Emil Selwyn pov
The wind sailed across the mountainous landscape of Cantera as I overlooked the swaying grass. The sun was high above me casting its bright light upon the whole landscape. The horse that I was mounted on was grazing on the grass beneath us.
As the sun struck my face, its warmth calming my spirits and completely enveloping me with its energy, I nudged my horse forward. My thoughts went back to the battle we had just fought a couple of days ago, and my gaze fell upon the 30,000 souls in my command. None had tired faces, they were ready for what came next.
The images flashed in my mind, the formations. The screams of men dying in glory, and in agony. The men that I sent to their own graves, the good men. The knights who fought fiercely with honor my brothers. They fought to defeat the treacherous king of Cantera. I thought this in disdain of that wicked man
The king who enslaves his own people, the cruelty and the fear he uses, to bend his kingdom to do whatever he pleases. Those knights, the men did not die in vain.
I remember the final push of the vanguard as they yelled their war cry. Banging their bodies against shields putting everything on the line. Cutting men down left and right, even as their own fell in battle. These sacrifices made the center of the canter host bend and snap. Alonso Cantrell the name that I will never forget, he was good, really good, he knew how to command, how to lead his men.
Seeing his figure go across the lines of his formation, how his shoulders looked at him. How he commanded them to fight for their honor, rallying his men to keep their formation which did work…for a time.
But under the might of the knights' honor, the Spearman, the warriors who fought, destroyed the last bit of morale.
I still remember the fight against that man. When we met on the battlefield as I rushed him that's when I realized. He was an exemplary swordsman; he got me good and struck me with his longsword. But in the end, I trustedhim on the ground with my strength and drove my dagger into his throat, finishing him and the sounds of his gurgling choking on his own blood, but it was also the end of Cantera the two remaining major cities were left for the slaughter. As the Cabrera host lost all will and surrendered.
My mind drifted back to the present, as my army marched to Port Arena. There were still miles to go and a small smirk flashed across my face. I was happy that the war was ending and that I was now freeing the weak and innocent from the vicious reign of King Leo.
My eyes fell on the knights that made my army surge with power. The oaths we swore, and also the men who were not knights fighting bravely by their side. I was proud that these men still exist in this world that was full of corruption and greed.
This reminds me of my cherished memory of getting knighted by the infamous Sir Harold Brython, the man who was the greatest swordsman in the whole world. It was a fond thing for me to be recognised by a legend and more so to be knighted by him.
It was only a few years ago but it felt like a lifetime had passed. Now I'm a knight for the kingdom of
Avaraine. Also being awarded by the king to command this host to battle.
My thoughts were distracted by Sir Cedric Drayton his dark raven hair flowing in the wind. With a large smile that annoyed me. As he approached me on his horse "Emil, we are approaching closer and closer and the men are getting tired." he said in a witty tone, as he always did. I sighed and nodded to my best friends as he rode back to the mainline commanding that we set camp.
I stopped my horse now staring off to the distance, I finally dismounted, walking along my men setting up camp out of boredom. Soon a squire came and took my horse as I helped my men set camp helping to construct tents.
.
I started watching my men until nightfall as I was now sitting next to a campfire with my dear friends.
"You should've seen the faces of Canterans once they saw you slew their leader" Cedric laughed out. "After all that the battle was all but won," He cheered, raising his cup of ale in the sky and taking deep gulps of ale.
The other soldiers and knights sitting next to the crackling blazing hearth, chuckled as I could only let out a small smirk.
"Hey, talking about the battle, didn't your cousin kill a knight? Sir Julien?" a soldier said while taking a sip of ale and continued "In my humble opinion I think that deserves a reward, knighthood perhaps like you sir."
I glanced over at Sir Julien. His expression was thoughtful, and took a few long moments before he said anything "aye I suppose you're right, well let's go on then." he said as he got up, and started walking to his cousin.
My smile grew as I watched this all occur, Sir Julien grabbed his cousin by the shoulder whispering something in his ear. I could tell he told him he was going to be knighted, the light flashing in his eyes said so.
His cousin kneeled on the ground and I watched with amusement as Sir Julien unsheathed his sword, and loudly proclaimed for all eyes to see
"You have served well Nico Gance, now do you hereby swear to uphold the vows of chivalry. To be brave in the face of danger, to be just, to protect the weak, to protect the innocent?"
"I do my Lord."
"Then swear on your honor and swear it to god! "
"I swear on my honor and faith to protect the weak, uphold justice, and be brave!" Nico swore confidently.
Sir Julien lightly tapped Nico's right shoulder with the flat side of his blade and began Dubbing Nico. "In the name of God, I dub thee Sir Nico, Knight"
Lifting the sword and tapping the other shoulder
"Arise, Sir Nico, as a knight of the kingdom of Avaraine."
Nico rose to his feet happily, and proudly as applause and cheers rang out, congratulating the newly made knight. I watched this whole scene with fondness once again remembering the fond memories of my own knighting. I smiled as I took a swig of ale.
I stood up and walked into my tent, lying on the small pile of straws and the small cloth that blanketed my body, which gave me warmth not as much as the fire, the alcohol did make me tired, my eyes felt heavy and I silently fell asleep.
.
I was abruptly awakened as a soldier entered my tent which woke me "What's wrong?" I asked with a groan. l tired from my sleep, as I watched the man wearily. "My lord there seems to be something wrong." he said with a worried manner "wait are we being under attack?" I said as I suddenly stood up.
"No, no my lord I…cant even explain it…" he stuttered trying to give the right words to me "My lord Its better if you see it yourself" he finally said.
Finally being completely awake the air felt colder as I stepped out of the tent, the view shocked me. This isn't the warm mountainous plane of Cantera. I just saw the ocean and a river. This isn't the place we camped.
"My lord," another person said, a knight now "what are your commands?" right I'm the first in command I looked around this definitely isn't Cantera not any place I know of.
"Send scout parties to scan the nearby areas, try to find settlements, and map out the region." I finally said calmly. The knight bowed and left to relay my orders. As he left I was deep in thought. 'Was this magic, it wasn't unheard of. Magic was real but slowly dying out, some people said I had magic in my blood which is why I was bigger than most, but I never heard of any magic to transport a whole army to an undisclosed location. I must wait till nightfall and look at the stars.'
I found a plan to find out where we are located. The cold breeze made my body shiver. We are not equipped for this weather. Now I must wait for the scouts to bring news.
2 hours have passed and the scouts arrived. With no findings of any village or city. Now I'm getting worried we brought supplies for thirty thousand souls but that runs out quickly.
I sat on the ground awaiting nightfall, to find other worrying news: the stars are all strange to us; we recognize none. This worries me down to my core. We are not in our world, this isn't our home.
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Author's note: This is my first fanfic so bear with me and please give me suggestions and tell me when I make a mistake.
I'll see you in the next chapter.