Book 3 Ch 29: Reunions and Briefings

“Who is it that interrupts the ceremony?” asked the Knight Captain, his voice booming even more than it had when he’d been leading Lance through his oath.

Laird saluted and looked down. “Knight Laird and Knight Blake Captain. We have news of the villages to the northeast that we feel warrants your attention.”

“Is this regarding the mapping the horned creatures had been doing?”

“Partially.”

The captain removed his helmet revealing an aged, but handsome face and long gray hair that accentuated a steel gaze. He placed the helm on the plinth by his sword and turned to Lance and the witnesses.

“You are dismissed,” he said.

The two witnesses saluted and began making their way out.

“May I remain Captain?” asked Lance.

The Captain frowned. “Now is a time for celebration and meditation for you. I know you are eager to begin your work, and that is commendable, but with what lies on the horizon you should take your rest where you can find it.”

Lance nodded. “I appreciate the wisdom sir, but I know the two men with Sirs Laird and Blake. I simply wish to hear how they’re involved.”

The Captain raised an eyebrow. “You two know the newly minted Sergeant?”

Michael nodded. “We trained together. I fought him in the festival of blades back in Stent and we fought together many times after that.”

“Not to mention the whole deserting together thing,” said Ollie.

Michael shot him a look that Lance must’ve noticed.

“Don’t worry Michael, they know my history. They welcomed me anyway.”

Michael nodded. “They’ve been similar to us. Necessity is a great catalyst for change I suppose.”

The Captain turned to Knight Laird. “You have news? Many other knights I would question leaving their post personally to deliver it, but as it’s you I am certain there is a good reason.” He glanced at Blake, an ever so slight smirk on the corner of his lips. “With you I am not so certain.”

She winked at him.

“The reason I came here personally is these two,” he gestured to Michael and Ollie. “These two are takers that arrived in my village of responsibility nearly a month ago. They were drafted immediately and with their help we have sealed nearly thirty rifts, healed all the wounded among all villages on the way here and we took almost no losses in the process.”

The Captain blinked in surprise as his eyes turned to Ollie and Michael.

Lance simply nodded. “That makes sense.”

The Captain looked at him then turned to Ollie and Michael, holding out a hand.

“I am Knight Captain Leon.”

“Michael,” he said, clasping his hand for a moment. Leon’s grip tightened for just a moment before he nodded as if understanding something.

“Ollie,” said Ollie, clasping his hand next.

“You’re a mage, that much is written across everything about you. I don’t think that type of hat has been in style for mages for a few hundred years though.”

Ollie shrugged. “It’s an oldie, but a goodie.”

“How did your support allow the accomplishments my knights just described to me?”

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“I’m a diviner, and a healer,” said Michael.

“The strongest healer I’ve ever even heard of,” said Blake. “He can heal an entire infirmary, go to seal a rift, and then do it again before breakfast without tiring.”

“What?” exclaimed Leon.

Lance nodded. “Even when we were training he was able to heal multiple bad injuries within a day. He’s only gotten better since then.”