Fire Emblem
Knight Errant
Chapter 2
Making an Enemy
Sain had been on the road for a month or more. He had avoided the more prominent Houses of Lycia, knowing they would wish him to recount his adventures with Lord Eliwood's company. He wasn't ready to speak of the battles yet. It had moved him further from who he had been more than anything he could have imagined. He would have been welcomed among Pherae or Ostia, but there he would be unnecessarily detained for an indefinite amount of time, though he imagined Lord Eliwood would understand his wish to leave. But Sain had preferred the road to company right now, and anyone in his place could have justified his feelings. It was strange, having been on the road so long and not having met anyone. But then again, he had headed northeast, and was slowly approaching Bern, land of rugged wilderness. In a sense, Sain was lost, for he didn't know where he was. But how could one truly be lost, if his destination was of no true importance?
Sain was snapped out of his thoughts by his horse, as she halted, and jerked at the reins, shaking her mane. Roshan's ears perked up, and Sain heard it too. There were cries of protest and gruff yells. Sain frowned as he spurred Roshan onward, and his steed responded by quickening her pace. By the time they had cleared the crest of the hill, he saw it. A group of bandits, harassing a family in their cart. The marauders sneered and laughed at the family, obviously frightened of these burly, unsavory men. As Sain reached the gathering in the road, he reined Roshan in, and spoke.
"What seems to be the problem, men? Have these kind people offended you in some sort of way?" One of the bandits, a brigand, stepped forward. "Aye, but it be'nt any o' yer business." Suddenly he was clubbed in the head by one of his cohorts, a mercenary. "Forgive my partner, sir. There is no problem. My associates and I merely keep tresspassers from this road, and these people refuse to pay the tax. We regrettably must detain these people untill they pay the tax. Of course, we would be glad to allow you passage, if you pay the tax."
Sain nearly choked at this pitiful excuse the mercenary had offered. There was no doubt these men, if they could be called that, were a menace to the people using this road. Had he been alone, Sain most likely would have paid their foolish little tax and gone on. But they were making trouble for innocent people. "I would love to pay the tax, Mister..?" The mercenary spoke again. "My name is Kargil, sir." "Yes. As I said, I would love to pay your tax, but I seem to have a bit of a problem. You see, my wallet seems to be fastened to my belt. I'm afraid I'll have a terrible time paying your tax."
It seemed that the bandit's temper was flaring. He reached for his sword and spoke through gritted teeth. "Well then, -sir-, I'm afraid we'll have to help you tug it free.." Several of the other cutthroats brandished their axes and had sickening grins on their faces, looking much like jackals, waiting for the fight to start, ready to jump in. They would, of course, enjoy beating this man for his interference, and take his money. It would be a pleasant diversion from simply taking money from simpering fools. Sain's lips curled upwards in disgust as he looked at them. Then he calmly turned to face the family in the cart, and spoke softly. "As soon as this little skirmish begins, I suggest you get away from here with all the haste you can muster. No matter who wins, it will not be a pleasant sight, and should I fall, they will most likely set upon you next.
The old farmer nodded nervously as the strange knight spoke. Who was this man, to think he could take on near to ten bandits alone? But his warning had left no room for wondering. As Sain turned to face the horde once more, the farmer urged his horses on, taking his wife and son with him.
Sain pulled the iron lance from the leather sheath at Roshan's side. The war horse nickered softly, shifting a bit. She knew what came after that sound. Panic, blood, and shouts. Both she and her master had seen the like on their journey with the Lady Lyndis. This was but another page in their story. Sain broke the silence, as he spoke with confidence that almost made his words swagger. "So then, fellows, who shall be the first to throw himself on my lance?"
The bandits could put up with the foreigner no more. One gave out a cry, and tried to rush him, the strange emerald figure atop his horse. And quicker than any of them saw, their comrade was down, bleeding profusely from a puncture wound. But they kept on coming, bellowing at the top of their lungs when they rushed him, and crying out in pain as he set them to rest. Roshan, used to the ways of the battle, had begun circling the fighters, as to be a harder target. Their numbers thinned quickly. Soon there were only a few left. An axeman who had eluded Sain's first few strikes, and the mercenary called Kargil. Sain merely sat astride his mount, circling the duo, waiting on. Finally, the axeman had had enough, and leapt out at him, hoping to land a blow. The great iron axe barely missed Sain, and he thrust his own weapon through the unfortunate man, ending his years.
Now it was only Sain and Kargil. He was alone with the leader of the pack. Kargil glared at Sain. He had stopped circling him, and merely sat, watching him. The knight spoke wearily, as he looked down at the swordsman. "Do you yield? I have no more wish for bloodshed. Surely you have seen enough to satisfy you?" But the last bandit merely leered at him, and watched for a moment.
Then, with little warning, he struck. He leapt at Sain, like his comrades. But he was not as strong as they. Yet what he lacked in strength, he made up for in skill. Sain managed to block his first strike with a length of his lance, but could not land a blow of his own. The man was like a fox, striking only when he knew it was safe, and ducking back into safety when it was not. So Sain sat a bit more, waiting. Once again, the mercenary leapt, and this time Sain's blow caught him. As he leapt up to strike, Sain planted the lance in him. Kargil grunted, and Sain pushed him off the lance, onto the ground with a thud.
Finally, it was done. All of them were down. Both horse and rider were weary, but eager to leave the scene of blood and despair. So, they continued on the road. As they went, Sain labored to clean the lance. Yet no matter how hard he worked at it, the point always seemed as though it was bloodied to him, perhaps reflecting his own experiences. For indeed, Sain too felt as though he would never be clean. He sighed and slid the spear into its sheath.
But the omnious feeling left him as he cleared another hill. The farmer's wagon was ahead of him. So he spurred Roshan on a bit, to catch up to them. Maybe he could stay with them a while, and rest. Travelling was weary with no company, and fighting again had made it doubly worse. So he galloped up alongside the creaking cart. Its inhabitants turned, to see who was following. The young boy gasped as he saw who it was. The old farmer's eyebrows shot up in suprise, and his wife looked as though she might faint. Yet Sain merely grinned foolishly a little. The boy spoke first, in awe. "He's alive, mother! He beat all of them."
Sain laughed cheerily, and reached a hand out to ruffle the lad's hair. "Of course I'm fine. You didn't expect a knight such as I to be hindered by their ilk? Why, it was over in a second." It was strange, how moody he was lately. He had kept his friendly temperment at Caelin, because that was how everyone knew him. But these people barely knew him, and here he was, cheery and foolish as ever.
As the young boy marvelled over him and his horse, Sain brightened a bit. It was nice to be nearly hero worshipped. He had tuned it all out as they returned to Caelin, his mind fogged by that strange gloom. But it was back again. Over the lad's chattering, he spoke. "I don't mean to impose, sir, but I was wondering if you might have a spare room I could sleep in tonight, or even know of such a place? I would gladly pay you for your hospitality..." At this, the boy grew louder. "Oh! Please? Can he stay with us, please? A real live knight! C'mon.."
The older man laughed genially at his son, and nodded. "We have a room for you, but I won't take payment for it. You have done everyone in this area a favor. Those bandits have tried to take what money they could from travelers, and most of us are just farmers, coming back from market. Their tax is nearly everything we make, just to let us go home. My family and I would gladly welcome you, sir..?" "No sir is necessary, my friend. My name is Sain. And as for those rogues, I was merely doing my duty. I am glad that they shall not hinder kind folk such as you any longer."
The farmer's wife smiled, and nodded. "All the same, Sain, we owe you something. Come. Our home isn't far..."
END CHAPTER
So there it is, chapter two. A bit violent, but not overly so. It may seem a bit jumbled, especially during the fight scene, but isn't that how fights are? I probably should have started a new chapter after Sain defeated Kargil (pronounced CAR as in automobile, and gill as in a fish's breathing apparatus. Not that you care.) and his buddies, but I am eager to move along, though I feel like I rushed this chapter. Still stay tuned for more of Sain's adventures, and maybe we won't take such a big commercial break next time. Hey, who knows? If Steve keeps running on the little wheel in my head like Jesse Owens, maybe I'll be able to turn out the next chapter by tomorrow, though I promise nothing.
At any rate, thanks for reading,
J.D.