The Runesmith Chronicles Ch. 01

"A young man in the nearby village swore that you had been the one the end good Sir Michael's life. Others in the village stated that you had been terrorizing them for years stealing children and livestock!" The knight was getting so worked up the farmer boy could see specks of froth start to form in the corners of his mouth.

"Young man you said? Are you certain it wasn't a young girl?"

"You dare mock my intelligence!" Screamed the knight while drawing his sword, "I am not such a fool as to not know the difference between a boy and a girl!"

"Perhaps you can tell the difference between boy and girl. However, you appear to be lacking in being able to tell lie from truth." Ikuno's eyes narrowed dangerously, "Besides myself there was only one other who was witness to your 'good'," the word dripped with scorn, "Sir Michael's end."

"So you admit to killing him!" the lead knight screamed leveling his sword at Ikuno.

"I said nothing of the sort, merely that I was a witness to his death along with a young girl. So I have to question any claims coming from a young boy that I was Sir Michael's murderer. As to your other claims ogres from my homeland are much more civilized and as such have no taste for human flesh so if the humans are missing their whelps it's not to end up on my dinner table. Livestock that wanders into my hunting grounds is a large and easy meal for me, those tending them need to be more careful with their herds, I see no need to apologize for their losses."

The second knight was leaning forward listening attentively, "You certainly don't sound like any ogre I have seen before, In fact if I were to close my eyes I would think you were of noble birth," he turned to the young man, "and you certainly don't look like an ogre's 'husband,' those I have seen were bruised, battered and longing for the peace of death's embrace."

Ikuno's face flushed a deep purple as she blushed, "He's not..."

The farmer boy stepped forward and bowed deeply, "I am not her husband good sir, however, it was through Milady's acts that my ailing mother was saved from death and myself saved from slavery. I owe Milady a debt of gratitude I can never fully repay. Though she stated that she needed no repayment I am here today to place myself at her service for a time before I return to tending my farm. I plan to make many more of these trips until Milady tells me that she no longer needs or wants my services."

The knights face hardened as the boy spoke "Young man perhaps you feel it appropriate to jest at my expense, I assure you that is unwise. In all of the realms I have traveled no farmer speaks with such eloquence. It would do you well to be forthright about your true profession when speaking to a knight."

The farmer's eyes went wide as his expression became panicked as he tried to figure out what exactly he had done wrong. Desperately he looked up at the blue Oni next to him.

Ikuno smirked, "Though I don't believe you to be a liar, you may want to offer up some explanation as to why you speak like that. I'm having as difficult of a time as Sir Knight in believing you are just a lowly farmer."

The young man though for a moment before turning to the knight, "My sincerest apologies Sir Knight I meant no disrespect. My grandmother had wished for my mother to be taken in by the staff of a lord or lady and trained her in many useful skills towards that end. Sadly my mother fell in love with a local farmer boy before that could happen. Not wanting to see her skills wasted she passed them on to me. In fairness this is the first time I have ever spoken to someone highborn like yourselves. Again, I meant no offence."

The knight chuckled, "An intelligent blue ogre and a farmer who sounds like a noble, you two are certainly an interesting pair. I'd like to interview to this young girl you speak of and see if she has any more to add before we pass judgment."

The lead knight sputtered, "She all but admitted to killing Sir Michael! We should slay her now!"

The farmer took an unconscious step in front of the blue Oni, hands balled into fists and body tensed to defend her from an attack. A snort of laughter came from behind him and he looked up at Ikuno in confusion.

She made a waving motion with her hand, the struggle to not laugh painted on her face, "It's nothing. It's nothing. You are just too cute." She said with a smile. The farmer boy was trying to figure out how anything could be funny while having a knight's sword pointed at you.

The third knight chose then to speak, "I too am curious about what the girl may have to say, assuming she can be found. As I have the fastest horse and a spare for the girl I shall return to the village and attempt to locate her."

Ikuno stepped forward, "Find the boy who reported me and ask if he has a sister, once Sir Michael was gone she seemed terribly concerned about what her brother would think. It may be a good place to start."

The third knight nodded in response then spun his horse around and galloped off in the direction of the village, pack horse close on his heels.

"He will be gone at least a few hours," said the second knight then turned to his squire, "there was a small glade off the path here that looked like a good place for a meal." A couple of clicks of the tongue at the horse and the knight and squire rode back up the path they used to get to the cave.

The lead knight watched his companion leave in annoyance, once the other knight was out of earshot he turned back to the Oni and the farmer, "Manipulative bitch! I will have your head as a trophy!"

Ikuno walked over to the shield embossed with a roaring golden lion's head hanging from the horse's tack, tracing the outline of the lion with a claw she said quietly, "Do you know why the oliphaunt is not scared of the lion?"

There was the sound of metal being punctured and the blue Oni held up the knight's shield by the claw that was now sticking through it.

"Because the lion is no threat to the oliphaunt." She let the shield slide off her claw where it fell to hang at the horse's side once again a neat hole in the middle of the lion's forehead.

Burning hatred and no small amount of fear blazed in the knight's eyes as he glared at her, sword still in hand he dug his spurs into the horse's flanks and galloped off after his fellow knight.

Ikuno watched him go then turned back to the farmer boy, "A couple of hours till they get back hmm?" She walked past him back into the cave swinging her hips from side to side, making the leather that covered her rear flip around in ways that teased and tantalized about what lie beneath. "I think I can come up with a good way to spend that time," she said giving the farmer boy a sultry look over her shoulder.

He had certainly gotten his strength back and was very happy he didn't need to worry as much about the tent in his pants going into the cave as he had on the way out.

She looked down at him as he caught up, "Before I get too distracted, what is your name?"

He smiled, "Kal... my name is Kal."