John Marco - The Forever Knight

Marilius stepped forward. “Anton, here they are-Lukien and his squire.”

Fallon’s emerald eyes flashed. In the center of his forehead a black tattoo caught my attention. A serving girl offered him a robe. Fallon waved if off as he looked us over, appraising us like pieces of art.

“Sir Lukien,” he said, “you don’t look like a monster slayer.” He glanced at Marilius. “Are you sure about him?”

“He can do it,” assured Marilius. “Trust me.”

“He’s not too old?”

“Hey,” I barked, hooking my thumb over my sword. “Talk to us . We’re standing right here.”

Fallon smirked. “A one-eyed knight and a peasant girl? I’m skeptical.”

“It’s rude to ignore us,” said Cricket.

“And to stand there naked,” I added. “Put that robe on, please.”

“Westerners.” Fallon folded his arms. “Where I come from whole families bathe together.” He smiled at Cricket and said, “Would you like to try that?”

“That’s enough,” I erupted. Marilius quickly got between us.

“Lukien, no. It’s nothing. It’s just how he is.”

Fallon laughed and took the robe from the servant. “If it makes you more comfortable. .” He slipped on the garment. I studied the tattoo between his eyes, but couldn’t make out the symbol, like an upside down Y with a cross through it. A Zuran letter, I supposed. As Fallon took a seat at the head of the table, a bare-chested boy began brushing his long, wet hair.

“It’s all right,” Marilius whispered. “He’s just. . different.”

“Different? Marilius, he’s out of his mind. Why’d you bring us-”

“Enough muttering, please,” said Fallon. His long fingers plucked a grape from a bowl. He sucked on it as he regarded me. “Marilius tells me you got in a tangle with Wrestler. He says he broke your neck. I find that remarkable.” He glanced at Cricket. “What’s your name, child?”

“Cricket,” she replied.

“Cricket? Ugly name for a pretty girl. Are you from these lands?”

Cricket nodded. “I think so.”

“Uh, excuse me, Lord Fallon,” I began.

“Anton.” He smiled at me.

“Exactly how much do you know about us?”

“Sir Lukien, five minutes ago I’d never even heard of you. Marilius seems to think you’re well known. Among mercenaries I suppose. Will you sit?”

The servants held out chairs for us. Marilius took a seat close to Fallon. I held Cricket back.

“Marilius hasn’t told us why he brought us here,” I said. “Did you say ‘monster slayer’?”

“That’s right.” Fallon chose a strawberry this time. His eyes fell upon my sword. “That sword you carry-that’s your magic?”

“Something like that.”

“May I see it?”

Malator said nothing. I unsheathed the sword, laying it out in both hands. Fallon seemed disappointed.

“Boring. But if it’s as powerful as Marilius says I could sell it for you, Lukien. Maybe make you a very rich man. After you do what I need of you, obviously.”

“And what would that be, exactly?” I sheathed the sword. “I should tell you I’m not for sale. We’re only here because of Marilius.”

“He saved us,” said Cricket.

“Did he?” Fallon patted Marilius’s arm. “So brave.”

Marilius bristled. “He can help, Anton. That’s why I brought him.”

“You brought him here to redeem yourself,” said Fallon. His nostrils flared, and I wondered-were he and Marilius lovers ?

“Please,” I said, “just tell us why we’re here.”

Fallon flicked a wrist toward one of the servants, a girl with honey-blonde hair and one perfect breast exposed. The girl gently took my arm, smiling as she led me to a chair across from Fallon. Another servant-a male-gingerly took Cricket’s hand and did the same. My servant, however, sat down in my lap.

“Her name is Druan,” said Fallon. “She’s yours for the night. Try eating grapes from between her legs. Heaven!”

I let the girl kiss my cheek. Her naked breast brushed against me. I could feel the heat rising in my face.

“No.” I gently pushed Druan away. I swear she looked dejected.

“All right,” said Fallon, “just business, then. Druan is only part of my offer. I can pay you whatever you want, Lukien. If you’re the man to rid me of my problem, it’ll be worth it. Isowon isn’t just my home, you see. She’s my child, my dream. I built her with nothing, and I’ll not have her taken from me.”

“Too fast,” I said. “Who’s trying to take Isowon from you?”

“That thing ,” said Fallon. “Diriel’s monster, whatever it is. He sent it to kill me.”

“Diriel? From Akyre? Why would he do that?”

“To take what’s mine, obviously! Look around, Sir Lukien. Isowon is incomparable. There’s nothing like it in all the Bitter Kingdoms and certainly not in that ash heap, Akyre. I built this whole place with spices. My routes, my contacts-they’re worth more than all the provinces of Akyre put together.”

“Akyre’s already at war with Kasse and Drin,” I said. “We saw the refugees on the road. I doubt he’d try to attack Isowon as well.”

“You don’t know Diriel, then,” said Fallon. “He wants everything, all the Bitter Kingdoms. This was all part of the Akyren empire once. That’s Diriel’s goal-to remake the empire. My spice routes would make that a lot easier for him.”

Cricket grimaced at the news. “I don’t remember any of this. Not even Diriel. How can that be, Lukien?”

“She’s from Akyre, Anton,” explained Marilius, “but she can’t remember more than that.”

Fallon’s delicate face grew tender. “Then you’re a refugee too, girl. Like the others. I promise you: when this deed is done and the monster is killed, we will find your lost memories.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” I warned. “I never said I’d help you. I don’t even know what this thing is.” Suddenly all I could think of was the monster I’d seen when I’d nearly died. “Describe it.”

“It isn’t human, that’s for sure,” said Fallon. “It comes at night, looking for me, prowling outside the palace. Nine feet tall at least.”

“You’ve seen it?”

Fallon shook his head. “No. But Marilius has.”

“So?” I looked at Marilius. “What’s it like?”

“Like Anton said, Lukien-a monster. I barely even got a look at it.”

“When was that?”

Marilius shrugged. “About a week ago.”

“Right before he left me,” sneered Fallon. “After the worst attack.”

“Mercenaries don’t stick around when things get too tough,” I said. “Now I know why you left, Marilius. The only thing I don’t understand is why you came back.”

“And that’s none of your concern, Lukien. Are you going to help us or not?”

“I still haven’t heard a good reason why I should.”

“Because I’m rich,” said Fallon. “And I can make you rich, too.”

“Not interested. Marilius should have told you I’m not a mercenary anymore.”

“He’s a knight-errant,” said Marilius sarcastically. “Lukien wants to do good, Anton.”

“Well then, it’s killed people,” said Fallon, dangling that fact like a treat. “Not just soldiers but townspeople too. Almost a dozen now.”

I tried to look unmoved. “Maybe the townsfolk should leave.”

Fallon grinned. “Or maybe you’re afraid, Sir Lukien?”

“I’m not afraid of anything, Fallon. Not dying and certainly not your monster. I just don’t want us involved.”

“Bullshit,” said Marilius. “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t want to get involved. You came to the Bitter Kingdoms looking for trouble, Lukien, you and that sword of yours. You want to prove what a big man you are? Here’s your chance.”