Chapter Four
Knights in shining will ride
To save the fair maidens that I
Will try to my wit's end
To murder and stab and rip out their eye
Wallace walked down the wet cobbled street with his chainmail jingling, grumbling in tune with it. Next to him, walked a man that was larger than life itself, in a more literal term. Marlin stood massive when compared to anyone, his broad, hulking body's shadow could fully engulf most grown men. Wallace only came to the man's sternum himself, but he was short. Faldo was a broad, tall man, larger than most and he came only to the giant's shoulder. Most people feared Marlin, whispering behind there hands that one beast or another had raped his mother but it was because they did not know him. Marlin may have looked like a stalking ogre, but he had the heart of a lamb. He resorted to violence only if the law of Grim had been violated or if it had been forced upon him.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfskwiA2G79
Wallace grumbled through his thick, black beard as they headed through the steady rain toward the shop that Marlin had finally repaired. Any person in the street easily moving aside for the leader of Tharpe's army after only a quick look at the scowling brown eyes beneath his bushy black brow. Wallace barely gave the shop a glance as they neared it but pride could be seen in the eyes of his friend. 394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtzR0uSlfq
The smith had troubles fixing the special bellows that allowed him to heat the Roldem alloy hot enough to be worked on his massive anvil. Only Marlin and Markus of Doldrom knew the secrets of working the alloy outside the City Mine of the North. They had helped to defend the city there during the Banderling Wars, and as a way of thanks, the reclusive people let them pass the traders enclave and taught them the secrets of working the steel.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVqTmiTS8W
It was that steel that Wallace was after this morning. Wallace had expected another leisurely morning, talking in council with his friends over mulled ale. Instead, he had walked into the council chambers to find that a decision had already been made without him. He had been promoted to a place of honor, which was fine with him. He previously performed all the duties of the Captain, so it was a nominal promotion only, but then he found he was supposed to lead some infernal, fictional, nonexistent army. To do that, it got worse, they wanted him to look the part too. They wanted him to play some game of demons cursed dress up like some western court dandy. He growled in irritation at the morning's developments again, kicking at the pile of muddy dirt where a crew was repacking the stones for the street. The nearby men cursed at him as the muck slung across the street onto their paving stones.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakWo0hztRW
Marlin chuckled beside him as they reached the blacksmith shop, "You know, you shouldn't fret so Wallace. The Roldem will protect you well in battle. I think we can make you impressive enough without putting you in plate armor and sinking you into the thawing spring ground."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BxgYA90Ep
"It's not that," Wallace growled at Marlin stroking his beard lovingly. "You wouldn't understand anyway, friend."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnRcV2dxE7
"What is it, man? You are getting the best weapons and armor money can buy. And soon you will have an army to lead into glorious battle." Marlin finished this up by clinching his big paw out in front of him in emphasis, eyes gleaming with the imagined glory of a faraway battlefield. It was a side of the giant not many got to see, one of a longing for adventure that lurked in the bottom of every little boy's heart.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpvh5FMTIy
"One, I hate acting like something I am not. I am a commander, not a demon's forsaken officer. I stick with my men in battle, striving for victory with each drop of blood not watch it from afar like some damn pansy ass." He said strolling into the oppressively hot smithy Off in the center of the room, the open forge fire glowed brightly, the air above rippling in the heat and several pieces of metal lay in the coals, heating. Wallace openly admired the well-kept forge. It was something he enjoyed to do during his off time. Well something he used to enjoy, as Master-at-Arms, he didn't have any more free time.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy0K0RI59W
"What's two?" Marlin asked puzzled, pulling the solid door shut with a great loud bang that made Wallace jump and turn to look cross at the smith. The big smith, who gave him an apologetic shrug as he walked over to pump the reciprocating bellows a few times. The centrifugal bellows were the key to heating Roldem alloy. The steel required a steady flow of air, and a regular pump bellows did not provide such a discharge. Instead of merely pumping up and down as standard bellows did, these produced a continuous flow of air at a controllable rate. It depended at how fast you pushed the pedal would control how quickly the bellow fan would turn. He guarded his secret carefully as a promise to the Roldem steel foundry-men in the Northern Spine.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8MQRKdR8n
"I have to shave my beard." Wallace crossed his arms indigently at the notion. He reached up and stroked his thick facial hair lovingly. "It is ridiculous, I haven't shaved since my whiskers started coming in as a lad. Who cares if an officer has a beard. Who even really knows what an officer looks like?"394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXZ1qoGXaT
"Obviously your commanding officer does." Marlin pointed out with a small, deep chuckle, "I have a sharp razor if you want—"394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA7mBmT80J
"Marlin, as a man I thought you would be on my side," Wallace looked at him in disbelief, his face was awash with stricken grief.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLDUGmtQ8d
"I side with those who work for Grim. Sorry." Marlin said unapologetically as he turned to examine his stock of armor he had been working on. Some of it, especially the Roldem, had weathered the fire well and was able to be polished and put back out. The business was running excellently, especially from Tharpe's side of things. The city had increased her standing army from the mere two hundred regulars that it had before the Resistance to twice that now. The events of last winter were fresh on the minds of the remaining citizens and they would be damned to the Inner Planes of Chaos itself if they would allow someone to take their homes from them again.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuLO5qdzbA
"Speaking of Grim, how is Bethel?" Wallace asked Marlin as he walked up and down the wall eyeing the weapons, eyes gleaming in admiration.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTCToKUooE
"She is back there in the living quarters. To tell you the truth, I love her more this way than what she was before. Bethel is more authentic as a zealot. She and I see the same now." Marlin said with a look of satisfaction. He had a glow when he talked about the ex-matron turned Zealot of Grim. Marlin had requested the guardianship of Bethel from the Temple a few months back, and their old relationship had sparked back up. Both of them had the same interest in common. If it wasn't Grim's way, it wasn't theirs.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYVgKHtqQS
"You know she has to go with us, Grim commanded it," Wallace said gently to his giant friend. Wallace had worked closely with Marlin for many months now and he had come to care for the gentle giant deeply. This man would walk to the breadth of Ratar' for strangers if they required it. It seemed so wrong that a man of such a heart to experience walking his path of life.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L0wbCiJEP
"I know, I will be going to." Marlin picked up a set of heavy mail and turned to size it on Wallace and shook his head, "We will need my expertise on weapons out there on the field. No one knows how to repair Roldem unless you can convince old Markus to come out of retirement. He is twenty winters older than I."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJf0NTFHLyk
"No, I trust you on that one." Wallace picked a broad sword and nodded at it after a few test swings, "Do you mind charging this to the city account since we are at it?"394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2JCpFSbQ4
Marlin nodded as he held up another set of chain that shone brightly, the twinkling sending tiny, star-like dots around the room. The chain armor had a few plates with a mirror-like polish that reminded Wallace of his mother's looking glass she had when he was a child.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5BOsuZdJ3
"This be the set you need," Marlin said with a note of pride and satisfaction, squinting as the light from the pane windows reflected into his hazel eyes. Wallace placed the sword, point down, in its holder, as his face hardened into a featureless mask, slowly eyeing the coat of mail that the smith held up to him.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkzH1WmG8i
"No way in all the Planes of Chaos are you going to put that fishing lure on me," Wallace stated flat shaking his head at the big man who was nodding and smiling. He crossed his arms over his broad chest and stared Marlin in his hazel eyes. "No Marlin, I swear now by all the originals and demons, that will sink to the lower planes of existence before it adorns this body so some goblin can pick me up and mistake me for a silver piece. Fine thing it would be to have your captain tucked under the arm of some stinky goblin just because you thought shiny was pretty. See I am already thinking like a goblin!"394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmq6vvShqP7
He backed up slowly as he saw Marlin starting to advance on him with the overly large fishing lure, hitting a massive anvil behind him leaving his hip throbbing in pain. A heavy forge hammer clattered the floor, startling him. He stepped out and around the anvil, his heels clicking on the stone floor as he continued to back around the room, his hand tracing the stone. He was working his way around the outer wall to the thick door, and then he would run like Chaos itself was after him. He could hide somewhere till the council could come to its senses and forget about the horrid plan of dress up. The blacksmith continued to advance on him with a little smile playing across his broad face. To Wallace, he seemed like an advancing mountain, sliding down on him. He backed slowly towards the door, stumbling over a stool that he did not remember being near the door. 394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZdfCzgxOm
That was strange too, Wallace had a talent for remembering things and he was sure that had not been there. He quickly untangled his legs, givng the stool a resounding kick and massaging his bruised shins as he scrambled back to his feet. Chancing a glance behind him, he could see that his passage was clear and he picked his pace up. Only a few more strides to the door now.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmM5TGtqgU
"Wallace, she said to make you look impressive. And this is the suit to do it. Now you can try it on or we can." He gave a small chuckle and threw Wallace a big sidelong wink. Wallaces attention snapped back fully on the giant as he played the words back in his head.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpYRUlIdYb
"We?" Wallace asked his friend pausing just before the door. He stood straight up with a look of confusion on his bearded face. The door was momentarily forgotten. That moment of hesitation would come back to haunt him in his dreams for decades to come.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAujr3D05vi
"Yes we." came a female voice behind him as strong arms grappled him to the ground.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7aznrYKCz
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Damon paced back and forth in the city hall with the rest of the council. They were waiting on Marlin who was taking his sweet time. They had a trip to plan, and this was one thing they had to have everyone here for. Faldo sat drumming his fingers on the oaken table impatiently in rhythm with the pattering rain on the roof, and Cariline sat still sniffling quietly. The thought of him leaving her al had left her emotions in turmoil. The fight over his impending marriages had alone had left her nerves in frazzled, and she was unsure of the future. Isobelle sat at her side comforting her, now that Jen broke the news that they were all of the similar relations.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxsGFq6q8G
The double doors to the foray busted open and light reflected off the mirror-like chain armor. A stunningly handsome soldier stood stiffly in between the door jams. He had dark, neatly trimmed hair and he had obviously recently shaved, the bleeding had just subsided. He strode forward angrily before the council and stopped just shy of the table, standing stiffly at attention before the committee to wait to b recognized.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW6abcIOwW
Faldo rose as the leader of their council. He looked at the soldier curiously, "Can we help you, sir?"394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHb6snzCFI
"It's me dammit," came Wallace's gruff voice from the dark, handsome stranger, "See! can't even recognize me now that you went and made me into some damn dandy."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxpYN6ZjKX
Damon fell into a fit of giggling with his hands over his mouth. His dark eyes danced with mischievous delight at the sight of Captain's predicament. He buckled slightly in the middle and, in every appearance, looked like a five winters old boy. Wallace turned red face and came over to slap him repeatedly on the head, boxing his ears. Damon covered himself the best he could, but the newly made Captain's behavior just made it all that more hilarious to Damon. He collapsed to the floor; his fits of laughter echoed around the hall.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWDin15Stu
"OK," he said between fits "Now I…Don't…..feel so bad….about…..my….part."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbmBFRHqYU
"It was all your idea, you little rat." Wallace clubbed him again on the side of his head and pointed the finger at him, "I will find a way to get you back someday, I swear."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cRfx1qHDy
Marlin walked in with Bethel on his arm, grinning widely, "Oh he ain't still bellyaching about our game of dress up, is he?"394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmc2YUBi3e
"You keep your mouth shut" Wallace spun to face the giant and Bethel. The scene was comical, in the sense of seeing the short and stout captain sticking his finger to the giant's nose, which almost took him to stand on his tippy toes. "Never speak of that again."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA0mRtkZlo
"Really Wally,--" Faldo coughed a giggle away "-- you look like a Captain now. One who will command the respect of all the Armies of the East as we gather them." Faldo reassured his friend while trying to hide his smile behind his hand, "Anyways, we need to discuss our plans, my friends. What are we to do?"394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DX6c2fjZX
He raised the question to his friends as he walked to put his hands on the back of his tall-backed, padded leather chair. His friends shifted uncomfortably, all not wanting to commit to the act of what they saw as an invasion of a neighboring city-state. Never in the past had a city condoned aggression against another in the East. He looked Damon in the face with a stern, pleading look, his piercing blue eyes drilling deeply into Damon. Damon heaved a sigh and nodded at the silent message sent to him by his big brother and now the leader.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3be7ISms0
"As the--" Damon made a face as he said the word, as if it tasted sour, like a tainted piece of meat, "--current Grim, I do hereby authorize acts of war against any Temple I see as tainted. I find the Temple of Doldrom tainted.--” He shook his head in dismay and muttered “--I can't believe those words just left my mouth."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc7aMICx8M
Wallace grinned an evil smile as he turned to the young man. He pointed his short stubby finger at him and chuckled.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVG0t6M5tzG
"Don't you be expecting me to bow and grovel boy but if I be not mistaken, I am sworn to the Grim. Did I not just hear you say 'Go sic em!'?" He asked and made some baying sounds of a hound on a hunt.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjrJW9EylE
"Yes my faithful hound, go sniff out the heretics and send them to the Underworld to await the real Grim." Damon replied with mock dignity and a hand on his slim chest, then he added viciously, "but don't you go having all the damn fun. I am coming too."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsO6AbkZGAf
He punctuated this with slamming his palms down onto the table with a hideous grin in return. Cariline watched the dark man making a surface in dreadful horror.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7l00U8Eo3m
"Oh no, you are not, Mister all and powerful Grim!” Cariline came flying to her feet, balancing precariously, “You have a son due in just a month or two, and you will be here by your own damn name!" 394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2idE78ouv
"He needs to go Cariline," Jen tried to calm her. She set the pregnant woman back down into her seat and continued to explain, "He was charged to bring Order back to the East before the turning of three winters. Now he only has two and a half left. He has to get busy."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBCMDpZSEh
"But our baby!" she sobbed into Jen. The Matron wrapped her arms around the weeping woman trying to comfort her. Tears were standing in her green eyes too, knowing there was nothing fair about what was happening in the world now. Marlin cleared his throat for a voice, and every eye turned. Marlin spoke rarely but when he did, common sense prevailed, and a well thought out idea was brought forward from the giant.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq8HrYElln
"Seems to me," he began reaching up to scratch his balding head," it would be easier to take a small group ahead and scout the problem. Leave the General to muster our army. We will send word if we need them in Doldrom. It is easier to look around if we do not have trumpets blowing and a crazy Matron thinking we are there for war."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX3r1ZDkCm
"See, he is always right," Bethel said admiringly as she hugged his tree trunk sized arm, laying her short graying hair on his forearm. She looked tiny compared to him. She could try to wrap her arms around him, but her fingers would not reach.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQNtKJJme6
"His plan does have merit, Faldo. If we do it that way, we might be able to get the sorcerers without that big of a fight. We need every person we can muster right now to break the siege at Farthest Reach." Damon said hopefully. Damon froze as everybody stopped and looked at the dark little man. The comment was entirely out of character for Damon. He enjoyed good fights and had problems caring for the welfare of strangers. Damon shook his head as a slight dizzy spell came over him and then went.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlUnDRlsPv
"Yes, it would be a good plan," Faldo said giving Damon a worried look. "Let's make plans to leave in the morning. That should give everyone time to say their goodbyes and make preparations. Till morning."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXsGQb3ic6
They quietly filed out of the room, each lost in their thoughts of what to say to the loved ones who they would be leaving behind. Faldo whistled and motioned to Wallace and Damon to come over. Damon gave his grieving, pregnant wife a kiss and a whispered promise. He walked over with a troubled look to talk to his to friends in the corner.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjOsBNzQXD
"What is it?" Damon asked a little irritably, looking at Faldo with dark eyes lit. His face was filled with concern for his wife who cried on the shoulder of the Matron as hey headed out the door.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoe6ppZtbG
"One you can't go yet but that in a moment. Two, who were the two that helped us last winter in the Inn?" Faldo asked with a serious look at the two. Anytime the inn was brought up, Faldo had to fight to control himself. He had nightmares, and even the mention of the events brought unexplained anxiety to him that broke him out in sweats. His friends purposefully referred to it as his ordeal to avoid accidentally setting him into a panic attack. Those panic attacks could lead to unexpected releases of power in Faldo's attempt to battle his fear.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdshOfbdK1
"Oh? That would be Wedge and Vic. They are now both Sergeants in the expanded Temple garrison. Why?" The newly made Captain asked curiously.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkleWYrekY
"I want them on our team. It is too good of a talent to waste sitting here on their thumbs waiting for our message. They did well when we took Fredrick down, and I want cool heads in Doldrom." Faldo explained to his friends. 394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSB8TACYeZA
They both nodded their approval and clapped him on the back and turned to leave. Faldo grabbed Damon by his arm and spun him around. Damon looked at him confused. Faldo's blue eyes sparkled with ill intent as he cast a sidelong knowing look at Isobelle, who was grinning broadly.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShNzslGUiH
"Oh no you don't, I still have to practice making your eyes glow remember." Faldo said with a smile, "Don't worry I think I can do it. Sort of."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf179Zy3dU
"What do you mean sort of?" Damon asked in a terrified voice. Faldo put his hands out in front of him to steady Damon and tried to reassure him nodding quickly with a sure smile. Damon shivered at the confidence he saw in that one look of Faldo's face.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaWJKMOVsn
"Well I haven't ever tried a permanent spell on a living person before, but it does sound fun," Faldo said with some enthusiasm in his voice and his blue eyes wide with the prospect of a new experiment.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuFvfyN1cc
"I think I liked you better when you feared this stuff." Damon groaned and threw up his hands, reluctantly, in surrender, "OK zap away I guess. I will have to do it sometime."394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW51ugx3aU
"Don't worry it shouldn't hurt a bit.” His big friend said unconvincingly lifting his hands with an unsure tremor in them. Faldo's hand started to glow with a blue nimbus that changed slowly into a purple and finally settled into a red. Faldo broke into a sweat as he clenched his teeth with the strain of holding the color of the cloud around his hand. Damon stared horrified at his tormentor, and his courage broke as he ran in wide eye terror for the door.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCqMHQNW3u
"Get back here you chicken," Faldo yelled pointing comically at the floor as the others gripped each other for support, laughing.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZuNMoZJL8
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