The Frontier: Light Among Darkness Ch. 8: The Knights of Dawn

Orion gazed around at the farm. “So what is this place?” He asked Travis, getting an idea but just wanting to know for sure. “It's a place where many of those who can or do not wish to go to the city go.” Sir Travis responded. “Many live here, are born here, love here, and die here. It's a quaint little outpost, I’ll show you around.” They stepped onto a wooden bridge, where guards stood, wearing armored vests and wielding auto rifles. “Good morning Devan, I seek entry to the Farm.” Travis said, unsheathing his blade and putting it point down in the soil. “Aye, Travis. But is it truly you?” A middle aged, bulky man asked. Travis swept his sword over Devan, and Devan’s breath relaxed. “That does it, friend. Enter.” The guard welcomed. Then he stopped Orion. “I'm gonna stop you right here. I will need to see some identification.” Devan said firmly. Spark popped into view, and settled over Orion’s shoulder. “We’re guardians, man. Isn't that enough?” The ghost asked. The look on the man’s face did not waver. “You can turn bad just as much as the rest of us, ghost.” “Apologies, Devan.” Travis said. “I have brought them here to speak with Hawthorne and my fellow Knights about an off-world threat.” Devan nodded. “I see. If you don't mind me askin’, what is it?” He leaned in conspiratorially. The Knight fished a small object from an odd, worn leather satchel on his back, and held it out. “Thrall claws.” Devan stated. “Yes. And the beast I plucked them from had made its home on Ganymede, a Jovian Moon.” Travis explained. “Well. That is a very important topic. Come on through, then.” The guard admitted, and then moved to let them through. Orion surveyed the defences. “Do you get attacked often? He asked. Devan pursed his lips. “The amount of times we’ve been attacked can be counted on one hand. We’re a fairly small establishment, so we managed to stay hidden from most. There was that one time with the House of Kings, but it was just a little patrol. Unfortunately, someone died.” Devan said, shaking his head at the memory. “Now run along, unless you want to be here the whole afternoon rememberin’.” Travis gave a slight bow, and then gestured to his companions to come. “He's a guardian, isn't he.” Orion stated. “Well, I don’t like to badger him about it, but he is one of the old breed.” Orion raised his artificial eyebrows. “The old breed? Of what? Guardians?” Sir Travis, champion of the Light, leader of The Knights of Dawn, became hushed. “He was a warlord from the age of the Iron Lords.” Lyla sucked in a breath, and quickly glanced at Devan, who was whistling a tune to himself. “Light and Darkness.” Orion cursed. “Devan the Disemboweler?” Travis gave a curt nod. “Yes. But please stop talking about it.” He said quietly. Orion immediately shut up. Travis could literally roast an enemy by colliding with them, or put one over his knee and break them in half, but when he was quiet he seemed far more dangerous. “Right then. Let's go see this Hawthorne.” Lyla said, breaking the silence. Travis nodded, and started at a brisk pace towards a small porch. “Hawthorne is a tough one. So don't treat her like royalty. But be respectful.” He instructed them. They saw a medium size, medium height woman standing on the porch, cleaning a disassembled hand cannon while a small hawk sat on a perch, ripping at a juvenile rabbit it had sunk its talons into a few minutes earlier. She cocked her head, and then glanced at where Travis stood, motionless, near the bottom of the stairs to the porch. She sighed. “For Light sake Travis, you're not a damn statue. Come up here.” She beckoned. “Yes my Lady.” He intoned thoughtlessly, as if he had said it many times before, and then he gave a nod that was followed up by a dip in his hips. “Travis, I have told you hundreds of times not to call me “My Lady”. And yet you just said it. Again.” She said frustratingly, but the corner of her mouth was curled in a smirk. “I don't see the problem.” The Knight said. “You are My Lady.” Hawthorne sighed. Orion stared at her. She was a muscular, lean woman, with short hair underneath a little head covering that looked like a headscarf. Her eyes, however, were what made Orion wonder. They were cold, hard, flinty. She was laughing, but at the same time he could tell that she was checking her senses, watching, listening, feeling. Orion knew those eyes. He saw an artificial semblance of them every time he looked at a reflective surface. Hawthorne was a survivor, Orion gathered. She had fought tooth and claw for survival and to help a starving village, and when she had gained the respect of the latter’s people, she was still working to earn it. “Hunter.” Hawthorne noted. “You're staring.” Orion was roused from his thoughts. “Sorry… just saw something I thought I knew.” Orion explained half heartedly. Almost as if she knew what he had been thinking, she nodded knowingly. “I would say the same thing. Except you have a helmet on.” She joked. Lyla snorted. “Orion… emotional? Thinking deep thoughts? That's unusual. Usually he just kicks ass and takes names.” She responded. Sir Travis cleared his throat. “My Lady. I have come to speak with the other Knights. Do you know where they are? And if so, will you tell me?” He asked politely. “Yes yes, of course I will.” Hawthorne answered. “Team Daybreak is conducting sparring sessions in the Chapel, while Sunrise Squadron is mostly in the server room and the soccer field.” She rattled off. “Why? What religious crusade are you off to now?” She asked, curious. “Not a crusade. It's an urgent issue. Hive, in the Jovians. Using sorcery to interfere with Ghosts, and new breeds.” Travis aid, his voice quickening. Hawthorne grunted. “Well, that is quite the siteation.” She drawled. “Now go on. I have to watch the destroyer over here and make sure he doesn't choke on a bone.” Still on his perch, the hawk scarfed down a tendon and ripped at the bloody mess he had made. Travis staunchly walked away, followed closely by Orion, and less closely by Lyla, who was distracted by the sight of a mother hen with six chicks. She hurried to catch up, and then watched a soccer ball fly into the air. I know, a bit of an abrupt ending. But the chapter isn't over. The next part is continued in the comments! There, you will meet the Knights. Also, remember to bump this part of the post and not the comments part, if you want your bumps to actually count. Also also, here is a link to the Master Post: [url]https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/225493022[/url]