The messenger from hell we dread

“Good thing the stew only cost ten coins,” I thought, slipping the remaining shard into my pouch.

I pushed open the door, already missing the tavern’s cozy warmth. But the biting cold wasn’t the only thing that stopped me. The square, bustling just moments ago, now lay in tomb-like silence. Nadia gripped my hand tighter. “She seems nervous—maybe we should head back to the inn… But that’s on the other side of the square. Damn it! We’ll have to try the alleys.”

Men with hoods drawn low and women clutching their shawls pressed forward toward the center. I tried to force a path through the crowd, but I couldn’t get far—we were trapped, surrounded by hundreds of bodies packed so tightly they cut off every way out.

And yet, in that instant, my gaze froze. “A knight! Holy shit, that’s amazing!!” Not like the ones in picture books, nor some stylized encyclopedia sketch, nor a cheap fairground reenactor.

The armor was a full plate harness—articulated greaves, crafted couters, a chiseled breastplate—all engraved with patterns that seemed Gothic, or maybe late-Romanesque. The metal was dark, either blackened or tempered, and draped over his shoulders hung a fur cloak that spread like the wings of a raven.

His gauntlets gripped the hilt of a greatsword. A zweihänder? No… maybe an elongated bastard sword, thrust into the ground like a banner.

The helm, its face fully hidden in the shadow of a hood, radiated an aura that chilled me yet left me breathless.

I knew I should be terrified, but my heart hammered against my ribs, screaming only one thing: “HE’S A REAL, GODDAMN KNIGHT!!”

He gestured theatrically with one hand. «Ladies and gentlemen, I am Wilkotak, captain under the command of General Stoyan,» he declared, finishing with a hand to his chest in a brief bow.

The moment that name left his lips, murmurs erupted across the crowd. But amid all those whispers, only one phrase echoed again and again: ‘the Corrupted Knight’.

He drew his blade and tapped it against his shoulder as he paced within the circle of halberdiers. «Today, I come unofficially with my troops and… with a little helper,» he said, ruffling the head of a boy in a tattered gray cloak. «To investigate a matter of no small importance.»

As soon as he moved his hand, a pair of rabbit-like ears sprang up. “Wait, that’s not a boy… what is that? Looks like it’s covered in black fur.”

«It seems the corpse of a smert jesera has been found,» he revealed, twirling his blade carelessly. “Shit!” The rabbit-boy’s head turned slowly toward me. His round, glowing orange eyes stared—unblinking—beneath a grin stretched far too wide.

«Since this is the closest city to the incident, it’s very likely the culprits are here. I ask that you tell us immediately if you’ve seen anyone who doesn’t belong to this place.» His malevolent smile widened as his eyes swept over the crowd, following the sword’s tip.

People glanced nervously at one another, whispering. “Now I understand why Nadia was tense. If we don’t get out soon, the crowd itself will turn against us.”

«Well then, I’ve waited long enough. Thank you for your cooperation!» he said, resting the blade on his shoulder. “What? It’s only been a handful of seconds.”

Everyone fell silent, staring at the knight like deer caught in torchlight. «We’ll be on our way, but first, let me remind you—you are subjects of the king. Don’t get any strange ideas about hiding fugitives or anything of the sort. It would be such a ‘shame’ to arrange some public executions,» he added with a chuckle. Raising his left hand, he twirled his finger.

The soldiers impaled the civilians before them, panic exploded through the square, people ran in every direction, shoving me from all sides, my arm was yanked—I barely caught sight of Nadia in the chaos, I gripped her hand and pulled her close, lifting her into my arms to keep from losing her, she clung to me with crushing force, I looked up—the rabbit-creature was hurling people onto halberds to clear its path, it was slow, but it was closing in, I clutched Nadia tightly and shut my eyes, a hand seized my arm and pulled hard. «Søren! Move!»

I opened my eyes, both relieved and confused to see a familiar mask. «Dakarai?! Thank god you’re here…»

He dragged me away from the square’s center. «That damn loutky already has its eyes on you! Run!»

«What about you?»

«I have to get my cart and Mbud.»

«O-okay, we’ll come with you.»

«No! I can handle myself—you’d only slow me down.»

“He’s right… He’s lived here all his life, he knows best.” «Fine. But I don’t know where Laila is, and the rest of the weapons are at the inn.»

«Forget it, I’ll take care of the weapons! As for Laila, just use the necklace to summon her.»

«But how—»

«ENOUGH QUESTIONS! NADIA! THE GWIBER OWL!»

«Mh!» Without hesitation, her eyes and hair lit up,she raised her hands, and from them she conjured the beast, which seized us in its talons, the downdraft of its wings scattered people, flames burst from rooftops, and a shadow leapt across the buildings, chasing us, its hand reached close—everything spun, my stomach lurched as the ground fell away beneath us, «Laila!» Nadia shouted, climbing along her familiar’s leg.

«R-right! O-of course!» I clutched the pendant, closed my eyes—nothing happened. I looked up at her. «H-how am I supposed to? The last time I tried to order her, she started pulling away from me… I-I don’t want to lose her forever.» My eyes burned; I couldn’t keep them dry.

Nadia leaned out to glare at me, cheeks puffed. She held up a tiny fist. «Hold and think Laila. I talk.»

My jaw softens, my eyes fix on hers. The wind tore tears from my eyes. “What a fool I am… She’s just a child, yet she’s responded to everything without hesitation. And me? Here I am, whining over what someone might think of me… Pathetic.” I wiped my face with my sleeve. “I need to wake up. Stop thinking. Focus only on escape.”

I clutched the pendant, closed my eyes. “I need to think of Laila—her face, her beautiful face… No! Focus. Laila, Laila, LAILA, LAILA! LAILA!”

«Stop yelling! I hear you!» I opened my eyes—there she was. Still glaring, arms crossed. But she was here. «Well?! What is it?!»

«W-what do you mean what?! Haven’t you noticed what’s happening in the city?!»

«No, I was asleep.»

«How the hell could you sleep through this?!»

«Mind your damn business! A lady needs her beauty rest.»

«Enough! Loutky!» Nadia snapped.

“She’s right, we don’t have time to argue.” «F-fine, Laila, can you do something to shake that thing off us, please?»

She sighed, rolling her eyes. «Alright. But I’ll take a nice chunk of your energy… Just for spite.»

«Wait, what—» She raised an arm, conjuring an avalanche of steaming, man-sized marshmallows that poured down over a wide area below. The loutky began climbing them. «It’s not working! You only made it worse!»

«Be patient, always so negative.» The rabbit-boy’s movements slowed as more marshmallows stuck to him, gluing his limbs together until he was dragged to the ground. «See?» she asked, smirking sarcastically.

“I don’t know whether to thank her or insult her… Guess I’ll go with Dakarai’s approach.” «Fuck you.»

As we flew farther away, I glanced down. Even immobilized, the rabbit-thing still thrashed, staring up at me with those hollow, burning eyes.