The Knights of Haile: A Trinity of Heroes

4

The Silver Shield was alive with patrons, the smells of roast ducks and local brews, song and good cheer.

Outside, atop the rafters, hung a large, sprawling silver shield that signified a central meeting place for many of the citizens of Haile. Inside, patrons and bartenders alike celebrated another wedding or a birthday or a good harvest or hunt, truly, the atmosphere at the Silver Shield was always festive.

Benni sat up to the long wooden bar top table sipping at a mug of ale and looking over the patrons. He waved to a few whom he recognized and gave a nod to some of the ladies therein. Benni called the bartender over, Brewtus Binglebrew, a Dwarven Brewmaster from as far West as one could live.

The stout man hobbled and bumbled his way over to Benni, stood on a short step stool and slapped a thick, meaty hand against the boy's shoulder. "Aye, lad, what ya need?"

Benni grimaced for a moment as he was still sore from the beating he took earlier but the alcohol helped to stave it off. "Another pint, good sir. And tell me, how has business been of late?"

Brewtus grabbed Benni's mug, dipped it in a deep trough of ale behind the bar and brought it over to him. "Been good. Fookin bandits got us twisted up though. Few o' em been cutting supply of some new hops from the Everglen."

"Sounds like our Knights haven't been keeping up their patrols," Benni suggested just loudly enough for one of the Knights drinking nearby to hear. When the middle aged man turned his ear to him, Benni could see he had his full attention. "It's a shame that Captain Maxwell lets the men slack off so much, otherwise something might get finished."

Benni drank and watched as two fellow Knights began to talk the man down out of whatever anger may have well been brewing. He slapped his mug down and yawned. "Got me arse whipped by Reinhardt today and still, I could get more work done than these horse's asses."

Finally, the Knight could stay silent no longer. He turned to Benni and glowered. "Something you wanna clear up, lad?"

Benni drank and shrugged. "Do you have Captain Maxwell's permission to speak to me like that?" He could see he had the Knight flustered. "Last time I checked, you cannot piss without his permission. Hell, you aren't even supposed to be here. Say I were to bash you in the face with my mug of ale and start a brawl, I bet he wouldn't be very happy with you, would he?"

The Knight stood. "Lad, it sounds to me like you might need a little education on respect, something yer whore mother should have done a long time-"

Before the man could finish his sentence, Benni threw his wooden mug into the man's face, leapt from his stool and rushed him. He dove, shoulder first into the Knight and proceeded to knock him and both of his cohorts off of their stools. Benni hit the Knight a few times in the face before his companions could pick the boy off of him.

"Let me go!" Benni grabbed one of the Knights and threw him into the other. He turned just in time as the Knight he tackled lowered his shoulder and took him to the ground. He hit Benni a few times before the young man swung back and caught the Knight with a swift right hand across the jaw. The two tumbled around for a bit before getting back to their feet. They were about to clash again when suddenly the doors to the pub swung open and Reinhardt walked in flanked by three other members of the Knight Guard.

It took Reinhardt all of five seconds to survey the situation. He grabbed the one Knight by the tunic and pulled him out of the pub with him. "I gotta fuckin' babysit now?" He backhanded the man across the face. He returned shortly and called the other two away from the situation. The look in his eyes told them to move quite swiftly. And so they did.

After getting a quick laugh Benni returned to his seat and called for another ale. He drank and drank before eventually, Reinhardt pulled up a stool and sat ominously close to the young man.

"Mug of fresh water," the Knight called to the barkeep before waving off his cohorts.

"Pussy," Benni mumbled as he drank. "Typical Knight."

Reinhardt took a long drink. "I may be a pussy," he spoke firm. "But, this pussy whipped yer arse this morning. What does that say about you?"

"I ain't afraid to tell you your place," Benni continued to jaw Jack. "Think because your Maxwell's little bitch that I'm supposed to bow down and kiss your boots?"

"What's your problem, kid?" Reinhardt inquired. "Got no respect in ya it seems."

"My father, William, he works at the stone yard just outside of the Galexia Ironworks. Security at the ironworks is tight as a bull's nut but the stone yard, that's a different story all together. Bandit stuck an arrow in his arm and your watch, your crew, your contingent was asleep while they did it. Bunch of lazy cunts!"

Reinhardt drank some more from his mug. He thought things over for a moment. "I've already disciplined the Knights whom were supposed to be on duty. The ranks are thin these days, you know. Not as many young lads looking to risk their lives for the city anymore. Unless you know somebody?"

Benni shrugged. "I might," he spoke, sipping at his ale. "Might know just the guy you're looking for."

"I heard he's a bit young," Reinhardt retorted, nodding to Benni. "Doubt his parents would approve."

Benni raised an eyebrow. "Mother thinks he's setting trap lines all day," he explained. "He could easily pull the wool over her eyes, especially since she's a might busy with tending to his father's wounds lately."

Reinhardt finished his mug and took a silver token out of his pocket. He offered it to Benni. "Give this to the guards at the main gate to the castle and they'll let you in. I'll expect you at the barracks just before sun up, lad."

Benni's eyes went wide. "Y-y-you're serious? No fooling?"

Reinhardt nodded. "You get one chance with me, lad." He stood and turned to leave. "Do not be late!" Without another word or any further instruction, Reinhardt left the pub and an astonished Benni Wakewood in his path.