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The crackling of the flames finally released him from his dreaming, in time for him to be roused by a loud knock upon his chamber door. A drowsy, subdued greeting from Audric, " Yes? Please, come in. "
A small statured figure, clad in the typical red and white of the Knights, emerged from the slowly opening door. It was none other than Jacques, the man who marred him. Subconsciously Audric raised his hand and brushed at the healing scar across his face, allowing himself his typical kind smile, despite the searing pain. The poor lad before him looked contrite and remorseful, bowing his head in absolute shame.
"Father Glenn.. I.. ah.. I am sorry, again. The Grand Master requests your presence, on the terrace. He is walking the wall, and wishes.. to hear your report directly. "
Audric mused, quietly, stoking the broken pieces of the chair in the campfire once more. Jacques looked on with a quiet bit of surprise, stuttering and letting the words fall haphazardly from his mouth. . "Is that your other chair? Wh- why? "
A calm, cool response... " Yes, it is. I did not need three. I need warmth over pointless luxury. "
The other Knight shook his head faintly, and stammered again, pointing to the door. " .. Grand Master.. uh.. wall, yeah. Hm. " He rubbed his head and headed back out the door. Audric allowed himself the time to laugh, and gather his helmet, sword and shield.
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"Grand Master?" Audric murmured, as he ascended the final set of stairs to meet with the esteemed man. The great Knight turned to observe him, as he took his final approach, the pair bowing in unison to one another.
"Father Lacroix. How good to see you. . I wanted to speak with you about the skirmish you engaged in, the prior week. An incredible feat, a blessing of the Lord, that any of you survived. " The grizzled old man ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. " It still yet pains me that our brothers did not return, and that you were so greviously wounded. An Ottoman must have gotten very close. You have a skilled defense if I remember correctly. " The Grand Master eyed him skeptically. . .
. . . And Audric did not budge. A single nod, " Yes, Grand Master. It was a lucky strike, one that I will not allow to happen again. " The first, and only lie the Knight ever told.
"He caught you with your helmet off, did he? "
" .. A chance encounter. " He nods, again.
The old Grand Master knew better and responded with a faint chuckle. " The Lord willed it to be so, and who are we to question God? "
Audric was just about to speak, until he heard something in the far off distance- and he was not the only one. Many of the Sentries and watchmen glanced out to the water, and one of them bellowed his last breath, a warning cut short.
"CANNON FI-- " A spray of blood, and rock, was all that remained of the Knight of Rhodes. Bells rang across the Citadel, and men moved quickly into action. A sea of red and white responding to the late night attack.
The Grand Master, perhaps the strongest willed and boldest of them, did not budge. Cannon balls impacted the walls at a great frequency, as more and more ships emerged from the distance. The old man dragged out an old spyglass, and peered across the water. It clattered roughly to the ground, and he raised his sword. " RETURN FIRE! ALL CANNONS, FIVE UP- "
A hurried chattering, and the men scrambled- loading the cannons with an urgent efficiency. The retorts were deafening, sending metal towards their foes. Many missed, but just as many found their mark with little to no avail. As they fired, more and more ships emerged, as only a few remained broadside to engage the citadel. An entire Armada had emerged by then, a hundred ships and a hundred more, in the dead of night, laying siege upon the fabled fortress.
The chaos was unmeasured, and Audric stood by the Grand Master, paralyzed with fear. Fog, an unnatural fog, clouded the battlement that obscured their view from the enemy, and seemed to cling to Father Glenn. It, in turn, provided him magic that was otherwise beyond him. A swiftly murmured prayer, and the entropic shield enveloped him as he stood between the Grand Master and the cannonball that sought to kill them both.
Metal found its mark true, seemingly hitting Audric directly, but the magic the mist bought combined with the sheer will of the Priest, the cannonball struck what should have been, and veered to the side, off of his shield and into stone far into the distance.
The fog cleared, in that instant, and Audric was gone. . .yet the Grand Master remained.
The Citadel fell, as was predetermined by the insurmountable enemy, and history continued on as usual, just without the young Father Glenn. . .
The Siege of Rhodes continued on, and Audric was forgotten amongst the whispers of time as the mist left, carrying him in tow.