So far Lucilia's patrol was largely uneventful. She did take the time off her high horse to help an older woman get inside her home, as the snow made it impossible for a feeble old woman to go through. She also played a little game with some children, but aside from that no trouble at all. The peacefulness was nice, as she did not mind simply riding about on Benedictus. She simply regretted that her paranoia made it nearly impossible for her to relax. Constantly on guard, constantly vigilance, it takes a lot out of a person rather quickly. So she tried to relax, close her eyes, think on better times.
Mostly it was her childhood, training with her father and brothers. She fondly remembered playing games with her little sister, like dressing up their dolls and making houses out of pots and pans. She also remembered one time with her two brothers; being bigger than them, they would stand on each others shoulders and try to reach the ceiling. They would only do this after dragging many blankets to cushion their fall, but she remembered one time when they did this without cushions, and both her brothers tumbled off her shoulders. Despite landing hard on the stone floor, everyone could out no worse for ware. Such was the perceived immortality of children. A perception shattered when her thoughts sudden changed to the faces of those same children marred on the stone, the aftermath of the Legion's siege engines breaking down homes and walls.
Lucilia's attention was quickly changed when she heard someone call out to her. She had been so lost in thought that when she looked towards the man, she was unsure of what to tell him. She faintly remembered him saying something about the weather, to which Lucilia gave a general responds. "Ah, yes. Quite cold indeed.... What was it that you wanted?"
Haljon blinked at her response, and grunted. "Er, the North Gate. Could you point me towards it? Bit lost out here." He looked rather sheepish, and would not meet her eyes. Shivering again, he idly shuffled his feet and breathed into his hands to warm them while he awaited a response from the guardswoman.
Now focused on the man, Lucilia listened as he wanted to know where the North Gate was. Obviously not native to this city, otherwise he'd know that the North Gate was due north. She was considering simply giving him directions, but under the assumption that he has no idea how the city is laid out, she sighed. Lucilia would need to guide this man. While she would have much preferred to keep on her patrols, she supposed that it should not take long for her to take this man to the North Gate, even if he had to walk. "Follow me than."
Lucilia turned her horse around and began to walk down the street. The first "Landmark" she took him to was a large road; it least thirty or so yards long. Normally filled with crowds of people, however the weather made most of them stay inside. "This is the North-South Line. One of the largest roads in the city, going due North and South. All the major and some minor roads lead back to the North-South Line. Often, it will be completely filled with citizens and merchants. Sometimes however it serves to allow Legions of soldiers to move through the city in large formation. Or for parades." Lucilia led the man onto the North-South Line, her horse going slowly enough for the man to follow.
Haljon followed attentively behind the guardswomen, nodding at her comments and giving an appreciative smile when he could. He considered for a moment, then shrugged. "I h-heard there were stables near the North Gate, which is w-why I need to get there. There are s-stables there, r-right? Of decent q-quality?" Haljon's teeth chattered as he spoke, breaking up the exchange to make it somewhat incoherent. "Name's H-haljon, by the way. T-thanks again for g-guiding me." He muttered something about a boy and an outrageous price under his breath as he followed.
"Stable for horses? Sure. Most are good if you need to haul a wagon or even ride upon. But they're not trained for war or long runs if you're hoping to take it to the next city. At least, not unless you're willing to spend some many denars." Lucilia could tell the man was a soldier, if only because most normal citizens don't walk around with armor and a sword on their back. Though she was curious as to why he was here. If he was heading towards the North Gate for horses, than perhaps he was a messenger. But she doesn't see any parcels or packages on his person. Strange for a messenger to not have any papers on him, especially in these times. She could hardly leave to use the water closet without showing the guards that she was not a spy. But perhaps he simply left his papers back at his place of lodging. Lucilia didn't ask, so she didn't know any answers.
"It is no trouble. My name is Lucilia, a simple guard of this fair city. What does bring you here, if I may ask?"
Haljon let out a sigh of relief at Lucilia's answer, his breath clouding in front of him. "I was supposed to deliver a report to House Rynir." He paused, frowned, and continued. "Lodged at the inn near the West Gate, forget the name. I stupidly trusted that they had some kind of security, and left most of my supplies and my steed in their stables. Woke up the next morning to find Grendel - my warhorse - gone, and most everything I brought with me on this trip with him." Haljon scowled deeply, his visage growing darker. He was clearly still angry about his bad luck, but he shook his head, sick of the self-pity he had heaped upon himself that day. Haljon glanced up at the guardswoman - not having to raise his head much - and appraised her again. He concluded that she was not, in fact, a simple guard, but held his tongue and returned his attention to following her.
Suddenly, Lucilia stopped. "Is that so?" It was one thing if this man was simply a traveling messenger; she would drop him off at the stables and be done with him. But to have his horse stolen from him as well... Lucilia knew what lengths she would have gone to save Benedictus. Most guards would have simply thought of Haljon's horse as long gone, but Lucilia was not most guards. "How long ago did this happen?"
Haljon frowned. "As far as I can tell? Just this morning, perhaps a half hour or so before I woke." He rubbed his hand through his beard, scratching his chin. "Left a fair bit behind too. My spare coin purse was on the ground, and so were my gloves. Whoever stole Grendel left in a hurry." He briefly recalled the scene in his mind's eye, somewhat bitterly noting that his gloves had gotten damp as a result of them being on the ground.
"Down." Lucilia whispered into Benedictus ear, and indeed he seemed to get low onto the ground. Low enough for Haljon to get on. "Ride with me. I know this city well, but what I do not know is what your horse looks like. There are very little places for a horse thief to hide if it has only been that long ago. We shall find Grendel, and apprehend the criminal responsible." Though it would be a bit of a tight squeeze for the two of them, but even so Benedictus seemed to show no signs of distress, right now anyways. Once Haljon was on and holding Lucilia tightly, the horse rose. "We ride, Benedictus!" Suddenly her horse shot out and turned around. Moving swiftly through the streets, Lucilia held onto both her reins and Carnifelx tightly, looking for any horses hitched around the city. "Be sure to tell me if you see your horse! What does he look like?"
Keenly aware that it was a woman whose waist he had his arms wrapped around, and not a man's, Haljon's cheeks flushed. Although, they couldn't exactly get much redder, given the cold. Brown, white socks and a dappled black head. He has a scar along his side, it zig-zags a bit." He answered, somewhat tersely.
Lucilia gave Haljon a grunt as he described the horse. Sure enough, after about half an hour or so of searching, the two of them saw a horse of that description in the slums. It was hitched to a post next to a dilapidated building, and from the stench, it was some sort of drug den. The thief was no where in sight, which could mean that he was either inside the den or simply had his horse hitched near by. Lucilia allowed Haljon to get off Benedictus so he could go retrieve his horse, but Lucilia stayed out of sight. With any luck, the thief would show up and try to accuse Haljon of stealing, and that's when she'll reveal herself and make the arrest. But for now she simply tried her best to stay out of sight as Haljon when to get Grendel.
After Haljon dismounted, he quickly took in his surroundings before making his way to Grendel. His steed immediately recognized him, giving a snort and stepping in place. Haljon whispered in his ear calmly as he unsheathed his belt knife to cut Grendel's lead. Suddenly a clatter and clash erupted from the den, and a burly, shirtless man stumbled out. He appeared to be on his way to being drunk, but not quite there yet. The man quickly spotted Haljon, and let out a slurred "Hey!" before unsheathing an arming sword and charging at Haljon, who took a few step backwards to allow himself time to draw his large longsword. Haljon parried the attack with the flat of his blade effortlessly, it having been poorly aimed and sloppy at best. He automatically followed up by stepping on the man's foot and driving an elbow into the man's face, dropping him like a sack of rocks. More noise came from the den, and three more men emerged from inside. Haljon glanced behind him, thinking it would be an excellent time for Lucilia to show herself.
Lucilia watched as the scene quickly escalated. First the large man from the den emerged and attacked Haljon. She couldn't really tell if it was because he was the thief of the horse or simply so addled that he attacked any man. Either way, Haljon defeated the burly man, but three more arrived. Lucilia quickly rode up to minimize any casualties, but also to assist Haljon if this turned into a fight. "Halt! In Brafald name, this horse matches the description of the horse that was stolen earlier today. This man before you is it's rightful owner. Now, who is the thief to took it from him? Step forward now and you may receive mercy." However, Lucilia was not really expecting any of them to admit guilt. If anything, she was expecting them to flee. And, while she secretly tells herself otherwise, she hoped that these men would try to attack. "Well!? Who is the thief?!" Lucilia spoke in a loud and commanding tone.
Just than, a man ran out from the alley. He was a fairly small man, smaller than the brute who walked out of the den. "Halt!" The man did not respond however. One of the three men who walked outside remarked that they saw him come in with the horse, and while Lucilia did not exactly trust the words of someone who still smells fresh of the poppy seeds, the man was fleeing the scene of the crime nonetheless. Lucilia kicked her horse into action and gave chase, though the chase soon came to an end when he ran into an alley that was much too narrow and cluttered for Benedictus to enter. Knowing fully well that her horse can fend for himself, Noelle dismounted and chased after the horse thief.
Giving one last glance at the three men who had left the den, Haljon mounted Grendel and followed swiftly after Lucilia, only to find the alley too narrow for either of their horses. He dismounted Grendel, praying silently he would not be stolen again, and followed after Lucilia. His long strides allowed him to catch up to her after a time, but he dropped back a little and let her take the lead in the chase for the fleeing man. She was a guard, after all.
Lucilia noted that Haljon was following her. Good, she could use backup. While she did trusted in her skills in battle, it was always a good idea to work in pairs. Soon the two soldiers emerged from the alley and came into a large lot. There was a few other alleys entering this lot, but most of them were blocked off by some rubble or boxes. But at the center of the lot was four mean including the one who ran. They were standing around a table, and on that table were bags of silver and gold plates, goblets, and other kitchenware. There was even a few caged animals and bags of food. All of them likely stolen. "A gang of thieves huh... Halt in the name of Brafald! For fleeing the scene of a crime, you are now under arrest for suspicion of horse theft! All of you will come with me to a guard outpost and relinquish those possessions you have with you. Comply and you may see mercy. Resist and you will face death!"
Unfortunately, Lucilia's speech didn't exactly strike fear into their hearts. Well, it sort of did, but not enough that they would surrender. Instead they drew their weapons. The horse thief had only a dagger with him, but two men drew short swords, and one had a wood cutting axe. Seeing that a fight was approaching, Lucilia gave Haljon space to enter the lot as she readied Carnifex. "This is your last warning! Drop your weapons and surrender peacefully, or you will be executed right here and now!" Of course, that still didn't happen. The two men with swords charged, roaring off the top of their lungs with their weapons above them, planning to bring it down onto the two soldiers.
One went towards Lucilia while the other attacked Haljon. For the one Lucilia fought, the man was pathetically predictable. He charged strait towards her, allowing her to simply put her bardiche in front of her, causing him to come to a halt before he would impale himself on her blade. The moment he stopped, Lucilia stepped forward. Wanting to at least try to disarm the man, she raised her weapon up by only a foot up, and brought the blade down onto the man's wrist. The man dodged this attack just barely and tried to get into a defensive stance, but it was obvious to everyone watching that this man was untrained with a sword. Lucilia wondered where he even got it. Regardless, she moved on forward, stabbing her Carnifex in the man's direction and pushing him back.
The thief tried to run right past the blade to stab Lucilia, but again, this man was painfully predictable. She actually allowed him to get close to her so that she could brash him in the face with her helmeted head as his sword bounced off her armor. Blood shot out from the man's nose as he stumbled back. Bracing her feet onto the ground, Lucilia aimed her weapon with years of practice, and swung downwards at the man's shoulder and neck. While not a perfect decapitation, Carnifex was buried deep into the man's neck, deep enough to cut through the spine.
Haljon had taken in the situation at a glance as soon as he had arrived. Unsheathing Limbcleaver, he quickly took up a defensive stance as his opponent charged him. He had the good sense to expect a swing from the right side, and brought up his sword in time to parry - albeit poorly - Haljon's counter. The blow knocked the man off his feet, and he landed heavily on the ground a foot or so away. Haljon instinctively followed up by stepping on the man's sword hand and plunging his longsword into the man's chest, piercing his heart. His mind was in a state of battle, and thus he felt no immediate remorse, nor did he hesitate. "You are no worthy foes!" He boomed, as he turned towards the other men.
Perhaps out of fear or foolishness, the man with the axe charged towards Haljon. The thief with the dagger followed the axe-wielding thug, hoping that together they could kill Haljon.That could have been the case if he was alone, but Lucilia was not going to allow it. She moved in soon enough that she was able to bring down Carniflex at the dagger thief, who dodged at the last second. And while Lucilia did miss, now the axeman was alone as Haljon would deal with him. The dagger thief looked scared, tears rolling down his eyes. If Lucilia had a calmer state of mind she might have hesitated, wondering what she was doing and trying to stop this. But right now she was in the state of mind meant for killing; these men would die, regardless of their cries or their pleads. "Cast in the name of god..." Raising her weapon above the thief, he could barely hold onto his own dagger as she watched in despair what was about to happen to him. "...Ye not guilty." The last thing he tried to do was raise his arms in a vain attempt to save himself. But Lucilia brought down Carnifex with enough force to cleave strait through his arms and deep into his skull. A heavily used motion which she knows as the "Helm Splitter". And against a man without any protection against her strength, it was more than enough to split through his arms and into his head.
All the while, the axeman swung madly at Haljon. While no more skilled a fighter than the other three, what he lacked in training he tried to make up for in rage and raw strength. In classic Krumphau technique, Haljon parried the axeman's blows, Haljon's strength more than a match for him. With each successive blow, Haljon would twist his sword just so, so that it moved from an upwards parrying position into a downwards swinging position, all while pinned against the man's axe. This technique cut into the man's stomach, thighs, and arm, and soon Haljon's foe collapsed in agony. Haljon promptly planted his longsword deep into the axeman's throat, twisted, and pulled it out. He calmly wiped the blood off his blade on the man's tunic, then stood to face Lucilia. "Well, I cannot say I was expecting that," He rumbles. "But what is done is done."
Her breath heavy, Lucilia surveyed the scene. Four mean dead. One with barely a head, another without hands. Haljon's kills were much cleaner in the sense that he didn't chop them apart, but they're still quite bloody. Luckily neither soldier suffered much if any injuries. A bit dirty due to their foes blood spilling onto them, but aside from that fairly well off. Mentally, Lucilia was sort of numb. This wouldn't be the first time she's killed men, and this wouldn't the first time she did so under similar circumstances. All her mind was focused on right now was checking on what the items on the tables were all about. Putting Carnifex out from the thief's head, she cleaned the blade with his shirt. She went over to the goods on the table, and given the mishmash collection, she was fairly certain they were all stolen. Various fruits and vegetables, even some finely carved meats, as well as two chickens. One sack contained at least a full dinner table worth of dishes and utensils, all made of precious metals. And lastly, a small bag containing a gemstones and jewelry. She even found a box that she recognized as locksmith tools; the very thing you would need to break into locks. "Thieves."
Soon the two soldiers did what they could to clean up the mess and take the stolen goods. Lucilia would lead Haljon to a guardhouse where they could drop off the stolen items to be returned to their rightful owners. Their horses went undisturbed luckily, though there was a few people nearby watching. No doubt they'll loot the bodies and spread word on their deaths, so the friends and family of the thieves would know to reclaim their bodies. All in all, quite exciting for what originally started as merely helping a man with directions. As the two rode out from the slums towards a guardhouse, Lucilia spoke. "That was some good fighting you did back there. I've yet to see some soldiers fight with the same skills you have. Where did you learn how to use your weapon?"
Haljon smiled. He also liked it when people complimented him on his fighting skills, as he believed they were his greatest talent. "The courtyard of House Perar. My surname is Perar; I am a Knight in service of that House as well as House Rynir." He gestured to her bardiche. "I have not seen such a weapon used so efficiently before myself. Where did you learn your skills, if you do not mind me asking?"
"My father. He is a knight of House Tinath. He felt that it was more becoming for a lady to learn how to use a polearm, though I favored the Bardiche myself over the pike. Of course, he only trained me in it. I mastered the weapon.... Well, I used it often against the Barbarians in the north. Many quite skilled and armed. Had to learn how to use it efficiently, otherwise I'd be dead." Riding along side Haljon, she showed him a closer look at her weapon. The edge had a few notches and the blade itself was scratched up, a sign of heavy use. But the blade was well kept and sharpen nonetheless. And still readable on one side was an engraving. "Cast in the name of God, ye not guilty. Just something that helps me keep my spirits up after a long day of war. It reminds me that... That what I'm doing is..." She didn't really finish her sentence. Closing her eyes, the soldier's mind drifted back towards the memories of before. Faces of men and women who, by all rights, were innocent. In a way they all were. Their only flaws were fighting for what they believed in.
But it wasn't a matter of who was truly the hero and who was truly the villain. There was only victims and survivors.
Haljon's eyes widened. "You tell me true? You are of House Tinath?" His face broke into a large smile, and he let out a light laugh. "Quite the coincidence, eh?" He said, though his voice quieted after he saw her expression. He quickly surmised that she was still haunted by her times as a legionnaire, and he spoke softly. "'Tis hard, the life of a soldier. You must grow with your regrets, and accept them." He seemed to look into the distance then, as if recollecting similar memories as Lucilia, before shaking his head and continuing. "You have a fine weapon there, by the way. I see you take good care of it." Haljon pauses briefly. "So, now what? I assume we are going to the Guard House?"
"Yes, of course.... Simply... It feels strange, to be proud of killing. Almost wrong even. Tis a shame I'm quite good at it." Opening her eyes Lucilia put those thoughts behind her like so many times before. Now was not the time to dwell on such things. They still had this small fortune of stolen goods to turn in before she would resume her patrol, and surely Haljon needs to be on his way as well. "Yes. There is one not to far away from the North-South Line. However, I will have to stay there for a long while in order to inform them of what had happened. You don't need to stay if you do not want to, I imagine that you still have much to do today."
Haljon shook his head. "It is not the act of killing itself you should be proud of. It is the purpose you kill you should be proud of; defending the innocent and your country." He says, then appears somewhat abashed. "At least, that is how I've always looked at it. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for some of my kinsmen." Haljon cracked his neck and spine, letting out a soft groan. "Yes, I still have to find my way to Deliar at some point today. Truthfully, I am not looking forward to the trip." He grinned at Lucilia. "Though now, thanks to you, I need not worry about the temperament of a strange steed some greasy merchant sold me." He laughs at this, and then lapsed back into silence.
Lucilia gave Haljon a half-smirk; like she was authentically amused by his words, but at the same time doesn't agree with them. But she made no further comments as they rode towards the guardhouse. Once there they dismounted and dropped off the stolen goods. And as Lucilia hitched Benedictus to a post, Haljon was back onto Grendel. "Well than, I suppose this is where we part. Twas a fine time fighting alongside you, Sir Haljon. Perhaps during better times, we could go have an ale together, or perhaps go on a hunt? Well, no matter. I wish you good fortunes on your journey to Deliar. I've only been there a few times, but when you make it I'd suggest the Boot Buckle. A fine establishment with good drinks, hot food, and pleasant company." Lucilia walked toward the door and was about to enter, before turning around one more time towards the fellow soldier. "Good bye, Haljon of House Perar. I hope to meet you again." As they had their final farewells, Lucilia entered the guard house and gave her debriefing on what had occurred.
