The mission to the centaurs of the eastern flatlands

Mira struggled against her chains but the guards had done a good job at securing her. It took her a second or two to release that Marus had one hand on her forehead and the other by his sides. Although it felt like fingers were stroking her womanhood… it must have been some sort of trick. Surely?

“Go back to hell,” Mira snapped at the demon, refusing to give into his mind games.

Marus favoured his new plaything with a charming smile, “No, let’s go somewhere else…”

More mind games. In the time it took to blind Mira found herself back at the Paladin’s Sunrise Temple. She had only won the privilege to ride into combat with the rank of paladin a month before. She had killed little more than two dozen orcs and barely as many beast men.

It all felt so real.

Mira sat on horseback watching a trio of Paladins practising with sword and shield against three times as many trainees. These three would lead the mission to speak to Hurk, the king of the centaurs of the eastern flatlands. It was a mission of diplomacy. The western and southern centaurs had sided with Marus and his monsters. The Paladins needed the warriors of the eastern tribe to side with the temple.

Leading the mission was Sir Silar, he was the eldest of fighting paladins at the temple and was somewhere in his fifth decade. His grey hair was the exact same shade as his steel sword. Despite his age he was in good health and his rugged good looks only spoiled by a scar that cut down over his left eye and to his cheek.

The paladin currently at the front of the fighting formation was Sir Paulus. He was a very popular paladin, who was responsible for many heart flutters among the trainees and it was said he featured in quite a few bards’ songs too. He was tall and dark haired. Mira barely knew him but could see why people were attracted to him.

Lastly there was the protégé Sir Anders. Mira wasn’t sure how old Anders was; but he was younger than her. It was said that he was the youngest paladin ever, that he could swing a sword before he could climb a tree and was favoured by the sun god himself.

Marus was pleased. The paladin had succumbed to the dream – at least for now – it was time to take the next step.

Mira felt her cheeks pinken as one of the three paladins suddenly called out to her.