The thunderstorms raged in the evening as the largest convoy of artillery were brought to a new location. It had taken several days for the cavalry to locate them since their last barrage. Originally, the company was supposed to be the eyes and ears of the 5th Armored Division, but the weather had halted their vehicles from advancing any further - forcing their commander to find these guns themselves.

This deep recon mission was perilous from the beginning, but the destruction of those guns was paramount. The Gotorans were able to attack Alexei's country in a simple border skirmish but were repulsed and they had to move their guns to avoid counter-fire. However, these guns were going to be transferred to the new front against their well-known enemy - the Ferngill Republicans. If they didn't catch them now, they would undermine the entire frontlines through their sheer firepower.

Now? The Gotorans were at the mercy of their company. The 1st Mounted Guards Company was able to bypass their patrols and key positions to find them at their most vulnerable. The enemy was in the open, pulling their guns away as Alexei slowly rode his horse to the front of the troops. Everyone was waiting for this moment to show their prowess to their country as soon as the war started. The captain looked over his shoulder to see hundreds of his men in their greatcoats with their rifles hanging from their backs and sabers resting from their hips.

One of his lieutenants joined him. "Sir, we're waiting for the charge. We may not get a chance like this, ever again."

Alexei looked at him. "I know. Tell the troops to form up and prepare the men to move into three groups."

"Yes, sir." The lieutenant in the grey greatcoat did as he was told before slipping his cap on, moving back to the tireless men.

He was quick to turn his horse around and look at every man under his command. "Gentlemen, the Gotorans believe they are superior in every way. I hope you are all here to provide them the steel the speaks otherwise. Those pompous buffoons wouldn't know how to hit a target much less an artillery gun so it is our duty to relieve them of weapons they lack the skill of using."

Many heads nodded at his words as they all grabbed the reins of their horses. Their antsy behavior expressed their impatience into the fight. Some laughter was even discovered from those not in the view of their commanding officer.

"Na schturm, marshch!" At the command of his words, Alexei noticed hundreds of faces smiling in a single moment before they changed it to steel themselves for the oncoming fight. His horse cantered forward as they moved from the protective cover of the treeline and into the open. Each step started to match with the thunder above, a fitting mask for their assault.

The entire unit followed him, revealing their true numbers as they stepped forward towards their enemy. When the captain's beast started to move into rhythm he gave out his hand gesture to double-time the advance. It was at this point that the 1st Mounted Guards were approaching the convoy of enemy artillery guns in the distance. Then they accelerated into a charging speed where the hooves outpaced the thunder of the clouds.

When the enemy infantry took notice of their arrival, he could see them scrambling to do something. Some ran, others tried to organize a defense against their number, but neither option would be sufficient to survive the wrath of the cavalry. Alexei drew his sword and raised its naked skin up in the sky. "Long live the Fatherland!" A battle cry followed as hundreds of men were moments away from crashing into the artillery convoy.

Alexei awoke from his slumber and felt the cold air seep into the room. It was about time he had a reason to use that fireplace. He strolled out of bed and looked to his half-opened luggage - searching for his source of ignition. Out from the bags and towards the fireplace, a lighter lay tightly in his hands before he lit the wood and felt his hands warm up his home. As the chill was dispelled from the cabin, he heard a knocking on his door and walked over to see who was there.

When he unlocked the door, the young man discovered someone waiting for him. He had seen her before, she had been at the saloon with her friends. However, this left a question as to why she was here in the first place. "Hi, what brings you out here in the rain?"

She reached into her leather jacket and handed a book that was rightfully his. "You forgot this at the bar. I thought it would be nice to hand you your book." After she had handed his belonging back to him, she coughed.

"How long were you waiting out there?" The former cavalry officer asked as he widened the door.

"About an hour, but don't worry about that. I can get some medication from Harvey on my way back from home."

He shook his head at her decisions. "You should have stayed inside rather than wait outside my doorstep. It might have saved you the trouble."

"I know, but you're the farmer. I think you'll appreciate someone coming over every now and then," She replied. "I better get going."

What she did was nice, but Alexei realized he kinda did owe her for returning one of his few sources of farming. He glanced at the television, knowing that he couldn't always rely on those channels for his own sake. "Why don't you stay?"

"Excuse me?"

"I said, why don't you stay? I'll fix up some tea in the meantime. It will help with that cough of yours and the weather might break by the time we're done."

The redhead's face had begun to fluster at the thought, but then she stepped inside and he walked over to his only table to find a kettle waiting for him. "You don't have to do this."

"If I'm going to be part of this community, I have to participate in it every now and then. I'm sure you'll understand," He explained. "I would also be a bad host since you spared me the trouble of finding a new book." Then he began pouring water into the kettle before placing it above the fireplace.

"You're welcome." She added. "I'm sorry if my friends and I didn't introduce ourselves to you last night, but my name is Leah. I live south of your farm if you need to know where I am."

He turned his attention towards her and gave out his hand. After they shook their greetings together, Leah took a seat at a table beside the window. "It's good to meet you, Leah."

"I noticed you used a photo as a bookmark, but it seemed like you liked to ride horses."

Alexei realized what she was talking about. He walked over to his bags in search of the few types of tea he brought from home. "That's an understatement. However, I think you're here for more than returning a book or for the tea. The guns and uniforms are too obvious for me to try and hide it."

"If this is personal for you, I can not ask about it and we could-"

He cut her off. "No, I think you have every right to ask." Once he found his tea, he took his seat across from here. "So go ahead, ask."

Leah pulled out a photo from her leather jacket and placed it between themselves. "What did you do before you came here?"

"Back in my country, I was a captain of a cavalry company called the 1st Mounted Guards. That was a picture before we were deployed for war."

Her eyes widened at the revelation. "You were a cavalry officer? Why did I not see that coming?"

He smiled. "It should have been obvious, but I suppose the idea of cavalry units remaining in this day and age is too far-fetch to believe."

"Honestly, I thought you were something more of a cowboy than a soldier."

"Technically, I was."

"Wait, what?!"

"My company was garrisoned at this village, my village to be precise. We always helped out the locals on the ranch to practice our horsemanship." Then she giggled at his descriptions. "What's so funny?"

"I don't know. I left my home and my ex because he didn't like how I spent time studying something that isn't worth as much money in other fields." Leah replied. "Here I am, asking questions from an actual cavalry officer." A sneeze followed her after every sentence. "Sorry, I didn't cover my mouth."

Alexei reached into his pockets to pull out a clean handkerchief for such cases. "Here, I'm sure you need this more than me."

As soon as she accepted the offer, she continued. "You seemed to be well-mannered for a farmer."

"An officer is its own class of gentlemen." He replied before walking up to his bags to pull out a design from his former days as a soldier. "This will help." Then he wrapped his greatcoat around the redhead before returning to his seat. "What did you do before you came here?"

"Me?" She seemed surprised at the question being directed at her. "I wanted to be an artist, but my ex and I were taking multiple jobs to cover our expenses. Then there's him wanting me to give up my dreams to make more money in being a lawyer or a doctor. I just couldn't stand him belittling my ability for art. Do you think it was a good idea for me to leave?"

The farmer shook his head. "Although I have never been in a relationship, I think your ex was being unreasonably hard on you. Sometimes there are relationships that just won't work."

Leah raised her eyebrows. "I take you had actual experience in this?"

"Of course, I was a cavalry officer. Every now and then, someone brings up their personal life to me and tries to get my non-existent advice." He lowered his head at his memories. The amount of times he had to tell his men it's okay to be away from loved ones.

"To be fair, I didn't think you would understand, but thank you. It's good to know there are people who will listen to your problems. Strange that it's rare amongst people."

The kettle began to whistle with steam, causing Alexei to rise from his seat and grab two metal cups near the fireplace. "It's done." Then he was quick to put the tea bags in and pour the water inside before bringing them over to the table. "Here."

Her hands grasped the warm cups as she looked down at her drink. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The duo quietly sipped their tea at the wooden table as the rain began to stop pouring. The only exception was the dew dropping from the edges of the roof. "It stopped raining. I'll probably finish this tea and get going, but thank you for having me."

"If I'm going to have guests, I really need to improve this house." He glanced at the cabin's simplicity. "Looks like I'll have to take up Robin's offer about making a new addition to my home."

"She offered you to improve your house?"

He nodded his head. "Yes, but I'll have to deforest all the trees on my farm and pay a hefty sum just to get it installed."

"Well, I hope you don't break yourself in the process." She replied. There was a momentary pause. "Say, what was that tune you were whistling last night?"

"Cavalry tune."

"Ah, so it's something your company always sang?" Leah wondered.

"Yes, it's somewhat of a drinking song."

"Mind if I hear it?"

Alexei found himself at odds with himself. The song's lyrics weren't exactly the kind of songs that anyone could find themselves singing to. "You really want to hear the song?"

"Yes! It's okay. If you're singing is really bad, I won't hold that against you. After all, it's just between you and me."

He smiled at her concern. "Very well." Then he walked around the room to remember the lyrics.

"Don't be scared." She encouraged before drinking more of her tea in the process.

If we drink, we will die,

And if we don't drink, we will die,

So we might as well say what the hell,

And let our glasses clink!

Whatever your name,

You'll be dying just the same,

So long as we are going to die,

It is better if we drink!

The farmer turned around to see her expression. "I can see why you didn't want to sing that to me." When she finished her tea, she got out of the chair and handed Alexei his greatcoat. "Well, I have to go."

"Leah, don't wait in front of my door like that ever again. There's a reason why the mailbox is there."

She smiled. "I know, but I kinda wanted to get to know you."

With that said, Alexei was left alone once more in his cabin as he made his way towards his duffle bag.

Few Gotoran soldiers survived. Those that did were either cut down in the tired weather or they have truly escaped the flashing sabers. Alexei inspected every part of the convoy. These guns would be destroyed by demolitions and if they didn't have enough explosives, they could certainly destroy their mechanisms into being nothing more than extra weight. "Finish the rest off and see what we can get on our way back." He ordered from his troops.

However, his lieutenant approached him and immediately saluted him. "Comrade-Captain, the enemy has more than their artillery here. Come with me, they have something to show."

The duo mounted their horses and rode to the back of the convoy, but it was entirely different from whatever they had in the front. As soon as the company commander arrived, several of his men took off the covers off the wagons and revealed dozens of men clad in iron chains. Yet, the horror was that they were in ragged uniforms and nearly showed signs of malnourishment. "What am I looking at?"

"Prisoners of war from the Ferngill Republic." His lieutenant replied. "We found one of the notes that the Gotorans were transferring prisoners towards their capital."

"I see. Get them out of those chains. We're bringing them along."

His fresh-faced subordinate looked at him with surprise. "Sir, we can't take them along. They'll slow us down and if the Gotorans respond to this attack, we won't escape."

Alexei stared at him. "If the Gotorans do respond and leave them behind, they'll be at the mercy of their captors. They will come with us and that is final."

"Yes sir." As the troops began to make their way towards the prisoners, the officer pulled out his canteen and passed it to the nearest wagon of prisoners.

The blonde man took a quick sip of his canteen before giving it to his fellow brothers-in-arms. However, he spoke in his mother's tongue to him. Of course, the captain didn't know what he truly said, but he was sure it was words of gratitude. Then the cavalry officer rode away and began to inspect each wagon of Ferngill Republicans.

Dysentia: I hope you didn't have to wait long.