Elemental Blitz

Chapter Nine

The stairs lead us down into a massive chamber filled with the statues of the legendary First Seven, the founding members of the Holy Order of Witch Hunters I've three thousand years before after the Witch Wars, which almost led to the destruction of the Durham Imperium. In point of fact, it was one of them, Luella Trujillo, who was responsible for the first generation of Elemental Knights. My order was supposed to act as the heavy hitters for the Witch Hunters, but the then Emperor had other plans for us. The chamber's walls are lined with doors leading to different areas of the base. Some magical and some normal, if my guess is correct. I am sure Malgath and I would be lost in about half a second if we went through one alone. Well, I would. My partner has a supernatural sense of direction. I usually smash s**t until I find something that looks familiar.

In the center stands a group of figures in black robes with their hoods up. As we approach, the one in the center steps forward and lowers her hood. She is a tan-skinned middle-aged woman who was her greying black hair up in a breaded bun. She wears a black eye patch with a silver cross over her left eye, and her right eye is ice blue. She is shorter than Sophia, but when the blue eye falls on my patron hunter, Sophia seems to shrink.

“Lady Hun Soka,” says Sophia with a bow of her head. “I seek permission to enter your sanctum.”

Lady Hun Soka continues to glare at Sophia with her one blue eye, and I wonder if she will take Sophia’s head right here. Instead, Lady Hun bows her head as well.

“You are welcome to sit at our table, my sister,” replies Lady Hun, and her eyes drift to Malgath and me. “Sir Rex Vaughn, you honor us. You and your elven companion are welcome to stay as long as you wish.”

“You honor us, Lady Hun,” I say with as much respect as I can fake. “But, we won't be staying. My contract was with Sophia, and just by reading the room, I would say she is in deep s**t. So, I think that contract is over. We will let you clean your own house and take our leave.”

I turn to go, planning to put as much distance between Oranspire, the Cult of Mimbess, their dragon death god, and myself as I can. If I am very f*****g lucky, that s**t show will fall into the laps of one of my more glory-seeking knightly brothers or sisters. Of course, I'm not that f*****g lucky.

“Actually, I have reached out to Knightwatch,” says Lady Hun, and I swear I can hear the smirk in her f*****g voice. “You have been assigned to stand in aid of the Oranspire Order until we have brought this situation to a satisfactory end. That means that long as a member of this temple lives and the threat remains, you are oath-bound to see it through. Knight Commander Weiss stands ready for your call if you wish to confirm these orders.”

I look to the heavens as I take a deep breath. Then I release my armor and weapons. Now, in my plain sweat-drenched clothing, I walk over to one of the statues and lean against folding my arms over my chest. Malgath, looking amused, comes over to stand beside me, managing to look far more regal as always.

“I will take your word for it.”

Lady Hun gives me a slight bow of her head before returning her icy glare to Sophia, “I have to say, I did not expect this level of reckless incompetence from you, Sophia. The Ministry has opened an investigation into you due to your recent reports or lack thereof.”

The Ministry is the centralized organization responsible for overwatch and external investigations of the multiple organizations responsible for the safety of the Imperium. They have agents known as Inquisitors, and they have managed to build quite a fearsome reputation despite their organization’s relative youth. They have far more sway with regular organizations than with organizations like the Holy Order of Witch Hunters, who are used to moving with nearly complete autonomy, but they have the lawful authority to do what they need to to achieve results. The only group that stands above them is the Elemental Knights. We answer to the Emperor only, and let's be honest, if a knight goes rogue, only another knight or an army would be strong enough to bring them down.

“They have found some troubling information about you that has brought embarrassment and shame upon us all,” continues Lady Hun. “By order of the High Seven, you are stripped of rank and title. I am placing you under arrest.”

Sophia doesn't struggle as the two hunters who brought us here move in to cease her weapons and all signs of her former office. Sir Houston looks ready to explode but wisely holds his tongue and his fist as two more hunters move in to strip him of his weapons and armor dropping them unceremoniously on the floor as they do. Both then have their hands and feet shackled. Sophia has a null collar placed around her neck to block any magic she may be capable of wielding.

“If these allegations are found true, may the gods have mercy on your soul Sophia,” says Lady Hun in a somber tone. “Because you will receive none from us. Take them to the cells.”

Sophia and Houston are marched from the chamber through one of the doors. Leaving Malgath and me alone with Lady Hun and what remains of her entourage. She approaches me while the rest remain back, watching.

“We thank you for your efforts so far in dealing with this debacle,” she says sincerely. “I, of course, would like to hear what you know as soon as possible, but I'm sure a bath, food, and rest are all you would like now.”

“Food and the strongest liquor you have will be fine,” I reply honestly. “I don't sleep much, if at all, and prefer to be able to relax during my baths which I doubt I will be doing anytime soon.”

I reach into my pocket and pull out the blue cleansing stone. It is a gift from Malgath. The stone is the size of a child's fist and is a perfect example of the difference between elven and human magic. The human equivalent of this stone is double the size and requires being left in water for an hour to recharge after use. This one is portable and can be used as often as the user likes. I squeeze the stone, and a warm feeling runs up my arm and spreads over my body. In an instant, I am as fresh and clean as if I had stepped out of a hot bath, and my clothes are spotless. Another bonus given by the elven version, it cleans and even repairs the clothing the user is wearing. The human version would leave them soaked along with the person wearing them.

“You are, of course, aware that human possession of any objects enchanted with elven magic is illegal to own,” says one of the hooded hunters. “Having that stone is an automatic five years in prison.”

The laws against possessing objects enchanted by other races were established to keep dangerous magical items out of the wrong hands. Or at least that is what is taught. The real reason is that the Witch Hunters like to horde the items for their use, and the laws give them the right to seize them without trouble. That is, until they try seizing them from someone with the power and status to tell them where to shove it, like me.

“I could use the vacation,” I spin the smooth blue stone on one finger. “Which one of you will be taking me in?”

No one steps forward, and I pocket the magical item before continuing.

“I thought not,” I return my attention to Lady Hun. “I am sure you know my feelings about your group. They have not changed. Give us food, ask your questions, point us in the direction of the threat and stay out of our way. I want to get out of here as soon as possible, and it would seem that won't happen until I have cleaned up another mess one of yours created. The s**t is getting old.”

Lady Hun doesn't back down or let the slightest emotion show on her face as she replies, “I am aware of the past dealings you have had with my order, and believe me, you are the last knight I would want supportive us in this Sir Vaughn. But, it would seem that for the time being, you are all I have. I expect my orders to be followed in this matter. You are correct that it is a problem created by one of ours, so we will clean it up with your aid, as is your duty as an Imperial Elemental Knight. Am I understood?”

“To be completely honest, Lady Hun, you can take your orders and shove them so far up your ass you hear the echo.”

This gets several of the hunters at her back riled up. They shout abuse at me and draw weapons. One look from me with static playing in my eyes causes them to hesitate, and Lady Hun’s raised hand returns order to the gathering.

“I will consider any request you make of me,” I continue. “If I agree with it, then I will carry it out, but I will never blindly follow an order given by you are any other snake within your ranks, so if the d**k-measuring contest is over. How about that meal and drink?

I give them all my most winning smile, knowing full well they are all considering their best chances of killing me and surviving to tell the tale. Behind me, Malgath just chuckles, finding us humans as entertaining as he always does.