Soldiers Pride

[Aegis]

The war had hit everyone hard. Ten long years of fighting, with nothing to show. It ruined villages, families and lives, stealing the very essence of what made life good and pure. Young men went off, dreams of becoming a hero set deep into their minds. Asprations of fight for the cause, and coming home to a country that loved them. It was all just a farce. Half the men that left for war, came back, thankful to be home. The other half came back 200 pounds heavier, and prone. The government did nothing to ease the pain of soldiers coming home. While celebration was being held for a short time, it was nothing compared to what would follow. Men who had faught had left their previous ways of life, leaving their positions to be filled. They had no life to come back to. No reparations, no acts of gratitude, no help given. Soldiers were on they're own. Shortly after the war ended, petty crime and poverty sky rocketed among the cities of the empire, the autorities doing nothing to stem the flow of down-trodden war veterans. At first, thats all it was, a few unhappy veterans, but after some time, it become more of a problem. Serious crime was springing up all over the place. Arsen, theft, extortion, protection, murder, it was all there. It didn't take long for the Imperial Armies to step in, and declare martial law. Telling mobs of war trained men to stop, or die, not the Empire's finest idea. Thats when the really trouble started. The veterans began taking up arms against the Imperial Legion, and violent combat flooded onto the streets, engulfing both soldiers, and innocent alike. It wasn't long before the veterans banded together, under the leadership of one man. They quickly become know as the "Forgotten Soldiers," led by Kernus Van-holf. Kernus was an officer during the war, and was one of the last to return home. He also maintained his loyalty to the Empire, feeling that it was doing all it could to help the soldiers. He eventually saw otherwise.

The fighting has become progressivly worse, and it's no longer between the Empire, and Forgotten Soldiers. The one great war has sown it's seed, and this new civil war has sprung out of the ground. The Empire, as powerful as it is, though, might not make it through this one...

*****

For all those curious, this is the begining of a new story. I haven't quite decided what genre to make it yet, hence no mention as to weaponry. If I see any interest, I'll try to continue.

[The Z]

You've got me interested....that type of prologue immediately attracts my attention

[Vicsun]

I've read and enjoyed your other stories. Please continue

[Kameleon]

I'm liking it...don't feel you have to keep writing it if it's not happening, but I'd like to see more...

[Gruntboy]

Neat.

[Beowulf]

That's really very, very good. I'd love to see more, if the inclination takes you

EDIT: Would you like more detailed criticism?

[Aegis]

The small village didn't have many people, most of them had left for the war and never returned. It had been suffering ever since, many of its inhabitants drinking away their life. the soldiers who didn't want to fight anymore in the town were often found, drowning in a pool of warm ale, and stagnant air.

Seir leaned heavily in his chair, one hand cradling a mug of Bugman's Fortified Ale, the other resting next to the mug on the table. His head was drooped over, his long black hair cascading down over his shoulders. His loose fitting tunic hung off his form, stained in many places. He had long since given up on his appearance. His chin was rimmed with day old stuble, which he would occasionally sratch. Leaning against the edge of the table, his long sword rested, eager for it's owners hand to use it again. Occasionally, a heavy sigh could be heard from him, but none of the other few patrons wished to go over, and see what it was.

Truth be told, many of them had an idea of what it was. He was a soldier. Thats all he was. He was one of the first to leave for the war, and one of the last to come home. He was one of the few who walked into the village alive after the war. He was also a man of pride, once full of zeal and patriotism for the Empire. That was before the Empire turned their backs on the soldiers. At first, he was a supporter of the Forgotten Soldiers, but his interest slowly died in combat. None asked him why, instead letting him go, and drink himself into a stupor.

The tranquility of the tavern was suddenly rocked, as the door swung open fiercly, banging loudly against the wall. Seir glanced up casually from his half drunk ale, squinting slightly at the streaming daylight that was flodding into the dim room. The silhouette of man blocked out most of the light. The man walked in, the sound of armour clinking together, and the image of the imperial crest told Seir it was a soldier from the Imperial Legion. He was followed by three more men, dressed in similar attire, and a young woman, no more than fourteen years of age. The girl was a sorry sight. He hair was a dark brown, and matted down, clinging to the back of her head, and her clothes were in tatters, barely covering her womenly features. Her face had a sullen look, one almost of a lifeless husk. The four men dragged her to the bar counter, and Seir lowered his gaze back to his drink. It had somehow become empty during the men's entry. He shurgged, and pushed it away, still not looking back up.

"Four Bugman's..." The first man of the Legion said, demanind drinks from the bartender. He had no intention of paying, as was the custom these days. The Soldiers of the Legion merely demanded things, taking what they wished.

The bartender quietly obeyed, pouring for mugs for the soldiers, and slidding them towards the Legionaires. "... and for the lady?"

The young girl looked as if she were about to say something, but the closest man to her yanked her back by the hair, and smacked her across the face. He then looked to the bartender. "She won't be having anything." The girl looked down towards her feet, rubbing her cheek.

An image flashed in Seir's mind. A youn girl, about eight. She had a bright smile, and rich brown locks of hair. She was smiling at him, a pair of beaming blue eyes making him feel warm.

The four men then lead her off to a table in the corner of the bar, forcing her into the chair right in the corner, and two men taking up spots on either side. The sat there, drinking their ale's, all the while laughing loudly, and sharing uncouth stories of sexual victories and new aquirements.

Seir saw the young girl in his mind running through a field, followed by a young man, about twice her age. He had long back hair, and was laughing, he was following at a slower pace, letting the girl enjoy herself.

The girl shifted slightly in her chair, slipping accidently in the process. She hit the ground, letting out a small whimper. The soldiers didn't seem to approve. One of them hoisted her to her feet, and slammed an open hand into her face, sending her sprawling to the ground again. He shouted something at her, but Seir didn't quite hear it clearly.

The sky went dark, and the young man looked around. In the distance he something burning, and several dark forms heading his way. He turned around, and his eyes widened in shock. The girl now screeming, running in terror from a large group of armed men. As the girl ran towards the young man, her body suddenly spasmed, and her chest shot up, her body folding, and flying for the ground. When she hit the ground, a large black arrow's shaft was sticking out. The man's eyes widened even further, and tears began to stream down his cheek as he rushed for the fallen form of his sister.

Seir felt a single tear run down his cheek. He slowly stood up. The sound of the legionaires seemed to grow louder. He reached for his sword, and still in it's scabbard, he grabbed hold of it, and walked over to the soldiers. They seemed to stop as he apporached.

"Let her go..." He said quietly, almost to the point where the soldiers didn't hear him.

"Excuse me?" Said one the soldiers, standing up from the table. He looked towards his comrades, and chuckled. "And what makes you think we'd do that?"

"Let her go..." He repeated.

The soldiers face turned into a scowl, and he clenched once hand, the other moving towards the sword on his hip. "Damned fool! Don't you-"

The man was cut short, as Seirs free hand slammed into the soldiers chin, knocking him to the ground. In a flash, the other three soldiers were up, swords drawn. The entire tavern was no watching. The other man slowly worked his way back to his feet. "Let her go..."

This enraged the soldiers past their point of tolerance. The four of them charged Seir. In one fluid moment, Seir's blade was unsheathed. A blur of steel flashed through the dim tavern light, and the sound of steel sliding across steel could be heard. Two of the charging men where down in an instant, slash wounds across their's chests and throats. Seir spun in a circle, swinging his blade in a deadly arc. One of the soldiers, the one he had punched, had his own blade ready, and the two swords collided, erupting in a wave of sparks. The young girl crawled out fo the chair, and was in the corner, tucking her head away. The soldier grinned as he watched his remaining friend come around from the side, sword brandished, ready for a mortal strike at Seir. Seir didn't pause once. He lifted one hand from the hilt of his sword, and thrust it down swiftly. A small dagger slid out of his sleeze, and shot out towards the man coming from behind. Seir thrust the small weapon directly into the soldiers chest, piercing the light armour, and the lung. The soldier backed away gurgling, coughing up blood. Seir then retunred his hand to his sword, and forced the remaining soldiers sword back. With a simple flick of his wrists, Seir knocked the soldiers blade away, and followed through with a thrust to the mans heart, killing the soldier instantly.

He withdrew the blade, and wiped it on the soldiers clothing before returning it to it's scabbard. He then walked over to the young girl, and knelt beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. She peaked between her arms. "I'm sorry.... Sara..." He then stood up. The girl watched as a few tears ran down his cheek, and fell to the floor. Seir then turned away, and headed for the door...

[Maharlika]

...the first post reminded me of the vietnam vets as well as the ww2 vets in my country-turned rebels, but the second post gives it a different flavor --- Gladiator-like.

But whatever you come up with, just keep it up.

[Aegis]

Seir sat at the edge of town. He had being doing this more and more often, lately, though at times it seemed as if it were the first time he had ever looked out into the world. Things had just become so different since returning home. He had left without family, without someone to wait for his return. He thought it would be no different when he returned. His sister was the only one he had left, before the war, and she was one of the first casualties. Why did he feel so empty now? He folded his legs up to his chest, and wrapped his arms around them. Everything was different, something had changed for Seir. It was as if these days he no longer felt anything. His government abandoned him, his town had changed, and the Forgotten Soldiers were only out for blood. Nothing was as it was when he had left for war. He hadn't even felt much for the life of the young girl being carteled around town by the Legionaires. He sighed, and lowered his head. Everyday, he slowly wallowed further into depression, it was only a matter of time before it would be permanent.

Seir became completly absorbed in his solitude, he didn't hear the small footsteps of a young woman walking up behind him. She carried a worried look on her, gazing towards Seir. Her walked was heavy, as if she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. She stopped short of Seir, not wanting to stand to close. Blond hair flowed down the sides of her face, and across his chest, and she stood with her hands holding each other, hanging in front of her. She wore a simple brown dress, and blouse.

"Seir?" she said softly, her voice hinting at the concern for the man in front of her. Seir made no motion. "I heard what happened in the tavern today..." She braved a step closer to the man. "I..." She turned her head away, closing her eyes, thinking of how to continue.

Before she could, though, Seir's form began to push itself off the ground, and upright. He stood for a moment, look out into the fields surrounding the town, then turned to the woman, and began to walk. The woman opened her eyes, and looked at Seir as he came closer. As Seir began to pass the woman, he glanced her way. "I don't want to..." He murmered quietly... "Not anymore..."

The woman went to touch his arm, but held fast. What happened in the tavern today had done something further to Seir. She turned her body to watch Seir walk back into town, back to the small one room home where he lived. He lowered her head, a saddened look creeping onto her face. She could only wonder what he had meant by it, by "Not any more." She stood there for a few minutes in silence, before going home herself...

[Vicsun]

I was waiting for the story to continiue. Good work Aegis!

[Aegis]

Seir barely slept these days. He had grown to accustomed to the few hours of sleep allowed during the war, and the constant vigil he was forced to keep, lest he wake up dead. It caused him to enter states of mind, neither awake, nor asleep. He was often seen sitting cross legged on his bed, looking to the ceiling, a blank experssion on his face. He would remain like that for hours, no one sure as to whether he was sleeping, dead, or something else entirely. He had entered one of these states once he had returned home, if it could even be called that, anymore. Since his return, he no longered cared for the state of the abode. Since his return, it had gone into a state of disarray, things falling apart, and articles of clothing strewn about the room. There was only a piece or two of furniature that was still useable, the bed, and one wooden chair, everything was either on the verge of collapsing, or was already in splinters on the ground.

He had been there for little over an hour, when finally he snapped back into reality. His head lowered, and he began to look at eye level. Nothing had changed, since his going into the sort've rem, as if he had wished something had. Nothing ever changed, not since his return. He casually pushed himself onto his feet, and walked over to the front door. He felt a heat rise up his neck, a bit ill, he thought to himself, and forgot about it almost instantly. He lowered his hand onto the metal handle of the door. Warm. Again, he thought nothing of it. He pushed the door open, and took a step out of his home, at first his eyes lowered towards the ground. He began to hear a crackling noise, different then the usual sounds of the quiet town. He slowly leveled his gaze, and then he saw the what had happened. Around him, the buildings had been set ablaze, flames sprouting of the roofs, licking the sky, dancing in the breeze. e glanced backwards, towards his home, finally notcing his home had not escaped the fire either. He felt a nagging pinch in the back of his mind, as if he should be doing something, anything, to fight the blaze of the town, but he passed it off with merely a shrug of his shoulders, and turned back around. He then saw the source. Twelve heavily armed men stood in the centre of the town, around the townsfolk had been herded together, each of them holding onto another, trying to find comfort in one anothers arms. Some of them were crying, others staring in dumbstruck disblief.

One of the armed men c0cked his head around, and saw Seir, a twisted grin showing through his patchy day-old stuble. The grin then turned into a smile, showing several gaps in the jaw, bordered by a few yellowed teeth. He turned completly towards Seir. As his body turned, the veteran soldier noticed crimson streak across the soldiers tunic, and the studded long sword on his hip, and the Imperial insignia on his right pauldron. His was a Captain in the Legionaires. Seir took steps forward, his walk steady and calm, his face betraying no emotion, as it had done since retunring home. His long black hair catching in the wind, sweeping past his shoulders, and trailing to the side. His tunic seemed to ripple with the motion of the wind as well, almost as if Seir himself would be lifted into the wind, and whisked away. His hands, though, made no movement for his own blade at his hip, instead he walked forward, his eyes locked forward, his hands balled into fists. He continued walking, coming closer to the Legionaires.

"Is this him, Corporal?" the Captain leaned over to the man next to him, a little smaller in height, but just as grizzled looking.

"Aye, sir." the Corporal leered at Seir, squinting his one good eye. "He's the one described to me."

The Captain nodded, and took a step forward. Behind him, the woman who had tried to talk to Seir earlier glanced up, and her face seemed to brighten slightly. She made a move forward, but a hand held her back. An elderly lady next to her had taken hold of her arm. "No, Taryn. Please, no..." the woman said quietly, only to Taryn. Taryn glanced back at the woman, then to Seir, and she withdrew.

"Seir Talias." the Captain said, his voice ringing loud, surrounded by the crackling of burning wood. "You are charged with the assualt and murder of four men in the Emperor's service. You are to lay down your weapon, and come with us." He then glanced around the village. "As part of your punishment, we have burned down your village, and will be relocating the townsfolk to the local Work Camp. You will-" As the captain continued to talk, Seir, who was paying no attention to the man speak, walked past the Leginaire, pushing the officer out of his way with his shoulder, and walked towards the townsfolk huddled together. The Captain stuttered his next words, his jaw dropping in awe at the disregard Seir had just paid him. He turned on his heel towards Seir, his face turning red from the rage he was feeling. He then drew his sword, and pointed it directly at Seir's back. "Seize him!" he yelled. The eleven soldiers quickly obeyed, moving in on Seir like a pack of ravnous dogs, hands on their weapons, ready to draw at a moments notice.

Seir stopped next Taryn, and the elderly woman. He glanced at the two. Before he could do, or say anything, though, the Legionaires had collapsed around him, and grabbed a tight hold of his arms, and dragged him back to the captain.

"For your further insolence," the Captain began. "you have just cost the lives of your fellow townsfolk!" Quiet murmers of fright began to emit from the crowd of people, and they seemed to huddle in tighter. The Captain waved his hand towards a few of the Legionares, who seemed to smirk at the job they had just been given. They drew their weapons, and advanced on the townsfolk....

-----------------------------------

Well, inspiration visited me for a bit, but seems to have fled now. Damn. Oh well, I feel this is an alright place to be leaving you readers hanging, as it creates suspense, and a desire to read more. I'll try and continue this as soon as I can, whenever inspiration comes back. It's odd, though, my muse lately has been depression, or sullen feelings of sort. Perhaps it's begining to mean something, or my subconscious hinting at something. that or the day old pizza I ate, either way, it's creating some interesting writing. Anyway, Aegis likes Pie. If you would like these posts to continue, please send Aegis pie at PieforAegis, Canada, and Aegis will post more.

[Maharlika]

...have some pie.

[Aegis]

It didn't take long for the Legionaires to begin their dirty work. A trio of them made their way through the crowd, before stopping in front a middle aged couple, and their children, of which were all huddling close to their parents legs. The lead man grabbed the woman by the hair, and began to drag her out of the crowd. The woman let out several screams, kicking up dirt as he was forced out. The other two men rounded up the three children, forcing them away from their father. As the children were carried away, the youngest, a small boy clutching onto a small stuffed bear, began to cry, while one of the other children, a young girl a little bit older, went limp, with her eyes closed. the eldest, another boy, walked forcefully, and sullenly along side the Legionaries. Once out of the crowd, the soldiers threw the woman, and children to the ground. As they hit, they threw up a small cloud of dust. Almost instantly, the children were beside their mother, and huddled together, quivering from the fear installed in them. The Captain stepped towards Seir, who had made no move to escape, or even struggle. Seir looked up, his long hair drapping over his face. The Captain grinned, his mouth showing a tapestry of yellow teeth, and gaping holes.

"How does it feel..." the captain leaned in closer towards Seir, "To know you have caused the deaths of innocents." He chortled, and drew back from Seir. The captive man said nothing.

The captain then waved his hand, and the three Legionaries moved in towards the family, swords drawn. Seir could hear them cry out, begging for mercy, yet made no move. Within moments, the sounds stopped, and an awed hush ran over the assembled crowd of villagers. The deathly silence was followed by the sound blades being resheathed. Seir glanced over, and looked towards the bodies of the dead, but remained unphased. He looked back towards the villagers, all of which stood, staring towards Seir, mouth agape. At first, the Legionaries had no clue as to what would happen next, but it wasn't long before the enraged husband and father came running forward, a large rock in hand, and pelted Seir in the kidney's with it. That one rock was followed by another, and then another, as the entire village took up arms, and began to stone Seir. He felt none of it though. He didn't even register it, his own dark emotions sheltering him from the pain he was enduring. Within the crowd, only two faces turned away, those of Taryn and the elderly lady she was with.

The gaurds then stepped in, a couple of them pulling the shields from their backs, and stood in front of Seir. the captain then stepped forward, arm raised towards them. "Good people of the Empire. This man..." he pointed to Seir, "has been labeled a traitor to your Emporer, and country." That comment seemed to gain a mixed response of murmers, and subtle cheers. "As such, he will executed in the Palace square, in Teritio." This comment received a clear cheer, the emotions of the village now geared towards Seir for burning their village, and killing some towns folk. "But... Because of his insolence," this quieted the crowd quickly. "you will all have to pay some price." The captain then snapped his finger, and the Legionaries surrounded the crowd of villagers, weapons drawn. "... Kill them." The soldiers moved in swiftly, quickly cutting down man, woman and child, washing the ground of the peaceful little hamlet in the blood of innocent people. As this happened, the two men holding Seir turned him about, and marched him towards a barred cart, and towards the city of his execution...

-------------------------------------

Yeah, I know, a little bit darker then my usual work, but I think it's coming out nicely. It's also allowing me to experiment with different aspects of writing, not always having to deal with the noble hero. I guess for this story, you can almost call Seir the Anti-hero. Oh well, I seem to get a lot of inspiration when I'm particularly mad about something, or someone, so that would explain the slow progress of it, but then, that could be considered a good thing. Anyway, Aegis likes Pie. If you would like these posts to continue, please send Aegis pie at PieforAegis, Canada, and Aegis will post more.

[TB189]

More...More...MORE

[Craig]

If he was 16 when she was 8, then 6 years later she is 14 (as said) and he is 22, if the war lasted 10 years then he was 12 when he joined ("He was one of the first to leave for the war")

This is saying it wasn't the first of his village, and the ages given are solid, not "ish".


Very cool story though, I am waiting to see what happens. *Hands Aegis bolognaise pie"