Prologue
The man in the chair awoke. His eye lids fluttered open and he looked around the hall in which he sat. The thatched roof was nearly twenty feet above his head, and a solitary square of moon light shone; down through the hole from which the last wisps of smoke from a dying fire escaped. The embers of the fire had long ago ceased to give off warmth and the room had a chill in the air. By the fire slept a dog, a great hound finally feeling its years. His name was Matthew.
Around the room were others who were not awake. Two dozen perhaps, simple folk. Farmers and fishermen, hunters and axe men. Across the room was Matthews younger brother by a year and a half; Davit. Called forth to glory, for the King and for Christ. Tonight's celebration was over. In the morn they would march to war.
The previous day the herald had come to the village and had proclaimed the holy war. Tomorrow they would all begin the journey to eternal glory and riches
The dawn came, the roosters stirred, and Matthew awaited his eternity.
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First chapter posted tomorrow. Don't judge too much until then.
Anselm
