by J Silverado
When they start passing through the north gate of Kolpor, Galator calls Colonel Frauth, asking him: – Colonel, what of arrival forecast with our contingent Telkan? – At least one week, General, between camps, food and animals. – We will try to anticipate this, because our population is being attacked daily. See preparations to anticipate at least two days. – Yes sir, right away. – He takes the right arm to the chest saluting his superior and walks away with the horse towards their subordinates to execute the order.
A few hours later, Frauth returns to talk to Galator: – Lord, after checking, with those responsible for maintenance of the troops, we identified that, even if we do not stop for lunch and maintain a sharp march, we can anticipate only one day due to supplies and support load. – Any alternative? – Unfortunately not, sir. We evaluated all the possibilities for that shore. – What if... Colonel, verify that a battalion with two companies, using basic equipment and light load, could reach before. – Immediately, General – he says, returning to the same group where he had been.
After a frugal lunch, moving the mind of Galator, he returns to the encounter with the angel, wondering when their passage would occur, as it would be and he would die as well, with a death in battle. His thoughts are interrupted by colonel who returned: – sir, sorry for the delay. – No problem, say. – According to our calculations, two companies, taking the basic equipment and other items necessary only for subsistence, they could get there in five days and the next day would come the rest of the troop. – Very well. Make arrangements for this to be done. I even will lead the group. – But, sir, would it not better be one of the colonels? The regiment needs you and... – I will leave in your capable hands driving the rest of the troop. It is my responsibility to protect Telkan and not put in risk my men without being present. – Yes, sir, it will be done – agrees Frauth to order and distances, yet he would say he believed to be risky for the general be accompanied by such a small group of men.
Looking reduce the risk, Frauth carefully choose the best men in each squad, as indicated in his lieutenants and sergeants. At the beginning of the third day's march, five hundred and four men are selected on fast horses, basic weapons and rationed food. In front, as always, is Galator, waiting for the preparations are completed. – Mr? – Gilard questions, colonel of the second regiment of the brigade: – Allow me the honor of accompanying you to Telkan? – No need, Colonel, thank you for your offer. – Lord, I would insist. Frauth, certainly, is able to lead our warriors and share the concern of leaving it as little trimmed the route. Let me at least help you. – Galator observes the colonel for a moment and replied: – fine, noble Gilard, I accept and appreciate your help. It’ll be welcome. – I thank you the honor, sir –the general welcomes and retires to prepare. Galator think: "I think I sentenced him to death, brave warrior..."
After lunch, the battalion leaves the regiment and well accelerate the march, causing the rest of the troop disappears below the horizon in a few hours. That night, the group forward until see in the distance the tip of the lake of stars, landmark which usually indicates a two-day trip to reach the city. – Tomorrow, we sleep well after "the end" if we are to arrive within. - Galator talks with Gilard during the evening meal, sitting around the campfire in front of their small tent campaign. – Yes, General, but if we keep the pace we did today, certainly we can. – I hope I can do something to get there, these old bones are already complain too much of this journey – Galator comments to pour himself another piece of barbequed chicken and some potatoes and cooked onions, drizzled with dark beer, garlic, pepper black and salt. To drink, a simple white wine, typical for speed, quasi-dry with little alcohol, avoiding drinking, hangovers and mainly dysentery, to get water along the way. – Do not worry, sir, we are all ground, the march has been tight. – I remember having said that the provisions should be rationed. This meal does not seem to be rationed... – he launches the question for the colonel, with a faint smile mouth corner and arched eyebrow. – Well, sir... I interpreted that the orders were for the soldiers, not including the top brass in the rationing – Gilard answered awkwardly,– but do not worry, they are commenting salt pork and thrashed bread and drinking the same wine. – Try to improve: – well... I think we are all happy then, but in a next time, Gilard, the order applies to all. – Yes, sir – and looking smooth the situation, Galator adds: – this is well appetizing little chicken, eat a little more, because I am already satisfied – said he changing the subject to milder things.
The night passes quickly and with the first rays, the camp is almost all raised. Galator is finishing shaving with his dagger and a little soap and water in a medium bowl as makeshift helmet.
After finishing, he gets some clean water and wets the head to rinse the soap and takes the rest of the night sleep. His ordinance assists with armor and other accessories, as well as weapons and horse. Breakfast is brief, clear beer and white cheese, still full of chicken from last night's.
The group leaves accelerated again, leaving behind the camp traces, broken bonfires, holes in tents, trash, and horse manure.
The sun is strong and it’s very little windy. Warriors sweat in torrents and, when they reach the end of the lake, Galator allows a stop time to cool off. Each warrior could enter the lake for a few minutes and give way to the next, which, happily, was obeyed by the hotheaded soldiers.
Galator preferred to just wet the shins, forearms and head, avoiding having to remove the armor. Just over an hour later, the squad, now renovated, was put back in place by reaching the required point to get to Telkan the next day. That night, the food served was the same for everyone. Again salt pork, rye bread and wine campaign.
As the day was very hard, there was talk around the fires, which all fell asleep soon, leaving only the camp guards, taking turns in their shifts.
After four hours of travel the next day, a trail of smoke could be seen in the distance; it was Telkan and he was in attack. Galator ordered and the march was accelerated to combat and all five hundred warriors stood to gallop, managing to reach the Telkan limits within hours.
The sight was disturbing. Columns of smoke took several parts of the city; the main gate was in ruins. Infantry troops of demons were around the city and the only thing preventing they enter was the wizened group of warriors who defended the place where stood the gate. Winged demons accounted attack in waves, but it seemed, city defenses were successfully fending them off, but since the gate was lost, the city would fall.
Arriving near the city, Galator speech to warriors: – attention, men! We arrived at the moment of decision. We need to avoid that the gate is invaded. Gilard, prepare the Forwards and the Guardians, send them directly there. Mentales attack in the distance, Biota assist in protective field of the city and the healing of the troops. To the attack, warriors, defend our city!
Immediately, war sounded loud mouths of the captains of the companies and five hundred warriors went into battle, the deafening sound of hooves throwing themselves against the floor dry, cracked by the sun.
The towers of the city, listening to the touch, chime their bells recognizing warriors and warning citizens that help had arrived. When the troops are about to reach the enemy horde, orders are given and the mass of men and horses in compact wedge shape and directs it to the middle of the enemy that, at this moment, had already prepared to defend the attack.
The demons took advantage of the existing rubble to form barriers and slow down the speed of the horses, but the warriors had already anticipated the action and, for the most part, managed to overcome them without major losses. When the tip of the attack reaches the cluster spectra, metal sounds are wood, hooves, claws and bones are heard throughout the city.
Green clouds and blood splashing met all the entry of the gates, the violence of the shock was immense, the mounted warriors tore the horde, separating it into two parts, to then attack them from the middle out. Galator, who was on the edge, both wore his shield, as his sword to disembodied demons, as his hors
e moved forward, but one of the infernal supported his spear in a stone stuck to the floor and aimed against guardian of the horses. The spear pierced the poor animal causing that Galator was thrown violently forward. Spinning in the air to slow, the Guardian lands knees chest of a Mazzikim demon holding the shield with both hands and with its edge, the slaying be damned. When he stand up, recites the mantra Lun Rem Zon Ka, and shield creates an extended force field, protecting a fleet that was being attacked by dozens of infernal.
Although the demons have been surprised by the strategy and have been separated, now fighting on several fronts, they had beside them the brute force of two giant demons, known as Legion. Each attack those monsters and put dozens of warriors out of combat.
Gilard met with three captains and fought the monster on the right, while Galator defended as could the other. A demon threw punch Galator on the city wall, making him dizzy and the Legion would take advantage of that. Being left in charge to attack the general, who was still lying down and when he would strike the blow, felt hundreds of thorns you reach the back.
Howling in pain, he turns and faces five Mentales who downloaded their light urchins directly at the opponent. Gilard, along with several warriors can defeat the giant who fought and assists Galator, which managed to redo the thud and post again in combat.
The Legion can catch one of the Mentales attacked by one leg and then with the other hand holds the second and, to the horror of all, ripping poor warrior into two parts, pulling one leg on each side.
Then he parts in blind fury, like a mad bull and drops many warriors, spreading them to several meters. When he turns, is in front of him just Gilard, which eluded the onslaught and then attack with a double whammy, raising his arms up and lowering them with extreme speed.
The blow hit in full and when the monster raises his arms to see the destruction it caused, are faced, not with Gilard, but with Galator, with the arm of his shield up, supported by the shoulder, blood coming out of his eyes, nose, ears and mouth.
The guardian, at the end time of the coup, pushed Gilard out the attack and absorbs any impact. – A broken arm... broken body... Just a chance... – Galator thinks. So pull out your sword from its scabbard and gathering his last strength, he invests against breast Legion, nailing him his sword to the hilt, and falls then to the right.
The creature outlines a hoarse, dry grunt, looking at the horizon and then disappears into the green. After leaving the torpor for what had been affected, Gilard runs toward the fallen general. – Mr! Mr! Do not worry, you'll be fine. Biota! Here! The general is fallen! – Unfortunately ... – Galator speaks, regurgitating blood. – I think I'm beyond what the biota can fix it, dear friend. My time has come. – But, sir, because you sacrificed for me, is that I should do it. That was my duty. – The duty of every commander is to protect his troops. Besides, I'm a guardian! – Yes, sir, the best. – Galator outlines a forced smile, trying to ignore the pain that pierces him – kind of you, Colonel... The city is saved? – Gilard looks to Telkan and sees that the gates are protected and the few remaining spectra are on the run. – Yes, sir, look. – When it turns to the general, he is at peace. – Rest, general, has a well-deserved rest and be welcomed into the arms of our Father.
Gilard calls other guardians, who put their shells in a row and carefully accommodate the body of Galator over them. After taking it on his shoulders and, in procession, they enter the city leading the general who gave his life for its population. Howling and saved are heard everywhere and flowers scattered along the way.
The Market
The next day dawns cloudy and windy, torrential rain chastised the city throughout the night, but due to the wind, the streets were already just with little humidity. – Yeah, I think today will be in short supply of fish. I doubt whether any boat has achieved something many do not must have left the pier. Today is the day to use the stock – says, winking at the keeper. – I hope that no one goes wrong with your fish, Moahn, or will do with the guards and I will not get myself – Galaniel reproaches outlining a slight smile mouth corner. – I do not see anything spoiled alas, only first quality merchandise... A little past, that's all.
The fishmonger finishes his coffee and raises the chair, walking toward the door. Opening it, he looks back and says: – let's go, I want to see if caught at least some fresh thing. – He goes out then. Galaniel finishes eating his bread, stands up, grabs the small dagger, which always carries with him, and left without saying anything.
The path to the fishmonger is made of wooden planks intertwined with small square stones, sunk in the ground, with only the top face apparent across the market in the cross and coming close to the port area. The fish market is in a corner of one of the main access routes to the port and, as close to the market, the point could not be better, because both fishermen, as market customers were nearby.
In a space of about six feet wide by five long, were distributed the fish of the exposure counter, occupying the front and the left side of the site. On the right, were the containers where they kept unsold fish. The merchandise was stored between layers of snow, brought the top of the mountain range Potar Lost, surrounding the town from the west, on the backs of highlander mules in plots of banana leaves, snow virtually isolating each portion, to keeping longer the product.
At the back, is the place of receipt and cleaning of new fish, where fish and seafood were examined, gutted and washed for further exposure at the counter or stored in inventory. There was also a small wood stove, right where Moahn made lunch to sell to passersby and thus enjoy the leftovers when there were, in addition to both eat. In the middle, a rectangular desk, made in rustic wood, was used for the cuts and divisions of the products.
The day was greater abundance on Monday, as most fishing was done during the weekend and at the end of Sunday, always leftover many products and could not store all. That Monday, were left many remains and Moahn decided to make a seafood dish. He took a huge clay pot, filled it with water, put firewood and made the fire while Galaniel chopped seasonings and chose the remains which would put. Shrimp, parsley, green onions, garlic, peppers, mussels, crabs, onions, lemons, olive oil, brown pepper and salt.
Moahn was a good cook and lunch was already well known in the market. In the neighboring trade, several workers from nearby, bought lunch at the fish market, because the price was inviting and Moahn served in abundance.
On that day, in particular, there were many patrons for lunch, since seafood dish smelled delicious and the wind, which was blowing, spread far the aroma.
The sellers of spices came from the north wing, fishermen came from four pier, a metal street goldsmith, musicians of coats square and even some guards from the palace gates Among them was Toram, the old abused, corrupt and drunken sergeant who, due to these and other defects, failed to rise over post and relieved repression humiliating and trampling the poor, making it even worse living conditions. This also was the reason for the rift between him and the guardian.
Several years ago, Galaniel witnessed one of Toram’s raptures of with a seller of leather goods:
- The boot that you sold me no good, leather! Give me back my money! And I want to with interest, for using something as slut .
- You asked a boot that was not too hard to not hurt her foot. I told you it would be more fragile.
- It does not matter! It tore during my gear and I had to continue, hurting and soiling my foot. Come on, give me back the money I paid ten percent.
- Please, sir. I do not have that money, I used to buy more material. In addition, the boot is ruined beyond repair, I cannot sell to anyone else.
- That's not my problem, give me the money now! – The guard answers, slapping the leather.
Galaniel, who was on the market, buying a cut of fabric to his wife, monitored the situation and to see aggression, spoke from inside the store:
- Stop it immediately! This is not the behavior of a palace guard.
Without seeing who spoke to him, thinking it
was another merchant, the guard replied: – Do not meddle in what does not interest him, or it will be left for you!
The guardian returns the piece of cloth to the seller and goes out of his tent. When the sun reaches its shield and the blind brightness momentarily guard, he moves away from the leather. When he can see Galaniel, he speaks scared:
- Excuse me, sir, I did not know that you was a knight.
- What were you doing with this poor worker is not right. Humiliate and beat those who cannot defend themselves is cowardice.
- But he tricked me! He is a scoundrel!
- Silence! I do not believe that a simple worker would want to fool a palace guard. You're just taking advantage of his post. That he may learn not to do that anymore, I'll tax you on a silver coin. Pay now to the leather.
- This is absurd! This money is worth at least ten combat boot pairs. I will not pay!
- Pay now or face the consequences. I guarantee that my shield will be much more expensive .
- Now who is taking advantage of the post it occupies? You know I cannot attack him, on pain of death. After all you are a knight.
Addressing the crowd, which already had gathered around the confusion, the guardian speaks in volumes: – listen well, no punishment will be charged to this guard, to fight with a rider – and turning to Toram he continues: – let's duel until one of us falls, without deadly blows. If I win, you pay a silver coin to leather, if you win, I pay two coins for you. Do you agree?
- Yes, all right. – Toram looks at the keeper with blazing hatred in his eyes.
Both had their service armor. Galaniel carried sword and shield, with a light coat of mail in the chest and the guard, long spear, with lateral blade at the top, had a half-moon shape and leather jerkin with small plates of iron.
By this time, news of the clash had reached the barracks of the palace and several other guards and the captain of the guard, had come to see the fight. Many even made bets on their favorite.
