I Will Be the Greatest Knight

The old mage didn't have to lift a finger if he didn't want to.

The moment the knight and apprentice pulled out their weapons, the younger mages who once guarded the door pulled out translucent magical shields of differing colors. One was red and one was a silver color. 

"Typical knight aggression won't get you far in a place filled with magical weapons and mages," the old knight explained. "As you've already found out once."

He was so nonchalant, his arms were hidden behind his back and he looked at the two bearing swords in front of him sternly and smugly. He didn't believe they could hurt him. 

"What is that relic?" Gunnar asked. "Something so horrible ought to be given to and wiped out by the church." 

One of the younger mages scoffed and their shield got brighter.

"The sacred old language is not to be mocked!" the mage snapped.

"Stand down, Kerol," the old mage said. "However, he is correct. The echo stone captured the voices of ancient mages long since dead. Those spells recited are incredibly valuable to us today. Since followers of the Church are still insistent on wiping us out, we have to preserve what is ours." 

Gunnar finally decided to sheath his sword even though the voices were still bothering him. They felt like intrusive thoughts even though he didn't understand a bit of them.

Since ruining the relationship between mages and knights wouldn't be beneficial to the order, he decided his defensiveness ought to be put aside. The mages hadn't attacked again. Rather, the first attack was as a precaution before they figured out why the two of them were there in the first place. 

"Why does that priest think the stone is the Church's?" Gunnar asked. "That's clearly not a language I've ever heard while attending church." 

"The ways of man are beyond me," the old mage explained. "I believe he said that God gives the power to speak in tongues to those pious enough." 

"I have heard that as well," Irene realized, although her voice came out wavering because the whispering was still biting at the back of her mind. "My mother has said that this is a sign of God's blessing but few are able to channel it." 

Gunnar wasn't particularly a holy man. He only attended church when it was required of him. He believed the words being spoken but he wasn't sure how to approach the situation to that father. The knights needed a good relationship with the Church just as they needed one with the mages. Without the second in command or Commander there to delegate, it was a heavy burden on his shoulders. 

"How long did that man have it?" Gunnar wondered.

"It's been a couple of years," the mage admitted. "He stole it off of a visiting mage accused of participating in black magic because of the voices. The all-consuming nature of the spells might be seen as a deity when it is merely strong magic. Tell that man it is simply not his." 

Once the younger mages realized that the conversation was no longer a threat to their leader, they lowered their shields, and Irene and Gunnar were able to step into the main area of the mill instead. 

The second the door was shut, the voices stopped and Irene no longer felt as if she was going mad. She felt it alright to sheath her sword as well. 

"What is your plan going forward?" Gunnar asked, still not completely satisfied with the outcome.

He was still wondering what to say to the old priest. There seemed to be a bit of craze in him as well. He didn't think he would believe the story easily. 

"We have a right to be here just as any of you," the old mage continued. "We won't get involved in the affairs of the township as long as we're left alone. If we are bothered again, there are far more drastic measures that can be taken, as I'm sure you're aware of." 

That was the answer Gunnar was looking for. 

The knight bowed his head, hoping to convey that he truly meant no harm. 

"I will communicate it to His Grace and the local reeve that you will settle here with your clan," Gunnar explained. "If the township begins to trust you, I guarantee they will find use in your healing abilities if there are healers here. Considering the mistrust between humans and mages, healers cease to exist in these parts. Knights constantly travel through this township. If you aren't opposed, I will pass your existence along to the order. You will be benefited by having both our protection and our business."

Irene felt the heavy silence as the knight and old mage seemed to be analyzing one another. They had no reason to believe anything at face value. 

However, the knight's willingness to listen was enough for the old mage.

"We will work with the knights," the mage said. "The townsfolk will have to work much harder." 

Both Irene and Gunnar nodded in understanding. 

To the knight's surprise, Irene had something else to say.

"You are prepared for winter here?" she asked, looking around at the holes in the walls. "I am not sure if you're familiar with this region. This place will be miserable once it's cold." 

The old mage could only chuckle a bit sardonically at the child worrying about their affairs in the coming months. It felt a bit cruel that the reason for their having to exile to such a shabby dwelling was because of humans yet one of them was showing concern for them.

Instantly, the girl wondered if she was behaving befitting of an eleven year old or if it was her past life coming out of her without realizing. Every now and then she couldn't remember who or where she was, she was simply responding how she normally would.

"We have it under control, child," the mage responded. "I suppose I should thank you for your concern. You will be quite the knight one day. Your tolerance of mages will benefit you." 

Irene's face lit up. As long as she was behaving in a way that was knightly rather than ladylike, that's all that mattered to her. 

"I will be," she responded, determined. "Mages have helped me and my father in the past."

 There wasn't much more to say other than a brief farewell. 

Even though the outcome was a positive one, the door slammed shut behind them the moment they were outside once more—although, as Irene pointed out, the temperature wasn't much different whether inside or out.

Before they could continue on, Gunnar looked down at the apprentice who had followed him that day. It wasn't purposeful considering he hadn't grouped himself with anyone and Irene was meant to go with a couple of others, but he found her useful in strange ways.

"That went better than interactions with mages in the past," Sir Gunnar explained to the apprentice. "Our next trial will be telling the priest that the item isn't his." 

He wasn't wearing a helmet and he pulled at the straps of his breastplate and cracked his neck.

"Do you believe them?" she wondered. 

The knight recalled Irene's mention of her mother's church going and he wondered if the child before him was stuck on religion. He didn't want to taint the image the Church had in front of Irene, so he decided to tread carefully.

"I have seen churches take what isn't theirs before," he admitted, but he began to walk. "Come. We will cross that path as it's presented to us." 

It was nearly time to meet the others, but they would have to be understanding.