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

Consciousness brought Alex to the realization that battle was more exhilirating, more terrifying than he had ever imagined. Laying on his back he could still feel the wound to his uppper back, pain coursing through his spine and head, but there was nothing.

"Relax," the soft, female voice stated quietly from his left. He hadn't opened his eyes yet, still smelling the battlefield, he had hoped that the nightmare was over. Instead of the pungent odor of burned grass and the din of battle, he heard the constant, soft lapping of water over rocks. A cool breeze wafted over his skin when he realized that his armor and weapons were gone. With a start, his blue eyes opened and looked around him to see the tall, green grass, wide, shallow river to his right and the vivid forest around him. Sunlight seemed to come from all around and then he turned to see the presence kneeling near him. Tears welled as her bright blue eyes gleamed, long blonde hair shimmered as if made of gold and matched her white gown underneath the chrome-like chainmail that she wore. A blue aura seemed to encapsulate her whole body. She was the most beautiful person he had ever seen in his life, even the Lady Nyrellia.

She smiled. "How are you feeling, Alexander?" Her voice was calming and almost motherly.

He nodded as tears streamed down his cheeks. "Fine," he pushed out,then sniffed as he sat up.

"I'm glad. He wished me to care for you," she informed as a bright cardinal landed on a thick branch nearby, watching and listening to their conversation intently. "He is proud of your bravery."

Alexander couldn't take his eyes from her as she spoke, and smiled at the compliment, still numb from the encounter. He wasn't sure that he wanted to leave.

She smiled again, almost as if she could hear his thoughts. "Your time is not yet, you still have a long life ahead of you and many things to accomplish. It is, however your choice."

Slowly, his smile faded. "Where am I," he asked.

Her smiled broadened, perfect, pearl white teeth gleaming and matched her beauty. The unspoken answer stopped his heart, eyes widened.

"You've been faithful to Him and there is no shame of leaving them now. I know that you have many unanswered questions that need to be solved. But, either way we win. The Dark One's campaign thus far is successful and unfortunately, many more will suffer under his reign in the lands that he's taken. Not many will be given a second chance but, since you were so young, He's given you the option to serve the innocent there further. If you wish."

Slowly, his infatuations with her faded as his mind grasped her words. "Will I see you again?"

"I am your guide and messenger to Him. We've been together for some years now. I'm never far away but, times have become harder for us to communicate with those we are tasked to. Because of the Dark One's influence in the world, his demons are clouding the plane between our worlds and yours. But, don't worry, I can still hear you when you need His guidance. Answers just take a bit longer to relay." He nodded.

"What's your name?"

Cocking her head to the side a bit, "Between Himself and you, there's no need for titles is there? I am of little consequence in the grander scheme. I exist to fulfill his will and help get your prayers to him and thus his answers to you."

Thoughts of Sir Stephen, Sir Kenneth and his friends as well as the people that he knew over the years coursed through his mind. Could he allow them to fight alone? His mother could be in danger, he thought, as the memories of her bruises lowered his eyes down and across the swaying grass, slowly dancing along with the guiding wind. "I'll go back."

"Okay." The breath extended from her mouth and seemed to blend into the breeze as the peaceful surroundings swirled into white light that slowly faded into darkness.

* * *

Moans and the rush of someone passing him awoke Alex to the chaos of a large building. The stench of body odor and blood mixed with the acrid smell from a fire rudely greeted the squire as he looked up into the wooden rafters from a lumpy bed. He turned to the left and saw a knight, his breastplate removed, staring upward. Unfamiliar, his labored breathing pushed a bead of sweat from the man's lips that could not free itself from the unrelenting beating. Alexander scanned around to notice the interior of the church whose tall, bullet shaped windows reflected torchlight and he wondered if either of those that he was charged with had survived. Slowly, he reached around to his neck and shoulders, nursing what had been there when he fell to find the soreness wasn't as bad as he had thought. Turning his head to the right quicker than the first attempt, he noted more men lying in various states of healing, bandages around foreheads, arms and torsos. He finally sat up to gain a view of the main sanctuary full of wounded and their caretakers alike.

Finally, he slowly grabbed his shield and swordbelt, then pushed himself up as footsteps approached from behind.

"You should rest, young man," the mature male voice stated as he turned to see the thin, kind face. Brown, concerned eyes motioned back down on the mat as sore muscles announced themselves. He would have to work through the bruises later.

"I'm fine, sir. Thank you."

Nodding the priest moved on. Alex knew that he had to find Sir Stephen, alive or dead as the memory of the previous setting that he enjoyed flashed in his mind. Walking up and down the long rows, he finally reached the front door without any luck. Noticing two priests sitting within the foyer enjoying a flagon of wine, he approached.

"Excuse me, sirs. Are all the wounded from the battle here?"

Turning to him, both grinned. "No, son. The rest have been taken in at the inns, stables and among their own clerics near the stream to the south. Who do you belong to?"

"Sir Stephen of Kecel."

Nodding, he rubbed his unshaven chin as his green eyes fell to the floor in thought. "Can't say that I recognize the name. Perhaps you'll find him in one of the other hospitals." He shrugged as he straightened.

Alexander grinned, "Thank you". Wincing as he shouldered his shield, he headed out into the cool night and shut the door behind him as his shoulders screamed in protest. He would have to be more careful for a while, he thought as he blinked back tears of pain. Blowing out a sigh, he moved towards the nearest inn whose porch stood lit by a pair of torches suspended on its walls. As he neared, three men stepped out, tankards in hand and claimed a seat on several barrels to the side. Grey shirts hung open revealing toned muscles gleaming with sweat. They eyed him as he walked up.

"Good evening, sirs," he greeted.

They each nodded. "Evening," one replied. Greying short hair matted to his head, Alex realized that all of them were at least fighters as he noticed their swordbelts whose brass buckles sported heraldry. "Who are you charged with, young one?"

"Sir Stephen of Kecel," he revealed, not expecting recognition.

The clean shaven, tanned face nodded as his friends drank. "And your name?"

"Alexander, sir," he stated as he stopped at the door now closed. His eyes scanned the buckles, now closer and noted the white unicorn head on a green field, the heraldry of Bakony.

"Well, young Alexander, good luck in finding him. Many fell yesterday and many more need the cleric's attention."

"Did we win?"

He grinned and quietly nodded once.

Alex smiled, then entered the inn to see several laid out on the floor along both walls as the barmaids knelt beside, offering water while others headed back to the kitchen's well. He scanned faces hopefully, but no luck. Footsteps approached and he noted the plump, buxom woman that approached with a piece of bread in her hand.

"You look hungry," she smiled.

"Thank you," he took the morsel and nearly inhaled it before her.

Her brow raised in shock. "My, you were famished, weren't you?"

"Sorry," he pushed out between bites, embarrassed with his manners. As he swallowed, she handed him a tankard of water that he quickly chased it with. "Are there any wounded or knights staying in your rooms?" his eyes motioned to the far staircase.

"Those up there aren't wounded, captains and knights that needed a place to rest. Who are you looking for?"

"Sir Stephen of Kecel."

Shaking her head, "No one up there is from that duchy. Mostly from Iszak and Brian, sorry."

He nodded. "Thank you for the bread," he smiled, then exited back into the cool night.

"No luck," the knight asked as Alex stopped at the edge of the stone walkway and scanned the town's quiet,narrow streets.

"No,sir. Not yet."

"Well, don't give up, I'm sure he's here somewhere."

Alex nodded, then continued out into the town where the quiet didn't scare him like it used to. The unknown lurking within alleyways and behind dark corners had no power over him now and he felt good to know that there was a world beyond that would accept him when he was done in this one. Eventually, he arrived at the closed gate, darkened underneath the shadow of the towers to either side. He stepped up to the thick oak door to the right and knocked. Soon, boots pounded across a wooden floor and stopped as the door cracked open, spilling candlelight out onto the flagstone street and tired boy.

"What do you want?" the gruff soldier asked.

"I need to get to the encampment on the south side of the city to find my lord."

"Why don't you wait until sunrise, there could still be more of those undead out there just waiting for a young boy to go out there on his own. No telling what they would do to you."

"They're all gone, we won. Besides, Arhus is with me."

Opening the door wider, the guard straightened. "Well, in that case," he grinned. "Boy, find a place to go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning." As the door closed, Alex realized that he would have to do this himself. He walked within the darker interior, the killing zone as enemies knew it, and set the shield onto the ground beside him. Reaching up, his shoulders began throbbing as he planted his hands underneath the large bar. Wincing, he set his head against the iron strengthened barrier.

"Boy!," the guard yelled through the arrowslit to his right. "Go somewhere and get some sleep, I'm not going to tell you again."

He backed and let his arms fall to his sides in defeat. Perhaps some rest would allow his back to heal a bit more. He just knew he didn't want to rest within the church or any of the inns right now. Leaning over, he picked up his shield and walked until he found the marketplace whose fountain spewed clear water that the sparse moonlight refracted through, casting bright sparkles that reminded him of the champion's eyes. He smiled and decided this was as good a place as any as he knelt and slowly spun around, then laid down against the stone, circular base and closed his eyes.

Cool fog shrouded the flagstoned square as the town came to life around the still sleeping boy. Many quieted as they passed, eyeing him sympathetically as they noticed the golden spears underneath the black shield, gold bars separating the top half and the smaller black dragon rampant in the top right corner, all over a white field. His long brown hair gently carressed his face as the breeze wafted by and Alex soon awoke to view the feet as they passed him, going in all directions. Sunlight warmly tanned his face and he soon pushed himself up, leaning on his left arm and noticed that some of the soreness had gone, thankfully.

"Well, he's awake," the familiar, male voice greeted from behind and to the right as he looked upward to see the greying black hair and van dyke. Sir Stephen sat on the rim of the fountain as he smiled.

Alex jumped up and hugged the knight tightly, burying his face into the older paladin's chest.

Stephen chuckled, "Well, it's good to see you too," he said as he patted Alex on the back.