Trials Of Impending Night

Chapter 6: Nine Knights-2

“Because it needs to look genuine. If he catches onto my unprecedented beliefs, then who knows what plans he may enact. We don't know what he intends to do”.

“Then why wait so long to expose him if the kingdom is under more and more threat the longer we treat him like family?”

“Quait. Do not question my orders,” Hockmunn snapped under the stress. He sighed and brushed his hand across his head. “My apologies, Captain,” Quait reacted with a monotone voice, remembering that she was in no position to challenge her superior. Their private times together discussing such dreadful secrecy outside of their Paladin duties altered her mindset and often made her forget who she was talking to, not to mention the fact they'd had a past relationship prior to Troyori receiving the curse of blood vision. It was imperative for her to remind herself and respect the fact that Hockmunn was nothing beyond a Captain. “I'm sorry, too,” he replied. “This is what has to be done, and if that comes with the stress of secrecy then so be it. This is the final step, Quait… but that also means things are about to get a lot more delicate and intense”. She didn't have anything valuable left to say, so she simply nodded, then opened the door back to the dining hall, allowing Hockmunn to re-enter first.

The evening arrived soon after the banquet, leading most of the Paladins to their beds. Shayl, Chemidus, Jahrn, Midma, Wulvador and Lycan had all spent weeks travelling back from their varying locations, so seeing their old sleeping quarters after such a long time brought with it the best night's sleep they'd had in years. Unfortunately for Falk, he was on night watch, which consisted of walking around the outdoor vicinity of the castle, and because he was still in the midst of training, it meant Quait had to circle the grounds with him. After tiring themselves out from overeating, staying up through the night was the last thing either of them wanted to do. Troyori had to show no sign of despair though. Thankfully, the red goggles hid her weary eyelids. Besides their footsteps and the noises of insects, all was quiet, so when Vousa suddenly spoke, Troyori shuddered upright as though she'd previously been sleepwalking. “Permission to ask a question,” he requested. Quait sighed and looked at him, awaiting what he had to say. “Be honest, do you think I can fit in with the other Paladins?” he whimpered.

“What sort of question is that?” she moaned.

“I've noticed that you're all more than just a team – you're a family”.

“At the end of the day it doesn't matter what your relationships are with everyone else. So long as you listen to orders and fulfil them… that's what's important”.

“It's just… well… I noticed when everyone was laughing, Midma didn't look too impressed. What have I done to offend her?”

“Fool. Seeking acceptance isn't priority. Besides, Midma didn't used to like me. It takes time to bond”.

“Would you say we've managed to bond yet?” he murmured. Quait stopped and swung her head round and glared at the talkative Knight. “You're too insecure to be a Paladin,” she scoffed, knowing that her words were rather hypocritical. “I don't know how Soa had the patience to train new Paladins”. Before she could continue jabbing at Vousa, an old husband and wife couple strolled by near the castle entrance on their way home further down the road. “Look at them,” one of them muttered. The other shook their head and grumbled something under their breath. The couple continued to talk between themselves as they hobbled by, but Quait was too curious to let them go freely. “What are you doing in the streets at this hour?” she asked them to hopefully halt their whispers. Her own insecurities had gotten the better of her and she wanted to know what their problem was. “We've been a part of this city longer than you. Our business is our own, trouble causers,” they hissed.

“Do not speak to a Paladin with such a tone,” Falk warned.

“Call yourselves what you want… it doesn't make you important”.

“What were you whispering as you passed?” Quait asked.

“You watch our every step and demand to know our private discussions?” one of them gasped in anger. Falk stormed forward and grabbed hold of them both in retaliation, causing the old couple to erupt in shock and fury. “Vousa! Release them!” Troyori demanded. His rage had got the better of him. “Return to the castle. I'll continue the night watch alone,” she continued. Falk apologised reluctantly and stormed back to the castle with exaggerated footsteps. Quait wanted to show the couple she wanted to keep them safe, but they didn't care and continued to complain in full force. “You Paladins are ruining this kingdom!” the old lady yelled.

“You're letting Slayers into our city. You're letting them kill our leaders!” the husband growled.

“The Paladins used to protect us… now they can't even protect themselves”. Quait didn't know how to respond, although she was used to the odd uproar from civilians. She would always be dealt the harshest blows from the public due to her unorthodox eyewear, but there was nothing she could do but bite her tongue and assure everyone that the Paladins were there to protect. “We saw the rest of your clan enter the kingdom. Three of you here were bad enough… now all nine of you are going to be littering our streets?”

“Do you think it's easy protecting an entire kingdom?” she finally snapped.

“It was only a matter of time until the Paladins lost their minds,” the man muttered.

“Six of the greatest Knights have been living beyond these walls to ensure your safety”.

“Then why have they all returned? There's something you're not telling the public. We're not as dim as you think we are”. The stubborn civilians were making Quait's night even worse, but it was just the beginning of her problems.

Out of nowhere, a large explosion boomed from the other side of the castle exterior, pushing a ball of fire and smoke up and outwards. The sound shocked through Quait's body as she turned around in horror. Upon closer inspection, she could see a dozen cloaked invaders climbing the castle walls with ropes. Before running into action though, she'd realised there was no reaction from the elderly couple, causing her to turn and look at them in disgust. They stood shamelessly, avoiding eye contact. “You were distracting me, weren't you?” Quait growled. The Slayer spy and their plans to infiltrate the kingdom had made themselves known. The secret invasion was bigger than what her or Hockmunn had thought – having Magmalian civilians join the cause for complete calamity and destruction was truly unexpected. She wasted no more time on the pathetic couple and charged to the main doors, whilst numerous bell towers and horns struck at separate speeds. People looked through their windows and ran out of their homes to see what was happening, resulting in panic among the streets. Screams eventually dampened the noises of clashing bells as the orange glow of fire lit the nearby area. “Can't let them kill any more. Can't let them kill any more,” Troyori said to herself as she entered. If the Slayers were able to assassinate any kings or queens like they had done in the past, the Paladin Order would well and truly be abolished. Servants and maids ran through hallways and corridors, forcing Quait to push her way through them. Upon reaching the staircase, she heard the cry of men and women coming from above. She looked up, only to see falling dead bodies of innocent people. “No!” she cried whilst charging upwards to the chaos. As she passed the windows, she saw more ropes being flung up from the outside, leaving her with no choice but to smash the glass and cut them. There were many more windows however, and eventually, Slayers began to breach the stairwell from above and below, trapping her in between. Miraculously, Paladin Chemidus leaped from one staircase to the other and landed atop a group of soldiers. He and Quait fought back-to-back whilst ascending, hoping that the other Knights were protecting the royal quarters. On the top floor, the Uru brothers held their bodies against the doors whilst Slayers attempted to ram the entrance open, with Shayl and Captain Hockmunn providing arrow fire from various balconies hugging the interior walls of the higher levels. Shooting downwards with expert precision, they hit and killed a target with each release of their bowstrings. Vousa ran around the bottom floor in search of an unlocked door. The Knights had barricaded all the access points they could, inadvertently preventing him from climbing any sets of stairs. Troyri and Chemidus had reached the top however, and were met by Midma and Jahrn, accidently catching them by surprise. “Where are the others? What's happening?” Quait asked.

“The Captain has the Urus fortifying the royal quarters. Shayl is with him,” Midma answered.

“Then where's Falk?” she gasped. The group hesitated for a moment, then Jahrn pushed by Quait and Chemidus. “I'll find him,” he said sternly as he began to run, while the rest of them ran to help defend Wulvador and Lycan's barricades from the other side, eliminating the incoming hordes of soldiers. “The Crimson Paladin!” one Slayer warned, before being cut across the throat by Quait's sword. “Sounds as though you've built quite the reputation,” Wulvador shouted from the other side of the doors. Captain Hockmunn heard the conversation from above and knew Troyori would be able to thin the herds with ease, so no longer felt the need to provide covering fire. “Shayl, with me,” he ordered. She nodded and threw her bow to one side, switching to her blade in an instant. The two of them hoisted themselves over the balcony and awaited a heavy drop. Once their feet hit the floor, they rolled and ran over to the Uru brothers. “Open the doors!” the Captain commanded with his weapon at the ready. The brothers looked at one another in confusion but didn't question the Asieda's orders. After ragging their hard work apart, they swung the doors open, revealing only a small portion of soldiers remaining. Hockmunn, Shayl and the Urus ran outwards to assist the other Paladins, making short work of the final swarm. “Captain!” Quait exhaled, “The royals?”

“They're safe. They're all safe,” he assured. The group let out a sigh of relief, but none more so than Quait, who looked at the Captain worried and defeated. He knew what she was thinking about and what she was trying to convey, but he refused to look back the same way. “Captain, that was too close,” she murmured.

“I know”.

“We shouldn't be allowing this to happen”.

“Quait, that's enough,” he barked. The others didn't understand the reason for their tension, nor did they question it – ultimately, they were simply happy to be alive. At last, Falk finally reached the rest of the group on the top floor, making his presence known by running down the corridor panting for air. “And where have you been?” Hockmunn snarled.

“I was trapped on the lower floors-”.

“Where's Jahrn? He went looking for you,” Midma asked.

“I heard him shouting my name. I tried following his voice, but-”. Before he could explain what happened next, Midma charged at him and pinned him against the wall and asked him again; this time with a crack in her voice. “Where is Jahrn?”

“I'm sorry,” Vousa whimpered as he looked down to the floor, knowing he had to be the bearer of bad news.