Warring Kingdoms - Strife for Victory

Chapter 5 - Alliance For Revenge and Justice

The rain showered onto our camp. We hadn't have rain for a long time and it was refreshing for some. Hammond and I made camp under tents located beneath trees for cover. I brought in as much dry wood as I could find and hammond made a fire in the least dampest place he could find. It was dark now, but we were close to the castle. Hopefully tomorrow we would reach the castle. I lied down onto the fabric layed out onto the ground. That was our makeshift bed. I looked up onto the tent's canvas until I eventually fell asleep. 

I was in a cave. I saw another man with a massive sword. He charged at me, and our swords met. Sparks flew as the man attacked me again. Finally I lost my grip and dropped my sword. My sword skid across the cave floor and hit the wall. I stuttered backwards in fear but the man was already coming in for the attack. 

"AHRHHH!" I screamed as I sprung awake. Phew, it was just a dream. I thought to myself. Hammond ran into the tent and asked,

"Halt? Are you fine? What happened?" 

I explained my dream. Me and Halt had become good friends during our trips here and we were now okay with the company of each other. I definitely felt better than the trip where I went away from the castle. 

"I found a hare caught on a root and I killed it. Come, I'm roasting it." Hammond said after a brief pause. 

I sniffed up into the air and smelled the scent of the cooking hare. My mouth watered. I hadn't have something like this in about a week and just the smell of it brought tears. After packing up my linen mattress, I exited the tent. 

Hammond was looking at a skewer with a well roasted hare on it. The skewer was resting on two sticks where it was held up over the now dead fire. I pulled out my knife and threw him the knife, and he caught it and started to cut the hare. Soon it was ready. 

I grabbed my piece of hare and started ripping it apart. It was delicious. The most magnificent thing I have eaten in my whole life. It was better than the rabbit stew at the castle. I tore through the food and looked around. Oh yeah, there wasn't more. I thought. I sighed and started to fold the tent. I tied it onto Boreas, my horse, and I saddled him up. I pulled out a carrot from my sack and fed him the carrot. In a few minutes, we were ready to go. 

 -=+=-

It was noon, the sun was directly above us. We were getting closer and closer to the castle. We could see the faint smoke of the farm I had visited before. After seeing that the smoke was clearly getting more visible, we sped up our pace and soon, galloped upon the clearing of the farm. When we approached the farm, we were greeted with the warm smiles of Ms. and Mr. Hudson. As soon as I got off, Ms. Hudson embraced me and greeted us into her house. As like last time, lunch was cooking and we got to taste her delicious food. 

"Who is this other fellow here?" She asked me, gesturing to Hammond. 

"Oh, how unmannerful of me, I didn't even introduce myself! Im Kristopher Hammond, or just Hammond. I'm an.... ally and friend of Halt here." Hammond said while cleaning his mouth, "And I'm done. This was quite a delightful meal. Thank you for having us, but we must leave." 

I quickly slopped up the remaining of my soup and cleaned my mouth. 

"Sorry. We are heading for the castle and we want to arrive as fast as we can. We should get going now." I told the Hudsons. 

"Oh really? Then go, get a long your way! I know it's for a good cause. Go! Help our country!" Encouraged Ms.Hudson. After finishing up our good byes, me and hammond saddled up and started on our way.

-=+=-

It now was dusk and it was cold and dark. As we galloped through the plains, the wind and the darkness blinded and hurt our eyes. Even though we were burdened by the wind and darkness, we made it to the castle at the edge of midnight.

As we trotted into the castle, the castle guards greeted us in haste. 

"Sir Halt! Welcome back! I will notify the King and your family immediately!" Said one of the guards. He hurried off. 

Soon after, I saw Verjio, my servant, Windsor, the King, and Adelene, my wife, all approach me. Adelene hugged me as she cleaned her tears. Then, the king approached me. 

"It hasn't been a week since you left, what brings you back in such haste?" Asked the king. 

 "King Windsor, let me introduce this man, Hammond. He comes from a big guild inside Reclion. This guild has a town, which was recently destroyed from the Kerolds. A lot of men died, and Hammond want's his revenge, together with us." I reported to the King. Hammond turned and bowed to the King,

"Nice to meet you, Sir." Hammond said

"Nice to meet you too." the King replied. 

Then I continued to explain what happened to the guild in detail. 

"So what you're saying is that the Keroldians have come as close as to the River Grell?" Asked King Windsor.


"Yes sir. It's either that, or the army that had attacked us was merely just a scouting party. But if it was, it may seem that the army they have behind is.. massive." I told him


The king sighed and then turned to Verjio. "Call the messengers to form a meeting for all the lords around the castle to come to the King's castle. The meeting will take place next week." Then, with a worried face, King Windsor left into the castle.

-=+=-

The meeting took place in the same massive hall as the day before I left. Most of the lords that I had met during that time was still here, but some of them, unfortunately, weren't able to attend the meeting.

As Kristopher and I walked into the hall, the king greeted me and gave me a seat.

"Thank you greatly for being able to attend this meeting." King Windsor's voice silenced everyone, and all the members took their seats. "We have.. recently been alerted that the Keroldians, has made it far enough into the kingdom until the River Grell. This man here, Kristopher was the owner.. leader of the.. guild who was attacked. They call it.."

"The Mercenary's Guild" Kristopher finished. At the word "Mercenary" the lords gasped.

"Ah yes.. The mercenary's guild. Fortunately they were able to win the battle but many many lives were lost. Now they have no area for refuge. Kristopher wants to form an alliance with us, so that he can get his revenge, and we can get our proper Justice upon him." King Windsor finished. "Now. What are your opinions?"

As soon as the King seated, Lord Esch'even stood up spoke. "But how? How are the Keroldians already at the river? That's impossible! I demand a full evidence. How can we trust him anyways? He's a filthy mercenary, nothing better than just a barbarian!" Esch'even spoke as he slammed his chalice on the desk.

"Yes! How can we trust him? He is a mercenary afterall. Mercenaries are supposed to be.. brutal.. barbarious... devi- Ah yes. Devious!" Shouted another lord.

Lord Richard, one of the most strongest lords, stood up. He cleared his throat and spoke, "But we need our win against the Keroldians don't we? They stand next to us, eager to wipe us all off the face of the earth. How can we sleep with the possibility that the Keroldians are at the river?"

The others roared in agreement.

"Well well well. We will make our decision now. Who are in favor of the alliance?" King Windsor paused as all hands but Esch'even were raised. "Well we have a decision. The alliance is sealed. You are dismissed." King Windsor waved his hands and sat as the Lords started to empty the hall. King Windsor, Kristopher, and I were the only men left.

"Thank you, your majesty." Said Kristopher as he did a short bow.