Chapter 43: Varnasiga
The Holy land of the Arcondale Peninsula.
Varnasiga, the seaside city where the church where the gods of the Arcondians are worshipped. It is a beautiful city with high white walls, red brick houses, and cobblestone roads. The bishops and priests are the wealthiest people in this city where they receive donations from the devotees. The Priests are in charge of converting the religion of people while the Bishops are in charge of maintaining and training the Holy Army, which consists of people willing to fight and die for their faith.
Locate in the center of the city is the Church, a magnificent building guarded by the holy knights, the defenders of Arcondian faith, and the strongest warriors fight under the banner of the Church. The highest room of the Church is where the Seer lives, the person who is believed to have the ability to talk to the Gods and ask for instructions.
It's midnight, the moon is giving its peaceful light and enlightens the room. A little girl is sleeping on the bed, with long silver hair and an innocent appearance, she breaths gently. Clearly, she is sleeping soundly; however, something disrupts her subtle breath, drops of sweats appear on her face and suddenly she opens her eyes and yells.
- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
The knights guarding outside the room bust into it, with their swords out, ready to protect the Saint from any possible threats. After checking that there is no one else in the room, a knight asks:
- Your holiness, what' the problem? You were having a bad dream?
The Seer covers herself with her blanket, talks while trembling:
- Call Bishop Lancelot here.
- But he is patrolling on the walls of the city, now. Your holiness.
- NOW.
Not wait for another second, the knight runs out of the room as if some deadly creatures are chasing him. About 30 minutes later, a man burst into the room, he is wearing armors outside and bishop clothes inside. He gives a serious and tough appearance, which shows he is not somebody you would like to piss off. He sits on the bed, opens the blanket, and pats the head of the little girl:
- What are you scared of, Olivia?
- Father, I dream of something really bad.
The knights in the room look at the man respectfully. Lord Bishop Lancelot of house Silverdye. A man who devotes himself to his gods and always uses his swords to fight for the innocents. There are many songs written about his fight with the bandits or the pirates to rescue just a few small folks. His reputation as a strong warrior and a kind-hearted bishop is known all over the Peninsula. Most importantly, his daughter, Olivia Silverdye is the 17th Seer, who shows her power many times by predicting unexpected events.
- And what were you dreaming, honey?
- Fire and blood, father. Many men break through Varnasiga's gate, they kill everyone who gets in their way, men, women, and even small children. They burn our church and houses, they are demons, father, you must stop them.
The knights in the room are afraid of what Olivia says and show their anxiety on their faces, but when Lancelot gives them a watchful gaze, they calm down and stand firmly. He continues to ask Olivia gently:
- Sweetheart, do you remember how they look like?
- They must be foreign people, father. I've never seen their clothes and weapons before.
- Can you describe this further, Olivia?
- Yes, father. They wear yellow turbans, holding large axes or moon-shaped swords. I see them drag people to the sea and feed them to the sharks.
Anxiety shows up on Lancelot's face, he stands up and speaks:
- Sir Robert Guiscard, from now please escort my daughter everywhere and every time. In the worse case, take her to our main army marching north under the command of Lord Bishop Richard.
- As you command, my Lord Bishop.
- Good, Sir William, please gather every bishop, holy knight, and priest left here in Varnasiga. The Lyrion Army is coming.
- As you wish.
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The Church.
Lancelot is standing on the high stages, inform the holy knights, priests, and bishops below about what the Seer dreams of and his prediction about the Lyrion Army who is ravaging the north might come to the south. This news spread chaos among them, since after the messenger of King Ivar Fortuna come a month ago with a handsome amount of gold contributed to the Church, Bishop Richard has lead 4000 holy knights and 40000 soldiers to match north to fight against the raiders, which leave only 3000 holy knights and 14000 soldiers left to protect Varnasiga.
- WE MUST RUN. I HEARD THAT THE LYRIONS HAVE THOUSAND OF SHIPS, WE CAN'T CONFRONT THEM WITH ONLY A HANDFUL OF SOLDIERS.
- RUN AND LEAVE OUR HOLY LAND ROAMED BY THE BARBARIANS? YOU COWARDS! WE WILL STAND AND DEFENSE THIS CITY TO OUR LAST BREATHE.
When they're arguing, soldiers rust inside the room and shout:
- SHIPS! HUNDREDS OF LYRION SHIPS ARE DISEMBARKING ON THE SOUTHERN SHORES.
The news brings the whole church to silent. Lancelot speaks:
- We must protect the citizens of the Holy land, 3000 soldiers will escort them to the north, where Bishop Richard's marching. And the rest will stay with me here, In Varnasiga to buy time. The Relics must be moved to, we can not let these raiders destroy them.
A fat priest argues:
- You are saying that you'll lead 14000 people to death. I and my man will not follow you.
But before he can speak more, Lancelot punches him in the face:
- THEN RUN, YOU FUCKING COWARD. I'LL CHOP YOUR HEAD OFF BEFORE I CHOP THE ENEMIES'
And then he turns around, looks at the knights and soldiers standing below:
- SOLDIERS, WHAT IS YOUR OATH.
- PROTECTING THE PEOPLE! WORSHIP THE GODS AND DESTROY THE ENEMIES OF GODS.
- GOOD! NOW THE ENEMIES OF GODS ARE COMING TO US, FOLLOW ME AND STOP THEM, WE MAY DIE TODAY BUT THE GOLDEN GATE OF HEAVEN WILL BE OPENED FOR US AND OUR NAMES WILL REMAIN FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. COME WITH ME TO SHOW THE BARBARIANS THE PRICE OF RAMPAGING ON OUR LAND.
- LANCELOT! LANCELOT! LANCELOT
And when 3000 soldiers help the citizens get to the north gate and escape, Lord Bishop Lancelot lead 3000 mounted holy knights and 11000 soldiers charging toward the seashore, fight against impossible odds for the holiest city of Arcondale Peninsula.