Broken
Chapter One:
Clank. Clank. Clank.
The sky is dark again, with puffy clouds that are far too dark to be considered calm. A wind blows steadily, as it has for the past three days. Other that the wind, clanking sounds draw animals into safety. The Arden army is marching nearby. Even the whipping flag is making everyone startled. Mostly because we're all worried about what is about to happen.
Clank. Clank.
"HALT!" A large, armored man yells with a hand in the air. He rides a brown mare, and although she doesn't look fast, the horse could probably outrun us all. Even me, if it wanted to. Though. I wouldn't count on it.
Clank.
With the last sound, all that remains is the flag and breathing.
Looking around the one hundred thousand man army, I study the surrounding forests. They look empty, but I have no doubt there are evil creatures lurking about. The witch should be stepping out of the forest soon, waiting to make a deal; live, by surrendering, or die, by beheading.
I have no idea in particular what option she's going to choose.
Tweet! Tweet tweet!
Those are calls, from one demon, to another. I understand little of the communication, but enough to know the basics. My eyes redirect to the commander, who's grinning slightly. The side of his mouth his downward, but the other side is turned up. Or was that smirking? I was never schooled, or, excuse me, taught enough.
He knew.
"The demons plan on ambushing us." I whisper to one of the soldiers next to me, who nods and passes my message down the line.
Tweet tweet, tweet tweet.
This whistle is calmer, and more rich.
But I know exactly what is said. "There are five kiligons and a thousand demons waiting around us." With that, I frown. 'Kiligons? Why?' The reason why I was so curious about this, was because these demons... the Kili... were like tree-giants. Still apart of that family, but containing magic.
My eyes glance to my friend, who stares at me from my right side. 'She knows what I'm thinking... oh Goddess.'
She frowns, her helmet lowering on her head. Reane reaches up to shove it back into the hood of the helmet, but refuses to let her hand go any further. It would seem weak to do so.
I nod as she lowers her hand, she has courage, more than any of these other soldiers. She gives me a triumphant grin, her pale hazel eyes refocusing on the commander. Then her frown returns, and finally, a neutral look. I force myself to look away, and stare up at my commander. He doesn't look happy.
My gaze slowly draws downward, toward the entrance of the forest. The witch has appeared.
The witch is beautiful, but I'm sure this is just a trick of the eye, with long, platinum hair reaching down below her waist, and almost violet eyes. She wears a dark blue robe, a dress just as blue underneath it. Her expression shows curiosity, and a hint of confusion at my commander. Her eyes extend from him, to my red haired companion, Reane. Then her eyes touch mine softly.
Now, I should have mention this before, but I'm not much to look at. As lieutenant, and a woman, I have always been ordered to wear a mask. I have dark hair, and brown eyes, with skin so pale, I probably would have still been beaten by a blank piece of paper. My mask only covers the bottom half of my face; extending to my chin, up to the bridge of my nose. It's simple, metal, and cold.
Underneath it, I hide my scar, one that is pale now, stretched across my right cheek.
I wear a tunic, dark, and a breast plate. Over the two, a black cloak.
She smiles at me, it's faint, but I can see just as clearly as if she were in the daylight. Which we weren't. It was nighttime, almost midnight, by my guess. Then her gaze flickers back to the commander.
The commander leans backward, "So, the witch came. Lieutenant Dread, with me. Squad one, behind her." He emphasizes the pronoun, looking back to study my reaction. Thankfully, I don't offer anything except a cold stare. Commander knows I won't take any crap, so he doesn't say anymore.
Supposedly, I'm a killer demon fighter, and I will have no trouble chopping limbs off. Just to keep it civil.
"Let us go, Dread." I look up and find the commander already halfway to the witch. Reane stares at me, a frown making her face look sad. Nodding, I make a hand sign, "Move out," then I run to catch up to my commander.
It only takes thirty seconds to reach him, and then I slow down, following his mare's pace.
The witch looks up at the commander and lets a small smile appear, before turning and walking forward. Her stride never picked up any pace, so we had to slow down for her.
Going through the forest, many red eyes followed us through. The intense evil pressed against my stomach, begging me to cry out. I bit my lip, from underneath my mask. I sigh warily, stepping quickly to walk beside the mare and to look up at my commander. He glared at the witch, as if he prayed that his staring behind her back would make her explode.
"Commander." I say, and my deep voice made the witch look back, but I gave her no mind at all, "Sir. I would like to know what sort of arrangements we will be agreeing to."
He looks down at me, a red flash in his eye from the shadows.
"Lieutenant Dread," Commander Aediles says deeply, "You will know, when we get there. Lieutenant Kara Dread."