Blood of the Righteous

Securing Passage

Morning in Lystra found the streets practically deserted. Stores and shops refused to open their doors, and street vendor carts lay empty and overturned. David shivered as he walked towards the docks through the heavy, early spring rain, dirt streets quickly turning to mud beneath his feet. The only buildings that had their doors open were a few of the larger inns and pubs, ones that had hired on their own guards. The looting had gotten steadily worse, and several shops had been burned to the ground during the night. If it hadn't been for the fortuitous sudden downpour of rain, the entire city may have gone up in flames.

Lystra was a fairly young city, and had grown due to its proximity to the Blackrock Mountains. Mining and smithing were the city's lifeblood. Being situated upon the Vissik river, it had easy access to Kheog, New Portsmouth, and more importantly, the sea. Riverboats, filled with iron and steel ingots, leaving the great Lystra docks were not an uncommon sight. Over the past several generations, however, weapons and armor were more commonly shipped out to sea with their destination being Port Cirill. The war had caused another boom in the city's growth, but Lord Ki Kalendeen, as his father before him, had managed to keep the growing pains at a minimum. Today, however, the large smelting furnaces were unused, the smith forges growing cold, and the usual ringing of hammers against iron gave way to a terrible silence.

David hurried along the muddied streets, coins in his pack jingling as he walked. "Lad!"

David jumped at the sudden noise and turned around. A man wearing gleaming silver chain mail armor stood before him. His sword was in its scabbard, but his gleaming shield bearing five overlaid crosses was held in his left hand. A cloak of royal blue hung from his shoulders, the end muddied from walking through the streets. A Holy Defender. David wiped the rain water from his eyes and forehead. "Yes sir?"

"What is a boy of your age doing wandering the streets at a time like this?" The Defender's voice rang with confidence and authority. "You had best get home to your family. Haven't you heard what's happening?"

"I know, sir. Lord Ki Kalendeen is dead, along with the rest of the city leadership." David's voice turned cold as he spoke the words.

The Defender nodded. "Aye, 'tis a tragedy. Lord Ki Kalendeen was a Godly man. But that is not of what I was speaking. The Aragil army has reached the border villages and claimed them in the name of King Dorian. They met with no resistance and are securing the villages. Kheog is their next destination, I fear, then Lystra. They shall be here in a few days time. If I were you, I'd get home now. These blasted looters are everywhere."

David bit his lip at the news. His father had been right. "Sir, I am on my way to the docks. I have passage aboard a river boat and it sails in under an hour." David dropped his head towards the muddy street. "My family was killed in a fire last night," he lied.

The Defender put his armored hand on David's shoulder. "I'm sorry, lad. I shall remember you and your family in my prayers."

David forced a smile at the man. "Thank you, sir. Now if you will excuse me..."

"Lad, do you have a destination?"

"Yes, sir. I have family in..." David's mind raced. He didn't want to give away his destination, just in case the knight had recognized him and had a loose tongue. "In...Northpoint, sir."

"Northpoint, eh?" The Defender looked over David and smiled. "I thought you looked like a merchant's son. Was your papa a shop keeper?"

David nodded. He felt bad about lying again to a man in service to God, but he could take no chances.

"Well, lad, I'll see you to your ship. Come on." The Defender began walking towards the docks. David hurried after him. They walked the distance in an uncomfortable silence, the only sounds being their sloshing footfalls against the streets and the occasional jingling of David's pack.