I wish you all have/had a Merry Christmas! Sorry for the small delay, usually done and posted earlier, with both Christmas as well as a friend visiting, I've been busy heh.
Shorter chapter this time, I can't really waffle on about pointless things mid-travel and while I could have extended it, you'll see why it's short.
Anyway, on with our regularly scheduled program eh?
The horses were tied together with a long stretch of rope that Brandan had been carrying with his belongings. Their heraldry was removed and all their fallen masters' equipment was removed save for the saddles. They were far enough south that it was unlikely Greenskins would wonder onto the corpses and while Beastmen were always a concern near Athel Loren, chances are Bretonnians would find it long before any Beastman stumbled into the site.
Naestra took the lead of the horses, while Arahan and Brandan took the sides, forming a triangle around the animals to ensure they stuck together. While they might have believed her words with complete trust, that didn't mean they would not accidently wander off.
They travelled in relative silence and focused on their work. Hours passed quickly, and soon they found themselves making good distance to Montfort. They found a nice site in a small grove of trees. Brandan made quick work of tying the horses in the grove, giving them plenty of room to graze. Naestra and Arahan went around their usual routine. Arahan prepared their cooking utensils while Naestra went to find something for them to eat. She quickly found a pair of young rabbits, who willingly gave themselves to her. As she was walking back to Arahan however, Brandan walked up to them.
"How did you do that Lady Naestra?" he asked with a confused expression. The Sisters blinked in unison.
"Do...what?" Naestra asked curiously, looking at her sister with an equally perplexed expression.
Brandan sighed and sat down by their campsite. "Why do the beasts listen and obey you? Those rabbits just let you kill them. And the bird, back before we got intercepted, it must have told you they were coming. How? What is this elf...magic?" he said questioningly.
The Twins kept looking at him with completely perplexed expressions. Eventually, Naestra spoke up.
"Animals listen to me when I ask them, they trust me explicitly. Arahan can do the same, but not out of trust but fear and respect." she explained to the knight, who nodded in limited understanding.
"Is that some skill of the Elves of Athel Loran then?" he asked with an curious expression.
Naestra shook her head, "No, this is something unique to us."
The Questing Knight nodded and said no more. They began to prepare a stew while Brandan began to work on his sword, cleaning, sharpening and polishing the blade. Once finished, he looked at his weapon with a satisfied expression and looked at the Sisters.
"Would you like me to perform some maintenance on your weapons while you cook my ladies?" he offered to the twins. However, the twins shook their heads in refusal.
"No need, they are specially for us made by the finest smith of the entire world, Lord Daith." Arahan explained with a faint smile shared by Naestra. Brandan gave them an intrigued look.
"If I may, who is this Lord Daith?" he asked respectfully. Arahan shrugged and continued making dinner while Naestra sat down next to the knight, drawing her sword.
She ran her hand over her blade with a distant smile. "Lord Daith is a Glade Lord, though he spends most his time at his forge. He has crafted the finest weapons imaginable, only those from Gods themselves or made from magic could be potentially finer." She gave a small giggle as she continued. "Even then it would be a close comparison. He is very old, though looks no younger than the average adult Elf. Some say he is as old as our leaders Orion and Queen Ariel, one of the first colonists that came to Athel Loran. Regardless, he has quite the fiery tongue, but he is like an uncle to us." Naestra paused with a moment before continuing, "Truth be told, he's the closest we will have to family."
Arahan nodded in agreeance. Brandan looked at them, questions burning in his eyes. Naestra giggled while Arahan rolled her eyes in casual boredom.
"We have our secrets, you don't get to know all of them though." She said good-naturedly. The knight bowed his head in embarrassment as the sisters laughed at his embarrassment. Arahan finished dinner and passed a pair of bowls to the two while Naestra entertained the young knight with a few interesting stories they had with their faux-uncle.
Dinner was finished and soon they found themselves in sleep's embrace.
Beady eyes watched from the shadows before disappearing into the trees.
The next day came, the trio woke without issue, they had breakfast and untied the horses before continuing down the road.
Brandan continued to ask various questions from Arahan, who was willing to share some interesting stories about their past. Shortly, Naestra spotted a small castle in the distance, surrounded by a village of moderate size. Brandan quickly swapped with Naestra in leading the pack towards the castle.
They shortly arrived at the village, many of the peasants watching in awe at the sight of a Bretonnian Knight leading a large number of horses. A few people idlily eyed the two elves, but cloaked and hooded, they drew little meaningful attention compared to a travelling knight. A few men-at-arms came towards them.
Brandan explained to the men they would like visit the knight that ruled over this area. The two men led them to the castle and quickly were admitted entrance.
A tall man with a tabard left the main keep and walked over to them. He was armed with a fine sword and gave the three of them an appraising look before looking over Brandan. His eyes widened Brandan's armament.
"VÊtes-vous un chevalier en quête? Je respecte beaucoup votre choix, je suis le seigneur de cette terre, Lord Ricard. Comment puis-je vous aider?" asked the Lord respectfully. Brandan bowed his head respectfully as he dismounted his horse.
"My name is Brandan d'Bordeleaux, I am indeed a Questing Knight and I thank you for admitting my companions and I, Lord Ricard. We seek to have these horses taken out of our hands for a fair trade as well bring information." he explained to the lord who nodded in response.
"I presume we speak in this tongue for your companion's sake?" Lord Ricard asked, to which Brandan nodded. He nodded before looking over at the sisters. He noted their bows with mild disgust but said nothing. "Should I ask how you found seven warhorses?" he asked curiously.
Brandan nodded. "We were attacked by pathetic excuses for knights near Parravon, who were working for a foreign individual in Bordeleaux for rewards of currency. We slew them and left them to rot like the cowards they were, but took their horses with us." Lord Ricard nodded in understanding, his lip curling in anger.
He began examining the animals for a few minutes before turning back to Brandan.
The two knights began the arduous process of negotiation. Naestra and Arahan tuned out as minutes passed while the knights bargained. Eventually, a deal was struck and the three of them left with a large number of spare tools and food, along with a pack mule for carrying them in addition to a large sum of gold. Arahan had questioned their lack of meaningful gain compare to seven strong warhorses, but feel on the faint ears of Naestra and Brandan.
As a few peasants finished packing the mule, Lord Ricard came over to Brandan.
"Sir Brandan? A moment of your time?" he politely asked. Brandan nodded and turned to the man. "I think you will find this interesting, but there has been a noticeable decrease in Greenskin activity from here to Parravon. I personally suspect they gather at Massif Orcal, but you should know that if you are travelling closer to Montfort, you may run into more Greenskins than usual." Ricard explained.
Brandan frowned at the news. "Really? I travelled through Montfort a week ago after entering Massif Orcal along with another Questing Knight, there didn't seem to be any changes to the Greenskin's population according to the knights and peasants living near Massif Orcal."
Ricard shrugged, "Perhaps, I haven't left my lands recently, so perhaps I am mistaken, but I would still urge caution. I respect knights that take up the Questing Vow greatly, and it would be terrible if you saw a party of Greenskins to slay only to be hopeless outnumbered after attacking the beasts."
Brandan nodded his thanks and the two shook hands respectfully. He remounted his horse and led both his mount and the mule over to the Sisters.
Naestra looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Lord Ricard mentioned there was less Greenskins sighted then normal around here, but we are still three days from Montfort, so we may encounter more Greenskins than expected." he explained to the elf twins. Naestra frowned worriedly while Arahan gleefully grinned.
"Oh that's wonderful, more beasts for me to slaughter. I shall be thoroughly entertained from here to Montfort hopefully." Arahan said darkly while Naestra merely sighed.
The three rode their horses out of the castle's gate, Lord Ricard waving farewell.
The ride to Montfort was extremely concerning.
"Brandan, you said there would be Greenskins aplenty on the road to Montfort. There has been none." Arahan said with displeasure for the umpteenth time. Brandan sighed at her antics.
"I said MAY encounter more Greenskins. Not WILL. Besides Lady Arahan, while I would be glad to slay the beasts in the Lady's name, I am fine knowing the roads are safe." replied Brandan, also for the umpteenth time. Naestra sighed at their faux complaining.
Truth be told, she was happy to have a relaxing and uneventful trip to Montfort. However, a days ride from Lord Ricard's castle and only two days from Montfort, they had been no sign of anything.
And when she said anything, she meant anything.
There was near to no animals roaming around, many of which only faintly in the distance and running away the second they noticed them. The roads showed no signs of regular travel, though occasionally there would be a mess of tracks that seemed to be that of Orcs and Goblins, none could actually be seen around the hilly road to Montfort.
All in all, while Arahan was disappointed at the lack of conflict and Brandan had to contend with her boredom, Naestra was left to address her concerns alone. She drew her map and looked over it. There was a village on the route that they would soon encounter, so perhaps they could ask learn something there, and perhaps put her fears to rest?
She sighed and put her map away, then turned to her sister and companion.
"Sister, Brandan, if you would kindly cease your bickering, we are close to a village were we might learn more about what is going on in this land." Naestra said sternly to the two of them. Brandan bowed his head and while Arahan shrugged. Naestra then looked at Brandan, "Could you tell us what you know of the people of Montfort Brandan?"
The Knight hummed thoughtfully.
"Well, the Duke is a man by the name of Folcard d'Montfort, tall with dark hair, I've heard his glare is intense and fierce, but he is truly a kind and considerate man, especially to those of the Peasantry. He rules both fair and justly and personally goes to defend both foreign invaders and small raiding Greenskin parties. He established a signalling system apparently to receive news of attacks rapidly. I heard that whenever he leaves Castle Montfort to do this, he permits all to come to him to give their grievances and aids them as he cans. He genuinely cares for those of his realm and is beloved by both the nobles and the Peasantry. Curiously, he doesn't ride in combat often due to the mountainous terrain of Montfort and prefers to fight on foot." Brandan informed the sisters before chuckling mischievously, "I've also heard many women of all walks of life find Duke Folcard appealing."
Arahan gave a mildly disgusted expression while Naestra politely nodded.
"I am sure many Human women find him appealing." she said passively, but slightly bemused. Arahan gagged at her sister's comment and rode ahead a bit before shaking her head in disappointment while Brandan laughed in amusement before continuing.
"However, the people of Montfort are very xenophobic. While I can't speak for all nobles or the Duke himself, the Peasantry are very aggressive to anything that is not Human, I'd suppose due to constant Greenskin presence. They are hardy and most know how to fight. The settlements are well defended due to constant Greenskin attacks, so it would be best that you never reveal your identities and let me do most the talking. Should we be discovered, hopefully I can convince them to stay their hands, but expect every inconvenience to occur." he warned.
The sisters nodded in understanding, though Naestra noted the irony of Asrai interacting with xenophobic humans.
Cresting a large hill, Brandan was explaining the nature of how Montfort's economy was run when Arahan gasped in surprise.
"By the gods, look!" she shouted, point over the hill. Naestra and Brandan urged their mounts forward as Arahan stopped at the top of the hill and drew her bow and loosened her spear.
They reached the top of the hill and saw the village Naestra had pointed out on her map.
It was a blackened ruin. A small wooden wall around the village had been torn down and many buildings were nothing more than blackened piles of wood. Smoke could be seen trailing away, the hill having blocked their view somehow.
Brandan scowled deeply and drew his sword with a flourish before urging his warhorse into a gallop towards the village.
"Damnit, Brandan! Wait! It might be a trap!" Naestra shouted after the enraged knight. Arahan growled before racing past Naestra in hot pursuit of the Questing Knight, her hood falling from her head. "No, ARAHAN STOP! Oh damn it all..." she muttered as she drew her bow and sped after them.
As she drew close, her keen vision saw a number of body like shapes strewn across the wall and in between the gaps of destroyed wall. Naestra watched as Brandan soon reached the wall and rode in and out of sight, quickly followed by Arahan. Naestra groaned in displeasure. She stopped just outside the wall and commanded her horse waited there. She leaped over a piece of fallen wall, stepped over the numerous corpses of both Bretonnian and Greenskin alike and lunged for a balcony on a nearby building that was still intact. Naestra pulled herself up with practised ease and leaped onto the nearby roof of another structure and began freerunning across the roofs, following the sound of her sister and companion's mounts.
"You two better keep each other safe..." she muttered quietly as she ran.
Arahan's rage grew as she raced through the village, mere metres behind Brandan.
She ran as fast as she could through what remained of the outpost, Greenskin blood soaking her spear, her bow and her clothes. She couldn't have been too late, surely?
Growling loudly, she shook her head. Now was not the time for that.
Soon, she caught up to Brandan, who's face was a mixture of righteous rage and terrible fear. She nodded at the knight curtly as she followed him.
The two of them quickly reach the village centre. There was clear signs of a large skirmish here, the corpses Greenskin and Bretonnian Men-at-arms lay everywhere. Many other Bretonnian corpses were clearly not soldiers, but armed anyway. To Arahan's displeasure, there was also many mutilated corpses of children that had clearly taken up arms in desperation. Brandan reined his horse in front of a large three story building and all but leap from his saddle. He rushed towards the entrence of the building as Arahan did the same.
Inside, it was clearly some official structure, likely a town hall. More corpses were inside, more Bretonnian than Greenskin. A clear last stand. Arahan watched as Brandan quickly examined the hall and looked at a corpse in the centre of the room.
It was clearly a Bretonnian knight. He was clad in similar clothes to Brandan, though noticeably finer and more heavily armoured, though curiously lacking a heraldry. In his hand was a fine sword, shorter than Brandan's longsword, and nearby a dead man-at-arms carried a lance. Brandan slowly walked over to the fallen knight with faint "No...". The knight kneeled in front of his fallen counterpart and place a hand on the fallen knight's face. A faint sob came from the young Questing Knight.
Arahan walked up behind Brandan and gripped his shoulder in comforting sympathy.
"Brandan? I'm...sorry. We will massacre these feral beasts for this." she said in quiet rage, a sad frown on her face.
He merely whispered something in Bretonnian before closing the fallen knight's eyes in respect. Brandan took a deep, calming breath, but remained kneeled.
A few seconds passed and Arahan waited for her companion. Eventually, Brandan stood up and gripped his sword with righteous fury.
"The Greenskins will pay for this. All of this. In the Lady's Name and in the name of vengeance." he said quietly. Arahan nodded grimly.
Outside, the horses loudly neighed and the sound of rapid hoofbeats signalled their mounts retreat.
The two shared a look before marching back down the stairs into the hall. Brandan respectfully picked up the fallen knight's sword in his off-hand while Arahan drew a trio of arrows and rested them on her bow. The two shared a nod and walked out the town hall.
A number of goblins were standing in the once vacant centre, looting corpses while armed with makeshift spears and shields. Nearby, a pair of orcs in red and blue leather armour with large cleaver-like swords watched over the smaller Greenskins. A goblin at the base of the town hall looked over at them and looked away, before suddenly realising and turning back round only to be decapitated by Brandan. The sound of the goblins head and body slapping wetly on the ground alerted the orcs, who shouted loudly.
Their words were ignored completely by the two, who charged forwards. A trio of goblins rushed at Brandan, poking at him with their spears but trembling in fear. The enraged knight smashed the spear tips aside with his longsword before impaling one with the shorter sword. He quickly withdrew the sword and cleaved another in half with it while the final one attempted to flee. It didn't make more than two steps as the longsword came swinging and sliced the small creature in half diagonally. An Orc rushed forwards, swinging it's sword in a massive, wild swing. Brandan ducked under blade and swung his sword into the orc's hand, nearly cutting it off. The orc, somehow oblivious to the state of it hand, attempted to swing it's sword again only to miss wildly. Brandan then thrusted the other sword through the Greenskin's head. It didn't seem to realise it was dead and tried to crush the knight in it's arms only for Brandan to sidestep passed it and impaled the orc with both his swords.
The other Orc attempted to rush Arahan, who merely shot it's leg off with an arrow, it's thorns shredding through it's tough skin and bone with ease. Her second arrows was loosed into a pack of goblins attempting to rush her. They were absolutely annihilated by the thorns, leaving nothing but scraps of leather and metal amongst mutilated green mush. The third arrow was fired into the orc's head as it attempted to grab her by the legs as she walked up to it. Wiping off blood that splashed into her face, she swung her bow like a bat into a goblin's head, caving the creatures skull and snapping it's neck under the impact. She quickly slung her bow over her back and drew her spear, which she impaled on the final goblin as it attempted to spear her from behind. She swung her spear around and threw the corpse off it and into another goblin that came running into the centre. This caused the newly arrived goblin to be launched back and into a fallen spear, piercing through it's skull.
Suddenly, a number of goblins and orcs came rushing from the ruins of village, with a single, uniting scream.
"WAAAGH!"
