A Lawbringer's Oath

Swords and Shields

When dawn came, the sun's rays pierced through my room's window and woke me from my slumber. I rose and donned my armor before making my way to the training grounds to pick out those that would follow me into battle. As I walked into the cobblestone floor that was paved in front of the barracks, where there were warriors training and sparring with each other. There were fighters of every variety, warriors in thier own right fighting with thier own specialty. Wardens are masters of the longsword and the most versatile of our knights, trained to be well suited for defense as well as an attack. Conquerers were trained conscripts to wield a flail and shield and become immovable warriors upon the battlefield. Peacekeepers are the silent blade of the battlefield, dancing with death wielding their dual blades. Each was different but fulfilled an important role in an army, and now the fittest among them would be chosen to serve. I walked onto the training ground and called out.

"I have come looking for strong warriors to fight with me. I carry the orders of the Great Lord Warden, to travel north to defend our harbor. Which among you believe you are worthy to serve alongside me?"

"I do." said a voice.

A man walked forth, bearing armor from an empire long forgotten and with a gladius at his side. He was a Centurion, warriors that have inspired generations of fighters with thier might, and understand that every warrior needs to play thier part. His armor bore silver engravings like the stories of the gods we tell around the campfire and adorned with golden edges. He wore a cape bearing the colors of his family and a pendant of the sun holding it.

"What is your name Centurion?"

"I am Atticus, and I am the greatest fighter here. I ask that you take me with you when you go north."

"Lies!" yelled a voice from the back.

A conqueror pushed her way forward and pointed at him. She bore thick leather armor and large spiked, steel pauldrons, and poleyns. Her helm had a wide brim and had a large skull-like visor. Her standards were that of the iron legions adorned with yellows and greens. Her shield bore the engraving of a wolf and her flail was built to break even the toughest of armors.

"You can hardly last a fight against me, take me instead of him your lordship, I promise that I would be better suited to help defend your soldiers."

"You sniveling bitch! I can take you on and a whole battalion of Samurai with my hand tied behind my back. You are no match for me, I bet your too much of a coward to even face me!"

"Why you wayward cocksucker, I'll end you!"

The centurion and the conqueror then began to knock heads with each other and ready to prove who would be the greater fighter. But as the two were fighting, I noticed a peacekeeper sitting in the back of the crowd watching and analyzing. Despite my hate for shady tactics and not fighting the enemy head-on, sometimes a more subtle approach is needed for when a battering ram isn't an option. I held my poleax up struck the ground with the pommel. Everyone went silent, and nothing but the wind was heard as they waited to hear what I had to say.

"You there, peacekeeper. Come forth." I said.

She did as I commanded with her sword and dagger by her side. She was lightly armored, covered mostly in studded leathers. She had a small brass pauldron on her right shoulder and a reinforced leather gauntlet. Her helmet resembled that of an owl, and a hood draped over it covering it in shadow. She stopped right in front of me and bowed down. As she knelt down she asked:

"How may I serve you, my lord?"

"Are you willing to fight for your lord, uphold your oath, and defend this land from all invaders?"

"I am my lord, allow me to fight alongside you."

"What is your name, Peacekeeper?"

"Beatrice, my lord."

"Rise Beatrice and tell me who amongst these warriors are worthy to fight alongside me?"

"Both Atticus and Charlotte are proven warriors and would serve you greatly, both fulfill a different role but they will have to learn to fight with one another instead of fighting against one another. I promise my lord there won't be another in this group that can fight better than them."

"Very well then. Atticus, Charlotte you will be coming with me north. Pack your things and ready your troops. We are marching north."

As they went to gather their things, I made my way to the Lord Warden to inform him of my progress.

"My Lord," I said to him as I bowed.

"Sir Gaisig. How goes your recruitment?"

"I have selected my officers, they are reading foot soldiers and siege weapons. We will be moving out by tomorrow morning. I will head north toward the Walled City. We'll rest there and make our way to the Harbor where we will meet up with the Black Prior."

"I wish you the best of luck my friend, and I hope that God will shine his favor upon you."

"I will see it done my lord, until our next meeting."

0==l========>

The next morning we departed from the Shard and headed north for the Walled City. It would take us a little less than a month to reach the Walled City, and it will be an uneventful journey... hopefully. The weather was somewhat kind to us, light showers were the worst of what it offered but we moved on to the Walled City only to be stopped by a patrol of Vikings.

"Knights! Warn the others!" Yelled thier officer.

"After them!" I ordered my officers.

I knew not why there were Vikings this far into Ashfield, but as I saw my officers begin to cut them down, I saw knights jump out from the woods and ambush them as well. They quickly eliminated the Vikings and swiftly hid them amongst the brush of the woods along the trail. The soldiers bore the colors of the Iron Legion and were led by a female warden. I approached her and said:

"Why have you abandoned your post, why are there Vikings roaming about in our land?" I asked riding up to her.

"We were overrun in the night, they took the city within the night. Once they cleared the first wall they opened the gate and overran us. I took as many soldiers with me before the commander died, we have been holding out ever since."

The Vikings must have made a landing along the eastern shores to ensure no support would aid them when they took the harbor. But that would soon change, we had the forces and the siege weapons necessary to take the city back. I looked back at the warden and told her:

"Ready the remainder of your troops, we will lay siege at dawn."