Chapter 24:Vengence
The next morning in the Courtyard of the Castle in Veluca Borak, and Marius stood in the middle of several of the recruits back to back practice greatswords in their hands. on a platform Firentis stood and observed holding one of his hands up to signal to begin. Firentis let his arm fall and the recruits charged with their practice swords and shield and staves. Borak blocked one after the other and sent them into some of the other recruits who were charging on Marius's side. Marius dug his blade into the ground and used it as a prop to kick away one of the recruits then pulled it out and brought it down onto another recruits head.
"So the Girl you rescued single handedly yesterday she was nice." Borak said as he pushed a recruit to the ground.
"Pyra mate, her name is Pyra." Marius said between gritted teeth as he struggled to keep a large muscular recruit at bay.
"Oh on first name basis are we?" Borak said with a laugh. "Did Pyra uh let you sheath your short sword yet?" Borak smiled widely.
"No, she's not like that." Marius said as he advanced from Borak.
"Does she have a short Sword?" Borak Joked as he punched a recruit in the nose.
The tall muscular recruit disarmed Marius, Marius rolled to the left and picked up one of the fallen short swords.
"No at least I don't think so." Marius said stopping for a short breath before continuing to fight."
"Focus Marius!." Shouted Firentis as the muscular one swung down toward Mariu's head.
Marius barely had time to block the attack before the man's malet came down. Marius deflected the blow and used the pommel of the practice sword to hit the man in his manhood. The man hunched over and fell to the ground. The recruits that still stood continued their attack on Marius. Marius stood up straight and hit each man in the side of the neck and one by one the men fell. When all the Recruits were down gasping for breath Borak and Marius bended over to catch their breath sweat dripping profusely from their bare torsos, and head. they looked at eachother and smiled and laughed. Firentis came down from the platform, and nodded his approval.
"Stand up recruits!" Firentis ordered.
The recruits that could helped their comrades to their feet and supported them as they stood at attention battered and bruised by Borak and Marius who fell in with the others.
"If those two were both Swadian footman, or a Sultanate Veteran you would all be dead right now I am here to train you all to defend yourself against such opponents and fight as part of a unit to move as one, however training can only do so much against actual battle experience in times of peace like we are in now We train daily so that we do not remain strangers to our weapons. your weapons are extensions of yourself use them as that." Firentis lectured as he paced in front of them all.
"Yes sir!." Shouted the recruits, Marius and Borak together as one.
"Now go get cleaned up dismissed." Firentis said commandingly.
The recruits, Marius, and Borak all went into the barracks and grabbed their washcloths then walked through the town into the public baths where they striped and washed off.
"So what is Pyra like?" Borak asked as he scrubbed Marius's back.
"She has been to some of the other continents across the Great sea as I said including Europa, and one on the far side of the world where they use elements as weapons.
"If they ever come here we'll show them the strength of our steel." Said one of the recruits jokingly.
"Aye." Said the rest of the bath house.
"If such people exist." Borak said skeptically.
"We'll have to get you to par first Shiral before we let you onto a battlefield." Marius said with a laugh.
"What Are you talking about I almost had you with my mallet." Said Shiral with a big grin on his bearded face.
"Aye that you did, you would have gotten me if I hadn't hit your manhood." Marius pointed under the water.
"Yeah but don't worry captain with you leading us we can't lose." Said Shiral.
Bells began to toll the men in the bathhouse froze then they sprang to action and got dressed.
"Alright men get dressed and fall in behind me we'll get to the castle and armor up." Marius said commandingly rising from the warm bath.
Marius and Borak got dressed quickly and led the rest of their men out and double timed it to the keep. as the sun set Movan emerged from the keep fully dressed. Marius's regiment ran to the barracks and readied themselves then rushed out and marched to the parade grounds in the city. Movan appeared just as the sun disappeared from the sky and the torches were being lit.
"Men I have just received word from the Swadians that Lord Delinard and his men have deserted the Kingdom of Swadia and are heading toward the Border of the Sultanate, and is heading for our border, we will fast march and intercept him and bring him to justice." Movan said to the gathered men. "We haven't time to lose let's get going." Movan walked down from the platform and mounted his horse and joined his personal guard and began to ride toward the city gate.
"You heard our King lets get moving." Marius ordered as he mounted his horse and led his recruits out with the rest of the army.
They marched all through the night and came to the river that came between Sultanate territory, and Highland Kingdom territory. They stood blocking the bridge shoulder to shoulder in the mist in the distance the thundering of hooves could be heard coming toward them on the road. Movan rode up to Marius who was squinting into the mist.
"Marius take your men to the forest and join Firentis when He comes you and him will close the net around him." Movan commanded. "And if you get the chance kill that bastard for what he did to your mother."
"Are you commanding me as your king or as my father?" Marius asked looking at Movan sternly.
"Both." Movan replied before riding off to rejoin his men.
Marius sighed and motioned for his men to follow quitely. Marius and his men ran quickly and took position in the forest and waited. They held their position for what seemed like an eternity then voices could be heard talking. One was Delinards voice.
"Come on that feind will be on top of us once he learns We are traversing through his Kingdom." Delinard said arrogantly. "I would rather not cross swords with him at this moment if I can't convince the Queen to go to war with him,then we will have to use the Sultanate to accomplish this goal.
"Speak of the devil and he will appear." Said Movan's voice as he emerged from the mist on foot.
"It seems both devils have appeared Movan Beltasus." Delinard said calmly barely able to hide the fear in his voice.
"Yes you are my devil and I am yours." Movan said smiling slyly.
"You're not still angry about… that nasty business we had In Veluca are you?" Delinard said cautiously.
"You know it's illegal to cross into another kingdom without permission don't you Delinard?" Movan asked already knowing what his response would be. "As for my deceased wife you owe me a dept that can only be finished in blood."
"Yes I am aware of the laws, but If you don't mind I have important business to attend to and I really must be going." Delinard said as he turned his horse around.
"Move up and surround." Marius ordered silently.
Marius and his men rose from their hiding spots and moved forward from the patch of trees they were hidden in their spears extended, on the other side of the road Firentis and his detachment were doing the same from behind Movan the men who were guarding the bridge appeared and they all surrounded Delinard and his few guards.
"If I am to die I would like to know who told you about my crossing." Delinard said.
"Your former Queen as a show of good faith told me of your movement since that day.". "Now this can go two ways either way you will be dead and I will send your head to your Queen to show I have done what I vowed to do, I will spare your guards so they can bear my message, unless you and your guards fight then you will all die." Movan said coldly.
"Very well one last duel before I die, but do me one courtesy and allow me to die with my sword in hand I am a man of honor after all." Delinard said smugly as he dismounted.
"You have no honor Delinard now prepare to meet thy doom by my hand."
"My lord please allow one of us to take your place." Said one of Delinard's guards.
"No need I want one last fight before I die." Delinard said looking back to his guards. "This is goodbye."
"It has been an honor Count Delinard." Said the same guard who had spoken earlier.
"Come Movan Beltasus let us end this game." Said Delinard as he drew his greatsword.
"On that we can agree." Movan said as he drew his greatsword.
The air was still and the mist swirled around the men as they circled each other neither one striking. Moan made the first move thrusting at Delinard's chest Delinard blocked and deflected the blow with ease. Delininard slashed at Movan's feet Movan blocked the blow. The duel carried on and on neither warrior gaining an upper hand on the other. However Delinard was older and less spry as Movan and struggled to keep up with his younger opponent and finally Movan disarmed Delinard and held his sword to his throat. Delinard put his hands up and conceded his defeat then he closed his eyes awaiting his death. "One last Parting gift." Movan said as he thrust his blade into Delinard's throat then pulled it out then swung the blade across Delinard's neck and cleaved off the man's once proud head.
As Marius watched he felt a sense of relief that justice had been done, but also a sense of sorrow at the reason why his adopted mother slain, who had yes with the coercion of her older brother tried to have him killed, but she changed her mind, and loved Marius as her own child. In the time he knew her he had known happiness. He watched as Movan picked up the now dead Delinard's head and handed it to one of the guards, and walked away.
"We march home to Veluca." Movan said as his horse was brought to him and he mounted.