CHAPTER ONE
THE WEATHER was good. It had just rained; there was mud on the roads, but that seemed to be the only downside. Priara, the kingdom he was sworn to protect, was mostly forest, with rich farmlands scattered between the woods, which meant that the air was thick with that clean, fresh smell that always came after a storm.
The perfect day to start my quest? Perhaps. At least it's not raining on me.
Which would have been typical, really. The way his luck had been going of late, he wouldn't have been overly surprised if he'd been caught in a tornado, only to be dropped back into his room at the palace.
You see, the king and queen (or rather, the officials who governed such things for them) didn't let young knights off of guard duty until at least six months after their knighting ceremony; he'd been on guard duty for nearly ten. The captains hated him; sure, they never showed fondness for any of the fresh-bloods, but they seemed to dislike him in particular. Or maybe he was just being paranoid.
After all, he was your average, nearly-eighteen-year-old knight. He'd gone through years of training and preperation, he had gone through his trial of knighthood, and he had passed, just like most of his year-mates. He excelled slightly in combat, mostly because his senses were so good, but other than that, he was normal in every way.
Except for the fact that he had a secret. Or several.
But the captains couldn't- didn't- know his secrets. He was sure that some suspected that he was hiding something, but they had no proof; he knew that much, because if they had any proof, he wouldn't have made it even that far, to this quest, though it was long overdue.
The quest, itself, was nothing t boast about. They had sent him to retrieve a dragon's earring. An earring. Not even something as useful as a book or a sceptor. They had, of course, told him to keep his mission a secret, which was more patronizing than anything, since they all knew that this was a joke mission, conceived for the mere purpose of getting him out of the capitol. Apparently his opinions annoyed people.
But still, he had taken his vows of knighthood, and one of those vows was of obedience. And it wasn't as if he hadn't wanted to get out of tha capital; yes, he loved his city, but it was too... comfortable, for him. Especially now that he didn't even have training to challenge him. True, the women crooned and fluttered over him, but their attention was more often annoying than flattering. He flirted and danced, but left it at that. He was in no hurry to find a wife.
Even ignoring the fact that getting married would surely let her know my secrets. Then she would leave me, and where would I be? No, marriage is most certainly not for me.
It was there, on the road, that he was at home. His swords and knives at his hips, his shielf on his back- this was where he belonged. Here he was strong- here he was confident. Here he was invincible.
He tripped over an unseen rock and landed face-first in a mud puddle.
Alright, maybe not invincible...
"Hey, you!"
He stood quickly, embarrassed at the thought of someone witnessing his stumble, and wiped a copious amount of mud off of his face. A man approached him from a group of eight guards, looking him over haughtily as he brushed the thick muck off of his clothes.
"What are you doin' out here alone, boy?" The guard demanded.
He rose up to his full height (which was barely seven inches over five feet tall), arching an eyebrow and suppressing a flush. He knew he looked young, but to have the audacity to call him boy? "Excuse me?"
"You heard what I said," the stranger sneered, stepping closer. He was obviously quite dull, because it took this long for the guard's eyes to flicker to the mud-spattered shield and twin swords, and finally to the insignia embossed on the left shoulder of the dirty vest.
"You were saying?" The knight asked coldly, watching realization dawn on the guard's face. One of the perks of knighthood was the respect it called for, respect that he probably wouldn't have gotten otherwise without having to fight for it.
"I- uh. I was sayin, sir," the guard's tone was suddenly much less confrontational. "I was sain' that me and my men are lookin' fer a lady. She's about yea high"- he gestured at his chest- "with deep blond hair nad a pert attitude, if you catch my drift. We're meant to be guardin' her, see, but she ducked out fer the necessities, and never came back..."
"No, I can't say that I've seen her," the knight told him smoothly. "But maybe you should be looking for her, instead of trying to pick fights. I'll let you know if I find her."
The man looked like he was trying to look sheepish, and was doing a bad job of it. "How will you find us, sir?" He asked.
The knight tapped the oval around the circle of his insigna, which indicated that he was a mage. "I'll find you," he assured the man. Never mind that there was no spell to magically find someone at random; it was enough to make him nervous.
"Well, we'll be headin' off, then," he said slowly.
"Good idea," the knight replied. "Happy hunting." His eyes flickered toward a movement in the trees around the road, but the guard didn't seem to notice. Not that this came as much of a surprise- he hadn't shown signs of observation skills.
"Good day, sir," he said, then he and his men left. Quickly.
The knight heard a snicker from the bushes as the guards moved out of sight. Turning, he saw a flicker of blue as a young woman stepped out of the undergrowth, holding a pack. "Are you alright?" She asked the young knight, looking him over. "Those mud puddles will jump up and hit you every time."
He flushed again- she'd seen? Now what would she think of him? Knights didn't trip in the mud! "I'm fine, thank you, lady," he said politely, pretending that he didn't notice that she perfectly matched the description of the woman the guards were looking for. After all, she probably had a good reason for ducking out of their company. "And who might you be?"
"I'm... Aeryn," she told him. "And where are you headed?"
He blinked. "Toward the mountains," he said slowly. "Why? Are you traveling that way?"
"I think so." Her face contorted in confusion. "It's... a few miles into the foothills? I'm not entirely certain."
He frowned slightly; she seemed the typical, simpleminded noblewoman (as the stereotype went) but her eyes gave her away. She wasn't nearly as dull as she pretended to be. "Would you like some company?" He mentally slapped himself as soon as the words left his mouth. Great, now she thinks that I'm some dolt who wants to get her alone.
Aeryn looked him over critically. He didn't look at all threatening, despite the fact that he was openly armed; he certainly appeared young- surprisingly so, for someone bearing the symbols of a fully trained sorcerer-knight. And he would probably be able to keep her from those guards until she got far, far away. And, to top it off, he was going in the complete opposite direction she was supposed to be going, if her memory served her right- which it usually did. It seemed like the situation couldn't get much better.
"Oh, would you?" She asked, batting her eyelashes as she'd seen her sisters do. "I've been nervous, traveling by myself."
"Very well. I'm sir Night," he replied, bowing.
She blinked. "I know you're a knight."
"No," he said. "That's my name."
"What's your name?" She asked blankly.
"Night."
"Your name is Knight?" She seemed confused.
"Yes."
"Wow. Were your parents prophetic or just controlling?"
He blinked, then understood. "No. Not Knight like 'I am a knight'. Night, like 'day turns to night'." A small smile touched the corners of Aeryn's mouth. Well, at least someone's enjoying her pretended stupidity, he thought wryly.
"Well..." She said slowly, after a long pause. "Shall we go?"
Night shrugged. "If it's all the same to you, I'd like to make a side trip to the stream nearby- this mud will dry and harden on my clothes. I'd rather wash it out now."
She shrugged in return. "If you insist."
He looked at her for a moment, then turned and walked off into the trees, knwing instinctively that she would be able to keep up. She could pretend to be something she was not, but eventually she'd be honest. Everyone was.
Except me, Night thought, but shook it away.
Behind him, Aeryn was having thoughts of her own. Alright, so this isn't the best situation, She thought, asessing it rationally for the first real time. I'm here, miles from home, with a knight who looks about as dangerous as my sister's cat. But he also doesn't seem very bright, either; that could help me. I'll go with him for a while, then go my seperate way. And if we get caught, I can always claim that he said he was taking me the right way, trying to seduce me... this is a good plan.
Night found the small stream, stepping behing a thick stand of bushes to change. Not that he thought she would watch, but still, he had some sense of decency. Once in clean clothes he washed his muddy set, then scrubbed his thick, tangled auburn hair, his face, and any other skin that showed. He stood from hiss crounch, wringing out his clothes; Aeryn was standing a ways off, looking completely disinterested, her arms folded in front of her. I wonder...
His thoughts were interrupted by a hand on the back of his neck. "Oh, Night, you're all wet."
He spun, coming face to face with a sorcerer from the city. "What are you doing here, Harr?" He demanded. "Aren't you a little too far away from your silk sheets?"
Harr chuckled, sending a chill down Night's spine. "I don't know why you're always so confrontational," the mage said innocently.
"Oh, I can't imagine," Night snapped. Harr gave him the creeps- always had. Even when they were in mage training together Night hadn't been able to stand him.
It didn't help that Harr was the only person in the capital who knew one of his secrets.
"You'd think you would be a little nicer to me," Harr sneered. "I am, after all, the one who got you this job."
Night scowled. "I was overdue for a quest, so they gave me one," he said.
"Please, Night, don't be so naive," Harr said reprovingly. "They wouldn't trust you to get the queen's dog back. You're odd, unpredictable. You know how much they hate unpredictable people. So I put in a good word. Speaking of unpredictable..." The mage looked over to where Aeryn stood, looking impatient. "You've gotten yourself a lady friend? Does that mean you don't like men? How terribly sad for me."
Night glanced at Harr and they both broke for the lady, Night just a beat behind Harr. Unfortunately, Harr was in impeccable shape, and Night knew he wouldn't catch up. He drew a small knife from his sleeve, throwing it expertly; it sliced through Harr's arm as he dodged to the side, thudding into a tree.
The arrow that sliced through his cloak also gave the mage pause.
"Tha' was a warnin' shot," a voice announced from above them. "Keep it up an' I'll be forced ta aim higher."
The group on the ground watched as a cloaked figure dropped from the branches, standing to its full height, at least a head taller than Harr.
"I'm not afraid of you, ruffian," the mage sneered, not at all threatened by the stranger's height advantage. "Who are you?"
"A lowly thief, at yer service," the man said, throwing his hood back and bowing; he looked to be in his early twenties, with long dark hair pulled into a horsetail and scruff lining his jaw. Bright green eyes with slitted pupils stared at them from beneath thick eyebrows- but hte strangest parto f his appearance were the cat-like black ears that rested high on his head, now angled forward curiously. Another glance showed Aeryn that he lacked human ears.
Harr scoffed. "A thief, come to the rescue?"
The thief looked at the mage soberly. "Mayhap I'm na a mighty magician such as yerself," he said calmly. "But I'll na be the one ta let ye harm the lady." He threw his cloak to the side and had a rapier in his hand almost too fast for them to se, revealing also the fact that he had a long, black, feline tail. "I believe, sir, tha' it's yer move."
Harr looked over the strange man, seeming amused. "I'm not looking for a fight," he said at last,still smirking. He leaned in to Night's ear. "Until next time, Night."
Night shoved him away, glaring daggers at him. "There had better not be a next time, Harr," he spat.
Harr smiled broadly, bowed, and disappeared.
"Well, that was interesting," Aeryn said wryly, looking slightly flustered.
Night spat at the ground where Harr had been standing, then turned to the thief. "Thank you, goodsir. I do not know why you felt the need to help us, but we are grateful."
Aeryn gave a snort that clearly said that she thoguth she could take care of herself.
"I could na let a smarmy, stuck up peacock like him harm such a pretty lady- or such a young lad," the thief said, his cat-like eyes taking both of them in.
"I'm nearly eighteen," Night said, the picture of masculine pride. He hated looking os young.
"Really?" The thief asked, arching his eyebrows.
"Really," Night replied.
"Oh." The thief paused for a moment. "May I have the pleasure o' knowin' yer names?"
"I am Night, and this is Aeryn."
"Charmed," the thief said. "Yer name is Knight?"
"Night, the opposite of day; not Knight, his profession," Aeryn put in.
The thief looked bemused. "Alright."
"What is your name, goodsir?" Night inquired.
The thief bowed again. "Selendrian the rogue," he announced. "None of this 'goodsir' business."
"Well, we're sorry to be off so soon, Goodman Selendrian," Night told him. "But I have business to see to, and Lady Aeryn has to be delivered along the way." Even though we both know that we're not going where she's supposed to be going. Why didn't I listen when Jesse told me I was too nice?
"Actually, I did drop in fer another reason," Selendrian said suddenly,. making Night look at him expectantly. "I ran into a group o' guards about an hour back; not the smartes bunch, but quite worried." He looked at Aeryn, who's bright blue eyes were wide, her face paling. "They said they was lookin' fer a lady such as yerself."
Aeryn was mouthing wordlessly, obviously trying to think of something to say to cover for herself. Night watched Selendrian thoughtfully. His rough accent was the mark of an uneducated, city-bred man, but his eyes were alert and observant, reflecting an inner intelligence he was trying to hide. But why? And where had Night heard the name Selendrian before?
"But," Selendrian added, before Aeryn could respond, "if ye would na mind me comin' along with ye, I may have pointed them in the wrong direction."
Aeryn looked at him blankly as Night smiled slightly. A clever thief, indeed.
"Why would you want to come with us?" Aeryn blurted.
Selendrian smiled warmly at her. "A man suh as I has business where ye're headed," he told her.
"But you don't know where we're going." She seemed genuinely confused this time.
"A man such as I has business ev'rywhere," he replied.
A man such as I? Night thought. The thief was being wary about his profession, as was the norm when street folk spoke with nobles. Night almost laughed at that thought. To think me a noble! He thought humorously. But apparently Aeryn's presence was enough to caution him; if Night wanted to really get to know Selendrian, he'd have to do it another time.
"But why travel with us?" Aeryn asked curiously.
Selendrian shrugged convincingly. "The more, the merrier. I'm just lookin' fer company."
Plus the fact that with us a thief such as himself will be less likely to be searched... But still, it could work well. Night could keep an eye on him until he deemed the thief trustworthy, and if that time came, SElendrian could be useful. Night wasn't one to refuse and extra hand, especially not that he had Aeryn to "look after". And the fact that there were two armed men would discourage bandits, and make it less likely for him to be asked his business at every checkpoint. Very well- he'll use me, but I'll get just as much out of him.
"You're welcome to travel with us," Night said warmly. "As you said, the more the merrier- and the safer. But we need to get going; we've wasted enough time already." He went back to the stream (where he'd dropped his things in his rush to get to Aeryn), shouldered is pack, and pushed his still-damp hair out of his face. Looking back, he saw that Selendrian had already begun to follow, but Aeryn hung back, as if uncertain about the company of a thief. "Come, my lady," Night said wickedly. "I thought I heard someone calling for you in the distance."
Selendrian grinned broadly as Aeryn rushed to catch up.