We arrived at the small village of Libera, we were now only a hour march from the city of Trim, the village gates opened and didn't attempt to fight back, immediately surrendering themselves, We brought Nolan inside of the village tavern, the tavern was empty of customers, the walls were filled with horns and skulls of hunted game, the ceiling occupied by steel chandeliers covered in huge deer antlers. We placed Nolan in one of the beds where he fell unconscious, he was dripping with sweat and was drained of life, not to mention the missing foot, Sam ushered us all out the room so he could begin attempting to heal Nolan. Once outside the soldiers left and it was just The Emperor and myself, there was a few minutes of silence, The Emperor broke the silence, "He fucking better pull through..He's a close friend", I decided to say nothing back and just stared down at my feet, Suddenly in the front door came two soldiers dragging a young boy who was screaming, "Fucking move ye little runt", they threw the boy to the feet of the emperor, the boy looked up at the emperor in fear, "P-p-please my lord, I'm merely a boy", one of the soldiers kicked him and interrupted him, "We caught him outside the village trying to count how many of us there were", the boy looked guilty and couldn't even muster up any words, he must've been only thirteen, the boy then began crying and the soldier hit him another kick telling him to shut the fuck up and the room was filled with noise until The Emperor raised his voice shouting "Both of you shut the fuck up", the soldier stopped and didn't move, the kid immediately froze too and didn't make a sound, "How many men in trim?" Asked the emperor, The boy stared him back in the eye and calmly said "All of them", the emperor looked to the ceiling and closed his eyes for a moment before returning his head from the heavens, "Build a pen and leave the boy in it", the soldiers dragged the boy outside once again who returned to screaming. The Emperor looked at me and said "Go get a drink, in a couple of hours it'll be determined if we ever drink again", I simply nodded and head to the bar and poured myself a drink while The Emperor left to head outside. After about twenty minutes i slowly dozed off at the bar having a nap.
I awoke still sitting in the bar stool, my back ached and my legs had pins and needles, there were some soldiers in the bar drinking and singing as it could be there last, I looked around at all there happy faces and I could only foresee death, I headed outside and straight in front of me, across from the tavern was the village church, as soon as i stood outside the church bells rang to mark evening, in the churchyard I saw some knights, officers, Sam and the emperor, I sprinted over to see them all, including a priest paying over a freshly dug grave with a wooden cross as a tombstone, The Emperor looked at me with the face of regret, then looked back to the grave, we said prayers and after decided to head to the tavern for drinks before we left, once inside the tavern, The Emperor climbed up onto the counter of the bar and raised a flagon of Linden Cider, at this point the tavern was packed with soldiers of Woolfswood, "Men, we have side by side through thick and thin, I've lost many friends along the way as yous have, our struggle is intertwined, For Nolan!!" He shouted out and the entire tavern shouted it out too, everyone downing there mugs and flagons in his honour, a random soldier climbed up onto the counter too, he gave The Emperor a hug, he then proceeded to pull out a flute from his pocket and began playing it gracefully, Slowly but surely a song broke out and the entire tavern was singing along including a drunk as fuck Emperor,
Ev chistr 'ta Laou, rak chistr zo mat, loñla Ev chistr 'ta Laou, rak chistr zo mat Ev chistr 'ta Laou, rak chistr zo mat Ur blank, ur blank ar chopinad loñla Ur blank, ur blank ar chopinad
Ar chistr zo graet 'vit bout evet, loñla Hag ar merc'hed 'vit bout karet
Karomp pep hini e hini, loñla 'Vo kuit da zen kaout jalousi
They sang in an old language which I failed to understand, although the words of the song and how they sang it went beautifully with the flute and the atmosphere of the tavern went sky high, along with morale, the drinking continued until the next morning.
I awoke on a cold floor, my head was banging with a headache and I couldn't hear shit, I slowly got up despite the pains in my body, I stood to find myself standing behind the counter, all around the tavern was passed out soldiers, soldiers slept on the floor, on tables and chairs and even along the counter, I looked over to see General Losty completely passed out in a booth in the corner, two whores sleeping beside him, from one of the rooms out walked The Emperor holding a glass of water with one hand and holding his head with the other, he looked across at me, laughed and simply said "What the fuck", I laughed along and he came over to the bar sitting on a stool, "I better wake them all up in a few minutes, we march to Trim at Noon", I simply said ye, "What of the rest of the army camping outside the village" asked the emperor, I just smirked and said back "Equally as fucked" and he laughed, after a few moment he tapped me, "Agh would you look at this" and he pointed up, I looked at the ceiling to see Sam asleep on a fucking chandelier, I broke out laughing as did The Emperor and he dropped his glass of water causing it smash and half the tavern woke up due to this, they all groaned and moaned at their hangovers and headaches, the emperor rose from stool and began shouting "Up up up you lazy fucks, cmon we've got a war to fight", suddenly at the realisation they weren't back in woolfswood, but in the presence of the emperor they jumped to their feet, "Men of the twelfth and fourteenth head outside to the encampment and wake the men up, officers off all army's rise and fucking shine, get your men into order we leave in an hour" He shouted, immediately the tavern was in chaos with soldiers and captains heading outside, General Losty walked over smiling, "Ill get them tip top now your grace" and he walked outside and immediately I could hear him shouting and giving orders, I began looking for my sword and other items.
Roughly an hour later I headed outside to find the village rather empty, the army was outside and ready to go, I jumped onto my horse and trotted out the village gates to find the army in full formation, at the top was The Emperor, General losty, Sam and some officers, The Emperor was holding the sword of Imperator Justinian I in his left hand and the entire army was in awe, he then lifted the golden wreaths above his head and addressed the army, "God has sent his message, I am the Emperor, I am the descendant and rightful heir of The first emperor, Justinian I", he then slowly placed the wreath onto his head, the army was completely silent for a few moments and couldn't believe it, many of there faces in shock, the sword and wreath of Justinian I is a legend and myth they grew up with, simply a bedtime story, to see them in real life, existing and on their side, a random soldier in the army shouted out "Long Live The Emperor", after that, the entire army began cheering it, the morale had reached one hundred as did loyalty to the emperor, The Emperor raised the sword in the air and pointed it towards Trim, "Now we ride!" He shouted, and army marched towards trim. I jumped from my horse and instead decided to march with my Army, the sixteenth.
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