Star Haven: A fantasy AAR using Deuslovult

[Xtiaan72]

STAR HAVEN: A fantasy AAR using Deus Lo Vult




PROLOUGE: THE TIME OF BLOOD AND WOE



It was across the sea to the west, in the darkness of the northern fastness, where their people were first born. Long ago, before myths first became legends and the legends became men. Before the old gods had given way to the new and a whole new world was discovered far across the ocean in the east.

They were tough people, it had to be so in the unforgiving land called Thorn. First, they were fishermen who braved the frozen sea to hunt the gargantuan creatures that stalked the deep. It was from these leviathans that their tribe took their name, The Levanthians. They farmed when they could, if the frozen ground allowed it. But being a fisherman or a farmer was a perilous trade in such a treacherous place. Their food was just as likely to be taken by the war-like people in the next valley as it was to be eaten by their own children. It was in that desolate place that they learned about iron and how to use it to defend themselves. But iron was not enough. Thorn grew crowded and the harvests ever poorer. With so many people, The leviathans of the sea grew scarce and the Levanthians grew weary of their plight.

So being the people that they were they turned to the sea for their salvation, making sturdy boats to travel long distances. The Levanthians became the world's first great ocean travellers and traders to boot. All of Pangherra marvelled at the ingenuity of their vessels and the strange goods they bore; Leviathan oil and walrus ivory, the furs and pelts of exotic northern beasts, Amber and the finest timbers yet known to the world. And the world took notice of the men that manned them as well. Taller and stronger than most. Fair of hair and stout of heart and usually with eyes of blue.

The Levanthians yearned to explore and in time they came upon many lands and nations. Chief among them were Avryle, Wassalia, Gorn, and Celebren. Wassalia and Gorn shared an island many days journey west over the sea. Celeborn was a smaller island even further west. These were mostly cold wild places not unlike Thorn but for the strange new faith that was found there and the fact that those islands weren't mobbed with starving thralls. But Avryle was different. In Avryle, the Levanthians found something they had never seen before... an ancient and powerful civilization.

There is an old Thornian legend about the first Lavanthian that ventured to Avryle. It says he was a man named Olog, a lowly sea merchant by trade. He was exploring up the Veon River in one of the shallow drafted boats The Levanthians were known for. He was looking for furs or small villages to trade his stock of Amber with when he came upon the ancient city of Avry. He marvelled at the splendor of the city and a thousand things he had never seen before; books and exotic spices, silk and steel, diamonds and marvelously crafted objects of gold. And when he traded his wares for a few of these things and brought them back to his people, he was surprised to find that these objects had made him the richest and most important man of his jarll.

News of his discovery spread like wildfire through Thorn and soon Thornian vessels were common place off the coasts of Avryle and Wassalia and Celeborn. And noone in any of those lands believed they had anything to fear from their backward neighbors from the north. Other men in Thorn became rich like Olog and they gathered around them hosts of men and ships and they looked with greed and envy upon their wealthy, diminutive neighbors to the south. The raids from Thorn began.

They would come in the night attacking, isolated villages and Temples of the Light, in groups of a hundred or less. They would take everything they could carry and kill anyone who tried to stop them, disappearing on their swift boats before the sun even rose. All the nations that bordered the Orcan Sea were powerless against the marauders. The attacks grew more vicious and came with more frequency when the Thornians realized this. Olog became a powerful warlord with hundreds of ships. His vessels were larger and faster than his adversaries. His warriors, bigger and stronger.

For two hundred years the attacks went on and for the other nations bordering The Orcan Sea it became known as The Time of Blood and Woe. In time an ancestor of Olog, Elohn, even sacked Avry itself forcing the king to flee. Elohn sat on the throne of Avry and thought of all that had come to pass. And he wept. For there was nothing left to plunder, nothing left to steal.....Nothing left to live for.

Some Thornian Jarlls took to their boats in search of new conquests and they were never heard from again. Others traded their swords for plow-shares and began mingling with the populations of the other lands and their passions for the sea and adventure slowly melted away.

And then there was Elohn, who could sit on the throne of Avryle if he wanted to but knew in his heart he would never be a king. Avryle was vast and their army massive and The Levanthians could not hope to hold Avry against them. To return to Thorn held no more promise for the Levanthians. Powerful warlords waged war there amongst themselves for control of all of Thorn, trading their lives for small stretches of frozen, unproductive soil.

So it came to pass that Charles, King of the Avryle, came north with a great host of men to reclaim his city and with him was an Arch- Guardian of the Divine Light of Sanctuary, one of most powerful religious figures in all of Pangherra. And before the Levanthians could flee in their ships, The Arch-Guardian Diehego, came to Elohn. He told Elohn that the King of Avryle had agreed to grant the Levanthians land in exchange for protection against their brethren. This, The Arch-Guardian could arrange if Elohn and his people would only do what most of Pangherra had already done, take up The Divine Light as their new religion.

Elohn felt the power of the Guardian and accepted the offer. He became the first Duke of Levant and the Levanthians protected Avryle from the pirates of Thorn. It was thus how The Time of Blood and Woe came to an end.

[Xtiaan72]

Star Haven Castle

Star Haven

Lord Robert stood on the balcony of the highest tower. It was his favorite place. If only it could be all his but that would never be the fate of a second son, even if his father had declared himself a king. When his great, great grandfather had built the castle he had named it Star Haven because on a cloudless night you could see every star in the sky.
"A night just like tonight."
"Hmmmmmmmm (Cough)..... What was that my lord?"

"Oh, nothing I suppose I'm day-dreaming again Lawrence....I didn't hear you come in..."

Lawrence Biddel joined Sir Robert on the balcony....

"Day dreaming in the evening....I wouldn't go making a habit of that sir...It will screw up your schedule, you won't have any time for your whoring!"...

They both had a laugh, after all, the two young men were best friends. Biddel was in the service of Robert's father. Officially his title was Ambassador to Avryle. The only problem was Avryle would not receive him as such because they would not recognize Duke William as 'The King of Levanthia'. Hell, they wouldn't even recognize him as the 'Duke of Levant' anymore unless the duke agreed to come to Avry and renew his pledge of loyalty to the Crown of Avryle. This the Duke had refused to do.

This left Lawrence and William in a bit of a pickle as Star Haven Castle was in the Duchy of Levant, which was barely 60 miles east of Avry, the capitol of Avryle!

Robert turned to face Lawrence and squeezed his shoulders. "You don't think they would send troops here...to Levant?"

"Well I suppose they might if they are anything like you Levanthians, me lord!"

This was a choice dig since Lawrence's mother was Wassalian...The people his father, Duke William had just conquered... Some people in Duke William's court thought it unseemly to have someone with Wassalian blood representing Levant as a diplomat. Duke William on the other hand thought it wise to let all his subjects play a part in his fledgling realm.

Robert smiled, "let's hope they are not. Or we will need all the Light of The Divine Sanctuary to protect us.....and the old gods
of Thorn as well..."


A shutter went through Lawrence at the mention of Thorn...It was easy to forget that the ancestors of the civilized Levanthians were descendants of pirates and marauders who had plagued the shores of Wassalia and Arvyle for two hundred years.

"You are a blasphemous wretch, Lord Robert".'Who will protect YOU when the demons come if not 'The Guardians of the Light'?

Robert sighed. "I'm sorry...Lawrence...I forget how superstitous you Wassalians can get sometimes. I will try to remember my tongue."

"Thank you Sire", Lawrence said, suddenly sounding very professional. I will set out for Avry in the morning and try to talk some sense into the arrogant fellows." "let us hope I am successful"...

"Well let's see you off properly then. How bout some roasted pheasant and a bit of wine?"

"I would be honoured, that is an offer I can't refuse."

[Xtiaan72]

Maiden's Harbor circa 127 A.C.L

Maiden's Harbor


The Duke's manor was one of the only stone buildings in the new settlement at Maiden's Harbor. The town was named for the place it was built. The Duke's ships has taken anchor there when The Duchy of Levant had invaded Wassalia, thirty years before.

"Stand up strait, Harry....If you want to be a knight someday you must carry yourself with the posture of a lord".

The Duke ( or King if you asked him) inwardly smiled as he looked upon his precocious son who had recently taken up the position of page at his court. "If you stand up properly, the Wassalian wildmen will fear your very presence before you even have to use your sword." "Now Hurry along son, down to Maiden's Point, and see if any letters have arrived by ship from your brother Robert in Levant."

Duke William paced back and forth in his study pausing every so often to glance at the maps strewn across his desk. They were the plans for a road to Free Hold, the fortress that protected his northern border. There was a knock upon his door. "Come in, come in."

"Ahhh. Thank you my grace. I have a bit of news." A tall man with piercing blue eyes rushed into the room. There was no mistaking the Thornian blood in that one. Aston, a peaceful Beacon of the White Light of Sanctuary.

"Aston....Well out with it. I'm quite busy here as you can see."

"I have been selected by The Guardians of the Divine Sanctuary to join The Circle of the Inner Sanctum." "I must travel all the way to Holy Fridda to be confirmed."

"Whew...That is a bit of news.....I stand before no less than a Guardian of Light"." But don't put any airs on with me, It will be the end of days before I start calling you sir.""I suppose that means I wont be seeing you for a while?"

"That is true my grace, I leave by boat at first light. And then my years of tribulation will begin. I will not be back for many years if I survive at all."

"Who will protect me when the demons come?" The Duke replied whimsically. Beacons of Sanctuary were notoriously superstitious and believed in demons and such. It was hard for Levanthians to understand as they had taken up the faith as a matter of convenience rather than because they actually paid much mind to it. 'You can take the man out of Thorn but you can't take Thorn out of the man', went the old Avrylian proverb. " You must pick a new priest for me from amongst your flock. I can't run this kingdom without one,, my Wassalian serfs will be up in arms and at my throat in no time."

"As you wish sire, I remain your humble servant. I will send word from my travels. My trials will take me far and wide. I will send reports back to you with news you may find valuable from the rest of Pangherra.

"Good luck on your journeys. May the Light of Sanctuary be with you as you face your years of trials....May you return to me as an Arch Lord of The Inner Sanctum." Fat chance of that, the duke thought, but he knew how to be polite when he had to be....

[Xtiaan72]

The Court of Avry


Avry



Levanthians had always marvelled at the splendor of Avryle and the capitol Avry in particular. Lawrence Biddel was no different.

The city meandered down both banks of the River Veon, sprawling out in every direction. A wonder of marble and stone, the city had no equal in all of Northern Pangherra. The streets bustled with tradesmen and their wares. A dozen languages could be heard all at once. Lawrence had been there twice before but still found the sights, the sounds, the smells and the unbelievably large throngs of people in the capitol overwhelming.

He approached the imperial palace, A building that dated back to the Valarian Empire. It was over 700 years old, and countless additions had been made over the years. It was an imposing structure by any standard but to a young diplomat for an obstinate duke, it was close to terrifying.

Lawrence took a few deep breaths before braving the countless marble stairs at the entrance. He tried to remember all the things his tutor, A Beacon of the Divine Sanctuary, had taught him about the customs at The Court of Avryle. Avrylian billmen flanked the gates with their staves crossed to bar the way.A chamberlain stood before the guards with a large scroll.

"Halt, Gentleman state your business at the court of Avryle".

The chamberlain spoke in Classic Valarian, The Tongue of Kings and the Temples of The Divine Sanctuary. Lawrence responded in
kind.

" Sir Lawrence Biddel, here by prior arrangemnet, representing King William, The First. Duke of The Avrylian province of Levant and conqueror of Southern Wassalia." Lawrence though he was was dealing with his nerves alright but he couldn't be certain. His palms were sweating.

" Don't call that man a king here, boy..."."Here.... he is just the Duke of Levant....and a Duke that is out of favour with King Phillipe to boot."

Maybe I'm not off to such a good start after all, Lawrence thought.....

" If it pleases the kind Sir, I will refer to my liege as the Duke of Levant for the purposes of these deliberations."

The chamberlain frowned and gave Lawrence a long hard look.

"You've been here before, I recognize your face. I think he actually wants to see you this time."" I will pencil you in for ten after two.....Just don't call the duke, King William, in the presence of our king.....Or it'll be my hide for admitting you" "Be .... Hmmmmmmm... diplomatic about this whole misunderstanding...ok?" "Do you hear me, boy?"

"Oh yes....Loud and clear...Diplomatic....Well of course I will be, I'm a diplomat by trade ( Laughing )".

Lawrence's whole right hand began to shake so badly that he had to slap it down against his hip just to calm it. He had just been granted an audience with the King of Avryle. Perhaps his old tutor Beacon Ashton had been right....Maybe he just wasn't cut out for such a demanding profession.

The billmen uncrossed their staves and Lawrence slowly walked into the massive columned foyer of the palace. As he passed the chamberlain, the man put his hand on Lawrence's shoulder.

" Don't worry boy...You'll do fine."

'Why is everyone always putting their hands on my shoulder?'...Lawrence thought, as he walked into the most important meeting of his young life.

[Xtiaan72]

Duke William's Manor

Maiden's Harbor

It had been a long day in the Levanthian court, as they all were. Duke William was adamant about hearing the petitions of all his subjects that requested one. He was not above presiding over even a small dispute between peasants over the ownership of a cow. Prince Henry sat with the scribe learning how to take meticulous records of the daily proceedings. His chamberlain in chief, Christopher of Hendon was going over the last few remaining items on the docket.


" Let's whip through these last petitions." The Duke decreed, " I am just about ready for my supper". " Harry.....Sit up strait." Don't let me catch you slouching or I'll take my riding crop to you again."


" I'm sorry father....It won't happen again." Prince Harry replied quite scared. The chamberlain cleared his throat. " Next on the docket......The Ambassador of Gorn."

" No!No!No!....Not him.......Make him wait." The duke had kept the man waiting all day. Who's after him?"

" Next on the docket......Beacon Morcar of Maiden's Harbor."

" Yes....I need to talk to that boy....Send him in." The Duke commanded.


A very slight youth of no more that eighteen nervously entered the room. 'This little welp is the best man Beacon Ashton could come up with', the duke thought but he kept it to himself.

" My liege, I came as soon as I received your summons..It is an honour to finally...


The Duke cut him off. "Enough with the pleasantries, I don't have all day you know." "Beacon Morcar, you are here because I have not heard a word from Beacon Ashton and he promised that he would stay in touch."" He had the ill sense to leave you in charge of his affairs and that makes my concerns, your concerns."

"You do realize that Beacon Ashton is still in my service, Don't you Morcar?"

" Yes, my liege." Morcar answered, Growing quite apprehensive...He didn't quite know where this conversation was going but he didn't like the sound of it.

" And you realize that Ashton is a very important man to me?" "A strange and silly man but an important man none the less."" How many Beacons of Lavathia have been asked to join The Inner Circle of Divine Sanctuary ....Morcar?"

" Only Beacon Ashton but.."

" Silence!!!!" The Duke shouted..." And how many more Levanthians are likely to rise to the circle if something should happen to Beacon Ashton?"

" Not very many..." Morcar replied.

" Good! Good! The boy might actually may have some sense!" "That's why I'm sending you......" The Duke paused and pointed a large Lavinthian finger at Morcar. A mischievous smile crossed his face..." " to go find him and bring him back to me at once!"

Morcar was mortified...Beacon Ashton was on his way to Holy Fridda....That was over two thousand miles away! He could be anywhere!

" That is all, you can go. Your ship leaves tomorrow!" quipped the Duke.

"Next!"......"On the docket. Tosig Arthure of Free Hold!"

A bailiff escorted the bewildered Morcar out of the chamber. A handsome young man of medium build was then escorted in.

" Tosig....This is your lucky day."" I hear your father was a Wassalian Lord before all this invasion business...Is that true?"

" Yes. My liege it is. He was the Earl of Land's End."

" And I hear you've been serving with distinction in the Lavanthian Militia."" Why would a man like you serve with us?"

" I believe my father would approve." "The Wassalians in your service are being treated fairly." " What would be my alternative?"" To consort with Wassalian Rabble in the mountains?" Or perhaps enter the service of the Gornian Tyrant for the privilege of two wooden spoonfuls of gruel a day?""It is my privilege to serve you my liege. It is about time we had a law and order man around here."

" Your words are admirable young Tosig....perhaps even sincere."" If you truly believe what you say than you wouldn't have a problem with being promoted to captain?"" There are two condition to my offer. I want you to raise companies of Wassalian Militia and I want you to teach my men how to make and use those lovely Wessalian Bows of yours." Are you adverse to these conditions, Tosig Arthure?"

" There are many Wassalian's that already serve and there are many others who would if asked."" My liege, I must commend you for your foresight...If given fair opportunity there are many Wassalians that would take Lavanthia as their own."

" That's what I had in mind...I'm glad that we understand each other Captain Arthure!" You are to report directly to Prince Rufus in Free Hold. You will take orders from noone else, my person excluded." See the chamberlain after court ajourns, He will provide you with the funds you need to begin gathering your companies. That is all Captain Arthure, Good day!"

" Thank you, my liege."" I will set off for Free Hold in the morning". Captain Tosig bowed and quickly walked out of the court. A man with a mission.

"LAST!!!!! On the docket"......"The ambassador of Gorn, The honorable De'vin Kam'bell.

A man as tall as a Thornian slowly stepped into the chamber. He had a full head of red flowing hair down to his shoulders and bright green eyes. He was wearing a kilt. "You have kept me waiting all day...I wonder if you would do the same to an ambassador from Avryle?"

" I've been keeping court in these chambers for nearly twenty years waiting for an ambassador from your people and you are going to lose your patience after waiting six hours?"

" We weren't sure if you were here to stay....It appears that you are."

" Yes...Mr Kam'Bell we are here to stay alright...Are you?"

" We would like to establish trade with Levanthia...Does this displease you?"

" You mean you would like to send some people into our lands to keep an eye on us..Well I can agree to that......But only if you agree to accept an Lavanthian ambassador in Gorn." "Does that displease you?"

The Gornian ambassador frowned and pondered his words for a moment." That is......agreeable."

" There it is then, Your merchants will be admitted."

" Christopher! Draw up the paperwork and pack your bags, you are my newly appointed ambassador to Gorn."

The eyes of the Duke's chamberlain widened with surprise." SIRE!!!!"." YOU must be joking!"

" You should be pleased Christopher, It's a promotion. Take this man out for supper and accompany him back to Gorn in the morning.""And find a good man to replace you while your at it!"" Off with you both, it's time for my supper."" Harry. With me, chop, chop!"" Good evening to you both!" The Duke stalked out of the chamber with Prince Harry in toe and left the two men standing there. Christopher's mouth was wide open in shock.

The huge Gornian turned to him..."How bout that supper.........Christopher?"

[Xtiaan72]

The Throne of Avryle


Avry

Lawrence walked down the long columned corridor with as much confidence as he could exude, passing several more sets of billmen as he went. The blue and yellow banners of the Avryle hung between the columns and the arched ceiling along the way. The doors to the audience chamber swung open as he approached ( obviously a trick design for dramatic effect ).He almost laughed aloud when it happened, thinking of his own liege, William, who would never put on aires so pretentious.

Standing in the doorway was Gerard Roussou, The Duke of Avry.

" Come in, Sir Lawrence Biddel, is it?"" We've been expecting you."
Lawrence answered in the best Valarian he could muster.

"It is my great honour to be of service to his highness and my lord, Duke William"." I am hopeful that we can work out an arrangement that will pleasing to both parties".


" It may be you are right, young Lawrence...You've caught him in a good mood."

Lawrence approached the throne in the ornate chamber and went down to one knee."

" You may rise, Sir Lawrence."

It was the custom in the Avrylian Court that those that were granted an audience were not permitted to speak directly to or even to look directly in the eyes of The King of Avryle. Still Lawrence could see he was small in stature by Lavanthian or Thornian standards. The king was of old noble blood, a mix of Valarian and ancient Celebrian most likely. He had sharp, keen wide eyes and angular features. He wore the most expensive silks that he could find from the far west.

When the formalities were over, the king whispered into Duke Roussou's ear and Lawrence was lead into an alcove off the main audience chamber.

"Sir Biddel it just so happens that we have a Princess in need of wedding and we hear that Levanthia has a prince in need of bedding!"

A joke, Lawrence thought and a bad one at that. The last thing he had expected in the Avrylian court. The negotiations began in earnest. Duke Roussou moving back and forth between the alcove and the throne room relaying information to and from the king.

In the end the agreement was thus. If Duke William agreed to marry his son Rufus to King Phillipe's daughter Constance, then the king would formally recognize the realm of Levanthia. If and only if, Duke William agreed to pass his dukedom on to one of his sons immediately upon the consummation of the wedding vows. Furthermore the heir to the Duchy of Levant could not be in direct line to the throne of Levanthia and he must swear fealty to the Crown of Avryle.

The agreement was made in this way so Levanthia would not retain any formal claim to the Duchy of Levant but would still receive part of it's income. And the inheritor of Levant would be subject to the laws and customs of Avryle not an upstart foreign king across the Orcan Sea. In any event, the end result of the deliberations was that Lawrence's best friend Robert, William's second son, would be the new Duke of Levant!

Lawrence wished he could be there to see Lord Robert's face when he got the news. Whatever outcome he had been hoping for Lawrence could not have predicted that events would unfold like this! King William would get his crown, Prince Rufus would gain the fairest, most renowned princess that Avryle had ever produced and Lord Robert would be the new Duke of Levant. The royal family of Lavanthia's wildest dreams had come true and Lawrence, the young son of a Levanthian Knight and a Wassalian peasant girl, was the architect. His name would be shouted across the breadth of Levanthia!

[Xtiaan72]

Free Hold Castle

Free Hold


That the ancient blood of Valaria still coursed through their veins there was no doubt. Diminutive, broad and well muscled. It was said that if you had enough Valarian blood in you, you could live to be a hundred years young. Ancient noble blood it was....And to think they had fallen so far during The Years of Blood and Woe was nothing short of unbelievable. They were Wassalians and that meant they were just common serfs in the Kingdom Of Levanthia. Levanthia was itself just an upstart kingdom barely 30 years old, carved our of the southwestern corner of the island of Wassal by his father. If fact, Prince Rufus had been the first in his family to be born in the new kingdom.

Looming in the distance to the north was the fortress called Free Hold, The kingdom's last defence against invasion from the north. Prince Rufus watched the serfs work on building The King's Road. His father's road. It was a bone of contention among other nations whether King William was a king or just the Duke of Levant. But in Levanthia itself, he was undeniably king.

The Wessalians had to be watched carefully. They were willful and rebellious as anyone newly conquered would be. Prince Rufus knew that to the east and to the north, Wassalia lived on in spirit if not truly as a kingdom. Levanthia was primitive by Avrylian standards ...Communications were poor and there was little if any direct contact with the outside world. The King's authority did not stretch far and there was always a chance that marauders would sweep across their borders....The Wassalians were troublesome but they weren't even the biggest threat facing the fledgling kingdom.

Far to the north, hewn out of the mountains and the rocky shores of the island lay the kingdom of Gorn. Gornians were known for their ferocity in battle and their barbarous ways. Many of them still held on to the old ways ....The old gods. It was not by accident that even at it's height, the ancient Valarian Empire which had spanned half of Pangherra, was unable to subdue them. And in their hearts the Gornians believed that the whole island rightfully belonged to them.

"Pssssstt......Over here." One of the serfs dropped his shovel and motioned to the Prince, trying to catch his eye discreetly. It took a moment for Rufus to see through the disguise. It was a spy that he employed from time to time, Rollert.

Rufus grabbed him by the scruff of his neck roughly and began to chastise him. But under his breath he whispered..." Do you have any news for me, Rollert."


"Wassalian rebels are camped in the forest, south of Yorn, near the border. Most likely you could handle them with just your knights if you had a mind to."

Yorn was a settlement in the wild mid-lands of the island mostly inhabited by Wassalian refugees who had fled the invasion of the south.

" And what of Gorn...?

" Quiet, my lord.....for now....but I best be getting back to Yorn to see if anything has changed."

If only we had the funds to employ more men like Robert, Rufus thought, Levanthia would be a safer place.

"Now hit me my liege....Strike me hard. You must not blow my cover."

" You insolent wretch.....You spineless cockroach in a pile of horse dung."." Get back to work....I want no more slagging off." Rufus publicly humiliated Robert and on the sly slipped some coin into his pockets.

" I'm sorry, my lord it won't happen again." Rollert picked up the shovel and began working again. Just then a rider from the south rode into the work camp on a steaming charger.

" Whooooaaa!"" Easy boy." The man spoke to his horse and vaulted from the saddle. "I am Captain Tosig Arthure, raised to my new rank by your father three days ago in Maiden's Head." "I bear a message for your eyes only, Prince Rufus."

" Well give it here then, Tosig." The Prince couldn't hide his surprise at the contents." Tie me to knitting chair, captain!""I'm to be married!"


Prince Rufus,

You are to proceed to Maiden's Harbor with the utmost haste. There you will join me on the cog, The Dutchess Matilda, bound for Avryle where you are to be married to Princess Constance in a fortnight. In addition, I have authorized Captain Tosig to begin raising a Wessalian militia for use by The Lavanthian Army. Please explain the gravity of his situation to him before you depart Free Hold.

Your Loving Father,

King William of Levanthia


" Congratulations, My Lord!" Tosig said.

" I must depart immediately. My father mentioned your new militia in his letter. I want you to raise a few companies at once and make for the Northern Border. There are some Wassalian rabble milling about up there. You only have the authority to raise two hundred men for now. If all goes well then we will talk about raising more when I get back. Keep an eye on things while I am away..." The Prince began to walk away but suddenly turned and looked back. " And Tosig!!!!"


" Yes, my lord?"

" You do realize who will be held responsible if anything goes wrong with this new militia?"

Tosig didn't respond for a few seconds as if he had just realized who that person was. " That would be me, sir."

" Aye....You, Tosig....So I suggest you pick your men carefully."

[Xtiaan72]

The Ladies of Avry

Avry


"What does she look like...for the sake of the light!!!" Rufus shouted. It was the custom of the Avrylian Nobility that all marriages were arranged and that the couple to be married were not even allowed to meet until the ceremony. The situation was driving the duke's son mad with anxiety and concern.
" I assure you that she is the loveliest woman in all of Avryle". Lawrence Biddel answered as calmly as he could.

" As if that makes me feel better...We all know your taste in women, Lawrence.....She's a bloody Gorgon, isn't she. Your marrying me to an Avrylian Gorgon." Prince Rufus paced back and forth in the lavish quarters the Crown of Avryle had provide him for the run-up to the wedding. In fact, King Phillippe had set aside a whole wing of the palace for the Duke of Levant and his family.

" Well you won't have long to find out now, will you? Fifteen minutes, my Prince....The procession will begin in fifteen minutes." "Surely you can keep yourself together for that long...Can't you?"

Prince Rufus began pacing once more, it wasn't long before he began ranting again. It had been three days of this. The longest three days of Lawrence Biddel's life. Thank the light it will be over in a few hours, he thought. It was another ten torturous minutes when a knock came at the door. It was Duke William with the rest of his family in toe. Rufus joined them in the hallway and took his place in the procession. First went Duke William and his wife Matilda, the Dutchess of Levant. Then came Rufus himself followed by his lovely sister Cecilia. Closely following them were Rufus' brothers, Robert and the young Harry.

" Shall we get on with it Rufus?....It is time." The Duke put his arms around his son.

" Oh, my Rufus, I have never been more proud!" Matilda chimed in unable to keep herself from pinching Rufus' cheeks.

" Mother, cut that out....I'm not a child, please!"

" You will always be my little Roofy....Always..." And then she started with the tears.


The procession wound it's way through Avryle towards the center of the city. The streets were mobbed with excited spectators. Constance, his bride, was beloved by her people. A young woman known for her kindness and generosity to the poor. She was also renowned throughout Avryle for her more Aesthetic merits. The royal line of Levant were carried in ornate, horse drawn carriages and groups of musicians and royal retainers from both lands joined the procession as it moved along. Avrylian Billmen lined the road and held the mobs back as best they could. Great showers of rose petals were being thrown from windows and cascaded in flurries all along the path of the parade.

Finally, they reached the Cathedral of Light in the center of Avryle, an ornate and ancient place of worship that was one of the wonders of Northern Pangherra. The inside was even more incredible. Masterworks of tromp loi depicting the trials of famous Guardians of the Light covered the walls. Priceless Relics of the Light each had their own place in little alcoves beneath windows of patch worked stained glass. The Levanthians and their retainers and important knights were on the left side of the vaulted chamber, The Avrylians on the right.

The mood was jubilant on the Levanthians side but something was amiss on the Arylian side. The mood change was unmistakable after witnessing the joyous scene in the city itself. Lawrence Biddel noticed it immediately, There were many Arylian Nobles that were not happy that the Jewel of Avryle ( As Constance was sometimes called) was being wedded into a family that only three generations before had been pirates. Pirates that had plagued Avryle, even sacking the city itself.

It had been Rufus' great, grandfather Elohn who had done the deed and these were the kinds of things Arylians tended not to forget. Elohn was one of the great sea-faring lords of Thorn. A mountain of a man that it is said was almost seven feet tall and freakishly strong even by Thornian standards. His life was the stuff of legends. A terror of the sea for most of his life, Elohn had stolen or destroyed everything in his path for the better part of sixty years. But something had changed in him after the sacking of Avryle. The Avrylian King Charles had fled the city and Elohn had sat on the king's thrown in the ancient palace with his head in his hands for three days.

He would take no food or water and his warriors could not rouse the distraught pirate lord no matter what they tried. What his men did not know was that Elohn was deep in depressed thought. His people needed a home....The violent lives they had led could not continue indefinetely. Much of the wealth of Northern Pangherra had already been pilfered by the Levantians and their Thornian brethren and what was left was not enough to sustain them all. And Returning to the lives their ancestors had led held no more promise. The great lords of Thorn had used their wealth to wage constant war upon each other and much of Thorn lay in ruins.

King Charles of Avryle marched from the south with a mighty host to retake his city but he heard from his spies of Elhon's
condition. In an effort to avoid further bloodshed and preserve his army for the many battles ahead, he asked his most accomplished priestof the light to parlay with Elohn. Diehego was an Arch-Guardian of the White Light Sanctuary, Prefect of the Inner Circle and one of the holiest men of his age. He came to Elohn and saw that what the king had learned was true, Elohn still sat on the thrown with his head in his hands.

" I can feel your pain Elohn and there is a way to right the wrongs you have done and heal the wounds in your heart."


Elohn could actually feel the power radiating from the Guardian. Elohn rose from his seat and walked down to face Diehego.


" YOU CAN FEEL MY PAIN!?!?!?", Elohn shouted. " Do you have any idea of the suffering that drove my people to do the things we have done?" " Our long years in the darkness with the cries of our starving wives and children!?!?". " Do you think us not men?!?!"Why did I scourge the seas if not to give my people a chance!""And now I see it was all in vain.""We have no home to return to and we have not the power to take a place of our own from another." Elohn shuddered in his rage and sorrow.

"Come to me Elohn, Let me lay my hands upon you and feel the power of The Divine Light of Sanctuary. Let it heal your wounds and together with the guidence of Santuary we will find the home that you seek."

Elohn, in his desperation, let Diehego lay his hands upon him and the power of Sanctuary filled his battle-scarred heart and in this way Elohn embraced the Light of Sanctuary. Diehego forbad Elahn and Charles from making war upon each other and with the help of Sanctuary they came to realize that they needed each other. Elohn needed land for his people to prosper and Charles, a powerful sea-lord to defend his coasts from Thorn. An alliance of convienience was established from that day forward and was just now, almost a hundred years later, being consumated in the persons of Rufus and Constance.

King Phillipe's son troubled Lawrence...He could see him whispering amongst his noble friends with a scowl of disdain on his face.
He had even choosen to wear his sword into the cathedral. An act no one else, not even Charles the Avrylian king, had dare to do.

Rufus took his place and the bride was finally led in. Her dress trailed trough half of the cathedral. Hour-glass figure was a thing of rare beauty. The Duchess of Levant sobbed quietly, It was all too much for her.

The Deacon of Avryle presided over the ceremony. The princess took her place next to Rufus.

Rufus whispered to her, " There she is...there's me wife...I wonder what she looks like?

" Sssshhhhh...Be silent" retorted the princess." This is Avryle and we have culture and customs here, we are not one of your northern barbarian kingdoms"" You can speak till your heart's content after the ceremony."

She is a bloody gorgon Rufus thought to himself. The rest of the ceremony was just a blur to the duke's son. Two hours of sanctimonious drivel if you asked him. Finally they got to the part he was waiting for when the King of Avryle lifted her vale. Rufus' jaw dropped. She was absolutely stunning with long blonde hair and high rosy cheeks; blue eyes and a full mouth that was begging to be kissed.

" And now you may kiss Constantine's hand." the deacon said.

'Hand' Rufus thought....'Just my luck'. And he kissed her hand...

" I now pronounce you Crown Prince and Princess of Levanthia..." Music began to rise and the King of Avryle took Constance by her arm and led her away.

' That was it.....Rufus couldn't believe it.....She's my wife and they just lead her away?'

The Avrylians left the cathedral first followed by the Levanthians and they may their way by procession through the hysterical throngs back to Avrylian palace. It was not long after that the reception began in the largest banquet hall in the palace. And all hell broke loose.

[Xtiaan72]

The Wedding War begins....128 A.C.L


Yorn

Captain Tosig Arthure was a complicated man. A Wessalian of noble birth, he was one of the many Wassalians who had joined the Levanthian army. His father had actually fought at the battle where the last King of Wassalia had been defeated and slain by Duke William. Never the less, times had changed for the better in Southern Wassalia since the coming of the Levanthians. Taxes were low but more efficient and if anything the Levanthian Nobles treated the peasants better than the old Wessalian regime. To top it off, Duke William was pouring his massive resources into large public works projects that benefited commoner and noble alike. All and all, it was a status que he believed was worth fighting for. He wasn't the only one. Behind him kneeling and concealing themselves in the woods were two hundred other Wassalians who felt the same way. And they were under his command.

He scanned the woods ahead of him and could see movement. Then in the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a white flag.


"Captain, they want to parlay...." Sargent Martin shouted to Tosig.


"Send up the flag...I will hear what they have to say." answered the Captain. The uneasy standoff had lasted for weeks. Small groups of Wassalians had been sneaking across the Northern and Eastern borders of Lavanthia and merging into larger companies. It was Captain Tosig's job to patrol the border... not stop an entire army. Duke William and almost all of the Lavanthian nobility were in Avryle for the wedding of Prince Rufus and Princess Constance of Avryle, leaving Lavanthia bereft of any true leadership or anyone with even the authority to call a general muster.

A group of Wassalians approached on foot led by a man riding a small highland pony. 'Is that a Valarian helmet he is wearing?' ' Good light it is!' 'That thing must be 500 years old and it looks every bit of it.' Captain Tosig found himself fairly amused.

" I am Wat of The Cairn...How is it that two hundred Wassalians have found themselves in the service of our invaders?"

He knows our numbers.....This will not end well, Tosig thought to himself. " And what, pray tell me, is our alternative...To throw in with you lot?" "Trade this fine helmet for that pile of tin on your head." "Trade twenty pound a year and three square a day to freeze my bollocks off in the eastern mountains like a billy goat. I think not.."

" You are a traitor to the bone, I see. Well, that won't be your biggest fault in an hour or two. You'll be a decaying chunk of carrion meat then. I will serve you to the buzzards raw!"

"I know I can't beat you, is it General Wat? But I can slow you down. We may not be many but we are better trained than you lot. You will find we are harder to kill than you think. I reckon that by the time you get by us about two hundred Lavanthian Knights will be coming over those hills behind us , with an army in toe, to chase you back to the billy goats where you belong ..... Mind you, that's if you get lucky ...Really lucky." Tosig paused and gave Wat his hardest look. "Now, back to your lines before I brain you right here."

" So the carrion birds will feast by morning. I'll have your head myself...Look for me...cause I'll be a looking for you."

With that the parlay ended. Almost immediately a horn was sounded and companies of Wassalian rebels began creeping towards them through the forest. "Companies!!!! Prepare to receive arrows. Get those shields up boys!" "Sargent Martin......Spread out those bowmen. " Spearmen form up.....Nice and thin, three ranks deep....Prepare to receive charge." " Bowmen set arrows aflame..""This forest is like a tinder box let's see if we can't make things a little hotter for these ruffians!"

Captain Tosig smiled to himself when he thought of the Leviathan Oil they had spread liberally all over the forest in front of them. 'This wood will be a raging inferno before the rebels even reached our lines' , thought Tosig. ' If a few of them survive, we'll prepare another cook-out for them over the next hill.' The War of the Wedding had begun.


Tosig sets the forest alight


Tosig sounds the retreat," COMPANIES FALL BACK....!!!!"


The forests of Yorn in flames!!!!

[Xtiaan72]

Avrylian Banquet

Avry

The reception for Prince Rufus and the Princess Constance was a disaster waiting to happen. First off, half the room was comprised of Lavanthian knights, big bruising men who were the decendants of Thornian Pirates. There is no need to go into detail about the kinds of things that happen when pirates have access to copious amounts of alcohol. Secondly, in other half of the banquet hall were seated the cream of the haughty Avrylian Nobility. Too many of them had heard the stories of family members lost to the raids of the Levanthian's ancestors. They were not the kind of people that thought pirates should be knights. Add to these circumstances, a Crown Prince of Avryle who thought his sister was marrying beneath her station and viola ......you've got a riot.


It all started out placid enough. Knights and their wives or consorts were announced by a chamberlain according to their rank and station and escorted to their proper seats. This continued until all were seated but the King of Avryle. King Phillipe was announced with great fan-fare, a great cheer went up in the room and the feasting began. Rufus found himself seated next to his new wife Constance, A vision in a full length lavander dress that show cased her considerable assets.


" I didn't mean to offend you during the ceremony. It's just that you weren't being proper." The princess said demurrly.


Rufus found it hard not to stutter in her presence....She was that gorgeous. " Oh....I understand perfectly....I was very nervous is all. All these plans came up quite suddenly and I didn't....I didn't really know how I was supposed to behave."

" You had nothing to worry about Rufus.".....The princess put her hand over Rufus' on the table. "You are quite handsome.....A little rough around the edges but that can be fixed with time and a little effort on my part."

Rufus' heart nearly leaped out of his chest. "I'll take that as a compliment from the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.."....' The light have me, I sound like a fool', Rufus thought.

" How lovely.....My prince is charming".....and a smile came across Constance's face that melted Rufus' heart like nothing else ever had.


Rufus and Constance were getting along swimmingly enough. Rufus' brother Robert, the soon to be Duke of Levant, was in a rougher boat all together. It had been his great honour and privilege to be seated next to Sebastian, The Crown Prince of Avryle. They didn't speak to each other at all until there was a little too much liquor in them.

" So you are to be the new Duke of Levant are you Robert?"" Funny, you don't look like a Duke of Avryle." " And your brother is going to take my sister Constance to that silly little island of yours." "Well, thank The Light for small blessings....If anyone can bring a little civility to you people it's that one."

" I don't quite get your meaning, my prince.""My family have been dukes in Avryle for a hundred years and I'm the spitting image of my father."

" Well, that's the problem, sir.....Your father has the look of a Thornian pirate if you ask me. He's six and a half feet tall, It's a wonder he even fit in his carriage this morning!"" Your going to tell me that you lot look like a bunch of civilized Avrylian Nobles?"

" Yes....Sir, that is exactly what I'm saying....And you are lucky to have us to keep the Thornians off your backs. I haven't seen any Avrylians tie a main sail in a blow in my lifetime."

The prince rose to his feet and slammed his hands on the table. " Well, if you think you look like a Avrylian Noble then how bout acting like one." The prince shouted and then he drew his sword.

" On your knees, Sir Robert....Pay homage to your liege-lord and I will raise you to the Duke of Levant right here and now!!!"

A Lavanthian knight rose " Don't you dare kneel to that whining poof...It's your father's right to raise you to Duke!"

Then a great shout arose from the Avrylian Nobles....." Who's calling the crown prince a poof?"

Absolute bedlam erupted. The king's expensive Valarian china and silverware became weapons of war as Lavanthian Knights and Avrylian Nobles had at each other like the days of old.

"BLESSED PROTECTOR OF LIGHT!!!" "This is a disaster......on my wedding day!!!" Constance stood up and then fainted in Rufus' arms. The Duchess of Levant promptly followed. Rufus' swept Constance off her feet and carried her out of the hall doing his best to avoid the melee. Laurence Biddel followed after them waving a just opened letter in his hand.

The King's House Guard was rushed into the room to break-up the melee and King Phillipe jumped up onto the banquet table. "ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! " He shouted at an incredible volume and the scuffling immediately siesed. " This is a travesty, you all should be ashamed!!!" If the people of Avryle and Lavanthia could see the ruckus in this room they would rise up and throw the lot of us out of power and onto our backsides!" "Those of you that are Avrylian have dishonoured the crown today and ruined the biggest day of my daughter's life. And you Lavanthians have done the same for Rufus, that is why we are all going to forget this incident ever happened."

Robert and Prince Sebastian bowed their heads in shame. The king continued...

" We can settle this matter this instant....With Duke Williams' acquiecense."

" Of course, You have my support....King Phillipe." The duke chimed in.

' By the power vested in me as the soveriegn of Avryle, I raise Lord Robert of Levant to the station of Duke of Levant and I recognize the current duke as the King of Levanthia !!! " " May we live in peace as neigbors and allies for all time."

A great shout went up among the Lavanthian Knights and some of the Avrylians as well.

" It's been a long day and I declare these festivities over. Go off to bed and get some rest. All of you, I insist."

And with no further incident, the hall quickly emptied of it's occupents until only King Charles and The Crown Prince Sebastian remained.

They both had sly smiles on their faces...

" You did well today, Sebastian...you made me proud." The king gloated.

" Yes, everything is going according to plan...They will never see it coming.." Prince Sebastian slapped his sword on his hand and admired the sharpness of the blade.

. . .

Rufus carried his princess to her chambers, Constance's Ladies in Waiting hurried behind them. He gently laid her on her bed. Soon she came back to her senses.

" My...Prince....Is everything all right...Was anyone hurt?"

" Everything is fine...There are a few bruised egos and broken bones but nothing that can't be swept under the rug."

Lawrence Biddle rushed into the room...He looked as if he'd seen a ghost.

" This just arrived by pigeon from Levant......" He handed the note to Rufus...

" It is war!!""Lawrence, gather the knights, we leave immediately for Levant. Make sure the fleet is prepared to make sail when we get there."

" War!!!, Rufus...What on Pangherra are you talking about?" Constance rose from her pillow.

" Wassalian renegades have used our extended absence to cross our border in force. The fighting has already begun."

" So your leaving...Tonight? But we've only just been married!" Constance began to cry." This is not the way it was supposed to be."" First a brawl at our reception and now this!"

" Do not fret, my lady.... I will whip them promptly and then send for you when it is safe."

" Don't go and get yourself killed."" I'm only nineteen, far too young to be a widow."

" I have a lot to live for, me lady...There is unfinished business between us."

" There is that, my husband...and it is worth waiting for."

" and fighting for as well."

" Take this, my prince, to remember what you fight for!" And she placed her lavender hankerchief in his breast pocket."

" I must take my leave, Constance.... but I will see you again, much sooner than you think!" He kissed her on her cheek and looked at her for a long moment then he turned and quickly walked out of the room.

Lawrence Biddel followed...'What a day it had been...Who would believe it if you told them' , he thought.

[Xtiaan72]

A Levanthian Cog

Star Haven


The harbor at Star Haven was a frenzy of activity. Knights and supplies were being loaded onto ships as quickly as possible. The Lavanthian nobility was still reeling from the news that war had erupted in their kingdom immediately after their departure for Avry.

" Keep it moving, fellows!." " We must set sail within the hour if we are to have any hope of relieving Captain Tosig!". King William's thoughts turned to his newly appointed Wassalian captain. The reports he had received did not bode well. At least three rebel forces were ravaging the countryside to the north and east of Maiden's Harbor and Tosig only had two hundred men between the rebels and Lavanthia's capital. The king wondered if it had been wise to raise a Wessalian militia at all. Could he trust them to fight against their own people? 'I mustn't not second guess myself', he thought, 'Lavanthia has no future at all, if Levanthians and Wessalians can't learn to work together.

Two large companies of Avrylian knights approached on whinning, breathless chargers, Prince Sebastian and Gerard Roussou, the Duke of Avry were among them. The two men calmly dismounted their horses and approached King William and the group of Lavanthian nobles that surrounded him. " We are here by order of King Phillipe," Gerard began. " We are here to inform The Duke of Levant that he is forbidden to accompany King William back to Levanthia.

" In addition", Prince Sebastian added with a smirk on his face, " Not one man at arms from the Duchy of Levant will leave these shores either!"

Duke Robert rushed forward as if to strike one of the Avrylians, "WHY WOULD THE KING GIVE SUCH AN ORDER!!!" " And to think the King had the gal to claim Levanthia as friends and allies at the reception..." " What a pile of piss!!!"

King William grabbed Robert by the scruff of his neck, with one of his massive arms, before the duke could move one more step forward. "Steady Robert!!!" ... " Calm yourself." " This is the game of kings and you are but newly a duke. " " I am your liege-lord no longer Robert, you must obey King Phillipe's order."

" That is not all King William, you must leave twelve of your best ships here in Levant." Continued Duke Gerard. I need not remind you that The Duke of Levant, is by custom and tradition, the Sea-Lord of Avryle. "You will not leave our shores defenceless because of a border scuffle in Levanthia." " Your other ships are forbidden to return to this harbor. If they do they will be immediately requisitioned into The Avrylian Fleet." " And you, Duke Robert are forbidden to set foot out of the Duchy of Levant for the duration of this conflict. " You are also forbidden to expand your military forces until further notice."

Duke Robert fumed, " You call me a Duke.... But you treat me like a prisoner in my own land!!"


"Silence Robert!" The king said. "Please, Prince Sebastian let me have a word with my son in private."

" Of course.." " Take all the time you need."

King William put his arm around his son, the duke, and they walked down to the end of the pier. " This is neither the time nor place, Robert, for fisticuffs with the Crown of Avryle. " Use your head, man. They are trying to provoke you." " Their fondest wish is that you will disobey for then they will have good cause to remove you." " Is it war with Avryle you want?" " Because at the moment that is a war we can't win."

Duke Robert's anger left him. " Of course you are right, father." " I mustn't play into their hands."

" you may find it hard to believe, Robert... But Rufus and I can win this war without you. " Have a little faith son. Three days ago you were a second son. Today you are The Duke of Levant." The Duke paused and looked directly into his son's eyes. " Always remember Robert, that I was a second son myself..... And now I am King of Levanthia."

The conversation ended and they walked back towards the Avrylian nobles. " We will abide by King Phillpe's directives."

" Please understand King William, this is not personal." Duke Gerard concluded. " The Crown of Avryle only seeks to avoid entanglement with the internal affairs of your realm." We will leave you now to your duties." We wish you light's speed and quick victory. " Good day." The Avrylians rode off.

[Xtiaan72]

Royal Line of Levanthia

Maiden's Harbor

King William's daughter stood at the prow of the cog, The wind blowing through her long, sandy blonde hair.

" You are a vision Cecilia." " The spitting image of your mother at your age."King William walked up the deck toward Cecilia." " Your Thornian blood still runs strong! All the other ladies aboard are below deck purging out their guts with sea -sickness."

She turned to face her father. " A shame for them.... What could be more lovely than the sun on your face and cool sea breeze in your hair."

" Tell me Cecilia, Why is it that you have not married? Suiter after suiter have called upon you, yet you have turned them all away."

" That's because the only suiters you approve are dirty old Lavanthian knights... Is it any wonder I've turned them down! Is it too much for a girl to want a handsome young prince? "

" What about Rufus' friend Lord Henry. He is a fine young knight and he's completely besodden with you?" " Why did you turn him away?"

" He's only twenty- five and his head is already as bald as a baby's bottom!"

" Well, It's unfortunate you feel that way, Cecilia, because once this Wedding War business is finished, you are to go to Henry and tell him that you have reconsidered his proposal. The two of you will be married before the year ends!"

" I WILL DO NO SUCH THING!" retorted the princess, completely taken aback.

" I am growing old Cecilia and none of my children have given me an heir. It is your duty as my daughter to provide me with them. I will hold grandchildren in my arms before I die or everything I have worked for my entire life will have been for not." " You are marrying Lord Henry and that is final!"

" But I don't love him father!"

" You should consider yourself lucky that he loves you. Most women don't even have that." " Do you think your mother and I loved each other when we were married?" We barely even knew each other...." " You will learn to love him..... or you won't. The King raised his voice. "Regardless, you will provide me with grandchildren as it is your duty to do so!"

" If that is all father... I'm feeling a bit sea sick after all. I think I will return below
deck."


The ships approached Maiden's Point, the entrance to Maiden's Harbor. The harbor itself still did not have any proper docking facilities so the long hard work of ferrying men, horses and supplies between the ships and the shore would take much more time than they could afford to lose.

" Prince Rufus, you are to gather the Lavanthian militia and proceed north." " Find Captain Tosig and disperse the rebels post haste." " You are to show them no mercy, cut them down to the last man if you must." " We must make this scum an example of the fate of those that rise up against us."

" Me...father. I thought surely that it would be you that led the men?" Rufus replied.

The King sighed and a thoughtful look came over his face. " I am not as young as I used to be, Rufus." " I'm afraid my days of leading men to battle every time the clarion calls are over." " Besides I will do more good here." " Someone must stay here to protect our women and children."" and someone must be able to come to your rescue if you make a mess of this." " I will raise additional levies and make sure your supply lines remain open."" And I will use my eyes and ears in the countryside to figure out where and when we must strike."

" As you wish, father. It is my great honour to lead The Army of Levanthia on your behalf. I will not let you down..."

" See that you don't or I will find a new general before you can bat an eyelash." " One more thing, Rufus. I want you to take your brother Harry with you."

" But father, he is just a boy of sixteen... "

" He is a Squire of Levanthia.... and as I recall you were a year younger when you fought in your first battle."

" That is true... But how am I supposed to win this war and make sure he doesn't get himself killed at the same time!

" If that is the hardest thing you ever have to do than you can consider yourself lucky." "In any event, it is his job to see that YOU don't get yourself killed. You may not have noticed but Harry has more talent with a sword than you or I will ever have." " You leave at once, find Captain Tosig... I will send you more instructions when they become relevant. " That is all son, light's speed!"