The blade came swiftly down upon the enemy as the middle aged man drew a quick breath. The light brown hair on his head fell down with the weight of his sweat. His beard was stained with the blood from the battle, both his own, and his enemies. The bronze colored steel he wore tired him, but it was a small price to pay for protection. This was the home he fought for, and it was the only thought running through his mind.

The dark steel on their enemies' armor seemed almost as impenetrable as their own. It made the general drop his shield to use half-swording. The men that fought were armed with bows, maces, halberds and heart shields. The soldiers against Helm's army were quit skilled almost more than the general's, but in this battle, Helm showed its superiority once more against their aggressors.

Off in the distance the riders came through the gates of Helm, and leading them was General Nerus's old squire, Cladius. Cladius had a nice physic and strong will. He was one of the best men Nerus had. His helmet sat on his face as he rode his mount to deliver the attack with his spear in hand and sword by his side. The charging horses converged into the enemies' lines, breaking their formation causing chaos in their ranks. The lances and spears hit the armor, piercing through the cracks and crevices, leading to death among the enemy. Helm had just secured their victory.

General Nerus swung his sword behind him, hitting an incoming man in the ribs with his blade. The blade made a dent into the armor as he thrust his blade through his target using half-swording. General Nerus breathed heavily as he stood back on his feet, watching as Helm's archers repelled the enemy with a volley of arrows. The steel shafts pierced through the enemies' chain mail.

Cladius tossed his spear in the air catching it in throwing formation, as he launched the spear into the man next to General Nerus. Cladius quickly turned back to be greeted by a mace hitting him square in the chest, knocking him down to the ground, as another enemy came around to attack him with his long sword. Cladius quickly rolled to the side, with his damaged torso, and countered with a jab from his sword. The blood oozed down from off his blade hitting Cladius in the mouth and eye, blurring his vision. He spat to his right getting rid of the warm substance covering his lip.

General Nerus ran forward, grabbing a dead enemy's heater shield before kneeling beside Cladius for support. He quickly handed the fallen man his arm, aiding him to his feet.

"Cladius, you need to watch yourself soldier!" General Nerus demanded, his light brown hair brushing his brow.

Cladius blinked twice, before nodding his head. It took him a moment to realize he had lost his helmet as the man with the mace came around the frightened horse. Nerus acted quickly slamming his long sword through the man's abdomen with a lighting quick stroke. Cladius hurriedly grabbed his helmet nearby slamming it back on his head.

"It's been short and sweet general!" Cladius replied with urgency.

Cladius had long blade like hair, with a true black color. His eyes had a deep warm brown color, making his eyes a dark complexion nearly black. His skin was tan and his face clean shaven. He was fit and ready for a fight. Nerus watched as he slammed his sword through another man's armor. The two men fought side by side, as their army started pushing the attackers back.

The knights of Helm shouted aloud with their courage and intimidation, as they forced the assailants into a retreat. The formation had been broken, and their will. This was not the first battle to be fought in the Valley of Kings, and it certainly wasn't the last.

Dawn was breaking, from the long battle. It had taken ten hours, lasting through the night. The enemy wasn't afraid to attack in the confusion of the dark. Who was this king who dare challenge Helm? And what strength could he possible hold? Cladius thought about these things as Nerus approached him, laying his hand on his shoulder.

"Volohs's men will not take the Kingdom of Kings."

"Is that the assailant? Was not he the kings very own son?" Cladius replied to Nerus.

"Indeed, after his attempt to kill his own father; the king had Volohs banished, how he has attained the power he now holds is beyond me."

"It seems he found a way for his revenge."

"Cladius, this is more than revenge, Volohs is power hungry. The king had only one heir, and he disowned him for his traitorous acts."

Cladius looked into the green eyes of the light brown haired man. General Nerus beard seemed to have greyed more during battle. He was a great man, both in battle and in personality. He was a moral giant, and Cladius's mentor. He was not the tallest man, but he held the position of Commanding General of Helm, taking the lead in all military matters. The king had complete faith in him, and left all battle decisions to him. Nerus was thee elite knight of the entire kingdom.

"I worry, who is to take the place of King Aziph? Who has he yet to take his thrown?" Cladius replied.

"That is neither for me, nor you to decide Cladius. However, you have earned a title I think the King will agree with. Captain Cladius." General Nerus smiled at the young man.

Cladius was the youngest man to have become a knight, and would be the youngest captain. Second to Nerus in the army was Cladius, and the general knew the young man would surpass him; it would only be a matter of time. Cladius had become a knight at the age of nineteen, having nothing else to learn, mastering all the techniques of knighthood. As of today, he would be the youngest captain, of the age of twenty four.

Cladius smiled back, he was not striving to become a captain, he only desired to be an honest soldier, and chivalries knight of Helm. He wished to protect and to preserve the land he loved. He was an orphan, fatherless and motherless; someone like him couldn't be of any greater significance or so he thought.

The general and promoted captain help the others, as the counted their dead, finding over one thousand dead men. Each man had a life, a wife, a kid, a mother, someone to take care of, and someone they loved. They had not only sacrificed themselves to save their kingdom, but to save those around them. Each man was barred in a separate grave, along with a cross, with the crescent of an eclipsed sun, by a half moon, the crescent of Helm. And to each of their families was their sum of gold doubled, and paid. Every man had a life, each one being for the better or for the worse, a character, and a personality.

In the kingdom there was mourning for the loss and celebration for their victory. The king had delivered a speech and the returned knights where hugged tightly by their wives, and kissed by their children. There wasn't a single soul throughout helm who did not weep, whether it was in pain or joy.

Cladius had no such family to reassure him of his safe return. He paced in the streets in the cool night breeze, thinking about his life. He was familiar with the God of Space and Time, Claydrin. He was said to hold the earth in his right hand. He was the God of Helm, and by his side was his wife Arrivaile. Arrivaile was the Goddess of Direction, a guide to the children of men. Cladius wondered why the two constantly crossed his mind and why he thought of them now.

A blue flame licked at Cladius's skin, from one of the magic wells. Helm had them almost like lanterns guiding wonders along the smooth cobble stone path. No man knew, or remembered where the magic wells had come from, or how they were built, some said it was something built by the gods, so men would always remember them. The truth was, it was all rumor, a truth long forgotten.

It was only a day later when the funerals of the dead took place, family, friends, and other loved ones came to circle round and morn the deaths of war. Among them was a man by the name of Rigger, one of Cladius's many teachers. Cladius had excelled at a great speed through knight hood, which allowed for multiple  teachers, even though General Nerus was his master, and mentor. Cladius knew though he did not see Nerus there, he would pay his respects when time deemed it possible.

The family of the deceased came forward carrying Rigger's sword. Holding the sword was a fit and slim lass. She had blue cyan hair, with golden eyes full of tears. Her sad and gloomy face was not the only thing that stood out to Cladius, rather the man standing beside her. The figure was at least six feet tall. He toward over all of the men there by a good two to three inches. He had brown hair with banes falling to his brow. He was a broad man with thick arms and legs. He had almost no resemblance to the young woman, and Cladius wonder if he was truly her brother.

Nerus had given Cladius the task to return Riggers, helmet. It was a custom that the sword would be struck into the grave, and the helmet placed on top the hilt of the sword. Cladius would be the one to give a few good words. This was to show respect to all the knights who had died. Their service was holy in the sight of Claydrin.

Cladius had been staying close to the sidelines as he waited for his turn to approach the grave. The woman and man stood there a second longer. Every second the stayed Cladius became more nervous, this was new to him and he had never been in such a position. The young knight watched intensely, as the two slowly stepped back. Cladius waited a few seconds, before stepping forward. He wore his full set of armor in respect to his elder knight, as was the custom. He swallowed as he gently placed the bronze colored helm over the hilt of the long sword.

Claduis's mind was buzzing, and it took him a second to turn around to face the audience. He was facing the family the moment he turned around. The blue haired woman was the first thing he saw, his eyes blink twice before being able to open his mouth. He was loss at words, he had seen the lass moments, ago, but seeing her face stunned him. Her golden eyes and blue hair complemented her slightly rosey skin. It was as if he had starred into heaven.

"Sir Rigger Quail, my teacher, friend, father, brother, son, and husband. He was a noble man; he taught me many things on my journey to knight hood. His integrity and loyalty was always as straight as his own sword. Never have I know more noble a man. He served the king, but more importantly, he loved those around him. He gave his life to protect them, something most men would not be able to do." Cladius paused trying to think of what more to say, "He will always be missed. Let Claydrin glorify him in Zelstin." Cladius finished.

Cladius had finished and turned around bowing to the grave of Rigger Quail. He quickly rose, walking back into the gathering. The young knight knew that Rigger had a wife, but that she was deceased. He had said that Rigger was a husband, when his wife had died years earlier over an illness. Cladius wondered how many would catch his mistake.

A few men stood up also to give a few good words about the fallen knight. Surprisingly, Cladius noticed that the woman and man didn't give any last words at the ceremony. They just stood there listing to the words of their friends and family. The blue haired woman and the giant man simply stayed close together, striving to comfort each other. Cladius too felt the pain of Riggers death, and was only able to mourn after everyone else, to keep is composition.

It was only seconds after the ceremony when the blue haired woman and the giant man approached Cladius. There were no tears in the woman's eyes, but her face was still red, and the man seemed to show no sign of tears. Cladius gave a respectful bow as the woman began to speak.

"Excuse me sir, but where is General Nerus? I was under the impression he would have helped in the ceremony."

"Ma'am, excuse me then on my intrusion. I was here for an old friend, and Nerus had charged me with the duty." Cladius replied to the fair lass.

"You knew my father?" The woman replied.

"Yes, He was my teacher. He taught me in the way of the sword, along with General Nerus. I've had very many mentors, all of which I have come to respect, to say the least. "

"Are you Cladius?" the giant man asked.

Cladius looked up, the man was a good 6 inches taller than he, "Yes, I'm surprise you would know my name. Especially sense I do not know yours. If we have met, I give you my deepest regret for my forgetfulness."

"No we have not met," The woman replied, "My name is Almorah Quail and this is my brother, Alugar Quail. We have heard stories about you."

"While curiosity will crave at my soul, I suppose it better I do not know. Your father was a great man, and he was my friend. I hope to one day be as great a man." Cladius replied.

"He told use, we could trust you, if something like this happened, though I do not know what he meant. Do you perhaps?" Almorah fought back tears, the longer the conversation continued.

"I'm sorry to say I do not. However I will do what I can for you two. I give you my word, and my sword." Cladius replied.

Almorah gave a quick chortle through her gloom, "I'm glad to hear."

General Nerus walk forward placing his hand on Cladius shoulder as he talked to Rigger's children. Cladius was glad to see him; he was as if a father to Cladius. The pressure of the day seemed to finally ware on both men. The young knight simply closed his eyes, the conversations around him disappearing in the distance as he took in a deep breath. The evening sky finally gave in to the moon, as the sky slowly darkened.