De Haguns Family/Orpheu/The Knight moves his pieces

Cerise moves a chess piece, Orpheu moves another

The Knight was recovering from the wound he received at the skirmish in Montauban, but his right calf was still weak. He could not walk by himself, for now.

The peasants who had rescued him arranged a small wooden staff for Orpheu, and he tried walking with it. Slowly, he could once again feel his balance.

When he had first left his estate to travel to the City of Lions, he had thought he would cross its gate atop Thunderlight, leading his Silver Guard. Now, he would cross them pulling the stallion by his its reins, and supported by a wooden cane.

Orpheu insisted on leaving the cart and walking the rest of the way towards the capital, once he saw it from the distance. At least he would not cross it inside a farmer’s cart, hurt. Bad luck.

He saw some men camping outside the city as he approached it. Some of the tents were far away from each other, some closer, bigger, smaller, all dotting the surroundings of the great city. He saw some banners he knew, fresh faces of young recruits, wounded being tended for, nobles drilling their soldiers.

Slowly, the knight limped through the road, followed by the horse.

He stopped when he saw a very familiar banner.

Near a camp, the silver dragon of the Haguns was flying proudly. He looked puzzled and approached the camp.

A man not much older than him was drilling troops that were clad in heavy armor, square shields and swords. Spears were at their feet. They raised their shields in a defensive wall, then slashed against imaginary forces, then raised their shields again as they kneeled on the grass, grabbing the spears and piercing their invisible adversaries, all while keeping formation.

The man himself had blonde dirty hair, but Orpheu could not recognize him. When he spoke, however, his voice had a commanding tone he knew very well. He was both relieved and worried.

“Guido? Guido Aumerle?”, asked Orpheu, approaching the young man.

Cerise’s older brother turned and seemed surprised as he saw the knight. “Orpheu? I thought you were with the Army by the coast… what happened?”, said the young man, going towards him to help the knight.

Guido was a good man, despite being Cerise’s brother. Orpheu had taken a liking to him ever since they had met years ago, when the betrothal between the Haguns and Aumerle Houses was announced. The third older brother, he had not become a knight, but was a capable officer and intelligent man. He kept most to himself, was discrete and calm.

The knight told him of everything from Woolton up until this moment and Guido nodded, as he knew about the defeat.

“What are you doing here, my brother? Why are you wearing my House colors?”

“Orpheu, the report of the battle reached the Mines and both your brother and Cerise were very worried about you. They heard how your troops were decimated in the battle… your brother arranged the funding to recruit more experienced troops, veterans from other wars and sent them to rally in Perdan, as most troops are now. And I am here because Cerise convinced our father and your brother to send me to drill them and act as their captain until you arrived, if you wish to have me by your side.”

A spy. That cunning little spider… She plays her cards well, thought the Knight. Indeed, Orpheu was now in a difficult position. With Guido as his guard captain, it would be unfair for him to refuse his services, and would even cast a shadow of doubt on the Knight of the Perdan Mines's intentions. It would be a dishonor for the Aumerles, something he wished to avoid after that incident with his runaway cousin Furiae. After Woolton, better to let the man stay, he would be useful. But Orpheu knew that with the Aumerle brother lurking, it would be very difficult to keep his liaison with Thea, once she returned.

“Anything else on the battle that you heard, Guido?”

“Some nobles were captured by Perleone, but we don’t know who they were.”

“Very well. Guido, please see that a man gives water and food to my horse. Then, meet me in my tent, and bring a scribe.”

Orpheu nodded and limped through the camp towards the main pavilion as his new soldiers kept training. He retrieved a letter from his leather satchel and took a long look at it. The letter that he had received soon after the battle of Woolton, from someone he would never imagine. And a very intriguing letter, to say the least. The circumstances were mystical and Orpheu was most certain that the bond that had been created with that person was due to the magic that had been made before the battle… or perhaps the work of the wind goddesses.

What he planned was bold, and risky, but if his plan succeeded, he would have many nobles in the realm in debt with him. And he needed political clout to advance the plans that were beginning to be born within his mind. After Woolton, he realized that there were other ways to play this game, just as Cerise had done. What if the pen was mightier than the sword, as some say? And he would take the risk, because he had nothing to lose now.

When Guido and the scribe arrived, they were perplexed by what they heard.

“To the…”, started the Knight, as he dictated the letter.

If his plot would come to fruition and result in anything, only time would tell.

Hours later, the Knight limped through the bustling streets of the City of Lions, the rustic wooden staff changed for a long oak cane with a silver pommel, as would befit a much older man. The knight was young, only seventeen, and the cane attracts glances from the crowd, but he simply did not care.

By now he was mostly recovered, but the limp persisted, although less noticeable than before.