The Heros Of Canterealm

“You summoned me father?”

“You will address me properly in front of guests!”

“You summoned me Sire!”

“What delayed you Harrythar? I summoned you ten minutes ago!”

“I am sorry but-”

“Don’t give me excuses! Your lucky I spare you the flat of my blade! Best you remember this mercy next time I ask something of you!”

“Yes Sire.”

The old Bluetooth sat back in his throne pouring more mead into his goblet. Harrythar took his place behind the King Harland Hadrada and glanced down the longhouse table to the guest before them.

“This is Lupus Et Sanguinis Libidinem a noble of the Lupus Empire here on a diplomatic mission to see me.”

“Sire?”

“He comes with a proposition for me and our kind.”

The bulky bearfolk brought the goblet to his mouth and drank greedily belching upon consuming the liquid. Glancing casually to his right at his flesh and blood he continued.

“He wishes to hire some of our warriors for their campaign in Gaulope. He offers two hundred Silver Chippens for each mercenary and two fifths of all battle spoils. What do you think of this proposition?”

“I think two hundred and fifty Chippens each and half of the battle spoils more acceptable.”

With a sharp fanged grin the Bluetooth king glanced down the table to the foreign diplomat. The Wolf from the southwest Empire seemed calm and collected. His eyes were cold those of a soldier who had years of practice killing and likely enjoyed it too. Harrythar prided himself on his ability to measure an individual with a glance and this one was clearly a soldier first and diplomat second. As the Lupus agent was about to speak Harland cut him off with his own words.

“The prince is many things but not as dumb as you seem to think nor am I. With the wealth of your Caesar and the skill of my Bearserkers you know I will not make a deal with you for so meager a sum of silver. The fact you think I would puts me in a killing mood.”

Cold, calculated, all the words from the king were said with the tact of a battering ram. One did not insult the king of the Bluetooths and get off lightly...unless they were very careful with what their next words were.

Leaning back in his chair and tossing his crimson cloak over his shoulder the Lupus reached into a bag on his side and produced a quill, ink bottle and a piece of parchment. Dipping the quill in ink he began writing with quick skilled strokes. When finished he snapped his claws summoning one of his servants pawing over the rolled paper and gesturing for it to be handed to Harland.

The servant did as ordered placing the scroll in front of the king who took it in his massive paws. Unrolling it his eyes raised subtly at the new figures drawn up on the paper for the contract. Speaking in a voice reminding the prince of a sweet wine the Diamond Wolf leaned back into his chair again.

“My Caesar has instructed me to be compliant with you to an extent that I see fit. These figures are more than acceptable hmm?” He paused. “As one warrior to another I think you are more valuable as allies than enemies to my pack so this time I will be more lenient. Do not expect my good temper to hold out should you see fit to insult me.”

Pulling a dagger from his belt the king cut a line down his paw cupping it to hold the blood now seeping from the wound. With his right paw he dipped one of his claws into the sanguin liquid and scribbled down his name on the line indicated.

“You shall have your two hundred and fifty axebearers three hundred spearbearers and fifty Huscarls within the week ready to accompany you on your campaign against the Gaullopes. I think this may be the beginning of a grand relationship between the Imperium canibus and Bluetooths of Kopengoran.”

“My liege will be pleased to hear so. I will take my leave so I may begin to write him of these...beneficial negotiations.”

The moment the doors were closed and the Ambassador out of earshot the king spoke.

“The worm thinks he’s so far above us we seem like mice to him. When he sees the ferocity of our warriors he will no doubt think different of our army. I give him six months before his Caesar sends him back here to hire more mercenaries. Always remember Harrythar there is blood in money and money in blood.”

Seven Years Later

Harrythar stood at the bow of his longboat listening to the roar of the waves as he neared his homeland. Within the hull of his ship were a number of treasures taken in taxes from the lands they earned in the Gaullope campaign one year ago. The war had lasted only five years the loot and pay had only increased his father's popularity with the nobles of his court and as he had said those years ago within the year the contract had become even more favorable when their warriors proved themselves. The Bluetooth prince turned to face his crew rowing the longboat through the sea to their home his paw on his blade clutching it tightly.

“No doubt this will still not be enough for the king to be satisfied. He is war hungry and I know he has eyes on the eastern lands wealth of jewels and gold. I have no qualms of war but I don’t like his tactics he risks overstepping our abilities and leaving us vulnerable to the Lupus. He thinks he has them about his thumb but I do not agree.”

“Stroke you worthless gut rats! I want to be back in my bed within the week!”

The Oarsbears picked up the pace as their prince demanded they knew all too well that tone of voice meant the prince was put out and they did not want to feel his whip. He had been molded by the king and was ruthless when angered. He had become much like his father before him though to say they were one in the same would not be true. Before Harrythar could issue further orders a lookout called from the main mast.

“Sire! There’s a ship to the east! Looks like a Gryphon trade Gally!”

Harrythar turned his gaze to the east placing his paw on his brow to ward off the sun. Sure enough there was a merchant vessel likely bringing spices and teas to Canterealm to trade for the gold the gryphons loved so much.

“The king would be pleased with extra goods to go along with his taxes and they’re there for the taking!”

“Ho east lads and ready your swords! There’s a place at the feasting table for those who fall and gold in the future of those who live!”

Roars and war cries went up as the Bluetooths began biting their shields and banging their swords and axes against them. The oars churned faster in the water as they turned towards their target. They had wind in their sails and the speed of their labors the Gryphons would not and could not escape.

Regardless they did try to flee but when they realized escape was futile Harrythar could see them preparing to be boarded. Swinging his grappling hook around his head the Prince howled loudly sending it flying onto the enemy ships decks. The gryphons fired crossbows killing two of the raging Bears but many of the wounded warriors simply yelled louder ripping the bolts from their hides. Climbing up ropes or just jumping on board the Bluetooths set about their bloody work. The screeches and howls of pain and death filled the decks of the ship as axes were swung and swords clashed. This was what they lived for. The glory and bloodlust of battle, pain and war.

Harrythar charged at one of the Gryphons like a boulder rolling from a cliff the impact sending the hybrid creature to the deck. Before he could attempt to defend himself the Prince thrust his blade into the left eye socket of his victim and ripped the weapon to the side out of the skull. Blood and grey matter splattered the deck and in his adrenalin rush the Prince howled in delight.

A sudden pain interrupted his cry of triumph as one of the enemy crew cut a dagger across his leg. Whirling on his attacker the great bear lashed out with his claws at the Gryphons throat grabbing it and bring his neck to his jaws. Grappling him he tore out the helpless sailors jugulars swallowing the raw flesh in his mouth blood, feathers and all before throwing the body off the ship.

“None of these birds are a worthy foe! They are only fit to be food!”

Then his gaze was drawn to the ship's captain who had successfully slain one of the raging creatures. Their eyes met and a mutual challenge was made. Jumping over the railing of the ship's helm the large Gryphon slashed out with his Scimitar the blade striking against his opponents as sparks flew from the contact. With the dagger in his left claw he slashed again only to be punched in the gut in return.

Bringing his Iron longsword around his head and down towards his victim Harrythar smiled with the love of battle but was surprised to see the enemy captain block his heavy attack with his dagger braced against the back of his Scimitar staggered but not dead. The bear recoiled and thrust with the point at his foe who dodged it by rolling to the side from the deck he lay on.

Preparing to swing again the prince pulled back but found his weapon stuck in the hardwood of the ship. Realizing his chance the Gryphon swung at him striking the bear in the arm giving a modest cut into his flesh. Enraged Harrythar roared and grabbed a Dane axe from the deck dropped by a fallen comrade swinging it madly back and forth up and down.

The captain dodged the first swing but the backlash caught him in the side. Now bleeding and clutching his side the bear didn’t even give him long enough to look up before cleaving his skull in two.

Blood splattered the deck and the warriors face like paint and he ran his tongue over his teeth and lips to taste it. By now there were only a few surviving crew left of the Gryphons the last one willing to fight dropped his weapon when he was stabbed in the side of his gut by a spear before having it driven into his chest twice more.

The battle was over the plunder of the ship was theirs. The dead totaled up to seven for them and twenty one for the Gryphons. The five survivors were shackled to the hull of their own ship to be sold later as slaves and the spices and teas counted. Some of the crew stayed aboard to take their prize home to the king in Kopengoran. As for the dead fresh meat was hard to find at sea.

Victory was theirs and they would reap all of the rewards that came with it.