Oath of a Guardian

Chapter 7: City of Shadows

Crystal and Krios made their way through the city of Valen until they reached the outer gates leading to a forest. They couldn't see much as the skies were only lit by faint light from the stars above. The gate was large in size and held together by pure silver bars that were far apart from one another.

"Why are the bars so far apart?" Crystal asked suspiciously "It doesn't seem like it's able to keep things out" She began examining the scratch marks on the gate.

"Crystal" Krios whispered pulling her attention away from the gate to a pair of glowing eyes just beyond it.

"What is...?" She approached the gate further leaving Krios standing behind her. The eyes that were previously glowing disappeared and the sound of a howl resonated through the entire forest.

"Wolf?" Krios answered unsurely approaching the princess yet not passing her.

Crystal continued scanning the forest for any sign of the eyes. After hearing Krios's response she nodded disapproval and began making distance between herself and the gate. She turned now shoulder to shoulder with Krios who was still looking outside the gate.

"Since when do wolf's eyes glow?" She asked putting an end to his theory. "Come let's find shelter, we'll leave for the forest in the morning armed and ready" She said turning back to the city.

The once busy streets of Valen were now completely quiet as the noblemen and women have all gone into their homes. Crystal and Krios walked for what seemed like ages to Krios.

"My dear guardian, I must admit I am a little strung out from the day's work no? I cannot go any further" He said sitting on the nearest bench and removing his boots.

"Yes you worked hard Krios" Crystal said teasing the elf, he knew it was about his previous engagements with a certain woman at the tavern.

"If you wished to take part in it princess you would have been very welcome" He said smirking at a glaring Crystal as he rubbed his feet.

"You can keep dreaming Krios" Crystal said half smiling as she stood looking around for a sign of anyone that could possibly point them to a place they can stay.

"If only my imagination was that good" Krios said sighing as he removed his socks looking at his sore feet.

"You wait here; I'm going to look around see if I can't find some place to rest." Crystal said leaving Krios on the bench inspecting his feet.

Crystal made her way through alley after alley of the city eventually leading her to the same place she began at.

"This isn't a city... This is a damn maze!" She said frustrated.

Right at that moment she sensed a shadow lurking from the rooftop of the building behind her. She turned quickly to see if anyone was there and then heard the footsteps of scurrying about somewhere else nearby. 

Her eyes were no more than slits as she slowly and inconspicuously began removing a dagger from the back of her belt.

"Crystal!" Krios yelled from behind as he ran up to her. Crystal did not turn to him as her pale blue eyes continued scoping the area.

"Is everything alright?" Krios asked confused at the princess's sudden seriousness

"Either I have truly lost my mind or we are about to be ambushed, either way be on your guard" Crystal said raising a brow

Krios began looking around for signs of what she was talking about but failed to see anything that would ward suspicion. Despite not seeing anything he trusted Crystal and so he kept his hand on his daggers as they roamed the streets.

Somehow they found themselves in the enormous city square and far behind them were gates that according to the symbols led to the viscount mansion.

"I think it's time to move" Crystal said noticing now multiple shadows gathering around the two, This time the shadows did not go unspotted by Krios.

"I think that is best" Krios said not moving his eyes from the dark figures gathering on the roof.

The shadows began lowering themselves to the ground.

Crystal and Krios first stood there in shock; they have heard and seen everything from giants, ogres, undead mermaids, man eating fairies and even a city of "Hastra" people who sacrificed their children to demons to become a human/snake hybrid all in hopes of prolonging their lives and yet this was new to them.

A human shaped shadow emerged slowly behind Crystal eyes glowing red. Sensing it she quickly drew her blade and swung it at the shadow causing it to disappear from behind her. Krios got closer to Crystal as they both waited for the next attack. It didn't take long for the shadow to regroup and this time it wasn't alone.

"I guess this is why they call it the shadow lands" Krios added not breaking eye contact between him and the shadows that were now surrounding the courtyard.

"Any Ideas?" Crystal asked as the shadows approached them slowly.

"Well we could ask them nicely to leave us alone" Krios added

One of the shadows jumped at her. She dodged out of the way now standing back to back with Krios

"I suppose a hugging session isn't what they had in mind" Crystal said cutting through the next shadow that appeared to attack her. 

"Fine then, Plan B" Krios said looking at Crystal

"Please tell me your plan B doesn't consist of you seducing the shadows" Crystal sighed

"Why did that not occur to me" He replied jumping forward and slashing through the throat of the next shadow that formed. Crystal stuck her blade right below the chin into the head of the foe.

"Plan B... Kill" Krios stated as he began fighting through a group of shadows.

"Fair enough" Crystal said before dodging the attack coming from one of the larger shadows. The shadow had claws that raked the ground beneath her.

"Krios..." Crystal said gaining his attention after he slit through the last of the shadows close to them.

Krios looked at her for a moment puzzled before he followed her eyes to see a horde of shadows beginning to gather together into one large predator shaped creature...

"I... uhm believe my princess" He began as they slowly began stepping backwards towards the closed viscount gate "We should run" They both turned running as the enemy pounced to the ground and the horde began pursuit.

The two ran all the way towards the gates in front of the viscount mansion. Crystal slowed her pace allowing Krios to move ahead as he stood before the gate gripping his hands together to allow Crystal to jump over.

Crystal then sped up as the shadow monster moved in, jumping from Krios's hands onto the gate upside down wrapping her legs in the bars offering Krios her hands. Krios jumped grabbing them as she swung him upwards over the gate before climbing over herself. They both fell on the ground then quickly scrambled to their feet and continued running only turning around when they heard the growling of the beast and the sound of something sizzling.

The princess and her escort looked back for a moment and noticed the beast was unable to enter beyond the silver gate. A sigh of relief escaped them both as now they were safe or so they thought.

Krios sat on the ground trying to even out his breathing and Crystal stood bending over breathing heavily. They heard the sound of metal and immediately rose from their positions only to find themselves surrounded by a group of armed Valencian Guards.

Two of the guards moved forward and lifted their swords to Krios and Crystal's neck.

"I don't know about you but... I'm sensing some hostility" Krios joked as they were forced to raise their hands in surrender.

"I wonder what would give you that idea" Crystal replied looking over her shoulder at the guard with the sword to her back.