TM
“Finally the last town till Simonne and not a dream to think about…” Crichton said as he sighed, looking up at the metal arch that bears the words “WELCOME TO WAHAN.” “I’ve got two lunians to spare… looks like I’ll make it to recruitment after all.”
Crichton entered the gates and interest instantly filled his eyes. It was the first time he had been to such a thriving town. Wahan was much more different from Lithia; here roads and structures were made of gray stone and steel and wood as a construction material was a rarity. The prosperity of the area was due to the fact that Wahan was the heart of trade in Arcania. It was a rather busy and crowded place. People walked here and there going into shops and buying different kinds of materials, fruits and vegetables from sidewalk stands. Every now and then argument can be heard from a stand, complaints of overpricing and cheating filled the noisy air and people went about minding their own business which gave Crichton something to smile about for he really didn’t want people staring at him and whispering just like in Lithia.
Crichton never knew how he was able to squeeze into such a tight crowd, but he was glad to be away from the loud racket. He found his way into the local bar, which was far quieter than outside, he sat down at a table in the corner near the door. The bar was dim and damp and it felt like a castle dungeon as torches lit its rather small area. The bar was nearly empty, the only patrons were him, three men who looked like they slept through the night in the bar drunk and two rather old men who were drinking their morning tea.
“What can I get you?” A small black-haired and pony tailed woman in a maid’s gown asked, she had the bossy look.
“Tea please…strong”
Without saying a word the woman left and headed for the kitchen.
Crichton however didn’t mind the uncouth behavior and rested his back on his chair because of his weariness.
“Have you heard? Knights are roaming around the area. I hear they were looking for someone…a boy I think.” Crichton overheard the first old man on the next table.
“Yes. Yes I’ve heard. But what could they want from a boy…rather strange isn’t it?” replied the second old man.
“If you ask me, I think the king has ordered a search party for the person who was responsible with last luna’s (week) killing.”
“A boy…? Assassinating the Czelahntech ambassador? That’s preposterous.”
“We might have heard wrong… maybe it’s a man they’re looking for… what more important matters could you think of? Tension between Arcania and Czelahntech has risen after that incident and war could be imminent.”
“Hah, you’re losing it! You know there has been peace for almost seventy nine cycles (years), that notion of yours certainly won’t happen now!”
“But you forget easily old friend the black moon… yes the black moon… in two days it will fill the sky… once every eighty cycles it comes and with it, it brings destruction, famine, plagues and even war… and it now comes once more…”
“Ehhrm… Your tea sir!”
Crichton’s inquisition was suddenly interrupted by the black haired waitress. She was tapping her boots on the floor. Crichton concluded that she had been standing there for a long time, and also annoyance was plainly visible in her face.
“Thank you… my payment…” Crichton stood up and handed over five bronze coins, he waited until the fat barkeeper wasn’t looking and handed the woman a silver coin “…for your trouble.”
The woman once again left without saying a word. Crichton turned to where the two old men were but mysteriously they were gone. So he sat down once more and started sipping his tea. After an hour and a bit of a well earned rest. Crichton stood once more and left.
He wished he stayed longer in the bar for when he headed outside the loud yelling of people greeted him once more. They sounded like a million bees swarming around the place. Crichton was so irritated that the decided to go to the plaza where he thought it would be far more quieter.
His thoughts were wrong…
At the plaza were at least seven soldiers holding a wide variety of weapons from swords to axes, one even carried a bow. They wore the same outfits, blue vests, black shirts, white pants and brown knee high boots. Near the fountain were three armored knights, two in silver one in gold, all mounted on their white silver armored steeds, they wore scarlet capes that bear the Arcanian crest, a dragon holding a sword and a silver pointed cross.
“Better not stay here… Knights hate slayers… that could start trouble.” Crichton was about to walk away when a loud yell echoed throughout the plaza which made him turn around
“Easy there boy, down, down.” The gold armored knight was shouting as he tried hardly to calm his horse, the beast was thrashing wildly almost dismounting its rider. “Down I say damn it! Down!” It took several minutes for the knight to calm his horse. Finally when the horse was still the knight got off and pulled off his helm. His face was blood red in anger. The plaza fell silent.
“Stupid little insect!” The knight yelled as he kicked a small trembling boy by his horse’s feet. “Never ever scare my horse…”
“I’m so sorry sir please I beg of you don’t hurt me, I tripped and grabbed the horse’s reins by accident…”
“Fool! You expect me to believe that!?!” The knight raised his golden sword and struck the boy.
A loud clash of metal filled the plaza.
“What the…” The knight was surprised to see his attack prevented by yet a hard metal sheath.
“You knights took an oath to protect people not step on them and treat them like dirt… these actions make you more of an insect than this helpless boy…” Crichton said as he blocked the knight’s sword.
Whispers echoed throughout the plaza. “He’s dead I tell ya…” One soldier spoke.
“Fool you dare go up against me? A Golden Knight… you filthy slayer, you’re worth camel spit if you ask me…” The knight smirked as the soldiers burst into laughter.
“That makes me worth twenty of you knight!” The plaza fell silent once more.
“Oh he’s dead alright…” spoke the same soldier.
The knights face turned blood red once more and he struck at Crichton so hard that sparks flew as his golden sword hit the ground. Crichton however easily dodged the blow and struck a bone breaking attack at the knights left shoulder with his sheath. “AAarrgh!” The knight yelled in pain. The knight thrust at Crichton’s head but missed once more. Crichton ducked and struck the knight’s right abdomen with enough force to crush his golden armor. Crichton swiped the knight’s feet, and he fell forward, completing his circular sweep Crichtont turned his wrist and struck the knight’s throat. The knight coughed up blood and fell face first and unconscious to the ground.
A loud roar filled the plaza as the seven soldiers attacked Crichton all at once. Still with sword sheathed Crichton faced the barrage. Crichton hit one of them at the neck so hard that the soldier flew to the air and crashed at a house nearby. One soldier swung his axe at him but Crichton was able to dodge backwards he then trust his metal sheath forward and hit the axe wielder right in the face sending him flying and crashing to a wine barrel. Crichton ran and knelt in-between two other soldiers, with quick motion Crichton struck on soldier at the abdomen with the tip of his sheath and the other with the tip of his handle, both fell unconscious to the ground at the same time. One rather large soldier was able to lock Crichton’s shoulders with his arms while another swung his club at him. But Crichton was able to slip off the arm lock just in time that the club hit the large soldier at the chest and he too fell unconscious. Crichton thrust his sword forward and hit the club wielder with a splintering force right in the forehead rendering him unconscious as well. The last soldier holding a rod leapt to the air and prepared for his attack. Crichton rested his sheathed sword to the ground, leapt to the air and executed his grievance strike technique once more, before they clashed, Crichton thrust his sword right at the soldiers abdomen. The sheathed sword glowed with energy and on the tip came a white explosion. The force was so hard that the soldier flew into the fountain right where the two silver armored knights were.
The two knights wore shocked faces and looked at each other disbelieving what they saw with their own eyes, their general and seven of their soldiers lying unconscious on the ground, beaten and bruised by a sheathed sword. They gulped and looked at Crichton. With frightened faces the two knights rode off like cowards.
Everyone in town was shocked and frozen solid after what they saw… none of them were able to say a word. Who would? After seeing a man beat up eight of Arcania’s finest without even unsheathing his sword.
Crichton offered his hand and helped the boy up. “Are you okay?” Crichton asked immediately as if nothing happened. The boy nodded. “Run along now and don’t get yourself in trouble okay?’ The boy nodded once more and said. “T-t-t-thanks sir…”the boy ran to the alley without even looking back.
Whispers were now echoing in the plaza. But one sound got Crichton’s attention even more.
Someone behind him was clapping…