Wolf loped through the tundra. As commander, he should not have been in point but he liked being alone. He had outriders to his left and right, but he felt the need to run ahead first. Away from the stench of sweating men and filthy packhorses. He was happy. Running through the snow, alone, not a care in the world.
Then he stopped, the hair on his nape rising. He sensed danger, but he also realized he had an army of 1000 men behind him. His natural instinct of avoiding danger would not work this time. The men behind him would keep marching. "Step out" he cried.
Sure enough, a picket hidden behind a boulder on the snowy plains emerged. "Yo," the leader cried. Wolf was surprised to see they had Mithrim colours. ""Stay back," the sergeant continued, "we've been given orders to let no one pass."
"No one pass!" snarled Wolf, "we are in neutral territories going to our own lands. Fuck off with this bullshit!"
The seargeant caught the steely look in Wolf's fierce eyes. "Please, sir." he said, "we're just doing what we're told. We ain't at war as far as I can reckon, so their is no hurt in waiting for the higher ups to decide."
"Bloody hell," Wolf growled, "but I won't be left standing around for long."
Which he didn't. JayJrod was near the front of his army, and came quite quickly.
"Wolf," he said, "nothing personal, but my bosses have decided that Curaw is theirs."
"And why is that!" barked Wolf.
"Don't know and don't care," JayJrod replied, "but I was given orders to let no one pass."
"You little shit," snapped Wolf, "there has been no declaration of war- I am travelling through neutral territory. "
"My leaders have given you warnings," JayJrod continued, "they ordered you to back off."
"Them pieces of paper!" howled Wolf, "I only obey my King or my Emperor! I march on!!!"
"Very well then!" JayJrod said, "You are my prisoner! Take him, men!"
But Wolf, wary as he always was, leapt to the left over the crossed spears of the picket soldiers and dashed off towards the woods. The bolts of the Warden's crossbows missed him as he weaved through the snow and disappeared into the woods.
"Do we chase, sire?" one of the pickets asked.
"No," JayJrod said, "he's gone. Go back and marshal the armies. We attack." Jayjrod's smile curved into a grimace as he considered the implications. "Well", he thought, "orders are orders."
*****************************
Bryggan frowned as he turtled behind his shield. He was S-keying the best he could, but the bloody polearms were hurting his shield. He would soon be dead, he thought. But then he heard yelling. "Right flank on the flags!" It was Ste. Joan. Having proved herself as an awesome fighter, she was now proving herself as an awesome commander. Though her voice sounded distinctly male.... but that was beside the point.
Suddenly Bryggan found himself surrounded by friends. They hacked and slashed at the enemy til the 'push' was over. In the brief breathing space Bryggan threw down some ladders to hinder the enemy cav. 'Damn', he thought, 'I just thought I'd hold back and fortify the flags, yet here I am fighting for my life'. Then Joan was yelling again. "Pull back, you scoundrels", he had cried, "if you want to kill Wardens, let them come to you!" And, amazingly, people listened. St. Joan was an inspired leader.
Then the next push hit. Bryggan once again hid behind his shield. He hated being a shielder, but he realized that jumping ahead and absorbing hits gave the two handers behind him a good chance to kill. So once again he jumped in the front, taking hits so his comrades could fell the killing blows. Damn it felt good. Just being one of the guys. Turtling for the common good. Being Emperor was nice but fighting in a well knit group was better than that anyday. Despite his low K:D and abysmal points, he had had a fine day today.
