A Medieval Fantasy Part 3

Chapter 3 (Mark Question) In one fluid movement the newcomer dismounted, walking purposefully towards them. Kal-El noticed something he hadn't while she'd been on horseback. Besides the longish, pointed ears, ignoring the eyes, and even her too elegant, too perfect features – if there was even indeed such a thing – what stood out was her height. Not as tall as himself, nay. Yet taller than the squire beside him and most any woman he'd met while in the Court and Guildhall. Slender, silver armor adorned her, argent and fine, it almost glowed, compliment to the already raw intensity of her personage. Sword and scabbard hung across her hip, handle intricately engraved in what he could only assume was Elven writ. Mate to her eyes was a saffire cloak pushed back over one shoulder. It drew his attention to the bow and arrow strapped across her back. Which, itself, in turn drew his eyes back to her face. For some reason he couldn't help but feel inadequately armed. Her voice broke through the fogged veil of his thoughts. Keen eyes again on him, foreign inflections accenting her tongue to make her seem even more exotic than she already appeared. "Kal-El, I presume?" He debated the merits of his answer. Knowing not her identity or intent put him at a disadvantage. Already she seemed to know his, asking more out of formality than need. It was a departure from moments ago when she'd declared them ill-equipped and flatfooted. Whatever the case, deceit was not second nature to him as it was to some. The Knight answered and answered her forthrightly. "I am he. Although I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage." The Elf displayed mild surprise, not expecting the easy acquiescence to truth the man showed. Experience told her that man spun truths more readily than they told them. It was acknowledged with reciprocity. "I am daughter of Themyscira, born of its waters. My name is Diana," She paused, changing gears with adroit facility. "Excuse my earlier rudeness. It was... inelegant of me to make the demand." It was then that the squire stepped forward in tunic and breeches, robed in pristine and sprightly pink. "If I might, I feel obliged to ask the painfully obvious, which is why and why us? You want us to come with you to, uh, Themis... Them-is-kra-" He tried to pronounce the strange sounding syllables without much success. "Themyscira." The Elf's expression spoke of some entertainment. James reddened slightly. "Right. Sorry." He looked down at his leather boots, "But... how do we know you're not-" "An enemy?" She interjected, "You do not trust me, that only proves your prudence. No blame is assigned to you for it. But you parry and probe when we have not the time; such only proves a waste." The She-Elf's sky-blue gaze took them both in, but remained on the Kal-El. She frowned. "Were I your enemy, I would not be standing here, talking to you. I found you. It is only a matter of time before others shall as well." His curiosity was immediate, "The ones responsible for Kandor?" "Yes." The Elf spoke directly to the fallen Knight. "If I may be so bold, how did you manage to escape?" She referred to the fall of Kandor. "I didn't." At her expression, he shifted, and elaborated only to say: "It's a long story. "I see. I..." She frowned, "I am here to retrieve you." "Retrieve us?" James asked, curious. She nodded. "We elves – many of us – are gifted with sight. True sight." She explained, emphasizing a difference. "One such possessing the ability saw the fate that would befall your people. It was decreed something needed to be done. The stakes involved here extend beyond even the keeps of your kingdom. Action needed to be taken, that... that is why I'm here." She finished finally. It was the truth. They didn't need to know that she herself wasn't there on her Queen's orders. Not her exact orders, as it were. There was a decree, it just hadn't included her. But Kal-El hadn't heard any of her words, nothing beyond what she'd said about knowing. His stomach twisted. "You knew it was going to happen?" He decried, "And you, what, consoled yourselves to do nothing until now?!" Brows rising, she was alarmed, "No. You're wrong. We-" The Elf stopped, lips thinning, brows drawing in rather then out, "I should not have to explain myself to you." She exclaimed, temper rising. The squire watched, sensing he should interrupt something that was about to go very bad, but feeling powerless to. "Besides, where were you when your kingdom was under siege? I see you here, where were you then?" Kal-El had gone silent, saying nothing. Diana felt no need to apologize. "Uhh... would anyone like to see a magic trick? No? Oh, okay. I'll just... stand back here and, uhh." The Themysciran ignored the shorter, talking man. Thinking instead on the other. Was this really who was meant to be retrieved, she wondered. At first sight she'd judged him... intriguing. But then he'd started jumping to conclusions and she found herself in doubt as to whether she could convince him, that, and unable to prevent herself from snapping back. He seemed arrogant and very maddening indeed, speaking of that which he did not know. If he would not listen to reason, she decided, she would have to knock him unconscious and carry him back. He was mortal. She was an Elf. Her eyes shifted to the squire, in his bright colors. He was small, she judged. She could gently incapacitate him should he try to interfere. Meanwhile Kal-El silently brooded. He had always been a good judge of character. Lady Lois' refusal to even be seen with him after his... fall from grace and subsequent banishment, though painful and disappointing, had not been entirely without forewarning. Granted, he had never expected quite that, but he hadn't held his best hope of the opposite. Truly a matter of the heart triumphing over the mind. Usually though, it was almost as if he could look into an individual, sense when they spoke deception. And he had detected none from the Elf. On the contrary, actually; he wanted to believe her. But the thought that... that someone had known – had seen it before it was! – and could've come to their aid, and hadn't, ate at him, like some deep, dark worm born of guilt and anger, burrowing into the face of his gut. Her haughty accusation of dereliction burned. She had no right to judge him, he thought. He had been banished, and if he'd known, he would've dropped his wanderings in a heartbeat and gone back – whether they'd have him or not. She had no idea what she was talking about. He opened his mouth to speak. Just as he was about to, Krypto, who to that point had been eagerly darting around, trying to get the She-Elf's attention, barked, and, seeing his chance, began sniffing at the woman's hand as she knelt, stroking its fur. Kal-El could only blink, then strangely enough, smile. He had never seen the dog take to anyone, not even himself, its master, so quickly and completely. The canine was rolling over on its back, emitting what in dog-tongue probably translated into the happy and euphoric. His dog, Man's Best Friend, had betrayed him in under a minute. The thought was short lived however, for Kal-El's head snapped to the right, concentrating on something unseen. Heightened, extra keen hearing had tuned out the immediate, listening instead to a low faraway rumble that only he could hear. Kal-El recognized it immediately. Hooves, hard and rapid, rhythmic in their 'toom' 'toom' against the ground like drums. Diana too looked up, craning her head, eyes widening fractionally. "Someone's coming!" "We must leave!" Both spoke at the same time, and in the next moment identical blue eyes locked on one another in momentary surprise. The She-Elf started to speak, but stopped, a thin frown marring her perfect brow. There was obviously much more to the former Kandorian Knight than she'd given him credit for, Diana thought. But there was no time, thoughts on that would have to wait until later, right then, they only had one concern – escape. Possessing a warrior's ear, she listened, quickly counted hooves. Riders, on horseback... "Twenty men." It seemed the decision had been taken out of Kal-El's hands. He would follow the Themysciran Elf after all and hope his trust wasn't misplaced. –––––