|
Authors note: This short story goes more in depth of a mini plot in “The
Curse of the Dark Nova.” You can read the series here.
However, you do not necessarily need to read the series in order to enjoy the
story.
****
They were cloaked in pure black robes that possessed
such darkness and terror that it sent threatening chills through any sane Neopet’s
blood. Chills that would freeze the heart with fear and vivid suspicion. The
cloaked ones had no heart or soul. They were empty just like the midnight death
sky with no moon, drifting forever in a lost world of killers. They kept their
bloodshot eyes hidden beneath the crease of their robes. For their eyes burned
with a passionate hatred, unmatched to any terror that had ever existed. They
were the Black Thieves of Riverence... the most feared band of outlaws in the
land.
A sharp piercing arrow whizzed quietly through
the air and struck the top of a stone building. Only the faint outline form
of a lone Black Thief could be seen in the desolate darkness. The Thief caught
the end of the rope that was attached to the arrow and started to climb up slowly
and flawlessly. With each reach he took, his bony hands grasped the rope tighter,
and what he was about to do became even more real.
Once the thief reached the top of the stone building,
he fluttered his black wings slightly and glanced eagerly at the other side
of the building where a group of more Black Thieves were silently waiting...
watching. With a brief gesture of his hand, the cloaked one gave the signal
that he was ready. Within near seconds, the Thieves began climbing up the stone
wall with the black night shining on their backs. They seeped inside the building
like a deathly poison... and a scream was heard.
They had the white Aisha girl tied and tethered
with the rope before she could let out another scream... if she did, it could
be fatal. Her soft cries were muffled by the exasperating fear that overcame
her when she realized the Black Thieves were raiding her home. They took all
her most precious valuables: jewels, gold, spices, and fabrics from far off
places. The Thieves dumped the goods in black sacks that matched the dark color
of their robes. In their hurry, they knocked over tables and chairs and broke
teacups which shattered on the floor in millions of scattered pieces. The sharp
glass reflected the twinkling stars from the night outside. But there was one
more thing that the broken cups reflected... the image of a pure white Draik
secretly standing at the doorway. His stance was firm and royal, and he gripped
his weapon tightly in his hand.
The crying Aisha girl burst with a gasp when
she realized that Evander, the most respected knight in all of Riverence, had
come to be her savior. The Black Thieves realized this too, once the white Draik
swooped through the crooked window and landed perfectly in the center of the
room. He drew a long sword from his belt... and the Thieves held their breath.
For a moment everyone was silent. The cloaked
Thieves stopped what they were doing and only the stifled cries of the girl
was sounded. “Drop the valuables now or prepare to die!” called Evander without
a hint of fear in his breath. But the Black Thieves would not let this knight
take them down.
“Don’t expect to leave this house alive tonight.
You will not escape us,” said the menacing voice of one of the Black Thieves.
The black cloaked one drew his sword to match Evander and crashed it upon its
edge. Evander swiped his blade for the attackers side, but the Thief quickly
ducked and narrowly escaped the burning sting of the Draik’s sword. The Thief
dove to hit Evander in the stomach, but instead the Knight flew into the air
and grabbed hold of the Black Thief’s cloaked hood. For a moment their eyes
locked in a confused gazed. Evander suddenly stuttered and fell back with an
expression of uncertainty and bewilderment plastered on his face. It was almost
as if he had seen those eyes before... they looked very familiar.
The Thief panicked from revealing his eyes to
Envander. He dropped his sword on the stone floor with a loud clatter and didn’t
move a muscle. Then all of the Black Thieves turned and fled out the window
like shadowy ghosts in a dream. They left without a sound as if nothing had
ever happened...
****
The next day was bright and warm with no evidence that a strange raiding by
the Black Thieves even occurred. The soft dappled clouds were like dabs of white
paint in the blue canvas sky. It was a perfect, lazy afternoon when Evander
lied on the grass watching the bright golden sun drift peacefully in the sky.
“Are you alright, Evander? You’re not saying
much,” said his friend, Faunus. The Shoyru rolled carelessly through a small
tuft of green leaves on the hillside causing them to flutter in the breeze.
Evander sighed and continued staring at the clouds.
“I’m just thinking,” he replied softly. “It was
so strange last night, as if... I was dreaming.” Faunus stopped fooling around
with the leaves and began to pay sincere attention to the white Draik, who looked
utterly confused.
“Go on,” Faunus urged.
“It was just too easy. The Black Thieves simply
left without a fight. One of the Thieves I encountered didn’t even try to attack
me. But his eyes... they looked so familiar... as if I’ve seen them before...
only it was pure evil. I don’t know how to explain it.”
Faunus didn’t look back. “Strange,” he muttered.
Suddenly, an Eyrie dressed neatly in a Knight's
attire rode up swiftly to where Evander and Faunus were lying in the grass.
“Sir Evander, the king wishes to seek your council
right away,” the Eyrie stated. “Be it of what?”
“Top secret business. Come immediately.”
Within no time at all, Evander found himself
standing in the great hall of the king’s castle. He knelt graciously on the
royal red carpet before his lordship. When the king acknowledged his presence,
Evander lifted himself up and gazed into his eyes. But when he looked more closely,
Evander realized that there were tears in the king’s eyes -- silver like the
cool drops of a frozen river.
Your highness... how can I be of service to you?”
muttered Evander after a moment. The king seemed to be staring at an invisible
point in midair. He looked so terribly sad.
After awhile he answered. “She’s gone. They took
her.”
“What do you mean? Who’s gone?” asked Evander
with uncertainty.
“My daughter.” At this, the king erupted in a
fury of tears. Evander had truly never realized that the king was a person just
like him. He never realized that a royalty, with such a high position, could
ever break with emotion. “They took her... the Black Thieves... they stole her.”
Evander’s stomach gave a violent lurch. He secretly
had always had a feeling of fondness for the King’s daughter. He dreamed of
Appolonia, the beautiful Uni maiden, each night. Although he had never expressed
his feelings for the girl, Evander knew that he would do anything to be with
her.
“The Black Thieves managed to escape the castle
guards, and they snatched her away in the middle of the night,” choked the king.
“I knew they were up to something! remarked Evander.
“I should’ve stopped them after the raiding. I had no idea...” Evander’s voice
weakened with sorrow and the color from his lively face drained slowly.
“This is why I have called for your assistance,
young knight,” the king said through the protection of his hands. “I have reason
to believe that the Black Thieves took Appolonia to the Black Pteri Caverns.”
“The Black Pteri Caverns? But that is far underground
and it is dangerous there. Legend says that a Monoceraptor beast lurks in the
darkness.”
“That I am aware of. Evander, you are my most
noble knight. You are the best warrior Riverence of Meridell has ever seen.
That is why I lay my trust in you, to rescue my daughter.”
Evander breathed in calmly, feeling the warm
air fill his insides. “Indeed sir. I would exchange my life for fair Appolonia.”
“And if you shall return, there will be a great
prize awarded in your honor.”
“The honor of your daughter, Sir, would be more
than enough.”
“I wish you safety. Farewell,” the king ended
on a meaningful note. The tears were still shining in his eyes, and this time,
tears began to well up in Evander’s as well.
To be continued...
| 
