The King's Knights

Chapter One: Clearing the Bar

Who was running Antion anyway?

William needed clarification and he lived here.

Not Pandora, she had been dispatched to Sorn to mediate the unrest there. Lady Estela and Sir Jomas had gone with her. Not Prince Bor, he and his family had gone into the heartlands of Antion to survey the Kingdom. And not Duke Vanion, his Father, who probably could have taken over if he wanted to.

For his part, William had spent that time healing the sick and injured wherever he could. It was a good excuse to get the lay of the land.  But now it was getting dark and cleaning streets did not make them safe.

Shifting his crimson cloak closer around him as he walked through the elven quarter.

He didn't know why he was beneath sun lamps. But it was fortunate that it was; otherwise, William would have missed the manhole. Out of it was scaling a sunny-faced, blonde boy, clad in workman's clothes. A broach with the symbol of a dragon was on his neck. His eyes were blue, and he had the smell of the sewers about him. Nagos looked at William in surprise. "William, what are you doing out here so late?"

"I expect the same thing you are, Nagos," said William, surprised. "I am working.I wasn't aware the sewer projects were operating at night."

"Well, we have to work by lantern and spell anyway. Relma wants this done as quickly as possible. We have a lot of ground to cover," said a voice. "We've been rotating out in shifts."

Out of the manhole came a beautiful, buxom, blonde-haired woman. She was clad in battle armor made by Zigildrazian—the sort designed to show off the chest and stomach area instead of protecting it. The black collar on her neck did her quite a few favors, as did the crystal circlet.

How had she scaled the ladder in high-heeled thigh-high boots and remained unsullied? Narcissa never got dirty, except in a sensual sort of way involving sweat. William had tried holding it once, but it was heavier than he liked.

"What sort of work?" asked William, looking to Felix.

"A lot of blockages," said Nagos. "Filth has built up in many channels, slowing the flow down. We have to clear it, and then we have to clean it. Narcissa and I have also had to worry about giant rats."

"My sympathies to you," said William, who had little interest.

"Well, I have a job, and I'm being paid for it," said Narcissa. "Check that pipe if you want to see how it is doing."

William looked to the nearby water pipe, topped with a lever to pour it out. It seemed somewhat rusted, but Felix moved over to it. Pumping it with a creaking sound, William saw blackish, thick liquid splatter out. It landed on the cobblestones like sludge. What if someone drank it?

"It's almost black," said William.

"Exactly," said Nagos. "A few years ago, anyone who tried to use that started getting sick. Nobody has used that pump since."

"Why do we always have to talk about depressing things anyway?" asked Narcissa, drawing off her axe to examine it. "I'd have much rather spend time near that barmaid, Alasa. She is almost the most beautiful person I've ever seen."

"She looks like you, Narcissa," said Felix.

"I know," said Narcissa.

"So, who's the most beautiful?" asked Nagos. "You?"

"Queen Zigildrazia, obviously," said Narcissa. "There are rules about this kind of thing."

"Whatever you say," Nagos shrugged. "I'm just a King."

As they walked, William felt privately troubled. He looked to Felix, who kept an eye on each ally they passed. He felt like he should say or do something.