As they continued through the manmade wood, past shadows of the past, Edmund’s gaze cast from the road to the courier who had his head down with an expression like he’d eaten something tart.
“You look troubled Stealth,” Edmund commented. “Something wrong?”
“Oh,” Stealth said, sounding startled, “Just trying to keep my lunch down.” He joked without much humour.
Edmund nodded. “I see. That crypt still bothers you?”
“It was unsettling, didn’t help seeing the... thieves, I mean how long have they been there?” The feline shivered, “They must have been there for some time.”
Edmund shrugged. “No telling but some have been there for weeks or months.”
Stealth’s eyes shot up to meet Edmund’s, “There are MORE corpses like them?!”
“You didn’t really get a close look on our way did you?” The paladin asked. “There were two dead there but many more thieves have tried their luck in these woods. But it doesn’t matter; I've seen many dead in my life. Far too many.”
“You’ve seen people... badly decomposed you mean...” Stealth thought softly with his eyes turned down but then looked back up in a questioning glance.
“Battlefields are not the clean place you hear of in stories. The dead are rarely ever picked up. Usually they are just left to rot where they fell.” He said with stony composure.
The cheetah swallowed some bile and nodded. He imagined a field full of dead soldiers like the two thieves he’d seen minutes before.
“There are worse things to see in this world then just a few rotting corpses.” Edmund said softly.
“Like what?” Stealth asked despite himself.
“In the Keep, thankfully in some well hidden place.” Edmund explained. “Is a thing of pure evil. A monstrous creation of some vile wizard.”
“Evil...?” Stealth asked in a bored tone.
“It’s a war machine. A giant battering ram but one possessed by something.” He paused. “Something truly evil.”
“How’s that?” Meaning no disrespect to Edmund, he couldn’t help but doubt the words of a follower knight when referring to ‘evil’. To date, such people have claimed that the keep, the Lightbringers, the Rebuilders, anything they don’t understand not to mention the cheetah himself to be ‘evil’.
“It was not made in the keep. It was made by some long dead Lutin chieftain who then tried to take the Keep with it. He was killed and his army wiped out.”
“Who or what wiped them out?” Stealth furrowed his ridges.
“The Keepers did!” Edmund explained. “He marched on the Keep with the evil ram in tow. The Keepers ambushed him about where Glen Avery is now.”
“Didn’t do him much good then.” Stealth pondered for a moment, “Was this battle as taxing as Three Gates?”
“It was a ferocious battle - thousands were involved,” Edmund explained.
“And what of this ram?” The cat persisted.
“Ironically the ram proved tougher then the chieftain who made it. The Keepers could not destroy it in spite of trying for some time. Finally they took it to the keep for safe keeping.”
“How do you know about this?” He asked, “Did someone use it or what?”
“Misha mentioned it during the Counter attack back in January and we both paid the thing a visit,” Edmund shivered. “It is rare that I experience true evil so close.”
Stealth shook his head, “How do you know it’s true evil?”
“You had to be there to understand. I just FELT it. The evil was in the very air. And it was also dripping blood.”
Stealth just looked at Edmund with a questioning expression.
Edmund shook his head. “No exaggeration. It was dripping real, human blood.”
Stealth rubbed his chin, “Where did it come from?”
Edmund shrugged. “No telling. But it was coming straight from the evil thing. No trickery.”
The courier felt a knot in his stomach and swallowed again, “Where is this thing?”
“Still at the Keep,” Edmund explained. “Kyia keeps it locked away in a deep, very secure vault.”
Stealth couldn’t help but shiver, “Where?” He asked, “We live in the keep, Edmund.”
He nodded. “I know but no need to worry. Kyia has it secured in a place far from everything else. No one can stumble upon the place by accident.” Edmund felt certain of it. “She keeps it from causing any more harm.”
“Is there anything like that here?” The courier asked looking around.
The paladin shook his head. “No. Else I would have sensed it by now. Being a paladin makes me sensitive to the presence of evil.”
Stealth smiled slightly, and looked at the knight in a questioning manner, “...can you sense it on me?”
“On you? Evil? No,” He responded. “In you I see only good.”
“I know it’s dumb but...” Stealth began.
He patted Stealth softly on the shoulder. “It’s not dumb to wonder about your own hidden nature.”
“I know many consider me ‘evil’ for various reasons.” He sighed.
“A lesson I learned long ago was the difference between what is perceived as evil and what truly is can be vastly different.” Edmund intoned.
“People are perceived as evil by those who truly are!” Stealth joked.
He gave a short chirp of laughter. “Often all too true.”
Stealth nods with a grin, “Unless they’re just stupid, which is usually the case.”
They laughed some more as the mood lightened. Stealth began to relax and just look about the trees and foliage, occasionally spotting some more ruins of one type or another. Perhaps the woods weren’t so bad after all.
After some time in the peaceful forest, the coalition found a suitable clearing to make camp. The area was large enough for their horses, a camp fire and lastly for them to rest comfortably.
As he looked about the ground Stealth wondered at the origin of the clearing, “Is this place a natural clearing or another testament to the wood’s past?” Stealth asked. “Perhaps it used to be a stable or an inn or even a home... it could even hold the secret to what happened.”
Edmund was silent for a moment. “I doubt it but the forest itself was more or less a product of the old empire. The clearing might have played host to some manmade building in the past.”
“Well I prefer the earth and grass over some hard stone pavement,” Stealth commented. “It’s a lot softer!”
“Don't worry; I see no sign of pavement, as least none that still covers the ground. Such a surface would be most unpleasant to rest on indeed.” Edmund offered, “Now let’s make camp with what daylight we have left.”
As the daylight waned they spent the time setting up camp, Edmund would tell Stealth the proper way to go about certain things but they eventually left each other to their own devices. Stealth just finished tending to the horses when he began preparing the field rations for supper. He absently remembered something and turned to approach the Knight.
“Hey Ed, I...?!” He looked up to Edmund as he spoke and saw the
Paladin to be kneeling reverently on the ground with his eyes closed and prayer
beads in hand, engaged in said prayer. The cheetah knew it as a Follower ritual.
Stealth was momentarily spooked; it looked as though he’d just disturbed
a deep meditation or something profound.
After a short moment Edmund acknowledged him. The cheetah looked up from his
prayers, “What?”
“Uh, don’t worry about it.” Stealth answered, feeling embarrassed.
“No, you can talk, what’s wrong?” Edmund persisted.
“Never mind.” The cheetah answered, mildly irritated at the awkwardness.
“All right. I’ll be finished in a moment.” Edmund said and
closed his eyes once more.
True to his word, the Paladin soon finished his last prayer, “I’m
finished now, so tell me.” The Knight ordered.
“Ugh, I can’t remember now!” Stealth said in frustration.
Edmund nodded. “Still speechless after your first visit to a brothel?”
“...Me?” Stealth asked indignant. “Who stuttered at the sight of a dirty message?”
The paladin nodded and pointed to Stealth. “I mean you. After all I am a paladin. I am not allowed to use such a place. What were YOU doing there?” He joked.
Stealth shook his head and reached over to ruffle Edmund’s head fur.
Edmund laughed. “Now what did you want to ask me?”
The knight’s pun did its job as it helped lift the momentary awkwardness. “I can’t remember. It will come back to me later. But I'm sorry I interrupted you.”
“No need to apologize. Forget it. Now - how about we get dinner ready?” Edmund offered as he put the beads away and stood up.
“Sounds good.” Stealth sighed. He would remember in time, but by then it won’t matter anymore...
“Interesting parallel.” Edmund started as they covered the short distance to the fire, “You felt awkward just now, and I felt awkward at the... site.” He noted obscurely, “...and poked fun at each other’s discomfort.” He joked.
“That’s another thing we have in common.” Stealth mentioned idly.
He looked at his friend. Already Stealth was better. Gone was the fear and the frightened look in his eyes. He still had a way to go but already his friend was returning to his old self. The trip to the woods, besides getting the cheetah busy, showed Stealth that at least he had his life and good health.
He had only known Stealth for a short time. Less then a year and yet for two people so different in outlook they had grown to be close friends. That friendship had changed them both and for the better.
The camp fire crackled softly as it fed on some larger chunks of wood. It illuminated their camp in a gentle though erratic glow. Edmund’s chest rose and fell with a soft rumbling purr as the knight had a light rest. The follower feline slept peacefully on an open sleeping bag, his tail wrapped around his side motionless. Though he slept, the cheetah’s sword sat at his side ready for trouble.
Stealth proved a capable sentry; his senses were on full alert, notably the cheetah’s ears which constantly flicked about for inconsistencies in the subtle din of the haunted forest. Though the fire blocked out any other light source – if there was any – the cat’s eyes remained wide and dilated as they scanned the tree line.
The cheetah felt ill at ease here. He had been recently attacked by thieves and began to feel very suspicious of leaving the keep. Stealth was not necessarily restricted to his apartment; he still felt safe in large areas with people about but the idea of heading out into the field alone and cut off gave the cat pause. Obviously his friends became concerned about the growing paranoia. Edmund in particular frowned upon the younger cat’s emerging agoraphobia and intend on putting a stop to it. Even if it meant dragging the other cheetah out of the keep.
His new fear however clashed with his instinctive ones in that he still felt more comfortable out in the open where he had been attacked, as he would be able to see a threat approach. Here he could see nothing; a ‘thing’ could jump out from the tree line and kill him at any time. The cheetah morph just wouldn’t feel safe till he returned to the keep, he realised with a sigh.
The dagger they found rested in his paw while he reflected, waited and watched. He turned it over and over. The gold and black marble would glisten in the fire light but his eyes remained cast to the woods. Edmund said the dagger had been meant for him, that’s either very good or very bad, Stealth thought. He didn’t need that sort of weight on top of his problems... Bah! It’s just a little dagger that he found in a cellar.
Grudgingly compelled, his eyes drew back to the weapon. He fancied the hilt to look like his fur but it didn’t. Who owned this thing in the past? Were they a solder who fought for honour and justice like Edmund or did it belong to a ruthless, depraved tyrant? Stealth turned back to the woods and shrugged off the notions.
As for thoughts of destiny, he made a living as a courier and that should be enough... No, he might not be doing that much longer. Not with the way he feels. As Stealth contemplated the thought of returning to the boring life of being a scribe and remaining in a small room in the keep somewhere, he jumped slightly as Edmund suddenly stirred.
“It’s my shift.” He yawned. “Get some rest.”
Stealth relaxed. He placed the dagger back on his belt and shook his head. “I can’t sleep.”
“The spirits keeping you up?” The paladin asked as he sat up.
“I don’t drink... oh.” Stealth blinked. “No! I just can’t sleep during a camp out.”
Edmund took a drink from his canteen by holding it over his open muzzle and managed not to spill any liquid. “Well it sounds like you need it.” He licked his lips of some stray drops.
Once more Stealth shook his head. “I can’t...” He sighed.
“Well, I won’t force you to rest, but I don’t like the idea of you being dead in the saddle tomorrow.” The cheetah warned.
“Don’t worry... I’ll probably be dead at the END of the day.” He smiled.
“Well, have a drink and just try to rest up a bit.” The knight got up to find some more wood for the fire.
Stealth closed his eyes though his ears twitched to the world around as muffled thumps sounded from the paladin tossing the wood onto their bonfire.
“What did you think of the ruins we visited today?” Edmund asked as he sat back down.
Stealth thought for a moment. “I was careful not to touch anything like you said.” He answered.
Edmund nodded. “Thank you. But what did you think and feel when we were in the ruins? Those were once homes and buildings like at Metamor.”
“It was sad seeing the remnants of people’s lives scattered in ruins.” He intoned. “It should be cleaned up and handled with respect. Not just left out to the elements.”
“No choice in that my friend. Until the ghosts are laid to rest there is nothing we can do but pray for guidance and keep looking for the truth.” Edmund said soberly.
“As difficult as that is under the circumstances, I can begin to see why you’ve needed to make so many trips.” Stealth cringed. “Perhaps we should ask for the Duke’s assistance.”
Edmund shook his head. “No. Duke Thomas has too many other things to do. The dukes of Metamor have tried for centuries to understand it with no luck. And I must do this myself. I know that even if I do not understand exactly why.”
Stealth tried to make sense of the paladin’s words though he had no luck. “You do realise, once the spirits of this place are free, it will no longer be a barrier to the lutins.”
Edmund nodded. “Of course. But also people will be able to come back here too and this city will be a place of the living again.”
“It will take a lot to rebuild the place. And I don’t know what it would take.” The cat couldn’t even begin to imagine the scale of the task.
Edmund considered that, “Aye, the valley cannot handle the number of people it did then. No insult to the duke but his government has not the organization or skills of the old empire.” The cheetah sat up. “However, Misha told me of a mission to these ruins when the Duke had an interest in rebuilding the old outpost” He paused, “That was before the assault...”
“Can they rebuild it?” Stealth asked sounding slightly more hopeful.
Edmund shrugged, “They rebuilt the outpost after Three Gates; surely things were more dire then.”
“That’s true, though the northern outpost will be nothing compared to this.” Stealth sat back. “It will be like cleaning my room.”
Edmund chuckled, “You have a true bachelor’s apartment.”
“I’ve noticed today these ruins appear tidier than my room.” Stealth agreed, “Or maybe the cheetah is stronger in me than I thought so I just prefer to live in the wild.”
“Well Stealth you do work in the wild. Maybe you just like bringing some of it home with you.” The knight said, sounding ever philosophical. Old Sedgewick would indeed be proud.
“Perhaps I really am turning into an animal.” He intoned solemnly.
“Perhaps you are just messy by nature.” Edmund joked.
Stealth stuck out his tongue at Edmund.
Edmund waved his hand, “The difference between us and the animals is that we have a culture. We create art and literature from our minds.”
“...Thanks, Ed.” The feline said feeling slightly comforted. “Sometimes I forget what this valley used to stand for.”
Edmund nodded. “This was once the centre of civilization and society for all the people in the valley. Now it is just ruins overshadowed by ghosts. Metamor is a place of great culture and art but the curse overshadows it now. Oddly similar fates aren’t they?”
Stealth sat up in his spot. “Yes, it shouldn’t be so for any of us; I can see you of all people as cultured.”
Edmund fumbled with something in his pouch for a moment. He took Stealth’s hand and placed something in it. “This is for you. A gift for being my friend.”
Stealth looked at his hand and found a small tree resting there. He was silent.
Stealth stared at the small object in his palm, “Is this to help me find the great ones wisdom?” The cheetah asked sombrely, looking up as he did so.
“I am a man of the faith,” Edmund answered. “The Great ones words and deeds are never far from my mind. But I am not trying to force his ideas onto you. Never would I do that. I am a patient person.”
“Patient?” Stealth narrowed his eyes. “Patient for what?”
“Patient for you to learn what really matters in life. You are young Stealth and you need to learn to relax and not take everything as an insult.” Edmund intoned though in a patronising manner.
Stealth bared his fangs. “That was not the implication you made, no, you just can’t comprehend one like me, that was clear when we met.” The cheetah sighed. “Though there are far worse things a Paladin could do.”
“What exactly does that mean?” Edmund asked with a sharp edge to his voice. “You think I would ever hurt a friend? Who is the one with problems of hate? Me or you?”
“You know exactly what that means.” Stealth shot back. “And I don’t know what to think of you. You think I have problems of hatred? If I do then why do you suppose that is? But I’m not trying to change you, I never implied you to be in darkness or ignorant.”
Edmund shook his head. “I already told you, I’m not trying to change you.” He insisted. “Only YOU can decide what you believe and currently you believe nothing. That feels wrong to me. You have to believe in something.”
Stealth hissed at the knight. “I believe in things that are real, rather than your imaginary friend.” He snapped.
Edmund showed no outward sign to the harsh retort, instead he spoke calmly, “You said you do not believe in religion. Then what do you believe in? All people need to believe in something greater then themselves.”
“I told you, I believe in answers! Logic, science, real reasons.” He answered in a tempered tone.
“Can your reason explain how the world itself was created? Can it explain how prayers are answered?” He asked almost derisively.
Stealth glowered at the Follower, “And that’s just it isn’t it, you don't know why things happen, hence, your Eli automatically created everything.”
The two almost appeared to be standing on opposite sides of the fire pit.
The paladin was quiet for a moment. “I guess it all comes down to faith. Either you believe in the Great one or you don’t.”
Stealth sighed. “Then why give me this?” He held up the Tree in his paw.
Edmund shook his head. “Because you are my friend and I like to give gifts to my friends.”
The cheetah staggered for a moment as the anger melted. “But why ...this?” He asked softly.
“Why? Because this world is too full of ugly and harsh things and too often we miss the small wonders and things of beauty.” The paladin intoned thoughtfully.
“And it just happens to be this?” Stealth cast his gaze to the religious object once more. “You’re not trying to pester me to worship as so many others have...?” He asked sadly.
“I am a paladin. A warrior of god. I cannot and will not change that but this,” He said and pointed to the tree. “Is just a gift. Do not think too deeply on it. I have no hidden meaning behind it other then as a gift.”
Stealth stood with an open muzzle for a moment, his eyes began to look sorrowful.
Both the cheetahs stood silent for a few moments while the forest sang its soft melody and the fire crackled away. Soon, in unison, they settled back down beside the fire.
The night grew cold and dark in spite of the fire but the silence between them was the worst. Edmund added the last of the wood onto the fire. “I never really intended to become a paladin. I just sort of fell into it,” He commented.
“Being born into a high noble family meant that my life was foreordained. I had two choices for my life. I could enter the priesthood or become a knight errant. Neither of which really appealed to me. Spending my whole life as a priest like my brother Lothair looked,” He paused for a moment. “Well, boring.
“But being a knight did not seem much better. All the family lands and titles would go to my Brother Cecil. As the first born that was his right but it left me with nothing. I would have to travel about and try and earn enough of a reputation so that some landed noble will give me a title and land.” Edmund shook his head slightly, “I know men who struggled their whole life and had little to show for it besides a worn out horse and some beat up armour.”
His friend nodded in understanding, “Being a knight isn’t all glory; saving maidens from the clutches of dragons and so forth.”
“In all my years as a knight and a paladin I’ve never fought a dragon or rescued a princess.” Edmund stated idly, “I have fought a lot of evil creatures.”
Stealth rolled his eyes, “That’s my point; I meant that as a figure of speech, not literally.”
“I understand that silly. I was just commenting.” The cheetah relaxed settling his back against a rock. “I wanted to do more with my life then just jousting and fighting in nameless battles. I’d seen a lot of evil and injustice and I wanted to change things. My years as a squire were hard and my first years as a knight were no kinder. I did try and live by the rules and lessons that I had learned in church as a child. My piety and devotion to the Ecclesia did come to the notice of some people...” His voice mellowed and he seemed to sit up straighter. “I was very proud when I was given the offer to join the order as a paladin squire. It just felt so right and proper! What impressed me the most about the order was they refused to allow me to answer immediately. They made me think and pray for a week before accepting my answer. I liked that. It showed me that they weren’t as rash as all too many knights are.”
Stealth had been trying to take in everything, though he did find something to say, “Well that is a big decision.”
He nodded his head. “It was a great honour to be asked but also a great responsibility. Being a paladin is not easy. The rules of the order are strict. I changed my mind no less then 4 times before finally deciding to accept the offer. I have never regretted the decision. It has taken me all over the world and to exciting and exotic places. And I have done the Great ones work! And finally it has led me to Metamor Keep.”
“Where were you before you came to Metamor?” Stealth asked.
“My duties have taken me all over the Midlands from Pyralian Kingdoms in the south to the Great Eastern range. I’ve fought pirates on the Sea of Pyralis and guarded caravans crossing the Flatlands. I’ve stood under the ancient and majestic trees of the Forest of Aelfwood and fought vile things in Elderwood.” He gave a short chirp of laugher. “I have even been to Marigund but don’t tell Misha because I think we were on opposite sides in a few battles.”
“Marigund?” The cheetah asked.
Edmund nodded. “Marigund in the Outer Midlands, Misha’s home; a region dominated by the Rebuilder faith. I travelled there on a crusade.”
Stealth frowned at Edmund.
The paladin was quiet for a moment before speaking. “It seemed to make sense to fight the Rebuilders then but it was a stupid and evil thing. I realized that after a few months of campaigning and went to where I was really needed to fight evil.”
The younger cheetah considered him for a moment. “So you weren’t always... tolerant.” The courier stated. “Or perhaps just naive, still, I can hazard a guess as to how you would have dealt with my kind in those days.”
Edmund just looked at Stealth for a moment. “Do you?” He asked in a soft tone. “Both sides did a lot of bad things in that campaign. I am a warrior of God and I am sworn to show mercy to ALL people. The problem was few were showing God’s mercy then.”
“I understand; people are capable of bad things.” Stealth conceded. “But, it was a ‘holy’ war, wasn’t it? Isn’t that why you were there?” He tilted his head to the knight.
“Not all who fight in wars do so for evil reasons.” The paladin answered. “I have fought in holy wars against the followers of the daedra. Would you call fighting that wrong? I had gone there because Rebuilders were raiding Follower towns. That was true. But what I found was that the reason the Rebuilders were raiding the Followers was because the Followers had been raiding them! The two sides had been raiding each other for years. Fanatics among my fellow Followers had used it as an excuse for starting a war.”
Stealth threw some small twigs into the camp fire. “It’s easy to find an excuse for war, some pale excuses at that.”
Edmund shook his head sadly. “A fanatic always finds a reason to loot, rape and kill.”
Stealth too shook his head. “I didn’t say a holy war is wrong. I just don’t believe in the concept of one because you see, there is a difference, one which becomes easily skewed by the term.” He struggled. “Take the daedra, they are creatures of evil; you don’t need to call a fight with them holy.” Stealth explained. “Whereas more often than not the term is used as an excuse for fanatics as you said. It depends on your enemy.” The cheetah smiled. “But you’re a smart guy Ed; you already figured that.”
Edmund tucked in his tail and his ears laid back in a feline blush. “Now you’re just flattering me.”
Stealth couldn’t help but bark a laugh. “Now you know what its like.”
“I am not supposed to let such flattery effect me but a little praise feels good.” Edmund explained as he regained his composure.
The cheetah huffed. “I was only commenting.” He shrugged, “It makes you human and approachable, though if that’s bad for a paladin then I’ll keep it a secret.” Stealth offered with a wink.
Edmund gave a small chirp of laughter. “A little laughter is fine. We are a strict order but not THAT strict.”
Stealth smiled but that soon became a frown, “Edmund, I’m sorry for that thing I said about your god.”
He nodded. “I understand. You must have been bombarded by many zealots of all kinds. That tends to wear on a person. I know. I have had too many meetings with such fanatics.”
Stealth turned his head down, “I’m sorry I took it out on you. It was stupid. I don’t know why I said it.”
Edmund suddenly hugged his friend. “I understand. Forgiven.”
The cheetah had been taken by surprise but he soon returned the hug.
“Don’t let it worry you anymore my dear friend. After all forgiveness is a part of the faith. I’m not some unreasoning fanatic.” He said kindly.
Stealth smiled and nodded. “Have you always had that approach and perspective to your duties?” He knew Edmund was a good person however, he still remained unsure of the paladin’s gift.
Edmund nodded. “I always have. It is one of the reasons I joined this order and not one of the stricter ones.”
Stealth rubbed his chin in thought. “Ed, you told me something sometime past; that we accept ideas that we once rejected and our experiences haunt and change us... Something or other. You were referring to this?”
The paladin nodded. “We all live and learn with time. I discovered then that evil often comes disguised as good and that those who scream the loudest that they do God’s work often do not.”
Stealth nodded. “It is a sad fact that people use your faith and many other reasons to justify their own ambitions.” The cheetah turned away from the paladin and now looked up at the stars. “If I recall from history, the Seuilmans carved out their empire to create ‘peace’.”
He again nodded in response. “To be fair to those long dead people. They had suffered several brutal invasions in the past. But you are right they were simply greedy. A conqueror will always find a reason to attack someone.”
Suddenly, Stealth rose to sit upright and looked at the knight. “I just remembered where we are...”
Edmund gave a chirp of laughter. “Now you are finally nervous about being in a forest full of ghosts?”
The cheetah rolled his eyes. “Of course I'm nervous, that’s a natural feeling.”
The paladin shook his head. “Relax. I deal with spirits and the undead and you are under my protection. The spirits will respect that.”
“I just didn’t mean to make an example of Seuilmans in a place full of their dead.” Stealth informed.
“The spirits here are trapped by their own deaths and they pay little attention to the present.” The paladin explained. “You are safe so long as you are not a lutin.”
“Trapped to live the last moments of their lives over and over each night...” The cat let the thought roll and sadly turned his head down. “Why do they?”
Edmund shrugged. “I wish I knew. Something holds them here. I will find out the reason someday so they can all finally rest easy.”
As the night wore on ever slowly, the cheetah coalition, despite being diurnal or day active animals, sat wide awake letting their senses open up the forest around them. The fire slowly died out, the bright, warm and comforting flames eventually retired to nothing more than glowing embers moving and twisting through spent kindling like earthworms in the topsoil.
Stealth reached out his hand to the remaining warmth, when he looked up once more he only then realised just how dark the night became. Even eyes made for seeing in the dark needed a source of light to reflect from. The cheetah reached out with his ears and nose as he waited out the dreary darkness.
The night was quiet when Edmund suddenly stiffened. “Remain calm Stealth but we have a visitor.”
“...what?” Stealth's voice lowered to a whisper, “what do you mean!?”
“I have told you of the Shadow Fox that inhabits these woods?” The knight reminded, “Well he is here with us now.”
“Where?” Stealth asked looking around nervously.
“Behind you,” Edmund said calmly.
Stealth whipped around quickly and spotted a shadowy figure standing near a
tree. He stiffened and bared his teeth in fright as he stepped backward.
“No need to be afraid.” Edmund stated factually in an even tone.
Stealth’s eyes widened and he crouched low to the ground getting ready to bolt and run away as fast as possible.
Edmund grabbed Stealth by the scruff of the neck and lifted him up. “Do not run away.” He said holding onto his wrist.
Stealth seemed to relax a little and stood up straight. But he stepped quickly behind the paladin putting Edmund between him and the shadow.
“Relax Stealth. If he wanted you dead you would already be dead.” He said.
“Oh... that’s very... comforting...” Stealth mumbled from behind.
Stealth crouched behind Edmund peering over his shoulder at the shadow fox with just his eyes and the top of his head exposed.
Edmund took Stealth and gently pulled him around in front. “Stealth this is Shadow Fox. He is the guardian of the woods. And has been since the fortress was destroyed,”
Stealth said nought; the cheetah just yearned to leave. His tail swished around violently, though the rest of him stood frozen.
“This is Stealth. A good friend of mine who is more then a little shy,” The paladin said to the shadow.
Thoughts ran wildly through the flighty feline’s head. What the hell was this? Why are they here, in the haunted woods in the dead of night? What the hell was Edmund thinking? This man encouraged over a hundred to be taken by the curse; he must surly have known what he was doing. But now face to face with a living shadow, Stealth seriously began to doubt the paladin was in a suitable state of mind.
The cheetah knight was silent for a moment, not watching the shadow but instead looking at Stealth. His eyes missing nothing of his friend’s reactions. He nodded seemingly liking what he had seen. “Relax Stealth. I’ve met him many times before and he is friendly. So long as you are friendly.”
“How does he recognize you?” Stealth asked nervously. “After all the last time you were here you weren’t a cheetah.” He added in a rasping whisper.
Edmund gave a short chirp of laughter. “I’ve been here since my change. Several times. But I doubt that a little change of flesh would confuse him. Nothing escapes his notice.”
Stealth looked bemused at that and turned his attention fully to the ‘fox’, trying hard to remain calm. Besides, he didn’t want to offend the Shadow.
The shadow looked at the young cheetah in silence for what seemed to be a very long time. The creature seemed to see right through him and down to his very soul. “Netala He,” Came the words in a voice as soft as an evening breeze.
“What did he say?” Stealth asked in a voice tinged with fear.
“Relax Stealth he doesn't mean any harm. He said Hello. So say hello to him. Please!” Edmund beseeched adamantly.
Stealth remained silent for a long time before he spoke. “...Hi?”
“Give him your real name,” Edmund ordered gently. “This is
a rare honor Stealth. Few people ever get to see him let alone actually talk
with him.”
The feline tried to speak but found his voice caught in his throat. But he eventually managed, “I... am Orix” He staggered.
There came a faint whisper of a sound that might have been a laugh. “You have shown more courage then most of those I have met in the last 7 centuries. Most just run in panic.”
The cheetah took a few deep breaths and gathered up his nerve. “I did come close, sir.” The cat quivered.
“Only a fool is without fear. A true measure of a man’s courage is whether he controls his fears or is controlled by them,” Edmund commented.
Stealth took another breath and nodded slowly, keeping his eyes fixed on the shadow while Edmund stood at his back.
The Shadow looked at Stealth for a moment. “You are an interesting one. Frightened yet courageous. No one wonder Edmund calls you friend. You will go far in this world and do many great things.” With that the figure started to fade back into the darkness.
The cheetah had an open gape. He stared at the trees where the shadow once stood. For a few minutes his gaze didn’t waver.
Edmund didn't speak but simply patted Stealth on the shoulder.
After they settled back down by the spent fire pit Edmund took up his place once more on watch. He settled in and relaxed for the remainder of the night though the paladin wondered at how Stealth fared. The poor lad couldn’t settle down to rest at the camp before, after this he probably won’t be able to sleep for days. Soon the knight’s ears perked and he turned to the other cheetah. Stealth purred softly as he lay motionless. He slept peacefully. Edmund smiled then turned his gaze back to the woods.
Nothing but silence accompanied them on the trip back, punctuated by the horses’ steady hooves. And so it had been since day break when the coalition set off from their camp deep in the haunted woods. Stealth had spent many slow hours contemplating the events of the previous day. He’d been whisked away from reclusion and then learned of Edmund’s strange task. They searched in the ancient ruins to find a small dagger that Stealth had been allowed to keep. Then they travelled through an ancient tomb and found fresh corpses at the end! After that he received that item; the paladin’s... gift. Not long after pondering on that he recalled the vivid memory of that incredible encounter.
The cheetah didn’t even notice they had long since left the woods behind. Edmund on the other hand remained well alert of his surroundings. The knight did not speak, keeping vigilant as-well as allowing his friend the time he needs to sort things out.
Stealth had a feeling this trip would be on his mind for some time yet. Some things were straight forward; ironically the Shadow Fox for one which probably didn’t mean any harm. The dagger, that will need some thought. And as for the other object he didn’t know what to think. The cheetah fumbled about his pocket and removed the small object. Stealth opened out his palm and regarded the item resting in it. A long string coiled about his fingers and claws attached to the wooden tree on his thick pads.
He made peace with the devout follower knight many months earlier, when they met. While it did frustrate Stealth that Edmund seemed more or less cryptic in their first discussion, though relenting to say some disappointing things – which he was at-least honest about –, in the time since their talk, theology remained taboo. In fact, not once had the knight brought it up or gave Stealth the idea he was being pestered to worship something that he didn’t believe in. And he did say there was no hidden meaning behind the tree. Edmund is a Paladin; he has to tell the truth.
So it really was a gift as a friend, but why? Why didn’t Edmund just give him a new quill or something? Well, that would be a dull gift he supposed, then what could Ed get? What is Edmund interested in? The cat-knight’s apartment lay bare of any adornments or sign of hobbies. The cheetah only had two hobbies; helping people and serving his god.
‘Maybe-.....!’
Stealth’s musings were cut short when his horse slipped fording a slippery creek. Neither the rider or the horse fell, however as the cheetah gazed at the small object in his palm, it slipped with the sudden jerk of motion and fell clear into the mud.
The cheetah chirped in shock and pulled hard on the reins of his steed. Edmund watched with concern and bafflement as he saw his friend’s horse rear up before landing back in the water with a splash. Stealth quickly climbed off its back and sifted through the mud with his paws, looking slightly distraught.
Finally, he found the tree, though entombed in a layer of mud. Stealth turned from the muck to the clear water, which he already stood in with the horse. With careful paws he freed the tree from grit, using his claws to gently remove any gravely specks till it was clean.
The cheetah laced the string around his fingers this time and placed the Yule tree in his palm once more. ‘This tree represents Edmund’s life...’ Stealth thought, ‘it’s something important to him, and he gave it to me...’
Edmund came around on his horse looking perplexed at the determination. “I thought you didn’t like my gift.” The Knight said, “Why did you go to that length to retrieve it?”
“Because Ed,” Stealth began, “it’s a gift from a friend.”