FIC - First Knight (14/?)
Title: First Knight (14/?)
Author: wheelie47
Artist hollyoaks1021
Rating: NC17 (not for every chapter)
Pairing: Luke and Noah.
Word count: 3,111
Disclaimer: Don’t own characters, am not associated in any way with ATWT, Van and Jake. No offence intended.
Summary: Set in the fictional land of feudal Western Atlantia, King Damian has been overthrown and has fled the Kingdom of Oakdale. But his evil influence has spread across all eight Kingdoms. Lord Luke Snyder leads his army in an effort to bring peace and justice to a troubled time, aided in his quest by a certain dark-haired young Knight…
Chapter 1, Chapter 2,Chapter 3 Chapter 4, Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13
Noah awoke, his eyelids reluctantly parting to admit the gloom of weak, canvas-filtered, sunlight and the gentle flickering glow of candlelight.
He stretched slowly and tentatively, grimacing as every muscle from his head to his toes seemed to ache at the movement… a small groan escaping his lips.
The stretch made him aware of a weight nestled against his right side and his shoulder.
Looking down, he smiled a slow languid smile as he spotted the mass of blonde locks atop of Luke’s head.
They had fallen asleep together.
A memory stirred of the last time he had awakened like this with Luke.
But, as he turned his head to look about them, he recalled that this was a wholly different circumstance than that first time in their secluded little hideaway.
Now, they were resting in Oliver’s cot in his tent in the middle of one of Lord Calderon’s border outposts. Although the physician had asserted that they would be undisturbed for at least a little while, Noah had no idea how long they had lain here together.
As much as he tried to block out the sounds filtering in from outside and concentrate on the feel of just lying here with Luke’s arms around him, Noah could hear the clamor of increased activity all about him. He had a growing anxiety that it heralded an event of import that he and Luke were sure to be at the centre of.
Fearing their relative peace could be disturbed at any moment, Noah reluctantly reached across his torso and gently caressed Luke’s jaw with his fingers, feeling the stubble scratch against the pads. “Luke?” he whispered gently, partially hoping that the blonde would not respond and they could lie here a little longer.
But he was only too aware that was fanciful thinking.
Luke moaned a little in his sleep before settling further into Noah’s side, his head subconsciously tilting upward to seek out a more comfortable position.
A wide smile extended over Noah’s lips as he looked down at Luke’s sleeping features.
Despite several days’ worth of stubble and not having recently taken care of his ablutions, Noah did not think he had ever seen a more welcome sight than Luke sleeping peacefully. The restorative properties of sleep seemed to have erased the care worn expression that Noah had recently been accustomed to seeing on the blonde’s features. In his sleep, Luke appeared more like the young noble that he had been when Noah had first encountered him in Oakdale.
Noah recalled that day as if it were only yesterday.
Luke had sat astride his magnificent chestnut steed, the sunlight highlighting his blonde locks making them almost shimmer like finely spun gold. He had smiled easily at some quietly spoken words from his father which Noah had not caught.
Noah remembered wishing that smile could have been directed at him… that he could have made those dimples appear so easily.
Little did Noah know back then that Luke’s smile would be directed at him one day. Little did he know then that Luke would look at him with an intensity, a longing, a want and finally such a look of love that would leave him powerless to resist the blonde Lord.
Back then he had no inkling that the same feelings that ran through his veins and stirred his groin were the very same feelings that affected Lord Snyder.
Noah’s fingers lightly played with the blonde tresses as he remembered with clarity how he had needed to avert his gaze that day lest his countenance betrayed his true feelings.
“Tend to the horses.” The sound of a curt command came through the canvas walls from a close proximity, breaking into Noah’s reminisces and reminding him that their precious solitude was ebbing away.
With a sad sigh, Noah’s hand again moved to Luke’s cheek as he spoke softly, “Luke, my love…” he paused, marveling at the fact that he could address Luke so. He would have thought that the word would feel alien falling from his lips. He had never addressed another person in such a way before. But it felt so right… as right as the two of them lying there together.
“Luke, you need to awake,” he spoke more loudly this time and shook Luke’s shoulder gently as he lightly kissed the top of the man’s head.
He was rewarded by a mumbled response that he could not make out as Luke shifted against him.
Then suddenly he was lost in the hazel hue as Luke blinked awake and gazed up at him.
“Noah?’ Luke croaked out, his voice rough from sleep. It took him a few moments to realize that he was still lying on the cot next to Noah when he had only intended to stay there whilst Noah had drifted off to sleep.
“How do you feel?” Luke asked as he reached up and grasped Noah’s chin, gently turning his head this way and that to check the cuts and bruises to his face.
“I am fine,” Noah reassured with a small smile.
Luke shifted his position again so he could more clearly look into Noah’s eyes.
“Is that the truth, Noah? How do you really feel?”
Noah smiled more widely this time at Luke’s ability to see through his subterfuge.
“It hurts,” Noah murmured, feeling no small amount of guilt for admitting to his pain when others had fared much worse than him. “But not as much as it did,” he added quickly at seeing the crestfallen and worried look that creased Luke’s features. It was true. The pain from his burns had eased a little with the application of the salve and he could open his right eye a little further than before.
Luke seemed satisfied by the answer this time as he stretched to press his lips lightly against Noah’s.
Pulling back, he smiled. “Good. We should not hide things from each other… no deceptions. I need to know that you will always be able to tell me how you are feeling.”
Noah nodded hesitantly. He had never been one to eloquently express his feelings; it was something that his father had frowned upon.
But he was willing to try because Luke had asked him to.
Luke’s hand moved to caress Noah’s cheek as he looked wistfully into the deep blue. “I wish we could always awake like this.”
“So do I,” Noah breathed out, ignoring the ache that flared in his torso as he brought his hand up to cup the back of Luke’s head. He gently pulled the blonde toward him and kissed him, angling his head to seek out just the right position. He knew their time alone was surely running short but he simply could not resist kissing those supple bow-shaped lips.
Just as Luke opened his mouth to deepen the kiss they were disturbed by the rustle of canvas and the increased volume of sounds from outside as the tent flap was pulled open.
They jerked apart as if their touch burned and Luke attempted to scramble out of the confines of the small cot.
“I warned you to take more care! I could have been anybody. Do you wish the whole of Calderon’s army to know about you?!” came the hissed reprimand.
Both men froze and looked up into the eyes of Reid Oliver.
Luke held his breath nervously. He knew that Noah had told him that the physician was accepting of them. But being accepting of them was one thing and witnessing it with his own eyes was an entirely different matter.
Oliver stepped forward over the threshold, letting the canvas flap fall back into place behind him.
It seemed as if he was about to chastise them further but then appeared to change his mind as he looked at Luke.
“Calderon has arrived and has requested your presence in his command tent. Luckily, for you, I overheard the instruction to his guard to escort you to him and reached you before they did.”
“Thank you.” Luke nodded his thanks and his curiosity got the better of him. Clearly there was a side to the sharp-tongued physician that he had not seen before. He could not help but wonder at the reasoning behind Oliver’s assisting them. “Why are you helping us?”
“I have my reasons,” Oliver replied enigmatically before taking a step closer to the cot to appraise Noah’s injuries. “Good. You appear to be healing well,” he murmured to himself, apparently pleased with the healing progress. “Make certain to apply the salve again in a couple of hours.”
“And you, Snyder.” Oliver turned to look at Luke. “You should hurry. The guards will be here at any moment.”
And then, without another word, Reid turned and strode smartly out of the tent, leaving the two men to stare after him as the canvas flap closed behind him.
Luke reluctantly disentangled himself fully from Noah’s embrace and stood by the cot side.
Seeing Noah make a move to sit up and swing his long legs over the side to follow him, Luke placed his hand gently but firmly on the brunette’s shoulder and pushed him back down. “You should stay. Oliver said you needed your rest… and far be it from me to dis-obey the eminent physician.” He spoke in jest but Noah had little doubt from the look in Luke’s eyes that he meant for Noah to stay exactly where he was.
“But I can help you convince Lord Calderon to offer his assistance.”
As much as Luke wanted Noah by his side, he also knew that he needed to recuperate.
“Worry not,” Luke grinned and there was a mischievous glint in his eye. The knowledge that Noah was recovering and the fact that Calderon was here filled him with euphoria. He leaned down to Noah and murmured into his ear. “I have ways of getting what I want.” His thoughts drifted back to that first night when he had crept into Noah’s tent to explore his feelings for the dark-haired Knight.
He smirked as he pulled back and observed the look of shock coupled with a blush that spread across Noah’s features.
Even though Noah knew Luke was jesting, he could not help the sharp stab of jealousy that twisted in his stomach. He did not want to share Luke with anybody… ever. “I… I do not think Lord Calderon would appreciate your other talents.”
It was Noah’s turn to smirk now. “Besides, this…” He paused as he pulled Luke in for a brief but firm kiss. “… is all mine.”
The hazel hue darkened as Luke breathed out against Noah’s lips. “All yours… always.”
Luke reluctantly pulled back before giving Noah a wide dimpled smile as he turned and headed for the tent flap…
…
“Lord Snyder.” Lord Calderon looked up from studying a map and receiving a report from the Captain of the border patrol that had first encountered Luke and Noah. He greeted Luke with a curt nod as he was escorted into the command tent. “You find yourself in a somewhat different circumstance than since we last met.”
“Indeed, my Lord. I thank you and your men for your hospitality,” Luke responded with all the gravitas he could muster as he surveyed the well-groomed Lord and his two companions. His disheveled state was only too painfully obvious, long gone was his surcoat bearing the emblem of the House of Snyder and the rest of his clothing was torn and muddy from their flight. He felt like a beggar on the street by comparison.
The Captain bowed deeply when he saw that Luke had entered the tent. “My Lord, please accept my apologies for the way I treated you when we first met.”
Luke shook his head and gave the man a reassuring smile. “You did your duty, Captain. No offence was received.” Luke was beyond grateful that the Captain had brought them here and Noah had got the treatment he needed.
The Captain nodded his grateful thanks and left the tent when Lord Calderon dismissed him.
“I do believe you have not met Lord Bashir. He journeyed here with me and some of his men are encamped with mine in a valley just to the east of here.” Calderon gestured to the man standing next to him.
A hope awoke in Luke at the mention of massed ranks of men. If only he could convince the two men to march to meet Aiden’s and Grimaldi’s forces and rescue his captured men.
“My Lord.” Luke greeted the tall angular faced man with a bow.
The older man returned the greeting. “I am sorry to hear of your father’s passing. By all accounts he was a good man.”
“Thank you,” Luke replied with simple gratitude. He wished his father were here with him now. He would know what to do in this situation. These two men were by far Luke’s superiors in age and experience; he felt like a schoolboy in their presence.
“Come.” Calderon gestured for Luke to circle around the table and join them on the far side to study the map in front of them. “My Captain tells me you escaped from Stormcrag. Tell us what you know of the forces there.”
Luke studied the map in detail, trying to pick out the position. Reaching a decision, he pointed. “Grimaldi has men at his command stationed inside the fortress walls. But here…” Luke moved his finger to the West. “… this is where Aiden’s forces are concentrated.” He had no reason to doubt the old clerk’s words; they had led Luke and Noah to safety.
Lord Calderon looked up at him sharply. “So it is true. Grimaldi is in California. We had heard rumors from our informers but nothing concrete.”
“He is here,” Luke confirmed grimly as his encounter with the disposed King haunted his mind. “If you could lead your combined forces against him we could end this now,” he pleaded. “He will be unsuspecting of such an attack from across the border.” The irony that Luke had once favored caution when Davis had suggested a similar urgency back in his own command tent was not lost on him. It seemed like an age ago now and all of their lives had changed irreversibly since then.
The older Lord looked at Luke askance. “Lead our forces against him?” He shook his head slowly before turning to Bashir. “We should hold and protect our borders surely? We do not have the strength of men to confront him. We should await re-enforcements.”
Suddenly their thoughts were disturbed by a commotion outside and, to a man, the three of them turned in unison to see Noah struggling through the canvas opening with an escort guard close on his heels, grabbing his arm and shoulder in an attempt to keep him from gaining further entry.
“Hold!” Calderon raised a gloved hand and both men stopped struggling. “Who are you? Speak quickly, man.”
Luke stepped forward as Noah staggered a little when the soldier released him. He wanted to rush around the table and pull him into an embrace to support him but he held his place and spoke out instead. “This is Sir Mayer: my most trusted Knight. We escaped Stormcrag together,” he explained, his eyes never leaving Noah’s.
Lord Calderon eyed the man closely. He had obviously seen more than his fair share of fighting and pain in his young life. “A brave man indeed, especially when he forces his way into a council of war when he has not been summoned. Well, out with it. Tell us what you have to say,” he ordered as he dismissed the guard with a wave of his hand.
Noah nodded and began hesitantly. “My… my Lords…” he paused, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was about to speak out in front of these Lords; he hardly recognized himself anymore from the young naïve boy that had set out on this quest. He bit his lip nervously and opened his eyes again to look directly into Luke’s face. His lover nodded with encouragement and no small amount of pride etched across his features.
Noah took strength from that look. “My Lords, thank you for letting me speak,” he began again, more strongly this time. “We have to take this opportunity to stand against Grimaldi and Aiden. I have witnessed first hand what these men can do. They will stop at nothing to get what they want.” Images of the death and destruction… of the pain and the hurt he had witnessed flooded his mind. He remembered the hopeless and desperate looks and the haunting eyes of the villagers they had seen. He almost flinched as he recalled the pain inflicted on his own body and at the memory of Grimaldi’s hard and focused stare as he taunted him and Luke.
“Aiden’s men killed our wounded without a second thought,” Noah murmured into the quiet of the tent.
A gasp of shock escaped Luke’s lips and Noah saw the blonde’s shoulders visibly sag at the news and a look of dismay and horror creased his countenance. His thoughts went out to Luke; it was obviously the first time he had heard of this. Noah’s heart broke at the utter sadness that now spread across Luke’s face and he remembered how Luke had taken time to speak to the injured yeoman in Oliver’s care. That man, and all of the others like him, were now dead.
“We have to rid the world of their evil influence,” he added shakily and reached for the table to support him.
The silence pervaded the tent as each man was lost in their own thoughts.
Lord Calderon did not need this Sir Mayer to tell him about death and destruction; he had seen enough of it to last him his whole life time. But the young man’s words reminded him that he, and others like him, had the means and the duty to act against such power hungry and evil men.
He glanced over at Lord Bashir who inclined his head almost imperceptibly.
The decision was made.
“Captain,” Lord Calderon called to the man outside the tent.
“Send out your fastest and most trusted scouts. I want up-to-date information on the enemies’ position. And send word to the men - they are to prepare for battle,” he instructed when the man appeared.
Luke and Noah locked eyes across the expanse of the table that separated them.
Relief and tentative hope tinged with a nervous anxiety flooded over them both as the final battle of their quest loomed large on the horizon…
Chapter 15
Back to fic master post
Author: wheelie47
Artist hollyoaks1021
Rating: NC17 (not for every chapter)
Pairing: Luke and Noah.
Word count: 3,111
Disclaimer: Don’t own characters, am not associated in any way with ATWT, Van and Jake. No offence intended.
Summary: Set in the fictional land of feudal Western Atlantia, King Damian has been overthrown and has fled the Kingdom of Oakdale. But his evil influence has spread across all eight Kingdoms. Lord Luke Snyder leads his army in an effort to bring peace and justice to a troubled time, aided in his quest by a certain dark-haired young Knight…
Chapter 1, Chapter 2,Chapter 3 Chapter 4, Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13
Noah awoke, his eyelids reluctantly parting to admit the gloom of weak, canvas-filtered, sunlight and the gentle flickering glow of candlelight.
He stretched slowly and tentatively, grimacing as every muscle from his head to his toes seemed to ache at the movement… a small groan escaping his lips.
The stretch made him aware of a weight nestled against his right side and his shoulder.
Looking down, he smiled a slow languid smile as he spotted the mass of blonde locks atop of Luke’s head.
They had fallen asleep together.
A memory stirred of the last time he had awakened like this with Luke.
But, as he turned his head to look about them, he recalled that this was a wholly different circumstance than that first time in their secluded little hideaway.
Now, they were resting in Oliver’s cot in his tent in the middle of one of Lord Calderon’s border outposts. Although the physician had asserted that they would be undisturbed for at least a little while, Noah had no idea how long they had lain here together.
As much as he tried to block out the sounds filtering in from outside and concentrate on the feel of just lying here with Luke’s arms around him, Noah could hear the clamor of increased activity all about him. He had a growing anxiety that it heralded an event of import that he and Luke were sure to be at the centre of.
Fearing their relative peace could be disturbed at any moment, Noah reluctantly reached across his torso and gently caressed Luke’s jaw with his fingers, feeling the stubble scratch against the pads. “Luke?” he whispered gently, partially hoping that the blonde would not respond and they could lie here a little longer.
But he was only too aware that was fanciful thinking.
Luke moaned a little in his sleep before settling further into Noah’s side, his head subconsciously tilting upward to seek out a more comfortable position.
A wide smile extended over Noah’s lips as he looked down at Luke’s sleeping features.
Despite several days’ worth of stubble and not having recently taken care of his ablutions, Noah did not think he had ever seen a more welcome sight than Luke sleeping peacefully. The restorative properties of sleep seemed to have erased the care worn expression that Noah had recently been accustomed to seeing on the blonde’s features. In his sleep, Luke appeared more like the young noble that he had been when Noah had first encountered him in Oakdale.
Noah recalled that day as if it were only yesterday.
Luke had sat astride his magnificent chestnut steed, the sunlight highlighting his blonde locks making them almost shimmer like finely spun gold. He had smiled easily at some quietly spoken words from his father which Noah had not caught.
Noah remembered wishing that smile could have been directed at him… that he could have made those dimples appear so easily.
Little did Noah know back then that Luke’s smile would be directed at him one day. Little did he know then that Luke would look at him with an intensity, a longing, a want and finally such a look of love that would leave him powerless to resist the blonde Lord.
Back then he had no inkling that the same feelings that ran through his veins and stirred his groin were the very same feelings that affected Lord Snyder.
Noah’s fingers lightly played with the blonde tresses as he remembered with clarity how he had needed to avert his gaze that day lest his countenance betrayed his true feelings.
“Tend to the horses.” The sound of a curt command came through the canvas walls from a close proximity, breaking into Noah’s reminisces and reminding him that their precious solitude was ebbing away.
With a sad sigh, Noah’s hand again moved to Luke’s cheek as he spoke softly, “Luke, my love…” he paused, marveling at the fact that he could address Luke so. He would have thought that the word would feel alien falling from his lips. He had never addressed another person in such a way before. But it felt so right… as right as the two of them lying there together.
“Luke, you need to awake,” he spoke more loudly this time and shook Luke’s shoulder gently as he lightly kissed the top of the man’s head.
He was rewarded by a mumbled response that he could not make out as Luke shifted against him.
Then suddenly he was lost in the hazel hue as Luke blinked awake and gazed up at him.
“Noah?’ Luke croaked out, his voice rough from sleep. It took him a few moments to realize that he was still lying on the cot next to Noah when he had only intended to stay there whilst Noah had drifted off to sleep.
“How do you feel?” Luke asked as he reached up and grasped Noah’s chin, gently turning his head this way and that to check the cuts and bruises to his face.
“I am fine,” Noah reassured with a small smile.
Luke shifted his position again so he could more clearly look into Noah’s eyes.
“Is that the truth, Noah? How do you really feel?”
Noah smiled more widely this time at Luke’s ability to see through his subterfuge.
“It hurts,” Noah murmured, feeling no small amount of guilt for admitting to his pain when others had fared much worse than him. “But not as much as it did,” he added quickly at seeing the crestfallen and worried look that creased Luke’s features. It was true. The pain from his burns had eased a little with the application of the salve and he could open his right eye a little further than before.
Luke seemed satisfied by the answer this time as he stretched to press his lips lightly against Noah’s.
Pulling back, he smiled. “Good. We should not hide things from each other… no deceptions. I need to know that you will always be able to tell me how you are feeling.”
Noah nodded hesitantly. He had never been one to eloquently express his feelings; it was something that his father had frowned upon.
But he was willing to try because Luke had asked him to.
Luke’s hand moved to caress Noah’s cheek as he looked wistfully into the deep blue. “I wish we could always awake like this.”
“So do I,” Noah breathed out, ignoring the ache that flared in his torso as he brought his hand up to cup the back of Luke’s head. He gently pulled the blonde toward him and kissed him, angling his head to seek out just the right position. He knew their time alone was surely running short but he simply could not resist kissing those supple bow-shaped lips.
Just as Luke opened his mouth to deepen the kiss they were disturbed by the rustle of canvas and the increased volume of sounds from outside as the tent flap was pulled open.
They jerked apart as if their touch burned and Luke attempted to scramble out of the confines of the small cot.
“I warned you to take more care! I could have been anybody. Do you wish the whole of Calderon’s army to know about you?!” came the hissed reprimand.
Both men froze and looked up into the eyes of Reid Oliver.
Luke held his breath nervously. He knew that Noah had told him that the physician was accepting of them. But being accepting of them was one thing and witnessing it with his own eyes was an entirely different matter.
Oliver stepped forward over the threshold, letting the canvas flap fall back into place behind him.
It seemed as if he was about to chastise them further but then appeared to change his mind as he looked at Luke.
“Calderon has arrived and has requested your presence in his command tent. Luckily, for you, I overheard the instruction to his guard to escort you to him and reached you before they did.”
“Thank you.” Luke nodded his thanks and his curiosity got the better of him. Clearly there was a side to the sharp-tongued physician that he had not seen before. He could not help but wonder at the reasoning behind Oliver’s assisting them. “Why are you helping us?”
“I have my reasons,” Oliver replied enigmatically before taking a step closer to the cot to appraise Noah’s injuries. “Good. You appear to be healing well,” he murmured to himself, apparently pleased with the healing progress. “Make certain to apply the salve again in a couple of hours.”
“And you, Snyder.” Oliver turned to look at Luke. “You should hurry. The guards will be here at any moment.”
And then, without another word, Reid turned and strode smartly out of the tent, leaving the two men to stare after him as the canvas flap closed behind him.
Luke reluctantly disentangled himself fully from Noah’s embrace and stood by the cot side.
Seeing Noah make a move to sit up and swing his long legs over the side to follow him, Luke placed his hand gently but firmly on the brunette’s shoulder and pushed him back down. “You should stay. Oliver said you needed your rest… and far be it from me to dis-obey the eminent physician.” He spoke in jest but Noah had little doubt from the look in Luke’s eyes that he meant for Noah to stay exactly where he was.
“But I can help you convince Lord Calderon to offer his assistance.”
As much as Luke wanted Noah by his side, he also knew that he needed to recuperate.
“Worry not,” Luke grinned and there was a mischievous glint in his eye. The knowledge that Noah was recovering and the fact that Calderon was here filled him with euphoria. He leaned down to Noah and murmured into his ear. “I have ways of getting what I want.” His thoughts drifted back to that first night when he had crept into Noah’s tent to explore his feelings for the dark-haired Knight.
He smirked as he pulled back and observed the look of shock coupled with a blush that spread across Noah’s features.
Even though Noah knew Luke was jesting, he could not help the sharp stab of jealousy that twisted in his stomach. He did not want to share Luke with anybody… ever. “I… I do not think Lord Calderon would appreciate your other talents.”
It was Noah’s turn to smirk now. “Besides, this…” He paused as he pulled Luke in for a brief but firm kiss. “… is all mine.”
The hazel hue darkened as Luke breathed out against Noah’s lips. “All yours… always.”
Luke reluctantly pulled back before giving Noah a wide dimpled smile as he turned and headed for the tent flap…
…
“Lord Snyder.” Lord Calderon looked up from studying a map and receiving a report from the Captain of the border patrol that had first encountered Luke and Noah. He greeted Luke with a curt nod as he was escorted into the command tent. “You find yourself in a somewhat different circumstance than since we last met.”
“Indeed, my Lord. I thank you and your men for your hospitality,” Luke responded with all the gravitas he could muster as he surveyed the well-groomed Lord and his two companions. His disheveled state was only too painfully obvious, long gone was his surcoat bearing the emblem of the House of Snyder and the rest of his clothing was torn and muddy from their flight. He felt like a beggar on the street by comparison.
The Captain bowed deeply when he saw that Luke had entered the tent. “My Lord, please accept my apologies for the way I treated you when we first met.”
Luke shook his head and gave the man a reassuring smile. “You did your duty, Captain. No offence was received.” Luke was beyond grateful that the Captain had brought them here and Noah had got the treatment he needed.
The Captain nodded his grateful thanks and left the tent when Lord Calderon dismissed him.
“I do believe you have not met Lord Bashir. He journeyed here with me and some of his men are encamped with mine in a valley just to the east of here.” Calderon gestured to the man standing next to him.
A hope awoke in Luke at the mention of massed ranks of men. If only he could convince the two men to march to meet Aiden’s and Grimaldi’s forces and rescue his captured men.
“My Lord.” Luke greeted the tall angular faced man with a bow.
The older man returned the greeting. “I am sorry to hear of your father’s passing. By all accounts he was a good man.”
“Thank you,” Luke replied with simple gratitude. He wished his father were here with him now. He would know what to do in this situation. These two men were by far Luke’s superiors in age and experience; he felt like a schoolboy in their presence.
“Come.” Calderon gestured for Luke to circle around the table and join them on the far side to study the map in front of them. “My Captain tells me you escaped from Stormcrag. Tell us what you know of the forces there.”
Luke studied the map in detail, trying to pick out the position. Reaching a decision, he pointed. “Grimaldi has men at his command stationed inside the fortress walls. But here…” Luke moved his finger to the West. “… this is where Aiden’s forces are concentrated.” He had no reason to doubt the old clerk’s words; they had led Luke and Noah to safety.
Lord Calderon looked up at him sharply. “So it is true. Grimaldi is in California. We had heard rumors from our informers but nothing concrete.”
“He is here,” Luke confirmed grimly as his encounter with the disposed King haunted his mind. “If you could lead your combined forces against him we could end this now,” he pleaded. “He will be unsuspecting of such an attack from across the border.” The irony that Luke had once favored caution when Davis had suggested a similar urgency back in his own command tent was not lost on him. It seemed like an age ago now and all of their lives had changed irreversibly since then.
The older Lord looked at Luke askance. “Lead our forces against him?” He shook his head slowly before turning to Bashir. “We should hold and protect our borders surely? We do not have the strength of men to confront him. We should await re-enforcements.”
Suddenly their thoughts were disturbed by a commotion outside and, to a man, the three of them turned in unison to see Noah struggling through the canvas opening with an escort guard close on his heels, grabbing his arm and shoulder in an attempt to keep him from gaining further entry.
“Hold!” Calderon raised a gloved hand and both men stopped struggling. “Who are you? Speak quickly, man.”
Luke stepped forward as Noah staggered a little when the soldier released him. He wanted to rush around the table and pull him into an embrace to support him but he held his place and spoke out instead. “This is Sir Mayer: my most trusted Knight. We escaped Stormcrag together,” he explained, his eyes never leaving Noah’s.
Lord Calderon eyed the man closely. He had obviously seen more than his fair share of fighting and pain in his young life. “A brave man indeed, especially when he forces his way into a council of war when he has not been summoned. Well, out with it. Tell us what you have to say,” he ordered as he dismissed the guard with a wave of his hand.
Noah nodded and began hesitantly. “My… my Lords…” he paused, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was about to speak out in front of these Lords; he hardly recognized himself anymore from the young naïve boy that had set out on this quest. He bit his lip nervously and opened his eyes again to look directly into Luke’s face. His lover nodded with encouragement and no small amount of pride etched across his features.
Noah took strength from that look. “My Lords, thank you for letting me speak,” he began again, more strongly this time. “We have to take this opportunity to stand against Grimaldi and Aiden. I have witnessed first hand what these men can do. They will stop at nothing to get what they want.” Images of the death and destruction… of the pain and the hurt he had witnessed flooded his mind. He remembered the hopeless and desperate looks and the haunting eyes of the villagers they had seen. He almost flinched as he recalled the pain inflicted on his own body and at the memory of Grimaldi’s hard and focused stare as he taunted him and Luke.
“Aiden’s men killed our wounded without a second thought,” Noah murmured into the quiet of the tent.
A gasp of shock escaped Luke’s lips and Noah saw the blonde’s shoulders visibly sag at the news and a look of dismay and horror creased his countenance. His thoughts went out to Luke; it was obviously the first time he had heard of this. Noah’s heart broke at the utter sadness that now spread across Luke’s face and he remembered how Luke had taken time to speak to the injured yeoman in Oliver’s care. That man, and all of the others like him, were now dead.
“We have to rid the world of their evil influence,” he added shakily and reached for the table to support him.
The silence pervaded the tent as each man was lost in their own thoughts.
Lord Calderon did not need this Sir Mayer to tell him about death and destruction; he had seen enough of it to last him his whole life time. But the young man’s words reminded him that he, and others like him, had the means and the duty to act against such power hungry and evil men.
He glanced over at Lord Bashir who inclined his head almost imperceptibly.
The decision was made.
“Captain,” Lord Calderon called to the man outside the tent.
“Send out your fastest and most trusted scouts. I want up-to-date information on the enemies’ position. And send word to the men - they are to prepare for battle,” he instructed when the man appeared.
Luke and Noah locked eyes across the expanse of the table that separated them.
Relief and tentative hope tinged with a nervous anxiety flooded over them both as the final battle of their quest loomed large on the horizon…
Chapter 15
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