Reborn: Demon's Heritage (2 page)

“First Knight,” Emelia gasped as her eyes widened.

“Is there something wrong?”

“Umm…No, I was just surprised. The title of First Knight is something you hear about in stories. It is said that only Knights who are blessed with a queen’s favor can get it,” Emelia explained.

Ash pulled Emelia close and kissed her lightly. “Then that means you must be a queen,” Ash said with a slightly devilish grin and he kissed Emelia again.

8-2

The next morning when Ash woke he found Emelia propped up on her elbow her eyes intently focused on him. Emelia’s eyes were focused so tightly on Ash that he couldn’t keep his cheeks from slightly blushing.

“Morning love,” Emelia said after giving him a light kiss.

“Morning,” Ash replied as he sat up.

As he got dressed, Ash could still feel Emelia’s eyes on him. He tried to ignore her penetrating stare. When he went down to the dining room for breakfast, he was surprised to find that Allice was already awake and waiting on him.

The meal was ate in silence with Emelia barely touching her food, her eyes were still focused on Ash. Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Ash quickly ate and picked up his pack, ready to go to meet the knights he would be traveling with. When Ash reached the door, he felt something grab him hard from behind then a few moments later he could feel a slight wetness through his tunic as he heard Emelia’s muffled crying.

Turning around, Ash lifted Emelia’s head with his hand and used this thumb to wipe away the tears from her cheek before kissing her. As he turned to leave, he could only barely hear Emelia choke out the words, “Be safe love.”

As he walked through the garden with Allice right behind him, Ash felt as if a knife had been stuck in his chest. He knew that Emelia was watching him leave from the doorway of the manor, but he feared if he turned to look at her now, he wouldn’t have the strength to leave so he took one step after another with his eyes fixed on the large metal gate at the end of the walkway.

After walking through the gate Ash let out a deep breath and nearly fell to his knees. Ash was starting to think that the short walk leaving the manor had been the hardest thing he had ever done. With a quick look back at the metal gate Ash pushed forward toward the city exit where the others were waiting on him.

Outside the city gate, Ash was met by a group of more than twenty knights. There was also more than three hundred warriors from the militia as well. This was not the first group that had left out, but it was the largest as far as knights went. “My lord, you and your aid’s horses have been prepared,” one of the younger knights said while bowing to Ash. “If I may ask my lord, I do not see your provisions?” the knight asked as he looked around to see if anyone was bringing them behind him.

Ash knew what the man was talking about. Most the time nobles would bring a large retinue just to carry their belongings such as tents and food. Ash had been on the road before and while tents were useful, they took up a lot of space so he had thought of leaving it behind, but Emelia said it was a matter of status so he had one forced upon him. It was a large tent that could easily hold ten people if not more. Ash had agreed to take it with him, but had placed it in his inventory. Even though it was large and had numerous pieces, his inventory took it as one thing so it only took up one spot. As for the other things Ash had been expected to bring with him, he had also placed them in his inventory after selling off all the stuff that had been cluttered inside it. Even with a large amount of wine and fine foods, he still had plenty of room left.

“I have an ability to place things in a hidden space,” Ash said, bowing to the man. It wasn’t really a lie, but it wasn’t the truth either. Emelia knew about his inventory and told him that using space magic to hold things while rare was not unheard of and would make the best explanation, even if it wasn’t completely true. “I still have plenty of room left if there is more you wish to take or if you wish to lighten the load of your horses,” Ash continued with a warm smile.

“Lad if that is true, we will take you up on that offer. The four wagons there are full to the brim,” an older knight said nudging his horse a little forward so that Ash could see him easily. “The supplies are needed, but with the way the wagons are overloaded, we will be lucky if an axle doesn’t snap before we reach the next town let alone our destination.”

Ash walked up to the first wagon and found that it was full of barrels. He didn’t know what was inside, but he was sure that it would fit in his inventory. With his current strength level, Ash had over two-hundred and fifty slots and even with what he had brought himself, there were still slightly over two-hundred left open so he wasn’t afraid of running out of space. Putting his hand on the barrel, Ash pulled it into his inventory. As the barrel disappeared, Ash heard the common soldiers gasp which was even joined in by a few of the knights.

Checking his inventory, Ash found the barrel easily. It was aptly named barrel of oats. Ash continued to put things in his inventory one after another and found that even the barrels could be stacked as long as they contained the same item inside of them. Arrows, food, swords, pikes, and tools all went into his inventory until the four wagons were completely empty.

“I said you could lighten the load, but I never expected you to empty it completely,” the older knight said laughing. “Most nobles are about as much use as a wet towel in a rainstorm, but even if you can’t fight, as a pack mule you are worth keeping around.”

Though his words were a little harsh, the look on the knight’s face was light and had the hint of a smile. Luckily the inventory of the wagons were mostly the same thing over and over so even though he was carrying it with him, it had taken up slightly less than ninety spaces in his inventory. From what he learned, no one else had the inventory ability like he did and even he didn’t have an ability that would explain it. It was just there, but Ash was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth so he decided not to question it too deeply.

With the supplies situated, Ash and Allice each mounted their horses. Ash had ridden a horse a few times before so he didn’t find it too difficult. Allice on the other hand had to be held after losing her balance and falling backward, much to the mirth of the onlookers. Once they were both mounted, half the knights took the lead while the others took the rear with the now empty wagons and the regular soldiers in the center. Ash and Allice were given positions at the front though they were behind the majority of the knights.

After less than an hour in the saddle Allice started to wine as she shifted around trying to get comfortable. Ash was tempted to make a joke but upon seeing her face had wisely decided against it.

The first day they didn’t make what Ash would consider good time. Even with the wagons empty, it was slow moving with so many people at once, but Ash didn’t mind the relaxed pace. He had decided to join the war effort, but by no means was he in a rush to arrive.

The group of soldiers only took small breaks when they marched and even ate while in the saddle. The food was hard bread and dried meat. Ash ate without complaint, but he felt that it was rather lacking. As this thought crossed his mind, Ash couldn’t suppress the laugh that bubbled out, drawing a few odd stairs. It wasn’t that long ago that Ash would have been happy to receive a war meal at all and now he found himself being picky. Shaking his head, he once again found himself surprised at how much a person’s life can change in a short period of time.

At night they decided to camp when they reached a large open field that was large enough for the entire group without having to be too pressed in. Ash and Allice were given spots at the very center of the camp and asked to set up first. Ash did as he was instructed and pulled the large tent from his inventory and started setting it up. Since he had shown his ability to store tings earlier, it didn’t shock anyone but there were more than a few who watched him with enthusiasm, chief among them was Allice.

The tent was large, but was easy to set up since it had been enchanted. Ash still had to stake it to the ground and raise the center pole, but after that, all he had to do was touch a crystal and the tent rose into the air and the canvas just seemed to meld into a tent.

Inside, Ash pulled two beds from his inventory placing one on each side of the tent then called Allice inside.

“Yes Master,” Allice said in a pained voice as she entered the tent.

“I was just letting you know that I set up your bed if you want to lay down for a bit and get off your feet,” Ash said as she waved his hand toward the bed in the corner of the tent opposite from his own.

Allice rubbed her backside and grimaced, causing Ash to laugh. He had ridden a horse as a child once and afterwards he had spent two days feeling as if he had broken something in his butt so he could understand the pain she was feeling. When Allice saw that it wasn’t just a mat, but a full bed, her eyes widened then she looked over and seemed to just notice that Ash too was laying on a full bed.

“Master,” Allice said slightly hesitantly.

“Yes,” Ash replied as he stretched out and relaxed his muscles.

“Since no one else is here, I was hoping that master would let me sleep with him,” Allice said the words seemed half forced.

“Allice, I told you wait until you are a bit older to ask,”

“I am of age,” Allice said a tinge of indignation in her voice. “I…Just want for master to hold me.”

Looking up, Ash could see something in Allice’s eyes, but it took him a moment to figure out what it was. It was fear. He didn’t know what she was afraid of, but the fear was evident enough. Letting out a deep sigh, Ash motioned for her to come over. Allice didn’t respond, but silently walked over to where Ash lay and removed her boots before laying down beside him.

The beds that Ash had brought were not large, but still had enough space that both Allice and Ash could lay on the without having to touch. Ash tried to make enough space, but Allice had other ideas. She grabbed Ash’s Arm and pulled it over her and hugged it tightly. Since she was turned away from him, Ash couldn’t see her face but from the shaking of her body Ash could tell that she was crying.

“What’s wrong?” Ash asked in as gentle of a tone as he could.

“I don’t want master to die,” Allice replied between tears.

“What makes you think I am going to die?” Ash asked as he reached up with his free hand and stroked Allice’s head.

“Momma use to talk about dad,” Alice said after a long moment of silence. “She said we used to live far away and father was a great knight. Then a war broke out between my father’s lord and another and a war started. Father never came home. I don’t remember what he looked like, but whenever I think of you fighting, I remember my momma’s stories about father.”

Hearing Allice’s story, he started to understand why she had fought so hard to go with him. He had spent a lot of time with Allice since she had become his slave and had a good understanding of her. She was a nice, gentle girl who loved her family, but she had a hard life. Her father died when she was a babe and her mother died leaving her to raise her brother. She had worked hard and still fallen into a position of slaver in the end. Since then, Ash had taken care of her and she was always guilt ridden, more than once breaking down into tears. Not just in front of Ash, but around the other slaves as well. Ash knew that Allice tended to blame everything that happened on herself as if she were the cause of all the bad luck in the world.

“Allice listen to me,” Ash said sternly. Allice turned and with wet eyes looked at Ash. “I will not die. At least not any time soon, so you don’t need to worry.” As he spoke, Ash continued to rub his hand through Allice silky hair.

Allice looked up at Ash with her large eyes and gave him a weak smile that quickly turned slightly devilish before she quickly kissed him lightly on the lips. Before he could respond to her action, Allice threw her arms around Ash and buried her head into his chest. Looking at the small girl who was so desperately clinging to him, Ash only shook his head.

It didn’t take long before a soft gentle snore came from Allice while her grip slackened. Ash quietly slipped from the bed and quickly exited the tent.

Outside a few other tents were put up but most of them were small and looked as if they would have trouble fitting one person. The air was starting to turn cold and it had already snowed a few days, though as of yet it had not lasted the coming day and had quickly melted. Since it was nearly full winter, it seemed odd that a war was starting.

“Lord Hawkwing,” A voice called out, almost as soon as Ash had exited his tent. Turning his head, Ash saw the older knight who he had talked to before leaving the city. “Lord Hawkwing, you have all the provisions so I was wondering if you could bring out one of the supper casks.”

Ash quickly searched through his inventory and found a large barrel that was named just as the knight had requested and pulled it out. “What is inside it?”

“Ah...It is a mix of grain and dried meat and vegetables that can be cooked with water to make a soup. That said, most the soldiers just call it rock soup since the dried parts are a bit hard to chew,” the knight said with a bit of a laugh. “I am Knight Captain Jonas. I figure we will be spending a lot of time together so might as well get to know you a bit. Care to join me and the boys for a few drinks? That is if you don’t mind bringing out one of the casks of ale that we had hidden in the wagon,” the knight added with a wink.

“I think I will,” Ash said laughing as he followed behind the captain.

Just as the captain said, the food was less then desirable, but it still filled the belly. After they ate, all the knights gathered around making jokes, most of them making even Ash’s ears burn slightly.

Out of the thirty knights, eleven of them were women. They ranged from the age of nineteen to forty yet when they were all together, they all seemed as if they were nothing but a large family. They seemed a little tense when Ash was around at first, but after he didn’t say anything about them drinking ale and even gave out one of his casks of spiced wine they started to loosen up around him. A few of the female knights even jokingly asked him to their tents.