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Message: <blockquote data-quote="simmo" data-source="post: 1426838" data-attributes="member: 9744">chapter 3 A Knight IndeedSerena, Caleb and Cade walked in to the Cricketers just in time to watch Littleby scoff down the last of the curtain dumplings. The barmaid gingerly picked up the bowl, walked through the kitchen and threw it on the rubbish heap at the back. Once the barmaid had left, the three mephits emerged from beneath the rubbish and continued their discussion on the link between the Mercane and Arcane.“Found rock boy,” Serena joked as she sat down next to Littleby.“And me,” Cade piped up as he climbed on to the bench next to Serena.“Oh yes, this is Cade,” the seer waved her hand over in the halfling direction by way of introduction.“Hello,” Cade greeted the others cheerfully with a bright smile.“Good day," the dwarven scholar reached across and shook Cade's hand. "Littleby Cakebeard.”“Pleased to me you, I'm Cade Highdale.” Cade looked over at the other man at the table who had yet to be introduced.“I THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE TORANNA THE GRAY?” Caleb asked, completely serious.“Ooh, I've heard of Toranna the Gray,” Cade said quickly having heard of her arrest in the Cage. “I heard about that. Was that you? Wow.” He looked at the others in admiration, the chant on the streets was that Toranna was going to dance on the leafless tree in a couple of weeks. “And your name is?” Cade asked the other man at the table who'd sat quietly watching the proceedings.“Andrew," the man replied after clearing his throat. "And yourself?”“Cade Highdale,” the halfling replied brightly.A middle-aged man with feathery wings and a shining countenance walked in to the tavern. He wore a long sword in an ornate scabbard at his hip and carried a large metal round shield with the symbol of a platinum dragon. The helm that he wore was shaped to resemble the head of a dragon.The man marched gracefully across the tavern and as soon as he reached the table got down on one knee. He bowed before the somewhat embarrassed halfling.“Your Highness, thou didst not warn me of thine departure." The paladin spoke softly and respectfully to Cade.“You looked so busy,” Cade shifted slightly in his seat."Verily you Highness, dangers lurk ever present." The warrior rose to his feet and briefly looked at each of the other people at the table. Satisfied that none of them posed an immediate threat to his charge he lowered his guard a little.“Yes, but I found this basher who was big and burly to hang out with and I'm sure that everyone is too high on druid fluid around here to bother me.” The halfling smiled at his guard and patted him on the arm to reassure him.“I'm sorry,” Serena said quietly.“REMEMBER KIDS, DON'T DRINK DRUID FLUID.” The earth genasi laughed loudly and the bench beneath him groaned in protest. The mephits peeked in through the back of the tavern and snuck in over to where their master was sitting. They never tired of watching their master fall through different pieces of tavern furniture.“They have potions and things and sit on plinths for hours.” Cade couldn't figure out what the barmy sods were thinking about when they sat on those rocks, but to each their own he thought."Surely thou has heard the ill-fated tidings Your Highness," the warrior of light continued to stand, declining the seat that was offered to him.“No,” Cade replied somewhat confused about what Sir Osbourne was talking about."The knights have fallen in the defence of those who do march," Sir Osbourne took off his helmet and held it tucked under his arm.“The knights who are guarding the modron march?” Serena asked, wanting to verify that this was indeed what Sir Osbourne was referring to."Most assuredly," Sir Osbourne stated.“Attacked by whom?” Serena asked, already guessing at what the answer would probably be."I know not the names of these foul assailants, that do make a mockery of all who call themselves knights." Sir Osbourne spoke with righteous anger. His blood boiled at the thought of holy knights being struck down and he was eager to smite the evil-doers. "Her Holiness, Lady Toujin, knowest of this things of which you ask."“Did she mention a symbol, a purple flower?” Serena was fairly certain that the attackers were the Anakharim, but she wanted confirmation."Mayhaps my Lady," Sir Osbourne shook his head to indicate that he did not know for certain.“The Anakharim,” Littleby said after looking up from one of his note books. The dwarven scholar kept extensive notes and had recorded all the information that they'd gathered about the malevolent order of knights.“That's right, thank you Littleby.” Serena smiled at her friend who was busy looking up what he'd written down about the Anakharim."Yea that is assuredly the name that Her Holiness, Lady Toujin, did utter during her sermon." Sir Osbourne looked towards the door as if expecting the priestess of Bahamut to walk through the door at any time. "Her Holiness will be present shortly."“We have run across them before,” Serena sighed and was somewhat despondent about the reappearance of the evil knights. “I am Serena Allman.” She'd almost forgotten to introduce herself to Sir Osbourne and informed him of the names of the other people at the table."I am honoured to make thine acquaintance fair Lady. I am Sir Osbourne de Maddox, Defender of Dawnthrone and Sworn Protector of His Royal Highness Cade Highdale." Sir Osbourne bowed deeply in front of Serena. He looked Caleb and Andrew up and down and bent over to whisper something in Cade's ear. "Your Highness, thine safety cannot be guaranteed with such as these."“With these people here I'm sure that it will be,” Cade said loudly and he pushed the knight gently aside. He gave Sir Osbourne a reassuring smile and rolled his eyes at the others to indicate that it could be a burden at times to have an over-protective guardian."Such is thine will." The knight sighed and stood guard close to the halfling.“Everyone, this is Sir Osbourne a friend of mine.” Cade went over the name of those gathered around the table quickly and the knight had difficulty keeping up with the halflings quick speech.“These are the knights who were guarding the march?” Serena asked again."Fair Lady the answers to thine questions can be answered by Her Holiness, Lady Toujin," the knight said somewhat apologetically.“Yes, they are the ones who said that they were going to try to guard them from the Anakharim,” Serena could still picture Sir Vamish clearly and had seen the riders leave early in the day. It was sad to hear that they had been attacked so soon after leaving the town and she hoped that he was OK.“WHY DO THE MODRONS NEED GUARDING?” Caleb asked. The question had been bothering him since he'd heard about the knights in town shortly after his arrival.“Good question.” Littleby put aside his notes and drank from his tankard. The question had been had been on his mind as well for awhile and he was glad that the earth genasi had voiced his concerns.“Perhaps it is to do with hit and run tactics,” Cade suggested.“The modrons are slow to react to danger." Serena thought about what the Anakharim might be able to do against tens of thousands of marching modrons. "Perhaps if someone were to rush them and retreat quickly they would not be able to deal with it.”</blockquote>

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