Paladin the path begins

Luna sighed, the Cerdic forest inn slowly came into view. Spending all day in a carriage with her uncle was becoming nigh on unbearable to her, it wasn’t that he was bad company, quite the opposite. He was charming and witty, yet she knew him as an utter bastard. Luna knew of her uncle’s exploits, though nothing could ever be prove, accusers... if ever there were any would vanish soon after the allegations. No, it was unbearable because even knowing what he was capable of, she couldn’t help starting to enjoying his company. She was broken from her thoughts as the carriage came to a gentle halt. It had been several days since she had parted with Tar’vid and she regretted doing so every second. She hadn’t explained the Joining to him and now thinking about it, she had almost brushed him aside without a second thought. Her uncle left first, turning about face as she came to the door.

“Luna, will you be joining me for dinner tonight?” Elldran asked her civilly, offering his hand and breaking her from her morose thoughts.

“No... thank you, uncle. The journey has been tiring and I’m going to bed early tonight I think” she replied apologetically, breezing past him into the Inn, going upstairs to her room and locking the door immediately.

She had nearly said yes to her uncle though, and that frightened her. He had been prodding about Arklan subtly for the last few days, and though she had come scarily close to telling him at times about him being Tar’vid, she had a feeling he already knew his true identity. Luna lay on her bed, feeling the soft duvet under her. She was concentrating so hard on blocking out Elldran lately that it was wearing her out, at least it had been keeping Tar’vid from her thoughts. She lay back on the bed, kicking off her boots and hearing them thud on the carpeted floor of her room. Luna wriggled a little, getting herself comfortable and not even bothering to undress. She wondered what Tar’vid was doing right now, perhaps he’d forgotten about her already. Luna buried her face in her pillows wanting to cry. Her thoughts were disturbed by a loud crash from the room below her, she heard raised voices and she jumped onto the floor nimbly, pressing an ear against the soft carpet.

“... Idiot, what if she’d been here!” she heard a man say angrily.

The voices became quieter after that, and though the discussion was still heated the words weren’t loud enough to hear properly. She shrugged it off as a tavern fight and got undressed, getting into her warm, soft bed. Being a princess certainly had advantages she thought, drifting off to sleep and dreaming of Tar’vid sweeping in to whisk her away to the life she wanted with him more than anything.

Luna woke up at the sound of horses braying and a sudden thunder of hooves. She couldn’t remember another waggon being here when they’d arrived, or of another coming during the night... though she had been exhausted, perhaps she’d missed it.

She opened up her travel bag, pulling out her travel dress. It was still pristine as she disliked wearing it. Luna shoved her leather armour and tunic into the bag unceremoniously. She preferred the feel of her armour, but her father would expect her to look at least presentable as a princess of Keldran. Luna stared at the dress disapprovingly for a moment, pulling it on hurriedly as someone knocked at her door testily, probably her uncle wanting to make time up that she’d wasted sleeping in, they could easily be in Keldran by sundown still.

Luna unlocked the door slowly, opening it a crack. Deadra stood there looking at her sternly with her green eyes fixed intently on her.

“You should have been up at first light,” Deadra told her, planting her hands on her hips.

“Oh, come on... surely my father’s spymaster has better things to do than berate me for sleeping in?” Luna pouted, opening the door fully for her and walking back to her dresser.

Deadra caught her arm tightly, pulling her in the direction of the door hurriedly. Deadra was much stronger than her... and taller, taller than most men even. Her beautiful olive skin setting her apart from all Keldran elves, Deadra was of Lindian descent after all.

“I do what your father asks of me, and you will do what I ask of you princess,” Deadra told her as a matter of fact, dragging her along still.

“I bet you do!” Luna retorted sourly, unable to break Deadra’s grasp on her arm.

Deadra stopped before they descended the stairs, squarely looking her up and down.

“There’s something different about you... and it’s not that you finally look half respectable princess” she stated harshly, Luna squirmed under Deadra’s withering gaze.

She wouldn’t meet Deadra’s eyes, she didn’t think Deadra could read her mind, though she wasn’t entirely unconvinced of the idea either.

“I’ll find out eventually princess, you can bet your life on that” Deadra stated bluntly descending the stairs, Luna followed swiftly, believing her wholeheartedly.

To Luna’s surprise, Elldran was gone along with the carriage, realising now that she’d heard it leaving at break neck speed this morning.

“Your uncle left the moment he heard I’d arrived,” Deadra told her with a smirk as they strolled through the hallway.

Luna knew Elldran didn’t care for Deadra, her very existence as a spymaster made him squirm whenever she was around him. If truth be told Deadra was like a second mother to her now, and should she be keeping her father’s bed warm at night Luna had no animosity towards her, she was just glad he was happy these days.

“Come, princess, I have horses ready in the stable. I intend for us to reach Keldran by dusk, your sister and Jaike arrived yesterday and I don’t intend for you to miss the festival of Yllander” Deadra told her, pushing her along gently as Luna started lagging behind.

“What about breakfast, I’m hungry?” Luna pouted, her stomach growling in protest.

“You should have got up in plenty of time if you wanted to eat, why must you always act like a child around me?” Deadra asked her with a smile as they passed through the rear door of the Inn and into the stables where six horses were grazing peacefully.

Deadra led her over to the two pure white royal stallions, beautiful horses that were worth more than most cities this far north. A stable hand passed Luna the reigns and she leapt up onto the horses back gracefully, adjusting her position in the saddle. Luna didn’t like riding though, it was uncomfortable and now she’d have to ride side saddle, she groaned in frustration smoothing down her skirt. Deadra led the way out, riding in silence with only the horse’s hoof beats on the paved road for noise. Keldran City still the best part of a day away.

Luna arrived in Keldran city late, with the sun almost vanishing behind the Pine peak mountains. She felt disappointed, having missed the bright rays of sunlight shining from the pearl white of Keldran’s palace walls. The streets were nearly empty now, the shops and market stalls had closed hours ago. Few people still walked the streets, likely returning home and she paid them no mind. A few people occasionally looked at the magnificent horses before averting their gaze once more, though Deadra garnered a second glance more than once Luna noticed, she often looked like a hero from elven legend atop her horse. They traversed the paved streets of Keldran for nearly an hour, the two storey houses of the lower town giving way to the more lavish houses of the established noble families. These were the elven families that could trace their lineage to the first elves that founded Keldran thousands of years ago. Luna often wondered if she would have risen so high in the hunters were it not for the lineage of her own family. Deadra led them through the gatehouse, past the great white walls that ringed the palace ground and towered over the lower city. The guards allowed her and Deadra to pass without hindrance, dropping to one knee as Luna passed them by. She hated such pageantry, yet she nodded to each guard in acknowledgement as was expected of her. When they reached the palace proper the sky was black, the night torches having been lit as they entered the courtyard. The palace horse handlers led their mounts away once they had dismounted, the horses treated with more care than a newborn. Deadra walked with her into the palace reception chamber, its vaulted walls hung with tapestries depicting her ancestors’ feats and achievements. From the warrior Larene to the peace bringer Faolin the great.

“It’s late princess... I’m sure your father will see you in the morning” Deadra said, turning to leave the chamber and going towards the clerical wing of the palace.

Deadra was gone before Luna could think of a response. Deciding to leave herself, Luna went towards her own chambers deeper within the palace, inside the royal wing. She walked through the pristine corridors that even with low light seemed bright and clean. She passed by her sister’s chambers and at a quick glance the room was empty, only a single member of Fiora’s personal guard standing watch, resplendent in her purple armour. She still wondered why Jaike and Fiora hadn’t waited for her at the crossroads though, perhaps it was good news she thought, her mind turning to Tar’vid again... she couldn’t wait to see him, but there were things to be taken care of here first, like the yearly offering to Yllander for the harvest blessing. She hoped her father would choose her to slice the Kinwit fruit this year. She had never done it before, and though it was a silly custom to her, it was more that she would get the chance to swing Giant Bane, her father’s great sword with its keen edge that never blunted. Her father had told her it was of dwarviari craftsmanship, even greater than the work of the mountain folk that could craft almost as well. Giant Bane had been in their family for generations and thus considered a priceless, and dangerous weapon.

She reached her chamber soon after, meeting Reedin along the way. He was her chief bodyguard, handsome... if a little short. He also doubled as her spy master of sorts and as they reached her rooms she found several of her guards outside in their green armour.

“Good evening princess, you suit a dress” Reedin commented, reverently bowing, her other guards following his lead.

“Good evening Reedin, as well you know I don’t need your fashion advice. How are things in Keldran as of late, things seem... odd?” Luna asked him concerned. Her uncle disliked Deadra intensely, but her presence alone wouldn’t have caused him to flee so hastily. Deadra had spies everywhere she knew, but Luna had one of her own in Reedin who kept her apprised of matters within the city.

“Your uncle arrived at great speed this afternoon, a great many hours before you did. Also there are murmurs of unrest in the capital, though over what I don’t know... yet, strangely there are rumours of Paladins being called to the east in large numbers, some say an army much larger than our own, though the information is weeks old by now,” Reedin replied, his face stoic as always.

“Good work as always Reedin, though I know all about my uncle. I was travelling back here with him until this morning. He left suddenly upon Deadra appearing, though I fear it may be something more sinister than that” Luna replied, stepping into her chamber.

“I know, it worries me that he is being so secretive... you may not, however, know that Eldrin arrived with him,” Reedin whispered, leaning close.

She felt a pang of fear, why would Eldrin be back so soon from Fernhaven, in fact, it was impossible that he could be so soon.

“I’m going to bed now Reedin, you may post the night guard and go home,” she told him, closing the door behind her quickly.

She sat on her bed, hands trembling as she undressed. If Eldrin was back then perhaps he had killed Tar’vid, it wasn’t a stretch to think so. Luna lay in her bed unable to sleep, perhaps Reedin had been wrong and Eldrin was still in Fernhaven. She pulled her duvet over her head in frustration, there was nothing she could do now anyway. Trying to calm down she shut her eyes and hoped sleep would take her.

Luna bolted upright, feeling someone’s presence in her room, she looked over to the far wall, spotting her father standing there as still as a statue.

“I’m sorry Lunathion, I didn’t mean to disturb your sleep,” he said from beside her open window.

Luna relaxed upon on hearing her father’s voice, releasing her grip on the knife she kept under her pillow, a bad habit she’d had since childhood.

“What are you doing in here father, it’s late... and a bit strange?” she asked, feeling tired now her fright had subsided.

Her father came over to her, sitting at the foot of her bed. He wore his royal garments of blue with silver trim, embroidered with the infinite dragon of Keldran. He looked no older than herself, though in actuality he was centuries older.

“My dreams have been troubled as of late... I just needed to see you safe. Especially with your sister absent all hours of the day with Jaike now she’s pregnant. They will be publicly announced at the festival tomorrow” he said to her quietly, staring at a portrait of her mother.

Luna got out of bed and sat beside him, glad she had dressed for bed.

“I’m fine father, I didn’t know about Fiora’s pregnancy. That explains why she didn’t wait for me, she must have found out a few days ago” she wondered, giving her father a hug.

“She’s known a few weeks now, I think she was waiting for the right time to tell you... Fiora’s always been very fond of you Lunathion”.

“It doesn’t matter, I’m just glad she’s happy” she replied, though in truth she felt left out.

After a while she let go of her father, holding his hand comfortingly.

“What is it you really came for father. You were never great at subterfuge” she said with a smile, her father grinning foolishly back at her.

“I know... what did the seers show you Lunathion... if you’re ready to tell me of course,” he asked nervously.

Luna had rarely seen her father be openly nervous. He was always so confident and strong, it made her suspicious. What did he already know she wondered, what was she thinking... why would her father be conspiring against her. Maybe the visions would please him and dissuade his nerves, then again the visions were far less clear than the last time.

“Well father, the first vision was a commotion in the market square, though I don’t know which day it was, though I’m sure it’s close to passing. There was a blue cross and something involving Fiora, the rest I couldn’t make sense of or describe to you” she told him, leaving out any mention of Tar’vid.

Her father looked away from the painting, staring at her intensely. It reminded her of Sollen before her brother had left them so many years ago.

“Thank you Lunathion, you have done me proud as you always do,” he told her with pride, leaning over and kissing her forehead gently.

“Now... go back to sleep. I’ve decided you will make the offering to Yllander this year. I know how much you have always wanted to wield Giant Bane. I’ve seen it in your eyes since you were a little girl” her father said to her as he stood up slowly, almost regretful.

Luna jumped up herself in excitement, hugging her father and bouncing up and down.

“I won’t let you down father!” she squealed happily, all thoughts of her father’s sadness taking a back seat.

“You never have daughter... now get some rest as I’m sure you’ve had a busy week” he replied happily, stroking her hair gently.

Luna let him go and he stared at her until Reedin stepped into her room.

“My king there’s an urgent matter requiring your attention,” Reedin said with a bow.

“Very well, good night... Luna” he said to her with a forced smile, Luna noticed it immediately.

Her father left quickly, Reedin shrugging after he had passed, indicating he knew nothing of the urgent matter in question. She was sure it couldn’t be anything good at this time of night.

Luna couldn’t get back to sleep, regardless of how hard she tried. With the sunrise seeming to drag itself over the mountains as slowly as possible. The first rays of sunlight beamed through her window and she rushed out of her bed, rummaging through her dresser quickly. She brought out a blue waist cut jacket and dress shirt, finding a respectable pair of white britches. Her father would want her to wear a dress befitting a princess of Keldran she thought, spotting a blue and white dress that had been made for her last year and still went unworn. But who could swing a sword like Giant Bane in a dress she thought derisively. Luna pulled on a new pair of knee high boots and as she looked in her mirror she decided to tie her hair back into a ponytail, holding it in place with a blue silk ribbon. She left her room moments later, escorted by several of her guards she passed through the palace until reaching her father’s petition hall. The hall was almost empty today, though usually it would be packed with people from the length and breadth of the kingdom. Luna made to leave when she was met by Deadra, seemingly appearing beside her from out of thin air.

“Your father told me only this morning of his decision, I’m happy for you,” Deadra told her, easily keeping pace.

Luna thought Deadra looked magnificent this morning, she wore a deep cut emerald green dress that accentuated her figure with her curled dark hair spilling down her back and shoulders. Luna suddenly felt she’d underdressed, looking as she did.

“I can’t deny it’s what I’ve wanted since I was a little girl. I never thought my father would allow it” Luna replied, her voice barely betraying the excitement she felt.

“You’re the captain of the hunt, and a more than competent warrior so I won’t patronise you about wielding Giant bane,” Deadra said with a little respect in her tone. “But be vigilant princess, your vision of the marketplace has me worried, though your father seems more relaxed after seeing you last night, I fear he’s being overconfident” Deadra whispered to her before breaking away, heading back towards the palace apartments gracefully.

Luna put Deadra out of her mind as she left the palace, mounting one of the royal stallions waiting for her. She left the palace at a slow trot so her guards could keep pace as the streets were bustling already, the offering ceremony bringing everyone in Keldran out today. The city was already packed to bursting this close to winter and her progress began slowing, even with her guards parting the crowds before her. Approaching the market square Luna noticed dozens of guards in full battle dress checking people for weapons as they entered the square. Deadra really was worried about trouble today she thought, the guards let her pass through unchecked. She couldn’t see her father yet, though the ceremony wasn’t due to start for several hours ye. She manoeuvred her horse through the crowd towards the main stage, with only a handful of people on there as she arrived. One of her guards led her horse away after she’d dismounted, Luna climbed the steps to the wooden stage, where Elldran stood with her father’s captain of the guard Faolin.

“Princess, you look magnificent today, and may I take this opportunity to apologise for leaving you behind at the Inn. I had... urgent matters to deal with that couldn’t wait” her uncle said, bowing to her for forgiveness.

“It’s fine uncle, it gave me a chance to catch up with Deadra” she replied, smiling kindly.

Her uncle stiffened at the mention of Deadra, excusing himself unceremoniously and leaving as quickly as possible into the crowd. Luna had never in all her life seen anyone get to him like Deadra could, making a mental note to learn her secrets. Faolin welcomed her with a bow, leading her off the back of the stage to a tent guarded by four of her father’s best warriors. Luna ducked inside with Faolin, and there on a solid oak table lay Giant Bane, the large blade a staggering six feet long and a foot wide. Faolin lifted it reverently from its perch, holding it out for her to take, his face straining with the effort.

“This is such a great honour for me Faolin, to finally hold it myself,” she said in awe, licking her lips in anticipation.

Luna took the sword slowly from him, the weight was immense and she tensed her muscles, straining to hold it.

“Don’t be discouraged princess, it takes time to get used to its great weight. It was designed to be wielded by gods remember” Faolin told her with a gentleness belying his face and general demeanour.

Luna held the great blade by the hilt, holding the grip handle part way up the length of the blade. the sword had only one cutting edge and she wondered how practical it would be in combat.

“It’s so heavy, it can’t be used for battle surely?” she asked Faolin as she tried to find a way to hold the blade comfortably. She was having to constantly shift her stance to accommodate for its weight.

“It has only been used by the Paladins saint Tar’mine over a thousand years ago, against the giant Uldrimar. Hence it’s name princess” Faolin told her, taking the blade back from her and placing it gently back onto its perch on the table that creaked under the weight.

“So it’s a Paladin blade, how did father get it?” she asked, amazed her father would use anything related to the order that killed her mother.

“Not quite, it’s a Dwarviari blade, forged by the great smith Dondar, not even the mountain folk can forge a weapon this powerful now. As I said, it was forged for Tar’mine thousands of years ago. That blade has killed many mythical monsters if Paladin tales are to be believed” Faolin told her, opening the tent flap and motioning for her to leave.

Luna left the tent and the blade behind, stepping outside with Faolin. Her excitement had grown even more having held the weapon for the first time.

“If you don’t feel comfortable with the weapon, I can take over the duty. Giant Bane is quite a different sword to any other” he said to her, without any mockery of her abilities.

“Don’t worry, I have its measure now. Thank you Faolin,” she replied, striding off towards her guards waiting beside the stage.

Faolin was a strict follower of Yindar, and though she was sure he respected her abilities well enough, he clearly thought a woman couldn’t wield such a weapon. She’d show him she thought as she entered the market, browsing through the numerous stalls lining the market square, passing time until her father arrived.

Luna walked around the market square until midday when Reedin found her, letting her know her father had left the palace only a short time ago. Luna made her way through the crowd and back to the stage, her guards having cleared a path for her as peacefully as possible, with so many people here it was a wonder no fights had broken out. When they had eventually reached the stage, she had ascended the steps alone, immediately noticing her uncle was nowhere to be seen, which was odd, for Elldran had always loved pomp and circumstance. Faolin and Deadra stood patiently to the left of the structure, Luna noticing that Faolin held Giant Bane in its blue leather sheath, it’s point resting on the stage gently. Guards were posted on each corner, all of them wearing the blue armour of her father. It made her feel more at ease having none of her uncle’s guards present in their macabre black and bronze armour. Deadra smiled at her as she walked over to take her place beside them, again admiring the effortless beauty of the woman.

“Did you buy anything nice princess?” Deadra asked her pleasantly.

Luna had forgotten to leave the small bag with one of her guards and placed it at the edge of the stage gently. She’d bought a few trinkets this year, though nothing had particularly caught her eye, not like the dolls she and her sister had bought some years before when life had been much simpler for them both

“A few trinkets, and a gift for Fiora. I was hoping the doll maker would be back this year. He reminds me of... happier times” Luna replied, forcing a smile for Deadra.

“I’m sorry princess, but he died a few months ago, when the plague took him and his family in Vieldon,” Deadra told her, placing a hand gently on her shoulder.

Luna wondered if Fiora knew already, she couldn’t help feeling her sister should have been here like every other year, though she guessed her sister had more pressing matters now. Luna was taken from her thoughts as the royal fanfare sounded, her father’s entourage started entering the market square as guards pushed back the crowd to allow the king of Keldran to ride to the stage on Ventier, or Fleet Foot in the common tongue. The greatest of the royal horses, he had such a lineage that the stallion was thirty-six years old and still moved like a horse of ten. She spotted Jaike and Fiora riding in an open-topped carriage, the picture of happiness, both were regally dressed, Jaike dressed in finery similar to her father and Fiora radiant in a dress not dissimilar to the one that she had decided not to wear herself. Her father wore his finest royal robes, the cuffs and hem laced with a silver weave. He looked so impressive as he dismounted, more gracefully than any other being could have hoped to achieve, he flashed her a smile as he climbed up to the stage. Fiora and Jaike standing beside her a moment later, holding hands as her father addressed the gathered crowd.

“My people, this has been a fortunate year for us. This plague has claimed many in the south lands, and yet our harvests have been plentiful. War kept from our lands another year, all by the grace of the Yindar,” her father announced loudly to great cheers and ovation.

Luna felt uneasy, Reedin had told her there was unrest in the city, yet there were no dissenting faces in the crowd. Perhaps her father’s guards were doing their job fantastically well she thought.

“And to this end, we offer up the first picked kinwit fruit of the year” he decreed, two servants, bringing up a great wooden chopping block.

Jaike stepped forwards and revealed the kinwit fruit from behind him, lifting it with great effort onto the block. Her sister smiled at her happily as Jaike returned to stand beside Fiora.

“Before the ceremony, I have happy news to announce,” her father told the crowd as he indicated back to herself, Fiora and Jaike.

“There is to be the first royal child in over two centuries. Jaike... Fiora, come forward please and let them see you” he continued, beckoning them forward with a smile of delight on his face. It made Luna’s heart glad to see him so happy after so many centuries of melancholy.

Jaike and her sister stood at the fore of the stage to cheers of jubilation, Luna couldn’t help cheering as well. Finding herself tearing up, caught up with the emotion of everyone around.

“Today is truly a celebration, now Lunathion will complete our celebrations by offering the fruit to Yllander,” her father told the crowd proudly, Faolin stepped forward offering Giant Bane’s hilt to her. Luna drew the blade smoothly from its sheath. Balancing the flat of the blade on her shoulder, she walked steadily to the chopping block, trying not to stagger under the weight. She waited until her father nodded his approval and she lifted the blade high, hearing the gasps of the gathered crowd as she drove the blade downwards with as much power as she could, cleaving through the fruit and cutting several inches into the thick block. Her father strode over picking up a half of the kinwit fruit almost effortlessly, raising it up high as the juice ran down his arm. Luna saw it was ripe and smiled, the harvest would be good next year everyone now knew, for Yllander was the lord of the land and a fruit ripe this late in the year always meant prosperity. Her father held the fruit up at full stretch and a great cheer erupted. Luna glimpsed a glint of light reflected from the crowd as an object hurtled through the air. Before anyone could react it struck Jaike in the neck, carrying on towards her father who snatched it from the air effortlessly. Luna saw Jaike’s neck begin to snake with red tendrils then the skin blacken as he fell down, steam rising from the wound. She looked at her father and saw the same tendrils reaching from his fingers, reacting without thinking she lifted Giant Bane, bringing the blade down on her father’s outstretched forearm the blade easily cleaving through flesh and bone. Her father shouted in pain, falling backwards as his severed hand fell to the ground limply, turning black and boiling away with a hiss. When she looked back to Jaike he was nothing more than a puddle of melted flesh and bone. She heard her sister’s screams of despair and horror that would haunt her dreams for the rest of her life. Luna jumped from the stage, finding the assassin had already been beaten down and held at spear point by one of her uncle’s black armoured men. Luna pulled back the assassin’s hood, the man’s face was horribly swollen, yet there was an indistinguishable mark over his left eye and she realised with horror, it was Tar’vid lying bloodied and beaten before her.