Paladin - the path north volume one

Chapter 3

Tar'vid looked around in awe, at a distance the camp had seemed massive, but now, up close, the encampment was unbelievable in scale. All he could compare it to was the mustering at Veldren and in comparison that had been tiny.

"Have you ever seen an army so large?" Sah'eca asked him, turning in her saddle and beaming with a broad grin.

"Never, the closest thing I can compare it to was nothing like this" he replied, still dumbfounded.

They had to pass down the main road in single file now, carts, columns of men and oxen cavalry passed them by. Tar'vid had heard of the mighty oxen cavalry of the north, but seeing the armoured beasts up close was frightening.

"Bred for generations those Tar'vid. Can't match a horses speed, but their greater muscle makes it near impossible to stop their charge" Sah'eca murmured to herself, hand on the pommel of her saddle.

Tar'vid noted that the soldiers all bore blue tabards with a white cross upon their breast, an inverse of the Paladin symbol. It was true then, the Paladin order was now a fully militant order, he couldn't help but wonder how this would affect the way they were seen by other kingdoms from now. His musings were cut short upon hearing orders being shouted out, he turned in his saddle to watch lines of infantry moving their formations in sync. More infantry could be seen practising formation fighting in the clearings between tents with swords and spears.

"Impressive aren't they?" Tar'gorth said proudly, having fallen back to ride beside him. "I'm sorry I snapped at you this morning, it was a stressful time" he explained, though the older man still kept his thoughts to himself.

"Don't beat yourself up about it, I don't even want to be here..." Tar'vid said, trailing off as Sah'eca and Tar'gelth pulled their horses aside.

"We leave you, for now at least. Tar'gorth and Sah'rah will accompany you to the grand master's residence. Sah'ravel guide you" Tar'gelth said. Once they had responded the group moved on, Tar'vid noted Sah'rah had not given Tar'mine's blessing in return to the Elf. He wondered what was happening between the two of them.

"Come on lad, let's get you to the grand master before dark" Tar'gorth said gruffly, shaking the reigns of his horse and leading the way, Sah'rah followed behind them in silence.

The rest of the journey felt awkward with Sah'rah's presence. Tar'vid's initial awe at the size of the camp having faded some time ago he was now bored, even Tar'gorth seemed down. After what seemed hours they came to the citadel, passing through a large gatehouse with its portcullis raised to allow them to pass through, the far side though remained closed until the first one closed. Tar'vid looked up as they went through, spotting the numerous murder holes and arrow slits in the walls... it reminded him strangely of Whitecliff.

They had to wait several minutes until the portcullis opened, the awkward tension becoming unbearable. Only when they emerged out into the courtyard did Tar'vid feel the tension lessen, though perhaps that was simply his imagination. After leaving the gatehouse it was only a short distance to the stronghold... though in reality, it was only a small stone tower a few floors high, nothing quite as spectacular as Whitecliff or Keldran. As they approached the entranceway several men and women emerged from a side door, taking the reigns of their horses before the three Paladins could dismount. A finely dressed man emerging from the main entrance a short time later.

"Greetings to you all, I hope your journey was uneventful, in the nicest possible manner of course" The man said pleasantly, he was nearly a head shorter than Tar'vid, he noticed the man carried himself with the confidence of a skilled fighter, noting also that the man was missing a fair few teeth and had broken his nose at least twice, an odd combination with his shaven head Tar'vid thought.