Moonlight rained down upon the deck; I stood here like a fool looking out over the black sea. The glow of a city before me enchanted me like nothing has before. Just the white marble pier was enough to establish that this city was like no other. Let alone the glass Monastery resting to the west of the city. Actually, it sat towering over an entire district. Towers spiraling towards the black abyss, reflecting the moon’s glare. Crystalline bridges swept from the towers forming a network of lines that reminded me of seeing a commoner draw a map with zero map-making skills.

The rest of the city was common to my eyes. Even the black and red palace that sat further back and stood equally as tall. Yet–nothing could equal that monastery beauty to me.

Sadly, business called me forth and I turned my attention to the thirty knights in glistening red armor sitting upon the docks. Squadron of wagons and carriages behind them. For an escort, it was beyond glamorous. Any ordinary person might have thought a King was coming but only I could tell by the somber looks on the knights faces, the way they kept glancing about, looking up the rooftops that they weren’t here specifically to escort. Maybe more along the lines of baiting enemies. Which dragged me back to the dreadful feeling I acquired the closer to land we got. That disgusting stench that only comes from heretics my Goddess felt was beyond saving.

“You would think that you are of higher status than I am,” Alaine joked but the tight line in her jaw and that dimple-less smile let me know her true thoughts. “Seems you will not have a chance to rest tonight.”

I slapped my fist to my chest and bowed my head. “We can tour the city as soon as I am done with the Goddess’s judgment.”

Alaine didn’t respond to that but watched the sailors tossed off ropes that were caught by dock workers. They tied them off and then lowered the catwalk.

With my sword in hand and my two, male servants behind me. I moved down the catwalk straight to a man in golden, plate armor. He dropped to one knee and the rest followed without a word. Thirty strong men kneeling along with their horses was a sight to behold.

But–my stomach was a little queasy.

“Your Holiness, the Goddess has decreed tonight be a night of bloodshed,” the lead Commander said in a deep baritone. He stood up and snatched a white stallion reins, handing it to me. “If you would, your Holiness.”

I saluted him and took the reins. One step forward, and I jumped onto the back of the horse. The rest boarded without a blink and we bounded off, leaving those two servants to stand there looking at each other. The city was different than I expected. A lot of tall buildings and a few too many alleys but the smell wasn’t like a typical city. Yet, the feeling of power here was so prevalent that I could partially understand. Knights might not be the most powerful here.

The Duke might be one of those Shamans whose powers come from bound spirits. If so, then Alaine has no hope of obtaining this city but she will of course, have the right to buy land.

A crowd sat ahead but upon them seeing us coming, they parted. Moving to the two sides of the street, almost up on the porches of some single-family homes. Up ahead, more than hundred knights, squires, Priests, and even deacons stood around a manor. The manor low shrub wall held no guards at the iron gates. The yard didn’t have an ounce of human presence but I could smell a stomach turning stench floating out of the manor.

“They are hiding inside,” the Commander said. “We need to confirm this is, in fact, a target before we begin.” He turned to me with burning gray eyes.

I gave him the confirmation with a simple nod and red flag swipe down out the side of my eyes. Within a heartbeat, those waiting knights picked up their bows, notched an arrow, and released a flaming arrow that burst on an invisible barrier. Yet, where there was a first, there is a second and third. By the fifth wave, the barrier shattered like a glass chandelier. The next wave exploded upon landing on the manor.

Screams were drowned by the sound of flames crackling, wooden frames falling, and the whistling of more arrows shuttling through the night. Visually, it was astounding. The sight of red hues trailing then a flash of brighter reds. Followed by dancing flames that spreaded everywhere within the plot of lands, yet a barrier kept it from going to the neighboring houses.

Emotionally, I hoped that there would have been some kind of physical melee. Allowing me to show my worth, to show that I could be something more than a pretty face sitting upon a stallion, guiding real knights who took care of the problem.

“Do you feel that you are useless?” A bright-eyed man somehow appeared beside me. His black hair slicked back and he wore the robes of a Bishop. “Don’t worry, I too was once like you. Sitting where it is safe, surrounded by men better all around than myself.” He waved one of his smooth hands at the thirty men guarding me. “I’m not going to lie to you but it doesn’t get better. You will never experience the feeling of swinging your sword, cutting down our Goddess’ enemies. You will never feel blood splattering on your face. Never to know what it is like to take a man’s life in glory outside of the training you did. This–”

He pointed at the corpse of a manor crying under the flames of wrath. “All men like us will have to worry about. The boredom of watching, and then treating the Nobles to the why’s of what we do. It’s really boring.” The Bishop sighs and slapped my back. “Luckily, you are here and I don’t have to care about these womanly noblemen. It’s your job now.” He bursted out laughing.

I shifted on my horse and gave him a side glance then turned to a carriage etched in Gold, a dragon roaring on the side of the carriage’s wall. For a moment, I caught a stench but it disappeared after the carriage door opened. With a soft nudge, my horse began moving towards the carriage. Ten Knights surrounded me, hands on their hilts, while the others notched their bows. Really took my safety seriously.

A man in a robe that hugged his rather slender body stepped out. He looked at me with a smile, his blonde hair curled in a way often seen on women. His lips are a little more redder than should be for someone with his pale skin tone. His bright blue eyes are almost hidden on one side by his long hair. A rather pleasant smell wafted up from him but my eyes turned to the second passenger.

Beautiful, not in the same sense as others could match her. No, it was something beyond the word, beauty. She stepped out looking very much the slender, womanly version of the man. Yet, an otherworldliness that I couldn’t explain, packaged all in her body.

I may have been a little too rude with the way I was eye-hawking her. Yet, with my training and understanding, she was very powerful to the point that I couldn’t take my eyes off her. The moment she moved, drawing her pagan power, I would strike to kill.

The shining of blades being unsheathed echoed in my ear and I reluctantly looked away from the girl who was smiling as if she saw something funny. I turned to the man. Slipping off my horse, I saluted and went back to staring at the girl.

“I’m Darin Clark, a humble knight. May I know your name, my lady?” My hand gripped the hilt of my sword; my body dropped into a sword drawing stances.

“Is this the way the Church treats its allies now,” the pretty man asked. “Drawing swords upon Nobility and the Head of this fair City? Do you not think I don’t have my own Knights?” He waved his hands and a group of Knights I didn’t take into account jumped off their horses and unsheathed their weapons.

“My apologies, your daughter is so beautiful that it left me enchanted and my mind could not think right from wrong.” I released my grip and bowed to apologies. The Knights surrounding me sheathed their weapons but the look on their faces said they were a step away from cutting the enemy down. “I hope you can forgive my rash behavior.”

The Duke waved his hand and looked at me. “You are the one marrying Alaine, yes?”

I nodded.

“Interesting,” he muttered and then waved at the ruins of the manor. “What explanation do you have for the destruction of property?”

Oh, that?

“To lower the risk, this was the most optimal plan.” I waved my hand at the crowd. “After all, our Goddess nags about how sacred human life is.”

The Duke looked at me then burst out laughing. His aura forced me and my knights several steps backwards. If not for the Bishop walking in front, we might have ended up kneeling under the might he was displaying.

“Okay, enough of the foolishness,” the Duke said, and then motioned for the girl to get back onto the carriage. “I want peace and quiet tonight.” He left behind parting words as he and his daughter boarded, leaving right after.

The Bishop rubbed his chin and turned to me. “Not bad. He didn’t directly beat you into the ground. I’m a little jealous.”

“What do you mean,” I asked.

“Well, when it was my turn to take over the position you are filling. He directly beat me down for talking to him without permission.”

The lord commander chuckled. “It has to do with looks. Both of them are feminine while you have that manly charm.”

“Maybe,” the Bishop muttered while looking me over. “Sissy.”

I blinked and looked between the two great men. Not having a clue what to say after being embarrassed then insulted.

“Send him to the manor. His wife is apparently looking forward to spending time with such a mommy-boy.” The Bishop turned his back to me and I felt inclined, powerfully so, to punch him in the back of his head.

Instead, I went and boarded my stallion. Followed my routine of guards right out of the combat zone across a bridge to an area filled with towering buildings, smell of baked goods, and line of manors that crawled up a hill.

“Don’t take offense to the Bishop. He is just feeling the differences between being a pretty boy and just an average guy.” The commander laughed at his own sense of humor. “Ah, when we first arrived. We often got bullied by the Duke and his knights. They ensured we never had a peaceful moment.”

“Why do you think the Duke didn’t do the same to me,” I asked, then paused. “Besides my looks.”

“Well, other than the fact you two look like women. Unlike the Bishop who isn’t a warrior, you are. Warriors like warriors.” The commander shrugged.

“What’s wrong with looking a little feminine,” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Nothing. You look like a trophy wife, you look like a trophy wife.”

“You make it sound bad.”

“Do I? I just think it’s not manly but given your strength, does it matter?”

“Of course, it matters.”

“Well, take a fist from me first and then we can talk about your pride.”

‘You scurvy bastards! Just wait! I’ll have you balling up your emotions and shitting it out,’ I thought.