The Soul of Scarlet's Lost Tears

Of course, I had no problem accepting, and without a second wasted to see my men who were in the middle of evening training, when I got closer to the front door of the main entrance to the officer’s corridors. As the bolt slid back, as I gripped the handle of the strong hard oak door pulling toward me.

That’s when, I was confronted by one of my older brother’s officers, and with a smirk on his face as if he knew something I didn’t.

“Well, excuse me, my young sir, may I ask where the fire is”. There was a brief pause, soon followed by me saying “there was no fire I was just in a hurry, besides it’s for me to know” as I walked right pass him.

A sense of sheer anguish and resentment filled the space between us, but there was no time to stop and asked, ‘what was wrong’ and so I made way, hoping to see my men waiting for what I had in store for them.

Fate it would seem to be finally in my hands, after years of wanting to be on my own, my father finally gives me a chance to prove that I have what it takes to be a leader like my older brothers, though; I have a different method of leading, from watching my brothers take charge.

From watching them from a far, they were given me pointers on what to do and not to do. It does however make a difference that you have men that you could trust, and respect as they too trust and respect you as well. At that moment, I was halfway down the hallway, was framed pictures of past officers and cadets, that graduated from this facility with honors hanging on the wall.

In the center of all these pictures there was a picture of the headmaster (which is our father) standing on either side was my two older brothers as all of us was dressed in their finest, as they stood at attention, dressed in their uniforms with the proper attire, and where I was placed being a first-year cadet, I could be in the picture, as I stood in with my class.

But that still didn’t keep me away from a family photo that hung up in the family house, wasn’t long after I made it to my officer’s door.

I stood there for a moment where I can look through the small opening, as I made sure it was one or both of my officers in the room.

Seeing only one of my officers in the room, I continued walking into the room it does however make a difference that you have men that you could trust, and respect as they too trust and respect you as well.

The door creek opened which wasn’t long before he stopped what he was doing, and looked back at me with a smile. Of course, I smiled back at him that soon: to stop smiling, he then said, “What are the orders for today sir?”

And “these orders came from my father who entrusted me above my older brothers, at the highest regard”, as he replied by saying “then I guess these are the warriors at you’ve been waiting for that, my young sire”.

And all I said was “You bet!” Birds were singing on this partly clouded they, where there was a slight breeze combing through the trees, there was even a deep muddled sound from the cadets doing the physical training at outside. The sound of three chimes from a father’s clock, before I knew it chimed two more times.

We then decided, it was best to give the announcement the following morning since it was late in the day to give them any continuous orders at that moment.

Letting them get one last sleep on their cots, knowing that from this day forward we would be in makeshift tents, sleeping on the ground. The sun was soon sitting at a high and the high walls of the fort that surrounded this town of a small group of common elves that lived-in peace and harmony within the walls.

For years on end that’s pretty much all I knew, anything outside these walls and noise wanted to know that was never allowed to venture out, until now. Where the people that come to this town are mainly tradesmen of all sorts of materials which includes (perishables aka fish, fruits and vegetables, and crafts) you might say it is then up bustling town where it is a nice warm day.

Before long; as making my way back down the hall where I didn’t see any of my brother’s officers tried to both me again like before.

It was smooth sailing up until I reached the front door of the house, as the doors are opened one of them, for me as he stood at attention. By proceeding inside the house, though to others see it as a huge castle. It was at that moment I was drawn back to the present time, where I was currently standing in front of my brother who at that time was certainly loosening his patients as was waiting for my answer to his daunting question of “why I would be out this far from home”.

Try as he could to be an older brother, but only being third in line.

Where we all tried to fallow the footsteps of our oldest brother Lucas, I then replied, “well I should ask you the something”.

Thinking to myself shortly after “why does he need to know, or even want to know, can I for once go on my own without the hassle, I was given orders to go east, but as well to first head in Elias’s direction for his whereabouts”, he then rebuttals the remark, “hay now, you should not be so rude, to not answer a simple question like why for what reason, if any, you are this far from home?”

Stomping his right foot against the ground repeatedly, first being inpatient then that soon turned into frustration. Then as the sun took its time crossing the nearly clear blue sky, it came to him, as Elias remarked with a deep grown “did our father ask you to come find me, because I don’t know how many times I try to tell him that I know what I am doing it’s just that these are simple folk, and they take some time to decide even on the simplest choice”.

He took a moment and looked around him and saw who I brought with me, as well as his men who were still on horseback.

Then said while he turned as he started to mount back onto his horse “why don’t we discuss this more later, now my men and I will escort you and your men to our camp that’s just over the hill”, reaching for his helmet he then added “what do you say Keller”.

“What is there left to do” I asked myself in thought, then at the corner of my right eye, I saw through the crowd of men that stood surrounding me.

Three men stand on a small hill, it was the few stragglers of my men that fell behind, thank goodness, I shortly thought to myself which in a brief motion I then saw the 2nd in command raise up his right arm and began to wave toward them so that they would join us.

Before we set off once again, this time to my brother’s camp where ever that is, he leads this time I will fallow. Slightly behind the horsemen we all fallowed, as rumors grew into suspicion of what might be happening, to what was going on.

Most to half of our regiment was on foot taking up the rear, to where our leaders were riding on horseback up in front. Soon we each saw two scouts from Elias’s group came galloping passed us. Before another question was given, we soon came upon his camp that had more men than what he brought with him, as there were more tents to be a small town within the camp.

Feeling many different stares as there was a sudden hush that went across the busy camp, once we few entered their camp somewhat invited to maybe unexpectedly arriving at a moment’s notice.

Then there were two claps coming from their commanding officer followed by, “get back to what you were doing, there is lots to do”.

A few minutes later I saw the leaders dismount off their horses then followed by seeing them enter into a huge tent, that’s were those who were on foot were approached by one of our lutenist which waved to all us to huddle in close as he had something important to say, “bring it in fellows, look we will be staying here for the time being, so please be on your best behavior, don’t make your prince or I look bad for bringing you got that”, which we respond with two words “Yes Sir”.

There was a cool breeze start to settle by the time we left the chow line with the few scraps of food they gave us with a sneer of a cocky grin, as there were many small camp fires being built within small groups of tents, noticing the sun slowly hide itself behind the tall rolling hills in the distance.

Me and a few other comrades found our tents as we flipped over dry stumps upright and sat down as we started to dig in when I heard a few comments like; “enjoy your slop, fellas” which was soon followed by grunting sounds as they imitated of hogs.

Sorry to say I sort of grown a death’s ear

to such nonsense.

As if it was an unpleasant smell I could barely ignore.