The Hero's Knight

It was a very dark night in the city, a brave knight, was rushing through the city, dogging gang members, and ended up in a storage house. He was holding his sword's handle, breathing rather heavily, and then he felt something press against his helmet.

??: "Well, well, well, what do we have here hm?"

The knight froze and turned to look up at the mysterious person, one of the heroes, from the city, a very well-known hero, the hero he needed to talk to.

Hero: "What a fancy knight in shining armor, I assume you're from the city over yes?"

The knight just slowly stood up with his hands raised to show he wasn't going to reach for his weapon, the hero chuckled.

Hero: "Not a big talker hm? just like your lousy queen-"

Knight: "You shall address the queen with the proper respect that she deserves."

The hero laughed and then turned back to the Knight.

Hero: "How funny, I hold a gun to your head and don't seem phased, but as soon as I say a word about your queen, you come for my throat. I must admire and respect you for that, you quite brave as a knight should be."

Knight: "I'm not afraid of death even if it's staring me in my face, but fortunately I'm not here for a fight, only a message from my queen herself."

Hero: "A letter? From Queen Josephine herself? I'll have to see it to believe it."

The Knight handed the Hero a scroll from the Queen herself, the Hero took it and read it to himself before having a sly grin on his face afterward. The Hero turned toward the knight with his grin.

Hero: "Your Queen wishes to call a peace treaty with this city?"

The Hero laughed to himself.

Knight: "If you wouldn't mind, she asked for me to tell you to take it up to the higher-ups."

Hero: "Alright alright, but, before you go, I at least have some questions for you."

Knight: "I suppose I'll do my best to answer them then."

Hero: "Why is your Queen calling for peace now?"

Knight: "She said many years of war from your city has done enough damage as it is, so we give you this victory."

Hero: "Alright Alright, so then why wouldn't the queen herself deliver this message then?"

Knight: "The queen would be instantly ridiculed and possibly shot down if she came herself"

Hero: "So she sent a messenger boy hm? Well, you are a strong knight, why were you tasked with a mission like this if anyone could do it?"

Knight: "The Queen trusted that I could make it here and back without dying, and if something were to happen-"

Hero: "'You're not afraid of dying,' yeah yeah I know, I suppose that makes sense. Well then, I suppose I do not have any more questions, In the meantime, tell your Queen I'll take it up with my fellow heroes and the mayor."

The Knight nodded as he went out of the storage unit and went to find his horse before being stopped.

Hero: "One more thing Knight, what's your name?"

Knight: "Since I won't have you see you again, my name is Vlad"

Hero: "Vlad? What a fitting name for a strong and brave Knight."

The Hero smiled, something about him was unsettling to the Knight, he felt unsure and unsafe, but this was the town's hero, the Knight just kept walking way into the night and smog. Eventually, he found himself on the other side of the wall in the open fields and found his horse just where he tied him up, he got on and rode off to the sunset until dark, coming upon his kingdom. He got to his small hut where he saw a warm cozy yellow light from inside, he put his horse inside of his stable as his small squire came out to greet him. With his messy dirty blond hair and his baggy clothes on him, he bounced with glee as he went up to him.

Kale: "Wel-welcome home sir! I have the meat on the fire and I'm cooking soup as well!"

Knight: "Good good boy."

The Knight ruffled Kale's hair as they both went inside, the Knight sat at the table as he began to take off his armor.

Knight: "Did you take care of the animals while I was away?"

Kale: "Yes sir, I did"

The knight sighed as he took off his helmet, flipped his hair around, and wiped the sweat off his brow, he noticed a mirror, next to the door that was in the blind spot of his helmet. He looked at his ginger hair and the scar from his eye from his bottom lip, he was partly blind out of that eye. And he slowly turned looking at all of his small scars and his stubble growing from his face.

Knight: "Where did we get this mirror Kale?"

Kale: "Oh uh, I know you don't like mirrors but a merchant gave me it for only two silver, and I at least wanted a mirror in the bathroom if that's alright sir."

Knight: "Well that's quite alright"

Kale brought two bowls of meat stew over to them and they began to eat.

kale: "How was your mission today sir?"

Knight: "Well, I had to go into the city to deliver a letter-"

Kale: "Sir that's a death wish!"

Knight: "I know I know, but the queen requested for me to go there myself, to at least give a letter to negotiate a peace treaty of some kind."

Kale: "Well I'm just glad you made it home alright sir..."

Knight: "Me too Kale, here, let me wash the dishes while you nag that mirror up"

Kale nodded as he left the table, the Knight collected the dishes and stated washing them, after Kale came over to him.

Knight: "What is it Kale? Shouldn't you be getting ready for bed?"

Kale: "I found a photo, I'm not sure how it got here since we don't have any cameras or technology in our city-"

Kale held up a photo, it was the Knight before he had that wrenched scar on his eye, and a woman next to him. The Knight snatched the photo away from Kale.

Kale: "Oh, sorry sir"

Knight: "It's... alright, I just, haven't seen this in a long time"

Kale: "Who is that woman if you don't mind me asking?"

The Knight looked down at the photo, at the woman, her smile, her dark curly hair, and smiled to himself slightly.

Knight: "She was, a very good friend of mine..."

Kale: "What happened to her?-"

Knight: "That's enough Kale, go get ready for bed."

Kale left as the Knights smile slowly faded, as he kept thinking about the woman, he sighed, but his breath was shaken as he rested a hand on the counter. He wished he could tell Gale about this woman, how she was his world, but he remembered that Kale wasn't his kid, only his squire. But Kale was all he had left, one day he would know, but for now, the Knight only wanted him to be a kid, something he never had. The Knight sighed, his breath not shakey now. He wiped his face with his hand and went back to his stern, angry self. He blew out the candles and changed into his pajamas as he looks at himself more in the mirror, he remembers why he hates mirrors now. His rugged face, how he looked at himself years ago, how he couldn't change anything about it now.

Knight: "I'm going to take a walk."

Kale: "I-It's really late though sir..."

Knight: "I know I know, I'll just be right back."

The Knight left, he hated how far he felt from Kale, that he couldn't tell him anything, but then again, what could he say to that child. He went into his stables still thinking about his squire, he sat down next to his horse on the ground and began to pet her mane.

Knight: "If this peace offering really does go through then I'll have to start working for the military more, not to mention that if some people come here there will be a spike in crime. Good Gods I'm talking to a horse, how much more pathetic can I get..."

The horse just nuges his shoulder and rests her head on his head, as to comfort him, the Knight just sighed deeply and relaxes more, laying on the hay bed, falling asleep.

In the morning he wakes to a guard talking to Kale, he immediately gets up and walks over.

Knight: "What can I do for you officer?"

Guard: "Ah, Mister Idol, It's nice to-"

Knight: "Just, call me Vlad. What is this all about?"

Guard: "The queen has requested you, since you're a higher up in the military, to appear in court today, to talk about the negotiation process with the city 'Heroes' as they call themselves."

Kale: "H-he was talking about how the hero's agreed to meet but the queen wants to address this in person"

Knight: "Alright then, I'll be leaving at once then"

Guard: "Splendid, Splendid, but also, keep your guard up, the prince himself told that to all the Military because, were not sure if it's a trick or a trap. So keep your eyes out will you?"

The guard had a more serious tone from his more friendly one when he said that, the Knight just nodded as the guard smiled again.

Guard: "Wonderful! I'll be seeing you at the palace then, and you should consider bringing this young lad on your missions, hes quite a charming fellow to have-"

Knight: "When I bring my squire out on missions I will do so, It's only been about a year and a half, when hes ready then hes ready.."

The Knight said in a stern voice as the Guard rolled his eyes.

Guard: "Very well, very well"

The guard got on his horse and rode off.

Kale: "He was quite nice wasn't he sir?"

Knight: "Nothing more than a pretty pompous Guard"

He said walking into the house, Kale shortly followed behind to see the Knight getting in his armour.

Kale: "You're going now?

Knight: "Of course I am, if I want to be there before the whole town, then I have to, It's a court meeting after all"

Kale: "Can I go then?..."

Knight: "Did that guard get into your head? No, of course not, look, I'll be there for no more than a few hours, after, I'll train with you, alright?"

Kale: "Really?!"

Knight: "Really really."

The Knight put on his helmet and got onto his horse outside as Kale was right beside.

Knight: "Now remember, take care of the animals, and put up our produce in the cellar for this weekend."

Kale: "I know I know so we can sell it"

The Knight nodded.

Kale: "Y-you try to do a good job today sir, even though I know you will"

The Knight was touched, but only nodded in response before riding away into the city.