Thomas slowly left the room, startling Sam at how quietly he could move with how thick and large his armour is.
"What happened to the High Warden?" Sam asked, falling into step with Thomas as he set a furious pace out of the building.
"He refuses to believe I am a Champion and has threatened to put a bounty on our heads if we both do not leave the kingdom of Ashfeld" Thomas replied darkly, he rounded a corner and stopped almost tripping Sam up from his sudden stillness.
"What the hell?" Sam asked before noticing what had made him stop, in front of them stood an Orochi and a Peacekeeper.
The tension in the air was suffocating; no one spoke. Sam slowly started gripping the handle of his sword harder.
"Next time you go running off to get the new guy without me Thomas I will drag you back to the hall tied up like a pig" The Peacekeeper growled, her tone of voice told Sam she was prepared to do that exact thing.
"Good to see you too beautiful" Thomas chuckled, settling down his pole-axe and spreading his arms. "Do you want a hug to cheer you up?"
The Peacekeeper looked away and crossed her arms while the Orochi held out his hand, which Thomas shook firmly.
"Good to see you are still alive Thomas" He spoke as if he and Thomas had been long friends.
"You sound worried Ethan" Thomas chuckled shaking his hand "You were a knight too remember?"
"Yes but I decided the Samurai were more along my lines of combat, no male Peacekeepers remember?" Ethan replied, a soft chuckled coming from under his mask.
"Yeah I remember" Thomas grinned before turning to Sam. "So you may be on edge but these the Orochi are my closest friend and ally"
"You said he was once a knight?" Sam asked peering at Ethan.
"Yes he was a Warden but found our equipment too slow so went to the Samurai" Thomas explained as Ethan looked back, idly fiddling with the grip on his katana "In return for them being allowed to recommend troops for the Champions they trained him"
"Yes now you could say I am a sort of ambassador between knights and the Samurai" Ethan spoke up, his cheery tone slightly stressed "It is tiring having to go between the Samurai temple to train and look at their warriors and the Hall of Champions"
"Ah but you love it, wasn't there a certain Kensei you fell for?" Thomas chuckled, prodding Ethan in the side while he awkwardly coughed
"We do not need to talk about her" Ethan murmured, he sounded embarrassed and shuffled awkwardly on the spot.
"Sure" Thomas turned to the Peacekeeper who still had her arms crossed "This is my wife Ceri, she is one of the best peacekeepers in our time"
Ceri twitched slightly at the compliment and took great interest in the floor
"While her harsh greeting to me may sound drastic she was just worried about me that is all" Thomas continued, turning back to her "Sure you do not want a hug?"
Ceri looked up at him for a moment before rushing over and jumping into his arms as Thomas swung her around holding her close.
For Sam this was the most shocking thing of all: Lawbringers were supposed to be almost married to the law, taking up oaths to never marry or fall In love with another so they can concentrate completely on the job. He had heard Peacekeepers were almost devoid of all emotions, brutal and efficient. Here was a Lawbringer and a Peacekeeper showing love and affection for each other.
"You are breaking many oaths are you not?" Sam stuttered.
"If we were not Champions then we would be" Thomas chuckled, still holding Ceri close "But as a Champion you make your own oaths"
"What are Champions?" Sam finally asked.
Letting go of Ceri Thomas picked up his pole-axe and turned back to Sam.
"Let us get out of the city and I will tell you" Thomas replied setting a furious pace once again, Ethan and Ceri easily kept up with Thomas while Sam had to jog to keep up with them.
One hour later
"Right we are out of the city's perimeter" Sam huffed as he sat down on a broken tree stump "Care to explain who the "Champions" are?"
Thomas stood still for a bit before shrugging and leaning against a tree as Ethan and Ceri took up various positions around their makeshift camp.
"The Champions…" Thomas started "The Champions are a group of the best fighters for all three nations but only recently. Originally there were only knights, men and women who excelled in their trade more than anyone else"
"What do you me-" Sam started before Thomas held up a hand.
"Leave all questions till the end" Thomas almost ordered Sam before he continued.
"Ethan was originally meant to be the Champion for the Warden's, for their can only be one Champion per trade, but he decided that our weapons and armour were too bulky and too slow for his taste. So he went to the Samurai with a proposition to help improve the alliance, they trained him in the ways of an Orochi warrior and they will be able to send their own people to join the Champion's." Thomas explained. "Then we had to let the Vikings in also or war could threaten to boil over again"
"We did have a Champion for the Wardens but he has been removed from duty, he has suffered terrible wounds so now is more of an administrator. Keeping tabs on the three nations and possible candidates for new Champions" Thomas finished up "That is why you were chosen for the next Champion, you are the best Warden the city of Ashfeld had so you were chosen"
"And if I refuse?" Sam looked up after fiddling with some of the straps on his armour.
The mood in the camp died down as everyone turned to look at Thomas as he pushed himself off the tree and looked away for a moment.
"Then this is as far as I take you. You are not allowed to see the path to the Champion's Hall" Thomas finally replied, his head rotating slightly so only a few of the holes in his helmet faced Sam. He did not need to speak of the threat he just issued, it was heard by everyone in the camp, the way Ethan had slid part of his katana out of the sheath; revealing a sharp and deadly blade and how Ceri had suddenly become still, her helmet facing Samuel and not moving.
"Well then it is a good thing I do not plan on refusing" Sam said standing up and holding out his hand towards Thomas who took it with a thundering laugh
"That is the spirit!" He laughed pumping Sam's arm up and down with delighted fury.
Ethan slowly pushed the blade back into his sheath and moved toward the two of them as Ceri did the same, standing beside Thomas and laying a hand on his arm stopping him.
"You'll break his arm off if you don't stop" She almost whispered but Thomas slowed to a stop and released Sam's arm, patting Sam on the shoulder.
"My sincere apologies, I just love it when we get another Champion!" Thomas still roared with laughter.
"You like it because there is a feast and only I can match you in a drinking contest" Ethan chuckled which Thomas only laughed more at.
"Yes of course! The food is great and the company greater!" He gave Ethan a firm slap on the back, which made him stumble a bit "Now let us be off! It is a long march and that mead will not drink itself!"
Setting off again they all fell in line with Thomas as they put more distance between them and the city of Ashfeld, a warm winding following them along as a crimson sun began to set on the horizon.