Knights of the Nine - The Unborn Seed

Chapter 18: Carry On

It was dark, moist and a bit misty inside the dank cave on the island known as Academe. Droplets of water rippled into puddles as voices echoed their ways through the cavernous walls. At the center of the cave, there stood four people.

One a bearded man in a noble, rich, linen lined coat. Four women dressed in black robes attached to hoods. They talked loudly at each other, in no way was it in anger more of a discussion or a disagreement.

'You're laws have swiftly taken the land by storm. Academe has a dark future ahead of itself, you at the hull taking full swings while everyone around you is either dying or waiting to be killed.' One of the hooded women said, her voice sounded like she was once an innkeeper and used to dealing with rough houses.

'It has been two weeks. Two weeks since Kahn has died! It's been around two months since William died and all three of you's keep the "dark future" to yourselves. Why not share it with me so I can do all in my damned power to prevent it.' The noble man said as he splashed his foot into a puddle.

'What good will it do?' The women standing opposite the noble man said through gritty teeth. 'The dark future is inevitable, you will fail because destiny as chosen it. It is your destiny to... die.'

'I have been king for two decades! The blessed ruler of Academe and its people. If destiny chose me to die in this future, it has been mistaken. Just like so many before it.' King Aldir exclaimed.

'Ingrid, Flexan?' The middle lady said looking to her fellow patrons. 'If this fool wants to test destiny who are we to stop him? Come, there are other, smarter, deeds that need to be seen at this moment.'

'A lexicon of time has been opened, Aldir. Good luck.'

King Aldir of Academe was alone in a dark, moist, blundering cave. He stumbled around the puddles before muttering to himself.

'Damned witches and their stupid foresight. No such thing as destiny, crap like that 'fore the religious folk.' Aldir left the cave to return to the city of Academe.

------- Candun Forest: Academe ------

'And thus, my sweat pea, is why lexicons are near impossible to open.'

'Dad, have you or Felix ever opened a lexi-lexicon before?'

'I have never seen one, so no. Have you Felix?'

Felix shifted in his saddle and opened up his bag. The Knight pulled out a cube decorated in gold, rubies and emeralds. 'I've got one, sure. Here, don't drop it.'

Kyrus caught the cube and began to shuffle with it. 'I don't even know where to begin. It's like a-a-a puzzle made for the people that make puzzles.'

Felix and Audrey laughed as Kyrus was dumbfounded due to the craftsmanship of the lexicon. As the two, Audrey in tow with Kyrus, jotted along the road in the Candun Forest they came upon a trashed wagon with two young boys sitting at the wreck.

'Hey! Hey, sirs! Stop.' The boys cried out.

'Woah,' Felix calmed his horse, Brenu, down and rode up next to the boys. 'What's wrong, fellas?'

'We hit a rock, like a boulder, and our wagon bursted up and exploded like a chicken!' A boy that was already balding said cheerfully.

'You don't seem too sad or mad about it.' Kyrus joined in.

'Oh, nothing to be sad or mad about, sir. Stuff happens along the road.' The boy with a full head of hair said with a grin on his face while he fiddled with a rock.

'Mhm.' Kyrus let his daughter man the horse as he left the saddle. 'Where's the rock you two hit?'

'Up the road, you's didn't see 'im?' Balding boy said.