Dragon Frost (10 page)

The thoughts
running through my mind were a bit much. I had to find that out
later but right now I need to hunt down that Priest before he
escapes the city. I run towards the open doors and down the halls,
I hear galloping hooves and cries of demands. Peering out the glass
window I see them, I see the Priest and his guards.

I run
along the tiles, sure, I would cut them off from where they gallop
on horseback; it takes more effort to keep up with those horses but
I manage. At this rate, I’m happy that the buildings make up for
the lack of ground, I can cover on foot. The men urge on their
horses and I look up ahead to see a bell tower, knowing that there
were lower obstructions in that vicinity. I sprint harder, aiming
to beat them to the bend.

To my
surprise, I do, beat them to the next bend and leap onto one of the
beams where I knock off a horseman, and hijack his horse. The other
two were aware of what I had done. I race my horse down the turns
and alleys of the town. The Priest is really amusing, his cries and
pleas to spare him, all of his crimes mount up to a death sentence
including all of the lives his taken. There’s no one who would
fight for him in the court of law.

Still, a
job is a job, when normally given these jobs; they were on the
verge of a death sentence. “What is all this for?” Ironically we
are Knights yet we aren’t as shivery as we once were expected to
be. The times change. People change. When the world threatens to
become unbalanced, we are sent to balance it out, when the demons
and supernatural threaten the natural balance of any world. We are
sent to even out the scales. My job, my life is higher than just
any good cause to keep people safe.

Some
people are not meant to know what really exists. We keep them from
finding out. We ride into an open meadow, I aim my crossbow and
shoot the next guard, down he falls as his horse begins to slow. I
ride past it and aim my crossbow at the Priest. “May your soul find
peace,” I mutter and release the wooden metal lined arrow, the
spindles around it turn as I see it drill through his skull. He
falls from his horse and remains motionless.

By the
time I return to the inn, the night is quiet and very few people
are present. There, on my bed, is a red envelope and golden seal is
my next order of business. I leave Mina in the hands of Max who
willingly took her in, prior to the need of an assistant who can
help him around his shop. We venture to the Order it is still three
days away and snow piles around the hooves of our horses. Snow
masses on the branches while icicles fall from the very same
branches towards the earth like frozen daggers. Yet the ride didn’t
seem to be too long, I see people in the city of Muland the city
that surrounds the Order.

Life is
evident in this vibrant and colorful city, where crime is minimal
as Knights petrol the streets and live among the people. We don’t
necessarily hold ourselves to high standing we just do the job
what’s to be expected it isn’t something I do expect. But it
happens. Knowing that a partner, neighbor, friend or colleague
could be a Knight the city is kept at peace, sure there would be
crime but it’s the power of the people and their courage to stand
in the face of danger that gives we Knights more of a reason to
fight. Our name and identity remain a secret. For the safety of
those we love. I remember one time long ago, when I wondered these
streets, it was my first time in this town upon my arrival from the
Nexus.

I heard
ruckus in a nearby tavern. There was a fight between two men one of
which who wanted to take the other man’s wife who was scared out of
her wits. The moment I confronted them, one of the men attempted to
attack me and overpower me. I may not have my heritage’s strength
but I do have its brainpower. The problem was resolved and the man
was grateful. Since then, many Knights seemed to have willingly
help those they saw in trouble. After all, not everyone can defend
themselves like we can.

People
part for us as I lead our horses to one of the city’s many stables
but this one has the crest of the Knights, two crossed blades upon
an unevenly shaped diamond where the bottom resembled the design of
our shields. I place my horse into the stable into an empty part of
the barn and dismount my horse, Varden does the same. I enter the
small office at the far corner of the stables which overlooks, the
four by four, courtyard. There were four large towers at the corner
of each of the stables, our insignia placed on banners which run
down the on either side of the onyx coloured towers. I push open
the wooden door and enter. The squeak of the oxidized hinges causes
a man to look up, Branden is his name. “Kalverya, what brings you
here?”

“
I’ve
returned.” I say with an obvious tone, he clicks his tongue and
roll his eyes at my words. The thing we would do, I would be
sarcastic and he would be over-dramatic.

“
Of
course you have.” he says, I remove my helmet and place it under my
arm. “I see you are aware of the rules when on the property of the
Order.” he teases and I nod, my mismatched eyes meeting his grey
ones. Age wasn’t pleasant to him yet his eyes seem to radiate that
energy he had in his youth and still has now.

“
Send the
Chief word of my arrival.” I say and he stands moving over to the
Pigeon Coop. He pulls out one and places a small note around it’s
ankle before moving over to the window where he releases the white
feathered being into the blue sky.

“
Already
done.” he says with a mocking smile and I allow my lips to pull
themselves into a smile. He’s seen horrible things in his life and
he lost his family because of the wars and famine that plague this
world and the greed of the government. The idea of a diplomatic
unity is nothing more than a dream on this world. There’s no such
thing as a monarchy not since the fall of the royal family. This
world is now governed by Midra.

He turns
to us with the same smile. “Welcome to Muland!” he says with
delight in his eyes and I sign in. After I’ve done that, I receive
my payment from Branden and leave, leading Varden through the now
icy cold town. The layers of snow cover the red roof tops. People
clothed in their winter clothes walked the snow covered streets.
Regardless of the icy cold streets and air; people seem to be as
warm and full of energy as summer.

“
This
place is busy.” I hear Varden say, just barely though. The drivel
conversations of those around me drove me slightly mental but I
tried my best to block them out including Varden, knowing he’s
going to criticize me as rude later tonight. I figured that we rest
at the Order tonight before I present him to the Chief. I’ve had
enough surprises to last me a life time. With people after Varden
and the package, I begin to wonder about the link.

“
Forget the truth and focus on the unacceptable, is that
which rules the world it’s the unforeseen truth that we suffer as
they do.”
 I stop
and turn over my shoulder. Nothing. 
”We are not the key you
are.”

“
Varden,
did you hear that?” I question and he goes quiet before glancing
around. He turns his head to the side and regards me.

“
No.”

“
Never
mind it’s nothing.” I say to the confused yet worried expression on
his face. I had to go to the Oracle maybe she’ll be able to
determine my mental stability. Maybe all these years of war,
killing, death and lose I’ve finally lost my mind and didn’t even
realise it. “Let’s keep going.” It’s midday by the time we manage
to reach the gates of the Order, they stand tall and proud yet ever
intimidating, with towers spaced at every few hundred meters or so,
the Order is practically a fortress on a mountainside.

I stop
before a Security Barb dressed in a blood red uniform with silver
three layered armour like the rest of us. Our layers of armour are
a physical representation of our achievements, of our titles.
“Rank, division and identification number.”

“
Commander Silver AX174.” I hated having to say the
clearance requirements, it is such a mouthful.

“
Seal
please,” he says and I flash him the seal at the back of my badge,
it was and is our dog tags, mine was the shape of a Lezh, it’s like
the number thirteen just squashed together. There are some people
in the Order I’ve come across that are just plain horrible at
remembering names or they can’t pronounce it. Some can’t remember
mine and on the first meeting had trouble pronouncing it so instead
they called me by my seal—they called me ‘Lezh.’ “You’re free to
pass.” he tells me but stops Varden.

“
He’s
with me.” I say.

“
I need
prior notice from the Chief.” he says and I pull out a letter
Hazlitt handed me. He eyes it over before nodding his head, handing
me back the letter, reluctantly he allows us to pass. The inside of
the Order was an old castle of the first royal family but since
they decided to move to Midra where ironically, the slaughter of
the family started.

After
that there was a rebellion against the government and its
politicians. Many were killed. Now there is no such thing as the
working class that class was abolished, there are only the poor and
the rich. The people in the towns and cities I’ve come across are
poor but are able to survive just barely. I sadly am not part of
the poor yet I feel an outcast among the rich maybe because I don’t
mingle with them.

I hear the
sound of familiar footsteps and I turn to see Tessa her blond curly
hair falls over her shoulders, her black uniform she wears, not
like mine. Instead, it is a black silver jacket, black leather
gloves, pumps and stockings with a black thigh high work skirt,
slits on either side in case she was attacked. Each lined in
silver, with the emblem of the Order upon her breast.

“
Kalverya.” she says as shy as ever and I roll my eyes she
was only a teenager but still had plenty of time of training and
plenty of time to learn to not be so submissive.

“
Tessa,”
I say and Varden stops beside me, he waves at Tessa and she
smiles.

“
Hi. I’m
Varden.” he says and she nods her head.

“
We know
who you are. The Chief has beenexpecting you.” she says and turns
on the balls of her heels and leaves. Herfather is the Chief
Commander, their blond hair is the evident trait theyshare, and
their eyes weren’t blue like Varden’s but a warm chocolate colour.
It was warm andvibrant just like they are. We follow Tessa down the
large grey high arched ceiling halls.

The
Order

The
glossy golden floors were well waxed as always,
there
’s not often many
people here other than students and apprentices. The full-fledged
Knights such as, myself, are frequently out on missions. Some
Knights; are teachers and mentors but I couldn’t bring myself to be
one—though even there’s a limit to the amount who can be educators
and who is qualified enough this in itself creates small classes. I
prefer not to be a teacher or mentor because most children are
practically disobedient pain in the necks. Though, Tessa has proven
again and again that not all youth are like that.

The Order
is laid out in a particular way that it will be able to both
recruit, train, educate and moderate its Knights and Squires.
Those, that do manage to graduate from the Order are automatically
classed as Knights and categorized into the term “aristocrats”
since we have our own trust fund that adds over the years of our
training. It is the money we live off and depending on the amount
of missions we complete and our service to the government we make
more and are promoted through the Order and handed treasures and
precious jewels as another forms of payment.

I have
never needed to worry about that since I am an aristocrat and was
given my own land to govern by the previous King of Zylaria, King
Rupert, in reward of my service and bestowed a Lady a member of the
Upper Royal Court. I’m not the only one who has been recognized, as
such. Our Order strangely is universal, so what I achieve on one
planet rolls over onto the other where land and fortunes have been
handed to me not that I can figure out what to do with it. Still
not anyone can be aristocrats. Not everyone can be Knights. Since
our academy’s curriculum is that of a, sieve. “Here we are.”
Tessa’s soft voice pulls me out of my thoughts and I stop before
the door. The same two large wooden doors I seem to always enter
when bestowed a mission. I just hope the man isn’t in one of his
good moods that seem to, creep me out, more than I can begin to
express. Tessa pushes open one of the doors and presents us to the
Chief.

“
Thank
you Tessa, you may go.” he says and she nods her head and
leaves.

The large
doors close behind her. “I was wondering how long it would take you
to get here.” he says and raises a golden-blond brow.

“
We would
have been here faster if you didn’t make me go
through 
that
 city.”
I accuse—my voice colder than ice and he appears to almost
pout.

“
I had
complete faith in you why would I underestimate someone of your
caliber?” he purrs with mockery and I fight the urge to punch him,
it’s times like this, that man brings out a violent side of me, I’m
not proud of. Varden’s immediately voice brakes through whatever
ice has formed, calming me down at bit.