Knight�s Pride

Chapter 16: Running with Troubles

KaLee�s feet pounded the earth as she jogged around the castle towards the bridge. The fresh air felt good on her face. It had been a long three days. Hunk had given the trainees the day off since the dinner party was tonight. She had just reached the bridge when the King jogged out from the other side.

�Your majesty. Sir.� KaLee said stopping. �What are you doing out with out an escort?� She was blunt to the point.

�I am going for a jog commander.� Was his response as he continued on past her over the bridge.

KaLee jogged after him, keeping behind him a few paces.

�Now it is my turn.� Keith said. �What are you doing following me?�

�I am going for a jog sir.� She responded the pace was slow at this time but it was still decent enough.

�And you just happen to be going the same direction I am?� He kept his eyes forward watching the road as they entered the wooded area.

�No sir that wasn�t my plan but then again seeing you go out with out an escort can change those plans.� Honestly was always the best policy when it came to him or just not telling him.

�I am capable of handling myself.� He responded. �I am fairly well trained in hand to hand combat and was the Commander of the Voltron force.�

KaLee smiled as she scanned the surrounding foliage. �I am aware of you capabilities sir but five on one is not fair odds. Especially if they are armed and you are not.� She caught a shake of his head.

�Now the question comes.� Something shifted in his demeanor. �Can you keep up?�

He darted to the left and off into the woods. She followed. He had speed up and was about six feet a head of her now but she was keeping pace, even weaving through trees. She kept her mouth shut. This was not the time for banter nor the person to banter with.

Her eyes looked over his attire now. A loose pair of hogging pants a pair of good running shoes and a tee shirt comfortable air style and wrist guards. One might call them bracers. A small smile tugged a KaLee�s mouth as she saw a handle at his back.

Good, you�re carrying a least one defensive weapon.

They jogged right and started through rougher terrain. There were fallen logs and more branches and trees to avoid but Keith seemed to know where he wanted to go. As she ran KaLee continued to check her surroundings, what was ahead and behind on their jog. Then the pace changed and his path became erratic. There was a deliberate effort to loose her.

�Not that easy sir.� KaLee muttered under her breath. She was amazingly capable of predicting where he was turning and able to use her motion in a fluid way so as not to waste any energy.

Keith knew it might be impossible to loose her on this run but he thought it was worth a try. Each trainee had to be tested in many areas, though that was not his intent when he started this jog this was a way for him to evaluate her. She was good the fact that she could keep pace with him was good. Now she was also able to follow him when he was actively tying to loose her. He also had the advantage of knowing the terrain better than she did but she was still able to maintain her chase.

He knew he was getting close to his destination. Might as well bring her along. He thought. I know� His thoughts paused. He was not sure about the things he knew about her any more.

KaLee saw something flicker across Keith�s back but she did not have time to maul over it. They changed direction on their erratic path they were heading further away from the castle now. She was trying to figure out where they were going. She knew the woods fairly well but she could not seem to make a mental map.

Keith did not let up his pace. If she is meant to see this she will keep up.

The direction was a steady one now, not an erratic path. They moved on through the trees. Then suddenly they were not in the woods. KaLee came to a complete halt and looked out across a beautiful expanse of land. They were standing o the edge of a cliff looking down on a pool of water. Across form them was a protruding waterfall that cover a piece of lush green cliff face. KaLee could make out some caves behind the waterfall. Looking next to her there was a rock with small almost worn writing on it.

�The ancient glyphs.� She said running her fingers over the almost smooth rock.

�Yes.� Keith responded. �There is actually more writing in some of the caves behind the waterfall. No one has really worked to figure them out yet.� He took a deep breath and looked over the scene. �I have done some exploration of the caves but not too deep. I believe this is the spring that feeds the stream that goes under the castle of Lions. This place reminds me that Arus still holds secrets and mysteries.�

He glanced over to her. Her breathing was heavier but not labored or exerting.

�I enjoy figuring secrets out but Arus has a few more than most planets. Not including Voltron.� KaLee spoke. �I just really like trying to figure things out and this is a planet that needs a little more discovery.� She gave a slight smile and looked over at Keith.

He nodded and asked. �Ready to head back?�

�Anytime sir.� She said.

Their pace was good but their path steady. KaLee managed this time to make a mental map.

�You can�t see the pool from the sky.� She said thinking about the flight path she had taken over the area.

�No the two ridges above block the view.� Keith said.

�I am assuming there is a path leading down to the pool.� KaLee was looking for information. �Yes.� He said. �A few feet off of where we were.�

�What is the name of the pool?� She asked. There might be references to it in the history achieves.

�The achievers have not come up with a translation that makes any sense. Shadow or Darkness Choice is what they have come the closest to.� Keith responded. �Finding a puzzle?�

She smiled at him. �I like puzzles.�

They came back to a road and started to follow back to the castle. Keith spoke. �Now that we are on the road would you run next to me not behind me like a body guard.�

�Is that an order sir?� She asked.

�I would prefer it not to be.� She heard the sadness in his voice and regretted saying it.

�Sorry sir,� she jogged up next to him. �That was rude of me.�

�It�s alright. We haven�t exactly been cordial to each other since you arrived.� He said.

KaLee risked a slide long laced over to him one moment before returning her attention back to the road in front of her. �I don�t mean to offend you sir, but it is kind of my duty to protect Arus and therefore you.� She was letting the innuendo sit there. Hoping he got it.

�You aren�t apart of the Voltron force yet.� He said.

�I wasn�t talking about the Voltron force sir. I was talking about me.� She risked another glance.

�I run alone because most of my guards can�t keep up and I have to hold back. Most of them are good over a short distance just not the longer ones.� He said.

�I hope I kept pace.� She said.

�Yes� yes you did.� He responded.

�Here comes the castle� with two guards actively watching the road.� She said as they crested the hill. �Turman is going to lecture you.�

�Turman knows I would not actively risk my life.� He said watching one of the guards talking into a communicator.

�I am going to let you head back in.� She said as the continued to get closer. �I am going to go and run another mile or so.�

�Not long enough for you?� Keith asked with a slight surprised look on his face.

�Hey look at how much we run with Hunk. This was a cake walk.� She retorted.

�Don�t forget about the party tonight commander.� Keith said. �It is formal civilian dress.�

She heard the emphasis of his words and smile. �I am aware of what has been requested sir.�

�And I am aware of your reputation for avoiding formal wear.� He looked at her and she was something flicker across his eyes and a coldness seemed to come between them again. �It was a pleasant run commander. I will see you this evening.� His voice held a little distance.

�It was good for me too sir. Maybe we can do this again, but with a little less of the darting though the woods.� She tired to make light the situation. But Keith made no motion that he even heard her. He just turned and jogged back to the castle.

Damn it. She swore internally. You always push things. I keep trying to rob Peter with out paying Paul.

She chuckled to herself remembering where she had picked that up and how Lance had tried to explain to an Arus raised child the importance of St. Peter and the gates of heaven. It had not worked very well. It was not until she was a teenager did she understand the implications of that statement.

KaLee turned herself and continued her run in the other direction. She actually had a destination in mind but she was not sure if he was still there. The cottage would be a little ways off the beaten path. But not much. She quickened her pace.

I might have to go as the crow flies. To use another earth expression. She thought and gave a little sigh.

�I guess it is over the river and though the woods today.� Her voice was a soft muter, but she stiffened up and headed into the woods again.

Her pace was even but fast. She knew the direction well for many years she came this way to visit her best friend.

*KaLee stop!* The voice reverberated in her head enough that she stopped and put a hand to her head.

�Wha�� She started.

*Shhhhhh* The voice said.

KaLee took a deep breath and spoke in her own mind voice. *Shadow? What�s wrong?*

*There is something dangerous in the field ahead of you.* Was his response.

She set a look of grim determination on her face and began to move forward. Opening up and extending her senses around her. She sensed something, something she should not be sensing. She sensed Shadow behind her but she also sense or rather skimmed another of his kind in front of her. She moved now with extreme caution, listening looking smelling feeling everything around her. Then a rabbit darted out from an unseen hole and ran straight through the field.

�Easy. It�s just a woodland creature.� His voice was silken smooth a voice she would always remember.

Titan. I guess you didn�t go very far. But why are you working with a Dark Knight. Her skin crawled as she stayed where she was wishing she could see who else was there.

�So when is our little accomplis going to be arriving?� Titan perusal sounded board and impatient.

�Soon enough.� This voice ran up KaLee�s spine like icy needles. It was a resonating voice but it spoke low and dangerous. The power that lay in it played along the air.

He is exerting so that Titan knows what he is. He isn�t hiding. She pulled herself close to a tree and continued to listen.

�And here he is.� Titian�s voice oozed.

KaLee was able to see a small portion of the field and what she saw was one of the castle guards emerge from the other side of the field. He was not anyone of high rank but KaLee bristled anyway.

How could he? He is betraying everything he trained to protect.

*Calm* Shadows voice was soft. *We don�t want our location to be found out.* KaLee stayed out and watched and listened. Trying to figure out how to see more.

�You haven�t paid me.� The guards voice was indignant.

�You didn�t complete what you were suppose to.� Titan said.

�I did exactly what I was suppose to do.� The guard said and moved forward out of her line of sight. �How was I supposed to know the recruits weren�t in their rooms.�

�That is what we were paying you for.� Titan said, irritation edging into his voice. �To make sure that all the protective forces were out of the way.�

�We have another job for you.� This time the Dark Knight spoke.

�Oh no. No way. I am getting paid and then I am done.� The guard said, there was an edge in the air now, an anticipation. �Someone has been poking around in the computer and they are getting dangerously close to discovering who I am All I need is my money then I am gone.�

�Didn�t cover your tracks.� Titan teased.

�Of course.� The guard said. �This guy is just very good. I think he is using one of the Thomas twins. He was able to figure out one of the programs I used but that is all so far. I just want to go in case he figures out more, even with the false trails I left for him.� There was a little chuckle. �One even leads to him.�

�Good� but we do have one more assignment for you before we give you the money.� Titan continued with his smooth talking, the edge of irritation now gone.

�Fine.� Now the guard sounded irritated but he finally accepted. �What do you need?�

�For you to die.� It was the Dark Knight this time and power filled KaLee�s senses.

There was not even time for a scream just the air catching in this guy�s throat. The next sound caused KaLee to close her eyes and hold her breath. There were crunching and squishing sounds, liquid oozing out popping and then a burning sound flame crackling to life. The smell of burning flesh assaulted her nose and she bit back on the gag reflex she had. There was nothing she could do to help him.

�Did you have to do that?� Titan said his voice slightly muffled.

�It was necessary.� The Dark Knight�s voice rolled in the air. �He was a liability.�

�No not killing him, that was necessary.� Titan stated. �But in such a fashion. It could have been done with less mess.�

�No evidence. The body will burn completely there will be nothing left.� The Dark Knight said.

�Oh well we do what we must.� Titan sound casual. �Take care in watching the castle. The commander is quite vigilant. Especially now that she knows I am involved.�

�Do not worry about your involvement Titan. I can handle what ever the Commander can send my way.� The Dark Knight said back.

KaLee heard footsteps leaving the clearing only one set.

�He is gone.� The Dark Knight spoke and there was a rustling of leaves and branches as someone else entered the clearing. �I assume you heard all of the conversation.�

There was a moment where KaLee assumed the other person responded.

�We need to be vigilant and not rely on others here. Our mission is clear and we must complete it. I want you to continue to gather information. There has to be a weakness something to exploit. Voltron must not fly again.� The Dark Knight was adamant.

KaLee felt her heart begin to beat faster. What did this Dark Knight want? Why doesn�t he want Voltron to fly again? What is the bigger picture?

�Continue to observe the trainees they are the keys to bringing down the whole house of cards.� There was almost a chuckle as he continued. �If even one of the shows an interest in abusing the right to a Lion it can be exploited.�

KaLee wanted to see whom this guy was talking to. As she moved cautiously up and over to the next tree. This was the time to be very hidden. She did not know what this Dark Knight would do to her if she were discovered. She knew what Titan would have done but this guy. It would depend on what the Knighthood would want from him. What the final goal was.

Just a little closer. She thought.

Just as she set her foot down and applied pressure to take her next step she realized she was stepping on a twig and it snapped.

KaLee had no time to prepare for it and it made her lean heavily against the tree. It was a mental wave. Sent out by the Knight probing the area. The second one dropped her to her knees and increased her heart rate. She could not move. She had to ride this out. Let him play with her. Especially if she was going to keep her own secrets.

�Don�t worry little one.� The dark knight called out and KaLee cringed. They only called the people they felt were beneath them little one. �I don�t intend to do what I did to my spy to you. I just intend to make you stop.�

KaLee gave the show of trying to fight this. Stopping was not easy to break. It literally stopped the subject. Sometimes it stopped the heart and the lungs other times it did not. KaLee�s objective was to make this feel like it was a slow stop. She closed her eyes focusing.

�Don�t worry you will feed the forest floor well.� KaLee felt a second wave hit her and this time she did not have fake anything. She was fighting to keep her heart going.

*Shhh. I will protect you.* It was like a muffling of the world around her something cushioning her. *They are leaving.*

KaLee tried to speak but found she had no voice so she spoke the only way she could, through her mind. *Who are� they?*

Even that was taking effort. Her heart was slowing and her breath coming thick.

*Shhh I have to start you.* There was effort in his voice.

*Who.. are the?* She asked the question again. The effort was still there even as hands were helping her down to the ground but not stop her falling

She felt his body lean to her ear and speak with a normal voice in her ear. �You need to let me heal you or there will be no find out who they are.� His voice sounded almost irritated. �Now let me help you.� His voice seemed very distant and she did not have the strength to respond.

Warmth of energy entered her body then an icy one chilled it. Her breath began its slow climb to normal as her heart rate began to level out. KaLee however could not open her eyes. Everything just pulled at her then pushed at her pulling the stop out and pushing the life back in.

*I need to get you back to the castle.* He had reverted back to speaking to her in the mind. Part of her was sad she liked his voice. *You will heal faster there*

She knew that was true.

The castle had power, and she could tap that power to heal or hurt. She felt arms lift her off the ground. She knew logically he was carrying her but was not sure how he was going to get past the guards. Part of her knew that he was going to use his own training to do it but there was still how.

He was a far older Dark Knight and was trained at a much higher level than she was, but that did not stop her from wondering. She also wanted to look at him see his face once more. It had been a long time. She missed it. She wondered if he had changed at all.

KaLee could not look her eyes refused to open.

Damn it. She felt herself being laid on a bed.

A chuckle escaped his throat. *Let me do this.* And he started to work on her again, warm energy playing along her nerves causing muscles to twitch and test themselves.

Then there was a knock on the door. She let out a small groan. Why now?

�Commander?� It was Deida.

KaLee clenched her hands she was getting feeling back. But she was not sure if she could respond.

�Commander?� Deida was insistent. �Do you want to take a shower? You should probably start getting ready.�

*Others are coming too. I am going to have to rush this. Don�t scream.* There was a clenched tone to his voice. This was going to push him but she needed to move.

The energy filled her body and she sat straight up catching her breath, but instead of a scream she spoke. �Yeah Deida I am coming.� Her body was sore and she ached but could move.

The door slid open and she faced Deida, who blinked at her. �I know it takes a bit for you to do your hair. So I thought you would like to go first.� Her voice was a little nervous.

KaLee smiled trying to put the younger girl at ease and slow down the rush of energy she was having. �Yes I would thank you.� She reached back and grabbed a towel and robe before heading out.

Her heart rate was still going but she knew what that was from. It was not from the fact that she had a surge of energy pushed her body. It was because he talked to her touched her helped her. It had been a long time since she heard his voice in her mind much less her actual ears.

The shower was going to feel good. It would wash off the grime and sweat of the run but also the icky feeling of the other Dark Knight. KaLee wondered who he was and who his accomplis was. It was someone in the castle but who.

She sighed as she scrubbed the dirt from her body. �I also wonder who has been poking around that made the guard so nervous.�

Sometimes it is just dancing sometimes it is more... find out what happens next time.

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