Well, Chapter 3. This one is shorter than I had originally hoped for, but it works better this way, trust me. In spite of its diminutive length, this chapter has a lot of what this story is about. Action, suspense, and most importantly, heart. I'm trying to pick up the pace a bit before the heavy stuff hits. As always, feel free to let me know what you think and what you would like to see. I consider all suggestions seriously, as much as this is my story, its more fun when I know the readers enjoy it. Remember all the standard rules apply. Don't read unless you are old enough, don't read if guys liking guys might be too much for you, and don't yell at me if you ignore these rules. And most of all, this is in no way meant to be a reflection on the real Roman Catholic Church. And last but certainly not least, a quick, but special thanks to all of you who have sent me emails letting me know this is worthwhile. I really appreciate it, it warms my heart. So thank you for all your support. There, done. Now go read.
Crazy Days, Wild Knights Chapter 3
When Xann kicked open the door, it flew off its hinges and slammed the guarding priest into the opposite wall, knocking the Priest out. He still had Rose in the same position as he stepped out into the hall, keeping the Bishop in front of him. I was right behind him, cowering like the child I was. There was another Priest guarding the top of the stairs, his sword already drawn and moving towards us. Xann spoke with demonic force
"Hold Priest! Lest you be the one who I force to feast on this cowards withered genitals." Xann pressed upward with his knife, drawing blood from the pink flesh, driving his point home. The priest stopped. "Now down the stairs with you!" The Priest looked to the Bishop, who nodded, and the Priest did as he was told. Xann forced Rose to the top of the stairs.
"You will not get away with this."
"Stop with your idle threats. The night is still young and I wont let you ruin it for me by boring me to death."
"Say what you like, you know the truth as well as I...."
"And with that, my dear Bishop Rose, we part company. But know that this is far from over. And as a reminder....." Xann took his upper knife and slashed it deep across Rose's right cheek. "Killnar will be free." And with no ceremony, Xann tossed Rose straight down the stairs.
"Why did you do that?" I protested, "He was our only way of getting out down there."
"He was right, there was no way out down there. To many of them. I could have made it but you would not have."
"Then how do we get out? There is but one window and they will be watching it surely."
"That they will. So that means we have to make a new window."
"You carry an axe in that cloak with you?"
"That would be nice... But I have another idea." He looked to the unmoving Priest covered with shattered door on the floor, then to the wooden wall at the end of the hall. I followed his gaze.
"You can't be serious." We both heard the Bishop barking orders downstairs.
"No time to argue." I watched in awe as this man picked up a Priest in full Armour and with a mighty toss, threw him clean through the wall. For the first time in a long time, I felt my lower extremities twitch at the sight of another person. Yet I managed to keep myself in check. When I heard charging feet coming up the stairs, I had no time to think before Xann lifted me up in a cradle hold and was out the hole the Priest left behind. We landed with the large thud I expected. Xann ran for the nearest horse and managed to jump high enough to mount it while still cradling me. He set the horse into motion and we flew past the Clergy rounding the corner. I looked back and locked eyes with Bishop Rose. His hand was resting on his codpiece. I couldn't help but smile and lick my lips at him as we rode off. People used to call my talents addicting, and I just hooked the most dangerous addict possible...
Xann was a seasoned rider. To be able to control the horse, with my half naked body bouncing in his lap, was incredible. All I could do was sit there, or actually, bounce there and pray. Two priests had managed to retrieve their horses in time enough to give chase and they were not far behind us. With a tiring horse caring two, we could not out run them. I figured this out with out having Xann say a word. I knew his mind put two and two together as well when he stopped and turned the horse to face them. The Priests stopped as well and drew their swords, yet stayed on their mounts. Xann was the first to speak.
"Hear me well. Killnar only made you out to be the fools you are. But if you choose to fight me, I will not spare your lives."
"And God may spare yours if you give up now Heathen."
"There's that word again...." Xann dropped me to the side of the horse and leapt into the air. Talk about a sight to see. He looked like a wraith descending from above upon his prey. His cloak and robe were billowing wildly in the air behind him. I don't think the Priests ever had a chance. He flew in between the two, griping the Priest on the right by his neck. His momentum caused a loud, echoing crack to be heard as he drug the man from his horse and tossed the body away into the night. Xann spun in time to block the sword strike from behind with one of his large knives, the other quickly finding its way to the space between the helmet and the neckpiece of the Armour. The second Priest fell to the ground. The fight took less than ten seconds.
"I really hate that word..." He turned to me after cleaning off his blade and stared for a moment before walking my direction. I readied myself to get back on the horse when he lightly grabbed my arm, and stopped me.
"No. They can easily track us that way."
"Just as easily as if we were on foot. At least the horse is faster." He let out a small sigh.
"You have much to learn, Nym." Five minutes later I was once again enjoying the fact that I was being cradled in Xann's arms again. What I was not enjoying, was the fact that he was leaping from tree to tree thirty feet from the ground. I had a distinct fear of high places and kept my eyes tightly shut. But he was right. I couldn't think of any way for them to track us in this manner. And if they did check the trees, it would take them forever to know what direction we headed, thanks to Xann's constantly zig-zagging path. We traveled west, or at least I think we did. While I hear about what lies outside my tavern walls from the many who come and go, I had never traveled further than the small city of Henar. I knew nothing of the world that I was being carried into.
After several hours of travel, Xann needed a rest. I wasn't one to argue with my ride. We came to a stop by a small lake. He set me down and I walked to the pond. I only took a few drinks before I sat and watched the water shimmer in the moonlight. I heard Xann come and sit next to me but I didn't look at him. What was I doing? Where would I go now? Clergy were killed and it would not take long for that kind of news to travel. Not to mention the fact that there was a Bishop after me. The local Cardinal would hear and Priests would be everywhere. I feared that my escape only delayed my inevitable death. I felt a tear free itself from my right eye.
"Are you scared Nym?" I wanted to lie. To tell him I wasn't. To be a real man.....
"More so than I have ever been." I failed.
"You are frightened of Bishop Rose?" My thoughts flashed back to my room just hours before.
"Horribly." A shiver went up my spine. I drew my legs close to me and covered them with my shirt.
"Don't worry. I wont let them get you."
"Even you can't fight of the army of Priests that he will send after us. They will kill you...and...and... and he will take me..." I was being selfish. I didn't even consider the risk he took on me. He could have left me there and escaped at any time. Heck, after the fight he didn't even have to stay, he didn't have to hide in my room. He...he... oh no.... I saw the look on his face. He had finally removed the hood on his cloak. He had red hair, cut short. His eyes were a mix of blue and green. He looked like he was born in the North. But what really caught me was his apparent age. He could not have been much older than me. Nineteen, twenty winters at most. And his young face showed the hurt I just handed to him.
"You are right. I can't fight a whole Army by myself. That's why I am part of a group."
"You mean the Knights? But aren't there only ten or fifteen of you guys?"
"Yeah. You know we aren't really knights. But there is far greater than fifteen of us."
"Really?" My hopes increased.
"We number fifty." And fell again.
"Fifty?"
"I know what you are thinking. But one of us is equal to five Priests. They are merely blind foot soldiers for a cause that died years before they were born. Yes they are well trained. But their greatest weapon is fear. A weapon that still haunts you after you watched how easy they fall. But it is this weapon that allows them to maintain control over the entire land. That keeps people in line. And keeps people as slaves.
"But for those that get beyond this weapon, they have no power. That is what Killnar has taught us. No not anyone can become a...'Knight' as you call us. It takes time, dedication, and above all, an absence of fear. You can't fear knowledge, you can't fear the unknown, you can't fear the Church, and you can't fear what lies within your mind and your heart."
"Wait, what are you talking about. Are you saying that you want me to try and become a Knight?"
"You think Killnar and I were at your tavern for drinks? We were there for you. Rose found out somehow. He couldn't have followed us. I don't know how he knew. But he tried to get to you first. If he had captured me, he would have left you alone. So I am responsible for what happened to you..." I was stunned. When he showed up in my room, he wasn't hiding, he was waiting for me.
"Why did Killnar try to fight his way out? From what I know and what I have seen, you both could have just snuck away and left me."
"I don't know why he did what he did. I think he tried to decoy them away, so I could reach you." Once again that sad face. I didn't think someone powerful and strong like him could even feel pain.
"Do you think they will.... kill him."
"No. They will use him as bait. They know I will come to free him, they just don't know when."
"You two were close aren't you?"
"I was the first slave he freed. Five years ago. I was your age." I was right. "I was a slave to a powerful merchant. He traveled the towns near the Southern border, behind the Church's front lines. You know. Arnlast, Silnin, Poster. We stopped on our route once when I first saw him. A tavern not unlike yours. He was sitting plain as day in a corner. And I was the only one who noticed him. We locked eyes. Fear gripped me and I ran back to my master. Sound familiar?" He laughed and I laughed along with him.
"Yes it does."
"Anyway. Later that night I was staying in the room with my Master. He uh.... had me trained with talents similar to yours.... Nowhere near your skills though..." I blushed. I don't know why, but I did. " And after we finished. Killnar appeared from the shadows. He looked right at me and asked me if I wanted freedom. One look in his eyes was all it took to convince me and I ran away with him. But not after a bloody fight with my former master and his personal guard. Killnar and I traveled together from that day on. And eventually I...fell in love with him. He told me of what he dreamed. He was from the Southern Empire. And as you know, the Church has been trying to 'purge' that land for a long time. He wanted to save his home. So he brought the fight to the Church. An obscured fight. And who were better recruits that those who the Church stepped on and ignored?"
"Slaves. So that's why."
"Exactly. But he isn't just saving his country. He is helping all those thrown into servitude. If the High Cardinal and his council fall, then things across the whole continent will change. Oppression will be stopped. And hopefully things will become better for future generations."
"I still don't know why you choose me."
"Like I said. Not everyone can join us. The skills we teach are mainly based on perception. The Church calls them Dark Arts because they believe we commune with demons or something. We call them Dark Arts for the powers of stealth they grant us. The armies of the Church are too large to fight head on. So we strike from the shadows. We learn other skills, but we focus on stealth. That's why we don't use swords. The human body is the greatest weapon. Small blades can be easily hidden and are quicker than swords. But I am rambling. The few people that are able to use the Dark Arts are those that are not easily fooled by them. You saw me, twice. Which means you can learn them." I was obviously overwhelmed and he could tell.
"Do not worry about it for now Nym. You don't have to decide right now. I will take you to the camp tomorrow. For now, rest."
He pulled me close to him to keep me warm. My mind wouldn't stop. I just kept thinking about all I had heard tonight. All the amazing things I had seen. I mean. Me? A Knight of Killnar. Freeing the enslaved. Fighting the Church. My life was simple till five hours ago. And now I am sitting here being held by this man who just saved me from the clutches of a master worse than my current one. Wait, former current one. He wrapped his cloak around me and held me till I drifted off to sleep.
So there you have it. Like I said, things get heavy soon, you just have to wait for it. Chapter 4 is finished and being edited, so once again, few days time before it's posted. Send your thoughts my way at DivineGlow@aol.com. I always try to respond when I can. See you next chapter.