Rilitar, Aurora, and Desmond were in the ransacked commander’s office looking at a map of the area. Some Elvan officers were mulling over ideas, but none seemed to land right with Desmond or Rilitar. Rilitar took it upon himself to expound upon the situation at hand.
Rilitar finished his explanation of the land and the brief history of Ape men, “And that is where they are roughly. They are few in numbers, but can still kill a good amount as seen by… Well, you know already. My apologies. Anyway… They are aligned with the Dark One it seems. A few wood elf seers noted the black marks on their chests… Though no one really knows why… Only speculation. Lots of mystery with these creatures, but I must say they are intelligent enough to not elucidate their beliefs or history with others in order to survive.”
“About how ‘few’ in number,’” asked Desmond.
Rilitar sighed and answered, “All my scouts can say is less than a hundred. Apparently, a good amount of them left the cave and headed north into mountain range farther away from any civilization… Something tells me it means something has happened with these brutes. A schism, perhaps?”
“Maybe so,” Aurora chimed in pondering what it truly meant. “Can they be reasoned with?”
“In the past hundred years, yes they have been surprisingly cordial, but distant with us elves, but they speak their own guttural and harsh language… More of ‘live and leave alone’ type deal; unofficially of course… However, us elves have systematically tried to wipe them out for the past few hundred years as we expanded our empire, so we really shouldn’t be expecting any form of cordiality with them at this point,” Rilitar said as he scratched his chin.
He continued, “Primitive they may be, but they are formidable and are native to these lands. So, they see it as sacred ground because… Some na?ve belief in whatever god or gods they may worship? We truly don’t know much of them except from thousand year old books that have been outdated and has a lot of facts wrong. So, who knows really? Most of what we have now is hearsay and old stories from the locals.”
“Hmm… We should attack at night then. Element of surprise,” Desmond thought aloud. “Those canons are untouched so we could still use them.”
“Interesting? How long until dark?”
“Five hours from now. What say you,” Desmond asked.
Rilitar was okay with the plan overall. He asked, “You have a strategist who can plan this accordingly?”
“The best,” replied Desmond smiling.
Audra noticed Keely angrily walking away from the gate as she caught up to the meek looking ranger as both of them slowly walked up the steps to the top of the wall defenses. Keely proceeded to keep talking with Tarron and wrapped her arm around him. Audra quickly turned her head to Kale with a pissed off and confused look. Kale shrugged in response to Audra. Nikolai asked, “What just happened?”
“Something with Keely and that thin ranger over on the walls… I think Kale hurt someone’s feelings for liking his sister again and she’s trying to make him feel better. Most likely.”
“Again?”
“Yeppers… Why do we put up with that pompous yahoo?”
“He may be a dick, but you know he cares for us all? He’s our dick. Plus he’s a good hunter and rogue.”
“I just wish he stopped causing problems because of his mouth,” she said shooting a mini, green fireball into a pile of sticks making a tiny camp fire. Skivvy sauntered over and tapped Nikolai. “LT wants you in the commander’s quarters. Another plan of action.”
“WOOO! Something creative for once! Finally,” Nikolai happily said whilst jumping up. He somehow tripped on himself dropping all the books. Audra picked them up along with Nikolai and adjusted his glasses to be more presentable. Skivvy smirked and shook his head.
He sat across from Audra as she was trying to control the size of the green fire in her hands and to see if she could make it into a ball. Her helmet was off to the side of her on the ground. Skivvy watched curiously wanting to see what could happen. Audra was laser focused on the fire ball making a perfect sphere of green fire. She sat back proud of herself. Skivvy smirked with a quiet clap, “Not bad. Not bad.”
“The perfect ball of fire,” she said pretending to sound like an announcer. She then immediately threw the ball into the fire making a tall uproar that forced Skivvy to fall backwards as to not get burned. She ran over and picked him up profusely apologizing. He slowly sat back up and leaned back slightly scooting backwards from the camp fire.
“Still working on control, I see?”
“I’m so sorry! Sorry! Shit, shit, shit! I’m so sorry! Getting better though! You burnt?”
“I’m fine. I’m fine. Haven’t seen a green one before since,” Skivvy stopped himself for a moment. “Are the different colors supposed to mean something? For the fires?”
“Red means normal fire, of course. Blue means… Well, it’s more of a freezing burn-stun deal. Works well with wounds and internal wounds honestly… Orange or purple mean teleporting or portal travel… And green, is more of an explosive, arcane element. Unpredictable though. Still trying to master the power of it.”
“That explains why Keely is always fascinated by your attacks. She loves fire of all colors,” Skivvy said jokingly. “Speaking of which, she found a new beau to entertain herself with?”
He nudged his chin behind Audra on the wall where Keely and Tarron were talking and Keely was placing her hand on his shoulder.
Audra joked back, “She likes the sensitive types… Hmm. I wonder if Ator will get upset?”
“Ator? Nah… He doesn’t care for her like that, right? Isn’t he devout to his goddess or whatever?”
“Skivs,” Audra said looking at him disappointingly. “All you men, regardless of race or species or religion, are so obvious and oblivious at the same time.”
“What?”
“Ator has always fancied Keely since we were first grouped. It’s always obvious when a guy has a crush on a girl. Every girl can pick up on that… He just hasn’t said anything or made a move because of his religious beliefs and whatever burdens he has… I think he’s mostly scared,” she said nudging with her chin behind Skivvy as Ator was finishing praying.
Skivvy was still confused and shocked by what he just heard. He asked, “How so?”
“You see how he’s always nearby her or quick to fight others if they harass her. Kale does the same, but this is different. Ator seems like he does it because he’s too afraid to say his feelings to her. Also seems like he is trying to do it out of an obligation for her… Almost like he’s protecting her. I wonder that sometimes.”
“Really,” Skivvy said as he looked to Ator who was taking off his helmet and resting on the ground looking into the afternoon sky holding his prayer beads.
“I guess everyone has their secret feelings,” Skivvy said feeling conflicted about wanting to tell Audra his true feelings for her. He also, felt he gave an obvious hint and quickly retreated into his tough, but kind demeanor as a sergeant once again after he changed from green to blue and back to green.
“I know I’ve asked you this before a few times, but… You still okay since the incident? Like the one that got you… You know,” he asked Audra awkwardly as sincerely as he could convey.
She rested her head in her hands thinking back on her demotion to corporal. She remembered the mission in which the penal unit was the initial first wave on an attack on an orc fort. She remembered crying with her hands steaming green and red as she was on her knees looking at what she did.
Half the penal unit was dead from a prepared, interior defensive wall that was lined with orc sentries and canons. She lead them directly into it without realizing how prepared the orcs were. The entirety of the orc defensive wall was burnt to smoldering ash as the embers lit the sunset sky in a bright orange glow. All that could be recognized was an inordinate conglomerate of seared bodies riddled with cross bow bolts, bodies torn to shreds inside steaming craters, or burnt and partially torn apart bodies from a massive blast of arcane magic (orc and human alike).
Skivvy, Ator, Nikolai, Keely, and Kale were right behind Audra as she was bawling at what she just did. The rest just came back from securing the fort with the remaining penal members providing security as the main force of footmen was marching in to claim victory.
Skivvy knelt down next to Audra and said with a shaky voice, “Audra… Audra! It’s me! It’s us! I need you right now… I need you!”
“What?”
“We need you… The fort is cleared, but LT and Elias and about fifteen of ours are dead.”
“I’m the only cleric left?”
“Yes… Elias took a canon to the head and is spilled gumbo in the field. That’s why kale is covered in guts. LT is somewhere in a crater riddled with arrows. The rest are… Well,” he said as he pointed to the destruction around them; especially at the burned pile in front of Audra. “Also, you’re the only one of high enough rank to take charge now. Major’s coming and he’s pissed.”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
He stabbed one of his scimitars in the ground as he held his second one tightly. His skin turned blue for a moment and back to light green.
“We’ll back you up. I swear it!”
Ator was breathing heavy holding a broken great sword as he leaned on an oak tree for support. Keely was busy patching a minor wound on her arm as she was beyond shocked and amazed by the sight she saw from Audra. Kale was counting his remaining arrows and trying to stand proud despite being covered in blood and grime. He also was a afraid of Audra and disturbed by the fact he was covered in someone’s guts so he stood slightly away. Nikolai was on his knees taking a breather happy that he survived this mission, but was concerned for Audra.
All of them were amazed and slightly afraid of her. They knew she was arcane touched, hence her being the cleric, but they did not expect her to be this powerful and that violent. Audra looked pathetically at them and all of them gave a shaky, but reassuring thumbs up.
The major stomped ahead of the main force as they were slowly marching in. Skivvy stood up to take responsibility and to confront the major. Everyone else turned slowly towards the major with a look of annoyance and unbridled disdain. Kale spat on the ground towards the major. Keely unslung her rifle from her shoulder. Ator stood up as he angrily tore off his gauntlets and vambraces. Nikolai was still trying to catch his breath as he was now bent over holding himself up by his sword planted into the ground.
The major gritted his teeth harshly and yelled out, “First sergeant! Come here!”
Skivvy stepped forward towering over him by a good five inches. The major waved him off as Skivvy was about to say something. The major drew his rapier and told him to move aside. Ator stood up and gripped his broken great sword tightly staring daggers at the major. Kale notched an orc arrow in his bow and squinted with laser focus at the major’s exposed face. Keely picked up Nikolai to his feet and held him up whilst pointing her rifle near the major. Nikolai grabbed one of her throwing knives.
Audra slowly stood up and turned around, head down, and helmet off. Her hands were still steaming, but were blue this time. She responded to the major with a broken voice, “Yes sir?”
“First sergeant! You got half your force killed along with your only officer and main cleric! More would be alive if you didn’t lose control! How the fuck are you a cleric with your arcane powers! What the fuck is your malfunction?”
“Sir, I’m sorry,” she said not looking at him.
The other footmen force moved around to secure the rest of the fort. None of which dared to get close to the major.
Skivvy stepped up to him and said, “Major, sir? She was following orders that Lieutenant Hastings was yelling out for us to…”
“And so what? She was in charge of this half right?”
“Yes, but…”
“But no excuses! You’re relieved from this, sergeant… Fucking lizard! Expected better from an NCO of your background. But I suppose scale-backs have loyalty and brains elsewhere,” the major tersely yelled back at Skivvy.
Skivvy turned bright red as he slowly walked back about arm’s reach away from the major off to the side. He put both his scimitars away as he felt for his curved knife and stared intensely at the major.
The major gave a dressing down to Audra as she silently took the verbal onslaught. After a solid few minutes of the major’s abuse, Skivvy turned maroon red and yelled out, “NOW!”
Ator stepped forward and growled pointing the jagged end of the great sword at the back of the major’s neck. Kale pointed the orc arrow at the major’s head along with Keely aiming her rifle at his back. Skivvy pulled out his curved knife pointing it at the major’s face slightly piercing the left cheek whilst holding him in the air with his left hand as he grabbed the major’s neck. The major was about to yell at them, but the realization set in as he dropped his angry demeanor to that of a scared man desperate to live. His rapier fell on the ground with a whimpering thud.
The main footmen force noticed this and all of them turned away not surprised in the slightest. One of the footmen officers said to himself, “Fucking finally.”
Kale coldly said, “Sir… We can end you right now and no one would care. Your regular units hate you anyway. Plus this is an orc arrow. Last minute enemy encounters happen. Skivs? Your call.”
“You fucking cursed devils… You all… No!”
“We’ve had enough of your ‘leadership’ sir,” Skivvy yelled back with a harshness that scared everyone including the major.
Skivvy was about to slice his throat, but Audra quickly grabbed his arm and said quietly, “Don’t. Please put him down… Please, dear. Please.”
Skivvy was surprised, but listened. His skin turned back to green as he dropped the major. Everyone else backed down. She pointed beyond the major. Captain Arn was riding up.
Captain Arn rode up from behind and calmly interjected as he got off his horse, “Everyone… Stand down… Major Thoreson… I believe she and the rest have had enough for today.”
“Captain Arn… I know these are your men and your penal unit, but they royally fucked up and disobeyed direct orders and nearly committed treason on a commanding officer!”
“Major… The enemy force was taken out swiftly with only thirty of our forces dead in total along with about a hundred orcs dead or captured. All of which was done from the unsupported and under-strength penal unit.”
“They disobeyed!”
“They may have disobeyed orders for probing, but they took the initiative. They did it without your support and are wanting some credit instead of a dressing down. I also would not advise doing what you just did in front of one that is arcane touched. You should know better,” Arn said as he pointed to Audra and smoldering pile of orcs.
“Hmm.”
“I believe that is a good thing to have on record, wouldn’t you agree? Minor casualties primarily not to your main force and you still earn the victory, officially. Plus the penal battalion is essentially no more in your company.”
“I suppose… Captain… Punish them as you see fit. These men of yours are a fucking disgrace!”
“Hmm.”
Captain Arn silently gave the saddle to Nikolai because he looked the weakest. Arn walked calmly up to the major and towered over him. He was not looking directly at the major, but it felt as if he was looking through him with dagger-like eyes.
Arn simply explained with a calm yet harsh tone, “Sir… These maybe men in the force that messed up. But they have proven their worth and are far better than any of your units or any regular unit. These current ones before you just survived three penal missions… Barely any survive two let alone one. Those that died were trying to earn their freedom back. They deserved better… As for you… I’ll make sure that you will never move further up in high court or lead any men into battle ever again if you interfere or talk about today…You may outrank me, but I know that I have royal immunity.”
Arn pulled out a gold medallion with etched writing on it.
“You don’t… Good day… SIR.”
Arn took the reins and motioned for everyone left in the penal unit to follow. The major whimpered away angry as he was cursing under his breath after he shamefully picked up his rapier.
Audra walked next to Arn and she was still looking down with tears streaming off her cheeks like a crack in a dam. Her helmet fell to the ground and Keely swiftly picked it up. Kale threw the orc arrow away and walked closely behind everyone. Skivvy held Audra’s hand as his skin turned to light green and then into a soft, pastel blue.
Ator shoved his broken great sword into the ground and threw his light armor and shirt off of him. Keely looked at him confused. Ator grunted, “It’s hot, covered in a lot of blood, the armor doesn’t fit right, and I’m upset my sword broke!”
“Okay big ox,” she said teasingly back as she slapped his butt.
Kale rolled his eyes at them. Kale jokingly said to Keely, “At least he’s not covered in other people’s blood and guts because I look I took a nose dive into it.”
“Yeah bro, you need to get that washed. Who you covered in?”
“I know… I think I’m covered by those two idiots from the south. The possibly inbred farm boys, you know? Those racist ones? Also Elias… Fuck,” Kale said as he wiped blood and what appeared to be chunks of flesh off his shoulders.
Keely gagged and tossed Ator’s canteen to Kale as he poured it on his face. Keely was also happy that her brother was alive. Kale felt the same for her, but was internally screaming from what he had just endured and what he was covered in. Nikolai was grateful for the horse as he rested himself forward clutching the horse’s powerful neck instantly falling asleep. The horse gave a slightly annoyed, raspberry-sounding sigh.
Arn sighed and gently said to Audra, “It’s not your fault… You had that power in you, but things happen sometimes… Arcane magic is always a finicky, so every wizard has told me… I’m demoting you to corporal for the time being. Punishment will be twenty lashes from a bamboo rod plus demotion.”
“I see.”
“I’m sorry, but military law must persist… I’ll have to report all this, except for the attempted murder of that major, understood? I’m truly sorry.”
Everyone nodded.
He continued, “Sergeant Skivvy, the squad is yours now. I'm promoting you. Congrats First Sergeant.”
Skivvy nodded whilst holding Audra’s hand tenderly. All were surprised by Arn’s kindness towards them in this moment.
Arn concluded, “Also, to all of you… Listen up! You six are now reassigned out of the penal battalion. You are now being transferred to the capital for specialized training at the royal guardsmen grounds. You have proven your worth. I wished there were more of you here, but you have earned this.”
Everyone was stunned silent by this and the feeling of a hidden punishment resonated in everyone.
Arn finished flatly, “Corporal Audra. First Sergeant Skivvy… I’ll talk with you two privately over this.”
Arn stopped for a moment and turned around with a smirk. He asked, “Cursed Devils? That’s what he called y’all?”
“Yes sir,” Skivvy replied with confusion. “Are you saying that we are now an official squad that’s not meant to die?”
“Yes.”
Everyone stopped walking and looked at Arn in shock.
Arn cracked a thin smile and said, “That’s a good name to have. Especially for an elite squad. Live up to it. All of you.”
Audra found herself staring back into the green campfire as Skivvy was looking at her concerned. She sighed out, “Yeah… I still fear I’ll do it again… You?”
“I fear I’ll lose my cool too soon… I was this close to doing it to that asshole back then.”
“I appreciate you standing up against him… You only fear your anger and not death?”
“I’ve made my peace with death. I think after surviving one large battle, like LT has, you tend to no longer fear it.”
“So what do you fear?”
“I mostly fear that I’ll eventually reach my breaking point with others like I almost did back in Vorstock,” he said as he was adjusting his armored Bajka hat. He was trying his best to look collected together, but the residual anger boiled in him slightly turning him red for a moment. Audra got up and sat next to him. She rested her head on his right shoulder.
She said, “Skivs, you are very warm. And I won’t let you lose it.”
He smiled and his skin turned back to green.
Skivvy asked, “You think you can control your power just enough to incinerate those ape fucks if needed?”
“Definitely!”
