Chapter 52 Societās

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Paladin allowed his sturdy black Nordic stallion to prance anxiously before the impressively thick oaken gate of sir Wallin's castle. He was harnessed in armor, but it was of the old Tabard style, with smaller pauldrons and a bascinet-style helmet. He wore a long surcoat imprinted with his family heraldry over his armor.

As the commander of the Army of Light patiently waited for entry into the fortress of a splinter rebel faction, the leader of which he secretly loathed, he thought about his son and the loss that he could never recover. His life had been irreversibly altered by a war that he never wanted to fight in the first place, especially alongside men of questionable principles.

The primary difference between his rebel army and sir Wallin's faction was the latter's use of terrorism. Paladin believed such tactics to be cowardly and evil, that uncivilized attacks made the rebels no better than the cursed Empire they were trying to defeat, but despite his reservations he had to accept the fact that the present situation called for suspension of conscience.

The grimly pale face that appeared between crenels on the ramparts above the gate had dark sunken eyes with dark wavy hair to match. Paladin looked up at the sallow face of the eye's owner but said nothing.

"What do you want?"

So much for gracious formalities, he thought.

"I have come to make a request," Paladin said with no obvious sign of expediency.

"Why? You don't approve of my tactics. We are technically adversaries."

"I come not to argue tactics but rather, to form an alliance."

Wallin turned away briefly to issue a command. After a few minutes the gate began a torturous ascension. When it had retracted sufficiently into the head beam, six men-at-arms rushed out to form an escort for Paladin.

He urged his horse forward into the outer ward. While warily eyeing knights in full battle array standing at alert, Paladin dismounted as slowly as he could and removed his helmet, avoiding any hostile gestures.

Paladin watched Wallin hobble over to him and assumed that his unwilling host's unsteady gate was the result of a serious battle wound. Sir Wallin was tall and willowy but twisted, his right hand missing an index finger and his face sporting a jagged scar on the left cheek.

"Why do you offer alliance when your forces are superior to mine?"

Paladin flashed a brief, subtle smile. "The time for petty squabbling is past. We intend to place Terra under siege and need the aid of all who wish to end this Empire's evil rule."

Wallin spat. "Have you taken leave of your senses? Even combined we cannot defeat the Empire, especially by a siege of Terra."

"We have gathered many peasant guerilla armies and every rebel knight of the Army of Light for the assault. Powerful trebuchets are under construction at Avondale. This land has suffered too long under the yoke of evil oppression. The time has come for the cauterization of a most grievous wound."

Wallin eyed him suspiciously for a moment. "You are serious."

"I have no other choice. The current intolerable situation demands offensive action. Besides, the time is ripe. The Emperor is dead and his armies are in disarray."

"I wouldn't be so damn sure," Wallin said with a grunt. "I know Alisto and Holsted. Those bastards are not going to roll over and play dead for the likes of us."

"I didn't say this was going to be easy, but we have no choice. We believe that the military is preparing to assume control in the absence of a viable heir. If that happens, oppression will become rampant."

"Conjecture. Laying siege to Terra will be very costly."

"Freedom is seldom cheap, but the price must be paid. Besides, most of my men have little to lose but their miserable lives."

Wallin blew out a deep sigh. "You are not alone in that sentiment." He said this with his face turned away, as if he were talking with some invisible person.

After a moment of silence he turned back to Paladin. "Come. Let us take leave of the heat." He gestured to a square-walled keep with creepy ivy against crumbling stone.

Wallin plopped down on a bench near a large table that obviously served as both desk and dinner table, judging by the dishes and wine goblets lying in disarray alongside parchment scrolls.
"You speak of alliance. What exactly did you have in mind?"

Paladin remained standing. "We have formulated a document--Articles of Federation--on which all members of The Army of Light have affixed their seals."

"What do these Articles entail?"

"They spell out the structure of the new Terrin Federation and the principles of law that will govern it."

"Principles of law? Who will enforce these laws?"

Paladin shifted his stance but he kept his gaze squarely on Wallin. "Laws will be formulated by a body of elected senators and enforced by judiciary appointed by a commissioner chosen from the signatories of the Federation."

"And who will keep these elected officials from killing one another?"

"You and I," Paladin said half smiling.

After a few moments of confusion, Wallin exploded with laughter. "You are a hopelessly romantic fool. We would surely lose our lives or at least our minds. Men are not capable of self-governing. They only know how to kill."

"Yes," Paladin said, holding a finger up. "You are right. But, justice must be born of law not men. We must agree not to kill but instead to live in peace."

"Impossible Idealism. What will this so called Federation do to regress the excesses of the Empire?"

"For one, lands will be restored and equitably apportioned."

"Ho, ho! You have not yet defeated the Empire and you are already dividing its spoils. Where is the glory in that?"

"This is not about glory. This is about the future, our children's and our grandchildren's future. We owe it to them."

Paladin sat down and sighed. "Besides, I'm not getting any younger."

Wallin eyed him with a confused expression twisted into his already twisted face. Paladin cracked a smile, prompting his host to laugh boisterously again.

"You're not alone there my friend." His face relaxed. "If you think we can defeat this damn Empire than I'm in. Show me these Articles."

Wallin quickly scanned the parchment that Paladin gave him. "I believe that a Senate was tried before."

"You're right," Paladin said. "The Empire was once a republic, but its citizens grew complacent and abdicated all authority to an emperor, who gladly embraced absolute power in the interest of state glory."

Wallin sighed. "And it worked until personal glory became more important than that of the state. How do you propose to prevent the same?"

"Power will reside with the Senate not the commissioner. There will be checks and balances in place to obviate abuse of power."

Wallin handed Paladin the signed parchment. "I most sincerely hope so. I tire of this wretched war."

"As do I."

"What do you wish of me?"

Paladin held a solicitous hand up. "A most important role. The trebuchets will be pivotal in the breach of Terra, and they must be protected at all costs."

"Understood. I will prepare my forces for the march to Avondale."

The sounds of shouting permeated their peace. An aide appeared with an ominous warning.

"An army approaches, my lord."

Wallin's face exploded with anger. "If this is some trick of yours. . . ."

A veil of contrition fell over Paladin's face. "I assure you that no one accompanied me."

Wallin gave him a cautious stare before turning to rush out of the keep. Paladin tailed after him.

When they arrived at the battlements, Paladin and Wallin saw that a sizable army was entrenched in the woods beyond Wallin's castle. Their pennons and flags advertised their loyalty.

"It's part of Holsted's army," Paladin said. "Spies are more rampant than I was led to believe. They have obviously discerned the purpose of my visit here." He turned to Wallin. "I would appreciate it if you would provide me with a crossbow. I will assist in your defense."

"You would fight alongside us?"

Paladin's jaw set with determination. "We cannot allow this place to be taken. I will die here if necessary to prevent the Empire from taking it."

Wallin stared at him with surprised eyes for a moment before turning to a soldier. "Provide this man and me with a crossbow and bolts."

The soldier saluted and ran off. Wallin turned to survey the forces arraying in the distance.

"You fight in good company, sir. My men have taken a vow not to be defeated by this damn Empire. They will fight to the death."

Paladin saluted Wallin with an ancient gesture: a fist into his chest, a long forgotten but respectful greeting between warriors.