Chapter 8 : The Covenant

Aston awoke with a gasp, sitting up from his prone position on the cold stone masonry, holding his head in his hands as it flared in pain. He could feel the tendrils of the bonfire tearing at the edges of his mind, ripping away at his mind and humanity. The knight writhed on the ground, clawing at the sides of his helm; letting out a scream as his mind fogged. Finally, the pain stopped, the knight laid on the ground, the ordeal sapping him of his strength.

The events that led to his current position were little more than a soup of events, the knight unable to clearly remember what had happened.

He stood up and took a look around, dimly remembering the small shrine and the drake that burned it. He was alone in the burned out shrine, but he had the unshakeable feeling that that was not always so.

He bent down and retrieved his poll-hammer and his crested shield, his memory failing him as to when he lost his sword. He trudged up the steps, stopping in the courtyard of the undead church, looking at the massive crushed armored boar; the scene bringing a small amount of clarity to his mind. Images of the boar atop him passed through his mind, the massive beast rearing up only to take a blast of magic to the face.

He pushed the thoughts from his mind as he ducked under the portcullis and moved up the steps.

‘What am I forgetting…’ He stopped at the broken door frame, looking down at the tattered remains of a brown leather cloak under his foot. He moved his armored foot and picked it up, running it between his thumb and pointer fingers. He flipped it over and found a clump of purple fur, the sight jarring his memory.

“Twilight!” Aston screamed, remembering the mare being taken away after he fell.

“Twilight.” The knight laminated, looking at the mass of fur. He placed the fur in a pouch and looped the remains of her cloak around his neck as a reminder. “I will find you, I promise.” He swore, knowing that she was gone.

He looked towards his new goal, moving into the church. Passing through the doors and walking through a small hallway he stepped into the church proper. It was a large building with two main ‘rooms’; the first room was a gathering area with two rows of chairs along either wall. The next room had two rows of pews though most of the benches were broken down beyond any usability.

The chairs sat in front of a large visage of the goddess Gwynevere, princess of sunlight. The knight’s mind was soothed by the statue’s watchful gaze and his body by the soft heat emanating from it. Aston said a silent prayer for the safety of the mare.

The rattling of armor made Aston turn, a knight of Balder was coming down the steps to the upper levels and speeding towards him. Aston jumped backwards from a jab, sweeping his poll-hammer low as he landed and swiped the hollow off its feet. Keeping the momentum Aston brought the blunt end down on the hollow’s face, bursting it and spraying gore around.

Aston was suddenly slammed from behind by some unknown foe, the force of the impact sending him to the ground. He couldn’t see his attacker, but the growling and moaning told him well enough that it was a hollow. He lashed out with his left elbow and felt it connect with something hard. He sent whatever was on his back sprawling to the ground; he rolled over, placing himself atop a lightly garbed hollow. He slammed his armored gauntlet into its face, tearing away half its jaw, a second blow stilling the walking corpse. A second hollow was already rushing at him. His lucerne to far away to retrieve in time, so the knight took a half step towards the lightly armored hollow and slammed his crest shield into the beasts face, cleanly beheading it.

Aston gazed at where the hollow had come; they had entered through a small side-door that led into the church. Through the door was another small courtyard, a long walkway that led to a dilapidated clergy building visible beyond the door. The soft clang of metal on metal was on the wind, emanating from the depths of the building.

‘What the blazes is that?’ Aston wondered, stepping into the courtyard after taking a look around for foes.

He trudged across the broken down walkway, sidestepping a falling piece of brick as he entered the clergy building. The room was small with piles of broken roofing and walls all around, at the opposite wall to the entrance was a stone speaking stand, and set of stairs was to his left. The clang of metal on metal still echoing through the air as he started his way down, the next floor was all wood with a bonfire in the center and a single exit that led to a massive fortress.

Aston brushed his hand across the bonfire as he passed. The room lighting up as the fire grew, bathing the room in heat. The clanging finally stopped; the sound of shuffling now on the wind.

Aston moved down to the final floor of the building with his shield raised and poll-hammer prepared.

“Oi! You best not be coming for a fight!” A gravely voice shouted to the knight.

Aston looked at the speaker and was taken aback; the man was a mountain of muscle! He was tan, though not overly so, and had almost overly wide shoulders. His long hair was white that draped over his shoulders and he had a long beard. He had his wrapped fists raised over his bare chest in a defensive posture, a small smithy behind the man along with a various weapons and shields.

“No, I’m not here for a fight. Who are you?.” Aston dropped his guard, his shoulders sagging.

The man smiled broadly, moving back behind the smithy, “Well then, you must be a new arrival, for few do not know of me. I am Andre the blacksmith, of Astora.”

Aston leaned his poll-hammer on the nearby wall, letting his crested shield fall to his waist as he approached the smith.

“Well met smith. I am Aston, a knight of Astora. I’d bid your assistance if you’d give it.”

“Of course knight, what do you need of me?” Andre said, starting to forge a sword; looking away for just a moment.

“A companion of mine was taken from me by a strange foe, a man sized figure welding a trident and magic, what do you know of it?”

“By the sounds of it you ran into one of Seath the Scaleless’s ‘Channelers’, they steal away maidens for his fiendish experiments.”

“Where did it take her!?” The knight asked harshly, taking a step forward. “I have to find her!”

“I’m sorry lad, but they take their captives to Seath’s archives, in Anor Londo, past Sen’s Fortress. By the time you’d reach her, if you even can, she’d most likely have perished.” Andre said, tone sullen.

“No, she’s more than capable of escape the clutches of that beast. I refuse to believe she’d die so easily!” He shouted

“Calm yourself lad. I know of a way, however unsavory, that you may be able to find her. But first, why don’t you tell me of you companion.” The smith said.

The knight sighed and sat, preparing to tell the tale of himself and Twilight.

-==-

“I must admit Aston, in all my time, a stranger tale I’ve not heard. But if your tale be true then she may have hope. The Channelers of Seath normally only take defenseless maidens, if her skill in battle hasn’t been exaggerated, then she may well be able to escape before she’s taken to Seath. If you truly want to find her, then seek out Alvina of Darkroot Wood. She heads a clan that defends the graves of the forest and her eyes and ears reach far throughout Lordran, if Twilight is still alive and free, Alvina can find her.” Andre said.

“I’ve sworn on my honor to see her safely home. Even more so, as I friend I cannot see her harmed.” Aston said.

“I see you will not be swayed from you way, and rightly so Aston. See yourself to Alvina, but be wary, she resides in a perilous part of the woods.” He pulled a stone disk from behind him. “This is the crest of the knight Artorias, use this to open the way. Alvina and I have an… understanding, show this, and you shan't be harmed.”

Aston took the disk, it was a small bit larger then his hand, inlayed with depictions of two wolves behind a large kite greatshield.

“An understanding?” Aston asked.

“Sorry lad, I’m sworn not to say more. See yourself to her lad, and you’ll find your friend.” Andre said.

Aston bowed slightly to the man, extending a hand after, “My thanks Andre, I will find a way to repay you.”

The huge smith took the offered hand and gave it a mighty shake, “Think nothing of it lad, I’m glad to help a man in need.” The smith’s face lit up with a smile. “Of which, I’d think you’ll need more than that pollarm, take this.” The smith handed Aston a sheathed shortsword.

The knight took the blade, it was simple but beautifully crafted, the knight’s trained eye unable to see a defect. The knight clasped it to his side with a smile. “You spoil me smith.”

The smith let out a deep laugh, “I hardly need it lad, ‘sides, you can hardly help her when you’re without a weapon when that pollarm gets unwieldy. Now head out that door and follow the path to the sealed door to Alvina’s domain, you’d hardly miss it.”

“Again, thank you Andre.” Aston said.

“Your welcome, now put it to some use.” The smith said, waving his hand in the indicated direction.

Aston quickly fashioned a leather loop for his lucerne to he could loop it around his shoulder and hold it securely on his back, opting for his new armament for now. The knight sighed contently as he drew the blade, enjoying the scraping sound as it came from the scabbard and the weight of it in his hand.

He moved down the steps and rolled his shoulders as he entered the dilapidated congregation area of the old clergy building. Most of the pillars in the room had fallen to the march of time, though some still stood definant. A low fog was wafting into the room through a far door that led into the forest, the plants invading the room through both the door and numerous holes in the walls.

He made his way quickly through the room only to stop as an odd new sight greeted him.

What looked to be a living plant was slowly shambling towards him on noodle like legs of vines, arms outstretched.

He adjusted his sword in his grip, ready for anything. The plant-man drew on of its arms back and wiped it forward, the blow doing nothing but leaving a bit of green on his arm. The knight answered with a swipe to its midsection, cutting the demonic foliage in two.

He found the path spoken of by Andre with little difficulty, and followed it, easily dispatching the walking plants as he made his way down the overgrown path. After a long walk, long enough for the sun to dip below the horizon and bathe the area in twilight, he came across a large door.

It, like the crest, was inlaid with depictions of wolves; though this time they chased prey to and fro. At the center of the door was a empty circle that put forth a glowing light, the same size of the crest in his pouch. His hand drifted to the crest and he placed it in the circle, then the door opened of its own accord, startling the knight. He reached up and removed the crest, replacing it in his pouch.

Before him was a thick, fog covered forest that seemed to stretch on forever. He made his way down the stone steps and moved into the woods, intent on finding this ‘Alvina’. He trudged through the thick woods, the knight quickly losing sense of time and direction.

Suddenly, the sound of battle brought him from his stupor; namely the sound of metal crashing on metal.

Aston moved to it, finding a man dash the clearing he just entered. He was wearing the garb of a lowly thief. He held no armaments, but his body had the wounds of recent battle and a sheath rested empty at his waist side. What he did have was a fistull of gold trinkets. The man was looking back so he did not see Aston as he bumped into the knight. The man sprawled to the ground but was back to his feet lightning quick.

He jumped back from the knight, “Who-”

That was the only word that escaped his lips before a arrow punched through his chest, Aston finding a dagger at his throat and a hand on his sword wrist.

“And you are you?” A male voice asked from behind. “Another thief, Hmm?”

Aston watched as the thief tried to crawl away, choking on his own blood, a nearly invisible form coming from the fog and standing over him. She clad in the leather of a hunter and she wielded a slightly curved sword that she used to slit the neck of the man on the ground before picking up the trinkets.

“I’m no thief.” Aston said simply.

“Oh, like we haven’t heard that before. Prove it.” The man behind him said.

“I seek Alvina of Darkroot Wood.” He said, pulling the crest from his pouch and holding it up over his shoulder.

The dagger was removed from his neck and the figure moved into his vision, “I’m sorry for the threats, but these woods are rife with dastardly individuals. Come, this way.”

The knight followed the lightly armored man to a dilapidated stone building, a growl on the wind stopping him in his tracks.

“Ahh. Thou hast returned to mine presence.” The feminine voice sounded out from the broken down structure, the tone odd to Aston’s ears. “I trust the hunt faired true?” A purr rumbling out at the end of the sentence.

Aston’s escort bowed, “Yes lady Alvina.”

“And mine senses feel a new one before us, I trust you treated him well?”

The man gulped, “Of course M’lady. He carries the seal, lady Alvina.”

“Is that not true? Yes.... I can feel its presence, but what of the one who holds it hmm? What is your purpose here, knight?”

“I bid your assistance.” Aston said respectfully.

“Is that so?.... Come closer, enter my domain.” The voice purred.

The knight entered the structure, stepping over the fallen masonry before stopping before a oddity.

Before him sat a large cat-like creature, its head tilted slightly.

“Thou fared well to find me, I am Alvina of the Darkroot Wood. Who art thou?” The cat spoke.

It took the knight just a moment to find himself, his time with Twilight somewhat dulling the shock of the talking animal.

“I am Aston of Astora.” Aston spoke, an unreadable expression flashed across the cat’s face before it returned to normal.

“Show me thine face, Aston of Astora.” She asked, jumping into a window.

Aston did as she asked and removed his helm. The same look flashing across her face before what he would call a smile replaced it.

“You seek mine assistance?” She purred.

“My companion was taken from me by a Channeler of Seath. As I’m told your eyes and ears reach far, I beseech you lady Alvina, help me find her.”

The cat was silent for a time before she suddenly jumped onto the knights shoulders, the sudden weight nearly toppling him.

“Your case pains mine ears as I too have felt the pain of a friend lost. I will assist you knight Aston, as one so once helped me.” She suddenly held a strange looking ring in her teeth, it was made of thin gold with a pure white stone. “But that means you must help mine case as well. Join mine Covenant, offer your body as mine own and defend these woods from harm. Should you accept, I will find your companion.”

Aston took the ring from Alvina and slipped it on, “I accept, my lady Alvina.”