by Brian Davis
Sir Walter side step to his right and swung his blade downward across his body, slicing through Sir William’s armor and cutting through flesh and bone. His collarbone split in-two. Sir Walter pulled his sword back with the tip pointing directly at the center of Sir William. He thrust the tip of his sword forward, penetrating through his armor and stabbing him in the midsection of his belly. Blood oozed out from Sir William’s mouth and covered his black beard.
Their eyes locked… one; a gaze of victory and anger… the other; a gaze of death and determine to challenge the will to live. Sir Walter instantly snatched his sword out while stepping to Sir William’s right side. Sir William leaned forward while holding his wound. Sir Walter raised his sword up and swung it down, slicing Sir William’s head off. His body landed belly first on the dirt-muddy road with his head slightly rolling away from the stump of his neck. While a stream of blood poured out.
Sir Franklin now shifted his gaze ahead, viewing the onslaught from his knights. The battle was over, as debris of corpses scattered on road and in front of the shops. He watched some of the Paladins Knights forced themselves into the shops and homes, dragging the weak out into the opening. The women cried as their children were taken from them. The elderly men were forced on their knees while both knights stood on both sides of them, stretching out their arms as the elderly man pleaded. A knight stood behind each of them. The women cried as they witnessed their grandfathers’ throats slit from the left to the right ear in front of them and their children.
The young girls were dragged by their hair by the knights. Three knights forced the young ten-year-old child on her back while one pinned her ankles to the ground with his mighty hands. Her clothes were ripped away from her body, exposing her nudity. The second knight held her arms, pinned to the ground by holding her wrists. The third knight removed his armor, and then his trousers. He placed himself on her and thrust his dick inside her. The young girl screamed, as she felt herself being ripped by force from a man.
Sir Franklin ignored the children’s cries. One of his knights approached.
“My lord, there’s a town and castle up ahead!”
“We move forward! Give word to the king that this village is claimed! Gather the children. Position two-thirds of the knights in this village, until more reinforcements arrive. The rest of the knights; proceed forward on my command!”
Sir Franklin galloped forward with most of his knights following him.
Up ahead toward the Boarstall Castle. Inside the Great Chambers, the knights stood, arming themselves, preparing for the Paladins to arrive. Lady Jetta armed herself with arrows and a bow. She looked over at the Sir Chamberlin, who was commander of the knights.
“The queen wants us to defend this castle!” Sir Chamberlin advised the rest of the knights. She just received word that the Paladins had raided the Bathum Village.”
“What about the town?” Lady Jetta asked.
“The town is being evacuated as we speak! Archers, position yourselves on the turret. We will man the left flanks of the court yard! The castle’s gates should not be breached!”
One of the queen’s servants entered the Great Chambers.
“My lord, the Paladins are marching closer! They are only a mile away from the castle!”
“Man your positions!” Sir Chamberlin quickly announced to the knights. “We will keep our Highness safe!”
The knights quickly scattered to their positions.
The Paladins continued at full speed on their horses. The town’s people screamed as most of them continued to flee their homes and shops. Sir Franklin drew his arming sword from its sheath and pointed the tip of his blade forward. The knights proceeded forward through the streets of the town. The knights armed themselves with flaming arrows as they fired the arrows at the homes and shops, when they rode by on horseback. The flames instantly crawled up on the homes and shops.
“The castle is up ahead!” Sir Franklin shouted.
The knights continued to press forward on horseback.
Archers pointed their bows and arrows down from the turret, waiting for the Paladins to gain closer. The Paladins reached the front of the castle, and the archers released their bowstrings, firing a rain of arrows down at the Paladins. The arrows sharply penetrated through the knights’ armors. Some of the knights fell off from their horses. The arrows stuck into their horses. The Paladins aimed their arrows upward at the turret towers and fired their arrows. The archers ducked as the arrows swiftly threatened to find its mark on the archers.
“Bring the battering ram and smash through the castle’s gates!” Sir Franklin ordered.
Some of the knights pushed the battering ram forward towards the large doubled gates. The archers aimed their arrows down at the Paladins and fired more arrows. More archers poured large pots of hot boiling oil down from the turrets. The oil splashed over the Paladins. Knights screamed in pain as their armors were burnt.
“My lord there’s no way we will be able to break down the castle’s gates! We are falling by the numbers!” One of the Paladins’ knights panic.
Sir Franklin gritted his teeth in anger.
“Fall back! Fall back to the higher grounds!”
“My lord, the Paladins seem to be retreating!” One of the queen’s servants advised. Sir Chamberlin and the knights lifted their weapons up and cheered.
Suddenly, a dark shadow hoovered over the archers on the turret. The archers looked up as they saw a large dragon with its wings spread out, circling over the top of the castle. The dragon roared as the archers in fear pointed at the large beast. The dragon swooped down while opening its large mighty jaws and a river of fire spread out from the beast’s mouth. The flames instantly covered the archers as they screamed.
Sir Franklin paused with the rest of the Paladins’ knights.
“The dragon…” He mumbled. He now drew his attention to the knights. “Knights… forward towards the castle’s gates. Archers, fire on the turrets!”
The Paladins charged with the battering ram while the Paladins’ archers aimed their bows and arrows up at the turrets. The dragon continued to cover the Castilians’ archers in flames. Their bodies, covered with flame, tumbled down from the large keep. The battering ram continued to ram the castle’s gates, until the gates were smashed in. Sir Franklin aimed his sword forward.
“Forward!” He demanded.
The Paladins charged forward. Their war cries echoed, as their swords collided with the Castilians’ swords. Sir Chamberlin pulled out his long sword and swung the sword from side to side, slicing the Paladins’ knights. He twirled his sword while spinning his body around, cutting through the armors of his assailants. Lady Jetta ducked and aimed her bow and arrow, firing the arrows at the Paladins’ knights. The arrows found its mark in the knights’ throats, face, chest plates and upper torsos.
She leaped up on the set of hay while squatting, firing arrows from multiple directions, striking the knights down. Sir Chamberlin continued with his long sword and fought bravely with his fellow knights. More Castilians Knights stormed down the brick steps that were connected to the great inner wall. They clashed with the Paladins Knights as blood filled the outer courts.
Sir Franklin climbed off of his horse and pulled out his doubled swords. He advanced to Sir Chamberlin. Sir Chamberlin swung his long sword horizontally forward, slicing through the armor of his assailant. He lifted his sword up, above his head while facing Sir Franklin. Sir Franklin approached and swung the right sword forward at him. Sir Chamberlin quickly swung his long sword and blocked Sir Franklin’s right sword in mid-action. Sir Franklin now swung his left sword downward at Sir Chamberlin’s leg. Sir Chamberlin twisted his body and swung the long sword downward, blocking the blade from cutting his leg.
Sir Franklin continued with rapid swings from both of his swords in the same pattern; forcing Sir Chamberlin to swing his sword, clash of iron echoed, as the sparks from their blades flung in the air.
Lady Jetta aimed her bow and a
rrow at Sir Franklin and fired an arrow at him. Sir Franklin ducked, as the arrow flew above his head. Sir Chamberlin performed an overhead swing downward on Sir Franklin’s head. Sir Franklin quickly raised both of his swords up, and blocked Sir Chamberlin’s blade. Sir Franklin quickly swung both of his blades inward at Sir Chamberlin’s legs. Sir Chamberlin quickly hopped up, avoiding the blade while turning his body around in mid-air, swinging his long blade in the air.
Lady Jetta aimed her bow and arrows at Sir Franklin and fired four arrows at him. Sir Franklin quickly moved his two swords in a circle motion in front of him, slicing the arrows out of the air. One of the Paladins’ knights aimed his bow and arrow at Lady Jetta and released the bowstring. The arrow sharply cut through the air and stuck into Lady Jetta’s left arm. Lady Jetta screamed as she fell onto her knees, while grabbing her arm.
Sir Chamberlin’s eyes stretched in shock as he heard Lady Jetta’s cry in pain. Out of rage, Sir Chamberlin charged forward at Sir Franklin with an overhead swing from his long sword. Sir Franklin quickly raised his swords above his head and blocked Sir Chamberlin’s long blade. Sir Franklin quickly stepped to Sir Chamberlin’s right side and swung his left sword downward, chopping Sir Chamberlin’s hand off. Sir Chamberlin screamed in pain and Sir Franklin swung the right sword horizontally forward, towards Sir Chamberlin’s neck.
Lady Jetta blinked and mouth dropped as she saw Sir Chamberlin stumbled backwards with blood instantly pouring out from his neck. She watched in horror, Sir Chamberlin’s lifeless body fell backwards with his neck slit. Sir Franklin spun both swords around while standing sideways and held his right sword sideways in front of him and his left sword drew back, in an angle with the tip of the blade aimed downward at Sir Chamberlin’s lifeless body.
Sir Franklin looked around as massive of lifeless bodies scattered over the court yard. The battle was over, as the Paladins scaled the castle. The rest of the Castilians’ knights surrendered as they tossed their weapons to the ground. Sir Franklin flourished his swords back into their sheaths. Two of the Paladins knights dragged the queen across the bloodied court yard.
“My lord, we’ve captured the queen!”
“Tie up the prisoners and escort them to this castle’s dungeons!”
Chapter 8
Sir Alexander sat alone inside a square cage made out of bamboo that was tied to a rope and hung from a branch on a tree. On the second tree near his, his knights were together in a cage made out of bamboo and tied to a rope that hung from a branch. Sir Alexander scanned the area. This was a village-like campsite, he took note. He saw the elves standing around at the campsite.
“We’re not your enemies!” Sir Alexander exclaimed while he stared at the group of elves. “We wish you no harm!”
The elves ignored while continuing in their own conversation.
“It’s no use my lord. They do not understand your tongue, nor do we understand theirs.” One of the knights said.
Sir Alexander slowly shook his head, disappointed. He blinked when he caught the attraction of a woman elf. She slowly approached and looked up at him. Her hair was long, blond and wavy with the ends braided that drooped over her shoulders. Her eyes were pointed upward like a wolf. Her flesh was pale-like ivory. Eyes were green and lips were pink. She wore a silver and brown breast-plate that covered most of her perky breasts that only showed her plumbed cleavages. She wore brown trousers with a red cloak. Her shoulders were protected in hard armor that was connected to her breasts-plate. Her stomach was revealed that was flat and smooth, showing her bellybutton. Her eyes met Sir Alexander’s while she slowly blinked them.
“Who are you?” She asked.
“You… speak our language?” He was shocked.
“My name is Fay… I am the only elf that can speak your langue.”
“I am called Sir Alexander… I am with the Castilians Knights. We are on a journey for…”
“The Abaddon?” She asked.
“Hold… you… you know of this ambulant?”
“I heard of its power. Why do you seek this ambulant?”
“It is Merlin’s wishes.”
He noticed Fay’s eyes widen when he spoke of Merlin.
“You… you know of Merlin?” Sir Alexander asked.
“I do.”
“I am sort of a student of his! You must believe me!” He paused as he watched her turn and walked away. “Fay! Fay! You must believe what I say! I speak of the truth, I say!”
The knights slowly shook their heads.
“It is no use my lord,” one of the knights said, “your beseeches are deaf to her pointed ears!”
“Aye,” another knight added, “our brethren will soon send a search party. If they find us, these elves will be rightfully slaughtered!”
Sir Alexander drew his attention to the elves that stood and slowly approached the cages. He saw Fay with another elf approached.
“Mladi ... je vitez? In izrazil je, da je prijatelj z Merlinom?” The elf asked Fay.
“Seveda.” She replied.
“What? What does he ask?” Sir Alexander asked Fay.
“He is called Mongrade. He is king of our tribe. He says, ‘the young one is a knight.’ He asked, if you were friends with Merlin?”
“Yes! Tell him; I am called Sir Alexander, and that we are allies with Merlin, and that Merlin had sent us on a journey to find the ambulant called, Abaddon.”
She turned and faced Mongrade.
“Mlado ime je Sir Alexander. Z Merlinom je zaveznik. Merlin jih je poslal na potovanje, da bi našli ambulanto, Abaddon.”
“Mi smo rasa, ki se imenuje vilini za ljudi. V vojni smo s trolovi. Ta ambulanta, ki jo iščete, je zelo mistična in ima veliko moč. Z Merlinom se nismo prepirali.”
Fay turned her attention to Sir Alexander.
“Mongrade says, ‘We are a race that is called elves to the humans. We are at war with the trolls. This ambulant that you seek is very mystic and holds great power. We have no quarrel with Merlin.”
“So will he free us?” Sir Alexander asked.
She made eye contact with Mongrade.
“Mladi sprašujejo, ali jih boste osvobodili?”
“Ne.” Mongrade said.
“What… what did say?” Sir Alexander asked.
“He said no.” She advised.
“Tell him that if he doesn’t release us, our scouts will search for us. They will find us here and slaughter every elf they see! Please, you must tell him to let us free! We don’t want to harm you! He has no quarrel with Merlin, so why doesn’t he free us?”
She turned and faced Mongrade.
“Povejte mu, da če nas ne izpusti, nas bodo skavti iskali. Tukaj nas bodo našli in zaklali vsakega elfa, ki ga bodo videli! Prosim, morate mu povedati, naj nas osvobodi! Ne želimo vam škodovati! Z Merlinom nima prepira, zakaj nas ne osvobodi?”
“Hmm…” Mongrade rubbed his chin. “Odrežite jih.”
“Wait… what did he say?” Sir Alexander desperately asked.
Fay nodded. She walked away and grabbed her bow and arrows. She returned and aimed her bow and arrow at Sir Alexander. Sir Alexander’s jaws clenched.
“Wait… wait!” He pleaded.
She pulled the bowstring back and fired an arrow. The arrow traveled quickly and cut through the thick rope. The cage fell as Sir Alexander yelled in slight fear. The cage landed on the ground. She shot another arrow at the second cage, and the cage fell to the ground. Two elves approached with their short swords and cut the thick rope that was tied to the cage door on the cages, freeing Sir Alexander and the knights. Sir Alexander stood and faced Fay.
“Mongrade wishes to speak with you and your knights.” She advised.
Sir Alexander shifted his eyes over at the knights. They were silent as they made eye contact with him. Fay turned and walked away, leading Sir Alexander and his knights to follow behind her.
Mongrade sat behind the campfire. Sir Alexander and his knights sat around the campfire. Fay sat next to Mongrade while
the rest of the elves sat amongst themselves at the campfire.
“Mlademu vitezu želim dobro potovanje na poti v iskanju ambulante, ki je padla z neba. V zahvalo Merlinu, bom poslal skauta z vami ...”
Fay turned and faced Sir Alexander.
“Mongrade said, ‘I wish the young knight well on his journey in finding the ambulant that fell form the skies. In appreciation for Merlin, I will send a scout with you…”
“That’s very generous, but we wish not to bother our affairs on him.” Sir Alexander said.
“It would be an insult if you do not accept Mongrade’s offer.”
“Who will this scout be that will join us in our journey?”
Fay turned and faced Mongrade.
“Mladi vitez želi vedeti, kdo mu bo pomagal na poti?”
“Ti.” He replied.
Her eyes blinked her lips parted to speak but hesitated.
“What did he say?” Sir Alexander asked.
She turned and faced him.
“Me. He wishes me to aid you.”
Sir Alexander blinked. He lowered his head, thinking. He looked over at the knights who were stunned. He now made eye contact with Fay.
“It will be a treacherous journey… are you able to…”
“I have fought in many battles.”
“But we’re talking about mercenaries… knights and other mysterious forms of life that we will encounter, not trolls!” One of the knights snarled.
“Sir Patrick, stay your tongue!” Sir Alexander demanded. He now shifted his attention to the Fay. “Forgive him for his blistering tongue.”
“You say they are others…?”
“Yes. More at our campsite. We must return before they worry and prepare a scout to search for us.”
“I will accompany you.”