There were three moments that transformed my life and made me into the man I became. The Commander, my father, said in good stories the character has three choices that define them. I wouldn’t say at this point I had a moment where I made a choice that defined me. I don’t think what happened next was really a choice either…not the way the Commander had in mind when he said that.
It was a battlefield. Old Kane was fighting with another Lord. During the ‘Great Interregnum’ as it came to be known there were all sorts of matters of war that went on. But the problem wasn’t that there was -no- king in the land. In Ayalos every Lord is what we would have called a King back on earth. If you controlled a fortified area? You were a Lord. If you were the patriarch of a clan or sept? You were a lord. If various lords served you then you were a higher lord. But the High King was the Lord of all Lords. He was brought into existence by crisis, he married the goddess, and served the lands and peoples of Ayalos till the crisis was averted.
My dear sweet Annie was one of the goddesses who made a High King. There were other sisters of hers who did it in legend. But she was the goddess whose authority forged a High King. When you say a crisis creates a high king, she is the goddess of that crisis and of that solution.
Old Kane and I were in his tent. I was a hale mane of 18 Summers. I had a reputation as his most honorable and honored soldier. Conn was coming into his own as his father’s second. He was learning the business of the domain, of the servants, and the soldiers. Ian was there in the tent with us as well. He was the chief of all Old Kane’s soldiers. I nominally answered to him; however, I was the Old Dog’s bark. Where Old Kane stood, I was there. Where his bones were unable to intimidate people his ability to command me served as a new jewel of power for him.
“So.” Conn said as he drew on the map. “You place one flank of soldiers in my command. You give another to Brian.” He turned to Ian “And you and father command the center. We close in…all you have to do is hold the line till we can encircle them.
It was a sound plan if Ayalosian warfare was just about the line of battle. I glanced at Ian. My senior man knew the prince was mistaken as soon as I did. “No.” I spoke up “ I need to stay at the center.” Conn’s anger flared up and I raised my hand. I turned to Ian “Am I not our Lord’s shadow?” Ian nodded to me “Aye that you are.” I turn to Conn “If they have any scouts nearby….not seeing me will mean they will assign forces to guard the flanks. I have to hold the line and keep Father alive.” Conn relaxed when I said that. I wasn’t being insubordinate…exactly….But my concern was keeping our old man alive. Conn turns to Ian. “He’s right” Ian said. “He is wearing that ludicrous hair style from his homeland. That and him being the tallest warrior known in our armies means he can’t leave your father’s side.” Conn was less satisfied that Ian was willing to go along with his plan knowing it to be wrong…but he let that go.
I choose a style that was…unusual for the men of Ayalos. I cultivated a thick and tall Mohawk. Because where I was from this was always a sign of some one who was touch, but also kind. I also shaved religiously…a matter which was unheard of amongst the men on Ayalos. I also affixed the emblem of the Morrigan to my mantle. I got strange looks from folks who had sympathies to the old religion….the druids also did not seem to know the symbol but they felt it was a symbol of the old gods. And it was unknown to the people of the new faith as well. But it was an emblem of a triangular pattern that also made me distinct.
Old Kane dismissed Ian and Conn “You should have taken the chance for greater glory.” He waved his hand “If I die in this battle Conn will marry his sister off to Lord Declan and that will settle the feud.” He would give me far more liberties in talking to him when the others were not in his tent. “Is that what you think is going on? You think you can be foolish in your final moments and choose to die on the field of battle.”
He raised his voice at me, it was likely the first time he had since I came into his house. “What did you say to me.” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “You’ve brought me into your home. You’ve raised me like I was your son. More then just raising me to be your son’s man at arms. Do you think I can’t see the pains in the bones and flesh of an old warrior? That you are finally feeling the weakness of the flesh that comes for all men in time?” I saw a look of shame on his face. Few men his age and in his position, guarding a frontier, get to live long enough to see their Children grown. Conn had taken a wife and he might even see Grandchildren. For a warrior who was also a lord this was a dream few achieved.
“I don’t want to die on my sick bed like an ailing animal.” He said with a firey growl to me. “With loved ones about you? With the generations of your line? With the servants you have raised up and the land you have secured? Dying in your bed in peace sounds like a good reward for a life of war.” He dismissed me. Had I not made this choice….he wouldn’t have made his. So maybe this was the first great choice I made.
Lord Declan was to approach us across the river that marked the line between his land and Old Kane’s. Old Kane left his tent not in the ceremonial armor….of a warrior welcoming death on the field of battle…but it was a well worn and well used armor. As the army of Declan approached I could see that they were easily 3 times the size of ours. He planned to smash our center hard and fast.
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I approached with Old Kane. Lord Declan approached with his shadow. His man wasn’t much of a challenge…nor was Declan to be fair. But Declan wasn’t anywhere near as green as his body guard.
I broke protocol and decorum. “Declan, your scurrilousness with women is legendary. While my master has every right as her father to run you through for your lecherousness….I was raised to honor her as my sister. And in the absence of Conn I’ll hand you your head.” Old Kane was shocked at this, as was Declan’s man. But Declan wasn’t.
“Old man” He said to Old Kane who in truth was maybe 10 years his senior “Your dog has a brain.” He dismounted as did I. “So boy.” He looked at me. “Do you think you can bait me out of the protocol of how this works.” He points to Kane “He isn’t strong enough to face me. If it were 3 years ago….he would still be my better.” I smiled “So you admit to being a coward then…insulting my master’s age and wisdom to steal his daughter.” At this point Declan pulled his blade. Kane raised his hand “While it is unorthodox….Brain Caithain of Virginia is my second. I give him the rights to act as my proxy in this battle of honor.” It sounded like Veergenya when they said it. But my Ayalosian had a strange accent to them as well.
Declan turned to his second who blew a horn. His men stopped. I did the same and our men stopped. The laws and customs of the old religion still persisted in places amongst soldiers. Those who were deep in the heart of the new faith wouldn’t do this. But Declan was a superstitious warrior. He wouldn’t dishonor himself. So it was a fight one man against one man. If one of us died no other warriors would fall to the blade or spear.
Those who were caught in the flanking skirmish would. They were too far away to hear the horn. But that was just the nature of war. Sometimes chance would lead to the deaths of people. Declan was fast, while I was faster….he was faster off the block then I was. He had a sword that was longer. He aimed to make up for his size differences with me. I laughed to myself ‘Declan did his homework’ I thought. I took a sword that was styled along the Falcata from earth. It was a sword designed to hack and to break bones. Declan favored sword and shield fighting against me.
The Black Ravens, and the Red Ravens….the ones that were so normal on the field of battle were gone. Crows and Ravens of Snow White soon came to watch the battle. I saw Declan’s man make a prayer of the God-King. He said the word closest in intention to what they would view as ‘Demons’ to the Christian context on earth. A bad feeling creeped into the back of my mind….a feeling that I paid no heed for now.
Declan’s shield was strong…it was likely wood that had some metal plates put in places between it. But eventually it was splintering and shattering. He nicked me in a few places…I bled in a few spots…If this was a competitive sword fight, he would surely have me on points. But I was playing for the knock out blow.
A thunderous cracking noise happened as his shield split in half. He called to his man to throw him his sword which he did. He came at me with two swords. Swift blows with all manner of speed and alacrity. I pulled out a knife so I could parry and block his second blade. He was a great warrior….far better then his reputation would suggest. But he was going to tire. I disarmed him with my knife. I flung his sword to the ground.
“Yield” I said to him “Yield and be done with this.” He moved with his sword strike. He was angry. “Do you think I am a rabbit for you to play with boy. “ His second sound the horn again. I then took my blade to his head. The sickening thunk came quickly as his body went limp and stopped moving. As he fell to the ground I flung Declan’s spear into the shoulder of his second. I approached him with the point of my blade. “Tell them to retreat. They have to honor the deal.”
The young man looked at me with fury in his eyes “What does a duel of honor matter when you are fighting the greatest warrior since the God Emperor.” Old Kane put his sword to the boy. We got on our horses and made our way to regroup with our troops. Old Kane made a speech to his men. Speaking to the dishonor of Declan, the shamefulness of his backing out on the honor duel.
Our men were no longer there to hold the line. We were there to cut down every single one of Declan’s men till they pulled away in retreat. I tried to stay close to Old Kane in the battle. Any who came for the old man had to go through me. I disemboweled some, fed my sword the blood of other’s still. I heard the cocking of a crossbow. I had a split second to get between Kane and the bolt which I did. 4 other men formed up around the old man and I plowed through everyone to get to the crossbowman.
He was dressed in the clothes of a soldier of the New Church. I had blood and viscera of many men on me. He dropped his crossbow to the ground and dropped on his knees “I surrender” he said. I pulled out my spear. I was angry…my blood was boiling. “You sponsored this treachery? Your masters did?” He shook his head. “No. But it served the interest of the church.” I pointed the spear at his throat. “Call this battle off.”
The Churchman did just that. He blew a horn and the forces of Declan that lived were reduced by a third. The other soldiers came to quickly surrender. I picked up the crossbow and looked at the man. “ Old Kane will retain this Trophy. You can tell anyone who asks you about it that this was a rogue operation. But you and I know the truth, don’t we.” He nods to me “And my master has friends who value his honor and his word. Even friends who are loyal sons of the church. Tell your masters to trouble us no more.” He nodded and went to flee with the rest of his men.
Conn and Ian returned. The battle was a great success, and Declan’s son barely a boy of 16 gave many concessions for his father’s aggression to restore the balance of honor between our lands. Old Kane saw to it his healer treated me that night. He didn’t speak to me till we got home but I could tell something was on the old man’s mind. Something I very soon would find out.