Hedge Knight

It was noon when Helbram stood in front of the Maiden’s Kiss. The cries that rang throughout Southsheer were no longer present, but in their place a weary silence had settled over the town like a weighted cloak. The streets were empty, the townsfolk most likely still shaken by the surge of emotions that they experienced the night before, or fearful of the rage that had permeated the roars that shook the town, still leaving small trembles in their wake. It was likely that most of the town did not even know what the source of all those emotions were, but for most, that made the sensation worse, an invasion of their mind and privacy that told them all one simple truth.

That they were all doomed.

And so he stood in front of the tavern, a weight settled over his shoulder heavier than the armor he chose to go without for this occasion. Leaf, Elly, and Jahora had offered to join him when they heard his plan the night before, but he would have to face this part of it alone… rather, he wanted to face it alone, with the exception of one other person. That did not stop them from hiding amongst the empty stalls at the center of the town square, an act that Helbram could only laugh at, but one that lessened the burden that sat over him.

He took in a breath, straightened his back and walked towards the building. His stride was interrupted when a man stumbled out of the Tavern. Helbram recognized him as the drunkard who stood ahead of him in the line for the Sword. He looked far more inebriated than before, and to Helbram’s surprise the man appeared to recognize him. More than that, he was regarding him with a look of disdain.

“You,” the man said, his voice slurred and graveled with an underlying rage.

Helbram looked at the man, but could only look at him in confusion.

“This is all your fault!” the drunkard stumbled forward in an awkward attempt to maintain his balance. An effort that failed, for the man fell to his knees right afterwards.

Helbram moved to help him up, but paused as the man flailed his arms at him.

“Stay away! I don’t need pity from the likes of you!”

Helbram pressed his lips thin, but kept silent.

The drunk man pushed himself to his feet, “You just had to be greedy, didn’t you. Thought you would go for a bit of glory before the chosen could set out about their task?”

The growl in his voice triggered the appearance of more faces, all at the windows and doorway of the Maiden’s Kiss. He recognized them all from the day that the Sword was pulled, but with decisively more haggard expressions. That, and the looks of disdain that were focused directly upon him. He first noted Holden, who held an especially hateful expression this day, one that sat upon a fully healed face, the perks of an Awoken. Geren stood next to him, exhibiting a more controlled air, but the puffiness around his eyes told Helbram that the Mage had suffered as everyone else.

Finally, he noticed Marjorie, who’s appearance remained unchanged from the last time he saw her, but she glanced away when he met her eyes, and that told him what had been done.

The drunkard looked at Helbram through the unkempt hair that lay over his eyes, “Well? Have you any words to explain yourself?”

He did not see them move, but he waved a hand towards his friends to cut them off from doing so. A sigh parted from his lips when he rubbed his brow. 

He laughed, a low laugh that combined his exasperation with the malice that everyone expected them to hold.

“I guess there is not much I can hide from the Hawk of Dunwich,” he said as he moved his hands from his eyes. A twisted smile pulled at his lips, and he flared his eyes to give himself a crazed look. 

“What of it? Why should I be beholden to the whims of a sword?” he clasped his hands, “It announced a goal for all to hear, and it appears that I was the only one enterprising enough to capitalize upon it. So do not direct your anger at me, direct it inwards, for all of you proved too caught up in your own inadequacies to take the chance.”

A roar surged through the tavern, curses and yells that tumbled over each other to the point that they were indiscernible from one another. The drunkard in front of him served as their mouthpiece.

“You bastard! I bet you did something from the shadows, didn’t you? Couldn’t even have the courtesy to face your foe like a man.”

Helbram snorted, “What does that matter? I succeeded in my goal, did I not? Who is to say that this outcome would not have happened if any of the chosen slayed the Troll instead? Do you believe that the Trial was of some divine providence? It was given from a bloody sword!”

There was a venom to Helbrman’s voice, a genuine bite to his words that caused the drunk man to step back.

He looked around, noting that others had started to peek out from their homes at the commotion. Confusion was the prominent expression to these observers, some with a mix of panic.

Helbram looked past the drunk man and towards the rest of the adventurers within the tavern. They had quieted down, but continued to glare at him.

He raised his hands, “And despite your protests, it appears that my efforts have borne fruit,” he laughed, “for I have been chosen!”

Jeers erupted from the crowd, and Helbram shrugged at their rage.

“I know you do not believe my words, but I am afraid for all of you that you will not only hear that from my lips.”

He motioned off to the side, signaling Sophia to emerge from an alleyway. The crowd went quiet at her presence, and while she kept a stoic front her eyes told Helbram that she was confused at the turn of events. He rolled his hand, signaling her to continue with the plan. She did not betray any acknowledgement of the gesture, but she straightened her back and a steely look came over her.

“What this man says is true,” she said in a measured voice, completing the image of the Maiden, “due to his actions, the Sword has deemed this man worthy to wield it.”

Another uproar surged through the crowd.

The drunkard thrust his finger at Helbram, “Look at him! He’s a coward, an opportunist! He doesn’t deserve it.”

Helbram shrugged, “Think of me what you will, but that does not change the Sword’s decision,” he laughed, “You lot were so quick to give up it makes me wonder if you wanted the Sword in the first place.”

Glares cut into him, looks from men and women that clearly wished for less than savory things to happen to him. He smiled back at them. He expected their gazes to hurt more… in some ways he wished they did, but he felt nothing other than an odd sense of serenity as the vitriol washed over him. His chest felt light, and the pressure that had settled around his eyes washed away, making his face feel cool. It wasn’t the original plan, but now that it was in motion he preferred this method all the same.

The Maiden held a hand up, silver Aether lining her fingers for a moment before fading away, “Peace, everyone,” she said, her voice carrying over the fervor that had overtaken the crowd.

Helbram faked a confused expression when he looked at Sophia.

She looked over the crowd with an impassive expression, “While this man has been determined worthy enough to wield the Sword, he had not been deemed the one to carry it,” she crossed her hands across her lap, “Rather, the Sword has determined that perhaps its initial observations did not take into account certain, other factors.”

Sophia beckoned her audience, who had fallen silent, “With that, it has issued a new trial,” she closed her eyes and placed a hand on her chest., “You all felt the assault on our minds last night, the great rage and sorrow that pressed itself upon all of you. You feel terrified, we all do, and it is under such duress that the one who is truly meant to wield the Sword will reveal themselves,” she opened her eyes and tilted her head up, steel behind her voice, “The one that defends this town from the great evil that comes our way shall be the one to pull the Sword from the Tree.”

Murmurs rumbled from the crowd in front of the tavern, the mood dramatically shifting. Helbram noted that Marjorie had narrowed her eyes at Sophia, but was saying nothing.

Sophia spoke up again, silencing the murmurs for a moment, “For the sake of fairness, I must clarify that the sword specifies that you must defend the town,” she pointed at Helbram, “Not emulate the actions of this man here, but to show true selflessness in the face of such adversity.”

“Now hold on,” Helbram said, “You told me that the Sword had said I was worthy, it said nothing of this!” he added a growl to his voice, which Sophia showed no reaction to.

Sophia regarded him without any expression, “The Sword has spoken, I merely deliver it message, I do not claim to understand it.”

Helbram narrowed his eyes.

The drunkard laughed at him, “Ha! I knew justice would be done! What are you going to do now, coward? A bloody child could prove himself more worthy than you.”

Helbram snarled at him, an act that made the man pause, “I will have what is mine by right. And I will not have any of you stand in my way.”

A mocking laugh rang from the crowd. Helbram looked up, noting that Holden was at its source, “And what could you even do? You’re no Awoken, I doubt a fully grown Troll will suffer your tricks!”

A twitch pulled at Helbram’s brow, but he contained it.

“It appears that you would serve to speak for the Hawk,” he said, “tell me, what other thoughts are running through that illustrious mind of hers?”

Holden went silent. Marjorie stared at Helbram, but said nothing. Helbram dropped his twisted smile for a moment and stared back. She looked away.

Helbram opened his arms, “Ahhhh, so she remains mum. It appears I am not the only one that operates on everyone else’s ignorance,” he clenched his hands and shrugged, “fair enough, I suppose such an illustrious adventurer would have a few secrets to her trade,” he smirked, “All the better, truly, for you lot would most likely have been content and let her do all the work if you knew her machinations.”

The drunkard snarled at him, “We’ll show you, you cocky bastard. Go off and die on your own schemes, we’ll show the Sword what true worthiness is!”

A series of yells from the crowd voiced their agreement. The drunkard spat at Helbram’s feet and walked back to the tavern, his gait noticeably more stable as he walked up to the tavern. The crowd ignored Helbram and disappeared from the windows and doors, but the Maiden’s Kiss was now alive with activity and chatter. Marjorie stood alone at the doorway. She continued to look at him with an unreadable expression, one that he had to admit rivaled his own. He dropped his facade and met her eyes with an impassive stare.

“What will you do, Hawk of Dunwich?” he asked in a calm voice.

Still, Marjorie did not answer. She looked away and walked back into the Tavern.

Helbram let his shoulders fall and sighed, “Well, that went… well it went is all I can really say,” he said with a small laugh. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his part moving, but he motioned for them to stay back.

“Tell them to meet me back at the Salty Breeze,” Helbram said to Sophia, “it is best that they not be seen with me for the time being.”

Sophia nodded, “Are you certain this is what you want?”

Helbram smiled, “The result? Certainly. The method?” he scratched his arm, “unexpected, but effective.”

He shook his head, “But let us not discuss things out in the open, I shall meet you back at the Tavern.”

He walked towards Cliffside, leaving the Maiden and the others behind.

Elly, Leaf, and Jahora funneled into Helbram’s room as he was strapping the last of his armor on. He adjusted a strap of his gauntlet , flexing his hand to test its fit. His companions said little as he finished with his gear, and as he stood up he grabbed his helmet and regarded them all with a smile.

“Right then, shall we set out?” he asked them.

Leaf frowned, “We’re not going anywhere until you explain what the hells that was.”

Jahora crossed her arms, “Yes, that is owed to us, don’t you think?”

Elly didn’t say anything, but gave Helbram an expectant look.

He snorted, “That is true. You are all quite the persistent lot, you know that?”

“We have to be if we’re to go along with your antics,” Elly said as she took a seat on Leaf’s bed, “now explain why you decided to be the subject of their ire.”

Helbram sighed and took a seat at the desk, “Tis simple, really. I thought it to be the most expedient route.”

Jahora frowned, “Getting everyone to hate you was the quickest option?”

Leaf scratched his head, “No, he has a point. Spite is much easier to bring out than integrity, and in some ways just as potent. He lit a fire under their arses, that’s for sure” he grimaced, “I just wish it wasn’t related to Marjorie.”

Helbram shrugged, “We adapt when the unexpected happens, though in hindsight I should have seen such a thing coming.”

“I still don’t agree with it, what she said isn’t true!” Jahora exclaimed.

Helbram gave her a sad smile, “No, it is not, but we do not have the time to combat lies, so we might as well turn such banes to boons.”

“Surely it shouldn’t take that long to clear things up,” Jahora implored.

“What, put the word of an unknown adventurer against the Hawk of Dunwich?” Helbram countered, “Truth does not matter when one can only use renown as its measure. It is a fruitless endeavor, one that is only wasting time.”

“I could tell them the truth.”

They looked to the door, noting that both Marcus and Sophia stood at the entrance.

The young man clutched his arm, “Sorry to interrupt, but Sophia told me everything…” he looked to Helbram, a determination cutting through his still puffy and reddened eyes, “it’s not right.”

Helbram shook his head, “You have enough on your shoulders already. Do not waste time trying to clear my name.”

“But-”

“Marcus, please,” Helbram said as he stood up. He walked up to the young man and placed a hand on his shoulder, “I appreciate your concern, truly, but we simply do not have time for it, not with the threat that looms over us at this moment.”

He met Marcus’s eye, “For now, it would be best that you and Sophia go and ready the townsfolk for what is to come.”

Marcus said nothing, but nodded. He and Sophia left soon after, and when they were out of sight Helbram let go of the sigh at his chest.

“I do not envy his position,” he mused.

“Nor do we envy yours,” Elly said, “While I understand your logic for the shift in the plan, I do not understand your readiness… no, your eagerness to take the blame,” she stood up and leaned against the wall near Helbram, “Perhaps you will call me pedantic, but I would know why. You owe that to us.”

Leaf and Jahora walked closer, waiting expectantly.

Helbram smiled at them, “That I do,” he closed the door and leaned against it, looking his comrades in the eyes, “Mine is an unsavory plan, to utilize a lie as a call to action. I have set greed against parents in mourning, countering what is justifiable with its exact opposite.” 

He closed his eyes, “In all aspects, I am no more than a hypocrite, berating the actions of an opportunist while following their very same footsteps. I could try and grant myself an excuse, stating that my intent is for some nebulous concept like the greater good, but that would be ignoring the simple truth,” he opened his eyes, looking towards the ceiling, “that in this tale, people will die, parents will fall to avenge their child, to protect their children. Like so many times before, I am powerless to bring about a better outcome; and in this case too wary to accept a boon that could grant me said power,” 

He snorted, “I of course do not seek adulation for such machinations, but, had it gone as planned, had I invigorated the hopeless with integrity under false pretense… then I am indeed the worst sort of person,” he sighed, “So when I saw the hate in their eyes… I let selfishness take over. I stoked the flames of their ire, prodded them and made me the focus of their spite. Yes, it is true that such emotions are just as potent as duty to spur the masses into action, but I would be lying if I said such things were my priority. No, logic was not the fuel behind my instinct. Instead, it was a self centered impulse to lessen the guilt that gnawed at my heart.

He laughed, “An entirely illogical reason to do so, and yet it worked. For in their hate I find comfort. There is a lightness in my chest that I cannot deny, grants me such relief. A feeling that should only give me more guilt were I the right kind of person… but it does not.”

He looked to the ground, “I truly am the worst.”

Elly stepped forward and placed a hand on his chin, pushing his face up so he was looking at her. Her eyes were not full of anger, of pity, but instead resolution, “No, it just means that you are the same as everyone else.”

She moved her hand to his shoulder, “But you need not bear this on your own. We have already agreed to follow you on this plan, no matter its twists and turns.

Jahora nodded fervently while Leaf gave a single, brief tilt of his head.

Helbram smiled at his friends, “This is three days in a row where you have had me bleed my heart. Let us not make this a habit, shall we?”

Jahora shrugged, “We make no promises.”

He snorted, “Fair enough,” he put his helmet on and closed its visor, “But we must not waste any more time.”

He sighed, “We have parents to speak to.”

Author's Note: Apologies for the delay! A lot of family stuff and a sudden onslaught of on call shifts really set me back this week, but I managed to get something out.

So, this is the start of the endgame of the arc. I know its a dialogue heavy chapter and when comparing it with the last chapter we hit some similar beats, but I really wanted to hit home and cement with this chapter that the characters are very aware of what they are doing and what the consequences of their actions are. While the concept of Hedge Knight is supposed to be more of a comfort read more than anything else, I still want these characters to have enough dimension to be aware of what they are doing. I think it adds a lot more weight to scenes overall and each action now seems purposeful rather than made up on the fly. The pace is a bit slower as a result, but I think it makes everything feel more meaningful as a result.

On that note, however, I just have to say that I am just really burnt out from a combination of some personal stuff, work, and trying to keep things flowing on the story end. I'm gonna be taking the next week to try and clear my head a bit, so there will be no chapter then. When I return the following week, however, I'm gonna be trying to hit the ground running.

Till next time! Have yourselves a wonderful day :)