Present Day

Dragon Realm Cypress

The old Ruens’ abbey chimed across the city as dawn splintered the horizon. Long ago the priests of the Blue Angel walked the hallowed halls. Now new priests of a different deity graced the grounds and with them came the Silent Ones. An ancient order of knights serving the Mortal One. The Angel with the Red Wings. Jedeo. Avalon led her Silent Ones of the abbey. Once a deviant assassin serving the death goddess, she and her old Blade Sister long since sworn their blades to Jedeo's order.

Avalon sat up in the straw stuffed bed and stretched out her stiff muscles from a hard night of routine training between her and Vada. She twisted her neck, unleashing a ripple of cracks before swinging her jaw from side to side. A pop reminded her that her Blade Sister had gotten in her share of strikes before Avalon finished her off in their friendly sparring. She gently grazed the bruise underneath her eye and winced, but with a smile. “You didn't need to be so aggressive, Sister,” she called to the neighboring room,”I think you nearly killed me last night!”

“Is it morning already?” a low voice strained from the exhausted Vada.

“Time to get up, Vada. You can't lie lazily all day,” teased Avalon.

Vada wrestled around her covers as she smothered her face in her pillow, “The others get to sleep in for another three hours, why can't I? I'm First Blade aren't I? Surely that comes with its perks.”

Avalon crept into her Blade Sister’s room, grinning ruefully as she snatched away Vada’s blanket. A rush of cold air sent shivers through Vada's body. She instinctively curled up, tightening her grip on her pillow. Avalon shook her head disapprovingly and smirked. She pitied her Blade Sister. She had only been in the order for three years, while Avalon had been in the order for five. Already the ways of the Silent Ones were eroding away Vada’s Black Rabbit past, but she clung onto its customs and morals unconsciously.

“Vada, you are an Iron Wing, not a First Blade,” Avalon chided, “Now get up. You want perks? How about the fact that you no longer have to mop the floors or dust the pews?”

“I’ve been a Silent One long enough, when will I get a vacation? I want to be assigned to a hot spring, or a tropical beach, or... or anything other than this depressing church.”

Avalon sat on the side of her bed and lifted the clutched pillow to reveal the pouting face of Vada, “No one said this life would be easy, but at least you have me.”

Vada cracked a smile, “You think that's good enough?”

Avalon did her best to look angry, but blurted out with laughter. She stood and swatted her friend with the pillow, “It'll have to do, now get up!”

***

With the sun still rising breakfast was being served in the dining hall of the newly. Portraits of the former high priests of Ruens still hung on the walls, Their stern eyes made even the most steadfast Silent One shudder. No windows washed the stale air out or let natural sunlight to perk up the stuffy room, instead an old iron chandelier accented the already gloomy atmosphere of the hall, Providing the only light source. The young Silent Ones stood motionless at a long dining table. Instead of their traditional long white coats, they wore canvas-colored linen tunics and trousers, marked by rank with sashes of various colors. White for the lowest, next, dark gray, orange above that, followed by silver, which only Avalon wore. There were no gold sashes in the hall, and red was reserved for the commander of the order only.

The Silent Ones began to fidget in hunger waiting for Avalon to give them the signal to eat. Their simmering bowls of porridge filled their noses with a delightful aroma of sweet cinnamon and honey. Sticky cinnamon buns glazed with melted sugar rested on the table alongside plump, sizzling, spicy pork sausages. Irresistible to the hard working men and women of the abbey, but untouchable until Avalon picked up her fork first.

Finally, Avalon nodded to her followers; at once chairs scraped across the stone floor and a whirlwind of hungry Silent Ones dug into their long awaited meal. Avalon barely touched her food when the double doors to the dining hall crashed open and a pair of priests ran to either side of her, distress scarred on their faces, eyes wide with concern. Vada furrowed her brow in confusion as a priest whispered into Avalon's ear.

Avalon slowly pushed back her chair to leave, not wanting to cause any alarm in the hall.

“Vada, with me. The rest of you, finish your meals,” she said, addressing the table.

Resting in the pews of the connecting chapel sat Long Whisper soldiers. Their faces wrought with horror and exhaustion.

The commanding officer of the squad popped to his feet at the sight of Avalon and Vada.

Avalon bowed to the captain as she snapped a salute.

“You are part of Koda’s Range Patrol. Judging by the eyes of your men, I suspect you have come across something of interest.”

The captain shifted his gaze back to his men before responding, “Aye ma’am, We are from the Second Range Patrol unit.” He swallowed hard before delving into his report. “We were patrolling west of the City, three days' march from here. I sent my ARO soldier up ahead at the border of a thicket. Looking for bandits and what not, but he found something far more menacing.”

Avalon looked past the captain looking for the scout, but could not find him. She smirked, looking into the rafters and found the ARO soldier perched on a cross beam. “You, lad, come down here.”

The young elf dropped down silently and cautiously approached Avalon, “Private Mariv Embercloud, ma’am,” he said.

Avalon nodded in acknowledgment. “Tell me what you saw in that forest.”

“The forest was caked with ash, as if there was a nearby fire blazing, but there was no smoke. No smell of any sort of fire. I won’t forget the silence, not a single chirping bird. No scurrying of squirrels. Nothing, ma’am.” He swallowed hard and adjusted his belt. “I explored further and found that the trees were being choked by an alien substance. I can’t describe it, but I’ll try. Like worms, slimy and soft. Wrapping around the trunk, spreading across the bark. It numbed my fingertips upon touching it.” His hands shivered as he continued his story. “I knew there was a nearby village, so I rushed back to my patrol to report my findings.”

Avalon knew the village as well. Woadhollow.

The captain dismissed Mariv and continued, “Ma’am, Woadhollow is located past the forest. We trekked through the Dahlamar forsaken forest. Only the Torn One could call such a darkness upon the soil.” He shuddered. “The forest was haunting and Woadhollow was frightening. The ground was bubbling black, much like tar. The outlining homes were covered in what Mariv described…veins of some sort. We didn’t enter the village. We figured this was the work of the Night. Demon, perhaps vampire. We came here first, ma’am,” he finished.

Avalon was now locked in a hypnotic gaze. With each description mentioned about Woadhollow, she fell further into her depths of her mind.

Vada placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Avalon?”

Avalon refocused her attention. “Captain, I will make this my priority to look into the goings-on of Woadhollow. Indeed, this sounds like the work of the Night.” She turned to her Blade Sister, “Gather the Silent Ones and three priests. We head west at noon.”

***

Woadhollow. My past has finally found me.

Avalon sat lotus style in her mediation chambers. Candles flickered around her and her

Silencer rested across her lap. Sweat dripped from her chin as she struggled with her past sins.

She clenched her jaw and furrowed her brow. Bowing her head she whispered a prayer to herself.

Jedeo I won’t give in, I won’t surrender,

I’ve ran all my life, I won’t run anymore,

I’m not afraid of the Ashes,

Grant me your Silencer,

From which all others are born,

And give me Wings so White.

A prayer of comfort. It gave her courage to face her challenges. She raised her head, now calm, now in serenity. Looking to a tapestry hanging on the wall she nodded. The embroidered canvas evoked the graceful Jedeo and her angels battling the demonic forces of the Black Moon. If Jedeo could shine with eternal bravery, then so could Avalon have a fraction of that to head back to Woadhollow.

She snapped her head to the sound of approaching footsteps followed by a knock on her chamber door.

“Enter.”

A graying man, dressed in a red habit with a gold trim, pushed open the door. His skin was dark, and his tightly curled hair only grew around his bald head. “Avalon, I have heard word around the abbey that you are heading on a mission to the west?”

“I am Gold Wing Andros.”

“And you are aware I am here to observe your leadership?” Andros said. He raised his voice ever so slightly.

Avalon knew where this was going. “My Gold Wing, the mission to Woadhollow will be very dangerous. I didn’t want you aboard; for I fear for your safety,” Avalon explained, “You are a clerk in Jedeoheim, hardly battle-hardened.”

Andros narrowed his eyes, entering the chamber. “I am a Silent One, just the same as you. I carry a Silencer across my back. I trained at the Blade Range as a recruit just like every other recruit. I can handle myself.”

“As you say my Gold Wing.” Avalon bowed. “I will have your horse readied.

Andros bowed back. “Very well Silver Wing, I look forward to seeing your unorthodox methods in action.”