“It was a long time since the last time we had this view.”
Hooves of Rouncey’s clapped over the road accompanied by the sound of morning rain.
“What was it? nine years, ten years?”
Galar wiped his face with the left sleeve of his grey shirt, holding onto the iron bars of the cage with a huge smile plastered over his face. It was early morning and everyone in the cage could feel the anticipation propelling the horses forward.
While some were keeping on their carefully practiced stone faces while sitting still in the middle of the cage, others let out a soft chuckle with legs and hands fidgeting, no one rebutted them, none could blame them, as everyone was fighting the excitement in their bellies in their own way.
It was a very long time, since the last memories they had from crossing the plains for the first time. That time they were cold, scared and having no idea what was going to happen.
Since entering the mountain city, and starting their training they grew in body and mind likewise Galar was just small kid at the time with scrawny hands and pale face, now he was one of the biggest in the group.
No one went outside of the forest, no one knew when or if they will live long enough to see the outside world again. But now, the prospects of seeing something new, something no one had any memories of was exhilarating. With the blood running hot in the veins of the boys and chests heaving with sucking the morning air of the grassland.
This was the last test for all of them, the last obstacle to jump over or duck under, the last hungry nights and the last people they would kill in the training.
“Survivors can return to the city as part of the population.”
Raijens mind was spinning as he remembered the words of adeps before their departure.
“As warriors of the Vulture and protectors of the civilians.”
We would be allowed to take a wife, build the house and become part of the society. It sounded too good, the price was too big for this to be just another regular training, just another test.
Being part of the city meant all the privileges were included, do they really accept just about anyone into the families? No there has to be something more to this.
“Before that, you have to prove yourselves.”
What do they mean by ‘prove ourselves’? We did all they asked for, some did even more, yet it is still not enough?
Even if he wanted to, Raijen could not share the collective glee of his companions. Looking at them he could feel the fear of what was coming rising.
All of them were pretty much converted by those fanatics to believe they had our best interests in mind. Even Mauri believes in the greater good the clan promises. But in the end, we are just fodder, soldiers for the front lines.
Assassins or spies for the few lucky ones who shoved exceptional talent or quick wit and fast hands.
Looking at the green grass Raijen’s memories turned the peaceful image into one with brown grass, the blood, and carcasses scattered over the plain. Dark birds descending on the feast of flesh and bones singing their joy to the sky.
Now we were hauled into the cages like livestock heading for the front lines, to fight someone else’s war. To die or somehow survive. And none of these boys really knew what to expect, seeing the glory in the winning and pride in what they can accomplish.
“There is no pride in dying,” Sarca said it too often for it to be just regular lesson.
Raijen’s shoulders shook as he put his hands under his butt.
Though I never experienced it myself, I read enough books and saw enough movies to know it was going to be a slaughter. How many of us were expected to return anyway? How many graves are they digging right now, or are they even going to bother?
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Days passed in another routine, wake up, shit, eat, sleep and repeat. Most of the initial eagerness died away over the weeks when the carriage encountered first signs of the battle. Skirmishes around the border announced themselves in the form of bodies scatted around the forest. The Empires soldiers were much deeper in the Atagare clan's territory than expected.
“We should probably change the uniforms before we encounter the empire.”
Vulgar’s comment brought them out of the morning lethargy.
“Nah, it is too soon, we are still days from the border, I don’t want to encounter Atagare wearing their most hated enemies colors.”
Pointing at the body near his feet he crouched to examine the corpse.
“And these don’t look like they were done in by the soldiers. More like beast rammed it is teeth down his throat.”
“What kind of beasts can slaughter half a squad of soldiers?”
The adept glanced at Vulgar.
“Good question”.
Getting to his feet the adept dusted his pants.
“We move one more day before we change colors. After that, we move for Empires camp and deliver the cargo.”
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His eyes shifted towards the cage.
“After that, it is all in your hands whether you can return or not.”
Raijen met his eyes and couldn’t help himself.
“How many return”?
Regretting the question as soon as he said it he looked down on the wooden floor. The feel of eyes on him was hot, burning him, examining him, deciding what the punishment is going to be for the questioning. As the whole group went silent his skin crawled from nervousness and Raijen was trying his best not to look up, to avoid their eyes.
“What does it matter?”
Vulgar’s voice broke the uncomfortable silence.
“You all decided to be part of the clan at one point or another in the last four years or you wouldn’t have made it so far. If you think you can back off now, well, you can.”
A small smile passed his lips over the bewilderment of the boys.
“Just don’t expect to be welcomed back home. Once we reach the camp, you will be handed over to them, they will give you weapons, armor and put you into their ranks to fight. Your jobs are to find an opening, kill as many of them as you can and find your way back to the mountain.”
Stopping, Vulgar waited for all the boys to let the message set in.
“But were you to decide to desert midway in the fight and join the Empire, well, then no one can really tell the difference.”
“Enough useless talk.”
The adept snapped.
“Keep quiet, something run through these woods just recently and left behind this mess for us to find.”
Pointing at one of the corpses which lined the trail in the Forrest, Raijen didn’t miss the wrong direction they laid in. Their heads were to the south, and the carriage was heading for the south as well.
The soldiers were running from something, and it wasn’t just a scouting party, but pretty much the whole unit by the number of bodies.
What would scare fifty strong in the middle of the forest?
As they left the grisly scene behind them, the sun started to set in. The adepts had broken out the camp preparing for the night, starting a small fire to cook a meal.
“Change before you go to sleep I don’t want any surprises in the middle of the night or morning.”
One of the adepts started stirring the pot to get the mash moving.
Just as the men started to relax, hooves riding the path echoed in the quiet of setting sun. All of the men tensed, grabbing for weapons.
The cage was in the back of the caravan which was the guise used to smuggle them over the border as a bunch of slavers on the road to make some gold. Raijen couldn’t see much in the last rays of the sun. The tension was thick, and the men looked nervous.
Still, they didn’t rise, sitting, waiting for what or who will come. This was way too important for these men whose whole religion and life creed built around such practices like this one.
The iron bars of the cage gave Raijen some semblance of peace and safety. He didn’t know about anything in the wilds that could rip apart such a construction made by man. Then again he had no idea, none of them had, what was out there in the open world other then what they were forced to believe.
It became obvious it was no beast as men started to relax they stances, with the sound approaching closer indicating it was just lone rider. Sitting down the adepts looked like a bunch of normal slavers for anyone other than those who were around for a long time.
“Who is he?”
Adept looked on the approaching rider.
“Has similar colors to Atagare, but not quite right. Probably some branch from the main family.”
Vulgar’s voice sounded from behind the fire.
“Here, alone?”
Vulgar raised a brow at the adept, who shrugged and put his hand on the pommel at his hip.
The scout stopped the horse and looked them over.
“Who are you? What are you doing so near the borders?!”
His voice was harsh in the otherwise peaceful night, confident and quite high pitched which made it clear he was still young.
“I’m Snoot, and we were paid to deliver a bunch of fighting slaves to the front lines for the Atagare family.”
Vulgar shifted on his left leg.
“And you are?”
“Envoy of Mandar Atagi, we head for the border as well.”
Turning his horse around the scout nodded.
“Very well, I will let the captain know about your arrival.”
Turning around the scout started leaving without glancing back even once.
“Did he said, bloody captain?”
Vulgar looked at the adept.
“Does it mean there is a whole company or regiment out there?”
Adept turned around and started for the fire.
“Doesn’t matter, the soldiers can’t be that close yet. We would have seen the tracks. Prepare the men for change in the plan, we need to alter the course.”
Stopping dead in his tracks he stared on the ground on his left. Turning around, startling Vulgar he screamed at the sentries near the edge of the camp.
“Go after him! Don’t let him get away no matter what!”
The guards didn’t hesitate for a second, jumping on their horses and rushing the scout.
“What is it?”
Adept pointed at the ground near him.
“If he saw that then we are fucked.”