The Paladin Order Reformed - Chapter 46

After a few hours, the king called us to the royal conference room, which was just a room with a large circular table with many chairs to accompany it. I sat beside Jake across from the king, there were several officials lining the remaining chairs, all outfitted in elegantly crafted armor or expertly tailored uniforms. These were the cabinet members that were with the king during the incident, most of them were at least. There were still some faces I didn’t recognize.

The king cleared his throat and the room became deathly quiet, the king sat up straight in his ornate chair and declaring.

“As all of you are aware, the Four Kingdoms of humanity, no humanity as a whole is in peril. As of last week, the Lion’s Guard Kingdom to the north-west and the High Imperium to the north-east have both fallen to Forsaken Rule. We, the Lord’s Union, and the Dragerian Republic have been branded traitors of the “Paladin Order”. We all know this was a deliberate coup to delegate power to a possibly tyrannical force.” He looked at me and asked. “Christian, would you like to elaborate on your experiences. I am aware you were in the 12th battalion at the time of the hostile takeover.”

Every pair of eyes shifted to me, I could feel the weight of all of their gazes resting on me. I started sweating slightly but said.

“Yes, from what I understand, all the brothers of the Order were either persuaded to shift allegiances with promises of power and wealth, or they were executed. I was almost killed by my commanding officer and I imagine many other Paladin Knights suffered similar fates, all be it with different outcomes.” I kept my head up and my voice even, the king and his cabinet seemed content with my response.

The king nodded, then asked. “I can see that you’ve endured much during your time, Christian. Now that you have proved our trust in you, would you care to tell me the original reason for your visit?”

I nodded politely, discretely glancing at Jake. He seemed to be waiting for my response as well, I guess I would be the one to explain everything since it was my idea, to begin with.

“May I ask you a question, Sir William?” The king nodded. “Do you know of the Moon Claws?”

He was slightly taken aback by the strange question, but nodded and waited for me to continue.

“I suppose I should start at the beginning.” I took a breath before saying. “When I escaped, I did so while rescuing a beast-girl who happened to be the sister to the chief of the Moon Claws at the time. He tracked her, as well as me, down. He challenged me to a fight to the death which I barely won. After that I became the chief of the Moon Claws, with a force of 1,000 beast-men, I was able to repel demon forces in the southern region of the kingdom. I traveled here recruiting any Paladin Knights or soldiers I could find.

My men are amassing strength and numbers in the town of Hampton as we speak, I have no idea of how many soldiers are currently there, but I can assume it’s close to 2,000 men including the beast-men.

I say all that to ask for your assistance. I can assume that all Paladin Order assets under your command have been frozen and you’ve been disconnected from any of your soldiers aside from those in the capital, correct?”

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he said.

“Your assumption is correct, the only military force under my command is the garrison currently stationed here. So what exactly are you proposing?”

I couldn’t help but smile, the future was laid in front of everyone. The notion of hope lifted the mood greatly.

“I want your help to take back this kingdom, then the next, and next. Until this entire continent is no longer threatened by demonic or tyrannical rule. I want us to be free again, I again want to serve the Order that raised me and see it prosper once again. Can you help us?”

The king’s expression was unreadable, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking behind his calculated gaze. He looked up at me, seeming to consider my proposal.

“This offer brings more hope than anything else that came after the revolution so far, but how can I trust you? Yes, you saved my life, but a “faithful” servant that served me for many years just tried to kill me. I wish desperately to accept, but I cannot until I can trust you completely.”

I lowered my head in reverence and said in a somber tone. “Please king, tell me what I must do to earn your trust.”

I stared at me curtly, before his face softened a little.

“If you are to become a hero we desperately need, then I have no doubt you will persevere. What I require you is to drive the demons from our home. Currently, they roam freely killing our people indiscriminately. There is no one to oppose them, until now. You will become our bastion of hope, our light in this time of darkness. Are you willing to restore what we have lost?”

Again, everyone’s gaze rested on me expectantly. I bowed my head slightly and said to the king and his court.

“I swore to protect the people when I became a Paladin Knight, I swore to use my strength to protect the weak. That is my desire, I will drive the demons from our home, this I swear.” I exclaimed my promise and it echoed clearly through the confines of the small room. My words reached everyone and it brought them a smile.

Under the heavy obligation set in front of me, my mind couldn’t help but be weighed by this grand burden. As the deaths of my men lurked in the back of my mind, I began to think.

I’m not qualified for such a large task, but we need to fight back now more than ever. So who should tell me I’m not good enough to lead? because I already know I’m not. Thankfully that doesn’t matter, because if someone is to fight, then I have to be willing to fight.

I became the chief of the Moon Claws by pure luck, after only wanting to survive. Now I’ve been tasked to push back the demon hordes and stop their rampage. Was it luck? Or was god preparing me for this, I wonder if this is what all men that are given great responsibility think?

I guess I’ll never know, but I know I must fight. I will lead to the best of my ability, I will fight with everything I have, because whether I like it or not It’s the hand I’ve been dealt and I’ll be damn sure to bluff it until I succeed or die trying.

Everyone laughed and smiled, giving me encouragement and praise. Jake couldn’t wipe the smile from his face and I won’t make him either. The king said in a warm tone.

“Christian, you have been given a great task, a monuments responsibility, but I know you will carry it through. I will tell of your forces gathering in Hampton, I will issue a royal decree for any remaining members siding with the true Paladin Order to go to Hampton to join you. I will also give you as much supplies as our city can spare.

I wish you luck and protection, I pray that god watch over your every step. If, or when you succeed in driving them from our home, then I will gather my remaining soldiers and we will take back the Captial and destroy the regime the Forsaken has erected.” As we stood from our chairs, the king said with a smile.

“Godspeed my boys.”