Warhorse

13

Luna woke with a jolt and a tightness in her chest, she looked around and took in the walls of a dirt hut around her, the soft bed she laid on feeling like a cloud. She felt incredibly sore and looked down, her armor had been removed, not like it was doing anything anyway, and her upper body had been wrapped up in a white cloth. She tried to look under the fabric to see if the hole in her chest was still there, but it was tied too tightly. If the hole were still there she wouldn't be here, would she? She decided to leave it and lay back down on the bed. The hut was small, with only one room and moist air. The bed she lay in was small but comfortable.

"Sleep well?" There was a familiar voice, she sat up quickly and looked at the cloaked figure.

"You!" She winced as the pain in her ribs shot through her body.

"Yes, me." The figure floated over to the bedside.

"What do you want?" Luna asked harshly.

"Are you always this rude to the people who save your life?" He asked.

"You... what?" Luna looked down and placed a hand on her chest where the hole was.

"For the second time. You really should be more careful." He answered.

"What's your deal anyways huh? Save my life then scold me? Watch me in my sleep like a creep?" Luna shot him a nasty glare.

"I saved your life because it's my job to keep living people here alive. I scold you because you're an idiot who has almost gotten herself killed twice, and I wasn't watching you sleep. I let someone else handle that." He poked her in the forehead as he spoke.

"Oh yeah? Who?" Luna asked and the figure pointed to the door, right as Clarice walked in.

"Hey Luna, sleep well?" She asked, her eyes dark and exhausted in her voice.

Luna instinctively jumped out of the bed, grabbing her blade and facing Clarice.

"Woah woah, relax Luna. I'm not going to hurt you. I promise." Clarice raised her hands.

"Oh yeah? Says the one who had me chained to a hospital bed! Why should I trust you?" Luna eyed Clarice.

"I know you have no reason to trust me. But please, I promise I have no intention to hurt you." Clarice backed away from Luna, giving her space.

"Fine then, tell me the truth. The real truth. I'm not crazy, I know that. So what is going on?" Luna took a defensive stance.

"I want to tell you, I do. But I can't." Clarice held her hands up in the air in front of her to keep Luna calm.

"Why not?" Luna demanded.

"Because they would kill her," Hemlock spoke up from the bed.

"What?" Luna looked at Hemlock.

"If she spoke the truth, the demons of the forest would kill her." Hemlock had his arms crossed and looked to the door.

"But I thought the demons couldn't get into town..." Luna had a skeptical look in her eyes.

"The lesser demons can not. But the higher-ups can enter and leave as they please." Hemlock admitted.

"So what's your deal? Did you know she would end up chaining me like that? Why did you free me?" Luna pointed her blade at Hemlock.

"I noticed the guild badge on your armor, I knew you were strong and wanted to test your strength. Yes, I knew she would eventually try and restrain you. I didn't stop her because she was ordered to. If I stopped her it would have only ended badly for her." Hemlock stood and floated over to Clarice, who didn't seem to take notice of him.

"Ordered by who?" Luna looked at Clarice, who had panic in her eyes.

"I do not know his name, but I know he exists. A demon lord of immense power." Hemlock circled Clarice, who still seemed unaware of his presence.

"Can she see you?" Luna asked, blade still high.

"Yes. But if she acknowledges me in any way she will be punished." Hemlock floated around her and stopped behind her.

"What is going on here? Tell me what's going on!" Luna demanded.

"I can not reveal the truth to you. Not without consequences to Clarice and the other townsfolk." Hemlock floated to the door.

"How did you know the guild emblem?" Luna asked.

"I think you already know how I know," Hemlock said Luna then mentally slapped herself, the guild was famous for giving rise to some of the most powerful knights in the country.

"Too many secrets! I need to know the truth!" Luna raised her blade again.

"Luna, wait... take a minute to relax, I'll wait outside." Clarice walked out of the small hut, leaving her and Hemlock alone.

"Alright Luna, I'll fill you in to the best of my ability for now." Hemlock moved so fast it seemed like he teleported right in front of her.

Luna was surprised at his sudden closeness, mainly because her sword was lodged right in his chest.

"Demons control this town. The people have to do what they say or they get taken away. God only knows what happens to them when they are taken, but they never come back the same. Sometimes... they don't come back at all." Hemlock had his head right up next to hers, whispering into her ear as he spoke.

"How come you can tell me this but Clarice can't?" Luna whispered back.

"The demons don't have dominion over me. When they descended they made everyone inside the town bind to their pact. But I was not in the town when they cast their spell." Hemlock whispered.

"Why am I here Hemlock? What do you mean you wanted to 'test me'?" Luna asked.

"I need your help. I alone am not strong enough to defeat the demons enslaving this town. I needed the help of a guild knight who was strong enough. You have demonstrated intense will and determination, along with strength and strategy when you banished the scout demon." Hemlock remained completely still.

"Banished? I thought it was dead." Luna was confused.

"No mere human blade can erase a demon. Not even a low-class demon like that scout. You can still banish it back to the depths, however. That is the one thing you can do." Hemlock moved away as the door reopened.