The Sorceress Knight: The Three Feathers

Chapter II The Girl

I awake with a start, I sit up in my bed in my room I check myself for the wounds I had but they are not there. Sweat rolls down my face as I sit in my bed trying to get my bearings. I get up and go to the window out looking the kingdom. I sigh with relief seeing all is well. Shaking my head I walk toward my dresser and see my sword still in its sheath. I decide to get dressed for the day, and try to put that nightmare behind me but it felt so real. In my usual light armored tunic, trousers and boots. I pick up my belt and tie it to my side, and attach my sheath complete with sword and dagger.

I walk out of my room in the castle Being awake earlier than normal I begin my rounds, as the captain of the guard Its my duty to check the safety and security of the kingdom. I walk out into the streets toward the marketplace. As the sun starts peaking over the mountains and the markets start to spring to life with the bakers baking, the merchants begin those morning rituals, and the blacksmiths warming their fires. Walking through the city I think back to the dream that woke me. I've never been through anything like that. What did it mean? Am I really that weak? I think to myself.

Just then as I walk by an alleyway. "Did you have a rough night Sir?" A voice asks me, I turn to face the voice and I and I'm greeted by a young girl in a hooded cloak. leaning against the wall. "What did you say little miss?" I asked, "I asked if you had a rough night Sir. Because you are out earlier than usual today." She states back, "It was a bad dream but all is well nothing to worry about." I say half happily.

"You don't sound very convincing. Lying must not be your strong suit. But, I know what horrors awoke you." She says very seriously. I look at her bewilderedly, "What do you mean?" I ask curiously.

She removes her hood and it's a light brown haired girl with one green eye and one blue eye. She looks at me very seriously "that was the future." She states. Still looking puzzled "What do you mean?" I question, "you we're shown a vision of the future in hopes that you can change it." She states, "A vision... The future...? I don't understand." I say still unsure as to what she means.

"The fate of this kingdom. And so much else rests in your hands, but this isn't the time or the place to talk about it." She says as she looks around seeming cautious. " I know this isn't easy to hear but, you will understand what I mean soon enough. Speak to no one about this." She explains as she puts her hood back on and slips back into the alleyway.

As she moves back people start walking toward us, I look down the street toward the voices then back, and the girl vanished without a trace. Unsure what to make of the encounter I decide to go about my day and think about this later. So as the morning progresses I can't help but think about the girl. Who was she, where was she, what did she mean?

Questions I wasn't sure I would ever get an answer for. I walk back toward the bakers shop where him and his wife and young daughter are putting out some baked goods. Bread, muffins, pies, and cookies. All of which filled the city streets with the most mouthwatering aroma. "Darian my boy!" The Baker calls out to me. "Good morning, all of this smells so delicious this morning." I say with a smile. "Good morning to you too Sir Darian." The bakers Daughter says to me as she turns red then runs off back in to the bakers shop whence she came.

"You know if you wait a few years she will be of proper age." The baker says as he wraps his arm over my shoulder. We hear someone clear their throat behind us and the baker takes his arm from my shoulder and we both turn around to see his wife standing there with her arms crossed tapping her foot and glaring with such furry her stare could melt through the thickest of armor. "Trying to marry our daughter off eh?! " she asks in an angry tone. The bakers complexion has gone from an almost reddish color to white as a ghost in a mere few seconds. " I think I smell something burning I better go and check on the oven!" He exclaims then dashes off in to their bakery. "Yeah it might be you in a minute if your not careful!" The bakers wife retorts.

I stand facing his wife hoping that I can ask for mercy before I'm next. Then as if some think clicked she shifted her gaze to me and her emotions seemed to have changed drastically from fiery inferno one second then a warm and happy person has if she was never angry in the first place. "What's a matter Darian you look like you have had a run in with some kind of monster or something. Here have a muffin it will put the color back in your cheeks." She says as she walks over to the spot wear the muffins are kept and hands me a blueberry muffin.

"No no I'm perfectly fine just got up early this morning but I'm ok." I reply hurriedly. Then I take a bite and instantly my taste buds are overwhelmed by the goodness that they are graced with. "This is delicious!" I happily exclaim after finishing the bite. "Good I'm glad you like it. Now if you'll excuse me I have a husband I need to deal with." She says with a smile then walks into the bakery. I decided that I should take my leave before I might be pulled into whatever comes next.

As I walk through the city one of the royal messengers runs up to me. "Hello." I say greeting him, " Hello Sir your requested back to the throne room post haste!" He proclaims " thank you." I say then, I turn toward the castle and head that direction. I head back to the castle fearing the worst and hoping I'm not to late to do something about whatever it is. But, as I reach the castle gate I think to myself. What if I fail and someone gets hurt can I truly do any good or will I fail them all....