//------------------------------// // 44 - I Am Your Shield // Story: Age of Kings // by A bag of plums //------------------------------// “How preposterous, Trottingham again?” Sir Lionheart swung the shield over his back and strapped his sword, Durendal, to his side. Emerald had never seen a sturdier sword in her time here. “You’d think they would be very much prepared for another attack. What of our Canterlot guard there?” “Two dead.” Sir Agramane put his helmet on, making his voice echo inside. “But four bandits dead.” Emerald Edge shook her head in disgust. Trottingham was such a hotspot for bandits, even after the placement of the Canterlot guard. Unfortunately, Posey was currently in Canterlot, here to visit Sir Ganeighn, so she wouldn’t be in the Everfree Forest when they go there. The two had been seeing each other so frequently as of late, Emerald had just given the key to her house to the archer, so she could come and go as she pleased. After all, a bed to sleep on would not bother Posey at all. “How odd for Ganeighn to always be with that peasant,” Sir Agramane said as the three knights began riding away on their horses. “A knight should find a proper woman.” “That peasant, good Sir Agramane, has done much work for the kingdom,” Sir Lionheart reminded. He still never wore a helmet, not wanting to mask his face from the crowds. “Ganeghin is lucky to have courted such a fine woman, even if she is a peasant.” “Do you have a woman yourself, Sir Agramane?” Emerald asked. She realized he was the Knight of the Round Table she had spoken to the least, even less than Sir Boercival who sometimes, would never utter a single word. “Aye, that I do, my lady.” The red armored knight nodded. “She is the most beautiful woman I know and she is of noble blood. Just like Sir Lionheart’s Sylvie Woods.” “Ah, but that is where you are wrong, Sir Agramane.” The blonde haired knight wagged a finger as he steered his horse, Braveheart, out the town gates, leading the group. “Sylvie is more beautiful than your wife, and as brave as I.” “Red Plum is brave as well.” “Yes, indeed. She was so brave that she screamed for help when the rat fell from the ceiling yesterday.” Emerald shared a small chuckle with Sir Lionheart as Sir Agramane picked up speed, passing them as they rode on to the Everfree Forest. “Tis interesting how we are each different, is it not, Lady Emerald.” Sir Lionheart tweaked at his moustache. “But that is what makes us each unique. Why, if there were another man just like me, it would certainly have been tougher to win my wife over.” Emerald agreed, mostly. Obviously, Sir Lionheart hadn’t met his double, whoever he was, back in Equestria. Her fellow knight had already been married for two years, and it had been the first wedding Emerald had ever attended. Sylvie Woods had tossed a bouquet of flowers up into the air at the end of the ceremony, which Emerald had managed to catch and eat; it had been a tasty pick from the garden. She had wondered when she and Sir Morn would be able to get married too, but Sir Lionheart had known Sylvie Woods for years before their marriage. Emerald only knew Morn for four years. “Pick up speed, sir and lady knights!” Agramane called from ahead, his red armor easy to spot in the distance, unlike his sword’s gems. The gram was a long and straight sword, adorned with gems as black as night. They were beautiful, but they did not reflect off as much light as the other swords. “We have townsfolk to rescue!” “Come, Lady Emerald.” Sir Lionheart put Braveheart into a gallop. “Yes, I shall follow behind. Come, Foxtrot, let us catch up with them.” The sun shone brightly down from above, making Emerald pull up her head about halfway into the journey. It had been quite the cool weather only a few months ago and Emerald missed those winds. The winds today were warm and thick, like they were trying to suffocate the air from your lungs, but it was manageable enough for rescuing the Trottingham citizens. In only a short period of time, the three Knights of the Round Table had entered the Everfree Forest, their horses galloping straight for Trottingham. The small town had yet to obtain another sheriff, but perhaps learning from experience, they didn’t want another one. When the knights finally arrived at Trottingham, they simply approached the captain of the Canterlot guard there. “Sirs and lady knights.” The captain bowed and slapped a fist to her chest. “What is the situation now, captain?” Sir Agramane asked, getting off his black horse, whose name Emerald did not know. “Do you know where the bandits are camped?” The captain’s expression turned grim. “I had sent two of my guard to follow them, but they have yet to return. I fear the worst. Six townsfolk have been taken, likely to be traded off as slaves, or to be used for the bandits’ own pleasure.” “Such barbaric men.” Sir Lionheart placed a hand on his sword, Durendal’s pommel, turning it slightly that light began to reflect off its sapphire jewels. “Have no fear, captain. We shall retrieve your men and the townsfolk from these bandits.” “Yes. They will think twice before attempting another raid like this when we are done with them.” Agramane nodded. “You have our word as Knights of the Round Table.” “Thank you, sirs and lady knights.” The captain turned and pointed a finger to the east. “They had gone that way. I do not know how far they have traveled, but I have heard of bandit forts just outside the Everfree. Forts made of the trees in the forest.” Emerald looked in the direction she had pointed. Wherever these bandits were, they weren’t going to get away with anything. “Come, let us ride.” Lionheart nodded and turned Braveheart to the forest. “Keep an eye out, captain. We shall return shortly.” Emerald followed behind him as they rode their way through the forest. There were few paths carved out through the Everfree, meaning they might have to get off their horses to investigate thoroughly. They eventually stopped halfway down the dirt path, tying their horses to the trees there. From here, they would have to press through the brush. “Wait here, Foxtrot.” Emerald nuzzled his snout. “When we get home, I shall give you a carrot, how does that sound?” Her equine friend snorted. “Yes, yes, three carrots then, you greedy horse.” Emerald Edge pulled her hood low after entering the bushes behind the male knights, not wanting her shiny hair to give away her position. They still had yet to find the bandit fort, but she wasn’t going to take her chances with them spotting her from further away. “They should not be far, the bandits,” Sir Agramane told her, slowing so she could catch up to him, while Sir Lionheart led in front. He had Gram out, but left his axe slung on his side. “It would make sense that they attack the towns close to them, so that they would not have to travel a great distance back and forth, does it not, Lady Emerald?” “It does make sense.” Emerald kept her eyes peeled through the trees. “I did not realize you were a tactician, Sir Agramane.” “All knights are trained in the mind.” Agramane tapped the side of his helmet. “We must make plans to ensure the best outcome to attain complete victory and to save lives. Tis why we Knights of the Round Table have not fallen in combat.” “Mhm. Sir Agramane, I realize I have not gone on many quests with you. I have not had the privilege to speak with you much.” “Aye, my lady, but there is not much to know.” Agramane adjusted his tunic over his armor as a branch caught on to it. “I was of noble birth and my parents had wanted me to be a knight, and so I am now.” “Sir Morn mentioned you had become a knight the same as he?” “Ah, of course he would mention that.” Sir Agramane turned to Emerald. “Tis true. We had known each other when we were still squires. We were brothers in arms. We helped each other where we were lacking ability, though I must say, Morn Dread has little to lack. Some might say it was the mage blood he had.” “Ah, yes, I have seen his… abilities in action myself.” Emerald recalled Morn easily healing from wounds that even looked fatal. “With power like that…” Sir Agramane clenched a fist. “Perhaps a knight such as I would bear much pride, but not Morn. Morn is a knight of kindness, always looking to help instead of shoving his talents in our faces. He especially despises how cruel some people can be.” “He is, is he not?” Emerald smiled and thought about the handsome knight, picturing his strong arms around her. He always found a way to cheer her up. “That is what I love about him.” “Aye, as does he.” Agramane cut out a low branch that was in his way. “He speaks very highly of you. All the time. Honestly, it does get tiresome to keep hearing his praises of you, but it does show he loves you very much.” Emerald laughed, but then stopped when she spotted Sir Lionheart stop over on the edge of the treeline, Durendal drawn. It’s silver hilt was of the same color as Lionheart's gauntlet, making it look like the sword was attached to his hand, but that would have just been a ridiculous thing to do. In his other hand glinted the Shield of Star Swirl the Bearded, its gold and silver artistry brimming with Equestrian magic. Emerald had learnt from her time as a knight that a human was capable of wielding the shield more effectively than the other artifacts. Perhaps it had something to do with attacks, but when the sword and staff were used offensively, they seemed to drain the wearer much quicker; she didn’t know if the shield had any offensive capabilities, but being able to withstand any attack with it was reason enough to have it. “There. Do you see them?” The blonde haired knight pointed his silver sword ahead to where a fort of logs had been erected, just beside a cluster of giant boulders, which could easily be used to jump inside. Whoever did the planning for the fort didn’t think things through. On the walls surrounding their encampment were four bandits, each one armed with a bow and arrow. Sentries. In broad daylight like this, they would easily see a trio of knights approaching them. Even with the boulders to get in with, they would still first have to approach unseen. Somehow. “We should simply approach.” Lionheart hefted his shield higher. “We have the shield. We could approach unharmed.” “What of the hostages inside?” Agramane speared Gram into the ground and folded his arms. “They could simply demand we surrender or they kill them.” “Then we do things my way.” Emerald looked around, hoping to find anyway she could get to the walls without being seen. “Where would the townsfolk be kept in a fort like this?” Lionheart shrugged. “Hard to say, Lady Emerald. If they have been untouched, then perhaps a holding cell, or a locked room. We have found townsfolk in their quarters before, sometimes so weak they couldn’t stand. Sometimes, the worst of the lot, killed for no reason at all.” “Hmm…” Emerald glanced at the fort and narrowed her eyes. This was going to be no easy task. “We may need a diversion instead. Sir Lionheart, how long would you be able to maintain the shield against the arrows?” “Quite some time, actually.” The knight looked at his gleaming shield. “No sword or spear can pierce it. Arrows shan’t have a chance at all.” Emerald nodded. “Sir Agramane, while Sir Lionheart approaches, we can sneak in by those rocks there, take out the archers, then open the gates for Sir Lionheart. Then from there, we can see to getting the hostages out.” “I see no problem with that plan.” Agramane motioned to the field. “Lead on, Lady Emerald. I shall follow.” “And I shall begin immediately.” Lionheart stretched both arms out. “I wish you luck, my knightly companions. And try not to keep me waiting too long.” “We shan’t, Sir Lionheart.” Agramane took his axe and put it on his shoulder. “Lady Emerald and I will make this quick. Will we not?” “We will.” Emerald smiled and ran on, keeping along the forest edge to the left side. She watched behind her as Sir Lionheart left his position, smashing his sword off the shield’s surface, getting the fort’s attention as more bandits began crowding the walls. “He’s done it. Let us pick things up.” Emerald crept faster, darting out of the forest, keeping her body low, trying to blend in with the grass. It was a lot harder for Sir Agramane, who wasn’t as lean and who had on a set of bright red armor, but so far, their distraction plan was working. “I have come to stop you, bandits!” Sir Lionheart yelled to them, raising the shield in front of his body. “You shall see justice today!” “Fire! Kill the knight!” one of the bandits yelled. The four archers took aim and let loose their arrows. Sir Lionheart simply stopped and got down behind his shield, holding it high. Its surface began to glow a soft gold, and then as the arrows entered the glow, they simply fell straight down, like they had already bounced off. “Fire more!” The bandit pointed at the archers. “Good, he has all their attention,” Emerald said, looking back to make sure Sir Agramane was still behind her. “Let us make this quick for Sir Lionheart.” Picking up speed, Emerald sprinted along the side, rushing to the mound of boulders, kicking off the first one with a clink of her greave, then using the next few ones as stepping stones towards the highest boulder. Sir Agramane was a lot less graceful, but he had managed to get the right footing and hop along behind Emerald. Arriving at the top boulder, the former pegasus squatted down to first assess her surroundings. It was a bad idea to go in blind while she had such a great vantage point to spy on the enemy numbers first. The majority of bandits were now on the front wall, watching Sir Lionheart deflect all their arrows with his shield; Emerald counted at least sixteen of them, including the four archers. There were more in the fort itself, keeping their eyes on the wall, or the prisoners, who were clustered in two small cages near the rear of the fort. They numbered at least seven. There might still be more in the wooden buildings, like Sir Agramane had said, who were likely used for the bandits’ own pleasure. Emerald didn’t know how all that worked in the human world, but it likely wasn’t good. “Six more bandits around the fort,” Emerald told her companion, who finally caught up behind her, trying to balance on the same rock she was on. “Twenty two total. Seven townsfolk visible. There will likely be more of them and more bandits inside?” “Likely.” Agramane stowed both his weapons to better support himself. “They have us vastly outnumbered, but we have them overpowered. Now, how do you plan on getting in? Jumping? Tis a far drop.” Emerald looked down. It would’ve been ideal if she still had her wings, but she obviously didn’t. The drop was quite far to get inside the fort and she still had to jump to get past the wall. “How do you suppose we get down safely, my lady?” Agramane leaned over the boulder, looking down at the drop. “From this height, our legs will surely break. Perhaps if we can find a raised platform…” Then Emerald spotted a possible way in. A pile of rags, sitting against the fort wall and a building. If there were indeed enough rags in there, Emerald had a safe way down. She didn’t know for sure, but she didn’t see another way in. “I’m going to jump, Sir Agramane,” Emerald told her companion. “Don’t follow unless I give the heads up, got it?” “What? Jump from here? That’s absurd!” “We’re about to find out,” Emerald swallowed. She was going to have to trust that the landing would be soft. Standing, Emerald ran two steps forward, then kicked off the boulder, floating in the air for a second, making her feel like she had her wings again. And then she was falling, falling straight down towards the pile of rags. The spymaster shut her eyes, half expecting herself to crumple against the hard ground, but then her body was cushioned by something soft, sinking down into the pile until her bottom touched the floor safely. She was fine. She was unhurt. Mostly. “I’m alive!” Emerald whispered to herself and touched her body, glad to know she was still fully functional. She looked up and nodded to Sir Agramane before pushing out of the rag pile. Now they just had to get the fort gates open for Sir Lionheart and for their escape later. Sir Agramane looked unsure, but he sheathed both weapons and made the jump, flailing in the air all the way down, until he landed in the pile with a puff of dust. “See? You lived.” Emerald helped him up and dusted his armor. “Not something I will try again.” Agramane adjusted his helmet, then whipped out Gram and ran a bandit through, who was about to do the same to Emerald had he not intervened. “Eyes out, Lady Emerald.” “Right.” Emerald turned to see the bandit’s body fall off Agramane’s sword. “The gates.” The gates had a simple pulley mechanism of wood and rope and it was only a matter of turning them to release the log that prevented them from opening. The problem was, if they started doing that, the bandits would likely turn to them. “Sir Agramane, I am faster. I shall get up there and combat the bandits while you open the gates.” Emerald removed Amore from its scabbard. Finding a wooden staircase that led up to the platform behind the wall, Emerald unsheathed a hidden blade and jammed it into the back of one archer, then slashed out at another bandit’s midsection, sending him falling below, where Sir Agramane was, his hands already on the lever to raise the log. Sir Lionheart still had the shield up, keeping a safe distance as its magic continued to ward off the arrows. As soon as Agramane began turning, all the bandits turned their attention from Sir Lionheart over to the gates, where they spotted the red-armored knight. “They got in! Shoot him!” one bandit cried out. Emerald moved fast, dashing in and swinging Amore, cutting down another bandit before she was fought back with an axe. From the corner of her eye, Emerald watched Agramane begin to turn the lever, putting all his strength into it to lift the lock all alone. She had to make sure she did her part and defend him from the bandits here. “What are you lot waiting for?” The bandit chief waved his axe at Agramane. “Kill him!” The remaining archers all forgot about Lionheart and instead aimed their arrows down at Agramane. “Here!” Emerald charged back in, feinting to the left at the last second as the closest bandit swiped his axe at her. Kicking him off the platform, Emerald lunged forward and thrust Amore straight through an archer’s side, with the woman screaming in pain before crumpling. “Change targets! The woman! Kill her first!” The bandit leader pointed to the former pegasus as she clashed blades with another bandit. With all the attention on her now, Sir Agramane was able to lift the wooden lock on the gates, allowing Sir Lionheart to bash them open with his shield. “I have arrived!” he announced loudly and with a smug smile. “More knights! Oh no.” The bandit leader fell back as Emerald pulled her sword from his chest, turning around to parry another bandit’s strike. Down below, Sir Agramane had retrieved both his weapons from his sides, swinging both of them in deadly arcs, cutting down many of the approaching bandits, while Sir Lionheart easily blocked and countered all the attacks that were aimed for him. The two Knights of the Round Table were truly forces to be reckoned with, along with the vibrant haired spymaster above. “The hostages!” Sir Lionheart looked over at the wooden buildings away from the gates. “I shall go to their rescue. Keep the bandits busy!” “I shall aid Lady Emerald.” Agramane threw his axe up, lodging it into the back of a bandit who was trying to stab the female knight from the side. “Go, Lionheart!” The blonde haired knight nodded and ran along, but not before turning around and readying his shield like a discus. “Lady Emerald!” he called. The spymaster turned to look at him, just as he threw the artifact straight for her. Emerald understood and jumped off the platform, stretching her left arm out. The shield seemed to spin in slow motion for a while, until Emerald felt her fingers catch on to the edge of it. Immediately on contact, she felt a buzz go through her body, along with the familiar warmth of home. She slipped the shield onto her arm and before he could hit the ground, a soft aura of light encased her as she transformed into her half-pony form, sprouting wings from her back. Ahh… It’s good to have these back… Hovering near the platform now, Emerald turned to face the shocked bandits, her shield and sword in hand. “Kill her!” A female bandit tossed a dagger at her. Emerald moved the shield in front of herself in a defensive position and raised a barrier of light from it, spreading out to her left and right. The dagger stopped in its magical aura and simply fell straight down to the ground below. With a flap of her wings, Emerald charged straight into the crowd of bandits, knocking them all away like a bunch of planks with her shield’s barrier, sending some flying off the platform and some being pushed against the wood wall, which heaved out from Emerald’s impact. Minimizing her magic, Emerald darted back in, stabbing Amore into the foot of an approaching bandit, and then jamming a hidden blade up under his chin. Two more, wounded from her shield bash, advanced on her with blood trailing down their faces, but Emerald glided around them with her wings, then cut out at one while bashing the other in the face with the shield. Both fell to the floor, defeated. These artifacts are truly amazing. Emerald grinned as her eyes reflected the golden magic of her shield. With it in hand, she felt that no one could stop her. She floated back down to ground level, where Sir Agramane was busy dueling a bandit with a longsword. Only three more bandits still remained after Emerald’s attack, while there seemed to be more where Sir Lionheart had gone off to. Emerald kicked down the bandit fighting her fellow knight and raised her blade, pointing its tip at the scoundrel’s chest. “Surrender and we shan’t have to harm you any further. Resist, and we will have to end you.” The bandits looked hesitant, taking steps forward, then the equal amount of steps back. Emerald supposed they didn’t deal with a magical flying pony-human with a magical shield very often. “For glory or death!” One bandit lifted his sword skyward and charged Emerald. The other two did the same, bellowing battle cries before Emerald lauched them all away with a swipe of the shield, sending them screaming until they hit the fort wall on the other end, cracking the logs that made the wall up. “Easy enough. Fantastic work, my lady. And such power…” Agramane reached out a hand and touched the tip of one of Emerald’s glowing wings. “It feels almost real.” “It is almost like back home.” Emerald’s feet touched the ground again and the glow around her dissipated, along with her wings. Her hair and ears returned to normal, with the magic fading away in dissolving particles, floating away in the wind. “Sir Lionheart?” Sir Agramane turned to see Sir Lionheart walking back with the hostages behind him, Durendal in hand, slightly stained with blood. “All accounted for, with one unfortunate soul having perished in a gruesome torture room.” Sir Lionheart panned a hand to the hostages. “And all enemies in the buildings taken care of. I see you two managed things out here?” “Very much so, Sir Lionheart.” Agramane sheathed his Gram and his axe. “And we have Lady Emerald Edge to thank for that. Why, she has performed wonders with that shield of yours. Truly powerful.” “Aye, that it is.” Sir Lionheart gratefully accepted the shield back from the spymaster. “Unlike you, my lady, I can only utilize a fraction of what you can manage. Oh, Sir Agramane, you have a few cuts on your tunic.” “Oh no.” The red knight turned to see the cuts on the back of the tunic over his armor. “Red Plum is going to kill me.” “What did you expect, wearing her gift out wherever you go?” Sir Lionheart chuckled. “None of us knights wear cloth over our armor but you. And Lady Emerald, but it makes sense for her to have them. She is a master of the subterfuge.” “Well, not a master…” Emerald smiled and blushed. “But come. The day is won. Let us return the townsfolk back home and return to Canterlot.” “Ah, yes. If we are quick, we might return home before the day is up. I would not mind dinner with Sylvie. I could even surprise her.” “You are sure the romantic one, are you not, Sir Lionheart?” Emerald looked out of the fort’s gates to the forest line. She also owed Foxtrot some carrots, that she remembered. “Aye. I am Sir Lionheart.” The knight slicked his blonde wavy hair back with a hand. “Brave to the end, handsome to the end.”