Charlie was almost running back to the Duke's estate, it looked like he was trying to do a quick march but it came out as more of a skip and Raven had no trouble keeping pace doing no more than a brisk walk, he didn't bother trying to talk to the boy his eyes were focused solely ahead and he had a deep red colour in his face like he had forgot to breath, whatever was driving him to get Raven to the Duke so quickly was clearly something of an important matter. In truth it actually made Raven feel a bit anxious and his stomach started to turn slightly as he hurried along towards the arched bridge that crossed over to the half of the city set aside for the Dukes family.
The Duke was a particularly shrewd man and whilst Raven had no ill will towards him he didn't enjoy their discussion to much either, they had avoided each other for the most part and the Duke had allowed Raven to begrudgingly become the face of the town, the person all problems fell to whilst he resided in his estate enjoying the profits and power.
"So, what does he want with you?"
Raven almost jumped and Charlie did jump as they came down the slope of the bridge and moved onto the perfectly curated stone path and tidily cut grass that ran alongside it that led them all up to the main gate of the estate.
They stopped in their tracks and rounded on themselves to see the bard standing there smiling that cocky grin whilst seemingly looking bemused as to why they'd stopped.
"I-we-he was to come alone" Charlie stuttered out.
The bard shrugged his shoulders.
"I was there, I heard perfectly well but then I had this thought that maybe the Duke would like a bard to play during important meetings, important meetings such as, let me think -" he scratched his chin dramatically with one finger whilst Raven put his hands on his hips and loudly sighed "Such as when the legendary Raven Stoneoath is called for a midday meeting. So I thought I'd come and offer my services and I just so happened to be going at the same time as the two of you."
Raven held a hand up as he saw Charlie gathering the nerve to speak.
"Let your uncle deal with him Charlie, it's really not worth it."
The boy could have screamed for the other guards, other cousins or relations pottering around the surrounding gardens to escort the bard away but Raven was fairly certain the boy didn't have it in him and he was also completely sure the bard would still end up in front of the Duke somehow.
Alayne beckoned forward without moving.
"Shall we then."
Further north than Burtyne was nothing more than steep cliffs and rocky ground, this was the most northern point of Rha'vander that anyone lived and so the Duke had extended his estate lavishly unimpeded.
They stood at the main entrance, a large double door with perfectly buffered metal work around the edge and hinges. The building towered above them for 3 stories with iron wrought windows covering the walls. The estate extended back although that couldn't be seen, private side entrances for family were on the sides and stretching private gardens were landscaped behind the buildings for the nobles to enjoy away from the prying eyes of the lower born.
They'd been stood outside for some time now, the bard was growing impatient and Charlie had reached for the door more than once, either to knock again or try and open it himself before thinking better of it.
"Feels slightly rude to keep us waiting"
"You were not invited, if anyone is rude it would be you for inviting yourself along to a private attendance"
"Even so, it doesn't make it ok to keep guests waiting"
As if they were listening on the other side both doors opened at once by two barely adolescent children dressed in the house colours of Agelmar with Blue overcoats and yellow undershirts eyed them up, they both gestured the 3 of them forward and closed the door behind them.
Charlie quickly took the lead again and marched them past the dual sets of curving stairways that led to a balcony that looked down on the entranceway which they walked underneath. Their boots on the polished stone floor echoed around them and caused the whispers from the centre of the room to stop. It was a large square room decorated with coats of arms and banners on the walls with a matching rug that rested in front of a roaring fire that the day didn't necessitate. The fireplace was met on either side with simple red wood door which both led to the Duke's study, the only other room Raven had been allowed entrance to on previous visits.
Charlie continued to push forward and marched Raven to the centre of the room, directly in front of the fire and facing the now quiet occupants of the room. Dark red high backed chairs had been spaced out around the fire and a small table sat in the midst of them with various papers and maps that were half unrolled across it. He knew all the occupants, not well, but enough to recognise them.
"Ahh the Stoneoath arrives at last, we were getting worried" Lord Sildaris Vacrain, sat to Raven's right, was a smug petty little lord who ruled over the lands dotted along the northernmost part of the east coast, he had a thin face and an even thinner moustache atop his lip that looked drawn on with pencils. He never didn't look like he was a villain from a children’s book and his daughter Sildary sat in the chair next to him looked very similar, the youth and lack of facial hair on Sildary was the only thing separating her from her father.
"I came as quick as I could my lords" Raven didn't bow and he bit his lip to keep from saying more and provoking the bitter little man in overly embroidered dark red and gold attire.
"Let's just get started shall we before my glass empties" Lord Petier De'clare of Clarepoint was the opposite of Sildaris, he was fat and had a distaste for most of his duties beyond self indulgence and the same could be said for his son Je'harr, both sat in purple shirts that could no longer be buttoned up and revealed off colour undershirts that had the faint markings of unyielding food stains. They sat to Raven's left flanked by 2 of the Duke's children Dagier and Perelmor middle and youngest children respectively and seated furthest away from the table and lords.
Dagier was in charge of the house-guard and was dutiful young man which Raven respected, it was uncommon for a the first son to be looked over as heir in favour of a daughter but he did his duty well and proudly it seemed, he was clean shaven and kept a short shaved head to mimic soldiers he had likely only heard about. His brother Perelmor couldn't be more opposite, he knew he had no chance of succession or position so instead enjoyed the lavish lifestyles gifted to him without the responsibility, which Raven begrudgingly understood and was slightly jealous of if he was honest with himself. He let his long dark hair trail well past his shoulders even longer than the bards and had patchy stubble he clearly shaved when the mood took him, both boys had their fathers small dark eyes and bulbous noses.
"Raven, you were requested to come alone. Charlie, were you not clear boy?" Duke Keit Agelmar sat behind the table beside his daughter Faralda. Where the Duke had passed on the dark hair he kept short to his sons, his daughter had inherited her late mothers blonde locks that were tied back in a respectable ponytail. She was the heir to Burtyne and took it seriously, although she was hard to please and arrogant to boot, a trait shared amongst most at the table though.
"Young Charlie was indeed clear and I come not with Raven but as a separate body" the bard mimed pushing Raven and Charlie aside and took a position in front of the centre of the fire before unslinging his instrument and playing a gentle melody.
"Allow me to introduce myself, I am Alayne Ducard-" the fire roared outwards as he spoke his name, the nobles recoiled back slightly in shock " master bard, allow me to play for you whilst you go about your important work."
Without waiting for a response he moved behind the nobles; who all watched him with slack jaws k as he jumped up and sat on a small set of white lacquered drawers and began playing softly once again without looking their way.
"Can we please get going and for goodness sake can I get a refill?" De'clare shook his glass.
"Charlie; drinks please and keep them full, maybe this is a job you can do properly" The Duke pursed his lips in disappointment as he spoke to the boy who ran off past Perelmor were another door lay in the wall that Raven assumed lead to the kitchen, but not without giving an angry look towards the bard who had not looked up from his lute since sitting.
"Faralda, would you mind.." The Duke waved a hand to his daughter who reached forward and picked up an official looking piece of parchment off the table and held it up for Raven without moving. He had to walk several steps to take it from her and she didn't look at him as she snapped her hand back like she was afraid to touch him.
Raven stood over the table reading the letter, addressed from the royal declaration official in the capital. He felt foolish standing in the centre of them all as they watched him and awaited his reaction.
"Read it aloud Stoneoath" Sildaris called as if this should be obvious.
"To all my lords, Ladies and subjects
I, Tutom Lopint,
High king of the last free land of Rha'vander
hereby relinquish my lands, title, and legacy from this point onwards.
I name the Unnamed my heir and successor, the youngest born of the long resisted Emperor Ani'matatus
This is approved by the Guild council of Corvessus.
You will be safe under his eye.
Long live the Unnamed King"
He placed the letter down on the table and stepped back in front of the fire as they watched him. He stood in place for some time.
"Well?" De'Clare called impatiently as Charlie refilled his cup with a golden coloured drink
"My lord?" Raven was confused by what was happening, he saw no shame in admitting that
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"We have been conquered by a foreign enemy you fool, what are you going to do about it?" Sildaris has sat up straight to put Raven down.
"Nothing? My duty is to your people Duke Agelmar, if this new king means them harm then I will take action, but the ruler of the land is not my concern. You each have a Stoneoath in your holds, surely you know this. I don't understand what it is you expect of me?"
Raven scanned the room as he spoke, there was anger, impatience, hatred and even pity from some, nothing good was going to come of this. He noticed the bard was watching him intently as he spoke, no glint in his eye or cocky smile, just watching like the rest unblinking, hands running up and down his strings as if by muscle memory alone.
Duke Agelmar stood and began to pace behind the other chairs.
"Well, you see Raven my boy this is where things become tricky" He paused, seemingly hoping one of the others would take over for him., when no-one did he continued.
"We three, representing Clarepoint, the East Coast and Burtyne have decided not to recognise this usurper, we rejected the empire once-" decades ago and none had been involved in the fighting "- and we will do it again."
"If you wish to march to war my lords then I wish you well and will protect your hold in your stead Duke Agelmar" What more could he do? He wanted to scream at them to get to the point.
"Thank you Raven, but we, all of us, would feel much better if we could attach a name to our cause, someone who has drawn a following all on his own and could rally support among the common folk for us."
"It's much easier to lead a willing army than an unwilling one" Sildary spoke up her fathers side, none of them knew anything about leading any kind of army. Raven knew what they were asking though.
"No" nothing else needed to be said.
Some stood up, some stayed sat but they all started to shout at once, Raven stood his ground and listened to noone in particular as he watched Agelmar try to quieten everyone down to no avail.
A piercing shriek cut through the noise and silenced them all as all eyes turned toward the bard, who held his hands up sheepishly.
"My apologies, a string must of broke" it didn't look like it had as the bard returned to playing, looking down at his hands as they moved along the strings, he only looked up once all eyes were once again back on Raven.
"You live on Keit’s land, you do as we say boy" Sildaris snapped.
"I am oathbound to protect your people Duke Agelmar, even if that means from you, to rally your people to fight would mean betraying everything I stand for. I will not"
There was nothing more to say on the matter, Raven turned to leave he didn't need to be dismissed.
"And your flock?" Faralda said gently as she strode past Sildaris who was glaring at him.
Raven said nothing, he just watched the group, trying to keep his expression calm and plain.
"They are sworn to you but they aren't really Stoneoath’s are they? If you won't come, well I'm sure we can make do with them, they'd be great talismans to stand on the front lines and keep morale high"
Raven's heart sank, this is why Stoneoath’s should stay detached and alone. He stopped mid stride and turned to them all.
"If you really need to protect the people than you should be happy to join us, that way you can keep the conscripts safe and your flock can watch over the city in your stead"
"Or-" Raven gently placed a hand on his sword hilt "I stop you all from going any further right now."
De'Clare took a very small step back, as did Perelmor, the rest seemed to be smiling like a pack of jackals that were several steps ahead of him.
"Well you could, and then my fathers guard would come in and you need to kill scores of my family, including women and children."
"Then you also have the fact, and I have checked this with the tired old stoneoath in my own hold, that forcing our people to war isn't something you can stop us doing Raven. Politics are a grey area for your Stoneoath’s, I imagine that's why you are all so ineffective." Sildaris was a man you really wanted to hit as soon as he started speaking.
"Your choice old friend is to stay here, protect this shell of a town whilst the people who revile you as a hero are marched off and ground down by the cogs of war. Or help us lead an army of the untrained and take back our lands whilst your 'Flock'-" he sniggered "protect the town"
"They are still your lands, The unnamed is the last born of the Emperor, essentially discarded by his father, I doubt he has come to conquer and gift your lands to the empire" The bard interjected
"We don't need your insight-" Sildaris flicked a half copper at Alayne "-thats more than you deserve, now take your leave."
Alayne let the coin hit him softly in the chest and tinkle gently on the stone floor as he clearly thought better of trying again and turned to leave.
"I'm sorry Raven" he didn't know him but that seemed sincere, like he thought he had the ability to sway a room full of power hungry men to abandon their current course of action that would ruin Raven one way or another.
"When do you intend to march?"
"5 days from now, Sildaris and De'clare will ride home and gather their forces and meet us at the crossroads"
Raven hung his head, he was full of shame, pride and anger, he'd got himself into this but those fools had refused to step out of his shadow.
"I will march with you" the words fell out of his mouth like they were heavy, his oaths that he'd carried with him and had formed half of his life now broken in an instant.
They all turned back to the fire and drinks, ignoring him now they had their answer, his knuckles were white as he gripped his sword hilt, he let the silver talon dig into his palm and felt the blood begin to pool between his fingers.
Alayne had waited outside the Duke's lavish estate, he knew Raven would be leaving shortly after him and he had guessed the outcome of the conversation.
He hadn't said a word as the black clad stoneoath crashed through the doors and they'd walked in a silence the man clearly needed up until the bridge back to town.
"How do I tell them?"
Alayne was almost startled as the young man finally spoke as they stepped onto the high arched bridge that crossed the river.
"I assume you are committed to breaking your oaths for their sake?"
The silence was an obvious yes
"I would lie. Ensure they don't follow and your sacrifice gives them a chance to prosper"
"You are a man who talks; words aren't my area, what would I say?"
Alayne smiled slightly.
"I can't put words in your mouth Raven Stoneoath, it needs to come from you. My advice is to be brutal, get every cruelty you've hidden out and separate yourself from them forever."
"They'll hate me."
"Yes."
"But they'll live."
"More chance at life than you have at this point"
Alayne winced at the directedness of his own words, but Raven just nodded along.
"Thank you for been here bard, despite not been invited or welcome, It's good to be able to talk this through, even if it is with an entertainer"
It usually took a while for Alayne to break people down, Raven was coming around to him very quickly, if he'd known that forcing people into life shattering decisions that threatened to break them mentally was it all it took to make them more receptive to new friends he would have changed his approach years ago.
Raven returned to the training grounds to await the return of his Flock from their excursion hunting for lost sheep. It was still early, despite a slow walk through the town with the bard it hadn't taken long to get back here, he should have time to think about his words, but he wasn't sure if any amount of time would be enough. How do you get 7 people who follow you without question to lose faith in you completely.
What could he possibly say to break them from him?
Alayne was right, which he begrudged admitting, he would need to be ruthless, which really wasn't his way.
Jaycob was watching the Stoneoath pacing across the land he'd given them, watched by a flamboyant young man who Jaycob found his eyes drawn to more than he'd like. There was something in the air today that was causing discomfort in a lot of folk he'd spotted from his secluded farm.
He knew the cause, he gripped it tightly in his hand, creasing the off yellow parchment paper he'd been handed by a rider carrying a bag full of similar scrolls.
Jaycob had joined the army in his youth, fought for his country by choice, like a fool.
Now having served his time, the lords came wanting more, always more.
It was join the army he'd been conscripted to, or be hung as they left.
Die now or die later, he supposed there was a chance he survived if he left, a chance he could continue to provide for his family.
He had his old sword locked away, he wouldn't be taking it, if they were going to make him fight they would provide the gear.
That old junk was for his family, a relic of the past worth a penny or two should they need them.
Jaycob continued to watch Raven from afar, he had never seen the man so out of sorts, could you conscript a Stoneoath, surely not.
Break them so you can save them
He kept repeating that the Flock made their way over to where Raven and the two bards or bard and apprentice bard as Alayne kept repeating while waiting.
Break them
"Cap-" one of them greeted but he cut them off without looking
"You failed to find the sheep....again"
"How did you k-"
"BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS FAIL!"
He let his shout hang in the air for a second before he rounded on them to continue.
"I'm leaving"
There was a silence
"Where are we-"
"WE!? There is no we, and I'm sick of pretending, sick of playing make believe with a bunch of grown adults playing dress up like orphaned children"
He turned and pointed at Alayne who stood staring at the group from a respectable distance.
"He was right, there is a story in me. But not here and not with you. I am going to march the Dukes forces south, win his petty little war and retire whilst they build my statue"
"But your oaths-"
"Are just words carved into a mountain. I could climb up there and write 'Raven gets to do whatever the bloody hell he wants'. They are archaic nonsense written by old men to make me waste my youth on the unextraordinary...like you and this stupid run down town."
This felt too far, he was breaking his oaths and now openly blaspheming them.
Break them to save them.
He had to carry on
"We took oaths to you captain, we go where you go." Faldeir sounded broken.
"There just words you fools...here-" he made a over the top nonsense religious symbol in the air "I release you from them, there you go, go back to whatever sad little hole you all crawled out of, go back to the puddle of stale ale you awoke in, the jobs you mistakenly felt to good for, the families who haven't missed you."
Without a word he turned and started to practice his swordplay against the scarecrow he'd restuffed for just this moment.
This had been Alaynes final pearl of wisdom 'When you're done just turn and walk, don't give them the chance to respond', he still wasn't a fan of bards but the man clearly knew his stuff.
Raven could hear feet shuffling and boots on the ground as they each turned away and left.
Somewhere trying to hide sobs.
Some spat at him
One, he assumed Resamin, threw something that caught his shoulder which he had to shrug off despite a sharp pain.
Eventually Raven turned around to see an empty training ground, empty except for Dadaro watching him in that unsettling way he watched everyone.
Raven went to speak when the man held his hand up.
"You are a good man Raven Stoneoath, or I suppose Raven Brokenoath. I hope you remember that regardless of where life takes you."
He began to walk away back to the town as the others had.
"I will tell them this was an act eventually, don't worry. They won't hate you for long" he called over his shoulder.
There was a whistle behind him as Alayne stepped to his side.
"That one is odd. He sees through everything so keenly, what is he doing in a place like this?"
"He never said, he's not one for sharing. But I trust him to keep his mouth shut for now"
Raven was now alone, something he'd wished for so long and now came at a steep price.
He wasn't really alone obviously, he was with a bard that he didn't know and a goblin that he didn't know existed less than a day ago, and Jaycob was working his fields across the way.
Now he just had to go to war, somehow survive and hope he could rebuild his reputation.