Total darkness surrounded me, it was as if all the lights had been turned off, and the moons had never even existed, the sky of an empty night, without stars, blended in with the environment and the very ground on which I stood was difficult to reach. If you notice. The grass, normally tall enough to touch my knees, almost disappeared into the shadows. My memory, although confused, still made clear to me a knife, a bit strange, perhaps made of some stone…
—Ronan! — A beam of light, brought me a memory of a scream and a jump, involving that dagger.
The darkness seemed to have no end and the image of the end of that battle repeated itself in my mind, a thief had invaded the castle and I, Ronan and the vice captain were facing him and even with some surprises the victory was certain, when suddenly…
— Well… — Merida's voice rang in my head.
— Scieran niht! — Another scream, accompanied by another beam, and this time there was also a chill.
The image of that knife, cut from a dark stone, stuck in my mind, along with the vision of my body standing in front of Ronan, a novice knight with whom I regularly made rounds. "So I'm dead? Is this the afterlife? A big void? Was this my fate? Die without doing anything?! " These thoughts flooded my head.
— Don't be stupid — I said to myself — I would never think a piece of stone would pierce my armor…
I said while feeling my breastplate, a thin metal plate that covered a layer of porcelain and to top it off there was an old chain mail given to me by my father. But the confidence in my own words disappeared in an instant, when I noticed a hole, close to the ribs, on the right.
— Ha… Ha ha — tears ran down my face — so… did I really die?
With the strength in my legs disappearing, I fell sitting on the grass, almost absorbed by the darkness. Not knowing what to do from now on, and without the desire to find out, I continued sitting, hugging my knees. Minutes passed without me noticing, my voice was already hoarse and my throat hurt, when I realized that a frightening silence had settled in, no more memory or beam of light had appeared for some time, and that was when the feeling of dread began to set in. take me that I heard.
— … Jessie… — a familiar voice called from afar.
— Hey… it's time… let's go.
For some reason, that voice brought me warmth and recent memories, they were few, maybe less than a month old, but they seemed to carry a feeling of joy that almost twenty years of other memories together didn't have.
— Hey, Jessie, it's time to wake up, come on — said Ronan, with his face a little pale, eyes swollen and irritated eyelids.
Confused, I got up, Merlin and Morgana were still shining brightly in the sky, no more clouds in sight, the city square, just ahead, was shining with the heat of the torches and the spirit of the people, who were preparing for the second day of celebration.
— I'm still alive — I whispered as I touched the hole in my armor with my right hand, it was still there, but there was no wound, and the quota given by my father remained untouched.
Looking around, I noticed Ronan, who was rubbing the sleeve of his shirt over his face, while holding the armband he had removed. "Maybe he… cried for me", the thought ran through my mind, leaving me red and embarrassed. Trying to forget the idea, I turned to the vice captain, Merida, standing, observing the castle, still dimly lit and practically abandoned, no other knights appeared, even though Ronan and I had rung the emergency bell.
— The bad guys! — I screamed when I remembered that we managed to capture at least four of them.
— Gone. When I woke up, the ropes were lying on the floor, with no trace left — Merida explained.
— That other thief must have released them after taking us down — said Ronan, his armor in place.
The feeling of defeat brought with it a silence, which was soon broken by the sound of the castle's heavy wooden doors being opened, and the prince emerged, his face bruised and panting, his clothes messy and full of cuts. He was a modest young man, who usually wore beige clothes, strange for a royal, and a black cloak, a little too big for his height. Now, in this cloak, shortly after opening the doors, as we approached, he took the king, his father, out of the castle, bloodied and with his eyes closed.
— The king… — he sniffed — my father, is dead.
Our movements stopped immediately, Ronan fell to his knees, punching the ground, and Merida pressed the whip on his waist tightly, while emanating a silent fury, trying to control herself, for them the failure in their duty was something they could not forgive themselves, that night, not only did they fail to protect the castle's treasures, but they also failed to protect the lives of those they swore to defend. As for me, for some reason, all this information just made me stand still, not knowing exactly what to feel, while the prince seemed to be trying hard to cry, a few tears stuck in his eyelids, which soon ran through his eyes. His face mixing with the blood splattered on it.
A few seconds passed until the young heir of a kingdom inspired and — summon the other knights! And prepare an announcement for the people — he ordered.
— You heard him, wake up those useless drunks! — Merida shouted, turning to us, without letting go of her gun.
*******
With our orders given, Jessie and I ran towards the square, where we expected to find most of the knights, still drunk and passed out. Half an hour had already passed, and our search had barely progressed, after all there were only two of us, and for some reason the feeling of failure from earlier made my knees tremble and my fists clench, just thinking about moving away from Jessie.
— You seem tense — she stated, leading our way through the maze of tents that the festival had formed.
— I… — I tried to respond, but uncomfortable memories interrupted me — … I'm sorry… it's nothing… I was just thinking.
Two hours passed since we discovered the king's death, Jessie and I barely talked during that time, and we had finally found more than half of the knights.
— They must have already spread the order — she stated, sitting on the edge of the fountain.
The night continued calmly, with Morgana and Merlin reflecting their images in the water, while the people of the city drowned in alcohol and uproar. Restlessly, I continued standing, not knowing where to look, my eyes always returned to my companion, who I rarely saw with her hair down. Sitting with her legs crossed, she threw her body slightly backwards as she supported herself with her hands on the bank of the fountain and quickly looked away while trying to hide the blush on her face.
— Hey… What were you thinking… at that time?
Caught by surprise by the question, all I could do was continue to observe his little one, protected by light metal and leather armor, still damaged. As the chain mail revealed itself through the wide fracture in his chest, drawing my vision, my mind filled with thoughts, mostly memories, old and recent, all mixed together.
— When… — just before I answered her, the commotion that the citizens started interrupted us, attracting our attention to a spectacle that was still new to me.
Countless petals filled the capital's skies, coming from the east, carried by a strong gust of wind, the broken darkness was lost amidst waves of pink bathed in the red and blue lights of Merlin and Morgana. The completely clear sky was as if the night itself had given way after yesterday's rains.
— It's incredible, don't you think? — Jessie asked me with a melancholic look, which was divided between the couples and the flowers.
— … I… I didn't want to lose you… That's what I was thinking at that time…
— … — she remained silent, with a slightly surprised and flushed expression.
— … I know that… we've only known each other for a short time… but the time we've been together… seems like the only time I've been genuinely happy — I chattered without thinking twice.
With the citizens silent, enjoying the spectacle, the sound of the wind blowing, cold on a warm night, was the only thing I heard for over a minute, which seemed to last over an hour, as I frantically looked away.
— … Ahem … We better … get going … it must have been time for everyone to get together — she stated, jumping up and letting her long red hair fly in the wind.
*******
With the knights' meeting with the prince over, it was decided that the king's death and the princess's kidnapping would only be revealed at the beginning of the third night of the festival. In order for the secret to be kept, everyone present was now prohibited from leaving the castle walls until the moment of the ceremony.
— Jessie, have you seen the vice captain? — Ronan whispered in my ear, amidst the discussion created by the soldiers.
— Actually, no, I even thought she would still be by your highness's side.
— Sir Ronan, Dame Jessie, wait, we need to talk — the prince ordered.
As everyone left the great hall, all the two of us could do was remain silent, at the mercy of her highness, now an orphan and with a kidnapped sister, all because of our incompetence. In silence, he remained, with an apathetic expression, in his new clothing, clean and much more sumptuous than his usual ones, conveying grandeur instead of his face, until the last knight left, and he himself closed the old hall doors.
— Very good! — he began, clapping his hands — I think you're wondering where the vice captain was, right?
— Yes… Yes, sir — I replied with my head lowered, in reverence.
— As soon as some of the knights gathered, I ordered them to go in search of my sister…
— Right… Okay, we'll go after them immediately and…
— It's not necessary… In fact, I have other plans for you — He said while walking from one side to the other.
As he walked the sound of his long white cloak dragging across the stone floor was the only thing we heard for more than 10 seconds, with him casting inquisitive glances at both of us. The idea that we would end up on the gallows, as an example, seemed to permeate Ronan's mind as well.
— You two will be on leave for the next two weeks from now on — the prince informed him, expressionless.
—Wh…What!? — Ronan shouted, losing his composure.
— This was a request from your vice captain, but I can also clearly see that you had a difficult battle — your highness replied, pointing to the hole in my armor — you are also free to leave the castle's surroundings.
And with yet another strange decision, especially for someone from royalty, the prince left us, with a strange controlled smile on his face. Surprised, a little happy and a little indignant, we went to change and put away our order equipment so we could leave the inner wall.
*******
Once again in the central square, we sat by the fountain, in silence, it had been a few hours, but people were still celebrating fervently, the skies were once again clear while the ground now seemed to have a path of petals. Jessie, wearing a simple white shirt with beige pants, looked uncomfortable, perhaps, like me, she still wanted to go after the bandits.
— Hey, Jessie, you…
— Ronan, do you want to go drink? I know a great tavern," she interrupted me, shaking her head.
— … Clear! — I shouted with a stupid smile on my face.
We crossed more than half of the city, until we almost reached the exit of the outer wall, where we found a large two — story building, built with stones and dark wood, with its foundation built on a slope, this was the best tavern and inn in the entire city. capital, the Silver Wheel.
— Ha ha … — I laughed in disbelief at the coincidence.
— Come on, let's go, I'm starving — she said, pulling me through the door.
— Ara, welcome… Ah, Ronan? Finally discharged from the order?
— You were almost right Aria — I replied with a cheerful smile.
— I'll bring you the usual, and your friend, what will she ask for?
Looking a little surprised, Jessie took a moment to respond — I want a mug of wine and truffled hare.
With Aria, the owner and waitress of the place, turning, in her silver dress, towards the kitchen, Jessie and I sat at the counter, ignoring the other customers, who continued excitedly in their own conversations. A fireplace and lots of good people, this was the "Roda de Prata", a very comfortable place.
— So you already knew this place, huh?
— Ha ha, I kind of live here when we're not on patrol.
— Here are the mugs, the hare will be ready in a minute — Aria said smiling.
I took a good sip from my mug and asked — but then, what was bothering you there at the fountain?
— … I don't know for sure — she replied, stopping to drink — the prince, he looks... or is... kind of strange.
We both looked around, as if checking that no one was listening, and took another sip.
— There were also those four we arrested, they didn't seem to be with the guy we faced,
— Here's your truffled hare... Eh?
— Jessie.
— Okay, and let me fill your mugs again — Aria said as she picked up a bottle from under the counter — I'll leave the bottle, enjoy. "Cool, O wine, freose".
Giving off a wild adventurous air, with her hair loose and messy, my companion attacked the game meat as she enjoyed the freshly chilled wine.
— You and… Aria? They seem to get along well — Jessie asked me, noticing that I was looking at her.
— We're just friends, but she helped me a lot when I moved here. — I replied, still watching her.
—…
A small silence fell between us, just enough for both of us to take another sip and our faces begin to feel hot from the drink.
— How do you think the vice mission will go?
—Ha ha ha, it seems like you can only think about work huh.
— Some problem? — she asked, a little irritated.
— No, no, of course not — I replied, trying to calm her down — but you must like being a guard at the castle, right? And you're also always trying hard and training, I mean from what I've seen in the last two weeks.
— Haaa — she sighed — if it weren't for some idiots and freeloaders, but why am I telling you this?
— With most of the order's staff interrupting you, you must have never noticed, but you talk a lot, you know? Especially on our rounds," I replied, laughing.
She looked a little embarrassed, as our eyes met and she felt around the table for the bottle of wine that was already half full. We continued talking for a few more hours, drinking and eating, she told me about a crystal that she carried with her all the time, a gift from her dwarf father, from the time he still worked in mines. I told her a little about how I was a useless and disappointing son who ended up leaving home to try to live. With each word, and each sip, our hands and lips got closer, we must have been drunk for a good few hours when we ran out of things to talk about and without wine, and finally, with one hand in hand, on the counter, we kissed until we forgot everything. around us. The half-dwarf, a redhead with a slender body, was the one who took the initiative, although she seemed a little inexperienced and yet this woman, eight years older, seemed to hypnotize me with her sweet grape saliva.
— Woohoo!
— Oh yes!
— Finally!
The other customers in the tavern shouted, when we finally noticed the environment around us again, another couple even popped a bottle in our honor, it seems that at some point in our conversation, we became the attraction of the place, which also more Once I proved how good the environment of the "Silver Wheel" was, in several places in the human kingdom of Celtia, other races were not only a minority, but were also frowned upon.
— Hey, you two — said Aria, throwing a key in my direction — hurry up, before you forget us again, hahaha.
A totally embarrassed Jessie jumped up to grab the key while it was still in the air and pulled me up the stairs as fast as she could, while the others in the bar laughed in celebration. The rest of that tender autumn night passed like a warm dream, with Jessie and I overcoming our shyness and joining in the moonlight that shone through the window of that modest room.
********
A few hours had already passed, when I woke up hugged by Ronan, a thin sheet protected us from the cold breeze that came from the only window in the room, the moons were still shining while some clouds began to approach.
"I never imagined that my first time would be in a tavern… at 34", I thought while feeling happy and confused, as I got up to go to the bathroom.
Returning to the bed, where my partner seemed to be sleeping soundly, I noticed the sound of light hurried footsteps, coming towards our bedroom. Without thinking much, something told me to be ready for a battle, I jumped into my things, but without the castle's equipment, the best I had available was a knife and the crystal, given by my father, which I kept as an amulet, a type of silvery, semi-transparent ore, which sometimes seemed to emit a faint light, like at that moment.
The sound of three light knocks preceded an almost whispered call — hey lovebirds, the time for rest is over, you have to leave the city soon.
It was the voice of the waitress from before, she sounded worried, and as soon as I heard the sound of the key in the lock, I was still naked, I left my attack posture and woke Ronan, pulling his sheet tightly, and waking him up, just in time to wrap me up before she enters.
—Aria? Why are you here?
— No time for explanations boy, shadows are preparing to invade the inn, you need to leave soon.
As if the word awakened something in Ronan, taking him out of his half-drowsy state, he stood up with a serious look and looked at me, trying to confirm my presence.
— Great, you seem to be wide awake already, so get dressed quickly and I'll take you to a secret exit.
— Ronan, what's going on, I've never seen you serious like this, not even at work. Can we trust her? — I asked with my shirt on, whispering.
— Don't worry, she's not the type to betray those she helps. But as for the situation, if they're behind us, it means someone in the castle was up to some things and we stepped right into one of them.
Clothed, but practically unprotected and unarmed, we left the "Silver Wheel" guided by Aria, in what should have been a dead end, at the back of the building, with its entrance leading into one of the smaller squares in the capital. It was already late enough for most of the people at the festival to have returned home, with the exception of a few drunks passed out in the streets, the only remaining illumination came from the moons, which in a lucky moment, had just been covered by some clouds. light but long.
— As soon as you leave the city, go towards the wolf village, get some resources there, after that it will be up to you — she whispered, looking around.
— Wait... — I tried to say, but she disappeared soon after.
— If we get to the middle of the square, we can use the aqueduct below to cross the wall without being noticed and…
— Wait a minute — I shouted in a low voice — why do we need to leave the city? If we are in danger, why don't we go to the castle, arm ourselves and ask others for help?
— Listen Jessie, if what Aria said is true, and the shadows are after us, the royal guard will not help us, and without weapons, our only hope is to leave the capital as soon as possible.
And as if to confirm, figures began to emerge from other alleys, surrounding the square, making our escape via the aqueduct practically impossible. Covered in darkness, those "people" walked without making a single sound and communicated through signals, divided into trios, nine in total, inspecting each alley, two on the ground and one on the roof. The siege around was getting tighter and tighter, and I still didn't understand half of the situation, although the idea that it was the prince's or Merida's doing appeared in my mind.
"But why wouldn't that be the princess's kidnappers' doing? " I thought while holding a knife tightly.
There were only three more places left for them to look, and I was already preparing to fight a losing battle, when Ronan held my arm while he finished reciting a spell, without taking his other hand off the ground.
— …Wyrttruma springen.
Along with a slight tremor, about 300 meters away, an explosion that raised a water tower, attracted our enemies away from where we were, opening the way for us to escape through the middle of the square, without being noticed.
— Come on, when we're at the aqueduct I'll explain things better — Ronan said as he pulled me holding my hand.
The grate on the floor was easy to remove, as if it had already been prepared for this situation, perhaps something that Aria had prepared, but how could she know all that. With half our bodies submerged in cold water, we slowly made our way to the city limits.
— Can you explain to me what is happening now?
— Unfortunately, not as much as you or I would like — he replied melancholy — … the shadows … are a group of special assassins under direct order from the crown, normally only the king can command them.
—So when Aria mentioned them, you assumed that the prince decided to kill us, so the order wouldn't help us... But how do you know about...
— …Either the prince plans to silence us for some reason, or I dragged you into a very problematic family situation…
We continued to argue for a while longer, about what we would do until we finally arrived outside the wall, the silver grass plains ahead and the green hills on the horizon, were something new to me, as I had never even set foot on the wall. on the outer wall. All that was left was to go down to the lake, from which the water mysteriously rose to supply the entire city, and then we would begin a journey of which I had no idea of the final destination. But for now the first stop would be the wolf village, Wulf Village.