The Sword of Stone - Sworn Honours

Chapter 7: Unforeseen Obstacles

Rolan woke to the sound of dripping water on stone echoing around him. He looked around and saw himself in a large circular room, with moss crisscrossing the floor, vines snaking up the walls, and gnarled roots of trees invading through large cracks that allowed a slither of sunlight. It wasn't long before he realised that his wrists were wrapped in rusty iron chains that connected to the walls behind him. Even if he had the strength to move, the chains bound him firmly to his place.

Pain blossomed up his leg, and he looked down to where the bear trap had chewed into his leg, breaking through his armour. A yellow gash ran above his ankle and around his leg, with puss oozing out from the slits the trap made, with blood mingling. The pain was intense, and despite how cool it was, he was soaked in sweat that dripped off his brow. The seasoned paladin didn't take long to realise it was infected despite the haze that clouded his mind. 

After what felt like an eternity, he heard metal screeching as a rusty door opened. He looked to his left, seeing the opening of a stairway illuminated by sunlight. The door closed, and the sunlight was replaced with a dim torch that got brighter as two pairs of soft footsteps descended. When they reached the bottom and headed toward them, it was then that Rolan saw women approaching, with a young boy clutching close to her side, shyly hiding behind her skirts as he held a vase.

The woman cautiously approached, her icy blue eyes studying him hesitantly, almost afraid he would leap up at a moment's notice. As they drew closer, the boy grew less shy and more curious, noticing the paladin's armour and seeing his eyes light up with excitement. The woman moved slower than the lads, and the tray in her slender hands began to shake slightly.

'Is he a knight?' he looked up at the women curiously.

She gave him an apprehensive look. 'Stay back, Matthew,' she said with fear in her voice, trying to keep the boy back. Matthew, however, didn't listen and approached more eagerly than the women, eyes fixed on the armour with amazement. Her eyes returned to the paladin sat on the floor, unblinking. 

'Are you a knight?' the boy said, getting closer with each step.  

Rolan paid the boy no mind as he strained his neck, looking up at the woman. 'Who are you? Why have I been brought here?'

The pair looked back and forth from one another knowingly. The boy seemed eager to say something. 'Can I tell him?' 

She shook her head. 'No,' she looked at the paladin, breathing to calm herself. 'I can't tell you why you're here, sir. As for our names, this---'

'I'm Matthew,' the boy breaks in, smiling, chirpy. 

Rolan saw her throwing him a scolding look, clearing her throat before looking at him with some apology. 'I'm Haisley, sir.'

'Why have you come here?' he reiterated.

She presented the tray to him. 'We were told to bring you breakfast and tend to your wounds if it please you, sir.' 

Rolan stirred, lifted his hand, and wrapped it around the chain, slowly trying to pull himself up to stand. Yet as he did, his leg throbbed before giving out, making him fall off and smash against the wall, his plate armour dinging off the stone. Haisley involuntarily steps back, the boy stepping closer to aid the knight.

'You should stay seated,' the boy pleaded. 'Just let us help you; we're not trying to hurt you.'

Rolan snorted, lowering his head. To think after his long service in the paladins that he would be in a position to be left at the mercy of a boy and a girl who was hardly a woman. How the father loves his jokes, he thought darkly. The boy neared him, his eyes glued to the wound festering.