Snippet #2365688

The warm blood washed over his hand like waves on a beach yet this was no crystal blue water but the life force of a man. The sword cleaved through flesh with deadly ease, it's master hacking down those before him effortlessly. The mighty war horse breathed out large billows of smokey air in the chill night air. Atop the stallion strode the greatest hero of recent account, the man who had never tasted defeat at another man's hands, The Lion, Lord Commander Alistair Vakarian.

Alistair pulled his masterfully crafted blade from the corpse of a pirate as his men flooded the city. Hooves and the pounding of soldiers boots resounded in the night as the screams of the surprised pirates sounded in the twilight hour. They did not know, they could not know that the Lord Commander's network of spies were as skilled as they were. Despite his expert spies the infamous Rondalion General arrived with his men minutes too late.

Unsure of what the pirates were after he rode in heavy with men ready to hack down all intruders. Hack down they did for as Vakarian led his troops through the city they soaked the soil with the blood of the sea rats. Some were fool enough to charge at them, cutlass or axe in hand only to have their belly opened by a knights blade or to find a spear in their chest. The Lion was at the head of his men, riding through the tiny coastal village atop a magnificent white stallion. His keen eyes scanning the failing light for signs of his enemies. Those who fell in his field of vision were swiftly struck down. This was no battle, this was an extermination yet something tugged at his confidence for in the recesses of his mind Alistair knew this was too easy. Cowards, thieves and knifemen were the bulk of a pirate force true enough but there was always a tenacity to them when fighting them in a group. This was sloppy, unorganized, as if Alistair was merely getting a hold of stragglers who'd wandered away from the main group looking for plunder. His fears were proven right as his war horses hooves met the beach sand.

"Bloody pirates..."

Alistair cursed aloud as he clenched his fist in anger. He was forced to watch helplessly as the pirates rowed off with their prize. A prisoner that had long spent his days in the dungeons just outside Arv Rondalion. It was here that the genius Bang Cordinus worked night and day on his wonderous inventions for his Lady, Isodell FitzWarren. The achievements of Cordinus have contributed greatly to the success of the Lowlands in the past few years helping The Warden to turn her territory around from an impoverished, divided land into a shining example of prosperity and splendor.

Alistair's men were cleaning up the last of the sea vermin that had been left when The Lion rode in at the head of a Legion. Alistair had no intention of slaying all of them now, not until he found out what information he could get from them if any.

"Mormond."

Alistair said as he turned his attention away from the water and to the dying pirates on the shore. One of The Lord Commander's favored lieutenants was a man in his mid forties whose experience on the battlefield was well documented and his loyalty to his general was beyond question. Walter Mormond ran to Alistair's side and looked up at his commanding officer dutifully.

"Yes sir?"

"Round up four or five. We'll see what honor there is among thieves when we begin to fillet them alive."

"Aye sir."

Mormond said dutifully with a quick salute before rushing off to carry out his general's orders. Alistair watched as his men began to collect some of the stranded pirates and as others slayed the ones not needed. His mind drifted to The Warden and wondered as to her mood whence she returned. If he was one of these pirates he would truly begin to fear when The Warden returned to discver she'd been robbed. May the Maker help these poor bastards when Lady Fitzwarren returned.