"Hold your tongue scum, it is lord Liam to you!"
"Capt-?! Is that you.. you? What are you doing here?!"
"I don-"
"Excuse my interruption milord but do you know this peasant? He is the one we caught rummaging through our grain last night!"
"Ah.. yes I do know this person.. he uhm.. has taught me a bit of sword skills before."
"This peasant taught you.. a noble.. sword skills? Milord I know you have only recently come to power after your fathers passing. May god rest his soul, but punishment is a must as a ruler!"
"Heh don't believe me Rieger? He may look like a peasant now but this man before you was once a great swordsman! To prove it to you, why not have a mock battle against one of the guards, hmm?"
"I have no recollection of a great swordsman within your domain milord.."
"Are you implying I'm lying?
(Rieger shudders)
(Liam stares intensely into Oswins eyes)
"Oswin, these men before you doubt your skills as a swordsman. If you manage to defeat one of my guards I will pardon your crime of theft and appoint you as my knight."
*gasps*
"Milord you cannot! If you knight him you will need to provide him with a knights fee this would include supplying him with arms, armor and a squire! You will also need to grant him land within your barony milord. Your great grandfathers made a big effort to retain lands from tenants and vassals, it's a big reason as to why we have no knights and pay for men at arms who accept coins and drink."
"Oh is that so? I suppose we will have to see then, I'm quite certain you will all be impressed by his prowess and if not.. then fine I will sentence him."
(Laim stares coldly)
(Rieger exhales)
"Very well milord if that is your will but the mock battle will be held tomorrow at the towns square the towns people have been restless as of late. It will serve as a good way for the townsfolk to mellow out."
"Fine. Oswin tomorrow you shall fight for your freedom and if god wills it you shall emerge victorious. I shall let you choose your opponent."
"I want that bastard!"
"Then court has been dismissed I shall take my leave now"
Unsure what to make of the current situation captain Oswin Roderick chose to stay silent and try to comprehend his situation but at the mention of choosing his opponent he instantly chose one of the guards holding him down. As Laim had dismissed court, Oswin was escorted back to his cell under the request of Liam's steward. As he reached the cell the guard he had chosen for the duel threw him onto the ground and began to deliver a flurry of kicks onto Oswin's head and arms as he was laying in a fetal position. The brutality of the beating was too much for the second guard to bear as he was preparing to excuse himself; they both heard a loud voice.
"THAT IS ENOUGH!!"
(Guards stare up in shock)
"Milord."
"Leave us alone now!"
"Yes milord!"
As the guards walked away from the dungeon Liam demanded no one enter until he was finished. He quickly sat Oswin upwards and fished a cup of water from the barrel outside the cell carefully feeding it to his comrade.
"So captain.. What do you think is going on? We were in maduros compound then bam I'm a baron and you're my prisoner."
*Cough* "damn so I guess I ain't so crazy after all huh, so why the hell did you arrange a duel! Why didn't you let me go, Laim!"
"Calm yourself captain, those men already have suspicions about me. If I were to let a thief free during a famine it wouldn't help my case. I've seen many historical films where medieval people will kill those whose behaviors change overnight, they see it as a possession or bad spirit. Although I guess they weren't too off the mark huh."
(Oswin slightly chuckles) " So you believe we're in medieval times?"
"Either that or we just teleported to a backwater country, both of which seem crazy but something about me is I never doubt what I see and feel oh and I guess smell too because god damn this place stinks!"
"Oí that doesn't change the fact that I have to duel for my life tomorrow!"
"What are you afraid of brother? Aren't you the HEMA champion (historical European martial arts) you got this and if you do end up losing then I guess I'll just have to break you out of prison."
(Both men chuckle softly)
"Fine I was looking to repay that guard anyways, we have some unsettled business to discuss. But what about after Liam, what the hell are we going to do? We have no radios, gear nor firearms. And what about the others, do you think maybe they got sent with us as well?"
"I'm not sure captain, all I know is that first we have to regain our footing. This town is going to be the best option, it beats living out in the open unknown. But this duel may actually help us find the others if they also got transported oh and by the way you should know you no longer look quite the same."
"Oh buddy you look no better with that long hair of yours,you look like you deaged as well I suppose that is a plus."
"I'll have to check myself out later then, I have to go now captain. If we wish to learn of this place I must head to this place's library and study it. Hopefully I could read these people's writing. If not, I'll have to ask for a scholar of some sort. I'll see you soon Oswin."
"Yeah see you soon Laim."
Liam wasted no time and headed straight to the library to gather as much information about this new place as he could. It didn't take long to find as this fort seemed quite small. As Liam opened a scroll from a nearby shelf he was delighted to discover he understood its contents. His delightfulness didn't last long as he read through a couple more scrolls. The kingdom of Stoneheart, The county of Yolkaya and the barony of Ubeytere. These are all names he's never heard of let alone the calendar year of 653 of the Cambridge Era.
"Damn I guess it's gonna be a long night for me huh."
*sighs*
"I really need a bath."