Being the 3rd day
of the Bleak Time
The enemy has finally
retreated back to their cursed land. We have no ships, so we content
ourselves by blasting the warheads after them. Brother Xander
kept them firing much longer than was entirely needed. But in the
face of Victory I felt that he is entitled to indulge in his
happiness. I retreated to the command tent to fill out the paperwork.
Paperwork is so boring! I think it would be a most pleasurable idea
to hire someone to do the paperwork. But presently my flag bearer,
Rupert came into the command tent.
“Mail
arrived.” He said. He handed me a letter. I recognized the hand of
Sister Anne.
“Thank
you Rupert.” I said and waved him away. Once he was gone I slit the
letter open. I have enclosed a copy of the letter.
Dearest
brother Zeno,
Greetings
to you and our brothers, Yaron and Xander. I trust this letter finds
you and them in the kindness of health and that you are unsullied by
the War.
I
wish that I had kind news for you in these harsh times, but I bring
you an immediate concern of our family. Little Tarek, who has not
even reached his sixth year has vanished. Our Father, the king,
thinks little brother Tarek is a disobedient child. He also declares
that he will not recall any of the men to search for him. As the
seventh son, I fear our Father, the king, cares not about little
brother. I pray you Brothers Zeno, return swiftly to River City. I am
much afraid and seek your counsel. I fear little Tarek has run away
for good. Our dear Madra has not stopped weeping and little Greda
will not cease either.
With
all my Tenderest love, your dear sister,
Anne
You
can be certain that I was much beside myself. I would have rushed to
my Madra and sister's aide immediately, but I had a commitment to the
army. In view of our recent Victory, I have much hope that I will be
home before long. But I hesitate to share this havey news with my
brothers Yaron and Xander.
Being
the 4th day of Bleak times
Our
enemies have much deceived us. I fear a traitor is among us. Dear
friends of mine have been lost. Their blood spilled over the sands.
The enemy slipped around behind us, now we are trapped on the beach.
The enemy surrounds us on every side. I fear we may be ruined. Rupert
raised high our standard and charged unarmed at the enemy. His three
brothers followed close. They were killed, yet Rupert remained
unharmed. Xander mangled the enemy Flagship with a warhead. I shall
take note to honor both Xander and Rupert. But first we must defeat
these Barbarian Warriors.
Brother
Yaron counseled me to hold a Parley. My dear brother has a sound
advice. Rupert, El Lee and I took the white flag out. We met with the
Enemy Lords and discussed peace. I fear their demands are too steep.
They demand the hand of sister Anne for their prince and half the
kingdom. I told him our King will never agree to such harsh demands.
Now brother Xander is angry. He says that we should have made demands
too.
“You
make it sound like we are the ones surrendering!” He yelled. I made
no response. We were the ones surrendering.
Being
the 5th day of the Bleak times
Xander
has been confined to Barracks. He secretly parlayed With the Enemy
and told him that we would destroy them unless they gave into our
demands. He demanded all of the enemy Kingdom and the hand of their
princess for me. I was not happy with him. What would I do with a
princess? I was still pondering this, when I received another letter
from Sister Anne.
Dearest
Brother Zeno,
Greetings,
I trust this letter finds you in good health.
Oh
Dear Zeno, you must come soon. Little Greda has run away now. Our
father, the King, has called her a selfish impudent child, but does
not seem to have much concern. Oh dearest brother, I feel as if only
you can save them. I trust no one else to such a task.
In
haste your loving sister,
Anne
I
would give much to hasten home and relieve my frantic mother and
sister. I supposed little Greda to have more sense than to run away.
There was must be a deeper reason. Oh if only I were free to return
home.
Being
the 12th day of Bleak times
For
the last week my poor regiment has had no peace. The enemy oppressed
us mightily. Many of my soldiers have been taken prisoner or killed.
I have requested aide from the Glittering Cities, but received no
reply. I have much reason to fear that my father, the King, will not
grant me aide.
Today
brother Yaron lost his temper and called our Battle of adviser a
tarnal fool. I have been meaning to say that for some time now, but I
still rebuked my brother. It does not pay to insult the battle
adviser. The adviser was really angry, he told my brother to advise
the army himself. Of course I would never say this to the adviser but
brother Yaron has more advice of sense than he did. With my brother's
well-thought-out plans. We tricked the enemy into our camp. While
they were destroying it, we circled around and attacked them from the
rear. In the confusion many of them fled into the sea. We took more
prisoners and slew the rest. I cannot imagine the enemy will try
surrounding us on shore again. I believe this war is really truly
over.
Being
the 13th day of the Bleak Time
I
receive many letters from home Madra and Anne pleaded for help in
searching for our little lost Tarek and Greda. Anne also made mention
that Captain Bluebeard has grown much more serious towards our sister
Cassandra and that our father, the king, encouraged them. Sister
Beatrice complained about the lack of eligible men. She wanted me to
hurry up and complete the war so the men would return to the
Glittering Cities. Sister Cassandra wrote a silly gushing letter
about the many qualities of Captain Bluebeard. To heap insult on
injury, she offered to find me a pretty bride so I would not be
jealous of her. Sisters Beatrice and Cassandra really upset me. Here
I was shedding my blood for my people and they write foolish little
self centered letters. I have shed my blood too. I have a bad wound
on my left leg, just above the knee. It makes it most difficult to
walk. I have another wound on my right cheek, where I was grazed with
flying shrapnel from a war hammer.
I
was still seething from the last two letters, when I opened the
letter from the triplets. Waylan, Deborah and Varek are quite
naughty. Their letter was an amusing one full of pranks, silliness
and general cheerfulness. Nothing shallow. By the time I finished, my
temper had cooled and I was smiling. Easter sent me a letter. She is
worried about her twin sister Fiona. Fiona is our true sister, but
our father, the King, cast her out of the family because he wished to
maintain the boy, girl, boy, girl pattern. He could not adopt a boy
that could fall in place directly between the twins as he had done
with Cassandra. The only time Madra has directly disobeyed her
husband, the king, is when she hid Fiona at court instead of sending
her away.
The
last letter I received was from brother Uli. He confessed a terrible
crime. He said that Tarek and he had found a mirror and played with
it. The mirror had shattered and piece had struck Tarek in the eye.
The little boy had claimed to be unhurt, but he started acting
strangely. Only one day after that, he had run away. I was shocked
and horrified. What enchantments had laid upon that mirror? The
letter did not end there, but went on to explain that he had confided
in Greda and she had run away to find Tarek. Poor sweet loyal little
Greda. I must find her and Tarek
Being
the 14th
Day of the Bleak Time
I
left the camp under the direction of brother Yaron and the battle
master's joint command. I planned on returning as soon as was
possible. The return journey was painful. My leg ached. It was
starting to swell in the intolerable heat. I heard in the far North
it snows at this time of the year. I could use some snow to cool my
leg. I made a mental note to visit the doctor.
Being
the 16th
Day of the Bleak Time
I
arrived home and had my wounds treated properly, but my relief was
short lived. I had just stepped out of the infirmary, when sister
Cassandra approached and started bragging about the attendance of
Lord Bluebeard.
“He
has asked me to honor him by becoming his bride!” she sighed. My
temper snapped.
“Sister,
he is old enough to be thy father!” I cried, “Besides he is not
good!” Cassandra burst into loud sobs then ran off screaming. I
wish I was back in the war camp. I hope father has the intelligence
to realize the Captain should not marry Cassandra. She needs a real
man like the soldiers in the army camp. Someone who could smooth out
her spoiled nature.
Being
the 18th
Day of the Bleak Time
Captain
Bluebeard has officially asked for Cassandra's hand in marriage. Our
father, the king, has said yes and the engagement feast is planned
for tomorrow night, where it will be officially announced. My heart
is heavy. Sister Anne is worried, because she knows the Captain is
selfish and cruel. Beatrice is angry because she is jealous. The
triplets could not care less. Easter thinks the captain is too ugly
to be romantic. Uli thinks marriage in general is disgusting. I fear
this marriage will cause Cassandra to drift away from the family
circle forever. Captain Bluebeard already hates me and will not think
twice to turn my sister against me. I fear he may have already done
as much. Fiona of course has nothing to say as usual.
Being
the 19th
Day of the Bleak Time
Every
bite of food was bitter in my mouth. The only ones who seemed happy
about the engagement were father and Bluebeard's friends. The common
folk hate us all, so I fear they could care less. I shall return to
war camp soon. But I swear if Bluebeard ever harms so much as one
hair of my sister's head, I will kill him.
Being
the 21st
Day of the Bleak Time
I
am back in the camp. Things are slow. The enemy sits in their ships
and waits. Brother Xander wishes to do battle before they get
reinforcements. I think his idea is wise, but brother Yaron counsels
us to wait. I have much reason to assume he has a secret plan. I wish
he would see fit to confide in me.
Being
the 24th
Day of the Bleak Time
Today
would have been Little Tarek's sixth birthday. Wherever he is, I pray
he has a most pleasant day with many happy wishes.
This
day was marked in my mind. I led the army into the water. This is the
first time occupants of the glittering city entered the water.
Brother Yaron had sent for a load of trees. We set them afloat in the
dead of night and clung to them while we floated to the ships. The
enemy had not expected us, as we had never shown the inclination to
go in the water before. We really need to get our own ships. We burnt
all the ships but one and executed all the prisoners except ten.
These ten we chained aboard the ship. Tomorrow Brothers Yaron,
Xander, the rest of the captains and I will sail around the island to
the Glittering Cities. That ought to make an impression on my father,
the King.
Being
the 25th
Day of the Bleak Time
I
despise sailing. I spent all day kneeling by the rail heaving my
insides overboard. To be fair, so did all the others, except Xander.
He single handedly kept the prisoners sailing the ship towards River
City. We were met by armed men at the wharf. They looked shocked,
when we disembarked instead of the enemy. I swear that I shall never
set foot on a ship as long as I live and breathe.
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