[Mkguild] MK story New Beginings Part 1

[Christian Okane]

   This story was a collaboration between Matthias and me. It shows a new
arrival adjusting to his new home. Feel free to send your comments and
thoughts!


   Christian O'Kane




New Beginnings
by Christian O'Kane And Charles Matthias


   William Dupré could not help but ponder his future. Duke Thomas and the
people here at Metamor had greeted him far more warmly than he had expected.
They had been suspicious of him and his men at first, wondering whether
their intention to swear fealty to the Horse Lord was genuine. He had no
doubt that they still suspected him of potential duplicity, but gone were
the wary looks and uncertain glances. There was a hopeful regard to their
manner now, cordial and hospitable, if not friendly.

   So when one of Thomas's many servants informed him that the Duke wished
to speak with him, he went obediently, leaving Becket and his men to see to
the Curse-demanded refit of their supplies.

   When William entered the Duke's private chambers he found several people
there besides Thomas. The reptilian Steward Thalberg was there; but as
Thomas's advisor that was to be expected. Also, there was the amusingly
appropriate tan-colored jackal that was what the Curse made of the mercenary
George. Their eyes locked as soon as Dupré entered, each continuing to
measure and reevaluate each other. Standing next to the canine was a
black-haired woman dressed in a shirt and skirt of dark red edged with gray
and white. On her shirt were the images of a horseshoe and a human foot both
in gold. He recognized that as either the woman's heraldry or the emblem of
a military unit.

   "Sir Dupré," Thomas said cheerfully. Not Lord Dupré anymore. As a
condition of his service to Thomas, he'd been made to forswear any claim to
his family's ancestral land in Mallow Horn.    Given the tense situation in
the Midlands, he understood why, but it had not been easy. Now he was
regarded as no more than a distinguished knight. The rustle of his woolen
coat against his undershirt reminded him of his determination to accept this
as well as everything else.

   Thomas's smile did not change while Dupré bowed his horned head. “Thank
you for coming. You already know George my Patrol Master and Scout
commander.” The stallion pointed to the canine.

   William's muzzle creased in an ironic grin. He gave a short bow to the
canine. “Sir. It's a pleasure to see you again.”

   The canine gave a short nod of the head, one paw idly rubbing his belly.
“Welcome to Metamor, William.”

   The ram nodded. “Thank you, George.”

   Thomas pointed to the woman standing next to George. “This is Captain
Isabelle Sobol. She's the commander of the first Equitarie company.”

   “It is a pleasure to meet you Sir,” she said. Isabelle gave a deep bow
instead of a curtsy like etiquette demanded.

   William was confused by the woman's odd behavior for a moment but then he
realized that this woman was once a man. What would be appropriate in that
position? Here at Metamor Keep all the men were once women. All the women
were once men and simply because that person LOOKED like a child did not
mean they actually were. It was all very confusing. Still a person was a
person regardless of what they looked like. He idly wondered what effects it
was having on their society. The Duke is a stallion, his wife a wild horse,
his steward is a crocodile and his chief scout is a jackal. It reminded him
of the old Reynard the fox story he had read as a child. All they needed to
complete the scene was a fox, which he already knew they had running around
somewhere. He put those stray thoughts aside for another time. “It's a
pleasure to meet you my lady,” Dupré said in a warm tone.

   “I have given a lot of thought to how to best use your skills and
knowledge.” the Duke said slowly. Thomas walked over to the far wall upon
which hung a map of the valley and most of the surrounding area. “I have
decided to give you command of the troops at Hareford.” the stallion pointed
to a small marker on the northern part of the map. “It has an important role
in defending the entire valley from the constant raiders from the
Giantdowns.”

   “Thank you, Lord Thomas,” he said. “I am flattered by your trust in me.”
William looked closely at the map. He saw a lot of trees and hills
surrounding the place but no towns and only a single road. But it was far
from the Keep. He'd expected they would assign him some duty that would keep
him under George's watchful eye. This was a genuine surprise.

   “It's more often called Outpost,” Thomas explained.

   “It sees a lot of action,” George commented. “For a place so small and
isolated.”

   William Dupré studied the map closely for a few moments and then nodded.
“I can understand why. It's perfectly placed to intercept any raiders headed
into the valley from the north.”

   “You will be serving under Sir Nestorius who controls the town and
surrounding area,” the Duke explained. “He is a good leader of people and a
fine mage but he needs your military skills. There are already fifty
soldiers assigned there now who will be under your command as well as
Captain Sobol's company and the half-dozen men you brought with you to
Metamor. Captain Sobol's company is being assigned there permanently, as are
you.”

   “Thank you, Lord Thomas,” William said. He was wanted for his military
skills to repel invaders from the north. And also, he suspected, to keep him
out of sight from any visiting dignitaries from the south. But truly, a
chance to fight and be the man he'd grown up thinking he'd be, that was more
than he rightly could expect. “What is the composition of the company?” 

   “Mixed,” the woman answered. “Two hundred infantry and one hundred
cavalry.”

   “After years of trying various types of units the best for Outpost is a
mix of foot and cavalry,” George added. “The terrain is a mix of woods and
open farmland. So the best is to have both cavalry and foot patrols.”

   William nodded. “I understand but I'll have to decide exactly how to
arrange divisions after I see the terrain.”

   George said nothing, but his tail wagged slightly as if in approval.

   "What of Hareford itself? What is it like?” the ram asked.

   “A small walled town with a castle attached,” Thomas explained. “The
walls are good, old, solid empire construction.”

   “It has a population of around three hundred and fifty,” Thalberg said
speaking for the first time. “With another four hundred in the surrounding
three villages.”

   “In addition there always at least a score of scouts working out of the
castle,” Thomas added.

   “They are under my command,” George added forcefully.

   “I trust we can cooperate on how your scouts are deployed so we can avoid
any wasted effort,” William said with a beastly grunt. He would not be
treated as a novice in need of lessons.  
   “Of course,” Thomas said in a measured but calming tone. “This is a small
but important assignment William. The patrols from there are instrumental in
stopping raids from reaching the more settled areas of the valley.”

   The ram ran his thick fingers over the wooded portion of the northern
part of the map. “What is in here? I don't see any towns or villages.”

   “That is Haunted woods,” George answered slowly. “It's a cursed place
with a lot of ghosts and other more deadly things.”

   “More deadly things?” the ram asked, one eye ridge raised askance.

   “You don't want to know.” George replied coldly as he shook his head.

   “Your people are to stay out of those woods,” Thomas ordered. “Especially
at night. Even if you are chasing raiders do not go into the woods.”

   “At all?” William asked, surprised and a little unsettled, but he did his
best not to show it. “What's in there?”

   “What is in there is not fully known but it guards the ruins there
fanatically against all intruders,” the stallion explained.

    George nodded in agreement. “The shadow will kill a Keeper just as
readily as it would a lutin. You'll need to talk to Edmund for more
information,” George commented. “The paladin has been exploring the place
for a while. He's even met the shadow there.”

   “Who is this Edmund?”

   “Sir Edmund Delacot,” Thomas said. “He is a paladin here at the Keep. We
can arrange a meeting with him.”

   “Thank you. I would appreciate that.” Dupré resumed his perusal of the
map. “What leeway do I have to appoint commanders and organize the troops?”

   “You may assign the troops stationed permanently at Outpost as you see
best,” Thomas replied with a magnanimous sweep of one arm. “But not those on
temporary assignment. And Captain Sobol will remain in command of the first
Equitaire company.”

   “I mean no offense to Captain Sobol,” William replied, noting the woman
carefully. “But I know my own men and trust them.”

   Thomas smiled, ears upraised, and without the faintest hint of malice
said, “And so do we."

   One of Thalberg's yellow eyes lifted in a reptilian laugh. George wagged
his tail once. “Do you understand your assignment, Sir Dupré?”

   The ram bowed his head and checked his temper. “Of course, my liege. It
will be done as you command.”

   "Then I will allow Captain Sobol to introduce you to your command. I am
sure you will have much to do before you begin for Hareford.” William
accepted the dismissal and left with Captain Sobol following his cloven
hooves.


**************


   It was three hours later when William finally got to see his command. In
one of the countless courtyards of the Keep three hundred people and one
hundred horses were lined in neat rows for him to inspect.

   "How long has the 1st Equitarie been in existence?" William asked.

   "Two weeks," Capt Sobol answered. "But all the troops are veterans drawn
from good units."

   'A new unit, a new commander and a new assignment. Too many new things
all at once,' William thought to himself as he walked slowly a deliberately
to the front of the room. He moved with a slow deliberate gate with his body
held erect every inch the calm and experienced leader of soldiers. William
came to a stop at the front of the group.

   The assembled soldiers looked his way and listened attentively as William
described as best he knew what awaited them in the north. Tails wagged, ears
turned, whiskers twitched, and a few hooves stomped anxiously as he spoke.

   "Good morning!" he said in a voice loud enough to be heard by all. "Duke
Thomas has appointed me, Sir William Dupré, as your new leader and the
commander of all the troops at Hareford. The Duke has given us a difficult
task but it is one we can accomplish. A task we can all be proud of as we
defend the valley and all it's people from attack.

   "I am a soldier who has led troops in battle," he said simply but with a
firm tone. "I have sweated, strained and bled alongside my troops. I have
led great armies to victory, and I have led small armies to victory over
great ones. And to my delight, I have heard good things about you; namely,
that all of you are the best and most experienced soldiers at Metamor.
That's good because I need the best. I am going to take you places you've
never been and do things you never thought possible. I intend to move hard
and fast and make the valley a safe place to live for all of us.
   “Our duty, is to prevent Lutins raiders from passing beyond the Giant's
Dike.  We will be patrolling that area, and manning what defenses there are
already, and building new fortifications where prudent.  We have but one
purpose, to let no Lutin, nor any mercenary, and especially no claws of
Nasoj to reach down into this valley.  Any that come, we will defeat.  They
may cross the Giant's Dike, but you, soldiers of Metamor, will make sure
they don't cross back!”
	At that there was a cheer from the soldiers.  William Dupré smiled a
caprine grin, lifting his snout and savoring the scent of their enthusiasm.
His soldiers.  His men.  He didn't know them yet, but he knew they were
going to make him proud.
	He turned to Captain Sobol and nodded to the woman. “See to the
travel arrangements for your company.  We'll be leaving for Hareford in two
days.”
	“Of course, Sir Dupré.” Sobol saluted him, as did the men.  He
returned the salute, one hand brushing against a curled horn, and then
dashing back to his side.  It may be a new command with a new unit, but
after seeing them for himself, he had a good feeling about the future.



End part 1


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