Hynes Family/Alois/Crusade/RP5

Alois stood atop the rise and looked out over the encampment below. The great silver dragon that was the Army of Semall now lay coiled beneath the Walls of Perdan Cities outer stronghold. Weapons were being stacked, flames of fire were already illuminating the camp in the darkness, armour checked and polished, and arrows fletched. Merchants pushed their carts through the mass, attempting to peddle their shinies and pretties and trinkets to the Men-At-Arms.

"Shall I pitch the tent, Ser?" Pate, the young squire, asked as he approached.

"No, not yet. Fetch my horse, and we will venture into the City. I want you to see Perdan with me for the first time."

Perdan had three gates along it's massive wall, one leading in from Bescanon, one from Brive and one from Perdan Mines.

They walked their horses in through Brive Gate, the section of the wall in which the Army of Semall lay encamped. As they marched through the gate they heard chuckles from above.

Alois looked up, and eyes stared back at him from the murder holes.

"Damned 'runt," A voice called from somewhere up atop, echoing through the cavernous darkness.

Another voice: "Go back to the hell that spawned ya."

They passed from underneath the Stronghold wall, and into the court of the next defenses. The two men at arms stared up at them as they walked their horses through.

"They hate us," Pate observed as they passed the last line of defense and into the city. The streets were deathly quiet and the city dark as sin.

"Old feelings die hard, Pate," Alois said quietly, "There was a lot of hate during the Great War. But these are our allies now. It will take some time, but the hate will die."

They passed a patrol led by a Knight with the sillouhette of a weeping woman on his shield, and the nobleman called a halt and saluted.

"Well met," Alois called as he reigned Traveller to a stop, "How are you called, Ser?"

"You know damned well how I'm called, Bastard," the Knight shouted with a hint of anger in his voice.

Alois' hand dropped to the blade tied across the Horse's neck. "Watch your words, Ser, or I will have your tongue."

The Knight's company took up formation around their commander, their steel speartips pointed at Alois and Pate.

The Knight held up a hand and called for the men to hold postion. "What's wrong?" he asked as he raised hid visor, "Been away so long you do not recognize your own Families seal? I must say, I never expected such a man as you to join such an honourable cause as this, Coz."

The face looked different, older and scarred, obscured by a light growth of beard. He looked at the crest the bannerman carried and saw the Black eagle on the golden field, banner of the Hynes family.

"Johann?" Alois asked, surprised. "Forgive me, Coz, I did not recognize you."

Johann laughed. "Wearing the colors of Itorunt now, are you? I must say, they look better on you than Kalmar's, although you're undeserving to be associated with such an honourable realm." He looked over at his Serjeant and nodded. The Serjeant whistled, and the men reformed. "I have a town house not far from here. You and the child can stay with me if you wish."

"Thank you for your courtesie, Coz, but I will be fine with my men."

"Nonsense," Johann said with a wave of his hand, "You will stay with me tonight. We must talk anyway. Serjeant, finish the patrol."