I'm evil
The Shogun's castle was...different. It looked like a castle, expect the walls were sloped at the top. Alex could guess why, as the rain had started to come down. It was a torrential downpour that didn't seem to want to stop. It had started earlier that mourning and had continued long into the night. ├óÔé¼┼ôRain like this is normal├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, still somewhat dazed. The cart arrived at the castle and the gates to the castle opened slowly and let them in. The cart stopped and let the visitors our. They stood in the rain, looking a bit forlorn. The Shogun stepped out last, looking at his assembled army. ├óÔé¼┼ôDismissed!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted. The army broke apart, running of the field and into the barracks with commendable organization and disciplen.
The Shogun gestured to the keep of his castle ├óÔé¼┼ôCome in├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, walking towards it. Lucy followed, her hair slicked about her head and horns with the rain. Alex and Joa, after a hushed conversation, followed. Sandra went last, her ears plastered against her head. The all walked into the keep. The Shogun pulled his helmet off, now that he was inside his castle. He, quite unsurprisingly, also had horns. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôHave you given any thought to my question?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked at him. The same sense of indecision filled him as had a few hours ago.
The indecision confused Alex even more. He was in love with Joa, wasn't he. But he couldn't quite say no to Lucy's father. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo...I haven't come to a decision yet├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. The rain slammed harder onto the side of the keep. The Shogun's face stayed the same, but Alex could see the impatience in his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets have dinner├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said as they all walked to the dining room ├óÔé¼┼ôCan I speak with you├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Shogun looked at his daughter, then tilted his head slightly. Alex felt Lucy grab his arm, then drag him off to the side. She took him to a small room, filled with crates and dried fruits.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy father's not going to kill you if you say no. He's not that kind of guy├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI just...can't say no├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy blinked. Then she laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. Alex opened his mouth. Then closed it. ├óÔé¼┼ôI├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't say yes either. Not yet├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy still smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I can├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, walking past him ├óÔé¼┼ôDo something├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôLike what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. Lucy smiled, somewhat mysteriously ├óÔé¼┼ôJust wait and see├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, looking over her shoulder at him. Then she walked out of the room, the door closing behind her. Alex stood in the storage room, feeling more then a little confused. Then he walked out as well.
The dinner was...strange. The food was predominantly comprised of seeds of the weed that the villagers had been harvesting, with lots and lots of familer foods like pork and chicken and beef placed on top. But the foods had strange sauce, stranger cooking and were mixed in even stranger ways. After a few experimental bites Alex found he actually enjoyed it quite a bit. He ate it with a fork, a took doubtlessly brought in for his and Joa's convenience. Lucy and her father ate with two sticks, held in their fingers. They all ate, without talking, for quite a while. Alex finished his first serving and got some more. Joa was already on her third.
Lucy's Father looked at her and smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôHungry devils├óÔé¼┬Ø he said in the Royal Tongue. ├óÔé¼┼ôHandsome devils├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, still smiling. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked, completely oblivious. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy daughter and I were discussing the diplomatic situation between our lands├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt has grown...chilly as of late├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're still here aren't we?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut other members of my Court have been...thinking a break would be good for now. They wish to ally with the new power, the Southlands├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex chocked on his noodles. ├óÔé¼┼ôIdiots├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said ├óÔé¼┼ôFools. They think the newest power is the best. They fail to remember both of our glorious histories├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTo that!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, raising her wine glass.
├óÔé¼┼ôTo that indeed├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said, not raising his wine glass ├óÔé¼┼ôI believe a new marriage between our family and a royal family of the Empire could solidify our bindings and shut those idiots up├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed, looking at his belly. Then he looked at Joa. Joa looked at him, her eyes trying to convey what she was thinking. Alex looked back at the Shogun ├óÔé¼┼ôMy family is not the most powerful├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy brother has joined the Merchants. He's no longer a Lord. My father died a few years ago and my mother is living in seclusion, with the Priestesses. I am no lord├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust a Dragoon at the age of eighteen├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat would make you a Samurai by our standards. It takes twenty years of training from childhood to become a Samurai. That or proving yourself in battle├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't quite know about proving myself├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa snorted ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't let Alex's modesty fool you├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's fought through entire army's├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI have not├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. Sandra, who had kept mostly quiet, started to laugh softly. The Shogun, however, looked thoughtful. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe also slew a dragon├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was mostly you├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. There was a sudden silence on the table. The Shogun stared at his daughter. Lucy's face reddened ├óÔé¼┼ôIt wasn't...├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI had...I um├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDaughter├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are special├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy bowed her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am beginning to regret not letting you leave sooner├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said. ├óÔé¼┼ôLetting me leave?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked, her head snapping up. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou'd think I'd just let you run away├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou...you├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy stammered. ├óÔé¼┼ôI knew you needed some way of proving yourself├óÔé¼┬Ø The Shogun said.
The next morning and Alex was walking through the hall's of the Castle. Lucy, Joa and Alex had all been given different rooms, and now Alex was wandering around, trying to find someone familer. Everyone else were servants who seemed so meek that it appeared that they were simply bits of furniture. Alex came to a door. He opened it and found that it lead to a sand garden. Alex's mother had loved sand gardens. They had been all the rage in the Empire about a decade ago. They had fallen out of favor, but here they seemed to be still in prominence. Alex walked into the garden and saw a woman was standing there. She wore a long silk green dress with a golden dragon on the side. She also had horns. Alex supposed it would be Lucy's sisters, or someone. She had sisters, right?
├óÔé¼┼ôHello?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. The woman turned around and looked at him. She was striking. And familer. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôDidn't think you'd recognize me with makeup on, did you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, smiling. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, blinking. He was used to Lucy looking like...well...looking like Joa. Not trying to really stand out. Even when she wore a dress it had been rather subdued, as she had not being trying to draw attention to herself. Now she was...Now she was. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said again, feeling like an idiot. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, slowly walking to him, stepping gently over the sand garden ├óÔé¼┼ôdo you want to go for a walk?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôS...Sure├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. Lucy took his arm and started to walk with him down the sand garden ├óÔé¼┼ôWho would have thought├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat I would have a use for all this makeup?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI mean I didn't├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø she said softly ├óÔé¼┼ôif you marry me then you would have accepted me├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôThats pretty├óÔé¼┬Ø he started. ├óÔé¼┼ôI mean...when I gave myself to you├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, her voice still soft ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you married me my honor would be saved├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought we were over that. We're not going to tell anyone, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôBut if my father found out├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe would...he would be honor bound to kill you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex blanched. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut if you marry me, then you can be safe├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. She stopped and faced him ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd there are some other benefits as well├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, leaning forward slightly.
Alex snapped his eyes to a point somewhat above her eyes, not wanting to look at them or what lay below them. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is your decision?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy I├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, leaning forward slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôI├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, not able to say what he wanted to say. He wanted to say ├óÔé¼┼ôI love Joa├óÔé¼┬Ø. But his tong was frozen at the necessary words. Lucy was very close ├óÔé¼┼ôI├óÔé¼┬Ø He said again. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex just shut up and kiss me├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. She didn't give him the chance to decide. She kissed him. Alex...let her. Lucy stepped away slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôI gotta go├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex gasped. Then he ran. Lucy stood there, smiling slightly.
├óÔé¼┼ôJoa├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to get to the city and finish our mission├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa looked up from her breakfast. She coughed ├óÔé¼┼ôExcuse me?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked, her voice lower then its normal pitch. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôJon we need to get to Babylon and finish our mission├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can get our gear and request a driver and be at Babylon by the end of tomorrow. But first├óÔé¼┬Ø she stabbed her fork into her meal. It stood there, somehow supported by the volume of food ├óÔé¼┼ôHave you turned down Lucy's request for marriage?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sat there, guilt and indecision swimming in his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, looking down.
Joa sighed, looking at her plate ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôI just can't...say no├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou want to marry her?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't want to marry her?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, cupping his head in his hands. Joa sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø She said softly ├óÔé¼┼ôI want to not be jealous...but├óÔé¼┬Ø she slammed her fist on the table ├óÔé¼┼ôI am!├óÔé¼┬Ø . Alex looked at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou said you loved me├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI do├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shot back. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen why are you-├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa's face suddenly spasmed. A servant was standing at the doorway to the room. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe can't understand us├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. Joa relaxed ├óÔé¼┼ôThank the gods├óÔé¼┬Ø she said softly. The servant, realizing he was unwanted, turned and practically ran.
The Shogun looked at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôHave you made your decision?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, looking at the young Dragoon. Alex stood there, feeling butterflies in his stomach. Then he gulped, trying to clear his throat out. Joa and Lucy both looked at him. Sandra also watched, but she was busy eating an Eastlander fruit called a banana. ├óÔé¼┼ôI have decided├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. There was silence. Then the Shogun tilted his head ├óÔé¼┼ôWell?├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Alex said his choice.
Rose
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Guessmyname
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Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
That about sums it up.
Now for PROOF!
A single tear drop rolled down Lucy's nose. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said, not quite believing what he was hearing. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy answer...is no├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, his voice chocked. Joa was gaping at him. Lucy was also gaping at him. Sandra polished off her banana, not surprised in the slightest. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't marry your daughter, Lord Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex bowed slightly ├óÔé¼┼ôI am sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø. He turned away and walked out of the keep. Then he walked into the courtyard, into the cart and sat down. Joa and Sandra followed him, neither of them looking at Lucy. They got into the cart. Then they road off. Lucy stood there, feeling like she had been stabbed.
├óÔé¼┼ôDaughter├óÔé¼┬Ø Alexander knocked on her door. Lucy didn't respond. She had been crying sense the Imperial had left. ├óÔé¼┼ôDaughter├óÔé¼┬Ø Alexander said, sitting down next to the door, not wanting to open the door ├óÔé¼┼ôI just wanted you to know that this doesn't mean you're honor is...corrupted. It was a polite request and a politely declined request. You may still marry anyone of your choosing. You're still...my favored daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alexander paused. There was no response. ├óÔé¼┼ôDaughter?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Alexander stood up. He knocked on the door ├óÔé¼┼ôDaughter?├óÔé¼┬Ø. He grabbed the handle and opened the door.
The room was dark. All he could see was a lump in the bed. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alexander asked, walking to the bed. He snapped his fingers at the light fixture and the crystals inside started to glow. Alexander blinked, looking at the bed. Then he grabbed the blankets and jerked them off. There was a pile of pillows and notes. Alexander picked up the note and read it in a few quick seconds. Then he crumpled it up and looked at the window. It was open, a rope tied to the foot of the bed dangling out of the window. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe did it again├óÔé¼┬Ø Alexander sighed. This time he was mad. She was better this time. Hadn't even given him a clue.
The cart trundled into Babylon a day and a half later. The city, witch was the second largest in all of the Eastlands, stretched from one end of the southern peninsula of the Eastlands to the other. It was huge, filled with Eastlanders and smelt horribly. Alex, Joa and Sandra walked into the city, leaving the cart by the front gate. They quickly found the Imperial Embassy, as it was the only building in the familer, blocky Imperial style. A man stood in the center lobby, guarding the area. He held a sword at his side easily and wore chain mail, with an Imperial symbol emblazoned on the side.
Alex stopped. Then he blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôJosh?├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked. Josh jumped, yanking his helmet back so it didn't cover his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're the operative we've been told to expect? You're...three days late!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBandit troubles├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIs that├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said, looking at Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôis that you, you crazy son of a bitch!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, forcing her voice down to a masculine level. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou two are here to put down the Southlanders?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYup├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôIs anyone else we know here?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes, actually├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôGary and Colman made it too...despite what a horde of very angry Southlanders tried on the contrary├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo you're our back up?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNope├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said, shaking his head ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're just the guards for this crazy embassy├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's face fell ├óÔé¼┼ôSo we have to rely on Eastlander...what did they call them...├óÔé¼┬Ø he trailed off. ├óÔé¼┼ôSamurai├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh finished for him ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are called Samurai├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôSo we have to rely on Samurai├óÔé¼┬Ø. Josh sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't think you have to relay on them. They are pretty good fighters├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can only hope├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said dryly. Then there was a crash upstairs. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell?├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh muttered. Alex, Joa, Josh and Sandra all ran upstairs.
Two other guards, Colman and Garry supposedly, were entangled with a figure dressed in black. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a private property!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh shouted, putting his sword up and aiming it at the black figure. The two other guards had the figure by the arms, holding it back. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow lets so who you are├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh muttered, walking up to the figure. He jerked down the black hood covering the figure's face. Joa gasped. But Alex had already guessed. Lucy looked at Josh defiantly ├óÔé¼┼ôI am here to see Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said, looking at Alex. Alex gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôI know her├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. The other guards, most definitely Colman and Gary, both stared at him as if he were on fire.
Lucy looked at the locked door. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know this isn't necessary!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is true├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said softly. Joa shot him a poisonous look. ├óÔé¼┼ôHer father will be down here in a few days├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôOnce the word arrives he'll come out here├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose we should get to work├óÔé¼┬Ø he turned away. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stopped. He turned around and looked at the door. Joa walked away, walking up the stairs to the briefing room. Josh and Gary followed her. Colman stayed, guarding the door. Alex stood at the door, looking into the room. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI just want you to know├óÔé¼┬Ø she stopped. After a few moments she gathered the strength ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to stay by you're side├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôEven if you never marry me I'm going to protect you├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex's face twitched. Then he turned away and walked out of the hallway. Colman looked into the cell ├óÔé¼┼ôUm├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôwhat the hell was that about?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôAbsolutely nothing├óÔé¼┬Ø. She turned away from the locked door and sat down on her chair. Then she turned back to the door and waited. Colman turned away, not looking at her any more. Lucy slipped a lock pick out of her shoe and slid it under the seat of her pants. The Imperial's security was a bit too light. She crouched down, out of view from the window in the door. Then she slipped her pick into the lock and started to fumble with the lock.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Gerald said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am the diplomat for this bit of the world that has yet to come under Empire rule├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex coughed, sitting down next to the table. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I need to give you some information before you take down the Southlander mines├óÔé¼┬Ø Gerald said. He pulled out a cloth map and unfurled it on the briefing room table. ├óÔé¼┼ôHere, here and here├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôAre where the mines are located├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex and Joa leaned over the table, looking at the map. The city of Babylon was surrounded by a lake, and three rivers ran out from the area. At each of the rivers was a mine. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd here, here and here├óÔé¼┬Ø Gerald said ├óÔé¼┼ôAre the five hundred Southlander troops sent here to protect the mines├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, looking at the diplomat with a mixture of shock and horror on her face. The diplomat hurramphed ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Eastlanders have decided to send two hundred Samurai to be under you're command├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd we get what├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing from the Empire?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe only have five troops, not counting you, in the area!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gerald said. Joa blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere's everyone else!├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, surprise still making her voice higher pitched then she normally kept it while talking to other men. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are all at the Southlander front, keeping those said Southlanders out of Stelvi pass├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow bad is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts bad├óÔé¼┬Ø Gerald said ├óÔé¼┼ôVery bad├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The Southlander army was spread out between the East and Southeast rivers. The locals had names for the rivers, but Alex could care less about them. He could easily count the numbers of the enemy force. He saw about three hundred Southlanders with swords and a verity of maces and flails and over two hundred Southlanders with bows. Alex was just thankfully that they didn't have crossbows, or else they might get through the armor he wore. The Eastlander armor was very strange, but it was lighter then plate and very well made. Joa was crouched down next to him, looking at the army. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts going to be a tough fight├óÔé¼┬Ø she said softly.
Alex sighed, turning to his army. It felt strange being in command of an army. It was an army of Eastlanders, but they were all Samurai. Samurai, apparently, were very learned compared to the peasants. Most of them even spoke Imperial. At least enough to understand simple orders. It was not as good as Alex would have liked but. He got up, off the hillock that he was hiding on, and ran to the army. ├óÔé¼┼ôHere's the plan├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone else go...that way├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed to the mountains that surrounded the rivers. The Samaria looked at each other, confused. ├óÔé¼┼ôGo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex urged. They turned about and ran to the mountains, making as little to no noise as they could.
├óÔé¼┼ôJoa, you go with them├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa started to say. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have to give the order├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa looked at him, her face nearly unreadable through the Eastlander's helmet. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, turning ├óÔé¼┼ôJust make sure its a good signal├óÔé¼┬Ø. She started to run after the Samaria. Alex sighed and pulled out the Shogun's sword. He swished it through the air once or twice, testing the weight and balance of the thing. Now that he really thought about it he should have given it back to the Shogun. Too late now. Then Alex started to walk up the hillock. He got to the top and stood, his bright green armor clearly visible to even the most blind sentry in the Southlander camp.
Alex started to walk down the hillock, hand on his sword. A squad of ten Southlanders marched out of the camp, flanking their general. The General was a large silverback, almost six and a half feet tall. He wore a large helmet. Alex stopped, looking at the General. The General removed his helmet and set it slowly on the ground. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø The General said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're the only one├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats right├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, grinning ├óÔé¼┼ôThe only one here├óÔé¼┬Ø. The General laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd what do you want to do here?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOne thing├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat one thing being├óÔé¼┬Ø The General asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôKill you├óÔé¼┬Ø. He whipped his sword out. It flashed in the night and blood splattered.
Joa stood up ├óÔé¼┼ôI think├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, standing up. Then she forced her voice lower, to make it sound more masculine ├óÔé¼┼ôI think├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôThat thats our signal! Attack!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The other Samurai all stood and pulled out the strangely curved Eastlander swords. Joa howled at the top of her lungs and charged down the slope of the mountains. The Samaria did likewise, their high pitched voice's joining hers as they charged at the Southlander army.
Now for PROOF!
A single tear drop rolled down Lucy's nose. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø the Shogun said, not quite believing what he was hearing. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy answer...is no├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, his voice chocked. Joa was gaping at him. Lucy was also gaping at him. Sandra polished off her banana, not surprised in the slightest. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't marry your daughter, Lord Xue├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex bowed slightly ├óÔé¼┼ôI am sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø. He turned away and walked out of the keep. Then he walked into the courtyard, into the cart and sat down. Joa and Sandra followed him, neither of them looking at Lucy. They got into the cart. Then they road off. Lucy stood there, feeling like she had been stabbed.
├óÔé¼┼ôDaughter├óÔé¼┬Ø Alexander knocked on her door. Lucy didn't respond. She had been crying sense the Imperial had left. ├óÔé¼┼ôDaughter├óÔé¼┬Ø Alexander said, sitting down next to the door, not wanting to open the door ├óÔé¼┼ôI just wanted you to know that this doesn't mean you're honor is...corrupted. It was a polite request and a politely declined request. You may still marry anyone of your choosing. You're still...my favored daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alexander paused. There was no response. ├óÔé¼┼ôDaughter?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Alexander stood up. He knocked on the door ├óÔé¼┼ôDaughter?├óÔé¼┬Ø. He grabbed the handle and opened the door.
The room was dark. All he could see was a lump in the bed. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alexander asked, walking to the bed. He snapped his fingers at the light fixture and the crystals inside started to glow. Alexander blinked, looking at the bed. Then he grabbed the blankets and jerked them off. There was a pile of pillows and notes. Alexander picked up the note and read it in a few quick seconds. Then he crumpled it up and looked at the window. It was open, a rope tied to the foot of the bed dangling out of the window. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe did it again├óÔé¼┬Ø Alexander sighed. This time he was mad. She was better this time. Hadn't even given him a clue.
The cart trundled into Babylon a day and a half later. The city, witch was the second largest in all of the Eastlands, stretched from one end of the southern peninsula of the Eastlands to the other. It was huge, filled with Eastlanders and smelt horribly. Alex, Joa and Sandra walked into the city, leaving the cart by the front gate. They quickly found the Imperial Embassy, as it was the only building in the familer, blocky Imperial style. A man stood in the center lobby, guarding the area. He held a sword at his side easily and wore chain mail, with an Imperial symbol emblazoned on the side.
Alex stopped. Then he blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôJosh?├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked. Josh jumped, yanking his helmet back so it didn't cover his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're the operative we've been told to expect? You're...three days late!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBandit troubles├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIs that├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said, looking at Joa ├óÔé¼┼ôis that you, you crazy son of a bitch!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, forcing her voice down to a masculine level. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou two are here to put down the Southlanders?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYup├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôIs anyone else we know here?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes, actually├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôGary and Colman made it too...despite what a horde of very angry Southlanders tried on the contrary├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo you're our back up?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNope├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said, shaking his head ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're just the guards for this crazy embassy├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's face fell ├óÔé¼┼ôSo we have to rely on Eastlander...what did they call them...├óÔé¼┬Ø he trailed off. ├óÔé¼┼ôSamurai├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh finished for him ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are called Samurai├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôSo we have to rely on Samurai├óÔé¼┬Ø. Josh sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't think you have to relay on them. They are pretty good fighters├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can only hope├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said dryly. Then there was a crash upstairs. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell?├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh muttered. Alex, Joa, Josh and Sandra all ran upstairs.
Two other guards, Colman and Garry supposedly, were entangled with a figure dressed in black. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a private property!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh shouted, putting his sword up and aiming it at the black figure. The two other guards had the figure by the arms, holding it back. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow lets so who you are├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh muttered, walking up to the figure. He jerked down the black hood covering the figure's face. Joa gasped. But Alex had already guessed. Lucy looked at Josh defiantly ├óÔé¼┼ôI am here to see Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said, looking at Alex. Alex gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôI know her├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. The other guards, most definitely Colman and Gary, both stared at him as if he were on fire.
Lucy looked at the locked door. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know this isn't necessary!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is true├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said softly. Joa shot him a poisonous look. ├óÔé¼┼ôHer father will be down here in a few days├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh said ├óÔé¼┼ôOnce the word arrives he'll come out here├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose we should get to work├óÔé¼┬Ø he turned away. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex stopped. He turned around and looked at the door. Joa walked away, walking up the stairs to the briefing room. Josh and Gary followed her. Colman stayed, guarding the door. Alex stood at the door, looking into the room. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI just want you to know├óÔé¼┬Ø she stopped. After a few moments she gathered the strength ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to stay by you're side├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôEven if you never marry me I'm going to protect you├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex's face twitched. Then he turned away and walked out of the hallway. Colman looked into the cell ├óÔé¼┼ôUm├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôwhat the hell was that about?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said ├óÔé¼┼ôAbsolutely nothing├óÔé¼┬Ø. She turned away from the locked door and sat down on her chair. Then she turned back to the door and waited. Colman turned away, not looking at her any more. Lucy slipped a lock pick out of her shoe and slid it under the seat of her pants. The Imperial's security was a bit too light. She crouched down, out of view from the window in the door. Then she slipped her pick into the lock and started to fumble with the lock.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Gerald said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am the diplomat for this bit of the world that has yet to come under Empire rule├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex coughed, sitting down next to the table. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I need to give you some information before you take down the Southlander mines├óÔé¼┬Ø Gerald said. He pulled out a cloth map and unfurled it on the briefing room table. ├óÔé¼┼ôHere, here and here├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôAre where the mines are located├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex and Joa leaned over the table, looking at the map. The city of Babylon was surrounded by a lake, and three rivers ran out from the area. At each of the rivers was a mine. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd here, here and here├óÔé¼┬Ø Gerald said ├óÔé¼┼ôAre the five hundred Southlander troops sent here to protect the mines├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said, looking at the diplomat with a mixture of shock and horror on her face. The diplomat hurramphed ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Eastlanders have decided to send two hundred Samurai to be under you're command├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd we get what├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing from the Empire?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe only have five troops, not counting you, in the area!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gerald said. Joa blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere's everyone else!├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, surprise still making her voice higher pitched then she normally kept it while talking to other men. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are all at the Southlander front, keeping those said Southlanders out of Stelvi pass├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow bad is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts bad├óÔé¼┬Ø Gerald said ├óÔé¼┼ôVery bad├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The Southlander army was spread out between the East and Southeast rivers. The locals had names for the rivers, but Alex could care less about them. He could easily count the numbers of the enemy force. He saw about three hundred Southlanders with swords and a verity of maces and flails and over two hundred Southlanders with bows. Alex was just thankfully that they didn't have crossbows, or else they might get through the armor he wore. The Eastlander armor was very strange, but it was lighter then plate and very well made. Joa was crouched down next to him, looking at the army. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts going to be a tough fight├óÔé¼┬Ø she said softly.
Alex sighed, turning to his army. It felt strange being in command of an army. It was an army of Eastlanders, but they were all Samurai. Samurai, apparently, were very learned compared to the peasants. Most of them even spoke Imperial. At least enough to understand simple orders. It was not as good as Alex would have liked but. He got up, off the hillock that he was hiding on, and ran to the army. ├óÔé¼┼ôHere's the plan├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone else go...that way├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed to the mountains that surrounded the rivers. The Samaria looked at each other, confused. ├óÔé¼┼ôGo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex urged. They turned about and ran to the mountains, making as little to no noise as they could.
├óÔé¼┼ôJoa, you go with them├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa started to say. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have to give the order├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa looked at him, her face nearly unreadable through the Eastlander's helmet. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, turning ├óÔé¼┼ôJust make sure its a good signal├óÔé¼┬Ø. She started to run after the Samaria. Alex sighed and pulled out the Shogun's sword. He swished it through the air once or twice, testing the weight and balance of the thing. Now that he really thought about it he should have given it back to the Shogun. Too late now. Then Alex started to walk up the hillock. He got to the top and stood, his bright green armor clearly visible to even the most blind sentry in the Southlander camp.
Alex started to walk down the hillock, hand on his sword. A squad of ten Southlanders marched out of the camp, flanking their general. The General was a large silverback, almost six and a half feet tall. He wore a large helmet. Alex stopped, looking at the General. The General removed his helmet and set it slowly on the ground. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø The General said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're the only one├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats right├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, grinning ├óÔé¼┼ôThe only one here├óÔé¼┬Ø. The General laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd what do you want to do here?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOne thing├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat one thing being├óÔé¼┬Ø The General asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôKill you├óÔé¼┬Ø. He whipped his sword out. It flashed in the night and blood splattered.
Joa stood up ├óÔé¼┼ôI think├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, standing up. Then she forced her voice lower, to make it sound more masculine ├óÔé¼┼ôI think├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôThat thats our signal! Attack!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The other Samurai all stood and pulled out the strangely curved Eastlander swords. Joa howled at the top of her lungs and charged down the slope of the mountains. The Samaria did likewise, their high pitched voice's joining hers as they charged at the Southlander army.
I'm REALLY evil.
God damn I can't belive how evil I am.
Alex was in a spot of trouble. Nine Southlanders. All of them angry. All of them large. All of them having swords and ready to kill him. One followed up on his thoughts and brought his sword swinging to where Alex's neck had been a moment before Alex ducked. He landed, rolling even in the platemail. It was hard, as he was used to flexible chain mail, but he managed it. He came up on his feet, sword ready. The silverbacks didn't give him an easy kill, none of them running at him like he wanted to. They instead began to pace around him, all looking for openings. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, panting in the heavy armor ├óÔé¼┼ôBring it on├óÔé¼┬Ø . Two silverbacks ran forward, swords bared. Alex danced to the side, still encumbered by the plate. One of them swung his sword. Alex tried to dodge, but it still clipped his arm. Then it bounced off the plate. Alex blinked. Then the realization hammered home. He wasn't wearing chain mail anymore.
Alex brought his sword around in an arc. The silverback's head flew off his shoulders, blood spraying. Then Alex snapped his sword up in a horizontal arc. The other silverback clutched his shoulder, where blood was starting to spout out of a large wound. Alex kicked him in the knee, trying to throw the silverback off balance. It worked and the massive silverback dropped. The other seven silverback's ran at him. Alex ran straight at them, whipping his sword out with one arm and slashing it at head high. He felt it catch slightly. Then a head flew onto the ground, joining the other two. The six remaining silverbacks spun, trying to keep tabs on Alex.
Alex spun around, bringing his sword up. A silverback ran at him, howling at the top of his lungs. Alex stabbed him through the neck. That learned the five remaining silverbacks, who backed off. Alex heard the battle in the background. He heard shouts and screams. He thought he caught Joa's voice. Then he forced himself to focus on his battle as the silverbacks ran at him, this time together. Alex parried one blow, but another slammed into the side of his ribs, cracking one. Alex grunted. Then he brought his sword up and slashed a silverback down the middle of his stomach. Blood splattered and the silverback dropped. Then another sword blow, this one connecting with Alex's shoulder pad. Alex dropped to one knee, feeling the sword bite into the shoulder pad. Then deeper, into his actual shoulder.
Blood started to flow down his sword arm. The four remaining Silverbacks looked at him, mocking. Alex looked at the ground. One of the silverbacks raised his sword, ready to lop off Alex's head. Then Alex leaped to his feet, feeling an insane kind of energy leap into his body. He brought his sword around, flailing it like a club. A silverback brought up his sword, trying to parry. The Shogun's blade cut through the metal as if it were paper. The silverback's sword fell in half and the Shogun's blade cut through the silverback's body like even more paper. Alex spun around and slashed at another Silverback, causing only light damage.
But he had surprised them. Surprised them enough to leave the three surviving silverback's standing in a state of shock. So Alex stabbed one through the gut and placed his foot on its chest. Then he shoved it off and slashed his sword around, feeling fatigue screaming through his body. He slammed into the second of the surviving silverback's and bowled it over. The last silverback was running, running from the madman who had slaughtered his comrades. Alex looked at the silverback he had knocked over. ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease!├óÔé¼┬Ø the silverback said, a heavy Southland accent on the Imperial word. Alex raised his sword, more then ready to plunge it through the Silverback's stomach.
Then he paused. Alex brought his foot back and slammed it into the side of the silverback's head. He was out like a light. Alex grinned and looked up to the battle. He saw the Southlanders fleeing. He saw Joa leading the charge. Then his triumphant grin died on his face. He saw the bowmen. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø. Raising their bows. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex started to run. He saw the archers knock arrows to bow. ├óÔé¼┼ôNO!├óÔé¼┬Ø he screamed. Then the archers fired. Joa stopped her charge, looking at the arrows suddenly sprouting out of her front. She looked at them. ├óÔé¼┼ôNO!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex bowled into the archers, swinging his sword with wild abandon. This time cries of surrender did not stop him.
The Samaria joined him in battle. But...slowly...inexorably the Southlander's superior forces wore them down. Alex wanted to keep fighting, but he saw it was hopeless. Even though the Samurai took down at least three silverback's for every one of them who fell, they were still losing. So he had to make the hardest decision of his life. He took the horn that he had at his hip, the horn he had never wanted to wear...even less use. He brought the horn to his lips and blew a long, wailing note. It was the call to retreat. He and the Samaria started to flee. The Southlanders cut down a few of his men. Arrows rained about them. But what was left of the army made good on their flight. Alex paused while running. He turned around and spotted the many arrow heads that stuck out of Joa's body. Then he felt his belt pouch. He still had some grenades.
Lucy stood in the courtyard, looking at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...├óÔé¼┬Ø he said softly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI left...him there├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, seeing that Josh and Colman were flanking Lucy. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôEven thought the enemy were disorganized...we were routed. After a fashion├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, his voice bitter ├óÔé¼┼ôWe managed to leave a present in the mines. Grenades├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere's the Southlander army?├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere's Jon!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked, remembering to change Joa's name to its masculine version. Alex sniffed ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Southlander army chased the surviving Samaria to Babylon. They stopped half way there and went back to the mines long enough to see them burn tot he ground├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened to Joa!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's dead├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa?├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh asked. Then what Alex said sunk in. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's dead!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe was hit by silverback archers. We had to leave his corpse...along with many...many others on the battlefield├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's face twisted ├óÔé¼┼ôBut you can tell Gerald...that the mines are destroyed. We've accomplished our mission├óÔé¼┬Ø. He turned away and started to walk away from the embassy. Lucy started to walk after him. Even though Josh and Colman were supposed to guard her they didn't stop her. Rather they watched as she ran after Alex.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. Alex spun around ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't you leave├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted at her ├óÔé¼┼ôYou muddle things up!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy stopped, her face red. ├óÔé¼┼ôI look at Joa and I see the woman...I see the woman I want to spend my life with├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I look at you...and I'm not so sure anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø. He closed his eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose its a moot point now...├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, his voice thick ├óÔé¼┼ônow that Joa's dead├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôIt hurts me too├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen we first met...Joa was...Joa was the only Imperial who treated me like I was an Imperial too. Not just some freak who could talk, wield daggers and...├óÔé¼┬Ø she trailed off ├óÔé¼┼ôEven you didn't...at first. But...you stand out, Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôHow?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Lucy laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're kind. Once it gets through you're head that non-Imperial's are people too...then you will fight to the end of you're life for them├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou never give up├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked away ├óÔé¼┼ôI gave up today├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI left her there. I left her rotting and dead in the field. I bet the Southlanders are laughing their heads off now...a woman in armor with a sword├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex looked away. Lucy walked up to him ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go back to the embassy├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôYes and Yes├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes and Yes what? Yes you want to go back to the embassy? Or yes something else├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go back to the embassy and...yes. I'll marry you├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Joa groaned. She felt like a thousand holes had been poked through her front. She tried to move her head. She couldn't.├óÔé¼┬ØHello?├óÔé¼┬Ø she croaked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts alive├óÔé¼┬Ø A guttural voice said. Joa managed to tilt her head a few inch's to the left and saw that a silverback was sitting near her. Joa raised her hand up and felt her chest. It was covered in bandages. But her armor and shirt had been off. She managed to sit up, barely, and look at the Southlander. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are an amazing specimen├óÔé¼┬Ø the silverback said, in Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôwe found you on the field of battle...dressed as a man, with a binding over you're breasts. Did the Samaria know you were female when you led them in battle? If so...they must be more desperate then we hoped├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey did not know...what I am├óÔé¼┬Ø. The silverback sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôToo bad├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am named George and I am the local bonesaw for this army. You're friends left you for dead. You belong to us now├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôThey...left me?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey also left a bundle of grenades in our mines. It destroyed it completely and we have lost our main resource in this area. So we are going to pull out├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats going to happen to me?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell its obvious├óÔé¼┬Ø George said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're taking you with us. The President would love to see this...a woman in battle├óÔé¼┬Ø he shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôAmazing times we live in. Amazing times├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Joa blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you send a message to the Imperial Embassy in Babylon...tell them Jonathan is alive├óÔé¼┬Ø. George grinned evilly at her ├óÔé¼┼ôBut Jonathan is not alive├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôNot real. There is just you. Jonathan is a man. You're a woman├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa felt very very cold. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe move out tomorrow. You had better be able to move by then...or else we slit you're throat and bring you to the President dead├óÔé¼┬Ø George winked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôA dead female warrior is just as amazing as a live one├óÔé¼┬Ø. He walked out of the tent, leaving Joa sitting there, wondering how she was going to live, let alone escape, when sitting up was enough to make her break out in a heavy swet.
Alex watched as Lucy walked down the isle. She wore a traditional Imperial wedding gown. Alex would have been fine if she had worn an Eastn- Nippon dress. But she looked radiant in the gown, walking down the isle at him. Her father stood in the outer corner of the room. There was next to no one else in the chapel. Alex liked it that way. There was the Shogun, Josh, Colman and Gary. Gerald had also showed up, but Alex didn't really care to much about whether or not he showed up. Alex gulped and felt that running out of the marriage would be the best way to go. This was insane... suicidal, even. Then Lucy smiled as she reached the end of the isle. ├óÔé¼┼ôI do├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex croaked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø the priest said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, taking Lucy's hand ├óÔé¼┼ôGo ahead├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The priest, a Nipponese man who could speak Imperial pretty fluently, started to intone the marriage rights as used by the Nippon. He used the royal tongue, but Lucy whispered the words in Imperial into Alex's head. That conjured up a flash of Joa nibbling his ear just a few nights ago so incredibly strong that Alex felt a movement in his pants. He blinked, forcing the thoughts away. Joa was dead. The pain stabbed at his mind, but she was dead. There was nothing he could do about that. Lucy was here. She loved him. Alex heard her whispered ├óÔé¼┼ôSay 'I do'├óÔé¼┬Ø in his ear and he realized that yes...maybe he loved her too.
God damn I can't belive how evil I am.
Alex was in a spot of trouble. Nine Southlanders. All of them angry. All of them large. All of them having swords and ready to kill him. One followed up on his thoughts and brought his sword swinging to where Alex's neck had been a moment before Alex ducked. He landed, rolling even in the platemail. It was hard, as he was used to flexible chain mail, but he managed it. He came up on his feet, sword ready. The silverbacks didn't give him an easy kill, none of them running at him like he wanted to. They instead began to pace around him, all looking for openings. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, panting in the heavy armor ├óÔé¼┼ôBring it on├óÔé¼┬Ø . Two silverbacks ran forward, swords bared. Alex danced to the side, still encumbered by the plate. One of them swung his sword. Alex tried to dodge, but it still clipped his arm. Then it bounced off the plate. Alex blinked. Then the realization hammered home. He wasn't wearing chain mail anymore.
Alex brought his sword around in an arc. The silverback's head flew off his shoulders, blood spraying. Then Alex snapped his sword up in a horizontal arc. The other silverback clutched his shoulder, where blood was starting to spout out of a large wound. Alex kicked him in the knee, trying to throw the silverback off balance. It worked and the massive silverback dropped. The other seven silverback's ran at him. Alex ran straight at them, whipping his sword out with one arm and slashing it at head high. He felt it catch slightly. Then a head flew onto the ground, joining the other two. The six remaining silverbacks spun, trying to keep tabs on Alex.
Alex spun around, bringing his sword up. A silverback ran at him, howling at the top of his lungs. Alex stabbed him through the neck. That learned the five remaining silverbacks, who backed off. Alex heard the battle in the background. He heard shouts and screams. He thought he caught Joa's voice. Then he forced himself to focus on his battle as the silverbacks ran at him, this time together. Alex parried one blow, but another slammed into the side of his ribs, cracking one. Alex grunted. Then he brought his sword up and slashed a silverback down the middle of his stomach. Blood splattered and the silverback dropped. Then another sword blow, this one connecting with Alex's shoulder pad. Alex dropped to one knee, feeling the sword bite into the shoulder pad. Then deeper, into his actual shoulder.
Blood started to flow down his sword arm. The four remaining Silverbacks looked at him, mocking. Alex looked at the ground. One of the silverbacks raised his sword, ready to lop off Alex's head. Then Alex leaped to his feet, feeling an insane kind of energy leap into his body. He brought his sword around, flailing it like a club. A silverback brought up his sword, trying to parry. The Shogun's blade cut through the metal as if it were paper. The silverback's sword fell in half and the Shogun's blade cut through the silverback's body like even more paper. Alex spun around and slashed at another Silverback, causing only light damage.
But he had surprised them. Surprised them enough to leave the three surviving silverback's standing in a state of shock. So Alex stabbed one through the gut and placed his foot on its chest. Then he shoved it off and slashed his sword around, feeling fatigue screaming through his body. He slammed into the second of the surviving silverback's and bowled it over. The last silverback was running, running from the madman who had slaughtered his comrades. Alex looked at the silverback he had knocked over. ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease!├óÔé¼┬Ø the silverback said, a heavy Southland accent on the Imperial word. Alex raised his sword, more then ready to plunge it through the Silverback's stomach.
Then he paused. Alex brought his foot back and slammed it into the side of the silverback's head. He was out like a light. Alex grinned and looked up to the battle. He saw the Southlanders fleeing. He saw Joa leading the charge. Then his triumphant grin died on his face. He saw the bowmen. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø. Raising their bows. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex started to run. He saw the archers knock arrows to bow. ├óÔé¼┼ôNO!├óÔé¼┬Ø he screamed. Then the archers fired. Joa stopped her charge, looking at the arrows suddenly sprouting out of her front. She looked at them. ├óÔé¼┼ôNO!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex bowled into the archers, swinging his sword with wild abandon. This time cries of surrender did not stop him.
The Samaria joined him in battle. But...slowly...inexorably the Southlander's superior forces wore them down. Alex wanted to keep fighting, but he saw it was hopeless. Even though the Samurai took down at least three silverback's for every one of them who fell, they were still losing. So he had to make the hardest decision of his life. He took the horn that he had at his hip, the horn he had never wanted to wear...even less use. He brought the horn to his lips and blew a long, wailing note. It was the call to retreat. He and the Samaria started to flee. The Southlanders cut down a few of his men. Arrows rained about them. But what was left of the army made good on their flight. Alex paused while running. He turned around and spotted the many arrow heads that stuck out of Joa's body. Then he felt his belt pouch. He still had some grenades.
Lucy stood in the courtyard, looking at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...├óÔé¼┬Ø he said softly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI left...him there├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, seeing that Josh and Colman were flanking Lucy. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôEven thought the enemy were disorganized...we were routed. After a fashion├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, his voice bitter ├óÔé¼┼ôWe managed to leave a present in the mines. Grenades├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere's the Southlander army?├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere's Jon!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked, remembering to change Joa's name to its masculine version. Alex sniffed ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Southlander army chased the surviving Samaria to Babylon. They stopped half way there and went back to the mines long enough to see them burn tot he ground├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened to Joa!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's dead├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said. ├óÔé¼┼ôJoa?├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh asked. Then what Alex said sunk in. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's dead!├óÔé¼┬Ø Josh shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe was hit by silverback archers. We had to leave his corpse...along with many...many others on the battlefield├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex's face twisted ├óÔé¼┼ôBut you can tell Gerald...that the mines are destroyed. We've accomplished our mission├óÔé¼┬Ø. He turned away and started to walk away from the embassy. Lucy started to walk after him. Even though Josh and Colman were supposed to guard her they didn't stop her. Rather they watched as she ran after Alex.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. Alex spun around ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't you leave├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted at her ├óÔé¼┼ôYou muddle things up!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy stopped, her face red. ├óÔé¼┼ôI look at Joa and I see the woman...I see the woman I want to spend my life with├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I look at you...and I'm not so sure anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø. He closed his eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose its a moot point now...├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, his voice thick ├óÔé¼┼ônow that Joa's dead├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lucy blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôIt hurts me too├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen we first met...Joa was...Joa was the only Imperial who treated me like I was an Imperial too. Not just some freak who could talk, wield daggers and...├óÔé¼┬Ø she trailed off ├óÔé¼┼ôEven you didn't...at first. But...you stand out, Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Alex blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôHow?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Lucy laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're kind. Once it gets through you're head that non-Imperial's are people too...then you will fight to the end of you're life for them├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou never give up├óÔé¼┬Ø. Alex looked away ├óÔé¼┼ôI gave up today├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI left her there. I left her rotting and dead in the field. I bet the Southlanders are laughing their heads off now...a woman in armor with a sword├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex looked away. Lucy walked up to him ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go back to the embassy├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôYes and Yes├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes and Yes what? Yes you want to go back to the embassy? Or yes something else├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go back to the embassy and...yes. I'll marry you├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Joa groaned. She felt like a thousand holes had been poked through her front. She tried to move her head. She couldn't.├óÔé¼┬ØHello?├óÔé¼┬Ø she croaked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts alive├óÔé¼┬Ø A guttural voice said. Joa managed to tilt her head a few inch's to the left and saw that a silverback was sitting near her. Joa raised her hand up and felt her chest. It was covered in bandages. But her armor and shirt had been off. She managed to sit up, barely, and look at the Southlander. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are an amazing specimen├óÔé¼┬Ø the silverback said, in Imperial ├óÔé¼┼ôwe found you on the field of battle...dressed as a man, with a binding over you're breasts. Did the Samaria know you were female when you led them in battle? If so...they must be more desperate then we hoped├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey did not know...what I am├óÔé¼┬Ø. The silverback sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôToo bad├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am named George and I am the local bonesaw for this army. You're friends left you for dead. You belong to us now├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôThey...left me?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey also left a bundle of grenades in our mines. It destroyed it completely and we have lost our main resource in this area. So we are going to pull out├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats going to happen to me?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joa asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell its obvious├óÔé¼┬Ø George said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're taking you with us. The President would love to see this...a woman in battle├óÔé¼┬Ø he shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôAmazing times we live in. Amazing times├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Joa blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you send a message to the Imperial Embassy in Babylon...tell them Jonathan is alive├óÔé¼┬Ø. George grinned evilly at her ├óÔé¼┼ôBut Jonathan is not alive├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôNot real. There is just you. Jonathan is a man. You're a woman├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joa felt very very cold. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe move out tomorrow. You had better be able to move by then...or else we slit you're throat and bring you to the President dead├óÔé¼┬Ø George winked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôA dead female warrior is just as amazing as a live one├óÔé¼┬Ø. He walked out of the tent, leaving Joa sitting there, wondering how she was going to live, let alone escape, when sitting up was enough to make her break out in a heavy swet.
Alex watched as Lucy walked down the isle. She wore a traditional Imperial wedding gown. Alex would have been fine if she had worn an Eastn- Nippon dress. But she looked radiant in the gown, walking down the isle at him. Her father stood in the outer corner of the room. There was next to no one else in the chapel. Alex liked it that way. There was the Shogun, Josh, Colman and Gary. Gerald had also showed up, but Alex didn't really care to much about whether or not he showed up. Alex gulped and felt that running out of the marriage would be the best way to go. This was insane... suicidal, even. Then Lucy smiled as she reached the end of the isle. ├óÔé¼┼ôI do├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex croaked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø the priest said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, taking Lucy's hand ├óÔé¼┼ôGo ahead├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The priest, a Nipponese man who could speak Imperial pretty fluently, started to intone the marriage rights as used by the Nippon. He used the royal tongue, but Lucy whispered the words in Imperial into Alex's head. That conjured up a flash of Joa nibbling his ear just a few nights ago so incredibly strong that Alex felt a movement in his pants. He blinked, forcing the thoughts away. Joa was dead. The pain stabbed at his mind, but she was dead. There was nothing he could do about that. Lucy was here. She loved him. Alex heard her whispered ├óÔé¼┼ôSay 'I do'├óÔé¼┬Ø in his ear and he realized that yes...maybe he loved her too.