Beyond the Winter Sea

Chapter III: We're Brothers

We had made it to West Knight Town, the land of warriors and the birthplace of my father. There's no place on Earth that has more monuments of Lord Gilmore than this one.

Frazier had received treatment for his injuries, Finn's little brother Duncan and the three others who had died on our journey had received a proper burial. The rest had been placed in orphan homes and I had stayed with my brother Ferguson and his wife Lady Alison with their 3 winters old son Blayne.

By the time we got to West Knight, more refugees from Kingsville had arrived before us and had already told about the unfortunate end of Kingsville, all I'm left to tell's my family's unfortunate end.

As the sun rises for a new day. I sat on bed, letting the sun creep in through the window chasing away the shadows and eventually reflecting on my sword beside me. The light from my sword catches my eye, as grab it I feel a burn from my chest, this flame runs loose from my chest as images of mother and Elsebeth haunt me. My heart aches even more and my eyes fill up like an empty barrel. Knock knock, the sound that would be a temporal healer herb from my despair, "breakfast is ready" it's Lady Alison.

I put on my rags, strapping my sword beside me and went to eat. "porridge.... How I hate the taste and it's smell" I say to myself in thought. But it brings memories of mother and Elsebeth's terrible cooking. I take a sit and dig in, Ferguson looks at me, "why didn't mother and Elsebeth come with u to West Knight?" I could tell by his eyes he already knew how I'd respond but had hoped I'd respond differently, putting away my wooden spoon, "mother's been slaughtered and Elsebeth... They took her" for a few moments silence was all we could eat. I look away to drop some tears "excuse me" I get up with my sword and walk to the door, ".... And what of father?" I exit without a response.

Ferguson follows me out and tells me to follow him to the old family house out in the forest. "this is where father grew up and spent most of his youth training" I look around getting absorbed by the nature that surrounds the place, the humming of the birds was peaceful and for a moment I had forgotten my cruel reality and for that moment everything felt possible. "I'll get her back... I'll bring Elsebeth back!" Drawing my sword up in the air. "Bring her back?... You let mother die, you couldn't protect sister and and you abandoned father..." I point my sword at him, "SHUT UP!" He draws sword and throws it away leaving only a scabbard in hand.

"Face it Alistair, you're just not warrior material" with a smirk on his face, at this moment I saw not my brother but an enemy, without hesitation I make a move toward Ferguson. My sword had craved his blood and locked on his life and so I let it move me.

I swing my blade at him he dodges as if his playing with a child, I make more attacks that prove to be futile until with this swing he dodges it but gets backed to a tree I manage to cut his clothing and cause a stretch on his chest and my sword had drew blood from him. Filled with adrenaline and fury I make one last swing that would have certainly killed him, but he managed to knock my sword out off my hand with his scabbard and kicked me away.

I fall flat on the snow, this sure does bring memories. I get up, my feet tap onto the snow one foot after the other. As I head toward him he drops his scabbard, I keep the pace toward him. He kicks the snow to my eyes temporary blinding my eyes, I rub my eyes in attempt to wipe off the snow. I hear his feet heading toward me, I throw my fists aimlessly hoping they'd find their target. One, two, three I'm lying on my back on the snow yet again, when I try to get up he puts his foot on my chest and I struggle to get up.

Struggling to get up, I feel hopeless and tears would flow out and I'd start to whimper. He puts his foot away and tells me to mourn them ".... Nobody watching" he said. I could not hold back these "unmanly waters" as my father would describe tears. Ferguson leaves me and heads inside the old house.

After some time Ferguson comes back and sits on a tree log. He gives me a cloth to wipe my my face, "it is okay to whimper for the loss of those you hold dearly..." I looked up at him
".... Father's taught you differently, I know he taught me how to fight and how to be a man as well..." he continues to say "... He was too harsh expecting me to go beyond his legend, until I had enough. I left Kingsville and joined the army here in West Knight to start my own legend..." I listen to because that's not how I heard the story from father, his version is short and simple "your brother's a coward" so I continue to listen ".... The blood that flows in our veins is of Gilmore's no matter how much will try to prove ourselves will always be known for his success" I sigh knowing how his words are.

We get back up and head back to town to meet the town's leader Lord Barrett. Ferguson discusses with him about building a wall and watch towers, to prepare for the invasion of the unknown enemy. Ferguson has a lot of influence here, he doesn't have to do much convincing as Lord Barrett doesn't doubt his talents in warfare.

14 days had passed four watch towers armed with five archers had been built and the wall is close to completion. I'm with Finn and Frazier his arm hasn't completely healed yet but his battle scar excites him as it has made him famous with the ladies and the younger children at the orphan.

All of a sudden emergency bells rang, are we being invaded again Finn and I rush with our swords to the gates whilst Frazier rushes to the orphan home to aid with the emergency evacuations. When we got to the gates Lord Barrett, Ferguson and a dozen more warriors had already been to the gates. I had expected an army of invaders beyond the wall but it was just one wounded man, with an emblem of Kingsville.

No one aids the battlescarred man. Here in Calvourent Island you cannot be a lone survivor unless you had brought with you victory otherwise you'll be disgraced for fleeing from war and casted away along with your family. This men recognised Lord Barrett and bows to him. "My Lord... Great trouble is headed here" Lord Barrett looks at him disgraced of the man, "Do you bring victory?" The disgraced warrior "no my Lord" everyone had a disgusted face on.
Lord Barrett "knowing our culture what brings you here?"
The disgraced warrior responds, "the other men who had survived had been beheaded, they spared my life and told me to live to tell the story of their victory and send the message that West Knight is next to fall"

As soon as this man mentioned the word "beheaded" I thought back to my dream. "Could my dream had been a vision, were the Gods telling me something" the hope of seeing father again had been diminished.

Ferguson whispered to Lord Barrett. He nods and looks at all of us, "this man's honour had been stolen from him, hence he will fight yet again to reclaim it" not everyone was thrilled by Lord Barrett's order, "this man will be aided and prepared for the next battle" Lord Barrett and Ferguson dismiss themselves, leaving everyone on deciding who would aid a disgraced warrior.

I volunteer taking this as an opportunity to ask about father, Finn and I assist him to aid. He recognises me, "son of Gilmore?" I give him a nod "yes it is I, Alistair.... My father did you happen to see him?" He looked down as if he was trying to reminisce. "Yes... Lord Gilmore an honour fighting beside him, his truly the bloodline of God Odin" I wanted to know if he was alive so I ask "was he executed as well?" He shakes his head, "the last time I saw of him was when he battled a warrior who head appeared to be the invaders general, the strange thing was this general seemed familiar I could not tell where I knew him from."

Finn and I had gotten him to aids to receive treatment then we went to Ferguson and Lord Barrett to report the information we had received from the dishonored.