SmackDown: MadMike's Revenge!

Round 6: Blades of Sand and Fire - @bloodsword

Blades of Sand and Fire

by bloodsword

Kenso slowly unfurled the scroll of thick, tanned goatskin and began to read out loud.

"The great war did everything that the generals thought it would," he read in clear, concise words. "It crushed opposing armies, burned their cities to the ground, and ravaged their civilization. And when the victors returned to their world, they left behind a broken people living in a wasteland."

He paused there and looked up from the scroll and out over the attentive faces looking raptly back up at him.

"These ancient words are read to each group of new trainees before they begin learning how to become warriors in the service of our clan." He paused slightly. "I read them to you just as they were read to me twenty years ago when I entered service. And you will read them to those that will follow. We do so, so we will not forget." Kenso held up the scroll.

"We must never forget where our service began, in the aftermath of the breaking of our people. How the surviving great lords formed the clans and took in men and women who bound themselves in service to the clans and the great lords that guided them. How these knights, these new samurai took what was left of our technology and became protectors of what was left of our people, living by the codes of honor, discipline and loyalty."

Kenso slowly let the scroll return to the reading stand.

"I know all of you have already knelt before Lord Imeron and swore your oaths of fealty so I won't keep you from your training much longer. I just want to give you this final message. Remember. Remember your oaths, remember your training, remember the codes: undying loyalty to Clan Imeron, discipline in all things, and death before dishonor."

Abruptly Kenso smiled.

"Now go, green sticks, and learn how protect our great clan," he gently urged.

"Yes, Master Kenso!" the group of trainees shouted with one voice. "Honor, Discipline, Loyalty! For Clan Imeron!"

"For Clan Imeron," Kenso repeated, his smile growing slightly.

With that the group began to file out of the great hall's entrances.

"Pretty speech." Tall, broad-shouldered and garnished with a shock of black hair, Doosen Vance was one of Imeron's finest samurai knights, with skill matched by few. He was also Kenso's best friend. Stepping onto the platform, he gave Kenso a smack on the shoulder in greeting.

"One would almost think you were Lord Imeron's most devoted vassal. That is, if they didn't know you better."

Kenso's smile became wry.

"Just goes to show you how far a little discipline can go, Doose, even for the most unruly of green sticks," he replied, earning himself a chuckle.

"Not to mention more raw talent than his Lordship has seen in five generations of trainees," Doosen retorted. "It would've been a great waste to see you on the scrap heap."

Kenso was about to answer when a page, swaddled in Imeron green, stepped into the great hall. A quick look discovered the two friends on the simple wooden stage.

"Master Kenso, Master Doosen," the page called out. "I'm to bring you to his Lordship immediately!"

He was standing in his study when they found their lord, hands behind him and silent as he gazed out at the sturdy front gates of Imeron Castle. They were gates that had never been breached, the castle built with the failing technology left from the sky enemy's great purge of Humanity's home world. Now there was no force strong enough to defeat the castle with all the great technology of the past lost.