This is my first story based in brettonia about the rise of a boy noble to glory
anyway hope you enjoy reading and comment and criticism
appreciated
The knights vow
‘You can feel it can’t you’ the vampire taunted, ‘it was how I felt before I was turned the realisation that you are helpless before a being superior to yourself, fear on its most instinctual level’. Mitchell Florent stepped back nervously slowly, sweating profusely despite the unearthly chill, or perhaps because of the chill. Checking his stance and remembering his lessons he prepared himself, for a half-second blinked the sweat out of his eyes and glanced at the nearby exit back to his left the other being behind the vampire himself 4 strides I can make that he’s at least 10 away… The vampire cleared it in two his blade rushed towards the squires’ throat. Mitchell responded slashing his long sword at the vampires’ midriff and stiffening his shield, although disadvantaged in speed his sword was almost a foot longer than his undead opponents. The vampire pirouetted around the stroke with unnatural grace and swung backhandedly towards the youth’s torso. Mitchell caught the blow on his shield while raising his sword for a counterattack which would have fallen true had the vampires strength not sent him flying across the tiled floor. Sprawled on the ground, dazed and possibly injured the squire almost forgot where he was, remembering he panicked, standing too quickly and stumbled backwards falling if not for the wall now at his back the door was closer now a mere step away, but he stood ready wary of the vampires’ unnatural speed, he’s tempting me Mitchell realised as the two faced off giving me the hope of escape. Seeing that the human wasn’t moving the vampire began his advance he did not rush but rather sauntered his way forward his eyes now eager for the kill, Mitchell stepped forward to meet him performing a strong overhand swing this time forcing a parry he followed up his first blow with a fully extended cross cut desperately trying to keep the abomination as far away as possible. For a while the sound of steel on steel rang out as the aspiring knight used his advantage in weaponry to hold back the lightly armed vampire. Then when Mitchells feet faltered beneath him, the undeads’ blade found Mitchells shield, the dull sound of the weapons deflection of the hard wood echoed around the hall as the force of the blow slammed the squires’ back into the wall. Then the fiend attacked in earnest most blows falling upon shield and blade while few managed so strike at exposed limbs and even of his helmet only his heavy chain keeping the squire alive. Eventually the shield splintered and broke beneath the tireless attack and the youth fell to the floor his energy spent and hope lost, raising his blurred vision from the tiles he landed on Mitchell saw his oncoming death in his opponents raised blade. There was a sound of movement, a billowing red cape tattered along its edges and a light jingle of mail, his master had arrived, Sir Jayce Berillion. Jayces Great sword fell upon the vampire in midstrike and was just deflected by the vampires quick reflexes, however the blow still cut a shallow wound across its torso driving the vampire back in pain or disbelief. Boots and white surcoat splattered with gore, helmet removed and face showing perspiration Sir Berillion made an impressive sight towering over the vampire at 6’5” and armour bulking out his already reasonable form he was allbut made to weild a great sword, He swung again spinning clockwise after the distracted vampire, his great sword reaching out to find it. Almost too quickly the vampire ducked beneath the blow and attempted to advance into range finding only Jayces armoured left foot, despite possessing a strength and speed greater than any man the blood cursed warriors form was still dead weight as the blow knocked the vampire back out of distance. Jayce continued to press at the disorientated foe, knowing a moments respite would go against him dearly, reversing his blades direction again and sending it towards the Vampires’ head. Quicker than humanly possible the undead lord thrust up his short blade in a defiant yet desperate parry, in response the questing knight angled his blade slightly lower and altered its path slicing the hand, sword and all, at the wrist. With one last blow Jayce severed the monsters head ending the struggle. As soon as the slain vampire hit the floor the knight was tending to his squire words recieved no response but both pulse and breath seemed stable with no medical expertise Jayce decided that relocation was the best option, before leaving he picked up the severed head of thier quarry and departed carrying the unconscious squire.
Mitchell woke to the rythmic movement of horseback and a massive headache, he re positioned himself to be more comfortable. Hearing his squire stirr from his sleep Jayce pulled up both horses and dismounted, then he helped Mitchell do the same. 'Im meant to help you dismount sir' Mitchell mumbled still drowsy and disorientated. Jayce took the humor as a good sighn and responded 'ha! and I am meant to be the one fighting Vampires while you deal with the leftovers.' after a pause he continued 'there is a discouloring in your sheild arm that could be trouble, but other than that i cant see any lasting damage, you were lucky' Mitchell nodded his assent not sure how to reply. 'never mind lad, there'll be someone in francourt who can have a look at it, and by any means tangling with a vampire and coming out of it with nothing but a sore arm is no easy feat' at this the boy looked up 'thankyou sir, for the compliment and for saving me' 'dont mention it, we must continue on our way and show our client that our quest is done SOME of us have not slept in nearly 2 days' at that the boy laughed and nodded his agreement and with a little pain and effort mounted his horse, soon they were on thier way to castle francourt. From there the pair said little and the travel was uneventfull they passed other travellers, all of which were lowborn and moved aside for the mounted knights almost all of which noted the fanged head hanging from Jayces' saddle and responded with a mixed appreciation. Most of them would have known that there had been undead spottings and villager dissapearances near the chalons forest boarder in aquitane and were probably relieved to see a dead vampire. The beast itself was not too troubling quite unskilled in combat and only armed with a short sword, Jayce looked back at Mitchell lucky. It was only a matter of showing sheild and quarry to the guards at Francourt to gain entrance to the castle. Francourt was a small castle by most standards but with a capacity for most if not all of the village that lay near it 'Im here to see Lord Agilgar about his request.' 'of course my lord, we have sent for a page to meet you at the stables to take you to him the stable boy will take your steeds requirements' the castle guard were lowborn but spoke with due ettiquette and with minimal peasant drawl, that says good things about our lord Agilgar, as promised a young boy of around 12 wearing the arms of house Agilgar met them at the stables, As Mitchell gave intructions to the stable boy, jayce inquired about a healer for his squire and learnt that there was both a fey touched healer and apothacary present. the page took them to the lords study and then took Mitchell onwards to the ward. entering the study Jayce noted the room was only furnished by table and chair which the lord himself sat and two other chairs a reading chair near a fireplace and another matching the lords opposite his current position at the table apart from this Bookshelves lined each wall, a reader lord explains the need for a questing knight. 'Welcome sir Jayce Berillion, and thankyou for your help, rooms have been provided for... two if i am correct and payment will be arranged as well as preperation to the village of vailles on the bordelux border. are there further matters to attend to?' The lord was efficient and had looked up the arrangements personally 'No my Lord we thank you for your hospitality my squire will spend time in your ward tonight so do not bother your servants with his room' Jayce replied 'they shall be informed i shall see you at supper your seat shall be on my right your squire next to you if he can make it, that wil be all until then' the lord stated looking at a recent message recieved 'thankyou my lord' Jayce finished and took his leave. the rest of the day passed uneventfull untill supper.Jayce had neither his squire nor host present with him at the head table and sat alone through his first dish of clams from the port cities in borderleaux or lyonnese probably provided for him in thanks. When the main started, a boar hunted by one of the lords sons most likely, Agilgar entered, after a few minutes of conversation the topic came up. 'its odd for a questing knight to take a squire is it not?' Oberon Agilgar asked it weas a topic that often came up when Jayce boarded in the estates of other nobility and so he explained that Mitchell Florent had been a squire for his older brother and only remaining kin, in a battle against the greenskins near the grey mountains. His brother had been slain and the 13 year old Florent without a knight and no way to become one, so Jayce berillion a knight of the realm had taken him in trained him at the berillion estate in lyonesse and later taken him as squire when he was 16, which he had been for 15 months. Agilgar contemplated for a while 'and the boy shows promise' Jayce nodded 'very skilled with a sword for one his age but ordinary with a lance, my fault as i havent used one for more than a year'. they continued talking until the feast hall was nearly empty, eventually Agilgar made his request 'My castle is small and the only knight i command is my oldest son who is commander of the guard here, however the village that you are travelling to, Vailles, has requested assistance with a beastmen prescence which is no doubt why you travel there I am compelled to send a detechment of menat arms and bowmen numbering 40 and 20 respectively as well as 8 mounted yoeman however i nor my son can lead them' Jayce understood what was asked 'I see, i can lead your men into battle but i can not escort them or arrange passage home as my vows forbid it' Agilgar was not detered 'i believe that it is time young Mitchell florent took the knights vow'.
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