Shadows of the Light

Page 11

Sakiya walked beside Abraz, the senior Shadow Kinght, who was pretty hungover. Apparently, he drank the night away with an entire month's worth of his allowance. Now he stumbled around rubbing his aching head and cursing the bright sunlight. It was a cloudy day. They reached a tower and Abraz crashed into the door ahead of Sakiya. He swore and opened the door, leading Sakiya into the darkness. There was nothing save a solitary pillar in the middle with a winding staircase with an occasional barred window. It was a while before they reached another door with a latch and a bolt. Abraz pulled the bolt off, almost fell down the stair, uttered a profanity, and said, "Alright, as you know, every military Path has their trusty steed. Now, I will show you yours!" With a cackle, followed by a groan, he walked in and Sakiya merely shook his head and followed closely behind.

They entered a room that was much more ventilated and lit. There were still no evidence of torches of any kind but there were two rows of rooms on each side with a single window each. Sakiya rephrased the word in his head. They weren't so much as rooms than cells. Each 'room' was separated with metal bars and although none of the rooms had doors or gates, there was that feeling of being caged in. The floor was covered in straw and Sakiya gulped as he tried to guess what it was for. "Don't worry, they don't do what you think they do on the floor. They aren't THAT uncivilised. Its just for sleeping on." Abraz said and made his way to a stepladder leading up to a higher level. It was the same as the ones below, except this one had an arch at the end that had a ledge which extended out into the open skies. "Apparently, the more senior ones got higher rooms but it doesn't matter now, does it?" He walked to a black mass that was looking out its window wistfully and announced mockingly, "Behold, your proud steed." The thing turned. Sakiya blanched. In his lifetime, he had never seen anything more grotesque.

The animal resembled a bat with huge silvery globes for eyes, large triangular ears like a dog's and a snout for a nose. Its torso was covered in black bristly fur but its arms and legs were a muddy dark brown. On its arms were membranous wings which were now tucked neatly pointing backwards as it snuffled at Sakiya. Its hands had three 'fingers', if they could be called that, which were mostly long, thick but sharp talons. Its legs were thin, but corded and it stood somewhat on tip-toe. If it stood upright, Sakiya estimated it to be somewhere around eight feet but it seemed more content to walk around like a gorilla. Sakiya slapped it away before it came too close. Abraz laughed at that reaction. "These things are called Vampites. You know the drill, you have to take care of it now as your first duty as a Shadow Knight," he said mockingly. He waved a hand and made his way down the stepladder. "Wait! Don't you know how to take care of it?" Sakiya questioned. Then as he looked around, another thought occurred to him. "Wait. Where's yours?" He heard cackling in the room below. "Mine? It died years ago." He heard the door open then slam shut. He turned to the creature but it was now staring out through its windows, as if longing to romp through the clouds. Sakiya quickly followed Abraz and left it there, thinking its mysterious thoughts.

As he got out of the tower and shut the door behind him, a familiar voice sounded. "Good morning to you, Sakiya." He turned to see his fiancee standing in a red and silver dress. "What are you doing here?" she continued.

Sakiya grimaced. "Taking a look at the monster I have to ride. As if being a plague wasn't enough."

"Sakiya! You should learn to take it seriously!"

"I AM taking it seriously. I'm seriously thinking that this is a complete waste of my time and my efforts!"

A crackle sounded between them. Sakiya blinked. Lucienne jumped. "Well, anyway," she said hurriedly, "I have to run some errands for my father. See you around," and she strode off. 'She's avoiding me,' he thought, 'She's scared of me. And why not?' He looked at his hands. The spark was caused by him. Anger. He had used his power unknowingly. He spat and was about to walk away when a hand gripped his shoulder. He turned around to see a gentle face with deep maroon eyes and light brown hair. He smiled at Sakiya and let go. "Having trouble?"

"You wouldn't know a thing about it," Sakiya sniffed.

If anything, the man's smile grew more pronounced. "Well, you could tell me over a cool drink and we'll see whether I can think of something."