Tale of Four

Hyman and his forces rested, the burning embers of the fort around them as a few soldiers, fresh from having not fought, cleared the fort of the dead, throwing them into the sand sea of the desert to vanish. "You old bastard." Roderick walked behind Hyman and slammed the end of his axe into the table. The two stared at one another, looking at each other’s blood-soaked appearance, the grim of battle still on them, afraid to waste water for such a meaningless task as cleaning. Meeting one another’s gaze, the table Hyman sat around went silent as people wondered what was happening.

Hyman rose and looked down on Roerick as the old warrior broke out into a grin, ripping an ornate knife from his belt and handing it to Hyman, "A bet is a bet." Hyman took the blade that looked small in hishand sand twirled it around, playing with it before slamming it into the table.

"You’re getting old, Roderick." Hyman retook his seat, Roderick sitting next to him, the group around the table letting out a nervous chuckle. "Before you actually gave me a competition. Don’t tell me you’re going easy on me?" Roderick smirked and snatched the mug of beer Hyman was drinking from, finishing half of it.

"I’m saving myself for when we meet Carter." Hyman laughed and shook his head. Across from them, another man approached, taking a seat, looking at the two. "Samuel." Roderick looked him up and down, and seeing he was less filthy than the two, smirked, "Did you stay in the back, Samuel?"

Rolling his eyes, Samuel took a drink. "Unlike you two, I do not enjoy fighting so much." Samuel turned to Roderick, "Scouts have just returned; Lord Carter has passed Saltpoint. He’s marching quicker than we expected." The table tensed up, bar Hyman and Roderick. Looking at one another, the two madly smiled. Samuel rolled his eyes and suppressed his sigh. He knew that part of Hyman’s assault on the desert was tactical with some merit, it taking the fight to the desert forces, but seeing that grin, it was clear that glory and a desire to fight were taking precedence.

"How far out?" Roderick asked.

"A week. But I can’t be sure. Their march has been quick, quicker than expected." Samuel replied with a groan, "As planned, I will begin the preparations to secure the Desert Gate."

"Of course." Hyman waved his hand. "Is a week enough time?" Samuel thought for a moment before nodding. "Good." Hyman stood up and climbed the table. "MEN!" His voice boomed across the fort. Everyone, no matter where they were, looked towards him. "SOON WE WILL FACE THE KING OF THESE RATS! THESE RATS THAT BUTCHERED OUR LANDS! SOON WE WILL HAVE LORD CARTER’S HEAD ON A SPIKE AND THE SHEPARD BANNER BENEATH OUR FEET!"

There was a cry of support from across the fort as Hyman raised his hands to calm them down, "THE CARTER NAME HAS BEEN AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR YERAS NOW! THE PATHETIC SON, ABDUL, KILLED BY OUR KING’S HAND! LET’S REMIND LORD CARTER WHY WE MADE THEM FLEE FROM THE SILENT HILLS! WHY WE CHASED HIM OUT OF THE VALLEY! WHY HIS REBELLION WAS A POINTLESS ENDEAVOUR! LET US BURN A DEFEAT SO SHAMEFUL INTO THEIR MINDS THAT THE DESERT WILL NEVER WISH TO LEAVE THEIR SHITTY LAND AGAIN!"

Another cry of support echoed throughout the fort, headed by Roderick, who stood up, ripping his battle axe out of the table. Lifitng it in the sky, he looked around, "Hail, Lord Alkaris!" Roderick screamed, his voice dwarfing the cries of everyone present. "Hail the loyal Goat of the stars!" Roderick cried out, "We do not run! We do not hide!" Roderick paced back and forth, like a beast, his axe bouncing in his hands. Staring at different men, his gaze penetrated deep into their souls, igniting a fury inside them. "Death and Victory! Glory and Death! They will write songs about our battle! Our mothers and daughters will weep tears when they hear of our exploits! Our sons will carry our fury and strength!"

Roderick spun around, swinging his axe into the ground, kicking up a dust cloud. Falling to a knee, he faced Hyman and deeply lowered his head, "GIVE US GLORY! GIVE US VICTORY!" His shout was louder than before, making the others, no matter where they were, fall to their knees. "HAIL LORD ALKARIS!" Roderick shouted a final time, it being repeated by every man around.

Hyman smiled and looked out at the kneeling men, a burning desire for war in their gazes stoked by Roderick’s cries. "MEN!" Hyman’s shout made everyone rise slightly. "VICTORY AND GLORY WILL COME! BUT FIRST!" Looking at everyone, he flashed his teeth. Even if he knew it would eat into their supplies a little, in the face of such desire and loyalty, a reward was needed. "WE FEAST! MAKE IT A FEAST THAT EVEN THE GODS WOULD BE JEALOUS OF!"

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Lord Carter pulled up his face mask, feeling the sand getting kicked up into his face. His hazel eyes looked ahead, reflecting the sunlight, creating a fire in them. On his hip, he felt his sword bouncing, pulling him down.

"Father." Amru came to his side and looked ahead, his hand tightly clenched around the reins of his horse. "I got word. Lord Alkaris has left the Desert Gate and has begun marching towards us." Carter didn’t smile behind his mask. Only his eyes narrowed as he took a deep breath.

"That battle-hungry beast doesn’t understand restraint, Amru." His voice was rough but calm. "Learn from your enemy. His strengths and weaknesses, my son. But do not think his foolish march is weakness. That man is battle-hungry, but he is worth a hundred men in battle. You are not to engage him in battle, Amru. He is a beast. I say this as an insult and compliment."

"Father, if we lose." Amru stopped his sentence after getting a hard glare from his father, a glare that looked as if it could kill.

"You do not utter those words. The moment you believe defeat is possible, your odds of victory fall." Amru nodded and kept silent as Lord Carter turned away, staring ahead. "How is your sister?"

"Messages have been sparse, but she says her husband is worried after the Desert Gate fell." Lord Carter nodded.

"Lord Arc has lands that are their own defence, more than any part of our desert. She will be fine, do not worry yourself." Amru sighed and nodded.

"It is not the only thing she is worried about. Many refugees have arrived in their land. They carry tales of the Valley and their atrocities. They wear no banners, but it is obvious. Village by village, butchers. Men tortured, the women raped, children caged up and made to watch their homes and families be destroyed before suffering similar fates." Amru heard the deep, hate-filled, laboured breathing before seeing it. Behind the cloth mask, Lord Carter ground his teeth and shook, struggling to contain himself.

His word had the effect he wanted, and Amru said no more, knowing there was no point in making him angrier. "Amru." Lord Carter’s voice was quiet, so quiet that he nearly didn’t hear it. "Spread the word to every man what has been happening. Hide nothing anymore."

"Are you sure, Father? We have kept quiet so fa-" Lord Carter’s sharp glare stopped him again. Placing a hand on his chest, he lowered it. "Your word is my command."

"Let everyone understand what this battle means. Let them know defeat means their wives, mothers, fathers and children suffering the same fate." Before Amru could ride off, Lord Carter grabbed his arm, his eyes softening. "Send word to your sister. Tell her I miss her dearly, and we shall meet after the war. Tell her to comfort those who come for help, and that they will be avenged. Tell her that the horrors they have suffered will be paid in kind. Ensure she makes it clear that House Carter will support these people. Financial, emotional, it does not matter."

Amru nodded, and Lord Carter let go of him, letting him ride off. Closing his eyes, he looked into the sky and rubbed his sword, feeling the hilt curved into the shape of a shepherd’s staff. "Lord Traveller." Taking a deep breath, he nodded to himself, "May fate go as you control it."

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