Knight of Endrell Book One: The Red Empire

Chapter Ten

Chapter 10

At the time that Kinai was taken away, Hin kept busy in a large underground chamber, addressing letters to all branches of the watchmen of Kyros while waiting for his partner En to meet him there. He was just finishing his last letter as En walked in. This letter was addressed specifically to the king, which stated simply:

"My lord of Kyros, everything is in place.

Come at once. (signed) Katiid" (a code name)

"All finished?" asked En in a young and light hearted British voice. He was wearing the same cloak as Hin wore; that of the Monte Farasus. Hin kept moving and did not respond, as if En was not there at all. He grabbed a leather satchel, putting all the letters into it except the king's, then closed it and handed it to En saying,

 "Here, take these to the Marksman Evcan to be delivered to every branch of our eyes and ears, and this..." holding up the letter to the king, "you make sure he knows to give directly to the Bridgeman."

"Not to the Fortsman?" En interjected, taking the satchel.

"No, not to the Fortsman," Hin said sternly, "this has to reach the king as quickly as possible; therefore the usual passage cannot be taken this time. The danger along the Ezic roads have increased to five times the damage rate since last we arrived in Gis, and while the Fortsman can hold his own securely against any and all danger with minimal damage, the heavy fire coming from our enemies will certainly slow him down."

"Ahh, the Bridgeman it is then. I always wonder how he does it; how he makes shortcuts and passages most anywhere and with anything at his disposal, in an instant."

"I wonder the same. His ability to remain unseen is immaculate, matched only by the Nezartgad when they are looking for him," remarked Hin. "The shadows do however welcome his every step if he desires it, and he knows how to disappear if he is found. Yes, he is our best mode of delivery at this point."

En strapped the satchel across his shoulders and as he did, Hin swiftly looked to En with comic concern and asked, "Where have you been?" with a subtle laugh in his voice.

 "I was out making peace with the men and women of the courts in Mem-Cortizine," En said placing the letter to the king in a pouch on the left side of his belt.

"They are quite the romantic bunch of noisemakers. They gave me this dowry as a peace offering, hoping in good faith that I would pray the emperor's grace upon them." En reached into another pouch on the left side of his belt and held up a golden crest of beaded jewels crafted like a spider's web with a large jewel as the shape of a diamond spider in the center.

Hin looked at it casually and said, "Right, well then your meeting with the emperor will be sooner than you think." En smiled sarcastically and retorted, "Ah, of course it will. Would it be correct to say that our long awaited knight from the west has finally made it to the emperor's palace?"

"Yes, and he should be in the prisons if all has gone well so far."

"Ah-huh," said En, "then I am to meet him I take it?"

"Precisely. Here is his sword. Deliver this to him when you meet him. It should help you find him."

"Are you certain he'll need it, given his most recent achievements?"

Hin gave En a mildly terse stare and said, "Let him decide that. Just make certain he gets it and don't allow yourself to be seen in the process."

En unwrapped the sword and inhaled deep, smelling it from blade to hilt. "Well I have his scent."