Page 242 - Musings 2020

Stranger: Bravado! What a beautiful song! I wonder if the dragon liked it. (smirks)

(Archibald stays indifferent to the stranger’s jibe and sips his mead acknowledging Talos’
music.)

Talos: (Acknowledging all the people in the tavern) That’s it for the while, my dear folks.
You’ve sure been as cheerful as a dead bird tonight, I thank you all for listening to this fools’
charade.

(Talos hangs his lute on the wall, treads towards the bar table, gets a mug of ginger ale and a
royal announcement scroll, and proceeds to the fireplace again.)

Talos:(In a loud voice) Attention! Attention! Attention everyone! The duke has an
announcement for us common folk:

“Townsfolk of Sorenguard, an infantry training camp is to commence in three days in the
Royal province. Knights are no longer bound to serve the royal army. If they wish to do so,
they shall be given a higher military rank in exchange for their knighthood. Else, they can
retain their knighthood and reside as nobles in the capital province.”

Quite the surprise eh? The decline of Knights in the army...
Stranger: A surprise? After all, the mercenaries and knights have lessened in numbers in the
last decade. Times are changing. Knights are soon to be obsolete in this world and the way
the weaponry and technology are advancing; they are racing towards their extinction. Some
will continue as myths and legends, while most like our friend here shall be confined to the
memories of the past.

(Archibald’s face contorts in disdain. He glances at the stranger and wonders who this cocky
and rude man would be.)

Stranger: Well, unlike our holy knights, at least the mercenaries won't die out. They will
always have a source of livelihood in the form of the nobles and the rich people who want to
keep their hands clean and their serpentine nature hidden. Tch tch, the elites and their virtues.

Talos: (Nods in agreement) I also do not understand why the people idolize the knights. My
father was a knight too. Known throughout my town. It was then that the bloody war struck
and he met a ruthless end. My mother and I were left alone. To avoid taking a stance on the
unnecessary war, the duke refused to acknowledge the sacrifice of my father. We were thrown
into the arms of poverty, stripped of all glories my father had brought. All he turned out to be,
was a tool for the duke. And that’s what all Knights are, strong, battle driven hounds, barking
for the duke. All wear a collar of honour around their necks to hide this reality. I am glad that
the duke is undoing the leashes from around the necks of these naive men.

(Archibald is greatly astounded by Talos’ stand on the knights.)

Sir Archibald: My dear child. Your father was a hero. Nobody would dare to forget that.
Even though the king refused to recognize his contribution to the war, the townspeople
wouldn’t forget the honour he brought to this land. Knights are much more than mere pawns
of the kingdom. Without our code of honour, Sorenguard shall be at the mercy of crooks and
bandits. Knights are sworn to protect ones who can’t fend for themselves, to uphold justice,

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