Hilda
The throne room was brightly lit with the natural light of Bastion through the stained glass windows as King Oswald listened to petition after petition. It was an old custom, a hold over from the Old Ways of their ancestor when the Commonwealth had been split into many warring kingdoms.
Hilda stood by the King’s side, and watched the petitioners come one after the other. She wasn’t alone among the King’s Guard to stand next to their king. King’s Guard Yield, the only junior member of the order to her, as well as Garland, and Lockwood flanked the king. Their ornate gold trimmed armor made them stand out in the room.
The King’s Guard looked like any of the many statues that stood in the throne room. Famous members from those old kingdoms of Drala, along with the likes of Osgar the Great, and his grandson Wynnstan, the founder of the Commonwealth. That was all Hilda ever felt like. An object, a statue to be stared at from the lords, ministers, bishops, and other courtiers of the royal court.
Hilda had long grown tired, and bored of listening to the plight of the petitioners. All too often they were simply dismissed, or their concerns left unanswered with vague flattery. Most petitions that were made had no clear solution. It was endless, and never stopped. There was always something, and yet they never did anything.
It was mid day, and the session was nearing an end. Hilda pushed aside the need to yawn. She was grateful that this old tradition was only done twice a week instead of the ancient five. Most of the throne room stood empty. Those loyal to the king remained, hoping to gain the king's favor with their presence, and those desperate fools hoped against hope that the King might help them.
There was no harm King Oswald though. Not in that room. It was one of the most heavily fortified places on Bastion, which made it one of the most heavily fortified in the whole Commonwealth. Even if Hilda were not there, the other three members of the King’s Guard would ensure his safety, he was never without the escort of at least four of his King’s Guard. Not to mention the tens of thousands of Guards of the King’s Guard Forces, the members of the Commonwealth Forces, and local forces of Bastion.
Hilda listened to yet another petition from a family of refugees who had suffered drought. Their world sought water reclaiming tech, and equipment. Funds that could desperately help the hundreds who lived called the world home.
It was hard for Hilda to hear the sad stories. The Commonwealth had the tech, and reclaimers that could help them, but Hilda knew they would never see them. There were too many worlds that needed those reclaimers. Worlds suffering from natural droughts, and worlds suffering from trade disruption from pirate raids, or worse, Furse raids, but most of them had thousands or millions of people.
Maybe they would get lucky, and some lord, or wealthy citizen would take pity on them, and offer them aid. Even less unlikely was that the video of them would catch the attention of the public of Bastion, and go viral. They would raise some funds by simply petitioning the king, no doubt, but how much Hilda couldn’t guess, but most likely it would do little to help their world in the long run.
Hilda noted to herself to make a donation to the small group as they bowed to their king, and left the court with tears in their eyes. It wouldn’t be much, the King’s Guard pay wasn’t grand, nor was her family what any would consider wealthy.
A new party walked down the long hall of the throne room to greet the king. Flanked by the few dozen remaining courtiers on either side of the walkway, they stopped before the steps to the raised dais where King Oswald sat on the single large throne.
“Rise,” King Oswald commanded the group.
There couldn’t be many petitioners left, two or three surely. It was only two days a week Hilda reminded herself. She could put up with a little more. It was worth it after all, mostly.
There were at least a dozen in the party. Their clothes were rough, and ragged. They were even more poor than the last group, and that was hard to believe. Hilda could tell that they were hard people like that of her own ancestors who called Magon’s Hold, and Magon’s Retreat home. Where even to this day her siblings and cousins still lived, and fought to survive.
“Lord king,” one of the ragged petitioners said as he stepped forward. “Lord King, I come to you as the representative of but one of many star systems throughout the Furia Sector,” he said, and waved to those who stood behind him.
King Oswald nodded, and Hilda felt herself listen more carefully. The Furia Sector was known for its constant raids, and attacks by pirates, raiders, and above all the Furse.
“Lord king,” the man said again, and waved his arms about the more than half empty room. “Noble, and honorable lords.” The man lowered his head for a moment before he continued. “We have suffered much. Like much of the Commonwealth. Our worlds have been the targets of raids by outlaws, thieves, and the Furse for years. For generations. Our people are killed or taken as thralls. We have no ships to defend our worlds from these threats. Our liege lords abandon us to protect their own star systems. We beg that the King help us. We ask for his protection, we ask that he defend us from his enemies, from the enemies of us all.”
King Oswald nodded on his throne before he spoke. “I am sorry for your plight. The worlds of the Commonwealth are under constant threat of attack from the Furse. From heathens who do not cherish life as we do.” He looked at the man for a moment. “You are from near the Grimm Hearth System are you not?”
“Yes lord king,” the man said with a short nod, and then waved again to his companions. “We come from worlds in both the Bastion Sector and Furia Sector along the eastern borders of the Commonwealth.”
“Have you not brought your plight to the attention of the System-lords of Grimm Hearth and Stout?” King Oswald asked the man. “Surely there is some aid they can render in defending you, and the Commonwealth from these barbarians?”
“Yes lord king, but both Grimm Hearth and Stout have suffered in recent attacks. They send ships when they can but by the time they do the raiders are gone. When they leave the raiders appear again.” The man lowered his head. “They are ghosts, my lord king. They come and they go, but they always return, and they take our daughters and sons. Take what we have, and leave us with nothing and they kill any and all who stand up to them, and sometimes just for fun.”
King Oswald let out a loud sigh. “The resources of the Commonwealth are not unlimited. I cannot send a fleet into the Nord Void because of ghosts. No matter how much I may wish to do so.” The king stood from his throne. “The lords of our realm are hard pressed by threats from the heathens. While I cannot send a fleet to chase down ghosts, I can however send a ship, and personal representative to investigate these claims, and bring these attacks to an end.”
The man fell to his knees along with his companions. “We beg the king for any help he can grant us.”
“Is there anyone here who will stand for these people?” King Oswald asked as he stepped toward the edge of his raised dais. “Any in this room who will stand as my champion to bring justice to those who have suffered?”
Hilda looked around the room as heads looked down at their own feet. None of those who remained were the type to step forward. They sought the king’s favor, but not if it meant risking their own lives, and they didn’t want the camera’s to see their faces, and display them on the news feeds as the cowards they were. She wet her lips, and then stepped forward behind the King.
“I will find these outlaws for you lord king,” Hilda said, and slammed her armored fist into her chest, and dropped to one knee. “I will bring justice to these people in your name, my king.”
King Oswald Gisking turned to face Hilda, and his face glowed with a smile, and Hilda fought to keep her face still.
“My faithful…” King Oswald said just loud enough for the others to hear. “How could one be worthy of such companions as I?” The King shook his head. “Why am I not surprised?” he asked again, and continued to look at Hilda. “When my own lords, and advisers remain quiet, it is my own King’s Guard which moves to take action to defeat my enemies.”
King Oswald spun on his heels, and looked towards the petitioners on their knees. “Let it be known. That the King’s Guard Hinda Grip shall lead this investigation into these attacks. She shall act with the full might of the King’s Guard, and will act as my hand, and my voice.”
The king turned to Hilda once again. “Rise my brave knight. Rise, and set forth. Bring these outlaws to justice. Bring peace to these please.” Oswald smiled brightly, and then whispered, “but return to me.”
