Yesteryear Fiction

The Men of Oakshire
By Nicholas Slade


“The battle has begun my friends,” I yelled to my comrades-in-arms. “Soon they will know the fury of the Oakshire Kingdom.”

War had come to our kingdom and I couldn’t have been more excited. It had been a long time since we had a good fight and I couldn’t wait to get on the battlefield. Our trumpets sounded as we arrived at the Field of Gander. Our enemy stood in formation on the other side of the field. We were outnumbered three to one, a fair fight indeed.

“Leave not one of them unscathed,” I yelled as I rode my horse across our front lines. “You are men of Oakshire, no one can best you in battle.”

My men roared with confidence, as they should have, for we are the men of Oakshire, we do not know the meaning of the word defeat.

“Sire,” my captain called. “What about this black knight they have? I heard he has never been defeated in battle.”

“Black Knight?” I scoffed. “His armor could be pink for all I care, he shall taste defeat at my hands this day.”

Our army clashed against our enemies with full force. We plowed through them as a boar would through his slop. As I rode through the battle I spotted him, the so-called Black Knight. I got off my horse and walked up to challenge him. “So, you are the great big bad Black Knight I have heard so much about,” I said. “I thought you’d be taller.”

“You dare insult me?” the Black Knight asked. “Do you not know who I am? In my kingdom, I am known as the venomous black serpent.”

“Fancy titles will get you nowhere with me, boy. Let’s see how you are with a sword.”

“You shall see soon enough, oh great King of Oakshire,” he said. “Today, I further cement my legend by striking you down.”

“Go ahead and make your threats, I needed something to make me laugh. Now, shut your trap and fight.”

“As you wish.”

He ran at me and we crossed blades. He swung his sword at my head, knocking off my helmet. That runt was better than I expected and I was enjoying every last minute of it. With a blow of his sword, my shield was thrown to the ground. I countered with a blow of my own and knocked away his shield in the same manner. After losing my footing, he knocked my sword to the side and went to strike me down. He thought he had won, but he was mistaken. I grabbed his blade with my bare hand.

“Are you insane?” he yelled.

“There’s a good chance, but I’m also the victor this day.”

With all my strength I tossed his sword out of his hand to the ground.

“I don’t understand, this can’t be happening,” the knight yelled. “I am the venomous black serpent.”

I held my sword to his neck. “You may be the venomous black serpent, but you did not account for one thing, I am a man of Oakshire and you have just been defanged.”

I pulled down my sword and gave the poor little fellow a punch to the face for good measure. As their armies retreated, we let out a victorious cheer. “What a glorious battle, I can’t wait for the next one.”


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Nicholas is a writer currently living in Florida. Originally from Mississippi, he moved to Florida in 2012 and is currently studying for his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing. He has previously been published in Farther Star Than These.