[center][h3]The foothills of the Rudines, the Lampert March[/h3][/center] [center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPQtJ2OQvr8]Mellow atmosphere[/url][/center] After the grey rainclouds on the skyline had passed over the land to a new horizon, the two Paladins rode their powerful steeds through the silent woodlands the grey rain left in its wake. Every leaf was beset by dew, with droplets occasionally falling down misleading passing travelers that it’s still raining. The landscape before them was murky, the forests were asleep. Not a sound was heard, and no bird made song. For a whole day, neither Paladin had spoken a word to the other. Until Autchar glanced at the horseman riding besides him. [i]‘’Hrm. You don’t look too well, brother.’’[/i] Einhard paused for a few moments then sternly replied, [i]“I was enjoying the silence.. Trust me, I am we-...”[/i] he felt his speech interrupted by an uncontrollable urge to let out a mighty yawn. The environment made the paladin drowsy. He hadn’t slept in days. For hours now Einhard was pushing himself to keep moving onward, at least until they’d come upon a village or a hearth, any place he could take shelter, but the Paladin company had not come upon any. They are in remote lands. And he felt himself becoming more tired by the minute. [i]‘’Hrm? Where are you going?’’[/i] The other Paladin raises an eyebrow when Einhard’s horse starts to trail off the path. [i]“I have been up too long, Autchar, I just need a little time to rest. I think…’’[/i] Einhard shakes his head. [i]‘’No, I am useless if we were to ride into any peril at present… I would only wear us down.’’[/i] [i]‘’Don’t give me that coward’s tone. Time is of the essence. The King expects great things of you. We can’t let your condition get in the way of our quest.’’[/i] Einhard turns back to Autchar and musters his best exhausted smile. [i]“Keep on moving my friend, I will catch up to you. You have my word.”[/i] Far from being empathetic, the other paladin responds aloof. [i]‘’Hrm. If you can’t go on, then I will… I will see you in the frontier township of Rudinberg.’’[/i] With those words, Autchar whipped up his horse [i]‘’HEI-JA!’’[/i] and sped off. His yells fade out in the distance. Pulling off the path, Einhard urged his horse to the largest tree in his vicinity. An ancient oak. Following this, einhard tied his horse around a sturdy low hanging branch. ...Then proceeded to collapse on the ground underneath it. [center][b]Hours Later[/b][/center] Einhard began to wake. Through his blurred vision he could see the sun’s settings rays piercing through the leaves as the day turned to night. In this state he almost didn’t see it, the figure. How big this creature was Einhard couldn’t tell, but it was standing only ten feet away, and in its hand was a sword. Einhard began to panic and moved to lunge to his mace, but he felt his body moving slowly, he was still stirring and anxiety clinched his body. Finally, Einhard reached his mace and he spun around raising his mace towards the air, hoping that he would catch the blow which would end his life. His eyes squinted, but the blow would never come. After a few moments of holding his mace in the air, Einhard opened his eyes and saw the form kneeling before him. Einhard took a second to process the person in front of him, a man… no, a boy looking no older than fifteen with short hair with freckles dotting his face, and a rusty sword pressed into the brown soil. [i]“What is the meaning of this?”[/i] Einhard bellowed at the boy. The mysterious teen stuttered back in a nervous tone, [i]“I’d li- li- like to become yer yer your shield bearer, Master Einhard”. [/i] Einhard moved his hand towards the waterskin of ale to ease his nerves, relieved by the turn of circumstances. Once eased, the paladin began to sit in a more comfortable position. [i]“And this is how you were planning on making a first impression?”[/i] Einhard stated coldy to the boy. [i]“I am sorry sir… I was standing watch for hours since I found you collapsed here… I only wanted to help..”[/i] the boy uttered back on the verge of tears. Einhard pondered the boy further, he did a good deed by ensuring that the figure standing before him wasn’t some sort of goat legged monster, however nearly killing him with a heart attack wasn’t much better. After a long period of silence between the two, Einhard resumed talking. [i]“Alright, it is clear that you have good intentions in your heart... So, tell me boy,”[/i] Einhard leans towards the boy while taking a swig of ale then inquires, [i]“How do you know my name?”[/i] Another long pause was endured between the two of them, the boy seemed hesitant, but began to explain himself. [i]“Back when I was a child, Paladin Mauger often rode through this area on his way to the mountains… and one day me and my father were held up by raiders…”[/i] already struck by the anxiety of being faced by an imposing warrior as Einhard, the sad memories being rekindled got the boy on the verge of tears. [i]“They-... they killed my father before your father could reach us… They were going to turn on me, but your father charged into them and slew the murderer. The others were scared away as he waved his sword at them.”[/i] through his tears the boy made a slight smile. [i]“This sword…’’[/i] The boy lifts the sword, holding it before Einhard’s eyes. Indeed, he could recognise the very rune inscription Mauger had long ago etched into the iron. [b]‘ALAMEHTIGAN’[/b]. [i]‘’Your father gave me his sword, Alamehtigan… and in my mind I vowed that one day I would become his sword bearer, or shield bearer, or any bearer, really. … though your father died not longer after in the Rudine Mountains.”[/i] the boy stated with sorrow in his voice. Bewildered by the story, and this unexpected encounter in general, Einhard tried to piece together why his father would relinquish such a precious weapon to a stranger… though that was exactly the sort of charitable act he had always known him for. Suddenly, the boy blurted out [i]“But I never forgot his sigil! Your father’s insinga, the Clovisciscian Brown Bear… that's how I recognized you, master Paladin.’’[/i] Indeed, Einhard had a brown bear sewn onto the top of his cape, he didn’t think anyone would notice it, but this strange boy did. The paladin was still lost for words as he processed the story. [i]“...I suppose now that I have finally found Mauger’s son, I will have to return Alamehtigan to you.”[/i] [i]“No.’’[/i] Einhard responds resolutely. [i]“Keep it. It’s yours. My father wished for you to have it, and a son must honour this wish.’’[/i] Einhard smiles. [i]‘’Besides, I am more of a mace wielder anyway.’’[/i] He points to the mace resting on his side. Though readily willing to part from the sword he had grown so attached to, the boy seemed elated with the response. [i]‘’Are you… are you sure?’’[/i] [i]“Very sure.”[/i] While Einhard took in the information, he observed a kindred spirit. This boy too had lost his father at a young age like so many of the Clovisciscan line. Yes… The boy would make an excellent shield bearer. Einhard cleared his throat, and proclaims with flare; [i]“Very well. I will accept you as my shield bearer then… young… uh.. What is your name, boy?”[/i] The boy responded back with increased confidence [i]“My name is Marozia, Daughter of Cleph… I don’t really have a great family line like you, my father was only a hunter.”[/i] Einhard replied with shock, [i]“Wait… you are a girl?”[/i] Marozia replied, [i]“Yes… I'm a girl… sorry I didn’t want to correct you.”[/i] Einhard takes another long swig of the waterskin of ale, [i]“Guess that explains your voice isn’t as low as I would expect for your age.”[/i] Einhard clasps his hand on her shoulder, [i]“Rise then Marozia, I will take you as my shield bearer… though I am currently lacking a shield for you to bear.”[/i] Marozia rises to her feet, [i]“Thank you sir, I will do my best to protect you… I have a little practice with this sword, I have killed about ten rats with it!”[/i] Marozia says while beaming with a smile, before with growing excitement stating; [i]“OH! Maybe since I don’t have a shield right now you could even teach me how to use it properly!”[/i] Einhard looks away for a second and manages to respond, [i]“You still seem like quite the young… lass… I am not quite sure tha-.”[/i] Einhard shakes his head and sighs, [i]“To be honest, the greater reason I can’t take the sword is that I never knew how to wield it effectively. I’m not worthy of Alamehtigan, nor can I teach you how to use it. I’d only bring shame on my father.”[/i] Marozia stares at Einhard for a few seconds and then begins to grin, [i]“A Chlotar Paladin who can’t use a sword and a shield maiden without a shield, maybe one day they will sing stories about us.”[/i] She laughs at her statement, her joy forcing a smile out of Einhard, [i]“Hmph, maybe they will.”[/i] Suddenly, it hits Einhard that her name is not typical of a Chlotar female, [i]“Marozia, I am assuming that you are of Lampert descent then. Do you follow Godas or are you a godle-...”[/i] Marozia blurts out indignantly, not liking his tone [i]“Of course I follow Godas! My parents had to flee our lands from the King’s dogs before I was born!”[/i] Einhard nods his head, elated [i]“I promise you, Marozia, there will be a reckoning. We Chlotars will restore Godas to the Lamperts.”[/i] If she had answered wrongly, Einhard wouldn’t have struck her on the spot or anything. He’s not a blind zealot. Or at least, so he likes to think. The paladin turns to his stallion that had all the while waited patiently, [i]“Well, we have a quest to get to.”[/i] Einhard motions to her to climb on the back of his horse, stretching out his hand. Taking it, she deftly climbs on behind. [i]“So what is our quest then Einhard?”[/i] asks Marozia. [i]“I am here to finish what my father started. Our King has tasked me to retrieve the Millennia Horn.”[/i] Einhard states to his new companion. [i]“Okay! Uh… so where are we going to then?”[/i] Einhard responds with heavy voice, “[i]The Horn was lost within the Rudine Mountains.[/i]” [i]“Oh.”[/i] Marozia replies with a shaky voice. Einhard is tempted teasing her about being scared of the monsters lurking in the Mountains, however given Einhard’s track record he decides against it. “[i]Don’t worry, there will be another Paladin with us going into the passes, and I will teach you some of the basics of combat once we reach the township[/i],” Marozia smiles while daydreaming about the adventures they could embark upon and the glory that they could achieve. The sun has gone down by now. They ride into the afterglow, making sure to stick to the road in the darkness ahead.