Slave to the Empire:
Ranger 1
Below a war raged. Rebels from the outer provinces of Iceholme launched
a campaign of independence from their sorcerous masters, and despite initial
setbacks, they won as many battles as they lost. However, the Lich-King took
matters into his own hands in the form of Cymra the Black, and she began her own
campaign of terror. The rebel leaders sought assistance from out kingdom, and
hired one Aerick Se'trask, commander of the Ghost Wood Mercenaries. Even the
addition of battle hardened mercenaries did little to halt the bloodshed of the
Soul Killer. The leaders of the rebellion came to a decision, get the innocents
out of harms way, and get them to a safer place.
Aerick knelt on the rocky ledge and watched the ragtag refugee army file
past. In the distance he could see the tell-tale flashes of magick as the
doomed rebels fought a reguard action to save their families. The remainder of
his company acted as guard for the refugees. As the last of the survivors past,
he waited along with several of his closest companions.
"The rebels have been broken." Kamwyn spoke. The Sun Elf priest
shifted uncomfortably as he knew what was coming. Aerick smiled grimly and
loosed his composite longbow and drew a rather special arrow. It was the last
of a rather special set of arrows, designed to penetrate any magickal defenses
and slay the target instantly.
"Get the men moving Kamwyn. I'll be along presently."
"The Gileadians won't like the border violation."
"I know, but they will just have to deal with it. The southern trade
route is our best chance of reaching the ports of Iilead." Aerick could feel
the dark blot of the Iceholme armies approach. "Go, I'll catch up."
Kamwyn nodded and disappeared into the foliage. Aerick waited for an
hour before the vanguard of the horde came into view, Cymra Soul Killer at their
lead. He pulled the drawstring back fully and held it. He took deep breaths,
the last holding it, releasing it simultaneously with the string. The bow
silently launched the arrow, however, the arrow screamed as it ate up the
distance between it and its target. The force of the impact launched the woman
from her mount, the arrow fletching brushed against the space between her
breasts. Aerick smiled grimly and rose, slowly moving back, and then stopping
completely. Purple lightning lashed out from the woman, draining the life from
those nearer to her as she fought the magick of the arrow. Nearly half her
forces lay in a desiccated heap before she rose from the ground, laughing
insanely. The remainder of her army lay in disarray behind her. Aerick ducked
into the woods and made his way quickly to the refugee column.
"What in the name of all the Gods and Goddesses happened back there?"
Kamwyn shivered. "I felt a great loss of life back there."
"Apparently Makiri found himself a new General. One that can't be
killed."
Kamwyn shuddered and pulled his cloak tighter about him. "And the
army?"
"In total disarray. She killed half of them just to save her life."
"Sir!" One of the scouts appeared. "The Southern Trade Road has been
blocked off by Gilead troops."
"Damn." Aerick ran his hand through his hair. "Any way around them?"
"No sir." The scout caught his breath. "They had skirmishers in the
woods."
"Any losses?"
"No sir, although one of our scouts has sustained minor injuries."
"Have some of the scouts flank to the west."
"But the border..."
"The border is just a line on the map. We'll make camp as close to the
border as we dare." He looked at the thousand plus group of women and children
that huddled in the small canyon. "And get them out of that canyon, one
landslide and no more refugees."
The group made camp close to the Imperial border. The mountains to the
south were nearly a stone's throw away, which marked the boundary between the
Empire and Iceholme. Crossing the into the mountains wasn't likely to get one
into trouble, but crossing into the mountains to the point where one saw the
land beyond, that was trouble. It was well known that dragons made their homes
in the rugged terrain of the mountains, and while everything seemed relatively
quiet, Aerick posted a round the clock watch on both fronts to make sure that
there were no surprises. Aerick met with his commanders over the map of the
area in one of the side tents of the encampment. He looked to each officer in
turn.
"We need to get the refugees to the southern port of Tanis in Iilead.
As you can see, the main Southern Trade Road runs close enough to the border of
Gilead that they feel they can lock it off to keep us from using it. There are,
however, several small trails and passes that lead to, and cross over the border
to Imperial territory."
"What do we know of the Empire, will they not be sympathetic to the
plight of the refugees?" One of the officers asked.
"Normally I would say yes, but things have been rather tense along their
northern border with Iceholme. Where we are now brings us under the
jurisdiction of the Duchess of the Northern Prefectures. I trust no one here
wants to be Dragon fodder?"
No one laughed.
"If we can get further south, we will be moving into the range of the
Duchess of the Eastern Prefectures, who might be more reasonable."
"Sir, if I may," The head scout inquired. "Why have the Gilead Republic
closed their borders to us?"
Aerick glanced at his Sun Elf friend. "Kamwyn?"
The Sun Elf stirred from his stool. "The Republic of Gilead is made up
of a loose confederation of Sun Elf and Wild Elf tribes, Centaurs, and other Fae
races. They will not condone any actions that would jeopardize their neutrality
at this point. They won't get involved in a war with Iceholme. They might feel
more merciful if the Empire were openly engaged in the conflict, but right now
they are sealing their borders and keeping everyone out."
"Make no mistake." Aerick spoke. "Our task is to get the women and
children to safety. Once we make it to Tanis, ships from the Island Republics
will take our passengers to the outer islands. Permission for immigration has
already been arranged."
"I will make appropriate offerings to the Gods my friend." Kamwyn
spoke.
"DRAGON!"
Aerick and the others emerged from the tent to see a dragon soaring in
the distance. It seemed to linger over the mountains, drifting. Many of the
refugees started to panic, looking for a place to hide. It roared, the sound
reverberated across the mountains as it slowly disappeared from view.
"They know we are here." Kamwyn spoke. "This could be good and bad."
"How so?"
"Well, they will be watching us from now on. Unfortunately they will
not interfere unless they too are threatened, or we stray too far from our
course."
"As soon as everyone's rested, let's get moving again." Aerick ordered.
"We'll follow as close to the border as we dare."
Night fell quickly in the north. The refugees moved south, following
the mountains. Aerick moved the group closer to the mountains, using the
foothills as cover to move and to hide their numbers from prying eyes. He
watched the night carefully, one eye on the sky, the other behind them. Kamwyn
stood with him.
"There is something out there." Kamwyn whispered.
"You sense something?"
"Yes and no. I do have a bad feeling, and these are mainly hunting
grounds for the ork races. And the orks are often allied with Iceholme."
"Sir! There is a large force approaching from the north and east."
"Iceholme?"
"Yes, and a large force of orks."
"Damn." Aerick looked at the scout. "Relay orders to move the refugees
further into the mountains, and keep an eye on the two armies."
"Are you contemplating crossing the border?"
"If I have to make a slight border violation to get these people to
safety then I will do it." Then to the scout. "Any sign of Imperial forces?"
"If they are out there sir, they are keeping quiet. I would guess that
they have a few Moon Elves on watch."
Kamwyn frowned at the mention of the Moon Elves. Relations between the
Sun and Moon elf tribes have always been...less than cordial, which is no
surprise since both Elvish societies are polar opposites, with the Sun elves
taking an extreme patriarchal view whereas the Moon elves were strictly
matriarchal. Kamwyn had been traveling with Aerick since he left his homeland
and peoples behind, and knew the reasons behind the young half-elf's leaving.
"Let everyone eat one hot meal and rest for an hour, then get them
moving." Aerick ordered. "I want twenty volunteers to act as rearguard."
He waited quietly for the refugees to eat and rest, his twenty guard
stood nearby with weapons at the ready. The scouts reported the armies no more
than four hours distant, and it would be a hard running battle for the group.
"Kamwyn, lead them to safety." Aerick strung his bow.
"You cannot do this." The Sun Elf spoke. "You have a responsibility-"
"I have a responsibility to safeguard everyone here. Stay on the
Imperial side of the border, but do not venture more than a league into their
territory. Once you have passed beyond the Iceholme border you should be safe,
but keep them moving."
The elf nodded slowly.
"Take care of them." Aerick said, motioning for the other warriors to
move out. "I will see you on Cathay."
Arrows filled the air as thick as flies. Aerick led his rearguard
action against the orks first. It was only a few hundred, but they were unused
to the light forest that rested on the southern border of Iceholme. Their snow
white fur gave them away, and made perfect targets for the arrows of Aerick's
rangers. They led the orks north, along the border with the Empire, traveling
closer to the dark army of Iceholme. Yet for every ten or twenty orks slain, he
lost one of his own warriors. Down to ten warriors left, the surviving orks
came into contact with the force led by Cymra the Black. It was a slaughter.
The warlord of the north cared little for anyone or anything but herself. He
pulled back his meager forces to watch the carnage, and curled his lip in
disgust. Her army was back to its original size, for the dead had risen to join
her in her unholy crusade. Aerick and his men withdrew to the border. The
rocky hills providing cover and protection for his forces.
"If we run across any Imperial forces, surrender immediately." Aerick
warned. "They will not give any quarter to those they feel are threatening
their lands."
The warriors nodded solemnly, and they waited. A column of dark
appeared at the edge of the woods. The rangers drew their bows and loosed a
volley. Volley after volley flew, yet few had fallen. The undead shambled
forward under the relentless volley. With his arrows expended, Aerick set down
his bow and drew his matched short swords. The rest of his men followed suit,
each drawing their own personal weapons. Aerick waited for the undead to get
into range before charging. It was a silent battle, neither side emitting war
cries as they attacked, Aerick decapitating the first while dismembering a
second. It was a doomed effort, as he soon found himself fighting his former
comrades that had fallen, each cursed to walk again as a slave to darkness.
Again and again he fell back, stumbling at times, weak and weary at the unending
hordes. Only three other rangers remained when the rear ranks of the undead
forces were engulfed in fire. A pair of dragons flew by, incinerating the
walking dead as they passed. Aerick covered his eyes as the dust flew up, a
gust behind them as another dragon unleashed cleansing fire on the rocks ahead
of him. One more pass by the two flying dragons and the undead were destroyed,
and both landed off to the side. He felt the ground tremble as the dragon
behind them landed. He set his swords down slowly, followed by his daggers. He
held open hands to his sides, as he slowly turned to face the dragon and its
rider behind him. The huge reptilian face was less than a meter from his, and
by the size it could swallow him mounted on a warhorse easily. Its scales
reflect bright silver in the sunlight, and the rider on its neck was lost in the
sun behind her. His warriors dropped their weapons as well, disarming
themselves as per his orders. It was an unconditional surrender.
The rider leapt off the dragon and landed gracefully beside it, pulling
off her helmet. It was an older human woman, with her auburn hair coiled into
an elaborate braid atop her head. She tucked the helmet under her arm and
strode forward. She was much taller than his five foot eleven frame, and said
nothing as she touched one of his slightly pointed ears. She walked around him
once, then each man before returning to Aerick. She held a long quirt in her
hand and tapped it against her thigh before speaking.
"You have violated our borders and dragged us into your dispute. This
is unacceptable. There is a price to be paid."
"I will pay it." Aerick spoke.
She slapped him, hard. "I did not recall asking." Her eyes were dark.
"You all have two choices. First, you can walk right back over that border and
take your chances. Second, submit. And I will take you as slaves to House
Draconis." She walked back and remounted her dragon. "If you decide to become
slaves, strip, and walk that way." She pointed further into the mountains. "We
will find you again." With a burst of wind, the dragon lifted off and arched
towards the mountains. Aerick looked at his people.
"Well?"
"We're with you sir, in what ever you decide." One of the Rangers
spoke.
"I cannot command you in this. If you decide to submit, then strip and
walk in the direction they choose. Our best option right now is to submit."
"Then we are with you sir." He replied. "We knew this was a one way
trip."
It was not a responsibility that Aerick wanted. His options were indeed
limited. There was no feasible way for them to make it back to their comrades,
and he was positive that they were being watched. He could live with himself
submitting, and he knew his men would submit along with him, but would they
survive their bondage?
"Drink all the water you have on you." Aerick ordered. "I'm not too
sure how far they want us to walk." The sun was mid way across its path in the
sky. "It is about mid-day right now, so we shouldn't get too dehydrated. We'll
keep a steady pace, if you feel sick, let me know." He took a deep breath.
"Ready?"
They nodded, and all stripped quickly and quietly. He worried about
burns from prolonged exposure to the sun as they started. One of his men was of
very fair skin. They walked in an orderly fashion, a steady pace kept as the
sun crossed the final leg of sky. It was slow going as they entered the more
rocky terrain, the mountains growing with each step taken. As the light faded,
the moons guided their path, until the faint glimmer of firelight could be seen
in a small valley. He motioned for everyone to rest for a moment, then expended
the last of his personal magick to heal any minor wounds taken in the journey
thus far. An hour later they reached the bonfire.
There were jugs of water waiting there, as well as meat freshly cooked
on a spit beside the fire. Aerick made sure to feed his men before himself
eating. He sensed the presence of others before he saw them. Eight women,
dressed in light armor and carrying spears, appeared at the edge of the
encampment. Four women in dragon scale armor stood at the fore, each bore
chains and manacles, their leader the same warrior who gave him his choice.
"By your own free will you have come." She spoke, her voice echoing a
ritual. "We, the Guardians of the North, accept you into our service." Each
woman stood before a man. The leader stood before Aerick, her eyes never
leaving his as she spoke. "We bind you with chains of obedience." As one, all
four were restrained. "Yet for this there is always hope, for with time, the
chains shall disappear." A collar was locked around each neck. "And you shall
soar free once again."
With a wave, the fire died out, engulfing the encampment in darkness.
Aerick's darksight allowed him to see in the darkness, to follow easily at the
tug of the leash on his collar. It wasn't easy to mount up on the dragon behind
her, but with assistance he managed to seat himself behind her. With practiced
ease she released his wrists then recuffed them around her waist.
He nearly lost his seat as the dragon launched into the air, and wrapped
his arms around her tighter as the wind whipped by him. He closed his eyes and
shivered against the cold rush of air. If there was one thing that truly
frightened him, it was heights. He hated heights. He took deep breaths and
rested his forehead against her back. They remained in the air for what seemed
like an eternity.
"Open your eyes." She ordered. "And look upon your new home."
Ahead, a mountain unlike any he had every seen. It was more like a man
made fortress than a mountain. Large platforms surrounded it, and in the
darkness he could make out Dragons resting on them. He saw upon the surrounding
peaks towers and platforms, as if the entire area was the home of the
Dragonriders. They spiraled down for a landing on one of the upper platforms,
where they were met by several other guards. He was unceremoniously handed over
to them, and was led into the great fortress. He lost sight of his men, as they
too were brought in. He ended up in a circular chamber, filled with large hot
baths and long tables. An older woman, one who bore the look of a retired
warrior, looked him over.
"The General's new slave?" She asked.
"Yes." One of his escorts spoke.
"The usual?"
"Of course." She replied, handing over his leash.
"It will be a few hours." The older woman took the leash and led him
into the chamber. She hung the leash over a bar and ran her hands over his
body.
"I want you to answer my questions fully and truthfully." She ordered.
"And don't try to lie to me. You won't like the consequences." She poured some
oil onto her hands.
"You are a warrior, yes?"
"I am my lady."
She chuckled. "I am no 'lady', just an old soldier. If you feel you
must address me by title, use Sergeant." She began to rub the oil into his
body.
"Yes Sergeant. I am a Ranger."
"Ah. And what was your previous experience?"
"I commanded the Ghost Wood mercenaries Sergeant, for three years."
"What was your last assignment?"
"We were hired to provide support for the abortive Southern Reach
Rebellion in Iceholme. The rebellion was doomed to failure, but the leaders of
the Rebellion wanted their families saved. We managed to escort the refugees to
the border, but had to make, other plans to avoid the barricades of the Gilead
army."
"You are half elf. Was it your mother or your father who was an elf,
and which tribe were they from?"
"My father was a Sun Elf. My mother...my mother was a concubine."
"In other words a slave."
"Yes."
"And you left because?"
"My father got tired of her and had her 'dismissed'. I never saw her
again."
"Slaves here are never 'dismissed'. Many will live out their life with
their owner, or for the more fortunate, become freemen and possibly taken as
mates. There are no disposable slaves here." She padded the top of the table.
"Hop up."
Aerick slid onto the cool leather surface. With practiced ease she
flipped him over onto his stomach.
"Now," She spoke. "Will you give me any trouble, or will I have to
forcibly restrain you?"
"I give you my word I will cause no trouble."
She smirked. "This is going to be amusing." Her hands continued their
massage, and Aerick soon felt himself become light headed from her
ministrations. His eyes popped open as she inserted one of her fingers into his
sphincter, eliciting a gasp from him. Her other hand rested on the small of his
back as her finger felt and probed. As she withdrew, he felt something, an
emptiness where her finger had been. Almost as if something was lost. It was
an odd feeling for him. She appeared before him with what appeared at first to
be a rather large waterskin. Only this one had a thin hose running from it.
The skin disappeared from his view and he felt her hands rubbing his ass. Her
finger darted into his opening again, applying something cool. He shivered as
something was inserted. At first he thought his senses were lying to him. then
he became uncomfortable as something was flooding into his rectum. He shifted,
only to have his ass slapped hard.
"Remain still!"
He tried to obey, but the sensations turned into a most uncomfortable
cramping. Without missing a beat she restrained his ankles then wrists, her
weight pressing down into his lower back.
"I warned you." She spoke. She spanked him again. "Relax. It will be
easier if you relax."
Aerick tried to relax, however, he felt his emotions conflicted.
What is happening to me?
