Battlezone Emperor

He was armed and prepared. The chilled air around him had little effect on his temper, his rage held deep within. His weapon prepared he would strike quickly and then retreat back into the forest, with the trees at his back and his hidden cache prepared he would be able to come back and strike again.

They will learn to fear me. Fear my blade. Even the Emperor will learn fear. Worthless cur.

The winter snows had come earlier this year than expected, the figure standing just on the edge of the woods recalled that chatter in his village several days ago about mythical dragons causing havoc with the weather which the Emperor had been unable to control.

The clothing he wore kept his body warm but a little baggy for his frame, he’d packed several layers underneath to trap the heat inside and give him another layer of protection against weapons.

He’d never be able to move fast enough with armour weighing him down, not that there had been much left in his village after the bandits had thoroughly ransacked the place and burnt down the remaining buildings that remained.

The sword that he held in two hands had been rubbed down with ash from the remains of his campfire which had been doused earlier in the morning. He’d only have once chance at this, one opportunity to take one of the bandits down before he’d need to run.

He was only one and there was at least a dozen of them. Using a bow would have been a smarter choice, with sufficient range and tree cover he could have caused them injury, slowed their movements or killed one that had been left behind by the others.

On his side belt beneath his winter clothing a sheathed knife lay tucked. His own personal weapon of choice, weighted and measured to his own hand but it lacked the length that he would need to pierce bandit flesh fully. Besides, he wanted revenge for both his parents.

For his village, his people. These bandits would be the first and the oh-so called mighty Emperor of the country would be the last.

No. He wanted to use the sword that his father has once held, to see the blood run down and the look on their faces when he stabbed them. Besides, they were both stronger, better equipped and older than him with the advantage of numbers but he had hate and anger.

He knew how to traverse these snowy woods better than any of them would and unless they had kept a single survivor from his village they find it hard to track him.

‘Hsst’ came a whisper from a short distance away. Ignoring it, he let the rage and hate build up inside his chest. It kept him warm, a part of him which wouldn’t be doused even if he was drenched. As it was both of his parents had always guided him to channel his anger into physical action, whether through exercise or training.

‘Hsst!’ came the voice again. Part of his mind recognised the feminine tones, even young as he was it was processed and absorbed into his mind. If he moved he would lose the advantage, the makeshift camp of the bandits was close enough for him to sprint towards.

A single sentry turned inwards towards the campfires in the centre was his target. He was fortunate enough that the man would have his night vision ruined and the winter nights were dim enough that he wasn’t paying attention to an attack from the outside.

None of the bandits would. Not after they had sated their hunger, thirst and bloodlust killing every single member of his village.

Soon. He would take his revenge soon an-. Wait. Everyone had died. He was sure of it, he’d tried to drag the bodies but given up when several of the roaming bandits had returned to piss on the fires still burning within his village.

If everyone was dead then who was the girl who had whispered trying to catch his attention. A slave or a captive or the bandits who had taken the opportunity to escape and had paid attention to him.

He gripped the sword tighter with both hands, the ashes on his hand made the grip firmer but the weight was a little too much, his balance off. He’d been yet to grow into the man who could take his fathers sword, take the responsibility from his parents as the chosen protector of his village.

He should have taken his mothers bow and arrow set rather than leaving it in the cache hidden deeper in the forest.

‘Hsssst!’ came the girl’s voice. Closer this time. He felt a bead of sweat running down his back. All she had to do was call out and the entire camp would be turned against him.

Barely turning his head back he nodded several times, keeping his movements slow as he crouched himself down. Slowly lowering himself into position and adjusting his grip on the sword with one hand. He reconsidered using the dagger instead, his hands were cold enough that throwing it wasn’t a guarantee but if he could jam it into the throat of the single sentry he wouldn’t have been weighed down by the sword.

The dagger it is.

He’d have to hope that it would be enough. One swift strike before sprinting back to grab the sword and he could drop the dagger if needed. He had several others back in his hidden cache, not as good quality, but enough to cut bandit flesh.

Preparing himself he crouched lower, bending his legs into position before he could cross the sixty meter distance to the sentry and aim for a single blow.

He wanted revenge and directly through his own hand. One single strike and then he could retreat to the forest and claim his mothers bow and use the skills she had taught him.

The voice. The girl. He needed to respond to her. Let her know that she could run into the forest, not that he was going to trust an unknown quantity. She wasn’t from his village, nobody was anymore but if she had been a captive and successfully escaped then they could work together. Even kill more bandits. Make money, get better equipped and then move to the capital city to remove the so-called Emperor from his seat of power.

Weakness and corruption living in filth.

His mother’s tongue had always been sharp when she had been alive.

He would respond to the girl, remind her to keep back and quiet.

‘When I run, you need to get to the forest safely girl. I’m going to try and take out that single sentry and then I’ll be right behind you.’ he said.

He tried his best to keep his voice firm, deeper and rougher to make a better impression and be obeyed, be listed to. One of the many tricks that his father had used as village protector. A stern voice was often heard but a soft one was ignored.

A tugging sensation came from behind him. The girl had grabbed his clothing. If he moved then he would shift his position and attract the position of the sentry.

A cheering noise came from the far distance, beyond the sentry. Even from his hidden position Yalin could see the sentry stamp his feet and clasp his hands together in the cold snows.

None of them were as used to it as he was. It was his main advantage. With his free hand Yalin took ahold of the girls arm tugging part of his clothing backward.

He only had a short space of time before the sentry turned his attention outwards once more, yes his night vision would have been ruined but he would still notice a figure running towards him with a blade. Covered in ash or not he would see the weapon and respond.

‘Stop grabbing me girl. You heard my words.’ said Yalin. Trying to inject the underlying tone of command and authority which his parents had taught him.

Leaning forward he wasn’t prepared for a soft hand to close around his mouth and his free arm to be pinned behind his back. Yalin fell face forward into the snow as it covered his face and eyes.

He opened his mouth wider to try and bite the fingers but they spread out as the main palm of the girl covered his mouth and squeezed hard. The pain of his arm swiftly bringing tears into his eyes that he rapidly wanted to blink away.

‘Idiot. Listen to me, if you move or shout then we’re both dead. I’ll break your arm and run for it if you don’t put your dagger back in its sheath on your waist. I’ve already taken your sword when you were crouched there thinking to yourself. Are we clear? Boy. Also, call me a girl one more time and I’ll break a fingers instead. Try and bite me and I’ll break one anyway. I’m going to release the pain on your arm so stop crying and move backwards with me slowly as you can.’ said the feminine voice.

She was younger than Yalin had first thought, close enough to his age but she sounded more mature than him. A year or two older at least.

The pressure on his bent arm lessened but the smooth hand slid down to grasp between his fingers. He knew then that she would break his arm or his fingers if he disobeyed.

‘If you agree with me then nod your head, small movements though, that sentry is going to finish relieving himself soon and turn around. I don’t want to be here when he notices us and neither do you. I guess you’re lucky though, a skinny, scrawny little boy like yourself could turn sideways and he’d see straight past you. Oh, my hand is getting a cramp, your fingers look nice though. Nice enough to break. Nod. I said nod.’ said the girl with the exact same tone of authority that Yalin had been trying to project in his own voice.

With little choice he nodded, his arm behind his back lessened enough that he could put the knife back into his sheath. Not trusting the words of the girl he reached out and patted the surface of the snow to his side trying to reach for his father’s sword.

‘I took it. I may be many things, boy, but I don’t lie. You’re lucky I found you, those bandits wiped out an entire village in this region. We need to shuffle back together. Don’t turn around to look at me, just keep low and shuffle back. A snowstorm is coming soon and the falling snowflakes will cover our tracks. I’ve got a sledge and supplies, enough for both of us. Oh. I think he’s finished. You males always like playing with yourselves don’t you, even when you take a piss.’ said the girl.

Her mocking tone made Yalin’s face flush but her words reduced the hate and rage inside his heart, even temporarily. For a second, he wondered if she was pretty. His face reddened even further at the thought before the girl tugged his hand, releasing it further as she pulled him backwards.

His legs crouched down were beginning to cramp as he shuffled backwards towards the edge of the woods. As his body shuffled backwards through the snow his hand was released as a hand grabbed into his clothing instead, pulling him back faster.

He didn’t know how old the girl was but she was strong for his age, not as fast as him likely but strong enough to nearly drag him back.

Who was she to call me scrawny.

His body build had come from both parents, his father was thinner but with compact muscle and his mother heavier but he’d yet to grow to his full potential. Likely he wasn’t going to be as tall as either but he didn’t appreciate being grabbed backwards.

Yalin considered struggling to make her life harder, out of spite before his dark adjusted eyes saw movement in the distance. The sentry was still facing inwards but this time several more figures were approaching him. This either meant a change in sentry duty or they had taken pity on their comrade for being stuck so far away from the fires in the middle.

The tugging motion on his back stopped as the girl grabbed hold of him and pulled his body down towards the snow on the ground. His awareness was high enough that his partial training kicked in and he stilled his movements entirely and held his breath.

What in the eighteen hells have I been doing?

A wave of grief ran over him, causing his body to shudder deeply as he blinked back tears which threatened to run down his face. His breath remained held as he slowly released it and avoided the temptation to rub his eyes. The weather wasn’t cold enough to freeze them on his face but according to the girl the snow was due to fall deeper today.

The voices of the men in the distance were louder now, not closer to his position but their conversation was clearly louder than a simple changing of sentry. With his face down in the surface of the snow Yalin experienced a tugging again, this time on his ankles.

Acknowledging it with a gentle wiggle of both of his feet he put his hands deeper into the snow, ignoring the cold sensation through his hands and pushed and wiggled his way backwards, keeping his head low and his face barely above the surface.

The shouts grew louder and Yalin tensed up to push himself up and sprint to the trees behind him, the bandits might pursue but he’d be able to evade them for enough. If they wanted the captive girl though it would be another matter. He knew that these particular bandits hadn’t discriminated between gender when they’d burnt down and cut down the survivors of his own village.

They’d done nothing but kill, not despoil or otherwise physically interfere with anyone that he’d seen. Only kill, loot and burn and leaving the bodies where they lay.

As he continued to wriggle backwards towards the relative safety of the forest Yanlin heard a cry aloud and then a scream as he raised his head involuntary through innate reaction.

This far away his eyes were still able to make out the various shapes although he avoided the temptation to rub his eyes. With the snow on his hands, however powdery, he’d only make it worse.

‘In-fighting. They’re in-fighting. Over the spoils, or one of them had decided to make a play for leadership of their little group. This is the best luck I’ve had all day, aside from meeting your scrawny body. Your backside is cute when you’re shuffling backwards, I enjoyed the view. A bit more meat on your bones and all the girls will be after you. For now though, we need to move back a little more and then we’re in the clear. My eyesight is good in the cold, always has been. My Da told me that I was born on a-. I’m over-talking. Back a bit more and keep shuffling. I’ll explain what I saw in a bit.’ came the voice of the girl from a different position from before. Behind him and more to the side this time.

Another voice rang out, this one was a man’s deep harsh howl of a sound. Then Yanlin heard a sound which he had become familiar with under his parent’s training sessions.

Blade on blade. The group was fighting. And the violence had only began to grow as more male voices were raised. Yanlin continued his movements, slowly as he could to avoid attention but with enough speed to gain distance.

‘I did a little reccy earlier and put all the right things in all the wrong places. Human greed knows no limits. Shift it and we’re clear. Just a little bit more my scrawny boy.’ came the voice of the girl.

Torn between his desire to watch the outbreak of violence visited upon the bandits through their own hands his actions had been laughable. Running with a dagger or a sword to injure or try and kill a single one before retreating into the forest had been the ideas of a fool. Or a boy who was suffering more grief and pain inside than he was willing to admit, even to himself.

The rage within began to dim as his legs hit a hard surface behind him, wood. They’d reached the edge of the forest.

‘I’m Yanlin.’ he whispered. As his anger began to fall away he realised he’d completely lost track of time and how long he’d been out in the snow. It could have been dozens of heartbeats or longer than he’d recalled. He had always been good at shielding his emotions and closing them down deep inside, it kept him from becoming overwhelmed but this time he’d failed.

‘Beira. You can get off your hands and knees now. The sky has darkened and the snows have began, I’ve taken the liberty of moving your sword a bit further away. Your dagger as well while you were lost in thought.’ came the voice of the girl, this time with an amused tone.

Before he could check his waist to see if she was joking, Yalin felt words burst out of him.

‘The bandits? They’ll see us.’ said Yalin. The memory of the sounds of fighting echoed in his mind, the cries of anger, the cries of pain. They reflected his neighbours, the shouts of his parents as they had screamed at him to leave when they called his name in frustration.

‘The raiders? From what I can tell they’ve mostly killed each other. A handful are left though, likely either the strongest or the most skilled. I imagine they’ll be too occupied. Come on, you can turn your back now. We’re safe. Mostly, also you’re shivering pretty badly. The cold doesn’t seem to affect me as much as you. The stronger snows are coming now, our tracks and movements will be covered and we need to retreat. I have a sledge with preserved food and equipment to warm you up. Even if a little. Yanlin. Listen to me, we need to move. Or you’ll freeze. Time to make a choice scrawny boy. Follow me or don’t.’ said the girl’s voice.

Hardening his face, Yanlin pushed himself up into a crouching position. The darkness in the air made it much harder for him to make out the original bandits rough encampment in the distance. There were fewer sources of flame but he was unable to make out many moving bodies, more than he thought were lying around though.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more. I swear I’ll get revenge though. Even on the Emperor himself.

His body losing heat rapidly as he began to shake Yalin shook snow off his hands and turned to greet the forest and the girl who had likely saved his young life. He wasn’t alone.

The sky continued to darken as heavier snowflakes covered the ground.