laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Alexander walked into the stables, wet from the mid-autumn rains that had been falling now for nearly two days. The compound in Haun had become their home as Sir Stephen had been reassigned here shortly after the incident with Sir Edward in the cathedral. It didn't take long for him to wonder why he was being punished and had accepted his new mission with enthusiasm. He had a new library to pick through here at the templar compound and over the summer had been expanding his knowledge of not only the local servants of Arhus, but also those who had founded the establishment.

"You'll be off, I expect," the one-eyed smith stated from his distant right. Stewart had become one of his friends, a veteran of many battles and was present when Sir Evrick, the undead knight from the forgotten city of Flint, was dispatched.

"Yes. Sir Stephen says that we've finally been given a new task from his champion," he divulged as he grabbed the first saddle and strapped it on the awaiting horse.

"I was wondering what all the fuss was about this morning," he said as he rose from his barrel seat and walked over. "Half of our numbers are heading out also. Looks like it's finally going to get quiet around here again." He leaned on the gate and watched while paladins and their squires were preparing to leave. "At least you and your lord won't be riding alone. Word has it that the orcs will be within our borders soon, they destroyed Navan a few months ago. Murdered the baron and chased his family to Carbost. Frightful business."

Alex listened as he moved to Sir Kenneth's horse and equipped it, adrenaline pumping at the thought that the enemy was already campaigning not far beyond the Dovey River to their west. "Is Carbost safe?"

"For now. She's got stout walls and survived the previous fight well enough. I shouldn't worry about that city."

He nodded, then moved to saddle his own chestnut, now grown with it's rider who had turned thirteen. "It would be the smaller farming communities that need help, no doubt."

"Aye. They do suffer the worst during these things, Thomson especially," he informed as both knights entered and grabbed the reins of their respective horses.

"Alexander," Sir Stephen called. "We should be away now, the others are leaving."

"Yes, sir." He hurried his progress and climbed into the saddle and rode out into the rainy, grey day. "See you later, Stewart."

"Arhus go with you, son," the salty veteran bid as he waved.

Within moments, the large contingent filed out through the gates and headed south as Alexander stayed behind his lord and beside Sir Kenneth. He turned to the fighter, thinner with their travels and hunting within the forests of the eastern Black Mountains during the summer for gates that were never found. "Where are we to," he asked.

"Eaglesham, on the eastern border. Should take three weeks from here." Looking forward again, the tight-lipped knight kept any details to himself. Alexander was just glad to be on the road again, doing the will of Arhus somewhere he could hopefully make a difference.

As they traveled through the central duchies, they were joined by other paladins and templar who had been given the same message that he could never find anything about. None of the squires were told what was going on and he enjoyed having more of his peers to talk to and learn from while they traveled east. Three days shy of Eaglesham, they stopped in the county seat of Velence where Alexander stabled his three horses within the marketplace of the wealthy city.

"We'll be here for a day or so while we wait for others to arrive," Stephen informed as the crowded streets were full of men and boys in the heraldry of the Order of the Golden Scepter. Black fields with the golden symbol of Arhus on their breast complemented the white that was worn by the paladins and their glaives from the other cities. Steel-blue eyes gazed over Alexander's shoulder and around them. "Quite a display, isn't it?"

"Yes, sir. There must be something important going on to muster all of us like this." Alex hoped to finally gain some intelligence from his lord.

Stephen just nodded,then turned and disappeared into the crowd.

As the sun fell, he huddled near the large fire that centered the clustered group of squires of various ages who sat around it, cooking their dinner and trading stories.

"...And we then dispatched the orcs with a spear and their own swords," a older squire finished, smiling. His brown eyes then looked over at Alexander. "I know you ride with Sir Stephen of Kecel. You have to have at least one story that you could tell us."

Alex recalled the wraith, then shook his head. "All we've been doing since he took me on was ride through the western forests, beyond the Dovey River looking for gates. I have seen the old ruins of Ascon though."

Most stayed quiet, brows furrowed or looking at neighbors.

He smiled. "None of you have read about the dwarven attack on the Kuzomen baron who sacked their town of Sucaeva?"

A few nods as one spoke up. "I've been told to only worry about our history for now, not theirs."

Alex eyed his companion for a moment. "Don't you realize that we're all neighbors. Our fates are intertwined."

"They don't believe in Arhus, why should we worry ourselves about them?"

"Why did he send them to help defend Carbost two years ago? They routed the orc army along with knights of Carbost and Navan and saved many. If that's not of Arhus, I'd like to know what is."

They remained quiet for the rest of the night until finally retiring in their blankets.

Wrapped in his blanket, Alex's blue eyes opened the following morning as he could see his own breath, a gaseous fog that emanated from beneath the woolen cover and noticed another group of knights and their followers enter the far gates of the city and approach. Some paladins of the kingdom in white surcoats with the symbol of Arhus on their breast and respective cities or towns over their heart, and a few armored fighters wishing to join the campaign rode into the crowded marketplace and dismounted.

After breakfast and gathering of supplies was accomplished, they all mounted up and for the first time in his life, Alexander's heart beat in time with the thunder of nearly a thousand mounted knights and their men-at-arms rode east, clogging the road for nearly a mile. He noticed people respectfully bowing from the side of the road in their wagons or on horseback, watching them pass. Soon, the gates of Eaglesham rose into their path and they entered, guards standing aside as they filed into the city. Once they were organized, Sir Stephen led them out into the fields east of the city's walls and made camp. Now stretched out through farm fields and along the road that headed ultimately to the Kuzomen Empire, Alexander watered and brushed down the horses and walked them back to their gear, then allowed them to graze along a fenceline. He walked over to Sir Stephen as the paladin finished meditating.

"Sir, what's going on?"

Gazing upward, the knight smiled. "I guess it was time that you were brought out of the dark with this matter. We've been notified that a great army is marching to these walls and we're here to stop them."

Alex wondered what type of army would call so many paladins and templar from the outer reaches of the kingdom as his eyes scanned the mass of men and horses. "Arhus needs us and not the local armies?"

"This army is made up of those risen from battles past. You're going to face things tomorrow that you've only read about. Skeletal fighters that don't bleed and can be raised again unless we kill the necromancer who commands them. Your faith will have to be strong and unwavering for this enemy only wishes to kill all of us and then the innocent people behind these walls," he glanced behind them. "It's up to us, Alexander."

After dinner, Alexander knelt down to pray along with the mass of those faithful to their deity. He could hear the faint taunts and chiding from unseen demons on the fringes of his mind.

'Ignore them,' the familiar female voice stated. 'They only want you to be weakened spiritually tomorrow for the fight. Remain steadfast on the things you've been taught and you'll do fine.'

After their moments of silence to the world, they finally laid down for much needed rest. He studied the moon whose brilliant glow lit the night and their surroundings. 'Help me be brave tomorrow,' he thought.

'You'll be fine, don't worry.'