Night had settled on the newly liberated city of Stonewall. A calmness hung in the air as the exhausted soldiers found their way to the warmth of soft beds and cozy inns; a sharp contrast from the weeks before. The townsfolk were more than willing to share a home cooked meal and open a fine wine for Koda’s weary men.
Wiccer, Ashmer, Athar, Cass, and Koda sat at a dining table in the home of the mayor. Dinner plates were cleared away as a much needed meal was eaten by the five guests. Small glasses were refilled with the mayor’s finest brandy, once hidden from the Estinian men.
“We will stay in Stonewall one more day, and then we march hard to meet up with our divided forces and the Varisian army on the other side of the mountains,” Ashmer stated as he sipped a glass of the smooth alcohol.
“I think we should keep our most injured and ill here in Stonewall. They will be no good to us if they can’t march,” suggested Cass.
Koda curled his hands together, resting his chin on top of his knuckles, “How many men do we have if the injured and ill stay here?”
Ashmer calculated on his fingers and did a quick bit of math in his head, before finally answering, “About seven hundred, including the thirty-two Silent Ones, and six Vernal Mages. We picked up about twenty working catapults and ballistas too.”
“Well, we’ve seen the Silent Ones work. They each fight like twenty men,” Wiccer mused as he remembered the incredible feat from earlier in the day.
“Then it’s settled. We’ll stay one more day in Stonewall and then take our most well-off men and march through the mountain pass,” Koda said, perking up after taking a swig of the welcoming drink.
***
The Crooked Sword was filled to the brim with soldiers desperately seeking a cold drink and a warm hearth after the hellish experience in what they named “The Forest of the Splintered Skies.” The ARO members, save for Elucard, Wiccer, and Lear, relaxed to the best of their abilities as they sipped on their ales and slurped down the hot beef stew. But no one spoke between them, for their once sharp wit and keen senses were now dull like rusted blades.
Blayvaar broke the silence, “We should bring Lear some ale when we get a chance.”
“This yikahti would appreciate a cold one,” Rulan grinned as he joked.
Smiles broke from the tired Watchers as they agreed that they should pay Lear a visit.
“Well, look who it is,” a familiar and unwelcome voice broke through the good spirits like a war hammer.
Blayvaar turned to find Rith and a large gathering of the 12th Spearman division chuckling crudely with their arms crossed over their chests.
“Me and the boys were about to head out and find some fun in this town, but there seems to be some fun to be had right here,” Rith said, cracking a snide smile. He nudged one of his fellow spearmen.
“Not now Rith, I don’t have the patience to deal with your bullshit,” Blayvaar spat before turning back around to his stein.
Rith’s face curled as he grabbed Blayvaar by the collar and spun him around in his seat to face him, “I see you don’t have your captain here. Me and my boys are going to get some hard earned respect from you ARO bastards, even if we have to beat it out of each one of you!”
Immediately seats could be heard screeching back across the floor as each one of the ARO members came to the aid of their companion, “Now is not the time to mess with us, spearman!” Timber snarled.
Rith moved to Timber, but Rulan stepped into Rith’s face until the elf was close enough to see his reflection in Rith’s eyes.
“Stand down Rith, we’ve both been through some shit and none of us want to be tested.” Rulan spoke calmly, though his eyes were stressed and sunken from the lack of sleep
“Get out of my face, Rabbit,” Rith sneered.
Rulan narrowed his eyes and butt his forehead into the bridge of Rith’s nose. A hard thump followed a sharp crack as Rith’s nose bent unnaturally. A thick, long droplet of blood dripped to the wooden floor. Rith was taken by surprise as he stumbled backwards into the arms of his fellow soldiers.
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Swords were quickly drawn all around the ARO soldiers as Rulan and the others prepared for a melee to ensue. However, a loud order rocked the tavern, “Stand down, spearmen!”
Pushing his way between the two units came a scarred and gray haired elf. A heavy woolen bandage covered his left eye and the rank of Staff Sergeant was stitched on his shoulder, above it was the “12th Spearman Division” unit patch.
“Sergeant Aloth!? We were just–” Rith wheezily tried to explain himself.
“You take me for a fool, Rith?”
“No, sergeant!”
“You think I didn’t see you harass these soldiers?”
“No, sergeant!”
“Are these the Estinains?”
Rith held silent, knowing full well what kind of trouble he was in.
Aloth’s face turned beet red and a vein protruded under his skin, “Then tell me why you are harassing this unit!”
Rith clenched his teeth trying to think of a suitable enough answer that did not land him in an endless session of push-ups, “They are Rabbits, sergeant.”
“Rabbits?” spat Aloth.
Another soldier pipped up, “They were trained by Elucard, sergeant. They shouldn’t be treated with the same respect as any of the other soldiers.”
Aloth nodded and then turned to Blayvaar, “You, private. Did you just spend three weeks in the Forest of the Splintered Skies?”
“Yes, sergeant,” Blayvaar said, his face still sour.
Aloth pointed to Elisa, “What about you?”
“Yes, sergeant.”
Aloth pointed to Timber, “And you? Were you there too?”
Timber grinned, “Indeed I was, sergeant.”
Aloth turned to his unit, “ARO shared the same experience as all of you in that god-forsaken forest. They slept in the same shit-holes, they bled the same blood, they shed the same tears. They are as much as part of this army and country as the rest of you. Trained by Rabbits? Yes, but they were trained by them to fight and save you pieces of shit from the Rabbits. Don’t you forget that!”
The spearmen all lowered their heads.
“I want all of you outside after you apologize to each one of those ARO soldiers. We’re going for a discipline jog until you learn how to give proper respect to your peers!”
The Watchers looked at each other in bewilderment but each grew a new smile on their faces as it seemed that they finally gained the respect they yearned for.
***
Elucard sat in the large temple of Father. The moonlight danced in fragmented colors as it passed through stained glass windows depicting battles against an evil that came from the skies. His head was bowed and eyes were closed shut as he muttered words of prayer and confusion to the goddess he was once faithful to, “Alanna can you hear me? I know you must be disappointed in me. I know I served you without question at one point. Or at least I thought I was serving you. I was really serving a twisted version of you.”
He opened his eyes, now red with tears from remembering such a tumultuous period in his life. He had no one to turn to for guidance, no god to lean on for understanding. Everything in his life was a lie and now he did not know whether he wished to live in that lie or be free from it.
“Alanna, I seek your blessing. I am on a path of war and many will die. At one point I believed I did your work and that I was your hand. Now I seek to kill for myself and I need to know if you will not shame me when I run my blade across the necks that deserve my wrath.” Elucard held silent. He used this moment to reflect on his own thoughts and words, “Not for myself, but for her. I wish to kill for Jetta. I know she has Alue, but Alanna, she lived a life full of trauma and strife. She needs protection. Please, while I slay those that harmed her, watch over her soul. Maybe some day Jetta and I can meet once more and I can finally have my peace…”
“Peace can be sought without the shadow of hate in tow, Elucard.”
Elucard’s eyes widened at the sound of what he thought was the voice of the one he so desperately missed, “Jetta?” He turned looking for his lost friend, but found Avalon sitting in a pew behind him instead.
“Is it she who drives you?” Avalon asked thoughtfully. She had seen many tormented hearts since she had begun her service as a Silent One. It was her duty to protect and spread the word of Jedeo. Naturally, putting the restless at ease was also a large part of her duties.
“No,” Elucard spoke simply.
Avalon leaned forward and spoke quietly into Elucard’s ear, “I was once like you, a Rabbit betrayed by her own life. I traveled the lands, seeking redemption. I was a slave to an endless nightmare of hatred and sorrow, but then Jedeo found me. She gave me my Silencer and a new purpose. I still fight. I still kill. I am still an assassin, but now for a greater purpose. I fight for the light and the truth,” she said, gripping her sword’s handle tightly.
Elucard stood up and began to walk out of the temple. Avalon grabbed Elucard’s hand as he passed her, “Elucard, don’t let the darkness swallow you. If you let that happen, you will never find peace.”
Elucard snapped his hand away from her, “You want to know what drives me? The darkness drives me. I want it to swallow me so that I can be strong enough to face my demons!”
Avalon lowered her head in prayer as Elucard stormed out of the temple.
Jedeo, give Elucard the strength to walk away from the path he walks. Give him the strength to find his way to the light and find his peace.