Sorry about this one taking longer to get out, but I've been in a fist fight with life lately.
On a different note, if you're interested in music fitting to the story, might I recommend looking into Adrian Von Ziegler and/or Karliene on YouTube? Ziegler has great medieval Celtic and Viking music, while Karliene does fantasy ballads. Great stuff.
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The sound of wind in the trees and a relaxing crackle had awoken the Ranger, reminding her that it was her watch. Crackle? The Ranger sprang to life but it was too late. The tree line in front of her was engulfed in tongues of fire lapping at the glowing night sky.
"Fire! Fire!" she shrieked as she ran along the catwalk, waking the entire outpost.
Brody broke out of his tree house with hand and a half sword and royal Epineian shield, the bronze face painted royal blue with his sidgel, the Black Dragon who was chief of all the gods. "What happened?" Brody roared.
Brody's question was answered when he saw the golden banners with the brown bear of the Voidlings. In a bold move, they struck first. "Get everyone prepared for battle and clear of the outpost! We can't save this tinderbox. And send for the Wandering Company.
The Rangers scrambled to gear up and evacuate, forming a battle line among the trees as the fire got ever nearer.
In the distance a horn sounded and a great chorus of shouting took up. The Voidlings were charging, gods only knowing how many there were.
Before Brody had the chance to signal for a charge, when a second horn sounded. This was not the Voidlings. The sea of two thousand Rangers parted as Jack, Kim, Jerry, Milton and Rudy along with the rest of the Wandering Company at their backs surged past them all with weapons ready and a call with a force of lions.
They crashed into the Voidlings like a wave, but the rock broke and shattered under axe, sword and spear. Jack's company acted like a wedge that splits lumber, making a great gap for Brody, Est and the Rangers to exploit. A great rift was opened and the lesser skill of the Voidlings faltered and their ranks were split in half.
Yet again, two horns sounded announcing the presence of another player. With lances trained, Phil and his Hahkmaki Riders smashed into the left and right flanks of the Voidlings causing them fight on four fronts. It was five if you counted the Wandering Company chopping through the center.
Jack lead his pack with a speed and strength he didn't know he possessed, his sword and axe felt like simple extensions of his arms. He hacked and slashed, the bodies in front of him putting up less than an honorable fight.
Kim was at his side, wielding her Ranger's sword with Rudy's training. She refused to separate from Jack. Last time she did, Jack nearly lost an arm, and in the back of her mind, that made her more worried about him than ever. That fear, and them fighting for each other side to side fueled their spirit and made them a very deadly pair. Gods help any twenty men that stood before them. As Kim had said, they were better, they were now fearless.
Rudy did not fight with the same protective devotion of Jack and Kim, but his two decades of experience made him a beautifully terrifying sight to be behold. Rudy was a surgical ballerina when he flashed his black twin Dao swords. Short, but sharp and light like razors, the Voidlings saw there guts at their feet before they felt it. Please keep in mind that war is not as clean as it is portrayed (1).
Milton and Julie fought as a team as well. Milton was a moving bronze wall, protecting himself and Julie behind him with his long spear and great shield. Julie stayed close behind, her bow string constantly reverberated as she fired over the top of Milton's shield (2).
Jerry was not thriving as usual. His mind was unfocused and trained on the well-being of a certain young brunette Wardeness. Jerry was the only token member of the Company that didn't have his love by his side, and his performance showed it at first. Jerry had to see her, had to make sure she was fine. This thought propelled him forward and allowed him to find his mammoth stride. He became one possessed like Jack and Kim had become since the fight began.
The tide never turned, the fight having been in Vakkerian favor all along. The tide simply rolled in and brought down anything with hopes of stopping it.
Before long, the Company saw the trunks of trees on the other side. They had successfully cut the horde completely in half. Jack saw his flanks perfectly secured and even widening as the Rangers pushed out. They had effectively formed a 'T' with a widening trunk.
Jack closed his eyes, knowing what he had to do. He hated this, but the lives of his people were at stake. Yes, his people. "About face!" He commanded, and the Company did as ordered, turning 180 degrees to face the backs of the Voidlings. "Push them back to the flames!" Jack's voice was strong, though his heart shuddered at what he had commanded.
His soldiers spread thin and went back into the frey, making two separate boxes of Voidlings, packed in by warriors and their own fire. Die by the sword, surrender or burn.
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The field was quiet as the forces of Vakker walked among the dead and the dying. The metallic smell of blood assaulted the senses of those not accustomed to it.
Jack and Kim turned and fully looked at each other for the first time since they'd charged. They hardly recognized each other, both slick with sweat and literally dripping blood. Jack had been able to cool himself down, but Kim's eyes were still animalistic and burning with hate and pure rage.
Jack approached her slowly and noticed she was trembling quite fiercely. "Hey," Jack said with little more than a whisper. "We're okay, we made it," he told her as he housed his weapons and cautiously put his hands on her small shoulders.
Kim didn't move, didn't speak. The fire in her eyes slowly faded and Jack finally saw her true spirit returning to her body. She shuffled closer to him like she was walking for the first time before she nearly collapsed into Jack's chest. She shuddered and took two fistfuls of his crimson soaked war shirt, burying her face into the damp leather. What did she care? She was already beyond a mess.
"It's okay. I'm here. You're here. We're here together, we made it." Jack shuddered as he wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her hair. Her usual scent of vanilla and lavender had abandoned her and was replaced with dirt, smoke, sweat and blood.
In his arms, she finally broke. She didn't speak, she didn't cry out. She shook with quiet sibs that racked her entire body and her soul. Every so often Jack's name would escape from her trembling lips.
They had fought before, been in over their heads, but this was the first time they had seen the face of full fledged war. Tonight they had seen the face of what man could do to each other when their backs were against one wall or another.
Jack and Kim, being so wrapped up in each other, did not realize they had been joined by others. Jerry had found Est in one piece. Milton and Julie were holding each other as well. Phil, Rudy and Brody had all gathered with them.
Brody shook his head as he wiped the blood from his sword. His eyes took in the sights around him, and then fell on the young couples that held each other so tightly. "It is good that war is so terrible, otherwise man would fall in love with it (3)," Brody lamented.
"What do we do now?" Kim asked as she composed herself. Real life was back. Maybe she'd cry later.
"Where's Claire? She's patrolled the Void more than anyone. She'll know where we can strike these fuck heads before they can get us again," Est growled as she watched her home burn.
"You want to press them after tonight?" Julie asked in shock. "That's insane."
"Why?" Brody asked. "The force they attacked us with was no small raiding party. They meant to kill us. They could have if it was only the Rangers. They've shown their hand. The tribes have gathered and are ready for war with either us, the Thoseans, or both. They've forced us now. We push or they invade Vakker." The king had spoken. This was now an offensive front.
"Your army will come down and we'll press them into Thosea with the Thosean's pressing right back. We'll squeeze them together until they pop and then the real war starts," Jack said, rubbing his chin.
"Unless..." Milton trailed off.
"Go on," Brody urged him.
"Unless we can bring the Voidlings to the table. Get them with us," Milton offered.
"You would have us ally with them?" Brody asked, making sure he followed.
"Yeah dude, whole lot less people for us to kill and a whole lot more people to help us kill Thoseans," Jerry summed it up in the way only Jerry could.
"So are we done here? I feel really gross," Kim said with a scrunched nose.
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Jack took Kim's hand and led her down to the river that the outpost had been situated on. The two were alone, and seeing that, Jack allowed himself to fall onto the cool grass. His hand speared through his cruddy hair as he stared up at the twinkling stars.
Kim plopped down next to him and took his hand to squeeze it. Jack turned and looked at her questioningly. "I keep feeling the need to make sure you're still here," Kim whispered.
Jack raised their entwined hands to his lips and kissed their fingers. "I am still here. I told you that they'd try to take us away from each other, and I told you they wouldn't," Jack said seriously. "Come on, let's get washed up."
Jack offered his hand and Kim took it. They stripped down to the skin and waded into the cool water together, both sighing in ecstasy as the gentle flow ran around them.
Kim dipped beneath the surface and burst back up, throwing her hair behind her as she did so. "God, this is nice!" Kim groaned as she worked the grime from her golden hair.
"I agree," Jack said with a chuckle as he splashed water over his chest. "Tonight was kinda crazy, huh?"
"You can say that again," Rudy said from the riverbank as he began undressing himself.
Kim darted behind Jack and peaked around his shoulder as Rudy joined them. She remembered the Vakkerians didn't make a big deal about nudity, but Kim was still shy herself.
"War is like any job. Being a soldier is a job. Do it and leave it behind, guys," Rudy chuckled as he did a backflip even in the water.
"Oh god!" Kim shouted as she tried to cover her eyes but it was too late.
"This is gonna sound really messed up, because it is, but killing gets easier. You do it enough, and you do it enough when you know you HAVE to, it becomes nothing." Rudy's advice sounded cold, but it made sense to Jack and Kim.
"I follow you there, Rudy, but how long is it until the nightmares stop?" Jack asked, knowing it was on Kim's mind.
"Once you've lived that nightmare enough, it stops being a nightmare. You kill so many times, you look death in the face every day, it stops being scary." Rudy splashed Jack and Kim and Kim squealed.
Jack splashed back out of anger and within moments, the three of them had a splash fight going.
Great big splashes nearby alerted them to the presence of others. Jerry, Est, Julie, Milton, Claire and even Brody were in the crystal blue waters with them, laughing and splashing.
Here were gathered some of the finest, most lethal warriors in Weite. They had just decimated a force much greater than themselves, and their dwellings burned to ashes. They were probably traumatized, but they still had to do their best to be young and to fight the darkness. Their connections to each other were all they had to hold onto. In this moment, it seemed to be enough.
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The respectable force was forced to sleep on the ground without as much as a blanket, everything they didn't carry with them had been reduced to soot.
The night was cool as the wind rustled the leaves overhead, causing a slight shiver. The soldiers had the option of huddling together or waiting in the chill until the warmth of the sun returned.
Jack and Kim didn't have that problem, nor did Jerry and Est, or Kim and Julie, even Brody and Claire found warmth wrapped in each other.
Jack and Kim laid on the cold ground, their bodies pressed together tightly. "Are you okay, Kim?" Jack asked as if he could do anything.
"Can we light a fire?" Kim asked, snuggling her face into the crook of his neck. Fire was a possibility, but after seeing what fire had wrought, it didn't quite seem right.
"It is no disrespect to those we lost today to stay warm," Brody commented. "Instead, let us light fires and show our strength. We fear not the flame, though the Rangers lost their home to it."
After Brody's words had spread, little fires dotted the sorry camps, and as the light lifted, so did the moods of the men and women.
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Day light came and the warriors awoke, praying to the slew of gods they believed in that they had survived the hellish night. The stars disappeared and the sunset was a brilliant red with a touch of deep orange.
"The sky is so beautiful this morning," Kim commented, her eyes focusing on the birth of the new day. "I don't understand how something so gorgeous can come after something as horrible as last night," Kim pondered as she appreciated the warmth that Jack's body was providing from behind her.
"I appreciate it a little more after last night, you know? I get to see another one with you. Last night wasn't the end of the world for us. I'm grateful for it, and mornings with you make me want to fight harder than ever." This was an oddly poetic sentiment from Jack, but Kim understood where it came from. Last night Jack was a ruthless killer, but this morning he was still the man she had fallen in love with.
"How are you feeling, Jack?" Kim figured he was okay, but she wouldn't gamble him being fine. She wanted him to be okay as a leader, and okay as the greatest link to sanity she had here. Jack had never held back his feelings from her before.
"I'm doing okay," Jack's voice rang honest. "It was hard last night, but I know it was what we had to do. It was literally us or them. They attacked us. They burned down the Rangers' homes. This is what war is. If I have to kill a million men to save you, damn it Kim, I will."
Kim rolled over and kissed his neck. "Jack, I know you're right, but I still hate that we had to kill. We've had to kill since that day when we first fought with Fedelmid and Edgil. I will fight for you, with you, because until we get home, our friends and each other is all we're gonna have."
"How did I get so lucky? Out of all the people in the world, I woke up in this situation with you. Before I met you, I wasn't sold on the God thing, but now, he's the only explanation for you."
Kim wasn't sure what had gotten into Jack. She could chalk it up to last night, or this could be the rationale he was selling himself so he doesn't snap. Jack wasn't usually that silver tongued... at least not verbally. He had always been caring and sweet, but his word game wasn't what it is now.
"Come on Kim, we should probably get up," Jack kissed her forehead and relinquished his hold on her. "If we were actually in a bed I'd be more willing to fight to sleep a little longer."
"Yeah, you're a good pillow but what did you have?" Kim asked, afraid the answer would make her feel bad. For some reason, she felt she had to know.
"Nothing," Jack responded with a shrug. "No big deal. There weren't any rocks digging into my back, so I'll call it a plus."
"You're such a trooper," Kim leaned up and kissed his lips. Saying 'I'm sorry' doesn't get him a pillow, but a compliment and kiss raises the spirits.
Jack and Kim pack up their weapons that were so near but not on them. The next step was to find King Brody to see what was needed of them.
They found Brody nearby, but he wasn't alone. A face was buried in the crook of his neck, and long red hair flowed over the Ranger's back.
"Is that..." Jack trailed his question off, pointing at the two.
"I think it is," Kim said with a smile.
"Should we let them wake up, or should we..."
"Nah, let them enjoy it," Kim decided with a have of her hand. "If anything happens today, they'll be glad they had this," Kim said as she took Jack's arm and draped it over her shoulders. Jack chuckled when she wrapped her arms around him and held him close.
Jack and Kim had just gotten comfortable on a nearby log when Brody and Claire woke up. Brody woke up first, seeing just who was in his protective grasp. Seeing it was Claire, he smiled to himself. His face fell when he realized he was being watched. He smiled again because it was Jack and Kim, the rising power couple whether Jack and Kim knew it or not.
"Morning Captain Brewer, Captain Brewer's lady," Brody greeted warmly. His usual heated glare towards Kim was gone. Claire was taking that heat now. Good, thought Kim. Now Jack won't have to kill him.
"Morning," Jack greeted with courteously nod. It was clear to them they were not Brody's subjects, but they were still paying him due respect. "We're not exactly in a hurry, but we're anxious for orders."
Brody scratched his chin and his eyes wandered this way and that. "The Rangers and Hahkmaki Riders are going to stay here, hold the line and waited for Edgil, Magnus and the Epineians." Brody paused again and looked at Jack and Kim. "The Wandering Company currently have no orders, Captain. Wait with us, or do with your company as you see fit. Keep your hawks handy."
"Hawks? Like falcons and stuff?" Kim asked with a raised brow.
"Exactly. Vakkerians have been using hawks, eagles and falcons to send messages over great distances for centuries (4)."
"I'll check with Fedelmid or Julie, see if they know our hawk guy," Jack told Kim. "Once I'm sure the whole Company is up, we'll prepare to move."
"Where will you go?" Brody's eyes showed anxiety and a slight bit of childish wonderment. He was as lost in the ongoing saga of the Wandering Company as anybody.
"I'm taking my company into Thosea. We'll cause as much problems for them as we can before you arrive. We'll do hit and runs, disrupt what we can. If we pick our fights, we'll be quite the fly on their backs," Jack explained.
"Very well," Brody nodded in agreement. "Safe travels to you, Jack and Kim. Keep this one safe, will you?" Brody kissed Claire's hair.
"She'll be invaluable. We'll do as much as we can, but we'll be smart about it," Kim promised.
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The Company said their goodbyes, but before Jack could give the call to march, Brody approached him one last time.
"Captain Brewer, before you leave, you should take this," Brody handed him a leather roll.
Jack unrolled it and found an olive green leather cutout of a turtle. "What's this?" Jack asked with a chuckle. "I love turtles, but what's the occasion?"
"It's your sidgel. This one here is for your shirt. Your men will paint the turtle on their shields, and your Rangers have identical turtles on their cloaks," Brody explained.
"How'd you know to go with turtles?" Jack asked, scratching the back of his neck.
"I may have said something when Brody asked me what I thought you would like your sidgel to be..." Kim said with a tone that screamed she told him.
"Well thank you," Jack smiled and kissed her forehead. Usually Jack would give a shit about looking soft in front of others, but after his performance yesterday, no one would dare question the mettle of Captain Jack Brewer or Lieutenant Kim Crawford.
With Jack's badge of identification in place to tell Weite who he and his people were, it was time to strike into Thosea itself.
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The moving itself was slow. Thosea was uncharted territory and not even Fedelmid had stepped foot beyond the cursed border. The Void being as expansive as it is, it would be a few days before they saw the border.
"Milton buddy, how's the map?" Jack asked as he sparred with Jerry.
"Filling out nicely. If we need to, we can easily trace our steps back," Milton informed him. "We're still a bit out from where we started."
"You mean when we first got here?" Kim asked from her spot by the fire, warming her hands.
"Yeah. It'll be weird going back there, let alone beyond it," Milton said, going back to his map.
Jack saw Kim warming herself at the fire, he leather knee high boots almost inside the circle. He went and sat down next to his lady before picking her up and setting her in his lap. "Are you cold, cutie?" Jack whispered in her ear, his arms wrapping around her.
"A little. It's colder than when we first got here. It must be fall back home," Kim said, her eyes trailing off in the distance to somewhere Jack couldn't follow.
"Are you okay?" Jack kissed her neck and nuzzled between her neck and shoulder.
"Yeah, I think so. It's just... I'm feeling really home sick," Kim admitted softly. "I don't miss my house or any of that. That's not what it is. I miss my dad," Kim's voice shook, nearly breaking but she stayed strong.
"I know Kim, I know," Jack hugged her tighter and rested his chin on her shoulder. "We'll get you home some day. We'll all get back home."
"I'm worried about going home, though."
"What?" Jack asked, not sure if he heard her right.
"I miss my dad, yeah, but what about Jerry and Milton and Est and everybody? What happens when we go home and we're not together anymore? I told you Jack, I don't want to lose you." Kim turned around in his arms and buried herself into his chest like a baby buries into the warm safety of a parent.
"Oh, Kim," Jack soothed, rubbing her back. "It's okay. Don't cry," he told her but to no effect. "When we get out of here, I will find you," Jack said firmly.
"What?" it was Kim's turn to ask with teary eyes.
Jack dried her face with his sleeve and kissed her the tip of her nose. "When we get out of here, I don't care if I need to walk, bike, drive or fly. I will go to Seaford and I will find you. I'm more invested in you than I've ever been. The only thing holding me down to Northborough is college."
"But what about your family?" Kim was digging where Jack hoped she never would, but he felt like he had to tell her in this moment.
"Well, I'm an only child. And as for my parents..." Jack's voice caught and a tear threatened to fall. It had been years since he talked about it.
"Jack?" Kim asked softly, another set of tears in her eyes, because if Jack was near crying, how on Weite could this story be happy.
"My parents died in a car accident when I was seventeen," Jack's voice came out as a harsh whisper, his eyes closed as a tear did fall. "I was at the Otai Academy when it happened. I was called home and found out..." Jack couldn't talk about it anymore. Bringing back the memories that he had long ago snuffed out hurt too damn much.
"Is that were these came from?" Kim asked as she brushed her fingers over pale scar tissue, long healed but still a reminder.
"Yeah. Those put me in the hospital. That's why I like it here. That's why I'd like to come find you when this is all over. I need a fresh start. I need you."
"I'm sorry, Jack. I had no idea," Kim kissed his forehead as he visually tried to get himself back together. "I'm here for you if you need to cry. I'm here for you if you need to talk or just to cuddle," Kim offers, holding him tightly.
"No, it's okay," Jack said and dried his eyes. It was two years ago. This place helped me forget about it, and I want to forget about it again. I have enough to worry about here."
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(1) Watch the Battle of Sterling scene from Mel Gibson's Braveheart. Strategically and geographically speaking, it's inaccurate as hell, but as for the animosity of medieval combat, it's possibly the most accurate you'll find in a movie.
(2) This move of Milton and Julie was made famous in the Iliad by Diomedes and Ais the Bowmen, who both fought for the Greeks.
(3) General Robert E. Lee said that after the Battle of Fredericksburg.
(4) Eagles, hawks and falcons, and even crows were used as carrier pigeons in Europe before carrier pigeons were cool.