The War
The dawn breaks golden red over the plains. A beauty unseen in the past three days, along with a beautiful sound. Silence. Standing on a hill overlooking the battle site Gwen's head drops in a silent prayer for those have died in the last five days, all of them, her's and theirs. After a moment she mounts her horse and sets out to find Corwin and Evelynn, hoping for some good news after this terrible tragedy that could have been avoided. Men, she thought, their prides can’t take surrendering to a female. They pushed this on themselves, why do I feel so bad? Her musing is interrupted by the sound of approaching horse steps, and looking up she sees Corwin approaching with Del, and can't help smiling a little bit. "Report?" she asks from Corwin.
"Five thousand dead, two thousand wounded. But we took the castle!" Corwin beams.
"How about on their side?" she asks silently.
"Seven thousand dead, another thousand wounded. All the wounded are being treated in the city, ours and theirs." Dell said with a sad look on his face. "Why is war so tough, even though you know you're doing the right thing? Why do I feel so bad for those people out there? They are the enemy, they would gladly kill me, you, Corwin, Evelynn, all of us, and yet I feel horrible that they had to die? Why?" He says looking up into her eyes.
"Compassion. You're a King, a ruler, and a ruler should never look upon his people as little more then tools, then you'd be as bad as you're brother is in Tyr now, and that's what we're fighting against." Gwen said looking directly into his eyes, into his very soul, and knowing the fears he was facing.
"I suppose you're right." He said obviously not wanting to continue this discussion in front of the troops, and Corwin.
"Speaking of Evelynn, where is she? I want to talk to her." Gwen said looking around.
"She's in the city, walking with the wounded, helping out where she can, I don't know where she gets all the money, but damn, she does give a lot away." Corwin said nodding toward the white walled city, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Send someone to fetch her for me, I'll be in my command tent." She said as she started walking toward the area where the tents were.
"Gwen we had the command moved into the city proper after we took it, you were out on the field so no one could tell you." Del piped in taking up stride on her left.
"We'll take you there, it's pretty crowed in the city, plus we can't have our famous General go off and get killed in a city while we stood by and did nothing can we?" Corwin said, sidling up on her right.
"Men!" she griped, throwing her hands in the air. "Let's go then." And she booted her horse to a gallop, briefly losing her honor guard, but, unfortunately, they quickly caught up.
Why must it come down to this? Why did we have to do this? What was the good that was supposed to come from this? Where are the people rejoicing over their liberation? All I see are dead, dying or wounded soldiers huddled about in every house, inn, alley, street, nook, corner and cranny in this city. The civilians, hiding in fear of what their new rulers are going to do to them. Too long have they lived in under the oppressive rule of Tyr, this has to stop. We must finish this war, soon, before any others are forced to endure this torment and torture any longer then they have. Evelynn mused as she walked among the injured soldiers of both armies, pausing to help where she was needed. Why did we get into this war? Where did it all start? Where is at all going? And how many more are going to die for it? She thought horribly as she walked toward the residential areas of the city where the refugees and the citizens of this town were gathered. As she walked she stopped occasionally to give a few coppers to these people, a silver to those. It was the least she could do considering the damage that the army and her had done to this once beautiful city. After giving out well over a thousand coppers she turned and headed for the palace of the city, the new command for the army. All she wanted to do was to get to her room, take a bath to wash the days fighting off her, clean her armor the evidence of this days bloodshed, and then curl up in bed and sleep away the fatigue of the five day siege of Arenon.
Unfortunately for her, that was not going to be the plan.
Halfway to the palace she was met by a private who saluted when he found her.
"At ease Private. What's your name young man, and what can I do for you?" she inquired. She said as she returned the salute. Having forgotten that she was had to do that before they would talk to you. Damned odd military people, oh well. She thought.
"P… P…Private Ryans, Colonel." He stammered back, unaccustomed to having his name asked by one of such rank. Man, the men are right about her, not only is she drop dead gorgeous, but she actually seems to care about us as men, not just troops. Snapping his thought back to the task at hand. "Lord General Gwendlyn wishes you to report to the new command center as soon as possible ma'am."
"Well then, we can't keep the Lord General waiting can we now? She said and started walking faster. God damn, I'm gonna kill her if she makes me miss my bath and nights sleep. Lord General Gwen or not, I swear I'm gonna kill. This has got to stop. I just don't understand these mortals, all they ever do is fight each other. How do their species' continue to survive with such acts of war constantly about? She thought irritably as they quickly walked through the city. As they rounded the corner onto the main street to the palace she paused a bit to take in a breath as she saw the castle for the first time in the daylight. It was truly breathtaking, sitting atop a large grassy hill, towering to over 700 feet in the largest of the towers. Thin, delicate walkways connecting each tower to each other on the upper levels. The pure white walls shinning golden-red, as if mimicking the rising sun. Praise to the Gods of good that the palace escaped unharmed after the five days of bitter fighting. It would have a lose to the world to lose a place of such beauty. Looking over, she noticed the Private Ryans was also a bit taken aback by the site.
"Beautiful isn't it?" She asked, hoping for an honest response.
"Magnificent, truly magnificent. In all my life I've never seen anything so delightfully breathtaking as this." He said in awe, forgetting, for the moment anyway, who he was talking to. Smiling to herself, she strode on. Making the poor young man, jump in surprise when he realized what he had said, and to whom. Then she laughed softly to herself as he ran up to her side and attempted to apologize for the inappropriate way he had acted.
"Don't worry about it Ryans, if a man can't speak his mind to a lady, then we might as well let Tyr win this war." She said with a laugh. As they walked up the street to the palace, the guards at the large front gate to the Inner Courtyard snapped to attention as he saw Evelynn walking up the street. With a hand signal he turned and yelled to the guard in the guardhouse, "Open the gate, Colonel Evelynn wants to enter!"
Ahh, the advantages of rank. I recall back when we joined this seemingly futile war everyone doubted us, we had to earn everything the hard way. Evelynn thought ruefully. Striding through the halls, she put on the mask she had been wearing for the last eight months, the mask of command Gwen called it. Wearing her command mask she strode through the halls hardly noticing the officers and other soldiers saluting her as she went, and giving only a brief nod in response, and then only to those she knew personally. Walking up to the double doors that lead into the entry way to Gwen's office, a pair of soldiers saluted and opened the doors, allowing her to walk through without missing a step. She strode through to the next set of double doors which were set slightly open, admitting herself in to Gwen's "office." Gwen sat behind a large ornately carved desk, scowling at the paperwork in front of her. As Evelynn and Private Ryans walked in she looked up, looked at Evelynn who was casually standing the doorway one hand on her sword, the other near the knife she kept in her belt, a slight smile on her face and she looked at the large pile of papers in front of her. She then looked to Ryans who stood rigid as a board, fist to his heart head slightly bowed saluting his Lord General. The she looked back to Evelynn, who did a quick mock salute. After the salute she flicked her eyes to the door, then looked back down to the papers, pretending they were not even there.
"Thank you Ryans, that will be all. I know you want to get back with your company, you guys fought hard these last five days. I'm proud of you men, go enjoy what little R&R you can get between now and whenever we leave." She said, suddenly remembering that she wasn't alone. Ryans saluted both women again, then turned and hustled out the doors, closing then on his way.
"I'm really getting sick of these formalities, my esteemed Lord General." Evelynn said in a dry sarcastic tone as she walked to the desk and sat in one of the chairs.
"I know Colonel, I know." Gwen replied in the same dry tone, still shuffling through papers.
"Do you remember back when it was just Gwen and Evelynn, no titles, no formalities, just plain old Gwen and Evelynn?" Evelynn said, a bit nostalgically. "Before the hours of paperwork, when we could come and go as we please, only answering to Zeke when we were late for dinner. And Corwin if we ate part of his meal. Those were the good old days. "
"Yeah, well those days are long since gone, Colonel. And I remember that in those days we were always wishing that we had something else. Too much traveling was your complaint, I think." She said looking up.
"Damn, this means this isn't a social visit, to reminisce. What am I to do now? More recon?" she asked, sitting straighter after realizing this wasn't a social visit. "And after this much of the war I would welcome those days. Heck I would even help Zeke cook those meals."
"Great!" She said with a laugh." I know you can deal with poison without much problem, but the rest of us are human Evelynn, that would be one dinner I don’t think we'd survive. But yes, actually, this is about business, unfortunately. I want you to take a small strike force and push into further into Tyr. Take about a hundred of the light cavalry. Don't get caught in any serious fights, I just want you down there to keep the Tyrians off-guard, more of a raid than anything else. Hit a target, destroy some resources, then get out. I'm giving you three weeks to take out what you can. We should be about ready to move out of here at about that time. We need to secure our supply lines west out of the mountains and from Graven."
"Sounds good. I had hoped we could return the guerilla warfare we were using before, I hate having to see this," she gestures out the windows with her hand, "The death, the destruction, the massacre that we call war. I hate it Gwen, I just want it over. The war, the killing, everything." She takes a deep shaking breath and slowly lets it out, composing herself.
"Sorry, I was out in the city today. I had to go, I had to see the people we are 'liberating'." She said shakily, still not quite in control. After another deep breath she managed to pull herself back together. She started at a touch on her shoulder and looked up to see Gwen leaning in over her with her hand on her shoulder.
"I know what you mean Evelynn, it's been a long bloody war. I knew you were in the city, and I knew why too. That’s why I'm sending you on this mission, to get out into the country, out into the woods. I want you to take Tyloch with you too, he's beginning to seem restless around all these humans and cities. Some woodland air would do him some good. I need you guys to be my eyes and ears, I want Tyloch mapping the area, he'll enjoy being able to do that again. If you see anything that looks threatening I want you to send a runner, the fastest you got, back here in case you run into trouble." She said in a steady voice laced with command that Evelynn had been hearing way too much lately. The command in her voice was belied only by the grief and guilt that could be seen in her eyes, she hated this war as much as Evelynn. Although not many could look at Gwen and tell that she was afraid, afraid of losing a friend, or the war, and sad at the loss of life involved, Evelynn had been with Gwen long enough to be able to tell this about her old friend. Although neither could have been over 30, the trials and hardships they'd endured together couldn't help but make them "old friends". Aside from Del, and maybe Corwin, and of course Zeke, no one knew Gwen better then Evelynn. It was a strange friendship, these two, one that started many years back agoin the company of Magius Bloodstone, a mage long since dead after crossing the Circle of the Forge and trying to attain God-hood.
Orders given Gwen stood back up, feeling sorrow for her friend, a grief that it was her fault that she was here, risking her life for this war which had nothing to do with her at all. Although it didn't surprise her that Evelynn was still here, right by her side still learning, still eager to learn. Of all the members of the Circle of the Forge she was one of the few who Gwen knew would follow her to The Dark Queen and back if she but asked for it. Gwen hoped she would never have to.
Turning she walked around and as she did she heard Evelynn stand up. Once on the other side she turned to see Evelynn still standing there, head cocked to the side, studying Gwen. After a moment of inspection she finally said with authority, "I think I'm not the only who needs to get away from, these desks, the paper work. You should come with us. The men would be honored to be lead by the Great Lord General Gwendlyn, whom some believe the Goddess Gwendlyn herself, are we related somehow?" She asked in a sarcastic tone.
"I guess we'll just have wait and see won't we." Gwen responded with a grin. "I wish I could," she said to the real question in the statement, "The good Gods know how much I wish I could. But you know what would happen to the army without me here leading them into battle. I mean don’t get me wrong, Del is a great leader, but there was a reason he sent for me back in the Forge, before all this started. He needs me here to lead this army into the battle…" She said, trailing off towards the end. She lowered her head to look at the papers on her desk, and shook her head in disgust.
"What has happened to me? What have I become? All I do now is paper work and war. How did I ever get into this mess in the first place?" She asked of no one in particular. Turning she looked up and out the windows at the rear of the room in which she had made her office. After taking a long gaze, she dropped her head again
"You've become the Great General.," Evelynn responded knowing Gwen wanted one, "The Great Lord General Gwendlyn Fairblade. One of the most feared generals since Kainus. And to answer who got you into this, you know damned good and well who got you into this. But, aside from that, I know this army needs you, in battle. What battle are they going to get in here? More then likely Tyr doesn’t even know we are here. And as for the paper work, there is a reason you have aides, scribes and attendants. Come, join us. You really need the break, the fresh air, it will be just like old times, only with about a hundred or so times as many bodyguards like Corwin. Join us Gwen, that’s an order!"
That made Gwen had fly up. "What!? You can't order me around. I outrank you. I am your Lord General, not the other way around!" Gwen turned around, furious at this outright disregard for her rank, her station in this army. Upon turning she noticed her friend standing there with a broad grin splitting that face that so many of her men dreamed about each night while sleeping. After seeing this grin she couldn't help but give a quick laugh.
"I may not outrank Gwen, but I know when you need a break. We traveled together too long for me not to be able to notice these things. A ride through the country side is just what you need, trust me. Just a simple ride, and some quick fights with some Tyrians, just what the doctor ordered." Evelynn said, trying to wipe the grin off her face.
"Maybe you're right. I think I will go with you, we'll bring Corwin, heck he probably wouldn't let me out of the city without him, or about ten times as many troops as we will be taking. And since when did you become a doctor, have you been studying medicine on the side?"
"No, I haven't, but I do know you. Shall I be planing this mission, Lord General? Or would the almighty, illustrious Lord General Gwendlyn Fairblade, Bringer of Light, Reliever of the Tyrian Oppression, and Commander of the Entire Liberation Army humble herself to such a lowly level as that?" Evelynn asked jokingly, with a flourished bow during the titles.
"Bringer of Light huh? Is that what some of the troops are calling me?"
"No they call you The Lord General, it's the people who call you the Bringer of Light. Something about lifting the darkness of the Tyrian oppression or some junk."
"Hmm… I think I like that name, add it to my title. And no, I won't lower myself to plan this mission out. I leave it in your capable hands, Colonel."
"Thank you, my General!" Evelynn exclaimed, clapping her hand to her chest in salute. "It would be my honor to do this for the Lord General. I am humbled at the thought of working so closely to the..."
"That's enough. Go! Get to work, you've got planing to do." Gwen said ending the charade. "Get out of my office and let me enjoy the silence of the evening." Gwen said sitting in her chair.
"Yes ma'am." Evelynn said saluting. She turned and strode from room. As she reached the door Gwen called out to her, forestalling her exit.
"Hey Evie, have one of the guards send in some lunch for me, and tell them to find Del, I feel like having a nice pleasant lunch, although I know it won't be all that pleasant after I tell him I'm going to be going away."
"Evie!!! Who said you could me Evie!?!" Evelynn said turning.
"Your Lord General, and your friend, that's who. If you don’t mind?"
Softening her expression she smiled a bit, "No, I suppose it would be ok, just don’t let anyone hear you, Gwenny."
"Yes Evie! And you can not call me Gwenny, that's an order." Gwen yelled a little louder then necessary. As Evelynn was walking out the door Gwen added, "Have them bring it to the courtyard, it looks like it will be a beautiful day, and I think I will get out and enjoy it."
Grumbling, Evelynn turned to leave. On her way out she had one of the guards run down to the kitchen, and fetch Gwen some food. At the same time she had another run off to find General Del and tell that he was cordially invited to join the Lord General, Bringer of Light, Reliever of the Tyrian Oppression, and Commander of the Entire Liberation Army Gwendlyn Fairblade for a light lunch in the courtyard. Snickering at the new title the soldier ran off to find Del. These tasks completed, she found her way to her office/bedroom and began planning out the mission.
After taking the bath she had promised herself she set to work, planning out the mission that was about to take place. It turned out to be a harder task then she had first imagined. When a soldier came by that evening to bring her dinner, she didn’t even hear the knock on the door. She also didn't notice when Sol and Aurasol set, other then having to light some lamps, nor did she see the rising, and subsequent setting of Cyroon, Solostar, or Shiar. The only thing that brought her out of her planning was the sharp grumble of her stomach, one which had been ignored the previous night, and was not planning on being ignored this morning, early as it was.
Working through the night is not a fun task. Evelynn yawned, stretched and yawned again. Glancing out her window she realized it was about an hour or so until dawn. Standing she decided to talk a quick walk around the palace before heading to bed. As she strode to the door her stomach rumbled, choosing the destination to which she was walking. Pausing at the door, she turned back and drew a cloak from her saddle bags, one with a hood. Rations are fine, but nothing can beat a hot meal cooked at home, where ever home happened to be at the moment. God I wish Zeke was still around to cook food. She thought as she walked towards what she thought to be the kitchen. As she walked she thought about the upcoming mission, it had been a while since they had used these tactics on the Tyrians. For the first time in months of long drawn out combat, fighting this war the way the Tyrians wanted it to be fought, they would be able to turn the tables a little bit. She had no doubt that if they were to continue to fight and win this war they had to return these tactics. The Tyrians could easily muster three times as many troops as they without even trying. They had to return to a more guerilla style war. More hit and run, less long drawn out battles.
When she arrived in the kitchen she discovered that the cooks, most of them anyway were busy preparing breakfast so unfortunately she had to grab a piece of bread off one of the counters. After eating the fresh bread, which must have just been baked, she drew on her cloak and pulled the hood up over her head hiding her silver/white hair, one of her most distinguishing features. She headed for the East Gate, the gate which lead down to the area in which the regular troops were staying. As often as she could afford, she tried to walk among the troops, try to get a feel for the morale of the troops. It was one of the many things Gwen relied on her for. Strolling among the troops, some who were already awake, others who were just waking, she paused to stand around many of the early morning cook fires, listen to the troops talk. Most of what she heard she could dismiss upon hearing it, things like the Tyrians were just a day to south with their the main army and that they were coming to destroy us here. Rumors like that were flying about nearly every time she came out to the camps. Thankfully though, they haven't come true, yet. If the war continued the way it was now… Giving a shake of her head she left that line of thinking where it was.
After an hour among the troops she determined that, even considering the horrifying losses they had just received, the troops were happy to have finally taken the city. And they weren't complaining about the time off either.
Before returning to her room she decided to head towards the garden and see if she couldn't find some peace and quite in all the hustle and bustle of the camp and headquarters. As she was walking through the palace grounds heading towards the garden she saw an aide walking swiftly towards the palace who didn't seem to have anything to important to do because he was casually walking along. She paused by a fountain which the aide would pass and waited for him to get there. When he walked up to her he seemed lost in thought because he didn't notice the cloaked figure before him until she cleared her throat, at which point he jumped about three feet into the air, which brought about a soft laugh from her.
"Good day young man." She said in melodious voice. Her back still to him with her cloak's hood drawn up.
"Good day m'Lady. Are you lost? Is there something I can help you find? Can I ask you to please turn around and remove you cloak. You are in a restricted area of the palace, I wouldn't want to have to call the guards." He responded, shakily at first but more firmly as he continued on.
Turning around and removing her hood she laughed and said, "No, we wouldn't want you to call the guards now would we. And to your question, no. There is nothing you can help me find."
Stammering and turning about as white as her hair, he gave a bow deep enough to suit a king hand clasped to his chest as though it was the only thing holding his body together. Hastily he made an apology. "I'm so sorry Colonel. I didn't know it was you. I was told you were in your room. I beg your forgiveness, I didn't realize it was you what with the hood and everything. I will submit to any punishment you deem necessary for having addressed you so."
"I will do no such thing. One shouldn't be punished for trying to do his job." She responded indignantly.
"Please Colonel Evelynn. I will report myself to the Barracks Master for punishment right away, Colonel." He responded as though he didn't think that what had happened was simply excusable.
"Fine, if you insist on having a punishment I will give you one I deem fair for the crime you committed." She paused for a moment thinking of someway to let the guy off easy. It wasn't as if he fell asleep on guard duty or anything. She needed someway to let him fulfill this penance of his while still having him accomplish something. After just a moments thought she came up with an idea.
"Ok, first thing I want you to do is to take my cloak back to my room." She said removing her cloak. "Then once you've finished that I want you to take some sheets of paper from my room, a quill and an inkpot and bring them to me in the South Garden. Along with some breakfast, all I've had to eat since yesterday before the fighting started was a half a loaf of bread. And then after that, consider yourself punished."
"Yes ma'am." He said with a bow, and then took off running to do his errands.
"Soldiers these days." Evelynn said under her breath while shaking her head. Turning she headed in the direction of the South Garden, unconsciously stroking the hilt of her sword, the very same sword she had had forged for her in Elysia all those years ago. After having worn it so constantly for so long now it has become almost like a part of her body, something she is almost never without, like her Elysian light chainmail armor. On the rare occasions when she wasn't wearing them, they were both near by. After the third attempt on her life during the war she started wearing her armor and sword day and night, except when sleeping, and she knew for that Corwin and Gwen did the same.
When she arrived in the South Garden she found a nice and shady, grass-covered hill which looked out across the palace grounds and down to the plains to the south of the city. Across the plains she could see some river meandering its way across the green plains. It was a beautiful site, the gleaming white walls of the city shining brightly in the early morning sun contrasting the vibrant green hills of the plains, which, in turn, was contrasted by the baby blue water rushing and slashing through it. The site was so captivating that she didn't hear the approaching footsteps, and didn't even notice the new being entering the garden until the person was almost up the other side of the hill.
"My, my Evelynn I always thought you were more aware of what was happening around. What would have happened if I had been sent by the Dark Lady to kill you? What kind of fight could you have put up?" Gwen's voice came drifting over the top of the hill, startling Evelynn out of her peaceful tranquility. And like a bolt of lightning she was on her feet, or rather, on her side her right leg flashing out to strike at Gwen's feet. Caught off-guard by the sudden action, Gwen tried to dodge, but unfortunately, she was a second to slow. Tumbling to the ground Gwen instinctively rolled to her left and sprung to her feet just as Evelynn was rising across the hilltop from her. With a flick of her wrist and a twist from her elbow Gwen's sword left its scabbard, a cool soft hiss filling the silent void in the morning air. Before her blade left its scabbard she was taking the step to close the distance between them. The instant it had cleared the scabbard she swung it up and over head, coming straight down towards own head.
With speed borne from training and practice Evelynn's blade left it's own scabbard, offering it's own rasping sound to the morning air, almost as if trying to compete with Gwen's sword. Raising her sword to deflect the blow she dropped to one knee, easily parrying the blow, and, from that one knee, she turned her wrists and swung down towards Gwen's left kneecap. Just as Evelynn had done Gwen parried the blow with simple ease, following it with a strike of her own.
Back and forth the blows went, across and around the top of the hill, the only sounds were the hissing of swords cutting through the warm morning air, and the resounding peals of sword meeting sword as those blows were turned away at the last possible minute. That is, those were the only sounds for about thirty seconds, at which point the previously summoned aide stuck his head around the corner, curious at the sounds he was hearing coming from the gardens. What he saw was a site that will forever be remembered by his simple mind, two women, one a light brown with flowing black hair, one with a richly tanned with a rippling mane of silver/white hair. Both women out of normal men's favorite dreams, both clad in form-fitting black armor, both wielding blades black as midnight dancing a deadly dance on a tall green hilltop between two oak trees. For one second and one second only did he marvel at this site, whereupon he turned and shouted at the top of his lungs, "GUARDS!!!! Guards to the South Garden! Someone is trying to kill Colonel Evelynn!" His cry made he turned back to the fight taking place on the hilltop where he scratched his head and said confusedly, "Or maybe some is trying the Lord General. Or maybe they're trying to kill each other?"
On the hilltop neither woman took notice of the attendant, or his cry. For them, there was only one thing in the world right now, the other persons blade, hissing it's way through the early morning air with deadly intent. Neither woman held anything back and expected the same in return, death itself was hissing it's way through the mist coming off the river twisting through the plains a few miles to the south. Death came in many ways, shapes, and forms in these days. Today, for both women, it came in the shape and form of a deadly black blade. As he watched it, the aide could only describe what he saw as a dance, the most deadly dance one could partake in, a dance of death. Total concentration was required by both participants of the dance not to be sliced into little, bitty pieces. At the moment, neither had a care for what was happening in the outside world.
However, the outside world had a great deal of care for what was happening on the hilltop. Within seconds twenty fully armed and armored guards were dashing into the garden. However, all twenty stopped dead just behind the aide, all looking curiously towards the aide, then to the hilltop, then back to the aide.
"What should we do, sir?" asked the second lieutenant.
"I don't know. Break it up, we'll settle who's who afterwards." The first lieutenant responded. "And be careful, I don’t want any of you guys hacked to bits by those blades."
Immediately the troops, all but the aide the first lieutenant, dashed towards the hill. At the same time they reached the bottom of the hill the two women on top both noticed that they were not alone, and that they were about to charged by nineteen armored men. They immediately backed off each other, sheathing their swords and rounding on the advancing soldiers.
"Hold!" Gwen said as the men started climbing the hill.
At the same time Evelynn said "What is this?! Stop at once!"
At the site of two commanding women staring down at them, both armed and giving commands, the troops stopped. The second lieutenant, who was closest to the women on the hilltop, turned back the first lieutenant with a question look on his face, "Sir?" he asked. With that the first lieutenant walked toward the hill slowly with one hand on his sword.
"You," Evelynn said, gesturing to the aide, "Did you bring what I asked for? And what are these soldiers doing here? Why do I feel like I'm a enemy soldier?"
"I want answers now. What is the meaning of this? Why are my own troops advancing one me as if I was the enemy? You, Lieutenant Marshall, what is going on?" Gwen asked at the same time looking directly at the first lieutenant.
"Great minds think alike huh Gwen?" Evelynn asked quietly as she realized that they both had just said about the same thing, only to different people.
"General? Is that you, ma'am?" the first lieutenant asked cautiously.
"Yes, they do Evelynn. And of course I'm me, who else would I be?" Gwen asked sternly.
"Sorry ma'am, but you and the Colonel were fighting with real blades. We thought you, or she, was an assassin. If I may ask, why were you two fighting?"
"We weren't fighting, we were sparring, so to speak." Evelynn stated calmly. "Well, did you bring what I asked for?"
Shaking his head, the aide seemed to realize that he was being spoken to. "Yes ma'am, paper, ink and a quill. Breakfast is one it's way." Just as he finished a clattering sound came from the east.
After a moment a huge shape was visible through the trees, the huge shape materialized into the giant form of Corwin. Corwin came running down the east path in full armor, his sword banging against his armored thigh. He slowed briefly when he rounded he corner and saw twenty guards surrounding the hill that Gwen and Evelynn were on. But, being Corwin, it only stalled him for just a brief moment before he plowed through the soldiers towards Gwen.
"General, you sent for me?" Corwin called out as he was passing through the soldiers
"What? Corwin, oh yeah. With the fight with Evelynn I had forgotten. It's not important now. But what took so long?" Gwen asked.
"Well when I was told by the aide I went straight to your office, but your aide there said that you had gone looking for Evelynn, he mumbled something about you said you wanted some practice or something. So I decided to head over to Evelynn's quarter's. Halfway there I must have been muttering something like, 'Damned Lord General, making me run all the way across the palace to the East wing.' Or something like that, Gwen. But anyway, I guess I didn't mumble that as quietly as I thought I had because and attendant who was scurrying through the halls heard and said that he had seen you heading toward the South Garden, mumbling something about that damned women. I see you found that damned women eh? Wait a second, what was that about a fight with Evelynn, and why are all these guards standing around here bristling like a porcupine?"
"Yeah, I found that damned women. And what was she doing? Lounging in the sun. So I snuck up on her, then she attacked me." Gwen said with a laugh.
"Yeah well, you asked what I would have done if you had been an assassin. So I showed you." Evelynn replied, hitting her in the arm. "You should have been expecting something. And besides, you were the one who drew a sword. I was just gonna fight you hand to hand. I had to fight my heart out there. I swear, you could have at least made it look like you were trying to fight me hard there. Trying to let me know that I need to polish my sword skills?"
"Making it look easy!!! You think that was making it look easy, I thought you were actually gonna hit me a few times, I was worried. You think you had a hard time of it, I remember back when I could fight you and make it look easy. You've learned the sword, that's for sure. And for why I did it? I guess I was just tired of all this boring, tedious, monotony. I mean, in all the battles we've had how many times have I seen any more action then maybe knocking out someone already nearly killed by my guards. My skills are getting rusty. From now on, me and you are going to practice nightly, practice swords of course. I am only human." Gwen said, rounding on Evelynn in a huff, or as close to a huff as Corwin had ever seen from her. "And about what I wanted to see you about, don’t worry about, it can wait 'till after breakfast."
Clearing his throat Lieutenant Marshall, still unsure about the situation, spoke into the gap in the conversation, "General, Colonel if you please come with me, I want to make sure neither of you are spies or shifter or anything."
"Lieutenant, I assure you, neither myself nor Evelynn here are shifters, ask Corwin. He knows us well enough to verify that." Gwen said irritably.
"Yes Lieutenant, as far as I can tell both of these women are who they say they are." Said a bored sounding Corwin. "Well then since you don’t need me Gwen, I'm going to and have some breakfast, again. I'm feeling hungry."
As Corwin was turning to go Gwen spoke up, "Actually Corwin, there is something you can do for me. See these people here," she said, gesturing to the guards. "Clear them out of the garden, and see if you can get breakfast sent out here for Evelynn and I, it's a beautiful morning and we have business to talk about. That's all Colonel Bearclaw, dismissed."
"Yes ma'am. You heard the General make yourselves scarce, or do you fellows need some extra watch details to keep you busy?" That definitely got the troops moving. In seconds only the aide was left. "You. Get the Colonel and the General some breakfast so they can get to work." After yelling at the aide, who went scurrying to find an extra breakfast, Corwin made himself scarce, probably seeing if he could find some extra breakfast for himself.
"You were joking, right?" Evelynn asked after Corwin left, sounding puzzled.
"Joking? When? What do you mean?" Gwen asked, sitting down and sounding confused.
"About what you said about this practicing you want to do. Are you serious about that?"
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because there are so many people here," Evelynn said, gesturing around the city and camp. "Who are better at the blade then I am. And I'm not trying to be modest about this. Master Fendar is one of the most renowned Blademaster's of all time. Surely he would be better at working swords with you."
"Master Fendar? Do I know Master Fendar, other then a name in a book? Evelynn, I've known you for how many years now? I would train with you, or Corwin, or Dar, or Tylock, or even Zeke, before I went to practice with some fool from the Gods know where. What with all that's happened in the last few years, following Magius' death, it seems that we have grown father and farther apart. Even now, with all of us here, with the exception of Zeke and Elthrynn, we still are distanced from each other. Do you know how long it's been since either Tylock or Dar has come to talk with me about anything other then this damned war since, damn, it's probably been since before you guys left for Leah with Melissa. What's happened to us? We used to all be friends. Friends talk with each other they have a good time. The closest thing to a good time I've had with them was when we took Aradon and the whole army celebrated for three days and nights. And even then, they avoided me. I think you and Corwin are the only ones who still drop by just to chat or have dinner, or in this case breakfast. And then there's Del, but we don't need to go into that…"
It was then that breakfast arrived, the words that had been spilling from Gwen like one's life blood finally began to dawn on her. Hastily she turned away from Evelynn and the approaching aide with a cart. She turned and stared out across the plains that had just a few minutes earlier so captivated her friend. After the aide had left Gwen turned back to Evelynn and said in a soft voice, "Sorry about that. I think all the violence and bloodshed is started to catch up with me. You were right you know, I do need a vacation, I'm just glad that you were able to make me see it. so, what's the paper and stuff for?"
"Issuing orders and stuff. I was going to write out the orders for Corwin, Tyloch, Dar, and even Del, to save you from having to do it." Evelynn replied after swallowing the food she was eating. "You know, I've been thinking lately. I believe we should take the others with us, Corwin, Tyloch, and Dar, I would like to go with Del as well, but someone needs to run the army right? What do you think, just like old times eh?"
"You know, I think that could be fun. All of us, getting beck into the woods and stuff again, just you, Dar, Corwin, Tyloch, myself, and 50 soldiers. Just like old times." Gwen said lightly, adding an extreme amount of sarcasm to the last. "Write the orders Colonel. I'll be getting ready, I want to leave by dinner."
With that said Gwen stood up, which, as formality dictates, made Evelynn stand as well, and salute. Gwen returned the salute, then walked from the garden, leaving Evelynn the task of writing out orders, wonderful orders. Evelynn sighed as she sat back down, shaking her head at what had become of the Circle of the Forge, needing to fill out paper work prior to going out for a ride through the country, it just made her laugh.
The End…of Part One
From The Memoirs of the Tyrian War, by Evelynn Aldare