The Lufian Family 9

Dagobert walks into the courtyard, not a soul in sight elsewhere. Indeed, as he had begun to suspect, he sees vast swathes of people tied in rope and forced to their knees. Dagobert walks into the center of them. The nearby bandits shy away from his terrifying presence. He can’t find Sigiland or Odila among the hostages. Only one man faces him. Unlike the others, this bandit wears full plate armor. He spreads his arms out in an arrogant manner.

“Well well, if it isn’t Margrave Lufian—”

Dagobert smashes his fist into Leofwine’s chest. The sound of the metal crumpling is loud. Leofwine is forced back and falls to the ground. Leofwine coughs at his fall, but gets up easily. He pounds his fist into his chest and the metal of his armor forces itself back into its proper shape as though it was never struck at all. Leofwine comments, no aggression in his voice.

“A sturdy body and magic both? You ought to have become a knight. At least then you might have had a sliver of honor.”

“What? Is this a recruitment campaign you’re running? Sorry, but there’s no money to be found in being a soldier.” Dagobert chuckles.

“Of course that wasn’t the case. No matter what you say from now on, I will have your head.” Leofwine draws his large halberd from his back.

“Then what’s even the point of talking!”

Leofwine swings his halberd. Dagobert covers his palm with his cloak. He catches the halberd by its sharp edge. Dagobert feels the force of the halberd pushing against his shoulder, threatening to force it out of its socket. He had expected as much after his blow, but Dagobert again notes that the man before him is truly powerful. Leofwine possesses a pure force that far outstrips the average man, indeed it even surpasses Dagobert. Dagobert gives up on the idea of winning this battle unscathed. In his eyes, even with both his arms useless, the rest of the bandits ought to pose no threat compared to Leofwine.

Dagobert doubts he’ll be able to break through Leofwine’s armor easily, and as such he gives up on it. He makes a fist and throws a punch right at Leofwine’s eye. Leofwine realizes what’s coming, but he can do nothing about it. Both his hands are still holding the halberd, and he’s certain to die here, without having made even a penny, if he’s disarmed. He lets Dagobert punch him.

After getting struck, Leofwine sees Bada signalling relentlessly. Leofwine laughs in Dagobert’s face, not fearing retribution any longer.

“Everything’s in place now! Don’t you dare make another move!” Eadwig drops Sigiland and Odila on the edge of the terrace nearest to Dagobert and Leofwine. Dagobert sees them and lowers his arms. “We have archers far out of reach, all of them trained on the two of them. Take one more step against us and I’ll have them fire. They’ll die even faster than that soldier boy of yours.” Dagobert stops himself from reacting. Again destruction and protection are in contest. He cannot kill Leofwine in a single blow, thus protection wins.

“It seems you’ve won. What do you require of me?” Leofwine smirks.

“First I need you to remove any weapons.”

“Very well.” Dagobert drops his cloak onto the ground. It clatters as it falls. “I carry nothing else.”

“Somebody take this thing away!” He smirks at Dagobert once more. “I’m sure it will sell for quite a bit, don’t you think?” A bandit appears cautiously behind Dagobert. He snatches the cloak away, struggling to heft it from its impressive weight.

“What next? I’m sure you must have more in store for me.”

“Right, right, get on the ground and let us bind you.” Dagobert obliges, sitting on his knees, maintaining his dignity all the while. “Alright, next you’ll tell me of all the treasures in the manor.”

“All of them? I suppose the greatest, in terms of sheer value, would be the library. That’s several hundred books, I believe. Beyond that, there are a dozen sets of armor, ornate and with arms to match. There are several large paintings hanging in the halls. And I suppose, given the right buyer, everything else in the manor.”

“So much wealth, doesn’t that make you ashamed? Hoarding it all, when it could be going to somebody like me instead.”

“If you want it then take it. I don’t care much for it in the first place. If that will make you free your hostages then there’s no reason to resist. Though it may be lost on a brigand like you, my people are the greatest treasure of all.” Leofwine sneers.

“Don’t patronize me. Do you think I don’t know the value of a human life? I’d never let them go! They’re worth so much more like that!” Leofwine bursts into laughter. Dagobert still seems unfazed once Leofwine has calmed down. “Now then, I believe somebody is missing. Where is your son? Have him stand down. I won’t let him get the drop on me.”

“My son… I have no idea where he might be. He disappeared over a week ago, and we’ve found no trace of him yet. I have no control over him. He’ll do as he pleases.”

“A failure as a lord and a father both! Don’t worry, I’ll put you out of your misery. And then you’ll never have to fail somebody again.” Dagobert faces Leofwine with resolve.

“Perhaps I am a failure of a lord. And I certainly am a failure as a father. Indeed I could do nothing for my son and can do nothing for my land. Perhaps execution is the proper fate for a man such as that. However, know that you will never know peace while my son still lives. Even beyond me the Lufian family will persist. Know that one day, though I know not when, the hammer of justice will fall upon you and you shall feel his retribution. He is sure to grow to be a far greater man than me, and you will be powerless before him.”

Leofwine sneers but says nothing. He brings down his halberd, aimed right at Dagobert’s neck. Dagobert closes his eyes and resigns himself. But the end never comes for him. He opens his eyes to see a familiar shroud around him. He’s sure that his own cloak is nowhere near him, and he’s sure he has done nothing. Indeed there is only one man alive who might bear a cloak like this. Indeed the man before him is his beloved son.