Warriors And Knights
“Yesterday will forever be beyond our reach, but tomorrow will always be there for us to catch and grasp with both hands.”
The Warm rays of sunlight fell upon my cheek as I rose my head up from a night’s rest, I stepped out of bed and over to a small desk which supported a small ceramic jug of water and poured myself a cup, I opened my window shutters fully to gaze out across the courtyard and over the high walls of The Citadel into the wooded valley below the Cliff-Keep Mountains. The sun gently nestled above a far peak hundreds of leagues away, it’s gentle warm tones bringing an early warmth to the still cold spring air. The sound of birds singing and the morning breeze rustling the trees was quickly broken by a loud knock at the door “ William, get up! The Grandmaster wants to speak with you immediately.” A muffled gruff voice exclaimed from behind the door. “I’m already up Gustor, just let me finish dressing.” I replied while frantically slinging a white cotton shirt over my chest and pulling on the rest of my basic attire. A few more moments passed and my sword was firmly attached to my belt and a leather breastplate added to the shirt ”You can never be too careful.” I opened the door into the long stone corridor and rushed off towards the Grandmaster’s Tower, passing by several more rooms before reaching the stairwell. For the past 12 years I’ve got up got ready and met with the other ‘knights in training’ in the courtyard below, I would practice with weapons and armour with Sir Valence, learn battle tactics with Sir Ozgard and learn the Guardian Knight’s code with The Order’s Grandmaster ‘Roderick Powell’ I woke up thinking today would be just another day, but how wrong could I have been. Today would be unlike any other day I could possibly imagine.
…
I barely had to knock once on Roderick’s door before it swung wide open unto his chambers. I was greeted with a beaming smile across the old man's face.”12 years ago you were sent here by your mother as a favour I once owed her Father. And now before me stands as fine a man as I could've hoped to help train, today your training ends and you will join us as Guardian Knight proper. But of Course there must be celebrations, it isn't every day that a young knight finishes their training! ” I could do little to help the smile from creeping across my face. “Th-Thank you sir, it has been an honour.” I bowed my upper body slightly whilst holding my hand to my heart. “No need for the pleasantries, come there is much to do today and we must prepare the proper rites before the feasting and merry-making can begin!” Roderick gestured to me to follow as he strode out into the hallway. I eagerly followed, barely able to contain the excitement and joy. Closing the door behind me I followed him down into The Citadel’s armoury. A large room well stocked with most forms of arms and armours. The greatsword was my preferred weapon of choice however like every other knight before me I was trained in every weapon and armour type so as to let me discover what combination of arms and armour felt the most natural plus if I somehow lost my greatsword it also meant I could use anything else in a pinch. Roderick went to the backroom of the armoury and by taking a small key off from his belt unlocked a chest that contained our most prized possessions. He handed me a polished steel necklace and a white tabard, The necklace was finely engraved with the symbol of our order.
The tabard was white with a slight gold trim and featured our emblem in it's centre, a downward red sword amidst blue flames. Roderick gestured to me to kneel before him “Upon receiving the heraldry of our order and upon completing training in both mind and spirit, I hereby grant thee the status of Knighthood and dub thee Sir William, Guardian Knight and Soldier of The Burning Blade!” As Roderick finished his declaration he raised his sword from one shoulder to another completing the rites of progression and bidded me to stand. “When you were sent here lad I didn't think you had it in you. You had a bright mind aye but your body was frail and weak compared to other kids your age. If it weren't for the legacy of your Grandfather and the debt I owed your mother I wouldn't have allowed you to train but I gave your mother my word I would train you and that I did, however now I see that I could not have thought more wrongly of you and I'd consider you one of the finest knights in our order.” The grandmaster praised. It was rare to achieve such praise directly, especially so close to having finished my training, and what did he mean by my Grandfather's Legacy and debt to my mother? “There is something I must tell you, a secret I've been forced to keep till you-” Roderick’s words were cut short as the ground shook to the sound of stone crumbling. The door burst open as a fellow knight in training fell into the room, he was missing an arm and his torso was badly burned. “Grand-master! The Citadel is under attack, th-they just appeared out of thin air.* The soldier paused for a few breaths* One of the watchers saw what looked like a flicker of light in the forest and in an instant the land was scarred and burned, the trees reduced to ash and in their place stood an army they must be at least 10,000 strong.”
“Your arm what happened?”
“That's the thing sir they have these machines seemingly fuelled by the fires of hell itself! That's what the sound was, the outer wall was hit by what looked like a small meteor and what it didn't destroy in the initial blast was only left as molten rubble.”
“Raise the alarms and call every knight to defend their home. This place is not called The Citadel for nothing! William get yourself armoured up and meet me at the west wall, let's show these invaders our wrath and teach them some honour.”
I quickly equipped myself as best I could with our signature full plate and wore the tabard and necklace with pride. I strapped my Great-sword to my back and headed out to group up with Roderick. The day was far from over
…
For too long I lived to stand in my father's shadow and to think he had the tenacity to banish me! Hellfire and brimstone shall be his punishment, my wrath wrought unto his precious Citadel. To think I used to hold this place to such heights and now nothing is pleasing me more than seeing it's walls sundered and it's defenders scrabbling together as best a defense as they can. “Lord Zash, our arrival was a success; their outer walls have already been breached.”
“Excellent, tell the men to continue drawing the enemy’s attention to defending their main gate.”
Hmm what would father do I wonder? As much as I despise him he's not stupid and knows this castle better than anyone. Well. Almost anyone. I searched over the ramparts for any sign of him. He's not here.
“Where are you hiding oh great grandmaster?” A moment passed as I scanned the battlements further in thought ”Oh of-course you'd want to show us your ‘wrath’ but where would you attack from? Your main gate is swamped with my army so you'd try to cut us off at the head yes, but how would you get to me? Unless.” Another moment passed as I searched for some kind of secret exit. There! Along the west wing hidden away from sight a rocky outcropping in the mountainside. Almost hidden.
“Tell my Abyssal knights to meet by that outcropping. I have you now father.”
…
The siege had only just begun but it was already looking bad, our main gate was swamped with soldiers clad in black iron, and although the outer walls still stood they wouldn't last against the assault of this new devilry for long. I ascended up to the western wall where stood the Grandmaster and 20 knights, he laid out his plan of attack to us, it was simple but effective. We would attack from a secret passageway and act as a vanguard to cut the head off the snake and then flank the enemy and box them in. It was a long shot of course we're outnumbered 10 to 1 but we had to try something and I had my faith in the Grandmaster’s ability to lead us to victory. We discussed in the dim torch light as we headed down the secret passageway making sure not to be too loud in case there was others listening