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

He packed his extra clothes and gear into the large saddlebags, what little had been collected over the past thirty years of service. Possessions meant little to someone who was well taken care of by the only one he had trusted and leaned on since he learned Arhus’s name. The orphanage was full of boys like him, but few that joined the ranks of the Order of the Golden Scepter. Few were given that opportunity.
Once he tied the leather bags closed, he shouldered them and walked out into the main sitting room that completed their apartment. Tired eyes scanned the room to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything, then once satisfied, he continued out into the hallway and closed the door behind him.

Soon, he walked out into the courtyard and noticed how quickly the once blue sky had clouded as he strolled across to the stables that bordered the left side of the grassy yard. As he approached, Stewart, the blacksmith and stablehand led his dark brown, light warhorse out to it’s master as Orem led his own, smoke grey warhorse out behind him.

“He’s ready for battle once again, milord,” the stout soldier smiled as he patted Rusty on the nose.

“Thank you, Stewart,” he accepted the reins and greeted his faithful mount warmly. “May be a long road, friend,” he rubbed and patted the horse on the neck as it’s long, black mane hung over the eyes and muscular neck. He climbed into the saddle once the saddlebags were secured and noticed Sir Frederick watching them prepare to depart from the front door’s large frame. He raised his right hand in salute and received the same in return as Orem mounted also.

“My lord,” Stewart interrupted. “I would be honored if you would take me on as your man-at-arms.”

Hazel-green eyes glanced down to the blacksmith. “I appreciate your offer but, this mission may require more experience, friend. I’m sorry.” A truth that deflated the templar as his eyes and shoulders fell. “It’s also not the place for a templar to fill that spot in a glaive. Why would you wish a demotion?”

Stewart shook his head. “It’s not, sir. But, I honor you and will pray for your success in whatever he’s called you to do.”

“I’m in your debt, friend.” William smiled and spurred his horse towards the front gate which bridged the dorms and great hall that made up the walls of the compound. As they thundered out through the gatehouse, he felt the energy from the node leave him and hoped his stay had been long enough.
Moat and open grassland was soon cut off by forest as they rode south towards Inellan, a trip that would take them only a few leagues and give him time to gain some insights.

“My lord,” Orem soon interrupted the hoofbeats on the hard packed road. “Should we head to Laksay first?”

“I was wondering about that,” he nodded, cool breeze wafting through the open faced helmet as the hinged visor remained up. “I think it would help us determine what we’re up against. Hopefully, it hasn’t gotten far though, demons tend to gravitate towards familiarity first, then branch out from there.”

“How do you think it seduced two servants of Arhus so easily,” his gruff companion inquired.

“It must be clever indeed,” he mused. “Or, they’re very young and impressionable.”

“True.” He patted his warhammer and grinned. “Guess it’s time to get to work again.”

William smiled and gazed across farmland which opened to their right and left as farmers and their help tilled the land for harvest. Some waved in recognition to the knights as they passed, others ignored them as they tended to their chores.

Soon, the walls of Inellan spread out before them as they passed an inn, a town that he had become more than familiar with and it’s suspect nobility. Most here avoided being embroiled in the shadowy religion dedicated to the deity of the Underworld and Saterists were never found in large groups. He had noticed however, that their practises were overt in nearby glades or someone’s barn as the remains of their sacrifices had been found during more than one raid. These practitioners of sorcery had become his church’s biggest rivals.
As they passed into the tightly knit town of several thousand, hard packed earth stank of refuse and seemed a constant task for the local priests to keep disease from becoming rampant. They reined their steeds through the crowd and soon turned into the small yard that fronted the church of Arhus. A short, stone wall hemmed in the well manicured lawn tended to by young orphans, some of whom he had become a friend to.
He climbed down from the saddle and handed his reins to Orem as two lanky, teenage boys in simple woolen garb approached, bowed and moved to receive the reins from the large templar.

“We may not be here long,” William informed.

“Yes, milord,” one stated as they led both horses towards the trough. Up the short stair, Orem pulled open the door and followed William inside as he made his way to the front of the fair sized church. Columns rose forty feet and supported the thick, oaken beams which held three large chandeliers of black iron. Banks of large windows to either side shed light into the main sanctuary as he noticed one of the four clerics that called Inellan home. Upon seeing their guests, the thinly built man approached, short cropped brown hair hung over his ears and brown eyes smiled.

“Good day to you, sirs. How may I be of service?”

“We’re only here for guidance at the moment, Albert, but may have some questions later,” William stated as he nodded politely.

Albert nodded, “Of course. Good to see you again, William.”

“You as well,” he glanced around. “Where’s the Vicar,” he asked, though knew the answer before bothering.

“Probably in town or with the baron, “ Albert informed. “Would you like me to inform him that you’re here?”

“No, that’s alright. No need to interrupt his important business.” The vicar had become the epitome of everything that a modest servant of Arhus was not supposed to be and he wondered how long it would be before the bishop would be judged for his arrogance and debauchery.

He pushed out thoughts of the pompous cleric and continued to the raised dais at the forefront of the chapel and knelt as he pushed his hand-and-a-half sword’s handle downward, then let the blade’s end rest on the flagstone as he closed his eyes.

“Father, I ask for your guidance in this matter of the demon that’s been allowed to walk this land and has overcome your teachings with those of Sater in two of your faithful. Lead me to it and help me vanquish this evil and send it back to the darkness whence it came.” He soon felt a charge up his spine as goosebumps rose on his arms and neck, something he still hadn’t gotten used to when his champion neared to guide him and answer his requests. Having so many faithful in the world, among the human population, the deity of justice commanded an army of female champions like the one who advised him since his faith had reached that level.

“Some things are meant to be,” her melodic voice from above and behind him replied. “Your quest to find her will not be an easy one but, go to Laksay and see what’s been done there to your brethren.”

“Thank you. Will I need any particular weapon or item to help heal them from what it’s done?”

“You have command of all you’ll need.”

He nodded and soon felt her presence melt from him. Opening his eyes, he noticed Orem kneeling beside and to the right of him and rose quietly, then turned to see one of the largest men he had ever seen. Standing about six and a half feet tall, the black hair hung long at the back of the brown eyed soldier. What struck him most was the circular tattoo on his forehead as the symbol of Arhus commanded his brow. Nodding in respect, the armored man led another equally youthful and strong man to the dais to pray as William walked back towards the entrance. He pulled on the iron ring and walked out into a light drizzle which softly pelted his armor.

He grinned as both attendants stood and bowed to him as he approached. “Well done boys, thank you for tending to these two brave mounts. I hope they didn’t give you too much trouble.”

“No, milord,” the taller, brown haired boy returned.

Nodding, he noticed Orem walking up behind him and grabbed the reins, then climbed back into the saddle as hazel green eyes glanced to his friend. “Looks like I’m to the ruins.”

Orem nodded as he mounted the sturdy grey. “Yes, sir. I got that from him too.”

“I’d like you to remain here in Inellan. See what you can find out about any activity in the area and I should be back within the week.” A command that didn’t sit well with the templar as his brow furrowed.

“My lord, those forests west of the Dovey aren’t safe these days. I should go with you.”

William smiled. “Arhus guides my path and has protected me thus far, I’ll be fine. Without knowing where it’s led these people, having you here can at least give us some insight as to which direction they’ve gone. Especially with the army of orcs attacking Zariva to the south.”

Orem let out a huff in frustration as he glanced into the busy street. “As you wish.” Blue eyes glanced back to him. “Just don’t take too long.”

He nodded, then spurred his mount towards the small gate and out into the street as people parted from his path. Thundering through the now muddy road, he wished to gain his intelligence as quickly as possible. Once through the market square, he turned right and headed towards the distant western gate and followed the main highway that claimed thousands of leagues in both directions. He only hoped that the new bridge was completed to replace the wooden one destroyed by a raiding party and William wondered if it was done by the same group that sacked the compound to Arhus. Both Laksay and the bridge were destroyed within the same week. Being cut off to the kingdom of Davos, the Frontier to the west would be easier to conquer by a determined enemy though, he was beginning to wonder if both were orchestrated to free this demon without any interruptions from his Order. It seemed that many evils had been used lately to divert attention from a singular goal.
Perhaps riding to Laksay alone wasn’t such a good idea.

* * *

After a day-and-a-half of riding through a cold, misty rain he finally reached the toll booth commanded by the Order of the Raven whose fortress not only protected the eastern bank of the Dovey, but also the highway’s entrance to the kingdom from the Frontier. Splashing through the muddy ruts, he reined his steed towards the main keep as knights in white tabards whose breast sported a black raven with outstretched wings that reached towards their shoulders glanced at the paladin who reined in his trusty steed and dismounted.
He nodded in respect to a rugged soldier whose matted brown hair and wrinkled brow told of a veteran. “Is your knight commander here?”

“He is,” the knight motioned towards the keep. “How was the road from Inellan?”

“Quiet,” he replied as he headed towards the protected staircase. “West?”

“Same so far. We’ve chased the orcs back towards the south and sent word to Carbost. Hopefully the baroness will send men to help protect Thomson or at least finish off what’s left of those beasts.”

“Hmm,” William continued up into the now opened door, hoping for some answers from the leader of these brave men. With the fortress intact and it’s men not cowering behind the walls, maybe this demon hadn’t left the forests around the ruins after all. Time would tell.
Turning into the great hall, he noticed a quartet of knights lounging at the long table. Goblets and empty plates stating that he had just missed lunch. At his approach, they all stood and bowed to him.

“How can we help you, sir,” an equally aged veteran sitting at the head of the table inquired.

“I’m looking for the knight commander here,” hazel green eyes scanned the others until the same man replied.

“Sir Kevin, at your service. How can I serve Arhus this day?”

William smiled. “Has there been any troubles here lately? Things not explained, men missing or anything like that?”

Kevin shook his head in thought, tanned right hand to his chin. “Other than those infernal mages that were here building that bridge and making a nuisance of themselves, no.” A comment that garnered a few chuckles from his companions.

“Okay,” William nodded as he removed his helmet and brushed back the chainmail coif, then untied the linen padding beneath.

“Get the paladin some drink and a meal,” Sir Kevin barked and prompted two squires attending the hearth into action.

“Thank you for your hospitality.” The paladin moved towards the end of the bench seat and sat down, dropping his linen coif into the helmet and laid it on the wooden seat beside him.

“Freely offered,” Kevin sat down in the modestly adorned chair. “Is there anything else I can help with? You’re obviously hunting something in the area, I’m assuming.”

“I am,” William hesitantly informed. “However, this trouble is beyond your abilities and I don’t wish to embroil your men into something that I was called to vanquish. No offense.”

His host shook his head. “None taken. But, I will have my men keep their eyes open and inform you immediately of any troubles.”

As the younger squire laid the bowl full of hot stew before him, his mouth immediately began to water and tore off a huge chunk of bread and ate. Filling an empty stomach, the welcome sustenance lightened his mood considerably.

“I know the reports were that orcs burned the bridge,” he resumed. “Had any of your men actually seen this happen?”

“Fiery arrows flew from the opposite bank that night which is too far to see who they were, in all honesty. Four wagons were the first over the bridge once it was completed and seemed uninjured and reported no troubles when they arrived. My scouts did follow a large group of booted tracks south of the highway though and they believed them to be made by orcs. Heavier with a wider stance indicated such.”

William nodded as he finished sopping up the gravy with the morsel of remaining bread. The story made sense but, he still needed to see the ruins himself.

“Just seems odd to me that a group of unintelligent animals like that could’ve killed so many templar and clerics in that compound though,” Kevin continued.

William grinned as he straightened and wiped off his mouth, then pushed the empty bowl to the side and allowed the squire to retrieve it. “Many strange things have been going on lately,” he admitted. “Anyone can be killed if the numbers are against them.”

Kevin nodded and sat back. “How true.”