The Medallion of Asgar

1.

Reise

When the great double-doors to the throne room opened, King Jerid and his advisers all looked up. The advisers had been standing off to the side as the great ruler of the kingdom of Asgar paced back and forth in front of the large gold-laminated throne, his ruby-colored cloak dragging behind him over the stone floor. As the two guards posted in front of the throne room each grabbed a door handle and pushed, opening the two doors in unison, the man for whom they were allowing entry nodded to them in thanks. "Sir Welkin! Did you secure the medallion??" The King stopped pacing to stare expectantly at the knight as he entered the throne room. He was clad in medium-weighted armor, a metallic black with a polished sheen, and a helm covering his facial features. On his belt was a leathery-black sheath, on his back a steel heater-shield emblazoned with the Welkin family crest - a Phoenix, holding a sword in its beak and a shield in its talons. It was surrounded by flames which swirled elegantly around the great bird. The bright red and orange decorating the crest were the only hints of color on the male's person other than the plain black of which the Charcoal Knight received his title.

It was a title well-known in Asgar; some feared it, some looked upon it in awe, but most agreed that the Charcoal Knight was intimidating. Critics labeled the knight a "true dog of the kingdom", as the King almost always turned to this man when something needed to get done. And loyally, faithfully, it would be done without complaint nor hesitation. He was a fierce warrior without a mind of his own, what those with less respect for the kingdom might even dare to call a "monster", standing at six-foot-seven. At least, that was what the public's perception of the knight was. Rumors ranged from "He is a Phoenix, an immortal being that sustains not one injury on the battlefield" to "He never shows emotion, he's heartless and cruel and if the King told him to wipe out an entire hamlet one day, he would ensure even the smallest of children lost their heads". However, most of these rumors stemmed from people who had not even seen the man themselves. For the male entering the throne room of King Jerid was not even as old as one might think; he was merely the 26-year-old head of the Welkin nobility, who actually stood at five-foot-eleven, and if one might inquire as to his opinion on such rumors, they would receive an amused laugh and an, "Oh? Is that what they think of me?"

The male approached, the throne room quiet except for the clinking of his armor as he moved. His path towards the throne led him in between two rows of parallel stone pillars supporting the ceiling of the wide room. Strewn up on those pillars were the red banners of the kingdom, marked by three white swords intersecting at the center. Along the walls all about the room were various portraits and landscape paintings, though the most fascinating was the huge mural taking up the entire wall behind the throne. It depicted the Great Skirmish of ten years' past, a battle in which Asgar successfully pushed back the Dreill Empire, ending their invasion and winning the War of Refutation. The Charcoal Knight did not glance at the images, or at anything else for that matter; his head was aimed straight forward, gaze focused on the King. Even the advisors went ignored for the moment; it was imperative that His Majesty be addressed before anyone else as a show of respect.

The male stopped a few feet before the monarch and stood straight at attention. His hands lifted to his helm, slowly lifting the black piece of armor up. Despite popular belief that the face underneath the threatening suit was a husky, scarred and bearded one, the face revealed was soft in its features. Straight, dark-brown hair falling to his neck and emerald-green eyes that held a warmth in them that contradicted all he was made out to be, this face was the last anyone would expect to see. However, right now his expression was indeed blank and emotionless. It was the best expression when dealing with superiors - seem happy and they think you careless. Angry, they get offended. Sad, you're weak. The knight did not wish to incur the wrath of King Jerid at the moment, especially since he was already on edge. And under the scrutinizing eyes of the advisors, there was no room for error. Tucking the helmet under his left arm while he placed his right hand horizontally across his chest, he gave a slight bow and simultaneously dropped to one knee. "Your Majesty, Sir Reise Welkin is here to report." The King was not in the mood for formalities, though if Reise had skipped the introduction he would have gotten scolded anyway. "Answer my question! Did you secure it or not, Sir Welkin?"

The knight kept his gaze locked on the stone floor. He said slowly, "I have searched the perimeter of the-" "Yes or no?!" "Negative, Your Majesty..." The King clenched his fists and gritted his teeth before taking deep breaths and resigning himself to pacing back and forth once more. "Your incompetence disappoints me!" Reise grimaced. Nevermind the fact he hadn't been informed of the theft until an hour after the event, since the guards stationed to defend the royal artifact in the castle's treasure keep were all incapacitated. There was not much he could do at that point; what was done was done.

Reise remained silent as King Jerid ranted angrily. "Impossible! For someone to bypass the guards and break into the keep...! This can only mean that the knights are flawed!! And I expected more out of you, Welkin! Your father would be turning in his grave about now!!" At this, there was a quick flicker across the knight's expression. Forcing himself to remain blank, he looked up. "I will find the culprit and retrieve the medallion, Your Majesty. I stake my honor as a member of your Imperial Guard upon it." He wanted to say so much more at that moment...but he restrained himself. The King was upset, and if he dared to allow himself to retort he would doubtlessly be sent to the gallows, His Majesty's favorite or not. King Jerid stared at Reise for a while, taking deep breaths, before finally he sighed and stepped back to sit upon his throne. "My apologies, Reise. I know you will do all in your power to right this. That artifact is of great significance to the kingdom; surely you understand my plight."

Reise nodded. "Of course, sire." The monarch looked to his advisors for a moment, an inquisitive look that sent a silent question between them. They glanced at Reise, then to one another, then back to the King before they nodded. The King leaned forward in his seat, staring at the knight intensely. "That medallion...contains great power. Sacred, holy power that is not meant for this world. It is dangerous...in the wrong hands, it can cause great havoc and destruction. Reise, do you understand how important it is you retrieve it?" The knight paused. Great power? He didn't know what the King meant by that, but he knew the man was serious, and that could only mean the kingdom was in great peril if the medallion which allegedly held so much power was stolen.

Reise stood, his posture straight and his feet together in a full attention stance. "I understand, Your Majesty. I will do everything in my ability to retrieve this stolen artifact." The King nodded. "I place this under your charge, above all other duty. It is highest priority. Do whatever you need to, as long as the medallion is back in its rightful place where it can do no harm. As for the thief, I want him, dead or alive." Reise once again placed his hand across his chest and bowed, though he remained standing this time. "I will not fail you, as head of the Welkin line I vow it." He straightened and nodded to the advisors before turning and making his way across the throne room towards the doors, still held open by the guards. As he passed by them into the hall, they gripped the handles of the doors once more and began to pull them closed.

Reise's expression was a determined one as he strode through the eloquently-decorated halls towards the royal courtyard. He knew not who took the medallion, but he was going to find out. For the honor of his family name, the honor of the Imperial Guard, and most importantly for the peace of Asgar, he would track down the culprit and bring that artifact back.