Strange Hearts Ch. 4

"Ok, so who started this?" Azith said picking up two squabbling hatchlings dead set on beating each other to a pulp.

"He started it!" The two yelled simultaneously as they tried to practically kill each other again all the while, the ebon knight sighed.

"All right, I know where this is going to go. Ok, right now, you have three choices I'm considering. One, I could take you to your parents. Two, I could take you to the local 'station' and you could stay there for a few nights. Or, number three, which is the best for you, we sort it out right here and no one else has to know all right?" Azith said to the squabbling hatchlings as they instantly stopped fighting and looked up at the ebon knight.

"I made fun of his mark"

"And I said something bad"

"Is that how it started?" The Ebon knight asked as the two nodded slowly. "Ok, this is what you will do. You're not going to say sorry or apologize. What's done is done and apologizing isn't going to change it. I want you two to run home, have fun and forget this ever happened ok?"

Without a second thought, the two hatchlings thanked the ebon knight and ran off, without a mere care in the world, smiling and laughing playing their games happily.

"For someone as scary and intimidating as you, you sure seem nice." A wolf in the armor of the town's local authority said walking slowly up behind him, the crest of the Kingdom of light plainly showing over his heart.

"I've been getting that a lot lately." Azith said looking back at the wolf.

"Heh, just watch your back here, some people aren't exactly fond of you, and one of them might try and kill you." The wolf said crossing his arms. "Other then that, just enjoy yourself."

"Ok then" Azith said before walking off exploring the little town. It wasn't that great of a town, just s small town with a couple buildings, and small general store and a couple people here and there. But despite its size, it was a rather comfy, cozy town.

"Small town…" Azith said to himself looking at the people. "I hope this doesn't turn out as troublesome as before. Really don't feel like dealing with anything stupid…"

"Oh hey, come check this out. Report came in, something about an Ebon Knight." Someone had said from the inside of a building, catching Azith's attention. With his rising curiosity, he poked his head inside and look at the people. On was a Dragon standing over a kitsune holding a report, while the wolf from earlier was watching as he leaned against a wall.

"Here, take a look." The kitsune said handing the report to the wolf.

"Interesting…According to this, there was an assassination attempt in the great hall, as the High Priest was talking!" The wolf said while a few more gathered around to listen. "It also says that the guest of honor. Who was only a mere knight, left shortly after he was nearly killed."

"I hate to interrupt, but the 'guest of honor' was an Ebon Knight and everyone there was dead set on murder."

"That's impossible, Ebon Knights aren't allowed in the Holy City of Light."

"On normal circumstances, that is correct. But when you do a couple measly little things, the high priest tends to change his mind pretty fast, crazy bastard…" Azith said finally walking inside and leaning against the wall, taking note of swords on a rack beside him.

"How the hell is that possible? He is rather honorable to the law."

"Save a princess in another kingdom and maybe you'll find out."

"Ok, but still, how is it possible?"

"I sat next to the High Priest, Really. Put it simply, he just likes parties."

"I don't believe you…"

"Oh, I know you don't, your too stuck up listening to your preachers so you can be 'saved' from the dark. If you don't believe me, go ask Loran Himself, you'll likely get an enthusiastic yes. Azith said closing his eyes in annoyance. "Anyways, I'm out. I don't feel like arguing with overgrown children."

As Azith began to walk away, a blue dragon walked to the sword rack and pulled a broadsword from it and ran at the Ebon Knight.

"Your head will be mine demon!" The dragon yelled swinging his sword like a maniac, until his sword was stopped and he himself was pushed back.

"Now I wonder why you want my head? Maybe you think its pretty." Azith said mocking the dragon a little.

"I'll kill you, I'm going to kill you!!" The dragon screamed trying to get up. With a sigh, Azith waved his hand as a gigantic skeletal hand burst from the floor and pinned the dragon to the floor. He then turned around and looked down at him.

"Really now, did you honestly think it was going to be that easy to kill me?" Azith said, the room in total silence.

"Just leave him here, the hand will lose its grip in a couple days." Azith said to the other walking out of the building and heading out of the town. Before he could leave the town however, the wolf officer ran towards him in a hurried manner.

"Hold on, wait!" The Wolf said rushing towards the Ebon knight as he turned around. Once the Wolf caught up he bent over and put his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

"Sorry about him, he's really hot tempered. And he tries killing everyone he doesn't like"

"It's fine, happens all the time…" Azith said with an unfortunate sigh.

"Why don't you stay the night with my family? I'm sure that you would need a place to stay for the night." The wolf asked in a meager attempt to make up for the incident.

"I don't plan to sleep during this night. I'm going straight through to the next town." Azith said turning around and looking out at the wilds lurking just outside of the town.

"Are you nuts!" The wolf said in utter shock. "Do you have any idea how bad the night is here?"

"Yes, I'm quite aware. You forget what I am." Azith said wanting to just continue his journey.

"My, you are strong willed…" The wolf said looking up at the back of his head. "I suppose that's how you saw the high priest right?"

"I didn't see him, he saw me. I was perfectly content with keeping to myself, then he wanted to see me."

"Ok, whatever you say. I'll get back to keeping the town in shape. Hope things go well for you, whatever you might be doing."

"Same to you" Azith said before heading into the general store and buying a bag full of bread. With Nothing left to accomplish in the town, the Ebon Knight left quickly and straight into the dark of the forest, continuing his seemingly endless journey.

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"This is just great, now the whole city is angry at me…" Loran said to himself laying back on his chair and staring at his oh-so familiar ceiling. "And I still have to figure out what organization that would be assassin it from…"

"Oh well, Esith! I have a job for you!" Loran yelled out, Esith appearing quickly through the doors.

"Regular mission, its on the table" Loran said his arm holding up his head in a slump, bored as ever, as his daughter came in and grabbed an envelope off the table. When she had opened it and left reading her new assignment, a scout had flown in though his window in a very hurried manner.

"Yes?" Loran asked in a less than enthusiastic tone.

"High Priest, a plague is spreading though all the kingdoms. The emperor of the east, the King of the west and the Order of Darkness has already begun negotiations to contain it. The kingdoms all request that you attend your holiness."

"The plague?"

"One that was thought only to exist in myth."

"Are you saying, after nearly thousands of years it only decided to surface now?"

"Your holiness, it's the exact one. That undocumented plague that nearly eradicated our race over a thousand years ago."

The High Priest sat back in silence. He could not believe what he was hearing. With a plan forming in his head, he stood up.

"Scout, I have a new mission for you."

"Yes your holiness?"

The High Priest stood still for a moment in silence, then proceeded to say, "I want you to find the Ebon Knight known as Azith, and you will inform him of the plague, and request he returns to the holy city."

With not another word the scout ran off to prepare for his mission while loran sat back in his chair and merely though, 'Is it really going to end?'

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"You have got to be kidding me…" Azith said to himself standing before another dragon clad in silver armor.

"No, I am not kidding you, leave now or be smite to the ground by my blessed hammer fiend." The dragon said already reaching behind him to grab his weapon.

"…I only wanted a drink…" Azith said looking at the dragon before him.

"Liar, say your last prayer" The silver clad dragon said drawing his hammer, which was glowing a luminescent gold.

"I don't pray, and I suggest you put your toy away before anyone gets hurt." Azith said with a slight concern with a gathering crowd. "Besides, are you not a peacekeeping paladin? I'm sure it is against your code to attack without provocation.

"Shut up!" The dragon yelled swing his hammer in a downward blow towards Azith, who had sidestepped the blow and grabbed his wrist.

"Are you seriously this eager for blood? I'm sure that the children are not." Azith said to the paladin, getting him to look back at the growing crowd. Grudgingly, the paladin pulled away and placed his hammer back.

"You are lucky Ebon Knight; your blood will be mine eventually." The paladin said as he began to walk away.

Now that it was over, Azith walked forward into the town, taking no notice of names but merely seeking out the nearest tavern. Once he found one, he entered quickly and went straight to the desk.

"Whattya want?" An unenthusiastic kitsune asked without even looking at him.

"Room for one." Azith asked dropping a small bag of coins on the counter as the kitsune threw a key at the ebon knight, who caught it without trouble.

"Room twelve, down the hall."

"Thanks' Azith said heading down to the room and unlocking the door. With a loud creaking noise, the door opened to reveal a small, worn down, but clean bed with a small nightstand next to it.

'All the same…" Azith mumbled taking his sword off and leaning it on the nightstand. Without even taking his armor off, he laid down on the bed and closed his eyes, collecting his thoughts before eventually falling asleep, resting for the next day on his journey.