And, because I never sleep, I have started my...something odd story.
Enjoy! Its high fantasy time!
To new readers:
The Empire is, by far, the best placed of the five kingdoms. It is placed in a winding valley, a verdant place that is between the harsh deserts to the East and West, between the frozen tundra's of the North and South. The silverbacks, the Easterners and the Aryias all live outside of the Empire, and they all look at it with greedy eyes. Sandwiched between the Empire and the Southlands is a thin strip of semi-neutral territory, where a collection of cities sits. Here Easterner, Imperial, silverback and the very occasional Aryia all mingle. Tension is high and combat is frequent. It was here that the Seventh division of Royal Army was sent, to defend against yet another push into the Empire by the Southland.
This story is supposition, taken from people interviewed, the uncovered journal of Lord Alex Winfred Mayflower and his wife. This is the story...of Rose.
Rated Mature for: Mild swearing, violence and blood and sex. Also rape and other physiological trauma.
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The sun was very bright. So why was the plain so cold? That thought, and something like it, ran through Alex's mind once every few minutes. The enemy army was marching towards their front lines, swords and spears ready. Alex sighed, reading his shield and sword. The enemy archers started up and Alex heard his commander bellow ├óÔé¼┼ôShield wall!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex brought his shield up even as the arrows flew from the enemy bows. The men around his did likewise, raising their shields. Arrows slid off the shields, bounding off. A few shot through the narrow holes in the shield wall and one man screamed. ├óÔé¼┼ôReady swords!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex's commander shouted. Alex brought his shield down and whipped his sword out of his scabbard.
The enemy army hailed from the Southlands. They got about ten meters away from Alex's lines and charged in an irregular thump. Just as expected, from Southlanders. Alex pitied them before the commander shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôGrenades!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex was handed one of the bombs. It was a stone brick, hollowed out and filled with tillium. He snapped the fuse and it started to crackle. Then he heaved and the grenade as far as he could. The other men in the front lines threw their grenades as well, and a line of explosions stitched across the Southlands army. Men were thrown into the air, screaming. Bits of rock and unexploded tillium were thrown everywhere, slicing holes in men as easily as the explosions. Blood started to pour over the ground, staining the snow red.
The Southlanders broke, the hail of grenades simply their will to fight. If only then knew that the Royal Army had just used their last grenades. But they kept running. ├óÔé¼┼ôCavalry!├óÔé¼┬Ø The commander shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôCrossbows!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex knelt, as did the other foot soldiers around him. Then the crossbow men behind him aimed and fired. The bolts flew over head, making a swishing noise. The running men in the Southland army fell, many of them looking like pincushions. Alex grinned. This fight might be over with no more deaths. Then he heard a loud, deep bomb. ├óÔé¼┼ôCannon!├óÔé¼┬Ø someone shouted. Alex saw the cannon ball for a split second, flying straight at him. He ducked and the cannon ball shot right over him.
There was screams, and shrikes. Alex knew that at least ten people were now slain, just by that single ball. The cavalry wheeled from their pursuit and went after the small canon that the Southlanders had used. They cut down the fleeing crew quickly, swords flashing. Alex grinned, seeing the beastly men fall. He turned around and saw a crossbow man writhing in a pool of blood and intestines. Alex sighed and stabbed the man through the eye socket, to end his pain. The man twitched and lay still. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn Southlanders├óÔé¼┬Ø he heard someone mutter. It was Gary. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey killed Carl├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said. Alex looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôCarl?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked ├óÔé¼┼ôHow!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAn arrow went through a hole in his shied. Right in the eye├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex lay in his cot and looked at the tent entrance, wondering when Gary, Colman or Josh would show up. The other men in his tent usually stayed out late, far later then normal for men in the Royal Army. They were probably sampling the nightlife of...what city were they stationed next to? Bastion was its name. It was a normal Southern city, walled, thatched and made mostly of wood. Its citizenry were dark skinned and wore lots and lots of fur clothes. The tent was cold, but Alex wore two blankets to ward away the chill. Then there was a tap on the outside of the tent. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello├óÔé¼┬Ø a voice said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am the new member of your group├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnyone in here?├óÔé¼┬Ø The man asked, walking into the room slowly. Alex's first thought of him was he was a wimp. He had scrawny arms, thin legs and next to no muscles could be seen on his chest. His face was narrow, a bit more then normal, and his red hair just made his pale face seem more pale. Freckles splattered across his face and his nose was a little mousy. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats your handle?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHandle?├óÔé¼┬Ø The man asked ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...uh...I'm Jonathan├óÔé¼┬Ø. He reached out a hand. Alex took it and shook. Then, to test Jonathan's strength, he squeezed. Jonathan winced. Then squeezed back. Alex was impressed. He had managed to pack a bit more strength in that hand then he would have thought. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThats your bunk. The others will be back soon, after they're done for the night├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan sighed, dragging off his bag and throwing it under his cot.
Once again Alex was impressed. Most new recruits did something wrong with their bag. They normally thought the hard part was the battle. They didn't know the worse part was living between the battles. But Jonathan's bag was perfectly sealed, the weight rune had been pressed in perfectly and the entire thing looked ready to go. Jonathan threw himself on the cot and sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do we do now?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe wait├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe wait until the next day, the next march and the next battle after that├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan said. Then he did something Alex didn't expect. He bent over his cot and pulled out a book from his bag.
├óÔé¼┼ôIs that...Is that a book?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked, sitting up. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan said ├óÔé¼┼ôdon't tell anyone├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you know...do you know how much shit will we catch from the uppers? They'll want to know where you got it from├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy sister was a priestess├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe gave it to me before I went to war├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIs it sanctified?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan said, showing him the seal. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow did you get that without having to pay an arm and a leg?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy sister├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôShe did it for free├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex lifted his eyebrows ├óÔé¼┼ôWow├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThats...that quite generous├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan said, turning back to his book.
Then Colman walked into the tent, three lurid red marks on his head. The book was gone under Jon's pillow so quick Alex didn't even see it dissapear. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho's the new kid?├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman asked, whipping off the lipstick from his face ├óÔé¼┼ôHe looks like a sap├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am not a sap├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman asked. He looked at Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôHe looks younger then you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon did look quite young, his face not quite past the rounded 'boyish' phase of life. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am sixteen├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôLegal age├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou look fifteen, but hell├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôI had already lost my cherry and one of my hands by fourteen├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked a little green. Colman waved his hook at him and smiled meanly. ├óÔé¼┼ôColman, knock it off├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, laying back in his cot.
Later Gary and Josh walked into the tent and laid down. ├óÔé¼┼ôLast time├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said ├óÔé¼┼ôLast time I sleep with a silverback whore├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex saw Jon's face redden slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThese boors always hit the nightlife harder then the enemy├óÔé¼┬Ø. Josh sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWell think what you want├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI like silverbacks├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have to kill there men├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut you can't say no to their women. Gods forfend they ever send women after us├óÔé¼┬Ø. The other men made sounds of disgust ├óÔé¼┼ôGods!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow can you think that!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Colman shrugged ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can never put things over silverbacks. Who else would dare to use a cannon?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôCannon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWeren't you in the battle today?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôno├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI arrived today and was sent here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Southlanders had brought a cannon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe crew must had been suiciders, as they didn't seem to care that the rest of their army was running faster then Prince Whelime├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôDo they often have cannons?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôno├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut its a nasty shock when they do. Low life, silverback bastards├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôThey just want to win├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôcan we fault them for that?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said softly ├óÔé¼┼ôwe can├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex was waken by a soft rustling. He rolled over in his cot and saw a figure slowly stalking out of the tent. Jonathan was moving out of the tent. Alex sat up, almost silently, and slipped his shoes on. He padded out of the tent, after Jon. Sometimes the silverbacks would sneak spies into the camp, but they normally were spotted as soon as they took their hats off. Then again some Imperials changed sides. So Alex followed, walking along softly. Jon walked out of the camp, to the perimeter and then into a small alcove created by the city's wall. Then he slid a sword out of his scabbard. Alex watched this all, wondering what the hell Jon was doing. Then Jon started to do rhythmic exercise, swinging the sword around in increasingly complicated patterns.
Alex was impressed. Not only was the new guy neat and learned, but he was also a pretty good swordsman. It was too bad that actual swordsman ship was almost unnecessary in combat. But he was trying. Alex yawned silently and turned away, walking back to his tent. He thumped back down into his cot and went to sleep. A few hours later, when the sun was up, he was waken by the gong. Jon was already ready to go when Alex, Colman, Josh and Gary were ready to go. They all got ready in a matter of minutes, pulling on their chain mail. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome on├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop being so cheerful├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary grumbled ├óÔé¼┼ôIt'll get you stabbed├óÔé¼┬Ø.
After they packed the tent and reported to the line, Alex was completely awake. The line was an age old Royal Army maneuver. You walk next to your bunk mates. Alex was used to walking with silent Carlos, but Jon lined up next to him easily enough. They started to march in tempo with the drum, the stomp of their feet surprisingly loud. Talking was allowed, if one was quiet. Not many people talked. They had to reserve the energy for the battle. The march was long, but no longer then any other march Alex had been on. They were simply winding through the border between the Empire and the Southlands, routing every raiding party them came on. It had been pitifully easy so far, as the Southlanders always attack before they are ready.
The march lasted the better part of the day, until long after lunch, the crested another frozen hill and arrived at the next city. It was another walled place, much like Bastion. It was called Mechento, or so the sign said, but Alex Couldn't care less about its name. It was just another place to camp for the night and march away from in the morning. They set up camp. Jon proved to be rather inept at setting up the tent, dawdling over the knots a bit too much. In the end Colman and Gary took over for him and set up the tent in about five minutes. Then they unfolded their cots and lay down. ├óÔé¼┼ôI feel like I've been dragged from a horse├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon groaned, felling his small, almost shrunken tights. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats your fault for not having thighs├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman muttered.
They all lay in panting silent, all of them bone tired. It got easier, after time, but it was never easy enough. Alex knew he would feel better in the morning, as long as he rested up. But Gary and Josh, predictably, got up after a few minutes and pulled out some jangling coin. ├óÔé¼┼ôI hope these wenche's are cheaper├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôHave you ever considered not going out for one night? We're not here to plow fields├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said, grabbing Jon ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go, newbie├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to show you a good time├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo thanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm bone tired. I Couldn't plow a field...even if I wanted too├óÔé¼┬Ø. Josh and Gary groaned and walked out of the tent. Colman was already asleep, snoring loudly.
Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to piss├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon muttered. Alex got up slowly and walked out of the tent and through the camp. The other soldiers had set up tents as quickly as they had. Many were playing cards, while others talked. Some had started nonregulation fires and cooked some nonregulation vittles. Alex ignored them, instead looking for a good place to go. He found none in camp, so he went into the city. It was smelled musty, like wet fur, and the silverbacks all talked too loud. The beast-men and beast-women all looked alike to Alex. All long nosed, sharp toothed and long furry ears. He walked past a leisure house and saw several silverback whores plying their trade to tired soldiers. The soldiers were the only ones in the city who could afford their services. And cared to take them.
Alex found a unoccupied alleyway and walked down it, dancing from foot to foot. He got to the end and found that this alleyway connected to another. Alex snorted. It was a great place to stage an ambush, if there were a siege on the city. Ally's should end, to block of your enemy's retreat and maneuvering. Silverbacks never thought things through. Alex slid himself out of his pants, took aim and let loose on the wall. He sighed slowly, relived to empty his bladder. He should have taken a break during the march and gone, but he thought he could hold it in. Then he heard something. Alex brought his pants back up swiftly, not wanting to show a stranger himself. Only a woman would be embarrassed in that fashion.
├óÔé¼┼ôCome sweet├óÔé¼┬Ø A male voice said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy should you make us pay for what you give for free?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø A voice responded, definitely female. The slight twang on the end of the 'No' was a definite Southern accent. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome on├óÔé¼┬Ø Another man said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy should a dirty silverback like you make hard working Imperials pay for this├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet your hands off me├óÔé¼┬Ø The silverback woman said. There was a sound of a blow landing. Alex sighed, knowing where this would turn. He looked around the corner and saw two men on either sides of a silverback whore. She wore nothing from the waste up, but Alex felt nothing in the way of masculine attraction. She had fur, for the Gods sake.
├óÔé¼┼ôIf you├óÔé¼┬Ø the silverback whore started to say, but the first man simply stuck her again. Another hand mark appeared on her face, complimenting the angry red mark on her other cheek. ├óÔé¼┼ôThrow her down├óÔé¼┬Ø The second man said, grinning evilly. The first man grabbed the silverback by the hair and tossed her to the ground. The second man dropped his pants. Alex frowned distastefully. It was bad enough, showing oneself to silverback. But showing yourself to another man was just disgusting. The second man mounted the silverback, not even bothering to make her comfortable. The silverback started to scream, but the first man placed his foot on the back of her head and pressed it into the mud.
Alex turned away. Rape was illegal. But it was just a silverback whore. Then he heard a voice shout ├óÔé¼┼ôSTOP!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He turned about. That was an Imperial voice. Whats worse, it was a familer Imperial voice. It was Jon. The rapist stood up, pulling his pants over his erection and reaching for a sword ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you care?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked ├óÔé¼┼ôYou'd have this wench as soon as we, knowing her prices├óÔé¼┬Ø. The silverback sobbed, dropping Alex's sympathy to her lower. Only a woman would cry. A man, if abused, would show strength. Then he head Jon pull out his sword. Alex groaned inwardly. As a soldier of the empire he had to go along with any other soldier of the empire, if they drew their swords.
He pulled out his sword as well and stepped around the corner. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm backing you up, Jon├óÔé¼┬Ø He said loudly. ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo knights?├óÔé¼┬Ø The first rapist said, looking more then a bit worried. Jon stepped forward ├óÔé¼┼ôThats right├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd Rape is illegal and immoral. I will see you burn in this life, and the Gods will see you burn in the next life├óÔé¼┬Ø. The second rapist's face purpled ├óÔé¼┼ôYou dare!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted, stepping forward, swinging his sword. Jon parried his inept sword blow, and stabbed him expertly in the armpit. Blood started to flow and the man fell, clutching his wound. Jon then brought his sword around in an arc and into the man's neck, nicking the vein. Blood splattered.
Alex blinked. Jon had handled that sword not just with good practice, but with a ease of veterancy. This man was not new to combat. He was very impressed. Then Jon walked over to the whore and threw his cloak over her. The whore had curled into a ball, still sobbing, but she felt the cloak and pulled it about her shoulders. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, helping the silverback to her feet. A tail swished slowly back and forth in the open air. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy father taught me that Knights should fight in battle, protect in peace and govern fairly. I'm only a Foot-Knight, so I don't think I'm going to govern. So I might as well follow the other two├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex blinked. He had taken the Knight vows but... It was made clear to him early on that silverbacks just didn't...count. He had never seen anyone offer the same respect to silverbacks as they offered Imperials. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked, thrusting his chin out ├óÔé¼┼ôI never would have noticed, what with the tail and the ears and the fur├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis...this is not an Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôthis?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked, his voice hard ├óÔé¼┼ôThis...This is a woman, who has been abused, and I couldn't care if she was a dragon. I'm going to help her├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon took out some coins ├óÔé¼┼ôWoman├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is your name?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm...Sandra├óÔé¼┬Ø the whore said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra, take this├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, pressing twenty coins into the whore's hand ├óÔé¼┼ôNow get a better job├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra laughed wetly and started to walk away, still using Jon's cloak.
Alex shook himself. He had just thought of the wore as Sandra. Whores, the lowest of women, didn't deserve names. He was angry at himself, but he focused it on Jon. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you ever do that again...people will think you soft!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts suddenly soft to follow our vows├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat a strange Knighthood we've all joined├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats not what I mean├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf it were an Imperial woman, or even a Imperial Courtesan being raped, I would leap to their aide. But silverbacks, Easterners and Aryias are not Imperials. They are only...sub-human, at best├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSub-human├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, his eyes flashing ├óÔé¼┼ôWell I think I know which one is which now├óÔé¼┬Ø he walked past Alex, deliberately smacking into him with his shoulder. Jon walked out of the alleyway, leaving Alex feeling as if he had been smacked.
Rose
Moderator: Moderators
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Johns_Volition
- Posts: 134
- Joined: 05 Jul 2006, 21:17
Writing is a fine thing but, you can actually spend to mucht time with it. When it draws all Ideas out of your head, and you never finnish the Book you write on. There is the other Extreme, worrying and thinking to much about the Text you write - till you get no more then one sentence a week on the Paper. Somewhere in the Middle of the Riddle lies the Truth.Zoombie wrote:You can't spend too much time writing. Not when you want to be a writer.
Now does anyone have opinions or thoughts on the story? What do you think of it so far?
Alex arrived back at the tent to find the others were already there. Jon looked at him, then looked away. He must still have been angry. Well...Alex couldn't care less. If he was going to get worked up about the plight of the lesser races, then he was going to be drummed out of the service in a few days. Alex thumped down on the bed and put his feet up on the edge of the cot. Jon started talking again, saying ├óÔé¼┼ôSo how was your day?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Josh sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt turns out I'm just about out of money. I need to wait for the next payday till we can have some fun├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I bought a trinket├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said, pulling out what looked like a dried out dead rat. ├óÔé¼┼ôUgh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon exclaimed, backing away from it ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy the hell did you buy that thing?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a luck charm├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy other luck charms worked quite well. I survived the last two wars against the Southlands, so I count myself lucky├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWell just don't take it out and wave it at us├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt could be diseased or something├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow look at who's crazy├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôDiseases...its curses that waste you away├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSee├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôGary is crazy-superstitious├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon grunted, rolling away on his cot.
The next morning dawned much as the last, bright and very cold. Then it got worse. As Alex and Jon packed in their supplies, and Gary, Josh and Colman all took down the tent, Alex saw a single white speck drift down from the sky. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh hell├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered, looking at the speck as it settled on his bag. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey Gary├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts snowing├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGods blood├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary moaned. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey hey hey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh objected. Gary, in his moaning, had stopped folding up the tent, leaving Josh holding a heavy bit of wood. Gary started folding again and they finished putting it away.
Once they finished putting away the tent and packing their supplies it had started to snow in full force. Jon and Alex got into the marching line, Jon still specifically ignoring Alex. After a few minuets the line was fully formed, every tent group lined up and ready to march. Then the drummer started up and the army moved out. The commander actually got to ride a horse, way up in the front, as did the cavalry. The cavalry walked behind the foot knights, as their horses left lots of smelly droppings. Alex breathed in the cold air, looking at the snow as it fell in thicker and thicker sheets of white.
After five or so hours of marching Alex heard the battle horn. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôBattle horn!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon pulled his sword out and slid his shield off his shoulder. The marching lines turned to the side, turning into the battle lines. The enemy army, if it could be called as much, was running straight at them. ├óÔé¼┼ôGrenades!├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander bellowed, swinging his sword around in a loop, egging his troops on. Jon and Alex pulled out the grenades and snapped the fuses. Jon hurled his grenade, but it went a bit short. Alex hauled off and threw his harder, and it landed right in the middle of the enemy army. Then it bounced off a sudden shield wall. The grenades all slid off and detonated in front of the enemy army. Some shields crumpled, but most...held. The Southland army lowered his shields and charged.
Alex, for a split second, wished the army had stocked up on more grenades back at Mechento. Then the enemy were on them, swords ready. Alex's first move was to bring up his shield. The enemy soldiers sword blow bounced off his shield perfectly, and Alex stabbed his sword forward. The silverback soldiers light fur armor didn't even slow the blade down, and he fell forward, blood pumping out of his new hole. Jon, who was next to Alex, spun his sword around in a furious arc of blows. Three silverbacks fell, Jon's sword caught them all in the neck. Jon caught an enemy sword with his toe and flung it up into the air. He grabbed it, spun it around and stabbed another Silverback.
Alex decapitated his second silverback and blocked another one's mace. The mace left his arm bruised, but Alex paid the silverback back with a furious blow to the side of the head. His sword stuck in the skull, but he jerked it out with his foot. Then a man next to him died as two silverbacks hacked him to pieces with their axes. Alex stabbed one in the back and it fell forward, arms reaching for the sword burred in its back. The second one brought its ax swinging around and caught the chain mail that Alex wore. It cut it, and the skin beneath it. Alex snarled and smashed the ax out of the silverback's hands. Then he cut the silverback down.
A few moments and Alex was standing amongst more then a few bodies. The enemy were routing again, their horn blowing a retreat. Jon whipped his sword off, dropping the silverback one he had appropriated. Alex looked at the corpses surrounding Jon. There were at least fifteen. Alex counted only eight for him. Most people, even those in the thick of it, actually killed about five silverbacks. Fifteen was just crazy. Jon cricked his neck, whipping a little dribble of silverback blood of his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was easy├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was incredible├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't practice for no reason├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. Then he remembered that he was still angry at Alex and stopped talking.
The battle had counted three casualties, only one of them an actual death. The marching line resumed and after a few more hours they arrived at their third city. Alex set up the tent and smiled when Jon remarked ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is already getting repetitive├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex landed on his cot and sat down. Jon continued to ignore him with the focus of a zealot. Then Alex, sick and tired of this impasse, said ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right, I'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou were right├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI was wondering how long it would take you to realize that I'm always right├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not going that far. I will got and relax├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan I come?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not going to a whore house├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI just want to hit the local pup. I needed a drink for the last three days anyway├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon followed him ├óÔé¼┼ôI can agree with that├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The local pub was an Aryia affair, operated by one of those four armed people. The Aryia bartender was a man of the race, his eyes long and narrow on his completely inhuman face. Every time Alex saw one of those things he had to repress a shudder. ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo beers├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. The Aryia nodded and grabbed two cups with his two upper hands and placed them under two taps. He then flipped the taps open with his two lower arms. The cups filled, he handed them to Jon and Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. Alex just grunted and tossed the two coins to the Aryia, who caught it with two hands.
Jon drank ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is strong stuff├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, looking at the liquid. ├óÔé¼┼ôStrong then Empire brew├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut don't say that aloud├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking around. The rest of the patrons seemed to be either drinking, talking or playing a bizarre card game. In fact most of them were doing all three. Then someone shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôHEY! YOURE CHEATING!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon stood up, looking at the table. Two men, one Imperials and the other a skinny Easterner, were facing each other. Jon walked over to them, and Alex followed him warily. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat seems to be happening here├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked, looking at the two men.
The easterner started to say ├óÔé¼┼ôThis Imperial is cheating!├óÔé¼┬Ø. But the Imperial cut him off, saying ├óÔé¼┼ôThis easterner is lying├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked at them both as the two men started to bicker madly between themselves. Jon endured this for a few more seconds. Then he grabbed the Imperial's left arm. ├óÔé¼┼ôWha├óÔé¼┬Ø the Imperial started to say. But then Jon's fingers snuck into the sleeve and came out with a bundle of cards. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour right├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said to the easterner ├óÔé¼┼ôHe is cheating├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI├óÔé¼┬Ø the Imperial said. Then Jon punched him. The Imperial staggered backwards. But he came back sooner then Alex would have expected, swinging another punch.
Then Jon did something else strange. Rather then taking the punch as a man would, he ducked. The Imperial's punch went wild and Jon hit him twice more, slamming both hands into the Imperial's gut. This time the Imperial went down and stayed down. The rest of the Imperials got up, each of them looking menacing. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, dropping the hidden cards that he had pulled out of the Imperial's pockets ├óÔé¼┼ôI see how this is├óÔé¼┬Ø. His hand drifted to his sword. Alex walked beside him, also ready to fight. Then he heard two shouts. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary and Josh said, running out of the second floor of the pub. Gary vaulted over the railing and landed with a thump next to Jon. Josh ran down the stairs and pushed past a silverback waitress. He stood beside Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not fighting without me├óÔé¼┬Ø he said.
Alex looked at each of the nonsoldier imperials. They were all merchants, but they were also drunk. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets do this├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon was grinning savagely. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet them throw the first punch├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary muttered into Jon's ear. A merchant about five feet away started it off by throwing a bottle. Alex ducked and charged forward, slamming into the merchants stomach with his head. The merchant bent over at the waist and Alex grabbed him and threw him. He landed on a table and it smashed to the ground. Jon kicked, snapping a man's head backwards. The man fell, knocked out. Then Jon grabbed a bottle and smashed it again another man's face.
Gary and Josh both started to punch madly, taking blows but giving them out much as the same. A merchant got behind Jon and grabbed him around the waist. A second merchant got in front of Josh and started to punch him in the gut. Jon grunted, then brought his legs up and kicked the man in the chest the same way a horse would kick. The merchant fell backwards and hit the table behind them, knocking it over. The merchant behind Jon was hit by Josh, who grabbed his head and slammed it against the wall. Alex kneed a merchant in the crotch and got whacked in the back by a chair. He fell face forward, out like a light. Jon hauled off and smashed a merchant in the face, breaking his nose.
Then a sound rattled out. It was a sword being drawn from its scabbard. Everyone stopped fighting and looked at the door. The commander was in the doorway, his royal cloak draped about his shoulders. ├óÔé¼┼ôHalt!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted, his commanding voice ringing loudly in the pub. The merchants stopped, looking sheepish. May of them had bruises, cuts and some were nursing broken ribs. Three were knocked out. ├óÔé¼┼ôSoldiers, step forward├óÔé¼┬Ø The commander said, his sword tip prodding the ground. Jon, Josh and Gary stepped forward.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho started this?├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI did├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, sticking his chin forward defiantly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôbecause this man was cheating in a game of poker├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, nudging the first Imperial he had punched out. The Commander looked at Josh and Gary ├óÔé¼┼ôIs this true?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary and Josh said, looking away. They were under oath to say the truth to their commander. Alex got up, groaning. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet this soldier to his bunk├óÔé¼┬Ø The commander said to Jon ├óÔé¼┼ôHe looks a bit worse for wear├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd├óÔé¼┬Ø The commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm afraid we can never be sure of who started this brawl. As long as you avoid it...I might ignore it├óÔé¼┬Ø. He smiled, sheathing his sword as he walked out of the pub.
Alex groaned, lying in his cot. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is the last time├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôLast time I go out to have fun with Jon├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôhe's too good for his own good├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said. Jon was out at the moment, going to the bathroom. He was sure taking his good time. Josh rubbed his bruised body as well ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to teach Jon to stop taking the Knighthood vows so seriously├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI wouldn't suggest it├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôJon is as stubborn as he is an idiot├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI heard that├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, walking into the tent ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I'm taking it as a compliment├óÔé¼┬Ø. He thumped down on his cot, nursing considerably less bruises then the others. Colman walked into the tent, whipping off some lipstick on his face ├óÔé¼┼ôI found a nice Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôDidn't need to even pay them├óÔé¼┬Ø. He sat down on his cot and looked around ├óÔé¼┼ôDid I miss something fun?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, looking at the others and their wounds.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I bought a trinket├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said, pulling out what looked like a dried out dead rat. ├óÔé¼┼ôUgh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon exclaimed, backing away from it ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy the hell did you buy that thing?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a luck charm├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy other luck charms worked quite well. I survived the last two wars against the Southlands, so I count myself lucky├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWell just don't take it out and wave it at us├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt could be diseased or something├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow look at who's crazy├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôDiseases...its curses that waste you away├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSee├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôGary is crazy-superstitious├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon grunted, rolling away on his cot.
The next morning dawned much as the last, bright and very cold. Then it got worse. As Alex and Jon packed in their supplies, and Gary, Josh and Colman all took down the tent, Alex saw a single white speck drift down from the sky. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh hell├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered, looking at the speck as it settled on his bag. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey Gary├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts snowing├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGods blood├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary moaned. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey hey hey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh objected. Gary, in his moaning, had stopped folding up the tent, leaving Josh holding a heavy bit of wood. Gary started folding again and they finished putting it away.
Once they finished putting away the tent and packing their supplies it had started to snow in full force. Jon and Alex got into the marching line, Jon still specifically ignoring Alex. After a few minuets the line was fully formed, every tent group lined up and ready to march. Then the drummer started up and the army moved out. The commander actually got to ride a horse, way up in the front, as did the cavalry. The cavalry walked behind the foot knights, as their horses left lots of smelly droppings. Alex breathed in the cold air, looking at the snow as it fell in thicker and thicker sheets of white.
After five or so hours of marching Alex heard the battle horn. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôBattle horn!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon pulled his sword out and slid his shield off his shoulder. The marching lines turned to the side, turning into the battle lines. The enemy army, if it could be called as much, was running straight at them. ├óÔé¼┼ôGrenades!├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander bellowed, swinging his sword around in a loop, egging his troops on. Jon and Alex pulled out the grenades and snapped the fuses. Jon hurled his grenade, but it went a bit short. Alex hauled off and threw his harder, and it landed right in the middle of the enemy army. Then it bounced off a sudden shield wall. The grenades all slid off and detonated in front of the enemy army. Some shields crumpled, but most...held. The Southland army lowered his shields and charged.
Alex, for a split second, wished the army had stocked up on more grenades back at Mechento. Then the enemy were on them, swords ready. Alex's first move was to bring up his shield. The enemy soldiers sword blow bounced off his shield perfectly, and Alex stabbed his sword forward. The silverback soldiers light fur armor didn't even slow the blade down, and he fell forward, blood pumping out of his new hole. Jon, who was next to Alex, spun his sword around in a furious arc of blows. Three silverbacks fell, Jon's sword caught them all in the neck. Jon caught an enemy sword with his toe and flung it up into the air. He grabbed it, spun it around and stabbed another Silverback.
Alex decapitated his second silverback and blocked another one's mace. The mace left his arm bruised, but Alex paid the silverback back with a furious blow to the side of the head. His sword stuck in the skull, but he jerked it out with his foot. Then a man next to him died as two silverbacks hacked him to pieces with their axes. Alex stabbed one in the back and it fell forward, arms reaching for the sword burred in its back. The second one brought its ax swinging around and caught the chain mail that Alex wore. It cut it, and the skin beneath it. Alex snarled and smashed the ax out of the silverback's hands. Then he cut the silverback down.
A few moments and Alex was standing amongst more then a few bodies. The enemy were routing again, their horn blowing a retreat. Jon whipped his sword off, dropping the silverback one he had appropriated. Alex looked at the corpses surrounding Jon. There were at least fifteen. Alex counted only eight for him. Most people, even those in the thick of it, actually killed about five silverbacks. Fifteen was just crazy. Jon cricked his neck, whipping a little dribble of silverback blood of his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was easy├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was incredible├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't practice for no reason├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. Then he remembered that he was still angry at Alex and stopped talking.
The battle had counted three casualties, only one of them an actual death. The marching line resumed and after a few more hours they arrived at their third city. Alex set up the tent and smiled when Jon remarked ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is already getting repetitive├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex landed on his cot and sat down. Jon continued to ignore him with the focus of a zealot. Then Alex, sick and tired of this impasse, said ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right, I'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou were right├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI was wondering how long it would take you to realize that I'm always right├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not going that far. I will got and relax├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan I come?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not going to a whore house├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI just want to hit the local pup. I needed a drink for the last three days anyway├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon followed him ├óÔé¼┼ôI can agree with that├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The local pub was an Aryia affair, operated by one of those four armed people. The Aryia bartender was a man of the race, his eyes long and narrow on his completely inhuman face. Every time Alex saw one of those things he had to repress a shudder. ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo beers├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. The Aryia nodded and grabbed two cups with his two upper hands and placed them under two taps. He then flipped the taps open with his two lower arms. The cups filled, he handed them to Jon and Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. Alex just grunted and tossed the two coins to the Aryia, who caught it with two hands.
Jon drank ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is strong stuff├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, looking at the liquid. ├óÔé¼┼ôStrong then Empire brew├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut don't say that aloud├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, looking around. The rest of the patrons seemed to be either drinking, talking or playing a bizarre card game. In fact most of them were doing all three. Then someone shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôHEY! YOURE CHEATING!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon stood up, looking at the table. Two men, one Imperials and the other a skinny Easterner, were facing each other. Jon walked over to them, and Alex followed him warily. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat seems to be happening here├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon asked, looking at the two men.
The easterner started to say ├óÔé¼┼ôThis Imperial is cheating!├óÔé¼┬Ø. But the Imperial cut him off, saying ├óÔé¼┼ôThis easterner is lying├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked at them both as the two men started to bicker madly between themselves. Jon endured this for a few more seconds. Then he grabbed the Imperial's left arm. ├óÔé¼┼ôWha├óÔé¼┬Ø the Imperial started to say. But then Jon's fingers snuck into the sleeve and came out with a bundle of cards. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour right├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said to the easterner ├óÔé¼┼ôHe is cheating├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI├óÔé¼┬Ø the Imperial said. Then Jon punched him. The Imperial staggered backwards. But he came back sooner then Alex would have expected, swinging another punch.
Then Jon did something else strange. Rather then taking the punch as a man would, he ducked. The Imperial's punch went wild and Jon hit him twice more, slamming both hands into the Imperial's gut. This time the Imperial went down and stayed down. The rest of the Imperials got up, each of them looking menacing. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, dropping the hidden cards that he had pulled out of the Imperial's pockets ├óÔé¼┼ôI see how this is├óÔé¼┬Ø. His hand drifted to his sword. Alex walked beside him, also ready to fight. Then he heard two shouts. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary and Josh said, running out of the second floor of the pub. Gary vaulted over the railing and landed with a thump next to Jon. Josh ran down the stairs and pushed past a silverback waitress. He stood beside Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not fighting without me├óÔé¼┬Ø he said.
Alex looked at each of the nonsoldier imperials. They were all merchants, but they were also drunk. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets do this├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon was grinning savagely. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet them throw the first punch├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary muttered into Jon's ear. A merchant about five feet away started it off by throwing a bottle. Alex ducked and charged forward, slamming into the merchants stomach with his head. The merchant bent over at the waist and Alex grabbed him and threw him. He landed on a table and it smashed to the ground. Jon kicked, snapping a man's head backwards. The man fell, knocked out. Then Jon grabbed a bottle and smashed it again another man's face.
Gary and Josh both started to punch madly, taking blows but giving them out much as the same. A merchant got behind Jon and grabbed him around the waist. A second merchant got in front of Josh and started to punch him in the gut. Jon grunted, then brought his legs up and kicked the man in the chest the same way a horse would kick. The merchant fell backwards and hit the table behind them, knocking it over. The merchant behind Jon was hit by Josh, who grabbed his head and slammed it against the wall. Alex kneed a merchant in the crotch and got whacked in the back by a chair. He fell face forward, out like a light. Jon hauled off and smashed a merchant in the face, breaking his nose.
Then a sound rattled out. It was a sword being drawn from its scabbard. Everyone stopped fighting and looked at the door. The commander was in the doorway, his royal cloak draped about his shoulders. ├óÔé¼┼ôHalt!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted, his commanding voice ringing loudly in the pub. The merchants stopped, looking sheepish. May of them had bruises, cuts and some were nursing broken ribs. Three were knocked out. ├óÔé¼┼ôSoldiers, step forward├óÔé¼┬Ø The commander said, his sword tip prodding the ground. Jon, Josh and Gary stepped forward.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho started this?├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI did├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, sticking his chin forward defiantly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôbecause this man was cheating in a game of poker├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, nudging the first Imperial he had punched out. The Commander looked at Josh and Gary ├óÔé¼┼ôIs this true?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary and Josh said, looking away. They were under oath to say the truth to their commander. Alex got up, groaning. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet this soldier to his bunk├óÔé¼┬Ø The commander said to Jon ├óÔé¼┼ôHe looks a bit worse for wear├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd├óÔé¼┬Ø The commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm afraid we can never be sure of who started this brawl. As long as you avoid it...I might ignore it├óÔé¼┬Ø. He smiled, sheathing his sword as he walked out of the pub.
Alex groaned, lying in his cot. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is the last time├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôLast time I go out to have fun with Jon├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôhe's too good for his own good├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said. Jon was out at the moment, going to the bathroom. He was sure taking his good time. Josh rubbed his bruised body as well ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to teach Jon to stop taking the Knighthood vows so seriously├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI wouldn't suggest it├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôJon is as stubborn as he is an idiot├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI heard that├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said, walking into the tent ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I'm taking it as a compliment├óÔé¼┬Ø. He thumped down on his cot, nursing considerably less bruises then the others. Colman walked into the tent, whipping off some lipstick on his face ├óÔé¼┼ôI found a nice Imperial├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôDidn't need to even pay them├óÔé¼┬Ø. He sat down on his cot and looked around ├óÔé¼┼ôDid I miss something fun?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, looking at the others and their wounds.
-
Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
Stuff happening!
The marching got old, after a while. But Alex bore it just as he had all the other times. His bruises smarted, but he was sure that Gary and Josh also hurt. Jon was annoyingly okay, seeing as how he had avoided the blows rather then taking them. But none of the army would call him a coward, not how he had faced down a tavern full of angry Imperial merchants. That was no mean feat to a fresh blood. The fact that he had bagged fifteen silverbacks too was worth mentioning. So Alex was sure at least some of the gossip around the army was about the 'new kid'. He hoped no one even heard about what had happened at Bastion.
Then there was a sudden stir. The army stopped, the people in the front shouting. Someone was running through the ranks, splitting down the middle. ├óÔé¼┼ôOut of my way!├óÔé¼┬Ø a woman shouted, her voice marking her as a silverback. ├óÔé¼┼ôOut of my way!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is going on?├óÔé¼┬Ø An officer asked, running to the commotion. ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to see my master├óÔé¼┬Ø the silverback woman shouted. She looked the worse for wear, her shirt torn in several places. The only part of her that didn't look muddy was her ears, and that was because they were to the side of her head. Alex groaned. He was thinking of the silverback as a her. It was more accurate to...
├óÔé¼┼ôThere he is!├óÔé¼┬Ø the silverback shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôThere is the man who bought and paid for me!├óÔé¼┬Ø. She pointed. For a horrific second Alex was sure she was pointing at him. Then he stepped aside and saw Jon. Jon blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôhuh?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, his voice rising a pitch, sounding almost girlish. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you talking about!├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, looking angry ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't even...know you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then he took a step back ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts you├óÔé¼┬Ø. The silverback grinned, looking at the officer ├óÔé¼┼ôThis brave young man saved my life and gave me coin. How could I not pay him back!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The officer looked completely blindsided. Then he shouted to the soldiers ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you gawking at! Start marching!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The soldiers did so, but Alex stood, looking at Jon. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome with me├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer said, pointing to Jon.
Alex followed ├óÔé¼┼ôI was there├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI witnessed this...transaction├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen you're involved as well├óÔé¼┬Ø the officer said. He looked at the silverback ├óÔé¼┼ôBring your whore├óÔé¼┬Ø he said to Jon. The silverback looked at Jon, eyes flashing. Jon looked completely lost ├óÔé¼┼ôBu...I didn't buy you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôhere├óÔé¼┬Ø the silverback said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis money...thats what I coasted to my owner. So he gave me to you. And I'm going to rot before I go anywhere without an owner├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôHurry it up!├óÔé¼┬Ø the officer shouted. They all walked past the marching soldiers till they got to the commander, who had set up a small way station, complete with a desk and papers.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said, watching as the men of his army marched past ├óÔé¼┼ôYou found this woman├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø the silverback said. The commander nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôThis woman getting raped. And then you├óÔé¼┬Ø He pointed to Jon ├óÔé¼┼ôstepped in and you├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed to Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôstepped up to help...is this correct?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou should be commended├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought that no one upheld the old ways of Knighthood. But here I was wrong. You two actually followed your vows, no matter how unpopular it would make you with the troops├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked surprised, then happy. Alex was just confused. ├óÔé¼┼ôSee├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôMost men would have left her to be raped. You actually stepped up. I'm putting this down in both your records as a commendation├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôA commendation?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked ├óÔé¼┼ôbut...she's a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said dryly ├óÔé¼┼ôI think my eyes have been malfunctioning today. Of course she's a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra beamed, her teeth yellow. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôaccording to the laws of this place, not that there are much, you did legally buy this woman├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked at Jon ├óÔé¼┼ônow do you want to keep her?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI uh...├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked Sandra over, his eyes running over her body. Other then the fur on the back, the tail and the ears, Sandra looked like a dark skinned Imperial. But that was like saying 'other then the sun, night is like day'. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose I could use a servant├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø The commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe will have to keep up with this army, if she falls behind we leave her behind. You will not sleep with her. You must keep your servant pure, and protect her as if she were your sword. She will, in turn, cook your food, clean your gear and help your other tent mates├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked at Sandra ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you do these things?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôI caught up with this army. I think I can keep up with it├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ônow, you├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said, looking at Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you think your tentmates can be expected to keep this woman in good standing?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex gulped, thinking of Josh and Gary's way of hitting the town life. ├óÔé¼┼ôSure├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôafter I hit them a few times├óÔé¼┬Ø. The commander smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôJust remember that if your servant does something wrong it reflects on you├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed his quill pen at Jon ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you will need to pay for it├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow get in line├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said, folding up his table and sliding on the side of his horse.
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not sure I like the idea of sleeping next to a silverback thats not a whore├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôI mean how do I know she doesn't stab us in the back├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy would I stab you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShut up├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said ├óÔé¼┼ôMenfolk are talking├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't talk to my servant like that├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gary made a face. Sandra, however, kept silent. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe was driven out of her farm by a Southland army├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôHer father and brothers pressed into service and her mother killed├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSilverbacks definitely are savages├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôThats why I never sleep with their whores├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra's eears drooped and her face went pink. Now that she had cleaned herself, she did look more like an Imperial. Most of the dark in her skin was from the dirt. It was also disturbing how easily Alex started thinking of her as Sandra and not the silverback whore.
The night wore on. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust one kiss├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon and Sandra said at the same time. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis tent has a fine woman├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut we can't even bed her?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's not a whore anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a servant. She will wash your filthy clothes├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm the filthy one? Look at you!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAt least I bathe├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWill both of you shut the hell up!├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm trying to sleep here├óÔé¼┬Ø. They shut up for a moment. ├óÔé¼┼ôBathings overrated├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh muttered. Alex sighed and covered his ears with his pillow.
They were waken at dawn, and given orders a few seconds later. Alex and Jon, and Sandra by extension, were told to take part in setting up the fortifications. Sandra gave Alex and Jon the tools, and they used them. The fortifications were a simple two rung affair. The first rung was a curved horseshoe shape. The second rung was another, smaller, horseshoe behind that. It was elevated, so the archers could shoot over the footmen in the first rung. Each run had wooden shields that could be yanked up to cover. Alex and Josh had the mind numbing task of creating the wooden shields. It was simple work, but they had to all be the same, at they had to make at least fifty of them for the first rung alone. It was made slightly better by Sandra, who kept handing them tools.
After two hours of work the fortifications were almost done. But then the enemy army crested a nearby hill. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh dear├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat doesn't look like a Southlander army├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked at it as well. He blanched. They were wearing armor, they had what looked to be well crafted swords, and finally they actually were in formation. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh dear├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex echoed Jon ├óÔé¼┼ôSo thats why we're setting fortifications up├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôForm ranks!├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander shouted. Jon looked at Sandra, who was looking at the army with a mixture of fear and confusion. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou run to the tent├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf we fall, you run and don't look back!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Then he jumped into their place in the line. Alex joined him, sliding his sword out. The enemy army's archers opened up. It was very frightening to see a literal cloud of arrows block out the sun. ├óÔé¼┼ôSHEILDS!├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander roared. Alex grabbed his line and hauled the wooden shield up and over his section of the trench.
Jon did likewise, as did the others in the trench. The light was suddenly reduced to a view slivers of light shining through the slight breaks between the planks. Then the arrows impacted, a flurry of thumps sounding out. Alex looked up at the planks and saw that they had become pincushions, arrow heads sticking out of them. ├óÔé¼┼ôShields UP!├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander's voice was muted by the cover. Jon and Alex shoved up, the arrow heads spiking them, and the Shields fell forward again. The enemy army was readying for another volley, but then the commander slapped his archery leader on the shoulder. The crossbows lit up, and a volley of bolts rained into the enemy army. Southlanders fell, their heavy armor not stoping high powered bolts.
Then the front ranks of the enemy army, or at least the surviving ones, ran forward, swords ready. ├óÔé¼┼ôCharge!├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander yelled. Alex, Jon and the others in the trench crawled out of the trench and ran at the enemy line. Alex felt his lungs burning, feet pounding on the snowy ground. His sword was ready, and he shouted at the top of his lungs. Then he smashed into a silverback and brought his shield around to bash him out of the way. The silverback fell, but another one was behind him, wielding a sword as if they knew how. Alex brought his shield up and advanced. The enemy whacked him and Alex groaned, feeling his already bruised arm bruise even more. But he swung his sword around again and sliced the man. His sword skittered off the silverback's armor. He had forgotten that.
Then the silverback stabbed him in the stomach. The sword didn't quite penetrate the chain mail, but it still broke the skin, ramming chainlink into his skin. Alex groaned, feeling like he had been kicked. Then Jon decapitated the silverback with a sudden sword blow. Alex wheezed, but he struck at the nearest enemy soldier. That silverback found that heavy armor did have some weaknesses, mostly at the joints. Alex's sword found one of those joints and the enemy fell. ├óÔé¼┼ôBack to the trenches!├óÔé¼┬Ø was shouted. The enemy was breaking, running back to their lines├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex turned around. He took a step, then fell down to one knee. He looked down at his calf and saw that it had been sliced. It didn't hurt until he saw it. Then he felt pain swamp him.
├óÔé¼┼ôShields up!├óÔé¼┬Ø the order was shouted. Alex tried to push himself the ten feet required to get to the trench. Then he heard ├óÔé¼┼ôJon! NO!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Jon was climbing out of the trench. There was a twang as the enemy archers started up. The arrows arced over the sky. Jon grabbed Alex under the armpits and dragged him to the trenches. They both landed in the trenches and the shield slammed down over them a split before the enemy arrows impacted. There was a loud series of whacks and fifty odd new arrow heads snapped into the shield. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex gasped ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I think I'm going to faint├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex came too in his tent. Sandra was washing Josh and Colman's clothes. Jon was sitting on a cot next to her. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can't tell anyone├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy would I?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôIts amazing├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats amazing?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon spun around, his face white ├óÔé¼┼ôer...├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, laying his head back down on his cot ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm too tired to pry├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was nothing, really├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMaster's just embarrassed├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, looking at Alex. She wiggled her eyebrows ├óÔé¼┼ôhe just doesn't like to talk about his new medal├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMedal!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is the same day we've gotten commendations, and you've also gotten a medal!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon's face reddened ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just a medal for valorous conduct under enemy fire├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, as if that was nothing. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot many a man who would get out of a trench and drag their friend undercover while fifty enemy archers fire at them├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, continuing her washing ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what the Commander sir said├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am in debt to you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Josh chose that time to walk into the tent, Colman following him. ├óÔé¼┼ôAh theres the hero├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said, cuffing Jon on the back of the head. Jon punched back, but Colman just laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have no punching arm├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou should see his kicks├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôhe took a man down with a single kick to the chin├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe chin?├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman asked, sitting down ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is surely a thing to see├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon was completely red ├óÔé¼┼ôHey├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sure all of you would do the same as I did for Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was silence. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere did you grow up?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôCentralia City├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôI grew up in a city near the Wastes, and I know for a fact that men who would do what you do are few and far between├óÔé¼┬Ø. Colman looked at the other men in the tent ├óÔé¼┼ôWe should learn from Jon's example├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon spluttered ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not...that...I'm just doing my job├óÔé¼┬Ø he finished lamely. Colman guffawed ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôA few more weeks on the front line will squeeze the heroism out of you. Either that or you'll be dead├óÔé¼┬Ø. Colman laid back down on his cot. Alex laughed, then his leg spiked in pain.
Jon got up ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to go├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôto the bathroom├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll help├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll be fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra sat back down, looking downcast. Alex blinked and was asleep.
The marching got old, after a while. But Alex bore it just as he had all the other times. His bruises smarted, but he was sure that Gary and Josh also hurt. Jon was annoyingly okay, seeing as how he had avoided the blows rather then taking them. But none of the army would call him a coward, not how he had faced down a tavern full of angry Imperial merchants. That was no mean feat to a fresh blood. The fact that he had bagged fifteen silverbacks too was worth mentioning. So Alex was sure at least some of the gossip around the army was about the 'new kid'. He hoped no one even heard about what had happened at Bastion.
Then there was a sudden stir. The army stopped, the people in the front shouting. Someone was running through the ranks, splitting down the middle. ├óÔé¼┼ôOut of my way!├óÔé¼┬Ø a woman shouted, her voice marking her as a silverback. ├óÔé¼┼ôOut of my way!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is going on?├óÔé¼┬Ø An officer asked, running to the commotion. ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to see my master├óÔé¼┬Ø the silverback woman shouted. She looked the worse for wear, her shirt torn in several places. The only part of her that didn't look muddy was her ears, and that was because they were to the side of her head. Alex groaned. He was thinking of the silverback as a her. It was more accurate to...
├óÔé¼┼ôThere he is!├óÔé¼┬Ø the silverback shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôThere is the man who bought and paid for me!├óÔé¼┬Ø. She pointed. For a horrific second Alex was sure she was pointing at him. Then he stepped aside and saw Jon. Jon blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôhuh?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, his voice rising a pitch, sounding almost girlish. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you talking about!├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, looking angry ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't even...know you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then he took a step back ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts you├óÔé¼┬Ø. The silverback grinned, looking at the officer ├óÔé¼┼ôThis brave young man saved my life and gave me coin. How could I not pay him back!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The officer looked completely blindsided. Then he shouted to the soldiers ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you gawking at! Start marching!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The soldiers did so, but Alex stood, looking at Jon. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome with me├óÔé¼┬Ø The officer said, pointing to Jon.
Alex followed ├óÔé¼┼ôI was there├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI witnessed this...transaction├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen you're involved as well├óÔé¼┬Ø the officer said. He looked at the silverback ├óÔé¼┼ôBring your whore├óÔé¼┬Ø he said to Jon. The silverback looked at Jon, eyes flashing. Jon looked completely lost ├óÔé¼┼ôBu...I didn't buy you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôhere├óÔé¼┬Ø the silverback said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis money...thats what I coasted to my owner. So he gave me to you. And I'm going to rot before I go anywhere without an owner├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôHurry it up!├óÔé¼┬Ø the officer shouted. They all walked past the marching soldiers till they got to the commander, who had set up a small way station, complete with a desk and papers.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said, watching as the men of his army marched past ├óÔé¼┼ôYou found this woman├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø the silverback said. The commander nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôThis woman getting raped. And then you├óÔé¼┬Ø He pointed to Jon ├óÔé¼┼ôstepped in and you├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed to Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôstepped up to help...is this correct?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou should be commended├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought that no one upheld the old ways of Knighthood. But here I was wrong. You two actually followed your vows, no matter how unpopular it would make you with the troops├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon looked surprised, then happy. Alex was just confused. ├óÔé¼┼ôSee├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôMost men would have left her to be raped. You actually stepped up. I'm putting this down in both your records as a commendation├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôA commendation?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked ├óÔé¼┼ôbut...she's a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said dryly ├óÔé¼┼ôI think my eyes have been malfunctioning today. Of course she's a silverback├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra beamed, her teeth yellow. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôaccording to the laws of this place, not that there are much, you did legally buy this woman├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked at Jon ├óÔé¼┼ônow do you want to keep her?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI uh...├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked Sandra over, his eyes running over her body. Other then the fur on the back, the tail and the ears, Sandra looked like a dark skinned Imperial. But that was like saying 'other then the sun, night is like day'. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose I could use a servant├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø The commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe will have to keep up with this army, if she falls behind we leave her behind. You will not sleep with her. You must keep your servant pure, and protect her as if she were your sword. She will, in turn, cook your food, clean your gear and help your other tent mates├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked at Sandra ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you do these things?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said ├óÔé¼┼ôI caught up with this army. I think I can keep up with it├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ônow, you├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said, looking at Alex ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you think your tentmates can be expected to keep this woman in good standing?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex gulped, thinking of Josh and Gary's way of hitting the town life. ├óÔé¼┼ôSure├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôafter I hit them a few times├óÔé¼┬Ø. The commander smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôJust remember that if your servant does something wrong it reflects on you├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed his quill pen at Jon ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you will need to pay for it├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow get in line├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander said, folding up his table and sliding on the side of his horse.
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not sure I like the idea of sleeping next to a silverback thats not a whore├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôI mean how do I know she doesn't stab us in the back├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy would I stab you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShut up├óÔé¼┬Ø Gary said ├óÔé¼┼ôMenfolk are talking├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't talk to my servant like that├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gary made a face. Sandra, however, kept silent. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe was driven out of her farm by a Southland army├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôHer father and brothers pressed into service and her mother killed├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSilverbacks definitely are savages├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôThats why I never sleep with their whores├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra's eears drooped and her face went pink. Now that she had cleaned herself, she did look more like an Imperial. Most of the dark in her skin was from the dirt. It was also disturbing how easily Alex started thinking of her as Sandra and not the silverback whore.
The night wore on. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust one kiss├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon and Sandra said at the same time. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis tent has a fine woman├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut we can't even bed her?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's not a whore anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a servant. She will wash your filthy clothes├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm the filthy one? Look at you!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAt least I bathe├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWill both of you shut the hell up!├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm trying to sleep here├óÔé¼┬Ø. They shut up for a moment. ├óÔé¼┼ôBathings overrated├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh muttered. Alex sighed and covered his ears with his pillow.
They were waken at dawn, and given orders a few seconds later. Alex and Jon, and Sandra by extension, were told to take part in setting up the fortifications. Sandra gave Alex and Jon the tools, and they used them. The fortifications were a simple two rung affair. The first rung was a curved horseshoe shape. The second rung was another, smaller, horseshoe behind that. It was elevated, so the archers could shoot over the footmen in the first rung. Each run had wooden shields that could be yanked up to cover. Alex and Josh had the mind numbing task of creating the wooden shields. It was simple work, but they had to all be the same, at they had to make at least fifty of them for the first rung alone. It was made slightly better by Sandra, who kept handing them tools.
After two hours of work the fortifications were almost done. But then the enemy army crested a nearby hill. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh dear├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat doesn't look like a Southlander army├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked at it as well. He blanched. They were wearing armor, they had what looked to be well crafted swords, and finally they actually were in formation. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh dear├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex echoed Jon ├óÔé¼┼ôSo thats why we're setting fortifications up├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôForm ranks!├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander shouted. Jon looked at Sandra, who was looking at the army with a mixture of fear and confusion. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou run to the tent├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf we fall, you run and don't look back!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Then he jumped into their place in the line. Alex joined him, sliding his sword out. The enemy army's archers opened up. It was very frightening to see a literal cloud of arrows block out the sun. ├óÔé¼┼ôSHEILDS!├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander roared. Alex grabbed his line and hauled the wooden shield up and over his section of the trench.
Jon did likewise, as did the others in the trench. The light was suddenly reduced to a view slivers of light shining through the slight breaks between the planks. Then the arrows impacted, a flurry of thumps sounding out. Alex looked up at the planks and saw that they had become pincushions, arrow heads sticking out of them. ├óÔé¼┼ôShields UP!├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander's voice was muted by the cover. Jon and Alex shoved up, the arrow heads spiking them, and the Shields fell forward again. The enemy army was readying for another volley, but then the commander slapped his archery leader on the shoulder. The crossbows lit up, and a volley of bolts rained into the enemy army. Southlanders fell, their heavy armor not stoping high powered bolts.
Then the front ranks of the enemy army, or at least the surviving ones, ran forward, swords ready. ├óÔé¼┼ôCharge!├óÔé¼┬Ø the commander yelled. Alex, Jon and the others in the trench crawled out of the trench and ran at the enemy line. Alex felt his lungs burning, feet pounding on the snowy ground. His sword was ready, and he shouted at the top of his lungs. Then he smashed into a silverback and brought his shield around to bash him out of the way. The silverback fell, but another one was behind him, wielding a sword as if they knew how. Alex brought his shield up and advanced. The enemy whacked him and Alex groaned, feeling his already bruised arm bruise even more. But he swung his sword around again and sliced the man. His sword skittered off the silverback's armor. He had forgotten that.
Then the silverback stabbed him in the stomach. The sword didn't quite penetrate the chain mail, but it still broke the skin, ramming chainlink into his skin. Alex groaned, feeling like he had been kicked. Then Jon decapitated the silverback with a sudden sword blow. Alex wheezed, but he struck at the nearest enemy soldier. That silverback found that heavy armor did have some weaknesses, mostly at the joints. Alex's sword found one of those joints and the enemy fell. ├óÔé¼┼ôBack to the trenches!├óÔé¼┬Ø was shouted. The enemy was breaking, running back to their lines├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex turned around. He took a step, then fell down to one knee. He looked down at his calf and saw that it had been sliced. It didn't hurt until he saw it. Then he felt pain swamp him.
├óÔé¼┼ôShields up!├óÔé¼┬Ø the order was shouted. Alex tried to push himself the ten feet required to get to the trench. Then he heard ├óÔé¼┼ôJon! NO!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Jon was climbing out of the trench. There was a twang as the enemy archers started up. The arrows arced over the sky. Jon grabbed Alex under the armpits and dragged him to the trenches. They both landed in the trenches and the shield slammed down over them a split before the enemy arrows impacted. There was a loud series of whacks and fifty odd new arrow heads snapped into the shield. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex gasped ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I think I'm going to faint├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex came too in his tent. Sandra was washing Josh and Colman's clothes. Jon was sitting on a cot next to her. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can't tell anyone├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy would I?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôIts amazing├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats amazing?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon spun around, his face white ├óÔé¼┼ôer...├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, laying his head back down on his cot ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm too tired to pry├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was nothing, really├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMaster's just embarrassed├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, looking at Alex. She wiggled her eyebrows ├óÔé¼┼ôhe just doesn't like to talk about his new medal├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMedal!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is the same day we've gotten commendations, and you've also gotten a medal!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon's face reddened ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just a medal for valorous conduct under enemy fire├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, as if that was nothing. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot many a man who would get out of a trench and drag their friend undercover while fifty enemy archers fire at them├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said, continuing her washing ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what the Commander sir said├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am in debt to you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Josh chose that time to walk into the tent, Colman following him. ├óÔé¼┼ôAh theres the hero├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said, cuffing Jon on the back of the head. Jon punched back, but Colman just laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have no punching arm├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou should see his kicks├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôhe took a man down with a single kick to the chin├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe chin?├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman asked, sitting down ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is surely a thing to see├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Jon was completely red ├óÔé¼┼ôHey├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sure all of you would do the same as I did for Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was silence. ├óÔé¼┼ôJon├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere did you grow up?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôCentralia City├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Colman said ├óÔé¼┼ôI grew up in a city near the Wastes, and I know for a fact that men who would do what you do are few and far between├óÔé¼┬Ø. Colman looked at the other men in the tent ├óÔé¼┼ôWe should learn from Jon's example├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jon spluttered ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not...that...I'm just doing my job├óÔé¼┬Ø he finished lamely. Colman guffawed ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôA few more weeks on the front line will squeeze the heroism out of you. Either that or you'll be dead├óÔé¼┬Ø. Colman laid back down on his cot. Alex laughed, then his leg spiked in pain.
Jon got up ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to go├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôto the bathroom├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll help├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jon said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll be fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sandra sat back down, looking downcast. Alex blinked and was asleep.
