Jade the Starr Within

Chapter 9

     "Your highness, we need to get back soon." Luke says.

"One more building. I've already found a katana and weapons rack in the last town, perhaps I'll get lucky here as well."

"Don't be too long, he's been pissed since you left the inn."

"I know. He thinks I know where Hannah is."

I duck into the building, head of a former rebel base. We have 11 bases total. Four were destroyed by Abaddon, two by the rebels to avoid capture. There's one of Abaddon's soldiers here, sprawled into a heap of literal dead weight, caused by an early fire set by the rebels. I notice one of the panels on the wall is ajar. I use my katana as a lever to open it.

Woah.

Armor is hanging on the wall. It's a piercing black with light, red, curving lines decorating the armor. I pull it down and quickly slip it on. Perfect fit.

"Jade! We need to go, elves are- your highness?" Luke runs into the room. I open the helmet and look at him.

"How do I look?" I ask.

"...Like a man?" He says.

"What the hell, let's go." I rush out, Luke behind me. Two elves are chasing a young woman. A young, familiar, woman. I draw my katana and jump in front of her. Then, I realize she's an Amazon Warrior.

Shit.

One elf says something in elvish to the Amazon Warrior. "No. He's obviously rebel." She replies. He nods and sheathes his sword.

"Good day, rebel soldier." An elf says. He has black hair and bright blue eyes. The other elf has brown hair and green eyes. They both have pointed ears.

"Khay'rat! Let us go. We cannot waste our time with a mute rebel. We must push on. I believe your mate agrees." The brunette says.

"I am his girlfriend. Not his mate." The girl says from behind me. Her blonde hair is braided to one side and she too has blue eyes. She's dressed in an indestructible leather armor, traditional of Amazon Warriors.

"We would not be in a rush if you had not killed the chief." The brunette again says.

"She didn't kill the chief!" The one called Khay'rat defends.

"How do you know? You were not there."

"Neither were you!" The girl yells.

"You're kind of cute." I say to the brunette. The girl blushes as her boyfriend bursts into laughter. I realize the armor make my voice sound deeper.

"My mate will not be a man." He replies.

"Do you need help?" Luke asks.

"No, I'm fine." I sheath my katana and look at the trio.

"May we take residence in a rebel base?" Khay'rat asks.

"No! We will not allow elves in our camp!" Luke argues.

"Who are you?" The woman asks me.

"I am the black knight. Defender of the innocent, purveyor of evil."

"Perhaps the child of pure light can help in your quest?" She asks.

"A warrior is not the savior." Luke says with irritation. "Let's just kill them. They could reveal our location." Luke says.

"They are people in need of help. As I taught you, Luke..."

"The people come first. Always." Luke replies.

"I know that saying. My father taught it to me when I trained to be a guardian." She says.

I reach for my helmet and pull it off my head.

"Hello, Hannah."