The Darkest Knight

Beneath the Golden Banner

The 19th day of the Hunters Moon in the year 1233

Present Day

I

n the Fortress of the Border town of Renoia
.....................................................

"Oi, what I'd do, to have a lassie like dat, In me bed."
"Ah Lad, a woman like that, can only take a beast like you, in your deepest dreams." Hamish chortled hitting the gangly redhead roughly on the back.
"Ye, but a man can wish." The boy sighed thoughtfully earning a round of laughter from the men in the hall.
"Aye, I heard her hair is as soft as the purest silk." One man whispered
"Wi, and as long as the long as the drapes in the Kings palace." Another called out swiging back his ale.
"Just imagine those long, gracefully legs around ones waist." Hamish laughed.
"Don't have to Imagine," Galen growled Jealously, "Just ask the Captain."

Hamish Grunted. "Ey, the Cap'n does spend an awful lot of time with the wee lassie."
"Im sure he's smashed, by now." Dane the carrot haired lad, grumbled slaming down his drink, sloshing ale across the scarred wooden table.
The men laughed.
"Cap'n smashing! Why he's just as delicate as the brothel ladies in the village." Another round of laughter ensued.

"Care to test how 'delicate' your Captain is on the rough then Hamish?" Amynta growled from the dorway.

Silence greeted him from the crowded mess hall. Twenty pairs of eyes stared, waiting for the captains next words on baited breaths.

"I, uh, was meerly joking, Sire." Hamish choked his pale complexion, whiting further. He rubbed his burly arms.

"I, see. Next time, find your amusement elsewhere, I'm sure the lord would be so pleased to hear you speak of his only daughter so, as for me. Meet on the rough for training." Turning from the door and striding away, Amynta called over his shoulder, "Meal is over, head out now."

The men quickly scurried out of the hall.

The Captain may not be a large man, infact he was the smallest man in the fort, besides the Lords sickly bookkeeper, but what he lacked in size and muscle he gained in speed and cunning.

The rough was the sandy arena outside the forts walls, were the men practiced combat. It was once a grassy green area but the constant use and the pounding of heavy feet prevented the grass from growing back.

When the men finished changing into their leathers and made it to the rough. The Captain was already there waiting for them.

Dressed in black breeches and a flowy navy blouse, he looked more at ease in the Palace court than on a dusty battlefield. He held his Emerald hilted sword in his hand and stood at ease before them.

He was a small man. Barely 5 foot 5. Thin as a rail with delicate muscles, thin almost feminine features and long jet black hair he kept tied low to the back of his head and tucked into the back of his shirt.

Though he was the smallest man by far, even smaller than gangly Dane, he was the best of the Lords men.
Unbeatable in combat.

"Hamish, unsheath your sword" he command unflinchingly as the burly giant shuffled forward.
The men crowded around at a safe distance to watch.