For a brief second it appeared that Detane was about to run but after a second’s indecision he ground his heels into the ground as the small collection of Men-at-arms moved to surround him. There were only five of them, dressed in mail and blue and silver surcoats flapping as they obeyed the gestures of their lieges but they moved quickly.
“The divines be praised.” One of them exclaimed, his face breaking out into a smile that was not at all pleasant. “Isn’t it amazing who you run into when travelling the world?”
Both of the knights, like their accompanying men-at-arms were dressed in the same pattern of heraldry with only a few minor variations. Besides the symbols or marks of their own noble families and heritage, their heraldry matched that of Baron Jaseton. “Indeed it is.” Scorn and arrogance dripped from every word of the second knight as he made a show of looking Detane up and down. “It has been quite a while Varden.”
Instead of the usual arrogance and disdain for everyone and everything around him, Detane was standing as still as a statue and not reacting. While we were not far away and watching with growing confusion at the knight’s actions and his reactions, he was facing away from us and we couldn’t see his face.
“So this is the darkened corner of the world that you have slunk to. Looks like Tamriel is a small world after all.”
Detane remained silent and unnoticed to the knights and their accompanying servants Viconia, Alexi and I had shared a glance and began making our way closer.
“You look good scum. Too good in fact.” A mailed fist came down on his shoulder and gripped Detane tight and yet he didn’t react, standing still and keeping his head lowered to the ground. Without needing to see or hear anything else, this uncharacteristic reaction made me feel even more concerned, even before the first knight smashed a fist into Detane’s face.
The solid blow rocked Detane’s head back and if not for the grip on his tunic he would’ve sagged at the knees and collapsed. Even before he had begun to fall the two knights had unleashed a flurry of blows, smashing him in the chest and stomach and punching him again in the face before I reacted.
“Enough!” I roared, bursting into a sprint and seeing the way that the handful of men-at-arms tensed and dropped hands to weapons at the approach of Viconia, Alexi and myself. The five soldiers moved to put themselves between us and their lords and the now-bleeding Detane. “What in Oblivion’s name is going on?”
There was no deference from either the two knights or from their servants and one of the men-at-arms had begun dragging his sword free before the tip of Alexi’s sword was pressed under his chin. It had been the fastest I had ever seen the sword-champion move and his skill was not lost on any of those who witnessed it.
With blood staining his mailed fist, the first knight tilted his head and smiled at me in such a way that made me want to rip his jaw from his skull. “It appears that slum has an infestation, and we are doing our civil duty in removing it.”
“Not like that you don’t.” I growled as I burned a hole into the soul of the soldier who stepped closer to me despite the threat of Alexi’s sword at his comrade’s throat. “That man belongs to me.”
“Really?” One second Detane was lolling about in the knight’s grip, the next he fell as he was let go. Only his groan of pain and the way that he rolled over showed that he was still conscious. “Then it appears that this place is as decadent and corrupt as we expected if such scum exists in the employ of people like you.”
Whether it was the stress of the morning and everything that had happened or not didn’t matter, but the two men-at-arms closest to me stopped in place and visibly began shaking as my will pressed into their minds. After everything the vampire was close enough to the surface that I could taste the scent of blood on the air and it was intoxicating, although not as much as taking some of these individuals down a few levels.
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“That man has proven his loyalty, and unlike yourselves he isn’t in the habit of assaulting others without cause or reason.” Another stare sent shivers down the spines of all looking at me and I was struggling to keep my emotions in check. “Nor do they impede a Knight-Captain or superior officers.”
The recognition was slower in the two knights but the men-at-arms each took a step back with the exception of the one with Alexi’s sword against his flesh. He especially was looking increasingly worried and audibly sighed with relief when the blade finally lowered.
“What crime deserves this as punishment?” Viconia hissed with all the presence of a deadly viper, almost willing them to make a move that would allow her to butcher them where they stood.
Unfortunately for her, the two knights were either oblivious to her threat or were too arrogant or foolish and ignored it. “Murder.” Said the second with considerable relish, turned and scuffing an armoured toe in the dirt at Detane. “Of a woman and her two children.”
“Is that it?”
More than one set of eyes widened at Viconia’s flippant comment and the men-at-arms stepped aside after several moments thoughtful consideration. With Viconia and Alexi flanking me I stepped closer until Detane’s body was almost at my feet where he was trying to gather his thoughts and stem the bleeding from his face.
“Who are you?” I said very simply, looking between the two knights and curling my lips in distaste.
“Sir Steglon of Norvulk. Esquire to Baron Jaseton.”
The second knight stiffened as I turned to him in turn and he coughed lightly, clearing his throat. “Sir Tilile. Also an esquire to Baron Jaseton.”
“I am Sir Desin, and as I have said this man is mine and there are laws about such actions. Assault is punishable by flogging I believe.”
At my back, Alexi caught the cue and I could almost hear his expression from his words alone. “Indeed it is sir. Knights and nobles are no exception.”
Both knights finally lost their arrogance and realised that they were in a situation that their titles and rank could not protect them. They turned slightly pale and Sir Tilile appeared as though he was now sweating from more than just the heat.
Steglon was a different matter and while suddenly nervous he still had an insubordinate streak deep in his being. “Do you understand the kind of man that you have in your employ, sir?”
“Maybe you should explain yourself and your words.” I growled.
Taking the bait but slowly becoming more deferential, he made a vague gesture to Detane who was groggily picking himself up from the dirt despite the blood pouring from his busted lips and nose. “This ‘man’ you claim to be your own is a murderer. By the lords of Wayrest he has been banished, exiled from High Rock as punishment for his crimes.”
“If he was a murderer, then why was he not hanged?” Viconia asked coldly.
“If he had been an ordinary murderer he would have hung, but his crime was far worse than normal. His victims were kin; his wife and children to be exact.” Sparing a glance to the kneeling Detane I saw the cold expression on his face but it was not one of anger or hatred as the knight continued speaking. There was nothing in his expression in the slightest.
“So he was banished instead?”
“Indeed.” Sir Steglon nodded and went to spit on either the ground or Detane but stopped himself. “His face was marked and he has been declared to be an outlaw; to be hunted for all the days of his life and for all goodly citizens of High Rock to render him harm if able.”
Still, there was no reaction from Detane but I could smell the fear and sorrow on him with my vampirism. “We are not in High Rock, and if there are any attacks or further assaults on anyone here I will take great pleasure in enacting Imperial law.” My threat hung in the air and both the knights before me understood perfectly. “Detane, on your feet.”
Staggering upwards, the short Breton looked around at the collection of men and women, knights and servants alike but there was none of his usual attitude. He was as cold as a glacier and as emotionless as a stone as his pain and injuries seemed forgotten.
Only when Detane moved between us and away from the huddle of knights and men-at-arms did I stop my glare at the two knights who had assaulted him. He was still dabbing ineffectively at the blood from his face and now hunched over from the blows he had taken to the body.
“Now what?” Alexi hissed to me as we escorted the short Breton away from where the servants of Baron Jaseton stared in sullen silence.
“Now?” I said simply, sparing a glance to Detane who looked as though all the fight and will to live had left his body. “Now we go and look after each other.”
