Bloodless Knights (28 page)

Vivian
was wrapped around me. When she opened her eyes, she seemed startled at where
she was laying. She quickly got up from the bed and apologetically stated, “Oh!
I forgot that I fell asleep next to thee. Please forgive my impertinent lack of
manners.”

I
laughed a deep, rumbling laugh and simply shook my head. Trave stood as well,
addressing Vivian with a stern tone, “Did ye discuss the plan?”

Vivian
started to nod, then shook her head while flattening wrinkles in her skirt. She
seemed embarrassed and wouldn’t look at Trave. I found it amusing that a woman
with her unsettling shifter ability could be shamed by her brother. “We started
talking about it, but topics shifted.”

Trave
rolled his eyes. “We have to stay focused if we’re going to get anywhere.”

Vivian
wrung her small hands together and nodded.

I
approached Trave and held out my hand to him, “Sir, please forgive me for
busting thy head with that boat oar. It was a bad aim and I apologize. I hope
thy head feels fine today.”

Trave
stared at my hand for a while then grasped it loosely and shook it. “I accept
thy apology, however, sir, thou art an idiot!”

I
stared at Trave, undecided on how to reply. He simply dropped my hand and
tidied his bed roll.

I
shook my head, walked to the door of the bunkhouse and yanked it open. Cold
slapped me and I wanted summer to find its way to town. The sun crept over the
mountain top of Montour in a taunting way. I knew we needed to be on our way.
Apparently Flint knew it too, because he had three fine steeds saddled and tied
to a post near the barn.

“Mornin’
Tristen.” Flint’s voice came from behind me.

I
turned to see him carrying saddle bags. I grabbed one from him.

“Supplies
and food fer yourn journey. Liza didn’t want ye goin’ hungry while yourn
riding. Also, I put yourn clothes an’ armor out in the barn. Ye can get suited
up and on those fine horses I’ve got waiting for ye. I knoweth the ride isn’t
long but ye may have unwelcome visitors at some point. My horses will swiftly
get ye where ye need to be.” Flint continued walking to the horses so I
followed him.

The
horses appeared healthy and well cared for. We strapped the bags onto the
saddles and I peeked into the barn. All the cloaks belonging to our party were
hanging on hooks. I went to Vivian’s cloak and pulled three gold pieces from
the hems. When I put the coins in Flint’s hand he raised an eyebrow at me.

“Now
what’s this fer, Tristen? Thou art like kin to me; I don’t want thy money.”
Flint’s brown eyes glazed over with crystal clear film.

I
never addressed another man’s tears. I simply patted Flint’s back and told him
it was for the horses. He smiled, and accepted the gold with a nod of approval.

“Breakfast
is served!” Liza called from the front of the house. Trave and Vivian appeared
from the bunkhouse. Flint and I walked toward his home.

“Be
careful, Tristen. I don’t like the way things have been happening around here
lately. We need to solve the problem and put our lands back together.”

I
nodded, “I will do my best to right what’s wrong Flint. I hate that I’ve lost
people who are dear to me; can’t lose another soul.”

“Aye,”
Flint opened the door to the house. We walked in to a delightfully smoky, smell
of fried eggs and ham.

Breakfast
was quick and silent, but for the constant babbling of Zacharias. Everyone took
turns smiling at the little kiddle, but no one spoke.

After
Vivian helped Liza clean up, and Trave and I wordlessly helped Flint chop more
wood, all but the baby – who was napping - hurried to the barn to say our
goodbyes.

Liza
became especially teary when she hugged Vivian, “I haven’t seen another female
for a long time. Flint and I don’t make it to church much anymore. It’s been
lovely having a beautiful lady in my presence. I hope to see ye again, my
dear.”

Vivian
smiled at Liza. As a boy I had always thought Liza was pretty, but standing
next to Vivian she seemed absolutely dreadful. The impolite thoughts in my mind
made me want to slap myself.

“Liza,
I will most definitely visit thee again. Thou hast been a kind and generous
host. Grammarcy for thy care. Good luck with thy children.” Vivian held Liza’s
hand in hers for a moment while Trave and I donned our armor. We offered
Flint’s clothes back to him, but he told us to keep them in case we needed them
again. We thanked him and tucked our personal clothing into the saddle bags.

“Proper
soldiers, ye boys are!” Liza squealed in delight as she clapped her hands
together.

Trave
actually grinned at Liza and she held out her hand for him. He placed a gentle
kiss on her knuckles. I did the same.

I
helped Vivian put on her cloak and get atop a handsome grey gelding. I grabbed
the cloak that Vivian had stolen in St. Anthony and wrapped it around me. It
was much lighter than the cloak I had grown accustomed to wearing; that made me
happy.

Trave
and I climbed on two brown mares and adjusted our swords. I could immediately
tell my horse was smaller than Flash had been and I felt a sadness at his
memory. We called out goodbyes, riding quickly away, leaving Liza and Flint
holding each other as they watched us go.

After
a while, we stopped to discuss Vivian’s plan. It consisted of a way to get us
in the castle. We also discussed riding around Bendixon, instead of through it,
as we didn’t want any unnecessary attention. I made a decision to visit the
Mives’ for help with some supplies we would need. Trave argued a moment, saying
we didn’t want to involve others in the plan, but Vivian calmed him. I let him
lead us to Dow. Vivian followed him and I held the rear to keep an eye on my
prize.

Although
it was extremely cold, our horses rode fast and hard as they carried us to the
place I used to live. Oddly, I didn’t feel like I was going home, but on my way
to fight a battle at a place I truly hated. It was a destination I didn’t want
to make, but knew I must.

The
heatless sun was high in the sky, as our ride continued. Nobody asked to stop
and I was determined enough that I didn’t think about resting. We pressed
forward until I saw a familiar farm that bordered the edge of my father’s land.

“Stop!”
I yelled as loud as I could. Trave and Vivian pulled the reins and all horses
came to an abrupt halt.

“Is
this the place?” Trave asked as his horse pranced haughtily around. I couldn’t
help but think his ride was appropriate for him.

I
nodded at him, “Aye, we need to veer left and go around the back until we reach
the Mives’ home. They will let us leave the horse there, but we must stay in
the trees so the tower watchmen don’t glimpse us. If they do, the plan won’t
work.”

“Well,
why don’t we get set-up now, instead of waiting?” Vivian asked, smoothing her
hair with a small, long-nailed hand.

Trave
shook his head, “No, Vivian, we must do what we originally planned. It will be
quicker if we remain as we are, then carry-out the plan when we reach the inner
circle of the kingdom.”

Vivian
nodded in agreement. I led the way to a small row of trees that bordered the
kingdom. Vivian followed me and Trave took the flank.

It
didn’t take long before the Mives’ large straw-thatched cottage was visible. I
again ordered Vivian and Trave to stop. This time we all dropped from our
horses. Vivian grabbed my hand and pressed her lips against mine. I pulled her
close and kissed her, hard.

She
pulled away first and touched my cheek tenderly, “Tristen, please be very
careful. I cannot imagine being apart again.”

I
held Vivian’s hand and gently pressed it. I was relieved she felt the same as
I. “My lady, thou art the one who needs to be careful. I can’t lose one more
person I love.”

“Neither
can I, my dear.” Before I could ask who she had recently lost, she shifted into
her little kitten self, and Trave scooped her up and hid her in his coin pouch.
It seemed to fit her perfectly; as if made for her. He cinched the pouch
closed. We returned to our horses. I grabbed the reins of Vivian’s horse and
lead the way to the Mives.

As
we neared, I realized the chimney was smokeless. I found it odd, for the time -
and chill - of the day. Perhaps the couple was outside tending to their
animals, but I worried anyway.

“Trave,
we should approach with caution. I don’t feel right about the scene.” I rode
next to him, pulling Vivian’s horse behind me.

Trave
looked over at me, “What’s the worry?”

“No
fire,” I called back.

Vivian’s
brother looked at the house and nodded. He hopped off his horse. I followed his
lead. We walked the horses until we reached the backside of the cottage, and
then slowly walked to the front.

The
black and white-washed house seemed awfully quiet. The closer we got to the
front door, the more alarmed I became.

The
door to the house was wide open, yet no sounds were heard, and nobody was in
sight. I tapped Trave on the shoulder to point out the oddity. He studied the
area for a moment then looked at me and whispered, “I’m going to send a li’l
kitten to do a bit of snoopin’.”

 I
knew that Vivian could take excellent care of herself, but I paused with worry.
After a moment, I nodded in agreement.

Trave
let Vivian out of her temporary cage, whispering to her. She purred. He set her
on the snowy ground. Her little belly dragged across the snow as she roamed
carefully to the front door of the house. In spite of my fear, I smiled at the
cute kitten. After a few minutes of waiting, Vivian, the lady, appeared at the
door. She had a sad look on her face, similar to the one I had seen at the
jail.

“Ye
men better see this. And I must warn thee; it’s horrific.” Vivian waited as we
tied the horses to the fence. I felt like crying and I hadn’t even seen what
the problem was, I just knew.

When
we entered the house, the first thing I noticed was the furniture tossed around
and a horribly familiar smell of death. The next thing I saw was Matilda laying
on her back, her gray hair bloodied; and the most horrid look on her face. The
worse part of the scene, was the poor lady’s tongue lying next to her, blood
had flowed from her mouth, staining her face. I turned to throw up, but not
before seeing Harry face-down on the fire place. The back of his head had been
sliced open from what appeared to be a sword. The old man rested on a pool of
his own congealed life-liquid. I was glad I couldn’t see his face. I threw up
in the corner of the room.

I
felt a burning anger swell up inside my chest. Who would do such a thing to my
lovely, gentle neighbors? I assumed it was of Ladislas Dow’s doing, and that
sent more hot vomit spewing from my burning lips.

“I
can’t take anymore of this!” I couldn’t help the tears that consumed my face.
The mere thought that anyone could enter my elderly neighbor’s home and treat
them like animals was beyond despicable.

 Trave
took a look around, and then left the house. Vivian tried to comfort me, but my
anger turned toward her. She had killed their only cow. It was because of her
voracious appetite, but it still hurt. I held that thought inside, and simply
grabbed her hand, leaving the house behind.

“Are
we just going to leave them like that?” Vivian exclaimed in a heavy voice,
stopping in the doorway.

I
nodded my head and wiped my eyes, “Aye, Vivian. Naught can be done here. We
will simply leave the horses in the pasture and come back for them anon. The plan
remains the same.”

“Tristen,
I’m sorry for thy loss. The Mives were wonderful people.” Vivian rubbed my arm.

I
simply nodded at her, and held my tongue.

We
stepped onto the porch, and saw Trave attaching Harry’s vegetable wagon to his
horse. Vivian and I led the other horses to the fenced meadow, bolting the
gate.

“Naught
else is going to go wrong, Tristen. We must believe that.” Vivian took my hands
in hers and squeezed them tightly. “We need strength to move forward and
courage to follow-through. As long as we have that we will be fine.”

I
nodded, as I gazed into the mossy green eyes I had longed for. My eyes followed
the line of Vivian’s perfect little nose down to her luscious lips. Just as I
went to kiss her, Trave yelled at us.

“Let’s
move. We have much to do, and no time for face-sucking!” The anger in his tone
equivalently matched the rancor on his face. Just to spite him, I kissed his
sister anyway.

Vivian
suppressed a smile, but it was evident by the way her eyes widened, that she
was pleased at my blatant disrespect of her brother’s request. She grabbed my
hand and gave it a slight squeeze.

“Naughty
tempter.” She whispered, with a smirk. I smiled at her, but more at Trave.

We
walked toward the angry man. If his eyes could throw daggers at me they would
have, “I would love to put thy actual dead body here, but for now ye just
better do an actor’s-job of playin’ dead. Vivian, find some blankets - or
something we can cover him in - a tarp if ye can. He needs padding so nobody
can see him breathin’.”