Sentinel

Chapter 3 - Silverborn

Dedicated to NerdyNinja1 ~ You kicked my butt into gear several times. For that, my characters love you. Check out 'Turncoat' for an awesome read. 

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Chapter 3 - Silverborn

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With a flash of his sword, Tayne removed the head of the charging demon. 

It dropped to the ground at Wing’s hooves, the guttural snarl dying in its throat. Tayne caught a glimpse of horned, greasy black skin as the demon’s head dissolved into the ground, following the rest of its body.  

That’s the last of them. 

Tayne tugged the reins resting on his lap. Wing responded, backing up several steps with a shake of her mane. When they were far enough, Tayne released the reins and rewarded her with a short rub on her neck when she stopped. 

“Good girl, Wing. Stay steady for me,” he said. Wing’s answering nicker rumbled through his legs as he stood in the stirrups.

The situation was well under control. Silverborn pairs scattered around the outskirts of the small town were finishing off the last of the demons with ease. Darkened patches of grass were the only remaining evidence of the demons and from what he could tell there’d been no injuries within his knights. The townsfolk were another matter all together. 

Tayne brought the horn to his lips and blew, keeping the thought of victory at the forefront of his mind. The crystal note of the horn shimmered through the air a moment later and a tingle ran down his spine. Silverborn unoccupied with a demon waved a sword or shield in the air in reply. 

Satisfied the message had gone through, Tayne sheathed both blade and horn and returned to his saddle, directing Wing towards the scattered buildings of the town centre where several Silverborn stood guard of the people who were now huddled in groups, nervously whispering to each other. 

Tayne dismounted, leaving Wing to stand where she was as he approached the two Silverborn hunched over a table, gesturing to several small piles strewn across the surface. 

“Why would you not distribute it immediately?” said Wrain. “Had you realised something was wrong with it?”

Tayne followed Wrain’s gaze. The question appeared to be directed at a smaller, well-dressed man that looked to be highly intimidated by Wrain’s larger figure looming over him. He shrank into the ground as Wrain spoke, mouth opening and closing periodically while the other Silverborn at the table, Callum, continued applying silvery powder to the decaying pile before him. 

Deciding it was time to intervene, Tayne spoke up. “What have we got, Wrain?” 

Wrain inclined his head in silent greeting. “We’re not sure. Perhaps you can offer some insight.” He scraped one of the piles from the table and placed it into Tayne’s waiting hand. “It came from the town’s grain store, boxes about to be catalogued and distributed before Ishid here realised something was wrong.”

Tayne crushed a few grains between his gloved fingers. It crumbled easily, the inside revealing a dark colour. To his eyes, there appeared to be nothing wrong. Only the slight shimmer of his blade sheathed at his hip told him otherwise. He suspected if he were to touch it, the metal would be warm. 

“The grain is corrupted?” he asked.

Wrain nodded. “It would appear so. Its distribution among the villagers was delayed, thankfully. I was just inquiring as to why that was.”

The smaller man, Ishid, bowed. “Milord Silverborn, if you’ll--“

Tayne cut him off. “Just Tayne for me is fine, we don’t stand on formality.”