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When Knight-Captain Fanilly ordered everyone into three groups, Lucas Storm did what he usually did these last few months... try to see what Sir Gerard was doing.  As the young man looked about for his hero, knights crissing and crossing his gaze, he finally put eyes on Gerard who was lining up with the Captain herself.  Heading that way, a turn of the shoulder here, a gentle push there, he suddenly found himself in close proximity to Paladin Tyaethe.  In fact, he'd stumbled right in front of her, and whether she was looking directly at him or not, he didn't want to chance disrespecting her.  He had already heard a few grumblings from other knights who questioned his presence in the Order of the Iron Roses.  If he angered any of the senior knights and was kicked out, he would have nowhere to go.  His boyhood fantasy (the fantasy of most-all boys who'd read books or been told stories) that'd now turned into an actually achievable goal within the blink of an eye, would turn to dust.  And he would be on the streets with no family [i]or[/i] purpose.  And so he quarter-turned towards her, using the exposed tunic on his bicep to wipe the worst of the blood from his face before standing to attention.

The orders were clear and concise, (Lucas repeated them a few times to himself to burn them into his mind,) but it was hard not to be distracted by the Paladin who was giving them.  There was something very different about looking into the eyes of a vampire, Lucas couldn't place it.  His mind flashed him a wild image of his parents as zombies when he considered if it was because he was looking at what was essentially a dead girl.  Or maybe it was the idea that his commanding officer had witnessed more than two centuries of time.  He'd never had much interaction with Tyaethe and her demeanour didn't exactly invite random questions, but [i]by Reon[/i] did he have a list for her.

And that to add to that long list of inquries, the Paladin - just moments before it was time to advance into camp - transformed into a full grown person dressed head to toe in the finest armour.

[color=6ecff6]"Fucking blimey,"[/color] was the breathless reaction of the young man.  Lucas, in spite of being raised around some of the foulest mouthed circus folk, had never actually cursed so hard in his life.  But then, he'd never actually taken a life ere tonight either.  Yes, there were plenty of 'firsts' for the boy this night.  He only hoped he didn't have his first [i]death[/i] too.

Just as he'd imagined earlier; the fort would indeed be a significantly harder beast to contend with, in comparison to the skirmish with ambushers.  Under command of Paladin Tyaethe, the group charged the patchwork palisade walls and a mass of glinting metal was right there to meet them.  That same rush of emotion accosted him as noise level began to rise.  He roared alongside his comrades as they neared, and instead of letting the rushing river of nerves and emotion take him away, he stood in the riverbed, feet planted, and let those currents rise around him into a spinning helix of power that reached the clouds.  Yes it would be bloody!  Yes it would be downright savage! But such was the retribution that these lawless, dishonourable vagabonds deserved!

[color=6ecff6]"JUSTIIIICE!"[/color]

As the line crashed against the defenders, Lucas whacked away a spear thrusting towards him, spinning within his enemy's guard and two-hand crashing his blade where neck meets shoulder.  He withdrew immediately to fend off other threats, taking two steps back as he did, then closed the space vehemently when the enemy weapons drew back for another strike.  His poorly placed strikes did nought but glance off sturdy armour but he stayed determined as he backpedalled to block and parry more blows.  An unidentified knight next to him took advantage of the bandit in front of Lucas, smashing his huge mace into the bandits head and crushing his helmet along with half of his skull.  Lucas pressed forward again in the rhythmic back-n-forth waves of the fight, copying his comrade and taking advantage of the bandit in front of [i]him[/i], stabbing the waist and turning the momentum of pulling out into an overhand strike to the neck, then quickly moving on from the payback to engage another.

With so many capable knights around him, Lucas was not in any danger of being overwhelmed.  His comrades more than held their own, making the young man's life much easier.  In fact, the man to his right was none other than Sir Renar - easily recognisable with the distinct fur mantle he wore on top of his armour - was making mince meat of the enemy.  Perhaps it was the attention (and fear) the older knight was garnering from the bandits that was giving Lucas the easy looks he was getting.  Another bandit fell to the sword of the Storm.

In his short time with the Order, Lucas had gotten the impression that Renar didn't like him.  It wasn't anything overt, just a feeling.  But right now, as comrades in arms, in the heat of battle, he didn't let that stop him from replying to the man's observation.

[color=6ecff6]"It's gotta be another trap,"[/color] Lucas answered, a quick pause as his eyes darted left and right to decide his next move.  That's when he saw a little ways down the line, the shining knight that was Paladin Tyaethe causing absolute chaos, a teethy grin spread across his face.  [color=6ecff6]"He better do something soon, or they be no anvil left to smash his hammer against."[/color]  A bandit came at him and he sidestepped the attack and hacked at his enemy's knee, before spinning into a slash that wasn't strong enough to take the head clean off, but killed his adversary all the same.  [color=6ecff6]"Carve a path to the cage?"[/color] he offered to Sir Renar.  He wouldn't be confident enough to do it alone, but having the man who'd famously killed an orc warlord at his side, in addition to his raging adrenaline, would be another matter entirely.