The Knight Council of the Dawn
53rd of Frost, 120 Steel
53rd of Frost, 120 Steel
Pah had retired that night with no real expectation of an uneventful night. He had had the same hardy meal that all squires got, he was in the same bland barracks that he shared with other squires and he had laid down upon the same, I won’t comment about its comfort, mattress he and generations of guards had gone to sleep on.
The young Avialae wrapped himself in his wings enjoying the sense of comfort offered by there warmth wrapped around his body. His ice blue eyes looked towards the ceiling as the man focused on his breathing as he mindlessly listened to some of the men around him. The young man was friendly with his fellow squires and would join them at meals and even on outings but the Knight in hiding still felt a bit like the odd man out. These young men were more interested in girls, pay day or at least dreaming when they would come, games of chance. Pah could accept conversation as these young men didn’t have much of a life. Pah had even joined in on occasions when the talk was on pretty woman. Thought he would drop out of the conversation if it wander down paths he considered disrespectful.
No that wasn’t what made him feel like an outsider. It was the attitude towards the job they held. They bragged about the criminals they caught, they mocked those so desperate they turned to crime. Pah didn’t struggle with the concept of keeping the peace and certainly did have an issued with people stealing or ruining other people’s lives. He had promised to protect people and truly believed that oath he had made. He felt mocking people who were desperate was beneath the honor of the sky guard. He knew it was beneath the the honor of the Knights. They were there to help elevate the suffering and to bring them up to a better place.
Pah sighed and closed his eyes shutting out the silliness of the others and allowed himself to drift off to sleep. Years of traveling had taught him that trick. Get the sleep when you can. Sleep quickly took him but lead him down a different path then he normally went.
Pah found himself watching a battle. The first thing to capture the sleeping mind of the Knight was a monstrous abomination. Crafted of flesh with fire and shadow it was a sight from the stories Pah had been told all of his life about the creatures fought by his ancestors during the darker times.
Then he noticed the warrior fighting the monster. The young knight was sure that the fighter looked a lot like Talon, a fighting companion, possible a friend. Pah watched as with skill he fought the creature but he wasn’t quiet good enough to destroy it. With waves of respect Pahoran watched as the warrior allowed himself to be consumed the monster.
Pah wouldn’t demean such sacrifice and honor by crying out. No such acts were to be respected and who was he to try and belittle such actions. The dream didn’t end there though. The fire and shadow danced across the flesh in triumph put them the warrior emerges from the abomination is glory and light. Pah looks upon the warriors face and see Talon still but more besides. He see’s the face of Arca’s the patron of the Dawnmatryr’s. The young man would have recognized that face anywhere.
The ice blue eyes flew open and he quickly sat up. He could feel himself sweeting as his wings flung wide. The only outward sign of his being startled awake. The room was dark and snoring filled the room. Pah didn’t make much noise as he got out of bed and grabbed his boots and a shirt. He threw the shirt one and did a funny walking hop as he slipped on the boots. Those few other squires awake who saw Pah started in surprise. Few had ever seen him so sloppily dressed as he marched out of the barracks.
Once he couple the agitated youth took flight and flew across the city towards where his family was encamped for the Frost season. It wasn’t so late that Pah was totally alone but the streets were less populated then normal. Pah enjoyed his flight as he traveled across the city weaving between the buildings and breathing deeply from the chilly air. It had the wonderful affect of helping him calm down so as that by the time he came to his family’s wagons his movement weren’t so abrupt.
Pah knew the fastest way to get hurt was to fly straight into the circle of wagons. The icy blue eyes looked critical at the wagons as he approached them from the ground. A shadow detached itself and he saw one of his grandfathers step towards him. The twos gaze meet once icy blue and one icy gold and the two nodded in understanding. A arm slipped around his shoulders and the two turned and passed the into the safety of the wagon circle.
They were all there and based on the expression on his mother’s face she already had a web up to cover what they were doing and saying. She smiled at him and gave him a hug before taking her seat. Standing in the center of the group was his other grandfather. While he wore simple wagoners garments he had the bearing of a Marshall of the Knights, something he normally avoid doing but tonight was different. He saw Pahoran join and then looked around.
“Am I correct in saying that we all saw the dream” The bearded Avialae knight said, more then ask. There were nods all around. Pah could see the seriousness on the faces of each of them. The young man only seen these expressions when ever they gathered for knight business.
“What does it mean?” One of the younger cousins asked.
“It means our patron has returned.” Pah’s father said in a quiet voice that carried around the clearing.
“More then that his emblem has return with him.” Pah’s Hytori grandfather said from where he sat next to them. He then pulled his shirt off and stood so they all could see. Then was a mummer of voices.
Pah sat next to his grandfather as the evening and the conversation continued. Some thought this was the sign that they should come out of hiding. Pah shook his head at that. No that wasn’t right, but his parents and grandparents all shook there heads. Standing up again Pah’s grandfather, Falrisona, spoke.
“That isn’t the way of Arca. Vengeance isn’t something he will help us find. As a matter of course Vengeance will drive a wedge between us and him. No if anything this is a sign we keep rebuilding in secret as we have and when have the strength he will support us as we once again return to helping the world at large.”
Pahoran watched as his human grandmother stood as well. “Remember our oaths are to help save people not bring ourselves glory. Any who thinks we will return to the citadel of Light kill that dream. We won’t. We will build our citadels were we can help people in need when they need it and we will do it quietly so as not to engine envy like last time.”
There were mummers of agreement to this and the conversations continued on. Eventually it was agreed that they would continue as they had put with one change. They would seek out Arca and prove to him that they were worth of his blessing.
Pahoran waited until the others had left but he put his hand on Falrisona arm indicating he wanted his Grandfather to stay. The older man read the gesture and the two sat there leaning against each other watching the sky. It was a while after everyone had left that Pah spoke. “In the vision the warrior looked like someone I know. Did he look familiar to you?”
There was a pause. “If your asking if the vision alter itself to put the face of someone we knew on him then no. I didn’t recognize him.”
“I won’t approach him about it.” Pah said
“Very wise.” Came the reply. “Thank you for sharing. Let me know if anything else odd happens”
“I will.” Pah said.
“Now come to bed.” He said and lead his grandson back to his wagon. By mutual understanding the beds had all been pushed together and the family slept by each other. Holding hands and listening to each other breathing they found strength and comfort knowing they had each other.
No one slept long for at Dawn they were awaken. Pah with his grandparents came stumbling out of their wagons to stair up at the dread mist descending upon the city. Pah ice blue eyes were wide with surprise at the arrival of such a presences. Pah glanced at Falrisona, as Pah's father said quietly. "Well that is confirmation of our dreams if I have ever seen one." Falrisona glanced back at Pah and nodded. Neither thought it random that the Dread Mist would show up now and also here.
The Rayunia family didn’t hesitate and with in minutes they all were racing around securing animals and the wagons. There campsite was within the perimeter of the city and the lights so the cloud didn’t touch them but It reached the ground not far from where they lived for the winter. Extra guards were arranged, and children were warned of the danger of that mist. While others ran around panicking, discipline reigned within the wagoner's encampment. While the mist seemed to relish in the chaos it was causing. Here as in other places in the city, its mockery was meet with defiance.
Pah departed soon after sure he would be needed with the guards but he felt strengthened. There was still hope in the world.
