AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for the comments and suggestions. I understand that longer chapters are needed, so this one has an extra thousand words to it. I suppose writing as a DM, some details are left out for the flow of the game, but you're correct for a fanfiction novel it should be longer. I will try to make the remaining chapters at least two thousand words or more.
Dagger of Souls
*** Chapter 10 ***
Sir Dural stood amid the center of the small hamlet and scanned the snow covered wooden structures around him. The grey sky made it difficult to tell what time of day it was but it must have been late afternoon. His black and gold cape bearing the herald of the Waterdeep guard fluttered slightly in the cold breeze as he turned toward a tall barn. The polished metal pot helmet he wore reflected the dreary grey skies above him and the purple colored flumes hung down like a tassel behind him. He pointed a gloved finger toward the barn, as he turned to face a wiry, thin soldier nearby. "Wylan, the barn roof up there is the best place for a central watch station. It should give us the best view of the entire town. Find a ladder to use from the townspeople and then secure a rope up there to keep from slipping and falling off. We'll set two roving watches to walk the perimeter of the town and report back to the central lookout. Make sure the watches wear only simple cloaks like the farmers use, as we discussed earlier, and keep their weapons hidden. If the orcs send scouts, they will think there are just regular villagers taking a walk and not soldiers guarding the area. You also need get the three horns out of the wagon for the watch to use for raising the alarm."
The young, lanky soldier saluted to the well armored Sergeant, "Yes, sir. We'll set watches straight away. Me, Horlin, and Rork will take the first watches and set everything up." The soldier looked somewhat underwhelming next to the large paladin wearing a wide steel breastplate, black leather skirt and steel greaves that protected his legs from his knees to his feet. The soldier wore only basic leather armor with mesh chain mail covering his torso underneath a white tabard with the emblem of the Waterdeep guard stitched on a woven cotton cloth. A simple round metal cap sat atop his small head. The other guards all wore the same uniforms, though they varied in size.
Dural returned the salute promptly. "Very good, Wylan. I am going to the healer's house if you need me." The guardsman nodded and left to carry out his orders as the knight headed down the snow covered street. He met the town healer when they arrived in town and was captivated by her warm manner and simple beauty. He removed his helmet and knocked on the wooden door to the cottage where he was told she lived. A young teenager girl opened the door and looked him over. She smiled as she brushed a stray loch of her long, strawberry blonde hair from her face. "You must be Sir Dural, please come in. I am Chrysanna, eldest daughter of Hadenna. My mother is expecting you."
"Well met, Chysanna. That is a beautiful name and very fitting, it looks like you are soon to be a very pretty young lady," he said with a sincere smile.
The girl blushed and gave him a shy grin before retreating down the hall to attend to her chores.
He set his cloak on one of the wooden pegs in the short entrance hallway leading to the living room. The pastel colors of the living room's décor were a stark contrast to the surrounding landscape where everything was white or muddy brown under a grey sky. Even the few evergreens in the surrounding wilderness seemed to be more black than green with the filtered sunlight that fought through the thick clouds. The soft colors along with the warm fire made the place very inviting and comfortable. The cozy feeling the holy warrior experienced changed abruptly after seeing the dozen or so wounded townspeople lying in makeshift bedding of hay strewn about the wooden floor. The people here seemed to be hard working and decent people. He felt saddened that they were the victims of the godless orc invaders. It served to affirm his resolve in protecting them from further harm, and strengthening the conviction of his assignment.
"Sir Dural, it is nice to see you again. Please come and have a seat." Hadenna's captivating smile outshined all of her colorful decorations, and probably added as much comfort to the ailing villagers as her medicinal herbs and remedies.
The warrior gave a slight bow and smiled in return. "It is my pleasure, ma'am. Your place looks very pleasant. Thank you for the warm welcome into your town and your home." He noticed the priestess Cera was there helping her tend to the injured and he nodded a wordless greeting when she looked over to him.
"We cannot thank you and your group enough for making the journey to our small village to help us against the brutal orcs that have been harassing our people and stealing our livelihood." The woman's smiled faded as she thought about those missing people whom she must have known very well in such a tiny village. "The poor child Tarla was just a few months older the Chrysanna…" her voice trailed off as she seemed to recall a recent incursion and kidnapping. A shiver shook through her and she sighed painfully. She struggled to regain her composure, "I apologize for rambling, we had hoped our prayers would be answered and the Lord's of Waterdeep would send aid."
The paladin nodded to indicate his understanding, "There is no need to apologize Mrs. Hadenna. You have continued to be a beacon to those around you through these difficult times, and I know it is not easy as they invoke deep emotions for your missing and injured compatriots. The Lords of Waterdeep rushed to send us here and help defend your town. I only wished that they could spare more soldiers, but they needed to get a small contingent here quickly to help with the immediate threat. Extra soldiers are in short supply after the Amnish war, even the patrols in Waterdeep are stretched thin. But, we should have enough soldiers here to stop any raiding party and we will find out why they have ventured so close to your town. The fact that they have been stealing food and supplies leads us to believe they have an encampment nearby and plan to use it for a while. As far as I have heard they are able hunters so it seems strange that they are stealing food, and even more so that they are taking prisoners. If we deem it necessary we will request further troops to deal with them. Some of our men have already begun to follow their tracks to locate their base of operations and, Tyr willing, we will find out where the people of your village were taken."
"We appreciate the quick response the Lords have give our pleas for help. I am glad that we're now in capable hands." Hadenna glanced back to the villagers in her care. "I have to get back to tending wounds and applying herbs, but our young villager Klenn has been anxious to meet you." She led the paladin over to the broad shouldered youth lying on the straw bedding near the kitchen area of the common room. "Sir Dural of the Waterdeep guard, this is Klenn, son of Turlin, a local trapper and hunter."
Klenn struggled to force himself to sit up, but Hadenna and the paladin both motioned for him to stop. The armored man patted his shoulder, "It's alright son. You just relax there. No need to get up on my behalf."
The young man winced in pain and returned to lying flat on his back. He stared at Sir Dural's intricate design of gold filigree adorning his polished breastplate as he responded, "Yes, sir. I've never known a knight before. It's an honor to meet you."
"And I'm pleased to make your acquaintance as well. I've never met a farm boy as brave as you. Taking on two armed orcs alone to rescue a neighbor takes some guts. Tell me about your skirmish and everything you can remember about the orc's tactics and reactions. Don't leave out a thing, there's valuable information in the details of every combat. To know your enemy is to hold power over them."
Klenn nodded and began to recite every detail from the time he was throwing his axe until he hit the wall and blacked out. The paladin kneeled beside him and listened intently to every word, asking for further details in some parts. After the boy finished the warrior remarked softly, "You did very well. They have many years of experience in the art of war and are not easy opponents, but you possess the heart of a warrior. Maybe when you are better I can give you some training on how to better defend yourself and help you to recognize some common battle tactics and ways to counter them."
The young man gave a boyish smile, but it faltered after a few moments. "I would really like that sir, but Miss Hadenna tells me I'll tear my stitching if I move around too much. It may be weeks, and you will most likely be gone by then."
The paladin stood tall and pointed to his own breastplate with the symbol of weight scales intricately etched in gold filigree. "Do you know what this symbol represents?"
Klenn looked confused and shook his head from side to side.
Sir Dural pulled the cover down gently and unwound the bandage on the boy's mid-section as he spoke with reverent purpose, "It is the Scales of Justice, the holy symbol of Tyr, the Even-Handed One. As a bearer of Tyr's teachings, I declare that wounds you received are a heinous injustice from the unlawful invasion of your town." The knight's voice began to amplify by some internal force as he continued, "By the power that the Lord of Justice himself has granted to me, his faithful servant, I call upon his fair grace and divine spirit now to bind the wounds of this ally of justice!" The knight's hands and the golden symbol etched on his armor began to take on a bright white glow that illuminated the room. The other injured townsfolk turned as best they could to see what was happening to Klenn in quiet fascination of the divine display. Sir Dural opened his eyes and placed one glowing hand above the farm boy's stomach. Rays of light spilled up from the laceration as if the boy had swallowed a bright, white hot lantern. The holy warrior pulled the stitching free with his off hand as the torn skin began to seal itself, slowly dousing the beaming light until it winked out completely as the wound closed. Klenn watched in enraptured amazement, as the deep gash was completely closed in a few heartbeats, with no evidence of a wound remaining. He rubbed his finger all around the wound just to be sure it wasn't just some illusion, but he could tell there was no more pain, a sense of warmth and peace had taken its place.
The young man tried to say something but his mouth just hung agape. The divine power passed through his body was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It brought him a feeling of calm and security. He sat up with tears running down his face, as the reality of what was done sank in. He twisted his torso to test his range of motion and was excited that he could move freely without any discomfort. He sat straight up on the bedding and bowed to the paladin. "Thank you Sir Dural. With all my heart I owe you my allegiance."
Sir Dural gave him a reassuring nod as he responded, "There is no need. The mighty Tyr has seen that your sacrifice was just." He gripped the hilt of his broadsword at his side and lifted it slightly from the leather scabbard, revealing a well crafted and polished steel blade. He looked around the room, and then his gaze flashed with iron resolve as he spoke aloud. "With Tyr's might I shall teach the orcs the other side of justice, and they shall pay for these crimes with their darkened blood. Tyr's gifts go way beyond healing the body, and give me the power for righteous retribution which I intend to use against these wicked aggressors." He shoved the sword back down into the scabbard causing a distinctive metallic ring to echo around the room as he continued in a commanding voice, "This I swear to you and your fellow townspeople."
Two wounded men in nearby makeshift beds held up a fist to show their admiration of his pledge to their people. Hadenna flashed him a genuine smile as she nodded her appreciation, his sincere inspiring words seemed to give them all hope again, against the dreary situation that had gripped them like a giant constrictor serpent.
Sir Dural bid them all farewell, and left the healer's cottage. Cera grabbed her winter cloak and followed him outside to catch up with him. She grabbed his shoulder and turned him around to face her. She put her hands on her hips as she spoke, "Why did you use your divine healing now, we may need that for our injured soldiers in battle. His wounds were not life threatening."
"I realize that Cera. But this young man has potential to be an ally in combat. Besides that his father is a trapper and hunter so he will know the surrounding terrain very well, we could use his help. We may not have enough soldiers to deal with the threat as it is."
"You didn't happen to mention that part of it to them."
The knight shook his head as he replied. "These people don't need all the details, they need hope and faith. We must not sow any seeds of doubt."
Cera nodded in agreement and relaxed her posture. "I suppose you are right. I'll get back to helping the healer with her herb remedies. Good night and blessings to you."
"And to you, lady Cera. I must go and see if our scouts have returned. They should have been back by now."