Running really slow today. No reason just not moving fast. So lets set the timer and see if see can get back on track. Wiggle those fingers and stretch those brains it’s time for the morning prompt. And we are off.
I like the set up. Something bad has to happen at this castle or strange because it is the last and came with extra instructions, but I’m not sure what that is yet. Could be fun to find out and I think that may be my lunch time plan.
Thursday, September 7th: The castle was considered impregnable.
The castle was considered impregnable. Thomar gazed around him as his men poured into the breach in it’s walls. It was the fifth castle he took in this campaign with such a reputation. He stared at the destruction around him and moved in behind his shock troops. They were trained to clear a path through the defenders but often had a hard time stopping when they reached the lord of the manor.
His orders had been to send the recalcitrant nobles back to the king. While he managed to do so, there had been some complaints about their condition upon arrival. As it was the only complaint Thomar moved to correct it.
All around him was death and destruction. Later when the surviving inhabitants fled and the nobles were in custody and on their way to face judgement a careful gathering of the valuables would be done. Everything that held value from gold to grain and everything between would be gathered, measured and portioned out, at least in the ledger books.
It wasn’t something the king was terribly thrilled about but as he had not the funds to pay them, there was little he could say. The buildings Thomar and his men would leave in tact, despite the value of the lead in the glass and the other ornamentation. Thomar would take his due but he knew there was a limit beyond which he could not push the king.
‘And this is the last one,’ Thomar thought to himself. After this, he and his men would leave. Their spoils were already shipped and secure elsewhere. They would simply take this last with them as they left. Their contract with this king was done with the taking of this castle.
Thomar moved through the battle, occasionally raising his sword to defeat any who fell to his path, but the battle was winding down now. He entered the inner sanctum and found what remained of the family huddled in fear from the sounds of destruction around them. It was mostly the elderly, the infirm and the women and children who remained. Then men, he suspected were on the battle field.
It was less of a concern than usual. The king was a little more specific with his prisoners this time. He wanted the prisoners sent to him in as good a condition as possible, but he encouraged not sending the menfolk at all if possible.
“Eloin,” Thomar called out. His second appeared as if by magic a few feet behind. Thomar could smell his familiar scent. He almost smiled. Eloin had been given a tonic by his mother before leaving. She claimed it would see him safe through battle and to honor her he dabbed it on before taking the field. It was pungent enough to cut through even the stink of battle.
“Escort our guests to their transport,” Thomar called.
Ten til Midnight 