Thevow

THE VOW

Lord Zefron Pobar sat by the fire putting the edge back on his blade as his troops bound their wounds they had taken a real beating in this last battle, and Zefron was beginning to worry about there morale. If he could just
Hold out till the mercenaries could be hired he just might have a chance of pushing the goblins back to their lair.
He hated to buy help, but it appeared that not many people these days cared to put there lives on the line to ward off any unwanted company, and that's just what these monsters were, unwanted company.

It had been years since the castle had been assaulted. He had heard rumors of the goblin advances towards the castle from the farmers, but never believed they would move in so fast. He had little time to gather his men. Most were old friends, or former Knights.

After the death of his father the Estate was left nearly bankrupt. Any money that was available had gone to
Pay off outstanding debts, which left very little to maintain the fortifications around the castle.

It was his fault for being unprepared. His father had always kept the goblins at bay with annual bribes of food and money. Zefron realized now, that was an expense that should have never been cut. Zefron placed his sword by his side and ate his supper with little appetite. He began pouring over the maps of the area trying desperately to come up with a battle plan that would work. Quietly Ishta, his long time friend walked up beside him and gazed down at the maps."
" Have you figured a way out of this yet?
" No but I am close." Zefron replied."
If the mercenaries make it here by nightfall we may have a chance to give the goblins one good push, if they don't well, I am afraid we may lose the castle, at the least some of our land. " We can't afford to lose any of it Zefron, Ishta stated. Only now are we beginning to make a profit off the crops we have been growing, and what about the farmers They'll starve if they lose any of there land. We must win this battle. We have no choice!" Zefron felt the tension settle in his neck and shoulders. The mercenaries must make it through.

The crowd began gathering outside the Dragon Spires Inn. Every mercenary for a hundred miles had heard the trouble Lord Pobar was having with the goblins. The streets were flooded with every kind of riffraff imaginable. Most in a drunken stupor, but a few who took their job seriously, and those were the ones Rand was sent to hire.

Rand was Lord Pobars general of sorts. Truth is known he was one of the few knights who kept his vow to serve and protect his Lord. After the death of Zefron father many of the knights left soon after the money ran out. Not Rand, he came from a long line of knights. The vows he took fifteen years ago still held him firm to his lord. Honor, courage and commitment. Three simples words, but in those words was the key, to any knight worth his armor, to live by and uphold until his dying breath was drawn.

Rand sat at a table in the middle of the tavern. It was blanketed by an assortment of different maps of the area. Rand wanted men who knew the terrain well; any man who knew it would also be experienced with killing goblins.
Rand gave the innkeeper the signal to open the door. Sliding the latch, the door flung open. A sea of drunken, smelly, men poured into the inn. The mob was growing larger, and louder as the room was filled to the ceiling.

Men standing shoulder to shoulder grew restless as every second passed. Rand stood on a chair and began giving orders to the crowd."All right you mangy fleas, this is what I want and I want it done now! Rand shouted. Any of you with prior experience killing goblins to the left side of the room, now!"About seventy-five men scrambled to the other side of the room. This was a healthy mob, Rand thought to himself, if only they will accept the terms of their payment. Now, the rest of you if you want to have the privilege of spilling goblins blood, move on over with the rest of the group. The rest of you can leave the way you came in. Rand gave the crowd a few minutes to vacate. Leaving about one hundred-fifty man. All willing and able to kill any goblin that got in their way.
"What of our payment!"
A large man demanded. This was the hard part Rand thought to himself."That is a bit tricky."
Rand stated.
The growls of disapproval imitated from every corner of the room. Many of the men picked up their swords and made there way for the door."Wait! Rand shouted. You will be paid; your payment will be in land.

My Lord has given me the authority to issue everyone willing to fight the deed to five acres of land. Those of you not wanting the land may have the option of selling the land back to Lord Pobar.

At any rate the land will be yours to do with as you see fit."A few of the men gathered their things and left the inn. Rand was surprised to see that at least one hundred, perhaps more stayed. This was wonderful! All he had to do now was give each man his deed and they could be on their way.

Back at the castle Zefron and Ishta formed a battle plan. Knowing they must keep the road open at all times in hopes that Rand would make it with the mercenaries, they placed there remaining troops protecting the only passage to and from the castle. This left a huge hole unprotected. If the goblins were smart enough to figure this out they easily could take the castle itself and any amount of extra help would be pointless.

The only reason this plan could work was goblins, by nature were notoriously stupid and incredibly lazy. They would see their opponents in a specific place and would blindly go to fight; not taking the time to figure their adversaries might have a battle plan. At least that's what had happen in past bouts with these monsters. What other choice did they have? Agreeing that the plan just might work, both men went to their beds and tried to get a few hours rest.

Zefron fell into a fitful sleep. He dreamt that all he could do was watch as the goblins tore his friends into little pieces. Blood every where, nothing but blood! Zefron shot up from his bed; his body drenched in sweat, a dream he told himself it's just a dream.

Morning broke, and Ishta was helping Zefron into his father's armor, handing him his sword Ishta recited the vows of the brotherhood of the Knights."Courage, to face the opponent you fear, Honor, for yourself and your Lord, Comment to see the battle through." Zefron grabbed his dagger and sliced a deep cut in his right hand. Reaching for Ishta, he too slit his hand. The two joined their bleeding hands and Zefron declared."By the combining of our blood we are now brothers, as we were not joined together by birth, we are now joined together by destiny. My brother, I vow to protect your life as if it were my own."
"I too, vow to protect your life my brother."
Ishta replied.
The two men mounted their horses and rode to take command of the battalions protecting the road.

Just as the troops were lined out, the horns were ablaze with the familiar battle cry. This was it; Zefron could make out the dreadful figures of the goblin troops hacking there way towards him. Soldiers, all around him fell. Arrows zoomed passed his head. Then, the goblins where upon him, hundreds of them, the air stunk with there wretched stench. Zefron could hear the battle cry of his friend, and knew it was over.

Anger welled deep within him. He began hacking and slashing his way through the bands of beasts. He had to reach Ishta; he had made an oath to protect him and by the gods that's what he was going to do. He made his way through the endless horror of companions being hacked to pieces by the goblins. He had made his way to the center of the road when he saw Ishta being split in two by a goblin.
"No!" Zefron screamed.

Running as fast as he could Zefron reached friend and severed the goblin head from his shoulders.
Kneeling beside Ishta he cradled him in his arms, crying," no, no, not you take me!" He screamed. Ishta struggling to speak whispered the words of the Knight's oath. As tears made there way down Zefron's cheeks all he could say was yes, yes my brother. Placing Ishta gently on the ground, Zefron grabbed both their swords and began slaughtering every goblin in sight. With each swing of his swords he would yell COURAGE, HONOR, COMMITMENT! This went on for hours. The only thing pushing him on was the grief for his dear friend. He hadn't realized that Rand had made it in time to save the castle.

Only when there were no more goblins to kill did he realize they had won the battle. He had taken a terrible beating, and the loss of his dear friend was great, but what he gained was immeasurable. He gained the respect of his people. Now he truly understood the vows of the knights and would strive to live them ever day of his life.
The End.