194 Retribution

Henry pointed at the walls. Skirmishes were ongoing between the outnumbered knights and the King's men. The knights were pinned near the front tower. They were holding for now but soon they would buckle under the weight of the attackers.

"First Century and second Century, dismount capture the walls. I want every inch of it in our hands. I want every crossbowmen that serves that coward King bleeding their deaths"

"Aye Grand Master" The two Centurions saluted, their balled hands firmly pressed against their chest.

Henry next turned towards the four Centurions to his left- an old knight, a young knight with a scar, the two had unremarkable features.

"Keep those Punishers at bay. Use your brains for they are not using theirs. Surround them and nip away their strength"

"Until our last breaths Grand Master" The young one saluted. The others followed.

Henry knelt towards Stan's lifeless body. He cupped the cold face of his friend. Henry closed his eyelids and uttered a silent prayer to the Omniscient. He opened his eyes again and heaved a deep sigh. He took the sword Stan was holding, the steel was as cold as the corpse.

"I'll borrow this brother" Henry said.

He rose. With the mace on his left and the sword on his right, he raised both arms and shouted, "The rest come with me! We shall end the fanatics' reign on this city. We are the swords of justice!"

**********

The bard was too tired to sing another song. Another song was not needed anyway as his last one truly took effect. Other people say that bards got it easy- an occupation of singing in taverns and celebrations and sometimes in palaces had nothing difficult about it. But the bard knew a bard would know. A song is a sword without a hilt. It cuts deep and true to the heart and holding it without incurring wounds is impossible. A song is an ocean of feelings knitted by mere words that would swallow both the singers and the listeners. A song is ram that could batter the strongest gates. A song is an arrow that could pierce even the thickest of armors.

The bard knew and the bard sang. He smiled, knowing that he contributed his best. The song earlier wasn't chosen in random nor was it on a whim. Jimmy's Nightmare was banned in Vuono for a reason and that reason is fear. Even though the knights were trying to hide the butchery of Cerwin the Pious all those years ago, people like the bard still remember. Even how much perfume they spill on the tale, Cerwin the Pious' acts will not be forgotten. The bard cupped a wooden trinket in his pocket. The trinket was of the shape of a horse. The ears were longer and the proportions were not perfect but the idea behind the horse was all that was needed. Having this item and getting caught with it would mean death under the new laws of Vuono. But the bard was too stubborn or too foolish to let his faith be trampled by fanatics.

The door of the tavern swung open. The iron handle violently hit the wall. The drinkers and the visitors drinking and eating on their tables looked towards the door.

"Violence!" A man dressed in a thin green tunic said. There were no ornaments hung anywhere on his body. His hair was unkempt but scruffy may be too much of a description. "The knights attacked the Punishers!"

"Your talk deals confusion my good man. Punishers are knights aren't they? And why would the knights attack their own?" asked the old drinker leaning on the creaking chair.

"No" The newcomer stepped inside the tavern, panting like a dog that chased a chicken all afternoon. He pointed at a cup. The owner which is an old fat lady rolled her eyes and handed the newcomer the cup. The newcomer drank, wastefully as channels of ale dripped from his mouth. He grunted.

"First Spear came to save his knights. Some of Tobias knights' also revolted and joined First Spear. Knight to knight fighting followed in the city center"

"First Spear? Isn't he the one who led them knights in a charge several years ago?" asked a young, freshly-shaven man with a long yellow hair.

"Aye, he the one. I say let them knights fight each other. Those people had caused us enough troubles"

An aged, visibly drunk man, stood. His chair's legs rubbed against the plied wooden floor. He drank the last of his ale and slammed it on the table before walking towards the shaken bartender. The drunk man produced a small bag of coins and put it in front of the bartender.

"Three gold, six silvers and I forgot the number of copper. Payment for me drink and the sword hung on your hips" said the drunk man.

"'Tis not for sale Mister"

"Rent then"

"For what?"

"What is a sword for?" The drunken man raised an eyebrow "Just let me borrow it lad. I'll make some Punishers piss red"

The bartender unstrapped his belt along with the scabbard and handed the whole thing to the drunken man. The drunken man took just the blade and staggeredly towards the door while whistling the tune of Jimmy's Nightmare.

A long period of silence prevailed inside the tavern as the back of the drunken man vanished in the darkness outside. People started giving looks at each other.

"What a fool. He can't even walk straight and he wants to bleed a Punisher. Well, someone has to guide his strike towards a Punisher's stomach right?" someone voiced.

Almost simultaneously, most of the people inside the room rose from their seats and went after the old man. The tavern became empty.

The bard formed a wide smile. He again recited in his mind the facts a bard would know. A song is more than just words with tune. A song is a poison that could make a rat attack an elephant.

He took the dagger he had hidden under his stool. He kissed the horse-shaped trinket one last time and went outside.

**********

Tobias' arm was dripping blood. Some random knight speared him deep. He gauzed the wound with his palm but the bleeding wasn't stopping. He went back to his room while bumping on the walls several times.

"Grand Master" A stiff voice called from outside.

Crawling on the floor, Tobias opened the door.

"Oh lamb touched by the Omniscient. Tell me. Has Henry the evil been vanquished yet? No... don't tell me he escaped!"

"He didn't Grand Master. But he's currently fighting his way here. They are winning"

"How!" Tobias exclaimed with eyes so wide it could swallow the moon.

"The citizens have rallied against us" The Punisher said "King Brice I've heard has escaped the city"

Tobias wailed. His reverberating shrill voice filled the room. His body shook. His fingers were tapping the floor.

"Go away you fool!" Tobias heard his Squire's voice. He looked up. Jason pushed the Punisher away and patted his back.

"Jason! Jason!" Tobias cried "The Omniscient hates me! The Omniscient would rather support Henry"

"No sire" Jason said in a calming voice "This is just a test of your faith. The Omniscient loves you but he needs to be sure that you trust him. You need to be strong sire"

"Are you... sure?"

"I am sire. You are the Omniscient's prophet. You are his light in this dark world" Jason showed Tobias his palm. There was dust in it. The dust was captivating in a special sense. It wasn't glowing. It was also not fine. But there was deepness in the dust. There was peace.

"Talk with him sire. Praise him and thank him" Jason blew the dust into Tobias' nose. He felt drowsy almost immediately.

"For he is good" Jason's voice faded as Tobias' vision blurred.

**********

Slicing enemies with his sword and bashing others with his mace, Henry reached the outpost of the Knights. The building was old. The smell was also old. The wooden walls and columns were blackened by smut collected over the ages.

Henry went inside with his knights. He made his way to the room reserved for the highest ranking knight. As they inched closer, the state of the outpost was further revealed. Yes, the headquarter was where the treasury was being stored and yes, the outpost was a mere extension of the headquarter. But the state of the building was just too much to be associated with the knights.

Henry reached the room. He put his hand on the handle. He breathed first before pushing it open.

Pungent smell of urine met his nose. He saw two people amidst the darkness. One was sitting in the corner, a young man with a short hair. The other was Tobias.

Tobias' arm was wounded. He was slumped against the wall. His eyes were all white.

"Is he dead?" Henry asked

"No" The young man in the corner said "But either you or I will have to kill him soon enough"