Paladin the path begins

Luna studied Tar’vid’s head, it did kind of suit him she thought. He looked more rugged, especially with his scar visible now.

”So let me get this straight. This Yuffi tried to kill you?” she stated as Tar’vid nodded.

“Youi Fei” he replied, strapping on his sword belt.

“And now he’s your friend!” she continued, glaring at him irritably.

“Sort of, we’re on our way there” Tar’vid replied, kissing her cheek.

“And now we’re going to be travelling with him in his caravan?” she finished, grabbing his trousers and pulling him back towards her.

“In a nutshell... yes, that’s about right. Don’t worry though, everything’s going to be fine now” he told her with a smile, leaving her in Bruhnel’s office to get back to his training.

Luna let out a sigh, slumping into Bruhnel’s arm chair and gathering her thoughts. It was all well securing a caravan, but the question still stood. Where would they go... where not only her uncle wouldn’t find her, but her own father also. This pregnancy couldn’t have come at a worse time.

“You know, worrying won’t help princess” Bruhnel commented from his place by the window.

“I do, but I still can’t help worrying at Tar’vid’s confidence. This Mage could have killed him by the gods and only this morning to” she complained in frustration.

“You did not see the fight though my dear, my boy had him defeated in a single move. Truly remarkable and at such a young age” he remarked, still looking out the window.

“Come over here my dear and watch” Bruhnel beckoned her. Luna gave in to her curiosity, walking up beside him and peering out over the training yard.

Tar’vid stood in the centre surrounded by at least seven men and women. Luna knew a few of them, Morkin the dashing man with the perfectly maintained beard and moustache, Karhald the silent giant and her friend Tarquin. She watched on as one at a time, occasionally in twos they attacked Tar’vid, every time he beat them back, often putting them on the defence, his strikes like a blur. She had never seen him fight... not truly fight. His speed was almost unnatural, and now that the was no longer the scrawny boy she had met, he had the power to match, she watched him disarm Morkin and a dark haired girl with a single swing.

“I almost feel sorry for any other Paladins in Cerdic, for as you may well have guessed, news of his martial prowess will spread come the thaw. He is certainly doing wonders for his order, how many disputes will be settled merely by a Paladin’s presence do you think?” he asked, genuinely curious on her thoughts.

Luna thought back to their first meeting in the ruins of an old watch tower many months ago.

“You know, the first time we met he had gotten into a fight with bandits, he had only been away from his home maybe a week then and had already killed three of them by the time I put an arrow through the last one. To think, watching him now how much he’s progressed, those same men wouldn’t have stood a chance against him now” she said in awe, not taking her eyes from the constant battle.

Bruhnel put a hand gently on her shoulder.

“But we know how truly vulnerable he is and we both know it’s his unyielding desire to do good that will be his death. And so us more cynical types will have to keep our eyes on him, just promise me you’ll try to keep him safe my girl and I’ll sleep easier at night” Bruhnel asked her quite genuinely.

“Of course I will, he’s more dear to me than almost anyone else in this world now” she replied, placing a hand unconsciously on her belly, an act she was sure Bruhnel noticed.

But he merely nodded his approval and started to leave before turning to her.

“Please would you just make sure to shut the door when you leave, I fear Grace may go mad if it happens again today,” he remarked as he shut the door behind himself.

Luna watched for a little longer before leaving, she was starting to feel tired now, deciding a short nap by the fireside sounded rather tempting right about now.

Luna hadn’t expected to be on the road so soon, with it only having been several days since Tar’vid had defeated Youi Fei. In that short time, the mage had his three waggon caravan supplied and crewed. Now they began their long journey southwards. She had gotten a short message to Bruhnel for Deadra should she keep her word and follow after her come thaw, though Luna could only postulate on where they would eventually end up.

With the thaw coming in full, the true toll of the winter camp was on full display. Bones littered the fields where the wolves hadn’t eaten the dead and the bodies had simply wasted away, though curiously the heavy snows hadn’t stopped the decay at all. Luna sat on a waggon bench at the side of Youi Fei, Tar’vid had refused to let her walk and to her annoyance Tar’vid had told the Mage of her pregnancy. What made the situation more irritating was that the man was infuriatingly nice to her with any shades of his psychotic streak gone, as a result she felt obliged to engage him in conversation. After all Tar’vid had made an effort with Tarquin for her, though she had been sure they would get on in time anyway. The waggon hit a large stone in the road, breaking her from her thoughts with a jolt.

“Are you okay there Luna?” Youi Fei asked, gripping the reigns of the oxen tightly and leaning out to check the wheels of the wagon for damage. He seemed satisfied though, sitting back on the bench again.

“I’m fine, thank you Youi Fei” she replied, perhaps a bit too harshly.

Youi Fei sighed and momentarily took his eyes off the road.

“I want you to like me Luna, but I’m finding things difficult. The conclave did not teach us... how do I put it?”

“Manners?” Luna interjected with a wry smile.

“Quite, Tar’vid’s really the first person I have ever considered to be a friend of mine. The conclave was somewhat cutthroat, though mine is considered one of the more pleasant of the magic schools. The real world has opened my eyes somewhat I must admit, it’s certainly less harsh than the conclave” he replied, looking back to the road once more.

She couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for the man, Luna’s childhood had been relatively normal up until the Paladin war and by human standards she had been a middle aged woman then. She wondered what hell the conclave must be like if he found this winter less harsh.

“It’s just a little unnerving, knowing that only a few days ago you were willing to kill Tar’vid. Though that bridge seems to be firmly mended now” she said, trying not to sound frustrated.

“Tar’vid has been teaching me more self-control when using my magic, he called it Tah’vindrel. I swear it won’t happen again Luna” Youi Fei replied quickly in his own defence.

Luna knew nothing of the technique, but if Tar’vid was helping him control his power then she was happy to be around the man.

“Did the conclave not teach you how to control magic before letting you leave?” she asked, puzzled that such dangerous people could be let loose untrained.

“They teach us only how to not destroy ourselves and those around us. Our training is up to the other Mages and like I said, it’s a viper’s den in the conclave. Knowledge is guarded fiercely and jealously. I felt perhaps travelling the world would aid my pursuit of the mastery of my craft. Until now, I had met no one who was willing to share their knowledge, luckily I am from a rich family and can afford to travel like this” he explained, Luna couldn’t help relating on some level.

Youi Fei stayed strangely silent after the explanation, his face remaining locked in thought for some time until Tar’vid appeared on the horizon the mages face lighting up curiously. Tar’vid had been scouting ahead for them, though he had no skill in stealth, nor tracking, nor hunting and she wondered if he was simply trying to impress her. Luna had to smile though, as he had waited beside lake Miana where they had first been together.

“There’s a camp up ahead, I think it might be another caravan” Tar’vid speculated, standing beside the waggon.

“I wouldn’t have thought so, the nearest town is Whitecliff and we only left Fernhaven a couple of days ago. The snows only started melting the day before that. Only a caravan with a Mage extremely competent in fire magic like myself could have hoped to traverse the roads before then. We should be cautious here, I would suggest you hide in one of the waggons Tar’vid. Just in case it’s elves on the lookout for you” Youi Fei told him, waving back to one of the other waggons.

“Letting him act as a scout was dangerous, he’s probably the most wanted man in Cerdic” Luna chided Youi Fei as she pulled the hood of her cloak over her head. If they were elves she would surely be recognised by them.

“I didn’t let him do anything, besides I sent out Toren to watch him” the Mage protested, pointing into the forest line. Luna saw the man Toren wave back as he faded back into the darkness again.

The waggons rolled on for another half hour until the camp came into view, there were around six waggons arranged in a circle beside the lake. Upon their passing, several people pulled away from the camp and barred their way as more heavily armed and armoured elves joined them. Youi Fei pulled up the oxen halting the waggons with a wave of a red flag he kept at the side of his bench.

“I think perhaps, you should do the talking” Luna whispered to him.

“I agree, your people would undoubtedly be suspicious of a female answering before a man” he replied and Luna realised he probably understood her culture better than she ever cared to.

What at first had seemed a large contingent of Keldran soldiers, in fact, turned out to be a mixed mercenary caravan, though there were several Paladins amongst their ranks Luna noticed, the blue cross on their faces betraying them. Several of the group approached them on the lead waggon, though none drew weapons or seemed hostile in their manner... yet! Luna kept her knife close.

“Greetings and good day to you sir,” said an elf happily to Youi Fei, his thumbs tucked into his belt.

“Good day to you also, though may I ask why you have waylaid us” the Mage replied in his haughtiest voice.

The elf narrowed his eyes, his hands starting to drift towards the swords at his hips.

“Forgive our inconveniencing you, but we simply wanted to know... have you come from Fernhaven by chance?” asked a rather handsome man, tall and well built. His long blonde hair tied at the nape of his neck.

Youi Fei had the look of a man weighing up a lie, holding the reigns in one hand.

“We did, only a few days ago in fact” he replied, slowly and carefully.

“Then the plague has not breached the walls... Fernhaven is safe” asked the handsome man relieved.

“It is safe there, though your journey there may be harrowing. Hundreds died outside the walls, their bones and bodies litter the fields still, it was only by the grace of a Paladin that more did not die” Youi Fei answered, Luna glared at him angrily, why would he mention Tar’vid at all. She hoped he wasn’t planning betrayal after all.

“A Paladin indeed!” the blonde man said hopefully.

“Tell me if you know, but was the Paladin named Tar’vid by chance?” he asked, Luna felt that he asked with pride in his voice.

“Strangely it was, I believe he has gone north with the thawing. I’m sure you would catch up with him quickly enough, though he is travelling alone” Youi Fei replied. Once again gripping the reigns with both hands.

Luna let out a slow breath, the mage had set up a false trail and perhaps they could now pass south without hindrance.

There was an awkward pause as no one spoke.

“If there’s nothing else, we shall be on our way then,” Youi Fei said bluntly, motioning for the gathered warriors to move.

“If you don’t mind, I would like to accompany you as far as Whitecliff. The younger Paladins here will be heading to Brownfield keep for the summons. I, however, need to get back to the keep now that I know Fernhaven is safe. I can’t leave the fortress too long without a senior Paladin in charge” the blonde man asked kindly. Luna hadn’t noticed he was a Paladin. But as a senior Paladin, he would most certainly know Tar’vid on sight.

“I have no objections master paladin” Youi Fei replied and Luna wondered what he was thinking.

“I didn’t catch your name though good sir?” the man asked them.

“I am Youi Fei of the conclave of Mages” he replied proudly.

“And please, you may ride up front with me, I’m sure my companion will be happier resting inside the waggon,” Youi Fei said, indicating for her to climb into the back of the covered waggon.

The Paladin climbed up onto the bench as Youi Fei cracked the reigns, setting the waggon in motion again.

“I’m afraid I also did not catch your name master Paladin,” Youi Fei asked intrigued.

“I am Tar’son of Whitecliff” he replied as Luna held her breath in shock, they were travelling with Tar’vid’s tutor.