The Order and the Warden

John stared at the car in front of him with the pretty girl who sat in the front passenger seat, shyly trying to hide the giant grin on her face, then slowly turned to stare at the retreating back of the girl’s father, and then again at the set of keys in his hand, and then back at the car.

He took a moment to wonder what just happened, going over the morning so far to see if he had missed a bit of crucial logic that, somehow, made it all more reasonable.

John had woken up, and for a moment he had seen the cellar. A flash in his nose of the miasma of depression. A sharp bite of iron in his mouth. A white-hot phantom pain in his stomach.

And then his eyes opened and it was gone.

He’d quietly entered the kitchen after going through the usual motions of waking up, like putting on new clothes, using the bathroom and so forth. As he was drinking the glass of apple juice he’d poured for himself, he pulled out his phone and checked it.

There were a couple messages from Velvet wishing him a peaceful nap, giving directions, and then one cryptic one which simply said “nevermind the directions”.

He’d just put the empty glass into the sink when his mom came into the room, practically bouncing. “Oh, sweetie! Good, you’re up. Just in time.”

John had looked suspiciously at his mom and the unexplained enthusiasm. “Just in time for what, exactly, Mom?”

She fussed at his clothes and hair while chattering, “I can’t believe you still don’t check your hair in the mornings, you look like a bird’s nest, and what is it with all the-”

He fended her off and asked, “Mom! Why are you acting like it’s my first day of school all over again?”

“Oh, did I not say? There’s a man who just pulled up outside, with a young girl next to him. I assume that’s your ‘friend’ you mentioned?” She smiled at him, and then winked. “Go get ‘em, sweetie. Don’t forget your wallet.” There was a knock at the door and her smile widened. She grabbed him and pushed him up the stairs while chattering, “Alright, I’ll go say hi and speak with them, while you go fetch your wallet. You better pay for anything for her on this date. Oh, and don’t forget to make sure there’s a condom in there, just in case. Also, while you’re at it, you should really do something about the-” Another knock sounded at the door. “Why are you still here, John? Go go go!” She hurried off to the front door, leaving him halfway up the first few steps, and slightly confused at what had just happened.

He’d done as instructed, and came back down, passing his mom on the way out the front door, who was giving an impressively indiscreet thumbs-up. Outside, he found Eion waiting for him, also wearing a not-so-subtle smile. It seemed like John had been seeing a lot of that particular type of sly smile, as if there was a joke that he hadn’t been clued into yet.

“Took your time, lad. Your mother was an absolute dear, though.” Velvet’s dad flashed his teeth in that smile again, then thrust a closed fist out. “Put your hand out.”

Cautiously, John did so, feeling like he had been in a state of perpetual confusion since waking up. Eion dropped something into his open hand, and he looked at it. It was a car key, with a fuzzy keyring of a red panda. He looked up at the assassin, to see him turning and starting to walk away whilst talking over his shoulder. “Don’t ask me for an explanation, lad. You better take care of her, though!”

Yeah, no, there was no missed logic there to give him a eureka moment. ‘Guess I better ask Velvet, then, since she seems to be behind this.’

He stepped closer and leant against the side of the steel grey sports car, to talk through the window at her. “Velvet, wha-”

“No! Come sit next to me.” Her tone wasn’t commanding, but it was firm. He stood and stared at her with an eyebrow raised, whilst his brain tried to catch up, and when she realised he hadn’t moved, she added, “Please, John?” in a nervous, almost pleading tone that instantly made him feel apologetic for not moving initially. He made his way around the car to the driver’s door and just managed to catch the small victorious smile on Velvet’s face before she schooled it to innocence again.

He climbed in, sitting behind the wheel and tried again. “So, Velvet, why exactly did your dad just hand me car keys?”

“W-well, it’s actually my car. But I can’t drive it, obviously.” She gave a small giggle. “When he got it for me, he said it was so that when I, er…found someoneee whoo… someone who was willing to, you know… anyway, it’s so that that person can drive me around, if they’re willing. And I figured you’d be willing! A-and I can give you directions to the Order’s manor. Well, generally, at least…” She dropped her volume to mutter to herself, barely audible, “Dad also said my …friend could, like, cudd… and… seat was good for naugh…”

That was a topic John definitely did not have the bravery to address right now. He’d definitely already filed it away for an impossibly hopeful later thought. Or, more likely, for a dream.

“So… what, I’m just meant to, like, drive? And take you places?” He stopped for a moment, finally realising something. “Er, t-that sounds a lot like what I’d do if we were da-”

“Anyway! You can drive and tell me where we are and I’ll direct you to the Manor!” she cut him off hurriedly.

“No fucking way.”

He stared at the massive iron wrought gates, set into the old stone pillars. The gates were covered in literal yards of fine detailing of leaves, branches and vines, all encircling the emblem at the centre which spread across the two halves and depicted a silver ‘B’ inlaid into a golden shield. The stone walls on either side showed significant signs of both age and care, appearing as if they’d been looked after for at least a century or two. Through the gates, John could see a long and elegantly winding road parting the vast lawns of neatly trimmed and tidied plantlife, eventually coming to a stop before the manor itself.

The building was, to put it simply, massive. It was enormous, as buildings went. Possibly one of the largest buildings John had ever seen, and certainly the most impressive of those. He wasn’t quite sure what the style of architecture was, but it certainly was impressive with all of the graceful arches and intricate stonework, to say the least. It was an ornate display that simply screamed ‘wealthy’.

“No, really, this is the place. I’m told it’s very beautiful, John.” Velvet sounded so sincere, and he couldn’t help the way his heart fluttered slightly when she spoke his name. But even so…

“I guess, but… How have I never heard of this place?” John asked, then waved a hand she couldn’t see at the sprawling structure. “It’s basically a fuc- a damned castle, right at the edge of Springfield! I’d at least have noticed it in passing, surely?!”

“Oh!” That exclamation filled her voice with an unexpectedly enticing note. He started to wonder if she would make that same noise in bed, and then stopped that thought and put it elsewhere before his jeans started straining.

She spoke again, “It’s part of the Abyss-mundane thing, I think. Since it was made partly by magical means, but no mundane saw it when it was set up here? Either that or they might have some kind of enchantment on it that makes it unimportant when you see it unless you’re actively looking for it. Have you rung the bell yet?”

“No, one minute.” He put the car into park and got out, stepping over to the shiny metal intercom which was tucked cleverly into some stonework. Though, it did look distinctly out of place when he actually noticed it, compared to the old world grandeur displayed everywhere else.

He pressed the button to ring the bell and waited. After a moment, a male voice came through with surprising clarity, “Hello? State your business, please.”

“Er, I was asked to visit? Moira invited me.”

“Miss Brighton extended an invitation? May I have your name, sir?” The man’s voice never slipped from the same cordial tone.

“S-sure. I’m John. John Newman? Does that, er, help?”

“Indeed it does, Master Newman. Please, come to the main door. I’ll inform Miss Brighton of your arrival.” There was a click as the intercom disconnected, and a grinding noise as the gates began to swing open.

“Well, alright then. Guess we’re headed up,” John muttered to himself, then hopped back into the car and drove them up the winding lane, eventually coming to a stop opposite a pair of doors engraved with the same emblem that adorned the front gates.

He got back out of the car, and walked around to the passenger door, then held it open and assisted a surprised and once-again blushing Velvet out of the car, and locked it behind them. As they approached the stairs, a message appeared in front of John.

Friendly Major Barrier detected - ‘Brighton Manor: Home of the Shield Branch of the Order of the Golden Rose’

It took John a moment to remember, but he raised his hand and released it, like the thug had done, whilst trying to think of both him and Velvet entering the barrier. Nothing much seemed to change, aside from a slight rippling between one step and the next. The pair of them made their way up a small staircase to reach the door, just as it opened and Moira stepped out, dressed in functional, yet high quality, clothing.

She stood at the top of the staircase, looking down the bridge of her nose at the pair of them ascending the staircase with green eyes hard as agate. Her wavy red hair spread and billowed in the slight breeze, and the sunlight caught on the shield pendant hanging from her neck. For a moment, he didn’t see the casual multipurpose clothing or the average white sneakers; she could have been wearing rags for all it mattered.

She stood and, just for an instant, embodied the figure clad in silver and gold, wielding a fearsome warhammer and a polished, perfect shield, and suffused with righteous justice that he had seen before… collapsing. For just a moment, a chill ran its way down his spine, and John unconsciously tensed as fear entered his mind at the thought of how terrifying this girl could be, if she were pushed too far.

And then the moment passed.

In a flash, she once again was the friendly and kind Moira he’d expected, hurrying down the stairs to the pair of them and trying to fuss over Velvet climbing the stairs. “Velvet! Let me help, please. I couldn’t forgive myself if you fell.”

The blind brunette giggled. “Moira, you know I’m blind not crippled, right? I can climb stairs. Besides, John’s being a sweetheart and helping me, see?” She shook her arm to show how John was supporting her balance.

Moira flushed slightly in embarrassment and took a step back. “Of course, I’m sorry. I never meant to suggest-”

“Oh, stop it. My feelings aren’t hurt, and you didn’t say anything wrong. It’s a common misconception.” She smiled brightly at the redhead as they went through the doorway and entered the manor itself.

John took a moment to look around the foyer carefully. The interior, much like the exterior, simply screamed ‘wealthy’. A beautifully polished hardwood floor, a grand staircase that entered the foyer gracefully, clean walls adorned with impressively crafted furniture polished to a similar shine as the floor, an elegant chandelier, the room actually bordered on ostentatiousness. It came across as classy instead, however, due to the fact that almost every table, cabinet and other ornamentation was clearly placed for a purpose, even if that purpose was unclear.

Velvet spoke again, drawing John out of his examination of his new surroundings, “Why don’t you tell us why we’re here instead?”

John realised she was speaking to Moira, and looked at the redhead just in time to catch her glancing over at him before speaking, “I… your father, Velvet, thought that it might be a good idea for you to have some external training, considering what happened. To give you a different perspective on how to fight and respond to different assailants. He also gave one or two specific requests, which is why he came to us rather than do this within the Peacekeeper organisation itself.”

Velvet’s face, surprisingly, had not dropped or her mood dampened on hearing that her father was essentially sending her to a self-defence class, despite the fact that John would bet Eion had trained his daughter extensively, adopted or not. In fact, she was visibly excited, almost bouncing on her heels. “Oh, that sounds so fun! I wonder what those specific requests were.”

Moira seemed to be unable to help herself from an honest smile at Velvet’s excitement. “Well, Reginald will take you to the training grounds, if that’s alright. I…” the redhead’s smile dropped a bit, and a more serious cast came over her features “...have a private matter that I’d like to discuss with John, if that’s alright.”

Velvet seemed to pick up on the change of tone, and calmed a little. “Sure thing, Moira. I’ll leave the two of you to it. Where do I go to get to this training field you mentioned?”

“Ah, Reginald will take you. It’s easy to get lost if you’re unfamiliar with the manor,” Moira said.

“Indeed, Miss Velvet. If you’ll allow me to assist you, I’ll escort you as the young Miss Brighton stated.” John almost jumped out of his skin when the cordial voice from the intercom sounded from just behind where he and Velvet stood, and turned to look at the apparent owner of the voice, Reginald.

He was a tall man, dressed in a traditional butler’s suit and a monocle, and gave John possibly the most unnerving feeling he’d had in the past couple days, outside of the tearing, gnashing, icy feeling as the steel entering his stomach again and again and- John clenched his jaw. He didn’t need to think about that. He took a deep breath, and **** it away from him, then refocused on the butler behind him.

Considering all that had happened, it was somewhat impressive that he gave such an unnerving impression. He was exquisitely polite and deferential, to be certain, but John couldn’t help the feeling. John shook it off and removed his arm from Velvet, then turned to face the butler, remembering his Observe.

Well. That’s another person to not upset, huh? He looked at Reginald and said, “W-will you take care of her, please?”

“Of course, young master.” The man’s courteous expression barely changed, but John noticed the slight smile of approval from the older, slightly disconcerting man as he took Velvet’s arm and guided her down a corridor, leaving him alone with Moira.

As they left, a moment of introspection came across him, as they sometimes did for the considerate teenager. He’d been doing quite a lot of examining and observing of the world and other people around him since all of this had started. He had always been quiet, but that natural tendency towards introversion had been amplified by necessity of spending most of his time the past day or two listening and watching very intently to what happened around him to try and stay afloat when everything was unknown. And yet, despite that self-imposed quietness, he had never felt more in touch with the people around him.

Speaking of, he turned to face the redheaded paladin beside him. Moira appeared uncomfortable, and was looking off to one side when John asked, “So… w-what was it you, er, wanted to talk about?” He may have been quite bold and brave recently with giving Velvet his number… or, as he realised might be a bit more impressive, with the whole ****, but he still found himself so easily discomforted by things like being alone with this undeniably attractive redhead.

She opened her mouth to speak and stopped. Then did it again. Then said, with an unexpectedly nervous tone of voice, “John, would you mind walking with me? I…”

He nodded in agreement and followed her as she walked into a different corridor, seemingly without a destination in mind. John looked around as they walked, waiting for Moira to speak when she felt ready.

Much like the foyer, the corridors straddled that line between classy and gaudy, and did it to magnificent effect. However, after having been walking for a while, he noticed that there was a disconcerting loss of direction as they walked further. It was with a note of worry that he realised that he absolutely could not have retraced his steps to the main door at this point. It was distinctly uncomfortable to think about, once he realised that he was entirely reliant on his guide.

Moira broke his panicked train of thought by taking a sharp turn and opening a door. John followed and stopped in his tracks, whilst Moira carefully sat down on the only piece of furniture in the room, a simple bench with a couple of cushions. It wasn’t the bench that had stopped John in awe so much as what the bench was facing.

Directly before it, the entire wall was made of glass, showing the most beautiful garden John had ever seen. It was a piece of living art, designed in spacious, neat rings with meandering paths between, all centralised around an ancient willow tree and covered with a glass and steel dome.

With a sense of awe, John quietly sat at the other end of the bench to Moira and waited, absorbed in the scene before him. They sat without speaking, John simply looking at the beauty of the garden before him, and Moira lost in her own thoughts.

Eventually, she spoke up, “The Order has a mission.” John turned his head to look at her as she stared into the garden and spoke, lost in her thoughts, “I am the Shield Warden, figurehead of this branch of the Order, so I learnt this at a very young age from my father. The Order strives, always, to stamp out corruption where we find it, and to protect those who stand in the light of the Lady. To fail in this duty is…”

She spun her head to face John, her fiery mane seeming to catch alight as it whipped through the air. “M-moira, what-” She cut off his question with her own.

“Can you forgive me, John?” Her eyes were locked to his. It felt like there were whole conversations happening behind her eyes that she simply was unable to speak aloud. Perhaps she didn’t know how. Not that John did either.

“F-forgive?! Why would you need my forgiveness?” John asked, a baffled note clear in his voice. “Moira, for God’s sake - or Gaia’s sake or whatever damned deity I should be saying - you saved me! Why are you trying to apologise?!”

Her attitude didn’t change even slightly, still fully focused on him and entirely serious, with that inscrutable look in her eye which spoke of unsaid words. “I had a duty. In a way, I am the Order. And I failed to follow the key mission: to protect those who stand in the light of the Lady.”

“Moira, you’re not making sense. How can you have failed when you rescued me?”

“I noticed you before you were taken.” That only added to John’s confusion. “You were walking down the road and pulled out some kind of charm or token of faith. I initially thought you were just some careless student, so I started to text to get someone to help you stay safe. Then you went into that alley.” It was starting to snap into place in John’s head. “I didn’t think much of it until I heard the shouts and saw the barrier forming. I could have gone in there then but I didn’t.” Not once did Moira stutter or change her tone until the very end, which came out very forcefully.

He couldn’t help but ask, “Why not?”

“I decided to put my armour on first, and because of that, you were taken. I put myself before you. Because of my failure, you suffered that pain.” John stared at her. He stared at her for so long that she misunderstood and lowered her head. “I apologise. It was presumptive to ask forgiveness for my failure without providing any kind of recompen-”

“Moira, what on earth are you talking about?” John cut across her thoughtlessly. She jerked her head back up to look at John in surprise, and he continued, “You didn’t ‘fail’ me. You didn’t fail anything. You stopped to put on your armour so you could save me without getting yourself killed. That’s not being selfish, it’s just fucking common sense. I chose to do what I did. Me. Not you. That puts any blame at my feet. Don’t apologise for fucking helping, Moira.” He took a deep breath, then realised how wide her eyes were as she looked at him. He shrugged awkwardly, discomforted by his momentary confidence, and looked away into the garden, unable to meet her eyes. “Besides, it’s not like anything too bad happened. They took us for a ride, put us in some uncomfortable chairs, and then you came along.” He knew he was leaving out… that.

She didn’t reply, and John turned back to see her looking at him with an expression of sympathy. She knew he was leaving it out as well. “John… I worked out how it all happened. I was the one who kept you… with us, after all. With your jailer right beside you, and with Velvet to fill in the gaps... It wasn’t hard to put the timeline together. You know you didn’t do anything wrong, right?”

His chest felt tight, and it was hard to breathe. He turned away from her and took a deep breath, held it, and then let it out. He didn’t move for what seemed like a long time after that, and then eventually muttered to the ground, “I guess not.”

There was a pregnant pause, filled with wordless intent. “John… I can’t say I relate, but… I remember when I first killed someone. They were the most despicable type of scum, the filth that one finds not at the bottom of the barrel, but beneath it. And yet, upon swinging my hammer at just the wrong angle, striking their chest instead of an arm or leg… I cried like a child again. I cried, and anytime I closed my eyes for a week, I saw their face during that moment. I saw again the way that golden hammer caved their chest in, just so unnaturally. What I’m saying is… I do understand, and it’s good that you feel sorrow, John. It speaks well of you.”

He closed his eyes, and took another deep breath, then wiped at his dry eyes and stood. “No. I’m… I will be fine. Was there anything else?”

She looked closely at him. His tone was neutral, and the way he stood was normal and relaxed, yet his fist was white-knuckled, and veins stood clear on his wrist. She sighed slightly, realising that the discussion was over now, for him. “Yes, actually. I mentioned there was training for Velvet earlier. The same goes for you, if you accept. Eion and I were unsure of what your skillset actually is, so I have been unable to choose a mentor for the two of you yet. Do you know, or has it yet to develop?”

“I know,” he said, relaxing slightly as she moved past the thoughts he wasn’t quite ready to face yet. “I… I didn’t fully explain my powers earlier. Do you need to know specifically to choose someone or just a general idea?”

She pressed her lips together and one corner twisted up as she thought. “I’d like to know fully, but a generalisation will do for now. You might as well save the full explanation for when the person actually teaching you can hear.”