So yeah, the disclaimer...I don't own anything, I'm just a poor starving college student bored outta my mind, so please don't sue me.
Restoring Honor
Chapter 1- Reunion
A lone horse and its sole rider trotted leisurely through the grassy fields of Lycia. The meadows were a golden hue speckled with colorful, late-blooming flora this time of year. A cool breeze gently grazed the fields causing the tall grass to sway back and forth like the gentle lapping of ocean waves. It was a rather pleasurable ride.
The well-worn traveler looked up at the sky; the sun was directly overhead. It must have been noon, or close to it, and Ostia was just beyond a few more hills… If memory served him right, he would arrive at the town's edge just after the sun started descending over the western mountains.
The thought of Ostia brought a gloomy smile to the rider's tired features. Many of his good friends were gathering at Ostia for an annual reunion of sorts. It had been five years since Nergal's defeat. So much had happened in that time span…the most recent sizeable event he recalled was Lord Hector and Lady Lyndis marriage nearly three summers ago. He hadn't set foot in Ostia Castle since then, since the incident... Old painful memories were best laid to rest…
The rider urged his faithful mare on despite his apprehension about the situation in which he would soon find himself. He knew, upon return, he would not be welcomed with open arms, and Lady Lyndis would be especially hard to deal with. After all, he had wronged her friend almost three years prior. His other companions probably thought him a coward and scoundrel… Perhaps they were right about him all along. Vaguely, he wondered if he still had a price on his head, if he did…well, that would definitely make this trip harder than it already was.
Thirty-six months…three years, oh how long it had been since he saw any of his former traveling companions! Had any of them had changed much? Had any of them gotten married, had kids? Idly, the man wondered if any of them would even recognize him in his current state…probably not, and just maybe that was a good thing.
Instead of a paladin, he looked more like a simple wanderer, a vagabond even. His armor had long been abandoned; it was a symbol of honor, and in his mind he had none left. He wore a white sleeveless tunic under a dark brown leather vest, cream-colored pants, leather riding boots, fingerless gloves, a thick armband on each forearm, and a sturdy belt to keep a trusty sword at his side. He still wore the same leather headband to keep his light brown shaggy locks out of his sea green eyes, and his favorite spear hung loosely over his shoulder held in place by a single leather strap. To complete the look he wore a well-worn forest green cloak, with the hood up.
He had traveled all across the continent of Elibe, aimlessly defending the innocent, and helping small villages free of charge. Hell, he even visited his old Uncle Benicio to resume his forgotten smith training. Ah, his uncle was a good man. Old Benicio lived in the Northern Mountains-right on the border of Sacae and Ilia. His ancestors had built up a rather prosperous mining business that had been in his family for many generations, and now he was the sole heir to the profitable site in southern Ilia. The rider bit his lip deep in thought–he spent a lot of time in Ilia, but steered clear of the central and northern part of the country.
The former knight tightened his grip on the reigns as Ostia appeared in the distance. It was dusk and he could see much of the town in the last dying rays of sunlight as he neared. How it had grown! Ostia had always been a sprawling city and a center of commerce despite its landlocked position. It was far bigger than any other capital in all of Elibe, but now it was enormous! After his initial shock to the sight of the city, the man's sharp sea-green eyes focused on the huge dark structure located in the center of the metropolis; Ostia castle was seemingly unchanged.
Within an hour, the lanky man rode into the city–still trotting along at a steady pace. The rider's entire body seemed to quake with apprehension. He slowly released his death-grip on the reigns so he could wipe the sweat above his brow. Never had he been more nervous in all his life–not even facing a dragon by himself would get him this jittery.
The city was surprisingly quiet this evening–only a few people scuttled about their business here and there. "Whores and their clients," the weary traveler took a look around his surroundings…the red light district. He could smell the stench of stale ale as well as hear loud, uproarious laugher only a few streets over. Despite growing up around areas like these, he had never really been fond of such places. Ugh, he could feel his stomach doing flip flops. The atmosphere made him want to puke, or perhaps it was his nerves…
A shrill scream broke him from his thoughts, and without hesitation, the tired traveler gripped the reigns of his horse and took off in the direction of the cry for help. It didn't take long to find her. The distressed woman was located just up the street, in a small dingy alley. The traveler could feel his being seething in rage at the sight before him; four thugs swarming around their leader who had a petite, lilac-haired woman in rough hold. The barbarians were whistling and howling with laughter and lewd comments as the leader of the bunch let his filthy hands roam up and down the woman's body. The traveler jumped gracefully from his mare and raced into the alleyway. These brutes would regret the day they touched this fair maiden!
"Stop right there!" The former knight un-slung his spear from his shoulder, eyes narrowed, surveying the scene in more detail. Although the alleyway was poorly lit the traveler could see that all the men were huge, much bigger than he, and they reeked of liquor. He looked at the lilac-haired woman in need of rescuing. She looked to be a Pegasus Knight of Ilia, unarmed and her skirt torn.
"Wha'ave we 'ere?" The leader of the group tightened his hold on the defenseless knight as he looked over at the traveler. "Boys, I 'ink we 'ave some company, a useless 'raveler. Well, boys, you know wha'ta'do!"
The group of thugs chuckled. Three of the four pulled out some rather nasty looking knives and the other had a blunted ax. A couple took a few steps closer to the new arrival. "Come 'ta crash our party 'ave ya?"
The traveler gripped his lance, a fierce look in his eyes and a frown on his handsome features. "Let the woman go, and I will spare your measly lives." His voice was low, barely audible.
On of the brutes chuckled. This puny man, take them on? "'Ay Jack? You want 'ta go first?"
"Sure ting Flint!" The largest of the four thugs stepped in front of the traveler. "'E'll be an easy one!"
The traveler stepped to the side, as the thug lunged forward stumbling under his own weight and drunken stupor. These stupid thugs would be no challenge, they're movements were sluggish and impaired with drink. The man brought his spear down over the brute's head with a sickening crack. The hulking man collapsed in a motionless heap on the ground.
"Who's next?" The traveler glared at the remaining brutes.
Two of the brutes stepped forward. Both looked somewhat shocked at seeing their comrade go down with a single hit; however, shock soon passed and they both chuckled, chalking the win up to luck.
"Wa'ch 'ou Bruno, e's a qui' one."
"'Ay, Nells I saw." The larger of the two nodded at the smaller.
Both thugs charged at the same time, and the traveler ducked low as both their knives passed over his hooded head. The lanky man quickly spun around, kicking the larger one into the brick wall of the alley. The smaller of the two turned and threw his blade at the cloaked man. The traveler dodged the blade but was thrown off balance. The smaller thug then raced toward the traveler, thinking to catch the man unaware. He was too slow and was met by the sharp point of the traveler's spear instead. The hooded man quickly pulled his weapon from the motionless body just as the bigger of the two thugs plunged a knife into his right shoulder. The beastly man twisted the knife and then ripped it out before grabbing the traveler into a strong chokehold. The traveler grunted in pain, dropping his spear and then clawing at the thug's huge forearms. He couldn't breath! Quickly, he jabbed the thug with his elbow before turning and punching the brute in the jaw. A resounding crunching sound was heard before the brute bellowed out in pain, clutching his broken jaw.
The traveler gasped for air, fatigue was starting to set into his muscles. Despite the pain, he picked up his forgotten spear; he wouldn't die like this, he couldn't. The traveler shifted to the left slightly as he felt someone racing at him from behind. A large blunt ax arced downwards upon him grazing his right arm and leaving fairly large but shallow gash. The hooded man winced in pain before dropping his spear and rolling out of the way of another attack. The ax-wielding beast lunged at the traveler again, but the man ducked low and tackled his opponent to the ground. A couple of punches to the face later left the brute as still as his companions.
Picking up his spear, the traveler ignored the burning sensation in his arms and legs as he looked over at the last of the thugs. He removed his hood, feeling the chilly night air hit his warm cheeks. He had to stay awake and conscious. The swinish man gave a twisted smirk groping the woman in his arms. The woman fought and struggled against the giant beast. The former knight clenched the spear tightly in his hands, blood dribbling down his right arm.
"You wan' 'er! Come an' ge'er!" The brute grinned, squeezing her breasts.
"You foul cretin, let her go if you wish to have any hope of survival!"
The brute sneered, "You may 'ave 'aken care of my boys, bu' I'm far more skilled." He tossed the dame aside roughly and looked at the lanky man in front of him.
"Please, St. Elimine…" the dame whimpered softly. She looked at the traveler, praying that he wouldn't be killed.
The traveler charged toward the hulking man in front of him, spear raised and ready for the kill. A loud resonating clang echoed throughout the alley as the traveler's spear met the short broadsword of the thug. The traveler jumped back and lunged again, and the loud clang of metal meeting metal was heard again, and again, and again.
Finally the thug lunged forward bringing the blade down in a short half crescent giving the hooded man an opening. He thrust his spear upward at an awkward angle, and the spike hit home, straight through the brute's unprotected upper torso. His victory was short lived however, as the thug's sword plunged into his left side. The traveler stumbled backward a few steps, looking down at the blade in pure and utter shock. The brute fell back against the dirty ground, dead.
With trembling fingers, the traveler grabbed the hilt of the sword and tugged it out of his side. The wound was deep and bleeding profusely, dampening his white tunic and staining his vest. He touched his right shoulder, feeling the knife wound. He slowly trailed his fingers along his arm, now aware of how much sticky red liquid trickled from the injuries. The traveler could feel fatigue take over his whole body as well as a dull throbbing in his head. His eyelids started drooping as he fell to his knees.
The woman slowly stood and moved over to her rescuer, pushing the lavender curls out of her eyes to get a better look at her savior. Her cerulean eyes widened in shock, there was no way this could be him, no way at all. He was supposed to be dead. She gracefully knelt down so she was eye-level with her savior. Her beautiful eyes widened in shock, it was him– there was no question about it.
The man squinted in the darkness trying to make out the facial features of dame he just saved. His vision started fogging up. "Fl-Florina?" He reached up to touch her face, to make sure this was all real. So sleepy… "Is…is it…I-I'm sorry…"
"Sain…" Florina could feel tears welling up in her eyes. It was him.
