XII Dawn of a Battle

You might have missed the map I just posted, the comment on this sentence contains it :)

( * )

Before he knew it, it stroke the next day. Though Hierd has residual memories of writing emails, reports, essays and all the ilk in school. His confidence wasn't really high about how we was going to approach teaching them, people who knew nothing of his world's education and how that functions. But, he thought that because they understand his speeches and manuals given. That words that are deemed modern could transliterate to their grammar, but then again, he stuck this with a big fat fucking IF. 

It was dawn, nigh maybe even way past that, who knew, he didn't but the soldiers were probably all waiting or are already inside the chapel sitting! Before he could gather his thoughts, a knock rocked his door. Then a voice; "Captain! Are you awake!?"

"Ah yes! Excuse me, I awoke rather late!" After saying that, he heard a series of whispers.

Hierd put on his boots and his cap. Did his morning routine, and sprayed a bit of perfume, it seemed quite-rosey, that smell. And opened his door. 

"What is it?" Hierd saw a crowd of soldiers, with the squad leaders gathered at the front of his house. The crowd of soldiers had their guns readied and to the Ridge soldiers, their sword were attached and Lugers in their hand. To then, he panicked. 

"Are we being invaded!? What's happening!?" Exclaimed Hierd, running towards the squad leaders. 

"Captain, Hierd, knights. From the city of Unchean are here. They are armed, and they are many."

"What!?" In his mind, his mouth dropped to the floor, his mind expelled from his ears and his eyes dissintegrated. 

"HOW IN THE FUCK!? WAR!? ALREADY!? WHAT THE FUCK!? Wait, let's not over react, this shit might not even be a battle, this might just be some communicating bullshit." He thought over. "Not one knight has been here, no other outsiders except me. Unless... That preist. The theocracy... I recall that their churches act like embassies, fuck. That priest."

"Lead me to them!" He shouted. 

In a triangle formation, Hierd in the front and middle, the squad leaders behind him, with the soldiers behind them with stern eyes and ready minds. After the Naturvege's house, it was as clear as day where they were. 

"They're hanging it out like its their bedroom!" Exclaimed Hierd. There were knights indeed, and they wore armor as clad as the knights of the round table! The soldiers were in formation infront of the horde of knights, each glaring with curious eyes. The knights were mumuring among'st themselves, saying things like; 'what are those things they're using?' Another said; 'their weapons are so stupidly done. What even could such a long wooden decorated stick do for someone?'

"What does that mean captain?" Questioned Jeane.

"No... Nothing." Hierd made his way to the formation, to which did he say; "Move!"

His voice was loud and the knights heard it, the captain of the knights noticed the shout and had straightened out his horse to point directly at the formation. "That is their leader?"

As the soldiers made way for the captain. They had a clear view of the massive hunk of a man that Hierd really was. Exuming an aura that could make a room full of knights befall and a room full of women to lose their chasity looking at him. The knights had their horses step back in fear of the man who appeared. 

"I wish for an audience with your captain!" Yelled Hierd, standing ground with a stern, determined face. 

A long silence, or so did it feel, but really did it take just a few minutes before the captain, the one at the very front had stepped down from his horse. "I am the captain! Who are you!"

"Good Morning, captain! I am Nas- I mean, I am Hierd Die Grace." He interupted himself as he had almost told them his real name. 

"I did not know a lord as intriguing as yours truly had control of this village. Or are you really one?" His face was hidden behind his helmet, but oddly his voice seemed a bit high pitched.

"Let's not talk of this here, let us talk somewhere more calm."

"I agree!" He turned back and ordered his knights to dismount from their horses. "And I wish to know more of the weapons you use!" 

( * )

There wasn't really any cool, luxurious spots in the village, anything but the Naturvege's house. Of which, Naturvege was busy dealing with the knights whilst Hierd and the knight's captain were inside in the usual meeting spot, his dining room.

"These weapons, your suit, lord. I have yet to see such things." He said, his helmet still on. 

"If ya don't want your shit seen, then you better be the hottest chick ever, or the most ugliest chick ever."

"You are from Unchean, land of the lord; Peraux." He deflected answering the question. "I understand my presence in this village is alarming, for a lord is living and operating in the land of another lord's. However, I don't think you should be so worried as to bring your knights here."

"You understand you are breaking a law, the kingdom does not tolerate a lord's operating in another's especially if such a lord does not belong from the kingdom, for I have yet to hear any so what nobility that is of your's grace. Who and what kingdom do you rule in?" 

Hired stayed silent.

"You asked for an audience yet you do not answer, what even would be the meaning of this audience without the man who wanted one to even talk?" He turned irritated.

"I will not stop my supposed 'ruling' in Venit Ille, and I shall not say what so ever of what kingdom I reside nigh what lands I rule. And you, and your lords, and your king, shall acknowledge this fact."

"You dare!?" He stood up with ferocity. "You insult the king's ruling too do you insult my lord's who do you think you are!? To think you are capable of running this operation without even a witness, is mere insanity! Whatever land you occupy, you are not occupying lands of your kingdom! For that do I deem you, an enemy!"

He drew his sword in quick succesion.

Pointing it towards him, it shivering. 

The sound of lugers being unholstered and swords unsheathed.

The room was divided in knights and soldiers. The other with polished, clean, and sharp swords. And the other with small metal cylindrical objects. The captain chuckled. "Your weapons, do you think they can do anything, such small things cannot possibly-"

BANG

Hierd shot his luger into the floor board. The sound of the gun shot being fired indoors ruptured the ear drums of the knights, but not so much the soldiers. The captain was holding his ears shut, screaming in agony as it continued to ring. 

"What is that!?" He screamed. 

"The thing that'll kill you and your knights!" Exclaimed Hierd. "That is, if you don't give up your swords and shields.

The captain looked at the floor where the gun shot at, it was cracked open, leaving a small, burnt hole. In the captain's mind; "That power, that shot, I didn't even have time to react! That thing, that metal thing... The future... It'll change because of that!" 

The swords clanged to the wooden floor as well as the shields. 

"What is this power, where did you get that thing, lord?"

"My kingdom. My country." Hierd grinned. "Alrife!" He shouted for him, whom'st stood shocked beside the wall. 

"Yes... Captain...?" He walked nearer. 

"Detain them all, make sure they do not retaliate." He looked towards the captain. "But this man, keep him somewhere more secured." 

"Yes, captain." 

"Oh and..." He exclaimed. "Detain the church members and question them."

"Why, captain?"

"The church... Cannot be trusted."

( * )

It was afternoon, and the bell that should've rang when it hit, was nowhere to be heard for the members of the clergy were in the prison being questioned by Naturvege and to make work faster, Friedrick was asked to help. The prison wasn't too big, and so they built temporary shelters where the arrested knights would be kept inside in until further notice. 

Friedrick had questioned the sisters and the only father, father Gaius of their antics in the church. However, the preist hadn't budged to his questioning, and so did Friedrick release the sisters yet contained him in another house for further questioning in the future. 

Meanwhile, Hierd, the four squad leaders and the 'man' who he was talking to, were all in a secluded room. The man, whom was really a woman, was veiled of her mask after being thrown to this room, revealing her secret. 

"I had an inkling suspision that you were in fact female." Said Hierd. "Captain... Harper."

"What my gender may be does not matter in this equation, I mean, you even have a woman assistant right there."

"Why were your knights in Venit Ille?" He changed the conversation. 

"We had recieved certain information that the village was being controlled by a remote and unknown lord, of which brought with him strange weaponry with... As I have seen, devastating effects."

"Recieved?" He questioned. "From whom?"

"You have no quarrels with where Unchean gets there information."

"So either we have a spy, or my suspicison of it being the church might be true, and if it were so that there was a spy... What would I do? Fuck, this is getting complex."

"As a matter of fact, I do." Said Hierd sighing. "For a village as remote, and dare I even say it, as abandoned as an orphan! Your city made no advances to help the village, no, not even this one, but also Ridge Village, from last year's Auferstehen!" 

"Must you know, Captain?" He chuckled a bit. "That the effects of Auferstehen differ depending on the amount of people who live in a certain area! Your villages don't matter if we in the city tire and fight for our lives against those monsters! These villages have always been advised to prepare for such events, but, as ever would they. Seeking help from their lord... Selfishly asking for protection when even our city is in danger! You people disgust me!"

Hierd stood up from his seat and went closer to her. "The thing is... Because you provoked my operations, because of the church's involvement... I might just declare war."

The room went silent, not even a single inhale or exhale. 

"You wish to declare war when you possess an army of a hundred against an army with a thousand!?" She laughed, almost maniacally so. "Even with your... Weird gadgets, not even those could bring down our lord's forces, and if you were fortunate enough to survive after our lord's onslaught, the kingdom will come and kill you!"

"I assume your absence has worried your lord, though it has merely been a couple hours, these hours should be enough for them to be suspicious. Tell me," He leaned closer. "Have you already incited that we be destroyed?"

"Yes. Yes. Yes. We all so proudly said; that Venit Ille, that any other village, be destroyed, food looted, and this one specifically. FOR THIS ONE'S VILLAGE TO BE DEMOLISHED!" 

Her scream caused Hierd to step back. He stepped back a bit more, stopping at Heduc's ear. He whispered; "This isn't getting anywhere if she'll be like this. I want you to prepare the troops into formation, we're in the middle of an invasion."

( * )

Hierd was outside, taking in the fresh air of the afternoon in the forest glade. "How in the fuck am I gonna battle actual trained bitches? Like I wasn't any good at those military strategy games... I'm gonna need some help if things get worse."

"Captain?" A soldier approached him, "Sir Heduc wishes for you to come." 

"Alright, I'm coming." The soldier walked first, Hierd following.

The main road was full of soldiers, the right half brown the left; black. Hierd approached Heduc. "What is it?" 

"We've sent some soldiers to scout ahead, and we're seeing movement in the eastern forest."

(Remember; The farm is north, the village middle, the training field is south). 

"They're here that quick?" 

"Yes, captain. Chief Naturvege and Friedrick have put their troops towards the river." 

Hierd walked towards the main road; the soldier followed. "Any more? The bridge is being protected?" 

"Ah..." He looked up to the skies for a bit to recollect. "Yes, captain. Sir Heduc and Sir Verdel is protecting it."

"What about the farm? That's across the river right?" 

"I believe both Ridge Village and Venit Ille troops are stationed there. Being commanded by Ma'am Jeane, Sir Gelmund, and Sir Friedrick."

"What of Ridge village troops?" He was now on the main road going forward.

"Right there." He pointed at the main road, and Hierd saw they were stationed on the road, "They are to act as auxillary, in case the bridge was to be overpowered."

"I see."

"I guess that Friedrick understands his men's role. Good thing, since lugers and swords aren't as effective as rifles and lugers."

They made it to the bridge to the Eastern edge of the town, the bridge. The only thing that connects the village to the city boundary for miles on end. The soldier went back to his squad whilst Hierd went to Heduc and Verdel who were stuck planning out the defense. 

"What's the plan?" Said Hierd, introducing himself to the two.

"Ah! Captain, Hierd. Good Afternoon." Exclaimed Heduc. "The forest beyond the river is a bit dense, we wouldn't be able to see any movement until they're just at the verge of the bridge."

"You have laid down the mines, correct?" 

"Yes, captain. The artillery squad, though is having slight difficulty with the use of the planting of mines, have planted an abundance of them with the guidance of Sir Alrife."

Hierd looked around, spooting the M90 truck parked. "I believe it was Sir Alrife who drove the truck here?"

"Yes, captain..."

"Guess he took some turns in driving school yesterday when I was still asleep."

THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD

It was inexplanatory to Hierd what the sound was but Heduc knew. "Captain! Those are horses! They're here!"

The clopping of horses hadn't stopped and continued to advance to where they were. But, then, a few more seconds later. A war cry. 

"Everyone! Take aim at the forest!" Yelled Hierd. "Fire at the sight of the first knight present!" 

"Yes, captain!" They shouted. 

Brandished in iron and headed straight, several knights appeared from the forest shadows and headed forward the bridge.

"FIRE!" 

*BANG

Several shots from many rifles, all hiting their targets with different levels of accuracy. 

The clopping of horses halted to a stop and the men were not shouting any longer. The soldiers took this time of silence to bolt another round in their rifles. In this time, a sillhouete appeared. And with a galliant shout; "Who are you!? And where is the captain!" 

Hierd whispered the Heduc to not fire the guns but aim still at the forest whilst he walked forward the bridge. "You question who am I, when you have yet to show yourself." Hierd chuckled a little bit. "Are you really a knight of chivalry?"

*Tsk

A man, not on a horse, appeared. He had red hair, with eyes akin to an angry lion's. And he alike that woman captain, seemed to be a captain himself. "You posses power, I acknoledge that, now that you've shot down the first few of our knights with ease. However, you will not stay here any longer that unless you give us the captain."

"Armstice?"

"That is so, lord. If you bring us the captain back!" He shouted at him in a way that his body had almost lunged forward in rage. 

Hierd took this time to think, but rather did it seem he wished to toy with the intrigue. 

"I would rather not." A slight grin appeared. 

"You dare!?" He shouted. "Our forces will come at full power by tommorow's dawn. Not even your magical sticks will be able to stop the full force of Unchean! Unless... You wish to surrender and better yet, give us... The captain!" 

Hierd did not respond to the man's cry. And in the stage of silence, the man understood that Hierd had no want of giving up the captain Harper. 

"You wish to toy with me, lord? Then you will live no longer starting by tommorow's dawn."

The man turned back, with a pained, irritated expression. "Monitor the village... Stop the advance towards the farm, we'll have all our forces readied by tommorow."

"But, sir. Though they posses those magical items, I think we would be able to overcome them still!" 

"I forgive you for your tenacity, but that village is being protected by someone powerful, our troops right now will not be able to withstand them. It is better to retreat until tommorow, when we will strike with the full force of Unchean."

( * )

"Well... That was fucking nerve-wracking. But I think I did the right thing. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to get land from doing this."

"Captain!" Heduc went towards the captain in a hurry. "You wish to battle with the lord? Maybe even the cooperation of multiple lords!?" 

"Please, please. We don't need to get too worried." Hierd said in confidence. "Germany's armaments is not as slim as what I have introduced. Right now, I want the troops to patrol the village boundary, while I get what I need."

"Yes, captain!"

Hierd went away and towards his cabin. Whilst Heduc and Verdel stayed at the bridge with their troops. "So... This is it huh?" Verdel said. "The captain wishes to declare war upon the kingdom right at the starting months of Auferstehen?"

"Don't worry too much Verdel." He said in reasurance. "The captain is a wise man with many wise technologies from his country. Let us trust in what the captain will do, besides... He picked us to be leaders, right?"