed. "Ashton." They smiled and cracked their reins causing their horse to kick up its front hooves. "Mark that name for it shall go down in legend!"
Alevari froze up. I shook her. "Come on we can't let the lad beat us there!"