Chonsario - A 10th century Byzantine term used to denote light cavalry, used for scouting and raiding. They were also the first known instance of Hussars, 18th and 19th cavalry soldiers. Of course, I've taken some creative license and pulled them in my fantasy universe.
It is difficult to describe their beautiful uniform, so here's a picture (Source: Wikipedia):
wiki/File:Mus%C3%A9e_de_l%27Arm%C3%A9e_-_F%C3%A9vrier_2011_(8).JPG
will not allow me to type the entire link text. Please type "Musée de l'Armée - Février 2011 (8).JPG" in Google to view the image.
YALDSON - A 15th century word literally meaning "the son of a prostitute."
Tony and Pepper meet an old, good friend here. In AU form.
Set your life on fire. Seek those that fan your flames.
The foliage was thick, so Tony and Pepper could move around undetected. There were four men on horseback. They were circling something or rather someone.
A man who yelled "You fools think you are so brave, attacking me on horseback. Why don't you come down and face me?"
A horseman poked him hard with a pike and the circled man yelled in pain. The others laughed in mirth. One of them left the circle and stood to one side. The moon shone brightly, illuminating his face.
Pepper stared at the man, fascinated by his distinctive attire. He had a black short jacket, that had beautiful gold braids on the sleeves and on its breast. The same braid extended to his red trousers. He wore high, black, shiny Hessians and carried a long, thin, sabre. To top it all off, he wore a high, thick hat of bear fur and had a short-waisted over-jacket in red and black trim, perched jauntily over one shoulder. She had never seen anyone dressed like that before. He also made her shiver uncontrollably for some reason.
Tony was standing right next to her and she felt him tense. He was also staring at the man intently.
He muttered a single word angrily, "Chonsario".
She whispered in his ear, "Tony, do you know them?"
"No, but I know of them. They are cavalry soldiers from the snowy hills of Mount Moria. They are mercenaries that operate as a single, dedicated unit and are often employed by a overlord of an area. They are merciless raiders who destroy villages and kill for fun. They have no care for life."
He looked at her and she was shocked by the bleakness in his eyes. "I've seen their handiwork first hand and the destruction they leave behind. But I've never seen them around these parts. Who do they work for, I wonder."
Pepper nodded and then gasped as the lone horseman pulled out a long sabre and motioned for the circling to stop. They watched as the hapless man in the center, was pushed forward with the pike. He was broad, dark-haired and burly with a nasty cut on his forehead.
The mustachioed horseman, who Pepper felt, was the Captain, uttered in a thick, growling voice.
"Well, peasant fool, you were foolish enough to escape for help. We will show you what we do to escapees. After that, we will string up your carcass in the village as an example for others."
He then grinned maliciously, "No one will hear you scream. Start saying your prayers."
Two riders dismounted and withdrew their sabers as well. The burly man clenched his fists and struck a defensive pose.
"We can't let this happen." Pepper said, turning to Tony.
But Tony was not there.
Where did he go?
Just then, a loud whistling noise was heard echoing through the trees. The riders turned towards the noise.
A rider-less horse trotted into view.
It's Balthazar but where is Tony?
Then from the shadowed trees, she saw Tony silently throw his stabbing knife straight at one of the Chonsario. It hit him in the eye and he fell off his horse, screaming in pain. The riders who had been staring at Balthazar, turned to their fallen comrade.
Pepper tried to attract the attention of the burly man. But he was busy looking for a way to escape.
Another loud whistle was heard and Balthazar galloped back into the foliage.
"Catch that horse and find out who is calling him. I want his head!" The Captain ordered.
One horseman obeyed his order and rode after Balthazar. He disappeared behind the bushes. Then a loud scream was heard followed by a gurgling noise. Everyone tensed in anticipation. The soldier's horse returned to the group, the body of the soldier wrapped around its saddle.
The Captain trotted over to inspect the body. The soldier's throat had been slit. The injured horseman was still crying with the knife in his eye while his companion tried to clean his wound. Taking advantage of the chaos, the burly man was inching closer to the bushes where Pepper was hiding.
Then Tony burst into the clearing on Balthazar , riding straight for the Captain. Pepper saw the other horseman start to run back to his horse and decided to intervene.
"Hey!" she yelled thickly. "Come and face me, you fiend."
I've trained for this... I am ready for this. I know what to do.
She assumed a defensive position, raised her shield and faced the horseman, who was on foot. He bared his teeth at her and charged. She countered his first blow with her shield, then hit him in the face with the hilt of her sword. He stumbled back and came at her sword, raised. Before she could react, the burly man ran into him and pushed him off balance. Then he picked up the fallen sword and stabbed the horsemen fatally.
He turned to stare at Pepper. "Thanks." she uttered weakly.
"Watch out!" he yelled and Pepper turned to see the injured horseman stagger towards them with his sword drawn. The burly man stepped right in front of Pepper and boxed the man squarely in the face. He was knocked out.
Tony and the Captain were still fighting on horseback. The Captain saw that he was outnumbered and rode away in haste. Tony didn't give chase but instead dismounted and came over to them.
"Are you all right, my good man?" He asked the burly man.
"Yes and thanks but no thanks for your help. I could have handled it." The burly man said surlily.
Tony chuckled good-naturedly at that. "Didn't seem like it, friend. The four idiots were ready to skewer you."
"Yes, well I was just biding my time. I had everything under control. I was just ... waiting to spring my attack." The man was clearly trying to show off.
Pepper asked curiously. "Why were they chasing you?"
The burly man glared at her and then glared at Tony. "What's it to you and milord here?"
He turned away angrily. "It's my cross to bear."
Tony said evenly, "You know who I am."
"Of course I do. You are Lord Stark, the owner of the Stark Keep. I've seen you before. You come once a year to meet our yeoman. Do you know who I am? No, I'm sure you don't, your lordship."
"Please call me Tony and I know you are the village furrier. Hereweald, is it?"
The burly man was nonplussed. Pepper covered her mouth to hide her giggle.
Tony grinned at her and continued "I remember you because the yeoman told me you got the most amusing nickname because of an infamous incident ... isn't it Happy?"
Hereweald turned brick red, clearly embarrassed. "Alright your lordship, if you are done mocking me, I'm leaving. I am on a mission."
"Wait, wait, tell us what happened Happy?"
Hereweald became serious and said "You seriously don't know? These Yaldsons have taken over the village. They came down the hills yesterday night and took us by surprise."
Pepper gasped.
He continued "No one knows for sure, what they want. They think we are hiding something, so they are holding our women and children hostage in the town center. The men have been rounded up and imprisoned in the town gaol. Their captain, the arse who just ran away, is going to kill a hostage every day until we tell him or show him what he wants. I managed to escape while my friends caused a distraction but they realized it and chased me. I was trying to get some help."
He paused. His eyes brimmed with tears. "My wife and son are in that barn. I need to save the village or or die trying."
Pepper was lost in thought. Stane did the same to my people. We were also unprepared. I wonder how many of my folk remain unharmed.
Tony voice broke her reverie.
"Happy, we are here to help you. Show us the lay of the village from the distance .so we can plan an attack."
Happy snorted rudely. "What will you and your squire do? It will take a miracle to save us. It will take an army to chase these raiders off. You got an army hidden away in your keep, your lordship?"
Tony calmly said, "Not an army. But ... will the Iron Knight do?"
Happy snorted again. "Sure, a ghost will save us. Get your knight and his mystical beast."
Tony smiled sagely. "He's a close personal friend and he will help us. Now take milady and I to the village, quietly."
"Milady?!"
This was Pepper's cue to dramatically push her hood off and shake out her hair. She enjoyed the look of shock on Happy's face.
"You are a lady but you fought and I ... I thought you were a lad." He gulped deeply. "I'm sorry, I swore so much in front of you."
She smiled graciously. "Pleasure to meet you, Happy. There's no need to apologize. What should we do with the injured horseman?"
They turned to view the unconscious horseman who was sprawled on the snow.
Happy picked him up over one shoulder and placed him on his horse. He then slapped the horse on the rump and it galloped away towards the village. "That solves that. Let his people take care of him."
