Warriors and Mercenaries

[mmat 7460]

 

The blurred flash of a sword being swung and tearing into flesh ripped through the air as the unarmoured warrior finally took his chance, a chance to return home. Reaching forward with some urgency at his prey’s collapse, he cradled his victim’s still-warm corpse and lowered it to the ground carefully. With a disgusted grimace, the ex-prisoner’s hand grasped twice, once for a small bag of food, and once for a compass which hung around the Captain’s neck, before making a half-hearted attempt at burial. It would give him time, but not much of it, to escape.

 

West. He needed to reach the coast from where he had come so that he could now go home. Fortunately for the now half-naked figure with tanned skin, though it had been twenty-one years, it was Autumn, the same time of year as it had been when he was taken. Because of this, he recognised the region still, no doubt the physical training that his former masters had put him through in this region had helped - something he could thank them for. The thought reminded him of the value of his blade to the mercenary clan, they had sunk so much time into forging the scarred Elf into a deadly weapon that they would not likely let him go easily. There was a slight chill in the air due to the looming presence of winter, but his tanned form functioned as an effective camouflage against the orangey-brown hue of the molting forest around them. He would have to suck it up, though he was used to the warmth of his Caras Eldarian home - a luxury the veteran had never quite grown out of. Remembering the old city, a sigh was audible only to those creatures closest to him. What was also audible were the occasional shouts and barks, no doubt those of his pursuers. Nevertheless, he kept trekking and planting false tracks, with only his shortsword issued by the mercenaries to keep him safe. Their stalking was little trouble, his time spent hunting had been adequate preparation for this. After six hours, he reached the edge of the forest, and the shouts became less and less frequent. Less and less loud.

 

The pine trees and vegetation parted while the landscape dipped in altitude rather swiftly after the treeline was far in the distance. These were coastal plains in front of him, he had seen enough of this type of terrain to know that, and with that realisation came a pang of hope, a taste of home. The flatland which expanded in front of him was filled with large fauna. It was all well and good to feel relief at being free, but not if the Elf starved to death before he got there. Placing his calloused hand to the sanguine phoenix tattoo on his chest, a reverential and grateful smile was offered to the heavens for his fortune, and the aspects which he believed in so fervently. An hour later, three javelins fashioned from wood were strapped to his back, and another he grasped tightly between his fingers. He only required one to spear his next meal, and another hour later he was full, well stocked and ready to move.

 

“Aspects, grant me not strength, not stamina, but luck. Grant me the luck I need to get home.” pleaded an almost unfamiliar voice, though it was his own. It seemed more humble and less incensed at the world, but still with an air of ferocity which he always had. After devouring his meal, Khaine Csarathaire raised the grandest and tastiest section of his kill, before dropping it into the fire as a sacrifice. Retrieving his shortsword, he also sliced open his heavily scarred hand once again, dripping the fluid into the flames. “From the ashes to the skies.” he whispered, now becoming accustomed once again to his own voice, eyes drifting to the distance where the blue water of the ocean lay. The Elf set off towards it, leaving his imprisonment behind him and not looking back. The Thairic Prince was going home.

 

..

 

“I am on my way.”

 

[OzYmandi 647]

A dead dark elf who knew the Prince all too well smirks from whatever hellhole he’s dead in. “Heh. Took a while.”

[osumanduas 1442]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

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