The Fallen Legion: A new battle

Chapter 2: Diplomacy

Quite a while had gone by. The Viking stayed as relentless as ever and they even pushed through some times. Luckily we were able to stop them every time until now.

At that time, a second defense line in the mountains was under construction so that not everything would be lost should they have broken through when we couldn't react fast enough.

But that wasn't the only thing on my mind.

Mercy was acting up lately. She got angrier quicker, for example and her mood was changing quickly from time to time.

I just hoped it was only that time of month again. But I knew that, this was something else.

~Timeskip~

Mercy let out a loud scream while nearly breaking half of the bones in my hand in the meantime.

The doctor tried to tell her to calm down and to breath steadily. To no avail.

„Te secabo..." she cursed under her breath.

As she started pressing again she tightened her grip around my hand, too.

There was a lot of pain, for the both of us, but I kept from complaining as she probably had worse and it would only get me as far as the doctor.

~Timeskip~

„What do we name him?" I asked, looking at my son, who Mercy held in her arms.

„How about, Bertus?" she asked, smiling at the newborn who grabbed her fingers with his hands.

„I was thinking about naming him Augustus..."

„Bertus Augustus Cordatus. Doesn't sound bad."

3rd Person POV

Every time when his parents practiced against the other knights in the castle, August was always spectating from the arms of his father or mother, depending on who was fighting, always completely amazed by them.

After he was old enough he would stand next to the ring with sticks he found, imitating the moves of both his father and mother as they fought, while the other watched out, helping him up when he fell and corrected his mistakes.

Later in his free time he began to climb around the castle, often getting into trouble and some bruises along the way but he got better with time.

By the time he was ready to fight against other knights he had become nearly fluent in both styles and changing between those stances so, instead of asking him to choose one path, Mercy and the Warden saw the potential and considered it would have been wasted this way, so they gave him a bastard sword and dagger as his first real weapons.

His armour was a mixture of both plate and leather. One leg and arm and important parts of the torso were plated while the rest was leather armour. He had a leather hood and sometimes wore a mask but also kept a helmet, often on his belt.

Training with Stone's and Cross' apprentices,who were about the same age with the Lawbringer Cassius being a few years older than the other two and Adrian the conqueror a year younger than Augustus, the three quickly became friends.

By the time the three entered actual knighthood, pleading their loyalty to the Iron legion, and Bertus to his parents... the war was already long over.

The relations with the vikings were as tense as always, most of the people of Ashfeld still seeing them as just murderous savages. This also rubbed off on Augustus to an extant.

But with time the knights and Samurai started to get along, as both sides started to realize neither, the Empire under the new Empress and the Iron Legion, wanted the war in the first place.

By the time Augustus was a young adult it was even believed that they were just a bit away from an actual alliance to ensure peace between the two realms.

So the Lord decided it would be a good idea to send an diplomatic envoy.

Bertus: „You requested my presence, father?" he asked coming straight from the training in the courtyard, so he was still in his armour.

Warden: „As you know the Samurai and us have an increasingly better relationship, and that we are interested in an alliance. So we want to sent an envoy to their capital. And as to show trust I wanted to send you."

Bertus: „Of course, father. Anything for the Legion." he said slightly bowing down.

Warden: „But of course I will not send you alone, especially on behalf of your mother..." he murmured the last part. „Cassius and Adrian accompany you as your personal guards, as well as Holden, but he will leave again after a few days."

Bertus: „How long will I stay?" he asked.

Warden: „About a month, but you can also leave earlier or stay longer if you need or want to. If so just write a letter. You will leave tomorrow morning. Because you're only traveling in a group of four I think you should arrive in 2-3 days at most."

Bertus: „I'll get to packing my things, then, if there isn't anything else."

Warden: „That would be a good idea. We'll wake you up when it's time."

~Timeskip~

Augustus POV/ the next morning

„... I know that you can defend yourself, we trained you after all, but I still want you to be careful."  Mother said as we walked down to the courtyard.

„Of course, Mother." I reassured her with a smile.

Warden: „It'll be fine, dear. We taught him well."

Mercy: „I know, and it shows." she said rolling her eyes before looking at me. „Sometimes you're too much like your father. And also at least someone here has to try keep the two of you in check, that's why I stay here and Holden comes with you."

Father sighed, knowing an argument about that would get him nowhere.

After we reached the courtyard my friends and Holden greeted us, my friends more or less formal and Holden pretty casually.

After everyone checked if they had everything I turned back to my parents. „I'll keep in contact." I said patting one of my bags in which was some pen and paper and a stamp set.

Shortly after we rode off, Cross at front, me in the middle and the other two behind me.