“Tell us a story from your journey, Sir Adamar!” Rosemarii had asked with a smile. “I'm sure you have such exciting tales!” Adamar sat silent for a time, debating if such a tale was appropriate given the happy mood everyone was enjoying. His eyes lifted from the flames of the campfire, a slow exhale escaping past his lips with a nod of defeat. “Very well, my Lady... where do I begin?”
The night gave way to the gentle touch of the sun, dew and mist still clinging to the air about the small makeshift camp. The flames of the fire had died hours before, leaving only the feint wafting of smoke and the crackling of dying embers behind. The sound of blue jays and sparrows trekking off to find this days breakfast stirred the lone man propped against a large oak. A groan escaped the armored figure as he reached up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, feeling the ache in his back as he sat up straight. “No comforts of town, he said. What I would give for a straw mattress.” A light chuckle escaped Adamar as he pushed himself to his feet to stand in the peaceful ambience of the morning forest.
He found himself days behind schedule as he trekked his way across the Eastern Kingdoms towards Uther’s Tomb. No time restraint was given as he was commanded to leave the city, and so he had no grievances taking the longer scenic route through the forests and hills. Adamar groaned some more as he stretched out, digging his boot into the embers of the fire in hopes of igniting it once more. When his lazy attempt failed, he begrudgingly collected some timber about the grounds and worked to lite the fire once more.
Hours had passed and breakfast had been finished as Adamar readied to pack up and head further north. The camp was packed up quickly enough and the fire was doused with a bucket of dirt. He took up his sword and once more stood idle in the sounds of the forest. Slowly, he dropped to a knee and buried the tip of his sword into the dirt. Wrapping both hands about the hilt, he rested his forehead against the pommel and took in a deep breath. “As a new day dawns,
send the radiance of your light to shine in my heart. Make me true to your teaching; keep me free from error and corruption. Give me the strength to carry on; to right my wrongs. Let me be your healing hand to the sick; Your hammer of Justice to the wicked; and the keeper of all that is good.” Even though his eyes were shut, he could feel the warmth of the light piercing through the morning mist to wrap about him and bathe him in its presence.
The silence of the woods was broken at the sound of a woman's scream. It echoed off the trees and sent birds fluttering to the sky. Adamar raised his gaze to the mists that surrounded his camp, unsure of where the cry had came from. Moments passed before another scream echoed from somewhere to the east of him... the sound of armored foot falls and men shortly after.
She ran as fast as her feet could carry her, soiled white gown fluttering in her wake. Blood spotted her fine wear and mud caked her knees where she had fallen several times. “No... no, light please” She gasped, barreling through the bushes as the branches scratched and tore at her face and arms. “She’s over here!” Came the cry of her captors not far behind. “ ‘urry up an’ nab her! The boss ‘ell ‘ave our heads if you let her get away!” The men cackled as they split up, darting through the underbrush after her. They knew these lands better than anyone and made quick work of cutting the girl off. “NO! Get away from me! I wont go back! I’ll die first!” The girl backed away from the thugs, unaware of the steep hill behind her. One more step sent her tumbling backwards and down the hill, crashing through bushes and bouncing off the boulders that were half buried. “Ha! You ‘ave a nice fall, darlin’?!” Blood trickled from her brow as she clawed at the dirt to pull herself away from this hell. The men were once more upon her, falling upon her like wild animals as they ripped at her clothing. “Get off of me! Light, please... someone... please.”
The area grew silent suddenly as he eyes raised from the dirt to her assailants. They were no longer focused on her, but something else. Still sobbing, she followed their gaze as the sound of metal echoed yards away from them. He emerged out of the mist like an armored ghost, sword glinting in the morning light. “Who the hell is that? You lost, mate?” The men pointed their swords as the armored figure continued to grow closer. “Mind ye’ fuckin’ business afore you go an’ get hurt!”
Adamar stalked forward, his sword readied before him as he shifted his gaze between the two men. “One chance, leave the girl be.” His eyes shifted to stare into the eyes of the battered girl, hands tightening about the hilt of his blade. “Or die, here and now.” The two men laughed as they stepped away from the girl. They knew she was to exhausted and beaten to make it much further. “Well well, aint you’s just a brave soul. Well, cmon then tin man! W’ell get back to her when were done guttin’ you like a pig!” Adamar took a deep breath, closing his eyes for the briefest of moments. “So be it.” Adamar began marching forward as the thugs to began to move in on him. “Light above, guide my hand.” It was if the sun itself had answered his prayer, light bursting forth from his sword. The mist melted away and the thugs could only raise their hands to shield their eyes from the blinding light. “Wha’ the hel-” The mans words were cut short as Adamar closed the distance and make short work of burying the tip of his blade through the mans stomach. His pal could only stare in horror at the blade that stuck out the back of his companions back, a feint glow radiating from the metal where blood did not stain it. “A-a-a... paladin?!” The man back away as he fumbled at his belt, pulling a crude looking horn from his side.
Adamar ripped the blade free, causing the now motionless thug to fall in a heap to the earth. A loud bellow filled his ears as he turned his gaze on the second... a horn between the mans lips as he began to retreat back up the hill. Instantly, the forest came alive with the sounds of shouting and the clanging of metal. Adamar did not pursue the man, but instead made his way to the girls side. “Can you stand?” He asked, kneeling down to place a gentle hand upon the back of her shoulder. The girl shirked away from his touch, still sobbing until she looked up into the calm blue eyes. Her breathing steadied some, but the look in her eyes spoke a thousand words of pain and sorrow. “Take heart... I shall see you away from this place.” The smile that had began to tug at her lips faded into one of fear as her gaze went behind him to the hill above. Adamar rose and turned to the sight of two dozen men lines up atop the hillside. A well fitted bandit raiding party, to say the least.
“You sure got balls coming into my woods, Paladin. She’s pretty, aint she? Tha’ why you tryin’ to steal her away from me?” The man that spoke was clearly the leader as the rest of the men flanked him. He was a large intimidating man who clearly made his way to the top buy beating the shit out of anyone in his way. His massive form leaned heavily atop a massive Warhammer that could flatten a mans breastplate. The rest of his gang sported crude maces, short sword’s and crossbows. Though none of them had armor save for a few that wore graves or pauldrons over their leathers. “Aint you alittle tiny to be a knight?” The leader asked, causing a roar of laughter to erupt from his men. “Hes probably just a boy been listening tah to many ah nana’s stories!”
Adamar couldn't help but chuckle silently to himself, wondering if these men would be laughing if he still possessed his original body. The humor faded as he moved to put himself between the girl and the hillside, sword bloodied and at his side. “I will give you all the same chance I gave this one.” He raised his voice so that they all might hear as he gestured with his blade at the dead man near him. “Leave this girl be. Turn away from this life of evil and seek forgiveness for the crimes you have committed.” Once more, his words were met with a fit of laughter. He raised his voice even louder as he raised the sword, sweeping the point to trace the top of the hillside. “Do not, then you may seek judgment... here and now! The choice is yours!”
The leader gestured for the others to shut their gobs as he began to slow clap. “Nice speech, kid. Balls, you got. But smarts, your lackin’... ya see, I got all these men, and there's jest one o’ you. You gonna wiggle your fingers an’ kill us all?” Adamar stepped forward and traced a half circle with the tip of his sword in the dirt before looking back to the group of marauders. “If I must. Make your choice.”
“Alright, I’ve had enough o’ this little prick. Kill em’! An’ bring me back tha’ bitch!” Yelled the leader, sending a roar up among the men as they all began to surge down the hill side towards the lone knight and battered girl. Adamar spread his stance and raised his longsword over his head with both hands as he watched the tide descend upon them. “The Light is my Salvation, whom, then shall I fear?” The glow upon his blade began to grow brighter as he continued. “The Light is the strength of my Life, of whom then, shall I be afraid?” The first couple men made it to the bottom of the hill and were running headlong for him, maces raised above their heads. “I shall not be afraid... for the Light is with me!”
Light erupted from all around Adamar, coalescing into two angelic like wings that sprouted from his back. The sight alone gave pause to the men nearest to him before they charged in once more at the urging of their leader. “WHAT ARE YA WAITIN’ FER! GET EM!” As the first man passed over the half circle in the dirt, he was met with a outstretched hand. Light burst forth from Adamar’s palm before taking on the shape of a glorious hammer. It slammed the thug full in the face and filled the area with a sickening snap as his head lulled back, neck broken. Several move were closing in now as Adamar parried the next attack, swiftly bringing the blade back around the open the mans throat. A swift kick to the mans midsection sent him sprawling back lifeless... just outside that half circle. Three more men leapt over their fallen comrades and pressed Adamar at once. He parried another strike as blades slashed him across his midsection and head. The blows glanced off and left hardly a scratch, such was the quality of castle forged full plate. Adamar slashed the hand clean off from the next swing made at him before the wings upon his back vanished. The light suddenly surged outward from the soles of his boots, holy fire spreading across the dirt as it licked and set flame to his attackers clothing.
The men fell to the ground, rolling like madmen as they tried to snuff out the flames that consumed them fully. The flames did not cease until the men lady motionless upon the earth. Seven men now surrounded him as they moved in, forcing Adamar back towards the girl as they sought to overtake him. Blows rang off his armor as he slashed and stabbed down two of them. But the sheer numbers overwhelmed even his kills as a mace slammed him in the side of the leg. “Graah!” He fell to a knee as another slash found the spot between the armor of his arm, causing a wide gash that began to trickle blood down his armor. He seized one man by the front of his leathers and pulled him into the downward strike of his comrade, his head cleaved in two. More and more men entered the fray until he was surrounded on all sides. The blows began to dent his armor and take their toll as his head began to throb from the constant hammering. “Tha’s it boys! Gut tha’ little weasel!” Adamar saw for the briefest second, between the legs of his attackers... that poor girl. Her knees were pulled to her chest and all hope had left her eyes at the sight before her.
He would see her away from this place. Gritting his teeth, he braced himself firmly against the ground as the power welled within him. The leader could only gawk as the pile of men suddenly erupted and men went scattering everywhere. In the middle stood that lone knight, surrounded in a bubble of glorious light. Most of the men that hadn't been knocked out by the blast were now high tailing it deeper into the woods. “We don’ get paid enough fer this! Lets get the fuck outa here!” The leader snarled as he pointed after the fleeing men. “Get back here you cowards! I’ll fuck yer skulls when I finds you!” He cursed loudly as he looked back at the lone knight.
Adamar breathed deeply as he looked at the bodies that littered the ground about him. He slowly trudged back towards the line in the dirt he had drawn. He readied his sword before him as he locked eyes with the meat head at the top of the hill. Though, he faltered and staggered as his wounded arm fell to his side. It was then, he noted the small pool of blood forming beneath his feet. The strength went from his legs and he fell hard to one knee. It took everything to keep from falling face first into the dirt. “Fuck....im outa shape.” He mumbled to himself weakly.
“Fuck it! Looks like ima have to finish this myself!” Bellowed the leader as he was already making his way down the hill, that massive hammer propped on his shoulder. “You put up a good fight, you little shit! But playtimes over! Hope the bitch was worth it!” Adamar buried the tip of his sword into the dirt and used it to prop himself up as he watched the man loom over him. “She is.” Adamar said, raising his chin in defiance and tugged off his helmet to drop in the dirt beside him. “Shitty last words, boy.” He hefted the hammer high over his head, sucking in a deep breath. Adamar closed his eyes and a smile came to his face as the clouds above opened up and basked them in the warmth of the day. Just as that hammer was about to come down, a globe of light descended from the heavens towards the pair. Adamar opened his eyes as that orb formed into a massive hammer that crashed into the top of the leaders skull, slipping a knife from his belt. The blow sent the meathead crashing to his knees in front of Adamar, hammer falling into the dirt beside them. The two stared at each other for a moment before Adam spoke up. “I’ll pray for your soul.” The leaders eyes went wide as Adamar thrusted that dagger into the side of the thugs neck. The leaders massive form fell backwards as he struggled to breath past the gurgling of blood in his throat. It only took a minute before the struggling stopped and the forest once more grew quiet and peaceful.
Adamar took in a slow deep breath, using what strength he had left to push himself to his feet. “Light... have mercy on these lost souls. Bring them home.” He turned and staggered his way towards the battered girl, who was now on her feet and wide eyed. “Y-you... saved me. Why?” Adamar only smiled to the best of his ability, holding out his arm to help her away from the grisly scene. “Because... there is good in this world worth protecting.”
Adamar looked up from the fire as he finished the story of his adventure to Uthers Tomb, smiling lightly at Rosemarii. “Her name was Liandri. Im just happy this one had a happy ending for a change.”