The ground shook violently. The Novarans swayed.
They drove their self-forged swords into the earth to steady themselves.
A sacred, golden light of dawn illuminated the space between the two kingdoms' warriors.
As the light faded, they stared in shock. What had fallen from the sky were not meteorites, but a squad of black-armored giants.
Honor Guard Captain Joe Vatalla looked at the Knight Lord's majestic back. He had felt no impact upon landing.
A warm light of dawn had enveloped him and the other Honor Guard members, allowing for a landing smoother than any jump pack.
A scene from his homeworld, Ventrillia's magma lake, flashed through his mind.
Lord Thierry, clad in a black robe, had walked through the molten flows that could incinerate Astartes, yet remained unharmed.
'Lord Thierry's defense now extends to protect us.'
As he thought, a dazzling light flashed in his eyes.
He immediately followed the light, scrutinizing their weapons.
Each blade shone with a bright light. Unlike the gem-like light of Ventrillian swords, this was pure gold.
Each blade was also different: some longer, some with wider hilts...
Each sword was perfectly matched to its owner's hand, custom-made.
As he thought, a Librarian stepped forward.
The mentalist ascended to the fourth level of the Enumeration. His spirit, now a body of light, separated from his flesh, merging with the surrounding sea of emotions: deep black fear and vivid red battle-lust.
Within this collective mental ocean, he found a language similar to one in the databases.
With a thought, he adjusted his helmet's translator.
He descended to the second level of the Enumeration. As his psychic power spread, he spoke.
"Compatriots of Novaris, we are not enemies..."
Following standard integration procedures, he introduced Shadows of Order and demanded their allegiance to the Monarch.
He patiently answered the Novaran nobles' questions, then turned to Thierry Viera and reported.
"My Lord, the Novarans say all disputes here are settled by duels."
"They will only join us if we defeat their dueling champions."
Thierry had anticipated this. It was precisely the method he had planned.
Nothing would make the Novarans swear loyalty to the Imperium faster than defeating their champions.
He examined all the Novarans, his gaze lingering on a noble with a yellow emblem of three crossed swords on his chest.
He shook his head slightly and said to Joe Vatalla.
"Joe, you will represent the Chapter."
"As you command, my Lord." Joe drew his ruby-red sword from his belt.
Since becoming a Shadow of Order, he more often used a psychic blade forged by a Kassai master-smith.
After carrying it for over twenty years, he had developed faint psychic abilities, which he could use when channeling power into the blade.
The ruby sword was more for practice. He never carried it into battle.
But the Knight Lord had instructed him to bring this practice sword.
Joe Vatalla, a noble himself, walked towards the Novarans. Following dueling etiquette, he introduced himself.
"Joe of House Vatalla, Ventrillia. Honor Guard Captain to the Knight Lord."
Thierry saw the Novaran who had drawn his attention step forward. His opposite number emerged, shouting in local Low Gothic.
The Librarian translated. "King Pedro Ordobael."
"King of the Novarans. The strongest warrior in their realm."
The smaller group of Novarans raised their swords, cheering for their king.
After exchanging salutes, King Ordobael, in white armor with a proud bird emblem on his chest, lowered his visor.
His right forearm and shoulder tensed as he steadied his sword.
"Roar!"
He roared, his blade sweeping in a sharp arc.
Joe moved as if painting, raising his blade calmly to parry.
The moment he parried, his blade turned, thrusting upward at a sharp angle.
As the blades clashed, Joe's movements, whether attacking or defending, were slow, almost hypnotic.
Thierry watched Joe. His Sabathiel swordsmanship was the best in the Chapter.
After defeating Akurduana, the Emperor's Children's swordsmanship champion and First Sword of the Palatine, in a duel, Thierry had become a close friend.
During the Second Rangdan War, he had often trained with Akurduana and his student, Lucius.
From Lucius, he had learned the Sabathiel style.
This style had been acquired by Fulgrim, the Emperor's Children's Primarch, when he conquered Bezan, a notable achievement independent of Horus's tutelage.
An organization called the Order of Sabathiel, skilled in dueling, existed there.
After Fulgrim incorporated "Sabathiel" swordsmanship into combat training, some Emperor's Children practiced it.
Lucius, obsessed with swordsmanship, was no exception. But like most, he only dabbled.
The philosophy of Sabathiel clashed with Lucius's swift style.
Sabathiel doctrine emphasized desire and want, the reconciliation of need and thought.
Only by overcoming superfluous desires within oneself could one master perfect skill.
After the Rangdan War, Thierry had taught this style in his Chapter. The Sabathiel style, based on balance, resonated with the Ventrillia-born.
He believed this was because the Ventrillia-born, as nobles, better understood the style's philosophical depth.
The Eighth Chapter now had three major combat schools.
The Kassai-born excelled in the Ulvira style, passed down through generations.
The Ventrillia-born excelled in the Sabathiel style.
The Vostroyan-born, and recruits from various worlds excelled in the Otsberg-Vaya style of the Legion's homeworld, which emphasized exploiting enemy weaknesses, matching Shadows of Order's keen perceptions.
The advantage of Sabathiel was its adaptability and its ability to attack and defend with minimal expenditure.
This was why Joe Vatalla could defeat opponents of similar skill. In a long duel, his patience would win.
As Thierry watched, Joe Vatalla, like a patient sculptor, wielded his 'blade,' stroke by stroke, carving a statue.
King Ordobael's space grew narrower and narrower, as if bound by a cocoon.
Joe stepped gracefully, turning his body. The ruby-red blade wrapped around the gleaming sword.
"Ah!" King Ordobael cried out. His hand-forged sword flew from his grasp.
He stared blankly at the black-armored giant opposite him. He had not been overpowered by strength, but defeated by a swordsmanship beyond his experience. He spoke, convinced.
"I lost."
As Joe and King Ordobael exchanged salutes, Thierry saw the Novaran who had drawn his attention step forward.
The Librarian translated his name: "Afih Incapiye."
"Another Novaran king."
After exchanging salutes, King Incapiye attacked swiftly. Through careful observation, he had understood Joe's style.
To win, he needed a violent offense, to overwhelm his opponent quickly.
His ornate blade thrust at the black armor with a howl. The moment it met the ruby-red blade, he slid, sweeping his sword at Joe's right leg.
His blade was like a storm, weaving a deadly net around the black-armored warrior.
Joe was calm. His movements were fluid and coherent, creating an impenetrable fortress around himself.
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG!
Amidst a rapid series of grating clashes, the ruby-red 'fortress' tore through the metal storm.
King Incapiye stared blankly at his sword, spinning through the air.
The Novarans gasped in unison. The undefeated King Incapiye had lost his first duel.
"I lose." King Incapiye said, stunned.
Joe caught the sword, his noble smile flawless.
"Your skill is impressive. Few in my home, Ventrillia, could match it." He reversed the blade, offering the hilt to the other.
"Every Ventrillian noble considers it an honor to become a Shadow of Order."
"I believe your sons will join our Chapter. I will teach them, and we can continue our duels."
King Incapiye, having suffered his first defeat, took the sword. After understanding Joe's words from the Librarian, his eyes lit up.
"This is a pledge."
"My word," Joe replied.
King Incapiye walked to the Knight Lord. He knelt on one knee, presenting his sword with both hands.
"I, Afih Incapiye, swear fealty to Lord Nareth, and pledge my service to Lord Thierry Viera."
His people knelt, swearing fealty.
Thierry took the sword.
"I accept your fealty."
King Ordobael then led his warriors in swearing fealty.
For the next month, Thierry traveled through the feudal kingdoms. Joe defeated all their kings in duel after duel, becoming a true "Warrior."
The Eighth Chapter won their loyalty through the Novarans' traditional method: the duel.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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