"Congratulations my son, you've proven your story true, and now with soldiers at your beck and call it won't be long before you leave my side and strike out on your own. I'm proud to see it." He spoke the words, and were it any other I likely would have been flattered by them, but his face and eyes told a story all on their own. There was no pride, no love, no familial affection, only the cold analyzing gaze of a man who had been in power for far too long.
"Will you fulfill the full scope of your sponsorship?"
"No greeting? No thanks for my generosity? If I didn't know better I would say you didn't appreciate the tasks I set out before you." The damnable smirk was back, the smile I had once believed showed the smallest amount of affection held nought but contempt and amusement.
"You already know you will find no forgiveness in me, it's a feat of pure will alone that keeps me from skewering you here and now for what you've done. Now answer the question."
"....." He said nothing and Vahids brothers, older and younger, both stayed just as quiet as the father they followed without complaint or disobedience. Instead he simply raised a hand and motioned for a nearby servant to come to him, one who held in his hands a stack of papers neatly organized. "Here you will find that I've approved all your requests in relation to both equipment, animals, supplies, and gold. Nothing is missing, I made sure of that personally."
I snatched the papers from the servant's hands, ignoring the way he flinched away from my grasp. Just what have these people been doing to their own servants to cause such innate fear? Whatever it wasn't my problem, I wasn't part of this world, not truly, it was none of my business what this accursed house got up to in its free time. I was leaving.
Turning away from the wider Gallick household I made my way down from the stands as the piercing gaze of Lord Gallick drilled a hole into my back.
"My Lord-Captain we have stabilized your servant and our medics are taking good care of her, she will likely make a full recovery."
I turned ever so slightly to look at the captain that had taken it upon himself to report to me. He was good looking, not obnoxiously handsome or built like some kind of Greek god. Like many others of Estinite descent his black hair stood out along with his pale white skin and steel gray eyes. Were this earth I'm sure he could have made it big as some kind of male model or actor.
Were it not for the long gash running from his forehead all the way down to his collarbone. It was a wicked scar that seemed to have a life of its own as it wriggled and writhed with his every movement. "Good I will see to her soon, for now gather the other captains and officers within the regiments, I wish to speak with my new subordinates. We have much to discuss and not nearly enough time to do it."
"It will be done, my Lord-Captain."
A small bow was his final show of fealty as he quickly split away from me and went to gather the rest of my new officers. As I waited for them I observed my new soldiers as they went about preparing the grand drill yard for what was likely to be their final time using it.
They stood as beacons of discipline and professionalism as they went through the various movements. As they marched they moved in perfect lock step, when they fought their spears and shields became a solid wall, and when they charged their line was like a wave, ever advancing, never falling back.
They fought against each other, testing their iron will against one another as I watched. Really it was all a show they were putting on from what I could guess. Just like how I had proved I was worthy of their loyalty in the yard, now they battled against one another trying to prove to me that I could trust them to be the best soldiers on the battlefield in the world. By god did they do a good job of it too.
Maybe it was boredom that eventually spurred me to intervene but soon enough I was sending orders to the 1'st Regiment, which I had learned from one of my new soldiers was named "The Maufroura" due to its less than stellar reputation when taking prisoners and slaves. I took command of the regiment personally, never personally entering the fight but trying my best to make sound tactical decisions from the back.
For a while my plans seemed to work well enough, the Regiment was on the defensive and the other two were trying their best to stop my encroaching advance. They're flanks were hemmed in from both sides, their archers were pinned down by my own, and it seemed as if their lines were about to break at any moment.
Then the mage's came into play. Their magic was like a wave of everlasting oppression across the entirety of the battlefield as the mage's of the second and third regiment worked together to bring my own mage down so that they might have free reign to work their dread work. Even with my position behind the lines, well away from the worst of the fighting I almost fell to my knees out of sheer grinding pain.
I could feel my very soul being attacked by the mages might. Then it was gone, the pulsing was non-existent and my head felt as clear as ever even while the rest of the soldiers tried and failed to hold their own against the assault. The battle was lost as far as I was concerned, the combined power of two Veteran mages was too much for my singular mage to fight against, no matter his skill and power.
"This exhibition is over! Stop your assault, the 1'st withdraws from the match!" My voice was tiny against the din of battle, but all that mattered was my officers and the mage himself had heard it and soon enough the news of surrender had spread. The other two regiments turned away from the first and began to fight against one another in full once more.
It was a grinding, slow thing as the two fully fell back into the infantry tactics that the Empire was famous for while the mages tried and failed to overcome one another.
Eventually however the third proved itself superior to the second through a brilliant tactical maneuver that saw the leftmost flank of the second destroyed. Hundreds of men poured into the gap left behind and soon enough the second had surrendered leaving the third as the victors of the exhibition.
"Might I make a suggestion my Lord-Captain?" It was the same man captain from before, the one who I had ordered to gather my officers for me, and it seems he had done just that based on the near 300 men that stood behind him. "Speak Captain, I will always be more than happy to listen to your advice."
"The men put themselves through this to earn your favor, perhaps it would be a good idea to reward them? Maybe a paid visit to the slave houses to sate their thirst for drink and women?" A reward, yes I could see how they had earned one, especially when they gave such a splendid performance. I could only imagine how my company would make its name known far and wide with men such as these by my side. But I wouldn't be paying for them to take advantage of slaves, not while I still lived.
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"You're right Captain, but I'll do you one better, hire women from the local brothel. Make sure they are willing and order enough wine and food from the local market to feed the entire Company. Nothing but the best for my men."
"At once my lord!" He left quickly, intent on following my orders, though not before I had handed him the proper seal to use my own personal funds. Vahid seems to have created quite the nest egg for himself over the years, and while feeding 12,000 men wouldn't be easy I should have just enough to do it, If barely.
"As for the rest of you we have much to discuss, primarily in regards to supplying the men for the march, and figuring out just where we will be going in the first place." The nods from the officers as they grabbed pen and paper, and ordered their attendants to bring out the various records the regiments kept told me just how long I would be here.
----
It took twelve, repeat after me, TWELVE full hours of uninterrupted work to go over the regiments records, set up the basic supply chain we would need for our march through the Empire, and discuss just where we would be going in our search for work.
During said conversation I learned yet another fact about this world, apparently the eastern regions of this world are completely out of whack with reality. It seems the region is stuck in some kind of timeloop, or at least a certain region is and with the fall of every dynasty the region is sent back in time with a new dynasty at its head, and when said dynasty reaches the present day again it starts conquering the neighboring lands, forcing upon them the dynasties culture, beliefs, and rule. Its caused the entire area to be a cluster fuck of various different cultures and belief structures that are constantly in conflict with one another.
At the present moment the previous dynasty was overthrown not too long ago and there will likely be another forty years before the newest dynasty shows up again, meaning at the moment the east is engulfed in war as the various feuding polities that surround the central region compete to gain as much land and power as possible before the cycle of Imperial conquest begins once more.
It was the perfect destination for me and my armies to win our glory and gold, the only problem was most of the journey would have to be made by ship, marching would take years due to not only distance but also the dangers of the great steppe that separated the Estinite Empire and the Fae-ouren east. Ships cost money, and if even a single one was lost at sea it would be a huge loss of life and money.
It was a gamble, one I was putting my life on the line for, but if we could make it too the east then it wouldn't matter because we would be rich soon enough working for the feuding and warlike nations that needed every soldier they could get.
For now though that was the least of my worries, because sitting by Selena's bed as she tried her best to eat the soup in front of her was just too precious for me to worry about much else. "You know this reminds me of when you had to help me eat not too long ago."
"Please master, you were much worse than me! You could barely even lift a spoon." I tried my best not to laugh at how indignant she looked, or notice the way her face was flush with Embarrassment. "Do you want me to feed you Selena? All you have to do is ask."
"No! I can do it!" Her actions betrayed her words as she tried and failed to bring the spoon close enough to her mouth to eat it, and while I tried my best to keep my spirits high for her sake all I could feel was rage. The bruises were still present across her form, and her current weakness was proof of what she had been put through, all so Lord Gallick could wave his own power over my head.
"Selena, please let me help you." The spoon in her hand dropped into the bowl, the tears never came, but I could see the way her eyes closed in hurt.
"Please master, I don't know why you're here, I don't want you to see me this way. I must look so wea-?!" I put my finger to her lips, quieting her instantly. "You'll never be weak to me Selena, you endured the worst of my fathers abuses and you survived. I will never think you are weak while I still live."
Slowly shifting my hand to her cheek I looked her in her eyes as I adjusted her hair behind her ear. "Selena you know I can't say what you want me too, I have too much wrong with me to ever deserve you. But know now that I care for you. I always will."
Her blushing face told me all I needed to know, she wanted us, she wanted me to kiss her, to hug her close. So it hurt all the more when I withdrew my hand from her face and she almost instinctively tried to follow it.
"Now please let me help you."
"... Ok Master."
We sat like that for a long time in the dark, her layed down as I fed her, and me by her side slowly ladling the food into her mouth. Before long the bowl was empty and my reason for being here with it. "Get some rest Selena, I will see you soon, I'll make sure to have some more food with me."
"Master."
I tried my best to ignore her, ignore the need in her eyes as I felt my heart pounding in my chest. The knowledge that it wasn't truly me that she wanted made my heart feel like it was shattering into a million pieces.
"Master, please don't go."
"I'm sorry Selena, you know I have to." My body was stopped in its tracks as I felt a weak grip on my wrist. "Please Master, just this once don't leave me." I turned to her and I could see the desperate need for me to stay, to show something, anything to prove that the abuse she had suffered was worth it. That her love for me wasn't in vain.
I should have snatched my hand away, I should have stormed out of the room, I should have made it clear that it could never happen, that it would only end in heartbreak and grief. Instead I slowly and carefully got onto the bed, and gently so as to not hurt her recovering body brought her close to me.
We were face to face now inches away from mine. I admired her unearthly beauty, the way the moonlight seemed to dance in her eyes. I don't know what overcame me, some compulsion from beyond, but I kissed her. It was deep, slow, and passionate. A kiss I had thought only reserved for lovers, but at that moment I didn't care how wrong it was, how this could never be.
My only concern was holding her close, exploring her mouth with mine, and too soon the kiss ended with us both out of breath. Her eyes, those beautiful eyes that shined like polished diamonds, looked at me with a want and need I knew I couldn't give to her. Not only because I knew that point of no return could never be crossed, but also because I would never risk harming her in her current state.
"Sleep Selena, please just get some sleep."
"Yes master." The disappointment was audible in her voice but she complied none the lest. Soon enough she was asleep in my arms and I wasn't far behind her. 'Sleep well my princess.'