Recovery at last Unbeknown to Lady Edge, knowledge of the fallen paladin was eventually sent up to St. Argus and a recovery party was sent for the body and herself. But during this time she was being held by the Bandit Lord in the southern woods. Soon after finding herself in his grip she found herself doing nefarious deeds that don’t bear repeating in this account. As weeks went by the Bandit Lord found himself getting sick every time he wielded Lady Edge in combat. Her empathic nature was projecting her disgust and revulsion loudly enough that even he could feel it. And thereafter she was placed in the treasury room of his small hideout much to her relief.
From the memories of her savoir,
He was greatly saddened to hear his nephew and his family was dead due to bandits. The shock it sent through his wife and children was deep and painful. It had been over a decade since he was in the Citizen Knights, a group organized by the crown to defend and protect the cities in the kingdom. It differed from the ennobled knights in that any that could prove physically able and morally adequate could join. Joining the Citizen Knights was a mark of honor and he was very proud to have served almost two decades in their service, but was happy to have retired and started a swordsmanship school.
After a short discussion with his wife, it was decided that he would get to the bottom of these bandits and make sure atrocities like what had happened to his nephew would not happen by that group of bandits again. He approached the Citizen Knights and learned that they were already too few and far between to spare any knights to assist him in his goal but they would fund and offer a reward for ending the nuisance as they called it. So he started out one chilly fall morning to find out where these bandits laired.
Lady Edge felt a sudden presence enter the perimeter of her awareness. An aura clean of the sickly sour stench of the bandits. It was then that she ‘heard’ the screams and battle cries from the main chamber to the den. It appeared as if something was happening out there and she was powerless to help whoever that aura was. Anxiety and worry which had never plagued Lady Edge before plucked at her thoughts.
Eventually the heavy door into the room where she lay opened and a many peered in. Blood stained and tired looking he glanced around the treasure room. He started rooting around and organizing a bag of goods to take with him. Terror over came her and she started projecting emotions as the highest level she could to get his attention. Immediately he sprang up as though slapped, gaze darting wearily around the room. Expending a precious amount of her stored power she glimmered a faint blue in the torch lit room for a brief moment. Finally his eyes rested upon her slender grace, and she felt the pleasure coarse through his mind. Having known arms for a long time and encountered several instances of human embarrassment she found that if she were capable then she would have blushed.
The ecstasy she felt when his hand settled on her was amazing; it was especially poignant after the prolonged dirtiness she had felt by being used by the Bandit Lord. She felt him glance around for a sheath to place her in, and instantly for the first time in her life she was afraid. He must have felt her quickly squashed fear for he put his sword away in a sheath at his wasted and carried her out of the den after slinging the bag of treasure onto his shoulder.
The feel of sunlight reflecting off of her flesh was amazing after the prolonged exile into the damp dark treasure filled room. The whistle of the wind along her edges and curves tickled in the afternoon air and her delight rang out into the mind of the man holding her and she heard him laugh in enjoyment.
“I wonder to whom you belong lovely, for I would-“, he started to say.
She felt the air displacement before he could hear the grunt of exertion, and she locked her will over his mind utilizing greater control then she had in a long time with the paladins. Feeling her mind lock like a satin glove in tune with his body she twisted his upper torso and swung his right arm around in a half moon arc catching the longsword swinging at his head from behind and shearing it in half. Before the surprised bandit could utter a word she followed through on the strike and redirected the bandits’ energy back on himself and forced his own blade down into his own leg scoring it deeply.
Letting the Clean Man take control of his muscles again she felt his amazement through her enjoyment of the fact that he didn’t even hesitate. Once control was released he immediately brought his knee up into the stomach of the howling bandit and lifted him into the air with the blow. The bandit collapsed and end unconscious from his wounds.
“Well I thank you lady for saving my life, a very odd experience though feeling your body take control of itself and do stuff without your mind directing it”, he thanked her solemnly. “As I was saying prior to our interruption, and even more so now, I wonder where you belong.”
He said this as he brought her length up before his face inspecting the length of her curved edge for any flaws. She felt pleasure in giving him an unmarred surface and pondered how to direct him to the St. Argus stronghold in the northern mountains.
She was placed between his body and his weapons belt, exposed to the world and enjoyed soaking in the outside stimulation while feeling the warmth of his body and soul and she pondered her situation. He started moving away from the den in a generally southeastern direction. Days passed without any excitement as they eventually left the woods and entered more human populated areas.
She found out during the journey that he was planning on heading home to his wife and children after providing proof to the Citizen Knights order. Along with that information came bits and pieces of visions detailing his life of being a knight and helping keep order in the kingdom. She saw visions of his family and learned to tell them apart by the auras felt through his memories. He sees his wife as honorable, lovely, and kind. His son is energetic, and forthright. His daughter is intelligent, compassionate, and a fighter.
Since paladins generally don’t feel the calling to get married and have children, she had never encountered the strong rope bonds that entwine around a person’s soul that lead to wife, daughter, and son. She spent endless hours humming along happily dissecting this man’s life as they travelled. She knew he felt her interested and inquisitive nature, and let her have free reign in his mind as he delighted in her feathery soft caresses along his soul.
Finally they arrived in the crown city where the Citizen Knights were chartered. It was a busy confusion of buildings and people but Clean Man seemed to take it in stride with not a thought given. As they swept towards the charter house she began to wonder again about what would become over her. If he was truly going to turn in the proof of the bandits’ demise and return home to his family where would this leave her? With his attention focused mainly on navigating through the city he still took the time to comfort her through a quick caress on her hilt.
Winding the way through the city she got to experience yet again the confusion and resignation that her empathy feels every time she encounters large numbers of humans. At first it used to confound her on why it seemed like so many humans were discontent with their lives, then she quit pondering it. Now she noticed that flashes of pure enjoyment seemed to brighten their days occasionally, and as pair of best friends met in the market to gossip about their days, she noticed that even after they had parted ways the happiness thrust back that resignation for a while.
Finally they arrived at the charter house and her first impression was it felt like any military enclosure. Discipline and pain reigned in the air. Not the pain of a hospital or a funeral, but rather the good clean pain of muscles and flesh healing after being abused. Men and women bustled around the Citizen Knight’s charter house. Both sexes appeared to be accepted as warriors here unlike in the nobility knighthood where only men were allowed.
Clean Man was not recognized at the door, but after he had shown his credentials as a retired Citizen Knight he was quickly passed through. Finally having obtained entrance he was greeted by many of the older knights and associates who felt generally pleased to see him. – Very understandable – she thought musing on his calming aura and enjoying yet again being in his presence.
He dropped off the proof of the bandits’ demise at the Citizen Treasurer. The Citizen Treasurer was quite impressed with his turn in and gave a bonus for the job without consulting his books. After concluding the business portion of their exchange, the treasurer directed that Clean Man should see the head of the order as she was expecting him. After a brief handshake and promise of getting together for a drink later the Clean Man set off to the Citizen Commander’s office.
Standing outside the Commander’s office was a clean cut young man in polished to a shine armor standing at a slouched attention which quickly was replaced by curiosity as they walked around the corner. After verifying yet again his credentials the Clean Man was ushered into the office. And Lady’s Edge could almost feel the boys ears get longer as he tried to listen in through a several inches thick oaken door.
Seated behind the desk was an older woman, just slightly graying around the edges but obviously still a warrior as she had a brace on one arm and a gauze patch over the other arm. Tough wiry muscle threaded her frame and her concentration and will were astounding to feel. Every movement she made was deliberate and forethought.
“Lady Ysilde, I heard you wanted to see me before I left?” queried the Clean Man.
“Yes, it is great to see you yet again so soon. I have to admit great relief that you came back yet again healthy from a mission that would take a squad of my knights to resolve. Are you sure you don’t want to come back and teach tactics and the sword to the trainees?” smiled Ysilde.
“Ah, my lady I thank you for the offer yet again but the life I have created is more than sufficient for me. And good old Marcus wouldn’t have anything to do if I came back and taught sword. I still consider him one of my best students.”
“Well be that as it may, you are always welcome here. I was wondering…” she trailed off thoughtfully glancing at his waist. “That sword, can I see it a second?”
The Clean Man hesitated a second and Lady’s Edge felt a query spark her direction from him. She sent him a chime of approval and he drew her carefully from his belt. Twirling her quickly in a deft movement he presented her hilt to the commander who took it firmly. The command examined the runes marked into her flesh and nodded thoughtfully.
“I was given a notice several months ago regarding a blade that had been lost to a fallen paladin of the order of St Argus. From the letter I received the markings describe appears to be a match to the ones of this lady. Where did you find her?”
“After I had dispatched the bandits I found their stash and this blade was laying there discarded. She even glinted with a blue light for a second to make sure I wouldn’t miss her”, he winked at the blade which she felt clearly and was amused. “I seem to be picking up some feelings from the lady on occasion and she has helped me on several times when I would be dead or bored to death.”
Chuckling softly the commander responded, “well I was asked to have whoever recovered the blade take it to their stronghold up in the mountains to determine its purpose. I know this would push out your return home but the paladins have always been kind and helpful to us and I would like to return the favor if possible.”
“I agree completely and if I had thought about it more I would have realized she was a Lady’s Edge. I would be honored if you would allow me to take you home my Lady?” he inquired to the Lady’s Edge.
Both the commander and the Clean Man felt her approval and acceptance of his offer.
“Well I guess that settles it, would you like to leave a letter for us to get home to your wife before you start out on this journey, and of course I’ll have Olphan restock your bag with provisions for the trip. Also we’d be honored to lend you a horse for the trip up to the stronghold as that will significantly shorten your trip.”
“Thanks for all your help Ysilde and it is much appreciated.”
To be continued in a week...
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