A Gentleman’s Guide to Fantastic Beasts: Chp 9: Interlude: An Imperial Knight

A Gentleman’s Guide to Fantastic Beasts: Chp 9: Interlude: An Imperial Knight

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Commissioned by Citino 

Wordcount: 2500

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The As’Kari’s brightest light stood before me, while the desperate attempt to hold back the darkness that encroached upon the world loomed in the distance. The magic which has been fed for ten generations by the realm, greater than any other magic cast in history, can barely reach the Great Desert with its light. Perhaps, if we another three hundred years, we could have protected the entire continent against the tide of the darkness… but such is not the case.

The realm is barely defended by the Light against the harshest darkness, and its armies must marshal themselves in order to fight against the monsters that shall heed the call of the Darkness, as once again all must face the will of dark gods. 

The people of the Great Desert are frightened by the sight, but they are a strong, hardy people who will persist and perhaps even thrive in the coming decades. Even the meekest of their number is shaped by the harshness of the dessert, and their greatest champions are beyond the reach of even the greatest of Knights. Their society, even at the brink of war, may one day save the world entire from the predations of those from beyond. 

However, I bowed to the child who has chosen exile over war, for the sake of my homeland and my people.

For my people cannot compare to his.

“Speak. Tell me.” The words that came forth from his mouth was that of my own tongue. Though barely days have passed since we met, he spoke to me with great clarity. Was it the work of the prisoners? I wondered what they spoke to him about, what words they told him which were half-truths and lies, when in truth they deserved to not even be in his presence. “That.”

While the eyes of many gazed upon the stars, his gaze and pointed finger was upon my people’s final hope, growing too slowly to save the entire realm.

“Protection by my tribe.” I spoke to him as clearly as I could, using the As’Kari’s language when I was sure that it was right. The child’s gaze upon me was heavy, his eyes filled with coldness and wisdom as it did with all those blessed by the world with true power. Despite his youth, because of his blessings, I knew this child was blessed with wisdom beyond his age. All with power are all more capable with their minds. “To protect against the darkness. To… grant light in the days that will be without for people and crops.”

This is an attack upon the entire world. The Night shall persist until the Ancient Foe is defeated, but until they are the world shall wither away. Lesser creatures and plants that do not partake in nature’s blessings, the power which seeks to suffuse all life, will perish. The trees, many crops, and lesser animals will die as the world will be without the weak magic of the sun radiating upon it. The Tree of Light was set near the great grain fields of the realm, as to provide sustenance to the people and the livestock, and many shelters were dug beneath the ground with lesser trees to provide for small, hidden villages to carry on the struggle and the realm, if the worst comes to pass and the realm is utterly destroyed. 

“Protect against what?” The people of the Great Desert lack many things, despite their strength. Their history has been lost time and time again, as their scholars are typically few and hand their secret knowledge to their apprentices. Not only that, but the various Tribes will not share their knowledge with another unless needed, as they all understand the worth of knowledge. It seems that the As’Kari do not know of the Ancient Foe, despite the fact that a handful of other Tribes questioned the preparedness of our people over the passing year. “Another tribe?”

“Monsters. True monsters.” The As’Kari had many words for beasts that used the blessings of the world to become great, terrible creatures that feasted upon others. Unlike us, they measured they quantified them, measuring their strength, and conveying a sense of danger to each one before stating their name. Whereas all monsters are monsters to those of the realm the As’Kari and those of the Great Desert saw some as weak, even tamable like normal animals, and categorized even those they saw as threats. I used, without hesitation, the word the As’Kari used for “perfect.” “The end of all.”

I watched the blessed child, while kneeling upon desert sands, and hoped fervently that a measure of respite and a beacon of hope will be granted to my people.

My heart almost sank when he turned to his home, now set beyond the boundary of the As’Kari camp. I believed that my words did not reach him, until he gazed upon me with his masked features over his shoulder.

“Come with me. I will listen to all.” I knew that he spoke even of the runaways, those who defied the law, and were punished for their treachery to hard labor. They were a strong bunch, tight-knit amongst one another, and fearful of my strength as they knew only the laws of the As’Kari stopped me from killing them. However, even criminals as they knew of the truth, and they would be fools to tell lies. Even the one who dwells in the darkness, clinging to old tales, and a kingdom lost, will convey the truth to this blessed child. “Come.”

At the behest of one blessed with the right to rule, I moved to do as I was bid, and my heart lightened ever-so-slightly as I tread after him upon the Great Desert’s sands. 

…

I was unsurprised to find the others of the cadre of prisoners already in the distance, putting their legs and health to use, upon seeing the great darkness which was inflicted upon the world. Even criminals such as they cared for their homes, and would wish to be with their people in the coming days. Knowing thus, I was sure that I would have to chase after them, but instead I was surprised to find the cavern-dweller awaiting the blessed child.

His gaze looked upon me with fear and resignation, stiffening as he eyed the bannered posts which were the boundary of the As’kari tribe, and he bowed his head in a silent plea for a quick death.

His reticence, usefulness, and the matter made me reconsider my plan to find and execute them upon leaving the As’Kari. 

“Tell him of the circumstances of the world, and aid us in our journey back to my people, and I will speak well of you and see your sentence lifted.” The Dwarf looked upon me with surprise, until he noticed me glare at the skies above, and his spirits lifted at the breach of honor that I was willing to commit… until he looked upon the darkened skies with greater fear. It was good to know that my honor was so unquestionable that it reinforced the world’s end when I was willing to go against it. “Work on behalf of the realm for the sake of your penance.”

Tempted as I was to raise my sword at the convict, my tone alone garnered the attention of the blessed child, who eschewed violence against all but monstrous creatures.

Thus, I took a step back and allowed him to speak to the Dwarf, while turning my gaze towards home. I listened to the flowing words of the As’Kari, picking forth what I could and doing my utmost to recall what I knew. I cursed my lack of initiative and foresight, especially since I was learning the language with the intent to speak to the As’Kari in the future as a mediator. If I had taken my studies with greater fervor, I’m sure that relying upon a criminal would be unneeded. 

In my struggle, my mind wandered to my home, which is now undoubtably beset by monsters. 

Of course, my mind wandered to the realm, and instead of the lands I was trained and expected to defend, I recalled my home and the lands the surrounded it. While my skill and blessings were found at an early age, I still recalled the fields of wheat that surrounded my home, and I wrote to my mother and father often. They lived close to the capital, and ours was a landed family with a missive from the First King himself to sow wheat for the realm’s armies for the crown. 

My mother and father wept when it was decided that I was to be a knight, but once I knew the truth, I accepted the harshest of assignments and trained as much as I could. While my mother and father’s safety were assured, along with all our peasantry and servants, my power and blessings were needed by the realm beyond the Tree of Light… and those who would be forced beyond its protection as the realm reorganized in order to persist and fight against the Ancient Foe.

Many will be ousted outward, told to support castles which will attract the attention of hordes and hordes of monsters, and be given the terrifying, terrible duty of becoming the walls against which shall buy time for the entire realm. Honorable knights, strong commanders, and strong soldiers will man the walls of the keeps, and they shall protect the peasantry as they sowed and reaped until the land grew fallow even with the aid of magic. 

However, there are not enough knights nor soldiers to protect them all, and many will perish.

But that can change, if there is another, truly blessed child who can fight against the hordes of the Ancient Foe… especially one whose blood was not linked to royalty, and could be allowed to venture to the front. The Crown is mighty and strong, but none could be spared to reinforce the front. Five already fuel and administer the Tree of Life, while the two attends to the siege engines that can strike our foes from the capital anywhere in our realm.

One more.

One more that is not constrained by tradition.

One more can make all of the difference in the world.

…

The Dwarf aided me, as we took the last of the blessed child’s offerings to his people. The immense chest which he carried with ease took both of us to carry, as it was laden with paper and meant to withstand the harshness of the dessert. 

The criminal spoke to him at length, in the As’Kari tongue, and now that we shared a burden, I spoke to him.

“When you last visited your people, how were their preparations for the coming Night?” The Dwarf looked surprised by my words, his eyes widening immense, as though I cared not for the plight of his people. Many in the realm did not, as they looked upon those of other races as former foes who simply bid their time and waited us to turn our backs. However, while I was wary of the realm’s neighbors, I cared more about how many monsters they shall slay. “Did your people do as they were told and seal of the deep mines?”

The Ancient Enemy empowers all darkness. In the darkest depths of their homes, the Dwarves sought out treasure and rare metals to hoard and let gather dust in immense holds for times of great crisis. With the warning we sent their way, in the interest of securing our western flank, we sent to the mountain range and the cities beneath it the intelligence we gathered. However, I was sent to watch the border of the Great Desert before news returned of the mission. 

I wished I hadn’t asked, as the grimace upon the Dwarf’s face at my words burdened my heart even before his spoke.

“The message was rejected by many, even when more than a few heeded your people’s message. Those who blew apart their tunnels and began mustering were mocked… and now they might be all that will be left of my people.” The Dwarf groaned and sweated even beneath the sunless sky, while we ascended to the top of the immense insect which the As’Kari used to traverse the dessert. We were not even halfway to our destination and I was already calling upon my power, while the blessed child strode forward without a mote of his blessing used. “The tunnels will fill with monsters and they will rise into cities unprepared for war, and those who mocked those who prepared will be turned away in vengeance.”

I grit my teeth at the knowledge I was provided. The Dwarves were a hard-set people and scarcely forgot. Those who are prepared will remember the slights leveraged against them and bar the way of those who mocked them, leaving them to die, even when their cities are famed for being immense and capable of holding many of their kind in times of crisis. 

“How many? How many cities exactly shall survive?” Three dozen dwarven holds studded the western mountain range of the Empire. Since the Dwarf said “many” did not heed the call, I assumed that at least half their number decided to be fools. I hoped that at least ten survived for they can hold the line and their cities are known to withstand years of siege. “Tell me. I must know.”

The Dwarf’s visage grew grim before he answered.

“Ten. Ten listened and mobilized for the days ahead.” My breath hitched as the dwarf answered. Twenty-six dwarven fortress-cities lost. Even if the most populous of their cities heeded the realm’s missive, half of their people are lost. “The others continued to mine, to build wealth, and now must die surrounded by it.”

I wished to know no more, but my lips were urged by my morbid curioisity to speak.

“Then… what of the east? Of the Living Forests and their caretakers?” I hoped that the Dwarf knew nothing of them. To hear nothing now would be a blessing. However, the former criminal paled as though my words brought to mind a malign thought he’d wished to have never considered. “Did… did they reject the realm’s message one and all?”

With a shaky nod, I nearly fell to my knees. Not from exhaustion but of despair. 

“They are lost.” I struggled to keep walking, as I envision the entire realm’s east become a charnel house, from which monsters will come forth in droves. They will be fed, strong, and yearning for more flesh to feast upon with their larger bodies and stronger forms. The creatures will crash upon the realm even as Elvish blood dries upon their skin. “We all might be lost… if this child does not give aid to the realm.”

I turned towards the Blessed Child, who might save us all from the creatures to come, and expected the Dwarf to speak out on behalf of his people and of his slumbering king. 

Instead, the Dwarf took a shaky breath, and nodded upon my words.

“Aye. That lad needs to reach your people. He needs an army behind him, so that we have some hope of withstanding this.”

As unexpected as the Dwarf’s words were, especially since he was a criminal, I felt the most meagre amount of relief upon his declaration.

I had an ally in these strange lands.

One that will help me see my people saved.