“Nathan, stop it,” Justin barked. “This is not a question of love, but of what’s right and wrong for Kiara and the kingdom. The fact is that Sir Claude is of noble birth and a knight. I mean no disrespect, but you are only my squire and not qualified in rank to marry her, even if she was free to.” Justin turned to Sir Claude. “And if you think that Nathan is so unworthy to have Kiara, then you need to start working towards deserving her as well. Your behavior has been completely uncalled for since yesterday. Your prejudices and bad attitude will make Kiara miserable and you need to either hide your opinions or change them. Do you two understand me?”
Sir Claude glared at Nate, who was glaring right back at him. Nate was the first to reluctantly nod, then Sir Claude followed.
“Good. Now, we’re wasting time. Sir Claude, you need to get in your armor,” Justin said before turning back to the box that had Nate’s suit stored in it. He pulled out the numerous different leg and foot pieces as silence filled the armory. Only the clanging and chinking of metal could be heard.
“I have just one question for you, Sir Claude,” Nate asked, breaking the silence.
“Really? And what’s that?” he asked with as much politeness as he could master under the circumstances.
Nate looked to the knight with total seriousness, his gaze unwavering. “If Kiara was the bastard child of a prostitute, abandoned at birth with no family and was born into poverty, would you still want to marry her?… Be honest.”
Justin glanced harshly up to Nate from strapping on his poleyn, which protected his knee. Sir Claude stiffened his jaw as he tightened a strap on his shin armor.
“…No, I wouldn’t,” he answered.
“Alright then.” Nate said no more about the subject, which Justin was thankful for. However, Sir Claude couldn’t help but ponder why Nate asked such a detailed question as that.
Once Nate and Sir Claude had donned their armor and clad their horses in their own special set of metal platting, the army was ready to move out and assembled outside the castle gates. Justin, Nate and Sir Claude all moved around the castle towards the front, where they were to meet Malcolm.
However, before Nate was able to leave the yard that was in front of the stables, he heard Kiara calling out his name. He turned to see her running through the courtyard, carrying a green piece of cloth with her. Nate looked to Justin, who in turn, looked between them and nodded his approval for a final goodbye.
Nate mouthed a thank you, then dismounted his horse, took off his helmet and approached Kiara, waiting for the other two to turn out of sight before catching her up into his arms and holding her tightly. The hard metal did not seem to bother her, but Nate couldn’t help but notice that she was sniffling.
He gently pulled her away and saw tears glistening down her cheeks. Nate grimaced and stroked the moisture away. “Hey now, what’s this?”
“Promise me you’ll come back!” Kiara begged, on the verge of sobbing.
“I promise… What’s that?” he asked, picking up one end of the piece of cloth.
Kiara sniffled and wiped the new tears away and tried to smile. “It’s a favor. You wear it when you go into battle so that it’ll be like you’re fighting for me.”
Nate sighed and pursed his lips together. “Shouldn’t you give this to Sir Claude?” he asked, wishing he didn’t have to say it.
“No. He does not have my favor. He almost struck me today when I talked back to him. I don’t want to marry him, Nate. I want to marry you!” Kiara wrapped her arms around Nate’s neck and pulled him in for a kiss, but he pushed her back. She looked up to him with confusion.
“Listen, I want to marry you, I really do. I can’t imagine a future without you… I don’t know what your father will say about all of this, but at the moment, I am not worthy for your hand because I’m of lower rank than Sir Claude. He asked first, therefore unless he breaks the engagement, we can’t be together. It is technically adultery and if word of this got out to anyone, your reputation would be ruined and your father would be very unhappy with you. I love you beyond what words can say, but right now, this can’t happen.”
Nate’s words were like arrows piercing Kiara’s heart all over again. She couldn’t believe the excruciating pain she felt. “So, you’re saying we can never be together at all?” she said, her voice breathless and cracking from the flood of emotions.
“No, I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that we either need to hide this more carefully, or slow down. You need to talk to your father as soon as we get back. You need to tell him how you really feel about all of this. If he says that you still need to marry Sir Claude, and Sir Claude is still willing, then stay with him and do as you’re told. If your father consents to it, then break the engagement yourself and we will court for a few years until I can become a knight… Can we agree on that?” Nate asked, looking deeply into her eyes, pleading with his own that she wouldn’t take this as rejection.
Kiara bit her lip and nodded. “Yes, we’ll agree…Can you at least wear my favor?”
Nate smirked, took it from her hand and tied it to his belt under his hip armor.
“You take care of yourself, ok?” he consoled, placing a comforting hand against her cheek, letting his fingers intertwine with her hair and giving her a weak smile.
Kiara nodded reluctantly and took his hand in hers. “One last time?” she requested.
Nate looked around to see if anyone was watching besides his horse, then leaned down swiftly to kiss her passionately for one last time. Kiara, wishing it would never end, wrapped her hand around his neck and held him close.
Time was of the essence. A trumpet blew from the front of the castle grounds. Nate pulled back and stared longingly in her eyes. “No matter what happens, you will always have my heart.”
“And you will always have mine,” Kiara replied, becoming choked up with sorrowful tears.
“I love you,” Nate whispered, resting his forehead against hers.
“I love you too.”
The trumpet blew once more. He could stay no longer. Nate kissed her once more quickly, and then broke away to mount his horse and ride off to join the rest of the army, knowing that if he took a look back to her, he would never be able to leave. Tears swelled in the corner of his eyes as he trotted away, leaving Kiara to run to her room in a fit of tears of her own.
Nate made his way back around to the front of the army and rode up to join Malcolm, Justin, Sir Claude and a band of other knights that Malcolm favored.
“Glad to see you could make it, Nathaniel,” greeted Malcolm warmly, still unconcerned about what he had a suspicion of. Nate nodded in reply, unable to speak for the moment and stayed by Justin’s side as they began to lead the six and a half thousand soldiers out of Aleph.
Once they had passed the gates, Malcolm maneuvered himself to Nate’s side and muttered these words, “I know what is going on between you and my daughter. I do not disapprove of you, nor your affections for her. But as the situation is delicate, I’d request that you show her respect and let her alone. She has made a commitment to fulfill and I expect her to keep it. Being the honorable man that you are, I know you will do the right thing.”
“I understand, your majesty,” Nate interrupted, his heart turning hard to endure the battle ahead. He didn’t want to hear anymore of Kiara, marriage or knighthood for the remainder of the battle. If his heart were not left behind in Aleph, he knew wouldn’t survive. But, Malcolm’s words were comforting in a way. The king nodded and moved back into place, exchanging decided glances between Justin and Sir Claude.
Chapter 25
In the late afternoon, Malcolm and his army finally arrived to the ancient battleground. To the far east of the kingdom, sat a deserted, hollowed plot of land. Wildflowers grew in abundance where old corpses fell in past battles. This valley was surrounded on the west, north and south side by a high sloping hill, its eastern edge bordered by thick woods. Deceiver had trapped himself in a valley.
Malcolm�
�s army settled themselves down at the bottom of the hill, out of sight from the enemy’s camp. No one was ordered to set up camp, knowing that they would not be there for very long. A swift, ambush was the only way to settle this.
Malcolm, Justin and Sir Claude traversed up to the hill in order to form a plan, lying on their bellies so as not to be spotted by any scouts. From what they could tell, there was minimal activity going on in the camp with the exception of a few soldiers practicing their sword skills or sitting around a fire, drinking ale.
After a few moments, Sir Claude looked to the other two. “What is your plan, my lord?” he asked.
“Looks like he’s going to repeat the same mistakes twice in a row,” Malcolm remarked. Justin, however, was more suspicious. If Deceiver really wanted to win this battle, then he wouldn’t have picked this piece of land for it.
Down in the valley, an encampment was settled, but it hardly looked like five thousand soldiers were stationed there. Not even half. “Maybe the scout misestimated Deceiver’s numbers?” Justin suggested with the thought that something was not quite right about this scenario.
“Perhaps… Send a few scouts around to the other side of the encampment in the forest and see if there are more hiding among the trees. Until then, have an army of infantry ready to the west of this hill and two flank battalions of archers on either side of the footmen to the north and south. Have the cavalry divided and positioned behind the archers to be ready for a charge if necessary. I will give further instructions after the scouts come back.”
Sir Claude nodded and crawled back down the hill to carry out the orders. Malcolm and Justin remained on the hill, surveying the land.
“You seem troubled, son,” Malcolm observed.
“It just seems odd that Deceiver would choose an old battleground like this where he lost the first time. He’s smarter than that. There has to be something wrong or devious going on here,” Justin replied grudgingly.
“I understand, but he said he would meet me here…”
“Deceiver is known not to keep his word. Are you sure you want to stay here? Or should we go back to Aleph?”
Malcolm grew silent and sighed contemplatively. After a moment, he shook his head. “No. If we have to, we can be back in Aleph within half a day. Eshean can keep the place fortified long enough.”
And with that, the king and prince climbed back down the hill to the army that was just assembling into ranks. Nate, who had been waiting by his horse just below the hill, came up to Justin and Malcolm for orders.
“Where do you wish me to serve you, my lord?” he asked boldly.
Malcolm smiled to his dedicated soldier and patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll have you with the infantry. I suspect you’re used to that style of fighting. I don’t expect you to be part of the cavalry just yet.”
Nate nodded an affirmative and hurried off to give his horse away to a page so he could ready himself with the footmen. Justin watched after his squire with pride.
“He really does have potential. It’s a shame that Sir Claude got to Kiara first,” Malcolm remarked.
Justin gave a furtive glance to his father as they walked off to their own horses. “Don’t tell me that you are in favor of their relationship, too.”
Malcolm shrugged with a grin. “Well, they have known each other since they were children and they have a tighter bond than Sir Claude has. It only makes sense that the most natural candidate for Kiara’s affections would lie with Nathan.”
“Yes, but Nathan is just a squire. Rank wise, he does not qualify.”
“And Kiara didn’t qualify for being a princess when I found her, but today, she is most beloved by everyone in my kingdom out of her other sisters. So, who is to say that Nathan will not become more qualified than Sir Claude in a matter of days?”
The father and son exchanged knowing glances and set the matter behind them.
The scouts soon returned with reports that beyond the tree line to the east, there were no tents or sign of the enemy’s presence. Malcolm ordered half of his infantry to set a battalion behind the tree line in preparation for an ambush. Nate was sent into this group, while Sir Claude was part of the cavalry. Deceiver was surrounded.
Sir Claude was in charge of his cavalry battalion and archery team to the south, while Justin was in charge of the cavalry and archery to the north. Malcolm led the western footmen and Sir Ethan was put over the eastern men. And to Nate’s delight, Sir Ethan ordered that the squire stay by his side as second in command.
When all six battalions waved their flags to Malcolm, showing they were ready, he sounded the charge. The western infantry cluster rushed down the hill to Deceiver’s camp first, waving their swords and shouting at the top of their lungs, catching the enemy by complete surprise.
The soldiers surged through the camp with Malcolm leading the way on his horse. Deceiver’s army hurried to their weapons and armor, but most were forced to fight without protection. Justin and Sir Claude ordered that arrows be shot at the tents and anyone trying to escape. Wails and cries for mercy resounded throughout the camp.
When some of the enemy tried to run into the forest, Malcolm sounded his trumpet for the eastern infantry to charge. Sir Ethan and Nate, along with the other soldiers, came screaming and slashing at Deceiver’s men.
Sir Claude, knowing that Nate was in that battalion and itching to prove his superiority in battle, ordered his cavalry to charge without consent from Malcolm or Justin. Deceiver’s men were vastly outnumbered and the fight didn’t even seem as long as it was predicted to be.
Nate, who chose to fight without his helmet so he could see better, hacked his way from the tree line and into the middle of the camp where Malcolm was. Nate’s sword swung about riotously, slicing through every man in red that tried to get close to him. Sir Ethan fought closer to the tree line, determined to hold the line. Malcolm was in the midst of the battle, mounted on his horse to have the upper hand over the enemy. Sir Claude charged into the fray, swinging his sword about like a wild man.
The knight fought bravely up until his horse’s leg was cut open by a fallen enemy soldier. The horse crumbled to the ground beneath him, sending its rider tumbling over the horse’s twisted neck. Sir Claude rolled along the soil, swiftly caught himself up and began pounding his steel against the enemy around him. Coincidentally, Nate was fighting not too far away from him and just as bravely.
Nate was actually kind of shocked how inexperienced the enemy was. It didn’t take him long to kill at least fifty men out of the several hundred there must have been in the camp. But, after a while, he noticed that something was terribly wrong. Deceiver had not emerged to fight and even with tents toppling all around, he was nowhere to be found.
The enemy army was almost completely taken out in half an hour. Nate finally looked up from his slaughtering campaign and saw Sir Claude, working on destroying a soldier wielding an axe. But, a spearman was about to come up behind the knight and skewer him through the ribs. Nate saw this and without a second thought, came up and stepped between the spearman and Sir Claude to protect the knight.
Nate dropped his shield, pulled out his father’s dagger and caught the pole of the spear between his sword and dagger, then kicked the man in the stomach to send him stagger away. The spearman, caught off guard by Nate’s sudden interference, recovered and stood at the ready. Nate glared at the man and waited for him to make the first move.
The spearman charged forward. The steel of Nate’s blade parried against his enemy’s attacks, cutting away at the wooden staff of the spear as he went. The enemy hardly noticed the deep notches that were being sliced into his weapon until it was too late.
Nate ducked, rolled and evaded the constant thrusts of the razor sharp spear tip as it came just inches from carving into his cheeks. He was at a disadvantage to his enemy’s ranged weapon. He could do little but to defend himself with his short dagger and sword. But he continued to whittle away at the vulnerable wood.
Without
warning, the spear staff split in half in the enemy’s grasp. The half with the spear tip flew through the air and landed several feet away and well out of his reach.
Nate took his opportunity and leapt forward to run his two blades through the spearman’s belly.
It was over.
The enemy let out a painful gurgle and fell to the ground as blood leaked from the edges of his lips. Nate stood up and drew his sword out of the corpse, panting and perspiring from the heated battle. He looked over to where Sir Claude was and noticed him just standing there, staring dumbfoundedly.
“What? You want a piece of me too?” Nate quipped, adrenaline pumping behind his ears furiously as he sheathed his father’s dagger and walked over to retrieve his abandoned shield. The battle was now diminishing to only a few fights scattered around the camp, but not anywhere near them.
“No… Why did you do that?” Sir Claude asked, sliding his sword back into its sheath.
Nate shrugged and spun his sword within his hand to find a better grip. “We’re fighting in the same army. Wouldn’t it be right to cover your back?”
“I suppose so, but if you let me die, then you could have Kiara all to yourself.”
“I’ll admit that I was tempted, but to let another man die because of my selfishness is dishonorable. If I want to be a knight, I need to start acting like one.”
Sir Claude was convicted by Nate’s words and he looked down upon himself in that moment.
The squire glanced behind Sir Claude, quickly stuck his sword in the ground, drew his throwing knife and sent it flying right by the knight’s head to pierce the shoulder of another enemy soldier about to attack him. Twice, Nate saved Sir Claude’s life.
Sir Claude jumped out of the way in a delayed reaction and looked over to see the enemy topple to the ground in pain. Nate approached the fallen soldier, drew his sword out and held the sharp edge to the man’s throat.
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