KOHKOL: Session 08 -- Interlude 'Masterless Retainers'

“Squire Hermoste, are you going to be alright?”

“I will be, once I recover my wits.”


The knight watched the squire regain composure and his stamina with some sympathy. In anyone's active life, there were only a few such instances of losing a member of a retinue. Worse still if this was the knight that led it. Sir Onahall was still being consumed by small. flat flames that sported along his body's right side. The unmistakable and disturbing smell of the body burning, might have overcome the squire if not for the strong breeze that blew the odor away, even as it seared the remains of Sir Onahall. Next to the squire, the dead knight's page made notes on a parchment-tablet. Sir Eik, Knight of Renown, Master of Turnbuckles, was impressed with the retainers of Sir Onahall. He had trained them both well. Squire Hermoste shuddered. Sir Eik felt the need to say something into the Hunter's silence.



“There is no shame of fear shown in the face of the corrupted, squire.”


“My master might have said the same if he was still among the living.”


“Being dead is better in many ways than being made into one of the Cadavivva… Page, the fire was well timed.”


Page Tionne replied, “Thank you, Sir Eik. Our master would have wanted me to do it… Months ago, he mentioned to always have a warmed flask readied for this possibility... Hermoste, we will need to report this to the heralds. The master’s family…”


“You take care of that, it’s your duty. As you live, I need not make the report with you. I have some acts to perform on these corpse-puppets.”


Sir Eik marked the squire’s words gravely and said, “You are welcome to continue with me – both of you. The Koss of Dominions is on the ‘skirts of the city. Page, you can stop there to make the news known. Squire, you can travel among my retinue until your quest for satisfaction is met.


”Will the king have no issue with a master-less squire travelling beneath his banner?”



“I shall speak with his Grace. He is… an unusual monarch. He travels with us after all. Most kings would balk at such a rustic progress. He will probably not even remark upon your condition. If he should, I will suggest you travel next to and not beneath his banner.”


“The people of Modureye’s king…”


“Indeed, he represents their nature well.”


“Well, if it means I can further my desire to destroy the puppets, I am happy enough and will not look askance at the shadowy ways of foreign kings.”


“Take care that the knights of Alkandia do not overhear this commentary from you. They are wardens of all monarchy, whatever its form, remember. You have enough wounds that need sewing up, without enduring the care of the knights of Alkandia, hmm?”


Hermoste held a deep breath, longer than he had in minutes. The knight might be of the kingdom of Skale but he spoke truth. Hermoste needed to trust in the Skale knight’s renown for mechanisms. Sir Eik had told his master that the city played host to many mill-wheels, famed for their chantried operation. The Cadavivva flagship had to be headed toward the city for this reason, nothing else made sense. Something about these mills was of importance to the corrupt crew or the vessel’s master.


Later, Hermoste would learn that there was more to the situation than he had realised. The Cadavivva were not all puppets and the King of Modureye was not just a knight of knights. When he learned these two things, he realised that he was glad the page had been absent at the koss. The page would want to tell the heralds these things. The squire was not sure he’d want that.