Hello once again, this chapter, in case you don't figure it out after reading it, is an indicator of what I plan to do with the story from here on, and gives some of the backstory I'm giving Mark. Enjoy
Once again: Dislcaimer- I own nothing here, Nintendo and Robert E. Howard own everything
It was night at the Legion's camp, with castle Caelin only a two hour's ride away, but the young tactician said they needed rest, for there will be no small army waiting for them. In truth, Mark had a personal reason to stop for the night, one he did not want others knowing of. "Set up here, it's flat, quiet, isolated and far enough from Lundgren to not be seen by his scouts, and close enough to be there by noon tomorrow." He said, Kent voiced his opinion "I say we could gain another kilometer before we lose daylight" "This is a good place" Mark quietly dismissed Kent's suggestion, and so they stuck with that location. That happened two hours ago, now Mark sat alone in the almost complete darkness. He rolled up the right sleeve of his tunic, to take a close look at that which he concealed "well old friend, whod've thought my blood would find this location once more, so how's the afterlife?" Realizing his words, he began to dress the wound he received in the day's battle, he stopped when he heard a rustle of leaves in his direction. "Who's there?" He said to the darkness, but the stranger revealed herself the next second "oh, you, Florina, you going to tell me what you want up front or do I have to guess while you gather up the courage to speak?" "I...just... wanted to talk...you... got wounded?" Mark finished applying his bandage and replied "arrow hit me right here, didn't think it was worth stopping everybody for" "that's not what I see, you're still bleeding." Mark felt amazed by the clarity in Florina's voice, but he did not betray his emotions "fine then, if it worries you, I'll have Serra look at it." He went in the direction of Serra's tent, but the young tactician realized something before he left, "by the way, did you hear me, a second ago?" "You... really should go...that could get infected" Florina replied. She knows it's none of her business, that's good, Mark thought to himself as he neared the young cleric's tent.
Mark noticed immediately that she was not in her tent, he saw the rest of his ragtag army gathered around the fire, he heard Lyn's voice above the others. "Okay, we know what Kent, Sain, and I are going to do when this is over, anyone have other plans for the future?" Mark found his way into the circle "ah, Mark, tell us what you plan doing" at that moment the wound in his shoulder gave him a new searing sensation of pain, but he chose not to let the others know, "when the people know their leader is hurt, they lose the will to fight on" Mark recalled from his teacher, so he just answered the question that was asked of him "I plan to wander around for a while, learn a few more things about military strategy, maybe settle somewhere when I'm thirty. Unless of course I find a girl worth staying in one place for along the way." "Sounds like you've got all your bases covered" said Wil, "what are your plans then?" Lyn asked the young archer "well, I didn't really have anything until I met up with you guys, so how about I enlist in Caelin's army when we take it back?" "Sure, you can join" Lyn responded "Serra, we know you're going to Ostia, where's Erk going after your contract expires?" "I plan to return to Etruria, and learn more from my instructor" "alright, now Wallace" "after this I think I'll be a mercenary for however long as I want to fight." after Wallace revealed his plans, Florina made her presence known by speaking something quietly to Serra. The end of the conversation was heard by all in the circle "alright, Mark, lift up your right sleeve, it doesn't sound good" he did so,this was the scene he tried to avoid, but Serra was very willful for someone of her profession. Soon everyone saw the laceration, and Serra treated it with her stave that moment "why didn't you tell us?" Lyn said, "didn't think it was worth attention until about an hour ago" "Why do men always think they're so invincible, look at this, can you even move your arm?" "yes, but it is painful" Serra's stave finished closing the wound "alright, back to our little get together now" Mark ordered. "Alright then, now, who's left? Actually, Solomon, we don't really know much about you, could you give us some personal history?"
"He's some kind of demon that's what he is, I saw him take down Beyard in a few seconds" it was the interior of Black Fang headquarters, a survivor of Kane's first real battle against them recalled what happened to a young woman with blue hair. "Lady Ursula, I speak the truth, if you ever see a man wearing pure black with a green sash around his waist, I emplore you to either retreat or raise an army big enough to destroy a million men." "Fine then, I shall tell Nergal that a mysterious man in black is hunting him, get back to your post."
"The stories I have are not for one night, but I can tell you I am a landless man searching the world to fight injustice wherever it may be. I was born in Devonshire England, a small village near London, I consider myself a puritan in terms of religion. My weapons come from many different places, these pistols from France, this rapier from Spain, this dagger from home, and this staff from Africa. Surely none of you have heard of these places, but I chose not to leave them from the story of my life." Mark then asked "then what's a puritan?" "The faith of my people has seen its share of conflicting values, people choose to follow one side of the scriptures over another, I chose the path of selflessness and strict moral principles. That should explain my dislike of music and dancing, and why I wear such clothing, it is standard in my faith." This wrapped up Solomon Kane's character poorly, for he left out the grim determination that brought him on this vayage, he failed to mention the constant struggle with his faith he felt almost every day, nor did he bring up the torture he suffered after capture by the Spaniards, none of what truly made Solomon Kane the way he was received mention. After Kane's speech Mark told everyone that they need to rest up for the final battle the next day, the fire was put out, and everyone went to their tents for possibly the last time on this quest.