Fable - Ask Among Strangers

[Nil]

Nil wrenched the blade free of his fallen foe, ripping it out and turning in an instant as he heard Rosaline's cry of panic.

There was no hesitation.

No moment of waiting or seeming to be startled. Nil sprang into action as fast as he possibly could. A subtle glow washed over his chest, and then he ran. The wind seemed to shift around him, moving, darting away as if it wanted him to move faster.

Though he took a dozen steps, it felt like he took only three.

Rosaline would see the man reach, and reach, would see his blade extend towards the rope...and then suddenly his head tumbled down into the well. Nil's sword swept through his neck, decapitating him in one fell swoop before he slipped his sword away and reached down to grab Rosaline's hand.

"I got you." He yelled.

 

[Rosaline]

Rosaline gasped, blood splattering against her face as the man's head tumbled down into the well. He'd been alive, and not just a host, it seemed.

When Nil grabbed her hand, pulling her up and over the wall. Her arms wrapped around the Knight's shoulders, holding onto him tightly as she buried her face into his neck.

She was trembling in his grasp, breathing heavily with fear.

"Nil..." She murmured his name, tightening her hold on him as if afraid she would fall again if she let go.

 

[Nil]

"It's alright." Nil held onto her for a few moments.

It felt good, right, but he did not want to speak. For a few seconds he just held her there, looking around with an almost innate paranoia as his gaze flickered from place to place. After a moment he pulled back.

"We should go." He told her. "Did you get the weeds in there?"

Whatever that beast had been...there might be more.

Nil still did not fully comprehend the Reapers, did not really understand the Fae. All he knew was that he had to Keep Rosaline safe and this place...this place was not in the least safe. He needed to get her back to the palace.

He needed more Knights.

 

[Rosaline]

She took a ragged breath as he pulled her back, nodding quietly. It was difficult to speak, dangling over the well had been her first brush with death.

A few minutes passed before she was able to speak. "Y-yes. I did." She mumbled, shivering.

They had done everything that they could for these people, whatever happened now was in the hands of fate.

"But yes... Let's go home. Please." She asked, squeezing his arm as she met his gaze.

 

[Nil]

His arms wrapped around her in a tight hug for a moment, drawing her into his grasp.

He pulled her up and off her feet in one smooth motion, carrying her in his arms like a princess and swiftly stepping to the edge of the village. He did not know if more of those creatures were around, did not know if they would be attacked again.

Yet he would not take a chance.

"We're going." Nil told her softly as he quickly rushed back the way they had come.

He left his sword where it had fallen, discarding the blade in favor of getting her to safety, in favor of getting her home. Quickly he moved, the soft glow of another of the runes flickering beneath his tunic as he ran towards the treeline.

 

[Rosaline]

Gradually, Rosaline relaxed in Nil's arms as he carried her away from the village. Her head came to rest against the front of his shoulder, tucked beneath his jaw.

She felt safe in his arms, like nothing bad could happen so long as he held her.

By the time she'd opened her eyes and took a look at their surroundings, the village was far behind them. Nil showed no signs of slowing, it was clear he intended to reach the horses before he even considered putting her down.

"We're okay..." She whispered to him, lifting her head from his chest to look at his face.

"You don't have to carry me, we still have to ride back to the castle and you need your strength."

 

[Nil]

He frowned for a moment, but slowly nodded his head and bent down to put her back onto the ground. "Alright."

Nil glanced behind them for a moment, as if to make sure that nothing was following them. His lips thinned for a moment, and then he motioned for her to go first.

"What." He began with a frown. "What the hell were those things?"

There had been monsters before. Chimera, manticores, even a dragon once. Yet something like this was...different, too far flung from what he knew and understood. It made him uncomfortable, though not of her.

It was another threat he had to worry about, one he couldn't ignore.

 

[Rosaline]

"A type of malevolent Fae... Specifically, the creature you battled is called a Reaper." She explained quietly, grateful to have something academic to focus on instead of her brush with death.

"They feast on the flesh of the dying. And... They can control lesser Fae, such as those Essence Leeches to achieve that end." She shook her head with a dismayed expression, pursing her lips.

Even if a Reaper could demand that level of compulsion, she'd never heard of them attacking entire villages before. And who was the man who'd tried to kill her? None of it made sense.

"Typically... Humans can't see them, and they only dwell deep within forests rife with magic. I've never heard of them attacking humans outright like that. Especially ones who aren't lost or injured."

As she talked, the horses finally came into view and she expelled a sigh of relief, then paused to turn to her Knight.

"Nil... Something is very wrong here. Fae, even the malevolent ones, don't act like that."

 

[Nil]

Nil listened carefully to every word she said, paying close enough attention so that he could grasp the meaning of what she said.

His features seemed to tighten as she continues to speak, lips thinning and his fingers tightening on his reins. He held Pips to the side of him as Rosaline continued, his head nodding for a moment. Of something was wrong, then there was a threat. A threat that would have be elimated.

Especially if it was this close to the city.

"We have to inform the King. He will know the best course of action." He told her calmly. Nil could hardly solve this issue on his own, and Aguilar had men who were actual mages that could deal with this sort of thing much better than he could.

Best to leave it to them.

Casting one last weary glance back in the direction of the village Nil made a motion towards Rosaline.

"Let's get back quickly." He said with a glance towards the sun. "We're already late."

 

[Rosaline]

The trip back to the castle passed without further incident, thankfully. As twilight settled over the landscape, a sense of calm fell over Rosaline. No matter how bold the creatures in the village had been, it was unlikely there would be a threat to the castle itself.

As the pair rode into the courtyard, they were soon met by the King himself.

He looked furious.

Rosaline made the distinction that he was angry, from what she could tell, there wasn't an ounce of concern on his face about why they were late.

His glare fixated on the Knight and Queen, before he gestured idly towards Rosaline. "Take her to my chambers." He told one of the knights over his shoulder.

"My Lord, there's something importa--" Rosaline had started to try to explain the situation, before Aguilar cut her off.

"I don't want to hear your excuses. You'll await me in my chambers."

Rosaline's mouth formed a thin line at the King's harsh rebuke and she briefly glanced to Nil as the other knight gently took her by the arm to lead her away.

Aguilar's attention then turned to Nil, though his anger seemed to ebb somewhat once the Queen was out of sight and safely inside the castle.

"You had better have a good reason for missing your curfew, Nil." He said sternly.

 

[Nil]

Nil held himself back, and of course said nothing as Aguilar admonished them. There was no argument, nothing to be said. Trying to be contrary to his King was not something he would ever do. If the man told him to slit his own throat, he would.

It was that easy for him.

Still, when he yelled at Rosaline he felt a spike of anger run through him. His fists scrunched for a moment, curling inward. He took a breath, his teeth setting and grinding ever so slightly as he watched the Queen stalk off towards the Palace.

It seemed as though he was in a trance for a second as the King questioned him, one that he only snapped out of when his head dipped in a nod. "Yes, I do, Sir."

He told the King.

"There is a village, infected with some sort of...monstrous plague." Nil explained. "A creature attacked us, and I could not return directly without endangering the Queen."

That was not exactly a lie, though close enough to it that it made Nil slightly uncomfortable to say it. "I had to ensure she would not be put in any more danger."

 

[Rosaline]

The King's expression shifted when Nil gave his explanation. He was not beyond reason, he knew that Nil would not have missed a timely return without reason.

"A plague?" He questioned, running a hand through his dark hair.

Then he paused, eyeing the Knight thoughtfully. "We will have to discuss what you and the girl were doing in a village in the first place, at a later date."

Aguilar made a distinct effort not to call Rosaline his queen.

"For now... I will send a detachment with Miguel to investigate the village." He replied, glancing over his shoulder to the remaining guard.

"See it done."

The Knight gave a quick bow and then turned to find the court mage and the Knight Captain.

"You did well to bring her back in one piece. She's useless to me dead without an heir."

 

[Nil]

Nil nodded his head, though when Aguilar turned away his hand flickered quickly.

Though none of them doubted the King even an inch, the Knights closest to him had developed an understanding over the years. His Majesty was not to be questioned directly, but his decisions sometimes had to be better informed.

This was one of those times.

Aguilar would never have understood. He was quick, decisive. It was a quality that had seen him win many victories, but also had lost many lives. When Nil had first entered his service as a Knight it had been Miguel who told him of this practice.

The Knight shot Nil a curt nod before he turned away to find Miguel and the Court Mage. Before leaving they would find him, ask his advice. Such was their way.

Not disobedience, but a way to find more information. "My role is to protect her and yourself, Your Majesty."

Nil said with a bow of his head.

"I only did what I had to keep her safe." He was confident in that.

 

[Rosaline]

The King considered Nil's words carefully, his gaze holding firm. There was a flicker in Aguilar's eyes.

"It's your duty to protect the Kingdom and myself, Nil." He clarified, then turned his gaze towards the palace with a sigh.

"And you're the best at your job, by far."

"Do not get attached to the girl, I will warn you that. Her situation is... Fluid, and very likely to change." He cautioned, as though giving his friend a good piece of advice.


Standing behind the King, by the door Rosaline had been led through, stood the shadow creature that had come to Nil's aid in the village. He was staring intently at the two men. No one else seemed to notice him as they milled about the small courtyard.

 

[Nil]

Nil tensed slightly as Aguilar spoke. His muscles tightening, but his face remaining that impassive mask that had been trained up so well.

He was a soldier.

A knight.

Nil would not ask the question that was burning in his mind, would never deign to such authority even in the darkest of moments. There wasn't a chance of such a thing, not with him. Not when Aguilar was present. He remembered his training, the mental bonds lashes to him.

Even if in this moment he was struggling against them. "Of course your majesty."

Nil said with a nod of his head.

"Though if I may." For a second Aguilar hesitated, then he motioned for Nil to continue. There was enough trust for that at least. "I believe you could use her to gain favor with the people."

He contended. "Her disposition is a bright one, and she may be useful in garnering favor before the next war."

The insinuation was a clear one, though steering Aguilar had never been easy.

 

[Rosaline]

The King's eyes lit up at the suggestion and a slow smile spread across his lips. To anyone who didn't know him well, he would have looked pleased and genuine, but to Nil... He would look dangerous.

"That... Is a good point. Garner the people's favor and..." He mused quietly to himself and then he reached out to clasp Nil's shoulder with a grin.

"Once this plague has been dealt with, you'll be in charge of the campaign. You'd make a fine politician, Nil." He chuckled lowly.

 

[Nil]

[clor=#1e90ff]"Of course your majesty."[/color] Nil said with a bow of his head.

There would never be any arguments from him, not with anything that the King desired. It was his duty, that was what he had been taught all of his life. Who was he to question? Who was he to make demands? Just a Knight that had been offered kindness.

In due time, perhaps that would change.

"I think Politics is to dangerous for me." He said with a slight smile. "I prefer the battlefield."

A true statement if there ever was one. "Shall I go with Miguel?"

He asked.

 

[Rosaline]

"Yes. It will save them the trouble of locating the village and you can explain the severity of the situation on the way. I want this dealt with swiftly. Any who are infected must be... Dealt with." He grimaced at his last resolution.

Aguilar may have been entirely indifferent to the queen's well-being, but his people were a different matter altogether. He loathed such decisions, but they came with the burden of the crown.

"Best to purge the village and save the rest of the kingdom. If there are any survivors who don't appear afflicted, escort them to East Hollow Chapel to quarantine." He added a moment later, he wasn't completely heartless.

 

[Nil]

"Of course, your Majesty." Nil said with a bow of his head.

Quietly in the back of his head he thanked the gods that Rosaline had thought ahead. Thanks to the medicine that they had gotten into the well they would find those infected to be fewer in number. At least that's as what he hoped. Perhaps if he stalled Miguel and the others with an explanation they would wait a bit longer.

Unlike Aguilar, Miguel was more than willing to spare lives if he could. The Knight-Captain was a smart mean, weathered in dozens of battles. If he could ensure the safety of his men as well as the innocent?

It wouldn't even be a question.

"Is there anything else, My Lord?" He continued. "Or shall I depart?"

There was no time to waste after all.

 

[Rosaline]

"Be on your way, and good luck to you." The King said, dismissing Nil with a crooked smile.

With that, Aguilar turned to make his way back into the castle. He still had his wife to deal with.


Rosaline had been taken to the King's chambers as instructed. One of the serving girls brought her a meal, combed her hair, and helped her look presentable for the King.

Throughout the entire process, Rosaline didn't utter a word. Her thoughts had turned to concern for Nil, and worry for what was to come when Santiago made his inevitable appearance.

 

[Nil]

It was one of those servants, one of the small and slight girls that passed Rosaline a note.

The parchment was folded small, as though it were intended to be wrapped around the leg of a crow. Just a slip of paper with writing enough to tell her what had happened, what would happen.

At least in part.

Going to village. People will be safe, quarantine. You will be alright.

The message was short, terse, but all that could be managed on the thing strip of parchment. The servant girl slipped it into Rosaline's palm, a motion so quick that anyone watching would have missed it.

She offered the Queen a brief smile, then immediately turned and left the room.

 

[Rosaline]

As she read over the secreted note, Rosaline felt a flutter of relief in her chest. Nil had been thoughtful enough to let her know what was happening, and she was confident that the Knight would do his best to do the right thing.

She read over the last three words several times, trying to soothe her nervousness for what was to come once the King arrived.

Something told her that she shouldn't keep the small letter, as much as she wanted to. Reluctantly, she tossed the tiny scroll of paper into the hearth, watching the flames burn away the reassuring words.


Nil would find Miguel in the armory, rounding up the last of his men for the task at hand.

The grizzled veteran turned to Nil and dipped his head in greeting. "Heard you found a helluva lot of trouble with the Queen out there. Mind filling me in?"

 

[Nil]

Nil snapped off a quick salute, more as a matter of habit than anything else. Miguel did not often stand on formalities, and in fact seemed annoyed by them more often than not. He was a good man, and the one who had taught the Young Knight many of his skills with a sword.

"Aye." Nil answered with. A nod.

"Though truthfully the Queen would do a better job." Not that either of them would be able to convince Aguilar to let them speak to her. Not for a little while at the very least. "She seemed to know quite a bit."

He said with a frown, before quickly answering. "The town has been overtaken by some sort of parasite. A creature that infects it's victims and renders them as little more than beasts."

It was not a perfect explanation, but the only one that Nil could really think to give without the help of Rosaline. She had been smart enough to know, and he'd listened, but in the midst of all the chaos he hadn't been able to fully grasp the knowledge.

"We managed to find an antitode and put it in the will, those infected should be suffering from the effects by the time we reach the village." No doubt saving dozens of lives.

 

[Rosaline]

~~~
​

The venture to the infected village was a success by all accounts. Unfortunately, not everyone could be saved, though thanks to Nil and Rosaline's actions, many were. Those who were spared, were brought to the chapel to undergo treatment and quarantine. Many of them were malnourished and bordering on death's door.

While the village itself was lost, those who survived the ordeal were unrepentantly grateful to the King.

Weeks had passed, and the villagers were embroiled in their efforts to rebuild their home, and their lives. Upon the official reopening of the tavern, they insisted on hosting a festival in the Queen's name. They'd even renamed the establishment in honor of the man and woman who saved them: The Rosy Knight.

The King saw this as an opportunity.

He instructed both Rosaline and Nil to attend the festival with the intention of exposing Rosaline to the people.

The Queen was delighted. It had been weeks since she'd been permitted to leave the castle.

~~~
​

Rosaline expelled a frustrated sigh as she looked herself over in the mirror for the third time. The gown Aguilar insisted she wear was absurd, to put it lightly. She could scarcely breathe in the thing and the skirts were far too bulky to properly ride a horse.

Still, the color accentuated her eyes and hair. So it wasn't a complete loss.

Pursing her lips, she grabbed a simpler dress from her own wardrobe along with a pair of riding trousers, and stuffed them into a small bag. Perhaps she'd find an opportunity to change while they were out. It wasn't as though the King himself was going.

With her bag in hand, she slipped out of her room and made her way to the stables to meet Nil.

​

 

[Nil]

Nil stood by the stables along with a few of the other Knights.

This time Aguilar had insisted on Rosaline being guarded by more than one man. The phrasing he had used had not been the most kind, but Nil had not taken offense at the words. The young Knights knew better than to take insult from the King.

Besides, if anything happened to Rosaline he would be more ashamed than he could put into words. At that point he would rather have Aguilar end his life. Lips thinned at the thought, Nil realizing that perhaps it was a touch...

No.

His head shook as the Queen approached, one of the other Knights snapping to attention and offering the Queen a salute.

"Good morning, your Majesty."​

The man said with a bow, dipping low as Nil turned around and offered the same. "Your Majesty."

Nil said with his own bow.

"I've readied your horse for the journey." It was the same that she had used on their...picnic. A token that he hoped she would take note of.