The Shadow Knight Chronicles: Chapter 1: The Shadow Knight
The Shadow Knight Chronicles
Chapter 1: The Shadow Knight
I was riding swiftly yet stealthy through the forest as I came closer and closer to my destination. As I rode I started to become distracted by the serene woodland which surrounded me but I quickly regain my focus and concentrated on my goal. I have always felt a sort of connection with the forest and I often become captivated in its silent spell.
But tonight was a night that I could not afford to be distracted, for I had to complete a task which no other could do: kidnap princess Laura of Leone. Three days ago, the king of Lupus had informed me that Leone's king had arranged for his daughter to marry a prince from Tigris. If they were to marry, it would form an alliance between the two countries that could overpower the kingdom of Lupus.
The quest sounded simple but anyone familiar with the Leone military would know that this was a suicide mission. After hours of countless riding, I steadied my steed and stopped near a river so that he could drink. They say you lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink from it, but I figured Umbra would be thirsty after traveling all day and night.
I had to walk a long way to get to my target but it was worth it to obtain some extra stealth. After about a 30-minute walk I stumbled upon a small chateau surrounded by Leonine soldiers. This was where the Leonine King was keeping the princess until the day of her marriage.
There where too many armed guards and archers for me to just go charging in and it was too risky to sneak in so I had to quietly wait for an opening. Just then a Tigrine carriage came from a pathway that led to the front of the chateau. As soon as the carriage stopped I saw two muscular Leonine knights escorted a young Leonine girl into the carriage.
"I trust you will keep the princess safe, correct? ", one Leonine knight asked
"Don't worry," said the carriage driver, "inside the carriage is not only the prince but two of the greatest knights that Tigris has to offer. You have my word that the princess will be safe."
I held my mouth and tried to stifle my laughter as I heard those last words, because after tonight the princess will be anything but safe. After the carriage took off I knew I couldn't chase them on foot and if I went back to get Umbra then I would never catch up to them. If I wanted to catch up to them and get the princess then I needed to use my Shadow Magic.
"Corporis Umbra."
With those words spoken, my shadow began to cover my entire body until I was pitch black. Using the power of my shadow body, I submerged myself into the ground and followed the carriage. In almost no time at all, I was able to catch up to them and I jumped up from the ground and onto the top of carriage just as my magic was wearing off.
"What was that?", came a voice from inside the carriage.
"It was probably just a bump in the road.", said the driver, "It's nothing to worry about."
I was almost about to laugh again because the driver didn't even know how wrong he was. To show him exactly how wrong he was, I unsheathed my sword and I cut his head clean off. As the driver's head and body fell on opposite sides of the road, I grabbed the reigns of the horses and pulled back so they would stop.
When the horses finally did stop, I cut them off from the carriage and waited for someone to come out. Two tall and muscular Tigrine knights ran out of the carriage to assess the situation. They immediately noticed that I was on top of the carriage but by then it was too late.
"Atra Incendia!"
I held my left palm forward and a plume of black fire emerged that engulfed the Tigrine knights. I couldn't see that damage that was done to their bodies but I could certainly hear their agonizing screams. When the flames had died down the knights were gone, their ashes scattering in the wind.
With no one else to get in my way, I jumped down and opened the carriage door to find the young Leonine girl I saw at the castle and an obese, mid-30s Tigrine.
"Princess Laura, I presume?"
She shivered in fear as I said her name.
"And...Prince Timothy?"
I found it hard to believe that this young girl was to marry someone much older than her, and especially someone so goddamn fat.
"Princess, today is your lucky day because I am going to kidnap your and possibly kill you. And between you and me that is a lot better then what you were about to go through with."
"Here, take her!", the prince said as he pushed her out, almost knocking us both to the ground, "Just let me live! Please!"
I took the princess and made her stand on the road. I held out my left palm and shouted:
"Umbra Vincula!"
With that, her shadow wrapped around legs, then her torso and arms, and finally her mouth. With the princess captured, I sheathed my sword and then howled into the night sky. Umbra arrived on cue, as usual, and I placed the princess onto the saddle.
"Y--You--You're--I know who you are.", I heard from behind me. I turned to see the prince still cowering on his fat ass.
"Really? I didn't know I had a reputation. Why don't you enlighten me?"
He started to speak but he couldn't stop quivering in fear, "A black wolf...in black armor...riding atop...a...a black steed...and-and uses...dark magic. You're...you're...you're..."
I couldn't stand to see or hear him quiver anymore so I decided to finish his sentence for him.
"I'm the Shadow Knight."
He screamed in complete terror as he came to the realization of who I really was. I turned my attention away from him and climbed into my saddle. Before I took off I turned toward the prince, who was still quivering like a coward. I pointed my middle and index finger to him and spoke.
"Two words before I go. Can I say two words?"
He shook his head slowly.
I smiled maliciously and said:
"Atra Fulmen."
A bolt of black lightning shot from my fingers and destroyed both the carriage and the prince, leaving only a cloud of dust. As much as I would have loved to see what damage I did to that fat coward, I had to hurry back to the kingdom and turn the princess over to the king.
It would be a few days before I would reach the king, and I would have to make a couple camping trips along the way. Maybe I could have a little fun with the princess along the way. I guess I'll figure that out tonight, won't I? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!