Years of grit had carved the street boy into a man of armor. Brimmah stood at his post within the cathedral halls of Elsem Castle, his hand resting habitually on the pommel of his sword. Hair blond as desert sand; subtle scar across his bald chin. Brimmah was no longer a nobody in the gutters; he was now a Knyyt in the service of the crown: a soul-soldier.
A councilman walked past, his silk snapping with every self-important stride. He didn't spare a glance for the guards.
"Look at that one," Brimmah's mate muttered, barely moving his lips. "Walks like he's got a rune carved where the sun don't shine."
Vale stood taller but leaner than Brimmah at their post: a lanky figure inside the polished armour with blue undercloth draping over the thighs and around the shoulders.
Brimmah remained silent, eyes tracking a second councilman who followed the first into the council hall.
Vale whispered again. "I bet they practice that 'constipated dignity' look in the mirror every morning."
"Vale! Learn to shut up, will you?" Brimmah muttered back.
The atmosphere shifted as Harry approached. Unlike other councilmen, he stopped before them with a weary smile across his lightly bearded face.
"Good day, lads. Hope you two aren't getting each other in trouble again? Stay sharp, you two," Harry said warmly.
As Harry moved inside the council hall, Vale shook his head. "Now, there's a man who remembers what it's like to be human."
"Yeah…" Brimmah agreed with a look of admiration.
"Shame what happened to his boy. Ever met him?
"Harry's son?"
Vale lowered his voice even more – to tell the gossip, "Heard he's not actually dead – not really in the sense of it. Elmerianshave him among their war prisoners. Rumors have it that Elmerians wanted to trade prisoners but you know Elsem – we don't negotiate with the enemy. So King Leonhart told 'em where to shove it."
Hours later, the council hall's door groaned open. Harry exited alongside Councilman Esq. The presence of the Rune Academy's principal always made Brimmah's heart drop. Brimmah always saw that familiar sneer across Esq's face even when it wasn't there.
Harry slowed as he passed the guards, catching Brimmah's eye with a supportive nod.
Esq didn't stop, his lip curling in a visible sneer. "To date, I still wonder what appeal our good King saw in that worthless boy."He said to Harry but loud enough for Brimmah to hear.
As Esq walked off, Harry stepped closer to Brimmah, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Your eyes did not falter at his insults today. That's growth, boy. Take pride in it."
A messenger hurried up, handing Harry a small, rolled note. As Harry scanned the paper, color drained from his face. He tossed the paper into a nearby torch, watching the flames devour it, but his hand trembled.
"Brimmah, listen..." Harry began, his voice hesitant.
"Harry!" Satorii appeared suddenly. The Youngest and only woman on the council; her face always heavy with maquillage,she looked more like a soulless painting than an actual woman. She came with an urgency, gripped Harry's arm, whispering something that made his jaw set.
They hurried back to the council hall as the rest of the councilmen began returning just as urgent.
Brimmah and Vale exchanged a long, worried look. The humor was gone.
"Something is wrong," Vale whispered. "Something's gone very, very wrong."
The Catacombs
Their routine night shift patrol brought them to the edge of the castle's bowels. Brimmah and Vale arrived at the mouth of a dark tunnel inside the catacombs. The air drifting from there was thick with the scent of damp earth and old secrets.
"I hate this route," Vale grumbled, eyeing the darkness. "Why do we always have to patrol it? There's never nothing down there. I mean, why not just seal the damned hole since it leads outside Elsem?"
"Exactly because it leads outside of Elsem. Be more serious here, Vale. Stop talking about military secrets so loosely. I always warn you your mouth could get you in trouble."
Vale rolled his eyes, "Yes yes… not like there's anyone here but us though. So anyway… the usual?"
Brimmah sighed, "What kind of Kyyt fears darkness?" He muttered then collects the torch from Vale – who leaned against the exterior wall, making no move to enter.
"Just shout when something cold touches your shoulder." Vale joked. "I'll be here guarding the exit."
Brimmah didn't argue. He stepped into the darkness alone, his torch casting dancing shadows against the narrow, echoing walls.
He had walked these passages many times, but tonight, the silence felt heavy.
Suddenly, he halted.
Scritch!
Thump!
Faint footsteps!
Drawing his sword with a sharp metallic rasp, Brimmah moved like a prowling predator.
A shadowy figure darted across the passage ahead.
"Halt!" Brimmah lunged, his boots skidding on the stone as he tackled the figure hard against the wall.
He pressed his forearm against the person's throat, raising the torch.
The light hit a familiar face. Brimmah's breath hitched in shock. "Sir? Harry? What are you doing down here? You should not be down here!"
Harry was trembling, his eyes wide and pleading. "Brimmah, please," he gasped, his voice a broken whisper. "You have to let me go. Pretend you never saw me down here… I need you to do this for me, Brimmah… please…"
Brimmah's face shifted. He glanced away conflicted. His duty as a guard pulled one way; Harry's pleas pulled the other.
Minutes later, Brimmah emerged back to the catacombs, his sword now sheathed.
"Well?" Vale asked, pushing off the wall with a yawn. "Thought I heard a sound. See anything?"
Brimmah glanced back at the dark one last time. "Just rats," he lied, his voice cold and steady. "Nothing but rats and dust."