Prologue
"Alicia I'm heading out for my patrol now" I said grabbing my submachine gun. "I got it Edward take one of the new recruits with you" Alicia said. I got it Alicia I said heading out the door. I look over to the new lot of recruits and walk over. "Hey its Edward how are you doing" Sam said from the group. "Sam your coming with me on patrol grab your rifle and i'm fine" I said.
"Yes sir" Sam said grabbing his rifle and follows me down to the road the refuges are going. "Sam you know joining the town watch means you can die right" I asked. "Yes I do Edward but I want my family to escape to the capital" Sam said.
"I see good thing you have a family Sam but remember they want to see you alive so don't die" I said. "I understand Edward now stop treating me like a kid" Sam said. "Your younger then me Sam so no" I said. "Who's that down by the water" Sam asked. "Over here Sam" I said pulling him behind some bushes.
"Go get Alicia Sam i'll keep my eye on him that's a order" I said. "I understand sir i'll be back with her" Sam said sneaking off. I put down my gun and pull out my binoculars. I look through them and watch him draw in his book and lip read. I pull out some utensils and write down the words he's saying to the fish. I keep my attention on the book and my shoulder is tapped.
I look up and see Alicia kneeling down. I hand her my binoculars for her to look through. "Alicia i've observed him since I sent Sam off to get you and I lip read what he said as he drew" I said. "Really then what did he say Ed" Alicia asked. "Well its mostly about talking to the fish and asking questions like how their scales feel and are you heading up north because of the war and other things along that line" I said handing her the notes.
She hands me the binoculars and I keep my eyes on the man as she looks at the notes. "Are these accurate Ed" Alicia asked. "Word for word Alicia not a single word missing" I said. "That's good why don't you take a sniper rifle or a rifle with you" Sam asked. "Ed here is proficient in all weapons we have here and he even has some skill in armor and anti-armor combat" Alicia said.
"The man's saying something and its thanks for letting me sketch your tail also fish man this guy is weird" I said. "We should move in and secure the man just in case he is a imperial spy" Alicia said. "Agreed" Sam and I said. I put away my binoculars and writing equipment along with the notes. I grab my gun and say "I'm ready Alicia and Sam are you ready". I look back at Sam and who's twirling a quill. I get up and smack him in the head.
"Ow why did you do that" Sam asked. "We're heading to grab that man Sam so get ready" I said. "Oh ok Edward" Sam said grabbing his gun and standing up. We head over behind the man and Alicia points her gun at him. "Hands in the air" Alicia said. The man puts his hands in the air and gets up. I look at him and believe that I've seen him before. "What's your name" Alicia asked. "Welkin and yours" he said. "My name's Alicia Melchiott" Alicia said.
"What are you doing in that book of yours" I asked. "I'm just sketching the fish sir" Welkin said. "Cuff him and we'll bring him to the town watch hq" Alicia said. I pull out my cuffs and arrest Welkin. "Sam you take guard on the prisoner and I'll be the rear guard" I said. "Okay sir" Sam said guarding Welkin as we head back to town. We reach the bridge when I hear a familiar voice. "Welks is that you" said Isara. "Isara your timing is perfect" Welkin said.
I pull out my key once I learn of Welkin being general Gunther's son and get rid of the cuffs. I place them on my waist and I hear gunfire. I turn around and see three imperial scouts. I run toward them and suppress them with my submachine gun. The scouts fall back behind the crest. I reload and keep on the fire while moving toward the civilians.
I get to them and say "hit the deck and it will increase your survival chances". The civilians hit the deck and the driver of the truck stops and does the same. I reload my gun and duck low. I peak over my cover and see the scouts coming down. I go prone and roll to the right five times. I fire at the closest scout and he falls over dead riddled with bullets. I reload and see Sam get shot in the head. "That fool" I said getting up and charging at the scouts.
I open fire as I close in on them. I see Welkin and Alicia open fire on the one near them. I reload and open fire while stopping at the enemy near me and out of cover. He gets riddled with twenty bullets and falls over dead. I reload for the last time and walk back to Alicia. I jump down and see Sam is dead. "Are you okay civilians" I asked. Welkin and Isara nod. "Good then Sam can rest in piece" I said closing his eyes.
"Was he your friend" Welkin asked kneeling down. "Yes he was and he was a idiot for standing up like that" I said. Isara looks at me and says "aren't you the seventeen year old that works off in the fields and the old mill".
"Yes I am" I said looking around just in case of more scouts. "Isara you know Edward here" Alicia asked. "Well not really but I have met him when Martha went and bought a box of fruit" Isara said. "Yeah I carried the box for her and happened to meet your sister but had to head back within five minutes of getting to your house" I said. "Really so do you have anything against" Welkin didn't get to finish. "No I don't have anything against Darcsens since i'm half Darcsen myself" I said revealing my streak of black hair.
"That's a rare case since Darcsens are persecuted" Alicia said. "No kidding your the first three to know my secret of being a half Darcsen" I said. "Really well that means you trust me" Welkin said. "Yeah after all your sister is a Darcsen so you would never tell on any Darcsen" I said. "That's true Welkin and besides he's a nice person according to Martha" Isara said. "Well okay well let's move" Alicia said. We all nod and we head towards Bruhl.