[Ancient ch'Rihan]
"Commander-General."
T`Rihu returns her line man's nod and continues through the mud. Her
army, The Army of the Green Star, three southern legions from three
clans, stood in mid-winter's air some few miles south of the Capitol.
Her dog trotted at her feet. The snow billowed on the wind, hastening
her soldiers where they sat.
"General, the cannons are"
"Out of range, but an acceptable risk for my cavalry."
"Yes ma`am."
Jeiai looked so old now. Scares over his face, tightly muscled arms,
drifting pale blue eyes-- alien invaders she had planted on him with her
ways. He was like his name and history said he was to be. A
master-general, clan master Jorani, who's name would live well into the
days of Jo`rek.
All around them were the war engines of their assention. 6,000
fighting men, lined in rows along the hill. Shields and pikes and rifles
and swords, glit in the overcast light. Large cannons stood around them.
Tanks, glorious treaded vehicles of armored destruction, idled behind
them. and the waiting hum of eagles, ready to spring into duty and
deploy for them, far far far to the rear.
The army of cold mud would hold this day.
"How much does it take the people to know that they are defeated?"
"Would you or I know that? Would we stop our fight, before the last of
us were without breadth-- without blood to pump us fresh?"
"Perhaps not..."
Jeiai gestures off to the forming lines of the Volskiar and Viaen, the
last major houses to stand against them.
"This day is the end and the beginning friend. Eight month of war at an
end, ten year of rule to begin."
"Bah, to limit you to ten, would show optomism."
Rihu frowns. Glancing to her opponents, she cradles her belly.
"Its kicking?"
"Shhh... not a word."
"Ma`am."
The general's dog whines, worried.
"Time for history..."
"Ma`am."
Rihu turns and clasps her arm stiff across her chest.
"Strength and Honor."
"By Travelers and Declared. No other ways do I know."
Jeiai mirrors the gesture. Grasping his arm at midlength, Rihu takes
it in a shake. Handing him her pistol with the other, she gives a short
nod, and is gone.
* * *
Fierce and fiery swift, the quick mix with the dead.
Following cannon berague, and rifleman second fire, pike and sword
were got, and their men strode forward. Volskiar and Viaen, Zorek clan's
last proud few, stormed forward to meet them. The leathery metal of the
Rihannus' warrior clan clashed
and clashed
and clashed
And from behind, was cut in two. Rihu and her calvery, one hundred
metal horses, stormed forcefully from the flanks. Round and through the
city behind, the mad riders dashed wild patterns in the lines.
Moments
Mix with snow and Memories
of olden day, and the fires in the ever-summer sands.
The battle is won.
In an hours time, T`Rihu is crowned Ruling Queen.
The rest is history...
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