Closed A Vision of Darkness, Part 1 (Fallon, Kyra)

[Orion Michaels]

20th of Spring, 513 AV
9th Bell
Stormhold Castle

"Orion," she began," are you doing okay? Some squires struggle adjusting to the city life again after their first prolonged patrol."

"Aww, I didn't realize you cared so much."

"Orion..."

Patron Knight and squire walked side by side down a corridor in the castle, another long day of lessons and training set before them. Dinah was dressed in fine clothing, and it was one of the are times he'd seen the proud knight out of their Order's famed full plate. A cape flowed behind her, emblazoned upon it her rank. She wort it with honor, more so than any other knight he had met.

"Sorry, sorry. Yeah, I'm doing fine. You must not forget, this is not the first time I have been out of the city. I'm okay, I promise."

"And your injury?"

Orion reacted to her question by reaching up and running his fingers along the two red scars which were a relatively new addition to his features. How long had it been? Thirty? Forty days? It felt both like an eternity ago and a day prior, all at the same time. The Zith who had given him this new look wouldn't be doing the same to anyone else. Though, truth be told, he could almost thank the beast for its assault. It seemed he'd been made even more irresistible by a slight injury.

"I barely even notice them," he lied.

"I see..well, I'm glad to hear it. I'm not sure what I'd have done if I lost you...umm..lost a promising old squire like you, I mean."

So that's how it is now, huh?

Back in Syliras, it seemed they had to go back to the professional relationship. On patrol they had been peers, friends, and nearly more. Dinah was such a mystery to Orion. She was only two years older than he, but sometimes he could have sworn she had ten or twenty on him. Other times she was his equal, laughing and joking along with him. She was a scary woman, beautiful, funny, witty, an absolute bitch, a slave driver, and really, anything else she needed to be based on the situation at hand. It seemed that situation was squire and knight again.

Shame..

"Old?! Hardly. Refined, perhaps, but old? You wound me, Sera Lorene!"

No sense in getting caught up in it. He'd had his chance and he didn't take it. What did he have to gain by being mopey or whining about it? He was Squire Orion Michaels, a man who would be lucky to become Ser Orion Michaels. She was Captain Knight Dinah Lorene, and there seemed no limit to her potential. He was nothing more than a bump in her road, a trial in her adventure.

"There's hardly a squire older than you," she replied, a grin gracing her features. "I dare say that qualifies you for-"

"Sera Lorene!!!"

Her name echoed down the corridor, cutting off her speech as both her and Orion cased movement. Confusion gripped their features, expressions twisting as they turned to see where the voice came from. The unmistakable pounding of metal against the stone floor grew louder while the shouts continued. After a few ticks a knight came into view. A panicked look was upon his face, though it softened slightly when Dinah came into his vision. Closing the distance with haste, he came to a stop before Orion and his patron, gasping desperately for breath.

"Ser Terius? What's the problem? Is everything okay?"

The knight wiped the sweat from his brow and took a deep breath before speaking, a curious caution about his tone.

"Sera Lorene, I . . . I don't know how to tell you this, but.."

"What is it?"

"Dinah, I'm so sorry, but . . . but . . Ser Korus Lyndstrom is dead. His body was found in the Nettle District."

[Fallon]

“I’m late… Oh petch! I’m late!”

Fallon pushed herself along the corridor at a greater speed than usual, wooden training sword under one arm, whilst her fingers worked on doing the top buttons of her shirt up with her free hands. It was an unusual occurrence for the squire to wake up late – or for late for her at least – and one habit that she often disgusted herself with. She was always the sort to be an early bird and the sort to get to meetings on time and perhaps slightly early. On this occasion however it was far from the case.

Her patron was going to kill her.

She took a tumble past a group of others, a cry of “sorry!” escaping as she kept on her way and picked up speed. The air changed in her lugs as she picked up her speed, the training weapon going to her hand. When had she become so disorganised? Recently, was the first thought that sprung to mind. What set it off however was still a mystery, but that was not her current concern. Making speed and racing up to the training grounds was however. Almost gingerly she stepped past another group of squires taking a slower walk to their location. She gave them only a quick nod, and continued on her way.

Days had flittered past at such a speed already, leaving her little time to truly register what was going on. Summer was racing past quicker than she expected, long days training blending into each other and the insufferable heat filling the bells of day and night. Even the return of Orion to the city was little more than a blur to her. She gave a huff as she turned a second corner and proceeded to catch her breath.

Definitely going to be dead when I get there.

It was not long before she started off again, ignoring her straining legs as she forced out a jog. Rushing it seemed would not get her there any faster, so the squire surrendered to the thought of simply trying to keep herself going. Or at least until she heard the shouting. The tell tale sign of a running knight clunked through the corridor from behind her, and then past her. A sense of urgency was in his gait and voice as he ran past, paying no mind to the squire as he dipped around the next corner. Was he calling to one of the knights? It sounded like it, but as the squire slowed down from a jog to a brisk walk.

Unfortunately for her it was in the direction that dashing knight was going, and so as she slowed her pace. She bent her head as the approach came more, and she passed the now heaving knight and who he was talking to. Her eyes lowered, and drew down to their feet. The occasional snatching glance at the faces, the one she recognised among the strangers being Orion lead her past them all the quicker. There was only a quick smile, followed by a nod to Orion, she did not fancy interrupting his and his patron’s –she guessed that was the case – time. Besides it seemed like a matter of urgency and one she should try to stay out of.

Besides, her own patron was waiting.

She had however only managed to get a few feet past her friend when she heard it. Her head snapped back, and she pivoted on her heel almost in disbelief on what she heard. Of course it was far from her own business, but it still grabbed her attention.

Dead body? Now that made Fallon’s eyebrow raise Now that is a first.
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