Fable - Ask Among Strangers

[Rosaline]

She squeezed his hand as he helped her up into the saddle. Uneasiness was heavy between them.

The Knight was focused on protecting his charge, but Rosaline was worried for Nil's own safety. When the Fae had attacked, his eyes had been set on Nil, not her.

"We must be careful, the village could be in trouble if that's where the boy came from." She warned, taking the reins into hand.

"Those things tend to swarm."

 

[Nil]

The moment Rosaline...her Majesty, offered that piece of advice Nil began to have second thoughts.

Would it be better to go to the village or just head back to the palace? There was a chance that If the village was infected it would be more dangerous to go there, but If they did swarm then they could be all around them now. Lips thinned, and he slid his sword back onto it's buckle as he took a step back.

"I'll protect you." Was all that he said as he swiftly made his way over towards Pips and swung himself into the saddle in one smooth motion.

He glanced down at one of the runes on his palm, fingers tightening around the reigns of his horse as he motioned for Rosaline to go.

"Down to the east." He reminded her. "I'll be right besides you."

Then they took off.

 

[Rosaline]

The picnic the two of them had been enjoying was left forgotten by the small spring, the two corpses of the Fae and boy sprawled beside the blanket in a macabre scene.

Rosaline tried her best not to think on what had happened.

They rode hard to the east, racing the sun as it lowered closer to the horizon in the west. She couldn't help but notice that they were charging headlong into the growing darkness.

As they approached the village, she suddenly pulled her mare up short on the side of the road.

There was only shadow in the village ahead. She saw no light in the windows or streets. With night fast approaching, the townspeople should have already started lighting fires in their hearths for warmth.

Instead, what she did see, was a line of villagers slowly ambling up the road towards them.

She glanced to Nil beside her, biting her lip as she shook her head.

"This is bad..." She breathed.

"But... Perhaps they aren't as severely infected as the boy..." She didn't sound as though she believed it, but she wanted to.

 

[Nil]

Nil pulled the reigns on Pips, slowing the horse to a stop and glancing towards Rosaline.

He listened to her carefully.

The moment he heard what she said his lips thinned. What was he to do? He did not have an army, not even a platoon or half the Knights he would need to take a village like this. He was strong, the runes on his flesh powerful, but...not strong enough for this.

Fingers sailed over the hilt of his sword. "This place needs to be purged."

Nil did not quite understand this plague, did not understand the creatures. Yet if the folk within this town were like the boy that he had ended...then they could not allow it to spread.

He glanced over at Rosaline for a moment.

"What do we do?" His own solution was one of fire and violence, he did not know if she had a better one.

 

[Rosaline]

She hesitated and then looked to Nil, with an anxious expression in her eyes. "We shouldn't send for this place to be purged until we know the severity of the inspection."

"There's a way to separate the host from the parasite if they aren't fully bonded." She explained, shifting her weight in the saddle as she took a deep breath.

"Do you know of the herb, Fae's Folly? Most know it as a weed. Essence Leeches die when the host ingests a high enough concentration."

Finding enough to cleanse an entire village would be an enormous undertaking, but she thought it a better solution than slaughtering everyone infected.

 

[Nil]

"The King wouldn't like this." Nil said quietly, more to himself than to Rosaline. He knew that his Majesty would rather the village burn than anyone else getting infected with the Fae Plague that was now ravaging it.

He frowned for a brief moment, shaking his head.

"I know it." Nil said with a nod of his head. "It grows within the wood, but that might be dangerous."

The Knight wished that he had another rider to send back to the city. At least then he would be able to compromise within his mind.

Slowly he looked over at Rosaline, then to Pips. "The well. We put the weed in the well. Will that work?"

He asked.

 

[Rosaline]

She thought for a moment, before she smiled and nodded. "Yes. That should work, so long as they aren't fully bonded the hosts still need sustinence."

"Those that are... Will need to be culled." She said reluctantly.

"But we can still save some... It'll have to be enough."

She swung her legs out of the saddle and slid to the ground.

"Should we return to the castle and inform the King?" She asked, already starting to search for the weed.

 

[Nil]

Nil hesitated a moment. He had served Aguilar for nearly a decade now. He had been loyal, good, and in all that time he'd learned about how his King operated. The man was strong, stalwart, and absolutely sure in his opinion on how things should be run.

There was no question of what the King would do if he knew of this place. "If we return...the King will insist this whole place burns."

Aguilar would not take the time to put the weed into the well. He would send Nil and a detachment of Knights to see the entire village slaughtered and put to the torch. It would be for the good of the nation of course, to protect all citizens, but it would be done.

There was no question of that.

"Perhaps…" His stomach twisted at the thought of impropriety. "It's best if we get the weed into the Well first. Then return."

That way there would at least be some villagers left to save, ones that could speak of the mercy of the King.

 

[Rosaline]

Rosaline grimaced when Nil confirmed her fears. The King was a ruthless man who would go to any length to protect his nation, no matter the cost. She doubted that he'd listen to the advice of a woman.

She nodded once to Nil and then set about her search.

For her, finding the plant was rather easy. Wisps were find of the weed and often flitted from one blossom to the next. All she had to do was follow the dancing blue lights.

Bone Face manifested in the middle of the road, standing guard in the face of the approaching infected. The creature's stopped a few dozen yards away from the silent watcher, halted by his presence.

She made sure to keep Nil close by, not wanting the Knight to wander off and be caught off guard. Essence Leeches were drawn to magic, and were known to prefer mages. Nil may not have considered himself as such, but the parasites didn't care for his opinion, only the magic that was etched into his flesh.

"Nil... They're going to be far more interested in attaching to you than to me. I know that you're worried about protecting me but... Your priority needs to be yourself tonight. Promise me you'll be careful?"

 

[Nil]

Nil frowned for a moment at her demand. "I can't do that."

The answer came quickly, faster than it should have for any man who wanted to live. Nil had been raised to serve, to be a Knight. There was never any question of what he would do, because it was his duty. That would never change.

"I will protect you with my life." Nil told Rosaline plainly. "Regardless of the danger."

That was what the King commanded, demanded even.

There was not a chance in this world that he would let Rosaline come to harm, not today, not any other day. If anything happened to her he would not be able to live it down. The shame would cripple him worse than any wound. "We will be alright."

He assured her.

 

[Rosaline]

She pursed her lips at Nil's quick dismissal of his own safety. It broke her heart to see the man place such little value on his own life.

With her free hand, she reached out and touched his armored shoulder, turning him to face her. There was a sad smile on her lips as she met his gaze.

Cautiously, careful not to frighten him, she stepped forward and wrapped the Knight in her arms, embracing him tightly.

"Then I'll just have to protect you then." She whispered softly to him.

When she stepped back there was a slight blush coloring her cheeks.

 

[Nil]

The embrace was...not expected.

Nil didn't quite recoil, but it was obvious he hadn't quite expected to have someone hug him today. For a few seconds he froze into place, fingers tightening as he opened his mouth...then he simply held her back for a few seconds.

Before he knew it she broke away, his hand drawing away as his throat cleared. "Yes...well."

A bare cough ran through his throat, some awkwardness hanging within the air as he considered what had just happened.

He hoped Aguilar wouldn't find out, the King would have him killed.

"I think we best get on with it, before they get more sick, yes?" Nil said, his voice somewhat shaky. Though not at all because of the danger ahead.

 

[Rosaline]

The Queen gave a small nod in response and moved on to collect more of the herbal remedy. She could tell that she'd made Nil uncomfortable and she internally scolded herself for doing so. The people if Maricielo weren't accustomed to such displays and she needed to remember that.

A wave of cold loneliness washed over her as she set about plucking more of the weed from the earth.

After an hour or so, the pair had collected enough for the task at hand.

"Okay... Now all we have to do is get to the well. Should we leave the horses?"

 

[Nil]

The discomfort of course hadn't faded, not when she'd nodded, not when she'd stepped away.

He doubted it would ever leave as long as she was around him.

Nil didn't know it, didn't understand it. Yet when Rosaline was nearby something stirred within him. It was a simple thing, or it should have been, but the young Knight had never been taught about such emotions. He frowned for a moment as he watched her approach, her voice like a song to his ears.

"Yes." He answered quickly.

Lips thinned for a moment, his mouth oddly dry.

"We'll have to go quietly." He confirmed. "With as little noise as possible. Put the weed in the well and then go."

They had to be fast, but...it was the best shot at saving at least some of them.

 

[Rosaline]

She smiled at Nil and she dipped her head. While it was dangerous, she was grateful that he wasn't trying to convince her to stay behind. They needed to look after one another.

And she realized that she wanted to be by Nil's side. A warmth flickered in her chest at the thought.

Cradling the bundle of weeds in one arm, she reached out to take Nil's hand with the other. It was dark and she didn't want them to get separated.

As they approached the village, her stomach twisted into painful knots at the sight before her. There were still hundreds of parasites without a host drifting through the town. She'd never heard of such a bad infestation, let alone seen one.

Something must have drawn the creatures into the town.

"Nil..." She whispered his name, squeezing his hand. "They're everywhere... Even the livestock is infected." She spoke close to his ear, so that her voice didn't carry.

"Follow me... And move exactly as I do."

 

[Nil]

Nil frowned for a moment, wondering if it would not be better to slaughter the lot of them after all. Fingers tightened for a moment as her hand slipped away from his, breath catching, heart skipping a bit until he sucked in a slow breath.

"I will." He had followed Aguilar into battle a dozen times.

Would this be different? It felt different, it felt more significant somehow. He could not have placed why, could not have said the reason, but it did. A breath filled his lungs, and slowly he reached towards the hilt of his sword.

He did not draw it, not yet, but it was ready.

When he had said that he would protect he her Nil had meant every word. No matter his life, no matter what he had to do. Nil would make sure that she made it through.

Slowly his steps trailed within her own, every little motion, every little quirk of her feet. He followed it like a mimic.

 

[Rosaline]

Rosaline slowly crept through the village, careful to avoid drawing the attention of the Fae. Her eyes darted around, making sure that none of the creatures had noticed them as they made their way to the center of the town.

She glanced over her shoulder to Nil, offering him a reassuring smile.

Bone Face was standing just behind Nil, glowing green eyes watching her intently. The imposing creature turned his gaze out towards the town square.

Her brow furrowed and she followed his stare. What she saw made her heart leap into her throat with fear.

Lounging next to the well, idly grazing on a pile of blood bones. It was a Reaper. Terrifying creatures that could manipulate lesser Fae and bend them to their will. It's massive claws and fangs could pierce the strongest of armor.

The Reaper lifted it's head, sniffing the air with a low growl.

All Nil would be able to see was the pile of maimed corpses.

How was he supposed to fight something he couldn't see? Panic clutched her throat and she took a step back as the Reaper rose to its feet, standing well over two meters tall as it prowled towards the alley where they were hiding.

It could smell her.

A weight fell onto Nil's shoulder and his world view distorted. A massive burst of color and then... He could see.

Bone Face's hand rested on the Knight's shoulder for a moment longer and then pulled away, imparting the gift of Fae sight to the man.

 

[Nil]

Nil should have been shocked, stunned, but all he did was draw his sword.

It was almost like he became an all together different animal once he saw the threat. It didn't matter that the world had changed, that things had shifted before his eyes and that there was no reason for them to do so. All that he saw was his foe.

That was who he was.

Nil had not been brought up to question, to ask what was going on or why. He had been raised to fight, to protect, and do his duty.

There were questions. Oh there were dozens of questions. He could have asked them all. Who? What? Where? Why? How? All of them played over in his skull, but in that moment absolutely none of them mattered. All that mattered was that Rosaline was in danger, and this creature walking towards them was the source of that danger.

His fingers tightened on the hilt of his sword, a soft glow flowing over his skin.

"Stay back." Nil hissed as he stepped forward.

 

[Rosaline]

"Be careful..." Rosaline pleaded, the worry clear in her voice as Nil stepped forward.

She knew there was no point in trying to convince him not to fight. He was a Knight with a duty, one that he would see through to the end.

As Nil drew his sword, the Reaper gave a bellowing roar and charged. Blood and spittle flew from its pointed teeth.

The creature swung a distended arm towards the Knight, aiming to knocking his head from his shoulders.

 

[Nil]

Nil seemed to dart to the side in an instant.

The movement was fast, faster than it had any human right to be. It was as though he had taken three steps in one, landing to the side of the Creature with his sword already draw. A hand swept to where he had just stood, and in one quick swipe the Knight dashed forward.

A flash pulled across the runes on his palm.

The subtle glow from the scar seemed to extend and sear over the sword, rushing against the steel and surrounding it with a pale light.

Then the blade swept forward. It seemed to slice through the air with a careful precision, cutting through the air and sweeping towards the reapers arm.

 

[Rosaline]

By all rights, the empowered blade should have severed the creature's arm entirely, but instead the Reaper only sustained a deep wound along it's bicep. It roared in frustration and pain, yanking the wounded limb back as it swiped for the Knight with the other.

Rosaline stayed put, hidden from sight as she watched the battle unfold. Her heart pounded wildly in her ears.

She couldn't just sit here while Nil was putting his life on the line.

Gathering her courage, she snuck out of her hissing spot and crept along the shadows to make her way towards the well. This would all be for naught if they couldn't get the remedy into the water.

 

[Nil]

Nil dodged back as the creature rushed forward with another blow.

The earth seemed to rock and shake as it struck the ground, his body shifting to the left once more and his sword coming up to slash at the pale flesh of the creature once more. What is this thing.

The thought rang through his mind as he took a few darting steps back, the Reaper almost immediately shifting and then quickly darting forward once more. It's hand came down in another slam, then another, and then another.

It sought to crush Nil, break him before he ever had a chance to resist.

Each time it struck at him Nil would bound backward, taking step after step until he found himself pressed directly against a wall.

 

[Rosaline]

In an instant, a massive creature made of shadow appeared in between Nil and the Reaper. It's head was that of an elk skill, with tall, proud antlers. As the Reaper swung down to crush the trapped Knight, Bone Face reached out and caught the Reapers wrist, stopping it in its tracks.

The shadow creature snarled a menacing threat and snapped his fanged mouth at the Reaper's face. He was holding the Reaper in place and turning its attention to him, Nil was given the perfect opportunity to strike.

Rosaline had made it to the well. She cracked the stems of the weeds to ensure the potent nectar inside would properly seep into the water supply, then tossed the fragrant buddle down into the darkness.

 

[Nil]

Nil didn't question. Didn't even try.

This place, these things, they were beyond his understanding in that moment. The Knights knew that in the moment he just had to take advantage of what he could, had to do what he was able. His sword flipped, turning in his hand as he dashed to the right.

Fingers tightened, the rune of the back of his palm flashing in a slight glow.

With three quick steps he hopped, up and to the back of the Reaper.

A roar escaped his throat, echoing out within the world and resounding like thunder. He pounced upwards, reaching high as the blade in his hand seemed suffused with that odd red glow. Nil stabbed downward, impaling the creatures spine.

 

[Rosaline]

The beast staggered with Nil on top of it and then fell to the ground, grunting once before it went still. A putrid stench rose from the creature's flesh, as though it was already starting to rapidly decompose.

Rosaline looked up at the horrendous shrieks from the Reaper. Her heart was still pounding, but she was relieved to see that Nil was alive and unharmed.

The host-less parasitic fae that lingered in the air shuddered and squealed with fear, scattering into the buildings while others fled the village outright.

There was a soft gasp behind her, drawing her attention away from Nil and Bone Face. As she turned to face the source of the sound, she was violently shoved forward.

"NIL!" She screamed for the Knight as she tumbled over the edge of the well, catching herself on one of the ropes that hung over the edge.

There was a hooded man leaning over the edge of the well, gazing down at her with anger in his eyes. He pulled a knife from inside his robes, meaning to cut through the rope that Rosaline was clinging to.