S:1 Ep: .1-1 (The Master of Mind and His Loyal Servant)
Miles away from the Kingdom Marched a group of soldiers. Actually there were so many soldiers all in black armor marching so perfectly in sync that you would think a giant, black wave
was overtaking the land. In a way...this was true. The soldiers marched and marched never tiring..never faltering...not even once. They burnt villages and ransacked
houses...as they pillaged more and more, the more fierce they would become, clawing at stone walls until their gauntlets broke of and their fingers were bleeding or worn to
the bone. They were animals..that is until they saw there were no survivors left. Then they would get back in to marching formation and carry on marching forward to the
next town as if nothing had happened. All except two young soldiers marching three rows behind the cavalry, behind General Xavier. Soldier 235 and 236. Behind his helmet, out of sight were soldier 235's eyes, filled with such determination and strength that you'd think he was part Dragon.
Marching beside him, soldier 236 also had something burning in his eyes...pain...agony. He wanted to fight the enchantment placed on him by that damned mage...this pounding like a giant's heartbeat inside his head. The more he resisted, the louder it became and the more pain surged through his body... It was easy to hide his look of agony from the General and other soldiers but it took all his effort not to limp or simply fall and give in to the suffering. He knew that if he were to comply with the King's wishes and march on....tearing the lands apart with the rest of the army...the men he once lived with in the barracks and drank with in the tavern...the throbbing in his head would quiet...the pain would ease but he would not give in. To give in would be to show weakness and he could not show weakness in the presence of his closest and most respected friend...
To ease the pain he thought of the day that the kind soul next to him, the solider that was once a fine nobleman took him in off the streets and nursed him back to health from the brink of death...they had talked then...the nobleman had recently escaped prison...placed there falsely by his treacherous King who had taken the nobleman's wife of only 18 for his own then killed her when she wouldn't succumb to his advances. He had been organizing meetings with the other noble families who had been wronged and leading them against small groups of soldiers, eradicating them before any reports could be made to the King.
Soldier 236 had been a wanderer who helped those wronged by the King's deeds but he had been injured running from the King's raiders as they destroyed a village he had been passing through and his wounds were deep. The two men talked a long time...and soon the nobleman who had been without one for so long, had made a friend and not wanting to be alone again, offered the wanderer free food and lodging and they became roommates.
When the young wanderer was strong enough the two of them traveled together through the countryside fighting battles whenever they could and both became very strong and perfectly in tune with one another. Though they were both fairly young, they were not ignorant when it came to the politics of the Kingdom and the suffering of the people.
Soon they decided to enlist in the King's army hoping to infiltrate and to one day strike King Avan down. They new this was a small hope but they had nothing left to lose. Soldier 236 felt ever indebted to his new friend and held him in the highest respect.
"Ser...Mi-lord" Spoke soldier 236 in a loud whisper. "Hempnode!"
"Quite yourself Taljic...this is not the time." Said solider 235 His voice was gruff under the strain of the enchantment.
"I know Ser but it cannot wait...this is not who we are I will not stand for this! Have you given in to this evil?!" Taljic clenched his fists in anger.
Hempnode chuckled and turned his head slightly towards his companion. He nodded so quickly that only Taljic whose eyes were like that of a hawk could catch the
movement. Immediately, Taljic understood his friend and steadied his hands against the pain of the wretched enchantment.
"Now...is the time..." Whispered Hempnode as the black wave of soldiers neared a large town. "Now!"
The wanderer and the nobleman each drew their weapons. Taljic raised his long blade and brought it down in an arch taking down two of the soldiers on his right while
Hempnode drew his sword and axe and spun to the left, slicing at and knocking down several soldiers. When had cleared a path he turned around and knelt on one knee,
his weapons on either side of him and turned his body slightly so that his right shoulder stuck out. He bowed his head, closed his eyes and listened for a familiar sound.
Then he heard it, the sound of fast footsteps getting louder as they drew nearer to him. They belonged to Taljic who was running at great speed, his sword held firmly at
his side. When he got close enough, he jumped onto Hempnode's knee with one foot and then onto his shoulder with the other before pushing off into a back flip that sent him
careening towards the General's horse.
At this time, the rest of the soldiers were flying into a blind rage, striking at each other and clamoring to get to the two traitors that had interrupted the march and brought
back the pain. They had to die....
Hempnode took down soldier after soldier carving a path through them towadrs the General. Taljic landed perfectly on the saddle of the General's horse drawing his blade across Xavier's throat. Xavier slumped sideways and fell off the horse which seemed unmoved by all that was happening. Something sparkling in the light near the General's blade caught Taljic's eye. He dismounted the horse and knelt next to the corpse. Tied to the hilt of Xavier's sword was a small amulet..it looked like a normal decoration but something about it didn't feel right. Taljic looked back towards his comrade who was resting a moment, surprisingly free of combatants as all of the soldiers were too busy tearing at each other now. Reaching into his soldier's pouch, Taljic withdrew a small hunting knife and cut the string that bound the amulet to the swords hilt. He grabbed it and made his way to Hempnode's side careful not to draw any attention to himself.
"Have a look at this." He said holding the jeweled amulet up so it glistened. As he brought the amulet up so Hempnode could see it, the pain in his head intensified and he fell to the ground writhing. The amulet slipped from his hand onto the ground. "Ah! ...Dear Makers...make it stop!" The pounding in his head grew more intense and he grasped blindly for his blade, ready to end it all to escape the agony.
Suddenly there was a thud and the crunch of something fragile being broken. The pain melted away and the noises in Taljic's head fell silent. He stopped moving and worked to catch his breath. "How...in...the...world?" His question was quickly answered as he turned his head to the left and saw his friends large boot and the broken amulet beneath it.
"Get up...you'll want to see this" Said Hempnode. He knelt and offered a hand to his comrade who took it and got back on his feet.
The two men stood side by side staring at the mess of soldiers before them who instead of fighting, were now standing around, looking dazed or kneeling next to the fallen.
"Come on Taljic, we have work to do." Hempnode marched toward the soldiers at a quick pace."
"Yes Ser." The wanderer grinned and followed behind his friend.
"Men of the King's Army...Heed my words!" Shouted Hempnode. All of the men immediately gave him their undivided attention. "The King's favored General has fallen...he died by our hand." He motioned towards Taljic who nodded. "The curse that damned mage put upon us has ended. The time has come to act. Many of you are not aware of the sins you have committed for your Red King..the babes you have slaughtered...the women you have taken...the villages you have burnt...but you do know the tyranny of King Avan....no...he is not a King....not my King nor yours...he betrayed you...he used you to feed his greed...we all know who truly belongs on the throne...so I say...let me lead you into battle! Let us win the throne for the true King of our once beautiful An'me..for NORETAKU!"
There was silence as the soldiers looked upon this man. He looked strong and he was unafraid of the things he was saying to them. Suddenly there was a shout of "For Noretaku!" among the soldiers and soon more followed. "For the true King!" said some "For An'me!" said others.
"Then we march!" Shouted Hempnode. The men turned right around and got back into their marching formation without complaint.
"Come Taljic, we have work to do." He said to his dear friend.
"They do know that Noretaku is...well...you know..."
"They will find out soon enough my friend...soon enough."
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