7 The Negotiator

Rick rushed towards the keep of Redvale, Lord Colm, and his family's dwelling. Grey snow whipped past his ears, black frost forming on the buildings and those unfortunate enough to lack a home.

'Damn it, and here I was getting my hopes up... we only got three days of good weather!' He thought as he wrapped his cloak closer to his body.

The streets quickly began slick with dark ice, forcing the sentry to slow down his passage. As he reached the gates of the keep, they were closing shut as a black-cloaked figure stepped out, accompanied by two personal guards, marked by the blood-red plumes on the tops of their heads.

Rick immediately bowed at the figure's passage, the personal guards of Lady Colm easily giving away the person's identity.

Once she had passed, he shouted to the guards at the gate: "I've urgent news for Lord Colm! I need this gate opened at once!"

The guard didn't need a glance to know it was Rick. His often annoying voice was infamous, almost as much as his loyalty was famous.

It only took ten minutes to reach Lord Colm and inform him of the situation.

Ten minutes for Lady Colm to make her way to the guardhouse and speak to the Vrean warrior in their midst.

...

The man standing before her was not what she expected. She thought he was a skeleton only a week ago, and reports of his recovery seemed to be greatly exaggerated.

He was imposing. The light seemed to bend faintly around him, but the illusion disappeared as soon as she blinked. His mask was smooth and white, betraying no features but his eyes, and they were a divine gold and seemed to pierce into her very soul.

They were the only ones in the room, and her guards stood outside the door. They could both still hear Mord complaining about the injustice.

She waited for him to bow, and he waited for her to introduce herself.

"Well? Who might you be?" He asked, unaware of his disrespect. His voice sent shivers down her spine; something about it felt wrong, like it was directly in her mind, yet not.

Her brows furrowed but did not voice her misgivings. She realized what it was. The man wore a mask, but his voice was not muffled.

'Vrea is a militant society, and the Sun Guard is fanatical. I must tread lightly. He may not observe the same traditions as we do. On the other hand, I must at least get his cooperation.'

"I am Lady Tyria Colm, daughter of the Lord of Redvale, Lord Aldritch Colm. Soon, my father will come to speak to you as well. He will question you about your personal affairs, and he may even ask you to leave."

The sun knight nodded.

'I don't know most of that information, but I know something I need is here. Otherwise, how could I have walked straight to the gates after walking for so long, especially while being half-dead? This is the work of Vrea. I am sure of it. I must prepare for when He calls and regain my memories.'

Lady Colm took a deep breath.

'Perhaps I can get him to cooperate with a show of force. He can't use magic and is weak, and he will need me to get stronger, as he undoubtedly will want to do.' She thought.

"I need you to stay; Redvale needs you to stay." She turned away and stared at the magical candles that illuminated the room, "I've heard legends of the Sun Gaurd. I remember fairy tales and bedtime stories. Most are nothing more than propaganda and glorified violence. But while the stories are exaggerated, and their telling washed off the savagery and blood that stains them, one thing is undeniable."

She turned back to him, staring straight into his eyes. She waved her hand, extinguishing all but one candle.

The flame dipped and flared, casting strange shadows on the walls and tricking the eyes of the observer.

"They are all true. The Vreans did unify the Four Kingdoms into an empire, one they lost, and the Krodians rule now. They genocided monsters from our lands, exiling those eldritch they could not kill to the Outerlands. The tales of their heroism and courage are infinite, and the lengths your people would go to to ensure victory are infamous."

Lady Colm stared deeply into his eyes, trying to judge his reactions. She found nothing.

"I need to know if the Sun Guard can live up to the reputation that history has given it. So far, their performance has been abysmal. Looking at you, I'd never know I stood before a warrior of legend."

The sun knight stared at her, pride and anguish overwhelming him. He didn't allow his emotions to reach his current adversary, the memories of his training all too fresh in his mind.

'All those legends, and yet I am all that is left. I am nothing but a skeleton, a revenant of my comrade's greatness.' His fist clenched, knuckles turning white. The movement did not escape Lady Colm.

'I will not allow their story to end here!' His anguish turned to resolve, pride to rage.

The candle stopped flickering.

Lady Colm's eyes slid to the candle, unsure of what was happening. To her astonishment, it was no longer a simple flame but a gout of white fire that steadily rose. She could feel the temperature in the room rise as the walls were cast with long shadows from the warrior's body.

As she watched them, they seemed to depict legendary battles, mere men battling eldritch and beasts beyond her imagination.

He moved towards her until he was towering over her, the candle now to his back, and it illuminated him like a god while casting his face in shadows.

His divine eyes peered into her very soul.

She realized she was shivering uncontrollably, cold sweat soaking her back. Lady Colm believed her ears were tricking her; she swore she could hear a beast growling.

"You dare?" He growled, "Who are you? Are their legends of your warriors, do the bards sing of your exploits? Do your people feel safe when they hear your name and your enemies cower in fear? Are your warriors the monster under the bed or guardians against the darkness?"

He stayed his hand, no matter how much he wanted to tear her limb from limb. Comments like these should not have roused his emotions, but the pain of battle was fresh on his mind.

'Arrogance is not a crime, nor was she raised with the same discipline that Vreans are. The fact is, Vrea has been destroyed, and the Sun Guard failed. I need her as much as she needs me.' He thought, but he wasn't sure if he believed it.

He calmed himself, and the candle returned to normal. Lady Colm reignited the candles immediately, for she could not bear to spend one more moment in darkness with him.

She walked to the door before remembering the purpose of her visit.

'Damn! Fear has clouded my judgment, and I tried to intimidate someone I needed as an ally! I'm such a fool!'

She turned back around, steadying her breathing. The warrior's eyes were no longer hostile, only curious.

She bowed low, almost ninety degrees. "Please forgive me, Guardsman. I was foolish, and my words were disrespectful and demeaning. Time grows short, and when the time comes, Redvale will need your assistance."

'I will not sacrifice my entire city simply because of my foolishness!' She thought.