Rise Of The Forgotten: Paths Cross

CHAPTER NINE, NO TIME FOR BREAKFAST

The morning had come, Diomede lay in his rented bed staring off into space, running through his memories. He longed for the normal routine of the farm life, waking cutting what needed to be cut, moving heavy things. Basic duties, no fighting, no mysteries or real danger; this weighed heavy on his heart. The smile of the young Gelda as she would run all over her father's property. How Eric her brother, would read the books from the town library to Diomede as he fixed whatever he had broken that day. Their beautiful mother Serina, was baking bread and singing songs all day. The life he had lost was truly one of peace and calm. Tears filled his eyes, he wiped them away sat up, and placed his hand over his face, letting out a loud sigh. A knock broke the silence of his room, " OPEN THE DOOR NOW!," a man yelled from the other side; "THIS IS THE HOLY KNIGHTS OF UMAR AND EVERYONE IS TO LEAVE THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY!" Diomede's heart began racing, the holy knights!? The only one in town was the young one who had killed the Gultonk. Reinforcements couldn't have gotten here already, these must have already been en route here. Thoughts raced through Diomede's head. Could any of these men be them? Then he realized why they could have been there and rushed to the door, Diomede grabbed only his sword. Before he could open it a large foot came crashing through the door and struck him in the face, knocking him back and smacking the wall of his room. A large figure entered the room, silver trip outlined pitch-black armor covering only the vital point of the figure's body; the figure wore a helmet with a red plume. With a massively deep voice, the figure called for the knights, "Grab this one and drag him outside!" As the knights began dragging Diomede outside he looked into the eyes of the figure and whispered, "Elite". Outside all of the patrons were standing in a line in front of the tavern. The tavern keeper stood beside an older-looking knight and young Clayton. The knights tossed Diomede on the ground and another went to grab Diomede's great sword but was unable to lift it off the ground, Clayton noticed this and was confused. Before the knight attempted to lift it again the older knight called out to him to leave it and go back inside to look for more patrons. "I am Commander Ruffgaurd, we are here looking for a female individual," The older knight yelled out, "she would be alone, and would be a Boarkar!" all the patrons gasped. A man yelled out from the line, "There's no way a Boarkar would be here in Umar let alone in this small town." Ruffgaurd walked parallel to the line saying, "We know she is here because we have followed her here from White River." Ruffgaurd stopped in front of the man that yelled out, looked deep into his eyes and said, "She has been getting help." Ruffgaurd grabbed the man's neck and lifted him off the ground with one arm. "AND WE INTEND TO FIND BOTH HER AND THOSE WHO HAVE AIDED HER IN HER CROSSING AMONGST UMAR'S HOLY LAND!" The man's neck snapped as Ruffgaurd jerked his arm, and with a thud, the man hit the ground lifeless. Everyone gasped, Diomede not surprised at how the knights acted. But Clayton held an emotionless face only staring at the now corpse, but his heart raced with anger. Ruffgaurd, collected himself, turned away from the line, and stated, "And we will do so with everyone's cooperation and obedience." Diomede picked himself up off the ground and cracked his neck, as well as letting out another loud sigh. Before he could say or do anything, one of the knights came crashing through one of the second-story windows hitting the ground. Everyone looked with confusion, the knight stood up and pointed to Clayton, "Follow up boy we have someone who doesn't want to come out." Clayton nodded his head and turned to run inside. Diomede grabbed Clayton's arm, "Don't, leave her be." Clayton pulled his arm away and ran inside. Ruffgaurd drew his sword and pointed it at Diomede, " What the hell do you think you are doing?" Diomede picked up his greatsword with one hand and pointed it back at the old commander, "Whatever I want." As Clayton ran through the dining hall and up the stairs he saw the Elite standing and watching as two knights fought someone. It was a fair-skinned woman with white hair, welding a great axe and wearing a black and red leotard with the chest and shoulders padded, as he drew closer he began to see the salute of a large man moving the same as she did while overlapping her body. Clayton drew his sword and started toward her, but the Elite stopped him, "Stay out of it, you'll only get in the way." Clayton confusedly watched beside the Elite. "What is she?" Clayton asked. "She is a Halfead." Answered the Elite, "One who can call upon the dead to aid her in battle." Clayton hadn't heard of such a being, he was in awe of this ability. The Elite took notice of Clayton's reaction of curious awe. "Do not let her confuse you, she is an abomination and does not deserve your curiosity." The Elite spoke with his deep voice, snapping Clayton out of his wonderment. The Woman swung her axe in a downward angle hitting the floor, as it did a piece of the floor flew up and struck the knight on her left, she leaped into the air and swung around the shaft of her great axe kicking the other knight down. Seeing this was her chance she tossed her axe out the window and leaped behind it. Falling to the ground and rolling into a summersault. She snapped her head up and saw Diomede fighting against the Commander. Both were dodging each other's attacks, she quickly stood up and started running down one of the alleyways that led further into the village. As she ran, she could hear the knights call out after her to stop and for everyone to get on their horses. She quickened her pace, nearly knocking down a group of men walking toward the river bank. She turned another corner and burst her way through a door of an unknown building. She slammed the door shut and placed whatever she could find in front of it. Before long she had a pile of stuff in front of her, now out of breath she sat down and leaned her back against a box. She closed her eyes and began controlling her breath, and before long she was breathing normally. An aberration began taking form in front of her. It was one of a large man covered in scars, with thick long white hair and a matching beard. His arms were crossed and sat on his chest, "Was that smart to do Lily?" The ghostly man asked. "No." She replied while keeping her eyes closed. The Large figure looked around, "You left the Axe too." Lily nodded. The Ghostly figure uncrossed his arms and peered around the building Lily had hidden herself in. It smelled of dust, salt, and mold, "Seems you have found a storehouse." he stated, "Heh, just like your uncle." Lily opened her eyes and looked at the large figure in front of her, "I do not think it is wise to try and fight the knights." She stated. "No?" "Then what will you do? Run? Hide?" Lily remained quiet, thinking about who was all there, "I know the bigger knight that watched as I fought off the others is too powerful for me to try and take on with them around and I lack the grace and patience to sneak around for too long." The figure nodded, "So then what of the others that were there?" Lily thought back to falling out of the window; "The man the was fighting against the older knight, I remember others speaking about him having something to do with the attack that had happened last night, he may be able to help me at least get away from the town or at the very least use him to distract the knights so I could slip out." The figure floated around placing his hand on his face stroking his bread, "Yes that is a choice to make, What of the female with the hood? It would seem the knights were looking for her no?" "Why not hand her over to them if they haven't already gotten her." Lily struck the figure with a hate-filled glair, "After what they did!" "You better than anyone knows, helping them is out of the question." The figure raised his hands in an attempt to apologize, "Then what my dear daughter?" Lily remained quiet again and then the idea struck her, "The Nesfundur from last night he had the ability to cast magic, he could help in some way and with him being a Nesfundur then he may need help as well getting out of town." The ghostly figure of her father nodded in agreement, "Now just to find said Nesfundur." She sat for a moment longer before standing up she walked through the building she hid in, her father's ghostly figure followed behind her as if he was tethered to her. Lily began to peer into each box as if she was looking for something, the figure asked, "What is it you looking for?" Lily continued searching and replied, "Something to eat, I was unable to have something when I first woke." The figure gave a small smirk, " Just like your uncle, be sure to try and find something to help conceal your appearance as well my dear Lily." her ghostly father dissipated as she continued searching, she paused for a moment feeling her father's presence leave her and continued searching the storehouse. Before long she found a box containing dried and salted beef and fish; she dug into the box consuming nearly half of its contents. As she ate the meats, she searched for something anything to help her, Lily was able to find a box of blankets, and she pulled the dullest and dirty-looking one out so best to blend with the crowds. She put back everything she had pulled out and left a small bag of coins inside the box. She didn't know if it was enough but it was something. The shouts and sounds of armor clanking from the knights searching for her still rang out. She knew they would begin looking into buildings before long, she had to move quickly and quietly. She stood in front of a side door parallel to where she entered the building, she closed her eyes and began chanting something under her breath, before long a thin shadow of a figure appeared behind her, the figure like the one before beard scars but was not of the same size. This figure was thin and had long straight white hair reaching past his chest and down his back. The tips of his fingers ashened, his face painted with a hand print of black, his eyes covered by a wrapping. He spoke, "We will move only in the shadow, and only when I give word..little sister." She replied in her mind, "Yes brother."