Author's Note: Foolish writer's block, I crush you beneath the heel of my
boot. I am almighty! Yes. Anyway, this will probably be my top priority
until I figure out what the hell I'm doing with Rebirth. Rejoice.
Chapter 5
We stopped near a modest home not too far from Indels. I hesitated and glanced at Lavitz, unsure if we were to go on, but the knight headed for the door. Apparently, being the head of the First Knighthood and having a highly respected father, deceased though he was, did not require you to live lavishly. Yet another thing I liked about Lavitz, he was anything but arrogant. He swallowed his pride to set an example for others. Despite my dubious first impression of the knight, I now felt a connection with the man.
He held the door open for Shana, while I took up the rear. The sound of the door shutting alerted the house's sole occupant. A middle-aged woman walked through a doorway into the hall, and gasped when she spotted us. "Oh, Lavitz!"
"Hello, Mother."
"Oh, my. It's been so long." Her gaze fell on Shana. "Oh, and who's this? Have you finally managed to get married? High past time."
Shana went red, and Lavitz sighed in exasperation. "Mother..."
Apparently they had gone over this subject many times. She glanced over at me. "Ah. I see."
Shana's flush deepened, but I decided to retain my dignity, so I didn't respond. She beamed at us. "Well, I just happened to be in the process of making dinner, so I suppose I'll have to make some extra."
Shana spoke up. "I'd be more than happy to help out."
Lady Slambert smiled at her. "Such a nice girl. Are you sure..."
Her voice trailed off as Lavitz shot her a silencing glare, and she sighed. "Oh, all right. Come along, dear."
Shana followed her into the kitchen, and they shut the door behind them, indicating that we were officially not welcome in their domain. Lavitz turned to me, shrugged, and shook his head. "Come on."
He led me up a wooden staircase to the loft. We sat down on the roof, staring out at the quiet serene city below. I spoke first. "So, what are you doing now?"
"King Albert is sending me to Hoax."
"Hoax? If my sense of geography serves me correctly, that's not too far from here."
"Half a day's journey, better in good weather."
So the Sandoran forces were close to Bale. The threat was more serious than I had originally thought. "Well, would you be interested in taking a couple of stragglers along for the ride?"
"Who, you and Shana?
I rolled my eyes. "No, I happen to be on good personal terms with King Zior and Queen Theresa, and I'm going to send them a telepathic message so they come charging into battle in their magical flying carriages. Of course us, you moron."
Lavitz chuckled. "I doubt Kaiser would mind having a couple more pairs of hands helping out."
"Kaiser?"
"Head of the Eighth Knighthood. He's in charge of the defense of Hoax."
"Ah."
"Dinner, boys!"
Lavitz and I both sighed simultaneously. Lavitz got up first, and I followed as we headed back down toward the kitchen. A tantalizing aroma greeted us when we walked down the stair. I realized how long it had been since I had eaten some truly good food. Being abroad on mercenary duty prevented you from getting any real delicacies. Food was often scarce if you traveled somewhere out of the way, you took what you got, and there was no complaining. This dinner would be a welcome change.
Indeed it was, with a gigantic roast chicken, potatoes, various vegetables, and several other things I hadn't even seen before. Lavitz raised an eyebrow skeptically. "This is a little extra?"
His mother grinned mischievously. "Well, all right. King Albert sent ahead and told me you were coming."
"Good old Albert. Remind me to thank him later."
Despite the excellent food, I found myself ill at ease at the table. Not just because I was in the house of a man I had met while running through a prison slicing open throats, but also because I hadn't eaten with other people in a long time. Unless you counted your meals in a mercenary band as among other people, which I didn't, because everyone simply ate, then left to attend to their own agendas. Shana kept glancing at me as though embarrassed, although I couldn't understand why. Unless I was in violation of some unspoken taboo, I didn't think I was doing anything wrong. I decided not to let it bother me, and I continued eating.
The conversation seemed strained in a hopeless sort of way, and I for the most part remained silent, not knowing what to say. I would have thought Lavitz and his mother would have had a lot to talk about, considering how long they had been apart. But I noticed how their gazes kept constantly sliding toward the empty chair at the head of the table. Evidently the death of Lavitz's father was still weighing heavily on both of them. The dinner ended in silence, and we bade Lady Slambert a polite goodbye before heading on our way to Hoax.
When we arrived in Hoax several hours later, a heavily armored man in a long flowing cape approached us. I assumed that this was the man Lavitz had mentioned, Kaiser. He looked intensely relieved to see Lavitz, and clapped the other knight heavily on the back. "By the Divine Tree, Sir Lavitz, it's damn good to see you! Who are these with you?"
"Two of my friends. We'll save introductions for later. How are the defense plans coming?"
"Well, we're optimistic about the actual battle, but preparations have certainly been a trip to hell and back. We have no idea how many Sandorans are headed for Hoax, so we have every man and boy that can hold a sword ready to fight, but we don't have nearly enough people to prepare meals or tend to the wounded..."
Shana visibly brightened, undoubtedly glad at the prospect of being of assistance. "I can do that! I can cook and I know first aid."
Kaiser looked at her like he wanted to kiss her, in that desperately thankful sort of way. He directed her to the temporary headquarters, and she headed off. Kaiser turned to us. "Any time you two are ready to take a guard post, just head up and relieve a sentry."
Lavitz and I nodded, and we walked up to the citadel in silence. For some reason, as I always did in anticipation of a decisive battle, I found myself searching for the pendant I wore around my neck. Sure enough, the ruby stone that hung on a golden chain around my neck remained there. As usual, I felt slightly embarrassed at checking. It wasn't as if it was going anywhere.
It had belonged to my father, and that was all I knew about it. I had found it after I had come back to Neet after the Black Monster had destroyed the town and my parents along with it. I don't know why I kept it, it was a silly sentimental thing, and I wasn't even sure what my father needed it for. But it brought me comfort before combat, so I held onto it. For some reason, I seemed particularly drawn to it this night. It gleamed at my touch, as it was prone to do, although I could never figure out why.
Lavitz looked sideways at me in concern. "You all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
We reached the fort, heading for the outer walls, and we relieved the sentries at a section of the barrier. We waited, not speaking. I took a moment in the silence to gauge my surroundings. The hooting of owls filled the night, deafeningly loud in the otherwise quiet town. "Sure are a lot of birds around here, aren't there?"
"We should take it as a good omen. They say that as long as the owls keep calling to each other, no danger will befall the city."
As if on cue, the bird calls suddenly halted. Then the first rain of arrows came soaring over the battlements. Lavitz backed up, seeking cover from the downpour of lethal projectiles, before he sounded the grim call.
"We're under attack!"
Author's Note: Yes, I know this one was shorter than usual, but next chapter is the big Hoax battle scene, including the fight with Kongol and Dart going all Dragoon-y for the first time. Isn't that special? In the meantime, review and wait for the next chapter impatiently. I command you. For I am me, Lord of all... stuff. Hold on, let me think of something... bacon. That's it. I am now the Lord of Bacon. Kneel, foolish mortals. OK, I'm done.
Chapter 5
We stopped near a modest home not too far from Indels. I hesitated and glanced at Lavitz, unsure if we were to go on, but the knight headed for the door. Apparently, being the head of the First Knighthood and having a highly respected father, deceased though he was, did not require you to live lavishly. Yet another thing I liked about Lavitz, he was anything but arrogant. He swallowed his pride to set an example for others. Despite my dubious first impression of the knight, I now felt a connection with the man.
He held the door open for Shana, while I took up the rear. The sound of the door shutting alerted the house's sole occupant. A middle-aged woman walked through a doorway into the hall, and gasped when she spotted us. "Oh, Lavitz!"
"Hello, Mother."
"Oh, my. It's been so long." Her gaze fell on Shana. "Oh, and who's this? Have you finally managed to get married? High past time."
Shana went red, and Lavitz sighed in exasperation. "Mother..."
Apparently they had gone over this subject many times. She glanced over at me. "Ah. I see."
Shana's flush deepened, but I decided to retain my dignity, so I didn't respond. She beamed at us. "Well, I just happened to be in the process of making dinner, so I suppose I'll have to make some extra."
Shana spoke up. "I'd be more than happy to help out."
Lady Slambert smiled at her. "Such a nice girl. Are you sure..."
Her voice trailed off as Lavitz shot her a silencing glare, and she sighed. "Oh, all right. Come along, dear."
Shana followed her into the kitchen, and they shut the door behind them, indicating that we were officially not welcome in their domain. Lavitz turned to me, shrugged, and shook his head. "Come on."
He led me up a wooden staircase to the loft. We sat down on the roof, staring out at the quiet serene city below. I spoke first. "So, what are you doing now?"
"King Albert is sending me to Hoax."
"Hoax? If my sense of geography serves me correctly, that's not too far from here."
"Half a day's journey, better in good weather."
So the Sandoran forces were close to Bale. The threat was more serious than I had originally thought. "Well, would you be interested in taking a couple of stragglers along for the ride?"
"Who, you and Shana?
I rolled my eyes. "No, I happen to be on good personal terms with King Zior and Queen Theresa, and I'm going to send them a telepathic message so they come charging into battle in their magical flying carriages. Of course us, you moron."
Lavitz chuckled. "I doubt Kaiser would mind having a couple more pairs of hands helping out."
"Kaiser?"
"Head of the Eighth Knighthood. He's in charge of the defense of Hoax."
"Ah."
"Dinner, boys!"
Lavitz and I both sighed simultaneously. Lavitz got up first, and I followed as we headed back down toward the kitchen. A tantalizing aroma greeted us when we walked down the stair. I realized how long it had been since I had eaten some truly good food. Being abroad on mercenary duty prevented you from getting any real delicacies. Food was often scarce if you traveled somewhere out of the way, you took what you got, and there was no complaining. This dinner would be a welcome change.
Indeed it was, with a gigantic roast chicken, potatoes, various vegetables, and several other things I hadn't even seen before. Lavitz raised an eyebrow skeptically. "This is a little extra?"
His mother grinned mischievously. "Well, all right. King Albert sent ahead and told me you were coming."
"Good old Albert. Remind me to thank him later."
Despite the excellent food, I found myself ill at ease at the table. Not just because I was in the house of a man I had met while running through a prison slicing open throats, but also because I hadn't eaten with other people in a long time. Unless you counted your meals in a mercenary band as among other people, which I didn't, because everyone simply ate, then left to attend to their own agendas. Shana kept glancing at me as though embarrassed, although I couldn't understand why. Unless I was in violation of some unspoken taboo, I didn't think I was doing anything wrong. I decided not to let it bother me, and I continued eating.
The conversation seemed strained in a hopeless sort of way, and I for the most part remained silent, not knowing what to say. I would have thought Lavitz and his mother would have had a lot to talk about, considering how long they had been apart. But I noticed how their gazes kept constantly sliding toward the empty chair at the head of the table. Evidently the death of Lavitz's father was still weighing heavily on both of them. The dinner ended in silence, and we bade Lady Slambert a polite goodbye before heading on our way to Hoax.
When we arrived in Hoax several hours later, a heavily armored man in a long flowing cape approached us. I assumed that this was the man Lavitz had mentioned, Kaiser. He looked intensely relieved to see Lavitz, and clapped the other knight heavily on the back. "By the Divine Tree, Sir Lavitz, it's damn good to see you! Who are these with you?"
"Two of my friends. We'll save introductions for later. How are the defense plans coming?"
"Well, we're optimistic about the actual battle, but preparations have certainly been a trip to hell and back. We have no idea how many Sandorans are headed for Hoax, so we have every man and boy that can hold a sword ready to fight, but we don't have nearly enough people to prepare meals or tend to the wounded..."
Shana visibly brightened, undoubtedly glad at the prospect of being of assistance. "I can do that! I can cook and I know first aid."
Kaiser looked at her like he wanted to kiss her, in that desperately thankful sort of way. He directed her to the temporary headquarters, and she headed off. Kaiser turned to us. "Any time you two are ready to take a guard post, just head up and relieve a sentry."
Lavitz and I nodded, and we walked up to the citadel in silence. For some reason, as I always did in anticipation of a decisive battle, I found myself searching for the pendant I wore around my neck. Sure enough, the ruby stone that hung on a golden chain around my neck remained there. As usual, I felt slightly embarrassed at checking. It wasn't as if it was going anywhere.
It had belonged to my father, and that was all I knew about it. I had found it after I had come back to Neet after the Black Monster had destroyed the town and my parents along with it. I don't know why I kept it, it was a silly sentimental thing, and I wasn't even sure what my father needed it for. But it brought me comfort before combat, so I held onto it. For some reason, I seemed particularly drawn to it this night. It gleamed at my touch, as it was prone to do, although I could never figure out why.
Lavitz looked sideways at me in concern. "You all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
We reached the fort, heading for the outer walls, and we relieved the sentries at a section of the barrier. We waited, not speaking. I took a moment in the silence to gauge my surroundings. The hooting of owls filled the night, deafeningly loud in the otherwise quiet town. "Sure are a lot of birds around here, aren't there?"
"We should take it as a good omen. They say that as long as the owls keep calling to each other, no danger will befall the city."
As if on cue, the bird calls suddenly halted. Then the first rain of arrows came soaring over the battlements. Lavitz backed up, seeking cover from the downpour of lethal projectiles, before he sounded the grim call.
"We're under attack!"
Author's Note: Yes, I know this one was shorter than usual, but next chapter is the big Hoax battle scene, including the fight with Kongol and Dart going all Dragoon-y for the first time. Isn't that special? In the meantime, review and wait for the next chapter impatiently. I command you. For I am me, Lord of all... stuff. Hold on, let me think of something... bacon. That's it. I am now the Lord of Bacon. Kneel, foolish mortals. OK, I'm done.
