FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

I glanced at the manor, lovingly crafted of planks and carved wood, embodying several human generations' worth of history. The only thing that stopped me from burning it to the ground was the fact that most of the wealth of the entire region was holed up inside and would be lost if I were to set it ablaze. I knew that Sir Ronald was inside there, however, probably curled up in some hole. 'How loyal were his men to a known coward?' I wondered as the humans at the stables were finishing their preparations and getting on their barded steeds. Would these men throw themselves before a dragon's fury while the man who had sent them stayed hidden inside? I stepped forward as the horsemen were gathering themselves. They lowered their battle lances, each no less than twelve feet in length, each with more than enough power to punch through dragonscale.

Starting them down, I spoke before they began their charge, speaking loudly enough to be head clear across the field. "Has the brave Knight Sir Ronald come to rid the land of the dragon menace? Perhaps all that armor obscures my vision, but I do not see him among you, horsemen! Don't tell me that the brave, honest Knight placed all his faith in a few crossbows while he was violating the law of Parley." I said in a scathing tone.

The horsemen charged in a staggered line. Seeing as Sir Ronald was the only one here rich enough to afford a full suit of plate armor, these men were dressed mostly in hastily clad leather with chain shirts thrown on top. The one at the fore of the charge seemed better equipped, his lance was longer and he had steel boots and pauldrons in addition to the simple garb afforded the men. It took a long time for them to cross the field towards me.

Before they reached me, I jumped clear over their heads, assisting myself with a couple quick pumps of my wings and landed on the far side of the same field, digging treches into the grassy earth as I came to a stop. The man at the fore barked some order and the horsemen broke into two groups, left and right. They were going to try to flank me, perhaps even encircle me. What they didn't realize was that a pair of wings beat any mobility advantage their four-legged beasts afforded them. Poor, foolish humans.

I spoke again as they ran towards me. "I suppose the great and important Knight has better things to do than meet his adversary on the field of battle... though I thought that was sort of the whole point of being a Knight. Was I misinformed?" I jumped again and landed on some sort of partial shelter put out to shade and water the vanished livestock. "I can do this all day, though I think I shall soon grow bored of it." I said with a mock yawn. "Don't run your beasts to death now."

The horses were already tiring, they had been run at a full gallop while carrying heavy, armor-clad men since the start of the fight. Several were foaming at the mouth as the men pressed them. I leaped, gliding lazily until I came to a rest a short distance later, the horses were noticeably slowing. "Why doesn't Sir Ronald show his face I wonder? Why does he send other men to die in his place? He has a habit of doing that I hear."

Finally a response. The man leading the horsemen in circles about the estate yelled, "Stand still and fight, you monster!"

I looked at the man directly. Though he was a good distance away, I could see the fire burning in his auburn pupils. I raised a paw to my mouth as if in shock, "But if I did that, you would all die, I think. It is not my wish for you to waste your lives."

There were uncertain looks passed around the horsemen. The one to the leader's right leaned over and said to him in a voice I'm sure he thought was private, "Richard, let us regroup with Sir Ronald, there's no point in us being out here."

"Quiet, you fool, that's just what it wants! Half of you, go around the other side of the manor." Answered the man in charge. The men did as they were commanded, though they obviously lacked enthusiasm.

With one group heading around the property clockwise and the other in the opposite direction, I would have been forced to fly to opposite sides of the estate in succession. While within my capabilities, I decided to be a little more forthright. I set claws wide on the turf and lowered my shoulders aggressively as I faced the second group, apparently ready to charge and finally meet lances with my claws and teeth. Fools, fools. Though I had but a little fire left, it would have been sufficient to break their charge and send their horses into a panic. I didn't do that, however. Instead, at the last moment, I whipped my tail out whilst turning. the blade went down and dug into the turf. I pulled the arrowhead along, leaving a decently wide furrow in the soil behind as I leaped away.

Richard called out, "Stop you fools!" but it was too late. Half the men's horses stumbled on the narrow trench, their legs breaking. They went down, throwing the men off at high speed or worse, tumbling on top of them. The groans of the injured and the screaming of maimed horses reached my ears. The remaining horsemen quickly dismounted to help their comrades and put horses out of their misery.

I flew, winging my way back behind Richard's reduced formation. I called down from the air, "Stop this senseless fighting. Bring me Sir Ronald. I have no interest in harming the rest of you. Bring me the villain who broke the common rules of Parley. Bring me the coward who hides in his house while sending men to kill me. Don't spend your lives on such a wretched man!"

Richard turned his horse about to face me where I'd landed. Defeat hung heavy in his eyes, seeming almost to be a weight that threatened to break the man. He finally realized that he had no hope of success here. He then...