Knight Captains Ch. 9
Aug. 7th, 2011 12:41 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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angemediaWith this short end chapter, we conclude the first "book" of the...er, book. Next week's chapter will open somewhere...different.
But first! We must determine:
[Poll #1767699]
9
I immediately reported the figure I had seen to both chiefs of staff the next morning. As I expected, Kiefar dismissed my concerns with a haughty sneer: "You're sure you weren't dreaming?" Cain, at least, took me seriously at first, and offering to "call the guards together and ask them." Not one of the soldiers assigned to the night watch, however, had seen anyone suspicious.
Security around the castle had intensified since the attack - so to claim I had seen someone throw himself from the window to beyond the palace walls, witnessed by no one but myself...
Yes - he threw himself from the window. His left just as he appeared - with no route in or back, no possible destination, his visit less an intrusion than a riddle. Neither myself nor anyone around me could do anything to solve it.
~*~
Not long after, we came to the final battle of this campaign. It was vital to move on to a new battleground before the castle was targeted again, so we undertook the all-out assault far earlier than planned. Our target was the opposition lord's keep.
The blue and violet troops leading the charge breached the gates barring the way to the keep during the night and led the main body of the resistance inside. By the time the rear guard and Lord Leviath's personal guard arrived just before dawn, the palace was already - for the time being - surrounded.
I say "for the time being" because the resistance troops themselves were decidedly few, and the cordon therefore thinly populated; with reinforcements, the enemy could easily break through. It was vital that the castle fall quickly.
But the monarchists were entrenched; they had been fighting the resistance for years, after all. Defenses were tight, and the archery and artillery fire from the castle walls was fierce. I inched my archers as close as I possibly dared and ordered them to aim for the soldiers lining the castle walls, but it didn't have the results I'd hoped. The other troops missed the opportunity to move in.
The battle dragged on to midday. There was no time left to lose. Lord Leviath himself rose from his post.
"Please, wait!" called a thin, delicate voice at his side. Eugene appeared, clad in a silver katabira tinged with turquoise - both hands resting on the shoulders of Renaud, who stood before him; Eugene seemed to be pushing him forward. "Let us pierce the enemy defenses for you, Lord Leviath. You can do it, can't you, Renaud?"
Lord Leviath's green eye regarded him coldly. Renaud nodded frantically, desperate to please. "Wi, with the lightning attack y, you taught me, Lord Leviath, the, the gates will......will......" Renaud averted his eyes from Lord Leviath's gaze, unable to say any more.
In response, Lord Leviath redirected his gaze to the impenetrable fortress that loomed above, taunting us.
"Show me," was all he said.
"Thank you!" Eugene took Renaud's hand and rejoined the unit that had been held back at the very rear of the army.
The magecraft unit wore black. So did Renaud - a pale amber vestment spangled with decorative tassels atop a long, black robe.
"Now is the time to demonstrate the true power of our magecraft. Lend your strength to Renaud!" Eugene's voice trembled slightly, be it from excitement or stress. Over thirty magicians entered into meditation in their own way - clasping hands, closing their eyes.
For some reason, a horrible fear welled up inside me - I felt as if I was going to unravel. I began trembling violently, almost collapsing - until someone steadied me from behind. I turned around, and there was Cain.
"Do you feel it as well? The power of magecraft in the air..." Though stolid, Cain seemed somewhat pale.
"I wouldn't say that I feel it...... I'm just slightly unwell..."
"I feel it. But I don't wield the power - fortunately."
Why "fortunately"? Magecraft was power. In the hands of someone like Cain, it could grant his every wish. But I had no time to ponder the mystery, as my attention was drawn to Renaud.
He stood alone in front of the magecraft unit, eyes closed, arms opened wide. He was shaking violently, but he didn't dare cry. I understand, Renaud. You want to earn Lord Leviath's trust, to have him smile and say "well done" - you're doing this all just for that.
Poor, poor Renaud. I'd kill myself before I fell so low - before I'd allow myself to put someone else's welfare above my own...
Renaud began to chant in a clear, high voice. The sky abruptly clouded over as he finished. An illusion of a thunderhead rolled across the sky like a thin shade; a bolt of lightning extended from the cloud like a branch from its trunk. A great power swelled up from behind me; the sensation gave me goosebumps.
A thick pillar of light descended directly upon the castle.
There was a giant BANG, and a bright light, and for a moment, all was white......!
~*~
When I opened my eyes, the castle was shrouded in white smoke.
Gradually, the smoke parted, and the dark cloud thinned.
There was a huge crack in the center of the castle keep; it was half-destroyed. The palace walls on our side were near-completely demolished on our side. Everyone stood gaping, struck dumb at the devastation. Only Leviath retained his senses; he turned around, expressionless, to face Renaud.
"Magnificent."
Renaud had slumped to the ground, but his face flooded with tears, and he looked up to Lord Leviath as if he were a god. His face looked as if he were trying to smile but was too overcome.
Lord Leviath left him and turned back to the castle. "Commence the assault."
"Yes, sir!" Kiefar responded. Cain returned to his post.
The vanguard of our allies had already begun to swarm the castle. The tumult of war began anew.
"What are you waiting for? Go!"
Startled, I looked up. Lord Leviath was looking directly at me, a steely glint in his eye.
"Go forth and kill in my name."
In Lord Leviath's name. The words reignited the long-smouldering fire that consumed my heart. It was for his sake that I lived, and for his sake that I would offer up the many lives I would steal that day.
I gave him a firm nod. I raised my arm high, pointed to the castle, and charged off on my horse - to find my new home.
But first! We must determine:
[Poll #1767699]
9
Blossoming
I immediately reported the figure I had seen to both chiefs of staff the next morning. As I expected, Kiefar dismissed my concerns with a haughty sneer: "You're sure you weren't dreaming?" Cain, at least, took me seriously at first, and offering to "call the guards together and ask them." Not one of the soldiers assigned to the night watch, however, had seen anyone suspicious.
Security around the castle had intensified since the attack - so to claim I had seen someone throw himself from the window to beyond the palace walls, witnessed by no one but myself...
Yes - he threw himself from the window. His left just as he appeared - with no route in or back, no possible destination, his visit less an intrusion than a riddle. Neither myself nor anyone around me could do anything to solve it.
~*~
Not long after, we came to the final battle of this campaign. It was vital to move on to a new battleground before the castle was targeted again, so we undertook the all-out assault far earlier than planned. Our target was the opposition lord's keep.
The blue and violet troops leading the charge breached the gates barring the way to the keep during the night and led the main body of the resistance inside. By the time the rear guard and Lord Leviath's personal guard arrived just before dawn, the palace was already - for the time being - surrounded.
I say "for the time being" because the resistance troops themselves were decidedly few, and the cordon therefore thinly populated; with reinforcements, the enemy could easily break through. It was vital that the castle fall quickly.
But the monarchists were entrenched; they had been fighting the resistance for years, after all. Defenses were tight, and the archery and artillery fire from the castle walls was fierce. I inched my archers as close as I possibly dared and ordered them to aim for the soldiers lining the castle walls, but it didn't have the results I'd hoped. The other troops missed the opportunity to move in.
The battle dragged on to midday. There was no time left to lose. Lord Leviath himself rose from his post.
"Please, wait!" called a thin, delicate voice at his side. Eugene appeared, clad in a silver katabira tinged with turquoise - both hands resting on the shoulders of Renaud, who stood before him; Eugene seemed to be pushing him forward. "Let us pierce the enemy defenses for you, Lord Leviath. You can do it, can't you, Renaud?"
Lord Leviath's green eye regarded him coldly. Renaud nodded frantically, desperate to please. "Wi, with the lightning attack y, you taught me, Lord Leviath, the, the gates will......will......" Renaud averted his eyes from Lord Leviath's gaze, unable to say any more.
In response, Lord Leviath redirected his gaze to the impenetrable fortress that loomed above, taunting us.
"Show me," was all he said.
"Thank you!" Eugene took Renaud's hand and rejoined the unit that had been held back at the very rear of the army.
The magecraft unit wore black. So did Renaud - a pale amber vestment spangled with decorative tassels atop a long, black robe.
"Now is the time to demonstrate the true power of our magecraft. Lend your strength to Renaud!" Eugene's voice trembled slightly, be it from excitement or stress. Over thirty magicians entered into meditation in their own way - clasping hands, closing their eyes.
For some reason, a horrible fear welled up inside me - I felt as if I was going to unravel. I began trembling violently, almost collapsing - until someone steadied me from behind. I turned around, and there was Cain.
"Do you feel it as well? The power of magecraft in the air..." Though stolid, Cain seemed somewhat pale.
"I wouldn't say that I feel it...... I'm just slightly unwell..."
"I feel it. But I don't wield the power - fortunately."
Why "fortunately"? Magecraft was power. In the hands of someone like Cain, it could grant his every wish. But I had no time to ponder the mystery, as my attention was drawn to Renaud.
He stood alone in front of the magecraft unit, eyes closed, arms opened wide. He was shaking violently, but he didn't dare cry. I understand, Renaud. You want to earn Lord Leviath's trust, to have him smile and say "well done" - you're doing this all just for that.
Poor, poor Renaud. I'd kill myself before I fell so low - before I'd allow myself to put someone else's welfare above my own...
Renaud began to chant in a clear, high voice. The sky abruptly clouded over as he finished. An illusion of a thunderhead rolled across the sky like a thin shade; a bolt of lightning extended from the cloud like a branch from its trunk. A great power swelled up from behind me; the sensation gave me goosebumps.
A thick pillar of light descended directly upon the castle.
There was a giant BANG, and a bright light, and for a moment, all was white......!
~*~
When I opened my eyes, the castle was shrouded in white smoke.
Gradually, the smoke parted, and the dark cloud thinned.
There was a huge crack in the center of the castle keep; it was half-destroyed. The palace walls on our side were near-completely demolished on our side. Everyone stood gaping, struck dumb at the devastation. Only Leviath retained his senses; he turned around, expressionless, to face Renaud.
"Magnificent."
Renaud had slumped to the ground, but his face flooded with tears, and he looked up to Lord Leviath as if he were a god. His face looked as if he were trying to smile but was too overcome.
Lord Leviath left him and turned back to the castle. "Commence the assault."
"Yes, sir!" Kiefar responded. Cain returned to his post.
The vanguard of our allies had already begun to swarm the castle. The tumult of war began anew.
"What are you waiting for? Go!"
Startled, I looked up. Lord Leviath was looking directly at me, a steely glint in his eye.
"Go forth and kill in my name."
In Lord Leviath's name. The words reignited the long-smouldering fire that consumed my heart. It was for his sake that I lived, and for his sake that I would offer up the many lives I would steal that day.
I gave him a firm nod. I raised my arm high, pointed to the castle, and charged off on my horse - to find my new home.
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no subject
Date: 2011-08-07 02:16 pm (UTC)That... end kind of made like Sionna. A bit. He might be crazy, but even crazy kids need a home...
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Date: 2011-08-12 04:16 pm (UTC)