The king sent me, chapter 3

The King sent me.

Chapter 3
You call it law?


This day is going too fast and the first part of the day is almost done, I wanted to try out my new blade, but hunger changed my project. I took a little pause at a nearby restaurant called The Red Eatery. It’s a more or less active place depending on the time of the day, but around lunch time it’s pretty much empty, and this is how I prefer it. When I entered, I saw that the knight Croval was there, he saw me and saluted with a small and sign. He must be on his lunch break, just before Ashnard’s. There was also Aria, a sweet girl that works with one of Louis rival. For the last few years, she learned how to forge too, but her mentor was the old Higlas, so she learned ancestral techniques that often refer to the uses of the mythic force to process the materials and a lot of other thing I don’t quite understand. But Aria doesn’t know me, we only did school together, and now my appearance changed a lot, except that I still look like to have a fire burning on my head, made by my blood red hair.

And… are my eye playing tricks on me? There’s Corroc sitting all the way to the back of the place. He is like an idol to me. He can’t see me because he is facing the wall, drinking something that looks like tea.

I walked up to the counter and said hi the couple who were holding this place. I ordered a small snack and waited a bit for it to be ready. While that, I noticed that Aria was almost gazing Croval, he on the other hand was too busy with his meal; looks like his break was coming to an end. At the same time, Corroc was still sipping is fuming liquid in a cup that was unperceivable in his hand.

When my lunch arrived, I took it and went to see Croval. He was the only one here that I at least talked more than a few time. He stopped eating and greeted me.

-Hi Darien, can I assume that Gabriel is not here today?

-Yea, we can’t hide you anything.

I putted the box with my sword in it on the chair and I sat on it.

-So boy, do you know where is he?

-Not a clue, he ran off this morning.

Croval had a big smile in is face when he heard that.

-Ah, he is off on his quest again, finding a girl that can tolerate him for more than an hour.

-Hum... not sure about that, Exon was there in the morning for him.

He suddenly became more serious.

-Exon again, well that is unusual. There must be something going on. Can be good, can be bad.

-If it was bad, at least we should be warned, no?

Croval looked at the ceiling trying to avoid eye contact.

-Well yea… they would tell us.

He was now looking at Corroc to be sure that he didn’t understand the message he was trying to tell me.

-Yes

That’s all I found to say. I had a bed felling there, like there was something wrong about what he was talking. Croval continued, trying to change the subject.

-And what are you sitting on? Is it a new discovery, something to share with the world?

-Well it’s almost something like that. It’s my new weapon; Louis just gave it to me.

-Louis gave you a blade. Just like that. I’m on a 2 weeks waiting list for a new official knight sword, mines too old.

-He has being working on this for over a year, so I know what you feel. But for me it’s more for training, you its more important for serving justice and protecting people.

-Quit the talking a little, would you? Oh, sorry I’m rude, but can I get a little peek on it?

I got on my feet and started to unlock the first of the three security devices. Croval changed his attitude. He grasped the table with his hard black nails and bend over to have a better look on the case with the smith’s mark on it. I finished releasing the final lock and then I opened the box. He was holding his breath until he saw what was inside. Croval was surprised.

-How are you going to fight with that!

-Easy, I have being practicing with this type of sword for a long time, and this one is a custom made model.

I took my breath an instant and I looked at the door. I continued.

-Seems like I’ll even have a chance to practice a little today.

Because at this moment, two strange individuals entered the building, swords in hands, ready for wickedness. One approached the counter and strikes it while the other was making his way to the other side and captured the woman that was surprised by their arrival. He threatened the man to make him give his money.  I put my hand on the handle of my sword, but before I could lift it, Croval put his hand on it and said with a small voice.

-What are you thinking, you are in Chloryl, you can’t just go like that and attack people. Even if they are doing it, it’s against the rules.

-But these poor persons are in danger, we have to do something.

-If you were out in the open, outside these walls, I would see no objection. Here, we have to take responsibility of our acts. The knights are the ones who have these tasks.

At this moment, Corroc got on his legs, still holding his tea. He was looking at the scene, walking slowly toward them. One of the bandits lifted his head and saw him; he said something the other one. Now they were all looking at him, still holding the hostage. One of them began too speak.

-Who… who are you?

The roaring voice of the old man was resonating in the place.

-Corroc.

-I’ve heard of you… you are the one that matched… our… boss…

-And you are not even supposed to come close to this city, fools!

Corroc took a sip and deposed his cup on a table. Aria ran to the back of the room, joining Croval and me. The bandit that was holding the hostage stood his ground, threatening to hurt the woman if they don’t leave them alone. On the other hand the second thief decided to run toward the door. The door closed shut in the face of the criminal sending him on the ground. Corroc was still walking in the direction of the bandit that was holding a hostage. I heard the floor crack and a stone pillar emerged through the wood panel. It bashed him right between the legs, making him drop his blade on the ground and fall on his knees. The girl, now free ran to the back room to hide, while the second bandit was rushing toward Corroc, with his sword in his hand. The Loyal knight pointed in the criminal’s direction with his arm and there for just a fraction of a second, I’m pretty sure I saw something gathering around his hand and emerging in a flash. A black mark appeared on the forehead of the bandit and then he fell on the ground, completely immobile, just like his companion. The hero turned around and looked at Croval, right in his eyes. I looked at Croval too; he seemed troubled, or shocked. Corroc said with his voice that was still resonating in the room.

-Dispose of them properly.

Then, he opened the door and he was gone. Only Croval, Aria, and I remained. We were looking at the scene, the two dead man on the floor was all there was to see. Croval was the first to cement on the situation.

-This won’t get anywhere if we stay here. Let’s do what the boss said.

He took one of the corpses and looked at me and Aria.

-Help me with to other one would you, I can’t carry them both by my self.

I stare the dead body, thinking about Aria. It’s really not the best way to finally have the occasion to spend some time with someone you want to know. I approached the carcass, and it was only when I finally touched it, taking its arm that I realized; this person is dead. For a moment I felt really bad, like I was going to loose conscience. Aria wasn’t moving, she was only watching me trying to get the body on my shoulder, while trying not to fall. I finally snapped out of it and regain my calm. Years of mental practice, this is the kind of thing I need them for, it’s not time to loose all that I learned when finally need it. I then asked.

-So, what now?

-Well, we have to get them to the judging room inside the castle; there the judgment will be given.

-But they are dead, we can judge them…

-You didn’t understand what I said earlier, the one who is going to get judged is Corroc, for his crime.

-I never saw him act like that, he usually looks so gentle.

-Remember, I said than we have to assume the consequences of our acts, and this is one of the hardest duties of a knight. Corroc didn’t want us to have trouble so he is taking the charge.

-So what he did was good?

-It’s hard to tell between good and bad, the only thing I know is that he did the best that he could too protect this city, what ever was the cost for him.

The conversation ended here; there was so much in my head that was running around, this day was really one of a kind. What surprised me the most was Corroc’s fighting skills. I didn’t saw him fight at all. I saw him training once; he was practicing old techniques that are even weaker then the basic moves they show in the combat schools. Then again, I looked at the face of the bandit I was holding. It was the one the received the flash, I could see the black mark that was still on his forehead. It was burned, like hit by thunder.

Croval exited the restaurant, I was going to depart too but at the last instant I turned back and saw the open box on the chair containing my new blade. I told Croval to wait for me outside. I closed the box with my elbow. I was trying to take it with my few fingers that was not occupied holding the body.

-Need an extra hand?

A soft and small voiced just resonated right in front of me. I lifted my head and saw Aria standing there. I think I laughed like a moron before finally saying something useful.

-Yes please; just close shut the locks and take the box, we’ll fallow Croval to the castle.

While shutting the lock she asked.

-You are Darien right? You were like the brightest kid in our class when we were at school.

I did a strange motion, trying to scratch the back of my head, but with a dead body over the shoulder, it was kind of… you know… weird.

-Yea it’s me… but I was not all that good, I always ad troubles with history and politique.

She lifted the box with difficulty and attached it to a hook that is installed on the back of her blacksmith suit. She continued.

-Good thing I was working today, if not there was not way I could transport this all the way to the castle. How can you lift a whole person like that?

-This is an interesting fact, you see, even if this body is heavier then the box, it can bend and redistribute his weight all around my body. Not like this rectangular box, it only holds on one point when holding it, making more pressure on a single area, so it hurts more.

-Yet again you continue to prove that you are a real smart ass.

-…Do I have to take that as a complement?

-Eh… Sorry force of habit…

-Then…

Croval’s voice cut the conversation at the very point where I was going to said something dumb. I’ll have to thank him for that. We exited the building in direction of the castle. Everyone was looking at our trio, charged like mules with corpses. When we finally reached the castle, Croval thanked us for the helping hand and he said.

-If you want to see the trial, come back tomorrow at dawn, Sir Gabriel is going to be there, it’s his duty, so he will let you come with him if you ask him. Sorry for you Aria, I’m not sure you will be allowed to enter.

He pulled the two bodies through a small, well guarded, door on the side of the castle, helped by a guard, while a second was sending a dark glare toward Aria and me. We departed on the same way, but it didn’t took long before my stomach made me remember that I left my lunch on a table in The Red Eatery. I was holding my abdomen to reduce the pain a little. Taking back the box from Aria’s back, I thanked her for her kindness.

-Thanks for carrying it. I would have never forgiven me if I lost this.

She noticed my hunger and searched in a little bad tied to her waist, she seized something wrapped in a yellow cloth. She then took my wrist and put it in my hand.

-Take this Darien, You earned it.

Aria then turned around and started running. I shouted to her.

-You don’t have to give me anything!

She turned around, smiling, now running backward and replied.

-Sorry, can’t hear you, I’m too far away.

I looked at her running away and I thought: I hope I’m not turning In a Gabriel junior…
The box was deposed on the ground and I removed the cloth, it revealed a small bread, it was a little crushed by a hard day of work, but still it looked good. I ate it quickly, giving a sensation of fullness in my abdomen. I kept this cloth, locking it up inside the box with the sword.