Title: Acheron
Author: Spike
Chapter: Four
Four knights stood on top of a hill, overlooking a vast valley. Their gaze was on a small village set within the valley, believed to taken over by a group of Slaanesh.
The first knight was bedecked in armour of shining silver and betraying distinctive Bretonnian craftsmanship. He also wore a tunic, displaying a white triangle pointing upwards against a mass of blue. The man sat atop an impressive charger – one that boasted heavy barding that echoed the design of the man's tunic.
This, unlike many of the knights under his guidance, wore no helmet – his head was bare, revealing a face that was weathered but radiating with wisdom, benevolence and courage. The man's face also sported a black moustache and short but wavy back hair complimented with a two flowing locks, each residing on separate sides of his forehead. The man's face also boasted the features of an older, experienced warrior.
His name was Etoile Le Loup – and being the older, more experienced warrior of the four knights he was shouldered with being their commander.
The second knight bore heraldry consisting of the distinctly Bretonnian image of a white cross. And this knight had opted for a white one set against a blue background. Such heraldry distinguished this knight above his peers as a Knight Errant. The knight was mounted upon a proud horse and showed nothing but confidence in his stature.
Like Etoile, The Knight Errant wore no helm. His head was bald, and his face was large and strong. His facial features were also notable in that they sported a large scar on his left cheek – one that was shaped in a rather unusual, crooked fashion: It was jaggered and was split into two paths. The knight also a keen grin on his face, thus betraying an all too readiness to challenge the undead forces
Also like Etoile, the Knight Errant had a face that recalled years of experience. It was the type that belonged to a warrior that had spent many years slaying many opponents and lasting through many battles and military campaigns. Yet while it the number of years of experience was nowhere near Etiole's it was however the sign of an experienced Knight Errant who surely must be inches from receiving his spurs.
The Knight Errant's name was Roger and he had come to this village determined to achieve his spurs. Indeed, such was his confidence in his abilities that he was already making future plans: Roger was planing to, the minute he gets his spurs, to set out on the Grail Quest so he can prove his valour to the Lady so she may eventually bring him to the Grail.
The third knight that accompanied Etoile also bore the heraldry of a Knight Errant. However, unlike Roger, this knight had adopted a more elaborate design: His armour, his shield and steed barding were all decorated with red and black squares, all divided in a quarterly fashion.
The knight himself was preparing to go into battle without a helm. His face seemed smooth in that it showed no signs of any scars or any type of previous injury. The knight seemed to be somewhere in his early twenties and he sported a dark ponytail slung over behind his head. But having no helm, also meant that the knight's facial expression was revealed for all to see.
And what a grim sight it was: The knight showed no emotion whatsoever and his lips never made any movement to suggest any kind of feeling. The knight's eye were simply directed towards the horizon, and the village, and showed no acknowledgement whatsoever towards his fellow knights.
This knight answered to the name of Louis and he joined this group of knights in what could be best described as mysterious circumstances: No one knew where he had come from and, as such, it was assumed by some that he had arrived from the wilderness. Other rumours suggested that he had come from some lesser known settlement outside of Bordeleaux – but no other knight within the force could verify such claims. Louis only spoke a mere handful of words throughout his time spent with his fellow knights but he had attracted the eyes of his superiors through showing signs of a strong understanding of tactics. He seemed to be a master strategist in being able to come up with the most decisive battle plans. As such, Etiole took his words and advice very seriously. In battle however, Louis had already built up a fearsome reputation within the knights for being able to fight foe after foe after foe without breaking a sweat.
The fourth knight was easily the youngest of the four knights. His heraldry was arranged in fashion of several horizontals lines of red and white grouped in consecutive formation. Such a simple arrangement ultimately betrayed the knight's status as a Knight Errant. Further indication came in the form of the knight's facial features. They were young and they showed signs of eagerness however tempered with inexperience. The knight also sported a mass of long brown hair the flowed down past his shoulders and a laurel wreath that rested upon his brow.
The Knight Errant was called Marcel. He was young when compared to Roger and Louis but already he had shown signs of enthusiasm towards combat and had even shown a keenness to take the role of unit commander through showing an interest in tactics and issuing orders. Such was this interest that Etiole had assigned Marcel to the role of being his second commander, in order for the Knight Errant to learn more about leading knights into battle.
But no matter what lofty ambitions Marcel had, being the youngest out of the four still meant that he has however become the target of some jibs from his comrades.
However for the time being, he found himself being frustrated through the lack of action.
"That Etienne is certainly taking his time" he grumbled.
"A quick investigation of the size of the invaders in that village shouldn't take this long" Etiole agreed
"I bet he's already attacked them all himself" Roger muttered, contemptuously.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he already has" Etiole said.
Roger punching a gauntleted hand into his palm.
"I just can't believe the cheek of that Etienne!" he snapped "He always insist on fighting as many foes as possible and he's always first to volunteer for the most dangerous of missions!"
"That's what the knights of Bretonnia are meant to do" Louis noted.
"Yes, but he usually volunteering ahead of us! We are all Knight Errants, here for the same reason! I have been on several quests, usually to find an artefact or slay a monster, only to find the little bastard has already been there before me!"
At the mention of this, Etiole chuckled.
"What's the matter? Seems the lad only wants to get his spurs"
To this Roger exploded.
"So do I!" he snapped "I'm on my way to take on the Grail Quest! I need more monsters to slay! I need maidens to rescue! I need visions of the Lady to guide me onward, not to be humiliated by some upstart!
"I really couldn't care less if he's got spurs to obtain!"
"I can see two possibilities for such a cocky attitude" Louis reasoned "Either he's driven by an insatiable desire to succeed or he's completely insane."
"Either way, he needs someone to put him back in his place" Roger growled.
Etiole turned to Marcel.
"Tell me lad" he inquired "Have you been taking in everything I've taught you?"
"Yes, sir"
"Including about keeping an eye on those in your command?"
"Yes sir"
"So, maybe you'll care to tell us on what Etienne is like?"
Marcel blinked, taken aback by this statement. But then his brow furrowed.
"I've noticed that he keeps to himself a lot" he said "He doesn't talk too much with anyone and he has never mentioned anything about what he did before he joined us"
"I knew it!" Roger exclaimed "He's hiding something!"
The other two knights ignored the Knight Errant and instead listened intently to every word Marcel had to say.
"Has anyone ever tried to talk to him?" Etiole asked "Or challenged him?"
"Well we have tried to make friends with him" Marcel said "But no attempt has ever been successful.
"Still, we have seen him in combat and none of us have never once questioned his skills in battle. He has slain many enemies quite easily and has turned the direction of many battle in our favour on numerous occasions."
"So what do you do?" Etiole asked
"Well, we all leave him alone" the younger knight explained "Considering that his skills have saved us all those times on the battlefield, it's the least we could do"
"Pah!" Roger sneered "You're weak, that's what you are!"
Immediately, Marcel shot an angry glare at the Knight Errant.
"What did you say?" he said sharply.
"You don't suspect his silent, indifferent attitude? His battle prowess? Then you're as blind as a bat!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't you get it" Roger sneered "The evidence's all there! He's in league with Chaos!"
Etiole frowned.
"That's a very bold accusation there" he said sharply.
But Marcel didn't seem to pay any attention to his commander. Instead, he fixed the Knight Errant with an evil glare.
"You're just being jealous" the young knight snapped, his voice dangerously soft.
"And just who are the hell are you to say something like that to me?" Roger snapped.
Marcel's face grew angry.
"Settle down you two!" Etiole boomed.
But the younger knight wasn't listening. Immediately, he swung himself down from his horse. Once his feet touched the ground, he drew his sword from its scabbard and stormed towards the Knight Errant.
Etiole sighed and brought his hand up to his face. Louis didn't seem bothered at all.
Marcel stopped some feet away from Roger's horse, his sword before him and his face radiating with determination.
But the Knight Errant didn't seem bothered in the slightest.
"You wish to challenge me?" he sneered "Don't even think about it"
"Coward!" Marcel spluttered.
To this retort, Roger laughed.
"You certainly know some big words" he said "Not bad for a runt.
"But I have my eye on a bigger prize"
"Seems you won't have much longer to wait" Louis said "For he comes this way"
All eyes then turned towards the burning village. There, came a rider bearing Bretonnian colours.
Roger's eyes sparkled evilly.
"Just the type of scum I was looking for"
And before anyone could stop him, both Roger and his steed sped off at top speed.
Such was the rapid exit that Marcel was thrown off his feet. The hapless young knight landed on his back.
Etiole groaned at the hot-headed Roger
"Idiot" he muttered "I will have him reported for this"
"I wouldn't be so hasty" Louis replied.
"What do you mean?"
"I guess that all depends on whether or not he is able to defeat Etienne.
"I doubt that he would – after all, it's not like Etienne has broken any of the Rules of Honour"
Etiole thought about this but then he smiled.
Then he noticed Marcel, who was picking himself up off the ground.
"Sir Marcel?" He said "Having mud on your armour is hardly a pretty sight"
The young knight blinked but then, he ground his teeth.
That bastard Roger! He'll pay for this.
He then noticed Louis and Etiole grinning at the young knight.
Marcel seethed.
Roger charged towards the rider. He eventually met the rider at the bottom of the slope.
"You!" he shouted "Etienne!"
The rider whose name was Etienne had seen the knight coming and had reined his horse in from a canter into a trot. He fixed the Knight Errant with a look of utter indifference.
"Tell me" Roger sneered "What did you see in that village?"
The knight said nothing.
"What did you see!?"
Still no answer
"Answer me!" the Knight Errant snarled.
And by raising his voice, Roger got a reply:
"A small group of Chaos Warriors"
"Friends of yours?!"
To this, the knight whose name was Etienne raised an eyebrow.
Roger glared a hateful glare. Then, without waiting for a response, he spoke:
"I have you worked out. You aren't fooling me: You're an agent of Chaos, lurking within the knights of Bretonnia. You're here on behalf of your twisted Masters to spread corruption and dissension! You're where to kill us all!"
The knight whose name was Etienne stared blankly before urging his horse onward.
Roger blinked but then he growled with frustration. Immediately he pulled off one of his gauntlets and threw it down onto the muddied ground.
The younger knight paused before turning to face the Knight Errant.
"Yes, I'm challenging you!" Roger snapped in exasperation.
The knight whose name was Etienne did not answer. Instead he hoisted himself down off his horse before knelling down and picking up the discarded gauntlet.
Roger grinned an evil grin
"Seeing as you're already down there…"
And with that, the Knight Errant hoisted himself down of his own horse and drew his broadsword from it's scabbard.
The young knight drew his broadsword.
The two knight's stepped away form their steeds, swords at the ready and eyes never straying an inch from the opponent.
"You will rue the day you dared to set foot in Sir d'Arden's adobe!" the Knight Errant sneered.
"If you believe that, then you are fool" came the reply.
With a shout, Roger charged, his sword raised before him and well prepared to draw the blood of a smart-alec runt of a knight.
The young knight however didn't seemed worried at all. Instead, he merely stood his ground, his face showing no sign of fear or intimidation.
As he charged, Roger smiled. So he wants to stay and fight? This should prove to be far more interesting than he originally anticipated….
The Knight Errant's pace increased. At least he's not running away – instead he's offering himself up for a kill!
He thundered towards the young knight, who stood ready to take the charge.
But then, without warning, he moved: Mere inches away from the incoming blade, the knight whose name was Etienne side-stepped. Thus, Roger found himself running wide.
He blinked in astonishment – but only for a handful of seconds: For immediately after, the hilt of a broadsword came crashing down on the back of his skull!
It struck Roger so much force that he came crashing down, face first onto the ground.
The Knight Errant hit the ground with tremendous thud, accompanied by the crash of armour. He groaned.
The young knight merely walked away, without a word.
Immediately Roger looked back over his shoulder his eyes filled with hatred.
"You tricked me!" he snarled "You call yourself a knight?"
The young knight stopped walking.
"At least I don't go around picking fights with my fellow knights" he replied.
Roger ground his teeth and he got to his feet.
"You'll pay for that you insolent rampallian!"
The young knight then turned and fixed the Knight Errant with a steely gaze.
"You want to fight a man's war?" Roger snapped "Then fight like a man!"
"This is pointless" the young knight replied.
"Then I'll cut you down right where you stand!"
And with that, Roger charged, his broadsword at the ready.
The knight whose name was Etienne didn't show any sign of fear. Instead he charged right towards the Knight Errant.
With a roar, the older knight swung his broadsword in a huge arc.
But the young knight had anticipated this move. As such, he quickly ducked under the blade.
In the split second that followed Roger blinked in surprise at this move. But suddenly, the Knight Errant was hit across the face: the young knight had thrust his broadsword upwards and managed to strike a lethal hit on his opponent.
The charge from each of the two knights ended with the two separated several feet from each other.
Roger blinked. And then he felt it: A throbbing pain radiating form his face. Raising his hand up to his face, he felt a trickle of blood, emitting from a nasty cut riding along his left cheek.
The Knight Errant paled.
The young knight merely turned towards his horse.
"I don't why I spared your life" he said "Be thankful I did"
The Knight Errant said nothing. All he could do was gaze at the departing knight
A gaze of hatred mixed with revenge.
The knight whose name was Etienne rode his steed up the top of the slope to meet up with Louis, Etiole and Marcel.
"My lord" the young knight said to Etiole.
"As you were" the commander knight said "Your report?"
"The village had been taken over by a small group of Chaos Warriors of Slaanesh. They had butchered all the peasants and were plundering all the food and wine"
"Did you defeat them?"
"Yes"
"All of them?"
The knight whose name was Etienne nodded.
"One of them mentioned something about leading a much larger force. He said that they were camped to the north, along the coastline"
Etiole's brow furrowed.
"Action must be taken. Sir Leon must be informed"
And with that he turned his steed around and began heading away. Louis followed.
"Wait a minute!" Marcel exclaimed "Are we just going to leave Roger down there?!"
"Let him find his own way back to Bordeleaux" Etiole snapped "It will teach him a lesson"
And off he went, leaving Marcel with the knight whose name was Etienne
"You killed all six of those Chaos Warriors?" Marcel inquired
"That's right"
"So much for reconnaissance."
"I live only to slay evil in it's many forms" came the blunt reply.
"You certainly are a dour one" Marcel sighed "You should learn to lighten up"
"Not when evil threatens this land"
The Errant commander sighed.
"I should've known" he muttered.
"Oh and what did you do to Roger down there?" he asked.
"Just a small scar"
"Really? On a Knight Errant!?" Marcel chuckled "I have to hand to you Etienne, sure you're a grim figure but by the Lady, your skills are flawless"
And with that, the Errant Knight commander rode away.
The knight whose name was Etienne watched all three knights go.
They all seem to have incredible faith within his skills – even to the point of overlooking the fact that he just defeated a knight of more seniority, prowess and recognition than himself.
Perhaps he should be grateful.
If they knew him by his real name, as Artios, it's unlikely they will be so lenient
And if a reputation like his, such prospect grows increasingly doubtful….