Sir Veritas Part V (The Final instalment)

The three knights walked through the great hall, past the dead and soon to be decaying corpses. “Let them lie until your land is safe and clean again,” said Sir Veritas, “then we will clean the blood from all the ground that is yours.” The three walked to the stables where an old groom kept his residence and cared for the horses. The knights walked through the dry and empty courtyard to where the great chargers stood in their stalls. There were only ten horses, not including Sir Veritas white stallion. The groom shuffled out of the back where he had been cleaning one of the stables, for he was a good and worthy groom, and it went against him to see any animal left in poor care. Long he had staid, without wages, for he loved the great horses of the knights even if they themselves no longer did.
“Ye’ve come for your horse, Sir?” He was well used the lord’s weekly rides out into the country. “And what ten men will ye have with ye today?”
“We will need only three horses today.” Said Sir Veritas, “the other knights are…indisposed at the moment.”
Sir Veritas had walked over to the stall in which his horse stood. He reached up to fondle the great beast’s ears. “Let us ride again, old friend. Our time has come to face danger as we have so often before.” Then turning to the others he cried out, “Come…Let us be away for the world awaits our rising as it waits for the sun on a winter morn!”
The three knights saddled and bridled their horses and were soon mounted and prepared to go. “There are nineteen dead knights lying in the great hall.” Announced Sir George, “Bring some men from the hamlet to see their bodies are removed, please.” The groom stared up in surprise, but knuckled his forehead obediently.
“I see you’ve now heard the truth of our lives.” He said. “I thank ye for putting this place to rights, at last.”
The three knights rode out into the court yard and toward the gate. They rode through it and onto the great bridge that spanned the mote. Here they stopped to leave final instructions with the groom that the drawbridge was to be drawn and the portcullises dropped until their return. Then they turned and cantered over the mote and down the road toward the hamlet. The dust blew up behind them and marked their progress to watching eyes.

From the woods men in dark and torn clothes watched with interest the progress of the three men. The leader of the band turned to his lieutenant, “I had heard that this was a fair and beautiful land…one in which man can make a good living.” He chuckled. “It would seem the lord is as great a fool as everyone claimed. He rides alone, with just two guards. We’ll show him some forest hospitality today!” His men began melting into the forest, their bows strung across their backs and their swords on their hips. The captain called out instructions to the leaders of his band. “We’ll take the three in that stretch of forest before the hamlet…and well teach them who rules this land, just as we’ve taught the other villains who hide in this forest.”
The three knights continued on, little realizing the new and deadly danger that awaited them, for the stories of Sir George’s lax ways had reached the ears of one of the great villains of the age. The dark outlaw, Strages, had come to Sir George’s forest. Already he had plundered and raped his way across the lands of neighboring nobles, for his band was known to be fast and hard, able to fight any who stood against them. Castles across the land had been raised and nobles left to rot on the walls of their own keeps, with only vultures for living company. Now it was Sir George’s turn…Sir George who rode with only two knights to guard him.
Strages laughed at the though of what would become of the old fool. The other nobles had been so easy to destroy, their doors opened to him and their guards died at the benches where they sat, it had been too easy. One day he must find a knight worthy of the name, one he could face in a fare battle…today would obviously not be that day. Strages and his men moved toward the road and the dark stretch of forest where they had found the corpses of other bandits a few days back. It was strange, that, for there had been no doubt but that the thieves had chosen a good place for an ambush, there were few who should have won such an encounter. It would have made Strages uneasy, except that he had seen enough of the land to know that no one in it could best him.
The ambush was carefully set before the knights arrived at the wood. The captain looked to his men and prepared to give the signal to attack. Other men might like playing with a knight before killing him, watching these ‘nobles’ beg for mercy, but Strages preferred to fall on his opponents as quickly as possible and watch as their fat faces blanched in shock and fear.
“Their coming, sir. There are only three…but three such as I have never seen before!” The scout’s voice was excited. “They wear no visors, sir, and their armor radiates light like the sun. Their leader looks like the sun riding on earth and he bears the coat of arms of Sir Veritas!”
“Sir Veritas? Long have I wanted to face a real knight and now, it seems, I will get my chance.” Strages eyes blazed, “perhaps this will be more fun than I thought.” The sound of horses hooves could be heard through the trees as the knights approached.
Sir Veritas eyes scanned the shadows, his horse whickered softly. “There is something wrong. Be on your guard.” The knight’s companions reached to loosen swords and raise shields. Their eyes sought the sides of the road. Sir Veritas rode forward with hand on his blade. Strages watched, waiting for them to enter the killing field.
A shrill whistle began the engagement. Arrows rained down from the trees and men leaped to engage the three knights. As soon as the fighting began, Sir Veritas sword left his side. The inner light of his anger flashed from his eyes even as arrows bounced from his shield. “Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam!” He cried and pounded into the forest on his right. The other two rode behind him their eyes narrowed in concentration and their hands grasping raised weapons. Their helms shinned as though an inner light escaped them and their swords flashed light as though to illuminate the forest. With a cry of rage the men threw themselves on the bandits. Sir Veritas sword slashed through the sky, his shield knocked men from their feet and cracked bones. The knights would have easily ridden through any other band, but this was Strages’ band, brave and evil and prepared to fight till the death. Strages himself lead his band, his eyes shining as he fought Sir Yuvan. “Your time has come, my foolish little knightling.” He leaped forward, bringing his sword across the youths leg. With a cry he fell from his horse, but rose again to his feet. His sword still in his hands and his eyes shinning in anger. “I am not dead yet, and my honor remains. Come and meet your death.” The evil villain laughed and leaped forward his sword swinging, but before he reached the youth an arrow took the knight in eye, killing him instantly. Strages turned looked on the field of battle. Sir Veritas had just slain one of his lieutenants and was turning to face the last man that faced him. Sir George had just turned form slaying one of the archers. His eyes lighted on the dead knight that lay at Strages feet and his eyes narrowed in anger. With a cry he leaped his horse over the man before him, his sword swinging down to take the man’s arm from his body. He came strait at the villain, his eyes shinning like anger and his sword dripping blood. Strages leaped back and prepared to fight…only a few of his men remained alive, but Sir Veritas would be kept busy for a while at least. Sir George leaped from his horse and faced the man before him.
“You will pay the evil you have done to my people.”
“I will pay? At who’s hand? Certainly not a fat old fools?” But Sir George was moving forward with the ease and calm of an experienced knight, despite his large girth and long time of inactivity. The two clashed with the clang of steel and battle cry. The swords swung, flinging blood along their arches of air. There they clashed against a shield and there against each other. Sir George was bleeding from a wound in his sword arm, but seemed not to notice. His sword sought an opening and slashed across his opponents thy. The swords continued to clash and Sir George began to get tired, but he must win…surrender was no option. There…There was the opening he needed. His sword came down on his opponent’s helm and cracked right through it, sending blood and fluid all over the ground. With a grunt he drew his sword from his opponents head and turned to where Sir Veritas was lifting the dead Sir Yuvan from the ground.
“He died in honor and courage.” The old knight said. “He has died with honor, there is nothing more a man can ask.”
“If only I had seen.” Said Sir George, “If only I had not been such a fool these men would not have dared such evil in my land.” His eyes blazed in anger. “I may be late, but I am here and I now know. COME! Let us take what lies before us and drive out the evil that has infested my land!”
Over the next few years Sir George grew into a wise and noble lord such as his father had been. He brought to his land brave and worthy knights who patrolled their forest in open helms, their eyes shinning and evil fleeing before them. Sir Veritas staid for some time, but soon had to leave to save other nobles. Sir Georges land prospered, for the people looked to their lord for protection and safety. Sir George ruled for many years and began to train a new leader for when his time was over. The youth was the younger brother of Sir Yuvan, and as noble as his elder brother had become. With time he became wise and able enough to guard and lead the land. The poets now sing of the brave knight Sir George and how in his later years he would ride out and defeat a great and evil dragon to the salvation of an entire city.