A brown haired man dodged a sword coming at him and rapidly responded with a sharp thrust towards the opponent's abdomen. The opponent swung back his sword and managed to strike the stab away from his body and took three steps back. Both eyed each other and started to circle each other whilst desperately panting. Then the youthful brown haired man took his chance to strike first with an overhead slash. His adversary stepped to the side and did a quick stab of his own. He succeeded causing the man to drop to the ground and clutch his stomach.

Alex was helped up by his former opponent. Still improving, but I need to get better! Just one more day. Just one more day to actually do something. He desperately frowned remembering his mother's daily prayers and pleading to Allure to 'bring back Florice'.

He was brought out of his brooding by his sparring partner, who removed his barbute helmet and in rapid succession gave his liege some feedback.

"Milord, you've performed much better than yesterday. I believe your muscles are starting to remember what you learnt when you were younger." The man at arms complimented his lord when seeing his frown.

"However, you still overextended yourself with that overhead strike. You did that when you obviously ran out of stamina. So in the future please conserve your stamina and make more conservative strikes.

"You have a habit of parrying every strike. Whilst good at catching opponents off guard but can be predicted due to repetition. Parrying also uses up stamina so please refrain from doing it unless your enemy is wearing himself down with exhaustion."

The Baron nodded enthusiastically at that and banished his mother's sobbing from his mind. Then he took time to scan around his large courtyard turned training ground. He could see two hundred levies being drilled into formation by men at arms in the ways of Ser Elvaughn. He was thrilled to see something out of a history book be brought back in reality. It's a shame it's being brought back out of necessity instead of being a theatric play. Absolutely no one could've predicted that Leidorf, right in the middle of the Empire, to be invaded by an army. Alex no longer thought the enemy as bandits but as an army. To assume that their bandits can lull us in a false sense of security.

He headed towards his water bucket and lunged it above his head and poured water down. He went over to his castle passing several servants and soldiers who bowed and saluted respectively. He gave them all a polite firm nod. Do I have to keep doing this? It's getting pretty tiring. Now I know why Seirun just ignores his servants. 

The Baron passed through the castle's temple of Allure but backtracked. It's mom's sobbing again. Alex fought back the tears leaving his eyes. Seeing mom like that is... He involuntarily remembered his father's death. To think that was only five years ago. I was eighteen years old then and was busy scouring the library for various medical books. Anything related to wheezing. Anything to cure my dad! 

The physicians did everything. My dad was strung upside down to draw out the yellow-green humours. His blood was drained to restore his balance. But nothing worked. 

I still remember dropping an expensive and ancient book when a maid told me that dad collapsed.

Alex violently swung his head side to side and entered the temple. He passed through a double wooden door chiselled with symmetric vine-like patterns. Gold coloured the patterns and lined the edge of the doors.

He took in the sight and habitually looked up. A large semisphere covered the roof inlaid with tiny assortment of gems. Mother Allure was painted with blue amazonite gems and it reflected a dazzling teal-coloured rays across the temple. 

The Baron attempted to ignore the splendour and beauty, and went straight to his stricken mother and hugged her from behind. 

Gertrude was praying for her daughter and was pleasantly surprised to see his son was right behind her.

Both said nothing and eventually Gertude managed to rein in herself and straightened her back. She sharpened her eyes and sternly curled her lips. 'How many times does this have to happen? I need to remain strong and not show weakness. I have to stay strong. Not just for the kids but him aswell. I promised to Edvar to look after both of them.' She looked back to her son and was struck by guilt when she caught his worried gaze. 'I burdened you enough Alex. Please just pay no attention to me and focus on your duties. Focus your skills to rescue Florice and survive. Just ignore me! She depressively thought.

Alex noticing her body trembling quickly stammered, "Mom... Please h-have more faith in me! I-I'll be just as strong as Ser Elvaughn in Almagh!" His cheeks reddened in humiliation.

Gertrude hummed in amusement at that. That's what you always say to me when you were twelve. Always that excuse to miss your sword training. "I promise to do twice as much next lesson if I can miss this one." She finished for him.

Alex blushed even further but was glad to see laughter jumping out of her mother.

Unexpectedly, the sound of feet stamping rapidly across the hallway was heard. The Baron drew his sword and stepped in front of his mother.

Two guardsmen appeared in front of the temple dressed with a chestplate decorated with two axes crossed together. My family's crest. The Baron sighed in relief and sheathed his sword.

One of the guardsman approached his lord and reported , "Milord! Raiders on horseback has been sighted in your lands just east of here."

Both Alex and Gertude nearly fainted at that and simultaneously thought the worse, 'Have they broken through Surman Castle? What happened to Florice?'

Dread and fear painted his face and Alex was forced to respond, "How many are we talking about?" He shouted.

The vocal guardsman visibly flinched and stared to the ground, "About two dozen milord!"

This is not good. The fact that they are leaking out of the eastern border near here means they've managed to overrun Surnam!

The Baron raced out of the temple, leaving his stunned mother behind, and went towards his solar.

Count Lonsdale and Duke Albrecht needs to be informed! The fact that raiders are this near to the capital should be a cause for concern. They could easily gallop in half an hour from here to Grey City!

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He speedily wrote two letters for his duke and liege and went to the training ground. 

He stood on the highest possible platform and called for a man at arms to announce his presence. "Your liege is here and all shall listen!"

The Baron nodded his thanks and tried to stop his convulsing. He took a deep breath and counted for a few seconds. "Men! A-A band of raiders has appeared to the east. They're here to invade your homes and to kill your women and children! I-I need all those that can ride a horse and be ready to ride with me to stop those thieves!" No cheers, no cries of anger, just a silence full of grim determination.

The men shuffled about and stableboys prepared the stirrups and the saddles and mounted them on the horses.

The levies sort of looked stunned and didn't know what to do and just stood still. Some of them looking panicked and scared. They must have homes east from here. I probably should put them out their misery. "Levies, you're all tasked to guard this castle and keep training. I trust my men at arms to train and drill you all!" Not as impressive as dad but I've never been too comfortable around other people, especially hundreds of men that solely rely on my orders.

One of them pleaded to him, "Please milord! My family is at danger. Please bring me with you!"

Alex was torn over this. After what happened with his mother just now made him deeply sympathise with the man. Does he know how to ride a horse? If he can't he'll just be slowing us down. He may lie and deprive a more skilled horsemen to ride with me. He suddenly remembered Seirun saying, "Levies are nothing but peasants. Villins or villeins whatever. If they know how to ride a horse then something is suspicious."

Gripped with sudden paranoia he sternly stared at the levy and curtly asked him, "Do you know how to ride a horse?"

The peasant flinched at that, "No milord."

"Then you'll be slowing us down. If I were to let you come with us, we'll get to your family at a slower pace. We may not be able to rescue them on time." 

The peasant deflated and appealed to his lord, "In Allure's name, please save them." Alex nodded at him not knowing what to say.

He left to go get a horse and directly assembled the horsemen at the gates of the castle. I'm getting better at ordering people around. I still prefer to paint and read though. The Baron gravely sighed and signalled the gatekeepers to lower the drawbridge.

"M-men we ride to the east and rally by the hill next to the river!"

A chorus of 'Yes milord' rang out.

The Dowager Baroness tried to fix her disheveled looks to no avail. Split strands was visible from her former smooth brown hair. She aggressively looked for her son and spotted him being outfitted with a steel chest plate and sabatons being strapped to his shins. She ran up to him and restrained herself from hugging him. Instead she nodded at him with motherly affection and told him, "Be sure to come home." She trembled saying that and muttered a prayer to Allure beneath her breath.

"I will. I'll pray to Allure to keep me safe and for her to give me strength to protect the innocent."

With that he signalled to 'SUSUME!' advance.

The Baron squinted his eyes and managed to spot two dozen heavily armoured horsemen trotting towards them. Dressed in plain brown cloaks with plain brown tunics beneath their armour. They carried a strange crest of three circles equally overlapping each other.

They don't look like bandits. He quickly dispelled that thought when he looked over them and saw grey, black smoke rising to the skies. He disdainfully glared at them. Florice didn't mention them having armour or not. He once again threw an inquisitive glance towards their banner. This is very unsettling. I've read and memorised all of the crest of major nobility in the Empire and some crest from merchant troupes. They're not a nobleman's retainer then. Then what are they?

We outnumber them two to one. We should be able to win this. I think... Alex doubted. I mean these men are fighting to defend their lands. They shouldn't retreat. I hope. He tried to assure himself. We've also got this river to cross. Or for them to cross. Do I lure them to cross the river. No. Too obvious. They looked too organised and disciplined - except for the burning and pillaging.

He pondered over and over until he saw movement down the hill. They pulled out what seem to be heavy crossbows. Are they trying to lure us to them. He sneered at that. Not happening. Those crossbows can barely hit anything in two-hundred yards.

The raiders loosed two-dozen steel tipped arrows towards them. Several groans of pain and high pitch neighing and squealing of horses erupted across their ranks. 

What! Alex hurriedly put on his barbute and patted his pauldrons and gorget. Now those arrows won't pierce me. Except the slits within this helmet. How could they hit us this far! "Order the men to spread out!"

A trumpet sounded his orders and his soldiers shuffled outwards. Some positioned themselves at the slope of the hill. 

Another two-dozen arrows were loosed and another round of agonising cries were heard.

This brutal cycle carried on for five minutes but it seemed like an eternity for Hensfield's men. Nervous apprehension gripped the baron's men until a half a dozen eager horsemen snapped and whipped their horses to a trott. 

"We numba mor' than em'! So let's go kill 'em!" 

Suddenly half a dozen grew to two-dozen. They crossed the river at the shallowest path with practiced ease.

The Baron watched the scene with growing trepidation, nay hellish dread. His heart sped up, his lungs visibly swelling and hands writhing in pain. 

The professional man at arms beside him asked him for any orders.

"S-Stay where y-you are." He stammered whilst staggering his breaths.

The twenty-five men at arms, utterly devoted and loyal to the Hensfield, complied without a whiff of complaint. 

The two-dozen poorly armoured and poorly trained men crashed into the raiders. With faster speed they circled around them and managed to down and trample several raiders. A horse stepped into the brown-cladded raider's head causing light grey liquids to spew out. 

The armoured raiders reformed and counterattacked. They swung their swords with deadly precision, slicing their vulnerable torsos apart and causing guts to fall out. Several of Hensfield's reneged men got their heads sliced cleanly off with a shower of blood. One of them dumbfoundedly stared at the hill wondering why they haven't charged with them. 'We numbered mor' than 'em! We could've won!' The disobedient man ranted within his mind as he got stabbed through the stomach. He died cursing Alex Hensfield. 

Alex watched on with palpitable fear. He was sick seeing the scene and promptly turned to the side and emptied his stomach. They died to the last man but managed to kill four of them. They may be stupid but they at least deserve some modicum of respect.

The raiders reformed and looked set to charge at the shallowest bit of the river.

They're preparing to charge at us. Calm down Alex! Quick! Think!. He berated himself and swiftly looked around for something.

He noticed a pile of large boulders and pebbles hung just above the river banks and stretched for a few dozen yards. Yes that could work!

"MEN! Follow me!" He whipped his horse to a gallop.

The men at arms dutifully trailed behind him.

They galloped across the river banks which confused their enemy and charged anticipating them to go into the river.

The Allurion horsemen kept going back and forth which angered the raiders and they continued charging. Eventually, reaching the river.

Then suddenly, the ground beneath the Allurions started to crumble and gave in. Ejecting hundreds of pebbles and dozens of boulders into the river and creating a wave. The force of the wave carried the pebbles further into the middle.

'Those fools! They made the landing less steep!' Encouraged by their enemy's stupidity they continued galloping.

When all of a sudden, half of them tumbled into the river. Their horse's knees buckling at the unexpected angle.

Some managed to pulled themselves together, but most was weighed down by their armour and woolen cloth soaked with water.

The 'lucky' half didn't even notice the plight of their comrades in arms and continued and landed at the other side.

Twenty-five men at arms, hungry with righteous vengeance pounced on them.