Helcin was his name. A knight of the Van Royal house of the nation of Cuntipe. One that fell just the previous day. The family line of the royal family of the Cuntipe nation was shaky. More so because theirs wasn't of royal birth but a line that descended from king slayers. A word not many were eager to mention lest the end up with their heads hanging off the city walls.
Helcin had seen many a man die for this. Yet he had never expected the madness to reach house Urmin. The screams and wails of dying men and women still rang in his ears as much as he knew it rang in someone else's.
His eyes once more darted to the carriage.
"Captain. They're catching up. " one of the men a burly graybeard soldier with a helmet strapped tightly to his head informed him, the worry in his eyes a glow wven in the night.
Helcin tightened his fist and took a look once more at the carriage before nodding to the man.
"Set the wall".
Urging his horse forward he hastened the pace. Behind him, the greybeard made a holler before guiding his mare back to where they came. A group of horsemen instantly pulled away. Not much just a dozen each holding a crossbow while swords remained sheathed.
These men all lined horizontally behind greybeard crossbows armed and aimed forward.
Behind them, the contingent leading the carriage disappeared round the bend.
"Listen up boys," Greybeard spoke drawing his sword. Their chasers came in sight which prompted a release of the first salvo of bolts.
The metal ammo flew, some hitting true, inothers getting blocked or dodged while fewer flying off.
"We've served house Urmin all our lives. We know without any doubt what kind of person the master was. How kindhearted and pure the Lady was. We know how well it was in that house compared to the other noble homes. We know the fact of who deserves the throne of Cuntipe." his voice was almost a yell now carrying across to the chasers charging at them and riling them up.
"Our defeat here is assured. Yet we fight not to win but to make them bleed. We fight because we are the shield to her grace, the spear to her majesty, and the honor of her house." More bolts struck true as the soldiers got riled up even more their shots getting better and their nerves calming as a passionate fire burned brighter in them.
"We may, no, we will fall today. But remember this. When you do fall, your honor and your valor will lead you pass the Chambers of Honuras and into his green fields. For that is where true men go." The chasers were more visible in the night ,their black armor and black cloaks visible. Silver helmets and war horses domineering as they charged forward. Greybeard raised his sword his voice reaching a crescendo.
"So by the gods fight, for the honor of our house fight. Knights of house Royale. For the late Lord and lady, kill their enemies. " His blade pointed forward as the mare he rode rose to its hind hooves neighing with passion like it would deal the death blow to its enemies.
"CHARGE!!"
The command cracked through the sound of hooves like lightning. The strike-off the Urmin horses hooves on the ground like the rumble of thunder. A bright green flare spread from the point of impact with the horse hooves and the ground cracked and rumbled as a shock spread outward.
The chaser's horses stumbled and staggered while their riders tried to get them in control.
The green glow didn't just spread outwards nut swept back and covered a dozen men behind greybeard. As one the unit charged, their horses moving in sync.
Right before impact in an unbelievable speed and smooth change all the horses realigned. Greybeard at the tip with his sword glowing green. Two men behind him. Then four behind the two and six behind the four.
The clash was like a hot knife through butter. The confusion of their chaser's horses not helping matters as they found blades and spears wherever they turned.
Swords slashed through armor and skin as blood flew and men fell. By the time they halted in the center of the chasers, the front had already been decimated.
The realignment swiftly took place with the horizontal line returning as the men once more engaged their enemies.
As they fought greybeard dismounted muttering, his eyes jumping from one of his enemies to the other.
"Scummy Voltrons" his blade sank into a knight's throat blood gushing as the male twitched. Yet Greybeard was already upon the next one.
"Vermin" His blade clashed against the knight and with quick footwork moved his right foot in a back slide to slip into the opening beside the knight.
A gurgle was audible as he pulled his sword out of the man's side blood splashing upon his face. A glance around led him to the scene of his man falling. His heart was pierced by a spear.
Then the second fell ganged up by two and skewered like a piece of meat. One by one his men were slaughtered though they each at least managed to take at least two souls with them to the gates of the dead.
Soon there was none but Greybeard surrounded by the pile of corpses that stunk of Voltron blood. Greybeard smiled darkly as he ducked below another brave but foolish Voltron, his sword sinking into the man's abdomen right before the scarlet liquid rushed out his lips.
Dead before he hit the floor.
Greybeard straightened.
"Damn I'm old" he sighed squeezing his mid-sized beard , the trickle of soaked blood from it making him grin darkly. 'Still good though'.
"Who be next you vile vermins. Come let me send you on the passage of Guras disgrace. Never to know the honor of true men". he spat in disgust on the pile his eyes never leaving the men who while having him surrounded didn't dare broach further.
"Wimps. The lot ah ya". he sneered as his shoulders shook. Yet none took the provocation.
He frowned a bit as he decided to attack one hopefully the rest would bite. His feet rose before the stepped back down his hair rising as his neck tingled.
'Ah. It's time isn't it'. His head tilted slightly to stare at the arriving fella.
In a large Black warhorse, with dark armor and cape. His helmet was crudely designed. A hefty long sword in hand.
"How quaint. I'm getting dispatched by the necromancer's dog eh". He taunted again. The Voltrons around him all raged. It was a well-known fact that the light faction didn't accept any death meddlers.
Fighting for the throne or not such an accusation was a perfect taunt. Yet the knight atop the warhorse barely reacted. Silent and foreboding like a true death knight. It was no wonder many thought of him as one.
The knight his sword still unused halted right before Greybeard the holes in his eyes locking on the old man. His statement unsaid was read perfectly.
"Eh. Okay little boy. I'll come". Greybeard shook himself off the chills he got from the menace. Death was assured, what wasn't acceptable was dying on his knees.
A true Knight of Urmin died sword in hand a smile on his face and a keen remembrance of the mead in the tavern halls or the naked busty woman he last laid.
That was the way. With his sword atop his shoulder, a smile on his wrinkled face Greybeard launched forward. His feet took their first step as he stiffened his arms then with the second step he hefted the broadsword.
A flash of metal had him confused but he ignored it as he surged on ready to strike. Yet he watched as his body stumbled on past the knight. Then fell to its knees. He watched even as the light dimmed his body dropping. A fountain of scarlet spurting out his headless neck.
'The way of men. A beautiful death.' he thought.