Griff Thorneheart: Peace before war
Griff walked out of the peak. Several groups were waiting. The only one he recognized at a glance was his own. Three men talked while four others stood around them.
With his first few steps, the ground trembled beneath Griff’s massive half-giant frame. The four men turned toward him. With their first look, Griff already gave his orders. ’Hix, gather our troops.’ A man in plated armor trimmed with blue and red stepped forward; his shoulder guards were larger than usual. He put his fist to his chest and gave a small bow. In his other hand, he held a helmet tucked between his arm and side. A sword hung at his other side by its handle; it looked more ceremonial than practical for battle. With a quick shift, he walked away as Griff continued thundering his orders. ’Qwin, gather our horses and carriages by the road; we’ll need to move as soon as our army is assembled.’ A bald man with a rough beard stepped away, giving only a bow to show he’d heard.
Griff started walking, following the path where Hix had stood. ’Emil, what has happened?’
The man who stood next to Griff was the largest of the Trio, though it was unclear whether it was due to his armor or his own stature. His voice would be intimidating if it wasn’t for Griff standing next to him. ’It was quiet. Our men are helping with preparing the defense of Dunten. ’If they take the capital of the Protector of the North, the entire region will crumble. There will be no morale left, and the enemy will have free passage to march east and west. No matter what we do, we should leave some men who can’t keep up here.’
Griff just walked, glancing into the distance, deep in thought. The four men surrounding Griff and Emil pushed aside any bystanders who didn’t move, ensuring no one came between them. Many soldiers hurried past them. When Griff had entered earlier, there had still been signs of daily life. Now, only soldiers marched back and forth carrying supplies.
As they passed outside the castle, they could see that not only soldiers of Dunten were working but also soldiers from other houses that were left here to help the defense of Dunten.
Outside, he saw his army assembling. Hix pointed his sword high in the air, using it like a conductor’s baton. Qwin was beside him, pointing up and down as if counting something. Most soldiers stood in their designated groups while others marched toward them. Others were busy hitching horses to carts and preparing for travel. His army was already neatly organized. Even when more came, it wouldn’t make a dent in Qwin’s organization and Hix’s readiness.
Griff watched as all his troops came together under the banner of a heart wrapped in thorns. Griff looked at it, murmuring, ‘The hearts we cut, or the hearts we have already made bleed.’ Emil instinctively wanted to place a hand on Griff’s shoulder. He stopped himself from doing it. Griff put his hands on two of the guards’ shoulders. They stepped aside as Griff lifted himself onto a cart, making him appear even larger. He stood tall as his entire party turned their eyes toward him.A thousand men he took.
Hix put his sword back at his hip and with Qwin came to the cart where Griff was on, standing beside it keeping an eye on the army. With what sounded like thunder spoke Griff, ’All that can fit into a cart, all that have a horse all that can move fast will move back to the capital. All that remain will stay here. You will fight for Dunten, the north, the passage that will lead to all other counties. Give your all for the people here.Commander Zhorin takes the lead over them and move them up to help, the rest prepare to move rapid.’ The entire army started to move out. Seven hundred men moved to the horses and carts. the rest moved toward the castle with a man beside it that had a massive feather on it and thick shoulder guards trimmed blue. Griff jumped off the cart landing between Qwin and Hix. ‘What do you feel about it all.’ Griff asked it as if he wanted to know their honest opinions. The first to answer was Qwin. If there was a living being in Griff’s rule dared to speak against him then it would be Qwin. ’I think that Dunten has not enough troops, but if the rumors are true and if Drech doesn’t do anything against it than we will be rolled over.’ Qwin looked up at the air. He stroked his beard and adjusted his round glasses.Hix went with his hand over the pommel of his sword as if ashamed. ’Would the Beastkin really get the aid of the Ogrums and Boatsmen. Is the north really alone in the fight nothing from the south or west and what about the heart. What is the emperor going to do.’ Hix looked at the ground speaking with tremors for he thought this meant betrayal.
We are alone but it is unknown what is a lie and what is true of the aid of the Beastkin. Hope and spirit are all we have. Let’s make our way back home. To plan everything out. There will be too much in too little time.’ All agreed to it and moved to their transports. Qwin and Hix shared a carriage while Griff too big for any carriage or horse needed a special chariot pulled by four horses to move himself around. Emil and the four guards were on horses around the carriage. Griff wanted to ride for a few moments alone trying to think on what to do. All these years, trying to prove my blood in diplomatic peace and poverty and now I need to prove it in combat. The thorns around the heart, why did it take me so literal. Griff loosened the grip on his reins letting the horses take over the lead as they follow the speed of the rest of the army. Will we all be ready for what is to come. Will we perish while our houses burn. Will the fires set the skies of Cortius ablaze while they savage our lands making way to the next county, to the next families.
Emil, always next to or behind Griff, noticed that Griff was deep in thought. Definitely not about the war effort. Emil closed in. ’My lord, what are you thinking about?’ Griff knew the voice without a second question. ’About the future of our lands. Will my children be ready for what is to come?
‘My lord.’ Emil took a pause to find the right words. He heard Griff talk multiple times in the past about personal feelings. Should this be heard. Emil served Griff for almost twenty years being fifteen years his headguard and began talking ten years turning into some sort of friendship quite fast. Weird to have this job turned out so personal instead of a glorified meat shield. ’Your sons and daughter will be ready when needed. I have all faith that we will survive it all with you as its head and your sons by your side.’
Griff smiled. ’The thorns of us will grow around the enemy, crushing their hearts.’
Emil laughed softly seeing his lord focusing on the road up ahead. It’s good to know that he is focusing to what will be.
As they moved along the road Commoners moved aside walking past the army on the grass. Stretched forest and farms lay ahead. There were only a few villages on the road back. Most of those are merchant villages and taverns where people can stay. The other villages laid further down the main road. This could be for better surrounding that give more natural resources, tactical lay-out or easier to defend. These villages and the merchants that traveled the roads came in splendid for the army to refill their provisions.
They crossed the border where Griff gave the command ’We will rest at the von Houzen estate. A few guards moved up a head towards the front row making sure the orders reached the head of the army. Slowly they moved sideways taking a detour off the road. Slowly as they moved were a few other soldiers that joined in their ranks while a few others of the same colors moved further on a head. ’Soldiers of the von Houzen have joined us,’ Emil said to Griff.
’Good, then they have time to prepare for our arrival.’
They pressed on passing endless fields of grain. There were no woods no grass fields just farms. Hix looked onto the fields. ’How is it that he holds so much for grain.’
It was meant for the air to take it away, but Qwin couldn’t hold himself. ’The family before the von Houzen took over made these land perfect to farm on. It is only when they died in the Fatique war that the von Houzen took it over to create mostly grain. This could have been used for more. Lucky for us is bread an important provision to have. If I could do something about it than I would rather have that they grow crops to make stews. It is the only problem having such a structure that we have kings ruling over kings ruling over lords etc, etc.’ Qwin took a deep breath.
Hix gave no thought over this information, it was always the same thing with Qwin. Hix gave a small question and Qwin gave an answer as if he was a little kid needing guidance. ’Qwin, do you take everything so seriously? Are there no things left for you where you have questions about?’
Qwin that flipped a page of a book stopped to look up. He gave a stroke over his beard before responding. ’Knowing it all is my job. Griff is maybe my lord but like every being in this world he doesn’t know everything. That is where they need people like me that try to do so.’ Qwin’s eyes went back to his book.
There was a silent pause. When Hix asked, ‘What kind of book you’re reading anyway?’ was it a genuine question or just one to annoy. Qwin sight out. ‘Really Hix. You really want to know.’ Hix gave a soldier’s nod. Qwin shook his shoulders a bit then spoke. ’This is a book about the fatigue war unknown heroes. Where different historians and writers came together to create true stories about the people that have died.’
Hix looked at the book. “Ever read about Hercilis?” His voice didn’t demand an answer, it was sincere.
Qwin placed his bookmark carefully and closed the book. “No, I haven’t. Family of yours?” The question sounded as casual as it was curious.
Hix smirked for a split second, as if some old memory had surfaced. “He was my grandfather. He led Cortius’s army before the Thornehearts took the throne. He came to support House Foraxis when they were laid under siege. He died in that battle, but because of his cavalry, the vanguard he gathered, they managed to hold the beastkin off long enough for the rest of the army to arrive. Without him, the castle would’ve been raided.’ It looked like the first time ever that Qwin but his interest into someone’s else’s story. As Hix continued his explanation. Came eventually the collum to a stop.
Griff dismounted his chariot. Emil and the guards copied Griff to stay as close as possible to him. As he walked past his Collums of horses he yelled after every four Collum’s ’steady.’ His voice was such thunderous that each two rows could hear him.
The ones standing close felt fear by its loudness while the last one could only hear its respect taking form. There horses standing nicely and their stature were pristine. From a further collum came Hix and Qwin out of the collum to meet up with Griff. As they came together came from a distance a mounted figure closer with a half-silver, half-golden armor his helmet bound to the side of his horse. With a few other knights on horses behind him. Griff and his attendants turned to the figure. ‘There he is.’ Griff said. ’Lord of the von Houzen estate himself Gregory.’
Gregory looked over the army noticing the abomination of a half-giant next to the lines. How could we as a kingdom put a half-giant in a ruler position. Why did the Mrain family step down how is it that they gave their crown to the Thorneheart. he rode the massive muscle, the one that thinks can bring peace to Cortius. If they wanted that than they could put a smarter man in not that. Even on his horse Gregory needed to look up to look into Griff’s eye as he stranded now in front of him. A guard stood next to him his frame or was it just a lot of armor made him almost as large as himself on his horse. Its armor was red while brown trimmed like all the other soldiers. Gregory looked at the flag where the heart wrapped with thorns was showing. How original. He then looked at Griff other side where finally two normal people stood. One was fine shaven his hand on a blade that looked more like a tool than a sword. For some reason he was the only one with red scale armor with blue trimming on his red cloth. What for a job is he supposed to have? Then he looked at the last one. A bold one with a beard, some glasses. And a book in his hand. He would look the most normal out of them all if he didn’t have those dead looking eyes. Thinking, playing chess. He just doesn’t look trustworthy.
‘My lord.’ Gregory gave a bow while on his horse towards Griff. ’What a pleasant surprise to have you here.’ He looked back up with a smile. It could look not any faker than that smirk. He dared to look with that at Griff. Yet Griff needed to except it. Only one way to peck him down a few. ’We need to talk for there is a war to prepare for. And we need some more provisions for our way back.’
Gregory pulled back his bow. ’Understood my lord. What will be asked for me to do.’
Griff knew that being invited inside was not an option. Before answering Gregory, he turned towards Hix. ’Get some man ready for collecting the provisions.’ then to Gregory. ’I will collect all to defend the north of Cortius except you. Send part of your army to me and another army to Dunten there they can be relocated to new orders by Peter Pineburry or we may have then already a new protector ready to lead the north.
Gregory accepted his message as he saw how Hix gathered man to get his corps, and he could do nothing about it. Just listen to this man and then let’s see what will happen.
