Bandit Knight Chapter One
I pulled the bandits towards me, their chains rattling as they nervously whispered among each other.
My voice echoed through my helm as I said, “Quiet.”
I turned to the guardsman behind the counter, his eyes twinkling with wonder.
Does the guard recognise my armour?
Good…
Now how should I play this?
I got it.
I punched Cooper on the shoulder and he squealed, “What the fuck?”
I shouted, “Shut the fuck up, knave.”
My gaze turned to the guard as I said, “Bandits, am I right?”
He stood up and said, “S-sir, you’ve returned.”
I blurred out, “Yeah.”
He wiped the tears from his eyes as he said, “I knew you’d… I, I’m sorry, I can’t…”
I raised my hands and said, “Hey man, it’s okay you don’t have to cry.”
He broke down and his cries carried through the checkpoint.
I turned to the others and they all shrugged in response.
Well, fuck me. What now?
An older guard approached and patted the young guard on the shoulder. The older one looked at me and said, “Apologies sir, he’s new.”
I cleared my throat, “Thanks, I didn’t really know how to respond.”
The old guard replied, “That’s more than understandable sir. Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but did you swear?”
I said, “Oh that, heh. Guess the thieves rubbed off on me.”
He nodded, “Don't go native sir, it’d be a shame on His name.”
“Of course.”
The old guard said, “Excess is Waste.”
That sounds weird but I had heard it before, which means I say it back, “Excess is Waste”
He picked up the papers.
He studied them for a moment before saying, “Regarding these documents, they're far too damaged for me to sign off. I’m afraid you’ll have to sign another one.”
I replied, “Look bud, I’m on a tight schedule, I can’t afford a delay.”
He said, “Rules are rules, sir. You handed in literal scraps of paper. There’s nothing I can do.”
I leaned against the counter, “Come on pal, we aren’t in the city. The border is closing in around us and I need to get back to the front. Rules shouldn’t be broken but they can bend.”
He said, “Yes, life’s tough here and even worse out there, which is why I’d like to keep my ass firmly here.”
The younger guard wiped away his tears and said, “W-wait, I-I’ll take the fall, you don’t have to get involved.”
The older guard turned to him and muttered, “Kid…”
The young man looked at me and said, “You’ll be quick right? You swear on Edric the Holy?”
With my hand over my heart I said, “I swear.”
The young guard smiled before nodding his head, “Follow the Path.”
I had heard that saying before as well, I had to say, “The Path is Followed.” and he handed the papers to let us through.
We were on the move again, so I pulled the others along as we walked through the gate.
Cooper angrily whispered, “Why the fuck did you hit me?”
My voice echoed through the helm, “I don’t know, it felt right.”
He glared at me as I glanced back at the others and whispered, “What do you guys think?”
Most of them nodded.
I remarked, “See. You’re expendable.”
Three more guards strolled over to me and asked, “S-sir?”
I stopped in place as the youngest asked, “Did you capture all of them by yourself?”
I nodded, “Indeed, these maggots thought they could face a knight, the defenders of the people. And they were swiftly brought down.”
They all looked at each other in excitement before saying, “How’d ya do it?”
I puffed up a little, this felt good, “Well, I don’t want to brag…”, someone coughed behind me so I turned around and screamed, “Shut it, you worthless maggots.”
I turned back to the guards and cleared my throat, “Unfortunately, gentlemen, I've not the time. Follow the Path.”
They stumbled away as they said, “The Path is Followed.”
Cooper mumbled to me, “We’re all goanna fucking die.”