Silas of Delgem - Part 5

Several days had gone by, during which they had traveled south from dawn till dusk. The river was easy to follow, but it was far from a safe route. It had after all become both a future frontline and the route of escape for hundreds, no thousands of refugees from Degoland who wanted to escape the onslaught of the Dark Legion. Most had nothing left but the clothes on their backs and wouldn’t feel too conflicted to rob two people who had a horse, spare clothes and supplies. Silas understood their plight all too well, but that didn’t mean he would allow himself to be robbed of the things he needed himself. So they stayed very vigilant and didn’t set up camp on the river bank itself, but a bit further inland, well covered by trees, low hills and shrubs. This was also the first time since his return to Delgem that he was glad Evelyn had received military training. Now she could help in standing guard and he didn’t have to do it all on his own.


“Silas!”

He recognized the urgency and tension in her voice and was immediately wide awake.

“What?! What is it?”

“There are things going on at the river!”

“What things? Is the enemy crossing?”

“No, but you better come and look!”

He threw off his blanket and followed Evelyn to the edge of the small copse of trees they had been hiding in. Evelyn crouched down behind a tree. Silas did the same. The sun was peeking over the eastern horizon, making the river, which was only a few hundred meter away, glisten as if it was covered in gems. Birds were singing in the trees around them. It would have been a beautiful scene, if it hadn’t been for the small fleet of rickety boats and rafts that was trying to cross the Osorio. Half starving people dressed in rags, were splashing into the water and running up the west bank, where royal halberdiers, supported by a few dozen archers, were waiting for them. A warship of the Fluvial Navy was anchored in the middle of the river. Its ballista’s and scorpions were aimed at the small boats and the throng of people on the other side of the river. The ship’s two sloops were rowing back and forth between the two banks as well, ferrying over more people.

On the west bank, the soldiers rounded up everybody who made it to the shore and frisked them thoroughly. Any weapons were immediately confiscated. Then they were brought before an army officer, a cleric in battle dress and a knight in a white hauberk with a black cross stitched on it.

The cleric seemed to be asking most of the questions and giving most of the orders. When the three were satisfied, the people were separated in three groups. One mainly consisted out of healthy, young and strong men, although there were some women and children as well. The second was the largest group and was formed by most of the women and children and the older men. The third only had three people in them so far, a blond, tall tattooed man with a bushy beard, an older man with crooked teeth and a deformed face and an elf woman who was desperately holding on to the rags around her body, that had been torn even further under the examination by the threesome.

“I don’t understand,” Evelyn said. “What’s happening?”

“I’m not sure, but I can guess,” Silas whispered back. “I should have seen this coming.”

“What?”

“The river is a frontline now. The Dark Legion will want to cross it as soon as possible.”

“So?”

“The King’s men are afraid that Dark Legionnaires will mix in with survivors and refugees from Degoland. That they would infiltrate our lines that way and bring their forces to the west bank.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Evelyn said indignantly. “How could an Orc pass for a Human?! It can’t be done!”

“The Dark Legion does not only consist of Orcs and Goblins and Werewolves and lizards and other monsters. Have you forgotten your Ozcura friend? She looks very human, apart from the grey skin and those tusks. And there are others, Nutk and Kanovs that are almost indistinguishable from humans. Makes you wonder if Kanovs aren’t actually just humans,” he added pensively, “But I digress. Their fears are not unfounded. This is just the kind of ruse the demons would use! In fact, I wonder if they aren’t thinking that tall blond man is actually a Nutk.”

“But what if they’re innocent?”

“I’m sure that priest will know the difference.”

“I don’t want to look anymore. Let’s get out of here.”

“Ehm … No. I think not. We should go over there and join them.”

“What? Are you nuts? They will grab us too …”

“I’m a knight. I more or less look the part and I have the papers to prove it. By the way, you are a novice of the Battle Nuns of Saint Creole. I will vouch for that.”

“I am?”

“Would you rather be a human Ozcura, when facing that priest and knight?”

“No, I guess not. But I know very little about that order …”

“You were a recent novice. Very recent. I saved you after the battle at Kardel Woods. You were starving and hiding after they had ambushed your order. That way you don’t need to know anything about the Battle of Kardel Woods and very little about the order. The order, by the way, no longer exists. It was completely destroyed before Kardel. The priories no doubt were burned to the ground afterwards. So there’s very little chance you will run into anybody who used to be a member and could get you into trouble. Womebody who knows the habits of the order very well.”

“Can’t I just be a villager?”

“Yes, but then we have to hide your fighting skills. And we may be separated. Soldiers and civilians don’t stay together in a siege.”

“Oh! Okay then.”

“Don’t forget, we never got to Delgem. We came near, but found out it was already swarming with goblins and Ozcuras. So, we don’t know anything of what really happened there. Agreed?”

Evelyn nodded.

“That would be the safest, both for me and the people that are still living there. I agree.”

“And it will prevent us having to answer unpleasant questions. Right, let’s go. Behave with dignity but modesty. No arrogance or mouthing off! You’re just a novice, so you’re not high enough in rank to mouth off.”

“Understood.”
 

The halberdiers held their weapons at the ready and shouted a warning when the horse with its two riders appeared from the trees and rode towards them. Silas wore his chainmail and knightly sword very visibly on his body and he raised his right hand in a greeting.

“Halt!” the nearest halberdier shouted. “Stand and be recognized.”

“I am Sir Silas of Delgem, oldest son of Lord Spencer of Delgem. And this is squire-novice Evelyn of the Order of Saint Creole. We survived the horrors of the Dark Legion but are ready to face them again! We wish to join the King’s men to defend Millbridge and avenge our losses.”

“You came from the other side of the river! Then you must be processed like everybody else! Dismount and hand over your weapons …”

“Sergeant!” the officer snapped. “That will be enough. You can clearly see this is not an Orc or a Goblin and he certainly isn’t one of those hairy ape-people that call themselves Kanovs. Do you have any proof, except for the crest on your weapons and clothing, that you are who you claim to be, Sir?”

“I do. I have these papers …”

“No need for that,” the knight said. “I’d recognize that voice everywhere and I can tell you it does belong to Silas of Delgem.”

He turned around and faced them. Silas uttered a surprised and joyful gasp.

“Dagobert! Dag, my old friend! I had no idea it was you!”
Silas dismounted and they embraced  and shook hands.

“I’m pleasantly surprised to see you,” Dagobert said, after some very unmanly jumping up and down with Silas. “I thought you were dead. I’m … sorry about what happened in the east. Do I dare ask how bad it is at Delgem?”

“I never even got there after the Battle of Kardel Woods. It was already overrun by Ozcura. The Dark Legion is spreading faster than wild fire over Degoland.”

“And your family?”

“I have no idea. I hope they got away in time.”

“So … your father and younger brother weren’t with you at Kardel Woods?”

“My father’s health isn’t very good. And my brother is too young for battle.”

“Plenty of squires his age on a battlefield. But I guess your father’s ‘ill health’ required the boy to stay at home. Ah, listen to me talking crap! I should be ashamed of myself. I hope your people are alright, Silas, but I must say I haven’t seen them on any list of refugees yet.”

“You’re keeping lists?”

“Of the escaped nobles and patricians? Yes. So you were at the battle of Kardel Woods? You’ll have to tell me all about it but not here …” The knight suddenly glanced at the girl. “Who’s the fair maiden? A novice of those battle nuns, you said?”

“Yes.”

Evelyn politely bowed her head.

“Really? Mm. Well, fair maiden, welcome at the west side of the Osorio river. I’m afraid you’re not really a novice anymore, unless some surviving senior member of your order shows up. The Order of Saint Creole is as dead as a coffin nail. I’m Sir Dagobert, knight of the Holy Order. Dag for my friends. You can call me Sir Dagobert for now.” He turned back to Silas. “You said you were going to the capital? You want to join the royal army?”

“Yes,” Silas nodded.

“Then you’ve come to the right place. You can join the men who are bringing back our new recruits.”

“New recruits? You mean those people,” Evelyn asked, pointing at the group of mostly men.

“Indeed. We need more manpower to fortify the defenses and man the battlements.”

“What about those other people?” she asked.

“They will be allowed to continue their journey … to the west.”

“Not to Millbridge?”

“No. There are already too many hungry mouths to feed over there. We are expecting a lengthy siege by the Dark Legion, before they realize they won’t get through. The supplies need to be used for the defenders of the city. The rest of these people need to find refuge inland. By order of his majesty, King Camilo III.”

“A very wise precaution,” the priest suddenly intervened.

Silas looked at him and immediately was on his guard. He wore the insignia of the Inquisition on his garbs.

“God will take care of these unfortunate wretches so we can take care of Millbridge. It was good of you to come back, Sir Silas. The king needs every sword he can get to stop this demonic intrusion. We cannot fail here. Just like we cannot allow evil to infiltrate our ranks,” he added with a threatening look at the smallest of the three groups.

“Father, I swear to you, I am innocent,” the tall blond man quickly said.

“Silence! We will soon get the truth out of you and your kind! And …”
Loud screaming suddenly erupted from the other side of the river. The refugees were hurling themselves in the river and were trying to get into their small boats. A single goblin wolf rider had appeared between the trees on a low hill.

“God! We have to help them!” Evelyn exclaimed.

“Maybe it’s just a single scout,” Silas mumbled.

As if to mock his remark, a dozen more wolf riders appeared next to the first. They aimed their bows and shot a volley of arrows in the throng of humans. Wolves started to howl and goblins screeched. Suddenly, they all charged down the hill. After the first dozen followed a second wave and a third.

“It’s an entire warband,” Silas gasped.

The inquisitor sighed and nodded at Dagobert.

“Give the signal, Sir Dagobert. May the Lord watch over their souls.”

Dagobert grabbed a horn and gave a short signal. She ship of the Fluvial Navy lifted its anchor and aimed all its ballistas and scorpios at the other river bank. Flaming projectiles and heavy javelins flew up into the air and landed … among the small fleet of little boats and rafts that were still on the east bank and that the people were trying to push into the river to escape.

“What are they doing?” Silas yelled.

“Their duty, Sir Silas,” the inquisitor snapped sharply. “The King’s orders are clear. No boats, rafts or even canoes can be allowed to remain undamaged on the eastern bank. In fact, none can remain on the entire river, period! They will only aid the enemy in crossing the Osorio. All these people are actually already violating his decree by not having destroyed these boats already. I have been lenient as long as there was no danger, but the situation has changed.”

He made a gesture with his hand and the halberdiers pushed the people away who were trying to get their boats back in the water to help their friends and relatives on the other side. They raised their heavy weapons and chopped the bottom out of the boats. The civilians screamed in anguish and terror. Some even charged the halberdiers but they were quickly beaten back.

The Goblins were already among the civilians, killing them and grabbing the more interesting ones as loot. The navy vessel, having destroyed the rafts and boats, redirected its artillery and now the deadly payload landed among the chaotic mass of civilian refugees and goblin wolf riders, killing them both in equal numbers. It lasted only minutes and then it was over. Dozens of corpses were floating in the river and even more were lying on its shores. The wolf riders were riding away, chasing the human survivors of the slaughter along in their midst, as if they were leading a herd of cattle. Seconds later, the whole group had disappeared over the hill, leaving their counterparts on the west bank of the river in desperation. Many were crying and had fallen to their knees, begging god for help.
 
“Requiescat in pace,” the inquisitor mumbled, making the sign of the cross. “We are done here!” he yelled. “Captain, hang the traitors on the nearest tree, but not that Nutk or the she-elf. They will be taken back to the palace of the archbishop. I will make them talk in the dungeons. You will continue your patrols in this area and make sure to send these peasants on their way. This was the last track of the river we had to check for any remaining boats, so you can return to base camp tomorrow morning. And from there, most likely back to Milbridge.” He glanced at Dagobert. “Now it will be up to the heavy cavalry and the navy to stop any attempts at crossing. Sir Dagobert, you come back with me and the new recruits to the city.”

“I should stay with the men,” Dagobert began.

“Don’t argue with me, knight,” the inquisitor growled. “It has been a tiring morning and I have no desire for a discussion.”


A couple of acolytes Silas hadn’t noticed before, came forward to bind the two suspected spies, while the halberdiers carried out their orders. For only a moment, the west bank was a chaotic mass of civilians who tried to get to their enlisted relatives and friends for a final goodbye and soldiers trying to get everybody to march into the right direction. People started bumping into each other and the acolytes were momentarily distracted. But a moment was all that was needed. The blond man snatched the acolyte’s dagger from his belt and plunged it in his chest. He immediately threw himself towards the inquisitor, shouting:

“For the Legion!”

Silas pushed the inquisitor out of the way and barely managed to grab the wrist of the attacker, deflecting the attack. To his horror, Silas noticed the man was a lot stronger than he was and even worse, that he knew how to fight. Growling, the blond man blocked Silas’s punch to his head and grabbed him by the throat. He squeezed and at the same time, brought his dagger closer to Silas’s throat. Suddenly, the Nutk’s grip loosened, his eyes went blank and rolled back in his head. The tip of a blade was sticking out of his chest. Dagobert pulled his sword back and let the men fall to the ground.

“Don’t mention it, you’re welcome,” the knight grinned, nodding at Silas.

“Well done, both of you,” the inquisitor said, slightly panting and dusting off his battle robes. “You have certainly served God today. Too bad I won’t be able to interrogate this man anymore. However, you can now see that it pays to be vigilant! A man like that, fleeing without a wife or children? No, I don’t buy that! Leave his corpse for the crows, but take the body of our brother along so he can receive a proper burial. Tie the elf bitch behind my horse. I want to leave this dreary place!”


It was not a pleasant journey. The new recruits had wanted to go to the capital, but not in these conditions, separated from their relatives. They were quite gloomy and their enthusiasm about being drafted into service was very low to say the least. And of course, the short fight at the river had shocked everybody, even the battle hardened warriors.

“Silas?” Evelyn whispered.

“Yes?” Silas asked, looking over his shoulder.

“Do you …do you think … what happened … those people …on the other side of the river Was it … good?”

“I don’t know if what they did, was right or wrong. Sometimes you have to sacrifice people for a greater purpose … but when you do, it never feels right. It always leaves a bad taste in your mouth … and you never can get rid of it again.”

Evelyn, sitting behind Silas on the horse, glanced at him, but he quickly stared back in front of him. What he had said, had not been just about what had happened at the river. It was also about that mysterious event in his recent past that he refused to talk about. It clearly disturbed him, so she decided to change the subject.

“Where do you know that knight from? Is he a friend of yours?”

“Dag? Yes … I think he’s a friend … if you can say that of somebody you only meet every couple of years or so.”

Silas fell silent again and Evelyn thought he wouldn’t tell her how he knew Dagobert, but then, he suddenly continued.

“I met him shortly after mother died. I tried to join the Order as a squire. You could say it was my way of trying to run away from home. I had heard that the Order had set up a temporary camp in Marychapel to search for new potentials. So I took off without telling father and went over there.”

“I remember that! You were gone for a day or two. Lord Spencer took off in the morning of the second day and brought you back, all bruised up, in the evening. We all assumed he had beaten you because you had disappeared.”

“Yeah. He was angry, but not as angry as he would have been if they had actually taken me as a squire. And he didn’t beat me.”

“They refused you?”

“They sure did,” Silas smiled. “And rightly so. I find it amusing now, but I was pretty upset about it back then.”

“But … why did they refuse … no, I shouldn’t ask this.”

“It’s okay. They, well, Dagobert refused me because I liked reading books and asking questions more than I liked swinging a sword and obeying my orders blindly.”

“Dagobert refused you? But … then he must be a lot older than you are! He looks younger than he is.”

“I was fifteen. He was twenty-one. It’s only six years. Anyway, I was furious when they refused me. I … ehm … I really think I acted like a brat that day.”

“You had just lost your mother! It’s understandable.”

“Yeah, well, anyway, I demanded I would be allowed to prove I could hold my own against any of them. Finally, Dag agreed. Unfortunately, I had had a squire my own age in mind, but I had failed to mention that. So … Dagobert drew his weapon and, of course, he gave me a good thrashing. I never stood a chance. That’s probably the reason why father didn’t punish me any further. He was already satisfied with the beating I had received. Anyway, Dagobert was in the area a lot in those days and I soon met him again near the river. I guess he took pity on me and after some more … ehm … unpleasantness … he offered to train me so I could have a decent brawl with him some day. I agreed. Over the months that followed, the feelings of anger and hostility more or less disappeared and made room for friendship. A month before I turned sixteen, he left for the capital. We’ve seen each other from time to time as the years went by, but never for as long a period as that first time.”

“Then it was a lucky coincidence you found him again. And that you saved the inquisitor.”

“I didn’t save him. Not really. That inquisitor already had his hand on the hilt of his own dagger. But you are right, maybe it will come in handy later on.”


It took them a day to return to the base camp that had been built as an assembly area for the ‘new recruits’ that were being rounded up everywhere and then another couple of days before they finally saw their destination in the distance.

Millbridge was built for the most part on the west bank of the river. Only a strong castle, named King’s Mill, was located on the eastern shore. It had once been just a mill, but because of its strategic location, it had been turned into a real fortress over time. A bridge connected the fortress with the rest of the city. Contrary to all other bridges over the Osorio, this one hadn’t been destroyed. Half the bridge, the part connecting to the eastern bank, was a drawbridge that could be lifted from a heavy square tower that stood in the middle of the river. The western half of the bridge was a permanent stone bridge, but considering the drawbridge, the King and his council had judged it unnecessary to destroy it. If they had, King’s Mill would have become completely isolated and only reachable by ship.

The rest of the city had been built on the west bank, for the most part in a large bend in the river. A canal, running from one end of the bend the other, and a wall separated the old city, with the King’s Keep and the Fortress of the Pit, from the newer parts of Millbridge. They entered the city through a fortified gate in the outer wall and followed the main road. To their right, they could see the dome of palace of the Archbishop. Right in front of them, in the distance, they could see Town Square, and left of that, the impressive silhouette of the Cathedral of Saint Anita.


“Millbridge!” Evelyn gasped. “It looks so big! It’s like a hundred villages all put in one!”

“There’s even a colony of elves, living here, did you know that?” Silas replied. “Tugged away in the southeastern corner of the city.”

“I didn’t know that. Have you ever been here before?”

“Only once. When I was trying to find out how much it would cost to study at the University of Don Camillo.” He sighed. “It was too expensive. Especially for a guy who wasn’t a cleric. But the University is located in the old part of the city. I doubt we’ll be going there. Actually, I wonder where we are going. The city seems pretty full. That inquisitor wasn’t lying.”


Evelyn looked around. As she had never seen a city before, she had no idea that the clusters of canvas tents and the throngs of people swarming around large cauldrons at every little square and even at the large Town Square they were now entering, wasn’t the usual state of affairs.


“Sir Silas!” the inquisitor said, turning his horse. “You can come with me for now. I haven’t forgotten your brave action at the river so I will arrange for lodgings at the palace of the Archbishop. Nothing fancy though. Just a tent in the palace garden.”

“Lucky you,” Dagobert grinned. “I guess we’ll have to say goodbye for now. I’m taking these ‘brave new soldiers’ to the Fortress of the Pit, just across the canal, so they can be armed and outfitted with some leftover padded armor.”

“It was good to see you again, Dag.”

“Oh, don’t worry. We’ll see each other again, I’m sure.”

Dagobert tipped his helmet in a chivalrous greeting and continued along the main road. Silas steered his horse behind the inquisitor and his acolytes along a broad side road. The inquisitor glanced back at him and stared at Evelyn.

“My invitation was aimed at you, knight,” he said slowly.

“Reverend Father, you can’t expect me to leave this young woman behind. I vowed to protect her on my honor after I rescued her.”

“I thought she was a novice of the Order of Saint-Creole?”

“Yes, and she has received basic training. She knows how to fight so she will be able to make herself useful. All the more reason to make sure she stays around.”

“I was more thinking along the line that a member of a battle nun order, even an extinct one, usually doesn’t need protection. Ah well,” he sighed. “These are desperate times and my heart aches for the loss of the Order of Saint Creole. Alright then, knight. Out or respect for the Order, I will allow her to stay as well. We will test her battle skills to see if they are sufficiently developed to stay with you and the fighting men. Otherwise, it will be the quarters of the scullery maids for her.”

“She will not disappoint, reverend father.”

“We shall see. Oh, and one more thing, Sir Silas.”

“Yes?”

“You are coming with me on the morrow to the Royal Council. Maybe his highness wishes to hear an eyewitness account of what happened at the Battle of Kardel Woods. Or not. We’ll have to wait and see. So clean yourself up and polish your gear. War is no excuse for a soiled armor.”

“I thought it was the best excuse for a soiled armor,” Silas mumbled.
Evelyn giggled behind his back.

“Did you say something?” the inquisitor asked.

“No, reverend father. Nothing at all.”

“That’s what I thought. My acolytes will show you to your tent, where you will get food and the means to freshen up. I will see you in the morning.”

“Good night, reverend father.”

The inquisitor nodded slightly, dismounted and disappeared in the main building of the palace, while stable boys led away the horses.

“So … I’ll be going to the old city after all,” Silas mumbled. “I pray to God the King has no interest in an account of the battle! I’m not good enough for such exalted company.”

“I think you’re good enough for any company,” Evelyn said.