Paladin Order Hall | WoW Amino [https://pm1.aminoapps.com/6134/8be5f294e5156cf033169e3ca787c17b2ab5c798_hq.jpg]
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Only half listening as she recounted how Robar’s men had surrounded her home demanding tribute, and the fight that had ensued. All Walter could think about was that a real life sorcerer had been here. The stories he had heard as a child, caused a chill to run through his bones as he remembered the tales his mama would tell him.
Once rulers of the old world, the evil archmages, led by their foul Emperor Sonantus, would lead daily pogroms throughout the countryside murdering innocent people, slaughtering entire villages, and unleashing monstrosities upon the land. It was even said the most holy of orders The Paladins of Gerant, a noble order of knights had grown corrupt and sworn allegiance to the evil Emperor.
For years as the world was beset by plagues, pestilence, and civil unrest, the lords of the south had finally united, and forced the Emperor's armies back through science, logic, and knowledge. Building a New World Order they had established states on the southern half of the continent, and planned to free the rest of the world when a powerful barrier was erected. Killing anyone that dared to cross it. But while the south was finally free from the rule of the Emperor, his agents would still slip into the New World to wreak havoc, agents like this sorcerer, though Walter had never imagined any of the stories were true.
Hoping against hope that he had somehow misheard her, Walter watched the tortured expression on the woman’s face as she fell to her knees sobbing beside the likely remains of her husband.
Nudged away by Durgan as Walter tried hard not to stare at the dead body, the big man looked more than a little shaken, his dark gray eyes watching the horizon as he spoke softly. “Listen to me, recruit, I need you to report back to Lord Huxelberry. Tell him that the threat in the forest can no longer be contained and that a sorcerer has joined the ranks of Robar. Now go!”
Shoved again to get him going, Walter nearly tripped and fell before he regained his footing and turned back the way he had come. But again still ringing in his mind was the word, ‘sorcerer’ there was a ‘sorcerer’ in the woods.
Terror, flooding through him as he pumped his arms and legs wildly, he all but careened down the hill, rifle thumping into his spine, when he splashed into the river. Shocked by the spray of cold water into his face, he shook himself from his daze, and galloped to the other side. Setting off at a dead run for the castle, he again took in the sight of the farms, meadows, and fields and couldn’t help thinking that it was far too quiet. Where were all the farmhands, workers, and animals?
Shivering at the worrisome thought, he retraced his steps along the dirt trail, until eventually he neared the gates of the mighty stronghold. The portcullis, still guarded by Guillard and Tommen, turned to stare down at him in curiosity as he rushed towards them.
“I need to speak to Lord Huxelberry!”
Hand held up to halt his passage, Tommen shook his head in gruff annoyance. “Shouldn't you be off being tested by Durgan? The gauntlet takes more than a day by my reckoning and it’s only just reached midday.”
Still half panting as he tried to catch his breath, Walter gasped, “Please I must speak with Lord Huxelberry! It’s urgent! I have a message from the Sergeant!”
Taking a step to the side, Guillard waved him through. “Best go on then. You’ll find Lord Huxelberry up in the chapel. It’s the tower with the bronze chalice on top.”
Hurrying away without another word, Walter passed back beneath the gates, and into the courtyard where he saw more soldiers were training. Somehow stirred by the commotion, he saw more than a few faces stare at him in worry, when he spotted the tower with the bronze chalice.
Ignoring them for the most part as he made haste through an opening that led through the great hall and out the other side, he found himself in the castle garden. With beds of roses, vegetables, and fruits being tended to by women, a couple of the women by the well in white aprons gave him strange looks as he ran past and into the chapel foyer.
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Always feeling a bit odd coming here, he gazed up at the paintings of the Sun God Azul, and saw Lord Huxelberry on one knee in front of the altar. Made of white marble that had been imported from Gentina, it was embossed with golden filigree that showed a woman pouring water out of a chalice.
Feeling a little bit anxious now at the thought of addressing a lord, Walter slowly began walking past the pews towards him, when four guardsmen stepped in to surround him. The tallest one with a scar on his cheek, scowled down at him. “What’s your business here, boy?”
And with a touch of panic he replied, “Please, I must speak to Lord Huxelberry, it’s important–”
But before he could finish the man interrupted, “it will have to wait, Lord Huxelberry is praying and he doesn’t like to be disturbed. Especially by lowborn scum such as yourself.”
Feeling a flush of anger at that, Walter again felt the urge to just turn and leave. After all this was none of his concern, none of his business, he already had done more than enough. But at the thought of that poor woman that had lost her husband, Walter steeled himself and replied, “Sergeant Durgan is the one who sent me, and I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be too pleased with anyone that stopped me from delivering my message.”
Blanching a little at the name, the scarred soldier looked half askance at the men around him, when Lord Huxelberry spoke over his shoulder. “Let him through, Fergus, I would hear what he has to say.”
Moving aside to reveal a portly man wearing a richly embroidered purple robe, Lord Huxelberry looked more like a wealthy merchant than an actual lord, all except for one thing, the eyes. Where merchants had the cunning deceit of a snake, Walter instead saw a man exhausted by the world with wings of gray in his hair, and blue eyes that carried wisdom within.
Shaking his head at where his thoughts were leading him, he wondered what he was supposed to do now? Was he supposed to kiss the lord’s ring, bend knee, or prostrate himself? Bowing his head and hoping that was the correct way to address a lord, he spoke in a hasty rush, “My lord, I bring word from Sergeant Durgan,” his brows furrowed together as he tried to remember the message, he continued, “He wanted me to report that the threat in the forest can no longer be contained and that a sorcerer has joined the ranks of Robar.”
His blue eyes widened open in surprise at that, Huxelberry shook his head in his disbelief. “But that’s impossible, no sorcerer has been seen here since the time of Timwyn the cruel. You had best start from the beginning, boy, and tell me everything.”
Swallowing nervously at the intensity of his gaze, Walter replied, “I was to be taken to the gauntlet to be tested when Sergeant Durgan must have received news of an attack and went to investigate. We traveled together to the north-east of the castle, forded the river, and there discovered the signs of an attack. We quickly hurried to the source of the smoke and found a homestead burning, surrounded by dark creatures that were both alive and dead. After the Sergeant and I had finished dealing with them, the woman who lived there came out of her home. She told us that Robar’s band of men had tried pressuring her husband to pay them tribute when he was killed. The woman however must have been able to wound one of them because she managed to get back inside where the sorcerer set fire to her home and summoned creatures to ensure she could not leave. That’s when the Sergeant sent me to you.”
Taking a deep breath as he finished reporting everything that he had seen, Walter watched as Huxelberry’s expression transformed from annoyance to a measure of respect. The middle aged lord with a plump belly, rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and let out a dry chuckle. “That is quite the tale, boy, and if not for the sincerity in your voice I would not have believed it. It seems I have dawdled too long with this Robar, but no more, he has gone too far! The man must be brought to justice!” Turning to speak with a lean warrior hidden away in an alcove of the chapel, Huxelberry barked, “Captain Thornigrad!”
“Yes, my lord?”
“Assemble several of our best squadrons and prepare them for an expedition into Blackwing Forest, it’s time we rooted out this devil. Also send a messenger to the Gray Wolves I’m sure they would be delighted in an opportunity to hunt a rogue mage. As for the boy,” Gazing at Walter intently once more, the robust lord smiled, “have him properly outfitted and brought along with us.”
Mouth flopping open and closed at that, Walter started from one man to the other sure that there had to be some type of mistake. And while he had indeed planned to go into the forest all alone, now knowing that there was a sorcerer there had made him begin to question the wisdom of that idea. But before he could say anything, the Captain seized him by the shoulder and dragged him out of the chapel.
Trailed by a pair of Lord Huxelberry’s bodyguards, Walter felt himself go numb with shock as he dragged away. Everything that happened next, a complete blur to him as he was taken to the armory first, equipped in a steel breastplate, backpack, and long pitch black cloak, before he found himself out in the main courtyard staring at dozens of men saddling horses, readying weapons, and preparing supplies for a journey.
It was simply all too much for him, and just when Walter thought he was losing his mind, Captain Thornigrad decided to speak up, “I don’t know what Lord Huxelberry sees in you, but it seems you have gained his attention. Whether that will keep you alive or not is up to you. Stay close to the rest of the guards, keep your mouth shut, and follow orders. Do that and you may count yourself lucky this day. The gods alone know what we will face in the forest, but it won’t be pretty, and it definitely won’t be for the faint of heart.” And with those comforting words, the Captain strode off to mount his horse, a black stallion with a white star on its forehead.