Tale of Four

The hall fell silent once more. Maxwell gave a nod in reply to the command as Hyman leaned back and let out a deep breath. Everyone looked at one another, wondering who would speak first in the silence. The only person who didn’t seem affected by it was Roderick, who leaned against a nearby support beam with a thin smile that was impossible to understand.

Finally, someone spoke. Standing up, a young man with black hair and eyes, wearing a blank expression, strolled forward, a sigil of a red hand on his back. "Your Grace." The young Lord Limb said with an equally emotionless tone to his face, "There is one thing we can do before the King gives us information." Hyman leaned forward, happy that one of his men was finally willing to speak.

Oliver couldn’t entirely understand why Hyman was putting up with the farce. He obviously already had a plan on how to fight the war. Even if no one was going to say it, they all knew that their main battle would be with the Desert, anywhere else on the continent to be left for others. "Raids." Lord Limb said, "We were caught off guard last time by the desert in their uprising, but this time we can strike. I have no love for them, and we can all agree that the chance they align with the King is slim."

"You are right, Lord Limb." Hyman said with a happy voice, "Tell me, however, who would you have led this task?" Like he had been waiting for the question, the young lord’s emotionless face broke, revealing a smile that was unnatural, a fake smile that looked wrong. Placing a hand on his chest, he bowed.

"Allow me to lead this endeavour, Your Grace." Looking up, he met Hyman’s gaze, "If I am entrusted, the desert will burn. Seven Spire may have held, but when they breached from the north, they did not spare villages. They did not discriminate against man, woman or child. All were equal before their brutality." His tone was flat as he continued, the rage he tried to make others feel, missing in himself, "Give me command and I will make them suffer as we did."

Hyman stayed silent for a while. Oliver looked around at the Valley Lords. He may not have known them well, but they all knew each other. When they looked at Lord Limb, he could see their disgust with the man. Unlike the fear Roderick inspired in people, there was nothing but disgust and contempt for the young man, obviously carrying a grim reputation himself. Looking at Hymans’ children, although Maxwell had the same grin his father wore, Ralph shared the same contempt as the others.

"Lord Limb. You are but a child to me. Whilst you may not be green, what you are asking to do isn’t a battle." Hyman’s gaze narrowed, "I wonder if you have the stomach for it. I know there are men around you who have proven they do."

"Your Grace." Lord Limb stepped forward, "I will do this because I know I have the stomach for it." Looking at Roderick, the young man gave his fake, eerie smile, "Lord Lazwell, whilst I have men who I know can carry out these actions, I hope you can provide some of your dogs for me."

"Why should I?" Roderick said with half-amusement, half-suspicion. The two stared at one another. Where others wouldn’t meet the old warriors’ eyes, Lord Limb didn’t flinch, instead taking a step forward.

"Because my men and I won’t enjoy what we do, but yours will. I want to give them a feast." Roderick’s chuckle turned into a booming laugh. Stepping towards Lord Limb, he smiled.

"You won’t enjoy it. I find that hard to believe."

"Will you provide your dogs, or will you leave me undermanned?"

"His Grace has yet to give you command, child." Roderick’s eyes sharpened, "Are you presuming that he has already given you this task?" Looking to Hyman, the old warrior carried on, "My brother could easily take on this task."

"Your brother is on Lazwell Island. Raids must surprise the enemy so they don’t have time to prepare. Do you wish for them to muster an army and send your brother to his death? By all means, do what you must to secure your son’s position, but I can’t help but wonder if you really have the war as your sole concern." Lord Limb coldly said. His words stirred something in Roderick, whose grin fell. Stepping close to Lord Limb, he looked down at him with fiery eyes.

"Don’t presume me to kill my kin, child." His words came out like a growl, "I am not you, Lord Limb. I don’t plot and murder my family."

"Enough," Hyman said, finally annoyed by the two’s bickering. Lord Limb was the first to break and rested a hand on his chest, bowing towards Hyman. Roderick scoffed and stepped back, leaning against the wooden beam again. "You will both watch how you speak. Talks of Kinslaying will not be said before me." His gaze narrowed, "Or I will take action, loyal or not."

Hyman fell silent and stared at the young Lord. Oliver stared at his back, showing his surprise at the accusation. Seeing the sigil of the red hand, he couldn’t help but wonder what the story was and if the man, who didn’t even look a year older than him, truly carried out such an action.

"Lord Limb. Do it." His command was short but enough. Bowing deeper, Oliver stared at his face and saw the machination in his eyes hiding behind a blank expression.

"You honour me. Your Grace.

"Enough flattery. Take the men you have in your command, but you will take none of Roderick’s people. Instead, find others."

"In that case, I have another proposition." Lord Limb rose. "I know Epton and many of the other Lords here have many criminals they no longer wish to feed, but can’t outright execute. Give them to me. As for arming them, they will be given the bare minimum." Stepping forward, he let his words hang and looked around to gauge the reaction of the room. Oliver did the same, and much like him, many were unable to hide their disgust anymore. "Any who attempt to flee will be punished, but those who faithfully carry out their task will have their crimes slowly forgiven, until it is deemed they have paid for their crimes."

"My lord." Another man stepped forward, an older man with a grey beard, his family sigil a brown bow with three arrows on a blue background, "We cannot consider such a disgusting policy. I understand the necessity of war, but what Lord Limb proposes is mass rape and murder if we give these men freedom to act. The desert acted brutally when they invaded our lands, but must we sink to their level? This is... it is barbarity."

"No one said I am endorsing savagery, Lord Tonkin." Lord Limbs’ voice didn’t change once, staying as flat as when he first started, "But giving men a chance to atone for their crimes is fair." Tokin seemed to recoil at the man’s words, shaking his head in pure disgust.

"You know exactly what you wish for, Lord Limb." His voice was low, replying, getting trapped in his throat.

"And if these actions occur, then what is the issue. This is war, my Lord. Lords and knights may enjoy war as a chance to gain honour, but the common folk do not." Lord Limb turned to walk towards the old man, resting his hand behind his back, "If these actions you fear occur, then it will force the desert Lords to refocus their attention elsewhere, away from our home. Burning what pitiful amount of food they can grow is one thing, but striking fear into the hearts of their people, and making them wonder if they are being abandoned for a cause they do not care for is another."

"And what of Lord Alkaris’ reputation. His bannermen marching, committing these atrocities, will look poorly on his name." Lord Limb stayed silent for a moment before giving a dry laugh.

"Bandits always arise during wartime. We shall wear no banners, nor make our allegiance to any cause known. All the realm shall know is that the desert is having trouble in their land when their soldiers march out to battle." Lord Tonkin looked at Hyman, pleading with his eyes to reconsider giving Lord Limb command, fully knowing what he intended.

Hyman stayed silent for a while, watching the young Lord before sighing. "No banners, no flags. You are to keep your men in line, and any disobedience is to be swiftly punished." Looking around, he stared into the eyes of each of his men, "Make it be known, I am not endorsing the rape and murder of the innocent." Hyman met Lord Limb’s gaze, "I am not endorsing it." Repeating himself, he leaned against his hand and flippantly carried on, "But war does carry risks."

"Thank you, Your Grace." Lord Limb bowed, "I assure you. I will do what is required."

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