It was dawn, and Leopold and his eleven generals walked out of the keep of Fort Bruford and mounted their horses. With them were twenty-four knights and sergeants of the Teutonic Order. Outside of the stronghold, Baldwin and his thirty men waited. "Have you ever been to Frostgrad?" Baldwin asked. "Yes, naturally. I speak with the Hospitallers there." He responded.
"Alright, we'll lead the way, your knights can ride in the wagons if they like."
"Okay, twelve of my men will ride at the back. The rest will ride next to your wagon. Me and my generals will accompany you and Monterrey." And with that, the men were off. The men slowly trotted along the plains, clutching their cloaks and blankets around themselves tightly as their heads slouched down tiredly. It was colder than usual, and it was only September. "What do you think is with this weather?" Monterrey asked Baldwin. "Not sure, it is strange, though. Weather like this usually occurs around late october or early november." Baldwin responded, pulling his hood over his head. Monterrey unrolled his blanket from his horse and wrapped it around himself. There were patches sewn onto it like a quilt only a bit ugly. After about two hours of riding, the men reached the cochise River. "Take a rest, everyone, let the horses drink." Baldwin said as he dismounted his horse. "Aren't you worried about indians? We're in Osage territory, you know." Monterrey said to Baldwin as he dismounted as well.
"Not really. Their arrows cannot compete with our armor and man power. They'd have to have at least a hundred braves to fight us." Right as Baldwin finished his sentence, an arrow went flying into the neck of a nearby Templar. Baldwin saw and quickly picked up a shield. "Ambush!" he screamed out, unsheathing his sword.
From the plains, a war band of Osage warriors came galloping quickly, whooping and yelling as they encircled the knights. The crusaders hastily took out their weapons and formed a defensive circle. The Osage warriors threw hatchets and shot arrows and even fired rounds from some matchlock pistols. Baldwin's shield was shot by a ball of hot lead from a pistol, shattering the wood of the shield. Ten of the Teutons kneeled and prepared their guns while being protected by the shields of their fellow knights. They loaded their rifles and stood up straight, firing a deadly volley into the osage men and their horses, killing seven warriors immediately and slaying three horses
An Osage threw a lance at a templar and pierced his unprotected upper thigh. The warrior then dismounted and hacked at him with a hatchet. A teuton ran over and quickly smashed the warriors knee with a mace, causing him to fall over. The teuton bludgeoned the crippled warrior three times, the long spikes of the mace puncturing his flesh.
Another Osage jumped off of his horse but was impaled mid-air by a spearman. The Templar howled in victory before an arrow planted itself in his eye. After about five minutes of fighting, the Osage retreated back to the top of a hill where they watched the crusaders, talking in their native tongue.
"They fight well." a warrior said.
"Yes but they are blinded by ignorance… like all white men" The oldest warrior said, keeping his eyes on the knights. Meanwhile, the knights started frantically getting ready to leave. "We gotta get out of here, Grandmaster." a knight said to Baldwin. "No, we need to finish them off or else they might follow us or gather more warriors." Baldwin replied as he mounted his horse. "But sir, we need to get to Frostgrad as quick as we can, we cannot get sidetracked in some high plains skirmish." the soldier urged, looking up at Baldwin from below. "I'm afraid not. We need to terminate the threat at once." Baldwin said coldly as he took a lance in his hand. "Templars, Teutons!" he exclaimed. "Ready your lances and mount up. We are to terminate these Indians by any means necessary." The crusaders mounted their horses and got their weapons ready. The men got into rows of ten. There were fifty mounted knights, the remaining fourteen stayed behind to watch over the wounded and guard the wagons. In front of the men was Baldwin with his lance pointing forward. He put on his helmet and looked back at the men before starting off on his horse. He and the knights started at a slow trot but eventually built up speed to a full gallop.
The Osage on the hill watched as the men galloped towards them. The young warriors clenched their weapons tightly, but the elderly warrior only smiled, for the knights didn't know what awaited. The knights' horses began tripping and falling on prairie dog mounds, flinging their riders to the ground. Baldwin noticed only when the tenth knight face planted into the ground when he himself was finally knocked over by his horse tripping.
The Osages on the hill were laughing at the knights' incompetence as Baldwin struggled to get up. He took his helmet off and threw it at the braves and screamed in anger and defiance. The knights halted the attack, which gave the Osage enough time to escape.
"Grandmaster, are you okay?" Monterrey asked as he rode up to him. "Shut up. I'm fine." Baldwin responded, embarrassed. The remaining knights started riding back to the wagons by the river while Baldwin limped over to his horse and mounted it again and followed the men. "You think they'll follow us?" Monterrey asked Baldwin. "No, they don't need to because they probably arent threatened by us now." He responded in a low tone, annoyed and embarrassed by his defeat. "If we arent a threat, wouldnt they come down and attack us since we proved to them we're an innefficient fighting force?" Monterrey asked as he wrapped his blanket around him again.
"It wouldn't be challenging for them. No honor in killing those not fit to fight."
"But we are fit to fight, aren't we?"
"Of course we are…we just haven't seen combat in a while."
The men continued their ride to Frostgrad as the sun rose higher. Monterrey took his blanket off and rolled it back up. The wind blew softly against the men, making their capes and cloaks blow with it a bit. They crossed shallow streams that trickled to the south and passed through small forested areas and broken down wooden cabins and stone ruins that had been long forgotten and abandoned by the original inhabitants. There were structures and settlements like this all over Middle Tahl and every other southern kingdom. The wind blew against the tall grass and the trees of the plains as they kept riding. Soon, they came upon a road and followed it north until they found a sign that read: "Frostgrad - half a days ride" The long line of men came to a halt as Baldwin stopped to read the sign. "Alright men, we should be there by nightfall if we keep at this pace." Baldwin said, cautiously optimistic as he kicked his horse and resumed the steady trot and followed the sign down the road.
"Damn shame the attack was called off, wasn't it?" Edwin said to his friend Cid.
"Yeah, I guess. I don't think we should have tried to charge them like that. Who knows how many warriors they really had, we could've been slaughtered before we even got halfway up the hill." Cid responded as he kept his horse trotting at a steady pace with the other knights. "You see what those rifles did earlier?" Edwin asked, getting closer to Cid as he spoke. "Yeah, devastating aren't they?"
"Yeah, if only we had more of those guns, we'd have probably conquered this continent by now, without a doubt."
"You know the Hellsing Company? Up in New Mecklenburg?"
"Mhm, what about it?"
"Word has it that they're developing even better guns, from what i've heard they're working on a special new pistol, a 'revolver' they call it"
"Interesting. What about new rifles or cannons?"
"I hear they're also working on a rifle capable of tearing through armor as well as one for long distance targeting."
"Hmm, very intriguing. When do you think the guns will be ready to purchase?"
"Not sure, maybe some time next year."
"Ah, I see."
The sun began to set about five hours later, painting the sky a beautiful purple and orange. The men had their blankets back on from the coldness of the night and just over the horizon they could see Frostgrad and the lights of the city. The men sighed in relief and some even smiled. "Now men, we'll be camping outside of the city tonight to show respect to the baron and his people. In the morning Leopold, Monterrey and I will look for the Hospitallers and Order of Calatrava's headquarters." Baldwin declared as they neared the city. "You may go into town tonight though if you wish, but do not cause an uproar and no drinking of alcohol. We need them to think we're perfect, disciplined soldiers. Is that clear?" The men all murmured in agreement as they finally reached the gates of the city. The knights dismounted their horses and began setting up their tents outside of the city gate. Two guards stood outside of the gates. There were guards all along the tall walls of the city. "What's your business here sirs?" a young looking guard asked and approached Baldwin.
"I am Baldwin, Grandmaster of the Knights Templar. We're here to speak with Grandmaster Boscogne and Dumas of the Knights Hospitaller, Grandmaster Aldonva of the Order of Calatrava and Wivven Katashua the baron." Baldwin responded, puffing his chest up and standing up straighter as he spoke.
"I'm not sure the baron will just allow you to speak with him unannounced and without an appointment. As for the Grandmasters, I can't say. They don't get many visitors these days and they're rather reclusive." The guard responded. "You may come into the city if that's all you wish to do but please understand that guards will need to escort you as a security measure. Baron Katashua has been cracking down on security since the incident in February." The guard continued as he then ordered the guards above him at the top of the gate tower to raise the gates up. As Baldwin, Monterrey and Leopold followed the young guardsman through the gate and into the city he took off his helmet, his long blonde hair falling down to his shoulders. "What's your name, guard?" Baldwin asked. "Arniel." he responded, not looking back at Baldwin as he answered. Leopold shivered and clutched his cloak around him tightly as the cool night wind blew against him. "You okay old man?" Monterrey asked, laughing a bit at his shivering. "Yes, I'm fine. I'm old, you know." Leopold said as he pulled his hood over his head, his long gray hair flowing down his shoulders.
Arniel soon stopped at a small church-esque structure that was built into a part of the city's wall. The style was very simple, like something from the dark ages built by pagans. It was constructed from stones like something from an old Norman monastery. There was one tower in the very middle that rose above the walls of the city, and stained glass window panes and some gutters that ran along corners of the structure. "This is where the Hospitallers are. The Spaniards are in the eastern wing of the city, around the market district. May I ask what you're doing? Nothing good can be happening when crusaders are recruiting crusaders you know."
"Holy business for the Vatican, I'm not allowed to go into."
"Hmm, very well then…" Arniel said, a bit uneasy by the presence of the crusaders. Baldwin stepped towards the structure and knocked on the old wooden door. After waiting a bit he knocked again. No answer. Just as he was about to knock a third time, the door slowly creaked open, revealing a dark skinned man in a black cloak and robes. The man stared at Baldwin and his men for a bit before speaking. "Yes?"
"My name is Sir Baldwin of The Knights Templar. I've come to speak with you."
"Where is Grandmaster Roland?"
"Ah yes, he died some time ago…unfortunately. He stated in his will that I will become the next Grandmaster." The dark cloaked man thought for a moment before deciding to open the door all the way for Baldwin to come in. "I see. You may enter then. What do you wish to talk to me about?"
"King Skinner of Middle Tahl declared a law that forbids religious militaries to carry out their duties."
"Is that so? This won't be good for us in that case. We need to get the other orders informed on this matter."
"Yes, that is why we've come. I have spoken to Hochmeister Leopold of the Teutons and he has agreed to help me in my quest."
"What is your quest?"
"To fight Middle Tahl and win." Baldwin said coldly. The man looked a little shocked at the response, not expecting it.
"Are you aware this would be an insurrection? And if we lose we'll be killed in the most gruesome ways possible?"
"Yes I am aware of these things. But I am willing to pay the ultimate price for what I believe in."
"Hmm… I admire your willingness and dedication to the faith, however I am unsure if we have yet a reason to start a war."
"We'll wait for them to attack a militia or something, then we'll have all the reason we need to attack."
"I see…very well then, you have my support. Grandmaster Boscogne of The Knights Hospitallers, at your service." Boscogne said, bowing his head before the templar who bowed back. "Next we'll need to get the Order of Calatrava to join, Arniel said they're in the western wing of the city, something about a market district?" Baldwin inquired, putting his hands on his hips, a bit uncomfortable from standing.
"Ah yes, I am good friends with Grandmaster Aldonva. Ah, you must be tired, come with me, we have a place you can rest." Boscogne responded, leading Baldwin, Monterrey and Leopold to a room with three bookshelves, two cushioned seats, a sofa and a small circular table with a few wooden chairs surrounding it. "This is the hospitality room for travelers and guests. I can bring you some drinks or refreshments if you'd like." Boscogne said, standing by the door as the three men made their way inside the room. "Any wine? Other alcoholic beverages perhaps?" Baldwin asked, sitting down in one of the cushioned chairs. "Milk, coffee, wine and some ale are what we have." Boscogne responded. "Some wine for me." Baldwin said. "I'd like some milk and coffee. What's in the ale?" Leopold requested. "We use honey to flavor ours, we also have some from the market in the west wing, they use a mix of berries and spices I believe." Boscogne responded. "Ah, I see. I'll take the ale with the uh, honey"
"Alright then." "Milk please." Monterrey requested.
"Okay, i'll get those ready for you, it's all in the cellar so it may take a while." Boscogne said as he began to leave the room. "Of course, take your time friend." Baldwin voiced as he laid back in his chair. The room was rather dimly lit with only three torches mounted on the wall and three candles on the circular table in the room. The atmosphere of the room was calming and soothing. "No wonder it's called the hospitality room." Baldwin thought to himself as he tilted his head up to look at the stone ceiling of the headquarters. He heard the muffled conversation between two or three men in maltese from a nearby room. He could barely make out the words but he understood a few things. Something about a raid yesterday or rangers, he couldn't quite tell though as his maltese was rather rusty and the mens' voices were muffled by the thick stone walls. Monterrey got up from his seat and looked around the bookshelves for something to read. He ran his gloved index finger against the spines of the books, going from right to left and starting at the bottom shelf and working his way up. He understood most of the titles except a few that were in Polish, Russian and maltese. Most were in French, German and English, the most commonly spoken languages in these parts. After those were spanish, italian and the intertribal language of algonquian-siouan, a combination of all major native languages that every tribe spoke. He took a book that seemed interesting to him. It read: "Grunwald 1410: The Glory Of The Teutonic Order." He went back to his seat and opened it up. It was in German and English. One page was in german and on the page across from it was a translation of the german text in english. Leopold lay on the sofa, his head resting on the armrest of it. He looked at the ceiling and recounted the days of his youth. He was born in 1803. He had not felt the touch of a woman in his sixty-seven years on earth for the teutonic order forbade it. Though he was lonely, he carried on with his life as the other teutons did. He thought about if he wasn't given the order at birth and if he stayed with his parents instead. Maybe he'd have lived a normal life as a civilian. Maybe he would have sweethearts throughout his youth or gotten married or had children, but it was too late for him now. He could not change something that happened decades ago. He wished he could have met his father, though he had lost hope of that occurring when he was ordered to set up a chapter in America. He was old now, old and withering, he prayed he could go back and change things but he knew it was futile. The lines that cracked his face and the streaks of white and gray in his hair persisted and would continue until his last breath. Finally, Boscogne returned with the refreshments. "Hello, I apologize for the wait." He said, carrying a tray that carried all the requests of the men. "Ah, thank you." Monterrey said, getting up from his seat to get his cup of milk and sit back down. Boscogne walked over to Baldwin and gave him his glass of wine. Finally, Boscogne approached Leopold and gave him his milk and coffee. Leopold sat up and took the tin cup of coffee and glass of milk. He sipped some of the milk and poured some into the coffee, cooling it off a bit and adding more flavor to it. He took his gloves off and stirred the milk into the coffee with his finger and finally took his bottle of ale from the tray Boscogne carried. "The hour is late my friends. You should stay here tonight, the wind is cruel and bitter these nights. Tomorrow we'll speak with Aldonva at the Order of Calatrava's headquarters."
"That is acceptable. Is there a place we can sleep?" Baldwin inquired, drinking some of his wine. "Yes, come, i'll show you." Boscogne led the men down the narrow hallway of the headquarters and showed them to a small room with four beds and two bookshelves. "I hope this is of acceptable quality for you." Boscogne said as he held the door open for the three men. "Yes of course, this will do nicely." Baldwin said as he flopped down on one of the beds. Leopold sipped on his coffee as he approached a bed and sat down on the edge of it. Monterrey quickly gulped down the rest of his milk and started taking his armor off. "I'll be reading in the cellar if you need me, down the hallway there's the door with a ladder to climb down once you open it that'll lead you there." Boscogne said, waiting for any requests from the men before leaving. Baldwin just nodded and got up to remove his tunic and the armor underneath as Boscogne walked out of the room and headed towards the cellar.