The Homecoming 118.

At Home...

At the last moment, sir Percavelle Lé Dic quickly takes a couple of steps back. And sir Hamdell and sir Jarmick crash into one another as they attempt to swing their swords at the former earl of Lé Dic.
The noblemen from the Harkonin fief, who ran at the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che from opposite directions. Hit the ground with a clatter.
The nobleborn knight who once ruled the Lé Dic fief, steps forward and kicks sir Hamdell in the side. Sending the former Harkonin army captain rolling away, groaning in pain as he does so.
Then the former paladin, kicks sir Jarmick's sword away. As the landed knight from the very south of the Harkonin fief tries to grab his weapon that he's dropped.
The nobleborn knight, the only ordered one out of the seven of them on the road, before the south side moat of his family's castle.
Then kicks sir Hamdell in the rump. Sending the landed knight from south of baron Harkonin's fief sprawling.
Then sir Percavelle Lé Dic or Percy as he's more commonly referred to by the rest of the group, lifts up the faceplate of his full helm, and looks over at sir Taevar the Harkonin army commander, and grins.
With a sour smile upon his face, sir Taevar says "Get up" to the knights Hamdell and Jarmick. Baron Harkonin's army commander after glancing over at sir Balick, the only other landed knight from the Harkonin fief, here facing the former earl of Lé Dic, he can truly trust.
Says to the other five knights "When i said together, i meant together" as sir Jarmick and sir Hamdell scramble to their feet, which the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che allows them to do.
"Don't forget your sword there Jarmick" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic in a cheerful tone, as sir Jarmick after getting up, moves back. While sir Hamdell winces as he backs up with a sore side, where his armour has been dented in by the right sabaton of the former knight of the first class.
After darting a look at sir Percavelle, sir Jarmick whose armour is now no longer so shiny, and has scratches along it. Hurries forward and picks up his dropped sword, before he backs away from the nobleborn knight who is the uncle of the lady Linara Lé Dic.
Not yet my lovelies, Percy thinks to himself with a glance down at the heavy canvas bag on the road, that he steps up next to once more.
The heavily armoured knight who was once the earl of the Lé Dic fief, after grinning again, clangs shut the visor of his full helm, with a slap of his right gauntleted hand.
"Together" quietly says the Harkonin army commander, sir Taevar, who glances to his left, and adds "You ready Olmard?".
"Ready" is the slightly slurred reply of the dazed sir Olmard, whose faceplate of his full helm is dented in.
"You ready Malmaré?" asks sir Taevar who looks over at the youngest of the landed knights from the Harkonin fief, who is bleeding from his left shoulder plate.
Sir Malmaré just grunts in reply, and grimaces behind the visor of his full helm as he grips his sword in two hands.
Baron Harkonin's brother inlaw, then looks at sir Balick, who like him. Has faced sir Percavelle Lé Dic before. Though in a tourney setting, not on the battlefield.
Seeing the Harkonin army commander looking his way, sir Balick slightly nods his head.
"Ready?" says sir Taevar to the knights Hamdell and Jarmick "And don't rush in by yourselves again" adds the Harkonin army commander when the last two landed knights from the fief to the east, nod that they're ready.
Glad that their soldiers have given them a wide berth. After all, when knights on opposing sides in battle face off against one another. It should be them to fight against each other. And let the common born soldiers get on with something else. In this case, the continued assault upon the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
"Now!" orders sir Taevar, which illicits a grin from sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who reaches back, and grabs something behind him on his belt, it's a hammer. And it's significantly heavier than the hand hammer he threw at sir Olmard.
Though the enemy who have surrounded him on the road, move quickly forward and attack him at once. Some of them move quicker than others. And again it's sir Hamdell and sir Jarmick who rush at him first, before their fellow landed knights who are vassals of the baron Raevar Harkonin.
Percy holding the haft of the hammer, basically choking it at where the haft goes into the head.
Punches it into the chest of sir Jarmick who he's turned to face.
The heavy hammer severely dents in the shiny breastplate of the poor knight from the south of the Harkonin fief. As the former earl of Lé Dic suspected, the armour is of inferior quality, and the dent is more of a rip, than a dent as sir Jarmick is knocked backwards onto the ground, and his sword is flung from his hands from the impact of hitting the road.
The knight in the order of Saint Mar-che who was once a paladin. Hunches forward, almost bending forward.
He grins as he's whacked in the back by the sword of sir Hamdell who has rushed him from behind.
The commoner who was made a knight by baron Harkonin during the war of succession. Yelps in surprise, more than anything, as his longsword is jarred from his hands, and goes flying after he struck the shield of Saint Mar-che that's on the back of the former earl of Lé Dic.
Sir Percavelle spins to his right, letting go of the haft of his hammer, and quickly catching it again further down the haft. Just before he slams it into the side of the wounded sir Malmaré, who came forward quickly. But is swinging his sword rather slowly in both his hands.
The youngest of the landed knights from the Harkonin fief, drops to the ground screaming. After he's hit in his wounded left shoulder by the former paladin's hammer. Crushing in the already damaged upper vambrace.
The heavily armoured knight in the order of Saint Mar-che who though is in his forties, is still incredibly strong, and more importantly, incredibly quick.
Spins away from the other three landed knights who serve the baron Harkonin. Though to be fair, the dazed sir Olmard, didn't actually come at him. He's wandered off more to the right across the road, instead of straight at him like sir Taevar and Balick have done.
"Get up you two!" demands the Harkonin army commander of the knights Hamdell and sir Malmaré who are on the ground.
Sir Taevar who has quickly backed away from the former earl of Lé Dic. Looks on in disgust at sir Hamdell who has a hole in his breastplate, and is trying to get up off the ground. While young sir Malmaré, is lying on the ground, on his right side, groaning in pain. As his left shoulder plate is badly damaged. He's probably got a shattered left shoulder to go with the blood that's flowing from it.
Meanwhile, sir Hamdell has scurried away to retrieve his longsword that went flying from his hands when he struck the back of the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che.
While sir Balick grabs the dazed sir Olmard, and turns him in the direction of the landed and ordered knight who is the uncle of the lady Linara Lé Dic.
Who sir Taevar sees, has lifted the faceplate of his full helm again, and is grinning as he looks at the noblemen from the Harkonin fief.
Mad fucking idiot, baron Harkonin's army commander and brother inlaw sourly thinks to himself as he looks at the heavily armoured knight who is in the order of Saint Mar-che.
And while sir Jarmick has got up off the ground, and staggered back, breathing heavily after getting knocked down, and getting part of his breastplate torn open. Sir Malmaré is still upon the ground, groaning in pain.
He screams in pain when the former earl of Lé Dic kicks him, causing him to roll onto his back.
Then with a grin at the other landed knights from the Harkonin fief, the former paladin swings his hammer down at the faceplate of the wounded nobleman on the ground.
The former knight of the first class smashes his hammer down a second time into the visor of sir Malmaré's full helm. The third time he does it, blood sprays forth from the badly smashed in faceplate of the young knight from the north of the Harkonin fief.
"Bit of a poor showing there young fellow" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic in his loud boisterous voice after he smashes his hammer down a fourth time into the faceplate of sir Malmaré, then stands up straight.
"I say you'll have to do a lot better next time" adds the former earl of Lé Dic, who then looks down at the youngest of the noblemen from the fief to the east, who have confronted him here on the road, on the south side of his family's castle, and he says "Well, it seems there won't be a next time for you young fellow wot".
The heavily armoured knight in the order of Saint Mar-che grins at the other landed knights, in particular sir Taevar, then he closes the faceplate of his full helm, after glancing down at the dead sir Malmaré, and murmurs "Like father, like son". Having now killed both the father and son in battle nearly twenty years apart.
As sir Jarmick mutters "Fuck" as he looks at the dead sir Malmaré on the ground. And even the dazed sir Olmard nervously swallows when he sees that the youngest of them is dead.
Sir Taevar after sourly smiling once again, shakes his full helmed head, and says to the others "When i mean together, i fucking mean together!".
"Now, now Taevar" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic who is grinning from ear to ear behind the visor of his helm "Don't be so tetchy now" adds the former knight of the first class, who continues with "It can't be helped that you're all incompetent ninnies, after all you lot hail from the stinking dung heap of a fief called Harkonin" and with a look at all of them, ending with sir Jarmick, he says "Not to mention inbred heathens who follow the despicable old ways of the dark druids".
"Damn you Jarmick, together!" shouts baron Harkonin's army commander as an enraged sir Jarmick yells incoherently in anger, and rushes sir Percavelle Lé Dic before the order to do so.
The heavily armoured knight in the order of Saint Mar-che grins as the poor knight from the very south of the Harkonin fief charges him.
With his shiny armour scratched up, sir Jarmick runs forward swinging his longsword at the former earl of Lé Dic. Who just stands there completely still, waiting for the nobleman from the fief across the border to the east.
Then the former paladin swings his right arm forward from where it's down beside him. Flicking his right gauntleted hand forward, flinging the hammer he's holding, out of his hand, and forward at the charging sir Jarmick.
Now all suits of armour that are made of plate. Have it virtually everywhere. Including what's known as the waist guard. Which protects the groin, or nether regions.
That maybe so, but still if you get hit directly there. It still hurts, especially if it's hit by a blunt weapon. Like a hammer, which has been thrown with a underhanded flick. With skill, by someone who has done it a lot, on both the tourney field, and on the battlefield.
It doesn't help that sir Jarmick's armour, though shiny, and polished to a high sheen before the battle for Lé Dic castle began, isn't exactly the best quality.
For he gasps in pain as he staggers to a halt, when the hammer thrown underhanded at him, hits him in the groin.
He doubles over, putting a hand down on the road, as vomit suddenly sprays from the air holes in the faceplate of his helm. He groans again as he gasps in a breath as he stands upright.
Then suddenly, his own longsword that he's dropped, is slammed into his chest, through the rent that's in the front of his breastplate.
"I do believe that's yours" says a grinning sir Percavelle Lé Dic who lets go of the hilt of the longsword he's just shoved into the chest of sir Jarmick "You don't want to be leaving it behind now do you?" adds the former knight of the first class.
As the landed knight from the very south of the Harkonin fief stands there, as blood now flows from the air holes in his visor, where only a couple of moments ago, vomit spewed from it.
Sir Jarmick goes to reach for his sword that's through his chest as he stands there. He lifts his hands up, they don't get far, before he topples over sideways to the ground, dead.
"Ahem" Percy clears his throat, then lifts up his faceplate, and with a grin plastered on his face, he says "Next?" as he looks at the four remaining knights from the Harkonin fief who are on the road.
Seeing that the former earl of Lé Dic is no longer holding a weapon, even though there are others on his belt, including his sword on one hip, and what looks to be a long dagger on the other. Sir Taevar shouts at the three remaining landed knights with him "Now!".
And for once, they all obey his command. And the four of them rush the ordered knight who is the uncle of the lady Linara Lé Dic. Even the dazed sir Olmard goes in the right direction as he runs at the heavily armoured knight who is a member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar-che.
The former paladin who has turned to his left a bit, runs forward a few steps, then dives forward at one of the oncoming enemy. The former knight of the first class, dives forward beneath a hastily swung sword, and slams into the still unsteady legs of sir Olmard.
The dazed knight whose faceplate is partly smashed in, goes down with a bone crunching yelp. Sir Percavelle rolls to his right, and springs to his feet, and spins around, as the other three enemy knights, turn and come back at him again.
The former earl of Lé Dic didn't just dive forward at the legs of sir Olmard to knock him down. He also dived this way, because that's where his heavy canvas bag is on the road.
And the heavily armoured knight in the order of Saint Mar-che, grabs what's in the bag, and pulls them out, one in each gauntleted hand, as he gets to his feet and spins around to confront the other three landed knights from the Harkonin fief.
"Oh my beauties!" says a chortling sir Percavelle Lé Dic, as he lifts up what's in his left gauntleted hand, as sir Balick swings his broadsword with a savage swipe at him.
It's about the length of a sword, not as long as a broadsword, but a bit longer than a shortsword. It's basically an iron rod, and it has what look likes iron teeth about four inches in length, sticking out of it along it's length. It resembles a large iron hair comb if someone was to describe it.
But what it is, is sometimes called a swordcatcher. But it's known by it's more common name, a swordbreaker.
Sir Balick's blade slams in between two of the iron teeth of Percavelle Lé Dic's swordbreaker. Then the former paladin, yanks his left arm to his side, twisting his wrist as he does so. Sir Balick's broadsword is ripped out of his hands.
Then the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che shoves forward what he's holding in his right gauntleted hand.
The grip looks like the back end of a lance. It certainly has the round guard you find on wooden lances.
The grip is about two feet in length. While the other end of it, beyond the round guard. Is nearly two and half foot in length.
It resembles a poinard, it certainly looks like one. It's a relatively thin piece of metal, looking like a rod of stock that blacksmiths use.
Though it's actually highly tempered steel. And it has four sides, all flat, that ends in a tapered end. Like what a leather worker uses to punch holes in his work.
And that's what sir Percavelle uses it for, to punch holes in his work. As it easily punches a hole in the breastplate of sir Balick, goes through his chest, and out his back.
The former paladin pulls the poinard like weapon out of the chest of the landed knight who he disarmed with his swordbreaker.
The hole in the breastplate of sir Balick is only the size of a small coin. But that's all it needs to be, when the flat sided, tapered weapon went through his heart, killing him instantly.
As sir Balick drops to the ground dead, sir Taevar and sir Hamdell come to a halt, while the groaning sir Olmard tries to get up off the ground, but is unable to as his legs are either broken, or his knees have been dislocated after the former earl of Lé Dic dived into them.
Looking at the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che, and what he's holding, the Harkonin army commander says in disgust "You cheat!".
Laughing as he flings away the broadsword in his swordcatcher, sir Percavelle Lé Dic lifts up the visor of his full helm, and says with a grin upon his face "That i am".
Then lifting up the unique, and totally un noble like weapons he's got in his hands, he says to sir Taevar, sir Hamdell, and the groaning sir Olmard on the ground "Next?" . . . . . .

The Homecoming 117.

Enemies...

As he sees them riding towards him. Sir Percavelle Lé Dic grins behind the visor of his full helm, then shrugs off the heavy canvas bag that's on his right shoulder. It lands on the trade road beside him, and he quickly reaches down, to make sure the top of the bag is open.
"Oh my beauties" murmurs sir Percavelle Lé Dic as he sees what remains in the heavy canvas bag, then the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che stands upright again, as he waits for the approaching riders.
"Move aside!" calls out sir Taevar the Harkonin army commander, to those stragglers on foot who have yet to reach the moat. As he and five other nobleborn riders from the fief to the east. Make their way up onto the trade road, here to the south of castle Lé Dic.
They ride around the third siege tower, that's on the road, and has been damaged beyond repair by the war machines within the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
Then sir Malmaré, who is the youngest of the nobleborn riders, who is infront of sir Taevar, and in the lead, calls out "There he is!".
Baron Harkonin's army commander, who thought he spotted who they're riding towards a few moments ago. Does indeed spot their target, who is now standing on the road, that leads to where the drawbridge would normally be here on the south side of castle Lé Dic.
"Percavelle" mutters sir Taevar, as he looks at the former earl of Lé Dic, just standing there without a care about the battle around him. Waiting for those mounted noblemen from the Harkonin fief riding towards him.
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic stands there, ignoring the enemy who are close by. One of baron Harkonin's soldiers runs at the former paladin from behind. But he's dropped by a arrow that punches into the small of his back.
While another of the enemy soldiers, who thinks about throwing an axe at the heavily armoured knight standing there on the road. Staggers forward, then falls to his knees, then onto to his face, with a crossbow bolt in the side of his neck.
Up on the battlements along the south side of castle Lé Dic. Riley Hait the mercenary ranger has gathered together a handful of archers and crossbowmen to shoot at any of the enemy soldiers who get close to sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che is ignoring.
They're busy, as the former earl of Lé Dic who is standing on the trade road, is seemingly ignoring all that's around him. And is looking towards the group of enemy nobility, who are riding towards him.
Sir Percavelle or Percy as he's commonly referred to by the rest of the group, lifts an arm, then looks back over his shoulder, and shakes his head no. After he sees an arrow pass by the leading rider coming straight towards him.
Upon on the south wall parapet, above the main gates, the ranger Hait orders the archers and crossbowmen he's gathered, not to shoot at the enemy noblemen who are nearing the former knight of the first class. And instead to concentrate on any of the enemy soldiers, common born conscripts for the most part, who get too close to the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che.
Looking at the enemy riding towards him, sir Percavelle Lé Dic grins again as he sees them pulling back on the reins of their mounts to bring them to a stop.
The nobleman, who is the uncle of the lady Linara Lé Dic slightly shakes his full helmed head. For if he was one of his enemy, he would of continued riding, and ridden him down.
"Fools be here" murmurs sir Percavelle Lé Dic as the nobleborn riders, six in total, jump out of their saddles, and hit the ground.
Then the former earl of the Lé Dic fief, eschewing his normal bluster and frankly loud mouthed behaviour when he's confronted by anyone who he deems worthy of his attention.
Attacks straight out, as he knows the six noblemen from the Harkonin fief will probably want to have words with him. And they would expect him to verbally challenge them as well.
Not today chaps, the former paladin thinks to himself, as first he throws his pick axe, then throws his hand hammer. The knight in the order of Saint Mar-che is ambidextrous, a feat he learnt. And the hammer thrown from his left gauntleted hand, is thrown just as hard as the pick axe thrown from his right.
The pick axe, slams into the left shoulder plate of the leading enemy nobleman. Who from the tabbard he wears, is sir Malmaré. Percy doesn't know the young landed knight from across the border to the east. But he knew the youngster's father. Percavelle killed him in battle just after he became the earl of the Lé Dic fief.
And by the looks of it, the son is like the father. Rushing into combat, when he should of used caution against a far more experienced and skilled opponent.
As sir Malmaré hits the ground screaming in pain with the pick end of the axe, through his steel plate armour, and in his left shoulder.
Sir Taevar who knows to expect pretty much anything from sir Percavelle Lé Dic. Who he knows is not chivalrous at all. After all the man cheats in pretty much every tourney the Harkonin army commander has seen him in. So in actual battle, he'd be no different.
Dives to one side, and narrowly misses getting hit by the hammer the former earl of Lé Dic just hurled this way.
Not so, sir Olmard. Who was following sir Taevar. The hand hammer clangs off his face plate, and he staggers backwards, and falls on his rump, then onto his back. Where he groans as he tries to sit up, then get up feeling dazed.
"Spread out!" orders the commander of baron Harkonin's army as he scrambles to his feet. He knows taking on sir Percavelle Lé Dic head on, is a recipe for disaster. As the ordered knight, isn't like his landed contemporaries here in the east of the kingdom of Druvic.
He's trained to use multiple weapons, many of which he has on him. While those noblemen from the Harkonin fief he faces. Have only mastered a single weapon. Most likely the sword, which is the weapon of choice for pretty much any noble, in any kingdom.
The knight in the order of Saint Mar-che who once ruled the Lé Dic fief. Has also trained to fight multiple opponents at the same time. As he faces now.
While those nobles in baron Harkonin's army who confront him now, just over the moat from the south wall of his family's castle. Have only ever fought as a group in one previous battle. During the border conflict over eighteen months ago. Even during a tourney in a Lé Grande Melee it's every man for himself. Where alliances are brief, which usually end when one or the other turn on each other after defeating the opponent they ganged up on.
As sir Olmard tries to get up off the ground, and sir Balick hauls the injured sir Malmaré up off the trade road. The young landed knight from the north of the Harkonin fief groans in pain, and almost passes out from it, as the older, and more experienced sir Balick quickly yanks out the pick that punctured his left steel shoulder plate.
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic doesn't move, and waits where he is as he watches the nobleborn enemy spread out around him. He only knows two of the six he faces. Sir Taevar and sir Balick. Both are younger than he is, but both are older and more experienced than the four other landed knights from the Harkonin fief who are with them.
Both sir Taevar the Harkonin army commander and sir Balick are competent fighting men. But no way should sir Taevar be the commander of baron Harkonin's army.
He's perfectly capable of being in battle. But he's no leader of men. Nor does he have any tactical nouce.
The baron should of had sir Dontast the knight in the order of Althilgah as his army commander. At least the ordered knight would of been trained to lead armies. Unlike sir Taevar, who only got the position because he's married to the younger sister of baron Harkonin.
The former earl of Lé Dic looks quickly at sir Balick, who says to sir Taevar "At the same time". The Harkonin army commander nods his full helmed head, then says to the other landed knights from the fief to the east "As Balick says, attack him at the same time" followed "He can't defend us all at once".
Grinning behind the faceplate of his full helm, the former paladin, who was demoted from the rank of first class in the order of Saint Mar-che. For going on a holy quest, without the sanction of his order. A quest to vanquish the ork, Dorc da Orc. But more importantly, for stealing the most valuable holy relic of his knightly order. The shield of Saint Mar-che, which at the moment is strapped to his back.
Knows that nobleborn enemy would normally be right. Attacking a superior opponent at once is the best option. But the former earl of Lé Dic, knows that's only relevant if you and your companions have been taught, and trained to fight like that.
Which he knows, none of those he's up against now. Have been taught to fight in a group as one, especially against someone like him. They're more than likely to be a danger to themselves, and to each other. Than they are to him.
"You're surrounded Percavelle" says sir Taevar as they circle the former earl of Lé Dic, who still hasn't moved, and continues to stand in the middle of the road "You're not getting away from this alive" adds the Harkonin army commander who is a little surprised the heavily armoured knight who is the uncle of the lady Linara Lé Dic hasn't said anything in reply.
After all the nobleborn knight who is both ordered and landed, is known across the kingdom for his overly loud voice, and his rather inflated opinion of himself. Not to mention his total disdain for anyone else's martial skills, especially in a confrontation against himself.
What are you up to you mad idiot? sir Taevar thinks to himself as he watches the former earl of Lé Dic, who is silent as he watches the noblemen from the Harkonin fief surround him.
Baron Harkonin's army commander reaches out to his left, and shoves the dazed sir Olmard that way, saying "Stay sharp Olmard".
Ah ha, so that's Olmard, sir Percavelle Lé Dic thinks to himself as he looks at the landed knight who he hit with his thrown hammer. Who is more than a little wobbly on his feet. Not to mention the faceplate of his full helm is dented in quite a bit.
Sir Olmard, who as a young squire over a decade ago. Applied to join the order of Saint Mar-che.
The former knight of the first class learnt of that particular application. And quietly disposed of it without the knowledge of the then knight general of the order of Saint Mar-che. For the simple reason Percy didn't want anyone from the Harkonin fief being a member of his order.
"He's not so great" says a knight who moves behind the former paladin "The great sir Percavelle indeed" adds the knight, who is unrecognizable to the former earl of the Lé Dic fief.
That particular knight from the Harkonin fief continues with "His reputation gets the better of him, if he thinks he can stand there against all six of us". "Quiet Hamdell" says sir Taevar the Harkonin army commander.
And that is Hamdell then, sir Percavelle Lé Dic thinks to himself with a slight nod of his full helmed head. He has heard of the baseborn knight, who was given his peerage by baron Raevar Harkonin during the civil war.
A former captain in the baron's army, who was knighted when one of the nobility in the south of the Harkonin fief died without an heir. And the baron gave his lands to the then captain Hamdell.
"Jarmick keep to my left" is what the former earl of Lé Dic hears sir Balick quietly say to the knight next to him on his left. Who wears a suit of armour, with steel polished to a high sheen.
Armour that the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che instantly recognises is better hanging up in a hall within a castle. Than to be worn in battle.
He'd always heard that the Jarmick family were poor. And living as they do in the very south of the Harkonin fief. They're probably the most devout of the enemy noblemen he's facing at the moment. And devout, as in a follower of the old ways. The druidic ways. And since he's from the south of the Harkonin fief. It will be the ways of the dark druids.
And that's six, sir Percavelle Lé Dic thinks to himself as all of the nobleborn, landed knights from the fief across the border to the east, who now surround him, are now identifiable to him.
The heavily armoured knight, who until now hasn't said a single word to any of the noblemen from the Harkonin fief, says "Rather pleasant day for a bit of a work out".
He looks at each and everyone of the six who have surrounded him. Who have now been given a wide birth by their soldiers who are assaulting the south wall of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
"Shame I've got no worthy opponents to face this fine, spring day" adds the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che, who continues with  "Just lickspittles, common born upstarts, and dirt poor druid lovers from that backwoods quagmire, that Raevar stinking Harkonin rules have bothered to show up. And who have the audacity to face their better. I, the great sir Percavelle".
Behind the visor of his full helm, the former earl of the Lé Dic fief grins, as both sir Jarmick and sir Hamdell roar in outrage and protest. And the dazed sir Olmard, says in a confused, and bleary tone "What did he say?".
While an unsteady sir Malmaré sways from side to side, as he groans in pain, while blood seeps down from his left shoulder plate.
Ha! Fools alright! sir Percavelle Lé Dic thinks to himself in satisfaction, as both sir Hamdell and sir Jarmick, who are on opposite sides of him, rush him. While sir Taevar the Harkonin army commander, who for a brief moment, forgets he's now a follower of the old ways, and says "Wait! By the gods, damn you wait". As the landed knights sir Hamdell and sir Jarmick charge the former earl of the Lé Dic fief.
Who still stands there in the middle of the trade road, without moving. The only move he does make, is a glance down to his right. At the heavy, canvas bag beside him. To make sure that the top of it remains open. Seeing that it still is. The heavily armoured knight in the order of Saint Mar-che grins again.
Well Percy old chap, it's begun in earnest now, sir Percavelle Lé Dic thinks to himself in satisfaction as he's rushed by two of the enemy noblemen from the Harkonin fief.
And as both sir Jarmick and sir Hamdell draw their swords as they run at him. The former knight of the first class, who was once a paladin, finally moves again as he's attacked by his enemies . . . . . .

The Homecoming 116.

In The Thick Of It...

Whacking out some of the bolts and arrows in his right arm. Dorc da Orc growls, then dives forward into some of the Harkonin soldiers who are trying to get out of his way.
The large ork knows that to be in amongst the enemy is the best chance of not being shot at so often by those with crossbows and bows.
The ork warleader, gets up, and grabs one of the soldiers, who is howling in pain with a broken leg.
Dorkindle picks him up by that leg, and an arm. The ork weaponsmith swings around in a circle, before he flings the screaming soldier away.
Sending him crashing into a group of the enemy, who are trying to avoid the big, burly ork as they rush towards the moat. Which is about fifty feet behind the ork, who is the son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks.
The large ork from the bottom of the world, chuckles as at least half a dozen other Harkonin soldiers go down when the one he threw at them, hits them.
Then he looks quickly away to his right, towards the trade road that leads to the east side of castle Lé Dic.
Dorkindle runs that way, throwing an axe he takes from the front of his weapon harness. That slams into the face, and explodes the skull of the wagon driver, who has just brought his wagon to a halt on the trade road.
The warleader of the ork race sourly smiles, as the four soldiers on the back of the wagon, swing the side by side ballista, they're the crew of, around in the direction of the large ork.
There's the the familiar sound of a thunk of a ballista being fired over the noise of the battle. But it doesn't come from the side by side war machine, that's in the back of the wagon. It comes from one of the two up on the parapet of the east wall of castle Lé Dic.
It's missile slams into the back of the wagon that has the side by side ballistas, designed by the war engineer Tovis.
One of the soldiers is torn in half, and  another has the twelve foot long, heavy spear go through him, picking him up, and throwing him off the back of the wagon.
One of the other four man ballista crew, dived off the side of the wagon. While the other, just stands there, completely stunned that the missile didn't hit him, and he's totally unharmed.
That's until Dorc da Orc grabs him by the leg, and growls "Mine cunt" as he yanks the Harkonin soldier off the wagon, before he jumps up onto the back of the wagon with a loud, and high pitched hysterical laugh, that sounds like an enraged pig squealing.
Seeing that both ballistas are back in firing position, and that there's a missile in each one.
Dorkindle swings them around on the wooden, circular, turntable they're on. And he pulls back on the heavy rope that connects the two metal levers that fire the war machine.
The two ten foot long heavy spears, shoot off, connected by a chain. Which the ork weaponsmith shot back in the direction of the massive castle that's under attack from baron Harkonin's army.
The big, burly ork didn't shoot at the castle as such. He shot at the moat instead. To be exact, at soldiers on one of the floating rafts trying to get to the east wall of castle Lé Dic.
The two missiles, and its chain, rip apart half a dozen Harkonin soldiers, and shatter the scaling ladder they had with them.
The ork warleader didn't even see it hit, as he's too busy pulling the side by side ballistas back into firing position, as he swings them around again.
Dorc da Orc chuckles as some of the enemy shooting at him with their crossbows, and others who were rushing towards the wagon he's on the back of. Dive to the ground, and out of the way of the side by side ballistas being pointed at them.
The weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks in the southern polar region of the world. Then loads the two ballista, putting a heavy longspear in each one.
These two aren't connected by a chain, so they're quicker to load. Especially by a large ork, who can put the ten foot long spears in each ballista with a single hand.
"Get some!" shouts Dorkindle as he fires off the war machine at more of the enemy, this time at those on the otherside of the trade road from where he get off the moat.
The warleader of the ork race who is amongst the enemy army, looks quickly around. And though he sees those who are mounted. He doesn't see any of the nobility. Well at least no knights in suits of plate armour.
The big, burly ork, who to this day, at seven and half foot tall, and seven hundred and fifty pounds in weight, is still the largest member of his tribe. Has got amongst the thick of it in the battle, for the sole purpose to take out as much of the nobility and officers from the Harkonin fief as possible.
Dorc da Orc once again reloads the war machine he's taken over. Sniffing as he does so.
And as he pulls the side by side ballistas back into firing position, he grunts as he looks away further to the right.
To the southeast corner of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family. The ork who was given the title, and position of warleader by lord Farque a number of years ago.
Can smell more riders and their mounts around on the south side of castle Lé Dic. Though some of them are in suits of armour. Most in heavy plate armour, made in the usual steel. Though one is in a suit of heavy iron armour. Which has a clear, distinctive smell to the nose of the large ork.
He catches a whiff of those who are heavily armoured, including whoever it is in the distinctive suit of iron armour.
Are riding in this direction, towards the east side of castle Lé Dic, from around the southern side of the massive castle, that for centuries, has been the home of the Lé Dic family.
"Get some!" shouts the ork weaponsmith as he fires the war machine again, sending the missiles towards a nearby catapult that a number of the enemy are running around, for cover.
One of them is clearly an officer, if he's nobleborn, Dorkindle has no idea. But one of the heavy spears, slams into the back of that officer, pinning him to the side of the catapult.
While the other heavy longspear, takes off the right arm of one Harkonin soldier. Before slamming into another. In the back, going through him, and into a third soldier from the fief to the east. Who goes cartwheeling next to the catapult, with the missile through his lower back, just above the left hip, and out the right side of his stomach.
Dorc da Orc chuckles as he jumps off the back of the wagon after kicking the base of one of the ballista sending it sideways into the other, and ripping off the rope that connects the firing levers.
He lands on top of a Harkonin soldier who was running at the wagon, with a great axe. Dorkindle who has squashed the enemy soldier. Though not to death, kills him, when he bites into the Harkonin soldier's face, and tears most of it off, including the man's jaw, and much of his throat.
With a face covered in blood, the big, burly ork, gets up, grabbing the enemy soldier's great axe as he does so.
The axe is barely bigger than one of the ork weaponsmith's throwing axes. So he throws it at some of the enemy across the trade road, trying to evade him, as they rush towards the moat carrying the raft that they built as the baron's army was making it's way to castle Lé Dic.
"Get some" mumbles the ork warleader as he chews the jaw and face that's in his mouth, when the axe he threw hits one of the enemy soldier's across the trade road carrying a raft.
Then in his lumbering stride, Dorc da Orc takes off running. Well, it's jogging really. To the road, then across it, taking a hammer from the front of his weapon harness. And longspear from across his back.
"Get some ya cunts!" yells the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world.
He swings his hammer at a Harkonin soldier who gets too close. And as another goes down with a bolt in the side, shot from a crossbow up on the battlements along the east side of castle Lé Dic.
Dorkindle slams his longspear into the guts of another soldier from the fief across the border to the east. All the way through his body, and out his back. With at least four feet of the longspear out the Harkonin soldier's back.
The warleader of the ork race lifts the longspear up high, and shakes the enemy soldier skewed by it, and after roaring loudly, shouts "Get some!".
"Take that!" shouts sir Percavelle Lé Dic as wades through the enemy, here, across the moat, along the south side of the massive castle that's his family's ancestral home.
The heavily armoured knight who knows he's at his most advantageous, not to mention, most destructive. Being in the thick of it, close in amongst the enemy.
Yanks the pick end of his hand axe out of the face of the enemy soldier he's just slammed it into.
Then backhands, the hammer he's holding in his other gauntleted hand. Shattering the jaw, and smashing the face of another of the baron Harkonin's soldiers.
The former earl of Lé Dic yells "Take that you knave!" as he uses the hammer to block an enemy soldier's sword, then he kicks him in the groin with a steel boot. Instantly dropping that soldier who hails from the fief across the border to the east.
Out of the corner of his left eye, sir Percavelle Lé Dic, or Percy as he's commonly referred to by the rest of the group.
Spots a number of riders heading eastwards, probably around to that side of the massive castle that baron Harkonin's army are assaulting this fine spring day.
The knight in the order of Saint Mar-che, is pretty sure he spots the recognisable form of sir Parnak leading those enemy riders.
The ordered knight snorts in derision as he thinks of the ridiculous heavy iron armour that the rotund sir Parnak wears.
The former paladin knows that it's effective against blades, and weapons with points. But that black iron, is extremely heavy. And susceptible against anyone who is quick, or strong with a blunt weapon, like a heavy hammer.
The nobleman who once ruled this fief, headbutts a Harkonin soldier. Dropping the man from the fief across the border to the east, whose face has been shattered by the face plate of sir Percavelle's full helm.
Then with an underhand swing with the pick axe, the nobleborn knight whacks another of the baron's soldiers between the legs.
"Sorry about that old chap, you shouldn't of got in the way" says the former knight of the first class, after he steps over the enemy soldier, who dropped after the ordered knight yanked out the pick axe between the man's legs.
As another of the enemy infront of him, drops to the ground, with a bolt in the left thigh, shot from crossbow up on the south wall battlements of the castle.
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic hurries onto the road that leads to the main gates on the south side of the massive castle, that his family have called home for more than four centuries.
The heavily armoured knight looks along the road, and off to the west side of it, he spots armoured riders heading this way.
"Well tis about time wot" says the former paladin, who grins as he sees who is amongst the riders heading this way from the rear of the Harkonin army.
Well if it isn't that popinjay, Taevar himself, the nobleborn knight thinks to himself when he spots the enemy army commander amongst those riding towards the moat.
The former earl of Lé Dic, who makes sure the heavy, canvas bag is still secure over his right shoulder. Grins in anticipation as he watches the group of nobleborn riders heading this way.
Then the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che yells "Take that you villainous swine!" as he slams the axe head of his pick axe into the mouth of Harkonin soldier trying to prove his worth by taking on the former paladin.
Then he brains another Harkonin soldier, a short one. With his hammer, down into the crown of that soldier from the fief across the border to the east.
Kicking that body to the side, before it drops to the ground. Sir Percavelle Lé Dic steps out into the middle of the road, and waits for the approaching riders.
He sees that none of them have lances. And though if he was one, and he was riding here to confront him. He would ride himself down.
Though the ordered knight knows none in the group of enemy will even contemplate doing that. As they'll want to face the famous sir Percavelle, on foot, in armed combat.
Weapons against weapons, even though there's six, heavily armoured noblemen riding towards him.
Hmmm six against one Percy old chap, the uncle of lady Linara Lé Dic thinks to himself, who then chuckles and says "Barely even odds i should think" the heavily armoured knight then silently adds, though i shall have the advantage, since all know, i, the great sir Percavelle, is the paramount knight in all of the world.
Still holding the dead Harkonin soldier skewered by one of his longspears, Dorc da Orc after having a quick look around. Heads southwards, here along the east side of the massive castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for generations.
The big, burly ork roars as he shakes the longspear with the dead soldier on it, as he heads back a bit towards the moat as he jogs parallel to it.
The ork warleader runs into some of the enemy, knocking one down flat, sending another reeling to the left, and shouldering another away to the right. Where he crashes into two others, at the rear of a group of six of them, who are carrying a scaling ladder towards the moat. The ladder goes down as the two at the back hit the ground, when the one the ork weaponsmith shouldered, smashes into them.
Dorkindle continues on his way towards the southeast corner of castle Lé Dic, where there's less of the enemy.
Then the large ork, who is sniffing as he lopes along, in his lumbering stride. Grins a few moments before he sees a group of riders come around from the south side of the massive castle.
Dorc da Orc chortles, then shouts "Get some!" when he sees the riders, who are all armoured in heavy plate. Spot him, and turn in his direction and start riding towards him.
As he angrily, well it looks angrily, but to him it's with glee, that he violently shakes his longspear that has a Harkonin soldier skewered on it, in anticipation as the nobleborn energy ride this way . . . . . .

The Homecoming 115.

A Tailwind Chase...

Even though the morning dawned cool, the day has turned out to be fairly warm for the start of spring.
And as he floats in the air, about two hundred feet off the ground. Helbe the elven thief, who is looking westward, glances back at the sun in the fairly clear, spring sky.
The young elven noble from the principality of Laerel, who is blurred and shielded, looks back to the west, and scans the sky in that direction for a few more moments, before he shifts down to the ground.
The elven masterthief is walking across a field that's been planted with grain here in the west of the Lé Dic fief. The elven princeling doesn't walk that far, before he's joined by Narladene the ground pixie, who after popping up from beneath the field, lands upon the right shoulder of the blurred and shielded elven spellcaster.
"Did you spot it?" asks Narladene the ground pixie, who as usual when the two of them are alone, speaks in the elven language.
"I did" replies Helbe the elven thief who continues with "It's a warship alright" followed by "A frigate in the kingdom's aircorp".
The elven princeling from Laerel, momentarily stops as he asks the tiny winged creature who is standing on his right shoulder "Where is he?".
"He's making his way to it" replies the naturally magical creature who is originally from the Sunreach Mountains, she continues with "Though he's taking a roundabout way to it" Narladene then adds "He must've spotted it by now, but he's not exactly going straight to it".
The elven magic user slightly nods his head, then quietly says "Wonder if he knows he's being followed?".
"I wouldn't put it past him" says the ground pixie, who after a brief pause, grimaces as she adds "Considering that staff he's got".
The elven master assassin slightly grimaces at that too. Then he says to the tiny winged creature who is 'attached' to him "Should we continue after him, or go straight to that frigate, which he's obviously going to even though he's going back and forth over the western part of the fief to get to it".
"Hmmm decisions, decisions" murmurs Narladene, who is glad whenever the young elven noble involves her in his decisions, and after a moment, she says "Might as well go straight to that ship" the ground pixie continues with "If nothing else, you can find out why they've been sent here".
"My thoughts exactly" murmurs the elven master archer, who then adds "Might as well do that".
The grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel takes a step, and is about to cast his shift spell. When all of a sudden, Narladene feels him tense up, and stiffen. She looks sharply at the young elven noble, and sees his eyes roll back, before closing as he starts to fall sideways.
The naturally magical creature leaps away as the elven spellcaster topples sideways, and falls to the ground.
The tiny winged creature takes a sharp intake of breath, even though she doesn't breathe as such. Then she sourly smiles as she realises what's just happened to the elven masterthief.
"Drats" mutters the ground pixie as she looks down at the unconscious elven princeling "What a time for that to happen" adds Narladene with a shake of her head as she lands upon the ground next to the young elven noble, who has been overcome, by the unique power that he has. The power of foresight.
The tiny winged creature knows that prince Helbenthril Raendril won't be unconscious for long. As his unique power, which isn't magical in anyway. Which is also hereditary, as his grandfather Prince Raendril of Laerel also has it.
Is usually unconscious from a few moments, to about a sixty heartbeats at the longest, depending what his foresight is showing him.
Which is usually who lord Farque wants found. Which is what happened the last time it overtook the young elven noble. When it showed him Tovis the war engineer, and where, more or less to find him.
Wonder what it is? Narladene thinks to herself, who doesn't have to wait long for the elven spellcaster to regain consciousness. As he starts waking up about a dozen heartbeats after he hits the ground.
Helbe the elven thief groans as he wakes up "Aaarggghhh" mutters the elven magic user who rolls onto his side, and takes a deep breath as he opens his eyes, and finds Narladene standing right infront of his face, grinning. Though it's a grin of relief, more than anything, as she knows there's nothing actually wrong with the elven princeling who she's 'attached' to.
"Who is it?" asks the tiny winged creature who naturally assumes it's someone that the young elven noble's foresight has just shown him.
"No one" says the elven master assassin as he sits up. Narladene's eyebrows go up in surprise when she hears that, then she asks the elven spellcaster from the island principality of Laerel "Then what is it?".
"My death" says prince Helbenthril Raendril, which causes the ground pixie's mouth to drop open in shock.
"Well it will be if i go straight to that frigate that's heading this way" says the elven masterthief, who takes his water bottle from his belt, and takes a drink from it.
"What?" says the tiny winged creature in a demanding tone "I'll get killed if i go straight to that airship, and get there before that dark druid does" says the highly talented elven magic user, who recasts his blur and shield spells, since he automatically dropped them when he fell unconscious.
The young elven noble whose father is the Warder of Quinthain, and whose mother is the daughter of Prince Raendril, and who is next in line to rule the principality of Laerel. Gets up off the ground, and nods his hooded head when Narladene asks him "Are you sure?".
"Absolutely" says the elven master assassin, who then adds "It's never been wrong" he briefly pauses, before continuing in a dry tone with "Besides it showed me a few hundred scenarios at how I'll die, if go straight there. I kind of got the point fairly quickly, but it wanted to show me every single one".
The naturally magical creature winces, then says "Hmmm, i guess we continue after him then". "I guess so" says Helbe the elven thief, who at this time, can't sense the dark druid Palvarc, who is out of his range.
So he asks the ground pixie, who can magically sense far greater distances than he can "Where is he?".
"That way" says Narladene who points more to the northwest, for the approaching Druvician aircorp frigate, which is about ten miles away, more to the southwest, than directly west "About five miles away now" adds the tiny winged creature, who 'attached' herself to prince Helbenthril Raendril, nearly a decade ago.
The elven masterthief nods his hooded head, then he shift up into the sky, a few hundred feet up off the ground.
As he floats there, with Narladene upon his right shoulder, the blurred and shielded elven spellcaster looks away to the northwest. Then he looks back to the east, to a hilltop about a mile away. And spots Shur Kee the monk where he left him.
"Go back and tell Shur Kee I'm continuing after the dark druid" says prince Helbenthril Raendril who then adds "Then catch back up to me".
The ground pixie nods her tiny head, then takes off towards where the short, statured monk is waiting.
Then because it can go further than shifting, the elven magic user casts a teleport spell. And heads to the northwest, as he continues to chase after the advisor to baron Harkonin, the dark druid Palvarc.
Shur Kee the monk, who slightly frowned a few moments ago, as he thought he spotted Helbe the elven thief in the distance to the west, sitting in a field before disappearing.
Closes his eyes again, as he sits near a tree upon a hilltop. Enjoying the sunshine on what's turned out to be a clear and sunny morning here in the Lé Dic fief.
The acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li, knows that the pleasant day is at odds with what's happening further back to the east in the fief. Where a battle is taking place at castle Lé Dic.
But these times are to be cherished. So the short, statured monk from the kingdom of Wah Lee, on the far eastern coast of the continent.
Starts to meditate again, clearing his mind as he was taught to do when he was child, when he first entered the monastery of his order. After being placed there by the local constable in his town, after one too many street fights as a child.
The monk, faintly smiles just before his mind goes blank as he enters a meditative state. The same state he enters at times in battle.
Though we does that, he becomes the living conduit of the power of the founder of his philosophical order. The Jade Warrior, Bru Li.
The acolyte, who is a physical adept. Doesn't stay in that meditative state for long. As he's soon interrupted by a familiar female voice that says to him "Shur Kee".
The short, statured monk, who has his odd, conical shaped hat, beside him on the ground with his staff. Opens his eyes, and briefly sees a grinning Narladene the ground pixie hovering infront of him, with her tiny, gossamer like wings beating, faster than the eye can see.
The naturally, magical creature disappears, but the acolyte in the order of Bru Li, hears her say "Helbe is continuing after that dark druid".
The tiny winged creature follow that with "He's wondering all over the place as he heads most likely to that warship".
After nodding his head, Shur Kee the monk asks "And the airship?" he then adds "Is it still heading this way friend Narladene?".
"It is" replies the ground pixie, who then adds "It's coming directly this way from the west and south" she continues on with "You might be able spot it in the distance soon. It's about ten miles away at the moment".
The physical adept nods again as the tiny winged creature tells him "Helbe will come and get you when he decides to confront that dark druid".
Then Shur Kee listens in silence to the invisible ground pixie, as she details what the young elven noble plans to do, when he takes on baron Harkonin's advisor, the dark druid Palvarc.
And what the acolyte in the order of Bru Li might be expected to do. Especially with that the dark druid, who at the moment is taking a roundabout route to get to the approaching airship from the king's fleet, the Druvician aircorp.
Which will pass near, or directly over the line of hills, with one of those hills, Shur Kee is sitting on.
"I will wait for friend Helbe to return then" says the short, statured monk once the naturally magical creature explains what prince Helbenthril Raendril will do.
And when he doesn't hear anything from Narladene again, he assumes, correctly too. That the ground pixie has left him, and is making her way to wherever the elven magic user is.
Shur Kee closes his eyes again, and once more goes into a meditative state. As he sits there in the warm spring sun, waiting for the airship from the capital Leeabra to show up, and for Helbe the elven thief to return.
Still to far away to sense baron Harkonin's advisor, the dark druid Palvarc. The elven princeling Helbenthril Raendril teleports again, this time to the edge of a stand of woods, near a track that leads to a nearby village.
The blurred and shielded elven magic user decides to wait for Narladene to catch up to him, as she'll be able to locate and follow the dark druid far more easily than he could.
As he waits, the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel floats up into the air so that he can get a better look at the village about half a mile away to the north.
The village must in the lands of the Range Lord, who until earlier this morning, was sir Parvin Dé Gorveré. Which includes the hills, one of which Shur Kee is on. That continue north, and turn west, further north of the village that the elven masterthief is looking at.
Why is he crisscrossing this part of the fief? Helbe the elven thief thinks to himself as he floats in the air, wondering why the dark druid Palvarc, is going here and there across the western part of the Lé Dic fief. When he's obviously heading towards the approaching airship. Though he's not going directly to it.
The elven master assassin who initially thought the dark druid is taking his time, and meandering across this part of the fief. To lose any magical pursuit. Wonders if baron Harkonin's advisor is going on a roundabout way to that Druvician aircorp frigate for another reason instead.
The grandson of Prince Raendril frowns as he knows the worship of the old ways, isn't too prevalent in the Lé Dic fief. It's here, but it's no where near as common as it is in the Harkonin fief to the east.
Probably due to the Lé Dic family being staunch supporters of the main churches and temples in the kingdom of Druvic. They being one of the first noble families in the kingdom to convert to the worship of the gods from the old druidic ways. Even though they live in the region of the kingdom where the old ways are still actively worshiped.
"He can't have any support here" murmurs the highly talented elven spellcaster, as he knows those here in the Lé Dic fief, who do follow the druidic ways, don't follow the dark druids.
So he's up to something else then, Helbe the elven thief thinks to himself, who then looks away from the nearby village, and looks directly southwest, and frowns.
The elven princeling casts 'Eyes Of The Eagle'. An elven farseeing spell. Which increases his already enhanced eyesight, to be able to see far into the distance. Well over twenty five miles with clarity, and close up.
He looks beyond the approaching airship, where he can see the crew trying to get more speed from the frigate as the winds are light, and they're flying into it.
He looks far beyond it, to just over the border to the Gallus fief. And he sees the wooded hills, in the south of that fief.
The young elven noble looks to a specific hill dotted with trees, that he's already been to since arriving in this part of the kingdom.
The elven masterthief spots what he's looking for. A druid's circle, the same one that lord Farque and Mira Reinholt the mage disappeared through.
"Shit" mutters prince Helbenthril Raendril, who a few moments later looks at his right shoulder, where Narladene the ground pixie has just appeared.
And before she can say anything, he asks her "Are there any druid circles in the area?" he continues with "Partial ones, complete ones, or even sites where they once stood?".
The naturally magical creature lifts her eyebrows, then senses all around in every direction.
As she does, Helbe the elven thief asks her "And if so, has he been stopping at them this morning?".
A few moments later, after she locates a handful of druidic circles, though none nearly complete like the one just across the border in the Gallus fief.
She mutters "Shit" which causes the young elven noble to wince as he realises what the dark druid Palvarc has been up to since leaving the battle at castle Lé Dic . . . . . .

The Homecoming 114.

The Baron's Army...

The army commander sir Taevar hasn't got into the battle as such. Just like the rest of the nobility in baron Harkonin's army.
The army commander has ridden forward a number of times to encourage the soldiers serving in the baron's army. And he's even got close to the moat here on the south side of castle Lé Dic a couple of times.
But as yet, he's not drawn a weapon during the battle as it continues on throughout the morning.
Sir Taevar who has just sent some of the trebuchet and catapult crews forward to take part in the assault upon the massive castle since they're not using their war machines at the moment.
Dismounts, and gives the reins of his horse to an ostler. And makes his way over to the camp chairs where the baron and others are watching the battle from.
The army commander glances at the nobleborn prisoners as he walks by them. And while lord Kievar Milburn is dead. Hanging there with a spear up through his face.
His grandson Jared Milburn, as well as sir Galmot the Lé Dic army commander are still alive. Though barely.
Ponting at the right foot of the bloody and battered Jared Milburn who is staked there on a post next to his dead grandfather.
Sir Taevar the army commander says "Smash it" to one of the soldiers who are guarding the two enemy noblemen who have been staked.
The soldier takes a small hammer, one used by a carpenter. And smashes the right foot of Jared Milburn, who has been stripped of most of his armour.
The nobleborn teenager, who had almost passed out again. Screams in pain from his bloody mouth, which is missing most of his teeth.
The Harkonin army commander grins, while those sitting nearby on the camp chairs chuckle as the prisoner screams again.
Sir Taevar takes the empty chair to the right of the baron. Sitting down gently, just incase the camp chair folds up under the weight of him in his suit of plate armour.
"How goes it?" asks baron Harkonin "As well as expected my lord" is the reply of the commander of the army from the fief to the east.
So far they've had just two real setbacks during the battle this morning. Both here on the south side of castle Lé Dic, as well as around on the east side of the massive castle.
When the moat suddenly burst into flames. Killing and wounding about sixty soldiers who were either on the water, and in one of the siege towers that had made it into the moat.
A similar number of soldiers around on the east side of castle Lé Dic were taken out by the same thing.
The other setback being when about twenty five soldiers were killed here to the south of the castle. And a similar number around to the east of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
Who were killed when they were crossing the housing over the drawbridges on those two sides of the castle. Drawbridges, which the Harkonin army commander is still trying to figure out how they've disappeared.
"You can see up there" says sir Taevar who points up at the battlements along the south side of castle Lé Dic "They're going back and forth, trying to push our ladders off" adds the army commander, who continues with "There's less and less of them up there able to defend the parapet. Where wearing them out as we've intended".
The head of the Harkonin family nods, and his army commander tells him "Even the siege tower is keeping quite a few of them occupied. Even though i don't think a single one of our men has got onto the top of the wall from there".
The siege towers were always going to more of a distraction than a true means of getting up onto the battlements of castle Lé Dic. If the massive castle had no moat. Then indeed the siege towers would be a serious means of getting the baron's soldiers up onto the battlements.
But they're primarily used to draw the enemy to it, so to thin them out along the top of the wall. For the battle of castle Lé Dic, like any battle for a castle, or walled town or city.
Will be won by the army assaulting it, by using multiple scaling ladders. To get the defenders up on the battlements to spread out as much as possible as they try to repel those who are trying to gain the top of the walls.
"It's only a matter of time before we gain a foothold up on the battlements" says sir Taevar, who continues with "Once we do, it'll go fairly easily to quickly clear them from the top of the wall".
The army commander knew from the get go, that this will be a battle of attrition. And by sheer numbers alone, baron Harkonin's army will be successful. Even the baron's advisor, the dark druid Palvarc agreed with the strategy for taking castle Lé Dic.
Especially considering the baron wants the massive castle taken in more or less one piece. And is why he didn't unleash his advisor. Who could of knocked a hole in one of the walls of the massive castle, with a spell or two using his staff.
Thinking of the dark druid, the army commander quickly looks around, then quietly asks the head of the Harkonin family "Any word from Palvarc?".
"Not as yet" replies baron Harkonin, whose advisor, the dark druid Palvarc, left a little while after the battle for castle Lé Dic commenced. The spellcaster from the very south of the baron's fief. Headed west to meet an airship that's heading this way.
An airship both the baron and his advisor were expecting. As it was sent by one of Palvarc's contacts in the court of the king, in the capital Leeabra.
The baron as he continues to watch his men assault the south wall of castle Lé Dic. Wonders if the battle would of proceeded more quickly if sir Dontast was still alive.
He has a feeling it might of. Not to mention the knight in the order of Althilgah, who was killed by the enemy nobleman, sir Parvin Dé Gorveré. Would be amongst the men, already taking part in the assault upon the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
"Which one of you is going to go into the frey first?" asks the head of the Harkonin family as he looks at his nobles, who are comfortably sitting on their camp chairs, watching the battle.
Though there's a few murmurs here and there, none of them reply in any meaningful way. Nor do any of them look in their baron's direction.
Except for the army commander, sir Taevar, who looks at his baron and shrugs his shoulders.
As army commander, sir Taevar is not expected to go into battle himself. Though he will do so if necessary. He also knows his baron doesn't expect him to go into battle. Unless something untowards, or unexpected happens.
Sir Taevar glances at the others sitting near the baron, then says to one of them "Parnak, you're always up for a fight. You going to go and join the men anytime soon?".
Sir Parnak, a short, rotund man, who wears a full suit of heavy, black iron armour. The heaviest armour worn by any nobleman in either the Harkonin or Lé Dic fiefs.
Says in reply to the army commander "Mayhap i will Taevar". The nobleman in the suit of heavy iron armour, who is always spoiling for a fight, who in his time, has got into a few scraps with some of those sitting here with baron Harkonin watching the assault upon the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
Continues with "Though not until the men open one of those gates, and i can float across the moat to it on one of the rafts" sir Parnak then adds in a dour tone "I don't fancy climbing one of the ladders while wearing all this". As he raps his gauntleted knuckles upon his breastplate.
The others chuckle, as does baron Harkonin, then the army commander who is keeping an eye on the battlements along the south wall of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family, says "Another one is up" the landed knight then adds "Wonder if this lot will gain the parapet?".
There's quiet wagers made by some of the nobles as they watch the some of the men go up the latest scaling that's been put up against the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
Harkonin soldiers are scrambling up it, and the army commander quietly says "Good spot that, hardly any of them on top of the wall there" as he nods towards where the scaling ladder is closer towards the southwest corner of the massive castle.
And though the first Harkonin soldier on the ladder falls off it after being hit by a crossbow bolt. And the next one gets to the top of the ladder, until he's shoved off it. The next soldier in the baron's army actually gets onto the wall. Which gets more than a few of the nobles up off their chairs.
That Harkonin soldier also falls from the top of the wall, to the moat below. But the next one, in a feat of strength and agility, leaps up and over the top of the wall, and gets onto the battlements between the two merlons where the ladder is placed.
Both baron Harkonin and his army commander get up off their camp chairs as another soldier from their army gets up onto the top of the south wall, quickly followed by a third.
"This might be it" quietly says the head of the Harkonin family, who truth be told, is pleased the battle, which though is in a bit of a stalemate. Is going as it is, since it's not even midday. And now there's a very good chance a section of the south wall of castle Lé Dic, might be taken by his men.
The next soldier from the fief to the east, falls from the top of the ladder. But the next one behind him, gets to the top of the wall, and stands between the two merlons, swinging his sword down at the defenders on the parapet.
"That's four of them up there now" murmurs sir Taevar, who like the rest of the nobles, watches in anticipation to see if the men are able to clear that part of the parapet along the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
The nobility from the fief across the border to the east, are silent as they try to see what's happening. They can see the very top of the wall. But they don't have a clear view of what's happening on the parapet. Due to how large the merlons are on the castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for centuries.
Baron Harkonin grunts in disappointment when his soldier standing on top of the wall falls off it screaming. And a few moments later, he sees another of his men, obviously dead, picked up by the enemy, and dropped off the top of the wall. Narrowly missing those who are climbing the ladder now, and the raft the scaling ladder is on.
"Damn" mutters the Harkonin army commander next to the baron, when one of their soldiers is placed on the top of the wall, back to them. Then shoved off the battlements to the moat below.
That Harkonin soldier does smash into the raft below, sending those on it, into the water. And the ladder sliding sideways. Which is enough for the defenders upon that section of the wall, to shove it off the face of the south wall of castle Lé Dic, and into the water.
A few moments later, rocks and broken masonry is thrown off the battlements in that section of the wall. Down at those Harkonin soldiers in the water, and at the scaling ladder that's drifting away from the base of the wall.
As disappointed murmurs go through the watching nobility, and coins are exchanged by those who lost bets. Sir Taevar quietly says to his baron "They won't be able to repel our men like that all the time". The Harkonin army commander nods towards the other end of the south wall of the massive castle, and says "Look, another ladder has got to the wall, the men there are just about to lift it up".
The baron from the fief to the east nods in satisfaction when he looks that way, further to the right of where the siege tower is in the moat.
He's just about to say something about it, when he changes his mind, and instead says "What's this then?".
As a rider comes galloping their way, it's one of the youngest nobles in the army, a squire who is a messenger, usually relaying orders and information between the army commander and his officers, and their squad leaders.
The messenger near leaps off his mount when he brings it to a stop, and near breathless he says "Baron" and "Sir" to the head of the Harkonin family, and his army commander.
Sir Taevar is about to tell the squire to get his breath back, and take his time. When the nobleborn teen blurts out "Sir Percavelle Lé Dic is across the moat and amongst our men".
There's a moment of stunned silence, not just from the baron, and his army commander, but all the nobles, whose attention is suddenly all upon the squire.
"The fuck?" mutters sir Taevar as the nobleborn messenger continues with "He and some of the enemy soldiers have crossed the moat, and are fighting amongst those who are trying to get onto the water".
"Where?" demands the Harkonin army commander "That way sir Taevar" says the squire who points in the direction to where the siege tower is in the moat.
Baron Harkonin looks at the commander of his army, and though he is about to say he'll go and confront the former earl of Lé Dic himself, sir Taevar quietly tells him "Stay here my lord, myself and some of the others will deal to that raving lunatic".
The baron, not one to usually take suggestions like that so easily. Sees the wisdom in what his army commander just said.
And he quietly tells sir Taevar "Do it" Raevar Harkonin is just about to add something else, when sir Taevar loudly mutters "Now what?". As he spots another messenger rider, heading this way, riding his horse at pace.
The Harkonin army commander frowns, as he recognises the squire on that horse, as one of the messengers from around on the east side of castle Lé Dic.
That rider brings his mount to a quick halt, jumps down out of the saddle, and runs to where the nobility are standing and says "Baron, army commander".
He too is near out of breath, but he continues with "That big green monster, it's across the moat on the east side of the castle, and in amongst our ranks" breathing heavily, the young squire follows that up with "No one can stop it".
Baron Harkonin looks sharply at his army commander, who loudly mutters "Fucking hell" as he grimaces.
Then sir Taevar, looks at the other nobles, and starts issuing orders. He basically splits them into two groups. One that he'll lead. And the other sir Parnak will take charge of.
"Parnak you and others go around to the east side of the castle and deal to that green thing" orders the Harkonin army commander, who then adds "That troll, or ork, or whatever the hell it is".
"The rest of you with me, we'll finally get rid of that annoying idiot Percavelle" says sir Taevar, who then looks at his baron and asks "With your permission my lord".
"Go ahead" says baron Harkonin, the army commander gestures behind them, and says "To your mounts".
As the nobles, hurry away to their horses, sir Taevar quietly says to head  of the Harkonin family "Remain here my lord, I'll send word to you when we've killed that pain in the ass Percavelle".
The army commander who has two of the younger and less experienced landed knights remain with the baron. Says to the young squire who came around from the east side of the massive castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for generations "Lead sir Parnak and the others to where that green creature is" then to the nobleborn messenger who brought word of sir Percavelle Lé Dic being across the moat on this side of the castle, he says "Lead me the others to where sir Percavelle is lad".
"Yes sir Taevar" says the squire who hurries off to reclaim his mount, while the Harkonin army commander makes his way over to the ostler holding the reins of his mount.
With the help of the ostler, sir Taevar gets up into the saddle, then he looks back to where the baron stands, who calls out "Be careful of that idiot Percavelle, Taevar!".
"I will my lord!" calls back the Harkonin army commander, as he's joined by those nobles who he'll take with him to confront the former earl of Lé Dic.
He looks further away to the left, and sees sir Parnak and those with him have got their horses, and are in the saddle, and are riding off to the east, to head around to that side of castle Lé Dic.
"Ready?" asks sir Taevar to the other landed knights with him, all of whom, like himself, have dreamed of the day where they would face sir Percavelle Lé Dic in battle. That dream is about to become a reality.
He's answered with head nods, and yes in tones of enthusiasm. The Harkonin army commander nods for the squire to lead the way, then sir Taevar says "Let's go" as they set off to confront the former earl of Lé Dic, sir Percavelle . . . . . .

The Homecoming 113.

The Walls...

"Oh shit" mutters Riley Hait the mercenary ranger when he looks away from where sir Percavelle Lé Dic is amongst the enemy on the otherside of the moat. And sees that there are Harkonin soldiers trying to top the south wall of castle Lé Dic further to the right of where he is above the gates on this side of the massive castle.
"Keep dropping stuff on them" says the ranger Hait to those nearby dropping rocks, and broken masonry upon the enemy below. Before he takes off running along the battlements.
The mercenary ranger who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who by circumstances beyond his control, happens to find himself inhabiting the body of Riley Hait.
Draws his two long daggers as he runs along the parapet, still encouraging the defenders along the top of the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
"Push that ladder off!" shouts the mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen as he runs by an enemy scaling ladder that's just come up against the face of the wall.
Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman continues along the parapet as a pair of townsmen help a soldier shove that particular ladder off the face of the wall.
The mercenary ranger who was raised and trained by some of the elven warders in his homeland of Envadarlen. Runs another thirty yards or so along the top of the wall, towards the southwestern corner. Jumping over the body of a dead townsman, who is lying on the parapet with an enemy crossbow bolt through the face. And runs around an injured soldier, who has a broken off arrow in his side. Who is being helped by one of the castle servants towards the nearest set of steps down into the courtyard below.
The ranger Hait stabs one of his long daggers into the back of a leg of a Harkonin soldier, who has topped the wall, and is standing upon a section of the wall between two merlons, swinging an axe down at a couple of soldiers on the parapet.
The soldier from the fief to the east, yells in pain, and continues to yell when Riley aka Zubutai the son of Timagin, shoves him off the wall to the moat below.
He narrowly misses the scaling ladder he used to climb to the top of the wall. And narrowly misses his fellow soldiers in baron Harkonin's army who are also climbing it.
He also narrowly misses the floating raft the scaling ladder is on. And hits the water with a splash. Which though rocks the raft the ladder is on. Those holding it keep it steady for their fellow soldiers who are trying to top the south wall of the massive castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for centuries.
The mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen moves a bit further to the right, to where the scaling ladder is close to the merlon on that side. And he stabs the bloody long dagger into the back of the neck of the Harkonin soldier, who is actually on the parapet, who has cut down one townsman, and is swinging his sword at another.
"Pick him up, and throw him back over" orders the ranger Hait as he jumps over the enemy soldier he's just killed.
Then he steps in between one of the castle servants, and a townsman, who are trying to shove the scaling ladder off the face of the south wall with a polearm.
Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman slams one of his long daggers into mouth of the Harkonin soldier who has just got to the top of the scaling ladder. And is about to pull himself up onto the wall.
The mercenary ranger who was brought up and trained by elven warders in the principality of Envadarlen, rips the long dagger to the right, tearing it out the side of the Harkonin soldier's face. Who falls off the top of the scaling ladder in that direction, with a gurgling, bloody scream until he hits the water in the moat below.
Riley Hait grabs another of the polearms lying on the parapet. And with the help of one of the nearby soldiers, who has just helped the townsman throw the enemy soldier the mercenary ranger stabbed in the back of the neck, off the top of the wall.
They help the pair of townsmen with their polearm who are trying to push the enemy scaling ladder off the face of the south wall of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
"Push" grunts the ranger Hait as the four of them shove the top of the scaling ladder, that has at least a half a dozen of the enemy climbing up it at the moment.
The other soldier who was nearby, has reloaded his crossbow, and leans over the top of the wall, and shoots the bolt in his weapon at one of the Harkonin soldiers climbing the ladder.
That soldier from the fief across the border to the east, is about halfway up the scaling ladder, and he falls straight down. Hitting the floating raft those who are holding the ladder steady, are on.
That disturbance is enough to send the ladder sliding sideways a bit. And enough for the four of them on the battlements, to shove it further to the side with ease. Sending it, and those climbing it, crashing down into the water below.
Seeing the pile of rocks and debris nearby, Riley aka Zubutai Timaginson gestures at it, and says "Throw as much of that down at them" the mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen continues with "Try and hit that ladder in the water too. If it's broken and shattered, they can't use it again".
Then the ranger Hait spots an enemy soldier, wounded, trying to crawl away to the right along the parapet.
"Give me a hand" says Riley Hait to one of the Lé Dic soldiers, as the other soldier and the three townsmen, all of whom are breathing heavily. Start lifting rocks and bits of broken masonry, and start pushing them off the top of the wall at the enemy below.
"Going somewhere?" says the mercenary ranger as he stands on the back of the right leg of the wounded Harkonin soldier, while the Lé Dic soldier kicks a shortsword close to the enemy soldier, away.
"Grab him" says Riley Hait, who then adds "Lift him up onto the top of the wall". The two of them do so, with the ranger Hait lifting the Harkonin soldier by the legs, while the Lé Dic soldier, who is probably only sixteen or seventeen, lifts the enemy wounded soldier by the arms and upper torso.
They get him into a sitting position on the top of the wall, leaning against the merlon to the left. He's facing them, with his back to his own army below.
After taking a quick peek down to the moat below, the mercenary ranger from the principality of Envadarlen, nods his head to the Lé Dic soldier, indicating more to the right.
They haul the enemy soldier that way a few feet, then Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman says to the Harkonin soldier who has a slightly dazed look, and blood running down his face from a gash across the top of the head "Say hello to your friends down there". Before he shoves him backwards off the battlements.
The wounded enemy soldier tumbles backwards a couple of times as he falls. Until he hits head first, a raft that's just been polled to the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
All five Harkonin soldiers on that particular raft are knocked off it, into the water, dropping the scaling ladder they had, and cracking the raft as well. It starts to sink, as the body of the Harkonin soldier who was shoved off the top of the wall, briefly does as well, before he pops back up, and floats on the surface of the water dead.
It's when he'll get water logged like the other dead in the moat, that he'll start to sink down below the surface of the water.
Riley Hait takes a quick drink of water from the bottle on his belt. Then he starts heading back along the parapet to above the main gates here on the south side of castle Lé Dic.
It's not even midday, and the battle that's been going on all morning. Is still in a bit of a stalemate. With the Harkonin army, yet to take a firm foothold upon any section of the walls of the massive castle they're trying to take for their baron.
The ranger Hait is pleased that the defenders on the battlements, soldiers, castle servants and townsfolk. Are doing as well as they are. But he knows that slowly, more and more of them are being taken out of the battle. Either by being wounded, or killed outright.
That sooner or later, that there will be a section of the parapet. Either along the south side, or east side of castle Lé Dic where the Harkonin army are concentrating their attack.
Where there won't be enough defenders to repel the enemy soldiers who are trying to gain the top of the massive castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for generations.
The mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen just hopes it's far later than it is sooner. And that by some miracle, they're able to break the continued assault upon the walls of castle Lé Dic.
Shaking his head as he watches Dorc da Orc wade amongst those of the enemy across the moat from the east wall of castle Lé Dic, dumb enough to confront the large ork.
Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy looks away and down to his left, and mutters "Ah shit" in disappointment at what he sees.
The youngster from the town of Massic who has been reloading the spy Tanith's crossbow for him during the battle. Lies there upon the parapet, up against the base of a merlon, lifeless due to the enemy arrow through his neck.
By the forest gods, i didn't even know the poor kid's name, the elven spy thinks to himself, then Dalinvardél or Dalin as he's often referred to by the rest of his group. Retakes his crossbow, which he sees the youngster got back into firing position before he was killed.
The elf from the principality of Alínlae who is out of arrow for his longbow, reclaims his quiver of bolts, which only has a handful in it. And puts in on the strap tied to his belt.
He waves over a couple of castle servants at the top of the nearby steps, who have been helping to clear the dead and wounded from the battlements. He has them take the youngster from Massic down into the courtyard, to where the other dead have been laid out near the closest tower.
The elven spy who once served in one of the more prominent noble houses in the principality of Alínlae. Puts a bolt into his crossbow, and starts walking quickly along the battlements when he spots something.
Dalin is moving as he lifts his crossbow up to his shoulder, and sends the steel quarrel flying. Taking a Harkonin soldier in the side of the face who is standing on top of the wall, between two merlons after getting up onto the battlements.
That soldier from the fief to the east, falls off the wall, down to the moat as the spy Tanith puts his crossbow onto it's sling, and across his back. The elven spy then sprints along the parapet to where a number of the enemy have topped the east wall of castle Lé Dic. And few defenders are there to repel them.
Dalinvardél Tanith leaps over a wounded townsman crawling along the parapet, with a hand to his bloody face. The elven spy, takes one, two, and a third running step, then leaps forward, jumping high, feet first.
Both of his boots connect with a Harkonin soldier who has just turned in his direction. Dalin hits him in the top of the chest, dropkicking him off the back of the parapet.
There's a grunt, a gasp really, from that soldier who hails from the Harkonin fief, just before he goes off the back edge of the parapet. Then falls to the courtyard below. Which is not forgiving, and that soldier in the enemy army hits the cobblestones with a splat. Blood sprays out from beneath his body when he hits the solid ground.
The spy Tanith is up, and though he's not an expert open hand fighter like Helbe the elven thief or lord Farque. He is highly skilled at the unarmed form of combat, that's usually only taught to the elven nobility. But he learnt it since he was a spy in household of the elven noble family he served in the principality of Alínlae before he joined the group.
Dalin thrust punches a Harkonin soldier in the diaphragm, glad the enemy soldier is only wearing boiled leather armour.
As the man gasps in pain, and goes to double over. The spy Tanith follows that up with an upward open hand thrust to under the Harkonin soldier's chin. The man's head snaps back. His neck is already broken before the elven spy grabs him by the head, and slams his skull into the side of a merlon.
Knowing that humans need encouragement, Dalinvardél Tanith shouts "Lé Dic!" for the benefit of the few defenders trying to repel the enemy who have topped this section of the east wall.
He also did it, so that a Harkonin soldier who is swinging a sword at a townsman trying to defend himself with a shortsword, he clearly doesn't know how to use. Turns and faces him instead, which he ends up doing.
As that enemy soldier turns in his direction, the elven spy from the principality of Alínlae kicks him in the left knee, causing him to buckle that way.
Then with his thumb tucked in close to his right hand, and with his fingers together and stiffened. Dalin stabs his right hand into the throat of the Harkonin soldier, just below the jaw line.
The enemy soldier instinctively brings up his right hand to his throat as he gasps in pain, unfortunately for him he's holding his sword in that hand. And he accidentally slashes up under his chin, the blade of his sword slams up into his jaw.
He falls off the back edge of the parapet after a shove from the elven spy from the principality of Alínlae.
Dalinvardél Tanith grabs the right leg of a Harkonin soldier who has just climbed up onto the wall between the two merlons, and yanks it forward, towards him.
Which sends the enemy soldier, falling backwards off the top of the wall, to the moat below.
Then the spy Tanith slams the bottom part of his right palm into the face of the enemy soldier who has just got to the top of the scaling ladder, and popped his head up, to see what's going on.
That soldier from the fief to the east falls backwards off the ladder with his upper teeth shattered, and his nose busted. He slams, back first onto the raft below. Where the scaling ladder is being held by a quartet of his fellow soldiers in baron Harkonin's army.
"Push it off!" says Dalin in a loud voice, as there's only one Harkonin soldier left on this section of the battlements. And he's wounded, and has a pair of Lé Dic soldiers. One on either side of him, attacking him with their swords.
As a pair of townsmen, and another soldier in lady Linara Lé Dic's army grab polearms to shove the ladder away as it waves from side to side, as those below try to steady it.
The final Harkonin soldier is killed, when he blocks a sword thrust by one of the Lé Dic soldiers. But not the other one behind him, which takes him in the lower back.
As those two Lé Dic soldiers hurry over to help the trio trying to get the enemy scaling ladder off the face of the wall.
The spy Tanith looks at the Harkonin army on this side, the east side of castle Lé Dic. And wonders how long those who are defending the massive castle, will be able to withstand the continued attack from the baron's army.
It's not yet midday, and the battle is being hard fought. With those on the battlements trying to repel the enemy, doing a hell of a lot better than what Dalin thought they would do.
But he knows they can't sustain the defence of the massive castle forever. Especially along here, the east wall. As well as the south wall of castle Lé Dic. Where the Harkonin army is concentrating their assault upon the castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
Once the scaling ladder slides down off the face of the wall, and falls into the water. Dalinvardél Tanith after telling those he's just helped out, to throw the nearby pile of rocks and broken masonry down upon the enemy.
Heads back along the parapet, back to the section of the battlements above the main east gate, as the battle for castle Lé Dic continues to rage on . . . . . .

The Homecoming 112.

Castle East. Castle South...

Grabbing a Harkonin soldier by the throat, and picking him up and slamming him into the side of the siege tower to his right. Dorc da Orc roars then shouts "Get some ya Harky cunts!" as he biffs the dead soldier away.
The large ork who is making his way down the siege tower in the moat on the east side of the castle Lé Dic.
Grunts then mutters "Bitchtitty" as his right boot goes through the step he's just stood on. The ork warleader sourly smiles as he thinks that Tovis the war engineer should of built stronger load bearing steps to accommodate someone his size.
Then he basically jumps down the last half dozen or so steps to the landing below. Falling upon, and squashing a couple of Harkonin soldiers.
Who braver than their peers, have stayed to confront the big, burly ork who has rampaged his way down the siege tower, killing everyone he comes across.
Dorkindle grunts, and rolls off the two enemy soldiers he's just crushed to death. He grunts again as he pulls out one then a second crossbow bolt in his throat and neck. Which have been in there ever since he made his way onto the siege tower from the top of the east wall of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
"Yeah cunt, Dorc fucken fine!" calls up the ork weaponsmith in response to one of the trio of Lé Dic soldiers who followed him onto the siege tower, calling down "Sir ork, are you okay?".
The warleader of the ork race grins, then chortles at being called a sir. Then he kicks one of the dead Harkonin soldiers he's just crushed to death. And stomps on the head of the other, shattering the dead man's skull to pulp.
Grunting in satisfaction, the large ork then looks at the barn like doors facing the back of the siege tower, that have been closed and presumably barred from the otherside.
Dorkindle scowls, as he can not only smell and hear the enemy on the otherside of the doors. But also the water of the moat. As some of the Harkonin soldiers who were in here, have now joined those who are on the rafts directly behind the siege tower that's in the moat on the east side of castle Lé Dic.
The big, burly ork glowers in anger at the prospects of getting wet. Then taking a small hammer in one hand, and a small axe in the other. Well, they're small for him.
He steps back, then kicks open the barn like doors, shouting as he does so "Fucken get some!".
Shoving an elbow to his right, that connects with the side of a Harkonin soldier's face. Then headbutting another, which drops the soldier from the fief to the east. Sir Percavelle Lé Dic says in a loud, triumphant voice "Take that you cowardly villain!".
The former paladin who uses his armour as much as a weapon, as his actual weapons. Smashes the face in of another Harkonin soldier with the steel gauntlet on his right hand.
Then he picks up a fallen shortsword, and throws it down the steps at an enemy soldier who is trying to flee from the former earl of Lé Dic.
"Fine shot that Percy" says the heavily armoured knight as he congratulates himself at throwing the shortsword into the back of the fleeing enemy soldier.
The knight in the order of Saint Mar-che, who is the Harkonin siege tower that's in the moat on the south side of castle Lé Dic. Heads down the steps from the platform he's on.
From what Tovis the war engineer has explained to him and the others in the group.
The next platform down in the siege tower, should be at the level of the water in the moat. Where the enemy in baron Harkonin's army enter the siege tower from the floating rafts they've poled across the moat to the back of the siege tower.
"I surely am!" calls out the nobleborn knight in response to one his niece's soldiers who has followed him onto, and then into the enemy siege tower, calling down from further above "Sir Percavelle are you down there?".
"Hurry up chaps, you don't want to miss out on all of the excitement of vanquishing these Harkonin vermin!" adds the former knight of the first class, who imagines the Lé Dic soldiers are just as enthusiastic as him to be taking on the enemy within the siege tower, and on the moat.
When infact they're scared out of their wits, and are making their way down the tower with caution. Not knowing if their former earl has left any of the enemy behind him.
He hasn't, well none who are in any shape to continue fighting. For if they aren't dead, the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che has left them badly incapacitated.
"Drats, how inconvenient" loudly mutters sir Percavelle Lé Dic who gets down to the next platform within the siege tower, just as the barn like doors at the back, are slammed shut from the otherside.
The heavily armoured knight, who has a large, canvas bag over his right shoulder. Runs at the doors, hitting it with his left shoulder.
The nobleman who is both a landed, and a ordered knight, grunts as the doors don't open, and don't budge all that much.
Seeing that he'll need a bit of help to open the doors at the rear of the enemy siege tower, sir Percavelle or Percy as he's commonly referred to by the others in the group, calls up the steps "Make haste chaps!" followed by "We've got the Harkonin rabble on the run!".
On the east wall battlements, Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy looks to the Harkonin siege tower in the moat, away to the left of the main gates, which he's standing above.
The elf from the principality of Alínlae, has one of his last, yard long arrows notched to his longbow. As he watches the enemy siege tower that Dorc da Orc, and a trio of Lé Dic soldiers are in.
Then as an enemy scaling ladder is pushed off from the face of the wall, just to the right of where the gates are on this side of the massive castle.
The spy Tanith is able to make out the doors at the rear of the Harkonin siege tower, swing violently open from the inside. And the large, green shape of Dorc da Orc jump across the gap to the floating raft that's being hastily poled away from the back of the siege tower.
"Crazy fucker" murmurs Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy in his native language as he knows how much the large ork detests water, but still his urge to kill anyone and anything, overrides that. As he leaps to the raft that a fair few of the enemy are on. They're trying to get away from the siege tower, that some of them were just in. The spy Tanith draws back his elven made longbow, takes aim, and lets the cloth yard shaft to it fly.
With a look of both anger, and a fair amount of disgust upon his broad, green, brutish looking face at the chance of missing the raft, and hitting the water instead.
Dorc da Orc, with more than a little bit of relief. Lands upon the raft amongst the enemy. Sending a couple of them off into the moat, and the floating raft spinning.
Hissing like an enraged cat, as he's surrounded on all sides by water. Dorkindle gets up swinging the axe and hammer he has in his hands.
"Keep still ya cunt" growls the ork warleader as the raft tips to one side as he gets his balance, sending water flying, as his hammer slams down onto the head of one of the Harkonin soldiers, and the axe takes off an up raised arm of another.
The big, burly ork grunts as one of the enemy is flung off the back of the floating raft with a yard long arrow through the chest. The ork weaponsmith recognises the arrow and the fetching as belonging to Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy.
Hissing in anger again, and making a slashing motion with the axe he has in one hand at the moat as water laps over his boots.
Dorc da Orc who silently prays to his god Krom that he doesn't fall in the water. And that the raft can hold his considerable weight. Steps more into the center of the raft. And throws the hammer at one of the remaining Harkonin soldiers on it with him.
That soldier's head basically explodes as the hammer slams into his face, and he's knocked off the raft.
While another yard long shaft, the last of them that the spy Tanith has in his quiver. Takes one of the three remaining enemy upon the raft in the side, knocking him off the raft.
There's two Harkonin soldiers remaining on the floating raft. And after they both look at the scowling and growling ork warleader who shouts "Come get some!" at them.
They look at one another, then look back at the big, burly ork, then jump into the water.
Dorkindle grunts as he watches the two soldiers from the fief to the east, swimming away as fast as they can.
Then he reaches down, mutters "Yucky" as his hand gets wet from the water lapping over the boards of the raft as he picks up one of the poles.
The ork weaponsmith sticks it into the water, and hits the bottom of the moat, and pushes off. And starts polling across the water to the bank opposite the east wall of castle Lé Dic. Under fire from enemy bolts and arrows as he does so.
Dorc da Orc chortles in anticipation at getting amongst the enemy who are on the otherside of the moat. Not to mention getting off the water, which he angrily eyes as he poles the raft across the moat.
Up on the south wall battlements, Riley Hait the mercenary ranger who has just brained a Harkonin soldier with a rock he's pushed off the top of the wall.
Then helped a two soldiers and a townsman to push off an enemy scaling ladder off the face of the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
Makes his way back to above the main gates on this side of the massive castle that's been the home of the Lé Dic family for centuries.
As he does, the mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen. Looks at the enemy siege tower that's in the moat. And though there's smoke coming from the top of it.
The ranger Hait knows that sir Percavelle Lé Dic and a few of his niece's soldiers are somewhere in that Harkonin siege tower.
The mercenary ranger who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to inhabit the body of Riley Hait.
Frowns as he sees a number of the enemy on the floating raft directly behind their own siege tower. Weapons drawn, and waiting in anticipation.
The mercenary ranger nods in understanding, then he hurries over to the nearest ballista here on top of the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
"Here, give me that" says Riley Hait the mercenary ranger to the soldier who has been firing the heavy war machine, that's just been reloaded.
The soldier jumps off the bench that he's been shooting the ballista from, and the ranger Hait hops up. Grabbing the end of the heavy weapon, saying "To the left, and down" to the rest of the ballista crew. Who help the mercenary ranger from the principality of Envadarlen point the war machine that way.
Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman takes aim at the floating raft behind the enemy siege tower, then pulls up the lever at the back of the ballista, sending the more than ten foot long heavy spear flying towards it's target.
"Bravo chaps, well done" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic to the trio of his niece's soldiers who have just helped him to open the barn like doors at the rear of the siege tower, by simply running into it with him.
The former earl of the fief they're in, then grunts as he sees what's infront of them. Floating about a dozen feet back from the rear of the Harkonin siege tower.
It's one of the rafts used by the enemy, and a few of them are lying prone on it. While about three or four others are splashing around in the water near in.
The former paladin who is a member of the order of knights of Saint Mar-che. Blinks in surprise as he sees a Harkonin soldier floating off to the side of the raft, with a missile shot from ballista completely through him.
"Capital, capital" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic in a cheerful manner with a grin upon his face, then backing up, the heavily armoured knight says "Out of the way chaps" to his niece's soldiers who are in the enemy siege tower with him.
They quickly get out of the way of their former earl, who after making sure the heavy canvas bag is secure over his right shoulder, runs forward, and leaps from the back of the Harkonin siege tower, shouting "Follow me chaps!".
The nobleborn knight easily jumps the dozen or so feet to the floating raft and lands upon it.
The former knight of the first class puts a sabaton into the ribs of an enemy soldier lying flat on the raft.
That soldier yells in pain from the steel boot to the side, and he rolls away, and off the raft, hitting the water which cuts off his scream.
"Take that you base born miscreant" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who knocks another of the enemy off the raft as he's standing up, by shouldering him off. Then from behind his back, the former earl of Lé Dic takes a handheld pick axe from his belt. And drives the pick end into the top of the head of the remaining Harkonin soldier who is getting up.
The heavily armoured knight pushes him off the side of the raft as he yanks the pick out of the man's skull.
Then looking back, the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che, calls out "Come on chaps, you don't want to be left behind wot".
The trio of Lé Dic soldiers, who are still in the siege tower, all grimace. Then after they look at one another, the three of them jump. Well one does, and just makes it across to the floating raft sir Percavelle is on after he copies his former earl, and does a bit of a running leap.
The other two soldiers jump in the water, and swim to the raft. Which is starting to move away, as the nobleborn knight has picked up a pole, and starts polling the raft in the direction of the bank on the otherside of the moat from the south wall of castle Lé Dic.
It's probably safer in the water, as the former earl of Lé Dic is getting shot at by quite a few Harkonin soldiers with bows and crossbows on the bank of the moat.
Not that he cares, as behind the visor of his full helm, sir Percavelle Lé Dic is grinning from ear to ear as he'll soon be amongst the thick of the enemy who have yet to get onto water on this side of the massive castle that's been his family's home for generations.
Over on the east side of castle Lé Dic, Dorc da Orc who resembles a bit of a pin cushion, as he must have at least a dozen arrows and bolts in his upper body. Mostly his face and neck, and his bare upper arms.
Is still grinning, as he poles the raft he's on towards the bank opposite the east wall of the massive castle.
The ork warleader who has glanced back and seen that the trio of Lé Dic guards who followed him into the enemy siege tower.
Have fought their way onto another of the floating rafts, a smaller one, that was behind the Harkonin siege tower.
They're actually in the water now, swimming towards the bank across the moat, using the raft they've taken to keep a float. It's probably safer that they do, as the enemy are shooting arrows and bolts at them, like they are at the big, burly ork who has almost crossed the moat.
Dorkindle grunts as he hears the thunk of one of the ballistas up on the east wall parapet being shot.
He chuckles as the missile from it passes over his head, and slams into a couple of the enemy who are directly opposite him.
Then the warleader of the ork race, who grimaces in disgust as he's basically standing in water, as the raft he's on, is about an inch below the surface.
Runs forward, and with the pole he's been using to move the raft, still in his clutches, he leaps the last fifteen or so feet to the bank of the moat.
"Get some!" roars Dorc da Orc as he lands, and swings the heavy pole in his hands, whacking and smashing over a Harkonin soldiers who are backing away from the fearsome sight of the large ork, who has a dozen arrows in him, which don't seem to hinder him, as he laughs maniacally now that he's truly amongst the enemy.
"Righto chaps, lets run these buggers off my family's lands!" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic as he poles the raft he's on, across the moat on the south side of castle Lé Dic.
As an enemy arrow clangs off the reinforced helm of the heavily armoured knight. The former paladin narrows his eyelids as he looks at the enemy across from him.
The knight in the order of Saint Mar-che is crossing the moat really for one reason only. True he wants to get rid of as many Harkonin soldiers as possible.
But he wants to fight the noblemen from the fief across the border to the east. And as of yet, none of them have entered the fray. And even got close to getting onto the water, to cross the moat to get to the walls of the massive castle that's the ancestral home of the Lé Dic family.
So if they won't come to him. Sir Percavelle Lé Dic will go to them.
And the former earl of the fief they're in, who is crouching down as he poles the raft he's on, stands up and runs forward shouting "Lé Dic!" as he leaps across the twelve foot gap between the end of the raft, and the edge of the moat.
The knight in the order of Saint Mar-che who is still holding the heavy pole, swings it at the enemy who rush him. Knocking a couple of them down, and sending a few others reeling.
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic biffs the heavy pole at a couple of the enemy soldiers, and drawing his pick axe again, and a hammer. The former paladin, who makes sure the heavy canvas bag is still secure over his right shoulder, wades amongst the Harkonin soldiers, laughing loudly as he does so . . . . . .