Knightshade Forgotten.

A hand to hold

It's been weeks. Weeks since I've seen Faylinn. Multiple times I've gone out to look for her and every time I've failed.

I returned to the gates of the village and greeted the guards as I walked inside. "Morning Manakete, how was your hunt?" This was the only way to convince them to let me wander outside the walls, let them know I was going hunting. Any other excuse would reflect badly on me. "It was dull, the animals act as if they remember my normal grounds." I replied with a fake smile on my face.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I sat in the tavern and ordered my normal cup of wine, apparently my race is born with resistance to intoxication, which makes it okay for me to drink in some culture. I could hear the normal clanging of steel outside and wrestling and all kinds of combat practice which other shifters pride themselves on. I was just sitting with my drink arriving to the counter just thinking to myself on random pieces music I've heard before seeing as they calm my nerves so I don't become a beast of bloodlust.

Some guy in the back was probably drunk off his ass or he wouldn't have been trying to speak to me all of a sudden."Hey manerket,...you- eh wanna go home with me?" YOU ARE SHITTING ME! I thought out of shock. 'You're drunk, go back to your seat" I said calmly. He put a hand on my shoulder "That's *hic* funny kid! But yer coming with me."

I admit I should have just shook it off, but instead I took his arm and threw him over my shoulder, wasn't hard considering how dizzy he was. "Wasn't a joke." he got up and started swinging at me, slowly, I casually sidestepped each of them and set my money on the counter as I gave a good punch the the drunkard guts, letting him crumple to the floor vomiting. I took my drink and walked outside after paying the bartender. I had to visit the kids anyway.

I set off toward the children's orphanage for work, I wasn't really in the mood for work today, but cooling my head seemed necessary. I pulled my hood over my head as I got to the door and braced myself for the screams that would occur. When they did, I immediately covered my ears.

The kids swarmed me with stories, hugs, greeting, complaints, all the stuff that children do. "Mister man! Some other guy wants to see you!" I heard almost everyone of them tell me "Okay kids, I just need to head to my room real quick!" I inched my way past them, made it to my room, and shut the door. "Naga's breasts they're loud!" I exclaimed as I lay on the bed.

I opened up a loose floorboard and pulled out Faylinn's rabbit, I can't believe I had it, I don't remember where I found it either.

Tap tap tap

I set the rabbit down and went to my door. "Who's there?" I called. "A friend." was the reply, I didn't like it, the voice was familiar. I set my sword to my belt and cautiously opened the door and drew my sword.

"Vexthel I believe it was?" he rose his hands as a sign of no harm. "Peace friend, just hear me out." I slowly returned my sword to it's sheath and let him in, he was only wearing a long sword so he wouldn't be too hard to fight off. "Were you able to find Janggo?" I asked so I would be the first to get an answer.

"No, he escaped for sure, but find him? No." he replied "Where is the little girl?" He asked in turn. "Gone, I sent her to Drachen for a safer future. Now why are you here?" He took a deep breath and handed me a note. "We noticed how well you fight and you seem to have a sense of honor, with your permission, we wish to enroll you as a soldier for the forces of Wyngeria.. Blah blah blah, couldn't care more."

I almost shouted in his face. "Why would you recruit me? After I killed hundreds of men and almost killed your forces." He chuckled a bit "But you didn't did you? Why?" He was only pissing me off more. "You weren't worth my time, I had a child to take care of." He smiled as if it was the answer he wanted. "Always thinking of the children aren't you? But I really don't think that is the real reason is it?"

I hesitated for a second, "I owed your men a debt, they saved my life as a child so I kept myself from killing you." He grinned, "So you do remember Drachen, after all you helped to defend it." Shaking my head was probably a lie to him and myself "I'm afraid I turned that night too," I showed him the brand on the back of my hand, "I can tell what the symbol means, but this is not a blessing. If I'm taking innocent lives with it then I'd be a disgrace to humanity." I stood up, "However, I will accept your invitation."

He shook my hand firmly, "Good, a uniform will be provided for you. Shall we depart tonight?" I nodded "No use dragging it out."

"But mister man! We'll miss you." a child called to me as I finished packing up. I looked up at her, "Don't worry little one, I'll come visit. Until then, be good for whoever wants you...they care more than you'd think." As I walked toward the door I could hear the kids running after me. "I need a moment, I'll catch up." I told Vexthel, he nodded and kept walking. "Brother!"

I stopped dead, I remember why I wanted to work here, they all needed a family. When no one came, I'd be there to be a brother to them. "Brother, you left this behind." I turned to the see the kids hold Chambray and I could feel tears stream down my face. I was happy to not be fighting for once, and I've decided to fight in an army; I knelt down and all the kids swarmed me with hugs. "I'll come back in time to see you all grow up. I promise." I took the stuffed rabbit and held it close.

"I promise."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------