Butterjeeves

Adalbaldur von Thalstroch watched the sun go down. He stood on the edge of the cliff – a sheer drop of about hundred feet onto a bed of jagged, rocky debris – and the chill wind that came from the east off the river countered the stifling warmth of the thick cloak. Fiery sol lit up the giant puffy clouds to a blazing orange that left imprints on the retinas; the sky was a solid golden yellow around the orb which also turned to dusty orange later on. Behind him the sky would be a dark hue of blue, perhaps even black on the very rim where night was following up. He looked again at the clouds, wondering, seeing how much they appeared as mounta

Hadelinde was having trouble with the bridge guard. She wasn't the only one, and the situation was putting a lot of stress on the captain and his men. 'You'd defy the orders of our king?' 'No,' she replied. 'I have clearance from herr Ewald Austerlitz. It is my duty to–' 'Oh, so you think that aloof swine of a noble has more authority than Kaiser Friedrich?' 'It his Friedrich's will that this be done. Thäcein assets still lie in Arduine and they require much protection on their journey back. The Southerners have agreed to allow contingents of guards through for this purpose.' 'Be that as it may, you are a mercenary. There's lots of work

'I choose my sword as my weapon, my shield and armour to protect me.' 'I choose my great sword as my weapon, my chain and grace to protect me.' Arms and armour chosen, the first step of the dueling tradition was complete. They were in a space thirty feet in daimetre; to move outside it was to break the second rule and receive five lashes before resuming the contest. To run away was to receive 15 lashes and loss of honour. To use any weapon other than the one claimed by the combatants broke the third rule and was punishable by twenty lashes and loss of all weapons and armour. Of course, Baldur had recalled, the classification of "weapon" fo