Eight Years Ago
Siege of Unuzdaq Castle
"Infantry, advance!"
The air was filled with the sound of thundering boots as scores of Swadian Infantry, Sergeants and dismounted Swadian Men-at-Arms, Knights and Paladins marched towards Unuzdaq Castle which was defended by more than three hundred Khergit soldiers. On top of the battlements, dismounted Khergit Horse Archers and Veteran Horse Archers rained deadly Khergit Arrows down on the approaching Swadians who raised their shields over their heads to protect themselves from the Khergit missiles while dismounted Khergit Swordsmen and Swordmasters prepared themselves to face the enemy infantry should they reach the wall.
Near the Swadian encampment, King Esterich and his retinue watched as two trebuchets hurled large, stone projectiles at the walls. Specifically, the eastern section of Unuzdaq Castle's walls. Hoping to create a breach and provide his army another path into the castle. He already had men storming the walls and a battering ram headed for the gate. His auxiliary Rhodok Sharpshooters were placed just behind the infantry and were shooting crossbow bolts at the enemy archers. Showing their unmatched skills with the deadly crossbow which made them feared across all of Calradia.
They had besieged Unuzdaq three days ago with an army of four hundred Swadians and Rhodok auxiliaries. Esterich decided to negotiate first and sent letter after letter to the Noyan. Demanding the surrender of the castle and everyone inside would be but the man stubbornly refused. The Noyan was stalling for time until reinforcements arrive but unbeknownst to him, many of the Khanate's Noyans were accompanying their Khan as he laid siege on the town of Barriye within the Sarranid Sultanate. Neither of the two sides realize that the Noyan was stalling for nothing.
After the sixth letter was rejected, Esterich ordered his men to begin the siege. Since the Khergit lord refused to surrender the castle to it's rightful owner, the Swadians, Esterich declared that he and his army would take back Unuzdaq Castle by force and the stubborn Khergits would suffer the wrath of the Swadian army.
The Swadians had not been idle while waiting for the Noyan's response to the letters. They had been building siege engines and weapons while the Khergits were busy. By the time the Swadian King ordered the siege to begin, both trebuchets as well as two siege ramps and the battering ram were complete.
"Sire, look!"
Esterich turned his head to Count Klargus who was pointing at the gates of the castle. The Swadian King narrowed his eyes upon seeing the gates part open and a company of Khergit Veteran Lancers and Swordmasters burst out of the castle gates. Cutting down the Swadian Infantry and Sergeants pushing the ramp and started wreaking havoc upon the ranks of Esterich's army. They were soon followed by Khergit Horse Archers who shot arrows at the Swadians with deadly precision. Unimpeded by the fact that they were on horseback.
The Swadian King cursed and unsheathed his blade before raising it above his head.
"Cavalry, follo- Agh!"
Esterich clutched at his heart in pain. Nearly dropping his sword and his squires as well as nearby Counts quickly ran to his aid. They moved to help the Swadian King down his mount and escort him back to his personal tent but he held up his hand and turned to Count Klargus.
"Send in... Send in the Shield Companions in my stead. I want this castle, Klargus. For Swadia."
The Lord of Suno wordlessly nodded and turned to the leader of the Shield Companions.
"The King wants that castle. Take it." He ordered.
Baldur wordlessly nodded and slammed the knob of his Long Axe on the ground twice before raising his weapon above his head and headed out to join the battle. The Shield Companions followed after their leader while a small number of them stayed behind to guard the Swadian King. They were still Esterich's royal bodyguards after all.
The Shield Companions walked past the second wave of Swadian soldiers and up the dirt road leading towards the castle. Unfazed by the contingent of Khergit Lancers that were closing the distance between them. Lances couched as their mounts went into a full gallop towards the Shield Companions. Dirt kicking up underneath the hooves of their Steppe Horses and leaving behind a trail of dust in their wake.
Baldur stopped and raised his hand. Signalling his mercenaries to halt before closing his fist.
"SKJALDBORG!!" He roared.
The Nordic Axe Companions readied their Round Shields and formed a tightly packed shield wall. Taking out their spears and projecting them through the small gaps of their formation.
"BOGMENN!!"
Behind the Nordic Axe Companions, the Vaegir Bow Companions took out their War Bows and nocked their arrows before drawing them back and aimed high at the sky.
"LOOSE!!"
Arrows flew off their War Bows and sailed over the Shield Companions' heads in an arc before raining down in the Khergit Lancers. While their armor protected them from the arrows, their unarmoured mounts weren't so lucky. Many fell to Bodkin Arrows and their riders were either relatively unharmed or crushed underneath the weight of their horse. Fortunately for them, the Vaegir Bow Companions were only able to send one volley before the remaining mounted Khergit Lancers reached the Shield Companions.
Baldur, still in front of the shield wall, gripped his Long Axe tightly as he glared at the incoming cavalry. The Nord stared directly into the eye of the Khergit in the front and growled. Just before the Lancer's weapon could impale him, Baldur stepped to the side while swinging his weapon and the axe head caught the Khergit right in the chest. Throwing him off his horse who stopped itself before it crashed into the shield wall and galloped away. Leaving it's rider to the mercy of the Nord.
Knocked to the ground, the dismounted Khergit Lancer tried to get up only to have his head split in two by the Nord's Long Axe.
Baldur kicked the corpse off his weapon and faced the rest of the Khergit Lancers before running towards them with a loud and heart-wrenching war cry. The mounted Khergit Lancers passed him by while the horseless Lancers took out their curved Nomad Sabers before rushing the Nord. Seeing him as easy prey as they outnumbered him.
Meanwhile, the mounted Khergit Lancers smashed into the Nordic Axe Companions' shield wall and a few of them managed to break through only for the Vaegir Bow Companions to riddle them with arrows. The Vaegirs were quick and skilled with the bow. Faster than any other archers in Calradia. Filling their intended target with Bodkin Arrows in a matter of seconds.
Once all the mounted Khergit Lancers were close, the Nordic Axe Companions broke formation and engaged the Lancers in melee. Some cut at the legs of the Steppe Horses while others grabbed the Lancers themselves and pulled them off their horse before killing them on the ground. Some of them forego their weapons and used their fists to beat their enemies to death. It was bloody, ruthless and savage but it gets the job done nonetheless. Among them was Oleg Vladimirovich.
The old Vaegir Guard wasn't very good with the War Bow. Being more accustomed to the blade and shield.
Oleg bared his teeth as he relentlessly threw punch after punch into the Khergit's face which was slowly becoming unrecognizable with each hit. The Vaegir finished his opponent off by smashing his armored forearm into the Khergit's face and dislocated the man's jaw before getting off his limp opponent and picked up his War Axe from the ground.
The Vaegir stood up and spat on the dying man before searching for his next opponent. He found his target and ran towards the Khergit who was standing over a Shield Companion who was on all fours. Nomad Saber raised and poised to strike down the Shield Companion. The man didn't get a chance to swing as Oleg brought his War Axe down on the man's neck and the Khergit dropped his sword before falling to his knees. Dead.
Back to Baldur, the Nord removed his Long Axe from the corpse of a Khergit and turned his head to the direction of the Shield Companions as they finished off the last of the Khergit Lancers. Oleg roared while raising his bloody axe above his head. An action mirrored by the rest of the Shield Companions. Once they were finished, Baldur raised his own weapon over his head before continuing on towards the battering. Leaving behind the scattered corpses of the dismounted Khergit Lancers he had faced. Their bodies lay in various states of dismemberment.
The Shield Companions followed after their leader and soon arrived at the abandoned battering ram. Six of them started pushing towards the siege engine towards gates of the castle while the others formed a defensive ring around them. They struggled up the path as the archers on the battlements rained arrows on them but they eventually reached the gates and started using the battering ram to break said gates open.
"Put your backs into it!" Oleg yelled as he and five other Shield Companions heaved the ram back as far as they could before releasing it. Watching as the ram's head smashed into the gates of Unuzdaq Castle. Baldur and a number of axe-wielding Shield Companions started chopping at the gates to help weaken it.
Off to the side, the two siege ramps finally reached the wall with Swadian Paladins leading the charge into the battlements. They ran up the ramps then jumped down the edge of the ramps while holding their long arming swords with both hands. Striking down the Khergit defenders and clearing the way for the rest of the Swadian infantry.
On the eastern section of Unuzdaq's walls, the trebuchets had done their jobs and created a breach. Swadian infantry swarmed through the breach just as Baldur and the Shield Companions broke through the gates with the battering ram.
The Nord led his Shield Companions through the broken gates and threw themselves at the Khergits waiting on the other side of the gates. Mostly troops of lower quality like Tribesmen, dismounted Riders and Horsemen.
"VALHALLA!!"
Baldur and the Nordic Axe Companions bellowed at the top of their lungs as they charged in with reckless abandon. Seeing the massive Nord and his company rushing towards them struck fear into the hearts of the Khergit defenders. In their eyes, they weren't facing soldiers. Men of flesh and blood. No. They were facing monsters. Demons. Savage, axe-wielding demons.
Stories have spread across the Khanate of the Shield Companions. Their white raven becoming a symbol feared by many. At first, the Khan and the Noyans dismissed them as nothing more than mercenaries. No match for the mighty Khan and his Noyans. Their view of them soon changed when one of the Khanate's most powerful and influential Noyans declared that he would deal with the Shield Companions and bring the head of their leader to the Khan as tribute. Four days later, the Noyan returned to the Khan as a headless corpse. Tied by the ankles and dragged on the ground by his horse. The Noyan's severed head, eyes plucked out and his mouth frozen in a scream, was placed in a sack tied to the horse's saddle with a mocking note from the Shield Companions.
'Here is our tribute to the mighty Khan.'
Now here were those same savages. About to face them in battle. The younger Tribesmen broke first. Dropping their weapons and running away. They were soon followed by the dismounted Riders. Leaving only the dismounted Khergit Horsemen to face the wrath of the Shield Companions. Their resolve to defend the castle and their Noyan faltered as the mercenaries closed the distance.
(Line Break)
"They never stood a chance. We swept through their ranks like hot knife through butter. Unuzdaq was ours and a third of the treasure in that castle was given to us by the king. The Swadians took the walls and the eastern section of the castle but we cut them a path to the Lord's Hall and captured the Noyan and his family."
Inside the tavern, many of it's occupants were gathered around the table as Oleg regaled to them the Siege of Unuzdaq Castle. All of them fascinated at the tales the old Vaegir shared with them.
A week and a half after burying their fallen, the Shield Companions have settled nicely in Vinlun and they were back on the job. They escorted caravans to where they needed to go. Hunted down stray bandits and brigands that were near the town and driving out the bandits that had taken over the neighboring villages. Plaiçon and Toussis.
The two villages had been raided and occupied by the bandits the same night they attacked the town. When a farmer managed to escape from Plaiçon and arrived in Vinlun, he pleaded for the Dawn Templars for help but they couldn't. They lost four of their Knight-Sisters, two were missing two and fifteen were still in the garrison hospital recovering from their wounds. That left the town with twenty five active Dawn Templars consisting of nine able Knights, six able Squires and ten able Templar Sergeants. Not enough to retake both Plaiçon and Toussis while guarding Vinlun.
Upon the suggestion of the Dawn Templars, the farmer turned to the Shield Companions for aid. While he didn't have much coin to give, the Dawn Templars were gracious enough to lend him just enough gold pieces to hire the Shield Companions to take back Plaiçon. A few days after he hired them, Plaiçon was free of bandits and the Shield Companions moved on to drive the bandits out of Toussis. The leader of the Shield Companions decided that the village of Toussis can pay them with whatever they had left.
Baldur and the Shield Companions left quite the impression but Baldur was not content. There's only so much that six mercenaries can do. They needed more men. This prompted Baldur to look for recruits with the goal of building their strength back to what it once were before the Swadian Civil War and their exile from Calradia. Surpass it even. If they can achieve that then they can start branching out to the rest of the Seven Shields Alliance. Perhaps even rival the largest mercenary company in Eostia. The Black Dogs.
Lucky for them. There was plenty of mercenaries to go around. Many young men had set out to become sellswords in search of glory, riches and women. Plenty to choose from though the Nord doubted any of them were good enough but he had been wrong before. Perhaps a number of them were good. A little rough around the edges maybe but with proper training, he and Oleg can shape them into proper mercenaries. Those who survive their first five battles may have a chance to become Shield Companions. Maybe.
While Oleg finished his story of Unuzdaq's siege, Baldur was talking to Estelle away from the others. The newy promoted Knight-Lieutenant now sported a white eye patch over her left eye as well as a new set of armor. She now wore a breastplate but still left her cleavage and midriff exposed with matching pauldrons, vambraces, demi-gauntlets, poleyns and greaves as well as a leather belt. She also wore a pair of black, arm sleeves along with a pair of black, thigh-high socks. Around her shoulders was a simple, white mantle.
Estelle had become the intermediary between the Shield Companions and the Vinlun Templar garrison. A position that Chevalier-Capitaine Isabelle assigned to Estelle seeing as she was the one who hired them in the first place. This was supposed to be her 'punishment' for making deals without the Knight-Captain's consent. If the Templars ever need of the Shield Companions' services, they would send Estelle to present and finalize the contract as well as make the necessary compromises if there are certain terms they won't agree to. It was certainly better than getting kicked out of the order that's for sure.
"This is the third caravan that's been attacked in the Sunset Road. If this keeps up, Vinlun will have a hard time sustaining itself if the traders think the town isn't worth the trouble. The job is simple. Find out where these bastards are hiding and take them all out. Knight-Captain Isabelle said you can do whatever you want with them. Kill them. Capture them. She doesn't care as long as they are dealt with. Here's the contract."
Estelle took a parchment from her bag and placed it on the table for Baldur to read. She took out an ink bottle and quill before opening the former and placing the latter inside then pushed it towards the Nord who finished reading the contract and proceeded to write his name in runes on the bottom of the parchment.
The Knight-Lieutenant nodded to Baldur and put away the contract before rising from her chair and held out her hand. The Nord stood up and grasped her forearm instead and the two shook on it.
"Pleasure doing business with you. You can expect to receive your payment once the job is done."
Estelle moved to leave but stopped herself and turned back to the Nord.
"Oh. One more thing. Please refrain from bringing multiple heads as proof of the job's completion. One head is enough."
Baldur nodded with a grunt before grabbing his tankard and drank the remaining ale inside. He slammed the now empty tankard on the table before walking over to Oleg and gestured his head at the tavern's doors.
The old Vaegir nodded and stood up from his seat before grabbing the back of Bhaltair's collar and dragging him away from his seat. Causing the woman sitting on the Rhodok's lap to fall to the floor with a yelp.
"Let's go, you horny bastard. We got a job to do and I'm not gonna let you sit this one out because you were going to fuck another whore."
Bhaltair brushed the Vaegir's hand off and held out his hand for the woman before gently helping her up her feet. He then leaned down and kissed the top of her hand.
"We'll continue this when I get back."
"I'll be waiting, mon beau. You know where to find me."
The Rhodok grinned before turning around only to feel the woman slap his backside and Bhaltair looked over his shoulder to see the woman give him a wink before proceeding to lower her chemise and give him a great view of her supple breasts.
Baldur shook his head at the antics before leaving the tavern. He allowed members of the Skjaldfélagar to relieve their carnal desires but only when they weren't on the job. If they decided to fuck someone while on the job, Baldur would strip the person of all they had and kick them out of the Shield Companions. Anything they have acquired while under the Shield Companions would be confiscated and given to the rest of the Skjaldfélagar. Shared equally, of course. This included armor, weapons and coin. The only thing they were allowed to keep was whatever they had with them before joining the Shield Companions.
Outside the tavern, the Nord looked around him as the townsfolk went about their day. A far cry from the night he first woke up in this town. It was peaceful but it wasn't the life for him. For someone else perhaps. He was content with his life as a mercenary and that wouldn't change now or ever.
(Line Break)
"Who the hell is- "
The brigand's body fell back and the bandits within the hideout stared wide-eyed at the massive axe stuck to the middle of the now dead man's torso. They looked outside and saw a lone figure standing a couple of feet away from the doorway. Upon seeing the figure's towering stature, the bandits inside the hideout immediately recognized the person and quickly scattered to take up arms.
Baldur cracked his neck and started walking towards the entrance of the hideout. Behind him, Oleg and Bhaltair revealed themselves before following after their leader. Not running or rushing towards the panicked bandits but simply walked behind Baldur. Said Nord stopped at the doorway and removed the three throwing axes he had hurled at the door to gain the brigands' attention before hooking them back to his belt.
The Shield Companions entered the hideout which was an old mead hall. One that had been abandoned for decades. Perhaps even centuries. Hidden by overgrowth and the surrounding forest, it made the building hard to spot. The architecture appeared to be Elvish in nature. Sharing similarities to the architecture of Geofu's neighboring realm. The Gyfu Ælfenrīce or the Elven Kingdom of Geofu. Though the Calradians didn't know that.
Baldur looked at the surrounding bandits. Seeing them cower away from him and his company. The Nord scoffed and grabbed the haft of his long axe before removing it from the corpse and held the weapon with both hands. His eyes staring into each of the brigands' own.
Meanwhile, Oleg closed the hideout's doors behind them and barred it before taking out his War Axe and stood on Baldur's right. To the Nord's left, Bhaltair barked a laugh as he gave the frightened bandits a bloodthirsty grin while removing the Great Sword from it's harness on his back. The Rhodok could barely keep his excitement and this reminded Baldur of the Berserkir and the Úlfhéðnar from Nordland.
"I count about thirty brigands." Oleg stated "There could be more in hiding somewhere."
"And the others are taking care of the ones on watch duty." Bhaltair added. Making sure the bandits heard his words loud and clear.
"Hm. This won't take long then." Baldur stated before taking a step forward.
"Ég er Baldur Hausakljúfr!" The Nord bellowed "Þú deyrð í dag!"
With a heart wrenching war cry, the trio ran towards the brigands who let out a war cry of their own though it was more like a mix of frightened screams than an actual battle cry.
Baldur spun in a circle and swung his Great Long Axe wide. The blade of the axe head slamming deep into the abdomen of a brigand before the Nord ripped it off the man's body and raised it high above his head then brought it down on another bandit and split his head in two. He removed his weapon and quickly tackled a third bandit and carried him over his shoulders before running across the hall. Knocking down anyone in his path before throwing the man he was carrying to the ground and quickly brought his weapon down on the brigand's head for a swift kill.
The Nord grabbed a brigand to his left by the shirt then bashed his helmet against the man's forehead. Hearing a crack when his helmet made contact. Baldur then threw the limp bandit to the side and caught a spear mid-air before hurling it back at the brigand with excessive force and watched as the spear buried itself halfway through the man's chest.
Off to the side, Oleg kicked a bandit back and the man hit a pillar before the Vaegir severed the man's head with one swing od his War Axe. The weapon's blade burying itself into the pillar. With a grunt of effort, Oleg removed his weapon from the wooden pillar and adjusted his grip on the War Axe so he held it near the axe head before taking out his Kite Shield. He used his shield to break open the brigand's guard before swinging his War Axe in wide arc and burying it deep in the man's flank. He pulled his weapon free and the bandit stumbled forward only to receive a shield to the face that broke his nose.
The Vaegir suddenly stumbled back when he felt something impact hard on his abdomen and looked down to see a crossbow bolt on the ground. One of the scales of his lamellar cuirass was dented in. Oleg turned to his attacker and saw the bandit frantically trying to reload his crossbow but failing. Grunting in annoyance, the Vaegir strode over to the brigand and snatched the crossbow from the man's grip then proceeded to beat him to death with it.
Meanwhile, Bhaltair had just finished impaling a bandit through the abdomen and pinning him to a pillar. Other brigands quickly closed in on him while he was trying to remove his Great Sword from the corpse but the Rhodok quickly abandoned that action in favor of taking out his War Hammer and swung upwards. Breaking a bandit's jaw upon impact. He then switched his grip and brought the spiked end down on another brigand. Burying the spike all the way inside the bandit's skull and brain before ripping it out and kicking the body towards another brigand.
Bhaltair grabbed a discarded sword on the ground and started cutting down bandits left and right. Blood staining his armor and face.
"BHALTAIR!" He yelled "Ahahahahahaaa. BHALTAIR!"
The Rhodok repeatedly screamed his name at the top of his lungs before delivering the killing blow to his opponents. His reason for doing this was so the last thing that his enemies hear in the world of the living was the name of the one who killed them. Bhaltair.
"BHALTAIR!"
The three Shield Companions were ruthless in their assault. Many fell upon their weapons and it didn't take long before thirty became twenty and twenty became ten. After witnessing the slaughter of their comrades, the remaining brigands ran for the hideout's doors. Passing by the bodies of their fallen or tripping over them before reaching their destination and fumbled as they tried to remove the wooden bar locking them in.
Baldur saw this and took out one of his throwing axes before hurling it at the bandits. Nailing one of them in the back of the head.
The Rhodok saw this and decided to join him. Good target practice he reasoned and took out his Heavy Crossbow before shooting a steel bolt into the middle of a brigand's back. Said brigand's legs suddenly gave out from underneath him and the man screamed.
The bandits finally managed to unlock the doors and quickly pushed them open before running away from the trio. Two of whom were still hurling throwing axes and shooting steel bolts at them. Unfortunately for the fleeing brigands, there was someone waiting for them.
The bandit in the front was thrown back into another bandit after a spear impaled his chest and the two fell to the ground in a heap. The rest of the bandits were swiftly shot down by a combination of arrows and spears until only one remained. Said brigand was currently pinned down underneath one of the bodies but he managed to crawl away from the corpse and shakily stood up.
The brigand looked ahead and saw Batu and A'isha standing a couple of meters away from him. Forgetting about the three Shield Companions still behind him, he turned tail and ran back to the hideout only to smack into Baldur's chest and fall to his backside on the ground. The brigand looked up in fear as the giant Nord stood over him. Blue eyes gazing stoically into his own fearful ones.
The bandit closed his eyes and waited for the undoubtedly painful end but it never came. He slowly opened one eye and saw Baldur still looking down at him. The brigand backpedalled but stopped when his back hit one of the corpses of his fellow bandits and fearfully looked back up at the Nord.
He watched as the giant of a man dropped something in front of him and he looked down only to see a severed head staring back at him. Expression frozen in fear. He didn't even realize it was the same brigand the Rhodok had crippled. The Nord having finished him off after retrieving his axes and severed the poor man's head from his body.
"We'll let you live." Baldur's deep and intimidating voice invaded the bandit's ears "Spread word of what happened here. Let this be a warning to every bandit, brigand, deserter and looter out there. If they're brave enough to try and attack caravans on the roads again, they are next."
The bandit didn't say a word and simply ran for it. The Shield Companions watched him go but none of them moved. They simply stared at the man as his back disappeared into the forest. Soon, word would spread across Ken and they hoped that in doing so, more people would be interested in hiring them. Maybe even the Shield Princesses themselves or this Holy Seeress that they worship like a god. Another reason for this was the challenge. The Shield Companions, Baldur in particular, was always looking for a challenge and he has yet to find one in Eostia.
Once the bandit was gone, the Shield Companions turned to their leader and saw him staring at the bandit hideout. He was silent as he observed the structure of the mead hall before looking over his shoulder at the others.
"Search the hall." He ordered "Get rid of the bodies. We just found our new base. I'll head back to the town and collect our reward."
The Shield Companions wordlessly headed over to the hideout while Baldur grabbed the head from the ground and walked past them in the other direction. Isolla should still be with the horses. He'll inform her of this new development and order her to help the others in cleaning up the mead hall. The Nord would also have to inform the mayor and the Dawn Templars of this place once he arrives back in Vinlun. It would make it easier for them to know where the Skjaldfélagar would be staying as well as their new home for the time being.
As Baldur walked through the forest, the Nord wondered if there was anyone here that would even pose a challenge to him and the Skjaldfélagar. Is there anyone in Eostia worthy enough to defeat him, Baldur Head-Splitter, in battle and give him the glorious death he sought after for years?
(Line Break)
"The healers said our Knight-Sisters would make a full recovery within a week or two. They can leave the healing house tomorrow but it'll be a while before they're back to fighting condition."
Chevalier-Capitaine Isabelle rubbed the bridge of her nose and leaned back on her chair. She was thankful that they survived but their current situation left them very undermanned.
Isabelle wore a breastplate, a set of spaulders, vambraces and demi-gauntlets along with a large, leather belt with a waist cape attached to it. A pair of black underwear can be seen peeking out from underneath the waist cape. She also wore a white hooded mantle over her shoulders.
"Any good news?" Isabelle asked.
"Our reinforcements should be arriving in about a day or so." Estelle reported "Grand Mistress Claudia was supposed to accompany them but she was summoned by Her Divine Holiness to the Silver Citadel. The letter the Grand Mistress sent said it was urgent."
That was some good news at least. It meant that the Grand Mistress managed to spare them some Templar Knights as reinforcements even if they weren't noble by birth. Times were tough and many of the non-noble Templar Sergeants who were obligated to serve ten years in the Order were knighted just to bolster the Templar Knight ranks of the Dawn Templars.
The Templar Knights are the Order's primary fighting force. They are the most visible out of the other branches. The Templar Sergeants, on the other hand, handled non-military roles like administration, construction, forgery, trade, treasury and more but they also participate in battles alongside the Templar Knights as Light Cavalry, Missile Infantry, Spear Infantry and the like though this was rare. Unlike the soldiers of the Armeé Royale, everyone in the Dawn Templars was a woman.
Claudia's actions, naturally, received much criticism from the court but the nobles were divided in their opinions. One half saw the need for such drastic actions and approved while the other half saw it as throwing years of tradition out the window.
Still. Not many would challenge the Grand Mistress as she was chosen by the Goddess Incarnate as the Shield Princess of Ken. Challenging her meant challenging Her Divine Holiness and no one was stupid enough to do that. Doing so would paint a target on their backs that every Knightly Order devoted to the Goddess would be delighted to run their blades through.
Isabelle stood up and reached for the black headband lying on the table. She grabbed it and held the piece of cloth out to Estelle who proceeded to take the headband and tie it around Isabelle's forehead.
The purpose of the black headband was to identify Isabelle's rank as Chevaliers-Capitaine with Chevaliers-Commandant wearing white headbands and Chevaliers-Lieutenant wearing brown ones.
"Thank you, Estelle."
The Knight-Sister nodded before watching the Knight-Captain fix her silver hair with her right hand. Estelle's eye wandered down from Isabelle's hand towards her left arm that was wrapped in a sling and she gazed at the stump that used to be the Knight-Captain's left hand. Seeing the result of the bandits' horrid deeds made her blood boil.
Estelle wanted nothing more than to join the Shield Companions in taking out the bandit hideout. They may not have been the same bandits that did this to her Knight-Captain but they can substitute for them. But with how undermanned the garrison was, the Knight-Captain needed every able Templar Knight in town. That includes her.
"Knight-Lieutenant."
It took a moment for Estelle to realize she was the one Isabelle was addressing and looked to her superior. It would take her some time to get used to that. This wasn't exactly how she aimed for a promotion in the Order. She wasn't even Isabelle's first choice but desperate times and out of the six other Knight-Sisters that were still standing, she was the most experienced.
"Yes, Knight-Captain?"
"I said we're heading for the mayor's office. We need to tell him about the coming reinforcements. I'm sure he'd be glad to hear that."
"Of course, Knight-Captain. Lead on."
As the two moved to leave the garrison, Estelle wondered about the Shield Companions. Ever since meeting them and hearing their tales of past exploits in the tavern, Estelle had grown curious about them. Their story. This land they called Calradia. It piqued her interest and so many of her Knight-Sisters. Including their Knight-Captain. Estelle made a point to ask the Shield Companions about Calradia next time she meets them.
(Line Break)
The two Mythril Guardians parted their glaives that they crossed over the large doors of the Hall of Council as said doors parted open. One-by-one, six of the seven Shield Princesses walked out of the hall. Accompanied by their respective honor guards.
In the front was the Shield Princess of Feoh, Alicia I of the Hus af Arcturus. To her left was her younger cousin and the Shield Princess of Ur, Prim de' Fiori. The two walked side-by-side and was flanked on either side by Alicia's Iris Knights and Prim's Rose Knights.
Following behind them was the self-proclaimed Mercenary Queen and the Shield Princess of Ansur, Maia. Unlike Alicia and Prim, the Mercenary Queen was accompanied by two mercenaries under the mercenary company she founded, the Red Vixens.
The next person to step out was the Shield Princess of the Merchant Republic of Rad as well as the Ducissa Provinciae Imperialis Rad, Luu-Luu. She was flanked by a pair of Custodes Palatinus. Elite Dwarven Imperial Guards assigned by the her grandfather, the Dux Provinciae Imperialis Anvil, to protect her. Both provinces were part of the much larger Imperium Nanorum.
Luu-Luu was talking to the Shrine Maiden of the Ibara no Kōkoku and Shield Princess of Thorn. She was escorted by a pair of Crimson Dragon Guards. Elite swordsmen hand chosen by the Shogun from his own Samurai retainers and sworn to protect the Shrine Maiden at any and all costs.
Within the hall, Claudia watched her fellow Shield Princesses leave before turning back to look up at the Holy Seeress.
Celestine Lucullus sat on a golden throne perched atop a flight of stairs. Her serene expression masked the turmoil she felt within. Wondering if her decision was the right one.
Centuries of war between the Seven Shields Alliance and the Kingdom of Discordia led to countless casualties on both sides. Many Eostians and Discordians died in this war and neither side can afford any more casualties. Origa resorted to sending Demons, Savage Orcs and other monsters to fight for her. Her Dark Elves kept away from the front lines.
The Marshal of the Gylden Army informed her that the Discordians outnumbered them as more Orcs and monsters joined the Dark Queen's army. More troubling news arrived yesterday from the Gylden Army's spies. They reported that Origa has found a way to contact the Forstælfas. The ever elusive distant cousins of the Heahælfas and Sweartælfas.
Facing the possibility that the Discordians would move soon and advance into the territory of the Seven Shields Alliance, the Marshal and her magisters suggested that, for the time being, they hire mercenary companies to fight for the Seven Shields Alliance while they rebuild their strength. At least to the point where they can defend their lands should the Dark Queen invade the Seven Shields Alliance.
The Alliance's leaders and generals would coordinate with the Mercenary Lords of the companies they wished to hire and fight effectively against the Discordians. Since Maia was the self-proclaimed Mercenary Queen, the majority of the Principality of Ansur's army was already made up of mercenaries with the native soldiers acting as garrison and border forces to defend the principality. It worked out well for the Shield Princess of Ansur and so the Marshal and magisters advised Celestine to urge the rest of the Seven Shields Alliance to do the same.
"Claudia." The Holy Seeress' voice, soft and musical to a mortal's ears, echoed across the near empty hall "Was this the right decision?"
Instead of answering, the Shield Princess of Ken walked over to the throne and stopped by the foot of the stairs. Celestine stood up from her seat and gracefully walked down the marble steps. Taking Claudia's offered hand as she neared the foot of the stairs before reaching the bottom and linking her arm with the brunette's own.
The two made their way out of the hall. Followed by two Templar Knights and a pair of Mythril Guardians.
"While I'm not particularly fond of mercenaries, Your Divine Holiness." Claudia spoke up "I do believe this is the best course of action. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I hate to admit it but my realm has been plagued by banditry and my people have come to rely on mercenaries to protect them rather than the Dawn Templars. Our numbers are too few to keep the peace in Ken but once we rebuild our strength back to what it once was, we would be able to defend ourselves from anything the Dark Queen throws at us and we would no longer need mercenaries to fight our wars and defend our lands for us. For now, however, we will have to rely on them to fight our battles. Ansur already has mercenaries fighting their battles."
The two eventually reached Celestine's private chambers where two Mythril Guardians stood guard outside. The two parted their glaives and opened the doors. Allowing Celestine and Claudia to step inside before making their way towards the balcony as the doors shut behind them.
The Holy Seeress looked in the distance. Her emerald green eyes staring at the horizon as the sun began to set.
"Can I tell you something, Claudia?"
"You're my friend, Celestine. You know you can tell me anything." Claudia replied softly.
"I received a vision. I saw... " Celestine took a deep breath through her nose "I saw Eostia burning. Corpses piled to form hills of bodies while a dark hound with red eyes stood atop of it all."
"The Dark Queen?"
"No. It's not Origa." The Holy Seeress shook her head "This one is... different. Malicious. Evil. Wrong. I don't know who or what this hound represents but I do know that they will bring about Eostia's doom. I've been seeing Eostia burn in my dreams night after night ever since I received that vision. The Goddess. She is warning me. Warning me of Eostia's doom. It's close, Claudia. I just don't know how close."
"What else did you see?"
"A white raven. It battled the hound. Each time they clashed, the very earth would shake. Mountains would crumble and the sky would rage. They were tearing Eostia apart. I don't know what it means but this white raven, whoever they are, will either prevent our doom... or hasten it."
"A white raven... " The brunette beside Celestine muttered.
Claudia's eyes narrowed. The first thought that came to mind was whether they were friend or foe. Judging by Celestine's words, the Holy Seeress couldn't figure it out either. She'll have to do her own investigation in this matter but she had a duty to uphold and that was keeping the Principality of Ken and her people safe.
Perhaps she'll have Klaus have a look at that. It'll help take his mind away from his father's recent erratic behavior. The last shouting match they had had clearly shakened her husband to the core but he refused to tell her anything and dodged all her attempts to question him about it.
'What did Grave say that had shaken Klaus so much?' She wondered.
That was something she had to find out for herself and it seems she will soon. Her father-in-law would visit them in a couple of days. Unlike Klaus, Grave went straight to the point. She'll find her answers soon enough.