Tale(s) of a young man : Knight-Aspirant Depheant Makepeace

[Jain Zar]

*** Duty ***

The young man stepped out of the inn, dressed in his new clothes. He descended the small hill towards the road when he almost bumped into a panicking man.

“Sir... sir, is everything alright?”

The man was wildly waving with his arms, spouting incoherent fragments of a thus far to Deph vague story.

“Girl, … my, there... in, taken... monstrous... green, there, help... I have... please ... !!!"

“Easy... easy...” he attempted to calm down the man by placing his hand on his shoulder and offering him a flask of water.

After the man drank, his story seemed a bit more clear, but he was still short on breath. “Please, mister, lizards, on the road, took my girl... I must, need help.”

“Alright, show me where, quickly,” Deph replied.

He followed the man down the hill and before he took a turn to the right towards Tristan, he glanced left in the direction of Cear and knew he would be late for the dance festival.
While running behind the man for a brief moment he wondered how he could make it up with Selchis, just before setting his focus on an inevitable fight,... his hand reaching for the pommel of his sword when two gigantic Koalisks came in sight, one of them carrying a unconscious young woman over his shoulder.

[Jain Zar]

*** Like a tale ***

With the help of his lady Selchis, Deph's quarter at the Knightshome was rather quickly turned from a cold stone room into a cozy inviting place.
It looked like in his dreams, the room, the surroundings... the interior... he loved it.

The final piece brought in was the painting of Selchis which he carefully placed on the wall while she watched breathlessly.
He took three steps back and studied it, his arm slid around her waist, glancing at her before looking back at the painting.

It's a serious picture. Below is wrapped in shadow, above is pure light. Her braids seems to sway in the wind, her lips are gently contoured, peaceful in expression her eyes half slit, reflecting the light, searching. In her hands the symbol of Peralia gleaming.

Just looking at it was enough to make his heart jump. Deph rubbed her back and walked in the direction of the painting casting a glance at the desk just below it... his eyes catching the text of his very first handwritten story.
He smiled at the memory when he brought this story at the theatre.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Titled : What we all lost

Once upon a time there was an ancient spirit. One day he sat on his throne, his forehead leaning against his fist. He could sit there like that for long... hours, days, weeks, ages... it all didn’t matter to him. It seemed... as if he was thinking.

His life had always looked endless and unchanged. And actually he was wondering, wondering how and when he had became what he was. There were just no memories of it. The only thing he could retrieve were memories of being a spirit.
For a moment, a moment that could have lasted for days, he wondered why he was asking himself that question.

Time passed and the spirit rose up from his throne.
He decided to find out himself. He decided to be reborn... as one of those creatures who worshipped the gods.

And so this spirit returned to the real world, a return in which he just had to remember his birth but also to not forget who he was.
However, the moment he descended through the birth canal, his true self was already touched. Numerous emotions and feelings slammed into him, but he failed to give them a place, let alone give them a name.
He saw how its parents smiled to him, smiled in the way like only brand new parents do. He almost “ordered” the newborn to smile back, but he didn’t.

The baby in which the spirit was reborn started to grow, to experience... observing facial expressions, touching and squeezing all kinds of weird materials, tasting...
The baby grew... and became a toddler and it discovered more and more things.
The spirit sat back in the mind of the child and observed... observed how the child became a hero who protected his parents against imaginary dragons but at the same time was scared for monsters under his bed. He observed how the child took no notion of the daily problems his parents experienced... as the child lacked... the concept.
And for a moment the spirit hesitated to help the child to understand, but for some unknown reason he didn’t intervene and kept observing.
Instead the child discovered his own imagination... fantasy...

He could experience feelings now within the child, feelings of joy, of pleasure, but also feelings of pain. Strangely enough that pain didn’t always emanate from physical sources. The spirit observed how the child was in pain when his parents didn’t want to play with him. Or when they didn’t look at a drawing he had just made. This feeling was later on known as disappointment.

The child aged a little and was now in a very active phase of his life... experimenting with his own feelings. And meanwhile the spirit was sucked into this life and slowly without realising, becoming more familiar, more one with this world, with this life... and without noticing it, he slowly became this life... perhaps even forgetting who he was... but, who was he?
The spirit witnessed moments of danger too, and again almost intervened to prevent the child from stepping in disaster when he climbed on a rooftop. Again... the spirit only observed.

The spirit noticed something else, the child was learning and it was going so fast, many things slipped through his imaginary fingers. After all, he always had a lot of time to think, but here this child... this life... was going a lot faster, a lot!

For a moment the spirit wondered if he could stop it, or at least slow it down. As he concluded his life like it was right now, was interesting and... attractive.
There were no concerns, at least not like on the level of its parents. And there were plans, so many plans of how his life would look like once he would become an adult.

He witnessed the child’s curiosity and imagination, and again he wondered what he could achieve with a mind like that. There was just so much into it, so many opportunities.
He also witnessed how his parents, as soon as he reached adolescence, started to worry... concerned about their child’s future. They urged him to ‘finally’ grow up, to become an adult. The spirit just couldn’t believe it... it was now already going so fast, and there was still so much to explore.

Almost he intervened, to stop it, to stop time, so that the child had the time to think of what he wanted to be... but again, he didn’t.
The spirit was curious now, curious about how his life would evolve... but somewhere he had the feeling he had just witnessed one of the best parts. Would he regret it?

[Jain Zar]

*** Explaining ***

Deph took a deep breath and looked at Selchis who gave him a reassuring nod. It had been more then three weeks now since he last visited little Emma.
Together they entered the temple and walked over to Sister Alina who smiled warmly at Deph and curiously studied the lady at his side.

Deph bowed before saying,“ Ow... eh... Sister Alina, this is … ehm, my lady, Sister Selchis.”

If Alina’s eyes widened a little, she did her best to hide it and turned over to Selchis,” A pleasure Sister.”

Selchis smiled at Deph before turning to Alina and the two exchanged pleasantries.

Deph only listened and watched the two. He hadn’t forgotten about little Emma, certainly not, … he just had been... busy.
But when he met Sonya again a few days ago, and it really had been a while, well... he just felt the urge to deal with the uncomfortable situation.
However, there was perhaps a light in the distance as he and Selchis were planning to look for a house... probably in Cear. Still, he wouldn’t always be around but the thought of living close to Emma again soothed him a bit.

He loved the little girl, she was so brave and so bright... he was convinced she would become a promising young lady.

Deph looked back at his lady, and it would be the first time little Emma sees Selchis. He rubbed his hair.

Alina disappeared in the temple only to return moments later with a child at her side.

Deph turned around as he heard their footsteps and smiled, waving at Emma.

Emma lifted her chin and different then other times she didn’t ran to him, but gave him and Selchis an appraising look without leaving Alina’s side.

Even Alina felt a bit uncomfortable now and glanced at Deph while saying to Emma,” Deph has returned, he’s a Squire now...”

The young man with the lady at his side blushed at Alina’s words and looked at Emma. “Hello kiddo...”

“Hm!” A firm reaction from the child.

Deph blinked and glanced at Selchis before looking back at Emma, a slight blush appearing on his cheeks,” Ehm... this is my lady Selchis, she is...”

Emma turned away and looked up at Alina,” Can we go to the market today?”

“Eh?” Deph and Alina reacted simultanously.

Alina nodded slowly,” Sure Emma, we can go later but...”

“I want to go now!” Emma said, crossing her arms.

Deph blinked but Alina quickly replied,” Hey, Deph is here now, perhaps you want to go with him?”

The child didn’t even look at Deph this time,” And with her? No thank you.”

Deph frowned and looked briefly from Selchis to Alina before he coughed softly and kneeled,” Emma... I’m right here. Can we talk for a moment? Alone?” He said it without looking at the two ladies.

Alina looked at Selchis and with a movement of her head she motioned her over to the other side of the temple.

Surprisingly enough Emma remained where she was, but she hadn’t turned to Depheant yet.

“Emma...?” Deph tried softly. “Hey... I missed you, kiddo.”

“Don’t call me like that !!” She almost yelled.

The two Sisters turned their heads in his direction but didn’t interfere.

He blushed. “Alright Emma. I... I am sorry. I know I haven’t been here for three weeks, but I was busy and...”

This time Emma turned to him, her little arms still crossed and giving him a firm look,” Busy with her I suppose!” Still loud enough for the two ladies to hear.

Deph’s cheeks reddened further,” Now look... I...”

“Hmpf!” she turned her back on him.

He realised, Emma didn’t want to hear any excuses. But he also had the suspicion more was going on. Deph glanced at Selchis who gave him a faint smile but she also looked a bit concerned.

“Emma, let me please make it up to you. How about we go...” he glanced at Selchis before looking at Emma’s back again,”... sailing? Fishing?”

Emma slowly turned around,” We... as in you and me, or...” This time Emma glanced at Selchis.

Deph smiled a bit,” Emma, she’s really nice and she wants to meet you for quite some time now.”

Emma blinked,” Meet me? Why?”

Deph’s arm reached out to her,” Why don’t we go ask her, together?”

[Jain Zar]

*** Vigilo among the Vanguard ***

And that was that.
Deph watched how Vanguard Anne left the inn and went upstairs to her room. He turned his face back to the fire and took a seat on the chair where he had been talking with the Vanguard lady.

Over two days they would be working together... a Vigilo among the Vanguards. He had chosen for a Vanguard-like uniform as he wished to make part of the platoon and not drawing any unnecessary attention with his white clothes and cape.
He wanted those men to see him as one of them. He had no idea what kind of a mission this was going to be, but he could imagine it was for the sake of those men that they would be focused on their goals without having to worry about the ‘outsider’ among them.

He sighed... now was the time to tie up the last loose ends.
His lady already knew this was coming and he soon would visit her again to tell her the day of his departure was near.

The other loose end was a difficult one... little Emma. Last time he had regained her trust more or less and it seemed Emma had accepted Selchis too. Well, he only assumed that.
He also had talked with the child about his duties and that it sometimes could take more time to return for a visit. She hadn’t reacted angry or upset... but he remembered her reaction was one of silence.
Tough one there...

Other loose ends were some friends he would have to inform that he would be some time off, his thoughts with one in particular... Lachdanon.
The meeting with this Darion didn't completely remove the concern about his friend Lach and even though Celestia would keep an eye out... it would have felt better seeing him again before he had to leave.

He scratched his arm absently, eyes still focused on the fire.
There was still so much he wanted to learn, but... he was a patient man, at least that is how he saw himself. The lessons in ‘bardic’ magic with Captain Firin would have to wait, just like the dinner with him and his lady. Same for the dinner with this interesting singing and storytelling lady Reina and her curious man, an elf who had seemed somewhat agitated on their last meeting.
Deph didn’t had any experience with elves, perhaps he had stepped on an for him invisible toe. In the tales he had read about them, elves were rather quiet and proud beings.

Well, it would all have to wait until he got back.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he recalled that Anne had in fact been interviewing him... asking questions he didn’t expected. Not that it mattered as he had been sincere with his answers. It would have led to nothing if he would have given Vanguard Anne a false impression of himself.
People could work so much better together if they knew each other, if it were only for a little.
This adventure or whatever it was, ... he would learn from the Vanguards and from what he had heard thus far, he already had great respect for them.

[Jain Zar]

Among the Vanguard : viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11516

Deph's mom : viewtopic.php?f=18&t=11663

[Jain Zar]

*** Sister ***

Deph slipped in his bed, his body gently touching his lady’s warm body, an arm going over her and his hand resting on her belly.
He lay still like that for quite some time, his eyes not closing as his mind was occupied with other things.
Just after his arrival at the Knightshome and before going to his own quarters, Deph had knocked at Amy’s door. And she had answered it.

He couldn’t believe it really had happened... Amy and Sammil’s relationship was over, there wouldn’t be any marriage at all. He wondered if there was anything he could have done to prevent this from happening, or even... that he should have taken action much sooner.

“No,” he whispered to himself. Thus far, before forming any conclusions and certainly before expressing certain opinions, he had always relied on facts and information he had obtained himself.
But this was a hard one, the rumors, the stories and even a few snapshots of ... ‘situations’ constantly presented themselves in his mind, as if it was a puzzle magically asking itself to put its pieces together. And all about this one man : Sammil Card.

Deph had a hard time keeping his feelings neutral, especially when he considered Amy’s situation. Well, there was at least one thing that helped in this, no matter how hard he felt sorry for her. And that was Amy’s own reaction and behaviour.
He remembered how tears had started to form in his own eyes while she was standing with her back to him, her attention on the oven with home made cookies... right after she said it.
He remembered how he had rushed over to her, his hand only to stop an inch away from her shoulder as he suddenly had noticed she didn’t cry.

Deph rolled over on his back and stared at the ceiling. She had looked so... strong. Or... could it have been something else? After all, up to now he still had no idea how their relation had ended. Again he had to prevent his mind of forming certain prejudices. Sammil Card didn’t look very good in these.
But... he should also take into account how Amy truly felt. What if the reaction he had witnessed was a reflection of her own opinion, and not just a woman who tried to look strong?

He bit his lip, even then... he had a clear opinion about how to treat a lady and especially when that lady was his lady. Even more when that lady would be pregnant with his child. Sammil should have thought of that before.
Of course, in a relation there were always two people responsible and Amy had looked happy discovering she was pregnant.
Still, he couldn’t help it feeling sorry for her and he knew he was on her side, despite his attempts to think clear and sober.

Deph rolled back over on his side, once more gently pressing his body against Selchis’s. He whispered behind her back,” I love you, Selchis and I will never ever leave your side.”
A tear rolled over his cheek as a result of the uncertainty around his “sister’s” condition in the room next door.

[Jain Zar]

*** Responsible ***

Emma was already running ahead. A few minutes ago they had left the temple where she was staying.
Deph smiled as he saw the girl dashing off, challenging him to catch her. He decided to play along and ran after her, doing his best to be not too fast.

“Don’t go too far now you!”, he yelled and laughed while running behind the child near the docks.

Suddenly little Emma disappeared from sight, slipping into an alley.

"Hey, don't go in..." Deph started, but instead he saved his breath and increased his pace.
Almost was he tempted to use magic for going even faster.

Nine seconds later he cornered the first building that formed the alley. And Emma was gone.
For a moment a thought formed in his head, "I'm responsible..." but he quickly shrugged off the thought that something might have happened. The child was probably now playing hide and seek with him.
This wasn’t such a bad neighbourhood, was it?



He looked briefly over his shoulder in the direction of the now sunken ship, its masts rising high above the surface, water rippling around them. Seagulls had quickly adopted the place as their newest habitat.
The charred sails now seemed no more than old rags on a washing line but soon would be removed and new lines would be attached in order to lift the ship out of the water. Raising a wreck like that would take two pontoons from about the same size as the one that was under water.
The wisest idea would be to unload its cargo first with the help of some divers as the underwater weight of a ship like that required considerable lifting power to overcome.
Yep, it would take some time before daily activities could be resumed. And someone was responsible and would have to answer for the trading losses of the local merchants, not to mention all those ships waiting to moor at Cear.

Deph rubbed his hair while recalling parts of what happened some days ago.
Shayde upset looking for Darion... he, Calimus, Zo'art and Xunva helping to find him. Then the fight near the docks that was starting to involve more people. And when that elven lady jumped between Darion and this mister Thayne, he had intervened, in the hope to prevent even more people getting hurt.
Meanwhile a ship was on fire and sinking, thirty-five people had to be saved where Darion proved to be the hero of the moment, just after admitting he had physically assaulted a citizen on broad day light.
Deph had met this man only once in his life here, but also heard tales. Once more, for a moment he wondered what would make an honorable looking man like Darion do something like that.
In his eyes he had practically been a knight...

Nevertheless, like a noble gentleman he had accepted the truce and agreed to face any sentence for his actions as long as the duel, on which he insisted, between him and mister Thayne would take place. Personally Deph didn't approve anything at all of this. For him a duel only existed when there was no other way out and when one could save other lives with it, perhaps even taking a certain responsibility with it.
There might be other good reasons for it too, only right now it just looked like unnecessary bloodshed.
At least the... 'agreement' had put an end to any further fighting on the streets and no one else got involved. Things really could have gone worse. None died that day...



“Emma?! Emma, where are you?” Deph moved into the alley.

For some reason he had to think of Sonja, and what she had told him about life, which was also her life down here at the docks. Criminal activities were higher here than in the city. Deph had talked about it, right on the street with a few men of the fleet. They said if he had complaints, he should seek out one of the officers, perhaps even Captain Beatrix herself.

Sonja... she was in his mind. She was his first friend ever since he got here, and even though they hadn’t spend so much time together, it felt as if there was a connection.
Ever since his return to Cear a few weeks ago, they had bumped once into each other, just on a moment when he was looking for her.
She told him a few things and even though she hadn’t shown much fear about her situation, Deph had offered his help but also given her his new address in Cear should she require any assistance later on.
He still had to tell Selchis about that, but up to now she hasn’t been home yet.

Deph smiled softly. Coincidence or not, just today when he picked up Emma, the little girl had asked after Selchis and Sonja.
Speaking of which! He was going to show his new place to Emma, but where was the little brat!

“BOO !!”

Deph almost fell on his back.

A little girl jumped on him as she had been standing, no, hiding in an upper recessed window frame.

“Da....!!!” He shut his mouth. Almost he had cursed.

The little girl hadn’t noticed, her little arms around his neck,” Gotcha!!” She giggled.

Deph smiled softly and wondered for a moment how it would feel to be responsible for a ‘kiddo’ like this, as in... every day.

While carrying the giggling child in his arms, Deph wondered. How bad could it be? He grinned, it couldn’t be comparable with a work-out with some Vanguards.

One day ago, at the hills of the Sacred Grove, Vanguard Anne had debriefed him and perhaps without realising she had given Deph a lot of thought about himself. She may have seemed ‘hard’, she was at least straight and honest, and Deph liked that.
Perhaps they would see each other again in some nearby future, and maybe over an relaxing dinner they could talk. After all, up to now he hadn’t asked about the objective of their mission.
Well, for once he had left his curiosity behind and assumed it was something he could always ask later. For him it was now more important to maintain this new contact.
But first he needed some thinking.
Was his past really in the way of fully developing himself or could he overcome this ‘thing’ with his late father?
He had come to Cear to hunt his dream... and up to now, he had taken offered chances.

“Are you happy?” Sonja had asked him.
“Everything seems so perfect.” he had answered.



He returned the smile given by little Emma pinching his cheek and who said,” Eyyy dreamie, are there other kids living in your street to play with?”

Deph blinked,” Eh, ow. I don’t know. Selchis and me just moved there only a few weeks ago. Lets just find out, shall we?”
He placed the Emma down on her feet.

But she didn’t run, instead she looked up at him, right in his eyes while tilting her little head,” You changed, Deph.”

It... broke his heart cause the way she said it, it felt as if she was sad. But he also knew it was true, and especially children could feel such things. So many things changed since that first day he got here, since that moment this little girl practically had fallen in his arms after the dragon attack.
More than five months...

Quickly he kneeled and placed both of his hands on Emma’s shoulders. “Maybe you are right, kiddo. But I also never forget. I’m at your side and that is something that will never change.”

Emma smiled, briefly squeezed his hand before running ahead. “Catch me if you can!”

This time Deph stayed closer.



The conversation with Anne had also stirred another and well repressed memory.
He had only been fifteen...


------------------------------


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByGI9JywWUI

His best friend ever grinned at him before looking up at the top rigging and sail,” Who gets there first!”

Zachary, almost a head taller but who was about the same age as Depheant, didn’t look over his shoulder to see if he was followed.
The dark haired boy grabbed the stay that gave acces to the main-mast, and began his journey towards the topgallant mast, the place the boys used as look-out for land or other vessels. Or just to chat undisturbed.
Besides them there was no one else who dared or even could pull off this kind of climbing.

Depheant grinned as he ran to the other side and jumped to grab the stay on starboard side, his hands quickly placing one for another and making his way towards the cordage that would bring him to the first yard.
It was still uncertain who of them would win this time as they both were pretty agile and skilled.
He pulled himself up with ease as he didn’t weigh so much and his muscles were already fairly developed for his age.

He glanced at his friend on the other side who’d also reached the first yard and was looking at him with a grin. One point for Zachary.
They knew each other for three years now and had been good friends from the first day they had met. Zachary was appointed by his father as caretaker of the top sails. Whenever repairs needed to be done, his friend was the one who climbed up and made sure the ship could continue its journey. Topsails are the first sails to be set and the last to be taken in. Also, their presence and position well above the sea ensured that the ship received a steady breeze even if the seas were rough.

Today there was no reason however to go up there, this was just for sports.
Depheant could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins as they continued their vertiginous climb, like cats crawling up against an invisibe wall. Soon they reached the second yard and Depheant just had been a little faster. So it was a tie, he still had a chance.

“You ready?!” his friend yelled. “Or do you first need to take care of those pretty hands of yours?”

It was an old mutual joke, something among friends. Depheant was the Captain’s son and Zachary loved to make a bit fun out of that. But he knew better, Zach respected him, just like he did.
The boys could both feel the wind shear... and the higher they got the more the wind got grip on their bodies. The most dangerous part was about to come. They looked at each other with fluttering hairs until suddenly Zachary winked and started the final climb, only a second later to be followed by Depheant on the other side.

“Hey, thats not fair!”

He could hear his friend chuckle.

Good thing was that the weather had been good for several days. The ropes and the rest of the rigging was dry, while the sun provided them with a comfortable warmth, shining on their bare upper bodies. Zachary was almost as tanned as Depheant and from the first day they had met, Zach had made a contest out of everything.
He grinned, as he remembered how he had always accepted the challenges and how he returned the favor once in a while. It also had raised their skills...

Half way their climb, Zachary suddenly stopped. Depheant noticed it and yelled over,” Whats up, getting tired?!” He smirked.

Zachary glanced over his shoulder at him and then pointed at something at sea.

Depheant turned his head, a flapping sail partially obstructing his line of sight with whatever Zachary was pointing at. He decided to climb higher and as soon as he reached the top yard and his hands gripped around the jackstay he turned his head to perceive what the sharp eyes of his friend already had seen. Black sails, and not from one, but two ships.
And by the looks of it there would be no way out.

Pinnaces, designed and build for fast sailing, further customized by pirates for quickly crippling and entering their prey.

“Enemy at port side, two ships!!” Zachary yelled.

A few seconds later Depheant could hear his father yell up at them,” Zach, Depheant! Get your asses down here, on the double!”


------------------------------


Deph hurried behind the little girl. How could have he known that that would be the last day he and Zachary would be talking to each other?

[Jain Zar]

*** My best friend ***

The young man looked down at the wooden jetty below his feet, mild waves sloshing against its piles just before reaching shore. His gaze shifting as he lifted up his head, looking at nothing in particular but the endless blue surface, the morning sun warming the skin on the left side of his face... but he didn’t notice anything at all.
It were the few flat stones he carried in his left hand which made him suddenly aware he had been standing here for a while, doing nothing. A minute later the first stone found itself bouncing over the water, hitting the surface like four times just before disappearing from sight and starting its journey to an eternal life at the bottom of the sea.

The resemblence couldn't have been more striking...


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Depheant Makepeace and Zachary Ams stood side by side, just like they always had done. Fifteen years old, what could possibly go wrong, their lives only just had started and they felt energetic and invincible, after all they had each other.

Zachary was an orphan when he came aboard and almost immediately the boys had adopted each other as brothers. Before Zachary became responsible for the sails at the top of the ship, he and Depheant always worked together, sometimes dirty jobs, sometimes exciting stuff like climbing the masts or fighting imaginary pirats.
Well, and a few times that had happened for real, just like today. Meanwhile they had mastered themselves in the use of short blades and had learned how to fight together. Zachary was more offensive and took more risks in a sword fight while Depheant was rather more defensive and tactical, sometimes giving an opponent the idea he had just overwhelmed his young opponent... which was a mistake of course, certainly with a guy like Zachary at his side. They surely matched.
Zachary was also the big brother he never had, the one who tried to comfort him if his father had been angry again, the one who was there when he was in trouble just to get into trouble himself all along...

He grinned at Zach, and poked him. “Two blades...”

Zach turned his head and offered him a weak smile,”... one weapon.”

The boys lifted their short swords, bringing the shiny tips before their mouths, kissing the cold metal.

The captain, who stood not far from them, glanced and shook his head. “Lets see if you are prepared to kiss their blades too.” He pointed at the first wave of pirates preparing themselves to enter the ship.
Depheant’s father lifted his arm just before dropping it,” Archers, now!!”


And so it began...

A pirate ship left and right from them, almost squeezing the merchant ship between their dark hulls, no escape possible as arrows rained down on their ship from both sides, the only option was to fight back and pray for a beneficial outcome.
The pirates hadn’t offered anything and proved to be deaf for the words of the Mary Gold’s captain.
Good thing was his ship’s archers had been trained for this, quickly taking out some of the pirate’s archers with a few well-aimed shots and making them duck behind railings and drums.
The worst was yet to come though...

Zachary and Depheant stood in the middle of the ship, near the captain, a position where they would be able to reach every spot on the ship very fast and to assist where ever needed.
With loud cries the pirates entered the ship, swinging themselves over using long ropes attached to the yards of the masts. Those scimitars they were holding sure looked impressive and a few had a knife between their teeth... which were not exactly the type one uses for dinner.

The first wave directly hit the center of the ship, as the pirates were either after the captain’s head or attempting to split the Mary Gold’s resistance in two.
Sure this would prove to be the most difficult place for them to get foot on the ship as they would have to worry for attacks from the left and the right... but if they managed, well, that would be a very strategic move.

Zach and Depheant almost immediately had to defend themselves, but the pirates weren’t a match for this young team. Depheant’s posture lured the opponents greedy to take out this young man, while Zach’s blade lashed out, underlining their mistake. Meanwhile Depheant watched his back, warding off any blade aimed at this friend. Immortal... invincible...

Fire broke out, smoke was spreading, the sky … filled with sounds of metal clashing and gurgling sounds of the dying. The archers on both sides had seized fire and drawn long knives to join the fight. Flickering blades aimed for chests and throats lashed out while others were held up to parry them. Live or die...
The fighting around them drove the two young men slowly towards the front of the ship, to great annoyance of the captain who was calling them back, shouting at them to take a stand at his side.

Then suddenly it happened. His friend had stepped with one foot in the loop of a rope connected with one of the side anchors, just on the moment when that rope snapped as a result of a fire.
Zachary looked at his leg, too late... with a smack he landed on the deck as the loop tightened around his ankle, the weight of the anchor dragging him along over the deck.
Depheant noticed immediately, and without attention for any further incoming attacks he dashed and threw himself in the direction of his friend , reaching for and grabbing his hand, locking his fingers around Zach’s wrist.

But the sliding over the ship’s deck didn’t end there, at least not until Zach was drawn overboard, and Depheant had wildy grabbed the railing with his free hand, pushing himself away from the edge and trying to pull up his friend.
He shouted to his friend to hang tight while calling for help. The anchor was just too heavy, every muscle in his body was tensed and he knew he couldn’t pull this off alone. Meanwhile he heard his father yelling for his presence.
Depheant looked at his friend and saw something weird in his eyes, … acquiescence? Zach shook his head, he was in pain as his body and leg was stretched by the weight of anchor.

“Let me go my friend. I’ll free myself under water.”

“No!! Help, help me someone!!” Depheant yelled.

He could only hear his father reply, “Depheant, come here, ON THE DOUBLE!!”

Depheant looked back at his friend, dangling next to the ship’s side with an anchor pulling on his leg. “No... I won’t let you go!”

His friend sounded calm and confident in his reply,” Two blades...”

Tears pooled up in Depheant’s eyes before he said,”... one weapon.”

“Have faith, my brother... now let me go.”

“No...”

“Let me go damn you!!” Zach started to swing, pushing himself away from the ship’s side.

Feeling his fingers slip away around his friend's wrist, Depheant had in the end but not choice then to let go... looking in his friend’s eyes as he fell down in the water and immediately disappeared from sight.

And somehow, he already had known he had lost his best friend, and he assumed Zach knew it too.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Another stone hit the water, and another even further away from the shore,... and ... another... until his anger had cooled down.

He loved her... she was his best friend and today he had offended her, almost causing their ways to be parted forever. At the end of their conversation things had seemed fine... but wasn’t he also asked by Zach to have faith during his last lines?

He would look her up again, soon enough,... only not today. He needed to have faith their friendship was still there... after all, even after Zach’s dead, the friendship he had felt for this guy never ended either.

The same would apply for her...
… Sonja is his best friend, and if it was up to him, it was something that never would change … AND … he would love to have her there, on that special moment...

Deph looked over his shoulder in the direction of the city before turning around and walking homewards... with the sun on his back a soft smile started to appear on his face.

[Jain Zar]

*** Selchis ***

Deph entered their home near the docks, and there she was... waiting for him... with a warm smile and a blush on her face.
His heart skipped a beat as he studied her dress, she was not only one of the nicest girls he ever had met, she was also stunningly beautiful, both on the inside and out.
He gaped at her openly, at the smooth lines of her neck and shoulders, at her untied braids and the slightly curled hair resting just below her bare shoulders, at her stunning curves he adored so much. He blushed... until a few months ago he didn’t even dare to stare at a lady like that. But she was his lady, and a part of his shyness had slowly faded with time.
She was also one of the few people with who he had shared parts of his past.


Just before entering their home he had decided to tell her about his best friend, the one he had lost in the past, but also about the one living here, in the city.


For a brief moment, the memory of what happened just after Zachary’s death, struck him again and made him realise how much his life has changed, and how it was still changing. The lady in front of him was one of the few who knew, if only a part.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Under a bright blue sky, not far from the Cuhannan shore the battered ship dropped its anchor. Only one boy was at work high above the deck in the topgallant mast, reefing its top sails.
The pirates had to flee in the end as the crew of the Mary Gold proved more than a match for them. However, aside from a few other good crew members, Depheant had lost his best friend yesterday.

Good thing of sitting up here was that he was able to give way to his tears without being looked at or comforted by others.
He didn’t needed anybody right now.


“Depheant Makepeace, line up at the middle deck!”, the booming voice of the captain sounded.


With goosebumps all over his body and no idea what to expect, the boy climbed down and noticed the entire crew was present on the main deck.
This would be his first conversation with anyone of the crew or even with his father, since the attack.

He took place between a few of his friends who nodded at him but further remained silent.


“I said, line up!”


Depheant quickly stepped forward, his clothes nothing more than rags as he didn’t had the chance yet to wash up or change. The top sails had been part of the plan of leaving the pirate ships behind as quickly as possible, before they changed their minds and made a second attempt. Ever since had he been up there, taking care of these sails... almost it felt as if he was taking care of his friend... high and away from everything... alone...

Depheant quickly stepped forward... the crew making way for him.


The captain looked down at his son who stopped in front of him.


“Sir...”


“Against the mast!”


“S-sir...?”


The captain’s eyes looked as if they were on fire, so Depheant quickly moved towards the main mast and turned around to face the approaching captain, his father. He glanced at a few of his friends, and had absolutely no idea what was going on.

“Turn around, sailor!”


Depheant blinked,” T-tu...” He quickly turned around.


Behind his back the captain nodded to a bearded sailor standing just next to the mast.


“Stretch your arms, hold them forward.”


Depheant now fully realised what was about to happen and turned to his father, his eyes filled with disbelief.

”Why?”


“I SAID TURN AROUND!!”


A low murmur rose among the crew, some of the sailors openly looking between the captain and his son, others avoiding either the captain’s eyes or Depheant’s.


The boy finally turned around, still not fully believing what was about to happen. He stretched his arms and the bearded sailor took his hands, making him embrace the mast before locking them in chains.

“I’m sorry, kiddo...,” the sailor softly mumbled.


Behind him, Depheant could hear the captain addressing the crew.


“For ignoring an order from a direct superior, three lashes!”

The captain turned around to look at the back of his son before continuing with an angry voice.

”And one more for resisting punishment. No one will we spared from this.”


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


He sighed, it had been only the first... the last ones had been partially healed by his lady. The marks were still there, under his skin, but at least they didn’t hurt anymore.


After giving her a good look, he decided to let the story rest, at least for now... and enjoy a wonderful evening with his amazing lady.

[Jain Zar]

*** Curse ***

If Deph would ever curse, now would have been a good time for it. His heartbeat stopped and the muscles in his legs felt like frozen. He was shocked. The letter he was holding in his left hand, fell on the floor just before he sank next to it, his hands going nervously through his hair, messing it all up.

As if that mattered, he stared at the letter. He had already searched their home and almost everything was there. Selchis had only taken few things with her... to Dars. He glanced at her plate armour, freshly cleaned and arranged neatly on its usual back table, and also the place where he had found the letter.

He turned his head and glanced at it once more… reading the text he had already read like fifty bloody times…

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dearest Depheant,

I have been asked to accompany a small group in a secretive voyage into the heart of my own home. I am in good company, and safe with few knowing where we are headed. I am truly sorry I could not speak to you in person concerning this, but I had little time to prepare myself for this. I felt this was something that I needed to do, both to help my home and to help my friends and family here.

I will be careful for I love you with all my heart and I will do everything I can to return back to you as swiftly as is possible.

If you want to learn more of where we have gone, as I’m sure you do. Seek out Sam, Captain of the Vanguard.

Love always,

Selchis

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

He blinked, reading the last full sentence once more.

“Sammil…” and almost he cursed again.

Though he was afraid there wasn’t much he could do as he himself had signed up to go with Fyvre and her team. He had one hope, their mission would also take place in Dars… perhaps…
All he could do now was to head out for Lendose.



Troubling reports - A call : viewtopic.php?f=18&t=11953
and
Recompense and Atonement : viewtopic.php?f=18&t=11952
...

[Jain Zar]

*** Leaving ***

The young man looked around in his room in the Knightshome, as if he wanted to be sure the experience of having been here was deeply engraved into his memory.
He leaned over and his right hand locked around a shoulder strap of a huge backpack, just before swinging it over his shoulder while his left hand absently searched for the handle of the blade on his belt.

“Right…,” he murmured as he left his place.

Down the stairs he glanced in the direction of the meeting room and a memory struck him, and with it, a pain in his heart.

Selchis…
Not so long ago they were sitting just right there, just... before she disappeared on this mysterious mission. They had talked about their marriage and about Deph’s last visit at the temple of Rhauth.

Emma…
He had went back after the conversation with his lady and promised the little girl to come and get her after they were both back. At some point in the past he had been close to adopting her, but he was too young to be her father... and besides, he felt more like a brother to her, and he sensed Emma felt the same.

Selchis’s suggestion became a proposal which he talked over with both sister Alina and Emma herself.
Deph sighed, Emma would be transfered to the temple of Peralia where she would learn about this god and with times assist Selchis in her work. She was only seven, but already had seen things that made her a bit older in mental age.
And next to Selchis, Emma would also see him more, at least either during his visits at the temple, or when she visited the Knightshome with Selchis.
A weak smile crossed over his face, … he could imagine a whole new world was about to open to Emma.

Deph lowered his head, but it all would have to wait. Selchis was … out ‘there’... while he…
The young man adjusted the position of his backpack and started to walk in the direction of the door leading towards the keep.
With his hand on the door handle, Deph stopped and glanced one more time over his shoulder as another name crossed through his mind.

Amy…
He felt sorry for her after what happened with Sam, actually… it made his heart bleed for her. He wondered how she was doing, but after hearing Reina’s reassuring words that Amy was mending… well… good. He actually didn’t pray much to any god, but in silence he made one to Ishtar for Amy finding her luck.

When he opened the door of the Knightshome, a gust of cold air rushed in and struck him in the face, and for a moment as if it were a banner, a Vigilo cloak fluttered in the wind.

Deph shook his head… it was time to carve out his path...

[Jain Zar]

*** Depheant Makepeace - part 1 : Who am I - ***

As if the wind loved harassing the young man slogging through the mud, its speed was increased to almost storm-like. And as if the young man just grew stubborn, he increased his efforts to reach his destination.
Soon a palisade came in sight, and not much later he came by the gate where he was stopped by two black-clad guards, tugging on their hoods to protect themselves against the wind and the rain. Perhaps the reason why they didn't notice the Vigilo cloak fluttering in the wind.

"Name and business?"

Depheant made a light bow," Squire Depheant Makepeace of the Argentum Vigilo, I am here to see any of the Vanguard commanders."

The two guards glanced at each other, before the other one responded," No commanders currently present, si... mister Makepeace. Is it about an urgent matter?"

"I like to speak to someone in charge," Depheant said, avoiding a direct answer to the question. He shrugged to himself as he didn't feel obliged to do so in front of these two guards. Let them decide either to deny him acces to the Bastion, or lead him to someone of importance.

The two men glanced at each other, and as if they had read his thoughts, one of them motioned him to follow," I'll bring you to the quartermaster."



Minutes later the squire was lead into a small building and they stopped in front of a wooden door. The guard knocked and the door was opened by what seemed another guard. Depheant was introduced and allowed into the room.
There was round table in the middle with no chairs around it. On the right a small burning fireplace offered all the warmth needed, two comfortable chairs in front of it. On the left side of the room maps were hung up against the wall with some notes next to them, and right next to the door stood a small weapon rack.

The guard behind him said," The quartermaster is out for an inspection, but I expect him soon to be back. You can wait by the fire,... sir.”

Depheant nodded and walked over to the fireplace while unclipping his soaked cloak. He swirled him over one of the chairs in the hope it would be less heavy when he left this place again. The bag he was holding in his left hand, was dropped right next to it. He walked over to the flames and glanced at the guard near the door watching every move he made.
Almost instantly he could feel the warmth of the flames penetrating his armour. The weather outside was bad, true, but it was nothing compared to a storm at sea... which he had witnessed more than enough times. When winds are strong enough the create waves big enough to lift a ship three times its height, well...

And so while he was waiting there with his eyes fixated on the flames, he fell back in thought.


… carving my own path to knighthood. I have no idea how to do that, or at least I have no idea what other things I should do than the things I am doing now. Several times I wondered though... if it was enough, if one day I could meet with the standard that is set for becoming knight.
When I am honest with myself, I started doubting as I have on one hand an idea how a knight should be, but on the other hand am groping in the dark of what the knights are expecting to hear from me on the day they put me to the test.

Perhaps I need to put what I did and do next to the Oath and see what I recognise, and be not just honest, but very honest with myself.

Also, who am I and why am I here?
Easy enough to answer, though difficult enough too.

Right now I am a squire of the Argentum Vigilo, the faction - in service of the Princeps -, which I have picked over the Daybreak Alliance in order to fulfill not only my personal dream of becoming a knight, but also to do the things knights do. And that consists of more than just fighting to protect the innocent.
I don’t really care of having the title, although it would be an honor as it would be recognition for whatever I achieved in doing things I believe in.
Also, I arrived in the Knightshome with my own values, being honor, chivalry and courtesy, and they seemed to match the most with the Vigilo.
Further, I came here to look for the tales behind the tale.

And what did I discover?

Well, that there is even more to it in becoming a knight… as you have to find the path yourself. I realise now behind each knight is a tale, ...has to be, as each of them seemed to have found their path somehow. So, why wouldn’t I be able to do that?
It’s not easy though, after been most of my life at sea, only learning things about how to run a ship.
Yes, sure, I’m used to serve, my father even, Captain and owner of a merchant ship, who besides commanding me, raised me with a hard hand and rather no love.
It is my tale…

Tales, let them be one of the reasons why am I here, charmed by the things I read about knights and their doings. Yes, I was inspired in the first place but does it make my application real enough?
Appearantly, since I’m a squire now.
Not so long ago I was wondering again and asked Selchis why she thought I would make a good knight one day.
The answer given was fair and given from her point of view. Good thing I recognised it all and it was close to my idea of acting like a knight. It was enough, and to avoid giving her the feeling I had doubts again, I ended that conversation.

No, no doubts at all, just lacking to find very good reasons why I want to become a knight. Why I want to do what I am doing…
That brings me back to my first conversations with Amy, and later on with sir Phelan. I remember how I talked about the values I carried and how I was prepared to clarify, defend and convey them. Values that can make everyone a knight without having the necessity for a title.
For the few who know my background it must be a mystery how and where someone like me picked up those values… its even a mystery to me.
Perhaps they are written in the soul or in the heart when you get born, or maybe it is destiny driving you.

So, here I am now, ready to carve my path, I know what I want and am about do, but I still wonder...

[Jain Zar]

*** Depheant Makepeace - part 2 : Pledged to help - ***

Three hours later, a figure seated on a horse left the Bastion, almost bravely opposing all advice concerning the weather. He took a left only to behold an hour later a flooded road in front of him.
Well, no one had told him it would be easy, but he hoped to reach his destination within two days. The forest on the left was tempting as an alternative for the trecharous mirror-like path in front of him. A surface that could easily cover up holes and other hidden obstacles.

Deph surveyed the terrain and looked back at the road, which more looked like a river when he noticed a subtle stream. The water was moving in his direction, in the direction of Lendose, extending, engulfing and conquering more and more land.



The young man narrowed his eyes, as if this sight disturbed him. In fact, a line from the Oath of the Vigilo crossed his mind.

I give my oath, as a Knight of the Argentum Vigilo, to pledge assistance to those less fortunate; to protect the innocent and the weak; to relieve the burdens of the oppressed, and to offer salvation to the imperiled.

Deph glanced over his shoulder and bit his lip.


A few hours later he found himself digging at the side of a company black-clad warriors, soon all covered with mud, as they attempted to stop or at least deflect the upcoming water of the newly formed river by raising a provisional dam.

With his cloak almost as black as the people working next to him, the young man stopped for a moment and nodded to the others just before looking in the direction of the farms.

At least one place where the tide was turned...

[Jain Zar]

*** Depheant Makepeace - part 3 : Overcoming - ***

The Squire glanced over his shoulder, only to witness how the distance between the ship and the city increased.
Cear… where he yesterday held his own in the arena and had passed for the Trial of Prowess under the scrutiny of two knights and in front of the people present. And it turned out very special.
Right after the duels he had a short conversation with the knights and a bit later with Celestia and Ardaion, raised from the dead.
After that, he had to find an inn to catch some sleep first as he simply was dead tired.
Only hours before he had consented doing his first Trial and was teleported to Cear, he found himself near Lendose standing on a quickly improvised dam made of rocks, branches and earth, making sure the job there was finished.


Now, he looked in front of him at the open sea and was on his way to Lendose again, where he would attempt once more to carve his own path. He was behind on schedule, but he couldn’t have reached his destination anyways with the flood.
Perhaps… perhaps it was a sign from the gods.. perhaps it hadn’t been time yet. Depheant shook his head… the gods had no impact on these matters, nor did they interfere, that was just… superstition.
Though he would try and see if he could talk to Phelan about yesterday… about what the last duel, the one with Celestia had meant to him.
The young man rubbed his hair. On the other hand, this ‘fight’ had been more important to him than to any other, and he was happy with how things went.
So… why bother?

Well, also because Celestia was his friend perhaps and already had done several things for him.
He closed his eyes and recalled the moment she adressed him in the arena, her eyes bright on him, her voice crystal clear… talking about his dream, which reminded him of the earlier conversations between them.
She saw it… she knew him, and now … after last night, he had no idea how he could repay her, not yet at least. He took place at the bow of the ship and pensively stared in the distance…


Two days later Depheant arrived at the Knightshome. None of the knights seemed present, so he went up his room and prepared his bag once more. Tomorrow he would leave again…


The next morning the Squire found himself on a white stallion riding in the direction of Fort Kratos.
Another daytime later, and almost immediately after changing horses there, he set course towards his final destination, the place where he would start to carve out his path.
These three Trials may be a way to see if someone qualifies in the various areas of Knighthood, but without experience he would be just worth nothing.

Just after they crossed the bridge, Depheant spurred his horse again… hooves glittered in the sunlight as rider and horse started to cross another ocean of green.
He was late, and so focussed on his journey that he didn’t see an arrow point aiming at his chest, nor did he hear the bow releasing it…

The sharp object raced towards the white clad man who heard the sickening sound only an eye blink before it pierced his shoulder. The impact of the thick arrow and the pain knocked the young man back off his saddle, and he landed rolling over in the mud and marshy ground which broke his fall.



Still conscious, lying flat on his tummy and with his face in dirt, he heard cheering and voices in the distance.

“We’ve got ourselves a Knight, boyzzzz!!”

The arm, half under the Squire’s body moved slowly in the direction of his belt, two seconds later his fingertips felt the cold metal of the sword’s pommel...

[Jain Zar]

*** Depheant Makepeace - part 4 : Ghost from the past - ***

From what he overheard, it was not hard to discern that the voices approaching him belonged to three or four men, and they were laughing and making jokes about how they ‘nailed’ a ‘Knight’.
He was smart enough to stay down, since he assumed one or more of them still carried their bow, and against that he would be unable to defend himself. But with the blade…
The hood, still covering head and face, and his Vigilo cloak, partially draped over his back and arm, hid his next move...


To his enemies Depheant was lying facedown in a large puddle and when he heard pairs of boots entering it, he suddenly rolled to his side and launched a klot of mud in the surprised face of a man, hitting him in the eyes and making him temporarily blind.
The unexpected move the Squire made had surprised the others, who clearly presumed their victim to be unconscious, … which was a mistake…


Assuming the four men made part of a bigger hostile force in the area, and were out to capture or even kill him, Depheant decided that an attack would be his best defense.
A memory about his duel with Captain Firin, in which he was teached about picking and switching between going defensive and offensive flashed through his mind. He would have paid a lot of gold for having that man at his side now… but he didn’t… he was on his own...


Without hesitation he kicked at another man's leg, knocking him off his feet and ending his life with the blade that simultanously had swooped through the air during the man's fall. In less than five seconds he had almost halved the enemy number. But he was also wounded, and the arrow which had pierced the shoulder on the side of his sword arm reminded him of that, as it was still in his flesh...


Lying on his back while he struggled to get up, he was only given two seconds more to raise his sword against an incoming blow. The shock of the impact from metal meeting metal made the muscles in his arm tremble, and he had to grit his teeth in an attempt to suppress a cry. Blood oozed slowly but heavily from the wound, creating an unbearable stabbing pain.
Though instead of crying, Depheant aggressively pushed his sword up, making it slide over the blade of his foe and cutting him in the belly. It made the man trip and fall backwards.
The drawback of standing instead of sitting on slippery terrain...


This time he wasn’t granted the room to finish him off though as the fourth, and what appeared to be the leader of this squad had jumped forward and lashed out to protect his companion. On the moment Depheant raised his blade, once again, metal met metal.
The fight froze for a moment and Depheant turned his head a little, looking from under his hood at his new opponent who was hooded as well.
He noticed the man was giving a nod and then realised there was one more opponent… too late. Almost sitting on one knee while his blade was blocked by the ‘leader’, Depheant could hear behind him the sound of a sword splitting air...


The Squire rolled in the direction of the ‘leader’ next to him, slammed against his legs but couldn’t prevent a nasty cut in his upper arm from the other guy’s blade.
He turned on his knees and his blade, now free again, swooshed around and hit that man in his legs, crippling him significantly. Blood splattered in the Squire’s face.
That left him with the ‘leader’, but when he turned around, while sending his sword towards the other side again, metal met metal.
And once more both men looked at each other from under their hoods…


Weird.
They got up slowly, almost simultanously, metal scraping over metal as their blades were still kissing.
Then, suddenly, once on their feet, the leader lashed out, several times. During these first blows, Depheant concentrated on his defense and let his muscles settle into the rhythm of the swordplay which looked… strangely familiar...


After several minutes of attempting to get past the Squire’s defenses, the leader seemed to lose his temper and began to batter at him as if he had expected a quick defeat instead of an equal opponent.
The swampy soil pulled on their boots, making sucking sounds at each step they made. And as the fight continued they slowly moved out of the giant puddle. The leader seemed to increase his attempts to murder the Squire by every next blow and soon Depheant discovered what fighting for your life really meant…


At some points their weapons caught each other high in the air, and for a moment the fight stopped… this was… so familiar.
Both men circled around each other, looking from under their hoods… those eyes...
A moment later they started wacking at each other again, and several times Depheant’s blade caught the leader’s. Thus far they hadn’t wounded each other yet.
The leader seemed particulary strong in the offensive part, while the Squire proved to have a high endurance, especially when considering the arrow still in his shoulder, ... his clothes slowly turning red. In the arena this would have been a fantastic duel, as a good assault between two well-matched fighters is a nice and fast display of strength, inventiveness and skill.
But this wasn’t the arena...


The leader threw several powerful strikes and thrusts as he tried to dominate his opponent and control the fight.
But Depheant guarded his head and body only too well, making it impossible for the other to wound him. Although he had no idea how much longer he would be able to continue. In a flash he noticed they had moved at least fifty paces in the direction of the treeline and for a moment he blinked.
How long was this fight going on now?


He waited and waited while fending off the incoming blows one by one, and although he saw several openings, his opponent didn’t gave him the chance to use them as he was simply too fast for that.
Magic, flashed through Depheant’s mind… but he was too exhausted and again barely had the chance to focus on that. This wasn’t an undead he was fighting, this was a trained sword fighter.
So familiar…


Time to take a risk.
As the leader stepped in for another blow, Depheant kicked in the direction of man’s knee, surprisingly enough hitting the spot. But due his speed and the force of his blow, the man fell over in his direction and both lost control over their weapon.
With the arrow still in his shoulder, the Squire found himself rolling over in the dirt with man’s bare hands around his throat, attempting to strangle him.
Luckily for Depheant, the rolling ended with him on top and the arms lending strength to the hands around his throat, lost a bit of their power.
Depheant didn’t notice yet that his and the man’s hood had fallen off as he had been looking for his dagger which he was now about to be send to the head of his opponent.


With his eyes wide open, a cry escaped the Squire's lips, finally giving way to all pain and frustrations,“AAAARRRRHHHH!!!!!”

But just before the hand escorting the dagger was about to lash out like an eagle swooping down on its prey, their eyes met.

...Impossible...


If someone at a distance, would have observed these two fighters on the soil, it would have looked as if they just got petrified and made part of one big statue.


“D... Depheant …?”


The young man blinked,“ Za... Zachary?”