Paladin - the path north volume one

Chapter 7

Tar'vid could hear the sound of battle, even from the rear of the army. He hadn't been in a battle before it was true, but the sound was unmistakable...

"I am glad we are back here my friend," Tarquin said, resting on his planted shield.

"What cowards talk is that?" Tar'lin objected. "We should be engaging the enemy ourselves, it is our sworn duty."

"You are no battlefield warrior, just as Tar'vid is not one. Take no offence my friend, but a pitched battle is different to the small skirmishes you are used to," Tarquin replied with his usual wry smile, Tar'vid wasn't sure if he was trying to antagonise the other Paladin or not.

"What do you know of battle, you're to my estimation nothing more than a brigand of some sort" Tar'lin snapped, his hand etching a little too close toward his sword hilt.

"A brigand?" Tarquin responded angrily. "Decades ago I was the first captain of the Samarkand guard, I fought more wars than you've had women!" he raged with tears in his eyes.

"Look, there's no need to fight amongst ourselves, I'm sure we'll see more fighting than we can stomach soon enough" Tar'vid interjected, stepping between the two men who were within seconds of drawing their weapons.

Neither looked to be backing down any time soon as they drew steel and Tar'vid drew Torgard in response. "Either put your blades away, now or by the Saints, you'll regret it!" he shouted angrily, annoyed he was having to babysit men who were older than him and should know better.

The two of them glared at each other a moment before stepping back. "Forgive me my friend... I should not have put you in this position" Tarquin apologised with a bow.

"Yeah, sorry... guess we're just frustrated..." Tar'lin said, offering Tarquin a hand which he shook gladly.

"Indeed, tales of Samarkand make me sad... perhaps I will tell you of it one day my friend," Tarquin offered.

Tar'vid nodded, clapping his friend on the shoulder. Then came a horn blow that set them all on edge.

"That can't be good," Tarquin said, raising his weapon and shield.

The gathered Paladins followed suit, though some cast aside their spears and drew the Saints gifted weapons. More horns sounded soon after, this time distinctly from behind them. Fear gripped him, they were about to be hit in the rear. Tarquin reacted faster than the others, shouting orders to the units in front of him.

"Form up! Shield wall, shield wall on me!"

So forceful were his words that many began to obey immediately, though most were still stunned or unwilling to listen. Then Tar'vid spotted the first of the enemy charging towards them.

"There is not enough time my friend, we are done for once they get amongst us!" Tarquin shouted, forming up the soldiers that had gathered so far.

Tar'vid looked around him, there were only the sixty or so Paladins prepared to fight. "I'll buy you as long as I can," he shouted to his friend. "If I don't make it... look after Luna."

"My friend, what are you doing?" Tarquin replied confused, unwilling to accept Tar'vid's decision.

Tar'vid started running towards the enemy blade ready, without realising it, he'd cast aside his spear and shield. "Paladins on me! Today we make the Saints proud!"

He was unsure whether any were following, but he had to do something, it seemed only a heartbeat later and he was amongst the enemy who were unready for a counter-charge, however small. His blade darted quickly, striking down several men before they could react, then the other Paladins hit them, felling more before they could form any resistance. It wasn't long before the enemy started to form a shield wall which the Paladins would be unable to break with their fighting style. Tar'vid noticed that several of the Paladins were down, the enemy dragging them behind their forming wall as they attacked. Tar'vid risked a glance back towards Tarquin and their battle line, they still needed more time. Tar'vid drove his blade into a warrior's exposed leg, knocking him down as he screamed in pain. He pushed through the newly opened gap in the shield wall, trying to break through, he failed as they caught him with their shields and forced him down, Tar'vid narrowly avoiding an axe blow before rolling away from the wall and gaining his footing once more, he fell back, forming a thin line with the remaining few Paladins.