Sentinels: Forsaken Knight (3 page)

            “Hello?” Glenn persisted as he waved a hand in front of Anye’s face.

            Anye blinked herself back to reality when his hand passed in front of her. Her joyfulness had confused the man and she only now realized it. She composed herself and wiped a loose strand of hair from her face before she spoke. “I’m sorry, Glenn. The news couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.”

            Glenn raised his eyebrow at the woman a second time in response. “Your father again, I take it?”

            Anye nodded her head. “This time he’s threatening to end my career. At least now I have some time to think of something,” she commented as she crossed her arms.

            “Don’t worry about it,” Glenn replied. As he spoke he placed one of his armored hands on her shoulder. “I’ll see what I can do about your father while you’re away.”

            “Thank you, Glenn,” she answered.

            The two remained silent for a moment in the moonlight. Anye would have bid any other companion good night by then, but it was different with Glenn. The two had become very close friends during their time in the military, each moving through the ranks of their respected divisions quickly, and a friendly competition formed because of it.

            But there was more to their relationship for Anye than was common knowledge. Although she wouldn't admit it to anyone she felt particularly close to Glenn. She had only felt the same for one other man who had been a friend to both she and Glenn in their youth, a nobleman’s son by the name of Leonard Marshall. They were to be married, but he lost his life in battle some years ago during a surprise attack by Mitus in the eastern reaches of the kingdom. The loss affected both of them greatly, and prompted her to becoming more reclusive over the years. As time passed though, she unexpectedly found herself more and more attracted to Glenn.

Glenn was married however, and she wouldn’t dare attempt to destroy his marriage. If word had gotten out that the only man she was interested in was married after, the slander alone would be enough to destroy her reputation. She couldn’t allow that to happen and kept her feelings to herself, slowly becoming the hardened woman everyone knew.

            A moment later, the two broke away from each other. The hour was late and Anye would now be marching with the prince at dawn along with forty other men and women, which unfortunately included Amador. It wouldn’t do her well to be sleepless before they set out.

            “Well, I think I should head to bed,” she said as she turned away from her companion. “Thank you for your help, Glenn. I appreciate it.”

            The lancer smiled and nodded his head. “Of course, Anye. Sleep well. I’ll see you at the gate before you depart to help with the inspection of the troops.”

            Anye nodded her head in acknowledgment. “See you in the morning then,” she replied, and walked off into the darkness towards her room.

______

            Twenty armored soldiers stood in a rectangular formation mirroring twenty armored lancers. In the middle of the two was a white steed with ceremonial gold armor mounted by a man dressed in a matching set of armor, augmented with a cape that had Delrich's seal stitched on it. Standing in front of the elegant horse and rider were Anye, dressed in a freshly polished suit of white armor with a cloak tied at her shoulders, Glenn, with the same armor he had worn the previous night only cleaned to perfection, and Amador, who had done the same with his armor but was wearing a cloak that hung over his back similar to Anye.

            The sun had just barely started to rise over the hills to the east, casting long shadows across the castle grounds. The mist from the nearby ocean kept the air cool, and reflected the morning light in a myriad of colors. The two knight captains had finished their troop inspections only moments before the elegantly armored man had entered the archway where they were waiting.

            “Good morning to you, Captain Sturmwind, Captain Everdyne,” the prince greeted from the saddle of his horse. “Quite the monumental day, isn’t it?”

            “Yes, Sire,” Anye answered.

            "My Prince," Glenn started to say as he and the others took a knee. "The soldiers of your escort have been inspected and are ready to depart at your leisure."

            Prince Robert Ferdinand Delrich the Fourth was well liked by his people and respected in the country's political circles. His father had him trained in both the ways of the sword and the spear from an early age. He wasn't very adept at the magical arts that were practiced by the Holy Knights, nor was he as deadly with a spear like the Dragon Knights as a result. He was well built due to his militaristic upbringing however, and he was also quite humble and polite to any who addressed him.

            The prince kept his flowing blonde hair tied back, similar to Anye's, exposing his bright blue eyes. His gaze, coupled with his demeanor, seemed to command respect from any who would approach him, making him a perfect choice for the task at hand; negotiating peace with their neighboring warring country, the Empire of Mitus.

            "Thank you, Captain Sturmwind," the prince replied. "You may all rise." Each of the three kneeling knights stood and faced their sovereign. As the prince looked at each one his gaze fell upon Glenn once more as he spoke. "I understand you will not be accompanying us on our journey to Mitus, Captain, but that your lieutenant will be in your stead?"

            "Yes, Your Grace," Glenn answered. "Your father, King Justin, wished my presence here to help defend the kingdom and that I send sir Astley in my stead."

            Prince Robert turned his gaze to the darkly armored Amador Astley. "Lieutenant, I hope you understand the expectations I hold for the Dragon Knights, especially those given the rank of an officer."

            Amador bowed his head to the prince before him. “Of course, your majesty,” he said. “I promise you will not be disappointed in my presence here.”

            Prince Robert nodded his head to the individual before turning lastly to Anye, who stood patiently next to the two lancers. “Captain Everdyne, it is always a pleasure to have someone as beautiful as yourself at my side. It is also reassuring knowing your skill with the blade.”

            Anye bowed her head with a smile. “Your Highness, you flatter me,” she said lightheartedly.

            “Not at all,” the prince commented back to her. After taking a deep breath and looking over the troops that would be accompanying him, he looked back at the three knights in front of him and smiled. “If everything is in order I think we should depart.”

            “Yes, Sire,” the three of them said in unison.

            Glenn turned to Amador and nodded at him to take charge of their platoon. Once Amador was with the group Glenn looked to Anye and smiled. “Be safe, Anye.”

            “And you, Glenn,” she replied with a smile before turning away to take charge of her own group of soldiers.

            Once Glenn moved to the side, Prince Robert moved his arm out in front of him. Within a moment of the gesture, both Anye and Amador vocally gave the order to begin marching. The prince and his escort began marching forward through the castle gates and into the open terrain, officially beginning their trek to the neighboring country of Mitus.

            Anye was thrilled to be both out of the castle and away from her father. She was also appreciative that Glenn was doing what he could to stop her father’s plan, but she felt that the responsibility was on her shoulders to find a way around the predicament. Now there was plenty of time to think during the journey.

            After the group had passed through a small town along the road outside of the castle’s gate, Anye heard Amador begin speaking with the prince and was keen to listen in on the conversation. She didn’t like the man at all, and with good reason, but the king had granted him an officer’s rank in the military. He was recognized as a knight of the realm for a reason. Such an honor by itself was enough to deflect most accusations about one’s character.

            “My Liege, what say you for a little extra protection in the sky?” the dark armor-clad lancer asked.

            “I have no objection, Lieutenant,” Prince Robert answered. “We are at war after all, truce or not.”

            “My thanks, Your Highness,” Amador replied.

            The prince ordered the convoy to halt and Amador stepped forward. He unslung his lance from shoulder and held it vertically in front of him. Everyone stood in wait as he prepared the spell taught only to lancers knighted into the Dragon Knights to summon their dragon companion to their side.

            The magic itself wasn’t a closely guarded secret by any means. It was simply a summoning spell taught to lancers which was unique to each knight and dragon. The dragons themselves were kept within the castle and were only able to leave when called by their human counterpart. To ensure that the dragons couldn’t run away and wreak the havoc they had done in the past they were housed in special stone stables when not summoned. When they were with their human they were bound to them by a magical link. If the lancer felt that the dragon was becoming unruly or was injured and needed to return to the castle they merely needed to chant a return spell and the dragon would be whisked back to Delrich.

            As the group watched Amador perform the summoning spell with his lance the wind picked up around them. Dust in the air formed a small whirlwind around Amador as a portal formed in the air above. Moments later, a glass-like seal in front of the portal shattered as a moderately sized black-scaled dragon flew through. The creature circled the group once before it landed at Amador’s side and the dust settled.

            “Hello, Oscar,” Amador greeted the noble beast. He patted his armored hand on its scaly snout and grinned. “To the sky with you. Act as a lookout.”

            The dragon, not incredibly large but of a sizeable enough mass to carry a person or two, spread its wings as the command was given, and flapped them heavily to lift into the air, eventually reaching high enough to keep a good watch over the group.

            “Very good,” the prince commented as the dragon soared overhead. “Let's keep moving then.”

            “Yes, Sire,” Amador replied with a bow.

            Anye gave the order to her soldiers as well to keep moving. Over the years she had seen many dragons summoned to the battlefield so she wasn’t very impressed by that one. Without giving a second thought to the matter, she returned to her duties keeping watch as they marched, though she couldn’t help but contemplate how to outwit her father’s latest marriage scheme.

______

            It took roughly a week of nearly constant travel for the small convoy to reach its destination. The imperial city of Mitus, capital of the empire, stood tall at the border of what was known as the Frontier Lands, far to the east of Delrich. The kingdom and the empire were bordered naturally by a mountain range commonly referred to as The Devil's Spine, a stretch of black-rocked mountains aptly named for their menacing appearance. Much of the architecture in Mitus was built with the black stone mined from the mountains, giving the city a foreboding appearance to any who did not frequent it. Due to the populace’s encouragement of the study of black magic the areas both surrounding and within the city itself appeared to be twisted in a manner that nature would never have intended. Had Anye not battled against the empire’s army before she would most likely be horrified at the sight of such things, much like many of those under her care appeared to be.

            As the entourage approached the imperial walls they were met by a man dressed in robes of jet black with red and gold trim who was accompanied by a group of four men in shimmering black armor. He was balding, with silver hair lining the sides of his head. The wrinkles on his face showed that he was particularly old, but the cold stare he gave to the group told Anye that he was no fool and knew exactly who they were and why they were there.

            “Prince Robert Ferdinand Delrich the Fourth,” the old man greeted. “We’ve been expecting you, Your Highness.” He stepped forward and bowed his head, obviously knowing the repercussions for not showing such a display. “I am Chancellor Breen, in service to his eminence, Emperor Rosch Gregorious Mitus. Welcome to our lands.”

            “Thank you, Chancellor,” Prince Robert replied. “It pleases me that our two countries can finally come together to negotiate a peace. After so many years of violence, hatred, and bloodshed, it is long overdue.”

            “Our emperor feels the same, Your Majesty,” the chancellor said back. As he rose his balding head up to look at the visitors his hand waved in the air. A moment later, the massive gates leading into Mitus opened as if pulled by invisible chains. “We will guide you to the imperial palace, where you can rest before negotiations begin. Quarters for your escort have also been arranged.”

            “You have my thanks, Chancellor,” the prince said.

            The elderly robed man and his armored guard stepped through the gate first. Prince Robert and his protective detail followed. Amador’s black dragon circled the city above in the event of an emergency, but against the black color of the stone buildings the creature actually looked right at home.

            The traveling guard and the prince were met with stares comprised of envy, fear, and disgust from the citizens of Mitus. The two countries had been at war with each other for roughly a century, so animosity without provocation seemed normal. The soldiers from Delrich held the same angry gazes in their eyes as well. Everyone wanted peace and to stop the killing, but after losing loved ones to enemy blades the grudges were hard to drop.

            It was during their short walk through the city that Anye truly felt the concentration of magical energy she had heard about. Although she had fought and felled many dark knights of Mitus, who wielded the forces of black magic on the battlefield along with their swords, she had never felt its power so condensed in one place. To those sensitive to it, it was almost enough to make one dizzy.