CH4

The first attempts to destroy the pendant yielded no results. They tried standing on it, throwing it at the cave wall, and Lynnette had even tried to strike it with her blade, but each time the artefact seemed to reflect any damage done to it.

Exasperated, Lynnette threw it back onto the shrine. “What does it take to destroy this stupid thing!” She said with vexation.

Fenryn rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly for a moment. He then let out a long sigh and offered her the torch he was holding. “Hold this,” he said to Lynnette as she took it, a look of confusion washing over her face. He then gave her the sword he had been wielding, and after a bit of fidgeting, he pulled around another sheath that he had hidden under his cloak.

Tilting her head to one side as she watched him, Lynnette gave a rather puzzled, “we tried swords already. What are you up to?”

“Well,” Fenryn began as he held the sheath out in front of him. Slowly he pulled out the sword within it and peered at it intently. “It is obvious normal weapons will do nothing, but this blade has silver mixed in with iron.” He continued.

Lynnette gave an even more perplexed look. “I don't understand what that has to do with anything at all.” She said with an unimpressed tone to her voice. She looked at the blade rather carefully. It seemed like a normal sword to her, though she could indeed see that there was silver mixed in with the iron. To her, the idea of mixing metals like this was absurd at best.

Fenryn looked up from the blade to meet her dark brown eyes. A strange seriousness rested in his expression. “I'm not surprised you don't know, since the magic used by your people is natural, and works in one with nature. However,” he said as he now pointed the sword towards the shrine, “magic of humans and... whatever you call your people in the cities, those who no longer have natural magic, are weakened by silver.”

Wide eyes blinked at the human before her, as Lynnette took this new information in. Was there really two kinds of magic? Why? And didn't all magic come from nature itself? And if not, then why? And how did it differed from the magic she knew.

“This,” Fenryn then continued, “is why our mages are under tight restrictions. Their magic is born of the old Gods, and it is because of this; that they are easily possessed by them.”

This man continued to surprise her with the vast knowledge he possessed. Just who was he, really? “The Malruthiia.” She said quietly, “that is what we call those who live with the humans.” Though she explained this, her true attention was still upon the sword. The more she looked at it, the more she thought she understood.

Fenryn raised the sword up high enough to get enough momentum in order to strike at the shrine and pendant, aiming his blow carefully.

“You're one of the King's knights, that's why you know so much,” Lynnette stated bluntly, and with an irritable tone. “I should have known right away, typical.”

At her words, Fenryn lost his focus, and he missed the shrine completely. “W-what?” He said, turning to look at her. He blinked at her for a moment, then gave an awkward laugh. “I am not... well it is more complicated than that, but... what I mean is, does it matter who, or what I am?” He stumbled his words, not really sure what to say in response to her statement.

Lynnette's lips thinned as she eyed him once more with suspicion. “You cannot fool me. That sword has the seal of the Knights of Terra. You know too much to be a simple guard, and no bandit knows as much as you do about my people, or magic, or much of anything really.”

Fenryn rubbed the back of his neck. “It really bothers you that much?” He asked. “Can we not work together any further?”

As he gave her a gloomy look, Lynnette found herself faltering a little. “I... no, no it is fine...” she grumbled, looking away from the man. “I just... you let me insult your King, so...”

“Oh, don't worry. I'm not going to have you arrested. Not like I could, we're far from the Kingdom, and if I tried you'd hit me, and I don't like pain.” He said, making a rather amusing expression. “Besides, if you ask the nobles, the King is an idiot, among other things.”

Lynnette looked back to Fenryn, and could not help but find herself laughing. “I had no idea the King's knights had a sense of humour.” She managed to say between her chuckling. “Fine, I'll trust your word. You seem as much of an idiot as you say your King is.”

“Well, thanks. I think.” Fenryn said giving Lynnette a wry grin. He once more took up his position, and this time the woman allowed him to try out his theory without interruption. As the blade hit the pendant it glowed a bright red hue before shattering into pieces, along with the shrine.

“It actually worked...” Lynnette said with a hint of surprise. “I wasn't expecting it too.”

Fenryn nodded. “I wasn't sure it would either, but I'm glad it did.” As he finished his sentence, he could hear the undead behind them crumble down to the ground. He was surprised they had been so calm and had expected them to put up more of a fight.

“Well, I suppose we should head-” Lynnette began, but before she could continue, the whole place began to shake.

“That... is not good,” Fenryn said as he sheathed the blade once more, and swiftly moved to collect his torch and the other sword from Lynnette. “We should get out of here, lest we get...” and before he could finish, the roof from the way they had come in; had collapsed.

“Well, shit,” Lynnette said as they both stared across the room. “We are dead. We are so dead.” Her words sounded more apprehensive than she had meant them to sound.

Fenryn laughed a little at her tone. “What is a little adventure, right?” He said, grinning from ear to ear. The ground was still shaking as he moved swiftly over to the ledge. He dropped down effortlessly and then made his way to the other side.

“What are you up to?” Lynnette asked as she followed him across. She had no plans of her own but was not about to be left behind if he did indeed have an escape route.

Fenryn offered her a boost up the other side, to which she then pulled him up. He shrugged a little, then said, “the horn has a bit of magic left, correct? If we are lucky then the tunnels aren't all blocked up yet.”

“Oh!” She said, now getting at what he was hinting at. “Floatation spell on the boulders!”

“Right!” Fenryn said, grinning from ear to ear again. Lynnette gave another slight chuckle. She had to admit, he certainly was nothing like she expected a knight to be. Maybe it was because of his youthfulness, that he seemed so carefree and adventurous. It was almost endearing, really. Like a little child with a new puppy. As she commanded the horn to do its magic, the two of them quickly but carefully made their way through the tunnels. She only hoped the horn would hold out until they were safe. She wasn't happy that she would soon lose such a treasured item, but if it was a choice between her life, and the horn, then it was no question as to which was more important.

“We're almost back to the catacombs,” Fenryn said as they hurried along the pathway, the shaking floor beneath their feet had not yet subsided, but neither had it gotten worse.

“Who knew destroying the artefact could set off a trap?” He laughed, seeming no worse for wear.

“Are all knights as cheerful when their lives are at risk, as you are?” She commented while keeping her pace with the man in front of her.

“Probably not!” Fenryn chuckled, “though, with my bad luck, I am surprised we don't have a boulder on our tails!” As he said this, there was a loud THUNK! Sound behind them.

“You just HAD to jinx us, didn't you!?” Lynnette yelled out to him. “Move your legs man! Or I'll kick your ass into the Netherworld!”

“Yes! Yes! I'm on it!” Fenryn called back, picking up the pace again. He was glad that the rocks falling behind them, were not actual boulders chasing them down like in the many adventure stories he had been told as a child. As they reached the beginning of the catacombs where the two had first met, the ground finally stopped shaking. The two of them stood there, breathless, but thankful for still being alive. Sadly, the crystal and the unicorn horn had shattered to bits along the way, and Lynnette had no choice but to leave what remained behind.

“Well,” Lynnette said gasping, “at least you have some good luck, as well as bad.” She teased.

Fenryn chuckled at her, then slumped down onto the ground. To say he was exhausted was an understatement. He looked up at her with a large grin, his face and hair now mattered with dirt and dust.

“You really are a strange human, indeed.” She said trying not to laugh at him. She sat down next to him and took in a few deep breaths of the dusty air. “At least no one can raise an undead army now. I suppose I should thank you for that.”

“Do not worry about it. I was glad to help. No one wants to deal with evil magic like that.” Fenryn replied, smiling softly at her. “When I heard the rumours of the walking dead, I knew I couldn't just leave it alone.”

Lynnette nodded lightly. “You said that there were two kinds of magic, how is it you even know that? I mean, I certainly did not, and my clan knows a lot about magic.”

Giving a thoughtful glance up to the ceiling, Fenryn said, “to be honest, it isn't common knowledge, even in human lands.” He looked back down, and towards the woman now, as he continued, “it was only discovered during King Lexus earlier years of rule.”

“Lexus... he was the current King's father, correct?” Lynnette asked.

Fenryn nodded his head, a saddening look washed over his face for a short moment before he hid it with another of his child-like smiles. “It was an accident, or so I was told. He had gone to meet with one of the noble families across the marsh, and their group was attacked by a necromancer. A Rattus had made the King a sword of silver, a decorative item, nothing more. After losing his proper weapon earlier, it was all he had left, but once the silver touched the necromancer, his powers weakened, suddenly giving the group the chance to overpower him.” Fenryn slowly stood up, having rested long enough. “Since then, we have used silver in many things, though it is a very rare metal to come across over here, so trade with Rattail Peak has been very important.” He continued. His tone somewhat bitter.

“But why do so few know of this?” Lynnette questioned as she stood up also, “and how did you find out it doesn't work on my people?”

“So few know because it was not something the King wanted everyone to know. If everyone knew that mages could be subdued with silver, then his enemies would use it against him whenever he used them in battle. Of course, the silver has to be near or touching the mage, to begin with for it to work. That is why all of the knights have at least silver in their weapons.” Fenryn explained. “As for why it does not work on your own people, I think that would be obvious.”

“Not to me, it isn't,” Lynnette muttered.

Fenryn sighed a little, then shrugged. “Silver wards off spirits. Natural magic has nothing to do with the old Gods, thus no spirits to ward off.”

Lynnette's expression moved between confused and surprised. “You mentioned that earlier. Is our magic really that different?” She asked.

Nodding, Fenryn said, “yes. While the spells themselves are mostly the same, the method used to cast is different. That is not to say all mages are possessed by spirits or old Gods, but the flow of magic comes from them.”

“And... that is why they are easily possessed, unlike my people, I suppose,” Lynnette added, taking in this information. She was somewhat glad that the mage's in her family were safe enough from forced servitude. If indeed Fenryn's words could be believed.

“Indeed. Think of our mage's as huge beacons of light... a light that the spirits and old Gods are drawn towards, like moths to a flame.” Fenryn continued, his hands making gestures to showcase his point. He then motioned towards further into the crypts, “we should probably go. All this dust cannot be good for us.”

Nodding her agreement, Lynnette followed Fenryn through the catacombs. When they came close to where Fenryn had come in, she hesitated for a moment. “This is the way I came...” she said, turning to face the man. She narrowed her eyes at him, “...and you said there were no traps?”

“Uh, yes?” Fenryn said, puzzled.

“I cannot tell if you are the luckiest man on Terra for not setting them off... or if I'm the unlucky one for having set off every one of them.” She muttered. Her words were rather serious.

Fenryn laughed behind his fist. “Well, I don't think any less of you either way. I did almost bring the caves down on us, after all.”

Unable to be annoyed for long, Lynnette shrugged her shoulders helplessly. “Oh well. Let us get out of this dusty old place. I'll be glad to be rid of it.”