↢ 5 ↣

The floorboards creak as his footsteps clink up to the inn room. A weariness wanes at his eyes, though not that he needed sleep. And with a slow knock, he forces on his usual grin.

However, a new string of thoughts grace him before he pushes open the door. The room lay empty, yet the letter resting on the desk was the first thing he notices. He knew he was late coming back, so she must have gone back to train her new disciple.

Do you think she will want to stay here alongside them?

He brushes off the sudden voice before picking up the note. It had the answers he'd assumed, though that didn't make him feel much better.

With a slight clank, he set a bag full of newly purchased tools upon the desk. He didn't know what her skill level was but he was sure she'd enjoy them. A hopeful smile grew over him as he pulls out and places them one by one along the desk.

It wasn't cheap, but he'd given himself reassurance that they'd be put to good use.

Maybe I could even teach her how to engrave runes...

What use would you have afterwards?

A slight frown freezes on his face as he looks at the line of tools. He'd assembled them from largest to shortest, although he cares little for how he'd assigned them. Knowing each one was designed for a different purpose.

You want it to look nice for her?

He resists giving an answer.

What if she does not want them?

It matters not to me.

A slow breath escapes him before he slides the tools back into the bag. The silence of the room leaves the knight restless and without a second thought, he chooses to leave it.

Several pairs of eyes watch as he leaves the establishment as quickly as he'd entered. Though he cared little, he could still feel their prying eyes under his armour.

People make way as he walks briskly through the crowded streets. A disdain grows within him as he still had to push his way through the more congested areas.

Too many faces. Too many distractions. Too many people. Too many deaths waiting to happen.

He reaches for the hilt of his sword to still his nerves, yet the remembrance quickly eats at him. Another, deeper, frown cuts into his lips.

The sun now hung within the darkened clouds above him as he stands in front of the security door. Before he could even knock, he realises the door wasn't fully closed. And with only the slightest hesitation, he pulls it completely open. Though the room beyond was left quiet, something still shifting on the table grabs his attention.

A small garment glistens against the emptiness as Karter lifts it to his helm. He could see just how intricate the rune was, seeming to flow along the edge of the cloth. However, this only made a new sense of worry fester within him.

A locator rune?

El's rune...

"Hands up!" a gruffed voice rips the silence and causes a rise to Karter's brow.

However, as soon as he turns to face the familiar tone, the both of them quickly realise who one another were.

Arnold's boss?

"Y're that caster's knight, ain't y'?" the woman's eyes narrow, almost squinting, as she lowers a handaxe.

"Where is she?" His voice lowers as the knot in his gut begins to tighten.

"I..." her voice pauses as her gaze shifts away from him, "don't know."

Before another word could be drawn, Karter steps past her. However, she outstretches her weapon to block his path. His glare bores through her as he turns to meet her response.

"My dau– Rose is missing too." The faint red in her eyes echoes the same determination that El's had. However, that was only a part of what intrigues him.

"What happened?"

"I wasn't here when Rose was taken and I... and before I knew it I had lost El tryin' to track her down and I... I just..." She lowers her head as her grip on the axe tightens.

A sour taste lingers in his mouth as he listened to her tale. However, he chooses not to reflect on it.

It is your fault for losing her in the first place.

"Do you have another weapon?" his words brought her eyes back to him.

She nods before walking towards one of the bookshelves. "Plenty."

Her words reach him as she pulls open a secret door, a small closet-sized room lay filled with an array of weaponry. Karter only gives her a single impressed smirk before entering.

"Thought this city didn't allow–"

"It doesn't. This is my personal armoury, and I only give'm out in case of emergencies."

Karter put his hand to his chin as he peers over the room. "Rightfully so."

In only a few brief moments, he'd made his decision. The woman furrows her brows slightly at him as he sheathes not only an arming sword but a hammer along with it.

"Are you expecting something more... armoured?"

"Yes." His eyes glow slightly bright and she nods in return.

"Alright then, if y' wouldn't mind," she ushers for him to step out while she speaks, "we need to find Arnold. He should be lookin' f'r that thief he works with."

"A thief?" The door screeches across the floor as he turns to her.

"We should talk and walk."

↢ ⬥ ↣

"This should be the place," without another word, the boss gives a solid knock upon the door.

Karter watches the streets, a slight ache still holding him.

The door peaks open before widening fully, a man in leather padded armour stood on the other side. "Freya, good to see ya!"

"If it were under different circumstances, I'd agree," the boss, Freya, states before turning to the knight, "this is Karter..."

"Honour to ya, Shade Hunter!" the man gave a small bow before continuing, "Arnold's got great respects for ya."

"We should get inside, don't want the city guard to see our weapons," Freya speaks up, forcing the thief to move out of her way.

"The name's, Tryss, by the way." The thief reaches out his hand, however, Karter only stares at him. "Right, not much for talkin', no pressure."

The knight turns away from him as he steps within the somewhat small interior. Freya stands just off of a small dining table before turning to meet his gaze. A rise struck his brow as he returns the stare.

"I'm sorry to drag y' into this..." she looks away before continuing, "if it wasn't f'r me, she... they'd–"

"It matters not," Karter silences the room before pulling free the small garment covered in a single rune. He places it in the centre of the table as the others gather around him.

"What's it?" Tryss questions before Freya pushes it towards where Arnold stood.

"It's a locator rune... it can only be activated by a caster," her words sink into the knight's helm as he stares at the cloth.

How could you not of known?

"And what has that gotta do with me?" Arnold peers at her.

"Hm, well, y'r the only one in which it has somethin' to do with." Her eyes peer over the thief and the knight before landing back onto the artificer. "Out of the three of us, y've got the best chance."

A gulp flows down his throat as he hesitantly puts his hand on the rune. Another breath is all he gives before his eyes widen and, though very subtle, Karter could almost see a spark flicker within them.

"I... I feel weird..." Freya narrows her eyes at his while he raises an arm to his face. "Is it supposed to feel like this?"

"What's it feel like?" Tryss leans on one of the chairs to get a better look at him.

"A pull? Maybe? Like wind across the skin..." His body jolts up as he looks straight out the door. He immediately takes Freya's hands before speaking once more, "I know where to go, I–I can feel it!"

A smile lay present across her face as she then pulls him into a hug. "I knew y' could."

"That's all good'n all, but how's that help us? We can't just barge in and take her back... right...?" Tryss tries to interject, however, is quickly overwhelmed by the others' glares.

Though Freya agrees with a subtle sigh, "he's right... we can't just–"

"It matters not how it is done, just lead me to El," Karter cuts the conversation short.

"Right... I'll gather every–" Arnold begins, yet is interrupted by Tryss.

"No, that cast won't last long enough," Tryss rises to a stand before continuing, "and we don't know what these... delinquents are going to do with the little miss..."

"What do y' suppose then?" Freya leans on her elbow, ready to hear his proposal.

"Since bargin' in ain't a good option, we need to extract her through the path of least resistance. Or in other words, use Arnold here to lead us, then scope out the place and chose the path with the least amount of personnel," as Tryss explains the others nod in agreement.

"As expected of a thief, a vague but not a bad option," Arnold pipes up.

"Hey, I wasn't always one ya know," his words only cause an eye roll from both Freya and Arnold.

"Well, be ready. We leave in half an hour," Freya states before turning to Karter, "we'll find them."

The patter of their footsteps does little to break through the congested streets. Another scowl rests under the knight's helm as he follows closely behind his navigator.

Many people give confused brows at the small party, as two of them were well-armed. Though these gestures go unnoticed by all but one.

"Are we sure 'bout this?" Arnold questions the group, "is bringing weapons through the streets really such a good idea?"

"Well, if the guards decide to do something about it, then I'll give you an answer." Freya shoots him a smirk before turning to Karter. "Besides, with him, I doubt they'll make a move."

Karter stares at her statement for a moment before looking ahead.

Why so much faith? You are not even a real knight, are you?

He closes his eyes for only a moment. Resting a hand on the pommel of the blade at his hip.

Why does everyone give me such praise?

Arnold suddenly stops, a sour expression covering his face. "Why?"

They stood at the base of a long staircase. The keep of the city sat just on the other side of it, looming over the city. Karter could feel the ache in his gut resurface.

Had she walked these same steps? Is she already ahead of us?

Freya grabs Arnold's shoulder before deciding to speak, "is it here?"

"The keep... I can feel the pull?"

"Tryss," without hesitation, Freya whips around to him before giving her order, "scour the area, find us the best way in, and do not raise suspicion."

"Understood, I'll report in an hour's time." Tryss nods before slipping on a ring. Then within a single moment, he fades into the crowd.

"Karter, stay with him. I'm going for our failsafe," Freya states before turning to leave.

However, Arnold catches her wrist before questioning her, "are ya sure you want to bring that along with us?"

"It might be our only shot."

"Then... be careful." With a short kiss, he lets her go.

As soon as she disappears into the throng, Karter speaks, "what is this 'failsafe'?"

"Hopefully it's not the one I'm thinking of," he lets out a small chuckle before looking up to the unpleasant glare staring back at him. "Right, uh, usually they're the creatures we capture, but some are the powerful artifacts we collect."

Karter gives an understanding nod before turning towards the keep. "How is this city?"

"What do you mean by that?" Arnold raises a brow to the knight's question.

Karter only turns with a seeking gaze, unsure of how to word the questions he wants to ask. And as he goes to speak the voices overlap his own thoughts.

She would probably have it better here no matter the answer.

No matter the question.

"Well, I guess it isn't the worst place I've lived, but I wouldn't call it the best," Arnold's words silence the voices, "though I'd recommend someone of your stature seek another residence... don't trust that lord here."

The only response Karter could give was another nod as a sense of relief flooded his veins. Yet, this only causes him an unnerving confusion.

Though before he could even begin to search for an answer, his shoulders stiffen. He steps closer towards the small man causing him to look up with another raised brow.

"What is it?" Arnold follows Karter's gaze up to the keep.

"I–"

As soon as the word leaves him, Tryss bursts from one of the third-floor windows. With one fluid motion, he pulls out and fires a flare above him.

"Shit!" Arnold shouts before turning towards Karter, "sorry to pull you into this, but that's the reinforcement flair... this city's about to turn upside down."

And although Karter gives him a somewhat confused glare. He follows him up the several steps to retrieve Tryss.

Leave them.

This diversion could be good.

We don't know how to navi–

Does that matter?

Karter bites down before quickening his pace, easily passing Arnold. His sword left his belt quicker than the first guard could register as they shuffle to block the knight.

"Move," a growl left the knight's helm as he met the last step.

"I'm sorry I can't allow y–"

Before he could finish, Karter's blade slides deep into his neck. His eyes flash over to the second guard, wanting him to step forward. However, they drop their halberd and raise their arms.

"Good," the knight breathes before walking up to the groaning thief.

Without a word, he grabs him by the collar before flinging his body over to Arnold. The two collide and almost topple down the stairway.

"You can't go in there alone!" Arnold's statement fails to breach the knight's burning gaze.

"Save your daughter. I will take the rest," as Karter's words ring over the courtyard entrance, his eyes grow brighter.

↢ To be continued ↣