Eddy watched as the women were rounded up and bound with ropes.
'BDSM must be HUGE here...'
Sofia was apparently speaking with one of the "lead" ladies, meanwhile, the snow was blowing around them and coating everything quite heavily.
'It is so cold.' He was about to find that damn carriage when Rodrick's foot clanged next to him as he was rubbing his hands for warmth.
He looked up at the 6'5" man who said, "I would like to apologize. I understand that I have acted without permission."
Eddy sighed, "I understand the need to show force." He looked back at the giant wall sealing off the valley, then he pointed and followed the road up until their current location.
Then he continued, "All of this is new. The High King ruled this area, right?" Rodrick nodded, "It has been this way for many centuries, so, commoners need to be reminded their place, or something like that, right?" Once more, he dipped his head in silence.
Eddy turned back, "Now. Why would you make a show of force to scare people? To discourage descent?" He spoke, "Yes, milord, it was to demonstrate that you are the new Lord."
Eddy sighed.
"Former Royal Knight Rodrick. Do you genuinely believe that anyone in this entire fortress could actually come close to defeating you in combat?"
Rodrick stood silent, "Didn't think so. Do you see my problem? You have enacted violence on an "innocent old lady."
Rodrick stood straight, "Milord, she-" he was cut off, "I know. I know. And thank you."
"Thank you for protecting me, but I wish you wouldn't have given my unknown enemies some sort of political power over me. We hurt one of theirs FIRST." Eddy didn't really know if it would come to pass like this, but he wasn't going to start off rocky.
People will act in the manner they are allowed.
Eddy smiled, "No harm...well, other than a broken bone, but she would normally be punished for assaulting her Lord, right?"
Rodrick nodded, "We would remove her head if the Empire were at war."
Eddy patted his uncle on the breastplate, "Please don't. Good talk, good talk."
Thaddeus walked away from Rodrick and he could see where his nephew was coming from, it was so..advanced. He thought like the High King did when he dealt with slights in the High Court.
'Apologies brother, it seems he took after your better half.' He smiled and then turned to the "Captain" of the guard who was waiting on his approval.
------
Eddy was walking next to Sofia as she explained something, "They received the Royal Decree moments after it was issued, but it appears that there was some confusion as the High King sent your sister to the Fortress a few weeks ago, and she has been in the keep, it is reported that she is ill."
Eddy smiled, "Do you think it was a test?" she had a look of shock, "I was going to suggest that very possibility." Eddy looked around, he counted 9 women.
Eddy asked, "What are the odds that these women are the wives of the men who would oppose me being inserted as the Lord?" she replied, "Nearly 100%." They looked at each other.
Eddy thought about a long rule filled with constant fighting and reconciliation before he spoke, "A house divided can only fall."
She nodded, "I will work on a draft, I believe you should continue to pretend being a naïve child until it is finalized."
Eddy looked up with wide eyes, "But I am a naïve child."
She laughed and walked away.
The carriage pulled up to him and he debated on getting inside. 'I'll look like a weak Lord if I do get in.'
Then he whispered, "Well, two birds, one stone." as he climbed and watched for the build up of ice.
He opened the door and it was quite nice inside, other than a large green man looking as if he was planning a murder.
"Ah. Fuck." He quickly jumped down and completely fucked up the landing as the door frame exploded in splinters of wood and iron framing.
"I COULD USE SOME HELP!" He shouted as the steaming Orc effortlessly leaped down the meter and a half to the ground with a loud boom.
Eddy was watching the movements of the Orc as it calculated how to kill him.
"THAD~DEUS!" He heard the call for his name begin off in the distance, but in a mere moment it had started coming from in front of him, directly where the Orc...was?
He stood up as he noticed the other Knights were surrounding him, one was speaking to him, "Are you hurt, do you need a healer?" He shook his head, the pain from his rib wasn't important at the moment.
The "beast" was a deformed mass of muscle, before it was a destroyed mass of flesh now.
Rodrick was standing with his shield outward and his long sword slightly to the side ready for any attack or defense.
The Orc had apparently been slammed THROUGH the remains of the carriage and was a pile of what Eddy would call, Hot Dog paste, yum.
He winced as he felt the pain come flooding in and he realized that maybe more than one rib broke in the worst combat roll ever. He placed his left hand on his ribs, "So, is it dead?"
Rodrick turned, "It is. BUT WHOEVER LET IT IN ISN'T!!!"
Then he exploded, "YOU DARE PLOT WITH THE GREEN SKINS?" and it echoed across the entire valley.
He stomped.
"MEN, FALL IN!" They immediately locked around him, each in key positions with their shields blocking his vital angles.
"We will take the Lord's hold, then I will deal with this." He swung his sword and Eddy could feel something in the air that made his skin crawl.
Eddy shouted, "SOFIA!" as they began marching with the women being pulled behind a lone Knight.
She looked confused and was terrified at the pure gore, but her legs kept stepping.
"Thaddeus, now you see, power is dangerous in the wrong hands." He spoke from the front as he scanned every alley way and vantage point for archers or casters.
Eddy realized he might be a little bit wrong about his assumptions.
They marched quickly and they rounded many small hills to finally see the outer wall of the Fortress. It was massive, but they had to take the "keep" or whatever it was called.
"Rodrick." Eddy whispered as they saw the open door, "Be careful." He saw the helmet dip slightly then he vanished in a burst of snow.
Sheer physical strength let him climb the outside of the keep in moments and work his way from the top.
Rodrick noticed many of the rooms were empty or filled with trash.
There appeared to be a monster in the castle. But it did not eat the bodies it created.
He felt his skin crawl, this was the worst kind of monster.
He plowed through the rooms, barely using his energy, he needed to be fresh in case of actual trouble.
He saw the room he needed.
She was tied to the wall and was nearly thin enough to slip her shackles.
Her eyes were wondering around, hopelessly.
"Miranda?" He spoke softly.
She immediately perked up at that, then another voice spoke, "If it isn't the pretender's Knight." His hair was a dirty blonde mop that was caked in blood.
He smiled at Rodrick's non-reaction, "You seem intimidated? I am only a Master level swordsman, so you have a chance, albeit, a very small one before I gut that so called "Lord" of yours..."
Rodrick hung his head, "I will leave you alive. Perhaps Thaddeus will have use for you."
Then he began to move, "Come then, little-" the previous Lord was speaking as he felt a giant force slam into his stomach.
The blow nearly made him bow to the ground, then the gauntleted fist came down, smashing the back of his head, ending the fight in a mere moment.
Rodrick looked around at the blood and bodies of the servants and administrators.
"Fuck."
He realized he was wasting time, "I need help! CODE BLACK!" He called down by yelling and then told them to clear the building. Finally, he placed the man in restraints and removed his gauntlets.
"I am sorry, young one." he spoke quickly as he bent the metal shackles with his bare hands. She stood, but then collapsed in his arms.