Agravain and Alberic had been riding for several hours, desperately looking for any sign of civilization. Thankfully, so far, there didn't seem to be any of the monstrosities of the old word, them being either Greenskins or Beastmen. Still, the lack of progress was frustrating.
« By the Lady…one would think that after so long, we'd be able to find some sort of settlement! » Alberic exclaimed.
« This seems like no normal forest, so far. Far from the enchanted realm of Athel Loren, but close. It's purer than anything in Bretonnia, for starters. » Agravain commented.
« May I ask how can you be this sure? You are no magician, Ser Agravain. » Alberic raised an eyebrow confused.
« I just….feel it. I guess it's the blessing of the Lady. She may be able to enable me to feel a tiny fraction of the Winds of Magic. » Agravain explained.
« And you say this forest is pure? » Alberic asked confused.
« So far….yes. It would also explain why we haven't found any Beastmen herds roaming around, wouldn't it? » Agravain reasoned.
« True. Doesn't the forest of Athel Loren also suffer the same problem? » Alberic asked.
« Nowhere near the same level as our forests. Definitely nothing like the forests of the Empire. But yes. There are still issues with the cloven ones. » Agravain explained.
As the two continued to ride, they reached an opening. And as they reached it, they noticed something rising from the canopy of the trees.
« Smoke. » Alberic said.
« Smoke? That means either a forest fire or a settlement. I believe the latter to be the answer. » was Agravain response.
« My thought as well. Let's pick up the pace: clearly, the Lady has shown us a salvation. » Alberic said, as he pronged his horse to move faster.
Xxxxxxx
They were nearing the village's edge.
Behind them, Enri heard the clanking of metal—and at a regular pace, too.
Praying in her mind, she glanced back. As she'd thought—as she'd worried the worst-case scenario might be—a knight was chasing them.
She took ragged breaths one after the other. Her heart was beating so fast she thought it would explode; her legs shook and it felt like she might run out of strength and collapse to the ground at any moment.
If she had been alone, she probably would have despaired and lost the energy to run. Her little sister, whose hand she held, gave her strength. Yes, the wish to save Nemu's life was the only thing keeping Enri going now.
She threw another glance over her shoulder as they ran. The distance between them had not changed much. Despite the armor, the knight wasn't slowing down. The difference between a trained knight and a village girl was painfully clear.
She was sweating and her entire body was assailed by a coldness. At this rate, she wouldn't be able to escape with Nemu.
«Let go of her hand. .., » she heard a voice say.
«You might be able to make it on your own. »
«Do you want to die here? »
«It might be safer to split up. »
«Shut up, shut up, shut up!" She ground her teeth and gasped a rebuke at herself.
Nemu looks like she's about to cry, so how come she doesn't?
It was because she believed in Enri. She believed her big sister would save her.
Clasping the hand that gave her the energy to run and the courage to fight, Enri thought.
«Agh! » If Enri was severely fatigued, Nemu was completely exhausted. She cried out as she tripped and nearly fell.
The reason she didn't fall was that the two of them were connected by their tightly held hands. But having to pull her threw Enri off-balance as well.
«Hurry! »
«I-I am! »
But when they tried to run again, Nemu's leg cramped up and wouldn't move right. When Enri panicked and went to pick her up, she realized in horror that the knight was right next to them.
The sword the knight held was slick with blood. And that wasn't all. His armor and helmet had both been splattered.
Enri stared the knight down, shielding Nemu.
«There's no point in resisting. » There was no tenderness in his words. They were said with more of a sneer. His slimy tone seemed to imply that he could kill them either way.
Enri's chest burned with rage.
The knight slowly raised his sword. Faster than he could cut her down, Enri smashed her fist into his iron helmet as hard as she could. «You think I'm that easy?! »
«Gwah! »
She'd put all her anger, and all of her will to protect her sister, into her fist. She wasn't scared of hitting metal. It'd been a punch that contained her whole body and soul. She heard the crunch of bone, and the pain shot through her entire body a moment later. The knight staggered from the impact.
«Let's go! »
«Yeah! »
Bearing the pain, they were just starting to run when Enri felt something red- hot on her back. «Ngh! »
«You little—!»
The humiliation of having underestimated a village girl must have made the knight angry. What had saved her, in fact, was that he'd lost his composure and swung so carelessly. But now she'd run out of luck. She was injured and the knight was mad. The next blow would surely be fatal.
Enri glared bitterly at the sword raised over her head. She could look at it with the sternest expression in the world, but its ominous sparkle told her two things. One: In a few seconds, she would almost certainly die. Two: As a mere village girl, there was nothing she could do to escape. « »
There was a bit of her own blood on the tip of his sword. It reminded her of the awful pain spreading out from the wound with each beat of her heart and the hot sensation she'd felt when she'd been cut. She'd never been in this much pain before, and it scared her so much she felt sick.
Although she was nearly discouraged, there was one reason she couldn't give in to despair: the warmth in her heart for her sister.
That thought didn't allow giving up as a choice, but the knight in full plate armor blocking their path sneered at her determination.
The sword came down.
Whether achieved by some trick of extreme concentration or her brain being activated by the life-threatening situation, it felt like time had slowed down; Enri flailed for a way to survive—for a way to save Nemu.
But there was nothing. If she had an idea, it was only to use herself as a shield—a last resort where she would take the sword with her flesh and make sure he couldn't get it out. She'd grab onto him somewhere, or maybe even onto the blade itself as it cut into her—in any case, she'd grab as hard as she could and never let go. Not until the last of her life flickered out.
If that was the only option she had, then she just had to accept it.
The smile of a martyr appeared on her face.
It was unclear whether Nemu would be able to escape the hell their village had become on her own. It was entirely possible that there was a lookout making sure no one ran into the forest. But if she could make it through this, she at least had a chance. For that slim chance, Enri would bet her life—no, everything.
Even so, fear of the imminent pain made Enri shut her eyes. She braced herself in the raven-black darkness for the agony that would come...
Xxxxxxx
Agravain and Alberic had continued to ride across the forest, and had begun to pick signs of civilization. For starters, they were now in a dirt road, which aided their steeds considerably when dealing with the terrain.
But as they reached another opening, they caught the glimpse of something.
« What in the Lady's name? » Agravain said out loud at the scene.
It was what seemed to be a knight, covered in blood, standing over a young teenager girl and a child. Suddenly, the elder girl punched the knight in the face, before grabbing the smaller child and attempting to flee.
The two knights were shocked at the current events, but nowhere as much as to what happened next. After receiving the blow, the knight slashed in anger at the back of the elder girl, who collapsed on the ground. Now, the knight stood on top of the two, the teenager acting as a shield to the child.
At the sight of this, the two knights blood boiled.
« You…..YOU MISERABLE BASTARD! » Alberic roared out, as he charged forward.
The blooded knight stopped his swing as he heard these worlds, as a blade came crashing down on him, decapitating the man. Alberic just looked in disgust at the now dead man.
« Disgusting. To harm an innocent damsel. You're worse than filth! » he hissed in pure hatred, uncaring of the fact that the knight was dead.
Another knight, with the same type of armour as the dead one, had arrived, confused at the scene. Alberic turned at him with pure ire.
« Are you, by any chance, a comrade of this filth? » Alberic spatted out, as he got off his horse. In the meantime, Agravain had arrived at the scene.
« If you are content to harm innocent women, I'm sure you'll be more than satisfied to fight a Duke of Bretonnia! » Alberic roared out, as he charged at his opponent. The two knights clashed blades, but it was obvious that Alberic held the advantage.
As the fight unfolded, Enri looked at the man confused. « Bretonnia? It is a noble house? » she thought, before wincing in pain from her wound. « Sis! » Nemu exclaimed worried, before a comforting hand was placed on her shoulder.
« Do not worry, my little lady. Your sister will survive. » Agravain comforted the child, before handing her elder sister a potion. « Drink it, my lady. It will heal the would that foul beast inflicted you. »
Enri was hesitant for a second, but eventually she drank the potion, the wound healing almost instantly. « T-thank you so much, sir! » the girl thanked her hero.
« Think nothing of it, madame. It is a duty of a knight to protect a damsel in distress. Unlike that….thing my comrade has righteously slain. » was Agravain response. In the meantime, quite easily so, Alberic had dealt with the other knight.
« Are you all right, my lady? » he asked concerned.
« D-do not worry, sir! This knight has given me a potion, and I feel better. » was Enri response.
« Forgive me my manners, my lady, but may I know your name? » Alberic asked.
« M-my name is Enri Emmot. And this is my little sister, Namu Emmot. We are from the village of Carne, but it has been attacked by knights of the Empire! » Enri explained.
The two knights looked at each other's confused. « "The Empire?" Are you quite sure they were Imperial soldiers? » Alberic asked a bit doubtful. Sure, the soldiers of the Empire could not compare in honour to the ones of Bretonnia, but this was taking a step too low. Even they had standards!
« Y-yes! The Baharuth empire has lead countless invasions of the region. Are you not aware? » Enri asked, trying to control her ire towards her saviours and superiors. How could these nobles not know her plight!? How could they be so pampered that they have no idea of the political situation on the frontier?!
Realization suddenly set in for the Bretonnians. She didn't mean THEIR Empire.
« My lady….if I may….could you tell us what country is this? » Alberic asked, genuinely confused.
All semblances of anger soon left Enri system, replaced by confusion. « You…you don't know? » she timidly asked.
« It is a long story. One that we may tell you another time. But now, we need as much information as possible. » Agravain politely asked.
« S-sure. It's the least I can do for saving my life. We're citizens of the Re-Estize Kingdom. » she explained.
The two Bretonnians looked at each other's once more. Never in their lives had they heard of these two countries.
« Thank you so much for your answer. Now, if you please, I'm afraid that we're off. » Alberic said, before getting back on his horse.
« W-wait! Please! » Enri pleaded, gaining the attention of the two knights. « I-I know it's a selfish request for a peasant girl like me…but please! Save my village, noble knights. »
Part of her pleaded that these nobles were different than the ones of her country. That they truly worked hard to protect their citizens. That they would answer the pray of a poor peasant like her.
« My lady. »
She was already expecting a refusal.
Instead.
« That is where we're heading. To save your people. And to kill all those bastards that dared to defile your home. »
Xxxxxxx
From atop of a hill, not too far from Carne village, Almaric, Bertrand, Gui, Bohemond, Calard and Francois watched the massacre unfold, blood boiling at the sight.
« SONS OF WHORES! ALL OF THEM! » Bertrand roared out at the sight.
« And I thought the men of the Empire lacked honour! Aside from their fancy armour, they're no different than Norscans! » Calard said disgusted at the scene.
« We will not allow this massacre to continue! Bertrand! » Almaric commanded the bowman. « Get your Bergerac Bowmen in position. Give those bastards hell! »
« With pleasure. » Bertrand hissed out, not even bothered that he was being bossed around. He was far angrier at the Baharuth empire knights massacring the village.
« As for all of us, charge! For the Lady! » Calard yelled out, as the Bretonnian knights let out powerful war cries.
Xxxxxxx
The Baharuth soldiers were about to kill yet another villager, when they heard a yell coming from the nearby hills. Before any of the knights realized, they were soon bombarded by a rain of arrows, killing several of them.
« Damn it! enemy reinforcements! » one man, yelled out, as he tried to protect himself with his shield. Soon, the sound of horse galloping was heard across the village and, all of a sudden, the four Bretonnian knights were seen charging in, striking against some of his fellow soldiers.
One knight, as he attempted to flee, was impaled by one of the Bretonnians, his body lifted up in the air.
It was so absurd no one could understand it. His armor may have been made lighter with magic, but it was still heavy, and he was a grown, built man. How strong must these horsemen had been to lift up an entire man in armour with a lance.
« Come, my companions! FOR THE LADY! » Calard yelled out, as he charged at the Baharuthians.
« Form a shield wall, lads! It's the only way we can survive! » the commander of the Baharuthian knights commanded, his soldiers creating a hastily made shield wall. But after seeing what the Bretonnians had done, they had their doubts they could hold the charge.
« Yeaaagh! »
A high-pitched shriek sounded, as if all hell had broken loose. One of the soldiers, no longer able to bear the fear, turned tail and ran. In an extreme situation like this, with such a delicate balance, one weak link could break the entire group. But no one followed him, and they had a very good reason not to. It's impossible to outrun a horseman.
The Bretonnian knights smashed upon the Baharuthian forces, shattering the shield wall, and slaying a score of the soldiers.
The fleeing soldiers failed to run too far. After having ran a couple of meters, Francois had impaled him with his mighty lance, before tossing him against a nearby building, shattering the dead man spine.
« What's the matter, cowards!? Too scared to face a knight of Bretonnia!? » Francois growled, as he charged once more on the enemies. As he did, let a powerful war cry.
It was a howl of pure fury. So much so that the Baharuthian knights were left paralyzed at the sight, unable to react. This was no mere soldier of the kingdom: he was a true knight, far stronger than anything they had faced before.
The Baharuthian attempted to fight back against the horsemen, but every time they tried to hold the line, the Bretonnians just clashed down on them with their mighty steeds, lances impaling the foot soldiers, and stallions trampling the lucky ones who dodged. Some had tried to pluck the knights off their steed, but the latter struck at them with their iron hooves, crushing faces and shattering ribcages. The ones that managed to avoid the fury of the horses were rewarded by the shields of the Bretonnians, shattering skulls just as well as their equine companions.
After a while, the Bretonnians put their lances on their backs and charged with their other weapons. One soldier attempted to attack Calard, who hacked off both arms with his mighty sword, before decapitating the poor fellow. Mostly a knight of Bretonnia would had gone for the killing blow, but after what these savages had done, they decided to show no mercy. That being said, they would not play with their opponents. Their deaths would be quick, none the less. They were better than that.
All of the Baharuthian knights were wearing close helmets, so it was impossible to tell, but they all must have realized their fate. Some were sniffling, grown men crying like children. They'd been the strong who had robbed the weak of their lives, and they'd gotten used to it; they weren't prepared to face the reverse.
« God help us... »
Some murmured between their sobs.
« Oh God... »
Another charge by the Bretonnians, another score of dead knights.
« You bastards! Get those madmen under controll! »
A voice that grated on the ears like an out-of-tune hymn rang out among the supplicating knights. It had come from a knight right next to Almaric. Trying to tiptoe away from his comrade who'd been cut in half, he just looked ridiculous.
It was none other than the "brave" commander of the Baharuthian knights. It was only fitting that leading this group of cowardly murderers….was just another coward. He had realized that there was no hope challenging the powerful Bretonnians, and had attempted to flee.
« I'm too important to die here! Buy me some time! Be my shields! »
Of course, no one moved. Sure, he was commander, but none of the soldiers seemed to care for him very much, so there was no way they would risk their lives for him. The only one who reacted to the shout was Almaric, who slowly turned in his direction.
« Yeek! »
The Bretonnian simply glared at the man, his stare visible from the helmet visor, hard and burning with fury at the cowardice of the commander.
The commander terrified voice thundered on. « Money, I'll pay you! Two hundred gold pieces—no, five hundred! Just please! Spare me! » he tried to bribe the Bretonnian knight.
If Almaric was disgusted before, now, if he wasn't careful, he could had succumbed to Khorne. He once again charged, striking the commander in the jaw. The impact was powerful enough that the mandible was almost severed, but alas, somehow, the commander was still alive. All the Baharuthians and villagers who were within view of the situation froze solid.
After getting off the horse, Almaric approached the now-dying commander. The latter's body spasmed. « Agh— Aghghhhhgh! » the commander cried with what little sounds he could make, in a way that made everyone wish they could plug their ears. « Shabe— Shave me! Preazh! I' joo amyfing! » he begged the knight, who just stared at his pitiful form. « How many? » Almaric said coldly.
« How many of these innocent people begged the same thing!? How many innocent women tried to sell their virginity to save theirs and their beloved's lives!? You DARE begging for mercy, after you showed none to the defenceless?! » the Bretonnian spat out.
Before the commander could utter another world, Almaric struck him down, cleaving his skull like it was made of glass. He then turned on the remaining knights, and charged, letting out a powerful war cry.
« No, no, no... »
« Oh God! »
Several of the Baharuthians, driven nearly insane, began to scream. In their eyes there wasn't a knight in front of them: right now, they were facing a madman. A madman with the strength to toss an armoured man in the air like nothing. Could they take him?
« Pull yourselves together! » one soldier roared, cutting their shrieking short. « He's on foot now! He's a man, not a god! We can take him! »
Almost as to spite what the man said, Almaric shattered the torso of the Baharuthian with his mace, sending the knight organs flying. That being said, the previous terror that had took hold on the Baharuthian disappeared. He was still a formidable fighter, yes. But he was now on foot, on the same level as everyone else. With that, the knights confidence finally showed. In their eyes, now, Almaric had just signed his death warrant.
The knights all charged at the same time, in an attempt to swarm the opponent. Sure, they just saw him as another human, but they didn't want to take any changes. He was still a beast that had shattered a line of 20 Baharuthian knights like it was nothing.
« Yarrrrrgh! » a Baharuthian roared out, as he tried to strike at the Bretonnian, who simply blocked the attack with his shield. Almaric then proceeded to smasht the head of the foolish knight, before striking at another with enough strength to severe his body. Everyone was chilled to the bone. How was he so strong that he could severe a fully armoured man with a mace?
Right now, Almeric was less akin of a human, and more of a blood-red flood clashing on the Baharuthians. It was clear to everyone that whoever stood in its path would be killed, but they charged in anyway. They replaced their fear with an even more terrible fear, fueling themselves to act.
Another knight attempted to attack him, but was sent flying when Almeric struck him with his shield. Then, the Bretonnian moved to another knight, decapitating him with his mace.
« Dazen! Maurette! Take the flanks! » one of the knights said, as he dashed forward.
The men who were named hastily tried to flank Almeric. The Bretonnian struck at one with the shield, sending him flying against a nearby branch, his death instantaneous as the loud sound of vertebrae cracking could be heard. The other attempted to block the mace coming down on him and was crushed, his brain splattering all over the ground. The other knight had his ribcage shattered in half by the mighty blow of the Bretonnian.
In the space of a few breaths, four Baharuthians had lost their lives. Shuddering, one last soldier watched—like a true martyr—as the red storm of armour bore down on him.
« Yahhhhh! » Though he had no chance of winning, he couldn't go down without a fight. He screamed a battle cry and swung his sword as hard as he could at the mighty Bretonnian.
Perhaps the extreme situation had pulled out all the stops in his body. Even he was astonished by what a powerful attack he'd unleashed. It was the best swing of his life.
Even Almeric was momentarily shocked, as he blocked with his shield. Had his opponent being any other kind of human he knew, with few exceptions, he would had spared him. But right now, he just didn't care. All he saw, however powerful his swing and however noble his last stand, was a murder.
With one swift strike, the Bretonnian shattered the Baharuthian spine, killing the opponent in one swift move.
Taking a few heavy breaths, Almeric looked at the scene in front of him. Dozens of bodies, mauled and crushed. A true knight of Bretonnia fights solely to protect those who can't. But right now, he couldn't help but feel that he had enjoyed every single second of it. Every pitiful shiver of those cowards. Every broken bone he had shattered.
The arrival of his steed snapped him back to reality. « No wonder so many fall to the temptations of the Blood God. » he murmured to himself, realizing he had momentarily fallen to his bloodlust. Elsewhere, his comrades were finishing off the remaining soldiers, showing no mercy, just like him.
As he heard the galloping of horses, he prepared for combat once more, only to see two Bretonnian knights riding at top speed towards the village.
Once they were close enough, he recognized them.
They were Agravain and Alberic, who had rushed for the village alongside Enri and Nemu as fast as they could.
They too recognized Almeric, and could not help but notice the massacre he had committed.
« Ser Almeric! It is good to see a fellow Bretonnian in these lands! » still, Alberic greeted his fellow knight.
« If so, in a complicated context. Those vile filth have attacked this defenceless village and slaughtered many of its inhabitants. May Chaos take them! » Almeric cursed.
« We know. We rescued this young lady from one of these monsters. We vowed to save her home, but I fear that we were late. » Agravain said, as he looked at the scene in front of him.
« Me and three other mighty knights have dealt with most of these soldiers. And I think all that are trying to flee are being shot down by the Bergerac Bowmen. Still, I do believe that there are some remaining soldiers left. » Almeric explained.
« We will join this battle. But if we may, could you please guard these two young women? A true knight of Bretonnia should not allow a damsel to be harmed in any shape or form. » Alberic said.
« Well said, my friend. » was Almeric response, as he helped Enri getting off the horse. The poor girl looked terrified at the knight, covered in blood from the fight against the Baharuthians.
« Fear not, my lady. I mean you no harm. » Almeric reassured the woman.
« A-apologies, sir. I-it's just that- » Enri said nervously.
« None needed. You're clearly in shock. But rest assured, that I shall protect you until your village is safe. » Almeric swore.
A short silence followed. « T-thank you. » Enri simply said. She then spoke again. « Uhm….if I may….can I ask you what is a "Bretonnian"? I've never heard of the country of Bretonnia. »
Almeric looked at her confused. « May I know what country is this? » he asked.
« The Re-Estize kingdom, my lord. Your…. your people truly never heard of it? » Enri asked confused.
Almeric simply shook his head. « It is no wonder you know not of Bretonnia. For I have never heard of your country as well. »
Xxxxxxx
A few hours later, all Baharuthian knights had been dealt with by the Bretonnians.
The normally chivalrous Bretonnians had spared no one, for in their eyes, each and every one of the soldiers was nothing but a filthy murdered. The surviving villagers, some who were hidings, other that had been rounded up by the Baharuthian knights, came to greet their saviours.
« We cannot thank you enough for your intervention, ser knights. But I fear that we have no way to repay you. » a village representative said, as he thanked the Bretonnians.
« To demand anything from your people in such a state would be dishonourable and unchivalrous. You barely survived an attack from bandits cladded in armour, so we cannot demand anything from you. » Calard responded.
« That being said…I fear that there is one think that we may have to request. » Alberic intervened, catching the attention of the villagers.
« We appear to be from a land far from here, far enough that we have never heard of the nation called Re-Estize kingdom. We are knights of the chivalrous nation of Bretonnia, the sons of Gilles le Breton, and we were stranded to this alien land by magical means. Our king himself is here alongside his armies, but we need a base of operation. The only reward we seek, is to allow his majesty to encamp near your village, and to share your knowledge of your land. In exchange, we vow to protect you from all sorts of horrors this world may hold. » Alberic proposed.
« His majesty….he's here as well? » Calard said shocked.
« Alongside none other than the Fay Enchantress. They too were stranded here whilst battling against the Ogres at Quenelles. » Agravain explained.
« As for you, people of Carne village….will you accept our request? » Agravain then turned to the villagers.
They didn't even think twice. « How could we possibly refuse? You saved our lives! And you even promise us to protect us from further harm! » the village representative exclaimed.
Agravain simply smiled. « We simply didn't mean to be a burden for your people. Not after you suffered so much. »
« Then it is settled. Me and Agravain will ride to his majesty camp, and tell him that you villages accepted our request. » Alberic said.
« In the meantime, we'll make sure no horror out there may harm this village. » Calard added.
« Good luck out there. May the Lady protect you! » Almeric said, as Agravain and Alberic rode off.
Xxxxxxx
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Please review so I can learn your opinion. I'm willing to accept suggestions, so stay tuned.
See you on the next chapter!
