The Bloodied Shield by Michael McKenzie

Author:Michael McKenzie [McKenzie, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-26T22:00:00+00:00

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Zansui and Jeria met Lord Hertwire at the Docks, with one end of a Pier having Samurai in Red Armor standing watch before a small craft that would take them to the Barge that lay just out of the way of the normal of fishing boats and trade vessels.

Sir Raphamel Hertwire had been a short man, bald of hair and round of shape. Jeria, when meeting Hertwire once before, could have mistaken them as a very tall dwarf, and there may have been the blood of the stout race in them.

Hertwire had seen the beginning, and end, of the Din War in Rilstar as an Infantryman in the King's Army. They also distinguished themself enough during the following War with the Swamp Orcs that the Old King Wingsteed elevated Hertwire to a position of Knighthood and Nobility just prior to the Crusaders absorbing the beleaguered Rilstarin Orders.

Zansui made mention that Hertwire and their Aunt Rebekka butted heads, and often, over what should be done and how at every chance they could.

The Lady Jakuul preferred a velvet glove and subtle approach of diplomacy.

The Lord Hertwire wanted to hit things with their mace. A lot.

This attitude suited the man when dealing with the rogue elements that snatched the countryside of Kallax for themselves. The Young King Ein Wingsteed's first order had been to dispatch Hertwire and take control of the Kallaxian's reconstruction, making them the Governor of the biggest Province within Kingdom.

However, Hayabatsu, like the Lady Jakuul, preferred the velvet glove of subtle approaches as well.

"Lord Warstalker!" Hertwire thundered as they drew closer. "Last time I saw you boy you were half naked in crappy armor and smelling of booze."

The Older Noble sniffed at Jeria and spat off to the side. "Now you're wearing full crappy armor and all I smell is fish and sea salt. How is this cesspit of idiots and overly pompous ninnies treating you?"

"Someone is going to stab me in the back." Jeria summarized, looking beyond Hertwire towards the Barge. "What are you doing here?"

"Kallax was my Province and I lost it. Forced on a ship and carted off." Hertwire growled fiercely. "More accurately I was drugged and dragged out. Didn't know what was going on till I was halfway to Rilstar."

"I was thrown off the ship when we arrived because I gave that bald headed, red-eyed git a black eye. Least give me a fair fight, but no, got to treat me like a feeble old man."

"Red-eyed git?" Zansui questioned, "Lord Hayabatsu?"

"That's him. I can't pronounce his name and I'm not going to try. That son of a bitch owes me an apology for not giving me a proper fight."

"What of your men?"

"No casualties, they surrendered without a fuss, the pricks." Hertwire nearly spat again, then made a rude gesture in the air, obviously riled up.

"No. I am not gonna blame them for it. They were outmaneuvered, most of them were held at spear point. It was a bloodless rebellion. They were treated honorable and given three meals a day as well as their families cared for.

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