Gunpowder Knight
Moderator: Moderators
Nah, I've always posted the posts. For one thing, I have to look over the proofread sections, to make sure that nothing horrible has happened to my story.
So far, nothing horrible has happened and Guessmyname has been an excellent proofer.
Oh, next bit.
###
The sword that hung at Alex's side felt...odd. As a child, he'd never strapped a wooden sword to his side and done battle with his friends. He was more of a 'stay at home and read voraciously'. So, he knew everything there was to know about swords, their creation, their symbolism in several leading novels, their phasing out of warfare and their ceremonial use in the modern age.
But he didn't know how to actually... use them.
And the Prince, unfortunately, looked like he did.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is bad,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered to himself, standing at the first half of the dueling field. The Prince was swishing his sword around, stabbing, slashing and generally looking like he knew what he was doing. Alex drew his sword and bit his lip, trying a few experimental stabs.
├óÔé¼┼ôFlints are better, anyway.├óÔé¼┬Ø He grumbled. The Knight Commander and the other officers stood in a straight line, all grim faced.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex of Tervarthen, son of the Duke of Tervarthen, step forward.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander intoned. Alex stepped forward, his mouth dry. He felt watching eyes on his back. He glanced over his shoulder. A modest crowd of Silverbacks, who looked mildly confused by the whole affair, and a large crowd of Imperials, who all looked as grim faced as the officers, watched on.
Hank and Jonathan were in the front row. Hank gave Alex a huge thumbs up. Alex looked at him in the same way someone would look at an escaped mental patient who had gotten into your sister's dressing room.
Jonathan just pointed at his ankle vigorously. Alex took a half second to be confused, before the Knight Commander said, ├óÔé¼┼ôLewis of the Empire, son of the Emperor, step forward.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Prince stepped forward. He no longer seemed quite so weasly with a sword in his hands.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander looked between the two of them. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Codes dictate that you may not slay one another. But the man on the ground first is the man who has lost.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex felt a sudden wave of relief. He wouldn't die.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe winner retains honor and position. The loser is sent back to the Capitol for military tribunal.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex felt the wave of relief collapse. If his father found him after getting dishonorably discharged, he would die.
├óÔé¼┼ôBow.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex tapped his sword hilt to his chest and bowed. The Prince did the same. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo battle.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex brought his sword up. The Prince slipped the tip of his blade under his guard and sent Alex's blade spinning away.
├óÔé¼┼ôDamn.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered, looking at his sword. It stuck into the mud, about five feet away.
├óÔé¼┼ôKneel.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Prince sneered.
Alex looked around, stepping backwards, slowly. His foot hit something, something hard and metallic. Whatever he had stepped on slipped around on the mud of the street and Alex had to throw his arms out to stop himself from falling.
The Prince stabbed forward with his sword, the point heading for Alex's kneecap. Alex jumped to the side, yelping. The sword point whistled through nothing but air.
Alex saw what he had stepped on.
It was a frying pan. Some Silverback family had dropped their frying pan in the street while they fled the sack of the city. Alex grabbed the handle of the frying pan and brought it up. The Prince's blade skittered off the back of the pan.
Alex grinned and smashed the Prince in the face with the frying pan.
The Prince did a half spin on his feet, then dropped straight to the ground.
Alex looked at the frying pan, then at the Knight Commander. He and his officers' wore a collective look of shock. The Silverbacks started to laugh. Slowly, almost reluctantly, the Imperials joined in.
├óÔé¼┼ôBetter than any vaudeville,├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank muttered to Jonathan.
The Prince groaned and got to his hands and knees. He spat and a tooth hit the mud. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou motherless son of a bitch!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted ,getting to his feet and slashing his sword at Alex. Alex ducked and tackled the Prince, sending them both to the ground.
├óÔé¼┼ôHold! Hold!├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander shouted. Alex got in one last headbutt to the Prince's face and heard the satisfying sound of a nose breaking.
├óÔé¼┼ôHOLD!├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander discharged his flint. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex of Tervarthen! Prince Lewis!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex stood, slowly, mud covering his front. The Prince stood, even more muddy than Alex, stood as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe duel is a draw.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Officer said after he had both of their attention. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex was disarmed, but kept fighting. Unfortunately...a frying pan is not a recognized weapon in the Imperial Codes.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex looked at the frying pan, sighing.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe shall reconvene the next day, for another duel.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't believe this.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Prince wiped some mud off his face. As the Knight Commander and his officers left, heading back to the Town Hall, the Prince stepped closer to Alex.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy the hells are you fighting so hard for...for a Silverback.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Prince's missing tooth made all his L's have a hissing sound to them.
Alex hefted his frying pan. ├óÔé¼┼ôEver think that, just because we're invading their country, Silverbacks might be people too.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Prince looked honestly astonished. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo...I never did.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex prodded the Prince in the stomach with his frying pan. ├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe you should try.├óÔé¼┬Ø He spun on his heel and stalked away.
The Prince blinked, then shook his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôMadman.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jonathan and Hank surrounded Alex, pounding him on the back and congratulating him. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey, it was just a draw!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex complained. They ignored him.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe best part was the thing with the frying pan!├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank shook his head.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd what was up with the ankle?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked Jonathan.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh...if you manage to get a cut through someone's ankle, they drop like a sack of bricks.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan nodded.
Alex grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh yeah! Jordan's Tendon.├óÔé¼┬Ø He slapped his forehead. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...really should have remembered that.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes you should have.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan nodded, running a hand through his beard.
├óÔé¼┼ôLets get drunk!├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank shouted.
Alex, for the first time in his service in the army, nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah... why not?├óÔé¼┬Ø
###
There were three bars not closed by the fighting. Two looked to be run by their original owners. The last had a repainted sign and some bloodstains on the door and the floor. Alex and his friends went to one of the two that still had their original owners.
The one they chose had two slim, almost starved looking Silverbacks women waiting on them, with a dour, brick shaped, Eastlander. The Eastlander drew more than one glance from Alex, who had never seen one before.
This one was tall, and had two...horns growing out of his forehead. They weren't goat horns. They looked like two half disks, with the bladed edge sticking out.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you looking at!├óÔé¼┬Ø The Easterlander shouted at Alex. Alex realized he had been staring and hastily went back to looking at his friends.
One of the Silverback waitresses walked over. They wore uniforms that imitated Imperial styles, with long skirts and tight corsets with overdresses that covered almost their entire bodies. It made shapely women less so, and thin women look like a walking pile of cloth. Alex noticed a small tail poking out of the back of the dress.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd what getting you, Misters?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Silverback asked, her accent even worse than her grammar.
├óÔé¼┼ôBeer.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex, Jonathan and Hank said at the same time.
The Silverback turned and walked away, muttering under her breath. Whatever it was, it sounded foul.
├óÔé¼┼ôLets hope they don't put poison in.├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo, when you start the next duel.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan held up his hands, getting Alex's attention. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have to have to have to go for his left arm.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex felt a strange prickling sensation on the back of his neck. He ignored it.
├óÔé¼┼ôPrice Lewis got his arm broken in three places in the Holding Action, off Natak Bay.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex frowned. The Holding Action...had that been Prince Lewis leading the team? That didn't quite fit with his idea of what the Prince was. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait, how do you know all this?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jonathan looked at Alex like he was pointing out something very obvious. ├óÔé¼┼ôI read.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shifted in his seat. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo, his left arm is weaker than his right arm.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you can't hope to stand up against him in the long term. Or the short term, really.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGreat.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex sighed.
├óÔé¼┼ôHere you go,├óÔé¼┬Ø The starving Silverback waitress dropped three cups of pale, tepid looking beer onto the table. The beer sloshed over the table, and Hank scowled. Jonathan dropped his share into the waitress's pay pouch. Alex and Hank did likewise.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo, how do I beat him?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan sipped his drink and made a face. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can either not and go home in disgrace. Or...you could get close, pummel him as much as you can without letting him get any reach on you. Because if he has the reach...you're doomed.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex bit his lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôHmm...├óÔé¼┬Ø He sipped his beer. It tasted like watered down horse piss. He drank it anyway. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, I guess I'll just get nice and close then.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôPrince Lewis...├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank mulled the word, tipping his glass forward, then back, watching the way the liquid moved. Alex could practically hear the cogs turning behind his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôDid he really try to rape that girl?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex glared at Hank.
Hank held up his hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa, all right, all right. I belive you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGood.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex sighed, whishinghe knew more history. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo, Jonathan, can you tell me anything more about Prince Lewis.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan closed his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe won a Wound Ward in the Holding Action, and did five years of diplomatic relations with the Eastlands...has a wife.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex glowered. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo, he's a fine, upstanding member of the Empire...who decides to rape a Silverback girl.├óÔé¼┬Ø He ran his hands through his hair. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat's just great.├óÔé¼┬Ø
###
The next day dawned bright and early. Alex woke up in his billeted house. He woke before everyone else, and slipped out early. He jogged down to the armory, which stood outside of the city. Two sentries who looked deadly serious stood in front of the tent, their flints at their shoulders.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho goes there?├óÔé¼┬Ø Both of them lowered their flints, their bayonets glinting in the early morning sun.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander of Tervarthan, Knight Corporal.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex put his fist to his heart and bowed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI want to requisition a sword.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAh, your the guy who shot at the Prince?├óÔé¼┬Ø One of the guards relaxed slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe deserved it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex grinned weakly.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah.├óÔé¼┬Ø The talkative guard held open the tent door. ├óÔé¼┼ôTake a sword.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex walked in. As he walked out, holding a dueling sword. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're doomed, you know.├óÔé¼┬Ø The talkative guard grinned.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...I know.├óÔé¼┬Ø
###
Alex panted softly, the sword whistling through the air. A few Silverbacks, all of whom looked beaten, oppressed and shell shocked. He eyed them, glad he had his flint pistol and replacement bayonet at his hips. It didn't take much skill to jam a foot of steel into someone's neck.
Alex felt that prickling feeling on the back of his neck again. He tried to place where he had felt it before...
The bar, last night. He sheathed his sword and looked around, eyes narrowed. There! A Silverback girl watched him. She looked faintly familiar...
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're pirouette is all wrong.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex cocked his head, not quite sure what a pirouette was.
The Silverback sighed and held out her hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet me show you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex handed her the sword, keeping a hand on his flint pistol. The girl looked very familiar.
The Silverback went through a few moves, the sword turning to a flurry of gray in her hands. The blade sang in her hands. She handed the sword back to Alex, who stared at her.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked, looking the girl over. She had an anger in her eyes, like a lot of Silverbacks...but it wasn't directed at Alex.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou saved me...yesterday.├óÔé¼┬Ø She looked into his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't have my sword...if I had, that...son of a bitch would have found two feet of metal through his neck.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Recognition dawned on Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh. Uh, I-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is pay back, that's all.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Silverback sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôPut the son of a bitch in the ground-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't duel to the death.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen humiliate him!├óÔé¼┬Ø She snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow, when do you fight him again?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex looked at the sky. ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout...four hours.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Silverback sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, at least we have plenty of time.├óÔé¼┬Ø She looked at Alex, sizing him up slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is your name, Imperial?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex. What is your's...Silverback?├óÔé¼┬Ø
She grinned faintly. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlux.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alux nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally really.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex hefted his sword. Four hours wasn't much, but it beat nothing.
###
Three hours later and Alex's arms felt like lead. Alux nodded as he panted and leaned on his knees, sweat running down his face.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou learn quick.├óÔé¼┬Ø She panted softly as well, her ears perked up and her tail wagging.
├óÔé¼┼ôTh...tha...thanks.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex panted, looking up at her. She cracked her head.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow, rest...but don't eat anything. Going into battle on an empty stomach is the best way to survive. If you know that you will die without your funeral meal and be forced to head to the Afterworlds on an empty stomach for an eternity.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh right.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alux grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're a heathen, arn't you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex grinned back. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...I am. Thanks, Alux.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're welcome.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alux clumsily put her first over her heart and bowed to him. She turned to go.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex held up his hand. The Silverback looked over her shoulder, her ears twitching. Alex suddenly felt like an idiot. What was he going to say? ├óÔé¼┼ôUh...├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alux shook her head and turned to walk away.
Alex sighed, hefting his sword. It felt less like an unfamiliar weight at the end of his arm and more like an extension of his arm. But he didn't feel confident or able.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø He glanced around. A few Silverbacks had watched the entire practice session. Their faces were unreadable, their eyes dull. Alex suddenly felt nervous. ├óÔé¼┼ôImmortality awaits.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He turned and walked towards the dueling grounds.
So far, nothing horrible has happened and Guessmyname has been an excellent proofer.
Oh, next bit.
###
The sword that hung at Alex's side felt...odd. As a child, he'd never strapped a wooden sword to his side and done battle with his friends. He was more of a 'stay at home and read voraciously'. So, he knew everything there was to know about swords, their creation, their symbolism in several leading novels, their phasing out of warfare and their ceremonial use in the modern age.
But he didn't know how to actually... use them.
And the Prince, unfortunately, looked like he did.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is bad,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered to himself, standing at the first half of the dueling field. The Prince was swishing his sword around, stabbing, slashing and generally looking like he knew what he was doing. Alex drew his sword and bit his lip, trying a few experimental stabs.
├óÔé¼┼ôFlints are better, anyway.├óÔé¼┬Ø He grumbled. The Knight Commander and the other officers stood in a straight line, all grim faced.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex of Tervarthen, son of the Duke of Tervarthen, step forward.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander intoned. Alex stepped forward, his mouth dry. He felt watching eyes on his back. He glanced over his shoulder. A modest crowd of Silverbacks, who looked mildly confused by the whole affair, and a large crowd of Imperials, who all looked as grim faced as the officers, watched on.
Hank and Jonathan were in the front row. Hank gave Alex a huge thumbs up. Alex looked at him in the same way someone would look at an escaped mental patient who had gotten into your sister's dressing room.
Jonathan just pointed at his ankle vigorously. Alex took a half second to be confused, before the Knight Commander said, ├óÔé¼┼ôLewis of the Empire, son of the Emperor, step forward.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Prince stepped forward. He no longer seemed quite so weasly with a sword in his hands.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander looked between the two of them. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Codes dictate that you may not slay one another. But the man on the ground first is the man who has lost.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex felt a sudden wave of relief. He wouldn't die.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe winner retains honor and position. The loser is sent back to the Capitol for military tribunal.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex felt the wave of relief collapse. If his father found him after getting dishonorably discharged, he would die.
├óÔé¼┼ôBow.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex tapped his sword hilt to his chest and bowed. The Prince did the same. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo battle.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex brought his sword up. The Prince slipped the tip of his blade under his guard and sent Alex's blade spinning away.
├óÔé¼┼ôDamn.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered, looking at his sword. It stuck into the mud, about five feet away.
├óÔé¼┼ôKneel.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Prince sneered.
Alex looked around, stepping backwards, slowly. His foot hit something, something hard and metallic. Whatever he had stepped on slipped around on the mud of the street and Alex had to throw his arms out to stop himself from falling.
The Prince stabbed forward with his sword, the point heading for Alex's kneecap. Alex jumped to the side, yelping. The sword point whistled through nothing but air.
Alex saw what he had stepped on.
It was a frying pan. Some Silverback family had dropped their frying pan in the street while they fled the sack of the city. Alex grabbed the handle of the frying pan and brought it up. The Prince's blade skittered off the back of the pan.
Alex grinned and smashed the Prince in the face with the frying pan.
The Prince did a half spin on his feet, then dropped straight to the ground.
Alex looked at the frying pan, then at the Knight Commander. He and his officers' wore a collective look of shock. The Silverbacks started to laugh. Slowly, almost reluctantly, the Imperials joined in.
├óÔé¼┼ôBetter than any vaudeville,├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank muttered to Jonathan.
The Prince groaned and got to his hands and knees. He spat and a tooth hit the mud. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou motherless son of a bitch!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted ,getting to his feet and slashing his sword at Alex. Alex ducked and tackled the Prince, sending them both to the ground.
├óÔé¼┼ôHold! Hold!├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander shouted. Alex got in one last headbutt to the Prince's face and heard the satisfying sound of a nose breaking.
├óÔé¼┼ôHOLD!├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander discharged his flint. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex of Tervarthen! Prince Lewis!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex stood, slowly, mud covering his front. The Prince stood, even more muddy than Alex, stood as well.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe duel is a draw.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Officer said after he had both of their attention. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex was disarmed, but kept fighting. Unfortunately...a frying pan is not a recognized weapon in the Imperial Codes.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex looked at the frying pan, sighing.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe shall reconvene the next day, for another duel.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't believe this.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Prince wiped some mud off his face. As the Knight Commander and his officers left, heading back to the Town Hall, the Prince stepped closer to Alex.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy the hells are you fighting so hard for...for a Silverback.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Prince's missing tooth made all his L's have a hissing sound to them.
Alex hefted his frying pan. ├óÔé¼┼ôEver think that, just because we're invading their country, Silverbacks might be people too.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Prince looked honestly astonished. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo...I never did.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex prodded the Prince in the stomach with his frying pan. ├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe you should try.├óÔé¼┬Ø He spun on his heel and stalked away.
The Prince blinked, then shook his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôMadman.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jonathan and Hank surrounded Alex, pounding him on the back and congratulating him. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey, it was just a draw!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex complained. They ignored him.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe best part was the thing with the frying pan!├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank shook his head.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd what was up with the ankle?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked Jonathan.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh...if you manage to get a cut through someone's ankle, they drop like a sack of bricks.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan nodded.
Alex grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh yeah! Jordan's Tendon.├óÔé¼┬Ø He slapped his forehead. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...really should have remembered that.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes you should have.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan nodded, running a hand through his beard.
├óÔé¼┼ôLets get drunk!├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank shouted.
Alex, for the first time in his service in the army, nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah... why not?├óÔé¼┬Ø
###
There were three bars not closed by the fighting. Two looked to be run by their original owners. The last had a repainted sign and some bloodstains on the door and the floor. Alex and his friends went to one of the two that still had their original owners.
The one they chose had two slim, almost starved looking Silverbacks women waiting on them, with a dour, brick shaped, Eastlander. The Eastlander drew more than one glance from Alex, who had never seen one before.
This one was tall, and had two...horns growing out of his forehead. They weren't goat horns. They looked like two half disks, with the bladed edge sticking out.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you looking at!├óÔé¼┬Ø The Easterlander shouted at Alex. Alex realized he had been staring and hastily went back to looking at his friends.
One of the Silverback waitresses walked over. They wore uniforms that imitated Imperial styles, with long skirts and tight corsets with overdresses that covered almost their entire bodies. It made shapely women less so, and thin women look like a walking pile of cloth. Alex noticed a small tail poking out of the back of the dress.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd what getting you, Misters?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Silverback asked, her accent even worse than her grammar.
├óÔé¼┼ôBeer.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex, Jonathan and Hank said at the same time.
The Silverback turned and walked away, muttering under her breath. Whatever it was, it sounded foul.
├óÔé¼┼ôLets hope they don't put poison in.├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank muttered.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo, when you start the next duel.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan held up his hands, getting Alex's attention. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have to have to have to go for his left arm.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex felt a strange prickling sensation on the back of his neck. He ignored it.
├óÔé¼┼ôPrice Lewis got his arm broken in three places in the Holding Action, off Natak Bay.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex frowned. The Holding Action...had that been Prince Lewis leading the team? That didn't quite fit with his idea of what the Prince was. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait, how do you know all this?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jonathan looked at Alex like he was pointing out something very obvious. ├óÔé¼┼ôI read.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex shifted in his seat. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo, his left arm is weaker than his right arm.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you can't hope to stand up against him in the long term. Or the short term, really.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGreat.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex sighed.
├óÔé¼┼ôHere you go,├óÔé¼┬Ø The starving Silverback waitress dropped three cups of pale, tepid looking beer onto the table. The beer sloshed over the table, and Hank scowled. Jonathan dropped his share into the waitress's pay pouch. Alex and Hank did likewise.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo, how do I beat him?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan sipped his drink and made a face. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can either not and go home in disgrace. Or...you could get close, pummel him as much as you can without letting him get any reach on you. Because if he has the reach...you're doomed.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex bit his lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôHmm...├óÔé¼┬Ø He sipped his beer. It tasted like watered down horse piss. He drank it anyway. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, I guess I'll just get nice and close then.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôPrince Lewis...├óÔé¼┬Ø Hank mulled the word, tipping his glass forward, then back, watching the way the liquid moved. Alex could practically hear the cogs turning behind his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôDid he really try to rape that girl?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex glared at Hank.
Hank held up his hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa, all right, all right. I belive you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGood.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex sighed, whishinghe knew more history. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo, Jonathan, can you tell me anything more about Prince Lewis.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jonathan closed his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe won a Wound Ward in the Holding Action, and did five years of diplomatic relations with the Eastlands...has a wife.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex glowered. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo, he's a fine, upstanding member of the Empire...who decides to rape a Silverback girl.├óÔé¼┬Ø He ran his hands through his hair. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat's just great.├óÔé¼┬Ø
###
The next day dawned bright and early. Alex woke up in his billeted house. He woke before everyone else, and slipped out early. He jogged down to the armory, which stood outside of the city. Two sentries who looked deadly serious stood in front of the tent, their flints at their shoulders.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho goes there?├óÔé¼┬Ø Both of them lowered their flints, their bayonets glinting in the early morning sun.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlexander of Tervarthan, Knight Corporal.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex put his fist to his heart and bowed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI want to requisition a sword.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAh, your the guy who shot at the Prince?├óÔé¼┬Ø One of the guards relaxed slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe deserved it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex grinned weakly.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah.├óÔé¼┬Ø The talkative guard held open the tent door. ├óÔé¼┼ôTake a sword.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex walked in. As he walked out, holding a dueling sword. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're doomed, you know.├óÔé¼┬Ø The talkative guard grinned.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...I know.├óÔé¼┬Ø
###
Alex panted softly, the sword whistling through the air. A few Silverbacks, all of whom looked beaten, oppressed and shell shocked. He eyed them, glad he had his flint pistol and replacement bayonet at his hips. It didn't take much skill to jam a foot of steel into someone's neck.
Alex felt that prickling feeling on the back of his neck again. He tried to place where he had felt it before...
The bar, last night. He sheathed his sword and looked around, eyes narrowed. There! A Silverback girl watched him. She looked faintly familiar...
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're pirouette is all wrong.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex cocked his head, not quite sure what a pirouette was.
The Silverback sighed and held out her hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet me show you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex handed her the sword, keeping a hand on his flint pistol. The girl looked very familiar.
The Silverback went through a few moves, the sword turning to a flurry of gray in her hands. The blade sang in her hands. She handed the sword back to Alex, who stared at her.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked, looking the girl over. She had an anger in her eyes, like a lot of Silverbacks...but it wasn't directed at Alex.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou saved me...yesterday.├óÔé¼┬Ø She looked into his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't have my sword...if I had, that...son of a bitch would have found two feet of metal through his neck.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Recognition dawned on Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh. Uh, I-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is pay back, that's all.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Silverback sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôPut the son of a bitch in the ground-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't duel to the death.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen humiliate him!├óÔé¼┬Ø She snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow, when do you fight him again?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex looked at the sky. ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout...four hours.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Silverback sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, at least we have plenty of time.├óÔé¼┬Ø She looked at Alex, sizing him up slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is your name, Imperial?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex. What is your's...Silverback?├óÔé¼┬Ø
She grinned faintly. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlux.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alux nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally really.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex hefted his sword. Four hours wasn't much, but it beat nothing.
###
Three hours later and Alex's arms felt like lead. Alux nodded as he panted and leaned on his knees, sweat running down his face.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou learn quick.├óÔé¼┬Ø She panted softly as well, her ears perked up and her tail wagging.
├óÔé¼┼ôTh...tha...thanks.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex panted, looking up at her. She cracked her head.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow, rest...but don't eat anything. Going into battle on an empty stomach is the best way to survive. If you know that you will die without your funeral meal and be forced to head to the Afterworlds on an empty stomach for an eternity.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh right.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alux grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're a heathen, arn't you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex grinned back. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...I am. Thanks, Alux.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're welcome.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alux clumsily put her first over her heart and bowed to him. She turned to go.
├óÔé¼┼ôWait.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex held up his hand. The Silverback looked over her shoulder, her ears twitching. Alex suddenly felt like an idiot. What was he going to say? ├óÔé¼┼ôUh...├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alux shook her head and turned to walk away.
Alex sighed, hefting his sword. It felt less like an unfamiliar weight at the end of his arm and more like an extension of his arm. But he didn't feel confident or able.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø He glanced around. A few Silverbacks had watched the entire practice session. Their faces were unreadable, their eyes dull. Alex suddenly felt nervous. ├óÔé¼┼ôImmortality awaits.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He turned and walked towards the dueling grounds.
-
Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
-
Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
Well DUH!
###
The Prince stood on the other end of the street, sword in his hand.
Alex stood at the other, sword in hand. His frying pan stayed strapped to his side, tapping against his hip as he moved.
├óÔé¼┼ôBow.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander finished the ritual intonation. ├óÔé¼┼ôBegin!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex watched the Prince, feeling calmer, more sure. Then he charged. The Prince brought up his sword, but Alex spun to the side to avoid the point. He smashed the hilt of his sword into the Prince's temple.
The Prince collapsed into the mud, sending mud flying.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex of Tervarthen is the winner.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander pointed at Alex. Alex felt his heart pound and his legs shake.
There was a sudden cheer from behind Alex. He started, looking over his shoulder. Hank raised his fist into the air. Jonathan clapped...and Alex saw Alux grin at him.
He grinned back.
###
Alex stood in formation the next day with a huge headache and a grin stretching from ear to ear. He didn't quite remember what had happened last night. He knew it involved drinking...lots of it. He remembered Alux saying something congratulatory. But he knew, clear as day, that he hadn't kissed her, felt her up, or...lain with her.
But still, he grinned.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander paced back and forth in front of the gathered troops. Alex noticed that only two platoons were arrayed there, not the full army. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou two platoons have been chosen for the hardest, most necessary duty of this Imperial army...occupation duty.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex gulped. He noticed a few Knights walking up to the front of the formation and setting down huge boxes. The boxes were filled with thin batons.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou will be given shock sticks.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander picked one of the batons out of a box. A single ghost light flickered around the tip. ├óÔé¼┼ôThese will put down a Silverback for six hours with a single blow. They are good for twelve blows before they need to be recharged by our assigned Source.
The Source that stood next to him looked just like every Source Alex had ever seen. But, unlike the other Sources, she looked...bored. As far as Alex knew, Sources didn't have emotion.
├óÔé¼┼ôTry not to use them too often.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôRemember, obey the law, respect honor, and make sure the Silverbacks don't get back on their feet. Come forward and receive your sticks.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex trudged forward and grabbed one of the sticks. It wasn't too heavy, but it vibrated softly in his hands like a snake. He glanced over at the knight next to him.
├óÔé¼┼ôHehe, this'll be fun.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight grinned, showing several missing teeth. He glanced at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey, you're that guy who shot at Prince Lewis.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex slowly put his baton between him and the other Knight, his hackles rising.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell, if you shoot at me for having a good time,├óÔé¼┬Ø The other Knight growled. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll bash your face in.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's harder to bash than it looks.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex growled back. The other Knight snorted and turned away, letting the man behind him to get their baton.
Alex sighed. He hadn't even thought about using his baton on a fellow soldier...till now.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou will now be paired up and sent on patrols.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander continued shouting. ├óÔé¼┼ôKnight private Jarid of Korven with Knight private Hogan...Knight corporal Kevin with Knight corporal Jonathan....├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex waited around, hoping to be paired with Hank after Jonathan had been paired up. But, no, Hank was sent off with some Knight Alex had never heard of.
And then. ├óÔé¼┼ôKnight Corporal Alex of Tervarthen with...Knight Corporal Gordon of Pree.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex looked around for a Gordon. For one horrible second, he thought he was going to be paired up with the mean spirited face bashing Knight he had met a while ago.
Then Gordon walked up to Alex and grinned wildly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHi hi hi,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, his grin showing two gold teeth, one silver tooth and a single missing tooth. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're that guy who whipped that stupid Prince, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex nodded.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou deserve a damn medal for that...├óÔé¼┬Ø Gordon clapped his hand on Alex's shoulder. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, lets go and bust some heads.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex nodded again, sticking his baton into his belt. The ghost light pressed against his leg, but it didn't shock him.
├óÔé¼┼ôLets go.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex jerked his head to the streets. They started to walk, their boots squelching through the mud that continued to pass for the roads in Shrillbore. Alex got a good long look at the city as his patrol wound its way through it. Some portions were battered, others; burnt. But repair work had already started springing up, scaffolds and the hammer and clatter of construction work filling the air.
├óÔé¼┼ôThey've had some practice at this,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered, pointing out several stores. The signs had already been repainted to the Imperial language, even though the city had only been occupied for four days.
├óÔé¼┼ôA bit.├óÔé¼┬Ø Gordon grinned. As far as Alex could tell, he didn't do much else but grin. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf we're not invading them, they're fighting each other. Silverbacks.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex was a half a jot away from nodding and agreeing before he stopped. Were the Silverbacks really just a lower race? When he'd come into the Southlands, the answer had been yes. Now...
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot all of them are so bad.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Gordon laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôLike that girl back in one of the first villages?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex laughed as well, remembering his first, fumbling experience with a woman. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe was...something, that's true.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Gordon shook his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhores and bootlicks, that's what these Silverbacks are-├óÔé¼┬Ø
At that point a Silverback carrying a bag of groceries stepped out of a small alleyway. Or, at least, Alex thought they were groceries , right up till the Silverback pulled a small flint pistol from his groceries and fired. Smoke smacked Alex in the face and he coughed, grabbing his baton.
He swung it through the air and accidentally smacked the tip into Gordon's chest. Gordon grunted, but didn't go down.
The cloud of smoke faded and Alex saw a milling crowd of Silverbacks, a dropped bag of groceries and a discarded flint pistol, with smoke trailing from the barrel.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho the hells was that!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gordon shouted, his face livid. A small scratch down his cheek dribbled blood. ├óÔé¼┼ôHash up!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex's eyes darted through the crowd. Many Silverbacks were running, more still were just milling. And now, all of them were shouting and clamoring.
├óÔé¼┼ôGordon,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said.
├óÔé¼┼ôHASH UP!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gordon shouted.
├óÔé¼┼ôGordon!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snapped, using the same voice he had employed in several battles to get people to pay attention to him. Gordon glanced at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're not going to find him...if he wasn't gone when he fired, he was gone when the smoke cleared.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Gordon bristled. ├óÔé¼┼ôSon of a...├óÔé¼┬Ø He looked down at the flint pistol. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait...├óÔé¼┬Ø He picked it up, then sniffed it. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex, have you ever been to court?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, I'm law abiding...and so are my friends.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex looked at the pistol. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell, my sister once stabbed a man. When she was sent to trial, a Source read the emotions from the dagger and reconstructed the scene. It had been...├óÔé¼┬Ø He trailed off. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think our little Source can find out who owned this gun.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex cocked his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Gordon turned and walked away. Alex kept his eye on the crowd. The Silverbacks started to disperse...but Alex saw a single woman that stayed behind, watching them. Alex bit his lip, locking eyes with the remaining Silverback. She looked familiar, with her nose bent slightly to the side...
├óÔé¼┼ôCome on Alex.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex turned around and followed his partner.
###
The Source, like most Sources attached to a military division, lived where the Commander lived. In this case, the old home of the Mayor, who hung by his neck from a tree in a nearby park. A small tent set up next to the front of the house, which was fairly advanced by Shrillbore standards, held the Source. Already, two other patrols had stopped by.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou've discharged your entire baton already?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Source's voice wafted from the tent.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell-├óÔé¼┬Ø
There was a soft glow from within the tent.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow go out there and, this time, try to act like a Knight, not like a schoolyard bully.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Two somewhat chagrined Knights walked out of the tent, both of them holding freshly charged batons. Ghost light swam around their tips, bright and green.
Alex stepped into the tent, followed by Gordon.
The Source looked up from her small table.. Her blindfolded eyes looked right at Alex's...and she yelped, going to her feet.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou!├óÔé¼┬Ø She shouted, pointing at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôMe?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex blinked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou...are Alex of Tervarthen, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Source sat down, slowly, her breathing slowing. A small crystal sat on her table, glowing bright green. As the Source calmed, the glow faded.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex glanced at Gordon.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou were wounded by a Silverback, then healed by one of us?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Source nodded, putting her palms together. Her red hair bobbed around her ears, and two points of light shone from behind her blindfold. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...whatever you do, please, don't...touch me.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI wasn't planning to.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, slowly.
├óÔé¼┼ôI just wanted to make it clear.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Source put her hands on the table, leaning forward. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow, what can I do for you two?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gordon set the flint pistol on the table. ├óÔé¼┼ôA Silverback shot at us with this...can you find out who he was...er, is.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Source picked up the flint, pursing her lips. She turned it in her hands, her fingernails tapping against the metal barrel and wood hilt. ├óÔé¼┼ôHmm...I'm no forensic specialist, but I'd say whoever fired this gun...had a lot of anger in them.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI couldn't have guessed.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex deadpanned. That startled a grin out of the Source, who immediately went back to being impassive.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell, I can't tell you who shot it.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Source put the gun down and sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not used to looking through Silverback minds. And, hell, so many of them hate us, it's hard to find a specific one who hates them. But, I can tell...they were aiming at you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She pointed at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôMe?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Source leaned forward and sniffed at the flint. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I figure anything more out, I'll have the Commander tell you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex looked at Gordon, then at the Source. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She nodded curtly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWelcome.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex and Gordon turned to leave. Alex stopped. ├óÔé¼┼ôGordon, wait just one second...├óÔé¼┬Ø He turned around and walked over to the table.
├óÔé¼┼ôCan I help you?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Source looked up, her brow furrowing.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes, you can. Why...do Source react this way to me?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked.
The Source cocked her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, if it helps your peace of mind: We don't know either. All we know is touching you made Tessa flip out.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex stopped himself from blurting something stupid like: ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have names?├óÔé¼┬Ø Instead he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, if you find out could you tell me?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI'll have the Knight Commander-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex bit his lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh...I'd rather you tell me.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Source looked at him, her expression almost impossible to read behind her blindfold. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd why is that, exactly?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, her voice arch.
├óÔé¼┼ôBecause, well, the last time the Knight Commander and I talked personally, I had just taken a potshot at Prince Lewis. A second odd or...disruptive thing about me might, well-├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Source nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôI understand.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you. Say...what's your name?├óÔé¼┬Ø
She cocked her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy...didn't you know, Source don't have names?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex stammered something, but she just laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôKey. My name is Key.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôKey, got it.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex tipped an imaginary cap to her. ├óÔé¼┼ôHave a nice day.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He walked out of the tent. Gordon stood, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked at Alex.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou were hitting on a Source.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI was not.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex held up his hands, his face the picture of aggrieved innocence.
Gordon shook his head and turned back to the streets. Alex ran to his side and they set out on patrol.
In the tent, Key fiddled with her crystal. It glowed softly as her fingers touched it, the light shifting from golden to green to blue. She frowned as the color shifted to black. She set it back on the table and let it slowly slide back to green. She sighed and slipped off her blindfold, covering her eye sockets with her hands.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat an... odd man.├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered, rubbing gently with her palms.
###
The Prince stood on the other end of the street, sword in his hand.
Alex stood at the other, sword in hand. His frying pan stayed strapped to his side, tapping against his hip as he moved.
├óÔé¼┼ôBow.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander finished the ritual intonation. ├óÔé¼┼ôBegin!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex watched the Prince, feeling calmer, more sure. Then he charged. The Prince brought up his sword, but Alex spun to the side to avoid the point. He smashed the hilt of his sword into the Prince's temple.
The Prince collapsed into the mud, sending mud flying.
├óÔé¼┼ôAlex of Tervarthen is the winner.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander pointed at Alex. Alex felt his heart pound and his legs shake.
There was a sudden cheer from behind Alex. He started, looking over his shoulder. Hank raised his fist into the air. Jonathan clapped...and Alex saw Alux grin at him.
He grinned back.
###
Alex stood in formation the next day with a huge headache and a grin stretching from ear to ear. He didn't quite remember what had happened last night. He knew it involved drinking...lots of it. He remembered Alux saying something congratulatory. But he knew, clear as day, that he hadn't kissed her, felt her up, or...lain with her.
But still, he grinned.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander paced back and forth in front of the gathered troops. Alex noticed that only two platoons were arrayed there, not the full army. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou two platoons have been chosen for the hardest, most necessary duty of this Imperial army...occupation duty.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex gulped. He noticed a few Knights walking up to the front of the formation and setting down huge boxes. The boxes were filled with thin batons.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou will be given shock sticks.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander picked one of the batons out of a box. A single ghost light flickered around the tip. ├óÔé¼┼ôThese will put down a Silverback for six hours with a single blow. They are good for twelve blows before they need to be recharged by our assigned Source.
The Source that stood next to him looked just like every Source Alex had ever seen. But, unlike the other Sources, she looked...bored. As far as Alex knew, Sources didn't have emotion.
├óÔé¼┼ôTry not to use them too often.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôRemember, obey the law, respect honor, and make sure the Silverbacks don't get back on their feet. Come forward and receive your sticks.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex trudged forward and grabbed one of the sticks. It wasn't too heavy, but it vibrated softly in his hands like a snake. He glanced over at the knight next to him.
├óÔé¼┼ôHehe, this'll be fun.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight grinned, showing several missing teeth. He glanced at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey, you're that guy who shot at Prince Lewis.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex slowly put his baton between him and the other Knight, his hackles rising.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell, if you shoot at me for having a good time,├óÔé¼┬Ø The other Knight growled. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll bash your face in.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's harder to bash than it looks.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex growled back. The other Knight snorted and turned away, letting the man behind him to get their baton.
Alex sighed. He hadn't even thought about using his baton on a fellow soldier...till now.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou will now be paired up and sent on patrols.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Knight Commander continued shouting. ├óÔé¼┼ôKnight private Jarid of Korven with Knight private Hogan...Knight corporal Kevin with Knight corporal Jonathan....├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex waited around, hoping to be paired with Hank after Jonathan had been paired up. But, no, Hank was sent off with some Knight Alex had never heard of.
And then. ├óÔé¼┼ôKnight Corporal Alex of Tervarthen with...Knight Corporal Gordon of Pree.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex looked around for a Gordon. For one horrible second, he thought he was going to be paired up with the mean spirited face bashing Knight he had met a while ago.
Then Gordon walked up to Alex and grinned wildly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHi hi hi,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, his grin showing two gold teeth, one silver tooth and a single missing tooth. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're that guy who whipped that stupid Prince, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex nodded.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou deserve a damn medal for that...├óÔé¼┬Ø Gordon clapped his hand on Alex's shoulder. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, lets go and bust some heads.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex nodded again, sticking his baton into his belt. The ghost light pressed against his leg, but it didn't shock him.
├óÔé¼┼ôLets go.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex jerked his head to the streets. They started to walk, their boots squelching through the mud that continued to pass for the roads in Shrillbore. Alex got a good long look at the city as his patrol wound its way through it. Some portions were battered, others; burnt. But repair work had already started springing up, scaffolds and the hammer and clatter of construction work filling the air.
├óÔé¼┼ôThey've had some practice at this,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex muttered, pointing out several stores. The signs had already been repainted to the Imperial language, even though the city had only been occupied for four days.
├óÔé¼┼ôA bit.├óÔé¼┬Ø Gordon grinned. As far as Alex could tell, he didn't do much else but grin. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf we're not invading them, they're fighting each other. Silverbacks.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex was a half a jot away from nodding and agreeing before he stopped. Were the Silverbacks really just a lower race? When he'd come into the Southlands, the answer had been yes. Now...
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot all of them are so bad.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Gordon laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôLike that girl back in one of the first villages?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex laughed as well, remembering his first, fumbling experience with a woman. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe was...something, that's true.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Gordon shook his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhores and bootlicks, that's what these Silverbacks are-├óÔé¼┬Ø
At that point a Silverback carrying a bag of groceries stepped out of a small alleyway. Or, at least, Alex thought they were groceries , right up till the Silverback pulled a small flint pistol from his groceries and fired. Smoke smacked Alex in the face and he coughed, grabbing his baton.
He swung it through the air and accidentally smacked the tip into Gordon's chest. Gordon grunted, but didn't go down.
The cloud of smoke faded and Alex saw a milling crowd of Silverbacks, a dropped bag of groceries and a discarded flint pistol, with smoke trailing from the barrel.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho the hells was that!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gordon shouted, his face livid. A small scratch down his cheek dribbled blood. ├óÔé¼┼ôHash up!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex's eyes darted through the crowd. Many Silverbacks were running, more still were just milling. And now, all of them were shouting and clamoring.
├óÔé¼┼ôGordon,├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said.
├óÔé¼┼ôHASH UP!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gordon shouted.
├óÔé¼┼ôGordon!├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex snapped, using the same voice he had employed in several battles to get people to pay attention to him. Gordon glanced at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're not going to find him...if he wasn't gone when he fired, he was gone when the smoke cleared.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Gordon bristled. ├óÔé¼┼ôSon of a...├óÔé¼┬Ø He looked down at the flint pistol. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait...├óÔé¼┬Ø He picked it up, then sniffed it. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlex, have you ever been to court?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, I'm law abiding...and so are my friends.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex looked at the pistol. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell, my sister once stabbed a man. When she was sent to trial, a Source read the emotions from the dagger and reconstructed the scene. It had been...├óÔé¼┬Ø He trailed off. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think our little Source can find out who owned this gun.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex cocked his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Gordon turned and walked away. Alex kept his eye on the crowd. The Silverbacks started to disperse...but Alex saw a single woman that stayed behind, watching them. Alex bit his lip, locking eyes with the remaining Silverback. She looked familiar, with her nose bent slightly to the side...
├óÔé¼┼ôCome on Alex.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex turned around and followed his partner.
###
The Source, like most Sources attached to a military division, lived where the Commander lived. In this case, the old home of the Mayor, who hung by his neck from a tree in a nearby park. A small tent set up next to the front of the house, which was fairly advanced by Shrillbore standards, held the Source. Already, two other patrols had stopped by.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou've discharged your entire baton already?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Source's voice wafted from the tent.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell-├óÔé¼┬Ø
There was a soft glow from within the tent.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow go out there and, this time, try to act like a Knight, not like a schoolyard bully.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Two somewhat chagrined Knights walked out of the tent, both of them holding freshly charged batons. Ghost light swam around their tips, bright and green.
Alex stepped into the tent, followed by Gordon.
The Source looked up from her small table.. Her blindfolded eyes looked right at Alex's...and she yelped, going to her feet.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou!├óÔé¼┬Ø She shouted, pointing at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôMe?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex blinked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou...are Alex of Tervarthen, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Source sat down, slowly, her breathing slowing. A small crystal sat on her table, glowing bright green. As the Source calmed, the glow faded.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes...├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex glanced at Gordon.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou were wounded by a Silverback, then healed by one of us?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Source nodded, putting her palms together. Her red hair bobbed around her ears, and two points of light shone from behind her blindfold. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...whatever you do, please, don't...touch me.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI wasn't planning to.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex said, slowly.
├óÔé¼┼ôI just wanted to make it clear.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Source put her hands on the table, leaning forward. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow, what can I do for you two?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gordon set the flint pistol on the table. ├óÔé¼┼ôA Silverback shot at us with this...can you find out who he was...er, is.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Source picked up the flint, pursing her lips. She turned it in her hands, her fingernails tapping against the metal barrel and wood hilt. ├óÔé¼┼ôHmm...I'm no forensic specialist, but I'd say whoever fired this gun...had a lot of anger in them.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI couldn't have guessed.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex deadpanned. That startled a grin out of the Source, who immediately went back to being impassive.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell, I can't tell you who shot it.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Source put the gun down and sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not used to looking through Silverback minds. And, hell, so many of them hate us, it's hard to find a specific one who hates them. But, I can tell...they were aiming at you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She pointed at Alex. ├óÔé¼┼ôMe?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah.├óÔé¼┬Ø The Source leaned forward and sniffed at the flint. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I figure anything more out, I'll have the Commander tell you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex looked at Gordon, then at the Source. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She nodded curtly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWelcome.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex and Gordon turned to leave. Alex stopped. ├óÔé¼┼ôGordon, wait just one second...├óÔé¼┬Ø He turned around and walked over to the table.
├óÔé¼┼ôCan I help you?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Source looked up, her brow furrowing.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes, you can. Why...do Source react this way to me?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked.
The Source cocked her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, if it helps your peace of mind: We don't know either. All we know is touching you made Tessa flip out.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex stopped himself from blurting something stupid like: ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have names?├óÔé¼┬Ø Instead he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, if you find out could you tell me?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI'll have the Knight Commander-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex bit his lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh...I'd rather you tell me.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Source looked at him, her expression almost impossible to read behind her blindfold. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd why is that, exactly?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, her voice arch.
├óÔé¼┼ôBecause, well, the last time the Knight Commander and I talked personally, I had just taken a potshot at Prince Lewis. A second odd or...disruptive thing about me might, well-├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Source nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôI understand.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you. Say...what's your name?├óÔé¼┬Ø
She cocked her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy...didn't you know, Source don't have names?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Alex stammered something, but she just laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôKey. My name is Key.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôKey, got it.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex tipped an imaginary cap to her. ├óÔé¼┼ôHave a nice day.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He walked out of the tent. Gordon stood, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked at Alex.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou were hitting on a Source.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI was not.├óÔé¼┬Ø Alex held up his hands, his face the picture of aggrieved innocence.
Gordon shook his head and turned back to the streets. Alex ran to his side and they set out on patrol.
In the tent, Key fiddled with her crystal. It glowed softly as her fingers touched it, the light shifting from golden to green to blue. She frowned as the color shifted to black. She set it back on the table and let it slowly slide back to green. She sighed and slipped off her blindfold, covering her eye sockets with her hands.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat an... odd man.├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered, rubbing gently with her palms.
. I personally would not not have mised that *cencered* "prince" but thats just me.
-
Archangel of Death
- Posts: 854
- Joined: 28 Jan 2005, 18:15
Ok, I read it all. Neato and greatness and stuff! Very confusing and mysterious and stuff. And stuff. Also, here's some news on The Witcher.
http://www.rpgcodex.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=21659
http://www.rpgcodex.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=21659