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“I really must protest to all the slinking and sneaking around. This is most unbecoming of a scholar of the Imperial Colleges of Magic.” Josef Brugel had been complaining since the group first passed into the woods and would not have stopped now had not Sir Simon interrupted him.
“I rather unfortunately agree with the wizard Captain Spiegel. This is not my way.” Sir Simon had insisted on riding this close to the cave’s entrance and refused to release his horse. Otto Spiegel finished wiping the blade of his dagger on the tunic of the man he had just killed from behind, then turned to both the knight and the wizard.
“Two things ja? One, wizard should shut his mouth before I shut it good and two, dat is why Bretonnians die and Empire soldiers survive. It is always rush, rush, rush with you knights. You will get your charge soon enough ja?”
Sir Simon scowled, but stayed his hand. There was no need to get in a fight with this dishonorable mercenary when there were more pressing issues at hand. He nodded slowly and said no more. When the group of unlikely allies first observed the layout of the entrance to the cave and heard the noise of the drinking within, their simple plan had come together quickly. Brugel would cast his most destructive spell, a roiling ball of fire, within the front entrance of the cave. Using that as an opportunity, Sir Simon, still mounted, would charge through the cave’s large opening and straight into the main lair of the bandits, followed closely by Otto and his men. Surprise, shock, and awe would be their main weapons here. Sir Simon, a knight who had experienced numerous battles, had come to realize the value of the shock a charging knight could inflict on a group of disorganized men and had thus suggested his part of the plan.
“Get your men ready Captain Spiegel,” Sir Simon had already drawn his massive two-handed blade, “we will start as soon as I give the signal to Master Brugel. There can be no more delaying.” Both Otto and Brugel nodded. Otto’s men drew their proper weapons, sheathing bloody daggers. Brugel moved up alongside the mounted Sir Simon.
“Sir knight, I have a confession to make,” Sir Simon frowned but said nothing in reply and merely waited for the hesitating wizard to continue, “I have never cast magic in a true battle before. I know these spells, for I have researched them since I first trained in the mystic arts, but I am a scholar first and a warrior second.” Sir Simon frowned but then nodded thoughtfully.
“Master Brugel, there is a first time for everything. With the Lady as your guide, for she is watching us now with the most keen interest, you will not fail in this task. I was once a knight errant, trying to earn my spurs. I know the danger of fear before your first battle. Do not worry. These are but vile bandits. They have no magic which will be able to counter yours. You know the spells, now put them to good use.” Sir Simon turned back to face the cave entrance, uttered a brief prayer to the Lady, and then returned his gaze to the wizard. “Ready, Master Brugel?”
The Empire wizard, alone amongst odd company in a strange forest with no real stake in the cause at hand, prepared mentally for his battle and nodded. “Sigmar preserve us.”
“May he and the Lady both be on our side. Now, release your magic.”
Muttering under his breath and making complex hand gestures, Brugel was surprised at how quickly and easily the spell came to him. He had an aptitude for magic like this that he had never realized in all his study. He finished his spell, pointed his finger at the cave mouth and a single bead of orange, a dot of flame, shot from his fingertip into the entrance. A few seconds passed, then the explosion blew rock and dust off the walls of the cave mouth and shook the trees around the cave entrance like an earthquake. Marcelles reared and Sir Simon hefted his blade, twirling it in the night air.
“FOR THE LADY!” With his cry, Sir Simon spurred forward into the smoke filled cave entrance, with Otto and his men baying like hounds at his heels.
TO BE CONTINUED IN
THE ONE-EYED BRIGAND - PART 2
In which a cave is invaded, a magician finds his true talent, a terrible evil is unleashed, and a mercenary captain gets his brutal revenge
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