Chapter 45: El Cid, the Death Knight [2] - Arriving at Vivar

Chapter 45: El Cid, the Death Knight [2] - Arriving at Vivar

"Vivar?" the Old man was surprised when Rodrigo mentioned Vivar, which was a little too distant from the place. "You're a long way from home."

Rodrigo chuckled as he lifted the cross yet again, now placing it on a horse to take it away from the destroyed city. The old man helped in the process as he continued to look at the young man, his curiosity rising again.

"But Sir, you don't seem to be dressed for the battle," it was rather evident as everyone around him wore armors and plates while Rodrigo merely had fancy clothing that resembled as if he was going to a special place. 

'That's true. He has no armor…,' Allen thought as he brought up some imaginary popcorns, chucking them high and eating them.

"Haha, Father, this was supposed to be my wedding day." 

'Pardon, what!?' that was a surprise to Allen. 

Taken aback, the old man asked, "How is it you came here, my son? Surely the wedding was not with someone from this town now, was it?"

Rodrigo shook his head and with another chuckle, said, "I thought this would be the shortest road to my bride. But it turned out to be a long one." 

The old man couldn't help but chuckle along.

Rodrigo, making eye contact with another soldier, walked towards the horse in the front. 

"We are ready, my lord. Do we hang them now?" it was the voice of another young soldier, not too deep, but not too childish either. It was manly.

"No, Fanez. They come to Vivar with us," Rodrigo climbed his horse as he announced this. 

The Emirs who had their arms raised with long wooden wood placed in between their arms and tied to them had no choice but to walk all the way to Vivar. 

'Looks like the wedding has to be delayed,' Rodrigo thought to himself.

And with that, the horses started moving and Rodrigo, along with father and his men, including the prisoners, walked away from the city. 

A few hours' journey, and Rodrigo and his men had arrived at Vivar's exterior, its castle visible from all the way from the borders. But that was not what caught everyone's attention.

It was the swarming of people who rushed with axes, shovels, hammers, pointed sticks, and whatnot! Wearing poor garments that were either black or brown, hiding the dirt, about two hundred men came rushing to see the prisoners! Leading them was Don Diego, an old man in his fifties.

As they came too close, their voices grew louder, each moving their weapons vigorously both in anger and hatred towards the Emirs. Some wanted to rush forward and attack the Emirs instantly, but Diego stopped them.

"No! Stop!" 

"Fernando, put down the stones!", Diego asked one of the gathered men, who threw two to three stones at the Emirs. Other than a few in the front, the rest all that swarmed on the sides had nothing but one chant in their mouths - "Rodrigo!"

"Rodrigo! Rodrigo!" 

Glancing at them once and then looking at Diego momentarily, Rodrigo got down off the horse and walked close to Diego. Rodrigo, being the tall man, towered over Diego, as if seemingly looking down at him. He had a stern and serious expression on his face. It was the same for Diego, who stared at Rodrigo blatantly for a second or two, before succumbing to slight laughter.

"Welcome home, my son," with wrinkles on his forehead, Don Diego addressed Rodrigo who smiled back and hugged his father. Breaking the hug, he then turned back, pointing at the Emirs before saying, "Here are some Moorish prisoners for you."

"Ah? Didn't expect such wedding guests," as he said that, the crowd behind chuckled. 

"Are you perhaps holding them for tribute?" Diego asked. 

"They're your prisoners, father," Rodrigo said in a humble tone, shaking his head instantly.

"Nay, they're yours. You captured them, and it is you who must decide what is to be done with them," Diego said as he stared at the Emirs and few other prisoners in the behind. 

But just as he had done with the saying, Fanez who held the rope and was still on the horse, gave out a loud scream, "Hang them! Now!"

Hearing that, the crowd raised their voices, as if they were energized. The chant changed to, "Hang them! Hang them!" 

Rodrigo, Diego, and the old man, who was the father of the church, couldn't help but blink and stare at the people, who were ready to kill the prisoners if given the opportunity at the moment.

And just when the chant had reached its peak and before the final judgment could be declared, one of the Emirs, who was a little fat and wore a headband, spoke, "We are Emirs! Kings!" 

"There will be a great ransom for you if you let us live," the Emir addressed this to Rodrigo as he broke a few sweats, his heartbeat palpable. It was quite visible that he was afraid of death.

Chuckling, Rodrigo walked a few steps forward. 

"You were ready enough to kill, but it would seem you're less ready to die," he mocked the Emir's will and called him a coward in 100 different ways! 

'Damn, bro could speak any language, but he decided to speak the truth!,' Allen chuckled further as now, there were ten bags of popcorn in front of him, seven of them empty.

Contrasting to the fat Emir, the one who stood beside him, a bit lean and somewhat muscular in the arm, spoke with a humble tone, "I am ready, my Lord Rodrigo. I have no great desire to live to see what is coming for all of us."

"Nah, Rodrigo, he is just playing with your mind. Nom Nom, don't listen to him," Allen told aloud as he continued snacking.

Surprised by what he said, Rodrigo turns towards him. With squinted eyes, he asks, "What is coming for all of us?" 

With a momentary pause, the man spoke, "Wars, death, and destruction."

"Blood and fire more terrible than anything that has even been seen by a living man." 

…

A/N: El Cid's story is big and interesting, and to fully show it with immersion, I think it will take me about 15-20 chapters. I hope you stick around.

…