cindera-etharians

[cindera-etharians]

The sun hung low in the sky, it's golden red reminiscent of lady Raenards hair. She rested on the balcony and thought to herself, "I wonder if the capital is as beautiful as it is here."

Behind her a man of stature approached, his gold engraved armour depicting a roaring bear glinted in the sunlight. She knew who it was, those heavy footsteps can only be from a man, a friend.

"Lady Raenard, my apologies for intruding." He said bowing, his long black beared touched with grey rustled against his breastplate.

"No need to apologize lord Crauford, what brings you to my chambers?"

"It's the prisoner, he's not cooperating. We've used pliers, pincers, hot coal-"

Lady Raenard turns to him and holds up her hand. "No need for, the details. If he's unwilling to speak, then try something else."

Crauford nodded "Of course my lady, some things are best left unsaid. His unwillingness to talk is somewhat admirable, for a filthy rodent. We'll try other methods if necessary."

Lady Raenard turned and looked out to the setting sun.

"When I was young, my father took me to go hunting with him. It was a beautiful day, the sunlight beaming through the canopy silhouettes of the trees sprawled across the ground. Perfect for hunting deer, we sat in a small ditch waiting in silence, I still remember that stern look on his face, focused, steady. Some hours passed until our first deer gently paced infront of us, he stood up slowly drawing his bow. My heart was racing but I could tell his was calm like a lake, then suddenly it ran out of our view. "Something spooked it" he said quietly watching the treeline.

Behind us we heard sticks and branches breaking, a bear came charging through the brush. Father pushed me away and drew his sword, I couldn't bare to witness what I was hearing. His screams matched the tremendous roar of the bear, the sound of steel and claw both ripping into each others flesh, what felt like hours was over in a matter of minutes. I dared to look and see the horror, the bear drawing it's final breath, my father stumbling to his feet drenched in blood.

I ran over and embraced him , he said "everything's alright love, just a small wound. Here, blow the horn and notify the other hunting party." I blew the horn with all my breath, while waiting for the others to come, two cubs came out. Afraid they'd attack us I grabbed my fathers sword, he gently held my arm back and said "we shan't harm them, they'll come back with us. They won't survive without their mother." I didn't understand what he meant until he explained while we were waiting."

Crauford leaned on the balcony next to her, with a sorrowed look on his face. "Hm I remember that day. I've never felt a fear like I did when I saw your father. "

Lady Reanard looked at him "I learned two things that day, to use brutal, unbridled violent wrath in order to survive. And show gentle compassion to those who are unable to survive on their own."

"Perhaps we should try the latter and see if the prisoner is more willing to talk."

Crauford stood up and turned to her nodding "Aye if nothing else works, might as well try it." Lady Reanard clasped her hands nervously, "You're certain he's alone, that there are no others lurking around?"

Crauford looked at her with confidence "No need to worry, they work alone. I promise you, the important thing is we caught him and we'll get answers as to why he's here."

He bowed once more and parted from her chambers, lady Raenard looked out towards the sunset. She felt an unsettling dread in the pit of her stomach, she knew the drums of war were about to thunder across the realm once more.

[cindera-etharians]

It's almost done, few changes and touch ups. Apologies for the very late update.

Working on the self proclaimed queen of Etharia dialogue, I hope it's an enjoyable read. Any tips on writing is welcomed.

[cindera-etharians]

"I don't mind doing labour in the fields, you can hide lots of things in a patch of dirt. A spoon, a knife, a ring, a body."

Cinderan prisoner-1317.

[cindera-etharians]

Working on the self proclaimed queen of Etharia dialogue, I hope it's an enjoyable read. Any tips on writing is welcomed.

[cindera-etharians]

"By the gods Cindera was a tactical mess, it should've been an easy victory but we underestimated our enemy. I was riding in the ninth mounted brigade, we were awaiting on a slope and the tenth was across the other side. It was supposed to be a basic pincer manoeuvre then have the infantry march in, overwhelm and destroy.

We were waiting for the signal, our steeds breathing heavily, we raised our lances signalling we were ready. We first saw the vanguard charge in, immediately they were cutting their way through like a trout swimming through a stream. They're a tough unit, then the flag flew signalling us to ride in, galloping at full speed down the slope. The horses grunted and neighed as we spurred them on, our lances positioned forward as we were closing in on the flank. We could hear the battering of swords and axes against shields, the vanguard screaming like wild beasts drowned out the hooves thudding against the earth.

Suddenly we were shrouded in arrows, it was almost like a heavy rain hammering down. All around me the horses crashed into the dirt, the riders screamed in pain being pinned under their steeds, being thrown into the air, getting pierced by arrows. One managed to stick into my leg, damn near hit the bone and my horse was wheezing something horrid, only six of us were still upright. We turned and rode away, no way we could've successfully breached the flank, it was a bloody affair, I've never heard a horses breath leave it's lungs through holes in its chest. I'll never forget that sound.

The tenth faired no better, they were toppling over those who were hammered down by arrows. Bar maiden, another round!

Say what you will about the Etharians, they're some of the best archers, I've never witnessed such accuracy. I didn't see much after we fell back, the chiurgeon removed the arrow and patched me up best he could. Laying there it was almost as if I never left the battlefield, the screaming, wailing, young men being cut open and stitched back up, the clanging of pans filled with blood, spilled onto the ground. I can never mount up again, but I'm more fortunate than those I saw that day in the chiurgeons tent.

Another round? Bar maiden, another round please!

Though later on I heard something troubling over the painful screams. Our commander was berating the sargent of the vanguard, blaming everything on their failing to hold out. Insult after insult and threats of trials, transfer to a worse unit, all I could manage to hear was him yelling. The sargent never uttered a word, I don't know why our commander took it on his unit, we failed and so did the infantry. I'm speaking out of turn for saying this, but I think our commander knew how he blundered this up, and the consequence that'd follow. So he needed to pin it on someone else. Who better than those who have a low life expectancy?

After we withdrew, there were rumours hovering around like a hummingbird. 'they abandoned the army' 'they went over to the enemy', 'the commander is in such a rage he'd kill you if you look at him'. I don't know what was to be believed but I do know, if you break your oath, nothing will stop the council from sending a Huntsman after you."

[cindera-etharians]

"Don't talk to me about loss, I've lost more than you ever could. Do you know what it's like to have your heart broken so many times? Course not, you're a professional not allowed to love or care.

I was a damn fine soldier once, a vanguard of King Lires army. I've fought from the pearl coast to the mandeers forest and my men were some of the finest fighters. I lead them into some of the worst battles and came out unscathed, but...Cindera, that battle would be my last. We were ordered like many times before, "go in first and slaughter them". So we did, the clashing of steel and the whistling of arrows all around us. Back to back cutting down the bastards. Men cried like babes, bleeding out, the ground was saturated with so much blood it made us slip.

We were supposed to hold out until the calvary flanked them, but it didn't happen. We were surrounded and getting cut down like wheat, those still dying clutched at my legs begging me for help, I could feel myself being dragged down.....I had to do it, I had to kill them....my own men... what else could I do?

What few of us remained barely fought our way out back to our line, wounded and covered in so much blood it thickened on our armour. They sing about the glory of battle, aye there is but they don't tell you...they don't tell you that it haunts your dreams. You know what we got when we made it back? Not a medal or praise but fucking chastised! for retreating, my service my loss just to be thrown down like a bloody rotten apple.

The drinks flowed that night and into the morning, we made a choice. Keep fighting this damned war, or desert and head to our loved ones. We tore off our insignias and left in the night, some went south, the rest came with me westward, I offered them rest once we'd make it to my home.

You ever felt an overwhelming joy to see your loved ones? That the risk of death because you abandoned your oath didn't cross your mind, because all you can think is thier smile, thier warmth when you embrace them.

I never got to experience that... instead I arrived at an empty house with a note on the table, turns out she'd been getting pricked by some skeevy rat for quite some time. She had a enough my going away for months at a time fighting senseless battles so she ran away with the dog. My daughter's gone as well...my children, she took everything yet I gave her and the kids all the spoils from my victories to keep them out of being poor. To make sure they wouldn't go hungry, she lost love for me.... I'd have hung myself if my men didn't stop me. I thought that she'd calm my nightmares....I never thought she'd be apart of 'em.

What'd you expect from a man who has nothing left but skills in fighting? Course we'd gone rogue and took whatever the fuck we liked. Recruited those who were left to die by our so called King, touring the country side we called it, ambushing merchants and the like, sometimes units on patrol. You ever see those poor saps in the streets of Bedliehm? Loyal soldiers once proud, now broken and begging in the streets like lowborn rats. That's how they're treated, I'd be damned if I let my men end up like them, lower than a common rat, that's why we do it. You think it's right for men who gave everything, then to tossed aside like they were fucking nothing, lose everything that was keeping them alive inside, to end up lower than human? A shell of a man. Tell me, how's that fair.

Now, you've come here hunting me down like a rabbid hound. How much was it for my head, 300, 400 gold? Ha! I was worth nothing at Cindera, my love meant nothing to my wife but as soon as I made my own.....MY OWN DAMN GLORY! They fucking care now don't they?! Care enough to send you after me,.....what does it matter now.

You've cut down my friends, my men. Scorched whatever I had left, what's it fucking matter now. So, are you going to cut me down or find some rope and a tree with a strong limb, what are you going to do now Huntsman? How will my story end."

[cindera-etharians]