*This one is a memory of Vesemir. Age 13.*
Five dozen riders, along with carts and spare horses, were traveling from the cold capital of Kovir to Toussaint. Among them were Sir Geralt of Rivia, crest of Bridge, together with his grandson - Squire Vesemir of Rivia, crest of Bridge. Young Vesemir was chosen as one of five members of His Majesty, Prince Merdan ( age 15 ) personal squad. All young lads close to Prince's age. Nobody really expected anything from young boys except of keeping Merdan out of trouble. The rest of the squad are: Robert of Skaer, David de Keweren, and two twin brothers - Michael Zermont and Adren Zermont.
It was their sixth day of travel through the Kingdom of Temeria - vassal state of Nilfgaard Empire - currently in a state of civil war. King of Kovir decided to let his son finally join in the tournament in Toussaint. Young Prince, training with the master of the blades - Sir Geralt, and having Vesemir as his sparring partner, became quite a decent swordsman.
The whole squad had to make a forced stop, as a nearby bridge was damaged due to flooding. It was told that it will take three more days to repair the passage.
Vesemir was sitting in the camp, close to the fire, as mornings here were cold. Among him was a whole 'guard' team. Preparing breakfast and joking. Finally, Prince Merdan decided to wake up.
Vesemir - "Finally, our Prince decided to grace us with his presence!"- he said with some laughter from other boys.
Merdan - "Keep laughing like that, and I won't take you for a ride around the area. You'll be the only one of our group staying at the camp." - threatens with a smile
Vesemir stood up and bowed to the Prince. "Ah, forgive me, my Prince, as my vision was clouded, and I thought you were someone else. I was thinking about your noble brother, who stayed in Kovir as punishment for his hideous crimes against my grandmother, High Mage Triss Merigold" - The rest of the boys once again laughed together with Merdan, as all of them remembered how they baited Prince Zeran to spy on Triss in the bath.
Merdan - "Not going "to lie. We are all happy that he stayed, but now, lads... we have a couple more days in this place...sooo...time for ride out the camp! Noble brothers! Eat light and mount up! I have enough waiting. My horse is getting fat!"
Prince's companions did as they were told. Just like him, they had enough waiting... but right before they ride out the camp...they were stopped by Sir Geralt...
Geralt "And where are all of you going?" He said examining them with his eyes. -"No armor? Come back to your gear and put it on."
Merdan "Ah, Master Geralt. We were just going for a ri... " he wasn't able to finish, as Geralt said again.
"Armor. Now. And don't ride too far away. Also ride only in the region we talked about." Geralt said calmly but firmly.
Vesemir - "We shall do it, Grandfather..."
Half an hour later, all six boys were coated in plate armor, as it was also their part of training. Mounted up again, they ride out of the camp to the west, going along the river. As they rode past the third village on their path, an old man stopped them.
"Noble knights! Noble knights! Please hold your horses!"
Merdan gave a hand signal to stop and asked the old man. - "What do you want, old man?"
"I'm a mayor of this village, good Sir knight... and I beg of you... don't ride further!" The old man trembled with fear.
"State your reason." The prince said with interest.
-"Bandits, good Sire! Bandits took over a village next to ours. An hour on foot this way!"
David in his dark green armor said "And where is your Lord? Why does he not protect you?"
The mayor frowned on those words: "Our Lord died two months ago, Sire! His sons now are fighting for the title... and we, the common folks, are suffering..."
Vesemir looked at Merdan and said, "It's not our job. Let's go back..."
Merdan turned his horse to face Vesemir -"Nonsense! We are a noblemen and as a future knights we must act! What kind of a prince I would be if... " Vesemir grabbed his arm.
"Alive one... you don't even know how many of them are there. It. Is. Not. Our. Fight." Vesemir tried to convince his friend... But he saw in Merdan's eyes the defiance...
"No, Ves...we can't... we must act!"- said the young Prince
"Then at least let's go back and talk with others. Take two dozens of riders! Don't act foolish, Merdan!" - Vesemir tried to regain control.
David asked the elder "And how many of them are there?"
"Around twenty good Sire... a common bandit, but we are too weak to act against them..." The mayor said with hope in his eyes that they will be saved from.
Merdan smiled. "You see, my friend? Only twenty commoners! We can take them! Onwards!"
"No, Merdan! We can't!" screamed Vesemir.
Merdan turned his horse, and as he moved onward, he shouted back, "Your job is to keep me safe, remember? You come with us, or you will fail in your task!"
The rest of the boys rushed after him.
"Kurwa!" - Said Vesemir... he gave a couple of coins to the elder and said, "Send the fastest man this way to our camp! Tell them what our prince decided to do! You will be rewarded!"- and he rushed his horse to join the prince.
*A minute later*
As the sixth rider joined the formation, David shouted, "Good to see that you changed your decision, Vesemir!"
"I didn't! I must follow after you, you fools! To keep you from harming yourself!" Vesemir shouted back.
Robert decided to finally speak. "Nonsense! You just missed us so much that you decided to join up! Let's fuck them up and go to the tournament!"
Five of six riders shouted with enthusiasm.
*10 minutes later*
As half a dozen riders rode on the narrow path, they came under crossbow fire. Merdan's horse fell first, dead on the spot. Young Prince managed to fall without injuries.
"AMBUSH!" - Screamed David as his horse also got wounded, and he fell backwards.
Vesemir tried to evade, but his horse was also injured by ranged weapons, so he had to jump off it, and he landed near Merdan. Helping him stand up, he shouted, "To arms! Stay close! "
The fight has begun.
Twin brothers managed to get off their horses before they got shot, they joined the formation as the bandits rushed to attack.
"FUCKER! DIE!" - Shouted David as he plunged his sword in the guts of an attacker.
Vesemir evaded the high swing of the mace and…
Cut, cut
A man fell backward, his guts spilling out outside.
Merdan managed to defend himself against two attackers, killing one and wounding another.
Twin brothers were under fire by a couple of crossbowmen, but they held firm. David fought right beside the prince, killing the wounded one and Robert...
Robert was lying with a bolt in his neck, not moving.
Merdan shouted, "Push them back! Engage!" and he rushed to give an example.
"Fucking don't!" shouted Vesemir, who followed him alongside David.
Three of them managed to get the crossbowmen, attacking on their side, killing at least five of them, as they gave field and scattered away.
"Merdan! We need to go back to the rest! They are overwhelmed!" Shouted David as Merdan nodded and rushed back to aid the Twins...
Arden was surrounded by seven men. His brother is on the ground. Dead. As the bandits rushed him all at once, behind them three armored boys came in a devastating charge. Cutting and slashing their enemies, they managed to take them all down... most of them dead...
Arden dropped his sword, knelt near his brother... and just looked at him...motionless...
"Arden..." Started Merdan but the twin spoken
"What I'm going to say to mom..." His words were painted in pain...
Surrounding was...almost quiet...almost...because David decided to interrogate the wounded bandit with his battle hammer. Vesemir stopped him and, using Axii, asked, "It was an ambush. You are not mere bandits. Who are you working for or with?"
The dazed bandit answered without a problem, "The elder...from the village...he gave us hints...with smoke signals...and...we gave him some loot...and left the village alone..."
Vesemir exchanged his gaze with David, and they both knew what was going to happen...
*3 hours later*
Ziemowit was happy. Six youngsters in steel armor and decent weapons fell right into the trap. There will be a good earnings from them. And of course he pocketed the coins that white-haired boy gave him. It is a good day.
The earth shook with the horses' hooves. Ziemowit was surprised... but he knew already what to say. The boys were not here, he didn't know where they went and so on... he walked outside his home to see... two boys... one who was their leader and second one who gave him coins...
He ran back to his wooded home, trying to find another way to escape, but... the back doors were barricaded from outside. He heard the hammers working on his windows... closing it from outside... he run back to the front doors... and they were also closed... "GOOD GODS! MERCY, PLEASE! I BEG YOU!" He was slamming his fists into doors...
*Outside*
Vesemir looked at Merdan. Prince was furious. He took the torch and walked close to the thatched roof. Soon it started burning... but it was not over... Merdan was FURIOUS. The whole village will pay...
Vesemir looked at Geralt...with guilt...
"Not your fault, son," He said to the young boy.
"It is my fault. I could have stopped him."
"No... He forced you to make a decision, and thanks to that, he is alive. If you had not come with them, he could be dead right now."
"Grandfather... so what choice was better? Come back for you? The one I made?"
"There was no good choice. You had a bad or worse one. Sometimes it happens."
"Grandfather?"
"Yes?"?
"What would you choose?"
Geralt looked at burning village and killed people. "If I'm to choose between one evil and another, then I prefer not to choose at all."
Vesemir did not feel better... but now he knew... there was no choice at all...
*End of chapter 4*