Chapter 65: Royal Knights
Gallop Gallop
The sounds of horses moving in perfect unison filled the air. It drowned out every sound that was around and pulled all attention to them.
Twenty fully armoured knights on horses rode towards Raven Town. Their armor was made of stainless steel, with the crest of the kingdom on the chest in blood red.
The only knight different amongst them was the man who rode at the front. He was decked in fully black armor with silver trims, his crest was the same as well. He had a massive black sword on his back, and he wore no helmet.
His beautiful silver-blonde hair flowed in the wind, framing his well-sculpted face. His sharp eyes pierced into the town ahead, no emotion there, just blank.
When they arrived at the gate of Raven Town, their horses slowed down, and they strode in in a strict formation.
Raven Town was really nothing to be prideful about, but even then, it was not something that was dog shit. It had its own light to it. A small town with houses made of bricks and wood, streets paved not with proper materials but rather by the effects of being trodden on for years.
When the townspeople saw the knights and the crest on their chests, they panicked. Everyone rushed into their homes and away from the roads as fast as possible to avoid being in any issue with the knights.
These were no ordinary knights. The crest on their chests told a story. They were royal knights, right from the capital of Vermilion. People like them never came to small towns like this unless there was a reason to do so.
They were also stuck up and pride-filled because of their status, and as such, commoners evaded them to ensure that they did not get punished.
While the knights rode through the town, headed right for the baron’s home, a small kid of ten rushed out of the alley. She had not been paying attention while playing, and she ended up tripping and falling right in front of the horse of the leader.
The horse was startled.
Neighhhhhhhh!
The horse lifted both forelegs into the air and staggered back.
"Stay, stay," the knight yelled and struggled to control his horse until he finally did. When the horse finally stopped, his face, which had held no emotion, had now twisted into rage. He stretched out his hand and grabbed his sword, pulling it from his back and then pointing it down at the girl on the ground.
She looked at the blade, and fear gripped her down to her core. She trembled. She might be ten, but she knew what a blade was and what situation she was in.
"How dare you obstruct a royal knight? Your actions will be punished by death," he said.
From inside every house, the people watched with fear in their eyes, scared for the life of the kid, but they did not dare step outside, else they would die for sure.
BAM!
A door slammed open, and a lady rushed out. A few hands inside the house tried to hold her and pull her back, but she broke free and rushed towards the girl. She wrapped her hands around the shaking girl and looked up at the royal knight.
"Please, your lordship, forgive my daughter, I beg of you. She is a little child, and she did not know what she was doing. I beg of you, under the name of Lord Crimson, that you show her mercy," the mother bowed her head so low it touched the ground.
The knight frowned even more. "The Lord Crimson teaches us that you must take care for your actions, or suffer the punishment," he said and then raised his sword and slashed to cut right through the mother and the kid.
CLANG!
Everyone thought that the mother and child had died in that moment, only for them to look and see that Gerald had appeared at the last moment and blocked the attack.
"Urghhh, so strong," Gerald growled. He turned his head to look at the woman, who was still shaken up badly.
"Run, leave here now," he roared at her. She looked at him in confusion for a few seconds before she rose to her feet and rushed out of there carrying her daughter.
Gerald faced the knight. "Oi, ya shouldn’t attack kids and women as a knight, where’s ya honor?"
The knight’s face twisted when he heard that. He pushed with his sword, and the force threw Gerald back. He skidded back until he came to a stop.
"Tch, I would not be here if not for Lady Ezra, who forced me to. Tch. Now commoners have laid their hands on me," the knight cursed under his breath.
[Please Note: There are two Ezras, the lizard woman with Ren and Ezra from the kingdom.]
The knight came down from his horse and landed on the ground. He looked at Gerald, who was in his stance now and ready to attack.
"Tch, do you really believe that you could possibly do me harm? You should bend a knee now and take your death like a warrior, or I’ll make it painful."
Gerald gritted his teeth tighter and blasted forward. His hair turned white halfway through the distance, and his speed doubled in an instant.
"Arghhhhhh!" he roared and pulled back, slashing with all that he had.
The knight saw the attack coming and raised his sword.
CLANG!
Sword met with sword.
The sound thundered.
Gerald looked, only to see that his attack had been blocked with so much ease it was an insult.
"Huh?"
"Attacking a royal knight, a crime worthy of death. This entire town is now worthy of death, but we shall start with you."
After saying that, he made one short motion with his sword. There was a flash in the air, and what followed was a massive stream of blood as Gerald was hurled back through the air. He slammed into the ground and rolled while leaving a trail of blood.