Shadow Knights

Chapter 12

I open my eyes to my ceiling. My body feels like I ran a marathon but my head feels clear.

"I'm glad to see you're awake."

Leon is standing in the doorway with a tray of food. I prop myself against my headboard and he sets the tray on my lap. There's a huge meal. Chicken, potatoes, mac and cheese, salad, green beans, and a bowl of mushroom soup. On a normal encounter a meal like this would be too much but because I felt fatigued this meal was nothing.

"What happened? Last I knew I was in the woods."

"I don't really know. After my shift I just got a feeling. I found you unconscious and practically frozen. I brought you home and well, here we are. What were you doing out there?"

"I can't explain why I was out there or make sense of what happened, but I feel like a new door has opened for me."

He leans in and kisses me on the forehead. "Whatever happened I'm glad you're okay. Now finish up your meal. I have to head to work so will you be good without me."

I nod my head yes.

He flashes me a warm smile. "Okay."

I finished my meal as directed and decided to head back to the tree.

The tree no longer had a dark feeling to it. Instead it was full of life. I sat under the tree and focused my mind. I wanted to meet the woman again but she never came.

---

A cardinal's cry pulls me from my thoughts. Spring had rolled around and with Blaze back most of my days were open. I visited the tree regularly to practice. My powers had grown dramatically since the whole encounter, but I haven't had any new visions.

I rounded the corner to the cave opening when I saw 2 men standing guard.

"What's going on here?"

The men looked over. It was Jacob and Tom.

"We've been given orders to keep anyone out of here. Apparently it's hazardous and we're stuck here till the construction team can close it up."

"Hazardous? But I've passed through here countless times and never felt such a thing."

Jacob takes a sigh. "I find it odd too but Lagitha was upset and…"

Tom flashed Jacob an ugly gaze then spoke up. "If you have a problem with it then take it up with her. Now get lost."

Jacob gave me an apologetic look.

"You don't have to be rude about it."

"I'll be as rude as I want to be, to you and that boyfriend of yours."

"What the heck Tom. What's this have to do with Leon? I was just passing by and was curious."

He steps right in front of me. "Yea like that's true. He's an outsider but then again that doesn't surprise me when it comes to you. He'll get what's coming to him."

"Is that a threat?"

"Let's calm down." Jacob steps between us. "We don't need blood spilled."

"Fine." 

I turn around to leave but Tom decides to get one last word in.

"That's right. Be a good kitten and follow orders. Hopefully you don't mess up a simple order like that."

Jacob takes a step back just in time. My fist hits Tom square in the face. He falls backwards holding his nose, blood gushing on his shirt.

"You should learn to keep your filthy mouth shut or I will break more than a nose next time."

I turn to leave once again and this time he doesn't say anything. Not even a sneer or mumble from him.

When I reach town Kierra comes running up to me.

"Hey! Why the scowl?"

"Not now, Kierre. I just wanna grab a drink."

"Oh come on. Let's head over to Penny's place. I hear she is in need of some heavy lifting. It would help blow off some of that steam. Or we could head down to the training fields and spar."

"I'm good Kierra."

I push past her but she grabs my arm and tries to drag me away from the tavern.

"Come on. Don't be like that."

"What's the deal Kierra? You never spar with me."

But as I pull my arm free and turn around did I see that my question had been answered. Leon was cuffed and being dragged out of the tavern. I was too stunned to move. We locked eyes before a guard shoved his head down. I finally come to my senses and run after him but I find Cole's arms around me. He turns me around to look at him.

"You'll just make things worse if you cause a scene. His hearing is tonight at 5." He pulls me in for a hug, lowering his voice to a whisper. "You're being watched."

The court room is packed. Lagitha along with Blaze and Yona, the justice system head advisor, sit as judges before Leon.

"Quiet in the room. Leon you are here before us on account of messing with dark magic and conspiring with the Shadow Knights. We have eye witnesses that say you were seen in the woods messing with an eternal tree. You turned the tree from its beauty to blackness. We now have to close off part of the woods to stop the spread of such darkness. As for the Shadow Knights we have found that you have been sending them letters disclosing confidential information. Because of this we have come to the conclusion that your penalty will be death."

"What!? This is ridiculous, you can't do that. You didn't even give him a chance to defend himself. What happened in the woods isn't even true. He had nothing to…."

"Enough!" Shouts Lagitha. "You are confused. He has messed with your mind. The decision has been made. Leon, your execution will be a daybreak tomorrow. Take him away."

Leon is dragged away. What can I do? How can I stop this? I put my head down, trying to hold back the tears. I feel a warm hand on my shoulder. I look up to find Cole.

"Come on. Let's get you some food and then I'll take you home."

All I can do is follow him. I don't really remember eating. Everything felt numb. I snapped to my senses when I realized that Cole wasn't taking me home.

"Where are we going?"

He turns to me.

"I know things don't make sense but I don't have the time to explain things. Someone has been spying on you but none of that matters right now. We only have a small window to get Leon out."

"Get him out?"

"Yes, now let's go."

When we get to the prison there aren't any guards on duty. It must have been a shift change. Cole heads inside and comes out with Leon moments later.

"Leon!" Tears begin to form again.

"Come on, no time for tears. We have to go," says Cole.

We make it to the forest line when the alarm bell signals. We are halfway to the waterfall when Cole stops.

"Keep going. I'll buy you time."

"Thank you," says Leon.

"Take care of her."

"I will."

Leon grabs my hand and we are off once again. As we near the border I see a singular shadow knight holding a horse just outside the border. Leon crosses the border and traps hold of the horse's reins. I stop on the edge of the border.

"Come with me Rose." He extends his hand to me. "Trust me. Please."

A small lilly blows past me. Trust the hand that extends.

"I do."

I take Leon's hand and step over the border.