Ruben: A Journey's Beginning

Chapter 5: Climbing The Ranks

"AMAZING!" Our Templar yelled at us as he put one arm around me and Anderson. "Brutal! Gory! Ferocious! I'm proud to have watched that fight. The helmet throw was something I've done a time or two in battle!" He exclaimed with a laugh. "Now, you there" he said pointing at Anderson, "Hand over you blade and and run." To which Anderson stared somewhat confused. His thin brows squinted underneath his long, curly black hair just above his crystal blue eyes. He seemed to have fair skin, although it seems our quarrel roughed it up. "Run? Where Sir Templar?" "To the third wall, and back, then again... then again." Andersons jaw hung open lightly to this news. "RUN!" The Templar said as he shoved him. So with a few stumbles Andersons legs operated into a light job all the way to the distant cobble wall. Just as he began his job, dozens of other losers begin to follow suit. My heart sunk to this, but there was no time to remorse as I heard William call me off in the distance, "Ruben? You actually won?" He blurted as he walked towards me. "Jeez, got roughed up huh" he said as he examined my face. "Oh, just a few scratches and bruises." It hurt yes, but it was almost a feel-good pain. These scars made me feel accomplished in my victory, I haven't been roughed up in quite a long time. Almost like a ferocious nature slowly developing with every second I wear that helmet. "Come now Ruben, drink and be merry. It'll be a few minutes before your next match." He then led me to a barrel that sat on a table outside the cathedral and filled my tankard for me and handed me the cup. I took two massive gulps as I hoped to get a buzz to ease my aches. Though before I could finish it William ripped it from me and pulled me towards another circle. As I was dragged I got a glimpse at the losers that had just finished their first lap. They arrived gasping for air and vomit oozed through many of their breathing and eye holes in their helmets. A few then went to remove their helmets to which then the Templar that led my group earlier retreated a large stick to then bang their helmets back in their heads. As I looked away I heard him yell "Don't you dare remove those helmets!" My attention was then focused on the end of the last fight as one man was struck on the side of the head with the hilt of his opponent sword to which he was rendered unconscious after the attack. The crowed had a mixture of cheering and gasps after the attack and the defeated man was then dragged away and slapped with a glove a few times before waking back up. "Now! Who's next? The 2nd round is beginning." A Templar said. "This man here!" William exclaimed as he pointed at me. "Good! Anyone else?" The other Templar questioned. "Me." And a figure pushed her way through the crowd. He stood in front of me, seemed to be shorter and lighter than me and even had some of his armor stripped off to be just mostly leather. He wore a steel cap, revealed eyes, and a chain mail mask over his nose and mouth. With a hard gulp I put back on my helmet and was handed another rusty sword, this time by William, and a fellow Templar did the same to my opponent. "You better win, I got money betted on you" William whispered to me. "Gee thanks man" I said as I rolled my eyes within the helmet. We stood about 6 feet apart while staring into each others stressed eyes. "Ready?" A Templar came between us, eying the both of us. "FIGHT!" Neither on of us moved a muscle. We stood and waiting for what felt like dozens of seconds. Why? Why won't he make a move? I began to become uneasy in anticipation. "Make a move!" I yelled at him. He then took one step closer and said calmly. "I am Sir Jebodiah, son of Sir Jacob. I wish you luck, you will need it." I was shocked at his words, but I shook it off as I built up my courage and placed my energy into a quick lunge. Surprise him and strike! I will attempt to defeat him as quickly as possible before he has a chance to stand! Though I could barley see out of my eye slots as my sword whiffed through the air, the tip plunging into to the dirt. "Be faster my friend" I heard behind me. I haven't the time to bear arms again, and he then kicked out my legs and I collapsed under the armor. Though my sword became unstuck and I landed on it as it lied flat on my chest. With great urgency I rolled over on my back with blade in hand only to meet a sharp bar of steel pointed at my nose. For a little while there was silence, I rested defeated on my back, and waited for the Templar to call the fight. "Well? What are y'all waiting for?!" An unnaturally deep voiced called out. I turned my head towards the voice to see a decorated helm push through the crowds to finally emerge as him... Sir Floki. He moved over our 10 yard distance in seemingly 3 strides. He pushed Jebodiah nearly clean off of his feet and grabbed me by my Templar robes demanding, "GET UP! You don't ever give up as a Templar!" He screamed as he sat me on my feet. "You kill. Not gracefully, not respectfully, but mercilessly!" All men around us seemed to take a few steps back into the crowd, even the sprinters forced themselves to stop breathing heavily. "This battle, will not be won my mere 'Halt', but either by extreme wounds or knockout. Put some hair on your chest! We are far too week to take on those Muslims! We are marching into their territory! Once we meet with the rest of the army that is it! No reinforcements. No backing out. NO STOPPING! It's either we all return home, or no one does! Either our blood or those Muslims blood will be smeared across the east!" He then ripped away mine and Jebodiahs rusty blades and looked through a chest to remove two one handed axs. Then he tossed both onto the grass and turned his back to sit upon a chair on the stairs of the cathedral. "FIGHT!" With those words all went blank and nearly animalistic instinct came over me as I dived at the closest ax, Jebodiah doing the same. With a new second wind I began to swing the blade wildly, grunting intensely with each swing. Red filled my vision as Sir Flokis words rang through my head... "Mercilessly!" Though Jebodiah remained calm, cool, and collected. He seamlessly would duck and step back away from my swings... waiting for an opening. After another flurry of swings my arm began to ache, he was just dodging to exhaust me! My vision focused again and my own voice could be heard within my head again. After my last missed swing I stopped, took two steps back, and recovered. He has very weak armor, one slash should end the fight. He's too fast... think Ruben! While my brow knitted in thought he then took the opportunity to dash. I'll just block his upper attack and counter! Though when my opponent was within five feet from me he slid across the ground, ax targeting my lightly armored inside thigh. With shock and surprising even myself with great reaction speed I was able to jump slightly to narrowly avoid the attack. Now counter! Though as I held my blade high in the sky, I had a plan. As Jebodiah gazed at my ax he rolled to my right and went to stand only for me to have never swung at all, but instead moved the weapon to my right hand when he rolled and sunk my blade into the middle of he shoulder just as he was about to stand. He wobbled beneath me on his knee, breathing in deep and slow as his leather and cloth began to stain with blood. Ringing, which I had fail to realize was there, began to fade as cheers and shouts of the surrounded men yelled in celebration. "Ah! Now that's what I'm looking for!" Sir Floki yelled and began to stand and clap in honor of me. I then returned to Jebodiah and knelt with him, "I apologize, dear brother. Please find it in your heart to forgive me." I pleaded. To which he removed his helm to reveal his face and I did the same. The man, probably mid thirties, gazed into my eyes with his large brown ones, "I either live a life of grand adventure, or stay impoverished and a slave. I'd rather work with those who care for me." And he smiled with his remark. Too scared to embrace him like I did with Anderson due to his injury I instead placed my hand on the back of his neck and placed my dirty blond hair on his forehead. "Thank you for your forgiveness. We're all brothers here."