The Crusade

When Crusaders and lone spirits start turning up in Cadeyn's home village she knows somethings wrong. With war and famine plaging the realm she lives in, she beings her travels , searching for the answers to other's problems and finding her own.

Cadeyn looked around the crowded in. Her blue eyes scanned the old building, critical of every small detail. It was crowded, dark and noisy. The clinking of cold ale mugs, the cheers, the laughter. She brushed a piece of blonde hair behind her ear, tapping fingers against the table.

“Three cheers for the coming prosperity!” A thickly set man cheered. Raising his mug, his grin showed his worn and darkened teeth. Cadeyn looked away, her still full mug staying firmly on the table.

 

The men followed suit, raising their ale to cheer.

“Hip Hip…”

 

Cadeyn frowned as they yelled out, letting out a sigh. She was one of the youngest here, of twenty three summers. She was also the only woman.

 

“Hip Hip..”

 

She leaned back on her chair, trying to avoid the reek of ale surrounding her. She sighed softly. Why on earth did I come here she wondered to herself. I knew I wouldn’t want to be here.

 

“Hip Hip…”

 

Jaser stood beside her. His dark hair sat as a thick mop on top of his head, brown eyes and tanned skin. His broad shoulders and muscles let everyone know exactly what he was. A warrior. She rolled her eyes for a moment. That’s why. She thought. He asked me, to give the damned Crusaders a chance.

 

“Hooray!” They cheered together, ale spilling as they clinked their glasses together. Cadeyn felt her nose wrinkle, glancing outside. It was barely dark, which meant she had only been there for a short time.  She looked up at her fiancé, busily chatting to another warrior. Perhaps I can slip out…he wouldn’t notice. Not after that much ale, at least.

 

“Excuse me, my fellow noblemen and warriors!” An older man stepped up onto a chair. His teeth were crooked and blackened. Several of which were missing. A dirty shirt and ripped pants were held together with a leather belt. His boots were the only thing that appeared respectable of him.

“It has come to my attention we have failed to notice one very important figure within this delightful village. We have focused on the men and warriors, yet someone slipped through our searching eyes. We must apologise to this person, as she is the first woman warrior to grace this village. Cadeyn, please stand. Hear our apologies for missing you out from our tales and excitement.”

Cadeyn flinched upon hearing her name. Guess I’m stuck here after all. She rose slowly, standing straight. She held an emotionless face as she stared back at the leader of the Crusade.

“Here she is, my fellow Crusaders, Cadeyn Blackwood, woman warrior of Varshore. She too, has been trained by the legendary Master Kemp. Let us welcome our new friend and teach of the bravery we will soon face. We will be known as the greatest warriors of our time. If you choose to join us, Cadeyn, you will be known as the strongest and most respected woman in history!”

 

Cadeyn gave a quick forced smile, nodding her head. Perhaps I can start acting weak. I’ll feign faintness and wait for Jaser outside… The leader of the Crusade sat back down, satisfied now all the men had now turned to her. She felt Jasers hand touch hers, squeezing it. He had sat down next to her.

“I told you they would be impressed. It’s not every day you meet a woman who fights.” He smiled, playing with the engagement ring on her finger.

“I would have assumed they would expect me to be like other woman. To serve their husbands dutifully and loyally.” She murmered, keeping her voice low.

Jaser laughed, cocking an eyebrow.

“So you’ll never treat me with loyalty?” He asked. A smile was written across his face.

 

“I never said that. I’m sure that’s what they think, however. They wouldn’t want to offend you. They want your assistance. I’m only welcome because it would please you.” She sighed, ignoring the first signs frustration that was beginning to write across his face. His lips pursed together, in thought.

“Cadeyn!” Another loud voice boomed across the inn, crashing against the rest of the laughter.

 

“You have not heard our story out yet, have you not?”

“I think I have an idea…” she started, trying to avoid another story.

“I am Suvar, the historian and raconteur. You have not heard a story until you have heard it from me!” His loud voice caught the attention of the other men, who quietly sat down in a sign of respect. Cadeyn looked around at the men, quietly sitting at their places. She bit her lip, letting out a sigh. Here we go she thought to herself.

 

“The world as we know it was not always poor and desperate for more resources. We did not always have bans on the amount of children a mother could have. We lived happy, full, and lived long lives. Miscarriages and famine were unheard of.”  His thinning hair was patchy at best. Cadeyn tried not to wrinkle her nose in disgust as the smell of decay reached her through his breath.

 

“Varshore in particular, was a thriving fishing community. However, we neglected our duties to our goddess, Shalenti. Her beautiful and fair ways were taken for granted. She turned her attention elsewhere, to the faithful city of Shonsta, to the west. The gods themselves were facing a revolution. Each god shared a counterpart and loathed each other with force. Often they would lock into battle, stuck at an impasse.”

He started a hacking cough for a moment, spitting dark phlegm onto the table. Cadeyn felt her stomach churn. His large belly shook with the force. She leaned further back, horrified.

“The gods of balance, the Asalah twins decided to take action. They are twins, joined at the hip. They had made a decision to prevent the impasses taking place. They would join the souls of the gods, so they would become an even force. The gods of agriculture would allow weeds and slow growth for half of the seasons, while growth and produce during the rest. The gods themselves loathed the idea, yet it seemed to work well.”

 

Cadeyn turned to Jaser, his eyes fixed on Suvar. He was concentrating, absorbing all he could from the storyteller.

“However, there was an exception: Shalenti, goddess of all goodness and Aemiel, goddess of destruction. They were far too powerful to be bound. They refused. They were chased by the twins, hunted down. The goddesses hid their bodies in the world around them. That left their souls to roam Casteri as spirits, free from the twin’s potential binding power. The twins hunted for the goddesses, oblivious from the split that had occurred. They had no power over souls, only the immortal bodies of the gods. It was commanded the other gods must leave duties to hunt for the goddesses. They searched for days, yet they found nothing. It was decided Shalenti and Aemiel were far too powerful to be bound. Instead, one must be destroyed. “But whom?” they asked. They looked to the men, as they were the ones it would most affect.  Then men banded together once before, but the chaotic force of Aemiel won. However, they were so scattered after the battle, they have only had the chance to regroup. The destruction of Aemiel is developing, and she plans to destroy faithful followers of Shalenti immediately. We must war against those who are faithful to Aemeil, before she crushes us all completely. We will protect the kingdom of Casteri!”

 

The men surrounding them cheered, raising their glasses once more. Cadeyn gave a quick smile.

 

“What makes you so sure that the gods have left this decision to you? How do you know this….army of Aemiel is really coming for you? How do you know they aren’t just a group who are looking for new terrority to claim as their own?” She asked. Suvar looked stunned for a moment.

“That is what the gods have told us directly, what is written down in history!” He stated.

“But how do you know the Holy Book is correct?” she asked. “I understand your point of view, but I don’t see how it could be the only reason for the troubles of our time…”

Cadeyn glanced to Jaser. His face was set in stone, concerned. I knew I should have left. She thought. He’ll be horrified if I continue. She stood slowly.

“I’m sorry. I must depart, thank you for your story, Suvar.” She gave another quick smile, making a direct path to the door. The innkeeper chuckled to himself, while the crusade watched her with scornful eyes.

 

As she left, she felt the fresh air hit her. She took a deep breath in, enjoying the crisp feel. The stars were beginning to come out. She hauled herself into a nearby tree, waiting. I’ll speak to Jaser when he returns…I don’t want to embarrass him. She shrugged. I just don’t agree with the Crusaders. There must be another way. She turned to the inn, the laughter and cheering slowly recovering.  Jaser should know my view of religion by now…I can’t understand how he thinks I may agree with them.

 

“Hey Cade, do you believe in religion?” Jaser asked, stealing some of Cadeyn’s food. Cadeyn’s face was quizzical for but a moment before she replied.

 
“No. I do not.” Continuing to eat, Cadeyn left any more questions uninvited.

“Why’s that? Any reason?” Jaser pressed, his dark eyes brimming with curiosity. Cadeyn simply shrugged and sighed.

“Too contradictory, Aemiel isn’t supposed to take the souls of the innocent, so they are free to roam Casteri as spirits until they believe its time to go to the next realm. Yet if that was true...” Faking a cough, Cadeyn turned away, her face hardening. Jaser waited a moment until her face started to soften back to her usual gaze.

“If that was true what? You’d see an army of undead running around to yell at you when you break ancient tradition?” Jaser joked, oblivious of her hurting.

 

 She didn’t meet his gaze, her thoughts on her mother. If she was a spirit now, why did she not try to make contact? She had heard of it being done many times before… She turned back to Jaser, her eyes soft. This isn’t his pain…I shouldn’t bring it upon him.

 

“Sure.” She smiled at him softly. “Then you’d be able to find peace and quiet when you ate your meals” She laughed at him and took another bite.

“Yeah, and you wouldn’t be able to do this!” shoving Cadeyn’s meal out of reach, Jaser leant over the table, kissing her directly on the lips. Breaking into a laugh, Cadeyn smiled at him, placing a hand in his hair.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Be able to eat in peace and quiet, actually” he grinned at her once more.

 

The inn door swung open, Jaser emerging. He waved goodbye to the men, letting it slam behind him as he walked. He whistled a familiar tune, a chant from the Crusaders.

 

He walked oblivious past the tree, only turning he heard a soft laugh.

“Where do you think you are going?” Cadeyn asked, a mischievous grin written across her face. She swung out of the tree, boots clicking on the cobbled path.

 

“Stalking, are we now?” He shook his head as she straightened up.

 

“Why on Casteri did you want me to join you in there?” She asked, one eyebrow raised. “You know how I feel about gods telling us mortals to run around doing their chores…” She smirked.

 

“It’s what Casteri is built from, Cadeyn. It is our history. They aren’t fables…”

“You do realise, this was probably concocted by some king who wants more land. He’ll kill off everyone eventually, but end up with a large settlement to call his own. It’s very unlikely to really be about religion. You know, those travellers probably get paid large sums of gold to recruit people. How else could they afford all that ale?”

 

 “Do you not believe the gods have left us to make the decisions for mankind?” Jaser asked after a seconds thought.

 

“I think if there was a thing as a god or goddess, they wouldn’t have forsaken us in the first place. They wouldn’t turn their back just like that.”

 

Jaser turned to the skies, staring at the stars that shone down on them.

“I just want to do what’s right for the people of this village…and yet, this is what they believe.” He sighed.

Cadeyn thought for a moment, taking his hand.

“Don’t lead them into this, Jaser. This will not lead them to riches; it will lead them to their death.”

Author's Note

I'm still working on this. I have a quite a lot more, I just need to re-read over it all first. I'm just looking for a bit of advice. Do you find the story interesting, can you work out what is happening from here? So forth. Thanks :)

Reviews

[Sabine]

Yes, the story is very interesting. I hope you develop the woman warrior character, I'm betting you will. Keep writing this, I am a new fan. I think the episodes, or plots work nicely toward an entire work. Sabine