Rider Displaced

Chapter 8

"His majesty will see you now Specialist Walker."

The lieutenant who brought them back to the palace emerged from the doors leading to the throne room. They had returned to the palace after their fight with who Walker believed to be the Order of Shadows. The entire scene caused quite a stir amongst the city inhabitants, with news of the fight reaching the other districts quickly. It would seem they would have to answer for something.

Without refusal, Walker, accompanied by Amber who was behind him, entered the throne room and approached the seated king and his daughter who were expecting him by the looks on their faces.

"Walker...I've been directly informed about what happened already," The king declared as the rider and his dragon entered. "However, despite how little time we've come to know one another, I would like to hear about the incident from your point of view before we continue. Speak with as much detail as you can say."

"Of course your highness." Walker kneeled and stood back up at attention before he began retelling the incident. "We had just signed up as members of the Adventurer's Guild, just having returned from the starter quest we were assigned. We were on our way back to the palace when we were jumped by the assailants who initiated the fight. I of course fought back with my dragon at my side." He put in details about how he focused on the men on roofs, Amber attacking the men on the ground, and the attire and weapons used by the attackers. "Just when the remaining survivors called the retreat, your guards arrived and arrested them. However I noticed something about them, and it was something they said that had me concerned."

The king nodded, encouraging the rider to go on.

"They're likely part of the same organization that attacked the village of Graydale, the Order of Shadows. And they attacked me for the very same reason they attacked the village."

"So those fiends do have a splinter group within my city." The king commented. "It would seem you've become worth their attention. They are a persistent group who would commit even the lowest of acts to get what favors their agenda, even going as far is partaking in unregulated slave trafficking and cultivating abusive substances. I ask that you watch yourselves while in my city, or anywhere else in general."

So nowhere was safe for them. And if the Order of Shadows were bold enough to attack out in public, then they would most certainly try again once they've reorganized themselves and come up with a new strategy. Rider and dragon would have to keep on their toes to avoid being beaten by these fiends. But nothing made sense of how they knew who they were, or they were carrying the amulet.

"I have something I like to speak about, but I'm uncertain if you can answer for me." Walker declared. "Back in my first encounter back in Graydale, we had killed off every single one of their members. There should've been no witnesses to report back to their superiors. However, the members who attacked me knew who we were and we were carrying the item they desired. How can this be?"

"Ah...a simple answer to that issue." The king answered. "Tell me, are you familiar with scrying or any other magical arts?" Walker shook his head. He was unfamiliar with magic. "Me neither, but I do know a bit about some of the capabilities from a few trusted officials. Scrying is the ability of a magic user to visually spy on an individual or object they've seen in their memories. It is likely that someone in the Order was scrying the village as you came to it's rescue, and has been spying on you ever since. It is completely impossible to detect."

Spying? None of that boded well for Walker, especially if someone out there has been playing Peeping Tom on his private affairs with Amber. Speaking of his dragon, the ness looked furious at hearing the possibility of someone other than her beloved watching her in her most vulnerable state. If she found them, there would be blood.