Forgotten Shadows

[Marc_du_Temple]

Early in the morning, before the sun rose to witness the days proceedings devilish and divine, Bede Archer approached the convalescent Airich O'Flynn, unarmed except for the sheathed sword in his hands. He did not kneel, but he did bow, showing due deference and masking his joy at the knight's survival of yesterday's tormented hours. "Milord," he began, offering the sword he had secured for a brief time. "Yon beauteous blade was being paraded through a darkling tavern like an auld chief's daughter by Ruman victor on triumph. When I saw it there in the hands of our shared enemies, my blood boiled, and I knew I had ta have it ... back for ye, that is. It has shed na blood in this brief time, but greatly impressed strangers and myself also by other qualities."

"Oh? Such as?"

"Its swift lightness. Its striking silhouette in the rain. It seems to have an authority all its own I did na appreciate the first time ye briefly entrusted it ta me. Yet if such a thing could be true, then it is good that ye are so quickly ready for it again, yeah?" As it changed hands and Airich refamiliarized himself with the blade he had not held in what felt like years, Bede studied his friend's face and frowned. "Ye look more ... worn, milord. Are ye quite up for this day's challenges?"

Airich laughed hollowly, but smiled truthfully. "I missed even you, Bede. It's nothing, really. It just took awhile to make me whole. Thank you for guarding this one part of me while the rest was being sorted."

[Marc_du_Temple]

Airich considered the situation. Far be it from a knight to reward a good service rendered with a simple thank you. "Bede, have you noticed that this is not my only sword?"

"No, milord," Bede raised an eyebrow. He was just leaving. Where is Airich going with this? he wondered.

"There is another. Less sentimental to me, but more than adequate. I think of it as a spare, but it's not helping anyone just sitting amongst my other goods, wherever my dear Amy left those, is it? It's yours to use in the service of our shared goals, my friend."

"Ye won't regret this," Bede bowed more deeply this time.

[Jerusha]

Friday morning
Master Collos' large safehouse
Grecotha

"I'm sorry Ams, I can't save it."

"Surely Speth, there is something more you can do!"

"There's too much blood. I've done everything I can think of. Perhaps Father Trevor can say a few words before we bury it."

"You need a few words from me?" Father Trevor asked as he entered the kitchen area of the safe house. 

Elspeth held up Airich's blood-stained tunic. All her hard work to try to get the blood out had only enlarged the tear where the dagger had driven through it. It was hopeless.

"Ah, I see," the priest said with a chuckle. "Where do you plan to bury it?"

"At the bottom of the rubbish heap. No one needs to see it as a reminder of what Airich endured."

Amy nodded her agreement. "Amen."

"Do I get any say in the matter?" Airich asked as he joined them.

"No," Elspeth and Amy answered in unison. 

Airich laughed and held his hands outward in a peace gesture. He was dressed in his spare tunic, freshly shaved, and hair neatly tied back. But he still looked pale and moved slowly; it would take time to work through the soreness that remained. Time he didn't want to spend.

"We need to leave for the bishop's palace soon," he said to Elspeth.

"Give me a moment or two to make myself more presentable," she replied as she untied the large apron she had been wearing to protect her own clothing from her struggles.

"I wish you would let me go with you," Amy said.

"I would love to have you at my side," the knight replied with a smile. "But the bishop asked specifically for Elspeth and me."

Amy looked at Trevor, who shook his head. "It's probably for the best. You don't need to answer questions about how Jasper's cronies ended up flat on the ground and unconscious. Bishop Bernard is not comfortable with our powers to begin with; let's not totally dismay him." 

Trevor's smile softened his words a bit and Amy nodded reluctantly.

Airich gingerly buckled his knight's mostly white belt carefully around his waist. His wound was healed but significant soreness remained. He would not go without his blade that Bede had returned, even though this time it was genuinely lashed securely to its scabbard.

Elspeth returned wearing a fresh gown and carrying her satchel slung over her shoulder.  "It's time to go," she said briskly, trying not to notice the priest's smile.

"I have Aran ready," Trevor said as he led them outside. 

Aran stood patiently, his reins tied to a ring by the door. A pillion saddle had been added for Elspeth's comfort.

"He is such a beautiful animal," Amy said as she moved forward to stroke the horse's soft shoulder. 

"I don't think Da has ever owned an ugly horse," Airich began and stopped  as Trevor moved a mounting block beside the animal. "A mounting block?" he asked, aghast at the thought he  might actually need it.

"It's for Elspeth," Trevor replied smoothly.

"It better be," Airich muttered under his breath. He mounted first, unprepared for muscles that complained when the action would normally be effortless. With a grunt he reached out his arm to steady Elspeth as Trevor boosted her onto the pillion.

"Godspeed," Trevor said, and Amy waved as Airich walked the horse forward.

[Laurna]

Damn! Sir Airich O'Flynn was a man to behold!

Seated on his proud steed, Amy could drink this view in all day. It did not matter to Amy, those weary creases that ran under the knight's eyes and along his temples. Those eyes themselves were wide and bright in the heavily clouded morning light. The blue might not be in the overhead cloudy sky, but it was in those beautiful clear eyes of his. All those shielded-off memories were now part of Sir Airich in whole; Amy could feel this about the man. What a difference the ritual had brought forth.

Also, it mattered not that it was Elspeth, not herself, seated upon the horse pillion style. One day soon, Amy will sit in that saddle- Sir Airich truly had asked her to marry him and Amy had said Yes- she was confident with her future becoming the wife of this handsome knight. Elspeth too looked regal sitting there, a leader among them. Amy knew that Elspeth's hand on Airich's shoulder was not for holding on, but was her way of being certain Airich would not keel over any second. Elspeth would watch him, and take care of him. Amy was certain of it. And it pleased her. She mouthed the words, "Thank You" to her friend.

Not knowing what to do with her hands, for they wanted to betray her by holding Airich's hand and never letting go, she hitched them over the belt of her kirtle. She felt the string of the small bag she had tied there. She untied it and then dashed up the mounting block before Aran could take a second step away.

"Sir Airich, I forgot to give these back to you. You must have them wherever you go. And do not lose them again." The bag jingled as the knight's face warmed up to realize what was inside the bag.

His fingers brushed hers as they wrapped over the string. And seeing her stand at nearly his same height, he stepped the horse closer and pulled her to him. "I promise, I will do as you say."

Amy was sure he was only going to kiss her hand in front of all these people; instead, he leaned across the small distance, ignoring the twinge in his side, and his lips touched her lips with a grateful kiss. Elspeth cleared her throat when neither of the two shifted away from the other in good time.

Amy side-glanced at her friend and blushed. "Speth, take care of him," she said, standing straight while squeezing both of their hands in each of her own.

Amy did not retreat from the mounting block until the horse and his two riders had moved away, and Father Trevor had amusingly given her a hand to step down.

[Bynw]

Come Friday morning and the rains have finally stopped. The city of Grecotha is one again coming to life. The towns people are out. Merchants and craftsmen make their way to appointments through busy streets.

The people are happy at the clear skies above the city. With the grey and wet fading away children find time to play again when not occupied by chores. Students and priests rush from building to building on the great university campus.

It truly is a day of celebration.

And there are some who silently nod to one another in passing. Sharing a smile that, on the surface is friendly, yet speaks of an untold horror to come.

It wont take long for the city to dry out and be ripe for the flames.