Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Tale of the Silver Dragoon ❯ Chapter 1

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

1 The tavern was of a normal business for a Thursday night. Upon the very edges of the Black Forest, and the only inn for miles, that meant one thing. Every seat was full, every room. Not even an inch of space to move around in. Just enough for a young man to run beers back and forth. The meal to the man in the corner would have to wait. It, like the man himself, was way too large to maneuver though the crowd. The man, though seated, towered over all those present. At the moment, he held a hand upon his forehead. Fingers entwined into silver hair to cradle it. He glared silent death at a far away door. Silver mercury orbs boring a hole into it. A small red lump was forming under his fingertips. Under his breath, he muttered to himself. Though quiet, his voice was very deep, accent thick, making it seem more of a purring growl than actual words. "I come through here often enough. You'd think I'd learn to duck or they'd finally make the door larger." Often enough was a gross understatement. As a roaming Knight, the man was constantly going into the Black Forest to keep the creatures inside at bay. Though he still looked very young, he'd been the Arian Nations and it's surrounding countries for well over 600 years. The tavern had become a second home to the knight right after it's construction. it was now in it's fourth generation. The fifth generation was racing towards him with another tankard of the tavern's best brew. The small boy handed the tankard with the same awe as anyone else interacting with the silver clad man. When the boy spoke, his voice was timid. He wasn't afraid, Hanz could tell that. The boy just had always been like that. Small feet shifted, and even smaller hands clenched and unclenched from around the shoulder straps of his lederhosen. "Sir Knight...Mother says I need to take you to your room. She says to bring you your food there. Sir knight..." The boy looked around for a moment, as if embarrassed. "Mother says your scaring the other customers." The man's elbows slid down to rest it upon the table. His chin rested within his palms. A slow, very friendly smile crossed his face and a deep laugh flowed from him. "Sebastian Kasteel....you're still afraid of me, aren't you?" The man cocked his head. "Ho many times have I told you..it’s not Sir Knight here. Your great great grandfather would never have allowed titles in this place. Here, it's just Hanz. Now, say it with me, my young friend. Hanz." The young boy shifted and looked around as if looking for help. "Sir knight, please. Mother will yell at me if I let you stay here. Please." Hanz remained seated with that same smile. "Not until you say it. Say it and I'll go wherever you want me to go. I'll even sleep in the stable if you told me too." "Sir Knight, you'll never sleep in the stables. You'd scare the horses. You have your own room here and you know it." "I won't win this one will I, young brew master?" At the question, the boy grinned and shook his head. They had done this often enough that it had become a kind of game with them. A game Hanz had played for four generations. "Then I yield. How proud you must be, defeating a knight." Hanz stood fully. it took him a great while. Once his full seven feet and then some height, he held out one very huge calloused palm to the boy. "Lead the way, Sebastian. And don’t' tell your mother I gave you my dessert." Hanz laughed at the huge smile suddenly spreading across the boy's face with the tiny hand took his and used hi as a shield to weave though the tavern. An easy task, as the crowd split apart for the large man with the huge sword strapped to his back. Soon, the din o the tavern was left behind to the silence of the inn hallways. Under the thick floorboards, one could barely hear the laughter and the music of the drinking hall. The hallway continued to get quieter the further it stretched back, until only the footsteps of the large man was heard. Size drowning out the boy's without any effort. A moment later, there was a purr as the smells of a huge, fattening meal permeated the air. With Hanz's heightened senses, he could already pick up the distinct smell of sausages and krout and with a chocolate cake. Even before his door was open, Hanz stopped and sniffed the air. The purr became a growl. Mercury eyes flashed to the boy. "Sebastian...Could you explain why someone is in my room?" There was a deep territorialness to those words. To Hanz, it was understood that the room at the far back of the inn was HIS room. It had belonged to him since Alfont Kasteel had built the tavern. Only he and the owners were allowed in there. Now, his territory...his special, sacred spot had been violated. The boy shifted. "There was a priest..." He started. When Hanz's hand went to his sword and started towards the door, the boy yelled. "Hanz! He stayed out here. He never went in. He just wanted to see where the Silver Dragoon stayed. Honest. I saw. Mother didn't even let him touch the door knob. I swear." The hand on the sword relaxed. Hanz believed greatly in he truthfulness of people's words. Especially these people. he's never known a Kasteel to lie. Perhaps because they were such old friends. Or perhaps because it was virtual suicide to lie to a knight of the realm. "I see. Where is the priest now?" The sudden calmness of the Dragoon was almost more frightening than his anger. "I saw him go away. He left and went to the local church to stay. The old one my the smithy. I followed him. I don't like him, Hanz. He's like in the History. He's all in black robes, and I don't think he's really a priest." The Dragoon waited, nodding. Storing away the information even as he started back towards the stairway.. Sebastian followed as fast as his stubby legs would allow him to go. "I saw metal, Hanz. Under his robes. It almost looked like yours. Sir knight....are you going to fight him?" The knight shrugged. "I don't know yet, Sebastian. But before you ask, you have to stay here. Your mother needs your help here. I promise when I get back, I'll tell you all about it over the cake I promised you, alright?" Hanz hid the sigh of relief when the boy agreed and stopped following him at the door to the outside. Once separated, Hanz pulled his silver cape away to reveal gleaming armor. A moment later he was running down the street towards the local church. Growl already in his throat. Sword; a massive Zweihander, much larger than a normal sword of that kind, in hand. He didn't even look back to see if he was followed. He knew the Kasteel boy would stay back. Not many people would be stupid enough to follow Silvertalon into a territorial skirmish.