IronGuard

CHAPTER 1

The city is under attack and the recruits have been asked to watch the battle and act as the reserve force.

"Congratulations Marcus!" Dello yells at Marcus

Marcus and their group stand in the battlements of the city behind the line of archers, launching their arrows at the charging minions down at the ground.

"Thank you Dello! Too bad you couldn't make it" Marcus mocks but Dello seems reassured.

"Captain Gildas told me that I don't have to worry, I can still become an IronGuard Lord even if I'm not a First Talon like you" Dello laughs but stops as he hears the coming roar and cries of the minions getting closer to the wall.

Below them stood the Perion soldiers accompanied by small groups of IronGuard Knights led by captains. They await the oncoming onslaught, they can't afford to let the minions crawl up the wall or else the city will be overrun.

"I wonder of they have a demon with them this time" Finn says.

Finn is one of their members, a bit weaker skilled than Marcus and Dello but a good friend. He likes talking about demons but is actually afraid of them.

"You sure, you wouldn't run away like in training?" Dello says.

"Silence Dello!" Liana shouts, Gildas instructed her to keep watch over the group. "Marcus! You are First Talon now, act like one!"

The entire group then turn their attention to Marcus, wondering what he'll say to Liana. Even the archers takes notice of their feud.

"We're right in a middle of a battle Liana, stop yelling" Marcus replies. "I'm First Talon, do not tell me what to do" the group laugh gently at Liana

"First Talon, don't make me laugh" Ginrad announces. "I'd rather have Perion burn than serve a farmer's boy"

Ginrad is from the group beside them, most of them were noble born and like Liana he was among the chosen

Dello and Finn breaks rank and threatens to fight Ginrad but the other noble born stops them. Now the the rest of the group starts to gang up on the rising tension.

"Dello and Finn get back to your place or else...." Liana says but Dello interrupts

"....or else what? Ginrad just disrespected First Talon Marcus, what are you going to do about it acting-captain Liana?"

"Acting-captain? How dare you! I am the only one here worthy enough to become captain and even more so become First Talon. Not this farm boy" She shouts in anger.

This time the archers stop and stare at Liana and the other noble born. Most of the soldiers in Perion today were once farmers who lost their lands to the demon invasion, the next thing they hate after the demons is the nobles who do nothing but talk.

"You just insulted these men Liana, they who fight for stubborn noble families here in the capital" Dello declares. "Being noble doesn't give you the right to insult our people"

"And who do you do think gave them their armor and weapons? Who do you think paid for the meals they had up to now ?" Ginrad declares. "Who do you think......."

"And who do you think you are to talk down on us!" Captain Rein of the army of Perion, whose in charge of defending the wall. "We are in a middle of a battle! Stand in attention!"

Everyone reformed their lines and stood tall even the noble born recruits. Captain Rein has defended the walls of Perion City since the first day of the war. He is both feared and respected in the army but hated by the nobles.

"I can't believe you will be the next IronGuard! First Talon Marcus control your company!" He yells out.

His company?! Liana shouts in her mind still not accepting that a low born like Marcus is her superior.

"Forgive my company's poor discipline captain, how goes the defence sir?" Marcus replies

"Not good, the damn wretches are advancing on the entire section of this wall, we might see a few crawlers today but make no mistake! They will not enter the city as long as my men are here and! You recruits, the future IronGuard of Perion must show your will and strength against the demons that would have us kneel!" Captain Rein strolls back and forth and back and forth in front of them, showing his authority.

"Demon!" A soldier cries out, pointing out to the field.

They look for the demon and find him walking slowly in the midst of the corpses of dead minions. Just as before, the demon wears black armor and black cloak and hood over his head and in his hand is this black steel longsword. The very sight of him sends chills to the hearts of the recruits but not for Marcus, as he stares at the monster his heart is fueled with anger and hate. After four years since the death of his parents and his sister kidnapped he is more than eager to take revenge

The field was silent for a time but then the loud cheers of the soldiers emerge from down below, the IronGuard Knights step forward with their long swords drawn and face down the lone demon. Ten IronGuard knights against one seems too much so one knight proudly steps forward to claim the first kill, the knight raises his longsword with one hand and again the loud roar of the army fills the air.

The knight and the demon face off only a few yards away from each other and with each second the cries and cheers of the soldiers grow louder and louder. Finally the Knight makes his stance ready to kill the demon but he didn't know what this demon was capable of.

In a blink of an eye the demon disappears like smoke and then suddenly he reappears right in front of the knight, slashing him deep in the belly with the longsword, the knight's armor saved him from being cut into half but not from the agonizing pain of steel cutting deep into his body.

The cheers turn into silence as the IronGuard fall to the ground and blood pours out of his body. Everyone including the IronGuard knights are drawn back by the sudden tragedy but only for a moment, two knights steps forward and is eager to avenge their fallen brother but just like before the demon disappears and reappears right in front of them then cuts them down with ease. The demon killed three IronGuard Knights without even crossing blades with them.

Now the silence of the soldiers slowly turn into sadness and fear as the demons stands there undaunted. The recruits watching the battle couldn't believe their eyes, even Marcus didn't know demons were this strong. Now it seems the tide of the battle rests on what the remaining IronGuard will be able to against the monster.

Finally a ray of hope shines as a captain of the IronGuard comes forward and beside him the other six. The demon readies himself to fight. The captain charges first then followed by the others.

The soldiers began to cheer again as they hear the first clash of steel against steel but the captain is not fighting alone, the others coordinate their attacks with his being the distraction.

Blow after blow of coordinated attacks they manage to push the demon back a few yards but they couldn't kill him but even so the soldiers starts showing a bit of relief. The IronGuard ready themselves for another charge but suddenly the demon starts making strange movements, waving his sword needlessly and his feet look like he is gliding. The IronGuard didn't want to wait any longer so they charge at the demon with the captain heading in first but as his blade is about to pierce the demon, the demon disappears into smoke and reappears again but not in front of the captain but to one of the knights, the demon kills him and disappears again then reappears to kill again but there are delays to his attacks. Each time he would make strange movements again until he is attacked again then he counters and kills.

The captain was the last one to fall, they were overwhelmed by the demon's strength and now standing on the corpses of ten dead IronGuard, the demon raises his sword and suddenly the ground shakes as a new wave of minions and mercenaries charge towards the wall eager to break into the city.

The other sections of the wall are still fighting heavily the first wave but now the section where Marcus and his company is stationed has lost their IronGuard knights and Captain. It seems the time has come for the Perion recruits to show their worth.

Hello! Thank you for reading! Please vote and Comment. Next Chapter will be posted next week