A CHILD LEARNS OF VICTORY

[Draeris 3124]

 

A CHILD LEARNS OF VICTORY

Konstanz Friedrich Markanz becomes a man at Hangman Bridge

 

“Vater” Konstanz muttered, looking up to his armoured father “Are you sure I’m ready?”. As he studied his new blade, his father Reinhard couldn’t help but crack a smile “This is the Barclay way, mein Junge” he stated, patting his head. 

 

The young Konstanz grew, at least to a Hanseti norm, old enough to fight his first battle. Little did the young one know that it was a battle of great relevance: the first conflict between Morsgrad and Hanseti-Ruska after the stalemate. Reinhard awkwardly looked around the square at his chatting Barclay & Markanz Brüder, hoping that they wouldn’t bring this up and perhaps pressure Konstanz.

 

It wasn’t long ago since he sparred with Lord Konstantin Ruthern under the watchful eye of his family, on the rooftop of the Freisburg castle. He had managed to surprise Konstantin with a clever move, being able to win a round despite his physical inferiority to his senior. Though all knew that he had Barclay blood in his veins: a blessing as much as a curse, as Konstanz had a lot to prove to his uncle Wilheim & Anton Barclay. This expectation drove him to spar with adults quite a bit, even being mocked for his naïve boldness of challenging random relatives duels excessively. Though his gregarious quest for practice was never punished, and always welcomed.

 

As they marched out of the Reza gate towards the Kaedreni bridge, Reinhard purposely moved himself away from his son in the group: hoping that he’d develop independence. At first the young Konstanz became nervous, looking around for his relatives as the group marched on. To no avail, as he only started to recognize these trusting faces when they were standing in front of the enemy: cowering near the Kaedreni bridge in anticipation of their fight. But they stood faraway from Konstanz, who was flanked by miss Tamarid, who merely dipped her head to him in respect. This gesture comforted him, it made him feel less alone in the battle to come.

 

The band of Haenseni didn't leave the provocation by the barbarians unpunished, as the decimated their cavalry in a quick sea of arrows, followed by a chase into Kaedrin over Hangman's bridge. It was a decisive victory rather quickly, with most of them dying barely past the bridge itself.

 

But not without the help of the young Konstanz Friedrich Barclay-Markanz, who valiantly stood aside of Hanseti’s greatest like Zaraleen Tamarid and Aedan Barclay-Capulei: fighting on the bridge, roads and even the river itself. He even slaughtered an unnamed soldier singlehandedly, bringing eternal shame upon the enemy’s relatives who lost their man by the hand of a child, as much as great pride in House Barclay and Markanz, for the young one has become a true man today. He and the young Erwin Barclay truly represented the capable next generation of the Hanseti house. This battle would be known as The Battle of Hangman's Bridge, and would be the tale to tell for Konstanz in the many years he has yet to live.

[MadOne 4945]

Wilheim would look over to the young Konstanz, smiling at his nephew after the battle, while cleaning his sword. He would ask him about how the battle went and such, proud of the youngling's achievement.

[ThatDutchFellow 1147]

Konstanz Friedrich Markanz looked uppon his gifted sword with pride before getting his loot back home stating “Guess i was ready after all”

[Miniguy15736 400]

Erwin sat near the riverbank, rubbing the back of his head as he gazed upon the pagan corpses that littered the field. He had manned the walls during the stalemate at Reza, he had watched from afar as the Haeseni defeated the Suffonians in Warwick Castle, but this was the first true battle he’d been in. He had been one of the first across the bridge, flinging himself headlong into the pagan lines, hacking away at any who were near. It was a battle he was determined to win. A battle filled with blood and death. A battle where a boy becomes a man. He stepped over the dead as he returned to Reza, whispering “Ave Oren, Ave Haense.”

[Ci_Kelp 2]

Charles would look across the blood-spattered field with pagan bodies. “This is what victory feels like.” With a bloody sword in hand to continue with the chant “Ave Haense, Ave Haeanse.”