As You Wish
Chapter Eleven
The air was growing heavy with the scent of excitement as the sounds of hoofs grew closer and closer to Camelots wall.
Jons hands shook from both excitement and fear as his capture moment grew closer. Crouching low within the growing grass, his eyes remained fixed on the path, waiting for the horses to draw nearer as other Larks lined that same path hiding in trees and laying low in the grass, hidden by the dark of the night with their weapons drawn.
"You are not as confident as you wish to appear. The others are by far more willing and ready than you."
Yvette's monoid tone broke through Jons concentration as the sight of the first guard came into view.
"Shut your mouth lady, or I will grant the wish of every man here and slaughter you before you could so much as bat a lash." He huffed through clenched teeth as his eyes remained fixed on the approaching group, waiting for the call to attack.
"The blood of a Lark does not run through your veins, so why would one wish to chose a life so hideous as theirs? Try if you must, but the taste of brutality, blood, and murder is not a part of you, for I have watched you and listened to your voice as you spoke with the others. The first sight of blood brought forth by your hand will not satisfy you, but instead make you sick with regret." She continued, trying to pull his attention away from the Princess as her caravan drew closer.
"I warned you to silence and yet you still chose to be foolish you damned girl." Her latter words had only resulted in adding more fuel to a blaze that was almost already out of control, and he rose from his spot grabbing her hands binded together by course rope, and with one quick moment snapped the fingers of her right hand causing her to cry out from the pain.
Cerdrick watched from his spot as the guard drew his horse to a stop, holding up his hand to stop those behind him as well as the echo of a young girls cry filled the silence of the night and his eyes darkened going from grey to almost black in a heartbeat.
With a battle cry the men lunged from their hiding slashing swords across throats of French guards and stabbing spears through bellies of others as they tried to attack, while arrows flew through the air killing others. Jon, his legs feeling as heavy as seaside stones, sat unable to move as his eyes took in the horrid visions around him. Sounds of death filled the air and he closed his eyes desperate to dispel the images, but it did not work.
Yvette struggled against her bindings, grinding her teeth as the pain of her broken fingers increased, and worked desperately to free her hands to allow her to release her feet and her waist that was tied so tightly to the large tree.
Pulling from his daze, Jon grabbed at Yvette's hands, twisting one of her already broken fingers, and bent it further, breaking it in yet another spot before rising quickly to his feet.
"Your wisest choice would be to not move dear maiden, for far worse awaits you."
Sprinting across the field, Jon nocked one of the smaller guards from his horse as the man raised his sword, and knocked the weapon free from his hands landing on top of the guard. He struggled with the person below him finally locking his hand around the small wrist to hold them down to the ground and used his free hand to pull the metal hood free from the guards head, smiling as the long dark hair puddled on the ground.
"Princess Alise. A pleasure to meet you."
Her terrified cry as Jon Yanked her up from the ground as he stood rang out signaling the other Larks that she had been captured, as they continued on with their slaying, leaving no one alive as Jon drug Alise back to the wagon and picked up her small frame tossing her into the back of it like a rag as he climbed up behind her gathering up his rope and binding her hand and feet together.
With swift movements he moved to the ground untying Yvette from the tree and threw her over his shoulder carrying her to the wagon giving her the same treatment as he had done with the Princess. The two women stared at each other in puzzlement as Jon made his next move to the front of the wagon barely seating himself as he grabbed the ropes and led the horses away from the battle ground into the dark of the night.
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Tangled bodies were strew about causing the once green meadow to be splattered with the blood of the innocent like a sacrifice to the full moon and Joshuas stomach tightened with a sickness he had never felt before.
Once again the poor and ill educated whom referred to themselves as mighty vikings had taken away from the proper and left behind their sickening mark of death. Those people left a bad taste in his mouth at the mere mention of their name and this time they had gone too far. This time they had gotten too close to his family.
At the age of twelve Joshua had been given his own group of young Knights to lead, and set out on a journey with his father across many countries killing the members of the Larks here and there whom had managed to stray putting an end to their greedy attacks and giving back a safe life to those who deserved.
At eighteen his father returned to Camelot leaving him and his knights to continue on with the battles and to learn of other cultures along the way. Now at 27 Joshua had hoped to return home, allowing his knights their freedom from fifteen years of hell only to discover that the deepest hell awaited him in his own country.
He watched as his faithful knights rode slowly amongst the bodies, their faces distorted in not only disgust, but anger, and sighed saying a silent prayer to himself before drawing the attention of the others.
"My knights, you have all served me well, but this mission is by far the most dangerous we have ever encountered. You earned your freedom, take it, and bear witness to all we have seen and done so that others may know of our history and take pride in their land."
"You gave to us our freedom Sir Joshua, so we no longer take your command. It is my wishes as a freed knight to stand by your side once again and fight with honor and dignity." Tristam stated, turning his horse to stand along side Joshuas facing the other knights.
"Galahad and I have chosen the path of our freedom as well. With you we shall stand and battle."
Galahad nodded his head agreeing with Gawain's words and the two of them did as Tristam, moving their horses along side their leader while waiting to see what the remaining four men would do.
"Joseph and I never accepted our papers of freedom and still rule under your crown with the same pride we have always done. I say we put a final end to those bastards."
"WAR." Joseph shouted, lifting his fist into the air with a loud battle cry as the other knights followed suit sending out their cry in unison.
Joshua turned his eyes to Lance searching for any weak signs of the man before allowing him to journey into a far worse battle then he had even experienced himself and felt the relief wash over him as Lance stared back with confidence.
"This is my dream Sir Joshua."
With a nod Joshua turned his eye to the last man and pulled his necklace from his neck moving his horse closer to Christopher.
"I can no longer allow you to journey into battle with us. You must take this to the main gates and show it to the guards to allow you to pass. Tell my father of what you know and that I and my Knights have gone for the Larks. Remain there and await our arrival home. I shall bring your friend to you safely."
Christopher took the necklace, holding it tightly in the palm of his hand and thanked Joshua, turning to Lance.
"May God be with you my friend. Return Yvette home to us quickly."
Christopher bid his friend a final farewell and departed the men to the gate where he could fulfill his part and spread the word to the king.
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