Lesser Bloom

The knight of the Red Lady

Hughan

I heard a scream and muffled cursing from the other side of the door. A small storage house near the walls of Skall, where one of my first writs called me, stood there unusually noisy. I couldn't help but peeked through the door and saw her, a young woman with a rusty pike in her hands, trying relentlessly to get rid of a few house rats. She wasn't in the best position and seemed embarrassed by not being able to fight the rodents. Although this mission didn't promise me any money, my curiosity won. I stepped through the door and with the swing of my sword beheaded the two rats that were causing trouble to the young woman. She looked up at me, with eyes like the sun, shining in the dark. Her face was red from the fight and while she tried to catch her breath she thanked me. That's how I met the person who shook up my solitude life of a blade for gold.

You probably wonder, how a knight of the Red Lady such as myself ended up at a remote, and frozen island like Skall. Allow me to give you some insight.

All started within the tall columns of dark granite, carved with intricate reliefs of marching legions, clashing swords, and chess-like battle maps, line the central nave. Red banners emblazoned with the Red Knight’s symbol — a red knight chess piece on a black field — hang from the rafters, stirring faintly in the draft. Devoted followers of the Red Lady walked up and down the place, chatted and got ready for new adventures. Their boots made almost no sound on the polished black marble floor, that shot through with veins of crimson, forming subtle patterns that resemble tactical formations when viewed from the raised altar at the far end. At the far end of the hall, a raised dais supports the main altar: a massive slab of red-veined marble topped by a life-sized statue of the Red Knight herself. She stood in full battle regalia, helm tucked under one arm, the other hand resting on the hilt of a greatsword planted point-down into the stone. Her painted eyes seemed to watch every corner of the room with calculating intelligence. Behind the statue, a large stained-glass window depicts the goddess leading an army across a blood-red sunset battlefield, shards of ruby and garnet glass casting shifting crimson light across the floor. There, at the feet of the Lady herself was I... Looking at an old red and black chessboard at the other side sat Sir Garrick whom was ancient by the standards of frontline paladins — eighty-three winters have carved deep lines into his face and turned his once-steel-gray hair and beard into thin, snowy white. He stood a little stooped now, his broad shoulders rounded by decades of plate armor. His hands trembled faintly when he was not gripping a sword or a map, and he sometimes squinted or tilted his head as if trying to catch a thought that drifts just out of reach. He was not senile — simply an old lion whose roar is quieter but whose ability to read the battlefield remained formidable. He knew his limits and compensated with experience: he planned farther ahead because he could no longer rely on speed or strength.

He treated younger adventurers with a grandfatherly patience that could tip into mild exasperation when they acted rashly. He still quoted the Red Knight, but now the quotes came slower, sometimes with a small chuckle at his own delay. At this moment his thick silver eyebrows frowned leaving many deep wrinkles on his forehead. His eyes assessed the situation on the board like it was a carefully crafted map of the next war he had to attend. He kept twirling his beard with his fingers while looking at the board. He used to be one of the best strategists of the temple, and the best chess player. Thanks to his sharp eyes I wasn't thrown out either after I couldn't learn anything to become a paladin myself, nor a priest of that regard. Magic was something unnatural for me, despite my half elf heritage. That wandering father of mine whom one day just disappeared, didn't leave anything behind for me but a longer lifespan, his height and eyes. Garrick allowed me to stay at the temple, giving me at first some scrappy tasks, until he realized I wasn't half of a fool he took me for, and slowly let me learn how to fight. I became his squire and quickly learned all that was necessary to disable traps, read the maps, create great strategies, and became one of the best trackers he had. The only issue was my lack of capabilities on the magic department as I have previously mentioned. This lead to me to loose my position as I couldn't serve Garrick the way he needed. To be honest, I lost faith for a while and decided to spend my days more in the taverns and the streets near the temple. Soon, I had to realize that I won't be able to leech of the temple without doing some work, so I started to take smaller mercenary jobs for a good money, and catching pick pockets or lowly thieves in the city. That's how I spent my days lately, when I had no work to do, I loved to play with my mentor and piss him off. He taught me how to play chess, and there was a time when I repeatedly lost against the old fox, but those times passed. While he was frowning I already knew his next step, after years of devoted learning and wanting to win.

The day that changed my life was one of these chess playing days. Garrick lifted his tower and I tried to hide the grin on my face knowing that after this step, I'll checkmate him. Before he could've done the fatal step that would've lead to the end of our game, the doors swung open. The heavy iron-bound doors of the Church of the Red Lady swing shut behind the messengers with a resonant thud, sealing out the noise of the streets of Neverwinter. Without hesitation the two elven messengers walked towards us, despite his age, Sir Garrick had hos reputation and everyone who approached our temple knew whom to look for. The two messengers dressed in dark blue and silver colors, wearing the unmistakable crest of Lord Aerindel on their chests, approached us. These high elves whose presence immediately filled the hall with an air of icy superiority, looked down at Garrick who still kept his eyes on the chessboard. Without further ado, the messenger lady spoke. Her voice hurt my ears, not because it was unpleasant, but because her being was uncomfortable.

- Lord Aerindel requires capable… assistance in locating his betrayer bastard daughter Lady Lirael. The task is delicate and demands precision. - She rolled her eyes still looking at us like one would look at a fly on their slice of cake.

- Qualities one does not often find among… shorter-lived races. - she said and I felt my hand slid down on my belt for my sword. These arrogant assholes... She continued.

- Still, the Red Lady’s temple may provide suitable candidates. If any of you can manage to follow simple instructions without blundering into every ambush along the way. - Garrick paid no interest to her words and placed his chess piece to the ending position with a big smile.

- Take this boy! - I shrugged and placed my piece where I wanted. Garrick's jaw dropped and I couldn't help but laugh.

- Thunders and Lightnings! Not again!

- Maybe next time Old Lion! - I said happily, when the other messenger cleared his throat and with a way more respectful tone he spoke gently bowing to Garrick.

- Honored elder, your long service is… noted. Perhaps you can explain to these… enthusiastic souls the importance of not charging ahead like mindless orcs. We elves have planned the routes with care. Three moves ahead, as your Lady teaches — though I doubt many here can count that far. - Here we go again with judgment. I couldn't hold my tongue back and grinned at the tall, slick haired elf.

- Despite holding your noses so high here you are. I guess the high and mighty elves couldn't find a little girl alone. Must sting am I right? - The messenger lady grabbed her dagger but got surrounded by paladins immediately. Garrick's friendly voice disappeared and he stood up. He was almost as tall as the elves and that moment the Lion of the Red Lady stood tall again. Not our old Sir Garrick.

- You came to our temple seeking for assistance yet dare to pull a dagger on one of ours? - His voice echoed strongly within the walls.

- I recommend you to choose your next words very wisely unless you want to experience human lifespan. - the woman put the dagger away and stared at me annoyed. She handed the bounty documents to Garrick, and he laughed reading them.

- I thought you were looking for someone important! For this price I doubt any of my paladin's are willing to move. - He announced what the elves brought.

-Listen fellas! WANTED: Dead or Alive!

Lord Aerindel is looking for his bastard daughter whom is known for raising and army of dead two winters ago. They are offering 1000 gold coins for her. - As expected everyone laughed. Garrick put the paper down on the desk and shrugged.

- I guess you must search elsewhere folks. - before the messengers could've left I grabbed the paper read it quickly and spoke.

- I'll take the job. But on top of the bounty I want compensation for my expenses. - the elf guy grinned.

- We give you 500 silver coins per month. - I extended my hand for a handshake and he just gave me my first payment.

- Good luck human! - they left without any other word and Garrick looked at me confused.

- Why did you take the job? They have been searching for her for years. That girl must be dead by now or somewhere in the Underworld.

- Why not? It is quite good ransom and at least I won't be bored for a while. - I got up and headed to my quarters to pack but before left the main hall I yelled to Garrick.

- Who knows? Maybe while I'm away your game will get better! - I heard him cursing after me and I gripped my fingers on the bounty documents.

- This will be fun.