The search for the knight’s forces didn’t take as long as Robert thought it would. After leaving the forest and going into the currently abandoned camp, he found it empty. The dead coachmen were gathered in a small pit, but not buried. All belongings were taken, including a few tents and carts. The traces from loaded transport were leading around the battlefield directly to the other side camp. Right in this moment, Rob understood that he saw only corpses of men, but not donkeys as if mages set them free, wishing to spare the lives of animals, but not humans. That thought created a crooked smile on his face, again confirming the conviction of the mages.
The field after fierce fight and meteor rain looked like a place directly from hell. Fortunately, now it was empty, and no dead or demons wanted to raise to make this shitty day even worse. Still, Rob managed to find a flanged mace, short axe, and knife to arm himself just in case. After some consideration, he even undressed a fallen soldier to replace his torn clothes. The unlucky man got his head almost cut off by a halberdier, leaving all equipment undamaged. The footprints and bloodstains didn’t count. Moreover, he was only slightly taller than Robert, making it an almost perfect fit. Only pants were old as the man emptied his stomach after death directly into his own.
Damn, why didn’t you go into the nearest bushes before the battle?
Rob spent some time finding a few flasks with water and somehow washed himself from filth and sweat. He didn’t feel refreshed, but at least he somehow returned his state of mind in fragile balance, despite terrible surroundings and the need of marauding from the dead. In the end, he completely geared up before continuing his way to the forest. A round shield, a small poach, a flask, an open helmet, and other useful things, could make life easier and safer. The process took enough time for watchmen to notice him beforehand as he was met immediately after entering the first line of trees.
“Halt! Which force are you from?” a tired, but loud voice stopped Robert. The soldier with visual damage on his armor was leaning on his halberd, not even bothering to raise the weapon in Rob’s direction.
“Does it matter now? I thought the mages had burnt all enmity between Dukes,” shook his shoulders Robert before continuing, retelling his made-up story, “I am from the militia of great Duke Springbreeze, but earlier served a Count Greywolf before he died in battle while trying to repel the invasion.”
“Good, you are one of ours! And I see you got dressed up,” smiled the soldier, relaxing even more.
“The dead don’t need it already and wearing gambeson as protection against fire is quite a dumb idea,” explained Robert, hitting his own chest, covered in brigandine with leather as the top layer.
“You have a sharp mind for a militiaman,” mentioned the watchman, squinting his eyes, but after short silence from both sides he pointed behind his back, “Report there. We are indeed in need of manpower, especially with abilities.”
The camp of their opponents looked very similar to the previous one in its structure, but the current situation added some changes. Exhausted soldiers were sitting everywhere. Some were treating wounds, while others were sleeping or discussing something with anxious facial expressions and even fear. The few were calmly checking the gear and belongings. The latter clearly had either more experience or tried to calm down themselves by doing anything remotely useful. What surprised Robert was the fact that both sides were gathered in the camp, despite the question from the watchman, from which Rob assumed the survivors were from the same side.
Of course, there was visible separation between groups and angry glances, but overall everyone was far from being on the verge of breaking the fight. Maybe the reason was an aftershock of the mage’s attack. Maybe the fact of strict rules of noble knight’s wars. Maybe it was just ordinary tiredness, but currently, no one was willing to immediately cut other's throats because they were from different camps. That gave Robert some hope in united efforts to stand against mages, who might be responsible for spreading mana-flowers. Even if it was the doings of God, their genocidal war against non-mages was not going to spare ordinary folks, as far as Rob understood. That’s why this temporary cease-fire was a good start for the future.
“Then duel! If we can’t solve our differences in view on the person in charge by our words, let our swords speak,” the angry yell came out from the central tent. The next moment a tall figure of the young knight rushed out, not even bothering to hide his rage. His ebony skin was almost shining under the sun’s light because of sweat, but Rob not even for a moment thought that it was the result of heat. No, tens of marks on the knight’s armor showed that he went through fierce fighting and most likely didn’t have any rest at all.
“Sir Terrance, I beg you to reason yourself. We are in the middle of the mage’s revolt. We have to be united against this threat, not fight each other for leader position!” another knight came out. Carrying a helmet in his hands, an older man with bushy mustaches tried to speak as calmly as possible, but it was clear that he was barely holding himself. His round face and much bigger figure made him look like more a fighter versus a bakery and not against other warriors.
“Good, if we are agreeing on something, Sir Henry. Then, according to your own words, just step back and let me have the leader position,” nodded the younger knight.
“But, dear sir, we need experience right now. Not only combat but the overall wider sight of the whole picture. It can only come with age…”
“Age my ass, sir!” roared Terrance again, taking the long sword from his servant and putting it on his shoulder, “I can see that wide sights are coming not only with the age but with wider cheeks and belly!”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“That was quite rude, youngster!” grimaced Henry, putting down the act of a wise elder, “maybe someone can indeed teach you manners because you clearly lack it. I am sure your skill has gaps too as to take so many hits directly on your armor is unacceptable even for juniors like you. I would punish any of my squires for such a pitiful outcome.”
“Oh, are you sure? Maybe because I actually fought in the epicenter against your already dead comrades? My sword took at least two today, while I had never seen even a glimpse of your brand-new armor. Were you busy with a lunch? Had your sword ever drawn the blood from the enemy or its main target was always pigs on spit?” A mockery grin made the older knight clench his teeth in rage. Most soldiers from the surroundings already left the empty place around them, not wanting to catch the attention of angry nobles.
“Enough, you pup! I killed more stupid fuckers before your whore-mother gave birth to such a dumb idiot! Do you think your outstanding skill in handling your smaller friend gave you some combat mastery with the actual sword? It sounds like the boy that never touched a woman’s tits is trying to boast about his bed adventures! I wanted to be reasonable, but your empty head had to be stricken hard enough to be filled with even a single intelligible thought,” Sir Henry ended his speech, wearing the helmet and taking his own sword.
“Duel, finally! Old hug, I was sure you would act like a scared chicken to the end. I have to agree that you have experience in curses – must be your own traumatic past taught you.”
“Duel. The winner will be the leader of the whole group until we reunite with our respective forces!” The older knight proclaimed, stopping in the center now cleared the camp.
“Agree. I will cut you with sincere pleasure, Sir Henry,” smiled the youngster before covering himself in a protective energy layer.
“Don’t lose your tongue in a process, boy!”
What stupid and arrogant retards… Oh, crap, and I was hoping for something from them…
Not even bothering to watch the duel, Robert turned around with a deep sigh before heading to the side. Whatever the result would be, it wouldn’t change anything for him or other soldiers. They didn’t have any power or influence to stop and just had to follow the flow. Moreover, most of them knew – that the fewer knights were around, the better the situation was for ordinary soldiers. Fewer chances to cause anger from a noble prick. Robert was sure that most of the spectators were silently laughing while enjoying a free show.
Robert ended up sitting under the tree with his eyes closed in an attempt to get a proper rest. Mana was slowly filling his body and he didn’t have the opportunity to laze around. The limited time gave him limited opportunities to recover from mental fatigue and didn’t want to waste them. Still, the clashes of metal and encouraging shouts in the background distracted him enough not to give him what he wanted – calm surroundings. Therefore, Rob redirected his efforts to check his newest idea about feeling the mana. The abilities that he got God were not supposed to give him such capability but if he managed to change it, it might solve his problem. However, it appeared to be futile as he felt nothing at all. It was as if he was trying to feel or even control the flow of the blood in his mind. It just didn’t work like that.
“Do you also think it is a dumb idea to fight for the leader’s position in current circumstances?” Rob heard a hoarse voice, which made him open his eyes with clear dissatisfaction. However, his new interlocutor either didn’t notice or directly ignored it, continuing to speak:
“Those mages are going to burn everyone, but the knights are only bothered with their hierarchy as if nothing happened. It was literally raining with fire and rocks! My mother always repeated that mages are the biggest danger to our world. Their abilities are unnatural, sinister, and vicious. Their mere existence looks like an attempt to copy God. It was bad enough when they lacked power but now, if they can create such devastating effects… I don’t know what it can lead to… Fortunately, the knights will manage to set new chains to those beasts in human skin. I know that their work helped to invent many useful tools but is it worth it? We lived without such creations in the past, so we can live without them in the future. I think it is time to finish all of them once and for all. To burn them as they wanted to burn us. I sincerely hope that the knights can treat this threat with all attention and carefulness to wipe their existence from our land. No one can copy the God. It is sinful. It is a disgrace… Or maybe it is finally the time for the Church to take the power into its own hands. We need the rulers who understand the God’s wishes. Not the ones who are always in conflict with themselves just for the sake of being higher than others. No, everything needs to change! I… No, we must do something to achieve it… We can’t just sit and…”
The torrent of words didn’t stop for a moment as the man was not even looking at Robert. His messy appearance gave off a strange feeling of some mixture of lunatic and fanatic, but Rob had another thought.
Why the fuck are you telling me this? I sat far from others not to speak with anyone! What gave you the idea that it is an invitation to come and to tell your nonsense to me?
However, before Robert started to express everything in voice, the unknown man started to cough crazy, which made Rob tense up. It wasn’t because of the danger of getting ill – he was sure regeneration ability could kill any virus. There was no blood, no phlegm. It even stopped just after ten seconds. Still, Robert managed to catch an odd shining glow, which appeared directly under the skin. Blue-purple glow, if he had to be accurate. Intensifying right in the moment of cough, it created a different pattern each time, covering all visible parts of the body only to disappear the next second.
“Sorry… I might get sick. Now, if I remember correctly, I hadn’t fallen ill for years. It has to be the work of the mages! It is their doing! Not only do they want to burn us, but they are going to spread the deadly plague across our land, while they hide in their evil towers, laughing at the suffering of the sick. Of course, they want the empty land for themselves. But I discovered their treacherous plan and now can tell everyone to be prepared. I am sure my prayer for God will help me to recover and will give me strength me fight against them. Let’s pray together! I promise it will help. Just address all your wishes and fears to our God, and everything will be fine!” The madman closed his eyes and put his both hands on the heart, while soundlessly moving his lips.
Finally the silence! Man, despite all shit in your head, you might be correct about the plague. Crap, it is closer than I initially thought. The biggest unknown remains the same – what consequences will it have... Oh, according to the sound, the duel is over. Let’s check it and hear out our winner. Maybe he will listen to my information about the disease. At least I need to try. Hope it can help to save lives.