Paladin the path begins

Luna stepped out into the cold morning air with Tar’vid, feeling the wind whip around her. They made their way across the street to the paladin temple together, she felt her stomach grumble, Luna felt nervous or maybe she’d eaten too much. Tar’vid really did make a great breakfast and she’d stuffed her face, after eating nothing but salt pork and stunt bread for weeks who could blame her. As they approached they were hailed by a knight in red who bid them good morning as they walked into the main hall. Tar’vid telling her he was Red Knight, and together he and Blue Knight had rescued many of the novices in an attack. He then explained why they were nameless and she thought it weird, but Luna knew of many strange religious customs and didn’t question it much more. The temples main area seemed quite small in proportion to the building and she took a seat at the back with Tar’vid as the morning’s worship came to an end.

“May Sah’ravel guide you” finished the high priestess.

“And Tar’mine protect you” replied the congregation along with Tar’vid.

They waited at the back until the high priestess had finished speaking with members of the congregation and given orders to the novices, who dashed away quickly. Luna noticed many people greeted Tar’vid reverently, the same greeting and response given as at the end of mass. She had also forgotten to ask Tar’vid what had happened to the cross that had marked his face only a few weeks ago, not that she minded though. He was far more handsome without it. Though she noticed he did draw the gaze of the novices when he wasn’t looking, though she was certain she had nothing to worry about in that regard.

A few moments later the high priestess beckoned her to come forward, Tar’vid enthusiastically leading her.

“Welcome Lunathion An Keldran, I have heard so much about you and it is most certainly a pleasure” the high priestess greeted her. She was younger than Luna had thought, wearing a veil that shrouded her face from a distance, which was pretty even by elven standards.

“Thank you for bringing her so swiftly Tar’vid, I’m sure you have duties to attend to. You may leave us now” she said to him kindly, but firmly.

They exchanged the usual cant and Tar’vid turned to her, handing her a key.

“In case I’m not in when you’re finished here” he explained, kissing her gently on the cheek before he left. His blue cape billowing behind him like a hero from one of her childhood tales.

“The saints expect great things from him you know,” the priestess said to her after Tar’vid had gone.

“I feel that when I’m around him sometimes” Luna replied as the priestess took her hand.

“Come Lunathion, we should talk in private” the priestess told her, leading Luna through a doorway to the right of the hall.

“Please, call me Luna I’ve never been keen on my full title” she replied as they entered a small room off the corridor that was sparsely furnished.

“I think it’s a beautiful name, ‘Moonchild of light’ is the translation I believe” replied the priestess, motioning Luna to sit on one of the wooden chairs, beside a plain wooden table.

“Nearly, ‘Child of moonlight’ is its proper translation. Though few humans can speak any elvish, so I’m impressed” Luna said kindly, taking a seat.

“Half human,” said the high priestess lifting the veil to show Luna her ears, they were pointed similar to her own, but retained much of the human shape.

Luna smiled weakly, half-elves were shunned by the pureblood elves for the most part. They had the eternal youth of their elven lineage and greater strength than regular humans. But at the cost of being born infertile. Luna knew that should she have children, she would be shunned by her people, her father... perhaps even her sister. But she loved Tar’vid and perhaps she could bear not seeing her family again should it come to that.

“I have to admit Luna, I am glad you didn’t look at me like a pariah. My grandfather killed my mother in the name of elven honour, my father left me at a Paladin temple in Sommerland when I was only a toddler. My name is Sah’Jaen after my mother. Normally the eldest Paladin would name me, but my father pleaded with her to allow me to keep a semblance of my mother’s name and she agreed” Sah’Jaen told her with a tear in her eye.

“I could hardly condemn someone for their existence, though I guess most of my fellows do so regularly. You know who I am, and that should my father find out I will most likely face death. Banishment would be the best I could hope for” Luna replied calmly, though the thought terrified her beyond words.

Sah’Jaen dabbed her eyes, composing herself again. “Now, I didn’t ask for Tar’vid to bring you here for my sob story. It concerns Tar’vid though, as you know he’s being hunted by your uncle’s men, but you’ll be fine as long as you stay clear of Finril Rock. I know not why, but you must. It will be the end of Tar’vid” Sah’Jaen said, firmly gripping Luna’s shoulder.

“I’ll do what I can, but he’s a far superior fighter than myself, perhaps more so than any person I’ve ever met” Luna replied, becoming fearful at Sah’Jaen’s intensity and the firm instructions given.

“A person’s ability in combat cannot always save them, Luna, there are far worse ways to die in this world than on a battlefield,” she said. Her voice strained, choked with emotion.

Sah’Jaen slumped back in her chair exhausted. When she recovered a moment later she had no recollection of the last few minutes. Luna excused herself to let the priestess rest, trying to remember the proper words Tar’vid had used.

“It’s not part of your belief Luna, though we appreciate your intentions,” Sah’Jaen said with a calm smile.

Luna left the temple quickly, feeling both confused and fearful, perhaps Tar’vid’s saints had spoken to her through Sah’Jaen or perhaps the woman was just exhausted and on the verge of madness.

Luna found herself lost after only a few minutes of wandering, ending up down at the docklands where many of the ships stood rigid in the thick ice. She noticed several people were there on the ice fishing with poles through holes. Luna started to shiver and ducked into a nearby tavern named the ‘Fair Catch’. She was pleasantly surprised to find it both clean and quiet. Checking her coat pockets she found a small purse of coins and thanked Yindar that Tar’vid was looking out for her. She ordered a pitcher of warm wine and a trawlers platter. She sat by the fireplace, warming her hands as a young girl brought her the pitcher of wine and a wooden goblet. Luna thanked her with a smile and poured a healthy amount of wine for herself. A short time later her food arrived and she ate it greedily, sitting back in her chair she wondered why Finril Rock would be important, or indeed why Tar’vid would ever go there. It was an old fortress of the Kish elves, but they had abandoned it when they had made peace with Keldran several hundred years ago.

Before she could think on it further a rather broad man in fine clothes sat in the chair opposite her.

“Pardon my intrusion, my lady, do you mind if I join you,” asked the man in a kind, soothing voice.

Luna eyed him suspiciously as she noticed he had several grizzled men nearby who clearly knew how to fight, bodyguards maybe. Perhaps bounty hunters after Tar’vid though.

“I guess so” she replied shrewdly, having palmed a knife from the platter.

“Forgive me princess Lunathion, I am Bruhnel Genstark. Tar’vid is a good friend of mine” he said to her, his face and tone giving away nothing of his motives. Yet she now wondered for how long this man had been keeping tabs on her.

“What is your business Mister Genstark, if Tar’vid is indeed such a good friend?” she asked shrewdly. Luna knew Tar’vid’s good nature could be twisted by men like this Bruhnel Genstark.

“I must admit, I am rather fond of him, though I do worry how trusting he can be. I simply wanted to make sure you weren’t leading the boy astray” he said to her in a matter of fact way. She noticed, with a practised eye that with every movement she made the men shifted their weight slightly, ready to strike at a moments notice.

“I can assure you, though I find it to be none of your business that Tar’vid is in safe hands with me mister Genstark” she replied placing the knife back on the platter again with a clatter. The other men relaxed visibly, then she quickly produced the fork, a foot from Bruhnel’s face with a smirk. Tarquin had shown her the trick several times and she’d picked it up quickly herself. The guards looked on in shock, their weapons half drawn as Bruhnel waved them away.

“You surprise me, Luna, may I call you Luna?” he asked, she shrugged putting the fork down.

“Excellent, well fear not about the revelation of your identity. It is most assuredly safe with me my girl” he told her sincerely and for once she believed him.

“Now, I do have a small matter to discuss with you in private,” he said, waving his men away.

Once they had left the tavern he relaxed into the chair and put his feet up.

“Forgive my airs princess, but one must keep up appearances with an audience. I have word from your father in regards to your engagement with Tar’vid, of course, he knows nothing of your Joining and I believe we should keep it that way. He instructs that you should keep him safe for the foreseeable future, it would seem our Tar’vid is in rather high favour with the paladin order and should he be killed by agents of Keldran it would... shall we say, strain a rather good relationship with the order” Bruhnel told her, eloquently punctuating the importance of his words.

Luna considered her response carefully, she certainly hadn’t expected Bruhnel to be in... partnership with her father, nor for him to be so well informed.

“Why would my father care about the Paladins at all?” she asked carefully, keeping a close eye on Bruhnel.

“Haven’t you wondered why the plague hasn’t come north to Keldran Luna. Your father tasked the Paladin order with halting the plague at Veldren, in return the Paladins will have free passage through Keldran. It’s massive progress as you well know” he explained, quickly resorting to his character once more.

“Thank you for the update Mister Genstark. If you can relay a message to my father, let him know I have Tar’vid in hand” she said with a smile as Bruhnel stood, smoothing his garments.

“Of course, though I feel the innuendo will be lost on him. He also said to be wary of your uncle, he has a rather unhealthy vendetta against Tar’vid. Good day to you, for now, princess” he said with a bow and left the Tavern without waiting for her response.

Luna poured herself a little more wine, taking a large mouthful before leaning back in her chair. At least she had someone she could rely on here other than Tar’vid now. It seemed her father now knew Tar’vid wasn’t responsible for Jaike’s death and the loss of his hand. She drained her goblet and went to the bar to settle her bill before leaving.

“Oh, that’s not necessary, the distinguished gentleman paid for your meal and drink earlier,” the barkeeper told her.

She thanked him gratefully and left the tavern quickly, the cold hitting her the moment she left. Luna pulled her coat tightly against herself, she really hated the cold and cursed as she made her way back to Tar’vid’s house. I’ll have to be ready to leave with him the moment the snow melts she thought, but until then she would have a few months of happiness with him.

The weeks came and went, too quickly for her liking. Tar’vid and the few compassionate doctors cleared the camp within the first few weeks. She knew first hand the horror of that place, having learned from Sah’Jaen that nearly sixty percent of the people outside the walls had now died. She felt a sliver of guilt at knowing she had gotten a free pass at what now seemed a lifetime ago. Tarquin had survived as she knew he would, finding employment with Bruhnel. That, in turn, seemed to soften Tar’vid towards him and Luna couldn’t help but smile when thinking how easily Tar’vid could see the good in people, regardless of his previous thoughts on them. After a few days together in the warmth of their bed, Luna decided that after nearly two months they really should be making preparations for leaving at the thaw, though she had no idea where they would go.

“Why not Whitecliff?” Tar’vid suggested enthusiastically as she swung her legs out of bed, though as the cold seeped in she wanted to jump back under the covers.

“Because my uncle will have undoubtedly sent hunters there for you,” she said with a smile, pulling on her britches. They were getting a bit tight now and she decided she’d have to cut back on her meal portions.

“I can deal with any hunters, they don’t scare me” he replied confidently, getting out of bed himself.

She admired his growing physique, he was certainly adding more muscle to his previously skinny frame, then she looked down at her growing belly and wondered if he would get bored of her if she got much fatter.

“I love you, you know that right?” he said to her, she hadn’t noticed him come up behind her before hugging her tightly.

“Even if my belly sticks out this much?” she gestured sadly with her hands.

“We’ll see” he replied with a smile and she slapped his thigh playfully.

“I’m with you remember, this is for life to me. Nothing will change that” he whispered in her ear.

“I know, I just worry sometimes I guess” she replied with a rue smile.

“Now come on and get dressed, we have plenty to be getting on with today” she chided him.

He kissed her neck softly and she sighed, I guess we can always do it this afternoon she thought as she pushed him onto the bed playfully.

The sun was well and truly at its zenith by the time they were dressed and out the house. She was sure that wherever they went they’d need plenty of food and she bought plenty of stunt bread and salted meats, though she sneaked some bacon in with their supplies for Tar’vid to fry in the last of the fat store. They wandered the market for several hours picking up extra clothing, then stopped in a tavern named ‘the Great Fern’ for their evening meal.

“It’s getting warmer, I think the waggons will be ready to leave in the next few weeks,” she told Tar’vid between spoonfuls of fish broth.

He nodded in response, swallowing a chunk of bread.

“Do you think we should travel with one of Bruhnel’s caravans?” he asked her.

Luna thought about it a moment, it wouldn’t be a bad idea, though Bruhnel’s caravans tended to veer close to Keldran and large cities. She was sure that any hunters would have such places well covered.

“I don’t know Tar’vid, perhaps if one is heading away from Keldran... perhaps southwards towards Vieldon maybe,” she said, thinking out loud.

“What about northwards?” he asked genuinely.

It was such comments that reminded her of how sheltered he had been at Whitecliff.

“We would never make it past the Scar, it’s guarded this side by my father’s soldiers, King Lyones soldiers guard the north” she replied casually, tearing a piece of bread apart with her hands in frustration.

“What is the Scar, I’ve heard it mentioned a few times... but no one speaks openly of it” he asked quietly, leaning towards her.

Luna put her bread down, leaning towards Tar’vid slowly.

“It’s the site of the last great war between elves and humans Tar’vid when magic ran rampant. It was wielded without abandon, a near twenty-mile area torn asunder. The lucky ones were killed, the unlucky however were trapped in a... how do I describe it, like a bubble suspended in time, a rift of magic. There are thousands trapped inside, including my grandmother and two of my father’s brothers. No rescue is possible though, Mages have tried for centuries to dissipate the bubble, but have only succeeded in becoming ensnared themselves. It is a horror to behold so I’m told, a battle frozen in time at the moment of destruction” she explained as Tar’vid watched her enthralled.

“Such a thing was never taught to me, I feel something so important should have been,” he said a little annoyed.

“Like I said it’s a sore subject, hundreds of Paladins are in there as well. I wouldn’t bring it up around here, old wounds and all that, you understand” Luna replied.

They ate the rest of their meal quietly before returning home for the evening, as they cuddled up in bed for the evening she thought on where they would end up before drifting off to sleep in his arms.