Digimon Tamers: Medieval Style

Chapter 2: Nordame

The sound of swords clashing against on another could be heard throughout the halls of Nordame's castle; following that sound led to a training area filled with numerous military equipment lining the walls and a cleared area where sparing could be done. Two young men were in the middle of this ring doing exactly what the room called for: training. The young brunette clashed swords with the other, holding it tightly for mere seconds before sending his partner to the ground.

"Come on Hirokazu! Is this the best you have for me?" The young brunette asked, breathing heavily.

"We've been doing this for almost an hour now! I'm surprised I can even stand at this moment!" Hirokazu yelled back defensively. "Can't we take just a small break, your majesty?"

The other cocked an eyebrow and grinned "Forty-five minutes is hardly anything... and for the last time Hirokazu," he said with up most seriousness, "call me Takato." He said this with a demanding voice filled with authority, though, he could not hide the grin curling upon his lips. "Now fight me!" He said reading himself once again.

Their attention was then brought to the three spectators standing off to the side, one of which was not human but what appeared to be a large red dragon. A dark haired youth, wearing spectacles stepped forward, excitement filling his face.

"Go Takato!" He yelled, jabbing his fist up and down into the air.

Hirokazu looked up at him and gritted his teeth. "Hey, whose side are you on anyway, Kenta?"

"Kenta smiled sheepishly before giving a reply, "I'm on whoever's winning side... This is Takato at the moment by the way."

"And I know whose side you two are on." Kenta said sarcastically, looking at the dragon and a young girl with short brown hair.

"I'm sorry Hirokazu. It's nothing personal," she said with a small smile on her lips.

"Well?" Takato asked growing impatient.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm standing- I'm standing!" He said as he begun to rise again, but before he could get up another presence was found in the room. He was an older man dressed in simple clothes and seemed to have an expression of urgency on his tired face.

"Your majesty," the man said bowing, "your presence is requested in the throne room."

Takato sheathed his sword and nodded in acknowledgment. He then turned to Hirokazu before speaking. "Sorry, we will have to cut short our little match for now." Takato then left for the throne room with the messenger following suite.

He walked down stone corridors through many passageways and portraits of royal monarchs from long ago. Once he finally reached the well furnished doorway that led to the throne room he was stopped by one of his servants who was holding a light blue cape.

Takato took the cape and swung it over his shoulders and clasped his family crest of a dragon so his cape would stay in place. After dismissing his to servants he then pushed open the two wooden doors that led into a dimly lit room. Nothing much could be seen at the moment, but there was enough lighting to show a man and a woman sitting on large thrones, with four men dressed formally standing to both of their sides. He slowly approached them and stopped halfway before them, bowing politely.

"You summoned me father?" Takato asked frigidly.

"Takato… Let me start off by saying that I do not wish for you to be apart of this… Though it was thought it best we have informed you of the surrounding kingdom's status." He paused a moment as he allowed his son to straighten himself. He could tell that he was confused about why he had called him here when it most likely sounded like he was getting another lesson. "We have recently learned of some events that have been undergoing in the kingdom of Hypnos. I can not tell you where this information originated, but I can tell you that it is valid."

"Yes?"

The king took a moment before continuing. "We have received reports that they are crating a device that could possible wipe out the digimon race." He said quickly, defiantly getting Takato's attention.

"Wiping out the digimon race..." Takato repeated with a hint of shock in his voice. "Is that even possible?"

"We are not sure if the device will truly fulfill what it is meant to do, but we do know that as of now it is being manufactured. What we want you to do is assemble two of your finest junior knights and send them to Nordame to find out more details about this and then relay us this information. We want to know how far along it is, who they have building it, and how much time we have left."

"I'm going too." Takato said stepping forward.

"No," Takato's mother protested "you will remain here where it is safe."

"Well, why not send a fully trained knight instead of rookies?"

"We need all the fine men we have just in case Hypnos decides to attacks us. We do, as you know, hold the largest population of digimon in our kingdom. Besides, they will not be expecting teenagers trying to gather information for our country."

Takato starred at his father before sighing in defeat. "I will do as you have asked me. I will send Hirokazu and Kenta along with Guilmon for protection first thing in the morning."

"Very well, you are dismissed."

Takato bowed before turning and leaving, but not without his lingering thoughts. "As long as Guilmon is involved in this I have to go. They'll just have to get over it."

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Hirokazu and Kenta were in their rooms gathering supplies for their long journey to the Kingdom of Hypnos. They were dressed in their full plated armor that covered them from the neck down with light cloth underneath. They threw a pair of civilian clothes into their bags for whenever they reached their destination so they could blend in easier. They weren't exactly exited about being chosen to be sent and frankly was surprised when asked by Takato last night to do it personally. Of course, they complied but were confused when told that Guilmon would be accompanying them. Seeing Takato and Guilmon separated was a rare sight indeed and they were wondering how long they could stand being apart. Just as they finished packing their bags Guilmon waltzed in. He was in an oddly cheerful mood considering he will be separated from his partner for who knows how long.

"What are you so happy about, Guilmon?" Hirokazu asked immediately.

"Nothing," Guilmon replied innocently, "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, let's say goodbye to Takato and Juri before we leave." Kenta said, picking up his bag.

"Uh, you can't see Takato right now." Guilmon said with sweat running down the side of his face.

"Why not?"

"... Well…just because..."

"That's a terrible reason!"

"Don't worry about it you'll see him soon enough." The red digimon said smiling.

Scratching his head in confusion, Hirokazu looked at him oddly. "What? No we won't."

"Let's just go." Guilmon said, leaving the room with the confused Kenta and Hirokazu following closely behind.

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Hirokazu, Kenta, and Guilmon were passing through the gates of Nordame about to set forth on their adventure to Hypnos when Guilmon suddenly stopped them. "Wait," Guilmon said, stopping.

"What now?" Kenta said turning around facing Guilmon frowning.

"Um... I forgot to do my exercises." To Kenta and Hirokazu's amazement the digimon began to do his stretches right before them. Lifting his claws into the air and reaching down to his feet as best has he could with his short arms. "Don't want to get a cramp on the way there."

"That's the stupidest thing I have-" Hirokazu was saying before Kenta began joining Guilmon in his calisthenics. Hirokazu glared at the two and was about to tell them how stupid they looked until he saw another knight dressed in the same armor running up to them. He was wearing similar armor besides the fact that he had a helmet completely covering his head and face.

"Hey," he yelled. "Don't leave without me!" Once he finally reached the three he bent over and started panting.

"Who are you?" Kenta asked walking toward him.

"I'm Tak-" he then paused for a moment before finishing his name, "eru. Yeah, Takeru. Nice to meet all of you."

"What are you doing here?" He then asked

"I was sent to join you on your mission."

"We weren't told about you."

"It was a last minute decision."

"And why should we trust you? I've never once seen you in any of our training sessions. How do we not know you're a spy?"

"Uh... I'm a new recruit."

He looked at him suspiciously. "Take off your helmet." Kenta demanded.

"Uh... I can't."

"Why?"

"I have... um…helmet hair."

Hirokazu and Kenta both stared at Takeru suspiciously, but right before something was said Guilmon interrupted.

"Let's just take him along. What's the worst that could happen?" Guilmon said smiling.

"Thanks, at least someone here trusts me." Takeru brushed past the two junior knights and joined Guilmon.

Hirokazu and Kenta looked at each other and decided that they were wasting time and that it would be easier just not to argue. The four finally headed into the forest and got on the trail that led to the neighboring town, Azile. The sun reached high noon and they were all now already farther from home than they've ever had been before.

Author's Note:

Next chapter: "Meeting Jenrya"