Post by Raistlin on Oct 3, 2007 13:23:00 GMT -5
Betrayal
The stables were calm. The stable boy was just finishing up scrubbing a horse. Hearing a rustling he looked up. Seeing a familiar face he just smiles. SForce tousled the boy’s hair and smiled back. Walking on he came to his horse. He removed a sugar cube from a pouch. His horse lapped it up quickly. Petting her mane he sighs.
“We’ve had some good times here,” he speaks softly to her, “but all good things must come to an end. I’ll miss it here too. Are you with me?” She nuzzles close to his face. “Thank you. I knew I could count on at least you. I guess there’s nothing else for me here.”
He takes her rains and walks her out of the stables. Mounting her he heads for the gates. Going down the road he thinks about looking back. Even turns his eyes, but closes them and continues on. When he gets over the hill he pulls hard to the right and gallops across a small field. He’s quickly out of sight when he plunges into the forest.
* * * * * *
Viper, on the other hand, was being seen by all. He tromped through the halls knocking every person out of his way. Every squire and junior knight that happened to be in his path was on their rears in seconds. When he got near the Halls of the Leader the door to the Audience Chamber was already being opened, but not for him. AntonyJC and MadScientist were coming out the doors when Viper thrust by pushing JC to the side.
“Watch it you ignorant, bucktoothed, specter!” AntonyJC bellowed. Viper was through the door though and when he swatted his hands behind his back the doors slammed shut.
“The nerve of him.” AntonyJC grumbled. “If he can’t respect me as a clansman he should respect me as an elder.” He sighed and walked on with MadScientist at his side.
“So, what is left for us to do now?” Mad Scientist questioned him.
“Nothing here,” he answered, “not after the meeting we just had with Aaron. He wasn’t even paying us much attention. I don’t think our defense of SForce had the effect that I hopped it would.”
“What do you think we should do then?” MadScientist asked as he looked down at AntonyJC with concern in his eyes.
“Let’s go see that SForce is doing alright.” AntonyJC headed down the hallway in a huff with MadScientist right behind him.
Inside the Audience Hall, Viper stood in front of Aaron’s desk.
“He’s getting away!” He hissed through clenched teeth.
Aaron looked up at Viper from the petitions and requests that littered his desk.
“Who?” He asked.
“SForce!” He answered with a quirk of an eye. “You know, the elf that I was watching.”
“Oh, yes. What about him?”
“He packed up and left! He’s skipping out on his review by the High Council. He must be brought back to face his sentence.”
“Whatever. I’m just not as concerned about this as you are. I have all this work to do still and you’re bothering me with this?”
“He’s violating the agreement to face the Council on the charges. A strong leader wouldn’t allow someone to defy him so easily. Let me go after him. I’ll bring him in.”
“Fine. Take care of this and let me be.”
“Yes, my Lord, but what if he puts up a fight? Would I have your permission to deal with him accordingly?”
“Yes, yes, whatever you need to do.” He leaned back down over his parchments on his desk. Viper extended his arm out in front of him and, in a puff of black smoke, a scroll appeared in his hand. He let it unroll as he laid it over the parchment Aaron was reading at the time.
“This order gives me your rights to use what force necessary to apprehend the fugitive and bring him in. I feel it’s not safe for me to do this alone. I’ll need your written authorization to bring some soldiers with and keep him calm. He’s not likely to lash out at all of us. Don’t you think so, sir?”
Aaron looked it over briefly. It mentions slight force and in case of situations. Aaron looked up at Viper. Seeing him stoic and unmoving, showing no hint of deception, Aaron huffed, grabbed his pen, and threw down his signature as nonchalantly as always. Another pen stroke for him. Another order off his desk. Viper bowed and rolled the order up. He was gone in flash. Outside the Chambers Viper unrolled it and scanned down to the bottom where small print could be seen if looked at hard enough. It read, ‘Apprehend with extreme prejudice. Aggressive force is authorized.’ Reading this caused Viper to smile his wicked smirk of a smile.
Viper slammed the orders down on the dispatch officer’s desk.
“I need five able bodied warriors to accompany me on a mission.” Viper announced.
The officer looked over the orders. His eyes opened with shock. “Who is the fugitive?” He asked.
“That’s none of your concern.” Viper returned with a snarl. “Just dispatch the men like you’re supposed to.”
The officer wrote something on a small note of parchment and gave it to his squire next to him. The boy read the note and took off running.
“We’ll be right with you,” the officer said looking Viper up and down, “sir.” About a minute later the squire boy returned with Darius in tow.
“What’s this dispatch I’ve been told of?” Darius asked openly to all. The dispatch officer was the one to answer him.
“General, this order for assistance just arrived at my desk. Since the majority of the men are out on weekend leave and your division is on duty today, I thought it best to get your approval first.”
Darius looked it over. He eyed Viper skeptically.
“Whom, may I ask,” he questioned Viper, “is the fugitive you’re after?”
“Just a minor delinquent,” he said assuringly, “nothing you need to trouble yourself over.”
“It seems a bit much, excessive force and all, for a minor issue as you say.” Darius continued to stare at Viper with a questionable gaze.
“It’s sign by Aaron himself. I’m being sent out to fulfill these orders just as much as your men will be. You have any questions about his orders you’re more then welcome to go ask him. I came from the Audience Hall right here. His orders are specific.”
Darius quirked a smile and tossed the orders to the dispatch officer.
“I’ll have five of my men up here right away then. I’ll even send word for the horses to be made ready at the stables immediately.” He turned and walked off. The dispatch officer stamped a seal of completion on the orders to signify that the dispatch is being conducted. It was then handed to Viper as his proof of being sent on the act if challenged. Once the orders are completed and the dispatch finished the parchment would be returned to the dispatch officer then filed under ‘completed’ for future reference.
Viper went to his quarters and got what supplies he’d need before going to the stables. When at the stables with pack in hand he found five lightly armored men saddling up steeds. He looked them over mockingly.
“You five are who he sent to me?” Viper said with displeasure. One of them turned to address him. Giving a half-assed salute he stepped forward.
“Lord Viper, it’ll be an hon….”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever.” Viper interrupted. “Who the hell are you five?”
“Sorry, sir. We’re new. Soon to finish training and be S&D knights.”
“You mean to tell me he sent me trainees?”
“Um, sorry, sir, but the General said that since the majority of the regiment has watch duties he couldn’t spare any of them for a mission. We were just here to get in some extra practice before out final trials after the weekend. The General said you’d understand, sir.”
“Oh, of course I understand. Damn Darius. Fine. Saddle up. We’re moving out quickly. We need to track him down before it gets dark.” Viper floated up onto his jet-black horse that no one else will tend to, or even go near. With a fiery yell the horse bolted out the stables and through the front gates. The soldiers followed as quickly as they could, but soon lost sight of him. Viper slowed a bit to inspect the road for tracks. Noticing fresh ones he kept his eye on them. Once over the hill he lost them, so he stopped. Looking around he saw the freshly matted grass in the field and kicked his horse in that direction. The soldiers behind him saw him cutting through the field and went after him. All six came together as they plunged into the forest.
* * * * * *
Deep in the forest a large tree was on it’s side from being hit by lightning not long ago. The base was still freshly charred and moist. A horse slowly walked with gentle strides through the brush of the forest. A small clearing just big enough for one to camp in lay ahead. The rider dismounted and tied the rains to another tree. SForce pat his horse on the neck and went to the fallen tree. He laid his hand on the base and patted it. “I hear you.” He said to the fallen oak. “Thank you for providing for me.” The branches had just dried up making them perfect tinder. He snapped off all he needed, piled them in the middle of the clearing, surrounded them with rocks and with a flint in hand sparked a fire. It was just beginning to darken. Night was thinking about taking over for the day. SForce allowed the little flame he made to work it’s way over the branches while he unwrapped his bow and arrows.
He stuck five of them in the ground a good three, or so paces from each other on the fringe of the clearing opposite the fallen tree. Pulling out a dagger he chopped five of the branches on the tree down to his height. Then he scrawled an X on the face level and the waist level of each branch. Slinging his quiver of arrows over his shoulder he took up his bow. Caressing it gently he quickly notched an arrow and fired it into a tree near by. He did the same four more times to different trees. He looked around the area and sighed.
“Time to see if I still got what it takes.” As he said that he bolted toward the first tree he shot an arrow into. He jumped at it, kicked off the trunk and grabbed a branch swinging himself up to his arrow. He plucked it from the tree, notched it and sent it sailing through the air to hit the X on the first branch of the fallen tree. Leaping from branch to branch he nimbly moves to each arrow and propels them at the corresponding branch’s X. When the fifth one hits it’s mark he plummets back to the ground right next to the arrows be placed on the opposite side. He snatched up the first arrow and let it fly to the X under the first one. It hit the second arrow dead on. Rolling to the right he got to the next arrow and launched it to the next branch. He dashed to the right and got another one and launched it. Again he twisted to his right and ducked down to hit his fourth mark. Then he pounced on the fifth as he rolled and notched the arrow in his bow. He took aim then decided to aim a little lower. The arrow hit just below the X, right below the waistline. He smiled slightly and gave a chuckle.
Clapping could be heard just on the fringe of the clearing. SForce spun in the direction of the clapping and saw nothing. The clapping continued and SForce’s eyes darted around in that general area. The shadows seemed to step aside as the welcomed Viper into the clearing. He stopped clapping and addressed SForce.
“Nice shooting, ace.” Viper was looking at the fallen tree. “You’re a little under your mark on that last one I think.”
“I don’t.” SForce responded. “I’m just trying to have some peace. Can’t you just let me alone for a minute? What have I done to you?”
“What have you done for me?! I’ve asked you to do thing, but you always refuse.”
“You try to order me to do things for you. You are not my commander. I have no obligations to you.”
“You are selfish and care nothing about others. You prove it time and again. Now that it’s in the open for all to see you’re trying to run. Well I won’t have that.”
Viper waved his hand and the five soldiers accompanying him came out of the forest.
“Draw your swords and apprehend the prisoner.” Viper ordered them.
“Umm, sir,” one of them spoke up, “isn’t he a fellow clansman?”
“Yeah,” another started, “I’m sure he’s been around for a long time. What’s the crime.”
Viper was infuriated now. “You will do as you are told.”
“Sir,” the first one questioned, “I don’t know if we should.”
“YOU WILL DO AS YOU ARE TOLD!!!” When he lost his patience it was to the best interest of everyone around to just do as he said. The five looked at each other. Then they advanced on Sforce.
“Don’t do this, guys.” SForce pleaded with them.
“Sorry,” a soldier returned, “but orders are orders.”
SForce reached back into his quiver to retrieve an arrow. “Forgive me.” He muttered to no one in particular. The first arrow flew right at the lead soldier. It caught the shoulder of his chain mail and pierced him to a tree. The other four spread out more. They tried to make it harder for him to stop them fast enough to load another arrow. The next one shot through the foot of another nailing him to the ground. The soldier hollered in pain and everyone looked. No blood ran from the wound. The arrow pierced between two toes.
Knowing he didn’t have much more time to waste SForce drew his next arrow. He shot the sword out of one of their hands, but noticed he didn’t have time enough to load another. Tossing the bow behind him he drew his sword and stood fast. These soldiers weren’t even half as good as he was. He parried the swings easily. The next swings he twisted a bit and added a swipe close to the hilt of their blades. Both soldiers were disarmed. They backed up away from the point of SForce’s sword. They back all the way to Viper.
“Useless idiots,” he exclaimed, “can’t even fight off one attacker.”
“I’m not here to attack anyone.” SForce said while lowering his sword. “It’s over, Viper.”
“I’ll just take care of it myself.” Viper smacked the two unarmed soldiers in the back of the head knocking them to the ground. He drew his sword and lunged at SForce and knocked him flat with his shoulder. Viper kicked the sword out of SForce’s hand and stood over him. “It’s not over till I say it is.” He raised his sword high and stood on one of SForce’s arms too keep him in place. A strong hand took hold of Viper’s hand that held the sword. Snapping his head around he saw it was MadScientist. AntonyJC was standing right next to him, battle-axe in hand.
“Let ‘im go, lad.” AntonyJC said staring at Viper through his bushy, gray brows. “You have a problem with him, you have a problem with us.”
Viper looked at them both. He looked at MadScientist as he tried jerking his hand free of the steel like grip. Finally Viper released his sword sending it to flop on the damp grass. MadScientist let go of him.
“Alright,” he retorted, “I understand. You three have some crazy pact, or something. All for one kinda thing, huh. Well be it as you may. You won’t be at his council hearing though. Then he’ll be mine.”
Viper reached down, scooped up his sword, then stalked off not even bothering to do anything for the five soldiers he brought with. MadScientist reached out his hand and helped SForce to his feet. AntonyJC was helping the five soldiers. “Off with you now, lads.” He said to them as they became free, or back on their feet. Picking up the arrows he brought them back to SForce. SForce placed them back in his quiver.
“Thanks you two.” He walked over to the tree that had ten of his arrows stuck in it. “I’m just upset that it got to this point. I just can’t deal with it anymore.”
“Well,” AntonyJC began, “ya hafta do something. Whatever it is you got our support.”
SForce looked back at them both. AntonyJC had his hand out waiting for it to be shook. MadScientist extended his as well. A smile grew on SForce’s face. He recalled the dream he had the other day. The voice that broke through the flames, “We’re with you, SF,” it said.
“I know.” SForce slapped his hand around AntonyJC’s wrist and shook it. “You guys will be with me till the end, won’t you.” He turned to MadScientist and shook his the same way, the warrior’s shake.
“Always.” AntonyJC responded.
“Always.” MadScientist followed suit.
“But what of now?” AntonyJC wondered. “What will you tell the council?”
“Nothing.” SForce returned. “Tomorrow I’m sending them a dispatch of my disbanding from the clan. As of now I am a member of Seek & Destroy no more. For now I need some rest.”
He got his bedroll out of his saddle and began setting it up by the fire. Another bedroll flopped down next to his. Looking up he saw AntonyJC preparing his. They looked at each other.
“I told ya I’d be with you till the end and I meant it.” He explained. “If you’re outta da clan then I may as well be too. You don’t expect me to go back there knowing you ain’t comin’ back tonight, do you?”
“Me too.” Another flop on SForce’s other side made him jump and spin around. MadScientist was kicking open his bedroll as well. “You got me to join, so now I’m done too. We sleep here tonight then go into town tomorrow.”
The warmth that SForce felt now could have been from the fire he was now nestling next to, or the battle he just was involved in, or even the exercise he went through first. But he knew deep down the warmth was from friends. They laid there for another hour regaling about past battles and adventures they had experienced together. The good, bad, and ugly all looked better now that they were together again on their own.
