Chapter 9

Golden wheat swaying in the wind. Grunts and groans of people working in the fields could be heard from every direction. An old man sits on a rock close to the road, resting a little before going back to work. His wife comes carrying some food and water from the nearby village. She sits next to him.

"Here you go love."

She says in a sweet tone.

"Your voice is a music to my ears."

He replies.

"Oh my how sweet of you, but don't think i don't know what are you trying to do. Im still mad at you for not even saying goodbye this morning."

"Hahaha. Sorry but ya know that they want us to be here early in the morning."

"Well I guess I can give you a pass this time."

"Thank you love."

He says after taking drinking some water. Then he shighes.

"They are working us to the bone. Every damn day."

"I hope you finish soon. It's hard having you away for the whole day."

"It's hard on me too love. But it's time to dig in, I'm starving."

He opens a bag that she brought him. It's bread, just bread. Ever since the war started and ended their lives and the lives of everyone in their village became worse. But still he dosen't complain because he knows it was made by his wives hands.

"Dear."

She taps him on the shoulder.

"Yes?

"Whats going on there?"

She points at a small hill right next to the crossroads. At that hill soldiers made their camp. All of the men have come together, even those who were watching over the workers. They were all seemed excited for some reason.

"Who gives a shit. As long as they are happy and don't give us trouble I don't care."

"Yes, you are right."

Both of them brushed it off as nothing important. But it was not like that to the man that was surrounnded by them, Damien of the Sentinel order. Just a few moments ago Leonard approached him together whit a man that introduced him self as Titus an Iron Knight. He said that he knows that Damien is a Sentinel. It shocked him, Robert and the captain they were talking too.

The man called out to his men to capture Damien but Ser Titus stopped them. Telling them that he wants to fight the Sentinel in a duel. It came to shock of everyone present. Titus even told the captain to let them go if Damien wins. Whit little choice Damien accepted, they faced each other. Captains men encircled them, making for a perfect fighting ring. But still the situation was to crazy to be real. There is no way that they would let them go. No man is crazy enough to do that.

After all if Sentinel is sited by an Iron Knight or an Inquisition agent, they are to be killed or captured and killed later after all the information was extracted. It has been like that for 20 years, nothings changed. So why is this man doing this? Damien thought.

"Why are you doing this?"

Damien asked. Titus looked confused.

"Does it really matter Sentinel?"

"Of course it does! If I am to die today I want to know why."

"Because I never fought a Sentinel before. I spent most of my deployment in Albarak fighting the scum that Red continent produces."

What? He would disobey his orders just for that? Is he crazy... Oh I see he is one of those people. Caring only for himself and his own desires. Then he looks at Robert and Leonard. The mission is important.... but trying to run and leaving them alone to die when I was the one who hired them is still wrong. Im saving our asses! But first.....

"How do I know that you will keep your word!?"

"Just believe me. Besides you don't have much choice anyway."

Robert and Leonard watched from the side. Their swords and belongings taken. Spears pointed at them.

"Hey Leonard."

Robert quietly spoke.

"What?"

"Listen if he dies or if they don't keep their word we are gonna run for it."

"What? How? I have a fucking spear pointed at my face."

"Yeah but look at the guy holding it. Who knows how much he drank today. When I give a signal push him away and run I will keep them busy."

He looked at the man who was red in the face and smelled of alcohol.

"And what about you?"

"I don't matter. You are my Lord and I serve you."

"But..."

Leonard was caught off by cheers of excited men. Titus made the first move. From his high guard he threw a vertical cut, Damien took a step backwards and dogged it. Once Tituses blade was close to the ground he struck again, going up this time. Damien again dogged it. But that strike was followed up by another. This time a horizontal one.

The cut was blocked by Damien then imidiatly he threw a counter. A strike, then another in an X motion. The first dogged, other blocked. Titus took a quick step left striking from an angle. It got blocked and then followed up by a thrust from Damien. Titus moved out of the way, but his shoulder got cut.

"Tch! You are good Sentinel!"

"Hey are we fighting to the death or..."

"I don't care! As long as I get what I wanted from it."

"Well as long as you keep your wor...."

Titus lunged forward, striking at Damien. The strike was blocked, while their swords still touching Titus grabbed his sword by its blade and used the pommel of the sword to hit Damien. The strike landed on Damien´s cheek. He quickly backed away. Pushing Titus away, he made distance between them. How foolhardy of me! Talking while fighting! Oh well, it won't happen again.

He whiped little blood that was coming out of his wound. The wound wasn't deep, if it landed more cleanly, for sure his yaw would be broken. That was a good strike. He is an experienced fighter. It would be the best to end this quickly.

"They are good..... quick, sharp and how would I call it clean..."

"Huh? If you are saying that they are good, I can see it my self."

Leonard didn't understand what Robert meant.

"There is a difference between just good and their level." After a short pause Robert shighed.

"Man I wish I was younger."

Their attention was caught again as two men clashed. Strike after strike, being deflected. Counter after counter. Two of them seemed equal, but then. Their swords clash again, but this time Damien pushes Titus and then uses his right leg to trip Titus who then trips over it and falls on his back. He tries to get back up but he stops. Daimen´s sword touching the tip of his nose. Then silence. All observe the Sentinel, waiting for him to make his move.

"What are you waiting for Sentinel." Titus breaks the silence. But Damiem just chuckles.

"You are very smart. You knew, entering in this that you will leave whit your life. After all you are the only one here whit enough authority to give out orders. If I killed you, these bastards would slice us to pieces, after all they wouldn't listen to a priest who by the looks of it is not even twenty." By the expression Titus was making he knew he got it right. What a fox he thought.

"Hmm, saw right through me Sentinel."

Damiem then sheets his sword and backs away. Soldiers who watched close in on him. "Stop!"

Titus screams. "I honor my words."

"But ser are you su....." He is questioned by one of the men but he cuts him off. "Enough! Do not question my decisions! Back away!"

"Yes ser."

Soldiers put their weapons down and back away. Titus get's back on his feet and sheets his sword as well. He takes a deep breath.

"Fuuuuu, that was fun. Now follow me Sentinel, and your friends too." Four of them move away from the soldiers, just next to the small creak over the road. Titus cleaning the blood of his shoulder.

"So are we free to go?"

Says Leonard.

"Yeah. But first how about you give me some money Sentinel." He says as he gets up.

"Huh? Why would I do that."

"If you don't I will call out to those soldiers to capture you."

"What!?"

"Hey you fucker! Don't push it!"

Robert joins in.

"Haha, what? Gonna do something? Even if you cut me down, they will get you."

"Really? What about those horses?"

Robert points at a few horses drinking from the creek.

"Willing to take a risk?"

Titus says whit a smile.

"Hey com now calm down guys. Robert please. And you Ser Titus you gave us your word."

The one who that was Leonard. Trying to be the voice of reason.

"Yeah listen to him, and clam down. And you Sentinel give me some money. I saw that fat pouch of coins hanging from your waist."

"Fine, how much?"

"How much can you give?"

"Hey, hey! You really doing this!?"

"What choice do we have Robert."

"Yeah like I said before when I hierd you. I'm not taking any risks that I can avoid." He takes the pouch of gold and hands it to Titus.

"That's 50 ester."

"50 ester!? Damn now I feel bad for taking all this money." He opens the pouch and takes half of the coins. Robert scoffs as he counts them.

"Here take the rest. Don't want you think that I'm a total asshole."

"To late for that." Robert says back, making Titus chuckle.

"Well whit that out of the way, three of you fuck off and go your way."

"Hah right back at you!" Robert says and starts walking. "Com'on guys let's move."

"Wait just a second. Ser Titus why are you even here?" Sensing that they are going to be here for some time, Robert whit a sigh sits on the ground right next to the small creek.

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"I mean why are you stationed here. You told me before you were in Albarak."

"Oh that, well I was just lucky to get out of that shithole. Fighting in the desert against those fucking heretics gets boring very quickly."

"Really I thought you guys do those things happily. Killing enemies of the Church."

Leonard joins in.

"Some do, some don't. That Priest is the prime example of people who don't do it. I for one am not delusional enough to see them as not human."

"Well you are lucky. Heard stories about those vast deserts, fighting in them must be though. You sure are lucky."

"Yes lucky I'am Sentinel. But for how long we will see."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh well they are planning to send an army under the command of Knight-Admiral Elerick. Two legions in total."

"Really? That´s a lot of men. From what I know there is already a legion in Albarak. Why send more? Is the Sultan planning a new offensive?"

"Not at the moment."

"Why then?" Asks Leonard.

"It's because Imperium decided to pull out their troops."

For almost 100 years, Imperium alway sent its troops over the sea to the red continent. It was a part of a pact that was made between the Imperial family and the Church. At the time the Iron Knight order was still very young, so the deal was made. The Emperor at the time wanted to improve their prestige and expand their territory. He gladly accepted the offer from the Church.

Although 100 years later the only territory in their possession is the port city of Albarak and few other castles. And in the end it's ruled both by them and the Church. So all the taxes collected and loot stolen is shared between the two. Its not shocking that Imperium finally pulled out of the Red Continent.

"Now that is interesting." Says Robert while slowly getting up on his feet. Hearing about a possible Imperium invasion from Mornud the dwarf back at the inn in Visomar, he wanted to know more.

If the Invasion happens I want to be far away from it.

"Know why is that?"

"Of course not. I can only guess. They pulled out all of them, around 15000 men."

"Holy crap thats a lot."

"Yeah Leonard. I bet that they are going to invade after winter."

"Its possible. But that's all I know and I'm willing to tell you. So again piss of."

"You heard him. Let's go Leonard, Damien."

"Damien huh? Well hope we meet again. I want to fight you again."

"Hopefully never again Ser Titus." Says Damien whit a smile. And the three of them continue their journey.

Even from afar Robert could be heard complaining about Damien giving half of their money to Titus. He looks at them for some time. As they leave his sight, he turns back and sits down next to the Priest. His actions not even quistioned by the soldiers again. "You really are smart Ser." Marcus talks to him.

"Oh my. Why the sudden compliment?"

"I read the letter you recived few days ago. From the Inquisiton."

"As far as I remember thats important information. One that you don't need to know about"

"Don't talk shit. That evening when we made camp you got drunk and went to sleep. Leaving the open letter in front of the fire."

"Oh my..... How stupid of me. But why are you telling me this."

"They informed you that there was a Sentinel somewhere in the region close to the Visomar Village. It said that you should keep an eye out for them. And also that they sent a team of agents to the town of Tovder to deal whit the possible Sentinel agents stationed there. The same town they are now headed."

"My! You are the smart one here Marcus. Man I really should be more careful next time I'm dealing whit important information." Titus said jokingly.

"I'm not so stupid to risk my life. I have something important to live for."

"Well everybody has. Even them Titus. And you sent them to their deaths."

"Well you know Marcus. The world is just not fair. Now rest for some time, we move out in a few hours. I want to reach Doren by the end of the week."

Fair? Yes indeed this world is not fair. It's cruel most of the times. Yeah... That guy Leonard was right, this world should change. Even if I fail hundreds of times I will try again. To better this cruel world. That day a young man found it's new dream to follow. The dream that the ones who try, mostly fail. Will he fail as well? Or be the one to change the world for better.