Quiet Knights (Closed - Side Stories)

[Erik Mynhier]

Sweet Child of Mine

 

The house was quiet as he sat in his chair by the fire. The mammet, always busy with one thing or another, moved about here and there through the house. Its gears and joints were the only noise that heard. Erik had spent the last few days working with his hands in the Shroud. He shushed his little friend when it creaked into the sitting room, "Montblanc." he whispered, "You will wake her."

 

His small child slept soundly on his lap. As soon as he had returned home that evening she had claimed his attention. Lenna had been this way ever since Siha had left on her journey. She was a reclusive child from her time in the deserts of Thanalan. Other then the Seeker and Midlander who had cared for her in her years away from home, she had never socialized with many people. Her nature had made her unwelcomed in the social circles of Forgotten Springs. From that came a great joy in meeting her father and aunt, new people who loved and cared for her. She had taken Siha's departure hard, and Erik found that she had taken to focusing everything she had on him. There had been few nights where she had not fallen asleep in his arms. Honest to himself, he knew he loved it. This child was new for him still, despite her age being three, he had lost so much time, he had no choice but to cherish every moment.

 

The mammet quieted it's movements as it moved to sit in the little chair opposite Erik's. Erik smiled at Montblac and returned his gaze to his daughter. He quietly sang old songs, songs of Ishgard and Ala Mhigo both, as he stroke her light purple hair. She looked so much like her mother, it made his eyes tear if he thought of it to much. He only held her and focused on his joy.

 

As he rose from his chair he hoisted with him her small form. Quietly he moved to her room, hopeful that she would not wake. Despite his caution she awoke as he laid her in her bed. He smiled as he covered her, "Go back to sleep love. It is late and I need sleep as well." She pulled her blanket to her eyes, "Papa. Story?" Erik nodded, "Just one, then you must go to sleep."

 

As he returned from his bookshelf, he carried the storybook his mother would read from when he was a child. His mind wandered for a moment as he reached the child's door. Lost loved ones, monsters, old enemies, new enemies, none of it mattered. Right now, he was happy. "Once upon a time in a far off land there was a Demon with wings of crimson........."

[Erik Mynhier]

Like a Prayer

 

It was co cold, that was his main thought as he entered the chapel. Erik had spent the whole night alone in the holy building. The Chapel of the Holy Lance is a large chapel, not counting such places within the Holy See. All its size added was difficulty to heat the place.

 

The day before Erik had arrived in Dragonhead, his nerves overwhelmed. This was a moment he had been waiting for. His acceptance into Halone's priesthood. He would not be a proper priest, but it would begin the ordination process. His reward of Acolyte status would return him to the point he had reached before his mother's death. He hoped that this would have brought her pride.

 

The priests appeared from points in the chapel where light did not touch. Each one was armed with a sword and shield, their robes blue as ice. They formed a circle around Erik, who was unmoved by their sudden appearance. The eldest priest, the Abbot, spoke to him, "Erik, son of the Unicorn, what is within you?" Erik opened his eyes and replied, "Honor, courage, faith, and Fury." The Abbot nods, "And what is around you?" Erik stood, "Those whom I would shield with my life." The Abbot the said, "Would you know how to strike the balance between the two?" Erik replied, "There is no balance, we must just live from day to day." The Abbot smiled, "You have done it my boy. Quite a wait for an Acolyte, but you will be through it soon...

[Erik Mynhier]

Faces in the Darkness - Part 1

 

It had been the better part of a month and a half since Erik had been made an Acolyte. It was only a technicality, he had been made an Acolyte at the age of fifteen. Tradition dictated that one must carry the light before embracing it fully. The Abbott had understood the situation, Erik's absence for years, adjustments had been made. A week prior, in a small ceremony attended by only his daughter and a few close friends, Erik was ordained a Priest in the Order of the Fury. The ceremony was quiet, in the cold chapel, lit only by the light of candles and the Great Seal of Halone, a seal carved from a large Ice attuned aetheryte crystal. Once it was over, there was silence, except from Lenna, who let out an echoing cheer which startled the entire gathering. Erik winked toward the girl and returned his attention to the Abbott, bowing to the old man, and then turning and kneeling before the Seal.

 

The events of a week ago were truly happy, these events were not. Erik had returned to the Coerthas on news of the Abbott's sudden death. He had been an older man, but seemed healthy a week before, but that was a thought for another time.

 

The large and normally empty chapel was standing room only, "Half of all of the Coerthas must be here." he muttered to himself. As he took a place in the back, and the prayers began to echo through the great hall, Erik noticed one of the men near the alter, an Elezen, the Inquisitor who had visited the Abbott sometime before, seeking answers about "fugitive heretics" as he called them. His suspicion grew until the end of the funeral, when from across the massive hall, among the throngs of people present, the Inquisitor locked eyes with the Sultansworn, and smiled a wicked smile.

 

Erik thought it best to leave as he and the others of the funeral party began to flow out of the chapel. From the crowd around him came a voice that caught his attention, "You there! Young man!" called an old Wildwood. Erik turned toward him and saw him moving toward him. "You there, big lad. Excuse me for approaching like this, but you look so familiar. What is your name?" Erik regarded the old man for a moment before answering, "I am Eirikir Mynhier, Sultansworn of Ul'dah, and Captain of the Red Wings." The old man clapped his hands with joy, "Fury keep me! I knew it, you look so much like your father, and your mothers eyes and hair for sure. Halone shields me, having you here." Erik's eyes shot open as the man spoke of his parents, and became confused by the rest. "You knew my parents Ser?" The old man stopped and looked embarrassed, "Forgive my manners, I am Julian Rigaud, and yes, I was a close friend of Ulrich and Heather, mostly your mother though. She and I were both servants of the House Fortemps, even though by rights she was of nobility herself. Please Son of Ulrich, come with me. This old man is in need of aid."

 

Julian lead Erik to eastern ramparts of the city, overlooking the grand inn. "I once was in love with your mother you know. But Ulrich was the dashing sort, but I hold no ill will, I was old even then." laughed the old man. "I saw that Inquisitor looking at you, am I wrong in thinking you are involved in something they would not like?" Erik guarded his reply, "It takes little to bother men like him." Julian thought for a moment, seeming almost lost in his thought, "I cannot speak of it even here. The day is still abound. Would you meet with me here tonight, I will tell you everything then." Erik seemed confused, "Everything of what?" The old wildwood lower his voice so much that even Erik's sharp ears could barely hear the words, "The Faces of Mercy......"

 

[align=center]To Be Continued....[/align]

[Erik Mynhier]

Faces in the Darkness - Part 2

 

Night touched everything with the brutal touch of the Fury, the cold like blades. Erik had returned to the spot where he promised to meet Julian, but the old elezen was no where to be seen. He waited for some time, assuming the age of the man may have lead to his tardiness. That thought vanished when Erik heard a creaking from behind him. A small room found on the rampart used to give relief to chilled guards, its door opened slowly. Erik peered into the room to see Julian, dead and disfigured. Erik backed away from the door, his senses sharp, his mind true. Few who he called friend knew his true nature. He seemed such a gentle and kind man, always so caring, but this was just the face he let the world see. One who walked away from Ala Mhigo as it burned. One who killed his first man at the age of thirteen. One who had fought imperial forces, undead abominations, and even death itself and won. These were not the accomplishments of a kind man. These were the events of a savage life of survival.

 

Suddenly from behind Erik came a voice, "You are very far from home Captain." Erik spun on the voice, he had not sensed the man he saw before him, neither sound or aether. This unnerved Erik, it was all but impossible to sneak up on him, any man who could was not to be underestimated. To make it worse, laughter came from the empty room where Julian laid dead. Two men seem to emerge from nothingness. Three men who made no sound, walked in shadows, who could even conceal their aether, "You are Faces of Mercy?" he asked, moving his head to his front and back, trying not to give his enemies more of an advantage then they already had. The only one to have spoken, their leader, replied, "A good guess. I suppose you are rightly on our list. To be honest, I assumed it was an error. A highlander hyur, a Sultansworn of the sands? But here you are." The man raised a blue crystal that flashed a dim light. The light would refract off of elezen eyes, leaving them to sparkle for a few moments a rainbow of colors. The eyes of the assassins sparkled, as did Erik's. The leader laughed, clapping his hand, "Why Captain, you have your mother's eyes it seems. I must admit, I would never had thought such high blood would be found in one like you. Though you do seem cleaner then the average highlander. I suppose that proves you are indeed our prey. We shall be quick."

 

Erik nodded, "I will not delay you." Drawing his blade from it enchanted hiding place, he spoke his oath, "By my oath.... I will defend Her Majesty with all my courage and Fury." Light poured forth from the tip of his blade as he circled it around him. The red coat on his shoulders gave way to the plate of a Sultansworn. Erik turns the tables, this time surprising them, leaping from the rampart ten fulms to the roof of the inn. The three assassins recovered from the sight of a highlander leaping like an elezen, and moved after him. The two lesser assassins reach him first, their blows swift. Erik parried the first strike, and countered with a swipe of his shield, knocking the masked man back. The second was right behind, thin blades singing in the air as they swiped once, twice, again and again. Striking his sword to the roof they stood upon, Erik summoned pillars of light that threw the second from the roof entirely. This invited the third, the leader to begin swiftly running toward Erik, both blades and smile drawn. Erik swung his shield, knocking the man back nearly to the edge of the roof. As he stumbled, he caught himself, dropping his second blade to steady himself and to return to his charge. As he charged again, Erik lobbed his shield at the dark figure, only to be stunned by the sight of the assassin catching his shield with his free hand and hurling it back at the knight. As Erik reached to catch it, he left himself open as one of the other slayers appeared and cut deep into his left arm. Dazed by the blade touching bone, Erik shook himself and recognized the losing battle before him. He grabbed his shield from before his foot and ran to the edge of the roof. As he approached, the assassins closing in, Erik chanted, "By my oath.... I will stand before all, INVINCIBLE!" As the enchanting aura stretched over his body, he leap from the roof, falling several stories. Landing on his feet he turned to look to the roof, only to see his hunters, standing at the edge, looking down. He could have sworn he saw the leader smile before they all vanished from sight.

 

As a small crowned gathered around where a shining knight had fallen from an impossible height. As he watched for his attackers the pearl in his ear rang out with a crackle of voice, "Erik, are you there? Can you meet with some of us tonight to speak about the situation in Ishgard?" Erik, uneasy as he looked into every face in the crowd around him, making sure they were not the impossible man's face, "I am here Kiht. I am actually in Dragonhead right now. Where will the meeting be? I will be there."

[Erik Mynhier]

West Bound and Down - Part 1

 

Molly Bern had been the perfect choice in a companion to Ishgard. A midlander herb farmer and amateur Conjurer from Bentwood in the Shroud, Molly seemed every part the shy small girl, except she was not. Molly had been a sleeper agent of the Red Wings for two years, ever since her wandering and wild ways caught up with her. While rambling with a group of young and headstrong youths from Gridania, the small overconfident band came upon a supply stash for Garlean Agents in the Shroud and took what they pleased. Not even a hundred yalms from the spot, two of her friends were shot dead. The running only lead to magic being used. One of her friends burst into flames beside her, another froze and shattered. From above came the Falcon, observing the spot to record Garlean activity. Erik and his men had made landfall within moments, emerging from the ship, weapons bore. Soon the Garleans were dead, as well as all of the children. She was frightened but wanted revenge. Soon she was trained, equipped, and place in a small place to await Erik's call to repay her debt.

 

No one knew any of this past, only that a Priest of Halone approached with a young conjurer. Though an outsider, by law he was admitted to the theocratic state, they both were. They were welcomed by people who's job it was to do such things, served by people who's job it was to do such things, and by the time the sun was setting a few hours after they had arrived, they were followed by those who's job it was to do such things.

 

Erik turned a careful eye for a moment to the men following them, his elezen inherited senses nothing but inferior in a city of elezen's. He smiled as the thrill of battle began to build in him. He turned to Molly and grinned a reassuring smile at her, but lost it immediately when he saw her swoon dizzy and collapse. She was whimpering as if a pain was growing within her as she crumpled. The thrill was gone, only life and death for him and the young girl he had brought to such danger. He turned as he drew his blade from its aetheric hiding place only to meet shock as it did not materialize as it always did. Shock covered his face and he looked closer at the men approaching and saw a small silver box in the had of one, the lit opened. A moment later Erik felt his legs give out from under him. There was only discomfort as they approached, nothing like the agony Molly was feeling as she blessedly lost consciousness. As the men surrounded the Sultansworn the box was opened wide and Erik slipped into a sleep of exhaustion.

 

The men spoke to each other as he slipped away, all he was sure he had heard was a name, Heather.

 

 

[align=center]To Be Continued...[/align]