A Knight's Lilies

“The kobolds 'captured' me and dragged me to their den. Of course, their bindings were amateurish and I could easily escape but I wanted to learn about their cuisine. They dragged me into their feasting hall and I was so amazed by their array of strange cave vegetation and odd looking life forms that I immediately broke free and to their surprise willingly wandered over to their kitchen. When I began blending their ingredients together, they almost rioted in a panic until I produced a dish I shall call "Glowworm grub in roasted vegetable* mushroom sauce**". They were so enamoured they didn't want to let me go until I taught them how to replicate the dish. Though their attempts were...less than stellar it was a far cry from the laughable attempts these troglodytes cooked before. With this, I'm pretty sure I unintentionally revolutionised the kobold diet."

(Scrawled below: *I hope they were vegetables **I am being very lenient with the term)

- Paliszeth Versshirms, Veronan Exploration Guild, Chef, Wilderness Explorer, “Feasts and Foods of the Exotic Variety”

Annalise groggily opened her eyes, the former expedition’s bedrolls were uncomfortable to say the least. Stretching to iron out the cricks in her muscles her arm bumped into the figure curled up next to her. Sophie’s form moved peacefully with every breath though she could see the beginnings of a frown beginning to form on the sleeping figure. Shaking her head and yawning, Annalise quietly ruffled Sophie’s hair. When she had returned from the barrows she had been an inconsolable mess, tearing up and unable to speak or respond to much of anything. Despite the inquisitor’s desire for a debrief, Annalise was able to convince Sir Baylein to aid her, and quickly had Sophie brought into one of the surviving tents. There, she had just held on tight as Sophie sobbed, and had spent the night rocking the poor girl to sleep. Every once in a while Sophie murmured about weakness, the dark, and pleading to not be left alone.

A gurgle escaped from her own stomach and she groaned in annoyance. She leaned over Sophie once more and marvelled at how peaceful she seemed compared to the mess she was last night. Though Annalise could imagine why given the fact that she returned without Riza.

“Just you and me now, Sophie.” She whispered with a sigh. Curious, she cautiously ran a hand over the elf’s ears and almost as if she had tripped a trap, the girl opened her mouth and started to babbling gibberish in her sleep, a small line of drool running down her face.

Annalise quickly pulled back and took a deep breath to hold back her laughter. If only everything could be like this huh? Slightly more melancholic she gently wiped the drool off her friend’s face and leaned in once more.

“I wasn’t going to help you much with Arteria at first, you know, a quest here or there then you would leave us behind,” Annalise looked down, her eyes gazing down at the sleeping girl mournfully, “But well..heh, there’s… nothing left for me here now huh? I’ll get you to Arteria, go with you too. Promise.” With that she pulled back and looked around for her bow.

Grabbing it, she carefully tried to steady herself as she pushed off the cot, wobbling the whole way up. By the saints, this is not good for the bow. With a grunt she used her new crutch to head outside, the sun’s rays shining brilliantly above, the ruins surprisingly mist free despite the gray fog still present over in the forests around them.

Off by the entrance near the first set of barricades, templars dug graves for those still around or haven’t survived the night. Civilians mulled around here and there helping shore up the perimeter while other inquisitorial agents began dismantling what they brought the day before, ready for the journey ahead. Camped near where Sophie and her first ran into the knight and minotaur, a small kitchen of sorts had sprung up. A few pots, dishes and templars cooking a cleaning, a strange sight for her as the armoured soldiers deftly serviced the people crowded around like a proper missionary feeding the poor.

“Ranger! You’re awake, this way.” A templar called out and gestured towards a war tent. It’s bright white and maroon stripes stood jarring different from the more ragged and rustic tents the others used.

She grumbled her affirmation and hobbled her way over, annoyed at waking up and immediately taking order. She was about to bark out a retort of her own at the man when her mood dropped, right, no Thulgrim anymore. Depressed, she waved off the templar’s helping hand and made her way inside herself.

Sitting around a long table with a map in the middle was the inquisitor, Taurox, and an old man in his fifties, wrinkles and all. The soldier sat opposite the inquisitor and minotaur with two empty seats next to him and as she glanced at the soldier who beckoned for her to sit, she only realised it was the Falcon Knight when she spotted his helmet resting on the table. Sitting down in an empty seat, she watched as Sir Baylein pushed a now lukewarm plate over when she raised an eye at another plate sitting undisturbed.

“Figured you’d both wake up at the same time.” Sir Baylein nodded at her inquisitive gaze.

“She’s gonna need time.” Annalise answered, “So why do you need me here anyways?”

Looking to Baylein the man only raised his head to direct her attention to the map. On it, several little figures of crosses, swords, a few blue flags and numerous red flags dotted the nearby area of the Highwall Mountains, some on the Meltonian side and some over in Carrador. Raising her eyes she found the inquisitor looking at her expectantly and turned to Baylein who only shook his head and pointed at the extra food.

“Let her rest, she’s been through enough these past few days. Me too if I’m being honest.” He answered and grumbled the last words quietly.

“Fair enough, I suppose then proper introductions are in order. My name is Inquisitor Viktor von Krantz, I serve at the church’s discretion and act as the commanding officer with this contingent. Blademaster Taurox you’ve already met. I called him here to help the maid be more at ease though I suppose we shall let her rest. I will ask though, for him to continue being a witness to events as a record keeper, for formality sake.” Viktor clapped his hands together. Taurox gave her a gentle wave as he nodded toward the inquisitor.

“Annalise, ranger.” She grunted her own reply as she ate.

“Fair enough, a little lacking in tact but I can respect briskness. Let me ask you this, where do you two intend to go after this?”

Annalise paused, pondering for a few moments before replying, “Arteria, I suppose we’ll go to Arteria.”

Inquisitor Viktor nodded, like he almost knew this would be the answer.

“How do you plan to break past the undead hordes? We stopped this ritual, but it wasn’t the only one. And, from what it sounds like the Mistveil isn’t in great shape all over.” Viktor asked.

“We sneak and ride back down Carrador. I mean Sir Baylein is here to help her too right?” She turned to the older man and he nodded. “See? We could push through.”

Viktor scoffed, “We ride to your rescue and here you go volunteering on the quickest path to death.”

Annalise growled at him as Sir Baylein held up a hand and she returned to her food as the knight took over.

“Inquisitor von Krantz, get to the point.”

“Tch, no sense of formality or procedure. But take a look at the map and tell me what you see?”

“To my knowledge these are the locations of troop emplacements… but…I suspect you’re making another point, Inquisitor von Krantz?” Sir Baylein sighed.

“Don’t look so down. Your assessment is astute, should I go through what they mean for our guest?”

Sir Baylein sighed again and Annalise just shrugged her shoulders and kept eating, her stomach appreciating the gesture.

“The crosses, given our affiliation, should be self-evident, inquisitorial assets. The swords, templar outposts. The blue flags are military movements on a national scale and the red…”

“The cultists?”

“Indeed.”

“By the saints…”

At this Annalise looked up from her food and ran her eyes over the staggering amount of red flags on the map. All of them? All cultists?!

“And the blue…” Sir Baylein gestured.

“Indeed, unfortunately for you that is in fact Meltonian troops massing at the border.”

Annalise heard Sir Baylein stifle a gasp and tried processing the new information, war…they’re planning a war.

“But…why tell us this?” She asked and the inquisitor put on a smirk. How irritating.

“You two, I am less concerned with. The sleeping maid…that’s another story. But why tell you, you ask? Because of this.” He pointed at a cross mark on the edge of Meltonian territory. “I need you three to go here.”

“Melisgrad? The capital?”

“Indeed.”

“But why would…” She began but he held up a gloved hand.

“Because the cult is after your friend as well and it would place you near inquisitorial assets should they choose to strike.”

She looked at the red flags and traded a skeptical glance with Sir Baylen.

“I confess we did try to extract her from the ducal household. But, the convoy was ambushed along the way. Someone fed intel to elven freedom fighters, despite everything designed to not look like a priso...asset transportation.” He continued

“I knew it.” Sir Baylein glowered and a cold silence descended upon the table for a minute.

“Reservations asde, that unfortunate incident allowed us to determine that they too were more than aware of her presence and…” He paused, a look of shame flashing over his face, “and that there are traitors even within my ranks.”

At that Taurox winced from the accusation. Heresy was generally confined to elements of the church or the public, to accuse the inquisition itself was a grave charge. Even Annalise felt uncomfortable at the heaviness that rolled over the room and she coughed quietly for Viktor to continue.

“Anyhow, I understand that you might feel…concerned but I guarantee you that this is a matter I take with the utmost seriousness. But in lieu of that here,” he reached down and pulled out a scroll out from under the table and waved it in front of them, “Papers for a passage by sea from Melisgrad straight to Arteria. Think of it as…compensation.”

Annalise shared a way glance with the knight and he took the paper, looking surprisingly pleased with the contents.

“So?”

“The inquisitor doesn’t lie.”

Handing it back the inquisitor produced a seal from his pocket and stamped the paper before handing it off to the blademaster who dutifully laid it out to dry.

“All I need is two to three months of your time.” What?!

“Two to three months?!” Sir Baylein yelled out, echoing her thoughts.

“Indeed, and…”

“That is simply unacceptable, my duty has been delayed as it stands and given the circumstances, it would seem that staying anywhere near the northern provinces is ill advised and to think that…”

“Baylein, I mean Sir Baylein, hear me out.”

Sir Baylein quieted but simply stared.

“The cult is after her, and they will try to get her.”

“Which is why my duty is to escort her back to Lady Rosengart's side…”

“Sir. Let me finish. My assumption is that they will strike at some point in the near future. If, if you stay near Melisgrad my personal agents will be better able to intercept their activities and stop them. Last but not least the free trip straight to Arteria by sea would likely save quite a bit of travel time to make up partially for the time I will take from you.”

“But why should we trust you?”

“Because we’re in this together Sir Baylein, there is an evil afoot and I doubt it cares if one is involved or not. You saw the barrows, they cared not if one was a pauper, farmer, or soldier. They were sacrifices one and the same.”

Wait, sacrifices?! Then Riza… oh by the saints. Annalise shook her head and the others turned to look at her.

“And you can keep her safe?” She whispered quietly.

“Excuse me?” Viktor replied, a hint of surprise.

“Can you keep Sophie safe?”

“I believe that it is within our capabilities if we…”

“Can you?”

He paused, rubbing his chin in contemplation before he nodded.

“Yes, and you have my word we will do what we can.”

“Just like you did what you could for Eichafen?”

He stared at her now, a look of seriousness and annoyance in his eye.

“It was regrettable what needed to be done, but the hordes were large enough so I, and I alone deemed it critical enough to order an evacuation. I prioritised ensuring your friend was safe before anything.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why her?”

He furrowed his brows and pursed his lips before the minotaur placed a hand on his shoulder. Viktor met the blademaster’s gaze and nodded. Sighing reluctantly as he spoke.

“Because she carries a darkness within her that we believe the cult is trying to utilise. Magic or not I think all of us who were there can contend that something happened with the gateway at the hilltop that caused it to fluctuate.” He met Taurox and Baylein’s gazes, the two nodding. “Beyond that, the church believes there may be more than meets the eye and whatever it is, it needs to be stopped. There is more but I cannot tell you anymore for secrecy's sake, I hope you understand that.”

A darkness? I mean…the nightmare?! The entity, could it be related? But what if the church wants to use her too. But I guess he seems to not be lying at least. Thoughts raced across her mind and she finally met the inquisitor’s gaze with her own.

“Fine.”

“Fine?” Both Viktor and Baylein asked.

“Fine, we’ll do it.”

“We will?” Baylein looked at her with surprise, “But Lady Evaline would likely want to see her as soon as possible, and to delay for a month let alone two or three…”

“It would be good down time for her despite the danger. Sophie needs rest, she’s been through a lot for someone with no experience of violence. By the saints, I need rest too. I can’t even fucking walk properly anymore, let alone draw a bow.” She looked furious, before a more melancholic expression settled on her face. “Lady Evaline is important, I know. Sophie can’t stop blabbing about how her lady is in our free time, but if she truly cares for Sophie that much, she will understand.”

Sir Baylein seemed stunned. The creases and wrinkles on his forehead deepened as he looked thoughtfully at her and then down to her missing leg, his expression shifting to a more understanding one.

“Fine, the ranger has my assent as well, Inquisitor von Krantz.” He said tiredly.

The stern faced inquisitor seemed to breathe a sigh of relief of his own and looked gratefully at Annalise.

“In the meantime, you will travel with us to the Meltonian border. Once we go through we shall split up, my men and I will head here, up to Barrowlake and Beorgshire in the north to continue our hunt for the cult. Whereas you, will meet with two of my most trusted, who shall meet you here at Harweald, where the forest bleeds into the plains, before traveling with you to Melisgrad. Housing and supplies should already be arranged by the time you arrive.”

“Two agents? I thought there would be more.”

“Two to liaise and interact with. Templar Sergeant Archiald Wilde has served faithfully for years, he can handle most of your logistical and security requests. Apprentice Inquisitor Lyudmilla will be the more actively involved of the two and act as my representative on the field.”

“Apprentice? You say that Sophie is important and you send an apprentice?”

“She is more than capable. I trust you two know of the Dark Tides to some extent?”

Annalise and Baylein both nodded. The history of Cyndralia was founded on unity against the demons, the adventurer’s guild too was birthed from fighting against said demons, or so the stories go…which means...

“Her training has been…unique. Her skills have been honed by combat against the demonic entities that harass the north, so you can trust in her abilities. Though that too, is knowledge that remains only amongst us gathered here.”

So the demons are real…not that I should be surprised given recent events. But if brought along with someone who deals with demons, does that mean he suspects a connection with Sophie? As if having read her thoughts, Viktor merely nodded silently to her. By the saints! Demons? Demons?! Shit, what the hell happened to you Sophie. What the hells did I get dragged into?

One Week Later

Sophie awoke in a stupor, her mind racing with so many questions as her head smacked against the grassy ground. The disquieting tingle lodged within her pricked at her sanity once more as consciousness returned. Days passed by in a blur as all she could remember was listlessly riding a horse and clutching to the ranger in front of her. Darkness too seemed to fade into the distance as they traveled, the noise of dozens of people sending her into an erratic frenzy as she tried to block all the sounds. The chaos scared her, and as it eventually grew unbearable she had shrunk back into a shell, unable to speak as she simply trembled in place, trying to avoid all unnecessary interaction.

During the moments when things were quiet, the world would only grow bleaker as the days passed. The first day was finding out about their new destination, and though she sought to protest, the defeated look the older girl gave her was more than enough to make her hold back her complaints. Then on the second day it was learning of the war, of how her home was set to be ravaged by another conflict so soon after the undead crisis. And again she despaired as her thoughts turned to home, a household filled with people unkind to her, but a household for her nonetheless. Sir Baylein, the Rosengart knight, seemed equally conflicted, the promise to Lady Eva weighing heavily against his duty toward the realm. The third day they finally broke the news about Eichafen and she could only mutely accept the news, her prayers for safety unanswered.

It was during the fifth night, just before they reached the Melton-Carrador border, when things reached a head. The man’s despair grew so great and conflicted, here was a war hero, a man who had gone through much for his nation, yet also someone Sophie saw as dedicated to helping her return to Eva’s side and skilled enough to do so, but once again, guilty and tortured because she was too weak to return herself. Wordlessly, she had placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a furtive nod. Through tearful eyes, Sir Baylein the Falcon Knight, vowed to return after the campaign and departed not long after.

The mood between her and Annalise since then had been tense. The older girl seemed even more burdened than before, almost angry and cross at Sophie for letting their most capable companion leave. Her friend had already lost so much, her party, her home, her friends and even her body ever since they had met. And now what little crutches or burden to be lifted by having a more experienced protector was gone too, consigned to a journey together through no fault of her own. Because of me. She had followed the ranger in secret as the convoy camped, followed her to a small forest clearing as every limp made Sophie want to dash forward and help her. Yet when her friend stopped in the small glade, she started cursing the gods, punching the ground and crying as she expressed her frustration and hopelessness.

When she returned to the camp Sophie had attempted to comfort her and apologise but her friend tried brushed her away. At that her heart broke. She had pushed away one of her closest allies and felt truly alone. Though the ranger still traveled with her, she could feel the bubbling resentment at the burden and could only offer mute understanding. That night, she too had snuck out of their shared tent and wept alone as well.

Yesterday, they had finally crossed the border, the inquisitor pulling rank to essentially force the border guards out of the convoy’s way. It was also there that the noise vanished, the templars and civilians headed further north, following the inquisitor toward somewhere called Barrowlake, whereas Annalise let her know the two of them were headed to Harweald, now accompanied by a reluctant Blademaster, much to the inquisitor’s insistence and their chagrin. It was in this state they passed through the edge of the deepwoods of the Mistveil into a forest where the sun shone brighter through the canopy while the forest floor seemed more vibrant and alive. The fog too, became a far cry from the oppressively thick depressing gray, now a more pillowy, misty and faint white.

She blinked herself back to reality and pushed herself back up, the grass beneath her hand feeling surreal, like an illusion moments before it turned back into the damp, sludgy, grossness of the deepwoods, but it did not. She turned to find the small camp fire behind them, the minotaur sitting a small distance away on a log as he kept vigilant, whilst Annalise sat a few paces away from her, staring wistfully toward the farmland at the edge of the woods. She followed her gaze and found herself surprised as well, from their grassy knoll they could just about see through the gaps in the trees at the fields that awaited them. Though for her the world remained a drab muted gray, found herself drawn to the ranger, her own soul still wracked with guilt at the weary look on the ranger’s face.

Carefully, she inched herself toward her companion and winced as she felt Annalise tense up, as if afraid or displeased. Undeterred she slinked closer and coiled herself around the ranger, wrapping her trembling arms around her in a hug. Though unresponsive, Annalise did not pull away and Sophie took the moment to force her vocal chords open.

“Sorry.” She rasped, her voice grating on her own ears after almost a week of silence.

“Mmm.” The ranger nonchalantly shrugged.

Happy her friend was speaking, she wrapped her arms tighter, finding comfort at the feeling only for the ranger to begin loosening her grip. At once she shrunk back, afraid of offending the older girl and Annalise sighed deeply, looking over her shoulder at Sophie with a tiredness in her eyes.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s okay.” Sophie mumbled, her throat growing hoarse as she curled up.

The two shared a sigh and Annalise turned back towards the fields.

“I…it’s just...everything that happened…it all feels wrapped around you. You know? Like…everything just went so…wrong. Everything was so sudden and, shit I know adventuring had its risk but by the saints…everything, poof, just gone. I mean don’t misunderstand I’m still with you all the way. I’ll get you to Arteria and…” Annalise turned around and found Sophie sobbing quietly, balled up on the ground. Don't leave me.

As Sophie tried to remain silent she could feel something warm wrap around her as Annalise laid down next to her and hugged her.

“Sophie I…” Annalise began and Sophie spun around, clutching onto the ranger desperately as she cuddled up to her and shaking her head violently.

“Nuh!” She cried, burrowing her tears on her friend’s chest as she struggled to hold back.

A familiar sensation ran across her scalp and she felt the ranger sigh.

“You know what?”

She shook her head.

“There’s…a lot of work ahead of us and I…well…you and I need some time to sort through everything. What happened back at the ruins…fuck, I can still barely wrap my head around it all and this itch in my leg.” Annalise growled.

Sophie clutched tighter and Annalise let her.

“But…that’s neither here nor now. We still have so much to do and…well I’d say right now we could use a nap before the next big adventure eh?” The ranger quipped through a sigh, but Sophie could hear the strain in her friend’s voice and squeezed even tighter.

“Nap n’ adventure.” She mumbled through the tears and this time Anna squeezed back.

“Heh, yeah. Nap n’ adventure.” Annalise spoke and her voice trembled, the little tears that snuck through touching Sophie’s forehead.

Wordlessly the two cuddled up in a hug, and under the afternoon sun they quietly cried until they fell asleep. Leaving a very annoyed minotaur on watch as the next leg of their journey was about to begin.