Chapter One
Myre, Northern Coast
The myre was no place for mercy. Blood, and sweat fell down the berserker's face as he his gaze skimmed over the ancient swamp before him. His breath was ragged from running and he could've sworn anyone can hear the thuds of his heart. In the dying twilight of the myre, the shadows seemed to take forms of their own. He was all that remained of his raid, everyone having perished one by one. He'd join them eventually but not like this. Not being hunted like some animal.
"Come out and face me cowards!" The berserker shouted into the forest knowing full well the hunters could hear them.
The berserker whipped around to the sound of movement, only to be disappointed by the fluttering of a bird scared by his shouting. The searing pain appeared from nowhere, spreading like a wildfire. Choking on blood, the arrow's shaft was lodge firmly into his neck as the viking fell to the ground for his last moments of life.
"Nice shot", Ayano's soft voice spoke as the orochi besides her lowered the yumi. The orochi and nobushi stood on an crop above the invader, somewhat concealed by the swamp's foliage.
"I hope that's the last of them. I'm running out of arrows", Kaida told her shouldering the bow. The orochi stood the same height as the nobushi, donning the black and gold colors on her armor, a stark contrast to the nobushi's rose colored robes. By their voices it was clear the nobushi was much older, and by her armor it was clear she was also much more experienced in battle.
"I don't like this. They've been arriving in bigger numbers each time. It's only a matter of time before they arrive in numbers we'll have problems with.", Kaida told her leading them down a slight path away from the body. The swamp could take his body for all she cared. Let it serve as a warning for those who walked on their territory.
"Then the daimyo, and his generals can take care of that. We're simple low ranking retainers of the Saito clan. It's not our job to worry about that", Ayano assured her waving it off. "For now. I'll get my clan back one day and show you whos a low ranking retainer", Kaida replied jokingly feeling the nobushi roll her eyes through her mask.
"You're lucky we're friends. I have orders to kill you when you say things like that", The nobushi retorted with a chuckle as the thick swamp gave way to a small river. An empty fisherman's cabin sat on the edge of the water, a small boat tied to it.
"But you won't cause then you'd be bored not having someone to watch over all day", Kaida reminded her, as she began to untie the boat from the wharf. The nobushi had been Kaida's personal guard ever since their daimyo, Ishi, had finally decided to let the orochi go outside the fortress. The Saito couldn't afford to lose their only bargaining chip over the Okumura afterall. Her family had suffered a crushing defeat by the Saito clan when Kaida had been a child. In exchange for letting the Okumura kept some power, their only heir had to live with the Saito clan as a retainer. She'd been so young then Kaida could scarcely recall what her former home looked like now but she would return home oneday. No matter what.
Ashfield, Close to the Valkenheim Border
Alban stood atop the castle's walls watching the flickering lights of the courtyard below. By morning the army would be moving towards the myre as on direct orders from Apollyon. Apparently Alban and his armies were no longer needed in the Northern lands. Apollyon needed their blades somewhere else.
As a warden of the north he stood for honor, for peace, and protector of the innocent so he often wondered why he wore Blackstone's colors. But the ability to change his choice had long ended the day he took the pledge.
"Hey pup! Are you just going to be up here all day staring or you going to join us for a drink?" The conqueror asked breaking the Warden from his thoughts. Gaheris stood a few feet away from the warden clad in the typical armor of a black stone conqueror. Alban had first met the man when he took over Gaheris's castle and they'd hit it off with a rather not so friendly battle. Alban had won, but Gaheris still refused to call him anything but pup. Why he did so was a mystery to the warden since they were close to the same age.
"Perhaps later. There's still a lot that needs to be done", Alban replied and the other man snorted in reply.
"No, you need a drink. You're going to become as crusty as old Cenwulf if you keep thinking about the past", Gaheris joked leaning against the stone wall beside the warden.
"I highly doubt that my friend. It would take a lot of years of brooding, and sulking to get to that level", Alban replied crossing his arms, "Besides I'm not older than most the castles in Ashfield."
"Then prove it, and come down with the men. It'd be good for morale if their captain joined them once in a while. Show them there's a human inside that armor", He edged on but the warden shook his head in refusal. Alban just couldn't bring himself to go down their right then, and enjoy himself for a bit. Grief still ate away bitterly at him these days.
The warden was taken by surprise when the conqueror hit him with the shield rather forcefully but the warden still stayed on his feet.
"What the! Why;d you do that"
"Come on. I win you come down, and if I lose you're still coming down", Gaheris challenged swinging the spiked weapon in his hand.
A smile crept under the warden's helmet as he brought his long sword up to a dueling stance. Underneath it all Gaheris was a good man, and dear friend but never learnt his lesson."At least I can enjoy beating you as always", Alban told the conqueror before stepping forward to strike.