CWE Book II Part 6

V1

Lord Camlash

This column start off with twenty five thousand men and now I have only half of them here, and we have yet to fight a major battle except for the one at the river. Now I am wondering if this war is cursed from the start. But I have to finished off these Outsiders. I am now camping on a flat land of green looking at the nearby forest which they said is haunted. If its so, I hoped it the ghost of the Outsiders as I am tempted to kill those too. I have send out the scouts to seek out the position of Prime Leader Raihan and his status.

I looked back at the forest, and then at the helmet in my hand. It was found by some men of mine when they went hunting for food in the forest edge. It belong to the Column lost sometime back. Could it be they made it so far and was vanquished, or they retreated through here. My own men are shaken up by the river incident and I need them to be motivated again, so I let them rest. I have to as the wagon is not exactly comfortable to travel on; my haunches has got sores where I cannot reach at all.

Prime Leader Raihan

I dislike this war now, more so  when it comes to walking into dark forest. The men told me they found some bones on the trail and believe that this place is haunted. I came with twenty five thousand men, and now I am left with half of them. We been fighting ghosts and disasters instead of Outsiders. My scouts send out does not return nor do I know Lord Camlash position. My men needed some rest and I offered them that until I figured out Lord Camlash position or some signs from  the Gods.

Braven

Both armies at the forest edge and yet do not see the other. Now my men are here too with those of Damai. We just need is some time to set things up and soon we will fight and end this war. But as men of the enemies can rest, we have to work. And we did it so that we can then rest. Now I leave it to the ghosts to do their work. And ever hear of one who says the ghosts sometimes can be picky on who they choose as victim.

Damai

I wondered whether I will be as lucky so far to be alive. Some time last summer, I was in the city with my kids and laughing at some clowns. Today, I am in the forest laughing at the clown who hunts us. I salute you Braven, as your wide experiences taught us many things we never thought of. Its partly your traveling during the days as ambassador that allowed you to see the new strategies we put here.

But are you also planning on taking my wife back. If you are, I will fight you and kill you. Claudia has been my hope for years now, and you cannot take her away. Unless I am dead here. I told her before I left for this war, to marry you if she wants but only on the confirmation of my death.

Lord Camlash

My scout returned from their journey, the Praetorian army is over yonder in the other side of the forest. But he did not make contact with the Prime Leader as he was chased by some Outsiders. He rode back to tell me. I asked how does the strength of the Praetorian Army; he said huge about like us. My mistake was not to asked more details, as his ‘huge’ is based on my current size.

I instructed my men to break camp at dawn and marched into the forest; we will meet the Praetorian to merged force.

Prime Leader Raihan

I received a scout from Lord Camlash army; they are at the other edge and pursuing the Outsiders inside the forest. He told me that the Lord request for me to joined him and merged the forces. I asked why is this so, and his reply from the scout was they suffered some loss of strength from the attacks. I send the scout off with the message that we will see him in the forest at dawn tomorrow.

I got a column of two thousand marchmen and five hundred lancers to march double speed to assist the Lord. The rest of us will follow suit once we break camp and march on. The instruction to the relief column was not to be hampered by any ambush, just march on until you reach the Lord. Be careful of the Outsiders deceits. One officer asked if they are dressed by our army, should we retaliate.

My answer was yes. The Praetorian bows to no man, except their own officers.

Braven

At dawn, my men was inside the forest on the same trail as the previous incident; waiting and keeping our weapons ready. The column came is as scheduled; the lancers in the front and followed by the archers and then the marchmen. From the scouts report, the Lord traveled somewhere behind the lancers and he looked tired. This time the Misty Trail which they marched on was hard and solid from the dry weather, but the bushes are still as thick. The mist stayed on as this was named after it, but visibility has increased to a longer distance. I had the army harassed by sounds of animal calls and they are their edge in terms of their nerves. I has some of the men threw headless small animals into their part to mock their bravery. every time they send an advance guard to see the trail ahead, I had the ambushed and left for dead, but their armors and weapons are taken.

When I was sure of my harassment has raised their fear level, I took my action to fight them in open battle. I raised my arm and signaled the released of the fire bushes, to be rolled down on to the column. This was as seen before in the previous encounter; the marchmen tried to organized into formation of squares while the lancers rode on. I signaled the released of the arrows by the archers and blankets of arrows rained on the enemies. The lancers on seeing the arrows galloped off to hunt for the archers. As it was dark in the forest, no party can really make out the other from a distance for the mist included, not so when the forest are is still filled with flying arrows from all directions.

Further to the right of the lancers’ trail, was the Praetorian marching in and they were attacked by my men too dressed in the army amour and weapons. The brief skirmish was then broken off and the disguised men ran off in the direction of which the lancers will come by. As the forest is full of undergrowth and trees, some actually threw away their armors and choose to hide or climbed up some trees with pre-planned ropes ready. The agitated Praetorian who was charging ahead in the dark misty forest was looking to exact some vengeance on the army for their foolish acts.

Meanwhile more archers wearing the uniform of the Camlash army thus confusing the Praetorian’s, was also shooting at them with arrows from the safe distance of the hill slopes. These archers when seeing the oncoming lancers, they also slipped off into the dark forest. Unknown to the lancers, my archers was getting them into position to attack the Lord’s army from a vantage point. The leader of the lancer on seeing the Army marchmen, assumed that they are the Outsiders as they were charging towards the trail of the column of Praetorian; took action on his own accord. But my bowmen and disguised marchmen were whisked off to the top of the trees and a series of planned routes allowed them to escape the area. The marchmen of Camlash on seeing the attacking Lancers, immediately formed their squares and clash with the lancers.

When the Praetorian marchmen on arriving and seeing the attack of their lancers, they also assumed it was the Outsiders and attacked it. These was seen by the oncoming followup of the marchmen of Camlash who was following behind also crashed the party for a fight too. Soon both armies are in the midst of fighting themselves while the Outsiders withdrew to the sides.

It seems the ghost picked the right people to die this time. They left out mine, although some did get caught in the fight or joined in for the fun. But we lost not more than a hundred men that day.

Lord Camlash

‘Prime Leader Raihan, your men are fools. I will report to the Grand Lord on this matter.’ I looked at the old man who was to assist me ended up in making me lose another two thousand men, and more was wounded. It took us sometime to called off the fight as the emotions was high then. I think the Prime Leader lost over a thousand of his men as they were in the forefront formation when mine was charging head on.

‘Lord Camlash, I bid you farewell and may the Grand Lord decides.’ So ends our discussion and the withdrawal of his troops. I too withdrew mine and marched back to the city. The men are not in the mood to fight with anyone for now.

CWE Book II Part 5

V

Braven

The last few days was a series of madness as my past caught up with me. But today, I have to contend with an advancing army from two sides. I have my plans ready and a dozen messengers are ready to move. They have their orders to deliver to the different leaders in the forest. I pray my plan well like the last one, and then I prayed that we never had to do this again. I know its a foolish wish but one I still wished for so the next generation will not have to under go this trials.

The word is out, and we are bracing for war now. I have the boats ready to dispatched the women and children to sailed to the other settlements where they can be safe. Five thousand Yellow Beards came today with their arms to help. They said many more can come if they are needed. I thanked them all and said the war is fought with the help of nature, and the sweet smell of the hot burning wild hog was what we need now; eat before we fight. I told General Damai to stay here at the settlement but he insist on joining in.

By dawn the next day, the settlement was short of five thousand men who went to the East led by me and another five thousand to the South led by General Damai. They are a mixture of my men and Yellow Beards, all equip with the needed tools and weapons. I can hear the women crying as many may not return this time, while many prayed we will win.

The first contact was with the army led by Camlash himself coming towards us from the south. He was heading for the same trail that the previous Column took. This time we will meet them after they moved into the deep forest. They don’t know the forest like we do and how the nature can turn it into natural disasters. The men from Camlash are used to fighting in the plains and they seldom come this far north. Here the forest is dense and thick with undergrowth, and during the hot weather, its very dry and fires are easy to start, and they do. But the problem with fire when unattended can be very dangerous. Section of forest has burned down before as it will happen today.

The column never saw the danger until they saw the smoke. Initially they thought it was our campsite so the scouts went out. These were taken care of with arrows so the column keep on marching on towards the smoke. Soon the dense smoke became too hot to handle they became confused and tried to retreat but by then we had created columns of fire everywhere, including their flanks. My men knew where to set these fire and how the winds will carry it to the army. Their experience in the forest fires handling so they know how to move in the correct directions. Then panic steps in and the column starts to move in different directions, with officers trying to control their men and also save their own life. We waited our opportunity to strike when the fire dies down. We took on the small detachments and wiped them out. For the bigger detachments, we took our archers to harass them and soon get them to retreat as we keep them on their legs. But I cannot find the Lord’s guards. Maybe he did not come in with the column. Or he is dead. Nevertheless we slowly dwindle their numbers and hopefully their morale too.

Lord Camlash

We were led in like lambs to the slaughter. If its not for my bad health, I would had been in the fire burned crisp by now. I had to stayed back with a detachment for my health to recover, and that saved me. I got the officers to regroup their men and reported back to me. We lost about five hundred men in the fire, but our wounded was about two thousand with wounds and burns. I had the chief scout executed and some senior officers who was in the front. They are gallant to saved their men, but foolish in moving them ahead without considering the danger. How can they tell me they mistaken the smoke for mist in these conditions.

In view of the attack, I decide to split the column into three detachments, with one going in after the other; with a gap of half a day in between. That is if one is trouble the others can still rush to assist in time. I let the lancers be with me for safety numbers and also the supply wagons. We are the last detachment to move forth. I saw the rumbling that was coming, so I had examples made on some men for their treason thoughts. We moved in again and I want to have a good fight, not some hidden ones.

Prime Leader Raihan

Whose idea was it to march through these lands by the east must be mad. This section of the land are marshes lands, soft on the wagon wheels and even horses; they had to be led by their handlers. I have dismounted and walked with my Seniors and guards. Its bad for my men as the amour they had also curtailed their movements. But its not so much the land which we had to endure, its the inhabitants; there are small insects which takes on our flesh, and snakes which roused from their holes can be nasty with their bites. In addition to it, i had to contend with mud pits which sink the wagons or men like a water well. I prayed we survive this march soon, as my column progress was slower than planned. I can sense the men wished for the solid ground soon.

It was then, we were harassed by the enemy who appeared out of the land or behind some trees. They target my officers and the seniors. They seemed to do good work as for every of them we took down, we lost five of ours. At this rate, I may soon lose all the officers in the column. I refused to send out my scouts as the ones which I did earlier did not come back at all. As we thought we were doing fine, I saw pots of oil thrown down by the dozens from the top of the trees; they were released by ropes attached to these makeshift platforms. When these oils hit the marsh water surface, more fire arrows was seen to land on it, lighting up the marshland. It was disastrous as the men tried to get clear of the spreading fire, but its soon engulf many of my men. This is not the kind of battle which we are used to fighting for. This is murder of the mass.

I called for the column to spread out and tried to circumvent the fire areas, but more were created and mayhem was on us when the horses trampled their way out. It also brought in the panic among the men, now with less officers. I called for them to move on and do recover as much as they can. It took us a whole day to regroup later at a point further up where the some pocket of solid lands can be found. There the officers rallied the men and soon order was in place. My loss was great; two thousand died that day, with another thousand wounded or missing. I cursed the Gods and the enemies who does this battle.

Lord Camlash

The land was harvested as expected. But we have reach them, and the war can start soon. I asked for the main camp to be set here with sentries posted around the valley and also on the hillside. Its a beautiful piece of land, with the high hills on both sides, with series of streams flowing into the valley. I may built my northern retreat here with the fresh air and cool breeze. Once the camp was set, I had the officers meet me in the main tent to strategize our next moves. From my estimation, with one week of marching we should be in very deep inland here now. Such a pity the maps which we had are not well charted on the land here. We came across rivers when there was none shown on the map and ravines when we expected rivers. Just as now, we expected peace and quiet for the discussion, the ground starts to rumbled and cup-lets of wine was shaking. Are the Gods unhappy with us or are we dreaming?

The water which hit was like a fierce rain storm except this one swept away the camp and the men. I was in the main tent when it hit us; I was swept along with my push cart. I managed to grab hold of a large tree branch and climbed up. The large tree held its ground over the water flow, while my years of building up my hand limbs saved me. I saw before me, wet fields with men and tents everywhere. I focused my stare to the hillside to see part of it was broken with the water now slowly flowing through. I be damned; I was hit by a dam of water; the same which are build and seen in my land. Why did I not think of it before in a war. No this is not war against the Outsiders; its against the Gods.

Prime Leader Raihan

We are out the marshlands now, and on solid ground of green pastures and rolling hills. As we moved up the trail, I can see the seas on my left; a picture worth a manuscript of words. But my main concern is supply of food. The trip across the marchland caused many fo my wagons to be lost and food was swept away or contaminated. The men are on half or quarter ration now, but they are not fighting among themselves yet. I lost half my experience officers, so I had to promote some new ones, but they are not familiar with the way of leadership. This war is becoming more disastrous than before. We are the forefront of any war with the Outsiders before, but its the army who do most of the fighting while we guard their flanks. We rarely ventured out to fight unless its a battlefield, but battlefields are large areas with army massed on both sides. This is not battlefield fighting, its skirmishes with hidden enemies and nature assisted disaster.

The first night was without any harassment, but the next morning we were treated to a sight which we did not believe. There on the horizon was the Outsiders with their colors and they stand firm without any sound. I cannot believed the sentries are doing their works as I had double of them out there. The alarm was raised and the men roused from their sleep. Formations was called on and they formed squares to faced the enemy, while my lancers lined up with their horses to gallop on my command. Just as they appeared, the line of Outsiders on the horizon was gone. Not one was standing up there.

I signaled the lancer Chief to see me.

‘Send in a detachment of 200 lancers up there and there, all three directions at once.’ He did as per instruction, and the men rode off. I can see the lancers in formation of a single file rode off in the three directions; a total of 600 men on horses. They all reached the top of the hill and then over the hill. Total silence except for the wind and the sounds of impatience men. Wanting to fight. We heard some rumbling noises and then there was silence. Then we saw one lancer galloping down in a hurry. He reached the main tent where the senior officers were.

‘They are all dead, killed by the Outsiders. They hid under the grass until we were among them, and then they took us with their pikes. Some of us tried to escape, but the bowmen took them all. Its a massacre.’

I signaled for a detachment of one thousand men to march ahead with another three thousand men with some five hundred archers each; at five hundred paces behind them. A total of twelve thousand men was on the hills was marching up. The rest of the men was formed as a square around the main tent. The reports came back; they found the lancers all dead but no Outsiders was found. They seemed to have retreated into the nearby forest or hills. They also found a number of dugouts which was covered by grass held together by planks or branches.

I lost over half my lancers, and one hundred marchmen in this hills. I am getting veery upset with this war. I told my officers to split the column into two; and we will march parallel to meet the Outsiders. The column with me consist of half the marchmen fighting fit of eight thousand marchmen and one thousand archers. The same numbers along with remaining lancers the will march under my Senior Praetorian Julius, while the remainder consist of wounded and maimed will stay here to wait for our return. They will have adequate guards from the men not marching on.

We marched north now to meet the Outsiders.

Lord Camlash

I lost over three thousand men and supplies in the flood. I lost my own push cart, and now I am sitting on a wagon modified for me to sit on. That is humiliating for me, to be seen by the men in this manner, but the war goes on.

I resumed my march with the men in three columns. The first column will consist of four thousand marchmen and five hundred archers under the command of General Issac, and the middle column now under me, with eight thousand marchmen, and one thousand lancers, while the rear will be the balance of three thousand marchmen and eight hundred lancers under General Dune. The rest are the wounded will remain in the valley to recover and will be picked up on the way back. And I prayed hard we come back this way. Each column is half a day behind at marching speed.

General Dumai

We rode hard on the borrowed mounts of the lancers, some riding double for the seaside. When we had routed the lancers, we took their mounts to ride in a circular detour to avoid the marching columns. Our target was the camp where the wounded are resting. We are not doing mass murder, but we intend to capture that camp.

It was dark when we silenced the sentries and rouse up the wounded, although we were outnumbered four to one, we had the upper hand in control. I had the stripped of their amour and weapons, but we left them with the supply. Now we had one hundred mean dressed in the amour and soon rode off to joined the marching column. I left some of my people to guard them from the hillside as its easier to control them from that distance.

The one hundred men with their disguise riding hard soon caught up with the column under General Julius, newly appointed from Senior Praetorian. He is unused to the new men under him, as he is from the lancers, but he will do as requested. The one hundred men of mine slowly merged in by single or smaller numbers during the march or at camp. They tried to get close to the supply wagon and officers. When asked who are they, they just come up with statement of some other detachments and now absorbed in to this new unit. As this is common in the war, no one took notice of them.

I had ridden on to the next stage; where we had planned another surprise for them. On their trail, is a high range with many animals track to followed. But some are steep and dangerous, while some are led to dead ends. After all, the adept animals at his are mountain goats and they can leap far. From my vantage point I can see the column halting before the range. As planned volunteers will be send out to identified the trails that can be taken; its a dangerous work and only fools or spies like mine will do so. After all my spies are from this area and they k now the range well. Any unknown volunteers was removed or died in the trails due to careless stepping. This caused concern to the officers who decided to confer more on the issue. This was explained by my men, that they found trails of various lengths and can be traverse. So the column was broken into smaller detachments and send across it. Each detachment can be fifty or hundred strong and they moved in batches.

By the third day, only half the men climbed the trails and some of them did not make it. Some of the detachment find themselves trapped on the range with a dead end and missing guide. They either reversed their tracks and find alternative. But many actually got hit by loose boulders and ambush by the Outsiders. It was then General Julius was told that there is a trail not far from where they are which they can cross easily, found by the scouts. He called off the climbing and took the route, but he lost over a thousand men this three days. And a hundred missing volunteers.

But the other column found no such obstacle as they can cross over through the range with ease on a well tracked trail used by others. Its just that this trail runs along a deep ravine with steep walls of stone on both side.. Its big enough for a column of four men abreast to travel, but its tight. Prime Leader Raihan was wise to the tactics now, so he asked the column to be broken into of detachment of two hundred each. Each detachment will march through with the other to follow through some time later. Its slow but its safer and this time scouts are send over first. They came back to said the trail will take about a quarter day to clear by marching speed. So be it, I send off the detachment in sequence. The first two thousand went in and through, with another eight hundred inside the ravine, when it happened.

The eight hundred was trapped by the falling boulders while both entrance was also blocked.The ones at the other end was faced with a force twice their numbers and defeated in time. It took the Prime Leader a day to clear the boulder to free his men and reached the other side. This time he was allowed through with no more attacks but he lost time and men.

I looked at my odds and smiled; a total of over four thousand men taken of. Raihan will have a tough fight ahead.

Braven

I had let nature take on the enemy, now its my turn to do so. We planned it at the river crossing. At this time of the year as the snow capped mountains melt their ice, the rivers become torrents of strong currents. There are few long wooden bridges which you can crossed over, and we led them to one. It was the constant harassment which we placed on the forward column to follow us. Soon we had them at where we want them to be.

The first column went through untouched by any of my men. Once they cleared the long bridge, we got them to move more inland. I saw Lord Camlash in the second column, following suit in a hurry to catch my men who are harassing the first column. It was soon dark and his rear column has yet to catch up. So no we have two columns across the river and one before it. All we need not is to remove the bridge but we decided to do it when they are on the bridge.

As soon as dawn, my men was at their position by the bridge with the working bulls and cows on the leash to the lashing on the pillars for the bridge. Due to the on-crossing of both columns, the bridge itself is undergoing a lot of stress on its structure. On my signal the bridge pillars were pulled out of their foundations, partially loosen by my men earlier.

The bridge with its occupants of two hundred lancers and one general was swept into the currents. Horses and men were seen struggling in the river, but the lucky ones are the ones who was on the side of the riverbanks. The remaining column on the rear saw the commotion rushed forward to assist the fallen lancers.

It was then my full force of five thousand warriors charged at them. We got them by surprise and they did not have any capable officers to lead them. It was an intense fight between both sides who is tired from the marching and running but we outnumbered them five to three. It was over in a short time, and we took their colors. We lost over a thousand men with as many wounded, but we won the battle.  We stood there to mock the other column who tried to help their friends, but the river prevent them from crossing. Just as we appeared, we disappear back into the tree lines.

Soon we will meet each other on a close combat.

CWE Book II Part 4

IV

Braven

You cannot hide that many men in an army on the march. I hear that Lord Camlash marched north with his twenty five thousand men, including four thousand lancers and archers from the North. Prime Leader Raihan marched from North East, another twenty thousand marchmen and two thousand archers, plus three thousand lancers. They are all headed for my forest and beyond. I do not and would not commit my army to fight them in such big numbers, as these are trained men in the art of open warfare.

I need to break their form into manageable sizes. I looked at their possible trails and they intend to meet in this area called the Jacob’s Fork, after the man who found this place which he built his own station to supply those who travel east or south from there. Why its called Jacob’s Fork as he also does carry one large pitchfork to intimidate any unpaying customers. From Jacob’s Fork they can march towards my camp with strength. I must stopped them before they can merged. I checked the settlements in their path and make sure these are evacuated to safer grounds and their farm lands razed to the ground. I am creating a famine trail in this part of the country. Its not that bad as we just harvest what we need and stored them in hidden cache. Next I looked at the terrain which they will be moving through. There is the Misty Trail but with such a force, its difficult to target them as we did with the last column. I looked back at the map and smiled. We will let the nature take care of them. After all we do lived in the forest fed by nature and its families of natural disaster.

But today, I see an old friend come riding in with his small entourage. General Damai, ex-officer of Camlash rides in with a handful of his men who helped him escape his death punishment. He brought with him his wife and family. A familiar face to me, and one which I wished not to see ever again. Its Claudia and she brought her sons from Damai. The entourage also brought in some visitors not known until Darius came forth to embrace his ‘mother’. Damai told me that she is Domo’s daughter and she is our friend.

But what surprised me more was later.

‘Give this to him. It belongs to your father.’ The amulet I gave to Claudia and now Domo’s daughter has it. She gave it to Darius to pass to me.

Jeane

I see the confused look in Darius and I am beginning to missed him now. He was my son for fifteen years until he went missing to look for his own destiny. Unknown to him, I recognised Genus when he came to the cottage. But I did not reveal it to them, for they are not ready to know.

I lost my babies to the madman, who was my Lord. I did not love him but on the insistent plea of my father I became his lover and soon one of his mistress. I soon give birth to the twins which I never saw. My father told me that he has given them to the Lord. He also said one died at birth, and so this is the replacement. That baby was Darius; I was very upset at this baby and wanted my own.  If it was not the cry from Darius for my milk, I would had killed him then. I fought by my Lord at his side in many battles and this is how he repay me. But I console myself with the thought that my father lied to me, and gave me one of the twins. But some years later, he told me the story again and produced an amulet which he said belonged the kid and for the kid to find his own parents. Their name is Genus and Claudia. From that day, I prayed nightly to the Gods to deliver my son when he is ready to me, or let me go with him if he is dead. But I have not seen my prayers answered yet. But Darius’s one was answered.

I now hand to the father his kid whom I brought up. I also brought his mother whom the father himself has not seen for years. I knew her well as she was with me when I was carrying the twins. I lost touch with her when I was send to Red Hill in my advanced months of the children. And a few days ago, we met again, and we are all here now. But I am still without my children. I hope their father will tell me where they are and what happened to them since then.

Claudia

How do you tell a man who is half your age that he is your son. I was in love with Genus then, and we had the nights as lovers do. Genus was the Praetorian send to the city as the Prime Leader’s representative; and we met often in the hall or the corridors. What was soon to developed into a relationship even though we know its forbidden for Praetorian to join the Lords’s families.

On that night we parted, I told my father of my relationship with Genus and he was furious, more so when I told him I am with his child. He ordered me to my chambers and it was Domo who rescue me and took me to see Genus at the cottage. We promised to meet again later, as he was also given a task that day by his Prime Leader. He reluctantly left and I went back to my father. But he never came back.

After I gave birth, my son was taken away on the order of my father to be executed. It was taken by Domo, and I have not seen him till today. I did confront Domo on the baby when I recovered,and he told the baby died in his hands and was buried in the forest. I gave him the amulet and it was to buried with the baby.

Today, I see my son again. My first son with another man, whom I used to love. Now I loved another; the father of my twins. I do not know who to reconcile these loves now.

Braven

I am seeing my son, the one I thought died many years ago. He is none other than Darius, and we have been together for over three years without knowing. I did think of him as my adopted son but not expecting him to be mine.

I looked at Claudia which I thought also died then, but now she stand before holding her husband hand. I cannot consider her as my wife as we never wed. I was only her lover and father to her first born. I remember that night well. We met but I was in a hurry to do another deed for my leader. I gave her the amulet so that she can give to the child. I was to come back, but I did not as I could not.

It all begin after I left her.

The men I gathered was outside, all six of us to ride to meet a group of our own. We did catch up with them at the roads and we join them to ride together as all Praetorian do always. I rode up to the front to speak to their leader. It was the old Prime Leader then and he was riding back to his retreat with the nine guards of his. I knew the route, the guards and the ones which were loyal to him. It was near the ridge where we planned it all, I stabbed him and pushed him off his horse. I then got off to finish the job correctly but I did not see the sword that cut my hand. The leader was still alive and his next thrust with the dagger took my eye. I cried out in pain and stepped on his wound, and he howled out in pain. I pulled out his own dagger from my eye and stabbed him again in the heart with my left hand. Then I sat by the side while my men threw his body and the dead horse over the ridge. Three of his men was still alive, as they were bought by my leader to do this. They were to ride on and report that they were set on by bandits.

Meantime, as I was wounded badly, I was send off to the border to recover in one of the outpost. My recuperation took six months and a promotion to Senior Praetorian. But before I could ride back,l was assigned to another border down South to administer some matters. It was not for another year before  I can return to see my love. I was met by Domo’s assistant with all the news that we hear partly today. I would had confronted Domo but if not for the intervention of my Prime Leader Raihan to join him at the border camp.  From there it was another ten years before I got myself promoted to join Romus as special ambassador again. It was from there, I traveled far and only stepped back after fifteen years to be posted to Lord Camlash city again.

But I saw no one I can love like Claudia.

Darius

I see the man and woman who is said to be my parents, and yet I feel nothing for them. I have longed for the day I will see my parents, and when I did now, I am lost. I knew Braven or Genus was like a father to me but it was not what drew me to search him. He was the first army officer who came to our cottage and the life of one intrigue me, so I search him out. There were others but they are mostly hunters and woodcutters, and even the occasional trader.

Now that I have spent over three years in the army, I still find it my liking as the discipline and also the experiences. True, I have improved my skills in archery and close combat, but it came with hard training and determination. I do not want to die in the battle due to my lack of skills. I was scared silly during the battle with the Yellow Beard, and eventually I find my own footing as messenger, my confidence returned then.

And of course the comfort that Lydia provides me helped my life here. She is more than a mother to me, besides the training, she is also a friend and a fine story teller. She told me of her voyages and of her people; how they survived the seas and the land. I love the adventure she tells me.

Maybe its the life of adventure that I like. Like my real father who spend all his life as a Praetorian and now leader. I am rightfully his son in every way.

As for my mother, well, it may take me time to know her, as I had so many mothers now and before. So will I need time to know my other brothers.

General Damai

It was not a reunion of love, but of confusion and fear. I am one of them as I held onto my kids to see their mother talking to her previous lover. I wanted to ask her if she still remember her family here, or the one which just became united. I looked at the man who was a Pretorian and now he is Braven the Leader.

Is he the same man I knew when we fought three years ago? Or he has changed and started killing his own now.

Just as myself now, do I wield the sword to kill my own or shall I sit here and wait for the final outcome. There is an army out there coming towards here with nearly fifty thousand men, and they were my friends before. Now they are my enemies and they will kill me. But can I kill my enemy who was my friend before? Just like can I kill The Praetorian Genus who was once my enemy and then friend. I thought of it long and then decided that the Praetorian died three years ago. So did my enemy turned friend. Just as some days ago, all my old friends died and today I may have some enemies to fight with. Whatever it is, I fight to protect my family including my wife who is talking to her long lost friend.

Domo

I prayed hard I made the right choice. I waved as I see my daughter go away to her new life, and new hope. I convinced the guards to release Damai, make it looked careless so that none can be blamed. But I have to doubly sure so I had them killed later before they can changed their minds. Now I am writing the message to my secret lord of my works. I prayed he sees my way too. If not, I have betrayed both Lords. These are not the only betrayals I have done, as countless others on both Lords. I did it for myself and only myself for I also wished one day I can manipulate these events like the Lords. I may died one day but I hold their secrets with me, which I am undecided to carry with me or reveal to whom it may care. It may bring in more chaos or order, I know not of.

But peace is what the mind needs, and peace is what we can hoped for at times. Peace in the mind is a matter of perception, for we can choose to ignore the concerns until it happens. I hope I gave that peace to these new generations when I betray my Lords.

CWE Book II Part 3

111

Braven

I got my reports that the young master is touring the border, with a small protection guards led by the General Damai himself. The General is not a silly person, he has posted in extra troops three thousand troops at the outpost to be visited by the master along on the route in case he needs any help. He leapfrogged his troops between the outpost to ensure they are never fall or too far in front. He also kept the personal guards for the master personal security of two hundred and fifty marchmen armed with short swords and round shields, and another twenty lancers, while has another thousand men marching behind him with a days delay for reinforcement. He kept armies in this exercise for their amour to be light weight as they are expected to be moving on double march speed while their masters ride their horses. Its a bargain as on their safety against mobility, so they chose the later. This way the column would not be split up due to weighted down heavy amour, moreover this young master is very impatience with his time and schedule. Every camping site of the young master is guarded by another five hundred who will arrive one day before.

Its a well planned trip for the young master. I salute you, General Damai. But the exploits of the young master has leaked from the city to the country. And in this country there is a lot of people who has got their motives to kill him. There is one General who will like to do the job as his son was one of the few kept as hostages by the Lord Camlash and killed by the young master as a target practice.

‘General Andrei, I am saddened if you leave me, but I understand your needs. I can provide you a thousand of my men to help you...’ I looked at the aged general whose Lord Nicholas was defeated in an assassination bid by Lord Camlash, and the last heir offered to surrender without a fight. General Andrei and his men of over  a hundred officers and warriors rode off to see me and became one of my valued officers to the Outsiders. Since then, his contribution out gain his worth here, but his desire to avenge his Lord and the people cannot be denied.

‘I want my own men back, all hundred to go with me. I will planned the ambush and if I don’t return, please take care of my survivors.’ He left that day with his men dressed back in their own amour and carrying their own colors.

General Damai

The next schedule stop is across the river to reach the village of Maim, but when we reached there, the ferry crossing was damaged by some bandits. I sensed dangers and advised that we wait till  the ferry is repaired before crossing. The repair is expected to take over three days, as the water current was fast, and high. But the young master was impatient to move on, and on advise by the ferrymen, he was told of a crossing by bridge some distance upriver. But it will take a quarter day of riding to reach there. Across the bridge is a smaller village that they can take a break. Before I can advise caution, the young master has called for the personal guards to march to the bridge. I send out words to the column behind me to catch up as soon as possible and also send other scouts to ride to the bridge. I rode out with a heavy heart on what to expect on this crossing.

We soon reached the bridge, and I noticed that the sky was getting dark. I told the some of the guards to hurry across and set up the camp in the nearby village. We managed to reach the small village at dusk but there was only a few people there; old men and ladies. I then told the guards to make main camp outside the village near the bridge and posted sentries at the bridge and also at the road to the village.

Nothing happened that night.

It only began at dawn.

First was the sentries at the bridge. They were overcome by the enemies, who moved in during the early morning. Once the bridge was under their control, they destroyed it by removing the lashings and pillars. They numbered about fifty of them, and before I can ordered a defence, the young master was seen running to the village with some of his guard. I instructed the fifty guards to hold the flank against the enemies from the bridge. I followed suit with the remaining guards tom meet the young master and his men. When we entered the village, it was empty of any living inhabitants, and then I knew the trap was here. I signaled for all the guards to retreat back into the camp area but the young master has got himself inside one of the hut.

Immediately, I assigned fifty men to guard him in and around the hut. The remaining hundred and fifty of us made our way forward, looking to search each hut by hut as we pass by. We did not see the arrows coming until most fo us was in the center of the village. The first volley took down forty of the guards, including the lancers who are lightly armored for more mobility and ease of traveling. The second volley took on another twenty guards before I saw them charging at us. I counted no less than fifty men, but they are heavily armed with pikes and spears in addition to their swords.

One thing about a fight when faced with a person who is already consider themselves as deadman, your odds are they fight as if they are double of them and with no regard for life anymore. These men who came at us was just like those; crazed men. They thrust their pikes or swing it like axes at the guards. Some who shaken by the death of their earlier friends were soon to join them. I find myself withdrawing further towards the hut where the young master is hiding. I swung my sword at one attacker to see him deflect my blow and returning with a thrust of his pike. I barely moved to the side, to see another about to cut me down with the broadsword. I threw my round shield to block  the broadsword. But that block took me off balance to fall backwards, and I thought it will the end of my career then, if not for the arrow which took the attacker in the right eye. I looked back to see Dina with her bow, as she strung another arrow. I got up and shouted for my men to regroup back at the hut to protect the master.

The enemy also regrouped their own numbers which is down now to twenty but I still only had is a hundred guard. We hold the numbers but they hold the edge with their determination to die and they have bows and arrows. Soon I find the men at the bridge has joined us but they are of the enemies, numbering five more. Its a stand off with twenty five heavily men against a hundred guards and one young master. I could see the odds are for us, but I did not foresee the man who came to the fore speak to me.

‘General Damai, its me, General Andrei; we met at Red Hill a few years back.’ I remembered him well. He is the man who gave me the respite to allow the reinforcement to arrive.

‘I remember you well, General Andrei, late of the Lord Nictin’s army.’ He looks old and worn like me, poor soldiers fighting a war for another man’s.

‘Late of Lord Nicholas, removed by your Lord. I come to ask your favor. Release me your master, to one to one man combat. If I lose, he goes free.’

‘I agreed.’ The young fool spoke before I could reply.

Conal

It was agreed to fight one to one basis, with only one weapon and not amour. I love this fight, although it will be my first in combat. I looked at the old man who faced me now holding his broadsword, while I hold my own broadsword. We circled each other and tested each other skill with some feint attacks. I am confident I can take him, as he looked tired. So be it.

I took a right swing at him, which he cleverly deflected, and I swung my sword to do a downwards cut. He stepped back and swung his sword toward me from  the left, which I managed to evade but the sword took a cut on my right forearm. Its my first wound in a battle and I am enraged as it was done by an old man.

I did a frontal thrust at him which he side stepped and swung his sword handle on my wrist hand. It may have broken it as I dropped my sword. His elbow was on my jaw and I felled backwards. I looked up to see him standing before me with his upraised sword but the cut never came.

Dina

The master is in danger and I cannot allowed it. I let the arrow finds it mark in the older man, and saved my master. General Damai on seeing the intervention immediately ordered a charge on the remaining enemies. I moved forward to grab my master and drag him to safety. He was still shaken but he held onto the wall of the hut for support. The fight was going on between the two armies and I stood my ground to shoot at anyone who dares to come near.

The fight was short and bloody as more men died for the master. In the end, there was only thirty of ours left standing. General Damai was one of them but he has a wound on his left shoulder, but he is still able to stand up.

‘Kill them all. None of them shall lived to tell this tale.’ That was my master’s instruction, and then he sat down on the steps to the hut. I held him in my arms and let him rest.

Lord Camlash

I swore none shall live to attempt this on my son. Lord Nicholas’s hostages were all put to death today. My son lies in his chamber with his personal physician to look over him. I am upset at the failure of General Damai to put my son’s safety at risk. He is now in the dungeons alongside with the other officers. The surviving men of the attack was all taken care of last night by my men, with poisoned drinks and food. They will never talk of this tale.

‘Domo, execute General Damai. I do not want to see him again. And also tell my guest from Giantus, that the mistress reject their proposal.’

Grand Lord

I am a very happy man that day, the proposal of Granus was rejected and Conal almost killed. This is cause for celebration. I was concerned that if the proposal was approved, then Giantus may turned on me with Camlash. Its the intervention of the Gods which made this two events clashed. Now I await the arrival of the Prime Leader.

‘Romus, I hoped you bear me good news. My son is out there. I need to know his status.’ I looked at the man who is now pulling the chair to seat himself.

‘I have none. I do not know what happened to the column. I also lost a Senior whom I looked at like my son. I would like to request for permission to send another Column in and take on the whole forest if need be.’

‘No, Romus. I am in grief too. But we cannot played to the same tune. We must called in our own tune. Send a message to Lord Camlash; tell him to expand his border. He would now as his son’s attempt was by the Outsiders. Let out word that the attempt was done by the Outsiders whom the Nicholas general was attached to. Tell them he was their spy since the days of Nictin. Blow up the story and let Camlash has a free hand to expand his border, instead of mining on no-man’s land, make it his. That will bring out the Outsiders. After they meet, we will come in as their foes.’

‘Yes, my Lord.’

‘ And send in the Praetorian under Raihan.’

‘My Praetorians?’ The Prime Leader was not amused at that. I know he will protest.

‘If Camlash see your Praetorian involved, he will be more convinced. And when he wins, you can grab part of his conquered land too. After all you are concerned on Raihan’s influence, then maybe one of your three Seniors can assist him in the war, as you know in war; lives can be lost by a well placed  arrow.’

Prime Leader Romus

You planned your moves well, Micha, but you forget something. I can plan better than you. I have planned Raihan’s early retirement even before you did.  Raihan will ride against the Outsiders as its already been approved by the Prime Leaders, as vengeance for our lost Column.

Now that you added in Camlash then we are stronger and will accomplished more than you know. As said before, alliance is on the flip of the coin. But sometimes the coin has the same face on both side. And your face; Micha, is missing.

Lancelot; the Darker version...coming soon to this blog.

On the way up, Lancelot could not helped himself as he slapped at her heavy bottom. She just jest on his slaps, and soon when they were in the room; she just came onto him. He pushed her off and on his irritation, he slapped her to deter her amorous advances. She smiled and came on for more. He slapped her more and she seem to take it in its strides.

"Why are you enjoying that? Are you not hurt by it?" Lancelot asked her. Wendy laughed at him, as she walked towards the bedding. She pulled off her frock and he saw the marks on her back. There are lashes welt marks on her back.

"Honey, I seen your kind all before." Wendy sat down on the bedding and pulled off her hose. "They come in here angry or frustrated; they took it on me. I took it all; lashes, whipping, or even the rear mount as long as they pay me well for my effort."

"You have the coins?" Wendy smiled at him as she fondled her teats. "They are worth their weight in coins."

Wow! I have not stopped writing since I embark on this 'Merlin-aire' tale, but its so absorbing that I just find myself clicking on the keyboard.

Why?

Maybe its the version I am putting forth. Its not your usual textbook version, or the one you read at the public library. Its a dark, erotic, love binded and evil exploring version. It tears at the soul of the characters I am writing on; Lancelot, Guinevere, Arthur, Morgana and the ever elusive Merlin ( small part he played but strategic ).

As I was gtelling the tale, I find myself indulging into the dark side ( No, Vader is dead, so you can forget him. It may had been Jennifer Garner in her red suit looming over me perhaps ) and I am about 2/3 on the tale.

So why am I telling you?

I am hit by a conscience in my mind. Should I continue as this tale is too dark to be told, or should be as its explores the inner feelings of the character. teh part we never get to read in the other books; what did happened after it gets dark, or do I dare to peek behind the curtains, or strained my eyeball to see into the hidden creek etc. The kind of work that a gossip columnist would do but that is telling the untold tale. In the end, I decided....que sera sera....

Why Lancelot, some one asked of me? That was before I told the person to stop reading over my shoulder. Its eerie when you are doing such a tale.

I don't know either, but  I was driven to tell his story with Guinevere..... the illicit love affair, the surrending of her virtue to a madmen ( no, he is not Lancelot. ) and the conflict with her other lover. All driven by the word; lust..... forbidden lust. Hey, this was like ten centuries ago, sexual liberation have not mateialise yet....although they did not had to burn any bra for it. They could had burned their girdle but that would be too expensive to replace then. Its not like there is a Departmental Store in every neighborhood.

So its about sex, huh?

No, its not. If it was, I would be posting in the porn sites, and get splattered for my effort. Its descriptive but with the context of exploring their feelings and pain too. Yes, that is the hidden ingredient there.

Ouch! Okay, I won't reveal it yet. Let me complete the tale soon. But I give you another preview. Just don't shoot up a cinema for the premiere, please.

" Arthur broke out in tears, but Morgana rushed over to console him. She held him in her arms with head at her bosom like when it was last night. He came barging in and screamed that she does not love him. Morgana was then about to retire to her bedding dressed in her slinky night dress. She walked up to her half brother who was still drunk and consoled him as siblings do. She held onto him as he complained of his lover and Queen. She kept on rubbing his back and then his head while soothing his anger. She could find that he had grown since she last held him when he was said to be Utter bastard son and then heir to the throne. She find herself now holding the one person she truly desired; the King himself. Not in person but in name. If he is the King, then I am the Queen. The night before was a whirlwind of feelings and soon she find him laying next to her asleep unaware of what he had done. Till now at this hour of the morning, Arthur finds it easier to run out without a word, leaving his half sister standing there smiling.

"You may run, my King but I have you in me now." Morgana speaks out as she place her hand on her womb.  "

CWE Book II Part 2

11

Braven

The report was accurate to tell me that they are on the march in my forest; a column of ten thousand marchmen and one thousand lancers alongside the supply wagons, and a personal company of one thousand Praetorian guards commanded by two officers; a young one and an older one. The young one looks like he is learning the tactics, and the older one known to me by name. He is Senior Praetorian Silva, the personal preference of the Prime Leader Romus himself.  He is like a son to the Prime Leader; groomed to takeover the position one day. I know not of the young one, probably a new officer raised from the rank. Or a favored one of Silva.

The trail the invading army will take them to my settlement soon enough if I do not stopped it. I have many men with me; a total of thirty thousand well trained men in five different settlement spread out across the borders, to avoid being detected. I have another ten thousand in the forest manning outposts and strategic positions. In the south I have another twenty thousand also spread out over five settlements and they are also in position to fight when called on. To the west are another twenty thousands with more in the inland country as citizens of the cities. And many more in the different cities and armies, as spies and informers.

It has been a long three years of planning and sorting out alliances with the other Outsiders; whose cause is similar to mine but we were not in coordination. I did what the 35^th Braven failed to accomplish in his service; I managed to consolidate the Outsiders from all the borders to one main clan. The earlier Braven may had sat the pace for me, but I shall finished the race. I also have the pledge by the Yellow Beard to support with twenty thousand men if the need to call on them. Its not the numbers that count, its the strength of the allies, and mine has been trained like the Praetorian finest, and we are ready to fight now.

I sat down to planned my attack on this invading troops. They must be taught a lesson and never return here. I looked at their movements and decided on the place to hit them and hard. It will be called the end of the road for them at the Dark Misty Trail; a place with many tall trees and heavy bushes surrounded with heavy mist in winter time. The trail runs for nearly a day’s ride and no travelers familiar with it will ever stopped to rest on that trail. Its rumor to be haunted and wolves roams it nightly. Despite stories and myths, I had my men posted there soon and we waited for the ghosts to arrive.

Mathise

I am honored to be here with this men and my adviser cum commander Silva, who allowed me to plan the invasion. We have been traveling through the forest and discovered many outposts that are conceal from the travelers, well camouflaged in the forest; blending in with the natural surroundings. Unlike our outpost which are wooden structure with a ditch around it, these outposts are build to blend in with the surrounding scene. Some of them are dugouts along the hill sides with the trees offering them shelter, or wooden ramparts to blend in between tree trunks and heavy foliage covered it from prying eyes. Even my scouts will missed it if they do not stop to see carefully. Whoever teach them are very good.

But we encountered no main enemies yet; not one to challenged us. I know they are out there as my scouts seen them like shadows in the forest. To satisfy my curiosity, I send more of these scouts in all directions and they still come back to tell me they find nothing in the forest. There are some of my scouts who did not return, so I send out three more to find them. If I lose those three, I send another five if needed. But there was never a need to do the last as the second batch would had returned with no results. Silva dismissed my concerns to overstretched the scouts and concentrate on the column. I tried to argue my concerns, but he just change the subject.

Soon I find myself reading the terrains as which we marched through and studied the each outpost design which we stumbled on. I begin to see the Outsiders more than wild rebels but as formidable foe yet to be encountered in any of my previous discussions. From my studies with the tutors, I have studied with the best and the books and writings of past battles. The epics of many previous battles unfold in my mind but none can match the feeling I have right now. From what I read, there are many of us like open warfare and stealth or hidden fights, or plainly put as ambushes; the generals disliked such battles, as its cowardly to do so.

But from what I read, I cannot suppress my bad feelings here. I can see the many strategies I can deploy here that can brings in victory if I am well planned. But I am not, so I need to counter these strategies here. I posted more scouts on both side of the column so that we can can warned of any attacks or ambush. We have some experienced men with us who has fought these Outsiders before, and they know the trail in the forest, but they been not this far deep as we are now. They come to me and expressed their concerns too. I did asked the men do they know where we are headed, and they said its called Misty Trail or Deadman’s Corridor ,and they had not ventured there before. They claimed the spirits dwell there and none has dare to go in. The more queries I asked was answered with unsupported remarks which I choose to ignore or disregard as stupid thoughts.

On my advise, Senior Silva called for a camp to be set here now, outside the Misty Trail, and as the men pitched their camp, sentries are posted out. I personally then instruct twenty of my scouts to ride ahead and report back to me by morning, before we marched in. I told them to signal me all clear from the trail start point. That was my first mistake I made in my career.

It was at the break of dawn when we packed to march in Misty Trail. I saw the signal given by one of my scout near the huge tree by the start of the trail to inside the so called Misty Trail. I told Silva we are ready to march and they followed suit with the scout markings. The marchmen was first to go in, followed by the Praetorian and then the lancers. I choose to rode with the marchmen in front to prove them wrong in their assumptions, while Silva marched with his men in the middle section of the column. I can see the marking left by the scouts but soon as we entered the trail, the markings seems to be missing or mis-placed. I attribute it to the wet dew or winds which breezed by us with its cold air. I see the trail becoming more dark and musky with the heavy mist of the morning still hanging onto the leaves. Mildew soon coats our armors and sandals, making the walk a very wet trail for the marchmen. I got the men to light up lanterns and torches. The ground on the trail became soggy and muddy as the steps of over five thousand men walked on it. Men at the some sections began to fall out of formation but they were prodded on with the discipline officer on their rear. I looked back and see the Praetorian, despite the soggy conditions, they marched with precision and strength.

I send additional scouts running on both sides of the column, with eyes on the trees and bushes. I was surprised that none of my forward scouts came back to report any new updates, but maybe they are probably still riding ahead. That was my second mistake.

The officers soon find themselves riding down the column to pushed the men in to formation. And some of them has slowed their march, and even at some stages halted the Praetorian in their march from the rear. I then signaled for the Praetorian and lancers to overtake us and march on to the end of the trail and await us. The supply wagons will take their own pace with the marchmen. Soon I find my marchmen moving to one side or getting into the side ditches, and some to the extent of sitting down to rest while the lancers and Praetorian marched by. This moment of diminished attention on the forest, was my third and last mistake.

The trail is actually winding through a wide low valley, with the forest trees are on both sides. The tree lines can be seen from our lighted torches are covered with rolls of bushes. Soon we find some of these bushes are lighted up and rushing towards us down to the trail like boulders. These rolls of bushes when compacted into round balls, they rolled with ease down the valley sides. These bushes seemed to be doused with animals fat oils so they burned well and when they hit upon us. For some of the men, it looked like fire brimstones as said in  some religious manuscripts. The entire column was caught by the oncoming flaming balls creating mayhem. The lancers trying to control their horses which panicked on seeing the fires, while marchmen trying to climb out ditches to avoid the flames. Not even the Praetorian was spared, but they soon organized themselves with their shields as a barrier. It may helped them to deflect some of these rolling burning bushes, but my trouble was not to end, as scores of arrows soon taint the trail with many men falling to it. We had no archers as we thought that the fights will be stockades and plain battlefields. I tried to mobilize the men, but chaos was around. Just as I saw the flaming bushes and archery stopped, another volley of death was on us. This time its running wild hogs who are released to the trail chased by the hunters towards us. They must had planned all this beforehand and now these enraged hogs with their tails on fire run amok among the column. My men killed most of them, but we lost some men to their tusks and charges. Then the main attack came with the Outsiders down on us with their cries of battle. It must had numbered thousands as I was soon brought down by one of them with a battle axe on on my back. That was what I last remembered; a a well planned ambush with one outcome, victory to the Outsiders.

Silva

Its a crazy fight here, they are using the elements that we are not used to see in a battle. My men are all scattered or dead by one or the other strikes, and now they come with their cries. I can see the marchmen running for safety or in retreat  but the later actually gets in the way of my men. I even see some pleading for their lives from the Outsiders. I stood firm with my men surrounding me like a shield, but I can see the oncoming charges was reducing my strength and we will soon turned into dead bodies. Its better to die here than to live with the shame of defeat. I roused to my men to draw their swords and held our shields up. Then we charged forward with our own battle cries against the Outsiders who are armed with pikes and spears, with some of them carrying short sword like us. I find myself swinging my sword at the nearest opponent I can set my eyes on, just as many who has theirs on me. When my blade struck at the shoulder of the oncoming men, a pike was thrusted into my left side of my ribs. I felt more more wounds as another had thrust my ribs from behind with his weapon. I began to utter my prayer for forgiveness from my Prime Leader Romus for failing to live his dream. Even these savages would not let me finished my prayer as the next blow took off my helmet.

Braven

My first major victory as their leader and against the men who may had served me before. My tears could not help falling down on my cheek as I recite prayers for the dead. The entire column of the invading army was taken out in less than half a day, with a handful of survivors. None escaped that day, not even the twenty scouts who died earlier that day, and it was my men who was disguise as the scout to signal the march. I saw some Praetorian colors but I chose not see them in details. I fear I may find some friends among them.

‘Collect the wounded and offer them to join us or die now. But if he is a Praetorian, spare him not. They will never betray their own. And also collect the armors and weapons too. As for the dead bodies take it away and scattered them to be fed by the wild. Bury all the leftover useless armors and clothes. I do not want any evidence to be left of this fight.’

‘Yes, my leader, but here is the helmet of the leader.’ The elder leader who led the attack showed me the Praetorian Helmet. ‘Buried it with the others.’

I am Braven the leader of the Outsiders. My only link to the Praetorian is a past which was erased when they banished me on a crime I did not commit. I would had answered to that crime, but I was told that their decision has been made beforehand. After all those deeds I took for the Prime Leader, he left me in the open with no avenue of pleading my case. I know I done many deeds which cannot be said to the people, so be it that I be damned to death for my assumed betrayal. Just as I was your sword, I will be now be the sword of the Outsiders to removed you. My tears are for my friends in the army and the Praetorian but not for you.

I can see Darius down there helping the wounded on both sides; he is a fine warrior and now has improved his skills, but he lacks the killing desire. He prefers to wound then to kill. He has much to learned this young man.

Darius

I tended to the wounded as I could, making sure they are treated and if need be send them on their way with the swift death. Its better to have this then to struggle to lived in this harsh forest. I have been with the Leader for over three years now, and he taught me well. I have improved in my archery and some close combat skills. As he is the leader, I had to find shelter with the others. If not for Lydia, I would had ended up in the barracks. Lydia was kind to take me into her home and although we stayed alone together, our relationship is very much like a family. She is the only family I have now, with my ‘mother’ in my previous home but my grandfather will take care of her well. I feel that she is not my real mother, just like in Lydia here; though they offered me comfort and care. I know in me that my real mother is out there, either alive or dead. I asked that of my grandfather but he said I am crazy to have such thoughts. I know I am right and the amulet can show me my mother. I left it with my ‘mother’ there until I am ready to collect it back and also to find my real father.

Like Braven, they are all the same, supportive parents.

I helped an officer of the army today with a bad wound in his back. I have discarded his amour which is how I know who he is, so that none may know he is an officer, or his life is forfeit. He claims not to know of his name and where he is now. I took him to the camp where the wounded are tended by the physicians.

It was not the third day when I saw him again, limping on one foot and holding a crutch. He told me his wound on the back was not that bad as his amour took most of the blow. But he has a bad wound on his right knee which may never heal. But he can’t still recall of his past but he remembered me as the one saved him. He has taken the pledge with the others to join the Outsiders.

Lord Camlash

I disliked when the Praetorian do things without consulting me, more so when they crossed my land to go into the forests to fight the Outsiders. But I liked to hear the news the whole column is missing, presumed dead. A loss to Romus and Micha, when they could have told me beforehand, I may had share some of those loss too. I hear the losses includes Silva and also the son of Micha. Sad but there is less than to contend with.

I must see who this Braven is, and this time, I will try a diplomatic way; I will send General Damai. He can see an old friend as they were once were. If he does not return then the numbers just dwindled by itself. But now I must attend to my daughter. She is to received a proposal from Lord Giantus; surprised at his age and he still seek a proposal. Old man must be getting senile. Oh, I forget he has a son who is not seen much in public. One he kept away from the Lords too. I think his name is Master Granus. I wonder how he is doing now. He may be planning his son’s lineage. I liked that, as if I am linked to him, then Micha will be in dire straits to fight me. Or maybe we can unite and get rid of the Praetorians for good.

‘Yes, Domo; you seek me, I was told.’ I had received the summon from the Adviser for him to meet me. Domo is still as strong as before, but his hair is now all white.

‘Its Conal,I come to see you. He has taken some of the hostages to the garden.’ I know I still feed some hostages of the other Lords and they are a load to handle. ‘He is putting them as targets for his archery skills.’

The bastard is doing it. He just killed the other Lord’s son last week.

Conal

I held my bow straight and the string taut, so when I released my arrow it will fly straight to the mark I set. I just breathe in very slightly and not too deep, I just keep my attention focused. I can feel the finger slowly letting go the string, and the arrow will flow.

‘Stop!’

Who dares to stopped me. Its the old man in his push cart and alongside is the old adviser. My arrow missed my targeted spot by the length of an arrow. So my target survived this round. The previous arrow is still embedded in his right thigh. I felt the push cart as it hit me on my lower limbs, causing me to almost to fall, if not for Dina.

‘Release those people and send in the physicians.’ It was my father who issued the command, while his own son is soothing his own wound. ‘You do not used my friends as your target. Never again, or I will disown you.’

Harsh words to my ears, but it meant nothing has changed at all. He still need me as his heir unless he got another one stacked away. I looked at the old man and his adviser; a pair of life's which is without any use. I had Dina led me to the chambers for the physician to tend to me. Today, I just reduced the number of hostages by half as they are of no use in view of their cities is all soon to be mine. And I needed the practice anyway.

While tending to me on my wounds, I asked Dina if she would like to go on a journey with me to the borders. Maybe we can find better targets there. She agreed so I told the servants to make preparation.

Dina

I know I have changed over the years. Since I came here to the Lord Camlash service, I had performed not less than a dozen assassinations for the Lord.

Then I met the young master Conal. At first I was apprehensive to approach the young master, but the days of being with him has been fun. Yes, we trained together, and but the next stage of the relation ship was not until that day. ‘Conal’ told his true identity and how he became ‘Conal’. He was a caged man until his twin died. He was not given the freedom of decision, it was made for him at his birth. If not for his skills, he would had been the one who died. He knew from his interactions with his twin ; what his father desire, and what his brother does not have. So he honed his skills to satisfy his father’s desire. He became what his father wanted him to be. When he was released he find that there is more to freedom; there is power over life and death. He saw the events in the council and also the land, he know where the fights are and also read on the events of the past, so he can make better judgment  In conclusion he told me that to survive against all odds is to be  merciless and decisive. Do not hesitate and you will sway to make wrong decisions. He pushed that in his mind, and he said I am like him; another lone survivor in the world of survival.

I was a loner before, which is why I did not speak much or at all. I learned that at the tender age when I was send to the school; there we were taught to kill and survive when needed. I know not my parents nor my sibling, so I let my school be my world. The school is a harsh world with no mercy or love. Everyone is your enemy and you are theirs. The only way to survive is to be good at the skills. As I began to get adept at the skills and as said, I let the training guide me in my fight. I chose not to see human life, I see targets. They can bleed and die which is the way the target should react. I see not their gender or age, but my target, be it big or small.

But with ‘Conal’, I learned to live in a shell of another. As shell, we let the our emotions take over the training. We only used it to shelter our true self when we are alone and when we are beneath the shell itself. I do not know if I desire or loved the man, but I let it be known that no one touches him except me. And no one can kill him except me. Just as he does to me.

I have to confess, I do missed him when I go out on those missions.

General Damai

I was told to get ready for a journey with the young master into the border. I know not madness is this for the young master to come here, when we just lost one column, whose fate is unknown. I sent out patrols and they come back with no news. Now the Lord tells me the young master wants to tour the border and I am to prepare a protection for his visits. Its crazy I tell this descendants of the Lords runs with blood of utter madness in them.

Well, at least, he is not crossing the border which made it more safer, I think.

I send out more spies along the route he intends to take so that I can be pre-advised on any developments. Its not the Outsiders I am concerned about; its the young master who may do his own agenda on the tour.

He is traveling with a personal group of two hundred and fifty men, as his personal guards. And some handful of lancers, added by the Frontier Army.