Page 29 of The Knight
"I'm hiking for three days there—and then three days back, so for about six days, I'll be away from cell service."
"You expect me to wait six days when you are walking towards a man who wants to kill you?"
"Who said he wants to kill me?"
"Me."
"I can't talk long, but I wanted you to know," I laughed
"Okay," I heard her say, and then I clicked off the phone.
The hike did take me three days. It was long, and I was very tired near the end of it. I camped in a small grove of trees about a mile or two from the mouth of the cave’s opening. I set up my small one-man tent in the clearing near the treeline. I wiped my brow with my shirtsleeve and took a long swig of water from my backpack. I had three hours until darkness covered the mountain top. I wanted to hike the rest of the way to the cave that night in order to check it out before going back to actually enter the cave in the morning. The best thing for me to do was to get a good night’s rest before journeying into that cave. I didn't know what was in there or who the man was I was searching for, and I wanted to be as prepared as possible. The hike took about an hour because I slowed my pace to check my surroundings as I walked. I reached the cave, and I noticed guards standing at its mouth. They wore the emblems of the second kingdom, and I was confused. Was this all the second kingdom’s doings? I asked myself. I moved closer, noticing the blackness in their eyes and their lack of melodies.
"Soulless," I whispered under my breath. The cave had a larger opening than I had suspected. I sat there, hidden for a few hours, wondering if or when the guards would change. It was around midnight by my watch when I started back for my small camp for the night—with a plan in place.
I woke the next morning to the light of the sun. I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes, and I began putting my things back inside of my pack. I took out a bag of beef jerky; I ate in silence. I packed my small one man tent into my backpack and swung it onto my back, checking to make sure that I had left no sign of having been there.
The two-mile hike took me half of the time that it did the evening before. Being well-rested and aware of my surroundings helped greatly. I hid behind a tree as the cave opening came into view. There were no guards. Surprised, I waited for a good ten minutes before I walked closer and closer. No one. What happened? Had they left?
I inched closer and closer until I found myself at the cave’s entrance. The cave was dark. The sunlight that morning wasn't bright enough to illuminate it much. I touched the walls as I maneuvered through it. Tunnels wove through the mountain, and I had no idea which one to take. I walked straight until I heard noises. I followed them, and they grew louder and louder. The sound of voices echoed off of the cave walls. I heard other noises, too. Is that a hammer? I questioned. I spotted a light and followed it slowly to an opening. I crouched down as I peered into the opening of a large interior cavern. There were hundreds of people in it. I looked at their eyes, and they all contained the blackness of a taken soul. They were carving black crystals from the walls and carrying them to large containers. Back and forth, they went. Could those be midnight crystals? Here in this realm? I wondered.
Before I had a chance to leave or find out any more, I heard a noise from behind me, and then there was blackness—I had been discovered.
“Madam, are you well?” I asked, staring into her grey eyes. I watched as she turned her face to the side and coughed up sea water.
“What happened?” she asked, sitting up. I moved to help her, but she moved away as if afraid that I would hurt her. I tried tosoothe her with my melody, but then—I paused. She didn't have one. Was she corrupt? Was she a soulless?
“I just came upon you lying here on the beach,” I said.
“I guess I am alive then, right?”
“Yes, you are soulless?”
“Soulless?” she laughed, and I couldn't help but notice how beautiful that sound was—as well as her beautiful smile.
I pulled my melody back so that she couldn't hear my feelings, but then I remembered that she didn't have a melody, so it didn't matter.
“That is funny, but really, where am I?” She tried to stand, and instead, she fell over. I reached out for her again, but she moved away.
“May I assist you?” I asked, worried for her wellbeing, noticing an injury on the top of her head.
“No, you may not. Just, please, tell me where I am.” She finally gave up trying to stand and sank deeper into the clear pebbled rocks.
“The Kingdom of Torren.”
“How am I in Europe?” she asked with wide eyes. I had never heard of such a place before.
“You are in the blessed lands–”
“What is going on?” she asked herself in a hurried whisper. She felt her head, and winced, then touched her strange clothing–a rather strange style of dress. “I hit my head, and am wet.”
“Yes, it seems so.”
“I think I lost my memory.”
“Very possible, maiden—”
“Maiden?” she asked absently, looking out into the water. A hand covering her mouth.
