The heirs not everyone loves to have nobility

A Story by thestoryteller

my first submission

I was a mercenary riding my horse back home from my long adventure of killing pirates when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye in the woods. I got off my horse and snuck into a nearby bush. It was a band of brigands trying to rob someone they had a sword and was turning trying to hold their ground. I got up out of the bushes and shouted hey! This doesn’t concern you one of them said. Really I asked it looks like your trying to rob them? So what is it to you one asked? Well if my memory serves me right bandits always have ill-gotten gains on them, let me relive you of those I said. Get him lads the leader shouted leaving the original target alone. I drew my sword and prepared for a fight. The first one tried to slash at me’ I dodged and slashed at his gut killing him instantly. The next two attacked at once and landed both blows on my blade I was holding and I wasn’t budging. I grabbed my dagger with one hand and drove it into one of them. He fell and his buddy backed up and charged again. I thrust-ed my sword into his chest disposing of him easily. Only 2 more remained the leader and his buddy. His buddy charged first. I threw one of my throwing knifes hitting him right between the eyes. The leader charged but he was dual wielding swords. I deflected one of the swords and drove my dagger into his side. He fell and I picked my knife up and wiped my weapons off. You need to be more careful I said to the mysterious figure I just saved. I saw them put down their hood and was surprised to see a female. I could have beaten them she said. Maybe I said as I took their coin purses from their bodies. Maybe we got off on the wrong foot she said my name is merigold. Allister I said. Ah defender of mankind she said a beautiful name. It clicked in my head where I heard merigold from the princess who ran away. And you are the runaway princess I said. Wait how did you know she asked? You thought your father wouldn’t pay a fortune to have you back safely. So she asked are you going to try and take me back to my father. Nope I said as I put all the coins I collected into my coin purse. Really she asked I thought mercenaries’ only fight for gold. Yea I said but you didn’t run away because you just could right? Yes she said I didn’t want noble life I was always interested in swordplay but my father refused to teach me how to fight. Whelp I said I’ll be seeing you around marigold. Wait she said where do you work at? You want to become a mercenary I asked not expecting this question? Yes I want to go to where you’re going. Well then I said as we walked out of the forest, I hoped on my horse and held my hand out how about I show you instead I asked? She grabbed my hand and I pulled her up and put her right behind me. You always take random strangers on adventures she asked? Well you want to be a mercenary and my brother is the leader of the best around. We rode for about a mile when the bridge we were going to was out. Drat she said the bridge is out now what? Hey quicksilver I asked my horse want to have fun? She looked at me confused then I gave my horse a kick to the side. Quicksilver sprinted and merigold hanged on for dear life we jumped the gap and landed on the other side. Good job quicksilver I said patting him on the side. Ever had fun like that princess I asked merigold? Next time give me a warning she said. I noticed that the sun was setting and fiddled with the reins to make quicksilver go aside. Okay I said you wait here ill start the campfire. Okay merigold said I’ll be here if you need me. I set up a trap with some sticks to catch a rabbit. I grabbed firewood from the sack on quicksilver and grabbed my trusty igniter stones. I stroked them together a couple times and finally got the fire to start. There we go you can come down now if you want I said to merigold. She hopped down and I went and got my lute out from the sack and sat on a tree stump. As I was about to tune it I heard the trap go off. I went and grabbed the dead rabbit and put it over the fire. So what made you become a mercenary merigold asked me? Well I said me and my brother grew up orphans our whole life, you see we had a fascination with weapons, when we were old enough we joined the guild we are in now, we quickly rose up in the ranks eventually we became leaders, even though I still went on solo adventures, my brother holds the fort though without me he makes sure I am almost always busy. Wow merigold said what a story. After about 2 hours we ate the rabbit I caught. After that I took out my sleeping bag and left it for merigold while I slept on the ground. I awoke to merigold screaming Allister! I sprung awake to see men trying to carry merigold away, hey I said what do you think you’re doing? We want the money they said. Let her go I said unsheathing my sword. Make us pretty boy one taunted. I threw 3 of my knives hitting all three of them in the heart. Merigold got free and slashed her sword at one of them backing them up. She walked over to me and I stood in front of her. Now I said who’s next? They charged but I threw more knives hitting them all dead center. I picked up all my daggers and took all their purses. Thanks Allister she said, no problem but we got to move I put out the campfire and packed everything back up. We hoped on quicksilver and rode to the city. When we got there it was bustling with life. Welcome to light burg I said the most beautiful city in all the realm. Wow she said it is beautiful. I walked to our known mercenary guild building. One of the men at the door shouted Allister is back! We walked in and I was greeted by my brother Avery. Ah big brother he said how was your adventure. Good I said as I moved aside to show merigold. This is merigold shell be joining us. He walked around and looked at her physique yes he said she’ll do very well. Any recommended teachers he asked? Yes I said me. Really Allister he asked me surprised? Yes I said she will be my first student. Well he said I can’t argue with you we are both leaders in the guild. Well merigold I said let me show you around. After I showed her the building we went into the training yard. Okay I said get a training sword she grabbed one from the post and held it in her hand. Good I said very good now strike the dummy. She missed the strike. It’s okay I said now position your feet like this is said showing her the correct stance. I slid her feet so her stance matched mine. Now strike, she dis missing again. Don’t worry I said just treat the sword like the extension of your arm. She struck again but hit this time. Good I said now don’t forget to back up after a successful strike to avoid retaliation. She sidestepped like a natural. Good I said now, as I was about to instruct I heard a voice you aint going soft are you? It was Trager a hard head and never gets a recommendation to train with because of his aggressive attitude. You should show her what happens when you do something wrong not hold her hand through it. Yea Trager I asked how many times have we fought and you won? He said nothing, thought so none now go away and let me train my student. Okay I said now when they strike foot work and your hand is what you need to use. I grabbed a training sword. Okay now dodge I said striking her she dodged away but not without leaving an opening, I put my sword on the spot she was exposing. You would have died if it was a real fight. Now again I said. We trained till night fall and by then she learnt how to keep herself alive. The next day I looked at the mission board looking for an adventure. I looked at one showing a simple bandit hunting job. Perfect merigold come here for a minute please I asked? What is it Allister she asked? We got a job I said simple and easy. Get your pack together we leave soon. Okay she said rushing to get her things. Already Avery asked you think she is ready? Like you said no training better than combat beside a group of bandits have what a few daggers? Good point he said I’ll see you when you’re done he said as he walked away. Ready she said with a pack on her back. We hoped on quicksilver then set forth unto our adventure. After we got there we stopped and I looked for a vantage point. I found a hill overlooking the camp and we went there. I looked around and saw 10 people. Okay I said now follow my lead and stay close okay. She nodded at me and we converged on the camp. They didn’t give any warnings just charged. I disposed of mine in a matter of seconds but merigold still had one left. I saw the sword the man had slice her wrist. She fell down and I hit the man with the pommel of my sword knocking him down while I finished him off. She sat there holding her wrist. I went to grab it but she pulled away. Let me look at it I said. She gave me her hand and I took a look nothing serious just a cut happens to the best of us. I bandaged it with some I had in my satchel. Thank you she said, sorry for getting myself injured like that. It’s okay I said you are just a novice in combat. After we got back home I noticed the city was under siege. We rushed in to the city and soldiers had barricades ready for an attack. I rushed to Avery who was at a barricade. Allister he said good to see you the city is under attack by Lord Samuel. Great I said ill join the defense you keep an eye on merigold for me. Wait she said let me come with you as she grabbed my arm. I grabbed hers I can’t put you in harm’s way these aren’t bandits their trained killers. I went to the wall where the local militia was at the wall unlucky for us the lord of our city left the city a day ago. They hit with towers first but they were dumb they sent light infantry a death sentence awaited the soldiers. The next wave hit my side held but the east didn’t. Retreat I shouted as we left the walls! I met up with Avery at the barricade. Where’s merigold I asked? In the guild house he said we have to hold it it’s our only chance. We retreated into the guild house while the militia went into the more heavily defended castle. We got ready at the door while they were bashing it with a ram. It broke and they came pouring in. the bloody battle took a while then I noticed merigold having problems fighting a solider. I rushed and drove my blade into his back. Merigold are you okay I asked? Yea she said I thought we could hold the walls? No I said the militia can’t hold against heavy infantry. At that moment I heard war horns and the enemy retreated we went outside to see the king’s banner high in the sky cutting down the enemy. He came to meet with us. When he approached we took a bow. Thank you Avery he said without you and your mercenaries the city would have been lost. Thank my brother he said he held the wall for as long as he did. Yes I said the other side fell I had no choice but retreat. It’s okay he said you did your best. He noticed merigold who tried to hide her face but it was too late. Merigold he said is that really you? She knew it was useless to lie yes father she said. I was so worried he said and he saw the bandaged hand. What happened he asked? Father I became a mercenary. Absolutely not he said you are a lady of the crown. Allister tell him how much I learned she said looking at me. She is excellent sir I said one of the best beginners we have here. What do you call her wound he shouted! As I said she’s new so she made a little mistake. She is a lady in waiting he said now I never want to hear anything about this again young lady. He went to grab her hand and she pulled away no dad she said I don’t want to be a lady in waiting. I want to see the world with Allister and learn to fight I would of joined the battle on the walls if Allister wouldn’t of told me not to. No butts about I looked for month trying to find you and I want to hear no more. She drew her sword and the king jumped back. Merigold I said don’t do this he is still your father. No she said I aint going back I don’t want to live my life that way. It’s okay I said it’ll be okay. I gently made her lower her sword. See sweetheart the king said the mercenary has more sense. I drew mine ill won’t let them take you. I won’t either Avery said as he stood beside me with his sword drawn. My fellow mercenaries stood behind us weapons drawn. The king’s men stood beside him weapons drawn ready to defend the king. Wait merigold said standing between us I’ll go back. I don’t want you all to die because of me. Nonsense I said sheathing my weapon and walking towards her. Your family we don’t want to fight the king but we are family you don’t leave family behind. She cried as she hugged me I’ll miss you Allister she sobbed. Don’t worry I said you’ll always find me in your heart. I’m sorry she said you didn’t have to do this for me. Hey merigold its okay I said looking into her eyes you don’t have to cry I will always remember you. I don’t want to let go she said. I don’t either I said but you have to. I love you she said the words shocked everyone including the king. I feel the same way I said. At this point my mercenaries walked next to us ready to charge. Wait the king said I was wrong. Merigold he said you don’t need to be a lady in waiting anymore you already found the suitor yourself. She looked at me and smiled. My men sheathed their weapons and cheered. Allister would you be my one and only suitor she asked. Yes I said I can’t wait. The men on both sides cheered as loud as they could. After it all happened we went into a chariot and rode to the capital. You know she said ever since I first met you I knew you would be the one. Really I asked? Yes I didn’t need a white knight I needed someone who could teach me and protect me like no one else. Well I said you found the right man. I know she said as she gave me a kiss. I wondered what would happen next but I knew at that moment it would be filled with fun and adventurous moments like this one.