The Cursed Knight (Blue Triangle Series #1)

Chapter 4: The Forgotten Winter

“Why is the supply of woods lacking from yesterday’s delivery cargo?! I received only half of what is expected!”

The dark and loud voice of the lord of Casterfall echoed through the great hall. Arth stopped himself from taking a step on the staircase when he heard the voice. He slowly went behind the wall to hear what the lord was ranting about.

“The chief from Frostwood village said that his men couldn’t harvest more woods because they lack manpower, my lord. He recently sent some of his best men to the capital because the king requested so-

“I don’t give a single damn about their manpower, Tobias,” the lord cut him off. “They signed the contract about the exact supply they should be delivered every month! Send a word to their chief and tell him to give me the other half of the supply in two days. If he doesn’t, I will double everything! Including their taxes!”

Arth clenched his fist after hearing what the lord said. The chief was right. All of the nobility and royal families here are rotting as hell. That’s exactly why our village is suffering from unbearable taxes!

When Arth heard nothing more, he slowly stepped in towards the great hall. He saw many knights standing on guard on both sides of the hall.

“Ah, the champion!”

Arth heard the lord’s voice and he slowly turned. He walked towards Lord Nicholas and bowed his head.

“My lord,” he politely greeted. When he raised his head, he saw Lord Nicholas’ old face. His hair was silver and he was a fat man. His round belly was clearly seen under his black coat.

“I kinda’ forgot your name. What is it again?”

“Arth, my lord,”

“Ah yes, Arth. Jade and Tera told me about how you won the competition. You are such an interesting young man,” Lord Nicholas nodded slowly. “Those blue eyes, who are your parents?”

“I never knew them, my lord. They’re both gone,”

“That’s unfortunate. Because I happen to know only one family who has blue eyes on their bloodline-“

Arth furrowed his brows. One family?

Lord Nicholas stopped speaking when he saw a grand knight walking inside the great hall. He stopped beside Arth and bowed his head. “My lord, I’ve got bad news.”

“So early in the morning? What is it?” the lord raised his voice.

“Executive Rowan was found dead on the bed in his mansion this morning,” the knight reported.

“Another one of my nobles killed?!”

“His guards were also killed last night. We already investigated and found out that only one murderer entered the mansion and assassinated the executive,” he continued. “We believe the assassin is from the Forgotten Winter.”

Arth’s brows furrowed wondering what that was.

“That damn rebel guild again?! Search the whole kingdom. I want that f*****g murderer be captured and beheaded!” Lord Nicholas furiously spoke.

“We were already on the search, my lord,” the grand knight bowed his head and then walked out of the great hall.  

A few seconds later, Arth heard incoming footsteps from behind.

“You called, my lord?” Arth recognized a familiar voice. He turned around and saw Tera walking towards him.

“Yes, I was about to discuss and tell Arth his privilege of winning the competition,” the lord coughed shortly before continuing. “Young warrior, you are given the opportunity to receive advanced training from Grand knight Tera here. You no longer need to enter the Standard Knight Academy as a squire.”  

Arth blinked a couple of times after hearing what he said. Train? And then what? Make me one of your dogs that follow your corrupt and evil doings? Chief Gregor doesn’t even want me to train as a knight of the kingdom. He told me every horrible thing the powerful ones are doing to those who are powerless.

“Forgive me, my lord. But I couldn’t take your offer,” Arth looked down.

Lord Nicholas raised an eyebrow as he looked at him. “Why not?”

“I have my own reasons for joining the competition, my lord,” Arth replied. “And I couldn’t stay here because I’m going to the kingdom capital.”

“You really are an interesting man, aren’t you? Very well, if you don’t want my generous offer, then I will give it to the first runner up. However, we have to follow the rule that every champion of the competition will be ordained as a standard knight,” the lord told him.

“That, I humbly accept with pleasure, my lord,”

The lord nodded. “Tera, take this young man to your office and settle the certification.”

Tera bowed his head and led Arth out of the great hall. While they were walking down the huge staircases, Arth saw many knights marching around and seemed to be in a hurry.

“Can I ask something, sir?” Arth told Tera.

“What is it?”

“What is the Forgotten Winter the lord was talking about earlier?”

Tera stopped walking and looked at Arth. “You don’t know?”

Arth shook his head in response. Tera sighed and pointed at the wall of a house where two wanted posters were seen.

“It’s a rebel guild hiding in secret. They have been terrorizing cities and the capital for years already. And their targets are the high ranking executives and the upper class,” Tera explained.

Rebel guild? That’s interesting. Arth thought.

A few minutes have passed and they went inside the grand knight’s office. Tera went to his desk and took a piece of document.

“Arth, right?” Tera asked while writing something on the document. “What’s your last name?”

“None, sir,”

The knight looked at him with one brow raised. “I’ll just put ‘Arth of Frostwood,’ is that okay?”

Arth nodded in agreement. The knight wrote again on the document. He stamped something on it on the lower right of the paper and affixed his signature. He stood up holding the document and walked towards the black cabinet at the side of the room.

When he opened it, Arth saw full of silver badges inside and a few ruby badges. Tera took one silver badge and turned to Arth.

“Bend a knee,” the knight ordered. Arth kneeled using his right knee. He stated a knight’s oath and then the grand knight took his sword. He placed it on Arth’s right shoulder and then to his left.

“Rise, Arth of Frostwood,” Tera said. “You are now an official standard knight of Northrend.”

Arth slowly stood up and got his certificate with his silver badge. He gave a small smile to Tera and bowed his head. “Thank you, sir.”

“It’s kinda’ disappointing that you refused your privilege. What are you gonna do in the capital?” Tera asked him with his arms crossed over his chest.

“I have many goals set in there, sir,” Arth replied.

“Like what?”

“Joining a guild, sir,” he answered.

Tera nodded slowly. “A guild? I have to say that guilds are only very few nowadays. Well, I guess that’s your choice.”

Arth just pursed his lips and nodded.

When they were done, Arth went out of the office carrying his scroll and his silver badge. He went back to his room and waited for sunset. He wore his usual blue cloak and covered his head with the hood. He took his bag and sword and went out of the Keep.

Luckily, the knights let him pass because he already has a silver badge attached on his cloak at the center of his chest. His badge was like his ticket which he could use to travel and enter to any cities or kingdom in the Northrend region.

He passed through many tall buildings and houses on his way to the west city garden. The garden was just located near the west gatehouse. Arth looked up to the cloudy skies and realized that the sun was already setting.

The city garden was indeed a wide and spacious one. There were also cyclamen flowers and winter trees. There was no snow falling but it was still cold. With every Arth’s exhale, white mist comes out of his mouth. He sat on the bench under the winter cherry tree and waited. From there, he could see the high walls of the city with the crenellations on top. He rubbed his palms together and then crossed his arms over his chest to give warmth on his body.

“Hey, Arth!”

Arth heard a familiar voice from a distance. He turned and the side of his lips rose when he saw a man wearing a black winter coat. He was waving his hands to Arth as he was walking near.

“Robert!” Arth stood up and gave him a high-five.

Robert was a little taller than Arth and has darker skin. Arth recognized his brown hair and his light brown eyes that clearly resembled his father, Chief Gregor’s appearance.

Robert furrowed his brows as he tapped Arth on the shoulder. “Damn, you grew up so fast! It’s only been three years since we left the village.”

Arth chuckled while scratching his head. “Yeah, you can say that. How’s the capital?”

“Missions are very hard!” Robert rolled his eyes. “The guild always gives commands and I don’t even have the time to flirt with girls! You see, I met this attractive woman in the capital, I was about to go ask her out but then our leader called an emergency meeting for the guild,” he sighed.

Arth chuckled and shook his head.

“Congratulations on your win, by the way!” Robert tapped Arth’s shoulder again. “Woah, I never thought you would actually defeat an A-class beast on your age. You’re a talented hunter!”

“Well, the chief trained me hard all these years,” Arth shrugged. “Wait, you watched the competition? I didn’t see you yesterday.”

“A friend told me. Actually I was busy yesterday with a mission here,” Robert’s face became serious. He looked around the garden and then he put on his black hood to cover his brown hair.

“A mission?”

Robert nodded. “I’ll tell you when we leave here. Get your horse and meet me on the big tree outside the west gate,” he pointed in the direction of the wall.

Arth nodded and went to the stables beside the academy. He paid the man who was taking care of the horses and then rode on his black horse. He headed out of the west gatehouse and crossed the moat through the drawbridge. About a kilometer ahead, he saw the big tree and Robert was already there on his white horse.

“Are we going now to the capital?” Arth asked him as they started on their travel riding their horses. It was already dark and the cold wind blew against them.

Robert shook his head. “We’re going to our hideout,” he pointed towards the direction ahead of them. “The Ice Crown Citadel is in the west of Casterfall. Our hideout is hidden on the big snow forest between these two.”

“I was the one tasked by our leader to get you and take you to our hideout,”

Arth looked at Robert in confusion. “What? Your leader? Why? He knows me?”  

“I can’t tell you now,” Robert smiled apologetically and then they picked up their pace.

A few hours later, they reached the huge snow forest. The trees were a lot taller than those in the Dark Woods in Casterfall. The place was dusky and covered with fog. They were quiet as the two rode on their horses. Only the sound of the horses’ footsteps on the snowy surface was heard. Arth narrowed his eyes, trying to see through the darkness ahead of them while Robert was in front of him, leading him to their hideout.

“Many won’t dare to enter this forest,” Robert whispered. “Powerful beasts inhabit this place.”

So that’s why this place is perfect for their hideout. Arth thought as he nodded. I guess this is also the perfect place for me to train!

A few moments have passed and they finally arrived to a huge wooden tree house. It was built on the strong branch of a big and tall tree. And there was light seen on the windows.

They climbed up on the circular wooden staircases built around the big trunk of the tree. The two stopped at the door. Arth saw the blue banner on the door with a six pointed star depicted on it.

“Before we go inside, I just want to tell you that our members here are… well you know,” Robert scratched his brown hair. “Might be weird for you.”

Arth furrowed his brows. “Okay?”  

“Anyway, welcome to our guild!” Robert quickly opened the door.

A warm air blew towards them as they went inside. Arth saw an open space at the center. It has couches and a small table. The wooden floor was covered with a red carpet. Suddenly, he smelled something like burning.

“What’s that smell now?” Arth asked Robert.

Robert sniffed and looked up. His eyes widened in shock.

“Oh s**t, that Alice!” he grunted and stormed through the left hall. Arth furrowed his brows and followed him.

“What on earth are you doing?”

Arth heard Robert’s loud voice when he walked in and realized that it was in the kitchen. He saw Robert and one young lady wearing an apron and was carrying a book on her right hand. She was also wearing an eyeglass.

“Excuse me?! You were gone so we had no one to cook!” the lady replied while pointing at Robert’s face. “I don’t understand what went wrong. I followed the steps in this book!”

“Oh gods, let me handle this!” Robert looked at the roasted meat that was already burned out.

The lady stopped and her eyes widened when he saw Arth standing on the doorway. She poked Robert and pointed at Arth.

“Oh, that’s Arth, he’s my friend! He’s the new member whom boss tasked me to take here,” Robert said while putting on his apron. “Arth, this is Alice!”

Arth gave a small and awkward smile to her. His eyes were caught by her short white hair. She has black eyes and a light skin with a slim body.  

Alice raised a brow as she surveyed Arth’s appearance. Then she offered her hand with a serious face. “Alice Veillantif,” she said.     

“Arth,” he replied as he shook her hand.

“We could use an extra hand at our hide out. I’m thinking of giving him the laundry and cleaning assignment,” Alice rubbed her chin while nodding.

What? Did they just let me join here to- Arth sighed.

“Show him to his room, Alice!” Robert told her.

Alice sighed heavily and just nodded. She walked passed Arth and went through the hall. Arth followed her with his lips pursed. She was about an inch shorter than him. She still looked young. How old is she? Eighteen? Nineteen? Arth thought.

“Our boss is currently out on his mission with Luna, one of our member,” Alice spoke on a soft voice as she led Arth to his room. “But they’re already on their way back here.”

“How many members are there in this guild, by the way?” Arth asked.

“Five, including the boss and excluding you,”

Ouch.

They stopped in the hall when they encountered a young man wearing a black cloak. Arth’s eyes widened as he saw the face of the young man. He has lighter skin than Alice and has black hair.

Are those… red eyes? He thought as he saw the man’s dark blood-colored eyes.

“Who’s this?” the young man asked Alice in a cold voice while looking at Arth from head to toe.

“This is Arth, a new recruit by the boss,” Alice shrugged.

His bloodshot eyes just stared at Arth with his red lips pursed. Arth was about to offer his hand but the man just walked pass them without saying anything. 

“He’s always like that. You’ll get used to him,” Alice whispered to Arth.

They reached the door at the end of the hall. “Just go to the dining when you hear a bell ring later,” Alice told him.

Arth nodded and went inside his new room. It was a small space but it was enough for him. He dropped his bag on the floor and lied on the brown bed.

 I hope Chief Gregor is fine. He sighed as he looked at the ceiling. I promise I’ll do my best from now on, chief.

He slowly closed his eyes but then he suddenly heard a bell ringing from outside. Well that was fast. He sighed and stood up. He took off his cloak leaving his blue coat inside. He walked out of the room and went towards the dining.

“Oh there you are!” Arth heard Robert’s voice as he walked in the dining area.  

Arth stopped when he saw two more unfamiliar faces seated with the three he knew. One was a tall woman with yellow hair. She has her back turned so Arth couldn’t see her face. Another was a middle-aged man with black hair and eyes. He was sitting at the end of the table. His strong presence and aura made Arth look at him.

Is he the boss they’re talking about? Arth thought. Alice and the red-eyed man were already sitting while Robert was preparing the food on the table. 

“Oh, Arth. Come here and join us,” the man sitting on the end of the table said. He gave a small smile while gesturing his hand to the vacant chair.

Arth nodded and sat there beside the tall and yellow-haired woman. The woman turned to him and Arth saw her green eyes.

Green? Red? They really are weird just as Robert said! Arth thought.

“Luna,” the woman offered her hand. “Luna Stormwind. You have great blue eyes, Arth.”

“Uh… you too,” Arth replied shyly as he shook her hand. Then his eyes went to the dishes on the table. They all had the same type of food which was roasted meat with some spices and toppings, except for red-eyed young man. His plate was just raw leg meat.

So weird. Arth stared at the raw meat on the plate. When he realized that the man was looking at him sharply, he immediately looked away and rubbed his hair

“I think this is the time to introduce ourselves to our new recruit,” the man spoke. “I’m Lucas, the leader of the Forgotten Winter guild.”

“This is Alice, she’s the Mage of our team,” Lucas pointed at her. “She’s a prodigy and she studies magic and sorcery.”

Woah, a mage prodigy? Arth looked at her. She doesn’t seem like it. That’s impressive.

“The woman beside you is Luna. To tell you, she’s a hundred and twenty-three years of age.”

Arth’s eyes widened. Hundred and twenty-three? Is she immortal?! Damn!

“She’s half-elven so I guess that explains it,” Lucas chuckled. “She’s also the master archer of the guild.”

“You know how to use bows and arrows?” Luna suddenly asked Arth. “I can give you some trainings,” she winked at him.

Arth’s cheek suddenly blushed. He looked away and scratched his head, “Uh… I think I’m good with just swords.” So that’s why she has green eyes. She’s truly an elf!

“And that young man in front of you is Janshai,” Lucas continued. “He’s the most talented and skilled assassin you could ever find.”

Arth slowly looked at Janshai. He just kept on eating his raw meat bare handedly and seemed to be not listening.

“He’s only nineteen years old,” Luna whispered to Arth on his ear. “He’s always short-tempered so try your best not to talk to him.”

Nineteen? So that explains his young face. Arth thought. Those red eyes of his really made him look like… wait is he a half-blood too like Luna?

Arth nodded and forked the roasted meat on his plate. He took a bite and tasted the delicious combination of the spices.

“That’s not fair, boss! Include me in your introduction!” Robert complained as he came to the dining and sat down on the chair beside Arth.

Lucas sighed and shook his head. “Arth, I want you to meet Robert,” he sarcastically said. “He’s a fine warrior.”

“Wait, that’s it?” Robert pouted.

Alice laughed loudly while pointing at his face. “He’s also a good-for-nothing playboy who just roams around the capital dating every hot chicks he sees.”

Arth bit his lower lip to stop himself from laughing.

“Hey, shut your mouth, nerd. I’m not asking you!” Robert fired back.

Alice was about to say something but Lucas interrupted. “That’s enough, I swear to god,” he sighed heavily. “Fine, Robert won the Casterfall competition three years ago before joining our guild, Arth. He’s proven himself as a very useful and versatile warrior in our guild.”

Robert’s lips formed a smile and tapped his chest proudly. Alice just rolled her eyes and continued eating.

“What about you, boss?” Arth asked Lucas.

The whole members of the guild suddenly looked at him with furrowed brows.

“Wait, you mean you don’t know him?” Robert told Arth. “Are you living under a rock, Arth?”

“Stop it, Robert,” Lucas said. “It’s probably been a long time for him to know.”

Arth’s eyes furrowed in confusion. Wait, what am I missing here?

“I’m a retired divine knight of the previous king of Ice Crown Citadel,” Lucas continued.

Arth suddenly choked on the meat he’s chewing. He held his chest as he coughed hard. Robert laughed again loudly at him.

“A divine knight?!” Arth exclaimed in disbelief.

Arth knew that it is the highest and most powerful rank of knights above the standard knights and grand knights. They serve to protect the king and are with them at all times. And it was his dream to become one someday.

“It was a long time ago. I was replaced when the king I was protecting died eighteen years ago,” Lucas replied with a sad expression.

Replaced? Oh right. There could only be one divine knight on each kingdom of Earthos. Arth thought.

“Before I continue, Arth,” Lucas turned to him with serious eyes, “I want to formally ask you if you would join our guild, the Forgotten Winter.”

Arth’s eyes widened in shock that he even dropped the fork he’s holding. Fo… Forgotten Winter?! The rebel guild?! Wait so this is where Robert took me?!

“So…” Arth slowly looked at the people around him. “So you’re the one who murders nobles and high rank executives?!” They don’t seem like professional killers! Well except for that Janshai in front of me.

“Wait… so Robert didn’t tell you?!” Alice furiously looked at Robert.

“Oh no I thought you already knew!” Robert covered his mouth while staring at Arth.

“Arth,” Lucas called. “What’s your decision?”

Arth couldn’t speak because he was still processing everything. So this means I will become a rebel too? But I’m a knight so I can’t turn my back against the king!

“There’s no way he could work with professionals like us,” Janshai spoke out in a cold voice. “But now that he knew our hideout, we have to kill him.”

“Woah, wait a sec,” Arth waived his hands in front of him.

“Don’t mind him,” Lucas told Arth. “It’s just his way of telling you that you have no choice left but to join us.”

Arth looked at Janshai. He just rolled his eyes as he stood up and left the table.

“I just wanted you to know that our guild, the Forgotten Winter, is a rebel guild. We are the enemies of the kingdom so one mistake could potentially risk the lives of the members,” Luna said.

“So your main goal is to eliminate the source of evil and corruption in the kingdom, right?”

“Not just that,” Alice said. “Our target is Terrowin, the king of Ice Crown Citadel.”

“Ever since the previous king Letholdus died, his brother Terrowin, replaced him. He is known as the cold king for being cold-hearted and merciless to his people. He spread his evil deeds to many councilors and nobles of the kingdom. And now, excruciation, persecution, over-taxation, and so much more are already everywhere. The powerless are suffering everyday under the hands of the powerful. And we are going to stop that once and for all,” Alice continued.

“If that’s the case then why just kill the king directly?” Arth asked.

The people on the table all looked at Arth with furrowed brows like he said something stupid. Robert suddenly burst out laughing.

“It’s not that easy, Arth,” Robert told Arth as he patted his head.

“Let’s just discuss these things to him later on. It’s his first night here in our guild so let him take his rest,” Lucas said. “So what do you say, Arth?”

Arth looked down on his plate. “If this is the path to help and save the people including our village, then I’ll join you.”

“That’s the spirit!” Robert gave him a thumbs-up.

“Very well, Arth, you will be assigned first under Robert, he will tell you what to do tomorrow.”