A DRINK BEFORE BATTLE (MxM)

Sevei awoke in the early morning with his heart in a panic. Alarms were going off all over camp – the alarms signaling an enemy attack. Someone outside the tent door was calling, “General Sevei!”

He had only a brief second to register the warm body nestled against his side, forehead leaning on his shoulder, before Yeresym shot up, threw off the blankets and, without a word, disappeared into nothing before his feet even hit the floor.

Sevei groaned as he quickly followed Yeresym’s motion out of bed. He’d have loved to savor that moment a bit longer.

He untied the tent flap and drew it aside. Three young soldiers rushed inside without invitation, going at once to the corner of the tent where Sevei’s arms were stored, efficiently gathering what he’d need for battle.

“Report,” he snapped. One of the young men tossed him a set of heavy trousers and tunic to go under his armor, and he began to dress.

“Loranar’s Alchemists are attacking Tharlburg...” said another.

Sevei’s heart hitched momentarily as he thought of Kyrzhan, and his promise that the war wouldn’t affect the town. With a deep breath, anger replaced fear, and he hurried his dressing.

“...and the war ships are coming up the river, carrying regular army,” the soldier continued.

A two-front attack!? Cursing vehemently, Sevei sat on the edge of the still-warm bed to pull on stockings and boots, then stood and held his arms out as his three attendants came at him with the first layers of armor. In less than ten minutes, he was fully armed and ready.

General Sevei, General Urskatha, First Constable Yanek, and Lieutenant Thelan all strode out of their tents at the same time, the chiming and clanking of their armor composing a dissonant chorus as they converged on the map tent. They gathered around the table inside, where Captain Geir had already laid out a map of the region that included a layout of Tharlburg. Commander Bhari joined them a moment later, and Sevei peered around the tent, counting their number.

“Where is Sergeant Kahan?” he asked.

“She’s ready,” Commander Bhari answered. She looked across the table at Thelan and gave a short nod.

Yeresym took an anxious breath. “She should stay in camp. Tharlburg wasn’t in the plan.”

“Location is negligible,” Thelan said.

“But you need to be near the river...”

“Not necessarily.”

Bhari laid a hand on Yeresym’s arm, her dark, veil framed eyes sympathetic. “Trust your Lieutenant,” she said reassuringly. “If it doesn’t work out this time...”

Yeresym gave her a warning look, then flicked his eyes toward Captain Geir, the only one of them not in on the plan. Captain Geir returned a knowing smile, then bent her head down over the map.

“You all just do what you should do. Don’t mind me,” she said. She laid a finger on the map of Tharlburg. “The messenger said they attacked a few buildings in the market district first. I propose our troop portal in there.”

“Damn them...” Sevei muttered under his breath.

“I’ll take most of our Martials to town,” Yeresym said, “but I’ll need you to take a few with the regular troops to the river.”

“Yes, Sir,” Geir answered.

“I guess you’re with me, then,” Sevei told her.

“You’re not going to Tharlburg?” Yanek asked. “I thought you’d want to look in on Mr. Damah.”

Sevei frowned, his worry gnawing at him. “Of course, but our men are going to the river... and there won’t be much I can do about Alchemists...”

“I’ve got the troops,” Yanek said.

“And we’ll still need the shield detail in town,” Yeresym added. “You can lead them.”

Sevei stared at Yeresym in surprise, then nodded slowly. “Alright, then - First Constable, Captain, get to it. Fight well.”

“Fight well,” everyone in the tent said in unison. Yanek clasped Sevei’s arm briefly. Yanek and Geir each gave a quick salute, then Geir suddenly grabbed a yelping Yanek and disappeared with him.

“Alright, then,” Yeresym snapped, “Each Martial carries a shieldsman, or other regular personnel.”

“They’re formed up and ready,” Thelan said. “I’ll get Meira.”

She ducked out of the tent with Bhari following close behind.

Sevei drew a deep, bracing breath and linked his gauntleted forearm through Yeresym’s maille-clad elbow. “I guess I’m with you, then,” he said, giving Yeresym a hopefully confident and reassuring smile. “Let’s do this.”

The high street of Tharlburg’s market district was in a sorry state. A few buildings had been completely demolished, several more had lost part of their upper floors, and there were more than a few small fires burning. There were still people trapped in some of the collapsed buildings. Many more people – merchants, street vendors, and early morning shoppers - huddled dirty and injured against those buildings that had been spared. The Tharlburg city guard were out in force, helping people to safety and tending to the injured while trying to keep order amidst all the chaos. The whole district was a scene of wailing, shouted orders, and expressions of consolation.

Guards and citizens alike were startled into a silent pause when, with a crack of electricity in the dusty air, a sizable army of Alchemists and soldiers appeared in the middle of the street. Their souls almost fled in terror at the sight of Alchemists. Many of these people had never seen one at all until they had their lives and livelihoods destroyed by them today. Everyone relaxed, though, when they noticed the banner of the Valeskan military flying above the troops, and they all went back to tending their misery.

Sevei immediately scanned the street, getting his bearings and looking for the Golden Pearl. He’d been holding his breath through the portal trip, and finally released it as he saw that the Pearl appeared to be intact. His fears wouldn’t be appeased until he got to the Aviary, but that was a good start. He turned his attention to the state of the market district and frowned with an angry sympathy for the people here. At least there didn’t seem to be any enemy presence.

A stout man in the uniform of the city guard approached them briskly, waving his arms in the air over his head.

“It’s all clear here,” he informed them. “The fight moved to the municipal house, and we could hear some explosions from over there, but it’s been quiet for a while now.”

Yeresym looked at Sevei, who was still looking down the street in the direction of the Pearl. “You go do what you need to do,” he said. “We’ll head to the municipal house.”

Sevei nodded. “I’ll join you as soon as I can.”

He gave Yeresym a complicated half-smile.

“Be safe,” he said, bumping Yeresym’s elbow and throwing an encouraging nod to Meira where she stood arm-in-arm with Thelan. “Don’t do anything...” He laughed nervously as Yeresym began to frown. “Just don’t have too much fun without me. Hopefully I won’t be long.”

Yeresym turned to the troops and gave a signal. A whirlwind cloud of dust and ash flew into the air as the entire joined unit disappeared at once.

Sevei turned and sprinted as fast as his armor would allow him all the way to the Golden Pearl.