Mary Smith
Stories
13
Chapters
4,849
Words
711.2 K
Comments
0
Reading
2 d, 11 h
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The Castle Basset stood stalwart in the distance, it’s tower walls nearly thirty feet high. Before it, the Count’s men were impossible to miss. Polished plate armor gleamed in the sun as Knights and Men at arms rode along the snaking columns. There were more soldiers than I’d ever seen grouped together - even at the War Camp. “They look like bloody peacocks,” said Kato. As we watched one of the supply wagons hit a loose stone. It bounced, jerking sideways. One of the wheels loosened and…-
173 •
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By the time the sun began it’s decent in the sky we were out of the ravine and into the grasslands. We removed Bessy’s saddlebags and let her wonder and graze. Seth, who had been scouting ahead, returned. His face drawn and grim. “What is it lad?” asked Gills. “There is something up ahead,” he said. “Bodies.” Wordlessly we drew our weapons, and prepared our weary selves for yet another gruesome fight. The dirt trail led past a thicket of brushes and out into an open clearing. At Gills…
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173 •
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“I can’t bloody see anything in this mist,” hissed Kato as he waved his naked blade through the fog in a futile attempt to clear it. It was thick, and visibility was low. From where we crouched behind a fallen boulder I could barely make out the spot where the Mule was tethered. From thirty feet away one of the soldiers knelt on a small outcropping of rock. He had pressed his back to the wall of the ravine, and was fiddling with a black ball of tar. Seth had a death grip on his spear. He kept…
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173 •
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I awoke to a hand clamped tightly over my mouth. My eyes flew open in the dark, hand straying towards my boot but it wasn’t Jarvis I saw above me. Draxus crouched over me, his face intent and a finger pressed to his lips for silence. When I nodded and he removed his hand, and gestured to our surroundings. Slowly I sat up, taking in the camp. The fire smoldered low and the glow of the embers illuminated some of the nearby trees. Ten feet away Jarvis law on his side. We was wrapped in his cloak,…
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173 •
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"This is the read deal” I said, lifting my new coat and examining it in the morning light. An item window popped open. Troll Hide Coat: Armor + 15. 8% physical damage resistance. The Crafter, who had worked hard on this piece for most of the night, smiled. His skill class was high, and I could only assume that the quality was due to his skillset. “Consider it a gift from Lord Blackthorne,” he said. “He also wished for you to have this.” He lifted something from wooden box and handed it too…
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173 •
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“What the Bleeding fuck!?” It was the first thing I heard upon waking. I cracked open my eyes and saw the sun shining through the green fabric of my lean to. I was laying on my bedroll and my armor had been removed. My cloak was draped across my body for warmth. Sitting nearby was Kato and he was wearing his customary smirk. I could see he was playing dice against another member of the Axillary, who seemed to be loosing. The man was not happy. “You’re cheating,” he growled, gesturing to the…
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173 •
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The camp came alive with the shouts of armored men and officers. Gills took charge, gathering the Auxiliary soldiers into a hasty formation. Gear was checked, weapons were drawn, and faces were grim. After precious minutes were lost helping a level 6 lace his Jupon, we began marching for the Eastern gate. My new sword was strapped to my waist, and I had been given a wooden shield that looked like it was made out of planks nailed haphazardly together. Still, I was glad to have something. Gills called…
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173 •
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“The balls on that bastard,” growled the Corporal as he marched back through camp. I followed after him, glancing back to the patchwork tent we had just vacated. “How does someone like him become an officer?” I asked. The man sighed and shook his head. “Frankly? Because everyone else is dead,” he said. “We used to have competent officers… used to have funds too. But these days the Nobles just don’t take us seriously. We’re mostly comprised of levies and the soldiers that other…
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The sound grew muted as I hit my knees in the dust. All around me, the screams of men and horses faded to a dull roar. I was winded, breath rasping in my helmet. The sudden feeling of claustrophobia grips me and I fumble at the clasp beneath my chin with bloodied fingers. Finally, it comes undone and I rip the helmet from my head. It tumbles to the dirt with a clatter. All around me, ashes fall on the bodies of the dead. I could see my comrades' sightless and staring eyes from where they lay in the mud.…
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