The legend of the three
chapter 1 Beginning of a legend
Have you ever heard the tales of the hundred years war great stories of bravery and valour idolising the great commanders on both sides of the conflict. yes then did you hear the story of the great three that defied both the king of France and England,no then let me tell you a tale.
Our story begins in a small town that for now remained in french hands close enough to the border so as to allow quick deployment but far enough to remain relatively save from english incursion. We begin this tale by following one of the three, one who in the future would come to be known for his abnormal strength that could snap steel and tear amour asunder but at the moment he was just another sell sword looking for somebody to buy his sword for a conflict he would feel no need to participate in and his name is asger.
"God dam it how hard can it be to find a inn" Asger shouts out as he struck the wall in anger causing the nearby locals to jump in fright "no use standing around" he thought to himself as he removed his hand from the wall and stormed off in the direction he thought the inn he'd been looking for was.
"Who was that" one you villagers said as they stared at his retreating figure "ha just another thug looking to be killed" an older man said back to the younger villager."I'm not so sure" the young villager said only for the older man the blow them off "ha he may be bigger than the others but he'll die the same" "I'm not so sure" the younger villager replied as they looked and where asger had struck the wall"what do you mean" the older villager said only for the words to die in his mouth as he stared and the wall expecting to find a mark of blood only to find a hole and a large crack in the wall.
"What the the" the man managed to breathe out as he looked back to where he had last seen asger.
(back with asger)
As asger waked through the market he began feel eyes on him "why are they looking at me" asger thought to himself as he looked around at the villagers only for them to avoid eye contacted with him "well no matter" he thought as he moved on.
Unknown to asger the reason none of the villagers would make eye contact with him was that he was casting an imposing presence and who could blame them asger stood seven feet tall built like an ox with wild wolf like eyes that could be seen from under his shaggy hair while his body was clothed in animal furs giving his already beast like appearance a feral look and the massive battle axe didn't help.
"Finally i found it" asger said as he stared at the inn it was nothing extravagant but asger could feel something was different here he didn't know what he just knew he could feel it in his bones. "No use waiting"he thought as he pushed open the thick oak doors and entered. The inside was nothing special there was a fireplace with some art hanging about on the left side of the inn while most of the wall that was in-front of asger was the bar it covered most of the bar except a small part at the right side of the inn that held some stairs leading up.
"Must lead up to the rooms used for sleeping" Asger thought to himself as he walked to the inns bar. as he walked towards the bar side he could he hear whispers about things he couldn't understand.
"tss" Asger cursed internally at not knowing what happing around him before he turned to the bar. he was greeted by the innkeeper as soon as he began to lean of the bar side.
"Greeting traveler what can i help you with" the inn-keep said in a tone that showed he had said this many times before. "give me a….." Asger began only for the words to die in his throat and his body still completely.
"what the" Asger thought as he tried to move his body only for it not to respond to his commands "why can't i move my body" Asger thought as he tried to force his body to move but it was all for nought when he began to feel a crushing feeling that stole his breath away.
"what is he" Asger thought as he began to sweat and feel his body going slack but just before he fell from the seat he regained enough control of his body to look away and that moment the felling vanished.
"what in odin's name was that" Asger thought as he looked back at the inked and felt nothing. "are you okay traveller" the inked said gaining asger's attention. " " asger breathed out.
"then what can i get you traveller" the in-keep said in a tone that betrayed nothing of what had happened.
"the strongest thing you got" Asger replied as he rubbed his throat trying figure out what had happened.
"coming right up" the inn-keep said as he turned round and walked to the corner of the bar to pour Asger's drink. as he walked to the barrels in the corner Asger stared at his back trying to piece together what had just happened.
"what is he" asger thought as took a proper look at the inn keep he was clothed in normal clothing for and inn-keep dark failed breeches and tunic tho it seemed a bit stretched. Asger saw nothing different about his clothes so he took his features into account, the innkeepers features where normal for a man who worked most of his life strong chiselled jaw with short hair but what got most angers attention was the eyepatch over one of his eyes.
"why is an innkeeper wearing an eye patch what happen to him" Asger thought as he focused on the eye patch he could tell it has seen a lot of use asger could tell this from the failed colour of the eye patch.
"he is no normal man" Asger thought as the innkeeper turned round after he had pouring out asger's drink and turns back to Asger locking eyes with him as he walked back. In that split second the crushing returned and disappeared just as quick as it appeared.
"here you go" the inn-keep said as he placed the the ale in front of Asger as he leaned on the bar.
"thanks" Asger said as he took a mouthful of the ale "so what brings you to these parts mercenary" the in-keep said as he regained Asger's attention. "how could you tell" Asger said as he looked up with his wolf like eyes clearly gleaming with suspicion.
"well the massive battle axe and side arms are not for show i can tell that from a glance at you a…" the inn-keep would have continued but was interrupted by a load shout from one of the many crowded tables.
"hey you viking yeah that right I'm talking to you raider filth" said the inebriated man from one of the tables Asger had passed on his way to the bar.
"hey look at me when i talk to you " the man said as the other two sat at his table stood up and move closer to him.
"fine if you won't listen to me ill make you" the man said as he threw his fist forwards connecting it with the side of asger,s head but his sense of victory disappeared when he realised Asger's head hadn't moved an inch after he struck him.
"what the hell" the man said as he stubbled backwards towards his comrades staring at Asger as if he was a monster.
"fine you want my attention ill give you it" Asger said as he walked towards him as he stared down at him.
"come on he's one man there's three of us" the man said trying to calm the fear in his voice as he raised he hands to fight but asger beat him to it as he swung his large fist forward striking the man and sending him flying across the tables and into the wall.
the room went silent until one of the drunks at who had watched this cheered and punched the man next to him who then fell into another and punched him setting a bar brawl in motion.
"lets do this" Asger thought as he downed his drink and uppercut the second man sending the man teeth flying out of his mouth and onto the floor.
"ahh" the third shouted as asger picked him up and threw him across the room into the wall next to the stairs.
"come on whose next" Asger shouted to those around him as they all took a step away from him.
"whats all this racket" a voice called out from the stairs making asger turn to see the owner of the voice and was confronted by the sight of an average looking man clothed in only a pair of pants.
"well" the man said as Asger took his appearance into account the unnamed mans appearance. He had long shoulder length white hair that covered one of his eyes and a angular face that gave off a slight air on nobility.
Asger's attention was then brought back to the man when one of the brawlers who had backed away from him charged at the man.
"rahh" the man shouted as he threw a punch at the mans head but the punch never connect the man dodged under the drunks fist and faster than any man Asger had seen since coming to France he punched back with three punch that the dunk never saw it coming as the man was hit with three punches ending with an uppercut that sent the man sprawling.
"hh so he can fight" Asger thought as he looked at the unnamed mans upper body. the man had thin chiseled muscles that asger could tell were not made for power but for speed.
the unnamed man then turned to Asger "come thick one you look like you can give me a challenge" the man shouted as he raised his fist to his face as he began to move towards Asger.
"come then little man lets fight" Asger shouted back as he dashed towards the man throwing his fist forwards aiming for the mans head only for him to duck under and land two blows on Asger on to the body and the seconded to the chin.
"got him" the man thought only to hear Asger let out a short laugh as he swung his fist round to hit the man in the side.
"he faster then he looks" the man thought as he moved his arms to block the strike Asger had sent towards his right side.
"ahhhh" the man shouted out in pain as he was sent backwards from Asger.
" ha finally a man who can stand my blows now come face me Asger of Norway" asger shouted out as he slammed his hands together and rushed forward.
"ha if were exchanging names then remember mine i am Takeda of japan" the newly named Takeda shouted back as he rushed towards asger.
"rahhhhhh" Asger and Takeda shouted as as threw both threw themselves back into fighting.
Asger once again aimed for Takeda's head when he got in arms length only for him to move to the side and hit Asger twice in the body then jump back to avoid Asger's second attack.
"ha i got this just got to strike and dodge before he hits me" takeda thought as as he jumped around Asger punches.
"he's fast' Asger thought as he felt another hit from takeda connect with his body "i need to stop him jumping around" Asger thought as he threw himself towards Takeda.
"huh" Takeda thought as Asger's whole body rushed at him catching him by surprise and in this small window of opportunity where takeda was surprised and he neglected to dodge Asger took this chance and with his full strength punched Takeda in the stomach causing Takeda to spit out blood as he was sent backwards into one of the tables.
"ha…ha..ha…..ha" Takeda gasped out as he brought himself back to his feet.
"dam that was a good punch" Takeda breathed out as he held his stomach in pain this caused Asger's smile to widen.
"finally a fight worth fighting" Asger shouted as his breathing began to get faster as his lust for battle began to rise to the surface.
"ill have to agree this is a good fight" Takeda shouted back as he moved his hand from his stomach and rushed forwards at asger. seeing this Asger responded by doing the same.
"rahhhhhhh" Asger and Takeda shouted out as the rushed each other and engaged in a flurry of blows each abandoning blocking or dodging to those watching there arms seem to to be moving so fast that they blurred.
"dam i can't take much more" Takeda thought as he forced his body to move but it was failing because he had began to slow and it was showing because he was staring to miss more of his of the blows sent against Asger but lucky for him Asger was also being to slow but not fast enough for Takeda's liking.
"tss why am i slowing" Asger thought as he noticed his punches were not connecting "why is it he can't have, he aimed for my pressure points" Asger thought as he growled in anger.
"dam it it no matter he's slowing faster than me ill win this if it draws out much longer" Asger thought as he began to press his advantage.
"i can't take anymore i have end this with my final strike" Takeda thought as he slowed his breathing as he threw his right fist towards asger faster than Asger had ever seen anybody punch.
Asger saw the blurry outline of the fist coming towards him "he'll hit me first but if i take this i'll finish him with my blow" Asger thought as he threw left fist forward. time began to slow for Asger and Takeda closed in as all they were looking at were each other as the end of their fight approached.
"rahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" they roared out as time seemed to move in slow motion as they drew closer then…
A bang that made so much noise that some might mistake it for a cannon firing but this sound had and affect on one of the fighter. Unfortunately takeda was that one as soon as he heard the sound he made the mistake so looking towards and when he did his eyes widen but then he released his mistake and turned back only to seen his attack had missed and for asger's fist to hit him sending him flying.
"damit" Takeda thought as everything went back and he hit the ground with a bang.
"ha I'm still standing" Asger shouted as he raised his arms in victory as he stared at Takeda's downed body. then he turn to the door where he had heard a large bang before. what he saw confused him what had made the bang was the door slamming open but who had slammed it open confused him even more. The one who had slammed the door and made all that noise wasn't a large man who screamed soldier it was a woman in full plate armour.
"what the" Asger said to himself as she took in this woman's appearance. she stood a little shorter than takeda meaning she only came up to Asger's chest in height but that wasn't what got his attention was the armour she wore full plate armour like that of a knight that covered her body with a red cloth around her waist that reached her knees held down by an oval shaped belt buckle. the only part of her that wasn't covered in armour was her head.
" hey you woman" Asger shouted getting her attention as he walked over to her.
"yes what do you want" the woman said as she stopped and turned to him allowing Asger to get a proper look at her features. she had long blond hair that reached her waist and striking blue eyes that seemed to look through you.
"was it you who made that noise" Asger said as he stared down at her. "yes why" she responded without as second thought as asger's face began to twitch with anger. "you almost interrupted me fight" asger growled out only to hear in a sickly sweet tone.
"oh so your the one who caused this racket" she said as she stared Asger down while clenching her hand into a fist.
"ho you want to fight woman okay then i'll give you the first hit" Asger said as he stood there waiting foe her to hit him.
"my lady Catherine don't dally with this thug we…." a large man in full plate armour with shoulder length greying hair that a stood behind her said only for the newly named Catherine to stop him with a hand gesture.
"he wants a fight i'll give him one don worry Richard this will be quick" she said as raised her fist to hit Asger.
"try to remember this when you wake up" Catherine said as asger looked at her and laughed but his laughter ended in an instant when Catherine threw her fist up at Asger chin faster than her could track hitting him with the same strength as a charging bull.
as soon as Asger was hit he stilled completely then he fell backwards and hitting the ground unconscious he was out cold as soon as the punch connected with his chin. "ha there seems to be some talented new blood i wonder how he will turn out" Catherine said as she walked away with her entourage.
(1 hour later)
"what the" Asger groaned out as his eyes fluttered open with the sight of the inns ceiling "why am on the floor" Asger thought as he tried to remember why he was on the floor.
"ah young mercenary your awake" a voice said as Asger turned to the voice to see it had come from the innkeeper. "who you calling young" Asger said as he picked himself up and lent against the bar.
"so meathead your awake" a voice called out next to him "what you call me" Asger said with a growl as he turned to see who had insulted him it was Takeda.
"you heard me meathead most people would be out for another two hours from a hit like that so you have a head like a pieces of meat that thick" Takeda said as he leaned against the bar nursing the side of his face.
"thats rich coming from you little man" Asger said back to him as he smirked at him. "why you" takeda growled out as he leaned closer to Asger only for Asger to lean against him pushing Takeda's head back with his own
"you want to go for round two" Asger said as he and takeda stood there trying to push each other using only there heads until a load call came from the door way of the inn.
"CALLING ALL MERCENARIES ,SELLSWORD AND SOLDIER ALIKE TIME TO ANSWER THE CALL MY LORD CLAUDIN IS LEAD A FORCE IN THE NAME OF THE KING" a man shouted as he surveyed the room to see who would join up before he headed off to look for more recruits.
"hn time for a fight" Asger said as he got up to find the others who had followed the recruiter out of the inn.
"oy meathead" Takeda shouted out causing Asger to stop and turn to him "what you say" asger said as he turned to Takeda to see him already walking to him.
"seeing as theres nobody here i'll have to show you the way things work here ha i should just leave you and go off and join this battle myself. Takeda said as he walked past Asger.
"do you want another beating little man" Asger said as they both headed out of the inn. "ha its nice to see new blood they'll be the best of friends or the worst of enemies" the inn-keep said only for a voice to answer him.
"its seems I'm not mis reading things if you thing that as well" Catherine said as he walked out from the stairs clothed in her armour as he finished adjusting her gauntlets.
"there is one thing that worries me is that man lord Claudin the messenger called him, I've heard nothing of the main french army moving" the in-keep said with worry in his voice.
"so its an upstart trying to increases his position in the french court" Catherine said voicing his worries. "don't worry i'll go have a look it would be a shame to lose such promising mercenaries" Catherine said as she headed off to catch up with Asger and Takeda.
"this may be the beginning of something great only time will tell" the inn-keep said as he went back to cleaning mugs.
(with Asger and Takeda near the small town of Rolan)
"my lord the town will stand no chance against your might" man in dressed in light leather armour said as he looked up at the leader of the small attack force behind him.
"I already now this all english will fall before me" lord Claudin said in an arrogant tone as he brushed off his attendants.
"how many have come to fight in my glorious name" he continued as he looked back at the soldiers behind him "seventy have come to fight in your glorious name" the attendant said as he continued stroking his lords ego.
"ha this village won't stand a chance"lord Claudin said as the village of Rolan came into view. Rolan was a small village surrounded by trees with one path running through it wide enough to allow twenty men to stand side by side.
"line the men up" lord Claudin said to his attendant as he began to shout for the men around them to form a line. as then men formed up they began to rile themselves up.
"time for battle" Asger shouted as he came running from the back of the crowd pushing others out of the way till he got to the front followed by Takeda not long after.
"oy meathead why are you running to the front" Takeda shouted at Asger as he caught up to him.
"a real man fights at the front" Asger said as he drew his sword with his right hand and his small axe with his left and then stared at the village as he heard the shouting and scrambling of the english defenders after they has spotted the trend force.
"my lord the english garrison in the village has seen us" the attendant said as lord Claudin snorted "ha no matter we'll slaughter them CHARGE" he shouted as the the people around him charged forwards.
the french charged forward as they began to cover the distance to the between them and the village they were met with a line of arrows that pierced the boys of anybody who were stood at the front.
"damit" Takeda shouted out as he felt arrows wiz past him missing him by a hairs breath "this is why you don't stand at the front" Takeda shouted as he turned to Asger while still running only to see him pulling any arrows that had hit him out like it was nothing.
"what the hell" Takeda thought as he turned back to where they were charging towards. The english readied a second volley but it was two late as the french attacker had reached them and with a chorus of roars smashed into the english line scattering them.
"rohhha" Asger roared at he charged threw the english sending two of them flying. he then turned to the next man along and cleaved he head from his shoulders with his sword he then caught another soldier behind him in the neck with his small axe.
"dam so this is what he's like with a weapon in his hand" Takeda thought as he blocked a attacking sword swing with his dual katanas.
"hey little man you seem to be struggling" Asger shouted over the sounds of battle. "do i look like I'm struggling" takeda replied as he stepped back causing his attacker to fall forward as Takeda spun and slashed open the mans back.
'ha where winning" Asger thought as he looked around at the french attackers as he watched them gang up on the outnumbered defenders. "why does it not feel like were winning" asger thought as he looked at the defender that were being finished off as he retrieved his axe while Takeda started walking to him.
"hey meat head something don't feel right this was two easy" Takeda said as Asger turned to him and replied by saying "i don't want to agree with you but yeah somethings is wrong here".
"another thing to think about as well look at the number of dead" Takeda said as Asger been to count the dead and then he realised something out of the seventy they started with only thirty remained while the English loses seemed minimal.
"i don't think any of this apparent soldier are actually solder if they were they wouldn't have been killed so easily" Takeda continued as the pieces in Asger's head began to join together.
"so your saying the lord leading this attack isn't doing so on order but he's leading a rabble of peasants with better arms to satisfy his own ego"
"yes a….." takeda would have finished he wasn't interrupted by a load voice coming from lord Claudin as he rode into the village atop his horse. "ha another victory in my great name" lord Claudin said as his attendant came up to him and began to stroke his lords ego.
"i know i…." lord Claudin said only for a load horn to interrupt him "what wheres that coming from" lord Claudin said with worry in his voice as he looked around until he heard his attendant call out to him.
"my lord english from the other side the the village they number fifty strong".
"erm i er wh…" lord Claudin mumbled a he was interrupted again by a second horn from behind. "my lord there behind us thirty strong" he attendant shouted as lord Clauidn began to panic.
"you have to get me out of here" lord Claudin said as he shock in fear and began to shout at everybody around him but no one was listening. He turned to he attendant but an arrow flew threw the air hitting his horse sending him onto the ground.
"damit i knew it" Takeda growled out as he he looked around at the terrified frenchmen. "we won't stand a chance against this many" Takeda said as he turned to Asger to see him mumbling something.
"now we fight to the death for glory" Asger said as he looked at the english streaming in from both sides of the village. The french didn't stand a chance against the fresh trained english soldiers they were cut down with little to no effort some tried to fight while others had given up on life and allowed themselves to be killed.
Asger spotted three english rushing towards him so he charged them swinging his sword from his left splitting one mans belly open as he swung he other hand left burying his short axe into the mans jaw. The third man thinking Asger would be unable to hit him swung his sword towards Asger's only for Asger to head but him and send him crashing to the ground.
"come i'll take you all to your deaths" Asger roared out as he threw himself into the middle of a group of five english men as he ran one of them threw with his sword but as he attempted to remove it one of the soldiers plunged his sword into angers side causing him to grunt in pain as another solder stood advantage of Asger's distracted state and slashed him across the back.
"rahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Asger roared as he spun and slammed his axe into the closest enemies killing him causing the other two to back away asger used this moment to look around him to see what was happening.
All Asger could see around him was a sea of english slowly closing round him then suddenly he felt something hit his back causing him to spin to stop whoever it was but was surprised when he saw takeda who was in a bit better shape than him.
"so meathead your alive" Takeda said as he began to regain his breath while he leaned against Asger. "wow the little man is still alive" Asger said as he let out a short laugh.
"dam i hoped i would die in bed with a woman no back to back with another man" Takeda said as Asger laughed at his comment. "lets take out as many of these english dogs before they take us down" Asger said as he drew his two-handed battle axe as the english surrounding them rushed them.
the first attacker was cut down by Takeda three more move to hit him only for asger to spin round and cleave all three with his battle axe.
(in the forest near Rolan)
"my lady why are we here" a voice said in the as they came into view it was Richard. "I'm here to make sure we don't lose the new blood" another voice said as the light shone through the trees to reveal Catherine in full armour.
"look at them tell me what you see" Catherine said as as Richard looked at asger and takeda fighting off the overwhelming number of english then it hit him.
"no….." Richard gasped in shock as he look at Catherine waiting for her to say something. "yes its exactly what you see two people from two very different cultures fighting as one and neither has noticed" Catherine said as she smiled as she stood up and got on her horse.
"ts it not perfect yet tho" Catherine said as she grabbed her helmet as Richard turned back to see Asger and Takeda getting hit.
"come Richard were going to save them" Catherine said as she finished putting on her helmet. "my lady will you be able to kill you countrymen again" Richard said as he mounted his horse and then Catherine respond.
"do i have a choice" Catherine said with a voice that held a slight air of sorrow.
"is everybody ready" Catherine said only to hear a "yes my lady" from Richard as she looked behind her to see a group of horsemen appear from the trees all bearing the same sigil as her.
"let move out" Catherine as she spurred her horse and began to ride at full gallop towards the village with Richard and her group not fat behind.
(back with Asger and Takeda)
"haha ha ha ha ha" Asger and Takeda gasped out as they tried to recover there breath. "dam" takeda said as he looked through his blurred vision. Asger turned to Takeda to see him on his knees as he tried to regain his energy.
"it looks like I'm going to be coming to your side sooner than i like father" Asger thought as a load horn rang through the air causing call the english to look around only for them to hear the sound of thundering hooves and then a sight that would stay with him forever a single knight in full plate with a red cloths behind there legs.
this hopeless battle that Asger was ready to die in had been turned around by the arrival of this knight.
not long after Catherine and her group had arrived at the battle she had already routed the english and was running them off.
"hey you two" Catherine said with her voice muffled by her helmet as she rode her horse to Asger and Takeda and got off to stand in front of them. "you two have great potential to much to be waisted here join me let me make use of your talents" Catherine said as takeda got up and recognised her.
"see takeda that a man a man that stands above other and leads other men" Asger said as Takeda burst out laughing despite his injures. "whats so funny" Asger said as her looked at the knight who was also laughing.
"WHAT IS So FUNNY" Asger growled out not liking that he is not getting this. Only for the knight to say "well you have somethings right but you got one thing wrong" Catherine said as she revolved her helmet causing asger to recognise her.
"your...your" Asger said only for Catherine to interrupting him and saying "i am no man"
"WHAAAAAAAAAAT" Asger shouted as Catherine looked at them as the other horsemen returned and looked at them.
"welcome to the crimson mercenaries boys".
(end chapter)