/lit/ - Literature

A moment in time. A heroic pose is struck. Eyes fixes in the distance. Which way lies tomorrow? Eastward, whence the dawn comes, or west, where it heads?
Which way lies tomorrow? For many, there will be none. On this day much blood would be spilled. For what cause? His whim, and that of Ernwald, that yellow bastard, that flatulent eunuch!
Good men, these. Their deaths would be mourned. Others yet on the other side, were they any worse? They must be, lest it be sin to take their lives. And their crime? Loyalty to their lord.
On Ernwald's head it be, then. Not his. So many of them. Too many. What was their number again? And his own troops? God gives victory to whomever deserves it, regardless of number. But surely Ernwald didn't hold sway over more hearts than he did?
Was he not loved by his subjects? He was not overly harsh with them, no more than was his right.
His right, yes. He was in the right. He would win, as was right. The dark clouds passed and the sun glinted over them, shining from behind the hill on which Ernwald's tent stood. On a hill, with the sun behind them? No matter. God would deliver him his enemies. It was only right.
"Send in the infantry," he told Letty.
"Not the cavalry, sire?"
"Not as yet, no."
He had a feeling. Perhaps these horses would be needed to advance in another direction ere the day was done. His own mount at the least. Had the walls been repaired recently at home, he wondered. No, they had not. If Ernwald won here, would he pursue? Yes he would. Could they hold a siege back for long? For how long?
"Letty?"
"Yes, sire?"
"My cousin has high walls, does he not?"
"High as the heavens, I'm told."
"And sturdy?"
"Three feet thick, sire."
"We have not visited him in some time, have we?"
"Not lately sire, no."
"I miss him so."
"Would that he were here today, sire."
"Or us with him."
"Perhaps a visit is in order, then?"
He nodded.
"Send word back home, tell my wife to take the children and the red caskets to my cousin's place."
"It will be done, sire."
"Hm. And tell that infantry to do double time, they won't make it up the hill at that pace! Look all those arrows! Lazy bastards dying just to spite me!"

A moment in time. A heroic pose is struck. Eyes fixes in the distance. Which way lies tomorrow? Eastward, whence the dawn comes, or west, where it heads?
Which way lies tomorrow? For many, there will be none. On this day much blood would be spilled. For what cause? His whim, and that of Ernwald, that yellow bastard, that flatulent eunuch!
Good men, these. Their deaths would be mourned. Others yet on the other side, were they any worse? They must be, lest it be sin to take their lives. And their crime? Loyalty to their lord.
On Ernwald's head it be, then. Not his. So many of them. Too many. What was their number again? And his own troops? God gives victory to whomever deserves it, regardless of number. But surely Ernwald didn't hold sway over more hearts than he did?
Was he not loved by his subjects? He was not overly harsh with them, no more than was his right.
His right, yes. He was in the right. He would win, as was right. The dark clouds passed and the sun glinted over them, shining from behind the hill on which Ernwald's tent stood. On a hill, with the sun behind them? No matter. God would deliver him his enemies. It was only right.
"Send in the infantry," he told Letty.
"Not the cavalry, sire?"
"Not as yet, no."
He had a feeling. Perhaps these horses would be needed to advance in another direction ere the day was done. His own mount at the least. Had the walls been repaired recently at home, he wondered. No, they had not. If Ernwald won here, would he pursue? Yes he would. Could they hold a siege back for long? For how long?
"Letty?"
"Yes, sire?"
"My cousin has high walls, does he not?"
"High as the heavens, I'm told."
"And sturdy?"
"Three feet thick, sire."
"We have not visited him in some time, have we?"
"Not lately sire, no."
"I miss him so."
"Would that he were here today, sire."
"Or us with him."
"Perhaps a visit is in order, then?"
He nodded.
"Send word back home, tell my wife to take the children and the red caskets to my cousin's place."
"It will be done, sire."
"Hm. And tell that infantry to do double time, they won't make it up the hill at that pace! Look all those arrows! Lazy bastards dying just to spite me!"