2 - White Knight

     The bandits had attacked in the night.

     Rena found herself trapped with the rest of the villagers in the local bar. It catered mostly towards her, others like her, and the elves – fey folk, as the humans called them. It – was called Kip’s Kocktails. Sneaking a glance out of the south window, Rena spotted three of the bandits patrolling the perimeter, conversing and laughing with one another as they passed. She hadn’t caught how many had attacked in the beginning, she had been in the bar when it had started. One of the others, a young man who had ran in earlier to warn them, Fin, she thought his name was, had been the one who sounded the alarm throughout Renfeld that the Sanguine Crypts were attacking. At the mention of their name, everyone had immediately put a stop to their drinking and eating to help Fin barricade the entrance. From his descriptions, the Crypts numbered anywhere from twenty to fifty in total, and were intent on exterminating the entire town and its inhabitants for sheltering Fey Folk. The humans had made the bar special for them, to help adjust to the new dynamic of other races now living among them. To this day, she wasn’t sure if they meant it as a buffer to ease integration, or permit segregation. All she knew now was that it was currently her sanctuary, and possibly soon, her tomb.

     There were rumors that the Sanguine Crypts were being paid by the governor to carry out these acts against them. Claims had been made that Governor Kordin’s niece had joined the Crypts, and since those claims started, anti-human sentiment quickly became a contentious subject. Many humans didn’t like having Fey Folk living among them while the Elves struggled to rebuild their homeland. Some of the richer Fey even shared that sentiment, privately funding extremists in order to take advantage of the chaos.

     Rena didn’t understand that sentiment. She had been born and raised in Oros just like any other human. It didn’t sound fair to look down on her for the fact she hadn’t lived there as much as the native inhabitants. Or maybe she's naive, having just turned twenty, still a teenager by Cait Sith standards. Their lifespans were drastically longer than every other race, and with how uniquely suited their species could adapt to any environment, afforded a variety in appearances far greater than anyone else; while she hoped it would compliment her rural beauty, right now she wished she had something practical that could help fend off these raiders. Or better training than as a leather tanner.

     Her parents had warned her not to neglect her training as a condition for letting her make this business trip on her own. Her fire magyk still needed work. Pa Razzbery, hardass as he was, always worried she’d be killed by barbarians or abducted by slavers because she couldn’t defend herself. Considering the situation she was in now, Rena wished she had been more diligent in her training. All she had on her was the knife strapped to her thigh, something Mama had insisted she always carried with her until she finished growing up. It was also a good way to defend herself if magyk ever wasn’t an option.

     Pulling the knife out of its crudely fashioned sheath, Rena inspected the blade. There wasn’t anything noteworthy about it. For all she knew, it could have been a vegetable peeler before it had been entrusted to her. Yet somehow, the small weapon, no longer than maybe twelve inches from tip to handle, comforted her immensely.

     Nearby, it looked like the owner of the establishment, Kip, was talking with Fin about what they could do. Rena wondered if any of the other villagers were similarly ensconced in their own homes or places of business. There were only about two hundred people living here, just one of the many shantytowns established and virtually forgotten by the monarchy following the advent of the Third Age. Which meant that no one was going to help them, Rena thought ruefully.

     Outside, Rena heard something new. A scuffle, followed briefly by the sounds of combat, then pained effort, and finally, bodies collapsing onto the ground. Glancing out the window, she saw a lone figure, cloaked and walking towards the bar. The bandits she had seen earlier huddled on the ground, incapacitated.

     “Someone’s coming!” Rena managed to squeak in alarm towards the others. She gripped the knife tightly, worried and was closest to the front entrance. Their savior, or perhaps new tormentor, had easily and quickly dispatched the bandits nearby. That didn’t bode well for them if worse came to worse. Her warning caused many of the others to stiffen in fear. Some grabbed whatever they had on hand in some attempt to defend themselves and forestall the inevitable.

     A knock reverberated on the wall next to the barricade Rena and the others had hastily erected, followed by a muffled “Is anyone in here? You can come out now. I took care of the bad guys around the building.”

     No one answered.

     “Is anyone hurt in there?” The voice continued, and as it spoke, Rena realized the speaker was a woman. “I have someone who knows healing magyk and can tend to your wounded.”

     Rena glanced over at the others. None of them looked like they knew how to respond. Steeling her resolve, she opened her mouth to answer when the barricade exploded. A shower of broken tables, chairs fell over everyone, and standing where the obstruction once stood was their crimson furred savior.

     Her breath caught in her throat, and the dagger she so tightly held dropped to the floor in awe of the woman standing before them. Knees buckling beneath her, Rena fell onto her butt as she took in the majesty of her savior.

     Catching sight of Rena on the floor, the Cait Sith, some sort of simian woman, kneeled down to help her back onto her feet. “Are you alright?” She asked, her voice beautiful and melodic with concern. “My name is Vaylin, what’s yours?”

     It was all too much. Rena whimpered something unintelligible before Vaylin, stunned by the fiery intensity of her blonde hair. The candlelight glimmered off the woman’s crown, and her golden eyes glowed in concern. Her grip was strong, but gentle. Firm and steadfast as she held Rena. My hero… was the only thought that came to mind as her cheeks went warm from Vaylin’s touch.

     She was beautiful!

     “By the Divines!” Kip exclaimed, shattering the moment. Stumbling to her feet, Rena’s found her eyes glued onto their simian savior as Vaylin stepped forward with a confident smile. To everyone’s surprise, an ornate X stood in sharp contrast to her tan skin and ruddy fur between her breasts.

     “You’re an Asura!” one of the patrons gasped, and then all of them scrambled to genuflect before her, Rena included. She felt out of breath with the revelation of their savior’s identity. An Asura? Here?

     Several others muttered similar thoughts to one another.

     “This is amazing.”

     “What is an Asura doing here?”

     “The Divines have sent one of their shepherds to save their flock.”

     Vaylin waited for the chorus of mumbling to slow before asking, “Is there anything I should know about these bandits before I go back out there?”

     Fin stepped forward. “The Crypts are led by a thug named Montross. He’d be at the town square’s fountain. You can’t miss him, he wears a pair of tiger claw gauntlets.” He said, then added “Rumor is that they’ve been on the governor’s payroll ever since his niece joined up with them.”

     “Oh goodie,” Vaylin replied, a wicked light gleaming in her eyes. She pulled the staff from off her back, exposing the polearm’s blade. Several of the villagers gasped in surprise as she gave the weapon a flourish before resting it atop her shoulders.

     Then, to everyone’s surprise, Vaylin pointed at Rena. “Witness me,” She intoned with a friendly smile.

     Leaving them all in the bar, Rena belatedly realized what she meant, and scampered after the Cait Sith. Vaylin walked purposely towards the town’s center, stopping along the way to easily dispatch two more bandits who crossed her path. True to Fin’s word, a behemoth of a man with tiger claw gauntlets sat reclining against the statue atop the fountain. A river of followers converged at the fountain, coming to and from the various streets and alleys, some bringing captured goods or citizens of Renfeld.

     Rena suppressed a gasp. Fin had estimated Montross had around fifty followers. It easily looked double that amount, if not more! She glanced at Vaylin, who confidently strode closer, stopping just as the bandits finally noticed her.

     “Hey!” Vaylin shouted out. “You’re the pieces of bugshit messing up the place, right?”

     What is she doing? Rena’s skin began to clam up as all the bandits stopped to look at her in surprise, then outrage. Careful not to stand out, she tiptoed to a nearby alley, but still kept watch as Vaylin had asked.

     “And just who the hell are you?” Montross called back, keeping his voice neutral. Several of his subordinates began to show off their weapons or magyk in a threatening manner.

     “I’m the gal that’s gonna be teaching you a lesson,”

     Montross barked out a laugh. “We’re a bit too old to be learning lessons,” Gesturing haphazardly, four of the bandits broke off from the group, stalking towards her. “But it seems like you need one. We don’t want you here. Go back to your stinking islands, flea bag.”

     As he finished his threat, the group of bandits charged towards her, brandishing swords aloft while yelping in tandem with one another.

     To Vaylin’s credit, she didn’t back down as they drew closer, instead adopting a wide stance with her polearm. Just before the thugs came within stabbing distance, she swung wide, spinning into the attack as the bandits stepped back. Kneeling into a crouch, Vaylin thrust out towards one of the bandits, catching him in the gut. Pulling the spear back, the bandit stumbled forward, her blade caught inside him. Heaving with considerable effort, Vaylin flung the bandit overhead, where he landed close by to Rena, who squeaked in alarm.

     The woman’s unnatural strength awed and frightened her, remembering how easily Vaylin had torn apart the barricade at Kip’s Kocktails. Just how had she come by this level of power and control? Did she obtain it naturally? Could she teach Rena?

     The remaining three meanwhile eyed her cautiously now, spreading themselves around her in an attempt to entrap their foe. Flourishing her weapon again, Vaylin caught the bandit’s blade in front of her with the shaft of her own weapon, then began to roll into the weapon’s spin to parry the second bandit’s thrust, using her momentum from the spin to kick the third bandit with enough force to launch the woman head first to the ground. She didn’t get back up.

     The first bandit backpedaled from Vaylin’s block. He reached out, grabbing hold of her cloak, ripping it free while the woman struck another bandit. Her spear toppled him over. Vaylin glanced back at the last bandit. She thrust the butt of her weapon backwards and caught him on the chin. A crack rang out.

     It had all taken less than a minute. Rena released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. How had… What kind of woman was she?

     “Just who the hell are you?” Montross yelled in disbelief at the sight of his fallen.

     Vaylin stood towards the crowd of bandits and pointed her spear at them again. A hush fell among them, as the ornate X tattooed across her chest began to glow brightly. The light it emitted seemed to rouse fear, or perhaps reverence among some of them, just as Rena and the other villagers in the bar had reacted upon seeing their rescuer. There was no mistaking her identity now.

     “Name’s Vaylin Shizaru,” She answered with a smirk. Hearing it made Rena’s heart flutter. “And this is the only chance you’re going to get. Leave, or die.”

     Several bandits towards the front stepped back in alarm. Scowling at the sight, Montross leaped from the statue onto the ground, brandishing his claws. “As kind as that offer is, I’m afraid we don’t listen to mongrels,” He growled. Pointing towards her, he yelled, “Either die to her or die to me!”

     To Rena’s surprise, Vaylin glanced towards her, smiling. Her expression said, Can you believe this? as she gestured with a thumb towards the advancing crowd. Stabbing her spear into the ground, Vaylin adopted a wide legged stance, arms outstretched like she was ready to catch a bull by the horns.

     And then transformed.

     Growing up, Rena had only ever seen her parent’s true forms. Each and every Cait Sith, whether they were Cait, Aquarius, or Avis, adapted to their environments in such a way that they became part of them. Pa Razzberry had lived his life on a pasture, tending to cattle as a farmstead. His adaptation was bovine in nature. Mama, on the other hand, grew up in the mountains, and the winds of their homeland had granted her avian features to ride the currents around her.

     But Vaylin’s true form was not an endearing cow, or a majestic hawk. Her fur stood on end, darkening. Clothing began to tear as her form increased in size. Where once a beautiful crimson furred cait sith was, a monster stood in its place. Nearly doubled in size now, the giant ape towered over her assailants, tail swishing ominously. Primal malice radiated from Vaylin. An urge to flee almost overtook Rena, but something kept her glued to the alley.

     A howl erupted from the monster’s mouth, shattering windows throughout Renfeld. The shockwave buffeted everyone to a stop, and Rena’s eardrums burst. Seeing the beast, Rena felt the adoration she had before swallowed up in the fear welling up from within. Touching her ear, Rena saw her fingers come back bloodied. Was this the power of the Asura?

     The crowd shifted uneasily on their feet, when a large group of humans threw down their weapons and prostrated before the beast.

     “What in the two moons are you doing?” Montross hoisted one to their feet, holding her aloft. “Get back up and kill her!”

     The woman vigorously shook her head, pointing at Vaylin. “I will not defy the Divinity any longer!”

     “Bah.” Throwing her aside, the bandit slung a blaze of fire at the Asura. Her shoulder sparked, the fur singed from the attack. “Take that you unholy beast!”

     A deep chuffing sound reverberated from Vaylin’s chest, rattling Rena’s bones. Lifting a hand to pat away the flames, the Asura regarded Montross coldly. Sweat beaded his brow as several bandits began to inch away from their leader. The smell of ozone filled the air, and lightning began to crackle in Vaylin’s outstretched arm. The tiger claw gauntlets fell from Montross’ grip as his knees shook.

     “Upon reflection, perhaps I might have said a few things I regret,” he said sheepishly.

     “Perhaps.”

     “I don’t suppose there is any chance to make it right?”

     “Not anymore, no.”

     “Ah, unfortunate.”

     “Indeed.”

     With every exchange of words between Vaylin and Montross, his followers distanced themselves further from him. Every footstep, an indictment. Every weapon that dropped, a condemnation. It wasn’t long before Montross was surrounded in a sea of his own regrets.

    Reverting to her previous form, Vaylin picked up her polearm and tossed it towards her foe. He caught it, but looked at her with a pained, pleading expression. Her message was clear. The only way to secure his future was to kill her. And she had no intention of granting him that privilege, regardless of the handicap granted.

     Montross died with honor.