Suddenly Rodry heard something moving behind the bushes. The sound was so neat he thought it was a rabbit or some other small animal living in these forests near Emerald River. He went on thinking about his battles and as he was into this the sound became more and more noisy up to the moment it turned to be too annoying. Rodry somehow lost his basic instinct - this rabbit could produce him a nice tomorrow dinner but tiredness in him was so strong he couldn't even think about moving to get it. This realization after some moments finally forced him to lift up and he slowly strolled to the noisy bushes. He had never seen green rabbits and didn’t even know they existed. Now this one appeared, almost completely green besides it had a small pale red mark on its back. The symbol belonged to his clan: it was Fire-Tree.
There can't be just a green rabbit - thought Rodry, that Druid tricks! His clanmates told him before that there were magical half-human creatures who could turn into animals.
- What are you looking for, druid? - Rodry’s fingers were tight on the axe. - I won’t be hesitating to strike and I have no friends anymore. - Rordy said it with a bit of sadness but tried to remain strict so the druid couldn't make this emotion out.
The rabbit nodded to berserker with his tiny head then suddenly jumped away. "All mighty Razard, did I arrive here half a year ago to run green rabbits or to conquer these lands?" - Rodry smiled bitterly.
“He might know something about this place” - Rodry thought and meant to run for it trying to be fast enough not to mislead its greenish fur in the bright green forest. This chase wasn't long - nearly 2 minutes of rather fast walking than running was the most he was capable of.. It seemed that rabbit didn't want to run away but lead him further to show something. Trying to go as fast as he could the berserker stumbled upon the massive tree roots. He was lying as faint as could be a 5 year-old-boy after the same battles he went through with this heavy axe on his back pulling him down to the ground. The sounds of bushes didn't stop in his head though he and the green rabbit were far from them. The noise became terrifying and it somehow started to perplex with other sounds of war he was remembering of when he sat by the fire. Now he could see and listen to something that couldn’t be happening.
Thick trees were very bright at their tops and their thick shadows flattened below. The scent turned to something that reminded him of a roasting pork being cooked on fire. Rordy was so into this sound he couldn't explore the whole picture in just these several moments. His legs pushed something smooth, something that couldn't be a tree root. This was a hand of his clan warrior, some berseker's hand lying here on the thick grass close to the tree roots he stumbled upon.
Someone was roaring some meters behind the trees and Rodry couldn't see him.
- Ra-arh, castle pigs! Yo-..asfk ki las - sounds were too uneven to understand what he was crying. Clang of metal swords, roars and Castlecloud flute sounded far ahead of this fight. The flute sound was the same as he heard 2 months ago. He saw a bloody leg before him again, and somewhere in the fog ahead there were screams and sounds of metal clangs which appeared to be louder in his head. No doubt, this was The Battle for Castlecloud, the one in the forest 2 months ago. But it couldn't be happening, Rodry was sure there weren't enough berserkers for the mass fight. And Castlecloudians always use 1 unique song for every battle. No doubt, this was that one fight happened 2 months ago here. Did Rodry return to the past?
- Druid! Where are you?! - There wasn’t anyone around him, only the far top of Castlecloud’s castle roof answered him silently from the tree tops. It powerfully showed him he was unwelcomed guest here. The fog produced less and less influence on the battlefield and now it was completely clear for Rodry to see - this was the battle for Tavia, Castlecloud’s capital. The first and the last battle he and his comrades had lost.
Somehow he managed to lift his axe in a swift move and hit it upon the warrior he hadn't seen but somehow noticed.. This wasn’t another berserker and this fact was enough to attack in a second. The body crumpled on the ground and next there were only two swirling swords above him to be the last witnesses of his life. These two were another guardians who tried to attack Rodry in return just a moment after their friend was dead.
Once again Rodry raised up his axe and jumped back trying to block these blades. His wrists became dark red and their two swords were aimed at his hands. "What a strange tactics - to attack my arms" - he thought. And his answer was ready. One hit in the leg and the first white castleman knocked to the ground. Another one managed to pierce Rodry’s legs instead with his sword. Two fast moves with the axe, two steps back and three rapid steps forth to see 2 halvings of the attacking body of the second knight. No one was close to him and the berserker tilted upon a tree, then slid down to the ground. Rodry couldn't realize how he was so fast in this fighting after today's fight with 4 castlemen.
The fog didn't stop to spread its possessions around the trees on the battleground. There were 4 to 5 white knights attacking every one berserker and these knight's defensive line tactics were performed with a great deal of mastery, Rodry's brothers were falling on the ground one after another. He had never seen this before. Never.
There can't be just a green rabbit - thought Rodry, that Druid tricks! His clanmates told him before that there were magical half-human creatures who could turn into animals.
- What are you looking for, druid? - Rodry’s fingers were tight on the axe. - I won’t be hesitating to strike and I have no friends anymore. - Rordy said it with a bit of sadness but tried to remain strict so the druid couldn't make this emotion out.
The rabbit nodded to berserker with his tiny head then suddenly jumped away. "All mighty Razard, did I arrive here half a year ago to run green rabbits or to conquer these lands?" - Rodry smiled bitterly.
“He might know something about this place” - Rodry thought and meant to run for it trying to be fast enough not to mislead its greenish fur in the bright green forest. This chase wasn't long - nearly 2 minutes of rather fast walking than running was the most he was capable of.. It seemed that rabbit didn't want to run away but lead him further to show something. Trying to go as fast as he could the berserker stumbled upon the massive tree roots. He was lying as faint as could be a 5 year-old-boy after the same battles he went through with this heavy axe on his back pulling him down to the ground. The sounds of bushes didn't stop in his head though he and the green rabbit were far from them. The noise became terrifying and it somehow started to perplex with other sounds of war he was remembering of when he sat by the fire. Now he could see and listen to something that couldn’t be happening.
Thick trees were very bright at their tops and their thick shadows flattened below. The scent turned to something that reminded him of a roasting pork being cooked on fire. Rordy was so into this sound he couldn't explore the whole picture in just these several moments. His legs pushed something smooth, something that couldn't be a tree root. This was a hand of his clan warrior, some berseker's hand lying here on the thick grass close to the tree roots he stumbled upon.
Someone was roaring some meters behind the trees and Rodry couldn't see him.
- Ra-arh, castle pigs! Yo-..asfk ki las - sounds were too uneven to understand what he was crying. Clang of metal swords, roars and Castlecloud flute sounded far ahead of this fight. The flute sound was the same as he heard 2 months ago. He saw a bloody leg before him again, and somewhere in the fog ahead there were screams and sounds of metal clangs which appeared to be louder in his head. No doubt, this was The Battle for Castlecloud, the one in the forest 2 months ago. But it couldn't be happening, Rodry was sure there weren't enough berserkers for the mass fight. And Castlecloudians always use 1 unique song for every battle. No doubt, this was that one fight happened 2 months ago here. Did Rodry return to the past?
- Druid! Where are you?! - There wasn’t anyone around him, only the far top of Castlecloud’s castle roof answered him silently from the tree tops. It powerfully showed him he was unwelcomed guest here. The fog produced less and less influence on the battlefield and now it was completely clear for Rodry to see - this was the battle for Tavia, Castlecloud’s capital. The first and the last battle he and his comrades had lost.
Somehow he managed to lift his axe in a swift move and hit it upon the warrior he hadn't seen but somehow noticed.. This wasn’t another berserker and this fact was enough to attack in a second. The body crumpled on the ground and next there were only two swirling swords above him to be the last witnesses of his life. These two were another guardians who tried to attack Rodry in return just a moment after their friend was dead.
Once again Rodry raised up his axe and jumped back trying to block these blades. His wrists became dark red and their two swords were aimed at his hands. "What a strange tactics - to attack my arms" - he thought. And his answer was ready. One hit in the leg and the first white castleman knocked to the ground. Another one managed to pierce Rodry’s legs instead with his sword. Two fast moves with the axe, two steps back and three rapid steps forth to see 2 halvings of the attacking body of the second knight. No one was close to him and the berserker tilted upon a tree, then slid down to the ground. Rodry couldn't realize how he was so fast in this fighting after today's fight with 4 castlemen.
The fog didn't stop to spread its possessions around the trees on the battleground. There were 4 to 5 white knights attacking every one berserker and these knight's defensive line tactics were performed with a great deal of mastery, Rodry's brothers were falling on the ground one after another. He had never seen this before. Never.
Suddenly all the sounds stopped. All the knights were killing the last berserkers.
- NOW! - a piercing grim and noisy voice paralyzed the surroundings. - Some stupid bunch of tramps here on the ground, huh? Why did you come?.. Don’t answer, please.. I.. - he weared a great cloak which was glittering under the tired sun. The voice sounded so massive Rodry thought it could be heard around 3 cities from them as he went on talking in the forest - All of you, decent warriors, no doubt! But how long will it be? You have no army to conquer us. You have no food. Why be enemies if I can give you all that you want? Food, titles, lands, money - these things are no problem for me to give you. Be at my service and get all the things you had come for without any blood, you anim..! Yes, just surrender and live a happy life!
The fight suddenly stopped. Rodry couldn’t stand such an insult from his opponent. He and 5 other berserkers boomed at the lines of Castlecloud soldiers, however, they were fiercely stopped with blades. In fact, they were knocked out like small kittens.
- Don’t shoot! - The king roared again, exclaiming this first order to his knights. - Stop the battle! - all armored troops stopped moving. - This is the last time I speak with your interruption, berserkers. I am Zelad, the king of Castlecloud! And I speak only real things. 300 a week to every one of you who agree to stop fighting now and come at my side. I’m giving you time. Those who will come in a week, can get 200 a week salary. The rest will be tortured in these forests.”
There was much bigger insult and this time no one moved. Rodry and his comrades are connected to each other with an oath. They can’t be paid for battles and they can’t be tortured, both things are highly immoral. Now all of them want to be at least killed but there is no way to loose your life here. White knights capture them and torture instead. So maybe it is better to give up and take money. Five berserkers came out from the trees and walked to white knights and king with their hands up their heads.
- Great! Meet new earls!!! - He cried even louder than before. - That is how you call respected people in your lands, huh? Earles you will be! You’ll get lands and you will be rich! I’m waiting for others. Suddenly Rodry saw several berserkers running from the trees to run away completely. These four could be lucky ones if they are killed afterwards.. Rodry wanted to join them but suddenly.. he saw arrows in their backs. All the brave men were injured. White knights were very fast to run over them and bring them by hands to their king.
This illustration was made by nicofari.art
Rodry opened his eyes. It was too bright to see, so he closed them again, then opened, then closed again. - The nicest way to meet a new day! In a company with a stranger who could cut your head off while you was sleeping.
- My skin is thick enough not to be cut by your staff, grandpa. Although Rodry pronounced these words, he was shocked. When he sleeps, he can listen to every small animal’s move but now a whole man stood over him. - Relax, I just want to make a company and talk a bit. I have the same "love" (he stretched the word) for white knights as you do.
- Okay, grandpa, what kind of magic it was that you stand in front of me? I didn’t hear the steps at night.
- I’m Mage, Rodry, and as a mage I can do things others can’t, that might be obvious for you.
- In my lands there are only charlatans talking about magic and such things.. And you don’t have a sword?
- All right, cool down, boy. I have this staff in my hands that can be a blade or two or something else I wish - Now Rodry could hear an accent this wizard tried to conceal. - You might be worried about your current state.. I can understand. You didn’t notice me not in time of your sleep but long before it. That was me who forced you to see this dream...
- Wh-what? How do you know, you bloody..?!
- Listen carefully, berserker. I will tell you the story of Casstlecloud and White Knights clan. Then you will know what to do. Listen if you don’t want to be tortured by these pigs.
This story was written by Anton Elenin