《Knight's Assassin》
Heill Kingdom: Thevs
The looming tower of the Purple City could be seen from all areas of the Heill Kingdom, even from Thevs, over the mountains. It was a beacon of hope and home for some. For others, the purple banners and constant smell of cinnamon from the ports was a signal of oppression. The trading routes expanded in the recent years, leading to economic power throughout the capitol.
Constre and Thevs were left in the wind when people migrated towards the capitol, leaving the farmers and peasants. The merchants, innkeepers, and craftsmen, even the clergy left the poor towns to pursue wealth.
Roaming bands of mercenaries, thieves, and ne''er-do-well''s eventually infiltrated the towns. The economy in these towns depended on raids and other shadowy means of earning money. Drugs, sex, robbery, and murder were the new jobs that the farmers depended on to earn seeds for their crops.
This way of life began ten years ago. Since then, Constre and Thevs have all but disbanded from the government rule of the Heill Kingdom. But, people can only be pushed so far into a corner before they start fighting back.
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Os watched the man struggle to sit upright in his chair. He had more mead on him than in him at this point of the night. For the man, the mead meant he was enjoying himself - probably celebrating a payoff for some raid or robbery. For Os, the slew of mead this man swallowed meant the perfect score.
The tavern, Black Hoof, was filled to maximum capacity as usual. Any time of day or night, people drank their lives away. Living until old age with a perfectly good liver was unheard of in Thevs - unless you were an outsider. However, outsiders never stay a full day in the town. They either pass through quickly or pass away.
Others, like Os, were addicted to the Greay. It was a nasty drug, one that killed more and more each day. Rumors spread that Constre had fallen to it, and nothing was left. The town bounce back, of course, with another band of mercenaries looking to settle down after a long life of being a bastard. Then, as usual, it would fall again because mercenaries don''t make good town mayors. For those addicted to the drug, it was an itch that itched your bones. The only thing that could scratch it was another hit of Greay. This was Os'' mission: rob the man of whatever coins he had left, leave the tavern, and get to his dealer. It was time to focus.
Os shuffled his way out of his chair at the end of the bar. He took a long breath, and began to weave in and out of the crowd. The bickering, laughing, kissing, and fighting amongst the tavern drunks would have made it hard for anyone to make it through to the other side, but Os was light on his feet, flexible, and a damn good dancer. His whole body never touched another person, except when someone was forcefully shoved into him. The commotion caused Os'' target to look up, but it was merely a glance, and then he looked back down at his drink.
"Hey, Murte!" Os shouted over the noise of the people, slapping the man on his shoulder. "Long time, no see!"
The man looked up at the boy. Every time Murte saw Os, he experienced a pang of guilt and nostalgia. The boy was no older than his own son, who passed away from the Greay not too long ago. Their matching thick, brown hair and light stubble on the chins could have made anyone do a double take and mistake them for twins. Except, Os didn''t have his son''s eyes. His son, Hyndel, had his mother''s eyes. They were piercing blue and -
"You okay," Os asked. "Are you crying?"
"N-no!" Murte wiped his eyes. "Jussh'' allergees." His voice slurred as he realized he probably had too much to drink.
Os knew he was thinking about Hyndel. The two weren''t the closest of friends, but enough to where Hyndel introduced Os to the Greay.
"Ho'' esh yu'' been? Ho''s yur dad''s farm?" Murte took another chug of mead, spilling it down his fiery beard, onto his tunic.
"Good," Os nodded. "He just planted pumpkin and some squash. Autumn''s just around the corner." If Os was honest, he would have told him that his dad moved to the Purple City about two years ago. He was left to fend for himself and his addiction alone, as his dad wanted a better life. After his mom died, Os'' father fell apart. He stayed sturdy for a couple years, because he had a sense of duty to the town as a farmer. However, it wasn''t enough in the end.
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"Who''s got te'' biggesh'' farm now? Did yur'' dad ever grew his landsh?"
"No, he didn''t expand. I think the Oncler''s have the biggest farm now." As a matter of fact, the Oncler''s were the only farm in Thevs. The were the richest family in Thevs, as they controlled the crops and the food. People needed to eat, yet people also needed their vices. Which is why the Oncler''s controlled the Greay trafficking, too. The oldest Oncler son, Tryn, was Os'' dealer.
Of course, somewhere, Murte knew all of this. Must''ve overheard it somewhere, somehow. But he had spent all of his time drinking away the pain of his lost son, that he didn''t have the brain cells to recall.
"Think I''ve ha'' too much," Murte said, as he almost fell out of his chair.
"I got you," Os said, as he lifted the man by his tunic collar. Os slung an arm over his shoulder, and preceded to walk towards the back door of the Tavern. "Want me to just leave you outside?"
The man nodded. "Yesh, won''t be able to walk - " Murte then preceded to vomit all over himself. "Leav'' me by they stable."
The stables, thankfully, were just a few paces from the back door of the Tavern. Os found an empty one, with a pile of hay, and laid Murte down.
"Thank ye''," the man said. Os realized this was his chance. He reached down into the man''s tunic to look from a bag of gold.
Murte flung his hand into his tunic, brushing Os'' hand. If he were sober, Murte would have realized Os was trying to rob him. Murte pulled out the bag of coins from inside his pocket, and placed it in Os'' hands.
"Take it," Murte said. "Jush'' sho novody comes and robs me."
Os stared blankly at the man. That was...easy.
Os made his way down the alleys, towards his usual meetup spot with Tryn. The smell of tobacco, Greay, vomit, blood, and every human and horse excretion you could think of was present on the streets of Thevs. Some believed that''s why the tavern was always so full, because the smell of mead was better than the smell of Thevs.
Tryn made his operation out of an old building. Nobody remembers what the building was called, but it had an oven in the back, so the common theory was either a bakery or a crematorium. The table that Tryn usually sat at to do his operations made pople lean in towards it being a bakery, but Tryn swears that the table wasn''t there before, so the truth remains a mystery.
"Hey, Hyndel! Good to see you," Tryn smirked. He did this on purpose, as he knew Os wouldn''t do anything about it. The tall blonde wore the best clothes in the city. He got all of his material from the Purple City, and liked to flaunt his power through being an asshole and expensive clothes.
Os threw the bag of coins on the table. Tryn reached in his expensive jacket, a dark purple color, and adorned with the crest of the Heill Kingdom, and tossed a small vile of smoke-colored dust to Os.
"This isn''t the amount -"
"The price went up," Tryn said, almost sounding bored like he had already said this a million times that day. "Material from the City is getting costlier, making the price here go up too. By the way, who did you rob to get this?"
"Murte," Os muttered as he turned away to leave. "Hyndel''s father."
Tryn let out a laugh. "What a piece of sh - " His voice was cut off.
"Where do you think you''re going," a gravely voice said. Os turned back around, and a naked man held a knife to Tryn''s throat. His eyes were black and the skin was grey, a common sight for Greay users. This is whay Hyndel looked like before he passed. These features usually indicated that the user took too much of the substance, and the drug took over. When used in moderation, the Greay became manageable. The user remembers to eat, sleep, drink water, and so on, but too much can cause what is known as Black Out. The only thought the user has is the drug.
"Greay, now." The man outstretched his had, the knife-hand not leaving Tryn''s throat. Os placed the vile into his hand, and watched as the man opened it with a flick of his thumb, and dusted his eye. He let out a yell of excitement, dropping the knife. Tryn saw this as an opportunity. He snatched the coins off the table, and ran for it.
The naked man fell, and the floor, in pure bliss. Os yelled, and picked up the knife. His only source of happiness, escape, freedom, was stolen by this fiend. He held the knife to the man''s throat, and wanted so desperately to kill him.
But he didn''t. He held back, and resisted the urge. All he saw was Hyndel laying there, or what could be Hyndel. No, they weren''t friends when he was alive, but he was the closest thing to a brother that Os had.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Os spun around, expecting to see Tryn. But it was a woman, wrapped in dark clothes, and a dagger on her hip. She stood in the doorway of the dilapidated building. "Good, you showed restraint in your anger."
"Oh, come on, I don''t have anything for you to steal." Os felt defeated, as even if the lowliest beggar was richer than him at the moment.
The woman smirked. "I don''t want to steal from you. In fact, you could probably steal from me with those light feet of yours."
Os gave her a quizzical look, but decided that whatever this woman was talking about, wasn''t worth his time. Os exhaled, and began to exit the building through a broken window since the woman was still in the doorway. He made his way down the street, leaving the building behind him.
"I saw you at the bar," the woman said. "Stealing that man''s coins. The way you move and blend with the crowd is something we could use."
Os turned, looking back at the woman. Down the street, two other men stood near an alley way. One of them had Tryn by the throat. The other had the bag of coins. The man tossed the coins at Os, landing at his feet.
The man with Tryn by the throat spoke up: "Hey there, kid. We''re looking for new recruits."
Constre
"What exactly is it you want from me, again?" Os kept his distance from the three new outsiders.
After their encounter with Tryn, Os decided it was best to listen to the two men with daggers on their hips and a woman with a broad sword. Whether they were out for blood for fun or not, Os didn''t want to find out the hard way. Of course, they did let Tryn go - but not after stripping him down naked and rolling him in horse shit. Os could only watch, somewhat in horror, as his dealer would no longer be his dealer after that.
"I really don''t like rich kids," said the younger of the two men dressed in black. "Hope he goes home crying to his mummy." He was the one that had Tryn by the throat and stripped him and then rolled him. There was something of a scornful look on his face when Tryn fled.
"That''s enough," said the woman. "We didn''t come here for shits and giggles."
Os couldn''t help but smirk, not letting the irony of the word ''shits'' go unnoticed. The younger man saw his smile and chuckled. The older man hadn''t said anything besides tossing Os the bag of coins if that counted as saying anything.
"As my friend said before," replied the woman, "we''re looking for new recruits. We''re a - we were a ragtag assassin guild. We''re looking to build."
"Assassins? Assassinating what?" Os knew that assassins existed, they always have. But they were either caught, killed, or caught and then boiled in oil.
The younger man rolled his eyes. "Farm animals. We assassinate fucking farm animals."
Os scoffed, then asked, "Why me? I''m no assassin."
The woman turned to the older man, who had a serious look on his face the entire time. "Look at that Drav, you''re mute and this kid is deaf. You''ll be buddy-buddy in no time."
She turned back to Os. "Let''s get out of the street. Know a place we can go?"
Os led them to the outskirts of town, which wasn''t that far of a walk, to his home. It hadn''t changed much since his father left, besides becoming messier by the day. The front door opened up straight into the kitchen, where a fireplace and a table sat. His counters were dirty and full of bowls and rotting fruit and vegetables. Os mostly got his food from waiting at the bar until some lousy drunk got up to piss or pass out, and then he would steal their food if they had any. His diet mostly consisted of cabbage, some unknown beef, potatoes, carrots, and beer. He had pretty much forgotten the taste of water and wine.
The house was small - everything was connected. In the middle was the fireplace and table, to the left was a bed and a chest to store clothes, to the right was a counter to prepare meals. By the counter was a stairwell that went into the basement. This was the area where Os'' father stored food from his crops. During the height of their addiction, Os and Hyndel sold the stock to get ahold of more Greay.
"Cozy," said the younger man. The older man, Drav, struck the fireplace''s flint and iron pieces. As the four made themselves comfortable - The woman and younger man sat at the table, and Drav warmed himself by the fire. Os sat on his bed, opposite the table. He knew that there was a sword under the bed, and he would use it if they tried anything funny.
The sword was from his grandfather - his mother''s father. Os'' grandfather was a knight, serving under King Phich during the Trade Wars. The King and his knights went to war with the Miunt Kingdom for the expansion of their territories and the favor of natives. The Mount King wanted to conquer the natives, take over their lands, and have total worldly control over the spices that they produced.
For a few years, King Phich treated the natives with kindness, supplying them with food, medicine, and even a few boats. After it came to light that the natives were selling spices to other kingdoms from under the King¡¯s nose and using the boats to establish separate trades, King Phich had the natives slaughtered. A colony was started in these lands, and eventually evolved into the Purple City, expanding the Heill Kingdom. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
"What''s your name?" the woman asked. "My name is Ena, this here," pointing a thumb at the younger man, "is Rwo, and the big guy is Drav."
Rwo nodded, and Drav just stared him down. Now that the fire was roaring, Os could make out their features clearly. Ena''s hair was black and curly, almost like a lion''s mane. Her brown face was covered with burn scars, or more accurately, half of her face was one scar. The top of her cheeks to her neck, and Os guessed, to the tip of her toes was one giant burn mark. Os winced.
The older man was built like a tree trunk. If an ox could transform into a person, this is what they would look like. His white hair was cut at the nape of his neck - it was long, but it didn''t hang off his skull. His eyes reflected a pain that only Os had seen once - in his father, when his mother died. Os wondered who Drav had lost to make him have that in his eyes.
Rwo looked as if he was plucked straight out of a knight''s armor. His scruffy black hair and beard couldn''t hide the chiseled jaw and muscly features. When Thevs wasn''t so run down, sometimes knights would venture into the Black Hoof after an expedition - Os could spot them from a mile away. Tall, buff, and held an air of arrogance that could kick the smell off a pig. Rwo checked all these boxes, however, the air of arrogance wasn''t too strong. On the side of his face, barely visible by the locks of hair falling in front, was the branding of King Jept, Phelch''s successor. It was the mark of a traitor.
"Oseric," Os tried to take a deep breath, trying to relax. He started to sweat, but it wasn''t from the fireplace. His withdraws were hitting him as he hadn''t had his hit of Greay since the Black Out took it. "But people call me Os."
"Os, I''ll make it really simple for you," Rwo said as he swatted flies from his face from the nearby fruit. "You can join our band, or Black Out and die here in this hovel." He reached inside his cloak, and pulled out a giant vile of Greay. It was speckled, too, like the sun reflecting water. It was a fresh batch, and it would hit harder than anything Os had ever done.
Os'' eyes grew wide. Ena scoffed, and muttered, "Maybe this was a mistake."
"It''s no mistake," said Rwo. "We both saw him moving in the bar. He''s light on his feet, and sneaky. And what''s the qualifications for being an assassin?"
Ena rolled her eyes, and Drav just nodded as if what Rwo said was nothing but fact.
"You''re forgetting that he''s also got to kill," Ena said. "Have you ever killed before?"
Os shook his head, thinking about the man in the store. That was the only time he had ever came close.
"If we told you that the people you would be killing, are the Knights of the Purple Crown?"
Os looked at Ena like she had grown another head. As for what she just said, she might have well as. The Knights of the Purple Crown were the highest-ranked knights of the Heill KIngdom. They were untouchable in battle and were only replaced when they died of old age. In total, there were always ten knights at a time. The knights represented the noble status of the Purple City: righteousness, authority, and power.
"Then we kill the King."
Os laughed out loud, for what felt like the first time in a long time.
"W-what? That''s your target? You must all have a death wish."
"So does our tyrant King," said Rwo. "If we die, we die martyrs. People will understand that the King isn''t all liked and powerful and protected as people think he is. People will start to question, and a revolution might start."
"That''s one outcome," said Ena. "The other outcome is that we accomplish our mission, kill the King and overthrow the Heill Kingdom. My family was the natives that ruled this land until King Jept took over and slaughtered everyone I ever loved."
"I was a knight," Rwo said. I was right, Os thought. "Under King Jept. I questioned the existence of God and was labeled a traitor. I broke the code of Chivalry."
Os looked at Drav, and he opened his mouth. His half-missing tongue and no-teeth mouth was enough said to Os.
"He spoke out against the King and church," Ena said for Drav.
"What do you want to do? Die for a cause," Rwo shook the vile of Greay. "Or do because of this? You countrymen have abandoned you in this run-down town, even your father. They left you, with the only cause being more money. Your drug addiction can ruin you, just as wealth ruined them."
Rwo was right. Anger swelled up inside him. He jumped up from the bed, grabbed the vile, and threw it in the fireplace. The vile exploded, and a green dust filled the small house. All occupants had to evacuate, as the dust filled their lungs and got them all high.
Os felt free, for the first time in his life. Either that or it was the drugs. Rwo laughed, "You idiot!"
Ena sighed and reached into her cloak to grab a flask. "Everybody hunker down somewhere, this''ll pass in a few hours. Then, on the way to Constre."
Rock Candies
Os couldn''t tell if his sweat was from the heat or from his
withdraws. Either way, he rode shirtless in the back of a wagon, pulled by two
horses and driven by Drav. The wagon was empty except for him, Ena, and Rwo.
After the high wore down from throwing the Greay into the fire, the four set
off to Constre.
"Need some water?" Ena handed him her flask.
"You look like you''re dying."
"I am," Os said as he chugged.
"We''re nearing the lake," Rwo remarked. "We
can cool you off there, and get you a bath." The trio of assassins had
watched him all night and into morning as he came off his high and began to
shiver, sweat, and shit himself.
"You were probably a week from Black Out," Ena said
as she took her flask back. "You should be grateful that we spotted you at
the tavern when we did."
Os turned his head and opened his eyes, but it was a mistake.
The light made his vision wavy, causing him to sit up and puke over the side of
the wagon. Drav turned his head, and sourly looked at the kid. If looks could
kill, that was it.
"I''ll be grateful when I''m dead," Os said through a
mouth of spit.
Rwo chuckled and muttered, "Don''t hold your
breath."
Up ahead, commotion could be heard through the sound of Os
puking. Another wagon, a bigger wagon with tapestries, fruits, swords, and
oddly colored viles clanged towards the opposite direction.
"Good day, m'' fellow trav''lers," a man on the
driver seat tipped his hat as he moved to the side of the road. The man''s hat,
which matched the horse''s hat, was green and orange. Perhaps it was the heat,
or maybe withdraws, but Os could swear the horse tipped its hat, too. The
harness on the horse looked slack. Through his brain fog, Os could tell that it
was because the singular hat-wearing horse was attached to a two-horse harness.
Os didn¡¯t have the ability to even ponder why had this man attached one horse
to a two-horse harness, so he let it go. The man¡¯s thick beard and olive skin were
a sign he was from the desert lands, south of the Heill Kingdom. When King Jept
took over the native lands, he tried to expand into the desert, establishing a
few trading routes and towns. However, King Phelch despised the heat and gave
up the entire area. He declared that the Gurks could occupy the desert without
any qualms from Heill.
¡°Odd seeing a
Gurk this far North,¡± Rwo said. He stood as Drav pulled the cart to a halt.
¡°Odd seeing you
this ugly,¡± the man retorted quickly. ¡°Have you not slept?¡± Both men chuckled
and jumped off their carriages. Drav followed Rwo off the wagon and hugged the
man.
¡°Jedian, so good
to see you,¡± Rwo said through a smile. ¡°How¡¯ve you been?¡±
¡°Great,¡± said
Jedian. ¡°Business is booming. Geruva has established trades with Teriova and
Klondak.¡±
At the heart of
the Gerk Kingdom¡¯s desert was Geruva, the capital city. Os had never been
there, but his grandfather had. Os remembered stories from when he was young
that the golden arches of Geruva could be seen from miles away, much like the
Purple City¡¯s towers. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
¡°Teriova and
Klondak, huh? Kind of a stretch to establish trade routes that far out.¡±
Jedian threw up
his hands in an exasperated manner. ¡°I am nowhere near the Gerk King to make
such decisions. No kingdom can rely on Heill anymore ¨C the ships are anchored
in the ports.¡± It was true. Purple City had become its own self-governing,
self-relying kingdom. Imports were not needed and exports were of no concern.
Rwo and Ena hung
their heads. Drav suddenly took an interest in Os¡¯ situation - he had his head hanging
over the side of the wagon the entire time trying not to throw up. He grabbed
Os by the feet and dragged him onto the muddy road. The movement made Os throw
up again. Through the puking, he could see by the look on their faces that they
were ashamed. Ashamed of what the Kingdom they had once called home had become.
¡°Things will
change soon,¡± Ena said. ¡°King Phelch can¡¯t rely on the Prurple City forever.¡±
¡°Well,¡± Jedian
said, casting a knowing glace at the three assassins, ¡°I hope somebody can
knock him off his thrown. Got yourself a new recruit?¡±
Drav picked Os
up by the collar. Os, covered in mud and excrement, gave small wave.
¡°Heat getting to
you? Or is it the Greay?¡±
¡°Both,¡± Rwo,
Ena, and Os said in unison.
Jedian chuckled.
¡°Don¡¯t worry kid. Lucky for you, my best customers are Greay addicts. That
nasty stuff has touched here all the way to parts unknown.¡± He turned, and went
to the back of his caravan. The sound of metal against wood, glass shattering,
and the ruckus made Os¡¯ head throb. Through the covered wagon, Os heard him
exclaim, ¡°Here it is!¡±
Jedian walked up
to Os and took his hand. He poured orange, red, and blue colored rocks into Os¡¯
palm. They were no bigger than Os¡¯ thumbnail, about twenty in total. Being this
close, Os could smell Jedian¡¯s breath. It smelled like meat, but not like
cattle or lamb. It was something familiar, but Os didn¡¯t have the brain power
to think about what it could be.
¡°These should
last you about a month,¡± Jedian said. ¡°Go ahead, suck on one.¡±
Os chose an
orange one. He stuck it between his cheek and gum ¨C sweetness coated his tongue
and the back of his throat. As his saliva coated the rock more, he could feel
his nausea subsiding. His head began to clear.
¡°Feel better?¡±
Os nodded and
attempted to speak. ¡°Whash isch¡¯ it?¡±
¡°Rock candies,¡±
Jedian said. ¡°They¡¯re simply sugar, fruit juices, and water. You can get them
all over Purple City at the markets. Different flavors, too.¡±
Ena looked
impressed, noticing the sudden change in Os¡¯ demeanor. ¡°What do they do?¡±
Jedian shrugged.
¡°You mean, how do they help Greay addicts? I have no idea. I just know the
effects last around two days. Remember to eat one until your cravings subsides.
But, be careful,¡± Jedian flashed Os his teeth. They were black and rotting out.
¡°Sugar¡¯s also addictive.¡±
¡°Shanks,¡± Os
said.
¡°Where are you
off to now,¡± Rwo asked. ¡°We¡¯re heading back to Constre.¡±
¡°I just came
from there,¡± Jedian said. ¡°Melic cleaned up the tavern pretty nice. Restored
the well, fed everybody that was left. Hard worker, that one. ¡±
¡°She takes after
her mother,¡± Ena said. ¡°I¡¯ll be eager to bathe when I get back.¡± She looked at
Os. ¡°You should, too.¡±
¡°I thought
Constre fell?¡± Os said to the person on his left, thinking it was Rwo. It was
Drav. The mute man just shook his head.
¡°It was about to,¡±
Rwo responded. ¡°Until we moved in a week ago. We¡¯ve established a base there
and began gaining the trust of the ones who are still left. Thevs still had
some type of control due to the Onclers, so making a home in on their turf
would have been, well, dumb.¡± Os understood. The Onclers wouldn¡¯t have liked
any plots against the Kingdom. The seeds for crops and the Greay came from
Purple City. Settling down there would have been tricky, if not deadly. The
three of them against a whole town of drunks, addicts, and hungry people didn¡¯t
seem like the wise thing to do.
¡°I¡¯m heading out
east, towards the river past Thevs. Probably take me a two or three days to get
there, maybe more if I don¡¯t have to eat another horse.¡± Jedian eyed the horse
attached to his caravan. Os had to hold himself back from letting out an audible
¡°Oh!¡± because he then realized what the beef smell on his breath was, and why
there was a singular hat-wearing horse on a two-horse harness.
Questions in Constre
Constre looked worse than Thevs by far. The pile of ashes that were once buildings marked the beginning of the town¡¯s edge. On the outskirts, the smell of cattle and horse corpses could choke a pig. Thankfully, Os had already thrown up his stomach contents before they ran into Jedian.
The church steeple was the tallest building in the town. Much like the beacon of hope the towers of the Purple City provided for some, the church steeple in this town was the epicenter of the Christianity in Heill Kingdom. Saint Mary¡¯s High Church was regarded as the holiest place in the kingdom.
¡°Constre,¡± Ena said, almost mournfully. ¡°You know, before King Jelpt slaughtered the natives, this is where they taught us Christianity. The natives didn¡¯t know Jesus, but they would have liked to, I think. He didn¡¯t seem as barbaric as the people claiming to know Him.¡±
Os hadn¡¯t thought of any sort of religion in years. Of course, his grandfather was a knight. A key pillar in chivalry is Christianity. When his daughter was born, Os¡¯ mother, Christianity was instilled in her at a young age, and so was it instilled in Os. But, he had lost his way. The Greay made sure of that.
As the cart began to slow and stop near the stables on the outside of town, a older man appeared, older than Drav. He began to unhook the horse from its harness and lead him into the stable. ¡°Good girl,¡± he kept telling the horse. ¡°I hope you got to see a little bit of the world. I have some bad news about your mother¡¡± The man¡¯s voice trialed off as he became overcome with hiccups and light sobs. By the time Os and the others left the cart, his tunic was covered in fallen tears and snot. Drav stayed behind as Rwo and Ena led Os into the city.
In Thevs¡¯, you couldn¡¯t throw a rock and not hit a drunkard or someone going to get drunk. Constre was the opposite. From the town entrance where Os was, to the end of the main street where the church doors stood, the town breathed. Nearby, a woman stood near the inn handing out bread to the hungry. On the other end of the street, a man led a prayer to people down on their luck, most of them had bread. At the end of town by the church, Os could make out some people reconstructing a part of a missing wall. There were no drunks or Greay users here, at least not anymore. Constre was just a town down on its luck.
¡°This is Constre,¡± Rwo said. ¡°This is where we¡¯ve called home the past week.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a lot different from Thevs,¡± Os said, still taking in the surroundings.
¡°Not really,¡± Ena replied. ¡°They¡¯re the same. Both have been neglected by the church and state and succumbed to it. The only difference is Constre had fallen. Thevs is still staying afloat thanks to the Oncler family and the stream of income. Once all the drunks drink themselves to death and the addicts Black Out, the Onlcers will fall too.¡±
"Except one of them will still smell like shit," Rwo mumbled, earning a punch in the shoulder from Ena.
"Idiot. I still can''t believe you did that."
They led Os to the tavern where the girl was still handing out small loaves of bread. Her hands moved quickly, slipping bread into outstretched palms before the people shuffled away, heads low. Before they entered, Ena leaned close to the girl and whispered something. Their skin and hair looked nearly identical, like they could have been sisters.
Os stared, his gaze lingering on Ena''s burn scars. He couldn''t help but wonder¡ªdid Ena resemble the girl before the fire?
The girl glanced at him, her eyes darting up and then away as if his presence alone unsettled her. Without a word, she returned to her task.
Inside, the tavern was hollow, eerily silent. There were no rowdy drunks weaving through the space or sharp-eyed assassins lurking in the corners. No treasure to pilfer, no mead-slick scent masking the rot of the town. To Os, it felt like a graveyard that someone forgot to bury.
On the left, a narrow staircase climbed into the shadows. On the right, the bar stretched against the wall, stripped of any charm. Where rows of ale should have gleamed, there were only vials of medicine and scattered papers.
¡°This is our home,¡± Ena said, her voice softer now. ¡°The second floor is where most of the townsfolk without homes sleep. And down here is where we keep medical supplies and other essentials.¡±
Rwo grinned as he caught Os eyeing the stairs. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ve got a room,¡± he said, with a wink. ¡°We¡¯re not tossing you outside just yet.¡±
¡°Pull up a chair, I¡¯m sure you have questions for us.¡±
Os did, especially since his mind was clearer than yesterday. The fog was still there, and he wanted more than anything to take a nap.
¡°I¡¯m not sure I understand¡ well, anything. I understand where you¡¯re both coming from,¡± he took a seat at a table with Rwo and Ena. They sat opposite him. Their cloaks were off, and Os got a closer look at their bodies. Ena was clearly boiled at one point, her skin was red and the blister scars covered her arms and fingers. Rwo¡¯s arms and chest were scarred with sword wounds. He had definitely seen some type of battles in his time. ¡°But I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re interest is in me, besides that I have light feet.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.
¡°You want to take this one,¡± Ena asked Rwo. ¡°I¡¯m going to see if Melic needs help with the bread.¡±
¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± Rwo watched Ena leave. Their muffled voices could be heard just outside the door. ¡°The girl outside the door, with the bread ¨C that¡¯s our daughter.¡±
¡°Daughter? I had no idea Ena was your wife.¡± Rwo nodded, pulling out a pipe. He puffed on tobacco, passing it to Os. He denied, and Rwo shrugged.
¡°Yes, Ena¡¯s my wife. We had Melic after we were found out and I was sentenced to exile.¡± Os remembered stories from his parents and grandfather. Any type of mingling or children born with the natives suffered ¡®dire consequences¡¯, which was a law enacted by King Jelpt and reinforced by King Phelch. The law wasn¡¯t as fiercely obeyed these days, as the natives population was low and instances like these weren¡¯t heard of often.
¡°Is that what the brand is for?¡± Os knew it was a stupid question with an obvious answer, but it needed to be asked. Rwo nodded.
¡°This is why I want to overthrow this government. Revenge. Love. A safe place for my family. Ena wants revenge more than me, I think. Her jury, the ones that tried to boil her alive are members of the Knights of the Purple Crown.¡± Os felt his stomach drop. For some reason, it all became bolder than he had previously thought. There was a mission, and he was a part of it.
¡°How did¡ how did she escape?¡±
Rwo took another few tokes off his pipe before answering. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Os and Rwo let that statement hang in the air. ¡°They made me watch her be lowered into this giant pot in the middle of town while they branded me.¡±
Os felt his throat become tighter, as he could only imagine the pain each of them endured. To watch the one you love die was something that was tugging on his heart strings.
¡°The pot was knocked over,¡± Ena said behind Os, making him jump. ¡°I was lowered for a brief second, the oil crisping my skin. If not for outside help, I would be dead, and so would Melic.¡±
Os sat stunned.
¡°About half the Knights of the Purple Crown limp now, their legs scorched like my entire body is. Yet I stand tall, powerful, ready to strike at a moment¡¯s notice¡ªnot cowering behind a suit of armor in some castle.¡±
Rwo tapped his pipe against the edge of the table, spilling ash onto the wood. ¡°Her ropes burned away in the oil. Once the pot tipped over, we ran for the hills,¡± he said. His tone carried a mix of pride and grim nostalgia.
Melic stepped forward from behind her mother, her small hand brushing away the ashes into her palm. She gave Rwo a sharp, disapproving look.
¡°Sorry, love,¡± Rwo muttered, giving her a sheepish smile. ¡°Two weeks after we escaped, Ena gave birth. This is why I fight.¡± He reached up to ruffle Melic¡¯s hair.
Os shifted uncomfortably. ¡°What did you see in me?¡± he asked. ¡°How am I important to your cause?¡±
Rwo leaned back, exhaling smoke that curled upward like a dying spirit. ¡°You represent the people we¡¯re trying to protect from tyranny. King Phelch and the king before him abandoned the rural parts of Heill. They left us to rot. An outcast knight, a scarred native with her daughter, and a banished priest¡ we don¡¯t exactly scream revolution. But you? You could.¡±
Ena picked up the thread of explanation. ¡°You¡¯re a symbol. Someone who can speak to the people in a way we never could. They need to hear from one of their own that enough is enough.¡±
¡°There¡¯s something else,¡± Rwo muttered. His tone darkened, and his gaze flicked to Ena. For a moment, the silence between them felt heavy, as though they were silently deciding who would break it.
Finally, Rwo spoke. ¡°Your grandfather helped us escape. He died for it. The king¡¯s men found out about his involvement.¡±
Os froze. The news felt distant, like hearing about the death of someone you¡¯d met only a handful of times. He wasn¡¯t close with his grandfather¡ªnot in his later childhood, at least. But knowing the old man had been a thread in this rebellion''s story, something about it clicked.
¡°You were looking for me, then?¡± Os asked, his voice quieter now. ¡°That¡¯s why you were in the Black Hoof that night?¡±
Rwo¡¯s eyes met his, unwavering. ¡°Yes. And now that we¡¯ve found you, you¡¯re part of this, whether you like it or not.¡±
Ena nodded. ¡°We didn¡¯t know your father, but he was sympathetic to our situation. When we were given our sentences, he fought valiantly to get it overturned. At least, for both of us to get banished. When that didn¡¯t happen, he devised a plan to get us free. He was the one that kicked the pot over.¡±
¡°As far as we knew of him, he wasn¡¯t a Knight of the Purple Crown, but he was high enough in rankings that he could speak with the King on our behalf.¡± Rwo thanked Melic as she handed him his cup. She offered one to her mother and Os, both of which accepted. The lemon and mint water was refreshing to Os. The drink was nothing new to him, but for some reason, this time it tasted like the freshest lemon and mint he had ever tasted.
Os shook his head. ¡°He was not a highly ranked knight, I was told. I¡¯m guessing he was found out shortly after you managed to escape?¡±
¡°Yes. Someone saw us fleeing with him. We managed to slip away into another kingdom for a while, but he was sought out.¡±
¡°You say that he fought bravely for your cause. I will take his place and fight bravely for you too. All of us.¡±
With that, the door to the tavern opened, and in stepped Drav. Melic served him a drink, but he refused. He looked to be in some sort of panic, gestering with his hands to Rwo and Ena. He put up a hand across his face, splaying his fingers. His eyes were the only thing that were visible.
Melic, Rwo, Ena, and Drav all rushed towards the backdoor of the tavern with frieghtend looks on their faces.
¡°Knights! Os, more than likely, they¡¯re just out for a stroll or something. They¡¯ll take a stop here, expecting mead.¡±
¡°Serve them, and offer them a place to sleep,¡± finished Ena. ¡°They won¡¯t accept the offer, but if you don¡¯t, they¡¯ll suspect something fishy.¡±
¡°They¡¯re probably coming up the road,¡± Rwo continued. ¡°Drav, how many?¡± He held up three fingers on one hand, and two on the other.
¡°Three knights, and two females. Horses?¡± Drav nodded yes. He took his hands and put one on either side of his head. ¡°They¡¯re in the stables already. That means they¡¯ll be here any minute. Os, time to shine. Don¡¯t let them catch on to who you are or that we¡¯re hiding just outside. This is your first test.¡± And with that, Rwo hustled the group outside. As that door shut, the front door to the tavern opened.
A Knights Grandson
In walked, as Drav said, three knights and two females. The knights were dressed in the typical armor ¨C greaves, chest plates, bracers, chain mail. The chest plates were inlayed with the kingdom¡¯s crest ¨C a white shield with a purple cross on top. This signified that they were knights of the Purple City and warriors of Christianity. The women wore fake smiles and forced laughter, probably bought already or wanting to be paid for their services. Their dresses were made with the finest material, almost like a Chinese silk.
The knights took seats at the bar; one woman caressed one of their faces while the other nibbled on another¡¯s ear. ¡°Round o¡¯ mead, boy,¡± the tallest, darker haired knight said. ¡°Make it quick.¡±
Os turned his back to the knights looking for any mead in the cupboards below. He took a deep breath. He had to remain calm and not arouse any suspicion. He was just a local barkeep, trying to maintain his dwindling business. He found a few bottles and served the knights and ladies.
¡°Whas¡¯ your name boy?¡± The tall knight, who seemed to be the leader, eyed Os as if he knew he was the new member to a rebellious group. ¡°You knew around here?¡±
¡°Oseric,¡± he swallowed the lump his throat. ¡°But most people call me Os.¡±
¡°Os, huh? I must t ell you, I¡¯ve been around here a few times, and I¡¯ve never seen your face. Are you new here?¡± The man swilled his drink, trying not to get distracted by the lady in the purple dress shoving her boobs in his face.
¡°Yes, actually,¡± Os took a small breath. Telling the truth was much easier than telling a lie. He could hide in plain sight, like Rwo said earlier. ¡°I¡¯m from Thevs. Just moved here a day ago.¡±
The man nodded, satisfied with Os¡¯ answers so far. ¡°What brought you all the way out here?¡±
Os, trying to act busy, started tending to the dwindling candle lights. He struck some flint over a small bundle of fine horse hairs, and lit the surrounding candles across the bar. ¡°Got into some bad business in Thevs. A friend of mine died from the Greay. I was addicted too, but I¡¯m trying to clean myself of it.¡±
One of the other knights, now with a visible scar across his face, looked at Os and raised his glass. ¡°It¡¯s not easy,¡± he said. ¡°That stuff¡¯s nasty. I got into it too, during my training. Kicked it, thank God. You¡¯re doing the right thing, Os. Getting away from that stuff.¡±
Os, even though they were the enemy, felt a sense of calm and acknowledgement wash over him from this stranger. It was an odd feeling since he didn¡¯t know the man from Adam, but Os felt he could come to respect this man.
¡°Of course,¡± he kept going, ¡°that shit¡¯s from the natives. God, I¡¯m glad we cut them all down.¡± Os¡¯ feeling of calm immediately vanished.
¡°They brought the Greay to Heill,¡± Os asked, genuinely curious. ¡°I thought it was the Asian trades.¡±
The man shook his head. ¡°No, no, no ¨C¡°
¡°You¡¯ll have to excuse him,¡± the tall knight said. ¡°His brain got a little nicked when he got that scar.¡±
The scarred man grunted, and returned to his mead and lady. ¡°I¡¯ll nick your dick,¡± he mumbled.
¡°They were from both,¡± said the tall knight. ¡°The Asians created it, traded with the natives. This was what King Jelpt, God rest his soul, found out the Asians were trading to the natives. The natives, in turn, were selling Jelpt¡¯s resources. The natives got our men addicted to it. This is what got them slaughtered.¡±
¡°Huh,¡± Os said, genuenly surprised with learning some new knowledge about the kingdom¡¯s history. ¡°My grandfather was a knight. I never knew that part of Heill¡¯s history.¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
The men stopped drinking and the women stopped flirting and nibbling. The eyed Os curiously, like he had just said King Phelch was his brother.
¡°A knight, you say?¡± The third knight, who was too busy with the lady attached to his ear, broke the silence. ¡°What was his name?¡±
¡°Sir Hawthone, Amborse Hawthorne,¡± Os said. He felt his stomach drop as something told him that this was a bad move to reveal his grandfather¡¯s identity.
¡°Ambrose¡Hawthorne¡¡± muttered the tall knight.
¡°Wasn¡¯t he the¡ No, that wasn¡¯t¡ Was it?¡± said the scarred one.
¡°Farmer?¡± said the third knight. ¡°He retired to Thevs about twenty or so years ago, if I remember correctly.¡±
One of the key components of being a knight was to know your kingdom¡¯s entire history, to Kings, noblemen, and even all its traitors. Thankfully for Os, these knights were three sheets to the wind.
¡°Yes, he was a farmer after he retired.¡± This, technically, wasn¡¯t a lie. Now Os knew that after his grandfather helped Rwo and Ena escape, he was forced into a life of farming to provide for his son, his daughter-in-law, and their son, Os. ¡°Some raiders got to him about twelve years ago. I don¡¯t remember much; I was really little.¡± The ladies went right back to flirting and the knights went back to sipping their beverages.
¡°That¡¯s too bad,¡± said the scarred man. ¡°What about his sword?¡±
Os took a small breath. This is where he had to lie, as he couldn¡¯t come up with an excuse for the truth. He had left it behind in his home. He had totally forgotten about it since he was still reeling from his Greay addiction. Thieves had for sure already taken it. A knight¡¯s sword was a family heirloom, to be protected at all costs. If these knights knew that he had left it behind because of his addiction, he would for sure be beaten within an inch of his life, if not worse.
¡°My father sold it,¡± Os said. ¡°Right back to the Purple City blacksmiths.¡± This was a common practice for knights or their families experiencing financial hardships. The blacksmiths would melt it down for scrap or sell it to other warriors to make some quick coins.
¡°That¡¯s too bad,¡± said the tall knight. ¡°Well, Sir Oseric, if you can make your way to the Purple City one day, do please head straight to any of the Lord¡¯s manors. There are training sessions all year round for knights in training.¡±
¡°Knight? Me?¡± Os couldn¡¯t believe his ears. It was something he had never considered, except in his youth when hearing stories from his grandfather. Even then, his grandfather warned him about becoming a knight. Now, thanks to Rwo and Ena, he knew why.
¡°Of course,¡± said the tall knight. ¡°If a knight¡¯s blood runs in your veins, then you are to be a Knight yourself. In fact, why don¡¯t you travel with us? We¡¯re heading back to the Purple City in a few days.¡±
Os shook his head. ¡°Unfortunately, in my state, I don¡¯t think I¡¯d make a good knight. I¡¯m still recovering.¡±
¡°Ah, I see. Well then, Oseric, if you ever decide to go to the City, reach out to Lord Velleric, and tell him Sir Theodun sent you.¡±
¡°Aye,¡± said the scarred man. ¡°And Sir Gerum, and Sir Yuolnd.¡± The third knight nodded and raised his glass to Os.
¡°Thank you, I really appreciate it.¡±
¡°No need to thank us, lad,¡± said Gerum. ¡°We¡¯re trying to recruit all the arms we can get. Heading to war soon.¡±
¡°Shut it, idiot,¡± Theodun said. ¡°Forgot what he said, Oseric. That is far, far into the future,¡± he shot Gerum and Yuolnd a look. ¡°You probably won¡¯t ever need to pick up a sword for battle. It¡¯s your duty as a Knight¡¯s grandson to join the ranks you are promised.¡±
¡°Do you have any beds available,¡± said Yuolnd. ¡°This one¡¯s being feisty.¡± He immersed himself in his lady¡¯s cleavage, sloshing his mead everywhere.
¡°Of course, help yourselves to any of the unlocked rooms.¡± Thankfully, Os knew that the Black Hoof back in Thevs had this open door policy, and it was pretty universal throughout taverns. ¡°No need for payment because of your offer. Just enjoy your night.¡±
The knights and their ladies left to their rooms as Os cleaned up their cups and the leftover mead. From the back door. Rwo appeared and flashed Os a grin.
¡°That was perfect. Actually, it went better than I expected.¡±
¡°What do you mean?¡±
Rwo exhaled and slapped Os on the shoulder. ¡°The offer they extended you plays perfectly into our plan.¡±
¡°Plan?¡± Os started extinguishing the candles, desperately wanting to hit a bed too.
¡°We were planning to sneak you inside the Purple City somehow, and get you close as possible to the knights. The initial plan was for you to become a squire or a farmboy, tending to the stables. You would have had access to knights either way. But now, this would make your access even closer. You will become a knight and assassinate them from right under their noses.¡±
¡°We should talk about this more in the morning,¡± Os said through half shut eyelids.
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Rwo smiled. ¡°The girls, Drav, and I are going to sleep in the church at the end of town. We¡¯ll talk more over breakfast in the morning. You did a great job tonight, Os.¡±
Believe in Yourself
The eggs were runny,
the bacon was crispy, and the ale was refreshing. Despite having livestock and
mass graves for the dead outside of Constre, the ones that remained managed to
do pretty well for themselves. A communal breakfast was served outside of the
tavern. The knights left before daybreak, on their way to the capitol.
Before they
left, Sir Theodun knocked on Os¡¯ room and handed him a sealed letter.
¡°It¡¯s an
official recommendation to train as a knight,¡± Theodun said. ¡°Give this to any
Lord in the land, Hell, even the King if you can get counsel with him. After
that, your training will begin.¡± With that, he and the rest of his party left
the tavern.
Os¡¯ headache was
pounding but the food helped a little. He got a seat next to Drav and the
stablehand that was at the entrance of town yesterday. The hand, his name was
Willel, talked to Drav about the knights and how they barely paid him to feed
their horses.
¡°Bunch of
pricks, I tell you,¡± Willel said through a mouth full of eggs. ¡°Won¡¯t even be
enough to buy a carrot in the city.¡±
Drav just nodded
and ate. Os wasn¡¯t in a talking mood due to the headache, but having a communal
breakfast meant that the tavern was full of people. Rwo and Ena ran around,
making sure everyone had a plate. Melic ate her food quickly and then tended to
filling everyone¡¯s ale.
¡°How¡¯s the ale,¡±
she asked Os, filling his glass.
¡°Good.
Pumpkins?¡± Os could taste the fermented autumn squash. The ale was sweet
almost, with a hint of barley.
¡°Yes. Found an
unattended patch when we arrived here. Huge pumpkins,¡± she refilled his and
Drav¡¯s ale. ¡°I began fermenting them when we settled here. More ale, Willel?¡±
He shook his
head no, still rambling to Drav about the knights from yesterday. Drav seemed
more interested in the horses that they had. His eyes shot up every time Willel
even mentioned their horses.
¡°When breakfast
is done, my parents want to talk to us..¡± She trailed off at the end, obviously
trying not to mention anything about the plan Rwo mentioned yesterday. ¡°Try to
wipe your shirt before then.¡±
He looked down.
His shirt was full of spilt ale and eggs. His cheeks flushed, and through the
noise of tavern, he could swear he heard her giggle. As she walked off, Drav
nudged him in the arm, looking over his shoulder, giving Os a wink. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Os tried not to
roll his eyes. It was always the same when two people of the opposite sex shared
a conversation. An overhearing elder always gave a knowing look to one of them,
implying a growing love story. Os had a funny feeling that no matter what the
outcome of the known world, this tradition would never be forgotten.
It¡¯s not that he
didn¡¯t find her beautiful, of course she was. But Os would forget her in a
heartbeat if it meant he knew he could have just one more hit of Greay.
He reached into
his pocket and found one of the rock candies. This one was blue and tasted like
a mixture of berries and lavender. His headache relieved almost instantly, and
the food tasted even better than before. He watched Melic talk with another
table across the tavern. Her brown dress seemed to meld into her skin, offering
the illusion that she was nude. Now Os¡¯ cheeks were flushing for another
reason, so he had to look away.
The tavern
cleared out after an hour or so, the towns people continuing on through their
day. The sound of nails and livestock filled the air outside the tavern which
now only held Drav, Rwo, Ena, and Os.
¡°You mentioned a
plan yesterday?¡± Os was happy because there was just enough ale to all have
another round. This time, Os could really taste the pumpkin. He wanted this
drink all the time.
¡°Yes,¡± Rwo said,
reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a map. It was folded and unfolded so
many times, the creases were in every direction. When he laid it out on the
tavern bar, it took Os a second or so to realize that it was a map of the Heill
Kingdom. ¡°We¡¯re going to set up base here, in this forest,¡± he pointed to a
thrush of trees just south of the Purple City entrance, north of Thevs. ¡°We
have to backtrack a little bit, but we should aim to make it to the forest in a
month or so. It¡¯ll be enough time to gather resources and train."
¡°Train?¡±
Rwo smirked and
tossled Os¡¯ hair. Os didn¡¯t like that but didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°We¡¯re not going
to send you into the heart of the enemy blind. I¡¯ll teach you how to be a
knight. Swordsmanship, chivalry guidelines, how to wear armor. The basics.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be fine
tuning Melic¡¯s skills,¡± said Ena. ¡°She¡¯s an important part of our plan, too.
And she¡¯ll be your backup on the inside. Once she gets a handle on things, I¡¯ll
be teaching you archery. Drav will be teaching you horse riding and jousting.¡±
¡°You guys
are¡really counting on me, aren¡¯t you?¡± The reality of the situation finally
sat on his shoulders. It was a lot. To basically be the face of an entire
revolution. He could be found out, hanged, or worse ¨C boiled in oil. ¡°What if¡
What if I can¡¯t do it?¡±
¡°The door¡¯s
right there,¡± Rwo said. He pointed with the rolled up map. ¡°You can leave at
any time. We sought you out because your grandfather was a man that believed in
our freedom. We believed his morals must have been passed down.¡±
¡°We were right,¡±
Ena said. ¡°When those knights were here, what was stopping you from telling
them where we were?¡±
¡°I¡ Don¡¯t know.¡±
Truly, he hadn¡¯t even thought of that. He might¡¯ve been able to swindle a deal
or money for the capture of fugitives.
¡°You believe in
our cause, whether you know it or not. Now it¡¯s time to believe in yourself.¡±