Prompt Response.
Locksmith suggested "Courage", so here that is. More to follow.
Courage, or, The Story of Ser Raymond the Vigilant from “The Seven Knights”, a Dawnish children's book:
Of the Order of the Seven Knights, Raymond the Vigilant was the cleverest. He always looked out for his friends, Yeoman and Noble alike. One day, Ser Raymond and his friends happened upon a town that was being attacked by nasty barbarians.
“Bo”, Mortaine half-screamed at the top of her lungs. She extended her hand to grasp his. Her grip was tight and unyielding. Bo screamed back, if they were going to die here, he wanted people to know about it. A Barbarian loomed over them and began beating Mortaine. He could hear her already displaced ribs crack more. She screamed defiance. He had to admit, there was a certain beauty to it. Even in the face of death, she’d carry on being exceptional. She was rewarded for her Courage with a swift boot to the face. Even with his limited training, Bo could recognise a broken nose. “It’s hopeless”, he thought, “It’s all hopeless”, “everything’s fucked”. His terror spiralled further. “I’ve failed the Earl, I’ve failed Isolde, Clarice, Frederick, everyone”. “Igraine”, he almost whispered to himself, “I am so sorry”. The tears began. He gripped her tighter.
The barbarians knew the village was Prosperous and wanted it for themselves. Raymond wanted to do his best to protect the people of the town. He and his Knights went to the middle of the village, because they knew that was the best place to protect it. As they moved towards the middle of town, Raymond told them to stop. He knew that the village was far too quiet.
Bo called for his wife across the battlefield, unsure if his piteous screams could even reach her. The sobbing became uncontrollable now. After what seemed like hours of screaming, he lost all control. He forced his face into the ground. He didn’t want to see the blow that would kill him. It seemed like days. The barbarian loomed again. “Heal them up and take them alive”. “I’ve been interrogated before”, Bo spluttered, trying to remain Courageous. He failed. The Orc guffawed sadistically. Bo froze.
Raymond remembered that this sort of barbarian liked to hide in the shadows. He also knew that the people in the village were Courageous and would be fighting the barbarians back. Something was wrong. “Come out”, he shouted bravely, “come out and fight us properly”.
Bo was numb. Mortaine, Igraine and everyone else seemed so far away. “Leave your body”, he thought, “that’s what the Urizen say you should do”. He felt a sensation on his back, someone was giving him further healing. “What are you doing?”, he managed, his voice still trembling. “I’m healing you up”, replied what was clearly a Druj slave. Bo looked up, the Highguard had broken through, they were saved. Yet, it didn’t feel like saving. Soon enough, a Highguard warrior dragged him behind friendly lines. By his own reckoning, he didn’t deserve to be saved. If he couldn’t fight well enough, he couldn’t be useful. If he couldn’t be useful, he couldn’t have purpose. He was just another hunk of meat, incapable of Glory, Virtue or worth. He was a spineless, useless, coward. The Highguard warrior set him down near the Dawnish lines. He saw red, gold and alabaster. “Please, don’t let her see me like this”, he pleaded with himself.
“Come out cowards”, bellowed Ser Raymond. Sure enough, the barbarians came out from inside the houses, and everyone could see they had taken the villagers prisoner. The stupid Barbarians had been led out into the open. Raymond Wisely called his friends to fight off the invaders while they were easy to attack. Sure enough, the barbarians ran away and the village was saved.
Igraine hugged him tight. “You’re alright, I was so worried”, she looked up intently at him, her lineage failing to hide her concern. “Stay back with me, you’re in no condition to fight”. Bo was silent for a moment, unable to meet her gaze. “I have to go back and fight”, he muttered, almost to himself, “I have to prove I’m worthy of being Dawnish”. The muttering continued, “I have to be usef-”. She slapped him. His cheek rang with pain. “Pull yourself together”, she half-scolded, half-pleaded, “are you the man I married or not?”. He had no words for her, but, although he would later change his opinion, he knew the answer was no.
Courage, or, The Story of Ser Raymond the Vigilant from “The Seven Knights”, a Dawnish children's book:
Of the Order of the Seven Knights, Raymond the Vigilant was the cleverest. He always looked out for his friends, Yeoman and Noble alike. One day, Ser Raymond and his friends happened upon a town that was being attacked by nasty barbarians.
“Bo”, Mortaine half-screamed at the top of her lungs. She extended her hand to grasp his. Her grip was tight and unyielding. Bo screamed back, if they were going to die here, he wanted people to know about it. A Barbarian loomed over them and began beating Mortaine. He could hear her already displaced ribs crack more. She screamed defiance. He had to admit, there was a certain beauty to it. Even in the face of death, she’d carry on being exceptional. She was rewarded for her Courage with a swift boot to the face. Even with his limited training, Bo could recognise a broken nose. “It’s hopeless”, he thought, “It’s all hopeless”, “everything’s fucked”. His terror spiralled further. “I’ve failed the Earl, I’ve failed Isolde, Clarice, Frederick, everyone”. “Igraine”, he almost whispered to himself, “I am so sorry”. The tears began. He gripped her tighter.
The barbarians knew the village was Prosperous and wanted it for themselves. Raymond wanted to do his best to protect the people of the town. He and his Knights went to the middle of the village, because they knew that was the best place to protect it. As they moved towards the middle of town, Raymond told them to stop. He knew that the village was far too quiet.
Bo called for his wife across the battlefield, unsure if his piteous screams could even reach her. The sobbing became uncontrollable now. After what seemed like hours of screaming, he lost all control. He forced his face into the ground. He didn’t want to see the blow that would kill him. It seemed like days. The barbarian loomed again. “Heal them up and take them alive”. “I’ve been interrogated before”, Bo spluttered, trying to remain Courageous. He failed. The Orc guffawed sadistically. Bo froze.
Raymond remembered that this sort of barbarian liked to hide in the shadows. He also knew that the people in the village were Courageous and would be fighting the barbarians back. Something was wrong. “Come out”, he shouted bravely, “come out and fight us properly”.
Bo was numb. Mortaine, Igraine and everyone else seemed so far away. “Leave your body”, he thought, “that’s what the Urizen say you should do”. He felt a sensation on his back, someone was giving him further healing. “What are you doing?”, he managed, his voice still trembling. “I’m healing you up”, replied what was clearly a Druj slave. Bo looked up, the Highguard had broken through, they were saved. Yet, it didn’t feel like saving. Soon enough, a Highguard warrior dragged him behind friendly lines. By his own reckoning, he didn’t deserve to be saved. If he couldn’t fight well enough, he couldn’t be useful. If he couldn’t be useful, he couldn’t have purpose. He was just another hunk of meat, incapable of Glory, Virtue or worth. He was a spineless, useless, coward. The Highguard warrior set him down near the Dawnish lines. He saw red, gold and alabaster. “Please, don’t let her see me like this”, he pleaded with himself.
“Come out cowards”, bellowed Ser Raymond. Sure enough, the barbarians came out from inside the houses, and everyone could see they had taken the villagers prisoner. The stupid Barbarians had been led out into the open. Raymond Wisely called his friends to fight off the invaders while they were easy to attack. Sure enough, the barbarians ran away and the village was saved.
Igraine hugged him tight. “You’re alright, I was so worried”, she looked up intently at him, her lineage failing to hide her concern. “Stay back with me, you’re in no condition to fight”. Bo was silent for a moment, unable to meet her gaze. “I have to go back and fight”, he muttered, almost to himself, “I have to prove I’m worthy of being Dawnish”. The muttering continued, “I have to be usef-”. She slapped him. His cheek rang with pain. “Pull yourself together”, she half-scolded, half-pleaded, “are you the man I married or not?”. He had no words for her, but, although he would later change his opinion, he knew the answer was no.