203 Legions of Blood (2/2)
Of course, these men did not know that none of this meant anything to Li, that they might as well have been waving toothpicks at him, but he was still impressed that they were indeed a cut above the norm of knights he had seen. It must have taken them many years of dedicated training and facing real combat to harden themselves into this state.
”At ease, men,” came a resounding voice. There was a raspy rattle to it, the kind that heavy smokers had, and it made the voice that much more gutturally intimidating.
The front rank of knights lifted their spears up, planting the tasseled butts to the ground before standing up straight, rigid, then turning around and parting way, letting a much larger knight walk through them and approach Li.
He took off his helm, holding it under his armpit, and when he stood in front of Li, his bulk became highly noticeable. Li was already on the taller side, but this man was nearly inhuman, standing almost two and a half meters tall.
He had square cut features, rough graying stubble and close-cropped salt black hair. When he smiled, it was visible that his canines were far longer and sharper than a human's.
”So you are the Eastern one,” said the man.
”And you are?” said Li.
”Leonid. Of house Drozdov. Commander of the fifth legion.”
”Long name,” chimed in Tia as she stepped out from behind Li and looked at the large human. ”Too long.”
Almost immediately, the men behind Leonid pointed their spears back down to Tia, evidently hostile and wary of anything that bore resemblance to monsters. Tia responded by baring her claws and fangs, a patch of light glowing at her throat as fire began to well up.
”If you value the lives of your men, Leonid,” said Li. ”I suggest you order them to stand down again.”
Leonid nodded and raised a hand. His men once more broke their offensive postures in orderly fashion.
”We are not here to fight,” said Leonid.
”Really?” said Li as he moved his eyes up and down the length of the army.
Leonid noticed and said, ”Not you. Not Riviera. No, we are here to help. The duchess has called upon all five banners of Soleil to gather to march west and stand against the demonic threat.”
”Marching west? Aggressively meeting the demons head on?” Li looked at Leonid, feeling an air of overwhelming confidence about him. ”You do not seem very concerned about that.”
”Why would I? We, the legions of Duvin, are born and bred in its harsh but nourishing lands. From the moment we are able to walk, we are chosen to fight. Men, monsters, demons – all will fall before our steel.”
”And yet I see no demons here. Perhaps you have strayed off course, laying a perimeter around this forest. I find it difficult to believe you have mistaken this forest for Riviera.”
”We received report of demonic activity here. Among many other strange occurrences.”
”Activity that I and the adventurers behind me have thoroughly dealt with.”
Leonid looked back to Bulwark. His eyes landed on Launcelot. ”Ah, a Lakely.” He nodded his head in a greeting. ”I presume you will be joining us in our march to the west?”
Launcelot was still a little shaky from having used up much of his magical and physical energy, but he managed to still stand up straight with the poise and pride of a nobleman facing down a rival house. ”As you can see, we have already been fighting the demonic threat. Of course, though, we would still appreciate all the men and arms we can get, however late it is.”
Leonid laughed. ”As spirited as ever, you Lakely lot are. I remember dueling your father in the tournament of five banners many years ago, when we were yet young and spry. He fought a good fight, though of course, there is a reason the Lakelies are builders while those of house Drozdov are fighters. ”
”And why do matters so far in the past matter now?” said Faye. ”If you lot are here to reinforce Riviera and march west, then go. There is no threat here. We've handled it.”
”Hm. You have a feisty woman, Lakely. Good taste.” Leonid smiled and turned to Li before Faye could protest. ”But yes, the woman has a point. The bumbling lord Lys panicked and ordered us here, yelling of darkening skies and shadowed suns and earth rumblings.
But when we marched here, we found but calm. And yet, I stayed here, for I had heard that the famed Easterner had himself come to this forest. You could say I have waited here for the sole purpose of meeting you.”
”Hm?” Li was confused. ”To meet me? And what about me is so special that you went through all this effort to see me?”
Leonid's smile grew wider.
”To see whether the rumors were true.
The so called strongest man of Riviera. The herald of a forgotten god from a land of mystery. One who has overtaken even the Light in healing, able to bring the dead to life, to create salves that can rid any of all ailments. Blessed with such power he could bring down the highest of priests with but a mere touch.
I know that the tall tales of travelers and ordinary folk are mostly empty air, but looking upon you, though you be wiry and thin in frame, there is something about you that makes my very blood boil, and so, in tradition of the legions of blood, I must fight you.”