Prologue: Tactician and a Sacaen Woman
The sun was setting in the Sacae Plains as the stars lit up in the sky. A girl was riding on her horse that galloped over the hilltops as she looked into the sunset. She smiled as the wind rushed into her face and her blue hair flowed down from the back of her head.
Just then the horse stopped for an unknown reason and she fell off, going down the hill she was on top of. She hit the bottom with a thump but hit something soft in the end. She looked around and saw she had fallen on top of a person. His face was pained, his body in agony, as she looked at him from where she stood.
She picked him up, carried him towards her horse, and rode all the way to her village where she lived. The huts they lay around the village, one was far in the corner, and it was big enough to hold three families. Her hut was small but it was just big enough for him and her. She hopped off her horse and took the body of the stranger and put it onto her bed, as she leaned in onto his chest to see if he had a heartbeat. His heart was pumping steadily; she sighed in relief and walked towards her chest.
She opened it and took out a bandage wrapping, wine and vulnerary. Vulnerary was a type of medicine that could heal someone. She walked over to the man, took his shirt off, and looked at the wound. It was an arrow-head that was stuck in his shoulder, so she carefully took out the arrow-head, looking to see if he was in pain.
Then she bandaged him up with her bandage wrapping, using the wine to heal the wound also. Then she pulled the head up a bit and slipped the vulnerary down his mouth. Soon she looked outside, to see the night sky, with the bright moon hovering above the village. She turned so she could go to sleep; the man took the bed so she had to sleep on the floor. Soon she was asleep and dreamed about her life in the Sacae.
In the morning she looked at the bed, the body was missing; she hopped up suddenly and ran outside. She saw a fire going and saw the man sitting there, his black hair cut short, his brown eyes staring at her.
"Ah! You're just in time for breakfast," said the man, "why don't you sit down with me?"
"Um?"
"Ah! Yes, that's right," said the man again, "my name is Allan...what's yours?"
She looked at him, his brown eyes made her blush as she smiled. She walked over and sat down in front of the fire as she took the plate the man handed him.
"My name is Lyn," she said, "I am from the Locra Tribe"
Allan looked at Lyn, her tunic or dress of her tribe was blue, it reached almost down to her feet. She looked beautiful in her dress, her green eyes lit up as she looked at Allan.
"The Locra Tribe was one of the most famous tribe's in the Sacae Plains," said Allan. "Am I not correct?"
Lyn nodded, she was fascinated by his knowledge about this tribe or even the plains. She wondered if he had a story behind it all, but was afraid to ask as he might get mad.
"I thought that this village had more people in it?" said Allan, "I think it has something to do with the bandits in the mountain separating Bern from Sacae Plains"
Her eyes widened. "How did you know that, it wasn't even announced nationally?"
Allan laughed. "My, my, even I know about what happened, it was announced nationally"
She looked down into the fire, and then at Allan, he smiled but then turned his head and remained quiet.
"I think we should head inside, I need to change those bandages" said Lyn nicely.
Allan smiled and stood up; he looked at Lyn and walked in to the hut. She headed for the chest, and pulled out the spear bandage wrappings. She pulled off his shirt and took off his bandages. She stared at the wound until she finally started to pull the bandage around his waist.
"So, let me guess, it must have been terrible to be raided by bandits" asked Allan.
Lyn stopped pulling the bandage and looked at Allan, her eyes watery.
"Oh, it was horrible, there was no mercy..."
Her voice quivered as she spoke, Allan put his hand up to stop her from speaking because it was breaking her heart.
Allan just then heard some shouting and banging outside. Lyn stood up as quickly and ran outside as she took her iron sword with her. Allan took the bandage and rapidly put it on, his small, dagger like sword lay on the bed where he left it. He took it as he stood up; he heard footsteps coming from within the hut.
He drew his dagger as he looked at the door. Soon Lyn ran in with a sad look on her face, she was completely worn out as she tried to catch her breath.
"By the look of you, you seemed to be trouble about something?" asked Allan, "Does it have to do with bandits or intruder's."
Lyn looked up at Allan with a fascinated look, she nodded as she stood. She looked around but could not find what she was looking for.
"Just wait here Allan," said Lyn, "I'll deal with the bandits, so just sit tight."
Just then Allan laughed loudly; Lyn was surprised by this as he eventually stopped. He shook his head in objection, putting his dagger away and putting his shirt and tunic on.
"You don't even know if I have any battle knowledge," said Allan. "Even though I never use a sword in my battles."
Lyn turned her head in confusion.
"Then what do you use in battle?" asked Lyn as she looked at Allan's happy face.
"My head," replied Allan, "I am a strategist by trade or to simply put, a tactician."
Lyn looked at Allan in complete shock, a person that goes into battle with only his head as a weapon, even though it sounds very odd.
"Alright, come with me" said Lyn as they both ran outside to meet the bandits.
They ran outside, running towards the Ger at the end of the village. A Ger is a large hut mostly like a town centre or a place where most village people go. Bandits have come down from the Bern Mountains to invade the village.
Allan saw there were only a couple of bandits but they were wearing the worst armour you could imagine. And that was wearing very old and torn shirts. But their axes were a different story; the axes were sharp and were actually strong enough to kill a person.
Their formation was rubbish; they were all over the place and had no real battle strategy. They were as dumb as they look, except for their shiny, iron axes. Allan smiled as he saw the opportunity arise.
One bandit was alone, in front of the group, probably as a scout. The other was situated around the Ger, but this was the time to attack, no real help would come they thought, the element of surprise. That's the first rule in the tactics manual.
If you can surprise you enemy, then use the element of surprise and you will surely have the advantage.
"Ok, Lyn, there is one bandit alone in front of the group," said Allan, "now I want you to take him out, then move onto the next one over next to the Ger."
She nodded. "What about you?"
Allan smiled, and chuckled at the same time.
"Don't worry," replied Allan, "I will follow closely behind, if anything changes I'll be here to give you an order."
She turned and looked at Allan, her face lit up as she smiled, then she nodded and ran at the bandits with Allan. The bandit looked around until he saw Lyn and me running at his. He yelled some gibberish before running straight at us. His axe in his right hand as he ran right up to Lyn.
He tried to bring down the axe on top of Lyn from her right.
"Twirl to the left, and strike his head with your sword, make sure the sword tip is pointing in towards you."
Lyn twirled to the left as the axe hit the ground where she was standing. Her sword was reversed as her blade tip smashed into the back of the bandits head. Blood splattered from the front of his mouth, the sword protruding from the back to the front.
"Ah see," said Allan, "How hard was that, now that you have me."
Lyn smiled as they ran towards the last bandit that was situated on right at the Ger's entrance. Lyn stopped, seeing her opponent looked a lot tougher than the other bandit. The bandit seeing her run towards him chuckled with laughter.
"Do you really think you can beat Batta the Beast?" Batta chuckled.
Lyn and Allan ran up to him, his axe ready in his hands, his beady eyes watching our every move. Lyn ran up to him and attacked with her sword, but his axe met and deflected her blow. He quickly raised his axe and swung it down, leaving Lyn to jump back in order to dodge his blow.
"Wow, he's tougher than I thought," said Lyn. "Allan, if I lose, I want you to run, run fast as you can."
Lyn raised her sword as his axe came down and stopped the attack. She pushed her blade to the left then quickly and gracefully brought her blade across Batta's throat.
He chocked a few words before dying. "What!? How could you-?"
She sat down and began to rest as Allan slowly walked over to her. He looked at the bandit, and then at Lyn, She stared at the ground as he walked over and sat down next to her, tired out body. Allan patted her on the back before she looked at him with her kind, blue eyes.
She smiled at him; she looked at the ground, her first battle won. Her iron sword in her hands, her first kills were made today as she continued to think.
"Nice job out there today," commented Allan, "That was great swordsmanship."
She shook her head. "No I need to become stronger, stronger that no one will be able to defeat me."
Lyn stood up and started to go back home. Allan followed her but then sped up; she let him go as she looked at him from behind. She started to think as he walked to her hut. He was very mysterious, his own personality was unknown. He was charming and kind...but was very quiet, he seemed a bit afraid to talk about something's, probably his past.
They reached her hut and Allan sat down outside where the fire had been. Allan then stood again and looked out into the forest, then back at Lyn.
"I think I'll go get the firewood," said Allan, "If you don't mind."
She nodded as Allan slammed his foot down on the end of the shaft on the axe. The axe spun up and Allan caught it then walked off to the forest. Lyn smiled and walked off to collect tonight's dinner.
After dinner Allan looked up into the sky, seeing shiny, bright stars, which twinkled in the night's sky. He never saw many stars in the major cities, and saw Lyn smiling as she laid down on the grass.
"I just love the plains, Allan," said Lyn, "It is very relaxing"
Allan smiled and then stood up; he picked up a stick and twirled it in his hands. This usually made tacticians more focused as they concentrated on the stick.
"I think it's time for bed," said Allan, "I think I shall sleep on the floor, if you will."
She stared at him once again and shook her head.
"No, I'm the host, so I should give you the bed to sleep on" said Lyn.
Allan shook his in objection.
"I am sorry," said Allan, "But I must object, I usually do better when sleeping on the floor since...."
His voice trailed off as he got to the part of his sentence he tries to keep secret. Lyn looked at Allan in complete sadness.
"If you will excuse me," said Allan. "I need some fresh air, so I'll take a walk."
She turned around as Allan began to walk outside; she then stared at the bed and walked towards it. As she hit the bed, her eyes began to close; she didn't hear Allan as she fell asleep.
The sun rose up the next morning as she mumbled some few words. Her body tipping away from the sunlight that penetrated her room. She turned over again until she rose up out of bed due to the smell of food. She stood, putting her clothes back on then walking outside once again.
There he was sitting by the fire, looking into it very deeply like he was completely hypnotised by it.
"Hello, Lyn," said Allan, "Care for breakfast."
Lyn nodded and sat down beside Allan this time. Before he was a complete stranger and now he is a friend.
"There is something I want to ask you, Allan," asked Lyn.
Allan looked at her, her face as calm as the sky.
"Yes, Lyn? What is it?" replied Allan.
"You have some experience in the ways of war, I can see. Would you allow me to travel with you?"
Allan smiled. "Hmm, you can but I think you should ask your parents first."
"What? You...want me to get permission Allan, from my parents?"
Lyn looked down and had a pensive look on her face. Allan, a bit worried for her, scooted over next to her, and put his arm around her shoulders.
"Lyn? Is everything OK?
Lyn's eyes had so much hurt in them, Allan began to frown.
"My mother and father...died six months ago. My people- the Lorca- they don't... I'm the last of my tribe. Bandits attacked, and... They killed so many people. The tribe was scattered. My father was our chieftain, and I wanted to protect our people. But I'm so young, and our people were old-fashioned. They wouldn't follow a woman, No one would follow me."
Tears started cascading down her face. Allan, feeling sympathetic. He took his arm off of her shoulders and wiped away her tears.
"Sniff... I'm sorry. I've been alone for so long..."
"Lyn, no need to be. You can let out your feelings. It's all ok, it's normal to mourn like this. It's ok."
"No. No more. I will shed no more tears. ... Thank you. I'm better now. Allan, I want- I must become stronger, so that I may avenge my father's death! Yesterday's battle taught me something. I won't become stronger by sitting alone. Allan, tell me you'll train me that you'll let me travel with you!
After a moment of silence and some hesitation, Allan finally said.
"Lyn, I will take you with me. I will teach you the ways of combat, if that is what you want. It's the least I can do to repay you. You saved me, and you let me stay the night. Yes."
"You will? That's wonderful! Thank you! Oh, thank you! We'll be better off working together, I know it. You'll be my master strategist, and I'll be your peerless warrior! We can do it! Right?"
Allan smiled and looked at the sunrise, the clouds of white shone bright. The hills green with life, and wild creatures ran here and there.
"Yes, Lyn, we can do it" said Allan cheerfully.
What awaits Lyn, and her new strategist Allan? Will their plans become successful, or will Lyn's training not go as expected? Will it be as Allan expects or will another twist come into play. Find out in my next chapter, Footsteps of Fate.
