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

Alex sat within the saddle as the long line of templar, paladin and men-at-arms rode through the thick forest. His mind had been on the Lady Nyrellia ever since the dream and he prayed that somehow he could hurry this campaign. He turned to Sir Stephen as they rode.

"Sir, I had a vision that Lady Nyrellia is in danger some time ago. When this is completed, perhaps we could make sure she's alright."

Nodding as he grinned. "Actually, she and her lady-in-waiting were saved by the knights from Carbost and their friends. She's alive and well and I've been told, has a new baby girl."

Alex could feel the weight lifted from his shoulders at the news. "I had prayed everyday that she would be safe."

"Rest your mind then."

As they arrived towards the long treeline that fronted a wide clearing, he noticed Sir Clement dismount and motion to the rest to follow suit. Quickly hopping down, Alex grabbed the reins of his knight's steeds and led them to the rear of the column as the others meandered through their squires and mounts to join the command staff. He rested with the others and noticed several of the squires from Carbost leave their horses and head back to the forming line. Blue eyes gazed beyond the fir and pine to see the high plateau that that supported the high, grey walls of the target that had eluded them months before. One of the female mages had used her ability at sensing magic to find the compound dedicated to the protection of Sater's node and focal point of his power.

He rested his muscles as their horses suddenly grew restless. Patting his on the nose, his eyes caught sight of the movement behind them and turned to see the shieldwall approaching.

"Behind us," he yelled, then pulled the horses behind himself. Unshouldering his shield, he pulled his sword as others from the rear guard sang in unison and formed up beside him. Preparing themselves to meet the approaching undead army, he focused on his training.

"Make way, young brothers," an authoritative command from behind as Alex straightened and turned himself sideways, keeping his eyes on the enemy as they charged. Cries and hollow screams erupted through the thick boughs as the clash of steel thickened. Alex dropped back with his younger comrades and hoped that those within the castle didn't coordinate another strike as he turned to notice two figures running across the open field towards the high embankment. In amazement, he watched as the first was struck by a bolt that caught her in the hip, knocking her to the ground as the knight of Carbost ran to her side, picking her up as he shielded them both from more missiles and they continued on to the smooth, earthen wall.

"Go!!" he cheered as those at his side also joined in. Several archers returned fire at the towers and the brave pair reached and climbed the rampart to stand within the shadow of the nearby corner tower. He wondered what they had planned now as he then noticed them spin and throw a grappling hook up towards the tower's merlons as more arrows sped to keep any defender's heads down.

Soon, the fighting behind them stopped and the templar and knights rushed to see the knight in white platemail climb the rope to the parapet as the female followed behind. Stephen turned to Sir Clement and Sir Brendan, smiled and charged to the wall. Sprinting, they all followed suit and Alexander found himself running across the field as others dropped from missiles that sped from several towers. He quickly noticed why many were watching their steps as a wooden stake nearly pierced his boot, prompting him to also be wary of his steps as he neared the base of the round tower and waited for his chance to fight.

Upward, the attackers climbed and disappeared over the merlons as he followed suit, pulling himself up to the top of the high wall, then pulled himself over the crenel to stand on the long parapet as men in black surcoats raced to either tower and gatehouse in both directions. He looked across to the long temple whose front angled wall of green grass pointed to the front gate with a long stone building flanking it. Beyond, another two-story building stood silently as men battered wooden doors and fought their way inside.

"You just going to stand there," a female archer asked as she pulled another arrow from her quarrel and fired. Her long brown hair swayed in the breeze and he knew that she was with the squad from Carbost.

Several more climbed over and he recognized the squires that accompanied her also as they formed up and raced to the nearby stairwell that entered the long and wide bailey. He joined them as ogres fell from and defended the gatehouse as templar attacked from within. Blood flowed as they cleared dormitory rooms and soon attacked the long houses beyond that made up a squared yard with the temple's columned hall at the western end. Within, the mothers and their young attacked, symbols of Sater emblazoned on their arms or sported on silver chains that shimmered angrily at the invaders who dared enter their domain.

Soon, the compound was cleared and he walked back out into the daylight as the other squires gathered friends and helped the wounded into the makeshift hospital that the clerics and other healers kept most from dying. He stood, sword standing in the ground in his right hand as he watched the dead lined up in the grass along the back wall of the temple.

"Sobering sight, isn't it," a younger male voice stated from his right. He turned to recognize the squire to the taller knight from Davos, covered in sweat, dirt and dried blood.

"Yes it is," Alex replied quietly. "Unfortunate, but necessary." Blue eyes turned back to the stairs that led into the rectangular shaped great hall as knights began heading outside as others returned with their horses.

"You serve Sir Stephen, correct?"

"Yes. Name's Alexander."

"Pleasure, my name's Darvin. I serve Sir Lericanin of Anderslough. We've been riding for more leagues than I care to remember but, it's been an experience."

Alex smiled. "I can share that sentiment. Without these evil people in the world, we'd be quite bored, I expect."

Darvin chuckled. "I'm sure there'd be plenty of cats to save, trapped in trees by dogs. Perhaps the occasional broken wagon wheel on a long road. That sort of thing."

"Who could dismiss the broken hammer owned by the one-eyed smith who's poor depth perception would hamper his ability to make another." Alex chuckled as Artek and his companions approached. "Here they come now."

Darvin quietened as he backed.

"You made it," Artek smiled. "Shouldn't be a surprise, I guess. If giants couldn't do it, how could housewives and their whelps?"

Sobering, Alex tried not to think about the kids that had died at their hands earlier. He just hoped that they would be leaving soon.

* * *

Once destruction of the temple was completed, they mounted up and led their fallen comrades to Exmoor to bury them and send them off properly. Ashton would be their next destination as the emperor's call to arms couldn't go unheeded.