Cion knew he wouldn’t get very far on foot, not hauling the pair of jade daiklaves that were carefully bundled and strapped to his back. He didn’t understand how his father swung the damn things around so easily but he was a chosen of the Fire Dragon and he was not as he was so often reminded. At least he didn’t think the old man would notice their absence. They had been set aside for years due to the painful memories they held of the general’s second wife.
The solution to carrying the unattuned weapons came before he was even out of Tírnanog when he stopped for the night at a quaint little farmstead and supped with the old farmer. As it turned out he was trying to rid himself of a young stallion that his old mare have given birth to. The farmer claimed the god Hiparkes had rode through and bred her before he could mate her with a proper draft steed. The colt had been nothing but trouble, stubborn to all ends, and refused to pull a plow or cart but when Cion inspected the beast all the saw was a fine looking mount larger than a typical warhorse that could carry him armor and all. The knight bought the horse off the farmer and bid him farewell, still heading in the direction his father had commanded for the time being.
The Fire Born was a decent horseman and had assumed that he could control the creature well enough. Quickly did he discover his mistake, constantly spurring the lazy thing to speed up beyond a trot and having to tie him fast every time he dismounted or he risked it wandering off. Progress was slow but the pair made their way down the dusty road together.
Eventually Cion came across a small caravan traveling in the same direction as he. After speaking with the leader, a merchant by the name of Alchred he learned that they were traveling south loaded with weapons and wares from their home to the warring states along the river. The man was practically a gypsy by choice and so among the carts loaded with goods the faces of his large family peered out at the curious red haired warrior. Cion agreed to travel with him for a bit as a guard accepting only his meals as pay since that they were traveling on the same road. He soon learned that Alchred’s family numbered an impressive twelve children and the other men in the group where his brothers. It surprised him that they worked so well together despite some differences but Cion assumed that it was easily to get along with siblings when they didn’t expect so much from each other.
Eventually they came to a fork in the road and he parted from the group that following morning. They were heading straight on to Terenuthis while Cion planned to go west to see if he could find his destiny in Nexus or even Lookshy. He said his goodbyes to the family, having grown rather fond of them and went along the old dirt road. The knight errant had not traveled far when he came to a crossing, frowning he dismounted and looked at the churned earth near the shore. The marks were recent but were many and like no creature’s that he had ever seen. Disturbed Cion followed them a ways and discovered that the trail led south east in the direction that would lead whatever it was straight into the merchant and his family.
Deeply concerned, he leaped back into the saddle of his horse and urged it forward. At first it resisted but angered, Cion spat at it, ”Go hifreann leat! You are as dim as a mule and as slow as a cow!” If Cion didn’t know any better, it would seem the stallion snorted indignantly, stamping his foot before springing off at a breakneck speed. The horse was not merely fast - it was impossibly fast. So much that all Cion could do was cling to the reins as he was sped over the uneven ground quicker than a normal horse should have been able to carry him.
Soon they were within sight of the caravan and as Cion had feared, a host of hobgoblins had surrounded it. They seemed to be waiting there, pinning the good people down in wait for something but what he did not know. Pulling out his steel he guided the horse into the ranks of the fae, slashing at them as he went. He turned, his mount surprisingly cooperative as he charged again attempting to drive the horde back. The gnarled group parted and stepped back, seemingly turned for the moment but that was when Cion heard the stamping and crashing behind him.
The largest boar-like creature he had ever seen tossed its head impatiently while its strange Rakasha rider cackled at the young man. Cion turned and charged knowing that his end was likely near. The strange rider’s weapon collided with his, sending it and Cion flying from his mount. He scrambled for his weapon but it had landed too far so he stood to face his assailant head on. The Rakasha approached slowly, saying something in a twisted tongue to it’s comrades as it leveled its weapon at him. He took a step back, then another and hit what felt to be a solid wall. Looking behind him he was surprised to see his horse standing fast as if it knew what it was doing. Cion pulled one of the red daiklaves from the wrapping at the back of the saddle and swung himself back onto the horse. It was heavy as lead so he held onto it with both hands as he spurred into another fierce charge.
This was it, he was sure but at the very least he was going out in a blaze of glory. As the weapons met a flash of brilliant light the warm orange color of the breaking dawn sprung out from between the blades. For a moment, Cion looked into the eyes of his enemy and he could see doubt and fear. The pair broke again and suddenly the daiklave felt as if it were merely an extension of his arm. He reached back and snatched the other from the saddle, confident he would need no reins to hold him fast as he fought. Hooves pounded the ground as the pair closed the distance once again, this time a second golden steed of divine light charged above him as he went causing the host of hobgoblins to scatter. His weapons flared to life as his essence fueled them, burning in multi hued arcs as he brought them down to strike at the rakasha. This time the chimeraed mount twisted with its long tusks, attempting to gore the horse as it ran by but the now infused stallion leaped to the side as easily as Cion could have and turned to face their opponent again.
The battle raged on for what felt like an eternity but to onlookers it was a short few moments. Finally his horse rounded alongside the wyld creature and Cion lunged off his back, both flaming blades sinking into the torso of his adversary as they tumbled to the ground. He stood in his divine glory as the bright sun illuminated his forehead.
”When you’re done posing will you please do something about this gash in my side. Oh, and I’m hungry.”
The solution to carrying the unattuned weapons came before he was even out of Tírnanog when he stopped for the night at a quaint little farmstead and supped with the old farmer. As it turned out he was trying to rid himself of a young stallion that his old mare have given birth to. The farmer claimed the god Hiparkes had rode through and bred her before he could mate her with a proper draft steed. The colt had been nothing but trouble, stubborn to all ends, and refused to pull a plow or cart but when Cion inspected the beast all the saw was a fine looking mount larger than a typical warhorse that could carry him armor and all. The knight bought the horse off the farmer and bid him farewell, still heading in the direction his father had commanded for the time being.
The Fire Born was a decent horseman and had assumed that he could control the creature well enough. Quickly did he discover his mistake, constantly spurring the lazy thing to speed up beyond a trot and having to tie him fast every time he dismounted or he risked it wandering off. Progress was slow but the pair made their way down the dusty road together.
Eventually Cion came across a small caravan traveling in the same direction as he. After speaking with the leader, a merchant by the name of Alchred he learned that they were traveling south loaded with weapons and wares from their home to the warring states along the river. The man was practically a gypsy by choice and so among the carts loaded with goods the faces of his large family peered out at the curious red haired warrior. Cion agreed to travel with him for a bit as a guard accepting only his meals as pay since that they were traveling on the same road. He soon learned that Alchred’s family numbered an impressive twelve children and the other men in the group where his brothers. It surprised him that they worked so well together despite some differences but Cion assumed that it was easily to get along with siblings when they didn’t expect so much from each other.
Eventually they came to a fork in the road and he parted from the group that following morning. They were heading straight on to Terenuthis while Cion planned to go west to see if he could find his destiny in Nexus or even Lookshy. He said his goodbyes to the family, having grown rather fond of them and went along the old dirt road. The knight errant had not traveled far when he came to a crossing, frowning he dismounted and looked at the churned earth near the shore. The marks were recent but were many and like no creature’s that he had ever seen. Disturbed Cion followed them a ways and discovered that the trail led south east in the direction that would lead whatever it was straight into the merchant and his family.
Deeply concerned, he leaped back into the saddle of his horse and urged it forward. At first it resisted but angered, Cion spat at it, ”Go hifreann leat! You are as dim as a mule and as slow as a cow!” If Cion didn’t know any better, it would seem the stallion snorted indignantly, stamping his foot before springing off at a breakneck speed. The horse was not merely fast - it was impossibly fast. So much that all Cion could do was cling to the reins as he was sped over the uneven ground quicker than a normal horse should have been able to carry him.
Soon they were within sight of the caravan and as Cion had feared, a host of hobgoblins had surrounded it. They seemed to be waiting there, pinning the good people down in wait for something but what he did not know. Pulling out his steel he guided the horse into the ranks of the fae, slashing at them as he went. He turned, his mount surprisingly cooperative as he charged again attempting to drive the horde back. The gnarled group parted and stepped back, seemingly turned for the moment but that was when Cion heard the stamping and crashing behind him.
The largest boar-like creature he had ever seen tossed its head impatiently while its strange Rakasha rider cackled at the young man. Cion turned and charged knowing that his end was likely near. The strange rider’s weapon collided with his, sending it and Cion flying from his mount. He scrambled for his weapon but it had landed too far so he stood to face his assailant head on. The Rakasha approached slowly, saying something in a twisted tongue to it’s comrades as it leveled its weapon at him. He took a step back, then another and hit what felt to be a solid wall. Looking behind him he was surprised to see his horse standing fast as if it knew what it was doing. Cion pulled one of the red daiklaves from the wrapping at the back of the saddle and swung himself back onto the horse. It was heavy as lead so he held onto it with both hands as he spurred into another fierce charge.
This was it, he was sure but at the very least he was going out in a blaze of glory. As the weapons met a flash of brilliant light the warm orange color of the breaking dawn sprung out from between the blades. For a moment, Cion looked into the eyes of his enemy and he could see doubt and fear. The pair broke again and suddenly the daiklave felt as if it were merely an extension of his arm. He reached back and snatched the other from the saddle, confident he would need no reins to hold him fast as he fought. Hooves pounded the ground as the pair closed the distance once again, this time a second golden steed of divine light charged above him as he went causing the host of hobgoblins to scatter. His weapons flared to life as his essence fueled them, burning in multi hued arcs as he brought them down to strike at the rakasha. This time the chimeraed mount twisted with its long tusks, attempting to gore the horse as it ran by but the now infused stallion leaped to the side as easily as Cion could have and turned to face their opponent again.
The battle raged on for what felt like an eternity but to onlookers it was a short few moments. Finally his horse rounded alongside the wyld creature and Cion lunged off his back, both flaming blades sinking into the torso of his adversary as they tumbled to the ground. He stood in his divine glory as the bright sun illuminated his forehead.
”When you’re done posing will you please do something about this gash in my side. Oh, and I’m hungry.”
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