“I’m telling you all,” said Thorius Brokenhand as he stood on a table and looked out over what appeared to be the entire town’s population of Black Dale. “It was just reported to me that there are Lizardmen roaming in Elekargul and that it is expected that we will do something. I’m to muster as many knights as possible and set up a defense of the town.”
In front of the mayor stood a throng of perhaps two hundred people that included the majority of those who lived in town. They gathered outside the temple of the Black Horse because their numbers could not fit into any other building. The crowd was mostly women and young men although all the knights doing their twelve month of civilian duty stood by as well a fairly large number of farmers and herders who lived on the outskirts of the region.
“That doesn’t make any damn sense, Thorius,” said Odellius near the front of the crowd. “For a minor threat like this the men serving their twelve month in patrol do the job. We’re on our civilian twelve month and only a state emergency can change that.”
“I’m telling you, again, that this is a state emergency. I got a message from the First Rider just an hour ago to that effect. The lizards landed some sort of an expeditionary force up the coast from Black Roost and they are heading north towards us. The First Rider wants us to muster and head south and try to intercept them.”
“That will leave the town completely undefended,” said the Thaddeus Redhand as he moved up to stand by Odellius. “The whole point of the system is that towns are defended by knights on civilian duty while the men on patrol take care of outside threats.”
“Are you prepared to defy me on this, to defy the word of the First Rider?” said Thorius and held up a piece of parchment.
“Are you sure it’s from the First Rider, have you examined it closely?” said Thaddeus.
“Thaddeus,” said Thorius as he waved the paper in the air, “I’ve taken every precaution, this is a real threat. There could be thousands of them soon enough if they’ve launched a fleet from Darag’dal. Now, I want every able bodied knight to meet tomorrow morning at the west gate. Bring as much in the way of supplies as you can carry. We might be gone for an extended period. Are there any questions?”
The men in the crowd mumbled to themselves for a moment and it looked like things would end right there before Odellius spoke up again, “Thorius, I know you’re up to something.”
“And…,” said Thorius.
“And I’ll be staying here in town unless you show me that message from the First Rider,” he replied and, as he moved forward, his huge bulk bumped into the table and almost sent the mayor reeling to the ground.
“And if I show it to you and it meets with your approval you’ll follow my orders and not question me in the future,” said Thorius after he regained his balance and stood with his eyes towards the crowd.
Odellius ndded his head once and held up his hand for the paper. When the mayor handed it over Odellius examined it closely for a few moments and then handed it back, “It looks real enough,” said the big knight with a nod to the mayor. “I’ll be there in the morning but this makes no sense. Send a boy out to find the First Rider to confirm it,” he said.
“I give the orders here,” said Thorius as he glared down at Odellius. “You said you would obey my orders if the note proved genuine. Now, are you going to obey or are you going to be an oath breaker?”
The crowd went suddenly silent at this insult and the great knight looked up at the mayor with a look of disdain on his face as his lips curled down and he shook his head, “I said I’ll be there in the morning and I will be,” with that the big knight turned to face the people and nodded his head. “I’m a man of my word as you all know and I’ll go with Thorius Brokenhand.” Then he turned and left the little crowd and headed towards the mason’s shop where he lived.
“My son will be back with Germanius and the Gray boy soon enough,” said Thorius still on the table as he addressed those in the crowd that remained. A large number of the guests began to follow Odellius out of the yard but the majority stayed and listened as the mayor outlined his plan.