The Silent Warrior: Drakonjan’s Duty at the Hall of Ages

The fire crackled and a cold blast of wind flew through the tent. Lady Vhaera was standing silent with her armor still shining slightly with the Banner of RoD proudly on her chest. Drakonjan cleaned the edge of his sword, with slow and deliberate strokes across the table.

And how tell me how it was, she said.

Drakonjan looked up. My lady would have liked it, you would, I know I did. It was rough, brutal and honest."

"Hall of Ages?"

He nodded. Yes. I joined wTP this time around, mostly consiting of our friends from WxD. Of course my RoD banners stood among them. Our enemies were WAO, FDH and most worrying AfV, full of BDR warriors, all over their ranks. It was never going to be easy."

Vhaera folded her arms. "And Imperial Rock?"

He stole the Hall the minute the bubble burst, Drakonjan said. "Spears. Perfect formation. Maxed. His timing was flawless as always."

Vhaera's brow furrowed. Then you could not give it your all with your cavalry.

I might have, Drakonjan said to himself, "but I did not. As it would not have only hurt our enemies, but also our own."

He stood still and left the crackle of the fire to fill the tent, breaking the silence. "At times, a warrior can demonstrate his power not only with strenght, but by remaining in place. My horses might have charged, but to spears, it had been murder. So I stood down. I reinforced instead."

She threw back her head and looked at him. "That must have hurt."

Drakonjan's jaw tightened. "It did. I wished to be the head of the rally. But duty isn't about wanting."

He stretched forward and his eyes were shining as he remembered the moment. Bzzb made first solid blow, and Imperial kept holding.

Then Relax's turn came, he hit the same wall, he won the fight. Still nothing, Imperial Rock was still the lord of the Hall. Wangchuang was waiting, serpent-like, and at the right moment, his rally marched and then finnaly, the hall turned blue with wTP banners hanging over the wall. Imperial Rock fell back, at least for now. One heartbeat, and the Hall was ours.

"And?"

"We were slow," he admitted. "Too slow. The reinforcements were a couple of seconds behind. Imperial returned back and took possession of the Hall before we were able to reinforce. A lapse like this is something what we did not need.

Lady Vhaera sighed softly. "And still you kept going."

"Always."

He sat back, eyes distant. "We adjusted. Bzzb right, Relax left, Wangchuang screaming out the timing. I filled where needed. Every rally hit like thunder. Then, like an arrow, Imperial Rock was withdrawing. The Hall sat empty. And within the twinkle of an eye Light Yagami sat down.

"Infantry?" Vhaera asked.

Drakonjan smiled faintly. My horses had been waiting, trampling, waiting for their time to shine. This time, I was ready. We stormed wave after wave. Each hit landed clean. However, the defense of Light Yagami was as iron on silk. We broke it, still, we it was never quite sufficient to hold.

"Not even once?"

"Relax broke through. We took a moment to breathe victory. Then the counter of Imperial crashed down like a door. The Hall rejected us once again."

The tent became silent with the exception of burning wood pop.

Vhaera's voice softened. "Did you think of retreating?"

"Never. we fight till we die, gods or no gods.

He brushed the bridge of his nose. Next came Tolkin, he was oddly quiet, but he took his turn occupying the Hall. It was of no shock. Any blow we delivered thereafter was like soft rain upon hard stone. He held nearly till the end. And then, as though it was predetermined, he withdrew and abandoned the Hall to Korillion of WAO."

Vhaera frowned. So the title dropped out of your fingers?

"Yes," Drakonjan said simply. "But not our honor."

He got up, and walked towards the tent entrance, looking at the faint red light of the Hall in the distance. Wangchuang broke the first lock. Relax pushed through the front gate, and forced a breach. Bzzb beat down any wall which stood before us. We fought smart. We fought with honor. That's what matters."

Vhaera followed and her voice was as silent and firm as possible. "You wanted more. I can hear it."

Drakonjan nodded once. "Every fighter wants more. However, this was no fight of honor. It was about restraint. Of knowing when to strike and when to trust other men. I could have charged. I didn't. It is the type of battle that you do not read about in reports.

For a moment, neither spoke. The banners of RoD and WxD were blowing together in the cold wind outside.

Vhaera had lastly said something. You are never a talkative man, Drakonjan. But when you speak, youmake sure each word counts, true wisdome.

He smiled faintly. Then now leave me with this single fact. I was taught an important lesson at the Hall of Ages, that silence possesses power. It straightens the hand of all the mighty warriors, it makes the eye keen, and it prevents the heart to follow pride.

"And next time?" she asked.

Next time, he said and sheathed his sword in his scabbard, The silent warrior will not be silent.

Once the fire fluttered, and died to ashes. Beyond, the sun was rising over the field where heroes are made and experience gained.