We all sit inside the living room of my and Whisperclaw's suite at the Goblin Pot tavern. Ice paces nervously across the living room while we sit on the couches around the coffee table. I had just finished explaining the situation about Blackthorn to Glimmer.
"I get what you guys are saying and all…" He looks away from me, "...but why do we have to get involved?"
He looks back up and around at us with a pleading look.
"I mean…" he fidgets nervously, "... until now, I just thought I was on an expedition, which is already crazy enough. But suddenly, you guys are telling me we're about to play liberators in a city we just got to?"
"Glimmer I…" I start, but Glimmer cuts me off.
"No." He snaps, "If we're being honest here, Renald, we wouldn't even be in this situation if it wasn't for you. It makes me wonder why we've been following you anyway."
Then he storms out of the suite. Ironvine goes to follow after him, but I stick my arm out and block his way.
"Wait." I say, "Give him some time, he'll come around. We need to discuss how we're going to find Blackthorn."
"Right…" Ironvine reluctantly sits back down. "What do you have in mind?"
"Before that man barged in, Liaz had given me some pretty good intel." I tell everyone, "He said that Blackthorn showed up in Amacedia a few weeks ago and paid off both the First Knight and the Lord of this city, Lord Carvallen."
"Tsk. Gods damn it all." Whisperclaw looks upset.
"If that's true, he's untouchable by the law." Ironvine notes, "That makes things difficult."
"He…" Ice stops her pacing, "...he doesn't have everyone paid off."
"Liaz was telling me." I nod. "He said that Lord Carvallen's son is opposed to the way his father's been running things."
"Sir Joel." Ice mutters the name.
"You know him?" Whisperclaw looks over her shoulder at Ice.
"N-no!" She stammers, "I just remember him coming into the tavern a few times to talk with Liaz. They always went to his office, though, so I don't know what they talked about."
"Great. Then we have an ally." I smile. "Ice, we may need you to convince Sir Joel to take his father's place as Lord."
"I…" She avoids eye contact with me, "...I can't."
"Ice…" Whisperclaw grabs Ice's paws into her own, "...please."
"It would help Liaz out." Ironvine adds, "If we can replace Lord Carvallen and the First Knight, we might be able to start making some changes around here."
"I want to…" Ice nervously fidgets, "... I-I don't even know what I would say."
"Just ask him to help you see Liaz." I say, "That should be enough to start the conversation with him. When does he normally come to the tavern?"
"Well, if he keeps to his normal times…" A look of embarrassment begins to crowd her face, and she makes for the door to the suite, "...Oh Gods! He should be here any moment!"
"Wait!" I grab her arm before she can leave, "Don't go rushing out there yet. We still need a plan."
"Ren's right." I blush at the sound of Whisperclaw using my nickname, "What if he's working for Blackthorn too?"
"What should I do then?" Ice rambles. "I don't want to make him wait. What if he leaves? What if -"
"Don't worry about any of that." I calmly let go of her arm and place a hand on her shoulder, "We'll handle everything."
"Uh, how do we plan to handle this exactly?" Ironvine strokes the fur around his face.
"We, as in you and I, will pay the First Knight a visit." I look at everyone and smirk. "Whisper, follow Ice while she meets with Sir Joel. Make sure he doesn't see you, though."
"I got it. I'll be a fly on the wall." Excitement rises in her eyes. "We're going ahead."
Then she grabs Ice by the hand and rushes out of the room, leaving Ironvine and me in the suite.
"So, how do we find this First Knight?" He stands up and stretches.
"Based on what the Knights said when they arrested Liaz, we can probably start at the city barracks." I begin putting back on my armor. A lightweight chestplate, a pair of gauntlets, greaves, and a helmet that also masks my entire face. All crafted from the scales of an albino sea serpent.
I hover over the armor for a moment. Whitecoat had commissioned a set for each member of the crew after we slayed the great beast. The pearly uniform and our sabers and shields became a symbol of fear amongst criminals and the corrupt. As the White Knights of Ardent, it was our responsibility to hunt down and bring these evildoers to justice. At least, that's what I had thought at one point in time.
"You alright?" Ironvine's voice brings me back to reality.
"Yeah. Yeah." I shake the memory out of my mind and strap into my armor, hesitating once more before placing the helmet over my head, "I'm fine. Are you ready to move out?"
"Let's do it." I turn around and see Ironvine wearing a full set of gold, regal armor adorned with intricate swirling patterns. A golden helmet with a tuft of fur at the helm adorns his head, and I can just barely make out his eyes from behind it. He also has a greataxe on his back, which is made of the same regally decorated metal.
I recognize the equipment. The official equipment set of the Wardens, another one of Adent's military divisions. Unlike the White Knights, who handle internal affairs and move in secret, making them virtually unknown by the general public, the Wardens are a public military sect in charge of protecting King Tomias and keeping peace within the city.
"You…" I think carefully before continuing, "...You're a Warden?"
"A long time ago." Ironvine pushes past me. "I guess that would have made me a knight, like you."
He glares at me out of the side of his eye as he passes, and I can tell he doesn't want to talk about it. I don't blame him either. I take a deep breath and follow after him. I know that Ironvine has his reasons for being a pacifist, but the way things are going, he might have to change that. My only concern is if he will be able to.
There is almost no one on the streets, only a few people now and then who give me and Ironvine puzzling looks. The only light at this point is the moon and the street lights guiding us as we walk. I had gotten the location of the Barracks from Liaz when we were talking during dinner, so I easily steer Ironvine towards the building. After a few minutes of walking and a couple of turns, we eventually see the towering, steel, castle-like structure in the distance.
"What's the plan?" Ironvine whispers the question as we approach the front gates.
"For now, let me do the talking." I march up to the gate and am stopped by two Sellsword knights who cross spears to keep me from passing.
"State your name and your business." The knight on the right demands.
"My name is not important." I say calmly, having dealt with this sort of business before, "Tell the First Knight that a White Knight of Ardent has come to visit him."
"Alright." The Knights begin to lower their spears before nodding at Ironvine, "And who is that with you?"
"He's my escort. Are there any other questions?" I say, trying to sound important.
"No, no." The Knight on the right motions at the Knight on the left, who quickly heads into the barracks, "You're good, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait out here for now. No unexpected visits unless the First Knight clears it."
"Tsk. Fine then." I suck my teeth in mock irritation, but I already know the procedure. The next thing that's going to happen is the Knight who left is going to come rushing back, and both of these Knights are going to lose their jobs. Then we're going to be escorted to have a meeting with whoever this First Knight is.