Goldenhold
Chapter 30: Inspiring Speech
“Sir! I think we are screwed!” The banging on the adamantine door was only getting worse. Sounds echoed through the corridor where the terrified guards stood, weapons out.
The captain of the guard was the only person who appeared to be totally unworried about the recent events. He was almost happy. That traitor Karakzon was dead, his leg was healed, and he had good news to tell his troops. “You heard the screams of the traitor? Karakfail I think was his name? You see what happens to those who betray the fortress? ARMOK himself will take vengeance against cowards and traitors, you know I think?”
The troops were only more terrified of him, screaming out no sirs to make him continue. After all, if they didn’t ask they would be traitors, yes? The captain starred at them. “See, lesser born, it is the job of those better than you like myself to command you. In reality, this siege is going well. Only three fourths of the guard is dead, which totals at only a percent of our population. We could always throw the civilians at the horde after all. Just imagine....”
He waved his arms in the air, around the hallway. “Imagine the goblins charging at you. You die, in the name of the fortress.” His voice was enthusiastic, and only growing more so. “Torn, mutilated, eyes gouged out and possibly even horribly tortured in the defense of your nobles. Thousands of civilians charge at the horde, taking their tools with them as weapons, maybe even small tables or chairs as shields, tying them to their arms in the name of the nobles. Every one of us that dies would be replaced by twenty! Remember, Armok only kills traitors, so no one would run away for their own safety!”
The pound of the goblin’s weapons slammed into the door, the hinges moving a little. The captain though only gestured around the hall. “Thousands dead! No, more than thousands, MILLIONS. Bodies tossed around like rag dolls soaked in a fine pool of blood deep enough to drown you! Imagine, opening up a door, a wave of blood pouring in, swimming for your life to make it to the battle, or drowning in the process in the defense of your nobles, of your king!”
“Imagine, MILLIONS dying in the name of royalty, showing off their courage and power, forsaking their families in the name of defense! I think we should open this door, and you will charge! WHO IS WITH ME!” He was so enthusiastic, that even the goblins stopped pounding upon hearing it, for once feeling happiness.
The hall was silent. Then a brave voice spoke up, “Will you be with us?”
The captain shook his head, laughing. “Of course not! Just because I’m the captain doesn’t mean I’m not nobility! Anyways, I have more important matters to attend to than your petty lives. I have bad new that you guards let an assassin slip in, and he’s in our system. I must go investigate. Bye! I’ll pull my lever on the way out, okay?”
He strolled out of the room, and within a minute the door opened. The goblins poured in.
After all, the life of nobility is one of perfection. Those less die for you, but you, as a noble, are perfect simply out of birthright, a jewel among stones.
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Topic: The Age of Myth: Goldenhold (A DF Novel Length Story) (Read 110655 times)