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Johe Jaxon the Guyver knight...
Posted: 26 Oct 2004 02:49 AM |
“Jaxon!”
The olde knight bellowed as he strode into the guild house.
“Johe Jaxon!”
The fixtures rattled in harmonic unison with the knights armor as he sought out his squire.
“Sir yes sir mista Rafferty sir!”
The halfling came rushing around the corner as fast as his little hairy feet could propel him. The half polished gauntlet and the oiled rag flying into the air as he ran headlong into the paladin’s leg and was brought to a bone jarring halt.
“Bah! Get up lad, there is much to do, Lady Eratia is in great peril! Pack everything, and ready the horses, we travel as soon as possible.”
Johe set to work immediately, trying not to notice the welt that was growing on his forehead, he knew how enamored the old knight was with the lady Eratia, this was certainly serious business.
“I like the pritty miss Eratia”, Johe puffed as he hefted a lance that was thrice his height over his shoulder, “ wut 'appened?”
Rafferty Thunderheart glowered his eyes darkening with anger, “ The Ebon Flame has her, this could well be our last battle together lad.” The old knight groaned as he eased himself into the nearest chair.
“Nah!” the halfling smiled, “We bin thru worse, amemba that time when that dragon made me poor feet bald?”
The old man chuckled mirthlessly, “ Ah my little friend, how I wish that were so.”
Johe continued with his work as the old knight nodded off into a fitful exhausted sleep.
The young halfling couldn’t contain his wide smile as he lugged the saddles to the stable and thought back on the years he had worked for the old knight who had saved him from his own curiosity so long ago. Old Raff could be strict, but Johe had completely enjoyed being a squire to him. It had kept him out of trouble, while keeping him interested, (something difficult to achieve with most halflings). Johe took his responsibility to the aged knight seriously, and enjoyed the unexpected aspects of the job. He would always beam with pride when Sir Rafferty would ruffle his wild black hair and call him his “little guyver”, when Johe would procure a piece of equipment that was missing or broken, to continue the “Fight for the right”.
Johe gave the chord tying the pack to his pony one last good tug and stepped back for a moment to admire his work.
“Yay me!” , he cheered as he skittered back into the guild house to where the old paladin was resting. He walked quietly to the old mans side, and stood and stared for a moment, a part of him not wanting to wake the finally peaceful looking man. He had seen Rafferty work incessantly to fight evil for many years, and who knew how long he had been doing it before they had met. His eyebrows raised transforming his face into that childlike visage that usually got him a kiss on the forehead from pretty lady Eratia, and knocked on the knights breastplate.
“BONK BONK”
“Anyun 'ome?” , he said with a stifled chuckle.
“Whu..? ah Johe! Bah!” , the old knight retorted with a smile.
“We’re ready ta go mista Raff”
“Ah very well, let us be on our way”
The mighty warhorse and the pony clip-clopped side by side in the light drizzle. The rider of the warhorse, sitting proudly in the saddle, a look of stern resolve on his aged face. The rider of the pony, sitting backward in the saddle, with his hands behind his head, resting on the pony’s mane.
“Are we there yet?” whined the rider on the pony.
The old knight chortled, “ Ah lad, your naïve innocence never ceases to amaze and entertain me. You truly have no idea the dire situation we are riding into do you?”
Johe looked over at Sir Rafferty, “Well I don’ reelly see whut’s ta worry about, I mean we fight bad guys and bad guys fight us, someone’s gonna win and someone’s gonna lose. Not much we c'n do but try right?”
“Aye lad,” the knight said proudly, “ don’t let anyone ever take that away from you.”
Johe smiled.
They rode for a while in silence. The knight seemingly contemplating the horn of the saddle.
“Johe,” the knight finally said.
“Yessir?”
“I just want you to know, you’ve been the best squire and guyver a paladin could ever wish for…”
Neither rider noticed the black robed man step from behind the rock and slowly raise the large bejeweled staff toward the old knight.
Neither rider heard the staff wielder as he muttered with seething hatred, “You’ve meddled in the affairs of the Ebon Flame for the last time Thunderheart.”
“… know that I would have never been as successful as I have smiting evil and helping the innocent without …”
A globe of shimmering energy leapt from the jagged prongs of the staff.
“… your noble assistance, you are more than a squire, more than a guyver, you are my friend…”
The shimmering globe grew ever larger as it raced toward the duo with deadly rapidity.
“ I want you to always remember, no matter what happens tonight, we have fought the good fight, and have proven without doubt…”
Johe Jaxon looked across at the old man as whirling lights spun dizzily all about them.
“…the ends …do…justify…the means… …”
There was a sense of unimaginable speed, a feeling of being everywhere and nowhere, and then…
nothing
“Sister Hendur,” soft footsteps on a wooden floor, “ how fares our mystery guest?”
“He is sleeping less fitfully sister Florence, and the schizophrenic episodes are farther apart, but still there”
“Well? Are we a Thunderheart or a Jaxon?”
“It’s looking like a Jaxon sister”
Fading footsteps on creaking floorboards.
“Well then, when he awakens, that is what we will positively endorse, for the patients own good, do not mention the Thunderheart, by the sound of it he would not want to be here without “her” anyway.”
“Whatever you think best sister Florence”
“Good, I’m off to check on Ellea”
…
…
…
… the last page of Johe Jaxon’s medical logs, in the Seven Sisters medical archives…
… and sweating profusely, applied cold compress, but to no avail.
Day 19:
Patient awoke, first words were, “My head hurts, what happened?” Patient exhibited more than normal confusion. Patient did not know his name, but when told his name he did seem to recognize it, it was strange how he first recognized it with a fond smile, and then a sad acceptance. Patient asked where the “old man” was. Fed and then medicated. Third shift reports a restful sleep.
Day 20
First shift reports patient calling out for a “fresh lance” in his sleep.
Sister Hendur reports the whole day was spent reinforcing the patients identity, it was difficult going, but by dinner time things are going better. Patient is eating well, and even making jokes.
Third shift reports a restful sleep.
Day 21
First shift reports patient was missing during morning bed check. Patient was found in the garden, talking to Ellea, (see Ellea’s file), As patient was led back to his room he said, “‘Tis my duty to make this right milady, and with (unknown name)’s help it will be so!”
Sister Hendur reports, Patient is reporting small snippets of memory returning at random moments. Very strange how patient can be so jovial and carefree and then for small portions of time , seem to be someone completely different.
Third shift reports a strange noise from patients room, upon investigation, patient and belongings were gone, save for a crumpled note found at the foot of the bed that read as follows… “ The Ebon Flame knows where you are old man, we will be sending someone soon to finish you off. Death to godliness.”
Post Script signed by Sister Hendur…
Johe Jaxon was brought in today by a wandering ranger, he was found in the Buckshire swamps close to death, obviously exploring as his kind are wont to do, He was treated and released. I wish to officially disagree with hospital policy, I feel we should tell him the truth, he still seems quite confused.
File closed and sealed with Sister Florence’s seal… |
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